Trouble in Paradise: Sink or Swim

"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. . . . The islanders showed us unusual kindness. . . .“This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” . . .  they changed their minds and said he was a god." Acts 28: 1-10

Beach on the Island of Malta

     Paul and the crew sailing to Italy had just survived shipwreck, washing ashore on the Island of Malta.  Ahhh, solid ground! Kind islanders! A bonfire! 

     Always one to pitch in and do his part, Paul grabbed a pile of brushwood and dropped it on the growing fire.  A sudden pain gripped Paul's hand. He probably thought a spark from the fire had landed on him, but looked down to see a poisonous snake latched on tightly and dangling from his hand.  

     The Islanders also saw the snake attached to Paul and the speculation and gossip started:

Hmmm. - He survived a shipwreck to be attacked by a poisonous snake?
Hmmm. - He's one of the prisoners from the ship, right? What did he do?
Hmmm. - Must've been bad - like murder!
Hmmm. - Justice says it's payback time.

     Then, Paul shook the snake off of his hand and into the fire to sizzle. 

Hmmm. - He's still walking.
Hmmm. - His color's good.
Hmmm. - No swelling. No blistering. Nothing unusual about his hand.

       *Crickets     *Crackling fire    *Campground songs

Hmmm. - He must be a god to survive both the storm and the snake!

       It's human nature to either vilify or deify people, but no one quite knew what to do with Paul.  He prophesied terrible storms and he was right.  He said "I told you not to sail now," but then shared his faith in God's goodness to encourage hopeless people on a beleaguered ship.  He shared visions of angels and God's promises, and the people lived on those promises for days. He was bitten by a poisonous snake, but shook it off and refused to die. Villain or god?  Neither. Rather, a man of God.

    The literal storms and snakes in Paul's life could have left him faith-shaken; instead, he shook them off and left deep tracks on sandy Malta beaches, turning the hearts of a people from false fertility gods to the One True God. ( http://www.malta.com/en/about-malta/culture/religion-in-malta)
     As Paul swallowed salt water and fought to stay afloat, he shouted encouragement and buoyed his fellow passengers.  Rather than allowing the snake to paralyze him in fear, he fried the poisonous thing. He, a prisoner, prayed for a bed-ridden Islander and God used him to heal all the sick people on the island.  In the middle of snakes and storms, he turned from his own perilous situations to impact a culture with his powerful faith in God. 

Dear Father,  We're so easily discouraged by storms and snakes, but we want to be like Paul - looking out for others and helping them latch onto You.  Give us faith where we lack it.  Increase our compassion. May Your Presence weigh heavily in us so our footprints lead them to You.
In the Name of the Only True Savior, Jesus!

LOL

Jesus Calling encourages lighthearted living today. According to the author, our faith in God's power shines through when we can laugh at ourselves and our circumstances.  Our sincere laughter (not the nervous version) expresses faith in God's loving provision. Laughter lightens the mood, breaks the spell of gloom, and sends God the message that we trust Him to handle the situation.  

In the beginning, God assigned people a workload, and in the Gospels, Jesus promised His followers He would put a "load" on them.  
"Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.  For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light." Matthew 11:28-30 

I evidently think I can handle more than the light load God assigns me since I add to my load until I wobble like an overloaded washing machine.  If I hear about a problem, I feel it's my responsibility to solve it and I figure, re-figure, plan and revise until my mind is worn out. 

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; 
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." 
Proverbs 17:22
Amen, Brother Solomon!

The answer? "Mind your own business!" or, to put it nicely, "Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain." (Sarah Young, Jesus Calling)  We may not realize we're minding God's business when we pull other people's problems, circumstances and issues into our domain to solve for them. 

God decides our business (workload), including when and how to help others with His guidance and help. He lays this "yoke" gently on us and sticks with us to carry it to completion.  He's the only one who can carry the weight of the world on His shoulders.  

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'"  Matthew 1:23

So laugh it up today and tell God you trust Him. 

