Sleeping Soundly

Let me ask you a question.  If you knew you would die the next day, how well would you sleep? Would your eyes close in deep, restful slumber or would you toss and turn, watching the clock, anxiously awaiting the arrival of morning?

Now, let's make the deal a little more intense.  Add to that mournful thought a couple of soldiers chained to either of your wrists and see if that makes a difference.  Maybe their snores would keep you awake, but I don't think that's all that would be holding your eyes open.

Then tell me, how in the world did the Apostle Peter close his eyes in SLEEP the night before he was probably going to be executed by Herod?  The king had already killed James for preaching the Gospel - a horrid action which pleased the Jewish leaders of the day.  Yes, Peter's head was on the proverbial chopping block, and yet, he slept - hard.  As a matter of fact, when the angel appeared to free Peter from his chains, the holy light that filled the room didn't rouse him at all.  Instead, the angel had to poke Peter to stir him back into reality.  What could make his sleep so sound?  What could make Peter sleep like a baby on THIS particular night?

I think I know.  You see, Peter would have had access to the Old Testament, especially the book of Isaiah...Isaiah 26:3 for instance: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  

Peter knew.  He knew that God was still in control, shackles or no shackles.  He knew that whatever happened, it would be okay, whether that meant he was freed or whether he became a martyr. Peter found that "perfect peace," and therefore, sleep came easily for the apostle - even in the midst of serious circumstances.

Now, back to the first question:  If you knew you would die the next day, how well would you sleep? Would your eyes close in deep, restful slumber or would you toss and turn, watching the clock, anxiously awaiting the arrival of morning?  Something to think about, isn't it...in light of what we've just read.

It all boils down to trust.  Do we really, really, really trust Him?  Do we believe that God wants us to be at peace...to be able to sleep, even in the most dire of times?  Our overwhelming response should be "YES, He does."  He is our Heavenly Father, and the One who would never do anything other than what is best.  So, whatever He does, is good...whatever He does is right...and whatever He does is worth our trust.

So, keep your mind upon Jesus and sleep well, my friend.

Dearest Jesus, thank You that I can trust You.  Thank You that as I keep my mind on You, I find perfect peace.     

    

Shadows of Things to Come

That spider was huge! My husband and I sat in the car and watched as this gargantuan-looking creature built its web outside our garage. Normally, I would be horrified. Spiders and I are not on speaking terms...screaming terms, but definitely not speaking terms. This night, however, I wasn't concerned.

First of all, we were in the car. It wasn't like this giant creature could penetrate the windshield of our vehicle to reach its mortified occupant. Secondly, I was with my husband. Surely, he would take care of me...jumping in harm's way to protect me from that creepy, eight-legged, horrifyingly-ugly thing...surely. Lastly, I wasn't concerned, because the spider's size was a little more than exaggerated. You see, we were seeing just an enlarged shadow of a rather normal-sized creature. He was building a web directly in front of our garage light, so the shadow being cast on the garage was daunting, but nothing of which to be afraid.

Merriam Webster gives us this definition of the word “shadow”: An area of darkness created when a source of light is blocked. So really, there's nothing to be afraid of with a shadow. It might look scary and mysterious, but it's simply an area of darkness, nothing more.

With my curiosity peeked about this word, I Googled “shadows in the Bible.” I was surprised at what I found. There were 52 references – 52! One of which, I am sure, you have heard many times. It might even be that you haven't just heard it, you fear it. It's the Shadow of Death.

Sounds horrifying, doesn't it? Sounds like something big and daunting, hanging over our heads waiting for just the right moment to jump onto the windshield of our lives and break through. It's something that we can try and try to escape, but one day, it will find us all.

Yet, it's just a shadow. Did you get that? The thing we all usually fear the most as humans, is just a shadow...that is, for Believers. If you do not know Jesus, then you have every right to be fearful. For you, death is not a shadow, but a terrifying journey of torture and “lastingness.” It will be something that you will never escape. Fear and pain will be your friends and your companions...forever.

If that is your position, I pray that you will do as Romans 10:9 says: “Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with all your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.”

Now, that doesn't mean that you just utter those words and pray some prayer of simplicity for your salvation. It means that you confess that you are an enemy of God. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” You can't have friendship with God – reconciliation – apart from Jesus, His Son.

