Real Renovation

 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing." Isaiah 43:18, 19

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" Revelation 21:5

    My husband and I were watching one of the best episodes of Home Town on HGTV. In it, this guy had inherited the most dilapidated little cabin we ever saw. Even though the hosts were dubious of possibly restoring it, the man's sentimental attachment to the hot mess won out. I mean, this scurvy place was home to a buzzard dubbed Ricky, that's how bad off it was. 

    Persistently peeling away years of wretched rot and tolerating odious odors, the team of renovators plugged away until, by the show's end, the astounded homeowner gratefully reclaimed his abode from Ricky. It was more than he could have asked for or even imagined.

    As remarkable as this renovation was, it will need updating and repair as the passing years pervade upon its walls. It's inevitable; we live under The Curse.

    Our Creator God is the true Master of restoration. One glad day, this curse, which causes all creation to groan beneath its burden, will be lifted and all things will be made brand new. The wretched rot of death, mourning, crying and pain will be in the dumpster. As we enter our shiny new, beyond-beautiful mansion, bearing the incredibility on our beaming faces, we will finally see our Savior face-to face welcoming us with open arms! Won't that be something else?

 "Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

 Sing for the night is o'er!

 Hosanna in the highest!

 Hosanna forevermore!"

 (quote from The Holy City).

Don't Just Stand There; Go!

 "'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" Acts 1:11

   By the time 2020 mercifully drew to a close, I was just standing there, metaphorically, depleted, defeated and depressed. Media of any kind felt like poisonous gasses seeping in beneath my closed door so I deleted it from my life and embraced social distancing for once. It felt good to lick my wounds.

    Peter, James and John and the gang had bigger reasons than me for wanting to hole up in their upper room after Jesus was crucified. Even after the resurrection, they still floundered as they listlessly attempted to return to their former lives. But things would never be the same for them. 

    That's exactly how I feel. There's no going back to my former life of comfort. There's been a shift, as tectonic plates in an earthquake, that's left me wondering what to do now. 

    I found my cue in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) when Jesus told his disciples to "Therefore, go!" Also, as the verse above states, the two angels had to prod those who witnessed Jesus ascend into heaven. I smile to imagine them saying, "Don't just stand there; Get going! There's work to be done."

    There's another cue in the Parable of the Bags of Gold found in Matthew 25: 14-30. God has given me bags of gold which equate to opportunities, talents, ambitions and wealth to fund my mission but I can't do that in a catatonic state. I need to open my Bible and get busy. Is there someone I can call or mail a card to? Perhaps I could mentor a younger Christian or write a check to City Mission. I can't bury my bag of gold and hope for the best. I have to get busy, too.

    That Serenity Prayer comes to mind: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Turn off the news feeds. Use your time wisely. Stop listening to slander or gossip and start investing your "bag of gold" for the kingdom that never ends. 

    

Angels and Strangers

 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

    My folks supported the work of missionaries, so when one such servant of the Lord came visiting our church, I was not surprised to hear we'd be having him stay at our house. In fact, he would be using my room, I was told, so I set about to make it welcoming. Since he was from Zimbabwe, I took my cues from my limited knowledge of this far away country in Africa, foraging for anything I could find that had an animal print on it, such as a giraffe or zebra pattern, and decorated my room with them. It felt good to practice hospitality. 

    When Jesus walked this earth, there were several occasions when he was the guest at someone's home. As he and his disciples passed through a village, a resident there named Martha opened her home to him (Luke 10: 38-41). Can you imagine how stressed out she was, bustling around preparing a meal for the Son of God? "Will the meat be tender enough?" she may have muttered, "I wonder if he'll notice that stain on the tablecloth? Maybe I should make an angel food cake? Oh no! I burned the biscuits!" By contrast, her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of the Savior and listened to him. 

    A Pharisee named Simon had Jesus over for dinner, too, but the reception was not quite the same (Luke 7: 36-50). This man didn't greet him with the customary kiss, provide water for his feet or oil for his head. Perhaps Simon didn't realize who Jesus was? But the sinful woman, who'd heard of this Divine Guest, crashed the party, poured perfume on his feet and wiped them with her hair while she wept with contrition. 

