Uncomfortable for Jesus

Great peace have they who love
Your law, and nothing shall
offend them.
Psalm 119:165

Changeable weather brings out the good and bad of we church attenders. Over the recent couple of weeks, our building and grounds folks have cranked up the heating system of our church. Most of us know what the awakening of a furnace smells like...smelly heat. It generally overheats a room or building to the point of being VERY uncomfortable. But, spring is going to come and guess what happens then? The air conditioning will be turned on with a fury while ladies wrap up in sweaters and in some churches, choir robes. Either way, most folks end up being physically uncomfortable.

Not long ago, my friend Becky used a term on Face Book with regard to a friend of ours named Fred. (Wish you could know Becky. She's not only a wonderful musician but is also a very insightful Christian.) Our friend Fred recently made a move from my former church staff to another in a not so distant city. Becky said of our mutual friend that he is the kind of person who doesn't shy away from being “uncomfortable for Jesus.” Those words just penetrated deep into my spirit. Not only did I sense a spiritual agreement with Becky regarding Fred, but I questioned my own motivations when it comes to many things, things in which the Lord has been dealing with me on a personal level. I ask myself, “Do I want to do the spiritual thing, but at any cost?” Not a one of us likes being uncomfortable, not in today's world of controversy. Am I willing to face discomfort for Jesus Who certainly was willing to suffer more than the “uncomfortable” for me.

Comfortable: Physical ease and relaxation of mind, body or spirit
Uncomfortable: Feeling pain, physical or emotional discomfort. Feeling ill at ease or awkward.

As Christians, we much prefer the comfortable life. We want to feel good all the time or if we don't, then perhaps take a pill to take care of it. We don't want the weather too hot or too cold. We like our weather just right with maybe a jacket at night or early morning. We want to eat only the things we like. We like our mattress not too soft or too hard but just right. Sounds like the three bears trying out chairs, porridge and beds doesn't it? Our list of comforts could go on and on ad nauseum. We have grown to depend on those things that add to our comfort...dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, lawnmowers with motors and even seats, and they say the day will come when we don't even have to drive our own cars. They will drive themselves while we sit and look at the scenery.

How very sad that when it comes to our spiritual walk, we also want to keep things comfortable. Jesus didn't seek the comforts of life from what we see in the Gospels. The perfect Son of God who deserved nothing but respect and the good things of life, faced just the opposite. Some of the main discomforts He faced that were attacks on who He was came in the form of insults, disrespect, being made fun of, misunderstanding of friends and family members and physical cruelty. And yet, He remained firm in who He was. He wasn't a name dropper...”Because I'm God's Son, you shouldn't treat me like you do”. According to Philippians 2, Jesus never took advantage of who He was. He humbled Himself and took on the responsibility of servanthood.

There are areas in our spiritual walk in every day living that can be uncomfortable, especially in the day we live. We are seeing more and more in our country an onslaught of attacks against our faith and God's Word. I'm thinking of some folks who have blessed me in ways that might be uncomfortable for them but who carried on anyway:

• I'm always blessed when in a restaurant, I see folks say grace before eating and I mean saying it out loud. They don't pretend to fix the napkin on their laps as a cover for praying.
• As I was checking out at a store, I noticed the check out lady humming a song. As I listened, she was humming “I Surrender All.” She wasn't being loud or being a show off. It seemed as natural for her to do that as breathing. As I left, I said, “I love that song you were humming.” She smiled and asked what she was humming and I told her. She thanked me. I wonder how many patrons pass through her counter area who hear her song that can be a witness to the saved and unsaved alike.
• Another check out lady I noticed at a variety store had a beautiful pin on her uniform pocket that spelled out JESUS, spelled out in lovely stones. I commented jokingly to her that I'd like to steal JESUS from her. She sweetly said, “No one can steal Jesus from either of us.” She was right.
• I've seen folks read their Bibles in the oddest of places...doctor's offices, school rooms, work place, sitting in a car waiting on children to come out from school, airplanes, various waiting rooms and even in restaurants when lunching alone. These times could be uncomfortable because of the criticism that many people boldly dish out.
  

