Glory Renewed

 

Sometimes we don’t know what’s missing; sometimes, it’s all too obvious. But the way we feel is the same. Something is missing from our lives that we desperately need, and we’d go to the ends of the earth to find it. Where do you go to made whole?

Collectors search antique stores and flea markets trying to find that piece that will “complete” their collection. But, where do we go when something is missing in us? Once again, I am drawn to the account in Mark 5:21-34 of a woman who knew, down deep in her heart, that if she could only touch the garment that Jesus was wearing, “I shall be whole.”

But, where do we go when something is missing in us?

There’s this line in a popular movie, “you complete me.” I’m just telling you, dear sister, that’s a lie. There is no other human being in this world that can truly “complete” you. Mainly because they are human, and all humans are flawed by sin. There is only One, who has lived a completely sinless life, Jesus Christ. And by placing your faith in Him, you can come away with this promise “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

 

In the New King James Version of the Bible, the word “well” is used as a more current translation of the word “whole.” To be made well, to have all be well in our bodies and souls, is to be made whole or complete in Christ. This is the missing part, He is the missing part. The answer to all the illnesses, all the relationship difficulties, all the problems in all the world is always more of Jesus. It doesn’t mean necessarily that all the problems will go away, but the Helper, the Keeper, the Strength of our heart will be infused into all those struggles. His strength in our weakness equals all we need to do what perfect love does, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

“Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

Letting go of the things that are breaking us opens us up to Him filling the empty spaces of our hearts so that we can be made whole. God can’t pour into us if we don’t pour out to Him. Like the woman in Mark 5, we have to risk it. We have to reach, and we have to obey when we asks, “Who touched Me?” Of course, He already knows, but He also already knows that our response is crucial for complete healing.

The woman humbled herself. She got down low, and she told Him, in the presence of witnesses, the whole truth. It was her faith that made her well. She was healed of her affliction and received so much more.

This is what I want to remember from her story: that when she was called out by Christ, she came out. Yes, she was afraid. She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too. We can take risks and we can speak out and we can humble ourselves to God, day after day and keep giving Him our hurts and He can keep filling in the broken places because that’s what He does. He completes us, day after day.

She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too.

 

 

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

O Heavenly Father, I thank you and pray that you cause me to remember your promises. I pray knowing that today is really all I have, and I choose to remember that Your compassion for me is new every, single morning and that You are faithful at every, single moment of everyday. I thank You that when I start to feel the sting of pain from the wounds this world gives me, You are with me and ready to cover them and fill them in with your healing love. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

The Access of “Touch”

It is beyond my understanding how we can just touch a screen and things happen. With the technology of today, I can touch a number and a call is initiated. I can type out a text, with my index finger (because I’m old and I just can’t do the thumb thing), and hit “send,” and a person gets a message from me on their phone! Mind blowing.

It is also beyond my understanding the access I have to Jesus. All I have to do is reach out to Him in prayer and immediately He hears. I base this faith from some scripture I have been studying lately in Mark 5:24-34. There is the account of a “bloody woman.” For 12 years, she had a “flow of blood.” In medical terms we would call this menorrhagia, and we would, hopefully long before 12 years, call our gynecologist and get this taken care of. But she did not have this option. Oh, she tried physicians, “and had suffered many things” due to their inability to heal her based on the modern medicine of that day.

She had a plan, and she didn’t have long to think about it. She heard Jesus was coming through her area, and she had faith in Him. So much faith that she thought “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Just touch and have access. Access to the healing of her anemic body and soul. And she was right, and was made right, through the power of Christ.

“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Touch technology access may be a relatively new and amazing thing, but it is not as powerful as the touch access we have to Jesus. There are times when I touch my screen and nothing happens. I try again and again and sometimes with profoundly hard touches, and then the screen freezes. Jesus never freezes. He responds, and we can count on that. He gets the message immediately, and He will hold you until He answers. Sometimes it will be immediate, sometimes not, but we have to remember that He always hears immediately. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves if the waiting time is God’s goodness to prepare us for His answer.

