A New Year Filled with Hope

My daughter and her family are currently in Japan. When I spoke to her on New Year's Eve, she said they'd be getting up to watch the first sunrise of 2021 -- a Japanese custom known as "hatsuhinode." The Japanese believe it brings good fortune in the new year. Cynical me wondered how many people were watching the sun rise a year ago. 

This has been a year for the books -- or maybe it should be redacted. Never mind the newsworthy stuff, even the things my friends and family have experienced this year are like nothing I've ever known. My prayer list is longer than it's ever been, with so much sickness and sorrow, so many lives turned upside down, and so much uncertainty. And yet, we hope. The same people who were jobless and hopeless in August are now filled with hope that flipping the page on a calendar will make all things new. The same folks who begged for relief in May will breathe a sigh of relief when the big hand and little hand converge at an apex and tomorrow will be. Why? What is the big deal? How can 11:59 be all that's wrong with the world, and 12:01 be rife with possibility? What does one second mean to the whole of humanity?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not when it comes to the things we've seen this past three hundred sixty-five days. COVID cares nothing for time. Racial tensions don't wait for a certain time of day to boil over. Natural disasters, sexual misconduct and trafficking, elections, impeachments and bankruptcies do not rest on one single tick or tock. And yet, we hope. We hope that one second will change the course of history; we hope that in less time that it takes to pop the cork on a champagne bottle, all the dismal memories of the past year will be laid to waste and goodness will burst forth. We hope that a moment in time will change the years of bias, greed, underhandedness, glutting and gutting, raping and pillaging that have destroyed our earth and destroyed one another, and brought us to this place. We hope, in that one...single...second that propels us into a new day, a new year. 

How foolish we can be. Not because we hope, not at all. We were made for Hope. But that's Hope with a capital "H". In Psalm 71:5, the writer declares, "For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth." God set the sun and moon in the sky to mark out the days; God is the Author and Keeper of time itself. We simply measure it and decide what type of stewards we will be over it. And our stewardship should be determined by our hope. Psalm 146:5 says, "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God." Placing our hope in the Lord means surrendering to His design, stewarding our time in such a manner as to bring glory to His name, and having full confidence He is working for our good. Placing hope in a "1" over a "0", or an AM over a PM, or a Friday over a Thursday is as silly as -- well, believing that watching the sun obey its Creator will bring good fortune. 

I will be waking early to watch the sun rise. Not to seek some reward, but to thank God for another year, to ask for more opportunities to bring Him glory, and to dedicate these next twelve months -- however events materialize -- to Him and Him alone. I pray your new year is filled with Hope!

Be a Part of the Solution

Recently, I had razors delivered to our house. Razors. I didn't run ten minutes to the local drug store or discount store. Razors. To my doorstep. Convenient, yes, but someone once said, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." I felt like part of the problem. Our society is self-indulgent, lazy, money-centric, undisciplined, by the standards of our not-so-long-ago ancestors. My family history is one of laborers and craftsmen. Hard working, up at the crack of dawn, God-fearing, country-loving, and thrifty. Here I was, so desperate for razors, too lazy to fight the slippered crowds at Walmart, and such a part of the "convenience culture," I was expecting someone to walk up thirteen steps in twenty-degree weather to drop off a pack of razors. If they'd offered "lovingly-tuck-them-inside-your-warm-house-so-you-don't-have-to-stick-your-hand-out-in-said-cold" service, I might have paid the extra two dollars.

Have you ever paused to wonder how you would have fared in the days your grandparents lived? How about the early days of our nation? Ancient Jerusalem? This year I have been using The One Year Christian History Devotional, by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten. It has made me wish I'd paid more attention in Miss Williamson's high school history classes. More than that, it has made me reflect on my commitment to Christ. How far would I go? Would I be able to withstand persecution and hardship for my faith the way others did? Christ is our standard; our behavior and attitudes are to be measured by His alone, but seeing how others followed His example, and measured their lives against His as they should, is inspiring.

We are entering a new year in just a few days. A simple flip of a page. People love to see it as the start of something better, but any day can be just that. Maybe your day is today. Commit or recommit to faithfully reading Scripture. Find a good devotional to inspire you. Silence yourself humbly before the Lord, asking Him to reveal areas in which you need to take it up a notch. Refuse to allow things to remain status quo. Find a great accountability partner. 

Seek the greatest Solution ever -- Jesus Christ -- and be a part of Him.

Third Degree Burns Won't Change Your Enemies

Since we've become such an internet-centric society, the power of a positive review can be extraordinary. So can the power of a terrible one. Just a couple months ago we got ripped off. Someone who came to us highly recommended, who had one -- just one -- questionable review went to work for us and failed to do the job. Nothing subjective about it. No miscommunication. This person simply didn't listen, didn't take the job seriously, and failed to do what they were paid to do. The cost was beyond calculation. A friend suggested I Yelp a terrible review, but something told me I shouldn't. A day or so later, Scott wondered aloud if this person was the least bit remorseful, if maybe, they would consider returning at least a portion of what they stole. That was confirmation: if I write that scathing review, I remove an opportunity for this person to do the right thing. 

One of those "difficult" passages of Scripture is Proverbs 25:21-22:

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,

And the Lord will reward you."

What is that whole "burning coals" thing all about? Some study Bibles suggest acts of kindness will cause enemies to feel guilty for their bad attitudes and unkind actions toward you, and they will repent and seek forgiveness. That's good, right? We want others to repent when necessary -- especially when those who don't know Jesus repent for all they've done, not just the ways they've wronged us. But is that really what this verse is talking about?

In Romans 12:14-21, Paul instructs us in the way to win over our enemies using kindness. He reiterates the proverb about burning coals. While we need to persist in kindness toward everyone, even our enemies, and Paul's words can encourage us in that obedience, we cannot count on a Hallmark ending each and every time. We are all given free will, and some people, no matter how kind we are, will never even notice much less be won over. Besides, isn't doing kind things strictly for the purpose of changing the "bad person" a bit judgmental and formulaic? Aren't we to be kind because we have been changed? Paul and the writer of Proverbs is saying just that. 

In ancient Israel, coal was important for heating and cooking. A household bereft of fuel was a household in peril; but if a neighbor -- even an enemy -- was willing to share their fire, coals could be carried in a fire pan, likely on one's head, back to the household in need. What a blessing! These authors are not talking about some "holier than thou," "kill 'em with kindness" act, but an act of charity born out of the Holy Spirit's work in the heart of a believer. When Christians extend God's forgiveness and charity toward others, we give them the opportunity to not only stay warm or eat, but to do the right thing. We give them the opportunity to thank God for changing hearts and sending help. We give them the opportunity to know God's grace. We give them the opportunity to repent -- for the terrible things they've done to us, if necessary, but primarily for their sin against God. We point to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit simply by be being transformed ourselves, by walking out that changed life. 

I wanted this person to work for us; I wanted to see what they are capable of -- I believe it's so much more. I want this person to not be satisfied with what they have done. I want them to know they have the potential to be better. I want them to know God will bless their repentance. But I won't be dishing out third degree burns to prove it.

What Are You Celebrating?

"Sooo, tomorrow's the big day, huh?" someone mocked on Christmas Eve. He didn't add, "for you people," but I knew what he meant. If I hadn't had two calls on hold, a text on the screen, and a dozen other things going on, I probably would have jabbed back and said, "No, that's Resurrection Day, tomorrow is simply the warm-up." He walked away before things could settle down enough for a proper response.

He thinks he's funny. He thinks he's superior. What a shame that is. After our little encounter, it made me wonder, "What is he celebrating?" His children are grown, but there are no grandchildren. He's never spoken of any small children in his life. So, if he's not celebrating Jesus and he's not celebrating Santa, what is Christmas Day to him? Does he ever question not simply why we do this, but why it has been done for hundreds of years? Sure, sure, winter solstice, pagan gods and all that, but the giving thing. What does the giving thing -- maybe not to the extent of the western world but, all over the world, mind you -- have to do with Winter -- especially people who aren't even in the winter season? Why does everyone talk about peace and joy and good will, if this is simply a celebration of astrological or meteorological events? Where did this theme originate if not from the birth of a Miracle? if not from the advent of something glorious for all mankind -- restoration with our Creator? if not from history?