Next, you confess that Jesus is the ultimate Authority over your life – the One who knows what is best, and the One whose life you choose to follow and emulate. You believe, truly believe, that God resurrected Him. You believe that Christ's life and death and life again are a reality. The Bible says that if you believe that - with ALL your heart - then, death will be your friend, not your enemy. You WILL be saved. If you want to know more about this relationship with Jesus, please let us know. We'd love to walk with you through this journey.

And the Good News for those of us who DO believe? Well, as I said, death is merely a shadow. It may be big. It may be terrifying. It may be dark, but it can't hurt you. You will pass through it, only to find that it wasn't some big, scary monster. Instead, it was a beautiful path that brought you to a place of the greatest comfort and joy – a place more spectacular than you could ever imagine.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

The Wisdom I Desire

They're everywhere:  How to Lose 25 Lbs. in 30 Minutes or Less; How to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too;  How to Eat a Popsicle and Type a Newspaper Column at the Same Time.  Okay, so maybe the last title only applies to me, but you get the picture.  If you want to know how to do something - I mean, really KNOW how to do it, you can find books and articles in every medium.

But, I've got ONE particular book that is my favorite "How-to" book.  You may or may not be surprised at the answer.  On second thought, you probably won't be surprised at all.  Yes, it is the Bible...and it is IN the Bible.

The book of Proverbs is a treasure-trove of wisdom - of "how to" most everything, except maybe How to Fix Your Dishwasher in Less Time Than It Takes To Wash a Sinkful of Dishes!  It does include, however, how to respond when the book about fixing your dishwasher doesn't work for your model.  :)

I turn to the book of Proverbs often these days - almost every day, as a matter of fact.  It has 31 chapters, so it's easy to just choose the number of the date and begin reading.

I have been feeling a need to grow into this gray hair I am now sporting, so my thirst for wisdom is greater now more than ever.
Because of that, my help for your day (and my day) is to share a little "wisdom" with you from Proverbs.  These chosen passages come from Proverbs 15, because today is, you got it..the 15th.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger," v.1.  How's that for a day starter?  It's a reminder to us that if we want to be more peaceful with those around us, we won't retaliate when attacked.  Instead, we will respond properly and with thoughtful control of our tongue.  That, in turn, will help to calm a heated situation, instead of agitate it.

How about v. 4?  "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."  How many times has a lie crushed YOUR spirit?  It happens, doesn't it.  So, in light of how that affects us and others, it should be our choice to speak truth and life in every situation, not lies and deceit.

Again, v. 17, "better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred."  Oh how I can relate to this one!  There were many times we ONLY had vegetables grown in the garden. Money isn't everything.  We can work ourselves to death to afford our families everything they desire, but if we lose sight of our love for one another in the process, being monetarily wealthy doesn't matter anymore.

And one more...v. 31-32:  "He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise."  Yes, I want to be wise.  Yes, I want these gray hairs to mean something, but if I am not willing to accept the kind rebuke of a godly friend, then I will never live up to my hair.

I do have to add that this passage doesn't just say "rebuke."  It says a "life-giving rebuke."  There is a difference.  For instance, if a friend enlightens me to a fault in my life or some sin, and I get angry and refuse to consider his/her discernment, then I will not grow in wisdom.  However, if I listen...if I really HEAR them and understand what they are saying and respond accordingly...wisdom will crown my head in beautiful silver strands, mixed with a touch of static electricity.  

A good dose of Proverbs every day.  I highly recommend it.

God, I want to grow in wisdom.  I want to not just be smarter, but wiser in the things You teach me.  To do that Father, I have to study Your Word and spend time with You.  Call me to Yourself constantly. Don't let my feet wander from You.  I love You.  

Shiny or Shady?

Shiny or shady?  

I know...it's a strange question to ask, but I just couldn't help myself.  You see, there's a passage in Philippians 2:14-15 that's been intriguing me lately.  I even printed it out and taped it to my kitchen window.  One of the main reasons is that I struggle with these verses, so I need the reminder.  Here, I'll let you read them for yourself:  Do all things without grumbling or arguing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.  

Other translations render the phrase "appear as lights in the world," to say that we "shine like stars in the universe." How cool that is.  You know, to shine like a star for Jesus...unless, well...we aren't so shiny.  How does that happen?  How do we as Believers lose our effectiveness - our "shininess" - to those in the world around us?   

