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He Knows Me

Nov1

pumpkinGenesis 1:14 – And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, (ESV)

I’m walking through my house, sipping my pumpkin flavored coffee, and surveying all my decorating work. I love that Fall allows me to trade the vibrant hues of flower blossoms for the more subdued colors of pumpkins and mums. I love that the days are still warm enough for flip-flops but cool enough for a sweater. I love the kaleidoscope of trees outside my kitchen window. I love how the burgundy tablecloth drapes over the dining room table and provides the perfect backdrop for my grandmother’s china. I love getting out the “old” decorations and maybe trying to put them someplace “new” (and then putting them back “where they belong”). My taste buds appreciate the pumpkin flavoring that begins to appear in everything from cheesecake to coffee creamer, and I try to convince myself that limited availability justifies excessive consumption. A candle fills the house with the smell of maple, and I take joy in all of these sights, tastes, and smells. As I think about my love for this season, I am overwhelmed that God has known my thoughts since the beginning of time. When He separated the light from the darkness He knew that I would enjoy the activities of the day and also the time of relaxation that comes with the night. When He made dry land appear and gathered the waters into seas, He knew that I would find contentment and pleasure in walking on the beach and watching the waves. When He filled the earth with fruits, vegetables, and livestock, He knew what would be my favorites. In Psalm 139 David says that God knows me, and Jeremiah 1:5 tells me that God not only knows me now but knew me before I was even in my mother’s womb. He knows when I sit down and when I get up so He knows how I like to snuggle under the covers on a chilly night and how I dislike leaving those warm covers on a chilly morning. He knows my thoughts so He knows I love a sunny day with a nip in the air. He knows my ways so He knows I love the taste of pumpkin and the changing colors of the trees. What a wondrous God we serve! How can I do less than rejoice in Him always (Philippians 4:4)?

Plans vs Reality

Oct25

Romans 8:28 –  We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (HCSB)

My husband and I recently were scheduled to fly from Richmond, VA to Manchester, NH with a quick stop at LaGuardia in NY. The plan was to reach Manchester in time for a late lunch before the leisurely drive to our destination, but plans do not always become reality. Our pilot wanted the passengers to board at the gate where he had just landed. Someone at the dispatch center thought that would inconvenience the passengers. What started as juvenile bickering soon graduated to sarcastic comments and unprofessional behaviors. Each made a call to a supervisor, and passengers’ plans became the causalities of an even more heated battle. The time came when connections were being made in other airports but we sat in Richmond. We sat in Richmond when we should have been smiling as our luggage rode the carrousels. Instead of lunch in a nice restaurant, we snacked on overpriced candy bars as we continued to sit in Richmond. Each tick of the clock caused passengers’ frustration, anxiety, and anger to grow. I felt as if I were living out Ephesians 6:12 and struggling against powers of darkness and evil spirits that day. A man sitting near me pointed to a woman franticly texting through flowing tears and said “She thinks her life is ruined, but I’m okay because I’ve given up all hope.” We finally landed in NY to discover our next flight would be in eight hours. Since spending the night in an airport is not on our bucket list, my husband and I chose to land in Boston, not realizing we would be attempting to locate controls in an unfamiliar rental car in the pouring rain at rush hour just after sunset. So much for the leisurely drive! We arrived at our destination exhausted, many hours behind schedule, and a little damp but safe. The rest of the trip was very uneventful and I am still giving praises for that! I don’t know why two adult men got into a power play where winning the argument became more important than the waiting passengers or maybe Proverbs 12:15 explains it perfectly by saying a fool’s way is right in his own eyes. I don’t know why people allowed their frustrations to control their words or maybe they think James 1:19 advice of being slow to speak and show anger is for those with less important plans. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33), but He also told us not to copy the behaviors of the world (Romans 12:2). Joyce Van Patten said, “Life can be difficult sometimes, it gets bumpy. What with family and kids and things not going exactly as you planned. But that’s what makes it interesting.” My extended stay in the airport was difficult, things did not go exactly as I had planned, and “interesting” may be a way to describe it. Someday (though not this day) it may even make a funny story!