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
she can laugh at the days to come." 
Proverbs 31:25

Poison in the Pantry

A gallon of milk in our fridge tasted strange. In spite of the future expiration date, it was "off" and tainted everything it touched.  We forgot to mention this to Nick who thought we'd bought a box of bad Fruity Pebbles (healthy because of the word "Fruity").  Nothing ruins a good bowl of Fruity Pebbles or a chocolate chip cookie like bad tasting milk.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6-7 mentions a couple of bad tasting ingredients in our prayer pantries. Number one on the list is anxiety. Anxiety both doubles the punch of crisis and negates our prayers and peace. Fear-filled prayers and efforts to control the outcome don't please Him because these prayers show no trust in Him, no faith.  He wants us to pray from the calm assurance that He can, He will and He wants to intervene with peace and protection. He calls us to take the time and energy to de-tox from busy-ness, anxiety, worry and fear as we pray to Him with gratitude. 

As a matter of fact, the second poison in the pantry is ingratitude. Apparently, God knows  it's impossible to over season lives or prayers with sincere gratitude. God loves to hear thanksgiving pouring from His children's hearts and lips. Gratitude reshapes our prayer as we remember how God has blessed us in the past.

Spring cleaning means it's time to clean out the poisonous and stale ingredients in our prayer pantries.  Time to toss the expired faith, artificial joy, and traces of anxiety and to  refill with the gratitude, trust, and peace that touch God's heart and open the way for the fresh fruit of  answered prayers.  

Out of the Ring, Fighting My Own Fight

"But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your Hands."

Psalm 31:14-15a

On the way to school this morning, Nick and I were talking about how much easier it is to stand up for someone else than it is to stand up for yourself. Praying's like that for me. The issues seem crystal clear when it comes to praying for other people - unless they're my children - extensions of me.   

I just received a text from a friend who understands what I mean. Her son is being rushed to the hospital with chest pains and she's asking for prayer. 

Julie and Addy

So am I. Our daughter, Julie, had five additional moles removed after an initial one tested mildly atypical.  Now two of the new ones have been tested "mild" and "severe" - and they'll be removed May 1. There's no melanoma - just the assurance that if nothing's done, danger is certain, in time. Praise God, again, that she went to the doctor.  This is my child, my daughter who's facing serious issues as she turns 25.   I'm praying urgently, with purpose and passion, for her healing and that they scoop out every abnormal cell so she never has to deal with this threat again. 

Four generations of mamas and daughters.

Praying Addy walks in her mama's steps of faith.

Why can't we be allowed to tag team with our children, jumping in the ring to handle the tough stuff for them? Because they, too, are learning to say "But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my God. My times are in Your Hands."  As a parent I must resist every urge to obstruct my children's spiritual growth by trying to have faith for them.  My job is to stand by them, to fight my own worry, to work out my own faith, and to pray for them as they learn to trust the Someone Bigger and Stronger Who never leaves them to take their hits alone in the ring.   

Lord, God, our lives - moments, trials, victories -are in Your hands.  Help us pray, not worry; remember You love our kids more than we do (??); know You're constantly refining them to bring out their best; and believe You have a purpose for everything You allow into their lives just as You do in ours.  Help us demonstrate a faith in You that will matter to them, encourage them, lead them, but never come between them and You. Mamas want to fix things and Daddies want to provide.  You are both to our children and we trust You.
In the Name of Jesus, Who wanted to gather Jerusalem under His wing like a mother hen. 

Private Flying Lessons

Gus and I walked by a fence this morning where we saw a flying lesson in progress. Mama Bird sat on top of the fence giving directions to two of her wee children who seemed to be goofing off in class a bit. They preferred rolling around in the grass to trying for the top of the fence.  Suddenly, Mama Bird saw us and sounded the alarm: Danger! Danger! The babies panicked and "flew" into each other, each one trying to climb on top of the other to get higher with no one succeeding.  One baby broke loose and headed up to Mama while the other landed in the grass yet again. He regrouped, mustered his wits, spread his tiny wings and lifted himself high enough to latch on halfway up a loose board in the fence. We passed by and he flew up and over the fence to the rest of his family.