The account goes on to say, “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.” There’s something extra He did. He called her out to confess what had happened. When we reach for and connect with Jesus, He may call us out. He may ask us to leave our comfort zones, to testify of His goodness and risk the consequences. We might have to do a few things “in fear and trembling.” Because it is the least we can do for the great mercy He has shown to us.

“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”

Touch works both ways – the person who touches and the person who is touched. Both have a response to give. This is how good news spreads. How others get helped. If we know how Jesus helped us and we keep it to ourselves, we miss an opportunity to grow spiritually and help others know where to go for the help we are truly unable to give. The help and healing that can only come through a relationship with the lover of our souls.

Jesus gave her the most beautiful reward for her obedience in telling Him “the whole truth.” He says: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

How are we made well? Where do we find peace and healing? It depends on what the problem is. If it is physical, we have physicians and procedures that are amazing. With today’s technology, surgeons can fix something inside of bodies barely leaving a mark on the outside. But if the problem is with the soul, only Jesus can help.

Risk the throng, like this women did, reach out in faith and you will find Him reaching out to you.

Heavenly Father, I have hurts right now that only you can feel, because You tell me in Your Word that you have been touched with the feelings of my infirmities. I have wounds that only You can cleanse, and dress and completely heal. I reach out to you like this “bloody woman” because I am consumed by my lack of ability to fix my own problems. Thank you for hearing and holding and giving hope. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beside the still waters…Psalm 23

My daughter and I were sitting on a park bench beside a still pond. The green grass was like a soft carpet beneath our feet.

“…He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”

The wind was making its mark, creating little ripples in this small body of water. I noticed a tiny circle of fluff floating there. It remained still as the ripples seemed to be just under the surface. Like it was held there by something.

“…He leads me beside the still waters.”

Can it be that when we allow God to lead us, the ripples of circumstances in life cannot take us away from Him? We can be held on the surface where there is plenty of air and protection from the undertow. We can be restored from the dehydrating demands of this life by His living water. More powerful than the water that carved out the paths in the Grand Canyon.

“…He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

For the glory of His Name, He leads me. I am not here for me. Or you. Or anyone else. I am here for God. And so are you. That’s where the path of righteousness begins; realizing that.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”

There is a shadow that can feel like death. When the “normal” changes because something or someone has died and it’s just too hard to get up in the morning. Or too hard to get up and keep up a façade of I’m okay. How can you “fear no evil”?

“For You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Like the good shepherd never leaves his flock, God will never leave you. He will gently lead and guide and give and give more grace. How comforting to know that the rod is not for punishment but for guidance. For the next step when you don’t know when or where to place it. He knows the future and He’s got you. And He doesn’t care whose watching. Right in front of the enemies of your soul He will feed you, anoint you and fill you with His Spirit. Your strength will be renewed like the eagles.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”

Then you will be chased. Not by your enemies but by a God that will chase you down with His goodness and mercy. Not just today, but every day. For all eternity.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

I want to be like that little piece of fluff. I want to remember that I am powerless on my own, but attached to the water that He gives, I am safe, riding above the dangers that lurk under the surface.

 

 

Mother’s Day – The Day That Changes Everything…

She says “There’s so much I should have done differently…” I say, “Yeah, me too Mom.”  Mother’s get on-the-job training. Life-experience in the day-to-day mundane and the frantic times when children get high fevers or hurt. There are no algorithms for motherhood. There are only moments when you try to do what you try to do and hope that love covers it with a blanket of forgiveness.

Proverbs 10:12 reads: “Hatred stirs us strifes: but love covers all sins.”

In 1978, I became a mother. I gave birth to my firstborn and that was all that qualified me to be called a mother. There was a popular song filling the radio airwaves at that time, and one day, as I lay with my newborn, I bawled like the biggest baby when I heard it, because it mirrored the feelings in my heart.

