Remember to Tell Them

As parents, we talk to our kids about a lot of things:  the weather, school problems, table-manners, how NOT to eat disgusting things, nor hide their dirty clothes in their closets!  Yet, how long has it been since you've talked to your kids about Jesus? How long has it been since you've spoken to them about the glorious works of God in your life - past and present?  How long has it been since you shared a verse of Scripture to encourage them through some difficulty they are experiencing?

How long?

"But they don't want to hear it," you might say.  "They roll their eyes, and I feel like they are a million miles away when I bring it up."  So, instead of speaking, you choose to be silent and pray that God speaks to them.  All the while, He gave them YOU to be His mouthpiece!

Whether you and I realize it or not, our kids ARE listening.  And if Scripture is indeed, "Life" as it promises in Hebrews 4:12, then when we speak Scripture to them, we are speaking LIFE into them...rolled eyes or not.

Deuteronomy 11:2-7 says, "Today remember that your children were NOT the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God; His majesty, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm; the signs He performed and the things He did in the heart of Egypt, both to pharaoh king of Egypt and to His whole country; what He did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how He overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting rain on them  It was NOT your children who saw what He did for you in the desert until you arrived at this place and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth, right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them, but it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done." 

We assume that our kids know stuff, don't we?  We assume they will turn to Jesus during their difficult times, because they know He is faithful.  We assume that they know of His power and strength to supply their every need.  We assume that church attendance and Sunday school is enough to provide them with everything they need for their spiritual growth.  Yet, Scripture states we are to remember that it is OUR responsibility as parents to teach our kids, because they haven't "seen" God, as we have "seen" God.  They haven't "experienced" His power, as we have "experienced" it.   They haven't "heard" Him gently speak, as we have "heard" from Him.  

I'm not just talking about your "little" children, either.  Our kids are our kids...regardless of their age. They NEVER become too old to hear about God's faithfulness in our lives, and the Word of God is never without effect in theirs.

So, my encouragement to you is to speak LIFE into your kids today.  He has been good to you.  He has been faithful to you.  He has been your Provider, your Sustainer, your Hope.

Remember to tell them that.

Thank You, Jesus for this reminder to speak LIFE into my kids, regardless of their reactions.  May I remember...and then act.  
    

Fervent Love

Yes, Valentine's Day is over.  The large red cardboard hearts are torn asunder.  The chocolate candy is no longer lingering on the mouth corners of small children.  The stores are no longer selling large pink stuffed gorillas, except on clearance.

Sad, isn't it?  The holiday that celebrates love in all red has finally come to a close.

... but SHOULD IT?

As Christians, Valentine's Day just reminds us that we need to actually "do" love all year long.  I Peter 4:8 says, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Now, this task wouldn't be so daunting for me, if the text said, "above all things have love for one another...."  That wouldn't surprise me.  What both surprises me and challenges me is the addition of the word "fervent."  Believers are supposed to love one another fervently.

So what in the world does that mean?  In this context, fervent means "to boil" or "to seethe."  Sound like a Valentine's Day love to you every day of the year?  Yes, and no.

The love we have for one another...the love we are supposed to exhibit to one another is a love that drives us to compassion.  It's a love that fuels or motives and our actions.  It's a love that is passionate about the object of it's attention.

I think all too often, I exhibit the verse like this:  "Above all else, have 'comfortable' love for each other."  I love in action and deed with all my human ability, but when it becomes a little uncomfortable to do so, I back away.

Do you do that too?

I wonder why?  I questioned myself about this, and do you know what myself said?  (Yes, I talk to myself on a frequent basis.  And yes, I also answer myself.   And yes, I know what people say about people who do that!)

My answer was eye-opening, to say the least - I love humanly.  I love as much in my human nature as I possibly can.  And the problem is???  

There's no way we can fully love...fervently love...in our human nature.  We do NOT have that capability.  The type of love that Peter is speaking of here is not human love.  It's is "otherworldly." It's spiritual.  It's a love born in the heart and Spirit of God and cannot be accomplished without Him.

So, the next time you feel yourself getting a little uncomfortable and backing away from truly caring about someone - think.  Think to yourself.  Am I loving fervently as Christ would love?  Am I putting his/her needs above my own?  Am I showing this person that he/she is important to me and to the Lord?

