August 30, 2024

                          Pray for Others

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:18

Hard looks different on each person wearing it. Some people wear it with grace and humility. Others use hard as an excuse to lash out. Still others wear hard like a mantle of defeat.

A couple with a severely disabled son sometimes comes to high school football games. They sit next to us, flanking the power chair that holds the son who can’t communicate or do for himself.

We first met them when we arrived to discover them in our seats. The woman informed us that we could sit in their seats. My husband, who has trouble walking and getting up and down, said no. We have seats on the end of the aisle for a reason. They have hated us ever since.

I have come to dislike the times they come. She refuses to speak or even acknowledge us. They live hard every day. I get that. But it isn’t an excuse to lash out and expect others to accommodate your hard.

The Holy Spirit has really put on my heart to pray for them. Really pray for them. Not just words but from my heart. To acknowledge their hard and lift them up.

A sweet lady I know had a stroke recently. She almost died. Her daughters and husband were weighed down with hard. They still are. They praise God for her life and that she still knows them. She is healing but life is still hard. I pray for them as they navigate hard.

A woman struggles to find a job with insurance. A husband works long hours to provide for his family. A child struggles to fit in. Another family deals with abuse and secret alcoholism. A woman drives herself to the hospital for surgery because her children and grandchildren are too busy to help. I could go on and on. They are all dealing with hard. They all desperately need to be lifted up in prayer.

Hard looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s obvious. Often it isn’t. We shouldn’t assume that our hard is worse than someone else’s hard. We don’t know their circumstances. We don’t know what they face day in and day out.

Paul tells us to pray for people. God knows their hard. God hears our prayers. As I pray again for this couple and their son, I ask the Spirit to fill me with compassion and them with strength as they navigate their hard.

July 12, 2019

Grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace is a concept we don’t understand. We can’t grasp the meaning of such an amazing gift. We look for the invisible strings. We hold back, uncertain of what it all requires.

We live in a society where we are constantly striving. We are judged by wealth and status, by beauty and weight, by address and pedigree. We can’t understand a God who loves unconditionally. We can’t imagine a Jesus who died so we could be saved.

We “know” we can’t be saved by works. We try anyway. We “know” God doesn’t really care about the exterior. He looks at the heart. Surely, we are “good” people. But are we?

Every time we judge by our standards, we fail Him. Every time we condemn, we fail Him. Every time we replace love with “service,” we fail Him.

God gave us an extraordinary gift of salvation. We can’t earn it or buy it or keep it only for those we deem “worthy.” None of us are worthy.

Embrace His gift. Let His love fill you to the brim. Then go out into the world and offer others the same gift, without reservation or judgment or standards. Do you truly understand grace? Then stop striving and simply go out into the world and love others like Jesus.

January 7, 2018

Do You Walk in Love?

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1-2

How accepting are you? Do you welcome people who are different, whether it’s someone from another culture or a different faith? Do you treat those who are poor with the same respect as you treat those who are wealthy? Do you treat someone warmly, regardless of their social status?

Don’t be so quick to say “Of course!” Our churches are filled with people who are only interested in welcoming people just like them into their fold. “Different” need not apply.

We’re quick to make excuses. We need people who can give back, whether financially or with volunteer hours. We’re not set up to deal with “issues” some folks might bring, things like drug addiction, depression, abusive relationships. Some other church is more equipped to help them. That’s what we tell ourselves, anyway.

Jesus never said to pass our obligations on to someone else. He never said to make people clean themselves up before we extend our hands in love. He also never said our rules and opinions should matter more than loving the lost, the broken, the hungry. In fact, Jesus said just the opposite.

Let’s take it outside of the church for a moment. Do you welcome the new co-worker to lunch with your friends? Do you invite the new neighbors over for the neighborhood cookout? Do you include the new child at school in your own child’s playgroup? Do you extend the hand of welcome, the hand of grace, the hand of acceptance to those you don’t know and those who might not “fit in?”

Who have you rejected today? Who have you excluded from your circle? Who have you made to feel unwanted, unnoticed, unwelcome? Who is walking alone today because you didn’t make an effort to invite them into your world, even if only for a moment, a meal, a short conversation?

Pastor Ryan Martin said yesterday that when we treat people with love and respect, we see a change in them. He’s right. Sometimes all it takes is a kind word and genuine smile to see people blossom right in front of you.

Here’s a basic truth: God loves the outcasts whether we love them or not. God sees the outcasts whether we see them or not. It’s not how hard you love those in your circle that counts. It’s how hard you love those on the perimeter of your world that draws people toward Christ.

