Our Compassionate God

 "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." Nehemiah 9:17

    Sometimes, the best way to comprehend something is to consider its opposite.

    My eldest daughter and I were talking about things of the faith one day when she presented a new way of appreciating God. "I'm glad God is a good God," she said. "What if He were not?"

    Indeed! As I contemplated this, visions of a vindictive bully hurling hundred-pound hailstones and jagged lightning bolts at cowering people who ran for cover filled my mind. What if the sun rose and set at whatever times He got around to it? What if He decided to spin the earth a tad faster one day? 

    To further validate her point, I turned to the scriptures where I found at least eight verses that specifically describe God as gracious and compassionate. Isn't that wonderful?

    During a radio sermon, the preacher told of a farmer who noticed a flock of sparrows that were desperate to escape the inclement weather, so the compassionate man thought to lure the birds into the warm shelter of his barn. As soon as he approached them, however, they flew off, frightened by his size. He tried various ways to lure them, using food and what not, but they didn't trust him. The farmer thought, "If only I could become like one of them, then I could lead them into safety."

    This is an apt description of the incarnation, when God became like one of us. He leads us to the Promised Land of eternal life in Christ Jesus, hemming us in behind and before. 

    I jotted this down in my journal, not sure where I read it: "Jesus would come not just to fill me or support me. He would come alongside me as my ally to fight for me. He would come as my companion to go forward with me. He would come as my Redeemer to buy me back and take me home. In the raging of physical warfare, in the hidden torment of spiritual battle, or in my times of rest and peace, Jesus is 'God with me.'" 

"When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36 

Wise Men Still Seek Him

 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21

    Walking on a windowsill at my sister's home are three wise men perched upon their camels. Though they are faded and aged, they doggedly follow the star, year after year. These three had belonged to our parents and, though they didn't match the manger scene, we girls loved them best because of the one's malady: his camel had a wooden leg. At some point in time, this poor dromedary lost his limb but Dad repaired it with a match stick.

    To me, this has become a symbol of the frailty of man and the exhaustive journey of life as we follow the star to Jesus. Our once vibrant bloom pales, the petals of youth flutter downward as we fade with age. We may, in exhaustion, fall from the saddle, slipping from our mount, but we get back on because we have the hope of salvation. We pick up our cross daily and follow Him. When we, at times, feel like Elijah beneath the broom bush of discouragement, God sends an angel with the Bread of heaven and the Water of life to keep us going. Follow the star!

    When, at the end of our journey, the star stops, we will bow to the ground and worship Him. It will all be worth it in spite of (and because of) the brokenness along the way. When our weary eyes behold the Savior of the world sitting at the right hand of God, the Father, we will lay our treasures at His pierced feet in humble gratitude and victory. 

    We made it! We are home!

"So take joy in the journey, even when it feels long;

Oh, find strength in each step, knowing Heaven is cheering you on.

We are almost home, brother, it won't be long;

Soon all your burdens will be gone.

With all your strength, sister, run wild, run free,

Hold up your head, keep pressing on, we are almost home!"

Almost Home, by MercyMe

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:9-11

     

    

The Indescribable Gift

"Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

    There's a gift beneath your tree, gloriously wrapped in linen and tied with ribbon of pure gold. On the tag it says, "Especially for you, from God." What do you suppose is inside?

    Over lunch yesterday with my dear friend, Deanna, her eyes filled with tears as she told me of her youngest son, Kevin. After many years of kidney disease, Kevin had been granted a new lease on life through the sacrifice of an organ donor earlier this year. Soon, arrangements will be made to meet the family of the young man whose unexpected death gave Kevin new life. Deanna wondered how she can begin to express the gratitude that swells within her each time she sees her son, robust with good health. 

    We are all in dire need of a transplant, ever since that sly serpent seduced and sullied the human race with sin, for the bible says, "The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) When the angels made their heavenly birth announcement to the shepherds, our remedy is found therein: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11)

    That Baby was born to die as a sacrifice for all. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)

    So, getting back to that box, will you open it? How could you resist? Yet, sadly, many do. Here's a wise saying: "Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once." We, who are living and breathing, have all been born once but, like Kevin, we are suffering from a fatal illness, in dire need of a transplant. The box contains new life in Christ Jesus. 

    By accepting his free gift, eternal life has been given to you - wrapped with love and stained with the precious blood of the Savior. Listen to the words of Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11: 25, 26)

    Your affirmation opens the box! Not only have you been spared from spiritual death and eternal separation from God, but you have been given the gift of his Holy Spirit who indwells each believer, providing guidance along life's way. Immanuel: God with us!

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." Romans 6:23

 

Great Joy

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.'" Luke 2: 10, 11

    Christmas brought great joy to me as a child filled with wonder and excitement, but as I grew, so did the responsibilities and pressures of the season. Buying, wrapping, carding, baking, decorating and socializing replaced my childlike emotions. Like rampant weeds, they threatened to choke the joy I once had. 

    Not everyone at that first nativity experienced great joy. Take King Herod, for example, ruler of Judea. When the Magi followed the star to his province in search of the new King of the Jews, Herod's heart would not bend the knee for One who was greater than he. His selfish ambitions flamed into a murderously furious rage as he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem, in hopes of snuffing out the Messiah.

    In great contrast, these Magi were the wiser men because they had come to worship Him. Matthew's gospel tells us, "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:10, 11) They gave the best of what they had, gifts of great value given from a heart of worship.

    As my husband and I walked in the silent night of our neighborhood, Christmas lights twinkled like stars beneath moonlit clouds as a peace that passes all understanding enraptured my soul. The wonder and excitement of Immanuel, God with us, bent my heart in worship. Jesus, my King, Priest and Redeemer is worthy of all that I have to give! 

    The great joy of which the angel spoke does not stem from the materialism of the season but it is born in bowed hearts who recognize their need of a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Join the throngs of heaven in great joy and worship the King:

"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying, 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'" Revelation 5: 11, 12

    

     

Chosen by God

"I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10: 11, 27, 28

    What makes a person important? By the world's standards, a person makes the A-list if they earn mountains of money, hold esteemed positions or hobnob with the goober smoochers. Perhaps their talent is internationally recognized or they have patented an amazing invention or have their own reality show. But the majority of us fit the description of the insignificants. This is my category. Except to a few, my legacy will be overlooked as the sands of time blow across any imprints I may have left in life.

    In biblical times, shepherds were despised by their communities. Because their occupation's paths crossed with those of the Gentiles, they were considered ceremonially unclean, making them unwelcome at worship. Also, they were not permitted to testify in court because they were deemed unreliable as witnesses.

