Letting Go

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Personal Touch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    

 

Show Me the Way to Go Home

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Do I Know?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    

Pride in any Month

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Not to Wear

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

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

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

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

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

    

The Hapless Mouse

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

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

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

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

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