Rest in the Shadow

One morning recently when out for a walk with one of the little boys I help sit for, I noticed the nearly 2-year-old, James, who walked along beside me, kept scurrying up to stay in my shadow. I don't mean that metaphorically, but literally. The temperature was in the 90s, so I am sure he was seeking a cool spot as we walked along. It soon became a game to keep him going. I would take a few steps and he'd giggle as he'd speed up to step on and in my shadow.

Today when I was reading Psalm 91 - one of my favorites - verse 1 made me catch my breath: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Then in reading Psalm 121:5 "The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." I thought of sweet James desperately trying to stay in my shadow and giggling as he quickened his steps to feel protected from the heat of the morning sun.

Oh that we could use that example as a true guide for our spiritual life. That we would keep pace with our Most High God to stay in His shadow. That we would excitedly and happily run to stay along with Him and rest in His protection from all that would seek to harm us. How do we ... metaphorically now ... keep pace with the Creator of the world? We do this by reading His Word, praying regularly, being obedient to His commands and loving His children. Psalm 91 gives us the information we need: "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent,. For he will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:9-11) and at the tail end of the Psalm in verses 14-16: "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My Salvation.'"

When James or his brother walk along with me they will toddle off to chase a butterfly, head into a neighbor's yard to examine their basketball hoops or porch decor, peer over the edge of a drain to look down a gully and run into the middle of the road to pick up some tiny acorn they see. I find that I am constantly saying, "Come back over here. Don't step too close to the edge. Don't touch that. Get out of the middle of the road." It's my desire to protect these little ones from whatever danger they might stumble into or from doing any harm in their natural curiosity.

It's the same with our Father. His desire is to protect and guide us. So we need to listen and obey. And we know from 1 John 5:3 that "His commands are not burdensome." The beginning of that verse says, "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands." Why? Verse 4 of that chapter tells us: "to overcome the world." Prov. 1:33 says, "Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

I told my 7th and 8th grade Sunday School kids last Sunday that "faith is obedience without reservation." It's trusting in our God and His commands that we can rest in His Shadow. That He has us completely.

When I asked a friend once what song I could use to create a customized ring tone on my cellphone for her, she thought for a moment and suggested The Beatles' song, "I'll Follow The Sun." The lyrics say, "Tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun." But I'd like to change those lyrics. 1 John 5:5 says, "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Who is the "My Salvation" from Psalm 91:16? Jesus!

So here's my plan ... "Tomorrow may rain, but I'll follow the Son" ... and stay the shadow of the Almighty. I feel safer already.

Unseen Enemy

I am tired. Of sneezing that is. I have been having allergy reaction after allergy reaction since we moved into our new home. As I am allergic to dust, pollen, grass, pine, etc, it can be hard to narrow down what the culprit could be, but more than likely it's cat dander. These reactions have all the usual cat-dander symptoms. The former resident had a cat, and once those microscopic skin cells hit the air, it's hard to rid a location of them. Rip out the carpet, paint the walls, wipe down all surfaces, vacuum under appliances, change filters and clean out air ducts ... these are all recommended. And it still could take six months to get it all out. I'm in for a long road. Some days are worse then others. And you know it's bad when I will go outside to cut the grass in a effort to get out of the cat-dander house.

It's an unfair battle. I can't see the enemy. I can only feel the consequences. It's a daily struggle. It's exhausts me. As a very last resort, I'll take some kind of allergy medication, which typically knocks me out for the rest of the day. No matter what I seem to do, I can't get the upper hand. I shout "Unfair!" into the air and plow through boxes of tissues.

I have friends and family who are dealing with far worse unseen enemies in the form of diseases like cancer. And I am sure they have shouted, "Unfair!" many times.

But even that is not the most evil unseen enemy. There is one far worse. One that prowls the earth like a roaring lion waiting to devour us, the disciple Peter tells us in his first letter, chapter 5, verse 8. He calls the enemy, "Your adversary, the devil." He is one that hopes to derail our faith and make us want to give up. And this enemy actually uses some of the previously mentioned unseen enemies to aid in his derailing. What is Peter's advice to combat this enemy? "Stay alert, be sober, stay viligant, watch out." He also says, "resist him and be steadfast in your faith" in the next verse. So more preventative than combative, just like all the preventative things recommended to remove the cat-dander from this house.

Does this mean you'll avoid all entanglements with the adversary? Probably not, but it will certainly help reduce the confrontations. Other great preventative measures? Prayer, reading Scripture, and submitting ourselves to God. And if Christ's example in Matthew 4:10 is one to follow, then saying, "Be gone, Satan," doesn't hurt either.

Day after day of struggling against an unseen enemy can make a person want to give up, but those who are successful aren't quitters. Plus we have an Advocate who can fight for us who is far more powerful, and it's to Him I turn daily. Prior to 1 Peter 5:8, the disciple tells us,"cast your burdens on Jesus because He cares for you." So it's to Him I turn to for help with an adversary that refuses to back down ... and allergies that just won't let go. These battles are temporary. Christ has the final victory. So armor up ...while I grab another tissue.

One Difference

While having my devotion time the other 29° morning, I made sure to position myself right in the sunlight. My office is the coldest room in the winter and hottest room in the summer at our house. So on this chilly morning, I wanted to be squarely in the sun.

I was reading Jeremiah 5 at the time ... a sad little chapter where God tells the prophet to try to find just one honest person in Jerusalem, and He will forgive the entire city. You know the Genesis 18 Sodom and Gomorrah story where Abraham begs God to save the cities for 10 righteous people, then He can't find 10 and destroys them? Well, in this instance, God will save the city for one. And Jeremiah can't find one. The people refuse correction, refuse to repent. God calls them "foolish" and "senseless" and promises recompense. God says they are about to be conquered by a nation of mighty warriors that will go on a destruction rampage. And, boy, do they ever. The Persians destroy the city, burn the temple and take captives back to Babylon. It's a devastating blow for the Chosen People, and God says they will ask why it happened, to which He replies: "As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own." And  they do ... for 70 God-ordained years. But notice that God does not destroy the nation. In the midst of God's prediction of punishment for the Jews, he says he will not destroy them completely. He brings them back to their lands and the temple is rebuilt.

