With Gentleness and Respect

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

This is my favorite evangelism verse.  I just don't believe that bible bashing wins people to Christ.  I believe our lives speak volumes and when we can tell others, "THIS is where God has been active in my life" we can share concrete things that others want in their lives as well.  But my favorite part of this verse is that we should give our reason for the hope that we have "with gentleness and respect." Telling people they will go to hell if they don't believe as you do is not gentle and it is not respectful. Here are a few ways to give our reasons for hope with gentleness and respect:

(This list is taken from a posting on "The God Article" FaceBook page)

• Practice grace
• Love justice
• Walk humbly
• Remember the least of these
• Reject rejection
• Embrace equality
• See with God's eyes
• Harbor humility
• Forget grudges
• Hate hatred
• Appreciate differences
• Be less offended and more forgiving
• Ditch the dogma
• Widen your comfort zone
• Be a peacemaker
• Walk in their shoes
• Live generously
• Give up the need to be right
• Listen more

If we approach people in this manner, with love in our hearts, others will see Christ in us and they will want what we have.  No door-knocking, no crusade organizing, no coming up with the perfect opening line.  Just be real.  Just care.  Just share.

Lord Jesus,

Help us to live our faith so that others will see it and want what we have.  Amen.

Joys:  Good books to read; Kevin enjoying his new job; sleeping late

Individuals Make Community

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4, 5 NIV)

Christian community is a wonderful thing.  But communities are made up by individuals and we can't have a truly effective community unless each of us is also working on our individual relationship with God.  God does not call communities, he calls individuals to work within communities.  We must individually pray, confess, accept forgiveness, take up our crosses, study, sacrifice and worship.

Think of our Lutheran church service.  We may do a "corporate" confession as a community, but we are each to confess our own sins, not the sins of those around us (how much easier - and fun! - that would be!).  We may do "corporate" prayers, but it is the desires and needs of each of our own hearts that we are communicating.  We may all be worshiping together, but it is each of our own love for God that we are expressing.

Christian community is made up of Christian individuals.  We must each be working on that individual relationship and find our true roles within the community of which we claim to be a part. We can only have a vital, active community if we have vital, active individuals.

Father,

Help each of us as we continue to seek your guidance in our individual lives so that we can be a vital, active member of the wonderful body that is Christian community.  Amen.

Joys:  Kevin's first day on his new job going well; an evening out with the whole family; nice chat with Richard this morning.

Those Christians...

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV)

Christians have been taking a lot of heat lately for being ugly... judgmental, hatefilled, elitist, etc.  Unfortunately, a lot of it is deserved and ALL of us must take our share of the blame for the image of the church and keep on working to make it all Christ means for it to be.

I wish those that are so ready to criticize would also speak up when we get it right, though.  And we do get it right pretty often!  The Church is great at being community.  There are many needs and issues that draw us together in a special way.  We forget our differences and we join hands across denomintions.  We work together and love together and we see Chrisitanity at its best.  It is at times like these that I am so proud to say I am a Christian.

I've seen community at work a lot lately.  People undergoing chemo, a young man with a spinal cord injury, wedding celebrations, baby showers... in both sorrow and joy, community coming together makes the sorrow easier to bear and the joys more abundant.  

Christian community doesn't always begin within the wall of the church either.  It often springs up through other organizations but is moved by Christ-like people, drawing in Christians from all around.  This is Christian community at its very best.  It is people being Christian outside of Sunday worship, which is what we are meant to do.

A comment from someone whose loved one is being served by community:  "When we are at the hospital we see so many others who don't have this.  They are alone.  And while we are so grateful for all that is being done for us, it is hard to receive while so many have nothing."

I know what she means... I see it when people come through the church doors looking for help with rent or power bills or gas.  I can't help but wonder if their lives might be different if they had their own Christian community instead of trying to reach into one and just pull out what they want.

We do this one thing so well.  Perhaps it is time to use it to reach out to those who don't have a church community.  Maybe we need to go beyond our own and draw people in with our love.  It doesn't have to start within our church walls.  It just needs to start with Christ-minded people.  It just needs to start with love.  And it doesn't have to include preaching or prosletizing.  Real love preaches itself.

