The Year of Disappointment

   I’ve turned the page to the last week in my 2020 planner/journal/prayer list and I sighed relief.   This weekend I’ll go through it and look at all the colorful cancellation stickers that graced the calendar pages.  I’ll evaluate the goals written last January, ☹   I’ll smile at the few, very few pictures of the scarce events that took place.  I’ll skim through the documentation of phone calls and zoom meetings because they took on a new importance.  I’ll spend more time reading the inserted prayers and long journal pieces.  And by Monday, despite 2020’s failures, I will write goals for 2021, choose a word and verse for 2021.

  My word for 2020 was “Emmanuel, God with us”.   In the first few days of 2020, I wrote that God was speaking to me regarding my spiritual growth. While He appreciated my works, He wanted more of me.  I had previously read Lysa Terkhurst’s The Best Yes and I committed to finding the best yes; to saying no to every opportunity and look for the ones that He chose for me.  I wish I had better prepared for that, instead I just logged disappointment after disappointment.  Every time I said “yes’, it got cancelled. 

  Several times in early 2020, I jotted down the words to an old chorus, “I’m hungry for a mighty move of God, I’m thirsty, pour out your Holy Ghost, I long to see the hand of God move mightily inside of me, I’m hungry for a move of God.”

   Over the past 8 months, I’ve bemoaned every possible spiritual experience cancelled; Churches, camps, retreats, conferences, seminar. There was no place for God to move at all, let alone “mightily”. 

   Sunday morning, I was asked by an online pastor, “What did you learn this year?”   My first answer was cynical; Nothing, disappointment is constant, never plan anything or dream again.  Really?  God asked. So, I stopped to think about the question.

   2020 shook me from complacency.  The smorgasbord of church services online led me to go in depth in some areas and gave me discernment in others.  I received a clarity of what I was lacking in teaching, reading, & devotion.  I found that I was missing some things I needed to grow spiritually.  I branched out in study, prayer, and purpose as never before.  I searched scripture to solidify and/or change my belief to line up with the Word of God.  I read the Bible through and blogged weekly about what I was learning.  I recovered my prayer language. 

  It’s about your definition of “mighty move of God”.  This Pentecostal girl defines it as Azusa street complete with healings and miracles, and it is.  But the song says, “move mightily inside of me”.  

  “I’m not saying I have this all together, that I have it made.  But I am well on my way, reaching out to Christ, who has so wonderfully reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong; By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.  I’m off and running and I’m not turning back.  So, let’s keep focused on the goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.”   Philippians 3:12-15(the msg.)         

    Thinkin’ of that in 2021. 

ShadowMan

   On this eve of Christmas Eve,  I'm thinkin' about the people of Christmas.  Top billing goes to Mary,  the shepherds, the Angels.  Joseph joins the cast as a secondary character.  He only gets sixteen verses in the entire Bible and we don't hear his name except for a few weeks in December.  He is the non-speaking part in the main scene of the Christmas pageant.  Sixteen verses, no quotes, barely even a "supporting" actor.  Briefly seen, never heard,  always present:  Joseph.

   Joseph was a twenty-year old carpenter from a dusty, dirty town never mentioned in the Bible until Christmas.  He was probably born and raised there and never traveled extensively.    His father was probably a carpenter and his family had probably known Mary's family his entire life.  He boasted a impressive lineage. Judah, Boaz, David, Solomon.  It was not  coincidence that many years later, a many "great" grandson of Solomon would be engaed to a young lady named Mary.  

   In New Testament times, an engagement was as legally binding as marriage.  The engagement was a contract from the bride's family to produce a virgin daughter for the groom.  Mary's unplanned pregnancy was humilating and  embarassing for her father.  He could no longer fulfill his contract with Joseph's family. 

  I wonder how Joseph found out Mary was pregnant.  She couldn't have told him,  perhaps her father was required to notify him.  Maybe he heard it through the grapevine.  He knew he wasn't responsible for this pregnancy, yet there is no record of his denial.  He plans a quiet divorce to decrease the embarassment for both of them.  He's got a plan when an angel appears.  Joseph doesn't converse with the angel,  doesn't get clarification,  yet,  he gets right up and does "what the angel said".  His actions made him look guilty in a little town of gossips.  

   Joseph loved and cared for a seemingly cheating woman and a child that was not his. In Bethlehem, he did his best to provided for his pregnant wife and ultimately delievered her child himself in a barn.  He left his job, family and home to live in Egypt for several years, because of this child.  He taught this child Jewish history, customs and carpentry.  From a heart of unconditional love,  Jesus learned loyalty and service from this man.  Joseph has stood the test of time with only sixteen verses to his fame. 

    In our current culture,  it would seem that the Josephs are few and far between.  The airwaves of our media champion the arrogant, the proud, the rich. Rebellion and riotous living is applauded.  I say with James,  "Brothers,  this should not be".   I believe the Josephs are out there. I know some of them.   Quietly raising  their familes,  faithfully loving their wives and children,  consistently providing for them.  Going to work each day and coming home each night.  Praying over their families, friends and their country.  Bring Joseph out of the shadow of your nativity tonight,  think about him as a main character.  Encourage the Josephs in your life.

   Thinkin' about the Josephs in my life.  

   

   

   

Good Days

    I spent the last week substituting for a Kindergarten class in a Christian school. This class starts each day with a Bible lesson and prayer requests. 

   For the past 6 days I have written on the board, the same request:  that my grandma, parents, siblings have a good day. Yesterday I asked them what would constitute the answer to that prayer, what would make a “good day”?  They all stopped and looked at me quizzically.  One little girl reported that if her brother said she was a good sister, that would give him a good day.  Another said if others would help her Dad it would make his day better.  (Sounds like a Dad working at home).  One little girl said when she gives her grandma a hug, Grandma will have a good day!  I can testify that is probably true. However, I wondered that the only request that seemed pressing in these little minds was that someone “have a good day”.   At home, grandson Judah always prays for an end to Covid but he hasn’t mentioned it at school.

