Same As Always

 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

    In a world that never stays the same, I puzzle at the immutability of its Creator. God, who never changes, made a world that never stays the same. Though this seems incongruous, I am glad it's true.

    Imagine with me the flip side of this. What if God were always changing His mind? Just when you thought you had things figured out, He would change all the rules of the game, upending all of us in the process.

    I spent ten days visiting my eldest daughter and her family in Houston, Texas. The night prior to my departure, I made sure to check in, downloading my boarding pass and all that. I had informed my husband who was meeting my flight that it was on time and told my daughter from which concourse I was departing. I was all set to tackle the intimidating intercontinental airport.

    Security was a breeze; I had no trouble finding my gate, so I was feeling very confident until I read the sign at the gate. "Houston," I thought, "we have a problem." The next flight that was leaving from my gate was heading to Mexico! 

    I rubbed my eyes as I checked and rechecked my information, feeling my confidence ooze from me like a whoopie cushion. Praying, I sought an employee who told me the gate had been changed. Now I needed to go to another concourse. 

    "Go on down this way, turn left," the employee began with a gesture of direction. "Then turn right when you see the Auntie Anne's pretzel place. After awhile, you'll see an escalator on the right. Go up and you'll see a train. Get on board," she continued in spite of my glazed expression, "and get off at the first stop. Then go down another escalator, turn left..." 

    By this time, I must've looked like a shell-shocker cornhusker from Iowa, so my benefactor kindly repeated the instructions. With my hand in His, I found my way.

    The journey along life's way is comparable to my airport experience. There was only one gate I needed to find that provided my way home. Not just any gate would do or I would've ended up in Mexico. Jesus said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." (John 10:9) No other gate will get me to my heavenly home. "I am the way, the truth and the life," Jesus plainly declared in John 14:6. 

    And these dependable words have not changed since He uttered them. The same holds true for all, throughout all the generations of travelers. The gate will never be changed on us, so check your ticket. Are you at the Right Gate, heading north? Or are you depending on the wrong pilot, heading south? 

Destination is crucial. 

"I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6

    

    

On Deaf Ears

 Jesus said, "Whoever has ears, let them hear." Matthew 11:15

    Dave and I have been married for thirty-six years, and in that time, those three little words we once said to one another have become, "Whad ya say?"

    All humor aside, there's a difference between hearing and listening. It stands to reason that our auditory senses are not as sharp as they once were, but it remains important that we listen to one another.

    Sometimes I wish I could hear God audibly, but if He did speak aloud, I am sure it would go in one ear and out the other given enough time. However, listening with spiritual ears requires me to be in step with the Spirit, discerning His language and then doing what He says. 

    Jeremiah is often referred to as The Weeping Prophet. Once around the block in his prophetic book and one easily sees why he lamented. God had given him the job of warning his people of impending doom, but when he did so, this was their response: "This man should be put to death." (Jeremiah 38:4) Rather than listen to the word and wisely "do what it says" (James 1:22), they sought to silence the messenger.

    In the same way, the Pharisees didn't like what Jesus had to say, so they "went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." (Matthew 12:14)

    And, remember the members of the Sanhedrin who refused to hear the Word of God as spoken by Stephen? "At this, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." (Acts 7:57-58)

    Father in heaven, may I lament with your Son who wept over Jerusalem: "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37)  How frustrating it must be for you to love us so very much that you sent your Word to become flesh and make his dwelling among us, only to have us plug our ears. Forgive me for all the times I was not listening. 

    Lord, may I join Simon Peter in saying, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68) Remind me that today is the day, "Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Psalm 95:7-8) 

    How selfish I am! When I talk to you, I expect you will hear me, so then, isn't it more important that I should listen to you? Count me not among those of Jeremiah's day who found your word offensive, but, on the contrary, may I hang on your every word. Make me more like Mary, who sat at Jesus's feet and really listened. Amen.

"While he (Peter) was still speaking, a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'" Matthew 17:5

Unexpected Blessings

 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

    The best part about following Jesus is the delightful element of surprise He loves to use. It makes for such great stories.