    The tables were turned for Zacchaeus, the vertically-challenged tax collector who, in his effort to see Jesus, climbed a sycamore tree (Luke 19: 1-10). Once directly beneath those dangling feet, Jesus looked up and called him by name, imploring him to come down "for I'm going to your house today!" (How many of you are singing the Sunday School song about Zacchaeus in your head right now?) Can you imagine that? Jesus invites himself over for dinner to your house? What would your response be? "Ahem, ah, well...you see... I wasn't prepared to have company and my place is a pig sty...How 'bout another time?" 

    Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. He'd so like to come in and eat with you, even if there are dust bunnies running across the floor. He loves you, just as you are, and he longs for you to ask him to stay. Once you confess you need His help, He'll clean your place. Then you can offer hospitality to others. In Deuteronomy 10:19, the Lord said, "You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." You never know who's at the door...could be Jesus!

Who's Doing the Talking?

 "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10: 18-20

    In recent years, there have been reports of people coming to faith in Christ through dreams and visions. Most come from "closed" countries, meaning they are not open to the saving gospel. In Iran, where it is illegal to leave the Islamic faith, there has been a rapid increase of Muslims converting to Christianity. Perhaps it may be surprising to learn that there are approximately 750,000-1.2 million Christian converts in that country today. 

    I recently read an account in Voice of the Martyrs magazine about an Iranian man named Shahrokh. He'd been a drug addict and a Muslim but encountered Jesus Christ on his journey and converted to the Christian faith. Now, it is his mission to reach out to other addicts, using a 12-step program to introduce them to Jesus. Having been discovered, a security official interrogated Shahrokh, forbiding him to share his faith. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Shahrokh courageously replied:

    "You cannot block the divine methods God uses to meet human beings. You can close Christian social activities and house groups or put Christian workers in prison, but you cannot stop people seeing dreams or visions. You cannot put Jesus Christ in prison. You cannot stop the work of the Holy Spirit. He is at work and in different ways He reveals the truth to people. Can you change the hearts and inner lives of people where the Lord dwells?"

    In the verses above, Jesus warned his followers that we will be persecuted. Christians in America have been afforded certain liberties that other believers in the world have not. However, that landscape is quickly changing as these freedoms are being challenged. When this happens to you, and it will if you are on fire for Jesus, don't worry about what to say. Boldness and courage will course through your veins at just the right time as the Holy Spirit within gives you power like that of Peter and Paul in the early church. Do not be afraid; He who is faithful has promised to be with us to the very end of the age.

Cat Got Your Tongue?

 "'Woe to me,' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'" Isaiah 6:5

"This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." Ezekiel 1:28

"So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless." Daniel 10:8

    The people who saw Jesus during his time on earth were beholding an every day kind of guy. A carpenter's son from an unremarkable town called Nazareth, he was nothing to write home about, just by looking at him. In fact, Isaiah 53:2 said, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." If I lived in Galilee at that time, I wonder if I would realize who is was that just walked by?

    But, had they seen the glorified Christ as described by the Apostle John in Revelation, chapter one, they'd have been arrested by his majesty! Probably feeling like the cat had his tongue, John did his best to describe the indescribable: a robe sashed with gold over feet of bronze, snow-white hair, the voice of rushing waters and a face that shone like the sun in all its brilliance. John, who had been a close disciple and friend of Jesus during his three year ministry, was so stunned by this Jesus that he "fell at his feet as though dead." (Rev. 1:17)

    When the question was raised to me, "If you stood face to face with the Savior of the world, what would you ask him," I was so taken aback by the thought of seeing Jesus that I couldn't utter a word, much less form a question. Once I got past that, however, I would like to know why God loves us so much. What's there to love? "What is man that you are mindful of him; the son of man that you should care for him?" (Psalm 8:4) After all, there are days when I can't even stand myself. The only conclusion I came up with is that's just who He is! God is love so how could He be anything else? Even so, some things I just won't understand completely until I get to heaven. Maybe then I'll ask Jesus my question.

    What would you ask?

    

Just be Patient, Will Ya?