Today might not be the big day, on the Christian calendar, but it is a day of celebrating a promise fulfilled. Today celebrates God's faithful response to mankind's plight. Today celebrates the God's ultimate charity to His creation. Today celebrates the beginning of a life on this temporary earth, for the purpose of many lives begun in eternity. Today begs the question, "If you're not celebrating Jesus, what are you celebrating?"

Merry Christmas!

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Ten Through Twelve

The last three steps of recovery are considered to be steps of maintenance, meaning they are to be continually practiced once the first nine steps have been thoroughly worked. A life of recovery is just that: it is life-giving and life-permeating. The last three steps -- inventory and action, foundation, and outreach -- ensure recovery remains woven into the fabric of one's life just as work and play, eating and rest. Prayer is essential to supporting the construction of that tapestry.

STEP 10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

The Principle of PERSEVERANCE

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3

Dear Lord, this path I pray they will one day walk, is a hard path. There will be no "I've arrived" moments until they hear the words, "Well done," coming from Your lips. This is a path of self-inventory and discipline they will need to walk every minute of every day. It will not be easy, and the rewards may not seem as monumental and forthcoming as they did so early on in the journey; but Lord, I ask You to give them strength to persevere and eyes to see the rewards of recovery. They are there, everyday. I ask that, with a renewed mind, they see themselves critically but dearly loved and not abandoned. I ask that as their shortcomings -- old and new -- are revealed to them, You would embolden them to promptly admit them and take whatever action they are able, to make it right. I ask You to reveal Yourself to them again and again, showing them that You -- the powerful, the good, the eternal -- are always with them. You are the God from whom all blessings flow, and with whom nothing shall be impossible. Amen

STEP 11) Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

The Principle of SPIRITUALITY

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

My Lord, I have found there is nothing better than You. May they know that as well. May they thirst after You as a castaway searches for fresh water; may they seek after You as a pauper seeks the means to eat; may they long for You as a prisoner longs for fresh air and open skies. I ask that they would want only Your will for them; that they would be assured of Your love for them and Your plans to see them prosper. Lord, help them to walk in Your grace and goodness, and never desire to "go it alone". Give them the certainty when they ask, You will give them all they need to obey and serve You, and fix that petition in their hearts and minds. You will remain with them, You will lead them, You will comfort them when they fall, and You will give them power over temptation -- and they must rely fully on Your presence, direction, comfort and power. Remind them You came not to condemn them, but to save them, and Your salvation is the only true emancipation. Amen

STEP 12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Principle of SERVICE

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Oh Lord, here we are at a place in their recovery that seems to me so far into the future; but time is of no consequence to You. Your plan for each of us is perfect. It is so difficult for my eyes to see where they are now and envision them counseling and caring for others, but You, O Lord, are our hope and vision. I know they need not walk in fear or loneliness, for You will be with them every step of the way. I am asking You to prepare every place their feet will land and prepare their hearts and minds as they walk. They will not shed one tear or struggle one day without Your knowledge. It is Your comfort, Your trustworthiness, Your presence throughout this journey that will prompt them to selflessly serve others.  I pray they will identify with You and identify with those around them who are struggling, that they might bring Your light to them. I pray their quest to humbly serve You by serving others would be a lifelong quest; and Your strength, which breaks the chains of addiction will not only break theirs, but the chains of many others through their service. Amen

I pray this has blessed you and the lives of those for whom you seek restoration and health.

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Seven Through Nine

Prayer is such a powerful tool. Often, we find ourselves engaged in warfare against those we love because of their addiction. I am learning to constantly remind myself, through prayer, the warfare is not against them at all. They are as wounded and fatigued by this struggle as we are. Prayer is changing me. As you pray through the steps, bear in mind the change these prayers can engender, in every heart and every circumstance.

STEP 7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

The Principle of HUMILITY

"I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Oh Lord, I ask that they would be humble of heart and liberated of mind. I ask that Your Spirit would reveal to them their shortcomings and give them the certainty they are powerless to correct them. I ask they would recognize You as being powerful and willing to save them, and they would humbly submit to Your transformative hand. I ask they would surrender themselves to full examination by You and by an accountability partner, and they would routinely submit to being held accountable. I ask they would receive godly counsel with open ears and a heart yielded to correction and the sanctification process. Make them new, Oh Lord. May they desire the newness of life You promise in a way that is second only to their desire for You Yourself. May they wake up each day excited at the prospect of Your work in their lives. May they find themselves repulsed at the thought of living with the sins and shortcomings of their past life. May they bow before You and release their grip on anything You desire to remove from them. Amen

STEP 8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.

The Principle of BROTHERLY LOVE

"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." Luke 6:31

Heavenly Father, I ask You to bring them to the realization their addiction has never been solely theirs to bear. You have always been working for good; others have loved them and prayed for them, pleaded with them and raged against their destructive behavior. Help them to see their addiction has done harm to many and been an offense to the One who created them for so much more. Give them the desire to take their recovery so seriously they diligently search the times and places in their lives for those they have harmed; that they make a list and they pray over that list until they have the desire to make amends. Give them clarity as they make this list, help them to see each and every face and admit the damage they have done. At the same time, though, I ask You to remind them that this is who they were, not who they are or who You are making them to be. Amen

STEP 9) Made a direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

The Principle of DISCIPLINE

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24

Oh Lord, I ask You to bring them past the point of recognizing the harm, through taking inventory of their offenses, and on to a place of action. Give them the bold desire to look others in the eye whenever possible and make things right. Give them the courage and strength of character they need to put the well-being of others above their own comfort. Lord, I see it. I have a vision of the mature, disciplined leaders they can be, leaders who stand out by being humble and lead by serving others. Give them a vision of the healed life, the full life, the surrendered life they can experience when they put You and others first. Give them discernment with regard to making amends; show them when such an attempt would cause further harm and guide them through that process of acceptance. Amen

Steps Ten through Twelve tomorrow.

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Four Through Six

As we continue praying through the 12 Steps of Recovery, please bear in mind, this is just as much about your recovery as those struggling with addiction. You have been engaged in battle, you have been wounded, and maybe, you have tried to treat those wounds in a way not consistent with a healthy life of your own. Please allow God to work in you as well as through you. For His glory alone.

STEP 4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 

The Principle of COURAGE

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!" Lamentations 3:40

Lord, I ask You to give them the desire to bring Your light into their world. I ask You to lead them on a comprehensive discovery of who they have been and who they can be in You. Expose their dark places, flush out their ruined lives with truth, reopen festering wounds to be washed clean, and give them the courage to bring these things before You daily. Strengthen them for this exploration, Lord. Much of what has brought them to this place is fear; fill them with Your courage, O Lord. Show them that You are a Rock, that they can lean on You in order to receive newness of life. Prepare the people, places and things around them that, as they uncover parts of themselves -- the unhealthy things in their lives -- they would be replaced by conditions leading them to repentance, to You and to the next step on their journey to recovery. Amen

STEP 5) Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

The Principle of INTEGRITY

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Heavenly Father, please help them to desire integrity, and to actively seek it in all of their interactions. Please develop in them a desire for authenticity, a desire for transparency that even they are unable to explain. Help them to say what they mean, and mean what they say. Prepare their hearts to submit to accountability. Send someone they will be willing to trust. Send someone who will maintain boundaries. Pull them from the point of recognizing their wrongs to confessing them, speaking them aloud and owning them as past transgressions while seeking to move forward. Keep them from remaining fixated on themselves, and keep them from lingering in a place of guilt and shame any longer than they need in preparation for moving to a better place. Keep their hearts soft and humble; incline Your ear to their prayers and ours. Amen

STEP 6) We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 

The Principle of WILLINGNESS

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor." 1 Peter 5:6

Lord, break them. Bring them to bow before You, humbly, gratefully, willing to accept Your hand on their every thought, their every desire, their every word, their every act. May they be wholly given over to You that Your Spirit might transform them inside and out. May the bonds of addiction be broken as they claim for themselves Your perfect work at the cross. Free them from the slavery of sin. Strip them of their sense of self. But You, O God, are a gracious God! You will not leave them in that place. Fill them with Your character. Show them who they are in You. Give them a glimpse of what could be that they might gladly release the worthless things they cling to, and shed the garments of sloth and fear. Exchange their ashes for beauty, and keep their voices forever praising You. Amen

Steps Seven through Nine tomorrow.