Wouldn't it be awesome to hear on the news:  "Those Christians are at it again... loving people that don't even go to their church!"

Father, 

Thank you for the gift of community.  Help us to spread the gift.  Amen.

Joys: A truly amazing turnout of kids for book bag blessings!; Fun with Cecelia at Adam's Armor event; And more fun with Cecelia at rally day.

Move On!

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8 NIV)

Over my years of writing devotions, I have often written on the similarities of keeping up a healthy physical and spiritual life.  They are both about forming good habits;  They are both a struggle, but we always feel so much better when we are using good strategies; They are both about growth.  However, yesterday I discovered  a way in which regular exercise and spiritual study are NOT the same:

The beginning of this summer was so very hot.  I decided it wasn't a good idea to go hiking by myself  in such weather.  Which is probably true, but it led to a plethora of other "good" excuses.  The weather has finally turned somewhat cooler and I couldn't think of another good excuse, so I took off for the South Mountains yesterday.  It had been over two months since my last hike so I hiked the shorter loop.  And WOW  am I feeling it today!!

And there is the difference.  If you get slack in your spiritual study, you don't have to start all over!  You can just pick up where you left off, or start somewhere completely different.  In my early days of trying to read the Bible, I would start at Genesis 1:1.  Inevitably, I would lose my excitement and quit, and the next time I felt motivated I would again start at Genesis 1:1.  I didn't really make any progress until I decided I would quit rereading what I had already read and move on.

So if you are struggling with reading the Bible, try just moving on!  Maybe just start on a different book.  I would randomly select books and just put a checkmark at the top of it so I would know that I read it.  You can either just read through the Bible and go back to study in more depth, or you can study as you read.  There are an endless amount of tools to help you.  If you have the YouVersion app, you can even read the notes that other folks have written.

The great thing is, you never lose the work you have already put in like you do with physical exercise.  No matter how long it has been, just pick it back up and move on!

Father,
Thank you for the gift of your word to study and learn.  Help us to take full advantage of it.  Amen.

Joys:  back on the trail... even though I hurt today; Emma's due date.... I hope she arrives today!; Richard coming home soon.

Right Motives

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:3-5 NIV)

Reading only on the surface of this story, it might seem as though God is the petty one here.  Why was Cain's offering not good enough?  Cain was a crop farmer so fruit of the soil was what he had to offer.  His brother was a rancher, so he had animal offerings.  It doesn't seem right that God would expect Cain to offer something he didn't have.

It wasn't WHAT was being offered.  It was the heart (or lack thereof) behind the offering.  I suspect that there must have already been a lot of jealosy and and competitive feelings in Cain's heart.  Cain's offering was not a sacrifice of worship.  It was more likely given out of obligation.  He maybe even gave more - or better - than what was necessary, trying to make his offering look better than Abel's.

God didn't want Cain's offering - not because God didn't "like" fruit of the soil - but because he knew the true motive behind the offering.  Our best sacrifices and our greatest works are nothing but filthy rags to God if we do them with the wrong motives.

If we give to be noticed or do good deeds only to curry favor among others, we are missing the whole point.  God doesn't care so much about our actions.  He cares about our heart.  He wants us to WANT to sacrifice.  He wants us to WANT to help others.  He wants us to love what and who He loves.  That means the world and all who live in it.  If we truly love, then our sacrifices and good works will be rightly motivated and God will look with favor upon them.

Father,

So many of us thrive on praise that it can be very difficult to do things only out of love without the expectation of being noticed.  Help us to focus on love instead of ourselves.  Help us to stop asking, "what's in it for me?"  Amen.

Joys:  a nice day for a hike!; waiting expectantly for Emma's arrival; looking forward to Richard's visit

God's Grace Button

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

You are probably familiar with Staples Office Supply's "Easy Button."  Have a problem or a need?  Hit the "easy button" and everything is taken care of and then with a sigh you can say, "That was easy!"

