Christmas Memories

     Recently, we completed a remodeling project in our home. As we started to put things back, both my dear husband and I have been going through our possessions to dispose of things we no longer use or need.  As we looked through our boxes, we found pictures, news clippings and items given to us from our families.  What a flood of memories for both of us.
     In fact, I can close my eyes and see all the scenes of the snowy Christmases past.  There was the one horse open sleigh ride I had as a small child.  It had been a heavy snow day but my grandfather hitched up a horse to his sleigh and took my cousin and I on a ride of a lifetime.  Then, there were the 5 a.m. Christmas mornings when I tried in vain to wake everyone up because I wanted to see my gifts.  I remember my sister (8 years older than I) opening her bedroom door and throwing shoes at me down the hallway telling me to go back to bed.  All this and more as I think of my childhood home.  It was the same for my husband as he showed me pictures of his childhood.
     Pictures of our children when they were small made us smile as we recalled our many celebrations with them.  Now we have our grandchildren to enjoy watching.  Time grows more precious to us as we grow older, and this brings to my mind a song that has lived in my heart for many years:  "Heirlooms" by Amy Grant.  The words are simple but so meaningful at Christmas:
                                 
Up in the attic,
Down on my knees.
Lifetimes of boxes,
Timeless to me.
Letters and photographs,
Yellowed with years,
Some bringing laughter,
Some bringing tears.
Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me.
Wisemen and shepherds,
Down on their knees,
Bringing their treasures
To lay at his feet.
Who was this wonder,
Baby yet king?
Living and dying;
He gave life to me.
Time never changes,
The memory, the moment
His love first pierced through me,
Telling all that I came from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious savior
Is more than an heirloom to me.
My precious Jesus
Is more than an heirloom to me.
     I remember singing this song in church during the time my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers so it has always been dear to my heart.  It reflected not only the precious gift of family but the even more priceless gift of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This is the true meaning of Christmas and here is the invitation that God offers to each of us:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  He loved us so much He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins.  All we have to do is repent (turn away) from our sin and believe in Him as our Savior.  We cannot earn salvation.  God gives it as a free gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
     This is the real heart of the Christmas celebration.  He came and we will never be the same.  Of all my memories, I will never forget the day that both my husband and I believed in Jesus Christ three months before we married.  It made such a difference in our life.  If you do not know Him, I pray that this Christmas you will make Him your Savior and Lord.  If you already know Him, rejoice knowing that God gave us the best gift we could ever have!  Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  Selah!

Getting to the Root of It

     While trimming shrubs the other day, I noticed a number of vines had grown up among the shrubs.  These pesky plants can also climb the side of a house.  I always attempt to pull the vine up so that I get the root of the plant.  Doing this, prevents it from regrowing.  Unfortunately, it is hard to get the root to come out of the ground.  It takes effort, but it can be done.  The same is true in our own hearts when it comes to bitterness.  It is a root that goes deep inside, and one that needs to be removed as soon as possible.

A root from a vine

     Most of us have encountered people who are afflicted with bitterness towards another person.  This could come from jealousy, envy, unforgiveness or pride.  No matter what begins the episode the effects of bitterness on the whole person can be devastating.  A bitter person is often angry, demanding and spiteful.  Their reasoning and judgment become poisoned as well.  A biblical example of a bitter person is King Saul of Israel.
     In I Samuel 18:1-30 and I Samuel 19:1-18, the Scripture writer describes the slow deterioration of a relationship that started out well in the beginning.  David had come upon the scene as a shepherd boy who was visiting his brothers to bring them food at the scene of a battle with the Philistines.  Everyone in the army fears the giant Goliath but David takes him on with a sling and a stone defeating this threat to Israel.  Saul is impressed and welcomes David into to his court as a musician.  Eventually David also becomes a military leader and this is where the trouble starts.  For we see that David is more successful than Saul, and the people praise him highly. Thus begins the jealousy in Saul's heart that leads him to try to kill David even though he is a part of the family having married Michal (Saul's daughter).  Even Jonathan, David's best friend and Saul's son, tries to intervene to no avail.  For seven long years, David had to run and hide in order to avoid being killed by Saul.  But who was Saul really mad at?  David?
      Behind the bitterness that Saul felt in his heart is a deep rooted anger at God.  Saul had been anointed a king, but he failed to obey God several times.  Samuel, the prophet, told him that the kingdom would be taken from him and his family as a result of his failure to follow God's laws (I Samuel 15:26-28).  Saul tried to justify his actions to Samuel but this did not change the fact that someone else would rule and reign.  When David came on the scene and God's favor was upon him, Saul reacted with jealousy at his success as well as bitterness that God had abandoned him.  His solution was to eliminate David.  In the end, Saul's disobedience led to his death and the death of his son Jonathan.
     Bitterness distorts
the human soul, and the person that suffers the most is the one who is infected with this sin.  If we are a Christian this is something we must pull out by the root so it does not continue to grow.  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).  So the first thing we must do when bitterness begins to grow is to forgive the other person who offended us.  Then, we need to begin praying for that person.  This changes our heart quicker than any other thing.  Finally, we need to try to get to know that person.  Our anger and bitterness is often a reflection of how we feel about God rather than another person.  Maybe we didn't get the recognition we thought we deserved and the other person got it instead.  Yet we focus our disappointment on them instead of immediately taking it to the Lord in prayer.  We must not allow bitterness to gain a foothold in our heart.
     Recently, a war hero died, and over the course of years, I had seen him go from being an effective public servant with a likable demeanor to someone who had become very bitter towards the President.  It seemed that he tried to throw a monkey wrench into whatever was proposed by the President.  He even disinvited several people from coming to his funeral.  In my eyes, he had become a bitter man.  Why, I do not know nor do I understand, but it caused me to stop and think how much this sin can damage our character as well as our legacy.  Just as in gardening, we have to grab bitterness by the root and eliminate it lest it consume us and destroy our witness for Jesus Christ.  God grant us the strength to pull it out by the roots!  Selah!

