Imitator or Imitation?

 "Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us." Ephesians 5: 1, 2

    As my granddaughter and I were coloring in her Thomas the Tank Engine coloring book, I began to hum a tune. I felt Esme's eyes peep up at me, then she also began to hum. A smile teased the corners of my mouth as I pondered how readily my actions were impressed upon this wee one. How careful I must be around this little sponge!

    As a child of God, how do I imitate Him? 

    The first thought that comes to mind is our greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5) After all, I do not want to imitate someone I dislike. 

    Of course, the second greatest commandment is to "Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12) I don't resemble Jesus at all when I am harboring resentment, speaking slanderously or gossiping. 

    Then, I must listen to and recognize the voice of the Shepherd. "My sheep listen to my voice," said Jesus, "and they follow me." He speaks to me through his Word, the Bible. It is there that I receive such directives as, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19) "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone." (Romans 12:17)

    Here's one that may surprise you: If I want to be like Christ, I must expect to suffer. The Apostle Paul said, "I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10, 11) Imitating Jesus is not for sissies, rather "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

    As a wordsmith, I am drawn to definitions and root words, so I pondered the difference between "imitate" and "imitation." "Imitate" means to "copy the mannerisms or speech of, " while "imitation" suggests a more sour connotation: "Something copied from an original, often in an inferior way." 

    I pictured an imitation Christian, one who is not sincere in their belief. Perhaps for this person, following Jesus is a weekend endeavor or a religious tradition. But the secular world sees through this flimsy copy of the Original. 

    To reflect the Son, I must be prepared to lose my life. It is only then that my true life is found in Christ. (Matthew 10:39) 

    So, to be like Christ, I must grab a towel and be ready to wash feet.(John 13: 4, 5) Who knows? I may even hum while doing so.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12: 9, 10, 12

Years of Tears

 "Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone rolled across the entrance. 'Take away the stone,' He said." John 11: 38, 39

    In preparation for my bible study lesson, I read the account of the raising of Lazarus, a passage with which I am familiar. This time, however, I paused to reflect on the possible thoughts of Jesus as He approached the tomb.

    Waves of loving compassion and sympathy washed over Jesus as He wept along with the sisters, Mary and Martha. When He stood facing the tomb of his friend, their brother Lazarus, I wonder if He thought back to the Fall of Man when, like the opening of a Pandora's box, years of tears were unleashed that washed across centuries of tombs and eons of sorrow. Adam and Eve were evicted from paradise as the sentinel cherubim flashed a flaming sword at the eastern entrance, barring them from the tree of life. The death knell had sounded for all of us.

    Perhaps Jesus, when looking at the tomb, thought of His own pending death by crucifixion and the borrowed tomb where His shrouded body would lay waiting, waiting for the Son to rise on that third day when the sting of death will have been eradicated and victory over the grave eternally claimed! The stench of death has been replaced by the aroma of our risen Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! Amen!

    I have attended various funerals over the years enough to testify to the joyous homegoing of the Christian. Yes, their body lay dead, just like any one of us will someday be, but the difference is the hope of glory that is ours in Christ. We have been redeemed from the power of the second death, that is the death of our souls. 

    I can't say for sure, but maybe Jesus was thinking, on that day by the tomb, how much He abhors death just as we do. Yet, He willingly laid down His life so that we may live, drying up the years of tears. 

    Have you thanked Him?

"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 the disgrace of his people from all the earth." Isaiah 25: 7, 8

My Mother, My Friend

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

    My mom wasn't one to idly loaf around. Even when watching television, if she saw a cobweb lurking in a corner, she'd jump up to swat it down. 

    One of her favorite pastimes was crocheting afghans because she could be productive while watching Judge Judy. She'd usually select two colors that complimented each other well before setting to task using her favorite chevron pattern. Her fingers would fly, the hook a blur; she made it look effortless. The joy of creating something was evidently edifying to her as she showed me her latest work when I'd come by.

    My mom went home to Jesus almost nine years ago; I miss her sorely. When I was reading one of my favorite psalms this morning (Psalm 139), it dawned on me that before my mother was, God is. It was He who chose a bit of my father and a tad of my mom and married the two together to create me, an original work. With nimble fingers of grace and wisdom, he "knit me together in my mother's womb."

    He whose angels escorted my mom home, will come for me as well, taking me to be with Him (and her) for all eternity. Oh, what a friend I have in Jesus! Of all the wonderful things my mom did for me, the one that means the most is introducing me to Him, her best friend and Savior and mine as well.

    For Mother's Day some years ago, I wrote this poem for her:

My Mother, My Friend

From pinning my diapers

And tying my shoes,

To playing board games

When I had the blues, you were

My Mother, my friend.

From mending my clothes

And forcing me to school,

To taking me to church

To learn the Golden Rule, you were

My Mother, my friend.

From enduring my cats

And fixing dinner,

To soaping my mouth

When I was a sinner, you were

My Mother, my friend.

From teaching me manners

And all social graces,

You encouraged me to make

Friends in all places, you were

My Mother, my friend.

From teen to woman

And all stuff in between,

You always stood by me

And you'll forever be...

My Mother, my friend.

Christ, my Liberator

 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach 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, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61: 1-3

    It is possible to live in bondage, even in the midst of freedom.

    One would think, living in America with all its liberties, we'd be the happiest, most united people on the globe. There would be love for our neighbors, fellowship among the races and a sense of peace as we went about our daily lives. 

    Instead, we are faced with wrangling politicians, random acts of violence, limp churches and profound loneliness. Is this liberty?

