May 27, 2021

Remember

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. -- Deuteronomy 4:9

This is a photo of Mother's wisteria. She loved it. For years prior to her death, she would insist on instructing me in the best way to care of it. "Take care of my wisteria," she would say. And I always assured her that I would.

We would work together on trimming it back. Time passed and it became my turn to trim and hers to supervise from a nearby chair. Lastly, it was just me. I don't trim it back as closely as she did but I love it just the same. Every year it blooms so beautifully and casts around the most amazing fragrance. It's been four years without her but I still cry every time it blooms.

We are all just travelers passing through this world. Everything here is temporary. I am but a steward of all that God has given to me. Some day someone else will tend the wisteria. That is as it should be.

Children learn from their parents and grandparents, from those who surround them in school and in church. Sponges soak up more information than we can ever imagine. What are you teaching them?

Life is about so much more than schoolwork and athletics. It's about more than fun times and hard work. It's about creating memories and loving those around us. It's about showing people who Jesus is, not with our words, but with our actions.

Hatred and greed fill the hearts of so many people. Why? We see it in a charge on the Capitol. We see it in shootings and violence, in vandalism and destruction. Why? Where is all this anger coming from and why do we think it's alright?

Stop. Take a moment to see the good around you. Look into the eyes of someone who isn't like you and listen to them. Hear more than their words. Listen to their heart. There's beauty in everyone if we only take the time to see it. Teach your children to do the same.

July 18, 2019

Who Do You Follow?

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. – Deuteronomy 13:4

I was amazed, though not surprised, by the hatred and ugliness the Facebook post brought forth. I share many things related to faith but even I hesitated with this one. Was I a coward? Possibly.

Sometimes people are so blind they can’t see themselves. Saying anything remotely negative about Donald Trump among some members of the Christian community brings out the Pharisee within them. I simply didn’t want to be part of it. That was wrong. How can we truly know Jesus if we deny His truth?

Here’s the quote:

You can follow Jesus, or you can follow Trump; but you don’t get to follow both. – John Fugelsang (posted by The Celtic Christian Tradition)

The simple truth seems obvious to me. We can find it throughout the Bible. We cannot serve God and someone or something else. It’s not a political statement but rather a Biblical one.

If you’re upset about the quote, try this: Insert the name Obama where Trump’s name is. Are you still furious or do you feel justified? Then your allegiance is in the wrong place.

But don’t stop there. Insert a political party, a celebrity, a popular coach, or even a well-known evangelist. The answer remains the same. We can’t serve two masters. We can’t truly follow Jesus when we are holding someone else up as His equal.

Trump is a fallible human being. So is every other person who walks this earth. Trump can’t save us. Only Jesus can do that. But there are some Christians who seem convinced that Trump can do just that.

I don’t know what your political allegiance is. I don’t care. Just remember that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Be very careful when you start looking to someone or something else to do what only He can do.

December 10, 2018

Prophets

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. – Deuteronomy 18:15

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. – Hebrews 1:1-2

We think of prophets as those who lived in the times of the Old Testament. They shared God’s words, proclaiming judgment and telling the future. Could prophets exist today? Absolutely!

The dictionary defines prophet as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. These are not people who are clairvoyant. They aren’t people from the devil. They are God’s servants, proclaiming God’s Word.

Our pastor noted recently that there are many prophets in the storm-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast. There are many prophets in the fire-decimated areas of California. There are prophets who work with the homeless, those fighting depression, those suffering from illness and substance abuse and violence. We don’t call them prophets but they are most definitely teaching others about Jesus.

It’s the prophets’ job to help us see God’s grace. It’s their job to point us toward hope in any and all circumstances. They help us refocus on Jesus.

The Israelites, much like us, put their hope in what they could see. Jesus told them they would be persecuted, that they would be betrayed by those closest to them. He spoke of anguish and terror. He said that heaven and earth will pass away but His words never will.

We don’t want to hear His words. We trust in our homes, our families, our bank accounts. We are assured that we can handle whatever happens. Until the day that everything is gone and our lives are filled with destruction and pain.

The prophets come to remind us that though we have suffered we can survive. The prophets tell us that God loves us and will restore us. Prophets see Jesus in the worst of circumstances and steady us as we struggle with shattered faith.

Life isn’t so much about the mistakes we make or the circumstances that destroy what we once held dear as it is about how we cope with those situations. We all make mistakes. And horrible things happen that are beyond our control, like a wildfire or a hurricane.