   I can’t remember when my most pressing need was having a “good day”.  Wouldn’t that be nice that your only worry was a “good day”?  Then I realized, this teacher has cultivated an environment of security and safety.  In this place, Covid is not a worry. Their teacher is quarantined but they aren’t worried about her.  They simply want everyone to have a “good day”.  Their world is run by people who love them and care about them and want the best for them.  They are unconcerned with things outside these walls.   

  I'm reminded that I live in a world where someone loved me enough to die for me.  Someone cares enough about me to be involved in my everyday happenings,  (when I let Him)  and someone who wants the very best for me.  So,  I'm releasing the worry, stress and uncertainity of today.  Today,  I just want to have a "good day".      

Thinkin’ about that.  

Wait Expectantly

  Find today's blog at   https://www1.cbn.com/devotions/watch-expectantly-for-the-lord

It is the featured devotional on CBN.

Life. Well lived or Not.

   I am a superfan of the Chosen* Not only have I seen the complete series 4 times but I also watch all the updates, interviews and filming recaps.  The Chosen does not refer to Jesus, He is not the main character.  It’s about the people He chose while on earth.  Not just the disciples although they are prominent, but also about the women and the Pharisees and the Romans.  My favorite scenes are the ones with the families of the disciples, Simon and Eden, Matthew and his parents.  When Zebedee tells John & James to go with Jesus and they question what he will tell their mother…   Maybe Rona brought too much isolation, but I am deeply invested in these characters.  A recent round table with the director and several of the actors who play disciples took my breath.  The director reminded them that they all die in the end.  I got to thinking about that.  Why do I, we, watch and read so much about characters, real or fictional, whom we KNOW will die in the end?

   Books about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, 9-11, WWI  abound and are best sellers.  Miss Saigon was an award winning musical about the Vietnam War and ended sadly.   This is Us is a popular, acclaimed TV show and viewers hung on for a season to find out how Jack died.  Remember Who shot JR?  I don’t think we are obsessed with death; I think we are amazed at life.  A life well lived and in JR's case,  not so well lived.

    We are going to die.  It is one thing everyone can agree on.   Benjamin Franklin said, “The only thing certain is death and taxes”.  It’s how we live that is important.  That sounds trite and we’ve all heard it before.  Still, how we live determines how we will be remembered when we die.

   The last eight months have brought out the worst and best in us.  In me.  The disappointments and subsequent discouragement of this season has become a chronic struggle for me. I don't always handle this struggle well.  I'm convicted but also challenged to grow through the Rona.

  In these days of uncertainty, Thinkin ‘bout how I’m living. 

*The Chosen

Piloting Pilate

 

Thinkin’ today about my reading from last week.  I don’t know much about Pilate.  He has a starring role in the Easter story but that was the extent of my knowledge.  I decided to dig into him.

Pilate is mentioned once early in Luke’s writings. In the first verse of chapter 13, Luke mentions  him.   Pilate had murdered some unnamed Galileans and mixed their blood with the blood of the Jewish sacrifices. Scholars note that there is no historical evidence about this event and no other Gospel writer mentions it.  However, Ellicott admits such travesty was certainly in keeping with Pilate’s character. Historians record that he was a strict Roman leader who was impulsive, reckless and often obstinate. While he could be rational and practical, he never knew when to quit.  He often went too far in a given case.  His decisions were fraught with indecision and inconsistency, evident at the trial of Jesus.     

All four of the gospels tell his story after Jesus’ arrest.  All of them record one way or another of saying Pilate didn’t want any trouble.  Matthew says Pilate gave up when the people, ALL the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children”.  (27:25)      Luke records that Pilate gave them three chances to change their minds. (23:22) THREE, an incredibly significant number in the following events.  Mark says Pilate wanted to “satisfy the crowd” (15:15).  John records much more of Pilate’s words and dialogue between he and Jesus.(18:28-38, 19:8-11)  These scriptures clearly indicate Pilate’s desire to let Jesus go, but finally, he gives in to the demands of the crowd.  (That’s a whole ‘nother sermon in itself).

He undoubtedly deserves his bad rap from Christians.   He certainly could have gone against the crowd and the Jews couldn’t have done a thing about it.  Again, he had a role to play in God’s agenda.  I don’t understand the culture of that day but clearly politics was Pilate’s motivation.  An interesting parallel to our current situation.   

Yet, still, even now, Jesus has ONE agenda “seek and save the lost”.  God has ONE agenda, outlined in a book called Revelation. 

Restin’ in that.    

Pawns in the Hand of A Soverign God

 

   I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been reading thru the Chronological One-year Bible.  This morning I read the account of Jesus before Pilate in all four gospels.  

All four gospels give a short description of the prisoner, Barabbas.  Anybody who has read the scripture knows Barabbas is the bad guy here.  He’s already imprisoned by the Roman government doomed to death.  Even the bad guys consider him a bad guy.  The gospel writers call him “notorious” and that he committed murder during a riot.   Ellicott writes that the word “insurrectionist” denotes a “unrestrained violence that often resulted in bloodshed”.  He was a thief as well.  It would appear that Barabbas had NO redeeming qualities and yet the people shouted for his release. 

Think of their choice.  Murderer, thief, Rebel rouser or mild-mannered Jew who healed them, raised their children from the dead and feed 5000 of them.  As I contemplate what they must have been thinking, I remember Jesus in the garden.  Praying for another way but submitting to the plan. 

   Jesus had ONE agenda, to go the cross.  God had ONE plan; to save us through the death of His Son.  Pilate, Barabbas, the Roman Guard, the high priest, the people in the courtyard; all thought they were making the decisions.  Yet, history records they were just pawns in a sovereign God’s plan. 

