I Know How You Feel

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and

God of all comfort.

Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we

will be able to comfort those who are in any

affliction with the comfort with which we

ourselves are comforted by God.

II Corinthians 1:3,4

A few years ago, I was asked to be the new teacher for a ladies Sunday school class. Along with doing that, one of our class members invited members of our class to come to her home for lunch for a get acquainted time. After a lovely lunch, I was asked to give my testimony, tell about myself and give the ladies an opportunity to ask questions.

In the process of telling about myself, husband and children, I mentioned that one of my daughters had a physical condition that is somewhat rare with no known cure at that time. All of a sudden, from the middle of the group, I heard a loud gasp from one of the ladies. It was so noticeable that she verbally apologized for the interruption but went on to say that her daughter had that same condition. I had never met another person who even knew about the condition let alone coming across one who would be in my Sunday school class. In the years after that, that dear lady became a good friend. We could share about our girls on rare occasions. We could look at each other and say, “I know how you feel.”

On several occasions that have become more frequent the older I have become, I have known dear ladies in churches we have attended whose husbands have passed away. I have gone to the funeral home for the visitation times. I have offered my condolences and even hung around to help that grieving lady friend whether she needed a glass of water or fresh tissues to hold onto. The rest of the time, I sat in a corner of the reception room making it a practice to pray for that friend and her family members. I felt a sense of helplessness, wanting to say the right thing or do the right thing. But you see, I was at a loss because my husband is still living. There is no way I could utter those five words, “I know how you feel.”

We have learned as Christians that we will go through testings and trials. We will know disappointment, hurt, illness, and everyday misfortune. Perhaps we have gone to God with our why's and wherefore's with no answer coming forth. For long periods of time, our wonderings and questions might rear their ugly heads still with no answers.

Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit regarding the privilege that is ours to be of comfort to others who are going through the toughest of times. In tough times, God has comforted us, maybe using the kindness and thoughtfulness of others in our lives. Perhaps some did or said just what we needed at the time, but we felt a sense of comfort being showered on us. When we have gone through a variety of trials and have been comforted, we are to store those things in the file of our heart and mind.

I have learned in my life that God doesn't want any experience we go through to go to waste. Sooner or later, as we have been comforted, we can use that comfort to comfort others going through some similar experiences. A billionaire may not understand what it is to not have enough money to pay bills or put food on the table. A woman in a good marriage may not understand the plight of a battered wife. Parents with what appears to be perfect children, may not understand parents of a runaway teenager.

However, the person who has gone through those things and others that would be familiar to us, can have an empathy and compassion for another. It's what I call having a “license to comfort.” There are problems of life where we have “earned our stripes.” We're never in a position to be rude, pushy or have a know-it-all attitude. It's a comfort, though, when someone can say to me and I know she knows what she's talking about when she says, “I know how you feel.”

There are some folks when it comes to cares and concerns that I really don't want to talk to. It's those people who have never wanted anyone to know if they've had any type of problems. We don't have to go around airing all of our difficulties but I've learned in general conversation or in reviewing my church prayer list something God allowed me to experience perhaps years ago that a present day friend or acquaintance may be experiencing now.

All of us have that list of experiences that give us a license to comfort. I'll list some of those things that I know about from friends and some from my own experience, such as:

loss of job

death of parents

death of a child

cancer diagnosis

car accident

affair of a spouse

divorce

house destroyed by fire

being robbed

miscarriage

The list could go on and on of traumas that can come into a person's life. We've learned that Christians are not exempt from the problems of life, but we have the advantage of having the love, guidance and protection of God Himself. In it all, we've come through it and we've learned. With that learning along with an attitude of prayer and understanding, we can step in with words of comfort and encouragement for another. We can assure a hurting woman with whom we have a negative experience in common that she's going to make it, that she's going to be okay. We have to remember that everyone responds differently to the trials of life. We will never know totally how someone feels about a heartache, so we must be cautious. At the same time, we must be available with a sensitive spirit as God leads. We don't live in a time where people are super sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. If we are going to be comforters, we will have to pay attention to needs of folks around us. We must stay sensitive to the cares of others, especially when those cares “ring a bell” in our own memory. That will be the time to come along side someone God has put on our hearts...to support, encourage, love and pray for them. Keep that license handy...in this sorry world, it will be much used and needed.

Lord Jesus, thank You first for the trials You have brought me through and for all You have taught me in each one. I pray that I will be sensitive to ladies around me who might be facing some similar testings as I have known. Grant me Your wisdom that I will follow Your leading in comforting others in need. I love You, dear Jesus. Amen.

Who's On The Throne?

Therefore do not let sin reign in your

mortal body so that you obey its lusts.

Romans 6:12

It was June 2, 1953 and I was in my early teens. It was a historic time...a new queen of England was crowned on that day. Her name was/is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary whose father, King George VI had died. His brother, Edward VIII was next in line for the throne, but abdicated because of his love for a commoner who he married. Back then, royalty in line for the throne didn't marry a commoner. These events put Elizabeth in line to be the next monarch of England. This wasn't by far the first female queen of England. Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother was Queen Victoria.

I remember watching the coronation on television. We were interested in things of England and its goings on. My grandparents had immigrated from Scotland in their early married years. We also had very close friends who had traveled to England for the coronation festivities, so for many reasons, we were glued to the TV set for all of the events. Those friends brought a gift back from those festivities for my grandmother...a souvenir cup and saucer that sits on my cup and saucer rack.

The new queen walked down the main aisle of Westminster Abbey with all of the royal attire a monarch in England wore at the time. Her red velvet robe was trimmed in ermine. We noted colors later as TV broadcasting was black and white then. Shortly after taking her throne and being crowned queen, I'll never forget that her husband stepped forward, knelt before her and swore his allegiance to his wife, her royal highness. I often wondered later how that worked when they got into a spat over their children's activities or what toppings to put on a pizza. He has always maintained proper decorum as the queen's consort.