You can hear the anguish of the Father in this chapter. He's frustrated with His children whom He has asked time and time again, through the prophets, to repent and do good, worship Him alone, and care for orphans, the poor and the oppressed. But they don't. "Should I not punish them for this?" declares the Lord. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?" He asks in verse 29. Back in verse 22 He asks them why they don't fear Him when He is the Almighty One who set the boundary for the sea at the sand, that that "waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it." This is the God we serve. He may have patience, unbelievable patience, but even God eventually says, "Enough."

While I sat in the sun reading, the sky darkened slightly. Noticing a shadow and sudden drop in temperature for those seconds, I looked up to see a tiny ... and I mean tiny ... cloud covering the sun. We had perfectly clear skies except for that blip of a vapor. But wow, what a difference in temperature it made for the brief time the cloud had possession of the sun. I anxiously awaited for that thing to move on. And it did quickly. But I couldn't help but notice what a difference one small cloud could make. And it made me aware of the power of just one wee thing. The whole neighborhood was darkened by that one cloud. Scary how something so little can easily shadow the light.

But Scripture tells us one can easily make a difference, too. Just imagine if Jeremiah would have found just one honest person in Jerusalem. What a difference it would have made in Jewish history.

It did take One later to make a true, complete and perfect difference. A little less than 600 years later, God sent One to make all the difference in the world and save us all. He brought an inextinguishable light. A gift of atonement and forgiveness to forever cover the multitude of "foolish" and "senseless" sins that we have committed in the 2,000 years since, if we only ask. Glory to the Most High God for His love and precious Son Jesus.

Praying that in the midst of our generation, where there seems to be more than one cloud darkening the nation, we can be the difference that stands on the Word in worship, obedience and love. We sure need it.

Mysteriously Moved

In addition to this day being Thanksgiving and the 55th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it is also the 55th anniversary of the death of one of my favorite writers, C.S. Lewis. Lewis died without much memorial fanfair in the shadow of a horrific American tragedy. Yet he is beloved and venerated by so many. He is the author of some of my most favorite books: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicle of Narnia, to name a few.

Recently, I have been listening to an audio biography about Lewis. About two days ago I came to the part where Lewis talks about his conversion to Christianity. He was a vocal atheist calling Christianity a "myth." He was introduced to Christianity slowly through the planting of many seeds by people around him, but it was a late night walk with J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson on Sept. 20, 1931, that pretty much sealed the deal. They talked of all manor of subjects way past midnight, spending a good bit of time on Christianity. Lewis wrote to a friend after that stroll on Addison's Walk at Oxford University that he was "mysteriously moved" by the idea of God "sacrificing himself to himself."

There was something about that statement that made me stop, rewind and listen again. This is not new information for me by any means, but the phrasing was sweetly simplistic and accurate. The idea of God in heaven being worshiped by countless sacrifices over thousands of years - which never fully atoned for His creation's disobedience - then coming to the conclusion that He must sacrifice Himself on our behalves is overwhelming. An all encompassing sacrifice so that we would never again need to atone: Christ has done it all. Of course, such a revelation would be profound for Lewis. As a result of this realization (and his acceptance of Christ into his life nine days later), we are the grateful recipients of some of the best books of the last century and some profound theology. Praise God for the persistence of Lewis' friends and God's unwavering patience for his lost children.

This is why I never give up praying for and sharing the Good  News of Jesus Christ through words and love to the people in my life who have not accepted Him as Savior. While it can seem a daunting task when it seems God's mercy is falling on deaf ears, hearing about stories like Lewis' is inspirational and encouraging. We can strive on in hope that those we love will one day be "mysteriously moved" by something which brings them to a point of reverence, repentance and acceptance. The end result is so worth it and changes the world time and time again.

I excitedly await the time those on my prayer list come to the realization that our Awesome God, who sacrificed Himself to Himself, loves them that much. What a day of rejoicing that will be. Just as the very day C.S. Lewis walked through the gates of Heaven to meet face-to-face the God who persistently pursued him. Glory to Him!

Gently Restore

This morning I listened to Romans chapters 1-4 as I was getting ready to start my day. I am finding much enjoyment and new incites into the Word while listening to it. And something really struck me as I listened today.

I had just heard Paul talk about this list of "godlessness and wickedness" where God's wrath will one day come into play come judgment time. Things like greed, envy, murder, deceit, arrogance, disobedience, slander and shameful lusts among others. Just after Paul shares this in chapter 1, he comments in chapter 2 that we should not pass judgment on someone else when we're doing the same things.  I heard myself ask out loud, "So are we not to judge or are we not to sin?" I almost choked on the words as they came out. That was it. Paul was telling us not to sin.

See in the world today, I so often hear people comment "Judge not lest ye be judged." They quote this from Jesus' Sermon On The Mount where Christ talked about judging in Matthew 7:1-5. And I often remind people that judging is about eternal destiny, not correction for behavior. The Lord expects us to correct one another, especially using Scripture to do so. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." We are absolutely to tell our brothers and sisters when they're behavior is not in line with the Word by using the Word. Even Jesus comments in Matthew 7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." According to the Savior, we absolutely can correct ... if we have repented, if we have cleaned house, if we are obedient to our Lord. Want to call someone out on their sin? They you better do some soul checking to make sure you don't have something you need to repent of first.

It doesn't mean, however that we should never correct our brothers and sisters when they sin. Good gracious, based on our track record with sin, there would be no morality in this world without that correction. God would give us over to our "sinful desires" as explained in Romans 1. We need to be held accountable to the Word our Father as given us. Paul explains, "The righteous will live by faith" (Romans 1:17) and our faith is based on the Word given us.

