Joy

 ““This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” John 3:16-18 MSG

A little over a week ago a friend of mine lost her battle with cancer. I am still having trouble believing that she is gone. Her death was pretty sudden. Even though she had cancer, her heart stopped which was what caused her death. Even in this, God answered my prayer. We were praying for her healing but I asked him if he wasn’t going to heal her to please not let her suffer more than she already was. And while I miss her, I am thanking him that he took her suddenly and she didn’t suffer any more.

She was definitely an interesting character. All throughout her journey with this disease, she never gave up. She kept working. She kept living life. She fought. I really don’t think I ever heard her complain. When I asked how she was doing she’d say something like “Oh you know, a little nauseated from the chemo but I’m ok.” And then she’d say “How are you?” 

Even to the very end she would always ask “How are you?” I would wonder at this. Sometimes when I get into a mode where I am complaining about something going on in my life (way more trivial than fighting cancer), I forget to ask people how they are because I am so focused on me. And here was Joy, still thinking of others.

When the church would help folks who needed a hand, she would ask how she could contribute. Fighting cancer, doing chemo, working and she still was volunteering to help. 

We had some conversations at the end about what comes next. She wanted to talk about salvation and Heaven. Joy became very serious about her faith when she was diagnosed. She wondered if God wouldn’t accept her because it was later in her life. We talked about the thief on the cross who figured out who Jesus was at the last minute. Jesus didn’t say “Sorry you haven’t believed long enough.” He said “Surely, today you will be with me in paradise.”

She wondered if waiting until she was diagnosed was a problem. She used to say “You know, like buying fire insurance at the last minute.” There is the story of the prodigal son who didn’t turn back to his father until he was at the end of his rope. And the father ran to him and welcomed him with open arms.

And then we read today’s verse. And I think she knew. She knew God loves her and that he wants her to be his no matter when, no matter how. God isn’t there pointing fingers telling us we didn’t do it right. He is welcoming us. He is saying “Come. Just come. I love you.”

As we mourn Joy’s loss, we are comforted in knowing that we will see her again. We will see her in Heaven when we all get to celebrate Jesus together. I still miss her here but I know she is in a way better place and after I spend some time with Jesus, I am going to hang out with Joy and hug her tight!

Which Love?

When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs. John 21:15 (AMPC)

As I read this verse and contemplated on this conversation between Jesus and Peter, I began to wonder about some things. Peter had denied Christ and I am sure his heart was broken. Have you ever done something that you know was not good and felt the immediate conviction from the Holy Spirit? I have. I hate that feeling.

After the conviction and the prayer for forgiveness the feeling like you don’t measure up is overpowering. It seems like the feeling that you are not forgiven lingers.

I wondered about that as I read this passage. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him with an agape love. Agape love is the strongest, selfless love that we can have. It is like the love that we are loved with from God. But Peter answered the question with a lesser love. He used the word phillia which means more of a friendly, affectionate love.

Did Peter answer with phillia instead of agape because after messing up he felt that he could never get to that point? Did he feel he was not worthy to even think that he could love Jesus that way? Did he doubt himself?

Jesus kept pressing and demonstrated to Peter agape love. He let him know that this was the reason he died on the cross. Because no matter how Peter messed up, he was forgiven. He does the same with us. No matter how we mess up, Jesus presses and demonstrates that we are loved with that unconditional, “I can’t believe it” kind of love. He demonstrated that when he died for us and he demonstrates it every single day when he speaks to our hearts.

Let me ask you. Do you love Jesus with that unconditional, passionate, one-of-a-kind love that he loves you? If not, what’s stopping you? Please don’t let it be because you messed up. That’s already been covered. Ask Peter.

Off To The Races

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:31-33 (MSG)

How many of you have seen God provide in the past? I am pretty sure every single person should have raised a hand on that one. He provides for us in obvious (food, shelter, clothing) and non-obvious (amazing functioning bodies) ways.

Yet, we (I) still worry about things. Maybe I don’t worry about food, or shelter or clothing, but I look at how things are going in my life and worry about why they are not going the way I want them to go. And then I can become anxious because I start thinking “What if they don’t go the way I want them to go?” And my mind is off to the races on a runaway horse without a bridle.