We focus on the ugliness in Washington. We condemn those who are different. We spew hatred toward those we paint with a wide brush stroke as evil. And we do it all in the name of Jesus. How ridiculous and how sad.

We justify ourselves using God’s own words. We pull things out of context. We focus on one sentence, ignoring all the others around it. We excuse our own sins while harshly judging someone who sins differently.

Martin noted that God’s Word is a sword. The Bible tells us that. But here’s the rest of that: It can be used for good or evil. God’s Word can be used to strengthen His Kingdom or tear it down.

It’s easy to point fingers and blame others for all the evils in this world. That’s not your job or mine. Judgment belongs to God. Our job is to love people and, in so doing, shine a light that draws them toward Christ.

December 18, 2018

Light Exposes Darkness

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17

But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them. – Ephesians 5:13 (NLT)

Each of us has darkness that lies inside of us. We pretend it’s not there. We ignore the truths rather than face it and let light destroy it. But in the end, it still finds a way to reveal itself.

We are sinners. There’s just no way to get past that on this earth. We can’t ever be good enough, wise enough, blameless enough, to enter God’s Presence on our own. That’s why we so desperately need Jesus.

We try to pretend that we’re good enough. God knows our hearts. He knows we’re trying. Except we somehow find a way to pick and choose where we’ll do better and where we’ll keep on being who we are.

Sometimes the sin is great. Sometimes the sin is gathered together with many parts, none of which seem too bad, until the great multitude reveals a pattern of darkness. We don’t blame ourselves. It’s this society, this world, this media, that leads us to things we wouldn’t otherwise do, see, or hear.

Except we are to blame. We make choices, then attempt to justify ourselves. We allow our sin nature to control us and that, in turn, leads us places we never really intended to go.

It’s the excuse pattern that allows us to fudge a little here or a little there. It’s that wink that lets us think we’re sliding by without any consequences for doing what we know is wrong.

I’m always amazed at how we do what we know is wrong. We watch a movie or television show that we know has inappropriate content. We blame Hollywood for our choice. We listen to music with lyrics that idolize drinking and wild parties and sex without marriage and we blame the record labels. We do whatever we can to get that raise, even if it means telling lies or putting someone else down. It’s a game we didn’t create but we participate in it just the same.

After all, it’s all about us. It’s about what we want. It’s about what’s best for us and for our family. It’s about making choices that entertain us and help us get ahead. It’s about looking at the world through eyes that only see what we want them to see.

Except the light has a way of penetrating through the darkness, exposing the heart of an issue. It reveals our true motives. The light tells the world, and us right along with it, what we truly believe. What do you believe?

Do you truly believe God loves everyone? Then why do you put others down in a vain attempt to build yourself up?

Do you truly believe all people are equal? Then why do you think you’re better than people of other nationalities?

Do you truly believe things don’t matter? Then why do you race to keep up with or surpass the things your friends and family purchase?

The light exposes darkness. It tells the real story of your values and your faith.

December 7, 2018

Fill Yourself with Jesus

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 Lord’s holy people, 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 3:16-19

Many years ago I found myself in an uncomfortable friendship. We had loads of fun together. We got along great. But she wanted to do everything together, whether it was supper break from work or going on an excursion. It got uncomfortable.

She wanted to fill herself up with our friendship. It was flattering at first. Then it just got weird. I had a boyfriend and a family. I had other friends. I didn’t want to be her everything. I couldn’t be. The friendship ended because she had to have all or nothing. Possessiveness is an awful thing.

Years later another friend was having a rough time but doing all he could to deny it. Every waking moment had to be filled with activity. He could not simply sit and watch television or read a book. He worked all day, then meticulously planned to fill every waking moment after work and on the weekends. He didn’t want to be alone and he didn’t want to be still. It was a frenetic pace that was going to destroy him.

Both of these people were wonderful but they were trying desperately to fill up themselves with other people or activities. It was never, ever going to work. We are made to be filled with Jesus Christ. Until we understand that, we’ll never find happiness and contentment.

We see it so often in our society today. We want the latest gadget, the newest car, the Pinterest perfect house. We just know that more stuff will make us happy. When it doesn’t, we speed up that endless rollercoaster we’re on and try all the harder.

I wish everyone could understand how deeply God loves each and every one of us. We can rest in that. We can be content with that. We can be happy with that.

