the Christmas cast- shepherds

It was night.  The shepherds were quietly watching over their flocks in fields near to where Mary was giving birth.  When all of the sudden, an angel appeared in the sky and reported the good news of the Savior's birth.  The angel told them only where to find the baby and how to recognize him.  And then the entire night sky filled with angels praising God & saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased".  (I love the NLT version of that).  Then the angels disappear.
*
The Bible records next the shepherds speaking.  "Let's go to Bethlehem!  Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about."  I can imagine there was a bit more conversation going on than that though. Can you imagine it today?  We'd likely be saying "I have to get my phone", or "where's the hidden camera?" or "nice special effects".  Or perhaps there was near silence, awestruck by what they had just seen and heard.  Maybe very little was spoken, just action taken.  We don't know whether the shepherds questioned the validity of what they saw, whether they were silenced with the awe of the moment, whether they traveled with full belief of what they were to see or with an attitude of doubt and reservation, but we can know that they were every bit as human as you and I are and, most likely, had a similar reaction to what our's might have been. Whatever their underlying thought, the Bible says they traveled quickly to Bethlehem.
*
There they found exactly what they were told they would see.
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Luke 2:17-18, "After seeing [baby Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished."  Then vs. 20, "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  It was just as the angel had told them."
*
I love that the shepherds went and told everyone.  Many probably believed their tale, many likely did not.  But they told it.  To everyone.  And when they were done telling, they went back to their regular job and praised God for all they had heard and seen. 
This Christmas season I challenge you, along with me to share about what God has done.  Share with a loved one, one of your children, a friend, a classmate, a coworker.  And then, regardless of whether they believe you or find you and the story offensive, return to your normal duties of life with a attitude of praise and glory to God for what you have seen and heard.

the Christmas cast - Mary

I was nine months pregnant with my first son, Alex.  I was big, I was hot, I was tired and I was uncomfortable.  James and I were living in a tiny town in Northeastern Oregon.  It was an unseasonably warm mid-May Saturday afternoon when we decided we had to get new tires put on the car before Alex arrived.  It was also one day before my due date. In hind site now, this was likely not the best day to be taking care of this errand, but at the time (for whatever reason) it seemed quite logical.
We drove to our local, friendly Les Schwab Tire dealer.  Certainly they could get us all fixed up and on our way quickly just in case this little fellow decided today was the day.  We walked in to explain what we needed.  The most important part of the conversation with that nice gentleman that day was price.  We were still learning our debt lessons and we would not spend more than what we could pay cash for.  We were incredibly specific and insistent about the price.  The nice Les Schwab man assured us that there would be no trouble.  He could get the tires we wanted could afford put on the ole' Nissan and we'd be on our way in about an hour.  Perfect!  We could go browse the Wal-Mart next door until they were finished.
As we turned to head to Wal-Mart, James stopped and turned to the man.  He told him that if there was any problem to please call on our cell phone.  He gave the man the number and off we went.
ONE HOUR LATER*
We returned to Les Schwab Tires ready to pick up our trusty Nissan with new tires.  The bill presented to us at the register was quite a bit more than expected.  Shock!  What?  What is this?
The nice gentleman informed us that he only had 3 of the tires we were originally looking at.  So he chose a comparable set for us.  They just happen to be a bit more expensive.  "What?"
I am not proud of what followed.  I completely flew off the handle. "What are you talking about?" was my first question laced heavily with sarcasm.  I yelled (yes, non-confrontational me yelled) at this now-not-so-nice gentleman about everything from our limited finances to how hot, swollen, uncomfortable and tired I was.  I remember clearly reminding him that this enormous pregnant woman had just walked around Wal-Mart for an hour while he messed this whole thing up!
"Do you see how pregnant I am?  Can you see how uncomfortable I am?  Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now?  I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now?  If you would have done your job right, I could be home with my swollen feet up!"
I caused quite a scene in that tiny little tire shop.  My voice so loud, my face so angry, my tone so cruel.  I ended the whole thing just sobbing.  Sobbing.  Standing at the tire shop register counter just sobbing.  Hormones, sleep deprivation, anger, frustration, anxiety, swollen feet from walking the Wal-Mart aisles...it all played a role in my outburst.  It was not pretty.
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"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

I wonder what Mary's reaction was that night.  After riding on a donkey for all those miles, all those days.  I bet she was tired, uncomfortable, swollen, hot.  She likely just wanted to get off that donkey, curl up in bed and fall fast asleep.
I wonder if she knew she was close to delivery.  Did she feel the beginnings of the pains?  The sickness?  The "just not quite right" feeling?
"Sorry, we just don't have any space available."  Can you imagine!?
I can only guess my reaction; "Do you see how pregnant I am?  Can you see how uncomfortable I am?  Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now?  I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now?  I just traveled all these miles on the back of a stinky donkey, pregnant and you have NO room for me?!  Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
My tone would likely have been coarse, my sarcasm thick and unkind.  I likely would have ended by sobbing on his counter.
We don't know how Mary reacted exactly.  The Bible doesn't say.  The fact that she delivered the Son of God in a stinky stable surrounded by animals because the inn was full, is more of a side-note than a major detail.  It's mentioned only very briefly with just 10 little words at the end of a sentence.  The Bible doesn't make an ordeal out of it, just a very brief mention.  If Mary made a big to-do about it, we aren't told.
A little later on in that chapter of Luke, we're told "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." She remembered the details of that night; the birth, the manger, the stable, the animals, the shepherds.  The innkeeper?  Most likely.  And she treasured them.
I wonder how often I get all caught up in the "little words at the end of a sentence" moments in my life, allowing those "side notes" to play a major role?  How often do I get all in a ruckus about the "little stuff"?  I mean really, most stuff I get my nose all bent out of joint about are not nearly as awful as giving birth in a barn.  Really.  Yet, how many times do I neglect the treasures, even in the midst of chaos?  Do I miss the moments to treasure up and ponder because I'm still angry and stuck in the little side note moment?  Unfortunately I know there are times I do.  God provides us many moments to treasure and ponder, sometimes hidden behind a disappointment, a disaster, or a "little word at the end of a sentence."

The Christmas cast - Mary

It was a scene many, many centuries in the making.  A king, the King, would arrive.  The story foretold for many generation, nothing prepared the characters completely with the events set to unfold.

As I have been thinking about Christmas, the meaning, the significance, the amazing grace and mercy shown on that Bethlehem night, I have also been thinking of those people, regular folks just like me, who were called upon to participate in the story.  I have thought of those who in all likelihood were afraid, amazed, bewildered and awestruck by the events that were unfolding around and through them.  Sometimes it's so easy to forget that the cast of characters that we sing of and set up in our nativity scenes each Christmas, were regular people with emotions and feelings just like mine.

Today, I read Luke 1.  I love the story from Luke, perhaps because I memorized a good portion of it at Vacation Bible School one year as a child (yes, Summer Vacation Bible School) and it has remained with me all these years.  But, in Luke 1, we are introduced to Mary and in verse 29 we find that Mary is "greatly troubled" by the message delivered by the angel. I had to laugh as I read this.  Mary, a young virgin woman set to be married, is visited by an angel and told she will be pregnant with the Son of God.  It seems that "greatly troubled" is quite the understatement.  I would think terrified out of her mind would be more like it.  I can only imagine my own reaction.  I began to think of what would have gone through my mind had it been me receiving the news:

• I must be dreaming
• I must be crazy
• I can't be pregnant.  It is impossible.
• What will Joseph think?
• What will Joseph do?
• What will my parents think?
• What will my parents do?
• This was completely not in the "plan for my life" list
• I don't want kids yet.
• I'm not ready to be a mom
• I'm not ready to be the mom of God.
• I'm certainly crazy
• I can't do this
• I won't do this
• You can't make me do this
• I don't want to do this
• Why are you asking me to do this?