What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life

What, a, difference you’ve made in my life
What a difference you’ve made in my life
You’re my sunshine day and night
Oh what a difference you’ve made in my life

What a change you have made in my heart
What a change you have made in my heart
You replaced all the broken parts
Oh what a change you have made in my heart

Love to me was just a word in a song
That had been way over-used
But now I’ve joined in the singing
‘Cause you’ve shown me love’s true meaning
That’s why I want to spread the news

What a difference you’ve made in my life
What a difference you’ve made in my life
You’re my sunshine day and night
Oh what a difference you’ve made in my life

 This song was written by Archie Johnson and the version I heard was performed by Ronnie Milsap and it broke me. It brought out the deep truth that I would never be the same after this tiny little person was entrusted to my care.

 

 

 Those moments happened more than 39 years ago, but I remember them just like they happened yesterday. There are other moments that I’ve tried hard to forget, but can’t. The moments when I completely melted down and in the presence of little fear-filled eyes and confused faces. Because, you see, three more precious ones followed, which I equally messed up on. But the hope that “love covers all sins” is my prayer that none of them are scarred for life.

 Being a mother is beyond hard, but it is also beyond gratifying. And it almost takes being one to understand one. Whether you have given birth or were ushered into motherhood by taking someone into your mother-heart by adoption or the blending of families, you have the awesome opportunity to learn from them a deeper knowledge of our heavenly Father. Children learn from us moms, but they also do a lot of teaching, if we take the time to realize it. I could never have imagined how I’ve broke the heart of God until my child first lied to me. “How could they do this?” I thought. “I have given them everything they have with bushels of love?” Even more heart changing is how quick they forgive the meltdowns and sometimes undeserved disciplinary actions from a truly out-of-control mother.

 

 My relationship with God grew because He was gracious and allowed me to be the mother of four unique little humans. Motherhood does that. Whether you’re mothering fur-babies or grandbabies, whether your caring for your unborn by caring for yourself, or in the thick of toddlers and teenagers, it’s always the caring that changes you. And to know Whom to cast your cares on when you just aren’t enough to do it right.

 “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

 

 Being a mother drove me to Jesus. I grew up a goal-setter and held high standards for myself. I always tried to discover what it would take to meet my expectations and I would work hard to get there. Motherhood threw me a curve that on my own I could never connect with to hit that ball out of the park. I needed wisdom and understanding on a whole new level. And friends, I found it in God’s Word and in prayer. I filled many journals with my thoughts and feelings and prayers.

 From this place I offer some advice. Pray for your children. Pray for your children. Pray for your children. Realize the privilege you have to truly make a difference in their lives. Because, O my goodness, what a difference they have made in yours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shifting Burdens…

I learned a lot about shifting burdens the other day. My brother needed an apartment change, and, after many months of prayer, he had a moving date. So the available family gathered. And the only way this worked was to transfer burdens to one another. Consider the numbers. How could an 82 year-old man plus two middle-aged women have moved the household possessions of a 55-year-old brother into his new apartment in one 8-hour day? Don’t they have businesses that do this? It was a miracle!

Now, there was prep work. Brother does what he can to get ready. One sister goes the day before and cleans and helps pack up clothing and anything else that would not be needed overnight. Mom does what she can packing up and carrying items to the top of the stairs for younger legs to carry down and then up again. Prayers were prayed for a swift, safe move and dry sky overhead. (The most important prep work by the way.) Each and every one answered with grace from a loving Heavenly Father.

Thinking on this today, when the sore muscles hit – how burdens have to be shifted to get anything done. To even live day-to-day without being crushed by the weight of life in this world, we have to give it up somehow. As Dad, sister and I carried furniture down a skinny deck walkway and brought it gingerly down the deck stairs, we had to communicate with each other. We had to sometimes say, “rest it here,” “watch your fingers,” “give me more weight, I’m okay.”

Jesus says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

If your soul, your heart, your thoughts and feelings have you weighed down to the near-crushing point, listen to Jesus. He wants to say “rest it here,” “give me more weight.” In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the above scripture like this,

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I’m not sure about you, but really, everyone has “stuff” – burdens that can weigh heavy on hearts. Moving-on days that loom ahead bringing a sense of dread. Change can be scary, and not knowing if there will be enough help can cause anxiety. Take heart! This is the exact place we need to be for God to show up!

2^nd Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Only when we see that, in and of ourselves, we are not capable enough to handle the demands in this life, does faith win.