God loves us more than we could ever comprehend. We don’t have to worry about keeping up with everyone else. It doesn’t matter to Him. We don’t have to worry about being alone because He never leaves us alone. We don’t have to have all the answers because He knows everything and gladly fills us with His wisdom when we ask.

No one will ever be content chasing things. And no one will ever be happy trying to force someone else to be everything for them. Fill yourself up with Jesus. Rest in the joy and contentment that comes with Him as the focus of your life.

November 9, 2018

Yet Another Mass Shooting

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

Again?! The news blared with yet another mass shooting, this one in Thousand Oaks, California, which is considered one of the safest cities in America. Not anymore, I guess. Or, maybe, it’s a wakeup call that a mass shooting can happen anywhere.

It’s too early to try and figure out why. We can call someone deranged. We can try to isolate the incident. But the hard truth is that it happens way too often, in far too many places, for us not to consider a broader cause.

Some will decry the lack of God in our schools and government. Surely, that’s part of the overall problem. But perhaps the greatest problem is the lack of God in our homes and in our hearts.

How can we continue to view church as an option and expect our children to know that God is first in all things? How can we complain about tithing and expect our children to understand that all good things come from God? And how can we make excuses and blame others for everything bad that happens and expect our children to take responsibility for their own choices?

We are the problem. Us. Me and you. We are the ones who need to stop finger pointing and look in the mirror. We need to fix ourselves first. We need to love God and love others. But we can’t because we’re too busy condemning them for not being godly when the reality is we aren’t godly either.

Harsh, truthful words in a political climate that says we need to get rid of anyone who disagrees with us. We view people on the other side of an issue as the enemy. We take disagreements personally. We spread lies that fuel hatred and, when someone calls us on it, we defend our “opinions” and unfriend them on Facebook. Problem solved? Not even close. And what’s even worse? We use Jesus’ name to do it.

Every time you condemn someone, others see that cross swinging from a chain around your neck. But that condemnation doesn’t come from Jesus. Our Savior welcomed the poor, the outcast, the immigrant. He fought for those we condemn as unworthy.

We justify our actions as necessary to protect ourselves. But if God is truly our protector, why do we need to do anything other than love people? One young man at the shooting Wednesday talked about helping others in the midst of the chaos and blood and fear. “I know where I’m going,” he said. He was prepared to die if he could save even one of his friends. Would we be willing to do the same?

I don’t know your story. I don’t know your heart. But I do know this: The healing of our nation must begin with showing God’s love to everyone. It must begin with tempering our words so that we are kind and compassionate, even in the heat of disagreements. We must change our own attitudes and remember it’s not us against them but rather all of us on a journey home to be with Jesus.

Each day we either draw people toward the light of Christ or we push them away toward despair and hatred and a life separated from our Savior. Remember your true purpose and live accordingly.

November 1, 2018

Watch Your Words

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. – Ephesians 4:29

He was a really nice man – some of the time. His staff learned to read his mood before engaging in much conversation. If he was in a bad mood, they scurried away and avoided him. If he was in a good mood, they gathered to ask questions and engage in office small talk.

Other managers made excuses for him. Well, they’d say, he’s got a knee injury and he’s just in so much pain. Or, they’d explain, he’s just been working so much lately. His staff took the brunt of the viciousness that came when he “wasn’t himself.”

Have you ever known someone like that? Have you ever been that person? We all have moments when life isn’t going our way and we lash out at someone who doesn’t deserve it. We apologize and move on, trying to do better.

The problem comes when it happens on a regular basis. It’s not okay.

Unfortunately, that’s how some people live their lives. They take everything out on others. Sometimes they show no mercy to anyone. Sometimes they target one person. It’s like they need to vent and they’re going to do it. No matter the cost.

And there is a cost. People tend to avoid a verbal abuser. They tip-toe around them. They hold back from making comments or suggestions. They just don’t want to be around them.

Verbal abuse. We don’t talk about it too much. Physical abuse is something we can see. Or, at least, a doctor can examine someone and know that physical abuse has occurred. With verbal abuse the scars aren’t always visible but they are always there.

Stories abound of children who grow up insecure, fearful, with negative self-images because of insults and shame aimed at them. Adults cower before a spouse who tells them they are stupid or unworthy or ugly. Employees dread work because of an abusive boss but they are desperate for the paycheck so they go anyway.

When you use your bad day, your lack of sleep, your pain, your frustration, or any other thing as an excuse to take your ugly emotions out on someone else, you are verbally abusing them. You’re making them pay for something that isn’t their cost to bear.

