​30 January, 2016
Because I’m Quirky Too
Ephesians 4:2
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

I love this verse. And the reason I love this verse isn’t so much because it’s easy and fun to follow, but it’s because I love it when the actions in this verse are directed at me. And because I have benefitted from receiving gentleness, patience, generosity and love from other people and, most of all, consistently and constantly from God himself, I really am motivated to treat others the way I have been (and don’t deserve to be) treated.

God doesn’t like it when something good has been extended to us but then we don’t dole it out in return to others. In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus describes a scenario where a man who was forgiven a great debt turned around and arrested another man who was owed a smaller amount of money. The forgiver of the great debt was furious when he found out that the man who received mercy extended no mercy. The fool in this story is clear, and I don’t want to be that guy.

People are quirky. Everyone is broken in some area of their life. How awful for me to not extend someone mercy in the area of their quirk just because my quirk doesn’t happen to be in that area. I need to make allowances for other people’s faults because I am in need of people to make allowances for mine!

This certainly doesn’t mean sinful behavior is running the show. Quite the contrary. Believers are simply called to share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (see Galatians 6:1-3). And making allowances for others is a good way to do just that.

Dear God,
First of all, thank you SO much for not holding the things I do wrong and the quirks I still have against me. Instead you work on me while forgiving me and loving me the whole time. I love what acceptance feels like and the freedom that comes with it. Help me not to shun others while you work on areas of their lives. Help me to live with everyone in your Family with the understanding you extend to me. I do not want to be like the unforgiving man with debts. I want to be generous and merciful because that’s what you do for me. And I just can’t thank you enough. What a relief you bring to my heart every day. I love you so much! And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​28 January 2016
Invisible Truth
John 4:24
For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

One time, the Apostle Paul said that even though he was far away from the people of a particular church that he was present with them in spirit (see Colossians 2:5). I hear a lot of Christians repeat that sort of phrasing when they can’t make it to a potluck or something: I’ll be with you in spirit. Well, how? Why do they say that? How are they going to do that?

I figured out how in the car one day when a Johnny Mathis Christmas song came on the radio. My mom loves Johnny and blasted his records when we’d clean house on Saturdays when I was growing up. I was not thinking about my mom at the time because I was thinking about the store I was driving to and what I needed to get when I got there. But the second his voice came through the speakers in my van my mommy was all in my head. I could visibly see her in my mind’s eye, and time spent with her just came flooding into my heart and mind (all of my invisible insides). I think I even called her when I got home. We are with someone “in spirit” when we think about them, when we focus on them, when we think about something we know they think about.

Similarly, If I want to worship God “in spirit,” I simply think about him. I think about what he thinks about by reading and recalling his Word. I listen to music that relay truths about him. I talk to him often and about everything – and most of these conversations are not audible to anyone else. It all takes place on the inside but connects me right to him in a flash same as mom my was “with me,” so to speak in my car that day.

God takes care of me physically and spiritually. So, I must obey and trust him not only spiritually (on my inside) but also physically (what people will see).

Colossians 1:15 says that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. God has an invisible quality to him, so there is also an unseen aspect of my relationship with him. But invisible doesn’t me non-existent. I have an invisible relationship with gravity right now too, and there is tons of physical proof that it exists.

My behavior (what people see) should reflect what’s going on inside that they do not see. So I cannot believe in God and only interact with him invisibly and be disobedient physically. Neither can I display a bunch of obedient behavior on the outside while not revering God on the inside. Both of these cases would make me an insincere Believer with a casual and false confession of faith.

God is Spirit (invisible) and Truth (reality). So sincere Believers interact with him, obey him, trust him, and revere him on the inside and outwardly.

Dear God,
Thank you for your visible and invisible qualities that make you all consuming in my life. Thank you for flooding my heart and mind. Thank you for giving me real truth to pursue and for taking care of me physically and spiritually. I really do want to praise you with ALL that I am inside and out because I love you and I am so thankful for your love and forgiveness. And I pray in your Son’s name, according to your good will. Amen.

​26 January 2016
The Truth about Bragging
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Bragging is unbecoming. And bragging before God is ridiculous! Everyone is uncomfortable around a person making herself sound good. It makes for awkward conversation. I’ve noticed that typical braggers are actually the most insecure people on the planet. It’s sad.

Because I’m a Believer, I don’t need to puff myself up to anyone. I certainly don’t need to brag about all I’ve done to God; I know there is nothing I’ve done or could have done to deserve his love. Clearly, salvation is just a gift from him and not a reward for me (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Bragging would be useless and embarrassing. 