    While running errands the other day, there in the parking lot next to my car I spotted a small wooden cross. Perhaps it had fallen off someone's bracelet. So, I picked it up with a smile, knowing God had elbowed me to see it. On to the next stop.

    As I pulled in, I saw an elderly man wearing a veteran's ballcap, perched on the seat of a blue walker in the hot sun. He held a scrawled sign that said: Please help me.

    Feeling God elbowing me again, I fished some money out of my purse and coupled it with the better gift: the little cross.

    My encounter with the man was only momentary, but what happened next has blessed me to tears all week.

    As I approached him, I lay my hand on his shoulder, giving him what I had. When he saw the cross, he choked back a little sob and said, "God bless you. What's your name so I can pray for you."

    Me? Of the two of us, I appeared to be more blessed than he, yet in that moment I knew he was the richer man.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7

Left Behind

 "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." Psalm 71:18

    When cleaning out her church's library, my sister was about to toss a plain, brown book, a slim volume rather unremarkable at first glance. But something gave her pause to open the cover where, lo and behold, she recognized our dad's handwriting! 

    Dad had gifted the book to our pastor back in 1964, which was a treasure in itself for my sister to see, but then she noticed that the author was our mother's uncle, Mr. Clarence Dame. Those of our generation had no idea he had penned a book. Now here it lay in her hands. 

    Entitled "Fathers of the Bible," he explores the role of earthly fathers as seen in the pages of Scripture. It's quite an interesting read, especially when  he mentions his own father's godly influence on the family of ten children, one of whom was our grandmother.

    Here is one precious excerpt: "A father can impress upon the minds of the children what are the real important things in life. By his conversation and by his prayers a father reveals what he thinks to be most valuable in life. My father always prayed that all the children would serve the Lord. He was much more concerned about the children's spiritual condition than about their material advantages." Clarence went on to say, "Wise indeed is the father who directs the minds and hearts of his children to God and His service, and teaches them to seek Him first." 

    Those prayers, uttered by our great-grandfather, are still reaping a harvest today. 

    In the Hall of Faith chapter, the writer speaks of Abel, who was slain by his envious brother, Cain because the former had offered a better sacrifice than the latter. Yet the Bible has this to say: "By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, Abel still speaks, even though he is dead." (Hebrews 11:4)

    In a similar way, the words found in Clarence's book speak for him long after his death. And these are not words of little value, that are here today and gone tomorrow. No, they are like a pearl of great price with eternal benefit because they point to our Heavenly Father and the free pardon of sin through His Son, Jesus. 

    Of all the things a man can leave behind for his children, what could be more extravagant?

"Our parents left us no money but they left us something far more precious than material things - Christian principles to live and die by, and for these we thank God." - Clarence Dame

Love One Another

 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim in the paths of the seas." Psalm 8: 3-8

    As the embers of our campfire simmered down, my husband and I prepared to do the same, calling it a day.

    Then, in the dying light of dusk, we saw a fluttery movement near the pines that piqued our curiosity. What was that? In the beam of a flashlight, we were amazed to see three small owls, a blessed epilogue to a tiring day.

    Our daughter humorously refers to me as Snow White because we've had a menagerie of critters visit our yard: A ribbon of waddling ducks, just passing through; a fatigued family of deer napping beneath the magnolia tree; a wayward turtle trying to find his way home; a groundhog dubbed Gary who scratched at our back door; a companion squirrel named Clarence Oddtail who would lope across the yard in greeting when I came home; and finally, a few slithering snakes. Now, we have added owls to that list.

    I love most animals. They fascinate, incur laughter and foster love.

    But people? They're a different animal. Oft times, they are rather self-seeking and odious, rude and outspoken, bossy, nosy or outright mean. I join the psalmist, David, when I wonder why God cares for people, taking them by the hand (Isaiah 41:13), collecting their tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), writing their names on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16) and laying down his life for them (Matthew 20:28)!

    Then I remember that I am a part of this race of odious humans and, when I get down to brass tacks, I have been self-seeking, rude, bossy and mean. I am part of the problem!

    It's much easier to love animals, maybe it's because we have been assigned as rulers over them. The assignment God has given us, as his followers, regarding people is much tougher. We are to "love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34) Only with his divine intervention can I take someone by the hand in prayer, listen with compassion as tears roll down their cheeks, write their names on a card of encouragement or emote the sacrificial love of forgiveness and servitude. 

