Friday, January 5, 2018

Chasing Away the Blues Jesus' Way (Part Two)

"When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow." -- Luke 22:45
"But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, 'Have you any food here'?" -- Luke 24:41

Sorrow. Joy. Human emotions. But they do not escape God's care, for He loves us so very much. He wants us to know joy (Rom. 12:12), to be comforted in sorrow (Mt. 5:4) and if Jesus' response to His followers in either of the above situations is any indication, He will enable us to know it! When He showed me His admonition to His disciples in each of these accounts, I knew they were an admonishment to me as well.
How often I have been tempted to simply roll over, pull the covers over my head, and give up, as I have been caring for Mom. In truth, I have done it internally: avoiding, detaching, even blaming others -- anything to pretend this routine is not the "pointless rut" it sometimes seems to be. And there is no monopoly on these feelings. Full-time moms know tremendous joy in having their young children with them all the time; but there is also loneliness, frustration, feelings of failure and inadequacy, and a tremendous inability to check off those things on our "To Do" lists (something many of us enjoy doing). Athletes recovering from serious injury or illness can find themselves thrown back to "START", unable to see the finish line, much less taste victory. Bright, idealistic graduates who emerge from college unable to find employment in their desired field. I think anyone whose plan have been thwarted for any length of time, or anyone who finds themselves at the mercy of their circumstances has experienced some of these same emotions.
Please allow me to share with you the principles God has shared with me from these verses:
1. Rise. In Luke 22:46, Jesus' response to His sleeping disciples was "Rise." Get moving! I have found myself, parked on the sofa watching endless hours of "Wagon Train" with Mom because she needs me to be with her. And some days she does. But when she's having a good day, I can get a lot finished so long as I stay close by, and I check in with her every hour or so. I just can't fall to the deception that every day is going to be "bad". I need to Rise. Give it a shot. If I have to close up the paints, or put away the ingredients, or close the laptop, there's always tomorrow.

2. Pray. In the same verse, Jesus tells His disciples to pray, Nothing -- and I do mean no thing -- beats the power of prayer. Heading to a fight without the power of prayer is like going to war without knowing how to use your weapon -- you've got the tools it takes, and you may even get lucky and plink off an enemy or two, but you are out of your league! Exposing your heart to your Lord and Savior, sitting in quiet before Him, awaiting His peace, or instruction, or loving rebuke, readies you for battle or pulls you back to safety where you can watch what He does for you!

3. Give. In Luke 24:41, Jesus asked His followers to provide what they had that He might show them the truth and bring them to joy. Some broiled fish. A voice to sing. A couple of hours of "free time" on a Saturday afternoon. A sweatshirt that no longer fits. Whatever it is, Jesus can use it if we give out of a heart to honor and serve Him. If a few bites of fish and a honeycomb can open a man's eyes to who Jesus is, what can a few years of teaching Sunday school do for a group of children?
 4. Watch. In verse 43, to prove He has risen, to prove His resurrection, to prove He is flesh and bone, Jesus eats what they have given Him. Imagine them at first, looking a bit confused; but not a single eye is turned away. And as they watch, the truth is revealed. It is as He said. They can believe for joy! For now. For all eternity!

He said it to me. He is saying it to you. Watch what God can do...

...when we get moving
...when we pray
...when we give
...when we watch

 

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Chasing Away the Blues Jesus' Way (Part One)

So, here's one of those moments where I give you a peak at my life for the last year.

My mom has dementia, and has lived with us since 2015. As you can imagine, I repeat myself quite a bit; but it's not like a Sunday afternoon visit at the local nursing home, or Christmas with your grandparents. It's waaaay more than just, "Granny, you told me that story already." Mom has trouble understanding and articulating -- anything. So, my day is more like...

"Mom, comb your hair." "Huh?" "Comb your hair."

"Mom, put your shoes on." "Huh?" "Put your shoes on."

"Mom, put your coat on." "Huh?" "Put your coat on."

