What It Says

“The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,” says the Lord.  (Isaiah 59-20)

 I found this verse very interesting.  It doesn’t say someone is going to come and heal everyone of His children.  The verse doesn’t say that God is going to swoop in and be the Daddy Worbucks of the world and grant every material wish it may have.  And Isaiah isn’t saying that the Redeemer is going to tap dance His way into our hearts with sales slogans or begging.  “The Redeemer will come….to buy back….those…who have turned from their sins.”

 Jesus came to earth as man for one reason and one reason alone:  to be the perfect Lamb.  He showed us the way and then paved the road for us with His own blood.  Now, when you confess your heart to God and accept Jesus as your Redeemer you are promised an eternity with Him.  All the blessings that fall on you, all the trials that make you stronger, the people who come into your life to make it richer, and looking in a child’s eyes—your child’s eyes—is all icing on an already perfect cake.  The Savior came for you, to buy you and bring you to the Lord, and your eternity has already begun.

 “And the people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.  And note this:  Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be the least important then.” (Luke 13:29-30)

Silence is Golden

“A time to hear and a time to mend.  A time to be quiet and a time to speak.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

 For a time I thought I have been experiencing a complete and total burnout.  I thought I was tired from long hours of homework, car pools, house cleaning (or lack there of), driving back and forth to wherever the kids need to be, and training at work which involved many long hours of staring at documents and spreadsheets and trying to remember what each one says. School is over, car pool is over, the kids are home more to help around the house, but now I have joined the planning team for VBS at church and that is keeping me very busy.  I have missed writing every morning but I haven’t been getting up in time to do it. I have felt lonely and like something was missing.

 This week I realized that nothing was missing.  Two things occurred to me at the same time.  First, I promised myself I wouldn’t write just to write and, honestly, I haven’t felt like saying anything lately. Second, nothing at all has been missing.  My plate is most definitely full and it’s full of really great stuff.  My daughter is in an amazing musical that has been eating up my weekends but I love being down at the theater and to be able to share this with her has been a blessing for me.  I love my job and the opportunities that have presented themselves to me.  I feel slightly overwhelmed but I know I am where I need to be and it’s going to be all good.  Finally, I am excited to be a part of VBS this year.  It’s crazy, stressful, and a blessing.  I am anxious to see the kids and the leaders walk through those doors Sunday night.  So, nothing has been missing.  God just helped me lighten my load a bit so that I could find balance.

 My relationship with Jesus may have changed a bit in the last couple of months.  I guess if I were to try to explain it I would say that up until May I was sitting down and having coffee with Him as we talked about life (thank you Sally).  Now, I feel like we aren’t talking to each other as much as we are building something great together.  He has never left my side and its okay that someone isn’t always talking in any relationship.  Silence is golden, or maybe silence is me going nuts from mixing too many things together.  So, if things seem crazy or you feel kind of off take a step back and try to see the bigger picture.  I am sure that you are in the midst of an opportunity and you will enjoy it more if you see it now than if you have to constantly look back on it later.

 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it give us assurance about the things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Something Good

“This is what the Lord says:  ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around.  Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.  Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Jeremiah 6:16a) 

Sleep is a beautiful thing.  I can say that very proudly as I got my first good night of sleep in over two weeks.  This beautiful spring air is doing a number to my sinuses.  My allergies are in full force.  I have trouble breathing.  I am constantly blowing my nose.  My eyes feel like they have scratches on them.  I am starting to hear a gurgling in my ears and all these things combined leave me up most of the night because it’s hard to sleep when you can’t breathe and you are always blowing your nose!  It took all weekend but the insurance company approved the meds the doctor prescribed last week and I slept all night. 

 My relief comes in small doses.  If I want to sleep all night I have to take this pill at night which means I may be blowing my nose quite a bit today, at least until I supplement with something over the counter, but there is relief.  I will probably continue to be trapped in the house for a couple more weeks and then POOF my allergies will disappear, the drainage will go away, and I will be as normal and I can get.  In all the trials I have gone through, and that lay before me, this is probably small in comparison but it is a hard time for me all the same.  