Queen Elizabeth has as much power as her followers give her. With whatever power she has, she actually has very few friends outside of her family. Most of her human contacts are those with whom she has official dealings. However, people who come into her presence bow or curtsey and keep a safe distance from her bodily, only shaking her hand if she extends it.

Queen Elizabeth reigns from a throne she sits on only for very official occasions. She presents absolutely no problem for us. My interest in that situation has been of mere interest, a thing to watch through the years. I had no say over her becoming queen and she has no say in the events of my life.

However, there is a throne that greatly interests me personally and that's the throne of my life.  That throne will stay occupied 24/7 for the rest of my life. It is never vacant and someone or something is always seated on it. Whatever it is that is sitting on that throne has complete sway over my life whether I am aware of it or not. The same is true for you as well. Rarely do we even bother to take a look at that throne to see who/what is there controlling our lives. We won't see that throne in a newspaper or newscast. It's a very personal sitting place and we have all the say as to what or who is seated there. The object or person never stays there for long because we tend to have short attention spans. There are times when we elevate people or things of the world to that position but as Christians, the only One who has a right to that throne is our Lord Jesus. He is our Lord with every right to complete say over our lives. He has the right to command our behavior, habits, friends and activities. 

 

 

We can never say to Him as children often say to each other, “You can't tell me what to do....You're not the boss of me.” Oh yes He can tell us what to do and He IS the Boss of us. Like it or not, He is Lord. I've heard people referring to their salvation experience as accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There's never been a Christian who could accept Jesus as Lord because He's already Lord, has been through eternity and will maintain that title and position on through eternity. Our job is to recognize Jesus as Lord, treating Him as such in our loving and living. This can only happen when Jesus is occupying that throne in our lives.

Through a backslidden state, nursing unrepentant sin, practicing the things of this world, I can as much as tell Jesus that for the time being, He's on leave from my life's throne. Jesus will never force Himself on us. He's too much of a Gentleman to do that. He wants a season ticket to that throne where He's the only One sitting there.

How do we know if we've allowed other things on that throne, other than Jesus. Our lifestyle will tell us a lot, if we are living in ways that would never please the Lord. During those down times, our spiritual activities and practices will be lagging. We will find if we really want to know that Jesus no longer has first place in our lives, that our Bible reading and prayer will have been pushed to one side if not put completely away. Our moods may be affected and the way we treat others. You see, when Jesus is on our throne, we are focused on Him and not self. When other things take over, it's because we have allowed self to take over. We mustn't let that happen:

For He must reign until He has put

all His enemies under His feet.

I Corinthians 15:25

Anything or anyone that takes Jesus' place of rulership, is an enemy of Christ. He knows how to deal with Satan and his methods.

Praise the Lord...the day is coming when Satan will be kicked to the curb and we'll never have to put up with those things of the world again that Satan uses to get His grip on our lives. Everything will be new and perfect in every way. With joy, we will join in with resounding voices, with the Heavenly throng, singing:

“,,,the kingdom of the world has become the

kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;

and He will reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 11:15b

In that day, Jesus will have full reign not only of our lives at all times, but of His kingdom as a whole. At that time, every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is God. Hallelujah!!!

Kings and queens of this world may come and go. People will bow or curtsey before them. Their subjects will swear their allegiance for whatever that is worth. However, we have a choice as to who and what we bow before and a lot of that depends on who or what we have placed on the throne of our lives. If I'm going to bow the knee, I want that adoration to have meaning...adoration and worship toward Jesus who is the only One who gives my life meaning.

Lord Jesus, I'm so grateful for Your Lordship in my life. I know I slip when I shouldn't and am so sorry because I want You always on the throne of my life. Rule and reign in my life because I don't have the grit to stand strong as I should. Thank You for strengthening and loving me, even when I don't deserve one moment of Your love or attention. I love you....Amen

Count Your Blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed

us with all spiritual blessings in

heavenly places in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

It's a hymn we have sung through the years, but often a hymn we sing casually with little thought of the words. It's a very familiar hymn that most of us could sing the first verse and chorus by memory. The hymn is, “Count Your Blessings.”

This hymn was written by Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897. He was a bi-vocational Methodist preacher. From the time of his childhood, Rev. Johnson could remember his father singing various hymns with the family. What a wonderful memory. Probably as a result of his father's influence and the leading of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Johnson wrote at least 5,000 hymns in his life. He wrote the words for “Count Your Blessings” while Edwin, a traveling singing teacher wrote the music.

This hymn became so popular in England, and sung so often that it was said that men sang it often through their daytime responsibilities, boys whistled it and mothers rocked their babies to sleep while humming it.

The words are meant to encourage, but at the same time does not cover up the fact that we do go through the most difficult of circumstances at times. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:19:

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs, singing and making

melody in your heart to the Lord.

In most congregations I have been a part of, it has been so obvious in recent days and months that we have lost our song. Very few people seated in church pews these days are people who take part in congregational singing. Some look around casually, focus on a window or just stare into space. Are we Christians losing our song? We certainly have much to sing about with all God has poured into our lives. I think it was Charles Wesley, that great Methodist minister and hymn writer who said: “Every Christian should personally own two books...a Bible and a hymn book.” He felt we should be singing people, not just in church but in daily living.

Lets look briefly at the first verse and chorus of this wonderful hymn that was written over a century ago but that still is more than appropriate in our own day:

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

I think it's very interesting that this phrase puts it out in the open that life will toss us about. To think we won't be affected negatively by our world is foolhardy. There are days when we will feel like we're tossed around like a boat on a stormy ocean. There have been days I have felt like that.

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

The writer doesn't begin this sentence with “If” but with “When.” Discouragement comes from any number of sources. We can get to the point of feeling that life is hardly worth living. We live in a day of much frustration, feeling there is no hope and wondering if our culture as we have known it has no positive future to anticipate. We've all felt those things in these very days.