 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3: 12, 14

    I have no patience. You'd think I'd have learned by now that a watched pot never boils, even if you yell at it. I holler at traffic lights, tap my toes in long lines and give gifts as soon as I buy them. My reasoning is: I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, so why wait?

    The pandemic has gone out of its way to change me. For whatever reason, the cell phone store is closed so my daughter and I were attempting to purchase a new phone online. "Attempting." After an hour of hold times, voice machines and chat rooms, we gave up. These are difficult times, to be sure! I have no other options but to wait, wait, wait. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit also likes to give gifts promptly, the best one for me being patience.

    Here are some terrific verses on patience:

"A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11

"...patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools." Ecclesiastes 7: 8, 9

"Love is patient, love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4

    Did you know there are seven verses which tell us the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love? Think He's trying to tell us something? My mother's voice still rings in my memory, "Patience is a virtue." And my father, when he saw me losing my patience over something, would gently say, "Try to outsmart it!" The buzz word in this upside-down culture is "tolerance" but I think it should be "patience." If we all clothed ourselves in love, compassion, humility, kindness and gentleness and were patient with others, love would easily bind us all together, mending the fissures in our society. Imitate God.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 

Don't Get Too Comfortable

 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back...If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" Mark 13: 35, 36

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25: 13

"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber." Romans 13: 11

    Recently, I bought a mattress topper from that MyPillow guy. He promised it would bring me the most comfortable sleep of my life. I've discovered that the more cozy I am, the more resistant I am to get up and greet the morn. Maybe a stiffer surface would be better for me in the long run.

    Similarly, getting too comfortable in the patterns of this world will distract me from my true mission as a soldier of the cross. Sleeping on the ground with my boots on and my weapon at my side, so to speak, would be wiser. 

    The Bible tells us repeatedly to stay alert and watch for the return of the Bridegroom, who is Christ Jesus. As He told the High Priest before His crucifixion, "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:62)

    Perhaps that's too fantastic for you to believe. Put yourself in the days of Noah. You're going about your everyday affairs, never listening to the loon who's building a boat no where near any water. He's always yammering about a coming judgment and a rain storm, but you blow him off with a wave of your hand. "I don't seen any rain," you scoff. "He's nuts." But one very wet day, the truth came out and the door of the ark was shut.

    Thousands of years later, the theory of evolution alters the obvious physical evidence of the worldwide deluge and explains away creationism with a wave of the hand. "Nah, I don't believe all those fairy tales. That's nuts." Whether you believe it or not, doesn't change the truth. God tells the gospel truth and He will not be mocked. Don't get too comfortable! Wake up and watch the skies, be prepared by filling your soul with the Holy Spirit and sharing the truth with others before it's everlastingly too late. 

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3: 17, 18

Five Smooth Stones

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55: 10, 11

    The colossal chaos of the past year has flattened me out like Wile Coyote under a fallen boulder in the desert. Wearily, I have come to know the meaning of daily picking up my cross and following my Savior. After Elijah stood up to the prophets of Baal, thereby ticking off the evil Queen Jezebel, he was laid out flat under a broom tree, disconsolate and depressed. I can relate to him. To me, the giant who confronts me is a twelve-foot tall politician who wears a mask and speaks lies while silencing me. But then, I pick up my Bible and remember the boy David who slew Goliath with five smooth stones and a sling. There wasn't anything magical about the stone; it was his unwavering faith in the power of the living, Almighty God that conquered the foe.

    When Martin Luther went up against the corrupt Catholic church of his day, he wisely used the Word of God as his weapon. "I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force," he stated. "I simply taught, preached and wrote God's word; otherwise, I did nothing... the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything." It's not us, it's the Power behind us that gets the job done.

    When the powers-that-be in our world threaten to loom so largely over us that all we want to do is lay out flat on our beds with the curtains drawn, then we are looking at the problem, not the Problem-Solver. With courage and conviction, get up, load your sling with the Word of God and stand up to that ogre, the devil - because that's the driving force behind chaos and corruption. 