How do you handle it? Do you avoid dealing with what happened? Do you attack others, turn to drugs or alcohol, or become dependent on another person or circumstance? Or do you pray and seek wise counsel? Do you adapt to your new circumstances? Do you fill your life with friends and music and exercise?

There are pastors and lay people who have flooded the areas hard-hit by storms and fires. Some of them are victims themselves. They offer real help in the form of food, shelter, clothing. But, more importantly, they offer hope. They remind us that while Jesus never promised an easy life, He did promise to be with us through every trial. Prophets remind us of the hope we find in Him.

September 6, 2018

You Are Never Alone

“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

There comes the time when everyone goes home. People go back to work. Friends get on with their lives. And there you are. Silence echoes within the walls of a once bustling home. You are alone.

I heard it in his voice when he called. “I just need to talk to somebody,” he said. “You seemed like a good person to do that with,” he added.

Because I’ve been there. It’s a different set of circumstances but the grief, well, it’s just the same. There’s that moment when panic begins to set in and you realize that this new normal wasn’t what you had planned at all.

We invited him out to eat. He spoke again and again of how good it was to talk to somebody. He’d only been alone just over day. We encouraged him to get involved in church, to have lunch with friends, to make an effort to get out. He knows the truth of all that. The reality? Well, it’s easier to say what you need to do than it is to actually make yourself do it.

Some people bound back from grief, or any kind of devastation, with an amazing strength. I don’t know them. That was not my journey. It isn’t my journey. Because deep grief stays with you. It changes you. It makes you know that life is full of uncertainty – with one exception.

God never leaves us alone with our pain. God never, ever turns away from our tears. God fills us up with hope and endurance when we don’t know how we’ll ever make it through the day.

God is there. Always and forever. I’ve held on to that promise so many nights, when the darkness threatened to overwhelm the resolves of the day. It’s easy to panic when you’re alone. It’s common to overreact when you’ve no one to speak truth to your pain. It’s normal to think that tomorrow could never be better than today.

He will find rest in God. He will find comfort in God alone. He will find strength to carry on through God. It’s only when we turn toward our Creator that we draw what we need to sustain life. It’s a new life. It’s a different journey. He is there.

No one can truly fix this. I sometimes think that’s why so many people turn away from grief. We want to make it better and that’s something we just can’t do. Death separates us from those we love. Through Christ’s blood, we will reunite in heaven one day. But, oh, those days between the here and the then can tear you up inside.

I watched him walk alone into the home he’d shared with her. They’d raised a family there. It was filled with memories. It was consumed with silence. Will he be okay? I don’t know. All I can do is walk beside him and remind him that he is loved by so many. All I can do is point him toward God and the promises of His Word.

When we are too weary, too lost, too alone, God carries us. It’s a truth I’ve learned along the way.

May 27, 2018

Put God in Your Home

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

– Deuteronomy 11:18-19

There’s one of those Facebook things that goes around periodically. All my conservative friends share it. Why not? It sounds good. It basically says that if we want to fix our country we need to put God back in our schools and our government. What believer could possibly argue with that?

I wonder what would happen if we stopped worrying about God in our schools and government and focused on putting God back in our homes. Yes. You read that right. Our homes.

It’s not up to the schools to teach our children about God and about faith and about right and wrong. They should be getting that at home. Faith isn’t about a monument or what’s on a piece of paper. It’s about what’s in our hearts.

Do your children see you praying? I’m not talking about the set prayer you offer before a meal. I’m talking about those prayers that come from the heart. The ones that name specific people and makes specific requests. Do they see you reading and studying your Bible on a daily basis?

How often do you attend church? Is it one of those things you do when it’s convenient or when you have nothing better – such as a beach trip – to do? Are your children involved in Sunday school, VBS, choir, sports, youth, and other activities offered by your church? Or are they allowed to say no because their friends from school aren’t involved?

Do you talk about your faith with your children? Do you tell them how you came to know Jesus? Do you give Him credit for your many blessings or do you take all the credit for yourself?

Do you tell the truth, even when it might result in something negative for you? Do your children see integrity in your words and actions? Or do they see someone who fudges on time slips and pads expense accounts? Do they hear your words of praise or do you fill their ears with complaints?

Do you show mercy and grace to people who have done nothing to earn it? Do you remember and explain that God has shown us that same kind of grace and mercy? Do you give without being asked or do you grumble at every little bit the church or charities request? Do you volunteer? Do you give back? Or do you just take and take as though you have a right to do so with no responsibility to ever return even a portion of what you’ve received?

