How Will You Respond?

The past couple of weeks have been difficult.  An employee who I’ve known most of my government career passed away.  He was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known – not just book smart but able to apply what he knew practically.  He was one of the people who trained me early on and I learned a lot from him….not just about work, but about loving family and being kind.  His funeral was yesterday and the minister said something that I’ve heard before but it resonated with me - We will have to give an account of how we’ve lived our lives and be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12).  Maybe it’s because I turned 50 in Dec or because someone I worked directly with passed away or because the last year has brought more loss than any of us imagined, but I realized I’m closer to standing before the throne today than I was yesterday.  Soon, whether tomorrow or 50 years from now (which feels like a long time, but it’s really not), I will have to explain to the Father what I’ve been doing with my life – how I’ve lived and what I’ve done with the gifts He gave me.  

It actually gave me pause.  I had to ask myself, “Am I doing all I’m supposed to do?” Sure, I do lots of stuff.  I work with the middle school and college ministry. Yes, I lead family bible study.  Absolutely, my faith is incorporated in my work life just like my personal life – what you see is what you get.  But, do I consider the Lord in every decision?  Do I spend enough time with Him?  Am I using my gifts in a way that pleases Him?  Am I walking in my gifts so that they make room for me?  Am I doing enough for others?  Am I moving when the Holy Spirit prompts me to move? Do I know His voice well enough to identify Him over the other voices speaking to me? Is what others think of me more important than doing God’s will?  Am I using my own judgement in place of godly wisdom? Am I living my life according to God’s word or what society says is okay?  Am I using my time wisely?  Am I focused on God and my relationship with Him through Jesus and allowing everything else to pour out of that? Or am I focused on what keeps me comfortable? 

All of these questions are ones I need to answer to make sure I can answer God positively when I stand before Him at His throne.  For sure, I sin.  I commit sins every day, whether through a wrong thought or saying something inadvertently and given the right set of circumstances, I might intentionally sin (meaning God tells me to do something, I do something else).  Case in point, the other day, I went to get gas – the Holy Spirit had already prompted me as to where I needed to go, but I decided not to go where I was prompted.  I went somewhere else (my usual spot), wasting time and gas, because when I got to the first gas station there was no gas; when I rolled by the second, there was a long line (I had to get to work); and when I finally went to the third (the one I’d been prompted to go to in the first place), there was only one or two cars and no shortage of pumps or gas.  How much time would I have saved if I’d just followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in the first place?  According to James 4:17, to know what is right and not do it is sin to you.  I had to ask for forgiveness, because He had already told me what to do and I did something else.  

I’m so grateful that God gives us an opportunity to ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and because I know I’m His, I know He hears me (1 John 5:14) and forgives me, but that doesn’t give me license to sin unrepentantly.  Just because I know my parents love me and will do whatever they can for me, doesn’t mean I take advantage of that love and use them or mistreat them or dishonor them.  God is the same, just because He give us grace and mercy, is not a license to do whatever we want (Romans 6). He is still God and worthy of all praise and glory and obedience.  If we love Him, we want to please Him and that means knowing Him well enough to know what He likes (John 14:21).  Have you ever tried to please someone you don’t know?  Remember, how hard it was to think of a real gift for that person whose likes and dislikes you didn’t know? The same applies to God.  

If we have to give an account of our life and Christ will judge it, I want my answer to be pleasing to Him and the only way for that to happen is to know Him.  I must know how God wants me to live and strive to do that.  Just like any parent, He expects us not to get it right all the time.  He knows we’re not perfect and He’s not asking for perfection.  He loves us just as we are, but He wants what’s best for us like any parent and that makes me want to do things that make Him proud.  Just as God told Jesus when Jesus was baptized, that He was well pleased, I want Him to say the same thing about me.  When you are asked the questions about your life and you give an account of all you’ve done, how will you respond?  Will He be well pleased with your answer?  