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps One Through Three

It is my prayer you do not know anyone caught in addiction. If you do, however, I would encourage you to pray. The Bible tells us, "With God, nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37) God's power for possibilities was demonstrated throughout Scripture, and continues to be exhibited today in the lives of people just like you and me. There is hope. He is our Hope. (Psalm 71:5)

Today I begin sharing with you some meditations that have emerged as I pray through the 12 Steps of Recovery for those in addiction. I pray you will be blessed:

STEP 1) We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable. 

The Principle of HONESTY

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Romans 7:18 

Lord, I ask that they would grow weary. Weary of pretending, weary of lies, weary of struggling for control. I ask that they would see their life for what it is. Open their eyes, Lord. Remove the blinders placed on them by years of deception. Show them how they have created this life in chaos, and cause them to reject another moment of it. Soften their hearts and bring them to the realization that they have tried and they have failed; their continued efforts and failures prove they are powerless over their addiction. Help them to see the proof. Lord, I ask you to put that admission in their hearts and on their lips. Bring them to a place of admitting their impotence. Bring them to a place of seeing their intentions for what they are, but recognizing their actions have led them to a place of unruliness. Help them to know that only truth will set them free. Transform them with truth. Amen

STEP 2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 

The Principle of HOPE

“He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins." Romans 8:3b

Lord, I ask You to demonstrate Your love for them in such a way they will know You command the wind and waves; that they will know You are not only able but willing to bring them to a saving knowledge of You and bring them to full restoration. I ask that they would see, would hear, would feel the change You are bringing about in their lives. I ask that they would understand only goodness flows from You. Restore their hope, Lord, by drawing their eyes to You. I ask that they would see every blessing as an affirmation of Your love for them and an assurance of Your desire to see their lives redeemed. I ask that they would taste of Your goodness, that it might become an object of their desire and they would rest firmly and resolutely on Your power to transform. Amen

STEP 3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. 

The principle of SURRENDER

"Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.'” Luke 9:23

Oh, Lord, I pray they might relinquish their will and their lives to Your care. Lord, I pray they might give up their desires and their willfulness. Turn their backs on all their efforts and all their failed and foolish plans. Give them to know it is their will that has brought them to this point. I ask that Your grace, Your protection, Your power and Your plan might become attractive to them. That in tasting and seeing Your goodness and the transformation it brings, they would decide to surrender to You. Lord, I ask You to bless their minds, clearing them to make good decisions, decisions that lead to life and fullness of life. Lord, I ask You to bring them to a decision to let go and die to all they have wrought, and choose instead to give themselves over to Your care, Your mercy and Your grace. Amen

Steps Four through Six tomorrow.

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction

In 2018, my husband and I were called by the Lord to be part of a situation we had left behind. It was a problem we no longer tried to solve, no longer wanted to solve, and, quite honestly, only occasionally asked God to solve. This new commission renewed our hope, at the same time, placing us right in the thick of things once again. A little over a month ago, it ended as quickly as it began. It was heart-breaking. We experienced grief, loss, fear, anger, betrayal, and emptiness; but most of all, utter confusion. NOTHING had been resolved. If anything, the situation was more volatile than before. What had been the purpose for all of this?

I don't have that answer in its entirety, but something God revealed to me within those first few dark days was, we had lost hope. The wound had grown so much a part of our lives, we stopped asking for it to be healed. But it wasn't just our wound -- others were suffering as well; and even if we chose to live with the pain, we had an obligation to pray for others. As Christians, didn't we desire God's glory? Shouldn't we have been praying for God to be exalted and His name to be made known? But, we had lost hope. 

That is when I began to pray through the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, to "stand in the gap" for those as yet unable to do it for themselves. I asked God to bring these new admissions and behaviors to fruition in them. I prayed, asking God to prepare the places where I hope they will one day step. As I prayed, I found hope, and strength, and a renewed commitment to their recovery. As I prayed, my focus began to turn back to the God of the HIMpossible and the Hope that is ours.

Over the next few days I would like to share with you things I hope will be a resource for those affected by addiction:

Far too many lives have been touched by addiction. Addiction, in one form or another seems to exist within our nature. Some people realize their triggers early on and find ways to manage without lapsing into addictive behaviors. Some spend most of their lives struggling to get free of something that controls the way they think, the things they say, and the way they act. Over and over, the cycle repeats: the desire to be free, the fight to get free, and the concession that freedom is impossible. Engaged in that battle are the addicts themselves, and those around them. Coworkers, neighbors, sponsors, friends, spouses, children. People who may have never abused substances or wrestled with addiction in their life are now wrestling with the addiction of those close to them.

I believe there is hope. I believe that, as those looking on from a distance or living with an addict on a daily basis, we can help. We can help in a way that requires commitment and discipline (things most addicts struggle to maintain for themselves), passion and compassion (things most co-dependents, friends and family members struggle to maintain with regard to an addicted person), and prayer. One of the tenets of support organizations (such as Al Anon and Nar Anon) is to understand and navigate another's addiction by teaching family and friends to practice the 12 Steps of Recovery themselves. I believe those 12 Steps can also be prayed through.

I believe the 12 Steps and their principles are applicable to all our lives, no matter where we are in our addiction or the addiction of others. As you pray these steps, it is my hope you will find healing and your prayers will bring about healing for those in your life.

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." ~ James 5:16b

 Steps One through Three tomorrow.

Twenty-Six Words Tell the Rest of the Story

“Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

So begins the biblical account of Job's trials. Prior to this, we learn Job was rich in children and goods and reputation. He was blameless before the Lord and great before men. A real stand-up guy. But Satan challenged Job's loyalty and God's deservedness of it. "He's only loyal to You because You bless him so," he said. God handed His child's possessions, family, health, and even his relationships over to Satan. "Give it all you've got," God told the Destroyer. And he did. Job lost it all, but "in all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." Forty-one short chapters later, we see the end result: God replies (more on that another day), Job repents (more on that in a minute), his friends are commanded to offer sacrifice for their crazy presumptions, and God blessed Job more than He had before. The book concludes with the words, "After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days." That's important -- those last twenty-six words. 

Contemporary Western culture has a way of fixating on things. Things are a sign of prosperity. Things equal blessing, and blessing equals things. And too much contemporary "Christianity" (which, I believe, is not Christianity at all) teaches that the cross restores us the way Job was restored -- right now, in the natural. Far too many of us read the account of Job, and our take away is the blessing. We suffer a bit; we get blessed a lot. This year has been a perfect proving ground for God's people: global pandemic, racial injustice, riots, widespread unemployment, a volatile political climate -- in addition to the problems that plague us in a normal three hundred and sixty-five day period. I have heard so many people say how they can't wait until this year is over, but God is not on our timetable. The simple turning of a page does not mean life will somehow become different better or different worse. Because we have decided time is up does not mean it is. Because we have decided we've had enough does not mean we have. We can't begin to presume what God has accomplished, will accomplish or is accomplishing through the things we've endured recently. And we can't presume to know when it will end. So what if the blessing as we would like it doesn't come? Do you think Job endured all he did thinking to himself, "Seventeen more days. Seventeen days and this will all be fixed"? No, in fact, he repented! (I believe, because he had held on to his faith in God, because he had hunkered down and plowed through. I've done that, and, when all is said and done, I've not cursed God or turned from the Lord. But, I have felt awful. It was ugly -- maybe not on the outside, but on the inside. I've never wanted to go through a trial and, at the end said, "Well, God, I still don't hate You. I didn't curse You." No! I want to say, "I LOVE YOU! You are still my everything! I praised Your name the whole way through because You are worthy!" In reality, however, I didn't quite "keep the faith." Silently I raged; alone I accused and panicked. And based on what we're told of Job in verse one of chapter one, I think Job might have been the same way. I think he was resolute, but lacked peace from time to time. I think, that in trying to defend God and defend himself and figure it all out, Job said some things that caused him regret; he took his eyes off of God's goodness and sovereignty in an effort to provide himself with some solace. And he felt awful. But, that's just my two sense.) Let's get back to the blessing thing.