I have to confess, I had very little faith that our small crew would be able to accomplish this move without someone breaking a leg, or voicing words that could break a heart, but we were fine. What’s so loving, among many things about Jesus is that He honors little faith. Any amount of faith in Him will grow into miracles.

1^st John 5:4-5 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” To be an overcomer, we need to shift our burdens to the only One who can carry them for us and give us true rest.

What burdens do you need to shift to His shoulders today?

 

Try again…

I hope you never tire of my little people stories. Being a grandma is one of my favorite things. The things I’m sure I experienced with my own children, I get to experience anew with these sweet grandlittles.

Lilly girl, two-and-a-half, is learning an amazing amount of new skills. When she was at my house the other day I pulled out a candy bracelet/necklace kit I bought on clearance after Easter. She tried and succeeded about half of the time to get the plastic string through those little holes. The fun part was watching the little tongue she had to stick out while she concentrated! When she’s not tired, she tries and tries and says out loud “try again.” I love it when she watches me fail at something and reminds me to do the same – “Try again, mamaw.”

I can’t even describe to you how much fun it is help two to four year-olds learn how to use scissors in Sunday School. Believe me, there is no such thing as completely safe, safety scissors. When a pre-schooler gets started and they see that they are actually cutting their paper, watch out. No finger is safe. Sorry, that was what my Pastor calls a “rabbit trail.” Or maybe “squirrel,” if you’ve ever watched “UP.”

Now it can be hard to know whether or not you’re just beating a dead issue that you really should just leave alone, or just keep on trying, isn’t it? Maybe the next time it will work and you’d be stopping right before victory. When I’m in the heat of the moment, the hard, sweaty work of something I love and my mind starts thinking, “this is it, the last time I try this.” But then I rest and see the fruit of the effort and think “well maybe one more time.”

There has to be a cut-off point, or a try-again place, where you’re sure which action to take. I think I found it in this scripture, Luke 5:1-11. There’s a beyond-amazing exchange where Jesus tells his disciple, Peter, to try again to catch some fish. Peter and his fishing business partners had been out all night. With no success. Jesus asked Peter to try again. “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter responds, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  The reward for obeying Jesus and trying again comes: “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” The result, “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

Meditating a little on this scripture gave me an answer to my question. If the Lord has asked you to do something, if His Word talks to your heart and tells you this thing you struggle with is your assignment, He will make sure you have the “net.” He will provide the “deep” and the “catch.” If I think I have said yes to God, if I have tried and tried and experienced failure after failure I have to ask myself, “Am I doing this on my own, or is this even a place where God has put me?”

There has to be a cut-off point, or a try-again place, where you’re sure which action to take.

To answer that last question, I go to another place in scripture where Jesus teaches about fruit. Matthew 7:15-20, teaches the importance of looking at the fruit of the work. “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Do I see good things for God come as a result of where I’m at or what I’m doing? Am I toiling and toiling with nothing to show for it but disappointment? There has to be good fruit; you need the fruit of peace in your heart, when you are not seeing the results of your efforts. You also need to have the fruit of patience as you gently serve between the now and the not yet.

I know this passage in Matthew is primarily focusing on the tree, or the person that is bearing the fruit. Could it be that judging our own efforts by the fruit that they cause us to bear in our lives, can give us an answer of whether or not we should keep trying? But before you get concerned that I am taking things out of context, let’s consider another scripture that teaches about fruit.

Do I see good things for God come as a result of where I’m at or what I’m doing?

Galatians 5:22-23 describe the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All of them, together, are the fruit. If you do not experience these in the effort, of that thing you are trying over and over again, it could be that you need to do some self-examination: consider the motives of your efforts, or maybe God is asking someone else to fill that place you are striving for in your own strength.

Timothy Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, in his sermon series on Fruit of the Spirit, (February 18, 1990), speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit as one, as being singular. “All these things, love, joy, peace… are aspects of the whole” teaches Keller. You can’t leave one or the other of them out and experience the fruit. To have love without peace is no good. To have joy without kindness also disqualifies the believer from possessing the fruit of the spirit. Keller also mentions that in Jonathan Edwards’ book “Religious Affection,” he wrote, “the only way you can really be sure that a person’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… is not counterfeit, is that they happen altogether.” They are all to grow together.