Mothers are a Gift from God

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers (whether by blood or heart) who have touched the life of a child.  Today is a special day to celebrate all those women who have taken on the responsibility of loving, leading, and guiding someone so they can become productive contributors to society.  I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I appreciate all the lessons my mother and so many others taught me along the way (Prov 31:26).  How to be kind even when I wasn’t feeling that way.  How to be honest without destroying someone.  How to love even when it’s hard.  How to fight for things I believe in without making war.  

Real mothers are amazing people.  They are more than a person who gave birth.  They nurture and direct and want what’s best for you, even when they are sometimes unsure of what exactly that looks like.  I heard a mother recently say everything to raising a child is found in the bible.  That struck me as odd, but when I sat with it a moment, I realized that just as God gave us the instructions for life in the Word, it made perfect sense that he would give parents guidance there as well.  I’m not sure how many mothers actually use the Bible to inform them how to raise their children, but mine surely did.  My mother loved me, but she set expectations and then held me to them.  She believed that if you spared the rod, you would spoil the child (Prov 13:24).  Yes, some of you who know me would say, you’re still a little spoiled and that is true.  However, in the midst of the love and even sometimes indulgence, there was also discipline (I got a few spankings) and lessons on self-control and generosity and kindness (Gal 5:22-23).  

I was allowed many things I thought I wanted, but always with the understanding that it was because I was so loved and not because I was better than anyone else or because I’d done something to earn it.  That resonates with me now.  It showed me how God loves us.  He gives us different gifts to use and to glorify Him because he loves us so much, unconditionally.  He doesn’t give them to us because we deserve them.  He gives them because He knows us better than anyone and He sees who we really are…..whether we ever walk in it or not.  He loves us that much.  He created mothers to love their children that way, too (1 Corin 16:14).  They know and see things in their children, the child can’t see and the really good ones, speak God’s Word over their children.  After all God’s Word is true and if we can speak life and death (Prov 18:21), we should always speak life.  

While I don’t have children of my own, I am regularly involved with the children of others.  I love kids.  I love most things about them – their curiosity, their humor, their insight, their honesty, and so many more facets of them.  But more than anything, I want to see them become who God has called them to be.  The bible says to train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it (Prov 22:6). That’s what my mother gave me.  Even when I was in college and I strayed, I didn’t stray far.  

While my mom hasn’t been perfect (but who has), she has done her best.  I honor her for all the work she put in for me and my siblings and my nieces and nephews.  She is still putting in time with her great, grandchildren.  She is putting in time for her nieces and nephews.  She’ll give advice when asked (and even when she’s not).  She’ll give whatever she has to those in need.  She might even do some baking for those who ask.  She has been blessed to be a blessing to so many and she has set the example for me (Prov 31:28, 31).  I love her for all the things she is and all that God made her to be.  

If you are not close to your mother (or father), I challenge you to take steps to rectify that (Exodus 20:12).  Remember mothers are human, too, and we all make mistakes.  Take time to make it right...Forgive! (Eph 4:32)  None of us know how much time we have and no matter what has happened…..Mothers are still a gift – don’t waste it.

God is an Artist!

When was the last time you stopped moving long enough to take a breath and a look around you at all the beautiful things God has created?  It’s been a while for me.  I mean, sure, when I see a beautiful flower or bird or butterfly, it will catch me off guard and I’ll be caught up by the beauty of the colors and the vibrancy that no human artist can imitate.  But I mean actually sat back and appreciated the detail with which God creates (John 1:3), it been a while for me.  

Yesterday, I was afforded just such an opportunity.  This week I’m working from South Carolina and I drove yesterday.  Instead of taking the most direct route (there is no straight line here from my house), I took a more scenic route.  Because that included back roads and a more rural route (including a slower speed limit), I was actually able to enjoy not just the ride but the scenery.  I noticed things I don’t normally take the time to see like the different types of trees in groves living together and supporting each other…the colors of their leaves and how they complement each other.  I saw the different colors of the flowers making up a natural bouquet. The sky was a beautiful blue, not quite sky blue and not cerulean, but a color in between.  There was very little cloud cover, while today the clouds are puffy and gray – no less beautiful only different.  