Living Between Two Worlds

     Being a Christian has never been an easy assignment for those of us who love our Lord. Walking through temptations, being persecuted  for our faith, and facing the same tragedies in life as those who do not believe can, at times, cause us to wonder why God allows this.  However, Jesus made it very clear that if we are to follow Him we must be willing to take up our cross and to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23).  This means putting aside our self centered plans and demonstrating a willingness to obey God's commands and leading.  Living between two worlds is the challenge that all Christians must face.
     Walking in this secular world some days feels like trying to navigate a mine field especially in our current political environment.  I am reminded, though, of the Scripture that assures us of our identity in Christ.  During His high priestly prayer for His disciples and those who would come after them, Jesus said:  "14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."  We learn in the Bible that we are present in a world that Satan has dominion over.  Nevertheless, we no longer share the values of this world system we are in so we know there will be clashes.  Our worldview has changed but so has our citizenship.  The Apostle Paul in the third chapter of the letter to the Christians at Philippi referring to the false teachers among them (vs. 18-21) states:  " For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself."  In this passage, Paul makes a distinction between those outside of Christ (the false teachers) and those who are believers.  One will face destruction, but Christians will enjoy the presence of the Lord in heaven.
     While we are on earth, God uses us for His glory that we may enjoy Him forever.  We no longer share the values of the fallen world under Satan's rulership.  This is why we find ourselves the brunt of persecution or at odds with those who do not share our worldview.  In addition, we are God's ambassadors sent to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ that they too might be set free from sin and death.  We are in this world but no longer of it.  We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ and have an inheritance that no one can take away.  At times, this may make us feel like an alien as we interact with the world system.  Yet, we have some important take aways to encourage our hearts.
     First, though we may face the same heartaches and tragedies that non-believers share, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us to carry us through whatever we face.  We are not alone.  We are not hopeless.  Jesus said there would be tribulations we would face but He told us that He had overcome the world.  We have that ability to overcome hardship when we put all our trust in Him.
     Second, we have to realize that when we meet opposition whether political, spiritual or in our jobs, we are not struggling against people but as Ephesians 6:12 tells us:  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  Right now, in this nation, there is a lot of hatred, animosity, tension, and fear over all the events taking place.  Look beyond people and see who is behind it.  The Father of lies, murder and deceit is none other than Satan.  But he is a defeated foe.  Therefore, step back and trust in the Lord who is always with you and remember where all this dissension is coming from.
      Finally, remember that we are on a journey.  God is working on us and through us to fit us for heaven.  We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  This means we are to grow day by day in obedience to our Lord.  Yes, we live between two worlds while we are here on earth, but the joy comes in knowing that our citizenship and home are in heaven.  Therefore, spend time in prayer and read God's Word.  This is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path.  Remember Jesus told us to let not our hearts be troubled for He will come again for us.  Selah!

Knowing When to Speak

     Growing up, our family entered into many discussions and debates.  In fact on the almost daily trips to my grandfather's house with my dad, I would sit and listen to them argue politics and the current events of the day.  Being an attorney, my grandfather was quite adept at scoring points in the many discussions they had.  This is perhaps why I chose communication as my major in college.
     Unfortunately, today, people are not able to discuss issues in a civil manner or frequently take offense to anyone who disagrees with them.  I think too much social media, 24/7 T.V. news and lack of skill in one on one conversation may be contributing factors.  It is easy to throw punches at someone behind a keyboard.  So with this in mind, I turned to the Bible to look at the life of Christ.
     Our Savior came for a specific reason...the salvation of those whom God the Father had chosen from before the foundation of the world.  His life would be laid down that our sins might be forgiven.  He also came as the Bible says in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4).  God's plan was perfect in sending Jesus when He did.  The Romans controlled the area where the Jews lived so there was a good deal of political unrest.  In addition, the Pharisees exercised a good deal of influence over how the Jews practiced their faith.  Their effort to keep people from breaking the Commandments resulted in an additional six hundred fence laws so a person would not violate a commandment.  Their yoke upon the people was very burdensome.  Thus, Jesus took an approach to challenge the status quo, and he warned people to beware the "leaven of the Pharisees" which He called hypocrisy (read Luke 12:1-3).  He confronted them and called them "white washed sepulchers full of dead men's bones" rather than the spiritual leaders they claimed to be.  Needless to say, He was not winning friends among these elites of the day.
     Jesus also drove out the money changers from the Temple area because they were cheating the people in the House of the Lord.  His anger was based on a righteous response rather than out of pure hatred and enmity.  We know our Savior experienced the ups and downs like we do, but He never allowed animosity to win the day.  When He was arrested and Peter cut off the ear of a guard, Jesus healed him and rebuked Peter.  He went silently before His false accusers, and did not seek to defend Himself because He was fulfilling what God had sent Him to accomplish.  So what does this tell us about how our Lord handled things?
     Jesus had a balance in all that He said and did.  He confronted wrong, rebuked sin, had compassions on the hurting, healed the sick as a result of His holy character.  He showed anger but He did not sin.  His purpose was to correct and point to God the Father.  Yet, He was meek, humble and tender.  When I read Scripture, I see a perfect man, Savior and Lord.  One who was not afraid to challenge and speak up in defense of truth...for He was the truth.
     We live in turbulent times right now with much upheaval as elections loom before us.  I have never, in all my years on earth, seen as much vitriol, hatred, foul language and violence towards others as I have witnessed at present.  Some in the Christian community feel that we should be silent and not speak up against things that we see happening around us that are not just or fair.  Others (myself included) believe that we need to address issues in a civil manner and stand up for what is right.  Of course, when we speak up concerning issues, we will be attacked for our position and we need to expect that.  Jesus said we are to be light and salt in this dark world, and we cannot be if we
do not engage the culture in which we live.  Our purpose is to serve as an ambassador for Christ, and as we know, ambassadors have to be ready to speak to many issues: spiritual and in our political environment as well.
     If we are to be the feet and hands of Jesus, then we also need to be someone unafraid to speak the truth in love.  We are the voice of the unborn who die by abortion.  We are to speak to perversion and sins which we know God hates.  Likewise, if we wish to keep our freedoms intact, we need to speak truth
to our fellow citizens when misinformation abounds.  I remember reading somewhere that during the Revolutionary War a pastor after giving an impassioned sermon ripped off his robe to reveal a revolutionary uniform and called his congregation to follow him to fight for freedom.
     Everyone needs to pray before they speak and pray after they speak that what they said might be right in the eyes of the Lord.  Each day I pray like David did:  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).  We aren't going to bat 100 all the time because we are sinners saved by grace, but we do not need to be afraid to speak when the Lord urges us to say something or intervene to correct injustice.  May He give us the courage of a Corrie Ten Boom who was obedient even in the face of tyranny.
Selah!

Only One Judge Who Knows the Truth

     At the age of 23, I made a commitment to Christ that would radically change the course of my life.

I had gone to church, been confirmed and was active in my youth group, but it wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I really made Christ the Lord of my life.  This commitment was serious and real for me.  My worldview changed and I saw everything in life from a different perspective.  My sins were forgiven by God’s grace and for that I am thankful.  That is why all this hullabaloo over the SCOTUS nomination has troubled me.  People hurling accusations, labeling others and rushing to judgement has not produced answers.  Instead it has divided us even more.  Why?  The Bible has the answer.

     Romans 3:23 tells us:  “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Then earlier in the chapter vs. 10-18, we read:  “...as it is written:  ‘None is righteous no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.  Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.  The venom of asps is under their lips.  Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.  Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known, There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”  In these passages, the Apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear that there is no one who is not a sinner in the eyes of God.  With this in mind, why are people quick to point the finger of accusation at others?  Are they somehow exempt from sin themselves?  Not according to God’s Word.

     This past week, I watched as two people were examined by our Senate Judiciary Committee , and the entire hearing made my heart break.  Here was a man accused of a crime he says he did not commit.  His name, reputation and livelihood are threatened by an unsubstantiated accusation.  Likewise, here was a woman who looked disturbed and perhaps was attacked at some point in her life but had only vague recollections.  So where is the truth?  Only God knows for certain and I am praying diligently for answers as I hate injustice for anyone.  Yet there were people out there certain he was guilty just by accusation alone.

