Remember

Yesterday was Memorial Day.

Yesterday we remembered those who had died in service to this country. Who had died for us. For you and for me.

There is a sense in which every day is a Memorial Day. Every day we have reason to remember. Every day we need to stay focused on the truth that there is One who died for us. There is One who gave His life that we might be free. There is One who died for us that we might have a relationship with God through Him.

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)

We must never forget that Somebody died for us.

Christ died for you. Christ died for me.

And because He died for us, we now live.

We now live in freedom. Not a political freedom, but a spiritual freedom. Christ has set us free from the slavery of sin. He has set us free to live for Him.

We need to remember that!  

Remember.  

And live for the One who died for us.

"So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.........Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless principles of the world........For freedom Christ has set you free; stand firm therefore."  (Galatians 4:7, 9; 5:1  ESV)

Getting Ready for Memorial Day

 

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally has been viewed simply as a kick-off to the summer vacation season. Memorial Day is so much more than just a kick-off to summer. 

This is a holiday which has its roots in the days following the Civil War and which began as a way to honor and remember those who had died in that war. In those days, it was known as Decoration Day. Although in recent years it has been observed much like other patriotic holidays (Independence Day and Veterans' Day) as a way to honor all the men and women who serve in our nation's military, I believe it is important to remember why we have this particular holiday.  

 

This day is so much more than a day to honor the military, as important as that is. We have Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May) to honor those who are now serving in our nation's military. Sadly, unless you are part of a military family or you live in a community near a military base, you may not even be aware of this holiday. And we have Veterans' Day in November to honor all those who have served in our nation's military.

This holiday, Memorial Day, is a day set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country. To remember that freedom isn't free. To remember that all those who went off to war didn't come home. Memorial Day is a day to remember.

In places like Gettysburg and Vicksburg. At Bull Run and Bunker Hill. In faraway places like Normandy and Argonne. Korea and Vietnam. Baghdad and Mosul. Kabul and Kandahar. In all these places and many more, somebody died for you. Memorial Day is a day to remember that. Somebody died for you.

This weekend, while you're enjoying your day off from work, or your day at the beach, or your barbecue, take time to remember.

Freedom isn't free.  

Remember.

Somebody paid the ultimate price so you can enjoy all these things.

Remember.

Somebody died for you.

Remember.


"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 ESV)

When You Don’t Understand

This morning I read one of my favorite Old Testament prophets, Habakkuk.

As I was reading, it occurred to me that we here in the 21st century have a lot in common with Habakkuk.

Habakkuk lived in a time where justice had essentially disappeared, where violence and wickedness abounded.  Although the circumstances were different then, we certainly live in a world where there is much we don't understand, where it seems that the "bad guys" are always winning, where life doesn't make sense, where violence and wickedness are all too common.

What did Habakkuk do?  He had a talk with God about the things that were bothering him!  He asked questions.  

"O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?"  (Habakkuk 1:2 ESV)

And when Habakkuk asked questions, God answered!

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.  For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.  For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans....."  (Habakkuk 1:5-6a ESV)

Habakkuk didn't really understand that answer.  Why would God raise up a wicked nation and allow them to prosper?  So he asked some more questions.  And then he said this:

"I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look to see what he will say to me."  (Habakkuk 2:1 ESV)

As God answers Habakkuk and explains to him what is about to happen, there are two verses that I believe we can hold on to in our own "Habakkuk" situations, in the times when we don't understand what God is doing.

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters that cover the sea......the LORD is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him."  (Habakkuk 2:14, 20 ESV)

Just like Habakkuk, you and I are often faced with situations we don't understand.  Life can be hard!  And we often have more questions than answers.  Especially on days like yesterday, with yet another school shooting.

In those times, I believe it's important to follow Habakkuk's example.  To have a conversation with God.  Ask questions.  And then continue to follow Habakkuk's example and wait to see how God will answer.  Through it all, we hold on to the truth that ultimately God's purposes will be fulfilled, eventually the earth will be filled with His glory, and that God is in control.  He is in His holy temple.  He is in charge.  Nothing that happens to you or to me comes as a surprise to Him.