Donald, Joe, Kammela, democrats, republicans, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, pawns in a Sovereign God’s plan. 

I’m not just thinkin’ about that today, I’m taking comfort and peace in it. 

There's got to be a morning after. . .

I woke up this morning to sunrise.  Yes,  even today,  the sun was still shinning.  I went to facebook and was amazed to see that friends were still posting mundane,  usual words bout their day and their plans.  

Outside my window, the landscapers were working,  they do so every Wednesday.  My keurig made me a yummy Maple Pecan coffee and here I am sitting at my computer.   

   Life doesn't seem to be much different.  After about an hour I turned on the TV to hear what I expected.  No decision,  the race to close to call.  I had already typed these words from Micah 7 last night.  Somehow I feel His words are enough this morning.  

 From the Message,  Micah 7:7-9  " But me, I'm not giving up.  I'm sticking around to see what God will do.  I'm waiting for my God to make things right.  I'm counting on God to listen to me.  Don't , enemy, crow over me.  I'm down but I'm not out.  I'm sitting in the dark right now but God is my light.  I can take God's punishing rage.  I deserve it--- I sinned.  But it's not forever, He's on my side and is going to get me out of this.  He'll turn on the lights and show me His ways.  I'll see the whole picture and how right He is."

It's almost over...Maybe

    In just a few days we will exercise a right that distinguishes our country from many others.  It is a fundamental right of democracy,  a privilege as well.  Voting.

    The memes, gifs, emoji's flooding social media address all opinions and angles.  There are many I laugh at,  some I like and a very few that capture my thoughts.  

   A pastor friend recently shared one of those latter ones.  "To think that God could use a filthy minded, adulterous, wealthy man with evil in his heart to preside over a county is beyond me."  He wasn't referring to Trump or Biden.  He referred to a "man after God's own heart".  A man who history recalls only positively.  The great, great, great, great, grea, grea, gre, gre, gr + grandfather of Jesus, himself.  Israel's most famous King,  King David.   Yes,  David had a filthy mind,  impregnated another man's wife, had the man killed, lied to everybody.  He was a good man in many ways until that time when "kings go off to war"  or should have.  

   Apparently, even a man "after God's own heart"  can be sinful and make a multitude of mistakes.  Even more amazing,  God uses him mightily for His kingdom.  I find many parallels to our situation today.  

   God invites us to partner with him in decisions that govern us.  The constitution gives us the right to partner with Him.  Ultimately,  God himself will choose the one who advances His agenda.  His word assures us that "no authority exists without God's permission and the existing authorities have been put there by God.  (Romans 13:1  GNT).    

Let's remember that when the results come in.     

12 Days & Counting

      Tony Evans of OCBF in Dallas is a renown author, speaker and man of God. I've been "going" to his church virutually throughout the pandemic.  His speaking is solidly Biblical. After taking the entire month of August to study and pray about a sermon series, he began speaking about "Kingdom Voting". I was intrigued from the opening sermon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itt8gj5cAco

   I finally caught up on the video replays from all my travels. I suggest you watch them in order as he builds on each week. I started wishing I had a twitter account; I want to quote the wise and just statements he is making regarding  the upcoming elections.  I am confident my next few posts will include some of them and what God is saying to me through them. 

   Kingdom voting is the “perspective of God’s activity in society and government.   It is the opportunity and responsibility of committed christians to partner with God by expanding his role in society through civil government.”  

   While Pastor Evans calls himself a “kingdom independent”  and repeatedly proclaims that he will NOT endorse a certain party or candidate,  I nodded approvingly at many of his comments. Confident that he and I share the same loyalties to the conservative party. Until we didn’t. Pastor Evans achieved his goal of making me think about ALL candidates. He spoke of “alignment”  with scripture in both person and policy.  He admonished christians to vote for “maintaining a safe, a just, a righteous, compassionately responsive environment for freedom  to flourish.” I was convicted to truly pray God’s will, not what I think or want to be God’s will.     

   Christians CANNOT rely on media ads and news reports to determine what candidates stand for.  Our airwaves are ripe with half truths and downright lies.   We must go to direct quotes from candidates and take them in entirety not out of context.  It will require time and effort on the part of the voter who truly wants to Kingdom vote.  We will need a tool to help us discriminate and discern truth.  We need a tool to analyze policies.  Fortunately we have one!  It’s called the Bible,  the Holy Scriptures.   2Timothy 3:16 (CEV) says “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word.  All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live." And VOTE.

Thinkin’  ‘bout this led to this.     

Pastor Evans and I both know neither candidate is perfectly "aligned " with scripture. Check out his instruction in his sermon videos. Stay tuned for my thoughts on that subject!

Jesus blood can make the vilest sinner clean

   I heard Marilyn Meburg speak at a Women of Faith conference years ago on the subject of "Mostly I don't want to"      I feel that way a lot these days. I DID NOT want to hear what God said to me during an online service Sunday morning.  I DO NOT want to write this post.  I DO NOT want this blog to be a stumbling block or bone of contention.   I do want to be obedient.  I was compelled to write this, so much so,  I typed it Sunday mid-morning.  I never write on Sunday ( a post for another day).   

   So the sermon was from Luke 15,  lost sheep,  lost coin and prodigal son.  Anyone who knows me knows my heart for the prodigal.  My writing group knows I have a manuscript in my head for parents of prodigals.  There's a thick file of resources, journaling and notes about prodigals.  I settled into the online service  with my notebook to add some "research".    My friend and technology savior during my years at MPS spoke from my homechurch online. He told a story from his childhood about a metal detector and digging through dirt for the treasure. He noted that too many times we look at the dirt of a person's life and fail to see the value of that person.

I know well the value of the list of prodigals on my prayer wall. No one has to explain the value of a lost child.  I have cried with mothers whose hearts are broken over their children’s choices.  Some of you have cried with me.  I know the value of those kids.  Admittedly I find it hard to find value in some of our political leaders.     