    "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Mark 13:31

Impenetrable PPE

 "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.' Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. If you say, 'The Lord is my refuge,' and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91: 1-4, 9-11

With all that's going on around us, as we are being attacked from the evil one on every side, it's amazing to me that we are under the delusion that a six inch piece of cloth and some hand sanitizer is going to be our savior. Frankly, I tire of the endless instructions to keep socially distant, mask up, wash your hands and so on. Would that we would be as diligent with our spiritual health! Leaving the house without your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) may cause all kinds of woe, but how many of us link arms with Lucifer every time we enter the sea of humanity without the full armor of God? And the consequences of that breach of security are eternal! 

In the 6th chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, God gives us everything we need to protect us during warfare: the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, the shield of faith, feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace and the gift of prayer. We wouldn't think of leaving our mask at home; why do we leave our Bibles on the shelf? Are we living in fear and seclusion? Are we acting as the mask police with those around us? Are we more concerned with wiping down surfaces than cleansing the dirty corners of our hearts? Awake from your slumber and be not so distracted by the delusions of the devil. Put on God's armor and get to work for his kingdom knowing you are protected and impenetrable. God alone rules both time and eternity and all that happens both here and in the hereafter.

Jesus said, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12: 4-7

What Time Is It?

 "He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything that we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1: 9,10

    My dad always wore a watch. As a dad to three daughters, he would chide us to be promptly ready for church, often sitting out in the car, looking at his watch while we ran around in a flurry. He could often be heard saying, "You can't fault a man for being on time."

    Our creator gave the concept of time to mankind when he set the sun, moon and stars into place. He, however, is not bound by time. He is infinite, which is tough to grasp. As a child, I recall trying to understand how God could have no beginning or no end; it made my head spin so I quit trying. Another conundrum is found in the verse above: How could He grant us grace before the beginning of time? This is where faith comes in. Just as a child has no knowledge of how to run a checking account, I leave these enigmas for my Father to figure out.

    Getting back to my dad...I wonder how he likes living in heaven where eternity reigns and the Light of the World replaces the sun and moon? Does he still think he should sit down to dinner at 6:00? Or is he reveling in the abandon that comes with everlasting life where there is no more sorrow, worry, pain or limitation? I wager he is having the time of his life!

    "Every true Christian is a citizen of two worlds: the world of time and the world of eternity. We are, paradoxically, in the world and yet not of the world...As Christians, we must never surrender our supreme loyalty to any time-bound custom or earth-bound idea, for at the heart of our universe is a higher reality - God and His kingdom of love - to which we must be conformed." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Necklace

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." Matthew 13: 45 & 46

    What's your most precious possession?

    I've been reading a book entitled, "The Necklace," by Cheryl Jarvis. In it, a middle-aged woman went to the mall to buy a box of chocolates. As she moseyed along, she passed a dazzling diamond necklace on display in the jeweler's window. Tantalized as though hypnotized, she entered the store, soon forgetting about her original mission, and asked to try it on. "Perhaps if I'd have lived my life differently, I would have been able to afford such a piece," she mused to herself. "Why can't we enjoy such luxuries as people who admire pricey works of art in a museum? But, no one needs a diamond necklace...what of all the true needs in this world?" And so, the unspoken battle continued as she studied her reflection wearing the $37,000 stunner. Eventually, the thought came to her to appeal to others of like mind to go in together and buy the necklace to share the joy, like a time-share. 

    Once the group of thirteen women gathered around their new purchase, they each tried it on. The necklace made them feel thinner and taller, attractive and desirable. Feelings of self-confidence gave them value and the euphoria of wearing a ring of fifteen carats made them feel invincible. It gave them much pleasure to share it with brides, cancer survivors, young debutants and an elderly bridge club. One of the owners gushed, "It was such a glorious feeling, like eternal sunshine, a lovely, hopeful feeling for the planet."

    Though I do not own such an item, my most valuable possession is a free gift. It makes me feel invincible because it gives me everlasting life. How can I help feeling fifteen feet tall after knowing how much God loves me, that His only Son laid down His life for me? He removed my dirty garments of sin and wrapped me in His white robe of righteousness, crowning me with love and compassion. He has gone on to prepare a mansion for me because He wants me to be with Him in all His glory. Talk about "eternal sunshine!" This gift of salvation is so precious to me that I want to share it with you. If you would like to be a part of this "time-share," ask Jesus to come into your heart and He will wrap you in eternal luxuries.