There’s also no reason to brag on myself to other people either. Because of all that God has done for me, I realize every day that he loves me and accepts me and helps me even when I don’t deserve it, if I do says so myself! (See 1 Timothy 1:14-16*) It leaves very little to brag about and makes me incredibly secure in his love. I don’t need to brag to try and gain some sort of acceptance because I’m already accepted. I don’t need to talk myself or anyone into thinking I’m great and wonderful. I know the truth:  I’m neither great nor wonderful, but Jesus loves me anyway! And he is simply displaying his immense patience through me as an example for those who would believe*. That’s what’s really going on.

If there is anything great going on with me, it’s only because Jesus is in my heart and God is working in me (See Philippians 2:13). Credit is for the One to whom credit is due, and that ain’t me! And it certainly shouldn’t come from me. If I’m going to brag, it’s going to be about how much I am loved by God and what he’s done for me through his Son, Jesus. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).”

Verses related to bragging:
Luke 17:9-10
And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’
Proverbs 27:1-2
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.
Jeremiah 9:23
Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.
​
Dear God,
Thank you for all you’ve done for me! I’m especially grateful for your acceptance of me and love for me that is so huge that I don’t need to try and get it from other people by making myself sound good. You know the truth and you love me anyway, and I just can’t thank you enough. I really enjoy the security of your love and praise you in Jesus’ name, amen.

​25 January 2016
Two Boxes
Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

This verse doesn’t mean that we ignore the things that are dishonorable, not right, and impure but we shouldn’t focus on those things. Focusing on those things prompts us to think of what we should’ve said or done or how we can insert ourselves to ‘teach someone a lesson.’ Focusing on the wrongs also helps our imagination run wild. We make agreements with guilt, shame, disappointment and discontentment. It makes things that are not admirable and not excellent the biggest in our lives, and that is contrary to making God, who is admirable and excellent, the biggest.

And God needs to be the biggest.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3)

If I magnify my problems they will be the biggest, and I will not be able to execute Philippians 4:8 in my life. God knows what the problems are (See Matthew 6:32). And me not dwelling on them makes room for him to intervene instead of me plotting incompetent action.

Having my brain divided into two boxes is a good idea. One box has a lid, and the stuff in there is not being ignored but it is not being mulled over either. This box is for God to open and take care of as he sees fit.

The other box is open. I fill it with things to reflect on that are true (God’s Word), honorable (godly people I know who have shared their experiences with me for encouragement), right (events where godliness prevailed - even movies and books have heroes that remind me of Jesus!), pure (times spent in my relationships with my husband, parents & kids), lovely (the home God gave us & the flowers in my garden), admirable (people I know who willingly sacrifice - I think of godly wives, widowers, military friends...), excellent (Believers who rely on God’s promises), and praiseworthy (God’s promises proving true!). I make a practice of thinking about THESE things and leave the lid ON the other box.

Dear God,
Thank you for your Word, Miss Deborah’s testimony, Corrie ten Boom, my marriage & family, our home and yard and beautiful places we’ve visited on vacations, our friends, like Joe, who are veterans, Terry & Liz’s parenting example, and for the firsthand experience of your promises being reality in my life. I thank you for sustaining our family when Rob got sick and during his recovery, thank you for our parents’ good health, and for giving us four wonderful kids who love and trust you. Thank you so much! And I invite you to open the other box in my heart and take care of my concerns. Thank you for keeping us safe during these unsafe days and shaking economic times. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​20 January 2016
January 20, 1998
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Eighteen years ago today my husband and I became parents. Around 1 am we welcomed the most beautiful and precious little girl into the world. She really was a perfect baby. Great temperament, adorable face, perfect features, content and happy. The delivery was another matter and it took a long time to heal. But it reminded me of the Bible verse that says when a mother’s child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world (John 16:21). Those words are so true. Her delivery was difficult, and my recovery was extensive, but once she was in my arms there was no more anguish, and I literally didn’t care about another single thing because my heart was OVERWHELMED with joy!

That passage from John is actually from a time when Jesus was explaining to his disciples what would happen to him. He was telling them plainly that they won’t like it. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy... So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (See John 16:19-24) His words tie in perfectly with James describing how troubles are opportunities for great joy. 