What does all that have to do with you and me on a practical level?  We may not have Chaldeans at the gate of the city.  But we do live in a world that is a bit out of kilter, don't we?  Looking at the big picture, we find ourselves in a world that is turning its back on God and His Word.  We live in a country where we are slowly but surely finding our freedoms eroded.  We live in a world where violence abounds. And we don't like it very much!

But bring the question closer to home. We have questions about so many things. Why do some people die so young? Why do people kill innocent children? 

Maybe you are in the middle of a really hard life situation.  Financial stress.  Problems at your job.  Family stresses.  Illness.  Or if it isn't you, it's someone you know, someone you love, who is having a really hard time.

Sometimes life just doesn't make sense, does it?

It only makes sense when we follow Habakkuk's example and trust God through every situation.  Even the situations we can't explain.  The ones that defy logic.  Through the good times and the bad times and through all the times in between.  Habakkuk trusted God.  Even when life didn't make sense.  

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  GOD, the Lord, is my strength."  (Habakkuk 3:12-13 ESV)

What Habakkuk was saying was this:  even if my crops fail, even if I have no food, even if I lose everything, even then I will rejoice in the Lord.

Put in 21st century terms, he would be saying:  even if my investments tank, even if I have no money in the bank, even if I lose my job, even if I get transferred to a job I don't want or a city I don't want to live in, even if I get really sick and I have no insurance, even if I don't have any money to take my family on a vacation or buy a bigger house or go out to dinner, even if there's no money in the bank and no food in the refrigerator and all my credit cards are maxed out, even if nothing in life makes any sense,  even then I will rejoice in the Lord.  No matter what, even then I will rejoice in the Lord.

When we don't understand what is going on in our world, there's a lot we can learn from Habakkuk. We can follow Habakkuk's example. Talk to God about whatever the situation is. Ask Him questions. Wait to see how He answers. And through it all, trust Him. 



 "When you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart."
(-Babbie Mason)

Duty

We’re heading toward  the Memorial Day weekend. For many, this is the sign that summer is here. Many view this long weekend as the sign that vacation season has officially begun.

For others, Memorial Day brings memories of grandparents and other friends and relatives who sent off to war. I’m part of an age group whose parents served during World War II, and were part of what has often been described as the Greatest Generation.

If your relative were like mine, there’s a common theme among them all. Most of our relatives from that generation didn't talk much about the war. In fact, in most - if not all - cases, it was hard to get any information out of them at all.

That Greatest Generation was very different from today's generation. They didn't grow up with social media and television and 24-hour news. They weren't part of a celebrity-driven culture where everybody wants to be the center of attention and where people are famous just for being famous. There was a selflessness characterizing that generation which is sadly lacking in today's world. The Greatest Generation didn't live their lives in the media spotlight. They just did their duty. To God. To family. To country.

For men and women who wear the uniform of our country's military in this generation, the same can be said. These men and women sacrifice much as they voluntarily put their lives on the line and do their duty.

What about those of us who serve in a different army? Those of us who follow a different Commander in Chief? Those of us in the army of the Lord? How would our service be described?

Do we serve the Lord as selflessly as those of the Greatest Generation served their country in World War II?

Or are we seeking the limelight? Does our service say "look at me!" or does our service say "look at Jesus!"?

We often define the word "duty" as something that one is expected or required to do, or as a task that one is expected to perform. In other words, doing our duty is doing what we ought to do.

In the Christian life, what does that mean? Perhaps we can answer that question by looking to the account of Jesus' first miracle, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. When the wine had run out, Mary said to the servants, speaking of Jesus, "do whatever He tells you." 

(John 2:5b)

That is perhaps the essence of duty. Certainly for those men and women of America's Greatest Generation, that was true. When the order came, they did what they were told. Without question.  

Not because it was something they necessarily wanted to do. Or because it would make them popular. Or because it would get them more Twitter followers or Facebook friends. Or because it would make them famous.

They did what they were told for an entirely different reason. Because it was the right thing to do.  Because it was what they ought to do. Because it was their duty.

What an example they have set for us.  

"So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"  (Luke 17:10 ESV)

Not Just For Children

 All across social media there are posts about field day and graduation and other end-of-the-school-year activities. Memorial Day weekend is just ahead. That means Vacation Bible School is not far behind!

