Author and Illustrator

 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." Psalm 19: 1-2

    The painting of a pink peony portrays what the artist desired to say. Before brush was put to paper, this peony only existed in the imagination of the illustrator. Now it is framed there on my wall to remind me of my daughter, the artist. It is proof of her existence.

    My biography, as told by God, is beautifully illustrated by the Author himself. I don't just hold the book in my lap, reading as a third party observer, rather I exist in this living tableau, excitingly involved as each page is freshly written. He and I together, as collaborators.

    When time allows, I sometimes flip back over previous chapters to reread favorite portions. When I can't sleep at night, pictures from my childhood home, captioned with words of my mother, are absorbed like dog-eared pages. Then, there are dark, unabridged chapters I prefer were not included, but there they are, to illustrate what I looked like without Christ. 

    As each day unfolds, the Author may write in a new character so I keep my eyes peeled for the introduction. One day, on a walk to the park, a brilliant gold leaf gave me pause, so I picked it up feeling it may be a clue. With each step, I examined the intricate, delicate design of the leaf, praying to share its beauty with someone. 

    A busy woman with two dogs approached me, but she was not the one. Continuing on, I spied a gal with wavy hair on a bench beneath the boughs of a maple tree, bent over her phone. As I passed, she glanced up and I knew she was part of my story. We exchanged greetings, then I stepped forward with the gold leaf.

    "Isn't this a thing of beauty?" I began. "That God would spend such time creating a simple lovely leaf..." These words developed into the next until at last, she and I joined hands in the sunshine and prayed over her needs. We met as strangers over a leaf, but it was not strange to the Author who knew the plot and whose illustrations completed the glorious scene.

    His painting of a gold leaf was the proof of His existence that drew two people together beneath the canopy of His grace. And someday, when He pens the conclusion of my life, I hope to flip back through and see many such smiling faces as the gal on the bench. 

    Only the Author and Illustrator knows how many I may see when my story continues in the heavenly realms, the sequel I cannot wait to read.

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2

    

    

My Life According to God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

On a Bicycle Built for Two

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Don't go it alone. 

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

Call Me Gloria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    

Dying for Telling the Truth

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

    Charlie Kirk paid the ultimate price because he spoke truth.

    He's in good company:

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

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

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

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

Voice of Truth

by Casting Crowns

Oh, what I would do to have

the kind of strength it takes

to stand before a giant

with just a sling and a stone,

surrounded by the sound

of a thousand warriors

shaking in their armor,

wishing they'd have had the strength to stand.

But the giant's calling out my name

and he laughs at me,

reminding me of all the times

I've tried and failed.

The giant keeps on telling me 

time and time again,

"Boy, you'll never win."

But the Voice of Truth

tells me a different story.

The Voice of Truth

says "Do not be afraid;

this is for My glory."

Out of all the voices calling out to me,

I will choose to listen to 

the Voice of Truth.

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

    

    

    

Same As Always

 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

    In a world that never stays the same, I puzzle at the immutability of its Creator. God, who never changes, made a world that never stays the same. Though this seems incongruous, I am glad it's true.

    Imagine with me the flip side of this. What if God were always changing His mind? Just when you thought you had things figured out, He would change all the rules of the game, upending all of us in the process.

    I spent ten days visiting my eldest daughter and her family in Houston, Texas. The night prior to my departure, I made sure to check in, downloading my boarding pass and all that. I had informed my husband who was meeting my flight that it was on time and told my daughter from which concourse I was departing. I was all set to tackle the intimidating intercontinental airport.

    Security was a breeze; I had no trouble finding my gate, so I was feeling very confident until I read the sign at the gate. "Houston," I thought, "we have a problem." The next flight that was leaving from my gate was heading to Mexico! 

    I rubbed my eyes as I checked and rechecked my information, feeling my confidence ooze from me like a whoopie cushion. Praying, I sought an employee who told me the gate had been changed. Now I needed to go to another concourse. 

    "Go on down this way, turn left," the employee began with a gesture of direction. "Then turn right when you see the Auntie Anne's pretzel place. After awhile, you'll see an escalator on the right. Go up and you'll see a train. Get on board," she continued in spite of my glazed expression, "and get off at the first stop. Then go down another escalator, turn left..." 

    By this time, I must've looked like a shell-shocked cornhusker from Iowa, so my benefactor kindly repeated the instructions. With my hand in His, I found my way.

    The journey along life's way is comparable to my airport experience. There was only one gate I needed to find that provided my way home. Not just any gate would do or I would've ended up in Mexico. Jesus said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." (John 10:9) No other gate will get me to my heavenly home. "I am the way, the truth and the life," Jesus plainly declared in John 14:6. 

    And these dependable words have not changed since He uttered them. The same holds true for all, throughout all the generations of travelers. The gate will never be changed on us, so check your ticket. Are you at the Right Gate, heading north? Or are you depending on the wrong pilot, heading south? 

Destination is crucial. 

"I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6

    

    

On Deaf Ears

 Jesus said, "Whoever has ears, let them hear." Matthew 11:15

    Dave and I have been married for thirty-six years, and in that time, those three little words we once said to one another have become, "Whad ya say?"

    All humor aside, there's a difference between hearing and listening. It stands to reason that our auditory senses are not as sharp as they once were, but it remains important that we listen to one another.

    Sometimes I wish I could hear God audibly, but if He did speak aloud, I am sure it would go in one ear and out the other given enough time. However, listening with spiritual ears requires me to be in step with the Spirit, discerning His language and then doing what He says. 

