I visited with my oldest daughter and her family last week. The plans were for me to keep her four children while she attended a conference with her husband. Two of the children became sick the night before I was to go, so my daughter needed to stay home with them. I went anyway to help her in any way I could.
I played a number of games with my grandchildren and had several opportunities to make spiritual applications. As we were playing Chinese checkers, my grandson, my daughter and I were methodically moving our marbles in a direct path towards the other side by moving one step at a time or jumping one or more marbles to move several places at once, always keeping our "home" in mind. My three year old granddaughter, however, moved at will, either several places at once or in a direction other than her opposite "home". The three of us made it "home" in an orderly fashion, but her marbles ended up all over the board with few of them making it to "home". Of course, as she gets older, she will learn to play this game.
I did think, though, about how we go through life. When you notice someone going about erratically, making unwise choices, misstepping repeatedly, you have to wonder if that person will ever make it "home". The Bible tells us in Psalm 37 that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. One evidence of our salvation, even though we misstep in sin, is that we don't exhibit habitual erratic behavior. We can see our steps are headed towards "home". We are told in Proverbs 3:5-6 to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Herein lies the key to being methodical and orderly in our journey.
1 Peter 2:21 tells us, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." We will certainly arrive at "home" with our journey being direct and orderly if we follow in the steps of our Lord and Savior.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Bible Way
When my sister and I were growing up, my mother and daddy often used scripture in correcting us. One day my dad reminded my sister what the Bible said about a particular action of hers. She stomped her foot and said, "I know but I'm not going the Bible way in this." I wonder how often we choose not to go the Bible way.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." It seems that this verse speaks volumes about why we should go the Bible way. It provides us with God's instructions on how we are to live, His rebuke for not following these instructions, and His guidance back to right behavior when we fail. God's word provides training in godliness and equips us to be and do what God intended.
Psalm 119:105 tells us that God's word "is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This illumination by God's word keeps us on the path of righteousness and away from that path spoken of in Proverbs that "seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
To choose the Bible way we must spend time studying and knowing the Bible. The Psalmist said the godly man avoids association with evil but rather "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." I know for a fact that being in the word allows for reproof, for correction and for the training in righteousness I so desparately need. It also prepares me to always be ready to give an account for the hope that is in me.
Well, as I go to my chair by the window with my Bible and my cup of coffee, I pray that this day I will choose the Bible way in all my words and thoughts and actions.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." It seems that this verse speaks volumes about why we should go the Bible way. It provides us with God's instructions on how we are to live, His rebuke for not following these instructions, and His guidance back to right behavior when we fail. God's word provides training in godliness and equips us to be and do what God intended.
Psalm 119:105 tells us that God's word "is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This illumination by God's word keeps us on the path of righteousness and away from that path spoken of in Proverbs that "seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
To choose the Bible way we must spend time studying and knowing the Bible. The Psalmist said the godly man avoids association with evil but rather "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." I know for a fact that being in the word allows for reproof, for correction and for the training in righteousness I so desparately need. It also prepares me to always be ready to give an account for the hope that is in me.
Well, as I go to my chair by the window with my Bible and my cup of coffee, I pray that this day I will choose the Bible way in all my words and thoughts and actions.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Life and Death
Recently I was in the labor and delivery wing of a local hospital, going to visit a couple awaiting the birth of their baby. Passing one door, I heard the distinctive cry of a newborn. It immediately brought a smile to my face. I silently thanked God for this new life and asked His blessings on this family I knew nothing about.
In the next minute I heard a Code Blue call to ICU over the intercom. My smile left me and I stopped and bowed my head to pray for the person for whom the code was called, for the team that was responding, and for family members who may or may not have been aware of the drama unfolding in their loved one's room.
The struggle to bring a precious life into the world and the struggle to keep death from claiming a life were going on just hundreds of feet from each other in the same building. That night there were going to be happy conversations as phone calls were made to share, "It's a boy!" Possibly there was gong to be the equally sad news from other phones, "She died about 6:00." One family would prepare for a homecoming and another would prepare for a funeral.
Ecclesiastes tells us, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven -- A time to give birth and a time to die;" Those two events above were appointed by a sovereign God who holds all things in His hand. We can know that as surely as life comes, death will also. Hebrews 9:27 tells us "it is appointed for man to die once."
Knowing a loved one is saved and welcomed into the arms of a loving heavenly Father the minute he dies, brings comfort. However, the grief and tears of loss still come. Isaiah promised us, "He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces." What a cause for rejoicing!