Those times are minor though when we find ourselves being called upon to take stands for Jesus before friends, family, co workers and yes, sorry to say, church members. Some of Jesus' toughest stands were with the religious community of His day. In His humanity, such times couldn't have been pleasurable. Those were the ones who plotted and schemed to have Jesus crucified. They just used the Romans to get the job done. Talk about uncomfortable, the epitome of discomfort as we see it was Jesus' torture and death. That's heartbreaking for me to think about, but so is the fact that the perfect Son of God took on your sin and mine. He had never known what sin felt like, but on that cross, He was forced to endure it.

Back to Fred... Becky and I both saw times when Fred stood for right no matter what anyone thought. Fred was our choir director and I could never envy anyone who holds that position. He was kind about things aimed his direction that were anything but comfortable, but still stood firm on the things that really counted. I doubt that Fred even considered that others were watching some of those times we knew about. People are watching you and me too. Are we willing to endure some uncomfortable moments when it comes to our faith or do we only want the calm, easy times where we're never offended for our faith. What is our faith worth if it is only a fair-weather faith? When the tough stands are brought into our lives, can we be comfortable being “uncomfortable for Jesus?”

Resting in the arms of Jesus should always be comfortable and bring us comfort when the hard times come. The unsaved of our world will never understand us when it comes to how we live out our faith. Our boldness will come only as we maintain a close relationship with Jesus. Everyday living with and for Him should be second nature to us, kind of like the humming check-out lady. Our devotion will be noticed, but even with something so simple, as humming a song, wearing a pin or saying a simple, “God bless you,” criticism and ridicule may come.

Thanks Fred...Becky and I have watched as have others. We've learned, been blessed and encouraged more than you can know!

Dear Jesus, I never want to let You down. In an anti-faith world, when called upon to stand for You, I pray for Your strengthening, counting on Your pouring courage into me. You have paved the way for me in setting examples for me to live by. Thank You for being who You are in my life. In Your precious name...Amen.

Few Words

….and a word spoken in due
season, how good it is!
Proverbs 15:23

I'm doing something I've wanted to do for a long time. I've wanted to share the blessing of some statements that have been handed down to me from others and even some original thoughts friends have shared. Such have blessed me tremendously on days when I just needed a brief but poignant word of wisdom or encouragement. We don't always need lengthy words of knowledge. Just want to share some of those with the hope that you will be blessed as have I. If I have names, I have written first names or at times with no credit for things given to me anonymously. Be blessed!!!

“God sometimes removes people
from your life to protect you.
Don't run after them.”

Anon

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character
of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
O. Chambers

“Many books can inform, but only the
Bible can transform.”
Marilyn

“Whatever is in the well, will come
up in the bucket.”
Anon

“When you feel like you are drowning in life's troubles,
I know a lifeguard who walks on water.”
L. Stoneking

“Without God...our week would be:
Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday,
Wasterday, Thirstday, Frightday
and Shatterday.”
Christy

“It is better to walk alone, than with
a crowd going in the wrong direction.”
D. Grant

“Until God opens the next door, praise
Him in the hallway.”
Anon.

“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation
without God and the Bible.”
G. Washington

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel
in which it is stored than to anything on
which it is poured.”
M. Twain

“God doesn't call the qualified...He
qualifies the called.”
Anon

“If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
If Grandma ain't happy...RUN!”
Anon

“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow
it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in
darkness and struggle to reach the light.”
Anon

“Satan, you might walk over here, but
you will limp back.”
Becky

“Satan's greatest weapon is man's
ignorance of the Bible.”
Anon

“Don't read books about the Bible...
read the Bible!”

Anon

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It's today,” squealed Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.”
Milne

Many of the sayings I have shared have come through friends via Facebook. I've tried to keep folks on Facebook who are encouragers in my life. I will have a few friends who are more informational and even a very few who only gripe, who seem to look at life through dirty windows.