For the first time in a long time, I recognized the gift God has given us in His desire to give us paradise here on earth – to teach us, to provide for us, to speak to us.  How much of it do we take for granted?  I know I take a lot of it for granted on any given day.  I realize that I get distracted by way too many manmade gadgets and I take for granted all the God given gifts surrounding me. Wonderful are the works of God’s hands (Psalm 19:1) and just think, He created all this so we would have a beautiful functional world in which to live.  The world is also how He reveals His divine nature and eternal power to us (Romans 1:20).  Do we give Him enough praise for it?  I know I’m guilty of not doing so consistently.  I challenge you to take even a short period of time and really meditate on who God is and the beauty He has given us (Job 37: 14-16).  Take a walk or sit outside for a time.  It will make you appreciate Him in a whole new way.  

For all of the Monet’s and Picassos and da Vinci’s of the world who have attempted to capture the beauty God created on canvas, it’s still no comparison to God’s glorious creations.  He deserves our honor and our praise for all the things he’s done.  He is the true artist creating so many beautiful things out of nothing.  Glory be to God!

God Is Love!

I think I mentioned we are studying the Book of John in my current small group.  What I’ve leaved during the study is that the entire book is a declaration of God’s love for us.  Yes, it is one of the Gospels telling the story of Jesus’s life and His sacrifice and the good news of His Resurrection and our path to salvation.  It is also a book of the love God feels for us.  All throughout the book, it tells of how God provided us everything we need.  Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost (Luke 19:10).  He taught us how we should live in the fullness of God.  He gave us direction and an example for loving others.  

If you notice, Jesus engaged people of all walks of life and boldly told the will of God providing a way for all of us to have a relationship with Him. At the end of His earthly life, Jesus endured a death designed for the lowest of criminals to carry every sin we’ve ever committed since the beginning of mankind and every sin we will ever commit. Can you imagine Jesus who was with God when the world was created before time began, willingly obeying God and being separated from God so He could save us?  How much must He have loved us to do that?  We think about The Cross and the beatings that made Jesus unrecognizable, but do we really think of the separation from God that Jesus endured?  I know how I feel when I pray and God is silent.  I know He is still there.  I can’t imagine Jesus knowing that the Father had turned from Him because of the sin He carried and in Jesus’s case, it wasn’t His sin, but mine….and yours. 

God Is Love (1 John 4:7-8) and He has shown it through all He’s done for us.  It’s important to remember He is Love because we so many times think He is trying to take something away from us.  And sometimes He is – He gives us guidance to remove the detrimental things from our lives.  He wants us to live abundant lives and the only way to do that is to have some things cut out of us.  Because God loves us so dearly, He only wants what is best for us.  When we realize that, the things God removes don’t appear to be so important or fun.  The closer we draw to God and His love for us, the more like Jesus we become.  Yes, we will still make mistakes and sin, but God’s Grace abounds (Romans 5:20).  So we don’t have to be bound by the things that are not like Jesus.  As we ask for forgiveness, God will give us more Grace to cover the sin.

Also, because God is Love, if we know Him we love.  He expects us to love others in the same way He loves us, even when they are unlovable.  Think if Jesus had waited until we were lovable to love us.  What shape would we be in?  Would we be saved right now? I’m not sure I would.  As Jesus loves us, we are to love others.  Let’s look to Him for guidance and keep our focus on pleasing Him. Let’s remember that life is a process and we are to make progress.  Let’s strive to love like He does. If we know Him, what choice do we really have?

Pride Leads to Destruction

How many times have you heard people talking about living their truth or bragging about what they’ve accomplished?  If you listen to some people, you’d think they had it all together and never had any issues.  They sound super confident and if a problem does arise, they are going to solve it all on their own. 

I almost feel sorry for those people.  How much pressure must you be under to have to proclaim your own glory?  I’ve often thought about the self-worth of someone who feels they have to impress others all the time.  Who are they trying to impress?  Why?  What’s wrong with admitting we have problems and can’t do everything ourselves?  What pedestal have people placed themselves on that no one can know their frailties and failures?  The fear and anxiety of having to be right or “on” all the time to please or impress others must be overwhelming at times. 