Life is a constant stream of experiences, some of them joyful and some painful.  If we let Him, God can use anything to bring us closer to Him and to make us stronger.  I am surrounded by the joys of new life, friends making new homes, new beginnings, and even new careers.  I am equally surrounded by risky surgeries, the return of cancer, and people I love having to face the pain of losing their jobs, homes, and security.  Over and over again this week I have heard that God will use our trials to make us stronger.  I swear versus that cover this are everywhere I turn and I appreciate it so much.  As I spent about a month in a shadow of time and I see myself coming out of that, stuffy nose and all, I am thankful that I know that God will bring me through anything no matter how insignificant it may be or how heavy the burden feels. 

 “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.  So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  All power to him forever! Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

Play Ball

“I called out to you so often, but you wouldn’t come.  I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.  You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.” (Proverbs 1:24-25)

 The first few innings of last night’s softball game didn’t start out so great.  This was our first game in two weeks and our third time playing together.  Our team is made up of people who really don’t know each other.  We were grateful the first game because we came together quite nicely, last night we were off.  I really shouldn’t judge.  I play as little as possible (I am subbing and only as I favor, I didn’t want to play this year), so I feel bad when I cringe at the errors made on the field but something had to give.  

During the top of the fifth inning I looked at the other player in the dugout and suggested that we move some people around.  He agreed and we quickly decided who would move where.  Luckily, everyone on our team is pretty easy going and they each are willing to play where ever they are needed.  A couple of swaps of positions and we saw an immediate difference.  Before they were able to get almost ten runs, after the change they only got a couple more.  We did lose the game but we lost pleased with ourselves for knowing when to make changes and listening to the team in an encouraging way to perform as best as we could. 

 There are so many times when it feels like I am doing the same thing over and over again.  Everything becomes routine, regardless if it working or not.  There are other times when new ideas are presented that I just want to shut them down because there is no way that they would ever work.  I cannot count the number of times I should have changed or the limitless number of times an idea I thought was crazy turned out to be extremely successful.  I need to remember that I am not walking alone and I need to listen to God and be more open-minded to the people in my life.  I want to be humble and moldable.  Sometimes I feel hard and flaky.  Listen.  Listen for God and listen to the things going around you.  You may be surprised at what is waiting for you on the other side and you may just experience a better inning in life than you were expecting.

 “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19a)

A Memory

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so hat Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy: 15-16)

 

Gosh, I had to be about five or six years old. We lived on the third floor of an apartment building. I loved Easter because we got the most incredible baskets. This one year I was super excited. I remember waking up and looking out the window. The sun was starting to light up the sky but had broken through the horizon yet. My bedroom window looked out over the apartment complex’s playground and tennis court. I swear I saw an incredibly large rabbit thee buildings down. I jumped out of bed to search for my basket. I don’t remember where the basket was but this miniature arcade game (Pac-Man) I had was out and I remember thinking it smelled like candy so the Easter Bunny had to have taken a break to play it. I was amazed that the Bunny smelled so sweet. In fact, I convinced myself that, as I put my nose to the carpet, I could smell each of his footsteps through our apartment. 

 

Fast-forward a few years. When I was 20 I went to Easter service with my husband’s family. I had never been to an Easter service and I don’t recall if I knew at that time that Easter Sunday was a special day for Christians and not because of some bunny. I was so nervous at that service (I thought lightening was going to rain down on me) that I truly can’t remember if I heard the message or not but I really liked the music. The year I remember sticking out is when I was 23. I had just received Jesus as my Lord and I recall being amazed during Easter service that year. I simply hadn’t gotten it before. I got it then. I get it now.

 

Today I try to keep my mind on Jesus all day. I have the music I want selected and I have a Bible at my desk at work. I will get mad when I lose my focus and if I fail at my goals today. I just keep reminding myself that nothing I try to accomplish today to worship God silently will ever compare to what Jesus endured on Calvary so very long ago. And on Sunday, because Sunday will come, I will not be anxiously waiting for a bunny to fill my house with the scent of candy. As I rise this Easter morning I will be reminded that Jesus has risen. He has risen for you and He has risen for me. However, until Sunday comes let us be in prayer and remember, not little memories that fill our personal history, but the amazing suffering one man endured so that the rest of us can live.

