Reflections

On this final day of 2010, I've not felt compelled to think back over the year.  I've not wanted to dwell on the ups an downs.  Instead I sit here doing my normal thing.  I'm here in the present.  I read the blogs on my list and wish that more were updated today.  I smile at the cat curled comfortably next to my husband's Bible on the couch.  I am again thankful to be in this place at this time.

I consider my friend, Ashley, and am grateful for her parents and their dedication to choose life.  Choosing life is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  I consider another family waiting and working patiently for their Ukrainian child.  Their desire to care for an orphan is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  My heart grows heavy when I consider my friend, Jan.  Cancer has invaded her life aggressively.  Yet, she has chosen to live with her daughter and redeem this time to the best that she can.  What a lesson for me to learn!  Sounds a bit like another reflection of God, doesn't it?  My son is defending his faith against an atheist.  Their conversation challenges me to grow more intimate with my LORD.  It requires me to see the reflection of God in His Word.

I know I can't change the past.  It has happened.  I will be exposed to the consequences of it.  And, I can fully trust God for all I need in the present.  I am so thankful to be surrounded by reflections and remembrances and realities of my God.  Awesome!

(Father God, thank you for your great and mighty presence in my life.  Thank you that you surround me with reflections of yourself in so many places.   What a joy!  Father, I pray that as this calendar year closes you will be a welcome, comforting, sustaining presence to Ashley, Angela, Jan, and us.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Straddling a Fence

Are you on the fence?  Are you lukewarm?  Do you try to stand in the place of neutrality?  Do you find yourself saying, "I'm not real sure how I feel about that.  I don't know if I'm for or against it?"

God tells us in plain language that we are either for Him or against Him.  We either believe in Him or we don't (John 3:18).  He also tells us how He feels about lukewarm Christians sitting on a fence (Revelation 3:16).

Ultimately, it does not really matter if you are for or against something (abortion, lying, adultery, etc.).  Your job is to find out where God stands on the issue.  If God hates divorce and you love God, you hate divorce.  My own personal experience is filled with things that God hates.  It makes me want to cry.  But God is faithful to forgive.  (Thank You, Lord God.)  He is faithful to use those that love Him for His purpose.  He is faithful to heal.  He is wonderful.  He is the everlasting God.  Daily we are called to take up our cross, bring our flesh under control, love the things that God loves and hate the sin that God hates.  We are not to be bench warmers on the fence.  If God hates divorce, do everything you can to keep it from your marriage.  If you must divorce, remember that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son that You might have everlasting life.  Seek God's forgiveness.  Then, do everything you can to keep divorce away from this point forward.  But, don't waver in the middle.  That is just sickening.  Be hot or cold about homosexuality, idolatry, covetousness, etc.  Just don't ride the fence.

(Father God, help me to always recognize and stand on your side.  And, when I fail, Father, please forgive me.  Thank you for making your position clear through your Word.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

My Testimony

Does your family know the important things you want them to know? If you died today, what do you want your husband to remember? What do you want your son or daughter to hold dear through the remainder of their life? What do you want your extended family to hear you say one last time? What do you want your friends to know?

Do they know what your favorite song is and why it is your favorite? Do they know your favorite food and what makes it so yummy to you? Do they know about your relationship with Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Jesus?

The most important thing you can share today or leave behind is your testimony - the legacy of your life.

(Father God, help me to tell those around me that I love them daily. Help me to share Your love, salvation, and hope with everyone I meet. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Following a Suffering Servant

(This entry follows on my previous blog entry about God and suffering.) I talked about how those that we are intimately involved with are the ones that can cause the greatest amount of suffering and loss. The parent-child relationship, the spousal relationship, the child-parent relationship - these all can be devastating but these same relationships are the ones that bring us the greatest joy!

The intimacy of a spousal relationship (husband/man and wife/woman only within the bonds of marriage) is incredibly fulfilling physically and emotionally. The intimacy of bearing a child is also a fulfilling endeavor that can lead to joy as your child takes his first steps, graduates from high school, marries her sweetheart, or confidently takes a new job. The intimacy of caring for an aging parent can provide insights into knowing the parent beyond just that and into knowing the parent as a person.

So what relationship does Jesus have with us? Creator to creation. The One who created us in intimately involved in His creation. That's how He came to be a Suffering Servant. And, that's why it is in God's character to suffer. He put so much care and joy and love into creating us that when we disobey and dishonor Him he suffers. It is because He cares so much. Think about it. If you don't care about the school bully, do you suffer because of him? No. Suffering only comes when care is present. It happens when you want the best for those around you and they don't seem to want it for themselves.

Yes, God wants what is best for us and we are disobedient slugs. We think we know better that the One that has infinite wisdom and knowledge. We cause our Creator AND ourselves to suffer. Then, when we get back on the right track, we bring our Creator AND ourselves great joy. Yes, this is where I want to be - on the joy side.