Life and death. Joy and sorrow. Again, how thankful I am for a sovereign God who holds all things in His hand.
In the next minute I heard a Code Blue call to ICU over the intercom. My smile left me and I stopped and bowed my head to pray for the person for whom the code was called, for the team that was responding, and for family members who may or may not have been aware of the drama unfolding in their loved one's room.
The struggle to bring a precious life into the world and the struggle to keep death from claiming a life were going on just hundreds of feet from each other in the same building. That night there were going to be happy conversations as phone calls were made to share, "It's a boy!" Possibly there was gong to be the equally sad news from other phones, "She died about 6:00." One family would prepare for a homecoming and another would prepare for a funeral.
Ecclesiastes tells us, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven -- A time to give birth and a time to die;" Those two events above were appointed by a sovereign God who holds all things in His hand. We can know that as surely as life comes, death will also. Hebrews 9:27 tells us "it is appointed for man to die once."
Knowing a loved one is saved and welcomed into the arms of a loving heavenly Father the minute he dies, brings comfort. However, the grief and tears of loss still come. Isaiah promised us, "He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces." What a cause for rejoicing!
Life and death. Joy and sorrow. Again, how thankful I am for a sovereign God who holds all things in His hand.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Home
I don't know of anyone who doesn't like to be at home. Usually, the first comment from someone in the hospital is, "I just want to go home." The soldier does his duty but constantly thinks of going home. I love visiting my family, but it is so sweet to walk through my front door and know that I will be sleeping in my own bed that night.
Jacob was a stranger living in Egypt. When he was close to death, he made his children promise to bury him in the land of Canaan, home. Naomi wanted to leave Moab after her husband and sons died and return home to the land of Judah. Ruth chose to leave her home in Moab and make a new home with Naomi among her people.
Psalm 68:6 tells us that "God makes a home for the lonely..." Paul indicates in 2 Corinthians 5:6,8 that this world is not our home. He says that "while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord...and we prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. There is an old gospel song that says, "this world is not my home, I'm just passin' through."
As the media, our government and even many churches are turning more and more away from the things of God and choosing a path that may seem right to them but leads only to destruction, I am becoming more homesick for my eternal home. I long for that time, when there will be no time, when I can see my Savior face to face, worship my God in His unveiled glory and be reunited with all my family in Christ Jesus. Yes, I think I will be ready to go home.
Jacob was a stranger living in Egypt. When he was close to death, he made his children promise to bury him in the land of Canaan, home. Naomi wanted to leave Moab after her husband and sons died and return home to the land of Judah. Ruth chose to leave her home in Moab and make a new home with Naomi among her people.
Psalm 68:6 tells us that "God makes a home for the lonely..." Paul indicates in 2 Corinthians 5:6,8 that this world is not our home. He says that "while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord...and we prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. There is an old gospel song that says, "this world is not my home, I'm just passin' through."
As the media, our government and even many churches are turning more and more away from the things of God and choosing a path that may seem right to them but leads only to destruction, I am becoming more homesick for my eternal home. I long for that time, when there will be no time, when I can see my Savior face to face, worship my God in His unveiled glory and be reunited with all my family in Christ Jesus. Yes, I think I will be ready to go home.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Keep Your Words Sweet...You Just Might Have to Eat them
If there is one thing God convicts me of more than anything else, I think it is my spoken words. Time and again, I have had to ask forgiveness (usually of my husband) for a hastily spoken, thoughtless, unkind, angry word. This is certainly not a new phenomenon with me and, unfortunately, I have not gained the control I should have in my older years.
My conviction is such that I adopted for my focal verse earlier this year, Colossians 4:6: "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Well, my speech is often salty; too much so, in fact. My prayer and my goal is that it will be "with grace" and seasoned with just the right amount of salt.
God's word deals with the tongue and our speech numerous times. Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We also see in Proverbs 12:18, "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." We have the power with our spoken word to calm things or stir things up, to hurt or to heal.
Jesus speaks strongly in Matthew 12:36 when He says, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." Whew! That should be enough to tame my errant tongue for good.
James uses several analogies to illustrate how this relatively small body part is powerful enough to control and influence everything in our lives. Again we are humbled in being reminded that "no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." Here is my hope, though. Jesus says in Luke 18:27, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." Hallelujah! I go forward into this day with the knowledge from 2 Corinthians 5:17 that I am in Christ and therefore a new creation; "the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." Amen and amen!