I did not want to think immediately of Kamala Harris. Her words and actions leave a lot of dirt clinging to her life. In this political climate, most of the attention focused on her reveals a lot of dirt. So when I thought of her "value", I was quick to relegate it to less than zero. My comments about her, (true or not) are very unkind. I have bought in to the media posts and reports from ‘christians’  about her.  I have compared her to some very unsavory characters.  Her beliefs terrify me.

   My heart asked me what might happen if I began to pray for Kamala’s lost soul rather than her defeat.  I didn’t want to answer but I knew the answer.  I also knew I didn’t have that in me,  it would have to come from the Lord.  But,  I would submit to His will in this.  

   We, the people of God,  are fervently praying for our country and the upcoming election.  Most of us,  (me included)  are praying for a certain person and party to “win”.  Certainly our future as a country depends a great deal on the outcome. Defeating whoever, is not God’s priority.    God asked  me today,  and I’m asking you,  to center your prayers this week on those FROM BOTH PARTIES who do not know Jesus.  Those who are lost and bound for Hell.  For the next few days,  let’s pray for the salvation of Kamala Harris and those whom God puts on our hearts. In the chaos and confusion and fear,  let’s get this right.  Jesus came to “seek and save the lost”.  Let’s partner with Him in that mission.  

Think about that.

Turn your focus to . . .

      A recent trip to an amusement park with my grandchidren bought parallel to our current situation    I like a fast, swirling rides but I don’t do upside down and am not a fan of the “ship”.  You know the wide, long, boat shaped ride that swings like a pendulum back and forth.  I successfully avoided it for two rides until the little puppy-dog eyes and sad voice saying “please, please ride with me,” persuaded me to get in the boat.   I have discovered a successful way to ride those rides that scare me.  Fix your eyes on one spot in the car and never waver while you are flung to and fro.  Don’t look outside the ride, keep your eyes lasered on one spot.  On this particular experience, I was seated facing a little boy about six years old who was terrified, not scared, terrified, His eyes were wide and bulging and his face frozen in fear.  As the ride gained speed and height, he wailed and turned his head from right to left.  Over the din, I shouted, “Look at me, look at me.”  He stared at me across the safety bar.  “Just look at me,” I shouted again.  “Don’t look outside or around , just look at me.” For a few seconds he and I rode peacefully with eyes locked;  almost unaware of the movement and the laughter around us.   Then he looked above my head and started screaming again.  He gripped the safety bar and buried his head in his mom’s arm.   The ride was over but not soon enough for he and I.

   The first parallel is clear.  In the midst of a wild ride that terrifies us and the wonder if it will ever end, we have to focus our eyes on one thing.  Jesus. In the midst of Covid, riots, upcoming elections, “distance learning” misadventures; turn your eyes upon Jesus.  The things that terrify us become strangely dim. The old chorus has more meaning  today than every before.  I love Francesca  Battistelli's take on this.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmZ2v0niCI

  However a second application occurred to me.  As I became aware of the little boy across from me and his fear, I focused on him and his needs.  In the wild ride of our moment, I noticed someone else who seemed to be in more need than I.  I found my deliverance from fear in looking at his fear and striving to help him. We are surrounded by those who are in worse situations than we.  Many of those around us have no hope, no where to look for peace.   When we focus on the needs of others, our fears seem more manageable. 

   In the midst of our current crisis,  upcoming election and social unrest,  I'm going to remember that boat ride and that little boy.  

   I’m thinkin today about focusing on Jesus and others.   

Need to Know Basis

    “Need to know” is a military term meaning one is told “only the facts needed to know at the time you need to know and nothing more”.  God operates on a “need to know” basis.  Often my perspective of what I need to know does not match what He thinks I need to know.  The disciples certainly lived on Jesus’s idea of “need to know”.  It frustrated them too.  In Acts 1:7, (CEV) Jesus told them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls.”    As I meditated on that, I decided that “those events” are everything in my life.  He controls all the events.  I can’t plan a one, especially not in these days.

     The disciples had heard their entire lives about this coming Messiah.  As males, they had been schooled in the Torah and knew all the prophecies about their Savior. (Catch The Chosen for a realistic look at this!)    Now, here He was!  They walked with Him witnessed his miracles, heard his teaching, saw him die and resurrected.  They were sure, positive, confident, certain that the kingdom was at hand.  They asked Jesus repeatedly when He would overthrow their oppression.  Jesus’s response, You don’t need to know.   

   Seems like history is repeating itself.  I’ve heard my entire life about the rapture, second coming, end of time as we know it.  I’ve read all the books, seen all the films, studied the chart stretched from one end of the platform to another, heard all the sermons; facing today I ask, “is this the end?”  Numerous preachers, speakers, authors, friends and family say a resounding yes.  I look to the Word, pray and study and Jesus says, “you don’t need to know”. 

   In scripture the time of the end is always spoken of as “hidden”.   Matthew Henry calls it “forbidden knowledge”.  But, he continues, “He (Jesus) had given his disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his resurrection and this knowledge enough for a Christian,”.  Matthew Poole says “Our Savior does not in his answer tell them what they desired to know; he tells them what is more expedient for them to know.”   

    Here’s what we need to know:   whether Jesus returns today or not, He may call me or you to His side through an accident, cardiac arrest, Covid; there are a multitude of ways for a body to die.  With that in mind, as long as I (and you) have breath; we walk in the way He sets before us.  We do what He calls us to do on a daily basis.  We share the good news of eternity with those who are worried and burdened about what they don’t know.  We live on a need to know basis and today I know I am loved, redeemed, blessed and Heaven bound.  MacLaren says “Why be anxious about what 365 days MAY bring, when we know what eternity will bring?”

Thinkin’ ‘bout that.     

Your Hut's on Fire!