(Father God, please forgive me for causing you to suffer. Thank you for the immense joy when I am obedient. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.)

Suffering Servant

How could God be a suffering servant? I mean, isn't God perfect? What could cause Him pain, distress, injury, loss, a penalty, or death? Why would He patiently or willingly allow or permit it?

I don't like suffering. I don't understand how God allows and participates in suffering. Yet, He has told me why.

Mark 1:41 - "And Jesus, moved with compassion..." Mark 3:5 - "...being grieved for the hardness of their hearts..."

God is moved with compassion and it grieves Him when our hearts are hard against our fellow humans. So, how does that explain suffering? Suffering comes from us. Oh, yes, it does. I love my children. Yet, as a parent, my deepest pain and distress comes from those children. When they don't recognize how I care for them or when they are on a destructive path, it causes me pain. I love my parents. Yet, a deep loss that I have felt came when my father died. I feel pain as I watch my mother go through cancer treatments. I love the father of my children. Yet, divorce has caused intense pain there. I love my husband. Yet, I know that he holds my heart and could cause devastation. Unfortunately, I have also caused others pain. Unfeeling words spoken without thought, rash judgement made without knowing all the details, taking for granted care and consideration provided for me - all this results in suffering.

How is it that Jesus could suffer? His love for us is so great that when we step outside what is good for us and harden our hearts to Him, it grieves Him. He suffers. We suffer. Ouch.

None the less, Jesus does what is right. He is the truth. If you read the first part of Mark 3, it tells of Jesus healing even though He had been set up by the hard hearts of men. He wanted men to desire the healing of the injured one. But they didn't. They only wanted to "catch" him violating one of their own laws. Take note, Jesus didn't violate His law.

Sadly, suffering will remain as long as we are disobedient.

(Father God, forgive me for causing you pain. Thank you for the forgiveness you freely and quickly offer. Help me to be aware of when I am causing the suffering of others so that I may repent of that. Thank you for spending time talking with me and teaching me. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.)

Cat Hair in the Escape

Yesterday after a wonderful lunch with my husband, we were sitting in our vehicle, a Ford Escape, talking. As we were discussing things, my eyes took in the grit and grime that had collected in the console. So, I started cleaning.

Our conversation turned to the cleaning and how quickly things get dirty. My husband commented that the vehicle needed to be washed, vacuumed, waxed, etc. It was then that I noticed the cat hair.

Our cat is an indoor cat. She hasn't always been an indoor cat. She used to spend as much time outside as she did inside. Several years ago during the summer, she decided that it was much safer and comfortable to stay inside. It's not much safer or comfortable for us humans living inside because that cat still has her claws and she won't stay still long enough to for us to clip them. The last time her claws were clipped we had to sedate her. That should give you some idea as to her personality. She loves on her terms, not yours.

She has never been in the Escape. She does not ride well. I think she isn't in control so she doesn't like it. Yet, her hair is tucked in nooks and cranny's of the Escape. It is under the seat, on the seat, in the carpet, on the dash, on the window, and working it's way in the glove box.

Isn't that a lot like sin? The evidence of it is everywhere. Even if my sin does not take place in one particular area, the evidence of it is still there in other areas - just like the cat hair from the cat that has never been in the Escape. Now, think about this. It travels far. Our Escape takes us on trips hundreds of miles from our cat.

Where have you left small evidences of sin? Did you leave it at the grocery store when you were frustrated with how slow the line was moving? Did you leave it with your child as you sent him off to school with negative words ringing in his ears? Did you leave it on your husband as you silently let him know that he forgot to take out the trash?

(Father God, please forgive me for not noticing how far the evidence of my sin has spread. Help me to clean up the sin and remove it from my life. Thank you for the wonderful cat that you created to help me learn more about You and your ways. You are an awesome God. May you be honored by this today, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Nothing New

I've heard for years, "There's nothing new under the sun." Of course, desiring myself to be creative, I think, "Sure there is."

Well, I was reading Daniel 6 (v1-10) today and it just made me mad. Those politicians had to invent a way to cause Daniel to break the law. They searched and searched but did not find anyway they could defame him. There was no insider trading rumors, no sexual infidelity, no kickbacks, no skimming the funds, no negative campaigning. The Word says, "They could find none occasion nor fault." Basically, he was an honest, hardworking, excellent, and true citizen.

Does that remind you of anything? God showed me that there is nothing new. Just as politicians then had to invent a way to make true, honest, hardworking individuals into lawbreakers, they are doing it today also.

(Father God, I thank you for the signs of the times. My heart quickens with anticipation and fear. Forgive our nation, Father. We are a sorry bunch to say the least. We have openly ignored your direction and have followed each one after our own selfish desires. Forgive us! Have GREAT mercy on us! In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.)