I made a joke about forty-one short chapters, but compared to the "months" (?) Job suffered, it's nothing. We can read the entire Book of Job in less than a day while sitting with a cup of tea and our feet up. Job. Suffered. And, yes, he did receive blessing: things restored, relationships and family restored -- for four generations! -- and a long life. But the blessing is not the point. Enduring for a time until the blessing arrives is not the point. How do I know? Because Job died. Just like everyone else under the curse, Job died. The blessing was not the end-all to beat-all. The blessing is not the conclusion. The blessing of more stuff was not his eternity. The takeaway is, he died. He lived through a terrible ordeal, and maybe others not as terrible after that. He got blessed -- not necessarily rewarded for being a good guy or for proving God right before Satan -- but, he got blessed. And then, sometime later, he died.

God loves each of His children. God blesses them according to His plan. Some of us are held to the fire -- more than once. But when we can see that as a blessing -- as God using us to bless others, as God maturing us, as God drawing us closer, as God simply exercising His holy prerogative for purposes we may not learn in this portion of life -- it redefines blessing in our minds and in our lives. May we always live with joy and gratitude so others will know the rest of the story.

Choosing Difficulty

This is the time of year a Babe who humbly entered the world is celebrated. This is the time of year God's Goodness came to earth. This is the time of year we marvel at a faithful, obedient young virgin and struggle to imagine the shock she must have felt on hearing of God's plan for her life. This is the time of year the selections we read or the sermons we hear make mention of, but usually gloss over, all God had in store for a man who simply wanted to take a wife. Matthew 1, tells us Joseph was a man who kept the law of Moses. The Bible doesn't tell us of his romantic feelings for Mary. We're not told if he chose her, or if his family pushed the issue. Tradition says Joseph was an older man; Mary was in her early teens. I imagine Joseph, having his own business, a small cache of regular customers. I imagine him working all day, coming home late in the evening to a meal of vegetables and some barley bread, praying and heading off to bed. Stable, quiet, routine, drama free. Taking a wife should have been a time of blessing. Taking a wife should have provided him with a helper. some children, someone to keep their home. But before any of that could be -- difficulty. 

Mary was "found to be pregnant." How? I think many of us assume Mary told Joseph as soon as possible; but "found" to be pregnant doesn't quite sound like that. We know she spent some time away at her cousin, Elizabeth's. When she came back was her baby bump showing? Were tongues wagging? Imagine if Joseph had heard through the grapevine. The law said he was innocent, and she was not; he was a victim, and she the criminal. Everything he'd been taught since he was a child, said she could be stoned or, at the least, exposed as an adulteress and his name cleared. Instead, he chose to divorce her quietly. And simply for that we can admire him. Showing grace although his heart may have been broken. Taking the higher road despite having to endure all those looks of pity and being made the subject of whispers. For choosing to be righteous rather than right. But God had other plans -- difficulty.

God didn't want Joseph to simply show grace to Mary. God didn't want Joseph to simply demonstrate righteousness in his dealing with her, to be godly and move on. God's plan was for Joseph to be inextricably linked to her -- a young woman thought to be an adulteress -- and to the greatest Gift mankind would ever know. The angel messenger appeared to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him of Mary's innocence, exposing God's plan, and giving Joseph some very clear, very unconventional instructions: take Mary into your home and name her son Yeshua (Savior, Deliverer). Matthew 1:24, tells us that when Joseph awoke, he did just what God, through the angel, had told him to do. Once God gave the command, there is no record of any further struggle. God said it; Joseph did it.

Joseph searched for a suitable place in Bethlehem for he and his wife to stay. Joseph had tended to Mary when she delivered God's Son. Joseph continued to watch over them and seek protection for his family by consulting the One who could best lead them to safety. Joseph led his family in faith and the observation of God's laws. Joseph loved Jesus and cared for Him as a good father cares for his own son. Joseph demonstrated time after time, through obedience, his love for God and love for God's plans. His efforts weren't half-hearted. He followed God's direction as faithfully and explicitly as if this life was all he ever wanted. We don't see that he treated Mary with any sort of bitterness or demanded from God any sort of refund. We see quiet, steadfast obedience, despite whatever expectations he had. Despite the difficulty.

We like to think God's plans will keep us safe. We like to think God's plans will be easy. What we find is, sometimes, when we are squarely fixed dead-center of God's will, we are neither safe nor comfortable. The storms, the uncertainties, the grief, the pain may just be part of God's plan; but we can find comfort and courage in knowing that if God has allowed it, God will redeem it. None of us can comprehend all of time or all of humanity, but God can, and He has a BIG plan for all of it. He is the infinite Master of everything, and the intimate Shepherd of the least of us. He will not betray us or go back on any of His promises in any way. If He is working for our good (and He is, Rom. 8:28) and He is sovereign over all (and He is, Col. 1:16-17), we have only to choose trust -- no matter our circumstances -- and know that He is doing something glorious. His plans may not be easy, and His plans may not be safe, but His plans are always perfect. We have only to choose to believe that. What better example than the guy standing quietly in the background of every creche, faithfully, obediently, keeping watch over a King.

A Dying Wish

I recently had a birthday. Time waits for no man, right? I think we all wonder something about death: when? how? what will I be doing when it happens? My brother, a pastor, joined Jesus in Heaven a little while back. One morning, he sat down to study his sermon notes, no doubt talking to and focused on his Father in Heaven, and in the blink of an eye, found himself face to face with the very One he had only known dimly. What a glorious blessing! I imagine I'd like to be sorting clothes in our church thrift shop when the Lord says, "It's time to go." Or, studying Scripture and sharing those lessons through the printed word when He reaches for my hand! Wouldn't that be a tale to bring glory to the Lord's name? But the truth is, He may not "catch" me doing the things that bring Him glory. Why? Because I don't always obey. If I am sincere about bringing Him glory, if my dying wish is to exalt His name in all I say, think and do, obedience is the only way to get it done.

There's an old Gospel song, "When He Was on the Cross, I Was on His Mind." It's a touching sentiment, but Jesus didn't die for the exclusive purpose of saving me -- or you. 1 Timothy 2:3-4, tells us our Savior desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. His sacrifice was the only means by which we can be restored in relationship with the Father; His blood is the only sufficient atonement; and only He was willing and able to bear the wrath due us. So, He willing laid down His life for the salvation of men. He wants that to happen, but without His obedience to the Father, none of that would be possible. He had to go with the Father's plan. He had to submit to the Father's will. Even in Gethsemane, He prayed three times, if there would be some other way, but "not as I will, but You will." It's clear He was fighting to resist temptation. His dying wish was to bring His Father glory through obedience, but it was going to be the hardest thing He could ever do. Nevertheless, Jesus laid down His life in obedience to the Father. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection accomplished a number of things, but they were all because Jesus obeyed; it was His obedience that brought glory to the Father, fulfilling His "dying wish." 

It's a silly little thing, really, but when I was in elementary school I learned a little acronym to remind me how to have true joy in life:

J - Jesus

O - Others

Y - You

My purpose is to bring glory to the Father by putting His Son first, just as Jesus' purpose is to bring glory to the Father -- above all else. Our relationships with others follow. Our interactions with others are an excellent means of demonstrating obedience and bringing glory to the Lord, much the same way the elect, those Jesus died to save were given to Him by the Father that He might bring the Father glory through them. As Jesus hung, bleeding and dying on the cross (obedience) He brought glory to God (purpose) -- His "dying wish."