We brought our daughter home a few days later, but we had also just bought a house. The house needed lots of fixing up and we were due to move in it in just a couple days after coming home from the hospital. So my husband worked ‘round the clock putting in new flooring, painting, replacing fixtures and all during El Nino weather; everything took twice as long and forever to dry.  Poor guy. Then moving day came, and I was no help at all. All I could do was sit and hold the baby. We had a big sectional couch and he moved one section at a time and took me and the baby with the last section. (Pictured above is Abby and me on the last section!) It was smack dab in the middle of the week when everyone we know was working, so he did most of all this all by himself. What would have made normal people normally completely irritated with the work and the weather was completely eclipsed by great joy. We had this beautiful baby in the midst of all that, and that was all that mattered. 

Similarly, I have Jesus. All the time. And in the midst of all that ever goes on during my worst of days or in troubled times that are sure to come, I still have him, so I still have great joy. Always. That’s why God’s Word says, Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We certainly don’t have to be thankful FOR our bad circumstances, but we can be thankful DURING them.  Like a brand new baby whose presence eclipsed physical pain and a hectic move, I want Jesus to be bigger than my troubling circumstances, so nothing and no one can rob me of great joy!

Dear God,
First of all, I must just thank you so much for my beautiful daughter, Abby, who is just as beautiful and precious today as the day she was born. I thank you for her sweetness and sensitivity, her talents, her fascinating personality, and her love for you. Thank you for always working everything out for us and letting us enjoy great joy. Thank you for your Son whose presence is just as real and eclipsing as our brand new baby was to us. I love you so much and thank you for the many opportunities you give us so that we can have real joy. I thank you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

14 January 2016
Forever Family
1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

Ever had a break with someone from church? Who’s right and who’s wrong? We’re both Believers, right? Sometimes the one who is struggling in a particular area stops being friends with their current group of Christian friends, but isn’t God still working on their hearts? Two people in a disagreement doesn’t make one of them unsaved. Genuine, unintentional offenses doesn’t turn people into un-Christians either. Christians struggle with stuff, and sometimes they can’t struggle with stuff with certain people anymore. It’s weird, but it’s common.

Paul and Barnabas are both in Heaven with Jesus this very day, but there came a time in their lives when they stopped working in ministry together over a sharp disagreement. (See Acts 15:36-41) If God held public court on earth, he may have ruled in favor over one guy over the other in their case; I don’t know. But that isn’t how God works. And both men continued on in the ministry blessed.

When I see someone I used to be friends with, I don’t get too sad anymore. I realize that we are still Family. They are a fellow Believer, and I love them. If there’s an offense, I forgive them. But restoration isn’t always possible as everyone has the same Jesus but not the same preferences. But, I can genuinely respond in love to all Believers, the one’s I’m in fellowship with and the one’s I’m not. It is because they are all part of my Forever Family. Think about two biological sisters who grow up together and then grow apart in adulthood. They’re still sisters. You can’t change blood.

Same with the Family of God. You can’t change the blood of Jesus that saved each one of us in God’s Family. I may not grab coffee with people I used to, but we’ll have plenty of time to catch up in Heaven!

(Disclaimer: I am not talking about sin issues. Sadly, there are people who I used to fellowship with that I will not be reunited with in Heaven because they took off because of sin, not a sharp disagreement or hurt feeling.)

Dear God,
I am thankful for the people you’ve brought in and out of my life. Each one has given me things to think about and, more importantly, each relationship has taught me what is most important. And I am thankful, even for the times my feelings have been hurt. I thank you that only you can make me have genuine love for all Believers. I still marvel at that. You have made a real, life-like and functioning Family out of a bunch of biologically unrelated people. Thank you so much. Thank you for my biological family and for my Forever Family. I look forward to Reunion Day!!!

12 January, 2016
Whenever I feel like an outsider...
Galatians 3:28
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This passage is proof that God has no favorites. There is no social stratum or group that is more saved, more loved or just plain cooler than another. Life with God is not the lunch tables in high school. He loves & forgives everyone who believes in his Son, Jesus. And he loves us all the same – not some more than others or less than others like we do based on what people look like, where they work, or what kind of car they drive.

I’m thinking of the two men Jesus compared in Luke 18. “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!” But guess what the tax collector was there to do? “The tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.” (v. 9-14)

It didn’t matter to God that the tax collector was not a popular or desirable person. What mattered was the state of this guy’s heart; and his heart was calling out to be forgiven, and he was forgiven indeed. God never says, I would forgive you if you weren’t such a dirt bag.  Or, I would love you if you were prettier, happier, smarter, thriftier...