    

One Nation Under God

 "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" Revelation 7: 9,10

    A T-shirt I saw recently proclaimed, "When I die, don't let me vote Democrat." Humorous, perhaps, but, thankfully, full of theological holes. You see, because I trust solely in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I will be going to heaven when I die. One thing that makes it a heavenly place is that there is no voting! It'll be the greatest government, a supreme theocracy, under which we will gladly serve. Imagine peace, prosperity, faultless justice and immutable authority! Of His kingdom there shall be no end! (Luke 1:33)

    "Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:7)

    Above my bathroom mirror, I've painted this question on the wall: "Is Jesus Your King?" Before I even brush my teeth, I am aligning myself in the true perspective, acknowledging my allegiance to God in whom I trust and preparing to walk in the way that leads to life, which is wherever my Shepherd takes me. This kingdom, of which I am a part, is the one true nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all who come to the foot of the cross, confess their sins and accept the free gift of salvation.

    No donkey or elephant can ever supplant the Lamb. He gets my vote every time!

Sweet Land of Liberty

 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

    Driving to work on this dark, dreary day my soul was downcast within me and I pled aloud to God. I fight the feeling of fear as each day's news seems to go from bad to worse. Censorship, shut downs and the silencing of "certain people" pricked my heart as I asked God, "What are we to do? Our liberties are not only at risk, they are being removed!" Never did I dream of this happening in America!

    Just then, the perfect song played over the radio, as if Jesus himself were serenading me. Tears flowed freely as I heard, "His Eye is on the Sparrow." The fear that had fenced me in gave way to the very real presence of God, right there in my Buick, as these words soothed, "I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free! For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

    While my heart was rent, God used this time to remind me of those Christians, like Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Bessie, who suffered in the concentration camps during the Holocaust. ALL of their liberties, their possessions, their kindred and even their names were stolen from them. Yet those souls were more free, more thoroughly liberated, than anybody on the other side of that razor wire.

    They believed these words of Jesus, and so do I: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28

Let Freedom Ring!

Ever Green

    ""Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 

    Just a few weeks ago, I was the center of attention, beautifully adorned with a glorious purpose. I felt like part of the family when they gathered 'round me and sang, "O Tannenbaum, how lovely are thy branches." I guarded gaily wrapped packages which lay in wait 'round my feet as the twinkling lights reflected my stately beauty. What happened? Now I'm just a sap heaped on a truck with others like me, a stray strand of tinsel to remind me of how far I've fallen. Rumor has it we're heading to the chipper chamber with mulch as our lot. I thought I was an evergreen?

    Life imitates art, it seems. One minute we're a Baywatch babe riding the crest of a wave, then life happens. Skin sags, jowls jiggle and we're sent out to pasture like yesterday's news. The needles are falling. 

    I've got good news for you, my aging friend: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)." We can be ever green! The cross symbolizes life, not just death; life everlasting is ours because death was swallowed up in the victory of the empty grave. "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:19)." Pitiful, like a Christmas tree in January headed to the dump. "But, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20)."

    So, you may not rock a bikini anymore, but, as the Bride of Christ, He has "bestowed you with a crown of beauty instead of ashes...and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3)."  Let your Light shine!

Tough Love

 "You have heard it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Spoken by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:43-45)

    The birds have it right. They are smarter than we are even though they have bird brains. They flit from place to place, unmindful of what type of neighborhood they are in. They'll perch in a flowering dogwood or a snarly ol' thicket. Their songs of rejoicing can be heard as they happily peck about because they know the Lord opens His hand to them.

    Twenty-four seven, the news and its images threaten to shove their way into my home, my mind and my soul. Hatred, division, avarice, corruption and violence waft their stench into my Father's world, just as it had when His Son walked the streets of Judea. How can I see through the effects of sin to love the sinners beneath? 

    I must surrender. The world does not revolve around me; it's all about Him. His greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. This is a tough order, but not impossible with the help of God. He is Love! In the NIV translation, the Bible mentions the word "love" 551 times! Surely we can find the help we need in our instruction manual. 