So, what is yours? Is there a bucket list of things you wish to complete? Skydiving or running with the bulls in Pamplona? Is there something you wish to leave behind for generations? A record of all your accomplishments or family heirlooms passed down for centuries? It is the things of the Lord that will remain forever. It's wonderful to dream we will be doing the things that please the Lord most when He calls us home, but each of us needs to ask, "Based on my daily habits, is it likely that will happen?" And then, we must do all we can to improve the likelihood. That, requires obedience, of course, and a no holds barred, all in, fully sold out dying wish to glorify the Lord. 

Carry the Torch

It's 2020, and I don't think my prayer list has ever been longer. Sickness, unemployment, mental health, isolation, grief, and far too many people who have not yet come to know God as He is revealed to us in the Scriptures. 

If I can, for just a moment, talk about that last one. People have lots of ideas about God. The only truth about God, however, is found in the Bible. Great, you see Him in a sunrise, or you hear Him in the sweet coos of your tiny new grandchild. He is there, for sure; the Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from God. Whether you know God or not, whether you choose to believe He exists, no matter what you think, if you've got something good, He gave it to you. And that's that. But if you're looking only at the places or things in which His goodness is revealed, you're not going to know Him -- all of Him. You have to read the Bible to know who He is, in His. Own. Words.

In the last few years, I have known the passing of several beautiful, sweet souls. And they were all very clear with regard to their dying wish: that people would come to know Jesus. Their family, their friends, their neighbors. One was hopeful her illness would bring her sister to her so she could share the Gospel with her. One had prayed and loved on her children for years, in hopes they would return to the God they knew as little ones. They had a profound desire that was focused on the Lord and His universally inclusive work on the cross, that those they loved and cared deeply for would know truth that sets the captive free.

This morning, I was praying for the folks the saints have left behind. As I prayed, I realized I had this idea of what should have happened: the prodigal weeping at their loved one's bedside, contrite and overcome by gratitude for their loved one's faithful petitions, turning to the Lord right then and there that the dying saint might pass on in peace. Very Hallmark. It didn't happen, and it's a scene that will never take place. Why, God, did You allow someone who prayed so persistently, who loved so much and so well, who spoke life to those they loved at every opportunity -- why did You allow that kind of godly influence to be withdrawn from the lives of others? And before I could think another thought, the answer came. It wasn't that He had allowed a saint to be removed and their loved ones to perish without knowing Him, but the goodness was in the fact saints were so public about their desires, there's no forgetting it. These saints had shared their hearts, making known to us all the very thing they wanted most -- whether they were around to see it, or they were in Glory -- for their loved one to know the Savior. And here I was, praying for people I've never met because of the testimony of those I have held dear. 

God is still working and believers are still interceding, and until it's over, it's not over. So, what is your heart's desire? Do you dare to hope your daughter and her husband will stop tearing one another apart and begin serving the Lord? Do you dare to pray in faith for your neighbor to turn from false religion and confess the King of kings? Make your requests known to the Lord, yes, but make your heart's desire known to other believers as well. Give them the opportunity, the privilege, the responsibility of carrying that torch, even after you are gone.

What Are You Lookin' At?

"Eyes up here, Class," our sixth grade teacher used to call out when we weren't really paying attention. One of our classmates had the brilliant idea to make balls out of masking tape with the sticky on the outside. He drew an eye on each one. So, one day when she asked for eyes at the front of the room... Yeah, he launched them. I don't recall her reaction. Was he in class the rest of the year? Hmm...

There is a reason she wanted everyone looking to the front of the room. She was in the front of the room. She was the source of the information we needed to acquire. That is where our attention needed to be. Look at all the damage distracted driving has done. When driving, our eyes need to be on the road. If our full attention is on the backseat, or our phones, or the Cheeto we dropped between the seat and the console, there will be things happening on the road we will miss -- things that may require our reaction, things that definitely require our attention. Allowing our focus to be drawn away from the things that are most important can have devastating consequences.

2 Samuel 11:1, tells us there was a time of year when all kings went to battle. On this particular year, King David did not. We're not explicitly told why, but maybe he had a "good reason." Maybe he was tired. Maybe he had full confidence in his men; he had trained them, had passed on the torch, so to speak, and it was all good. No matter the reason, it wasn't God's. I've done that. My excuses have made perfect sense -- to me. "They have plenty of people to help with Vacation Bible School," or, "I've done it for years. Let someone else do it." Is that what God is telling me? Probably not, and He definitely didn't tell David to sit this one out. David looked away from God and His will. The King of Israel put his eyes on his plan, and we know what happened next. He saw Bathsheba, another man's wife. He succumbed to temptation and got her pregnant. He brought Uriah, her husband, back from the battlefield for a little "family time." When he found his soldier would not leave his men to relax with Bathsheba, David hatched a plot to have Uriah killed. David allowed his focus to be drawn away from the Lord, and many suffered. 

Full disclosure, David had been heading this way for a while. This was not the first time he neglected to have his eyes where they belonged. 2 Samuel 3, tells us David had multiple wives and concubines. Satan had found himself a foothold in David's life, sexual sin. All the more reason the king's eyes should have been riveted on the King of kings. We need God each and every moment of every day. Without Him we can do nothing. In those times when we are faced with the things that appear most desirable, we need to move closer to Him, test things against His truth. Maybe you remember the old movies where the guy is wandering around, dehydrated and delirious in the desert, and stumbles upon his last hope -- an oasis. He throws himself into the water and begins to gulp it down as quickly as he can. Draught after draught. Just what he has searched for! Just what he needs! Only to find, it is a mirage. He has been deceived, and has swallowed cup after cup of nothing but sand. And he dies. He did not test what he thought he saw, but threw himself recklessly at a brilliant illusion. David did as well. So have I.

There's a reason coaches tell their players to keep their eyes on the ball. There's a reason driving instructors tell their students to keep their eyes on the road. There's a reason Mrs. Gough demanded we keep our eyes on her. Where your eyes are, your body and mind will follow. May we all be diligent in keeping our eyes on the Lord.

Christians Need Religion

What is something you do -- always? I know a man who walks a couple miles, goes home, eats two cookies, and bikes several miles after that. It's his routine and, barring serious illness or terrible weather, he follows it. He is religious about his health. 

I see it all the time. I've done it. You're halfway through the parking lot and you remember your mask. Back to the car to get it. We're how many months into this thing, and we still forget to wear our mask? How is it not a regular part of our routine by now? 

I need medication daily. Without it, I'm pushing up daisies. It is recommended I take it each morning, the problem is, my "morning" changes. Sometimes morning is 5 or 6 AM; sometimes morning is 9:30 at night. It doesn't change the fact I need to take this medication. It does, however, alter the likelihood I will take it. I wake up; I've barely slept 'cause my bedtime has changed -- again; I wander bleary-eyed to the bathroom -- "Just get me through this day" -- and I never give my meds a thought. Or, I'm late; I've tried to get every minute of sleep I possibly could; brush teeth, get dressed, get coffee, I'm out the door -- "Oh, man, my meds! Nothing I can do about it now." And on I go. I need this stuff to live! What am I doing?! 

I am a Christian. Christianity is faith; Christianity is a walk of life; Christianity is not a religion. But, Christianity needs religion. When I was a little girl, we went to church every Sunday. One of the biggest fights my parents had in front of us kids was when we were on vacation. Mom wanted to see the sights, but it was Sunday morning, and Dad had already inquired at the hotel's front desk about nearby churches. We were going to church. That is religion. Church and the knowledge of God became such a part of my identity, when I grew older and I stopped going to church, I actually experienced the emptiness of holidays like Easter and Christmas without that part of me. I distinctly remember driving through a neighborhood on a beautiful sunny day just before Easter. Lawns were decorated with brightly colored eggs and enormous white bunnies. I thought to myself, "Is this what non-Christians do? Is this really what they celebrate?" In reality, I wasn't even observing that, but I wanted something real to celebrate. The next Sunday I had my small son in church. And though it was another ten or so years before I authentically, relentlessly began seeking after the Lord, religion kept me within the safety and ministry of God's Word. I was learning, and God's Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart.