    Is it any coincidence that the shepherds of Bethlehem were the first to receive the Savior's birth announcement? They were out there one night, minding their own, when an angel of the Lord was dispatched to them, not to the Mayor of Bethlehem or the leader of the local synagogue. It delighted God to choose below-average joes to be the very first witnesses of the long-awaited Messiah. 

    When they bent the knee before Him to adore Him, did they know their eyes beheld the Good Shepherd who came to seek and to save the lost sheep? Though their names are never revealed, these unclean, unreliable men "spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:18) 

    So, what makes a person important by God's standards? For the answer, read this:

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

The Torn Curtain

 "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. "Matthew 27: 50, 51

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10: 19-23

    Like King David, when he lamented all he'd done wrong, I feel "my sin is always before me." (Psalm 51:3) It was with great interest, then, that I cocked an ear when a question from a listener was answered on the Running to Win radio broadcast by Dr. Lutzer. 

    A 98-year-old woman from Michigan by the name of Carolyn desperately sought the assurance of forgiveness before she dies. After being date-raped as a teen which resulted in pregnancy, an abortion was performed against her better judgment. As time passed, she had married a man she loved, though they never had children. Eventually, she was able to forgive her perpetrator but she could never forgive herself saying, "My sin is always before me." The scars of that time ran deep.

    Were they too deep for the blood of Christ to heal? 

    Could I ever be forgiven for the shameful things I have done? How can God forgive me when I cannot forgive myself? A better question is, since God forgives me, why can't I forgive myself? Who am I to doubt the power of the blood of Christ?

    When Jesus laid down His life for me (and for Carolyn), that which separated me from God was torn in two. Read again the good news from the passage I quoted from Hebrews: "...to cleanse us from a guilty conscience." 

    The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory, but praise Jesus who has opened the way to approach God with "the full assurance that faith brings." This is declared again in Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (emphasis added) We have been set free!

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ...cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:14

    

You're Welcome

 "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 110: 4, 5

    Working with the public provides an interesting view of humanity. At the cafeteria where I work, when a student thanks me for handing them their lunch, it makes such a difference in my own demeanor. When I assure that person they are welcome to my services, I mean it with all my heart. 

    Imagine with me for a moment that, in response to our thankfulness to God, He says with sincerity, "You're welcome."

    You are welcome to forgiveness of your sins, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. You are welcome to friendship with the Creator of the world. You are welcome to the table that He has prepared for you, one with overflowing cups and abundant food for your soul. You are welcome to approach the throne of the King of kings with confidence as a child of God. You are also welcome to eternal life in the mansions of glory that He has established for those who love Him.

    A few days ago, my husband and I began to write down our blessings so that, when we come to Him in prayer today, we would have our list ready. It took only a few minutes to fill the pages; I am looking forward to verbally praising the Lord for ALL He has done for us because I know He will smile and say, "You're welcome."

"Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5: 19, 20 

My Dazzling Inheritance

 "Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones." Isaiah 54: 11, 12

    In Mumbai, India, the hometown of my son-in-law, there is the second most expensive home in the world, after Buckingham Palace. Called "Antilla," its worth is $1 billion, it's 27 stories high and boasts of a 50-seat movie theatre, three helipads, a temple, a ballroom and even a room solely for ice cream. A staff of some six hundred people is required to maintain its affairs. 

    Though my readings of Antilla did not say, I would venture to guess the foundations of the home are composed of sensible concrete and, though I have no access to such a grand abode as that, the home I (and those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life) stand to inherit has twelve foundations decorated with precious stones. 

    Revelation chapter 21 shares this grandiose description of the New Jerusalem:

"The wall was made of jasper and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst." (Revelation 21, 18-20)

    Out of curiosity, I looked up each gem on the internet and was duly dazzled by the smoky ambers, the regal purples, the brilliant blues and the smoldering tones of richest hues. When I see the Holy City, whose golden glamour will steal my breath, it will all pale in comparison to seeing the welcoming smile of the Owner of all, my Lord and my God! As all people cast their crowns at the foot of His throne while thousands upon thousands of angels raise praises, any memory of earthly treasure will never come to mind. 

    When the day seems gray and life becomes ho-hum, read about your future home. It will refresh you to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."(Matthew 6:20)

"Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?" James 2:5

The Patience of Job

 "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth...I myself will see Him with my own eyes...How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:25-27

    It's hard to be patient. "A watched pot never boils" befits my temperament. 

    This week, I have been learning about Old Testament Job through a sermon series. Did you know that the book of Job is traditionally known as the oldest book of the Bible and that Job lived in the time before Moses? That means Job did not even have the Torah (the first five books of the Bible written by Moses) from which to fortify his faith, yet he could declare the above verse with confidence. Despite unusual, undeserved suffering in his life, Job patiently endured it all, waiting for the hope of salvation.

    How could Job know that thousands of years later, his Redeemer did stand on the earth? Indeed, Jesus stood in the Jordan River when baptized by John. A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)

    A glorified Jesus stood on the Mount of Transfiguration, chatting it up with Moses and Elijah, when, once again, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him." (Matthew 17:5)

    An accused and arrested Jesus stood before the Roman governor as He was asked, "Are you King of the Jews?" (Matthew 27:11)

    After His death, burial and resurrection, a risen Jesus was taken up into a cloud before the very eyes of His disciples. Two angels then said, "Men of Galilee, 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)

    So, we join the patient Job as we, too, watch with the eyes of faith for His coming, His second coming. Will He come? What do you think?

    I bank my life and eternity on the words spoken by Job so long ago. "I myself will see Him with my own eyes!"

"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.' He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21: 2-4

Men of Honor

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3: 17, 18

    In these tumultuous times of clouded identities, it was a breath of heavenly air to open the paper today and see an inspirational article about the Men of Honor Junior Cadets group. The article's photo features a beaming bunch of men and boys by the flag pole of Evergreen Cemetery who are seeking to raise funds for a very worthy cause.

    While their group was taking a history tour of Evergreen Cemetery, they learned of two Civil War veterans from Painesville who are buried there without any type of headstone. Edward Whiten served in Company H, 29th United States Regiment, Colored Troops, while Charles Eledge served in Company C, 101st United States Infantry. According to the article, these men are the only two Black Civil War veterans interred in the cemetery.

    Rather than resurrect the injustices of the past for purposes of discord as is the choice of some, these honorable men and boys decided to launch a fund raiser to rectify this appalling lack of homage. Their goal is to raise the necessary funds for the headstones and hold a dedication ceremony over Memorial Day weekend of next year for the two veterans.