    Jeremiah is often referred to as The Weeping Prophet. Once around the block in his prophetic book and one easily sees why he lamented. God had given him the job of warning his people of impending doom, but when he did so, this was their response: "This man should be put to death." (Jeremiah 38:4) Rather than listen to the word and wisely "do what it says" (James 1:22), they sought to silence the messenger.

    In the same way, the Pharisees didn't like what Jesus had to say, so they "went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." (Matthew 12:14)

    And, remember the members of the Sanhedrin who refused to hear the Word of God as spoken by Stephen? "At this, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." (Acts 7:57-58)

    Father in heaven, may I lament with your Son who wept over Jerusalem: "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37)  How frustrating it must be for you to love us so very much that you sent your Word to become flesh and make his dwelling among us, only to have us plug our ears. Forgive me for all the times I was not listening. 

    Lord, may I join Simon Peter in saying, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68) Remind me that today is the day, "Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Psalm 95:7-8) 

    How selfish I am! When I talk to you, I expect you will hear me, so then, isn't it more important that I should listen to you? Count me not among those of Jeremiah's day who found your word offensive, but, on the contrary, may I hang on your every word. Make me more like Mary, who sat at Jesus's feet and really listened. Amen.

"While he (Peter) was still speaking, a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'" Matthew 17:5

Unexpected Blessings

 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

    The best part about following Jesus is the delightful element of surprise He loves to use. It makes for such great stories.

    While running errands the other day, there in the parking lot next to my car I spotted a small wooden cross. Perhaps it had fallen off someone's bracelet. So, I picked it up with a smile, knowing God had elbowed me to see it. On to the next stop.

    As I pulled in, I saw an elderly man wearing a veteran's ballcap, perched on the seat of a blue walker in the hot sun. He held a scrawled sign that said: Please help me.

    Feeling God elbowing me again, I fished some money out of my purse and coupled it with the better gift: the little cross.

    My encounter with the man was only momentary, but what happened next has blessed me to tears all week.

    As I approached him, I lay my hand on his shoulder, giving him what I had. When he saw the cross, he choked back a little sob and said, "God bless you. What's your name so I can pray for you."

    Me? Of the two of us, I appeared to be more blessed than he, yet in that moment I knew he was the richer man.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7

Left Behind

 "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." Psalm 71:18

    When cleaning out her church's library, my sister was about to toss a plain, brown book, a slim volume rather unremarkable at first glance. But something gave her pause to open the cover where, lo and behold, she recognized our dad's handwriting! 

    Dad had gifted the book to our pastor back in 1964, which was a treasure in itself for my sister to see, but then she noticed that the author was our mother's uncle, Mr. Clarence Dame. Those of our generation had no idea he had penned a book. Now here it lay in her hands. 

    Entitled "Fathers of the Bible," he explores the role of earthly fathers as seen in the pages of Scripture. It's quite an interesting read, especially when  he mentions his own father's godly influence on the family of ten children, one of whom was our grandmother.

    Here is one precious excerpt: "A father can impress upon the minds of the children what are the real important things in life. By his conversation and by his prayers a father reveals what he thinks to be most valuable in life. My father always prayed that all the children would serve the Lord. He was much more concerned about the children's spiritual condition than about their material advantages." Clarence went on to say, "Wise indeed is the father who directs the minds and hearts of his children to God and His service, and teaches them to seek Him first." 

    Those prayers, uttered by our great-grandfather, are still reaping a harvest today. 

    In the Hall of Faith chapter, the writer speaks of Abel, who was slain by his envious brother, Cain because the former had offered a better sacrifice than the latter. Yet the Bible has this to say: "By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, Abel still speaks, even though he is dead." (Hebrews 11:4)

    In a similar way, the words found in Clarence's book speak for him long after his death. And these are not words of little value, that are here today and gone tomorrow. No, they are like a pearl of great price with eternal benefit because they point to our Heavenly Father and the free pardon of sin through His Son, Jesus. 

    Of all the things a man can leave behind for his children, what could be more extravagant?

"Our parents left us no money but they left us something far more precious than material things - Christian principles to live and die by, and for these we thank God." - Clarence Dame

Love One Another

 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim in the paths of the seas." Psalm 8: 3-8

    As the embers of our campfire simmered down, my husband and I prepared to do the same, calling it a day.

    Then, in the dying light of dusk, we saw a fluttery movement near the pines that piqued our curiosity. What was that? In the beam of a flashlight, we were amazed to see three small owls, a blessed epilogue to a tiring day.

    Our daughter humorously refers to me as Snow White because we've had a menagerie of critters visit our yard: A ribbon of waddling ducks, just passing through; a fatigued family of deer napping beneath the magnolia tree; a wayward turtle trying to find his way home; a groundhog dubbed Gary who scratched at our back door; a companion squirrel named Clarence Oddtail who would lope across the yard in greeting when I came home; and finally, a few slithering snakes. Now, we have added owls to that list.

    I love most animals. They fascinate, incur laughter and foster love.

    But people? They're a different animal. Oft times, they are rather self-seeking and odious, rude and outspoken, bossy, nosy or outright mean. I join the psalmist, David, when I wonder why God cares for people, taking them by the hand (Isaiah 41:13), collecting their tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), writing their names on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16) and laying down his life for them (Matthew 20:28)!

    Then I remember that I am a part of this race of odious humans and, when I get down to brass tacks, I have been self-seeking, rude, bossy and mean. I am part of the problem!

    It's much easier to love animals, maybe it's because we have been assigned as rulers over them. The assignment God has given us, as his followers, regarding people is much tougher. We are to "love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34) Only with his divine intervention can I take someone by the hand in prayer, listen with compassion as tears roll down their cheeks, write their names on a card of encouragement or emote the sacrificial love of forgiveness and servitude. 