Here’s the thing about words: You can never take them back. Not ever. You can apologize. You can try to make amends. But the words will remain. What’s been said can never be retrieved.

There are so many ways to handle anger and frustration. First, take it to God. He can handle it. And He can calm us as no other can. Then take a walk, read your Bible, veg out in front of the television. Do what you need to do to fill yourself with God’s peace.

Then apologize if you’ve hurt or offended anyone. And vow to yourself and God that you won’t do it anymore. Create a new pattern to deal with life’s issues. Above all else, put on kindness. People flock to someone who is kind. People want to please people who show mercy and grace.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

What kind of person are you? Do you encourage others or do you tear them down?

October 2, 2018

Make A Different Choice

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

The party was loud and wild. Drunk teens stumbling to their cars. Disrobed teens scattered around the front yard. Young men using a decorative fountain as a urinal. And the police not responding because, well, no one wants to take on one of the town’s “elite” families.

Where were the parents? It’s an obvious question. No one seems to know. It wasn’t the first time such a party occurred. In fact, the party were back the next night.

Sadly, many of these kids are “Christians.” They were raised in church. They attend church. They have all the right clothes, gadgets and cars. They have every advantage but one: They apparently don’t have parents who supervise and hold them accountable for bad behavior.

Why? Another obvious question. It’s difficult to condemn what you do on a regular basis. Oh, they might not do it in public but the teens see the drunken revelry in their own homes. They hear the sexual comments. They know about the affairs, the parties, the driving when drunk.

I wish I didn’t know all these things. I wish it were something in another town, another neighborhood, another family. But it happened right here. It still happens. When will it end? How many lives must be destroyed before someone says enough?

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

– Ephesians 6:4

Some of the parents are quick to point the finger at others. They demand that God be placed back in the schools. I can only shake my head. They need, first, to put God back in their homes. They need, first, to clean themselves up and be an example to their kids of how people of faith should live. They should be the example of upright living and not of debauchery.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

But whether parents do their job or not, teens can and must rise above bad examples and live upright lives that are dedicated to God. Parents can learn from their children. They can see good and change. Kids shouldn’t have to lead the way but, make no mistake, they can.

This is a sad situation that plays out far too often in way too many towns. Teens, refuse to be sucked in by peer pressure. And parents, step up and set a better example. Stop blaming others when your kids get in trouble because they’re following in your footsteps.

Every day begins anew with a chance to take a different path. Take it.

September 29, 2018

What Do Your Words Reveal?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

One of the most interesting things about all the political talk is watching people justify their words and their opinions. It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.

One woman, someone who sees herself as a fine Christian, was taken aback by a friend who responded to yet another hateful post on Facebook. The friend said something I’ve thought many times: She called the post hateful and mean and questioned this woman for writing it.

Naturally, it produced a defensive response. It’s “my opinion,” she insisted. “I have the right to express my opinion.” “It’s not hateful. I don’t use curse words.” “I’ve got a lot at stake in this debate.” And, here’s the clincher, “Christians have been silent too long.”

It took a great deal of self-control to keep from responding to that. Jesus has no part in this hatred that has spread over our land. He’s just the excuse some folks use for speaking from their own self-interests.

Let’s try something here. “He’s so stupid! Did you hear what he said? He’s nothing but a liar and a thief. Those people should be prosecuted. How dare they condemn a good man! I know he’s good. I don’t need to meet him. He’s good and those others are just awful people. I heard they stole money. Did you hear that? I know it’s true. I can tell. Can’t you? Yes! They need to go to jail. How dare they say something bad about such a good person when they’ve done so much evil!”

If you read or heard those words would you think the person was being hateful or mean? There are no curse words in there. A little gossip. A lot of commentary about something the writer would know nothing about. Slander. Lots of opinions. Words that are designed to fuel anger and spread hurt.

I made that up. You know that. But I could have copied and pasted those words from any number of Facebook posts from this woman or dozens more. Sure, they’re entitled to their “opinions.” I’ve big on the First Amendment and our right to free speech. What makes me angry is justifying this ugliness by claiming to defend Jesus.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Luke 6:45

This is what Jesus said about evil words. Jesus isn’t in this ugliness. Unfortunately, those who don’t know Him, don’t know that God is love, turn away from the One who loves them most because of these lies.