Of course, I pray about it and get some temporary relief but there is still a nagging voice in my head. This morning, I faced the nagging voice head on by asking myself and God some questions.

Why is it I feel that God will not answer my prayers?
Do I think that because he’s answered in the past that he won’t do it again?
Do I think I only get one answered prayer in a lifetime, a week or a day?
Did I forget how he has provided in the past and proven that his timing is perfect? (Obviously I did.)
Am I spending more time focused on what I want instead of who God is?
Do I trust in his promises?
And finally I got to…….

God, will you please forgive me?

I often wonder how God can so love someone with such fickleness. But then, there are those promises that deep in my core I do trust. I know he does and always will love me (and you). And that is going to be today’s focus.

A Minute In It - The Eyes Have It

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post.

54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”

57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”

“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.

59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”

60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Luke 22:54-62 (NLT)

When Jesus looked at Peter, what did his eyes say?
Did it say “How could you!”?
Did his expression express his disappointment or his love?
How does Jesus look at you when you do something that disappoints him?

Your answer to the last question says a lot about how you perceive God. If your perceptions are not of love and forgiveness, then you need to get to know him better.

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.

Brighten The Corner Where You Are

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

As I watched the Royal Wedding (no, I did not get up at o'dark thirty to watch it, I taped it), I was caught up in the pomp and circumstance. I loved watching the people. I loved watching Harry and Meghan as they looked at each other. I loved the service.

When Bishop Michael Curry quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. my mind started to wonder. He said "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.  Love is the only way."

I began to wonder if Meghan and Harry would do that.  Would they use their platform, their influence, their money to make a difference in the world?  The resources they have at their fingertips is immense. They could make such a difference.

And then, I realized that we all have that.  Each and every one of us has a platform where we live. In our communities, in the workplace and in our families we can love like that. We can offer God's unconditional love to everyone we meet. We have influence and we have resources. Sure, they might not be the same resources as Meghan and Harry but we have them just the same.

God asks us to be a light in our neighborhoods, in our communities. He asks us to change the world from our little corner. And truly, that is the way the world is changed, one act of love at a time.

What To Do With "One Of Those Weeks"

There is a sure way for us to know that we belong to the truth. Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt and constant reminders of our failures, we can know in our hearts that in His presence God Himself is greater than any accusation. He knows all things. 1 John 3:19-20 (VOICE)

This week was one of those weeks.  It seemed like every day something happened to make it harder and slow or stop progress.  Meetings that got moved, tasks not complete, technology issues (I particularly hate those), health issues, misunderstandings with co-workers, you name it, it happened.

As I lay my head on my pillow later than I intended last night, I told God what I thought of this week. In the process, I also blamed myself. It's super frustrating when you can't get things done that need to get done and it is super natural to beat yourself up more than you should.

Today's text (which I am sure God sent) reminds me that my inner thoughts do condemn me with guilt and reminders of failures but it also reminds me of who God is. God is not my accuser. God does not point fingers at me and say "You didn't get it right." God says, "I know. It's been a rough week. And I still love you."

That voice that is bringing you down?  That is not God.  That is the other insignificant player. Ignore him. He doesn't love you. He just wants you to fail. Listen to God's voice. The one that says "You are precious to me. This too shall pass. Just hold on. I am here."

Dear Jesus, Thank you for the reminder. Today, I give you my heart and my day. I love you. Amen

Completely Illogical

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’  Luke 15:3-6 ( NLT)

As I tried to figure out a modern-day scenario to this parable, all of the examples that presented themselves made me kind of cringe. One would be a mother with lots of kids leaving the majority to find the one that got lost. That's a scary thought. One would be a person in charge of a group of people in a somewhat dangerous situation leaving all of them to find the one that wondered off. Who would do that?  It's irresponsible.

But isn't that exactly the point of this parable?  God's love for us is irresponsible. It's reckless. It defies logic. No matter what else is happening, he will come find us. His love is not dependent on other circumstances or responsibilities. It is truly incomprehensible.

We can't imagine this kind of love. We can't fit it into our boxes because it is not of this world. And that is exactly the point of this parable. God's love doesn't make sense. It's not something we can ever really understand. But, that doesn't make it any less real.