    The Bible tells us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21) How do we win this war against evil that seems to rage all around us in our culture? By doing the next right thing, as these Men of Honor are doing. They are sowing in peace to raise a harvest of righteousness. I, for one, will be donating some money for their cause. 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8 

    

    

In the Presence of the Cross

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God...For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 1: 18, 2:2

    Recently, in a daily devotional I was reading, the writer marveled at the faithfulness of his Muslim friends who pray five times per day. There was some truth behind his main point that most of us, as Christians, need to strengthen our prayer life, but a red flag was raised for me when he referred to these as "our Muslim siblings." We do not share the same Father.

    The Hagia Sophia, impressive in its Byzantine architecture, is a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally, it had been the Christian Cathedral of Constantinople. In 1453, the city fell to the Ottoman Empire and the building was converted to a mosque. Upon its conversion, the bells and the altar were removed along with all depictions of Jesus. Crosses were plastered over because Muslims cannot pray in the presence of a cross.

    For me, life revolves around this cross. Truth stands on it. Eternity depends on it. All hope is built upon it. Victory was declared upon it. "The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Had Jesus not gone to Calvary, none of us have a prayer in this world for salvation.

    So it is that I will love the Muslim people, but the only way they will become my siblings is to be adopted into the Family of God through the righteousness of Jesus. Amen; may it be so, by the grace of God.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 

Precious

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1: 18, 19

    I've been thinking of my mom today, since this would have been her birthday. I wonder how she's doing in her heavenly home, if she stills sings hymns while doing chores or if she is laughing alongside her Savior as they stroll the golden streets. 

    God blessed my sisters and me with a Christian upbringing. Our parents were never abusive, nor did we experience any impropriety that instilled doubt or fear. The older I get, the more I realize this was not the case for many people who bear scars of abuse, abandonment or trauma. 

    To those I want to say, here's what I know: We are precious to God because we were redeemed by the very blood of His Son. The definition of "precious" is this: Of high cost or worth, valuable, highly esteemed, cherished, dear, beloved. Imagine someone should look at you and ask God, "What'd you pay for that?" He will reply, "That person is priceless to me." We are bought with a price, the priceless lifeblood of Christ.

    In this world, we will have trouble, but the passionate, unconditional love of God far surpasses it all. The Bible says while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We didn't have to clean up our act first so that He would love us. He loves us anyway.

    Even if your own parents forsake you, God never will. Put your trust in the One who is trustworthy. You are his special possession.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

Hidden in Plain View

 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you." Jeremiah 29:13

    Don't laugh but, after three years of owning my Buick, I discovered it had a heated steering wheel! Now that the Ohio air has a fall crisp to it, I have been reveling in the luxury of this unexpected gift.

    In the same way, the gracious gift of Jesus is available to us who are in need of the warm radiance of love and forgiveness, as we all are. It's right there in plain view, but sometimes, the stubbornness of our hearts prevent us from accepting it. "Could it really be as easy as this?" we ask, "Don't I have to earn it?"

    The Bible assures us of the nearness of God. 

• "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:10
• "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and soul." Deuteronomy 4:29
• "God did this so we would seek him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:27

    God is not hidden; He wants to be found! To see Him, look at all of creation. Open the love letter He sent, found in the pages of the Bible. As soon as we invite Him into our lives, the radiance of the Holy Spirit will warm our hearts like nothing else can do. 

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your  mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deuteronomy 30:11-14

    

A Blessing Named Patricia

 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68: 5, 6

    Do you believe things happen by coincidence or do you detect Divine Providence?

    Leaving the grocery store today, I spied an older-than-me woman sitting alone on a bench in the foyer, wearing a most fetching red hat. So lovely was she that I felt drawn to pay her a compliment on her choice of chapeau. 

    After thanking me, she drew me to her with a concern. Seems she'd been waiting for Lake Tran to pick her up and, though they were usually prompt, the delay caused her to worry. She'd just had a vaccination at the store pharmacy and was anxious to get home. 

    Though I was also anxious to get home, I followed the Spirit's lead and sat down beside her. Within a few moments, we'd solved the problem of the tardy driver, yet the blessing of being beside Patricia bade me to extend my visit. 

    With charming candor, I quickly learned she was a Christian who began her walk with Jesus at the Billy Graham Crusade in Cleveland in 1972. Since then, her love for the Lord has taken her on several mission trips where she earned the nickname "Energizer Bunny" due to her godly enthusiasm. 

    Her brown eyes brimmed with tears as she recounted her trip to the Ukraine some years ago, how lovely the people were and how her heart bleeds for them and the plight they are now enduring under "that bully, Putin." 

    Though she admitted to some degree of dementia, the point was lost on me as she quoted Bible verses without hesitation. She had a working knowledge of the Sword of the Spirit that could only have come from years of use.

     "'Ask and it will be given to you,'" she drew from Matthew chapter seven. "'Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.'" she continued. "I needed help and God sent you to me! You're my guardian angel."

    Abashed, I knew she helped me far more than I did her. Meeting a member of the family of God is like running into an old friend. There's an immediate bond and an undercurrent of love that could only be Divine Providence.

    As we parted ways, we promised to look for each other when we get to the Promised Land. Who knows? Maybe I will even sit beside her once more at the Supper of the Lamb. That would be a blessing.

The Family of God

by Bill Gaither

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God,

I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood.

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I'm part of the family, the family of God.

    

     

To Tell the Truth

 "Do not lie. Do not deceive one another." Leviticus 19:11

    I'm going to be honest with you: I have told many lies in my lifetime. 

    When I was a kid, my mom told me to change the sheets on my bed before I could go out to play. Rather than doing what I was told, it pleasures me not to say I crumpled up clean sheets from the linen closet shelf, pushed them into the hamper and went on my merry way. After giving me the opportunity to come clean, my mom washed my mouth out with soap when I failed to do so. 

    I wish I could say this cured me because, as I aged, the consequences of my actions only grew like Pinocchio's nose.

    Let's face it. Lying isn't just for politicians. The spectrum of falsehoods range from polite white lies to bald-faced spins, otherwise there would be no need to swear-in people before they take the witness stand. (I wonder if they still do that and, if so, do they still have the witness place their right hand on the Bible?)

    Of Jesus, the scriptures say, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9) He never told a lie,  perhaps not even if Martha asked him if her casserole needed more salt, or if Mary asked, "Does this tunic make me look fat?" 