Those are just a few of the thoughts that came to my  mind.  I'm sure that there are plenty more.  "greatly troubled"?  Yes, I would most definitely be greatly troubled!  With much worry and anxiety and stress to go along with my "troubling".   And I'm sure Mary was too.

And yet, and yet.

Luke 1:38  "I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said"

What is the Lord asking of me?  What instructions has He given about my life?  I know for sure He hasn't asked me to become pregnant and deliver His son, the Messiah.  And yet, my reaction to the things He does ask of me are often, "I can't do this, I don't want to do this, what will everyone think if I do this?, Why are you asking this of me?"  It's not always easy to be the Lord's servant.  Mary had a very difficult assignment, and yet...

God is...

(from Time magazine)
This is the cover from the December 7, 2009 issue of Time Magazine.  The title pretty much says it all & you can likely guess what is detailed in the story.  From the Y2K scares that started the decade to terrorist attacks to wars to job losses to market crashes to housing bubble bursts to hurricane Katrina to Ponzi schemes to mass shooting in public places to major corporate bankruptcies, this was a decade that saw it all.  The average American, this story claims, is likely no better off than they were at the start of the decade.


"Sometimes it was as if the gods themselves were conspiring against this decade," the author of the article writes.  


And I would have to counter and say that it is very likely that the God was in complete control over the debacle of this decade.  Is it any coincidence (and you know what I think about coincidences) that this is also a decade that saw an increase of the acceptability of ungodly, worldy behavior in our country?  A decade that included immoral activities being labeled as "normal" or "alternative"? A decade where political correctness trumped Biblical correctness the majority of the time? A decade that saw the removal of God in our society in abundance?  I think it's no coincidence.


Hosea 7:13-16a
"What sorrow awaits those who have rebelled against me!  Let them die, for they have rebelled against me.  I wanted to redeem them, but they have told lies about me.  They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts.  Instead, they sit on their couches and wail.  They gather together, begging foreign gods for grain and  new wine and they turn away from me.  I trained them & made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me.  They look everywhere except to the Most High. They are as useless as a crooked bow."


God is a god of blessings and curses.  From Deuteronomy 11:26 "Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!  You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today.  But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before."


It's time to turn around.  It's time to examine our own lives.  It's time to compare with the plumb line provided by God in the Word.  Does my life align with His commands?  Have I rejected His commands and turned away from Him to worship something else?  We cannot change a nation, until we change ourselves.   And we must pray for those in authority over our nation, whether we like them and their policies or not.  Today is the day to choose, a blessing or a curse?

Give thanks to the Lord!

Happy American Thanksgiving!
We say "I give thanks for..." a lot today and on the days leading up to this holiday.  We focus on the things in our lives that are blessings, that we are grateful for. And that is a wonderful focus.  Yet, I wonder how often we say, "I give thanks to God for..."?  What a difference those two little words make in my heart when I udder them.  "to God".  For all I have comes from Him, so all my thanks should be directed towards Him.  Try it.  Today, on Thanksgiving Day.  Give thanks to the Lord.
Psalm 136

 ¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
       His love endures forever.
 ² Give thanks to the God of gods.
       His love endures forever.
 ³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
       His love endures forever.
 ⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
       His love endures forever.
 ⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
       His love endures forever.
 ⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
       His love endures forever.
 ⁷ who made the great lights—
       His love endures forever.
 ⁸ the sun to govern the day,
       His love endures forever.
 ⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
       His love endures forever.
 ¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them
       His love endures forever.
 ¹² with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
       His love endures forever.
 ¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁴ and brought Israel through the midst of it,
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁶ to him who led his people through the desert,
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁷ who struck down great kings,
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁸ and killed mighty kings—
       His love endures forever.
 ¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites
       His love endures forever.
 ²⁰ and Og king of Bashan—
       His love endures forever.
 ²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance,
       His love endures forever.
 ²² an inheritance to his servant Israel;
       His love endures forever.
 ²³ to the One who remembered us in our low estate
       His love endures forever.
 ²⁴ and freed us from our enemies,
       His love endures forever.
 ²⁵ and who gives food to every creature.
       His love endures forever.
 ²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.
       His love endures forever.

I give thanks to the Almighty.

     His love endures forever.

to the One who gave me a loving & faithful husband, who leads our family with Godly wisdom,

     His love endures forever.

to Him who gave us the gift of three amazing miracles who bring us great joy each moment of their lives.

     His love endures forever.

I give thanks to the Great I Am.

     His love endures forever.

to the One who provided friends in a far away land,

     His love endures forever.

to Him who holds family and friends tightly together though miles separate,

     His love endures forever.

I give thanks to the Perfect Promise Keeper,

     His love endures forever.

to the one who give grace & mercy abundantly and loves extravagantly.

     His love endures forever.

I give thanks to the God of heaven.

     His love endures forever.

another bright idea

It was not one of my better ideas.  The kids had come home from school, we finished homework, tutoring, violin practice & I had the bright idea that with still a couple hours until dinner, we could go run a "quick" errand to get a baby gift and save me the trip the next day.  This had "bad idea" stamped all over it.
I briefed the tired-from-school children about the proper way to behave while in a cute baby boutique.  (boutique?  yes, my idea just kept getting worse)  We covered all important topics, including keeping hands to yourself, walking, no hide-and-seek, no shadow light-saber fights, quiet voices, no touching ANYTHING.  All bases appeared covered, children smiled and agreed to the "rules" and we headed in.
*
I will stop here to say that my children are generally well-behaved, manner minding little folks.  However, they are children.  And after a long day of school, homework, tutoring, violin practice they really just want to run around the yard or the house playing.  The VERY last thing they want to do (or should be doing) is walking like little adults through a baby boutique.  I was seriously a few sandwiches short of a picnic on this one.
*
Back to the story...
Every single rule covered in the pre-boutique car briefing was forgotten within 3 minutes of entering the shop.  Hands were touching merchandise, hands were touching each other, voices were not indoor approved, hide-and seek was quickly put to a halt, light-sabering went on behind me and there was running.  Oh the horror.  The glances from the women who either don't have children or whom were smart enough to leave them home with the nanny (where is my nanny anyway?)  were sharp and disapproving.
After each offense, I would quietly and calmly *surrrre* remind the kids of the rules and command them to "stop it!"  Each time they would look at me with those adorable, innocent, "I-came-from-your-womb" eyes and say, "I'm sorry, Mommy."  This phase, complete with the look was repeated at least a half a dozen times on this adventure.
Finally I had had enough.  Enough!  Enough!  I looked at my adorable, driving-me-nuts offspring and said, "Enough!  I don't want you to say you're sorry anymore!  I want you to change your behavior!"
OOOOWWWWWW

"Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."  2 Corinthians 7:9-10

talkin' about Thursday

Today over at My Cup 2 Yours, the Talkin' about Thursday topic is good reads.  I have several favorites on my list, but really my very, very, very favorites are those classics that we read together with the kids.  over and over and over and over... This book "You are Special, along with the entire series of Wemmick stories, is an absolute, all time favorite.  Written by Max Lucado, it is a brilliantly written and illustrated book with an excellent message.