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. – Deuteronomy 11:16

The world tells us we deserve only the best. The world tells us it’s okay to put ourselves first. The world tells us we can skirt the truth, have that extra drink, be a cut-throat business person. The world says it’s just politics when you pass over someone more qualified to do a favor for a friend. But God says something entirely different.

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

What do your children see when they observe your life? Stop worrying about putting God back in schools and the government. Focus on putting Him back in your home and He’ll take care of the rest.

April 19, 2018

What Behavior Do You Model?

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. – Deuteronomy 4:9

The elementary school was hosting a book fair and they needed volunteers. Lots of volunteers. Why so many, I asked. Because some children will steal the books if we don’t keep a careful watch.

My mind was shocked. My heart was broken. It’s a sad reality of our world today. Children aren’t being taught right from wrong. School administrators rarely do anything about it because they don’t get support from the parents. They can’t discipline the children effectively when the parents defend their “innocent” children rather than make them take responsibility.

My Sunday school class has a large container of small candy. We store it in the back of a closed cabinet so it is not readily available or visible to anyone. One year during Vacation Bible School every piece of candy went missing. This would equal several large bags of candy.

We were upset and mystified. It wasn’t about the candy. That’s easily replaceable. It was that someone would think it okay – at church even! We eventually learned what happened, though not the name of the culprit. A young boy had taken all the candy home. His mother asked about it but he lied and said we’d given it to him. She apparently let it go and did nothing. A few “teachers” knew what happened. They, too, did nothing.

The boy was never held accountable for his actions. By letting it go, by not creating a scene, what did we teach him? Again, it wasn’t about the candy. It was about responsibility and learning right from wrong. An apology to our class would have gone a long way toward him understanding that you can’t just help yourself to something that belongs to someone else. Even at church.

Why didn’t the VBS teachers do anything? They didn’t want to make anyone mad. They didn’t want to push the youngster away from church. Instead of using the incident to teach him about God’s rules – Thou Shalt Not Steal – they opted to teach him about mercy. But forgiveness doesn’t mean we forgo the consequences. That’s a lesson he’ll one day learn in a much harsher environment.

Maybe we don’t hold children accountable because we don’t want to be held accountable. We want to help ourselves to office supplies from work. We want to “borrow” something from a friend or neighbor and never return it. We want to lie about something rather than admit we were wrong. The list could go on and on.

What are we teaching our children? What behavior are we modeling for them? Are you honest and merciful? Do you take responsibility for your mistakes? Do you tell the truth even when you’d rather not? Whether you realize it or not, your children are watching and learning. Make the lesson be behavior necessary to help them become honest people of God.

March 12, 2018

What Are You Teaching Your Children?

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

– Deuteronomy 11:18-19

It was one of those days. The rain was pouring down and I was sitting in a veterinarian’s crowded waiting room. A woman, her grandson and her little dog (in a small kennel) came in not long after me. The boy was restless as most almost-four children would be. Waiting is hard.

He decided to get a book. He selected the Bible. His grandmother wasn’t pleased. As the little boy sat down in a chair and started turning the pages, she snatched it away. “No,” she admonished. “You don’t want that one.” She handed him a child’s book on animals.

Another woman suggested a children’s Bible. “It’s probably on the other table,” she said. “I know they have one here.”

“No. This book is fine.”

The little boy soon grew tired of that book and turned to Hot Rod magazines and such. The woman made no effort to engage the child. Maybe she couldn’t read. I don’t know her story. But I do know that she seemed determined to keep that little boy from Jesus.

Sadly, the boy didn’t talk. The most that came from his mouth was the beginnings of a tantrum because I refused to let him play with my phone. I remained calm and offered to read a book with him. When he realized that a tantrum wouldn’t work with me, he moved on to something else.

Never once did he show the woman any respect. Never once did he do as she asked. I know. He’s not quite four. It was still sad.

I don’t know if his environment has created the issues already so obvious to all of us in that waiting room. I don’t know if there’s underlying medical issues we can’t know. But I do know that little boy needs Jesus. So does his grandmother. Why is her heart so hard?

Our nation now is focused on school shootings and how to prevent another tragedy. We are becoming more aware of the need for counselors and mental health intervention. But shouldn’t we also consider getting involved before there’s a serious problem? This little boy could have a different life. His reaction to me when I refused to be swayed by his outburst clearly showed he is capable of listening and changing his behavior. His grandmother can’t control him at this young age. What will his life be like in 10 years?