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

Then, all of a sudden, the climate of this hymn changes. We are told that despite the first two lines of this hymn, to think of life in a positive way. Not only are we told to count our MANY blessings, but to be specific...to name them as best we can remember them...one by one. I think how often I've prayed to my Heavenly Father, “Thank You for all Your blessings in my life.” Now that I think of it, that's almost an insult. I should be specific in my own mind as well as in my praying. I know there are too many to count in one sitting but I can do what I can every day.

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Wow...in that process of counting, I'm going to go through a mind blowing period of time. Counting one or two blessings may be good but when we stack them up, we'll be astounded as to God's goodness in our lives, all He's done.

                                                                CHORUS:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Don't count in generalities, but don't labor. The Holy Spirit has a wonderful way of bringing these precious things to our minds but we should be as specific as possible.

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

When we do this meditation of thanksgiving, we'll see clearly God's benefits and blessings in our lives. This kind of thanksgiving isn't just for that one day in November when we eat turkey and dressing.

Count your blessings, name... them... one... by... one,

There is a reason this phrase is repeated. We repeat things of importance and meaning. I had never noticed in this hymn where I should name God's blessings in such a specific manner. By the way, this becomes very difficult if we don't count these blessings with some frequency. It should be a daily procedure, not out of obligation but out of gratitude.

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

In our counting process, the wonderful result will be that we can see with our own minds and hearts just how wonderful God has been in our lives. These things might be good things for us to date and write down in a journal. On some of those tempest tossed days that we face, pulling that journal out to read of God's goodness and faithfulness can be a wonderful encouragement...almost like reading old love letters or notes from friends.

I'm determined to work this into my own devotional life. I never want to be ungrateful toward the One I love more than anyone or anything else.

Lord Jesus, I have been so negligent in my gratitude toward You for all of Your goodness in my life. You bless me more than I can count and I often give so little thought to those answers to prayer as well as the special touches You bless me with over and over. I love You. Amen

Grief Is No Fun

...weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:5b

Having been a social worker for many years, I think I've witnessed more grief in the lives of human beings of all ages than I care to see. However, anyone who has drawn breath on this earth of ours will face grief at one time or another. Grief isn't picky. Grief comes into the lives of the youngest and oldest of we human beings. It shows no preference for the rich or poor. It doesn't recognize race or those of certain political persuasions. Grief doesn't notify anyone of its coming. By the way, grief doesn't care if a person is Hell or Heaven bound.

So, what is grief? Grief is the reaction to loss of someone or something to which a bond has been formed. Grief can be summed up in one word...LOSS. Sounds almost too simple doesn't it? Grief comes as a result of losing someone or something. Grieving is that human process of dealing with that loss.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross an expert in the study of grieving was one of the first to come up with five stages of grieving. Other specialists have done their own versions, but in all of these versions, I don't think I've seen any stages of grieving viewed from a spiritual angle. Believe me, I'm no expert on this subject but have seen or experienced grief in my own life to know how the Lord took me through it.

First, what are some of those things that can bring grief into our lives. Some of these things, people may not think grief is involved but it very well can be.

                                ADULTS                                CHILDREN

                                Death of spouse                    Death of parent

                                Divorce                                  Loss of family togetherness

                                Death of parents                    Death of grandparents

                               Job loss                                   Death of pet

                               Miscarriage                             Death of friend or sibling

                               Change of living location         Moving from friends, school

                               Loss of health                          Loss of health

                               Child custody                           Loss of innocence...abuse

                               Lost wedding ring                     Lost blankie

                              Suicide in family                        Loss of parental contact

                              Empty nest                                Siblings leave home

                              Trust                                          Trust

There are probably more things people could grieve over but notice the last thing I put on both lists. This loss of trust can affect us deeply. If we have been scammed, betrayed, had a friend or relative break a promise or even someone of great faith we have admired who goes astray or turns their back on God...these can all be issues of trust for us.

So how do we deal with this thing of grief (loss)? Below are five steps. The world can define each one but so can our faith experience.

DENIAL

One of the saddest things I've seen is in this area where a grieving person can get stuck. This is very difficult because when bad news comes, no matter how it comes, our first natural tendency is to say, “I can't believe it...I just talked to her yesterday...can't be.” That reaction is meant to be a buffer against great shock but most don't stay here. Some of the finest Christians I've known because of their deep faith have often responded with: “Oh Lord, is it true?” Some even ask, “Dear Lord, why?” By the way, it's okay to ask why. Jesus even asked His Father from the cross “Why hast thou forsaken me?” We usually quickly come to the conclusion that God is on His throne and knows what He's doing, despite our sadness.

ANGER

This comes in degrees. Again I consider it a buffer of sorts. The feeling in this area is usually,“It's not fair.” This is an area where a person just can't afford to stay for long. We've all known adults who have lived with anger for years. I've seen adults, angry from their childhood who act out in many ways caused by unrestrained anger. In our day, we hear a lot about people being recommended to take classes in anger management. Judges often make that recommendation to felons who stand before them. Let me say this though that Jesus is the only answer for any kind of anger problems. There's not a psychologist or psychiatrist who through months of talking or medicating have removed anger problems from people. They can only put a person back in denial. Jesus is the answer.

BARGAINING

We've all been here. Most of the bargaining is where people get spiritual, even an unsaved person. Certain statements can be heard such as: “Lord, I'll do anything if You can change this...I'll even be a missionary to Africa.” OR “Please heal her, Lord...give it to me and not her.”

If we haven't said some of these things, we've heard others say some similar things. This is an exercise in futility but at least begins to bring us to some reality. In essence, no matter who we are with faith or no faith, we recognize that God is powerful enough to change things.