As a child, I looked forward to Vacation Bible School every year. In my church, VBS was a two-week long event, Monday through Friday mornings, 3 hours each morning. We began by lining up by age groups on the church lawn and walking quietly into the sanctuary. There we had pledges, accompanied by the stand up and sit down chords. 

VBS also meant crafts and missionary stories and snow cones. But the thing that sticks with me most about VBS is Scripture. Memorizing God's Word. Many of the verses I memorized in VBS as a child are still with me. Like this one:

"Thy Word I have hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11 KJV)

Sadly, those of us who are no longer children have the idea that memorizing Scripture is something we are no longer able to do. While I agree that it might not be as easy as it was when we were children, I disagree that this is something we can't do. I think we confuse can't with don't want to make the effort. 

Memorizing Scripture takes effort. It is a discipline. And, like so many of the other I can'ts in life, it begins with a decision.

We say I can't lose weight, and we can't, until we make a decision to pay attention to how much we eat, and what we eat, and when and why.

We say I can't exercise (or walk or run), and we can't, until we make the decision to get off the couch, turn off the TV, and actually get moving, even for a short distance.

We say I can't drink that much water every day, and we can't, until we make the effort and actually put water in a glass and start drinking it.

We say I can't memorize Scripture, and we can't, until we actually make an effort. That starts with choosing a verse or passage to memorize, and taking steps to memorize it.

In VBS, when I was a child, we memorized verses (or passages like Psalm 24) by repetition. By breaking it down into smaller sections. By saying it out loud. 

The easiest way for me to learn a passage in this season of my life is to read it over and over again. The more I read it, the more it sticks with me. Sometimes I practice copying it. (That's a trick I learned in rehab when I was learning to read and write again.) I practice saying it out loud. I do it several times a day. 

There are all sorts of "memory tricks" to help you remember things. Find what works for you. And then do it.

And it all starts with a decision. A decision to memorize some Scripture. Because Scripture memory is not just for children.

All Means All

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19 NASB)


That verse came to mind this morning. And it has camped out there! I can't get it out of my mind.

We seem to associate that verse most often with financial need.

But it means so much more than that, doesn't it?

All your need.

All means all.

Not some.

All.

So whatever you're needing today, in whatever area of life, He is able to meet your need.

In relationships.

On the job.

In your health.

In your finances.

When there's too much month at the end of the money.

When you're lonely.

When you're anxious.

When you need encouragement.

In every area of your life.

He is able to supply all your need.

Even when you don't understand how.

Even when life doesn't make sense.

Even when you can't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Even then.

He is able.

He is able to supply all your need.

All.

And that powerful truth makes me very thankful indeed.


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen." 
(Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)

Paying the Price

Looking through some old photos recently reminded me of a grand adventure several years ago exploring some of the Ohio Amish country. That adventure included a buggy ride. I copied this photo from the Yoder Amish Home web site to show where we rode.

The area where we rode was surrounded by ragweed. Lots of ragweed. And being highly allergic to ragweed, I paid a price for that buggy ride. Drippy nose. Swollen eyes. Lots of tissues. Feeling - and looking - pretty miserable.

That's the price of a buggy ride.

For the nine years we lived in the mountains of western North Carolina, we lived in the log home at the top of a mountain, and we had amazing views.

We enjoyed some spectacular sunsets when we lived there.

There was a downside to all that beauty. The only access to our mountain home was a very steep gravel road, and going up and down that road in winter could be treacherous.

That was the price we had to pay for those beautiful views.

Yesterday I enjoyed a peaceful afternoon, sitting outside on the porch, feeling the breeze, and listening to bird’s singing while I read a good book.

Today I’m paying for it. I sound like a frog and have a horrible headache!

We all understand the concept of paying the price, at least in theory. When we go to the supermarket or the department store, and find an item we want, we check the price of the item, and then must decide if we are willing to pay that price. Whether it's bananas or steak or coffee or shoes, we check the price and determine if we are willing to pay that price. In every case, there's a price that must be paid.

There is a price to pay for everything.  There are always consequences.

That is true for beautiful mountain views and for buggy rides in fields of ragweed and days on the porch in the middle of a seemingly never-ending pollen season. It is true for the choices we make about how to spend our money and the choices we make concerning food, or about any of the other choices we make.