What’s also unfortunate is what the ugly words reveal about the person saying them. The woman who got called out for her ugliness is someone I’ve known a long time. I always considered her to be a strong woman of faith, someone who is a prayer warrior. I’m starting to question that. I don’t know how someone who truly has the love of Jesus inside of them can be so consistently ugly with their words and opinions.

It’s makes me consider her heart. It makes me remember the ugly comments I’ve heard her make about the poor or about immigration. I’d excused those remarks. I’d given her a pass because she’s led such a sheltered life, without ever having to support herself or do without anything. I’d extended grace, the same grace she refuses to extend to anyone who disagrees with her opinions.

Jesus said our words reflect our hearts. What do your words reveal about you?

September 24, 2018

Who Do You Pray For?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:18

Who did you pray for today? You did pray, didn’t you? I certainly hope so! Prayer is not only how we talk to God, it’s also how we listen to Him.

Maybe you’re one of those who treat God like a vending machine. You know what I’m talking about. You want, want, want. No matter how much you get, you want more.

Oh, you’re grateful. Always. But it’s never enough. You’re never satisfied because you’re trying to fill yourself up with stuff rather than with God Himself.

But I digress. Let’s get back to prayer. How often do you pray for yourself? And how often do you pray for others? Because if your prayers are all about you, then you’ve got a problem. That’s something our pastor pointed out yesterday.

We are to pray for others. We are to pray for healing and for God’s Spirit to fill them up. We are to pray for guidance and comfort and so many things. People desperately need us to intercede for them, just as we need others to intercede for us.

What they don’t need are prayers for our will to be done in their lives. We’re really good at telling God what He needs to do, aren’t we? So, we try to “fix” others with prayer. We offer God plenty of advice He doesn’t need on how to get people in line with how we think they should be living their lives.

Oops!

Motives have a way of revealing themselves when we go before God in prayer if we’ll listen to what He is saying to us. God is good to point out our flaws, our self-interests, our agendas. Sometimes it hurts. It’s a necessary hurt.

God knows best. He always does. We don’t have to tell Him what we think in order to lift someone up in prayer. We can ask for healing – knowing that the healing might happen here on earth or it might come with Him taking the one we love home to heaven. We have to trust Him to know what’s best. That’s hard.

A sweet friend once said that the hardest prayer she ever prayed was asking God to do whatever was necessary to save a family member. She understood that some people must go through great heartache to reach a point of surrender to Christ. She understood that her prayer might be for brokenness for someone she loved. She prayed anyway, trusting God to know best.

How about you? Do you trust God to handle issues without your input? Do you trust Him to wrap Himself around those who are hurting? Do you trust Him enough to lift up someone in prayer without telling God what to do?

We are called to pray for others, not to know all the answers. When in doubt, pray. When someone is hurting, pray. When the Holy Spirit brings someone to mind, pray. Just pray – and trust God to know what’s best.

September 22, 2018

Watch Your Language

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. – Ephesians 4:29

They are really nice. They are. They are quick to laugh, smart, and basically good people. But, oh, their mouths. It’s just so sad.

Foul language and inappropriate comments can and will derail anyone’s future. People don’t want to be around it. And, honestly, employers don’t want it in their workplace.

I know. Someone is saying about now that I’ve never heard (whatever it is they think is most awful). I spent much of my adult life in the construction industry. I’ve pretty much heard it all. I have a high tolerance for offensive language. I learned long ago to let it roll off of me. But there’s language and, then, there’s language.

Curse words don’t make you appear older or more sophisticated. Just the opposite, in fact. And making crude comments about co-workers or others can get you in trouble legally. It’s wrong. It’s offensive.

And it’s just so unnecessary. Words can set you apart either in a good way or a bad way. What do people hear coming from your mouth? Do they hear you bragging about getting drunk on Friday night? Do they hear you talking about private things that have no place in the public arena? Do they hear you spewing curse words in every sentence?

There’s another side to this too. When you’re surrounded by people with foul language and bad habits, do you join them or do you opt out? Can you resist the lure of sin or is your desire to be part of the crew too strong?

We are to be in this world but not of it. We are to live with others, work with them, be around them, but not become like them. It’s not always easy, is it? That’s exactly what Satan is counting on.

I am a Christian. I try really hard to wear my faith each day. Do I fail? Daily. But I try and people see that. They comment on it. They understand that I am set apart even when I don’t say that to them directly. There’s a difference.

They have their own choices to make. If I look down on them, all I do is make them defensive and turn them away from Jesus. I’m not supposed to judge them anyway. I’m called to love them right where they are and trust Jesus to handle the rest.