    Our founding fathers constituted a God-given plan designed to promote our general welfare, provide for our common defense and grant everyone a pursuit of happiness, but at the core of our human nature, we have not been set free until we have met Jesus Christ, humbly repenting of our sins to receive "freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." 

    In the eighth chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus is hashing things out with the Pharisees, most of whom do not believe in Him. Jesus said: "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now, a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." (vs. 34-36)

    Peal the bells of liberty; Jesus has freed us from slavery to sin. Clothed in His righteousness, we can then go out and love our neighbor, aid the hungry, curb the loneliness and bring comfort to those who mourn. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me." (Matthew 25:40)

    I have an inspirational quote by John F. Kennedy taped in a prominent spot which says, "The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." Look not to Washington; Christ is our Liberator.

"To the Jews who had believed Him, 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

The Lion and the Lamb

 "Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals." Genesis 2: 19, 20

    A crisp, sunny morning beckoned my walk to the marsh. Before leaving my yard, a cardinal heralded my presence from his perch in the oak above. I paused to see this scarlet singer, marveling at the pure sound of his praise.

    Farther along, the lament of a mourning dove slowed my step out of respect. 

    Along the serpentine stretch of road leading to the lagoons, a wary mother goose eyed me from her nest, likely wondering if I were friend or foe. I reassured her that, as a mom myself, I understood her caution.

    Encouraged by the sweet aroma of a honeysuckle vine, a paused to drink it in while the sharp caw of the red-winged blackbird bid me go. 

    'Twasn't long before I felt the staring amber eye of a grey heron, watching me from his stalwart position on the bank. His prehistoric silhouette frightened me a little, I admit.

    At water's edge, a wee white butterfly sipped her morning brew from a wildflower as the flurry of a nervous cottontail bunny diverted my attention. How I wished he wouldn't fear me.

    Over my head, the chattering industrious purple martins were bustling about their business of raising their families within the curious white gourds they called home. I imagined the mothers discussing the antics of their children or the housecleaning they needed to do.

    Regretfully, it was time to head to my home. My trek of treasures was punctuated by one last lovely sight: the domed home of a turtle was spotted, its owner stretching his neck to my Creator and his, as he gratefully accepted God's gift of sun and water. 

    As I walked, I pondered Adam's task of giving names to all of these creatures. Perhaps, prior to the curse which sin brought, these were not fearful of man. Perhaps it will be that way once again when we, who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, will dwell in the paradise of the new heaven and the new earth. The fear of evil will have been abolished; peace will have been restored.

    It's curious to me that Jesus is referred to as both a Lion and a Lamb, for only in Him, will all things wild and tame be married peaceably. What a day that will be!

    "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them." Isaiah 11:6

No Trespassing

 "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup: you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16: 5, 6

    We once had a neighbor who was a tad off. He did his best work alone, at night, when most everyone was tucked in. Though I knew he meant no harm, it was a bit disconcerting to be awakened by a scritching noise, peer out the bedroom window and see him below in our yard, pulling weeds and watering the garden.

    As I write this, I gaze out upon our back yard where we now live, gratitude welling in my heart for this lot to call our own, at least for a breadth of time. The only trespassers we experience these days have feather or fur (or snake skin!).

    There's a house on the corner yonder way which has several "No Trespassing" signs posted. When I walk past, I think, "I wouldn't want to go there anyhow. I have a lovely yard of my own."

    Spiritually speaking, my Lord has given me a lush Garden of Eden where I am sustained by the Bread of Life while rivers of grace fill my cup to overflowing. The parameters He has set in place render security and keep predators at bay. The Bible describes this as a fortress, a haven of rest. 

    Should I ever roam, as I have regretfully done in the past, He comes looking for me. "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." (Ezekiel 34:11) He brought me back to the fold.

    Is it a coincidence that the word "trespass" is a synonym for sin? When saying the Lord's Prayer, we implore, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Matthew 6:12) When I trespass, I wander into territories that are fraught with dangers, like entering unknown properties. What is there to gain in that when I have a beautiful place to call my own?

    And so, in Christ I have my home, my dwelling place for all eternity where I am protected from all evil by his rod and his staff.  There's no place like home.

"Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever." Psalm 112: 1, 3

No Fear

 "Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." Psalm 112:6-8

    Have you ever disturbed a nest of ants and observed their frenzied displeasure? Last week, Satan poked a stick into our family's nest.

    Our daughter called from Texas: "I've an emergency! Please pray." Our granddaughter, Esme, aged two and a half, fell from a second floor window to a bed of river rock below, landing on her back. Our frantic reaction to this news began requests for prayers which were dispatched immediately.

    Meanwhile, in the ambulance, plans were discussed to divert the course to a hospital that specialized in spinal cord injuries when Esme was unresponsive to sensation on her feet. 

    The Bible assures us that God hears our prayers. "I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears...The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34: 4, 17) We were crying out and He was listening because that little gal wriggled her toes! There was no need for a spinal specialist because the Great Physician gave the diagnosis.

    Scans revealed no fractures, only a mild concussion. A follow up visit proved the sovereignty of God as the baffled doctor stated, "Someone was watching out for this little one!" Today, she is an active as-if-nothing-happened toddler.

    Why is it so important to attend church, especially if there are so many great sermons online? It's because, like those ants, there's unity in the body of Christ. Had this tragedy occurred to an unbeliever, calls to friends and family may incur thoughts and bring assistance, but how much more power is there in the prayers of the righteous being heard by the living God?

    When one of God's children sounds the alarm, an army responds. I thank God and all who prayed.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3