SCARS AND ALL

Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which
are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13,14

As I have taught God's Word to others through the years, I usually express my gratitude for the fact that in the make up of Scripture, God chose to include the problems, faults and “warts” of those folks in Scripture we've come to love. It's as I look at their lives and see what could have been debilitating and defeating. It's an encouragement to me to read of such overcomers, Bible icons, but still flesh and blood human beings who could have fallen by the wayside instead of dealing with an issue and moving on.

All of us at times have gone through and endured some very depressing situations in our lives, wondering if our lives could ever count for anything again, let alone for God. There are situations Christians have encountered in their lives that could have shut them down where any expected future was concerned. I know of Christians who experienced abortion, abuse of every kind, financial defeat, health issues, tragedy involving family or friends, divorce, addictions, sexual sin and even death of loved ones.

Looking into Scripture, we see people, human beings like you and me, some high in stature and position, some just common ordinary who either committed sin they would have to live with or others thrown into difficult circumstances they didn't ask for. For instance:

Hannah: so desperately wanted to have a baby but was barren for a time David: King of Israel, guilty of adultery, ordering a murder
Moses; Struck a rock in the wilderness for water when God commanded him to speak to it
Peter: Denied Jesus
Mary Magdalene: accused of prostitution
Paul: Beatings and imprisonment
Jeremiah: Imprisoned for his prophetic teaching
Daniel: Captive in Babylon while a teenager
Esther: Also captive to an evil king but who was instrumental in saving her people

There are probably others I could list but as I look at the above list, I see people who dealt with their situations with God the director of their lives. There is no situation so bad in our lives that God cannot deal with as we cooperate with Him in repentance and dedication to His plan for our lives. Some of the above had to pay in the way of circumstances that resulted from their behaviors, but still gave their lives over to God for His use. Even as they dealt with their sin or concerns, they determined to push on.

We all have our scars. There's something interesting about bodily scars. They can be seen but after an injury heals, scars for the most part don't hurt. The main hurt they cause is in our memories of events that caused them. There are also mental scars that can often cause us more pain than physical ones. They can lead to a variety of problems if not given over to God for His keeping. Someone recently sent me something I think on Facebook and don't remember the source. I have typed it up for my Sunday school class. It says:

Scars only show us where we've been.
They don't dictate where we're going.

I love that. I've known many ladies who have found healing, scars and bad memories with God's power emanating from their lives. They are now jewels for the Kingdom and in those I know now who walk in victory, haven't looked back. They have their scars like we all have had, but now they are reminders of God's strengthening and forgiveness. Hopefully, all of us with our scars, but whole in Christ, can joyfully sing together:

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
NO TURNING BACK,
NO TURNING BACK.

Satan would have us turn back, roll around in past issues, live in depression and anger, but that isn't God's design for you and me. Scars and all...we will press on.

Thank You Father, for the victory You give us. We can't make this life on our own and are grateful for Your power in our lives. It takes a definite decision to follow You. Help me to press forward with no looking back. We love you...In Jesus' precious name...Amen

THE WONDER OF A BOOK

...the grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth
for ever. And this is the word which
by the gospel is preached unto you.
I Peter 1:24b-25

Books have meant much to me most of my life. My first real introduction to reading was through friends by the name of Dick, Jane, Sally and their pets, Spot and Puff. Many of my era probably learned to read from those primers in first grade. A few years ago, Brian purchased for me a book that had a combination of those first grade books in it. Every now and then, I like to pull it out, love on those words and characters from another era.

From there, the words on pages became many and even the books a little thicker. From that point, I was on my way. I have been an avid reader since those childhood days.

  I read my first “chapter book” when about 9 years old. I was a really heavy book in size compared to any I had read to that point. My mother sent it to me while I was away visiting my aunt. It was a Bobsey Twin book. From there I went to biographies written in childhood form but by then, my reading had taken me to a higher level for more exciting reading adventures.

I love the feel of a book, the smell of a book and the mastery of a book. I realize there are new ways reading. I have a Kindle but although I really like it, I still find myself reaching for a real book with a cover and individual pages I can handle page by page. Some folks predict the demise of books as we have known them. I have to wonder if in the hearts of dedicated readers, they will ever yield to that notion. If it does happen, I will be happen I won't be on the earth to see it.