DEPRESSION

When the bargaining doesn't work, then is when the bottom drops out and we can enter the depths of depression. To a great extent, this can be normal. When we have faced great shock or trauma through loss, the things that usually happen are loss of sleep, usual routine, spiritual activity, etc. Any of those things under even normal circumstances could bring us to depression. Depression can also come with chemical imbalance in the body that requires a visit to the doctor to discuss medication that might help. Most people in this state feel that life just isn't worth all of this but it is. In all of this loss we will learn and love again with our Lord as our teacher and Savior.

I think of Elisha when Ahab and Jezebel swore to kill him. Elisha fled for his life, running for miles. He went with little sleep, food or water. He was to the point of giving up on life. God stepped in insisting that Elisha stop and rest. He sent an angel to minister to Elisha with sustenance. Job as well went through untold pain having lost his children, health, wealth and respect of his wife. Even he got to the point of asking, “Why was I born?” God had allowed Satan's testing but at the right time, stepped in healing Job and bringing him back to even more wealth, children, etc. In both cases, God was the answer for them and still is for us.

ACCEPTANCE

I have known people who have come to this point quickly, especially when perhaps the death of a loved one occurs after a very long and painful struggle with pain. We never like death but sometimes can see it as a relief for one even though we will still miss them. We may find that wedding ring in a short amount of time. It is here that we can say, “I can make it...God is still working and will continue to work in the hard times.

Some people get all the way to acceptance and fall back into anger and even depression. We can never sit back with a prideful attitude that we have “made it.” You and I have known people who in middle age or older revisit childhood abuse. There are adults who revisit the breaking of an engagement while in their 20's. Satan loves to remind us of negative and hurtful events in our lives.

I don't know how often I have said to folks that when we find ourselves in the middle of great trauma or difficulty, it's too late to prepare for it. Wise is the person who develops good spiritual habits, not that our faith should ever became routine. The practice of regular prayer and Bible reading is a must. We should be involved in our church whenever the doors are open for Sunday school, church services and even Bible study meetings. In saying this, I'm not saying this thing of grief is simple. Grief for some can be a very long journey but when we accept the presence and help of God, it can be of greater help than we can imagine.

May I suggest something that is almost a lost art for most Christians...Bible verse memorizing. We may not remember exact verse addresses at all the right times but the precious words from Scripture can be a soothing balm when we feel great stress. Have different topics of verses in your arsenal...some for praise, encouragement and comfort. For instance:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind

is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord

JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 26:3,4

After all, as Paul tells us in I Thessalonians that we as Christians aren't to sorrow as those who have no hope. That doesn't mean we won't sorrow or grieve but we have a strength as Christians that the world will never understand. We must take advantage of that wonderful strength supplied by our loving Savior. He will never leave us hopeless for He is our hope.

Lord Jesus...Keep me tucked under your arm of love...hold me tight in the palm of your hand so that no matter the grief and sorrow that comes my way can be endured and You will help me come forth as gold. I love you. Amen

Going Home

And if I go and prepare a place

for you, I will come again, and

receive you unto myself; that

where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:3

It was my first time to take a trip “far away” where I would stay for two weeks. I was all of nine years old at the time. I stayed at my Aunt Lee's place that was very near Chicago. She lived in a boarding house. Mr. & Mrs. Primass had a very large two story house in a lovely neighborhood. There were five good sized bedrooms on the second flood that they rented out. Mrs. Primass cooked for everyone...all three meals. She and her husband were really sweet people. Aunt Lee had the nicest room upstairs, a front corner room with lots of sunshine and cross ventilation created by the two windows on two different walls.

There were three neighbor girls my age and we four became good buds right away. I enjoyed playing by myself too, with my dolls and playthings in the backyard of the large house. One day though, things came crashing down. My parents were due to come for me in three days but upon waking up one morning, my aunt took one look at me and let out a shriek. I had the mumps...on both sides and guess I looked pretty bad. She wouldn't let me look in a mirror that day. Aunt Lee made a quick call to my mom and told her to forget coming for at least another two weeks.

I was getting to where I loved being with my aunt and Mr. & Mrs. Primass. My mother sent me a book to read. It was my first big book with chapters, a Bobbsey Twins book. With little to do including no TV, I dug into that book and had it read through in about three days. My aunt couldn't believe I could read that fast so I read the book again and again. Meals were brought to me in bed. I grew to really love that room with the pretty blue flowered wall paper and white organdy curtains gently being tossed about from the breeze coming through the windows.

My fourth week there, my Aunt Lee told me that I was well so she had called my parents to tell them that they could come whenever they wanted to. They came the following weekend with my sister Kay. A strange feeling came over me. I had been in that nice house with new friends next door. It suddenly dawned on me that I was going home...and I didn't want to go. How could that be? I cried and cried privately in that pretty bedroom, not wanting my mother especially to be hurt. Aunt Lee knew I was upset so we talked. She explained all the reasons why I had to go home. My town in Southern Illinois with the house on Clark Street was my home where my real family lived, so I should be sweet and not hurt my parents.

We left for home. It was hard saying good-bye to newly made childhood friends as well as my aunt and adult friends. I was teary on the way home...couldn't imagine it being better than what I'd had for a month. I just knew I would never again love my real home like the one I had experienced for that month...mumps and all.

Why do I relay this incident? As I've thought over this experience, I've compared it to this earth we live on in our individual towns and houses. God has put us where we are, but it's only a temporary trip. The day will come when Jesus will come for us to take us to THE real place...Heaven. The problem is that while here, we've come to love this ol' earth with all of it's flaws and problems. We've made friends that we like to “play with.” We've gotten used to the food and our surroundings. We've been close to family and friends as well. While here, I've read lots and lots of chapter books. I've asked Brian while driving through the mountains if he thought Heaven could be this pretty. To be honest, I'm concerned about that because I've never really cared for gold all that much. For me, Heaven would have lots of beautiful mountains with streams and all that goes with this kind of setting.