If we are to look at Christ as our example, look at his behavior with the woman caught in adultery. He asks her who has condemned her. When she replies, "No one, Lord," he says, "Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more" (John 8:11). She's not being judged to eternal damnation ... she's being forgiven and told to never do it again. Do you see the difference?

We are not to turn a blind eye to our brother and sister's sin. We are to correct gently. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently." 

Next time you hear someone quote, "Judge not lest ye be judged" examine your hearts for conviction of sin to be sure, but remind gently that we are most certainly to correct. And be careful that is the intent and not condemnation. When correcting those who sin, we're not be be hurtful or shaming. We are to gently restore them based on the Word God gave us. Too many point fingers, badmouth and criticize rather than have the intent to draw that soul into a faithful, obedient relationship with our Lord.

What is the goal of correction? It's repentance and restoration. But first, be sure you are obedient yourself.

Eternal Devotion and Servitude

While ironing today I was watching the movie Matrix Reloaded. In one scene a young man is running towards the main character, Neo, played by Keanu Reeves. Neo appears annoyed by the young man approaching and another character comments to him, "You know what they say happens when you save a life," implying this kid will show eternal devotion and servitude to Neo. Sure enough, this young man offers to carry anything Neo needs.

It was the quote that got me: "You know what they say happens when you save a life." It made me immediately think about the fact that I was saved ... saved by the One True God in his Son, Jesus Christ. If that quote and the implied reaction - eternal devotion and servitude - are correct, what does that say about the millions of people who have been saved by Jesus Christ? Are we eternally devoted and serving Him with our whole being?

Jesus asks Simon a question in Luke 7 after telling the story of two men who are absolved of debt by their moneylender: one for 500 denarii and the other for 50. Jesus asks in verse 42: "Now which of them will love him more?" to which Simon responds, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." This story by Jesus holds comparison to two people, equally forgiven, who apparently had different degrees of sin, one with 10 times as much. Simon acknowledges that the one forgiven the greater multitude of sins will love Christ more than the one with less. Sadly, this may in fact be true. If you lived a life where you committed many sins and Jesus came along and said, "Your sins are forgiven," wouldn't you be eternally devoted and obediently, wholeheartedly serving Him forever? Here's the thing, if all sin is equal in the eyes of God and all people sin, then it shouldn't matter if you've been forgiven for 50 or 500 ... we should be eternally devoted and sincerely serving Him with all we have. We have been saved. Because of Jesus Christ, we are washed white as 30+ inches of snow that recently fell in the Northeast. We are free! We will live for eternity with the One who created things as majestic as mountains, the stars and the ocean and yet saw fit to create us, too. We are that important. We are that loved!

Interestingly, the character Neo in this movie, is referred to as the One. He is the one predicted to save the all humans. We already have that. We already have the One who saved all human beings from themselves. And He paid quite a price for it.

We have been saved by the One. Praying we all move heaven and earth to go out of our way to be eternally devoted to Him and serve Him. Imagine a world where every Christian did that.

Colorful Metaphors

I remember the very first time I cussed. I remember because I was in high school next to a friend of mine in the hallway. I don't remember the circumstances, but I do remember deliberately using the word to watch for her reaction. She reacted as I expected - startled that a word like that could come from my mouth. As my childhood neighbor, I wonder if she was thinking, "What would your mother think of you using that word?" But she never said anything. Just wide-open eyes that said it all. But I don't remember feeling ashamed. Instead, I felt empowered. I remember that evil feeling very, very well.

I mention it because once that door is opened, those cuss words just flowed out. And I could cuss like a sailor. I don't say that with bravado, but with shame. See I hear young people cussing all the time now. I imagine, like me back in high school, they feel empowered by the words. To cuss, one pretty much has to make a conscious choice. It's not natural for it to come out (and if it is, it's time you reexamine your heart).

Recently I visited with someone who cussed up a blue streak. F-bombs mostly. This was a young lady and I can honestly say I cringed every time she spoke it. Did she feel empowered to say it? Was it cool? Cause from my end it reeked of trashiness. But here's the thing about cussing: it's addicting. After being around this person for a few days, the cringe-worthiness wore off, and I found myself easily dotting my speech with what Spock in Star Trek IV called "colorful metaphors." I could feel my insides scrunching, like an evil waking up, desiring to grow. Since it's a conscious choice, I remember each time I thought - yes, thought - about what I could/would say. It made me sick to my stomach to hear me say anything.

Cussing is ridiculous. It really is. You sound crude, disrespectful, unintelligent and shallow. And the Lord has plenty to say about it. Jesus says in Matt. 15:10-11 "And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Jesus' brother James writes: "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." Prov. 4:24 says: "Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you." In Prov. 8:13, Solomon writes that God hates "perverted speech." Paul writes to the Colossians in 8:3, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips." And of course, God is very much against using His name as a cuss word, making that one of the Ten Commandments, adding in Lev. 22:32: "Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy."

So it is pretty clear how we are to talk. We are to edify one another, open our mouths with wisdom and kindness, speak commendably, be self-controlled, be a person of dignity, integrity and sound speech, be righteous, transformed, good and acceptable. And honestly, this isn't difficult.

The Lord tells youth through Paul in his first letter to Timothy, 4:12: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

These are not just words for the youth, especially if adults are setting the example to start with. Recently I heard a pastor cuss (no, not my husband). He was referring to a parishioner, calling the person a cuss word (normally used to describe a donkey) because of some ridiculous comment they made about his sermon. I was taken aback. He giggled when he said it, even surprised by my comment that I'd better leave his company before he made a poor influence on me. They say the last word pilots say on the black box recordings if their plane is crashing is a cuss word. And in a moment of surprise, it may also be the first word out of your mouth. But it sure isn't what God wants.