    All humor aside, Jesus identified Himself as Truth personified. When Pilate dryly wondered what truth was, He was standing right in front of him, though he was too blind to see. 

    Can you imagine if the whole of society were encircled by Wonder Woman's golden lasso, what would our justice system look like? Or our schools? Our homes?

    There's a Sunday School song that just popped into my head that warns, "Oh, be careful little tongue what you say...For the good Lord up above is looking down in love, so be careful little tongue what you say." It's more than just knowing God sees us, it's about being Christ to the world. We grieve the Spirit within us when we sin, thereby making Jesus unrecognizable to others.

    I will close with this very sobering verse from First Peter, which is more convicting to me than my mom's bar of soap:

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God." 1 Peter 4:11 

One Way

 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6

"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." 1 John 4: 2, 3

    I learned a new word today: Chrislam. What I have learned about this word is so vehemently opposed to Christianity that I must write about it. 

    Chrislam is not a religion but rather a blending of two, just as its name suggests. The essential concept of it says that Christianity and Islam are compatible, that a person can be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time.

    There are those who believe these two groups worship the same God, have similar teachings and moral ethics and, since Jesus is mentioned in the Qur'an, Islam seems to be compatible with Christianity.

    Let the buyer beware! At the very core of this lies the Deity of Jesus Christ, who is, the Christian believes, God incarnate. At Christmas, we sing of Immanuel which means, "God With Us" because the second person of the Trinity laid aside His glory and came to "draw all people to Myself" when He was lifted up on the cross. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

    Islam rejects this very idea, calling it blasphemy and polytheism, denying Jesus's  deity and His death on the cross. Knowing this, can a person be a Muslim and a Christian simultaneously? Never!

  Take up your sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and use it to expose such gaily wrapped packages of lies. There can be no "interfaith" discussions for me because there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ.

"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2: 22, 23 

"I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist...If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work." 2 John 7, 10, 11

AYCE (All You Can Eat)

 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Psalm 23: 5

    One of my jobs at work is to prepare fresh fruit servings for student lunches. One particular bunch of grapes was so densely populated with fruit that I could barely work my fingers in there to wrest them from their stems. 

    This brought to mind a Sunday School lesson from many years ago. The teacher was using the flannelgraph to demonstrate the story of the spies who were sent to explore the land of Canaan. I can still remember being impressed by the mammoth bunch of grapes they found that was so heavy, they had to carry it on a pole between them. "When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them along with some pomegranates and figs." (Numbers 13:23)

    God had described the land He was giving to His people as a "land flowing with milk and honey." Evidently, the grape crop wasn't doing too badly either! That's how God is, though. Generous beyond comprehension. 

    As a Christian in 2022, my All You Can Eat buffet is found in God's word. Recently, I went on a quest to see how many verses I could find that describe the abundant life that is offered in Christ. Finding a small spiral notebook, I began to write them out in longhand so I could tangibly experience the feast for myself. I have found such heavy clusters of verses that I am going to need a larger notebook. 

    I will leave some "grapes" for you to sample:

• I have peace: Psalm 4:8
• I am safe : Psalm 9:9
• I have heavenly citizenship: Philippians 3:20
• I am a friend of God: John 15:15
• I am loved: Jeremiah 31:3
• I am completely forgiven: Colossians 1: 13, 14
• I will receive the crown of life: James 1:12

    With all this and so much more, why would I want to go anywhere else? I have all I need in Christ. It's like He said - His grace really is sufficient for all my needs.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15: 13

    

My True Inheritance

 "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." 1 Corinthians 15:36

"Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." 1 Corinthians 15:50

    There is was, the house I knew so well, standing solemnly in the center of the block, with so many tales to tell. I saw her there, with straight brown hair, the gal that once was me, with red, rubber-tipped sneakers and a band-aid on her knee. With trowel in hand, my mother's among the red stalks of rhubarb, handing over the hapless earthworms to my grubby grasp. 

    With a catch in my throat, a sadness saddled my soul as the now empty house seemed to sigh, as if it knew I had returned to her. Weeds have long replaced the rhubarb patch. The lilac bush I'd given on Mother's Day hung its half-dead boughs over the fence. 'Twas through that portal I first was brought, swaddled in a fleece of pink, and through the same my mother's frame was carried, shrouded on a gurney, my eyes forebear to see. 

    Why do things have to change? Why must good times perish, as the laughter once heard 'round the oak dinner table fades? The faces of my sisters, my father's wavy hair, my mother's merry eyes, these I recall as if I just rose from the table, yet the weeds encroach and the paint peels.

    Though all may seem as dead and gone, the eternal part remains! The seed of the gospel, which is everlasting life in Jesus' name, was planted there through scripture read after dessert and prayers of intercession spoken on my behalf by parents who walked by faith, not by sight. 

    The best is yet to come when I pass through the heavenly portal of pearl and hear the laughter of my loved ones welcoming me. It is there I shall see my Savior face-to-face, never to change, never to perish, never to fade. This is my true inheritance. Hallelujah!

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O grave, is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15: 54, 55

    

How to Be a Hero

 "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9

    If you have a cursory knowledge of the scriptures, you will have heard of such biblical heroes as David, Moses and Paul, but have you ever heard of Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite? If you haven't, you're in good company because I had no familiarity with him either. Yet, his heroic tale, found in just two Old Testament verses, resonated with me. 

    In the second book of Samuel, three of King David's mighty warriors are mentioned, but this blurb about Shammah leapt off the page:

    "Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory." (2 Samuel 23: 11, 12)

    The Christian walk can seem like a stroll in the park when opposition is at low tide and the faith of others buoys us, but "when other helpers fail and comforts flee," as the hymn goes, will we flee as well or will we stand our ground in the armor of God? 

    Taking a stand requires courage, but we are never called to do so in our own strength. Notice who brought about the great victory against the bullies in Shammah's world? The Lord did! 

    In our "field of lentils" - whether that be on the job or at the grocery store or on social media - how can we stand firm in our faith? Here are a few ideas:

• Incorporate God into our daily conversations
• Include scripture in our everyday correspondence
• Show our support of other believers who have stood against opposition
• Lovingly correct theological errors when detected
• Message someone and ask if they have a prayer request
• Become involved in our community, shining the Gospel light

    I'm pretty sure this guy, Shammah, had no idea when he woke up that morning that his courage would be called into action in a lentil field, but see how his name has gone down in history? Most days, I feel like I'm nobody special. I've no outstanding degree nor any stupendous talent that would cause anyone to look twice, but when I allow my omnipotent God to flex His strength through me, that is when I have the chance to do something heroic in His kingdom.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6: 10, 11

         

Be Still

 "My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." Psalm 119:28

    God is a delight. I found strength in the most unexpected place this week when I really needed it.

