Renewal

Yesterday a co-worker and I were discussing locus of control, the idea of whether things happen to us because of things beyond our control (external locus) or because of what we do and tell ourselves (internal locus). Certainly, the reality is a combination of the two. Our discussion got me to thinking about thinking. Obviously, things happen that we can't control. But we can control how we react to them, including how we think about them. This is basic, popular psychobabble, isn't it? Nothing too new here. But it is worth thinking about.

When you are a Christian, these concepts go beyond psychobabble. We have a God who is available to help transform our thinking. I thought about Romans 12:2 this morning:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It seems to me that we tend to think of this verse in light of the indulgences of the Romans--you know, those horrible, not-to-be-spoken-of sins. (The previous verse talks about offering our bodies as living sacrifices.)

However, what about stress? What about not getting enough sleep, enough exercise? What about eating unhealthful foods? What about isolating ourselves, away from relationships and community?

The pattern of our world is extreme stress, coupled with pressures to be perfect--whatever that means in your life. God never meant for us to feel this way.

We may not be able to control all of the circumstances we are in. But we can make changes in how we live. With New Year's just around the corner, it's a great time to think about renewing your thinking about how you live. One of the best ways to do this is to read scripture. God made everything, so He's probably the best One to consult on life.

So, Why Don't We?

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).

I read this verse and am encouraged in the reminder that Jesus has been through the struggles of this life and wants to help us through them. But then I stop and wonder....

Why don't we approach the throne of grace and request help from our Father more often?

There are many reasons why we don't. But none of them are very good. So if you, like me, have not been daily asking your Father for direction, strength, wisdom, comfort, or whatever, please renew your resolve today to make it a priority. And this time of year--with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner--is a perfect time to remember the One from whom all good things come.

Everyday Gifts

Lately I've been struggling a bit with the "Why?" issues of faith. We all go through these phases--I believe we must experience these times to have true, tested faith. Sometimes God doesn't provide many answers to the big questions. However, He often grants our prayer requests in the form of little, "everyday" gifts. They may seem insignificant, but when you're really wondering if He's up there, if He cares, it makes a big difference.

Chronic insomnia plagues me, and recently I woke up in the middle of the night to loud, gusting winds. I was concerned about our patio furniture and plants outside, and the anxiety kept me awake for a long time. The narrative of Jesus' calming the winds at sea jumped into my mind. I said to God, "I know You calmed the winds at least once. I know You can do it now. Please, please, God, make the winds die down just long enough for me to go back to sleep."

Within minutes, the winds were stilled.

I slipped back into sleep, somewhat surprised and very grateful.

When I awoke in the morning, the wind was active again. But it had calmed down enough for me to sleep again, and that was exactly what I'd asked for. The next morning I told my husband about my middle-of-the-night prayer. He said that he had noticed that the winds calmed down and very abruptly--so I know it wasn't just my imagination.

God knows that our faith sometimes needs a little boost. He knew I needed sleep that night. I've experienced at least one other honored "everyday" prayer request since that windy night. I still have some big prayer requests that give me some pain. But these little gifts from my Father help me to continue to ask and give the strength and wisdom to understand that His wisdom and timing are much better than mine.

Those Good Ol' Psalms

Well, it hasn't been quite a month since I last posted, but pretty close. I've been busy, busy, busy with a major project for work, but we finally completed it last week.

I received the following quotation from an email list I subscribe to. Because I originally began this blog (and the email messages preceding it) with the Psalms, I felt it was appropriate to share this quotation:

"The Psalms defy our notions of profane and sacred, proving that everything we feel, witness, do unto others, and have done to us is acceptable subject matter for conversing with the Divine. They invite us to bring every part of ourselves into our houses of worship. If we omit expressions of faith lost, of rage, of disdain, and of the desire for revenge, we leave parts of ourselves at the door." --Kari Jo Verhulst

God knows our every thought, so why not be completely open with Him about our feelings? We might as well discuss them with Him.

The email list had verses 6 through 10 of Psalm 103. But here is the psalm in full--it's even more powerful.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul" (Psalm 103).

It's a Process

"...[M]ake every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).

I don't think anyone would want their faith to become stagnant and, therefore, "ineffective and unproductive." Our purpose in life is to bring God glory by the way we live our lives.

It's interesting that the very last attribute listed in the series of virtues in the passage above is love. Love comes even after self-control? When you think about it, it makes sense. True, unconditional, pure love is the very essense of God. So it makes sense that this would be the hardest for our human hearts and minds to attain. But it's a process, and being a child of God means that you are always striving to become more and more a reflection of Him.

Verse and Quote of the Day

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices" (Psalm 37:5-7).

"Prayer that works is prayer that makes a difference, contemplation that turns into action, on behalf of peace and justice in a troubled and unjust world system. Prayer is energy, the energy of love and transformative power. It is given to us to use for the good of all creation. In prayer God gives us the fuel of life, and asks us to live it." ~ Margaret Silf

(Taken from Sojourners Verse of the Day and Voice of the Day, September 28, 2006)

Why?

When I accessed the Internet this morning, my eyes fell on a news headline about an occurrence in Colorado. Yesterday a gunman entered a Colorado high school, took a group of girls hostage, and eventually killed one 16-year-old girl and then himself. Why?

On days such as these, I am painfully aware that I don't have all the answers. I do believe that evil and good battle each other in our midst every day. An event like this makes it obvious. But even everyday issues of handling one's life with integrity or choosing not to are signs that the fights between good and evil are around us and in us daily.

So what verses can I look to for comfort? When the ugliness of this earthly life seems to take over, what enables me to have hope?

"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:13b).

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy" (Psalm 30:11).

"'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted'" (Matthew 5:4).

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20a).

"'He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever'" (Revelation 21:4).

It will happen. It will happen.

In Memoriam

"'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'" (I Corinthians 15:55).