"Love one another as I have loved you"

May seem impossible to do.

But if you will try to trust and believe,

Great are the joys that you will receive.

For love makes us patient, understanding and kind,

As we judge with our hearts and not with our minds.

For as soon as love enters the heart's open door,

The faults we once saw are not there anymore -

And the things that seemed wrong begin to look right

When viewed in the softness of love's gentle light

For love works in ways that are wondrous and strange,

And there is nothing in life that love cannot change,

And all that God promised will someday come true

When you have loved one another the way He loved you.

-by Helen Steiner Rice 

Happy Birthday

 "For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71: 5-6

    Today is my friend's birthday. We have been friends for about sixty years so I love celebrating her today. She has been such a blessing to many.

    Right after I texted a happy birthday greeting to her, I smiled as I read the above verse. Imagine God in scrubs, reassuring the laboring mother as her child is delivered into His strong and capable hands. In great joy, the Lord cleanses the wee one of blood and water before He gently hands the babe over to Mom with a broad smile. It truly is a happy birthday.

    Going through life holding the hand of the Lord is a storied and beautiful journey. Blessed is the person whose "time is in Your hands" (Psalm 31:15). Like a little child He leads us, even through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4), driving away our fears. He defends the weak and the fatherless, upholding the cause of the poor and oppressed (Psalm 82:3), silencing our foes and bullies. 

    "No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." That is a promise from Jesus. (John 10:29)  In fact, nothing, "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39) I would never want to live outside of His Presence.

    Go back to that scene in the delivery room: He, who knit me together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), will be there to escort me home when my eyes shall close in death, "from life's first cry to final breath."  He will be there when the sheet is pulled over my face, preparing my body for its temporary rest. And the Holy Spirit, who used that body for His temple, will take me home to be with Him forever, to a mansion on the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old. (John 14:3)

    To get there, we need to be born again. I heard it said, "Born once, die twice; Born twice, die once." In other words, our soul needs to be reborn spiritually because we were born into sin. As Jesus told Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." (John 3:3) We must be children born of God. 

    That's why Jesus came to die and rise again so we may have life in His Name. It's a transfer of trust from ourselves to the One who made us, believing in Christ. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...for everyone born of God overcomes the world." (1 John 5: 1-4)

    Now that's a happy birthday!

"Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." Psalm 71: 17-18 

    

One of Us, Only Better

 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4: 15-16

    Yesterday, I took our cat, Kiwi, to the vet for his annual vaccination and check-up. From the moment I put him in the carrying case, he vociferously objected to the entire outing. Pupils enlarged by fear, he was bent on forming some route of escape, becoming increasingly anxious when his plans came to naught. Though this outing was for his own good, no amount of soothing or cajoling from me, his loving keeper, could quiet him.

    When we returned home, it took him a while to calm down. As I stroked him and spoke reassurance to him, it occurred to me how this scenario represented our relationship with God. 

    God is Spirit, eternal, divine, omniscient and holy. We are dependent creatures of his, sinful and needy sheep who do not know what will happen next. Warm-blooded and finite, willful and stubborn, we often do not know what is best for us. After our Fall into sin, we were at enmity with our God, with whom Adam had once walked in easy fellowship. 

    Now what? How could this chasm between two very different entities be forged? We are as different as a cat is to a person.

    Enter Jesus, the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). He did not come into the world to condemn us, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17). He became as one of us, yet without sin, to show us the love of the Father, and to show us the way home. He "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:7-8)

    As I pondered this, song lyrics came to mind:

One of Us

What if God was one of us,

Just a slob like one of us,

Just a stranger on a bus

Tryin' to make his way home?

If God had a face,

What would it look like? 

And would you want to see,

If seeing meant that you would have to believe

In things like heaven and in Jesus

and the saints and all the prophets?

    The questions posed within this song have all been answered in Jesus. He had a face, was heard and seen, he hungered, thirsted and slept like any one of us. He lived, died and rose from the grave! One of us, only better! Much better.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." 1 John 1: 1-4

Esme's New Friend

 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10: 14-16

    What a friend we have in Jesus!

    A little over one year ago, our two-year-old granddaughter, Esme, had fallen from a second floor window, landing on her back. The prayer chain sprang into action while we anxiously awaited news. 

    Though it seemed at the time Esme may have had a spinal cord injury, our Heavenly Father, rich in mercy, gave His diagnosis: a mild concussion; no fracture, no paralysis. When we saw a picture of her wearing a wee hospital gown as she walked beside the medical staff, a balloon bobbing overhead, we rejoiced in her salvation from harm. It was as if an angel had lifted her in his hands, lest she dash her foot against the stones below (Psalm 91:11-12)

    Last night, when being tucked into bed, Esme asked her mom if they could pray together because she wanted to ask Jesus to be her friend. Her mother had been telling her that Jesus would come live in her heart if she would invite him. After they prayed, Esme asked her mom to put an ear to her chest to see if she could hear Him in there. Happily, her mother complied, concluding, "Yes! And He is saying, 'I love you, Esme!'"

    This is more thrilling to me than the news of her birth because she has been born of the Spirit. I will never have to say good-bye to my granddaughter; we will live together forever in heaven with our Savior Jesus. I know my mom and dad will love to meet her there in glory! More than these, Esme will have a Friend who walks with her and talks with her, who will never leave her nor forsake her, come what may. What a Friend!

The Savior Kindly Calls

The Savior kindly calls our children to His breast;

He folds them in His gracious arms, Himself declares them blest.

"Let them approach," He cries, "Nor scorn their humble claim;

The heirs of heaven are such as these, for such as these I came.