A lot of Christians think God is supposed to be their "easy button" for life.  A problem?  Hit the right button  and problem solved.  The trick is to find that right button for the right situation.  Maybe it is using the exact right words in your prayers.  Or maybe you need to be sure you are attending the right church or voting for the right political party.  Maybe your problem requires fasting.  If you could just find the right button the cancer would go away or your spouse would come back or you'd get that job.  But guess what... God doesn't have an "easy button," so quit searching for it.

What God does have is a "Grace Button."  Overwhelmed?  Hit the grace button, and you can feel God  ease the pressure.  Afraid?  *beep!*  Get courage for the scary path ahead.  Weary?  *beep!*  Get strength to keep on fighting.  Need forgiveness?  *beep!*  Fresh slate!  And you don't have to search for that grace button.  It's always right there in front of you.  Sometimes you have words to ask; sometimes you just have to let the Holy Spirit ask for you.  But it's always there just for the taking.  

You can never hit the grace button too often.  There is always an endless supply at your fingertips.  The problems won't miraculously go away.  They have to be worked through or sometimes just accepted for what they are.  But God gives us the courage, strength and whatever else we need to face them.  

Unlike the users of Staples' "Easy Button,"  we probably won't every say, "That was easy!"  But we will be able to say, "It wasn't easy, but with God's grace, I got through it!"  That is so much more satisfying!

Father,

Give us grace for whatever difficulties lie in our paths today.  Help us to know that you are with us through it all.  Amen.

Joys:  chatting with Richard and enjoying the photos he posted this morning; fresh fruit for breakfast; cooler days

Faith in Faith

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story (Psalm 107:1, 2a NIV)

Director Tony Scott, famous for his work in movies like "Top Gun" and "Days of Thunder" committed suicide yesterday by jumping off a bridge.

The rich and famous... those we put on pedistals and admire and emulate... seem to lead such tragic lives.  Suicide.  Alcohol and drug abuse.  Divorce after divorce.  So why do we put these folks on pedistals and want to emulate them?  Apparently they are the most unhappy folks in the world.  Would we really trade our relatively happier lives for money and fame?

It's not that we don't have our own troubles.  We have the same kinds of issues in our lives:  health issues, relationship issues, financial issues, job issues.  Yes, and many of the poor and unknown also turn to suicide, alcohol and drugs and other ways of abusing ourselves.

What makes one person keep going on in spite of life's problems and another give up?  I think it is a sense of a bigger plan.  I think it is knowldege that there is rhyme and reason to it all even if we don't know exactly what it is.  I think it is understanding that there is a purpose to our own lives, no matter how difficult they may be.

How empty and alone must one feel to jump of a bridge?  I don't know if Mr. Scott had any kind of religious life or what he believed about what would happen to him after he jumped, but I have to wonder if knowing that God was with him and that God's love endures forever would have changed his actions.

I really don't buy into the idea that evangelism is a tool to save others from going to hell after they die.  I think it is more useful in saving people from the hell that they make for themselves right here on earth.  I think we need to tell others of God's love so they no longer need to feeel so empty and alone that they think the only solution to their problems is to jump off a bridge.  

As I watch the outpouring of love and support for Adam Dancoff after his spinal cord injury, it strengthens my faith in faith.  The support of a community of people who love God and love one another is the most valuable resource in the world.  All the money and fame in the world can't buy that.

Father,
Help us to reach out to even those that seem to have it all.  If they don't have you, they really have nothing.  I pray for the family of Tony Scott and all those who have been touched and affected by suicide.  Amen.

Joys:  Beatiful baptisms yesterday; Cecelia asking if she can have that water on her head too; waiting for Emma

The Jesus Aroma

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:14, 15 )

The sense of smell is a very strong memory stimulator.  It does more than draw up a memory.  It almost takes us there.  When I catch a strong scent of granite, it whisks me away to a childhood picnic at the shores of Lake Erie.  When I smell the scent of almond, I almost expect to open my eyes and find myself on my mother's lap as she shares her Jergen's hand lotion with me.  Aromas do more than simply call up a memory.  It brings us into the presence of that memory.