I’m not sure who first said we’re the only Bible some folks will ever read. But it’s true. Loving people, being kind, draws more people toward Jesus. They want to know what it’s all about.

It’s so easy when our lives are filled with people who think and act and believe as we do. But that’s not real life. We live in what is sometimes a very dark world. Be the light.

September 9, 2018

Let It Go

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. – Ephesians 4:30-31

She is a pleasant woman. She smiles brightly but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She says all the right things but there’s an underlying bite to her words. Her life doesn’t quite match the façade she tries to keep up.

Her mother died a few years ago. It was awful. A medicine used to treat one ailment caused another and she didn’t survive. Now this daughter is consumed with rage at God. Bitterness dots her every move. She refuses all suggestions for grief counseling. Anger and unhappiness are destroying her life.

This is not what her mother would have wanted. I knew her well enough to know her deep faith in God was unshakeable. She would be horrified that her daughter remains so angry at God for taking her home. Her heart would be broken as she watched the daughter she loved shove everyone away.

This woman’s anger and bitterness is extreme. Most of us will thankfully never reach that point. It doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes let anger and bitterness direct our steps. You don’t think it applies to you? Think again. Every time you want to retaliate against someone, whether it’s another driver who cut you off in traffic or a co-worker who stole your idea, you are letting evil emotions control your actions.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to do good to those who would harm us. I know. It’s easy to say but not so easy to do. It’s hard to swallow the rebuttal that rises up when someone harms us. It’s difficult to show mercy when someone has done something awful to us.

How much more so when we think God is the culprit? How sad that the One who can heal and sustain us is the One who bears the brunt of our heartache. This sweet woman – who was indeed a sweet soul before her mother’s death – needs Jesus to heal her. But she won’t let Him in.

What about you? Do you let Jesus come close to you? Do you share with Him the parts of you that hurt the most? Do you tell Him your disappointments? Do you let Him heal you from the inside out?

He knows about betrayal. He knows about bearing the cost of the sins of others. He knows about lies and greed and a heartache that goes deep into your soul. He gets it. We forget that sometimes.

I don’t know what will happen to this woman.  She is self-destructing before the eyes of those who love her most. No one can force her to get help. No one can make her let go of her rage and bitterness. Jesus is the only One who can heal her and she won’t let Him.

What do you need Jesus to heal you from today? Don’t wait. Don’t give Satan that foothold on your heart. Hand it over to the One who loves you most. Let it go and move on.

August 26, 2018

Are You Truly Changed?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

– Ephesians 2:8-9

He surrendered his life to Christ just a few years ago. He’d lived a life of church participation but in his 80s he finally realized that attending church and actually being saved really aren’t the same thing.

He had good intentions. After his baptism, he planned to attend church regularly. He was going to read his Bible. He was going to live right. Well, it’s easy to backslide into old ways. It’s easy to put off what you should do until another day, then another, until years have passed. Until you lose the one person you loved above all others.

His wife died today. He is lost. He is determined to live up to her standards. He vows to live for Jesus. I know he sincerely believes his own words. I hope he does live differently in the days to come. I also know that the numbness will end before he’s ready. A deep soul-shattering grief will grip his heart tightly. He will either turn to Jesus in the darkness or he will turn back to the self he knows.

One thing that bothers me is how insistent he is that he must live right so he can get to where we all know she has gone. We keep telling him that his salvation, Jesus’ promise of eternity in heaven, isn’t dependent on what he does or doesn’t do. He says he understands. Sometimes I wonder if he does.

James tells us that we aren’t saved by works but that there should be some evidence in our lives that we are saved. We should live right because of what Jesus has done for us. We should make wise choices, extend compassion and mercy, and do good to others because we are the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth. But none of that alters our status as children of God.

Death brings an emptiness that causes us to reevaluate everything. We realize we can’t wait for another day. We understand that we might not have another opportunity to get right with Jesus. We know that the only real promise in life is that death will one day come. Are you ready?

There is one way to heaven and that is through the blood of Christ. You can’t earn your way there. You can’t buy a ticket. Jesus paid your fare if you’ll only accept His gift. Have you?

Look around and take stock of your life. Do a self-exam on your heart. Are you different because of Jesus or are you just the same as you always were? While works won’t get you anywhere near the Kingdom of God, truly saved people want to do good because of Him.

When the day is done, we won’t have a chance to do things differently. Don’t wait. Accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and live a life of gratitude and service for all He has done.

August 9, 2018

Why Do You Serve?