In Prov. 10:18 the Lord calls a person who cusses "a fool." He is listening and tells us we will be accountable for every careless word we speak ... even as it is in my case to dysfunctional inanimate objects.

I would ask that you would truly listen to yourself speak and refrain from foul language. If I hear it, I am going to call you on it, and I would like you to do the same for me. There is no excuse for it. None. And as vast as the English language is, surely we can find something beautiful or creative to say in its place. It would be a corn-swabbly shame if we didn't. See what I did there? Fun.

Scintillating

I love sparkly things. Sequins, glitter, jewelry, anything that sparkles. As my daughter said, "I am drawn to sparkly things like bugs to a zapper."

I have a pair of silver sparkly shoes that I got at our church youth yard sale a year ago for 25 cents. (I know, great bargain, right?) They are comfortable and super sparkly ... unless it's cloudy outside. Then, not so much. They don't sparkle at all actually. They need some kind of light to reflect to be completely appreciated.

Sunlight or artificial, they need it to scintillate (my new word for the day - basically means to sparkle). And if you're wearing something with sparkle potential, you want maximum scintillation.

I think Christians are a lot like my glittery shoes. We need to be in the Light to truly shine. Every moment of every day, we need to find the Light, stay in the Light and reflect the Light so others see it. If we are, perhaps people will be drawn to Christ the way I'm drawn to sparkly things.

I used to wish that when I walked, I would leave sparkle behind me (you know like Tinkerbell when she flies). And with these sparkly shoes, that sometimes happens, as the little glitter bits fall off now and then. Again, I think that, too, is something we as Christians should aim for: leaving that sparkle of Christ in our wake so people will know we've been there in His name. You know - change the world for Jesus so they see it's all because of Him.

It's a sunny day today. I've got the sparkle shoes on. Praying I radiate the Son as much as they reflect the sun.

Commanded to Love

If you call yourself a Christian and are not loving your enemies, you're a joke. Just let me state that flat out. It was one of Christ's commands in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:43). He didn't say, "tolerate your enemies," "ignore those who are displeasing to you," or "give someone you disagree with the silent treatment." No, He said plain and simple, love them. LOVE THEM.

I am sure you are detecting a note of frustration in my voice. I am so very, very tired of people calling themselves Christians and finding all manner of ways to dismiss those they just don't like. I have been treated kinder, frankly, by non-Christians than people who call themselves Christians and smile to my face, while their behavior is blatantly opposite to what Christ commands.

Our Father calls us to be honest, compassionate peacemakers and He even gives us a formula for its success. First, Christ tells us in Matt 5:23-24 that we are required to reconcile with our brother or sister before we bring our gifts to the altar. Second, He tells us to forgive this person so our Father will forgive our sins. And thirdly, if we catch someone in a sin, we're to point out the person's fault and if they listen, all is well, but if they don't, take one or two witnesses along so the matter can be rectified. There's even a final option about getting the church evolved in Matt. 18:15-17. Therefore, based on all three of those Scriptural guidelines, we Christians should be resolving conflicts, forgiving one another and loving one another. But if even the forgiveness is coming slowly, we are above all, to love.

There. I know I feel much better getting all that out. And honestly, I don't follow all the above perfectly all the time. But I strive to, and praise Jesus, have an accountability group that calls me on the moments I am not doing as such. But if I don't see my Christian brothers and sisters working to reconcile, then I just plain and simple don't believe they are following the commands of Christ. They may be building walls around themselves or removing themselves from different things thinking they are protecting themselves from further harm. But that is folly. It's simply Satan isolating that person from the loving, reconciliation that Christ encourages. I know because I was there, doing that isolation bit, when all it did was make me more bitter, lonely and heartbroken.

If you love Jesus and owe your life to Him, He had a command that He considered second only to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength (Deut 6:5), and that was to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18) - and that doesn't mean just Christian ones. When we stand before His throne we will be accountable to Him.

So stop faking it. Stop metaphorically stabbing people in the back when they aren't around. Stop eliminating souls from your life thinking that is how you will guard your heart. Stop rolling your eyes at people you disagree with. Stop pitying yourself. Stop being so arrogant that you believe you alone have been wounded or are sin free. Stop looking for reasons to dislike someone God created in His image and was willing to die for. In the name of Christ Jesus, stop it.

And start being who Christ commanded ... Him.

47 Faith Focuses

Next Tuesday is Mardi Gras - the French words for Fat Tuesday, the day you're to feast before the fasting of Lent. Lent is the 40 days plus Sundays leading up to Easter. Some people throughout history have sacrificed something during these days - candy, smoking, social media, television, video games - to remember Christ's sacrifice. But I'm going to suggest a different method of celebrating.

If sacrifice is your preferred method of focusing of the Lord in the days leading up to Easter, go for it. Fast from whatever you feel is pulling you away from Him. But you can also proactively approach these days in efforts to improve yourself spiritually. I've listed 47 things that you can do, one each day, leading up to Easter Sunday. You don't necessarily have to do them in order (although the last seven do coincide with some events from the most important week in history). Perhaps these will revive your soul, encourage your spirit and grow the Kingdom in some God-glorifying way. Have fun! Praise His Name!

47 Faith Focuses during Lent (40 Day of Lent + 7 Sundays)

1) Read your Bible every day. Even if for a short while. Document over these next 47 days what the Lord teaches you through His Word.

2) Pray all throughout the day, as you wake up, mealtime, before bed, devotion time – even at restaurants if you’re out to supper. And ask the server how you can pray for them.

3) Do an anonymous random act of kindness in Christ’s name.

4) Write a thank you to someone for their service to Jesus.

5) Honor your parents in some way. Write them a love letter, do something in remembrance of them or in honor of them.

6) Give to a charity in Christ’s name.

7) Care for God’s Creation in some way – compost, plant a tree, start a garden, clean the streets.

8) Find reasons to edify others throughout the day.

9) Spend some time in study – read a Christian biography, take a new Bible study.