So when Paul tells us to be the pleasing aroma of Christ among others, he is telling us that we are to be so much like Christ that others feel as if they are truly in his presence.  Wow... that is one perfume I usually forget to put on in the morning.  

You know those imitation designer scents?  Those copycat perfumes that you can buy for a fraction of the price?  They do smell very, very similar... but somehow they just don't do the same thing for you.  I know a lot of people like that when it comes to the "Jesus aroma."  They don't mean to be imitations.  They really do try to be who Jesus wants them to be, and they truly do point the way to Christ, but they don't bring you into his presence.

Then there are those who occasionally have that perfume on just right.  They rarely realize it though.  But given the right set of circumstances at just the right time, you can smell Jesus all over them and *poof* you know you are in the presence of Christ.  This comes from a lifetime of knowing that scent and trying to use it... and occasionally we get it just right.

The only people who - for me - have consistantly worn that Jesus aroma are three people that I have never even met personally; but each time I have heard them speak, I have been brought into the presence of Jesus by that sweet aroma.  They are Mother Teresa, Billy Graham and our own ELCA Bishop, Mark Hanson.  I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones that have done it for me consistantly.  Even over millions of miles and the "magic" of television, radio, or internet, these folks carry (or have carried) the sweet aroma of Christ to those willing to take a whiff.

It's not easy to carry that scent all the time.  We're human.  And even when we try really hard, mostly it's going to be a cheap imitation.  But if we keep looking for the right combination of of faith, love and grace, we will occasionally bring the joy of that scent to others.  And they will be carried straight into the presence of Christ.

Lord Jesus,

I pray that I may get the ingredients of this wonderful perfume right today.  Help me to bring others into your presence by the the things that I do and say.  Amen.

Joys:  Pedicure today!; wedding shower shopping; 

I'll Take the Flashy Miracle, Pleaase

Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:5 NIV)

Isn't answered prayer awesome!  We've experienced to one extent or another ourselves and we've all certainly heard some fantastic stories... stories of being on the brink of disaster and experiencing the hand of God lifting us (or someone else) up out of the depths.  Praise God!  God is good!  God is listening!  God answers prayer!

But we've all been on the other side of it too... when God says "no."  When we want the job so badly we can taste it, and despite our best efforts and our ceaseless prayer, we don't get it.  When a whole community is on its knees for the healing of one person, and it doesn't happen.  When our child is making the worst choices possible and we beg God to intervene, but he doesn't.

It has to be the most difficult faith issue to deal with.  Why does God say "yes" to one and "no" to another?  Why does prayer seem to move a mountain in one person's life, but doesn't budge a small hill in another's?  Is it a question of the strength of faith?  Is it worthiness in God's eyes?  Is it believing the exact right set of theological theories?  What is it?  Because if it will give me a "yes" to all my prayers, I'm willing to change whatever I need to change!

Sometimes... no... most times... the miracles come in the struggle.  I have experienced enough hardship in my lifetime and seen way too much hardship in the lives of brothers and sisters in faith to know that God does his best work in the midst of our biggest storms.  I've seen faith at its deepest.  I've seen spiritual growth at its steepest.  I've experienced grace in the most unlikely and unexplainable ways.

I'm at a place in my life where there are a lot of changes going on.  My younger son just graduated from college.  My second grandchild is due any day.  My older son is planning his wedding.  Richard is on the brink of retiring from the military.  My parents have both died.  But it just seems like yesterday that my future was still a blank slate.  I know how fast this earthly life goes by.  God knows it much more surely than I.  He knows that the growth born of struggle is infinitely more valuable than a flashy miracle.  The things we learn through our pain and sweat go into eternity with us.  What use would our few short years on earth be if God just waved his hand and made all the struggles go away?

In the midst of the struggle, these kind of words are of little comfort.  We WANT that wave of God's miracle-giving hand.  We don't WANT to grow in faith.  We don't CARE about eternity at that point... we care only about the here and now and the hurt we or those we love are going through.  But God promises in so many different words in so many different scriptures throughout the Old and the New Testaments... those who sow with tears WILL reap with songs of joy.  Depend on it.

