Silence

The more we talk, the less sense we make, so what good does it do to talk? Ecclesiastes 6:11 CEV

To listen to someone else speak takes work.  I must put aside my desire and force myself to concentrate on another.  I must die to self while placing another before me.

The writer of Ecclesiastes says, the more we talk, the less sense we make, so what good does it do to talk? Talking… am I providing information?  Compassion?  Love?  Or is it control?  Do I want to control another with my words?

Impressions.  I’ll admit there are times when I am rather impressed with my verbosity.  My knowledge.  My keen sense of wit.  And then I stop talking long enough to see the faces around me… I know the truth.  I make no sense.

Silence.  Do we fear it or embrace it?  Encourage it as a way to listen to others around us?  The world at work, speaking.  GOD.  GOD leading us and guiding us in HIS still small voice?

LORD give me ears to hear.

Fear Whom?

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before GOD. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:5-6 ESV

What are you afraid of?  Me?  Okay, I’ll admit it.  I like scary movies (much to the consternation of my husband).  Classic horror.  The horror where the bump in the night is a monster.  Or the chase—running like a mad woman trying to escape fate.  My love of horror might also explain why I have to sleep with a nightlight.

But in real life, what am I afraid of?  Many things. But the top of the list are certain Bible verses.  There are Bible verses I don’t understand.  They teach me something different than I’m used to or comfortable with.  They call me out of my comfort zone.  And call me to a life that I’m not ready to live, yet.

Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.  Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

And I fear that the narrow gate is far narrower and harder than I ever could have possibly imagined.  It is so easy to take my eyes off the mark—the LORD.  I rail again the rising tide, crying that evil is gaining ground.  But besides crying against it, do I do anything to stem the tide?

Yes, evil gains ground.  But that has been true for years.  I’m not the first to notice or experience it.  Yet, I’m focusing on the wrong thing.  My eyes once again have wandered.  JESUS.  By HIM the Victory has already been won.  Evil may gain ground, temporarily.  But JESUS has won us the victory.  HE who can cast us into hell, provided a way—a way from the darkness into the light.  HE calls.  Do I answer?  Am I afraid?  Or will I answer and keep my eyes on the ONE?

The Law of the LORD

They [the Gentiles] show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, GOD judges the secrets of men by CHRIST JESUS. Romans 2:15-16 ESV

I heard a great line in church Sunday.  Paraphrasing the pastor, “how can we expect children to follow a bunch of rules if the LORD isn’t in their heart?”  Said another way, the law of the LORD needs to be written upon their heart so their actions flow from within (their heart) versus outward activity but no inward anchor.

But how does one write the law of the LORD upon their heart?  And what is the law of the LORD?  Or is it The Law? The first five books of the Old Testament are normally called The Law.  So obeying The Law, is that what Romans is talking about?  The Law is a summation of how our actions should be towards GOD and towards one another?  It's a lot of stuff to be writing upon my heart.  I can barely remember my passwords and alarm codes.  How can I remember all that?

The first five books list a bunch of “thou shalls” and “thou shall nots.”  But it’s more than that.  Paul says in Romans 13 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (verse 8 ESV)… Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (verse 10 ESV).

Love.  Love?  Love is the fulfillment of the law?  Or The Law?  JESUS—GOD’s beloved SON.  The GLORY of GOD.  HE came.  HE died.  He rose again.  Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of CHRIST, so that you may belong to another, to HIM who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for GOD (Romans 7:4 ESV).

How do I teach my children to live a life with the law of GOD written upon their heart?  Living it?  That is an action.  Loving others?  Another action.  Loving those who hate me?  Who wrong me?  Once again actions—ones I do not instinctively do.  Actions I would rather not do.  But JESUS in dying on a cross forgave those who put HIM there, forgave out of love.  Forgiving those who wrong me?  Maybe it’s a start, down a road of loving those who hate me.  A start of having GOD’s law written upon my heart.

What is Sin?

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. I John 3:4 ESV

I have great respect for the law.  Not just GOD’s law but the agreed-upon rules set forth by society.  If we are to live with together then we need guidelines on how to act and how to treat one another.  We chose to live in society and getting along with others in a civilized manner is essential.