With joy we bring them, Lord, devoting them to Thee,

Imploring that, as we are Thine, Thine may our offspring be.

    

      

My Dirty Dress

 "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:3

    Hanging in the back of my closet is a dirty dress I once wore. While searching for something to wear the other day, I saw it there, sin-stained and filthy. It even smells rotten, like a dead animal.

    Why do I keep it? It serves as a reminder of who I used to be. 

    Looking at it now, I can't believe I once wore that and thought I looked pretty good. I didn't know how ill-dressed I was until I compared myself to the holiness of Jesus.

    Because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), even when I thought I looked my best, "all my righteous acts were like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) That's why the dress smells like death, because I was dead in my transgressions. But when I asked Jesus to clean me up, He took off my grave clothes and gave me His own precious robe of righteousness. And, I might add, it's a perfect fit!

    Though that is pretty amazing, there's more.

    God doesn't see that dress in my closet. In fact, he has forgotten all about it. He said, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25) If I had any sense, I would put that dress where God keeps such things: "You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19)

    But, like I said, I keep it as a reminder. I never want to return to that style of living. Why would I? I am clad in garments of praise, no longer in a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3) as is fitting for the Bride of Christ. 

I'm lookin' pretty good these days.

"Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.'" Zechariah 3: 3-4

    

Perfection in 6/16ths of an Inch

 "He has made all things beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

    In the dappled sunshine serenaded by an avian symphony, I set out on a morning walk in the neighborhood. 

    The lawns of the more affluent, whose homes preside over the harbor, were immaculately tended. Verdant ribbons of grass curled around curated gardens, weed free and pristine, while forays of flowers bobbed their heads in personal pride, enjoying their prominent residence. 

    On the opposite side of the street, as I passed a humble bungalow, I almost missed a bouquet which rivaled the splendor of Solomon. Deep in the grass near the edge of the road grew a wee trail of orange-colored blossoms, certain to be classified as a weed by those who would know. 

    Reaching down, I plucked one for closer examination. Five tangerine petals formed a Christmas star which framed the stamen and pistil that symmetrically formed a star within a star. Fascinating!

    Once home, I placed the treasure in a small saucer of water. The diameter of the blossom measured 6/16th of an inch, yet its perfect beauty bore silent testimony to the wonder of our Creator. 

    If the eternality of God is reflected in a flower smaller than a dime, how much more should we who are formed in His image? Solomon's observation in the verse above is spot on: Though God has set eternity in our hearts, do we take time to fathom all He has done? 

    It's been said, "Take time to smell the roses," but the wonder of God can also be seen in a tiny weed.

"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matthew 6: 28-29 

    

The Wedding

 "You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:11

    It was dubbed "The Wedding of the Centuries," and since I was a skillful writer, I was chosen to cover the story. It was the chance of a lifetime, a most coveted opportunity, one I was beyond excited to report.

    Taking my seat among the others of the press box, I breathed a sigh of relief for having the necessary credentials for admittance to the gala of such magnanimous opulence. This regal wedding had no precedence, for no other such occasion could begin to rival the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

    The King of kings, also known as the Great I Am and the Lion of Judah, had chosen a bride whom, we had heard, He will crown with love and compassion, replacing her raiment of ashes and despair. Every ear had heard about this, but no eye had yet seen.

    So we waited. Cameras poised. Pens in hand. Then, as the symphony of stringed instruments ebbed and flowed, the aromas of myrrh and aloes, comingled with cassia, announced His arrival. Every knee bowed as the Bridegroom, clothed in splendor and majesty, strode from His chamber, his sword girded on his side. Like the sun that rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other, nothing was deprived of His warmth.

    Jesus Christ, who had ridden forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice, had been given the place of authority at the right hand of God. The kingdom of the world had become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and with the scepter of justice, He shall reign forever and ever. His right hand achieved awesome deeds; sharp arrows had pierced the hearts of the King's enemies. The nations had fallen beneath His feet! His throne, where palaces were adorned with ivory, will last forever and ever. And now, in the fullness of time, with the last enemy having become His footstool, the King had come for his bride.

    Who was she, this most honored of all women? Who was this Princess, all glorious within her chamber, who had kept her lamp filled with oil and the wick trimmed while her Kinsman-Redeemer went to prepare a place for her? Rumor had it she had made herself ready; fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. The media leaked that she had adorned herself with her jewels and her gown was interwoven with the gold of Ophir.

    From my seat in the press box, I had been writing what I was witnessing at a frenzied pace, not wanting to miss one detail of the scene, but now this pregnant pause poised my pen above paper as we all awaited the arrival of the bride.

    Behold! What was this unexpected commotion to my left? I turned to see the steward of the King coming to me with an urgent message:

    "Listen, daughter," he began, "and pay careful attention. Forget your people and your father's house. Let the King be enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." I could not believe my ears, but he continued. "Because you made peace with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you have gained access by faith into this grace in which you now stand. In embroidered garments, you will be led to the King, followed by your virgin companions. You will enter the palace of the King in joy and gladness!"

    Me? I am the Bride of Christ?! It seemed incredible that this lowly reporter, seated at the very end of the press box, was worthy to occupy the seat of honor at the banquet table.

    As I rose on shaky legs, I heard the steward say, "Come!" to others that had been chosen since before the creation of the world. "Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." We, who believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, were all the bride of Christ.

    As we shed our earthly tents, we donned the righteous robes of Christ for, without the proper attire, the King will tie that interloper hand and foot and throw him into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

    What a happy throng we made, this heavenly host arrayed in white. We joined the chorus of angels singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." As we filed into the great banquet hall, God Himself dwelt among us, making sure to wipe any tears from our eyes. Those days of mourning, crying or pain had passed away.