One day, while reading my Bible, it dawned on me that as the song goes, “This world is not my home...I'm just a passin' through.” I realized like being with my Aunt and loving it there, while here on this earth, I've gotten to where I love it here and can't imagine being anyplace else just like it was when a little girl. I'm afraid at times, I've pounded my tent pegs too deep into the soil of this world, having no desire to move or go anyplace else.

While thinking and praying about all of this, some facts were reinforced in my mind and heart on this subject:

For one thing, I don't think I'm the only person who has made herself at home on this old planet. I think there is a vast majority of Christians who find themselves thinking like I had come to think. One indication is all the doctors we see and medications we swallow. Why? We're hanging onto this place for dear life, not that there's anything wrong with taking medications. Survival is something that is a part of us and who we are.

Because Scripture doesn't give us much information about Heaven, I think it's a difficult reality for us. Oh it's there and it's very real but like my dreading returning to my family home, we would like to stay here and not go any other place. We've had friends and family go on ahead of us to this wonderful place but they aren't able to call us to tell us what it's like.

The major thing that is a winner for me though is just the thought of Jesus being there in Heaven anticipating my coming. He told His disciples in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for them (us). The wonderful thing is His plan to come and get us at the appropriate time. He meanwhile is in Heaven interceding for us with the Father (Hebrews 7:25). He even prays to the Father for us when we just don't have the words to utter on our own.

I don't have to have a travel brochure about Heaven. I don't have to know what it looks like. I don't have to know who is already there. It doesn't make any difference if I don't care for gold. When John, in the book of Revelation, tells about that beautiful place, all of that is well and good. There are folks I want to see when I get there, but the simple fact is that we should want to get to our eternal home because Jesus is there. I want to see Him before anyone else. The surroundings won't be as important as getting to be in His presence, worshiping Him and loving Him in person. We will have no longing for that eternal home if we don't stay in close relationship with our Savior now, studying His word and being people of prayer. Staying in close contact with Him will create a hunger in our hearts, a feeling of homesickness for our real forever home. Heaven will be home because Jesus is there.

Lord Jesus, I have such a longing to see You in person. Thank You for making Heaven a reality for me through your dying for my sin and rising from the dead that I might live eternally with You. I love You and anticipate our face to face meeting some day. Amen.

One Is All I Need

One God and Father of all,

who is above all,

and through all,

and in you all.

Ephesians 4:6

A few years ago, I was talking with a lovely lady who had been born and raised in India. In her teens, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She explained how difficult it was being ostracized from friends and family alike because of her decision. (Later, both parents and a sibling accepted Jesus probably because of her witness before them.)

She explained to me the confusion of her Hindu religion even though she grew up in the thick of it. They would have special times of “worship” where her entire family would gather. The men would sit in a huge circle in the courtyard with legs crossed and would spend hour after hour praying to their gods of which I understand there are thousands.

This woman couldn't believe the difference in paying homage to so many gods with so many expectations compared to worshiping God, His Son and Spirit...our God Who is three in one. She had never felt any kind of personal attachment to the old ways but with Jesus as her Savior, she felt safe, secure and loved beyond anything she could ever have imagined.

Idol worship has been a huge problem not just in our day but in our spiritual heritage that goes back through the Old Testament. It was such a problem early on, that when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, right in the beginning can be found “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” God will not tolerate idol worship nor anything people put in a position of more importance than Himself. There is a holy jealousy in God with regard to His children. He wants to be the one and only in our lives....NO ONE more important to us than Him.

The interesting thing is that we can easily be critical of people who are members of cults and false religions, but there's something that disturbs me as I observe members of such religions. If you want to compare the depth of dedication between believers in false religions and our Christianity, I'm afraid very often we would find those involved in cults and false religions have we Christians beat all to pieces.

I can't speak for everyone but Christianity in America has become so watered down with the things of the world that many Christians wouldn't stand for Christ if someone held a gun to their heads. With the climate in our country regarding the radical Muslim religion, I wonder when the last time was that I prayed five times a day...every day...without fail. I saw a young lady in the grocery story the other day in her Muslim attire. It takes a great deal of bravery to walk grocery store aisles in that attire with many people looking down their noses at her. That young woman stepped out in her special attire into our world who is skeptical and even scared of such a religious statement.

Because we don't bow before idols such as is with some religions, we might tend to be critical of folks from other countries who do. In fact even they are often more dedicated and worshipful toward their gods than we are to our Lord Jesus. Because we don't bow before an image, picture or statue of some kind, we tend to dismiss the thought of having any kind of idol worship in our lives. I believe we have them, but we just haven't given such things a title. An idol is going to be anything that we have in place that comes between God and ourselves. It can be something very simple, but something that takes up a great deal of our time or thinking. I have often asked myself, as I have spent time with a crochet hook in my hand, how much time I have spent that day in Bible reading and prayer compared to the time I spent crocheting. I'm not saying we can never have a hobby, times of creativity or just casual blocks of time that are refreshing where we may be doing nothing at all. It comes down to balance.

You might be able to add to the list but let me suggest some practical things whether good or bad that can get out of control, where God is asked to take a back seat. For some folks, there might be a problem with some of the following:

TV – Probably all of us have at least one in our house, perhaps in each bedroom as well as living room and/or den. If that has become something we just HAVE to watch incessantly, it could be a problem. There are some good things on TV but not much. Even some spiritual programming may be good but even with it, one has to be discrete.

Car – Remember getting a new car and wanting to wipe off every speck of dust everyday? For some folks, that is on going and a car can take up ones time by the hour. Is there anything wrong with a car and wanting to keep it looking nice? Not as long as it's kept in reasonable balance.