One of the most important tools in the life of a child is the gift of reading. Reading is a necessary skill for doing well in life. To accomplish most anything, reading is required whether it is reading a newspaper, pouring over a recipe in the kitchen, communicating on a computer, writing notes, signing a marriage license, educating themselves at higher level, and on and on it goes. I think any elementary school teacher could attest to the fact that children who do not read well, tend to have discipline problems in school.
 

I have believed for a long time that Satan fights our learning of reading. The big reason for my saying that is that the last thing he wants any of us to be able to do is read the Word of God. When I have taught or encouraged reading, I've always secretly told myself that reading is something a person will take to Heaven with them. The most important reading we will ever do is the hours we spend in the Word of God.

The Word of God comes in many forms. Yes, it's on the computer in some form but also in various types of cover. They come with different size type and may be very simple or vast in reference material. There are many “translations” on the market...some good but many that ought to be trashed. In this area, Christians must be careful. Some want to purchase any and everything put out by most assumed translators. However, we are blessed living in a country where Bibles are available and we have choices.

In this book of Peter's (and Holy Spirit's), and in this Chapter 2 in particular, Peter speaks of our being a family, born into the Kingdom the same way in a loving family and even as a spiritual family, eating the same food...the very Word of God. In our family, when I cooked supper, we all sat down and ate from the same menu and such is true of our spiritual family. 

I shouldn't be surprised that a popular magazine in our country has announced how little the Bible is of influence and help in the lives of people. They are in fact almost advocating it's passing completely off the scene. Countries all over the world to this day have banned Bibles or make them very difficult to come by. Satan know the Word is our sustenance, our spiritual strength and encouragement. I believe it's a growing trend in our country to minimize the importance of the Bible and we have to remain vigilant.

My first grade friends in my reading primers still have a way of warming my heart. However, THE book in my life...God's Word...also warms my life and beyond as is corrects, strengthens and blesses me. It is a book of love that will never pass away, no matter how hard Satan's crew works at it. Satan hates and fears the Bible. For that reason alone, we must love and defend it.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your inspiring every word in the Bible. Thank You too, that as we read it, You teach us from it. Thank You Father for this wonderful Love Letter that teaches us so wonderfully about Jesus. Thank You for instilling in us the desire to read and better ourselves through Your precious Word. In Jesus precious name....Amen

THIS IS THE DAY

This is the day which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

This verse is one of the verses in Scripture, I think we, at times, almost make light of. I've heard some of he best of Christians say something like: “Remember, this is the day the Lord has made....” when another person comments about the weather, their health or the flat tire they had on the way to work. It's a verse, to me, of great assurance and even security.

Someone shared on Facebook one day, a saying she had come across that was a very convicting one for me. The statement was a simple one...LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT IS THE ONLY ONE. I wonder how many days of the many in my life have I viewed any day as if it is the only one. This isn't indicating it could be our last day, but it could be that as well. The truth is, we should live each day as if it is our last, our only one.

I'm not suggesting in this quest for fruitful spiritual living that our days should be filled to the full with lots of activity. There are Christians who believe such is required to measure up....to what, I don't know. It blessed me to read in the Gospels the times Jesus went aside to be alone, no activity to speak of except for rest, food and perhaps times of prayer.

I've had women in my life I have loved and appreciated, but many of them VERY structured in every day living. Some have strongly suggested so much time given to Bible reading and prayer, often in the wee hours of the morning. I always got the feeling in those days of spiritual immaturity that God only listened to His people from 3:00 to 6:00 AM. Others prescribed a rigid schedule of housekeeping that included ways to cook and feed a family. If I did everything these well-meaning ladies suggested, I would probably be able to fit in about 5 hours of sleep at night if fortunate.

We are all so different and that means our days. I can be so scattered in thinking and activity, that rejoicing could hardly be considered. Depending on where we ladies are right now in stages of life, no two of us will be alike in our approach to anything, let alone how we plan and live our days.

I'm quick to admit there are days when I waste time that shouldn't be wasted. When my head hits my pillow at night, I would pray I had so lived my day that God would be honored in the way I lived out my day.

There have been special days in my life when someone said to me, “Well, this is THE big day.” I heard that the day I graduated from high school and college. Someone said it to me on my wedding day. The day we received our baby girl, a friend came into my office and said that same phrase. In every instance, those big days were life changing more than most of the rest. I can honestly say that I was glad and rejoiced in those days, but most of my days have been fairly uneventful. Each day God provides me whether filled with big evens or hours of boredom are His.