How the effort affects me is crucial to understanding if I am to keep trying this “thing” over and over. Is it beneficial to my character? Does it cause the fruit of the Spirit to grow together in my life?

“the only way you can really be sure that a person’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… is not counterfeit, is that they happen altogether.” Jonathan Edwards

Believe me, I am preaching to myself. Just some thoughts I have been struggling with lately, and I pray if you, my dear reader, have them as well, that perhaps it might help you seek Jesus more so that your “catch” will break your “net” as you try again.

 

 

Looking Back…Looking Forward

I went for a drive yesterday. In a melancholy mood, I had a desire to see the house where I grew up. I wanted to see the front yard where I learned to ride a bike and got going too fast and crashed. I wanted to see the split rail fence where I tried to pretend I was an Olympic gymnast and fell and hurt my shoulder, and nearly ruined my first solo performance in my ballet recital that year.

I wanted to trace the lane that looped my neighborhood where I trekked with my siblings on trick or treat nights. I wanted to visit where it dips downhill and one time a bigger kid on a bike ran over little ole me. What followed was my first experience in an emergency room and stitches. I could almost taste the sweat on my upper lip when I remembered how hot and humid and downright uncomfortable those masks were that we all wore. What did they make them out of anyway? It had to be something toxic.

I was disappointed when I couldn’t find our old house. I drove past where it was supposed to be twice, and it wasn’t there. Or maybe it was, but just remodeled so much I couldn’t recognize it. My dad built that house for his growing family in his mid-twenties. I was sad that it was just gone and would never be there for me to see again. Gone were the windows I watched my reflection in. The porch where I sat with my baby dolls. The back yard that held the big silver swing set, also built by my dad, that I fell off of and nearly bit my tongue clear through. The bedroom where I held my Bible and tears hit the cover and forever stained it, reminding me of the time I first trusted Christ. Gone, it was all gone.

“But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:9

Why was I doing this? I kept thinking, ‘what if my car breaks down, how am I going to explain to people why I was where I was?’ I think God wanted me to remember some very important things from my past yet impress upon me just what is really THE most important thing to remember. He is preparing something very special for all of us who love Him. There is absolutely no comparison between what’s in our future and what might be in our past. My parents prepared things for me. They made sure I was cared for. They provided a home, complete with things to entertain me and give me a happy childhood, and I am so grateful.

Time that is spent is gone, there’s no getting it back.

“But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:9. The scripture goes on to say that the deep things of God are revealed “through His Spirit.” Deep things. Forever things, unlike anything we have seen or thought of before.

We have to live in the present and keep looking forward to the future. History is just that, history. It is good to study and learn from it but we can’t go back there. Time that is spent is gone, there’s no getting it back. The regrets I carry are only redeemed when I remember the mistakes and purpose in my heart to not repeat them.

A little less melancholy, I headed back to my current “temporary” home. I thought about how the memories of places we’ve lived can make us want to go back to them. To re-live them somehow. Not that I really wanted to be that young girl again, but I longed for a simpler time when the worries and cares of my today didn’t exist.

 

Just like the sunrise heralds the promise of a new day, we can look forward to a new opportunity to give God glory and praise. And look forward to the promise of what He has already prepared for you in that day. Go ahead and say “Good Morning” and mean it.

Whether your childhood memories are good or bad, it really doesn’t have to affect your hope in the future. Right now, God is preparing something so amazing for us, far above any of our greatest imaginings. If we could see it, we wouldn’t really need faith. Remember “…hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” Romans 8:23.  It is our faith that will keep us balanced as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2.

There just aren’t any earthly homes as perfect as the place where God dwells. As our Savior, He dwells in you and me. “Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23. And the plus is, He is preparing another place for us. That is enough to keep me looking forward. Join me?