Executioner or Encourager

Oct11

Galatians 6:1-3 – Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (HCSB)

My friend recently left the church she had attended all of her life. Her departure was a difficult decision filled with mixed emotions.  She was baptized in that church. She was married in that church. Generations of her family is there – some in the pews, some in the cemetery. She loved the people and believed what they said; she just couldn’t believe how they acted. She grew up singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. She understood the words of the song, she understood that Jesus loves children of any color, she understood they were all precious to Him. What she didn’t understand was why they weren’t allowed to come to her church. Her church welcomed the clean, well dressed children from the two parent home and anyone who did not fit that description was welcome to go elsewhere. Church members often quoted Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the[a] glory of God”, but apparently some of the church members had Bibles that said “all of you (but not me) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” She tried so hard to be “good” but could never quite be good enough to avoid the gossip and the chastisements. Her teen-age brain decided that if she couldn’t be “good”, she would just be “bad” and began a journey of destruction, turning her back on church and anyone associated with church. God said, “It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25), but those faithful church members were taking joy in remembering the teenage sins of a now middle aged person. She was welcomed back to the church, after all she had family there, but those words of welcome were laced with reminders of her transgressions. Thankfully, she found a body of church goers than not only are in church on Sunday but church is in them the other days of the week, people who knew the difference between confronting sin and passing judgment. Jesus, You told us not to be so concerned with the speck in someone’s eye that we miss the log in our own and called us hypocrites (Matthew 7:3, Luke 6:42). Please forgive us when our words proclaim Your teachings but our actions do not. Forgive us for being more executioner than encourager and participating more in gossip than grace. I want Matthew 6:12 to be more than just words in my life. Help me to show love, kindness, and mercy to others because You show those to me everyday.

Dry Bones

Oct3

Psalm 127:2 – It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep. (KJV) 

I am tired — weary from the inside out. My strength to push through is lost and I can’t conjure up the motivation to look for it. As my grandfather used to say “my get up and go got up and went”, a humorous description of a feeling that is totally devoid of humor.  I was worn ragged from ignoring my own physical condition and taking multiple road trips to help care for my sick mom. There I would spend days cooking, shopping, and cleaning only to make the long trek home to ….. cooking, shopping, and cleaning! My mom has regained her stamina but mine seems to be gone forever. When one set of needs are met there are always others calling to me, making me the center of a backward game of Marco Polo. I can definitely identify with those dry bones of Ezekiel 37:2 because I too am dry, disjointed, and lifeless. I am confused and overwhelmed, much more like the sheep in Matthew 9:36 than those of Psalm 23:2. I know that I need to spend time with God, but there are things that need to be done at church and that’s spending time with His house so that’s sort of like spending time with Him, isn’t it? I know that I need to feed on His word, but there are groceries to buy and meals to cook so others will be fed; besides I’ll mention some scripture in my prayer over the meal so that will be kind of like feeding on His Word, won’t it? Everyone can see how much I love God by my frantic running around even in my exhaustion, won’t they? I can almost hear the resounding “NO” coming from the heavens! In Psalm 46:10 God says to be still, but in my case I think He is shouting as a parent would to a child running into danger. “BE STILL from your busyness. BE STILL from your justifications. BE STILL from pleasing others at My expense.” Matthew 11:28 says “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” My translation: “Come here to Me. Put your heavy load down. Just catch your breath. I will take care of it if you will just let Me.” Ezekiel 37:2 tells of dry bones but verse 4 tells of bones coming back to life. Lord, I am tired of trying to please everyone in my own strength. Like Isaiah, I feel I have used all my strength for nothing (Isaiah 49:4). I want to lay down the burdens of busyness and rest in You.