      As I looked at the circus going on in the committee hearing, I wondered to myself if anyone there ever thought about what Jesus said to the woman who had been caught in there very act of adultery.

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7b).  Those that had brought the woman to Jesus thought they would trap him because the Law of Moses said she should be stoned.  However, after Jesus said that, they all walked away.  He told the woman that He did not condemn her and that she should go and sin no more.  What a different approach!  Jesus was perfect but we are not.  Therefore, who are we to judge someone else’s heart?

     This past week on Twitter was rather brutal to say the least.  I rarely do much tweeting but I was interested in the news so I went on.  I engaged in several conversations being as civil as I could be and was called a “fool”, unchristian, and ignorant.  Of course, none of these people know me personally nor my character.  How can they be so quick to judge me?  Disagreeing does not need to include name calling which is the lowest form of argumentation.  But the heart of the matter is that we are not to judge one another.

     In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us these wise words of instruction:  “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-7).

How careful we need to be in what we say to one another and how we respond when disagreements arise.

     Since we live in a day and time of vile language, false accusations and political correctness, we need to think on these things.  Only God can judge a man or woman’s heart and I believe He will reveal truth.  If we have a relationship with Him, we then can have a healthy relationship to one another through Christ.  Without the Lord in our lives our relationships can be rocky at best and toxic at their worst.
     Let us strive to remember a few important things:  Only God can change a heart, attitude or beliefs, we cannot.  We must remember that even as Christians we still carry the flesh around with us and we can fall into sin.  Therefore, we need to be careful not to judge others or name call.  It does not improve relationships.  Along with King David, my prayer is that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart may be acceptable in the sight of the Lord.  Won't you join me in this prayer?
Selah!

He's Still Working on Me!

     Three weeks ago we began a project to fix three rooms that had received water damage as a result of Hurricane Irma last year.  It is not a small thing to move three rooms of living space into the rest of your home.  We have dressers in the living room, a mattress in our study and too many boxes of our "stuff" filling up another bedroom.  This took us three or four days to accomplish so the contractor would have easy access to the rooms.
     Along the way, we began discarding items we had held onto for years and never used.  Fortunately, the church was having a rummage sale and we were able to put these items to good use.  It is amazing how much we accumulate.  This was a great time for a deep clean.  Of course, we have to put everything back in its place when the work is finished, but there will not be as much!
Certainly this whole process is messy and at times uncomfortable, but the same is true when God begins to work on us.
     Philippians 2:13 tells us "It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  He is our contractor and master builder.  In His hands, He changes the desires of our heart, points out our weaknesses, binds up our wounds and sets us on a steady course to use our talents and gifts for Him.  It is a messy process, though, not unlike our construction project.
Sometimes, we do not want to let go of that habit or behavior that causes us or others to stumble.  Having a critical spirit, a sharp tongue to condemn others, being filled with self-pity and lack of contentment can clutter our lives and keep us from the joy we could have in Christ.
     In this letter to the Christians at Philippi, Paul pointed out that God is working in us on a daily basis.  We certainly struggle with any type of changes in life when we do it in our own strength, but with the power of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, we can become that new creation in Christ.  It is a process however.  There are no "McInstant" Christians who will act perfectly in this life.  God will continue His work in us until we meet Him face to face.  Nevertheless, we still have our part in this process as well.
     Being immersed in His Word each day will lead to changing our minds so that we will think God's thoughts after Him.  It is a living Word that can carefully help discern the thoughts and intents of our heart and point out areas that need attention and repentance.
     Likewise, we need to be praying on a regular basis asking God to show us how we can walk by the Spirit and not get caught up in the circumstances of this world.  Our conversations with our Lord bring us into a closer relationship with Him so that we can hear Him more clearly as we read the Word.
     All of this has been made clear to me through a recent disagreement on a social media site I was visiting.  I made a statement that another party said was "unchristian".  How quickly the world judges us!  Yet, we can answer back that we are not perfect only Jesus is perfect and He is still working on us!  We just have to be open to the leading of His Holy Spirit.
     Yes, I will be happy when our construction work is finished and we can once again enjoy our own bedroom.  No more mess and no more clutter....unless we begin to hang on to things we do not need.
Lets be certain that in our spiritual walk with the Lord we release those things that hold us back from bringing glory and honor to the Lord.  By His grace, we were saved and by His grace, He is at work in us.  May He make us shining lights for His kingdom!  Selah!

Scars Are Just Reminders

     Last year at this time (September 10th at 4:02), we lost our power.  It was not to be restored until ten days later.  The full force of Hurricane Irma swept across our state and hit our rural county with ferocious winds of well over 100 mph.
     I remember trying to play a game with our son, daughter in law and their children by electric camping light as our house creaked and groaned.  We had barricaded our windows, had plenty of gas for our generator and lots of food to tide us over.  Yet, the next day was such a shock to see.  There were trees down everywhere along with parts of our neighbors porch laying in the road.  It took us a long time to clean up the mess.  In fact, a year later, there are still some tarps over area roofs, and we are now just getting several rooms in our home fixed after having some water damage.  Things are never quite the same after a storm of this magnitude, and still, God was with us.
     While there are still scars (leaning trees and dead fallen trees), we have moved on because that is what life in this world does.  We move on after a catastrophe, but we do not forget.  Scars serve their purpose to remind us about what just happened and to be ready in the future should this happen again.
However, scars are also useful in recounting to the next generation how we got them and what we learned in the process.  There are scars not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually.
     All of us have experienced the scars from sin.  In fact, the Bible teaches us "that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  When we live in rebellion to God, there are consequences whether we realize it at the time or not.  Sex outside the bonds of marriage that leads to an unexpected pregnancy, adultery that destroys the covenant of marriage, emotional and physical abuse are some of the sins that leave us wounded.  The GOOD News is that Jesus Christ provides for us a healing balm like no other.  When we come to Him repenting of our sins, He not only forgives us, but begins to heal these deep gashes in our heart.  But there are still the scars we carry as a solemn remembrance of what sin can do in our lives.
     I carry several scars near my left eye from the three times I disobeyed my mother.  Twice I fell on steps when she told me not to run and one time came from jumping on a roll-away bed where I hit the metal frame.  All three times required stitches, and each time I look in the mirror, I remember just how I got those lovely reminders.  Then, I broke my left arm because I was in hurry to get across an icy driveway.  This required surgery and left a not so nice scar.  If I bump it, I am reminded of the whole scene.  I am healed but the scars remain.  The same is true for us in the spiritual realm.
     God forgives us and removes our sins far from His remembrance..."as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).  The only thing He does not remove are the consequences we may experience as a result of our sin.  King David is a perfect example.  David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband was pointed out by the Prophet Nathan.  While David repented of such evil sins, God told him that the baby they had as a result of their adultery would not live.  David also did not enjoy peace in his own family from that day forward (2 Samuel 12:10).  There are countless other examples in the the Bible in addition to this one that demonstrate why and how sin leaves painful scars.
     Just like a good parent, I believe that God allows these reminders of our sin so that we will learn from our sins and never go there again.  Furthermore, we can use what we have learned to teach our children and grandchildren to avoid the mistakes we have made.  God uses all things to work together for our good so look at that scar as a reminder that Jesus paid it all for us through His sacrifice on our behalf.  His blood brought healing to those wounds caused by our sin.  This is the Good News we need to share!  Selah!