As the granddaughter of a man who loved golf, the name Byron Nelson was familiar to me as I grew up. I didn't know too much about the man, but I knew of him. It was a surprise, then, to learn a few years ago that "Lord Byron" was a member of my husband's and my church. At that time, I expected churchgoers to approach him with starstruck worship. But Byron was not the kind of man that drew that reaction. Rather, because of his humility, church members greeted him at the beginning of church services with a quiet awed pleasure of being a fellow child of God. You could tell church members loved him, loved seeing him, loved that such a prominent figure in our society was really just a fellow Christian, wanting to live in a way that pleased God.

At church, you never really saw Byron without seeing his wife, Peggy. She is an amazing woman. Her faithful presence by his side in worship services always brought joy to my spirit, and her graceful way of welcoming people as a greeter at church warms my heart. On several occasions she told my husband and me that we were a very nice-looking couple. That's a great compliment coming from anyone, but it's certainly significant coming from a woman who has socialized with Tiger Woods and, perhaps, his wife.

It's just nice to see genuine Christianity, especially in the lives of individuals who are known in society.

In the last couple of years, Byron's health seemed to be deteriorating. We knew he had lived a long time and prepared our hearts for his departure. I don't think you can ever be prepared for the loss of someone you love, though. I lost my mother last year, and since then, I have learned a lot about life and death. I also feel a special bond with those who lose a loved one.

Last night when we heard on the 10 o'clock news that Lord Byron had died, we were saddened but not surprised. Though my heart grieves for Peggy and the Nelsons' family and friends, it also rejoices because, as much as Byron loved his ranch in Roanoke, Texas, his home of 58 years, he is finally in his real home. We can imagine him, as a local newscaster said, swinging a golf club in heaven. I don't claim to be a theologist, but I imagine there will be some divinely beautiful fairways in heaven, along with the streets of gold. Do you think anyone bogeys in heaven? (I doubt it.)

God never wants to be separated from us. His desire is for all of us to be with him forever. Byron said, "After all life is short, but eternity is forever. And I hope I never have to spend eternity in the wrong place." And we all have the opportunity, offered from our Father, to spend eternity in just the right place--with Him...and our brothers and sisters.

On a personal note: I've been wanting to learn to play golf (I'm not too bad at putting, thanks to many family outings playing miniature golf), and I am now reminded that we're on earth for only a moment. Perhaps, when my life is over, I'll be ready for my tee time with Byron.

Getting a Grip

Stress seems to run rampant in our society. There are numerous suggestions of how to deal with it effectively, but I've found that the best is grabbing yourself by the shoulders (figuratively), taking a deep breath, asking God to help you, and then reading Scripture.

Here's a passage I've had on my mind this morning:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).

Testing, Testing

I think I wrote about this passage not too long ago, but it seems to be one worth repeating, and probably repeating often.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:23, 24).

It's easy for us to ignore the promptings of the Spirit, especially when we're not asking for Him to reveal to us our weaknesses and failings, our sins against Him and against each other. Therefore, it is all the more important to consistently ask God to show us how our hearts are not like His and then ask Him for help in rooting those sins out.

Quotation on Prayer

I recently subscribed to an email list that has a daily verse and quotation.

Here's today's quotation:

"Nobody finds time for prayer. You either take time for it or you don't get it." - Joan Chittister

I like people who say it like it is, even if (or especially if!) it stings a bit!

Like Stars in the Sky and Sand on the Seashore

Recently I was struck by the thought of just how many of us inhabit the earth. My mind can't comprehend it. The thought of all the people who have lived before us and all those who are yet to be blows me away.

The crowning thought is that God knows each person intimately. Each of us is His child, created by Him. That amazes me.

Here's a verse I read this morning that encouraged me:

"He has put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God...Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD...O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them" (Psalm 40:3a, 4a, 5).

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah
God sends his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. ~Psalm 57

One Day

"'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (2 Corinthians 6:16b).

"'I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty'" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Though all believers are a family--God's family--we often feel disjointed in this world. One day we will be united together. We'll eat together, praise our Father together, and just be together. And our Dad will be happier than He's ever been because His children will be back home. What a day....

What's Your Heart Doing Today?

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

Love is what matters. God is love. If we are to emulate Him, then when people think of us, they should think of love.

So, what is your heart up to today? Is it full of love? Or is it (as mine usually is) turned inward, concerned only with yourself? If your heart is breaking, is it with the pain of compassion for what others are going through?

Love is a decision. Sometimes we don't feel love for a person. But we can decide to love that person because, after all, God loves us when we are at our lowest. And He loves that person, too.

Even When All Systems Are Go

Every doctor's office has one nurse that is an expert needle sticker. She's the one the others recruit when they haven't been successful at getting a good stick for a blood draw. I had that nurse to begin with yesterday when I went to have blood drawn. I asked her to use a butterfly needle, which she did. She had me pump both arms and slapped both arms and poked around to find a good vein. I was impressed--most nurses just try on one arm and then end up sticking me in both arms by the time it's all over. But this time seemed different.

But she still had to dig around a bit with the needle to get the blood to flow out. I held on as long as I could, but apparently my system couldn't take it. I passed out. I tend to do that, but I hadn't done it in over ten years. I've come close a couple of times in the last decade, but despite all the good signs that yesterday's doctor visit was going to go well, it didn't.

Sometimes that happens in life. We can plan and plan, and everything looks like it's going to be successful, but it isn't. In these times, there are two things we should do:

1) Thank God for what we have. Fortunately, my husband was with me yesterday, so I wasn't alone. Even in the direst circumstances, we can always thank God for something. Just the fact that He loves us and sent His Son to die in our stead is something for which we should thank Him.
2) Acknowledge that God is ultimately in control of our lives. We can do all we can think of to ensure success, but God is in control. I wish we remembered this more often. Think of how much less stressed we'd feel.

This is all not to say that we shouldn't plan ahead and make sure our ducks are in a row. God wants us to be wise in our plans. But we must remember that He's got the whole world in His hands, and that includes us.

Don't Be Afraid...And Hold On

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid" (Psalm 56:3-4b).

Fear is a horrible thing. It immobilizes you. So many of our human mistakes stem from a fear of some sort.