 

“Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was born in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart…(Matthew 27:50-51)

 

I Can’t Do That

“For all of creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.” (Romans 8:19)

 

Friend: “I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins. I think there is something I should do now. Maybe we’ll come to church with you”

 

Me: “Theoretically, if you really believe that Jesus died for your sins you are in.”

 

Friend: “I think I should get baptized now”

 

Me: “I would love to be there for that.”

 

Friend: “There has gotta be something I am supposed to do. It can’t be as easy as just saying Jesus saved me.”

 

Me: “I know it sounds too easy but as long as you believe you are saved”

 

This is a demonstration of me trying to reconstruct a conversation I had yesterday. There was, obviously, much more in there but I tried to capture the main idea. The person I was talking to had such a hard time capturing the idea that nothing else was required of him for salvation except to believe in Jesus. He was talking about living a better life, afraid he was just covering his butt because he truly believes the end of the world could come at any moment, and, although I know he was more than likely baptized when he was a baby (Catholic family) he really wants to be baptized again. I tried to keep the conversation light. I am always worried about sounding cheesy, which I shouldn’t (God forgive me).

I have a confession. I do not believe I am good at leading people to Jesus. I always envisioned my ministry focusing on people who already know Jesus and sharing with them how I see God in my everyday life. I have too many fears and pride because I am fearful of that when I tell someone Jesus simply wants everyone’s love and to have a close and intimate relationship with them that they won’t understand and they will be turned away from faith altogether. See, I am worried that in my excitement and passion for Jesus I look like a freak to the world. It’s so much easier when people already know about Jesus. It’s an easier foundation to build on.

If this is something God is going to have me do I won’t fight it. Actually, I am excited for my friend because I have wanted this for so long. I will simply pray that God will place the right words in my mouth and that I can find a balance between patience and excitement…not any easy thing to do! So, please pray for my friend, pray for me, and pray for the world because any day now you could be where I am and God put you there so don’t think it was an accident.

 

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what god wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit pray for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father knows all hearts and knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:26-28)

Journeys

“I know, Lord, that our lives our not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So, correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.” (Jeremiah 10:23-24)

 

I read that today and I almost started to giggle, even though I know it’s not funny. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many times I have prayed that exact prayer! Even reading it over and over again I can see it in my mind. How many times have I sat in this exact spot and let God know that I know He is in control? How many times have I confessed my sins but then, in the back of my mind, I am chanting “be gentle, be gentle, be gentle”? Do you ever feel good when you know you are not alone in your heart?

 

My journey through the Bible this morning was much of the same. I came across verses, as I did my morning Lent readings, and each time I felt God speaking to me. This is why I love God’s Word because the pages aren’t just filled with words. This tattered book I carry around with me, and try to pick up every morning, has become His voice in my heart. Now, I don’t get these warm fuzzy feelings every time but when I do it’s pretty neat stuff and I reminded once again of God’s beauty and His grace and love. I am reminded of how blessed I am and how much I love Him!

 

So, I finish this up with a few more versus from today.

 

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

 

“Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.” (Psalm 43:3)

 

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, causes death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:17)

 

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Keep Pushing

“In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships of every kind.” (2 Corinthians 6:4)

 

I spent last week sick in bed with bronchitis. I want to say it was an awful experience but considering I slept through much of it I don’t know that I can say that. I am a fairly active person, so being stuck in bed for that long was tough and I know I am not completely well yet, which is why, what I did this morning, was so crazy!

 

I went to my first spin/cycle class ever. (what is the difference?). I love biking and I am terribly out of shape from lack of regular exercise this winter. I went to bed excited for the workout at 5am but I didn’t plan on THAT! After 10 minutes, and not being able to use the amount of tension the guy told us to, I thought that if I could make it five more minutes then I would be proud of myself. At 20 minutes I looked at the clock and had a goal of making it to 25. At 30 minutes I told myself I would be so embarrassed if I didn’t make it to at least 35 minutes. Finally, at 55 minutes I knew a cool-down had to be coming so I pushed on ahead. Pride, and pride alone, got me through that workout. I didn’t want to be “the quitter” and I also didn’t want to regret it all day.  How often is life like that?