Change of Focus

     Our lives are full of activity whether we are working a job or fully retired.  There is never a loss for projects large and small around our homes; so one thing which I have had the privilege to learn lately is that we can change our schedule to include looking at God's amazing creation.  This did not happen by chance.  It was divine providence.
     When I go for walks in the morning, I like to use my phone app "Map My Walk".  I have it on my watch too so I synchronize them both before I leave.  In the past, this app was able to post directly to Facebook.  However, circumstances changed and the app could no longer post directly.  The creators of this app suggested that we could post a picture with our walking stats if we wanted to and explained how this would work.  Therefore, on each walk, I now look for something beautiful or an animal I can photograph that I can share on Facebook along with my stats.  It helps me to keep accountability for my daily routine.  Plus it gives others a look at some of the beauty that surrounds us here.
     One of the things I have noticed is that my focus has changed as I exercise.  I am not just going for a walk.  I am challenged to observe the things around me more intensely as I search for a beautiful picture I can take.  My exercise routine has taken on a new focus, and I should not be surprised.  After all, the Apostle Paul told us where our focus in life should be.
     In his letter to the Corinthians (2 Corthinians 5:7), the Apostle Paul writes these words:  "...for we walk by faith, not by sight."  We are to walk each day fearing God, trusting in Him and not allowing our circumstances of living to overwhelm us.  We are to see with the eye of our soul rather than our physical eye that tells us a different story.  Our focus in this life is to be on God despite the ups and downs of living in a fallen world.  When we start our day with prayer and reading God's Word, our focus has shifted.  We are seeing life through the Lord's eyes.  What a difference this can make in our day!
     Jesus told us not to worry or be anxious over anything in His "Sermon on the Mount".  Joy-less living comes from stewing over things we cannot change or control.  Unfortunately, we all have this tendency to get upset unless we have learned to see daily events through the eyes of our Savior.  This is not necessarily easy to do, but it is worth the peace that comes when we are faithful.  This is why I likened it to my walks in the morning.
     I really hated my daily exercise because it was hot, humid and generally miserable outside.  I went through the motions but never enjoyed it.  Since I began to look for something beautiful to photograph and share, my attitude has changed.  It has become a fun exploration each day and not just an exercise routine.  The same is true in our spiritual life.  Each day when we seek the Lord, we are on a mission to see others through His eyes.  Rather than the circumstances of the day causing us annoyance, we can begin the day looking for the beauty of His holiness finding new ways to glorify Him.  It will make a great difference in our day!  May we look to the Lord for joy each day; for when we do, we will not be disappointed.  Selah!
   

Don't Be Afraid to Try Again

     Our family held a birthday celebration for our oldest son this past weekend.  What a joy it was to have our family together again, and of course, there was a lot of noise with grandchildren running and playing.  Among the

activities over the weekend, many in the family enjoyed swimming.  This is a great way to cool off in the hot summer sun.  Thankfully the grandchildren are learning to swim or already have that skill and that's a good thing in a state where there is a lot of water.
     I remember only too well when we took our young family swimming in a neighbor's pond.  Our oldest son had a close call when he got too far out from the shore into deep water.  His sister saw it happen and let us know he was in trouble.  We got him to shore, and I am happy to say it never stopped him from enjoying the water in the future.  He became a good swimmer to our delight.
     When we have a close call as our oldest son did early in his life, most of us want to shy away from ever doing that activity again.  Yet, that is the worst possible thing we can do.  We cannot conquer a fear unless we face it, and having the Lord's help makes all things work together for good.  This is true whether it pertains to swimming or if we have been hurt by someone.  We can either run away and hide from the hard things in life or we can learn from our experience and continue on.

Our son Aaron enjoying his birthday dinner.

     In three of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, the story is told of how Jesus faced 40 days and nights of fasting.  During this time, Satan appeared to Him to tempt Him.  First he appealed to his hunger.  Then he appealed to His emotions and questioning the love of God the Father.  Finally, Satan tempted Jesus with an offer of controlling the world if he would bow down and worship him.  Each time, however, Jesus resisted the devil and quoted correctly the Scripture which the enemy had try to twist.  Jesus did not run away from His adversary, but He resisted His attempts by speaking the truth of God's Word to him.  What a lesson for us to follow!
    James 4:7 tells us:  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  Then, in I Peter 5:9, we are admonished:  "Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.  "If we stand firm, the devil will flee and so will that fear of failing again.  We are overcomers in Jesus Christ and we must not forget that.
     One of my favorite songs is entitled "The Voice of Truth" by the group Casting Crowns.  The chorus goes like this:
    " But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says 'Do not be afraid!'
And the voice of truth says 'This is for My glory'
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth"

It is not hard for us to know who the voice of truth is...Jesus Christ the Word of God incarnate.  Therefore, we must listen to that voice and put away our fears of failure.  If we have been hurt or had a bad experience, it does not mean that this is the end.  For the Christian, we are to pick ourselves up and listen to what God is saying to us instead.  There is a risk in everything we do my friends.  We can be hurt again but if we never take the risk and try once more, we may miss out on some rich blessings.  To God be the glory as we step out in faith each day resisting the devil at every turn and thanking God for the victories!  Selah!

Having a Critical Spirit

     Lately, the Holy Spirit has been doing some housecleaning in my heart and the process has not been easy or comfortable.  Hiding the truth from ourselves seems to be less difficult than owning up to the fact that we need to repent.  In my case, I felt as though I was under a heavy spiritual attack from the enemy.  As I ran to the Lord for comfort, little by little, He began to point out areas I needed to confess.  With each time of prayer, I felt the burden lifting.  Amazing how God works in our lives!
     One of the areas I became aware of was that of having a critical spirit.  Oh how easy it is to fall into this trap, and many times, we do not even realize it.  It is easy to sit back and criticize others, but it hurts when we are on the receiving end.  I believe the Lord has discussed this well when He told His disciples "Judge not, lest you be judged..." (Matthew 7:1-5).
     Having a critical spirit means that we tend to view others and circumstances from a negative point of view.  We find fault, criticize, gossip, slander, judge and complain.  I hate writing these words because they are ugly, but all sin is ugly in the eyes of our holy God.  A person with a critical spirit may not demonstrate all of these things, but we can be certain that behind it is the enemy of our souls.  Satan loves to make us ineffective in our witness by turning our love for God and others into a "complaint session".  Before long, our world grows dark and everything in it seems imperfect.  So how does a person develop a critical spirit?
     One of the first ways which is easy to see is that all of us have a sin nature.  If we are a Christian, we still have the old flesh to deal with on a regular basis.  Essentially, we are selfish people and unless we crucify the flesh daily and walk by the Spirit, we can return to that self-centered nature.