Jesus had something to say about counting the cost. He said, "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?"  (Luke 14:28 ESV).  In this passage in Luke 14, Jesus was talking about the cost of discipleship. The cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, salvation is a free gift.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."  (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)  

Salvation is a free gift, but there is a cost to discipleship. A cost to following Jesus. And we must consider the cost, Jesus said.  

Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."  (Luke 14:28-29 ESV)

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."  (John 15:18 ESV)

Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33 ESV)

Being a follower of Jesus Christ, especially in our culture, comes with a price tag. There may be ridicule.  You may lose your friends. Or your job. Or, as it is in many parts of the world, you might lose more than that. You might even lose your life.

Jesus paid it all for you.

Salvation is a free gift. Discipleship is a costly pursuit.

Are you willing to pay the price of being His disciple?

Spiritual Amnesia

Every Thursday morning I have the privilege of meeting together with a wonderful group of women for Bible Study. This past Thursday, we finished our study of the 7 Feasts* found in Leviticus 23. This study was was a little different than other studies we have done, but in the end, we were not only challenged, but encouraged by all we had learned about God from this study.

While we on this side of the Cross no longer observe the rituals of these feasts, but there is much we can learn from them. Not only does each feast point forward to Christ in some way, but these feasts also have much to say to us about our spiritual amnesia.

What in the world is spiritual amnesia?

Let’s start with a definition for amnesia:

Amnesia: Loss of a large block of interrelated memories; complete or partial loss of memory due to brain injury or trauma.

I understand amnesia. I have amnesia. Due to a stroke in 2016, there is a large block of my life that I no longer have any memory of. 

But what does that have to do with spiritual amnesia?

Spiritual amnesia has to do with remembering. As in, I remembered to read my Bible today, I remembered to pray today, I remembered to go to church on Sunday. But it goes beyond that.

Spiritual amnesia is about not forgetting. Not forgetting the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer and church attendance, certainly. But beyond that.

Remembering who God is. Remembering His character and His ways. Remembering all He has done and all He has promised to do. 

Remembering. Letting all that sink in. 

In ancient Israel, the Lord had set feast days like Passover and First Fruits and the Day of Atonement into their calendar so the Israelites would remember.

We don’t have to wait for those feast days to remember. And if we are wise, we will make every effort not to forget….to remember. To remember all He has done. To remember His promises. To remember His goodness. To remember His blessings.

To remember. So we don’t get spiritual amnesia.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3 NKJV)     

* 7 Feasts, Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament, Erin Davis, Revive Our Hearts Ministrieso

Ancient Words

 

"Holy words, long preserved,

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God's own heart.

Oh, let the ancient words impart.

 

Words of life, words of hope,

Give us strength, help us cope,

In this world, where e'er we roam,

Ancient words will guide us home.

 

Chorus:

Ancient words ever true.

Changing me, and changing you.

We have come with open hearts.

Oh, let the ancient words impart.

 

(-Michael W. Smith)

 

We sang this in church yesterday. It's a relatively new hymn, written in the late 20th or early 21st century. It's one of my favorite of the newer hymns. Perhaps it's a favorite of yours as well. But even more than the text of this hymn, I love what it is written about.

Ancient words. Oh, how precious are the ancient words of Scripture. How blessed we are that God has revealed Himself, His works and His ways, to us through the written word, preserved down through the centuries for us. Whether we are reading the Scriptures in their original languages, or no matter which English translation we are using, these are words to be treasured. As Paul told us in his letter to Timothy, they are "profitable" for us......"for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" that we may be "equipped for every good work."  (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

 

It is because these words are so precious and because they are profitable for us that I get so disturbed when I hear them misused or misapplied or inaccurately quoted. We are told in the Book of Joshua to "Be very careful to observe the commandment and the law" (Joshua 22:5 ESV). It is my belief that those words did not apply only to the Hebrew people getting ready to enter the Promised Land, but that we must take them to heart as well. We must be very careful. We must study the Word of God carefully and we must apply it carefully. And we must be very careful that we don't mix into the Word things we have heard from other sources and put those words on equal standing with the Word of God.