If your answer to yourself (see...you talk to yourself too!) is "no," then don't just try to make it happen.  Don't try to think of ways to manufacture "fervent" love on your own.  You will only end up tired and burned out, trying to live and love as Christ.

Instead, get on your face before Jesus and ask Him to fill you with a fervent love...a "boiling" love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Ask Him to show you what that means.  Get out His Word and read I Corinthians 13.  Really - read I Corinthians 13 and ask Him to drive "love" deep into who you are.

I promise you.  If you and I can learn to live this way...if we can learn to really LOVE this way, the reality of Christ will be shown throughout the world.  No longer will comfortable love be the norm, but fervent love will exude from every Believer in every place, and Jesus would be exemplified for Who He really is.  Now THAT would make for a great Valentine's!

But If From There...

Where are you today?  

Are you sitting in your home warming yourself by a nice, cozy fire?  Are you lying in bed, reading the paper with one eye open and the other one closed?  Are you waiting by the side of a loved one in the hospital...whispering prayers of healing while they sleep?  

In Deuteronomy 4, the Israelites were somewhere, too...somewhere special.  They were about to cross over into the land God had promised would be there resting place - their final home.  For years they had traveled, wiping dust off their feet and packing up their belongings only to move from one place to the next.  And now, they were almost home.  They were finally on their way to a land where they could stake their tents and stay awhile.  

Moses, their leader, was giving them some final instructions.  He would not be entering the Promised Land with them.  He would never see the land as they saw it.  Instead, he would die before entering.  So, I am sure you can imagine that as they listened, each person - each child - and maybe even the animals hung on his every word, desiring to hear the last few words their leader would say. 

He told them to move forward.  He told them the land was theirs for the taking and to rejoice in their possession of it.  

But then, he gives them a warning.  He explains to them, like he had so many times before, that if they choose to disobey God - if they chose to follow other gods and serve them - that they would be taken from their homeland and given over to other people.  They would be snatched away from the place they would grow to love and would be scattered throughout the countryside as slaves.  Many of them would die in the process.  

However, God then gave them a way out.  He promised He would not leave them there...in THAT place.  He spoke through Moses and said,   "But if from THERE (emphasis mine) you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him.  For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath" (Deut. 4:29-31).  

I loved that...BUT IF FROM THERE.  Where?  But if from where?  
If from their place of distress...disobedience...disaster.  If from THAT place, the people of Israel would seek God, He promised they would find Him, if they searched for Him with all their hearts. In their slavery and solitude...in the midst of the consequences for their sin...in the midst of horrible situations of their own making - if from THERE, they would call on Him, He would hear them and come to them as a loving Father would.  

So, that begs the question again.  Where are you...spiritually speaking?  Are you there in the midst of your own disobedience, thinking that God will never want your presence again?  Are you suffering the consequences of your own actions, that have put you and your family in a horrible mess?  Are you desperately seeking something to fill your days, because you just can't seem to go on?  

Let me say it again, as Moses said it over thousands of years ago...but if from there!  If from there - wherever you are - you will seek Him with your whole heart and soul - if you will cry out to Him for help, He will hear you.  He will be "merciful" as Moses promised.  He will meet you THERE. 

Thank You, Jesus, that even in places of distress of my own making, You never leave me alone.  You will answer my call for help and mercy, because You are my God.  Thank You, Father. Thank You.  

All is Well

Disbelief.  That's how I would describe my conversation with my sister that night at the beginning of December.  Evidently, my mom had double pneumonia, which turned into fungal meningitis.  My sister said she might not make it through the night. 

I flew out the next morning to help my family four states away, while leaving my own family behind. 

I was there two-and-a-half weeks.  During that time, they placed mom on a ventilator, then took her off and gave her a tracheostomy.  Basically, that's a trach attached to a ventilator.  My dad went to the emergency room two different times for two different reasons, and had surgery the next week.  My sister was in one hospital with my mom, while I sat in the other hospital with my dad!  I got sick and ended up having four shots and two rounds of antibiotics.  My brother had a root canal.  My other brother developed a nasty upper respiratory infection. 