 

If you're curious, check out this reading with illustrations.  It's not great quality, but the story is complete.

To check out many other wonderful reads, head on over to My Cup 2 Yours.

God is perfect

But you are to be PERFECT, even as your Father in heaven is PERFECT. Matthew 5:48

God is perfect. Jesus is perfect. Unlike you and me, Jesus lived his life on this planet as a perfect human. Honestly, I think this has always tripped me up a bit. Not that he was perfect, I have no trouble with that, just what exactly 'perfect' looks like.

Perfect, in my mind, tends to be the woman at the PTA meeting whose hair, make-up and wardrobe are put together in such a manner that at any moment a picture could be taken of her and that photo would show her to be flawless in her appearance. Perfect, to me, was the homemaker whose home was beautifully kept, clean, organized, well decorated. The rooms of her home appeared like pages from the latest catalog or magazine. Perfect was the mom whose children were neat, without smears and smudges on their faces, with tidy rooms and organized playrooms. Her schedule was well-kept, with stimulating activities always planned to promote the proper development of her children. Having life put together in such a way that from the outside, from the onlookers perspective, all appeared flawless, easy, controlled. And somehow the stories of Jesus from Scripture do not paint a picture of him as this image of perfection. But nonetheless, that image to me, was perfection.

That, to God, has absolutely nothing to do with perfection.

Jesus' perfection had nothing to do with appearances. Jesus' perfection had everything to do with will. Jesus chose God's will perfectly over his own, over and over and over again. Jesus determined, through the lens of his human eyes, each decision he faced and each time he perfectly chose the Father's will. Not once, not a single time, did he select his own desires above God's. He may have wanted to, he may have had an incredibly difficult time deciding to follow the will of God. He may have imagined the pain, the fear, the embarrassment, the anguish that lie ahead, but in the end he always set his own will, his own fears, his own desire to receive the approval of others, aside and lived out the will of God. This is perfection. Jesus was perfect.

And he has instructed us to be perfect as well. Not to have a perfect appearance, not have a perfectly organized life with every detail in our control. The cross, my friends, did not look like a controlled life to those looking on. It was not neat, it was not clean, but it was PERFECT. The challenge we face is to live God's will perfectly. And we cannot do it by ourselves. Self-righteousness is just that 'self'. We can only be made righteous through the perfectly spilled blood of Jesus. We need God! We can tidy our lives, appear to have everything under control, live life only reflecting the stuff that looks perfect, but true perfection only comes from letting go and letting God's desire for our life take over. Sometimes it will look beautiful to the onlooker and sometimes it will look like uncontrolled chaos.

Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that we should live in complete and udder chaos. With dirty homes and dirty children and messy everything. But there is a balance. We must be authentic with one another. We must show the areas that are really hard to follow the will of God. We must be willing to let the curtain fall on our "perfect show". We have to be willing to share with one another where we find it hard to follow the will of God, where we struggle to let God take control. We must be willing to build each other up and to do that, we must let our imaginary world of perfection die.

Listen closely to the words of the song today. There's no such thing as perfect people.

Proverbs 10

OK so I'm feeling completely like JimBob Duggar.  Today, being the 10th of the month, I decided to read through the 10th Chapter of Proverbs.  You see, as JimBob would tell you, there are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Enough for one per day in most months.  So, if you are looking for wisdom (which is what Proverbs is) then a Proverb a day keeps the foolishness away.  (yes, I just made that up...geek, I know)

Proverbs 10:19 - Too much talk leads to sin.  Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Does this mean that I can't talk?  My mouth must stay closed?  Should I lock myself away from the world and be silent?  *I hear my family laughing at the thought of me being silent right now*

Of course we can't stay silent.  We must speak.  But too much speaking leads to sin.  Ever talked just to have something to say?  I have.  (many times)  And what usually comes out in those spewings is not thoughtful, uplifting, encouraging, truthful...

Proverbs 10:32 - The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

I would love to say that in order to make sure the words we speak are helpful words, we simple need to try really hard.  Unfortunately that seldom works for long.  The trouble with our mouths is that they are directly connected to our hearts.  And until our hearts are right, our words will never consistently be either.

Luke 6:45b - What you say flows from what is in your heart.

May I choose to fill my heart with patience and kindness, gentleness and joy, goodness and love so that what flows from my mouth with be likewise.

ps - I love the Duggars

beautiful mess

A great friend over at the Johnson 4 has a great post today.  A recap of sorts of 2009.  I especially love this post because it is so real.  Nothing fake, nothing false, nothing masked.  It's a look into her authentic, real, raw life.  Where God's working, what she's learning, how life's changing.  I just love that this post is genuine.

How often do we live masked?  How often do we not share our struggles, our troubles, our difficulties?  Even with those who are our sisters (& brothers) in Christ?  Too often.  Somehow it seems that to reveal flaws, mistakes, mess-ups, hang-ups, problems, difficulties, struggles, would also be to reveal weakness.

"But he has said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

A song I love...
"Ah, but you're the one who looks at me and sees who I was meant to be.  More than just a beautiful mess."
Thankful He sees more than just a beautiful mess :)

if it pleases...

Do what pleases you, as long as you're not hurting anyone else. What difference does it make? What on earth matter is it of yours anyway? If I feel good about it?

Ever heard this? I have. It's a fairly common thought. And really? Seriously? If what I'm doing is making me happy, behind closed doors in the comfort of my very own home and I'm not hurting anyone else...then why should it matter?

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God.  1 Thessalonians 4:1

Did you catch that last little part? Live in a way that pleases God. Even if it pleases me just fine and no one else in the entire world can see, if it doesn't please God, then I'm "urged" not to do it. "Urged" here is just another way of saying "instructed".
 Of course, we can't be responsible for the way that everyone else is living their lives, determining whether they're living to please God or please themselves or please their neighbor or mother or friend or... We can only take responsibility for what we're doing. I can only look into my own life and decide if the way I'm walking is pleasing to God.  (and that's a big enough job, I'd say)

Everything I do, whether in front of a large crowd (as if that ever happens) or completely alone (also, as if that ever happens), should be done only if it pleases God. But what pleases God? I have an aching feeling that the scripture has plenty to say on that. stay tuned...

no faults? really?

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

This includes __________ who was once far away from God. ________ was God's enemy, separated from God by (his/her) evil thoughts & actions. Yet now he has reconciled _________ to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, God has brought ___________ into his presence, and _________ is holy & blameless as (he/she) stands before him without a single fault.

But ________must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

Colossians 1:19-23a

They're gone.  Evil thoughts & actions -washed white as snow.  Not because of deeds, not because of works, not because of tithes or offerings...but only by the blood of Jesus.

ps - had to have that song today... makes me think of my Grandpa Shorty.

being glad - anchored in hope

1 Peter goes on to say "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."

I don't think it's an accident that Peter tells us first to put our hope in the mercy granted us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in the inheritance that is waiting for us that we cannot yet see & cannot be lost in verses 4 & 5. After he details where our hope should lie, then he tells us to rejoice in trials. I think Peter knew we could not find joy in trials without anchoring our hope first in the unfailing promise provided through Christ. If we put our hope in "stuff" or other people or position or dreams or expectations for our life, then when a trial threatens that thing, it threatens our hope, and there is likely no rejoicing. But if our hope is in Christ - nothing can take Christ, nothing can take our inheritance. Nothing. Whatever trial we face, our hope remains unchanged because Christ remains. Grieve? yes. Weep? surely. But lose hope? impossible if it is anchored in Christ.

hope where?