 

 

Ladies, would you like to be reminded how special you are? Would you like to spend an afternoon hearing that God had perfection in mind when you were created? Have you realized that the only thing in all of creation that God said was not good, was when he saw that man was alone and that woman was His answer to fix that? (Genesis 2:18)

You are better than loved when you are beloved. The definition of beloved is “greatly loved, dear to the heart.” More than that, we are called the Beloved. That is our endearing name in scripture, given to us by God, Ephesians 1:6 says “to the praise and glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” We’re in! In that family of which He calls His Son Jesus, “my beloved Son.” (Luke 3:22 and 9:35) Ladies of the church, you are beloved, and you are The Beloved.

You are invited to celebrate this truth together, Saturday, April 29, from 4-6 pm at Bethel Lighthouse Church. There will be a light meal, speakers, scriptural nourishment, a fun water color painting lesson and handcrafts for sale that will benefit Lily House in the Dominican Republic. Nathan and Erica Jude began this ministry to rescue woman from sex trafficking in that region.

There is absolutely no charge and we would love for you to come and bring along a friend. Ladies of all ages, churched or unchurched are welcome.

Bethel Lighthouse Church is located on Washington County Road 126, just of State Route 676 at the forks of Lane’s Farm Market. For more information call or text Vickie Hendershot 740-525-2514.

 

 

Ouucchh!

 My two-year old granddaughter says this every time she sees a pair of scissors, a knife, a needle or anything that looks sharp. I smile, thankful that my son and daughter-in-law have done such a good job teaching her the consequence of playing with sharp objects. She knows that any object that has the ability to hurt her is off limits.

I wish all other kinds of pain were that easy to avoid. I wish more that we kept the child-like ability Lilly has to listen to a warning from those who love her and obey it.

From the very first book of the Bible we learn that mankind doubts that the rules of God have his best interest at heart. Eve was intrigued at Satan’s lie and tried the fruit, offered it to Adam and that was it. No turning back from disobedience.

The loving and wise parents and caregivers of little ones try diligently to keep them safe with rules that should be followed along with reminders of consequences, loving discipline or rewards. Our loving God gave us His Word complete with commandments to obey, true stories of imperfect men and women who failed and succeeded along with promises of the rewards of obedience.

The bottom line is – we obey whom we truly love. True love obeys always what it loves the most.   Because those who really love the law makers trusts that whenever the rules come from someone who truly loves, they are for the good of those who follow. When Jesus was teaching His disciples in John 14, He tells them the truth like this, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. “He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…He who does not love Me does not keep My words…” John 14:21 and 24. Ouucchh!

Wouldn’t it be good to look at those things that tempt us and think Ouucchh! When we are tempted to watch something that we know we wouldn’t be watching if Jesus were sitting in the room with us, think Ouucchh!  Watching this could create in me a desire that does not bring any honor to Jesus. (Romans 7:8, James 1:15) When a godly conversation starts turning into a gossip session, Ouucchh! (Ephesians 4:29, James 1:26) When we turn to worry instead of turning to Jesus, Ouucchh! (Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7)

The bottom line is – we obey whom we truly love.

Lilly has learned that sometimes pain is necessary. She should know because this sweetie has a blood disorder that has made blood draws from her tender veins an all too frequent necessity. She knows all too well the meaning of the ouucch word and has learned that anything sharp has the ability to cause physical pain. But when it is time for her blood tests now, she is learning to surrender her arm to the phlebotomist because this is how the doctor knows if she needs help to “get better.”

As adults, we know that surrendering to pain is necessary at times in order to fix things. Just today, I spent an hour in a dentist chair knowing that something had to be fixed and there was no other way. The physical pain is worth the price, and so is the heart-felt pain when we need to confess and repent.

The Bible is like a mirror that reveals to us what needs fixing and sometimes it hurts to know our failures but that is what it takes to fix them. I’ve heard it said many times from those who know it to be true, “The Bible is God’s love letter to us.” Yes, it does have stern commands, stories that are difficult to read and understand and rules our fallen human nature does not want to follow. But it is filled with the love and grace of a Savior who loves us too much to allow us to destroy ourselves with sin. God sent His Son to bring us back to the place He created us to be: in fellowship with Him, forever. As we read this letter with prayerful, open hearts and minds, He gently shows us how to live an abundant life.