In the last few weeks, I've been afraid in several different situations, fearful of what might happen. I have to confess that I haven't really trusted God in these situations, even though I've prayed for His help. My prayers have been made as a last resort and with little belief that God would help. He has, though, at least in little ways. I think God sometimes throws us a life preserver in our times of feeling lost at sea, but we must make the decision to grab on to it...and hold on. Sometimes we'll grab on for a bit, but then decide that we can handle the situation on our own. Thanks, God, we say, I've got it from here. And then we're surprised when we find ourselves afraid and drowning in trouble again.

Living the Christian life is a daily decision. We must live intentionally. And truly trust God when He asks us to trust Him.

Highlights from Psalm 55

"Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy..." (Psalm 55:1-3a).

"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me" (Ps. 55:16-18).

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall" (Ps. 55:22).

The World Doesn't Revolve Around Me

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).

"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (I Corinthians 10:24).

That first verse is easier to take than the second, isn't it? Each of us is selfish--it seems to be part of the human condition. This part of our nature really bothers me...but not enough to do very well in not being selfish.

The old phrase "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" is something we ought to take to heart. Sometimes the solution to the problem of being irritated with someone is to look at the world through the perspective of that person. And really, we're all in this big world together. We're bound by our humanity. Take a look outside of yourself today and see what happens to your perspective.

Happy Labor Day Weekend

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

May you have a restful Labor Day weekend. And thank God today that He has given you your job. (Yes, even if there are frustrations there. God told us to give thanks in all circumstances.)

Peace, Anyone?

The yard renovation continues at my house. Outside, bangings on rock and grindings of a saw announce the presence of our construction zone. Naturally, the dog wants the workers to understand that he is the protector of this territory, so he barks often. And loudly. I've turned on the TV in an attempt to mask the noise, but that is just another annoyance, as the Today show presents a story on a spa for children in San Antonio.

So, I looked up "peace" on BibleGateway.com. Here's a verse to which I can relate this morning: "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil" (Job 3:26).

But I also found these verses:

"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace" (Psalm 29:11).

"[S]eek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14b).

"[B]e at peace with each other" (Mark 9:50b).

What are the lessons from these verses?
1) God wants to give us peace, and He does give it to us.
2) We must look for peace. I think we need to ask God for peace or ask Him how to find it.
3) God wants us not only to be at peace within ourselves and with Him, but also with each other.

The dog has calmed down, the noise outside has stopped briefly, and I've gained some strength from God's Word--I'm on my way to a day of peace...if not quiet. :)

Tomorrow May Come...It Usually Does

So, do you have a vision for your life?

The devotional I read this morning was focused on our future. Of course, we don't need to know exactly what our plans are. I used to be one of those people who had a definite plan. The funny thing is that my life didn't happen at all as I thought it would...and that's fine with me. But we do need to understand that God wants our future to be wonderful.

"'There is hope for your future,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 31:17).

Those of you who have been reading these blogs know that "joy" is a special concept and word to me. That will always be true. My nature is such that I need to work at finding joy in the day-to-day grind of life. But lately I have been thinking of another word often: hope. You've got to have hope to believe in anything. If there's no hope of a beautiful future, what's the point of even thinking about it? But God has made so many awesome promises and has been faithful through so much, I do have hope. And I pray you do, too.

Note: My post title is from "Anything Anytime Anywhere" by Jimmy Buffett. That line always cracks me up.

Honesty Is the Best Policy

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:23-24, New Living Translation).

Self-awareness is a buzz word in our society. But so often, we aren't really honest with ourselves. Oh, we can be aware of our emotions, but are we truly honest with ourselves about our sin? It's much easier to ignore them. But they eat away at us, corroding our souls. And God knows about them anyway, so we might as well be honest with Him about them. He's here to help us get rid of those negative, selfish, spiteful, deceptive, and just plain ugly attitudes.

Start being honest with yourself today...about everything.

Another Ouch

This morning my devotional reading was about our talk. In Christian circles, we hear about our "walk" lining up with our "talk" pretty often. I just wish we were successful at it as often as we hear about it! Here are a few key verses:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:29-32).

"Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:12-14).

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18).

"The tongue has the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18:21a).

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water" (James 3:9-12).

As Solomon says in Proverbs 17:28, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." So I'll just sign off here and let God's words speak for themselves. Oh--do remember that God is available for you to ask Him for help to live as He wants you to. Remember also that when we live as He wants us to, we make Him look good--and that's our ultimate purpose in this life and the next.

Decisions and Grace

The Verse of the Day on BibleGateway.com's website:

"When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul" (Psalm 94:18-19).

I'm quite tired this morning and somewhat frustrated by a number of things. This verse is just a good one--plain and simple.

Here's a related thought, though....

Last night I watched Joyce Meyer's TV program, and she was talking about grace. She made the point (very clearly and with great humor, I might add) that there has to be a collaboration, a partnership between God's grace and a decision on our part. We can't just ask God to help us and expect something magical to happen. Often, Joyce said, we're really wanting God to just do the work for us. That's not how it works. This applies to all kinds of situations, such as exercising to repairing a broken relationship.

Make a decision today that needs to be made and ask God for the strength, courage, persistence, or whatever to stick to it.

Verse of the Day

“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).

Verse of the Day

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Verse of the Day

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Ouch

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).

This passage was in my devotional reading this morning. You're probably quite familiar with it. But this is one of those passages that we really cannot hear or read often enough. Jesus never said following Him was a walk in the park. It's a life of pretty high standards. But by living as Christ did, we are showing our Father off to those around us. And that's a pretty good reward in and of itself.

I don't feel like loving that person! you might say. Well, God never said you had to feel like doing something to do it. Do you think Jesus felt like being crucified? Uh, I don't think so. True, pure love does things because that's what ought to be done. And wouldn't you like it if someone loved you in spite of your screw-ups and flaws? And don't you know that Someone already does? So shouldn't you pass that kind of love along?

Every Part?

"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (I Corinthians 12:21-27).

This past Sunday there was a presentation at our church about a new program at a school in Birdville that our church has helped establish. A health clinic has been set up at an elementary school in order to help ensure that the health of children from low-income families is being cared for. These families don't have the money to take care of their children the way they want to and need to. So the church, following the lead of a woman in the community, decided to do something. It didn't just pray for God to take care of it. The church took action.