10) Podcast sermons to hear what others called by God are sharing.

11) Switch your radio to Christian music and see what change it makes in your life.

12) Journal your prayers. Write down when God give a specific answer to prayer.

13) Find a devotional that works for you: couples, women's, men's, family, beach, etc.

14) Ask the Lord to convict your heart in forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness from those around you that you have wronged. Forgive those who’ve wronged you.

15) Find a cause you are passionate about that involves helping the oppressed.

16) Clean out your closets and donate to a local Good Will, Salvation Army or thrift store.

17) When you grocery shop, pick up a few extra items for the food pantry.

18) Visit someone who is lonely, in the hospital or a nursing home.

19) Boldly speak to someone about Jesus Christ that you know could really use Him in their life.

20) Watch a Bible DVD or movie and have a discussion together about its accuracy, theme or message.

21) Sing praise songs to the Lord all day long.All. Day. Long.

22) Memorize Bible verses, or entire chapters of Scripture, like Psalm 23, the Sermon on the Mount, Romans 8, 1 Cor. 13, etc.

23) Avoid watching garbage on TV. Yes, that may mean turning it off completely. Remember, garbage in, garbage out.

24) Write out your faith story for future generations to read.

25) Ask the pastor: “What need does our church have that I can fill?”

26) Ponder the names of God and praise Him for the name that means the most to you today.

27) Take a good look in the mirror: What do you need to do to improve your body as a temple for the Lord?

28) Count your blessings. Write down everything you have to be thankful for.

29) Ponder God’s majesty by spending sometime tonight under the stars. Look for constellations in the sky, watch for shooting stars, check out the phase of the moon.

30) If your Bible is worn and filled with notes and highlights, considering getting a new one or different version and reading it with fresh eyes. If it’s not worn – open it up. The best kind of Bible is a well-read one.

31) Whatever task you face today, do it as if serving the Lord Himself, with joy, respect, grace, love and enthusiasm.

32) What has been the high of your day? Your low? What did God teach you through both of those things?

33) Take a spiritual gifts test. See what your strengths are and utilize them for God’s service.

34) Invite someone over for supper and learn more about them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

35) Be creative today! Make something, paint something, fix something, all for God’s glory and in His Name.

36) Go to the highest point in your town and look over the vastness of God’s creation. What new things do you see?

37) Look up the author and back story of one of the old hymns and sing it out, sing it out, sing it out!

38) Ask the Lord to nudge you about a particular person that may need to hear from you today and then act on it.

39) Go the whole day being “third.” Putting God first, then others, then yourself. Humbly let others go before you.

40) Read the story of the Exodus and participate in a Passover Meal. See how Christ took the place of the Passover lamb.

41) Check out Biblical maps to see where the patriarchs lived, where the 12 Tribes of Israel settled, how the Kingdom divided after Solomon, where the Israelites went during the Diaspora, what the Holy Lands looked like in Jesus time and what they look like today.

42) Do a spiritual inventory. Are you worshiping, reading the Word, studying, serving others. Put it away to be opened a year from now and see how you’ve grown spiritually.

43) When out to lunch – pay for someone else’s meal without them knowing. Tell the server to tell them it was done in Jesus’ name, but not that you did it.

44) Take communion today in remembrance of Him.

45) Read the story of Christ’s arrest, trial and crucifixion in all four gospels to get all their perspectives on this most important week in history.

46) Put together an Easter treat for a friend – flowers, balloons, candy and a Bible verse or devotion. Tell them how much Jesus loves them.

47) Dance before the Lord because Jesus Christ is risen today! This is a day of completely glorifying the Lord! Hallelujah, Amen.

 

I Have You Now

My coworker and friend at The River radio station, Hiawatha, was sharing an amazing story with me yesterday. She said she had a friend who was going in for heart surgery that did not believe in Jesus Christ. Right before he was to go under, a man in the operating room leaned down close to his face and said, "I have you now." Under anesthetic, he wrestled with this man during the entire surgery, until he finally called on the Name Above All Names, "Jesus!" When he did, he heard a voice say, "Leave him alone" and Satan went away. Yes, he believes he saw Satan in his operating room prior to his surgery and wrestled with him all during surgery. And when he awoke, this man asked Jesus Christ into his heart. I got the chills when she shared that story.

Hiawatha and I were discussing what an interesting method of evangelism that could be in hospitals. A person is going in for a major surgery, a man comes up prior to surgery and asks "Do you know Jesus?" If the person says yes, proceed to pray with them prior to surgery. If they say no, whisper menacingly "I have you now." It may just scare the hell out of them ... literally.

We had a laugh about this, but thinking about it later I wondered what reaction people would have. Because, let's face it, if they don't have Christ in their lives and their life is cut short, the truth of the matter is, Satan does have them. Because Christ told us "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." John 14:6. There is no other way to the Father. Not good works, not being a good person, not any other religion. It is Christ and Christ alone. He died the most horrifying death for the very purpose of bringing us to the Father. To pay the ultimate price for the sins we've committed.

I remember another friend telling me about two men in the trenches during World War II. During heavy fire, one man asked the other if he believed in Jesus and Heaven. One said he did. The other said he didn't. As the barrage continued, the one who believed said, "One of us is wrong and one is right. I'm thinking in a few minutes we're both about to find out. I'm pretty confident about my beliefs. I hope you are confident about yours."

There is no doubt in my mind about Jesus Christ. Not one. I believe in Him. I love Him. I want everyone to know Him. And my heart aches for the ones who do not. French poet Charles Pierre Baudelaire wrote: "The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist." And yet he does. And he's a liar, constantly trying to convince the children of God that the Word isn't true.

If you knew you were being lied to, wouldn't you want to know?

The Word is the Truth. Christ, the Son of God, died for you so that you could be in Paradise with Him. And Satan since the beginning of time has been trying to pull you from Him. Who do you want to believe? The liar? Or the one who loved you so much He died for you?