A monument in Zurich, Switzerland to fallen soldiers

     Along with selfishness, we often do not see ourselves as a new creation in Christ.  Our value and significance are found in Him not in anything we can do for ourselves.  When we forget to whom we belong, we become afraid.  That fear causes us to go into protective mode and we begin to criticize others.  Somehow, we think this will make us feel better, but it never does.
     Another element that tends to lead to a critical spirit is wanting to control our circumstances and the people around us.  Where did this begin?  "It all started in the Garden of Eden" as my husband likes to say.  If we can control things around us, we will feel secure or so we tell ourselves.  However, change is inevitable, and when this occurs, the person with a critical spirit panics.  Instead of trusting God, they complain about people and situations who are disrupting their world.  Unfortunately, it is catching.
     When a friend, family member, or acquaintance begins to point out all that wrong with your job, your church or other people, it is easy to join the band wagon.  Before we know it, we are not only complicit in this sin, but we are also passing it on to others around us.  We have taken our eyes off the Lord and put them instead on imperfect people or the circumstances of our life.  The Lord clearly told us in John 15: 4-5 that we are to abide in Him so that we can bear much fruit.  Apart from Christ, we cannot do anything!  Buying in to negative thinking, actions, or words can only hurt us in the long run.  As the Apostle Paul so clearly instructed us:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
     A critical spirit only brings separation from God.  It is a sin and needs to be repented of rather than enabled.  This applies to all areas of our life.  God did not make us our brother's judge and jury.  He designed us to love Him and then to love others as we love ourselves.  We are to be givers of His grace and not critics in residence.  May we all learn to offer praise rather than condemnation, encouragement rather than criticism and love rather than disdain.  God is glorified when our focus and lives are centered on Him.  He will take care of all else for He alone is sovereign.  Selah!

In the Light of Offensive Behavior

     Seemingly, we live in a time where people are targets for another person's frustrations or anger.  I am thinking of the recent request for the President's press secretary to leave a restaurant.  She quietly acquiesced and left.  She could have lashed out in return but she wisely chose not to avoiding further
problems.  Unfortunately for the rest of her family who went to a restaurant across the street to dine, they had no peace as they were followed and harassed.  This seems to be happening with more frequency as tempers rise over political ideology.  The problem for most of us when confronted by an unreasonable person is to react instead of responding in a manner which will honor the Lord.
     Looking to Scripture for an answer about our conduct in public, I read the following from the letter Paul wrote to Titus:  "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, or slaves to much wine.  They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.  Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us" (Titus 2:2-8).  There are several important things we can glean from this passage.
     First, one of the words repeated over several times is "self-controlled".  What an important aspect of character this is for the Christian!  Young and old alike need to learn and exhibit self-control whether in speech or actions.  We cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit each day.  Sadly, I think our flesh too often wants to retaliate when someone says something unkind.  Proverbs 15:1 tells us:  "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."  We need self-control especially in this fallen world filled with animosity towards the things of God.  Sarah Huckabee Sanders demonstrated self-control when she quietly left the restaurant.  I am certain it hurt and was not easy for her, but by doing so, she displayed the dignity and self-control that honors Christ.
     Secondly, we notice in this passage that older adults are to be examples for the younger generation.  Older men through their steadfastness and patient love of God are to encourage younger men in their growth by setting a good example.  The older women are to teach the younger women how to love their husbands and children.  Being near to listen and encourage younger women is a big help when they are raising children and caring for a home.  It goes without saying that no one is to be a slanderer or gossip either; for this is exactly what the unbeliever is involved in too.  We are all called to holy living before the Lord.
     An interesting side note to this passage comes from a footnote in my MacArthur Study Bible.  Dr. MacArthur said that keeping a godly home atmosphere is a Christian woman's responsibility.  He goes on to say:  "The ideas of radical feminism were an integral part of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian mythology as well as to Greek Gnosticism which flourished throughout the Roman Empire during New Testament times.  This posed a constant threat to the early church.  Modern feminism is neither new nor progressive; it is age-old and regressive."  I never knew that ancient societies also dealt with the problem of radical feminism which can cause problems in relationships between men and women.
     Finally, the purpose of all that Paul wrote was so that we would not bring any reproach on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  People watch our conduct and interactions with others.  Therefore, we do not want, in any way, to cause others to stumble and keep them from coming to Christ.  In order for someone to be convinced that Jesus can save them from their sins, they need to see people who lead a holy life.  We will not be perfect, but we are to strive to live above our circumstances with the Spirit's help so that God might not be mocked as a result of anything we have said or done.  We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light on a hill so that others will be drawn to Christ.  May we persevere in this during the days ahead so that God will receive all the glory.  Selah!

Words that Hurt and Words that Heal

     In the past few days, I have received  emails from a company owner wanting to give me something for free.  He indicated that there had been a boycott of his business (I was blissfully unaware until he brought it to my attention) over his statements concerning our current president and those who voted for him.  As he elaborated in his emails, he said he did not mind losing customers who supported the president whom he declared was racist.  My heart sank.  I have purchased from this company through the years and enjoyed their products.  However, as my father used to tell me, business and politics really do not belong together.  If we have beliefs we are free to express them but when name calling and judging come into your business, it is bound to produce negative consequences.  I plan to politely write to this company CEO (since he emailed me) and let him know that I will no longer be purchasing his products.  This is the type of thing happening more and more in our country where people are discriminating against those with whom they disagree.  What ever happened to polite conversation?
     As always, the Bible has something to say about what we as Christians should be doing on a regular basis.  The Scripture comes from Paul's letter to young Pastor Timothy (1 Timothy 2:1-4):
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  In this passage, Paul is encouraging Timothy to remind the church at Ephesus to pray for the lost and those who are in pain.  Furthermore, he includes a call to pray for leaders and those in high positions as well.  Why?  So that the Ephesians and all of us can lead a quiet and peaceful life which is "godly and dignified" in every way.  He also says that this is pleasing in the sight of God.
     At the time of his writing to Timothy, the current ruler of the Roman Empire was none other than Nero.  For those who do not know the name, he was the Caesar (ruler) who burned Christians alive
to light his garden at night or sent them to die in the arena.  His wickedness and cruelty were well known, but Paul called Christians to pray for him and all in authority that they might come to the knowledge of truth.  Certainly Paul and many other believers did not condone or agree with this ruler but they followed the Lord's call to lead a quiet and peaceful life.
     Here is what my study Bible footnote relates concerning this verse regarding leading a "peaceful and quiet life":  "Quiet refers to the absence of external disturbances; 'peaceful' refers to the absence of internal ones.  While it remains uncompromising in its commitments to the truth, the church is not to agitate or disrupt the national life.  When it manifests love and goodness to all and prays passionately for the lost, including rulers, the church may experience a certain amount of religious freedom.  Persecution should only be the result of righteous living, not civil disobedience."  We are called to holy living before our neighbors.
     If we call ourselves by the name of Christian, we cannot ignore parts of the Bible that are sometimes hard to follow through on.  Nevertheless, God calls us to a higher standard and when we obey, it pleases Him.  There have been many leaders in the past with whom I disagreed, but I always prayed for them as Paul prayed for Nero.  Complaining, name calling, and hurling threats do not make for a peaceful and godly life.
    As for the owner of the business, I do not know if he claims to be a Christian, but he will go on my prayer list.  We must all remember that as believers we are ambassadors for Christ.  When we hurl epithets at others, we are really slapping the face of our Savior.  There are times when silence is golden.  My mother used to remind me often that "if I did not have anything nice to say, I should not say anything at all."  Let us be known as reconcilers, peacekeepers and run to God in prayer instead of blasting social media with hurtful things that can damage relationships.  Lord give us all wisdom in what we say, do and think that we might be pleasing in Your sight each day!  Selah!


