One Nation Under God

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

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

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

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

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

Sweet Land of Liberty

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

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

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

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

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

Let Freedom Ring!

Ever Green

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

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

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

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

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

Tough Love

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christ Amid Chaos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senseless Salvation

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

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

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

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

The Comforts of Home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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