Because let's face it, if you believe the liar, then he can in all confidence say .... "I have you now."

Dear 20-year-old Self

My husband always says he would never go back in time to change things because he is who he is today because of the joys and trials he's faced. I, too, am a product of not just genetics and environment, but of the circumstances that have come my way. I still wish I could change things in my past and honestly could provide my 20-year-old self with some wisdom. Since I can't, I am hoping my sweet 20-something friends and my children will heed what's here, and save themselves a whole lot of hassle...

Dear 20-year-old Self,

First of all, I just want to tell you that when you look in the mirror, you are gorgeous. I know what you're thinking, but you are NOT fat, you are NOT ugly and you are filled with potential. You are unique! Song of Solomon has it right: "You are beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you." (4:7).

While you should enjoy the sun, understand that exposure to it causes one of the nastiest cancers there is - malignant melanoma. Please use caution. Do not get sunburned. You have a genetic disposition to it. And, it causes age spots and wrinkles that you're going to be surprised with around age 40.

Speaking of age 40, that's also about the time you'll need reading glasses to see anything up close. It's truly frustrating when you can't read the tiny print in your Bible and have to get a new one with ginormous letters. You might want to just start off with that one, because you'll even have trouble reading all those notes you wrote in the margins of things you didn't want to forget. Write big.

Make it a habit to eat right now. Yes, that means portion control and good food groups - not just chocolate and fried foods. If you get in that habit now, you're good to go in the future.

Don't be so afraid. Take some risks. Yes, you'll fail repeatedly, but you'll have plenty of successes, too. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil 4:13) Don't be so worried about people's approval. Just make sure you're pleasing the Lord.

When you have kids (and you will - two amazing ones) don't be in a such a hurry for them to grow up. Enjoy every single moment of their little growing years. They will move out around age 18 and rarely make it back home. You are borrowing them from God for that short period of time, so really soak it in. By the way, do NOT get that Playstation for them. More time in front of a screen is not what they need, trust me. And pray and read the Bible to them more.

Have fun with your grandparents. Their lives intersect with yours briefly. And they are so much fun. Really learn from and listen to them. Save all the letters from your grandma about gardening. You could really use them later.

I know you don't like to cook, but try anyways. You're husband will thank you later.

And speaking of him - yes, it's Brad, relax - pray for him without ceasing. Wait till you see what he does for Jesus! It will blow your mind. And he ages really well. :) By the way, that thing I just typed is called an emoticon and it's a smiley.

Seek countless opportunities to serve. The opportunities to learn and pray are endless and right in front of you, but if you don't look for the places to serve, you could miss them. The world does not revolve around you.

Save your money. You're going to want to spend it and you're going to wonder at many times on this journey how you could ever possibly save, but do it. Even if it's just a little. And for crying out loud, TITHE! Do not wait until you think you can do it. Do it immediately. You will be blessed beyond measure and it will help in that whole saving process.

Don't compromise your beliefs. You know what is truth, because you've read it in Scripture. The world is going to try to convince you otherwise, but stick to the Word. So much peace and abundant life there. You think Madonna's bad? Just wait to you see Lady Gaga. Yes, that's her name. Seriously. Stop laughing.

You think your memory is bad now,  you just wait. You'll take lots of pictures, so that will help. Your husband will insist that you've been to the Milwaukee Zoo in 1994. Be sure to take pictures of that, because you have no proof and it disappears into the abyss.

Emphasize cursive to your kids. Make them practice. It starts to disappear in the 2000s to the point that your children's generation will not be able to read it. Make sure your kids can.

Don't waste your time watching "Lost" (a TV show in the future). Trust me, you can use that time so much more efficiently elsewhere.

Take time every morning for devotions. I know you are not a morning person, but every day will go better if you start it with Scripture and prayer.

When you find something you really like, get two of them if you can. It never fails that when it wears out, you'll wish you had an extra.

Never let the devil get a foothold. He will try your whole life.To get you to be upset with the little things to destroy friendships. As soon as you feel that negativity, give it to God and remember what is important - love, love, love.

Remember to have fun. God has given, and will continue to give, you so very much. Enjoy it all and be sure to thank Him for every bit of it.

That's all for now. I don't have time to tell you about cellphones, Facebook and flat screen TVs. You will love all three, but keep it in perspective and use them wisely.

By the way, God loves you so very much. Loves you, loves you, loves you. You are never alone. Make good choices.

In Christ who died for you ~ 48-year-old You

The Whispers

You know the old cartoons with the character who is at the crossroads of a decision who suddenly has an angel appear on one shoulder and a devil appear on the other? Each is whispering in the ear of the poor confused soul as to what they should do. Sometimes the character follows the angel's advice, sometimes the devil, flicking the squealing angel off his shoulder. It's comical. We all laugh.

Recently some friends and I were talking about that "shoulder" advice. The whispers you get in your ears. Oftentimes, it's not about a decision you're about to make, but rather just continuous badgering about our frailties.

Let me give you an example. One friend said she'd sent a message to a relative. The relative didn't respond to several texts and phone calls. So it got her thinking: "I wonder what's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Did I do something wrong? Why wouldn't they accept my calls or respond to texts?" 

As you've probably guessed, the family member's phone had stopped working. They didn't dislike the other person, didn't think they'd done anything wrong at all. They just had a faulty piece of technology.

So where did the thoughts come from that brought my friend to this place of doubt, paranoia, frustration, disappointment, etc?

I'm going to go with the demon on the shoulder. Okay, that may be too cartoonish or comical for you, but is it really beyond possibility? Think about it. What better way to distract someone in a perfectly fine relationship than to whisper all those ridiculous things above.

I'm pretty convinced that is one of Satan and his army of demon's greatest weapons ... whispered deception. Let's face it, Christ himself called Satan the "father of lies" (John 8:44). He prowls around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). So naturally, the demons are hovering around us all day long looking for kinks in our spiritual armor to whisper to our weaknesses.