Clothes closet – I've known women and men alike whose attire is their all in all. I know one lady that I attended church with that I doubt if I saw her in the same outfit two times on Sunday mornings. Honestly, I'm not jealous. I hate shopping anytime for clothes and can't imagine being so involved in the shopping syndrome that I would have to have a new outfit every Sunday morning. Some folks might as well bow before their closets.

Money – This can take any form whether it be excessive time spent in the earning or spending of it.

Education – I knew someone several years ago who received his college degree. He went on to get a masters and than on to a doctorate then on to another masters and another masters. He was what we would call a “career student.” In reality, education wasn't just his life...education was his whole life...perhaps, his god.

Recreation – Come spring and summer, many folks dessert church for those months. They may enjoy boating, fishing or heading for the family cabin. There's nothing wrong with those activities but with the attitude that they'll be absent from church most of that time, what place does that give God in their lives.

Let's not even talk about electronics. We might complain about children with their computer games and cell phones. Within reason, there's nothing wrong with those activities as long as they are God honoring. Adults spend hours as well playing with their electronic toys. They have to have the very latest in whatever devices they crave.

I'm not saying any of the above are bad things. For all of us, there needs to be a balance. God should never have to play second fiddle in our lives. If He's taking a back seat, we can be sure there's something between Him and us and it will be of our own doing. I've said before that He's a gentleman and won't force a spiritual relationship on us. He wants first place in our lives at all times...He's the one and only God and will settle for nothing less.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior

So that His blessed face may be seen.

Nothing preventing the least of His favor.

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

--C.A. Tindley

Dear Lord Jesus...I love You but often I'm so weak. I don't want there to be anything between You and me. May it be so knowing I rely on Your empowering to be all You want me to be. Amen

Broken Things

The sacrifices of God are a broken

spirit: a broken and a contrite

heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51:17

Hanging on the wall over my piano is “what-not” shelving. There are three shelves on this particular display. On those shelves. as I am presently looking at it are several items...my ceramic wedding cake topper, a small vase, shoe and dish my mother also gave me, but the rest are cups and saucers (antiques by now) that belonged to my Scotch grandmother. They are beautiful with varied designs. There is even one cup and saucer that friends of my grandmother brought back from England when they went there at the time of the coronation of the present Queen Elizabeth. All of these things are carefully wrapped and packed when we move.

About ten years ago, as I was playing the piano, a nail on one side of this shelving came out of the wall and things began to fall. I did my best to grab at items one by one. It could have been one big pile of gold embossed china and ceramics but managed to catch several pieces. One cup was totally destroyed but it's saucer was okay. Another china cup broke into about four neat pieces. A saucer also went into several pieces. I was so grateful for super glue. Brian and I carefully tried to put these “Humpty-dumpties” together again. The cup looks good from a distance but is unusable. The saucer also came together quite well but it's cup was the one that was smashed to smithereens. By faith and some sturdy nails, it all is hanging on the wall in front of me but every now and then I get nervous as to what could happen again. Broken things, especially broken things of sentiment are hard to deal with.

There's nothing unusual about broken things in our lives. Many are more of an inconvenience than anything, such as a broken windshield in a car, sitting on a pair of glasses and busting something on them, leg on a chair, fingernail, etc.......

However, there are things that are broken that aren't mere inconveniences. They are things of life, things no super glue can handle...things like Humpty-dumpty that can't be put together again, at least to their original condition. Many such things might be mended to some extent (like my china cup that's been glued together but can't be used for it's intended purpose) but we are often left with memories that are uncomfortable. These are things that aren't material...they are things of life, things of the heart. Some of these things might be:

Broken friendships, marriages

Erring children that can break parents' hearts

Broken promises

A daughter “breaks up” with a boyfriend

Church splits (a major break up)

Broken health (especially a broken bone)

The things listed above will break our hearts. Most of the time we won't know why God has allowed us to go through brokenness. Other human beings cannot heal our broken times...God, our Father is the One who does that if we want total healing. Scripture says:

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds

Psalm 147: 3

Let me add that in our broken times, our Heavenly Father never wastes those times. There is always something spiritual in nature that He wants us to learn. One of the first questions we should ask Him when something is about to break us in pieces is: “What do You want me to learn from this experience?” What a shame and waste for us to force ourselves to endure and then walk away unchanged.

We must remember that Jesus knew something about being broken...broken like you and I will never have to experience. Because of that in His life, He can relate when you and I find ourselves broken.... that we feel it will almost take the very life out of us. Jesus said the following in the presence of His disciples:

And when He had given thanks, He

brake it, and said,

Take, eat: this is my body, which is

broken for you: this do in

remembrance of me.

I Corinthians 11:24

Jesus gave above and beyond what anyone else could give and His broken body was for us. He surely experienced a broken heart any number of times prior to his crucifixion. He was betrayed by one of His very own disciples and denied by another. I've gone through both of those things and can't even measure the tears I cried over being betrayed and even denied. Jesus knows and understands. Fleeing to Him is the only answer. It would be wonderful if there was a “super glue” for the heart. However, I've often said that only God's love putty can fill in the cracks of a broken heart or broken spirit. What a comfort knowing that He stands ready to love and heal us. God puts we Humpty-dumpties together again so that we can serve Him better than before and walk in even closer relationship with Him.

Lord Jesus, I understand there are times I need to go through a time of brokenness that is a time of hurt but a time of cleansing as well. When I need to be broken, do what You deem best, but please stay ever near during those times. I love you and place my life totally in Your hands to do what you see is best to do so that I can be a clean and willing vessel for Your use. Amen and Amen.

Forever the Same

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,

and today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

I learned this verse from Hebrews when I was in fourth grade while attending daily vacation Bible school. I liked it because it was easy to learn and fairly easy to understand. It only went that far with me at the time. I didn't realize that many, many years later, this verse would come to be of great comfort to me.