I wish I had engaged the little boy more. Honestly, I just didn’t want to. I wanted to wait my turn and keep my ailing dog calm. I didn’t have the energy to insert myself into someone else’s life. Conviction hurts. Have you ever been there?

I should have spoken up. I should have drawn this emotionally hungry and needy child toward me so that I could show him the Jesus his grandmother had rejected. I hope next time I’ll reach out. I hope next time I’ll speak up. I hope next time I’ll allow Jesus to use me to nurture those He places before me. It takes all of us to change the world, one child at a time.

February 15, 2018

Be Careful How You Judge

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. – Deuteronomy 15:11

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. – Proverbs 21:13

She is a good person. A prayer warrior. Someone who is generous with friends and family. She is quick to smile and devoted to her church.

She only turns ugly when it comes to the poor. She has no sympathy or compassion. “They should get a job,” she spews out. “If they couldn’t afford children, they shouldn’t have had them! I’m not going to support them.” Need I go on?

This is a woman who went from her Daddy’s house to her husband’s house. She has never, ever supported herself. Her “work” has been to sometimes help her husband at their business. Her child is an adult. And, yes, she hires someone to clean her house.

I’m not faulting her for her life. As I said, she truly is a wonderful person. But that hard heart!? It sure does dull her testimony.

Before you fault her or justify her words, take a moment to consider yourself. We are all a product of our upbringing, our place of birth, our choices. Our personalities weigh in, with some people weathering storms with little impact while others are destroyed. Why the differences? Does anyone but God know?

Have you ever had someone tell you to “get over” something? Have you ever cried out at the unfairness of heartbreak or job loss or misdirection? Have you ever begged God for answers, for help, for comfort during the storm?

We’re not so different, you and I and those we condemn for their station in life. I doubt they chose to be poor or homeless or addicted. It doesn’t make them bad people. It doesn’t make them lazy. Some of the hardest working people I know work more than one job trying to feed their families and keep a roof over their head. One illness, one extra bill, can send them on a spiral to financial disaster.

Where is our compassion? Why do we think we somehow have the right to judge their story when we have walked a different path? Where is the grace and mercy God has shown us?

I am not excusing those who truly are too lazy to work. I’m not telling anyone to enable someone in the throws of addiction or bad decision making. What I am saying is that none of us have the right to judge someone else’s story.

Watch your words. If it isn’t kind, don’t say it. Be careful how you judge. Let the world see Jesus in what you say and do.

February 7, 2018

Are We Honoring God?

And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. – Deuteronomy 10:19

They came again today. Loud honks penetrated the sky, announcing their arrival. They were majestic in flight.

My geese didn’t think so. Their angry squawks met the Canadian geese as they landed. They hadn’t issued any supper invitations and they were not planning to share.

It didn’t matter that there is plenty of corn for everyone. I make sure of it. No matter how much I try to reassure the geese, they simply don’t want to share. At least not with the Canadian geese.

We have lots of wild ducks who hang out around the pond. I don’t allow hunting so they know they’re safe.  The geese rarely have an issue with the ducks. Maybe it’s because they are smaller and, thus, less threatening. Whatever the reason, the geese tolerate the wild ducks even as they hate the Canadian geese.

We aren’t much different, you and I. There are some people we welcome into our midst. They are the ones who look like us and act like us. They are people we can relate to, people we are comfortable with.

And then there are those who aren’t like us at all. Maybe they are a different color. Maybe they work outside with their hands rather than in an air-conditioned office. Maybe it’s their politics, their religion, their attitude. Whatever it is, we just don’t like them.

People who are different than us make us uncomfortable. In a ridiculous way, they threaten us. Not because they’ve done anything specific. It’s just that we don’t want to face our differences.

It wasn’t like that when our country was founded. Out great nation was once known as a melting pot. Not anymore. We forget that it is God who calls us to love foreigners. We somehow think the fruit of kindness only belongs to those like us.

It’s amazing how we can twist God’s words to fit our own desires. We are just so righteous in our minds. It’s easy to believe that fallacy when we’re surrounded by like-minded people. It’s easy to hate when it seems as though everyone else hates too.

I read the Facebook posts of some of these people. They loudly proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ, even as they spew hatred at those made in God’s image. The saddest thing? They don’t see the hypocrisy in it all.