I was glad to hear about this program. You see, community and social issues have been eating at me. Churches so often don't do something to help solve the problems that surround them. That goes against what God designed us to do and be.

The passage from I Corinthians 12 is familiar to churchgoers. When I read it this morning, I thought about the fact that we need to adopt this attitude in regard to all believers, not just the ones that sit down the pew from us on Sunday morning. And for that matter, we need to think this way in regard to all people. Every human being is a creation of God. Do we really treat every human being as an equal? If not, why not? Fear? Fear is an ugly thing. It keeps us paralyzed and prevents us from becoming what God intended us to be and do. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.... The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (I John 4:18).

I am not perfect in love. How often do I reach out to a stranger who is radically different from myself? This bothers me. Ideas have been brewing in my head of what to do about this. God, give me the courage, wisdom, and guidance to know what to do with all this.

Back to School

For my friends who work in the field of education. (And really, don't we all teach some children somewhere by our actions?)

"At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children" (Matthew 11:25).

"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there" (Matthew 19:13-15).

Jesus loved children. They have a lot to teach us.

United by....

Yesterday in church I felt very alone. I hate that feeling. I was surrounded by a thousand people, and yet I felt isolated. The issues and situations in my life that get me down were really getting me down.

And then we sang "Blessed Be Your Name." If you don't know this song, you need to check it out. I first learned this song about a month before my mother died. The song declares praise for God determinedly, despite the struggles and pain of this life.

I didn't sing the first verse of the song because I knew I'd start weeping. Not just crying--sobbing. I waited till the chorus to join in. My spirits lifted. Life may not always be good, but our God is. God has always cared for me.

As the congregation continued into the second verse, I began to look around. As I usually do when our church sings this song, I noticed both men and women wiping tears from their eyes. Oh, that's right! I thought to myself. You can't tell what's going on inside a person just by looking at them. These people hurt, too. We all hurt.

And I didn't feel isolated anymore. At least not as much. We are united in the pain of this life. On the surface, that doesn't look like a very comforting verse. But it is. We long for someone to understand us.

And our Savior, the One who truly unites us, walked this earth. He knows what it's like. As I remembered this, my feelings of loneliness evaporated some more. I reminded myself that He unites all His followers in Him.

Since my mother's death, I've struggled with the concept of family. When such an important person is gone, it's hard to feel like a family is still in one piece. So yesterday, as I stood in one gathering of God's family, I thought to myself that we all--God, Jesus, the Spirit, and all Christian--must long for the day when we are all united in the joy of eternity.

"...I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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 3:14-19).

What Shall We Do?

The news about the terrorist plot out of London on the United States is, to say the least, unnerving. Some people want us dead.

The earth is dry and cracked, as the already months-long drought continues in this area. Our air quality is horrible, and in the North Texas area, plans are being made to add 11 more environmentally unfriendly power plants.

People in other areas of the world continue to die of starvation and disease.

Our nation is still shattered by Hurricane Katrina. Other countries have suffered similar disasters.

Life seems hopeless.

So, what shall we do? Shall we grumble and moan and simply endure? Sometimes that's appropriate. There is, after all, a book in the Bible titled "Lamentations." Now, we can each do our part to care for this earth that God created, as well as all its inhabitants. "No man is an island, entire of itself" as John Donne said. But sometimes it's just hard to even put one foot in front of the other when so much destruction and death is happening all around us.

I think times such as these call for the Psalms.

Here are some verses that seem appropriate:

"In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?'

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne" (Psalm 11:1-4a).

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

"But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me" (Psalm 31:14-15).

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD" (Psalm 31:24).

There are many more verses such as these. I encourage you to read Psalms for yourself. Power, strength, and comfort lie in these words.

Verse of the Day

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

This verse can be encouraging even when there's nothing horribly wrong going on in your life, but you still just feel like ripping your hair out. :)

You = Spirit, Me = Spirit

Sometimes people worry that what they do for God isn't good enough. Not that that's a bad thing--it can be a good examination of one's self. What I am talking about is the idea that because someone is a missionary or a paid minister of some sort, that he or she is somehow more holy or more righteous than another Christian, that the person is higher on the totem pole of Christianity.

If you were not meant to be a missionary, don't feel bad about it. God gave you certain talents to use in specific ways that are just as important to Him as the work of a missionary on the other side of the globe.

Paul says, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men" (I Corinthians 12:4-6).

Whatever we do, we do it because God's Spirit prompted us to do it. (At least I hope that's why!) And we all are given the power to do what we do by the same God. Finally, we are all brothers and sisters in the same family.

Seasons Come and Seasons Go, and Then They Come Again

Yesterday I was in a funk. I think part of it was the overcast weather. Perhaps it was because it was a Monday. Later in the day, I began to think that maybe I was having a moderate case of the end-of-summer blues. This was surprising to a degree because I no longer am a teacher and so the end of summer does not signal the end of a summer off work. But I do love summer; it's my favorite season.

Last night I picked up F. LaGard Smith's Meeting God in Quiet Places: The Cotswold Parables, as I do from time to time. (Thanks to my maternal grandmother for passing her copy along to me.) I am slowly making my way through it. I tend to pick it up when I'm in need of an emotional and spiritual hug at the end of a day when I've been fretting over something or another. The next chapter I was to read was titled "Seasons." The introductory verse was Genesis 8:22: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Well, I thought, isn't God funny? This should be interesting.

And it was. The whole chapter was a reminder that there is a season for everything (credit given to Solomon in Ecclesiastes, of course), and that we must have winter to appreciate summer. Smith also reminded me that summer always comes again. God is faithful. We don't want the good times to end, Smith says. But in opposites, we begin to cherish the different characteristics of different times in life. There is a balance to life, Smith says. Everything fits.

Smith also makes an excellent point that we don't have to wait three months for the next season to roll around; God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Smith closes the chapter with the second and sixth verses from the hymn "Abide With Me"--one of my favorites.