It's sadly, very simple: we grumble and argue.

Now, I don't have trouble arguing with people, for the most part. However, grumbling (or complaining, as other translations state), is definitely high on my "fix it" list.  I can complain with the best of them.  "This is bad, and that is bad."  "This can't get any worse, and that has to BE the worst."  "How could that happen, and why didn't it happen earlier?"    

See what I mean?  I can take a perfectly beautiful day and turn it into a miserable one for anyone in the hearing distance of my voice. Hence, Philippians 2:14-15 taped to my kitchen window - eye level - on a bright neon index card.  

I think if I - if we - truly understood the detriment our complaining does to the cause of Christ, we'd stop.  I think if we knew that by murmuring against another brother or sister in Christ, we actually hinder the Spirit's work (grieving the Spirit) within us and around us, we'd stop.  I think if we stood outside tonight, gazed up at the stars and picked out the dimmest one, realizing that we are THAT star to the rest of the world, we'd stop.  

So, let's stop...and then, start.  Let's stop complaining about our service at restaurants and start taking it as an opportunity to look like the servants of Christ we say we are.  Let's stop complaining about our bosses and our jobs and start being thankful that we have both.  Let's stop complaining about our spouses and our children not fulfilling our expectations and start serving them and loving them as Christ has served and loved us.  Let's stop our light from fading, and start polishing up our pointy little arms, so we can shine like the stars He created us to be...for His glory.  

Oh, Jesus, I really want to show people an accurate representation of Who You are here on this earth.  I want to shine for You, so that they can see who You really are...not the shady version...but the shiny one.  Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You. 

Freedom Begins with Focus

"I just can't!  I try and try and try to do the right thing, but it never works.  I am forever doomed to live a life in bondage to sin.  I hate it.  I wish I could be free."

Oh dear friend, you CAN be free.  Jesus has come that we could have life, and life more abundantly.  He conquered our sin, nailing it with Him to the cross - along with its power and influence.  

We just don't believe it.  We think our "sin" is some huge obstacle that cannot be beaten, when in fact, it's already BEEN beaten.  We, as Believers in Jesus Christ, have all the power necessary to conquer the "things" that haunt us.

We are power-filled, literally.  Ephesians 1:18-20 says, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you (not "disappointing life"), the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and (here it is) His incomparably great power for those of us who believe.  That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the heavenly realms."

Did you see it!?!  Did you see that we have the very power that raised Christ from the dead at our disposal.  So, if we are indeed power-filled, then why can we not seem to conquer our "besetting sin?"

I think our problem is focus.  You see, we focus on the "thing," while trying to conquer it.  We stare it straight in the eyes, becoming more and more powerless the longer our gaze is held.

Then, where should our focus be, if not on the thing we are trying to conquer?  I'm glad you asked.  The answer is so simple, it's easy to overlook.  Our focus should be...get this...our Savior.

Colossians 3:1-2 tells us to "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  Again, Paul tells us in Hebrews 12 to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith."  Nowhere in Scripture (that I know of) are we told to fix our eyes on our sin...to focus on the "offending thing," NOWHERE.

My husband shared this story from the pulpit today.  It defines clearly what happens when we focus on Christ.  Read it carefully and really think about what Dannecker was saying:

"Dannecker, the German sculptor, spent eight years in producing a face of Christ; and at last wrought out one in which the emotions of love and sorrow were perfectly blended that beholders wept as they looked upon it.  Subsequently, being solicited to employ his great talent on a statue of Venus, he replied, "After gazing so long into the face of Christ, think you that I can now turn my attention to a heathen goddess?'"  Here is the true secret of weanedness from worldy idols, "the expulsive power of a new affection."

Dearest Jesus, set my affections on You today...and every day.  Change my lifestyle, my habits, my comings and goings to reflect constant contact with You, so that whatever tries to take my thoughts away from You can be seen for what it truly is...unworthy.  I love You, Father.  

The Resurrection - Does it Matter?

Here we are a week or so post-Easter, and one question (along with its answer) has been floating around in my head. The Resurrection...does it matter? Is it really that important that Christ rose from the grave?

Well, if you answered, “Yes,” you are absolutely correct! You get 300,000 points. (They are pretend points, by the way, so if you got really excited, I apologize.)