My life can bring glory to God no matter what my day calls for if my moments (busy or relaxing) are given over to Him. Folks who stack their days with unnecessary activities to the point of exhaustion don't bring glory to the Lord. It's hard being thankful for the days God has given if we've done everything to mess them up.

On the worst days of our lives, we can rejoice and be glad, not for the negative circumstances but because we have a Father who loves us and is involved in our spiritual health and well-being. I don't understand the things this earth chooses to put us through because of it's lingering sin, but on any given day, no matter the circumstances, we can rejoice and be glad in it because we are blessed in the privilege of walking through “whatever” hand in hand with our God who is all sufficient. There is nothing negative about our opening verse and in the sufficiency of God, we can be rejoicing no matter what comes our way. The things of this earth that mess up our days are all fleeting. We have a Hope in Christ that will sustain us in the meantime. God wants to use our days in beneficial ways. Let's do all we can to walk in cooperation with His plan.

Dear Father, I thank you for this day. Outside it's rainy and on the dull side, but it's the day You've made and I will rejoice. Thank You for Your goodness in my every day, and that Your grace is always sufficient in my life. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

A LICENSE TO COMFORT

Who (God) comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble,
by the comfort wherewith we
ourselves are comforted of God.
II Corinthians 1:4

Perhaps my age, (and I know it has something to do with it) I'm seeing very Godly friends being called into arenas where they would never choose to go. I'm amazed as I view friends and some family members who are either very ill or have debilitating physical conditions, conditions they may very well live them for their lifetimes. There are some going through other very difficult things having nothing to do with health issues.

Several years ago, I went to a visitation at a funeral home. The husband of a lady in my Sunday school class had passed away. There were other ladies from our class there. I hugged my friend and while there did that every now and then. Periodically I would go to her with fresh tissues. Sometimes I would bring her a cup of water, and insisted she take a few sips of it. I prayed for her during that time from a bit of a distance while other ladies in our class paid close attention to her as well. There was one thing I couldn't do that some of those other ladies could. I couldn't say what a lot of folks tend to say in such a circumstance without thinking. I couldn't say, “I know how your feel.” I could have said it, but in reality, I didn't know the depths of her feeling because my husband was/is still very much alive. I couldn't really feel with her. I didn't have a license to comfort that I think Paul is speaking of to the Corinthians.

Paul said that as God comforts us in our times of difficulty and we feel that comfort, we are learning how to share that comfort we received in our particular times of difficulty. It doesn't mean we can't comfort folks in all sorts of circumstances, but when someone is going through something we've been through and we've known God's working with us, we can step in with encouragement that we knew in our own time of difficulty.

As God's children, He often leads us into mission fields where we would never dare venture to go. I have friends who have suddenly found themselves in hospital emergency rooms and on into the hospital. There, God has waiting personnel and others one doesn't know and never would had they not found themselves in those circumstances. I know from working in a hospital some patients I met who were such blessings every time I saw them for appointments. Many were in severe pain from liver disease, but many had smiles with sweetness in their pain that we so amazing. Sometimes as they left they would say, “God bless you, Glendarae.” Those were days when I usually needed blessed.

I know folks right now who sit in chemo rooms who a year ago never foresaw sitting where they do on an almost daily basis now. They greet fellow patients and personnel as well with positive, uncomplaining attitudes. In such a times of such human distress, I've seen them with good spirits, trusting Jesus in it all.

Close to six years ago, when I fell into our church basement, I was amazed all the folks from EMT's to emergency room personnel, I saw during during that time that also included folks from our church who hurried to the hospital. Above all, my Heavenly Father was my comfort and strength during that time. That was not a mission field I felt called to that evening but that was God's plan for me to be there in those moments. I don't know a lot of folks who have fallen into church basements, but I sure can feel with folks who go through terrible accidents
.

Our call may not be for anything physical. The list may include things like struggling with depression, marital problems, empty nest adjustments, teen rebellion, sudden loss of job, abuse issues... and the list could go on and on. When any of those things sound familiar, God has a way of sending a person in need across our path for us to share with them our experience and God's working in it.