    In all honesty, there are certain people who offend my beliefs and all that is dear to me so thoroughly that I just want to gnash my teeth at them, but I can't; not if I am a follower of King Jesus. I must at least begin by showing respect, as Peter instructed in his first letter: "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God and honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). 

    This prayer was in my devotional today: "Lord, forgive us when we reduce people to the political views they espouse or the irritating things they do. Help us to see each person for who they are: your image-bearer with inherent value." 

Christ Amid Chaos

 "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I awake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side." Psalm 3: 3-6

    Turning over to a new calendar year hasn't done the trick, it appears. That which assailed us in 2020 is doggedly following. A glimpse at the headlines today is a dismal reminder: "Capitol Chaos," "Lake County Exceeds 500 (hospital) Stays." It's easy for discouragement and fear to take root if we only look at the chaos. 

    Now let's take a look at Christ amid the chaos. The Psalmist above labels the Lord his shield. This reminds us of the passage in Paul's letter to the Ephesians when he taught them about the battles of life. "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16)." A trained soldier knows his enemy, protects himself with his provided gear and follows the instructions of his commanding officer.

    Who is our enemy? Satan would have us believe it is Congress or other such governing authorities. That way, we take our focus off him and turn on ourselves. He loves that! He has a flaming bowl of popcorn and is laughing with his foul mouth full as he watches us destroy ourselves. Jesus identified our perpetrator as the father of lies; why listen to Satan? He prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). 

    What protective gear have we been provided? Our gear is Christ Himself. Ephesians chapter six has a list: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, feet fitted with the gospel of peace and prayer. The offensive weapon, our sword, is the Word of God. If you are fearful of the future or suffering from PTSD, open your Bible and use it! Start slinging some arrows of your own! Don't leave home without it.

    Lastly, who is our Commanding Officer? It is the One True God. Let us follow His example. When Jesus was stripped, mocked, flogged and executed unjustly, He prayed from the cross: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)." He was obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8)! He resisted the schemes of the evil one, kept his focus on the job before him and won the victory over the enemy.

    Keep your eyes and ears on Him and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.(Hebrews 12:2)"

Senseless Salvation

 "But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away." Proverbs 6: 32 & 33

    These words jumped off the page, convicting me to the very core of my being. I am an adulteress. It brings me to my knees to even write this, but it's true. God knows it. I know it. Why not just say it? Beneath the carefully arranged life, there lies a scarlet letter. The wages of my sin is shame, disgrace and death - the death of integrity, of social standing, of family strength. I cannot stand up with pride and say, as a virtuous woman, I did everything right.

    Then the Holy Spirit showed me something new as I reread the verses. The cross has no sense! That Jesus should become sin for someone like me makes no sense! He took my blows, my disgrace and my shame as He hung naked on the cross, stricken, smitten and afflicted. I am reminded it is by His stripes I am healed. The punishment that brought me peace was laid upon Him with heavy blows. He has replaced the disgrace of my scarlet letter with His own white, seamless robe and given me a crown of righteousness in place of ashes. He wore my crown of thorns.

    Daily, I ask myself, "Is Jesus your king?" and the answer is always a thousand times yes! He has wiped away my shame and given me a new identity: Daughter of the King. Child of God. I don't understand it - it makes no sense - but I believe it with all my heart. Thank you, King Jesus! I love you.

The Comforts of Home

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal home in heaven, not built by human hands." 2 Corinthians 5:1

    I was so blessed to grow up in a small, serene village, raised by Christian parents. My sisters, friends and I rode our bikes in the quiet streets and played in the schoolyard till dusk, strangers to fear. 

    When the passage of time ferried me to places afar, it was a comfort to me knowing I could always go home to unconditional love and spiritual joy. A smile from mom, a joke from dad, hugs all around. How I miss it!

    Now that the folks are in heaven and the family home sold, it has occurred to me that my childhood sanctuary had been a foreshadowing of my true dwelling place, an eternal home "not built by human hands."

    The utter depravity of this broken world brings with it dashed hopes, despair and unrealized dreams but the comforts of home can be found in the everlasting arms of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Smiles and hugs abound, fear has been vanquished by perfect love and therein lies the peace that passes all understanding.

"Jesus replied, 'Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'" John 14:23

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me." Revelation 3:20