   Once upon a time,  a remote village of people  lived on opposite sides of the river.  Both groups built their huts in a semi-circle facing the river and never looked behind them.   One day the people on the right side of the river noticed a faint cloud of smoke rising over the ridge behind their neighbor's huts.  The next day they caught a glimpse of flames over the ridge.  The third day, the flames topped the ridge and started down the mountain.  The people across the river began to discuss among themselves if they should mention the flames to their neighbors.  It was reallly none of their business what the people across the river knew or didn't know.  They didn't want to say anything that might offend.  They couldn't be positively sure the flames would catch the huts on fire.  Maybe they knew the flames were coming and just didn't care.  Maybe they like fire.  So,  the people said nothing.  The flames reached the back of the huts and as they began to burn,  the people still said nothing.   After the village had burned and all it's inhabitants had died,  the people on the right side of the river mourned for a time, then,  they carried on with their business.  It was too bad and so sad about the people across the river. 
   People of God,  we need to call out to our neighbors,  YOUR HUT IS ON FIRE!  We no longer have the luxury of  being politically correct.  We cannot afford to worry about offending someone who's eternity is not sure.  We can't assume they know and just don't care.  We must act on what we say we believe.  If we believe the Biblical account of eternity and the requirements for where one spends eternity,  we must proclaim to the lost,  Your hut is on fire!
    I confess, I'm not evangelical and sharing the gospel message does not come easily to me.  I like to be the "only Jesus some people see"  rather than speak about it.
   I, too,  have heard my entire life about the rapture and second coming of Christ.  I've sat in the meetings and been told it could happen tonight.  I heard the stories of people who lived on a mountain for weeks waiting for the return.  The message has always seemed sure but far away.  It's not just my age that tells me the rapture is closer than it's ever been. 
   Covid became very real to me yesterday,  I can no longer boast that I don't know anyone who's had it and worse,  I now join the ranks of those who lost a friend to the deadly disease.  I can only believe God is sparing her the world we must inhabit. 
   Among your friends, neighbors, acquaintances, family;  are those who huts are on fire. There's no time to waste.  We must  throw them a hose and some living water. 

Thinkin' 'bout sending some texts, emails and making a few phone calls.
 

 

Triple Proof

  As yet another Covid disappointment piles on the growing heap of cancelled plans, I found myself in a bit of a funk. All of us are wondering how much longer.  We all thought it was temporary, brief, a few months at most.   I write this as we enter our sixth month, ½ of the year.  And no end in sight.  All of us are experiencing disappointments, discouragement and fear.  Worse, we wonder where God is in all of this.  I feel like the writer of Psalm 77 must have been living with Covid.    

“Each night my mind is flooded with questions.  Have you rejected me forever?  Won’t you be kind again?  Is this the end of your love and your promises?  Have you forgotten how to have pity?  Do you refuse to show mercy because of your anger?  Then I said, God most high, what hurts me most is that you no longer help us with your mighty arm.”  CEV 6-10

     Yes, I’ve felt that way over the last six months. But, verses 11-14 encourage me.    “Our Lord I will remember the things you have done.  Your miracles of long ago.  I will think about each one of your mighty deeds.  Everything you do is right and no other god compares with you.  You alone work miracles and you have let nations see your mighty power.” 

    Covid 19 did NOT take God by surprise.  In fact, I have.  Three specific missionary friends of mine are living proof.  They would tell you of many times they have been proof, but this is what God gave for me, for such a time as this.   All three of them are in the states during this scary time and none of them should be.  All three families came home by “coincidence”.  In one case, plans set in motion over a year ago.   

  A family from Latin America had come home on business for a two-week trip.  Covid was just beginning in the US as they prepared to return to the field.  They left their hometown on a short jaunt to a larger airport where they would board a twenty-one-hour flight back to their assignment.  While waiting for their connection, they learned that the State Department was recommending Americans not travel to foreign countries.  Additionally, their country would require a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival.  With little time to decide, they found immediate peace in the decision to remain in the US.  A two-week trip has stretched into six months and they are now into their furlough year.   If, they had left as planned, it is likely they would not have been able to return to the United States. 

    A second friend made a very unexpected trip to the States for a “few days”.  She was asked by fellow missionaries to accompany their young daughter on the overseas flight to join the family in America.  The parents had left their daughter in boarding school in Africa for what they thought would be a short separation.  Her school closed due to Covid so they wanted to bring her home.  My friend readily agreed to accompany her and the two of them headed for Houston.  The flight is long and tiring so my friend planned to spend a few days resting and building up her immune system before returning.  Covid was now in full swing in Africa.  Within a few minutes of informing her leadership of her plan, the borders of her country were closed.  Foreigners (her) were required to have 2 documents to return.  She has only one as they were waiting for her second document to arrive.  Thus, she was unwelcomed in her adopted country.   

    Yet another couple who minister in a sensitive country are also spending this pandemic in America.  However, their journey began a year ago.   Don and Kathy* had returned home to attend a denominational meeting last summer.  Two weeks before they left, Kathy decided to pack family photos, mementos and other beloved things and bring them home with her.  It was unnecessary and some trouble but she just wanted to do it.  While here, they learned that they would have to vacate their home in the foreign country.  So, upon return, they did so.  A move made easier by the items Kathy had left in America.   During the Fall, the Lord told Kathy several times that their work would be changing and not as they planned.  This was a little unsettling as the country of their ministry was becoming more and more intolerant of Christianity.  In fact, Kathy thought they might be imprisoned.  In early 2020, they were scheduled to visit a nearby country for business purposes, in the heat of summer.  While packing, Kathy kept deciding to pack jeans and heavy shoes.  As her luggage pile grew, Don started repeating, “we’re only going for ten days”.  At this point, neither of them had any knowledge of a little virus called Covid 19.  On the first day of their visit outside their country, they learned of Covid and that their home away from home had sealed its borders.   They were unable to go back.   

