Shhhh, Don't Say A Word

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)

A few years ago I was having some personal difficulties with someone. If I am to be honest in my feelings, this person was just downright mean. He said mean things and was about the business of shaming people. Not only that, he was in a leadership position in an organization where I volunteered. Man, did I want to give him a piece of my mind. Not only that, many other people wanted to share pieces of their mind as well. His behavior was toxic and was causing the organization to flounder.

I prayed and prayed asking God how I should address this. Could I tell him off? Could I share how hurtful he was? Could I let him have a piece of my mind? God only ever responded with one word "Mercy." Oh come on! Seriously? But the response every time I prayed was the same "Mercy." To be honest, I wasn't totally sure what "Mercy" meant but I did know I was being told to do nothing. What was super hard was when other folks came and said "What are we going to do? We should report him! We should do something!" I had to share what God said and I had to do nothing. I couldn't get on the bandwagon.

Recently I discovered what mercy actually means. I was reading something (sorry, I don't remember what it was) and it said that grace is getting something you don't deserve and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. I remembered this story and wondered why God wouldn't give this person what they deserved. And then it hit me, he does that with me every day.

Every day he extends grace and mercy to this soul who doesn't deserve either. Every day he overlooks my behavior and my not so kosher thoughts and shows me mercy. When I processed this, my heart overflowed with gratitude.

God is always about growing us and others. As I look back on this situation I am really thankful I didn't say anything. It wouldn't have changed a thing (honestly) but it did allow me to show God's love with my words (or lack thereof). No matter how I feel about someone's behavior, that is always the most important thing.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)

Not What I Hoped For But Better

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

This morning I saw this text in a new way. The words "confidence in what we hope for" popped out at me.

Confidence in what we hope for....does that mean confidence that the surgery will go well, that sick loved ones will recover; that the job will come through; that the car will keep running until there is enough money to fix it? If confidence means full trust and belief, does it mean we can fully trust that everything is going to be OK? And by saying "everything is going to be OK" does it mean that it will turn out like we want or the way God knows is best?

What about the second half of the text "and assurance about what we do not see?" Assurance is having conviction. Is what we do not see is what's going on in the background? Is what we do not see really what God is doing on our behalf that we are completely oblivious to?

Could all this be simplified to say "Faith is full trust and belief that the surgery will go well, that the sick loved one will recover, that the job will come through, that Jesus is who he says he is and God will do what he promises with a conviction that we do not see everything going on in the background?

How about even simpler? "Faith is full trust and belief that no matter what is going on in our life Jesus is who he said we was and God will do what he promises. You can be assured that even if it doesn't look like it now God is working in the background on your behalf."

Having faith doesn't mean all will be rosy but it does mean that God is in it....no matter how it turns out.

An Exercise in Thankfulness

Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1 (NLT)

Ever wake up and think "Nothing is going right. Everything is wrong. I don't want to adult today?" Me too. I've discovered something that helps me get past the "my life is terrible" blues. Giving Thanks. Seriously, it works. I'm going to list a series of topics below. You fill in the blanks.

Yesterday, I was thankful for: _______________________________ (think over yesterday and pick one (or more) things)
Today, I am thankful for: ____________________________ (even if you can't think of anything else you are breathing)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about where you live)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about your family)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a person in your life)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about God)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a part of your body)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a possibility)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a dream you have)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(fill in with anything you want)

Each day, I'd like to challenge you to start out thanking God for what happened yesterday and for being alive today. Then, start thanking him for the possibilities. It adjusts our thinking so we realize that there is a lot to be thankful for and sometimes all it takes is a little shift of focus.

Who's Driving?

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. John 8:12 (NLT)

This morning, I remembered a song I heard many years ago. It is called I Am the Lighthouse by the Gaither Vocal Band. Here are some of the words

In the midst of World War II with tensions running high...
Off the eastern seaboard, one dark and foggy night...
The captain sighted out ahead, just off the starboard side, the beacon of another ship.... The two would soon collide.

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the north," he radioed ahead.
Much to his amazement, the 'ship' replied instead...
"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south."
The captain felt a chill.
His eyes grew cold and narrowed, and the two drew closer still.
"I'm the captain of this vessel, and this is a command.
Adjust your course ten degrees to the north, or receive a reprimand."
Again, the voice replied, as calm and smooth as glass...

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south. I'm a seaman, second class."
I'm a U. S. Naval Destroyer," snapped the captain with a shout, "Now adjust your course, ten degrees, no discussion. Over and out."
They drew unnervingly closer; his eyes fixed on the light.
This time the voice ripped through the air like lightning tears the night.
"I am the lighthouse.

How many times do we set our course and announce, "I am the captain of my own life and I will do what I want." only to steer ourselves toward a rocky shoal? The next verse of the song says:

The path you choose is perilous
Destruction lies ahead if you delay
But if you'll trust me
I will lead you through safely
Adjust your course and you'll be on your way.

If you'll trust me......God says that to us all the time. Trust me. Trust me. And still, we think we can see the path clearly when in fact we can't see a thing.

My List Is Longer Than Your List

Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (MSG)

Many years ago I sat in a Bible Study and we were talking about things we'd like to overcome. Now I was a new Christian and my list was super long. Pick something and even if you don't think it was on my list, it probably was. As we were going around the circle I was thinking "What can I say that doesn't sound too bad." Well, the lady next to me just happened to be the Pastor's wife and when it was her turn she said "I'd like to stop eating so many sweets."

Are you kidding me? That was what she wanted to overcome? I wanted to say "Excuse me, can you pick something that is actually a real thing? Who the heck cares about that? I am looking at a list here that would make you run screaming from the room and you are talking about sweets!"