My conviction is such that I adopted for my focal verse earlier this year, Colossians 4:6: "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Well, my speech is often salty; too much so, in fact. My prayer and my goal is that it will be "with grace" and seasoned with just the right amount of salt.
God's word deals with the tongue and our speech numerous times. Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We also see in Proverbs 12:18, "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." We have the power with our spoken word to calm things or stir things up, to hurt or to heal.
Jesus speaks strongly in Matthew 12:36 when He says, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." Whew! That should be enough to tame my errant tongue for good.
James uses several analogies to illustrate how this relatively small body part is powerful enough to control and influence everything in our lives. Again we are humbled in being reminded that "no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." Here is my hope, though. Jesus says in Luke 18:27, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." Hallelujah! I go forward into this day with the knowledge from 2 Corinthians 5:17 that I am in Christ and therefore a new creation; "the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." Amen and amen!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Invisible Mother
I will post this as copied from anonymous. My daughter sent it to me and I thought it might give some of you a smile, a nod of the head, and it gives me a chance to encourage you through another person's writings and to say, "Hang in there, persevere." Read on...
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone (or even on the toilet) and ask to be taken somewhere. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm busy?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a taxi to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4:00 in the morning and bakes homemade pies. Then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone (or even on the toilet) and ask to be taken somewhere. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm busy?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a taxi to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4:00 in the morning and bakes homemade pies. Then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
Monday, February 2, 2009
For Our Sanctification
I have the privilege of praying for several friends who are going through trials right now. One has a serious health issue. One is going through job loss and financial challenges and one is dealing with a wayward child. None of these friends asked to be in her particular situation, yet God has chosen to place them there at this time.
James 1:2 tells us to "consider it all joy..." when we have trials of various kinds. Now I don't know about you, but rejoicing is not my natural response to troubles and trials. I think most of us as believers must consciously decide to react with joy when faced with trials. The verse further says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." God brings testing into our lives for a purpose. 1Peter 1:6-7 tells us, "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith ...even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" We know from Romans 8:28 that God works all things for good to those of us who are called according to His purpose.
Therefore, trials, the testing of our faith, does several things. It assures us we belong to God; it strengthens our faith; it teaches us endurance and steadfastness; and it brings us closer to the time we will be able to praise, glorify and honor Christ at His second coming.
The sanctification process is not without pain, but oh, the end results. Just think, through this process, God has chosen to bring you closer to Himself, to know Him more intimately and to more closely resemble His Son, Jesus Christ. What an honor! I read once about a female missionary who had been kidnapped, raped and tortured and left for dead. When rescued, she was asked about her experience. Her comments were that she was thankful God had felt she was worthy in His sight of this testing. Whew!
Amy Carmichael says in her little book, If, "If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
Father God, thank You for the times you have chosen to test my faith, sanctifying me for my good and for Your glory. Help me to truly consider it all joy when trials come, and to come out on the other side refined, with much of the dross burned away. Thank you for choosing to justify me through the work of Christ at Calvary, to sanctify me through the testing of my faith and one day, to bring me to the glory of Your presence in heaven.
James 1:2 tells us to "consider it all joy..." when we have trials of various kinds. Now I don't know about you, but rejoicing is not my natural response to troubles and trials. I think most of us as believers must consciously decide to react with joy when faced with trials. The verse further says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." God brings testing into our lives for a purpose. 1Peter 1:6-7 tells us, "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith ...even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" We know from Romans 8:28 that God works all things for good to those of us who are called according to His purpose.
Therefore, trials, the testing of our faith, does several things. It assures us we belong to God; it strengthens our faith; it teaches us endurance and steadfastness; and it brings us closer to the time we will be able to praise, glorify and honor Christ at His second coming.
The sanctification process is not without pain, but oh, the end results. Just think, through this process, God has chosen to bring you closer to Himself, to know Him more intimately and to more closely resemble His Son, Jesus Christ. What an honor! I read once about a female missionary who had been kidnapped, raped and tortured and left for dead. When rescued, she was asked about her experience. Her comments were that she was thankful God had felt she was worthy in His sight of this testing. Whew!
Amy Carmichael says in her little book, If, "If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
Father God, thank You for the times you have chosen to test my faith, sanctifying me for my good and for Your glory. Help me to truly consider it all joy when trials come, and to come out on the other side refined, with much of the dross burned away. Thank you for choosing to justify me through the work of Christ at Calvary, to sanctify me through the testing of my faith and one day, to bring me to the glory of Your presence in heaven.
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