If you answered, “Well, it really doesn't matter. It's not a big deal whether or not He rose, just as long as He died for our sins,” then, I would love to share something with you.

Let's take a look at 1 Corinthians 15:12-20. It is a lengthy passage, but we're gonna take it piece by piece. I will dissect the passage as we go, interspersing my comments in italics and using bold font for the Scripture.

Here it goes: 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? In other words, there were people in the Corinthian church at that time who didn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus or anyone else for that matter. Resurrection, to them, was not reality. 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. Did you see that!?! If the resurrection didn't happen, then what we tell others is a joke. Worse than that though, Paul says that if the resurrection was a farce, then our faith in Christ is useless...empty...powerless to save. We might as well pack up our Bibles and never darken the doors of church again. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead. OUCH! If there is no resurrection from the dead – if Jesus did not rise again – then any one of us who speaks of Christ being raised from the dead is a, for lack of a better term, LIAR to and about God. But He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. I don't know about you, but that's just plain scary to me – the thought that I could still be “in my sins.” I believe that Christ came so that I didn't have to be condemned by my sinfulness. If He is not raised, then I am in BIG trouble and so are you! 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. Oh, and if this hasn't been bad enough news, if there is no resurrection from the dead, then all of your and my deceased loved ones are just that – deceased. They are not waiting for you in Heaven. You and I will never see them again. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. Yep, I agree. If Jesus never rose from the dead and conquered death and its power, then we are living a lie, lying to those around us, lying to ourselves and just plain deceived. If that were the case, I would pity me, too. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. And there you have it. Don't you just love it when God slides a “but” in the midst of something so awful and terrible you can't bear to take it another second? I sure do.

So in light of these things, let me ask you again. The Resurrection...does it matter? Is it important that Christ rose from the grave? The resounding answer that I so long to hear even through my computer speakers right now MUST indeed be “YES!”

Until we see each other again...in print, enjoy your life in the light of the resurrection. For, it truly is a reality.

Dearest Jesus, I am so very thankful that I can trust in the resurrection...in Your resurrection, which secured my own. Thank You for conquering death and sin and giving me life here and in eternity with You. Thank You.  

Perfect Peace is Possible

It was early morning, and the stress of the day was exhibiting itself in my body and on my face. There was so much to do in such a short amount of time.  My day was full from the moment I arose from my slobbered-slumber, (you know that that is, right?) and barring Jesus coming back, it was not going to get any LESS full!  

Stumbling into the kitchen to heat up my cup of coffee that my husband had so graciously placed beside the bed, I took my first real look outside and saw life.  The trees were budding, and the grass was greener than I'd seen it in a long time.  Everything looked peaceful, and I wondered why I didn't feel so peaceful.  

Then, a little, blue rectangular sheet of paper stuck to the window caught my eye.  I had printed it out several days earlier, but this morning, the words printed on it, made me...well...relax.  

I'll bet you are just a little curious...right?  What was on that little slip of bright blue paper that softened the hard muscles in my shoulders and erased the scowl imprinted on my forehead?  

Okay, since you are so curious, I will tell you.  This is what I read: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You  Is. 26:3.  

That's all.  

I know from past experience, that as long as I focus on "myself" and "my" day and how much "I" have to do, my stress level only rises.  HOWEVER, when my priorities are placed where they should be...when my eyes are focused on my Jesus...when I truly choose to trust that He has already designed my day in perfect fashion, then that "perfect peace" really does exist.  My day no longer becomes what I HAVE to do, but what I GET to do for Him. That's a whole lot more fun than living my day in dread of the "next" thing. 

So you know what?  I think I'm gonna leave that little blue sheet of rectangular paper on my window until it turns pale white in the sunshine and the paper begins to disintegrate from age.  I need...really NEED His remedies for my life.  I need His Word filling my life and my window panes.  I need it.  

Guess what?  You do, too.  We all do.  So, maybe you should find some really bright blue rectangular paper and print out that verse for your very own.  How funny would it be to find that verse in every window sill in the city?  I can guarantee, if that were the case, tense-filled shoulders and imprinted scowls would become the exception to the rule in our lives, instead of the norm.  

Thank You, Lord for Your Word that truly does speak to me, Your child.  Thank You that Your Word is always timely and knows just what I need, when I need it.  I praise You, Father.  Always.