For some reason, this little scenario which will be played out millions of times this spring, depicted several spiritual truths:
As baby birds:  *We tend to goof off in the grass, squabbling with brothers and sisters in Christ instead of listening to our Abba calling us to come to Him so He can teach us to fly above our circumstances.  
*When the alarms go off, we tend to panic and try to climb on top of someone else's faith (the preacher's? a friend's? our parent's? Joel Osteen's? Beth Moore's?)  instead of exercising our own.  God calls us to trust Him alone; He doesn't want us to lean on middle men or women, tiring them out and expecting answers they can't give. He wants us leaning on the Everlasting Arms and crawling onto His wings. 

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; 

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not faint."  

Isaiah 40: 29-31

As Leader Birds: 
*We're to set the example and call others to move in toward Christ.
"Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure." 1 Timothy 4:22b
*We need to remember we can't fly for other people. We can only encourage and allow others learn to fly in faith as we pray with them, for them, and call out encouragement and testimonies of God's faithfulness to us.  
"Preach the word;be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2


Thank You for Your patience with us when we fail to see the importance of what You're teaching us. Thank You for sounding the alarms, for providing examples, for working through people. But THANK YOU for working through us - through me - as an individual - for wanting to give me private lessons.  Thank You that I don't have to drag others down with a lazy or panicked faith - but that You call to me personally, never leaving me to face danger on my own.  
In the Name of Jesus, Our Supreme Example!

Wide - - - And Deep

Nobody but God could have created the universe - even if He used a big bang to get it all started.  Nobody but God could hang stars in the sky, part seas, stop earth's rotation, dam the Jordan River for a day, call down Jericho's walls, raise up an army from skeletons, send down fire from heaven to lap up a flooded altar, feed five thousand from a sack lunch, fill nets to the breaking point in an empty lake, raise decaying bodies back to life, raise Himself from death to life, and ascend to heaven.  Our faith says, "Way to go God! Hallelujah! He reigns!"

Those biblical miracles happened a long long time ago, but we stand firm in their reality.  Our faith is more likely to get shaky when it comes to the personal today-details. Could such a God be called on to help me with my minutiae?

A friend called yesterday as she navigated the city. She had lost her directions and was nervous about the meeting ahead of her. We prayed on the phone, she found her directions, attended her meeting and life flows.  A modern-day miracle.  We lose things we need now, but does losing something merit prayer? merit God's miraculous intervention?

One day I was writing a lesson on forgiveness when someone called, picked a fight, made me mad as a hornet, then hung up on me.   I fumed back to the computer which abruptly crashed.  God wouldn't let me keep writing about forgiveness until I practiced it.  After a time of release, prayer, and preparation for the call that would come, the phone rang, forgiveness was practiced and the computer was "healed."  it might be tempting to call all of that a coincidence, but I couldn't,  God's Word says,  "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”  Matthew 25:23
Would we see more wide-scale miracles if we were faithful to recognize the daily miracles of God's Presence? Maybe we're calling them coincidences when they're God's stepping stones to greater miracles.


"For with God, nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37   Some of His most "impossible" acts are deep within us, for our eyes and hearts alone.

"Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21
As we look through telescopes and see how wide the "exceedingly abundantly above all" God has done and can do, let's live believing He ministers and miracle-izes deeply under the microscope of each of our lives as well. 

God of Gods, You're amazing and wonderful. The scope of Your abilities - well, there's not one because it can't be measured.  We raise our praise for all You've done - creation itself and all Your past works are worthy of our forever thanks.  But, help us recognize the miracles You send today and how You're ministering today - here in this heart and that heart.  Thank You for going deep and wide with Your miracles.  We love You for loving us enough to keep working in amazing ways right where we are. Just help us embrace the everyday miracles.
In the Name of Jesus, Savior of each as well as Savior of All

Lost: One New Red Phone Adorned with Gold Duct Tape

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kindgdom that cannot be shaken,

let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."