P.S.  If you would like to know what business this is, please private message me on Facebook and I will let you know.

Before You Judge

     Growing up, I was privileged to work in the school library at C.D. Brillhart Elementary School.  While I tended the books, I also checked out many of the biographies and autobiographies.  I loved reading about people especially the great heroes and heroines of history.  I learned so much that is often overlooked because people are three dimensional not one dimensional.   There is so much below the surface that we do not know about until we investigate more closely.  People are much like icebergs.  We only see a small portion above the surface, but often there is a much larger section below the water.  This is why I was so taken with the documentary "Warriors of Honor" that I discussed in my previous blog.

     On the surface, Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were merely Confederate soldiers defending the South and the issue of slavery.  However, there is so much more to these two men than we could possibly know unless we examine their lives more closely.  I fear that we all jump to conclusions far too quickly, or we allow ourselves to be stirred up by social media or the press.  When this happens, we may join the crowds in pronouncing judgements that are not well informed.
     Unfortunately, this happens in the church of Jesus Christ as well.  Many a good person has left a fellowship because of innuendo, gossip or judgement based only on a one dimensional view of that person.  Pastors and other leaders have also felt the sting of unfounded statements made by members of their church based on incomplete information.  This is why the Lord Jesus Christ told believers in the most important sermon He ever gave (The Sermon on the Mount) that we should be careful not to judge others:  "'Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brothers, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is a log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye'" (Matthew 7:1-5, Reformation Study Bible).
     When looking at this verse, we have to be careful to see what it is not saying.  We should discern between what is evil and what is good. This is what we are to do.   The footnote to the verse in the Bible explains it well:  "Jesus prohibits one kind of judging, but approves a different kind.  Condemning others for their faults or failure to exercise forgiveness; only a gentle and humble criticism that first recognizes one's own greater faults can help.  There is also a necessary discerning kind of judgment that does not condemn but distinguishes unbelief from belief..." (Reformation Study Bible, digital edition, Chap. 7:1-5 footnote).
     If we set ourselves up as the standard of conduct, we have placed ourselves in a very precarious position.  Are we perfect?  Do we have any faults?  According to the Bible, the only standard by which we can measure our lives is the Word of God.  Indeed, this is what Jesus is saying.  Before we can pronounce judgment on another person, we must first examine our own lives.  Then, we can assist a brother or sister in Christ if we see an issue in their life, but we must do so out of love and not condemnation.
     Lately, social media has been infected with poison and hysteria when it comes to national issues and our president.  People are seeing only one dimension as presented by the press or one party or another.  Instead, we need to be discerning and get the whole story.  Name calling, judgmental pronouncements and some of the vile things I see written about our leaders breaks my heart.  As Christians, we must be careful to step back and get the whole picture looking at both sides of the coin thoroughly.  This is true of the church as well.
     Judging others harshly only builds walls, damages relationships, and sets us up in a position that can only be filled by Christ.  He, alone, will judge the world one day.  As believers, we can speak our mind, but we must do so in a God honoring way not with hatred, vile words, or pronouncements of judgment on others.  Let us be fact finders first examining both sides and the history behind a person or position.  Then, we can comment.  However, let love, mercy, grace and forgiveness lead us in our speech because God is hearing and seeing all that we say and do.  One day, we will be held accountable for how we have used our words.  Therefore, let our words be sweet because one day we may have to eat them.  Selah!

Give Thanks IN All Circumstances

     As I was looking at my Facebook page the other day, I saw a link for a historical documentary entitled "Warriors of Honor".  Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson were the focus of this movie, and being a history buff, I decided to watch this.  It was the best decision I could have made as I was blessed watching this video.  Both men were Christians and loved the Lord with all their hearts.  Their faith in God played a big role in the way they treated their men during the Civil War and how they conducted themselves in their private lives.  I was so encouraged, and I learned some things I never knew.  So when I turned to my Scripture reading for today, the verse from I Thessalonians fairly leaped out at me.

General Robert E. Lee

   In his letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church (I Thessalonians 5:16):  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  At first glance, we often think how difficult this is to do.  "Give thanks in all circumstances" can be a sticking point for any one of us especially if we have recently faced illness, loss or hardship.  Yet, upon closer look, we see in this verse an important word "in".  God does not ask us to give thanks "for" our circumstances but to give thanks "in" our circumstances.  Some of the things that happen to us in this life are devastating so it would be hard to be glad about them.  However, since our citizenship is not of this world, we can thank God in the hard places for He is certainly with us.  There were several examples from this documentary that proved this to be true.
     History records that a total of 620,000 men died in the Civil War.  During the battle of Gettysburg, alone, one-fourth of the Union forces and one-third of the Confederate forces were killed.  This was a mighty blow to the forces under the command of General Robert E. Lee.  Following this battle, Lee called for a day of fasting and prayer.  Every man observed this and spent time reading the Bible, praying and fasting.  As a result, nearly 15,000 men repented of their sins and gave their lives to Christ.  I had never heard this before either in my history classes or in books I had read about the Civil War.  15,000 souls were saved as a result of a day of fasting and prayer following a huge defeat.
Despite the circumstances, General Lee felt the call to put God first.
     Stonewall Jackson also found a way to give thanks to God in all circumstances as well.  In Virginia, his home state, it was illegal to teach African American slaves to read or write.  However, after services in his Lexington Presbyterian Church, Jackson offered a "special" Sunday school class for the African American slaves where he taught them how to read and write.  He was deeply concerned for their souls and shared the Gospel with them at every occasion.  Once again, I was surprised as I learned this for I had never heard this before.  General Jackson was breaking the law, but he felt it was important to teach these precious souls to be able to read the Bible for themselves.  Following the war, many of these freed slaves went on to lead successful lives as a result of his tutoring.
     Circumstances can change in a heartbeat, but we can remain steady if our first priority is giving thanks to God in all things....not necessarily for what is happening but for what He will accomplish in our lives.  History is really "His" story as is evident from watching this documentary which I commend to you.  God uses all things to work together for His good and glory.  Let us remember this when we are faced with difficult circumstances and give Him the thanks for His provision.  Selah!


P.S.  The movie "Warriors of Honor" can be watched through Amazon Prime (if you are a member) for free.  It is definitely worth the time to see this.

How do You Check Your Conscience?