   Clearly, God’s plan for these three families was that they experience Covid in the United States surrounded by family and friends.  The questions posed in Psalm 77 “Have you rejected me forever?  Won’t you be kind again?  Is this the end of your love and your promises?  Have you forgotten how to have pity?  Do you refuse to show mercy because of your anger?”  are answered quite simply in the words of the Cambridge Bible Commentary, “The history of the past is the most convincing answer to these questions.”

His love in times past, forbids me to think, He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink. 

  Thinkin’ ‘bout that. 

Thinkin' on Fasting

        The first of January, before Covid,  I decided to make 2020 the year of my spiritual growth spurt.  My word of the year is Immanuel, God with us. The chorus that kept running though my mind was “I’m hungry for a mighty move of God. . . I long to see the hand of God move mightily, inside of me.”   Be careful what you ask for.  I didn’t really want it to happen this way.  Covid, racial unrest, a planner full of cancelled stickers, but it is happening. 

           One of my home churches asked the congregation to fast this week. They usually do 14 days of fasting at the beginning of the year but we can all agree on the need to revisit that this year.  I’ve read, listened, and studied about fasting in an effort to understand it and frankly, get something out of it.  Most teachings concentrate on giving up food, praying during meal time and seeing God move.  That hasn’t been my experience.   Fasting frustrates me, I get hungry, really hangry.  I try to pray during meal times but I’m not sure how to pray.  I struggle that my longest, hardest fast was unsuccessful.   At least from the standpoint of getting what I wanted. 

          So, as I am likely to do; I got out my Bible, my commentary website and a pad of paper to study fasting.  again.  In the Old Testament, fasting is mentioned in regard to trouble.  Joel, Daniel, Nehemiah and Esther all called the people to fast when they were in trouble.  It was always accompanied with weeping, mourning, and sorrow.  They fasted in hope of deliverance.   In the New Testament, fasting illustrates an intense prayer.   Anna fasted in prayer to live to see the Messiah.  Matthew warned Christians to fast in private and not put on a show like the Pharisees.  Paul and Barnabus were fasting when they received specific directions.  When the disciples were unable to cast out a demon, Jesus said, “But an evil spirit of this kind is only driven out by prayer and fasting.”  (Matthew 17:21 Weymouth New Testament).  Ellicott says the “intensity of evil demanded fasting”.   Tough situations must be met with fasting.  Our spiritual life and faith are made stronger by self-denial and communion with God (Cambridge study Bible). 

            We understand “fasting” as willfully giving up food or pleasures for a specified time.   So, we give up lunch every day for a week and we pray during our lunch hour and God answers our prayers.  Done! So why are our prayers still unanswered?  God’s chosen people, the Israelites, had the same experience.  Their fasting didn’t seem to change anything and they complained about it.    Isaiah 58:3-7 addressed their complaints.    

Isaiah pointed out six reasons  that their fasting did not result in answers.  I wonder if these are relevant to us. 

1.       In their fast, there was no repentance or call to repentance. (I have never heard a speaker include repentance in their call for a fast). 

2.     Unforgiveness   We know prayers are hindered when we harbor unforgiveness against someone.   Matthew 5:24.

3.      Wrong Motives   Why are fasting?  What do we hope to gain?    Every fast I have ever participated in was for something I wanted badly.  Is that a ‘right’ motive?

4.     Hypocrisy, going through the motions with no real repentance.  Fasting because everybody else is and making sure they know I’m doing it too, Pride? 

5.     Good Works must follow the fast.  Fasting approved by God will be followed by “deeds of justice, kindness and charity.”  (Barnes)

6.     The fast does not result in a changed heart.  They had all the outward dressings of the fast but there was no change in their hearts.  

      Fasting that the Lord accepts   must be devoid of pride.  Matthew Henry says, “If it (a fast) does not express true sorrow for sin and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast.”    A fast is about the heart, not the stomach.  A fast requires self-denial of food but also denial of worldly desires.   John Piper says we must fast “for our own holiness”.  True fasting must include a change of heart which results in changed behavior. 

Thinkin’ ‘bout that. 

Triple Cord Prayers

   In 1984 Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho was pastoring a large church in Korea.  As a scholar of the Bible, Dr. Cho knew the only catalyst for revival and safety from the government was prayer.  However, the logistics of his congregation made gathering for a weekly prayer meeting difficult.  Taking his plan from Ecclesiastes 4:12, (GNT) “Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person  alone.  A rope made of three cords is hard to break.” Dr. Cho asked his congregation to connect in groups of three and set aside fifteen minutes one day a week to pray.  They did not have to physically come together for prayer, simply stop and pray where they were at the same time of day once a week.  With his large church, he believed that there would be three people praying 24/7 across his city.  The Korean Christian church exploded.   12,000 converts a month were being added to the Kingdom of God.

   I have borrowed Dr. Cho’s idea on several occasions in my life.  For three years, four Mama’s with prodigal sons prayed every Sunday afternoon for their boys. One of the four has returned to the Lord, the remaining three have reconnected with those Mama’s and are slowly turning their hearts to home. 

   Three RFK camp staff members from three different camps in two states joined together on Sunday nights for a year to believe for our summer camps that minister to neglected and abused children.  One director reported her staffing issues had never been easier or more efficient in ten years.  Another camp experienced extreme opposition during planning that was overcome in implementation.   

   Over the course of the last few months, many calls for prayer have gone out from churches; many congregants have answered.   I was one, but I confess, I have grown weary.  However, I also confess that I am desperate.  If He does not act, we will not survive.  So, I ask two things of you today:

1.      Commit to CBN’s September 26^th event, The Return.  www.thereturn.org

2.      Gather three friends and set a time to pray together weekly between this week and September 26.  Some suggest 7:00-7:15 am or pm in honor of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

We are God’s children and we must humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways.  It is our only hope.   Don’t think about it, do it!