I will never forget that. What I didn't know then and thankfully I know now is that to God we are all a new creation. When we say I believe in Jesus, he sees us as already changed. I was looking inside (and of course at everyone's outside) and comparing myself to them. God doesn't do that. He sees us all the same. No matter what your struggle is or what my struggle is, God isn't comparing them and saying "WOW, look at her list. That's pretty steep while this other person's list is easy." He isn't doing that. He's saying "Look at all my kids! Aren't they marvelous!?"

As you continue your walk with God, know that he sees you right where you are and loves you perfectly. Your worth in his eyes has nothing to do with what you are or are not doing. It has everything to do with your desire to follow him. You see, to God you are already perfect. You have been perfected by the love of Jesus.

Have You Ever Answered The Question?

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” John 16:13-16 (MSG)

The other night in a book club we looked at this verse. The answer to who do people say Jesus is can be as varied as the number of people you ask. In our society, it is sometimes thought of as politically incorrect to even ask. And we tread so lightly around this topic that we don't really even think about it for ourselves.

As the conversation in the group turned to the next question Jesus asked “How about you? Who do you say I am?” we each shared who he was to us. Some of the answers were:

He gave me purpose
My Provider
My Best Friend
He shows me who I am and who I want to be
He gave me fulfillment and purpose
My Dream Maker
He is what I need

For every one of us, the answer is different. And for each of us individually, the answer varies at different times. One day I may recognize him as my Provider. The next day I may recognize him as my Dream Maker. Heck, even in the next moment I could recognize him as my Friend.

God is so multi-faceted. In the Bible, he showed up in novel ways to each person that encountered him. He is not a cookie-cutter God. For each and every one of us he will be something personal. He will show up how we need it, when we need it at exactly the right time. I praise Him for that! If he didn’t, the walk wouldn’t be so exciting.

How about you? Who do you say Jesus is? Make it personal.

A Minute In It

A little time in the Word every day changes you. Take a few minutes, put yourself in the story and ask yourself a few questions.

If you were Joshua and the Lord told you to do this, would you think it sounded crazy? Would you do it? How would you know it was God talking to you? If you were a member of an army and Joshua came to you and told you this is what you were going to do, would you trust he heard it from God? Would you do it? When the walls came crashing down with a tremendous roar, would you be amazed? Would you trust God more?

Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out. God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in.”

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and told them, “Take up the Chest of the Covenant. Seven priests are to carry seven ram’s horn trumpets leading God’s Chest.” Then he told the people, “Set out! March around the city. Have the armed guard march before the Chest of God.” And it happened. Joshua spoke, the people moved: Seven priests with their seven ram’s horn trumpets set out before God. They blew the trumpets, leading God’s Chest of the Covenant. The armed guard marched ahead of the trumpet-blowing priests; the rear guard was marching after the Chest, marching and blowing their trumpets. Joshua had given orders to the people, “Don’t shout. In fact, don’t even speak—not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, ‘Shout!’—then shout away!”

He sent the Chest of God on its way around the city. It circled once, came back to camp, and stayed for the night. Joshua was up early the next morning and the priests took up the Chest of God. The seven priests carrying the seven ram’s horn trumpets marched before the Chest of God, marching and blowing the trumpets, with the armed guard marching before and the rear guard marching after. Marching and blowing of trumpets! On the second day they again circled the city once and returned to camp. They did this six days.

When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. On the seventh time around the priests blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people, “Shout!—God has given you the city! The priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the blast of the trumpets, they gave a thunderclap shout. The wall fell at once. The people rushed straight into the city and took it. Joshua 6:1-17a, 20 (MSG)

On The Lam

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. Ezekiel 34:11, 16a (NLT)

Yesterday, Doctor went on the lam. Doctor is my son's dog. He is his pride and joy. The jury is still out on how exactly he got out. He tends to try to follow you outside and if you aren't careful, you don't see him sneaking past you. And he has, in the past, jumped the fence in the back yard. Once he's out, he goes on a walk about exploring his new found territory. Either way, I was dog sitting and when my son came to pick him up, we couldn't find him. Did I mention I had taken his dog collar off earlier in the morning and didn't put it back on? UGH!

Panic hit as we realized he wasn't anywhere in the house or in the back yard. Immediately, we ran outside and started yelling his name; screaming at the top of our lungs. Then, we each jumped in a car and took off in different directions searching for him. We went to places we thought he might go. We went to the neighborhood where he was found before when the wind blew the gate open. We went to the park where my son takes him to play. DOOOOCCCCTTOOORRRR! We called and called. No luck.

I went on line to the animal shelter and filed a Lost Dog report and my son kept looking. Then, we posted flyers all over the neighborhood hoping someone would spot him and call. The anguish we felt was horrible. We just wanted him to come back home and be safe.

Made me think of God and how he comes looking for us when we go 'on the lam.' We see something outside of our God comfort zone and go for it. We walk a little too far and then get lost. And like my son and I looking for Doctor, God comes looking for us. He calls our name over and over again trying to get us to hear him and come home. He comes to our favorite places. He sends people and circumstances (much like posting flyers) to let us know he's interested and he's looking for us. He is hoping against hope that we hear him and wander back to the place we know.

Someone found Doctor and turned him into the Animal Shelter. They notified my son that they had him and he could pick him up today. We were praising God that he was safe and would be home soon. And when Doctor gets home, he is going to get lots of treats and loving.

God does that too. When we come home, he throws a party. He showers us with love. Lots of celebrating when one of his kids is found....safe and home again.

Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’ In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. Luke 15:6-7 (GNT)