July 1, 2018

Which One Are You?

“The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” – Mark 4:14-20

Glance around the congregation at your church. What do you see? There are those who show up on Sunday when it’s convenient. There are those who are faithful, welcoming the pastor’s words and enjoying the service. And there are those who take those words to heart and then go into the world to share what they’ve learned.

Which are you? Are you a pew sitter who goes to church because you are a “Christian”? Some people are raised with the label and they know how to behave. They know the rules. In their world, people go to church. They are affiliated with a building. It’s necessary for weddings and funerals, for baptisms and forms.

They know exactly what to say when asked but, well, there’s nothing about their heart that indicates they truly know Christ. Memorizing answers to salvation questions doesn’t mean you are saved. They miss that somehow in their eagerness to do their duty, then get on with real life.

Maybe you’re one of those who come to services and listen intently to the pastor. You soak up his words with all you’ve got. You can name many people who need to heed the words spoken from the Bible. Unfortunately, you’re not one of those people.

Real life has no place for faith. You’ve got too much to do. There are bills to be paid, workplace politics to navigate, and issues that God just can’t help you with. You love Jesus. You do. But this is 2018 and times have changed from those days when Jesus taught His disciples and healed people everywhere He went.

There is joy in church. Sometimes you even feel hope. But real life quickly drowns it out and you go back to how you’ve always lived, facing life’s burdens alone and trying to “win” at all costs.

Maybe you’re one of the fortunate few who actually soaks God’s Word in. Maybe you actually believe His promises and build your life on His foundation. Look around. There are others like you but the workers are few and the harvest is plentiful.

There is a light about those who truly believe in the power of the cross. It doesn’t mean life is always easy. It isn’t. But it does mean you’ll never walk alone. It means that miracles happen. It means that Satan has already been defeated and you are just a traveler on your way home.

Spread that news everywhere you go. Let others look at you and see peace and joy, comfort and wisdom. Let them seek what you’ve got. Give Jesus credit and encourage them to get to know Him as Lord and Savior.

There are many different kinds of people who show up for church on Sunday morning. But they all hear differently. Be the one who soaks it in and then goes on to share it.

January 3, 2018

God Hears Us

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13

Hagar was an unfortunate pawn. God made a promise to Abram but He never said how long it might take. So Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands. She gave her slave, Hagar, to her husband, Abram, so that perhaps Hagar would get pregnant and give Sarai a child.

Oh, what a storm we create when we fail to wait for God. Hagar did become pregnant but Sarai despised her for it. Hagar ran away but God saw her. Just like He sees us. Just like He sees me.

These last few years have been long and hard. I learned to let things roll off of me, choosing instead to pick my battles. Is it something I simply don’t like? Or is it something that could cause harm to an elderly parent? Some battles just weren’t worth the argument.

As I left that season of caregiving, more challenges awaited me. I found that way too many people either didn’t hear what I said or simply ignored my wishes. It’s as though they assume my voice doesn’t matter. Except it does.

We have become a society that listens in order to respond to what is being said to us. We aren’t concerned about the wishes of others. We don’t particularly care about their opinions. It’s all about us. We make sure of that. We see that clearly in our broken political rhetoric that plays to our emotions rather than to reconciliation and compromise.

No one wants to be dismissed or ignored and it’s frustrating to have someone ignore your wishes in an effort to bully you to accept theirs. We assume that others want what we want and if they don’t, well, that’s their problem. We know more than anyone. Except we don’t.

God saw Hagar. He heard the cries of her heart. God hears us too. He never tunes us out because we aren’t agreeing with Him. God never ignores us. He sees us, flaws and all, and loves us anyway.

When was the last time you really listened to someone who disagrees with you? Have you ever gotten off your own agenda and considered someone else’s viewpoint? We don’t have to agree in order to listen. And listening doesn’t mean we have to change our minds or our actions. It simply shows respect for another human being. Listening says that the words of someone else matter.

Whose voice do you hear today? Is it your own or are you listening to others? Remember that God hears us all and sees what is truly in our hearts. Take a moment and listen. Really listen. You might be surprised at what you learn.

Monday, July 23, 2012

God Always Hears You

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” -- John 11:41-42

Immediately after this statement, Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the cave where he had been buried. And he did. He lived and all those who witnessed it saw God’s glory fulfilled.

Lazarus wasn’t the only person Jesus raised from the dead. Think of Jairus’s daughter and a widow’s son. But we remember this passage because it contains the shortest verse in the Bible (Jesus wept.) and because Lazarus and Mary and Martha were good friends of Jesus.

And maybe also we remember this passage because Jesus pointedly thanks His Father for hearing Him. God always hears us. We do know that. But it helps to be reminded of it and Jesus understood that.

God cares about the details of our lives. He hears us no matter what we say, or even think. God never turns away from His children. He wants that relationship that comes when two people actually converse and share.

Sometimes we miss that bond here on earth. We want other people to notice us, to hear us, to care about and desire a relationship with us. And they don’t. That hurts.

Oh, they don’t come right out and say it but their actions speak loudly. When people never remember what you’ve said, chances are they never heard you the first time because they just didn’t care. We can make excuses: hard of hearing, distracted, etc. But it all comes down to the same thing: You weren’t important enough for them to focus their attention on you.

It is hard sometimes to give someone your undivided attention. I think of a parent trying to get tasks done, all the while her young child rambles on and on. She’d like peace and quiet. At least, until her child doesn’t want to talk to her anymore. Then she understands how much she’s missed because she didn’t listen.

We don’t realize how much it means to share the details until we don’t have anyone to hear them. Maybe that’s why there are so very many lonely people in the world. And I’m not just talking about those who live alone. The details are what make up the days of our lives. They may not seem important but they are important. Having someone recognize that and really heart us can make all the difference.

God cares about the details. When no one else wants to know how your day has gone, tell God. When you want to share a funny story, share it with God. He’s a ready and willing listener. He always remembers exactly what you say. And He loves you unconditionally no matter what.