    Lately, I'd been feeling the effects of the weary war zone of spiritual battles. Like a dust-covered soldier, I'd been asking my King to "create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) 

    My bi-annual visit to the dentist had me cranked back in the chair, an open mouth above a paper bib. The mostly one-sided conversation with the hygienist meandered here and there until it entered the familiar green pastures of scripture, much to my delight. From beneath her mask as she scraped my tartar, the gal known to me as Margaret shared her Christian beliefs with me. After quoting one of my favorite verses from Romans chapter eight, she also knew Psalm 46:10 by heart: "Be still and know that I am God." In true God-like humor, in my presently prone position, how could I do otherwise?

    This bonus cleaning from Margaret gave my heart a sparkling gleam. I left feeling strengthened, ready to rejoin the ranks.

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:4

    

Empowering

 "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we may not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us." 2 Corinthians 1: 8-10

    With the onset of a new school year, the work-related meetings have begun for me with their usual pep talks containing the appropriate buzz words like "impactful" and "empowering." The oft-repeated ideology that nettles me most is this belief that we can empower ourselves, that somewhere within the core of humanity, we have the ability to rustle up ample amounts of faith, courage and power simply by believing in ourselves. 

    Is this really so? Do we have transformative power? It may appear true for a while, as long as the sailing is smooth, but when the patterns of sin and brokenness leave their gritty trails causing self-esteem to plummet like iron to the ocean floor, then where does one turn? 

    Do we have the power to delay a sunrise, add an hour to our lives or grow sunflowers without seeds? As the Lord rhetorically quizzed Job, "Have you shown the dawn its place? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you entered the storehouses of snow?" (Job 38: 12, 17, 22) 

    True empowerment only comes from the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that, while we were still powerless, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6) When Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, He gifted His believers with His Holy Spirit who incredibly takes up residence in our hearts! He's our own personal source of power, like being plugged in to an electrical outlet. And what a source this is, for "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

    When at work, I passed a small poster taped near a classroom entrance which was meant to be inspirational. From a secular standpoint, I am sure it sounds like good advice to tell students to "have faith in yourself, believe in yourself, empower yourself," but these words are like eating styrofoam peanuts. There's no nourishment in them.

    The writer of the verses above had reached such dire straits that he felt he could not go on, despairing even of life itself. When he had depleted all human resources and his strength was gone, that's when he realized from Whom his deliverance would come. He had to fully rely on God. Only He has the power to empower you.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Superhero

 "The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation..." Isaiah 59:15, 16

"He put on righteousness as his breastplate and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak." (Isaiah 59:17)

    When I was a kid, there was a cartoon called "Underdog" I liked to watch. The meek and mild shoeshine boy, who had a secret crush on the beautiful reporter, Sweet Polly Purebred, would hear her cry for help whenever the antagonist dragged her away (which was an every day occurrence.) In true heroic style, he ducked into a phone booth so he could modestly change into his caped costume and herald his arrival by saying, "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!"

    The array of super hero movies follow a general good vs. evil theme in which the ordinary folk are powerless against the foe and are in dire need of a savior. There is always an antagonist who is unstoppable until the hero arrives, who saves the day. 

    When I was reading Isaiah, chapter 59, I couldn't help but see the parallels between reality and the fantasy of cinema. The following description accurately paints a modern canvas: "So justice is driven back and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey." (59: 14, 15) We see this everywhere we look. As the deceptions of evil increase, those who attempt to stand tall become prey themselves and are cancelled. Who has the power to save? Don't we, as "evolving" humans, improve upon ourselves as time passes? Can we not save ourselves? Do we really need saving? YES, we do!

    The Bible hones in on the problem: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear...So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows." (Isaiah 59: 2, 9) Our very real antagonist, Satan, has an army of demons at his disposal, but he has no power over our protagonist, Jesus. 

    We are powerless to save because we've all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, but God has come to the rescue! "He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." (Psalms 130:8) "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8) 

    Why stand helplessly by as your life hurtles toward impending doom? Look up! Your salvation draws nigh! Turn from evil, repent of your sins and be swept up into the arms of your loving Redeemer who has come in person to save you.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7: 24, 25

    

     

Relatable

 "That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake." Matthew 13:1

    During my morning devotion, I opened my Bible to the suggested scripture and began to read from the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, but I didn't get past the first verse. It lent such a smile that I couldn't proceed without pausing to write. 

    The above verse is so relatable to me because it recounts what I did only yesterday: I left my house and walked down to the park where there is a pond. It's one of my favorite places in Lake County. How beautiful is the humanity of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us! What other god ever came down here to sit by a lake? "Can you imagine," I wondered aloud, "seeing God sitting on a bench down at Granger Pond?"

    Then it dawned on me: I did see Him! He brushed past a family of five-leafed plants that dwelt on the forest floor. His glory was reflected in the smooth water's surface. I felt His presence as He pointed out two spotted fawns following their mother's footsteps into the glade. I recognized His humorous touch on the toadstool tucked beneath low boughs. His winsome voice could be heard in the birdsong above me as the sun showcased His exquisite craftsmanship in a spider's web.  His softer side was quite evident in the frothy pink blossoms that resembled a lady's swaying form. 

    I wonder what Jesus pondered as He sat by the lake before the crowd found Him? Did He recount those early days when He spoke and these came into being? Perhaps He recalled the fun He had fashioning a stool for a toad, knowing how it would fuel the imagination of children. Did the birds above sing more exuberantly for their Creator as the clouds bowed before Him? Did the breeze ruffle His hair, as it had mine?  

    I am left to wonder, yet my heart is content just knowing Jesus sat by the lake.

"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

Now I See

 "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'" John 3:3

    My sister wrote a poem to commemorate our aunt's 100th birthday. She sent it to family members via a group email for us to read, but I was having trouble with that particular mode of communication and could not open the attachment. Others were commenting their praises in response, but I could not see the object of their praise until I asked the author to send it to me via text. Only then could I share in their joy.

    There are various modes of religions swirling around us. There's Christian Science, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness, Unitarianism, Islam, New Ageism and a host of "spiritual" cocktails at our disposal. On which do you click if you want forgiveness of sins and eternal life for your soul? 

