When the Journey is Too Much for You

 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. `When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep."                       1 Kings 19:3-5

    Because it seems like the talking heads in the news always exude a confident air, I was taken aback to read a recent column by the syndicated political commentator, S. E. Cupp, whose opening statement declared, "Never, in 25 years of writing, has a blank page felt so intimidating." 

    Intrigued, I wondered the cause of her writer's block. She went on to explain that, though there's been no shortage of news worth covering, she "hasn't been able to read or watch any of them without spiraling into an uncontrollable sense of panic and fear." I read on. When she admitted to being stuck in a "deep black hole of anxiety," which she attributed to the "perfect storm of pandemic, politics and problems," I felt a kindred spirit. That's how I feel.

    In an online bio, I learned Ms. Cupp is an atheist. While she and I are experiencing similar reactions to the realities surrounding us, she has no faith in God to see her through. Admittingly, Christians have their Elijah moments when crashing beneath a broom bush in a depressed heap seems preferable to maintaining functionality, but it's the Savior of Calvary who beckons us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. He leads by example, having walked the walk Himself. 

    When the journey became too much for Elijah, the angel of the Lord ministered to him. I know that He, who promised to be with me to the end of the age, will take care of me, too. 

   But what of Ms. Cupp? Within the same bio I had read, she sounded like a lost sheep when she said, "I really aspire to be a person of faith someday." Please join me in praying for her, that she may open her heart to the Good Shepherd.

"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." 2 Corinthians 4: 16, 17 

     

Two Sparrows

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10: 29-31

    Have you ever yearned to see what goes on inside a nesting box? I have. Birds fascinate me because they seem so small and vulnerable, yet they have such keen instincts and endurance. God has instilled in each the blueprint for the right type of nest, which they construct without the benefit of hands. To examine them is to see a masterpiece from the Hand of God; therein lies the reason behind my nest collection.

    Some ingenious bird lover fashioned a nesting box complete with an inhouse camera and posted the captured videos. Raptly, I watched the avian activity when the future parents inspected every detail of the house before bringing in bits of moss and tatters of grasses. Day by day, the soft nest became a circle of safety for the wee eggs. I adored how the parental pair worked in fine unison to feed their four hatchlings and keep the house clean. On day seven, the protective wings of the mother bird spread over the babies as she hunkered way down into the nest, head tucked and silent for, at the door was a dastardly crow bent on seeking some fast food. Following her instincts, she remained that way until the danger passed.

    It dawned on me that I feel like that mother bird did as she experienced the danger outside her four walls. She pulled into herself as she gathered her chicks about her, unable to fight that which was larger than she. I feared for her as I wondered where the male bird was? Would he come to her rescue? Then I remembered the camera, which represents God who sees it all! His eye is on the sparrow.

    There are ominous crows who crowd 'round the lintels of our lives, seeking to kill and destroy, but the Eye of God is upon us around the clock. He who loves us neither slumbers nor sleeps, and He has graciously given us all things needed for abundant life. Like those laboring birds, we continue to work in His kingdom, doing all we can to feed and protect the flock, even if it means hunkering down at times. God will take care of those crows.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27

 

Iowa Basic Skills Test

 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15

    Okay, people, settle down. You have each been given a test booklet for which you will need two sharpened No. 2 pencils. Once the test has begun, you will not be permitted to go to the sharpener. We will open our test booklets in unison precisely at 9:00. Ready, class?

    It's time to get down to the basics. This is where the recitation of creeds of our Christian faith are important, be it the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene, for example. When the lies of the devil leech into church doctrine, sharpen your pencil and write a creed of what you believe and why you believe it. Ask yourself:

    True or False?

• "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis. 1:1)
• "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
• Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
• "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
• "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
• "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30)

    If you answered "true" to all of the above, you have claimed that the Triune God is your Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Sustainer and Judge. Congratulations! You have passed the test! If your church is teaching anything other than the truth, leave. Learn the truth of God's word for yourself by devouring your Bible. Do not be deceived. Here is an essay question for bonus points:

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25)

TMI

 "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." John 17:15

    Scarlett O'Hara escaped the burning of Atlanta with a wagonful of weary loads. With the cadence of each step, she yearned to reach her childhood home and lay the burdens down at her parents' feet. Upon her arrival, however, she found more troubles awaiting her and, as the list of grievances were being piled onto her young shoulders, she wondered how much more the enemy could request of her until finally she barked, "I don't want to hear any more about what 'they' did!"