A little Political

      At the risk of controversy, I have to be a little political today.  I want to talk about Presidents, Governors and government leaders.  I won’t have to name names.   I live in a country ruled by a President who has his faults, a state with a Governor who has his faults and a county with a government who is going rogue.   All these leaders have offended me in one way or another over the course of their terms.  Apparently, Paul had some issues with his government also.  He wrote to the church of Rome, under Roman control.  “Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. After all, they are God's servants, and it is their duty to help you.” 

(Romans 13:1-4CEV) That’s a lot to swallow and gets unpopular very quickly. I have many opinions about those four final sentences but I want to concentrate on sentence number 2.    Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power.  The ISV translates to say “for not authority exists except by God’s permission.”   Like it or not.  Our faulty President, faulty Governor and all the rest were elected by God’s permission.   Before I can lift these names in prayer, I must believe that.  I have neither the space nor the inclination to argue all the reasons that God could not have wanted this person or persons in charge.  His Word states clearly that He has given them the authority. I admit, I’m struggling with this but if I disagree with them, isn’t that all the more reason to pray for them?

    Again, we are commanded to pray for our leadership.  I Timothy 2:1-3 CEV, “First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior.”   I do not struggle with wanting to please my Savior, so I must pray for those in power. 

   We should know that prayer is effective in changing circumstances.  If we are unhappy with our leaders and their behavior, all the more reason to pray for them. Specifically, our leaders need wisdom, humility and a spirit of servanthood.  Our prayers may be the very thing that changes even the heart of a President.  

    When Paul wrote to the Philippians, his final greeting had an interesting phrase, “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” (Philippians 4:22 NIV).   What!  There were people of God in Caesar’s palace!  Hopefully, there are people of God in the White House and the Governor’s mansion. They are in desperate need of our prayers.

    The families of our government leaders are in need of our prayers.  I have a friend who is a wife of a leader in a small city.  She asked for prayer for him as he chaired a meeting recently where threats had been made.  She was afraid for his safety.  Opinions about our leaders and their families are  irrelevant for the people of God.  Melania Trump must experience fear for her family in these times.  The children of our leaders endure all manner of isolation, criticism and judgement.  Imagine the toll that takes on a marriage and a family.  I’m convicted that I have not called the names of these families in prayer.  

    I often feel helpless in what I can do to help my country in these trying times.  I’ve wondered how little ole’ me can turn the tide.  I think I know.

Thinkin’ about that. 

Did God Really Say?

 Did God Really Say. . .?

       They come.  From north to south, east to west and across the oceans, they come.   From the congregation of twenty-five to the mega church of 5000 and four services, they come.  The semi-annual meeting of our denomination takes place in various cities around the country in August, the hottest month of the year and they come.  They come for renewal, reunion and evaluation. 

    On this night in 2001, they came.  On this night, the head of the denomination brought the crowd to tears with his message about the difficulties of ministry.  He called the discouraged, the battered who needed a fresh anointing and encouragement to the altar. 

   They came.  Pastors and wives, tears streaming, holding hands, joined by the leadership of the denomination.  Men placing their hands on their brothers’ backs, women embracing, the room swelled with prayer. 

    That’s when I saw them.   A short, chubby, couple with coal black hair.  From behind, they had matching green shirts; even a quick look belied them as double knit.  He was wearing khaki  with his wife in cream double knit pull on pants.  Their hands clasped, she used her free one to brush at her eyes.  They had come, out of place aesthetically, but clearly in need of a touch from God.

     “Go, pray with them,” the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart.   I shook it off.

     “Go pray with them,” He spoke into my heart again. 

     “Not me,”   I answered from my brain.  “This room is full of distinguished

Christian ministers, evangelists, missionaries, ordained and licensed.  Who am I?”

     “Go”, the Holy Spirit was shouting inside me.  I looked up from under my

 lashes of my bowed head to see if someone else had heard.  

     “Not me,”   I argued the more.  “Everyone in the room would wonder who I am

 to step up.”

     The next voice I heard was one who had successfully deceived me many times.

“You’re just trying to draw attention to yourself.  You wanted to be a pastor’s wife,

 but you’re not!”

    “Go!”  the Spirit thundered.

    “Yeah,”   the other voice said, “Go, make a spectacle of yourself.”

     I sat down in my chair and the Holy Spirit went silent.  I didn’t feel like praising

 or worshipping and He wouldn’t be pleased anyway.

      I looked away when the double knit couple turned to go back up the aisle.

     Later, much later, I tossed and turned in the hotel bed unable to sleep.  My

daughter in the other bed rolled over toward me.    “What’s wrong?”

    “I can’t sleep.  I refused to listen to God tonight in the service.”

     “What?”

     “God told me to go pray for someone but there were so many people there,

much more qualified to pray than me, I didn’t do it.  I feel bad.”

     Guilty was the real word, but “bad” sounded better.

     I saw her shadow sit up in the bed across the room, “The double knit couple?”

 she asked.

     “Yes”.

     “He told me too.  And I thought the same thing.”

    We were quiet for a minute, and then we hit the floor between the beds on our

knees.  Several minutes passed while we repented and called out to God for the

 nameless couple.  Then my nineteen year old daughter asked a haunting question,

 “Is it ever wrong to step up and pray for someone, whether God ‘tells’ you too or

not?”

     We agreed that it couldn’t be, that Satan had used our weakness.   Certainly,

we never want to be motivated by pride.  However, there is a distinction between

God’s correction and Satan’s deception. And we decided that "bear ye one another's burdens means  just that."  Paul's letter to Timothy "exhort" (ed) him to pray for all men, "FIRST OF ALL".  James is famous for his words on praying for others.  Why would we wait for God to tell us to pray for someone,  He already has!  Repeatedly in His Word.