    The answers are found in Jesus Christ and Him alone. If a religion does not hail the power of that Name, declaring His deity, then they are of the devil. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

    Just as I was unable to open that attachment, there is an adversary in this broken world whose goal objective is to bar people from finding life in Christ. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4) 

    If you are searching for God and, like Job, may in frustration cry out, "If only I knew where to find Him, if only I could go to His dwelling!" (Job 23:3), I have good news for you! "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:4) The very words of Jesus, the one for whom you seek, give this blessed assurance: "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)

    I was born on October 15, 1961, but the part of me that will live eternally was born of God in my early twenties when I sought Christ. He was there between the pages of the Bible my parents gave me. He was there when I asked for guidance and forgiveness as I cried out in prayer. Now I see Him because, "he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:27) He is in my heart.

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it to proclaim it to us so that we may obey it? Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deuteronomy 30: 11-14

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10: 9, 10

    

Cat Food Alone

 "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8:3

    Before Dave and I headed to Texas in July, we made arrangements for the care of our cat, Kiwi. A team of two were on board to provide the necessities of life and, as animal lovers, we knew these two would also do their best to share love, if Kiwi would allow them. They had both texted news and pictures from home to reassure Kiwi's "parents" of his happiness. Upon our return, the first thing we did was to look for the cat, who was very glad to see us. He melted in my arms as if, with a grateful sigh, to say, "At last, my people are here!"

    The verse above came into my mind during our reunion. It wasn't enough that Kiwi ate, drank and slept. He needed more. Evidently, he does not live on cat food alone. He needs love. He needs us.

    If that is true of cats, what of us? We can be sustained for a lifetime by devouring the love letter from our Creator: the Holy Bible. If we wait until Sundays for a serving, we will be like Kiwi, starving for attention. There's such a banquet of blessing awaiting us, we need to read and apply it every single day. We need to.

    Like a scrumptious meal, you won't want to push away from the table once you get started. Here's a sampling of the menu:

• "I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous..." Joshua 1:5, 6
• "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust." Psalm 56:3
• "God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins..."Colossians 2:13
• "Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10
• "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be nor more death..."Rev. 21:4
• "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away." Daniel 7:14
• "In love and mercy, He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah 63:9
• "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11
• "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." Psalm 55:22
• "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves..." Colossians 1:13
• "So do not fear for I am with you..."Isaiah 41:10

 To quote the words of Jesus, "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25) Yes, it certainly is! Now, open the storehouse and dig in.

"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare." Isaiah 55:2

The Worth of One's Soul

 "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

    The older I get, the longer it takes to get ready for an outing. Flossing, filing and fooling with my hair, finding proper clothes to best cloak the evidence of age all take time.  I wonder, how does that time compare with what I have invested in the nurturing of my soul? 

    The dictionary definition of "soul" is "the spiritual part of a human being, thought to be immortal," but what does the Bible have to say about the soul?

• Our soul is made for praise: "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name." Psalm 103:1
• Our soul is designed to love: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5
• Our soul needs 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." Matthew 11:29
• There is longing within: "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil." Proverbs 13:19
• Beware! It can be condemned to hell: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
• Sadly, it can be forfeited: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Matthew 16:26

     I was trying to remember an old movie I saw once in which a guy sold his soul to the devil. When I googled around for it, I found information on real folks who have, reportedly, sold their soul to Satan! Unbelievably sad. 

    The opening verse for this post indicates a crossroads, a blip on one's timeline where there's a choice to be made that has eternal consequences. How important is your soul to you? Do you spend time feeding it with good things or is it expendable, up for sale? For all the time and care spent on the body, it will decompose in the ground one day, so doesn't it make perfect sense to concentrate on the immortal part of us? 

    Your soul is so valuable to God that He sent His only Son into this world, not to condemn it, but that the world through Him might be saved! (John 3:17) If there's a hole in your soul, fill it with the One who loves you, will never forsake you and will come again to take you to be with Him where He is in glory. Why sell it to a scoundrel?

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

Who Am I?

 "But Moses said to God, 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' And God said, 'I will be with you.'" Exodus 3: 11, 12

    Has God ever asked something of you of which you felt incapable? Or maybe you just didn't want to do it.

     Years ago, a pastor of a church we attended at that time approached me, asking me to deliver the children's message during the service. Engulfed by my fear of public speaking, I begged off stating, "When the Bible speaks of the roles of the body of Christ, I am the buttocks in the illustration, strong but better left unseen." Though my response elicited a hearty chuckle, I always felt I had let the pastor down.

    Perhaps I should have researched the Biblical giants of the faith, who also had ready-made excuses cloaking low self esteem as I did. Take Moses, for example. He peppered God with his reasons why he was the wrong man for the job, but God patiently insisted. 

    Then there's Gideon, who was called by God to save Israel from the Midianite bullies: "But Lord, how can I save Israel?" he asked, "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family." As He had done with Moses, God replied, "I will be with you." (Judges 6: 15, 16)

    When God came knocking on Jeremiah's door with a prophetic role to fulfill, his response was, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak. I am too young." By now, it's not surprising to hear God's reassurance, "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." (Jeremiah 1: 6, 8)

    Three reticent men who all received this same answer from the eternal, omnipotent God: I will be with you. When they stepped out in the strength of the Lord, they accomplished the task and are, no doubt, receiving their reward for faithfulness in heaven. 

    Had I stepped out of my comfort zone, I would have seen the hand of God in mine as He led me into a place He foreknew would be best for me. I not only let the pastor down, I failed to recognize the limitlessness of God, thereby missing out on the opportunities that stem from obedience. 

    The next time I hear the voice of the Lord say, "Whom shall I send?" I will, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, mimic the response of the prophet Isaiah and eagerly reply, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8) After all, it's not who I am that matters, it is who He is.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Adopted by God

 "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

    Becket Cook, a gay man living in Los Angeles, had been unsettled in his heart for the past six months. Though he initially embraced this lifestyle as the one for him, he had sensed how empty is was, that it was not going to sustain him and that he had no purpose or meaning in his life.

    While at a coffee shop with a friend, the two noticed a group of people at the neighboring table who had their Bibles open. "I had never before seen a Bible in public in L.A.," he recalled during his testimony. Then, when the group paused to pray before their meal, he was intrigued and turned to ask them, "Are you guys Christians?" A conversation ensued about which Becket felt they were ready with answers to his questions as they presented the gospel to him. This led him to accept an invitation to attend their church. It was at the service that following Sunday that Becket accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior and was flooded by the love of the Holy Spirit. He sat in his pew and wept as he understood he had just been adopted as God's child, holy and dearly loved.