Father,
Help us to keep your promises close to our hearts when we are in the midst of our most difficult and scariest struggles.  Help us to depend on you and depend on your word.  We WILL reap with songs of joy in this life or the next.  Amen.

Joys:  a call from Kevin as I was writing this devotion... he was offered a job with UTC Fire & Security right here in Lincolnton!; fun evening with Cecelia yesterday; a sunshiny day in the making

You Didn't Carry That

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ... for each one should carry their own load. (Galatians 6:2, 5 NIV)

We know that if we look, we can often find contradictions in the Bible.  It is one of the reasons that we shouldn't just pick and choose verses.  We must read in literary and historical context.  But it isn't often that we find contradictions like the one above in the very same paragraph... separated by only two verses!  So what is it then... do we carry each other's burdens or carry our own load?  I think the answer is... Yes!

I read a story about a man who was on retreat at a monastary.  At dinner, as some delicious homemade bread was handed to him, he asked the monk sitting next to him, "Did we make this or was it given to us?"  The monk thought a moment and then answered, "Yes."    It reminds me of the often taken out of context quote by President Obama:  "You did not build that."

We ALL need each other.  Even the wealthiest or smartest or most creative or most ingenious or most beautiful.  We cannot build something from nothing without help from another.  And we cannot carry our own loads for very long without help from another.

Paradoxically, if we look at this paragraph of scripture, we might find that our OWN load is in fact everyone else's burdens, and we should not look to others to carry everyone else's burden... that is our own load to carry.

If we all thought about it this way, we would be the first to offer help to another instead of waiting for others to do it, because it is our job and no one else's. 

Father,

Help us to realize that we are all in this together and let us be the first to step up to the work of this togetherness.  Amen.

Joys:  Kevin officially finished with school; 3 more weeks until Richard gets home; a Cecelia day!

Do Not!

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:25-31 NIV)

"Do not, do not, do not!"  There is nothing like being told not to do something to make you really really want to do it.  You know... the "Wet Paint, do not touch" sign.  Just gotta touch it, don't you?  And any dieter knows that being told you can't eat something makes you want it all the more.

None of the list above is really terribly tempting.  But I find myself doing them on occasion anyway.  I don't think it is really because the bible says, "don't."  I think it is just because I often forget "whose" I am.

When my kids were little, I found that "do nots" didn't work with them any better than they do with me.  So Richard and I tried to work it from the other angle.  We would tell them what they COULD do.  Instead of saying, "Don't fight with your brother," we would give them something fun to do together.  Instead of saying, "Don't go in the road," we made them a fun - and safe - place to play in the backyard.

Paul must have known something of this tactic too, because in the very next chapter of Ephesians he says:

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love (Ephesians 5:1, 2a NKJV)

He gives us something positive to do, instead of something negative to avoid.  That's what we, as Christians should focus on... the positive.  And we should focus on the positive when we look at others as well.  Instead of telling them they shouldn't do this or shouldn't do that, tell them what they are doing right and give the opportunities to do more positive things.

Nobody really WANTS to do the wrong thing.  Sometimes we just use bad judgment or get swept along with worldly ideals.  And nobody likes to be criticized by someone who thinks they have all the right answers.  It only makes them defensive.

Lets focus on the positives in our lives today... in the things we do and in the way we percieve others.

Father,
Help us to see the wonderful freedoms we have in you and all the wonderful, positive things we CAN do.  And help us to see our neighbor in a more positive light.  Amen.

Joys:  Employees in service positions who go the extra mile; Kevin's good interview yesterday (pray for a job!); Chelsea's good doctor appointment news that Emma could come in the next couple of weeks! 

Use Your Gifts

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (1 Corinthians 12:29 NIV)

We waste a lot of our time in life wishing we had different, or more, gifts.  Prophets wish they were teachers.  Teachers wish they could work miracles.  Miracle workers wish they could prophesy.  It's an endless - and fruitless - pursuit.  It's a case of the "grass being greener."  We think our own gifts are too small to count.  We think we can't make any difference with them.

The truth is, by ourselves we CAN'T make much of a difference.  But when every person uses his or her gifts to their full potential... that is when the mountains begin to move!  

