Pass the Febreze Please

 "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people." Philemon 1:7

    Allow me to be candid: I have an odor problem. I stink. 

    As the scriptures are designed to do, when I read the above verse, the Word of God "judged the thoughts and attitudes of my heart." (Hebrews 4:12) What joy Philemon must have felt when the great Apostle Paul commended him for having refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people! The Christ-like impression he made has been appreciated by bible students around the world for centuries.

    The beginning of the school year means that I have returned to work following a fantastic summer. Naturally, my acquaintances inquire if I have yet resumed work and, if so, how is it going? In response, I always grumble. Like the grouchy children of Israel in their 40-years of wilderness wandering, I grouse about my daily "manna," pining to retire. 

    Is this pleasing to God? Do my words waft a stench into the conversations of my well-meaning friends? As a temple of the Holy Spirit, should I not be refreshing others, choosing words of salt and grace? 

    The bible tells me how displeased the Lord was when the Israelites crabbed about everything instead of being grateful for the wonderful way He took care of them. Their daily bread came from heaven. Quails just plopped into their laps. Their clothes and shoes never wore out. As juvenile as they sound to me, I am no better.

    This morning, I resolved to repent of my ways, asking God to forgive me. As soon as I got to work, I noticed for the first time how pretty were the trees in front of the school. Once inside, I made an honest effort to speak kindly, smile more often and look for the good in others. Though my desire was to emulate Philemon, I found that I refreshed myself in the process! 

    God, help me to smell like Jesus so that, when I leave a room, my listeners desire to know the Source of my scent.

"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15    

God or Google?

 "Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them...The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it." Psalm 89: 8, 9, 11

    The lightning and thunder were relentless. Sleep was sketchy, but when the tornado siren went off at midnight, we were wide awake and heading to the basement. Though we had brought our phones with us, there was no internet to search for the answers our worried minds craved. 

    In our need-to-know culture, we have come to rely on these devices as if they were crystal balls. In reality, at that crucial moment in the midst of a storm, I realized as I fiddled with my phone that I had an idol in my hand. That's when I took my husband's hand in mine and began to pray.

    The turmoil outdoors remained, but the peace of God ruled my heart as I quoted verses from memory and called upon our Father. 

    We prayed for David's 96-year-old mother, who lived alone a mile away. We asked God to protect our daughter in the next town. We even gave Him charge over our cat, Kiwi, who was outside, of all places. It felt so good to cast all of these cares over to the One who is in control.

    Then we heard a loud noise that rocked the house. What was that? Upon investigation, our huge tulip tree had lost a sizable limb, but we were so thankful it didn't hit the house or pull down the nearby wires. It was as if the Hand of God guided it down, causing no damage. 

    Indeed, the next day we learned a tornado had touched down not far from us, with winds clocking 110 mph. I never thought I'd see the day, since we don't live in a tornado-prone area, but the plans of the Lord no one can thwart (Job 42:2). He will do as He wishes. (Please pause to pray for all those who have sustained tornado damage in Mentor.)

    I learned a very valuable truth that night: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (Exodus 20:4) My phone is a handy tool, but it should never replace the wisdom of God. "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." (Psalm 105:4)

"Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? He prays to it and says, 'Save me; you are my god.' They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds are closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or the understanding to say...'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'" Isaiah 44: 17-20

    

A Home for Hobo

 "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15: 7

    For a few years, a stray cat in our neighborhood endeared himself to several of us. A gray and white male, he looked just like the scruffy feline in those Tom and Jerry cartoons. We all dubbed him differently; one called him Kit Kat, another Mittens. Dave and I called him Hobo. It was a delight to see him trotting across the yard as he made his rounds for handouts. Though we all liked him, none of us were able to adopt him for various reasons, although one lady let him sleep in her car.

    When a week passed and I hadn't seen Hobo, I became concerned so I walked around the block to investigate, hoping it wasn't bad news. When my neighbor told me the mailman had adopted the cat, I beamed broadly as I made my way home to tell my husband. Though we missed seeing him, my heart rejoiced that he had a real home now where he had been adopted as part of the family. He is loved.

    If we, flawed humans that we are, care so deeply about the well-being of a stray cat, how much more does our heavenly Father long for us to come home?

    In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32), the father scanned the horizon, watching for his lost son to return home. After the young man had had enough of tramping about, the bible says he "came to his senses" and returned to his father. 

    The older man, when he saw the familiar form of his boy still a long way off, girded his garments and ran to greet him, filled with compassion. 

    When we finally tire of doing things our own way, going house to house searching for love, fulfillment, happiness or truth, all we have to do is head home. Our Father is waiting for us.