But lately I look around and see the rules in society as a bludgeoning tool—one where the savviest can get away with more and the less knowledgeable one is punished and kept down.

I shouldn’t be surprised.  It wasn’t much different in JESUS’s day.  The religious leaders of the time knew the ins and outs of their created laws in order to be “more righteous” than the regular person. 

And in the hearing of all the people HE [JESUS] said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation.”  Luke 20:45-47 ESV

The scribes were religious lawyers.  They knew the law.  And they knew the best way to make the law work for them.  Instead of helping others, the ones who needed help, they helped themselves.  Praying in public while lining their pockets with gain from the most needy--widows.  Once again, I find that bludgeoning tool used to knock down.  Instead of using their knowledge for good and helping the ones who needed it the most, they increased their wealth.  And they have a greater condemnation from above.

 
LORD I pray we practice true religion.  I pray we are on the side of widows and orphans.  I pray we use our knowledge to help, not to devour.  I pray we help widows and orphans in their time of need and we keep ourselves unstained from the world.

David had a relationship with GOD

David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead.  “Is the child dead?” he asked.  “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way?  While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’  But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”    2 Samuel 12:19-23 NIV

The understatement of the year award goes to the one who simply says, “David had a relationship with the LORD.”

David knew death.  Even though he was a man after GOD’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14, I Samuel 16:7, Acts 13:22), GOD did not allow David to build the temple because of the blood he had shed (I Chronicles 22:8).

So why do I share this passage as we approach Easter?  It comes to mind when I think of death.  David’s child—a child that he, the king of Israel begged to be spared—and GOD said no.  GOD struck the child ill and then took him (2 Samuel 12).  And how did David react?  With worship to GOD.

David said about his child: I will go to him, but he will not return to me.  Physical death is not the end.  That is the promise.  But GOD will rescue me from the power of death.  Psalm 49:15 CEV.  And my response?  Always, it should be rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NASB.

Yes, David indeed had a relationship with the LORD.

About an odd man who loved his wife

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Does anyone else think Hosea is an odd book?  Granted, he’s not as nutty as Ezekiel.  On the days when I feel like I’m losing my mind, Ezekiel is an excellent book to read.  “At least I’m not as crazy as he was.”

But Hosea, what about him?  The LORD calls him as a prophet.  He cries out, “Destruction is coming, Destruction is coming!”  And does GOD leave it at that?  Mere words?  A warning?

No.  GOD does what HE always does.  He takes it farther.  “Hosea, let me use you as an object lesson.”  Hmm, sure… okay?

When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.”  Hosea 1:2 NIV

The LORD tells him to marry a ‘worldly’ woman?  And what does Hosea do?  Obeys.  Did he lecture her?  Make her realize the errors of her ways?  Condemn her?  “Only I could love you because GOD told me to.”  No.  Hosea loved his wife—even when she ran away.  He paid for her.  Heartbreak and fifteen pieces of silver along with some grain.  Why would GOD tell Hosea to do this?  Why would Hosea obey?

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Did Hosea somehow understand the depth of love GOD has for us?  GOD loves HIS people--I preach that all the time.  Even when Israel left HIM, HE still loved them.  And today, when we leave HIM?  HE still loves us.  HIS desire is for all of us to come back.

The LORD is not slow in keeping HIS promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead HE is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9 NIV

As Easter approaches, what can I take from this text?  I take that I will never understand the depth of love GOD has for us.  For me.  But some days, I think I catch a glimpse.

Considering the Cost or Maybe Not

Don’t you know that all who share in CHRIST JESUS by being baptized also share in HIS death?  When we were baptized, we died and were buried with CHRIST.  We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as CHRIST was raised to life by the glory of GOD the Father.  Romans 6:3-4 CEV

My seven year old was baptized Sunday.  A joyous time.  A time to celebrate.  A time of new beginnings because the road she has chosen is long and narrow… few find it, few stay on it.