Philosopher Martin Buber said, "All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware." God gave each of us gifts that when used to their full potential, do their part in moving life's biggest mountains.  We don't usually know what that action will be and we don't always even know when it happens.  But using our gifts is a must.

When my weekly small group meets, a big part of our time together is holding one another accountable for actions of piety, spiritual study and apostolic action during the prior week.  Each of us is better at one area than the others, but we continue to encourage each other to improve.  When we talk about action, we want to know how we have brought someone closer to knowing God's love or how we have helped to bear another's burdens.  I think if we simply asked, "How did you use your gifts this week?"  we would have "action" covered.  

We may never know how we have brought someone closer to God or how we have borne another's burdens.  But if we have used our God-given gifts and talents to the best of our ability, we can be sure that we have done those things for someone, somewhere, somehow.  Because that's what our gifts and talents do.  They work for the kingdom of God and each time we use them we are doing the work God intended for us to do.  It may not be the more obvious things like serving in a soup kitchen or preaching to thousands of people... because those things may not make the best use of our gifts.  Sometimes simply teaching your grandchild to sing "Jesus Loves Me" is all the "action" needed for that time and place.

Use your talents and gifts.  You may never know the apostolic action you did, but you can rest assured that it happened.

Father,

Help me to stop comparing my spiritual journey to others.  Instead, help me to use my gifts to your glory each and every day.  Amen.

Joys:  Sleeping in; on-line chatting with Richard; a quiet morning

A Better Reflection of Christ

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NKJV)

I'm sure most of you have heard of the tragic and senseless shooting at the Wisconsin Sikh temple on Sunday. I knew nothing of this religion, so I looked it up. They sound like pretty peaceful people.  As a matter of fact, all of the neighbors who were interviewed described them using words like: Peaceful. Loving. Charitable. Serene. Beautiful. Helpful.  People said they didn't know a lot about the religion but if it was like the people who belonged to it, it was a beautiful religion.

It made me wonder how Christianity looks to those who "don't know much about that religion."  Sad to say, especially with recent issues, not too good.  And we've been hearing it for a long time too:  "Christians are judgmental, hypocritical and self-righteous."  It makes me sad.  Because I know Jesus wasn't judgmental, hypocritical and self-righteous and we are called to be like Jesus.  Shouldn't we have more of those qualities attributed to the Sikh?... Peaceful, loving, charitable, helpful?  Shouldn't people look at Christians and think, "I want to be more like that?"

EVERY Christian is responsible for what Christianity looks like to others.  What can I change in my daily life to let others see what Jesus is really like?  What ever happened to asking ourselves the question, "What would Jesus do?"  I just don't think Jesus would have attended EITHER of the Chic' Filet days and I don't think he would have picked a side.  He would have had something very profound and loving and inclusive to say that would have shut EVERYONE up.

Sometimes I wonder if the reason Jesus hasn't yet come back for his Bride is because he doesn't recognize her.

Lord Jesus,
I pray for our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin who are grieving the loss of loved ones in yet another senseless act of violence and hate.  I pray, Lord, that those of us who represent you will begin to do a much better job.  Help me to be your hands, feet and lips, and let me be an honest reflection of who you are.  Amen.

Joys:  Only a few more weeks before Richard comes home; only a few more weeks before Emma's birth; an interview for Kevin tomorrow.

Hiding Out

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I  am  no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise  and  eat.” (1 Kings 19:4, 5 NKJV)

I guess at one time or another we all feel like just hiding from life.  Elijah chose a broom tree.  We are more likely to chose our bed.  Or we might not be quite so obvious.  Sometimes we just withdraw from life.  We do all the things we are expected to do... work, spend time with family, etc... but our hearts are hidden away.  We've been hurt once too often and we just don't want to risk our hearts anymore.  We hide emotionionally.

But then an angel comes.  Mostly in the form of a friend or loved one.  They nurture us and care for us and make us feel like we can face life again.  There is no shame in needing to hide out from life for a while... as long as you don't get stuck there.  But we should be ashamed if we know of a friend or loved one who is hiding out and we don't go to nurture and care for them.  We need to be their angel.  Perhaps the people who get "stuck" in hiding out are those who are never fed by angels.