    An angel graciously helped me find my place at the long table, heavy laden with fresh flowers and the richest of fare. Golden plates gleamed and crystal stemware sparkled by the light of the Son. My heart skipped with joy when I espied my name card at the center of the place setting. My name! Inscribed beneath were these words:

 "I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name. You are mine."

Love, Jesus

Scriptures were drawn from: Psalm 45, Psalm 19:5, Isaiah 43:1, 54:5, 55:2, 61:10, 62:5, Matthew 22: 1-14, 25:5, John 14: 2-3, Romans 5:2, Philippians 2:10, Hebrews 10:13, Revelation 4:8, 11:15, 19:7, 21: 2-9, 22:17

    

How to be a Know-It-All

 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

    On June 7, 1996, my parents gifted me with a Bible. On the dedication page, my mom wrote the reference to the verse above, the last written words of the Apostle Peter. 

    Like the impetuous Peter, I sometimes think I know-it-all. I can relate to him when he drew a sword in the Gethsemane garden in defense of Jesus (John 18:10). I'd like to think I'd be ready to follow my Lord fervently, even to prison and martyrdom (Luke 22:33). If we're honest, any of us would rather be remembered as being heroic than being the one who denied even knowing Christ (Luke 22:57). Like Peter, my hopes would also be blotted out by the blood of an executed Messiah.

    That's why Peter's advice above keeps coming back to me; these are words of wisdom spoken by someone who knows. There are two keys to unlocking the wisdom. First, I must grow in grace. This requires humility, a stepping-aside in love to be a better listener, to get off my high horse and wash the feet of others (John 13:14). Second, I give Him the glory both now and forever! Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing (John 15:5).

    When Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, he said, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19, emphasis added)

    Upon reading that, I wondered how I can know something that "surpasses knowledge"? 

    It wasn't until I looked back upon the doodle I had made when journaling the verse. I had drawn a horizontal line to demonstrate how wide and how long is the love of Christ. Then, I had drawn a vertical line to express how high and deep it is. Lo and behold, there before me was a cross!

    If I want to be a know-it-all, I must set aside my Bible and just bask in the Presence of Christ, to let His love pour over me. 

    Life goes full circle. Before the Fall of Mankind, Adam used to walk with God in the cool of the day, perhaps talking about the animals or gazing up at the galaxies in wonder. Since sin entered in, God and Man have pined for one another, keenly missing the blessing of that fellowship. Thanks be to God, the bridge has been mended by the Cross! The vertical and the horizontal meet in the middle as the vortex of history swirls around Calvary. 

    When the ascended Christ restored the repentant Peter over breakfast on the shores of Galilee, He did so by asking, "Do you love me?" (John 15-19) Jesus asks the same of me and of you before bidding us to "Follow Me." 

    That's when the real learning begins.

"Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 13:8

     

The Rainbow and the Cross

 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of the flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2: 13-15

    After Bible study the other night, my friend and I were treated to an awesome sky designed simply to delight us. As we drove home, it was challenging to stay in my lane as I craned to see this spectacle. The dark cloud bank on one end lay in stark contrast to the setting sun at the west, where the brooding bunch reluctantly parted, ushering in a golden splendor that bathed shadowy trees in a holy illumination. 

    As we rounded a bend, the crowning glory came into view as a full rainbow arched across the dramatic vista stealing our breath. By that time, it became clear I needed to pull over to take a picture. After obtaining the best view, I shared it with my friend, lamenting the telephone pole that stood in the way of the otherwise perfect pic. 

    Then my friend wisely commented, "But did you notice the pole is in the shape of a cross?"

    Indeed, what I had perceived as being "in the way" became the focal point of the photograph as the cross, with all its redemptive hope, took center stage over the now secondary rainbow.  It was a blessing to see these two symbols of God's covenants with mankind occupying the same scene. 

    Once home, gratefulness for God's promises filled my heart as I pondered the photo.

    After the great flood, God said to Noah, "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." (Genesis 9: 14-15) 

    Just as the ark saved Noah and his family, the blood of Christ provided salvation to all who believe in His name. As Jesus said at the Last Supper, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20) By His death on the cross, He ushered in the new covenant spoken of in the Old Testament when God said, "I will be their God and they will be my people...For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)

    How many people have stumbled over the cross, seeing it as an offense that is "in the way" rather than the very thing that has the power to save them from an eternal doom? My prayer is that the love of God breaks through their clouded heart with holy illumination, accepting Jesus as their personal Savior.

"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." 1 Corinthians 1:18   

    

Land of Their Dreams

 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

    When the realtor first showed us the home we ended up buying ten years ago, the goosebumps on my arms told me this was the right place for us. And it's true; we are very content here.

    Be that as it may, this is not my dream home. That is yet to come!

    A friend gave me this poem while at church yesterday. It's too divine to keep to myself:

Some glorious morning they will come

From all nations, from every generation;

Side by side, they will march

Into the celestial city of Jehovah.

And in perfect harmony

They will begin humming a new song,

A song composed by God, arranged for his children.

As the saved by grace approach the land of their dreams,

The Host of heaven will step aside;

Even the angels will be silent,

For they cannot sing this new song,

For it is a song reserved for voices

Who once cried out for the Redeemer -

Those washed in the blood of the Lamb -  

Yes, these are the Redeemed.

    As I was pulling weeds this morning, I kept thinking about "the land of their dreams." Tis the place Jesus spoke of in John chapter 14: "My Father's house has many rooms...I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

    If you are bogged down by a mundane task today, or troubled by grave circumstances, lift your hearts to God and let Him remind you of the dream home you will someday occupy as one of the Redeemed. Then go out and tell others of the wonderous things God has done in your life. Maybe they will come, too. There will be plenty of room (and no weeds!)