Today I need religion because I am human. My neighbor's exercise regimen is to be commended, but even bad weather or ill health can waylay him from it. Distractions or a shift in priorities can keep us from doing the things we need to do. Fatigue and stress can mess with our minds -- emotionally and physiologically -- so that routines which are so important, habits we need in order to live, can be completely forgotten. How does that happen? We're human. That's why the Bible tells us not to give up regular meeting with other believers. That's why Jesus commands us to remember Him regularly through the Lord's Supper. That's why we are to be baptized as outward evidence of a heart turned toward God. Religious acts, signs that not only serve to demonstrate we identify with Jesus, but they serve as reminders and commitments to each of us. Events we schedule or recall cause us to turn our thoughts to the Lord -- the One we truly need for life. As humans, we need regular celebrations and prompts to draw our hearts and minds to their true purpose. In fact, I am more likely to do my Bible reading without fail than I am to take my medication. And that's not because I am some religious nut or some "Super Christian" (they don't exist), it is because of the work of the Holy Spirit in me; it is because He changes and convicts me, is always close beside me, directing me in the path I should walk. And my daily dose of church (Bible reading, prayer, worship) is where I go to be reminded whose I am.

Religion drew me in and kept me close until the day I laid my life at the foot of the cross. Now, that may or may not be your testimony; God works in each of us differently. But, religion is also what keeps me close today. Not empty religion, mind you; not me doing things to earn favor with God or work my way to heaven, but routine commemoration. The candle I light to celebrate times the Lord has revealed Himself to me, or the verse I recite to remember the places He has brought me out of, or the weekly group I attend to uncover more truth about the One I serve -- actions that may appear to others as though I am going through some pious routine to gain favor with a supreme being, but are, in truth, set in motion and sustained by the One who has brought my heart from empty to full, from mere routine to righteousness. 

By the Strength of the Lord

How are you raising your children? To the best of your ability? That's how I raised mine. I mean, who wouldn't, right? Well, I wouldn't. Not if I had it to do all over again. 

When I was raising my children, I worked a nightshift, 11 PM to 4 AM, prime sleep time. I'd try to catch a nap before going in, but that rarely worked out. Then, I was up at 8:30 or 9 AM to homeschool. That's right, I was an overachiever. And not a very good one. I was exhausted (read: short-tempered and selfish). I never said "no" when Mom would show up an hour into our school day "just to talk"; I hated the things she said about people who didn't do things her way, and I certainly didn't want her saying those things about me. So, my children suffered. After she'd leave I'd browbeat them into getting their work done before I ran them to karate and hockey and dance and whatever else they wanted to do. I let them skip assignments and take extra days off -- just because I didn't want to hear them complain and just because I felt so guilty I couldn't do it all. I vacillated between permissive and irate. I had no clue how to set boundaries for myself or for my children. I wanted to enjoy being a mother, and sometimes I did, but I constantly second guessed myself and always measured myself against the other moms. I always felt as though "the best of my ability" would never be good enough. I was right.

Fast forward to today. I am not the same person I was. Solely, because the Holy Spirit has had His finger on my entire life. There are blessings I have received simply because God loves me and blessings I have received because my behavior is not what it was years ago -- blessings of better consequences, you might say. I have had hardship and pain, and plenty of those head-scratching moments -- all because He is working to transform me, teach me, prepare me, and make me look more like Christ, my Namesake. As a result, the things I do today, I pray, I do not to the best of my ability, but by the strength of the Lord. (Twenty years ago, I would have had no idea what that meant. These days I can almost feel it when I've gone from AutoPilot ☝ to "let me have a crack at it.") 

I often wonder how differently things would have turned out had I welcomed the Holy Spirit into my life when I was my raising children, and it grieves me. I have apologized to my children. I have apologized to my ex-husband. I have apologized to myself. And I have apologized to the Lord. But the regret is there. I wish I could go back and do it all again. I wish I could go back and be the person God is making me, for those who were in my care back then. But I can't. And I don't usually write things like this. I don't usually talk about regrets and simply leave it out there, but someone needs to hear this. Someone needs to know it's not too late. Someone needs to know the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is real. Someone needs to know that when we follow Jesus, the only regret we have is not doing it sooner - before the marriage ended, before the words were said, before the children were grown, before the bridge was burnt, before it ended in a guilty verdict. Today, the Holy Spirit put this burden on my heart, and He knows who you are. I pray you do life by the strength of the Lord.

Questioning Faith

This morning's devotions got me thinking about faith: "To what extent do you live by faith? Just as we were saved by faith, we live by faith."

Have you been saved by faith? Do you think you're going to heaven? Do you even believe there is a heaven, or hell, or God, or His Son who died for you? Those are some pretty big concepts. Some people wrestle with this stuff their entire lives. In Jesus' day, there were scholars and self-appointed authorities who discussed traditions and the concepts found in the Torah, constantly. It's pretty safe to say a number of them died never seeing the Truth that stood right before them. Here we are, quite a number of years later. The Bible even says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) Do you remember what you thought, hearing about Jesus for the first time? Two thousand years ago, a young virgin had a son. How does a virgin get pregnant? That Son was God. But He was a baby? He died and came back to life. Mm, yeah. It's not like they had CPR back then. If I confess Him as Lord and Savior, I will live after I die. After I die? Doesn't dead mean just that? And reign with Him on Earth one day. When? Now that takes some BIG faith!

"Well, sure!" you say. "But I'm sold out! All in!" you say. "It's harder to believe humanity arrived by accident and has no purpose," you say. Well, that's great. You have faith. But, can I ask why you can believe all that without so much as an ounce of skepticism, but you can't believe God is working for your good? You can't believe God's going to provide everything you need? You can't believe God will give you wisdom and direction for this upcoming decision? You can't believe God will fight for you? You can't even believe God loves you? 

Were you there for the virgin birth? Did you see the empty tomb? Has anyone returned from heaven with 8x10 glossies of what goes on up there? No, no, and no. But all that you can believe. How about God's faithfulness to Noah, Abraham, Hannah, Ruth...? Oh, you think He loved them more. What about God's faithfulness to you last year when your car broke down only moments before that serious ten-car pile up down the road? What about the great job you landed years back, the one where you sat right next to the woman who led you to Jesus? Remember how God provided the money to pay the medical bills from your surgery? Do you still think He's not looking out for you? Do you still think He doesn't love you? I've got another one: If God doesn't love you, why did He give so much to spend all eternity with you? Would you give even a portion of what you have to spend the rest of your life with someone you don't like? Why would He give His all? Why would He spend every moment transforming you into a new creature, shed His blood washing your sin away, expend resurrection power securing your eternity -- if He didn't love you?

So, can we agree, He has proven His love for you? And if He loves you, and you believe He does, why do you not have the faith to trust that what He has provided, what He is doing in your life is for His glory and your good? Are you willing to live your life with the same degree of faith it takes to believe in a virgin birth or an empty tomb? Are you willing to confess, "With God, nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:37)?

Faith-filled Praise

My heart is pounding, I am so excited! Today is the day to give thanks! Whoo hoo! 2020 has been such an awesome year, who isn't excited to sit in front of a frozen turkey dinner and a screen (so you can have a socially distanced Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family) and be grateful? Not feeling it? I think many of us are rockin' in that same boat. But here's the thing, if you serve the risen Christ, gratitude is not optional. Not really. I mean, you can dig in your heels and whine about your poor health or your empty pockets or your lazy husband or whatever you want to whine about, but a Christian (read: "little Christ") should look like Christ. And when we don't, it's not Christ's fault. It's time to get some gratitude in our attitude.

Earlier this year, I felt compelled to study Israel's battles -- how God fought for them, or how they foolishly tried it on their own. Shortly after that, someone suggested I pray the Psalms. The same person later told me, "You are in the middle of warfare, Honey. You need to do a study about being equipped for the fight." Then, this whole thing about the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) came up, and I've been studying that ever since. Fighting and praising, and praising and fighting. All through this year. Praise God! One of the greatest weapons we have against the enemy is our praise! The battles came -- trust me! -- but praise drowning out the noise of enemy artillery, gratitude taking the sting out of wounds, worship pushing its way through enemy ordnance raining down? Whoo! That is some serious counterfire!