I wish I could convince my geese that their home is safe. I wish they could understand that they will all have plenty to eat, plenty to share with these visitors. But they are so busy feeling threatened and territorial that they will never know what might have been a great friendship.

The same is true of us. Everything we have, whether it be possessions or this great land of ours, belongs to God. Are we honoring Him with our choices, our comments, our laws?

April 8, 2016

God Remains Faithful

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. -- Deuteronomy 7:9

A dear friend said something last year that still resonates with me. It’s simple truth has helped me cope with things I never, ever expected.

Her words: When all this is over, you’ll find you can count the number of people you can depend on with the fingers of one hand. At the time, I thought she was exaggerating. Hindsight revealed she was totally right.

She’d been there. It was a different set of circumstances but she understood the devastation of sudden illness and the crushing role of sole caretaker.

Knowing all this has helped me accept the limitations of others. There are those that I knew I could count on in a crisis. I was wrong. They were the ones who showed up once. That was it. They did their duty.

I’m not talking about acquaintances here. I’m talking about close family and friends. People who were just too caught up in their own lives to be drawn into the crisis happening in someone else’s life. It was a hard lesson to learn at a particularly difficult time in my life.

Have you ever been let down by people you thought you could count on? It hurts, doesn’t it? People are not dependable. God is. Always.

I really thought my faith ran deep. I suppose compared to some others it did. But now these roots run even deeper. Storms have a way of doing that. I understand better how important it is to prepare for bad times while you are in good times because when the storm hits it takes everything you have just to hang on.

Sometimes I couldn’t focus on anything, but my mind would repeat memorized verses. I was comforted to know that when the only words I could find were “Oh, God!” , the Holy Spirit stepped in and asked God for what I didn’t know I needed.

God is faithful and loving. He never leaves us alone to face the storm. We know that. As believers, we do know that. But knowing it and living it are two different things. I am eternally grateful for His love and Presence when I needed Him most.

January 18, 2015

What does God Want?

 

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

-- Deuteronomy 10:12

Let's start with a question: What does God value from you the most? Does He want your service above all else? Does He want you first and foremost to be His hands in feet in this world? Is that what God wants from you?

Or maybe He wants your money first? Be sure to tithe and then some. Is that what God wants first?

What about your heart, your life, your soul?  God wants it all. And especially, He wants your heart.

So, what's most important: Your service or time alone with God? He wants you to want to spend time with Him. It's what makes everything else worthwhile. It's the beginning, the middle and the end. Time alone with God. I've never understood how anyone can make it through a day without that but there's a great many people who try.

Don't get me wrong. Service is a wonderful thing. Certainly, we should be God's hands and feet in this world. We are the light in a world that seems to grow darker an darker with each passing day. But service should be a sprout that emerges from the tender love we receive from spending time alone with God. Then it is natural and we have renewed energy and abilities to do whatever it is He has called us to do.

Sometimes we use service to avoid facing God. We tell ourselves it's all good because we are serving God. He understands. Yeah, actually He does understand. God knows our hearts and He knows when we're avoiding Him.

Why do you think we do that? Maybe there's some sin we'd rather not confess. Maybe there's some hurt we'd rather not face. Maybe there's a direction we'd rather no take. Whatever the reason, sooner or later we will come face to face with God. Then what?

God wants all of us and He won't stop until He gets us. So spend time alone with Him. Remember that no one will ever love you the way God loves you. That's the most important gift you will ever receive. Don't ever take that for granted.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Follow God's Lead

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

-- Romans 12:19 (Deuteronomy 32:35)

Restraint has never been my strong point. I’m one to speak first and then -- sometimes -- regret it. How about you? Do you speak or act first or do you weigh your words and actions before you do anything?

I’ve been participating in a Beth Moore Bible study on David. He showed remarkable restraint in dealing with Saul. Many times David could have ended Saul’s life but he wouldn’t do it. Even though Saul kept trying to end David’s life, David would not harm God’s anointed king. Instead, David waited for God to take care of the matter in His own time.

I was reviewing my lesson when that word “restraint” just popped out at me. Funny how that works. I’d completely forgotten about it just a short time earlier. Or maybe I didn’t. I simply decided to calm down before I dealt with an unpleasant issue. I asked God to help me. Maybe that wasn’t real restraint but it was a step forward for me.