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

    

What a Friend I Have in Jesus

 "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

    Travel back with me to 1966 as I recall my first day of school, a place I did not want to go. In fact, I remember my mother having to forcibly take me by the arm and place me in the building. This intrusion into my idyllic days, which had been spent with my beautiful and loving mother thus far, was akin to being deposited into a displaced persons camp. The teacher was ferocious, mean-spirited and yellow-toothed, not unlike Godzilla.

    I missed my mother. When the bell finally announced the day's end, I ran with winged feet to be home at last, where I knew I was loved. The reverberations of that separation from my loved one is still felt all these years later.  

    I am still a homebody, but the very best part of my life is my best friend who sticks closer to me than any other: Jesus. There are no separations between us. He promised to never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and no Godzillas can ever sever our relationship (Romans 8: 38, 39). Since He dwells within my heart, I take Him with me wherever I go - even into eternity. Home at last.

"Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

"I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28 

"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

 

The Cinderella Story

 "He has sent me to...bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3

    A friend of mine shared photographs of her daughter's splendid wedding, which took place in a castle in Scotland. As I viewed the images of radiant happiness dressed in celebratory garments in a breathtaking setting, the best adjective that came to mind to aptly describe the occasion was "fairytale." The sun shone in stained-glass array, kissing the happy couple who exchanged holy vows in the castle's chapel, before proceeding to pose for photographs on verdant hills of pastures green.

    As I beheld the bride's radiance, my heart imagined the glorious sights we will see at the marriage supper of the Lamb. If, on earth, a wedding could be so beautiful, how much more will our Bridegroom prepare for us? "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 2, 3)

    Coming to Christ is the ultimate rags-to-riches story. Thoughts of Cinderella came to mind so I studied the origin of this fairytale. I had only known of the Disney film, so I was surprised to read there are thousands of variations of this tale throughout the world, which bears the basic message of a young woman living in forsaken circumstances, who experiences a sudden change in her life. She ascends to the throne via a marriage to a noble prince, who sought for her and raised her up from the cinders, crowning her with honor before her enemies. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:5)

    Having been born into the poverty of a broken world, we all begin in forsaken circumstances -separated from God and dead in our sins. Labor though we might, we cannot cleanse ourselves of the ashes that stain, nor can we free ourselves from the bondage we are in. We need a Prince. Only Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, whose kingdom shall never end, could save us by His sacrificial death on the cross. Only He could disentangle us from the cords of death, when He awoke the Victor, and strode from the garden tomb. 

    This is no tall tale. There is no fairy godmother waving a wand, providing the clothing we need to attend the ball. Far better than fantasy is this reality: Greater love has no one than the One who laid down His life for us, while we were smeared with soot, cleanses us with His blood and arrays us with His righteous robe. The scepter has been extended and, with confidence, we can approach the throne room of God as the bride of Christ. The glass slipper fits!

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10

"You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God...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 62:3, 5

Cleats and Shoulder Pads

 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:11

    My great-nephew, Mason, is happy to be on his school's football team. Now that practice has begun anew, he must no longer dress as he had all summer long - in shorts, T-shirt and crocs. If he tried to perform on the field in these togs, though his love for the game was undiminished and even if he followed the plays exactly, he'd fail at the sport. He'd likely be tackled, bruised and shoeless in the first few minutes of the game.

    As I imagined him running the ball in crocs, I pondered the parallel with the Christian's armor of God. This struggle we are in is not a game; we're engaged in daily battle. Look at Ephesians 6:12 at all the things we are up against:  

• against the rulers
• against the authorities
• against the powers of this dark world
• against the spiritual forces of evil

    How are we to stand up against those who rule, those who have positions of authority? What fighting chance have we against penetrating darkness and such forces of evil which we cannot see?

    The answer lies in how we're outfitted, and the preparations which take place in the locker room before we run out onto the field. Every piece of equipment we have is provided by Christ Himself. As Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians: "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (6:10, emphasis added) Gird yourself with the belt of truth (John 14:6). Don the shoulder pads of righteousness (Philippians 3:9). Our cleats are the gospel shoes of peace (Philippians 4:7). Blocking our opponent requires the shield of faith (1 John 5:4). To protect our minds, we must strap on the helmet of salvation (John 10:28).

    Knowing the playbook, we gain yardage. If we are not well-versed in the Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit, we will flounder on the field. Pray! Communicate with your Coach at all times. He is able to send teammates to your aide or bench you for a bit if you're feeling battered. 

    

    Lastly, remain alert. The battle rages until we exit the arena, when Jesus takes us home. Our team wins!