May I also suggest that there are times whether on Facebook, in a note or in general conversation that there are ways we can encourage with just a brief word. Just honestly saying to another, “I'm praying for you” can mean more than we can know.

So, lets remember:
                                                     “Anxiety in the heart of man
                                                           causes depression,
                                                   but a good word makes it glad.”
                                                            Proverbs 12:25
      

Dear Father, help me to be sensitive to the needs and hurts of others and never add to their anxiety or stress with negative words. Help me to be an encourager for Your glory...please guide my words. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Spiritual Remembering

Some trust in chariots, and
some in horses; but we will
remember the name of the
Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7

We may have certain times when we remember to pray or spend time with the Lord at
established times...there are others including:

When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 63:6

After the flood, God presented a beautiful rainbow for Noah to behold. Noah said with what sounds like words of wonder:

The rainbow shall be in the cloud,
and I will look on it to remember the
everlasting covenant between God
and every living creature of all flesh that
is on the earth.
Genesis 9:16

A beautiful rainbow should cause us to remember the promises and goodness of God.

When you and I take the Lord's supper, it is done in memory...in memory of Jesus and what He did for us in dying and then giving us victory over death. It is a kind of photograph we have of Him without having a distinct image. It happened with Jesus and his disciples at their final meal together before Jesus was arrested:

...This is My body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Luke 22:19b

As God speaks during our times with Him and we are blessed, how pleasing it is to God when we share with others God's goodness and ministry in our lives. The more we speak of Him to others, the more His goodness is engrained in our own hearts...and we remember.

Despite how others meet with the Lord, the important thing is that we make a point of doing it. We can't meet with Him with an attitude of obligation, but because of our love for Him and because we have sweet memories of what He has done in our lives that endears Him to us.
If someone remembers me in a fond way, I feel honored. Can't imagine the pleasure our God feels when we desire to spend time with Him, remembering His love and goodness on our behalf.

When my children visit or I have opportunity to be with them, I love those moments when they bring up something from the past that is a happy memory. Our son is here visiting with his family. Standing in our kitchen, and right out of the blue, he recalled my fording a very high stream here many years ago with a rope around my waist. I needed to secure the rope on the other side of the stream. He recalled my dropping my glasses in that rushing water but what a blessing it was being able to retrieve them before the stream swallowed them up. It was a family time that the family remembers with more fondness than I do. Still yet, it was heart warming for him to bring up that event.

When children come here to visit, I have usually checked ahead of time as to anything special they want me to cook. They remember certain things with certain tastes and I'm happy to fix those things. When we would visit my mother years ago, she would always have a pot of goulash waiting for us. I tried later to make it just like she did but it never tasted the same. The taste of that goulash still seems to linger in my mind and is heart warming. She would be pleased to know how much that meant to me and that I remember. I even have the beat up old pot she always made it in.

God is so pleased when we remember His goodness toward us. It's called “gratitude” and we can never run too short of that as we think of Him and His faithfulness to us on an every day basis. We should more often, take time to just sit alone, perhaps with Bible in hand remembering again how blessed we are. In different places of our world, there would seem to be many gods, but ours is THE true God who doesn't just give us quick answers for every problem we have. We can remember though how He has walked us through each one.
There is the old song, “Try to remember...” May we make it a point to try to remember more often as He continues to shower us with blessing after blessing that is so undeserved.

Father...Thank you for all You do for me on a daily basis. There are so many things I am remiss in remembering but pray that in my times with You, I will be reminded. I love You but want so much to love You more. In Jesus name....Amen

An Appointment With God

When You said, “Seek My face.”
My heart said to You, “Your
face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8

I'll never forget the dear lady who taught me a lesson several years ago. The thing is that to this day, she doesn't even know it. One summer day, I called her on the phone for her input on something. Her son, who at the time was in his early teens, answered the phone and I simply asked if I could speak to his mom. He immediately said with great courtesy, “No Mrs. Lanoue...she can't talk with you right now.” I expressed that I hoped she was okay and not ill. I'll never forget his reply. He said, “No, she isn't sick...she's in the bedroom talking to God.” I managed to get through my surprise and simply asked him to have her call me when she had time.