"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35: 8-10

Martha, Martha

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11: 25-26)

        If you recall the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, then you would remember the sister, Martha, to whom Jesus spoke the words above. When the stone covering the tomb was rolled away, the stench of death assaulted her nostrils, confirming the gruesome reality of death. Rooted to her spot, Martha gaped in horror mingled with wonder after Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth. "What would happen?" she may have pondered, "Is this for real?"

    Imagine the irrevocable shock she experienced when she saw her bound brother stepping out into the sunlight as Jesus ordered, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

    Though the Scriptures make no mention of Martha being present in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified, I wonder what she would have thought as she puzzled over His death, recalling His words, "I am the resurrection and the life." How could He have raised Lazarus only to now be the One in the tomb? What of the promise He had made about never dying?

    I imagine Jesus, who knows the contents of the heart, chiding her softly: "Martha, Martha, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40, emphasis added)

    What do you believe? What does Jesus mean to you? Was He just a prophet who spoke memorable adages to live by? Or was He the Son of God who laid down His life for sinners, only to take it back up again, leaving behind a tidy pile of grave clothes? 

    What happened on that first day of the week in Jerusalem that day changed everything. It was more than just a supernatural event. The resurrection of Jesus Christ claimed the victory over the grave for all who believe. 

    Getting back to Martha, imagine if she were one of the five hundred to whom Jesus appeared before His ascension. Would there be any ceiling on her joy? Should we have any limits on ours?

    Take off the grave clothes! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

"On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth." Isaiah 25: 7-8 

Funny Honey

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

"God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life." 1 John 5: 11, 12

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" John 8: 31, 32

Amber and pure,

The scent of allure;

Will it be sweet?

Or a snare of deceit?

That is a question for the ants.

    I hate killing things. If I see a free range spider in the house, I trap it in an inverted glass for release outdoors because I figure we are all God's creation. He gave to mankind the charge to "rule over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26)

    So, when spring's arrival begat the annual migration of sugar ants into our home, I tried to be tolerant of their trespass until they swarmed the honey jar. As their "ruler," I declared war solely born of territorial frustration. 

    The honey jar was surreptitiously replaced by a liquid ant bait which bore much resemblance to a honey jar invitingly laid open on its side. As I henceforth eyed the doomed swarm, I do confess my deceitful trick filled me with guilt, knowing they were carrying poison back to their hungry families. But, the trick worked and they stopped coming.

    This illustrates the spiritual battle that rages about us every day and, sadly, I represent the devil in the story. Jesus said of our adversary, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) 

    Satan has no original ideas, so he counterfeits whatever God has done. If God declares that Jesus is the only way to heaven, Satan is replacing the honey jar with the lie of interfaith harmony and religious diversity. Therefore, we have people like Oprah Winfrey who say, "There can't possibly be only one way" to heaven. 

    For example, this newspaper headline caught my eye a few months ago: "Giant Statue of the Buddha in New Jersey becomes Interfaith Hub." This article, found in the religion section, goes on to tell about the 30 foot high statue of Buddha erected a decade ago by a Sri Lankan monk whose dream was to unite people of all faiths. It has since become a hub and a spiritual home for "Buddhists, Hindus and Christians." 

    This, my friend, is some "funny honey," as the ants would say. 

    The article went on to joyously reflect on the religious diversity found there amid the murals and peace garden aflutter in colorful Tibetan prayer flags. One visitor enthused, "Anybody who comes to that temple feels so calm and collected once they see that big Buddha."

    How nice, until they carry that poison home to their families as they travel that wide road that leads to destruction. 

    In his book, "Answers to Questions about Spiritual Warfare," Dr. David Jeremiah said, "Someone once told me that if you want to identify a crooked stick, the best thing you can do is lay a straight stick down next to it." He continued, "That same principle works when dealing with the deceit of Satan. If you will lay the 'straight stick' of God's Word next to what it is you are trying to discern, you will usually be able to identify Satan's deceitful propaganda."

    I urge all to choose life! Don't fall for the deceptions, but put on the full armor of God as found in Ephesians 6: 10-17. It's a matter of life and death, so don't drink Satan's funny honey. 

"The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them, there is great reward." Psalm 19: 9-11

Home

 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

    Houses tell stories. 

    Like finding tattered pages from a book, I have read "excerpts" of the family who lived in my home before me. Written in the concrete of the basement floor are their names, Flo and Ed, along with a date: July 30, 1949. There are also footprints, smaller than mine, imbedded there which bade me to know more about these folks who once walked my floors.

    With a bit of research, I discovered Flo was a kind-hearted second grade teacher. Her husband, Ed, was an amiable man who liked to work with his hands. They had one daughter, Katy, whose name I found etched in the pavement out back, and they are buried in the Mayfield cemetery.

    I imagine Flo, looking out at the back yard as she washed dishes, waving to Ed who walked by with yard tools. Perhaps Katy was there, too, blowing bubbles in the sunshine. A happy family, I'd like to think, whose voices are no longer heard, just as mine will someday be silenced as well, because everything that is seen is temporary.

    That being said, is anything really mine? My car will one day join others in the junkyard. The halls of my home will be occupied by others someday. Even my body is an earthly tent, a temporary house for my soul. 

    So, what's the point? Where do I belong? What do I have in this life?

    What is unseen is eternal. My soul is my only possession that will last and, thanks be to Jesus, I know to Whom it belongs - to the One who has gone to prepare a place for it and has promised to come back and take me to be with Him where He dwells. "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?" Jesus said in John 14: 2-3. "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." 