Landowners have no special treatment over renters, white collar workers have no privileges above the blue, God doesn’t love men more then women or millionaires more than the homeless. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. He will love and forgive anyone, anytime, anywhere. What else can we say that about? Some of us can’t even say that about our own families. If we weren’t lucky enough to be the oldest, the smartest, the prettiest or the baby of the family, we’re outta luck.

But God truly has no favorites in his Family. He also has no outcasts. He makes us all part of the same Family free to enjoy a rich, full life in Jesus (John 10:10) regardless of our class, finances, education or social standing. Whenever I feel like an outsider, I think about this and smile.

Dear God,
I don’t need another area of life where I don’t fit in. Thank you so much that it just so happens that in the most important are of my life, who I am and where I will spend eternity, you’ve made it so I fit in perfectly. Thank you for forgiving me, loving me, and accepting me just like I am. I love you so much and I just can’t thank you enough for how you operate. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

5 January 2016
Apocalypto People
Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Learn to do good... The assumption that people are inherently good is false. If people are naturally good, then why would we need instruction on what good is and how to do it? The truth is that people are not inherently good.

Enough time has gone by in “civilized” society to perpetuate such a false assumption. The truth is that people whose lives are changed because of God are good. Jesus in our hearts is what makes us good again. Romans 3:12-25 explains how: No one does good, not a single one. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies. Snake venom drips from their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don’t know where to find peace. They have no fear of God at all.... For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

It doesn’t seem to make sense to be righteous and good without physically doing something. But we’re made righteous and good by knowing Jesus and what he’s done, then we do righteous and good things.

So Believers, who because of Jesus are righteous and good, have been affecting the world for centuries. They have brought about decency and morality to everyone by being happening to be in influential places. To see what life is like with no influence of Believers watch the movie Apocalypto. Be warned it is VERY violent and the people do VERY awful things in that movie. You know why? Because it’s a perfect picture of what No one does good, not a single one looks like. Treating others the way you want to be treated spread with the Gospel (See Matthew 7:12); it is not man’s default setting.

When the Good News spread like wildfire, it affected society, and even the unbelievers’ lives enjoyed a new moral structure. That is why the lie of the Enemy that people are inherently good continues to spread; people simply don’t remember what life was like before Christianity spread. Reality is that people inherently want to rip each other apart and take what isn’t theirs, but God has shown EVERYONE a better way through Jesus.

Fun fact: Over the last few decades we have been rapidly watching common morality decline, but this is exciting news because Jesus said his return will be like it was in Noah’s day (Matthew 24:37). And the days of Noah were... evil! (Hence, the Flood - Genesis 6:5-7.)

Dear God,
Thank you for making my heart good, for showing me good things to do and for keeping me safe in these changing times. Thank you for the soon return of your Son, Jesus, in whose name I pray according to your good will. Amen.

​2 January 2016
Round Three
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

People think and behave differently when they’re short on time. If you’re running late for work, the bed might not get made because it’s not as important as getting dressed and eating breakfast. We are able to quickly sort between important and more important when we’re pressed for time.

I like to watch some MMA fights and often notice that the fighters take their time in rounds one and two, but when the third round comes, they do all they can to knock out their opponent – especially in the last 30 seconds. But if they fought like they do in the last 30 seconds of round three way back in round one, then there wouldn’t even be a second or third round. They only really turn on the heat when they’re running out of time.

Every day we should realize we are running out of time. Psalm 103:15-16 describes our life like this: 
Our days on earth are like grass; like wild flowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone — as though we had never been here.

But what if we do something during our short stay so that our lives aren’t gone with the wind? What if my kids follow Jesus because I do? What if I behave like Jesus? What if I invite people to church? What if I tell them about Jesus? What if I see a co-worker or the check out lady in Heaven one day?  I can affect what happens in people’s lives after I’m gone. It doesn’t matter if I get credit; it’s not about me personally being remembered. But the fact is that I will see my kids in heaven because I’ve shared God with them. I will most likely see their kids in heaven too. 

Live like it’s Round Three. Don’t waste time. Making the beds isn’t the most important thing. Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

What does that mean? What can I possibly actually take to Heaven when my short life is over?

PEOPLE! People should be my treasure in heaven – my husband, our kids, my parents. And most likely their children & their children’s children will be there too because our short time here is teaching us what REALLY matters and passing that on to them.

But the love of the Lord remains forever (His love is not gone with the wind; it will always remain!) with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!  (Psalm 103:17-18)

Dear God,
Help me determine what really matters today and to behave like I’m running out of time because I am. Thank you that every bit of you that I share will remain even when I’m gone. Thank you that YOU are the one that makes my life meaningful. I love you so much and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.