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

– Ephesians 2:10

Are you active in your church? Do you belong to a civic group? Do you volunteer at your kids’ school? Why?

Before you flippantly answer, think about it for a moment. Be honest. It’s just between you and God anyway.

Most of us like pats on the back. Most of us like to be in charge or, at least, to be recognized for our contributions as workers. Most of us like things to be done our way. Most of us want to brag and feel proud of the good we do.

But here’s a hard truth: If your service is for anyone’s glory but God’s, you need to step aside and rethink your motives.

Whether you’re volunteering at church or anywhere else, you represent Jesus. You are His ambassador. It’s not about you. I know. That’s a common theme but it’s a common theme because it reveals such an uncommon heart.

We’re to have hearts filled with Him to such a degree that people see Jesus when we show up. There’s no room for pettiness and egos and pride. When those things rear their ugly heads, step back and drop to your knees. Satan is on the warpath and you need the strength of the Holy Spirit to withstand the onslaught.

I know. You probably think you know better than anyone else how something needs to be done. Maybe you’ve done it the same way for years and you can’t imagine anyone else wanting to change something that works so well. Maybe you’ve surrounded yourself with like-thinking people. Maybe you’ve closed your mind and your heart to even considering another person’s viewpoint.

A few months ago a pair of sweet older women announced that they were tired and would no longer decorate tables for a specific event. Okay. In less than a day, we’d organized a large replacement team who showed up to help and learn from the retiring volunteers. They were shocked at the response.

Do you know why no one had helped them before? Because they rebuffed every effort made by anyone. They were so focused on doing it like they’d always done it, on controlling it, on being able to brag about their service, that they missed a prime opportunity to receive help and to train others. They missed a chance to try different things and to get to know people of another generation who were eager to serve but just needed an opportunity to step up.

You see these wonderful ladies had lost sight of why they began their service long ago. When they began, it was to honor God and do good for His people. Later, it became about them instead of about Him.

So, let me ask you again: Why do you serve? If it’s about anything or anyone besides Him, step back. Step away. Get your heart right and in alignment with Him. Then step back up. God needs people to serve. He just wants them to do all that they do for His glory and not their own.

August 3, 2018

Treasure Each Other

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. – Ephesians 2:19-21

We shared memories today, my cousins and I. It’s one of the beautiful things of life when you can join together the past and today with unbreakable bonds that will carry you into the future.

It’s a sad time. The death of someone you love is never easy. Yes, we’ll see him again. But that doesn’t erase the pain of today. So, we remember the past even as we look toward the future of an eternal reunion.

We are all intertwined, these people I love and those who have joined the family through the years. My Dad went to school with the man who would become his cousin’s husband. I grew up down the street from the woman who would become another cousin’s wife. We were joined by blood at birth. We choose to be friends and family as adults.

Our lives are built on faith in Jesus Christ. Our foundation is solid even though the storms of life rock us now and again. We cling to Jesus and each other. A love that has weathered adversity becomes that much stronger.

We forget sometimes just who we are. We get so caught up in life, so comfortable with what we’re doing and what we “know” to be right, that we forget that we are unworthy sinners. We forget about what Jesus did for us.

Oh, we know. We tell ourselves that anyway. But our sin and Jesus’ death on a cross isn’t some vague something that’s mostly about someone else. It’s about us. It’s about what we have done and how He came to save me and you from eternal separation from God.

It’s not surprising that I became reacquainted with these cousins of mine in a church we all attended. We shared laughter and casseroles right along with Bible study and worship. I was blessed. I am still blessed. When the storm came, they stood beside me. Our foundations remained solid. That’s what faith is all about.

When my Dad died, his cousin came with food still hot from the stove. She came to love on Mother and I with hugs and support, stories that brought a tear and a laugh. She came to be there with us because that’s what a family born of God does. They show up. They help. They love and support those who are hurting. Today, I did that for her.

Life changes. Death reminds us that we are meant for someplace else. We are only transients here on earth. That’s something else we forget sometimes. We get so focused on the here and now that we forget nothing we possess on earth goes with us when we make the final journey home.

What remains are the relationships we forge with God’s people. If we are truly fortunate, we share the bond of blood family and spiritual family with the same people. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our lives. We cling to Him, just as we cling to each other.

I hope this day finds you surrounded by people of deep faith, people who share your stories, and people who remain steadfast no matter what life brings. The love shared by fellow believers is a bond that runs deep and true. It’s a gift from God. Treasure it as more valuable than gold because, as time often proves, it is.