I sometimes find myself in the posture of wanting things to be perfect and wanting to perform for people to see.  Thankfully, those times are fewer and fewer.  I have to remind myself that my life belongs to God because Jesus paid a price for it and bought me out of the bondage to sin and death (1 Cor 6:20). I don’t have to impress other people.  My purpose is to be obedient to the will of God and to act in order to fulfill His good pleasure (Phil 2:13) as He works in me.   

I’ve been blessed beyond anything I would have imagined as a child.  I had no idea or inclination I could do half the things I’ve done in my lifetime, but God is faithful and He has blessed me.  Yes, I played a part in it, but God deserves the credit for it.  I did the work He led me to do to the best of my ability, but He gave me the wisdom and knowledge to pull it off, like getting a college degree in engineering.  In some cases, He gave me the strength and will to build the stamina to do something, like walking a half marathon in just over 3.5 hours. In some cases, He gave me the courage to ask for things I wanted to experience, like asking for an internship while I was in grad school with a company that didn’t even have an internship program.  In some cases, He gave me a spirit of adventure, like going to Texas by myself during the summer to work for a company after my first year of college.  In all of these instances and so many more, He provided the opportunity and opened doors so I could obediently walk through them.  I celebrated these times and still do.  We can and should celebrate our achievements and opportunity, but we must sincerely give God credit and glory for them as He gave us our gifts and talents (Prov. 18:15-16).  Achievement would not be possible without Him.

The bible says we have not because we ask not.  This is where pride hurts us most.  Pride says we don’t need to ask.  We can do “it” on our own.  Pride flies in the very face of who God is.  Anyone who’s honest with themselves fully understands that we can do nothing without God’s intervention (John 15:5).  He owns everything (Exodus 19:5).  It is only through Christ that we can only do all things (Phil 4:13). 

If you want God’s full blessing on your life (you’re blessed just to be breathing), humility and obedience are key.  God loves us! Yes, He does! But, a relationship with Him is necessary if we want the full richness and abundance of life.  We cannot obtain it separate and apart from Him, not matter how good we think we are (Romans 12:3).  The fact is we all have areas to improve because we are works in progress. Some people believe because they have money, they don’t need anything else.  They have just replaced God with the money and that is a dangerous thing.  Money can be made and lost or stolen.  God CANNOT.  If you belong to Him, He will never leave nor forsake you.  He provides the power to get wealth (Deut 8:18) – remember it’s just a tool to further His kingdom. 

This world is not ours, it’s His (Psalm 24:1).  When we start to think of it that way, we’ll treat it and each other better and get better results.  As long as we think we know better than Him, we will continue down the path of ruin.  Pride is a hurtful, damaging thing (Prov 16:18).  It will only lead to destruction. 

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Do You Know The Word?

Yes, I know.  The first question is always, do you know Jesus?  If not, now is the perfect time to get to know Him.  Tomorrow is not promised and we all have to make a choice to accept Jesus’s gift of salvation or not.  Remember, waiting is a choice not to get to know Him, even if it doesn’t feel like it.  

Today, I’m asking how much of God’s inspired written Word do you know.  Every so often, this is a question I ask myself without really thinking of the question.  What I mean is I think about how much of the Word I actually know.  The answer comes alive practically every week when I’m writing the blog.  The Word instructs us to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we won’t sin against Him.  So, how much of the Word do you know? 

I know some may be asking, why do I need to know the Word?  I have my bible on me at all times.  I know what you mean.  Before I started writing this, I checked and I have bibles everywhere.  I have bibles in my bedroom, my living room, in my car, on all my devices and yet, if I don’t have some Word hidden in my heart, I can’t pull it out when I need it the most.  When things are happening, I may not have time to find a scripture to help in that situation.  I will say the more time you spend in the Word, more of the Word will get into you.  I’m a witness to that.  I don’t know what scriptures get you through your days, but I wanted to share a few of the one that help me every day.

When I find myself getting distracted by what is going on in the world around me and things seem bleak, I go to Roman 8:28, “All things work together for the good of those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.”  This scripture reassures me that no matter what happens or what is going on the Lord is working it out for me, because I am His.  He has it all in control. 