     From that day on, I vowed to never let a person stand alone at an altar, in a

hospital waiting room, a courtroom, a graveside.    And to the couple in double knit

who did stand alone, tears streaming down their faces, feeling and looking out of

 place at the front of auditorium back in 2001, I think of you often.  I pray you

 continued your ministry.   I missed a divine appointment with you that night and

 robbed both of us of a blessing.  I hope we meet in Heaven and the Lord allows us

to know each other. 

     The experience taught me a lesson that has served me well since that hot August night. 

  

The whole verse and nothing but the whole verse

  Jack Hayford continued his instruction in the July section of Moments with Majesty (see last week’s post)  with instruction regarding praying for our country.  2 Chronicles 7:14 has become the Christian’s motto during this pandemic, racial tension and economic chaos.  I, along with many others, have been guilty of spouting this verse and leaning heavily on “heal our land”.  We Christians are very good at remembering the promise of God, without much thought on the conditions placed on those promises.  In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we lean heavily on verse 14b.   

   However, 2 Chronicles 7:14 clearly gives us some requirements before God can heal our land.  He even starts the verse with “IF” meaning it’s not happening unless. . .  “IF MY people, who are called by my name.”   this is not addressed to anyone outside the church.  Christians are the people who need to “humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.”   God thinks His people are proud and have wicked ways.  YIKES!

    It doesn’t take a Bible scholar to see the answer to our country’s difficulties, Confession of our sins and Repentance.  The Hebrew says we need to bend the knee, search out God and stop being so evil.

 Few of us consider ourselves “evil”.  During my years of teaching in a school where 89% of families did not speak English, I had a precious little guy who constantly used the word “evil” in regards to other students and me.  I was “evil” for giving homework, “evil” for a pop quiz.   The kids were “evil” if they beat him at a game or chose the center he wanted.  It really bothered me.  One morning I spent a half hour on the word “evil”.  We did a lexicon, we looked up the meaning in several texts, discussion groups were formed.  Finally, in triumph, I asked if anyone could name someone who was truly evil.  These were kids from Mexico and it took less than a second for a chorus of “El Chapo” to ring out. Okay.  But, in comparison, I could easily rest on my laurels, for I am not evil like El Chapo. 

    And that’s what happens.  We start to compare our evil to another’s evil and we become proud.  That pride leads to a multitude of sins that hinder our power in prayer.  That’s what has happened to our country, to our churches. We are not evil like ________  fill in the blank. 

 So today, I’m praying though the references from Hayford’s book and thinkin’ that I am need of repentance.

IF for "my people"

  In 1980,  Jack Hayford penned a worship chorus entitled Majesty                      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRwD2Y7C0s).  Ten years later, he published a “meditation” manuscript called Moments with Majesty.  It features nine short essays for each themed month. Over the years, I’ve pulled it out and read bits and pieces of it. In March, I pulled it out again and started reading two or three selections every Sunday.  Three entries from July’s section are ideally relevant for today. My next three posts will be based on these entries.

    In Ronald Reagan’s first inaugural address, he tells the story of a WWI soldier who died in battle.  The soldier’s diary was found underneath his body.  On the flyleaf of the diary, he wrote, “I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me.”  Let that sink in a minute.  What if?  What if we believed the salvation of our nation depended entirely on me. . . and you?

   Four scriptures suggest it might.    In 1 Timothy 2:1-3, we are commanded, not urged, mandated to pray for our country, “for Kings and all those in authority”.  All those in authority include those we disagree with. 

  The much quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 offers us opportunity to pray “If my people”.  Notice, “if” we can choose not to pray.

    We are empowered to pray by the Holy Spirit according to Romans 8:26 “.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.”  I can certainly attest that I do not know how to pray for this mess.

  And finally, we will see victory.  There are many examples of answered prayer in the Bible but thnkin’ about the story of Jehoshaphat.  In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat calls his nation to prayer as they face an overwhelming foe.  Verse 24 says, “When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground, no one had escaped.”   They hadn’t even fought yet, and it was over. 

   Last week I asked you to join me in prayer.  This week I’m suggesting you have no choice if you are a child of God.  Think about joining me.  

Two

   I love to read, it really transports me to other worlds.   I can smell and hear what’s going on. Different characters have different voices in my head.  The Israelites and I are living in the Promised Land under the rule of King Hezekiah.  As I read and studied through 2 Chronicles 32 and the book of Micah, it occurred to me that the “Promise Land” wasn’t always peaceful.  Nor was it just fun and games and love and easy street.  The Promise Land of Moses had it’s share of trouble, confusion, divisiveness and heartache. 

  Today, the King of Assyria, Sennacherib, got very vocal.  I will not dignify his words by reprinting them here, (2 Chronicles 32:10-19) but he had some nerve.  He actually tells the people to ignore their King and his words. Worse, he insults God by proclaiming that no other gods had saved people from him so the God of Israel can’t and won’t either.  His perseverance and decibel level begins to affect the people.  However, King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah “cried out in prayer to Heaven”.  Spoiler alert: (verse 22) “So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, King of Assyria and from the hand of all others.  He took care of them on every side.”  "On every side,  took care of everything they needed. In other words, God provided, guided, protected and gave them rest.  

   As I watch the nightly news, I am heartbroken at our overall citizenry and their actions, including our government.  While I have heard only one newscaster verbally insult God by name, the undercurrents and the actions of so many are certainly insulting. The scourge of Covid 19 and the destruction of our cities has seemingly had no spiritual effect on people; still, they will not call out to God.  I confess that I often feel like we are hopeless.  But this story offers me hope.  Often, I read that the kings would call the entire nation to pray but this time, two was enough.  Because two men “cried out to God”, they were heard and God answered. 

   I needed to know that.  I needed to know that in the midst of this chaos and confusion, if I do my part, if I cry out to God, He will hear and answer.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in Me!  And You!

Think about crying out to God today for our country.   That’ll make two of us!