P.S. The Verse of the Day on Biblegateway.com is "For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation" (Psalm 149:4). I like that. :)

It's Not a Buffet

When you get a chance, read I Corinthians 11:17-34 in its entirety. It's kinda funny. First of all, the church at Corinth was having some problems with unity. Paul chastised them for the divisions among them. Furthermore, it sounds as if these early Christians were treating the Lord's Supper as a potluck, instead of a time to fellowship and remember Christ's sacrifice. From what I understand, the intention of Communion (think about the meaning of this word) is to recognize that we are all unified by Jesus' blood and to fellowship with each other. Apparently, the Christians at Corinth were showing up at the church home (they met in homes then) ready to dig in and eat! This seems utterly ridiculous to us today. We know that you're supposed to bow your head and fold your hands in your lap and be solemn during the Lord's Supper. (I heard someone in the pulpit once say that we really ought to be looking around at each other and encouraging each other.) Anyway, Paul's words are still important to us today. How often do you just participate in this ritual without really thinking about what it means?

Paul reminds the church of what Jesus said on the night He was betrayed--that the bread was His body, and the cup was His blood. He also said we should do this to remember Him. Paul then says:

"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup" (I Cor. 11:27-28).

Now, again, I don't think this means you should make sure you've got that somber look on your face. Of course the idea of Jesus' sacrifice is sobering. But it is the reason why we should be a joyful people! The point is that the next time you are in church and it's time to remember our Lord with Communion, do it--remember Him. My mind tends to wander during this quiet time of a church service. Rein your mind back in and focus on how awesome your God is. Focus on the family of fellow Christians into which He has adopted you. And when you're at a church potluck supper, go ahead and eat. But keep thinking about God and His family. I'll bet that spaghetti nestled in the old Crockpot will taste even better.

TGIF (and TGHG--Thank God He's God)

It's only 9:20, and it's already been one of those mornings. Nothing too big--just some annoyances, although some of them are problems that will have to be dealt with on a larger scale later.

So, before I finally get to work on the work I do for a living, I'm going to sit. You know the verse that sprang to mind a few minutes ago when the dishwasher began overflowing?

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a).

Maybe you need to just sit and let God be God. Maybe things are going well today for you. In that case, tuck this away. Maybe you'll need it when Monday morning rolls around.

Reminder from Psalms

Tucked into I Corinthians 10 is a reminder from Psalms. Paul quotes Psalm 24:1:

"'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.'"

This reminds me that:

• Everything that is "mine" is really God's.
• God has left us to take care of His creation. What kind of a job are we doing?

Remember these thoughts today. God desires us to have grateful hearts. When we are thankful for what we have, we tend to take better care of it.

It's Okay, But It's Not Okay

"'Everything is permissible'--but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'--but not everything is constructive" (I Corinthians 10:23).

During the time Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, some Christians were still participating in their old religious habits. Paul was unique, in that he was Jewish and Greek. Therefore, he could easily relate to both groups of people. While Paul urged the church members not to make such a big deal out of some of these old habits, he also did not want them to serve anything that was not of God. He also did not want one person to be influenced by another's practice of old traditions to the point that he would go back to the old ways and not live under God's standards.

We can certainly apply this to life today. There are plenty of things that are not wrong exactly, and you may be able to participate in them without it affecting your spiritual life. But another person, who may struggle with a certain behavior or activity, could see your involvement in it and be influenced by it. That's not to say that we can't participate in anything that anyone else, in the face of it, may begin to falter spiritually. My point is that we've just got to be aware of it. Are we encouraging each other spiritually? Are we modeling Christ-like behaviors for each other?

Similarly, we have to watch ourselves for our own good. It's easy to fall into a bad habit, simply by telling ourselves that it's not wrong. Many things aren't "wrong" in moderation. We just must continually ask God to reveal anything amiss in us by the promptings of His Spirit. You know--that little nudge that you feel when you're open to getting those nudges.

Pray today that you'll be open to God's nudging to show you anything that isn't exactly wrong but isn't exactly right in your life.

More Wisdom from I Corinthians

Here are two passages that can be very encouraging when you are feeling wearied by life.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (I Corinthians 9:24-25).

As the saying goes, "No pain, no gain." No one ever said following Christ's example was easy. Jesus Himself said the very opposite. God wants your best. And He'll help you give it to Him. The following verse shows one way He does.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (I Corinthians 10:13).

Sometimes it may not seem like it, but God is always with us, cheering us on and (remember the "Footprints" poem?), in our worst times, even carrying us.

Whose Is It? And Whose Am I?

Last night my husband and I listened to a sermon online by Rick Atchley, our church's minister. (See link on the right side of this page for the church's website. You can also access the sermons online.) The message, titled "Home Financing" is about managing finances, and Rick reminds listeners that everything we have is from God. Our money, as we call it, isn't really our money. God gives us everything. Oh, we may work for the money we earn, but God enabled us to have our jobs. He bestowed us with the unique talents to allow us to work in our different positions. This idea that our money is really God's is a hard one to grasp and even harder to integrate into how we use money. But it's certainly one that we need to think about more and (this makes the most sense) pray about more.

This morning I read I Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

When Paul wrote this, he was addressing the sexual sins that the church members in Corinth were committing. But the verse can be applied further, to other issues. God made us stewards of even our bodies. How it must hurt Him to see His children mistreating their bodies. Whether it's with food, smoking, lack of exercise, not getting regular check-ups, or letting anxiety wear your body down, God does not want to see one of His creations misused.

Let's remember that God gave us everything, even these external cases for our souls and spirits, and we should honor the privilege of being stewards of His gifts to us.

It's Simple, Really

Today as I was reading The Power of a Praying Wife, I was reminded that we must thank God. Here's the quote, which is from a prayer, based on scripture, written by Stormie Omartian:

"Make him a praising person, for I know that when we worship You we gain clear understanding, our lives are transformed, and we receive power to live Your way."

The chapter this sentence is in isn't even about thankfulness. It's about obedience. Omartian's insight just hit me like a ton of bricks. When was the last time I thanked God? When was the last period of time I thanked Him regularly? Have I ever been consistent about it?

Ouch.