    When I get there, perhaps I will look out at the back yard and wave to passersby, who will return the gesture with a broad smile, because we will have arrived in that better country, a heavenly one. That is where I belong.

    There's no place like home!

"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

 

    

More Than These

 "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?'" John 21: 15a

    I picture myself dining in my home with Jesus, a simple meal of warm bread and fish, just the two of us. Satiated, we push back and place napkins on the table. I'm not thinking of anything in particular (except maybe dessert) when His piercing gaze meets mine and He asks me plainly, "Rachel, daughter of Russ and Trudy, do you love me more than these?"

    My heart quickens as I look around at all the stuff that represents my life: pictures of my family, sentimental keepsakes in the china cabinet, loving tokens from others, items of comfort and security. Would I give it all up for Christ? 

    This verse comes to mind as I write: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his own soul?" (Mark 8:36) Is anything around me worth more than Jesus?

    Consider heaven. What do I want to see upon my arrival, first and foremost? The colossal gate made of a single pearl? The shiny, golden street as pure as transparent glass? The merry eyes of my mother? 

    If heaven were a barren landscape, void of all save Jesus, would I be just as eager to go there? Do I truly love Him more than these?

    Yes! A thousand times, Yes! May it be so. May I join Simon Peter in saying, 

"'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'You know that I love you.'" John 21: 15b

    

Scars for Life

 "Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!'

    "But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'

    "A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'" John 20: 24-27

    Do you have any scars?

    I have one that I received when I was about five or six years old, when some of the neighborhood kids and I were constructing a blanket-over-the-clothesline tent. As I was laying down a foundational brick, so was another kid who accidentally squished my pinky finger between our two bricks. 

    The game was over as I ran inside to my mother and kids dispersed. I can still recall my personal horror when I saw the doctor actually sewing my skin together, as my mom would darn a sock.  

    Today, I look at the crooked scar with a fondness, allowing the childhood memories of play and providence to warm me  It has become physical proof of what transpired on that day.

    Over the years, I have acquired other scars, though these are of the invisible sort. Most of these stem from my own rebellion, though some were caused by others. These old wounds are part of who I am; they are mile markers of where I have been, what I have done and (hopefully) how much I have learned from my mistakes. 

    The question is: Are they scars or are they wounds? In other words, have these inflictions healed?

    It shames me to admit this, but I have a wound I have been nursing for forty years! Isn't it about time I give it to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my life? Anything I have suffered pales in comparison to the pains He endured for my sake. 

    His scars are for my life. After allowing Jesus to heal me, only then can I look upon these internal scars with fondness because they have become evidence of my faith in Christ. 

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53: 4, 5

No Body

 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

    It was a clear, sunny day Saturday, so when I glanced out my kitchen window, I wondered why I saw fog. However, I quickly realized it was smoke. Our neighbor's house was on fire!

    As David dashed outdoors, I called 911. "Do come quickly!" I implored to the dispatcher. "I believe the man is inside!" Other neighbors joined my husband in an effort to gain access, but the smoke was too thick, the flames too intense. Moments seemed eternal as we waited for the firefighters' arrival, and we cried in helpless grief. We were powerless to save him; he perished that day. 

    Sadly, I gaze now across the blanket of snow at the stark, skeletal frame of our neighbor's house. Bouquets of flowers join some balloons and a teddy bear in his yard - expressions of the neighborhood's mourning - but I am dismayed to say I never met the man whom I occasionally saw over the fence. And now he is gone. The opportunity to share my faith went up with the black smoke. 

    Like our little crowd of concerned citizens that fateful day, we, without Christ, are powerless to save from hellfire and damnation, either ourselves or others. But, thank God, the story doesn't end on this morbid note. 

    The Bible says it best: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 6-8)

    Salvation is found in nobody else, and the reason for this is simple: Christ died but there is no body. The grave is empty, only the graveclothes were there. He is risen from the dead! (Luke 24: 1-6) Jesus won the victory over the power of the grave and, when we place our trust in Him, nobody can snatch us from His hand. (John 10:28)  Only Jesus Christ has the credentials, as God's perfect Son, to have sacrificed Himself in our place. Nobody else.

    I do not know if my neighbor had accepted this free gift of salvation; hopefully, he had. I wish I had spoken to him about it because what if nobody had? My urgency to share my faith should have matched the emergency nature of the call I had made. 

    Dear God, forgive me. Help me to be somebody who cares.

My God and My King!

 "When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain...The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary." Psalm 68: 7, 17

    Processions of pomp and regalia are so impressive. Think of a victorious march of uniformed soldiers in a ticker tape parade, or a splendorous bride with metered step going forth with a twenty-five foot train in her wake. Swells of "Pomp and Circumstance" set the tone for many a graduation as mortar boards are happily flung skyward.

    Grand as those may be, imagine being cordially invited into the sanctuary of the Most High, to witness the spectacular pageantry of the procession of God as recounted in Psalm 68:

    "Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and my King into the sanctuary." (verse 24)

    Imagine, perched on the edge of your seat with a craned neck, you've been rolling your program into a tube as you nervously await the splendid display of His Majesty. Though you are in the nosebleed section, wild horses could not tear you away as you bite your bottom lip in anticipation. Finally...

    "In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels." (verse 25)

    Oh, can you hear the magnificent swell of music? Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty! All stops have been pulled out as reverberations of glorious praise flow from the choir. Trumpets may sound; let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

    "Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel." (verse 26)

    By now, you are on your feet, hands held to the heavens as pure worship courses through your body. Like David dancing with abandon before the Lord, you are jumping out of your shoes. None of earth's grand displays could compare to this parade of glory.