When just a girl, I hated hearing the adults in my life speaking of the “good old days.” Nothing could have been as good as they described it, especially with World War II and the Great Depression thrown in. But for those adults, even in the 40's and 50's, they looked at their present days and saw changes they didn't like, that caused them great concern. I thought and still do that those decades were really the best that our country had to offer. I guess that's probably why if asked, my children would have the same reaction to my longings as I did to the adults in my life back then.

It cannot be denied, however, that in our country over the last twenty years especially, we have seen some pretty radical changes. We are faced with a bad economic situation that includes high taxes. We have learned that our high taxes are going toward unnecessary and costly trips, parties, entertainment by our IRS. There seems to be no way to put all of it in check.

Churches have changed and not any particular denomination. Many churches are being pastored by women (by the way, not to be done according to Scripture). Many churches are giving way to rock concerts and then tagging on a 10 minute sermon from the pastor. The Word of God is all but lost in the confusion. As Christians, we have all but lost our “saltiness” in a country that has needed us to speak up and stand for what is right.

Who would ever have believe that the Boy Scouts of America would have yielded to the homosexual agenda. Did you ever believe in time past, that you would see two men or two women holding hands, kissing each other and demanding to have marriage rights like “normal” couples have. What is a Muslim Imam (pastor) doing being invited to the White House to speak or counsel with the presidents staff. Did we ever think it would be a no-no to say, “Merry Christmas” in a school classroom or that one little woman, an atheist could be responsible for taking God out of our school classrooms.

The list could go on and on....however....I return to our verse. We have known that things change and usually not for good. We know we are living in a decaying culture, we just didn't think we would live to see it, at least not to the extent we are seeing it now. I place my comfort in Hebrews 13:8. I have always been a person who hates change. With all of the things that seem to be changing so rapidly, I have a hope...a wonderful hope. My hope is based on the simple fact that Jesus Christ doesn't change...that He is never changing. He's never changed, still doesn't and never will. He is that blessed constant in my life and in yours as well. When He and His Father decided on those things that are sin, guess what...they are still sin and always will be. Not only that, but those who choose to shake their fists at those things God declares as being sin will one day find their trembling knees shaking and bending before a Holy God Who will accept no excuses. Jesus is our constant, our steady influence and our unchanging Savior. He is our rock, fortress, friend, Savior and every other precious name we could use for Him that in every circumstance will never change.

Many things should never change

I feel they never should.

Invariably the things that change,

Are rarely for the good.

Filthy language is out of hand

Cursing beyond all hope.

When a child, I couldn't say “darn” or “gosh”

Or my mouth got washed out with soap.

Then there's the dress code of our day

Or a serious lack of one.

Girls baring skin and body parts

Boys britches dragging the ground.

Respect, courtesy, and thoughtfulness

Have all but faded away.

We used to care for the other guy

But that was another day.

But there are some things that haven't changed

Whether some folks like it or not.

The ways of God and of His Word

Are battles that must be fought.

You see, Jesus Christ doesn't changed

Be it today, future or past.

His principles, promises and commands

Are unchanging and will always last.

For I am the Lord, I change not....

Malachi 3:6a

A friend passed the following statement off to me not too long ago. It is one worth thinking about:

Do I embrace today what shocked me yesterday?

Lord Jesus, help me be consistent in my spiritual walk. Help me be consistent in my values, principles and standards despite the ways of the world. May I be aware that these are the last days and there are going to be disturbing changes that will be disturbing. I love You and praise you today for who You are in my life. Amen

Quit Yer Belly Achin'

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

And why art thou disquieted within me?

Hope thou in God: for I shall yet

praise him, who is the health of my

countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:11

It has to be about 25 years ago or maybe a little more that our family was on our way to our usual vacation place...the Great Smoky Mountains. On one of those trips, we decided to take a different route, taking us through the Atlanta, Georgia area. We found a wonderful church there that we ended up visiting a few times after that during our vacation jaunts. We were disappointed on one occasion to find that there would be a special preacher on the Sunday night that we would be there. We were disappointed as we really liked the preaching of the pastor.

We ended up hearing someone that night that I believe to this day, our family remembers quite well. Getting to the pulpit was a task for the guest speaker. He was a neatly dressed young man, but had an obvious physical disability. His name is David Ring. As far as I know, David is still an evangelist and motivational speaker. His lovely wife and children were introduced and then he began his story.

David was born dead, but doctors worked on him and at the 18 minute mark, David came to life. When something like this happens with a newborn, there are often serious physical problems that develop and for David, such was true. He developed Cerebral Palsy, a very debilitating condition that brings with it more problems than one can believe. His speech was greatly affected as was his mobility. As David got into the testimony of his life, listeners didn't notice so much his awkward movements and slurred speech. His message kept all of us riveted on him because of the content of his sermon.

In his testimony, David basically went through his difficult life and the goodness of God all along the way. There wasn't one word of complaint from David. One of his basic theories was that you can look around and always find someone worse off than you. I liked that he spoke of broken things and how we throw away broken things, but God never does. His words were inspiring and his spirit, contagious. He spoke of people's quickness to complain about the smallest of things and that even with the big obstacles of life, he kept telling us over and over to “Quit yer belly achin'.”

One of the first places in Scripture we find the problem of “belly achin'” is in the book of Exodus where God's people found themselves in the wilderness after being led out of the land of Egypt. Things hadn't been all that great in Egypt, but suddenly in the wilderness, the people found themselves away from any securities they had known there. Of all the sins that could be committed at the time, the one that upset God the most was the murmuring, grumbling and yes, belly achin' of the people. Their negative complaints revealed one huge thing...these people didn't trust their Father who had done so much for them and Who had proven Himself faithful to them. As a result, God allowed his people to wander in the wilderness much longer than they would have desired.

Jesus faced complainers as well. Jesus had just been teaching to a crowd of people. He had in part been explaining who He was and His Father's role in Jesus' ministry. John 6:41 says: “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.” They murmured a little more and then in verse 43, He responded: “Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.” If Jesus made that statement to Jews back then, what makes us think He will be pleased with our murmuring and griping today?