I cringe, at least inwardly, when I hear people say things like "God helps those who help themselves", and who really believe that is a Biblical saying. In fact that saying does not come from the Bible, but comes from "Poor Richard's Almanac", written by Benjamin Franklin and not said by Jesus! The origin of that phrase actually goes back to Algernon Sydney in a 1698 article titled "Discourses Concerning Government"!

The Bible actually teaches that God helps the helpless. For example, look at Isaiah 25:4 ("For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress.....") or at Romans 5:6 ("For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.")

And I really, really cringe when I hear, as I did recently, things like "well, you know what Jesus said.....hate the sin and love the sinner." The problem is, Jesus didn't say that. Mahatma Ghandhi did.  And centuries before him, a similar phrase was used by St. Augustine of Hippo.

I'm not saying all this to be critical, but rather to demonstrate what a Biblically illiterate people we have become. And that breaks my heart. God has given us His word.....this "Ancient Word"......and we just take it so for granted, especially in the United States. With our virtually unlimited access to the Word, in multiple formats and in multiple translations and with multiple copies of the Word in our homes, we act as though that is enough. As though physical access to the Word is all we need. And if we pick it up and dust it off occasionally, or if we read a verse or two here and there, or if we show up on Sunday morning, that's enough.

But it isn't nearly enough. How do we know that there won't come a day in this country when we won't have that unlimited access to the Word of God?

What gives us the right to be such lazy Christians anyway? It is my firm belief that God has given us His Word, this written revelation of Himself, in order for us to know Him better, in order for us to read it and study it and understand it. So that we would then know how we should live in a way that honors and glorifies and magnifies Him.

Life is not all about me. Or all about you. It's all and only about Him. And knowing how to live life in a way that honors Him, that is in obedience to Him, is learned by studying His Word, those "Ancient Words" that have been left to us.  

Oh, that we would value those words more. That we would spend time in those Words. That we would study them. That we would hide them in our hearts. That we would handle them accurately.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."                 (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)

 

Multitasking

 

A few days ago I was multitasking (translation:  watching TV and scrolling through old photos at the same time), and I came across this photo of a Bookmobile. Although this Bookmobile doesn't look exactly like the one I remember from my childhood, this photo did trigger a flood of memories.

How I looked forward to those trips to the bookmobile! It parked on the corner of our street, in a location that interestingly became home to an actual bricks-and-mortar library building many decades later.  Ours was the third house from the corner, and out the front door we would go, Mother and I, to walk up to the bookmobile. And then we would walk back home, my arms loaded with all the books I could carry. It was an absolute delight!

Eventually our town got our own branch of the Spartanburg County Library. It was a very small building, not much larger than an average bedroom, and was open two afternoons a week.....Tuesday and Saturday.  Mrs. Christopher was the Librarian. She sat behind a table by the door and stamped due dates onto that little white flap glued into the back of the book. The Children's Section was just to the right of the front door. It was there that I formed friendships with Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden and the Bobbsey Twins.  Where I got to know people like Florence Nightingale and George Washington Carver and Julie Lowe and Clara Barton and Benjamin Franklin. Where Louisa May Alcott became a favorite author. It is quite likely that I read every book on those shelves at least once!  

I also spent some time in Mysteries and Westerns. These were for my granddaddy, who lived with us part of the year. He was confined to his room as a result of multiple strokes, but he loved to read mysteries and westerns. Twice a week I went to the library and got our books. If I ever made the mistake of getting him a book he had already read, he let me know it! The town now has a beautiful library building, full of wonderful books and magazines and computers. But my memories of the Landrum Library always go to that little building from my childhood, and even earlier to those trips to the bookmobile.

Over the years I have had opportunity to spend time in many libraries. When I was a little girl I often visited my second cousin Anne Sevier, who taught English at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University). While Anne was teaching, she would drop me off at the college library and leave me in the care of Miss Schinn, the College Librarian. That library has moved from building to building over the years, but my memories take me back to what I think is now known as the Rutledge Building......to quiet whispers, big library tables with uncomfortable wooden chairs, and to a children's section on the first floor, back corner on the right, with more books than were housed in the entire Landrum Library!  I remember sitting in the floor, surrounded by books, complete oblivious to anything that might be going on around me. That continues to happen to this day when there's a good book in my hand!