    Oft times, I feel exactly like this. Try as I may to soldier on in a vanishing America, each newscast or podcast telling me of what "they" are doing to dismantle the world I knew suffocates me as much as these horrid masks!  The words of Isaiah pour from my heart like a torrential rain as I look to the heavens and implore of God: "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you...Come down to make your Name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!" (Isaiah 64: 1,2)

    I don't know what has increased more: technology or corruption? Perhaps it's both, but I struggle to find a balance between sticking my ostrich head in the sand and pretending nothing is happening, or keeping abreast of what's coming my way so I can meet it in the street. Honestly, I find it to be TMI (Too Much Information). This must be how Adam and Eve felt when they sampled the fruit from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We were never meant to deal with this level of deception, corruption and hatred. I want to slam down the lid of this Pandora's box of evil in an attempt to keep the slithering snakes inside, but I cannot.

    Who has the power to do this? Who already came down from the heavens and made His name known to the nations? None other than our hero, Jesus Christ! Like a bushman with a machete, He has gone before us, hacking the way through the tangled briars that threaten to choke, kill and destroy. We may get some scratches or bug bites on our journey or even spend some time in the swamp, but He intercedes on our behalf, praying to the Father for our protection. When we tire beneath the weary load, He leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls. 

    "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30

     

The Cool Whip Container

 "What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?" Psalm 116:12

    One rule of etiquette is "Never return a container empty." Having learned this at my mother's knee, I curiously opened a Cool Whip container Someone left on my stoop, knowing I'd have to do some baking in response. However, cookies were not therein; on a bed of straw, there lay the greatest gift of love, a heart-shaped Son who humbled Himself to the death so that I may live. Graciously, I accepted the exquisite gift as I stuffed enough hugs to pop the lid off the container before setting it on the stoop at dusk.

    At break of day, there was the second gift. Lifting the lid brought cacophonous shouts of joy from within: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10) Once I recovered, I enclosed a photograph of my parents, who are both at home with Him.

    On the third round, I hesitantly peeled off the lid, (recalling the previous shouts), but was greeted by a barely-there pale-pink puff, soft as a whispery wing. This was the peace that passes all understanding and, in response to that, I gladly returned all my contrary ideals that I'd used as my weapons of war. I'd broken them into bits.

    I couldn't wait for my fourth gift. When I lifted the lid, the irony was not lost on me: Patience stood there with a staying hand upon my shoulder. I took my time returning my offering: a tidy piece of paper listing all my wiser choices once prudence came home to roost.

    The next time I pried the plastic apart, I could hardly believe what I saw. It was the blue toy Jeep my dad had given me years ago "just because." This random act of kindness echoed through the halls of time, prompting me to pay it forward so I opened my fist and let it flow. Freely, freely, I have received; freely, freely I shall give. I tucked a donation receipt into the white vessel with a wistful smile.

    The sixth gift stumped me. Upon opening, a vision emerged of the Garden of Eden, when purity reigned and goodness prevailed, prior to the corrosion of corruption. Overwhelmed by its sheer beauty, my dirty face glanced away, unable to take it in. The filthy rags of my most righteous acts lay pooled 'round my feet as the words of the Psalmist reminded me: "There is no one who does good." (Psalm 14:1) Aware I could never return the container, as I sorrowfully moved to replace the lid, that's when I spied it. There, in the bottom, lay a cloth I had not previously seen. It was the bloodstained robe of Christ, perfectly sized for me! Eagerly, I donned it and began to overcome the evil in my world with good. (Romans 12:21) Knowing I dare not boast, I humbly retrieved one of my filthy rags and returned it to Him in the container.

    When the seventh gift arrived, I had just begun to grow weary doing good, so I caught my breath and plopped down to open it. There lay a small, wooden music box which I promptly wound. Closing my eyes, strains of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" grabbed my hand and led me down well-worn pathways where the Good Shepherd doggedly led mankind in faith and justice. In answer, I sent a small American flag, along with a copy of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Christian Flag, vowing to follow Him alone.

    Gift eight was a diminutive oxen yoke. Remembering Christ's words in Matthew 11:29, I shared my burdens with my gentle Savior, learning how to humbly put myself last, checking my pride at His door. Instantly, my yoke became easy, my burden became light.  A butterfly wing on a cottony pillow made its trip to heaven as my reply. There is great strength in gentleness.

    By now, I knew one gift remained and it took all my self-control to await its arrival. Weeks passed and still it didn't come. Then the Spirit caused me to see that, in the absence of it, I was actually receiving and practicing the gift, patiently abiding in His grace as I await The Day. 

    When the heavens roll back like a scroll and my faith becomes sight, I shall see Him face-to-face. What then? When I approach the throne, wondering what He'll say, perhaps I will see the empty Cool Whip container at His pierced feet before accepting His extended hand welcoming me home. 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law." Galatians 5:22

Breaking Barriers

 "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?'" John 4: 28, 29

    If you haven't been blessed by watching "The Chosen" yet, I pray you will soon. (This wonderful series is freely available as a downloadable app on one's phone or I have seen Season One on DVD for sale at Hobby Lobby.) Tears streamed down my face as I watched again the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well on episode eight of season one. 