Of course, I’ll have the opportunity to practice more restraint tomorrow. I am not being unreasonable. Truly. I simply find it infuriating that a neighbor apparently thinks it’s okay to toss his limbs and tree trimmings over the fence for me to deal with. We’re not talking about a small pile. That I could let slide. This pile will take numerous trips with the tractor and at least a couple of hours of work to remove. I am not a happy camper. But I am a restrained camper. Sort of.

The sort of comes because of the second act. The first half of the pile came last week. The second act was added sometime Saturday afternoon. I’m afraid to think of what might come if I don’t say something. I tell myself he’s an old man. I remind myself he -- or someone -- managed to cut all those limbs and shrubbery. That person surely could dispose of it as well.

Maybe restraint involves being nice. But firm. Maybe restraint means not saying what I really mean and rather saying what is necessary to get my point across. Maybe restraint means no threats. With God’s help, maybe I could even be nice and smile. Maybe I could use kindness and mercy rather than hardness and anger. Maybe that’s restraint.

I’m not sure why this man decided it was okay to do this but I do know that God will work it all out. He knows what‘s going on, just like He knows how much I have on my plate right now and how little patience I have to deal with someone else’s issues. So I’ll take a deep breath. And maybe I’ll smile. And I’ll try to be kind and practice a little restraint.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Choose Life and God’s Blessings

“Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” -- Deuteronomy 30:20

The young man made a choice. He joined his church, he told me. He was going to be baptized. He laughed. After all this time, he said. Not so long really but, oh, what a journey. It was truly wonderful to hear his news.

He knew Jesus. Sort of. Like many kids he was present in church but never really paying much attention. Adulthood brought its own challenges as mistakes plagued him. Two failed marriages. A daughter. A desire for something different.

So he started taking his child to church every Sunday. He thought it was the right thing to do. He enjoyed the contemporary service. The message was short and to the point, hitting him in the heart most weeks. The music spoke to his soul. He kept going back.

He took his questions to anyone who would listen. A pastor friend -- not from the church he attends -- listened attentively. They prayed together. He read the Bible and sought answers. He struggled to reign in his anger and impatience. He changed, day by day, as his faith grew. He handed his troubles over to God and felt His healing touch.

He spoke confidently of his new-found faith. He is determined to live life differently. To not make the same mistakes again. He made a choice to give his life to Jesus. Not just with words but with action and belief. It took awhile but his choice is solid, based on deep faith.

In the verse preceding the one above, Moses told the Israelites to choose between life and death, between blessings and curses. This young man chose life. He chose blessings. He chose God’s merciful love for all time. What wonderful news, indeed!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

God Provides What You Need

The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens to bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.

-- Deuteronomy 28:12

I am not enough. For anything. I know that. Sometimes it really weighs me down. I want to do something, I pray about it, I feel like God has blessed the idea, … and then panic wells up inside of me. How can I possibly think that I could do this thing?

It is at that moment, at that place, that a quiet voice comes to me. I remember who I am. I remember who my Father is. I don’t have to do anything alone. He doesn’t expect me to. When God calls me, or you, to do something, He’ll provide whatever it is that I need. Really.

It’s kind of awesome when you think about it. God provides resources, whether it’s money or talent or time. He provides courage and strength. He opens doors and hearts. God sends whatever we need, when we need it, to do what He has called us to do.

Kim Hendrix said in a talk at Frazer United Methodist Church that we think of God as someone who pours out a little mercy over here, a little kindness over there, and on and on. But really, she said, God is pouring out a pitcher full of blessings on us all the time. All we have to do is be open to receive all that He wants to give us.

That means we can do so much more than we ever thought possible. Because we’re not doing it under our power, but His. Ask God what He wants you to do, then step out confidently knowing that He’ll provide everything you need to accomplish whatever it is He has called you to do.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Show God You Love Him

“Be careful to obey all the commands I give you; show love to the LORD your God by walking in his ways and clinging to him.”

-- Deuteronomy 11:22 (NLT)

How do you show others that you love God? Do they know you as a Christian because it’s what you claim with words or do they know you as a Christian because your actions reflect Jesus outward?

Casting Crowns released a song a few years ago about church members being oblivious to the hurting people right outside their doors. I think sometimes we’re all like that. We get so caught up in our own lives, our own concerns, that we don’t see others. It’s not that we intentionally ignore them. We’re just walk right by without ever glancing their way.

Time is always such an issue for most of us. Daily demands of caring for loved ones, earning a living and, yes, attending church doesn’t leave a great deal of time for reaching out to people we don’t know and can’t fix. Because we do want a quick fix. We’d prefer to write a check. Or maybe donate an afternoon and see lots of results. Then we can pat ourselves on the back, confident that we’ve done God’s work without putting ourselves out too much.