And God knows that, in the heat of the battle, it can be a little hard to summon up all that gratitude for the things He's done. God knows we are weak, and our sheep-like brains have trouble recalling the awesome way He watched over us yesterday or the word of encouragement He sent us through a friend this morning. So, God put it in a Book, had men write it down so we could verify it over and over. We could read it each and every day, and be reminded of all He has done. In fact, there is an entire section right there in the middle -- it's called Psalms -- with praises already written out for us to sing and pray. 

I'm not sure if you know, but there's a not-so Top Secret weapon God wants you to have. It's praise for things that haven't even happened yet. Seriously. When we are so embroiled in the fight we fail to give thanks for what God has done, we can give thanks for what He will do. Psalm 118:21 is a perfect example. In it, the psalmist says, "I will praise You, for You have answered me and have become my salvation." The Hebrew word for "salvation" in this passage is yeshua. A study by Arthur E. Glass, "Yeshua in the Tanakh"' reveals that when yeshua is accompanied in Scripture by the word "my", it is a direct reference to Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior. The psalmist wrote this hundreds of years before Jesus came to us. Prophetically, the psalmist is giving thanks for something that hasn't even happened yet! How can he do that? Faith in what God promised through His Word. The same way you and I can do that. The not-so Top Secret weapon we have against the enemy is giving thanks in faith for something God has not even brought to fruition -- yet. In this, we give Him the praise and glory He is due and, at the same time, stand with Him in faith, align ourselves with His purposes by declaring, "I know You will do whatever You say. I see it with spiritual eyes. I speak it and give You thanks before it ever comes to pass!" That is power! That is the stuff victories are made of!

So, I pray our year finishes out with good news and good health and lots of toilet paper on grocery store shelves. But if not, let's keep up an endless barrage of praise and thanksgiving, and in faith, declare what God says will come to pass.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Perfect Day for a Walk

The past couple of years have left me a bit out of shape. So, in an effort to acclimate to our old normal, I've taken up walking again. Today was a perfect day: sunshine, a light wind, and temperatures in the low forties. Perfect! I decided to take Tinkerbell who has also been on a bit of a hiatus. She kept pace with me pretty well -- up until the second half. I slowed it down a bit for her and tried to stick to the grass in case the pads on her paws had grown soft and the sidewalk was too much for her. We neared a field, and I considered cutting across, shortening our walk by a few feet, but her old joints would feel the strain of the uneven ground. We moved to the sidewalk. A bit tougher on her feet, perhaps, but easier on the body. Just as we hit our stride, I saw something glistening in the sunlight up ahead. Broken glass. The sidewalk was littered with it, so I moved Tinkerbell back to the grass, only to realize it was in the grass as well. We took to the street. Cars cruised by at a safe distance, and we finished our walk in pretty good time for two old girls.

So, why the wearisome play-by-play? Well, it occurred to me as we walked, just how trusting our faithful friend is. She and I walked this route everyday for years; she knew it forwards and backwards. But despite today's obstacles, despite a number of changes, from sidewalk to street to field, she was completely unaffected. Not once did she pull or cross paths with me. Not once did she attempt to take the route we'd always taken or remain where it seemed most suitable. She simply stayed near me. She followed my lead from start to finish whether we moved from the presumed safety of the sidewalk or to the comfort of the grass. Even when I led her into the street, the potential danger of passing cars never phased her. She knows I would never put her in harm's way. All of that, of course, caused me to think about the way our Heavenly Father leads us. And, how we follow.

Someone recently put it this way, "We can see down the street. God sees around the corner." We have a limited ability to spot danger, and even less of an ability to stop it. God, however, knows what's up ahead. He sometimes takes us from an area that seems comfortable and safe, like the grass, into a place known for danger, like the street. We can't always see the danger, or the plan, or the logic behind the plan, but we do have a choice. We can tug and pull, get upset and try to go our own way, or we can follow His lead. We can trust that, even though we've been down this road many times before, we can't always see what waits for us on this part of the journey. We can look for shortcuts, or know that sometimes we need some conditioning in the wilderness before we get to go Home. We can believe that God is still in control and He is still watching out for us, or we can lie down and refuse to go another inch (much like Tinkerbell's big-headed brother did from time to time). We can yield ourselves to the tutelage and transformation of the Holy Spirit, or we can remain firmly fixed in a rut from one day to the next. We can demand God give us a life of ease (He probably won't, but we can demand it) or we can pray for the strength to keep the pace. We can worry and fret each time the Lord takes us from the course we are on and calls us to something new, or we can relax and enjoy the walk. 

Will You Take That Call?

Can I ask you a question? Has God ever asked you to do anything you didn't want to do? I mean, think about all the people He called upon throughout history. Take, for instance, Gideon. Gideon had a tough time seeing past all that had occurred and the legacy of weakness that plagued his family. He argued, he made excuses, he asked for sign after sign, giving God every opportunity to change His mind. He didn't. Then there were people who never even made the front page, people God may not have called on by name, but who certainly got caught up in the story. For instance, the Bible makes specific mention of Mrs. Noah in the account of her husband's commission, but what if she didn't even like animals? What if she got seasick? 

Two years ago, God gave us a special call. It was difficult, it was a complete diversion from what we ever saw as normal, and it was wonderful! What a privilege to give two young, beautiful children a home! What a joy to see Christmas through tiny eyes again! What a blessing to hear the prayers of little minds at bedtime! What a delight to work until our bodies ached and our minds were reduced to mush, for the glory of the Lord's purposes! Today, that calling is no longer ours. Today, that calling firmly rests in the hands of two people I pray will obey it wholeheartedly and enjoy it as we did. But what of us? This place where we are right now is not what we want. This place where we are right now is empty. But, who says this is not a call? 

Four years ago, I was in an accident. I searched for a purpose in that accident; it made no sense to me whatsoever. Neither of us was seriously injured, demanding we courageously fight our way, with God's help, through recovery. No story that would make headlines there. Scott and I had just dumped a boatload of money into my vehicle, figuring we'd be keeping it forever. The insurance company only paid us a fraction of that, enough for a down payment on a newer but otherwise comparable vehicle. That hardly tasted of victory. Then, our new commission came, one that rendered our replacement vehicle impractical. If God knew these children were coming, why didn't He provide a more suitable vehicle or -- better yet -- protect my older, family-friendly vehicle from the accident in the first place? What was the point? I still can't say, but I do know the young man whose vehicle hit mine has been on my prayer list since that day. God has never provided me with a neon sign blinking, "THAT'S IT!" but I refuse to concede my encounter that night was without purpose. I refuse to let it be without purpose, and until God shows me otherwise, I will do what I can -- pray.

And as I sat contemplating the last two years, feeling as if our calling was ripped from us, it occurred to me, what if this is our calling? For two years we have loved on those babies. For two years we have tried to teach them all we knew about living life with integrity, and loving others, and the blessing of family, and choosing God above all others. For two years we have surrounded them with people who would care about them, preserve their innocence, and pray for them. For two years we have taught them how to pray and to worship even through the storms of life. For two years we tended to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. For what? Maybe for now. Maybe that we might have developed such a love for them that even though we are apart, our hearts are so closely intertwined, they are on our minds and in our prayers continuously. Maybe that the love for them kindled in us might compel us to pray for them without ceasing.

I don't want this call. I want our old commission back. It had become comfortable to us. It was crazy and loud, but it was home and family. Everyone was safe and life was normal. It is what our hearts yearn for. But, here we are. With a new purpose. God is calling us to a new chapter, and though He hasn't quite revealed it to us, it's going to be great, a redemption story. Because that is the business God is in, and we work for Him.

Maybe Not Today, but Definitely on Time

I have good news and bad news: God is going to heal you. Just, maybe not today. God is going to take away your grief. Just, maybe not today. What do you make of that? Maybe you figure that some hope or a delayed answer to prayer is better than nothing. Maybe, to you, it sounds a little sketchy. I mean, if God can do it, if God is willing to do it, why not just do it right now?