When this lady returned my call, she said she figured I was surprised with her son's reply to my request. As I recall she had six children. She told me that her children know that except for Sunday, when at home, she has a personal appointment with God at 10:00 in her bedroom with the door shut. Her children knew that she was never to be disturbed during that hour unless someone was hurt, sick or her husband called. She had found it easier to make her main time with the Lord a little different from most.

Another lady who had what I consider to be a different time of prayer is someone I could have never known in person because she's a historical individual. Her name is Suzannah Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley. She had 19 children. She herself had grown up in a family with 25 children of which she was number 25. Suzannah's home must have been a bit of a rowdy place with having so many children. Off and on during her day, she had a habit her children had come to know well. When Suzannah wanted time with the Lord, she sat down in her rocking chair and pulled her long apron up over her head. In that moment, her children knew to be silent. Older children took charge of the younger children in those moments, perhaps leaving the room or going outside. When the apron was up, Suzannah was with Jesus.

What happens when we make appointments? Usually we make appointments because those visits are of some importance. It's important, for example to see the doctor or dentist. They are usually accommodating with our schedules. I almost always have the pick of day and time. When appointments are made, we write them down usually on a calendar of some sort. Does an appointment with God require setting the time and writing it down. It does if we can't remember to have that regular appointment. We may need to do that until our time with God comes to be second nature.

I realize we live in busy times, but I know from my own experience that I manage to make time for those things that are important in my life. I generally can make time for those things that have some urgency. We often take advantage of our loving Heavenly Father believing He loves us and will always be around so we can give Him the crumbs of our lives when we feel like it.

Some hints to help:

DETERMINE: Yes, determine...that we are going to give God quality time and attention even if it means giving up time we spend on other things.

PRAY: We should make it a matter of prayer that we are going to be faithful in seeking time with the Lord on a regular basis. We can pray anytime and anyplace and praying for a tender heart regarding the relationship we want with the Lord. However, it's so much better and thoughtful to give God some specific time in our daily routine.

DISTRACTIONS: Too often, no matter how determined we are to spend quality time with the Lord, we have distractions that interrupt our train of thought such as phones ringing or the noise of children or pets. If Suzannah could discipline (teach, train) her children to respect the uplifted apron with 19 children in the house, I think we can do it with one, two or three children. I just know that I know of a special lady who didn't just train her children to be quiet during her time with the Lord, but those children were trained to know the importance of what their mother was doing. I'll never forget that boys voice as he said that his mother was in the bedroom talking to God. It just seemed to be a normal thing to him.

PLAN: Make a plan that is YOU. We too often want to copy what others do and often, it just doesn't fit. I have friends who get up at 6:00 in the morning for their time with the Lord. I have never been and never will be a 6:00 AM person. That doesn't mean I can't pick another time. Have all materials you need at hand. Some folks like a cup of coffee, tea or in my case, Diet Coke. Everyone will be different, but we need to make our own plan and time. God loves meeting with us, but He wants us to be genuine, real and transparent with Him.

RELAX: Perhaps as important as anything, this time should be a time when we can relax with the Lord as we read, meditate and pray. We shouldn't be hurried. Just as with any friend, we want to have an enjoyable time...a time of fellowship where God can speak in that still, small voice to our hearts.

I'm not up to the standard that friend of mine of so many years ago. I'm definitely not a Suzannah Wesley. I don't have a house full of children nor do I own a big apron. I do hope I love and serve my Savior as much as those ladies did. My appointment with Jesus is perhaps the only place in my life above all relationships where I can be me, totally. That can be uncomfortable at times if I harbor any sin in my life but with my repentance, I'm back on track and our fellowship is sweet.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the privilege of spending time with You. You give me Your undivided attention anytime I want it and I'm grateful for that open door into Your presence. I pray I will be more consistent in my time with You. I love You..In Your precious name. Amen