    I got to wondering how many times I may have ignored an opportunity to show others the love of Christ. If I am truly honest with myself, there have been times when I let my temporal judgments stand in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit, not seeing people as Jesus sees them. The Spirit within me has been working on me about this all week. Convicting scripture has been jumping off the page lately, and the messages in periodicals or devotionals I've read have poked me in the ribs until I feel sore. Here's one that I clipped and taped in a prominent area of my home as a reminder: "People are people; they want to be loved." 

    In my heart I must first revere Christ as Lord, then be prepared to share the hope of the gospel with others. I don't need a degree in theology, I just need an open Bible and a heart full of love.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" Romans 10: 14, 15

To learn more about the transformation of Becket Cook, his story is recorded in his book, "A Change of Affection." 

My Father's House

 "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am." John 14: 2, 3

    While lazing beneath the boughs of our big tulip tree, my mind meandered to odd realms. I plucked a thought and voiced it to Dave: "Can you imagine if we took our lawn chairs over to that guy's house across the street (whom we have never met) and just sat in his yard? I wonder what he'd do?" I envisioned a befuddled man who would either yell at us to get out of his yard or maybe even shoot at us!

    Why? Because I have no rights there. When I clock out at work, I cannot pull into the driveway three doors down. I must go to the house to which I have the key. As a co-owner with my husband, the deed gives me the right to enter the home. We humans post signs that declare "private property" or "no trespassing" in an effort to stake out what is ours and bar that which does not belong.

    This leads me to my Father's house. What gives me the right to pull into His drive and enter the house? After all, this is the Almighty's mansion I'm talking about. Must I wear my best clothes, as if I were visiting the President? Should I bring a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers? How may I "approach God's throne of grace with confidence" so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need? (Hebrews 4:16) Maybe my knees would knock like those of the Cowardly Lion when the Wizard of Oz bellowed at him. What should I do?

    The answer lies in the word "family." When I accepted the gift of salvation which was paid for by Jesus's death and resurrection, I became a part of the family of God. I don't need to come as a guest. Jesus has given me a set of keys so I have every right to pull in the drive and go right inside without any fear of reprisal or locked doors. The Bible says, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" (Romans 8: 14, 15)

    My Dad owns the Big House!

Big House

by Audio Adrenaline

Come and go with me to my Father's house.

It's a big, big house with lots and lots of room,

A big, big table with lots and lots of food,

A big, big yard where we can play football,

A big, big house, it's my Father's house.

Letting Go

 "By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." Hebrews 11:23

"But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile." Exodus 2:3

    On the days when my daughter, Lauren, has to drop her nine-month-old baby off at the day care, it breaks her heart to hear little Esme crying upon their separation. I understand just how she feels; I still cry every time I have to say goodbye to Lauren at the airport, and she's thirty-seven!

    Imagine being Jochebed, the mother of the infant Moses, when the governing Pharaoh of the land declared "every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile." (Exodus 1:22) It was a time of grave sorrow for all the families of that time. But Jochebed defied the decree, stepped out in sheer faith and set her son adrift in a tiny ark, probably crying her eyes out and praying with all her heart as he floated away. To save him, she had to let him go; had she clung to him, she would have lost him.

    Jochebed didn't have any way of knowing what would happen to Moses. There was no page to turn in a Bible to learn the outcome. Maybe she wondered how it could possibly be in God's divine plan for her to give up her son. As it turns out, the Pharaoh's daughter drew him from the water and raised Moses as a prince of Egypt, a background that would serve him well in his future role. 

    After forty years of palace living, Moses fled to Midian, where he became a shepherd. Another forty years passed until he talked to God's burning bush and reluctantly accepted the role of the great deliverer. Assuming Jochebed was still alive, she would have seen her son become her savior, performing great miracles until he led the Israelites from bondage to the promised land. 

    Perhaps you have a family situation in which, the tighter you grasp what is "yours," the more hopeless things become. Like Jochebed, in great faith, we are called to trust God with our children - whether it's leaving them at daycare, an airport or setting them free in your heart as you "lean not on your own understanding." Let go and let God.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

The Personal Touch

"This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33: 2, 3

    Raise your hand if you share in my frustration. Have you ever tried to call a large corporation to ask a question? If the call is answered, are you connected with a real person or a robot who keeps sending you around loops and circles? In righteous anger, do you find yourself shouting at this tele-person, wishing you could slam the phone down as in the old days when phones had a cradle?

    Recently, I bought a new phone. When a question arose that not even the techie could answer, she suggested I call Google and ask someone there. Evenly I gazed at her and declared, "You and I both know no one calls Google and reaches a real person." It was the same thing when I attempted to call the United States Postal Service. No wonder people go "postal!"

    In awe, I am here to tell you that when we call the Maker of heaven and earth, He Himself answers the phone! Not a robot, not a secretary, not a phony message that claims "your call is important to me." Isn't that incredible? In fact, before we even dial, He answers. Listen to this: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24) How can this be? Yet, it is so.

    And what's more, when He answers, He goes above and beyond my query by telling me "great and unsearchable things" that I didn't know. Not even Google can do that. 

    In whom can we trust? To whom can we turn for answers before frustration has us yelling at inanimate objects? If we truly believe in the Lord who established the earth, shouldn't we be able to trust Him with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding? (Proverbs 3:5) "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Raise your hand if you know the answer!

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

    

 

Show Me the Way to Go Home

 "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12

    I just wrapped up a whirlwind week of Vacation Bible School and the vibrant songs still play their melodies in my heart. One in particular portrayed three biblical characters who were looking for the way to go home: a blind man, a leper and a woman by a well. They all found their way after an encounter with Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life; the only way to go home.

    As in the proverb above, some very passionate people I know believe they've worked out the best path in life. One is very knowledgeable, having attended years at the university, yet shows no fruit of the Spirit. Another has gone the way of dedication to family, wrapping their heart in their loved ones, yet does not profess devotion to Christ. The third has much ambition in the business world, driven to earn money during the corporate climb, but appears bankrupt in heavenly treasures. 

    In and of themselves, the acts of obtaining knowledge, investing in one's family or striving for success appear to be right. Certainly, it's much better than the opposite, but when our time on earth is done and it's just us, naked and alone before God without pocket, degree or relative, and the King asks, "Where are your wedding clothes?" how will we respond when, in the angst of hindsight, we see the righteous robe of Christ still on the hanger - unused and unaccepted?

    For those trying to find their way home, the best place to begin is at the beginning: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

"Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21 

How Do I Know?