1 Peter 1:3b-4 say "Now we live with great expectation*, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay."
*hope
I was truly saddened earlier this week when I spoke to a close friend.  'Friend' is going through a pretty rough time right now, with the economy, job-loss, mounting bills;  'friend' sounded completely hopeless when we spoke.  Completely.  I don't think I have ever heard anyone sound so without any hope.  Ever.

After talking to 'friend' , I wondered about my own hope. Where's my hope?  Where do I put my great expectations? Where do I find it?  What is it set in?  I learned that if I discovered what I feared losing, I would also find what I put my hope in?   Since the resurrection of Christ, the mercy & grace it provides, the salvation received & the inheritance that awaits cannot be lost, if my hope is there, my hope also cannot be lost.  Oh, I may be saddened, grieve, weep over things or people or dreams that may be lost along the way of life.  But ultimately my hope will not be lost if my hope lies in Jesus Christ alone and not in those things.
*
 I think this might be a good time to memorize a verse (to remind myself of later, when I'm forgetting where my hope lies)...
Psalm 33:20-22 "We put our hope in the LORD.  He is our help & our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone."

a nail tale

My fingernails.  I love when they are grown out, neat, perfectly polished.  However, I live in the world of dishes, laundry, cleaning agents, children's baths...you get the idea.  About the time my nails are looking long and beautiful - breakage.  Usually too far back and very painfully.  But, when they are long, I am constantly saying how much I should go and get a manicure.  it's one of those "little things" that I like oh, so much.
Couple weeks ago, my nails were looking long and I kept thinking about how nice it would be to go and have them neatly filed and painted professionally (rather than by my 4 year old daughter).  But, never made an appointment, just thought about it...and mentioned aloud at least once in the presence of my fabulous husband.
Friday, fabulous husband comes home from work with an appointment card for me.  A manicure!  I smiled and said that I was so thankful.  So thoughtful that he went out of his way to make an appointment for me in person (because it's nearly impossible to make appointments over the phone, in French-speaking world).  I was so thankful, but...
Since the day I mentioned a manicure and the time the appointment was procured, my nails had taken a turn for the worse.  In fact, I only had one that could be considered even remotely long.  All short, all mismatchied, all snarly and ick.  I really, really, really wanted to cancel the appointment.  R.e.a.l.l.y!  However, number 1 - my husband was so thoughtful and I didn't want to crush his spirit (i mean, i wouldn't want him not to do such a thoughtful thing again) and number 2 - like I said before, it's so hard to make/cancel/reschedule anything over the phone and my appointment was for Monday morning, so there was no time to go in in person beforehand.
So yesterday I went to the salon, all ragged nailed.  I sat down and placed my ridiculously looking nails on the pillow on the table in front of the lovely gal (who had beauuuutiful nails btw).  She looked at them and smiled.  I am certain that if she could have communicated in English or if I could have communicated in French, she would have asked many questions about how my nails could be in such horrific condition.  But she couldn't and I couldn't, so off she went with her work (& a big job it would be)
I was there about an hour, not long.  And I left with amazing looking, very neat, crazy cute nails.  They're beautiful.  I love them.  She did such a great job in making my hands feel soft and my nails look great!
And because you're reading a post at 58°, you can nearly be certain this nail story is so much more than just a tale of my nails.
Question:
How often do I let the condition of my life as it currently is, determine whether I serve, give, do, be who God wants me to be?  Are there times when I say, "As soon as I get our families finances together, then we'll give generously"?  Or do I say, "let me just straighten out my bad habit or get rid of this nasty sin, then I'll gladly help that friend of mine who's struggling"?  And sometimes I have even been known to say, "I can't serve others because my life is in disaster mode too & what good would I be to them?"  Have I not opened the Word, spoken to the Lord, praised Him because I want to be "perfect" and "in order" first?  Do I try to fix myself up first, make it all pretty, work out all the "stuff" and then give to God?
But God wants us to come as we are.  All our flaws, all our weaknesses, all our struggles, all of us.  just the way we are.  It is impossible to "fix it all up" with out Him.   Come to Him and give it to Him.  He can work it out for His will, for His purpose.  It doesn't have to be perfect, it can't be perfect, for Him to use it. It is only through Him that we have the power to fix it all up.

 Just like my nails, bring yourself to Him in disarray, and He will make beauty from it.

not in my power

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire & the power to do what pleases him."  Philippians 2:13

I just absolutely love this!  Do you see what it's saying?  It's not of our own power or strength that we do what pleases God.  He is working in us and He is providing us the desire and the power.  It's not about what I can do, how powerful or strong I am...it's all Him.  He provides exactly what we need to do what He requires.  

Philippians 2:14 continues by saying "do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.  Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."  

Tough instructions.  But the best part is the promise that precedes this instruction - He will provide us with everything we need to live without complaining & arguing.  He will give us the desire to live innocent, clean lives.  It's not about us sucking it up and trying our hardest to "be good".  It's about knowing Him, relying solely on Him and believing that He will provide the desire and power to live a right life in His sight.

Thursday thought - what am I wearing?

The choices are virtually endless.  Jeans, khakis, dress pants, shorts, capris, skirts...in bottoms alone, the possibilities are plentiful.  I, myself, prefer a comfortable pair of nicely worn-in jeans and a comfortable shirt, sweater or sweatshirt.  Comfort nearly always trumps fashion, for me.  However, there are exceptions to my comfort "rule".  On occasion I have a reason to get all dressed up in a fancy dress that squeezes me in with sleeves that require my arms to stay in the down and straight position and a skirt that requires me to "sit like a lady".  If I have to...
Of course, I clothe myself every day in more than just clothes.  I also put on attitudes, opinions, thoughts, characteristics, activities.  And just like choosing between putting on my old, comfy pair of jeans & a broken-in sweatshirt or a fancy formal, I also choose whether to put on anger, jealousy, hatred, immoral living or put on love, peace, joy, moral behavior.  And it's not always as easy as picking out my favorite sweatshirt.

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."  Romans 13:14 (NIV)

The "rather" in this verse refers to the following verse where we're instructed not to participate in the darkness of wild parties & drunkenness, sexual promiscuity & immoral living, or in quarreling & jealousy.  So instead of putting on those things, we are to put on Jesus.
The hebrew word used in this verse for "clothe" can be translated "to sink into clothing"  I have an old-college sweatshirt that I love to wear. When I put it on, I literally sink into it.  It surrounds me, it "hugs" me.  I can wrap my arms around myself and just exhale with comfort.  I imagine being clothed in Jesus to be this way.
So why do I sometime cloth myself in the "rathers" than in Jesus?  Sometimes, like my old, tattered, comfortable college sweatshirt, do I think wearing Jesus is just not "fashionable"?  I mean, I wear my sweatshirt around the house, but I would never wear it out on a date with my husband.  Do I sometimes do this with Jesus?  I wear him to church on Sunday or Bible study or to a Christian bookstore, but I choose to put on something else when I am elsewhere?  Do I find that I can't "wear" him to certain places, with certain people?  Do I put him in the closet and only take him out occasionally, to look more "Christian"?

Clothing myself with Christ is a matter of the mind.  This verse also says we are not to think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.  Flesh here is referring to our human nature, which is prone to sin.  Focusing on our flesh and thinking about those things which might become tripping spots is not where our minds should be sitting in order to clothe ourselves in Christ.  As Philippians 4:8 tells us, we are to "fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise".  We cannot "dress ourselves" in Jesus and have our minds in the things of the world.  To be clothed in Christ is to have my mind on the things of Christ.