    "There is the little tribe of Benjamin leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali." (verse 27)

    Those around you excitedly point to the cadence of the tribes. You can hardly believe what you're seeing! Not even Solomon in all his splendor is arrayed as one of these. 

    I can only imagine those things which God has prepared for us in the heavenly realms. As I watch the tender snow falling from above, my imagination takes me to the storehouses of snow where my God and my King reigns eternally. The asphalt street on which I live will be replaced with a ribbon of pure gold, as seen from the window of the heavenly mansion, my new abode. 

    Nothing can compare to seeing Jesus, the One who laid down His life for me and crowned me with love and compassion, without Whom I haven't received an invitation to the procession of God. Though I'd like to be one of the singers, I will be content to just be there. 

    Will you join me?

"Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with a mighty voice. You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" Psalm 68:32, 33, 35

My Pilot

"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8: 23-26

    Air travel is a lesson in complete surrender. It begins with the humiliation of doffing one's shoes, dutifully waiting, like cattle in a corral, as a squad of strangers examine personal belongings while unsung notes of suspicion are sung in the minds of travelers. There's a tingle of fear that one will not be accepted, set aside and rejected, never to reach one's destination.

    Something akin to this happened to me on my way home from Houston. As I stepped through the metal detector, I was singled out. My bag was searched. The jar of peanut butter I wanted to bring home was confiscated. As I endured this, alone in an intercontinental airport, the temptation to worry nagged at me, but I silenced it by quoting Psalm 31:15: "My times are in your hands." The peace of God settled me right down and I made it to the gate on time. 

    After the hustle of boarding, I settled into my seat by the window. As usual, the flip-flop feeling in my stomach began to kick in, reminding me of my acrophobia, but I squashed it by quoting Psalm 56:4: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." The peace of God settled over me once again as I watched the activity on the ground from my lofty vantage point.

    The power of the airliner's ascent pushed me back into my seat as we soared through seemingly impenetrable cloud cover. No visible touchstone could ground my perspective; in faith, I relied on the pilot to see us through. Up, up, up we soared until the glorious landscape of the second heaven proclaimed the power of God. Sunshine soaked fluffy mountains of white in a surreal world where angels traverse. I felt the wonder of my inclusion into this spectacular sight as the words of Psalm 19:1 came to mind: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." The peace that passes all understanding enveloped me like a downy comforter. Fear was soundly dismissed.

    Surrendering to God's plan and purpose seems contrary to life's ways as an adult, but when I sit back in my seat like a child in the family sedan, only then can I enjoy the ride - not because I know the way, but because I know the Pilot. 

    Upon my exit in Cleveland, I thanked the pilot with the yellow stripes on his sleeves for getting me home, but he was just the co-pilot. Jesus brought me safely to my destination.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me

Over life's tempestuous sea;

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.

Chart and compass come from Thee:

Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

    

    

Unhindered

 "People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10: 13-16

    Recently, I visited my eldest daughter and her family in Texas. It was time for my three-year-old granddaughter, Esme, to have her annual check up, so I went along.

    As we waited in the pediatrician's exam room, Esme busied herself writing on a board on the wall provided for that purpose. When the nurse arrived, Esme made one last drawing before going to her: it was a cross. 

    In candid excitement, she told the nurse, "I made a cross. Jesus died on the cross!" Though the woman chose not to reply, Esme's declaration brought joy to her mother and me (and to our Lord as well, I'm sure.) 

    May I be so eager to say as much!

    The gospel is simple enough that a child may understand it, but somewhere along the line, we make it into a theological oration when it needn't be. I remember, the older my mother got, the bolder she became in sharing her faith. 

    I am going to take a lesson from Esme and my mom by lifting high my gospel light, unhindered. This must be what Jesus meant by receiving the kingdom of God like a little child, no matter one's age. 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16 

What's in Your Right Hand?

 "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

    Have you ever gone out and realized you left your phone at home? A sinking feeling of dread may have washed over you, akin to losing your purse or wallet. To those of us who are old enough to remember the days when a phone hung on the wall, we may chide ourselves for such ridiculousness, but truth be told, these rectangular leashes have become so much more than just a phone.

    A phone may also be a source of banking, an atlas, a dictionary, a mail box, for some a Bible, a game board, a timepiece, a calculator, a calendar, a news source, a neighborhood, a radio and a watchdog. With this in mind, have we, as a society, arrived to the point of no return? Are we able to live without these devices?

    Let me ask you: Can a phone forgive? Can it redeem your life from the pit? Heal your diseases? Create new life? Can it fight for you against all evil, sustaining and protecting you? 

    With apologies to southpaws, what's in your right hand these days? What's in God's right hand? A phone? Let's see what the Bible says about it:

• "Your right hand sustains me." Psalm 18:35
• "I cling to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8
• "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." Psalm 73:23
• "His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." Psalm 98:1
• "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things." Psalm 118:16
• "Your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:10
• "Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34

    In the book of Joshua, when the Lord was preparing Joshua for battle and conquest, He implored him, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) It's the Lord Almighty who is with me wherever I go! With Him at my right hand, why do I need my phone all the time?

    

    We must be so careful not to turn a tool into an idol. I challenge you to turn your devices off for a day. Reach out and grab Him by the right hand; He will never let you go. He is available 24/7.  He imparts wisdom and discernment. If you are lost, He will search for you, joyfully placing you on His strong shoulders. In Christ alone, our hope is found. What a friend we have in Jesus!

    

    There's no app for that.

"The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, 'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'" Isaiah 44: 12, 20