"Can you believe that person is behaving like that?" "What did he just say about you?" "You can't trust them." "That is never going to work." "You look terrible." Relentless, continuous. You've heard them, surely.

I told a friend recently we should probably give them names: Fear, Disappointment, Confusion, Doubt, etc. If we would identify those crazy thoughts as they're happening as the enemy whispering, we could do a little rebuking, say the name of Jesus out loud, recite some Scripture (our one spiritual weapon) and start putting these demons in their place.

It takes a little work to get to that place where we recognize those thoughts as the demon badgering they are. And being continuously in the Word helps us identify them. None of us is immune from the whispers. Even Jesus dealt with it after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness prior to starting his ministry. And he rebuked the devil with Scripture every single time. He is our example.

My accountability group is one of the best discerners of those whispers. When we share our challenges and struggles with each other, we can identify the lies Satan is whispering and move forward in strength. I pray you have someone who helps you in those times.

We have an enemy we can't see daily waging war against us. But beautifully, we have a Champion that we can't see either, that has armed us with the most powerful weapon there is. And he already has the victory.

Who are you going to listen to today?

Divine Providence?

"I see a blog coming out of this," my husband said as we were walking. I had just been sharing my thoughts on my visit to see our daughter in Rhode Island, explaining my shock at the lack of outwardly expressed Christianity in Providence. Our daughter has lived there for a year and has had trouble finding a church home, thus has no spiritual support group or accountability. There are no FM Christian radio stations in Providence. When I asked for a recommendation for a good church, one woman said, "There's a pretty cathedral down the street." Seriously? I didn't want pretty. I wanted Jesus.

I'm not saying Jesus wasn't in Providence. I'm just saying in my week there, I didn't see Him in the faces and places.

It made me long for home, where I was surrounded by Christian friends, could listen to Christian music whenever I wanted, could worship with my church family and didn't get sideways glances and raised eyebrows from folks who were offended by my "Exalt His Name" T-shirt. It was the strangest place I have ever been to faith-wise. And my heart ached for my daughter. Ayla epitomizes the Phil 2:15 verse which tells us to "shine like stars in the universe," and I felt because of her location, that her star was shining less brightly. It was a sad gray world (of course it was cloudy most of the time, so that didn't help). I felt I was given a tiny glimpse at what the endtimes will look like when people squelch faith. It is one of the emptiest feelings in the world. And my daughter is there all the time, every day in this tiny area of the country that Satan seems to have built a wall around. I told my husband, "Satan doesn't have to work hard here at all. He's got it taken care of already."

Yet, it's probably the best mission field I've ever been to. Countless souls for Ayla to touch in Jesus name, sharing about God's love and mercy in salvation through His Son.

While visiting with a group of Ayla's co-workers, one fellow commented how much he liked my shiny gold boatshoes. He said, "I enjoy reading your Facebook statuses because you put things on there like, 'Thank you, Jesus, for my gold shiny shoes,' and you mean it." I nodded my head and said, "I certainly do" and dropped the conversation. I missed an opportunity there to share more about Jesus with this young man. I only hope Ayla is given the chance to share more with him since I dropped the ball.

I have a friend named Cindy who constantly wears Christian T-shirts. Before I met her, I had a few, but taking a cue from her, I've upped my wardrobe of Christian T's for testimony purposes. When you see me, I want you to see Jesus. I want it to inspire others to dig into the Bible, to ask me questions about my faith and bring souls closer to Him. I wish I'd have brought more of those T-shirts to Providence to wear.

Knowing Ayla is not receiving much in the way of Christian feeding, I am going to do all in my power to be sure she is getting Jesus. My efforts will be limited to reminder calls for devotions, sending Christian CDs, encouraging Bible reading, sending her study materials, jotting down the occasional Bible verse on the back of an envelope and praying for and with her. And perhaps I will get her several Christian T-shirts to wear around town. Providence may not be showing any outward signs of Jesus to Ayla, but I'm praying Ayla will show outward signs of Jesus to Providence.

"Divine providence" is defined as God's activity in this world ... hoping I see more of that in the capital city named for it.

Solomon Syndrome

Imagine being unfathomably wealthy. Imagine being better than everyone else at what you do. Imagine being edified, even idolized, for it regularly. Imagine not having a single need that you cannot meet yourself.

I'm not talking about Solomon, as the title of this implies. I'm talking about Tiger Woods.

These last couple weeks, Tiger has had something of a public relations nightmare as rumors have circulated about his infidelity which he confirmed in his own statement about taking a leave from the sport which has graced his life. When this all came out in the news my son said, "Why has this happened? Tiger had everything: money, he did what he loved and was good at it; he has a beautiful wife and children. Why would he do this?" I just looked at him and said, "It's the Solomon Syndrome."

As Solomon is one of my son's favorite Biblical people because of his wisdom, this resonated with Anton. Solomon had everything: wisdom, wealth and honor to the point where God says "no other king will compare with you." (1 Kings 3:13) On top of all that, Solomon had God. He not only had the teachings and life lessons of his father, King David, but he had direct contact with the Father through a dream where God told him in 1 Kings 3:14 "If you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." Later God reaffirms and enhances this in 1 Kings 9:4 "As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances over Israel forever, as I promised your father David saying: 'There shall not fail you a successor on the thrown of Israel.'"

Biblical history tells us Solomon didn't do as God commanded. He married countless women, many who worshiped idols, prompting Solomon to worship these false gods. As a result, Israel was divided and the kingdom collapsed. Solomon wrote a book on his vanity called Ecclesiastes, having learned that finding joy in accumulating things of the world is akin to "chasing after the wind." He ends his book with these words: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing whether good or evil." (Eccles. 12:13-14)

When Tiger made his most recent statement, Miami Heat basketball player Dwyane Wade said, "One thing people don't understand is that we're human. You're not born with a menu on how not to do things wrong. You going to make mistakes like every human being."