So clothe yourself today in the Lord Jesus Christ, put on his attitudes, his ways, his thoughts and think upon those things.

stuck on faith

I've been stuck for the past few days.  I was following a dialog on a fellow bloggers' comments between a follower of Jesus and an atheist.  The discussion went round and round between the two completely opposite points of views.  One saying that God is very much real and one saying that God is very much a delusion.  Neither person involved could be persuaded to the other's belief on the matter and no argument was powerful enough to change the other's opinion.
And I'm stuck.  Stuck because I wonder how it is possible to explain faith.  Faith is not seeing, touching, hearing.  Faith is not absolute evidence.  Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see [Hebrews 11:1].  Faith requires that I not see everything.  For if I could see everything, faith would no longer be required.
If God all of the sudden appeared for everyone to see and spoke in an audible voice for all to hear providing the absolute evidence that he exists, faith would no longer be required to believe that he was.  His existence would be as obvious as the sun's.  But God has required faith.  He found it necessary to place clues of his being throughout his creation for us to discover, thus causing us to believe.  This belief in the unseen and the hope of what this unseen provides, is faith.
To anyone looking for only the hard evidence, it won't be found.  If one is certain not to 'see' the unseen, they won't.  Faith requires something to remain unseen, to remain hidden.  And really, it makes absolutely no sense to anyone only looking for the clear, exact, screaming-in-you-face evidence.
I don't understand everything about God.  I am not sure why he chose to require faith.  But I believe that he is, I believe his ways are higher than my mind can comprehend and I believe that in the end, every eye will look upon him and faith will no longer be required to see him.
*
It may sound as though I am frustrated, helplessly looking for an answer that will provide me the words to say to explain faith.  I am not.  I suppose that's where faith comes in.  I know that I cannot possibly debate anyone into believing in God, the Gospel, the Bible.  I cannot have the 'right' words.  But I have faith that God can tap, tap, tap on the heart of anyone.  anyone.  And if that person hears the tapping...faith of their own may be born.  Of course, this isn't a license to sit back & figure I'm of no good to the Kingdom with a "God can do it all on his own" attitude.  Although God doesn't have to use us, he chooses to.  So, sit back, I will not.  But get all worked up, frustrated, angry?  I won't either.

just a thought

 Following the lead of my friend, Lori, over at Lori's Wacky World, I have come up with a fun, catchy little title to make this day more, ummmm, exciting.  Because, well, Thursday's are just Thursdays.  But now, here at 58° they are filled with thoughts.  It's not Thursday anymore!  It's Thursday with Thought.  Ridiculous, I know.

Anyway, I have been stuck on a verse lately.  It's one of those that keeps working it's way into my "everywhere".  My podcasts, my reading, my emails from friends, blogs I read.  It's been everywhere.  And since this usually means that I should look into it a bit further 'cause there's likely something there I need to learn, that's what I've done.

Psalms 46:10a - "Be still, and know that I am God!"

In Psalm 46:10a, the author says "be still".  This being still is the hebrew word raphah and it can be translated into "be still, to relax, to sink down, to let drop, to abandon, to refrain, to forsake, to let go, to let alone, to be quiet."
One of my favorite places in my house, is a big, oversized, cushiony, squishy, fluffy, comfy couch.  It is covered with overstuffed, enormous, yet incredibly soft pillows.  When I sit into the couch the pillows reach out and grab hold of me, sucking me further down into the cushions. I imagine this "be still" like my couch.  "Be still".  Sink down.  Let everything else drop.  Let the busyness of thinking and doing alone.  Be quiet, relax.  Be still.

But the verse doesn't end with a comfy, relaxing, carefree break.  There is more.

"and know that I am God!".  The "and know" part of this verse comes from the Hebrew yad'a.  Translated, this word can mean, "to learn to know, to perceive & see, to find out & discern, to know by experience, to recognize, to admit, to acknowledge, to confess, to consider, to be acquainted with, to make oneself known, to be instructed."

While we're being still, we need to also be "knowing" God.  We need to be learning about, finding out, recalling the times that we've experienced Him.  We need to be acknowledging who He is, confessing who He is.  We need to be getting acquainted with Him and allowing ourselves to hear His instructions.  We need to be allowing Him to make Himself known to us.

I think God knows (because He know everything) that we are easily distracted.  Life is busy.  We are busy.  He instructed us to be still, not because we need to slow down and relax and put our feet up because we're overworked.  I think He told us to be still, because He knew we wouldn't put our full attention on Him and Him alone to get more and more acquainted with Him unless we were still.

Oh, but it sounds so wonderful, doesn't it?  Letting the busyness of the day-to-day just be for a moment & spending a moment in complete focus on God.  Spending a moment praising & worshiping, praying, reading His word, learning a bit more about Him, listening.

Today, let's sink in to the Word and allow God to make Himself known to us.

"And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin.  For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins."
Romans 5:16

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."  Romans 8:1

Condemnation - 'the state of being condemned'
Condemned- '''to be judged or pronounced to be unfit for use or service'

Therefore - because I am in Christ Jesus, because I asked Him to live in me, He will never deem that I am unfit for Kingdom service or use.

Hallelujah!

a nasty 5-letter word

Sometimes a certain topic appears again & again & again.  Everywhere I turn.  I hear it on podcasts, during sermons, in my Bible Study, in my quiet time...e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.  I believe that these are not coincidences.  These, instead, are topics that God is trying to get into my thick skull head & eventually down into my heart.  Hearing the same message again & again & again repeatedly and consistently is when I know "God is talking to me" about something.  And currently it's all about a need for approval and pride.
It's a funny thing really, because if you'd asked me even two weeks ago the areas in my life that needed some work, neither would have appeared on the list.  But what's that saying?  "Be careful if you think you're standing, you might just be sinking"  Sinking....
*
Ah, the half-marathon I was just talking about in the other post.  Yes, my first race.  After all these years of running.  Finally signed up for a race.  And a big one - a half marathon.  What's nearly comical (and it will be laughable at some point) is how I was all thinking how perfect this race will be with my women's ministry theme this year being running the race.  Imagine the parallels I could draw from training for a big race and the race of life.  Perfect timing, perfect material, perfect.  Except for the real motive behind my desire to run the race.  Pathetic.
Need for approval and pride.  Truth be told, deep, deep down inside that place where only One other sees and only One other hears, my little ego was bruised.  I have been running for quite a while now, yet no long runs, no finish lines, not even a starting line. Just a regular 30 minute run, 5 times a week.  But I wanted to be able to "keep up" with everyone else.  I told you it was pathetic.
Pride said, "Kim, you are SO equal with all those other runners you know.  You can totally run a race.  Maybe even run a faster time. If they can do it, you can too"
Approval said, "Kim,  what will everyone think if you're the only person who's not running races?  That looks lame.  Are you even a real runner if you have never run?  Just something to chew on, Kim."
So for the past three weeks I've been running and running and running.  In the rain, in the heat, up hills, miles and miles and miles.  And I didn't even enjoy all the running.  In fact, I hated it.  I used to love my 30 minutes run, but I hated running in the rain, in the cold, for miles and miles and miles.  I dreaded it.  Hated it.  And for what?  For the accolades of some friends and the pride of knowing I could too.  Miserable.
*
I have been left to ponder what else in my life is there because of the little annoying voices of Pride and Approval.  I can imagine there's plenty.  How my house is kept, what I wear, what kind of phone I carry, how I speak to people on the road (who can't even hear me), what I eat, what I dress my children in, how I expect my children to behave & the list could continue, I'm sure.  All with that little "what would others think if these were not in order?"  Do I do the things I do for the approval of God, to show his ability & glory or for the approval of others to show my own ability & glory (what little there is)