"Love one another as I have loved you"

May seem impossible to do.

But if you will try to trust and believe,

Great are the joys that you will receive.

For love makes us patient, understanding and kind,

As we judge with our hearts and not with our minds.

For as soon as love enters the heart's open door,

The faults we once saw are not there anymore -

And the things that seemed wrong begin to look right

When viewed in the softness of love's gentle light

For love works in ways that are wondrous and strange,

And there is nothing in life that love cannot change,

And all that God promised will someday come true

When you have loved one another the way He loved you.

-by Helen Steiner Rice 

Happy Birthday

 "For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71: 5-6

    Today is my friend's birthday. We have been friends for about sixty years so I love celebrating her today. She has been such a blessing to many.

    Right after I texted a happy birthday greeting to her, I smiled as I read the above verse. Imagine God in scrubs, reassuring the laboring mother as her child is delivered into His strong and capable hands. In great joy, the Lord cleanses the wee one of blood and water before He gently hands the babe over to Mom with a broad smile. It truly is a happy birthday.

    Going through life holding the hand of the Lord is a storied and beautiful journey. Blessed is the person whose "time is in Your hands" (Psalm 31:15). Like a little child He leads us, even through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4), driving away our fears. He defends the weak and the fatherless, upholding the cause of the poor and oppressed (Psalm 82:3), silencing our foes and bullies. 

    "No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." That is a promise from Jesus. (John 10:29)  In fact, nothing, "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39) I would never want to live outside of His Presence.

    Go back to that scene in the delivery room: He, who knit me together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), will be there to escort me home when my eyes shall close in death, "from life's first cry to final breath."  He will be there when the sheet is pulled over my face, preparing my body for its temporary rest. And the Holy Spirit, who used that body for His temple, will take me home to be with Him forever, to a mansion on the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old. (John 14:3)

    To get there, we need to be born again. I heard it said, "Born once, die twice; Born twice, die once." In other words, our soul needs to be reborn spiritually because we were born into sin. As Jesus told Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." (John 3:3) We must be children born of God. 

    That's why Jesus came to die and rise again so we may have life in His Name. It's a transfer of trust from ourselves to the One who made us, believing in Christ. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...for everyone born of God overcomes the world." (1 John 5: 1-4)

    Now that's a happy birthday!

"Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." Psalm 71: 17-18 

    

One of Us, Only Better

 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4: 15-16

    Yesterday, I took our cat, Kiwi, to the vet for his annual vaccination and check-up. From the moment I put him in the carrying case, he vociferously objected to the entire outing. Pupils enlarged by fear, he was bent on forming some route of escape, becoming increasingly anxious when his plans came to naught. Though this outing was for his own good, no amount of soothing or cajoling from me, his loving keeper, could quiet him.

    When we returned home, it took him a while to calm down. As I stroked him and spoke reassurance to him, it occurred to me how this scenario represented our relationship with God. 

    God is Spirit, eternal, divine, omniscient and holy. We are dependent creatures of his, sinful and needy sheep who do not know what will happen next. Warm-blooded and finite, willful and stubborn, we often do not know what is best for us. After our Fall into sin, we were at enmity with our God, with whom Adam had once walked in easy fellowship. 

    Now what? How could this chasm between two very different entities be forged? We are as different as a cat is to a person.

    Enter Jesus, the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). He did not come into the world to condemn us, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17). He became as one of us, yet without sin, to show us the love of the Father, and to show us the way home. He "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:7-8)

    As I pondered this, song lyrics came to mind:

One of Us

What if God was one of us,

Just a slob like one of us,

Just a stranger on a bus

Tryin' to make his way home?

If God had a face,

What would it look like? 

And would you want to see,

If seeing meant that you would have to believe

In things like heaven and in Jesus

and the saints and all the prophets?

    The questions posed within this song have all been answered in Jesus. He had a face, was heard and seen, he hungered, thirsted and slept like any one of us. He lived, died and rose from the grave! One of us, only better! Much better.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." 1 John 1: 1-4