My Life According to God

 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16

    A birthday provides the perfect time to reflect back on life's progress. Are there regrets? A few, surely. Were goals reached? Were they ever made in the first place? If former colleagues and co-workers were called upon to testify about me, what would their observations be? Most importantly, what does God see when He examines my days?

    Recently, when I attended a memorial/worship service for Charlie Kirk, tears rolled down my cheeks as I raised my hands to the Lord. As I did, it seemed as if God showed me clips of my life, like a movie trailer, demonstrating all the times He ministered to me personally. Scenes from childhood to present time were projected onto my heart; some were times of great sorrow while others triumphed with joy.

    As God spoke to me, it became clear that the pinnacles of my life, which identify who I am, all revolve around the One who wrote the events of those days in His book before one of them came to be. Success cannot be measured by the things that I have done, but only by the accomplishments of my Creator. 

    The words of a song brought this special time to a close as I cried out to God: "All my life you have been faithful; all my life you have been so, so good! With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God."

    God has done His best work in my life when I have gotten out of His way in total submission and fully relied on Him. When the Potter has completed His task, I will resemble Jesus.

    I join Charlie Kirk in saying I want to be remembered for my faith in God. Nothing else matters.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4

 

On a Bicycle Built for Two

 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you...and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1:18-20

    When our two daughters still lived at home, we went on a family vacation to Mackinaw Island, Michigan. The island is a charming spot where automobiles are not permitted, so horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down cobblestone streets, while mingled aromas of fudge and horse manure swirl through the air. It's a very unique experience. 

    Our eldest, Lauren, who loved all things equine, couldn't wait to ride a horse on the beach, so we got her set up with that before heading over to rent two bicycles, one being a tandem. Hannah and I hopped on the tandem and the three of us set out on a trail in the heat of the day. 

    The charm quickly wore off when we became disoriented with the map and the profusion of sweat soaked my cute outfit as I struggled to power the bike. "Are you pedaling at all?" I spoke into the wind to my passenger, who seemed to be enjoying the ride. By the time we reunited with Lauren, my mood had soured and my limbs quivered.

    Life, under our own power, can be exhausting. The effort it takes to rise, shine and greet the morn in a broken world is like riding a tandem without much assistance.

    But the beauty of being in Christ is the infusion of power He bestows, so we don't have to pedal our brains out all by ourselves. He's with us on the ride.

    Picture Christ ahead of you on the bike. You see his strong muscles working, his hair blowing in the breeze while he takes you to places of which you had never dreamed. Some may seem scary, but He turns around and pats your hand. "Don't worry!" He implores. "Just keep pedaling. I am the way." 

    At times, the way is arduous as hills are scaled, but the descent on the other side is a breeze, so you raise your hands with a whoop, as if on a roller coaster. The days are not always sunny, the clouds cover in brooding fashion as contrary winds buffet, but when the Driver is the same one who calms the storm, what have you to fear? Though dark nights crowd 'round you, the feeling is never sinister when you're riding in tandem with the Light of the world. There's no chance of getting lost and the destination at the end of the trail will be sheer paradise.

    Don't go it alone. 

    "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40: 28-31

Call Me Gloria

 "The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything." Philippians 4: 5-6

    As the mother of four daughters, my mom had her hands full. Often would she hear, "Mom, where's my _____?" or "Mom, can I go to _____?" or "Mom, watch me!" At times when weary she would quip, "I'm going to change my name to Gloria!"

    As I watch my granddaughter grow, I am reminded of how much a child needs her mother. Lauren will send her out to play, hoping for a few untethered moments to accomplish a task, yet there's a knock at the door within minutes. "Mommy!" 

    Recalling my own childhood experiences, I'd restlessly await sleep upon my bed. Always a little anxious, I would need that blessed reassurance of my mom's presence, so I'd call out, "Mom, what time is it?" Not concerned about the time, I just needed to hear her voice.

    My morning devotional lead me to the familiar passage of Philippians chapter four, but today, it spoke to me anew: It's enough for me to know the Lord is near, just like my mother always was, and though He has far more children than four, He never gets exasperated when I call upon Him. 

    My heavenly Father is patient. He is kind and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love. He never slumbers nor sleeps, so I can call out to Him at any time of night or day. He lives up to His Name: Immanuel - God with us! 

    And when, at the close of my days, I reach the golden shore, I will look over my shoulder and say with quiet conviction, "Surely goodness and mercy followed me all the days of my life. Now I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" (Psalm 23:6)

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

    

Dying for Telling the Truth

 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants." Psalm 116:15

    Charlie Kirk paid the ultimate price because he spoke truth.

    He's in good company:

• John the Baptist, beheaded for speaking against immorality 
• Stephen, stoned for rebuking the stiff-necked Jews
• Simon Peter, crucified upside down for preaching Christ
• James, beheaded by Herod, trying to silence the believers
• Bartholomew, beaten to death for being a missionary in Armenia
• Thomas, suffered martyrdom for ministering in Persia and India
• Paul, beheaded in Rome by Nero's order who hoped to silence him
• Above all, Jesus, who gave His life, shedding His innocent blood as a ransom for many, including us. All praise and glory and honor to His Name, before Whom every knee shall bow!

    There's not room enough to tell of the river of blood that's been shed around the world for the gospel, and "the world was not worthy of them." (Hebrews 11:38) 

    There are two options from which to choose that are summed up like this: Life or Death, Good or Evil, Truth or Lies. In other words, God or Satan. Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). There are no lukewarm fence-sitters in the Kingdom, only Christian soldiers.

    Sometimes when I read the Hall of Faith written of in Hebrews chapter eleven, I insert my own name. "By faith, Rachel..." As I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, how have I completed this sentence? Am I ready to suffer as others have? Will I stand firm when the day of evil comes? 

Voice of Truth

by Casting Crowns

Oh, what I would do to have

the kind of strength it takes

to stand before a giant

with just a sling and a stone,

surrounded by the sound

of a thousand warriors

shaking in their armor,

wishing they'd have had the strength to stand.

But the giant's calling out my name

and he laughs at me,

reminding me of all the times

I've tried and failed.

The giant keeps on telling me 

time and time again,

"Boy, you'll never win."

But the Voice of Truth

tells me a different story.

The Voice of Truth

says "Do not be afraid;

this is for My glory."

Out of all the voices calling out to me,

I will choose to listen to 

the Voice of Truth.

Truth will never be silenced because it is not a concept but a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Speak truth, even if it kills you.

    

    

    

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