I think it's a bit of a balance.  On the one hand, I cannot live in chaos.  I cannot look like a clown when I leave the house (well, i could but...).  But on the other hand obsessively making sure that everything is put away in it's place and the floor could be eaten off of so in case someone stops by they won't think I'm out-of-control (iow- they will approve of me and my home) is over the top.  IT all comes down to whose approval am I looking for?  It's fine to look nice, have a nice home, run a marathon...but for what motive?  For someone's approval?  To prove I'm good to someone else?  That's where the balance get tilted off kilter.  It's a daily act.  A daily picking up the cross and decided whom i will serve.
*
A few verses to take us home...
"pride leads to disgrace..."Proverbs 11:2
"pride leads to arguments..." Proverbs 13:10
"the proud will be punished."  Proverbs 16:5
"pride goes before destruction..."Proverbs 16:18
"pride ends in humiliation..."   Proverbs 29:23
Romans 6:16 "Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?  You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God & receive HIS approval."
*

uh oh, wrong race?

"...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..." Hebrews 12:1b-2a
"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Matthew 7:13-14

I've been training lately for my first half-marathon.  It's actually my very first race ever.  I've been running for several years now, but never any great distances or in an organized fashion.  But now with that slightly-longer than 13 mile race in the near future, I am running with purpose and determination.  A lot of time and energy will have been put into use by the time the race-day finally arrives.
I worry wonder a bit about race-day.  Being that I have never been to a race, I am concerned that I won't be able to find the number distribution table or the starting line.  Or, worse yet, what if I run the wrong race? There are several other races taking place that day.  Some shorter, some longer, some walking, some wheelchair.  What if line up in the wrong spot and run the wrong race?
*
Our lives are kind of like that, aren't they?  We are told in Hebrews that it is like we are running a race.  Others have run the race before us and have finished well & now it's our turn to run.  We are told to get rid of the stuff that might hold us back or weigh us down and we're to run with endurance.  But, I think, a major part of this verse comes with these words, "the race God has set before us".  We, before all else, must make certain we're running the right race.  In other words, what good does it do us to strip off every weight that slow us down and run with endurance, if we're not even running the right race?  It would be like me training for this race for months only to run the wrong one.  What good is that?
But what is the right race?  There are many to choose from.  Many.  The world has all kinds of different paths laid out.  Some easy, some difficult.  I think looking a bit further into the scripture, Hebrews 12:2 says "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus".  If Jesus is at the finish line of the race you're running - you're running the right race.
Oh, but this is difficult as well.  Many believe they're running a race with Jesus standing at the end.  Many believe they are looking at him and keeping their eyes on the path he is directing.  Many are doing and serving and teaching and leading and talking and writing.  But who they see at the end of their race, is not Jesus.  He may be similar, he may look and talk and act very close to the Jesus of the Bible, but he is subtly different.  Hebrews 2:1 says "We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it."  We must know truth.  Absolute truth.  And what we lack in memorized knowledge, we must investigate through Biblical study. Otherwise, things that are close to truth or sound like truth or seem-like-my-God would-say-it's-truth, become truth.
*
I heard some quotes this week from a fairly popular book that I was blown away by.  A book that some refer to as "finally providing understanding about the trinity and how God, Jesus and Holy Spirit work together".  Do these quotes sound like truth?  They did to me when I first read the book.  Honestly, I didn't even notice them.  They didn't stand out as falsehood.  And I wonder how many similar close-to-truths many of us believe that set us running on the wrong race-path.
 
"I am the best way any human can relate to [God] or [the Holy Spirit]"
~truth - John 14:6
"[God]: 'I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it"
~truth - Romans 6:23, Romans 2:16
*
Certainly I don't intend to begin any arguments about books.  My intention is rather to offer a warning that there is so much out there specifically designed to entangle us in non-truths.  And it's so similar to the Truth, that it's easy to get it mingled together.  Believe me - I know firsthand.  I am forever, unmingling things I've heard and read.  And we're warned in 2 Timothy 4 verse 3 and 4 of what is coming (& might already be all around us).  "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound & wholesome teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.  They will reject the truth and chase after myths".
*
We must take what every teacher, preacher, leader, author is telling us and verify it against the Bible.  We cannot simply assume that they are feeding us truth.  We must make sure we're running the right race, the race that God laid before us and where Jesus is standing to receive us when it's completed.

alpha quotes I love

We have just begun another Alpha course at our church. My husband, James, and I are huge fans of this course. Partly because we think it's an excellent way of introducing the gospel to non-believers and partly because it is the course that was instrumental in turning my husband's heart to Jesus. If you're unfamiliar with the course, you can check it out here. I would recommend it for anyone - mature Christian, new Christian, falling away Christian, non-Christian - anyone.

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During session 1 - Who is Jesus, one of my all time favorite quotes is talked about.

"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else he was insane or evil..."

One of my favorite Sunday School teachers growing up was T. He was, and still is very wise with amazing biblical knowledge and his life reflected what he taught us young ones. I would say he was a great moral teacher. But imagine if T. had also claimed to be the Son of God, saying things like, "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father." Could he be a liar and a great moral teacher at the same time? No, those characteristics are mutually exclusive.

But what if Jesus were insane? Could he have just been a crazy Jew spewing crazy chatter? I suppose that option might be viable, with one exception. Death. Jesus died a horrible, horrible death. If you've seen the Passion, you have witnessed what a horrific death it must have been. Would a crazy man take his spewings to the cross? Would he endure the torture, the humiliation, the pain? Or would he call uncle when he realized where his mutterings had landed him?

I think Sherlock Holmes says it best, "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

And if I have concluded that Jesus was, and is, the Son of God, not some good teacher or crazy man, then I must also conclude that every word he spoke was truth. I cannot pick and choose my way through his teaching, deciding to follow those that make sense to me and put aside those which are more difficult to understand their reasoning. All he said would have to be truth. All.

running the race

The women's ministry at our church here in Geneva is currently focusing on "Running the Race". Our focus scripture is Hebrews 12:1-2. As our women's ministry travels though this scripture, I will be posting what I'm discovering about "Running the Race".

For today I wanted to post The Message's version of these verses. I don't always like The Message version, but in this instance I really like it. It's clear and in today's language.

"Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in that place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over the story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Boiling Away

The Law of Deterioration (aka the Frog Principal):

If you take a happy, healthy frog and drop him into a pot of boiling water he will immediately jump out. He's likely thinking, "man, a bit too hot. I'm gone!"

If you take a happy, healthy frog and drop him into a pot of nice cool water, put the pot onto the stove and slowly heat the water the frog will likely remain in the pot, enjoying his relaxing soak. Before you know it (or he knows it) the water is rapidly boiling and it's long past time for him to hop out. You've got yourself a nice, boiled frog. Delicious!

*********************************************************************

I wonder sometimes how often I have become "cooked frog"? How many times have I plopped myself down into a nice pot of moderate water. The water that appears safe and full of truth, but turns out to be a boiling stockpot of anything but. Funny thing, it always appears harmless in the beginning. Just a nice pot of water. And it's never until it's a raging boil of death, that it appear like the bath of lies it is. It's a slow fade.