Paul speaking of the Israelites says to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 10:10

Neither murmur ye, as some of them

also murmured, and were destroyed of

the destroyer.

Let's look at Jude 1:16 as he speaks of the ungodly:

These are murmurers, complainers, walking

over their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh

great swelling words, having men's persons in

admiration because of advantage.

So what do we do with this thing of griping and belly achin' that can so easily become a part of us?

1. Recognize complaining when we hear it coming out of our own mouths and stop it.
2. Confess murmuring as sin, for most of it comes from the sin of ingratitude.
3. Whatever our problems, give them to the Lord...He's in charge of everything anyway.
4. We must count our blessings...for many people in the world, we would be considered rich people.
5. Forsake complaining...no one really wants to hear it and it doesn't honor God in any way.
6. God's consequences for the Israelites was to wander aimlessly in the wilderness for many years. I don't want to be put in a wilderness for a time because of my spirit of discontent.
   
   What's the answer? Let me close with Philippians 2:13-15a and 4:6:
   

For it is God which worketh in you both to

will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and

disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless,

the sons of God, without rebuke...

Be careful for nothing; but in everything

by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be

made known unto God.

Dear Father...forgive my tendency to gripe and bellyache about things that really make very little difference in the whole scope of life. Keep me positive and looking upward with a positive and grateful spirit. I love You and thank You for Your goodness in my life. Amen.

If It Be Possible

Usually I begin a blog with a verse of Scripture but will work that Scripture in shortly. Many readers of this blog have experienced a goodly amount of life. I'm not saying everyone is old who reads this, but even if someone is thirty years old, she's had thirty years to observe the idiosyncrasies of people around her. Some things are pleasant, a blessing and helpful in our observations of others. However, there are often people in our lives, who to be honest, are nothing but a pain in the neck, a real spiritual challenge that tests our patience and our emotional state.

Several years ago, Joyce Landorf wrote a book entitled “Irregular People.” I thought that was a good title for the book that she wrote concerning those folks who come into our lives who seem bent on making our lives as miserable as possible...who for their own reasons choose to not be in a healthy relationship with us. She spoke of those folks as people who have no intention of getting along with us, who often seem to go out of their way to keep us in a state of turmoil. They can't be made happy no matter what we do. They stay offended at us and probably a lot of other people as well.

Off and on during my life, I have come across some women (not all at once thankfully) who I was never able to please. In each case, they were ladies who were easily offended. In some cases, I could apologize to them, often not even knowing what I was apologizing for. After an apology, they would move on to the next thing they wanted to be upset about. It was usually a guessing game and to be honest, it wore me down and kept me agitated all the time.

A very good friend posted a verse of Scripture on my Face Book recently that I'm sure I've read more times than I can count. It is such a freeing verse that has freed me of a good deal of guilt when it comes to getting along with impossible people. I realize we are all sinners. Even though we don't mean to, we mess up. Hopefully as Christians, we can learn to forgive the mistakes of others as well as forgiving ourselves for all of our own human frailties. Some of these things, however, can hold us captive for years and there is no person on the face of the earth that should have that kind of power over us. These three ladies I'm thinking of held me captive and they didn't even know it (or maybe they did).

So what is this freeing word of Scripture? I wish I had space to copy the nine verses prior to this one verse, but the one I will copy has been more helpful to me than I can put into words. I do encourage you to read those nine verses though. Read verse 18 slowly and think about what its meaning might have for you. Someone might come to your mind, someone you can never please, but that leaves you feeling guilty.

If it be possible,

as much as lieth in you,

live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:18

We want to live peaceably with folks be they friends or family members. That's our end of the deal no matter how we are treated by others. Check out the three phrases in this verse:

“IF it be possible...”.

Why haven't we learned yet that there are those who set out to be resistant, uncaring and unloving people. They fall into the category of being impossible challenges. They feel powerful when they hold negative sway in the lives of others. Folks like this, without major change, will be impossible to deal with unless they allow the Lord to change them. So we can ask ourselves, “Have I done everything possible to do what is right in this situation?” If we have, then we should loosen our grip on the situation and at least mentally, walk away if only for a brief time.

“As much as LIETH IN you...”

Here comes our part. We don't have to keep struggling with such folks, but we are expected to give them every opportunity to do what's right. We aren't to show revenge even though it's a temptation. We can be friendly and available but not captive. As much effort as we can give the relationship, we are to do, but not to the point of a nervous breakdown. Otherwise, we are to give this situation our best effort to arrive at an agreeable relationship. It might work...and it might not.

Live PEACEABLY with all men.

As much as we can, we are to be peaceable women who strive to get along with others as Christ would have us do. This phrase doesn't mean that we are to be best friends with everyone. We can't be too disappointed though when our efforts are rebuffed by a person who seemingly wants to rule our world. If such a person in our lives chooses to not speak or to cause turmoil in our lives in order to punish us, we can still be kind, speaking and being congenial when the opportunity presents itself. We can only be responsible for our own behavior.

If we make every effort to mend relationships, that's all we can do. I can't change the heart of another person. Only the Holy Spirit can change a person. Showing goodwill toward such an impossible person must not be done with ulterior motives, but out of showing the love of Christ for the person. We are to do what we can and then perhaps back off for a time and allow the Lord to work. One of the most important things we can do is to earnestly pray for this person. Prayer is a powerful thing, the most wonderful thing we can do for another. Not only can it work some wonderful things in another individual, but it can also give us a peace that passes all understanding.

Lord Jesus, grant me wisdom as I deal with people in my life who at times seem impossible to get along with. Help me to always take inventory of my own attitudes and shortcomings. May You, Holy Spirit, convict me of my shortcomings and help me to take responsibility for my own negative attitudes. I love You and want to please You in every way.. Amen