One of my favorite things about libraries, and book stores as well, other than the obvious - books! - is the smell. I love the smell of that many books all in the same confined space. Call me crazy, but there it is.......I love the smell of books! I love the feel of a book in my hand. I love the sound of pages turning - quietly, mind you. I don't like the sound of pages being "flipped"!  It seems disrespectful to the book.  (Again, go ahead, call me crazy!) But the smell is my favorite......I love that!

The thing I love even more is the combination of smells at places like Barnes and Noble. Books and coffee together. Two of my very favorite things. An absolute delight to my senses.

There was a time I thought I would no longer have the joy of reading. Following my stroke several years ago, I had to learn to read and write again. And even after I did, for a time reading was more stress than pleasure. Thankfully, over time, it has once again become something I enjoy. And although I now read much more slowly than I once did, I still often am reading more than one book at a time. Multitasking!

This week I finished one book and started a couple more.

• The Catch by Lisa Harris is the 3rd and finally book in the US Marshalls series. Harris is a great writer of “romantic suspense”, and The Catch was a great read. I love a good mystery, and this one fills the bill.
• I have just begun reading Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham. I have only read a few pages, but I think I’m going to enjoy this one.
• And I pulled an old book of my book shelf to read again. I’m looking forward to slowly and prayerfully rereading A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

When these are finished, there will be more good books to take their place. I always have a pretty extensive “want to read” list. Always multitasking! Always a book nearby.

Today is a definitely a good day for some multitasking. No appointments. Nothing but laundry on my agenda. A good day for two of my favorite things. Coffee and a good book. 


"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Every Careless Word

“Every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." 

Jesus spoke those words.  

Every careless word. Oh my.  

Every careless word. Not some careless words. Not just the words I meant to say. But every careless word. Including the ones that just slipped out of my mouth. The ones that caused me then to say,"Did I really just say that?".

Every careless word. Not just the kind, thoughtful, loving words. But every word. Including the ones uttered in frustration or in bad temper or in anger.

As I have been thinking about these words of Jesus, I wonder how many careless words I have spoken already today. Or how many I spoke yesterday.

How many careless words have I spoken this week?

Or this month?

And I realize that I can't even begin to keep up! How sad that is.....

Every careless word. That's a lot of words. And it's a reminder that we really do need to think before we speak. 


"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  (Matthew 12:36 NASB, emphasis mine) 

Distractions

Have you ever started a project and then not finished it because your mind wandered to somewhere else? And then you remembered another thing that needed doing. Or a phone call you needed to make. And then you decided to check Facebook or your texts.  And then you needed a snack. But maybe you should walk the dog first. But you need to finish this chapter. Except you just remembered that you have clothes in the washing machine that need to go in the dryer. But first you'll go make another cup of coffee.   

Can anyone relate? 

We all get distracted from time to time. Life is busy, and our schedules are filled with places to be and things to do.  

Sometimes distractions are a good thing. We can be going through the busyness of the day and then find ourselves distracted by the beauty of a flower. Or by a sunset. Or by a song we hear. Or by the sound of children at play. At those times we hit the pause button on life, set aside for a moment whatever we might have been focused on, and enjoy the beauty. We take time to smell the roses, to borrow a phrase. Those are good distractions.

Too often, however, distractions are not good things.  

Too often we allow distractions to keep us from more important things, like the Word of God. We allow the busyness of life to get in the way. We even allow good things, like family and friends, to become distractions, keeping us from best things, like time with the Lord. We too often use friends and family as an excuse, rather than seeking to find the right balance. As a result, relationships with family, with friends, and with the Lord, all can suffer.

In addition, we allow the media to distract us. Politicians would like to keep us distracted. The enemy of our souls would like to keep us distracted.

That's the greatest danger of all. That the enemy of our souls would keep us so distracted, whether by busyness or by false teachers or by media and political pundits with their particular agendas. That distraction is the one we must guard most against.

The enemy of our souls would like to keep us so busy and so distracted by our religion and our politics and our good works that we miss the most important thing - our relationship with Jesus.

Don't give your enemy the victory! Don't get distracted!