It's one thing to look back and discover those times when we've hopped into the wrong pot. It's important to look back to determine what it was that drew us into the moderate, yet oh so dangerous, pot. Reflections can help to avoid the situation again.

But what else can we do, to avoid getting into a pot that looks like truth and light, but instead is a pot filled with bubbly lies waiting to rise to the surface and devour?

From Hebrews 2:1 "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it."

i.o.w. - We must know truth. Real Truth. Pay careful and close attention to what Truth is.

I'm afraid there are times that I have relied on truth I've heard from others as "real" truth. Truth from people I know, celebrities with a stage, email stories that forward all over the world. I've listened and thought, "that sounds really good, really truthful. I believe that's accurate. Sounds right to me." And I plop myself down in that truth pot. But, if I measure that truth against the Truth, I quickly find it just can't stand up. The key is, I have to know Truth first and gauge everything else against that stick.

Oh, and it's not easy. If it were, we wouldn't be warned to listen carefully and pay close attention to the truth. It's a tricky world, a world full of pots of moderate water, waiting to boil away our soul.

Galatians 6:2-3

Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

From the New Living Translation

tough questions

It is so difficult to understand. It can be nearly impossible to explain. Sometimes (often) it seems there is no reason. But it is a part of life. Everyone, no matter who, will experience some trail, some difficult situation, some suffering, some pain, some hurt, something. No one is immune, no one is void of life's struggles.

But why? Why must we hurt, suffer, weep? Why the pain? And if God is good then why doesn't He stop the bad stuff from happening to his children?

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth--a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil."

Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

"All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

Job 1:8-12

Reading on in Job you'll discover that eventually Job lost everything. E v e r y t h i n g ! His children ALL died, his possessions all destroyed, his livelihood ruined, his own health was so awful he wished that death would come upon him. And the answer to the 'why?' in Job's story, at times in our own life, may be the same. Satan clearly tells God that the only reason that Job is a faithful servant, fearing God and avoiding evil is because God has made him successful and has protected him, his family and his possessions from all harm. Satan challenges God, saying that if all Job's wealth, prosperity, health, family are taken from him, Job will surely curse God. And with that, God gives Satan the o.k. to bring on the trials and suffering in Job's life. But why did God give him the thumbs up to destroy Job?

Allow me to answer that question with another...

Would Job remain in relationship with God? Would he continue to praise God, to worship Him? Would Job continue to avoid evil and fear God, even if his life became full of suffering, weeping, trails, tribulations, pain, hurt, destruction? It was a test. Would Job pass the have-your-world-destroyed-in-front-of-your-eyes test?

And if Job passed, that is continued to praise God, to remain faithful, to continue to walk in a relationship with God, to proceed down the same path, albeit rough and difficult, with his Lord, what example would that show to those around him? What would they see?

Sometimes I think we reason that suffering in this life is the result of our great ancentor's mistake in the garden of Eden. We often are quick to determine (especially in other people's suffering) that it is the result of our own personal sin. And, yes, the Bible is clear that sin does result in suffering. Examples abound of suffering as the result of sin. We must examine our lives and be honest with the sin that is there.

Sometimes there is something to be learned, a character quality perhaps to be developed through our pain that could not be learned otherwise. Or a lesson we can learn and pass along to others who might be struggling. There are likely many other Biblical answers as to why.

But I think it's important to look at examples like Job. A child of God, a "good" guy, who lost everything and endured more hardship than most of us could ever imagine to see if he would still praise God in the storm.

Fruit Smoothies

We just returned from a fabulous family vacation to a Beaches property in Jamaica. Wonderful time! And one of my favorite parts was the food. So many different things to choose from and all of it fresh and delicious. My absolute, hands-down favorite? The fruit. Fresh from the island - delicious! Each morning we'd head to the buffet breakfast and I would order a fruit smoothie. Made to order right in front of me. Fresh, frothy, blended perfection in a cup!

I could select from 7 different fruit choices, blended with ice and a splash of pineapple juice. Each day was different, I never had the same flavor and all were perfect! I was the master of my smoothie, determining what went in (and what did not). The best - Pineapple, Banana, Mango, Cantaloupe. Yummy!

And I got to thinking how my life is kind of like a fruit smoothie. How many times have I taken a bit of this and a splash of that, thrown them all together and mixed them up to create a "flavorful" concoction? How many times have I reduced (or eliminated all together) an ingredient to make my smoothie more appealing to someone else (or many someone elses)? Have there been times that I threw a bit of something extra in to "fit in" just a bit better? have I eliminated entire ingredients that didn't seem to "fit" with the world?

I'm not necessarily talking the obvious ingredients here either. (it's not the big stuff!) It's the subtle, the border-line, the gray stuff, that makes the smoothie seem a bit more appetizing. Have I simply added enough "God" to make my smoothie Christian, but enough world to keep it from being labeled radical, intolerant, judgmental? Have I thrown in some ideas that sound great, I mean really great, but are completely unBiblical? What does my smoothie include? Is it different from everybody else's or is just a slight variation on the rest of the world's?

How's your smoothie?

God is...

good.
Sometimes this is really hard to believe. I don't think there's anyone who hasn't questioned the goodness of God. We live in a world full of not good. Natural disasters that destroy homes and towns and people. Evil people who behave in horrible ways hurting others. Accidents that leave children without parents and parents without children. Wars, famines, earthquakes, pandemics...the list is infinite. Evil surrounds us. Everywhere.
And where exactly is this good God?, you ask (and I have asked on occasion) How can a good God just watch this and do nothing?

Nahum 1:7 - The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust him.

The world was once good. Back in the beginning, God looked at everything He had created and said it was good. Everything was good, just like He, the creator, was good. And it stayed good, until we messed things up, disobeying God and ushering in evil onto the good earth. And although we turned the world from good to not good, we did not change God. He remained (& still remains) good.

So, where is He exactly, this good God?, you ask. While we're hurting and crying and weeping with pain and suffering all around us. Where is He? 

The words of Nahum 1:7 say it best.  He is close. He is a strong refuge. He is good and is waiting for you to run to Him, trusting in His goodness to see you through the troubles that surround you. Run to Him...He is good!

too comfortable?

It seems to me that the older I get the more I enjoy routine.  Change gets more and more difficult with each passing year.  Our first move when I was an oh, so young 22 year old was much (MUCH) easier than our 7th move at the age of 32.  Seems that in that decade I had accumulated "baggage" that made it harder to make changes.  I would rather at times just stay unchanged and keep the same course.

Because, of course, that path is comfortable, familiar, routine and change is uncomfortable, unfamiliar, unknown.  And I would prefer to "know".  

But what if that comfortable, familiar path is not the right one for me to be on?  What if I'm comfortably journeying down the wrong way.  No one can ever be assured that comfortable is correct.  Sometimes we must be made uncomfortable to see God, to discover His strength, to be amazed by Him. 

explained life

***it's been a while.  i'll call it writer's block.  but, i'm back****

"Live a life that demands an explanation."  by Francis Chan

Demands an explanation?  There are really two ways to go with this.  One, reminds me of an American icon who passed recently.  His life, on display for anyone caring to watch, definitely could be unique enough to demand an explanation.  Definitely.

The other brings me back to Revelation chapter 3.  A life devoted solely to the will of God. This kind of life would, in this world at least, be so different it would stand out like, well Michael Jackson.  And it would require an explanation.  Demand it, in fact.  