Now, I could just do those things for her and save myself a lot of trouble, but she feels useless enough some days. So there's that to combat; constantly look for things she can do so she continues to "be important." There are lights left on, and dirty clothes refolded amongst the clean, and multiple unnecessary toilet flushes throughout the day. There is the pacing and anxiety. But the thing that weighs most heavily on me, is the need. Not the need for me to do all those things she cannot; that's easy. It's the need for me to be.

Mom looks to me for cues. If I'm ordering the omelet, she should want the omelet. If I'm laughing, it must be funny. If I'm rising from my chair, she must be going somewhere as well. Those things are definitely annoying, but it is more -- the need for me to do those things, to give her those cues, to be ever-mindful she is watching in order for her to feel safe. If I am where she can see me, life is OK; but if I am not... I am constantly "on", smiling, reassuring her, "carrying" her, and for an introvert like me... Well, let's just say, it has led to some moments of deep despair and dysfunction.

This morning I was reading Luke 24. Jesus' followers have seen Him, resurrected, speaking, but they -- verse 41 -- "still did not believe for joy." They had experienced so much pain and grief, they refused to believe something joyous had happened. It wasn't simply a death-to-life thing that had them in disbelief -- they had seen the dead raised to life before -- it was that the One they loved, the One taken so brutally from them, had returned. Tragedy had become triumph. Loss was now life!

I recognize that kind of disbelief. I have searched for purpose in all of this: "Lord, what are You teaching me? How are You changing or preparing me? Why have You brought me to this place?" And when He doesn't reveal it to me, I sulk, slipping into feelings of loneliness and purposelessness. The kind of feelings that make me want to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed all day.

Jesus' followers felt that way also. In Luke 22:45, as Jesus prayed fervently in the garden, He returned to His disciples and "found them sleeping from sorrow." They were so hopeless, so grieved, they slept, sorrow pulling them into a sort of giving up.

Friend, with Jesus, that is never the end of the story -- not so long as we are willing to listen to what He has to say, and see what He is willing to do. In both of Luke's accounts, Jesus responds to His followers' humanity in a way only He can; and He responds to us today as well. Please join me tomorrow, and I will show you what He has shown me.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Amateurs Welcome

I really enjoy cooking. I will cook for hours, and I'm not intimidated by any recipe. They're not all successes, but I will try anything once! I enjoy the challenge, cooking helps me "de-stress", and I enjoy it when others enjoy what I have made. But it is amateur hour. I never went to culinary school. My knowledge of spices, cuts of meat, techniques and terminology rests solely in the vast expanse of the worldwide web. I am creative as it comes, but comparatively, I am a hack.

I met a couple of hacks today, in Luke 24:13-35. My paraphrase goes like this: Some time Sunday morning, after the discovery of Jesus' resurrection, Cleopas and a friend were walking from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. As they walked, they talked about the events of the last couple of days. Suddenly, they found a Stranger was with them, and He asked about their discussion. After, chiding Him a bit for being out of the loop, they began to tell Jesus all that had transpired, all they had hoped, and now, all they were attempting to reconcile. But it was Jesus' turn for correcting: "Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" Jesus then, mercifully, expounds the Scriptures to them, revealing Himself to them. But they still can't see it. Not until they invite Him to their table, to commune with them further, are their eyes opened, and they see Jesus for who He is.

There is A LOT there. But I want to draw your attention to Jesus' initial question, and get back to this cooking thing (I'm kind of hungry). Jesus asks these men to tell Him what has happened these last few days! Now, when I read that, crazy and twisted as I am, I hear Julia Child asking me to explain to her the fine art of making Boeuf Bourguignon. Or Michelle Gayer asking for my Coconut Macaroon recipe.

Jesus... asks them... the story of His death and resurrection.

Just let that sink in. We know what they told Him. Luke records it. But compared to Jesus' version, I'm sure they sounded like a couple of real hacks. Amateurs.