"You therefore, beloved....be on your guard."  (2 Peter 3:17 NASB)

"Be on guard."  (2 Timothy 4:15 NASB)

"Be on guard, so that your heart will not be weighted down...."  (Luke 21:34 NASB)

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  (Ephesians 6:12 NASB)

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith."  (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)

(Un)remarkable

(Un)remarkable, subtitled “Ten ordinary women who impacted the world for Christ”, is a group of vignettes about ten women who were, in fact, most remarkable. Some of the names, like Corrie ten Boom and Susannah Wesley, you may recognize; others, like Sabrina Wurmbrandt and Phillis Wheatley Peters, you may not.

As a young girl, I loved reading biographies. Sadly, as I have grown older, I have gotten away from reading them. In the introduction to the book, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth reminds us why these biographies are so important: “if our spiritual nourishment consists largely of blogs and books written by modern-day men and women who have lived a mere three, four, or five decades in affluent America, we risk spiritual malnourishment.” This book reminds me why biographies are worth reading, and challenges me to add more biographies to my reading list.

C.S. Lewis once wrote that reading about these faithful believers of the past serves as a lens through which we can see Christ more clearly. Reading about the lives of godly men and women in the past encourages us to live beyond our present circumstances.

The first woman we meet in this book is Mary Slessor. I remember reading about her when I was a young girl. Mary had a tough upbringing in Scotland, and met Christ as a teenager. She longed to share Christ with the world, but didn’t think she fit the mold of a missionary. It was, after all, unusual for young women to go barefoot and climb trees in the mid-1800s, as Mary did. Eventually, at age 28, Mary left Scotland for Calabar (in present-day Nigeria). Mary Slessor lived in Africa for more than 40 years, eventually being known as Ma Akamba, the Great Mother, as Mary, who had no children of her own, became a refuge for young children.

Like the other women in this book, Mary exemplified unselfish, dedicated devotion to Christ. Mary Slessor considered Jesus the answer to every human need.

(Un)remarkable is a short book, less than 100 pages, filled with inspiration and encouragement. Each of the stories of these remarkable women is followed by a “Take it home, make it personal” segment with some thought-provoking questions for you to think about, often also accompanied by a passage of scripture to meditate on.

This is a small book that packs a powerful punch. I urge you to read it for yourself.

(Un)remarkable is available from Revive Our Hearts ministries (www.reviveourhearts.com).

“Everything no matter how seemingly secular or small is God’s work for the moment and worthy of our best endeavor.” - Mary Slessor

Quality Time, Or Just Going Through The Motions

Some years ago, Gary Chapman wrote a best-selling book titled The Five Love Languages.

Chapman's basic premise is that we can't communicate with each other if we aren't speaking the same language. No matter how much a wife might love her husband, or the husband might love his wife, if they aren't speaking the same language, it's difficult to convey that love. Chapman gives us five love languages: gifts, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and words of affirmation. The idea is that if I express my love for my spouse or my children using my love language, and they speak a different love language, they will not feel loved in the same way as if I expressed my love using their language. That's a very simplified explanation, but you get the idea.

When I first became aware of Chapman's book a number of years ago, I would have told you that my love language was gifts. All the assessments I took confirmed that. 

I love giving gifts to people I love as a way to let them know I love them. And I love receiving gifts!  When I am given a gift chosen especially for me, I feel loved.

But as I'm growing older, I'm not quite as certain that gifts is still my primary love language.  Certainly I still love giving and receiving gifts, but as I grow older, time is the thing that means most to me. Being able to spend quality time with people I love makes me feel loved and special.

Face to face time. Or time in a phone conversation. Time for coffee together. Time. It means more and more to me as I continue my journey through life.

I have written about this before, and it's on my mind again this morning. I find myself wondering if God might say the same thing. 

Please understand. I'm not trying to be flippant or blasphemous or disrespectful. But if God were to speak audibly to us and tell us how He would most like us to express our love for Him, I wonder what He would say. I'm sure He appreciates all the acts of service we do on His behalf, and all the wonderful words we say about Him. But I think that if these five love languages were to apply to our relationship with God, what He might like most is our time.

Not just time spent in doing good works or acts of service or witnessing. But some quality time spent with Him alone.

In this hurried, harried, crazy world we live in, are we giving Him that? Are we going through the motions, or are we really spending quality time with the One we love?