So, let's try this out: The next time we're feeling stressed or worried or sad or angry, let's thank God. For what?, you may ask, I'm upset here! I'm sure you can think of something in your life for which you can thank God. Go ahead and practice right now.

God Made It Grow

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (I Corinthians 3:6-7).

In this passage, Paul is trying to calm some disagreements and conflicts among the Christians in Corinth. They were bickering because some of them said they followed Paul, and others said they followed Apollos.

What struck me when I read this passage is how we sometimes look toward Christian leaders and ministers for spiritual strength and guidance, when we should be looking to God first. Don't get me wrong--God put those men and women in their positions to help us look to God. But we must be careful not to forget God Himself. These men and women are not the ones we should magnify. They are to be honored, certainly. But they are signposts, pointing us the way to God. They are not the destination. A relationship with God Himself is.

And of course, this is a good passage for Christians in leadership positions. You may do some awesome work, and you honor God when you do it. I know He looks down on you and thinks, "Man, he's doing a great job for Me, and that makes Me feel great!" But God is always the one that makes the seeds that you plant grow.

Another lesson we can all derive from this is that we need to be willing to grow. God wants us to grow; we just need to let Him do His work in us.

Quote of the Week

"Defining faith by the things you won't do does not create a compelling
style of life." ~Jim Wallis

The Secret Handshake

"[A]s it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us" (I Cor. 2:9-12).

In this passage, Paul continues to talk about the differences between the wisdom of one who looks to Jesus for guidance and one who looks to what the world points out to follow. Sometimes it's hard to know where to go, even if you are trying to look to God and His Son for direction. We may read three chapters of the Bible.

Nothin'.

We put a Christian CD in the CD player and listen intently to the words.

Nothin'.

We've got to remember that as Christians, we have the Spirit of God available to us to help us out when we feel lost and wandering.

The Spirit is kinda like the secret handshake of Christianity. The Spirit gives you wisdom that you wouldn't have on your own. (After all, it's God's wisdom.) It's what gets you into the haven of safety during the rough spots of life. But it's also what brings you joy during the times when things aren't too bad.

Next time things just aren't right in your world, ask God to make you very aware of the promptings of His Spirit. And remember to abide in Him.

Why So Complicated?

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:1-2).

Why do we try to make things so hard for ourselves? Some of us try too hard in our Christian lives. We think that others expect a lot from us, so we feel pressured to always have some magical comment about spiritual matters. Others of us feel inadequate and think that we cannot offer any kind of spiritual insight because we struggle too much or have not lived up to God’s standard in some other time that seems like a lifetime ago.

God never meant for us to make things so difficult.

We are to live as God’s redeemed children.

That’s it.

We don’t have to polish ourselves up for anyone. God is the only One you’ll ever really answer to anyway.

“Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

That’s it. Everything that God wants for you and of you will naturally flow out of you as you recognize that He’s your Father, that He takes you in His arms even when you’re filthy and have fallen on your face. Again.

So let’s stop making things so complicated and just find joy in our Father and His Son.

How Do We Define Strength?

"[T]he weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (I Corinthians 1:25b).

"God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27b).

What images come to mind when you hear the word "strength"? Maybe a medieval king who conquered many lands. Maybe your father or grandfather who served his country by fighting in one of the wars during the last century. Maybe an oak tree that has been providing shelter to birds and squirrels (as well as humans from the heat) for decades. Maybe a lion, fierce in the wildness of an African plain.

What about a child with cerebral palsy whose body is so twisted he can't walk? What about a child whose hair has fallen out because of the chemotherapy? What about the families of these children who, despite the agony of watching their children suffer pain, still proclaim their faith in a loving God?

This week I have read two e-mails about two different children who do not enjoy the health that most children do. I don't know either of these children personally or their families, but I know people that do. It is apparent that these families love their God, and they have passed that faith on to their children.

Are these moms, dads, siblings, and children any more remarkable than you or I? Not really. We all have the capacity to be strong. These families just know to whom to look during the dark times, when it seems that things couldn't get any worse. Last night I read a passage from F. LaGard Smith's Meeting God in Quiet Places that, despite the topic, was encouraging to me:

As with Job, so with us all: Death happens--and disease, and alienation, and fear, and loneliness. At one time or another they all come screeching into our lives. Trouble never phones ahead for an appointment.

When you feel like you aren't strong, remember that you--you by yourself, in your power--were never meant to be strong by the usual human perception of it. God defines strength by your reliance on Him.

Lately my husband and I have been working out regularly. (Your body is a temple....) Sometimes those last few repetitions of shoulder presses seem impossible. My arms shake, sweat drips off my face, my cheeks puff out as I struggle to push those little (yeah, I'm out of shape) dumbbells up. Sometimes life seems like that, doesn't it? The great thing about life, though, is that we can let God finish up those last reps for us. And He's always there next to us, spotting us, in case we begin to slip.

God uses what the world considers weak to give Himself glory. And He empowers us in the process. If you're feeling weak, remember that God is with you to make you strong.

Strong to the End

Life is a continuous balancing act, isn't it? Several months ago I stopped posting on this blog regularly because I felt that I was spending too much time on it and not enough time on work and my personal responsibilities. But you know how it is--the busyness of life got the better of me, and I neglected the blog as well as, I hate to admit, reading Scripture. So my plan is to try to post every weekday again, even if the posts are brief. I've found that posting on the blog keeps me accountable. And perhaps my random thoughts and the verses I highlight will bring a little joy into your life.

This morning's passage: I Corinthians 1:1-9

Highlights:

"For in him you have been enriched in every way..." (v. 5a).

Why do we so easily forget that our relationship with God can meet our every need? The trick to it is abiding in Him, as Jesus discussed in John 15.

"He will keep you strong to the end....God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (v. 8a, 9).

Isn't that great? We don't have to keep ourselves strong in our own power; He empowers us. I love it.

Not Until Then

Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to a couple of friends today. Thought it was worth recording. I think an essay by one of those friends helped influence these thoughts. Thank God for people who direct our eyes heavenward!