Now I can't say what would have happened if Julia had ever tasted my Boeuf Bourguignon, or Michelle ever came to tea, but this is what Jesus does:
  • He comes alongside them first, obviously knowing what they were discussing, obviously knowing they -- pretty much -- had it all wrong. 
  • He walks with them. Two miles? Five miles? He goes with them the distance! As long as their ears were opened, as long as they desired His company, as long as they remained with Him, there He was.
  • He sits at their table and opens their eyes to His true identity. He communes with them as deeply as they desire. As long as they remain hungry and thirsty for His truth, He does not deny them, or rebuke them, or lord His gifts over them. He shares them.
What grace! What mercy! The Lord of all creation taking the time to reveal life-giving truth to a couple of aspiring theologians. And it is no different for you or me.

Each time I sit down to pray, or read Scripture, or write, it's amateur hour. On my own, if I would even do it at all, I am a hack. But it is the Spirit of the One True God who is with me, coming alongside me (Acts 9:31), walking me through it, and revealing Himself to me, as long as this amateur remains willing and open to correction.

And it's the same for you as well; just ask.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

On Purpose

It has been more than a year since I have posted here. I'm sure, eventually, I will address some of the things the Lord has taught me in that time, and the events that have occurred; but right now, I have been given a purpose, and I need to move toward that purpose. So, here it goes...

I have been studying the book of Luke in my personal time with the Lord, and I am nearing the end. In my reading, Jesus has been crucified, and the women have returned from the empty tomb to tell their account to the disciples -- some of whom were, no doubt, grieving, hiding, shaking their heads in disbelief, perhaps even feeling a bit foolish or betrayed. Luke says in 24:11, "And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them." The story of the women's encounter at the empty tomb was idle: stagnant, static; without purpose or effect; pointless, fruitless, powerless, and empty. Essentially, the polar opposite of what the account of Jesus' resurrection is -- or should be -- in me!

Now, I could elaborate on that -- the picture of Jesus' followers poo-poohing a bunch of women and their hysteria; what these men really thought... I'd like to, but not today. Purpose.

So, if the words of the women were as idle tales to them, what of Peter's reaction? Luke gives it to us in verse 12: "But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened."

Peter didn't think the women were nuts. Peter didn't think their words were empty or their tale was idle. Peter is the picture God gives us of how we should react when His words are truly life and power and purpose to us!
  • Peter arose! He got moving. He didn't give himself time to talk himself out of reacting. He didn't attempt to "apply reason." He didn't worry what the others would think if he got excited over the ridiculous rants of a few obviously emotional women. He arose. The sense I get from this is, immediately.
  • Peter ran to the tomb! I remember the slow, mournful pace at which my mother would always walk to pay her respects at the grave of her parents. They weren't going anywhere, after all. Peter ran! Excitedly! He could not be torn from his purpose. He could not be thrown of course. He moved quickly and directly toward his Savior, his Friend, his Teacher, his Power and Purpose for living!
  • Peter stooped down! Peter, in abandon, dropped to the only vantage point at which he could really substantiate the truth. He got his hands dirty without a second thought. He searched actively, purposefully for the hope that would determine his calling for the rest of his life -- an empty grave and a Living Savior!
  • Peter saw! Those who dismissed the words of the women as nothing more than idle tales did not, could not. To see as Peter did required movement, direction and discipline, and zeal.
  • Peter "departed, marveling to himself at what had happened." Peter left changed. He was still human, and, I'm sure, spent some sleepless nights trying to grasp the enormity of all he had just witnessed. But, because he believed, he took action.
We know from the rest of the New Testament that Peter continued to demonstrate his faith with his life. He continued to show everyone he met, the factual, historical account of Jesus' Resurrection was not idle, or empty, or powerless in any way.

What we believe determines the path we walk. And if I, too, believe the words of an angel, spoken to a group of women one morning: He is not here, but is risen!, I need to respond with more than an "Amen". I need to respond with all I've been given, and on purpose.