I hold tight to believer’s baptism.  The choice to follow CHRIST—each person must decide for themselves.  But as I think on believer’s baptism, I wonder, “can a child truly decide to become a disciple of CHRIST?”  The choice is lasting and the stakes are high… so GOD leaves the choice to a child?  How is that possible?

But I would never deny my child, or any child, the choice to love GOD.  The opportunity to tell all, “I have decided to follow JESUS.”  But how much can she understand?  How much does she know?  It is an important decision, can a seven year old even consider the cost?  The cost of discipleship?

And then she hands me a prayer-poem she has written.  She says she forgets to pray and wrote this to hang on her wall as a reminder. 

LORD, I pray forever, even when I am Blue

YOU are my LORD my Savior
YOU’re with me every day
When I’m sad YOU wipe away my tears
When I’m mad you calm me down
When I come up with YOU, I’ll worship YOU FOREVER.
Amen

JESUS said "Permit the children to come to ME; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD like a child shall not enter it at all." (Mark 10:14-15 NASB)

On the Fence

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7

On the fence of mercy or justice, where do you fall off?  I suppose it depends on who it is. If it’s me, I want mercy.  If it’s someone who’s wronged me, I want justice.

So where is the line?  When are we to extend mercy?  When do we get hard-nosed and demand justice?  Why must I choose?

JESUS took our place and justified us.  When we accept HIM, we are in right with GOD.  So we are to extend mercy to all?  But there are wrongs in the world.  Extending mercy seems too much like… excusing.

Is there a way to show mercy while delivering justice?  Can I be compassionate on those who have wronged me?  Not excusing, still expecting them to receive the consequences, but to love them as they endure?  Maybe endure with them?

I don’t know the answer.  I see evil in the world.  And I want justice.  But no one person is completely bad.  And only JESUS was all good.  He tempered justice with mercy.  But I worry I don’t have enough compassion.  Enough love to do something about the evil in the world.  I have only selfish desire.

Do we need more justice?  Yes.  Do we need more compassion in the world?  Absolutely.  How do I not forget justice but yet be more merciful? 

Lord I pray we will be a living and holy sacrifice for YOU.  I pray we will transformed so we may show YOUR mercies on others.  I pray for justice.  I pray for mercy.  And, most especially, I pray for YOUR will to be done.

What Scripture Indeed?

I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me.  That part is: CHRIST died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.  HE was buried, and three days later HE was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.  CHRIST appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.  After this, HE appeared to more than five hundred followers.  Most of them are still alive, but some have died.  HE also appeared to James and then to all of the apostles.  I Corinthians 15:3-7 CEV

Pop quiz: What “as the Scriptures say” is Paul talking about?  What scriptures?  A. New Testament B. Old Testament.  Hint: The New Testament was still a bunch of letters being passed around.  Ah, then the answer is the Old Testament.

But wait, I thought the Old Testament didn’t have a fully developed theme of life after death?  I’ve always been told the full understanding came with the New Testament.  But Paul says as the Scriptures say.  Does that mean the ones who understood the Old Testament knew we would have a Messiah come, die for us, and rise again?  Really?  Paul seems to think so.

Maybe, just maybe, these Jews of old knew a little more than we give them credit for.  After all, they had to learn the first five books by rote memory.  Us?  Well, I have several commentaries I can read instead.

What scripture indeed… maybe I need to look to them more.  And let the scripture do surgery on my heart of stone.

 
LORD thank you for YOUR WORD, for it is alive and active.  It is sharper than any double-edged sword.  Thank YOU for YOUR WORD which can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow.  We thank YOU for ITS discoveries of the desires and thoughts of our hearts.  And we pray those discoveries will lead us back to YOU.

Not Worried About Forgetting My Camera...

I am your chosen one.  You won’t leave me in the grave or let my body decay.  Psalm 16:10 CEV

What is so sad about death?  That I’ll miss my loved ones?  I had a dream that I had forgotten to take my kids to see my grandparents.  I woke up and for a confused moment, I planned when I and the kids would go visit them.  But then I remembered… they were dead and my kids wouldn’t be able to meet them.