But is that really showing God how much we love Him? Doing good to make us feel better about ourselves isn’t what God had in mind. Really. It isn’t. We’re to do good all the time because we love Him. Notice that word “all.” Not when we feel like it. Not when it’s convenient. Not when we’re shamed into it. All the time. Because we love God.

So invite someone to church. Take an elderly neighbor out to eat or, better yet, invite her to your house for a family meal. Don’t just pass that beggar on the street. Take time to say hello and hear his story. Treat him just like a beloved child of God -- because he is. Be kind. Show compassion. Refrain from judging what you do not know. Show God how much you love Him -- by loving the people around you with your actions.

Monday, June 27, 2011

God Can Do Anything

“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand or perform.”

-- Deuteronomy 30:11

When God calls me to do something, especially something out of my comfort zone, my first reaction is uh-uh. Nope. Not me. Can’t do it. No way. Call on somebody else, somebody more qualified, somebody with more time, somebody who has done it before. Anybody, God, but me.

He never gives up on me. Sooner or later He knows I’ll fall into line and move toward wherever it is He wants me to go. Silly, isn’t it? It’s not like God is asking me to jump off a cliff by myself. He’s going to tell me what to do and what to say. He wouldn’t send me out without help. So why do I resist?

Because like so many people, I was raised to believe I’d fail in whatever I did. I still hear it almost daily about something I want to do. I know you understand because just about everyone has had a negative influence on their lives at some point. There’s always one person who knows that whatever you want to do won’t work. They probably don’t even think about the words before they say them. It’s just their gut reaction. It would be almost comical if it weren’t so sad.

So here we are in that place of certain failure with God calling us to do something a little scary. We know we’ll fail. We know it. And we probably would except for one important factor: God. He doesn’t fail. Ever. That means when He calls us to do something, He’ll equip us with everything we need to do it. He’ll walk with us every step of the way. He’ll never leave us or forsake us. So how can we fail when He’s carrying us? We can’t.

I’m a living example. Me? A children’s church coordinator? I had no experience and no kids. But God needed someone with a fresh eye and a willingness to shake up the curriculum and do things His way. Now I’m a Sunday school teacher in a class with people who have a wide range of political views. Most of the time I still don’t have a clue. But God does. He’s leading me along His path, giving me words and resources. And I’m trusting Him.

The truth is God has never let me down. I’ve let Him down plenty of times. I’ll failed without even trying more times than I can remember. But God has never let me down. He’s never left me alone. And He’s never called me to do something without giving me exactly what I needed to do whatever He called me to do. With God, nothing seems too difficult. Give it a try. You might surprise yourself.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

God Says To Love Immigrants

He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. You, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. -- Deuteronomy 10:18-19

We are a nation of immigrants. With the exception of Native Americans, each and every one of us are here because we have ancestors who came to this country as immigrants. Yep. Every one of us. We like to forget that sometimes.

I know. The number of illegal immigrants is ridiculous. But so is our refusal to show kindness and compassion to people who are -- for the most part -- only trying to build a better life for themselves and their families.

I’m one of those people who knows we’ve got a problem but I don’t have any answers. I don’t think anyone does, even though some politicians try to fool us all. I do know the answer isn’t in bills such as the one recently passed by the Alabama Legislature. Forcing schools to verify legal status makes it certain that those children won’t be in school. They’ll still be living in this country; they just won’t get an education. How does advancing illiteracy cut down on illegal immigrants?

Some of the harshest critics of immigrants are people who claim to be devout Christians. That makes no sense to me either. Clearly God tells us to show love to foreigners. He doesn’t specify whether they’re legal or illegal. He doesn’t talk about nationality or numbers. He simply expects us to care for them -- because we, too, were once foreigners in a land not our own.

The next time you’re tempted to moan about your tax bill or berate someone because he doesn’t speak your language, remember who you are. As Christians, we’re held to a different standard than others. God expects us to offer kindness and compassion and love to those foreigners you’re looking down on. Instead of condemning them, say a prayer for them and those Christians who have allowed their hearts to harden toward people God has called us to love.

Friday, June 24, 2011

God Loves All His Children Equally

“The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes.” -- Deuteronomy 10:17

A few years ago I watched a woman I adore break down in sobs as workers prepared to lower her mother’s casket into the ground. I reached out to comfort her, understanding that her sobs weren’t so much for the woman who had died but rather for a dream that had finally been laid to rest.