Hungry for Bread

Sep19

John 6:35 – “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. (HCSB)

When I was a newlywed, my grandmother’s house was on my way home from work so I would stop by everyday. I loved the days when the aroma of freshly baked bread would wrap around me as I walked through the door. Ma’s hot bread would be the main dinner entrée at our house that night, served only with a side of butter. My mind can still see the butter sliding across the hot slices (aka hunks) of deliciousness. My memory still feels the texture as I take bite after luscious bite, the full tummy that craves just one more slice, the disappointment in realizing that last morsel was the final morsel. In John 6:35, Jesus is talking to a crowd of Jewish people who knew all about the importance of bread, especially in their religious culture. The Jews were to eat unleavened bread not only during the Passover feast but also for the next seven days as a reminder of leaving Egypt. In Exodus 16:4 God promised that He would “rain down bread from heaven” for the people to gather and eat. I would leave a meal of my grandmother’s bread so full I could barely move, but the next day would find me hungry again. Jesus says to come to Him and never be hungry or thirsty again, but He isn’t talking about physical hunger and thirst but rather spiritual hunger and thirst. No matter how much we eat or how hard we work, the spiritual hunger and thirst within us will never be satisfied, but Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst to be righteous in the sight of God. Just as bread gives nourishment and strength to our physical bodies, He gives nourishment and strength to our souls and gives us eternal life. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus calls those who hunger and thirst for righteousness “blessed” and promises satisfaction. Lord, I crave Your spiritual nourishment. The world offers me crumbs but You give me true bread. I want to feed on Your words because You alone are the son of God and my living bread.  May I join the Psalmist in proclaiming “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (ESV)

Intentional Acts of Kindness

Sep9

Luke 10:30-35 – Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion.He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ (HCSB)

 

helpingMost everyone knows the story of the good Samaritan. Even the secular world refers to someone who does a good deed as a Good Samaritan. I read the scripture and label the priest and the Levite as self centered, uncaring, maybe even pompous and take great pride in not being like them. I identify myself with the Samaritan, a good person, sacrificing all to help someone in need. I imagine myself as the person at the store to capture the robber and hold him until the police arrive or the one who runs to the wrecked car and rescues the mother and baby seconds before the explosion. The reality is I live a life that would probably never test my  heroic reactions. I probably won’t stumble across a half dead body as I stroll down a road known for its vicious bandit attacks either, but I have no doubt I would be more Samaritan than priest or Levite. I’m a good person and feel I sacrifice for other people all the time! Of course, some of my days are so planned I just don’t have the time to deal with someone else’s problems. I see that woman and know she needs a friend, but I don’t want people to include me in the “dirt” of gossip that surrounds her so I’ll just ignore her. I could allow the elderly couple to be seated in the restaurant ahead of me but I am really hungry plus I have errands to run and places to be. I could concede the parking spot and park further away, but my shoes are new, my feet are tired, and that driver probably doesn’t mind walking a few extra steps. The three men in the parable were offered the chance to show kindness, an opportunity given to everyone multiple times a day. The priest and the Levite were just too busy to deal with someone else’s problems. Maybe they didn’t want the possible consequences of helping the injured man. Maybe they were hungry and stopping would throw their whole day off schedule. Maybe they just wanted to reach their destination and rest. Maybe their excuses were a lot like mine! Our world constantly encourages random acts of kindness, but maybe our acts of kindness should stop being so random. There is nothing wrong with being busy, but if my busyness is keeping me too busy to show God’s love then it is only busyness and is worthless.

 

Lord, you know that my days are busy. I have errands to run, shopping to do, the needs of my family, the list goes on and on. Some days my busyness makes me blind to the needs of others. Help me to be like Peter and John who “saw” the lame man (Acts 3:4). Help me to not be so focused on my own needs that I miss the needs of others (Philippians 2:4). Let my busyness be productive (James 2:14-17). Let me live so that people see Your loving kindness and know it is never be random.