I've been so overwhelmed lately about what I should be doing--exercising, cleaning the house more consistently, watching what I eat, finding new, healthy recipes, sending the hubby e-cards and little notes more often, praying (especially for situations my friends are dealing with), reading the Bible (rarely do that anymore). And...I don't even have kids to deal with! I guess there's always going to be something that we know we ought to do more, or do less, or start doing, or stop doing. Ugh. Maybe that's the whole Philippians 1:6 thing about "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." We can work at improving ourselves (along with God's grace, of course), but we'll never manage it all until we reach heaven. And then we'll be made perfect in His likeness. Guess I should quit stressing out, huh?

Anybody else feel like this?

Quote of the Week

I really hate that I haven't been posting on this blog. It makes me mad. Mad at myself. But it began with the best of intentions. I have a habit of turning good things into trivial things that are just items on my to-do list. I never want to feel that way about scripture and my spiritual life. So, I began to post only once a week. I also wanted to devote more time to my work (what I do to earn a living) and to my job as a wife. Then work just got really busy. And then life got really busy. So here I am, wondering where the time went.

I've been reading bits and pieces of scripture now and then, but I haven't been moved to write. I guess that's okay--sometimes you just need to listen and digest in silence.

But I do want to keep myself aware of the spiritual world and, of course, my God.

Here's a quotation from Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. I don't agree with all of her views, but when was that ever expected of us Christians? Our goal is to have unity, despite our differences. Okay, here it is:

"My pastor, Veronica, says that peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet...."

I love that.

At Last

We've been doing some home improvement around our house lately. For those of you who have experienced this, you know how long it seems to take. Some verses in Isaiah 57 stuck out at me today that reminded me that God will take care of us while we're here on earth, and someday we'll live with Him. God had been angry with His people, the land of Israel, because they had sinned again and again, putting Him out of their minds. And yet He proclaims that He will heal them.

"And it will be said: 'Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.' For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me--the breath of man that I have created. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near,' says the LORD. 'And I will heal them'" (Isaiah 57:14-16, 18-19).

One of my favorite parts is that God doesn't want our spirits to grow faint because He created us. I guess that's the heart of a Father.

This Sunday, Father's Day, remember your heavenly Father, the One who gives us all the chance for an eternal life spent with Him.

Satan Doesn't Get It

If you haven't heard the story of Laura Van Ryn, it's the stuff of movies.

In an odd case of misidentification following a terrible car crash, the family of Laura Van Ryn was told that their daughter was in a coma. However, she had been killed. The girl in a coma was actually the daughter of another family. This family had been told that their child had been killed. The girls' true identities were not discovered until this week--about a month after the accident.

To read more about the story, click here.

However, the real story is the faith of these families. The Van Ryn family began a blog, informing family and friends of the progress of the young woman they believed was their daughter. To view the blog, click here.

I posted a comment. I had to. Here's my post:

Anonymous said...
"Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God" (Isaiah 50:10b).This scripture was in my daily Bible reading on the 1-year anniversary of my mother's very sudden death, which happened in March 2005. I pray that you will continue to hold on to your faith in God in these times when you feel as if you are walking in the dark.30-year-old daughter in Texas
4:20 PM

Satan just doesn't get it. God's people are at their best when faced with adversity, sorrow, and suffering. May we continue to rally around each other during the hard times and rejoice with each other during the good times. Powerful forces wish us to turn against each other. Let us never allow this to happen.

Unexpected Humility

In today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, there is a story about a high school student who was told he was the salutatorian, only to be told just recently that he is actually ranked fifth in the class. Apparently, school officials made an error in calculations. That is pretty bad. According to the article, this is the second time that such an error has occurred at this district in the past 5 years.

The student's mother is pretty mad. The family had announced the salutatorian honor to friends and relatives. The family's church had thrown the senior a party. The mother said the school district gets an F and that if she had any more children in the district, that she'd move. She also wants a public apology, wants her son to be named co-salutatorian (even though he didn't actually achieve that honor), and said, "They (school officials) don't know how humiliating it is for us to tell people he is not salutatorian."

Hmmm. I have a problem with that.

Here's the best part of the article for me: the student's reaction. This graduating senior will be attending Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and plans to become a minister. His reaction to this situation?

"Really, I don't want to make too much of a big deal out of it," he said. "It was disappointing, but I'm grateful that the one who deserves it was still able to get it."

Sounds to me as if this kid knows right from wrong. Sounds like he's a young man of justice and mercy. Sounds like he's learned a few things about integrity, despite his mother's behavior.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5: 5, 7-9).

For the complete story, click here.

She lives!

Yes, I'm still alive. ;)

The past few weeks have been ridiculously hectic. I began working on a project in mid-December, and it finally was completed (for the most part) this Tuesday night. Several people were involved, and the project had its ups and downs, but for now, it's done. Yesterday was a long day, too, because I had to attend a conference, which was kicked off with an announcement of the project and a sneak peek of what it looks like.

There were times when I thought it would never end. There seemed to be so much work to do, and difficult situations sometimes became more difficult, and sometimes I got so frustrated that I wanted to cry...and sometimes I did.

But hours, days, and weeks rolled by, and the deadline of the project did arrive. Those of us who were working on the last phases of the project worked hard that last day. And now it's over. Endings do come, even when it seems like they never will. Part of why I enjoyed being a teacher was that feeling I had every year that that particular school year would never end. But I knew that it would. It always did. Seasons come, and seasons go.

We encounter difficult seasons in our lives. I met a colleague face-to-face last night (we'd communicated only via e-mail before) who lost her father a year ago. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and three months later, he was gone. She is around my age. Also, she injured her back around the time of her father's passing and had to have back surgery recently. She can't pick up her 2-year-old daughter. I shared that I had lost my mother a year ago and that my husband had had his hip replaced a month after her death. It was comforting to know that there are people who can relate to what I've experienced. And really, we all face suffering and pain in our lives.