Her mother hadn’t loved her. Ever. No matter what the woman did, no matter how much she tried, she was never good enough to earn her mother’s love. It wasn’t that the woman was incapable of loving a child. She’d given birth to two sons and adored both of them. But her daughter, well, that was a different story.

The youngest of her three children had died years before. She had stood at his casket and lamented that it wasn’t her daughter laying there instead of her son. Her daughter heard every word. The woman didn’t care. She never cared how much pain she inflicted on a daughter she didn’t love.

The pain of a parent’s rejection never, ever goes away. It’s especially true when the rejection continues, again and again, as the hurtful barbs seek to wound. You do what you must. You honor God by treating someone better than she deserves, knowing that He will take care of it one day. And He will. Revenge belongs to God.

I am so grateful that God doesn’t play that favorites game. He doesn’t love one child more than the other. He doesn’t try to tear down family relationships but rather seeks to build up and heal wounds inflicted by selfish desires and unkind hearts.

I understood this woman’s pain because it so clearly reflected my journey. It’s what I live with day after day. Sometimes I ask myself why I don’t just bolt and run. It would be so much easier on my heart. But the answer to my question is always the same: God wants me to be here. It isn’t right. It isn’t fair. But it is where I’m supposed to be right now.

As long as she lives, I suppose there is hope. There is a chance for God’s miraculous hand to touch her heart so that it will open itself up to love her daughter. Hope. That’s what the woman lost when her mother died. Death ended any possibility of love and acceptance from her mother. And that is what she mourned.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Actions Reflect Values

“Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.” -- Deuteronomy 6:7

Moses was reminding the Israelites about God’s commandments and what God expected of them as a people and as parents. It’s a reminder we sure could use in today’s world. So many parents expect others -- such as teachers -- to instruct their kids in what is right and wrong. But if they don’t get it at home, chances are they won’t get it anywhere else.

Don’t get me wrong. There are many wonderful teachers who do the very best they can in a difficult situation. Remember public school teachers aren’t allowed to do a lot of talking about the Ten Commandments. Nor do teachers get a lot of support from parents. It’s that old thinking that if something is wrong, your child isn’t to blame and shouldn’t be held accountable.

Of course, it doesn’t do any good to simply talk about right and wrong. You’ve got to live it. Kids have an uncanny way of reflecting us to the world. That can be good and that can be bad.

What do your actions say about your values? God tells us not to covet what other people have. Do you at moan about your desire to have a new SUV like the one your neighbor just purchased? Do you constantly compare what you don’t have to what other people do have? Well, you’re teaching your children to covet what other people have.

God also tells us not to steal. Most people don’t worry about that. They have no plans to rob a convenience store or hotwire another person’s car. They forget that stealing also means “creative” accounting. Stealing means taking supplies from your employer without permission because “they’ll never know.” Stealing can even mean taking credit and praise for something you didn’t do.

Your actions reflect your values far more than your words. Are your actions teaching your children God’s laws? Are you sure?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

God Won’t Let You Down

But even after all he did, you refused to trust the LORD your God, who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud by day. -- Deuteronomy 1:32-33

Yeah. It’s hard to understand God’s people. He freed them from slavery and led them victoriously out of Egypt. He provided for their needs. He promised them victory and a beautiful land filled with good things. And still they doubted and complained. How could they be so stubborn and unbelieving?

It’s actually fairly easy. It’s like that time you got mad at God because someone you love got really sick. Or maybe it was when you lost your job and didn’t trust that God would provide for your basic needs. Or what about that time someone at church let you down and you decided God and church just weren’t worth the effort?

People will fail us every time. They will. Just like we fail the people around us. People get sick and die. Jobs come and go. But God is faithful. He proves it to us again and again -- and still we doubt. Why?

Maybe because we can’t imagine anyone who would love us unconditionally and always want what’s best for us. We can’t believe someone would never, ever let us down. We can’t imagine where money and food and financial solvency will come from when we can’t see a way.

Because we’re comparing God to ourselves, to the people around us, to those we can see and touch. But God isn’t like us. He’s, well, He’s God. He’s perfect. He’s beyond anything we could ever see or imagine. And He will never let us down. He will never fail us. He will hold us up when we can’t stand up on our own.

And what do we have to do? Believe. Trust Him. Stay faithful and true, no matter how scary the journey or how deep the water seems. God won’t ever let you down.