All I Need Is A Little More

Aug8

Proverbs 23:4-5 – Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. (HCSB)

As Christians we like to say that money isn’t important to us, but we all need it. We need to pay our bills, feed our families, have shelter that’s warm in winter and cool in summer, ….. the list goes on. Money is important but should not be so important to us that getting more of it is all we think about. In Proverbs 23 Solomon warns us not to put all our focus on getting more money. When can we stop collecting it? When we get enough. How much is enough? John D. Rockefeller answered that question “Just a little bit more.” Benjamin Franklin said, “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants.” Solomon also warns us that money flies away. I have heard that verse used with gambling or self indulgent spending, but there are constant
News reports of someone losing all their possessions in a tornado or hurricane, a flood or a fire. Large financial investments have been lost because of someone else’s misconduct. A health crisis can bring large medical bills that drain your bank account. Years of accumulated savings can be gone in an instant. Money is fleeting and so is the security it provides. Luke 12:16-21 tells of a man who found such security in material possessions that he stored up more and more and more. The money stayed around but he did not. Both Matthew 19 and Luke 18 tell about the rich young ruler who chose a life with money over a life with Jesus. We are very critical of that young man, but I wonder how many people today would make that same decision. Even Solomon acknowledged in Ecclesiastes 7:11 “Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life.” (NLT). People often quote a scripture verse that is not a scripture verse at all – “money is the root of all evil”. Actually 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” (HCSB). There is earthy security in having money, but there is eternal security in having Jesus. Job 11:18 tells us that we will be secure because there is hope. Matthew 6:33 says to first seek You. Philippians 4: 19 reminds us that You will supply all our needs according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Lord, we pray that we will not walk away from eternal riches for fleeting satisfaction

Catching the Shark

Jul27

Isaiah 29:16 – You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker,” He didn’t make me”? How can what is formed say about the one who formed it,” He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”? (HCSB)

After my quiet time this morning I was thinking about prayer. So often our prayers are a wish list somewhat like an online shopping cart. We note all the things we desperately need (translation: momentarily want) and wait for God to do His fairy godmother act. If He doesn’t answer in due time (the amount of time we are willing to wait), there will be much lamenting (whining and complaining) that God doesn’t listen. People quote Matthew 7:7 – even unbelievers seem to know the “ask and it will be given to you” part of the verse – but why are some requests “given” and some are not? When my friend’s little boy heard they were planning a vacation at the beach he announced he was going to catch a shark. His parents decided to cushion his disappointment ahead of time by explaining the odds of his catching a shark and sharing all the other wonderful adventures that could be had at the beach, but he never wavered. The first day of vacation, he took his little plastic toy fishing pole to the edge of the waves and caught a shark! When his family was wild with excitement, his calm comment was “I knew I would catch a shark. I prayed.” Why would God answer what seems to us a trivial prayer when more important things are going on in the world? Obviously it wasn’t trivial to God or the little boy. Maybe it was answered because the boy never doubted. Maybe it made God smile to see the joy and know the long term effects of that answered prayer. Maybe because the boy gave all the glory to God. Sometimes God chooses not to answer in the way that seems right to us. I know two young women — one in a stable loving marriage, one whose husband neither respects his wife nor his vows. Both wives became pregnant. Husband number one was overjoyed; husband number two demanded an abortion. Wife number one miscarried; wife number two is now a single mother. We all knew how we thought God should answer our prayers, but God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (HCSB) I have prayed many prayers in my lifetime, some selfish, some sincere. There have been times I came to understand and praise God for what in an earlier moment seemed an unanswered prayer. There have also been times I didn’t understand at all. I do not know why God allows certain things to happen, but I know that God always listens and always answers. I know that He does not try to deceive me and He does not change His mind about His promises (Numbers 23:19). I know that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). Job 33:13 asks why we complain when God does not give us an explanation and Romans 9:20 asks why do we think we deserve one. Who am I to question why God doesn’t answer my prayers the way I want them answered? God’s wisdom and knowledge is so great that it is impossible for me to understand His decisions and His ways (Romans 11:33). How ludicrous that I, what is formed, dares to question the One who formed everything! Lord, I pray that my faith remains strong and that the words of Psalm 27:14 will become my way of life. Catching a shark has never been my prayer, but I want that kind of faith.