 

How often do we find ourselves looking at the clock and wondering when the struggle or the problem is going to stop and go away? How many times have you just wanted to quit but something inside you drove you on? Everyone faces trials and everyone has a choice to make. Sometimes it would be very easy to quit. There are days when walking away makes more sense then staying with it. However, it’s those times when the ride is the hardest that we will see God more clearly at the end. Push ahead and keep going and God will see you on the other side of this day, I promise.

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip of every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

A Tough Bridge to Cross

“For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.”

 

I feel selfish when I am trying to reflect inward and get to the bottom of me. Maybe selfish isn’t the right word. Maybe it’s self-centered, which would make sense. I had spent so much time only worried about what I wanted, what felt right and good to me, and what made me happy that whenever I put the focus on me and my heart it feels wrong. But, here I stand before you and I am questioning who I am. Of course, I wonder if I am not questioning who I am as much as trying to figure out where I went because there are moments when I don’t like the thoughts that course through my mind and the feelings that flow through my heart and I think, “this isn’t me” and if it isn’t me where did I go?

 

I lost my focus. I let my pride grow and the backfire is that I have grown resentful and angry.  I feel out of grace and out of patience. God calls us to love and not be angry but I always seem to find a way to grumble and complain. Paul says, in Philippians 2:4, “do all things without complaining and arguing”, yet, as much as I pray and ask God to help me do that, I find myself grumbling and complaining once more.

 

Do you know how hard it is to truly look inward and see who you are? It’s tough and, unfortunately, I am letting this struggle I am going through overshadow all the good blessings in my life. I need to work though this season in my life and not give up. Actually, that is wrong. I need to let God work through me. I think I may have snagged the reigns of my life out of His hands and tried to take over again. Obviously, I am not doing a very good job. I need to embrace the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) once again. But He knows. There is nothing I can go to God with that He doesn’t know and didn’t sacrifice for. Isn’t that what Easter is all about?

 

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edge sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between join and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one whom we are accountable.

 

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious god. There will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:12-16)

The Cell Phone Devotion

“After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the might things he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10)

 

Have we forgotten that we are parents? Has there been some event that happened, which I missed, where children had the right or privilege to do what they want when they want to do it?  I am just curious because on the radio yesterday the DJ was talking with a mother who was so grateful that the cell phone could block times in the day when her daughter could not text because the daughter was texting at dinner and this would stop that. Of those of you who know me personally, you know exactly what I thought of that. Maybe it’s because I don’t like cell phones. Maybe it’s because I think it is ridiculous how many children have cell phones with no appreciation for the cost or the reason to have them and if I offend you, I am sorry. If it makes you feel any better I don’t like my cell phone either and use it as little as possible.   

 

It’s not only cell phones though! It’s clothes, nails, prom dresses, 16-year old temper tantrums (I did do that), and a complete lack of respect. As parents we have all this pressure to live up to society’s standards of what our children “need” and if we let them our kids will play us on that.  I will be the first to admit that I was a spoiled brat but I paid for my own gas and if I wanted my nails done and I paid for it because I wouldn’t have asked my parents for that money because I was forced to work. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I suddenly decided not to work. I paid for my prom dresses and my own car insurance. I didn’t balance my books well but I balanced them. I have seen so many teens steamroll their parents and I sit back speechless.

 

In a time when parents want to blame the culture and society for the angst happening amongst our young it’s time to remember that the schools, radio stations, televisions, and even the churches are not who need to be raising our children. It is us. We can use many avenues to train up our children to the responsible adults we want them to be but they have to be tools and not babysitters. And, I am not denying that we can do all the right things for our kids and they may still make bad choices but don’t let the world convince you that you might as well give up! Let us not lead a generation to fall away if we are not around but a generation who wants to snag God’s torch from our hands because they are simply that strong in Jesus, in faith, in responsibility, and in leading. We are the parents, we are the leaders, and God has given us a job let’s make sure we do it right because we won’t get a second chance.

 

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)