It strikes me that one of the saddest things about death is no more new photos of my loved ones.  What I have is all that I have.  No more new photos showing everyone growing older.  No more laughing when we see how much change has occurred from year to year.  The finality of it is overwhelming.

But with a life in CHRIST, death is not the end.  JESUS promises a new life.  Spiritual renewal now and bodily renewal in the future.  The grave cannot hold me or my loved ones in CHRIST anymore.  Because of HIS work, we are free.  I suppose I won’t mind not having a camera for new photos then.  I’ll have my loved ones instead.

 
LORD, thank you for the promise of new life.  We have new spiritual life when we chose to follow you and bodily resurrection when YOU come again.  We thank YOU that YOU won’t leave us in the grave or let our bodies stayed decayed.  We are indeed a new creation.

Forgiveness, how about I only do it when I'm in the wrong?

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8 NASB

From now until Easter I wanted to focus only on resurrection verses.  But as I thought on the resurrection, it dawned on me to write on forgiveness.  After all, JESUS defeated death but if HE chose not to forgive us, it would be curtains for us, right?  So here I go, delving into a topic I love in theory but don’t like to practice.

Forgiveness: when I’m in the wrong, I support it fully.  I preach it, teach it and beg for it.  I really want to experience it from the one I have wronged.  And it is so sweet and freeing when it is extended to me.

But what about when I’m in the right?  Do I extend forgiveness to those who wronged me?  Unfortunately, not so often.  So I’m in the right, and GOD calls me to forgive?  My reaction?  I pull a Jonah and run the other way.  I haven’t been swallowed by a big fish (yet) but I extended forgiveness kicking and screaming the entire way.

Maybe one day I’ll grow up.  When I’m in the right, and someone else has wronged me, GOD will call me to forgive and I’ll willingly forgive.  No complaints.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  No letting GOD know how much it pains me to let go of my rightness.  HE calls me to forgive, I obey.  Sounds easy?  I pray one day it will be.  But I’m not there, yet.

LORD, that you for the gift of forgiveness.  Thank YOU for letting us experience it from YOU and I pray we will learn to extend it to others, quickly and completely

A New Hope: NOT the Star Wars IV Kind

My flesh may be destroyed, yet from this body I will see GOD. Job 19:26 CEV

What an odd verse.  As I grow older, and find mysterious aches manifesting, I wonder about this verse.  What did Job know?

How can I see GOD from this physical body?  A body bound to a promise of decay and eventual death.  But then I think on another promise.  A new one.  As a believer in CHRIST, I am a new creation.  The old may have been promised to death but the new?  What is the new promise?

With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of GOD’s trumpet, the LORD will return from heaven.  Then those who had faith in CHRIST before they died will be raised to life (I Thessalonians 4:16 CEV).

Is that too much to hope for?  GOD gave us a spiritual resurrection but HE gives a physical one as well?  JESUS did it.  He came back from the dead.  Is that too much for me to hope for?  I mean, HE is GOD.  What am I?  Merely a fallen creature?  Yes.  But something more too.  That lovely tension that comes with being a CHRIST follower.  Yes, this body will die.  But HE who crushed death for HIMSELF will defeat death for me.  I can look around and though I see loved ones in CHRIST die, I know that is not the end game.  I have a new hope.

LORD, we thank you for sending YOUR SON to become one of us—ones with physical bodies.  JESUS died so HE could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—and YOU have freed us who were slaves because of our fear of death.  We do not have to fear death anymore.

What's the point?

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.  Job 19:25 KJV

What’s the point?  Why do we follow a man who lived two thousand years ago?  There is no one correct answer—or maybe there is.  We are to worship GOD.

Okay, so we could worship HIM during this lifetime.  And when we die, that’s it, we’re done.  Game over.  There are plenty of people, one of them could take my spot when I’m dead and gone.  But there is more.

Back in the beginning, GOD told Adam: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:17 KJV).

Eve and Adam ate the fruit.  And [cue drum roll] they still stood there?  Yes, they died.  For spiritually, it was immediate.  Physically, not for a few (hundred) years.  And now all of us have the promise of physical death to look forward to.