Let's see, the list could go on and on.  Believe me.  Did I mention that my older brother's house was almost burned down by a neighbor's out-of-control burn pile, and my dad's roof started leaking???

Still there's more, but I won't burden you with the details. : )

Yet, in the midst of it all, God was there.  Seriously.  He kept gently reminding me that I was not alone and that He was still in control.  So, when the choir director asked me to play and sing last Sunday (my mom has played the piano there for over 40 years), I found the perfect song.  It's a Christmas song with a beautiful message.  It's not often sung or played.  As a matter of fact, I've only heard it about 5 times in 10 years, but I happened to find it in a worship hymnal that belonged to my sister.  The name of the song is "All is Well." 

The first verse says, "All is well.  All is well.  Angels and men rejoice.  For tonight, darkness fell, into the dawn of Love's light.  Sing al-le.  Sing alleluia!"  The meaning behind it?  ALL IS WELL, because of Jesus. 

Because Jesus was born in a manger, grew to be a man, died on that cruel cross and rose again to conquer death, all is well.  Period.  He has the victory, not just over our sin, but over everything...over hospital rooms and doctors and fires out of control.  He has it all wrapped up in His plan, for He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). 

So, during the special music portion of the service that morning, I sang.  I sang that song as hard and as loud as I could, banging those keys into submission, as a tribute to the victory that I expected He would bring - no matter what.  I prayed that He would allow that to be my testimony for all of the people in the congregation who needed to be reminded that ALL IS WELL, because of Jesus. 

Fast forward to yesterday.  I am back home, sitting in my own church.  I'm glad to be home, but struggling, because part of me wanted to be there again, so I could help my sister - so, I could see my mom getting better - so I could bake biscuits, bacon and eggs for my dad.  

That's when it happened. 

The song service ended, and as the pianist began playing the offertory song, my heart heard a familiar tune...and I began to cry...not tears of grief or sadness - not tears of a burdened heart, but tears of appreciation for my God Who is gentle and so very personal. 

Each chord of the song struck deep into my heart.  I sung to myself, as she played:  "All I well.  All is well.  Angels and men rejoice.  For tonight, darkness fell into the dawn of Love's light.  Sing al-le - sing alleluia!" 

My sweet Father God was speaking...gently speaking, reminding me again that even though I was not beside my mom, that He was. 

All is indeed, well, because of Jesus. 

Maybe He did that just for me.  Or, maybe He did that because I am not the only person in the world that needed to be reminded that all is well, because of Jesus.  Maybe you do, too. 

So, let me be the bearer of wonderful, comforting, glorious news - All is well, my friend.  All is indeed, well. 

Thank You, Father, for the way You speak.  Thank You for whispering life into my heart in the strangest and most wonderful ways.  You are God.  You are in control.  You are the Victor.  All indeed, is well. 

Fixing our Eyes on Jesus

Every morning before breakfast, Steve and I take our morning walk, accompanied by a rather large dog and two small ones.   I usually handle Lilly, the lab mix, while Steve walks Sugar and Peanut - the rambunctious, energy-filled, affection-loving Chow/Shepherd puppies.  

Almost every day, we play a game with "Sugars" that starts my day off with a happy heart and a smile on my face.  It consists of Steve, alone, leashing the puppies and taking them several yards away from the house.  Then, and only then, do I step foot out the back door.  As soon as Sugar sees me, Steve drops the leash, and the onslaught begins.  

It's as if all else disappears from her sight.   She focuses her attention directly and plows through the grass - over hill and dale - to get to me.  Her tail is wagging.  Her fur is waving. And her tongue is dangling so far behind her face that it hits her ears!  The drive and passion and sheer delight she exhibits while running to me, thrills me beyond words.  She collides into my legs, and I reward her with hugs and rubs, exhibiting to her my own delight with her presence and pursuit.  

I wish you could see it - experience it.  There's nothing quite as tender as being the object of a little puppies' love and affection with no barriers, no boundaries.  Nothing else matters for Sugar at that moment, except getting to the one she loves.  