But Dwyane is wrong. We are born with a menu that tells us how not to do things wrong. It's called the Bible. It's just we choose to do wrong anyways.

God knows what we have to deal with as humans. For heaven's sake, he was one in Jesus Christ and dealt with every temptation we did (Hebrews 4:15).

We can do the right thing. We can. Tiger said in his most recent statement "I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father and person." He does. We all need to focus on that. The issue is, what are you using as your guide to do that? Where is your focus? Scripture (Joshua 1:8) tells us Joshua was encouraged by God to "meditate on [the book of the law] day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it."

When the news of Tiger first came out, my husband asked: "Do you think Tiger has Jesus?" I said I didn't know, but thought perhaps he should try to contact him to tell him. My husband laughed, seeing that task as next to impossible. But somebody needs to.

Our family is praying for Tiger. We're praying if he doesn't know Christ, he finds Him. We're praying he find Scripture and reads it thoroughly. We're praying he acts in accordance with all that is written in it. We're praying he becomes that better husband, father and person he wishes to be.

Imagine a Tiger Woods, with all the blessings he already has, filled with the Holy Spirit? What couldn't that man accomplish in Christ's name? How many could come to know Christ through him?

Imagine...

[Wise Solomon painting by Lars Justinen]

Worthy

I read something this morning in World magazine that dug deep into my heart to the point of causing me to tear up. The story [The Death Of An Archdeacon, Nov. 7 issue] told about the increasing death toll in southern Sudan. While a peace agreement has been in place since 2005, the government there continues "its forced Islamization and Arabization" with little patience for Christians. One such Christian was Archdeacon Joseph Mabior Garang of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. One late August morning while leading a prayer service, the militia attacked his town, killing 43 people and injuring 62. Mabior was one of those who died. Mabior was shot twice in his legs. The part that got me was what happened after he was shot.

Writer Faith J.H. McDonnell says "30 men and women from the church and town, including tribal chiefs, soldiers, a university student and other youth leaders, and several of the town's oral historians, covered Mabior with their own bodies. All 30 gave their lives in their effort to protect him. Mabior died two hours later."

I called to my husband who was reading in another room to tell him about this and said, "I don't think I even know 30 people in one place who would do this for me." Imagine 30 people jumping in the line of fire to protect this man. Imagine him watching as each was killed in his place. My heart just aches thinking of it.

How awesome a man he must have been that they went to protect him. How much they must have loved him, a man worthy of giving their lives for.

We have one who seeks our life because of our love of Christ, and not our earthly lives so much as our eternal ones. Beth Moore once wrote of him: "We have a powerful enemy who - let me say this clearly - absolutely hates us." Peter tells us he prowls around like a lion seeking to destroy us: our adversary, the evil one, Satan.

While Satan attacks on a regular basis, it's important to remember Jesus already stepped in the line of fire for us. He died to save us, Romans 5:8 explains.

I try to visualize Satan coming for me again and again and watch as Jesus steps right in front of me. I see him hanging on that cross in utter agony for me. It's a powerful image, one that drives a person to their knees to beg for forgiveness.

What's so amazing about this is Jesus did this for every single person, every single sinner. Some don't acknowledge it; some don't absorb the depth of it; and some don't even know about it. Sadly, some think they are too unworthy to have had Christ die for them.

Well, we all are unworthy sinners, but God certainly doesn't think so. He apparently finds us worth dying for. He must love us very much.

I pray everyone comes to know and understand this.

And I pray for the people of Sudan.

[Photo shot by Rev. John C. Daau as found on www.theird.org]

Running Out Of Time

This morning while lifting weights I was watching some television. It takes my thoughts off the biceps, triceps, lunges, etc, and time goes swiftly by. Flipping channels to find something interesting, I checked out the History Channel. This day the show was about 2012 ... the year all apocalyptic folk are talking about. The Mayan calendar ends in 2012, folks say, therefore the end of the world is near. Actually, scientists say the Mayan calendar starts and ends with a planetary alignment and is actually circular, just starting all over. However, it's got people comparing prophecies of the Bible, Nostradamus and apparently even the Hopi Indians to see if our world will come to a cataclysmic end in three years. There's even a movie coming out this autumn called "2012" talking about that very thing. Everyone wants to know if and when the world will end.

Even Jesus said he didn't know when it would end. Mark 13:32 tells us only the Father knows (guess that eliminates Nostradamus, the Mayans and Hopi), then he tells us to be alert and watch the signs He mentions earlier in the chapter.

One thing popped in my mind however while doing my repetitions: if the world would come to an end in 2012, have I told everyone who needs to hear about the saving grace of Jesus?

I had a dream several years ago where the Lord was teaching me about discipleship and the expediency of it. In my dream, I was in a multi-car wreck on a highway. I jumped out of my burning car unhurt, but noticed the hundreds of cars around me also on fire. I asked God, "What should I do?" And he said, "Open the doors and show them the way." Of course, I found some excuses why I couldn't complete this task: "But Lord, some of these people are unconscious. How will I wake them? Some are much larger than me. How will I carry them away from the firey cars? "What if I pull some and they don't listen and get out?" He said to me, "I have other people to do those jobs. You just open the doors and show them the way." I looked to my right and saw ambulances arriving with professionals to rise the unconscious and carry the injured away. Then I heard the Lord said, "After you show them the way, send them back to the other cars to open the doors and show them the way." Seeing all these cars on fire, about to explode and kill the people within them, I knew I had little time to open these doors and rushed to complete the job.

Yes, very profound. I woke up shaking and in tears. We are running out of time. People truly are sitting in burning cars about to be consumed by eternal death, and we as Christians have the job to open those car doors and show the people the Way. And we need to do it now.

Who knows about 2012? The end of the world could be anytime. Anytime! We need to start telling God's children about Jesus and do it immediately.

They're running out of time.