Last night the attendees of the conference were taken on a bus tour of two blighted areas of South Dallas--Fair Park and the Frazier area. The organization I work for is involved in efforts to revitalize these areas. Our tour guides (a local Baptist preacher and a community development corporation director--both of whom live in these areas) showed us land that has been left vacant for years--land that had been the site of apartments. Now much of the land is contaminated. We saw car washes and convenience stores that are the sites of drug deals, and a motel that is the site of murders and other illegal activity. It was depressing. But we also saw the construction of new housing units that various organizations are working to create. We saw older, larger homes (just down the road from run-down homes) that are in the process of being gradually restored by people who care, who want to make this world something that everyone can enjoy and contribute to positively.

Sometimes, even as we are working so hard, it seems that it will never end. But it will. That's what I like about God. He is faithful. He has brought me the summer every year of my life. (It's my favorite season.) God controls time. Our job is to do something good with the time we have. And someday, it will all end. That's the promise of heaven. And homes won't fall apart. Mold and lead will not threaten our heavenly habitats. There won't be murders, addiction, greed, and corruption. Differences won't separate the children of God. It will end. And I think our job now is to try to make our world, as much as we can, a mini replica of what heaven will be like.

Do what you can in your part of the world to work toward that effort. If we don't show people a taste of what is in store, how will they know what they'll be missing?

Focus

Losing your focus is easy to do. All it takes is a rude comment by a coworker, a broken home appliance, a development of a bad habit, or the gradual loss of a good habit. The easy part is that it's gradual. It's imperceptible at first. Oh, it's just for today, you think to yourself. Or, for right now, while I'm dealing with this, it's okay. But then you find yourself weeks, months, or years later, and you wonder how you ended up where you are, especially considering where you started.

Sometimes you've just got to step back and and take a good look at your life and at yourself. Are you headed in a direction that you like? Is your heart developing in a way that is pleasing to your Maker and Savior?

The past month has been a difficult one for me. I've been so caught up in all the details that seem to pile up in daily life. It can be overwhelming. But I came to a point that I realized I need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and ask God for help. It's definitely been one of those "can't see the forest for the trees" kind of a month.

Maybe you need to do some soul-searching about what your purpose in life is. Maybe you need to get some wisdom from Scripture. Maybe you need to sit down with God and tell Him about your frustrations, fears, and hurts.

Here are some verses to encourage you:

"Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm" (Proverbs 4:25-26).

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

"...[F]ix your thoughts on Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1b).

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2a).

"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).

And isn't God the only one whose opinion of you truly matters? Live to please God, and everything else will fall into place.

The Gift of Music

Last night my husband and I went to the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth to see Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Little did we know what the night would hold. That evening was a gala concert held in the honor of Van Cliburn, the pianist, who happens to be a long-time resident of "Cowtown." Cliburn was presented with a key to the city as well as a citation from the governor of Texas. April 4 was declared Van Cliburn Day. Mr. Cliburn struggled to speak, overcome with emotion. He thanked Almighty God for classical music, saying he could not live without it. He shared with the audience that when he hears a good piece of music, it is as if he were feeling the breath of God. He also explained that each of us is an instrument in "the great orchestra of life," bringing our unique talents to the world. He also talked about how music is invisible, but it is real. I couldn't help but think he may have been making a reference to God as well.

Videotaped presentations of well wishes were delivered by First Lady Laura Bush, one of the gala's honorary chairpersons, Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, and Placido Domingo, one of the world's greatest tenors. When I was in college, Mr. Cliburn came into the bookstore at which I worked. He was very gracious as I asked for his autograph. He seems to be a very humble man, and the honor that was given him last night was certainly deserved.

After this portion of the evening, the music began. Of course, we sang the National Anthem first. I wish we did this more often as citizens. We should also say the Pledge of Allegiance. God has certainly blessed this country, as we forget that far too often.

Then, Itzhak Perlman entered, walking with the crutches that I remember him using when I watched him on Sesame Street as a little girl. I can't describe what it was like to watch Mr. Perlman play. He played the violion solo of Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 61 from memory. The other orchestra members had music in front of them. Not Mr. Perlman. There were times when Mr. Perlman was not playing and the orchestra was that he slowly rocked side to side, a tender smile on his face. One could tell he must feel embraced by that piece of music. I wondered how many times he had played that piece in his life. It was an amazing experience.

For the last portion of the concert, the orchestra was accompanied by a chorus, a soprano, and a mezzo-soprano in performing selections by Verdi. Two of the four pieces had religious themes. I couldn't help but think of King David as the chorus, representing the Hebrew slaves of biblical times, sang about the River Jordan and Zion.

David must have thanked God for music. I think he also understood, as Mr. Cliburn does, that each one of us has been specially crafted by our Maker to provide the world with gifts that only we can give. Those gifts come from our core, our center, our spirit. And when that spirit is in tune with God and His desires, what music emits from us! What a beautiful world God has made. And are we not blessed to be instruments in making it even more beautiful?

Walking in the Dark

When I was a child, I would wake up in the middle of the night occasionally needing to use the bathroom. Sometimes I would keep my eyes closed, pretending I was blind, feeling my way to the bathroom. I had read about Helen Keller and wondered if I could handle being unable to see. I always made it just fine to the bathroom--no stubbed toes or bumped head. I felt so proud of myself. I could handle blindness. But the difference between me and Helen Keller was that I could see. I knew where the door handles were, how far down the hall the bathroom was from my bedroom. I saw these things every day. It's easy to get along when everything is in sight and in the light.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our Christian walk were like that--that we could always see things and could control when we couldn't see? But it isn't. Sometimes we can't see a thing. So what do you do when you're trying to fend your way in the darkness?

"Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God" (Isaiah 50:10b).

Sometimes all we can do, when there is no light, is walk in the dark and trust that God will guide us through it. He'll guide us around the sharp corners and cushion the walls that we do run into.

When I was a child, trying to reach the bathroom with my eyes shut, I always had my hands outstretched, feeling for the walls and door handles to guide me. When you are walking in the dark with God, you don't have to rely on inanimate objects. Your outstretched hands will be grasped by your Father, and He will lead you along the way, no matter what surrounds you. Just reach out to Him. Don't waste your time feeling around for things that won't do you much good.

I hope this message ministers to someone today. Remember that when you're in the dark, it doesn't have to be a bad thing. God is right there in the dark with you.