Hebrew 12:28

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Yesterday, Nick lost his new red phone decorated with gold duct tape.  Maybe on the bus. Maybe at school. His nonstop stream of texts with his girlfriend just screeched to a halt. Messages from friends near and far are piling up in cyberspace, unanswered.  His phone doubled as his alarm clock, so he was late to school today.  We need him to have a phone for when he's home alone or needs us to pick him up from practices and activities.  A lost phone seems huge at this point in his social life, his finances, and his safety. 

After we looked everywhere and prayed to find it, he said, "Maybe God's telling me I spend too much time on the phone."

Was this God's answer to Nick's unspoken "Why?"  It's a rather mature way to look at the loss, to think and meditate on how God might redeem an inconvenience for good and mold him for better.  Even this morning, when I dropped him off near the office to get a tardy slip, he shrugged and said, "Well, while I'm in the office anyway, I'll check lost and found." 

Nick's learning to look for redemption in his difficulties. Unfortunately (or gratefully?) he'll have many more opportunities to dig deep for this truth and come up stronger. 

Faith reverently thanks God for all things because we know He redeems good from bad, creates something from nothing, finds what's lost, saves what's condemned, offers second chances to failures.  No pat answers or cliched comforts carry us through darkness - only the light of faith that a loving God can and will redeem something good from even the deepest pits. 

Redeemer, increase our faith to trust You to redeem whatever tragedy, problem, or circumstance that tries to eat us alive.  Thank You that because Yours is a purely good character, we can trust You completely.  Thank You for loving us with a working, transforming love - not the shallow love of indulgence.  We beg for ease and comfort - but You know what that lifestyle produces - lazy faith and low character.  You love us too much to leave us as we are.  Your purposes require our refining, so thank You for the pounding and the kiln, as long as we're in Your Hands.

In the Name of Jesus, Who lives in broken temples and resurrects the dead

"My spirit, why are you so sad?

Why are you so upset deep down inside me?

Put your hope in God.

Once again I will have reason to praise Him.

He is my Savior and my God." 

Psalm 42:11

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.

God planned that those he had chosen would become like his Son.

In that way, Christ will be the first and most honored among many brothers.

Romans 8:28-29

Syllabus for Saints

Then they asked Him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?'

 Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'"

 John 6:29

Yesterday's sermon was "Faith That Impresses God," based on the Roman centurion who amazed Jesus with his faith (Matthew 8).  Last night our preacher prayed for all students, school staff, administrators and teachers returning to school this morning.  In the morning, Pastor Rick identified true, active faith, and last night he prayed those students and faculty (and all believers) would live out their faith on a Monday. Identify and apply. Easier to study than to do. 

As believers, our CORE class throughout life is "Identifying and Applying Faith."  This class comes with a universe-sized laboratory and no graduation date. Graduation only happens when we bend our knees at Heaven's throne and faith becomes sight.  Today, Monday, (or whichever day offers you the greatest challenge) we may have forgotten that class is in session.  Look at the board to see our learning objective and the exercises God has for us in Jesus' own words:  

Faith 101:

"The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." 

John 6:29

Easy-peasy. No wonder it's Faith 101. Done. Check it off. Next class.

Faith 102:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, 

who have been called according to His purpose." 

Romans 8:28

All things? And thus begins the difficult work of trusting that God works for our good on Mondays, in frustration, without funds, under pressure, and with obstacles.  The verse rolls off our tongues and our heads say "true," but our hearts drag their feet when it comes to believing God uses "all things" for our good.  After all,  you and I both have histories from which we've emerged still asking "Where's the 'good' from that?" without seeing the "good." We will have to repeat this class several times.

Faith 201, 202, 203 and 204

"but be filled by the Spirit,
speaking to one anotherin psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ."

Not so easy peasy after all.  Memorizing the material is nothing compared to applying this information in life's lab.
1) Remembering to invite God to fill us?  That takes time, work, and relationship.
2) Making music in our hearts? Requires focus, love, learning a melody.
3) Giving thanks always, for everything?  We're going to be busy this semester.
4) Submitting to one another?  Is it too late to drop this class? 