“The Bible is God’s love letter to us.”

As I experience my own ouucchhs, I am reminded that this is the way it is supposed to be. Pain is not something to be feared or something that comes without hope. Any new thing that gets birthed comes with some pain but it is always so worth it. This new life that Jesus promises comes with some suffering, but not without a Savior that suffered tremendously to give it to us.

We are His Beloved and in this love letter He tells us:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” James 4:12

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

I am praying that I can walk with alert, open eyes to see those things that can harm my testimony, cause me to pollute my mind with evil thoughts, or may hurt another with my words or deeds and think “ouuchh!” My goodness, the things you can learn from a two year old.

 

Because of Easter…

“For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities, but was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

I’ve been smitten by these verses lately. It has been my “Easter” scripture even though it is not one that usually comes to mind when I think about the event that made a way for me to have eternal life.  Without the resurrection, these verses mean nothing. If Jesus had not lived like us and not sinned, we would have no way to come boldly. There would be no mercy and grace. There would be no help. We would be separated from God and on our own forever in a dark and beyond miserable place.

Jesus is our High Priest. In Old Testament times, the high priest, once each year, fearfully entered the Holy of Holies to make intercession for the sins of his people. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. This fellowship He has with His Father is constant. We are constantly seen and known and have access to forgiveness because He is always with God and always with us and for us. He is on our side.

Jesus knows how we feel. I mean it. No matter what situation we face, what pain we experience, what failures we live with, He knows. Being a female, I used to think, “Yeah, right, how could he really know?” This just revealed to me how much more my faith needed to grow. God is smart enough to place in His Son the ability to empathize with every struggle mankind faces. My puny mind does not grasp it, but that doesn’t change what He is able to do.

Jesus was tempted. To understand this is to realize that Jesus was fully man and fully God. For Jesus to be tempted or be “appealed to” means He did indeed have the option to disobey His Father. It is important to know that before the Fall, there were human beings who had not sinned. Human beings do not have to sin, but they do. Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him from that cross, but He did not. He obeyed His Father, and those that trust in that obedience are redeemed!

He arose boldly, and we can come boldly to Him. There was a mixture of fear and great joy when those who were there at the tomb felt the earth shake and saw that the stone was rolled away. Even more when they saw the tomb empty and the grave clothes folded to signify His coming return.

“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:1-6

It can be scary when I know I’ve blown it, again, and need to confess and ask forgiveness. I am fearful that maybe this time God will say, “Okay, this is enough. You’re fired! I’ve got so many other followers who are tons more faithful than you. I really don’t want to hear how sorry you are.” But, thankfully, I know He does not treat me like that. He truly doesn’t remember the last sin I’ve repented of. It’s been removed as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103) So, after the fearful part, comes the rejoicing as I experience a clean heart and renewed spirit.

We have all the grace we are willing to open our hands and hearts for.

We can have all the mercy and grace we need. There are no limits to the supply of mercy God has for us, because His Son was willing to put no limit to the suffering He endured to purchase it. Mercy means we do not have to be punished for our sins. Another word for mercy in the Bible is loving-kindness. Love is kind. Period. God is love and He is kind and has pity on us like we have a soft heart for our own kids and loved ones. He took the wrath of God for our disobedience so we wouldn’t have to.

We have all the grace we are willing to open our hands and hearts for. Grace is a whole other story. Grace is above and beyond mercy, pouring into our lives the beauty of art in everything we see and do. The beauty of receiving all the unlimited gifts of God with gratitude. Grace doesn’t come without gratitude. If the gifts are there and you have an unthankful heart, you are just trampling them under your feet. The gifts need held up to God with a lifted face and heartfelt thanks. The birds’ songs, the flowers, the tree blossoms, along with the pain that teaches you trust. All of it, a gift, so that all of it can be used to grow your faith, give you joy in all things, and especially in your time of need, which, for me, is just ALL the time.

Have a joyous Easter friends. Remember the cost to create in you a clean heart and rejoice because “It is finished.” Our faith in Christ will take us from here to there.

(Photos by Melanie Lamb of Little Lambs Photography)