Seeing With Wonder

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3-4 (NLT)

The other day my daughter and I went shopping together. I was looking for some new clothes and a store near us was having a “Going Out of Business” sale. We took her children (one baby and one toddler). We are not crazy. We honestly didn’t expect to get a lot of shopping done but we were going to try.

In an effort to engage the oldest, I said “Will you help me find something to buy?” He looked around and pointed to a bright white and pink dress with a very full skirt and lots of glitter on it. I said “You want me to buy that?” He said “Yes, it’s a princess dress!”

Now, after my heart finished melting, I started thinking. My grandson thinks I can pull off a princess dress. Trust me, there are not many of my family members that would even suggest it. I am not really a princessy kind of person. But I loved the thought.

And then I thought that the only person who would see me as a princess (other than my grandson) was Jesus. And I am. I am the daughter of a King. I am accepted into the royal family and all the rights that are given to heirs are bestowed upon me. And you. We receive this because of the love and sacrifice of Jesus. King Jesus.

As I pondered this, I remembered that Jesus said we should become like little children. Maybe one of the reasons is so we will then see people the way he does. My grandson sees me with a heart of love that believes all the wonderful things about me that I don’t believe about myself.

Maybe that is how we should spend 2020. Believing in each other with the wonder of a child.

Happy New Year! I pray Jesus will be the center of your world in 2020!

Not One Thing

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38 (NLT)

There is a song by Matthew West called The God Who Stays. There is a line in it that really spoke to me recently. It says:

Somehow you don’t see me like I do.

WOW! Each of us sees ourselves negatively now and then. In reality, more than we should. We beat ourselves up for things we’ve done in the past, for sins we’ve committed recently and even for things we didn’t do but think we should have done. Thoughts pop into our heads about how we could do better or opportunities we’ve missed.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for healthy conviction from the Holy Spirit but the voices from Him, the thoughts in our heads would be just that, healthy.

When the thoughts that pop into your head are damning, when they make you feel like less, like you are not worthwhile and like you are a failure, those are not from the Holy Spirit. When you think you have no value and God cannot use you, those are not from the Holy Spirit. And especially when you think you have to get yourself all straightened out before you come to Jesus. Again, not from the Holy Spirit.

In today’s text we are told that NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, will get in the way of God loving us. Nothing thinkable or unthinkable. I have done some unthinkable things. Jesus still loves me. And if you’ve done unthinkable things too, Jesus still loves you.

As we head into the New Year, remember this truth. Hold on to it tightly. Fight for it.

You are loved. There is nothing, not one thing no matter how big or small that will cause Jesus not to love you. Lean in and be loved.

Why And Why Not?

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult. Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

When I was a little girl there was a popular country song that played on the radio. It was called “I Beg Your Pardon” by Lynn Anderson. (I realize that admitting that I know this song seriously dates me.) The chorus goes like this:

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time

We walk through this life and get frustrated because sometimes it just feels so hard. And we complain. We expected it to be easier. If I am following the Almighty God and he can do anything, why doesn’t he do something to make this better?

I wonder if God is saying “I beg your pardon? I never promised you a rose garden.” And he didn’t. In Matthew he tells the disciples clearly “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult.” That gateway to life is the road we follow when we choose Jesus.

If you look at the people in the Bible, I can’t think of one who had a life that was amazing and free of difficulties. There isn’t one that chooses God, is blessed and then dies saying “That was easy.” Can you? Let’s face it. Stuff happens to everyone (that’s the effect of sin in our world.) We just think because we are Christ-followers it shouldn’t happen to us.

Instead of asking “Why?” maybe the question we should be asking is “Why not?” We are told we are in a battle. We are told that The Liar is trying to mess with us. We should expect that this life is not going to be easy. Then, we should remember that while Jesus said it would be hard, he also said “I’m in it with you. I’ve not gone anywhere. I’m right here. Trust me.”

I think as we contemplate the magnitude of His Presence in our lives, the gift we’ve been given, that would be the time to ask “Why?”

A Minute In It - Who would have thought?

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. As I read through Isaiah 53 in the MSG, I was taken by the things that stood out; the things that grabbed my attention. As we turn our focus on Easter and the amazing sacrifice, these verses demonstrate that love so perfectly.

Isaiah 53 (MSG)
1 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?
    Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
    a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
    nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
    a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
    We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
    our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
    that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
    that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
    Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
    We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
    on him, on him.

7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured,
    but he didn’t say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
    and like a sheep being sheared,
    he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
    and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
    beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
    threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he’d never hurt a soul
    or said one word that wasn’t true.

10 Still, it’s what God had in mind all along,
    to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
    so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
    And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

11-12 Out of that terrible travail of soul,
    he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
    will make many “righteous ones,”
    as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—
    the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch,
    because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
    he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

I'm Right Here

Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40 (NLT)

Have you ever watched a child encounter something scary? They quickly locate the person nearest to them that they trust and they go to them. That is their safe place.