     Jiminy  Cricket famously said, "Let your conscience be your guide."  Sounds good doesn't it?  Nothing could be simpler than trusting our conscience to lead us in the right direction, but can we really trust it?  To find the best answer, we need to look at what the Bible says.
    Jeremiah 17:10 clearly states:  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?"  Picking up on this truth, Jesus said:  "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, immorality, theft, murder, adultery, covetous, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness" (Mark 17:21-22).  This gives us a look at the conscience of
a person without Christ in their life.  We certainly cannot trust guidance from a heart that is not surrendered to the Lord.  Even when we do become a Christian, we still need to recognize that we cannot lean on our own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  Our dependence on Christ and His Word are what will keep us from stumbling when confronted with temptation.
     By observing the life of King David, we notice that he called upon the Lord in both good times and bad.  The Psalms reflect this clearly.  When he was caught in sin, he came before the Lord in true repentance.  This is the reason that God said that David had a heart after His own.  Through prayer, David maintained a relationship with the Lord who guided his decisions.  Both his adultery and murder of Uriah the Hittite serve as a reminder that following our conscience rather than God's commandments can lead to serious sin.  So how do we do a check up on our conscience?
     In a recent sermon on the book of Acts, Liam Goligher said that we must daily wash our conscience in the Word of God each day.  If we do not go to the Bible daily to do a check up on our motives, thoughts and actions, we are missing the wisdom of the Lord and put ourselves in danger of listening to our flesh rather than the Spirit.  Just because we have an impulse, feeling, or idea does not mean that it automatically comes from God.  Many people have listened to these "leadings" only to find out later that this was not the Lord's will.  If only they had prayed and taken time to check their conscience with the Bible, things might have been different.
     Each day, we are called to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  When we take time to prepare our hearts and minds, we will be renewed, encouraged, and ready for the attacks that can easily derail us.  So rather than taking Jiminy Cricket's advice, let us heed the warning that Jesus gave His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:41) :  "Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  God knows we are but dust yet He shows His love to us not only in salvation but also in His guidance each day.  We must check our conscience each day to make certain it lines up with God's Word.  May we be diligent to do this.  Selah!
 

Expect the Unexpected

     Life happens.  We have all heard that and experienced it.  At times, however, it can be discouraging especially when you have plans for a special day.  This past Sunday, my husband and I were headed for a wonderful day of celebrating his birthday with our son and his family.  We were also going to attend a production of "Mary Poppins" in which our grandson had a major role.  All seemed well as we headed down the highway when I started to experience some chest pain.  This is the second time this has happened to me in the last couple of years so I was concerned.  I told my husband about it, and we had to abort our plans.  I ended up in the hospital for two days for testing but thankfully, everything turned out okay.

Our grandson Aiden

     At first, all I could think about was how I had spoiled my husband's birthday and disappointed my grandson, but as my husband reminded me, I had to take care of my health.  Certainly, we cannot predict when something is going to happen especially in the time in which we live.  No one plans to be sick, have an accident or lose their job.  Life in this fallen world is anything but perfect.  Yet God works through every circumstance we find ourselves in and in the end, brings good out of what Satan means for evil.  Romans 8:28 says:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose."   So how did God work things together for good in this situation?
     First, I had several opportunities to pray with different people in the hospital.  A nurse on duty at night was in terrible pain and was trying to work until her relief nurse came.  She kept telling me how sorry she was that she was in pain.  I looked at her and asked if she would like to pray.  She agreed and we had precious time with the Lord.  I had a chance to pray with my husband, my son and another nurse.  Talk about a prayer meeting!  It is easy to see God's hand in all things if we will just pay attention.
     Looking back, I remember my Great Aunt Mildred Eitzman going around our local hospital cheering other patients up and praying with them even as she battled breast cancer.  She always had a smile on her face.  It was a lesson in courage and commitment despite her circumstances.  God used her till the end of her journey here.  In each of our lives, I am certain we know someone who has faced a giant and won the battle through Christ.  This is what we must recall when the unexpected happens.
     Because we face these events in life, we need to lean into the arms of the Lord and trust in His sovereignty.  He has us in His grip and He will never change or let go.  This morning I read in Psalm 32:7:  "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance."  This is an example of David's trust in God.  When trouble came into his life, he ran to the Lord not away from Him.  We need to do the same.
     Another verse that gives us confidence in the grace and mercy of the Lord is found in Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Before we are even born, God knows us intimately and formed us for His purpose and plan.  As we walk each day, we need to remember this truth.  All those little detours in our life can be an opportunity to serve and live for Him.
     If we live expecting the unexpected, we will not be surprised when something comes at us "out of the blue".  Our comfort and strength can be found in the Lord who helps us walk through those times when things do not go as planned.  Remember that it is God who supplies us with all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  Trust in Him who is able to do far more for us than we are able to do for ourselves.  Selah!


   
     

Don't Forget to Remember

     As Mother's Day approaches, I have so many fond remembrances of my mother who left this earth many years ago.  Her teaching and encouragement have often served as my port in the storms of life especially her love of the Psalms.  She taught me early in life to turn to the Psalms and pray them as she did.  She found comfort in their words and read them every evening.  In addition, she also closed every note, card or letter with the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 ("The Lord bless you and keep you...").  Of course, at the time, I did not think much of the way she ended her writing as I was not a committed Christian, but now I cherish this memory.  My mother planted so many seeds of faith in my life that God has brought to full flower as I have walked with Him.  For these and so many things, I am grateful.
     I also remember, with a chuckle, the many "Mom-isms" my mother gave me when I was growing up.  Things like:  "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" (translation:  Be nice to others not unkind); "Be careful to put on clean underwear without holes in them in case you are in an accident" (I never did get that one as they generally cut clothes off of you if you are in serious shape);
"Never let the sun go down on your wrath" (translation:  don't go to bed angry as you will not sleep...make peace with others); "If you are too sick to go to school, you are too sick to play outside" (self-explanatory); "Don't jump on that roll-away bed.  It is meant for sleeping not jumping" (said to me moments before I jumped on the roll-away bed, fell and cut open my head resulting in stitches).  Of course, there were many others that I found myself repeating to my own children.  It is good to remember the words our mothers have passed on to us for they were said out of love.

Mother's Day flowers from our children!

     In the same way, we ought to meditate daily on all that God has done for us throughout our lives.  Wouldn't it be a blessing to sit down and make a list of His blessings during the day instead of thinking about the things that went wrong?  Looking at Scripture, we find in Psalm 106 the words of praise but also the words of confession and repentance.  The Psalmist started by praising God:  "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 106:1)  Then the author goes on to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord and their covenant with Him.  Recounting and thinking about our sins is a good thing for us to remember.  When we see what a great sinner we have been, we can truly appreciate the wonderful salvation of our Lord.  Likewise, we need to recall God's commandments and direction to us in the way that we live.  Repetition is good for us as it was for the Israelites who tended to quickly forget all God had done for them.  This is why we need to teach our children and grandchildren the truths of walking with Christ.  If we do not teach them truth, the world will certainly instruct them on how to follow their fleshly desires.
     One of the surest ways to remember the instruction of the Lord is to read His Word daily and spend time in prayer.  Each time we pick up the Bible, we find in its pages an encounter with God.  Psalm 119:11 tells us to hide God's Word in our heart so we might not sin against Him.  The more we know His character and understand His precepts the more we will be able to follow Him in obedience.  Looking back on our lives gives us perspective as we see how God has worked in our behalf
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     Just as I often sit and think about my mother and all the good things she taught me, it is also good to meditate on God's Word, His blessings, who we are in Christ and what God has done in our lives.  This gives us a reality check.  Psalm 106 did that for the people of Israel.  They needed to remember their sin and God's mercy upon them.  Revival begins when our heart is tuned to the Lord's heart.  Let us never forget to remember all He has done for us and is doing in us!  Selah!