If we were to ask Him how we're doing, what would He say? 

Something to think about.

I miss my time with you,

those moments together.

I need to be with you each day

and it hurts Me when you say

you're too busy.

Busy trying to serve Me,

but how can you serve Me

when your spirit's empty?

There's a longing in My heart,

wanting more than just a part of you.

It's true,

I miss my time with you.

(Larnelle Harris, Phil McHugh)

 

Some Thoughts About Mother’s Day

Today I'm thinking about Mother's Day. Thinking about my mother and about her mother, two of the women I admired most in all the world! How I miss them both! Each time I think of them, some verses from Proverbs 31 come to mind:

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.  She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her."  (Proverbs 31:25-28 NASB)

Today as I think about Mother's Day, I'm celebrating! I'm remembering my mother and my grandmother and celebrating wonderful memories. I'm celebrating the joy of being a mother and a grandmother. I'm so thankful for the blessing of my sons, the sons God gave me, the ones the doctors said I would never have. I'm loving my role as Nana, being grandmother to two precious young men who bring me so much joy! I'm celebrating the mothers of those young men, the daughters who came into my life because they are the women my sons chose, the women who love my sons. I celebrate the joy they each bring to our family, their unique personalities and gifts, and the blessing they are to all of us.

Mostly I celebrate that my mother and my grandmother, and the countless grandmothers before them that I never knew, as well as those daughters who are now part of my life, all love the Lord and His Word, and I celebrate the commitment of each of those women to teach His Word and His ways diligently. I celebrate our commitment to have families who love Jesus. I celebrate our desire to honor Him in all we do and say.

My prayer for us today is that we be found faithful. There's a song called "Find Us Faithful" that talks about this concept: May all who come behind us find us faithful, may the fire of our devotion light their way, may the footprints that we leave lead them to believe.* 

I'm thankful today for the women who went before me who were found faithful, who left those kind of footprints. I'm prayerful today that I will be found faithful, that the fire of my devotion will light the way for those who come behind me. I'm prayerful that I will love the Lord with all my heart and soul and mind. That my love will be evidenced in my behavior. That I will leave for my sons and my daughters and my grandsons, and all who follow behind me, a legacy of that kind of devotion to the Lord. That I will teach that diligently to my children and my grandchildren. That my sons and daughters will teach those things diligently to their children. I'm celebrating today what God will do in and through us when we commit ourselves completely to Him.

And I am so thankful that I had a Mother and a Grandmother who modeled that kind of love and devotion.

 

L-R, my great-grandmother, Leona Harwell Knox; my mother, Helen Neil Austin, me, and my grandmother, Ethel Knox Neil


"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."  (Proverbs 31:30 NASB)


*Find Us Faithful: words and music by Jon Mohr

So Many Reasons

 

"In everything give thanks."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

In everything. In all things. However, you want to phrase it...

No exceptions. There are none of those phrases we want to add to the end of the verse.

It doesn't say in everything except.......

Except cancer.

Except when I lose my job.

Except when I run out of money.

Except politicians. 

Except when my friend or my spouse or my son or my daughter or my best friend hurts my feelings.

Except any of the other things you might be able to think of. There are no clarifying phrases at the end of that sentence.

In everything. 

Everything means everything.

It's pretty clear.

This verse was a part of our Sunday School lesson yesterday, and this morning I’ve been thinking about all the reasons I have for giving thanks. So many reasons.

I’m thankful today for my family and for my extended family and my church family. I had a wonderful childhood, with loving parents, a younger brother I adored, a grandmother who lived next door, and an aunt, uncle, and cousin just a couple of blocks away. I had the blessing of a wonderful church family and have wonderful memories of those years. I’m so thankful!

As I look out the window today, I’m so thankful for spring. It’s finally really here! And it is gloriously beautiful! I’m so thankful!

This is National Stroke Awareness Month. Thinking about strokes, and what God has brought me through, and what my life could have been like - but for the grace of God - has me overwhelmed this morning with thankfulness.

Family. Friends. Church family. Good neighbors. A beautiful day. Good health. A stack of good books to read. The ability to get out and walk. Good coffee. The list goes on and on and on. 

I’m giving thanks today. With a very grateful heart. For so many reasons.

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."                           (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)