Worry

Jun28

Philippians 4:6-  Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (HCSB)

Worry.  We worry as children and we worry as adults. Some things we worried about as children now seem trivial, but some worries are the same — we never seem to outgrow the worry about being liked and making new friends! As children, our worries involved our parents. As adults, our worries involve our children.  As adults of a certain age, our worries involve both our children and our parents. No one is completely unaffected by worry, but Matthew 6:25-30 lets us know that God had made provisions for His followers, and if God takes such pride in the wildflowers, why do we question that He will take pride in us and do what’s best for us?  There are physical consequences for being enslaved to worry, and Jesus is reminding us to not get so preoccupied with the getting that we ignore God’s giving. We can be aware of what we eat and what we wear without worrying constantly about it. Most of the time when we worry about how we look, we are only trying to impress others anyway! Verse 32 says that idolaters worry about these things, and what are idolaters but people who don’t know God and therefore don’t know His works. But, as believers, we know God; we know how He works, but sometimes we lack the faith to trust Him. Our focus gets stuck on the problem rather than the God who can solve the problem, and that begins to affect our witness to others. If we get all worked up and come apart at the seams over our needs not being met in the way we want in the time we want, then we are not demonstrating trust and faith in God. A.W. Tozer said, “While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.” Psalm 50:14-15 tells us that God wants us to trust Him in times of trouble so He can rescue us and we can give Him glory.  Giving God glory keeps us from worrying because we then focus on Who God is, focus on His knowledge of us, and focus on His love for us. We’re not looking at our desire for food, clothes, etc., we’re looking at the One who provides them and we’re looking at His power and ability to make them available. We have a choice when it comes to worry — either run after the things of the world or have faith and trust God. Verse 33 tells us what to do first in any situation, and verse 34 tells us the worthlessness of worrying about the future. We don’t know what the next days or even the next hours might bring.  I was recently talking to someone who made the statement “At 7:30 that morning my husband and I were planning that night’s dinner; at 9:00 I was a widow.” We are not promised tomorrow so we need to make our lives count for God right now.  God has everything under control.  He has never failed us before and He is not going to fail us this time. It’s natural to feel anxious about the dangers in the world today. It’s normal to feel worried about the troubles in our lives or in our children’s lives or in our parent’s lives. Yet our response to these feelings is what’s critical. Philippians 4:6-7 says instead of worrying, tell God about it and He will give you peace.  Rachel Wojo calls that going from pitiful worrier to prayerful warrior, and that’s where I want to go!

But God

May7

Ephesians 2:4 – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, (HCSB)

On a recent Sunday at our church several teen-agers gave personal testimonies. The details in the stories varied but all included the phrase “but, God…”  One talked about how he had taken a smorgasbord of pills and crawled into bed intending to sleep forever, but God had other plans for him.  One talked about how she had moved to a new school and, seeking acceptance, had done everything asked of her by her new “friends”. Her attempts to find happiness brought only embarrassment and shame but God showed her true happiness.  One talked about self-mutilating to find release from her inner pain, but God brought true release.  One talked about attempting to find happiness in financial abundance but God was the only way to fill the void in his life.  Our lead speaker concluded the testimonies with, “When God enters the scene, things change.”  He went on to challenge the congregation with the idea of Romans 10:14 –  How can people have the “but God” realization if they don’t know Him, and how can they know Him if we, who have been there, don’t tell them?  Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (HSCB).”  Many people don’t share their “but God” moments because past struggles are viewed as failures to keep hidden, but God is not a secret we are to keep.  By opening up to others, we can be living proof that God is rich in mercy and has great love for all of us.  When God enters the scene, things change, and nothing can change those things but God. I thank You, Lord, for the “but, God” moments in my life. I know that like those teen-agers I have tried to find peace in worldly pursuits, but, You, rich in mercy, because of Your great love that You had for me entered the scene and changed things.