July 26, 2018

Strength Comes From God

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being.”

– Ephesians 3:16

One of the worst things you can say to someone who is hurting or struggling is that they are strong. I know. You mean well. But comments like that are more to reassure you than to reassure the one who is crushed inside.

We want people to be strong. It lets us off the hook. We don’t have to worry so much about them. We don’t have to rearrange our worlds to care for them. Their strength somehow reassures us that no matter what happens, there’s a way to get through it. Somehow maybe we believe that God only calls the strong to the toughest storms.

Nope. God doesn’t give anyone a pass. That is a hard and difficult thing to accept. Shouldn’t a loving God spare us the unending pain? Shouldn’t a caring God prevent awful things from happening? That’s especially true when those things don’t have a cause or, seemingly, a purpose?

Questions haunt the night. Days are filled with busyness. People abound. But it is in the quietness of night that tears flow and our bodies ache with the emptiness that fills our soul.

A sweet friend unexpectedly lost her husband. People tell her she is strong. She doesn’t feel strong. Why should she? Every plan she had, every dream, has just been shattered. Every piece of her foundation has been shaken. A week ago she was a wife and now she is a widow. How does she even begin to pick up the pieces?

There are children to comfort. There’s a business to run. There’s endless paperwork and uncertainty. She is alone. I know. She’s got family and friends surrounding her but make no mistake. She’s alone. Her life partner is gone. The person who brightened her days and was her closest confidant is gone.

God remains. When we get to the end of it all, that is what we hold on to. He is the One who remains. He sees the heart. He sees the pain. It is His strength others see, not our own.

Just breathe. How many times can a person utter those words? Just do this one thing, you tell yourself. Deep breath. You can make it through this. Just another five minutes. And then another. Whew! One more day is done. Now to face the night.

Strength is fleeting. A moment of resolve turns into tears. The slightest thing becomes a mountain. You question. Over and over you question our great Lord, asking why again and again.

The Bible tells us that His ways aren’t our ways. We can’t understand and, honestly, it’s not our place to try. But we try anyway. We want to somehow make sense of something that makes no sense.

There’s no strength in that. Just a simple faith that says you’ll get through this day. Just a firm belief that He won’t leave you in this place of despair. Just a Risen Savior who promises that one day your tears will end and the reunion will be glorious and forever.

Don’t ever tell someone they’re strong, that they’ll make it through, that they’ll be alright. Nothing will ever be the same and that’s a bitter thing to bear. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen them for the journey. Walk beside them, offering a shoulder, a Kleenex, a helping hand. You can’t fix it but you can love them. At the end of the day, that’s all any of us can do. Love those who are broken inside. Be Jesus. That’s all. Just be Jesus.

June 5, 2018

Watch Your Words

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:13-15

Today is election day. Did you go vote? Good for you! We are privileged to be able to participate in free elections.

There may or may not be runoffs to come. I hope not because, honestly, I’m tired of the ugliness. What about you? I’m not sure how people who boldly proclaim their Christian faith can turn around and endorse ads filled with hateful words directed at their opponents.

I know. Those in the know try to explain that it’s the only way to get elected. I’m not so sure about that. I can’t be the only person who would like to see candidates focus on the issues and stop the mudslinging. That would be honorable. That would be truthful. That would be what the Bible tells us to do.

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. – Ephesians 4:29

Our country can’t focus on its problems because we’re so busy putting others down. We can’t get along with each other because we’re too busy name-calling and finger pointing when people don’t agree with us.

Even now, I know there will be lots of grumbling in the days to come. Why? Because in an election someone wins and someone else loses. That means someone is unhappy, just like their supporters.

But you know what? The earth still turns and God is still on the throne. And we still need to learn how to get along with each other. We wonder why people are turning away from Jesus and, yet, we’re too busy speculating to look in the mirror and really see ourselves.

Do people see Jesus in you? Does your behavior, your words, your choices, reflect who He is? Because that’s what will either draw people toward Jesus or push them away. It’s not about what someone else is doing or not doing. It’s about what you are doing or not doing. Think about that for a minute.

I am responsible for my own choices, my own actions, my own words. And you are responsible for yours. Do you build people up? Do you lend a helping hand? Or do you live a self-focused life full of grumbling and finger pointing.

Before you voice your opinions on this election, take a moment to consider your words. If your candidates won, offer praise to the opponents. If your candidates lost, congratulate the winners. But above all else, let your words reflect Jesus so that all can see who the winner really is.