Faith is . . .
     more than words,
     more than a creed,
     more than a favorite Scripture.

Faith is a laboratory of opportunities to "believe in the One He has sent" from our hearts all the way through our actions. 

Lord God, we like living at our leisure like students on holiday, but nothing compares to life's laboratory for fine-tuning our faith.  Remind us to ask You to fill us with Your Spirit and Your Song.  Prompt us to thank You for every gift, great or small. You send every good gift.  And, Father, the hardest exercise of all may be to trust You enough to submit to others and to situations You allow for our good. In submitting we exercise faith that You see, You know, You understand, You shape, You use, and You reign.  May we seize this day's opportunities to trust You.
In the Name of Jesus Who could submit to others because of His Faith in You

Large With Strength

"Thank You for Your love,

Thank You for Your faithfulness;

Most holy is Your Name,

Most holy is Your Word.

"The moment I called out, You stepped in; 

You made my life large with strength."

Psalm 138:3 (The Message)

     My graduation certificate from Physical Therapy arrived in the mail yesterday and deserves the same amount of wall space as anything I've ever earned. So, today I thought I'd see just how much I've improved now that I'm a pro, a grad, by pitching things into the corner of the fence where the bamboo grows. All three tosses hit their mark.  Amazing, three months later what was broken is healed, what was weak is strong, what was shaky is steady.  In June, I was sure I'd never do much with this arm again and in September, I find I was wrong.  

     Did it take a piece of paper to tell me I could do that?  Could I have been tossing things far and wide yesterday? Last week? Two weeks ago?  Maybe so, and that's my problem.  In spite of all the times God has made me "large with strength" before this bummer of a summer, I didn't realize I was still waiting for visible evidence and the go-ahead nod from an expert before testing my strength.  

     If you've just hit bottom or you're looking at the long middle of a difficult valley, what you see is not what you get in the end.  When we keep calling out to the Lord, September arrives and we see how God has made us large with strength. If we immerse ourselves in growing in His grace, in fervently praying His Word, and in allowing Him to work out His Loving purposes in us, the valley becomes the place He heals, strengthens, and steadies us. 

     Father, we want out of the valleys.  We confess: we don't want to be strong or stronger; we want out.  But You have plans to make us "large with strength" to keep us from walking through life afraid or uncertain. You allow the valleys to make us able to praise You in any circumstance and so we'll call out to You to fill us with faith.  Thank You for Your love, for Your faithfulness.  We call and You step in - not always to lift us out of crises, but to strengthen us through them.  Give us the wisdom to accept what You're doing in us and to understand that what we see in the valley isn't what we get permanently. Help us act on the strength You provide.

In the the Name of Jesus Who, because He knew heaven lay ahead of Him,  was able to suffer merciless torture before carrying His own cross up a hill to die a death He didn't deserve.  

Sunday, August 7, 2011 - The Open Door

"It is God Who arms me with Strength and makes my way perfect."
 2 Samuel 22:33


"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; 
the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, 
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." 
Isaiah 55:12


"As you hold out the Word of Life -- 
in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." 
Philippians 2:16


"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. 
In this world you will have trouble. 
But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33


Father, what would happen if we turned ourselves completely over to a life of faith in You? What would change? 
     Peace would erupt from our spirits. Our hearts would release every barbed grudge. Our minds would relax under Your government. Our bodies would heal themselves of untold tensions from the chafing of fear and anxiety on our nervous systems. Joy would give us wings and Your Strength would lift our eyes to see the open doors of our self-made prisons. You would lead us forth in Peace, we would go out in Joy, and we would celebrate Your Victory over all we've allowed to hold us captive. 

     Help our unbelief and make us people of faith. Show us firsthand what can happen if we radically trust You. 
In the Name of Jesus, Who lived the life of perfect faith in You and radically changed the world forever!
Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado
photos by yours truly (occasionally I get lucky with a camera)