Do you currently know someone who is hiding under a broom tree of their own making?  Or perhaps someone that you know would at least like to go into hiding?  Feed them.  Give them some "bread of life."  Sometimes all it takes is a card to let them know you care.  Sometimes they might need a little more encouragement.  Let them rest from life if they need it, but let them know that the world still needs their gifts and talents.  Give them food to strengthen them to continue the journey.

Father,

We all know someone who is tired.  They may not have gone into hiding yet, but they want to.  Give us the right food with which to strengthen and encourage them.  Amen.

Joys:  wonderful baby shower for Chelsea; lovely wedding for Breanna and Neill; fun weekend with Cecelia

This Is The Day!

This  is  the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

Did you ever get one of those email forwards or FaceBook posts about how wonderful life was in the "good ol' days?"  You know... the ones that remind you about how kids roamed the neighborhood and didn't come home until the streetlights came on or how you could buy a bag full of candy at the corner store for a dime?  Reading them always makes us agree, that yes... life was definitely better way back when.

I've often thought of writing my own "good ol' days" response... one that says stuff like:

• Remember when there were separate water fountains and bathrooms for "coloreds?"
• Remember when women were looked down upon for wanting careers and were paid half as much as men who did the same job?
• Remember when it was "nobody's business" if a neighbor was physically abusing his wife and kids?
• Remember when children were sent to work in dangerous factories for ridiculously low wages?
• Remember when a cancer diagnosis meant certain death?

And there are plenty more where that came from.  Certainly society has a lot of problems today... some we never would have even thought of 30 or 40 or 50 years ago.  But we have also improved in a whole lot of ways as well.  Instead of pining for the "good ol' days" that really weren't as great as we like to remember, why not work to improve what we have today?  And why not thank God for the progress we've made, especially in the ways we try to treat one another... by protecting the weak and healing  sick and standing up for the poor and oppressed?  We could easily slide back into some of the stuff we've already overcome by remembering it as "good" instead of recognizing it as the evil it was.  

THIS is the day that God has made.  Let us rejoice and make everything we can of it!

Father,

Thank you for today.  Help us to work to keep improving the lives of all the people in all the world.  Amen.

Joys:  Today!; a morning FaceBook chat with Richard; cereal and fruit for breakfast

Giving Thanks for the Regular Food

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

The other day my family and I went out to eat.  As we waited for our food to arrive, conversation turned to blessing our food before meals (pretty sure Cecelia brought this up).  So when the food arrived, I suggested we pray.  Cecelia said, "Oh, no!  I don't pray for regular food... I only pray for snacks!"

My, my!  She IS the typical Christian, isn't she?  How often do we forget to be grateful for the things we just expect to have... like the sun rising in the morning and ourselves getting our of bed healthy and happy?  Like food on our table, a roof over our heads, cars in the driveway (ofen one for every driver in the family)?  Like running water in our homes or light at the flip of a switch?  Like a store in driving distance where we can buy meat that we don't have to slaughter ourselves?  Like air conditioning to get us through 100 degree summers and heat to get us through freezing winters?  Like having enough money to stretch far enough to pay the bills and buy necessities and a few luxuries here and there?

Like Cecelia we tend to remembeer to give thanks only for the extra special "snacks" in life... the rainbow after a really bad storm; the "all clear" diagnosis after cancer treatment; the new home; the birth of a baby; a job after weeks or months of unemployment...

Let us be grateful NOW for the things we would miss dearly if we didn't have them.  Let us spend our days in prayers of gratitude for the overflow of blessings that we all receive each and every day.  Let our hearts be truly grateful for the "regular food" as well as the extra special "snacks" of life.

Father,
Thank you for the little things that sustain our lives each day.  Help us to be ever mindful of them and know that they can be gone in a split second of disaster.  Give us truly grateful hearts.  Amen.

Joys:  The things children say that make us think; the sun coming up this morning; a safe and dependable car... and a truck to use if my car has to be in the shop.