When I’m asked to do something that scares me or I feel ill prepared to handle in my own strength, I turn to Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  I remember that I don’t have to operate in my own strength.  Christ is there to strengthen me.  I can be weak and He will be strong because His Holy Spirit lives on the inside of me.

When I get into myself and am feeling selfish, I look to Matt 22, “Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind…..And love your neighbor as yourself.”  This quickly reminds me that this life is not all about me.  If God is Lord of my life, through Jesus, my life should reflect that.  I don’t mean there should not be self-care, because there should.  We all need rest and rejuvenation.  But our wants and desires should not outweigh the needs of others.  Jesus proved that by going to the cross and if He is our example, we must take this seriously. 

When I’m confused or trying to justify my own way, I think to Prov 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing, so get wisdom and with all your getting, get understanding.” Godly wisdom comes from God Himself.  If we live our lives according to His Word, we don’t have to worry about anything else, because He has it in hand.  He will do what He says, we just have to do our part and be obedient.  It might not always be easy and we may not always like it, but if we want our lives to glorify Him, wisdom will help get us there. 

When my faith is weak or things I see make me question or doubt, I go to 2 Cor 5:7, “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”  It reminds me that I don’t know everything…God does.  He created everything that was created and He knew the ending before He created the beginning. Why wouldn’t I trust Him?  Even when we (human beings) betrayed Him and sinned, He still provided a way back for us, a plan He had before the beginning of time.  This leads me to, Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith is it impossible to please God,” and to James 2:17, “Faith without works is dead.”  We can’t please God without faith, and the faith we have in Him, leads us to do good works so that He will be glorified. 

These are just a few of the scriptures I hold close to my chest, when I need to pull something out to get me back on track.  There are many more.  I hope you have some “go to” scriptures that provide support when you need them – the ones I mentioned above have been invaluable to me.  Remember, God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than you can ask or think, but you have to trust Him and know He can.  Knowing His word reminds you of Who He is. 

Be blessed! 

Jesus Paid It All

Happy Resurrection Day!!!!  I hope you are celebrating our Risen Savior with you family and friends because He deserves all honor and praise and glory. 

This advent season has been different.  I can’t completely explain it, but it’s different.  Maybe it’s the fact that COVID has been a thing for over a year.  Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been somewhat physically isolated from people for the past year.  Maybe it’s because I’ve made a conscience effort to be closer to the Lord this year.  Whatever the reason, it’s different and I’m more in touch with the sacrifice Jesus made for me and the fact that I still, after over 40 years of being saved, don’t deserve it. 

When I really sit back and think of all the ways, I still mess up every day, I am humbled and overwhelmed by His love for me.  The fact that He still calls me His own, is amazing and shocking.  I mean, I have been blessed with so much, but still I sometime find myself complaining about things that don’t matter.  I still get caught up in what’s happening to me or wanting something I definitely don’t need.  Then I think back to what Jesus suffered so I can live and not worry about what is to come, because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). 

In other parts of the world, people are persecuted for their love for Christ.  And I mean persecuted, not just having a hard day.  Many around the world are imprisoned or even killed for proclaiming the name of Jesus.  When I think of these brothers and sisters, I’m ashamed of some of the things that appear to be important to me.  Many of them are not…they are just things or activities I enjoy, but none of them compare to the sufferings of others.  This year has helped me see that more clearly. 

I’ve been thinking about how we were lost to God, due to our own actions.  We (in the form of Adam and Eve) gave Him up…to have some fruit.  When you say it out loud, it sounds crazy.  But Jesus came that the lost could be found through Him.  He gave His very life so that we could have life and it more abundantly (John 10:10).  We owe Him everything and yet we grumble when He asks us for something that is inconvenient or not consistent with our plans for ourselves.  At the end of the day, our Love for God and for our fellow man are what count….it is all about our heart.  If we love God, we trust Him and have faith He will do exactly what He said.  If we love God, we will keep His instructions (John 14:15).

Jesus paid it all, but we have a price to pay as well – our obedience.  Are you willing to pay the price?  I am.