What do we do when we encounter something scary or overwhelming? We focus on it, imagine all the worst things that can happen and sometimes, we are unable to get ourselves out of that place.

When the disciples were reacting to the storm, they said to Jesus “Don’t you care that we are going to die?” And in Jesus response it was almost like he was saying “I’m right here. I haven’t gone anywhere. I haven’t forgotten about you.”

Why do we forget that Jesus is right here? He hasn’t forgotten us. He’s not too busy to notice what we are going through and he will never, ever abandon us. No matter what storm we are going through.

What if we acted like little children (Matthew 18:3) instead of scared disciples? What if when we encounter something overwhelming, we locate Jesus and go sit next to him and remember that he is in charge of every storm? This is how we define faith. The ability to trust that Jesus has this no matter what tempest is circling our boat.

Split Second Reactions

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Matthew 14:31 (NLT)

Ever had one of those days where it felt like you just couldn’t do anything right? Recently, I felt that way. I felt like everything I said, no matter how I wanted it to come out, it came out wrong. Then afterward, the onslaught of negative comments erupted in my head.

“You will never get this right.”
”Why are you even involved in ministry?”
”You are not cut out for this.”
”God can’t use you, you are going to mess this up.”

Over and over in my head spewing negativity and building doubt. But then I remember this story of Peter. I love Peter. He reminds me of me.

Peter said to Jesus “Lord, if it’s you, invite me to come out onto the water.” If? Really? Do you know anyone else who can walk on water? Jesus invited him out and when Peter focused on Jesus, he was fine. But he turned his gaze away and started to sink. He cried out to Jesus “Lord, Save me!”

And Jesus said “No. You deserve that for not trusting me. Maybe it’s time you learn your lesson. You can’t just spout things off and not have consequences.” He let him sink.

That is not what the Bible says. The Bible says “Immediately.” Immediately, as soon as Peter asked, Jesus reached out and caught him. Not a hesitation. Not a snarky comment about Peter never getting it right. Jesus just caught him and pulled him to a safe place.

Friend, no matter what you’ve done, when the barrage of words start in your head and it feels like you can’t get it right, cry out to Jesus. As soon as you do, he will immediately reach out and catch you. You will be safe. And Jesus never makes a mistake.

What Does Grace Look Like?

I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

As I read through the Old Testament, over and over again it says things like “He did evil in the Lord’s sight” or “They followed the sins of their ancestors” or “They refused to follow the Lord.” After a while, I start thinking “Of course they did.” It makes you wonder why they can’t keep themselves on the right path.

And then, I start to wonder why God keeps putting up with them. Sure, he let them face their consequences. And sometimes they were severe. But the Bible also tells us when Israel repented and cried out to God that he responded to them. “But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them.” 2 Kings 13:23

I began to marvel at a God who would continually step in and rescue the very people who got themselves into trouble because they ignored what God told them. I began to see the unconditional love that God has for us. Over and over again, we do the same thing that the Israelites did. We know what God wants but we do what we want instead. We get into trouble and then cry out to him. And he shows up.

Sure, we may have consequences to face because God is just and fair….until it comes to our future. What we justly deserve is death. What would be fair is that we are never rescued. But Jesus died for our sins so that we do not get what is just and fair.

As I read the stories of the Israelites and their continual failure to follow God, all I can do is praise him. I praise him because in reality, I am just like that. And when I call on his name, when I cry out to him, “The Lord is gracious to me and has compassion on me and turns to me.” He does the same for you.

Remembering The Bottom Line

For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

There are days....I know you may have them too...where the voices in your head bring all kinds of fears and inadequacies to the forefront. Yesterday was like that for me.  I kept hearing that the things I am doing are going to fail. I even imagined how that would look and it was frightening. 

It's not so much that I am afraid to fail, God knows I've done that quite a bit. It's more that when I hear these disconcerting thoughts, they are direct attacks on me. You are not smart enough. You don't know what you are doing. Anyone can see that this is above your pay grade. What makes you think you can pull that off? You know, those kind of happy thoughts.

And then I remember.....I'm not supposed to do this.  God is.  And I remember that I am loved. That love is not dependent on whether I succeed or not. It is not dependent on whether I get everything exactly perfect or even if I get it all wrong. God's love isn't dependent on me at all! Praise the Lord! It's who he is. 

What I need to do is remember the promises like the one in Zephaniah 3:17. I need to remember what this walk is all about. It's about Jesus. It's about his unconditional love for me that happened before I was even born. It's about the sweet, perfect love that is my gift. It's your gift too.

Today, I will rejoice in that, just like he rejoices over me.