Oh, how I wish my life exhibited that same devotion to my Jesus.  How cool it would be, to be so thoroughly focused and fixed on getting to the One who loves me that distractions were just things that flew by my face as I raced forward.  That I would run the race He has set before me, fixing my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my faith (Heb. 12:3).  Not running out of duty or prodding, but running out of sheer desire to be in His presence - to be with the One who loves me and the One I love. 

That would be cool, wouldn't it?  

So, what's stopping me?  What's stopping us?  

I say we do it.  I say we not allow circumstances to distract us from Jesus.  Let's choose each moment of the day to focus our attention on the One we love and Who loves us.  Let's not fix our eyes on anything else - not family, not failures, not bank accounts, not struggles, not holidays, nothing.  Let's focus or "fix" our eyes on Jesus  and run to Him as hard and as fast as we possibly can, throwing off all inhibitions and letting our tongues whack us in the ears if need be!!!  

Jesus, You are so good, and I am blessed to call You my Savior.  I am honored and amazed that You love me - that You want to be with me.  I praise Your name.  I praise You.  

By the way, just as I finished the last words of this column, my ears picked up the sound of a Christian band, singing their hit over the radio at my doctor's office.  These are the words that I heard:  "Fix my eyes (my eyes) on You (on You)...on You."  Hmmmmm.....

The Thankfulness Default

Slower than cold syrup...that described the speed of my computer attempting to search for something the other day.  No matter what I did, my computer just searched and searched and searched.  I thought it was just an evil plot by my keyboard to torture me.  However, my computer-savvy husband eased my mind and fixed the problem by simply restoring the default settings.

If you are anything like me, your computer lingo is a little less than up-to-date, so let me explain.  A default setting is something your computer does automatically - once you tell it to do it.  For instance, if you have more than one printer attached to your computer, you can push a few buttons and tell your computer to always choose the Epson Stylus as your default printer.  That means every time you try to print something, the computer will automatically use that specific printer, unless you tell it differently.  It's a default setting. 

Now, I know it's not quite Thanksgiving yet, but I'm still thinking about it none-the-less...especially today while thinking about the default settings on my computer.  What in the world do the two have in common?  A lot, I think.  At least, I think they should.

You see, what if we made "thankfulness" our default setting?  Scripture tells us to be "thankful in all things. (I Thess. 5:18)"  It tells us over and over again that God is due our thanks for simply being good (Ps. 106:1, Ps. 107:1, etc...!).  It tells us that we are to be thankful in anxious situations, so that the peace of Christ can rule over our hearts (Phil. 4:6,7). 

Why?  What's the big deal about being thankful?  It's because thankfulness reminds us that God is in control.  It reminds us that we owe a debt to the Giver of all life.  It changes our mindset and even our heart-set in the worst of circumstances.  It brings peace, where there is none.  It separates us from the rest of humanity who don't know Him...and paints a picture of Who He is. 

Being thankful is essential in our walk.  But what does that look like in real life?  What does resetting our default system to thankfulness mean?  Well, it means that when put in a "bad" situation, we will automatically choose to look for something good and speak life into that dark place. It means every time we get angry at our kids for doing something wrong, we don't lose our tempter.  Instead of responding in a negative way, we default into being thankful that we actually have children to discipline.  It means that every time we get behind someone going slower than the speed limit, we default to thankfulness and recognize that God might be sparing our lives from a wreck up ahead.

It means that every time our houses needs to be cleaned, we just do it - instead of getting grumpy and being irritating to those around us.  We choose to be thankful that we have a house to clean.  It means that every time the electricity goes off and we miss our favorite show, we default into recognizing and being thankful that we've had electricity for a very, very long time.

No, thankfulness is not our first inclination.  Naturally, we aren't geared that way.  We are geared to complain and gripe and say that everything is bad.  However, if we are followers of Christ, we can choose to change our default setting to thankfulness.  We can choose to be thankful, because that is what is commanded by Christ.  It's our responsibility as Believers to show a world that is NOT thankful, how to BE thankful.  Set your "default setting" on thankfulness and the world will know that you are His!

Thank You, Jesus that through You, I CAN choose thankfulness.  I have SO much to be thankful for...and therefore, I choose to thank You today for my life and the way You are directing my life.  Help me today to redirect my anxiety and worry...my impatience and arrogance...to thankfulness.  Thank You, Lord..that You listen, when I call and that You desire to help.   
 