This life, demanding a reason for it's behavior, would be hot.  Hot!  Nothing lukewarm ever needs to be explained.  Lukewarm is blendy, normal, routine, run-of-the-mill.  Oh, it might have it's slightly "good" qualities.  Deeds enough to show anyone interested that it's not pagan.  But is that what we're after?  Are we called to do a bunch of good deeds in the name impressing all we tell?   In Revelation 3 the church is scolded not because it doesn't do any deeds, but because it's not hot.  I'm sure there were plenty of people serving and "doing".  Checking their box, marking off their time, showing others how much they could contribute to the church.  But hot, not so much, Jesus tells them.  And their good deeds?  Well, the King of Kings was not impressed. And isn't that who we should be caring about?

It's a tough line to walk on.  To read this quote by Francis Chan, I could easily conclude that in order for others to wonder "what's up with her?" I need to "do", "serve", "hang out at the church" and show others that I'm different.  But I think Jesus clears that up in a single short section of scripture in Revelation 3.  He's not looking for our deeds, aimed more at impressing our neighbors than our Lord.  He's looking for us.  He simply wants me.  He wants you.  And when we are talking to Him, listening to Him, devoted to Him, the outpour will inevitably be hot.  And this heat will not be understandable to others.  It may not even be seen in full by others.  For if I'm doing and serving my King, my Lord, my God, why would I need to tell anyone else what I'm doing?  Why would they need to know about the evenings I've spent at the church, the time I've spent serving a needy family, the money I've contributed to causes?  Only the one I serve, my Savior, would ever need to know that.  

The explanation that would be demanded to explain my life would then be the result of my contentment, my joy, my peace, my faith in any circumstance or situation I'm handed.  The explanation cannot be the result of the deeds I make sure everyone knows I'm performing, but in the peace that passes all understanding that radiates from my life. 

friendship

Who do you think of when you think of God?  What images fill your mind?  What is He like?  Who is He?  What does the word 'God' feel like in your gut?  Does it make you smile?  Squirm? 

I am fairly certain that your picture of God and my picture of God are not the same.  I don't mean picture, of course, in the literal visual sense.  I am not speaking of what we envision God actually looking like.  I, rather mean how we think of him being.  His character, what makes him - him.  God.  

For me, this has been the question on my mind for several weeks now.  How do I see God?  Because, I'm pretty sure, how I see him will affect how I serve him.  Wait, let me say that again.  The way I envision God, his character, his purpose, his very being, will directly impact the manner in which I live out my commitment to serve him.

With that thought filling every ounce of space in my brain (& there's likely plenty of open air there), I set out to discover God.  I'm guessing that the majority of what I think I know about God and who he is, is based on not-much-more than Sunday School lessons from years ago, a few adult Bible studies, worship music lyrics and tales (aka testimonies)  told by friends, family, acquaintances & complete strangers.  All excellent ways to learn bits and pieces about God, but lacking in one major area - personally getting to know him.  

But, is that even possible?  He is, of course, God.  It's not like I can make an appointment to meet and chat with him over coffee at Starbucks.  He is God.  

And yet, it is clear that we can know him.  Which is so much better than just knowing about him.  He has left us his words, as written and expressed by various authors throughout history in the Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed…"  So what it says about him is what he says about himself.  And he says that we can know him-know him.  Personally.  Like a close friend.

Job 29:4 - "Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,…"

James 2:23 - "And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend."

Scripture is clear.  You and I can be God's friend, we can have an intimate friendship with God.  With God.  That should blow us away.  Friendship with God.  

clarification

So, I guess I have ruffled some feathers...

I think we attempt sometimes, at least I do, to look "normal", to agree with other points of view, to get along, and to not look judgmental.  Because "we" are supposed to be kind, nice, good, non-judgmental people, right?  I mean if someone knows very little about the Bible or Christianity, I could almost bet that they would know that the Bible says "whoever doesn't have any sin cast the first stone" and "be kind to one anther" and "treat others the way you would like to be treated".  Don't be judgmental, don't be mean, always be kind and nice, etc... And yes, these are all Biblical and scriptural.  But it doesn't mean "we" don't speak truth.  

Believe me, I am not judging anyone except myself in these posts.  If you happen to feel like I'm directing my comments at you, I'm not.  Seriously, I have enough work to do on myself, I don't have time to pick and pry at anyone else.  But, I post because it seems to me if I'm learning something or struggling with something, there might be somebody else who's going through the same thing or hung up in the same area.  And perhaps if you're feeling like I'm directing my post at you, you and I are sitting in the same spot of "stuckness".

As to being kind, I think it is extremely unkind, in light of what I believe to be true about eternity, to not speak (or write) truth...Biblical truth.  It may not always seem nice or warm & fuzzy, but I attempt to look at each post biblically.  Sometimes the truth hurts.  Sometimes when I see that my life isn't lined up with the Word of God, it doesn't seem "good" to know that.  Oh, but it is.

Please take what I have to type and look it up for Biblical accuracy.  If you don't believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, then you will disagree with nearly all I have to say...that's ok.  I'm not an expert in defending the Bible's accuracy and legitimacy.  There are others that do that much better than I.  Check them out if you like.  

I encourage you though, if you are a follower of Christ to research & examine & determine for yourself what is the truth, what does the Bible say.  And apply what you learn from your time in the scripture and in prayer to your own life.  If you find that I am posting nonsense that is contradictory to the Word of God, please let me know so I can research and examine it further and make appropriate changes in my thinking and way of life accordingly.  Isn't that how the body of Christ should be operating?  

My posts will not all be warm & fuzzy, like Oprah.  I don't think Jesus was warm & fuzzy, I don't see that the Bible is warm & fuzzy and I don't think truth is always warm & fuzzy.  Sometimes it points out something we would rather not know and stings our ego, our pride, our life.  

diversified?

Are you diversified? In my previous life, you know the one before children, I was an accountant.  I could always be certain I was providing excellent financial advise if I advised my client to be diversified.  Put some money in low risk options to ensure safety of principal balances and put some money in higher risk options to maximize returns.  But make sure you don't put all your money in one place, 'cause if that one thing goes down, all your investment bucks go right with it.  And then, well, you're left with nothing.  I would say that diversity is still great advise in today's economy.

Financially.

But what about spiritually?  Should we be diversified spiritually?  Should we put a bit of our service/loyalty/worship/trust (whatever you'd like to call it) into more than one place?  Our finances perform great when they're spread out amongst different buckets, what about our souls?

As hard as I know I've tried to spread myself out among many different (and very "good ") "buckets", this in neither biblically sound or eternally wise.  It is, however, great for not ruffling feathers and being friends with everyone.  I mean who can be angry with someone who agrees with just about everything (as long as you're not hurting anyone else, of course)?  And it makes you look really "kind" and "friendly" and "nice" too.  (added bonus)    I've tried to put a bit of what I have into the "money/possessions" bucket, some to the "tolerance/politically correct" bucket, some into the "as long as it works for you and you don't hurt anyone" bucket, and, of course, some into the "Jesus" bucket.  

Too bad this isn't Biblical, because getting along with everyone & not looking too "radical" is nice and easy.  But I think, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are asked to put all our "eggs in one basket" (so to speak).

"I am the Way and the truth and the life."

"No one can serve two masters."

"Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength"

These don't leave too much wiggle room for diversification.

 

photo from: www.compareshares.com.au/. ../eggs_basket.jpg