God's way (in any area) isn't simply the best way.
It is the ONLY way, that leads to life.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Cheating ourselves
We take the Baby Jesus out of Christmas and the Resurrection out of Easter, and we wonder why our lives
are
boring.
are
boring.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Actions speak louder than words, even to God
"According to what he has done..." (Matthew 16:24) Done? Does that mean achieved? Gotten? Amassed for myself? No, that would be "setting my mind on the things of man and not on the things of God" which the Lord so violently eschews a few verses earlier. ("For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?")
Done. Not wanted to do but never had time for. Not tried to do but other things took priority. Not believed but it had no impact on my life, and wasn't worth telling others about. Ouch.
Done, with my mind set on the things of God. Done, while I deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. Done, out of a heart full of love (I Corinthians 13).
It's obedience. That's what God wants. That's what Jesus did: THAT was His claim to fame with His Father. "I do nothing of my Own will, but only what the Father tells me to do."
In Christ, I get a do-over. I have the opportunity to go back to the Garden and trust and obey this time. To believe my Father loves me so much to not withhold any good thing from me. To freely prove to Him my gratefulness and affection and trust.
Done. Not wanted to do but never had time for. Not tried to do but other things took priority. Not believed but it had no impact on my life, and wasn't worth telling others about. Ouch.
Done, with my mind set on the things of God. Done, while I deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. Done, out of a heart full of love (I Corinthians 13).
It's obedience. That's what God wants. That's what Jesus did: THAT was His claim to fame with His Father. "I do nothing of my Own will, but only what the Father tells me to do."
In Christ, I get a do-over. I have the opportunity to go back to the Garden and trust and obey this time. To believe my Father loves me so much to not withhold any good thing from me. To freely prove to Him my gratefulness and affection and trust.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Bad connection?
"I could have my own phone!" My seven-year-old daughter found an old cellphone that her younger sister had plugged into the charger. She got excited that should we be able to use that phone once it charged up.
I had to explain of course that it still wouldn't work as a phone, because it wasn't connected. And we have to pay money to keep it connected.
This morning she noticed that it was charged up but the time and date were not correct. Again, I said "because it's not connected to the Big Brain, to tell it what time it really is."
Then it hit me. Sin and neglect makes us lose connection with the Divine Internet, so to speak. When we get frustrated (and want to throw things, right?) that our computer or phone lost connection, or is spotty or slow, let us remember...that's how our spirit feels when it isn't plugged in to God. With a strong, clean connection. With nothing coming between.
And we have to pay--in time, heart, discipline, honesty--to stay connected.
That's how the Manufacturer designed us to work. And we just don't otherwise.
I had to explain of course that it still wouldn't work as a phone, because it wasn't connected. And we have to pay money to keep it connected.
This morning she noticed that it was charged up but the time and date were not correct. Again, I said "because it's not connected to the Big Brain, to tell it what time it really is."
Then it hit me. Sin and neglect makes us lose connection with the Divine Internet, so to speak. When we get frustrated (and want to throw things, right?) that our computer or phone lost connection, or is spotty or slow, let us remember...that's how our spirit feels when it isn't plugged in to God. With a strong, clean connection. With nothing coming between.
And we have to pay--in time, heart, discipline, honesty--to stay connected.
That's how the Manufacturer designed us to work. And we just don't otherwise.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
The "other side" of scars
The other day Annelise chipped my front tooth...with her tooth (don't even ask me how that happened...). And I just had to sigh when I looked at it in the mirror. We mothers bear in our bodies the scars of motherhood right?
Later Someone (Who loves to whisper sweet somethings in my ear) said to my heart, Yes, I bear in my Body the scars of love as well. In fact, now, on the Other Side, they are My glory. My beauty. My gold medal, proudly displayed for all eternity. And your scars will be as well.
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wondering eye at mysteries so bright.
Later Someone (Who loves to whisper sweet somethings in my ear) said to my heart, Yes, I bear in my Body the scars of love as well. In fact, now, on the Other Side, they are My glory. My beauty. My gold medal, proudly displayed for all eternity. And your scars will be as well.
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wondering eye at mysteries so bright.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Victory is certain...hold on for the ride!
No one will soon forget this year's manifestation of El Nino (or La Nina, or whatever Spanish weather system it is). Balmy, even hot, Spring days in January and February. And hopes of an early Spring uplifted our hearts, even as crocuses and daffodils and redbud and pear trees unfolded their blossoms.
Only to have cold winds carry away Hope as it flapped our re-donned scarves into our faces. And bury it in frozen snow. (Although our family will take snow any time of year!)
But wait, what is that poking up through the frozen snow, in a patch along the highway, beside a curb, few and far between, but definitely there for those on the lookout? Hope reborn and emerging as tiny sprigs of bright green grass poking up through the frozen snow.
Though Winter has worn out its welcome, and March is always a seasonal tug-of-war as Winter and Spring duke it out (with all creation caught in the cross hairs)...
WE KNOW who is going to win!!
We've lost all faith in predictions about the day-to-day--and are wise to make the best of whatever comes--but we have absolutely no doubt in our minds that Spring will eventually win. Or Summer at the very least! It will be warm again.
Christian, what does this remind you of?
Only to have cold winds carry away Hope as it flapped our re-donned scarves into our faces. And bury it in frozen snow. (Although our family will take snow any time of year!)
But wait, what is that poking up through the frozen snow, in a patch along the highway, beside a curb, few and far between, but definitely there for those on the lookout? Hope reborn and emerging as tiny sprigs of bright green grass poking up through the frozen snow.
Though Winter has worn out its welcome, and March is always a seasonal tug-of-war as Winter and Spring duke it out (with all creation caught in the cross hairs)...
WE KNOW who is going to win!!
We've lost all faith in predictions about the day-to-day--and are wise to make the best of whatever comes--but we have absolutely no doubt in our minds that Spring will eventually win. Or Summer at the very least! It will be warm again.
Christian, what does this remind you of?
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