We all have licenses to comfort. We've all needed God's comfort in various levels of difficulty. We don't have to preach any sermons or be great orators in sharing the mercy and grace of God we've known in our own lives. Folks need to know they aren't alone, that God never deserts His children. If a person is unsaved, it's a wonderful opportunity to share with that person how precious God's presence can be in one's life.

When we are struck with a difficulty or emergency out of the blue, we should feel an assurance that God will never leave or desert us...He is sovereign...nothing can just drop into our lives without His knowledge. “Oops” isn't in God's vocabulary. We must keep mindful though that as He walks us through those negatives life has to offer, He is near to comfort and instruct. He also probably has folks waiting in our particular arena...folks who need to feel blessed and encouraged that God is very real. We should be alert to those times God brings someone across our paths who needs our words of wisdom and encouragement that we know only came from a very loving Father. He's given us a gift...a license to comfort.

Father, I don't understand when illness or accidents come my way, but I know You have purpose in all You do in my life. I know You don't want me to waste any of what You have taught me. I can brag on nothing of myself, but only brag on You. Thank You for Your wonderful power in my life. I love you....In Jesus precious name...Amen

HE IS RISEN...ME TOO!!

If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1

Yep, as I write, Easter was yesterday but I'm determined to keep in mind that every day is Easter...resurrection day. So today, I recognize my benefits in Christ to be the same as yesterday.

Something has been working on me over the last several days regarding this wonderful time of year. I love new beginnings such as what springtime and the Easter season presents. I was brought to a quick reality a week ago when our pastor so eloquently presented what crucifixion was like under the Romans of the yesteryear. He presented information that came from many in the medical community who with the help of history, painted a pretty gruesome picture of what Jesus must have endured not only on the cross but in those hours of torture previous to His being nailed to a cross.

Jesus was presented as a criminal deserving of death as stirred up by the religious community. Jews couldn't...according to the Law...put folks to death under such circumstances. Roman soldiers were trained and very adept in the art of crucifixion among other methods of execution. This would be no big thing for them should it fall their lot to carry out. After the stirring of the crowds, the Romans caved and agreed to grant the wishes of the Jewish leaders.

As our pastor spoke of just the lashing meted out on the bare back of Jesus, ripping His skin to shreds, I thought at the moment that with the kind of skin I have, it would take just one lash like that on my bare back to probably nearly cut me in half. After it all, Jesus went to the cross, hardly recognizable as a human being, according to the Scriptures.

Here's what struck me to my heart as I heard that sermon....that was me on that cross...not literally but in spiritual reality. Jesus died for me...you...and everyone else. I didn't have to be nailed to a cross for my sin but spiritually speaking, I was there. It's just that Jesus had me and everyone else step aside while He took it all onto Himself for us.

If that was you and me with Jesus taking our places on that cross, the following few days saw Jesus rising from the death. This is the exciting part. Paul reminds us, “If ye then be risen with Christ....” Jesus went to that cross for my redemption but He then rose from the dead that I might share in that victory. I've never risen from physical death, but I can walk in the victory of His risen life that also gives me the hope of Eternity.

That's not the end of it though. Paul goes one to say...”seek those things which are above.” With all the wonderful information we have about Jesus' every provision for our lives, we now have a responsibility. With all the benefits we have because of Jesus, it is our responsibility and joy to consistently be seeking godly things above where Jesus is sitting on the right hand of His Father. With all Jesus has done for us, He doesn't deserve the leftovers of our lives, time for Him when there isn't anything else to do,or serving Him out of obligation.

I can appreciate all the festivities...Easter egg hunts, new clothes, ham for dinner with the trimmings, maybe attending church for one of two Sundays of the year (the other being Christmas). I know I attend church faithfully on Sundays but I can, like anyone else, lose sight of Jesus' generosity and love in my life. I'm deserving of none of it, but have felt convicted of the fact that every day should be a celebration of Jesus' generosity in my life. Thus, His gift can be celebrated every day, even in song:

He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me, and
Talks with me,
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart.
You asked me how I
know He lives...
He lives within my heart!

AMEN and AMEN!!

Thank You, Jesus for what You did for me on Calvary, your victory over death and for Your goodness in my life everyday. May I serve You faithfully not out of obligation but out of love and appreciation. I love You and I pray in Your precious name....Amen