 "I want to know Christ..." Philippians 3:10

    Of all the joys of parenthood, this one was not high on my list: Math problems. When my youngest was in middle school, she approached me with such a convoluted algebraic equation that I sought help from a friend I knew to be a reliable source of knowledge: a school teacher. At her kitchen table, she led us step-by-step through an incomprehensible mathematic maze (which took five minutes!) and whose final answer turned out to be zero! Incredulous, I mused, "Now, what was the point of all that?"

    The question "How may I know Christ better?" is much more compelling to me and, I daresay, the final answer will never be zero. 

    My quest for knowledge led me to the book of 1 John. First, I considered the source, the Apostle John. Known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, he walked and talked with Jesus personally. He proclaimed what he had seen and heard. This letter he wrote uses the words "know," "knowledge," or "acknowledge" at least 44 times in only five chapters. Certainly, this is a great resource for someone who wants to know!

    I love the comprehensible method this teacher uses. He often says, "This is how we know..." No long way around the barn; just straight to the heart of the matter. Here are some of the steps I learned with the reference provided:

• We must confess our sins (1:8,9)
• Acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God in the flesh (4:2)
• Keep his commandments (2:3)
• Live as Jesus did (2:5)
• Leave your life of sin (3:6)
• Do what is right (3:10)
• Love each other (3:14)
• We have the Spirit which he gave us (3:24)
• Our hearts do not condemn us; we have confidence before God (3:16)
• Everyone born of God has overcome the world (5:4)
• God has given us eternal life (5:11)

    The final answer is eternal life! At the start of the equation, I was a miserable sinner but, by the end, I am a sinner saved by grace who lives in victory, having overcome the world! And the learning process continues because, as it says in chapter three verse two: "What we will be has not yet been made known." There's more to come so don't stop learning, never quit growing in Christ. You will still have problems to solve, but you'll have the most reliable Source helping you. "...He knows everything." (3:20)

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." Ephesians 1:17

    

Pride in any Month

 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 Corinthians 13:4

    I have been hearing a lot about "pride" this month and it's nettlesome. What are we so proud about? Self-exaltation can tempt us to boast, but what does God say when we bear a smug expression and snap our suspenders? 

    Pride, in whatever cloak it presents itself, coats our hearts in stiff material, making it unpliable to the point where God cannot work with us. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, gives us a clearer mirror in which to view our own behavior.

    Was Jesus proud? As the Son of the Most High, did He pompously declare His sovereignty, lording it over the sinners and publicans? "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant..." (Philippians 2: 5-7)

    If our sinless Savior laid aside his glorious raiment to wear humble duds, who are we to puff up in pride over our sinful conquests like we're some king of the the mountain? A prerequisite to true repentance is a humble heart. Only then, with downcast eyes, can God lift our spirits in grace so we can see the glories of eternity and experience the beauty of freedom from sin. Then, we are unfettered to help another out of bondage with the love of Christ.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." James 4:10

What Not to Wear

 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4: 22-24

    A man walked toward me wearing a tee shirt that brought a broad feeling of victory to my heart. Lettered in bold white across a black field, his shirt declared: NOT TODAY SATAN. I loved it and I told him so. Of course, simply donning a tee shirt is not ample protection from so dastardly a foe, so what must I wear?

    In my small group Bible study, we have been learning about putting on the full armor of God, as the Word teaches in the book of Ephesians: The breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This lead me to study other verses on what to wear. What does it look like to "put on the new self" as stated in the verse above?

    Well, first of all, the old clothes must be removed. Peel off greed, impurity, deceit, anger, thievery, bitterness, rage, brawling and slander. Replace these with humility, compassion, kindness, patience, joy, dignity and strength. In other words, put on Christ who is the summation of all. By the command of Jesus, Satan must flee. Only then may I stand firmly and declare, "Not today Satan!"

    "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13

    

The Hapless Mouse

 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

    Huddled on the deck near the back door was a wee, furry victim of our outdoor cat. Thankful I didn't accidentally step on him, I squatted to peer at the diminutive mouse in his distress. His breath was shallow and his demeanor altogether frightened. Gently, I gathered him in a cloth, speaking soothingly to him yet he didn't understand my actions as he weakly began to fight back. With the tenderest of hand, I transported him to a place of refuge and provided him with some sunflower seeds. 

    As I pondered this encounter, it went hand-in-hand with the anxious news I received from two friends this day. One has received a scary diagnosis and the other, a pink slip of unemployment was delivered to the home. Just like the mouse, I detected in their demeanor the aftermath left by the attack: Accelerated heartrate perhaps, a fear of the unknown, a desire to turn back the clock and begin anew. 

    If I, a poor replacement for a veterinarian, acted out of love for a sweet little mouse, how much more will our Father in heaven care for these friends in need? They just need to trust Him. 

"He said, 'Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me.' And so, He became their Savior. In all their distress, He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah 63: 8, 9

By Faith Thomas...

 "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth...They were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11: 13, 16

    The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has been referred to as "The Hall of Faith" because of its compilation of the faithful from the Old Testament. "By faith Abel...By faith Enoch...By faith Noah...By faith Abraham," and so the scripture proceeds to exemplify how each person's life pointed to salvation. 

    I have wondered how the statement would be completed if I installed my own name: "By faith Rachel..." How have I lived being confident in what I hope for, assured of what I do not see? (Hebrews 11:1) Have I sown seeds of love, joy, patience or hope that may lead others to Christ?

    After the sudden death of my brother-in-law, Thomas, it did my heart well to read over the writings this Christian firefighter had left behind. As president of his county's firefighters' association, he penned a monthly newsletter for many years. Though most of its content dealt with issues of the firehouse, Tom also used this platform as a podium for his faith. In his Prayer Portion, he would implore readers to "Keep God first in your daily lives, thank Him for your many blessings and pray for lost loved ones."

    In a December issue, Tom scattered seeds of faith when he wrote: "This is the time when we celebrate His birth and give thanks for this Savior that was sent to earth so many years ago. Do you know His story? Do you know the good news of this Jesus? Do you know of His love and sacrifice? Find out today of this Jesus before you make that 'last run.'"

    Now that Tom has found his home in that city God has prepared for him, we who survive him are left to carry the torch. Sometimes I pray for those readers of Tom's, that the seeds fell on the "good soil" of which Jesus spoke (see Matthew 13:23) and I also pray for the strength to carry on, showing others the way to Jesus. 

 By faith, Thomas shared his faith in Christ with his readers.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him He 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 sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12: 1-3