Trading Death for Life

"Do you need a lawyer?" 

I have never been asked that question in my life, but last week, I was asked not once, but TWICE.  No, I was not in trouble with the Law.  No, I didn't take something that didn't belong to me...unless you count that piece of my children's Halloween candy.  No, there were no warrants out for my arrest.  Instead, I was merely sitting in a courtroom, minding my own business, in support of a family friend.  Of course, my husband and I were there for about 9 hours, so I am sure it looked like we were waiting for someone to come to our rescue, but we weren't.   

Yet, being in the courtroom DID make me think.  It made me think of the times I had broken the law in the past - the times that I had sped down those MS dirt roads with the wind blowing in my hair and the dust flying in my face.  I was guilty of breaking the law.  I just didn't get caught.  Oh, I SHOULD have been prosecuted by the law.  I SHOULD have had to pay the fine.  I SHOULD have gone to Safe Driving School.  Again, I just didn't get caught!  However, not being caught, didn't make me any less guilty. 

That's like our spiritual life.  Not "getting caught" in our sin doesn't make us any less guilty.  Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned or fallen short of the glory of God."  We have all messed up.  We've all broken God's Law at one time or another and ended up standing before a Holy and Righteous Judge. 

And what does that infringement of God's Law cost us?  Scripture says that it costs us our lives:  "For the wages of sin is death..."

Yuck!  You mean to tell me that just because I lied to my mom about eating that piece of peppermint in the third grade,  I am guilty and sentenced to death (life apart from God)?  Yep.  You mean to tell me that just because I ate waaaay too much food during Thanksgiving break that I am guilty and sentenced to death?  Yep.  You mean to tell me that just because I tried to make someone feel better by telling them that I liked their shirt, when it really was hideous that I am guilty of breaking God's Law and am sentenced to death?  Yep.  Whether you got caught or not, doesn't make you (or me) any less guilty. 

BUT...the remaining part of Romans 6:23 says, "but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."   

Think of it this way.  You are standing before a judge on this earth, fully-knowing your guilt.  Your hands are free, but your feet are cuffed.  You know that there is nothing you can do.  Your lawyer is absent.  Your friends aren't allowed to speak on your behalf.  The defense rests.  All seems lost.  

The judge returns to the bench and speaks the verdict - Death by electrocution.  Your mind reels.  You didn't mean for it to ever get this far.  After all, you really didn't do anything to deserve the death penalty.  You just broke the law...a little...one time.  And now your life is over.  You will die alone, wishing you had never crossed paths with that judge.  You beg for the mercy, but to no avail.  You plead for your case to be reviewed, but your time has come.  Death is inevitable. 

All of the sudden, from the back of the room, a Man steps forward.   He looks intently at you, asking you to trust Him.  Realizing He is your last chance, you beg Him...you plead with Him to do anything He can do to relieve you of this penalty...this judgment. 

He smiles, approaches the bench, takes the guilty verdict and crosses out your name.  Before you can say a word and question how He can do this, He writes His name above yours...canceling out your signature.  The bailiff approaches and removes the cuffs from your feet and places them on the feet of the Man who took your place.  Then he leads the new Prisoner away...towards the chair that will take His life - His life, instead of yours. 

That's nuts...but it's TRUTH.  Jesus Christ is our propitiation - our satisfaction before God.  He substitutes His life for ours, if we but ask.  No payment on our part is involved.  Instead, a simple exchange of confessing words will do...along with a remorseful heart.  Then and only then, is your guilty verdict appeased...is your punishment atoned for.  Only then is court adjourned and your freedom secured.

So, I challenge you will all my heart.  If you do not know this Substitute - this Jesus, then don't stop reading here.  Instead, find a Bible and start reading in the Gospel of John.  Read of Jesus' life and His great love for you - His death and His resurrection - all for your behalf.  Then, ask Him to be Your substitution.  Allow Him to trade your death for life.  He loves you that much, my friend.  He loves you that much.   

Jesus, You know that there are those who may read this today, who need to know You.  I pray for them.  I pray You will reveal Yourself to them, so that they too, may know You as Advocate and Friend.  Thank You for hearing my prayers for them.  Thank You.