P.S.  Happy Mother's Day!

Losing Our First Love

     One of the downsides to putting something away in a safe place is remembering where you put it!
I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me and it is not just a sign of age.  When I was raising our four children, I would misplace items simply because I would become distracted by someone calling for help.  In short, my full attention was not focused on what I was doing.  The same thing happened to my parents one day and the result was funny to say the least.
     My father put his Brylcreem for his hair on a lower shelf and the toothpaste on the upper shelf of the medicine cabinet.  Ordinarily this was just the other way around.  So, when my mother went to brush her teeth, she grabbed the Brylcreem which was in a tube that looked similar to the toothpaste.
Needless to say, she was not a happy camper and it took a while for her to get that nasty taste out of her mouth.  While misplacing things is no fun, losing our first love of Jesus Christ is far worse.
     Jesus spoke to the Church at Ephesus in the book of Revelations 2:1-7:  "“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’  In this passage, our Lord commended the Ephesians for many good things they were doing.  However, they had lost the zeal and ardor that once characterized their love for Christ and the salvation He gave to them.  They were going through all the right motions but the flame and passion had gone out of their relationship with the Lord.  This is serious business both for a church and for individual Christians.  How does this happen and what are the signs?
     Life can be very distracting especially if we are parents of active young children or we work a demanding job.  We can easily put off prayer time or Bible study thinking we will do it later; yet, later never seems to come for us.  The longer we put off doing these faith building exercises the more distant we become from Christ.  This is not unlike a marriage or even a friendship.  If we neglect that other person, we will build some barriers.  Lack of communication is a relationship killer.  It takes effort to keep a relationship alive and growing.  This is one way we can lose our first love.
     Another thing that can isolate us from the love of Christ is when we are angry with God or unwilling to repent of sin.  When a tragedy occurs in our life, it is easy to blame God for what has happened, but if we hold on to that anger, we will be the loser in the end.  We often do not know why God allows certain things to happen.  He has the big picture and we do not.  This is where we have to trust Him in all areas of our life and yield to His Lordship.  Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has good plans for us even if we do not see the results at the present time.  Likewise, if we have sinned and are unwilling to repent of that sin, we have raised a barrier between ourselves and the Lord.  Jesus said that if we love Him we must obey Him and love one another.  This is contrary to living in sin.
     Apathy also can cause us to lose our first love for Christ.  It is a spiritual laziness where we spend more time listening to the "flesh" than we do to the Holy Spirit.  We could read our Bible, but that takes effort.  Or...we could go to Bible study, BUT there is this special on T.V. tonight.  Having been a Christian for 47 years, I am well acquainted with all the excuses for not building my zeal for the Lord.  It takes discipline and effort to serve the Lord.  Lets face it, it takes effort to work on any important relationship, and our fellowship with God is the most crucial one we will ever have.
     Now, we must ask ourselves, "Have we lost our first love?"  Here are a few signs:  We make excuses for not attending church; we have little or no spiritual appetite to read the Word; prayer time is a burden rather than a blessing;  our heart is cold towards the Lord rather than the passion we once felt; we do not go out of our way to tell others about Christ; we justify areas of sin or compromise;  we are critical of others rather than forgiving and we avoid Bible study with friends  when we used to enjoy it.  These are just a few of the signs that we have lost our first love.
     Jesus calls us to return to our first love for Him.  He desires to fellowship with us.  In this crazy world in which we live, it is easy to get caught up in all the busy activities of work, children and other obligations.  However, we must never neglect our relationship with the Lord.  May we be diligent in seeking Him every day and then, see how all the rest of our life will fall into place.  Selah!

Most Unlikely Choices

     Having been in several beauty pageants and then, having had the experience of broadcasting a number of beauty pageants for a local radio station, I learned a lot.  Doing interviews with the contestants which we aired before the pageant gave me an opportunity to get to know the girls.  When it came time for the decision, I had my favorites in mind, but things did not always go the way I had imagined.  Each judge came to the contest with their own set of ideas as to what made up a winner.  Of course, they were guided by certain standards as laid out by the pageant committee, but ultimately, their life experiences played a part in how they evaluated each contestant.  Even watching the Miss America pageant over the years, I often was surprised by the person who captured the crown.  So is it any wonder that we, at times, stand back and say to ourselves, "Why did God choose to do things this way?"
     As I was reading in the Book of Ruth (one of my favorites), the author made it clear that Ruth was a foreigner.  She and her sister Orpah came from Moab.  Moab was a nation that worshipped the fish god Chemosh, and was started by the son of Lot and his oldest daughter.  Their incestuous relationship brought about a people that would later cause Israel problems even though they were related to Abraham.  Nevertheless,  Naomi and her husband Elimelech along with their sons went to this area during a famine.  During their stay, their sons married Moabite women; however, both Naomi's husband and her two sons died with no children to carry on the family name or inheritance.  Only Ruth returned to Naomi's community of Bethlehem with her refusing to leave her alone while her sister Orpah returned to Moab.
     Ruth was willing to leave behind her country and relatives to follow her mother-in-law and care for her needs.  She proclaimed her fidelity to her and to her God.  While she gleaned in the fields to find grain for their food, she met Boaz who would later become her kinsman/redeemer.  He was a relative of Naomi's and had heard about Ruth and her kindness towards Naomi.  Under his protection, Ruth worked the fields safely.  According to God's plan, Boaz took Ruth as his wife when another kinsman did not wish to marry her.  The result of their union was the birth of Obed who not only carried on
Elimelech's family name and inheritance, but would also be the father of Jesse who would later be the father of King David.  What is even more astounding is that through this lineage came Messiah.
     Here we see a Gentile woman coming from a pagan culture that came out of an immoral relationship between a father and daughter.  God chose Ruth to be the wife of Boaz and the mother of Obed.  This is really a foretaste of what the Lord would do in tearing down the wall of separation between the Jews and Gentiles.  Furthermore, when we look back further in the line of King David and our Lord Jesus Christ, we find another Gentile.  Rahab the Harlot who hid the spies in Jericho would become the wife of Salmon who would father Boaz (Matthew 1:4).  God's plans are amazing and at the same time puzzling.  Would we have chosen a prostitute or a foreign woman who worshipped a pagan god to be in the royal lineage of our Savior? Ah but God's ways are not our ways nor are His thoughts our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
     Through this action by God, we see that Gentiles would be part of the Lord's plan of salvation.  Not only this but we also see how wrong we can be when it comes to judging people or looking at situations we may face.  Our God is sovereign over all the affairs of men, and He chooses to do things  according to His good will and for His glory.  We are often left to ponder why this happened or that took place, but one day, we will see Him face to face.  We will understand His grand design that now we only see in a mirror darkly.  Until that day, let us rejoice that God's work of salvation began before the foundation of the world.  He chose us and called us by His name.  For that, we should be thankful, and marvel at His plan to include two unlikely women in the lineage of His Son.  Selah!