One of the most theologically unsound, possibly abominably sacrilegious movies I ever watched was "Bruce Almighty." But, a point it made stuck with me. Bruce is angry. Life doesn't seem to be treating him as he'd like, so he complains. About God. "God" appears, endowing Bruce with infinite power and challenging him to do a better job. Bruce finds that in giving everyone everything they think they need, he is doing more harm than good. Now, I'm not saying God has limitations. I'm not saying God is like some irresponsible cartoony character wielding power like a two-year old handles a golf umbrella (experience talking here). What I am saying is, it is so much bigger than us. 

I have had those experiences where I prayed for one thing or another, God made me wait, and it turned out better than it would have if it happened as I intended. But, how can allowing a child to be harmed before intervening be good? How can healing someone of a disease after they've infected others be kind? How can allowing a drunk driver to wipe out an entire family be better than immediately answering a wife's decade-long prayer that her husband get sober? Those are all really terrible things, right? What if that child grows into an adult whose testimony brings hundreds to know the healing power of the Lord? What if those infected become invaluable in discovering a cure that saves thousands? What if, on the day of the funeral, many in attendance hear the Gospel for the first time, or are spared from a mudslide that wipes out their neighborhood? I know I might be oversimplifying, but trust me, we are going through the same thing right now. All we have known for the past two years has been turned on its head and people we love are in a place we are convinced is not best for them. I can feel God's presence, He has sent countless people to minister to us, but I don't always joyfully or gratefully receive it. When I give thanks for a word of encouragement, a voice within me whispers, "If You hadn't allowed this, You wouldn't have to work so hard encouraging me." But, it is so much bigger than us.

We have all been playing the game: maybe God is going to do this; maybe God is going to do that. Maybe the people who have reached out to us needed to be taken out of themselves. Maybe the people in the pews behind us are just watching, waiting to see how we live out our trust in God. We are looking for the plan, the purpose to help us get through this time. But God's ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts. His are so much better, so much more refined and eternal. And rather than staying awake watching for the sun on the horizon, sometimes we have to close our eyes knowing it will be there in the morning. We have to let God be God rather than expecting He will reveal His plan to us, submit it for our approval. If He did, we'd only mess it up anyway. We have to know He is there through the sickness, through the grief, walking beside and encouraging us. We have to allow Him to heal us and hold us instead of wriggling free and insisting we're ready to move on. We have to trust that the bad news, the "maybe not today" part of this means the path of restoration and redemption that he set us on, that we pray for daily, will be so much better, so much bigger than we ever imagined -- but right on time.

"For there is still a vision for the appointed time;

    it speaks of the end, and does not lie.

If it seems to tarry, wait for it;

    it will surely come, it will not delay."

~Habakkuk 2:3

Listen and Obey -- Everyday

"Happy Tuesday!" The words stretched over the bottom of a beautiful sunrise. A meme that came to me just as I was forcing myself to take a walk. I'd been white-knuckling my entire morning, trying to get through this day alone -- the first. I was somewhere between "ripping the Band Aid off" -- forcing myself to get back to our old normal -- and wanting to crawl into a hole until death. "Happy Tuesday?" I objected. "You have no idea what an unhappy Tuesday this is." But I read on: 

"When storms come your way, just remember you know the Master of the wind. When sickness finds you, remind yourself you know the Great Physician. When your heart gets broken, just say, 'I know the Potter.' It doesn't matter what we face or go through. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is everything we need. Amen."

Tears began to pool. I texted back, "I guess you heard, or is this just God?" She hadn't heard. She had simply obeyed.

Let me tell you just a little something about the sender. She and I have never laid eyes on one another. We work in two different buildings, in two different states. We talk several times a week, but about things like trailers and drivers. In fact, I don't think either of us knew for sure the other was a follower of Jesus until we found ourselves grieving the loss of a mutual friend last year. (That was a "God thing" as well: sticking two sisters in the Lord in close range of a professed atheist!) But, the sender, knowing nothing of the week that had begun in our home, took the time to hear the Holy Spirit, and followed through. She sent a simple text, adding the words, "Continuing to pray for you always." Oh, my soul! The Holy Spirit had placed a heaviness on her heart, and she reached out, faithfully and gently, to encourage me. She could have prayed for me, or even made a mental note: "Gotta pray for her this week" as we sometimes do. But she didn't settle on either of those things. She acknowledge the prompts of the Holy Spirit. She prayed. And she let me know it. Not for any sort of recognition or that I might text back, "Praying for you, too!" but that I might be encouraged. What a beautiful spirit and a blessing to the Lord's name!

And I don't just want to brag on this wonderful sister, though I think I could go on, I want to challenge you as her act of love challenged me, to listen and obey. Don't dismiss those ideas. Don't make it about you. When you're standing in line at the market, watching the over-burdened mom keep her mind on her list and her eyes on her babies, and a word of encouragement comes to you -- Say it! Don't think, "I feel foolish; I don't know that person." It's about her; it's about being Christ to others; it's about listening and obeying in faith God will do something with that seed. When you've got that stack of cards your friend so lovingly crafted, sitting in a bin, envelopes empty and sentiments unwritten (as I do 😕 'cause I am preaching to myself right now) take the time -- ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty -- and get them out to people who need to hear God's peace today. Listen. And obey.

And Happy Tuesday to you all!

There Are No Super Christians

"My name is Julius and I am your twin brother."

A smile begins to spread across Danny DeVito's face. "Oh, obviously! The moment I sat down I thought I was lookin' into a mirra."

The exchange takes place between Vincent, played by DeVito and his "not identical" (as Julius informs him) twin brother, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Julius' clarification, as you can imagine, is totally unnecessary. The differences between them are clearer than crystal. However, so are the similarities. As the movie plays out, we find their mannerisms are identical, the things they really want in life are identical, despite their more overt dissimilarities.

I have a friend who thinks I am some sort of a "super Christian." "You are so much further along than I a--" No, no I am not. "But you are so strong in the Lo--" No, no I am not. It bothers me, it really does. I cling to Christ because I vacillate. I seek the Lord because I am short-sighted. I move in His strength because I am weak. I am not super spiritual. The truth is, I am tethered to the Perfect, the Infinite, the Sovereign, the Eternal. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me; He has promised to help me, and He calls me "friend." It is when I ignore my relationship with Jesus and try to go it alone, you can see the real "me," the natural me.

I tell my friend all the time, "You have no idea how much alike we are." I say, "We are like twins separated at birth." I protest, "You have no idea what I am without Jesus!" I don't think I'm being taken seriously. The truth is, though, who I am today, the strong confidence I have that God is in control and working for my good, comes from years of walking with the Lord, hours and hours in the Scriptures, struggle after struggle and pain after pain. I was once in my friend's shoes. I could not, would not see how the misery would end. I wanted one day -- just one day in God's favor. "Couldn't He like me for just one day?" I whined to a sister in the Lord. She looked at me with such care in her eyes, "He does like you. In fact, He loves you," she said. "Trust Him and He will take you through it." Then, she said the words I have repeated to my friend so many times: "Believe me." She knew. She knew, because what I saw in her, that strength, the confidence and steadfastness, those things that, to me, made her some sort of "Super Christian," came from taking the hand of Jesus and holding on for dear life. 

In God's wisdom, His Scriptures reveal to us the failures, flaws and foibles of "Bible heroes." Noah drank, Abraham lied, Peter was a hothead and a coward, Paul wasn't one to give second chances. "Champions" of the faith, and yet, they failed. Sixteen second snapshots of any of our lives may reveal we are more alike than different. It's not hypocrisy; it's simple truth. In and of ourselves we are nothing but human. When we forget to Whom we belong, when we do things in our own strength, we can never be mistaken for any type of hero. 

There are no super Christians. They just don't exist. From the time we say, "I do," we are engaged in battle. We are praying and reading and meditating and rejoicing and weeping our way through eternity. All of us. There may be days when Jesus shares with us His victory. There will probably be many more days, at least in this world, where we get a raw taste of defeat. But "be of good cheer!" Jesus has overcome the world. He is the superhero. He is just gracious enough to invite those of us made in His image along for the journey!