    This was a woman with whom others did not associate, yet the conversation between Jesus and her is the longest one recorded in the Bible, and it was to this woman He chose to reveal Himself as the Messiah in a public manner for the first time. Sweaty and alone, she came to draw water at high noon so she didn't have to rub elbows with those who disapproved of her lifestyle. Imagine her dismay to have a man, a Jew no less, speak to her when she arrived.

    There was a long standing hatred coursing between the Jews and the Samaritans, one so potent that Jews would go the long way around the barn to avoid walking through Samaria. It's a layered story that originated in the days of exile, but suffice it to say, the Samaritans were seen as half-breeds by the Jews. 

    So, the cards are stacked pretty high against this Samaritan woman who had been married five times and was not wed to the man with whom she currently dwelt. Yet, Jesus reached out to her, not in condemnation, but with the healing forgiveness offered in His living water. He did not excuse her immorality, but looked at it straight on in the power of loving compassion. She was valuable!

    This nameless woman was so eager to run and tell everyone she knew about her meeting with Jesus that she left her water jar behind! That's how it should be, yes? Drop whatever we're doing and tell everyone about the Man who knows everything we ever did, yet still died for us. "Everyone" includes those of other backgrounds, lifestyles, religious beliefs or gender. The love of Christ is for all who will believe, and how will they believe if they are not told?

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'" John 4:39

The Secret of Marriage

 "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen!" - Jesus, as spoken to the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2: 4, 5)

    What's the secret to a long, happy marriage? I plan to ask these lifelong friends of mine who are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this weekend.  Many marriages I know have had their problems with frostiness, separations, indifference, infidelity and sometimes divorce. If a union is not given priority, it's like falling asleep on an inflatable raft in the lake. You bob along in relative comfort until you open your eyes and realize you're miles from the shore. How do two people who love each other end up like this?

    When I think back to the beginning of my marriage with Dave, we could talk on the phone for three hours, we wrote letters of declaration to mail across the county, a folded love note was tucked beneath the windshield wiper or we'd hide a small gift to be found with a smile. There was an anticipation, a desire to please as we got to know each other.

    The imagery of the church as the bride of Christ portrays the love of our beautiful Savior. He has betrothed us to Him before going to prepare our mansion in heaven, and has promised to return to take us to be with Him. He has paid the bride price with His own blood and given us the precious raiment of righteousness, calling us to faithfully anticipate His return. If we find ourselves far from His side, who moved? Can't be Him; He's immutable. What can be done when we've drifted?

    The answer may be found in Ephesians 5:10: "And find out what pleases the Lord." To do that, I must become more and more like Jesus every day. Would Jesus have a critical heart? Would He wile away a few hours watching R-rated movies? Have I expressed how much I love Him through praise and worship? Do I talk to Him? Is His love letter to me sitting unopened on the table as I read works of fiction? Have I become a hag by complaining about what I don't have instead of thanking Him for what I do have? Selflessness, communication and dedication are necessary components of a happy union. There's no secret in that.

"As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." Isaiah 62:5

The Weight of the Cross

 "I will show him (Paul) how much he must suffer for my name." Acts 9:16

    One of the inspirational Bible verses I have taped onto my bathroom mirror is taken from Paul's second letter to Timothy. Tradition posits that his second epistle to the young Timothy was the last letter of his life. He penned it while incarcerated in Rome's Mamertine Prison as he awaited his execution ordered by Emperor Nero. This was no comfy jail cell with a cot and three squares a day; Paul had been lowered through a hole to a dank cistern a few dozen feet below the ground.

    You may be wondering what inspiration a 21st century woman may draw from a writing created under such dire circumstances? Here it is: "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength...The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4: 17, 18)

    If Paul felt the Lord stood by his side as his source of rescue, then how did he end up in that awful prison? What's more, take a look at this list of Paul's hardships he endured for the sake of the gospel prior to this last trip to Rome, as drawn from 2 Corinthians 11: 23-29: He was frequently imprisoned, flogged severely, five times received lashes from his own countrymen, three times beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, thrice shipwrecked, hungry and thirsty, sleep-deprived and in constant danger from bandits, false prophets and opposing forces.

    What I've come to understand is physical well-being and spiritual prowess are two separate realms. True, the Lord permitted severe physical suffering to Paul, but God faithfully delivered him from every evil attack on his soul. Satan, no doubt, would have loved for Paul to give up, and was no doubt wishing to sift him like wheat, but I, for one, am so grateful that Paul finished the race. 

    In this pansy-path world where lawsuits are filed because coffee is too hot, Christians are called to carry the cross and follow in His footsteps. If Jesus endured betrayal, humiliation, crucifixion and being forsaken by His Father for my sake, I pray for the courage of St. Paul to suffer for the gospel. I want to finish well.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4: 7, 8