So back to the original question.  Why do we follow a man that lived two thousand years ago?  Because HE died?  Yes, BUT (this is the kicker) HE rose again.  One man, fully man, fully GOD, defeated death.  HE burst out of the chains of death.  He not only lives today.  But invites us to join HIM in life.  And life after death.  This life is not all there is.  There is more to come…

LORD, I thank YOU that my redeemer lives and that HE was not bound to death but lives again.  And knowing that, I pray we will not walk by sight but by faith.

No Matter What

Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he [Jacob] said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26 NASB

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would wrestle all night with GOD?  How great is our desire?  Or do we say a prayer or two and then drop it?  Do we let our attention wander to the next shiny thing we think we have to have?

Jacob was about to meet his brother after years of estrangement.  After settling everything the day before the big event, Jacob goes off on his own and tries to sleep.  But instead of sleeping, he wrestles with a man.  Or was it an angel?  Was it GOD?  Whoever this stranger was, Jacob recognized divine intervention and refused to let go until he was blessed.

In our ADHD society, do we desire one thing no matter the cost?  That treasure hidden in the field or that pearl of great price?  Or do we flitter about like a boat tossed at sea?  I know where I want to be but I am not there yet.  Maybe I need to take a lesson from Jacob.  Someone who was willing to hold on for dear life for GOD’s blessing. 

LORD thank you for your blessings even when our lives are full of distractions.  I pray we will care more and love more.  And our desires will turn into a longing to hold on to YOU for dear life.

Please don’t pick me last…

JESUS said to him, “Come with me.” Luke 5:27b CEV

Who was JESUS speaking to?  In this passage, it was Levi, the tax collector.  Flip over to Matthew and we see JESUS telling this to a bunch of fishermen.  JESUS tells another to “let the dead bury the dead” and to follow HIM.  But that one didn’t.  Others did.  People flocked to JESUS—and they followed HIM.

Did HE select the smartest?  The strongest?  The best looking?

“I didn’t come to invite good people to turn to GOD.  I came to invite sinners.” Luke 5:32 CEV

He called the uneducated.  The lost.  The forgotten.  The maimed.  The hated.  The sinners.  The ones always picked last.  And they loved HIM.  They followed HIM.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed HIM on foot from the cities (Matthew 14:13b NKJV).

JESUS picked us first.  HE didn’t call the religious leaders first.  HE had harsh words for them.  What does that say for us today?  We have a chance.  If HE called a bunch of fishermen and a tax collector to be HIS disciples, then we can follow their example and say yes.  We don’t have to be the smartest, the prettiest, or the strongest.  We need to be willing. 

 
LORD, thank you that you picked us first.  YOU don’t expect us to have it together.  YOU don’t expect us to have it all figured out.  YOU expect us to be willing.  I pray that we will be willing and obedient to YOUR calling.

Glory?

…And we beheld HIS glory… John 1:14b NASB

When Moses talked with GOD, HIS glory came in a pillar of smoke (Exodus 33:9).

When Solomon dedicated the Temple, GOD’s glory came as fire consuming the sacrifices and offerings (2 Chronicles 7:1).

And when GOD removed HIS glory from the Temple because of judgment on Judah, it departed with the cherubim (angels) in the air (Ezekiel 10:18-19).

And so we read about GOD’s glory in the Old Testament.  Mentioned briefly, covered in mystery and interacting occasionally with the human race.  But then we reach the New Testament.  John begins his gospel with the odd words: In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD (John 1:1 NASB).  And we continue reading until we get to verse fourteen And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the FATHER full of grace and truth.

JESUS is the glory of GOD.  Instead of a cloud of smoke or a pillar of fire, HE came as fully human.  And fully GOD.  My brethren, hold not the faith of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the LORD of glory, with respect of persons (James 2:1 ASV).

How will GOD’s glory intersect your life today?

How to end?  How about a blessing?

Now to HIM who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of HIS glory blameless with great joy, to the only GOD our SAVIOR, through JESUS Christ our LORD, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen