Newtown grief, New Town goal

     Like you, I've been stunned since hearing the news from Newtown, Connecticut.  
          How?  
          Why?  
     Uncertain of how to feel or think, I turned to an unusual devotional book I've used and shared with others since my college days, Come Away My Beloved, by Frances J. Roberts.  The book is written like Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, as it provides a first-person voice for God backed by Scripture. 
      Asking God to direct me, I let the book open where it would and shuddered as I read a "random" selection titled "Lie Not Dormant."
   
    "My child, I have need of thee. . . Thou canst not lie idle without hindering the ministry of the Church as a corporate body . . . . For we know that the whole world lieth in a sleep of death in the lap of the wicked one, as a child napping unsuspecting in a death-trap."

     People are looking for explanations and for someone to blame for Adam Lanza, a 20-year-old with no violent record, forcing his way into a school and taking human lives, shooting kindergarten children. Ironically, when tragedy strikes, people who once showed God the door then blame Him for the evil seeping and creeping in where He was once at home.  
     Do we blame the schools for lack of security? 
     The government for lack of help for the mentally ill? 
     The media for giving so much attention to criminals who commit heinous crimes?
     Peers who may have mocked, bullied or ostracized Lanza? 
     Parents who underestimated the seriousness of Lanza's remoteness?  
     Could believers, you and I, be to blame for hindering love?    

   "But be thou watchful and diligent and alert, for the time is at hand. . . keep thyself free for the guidance and use of the Spirit of God, even as He directeth thee moment by moment."
   "Be not overcome of evil but squeeze out the unprofitable things with an abundance of good."

     Blame abounds, but I wonder if we understand Jesus taught us how to stem the tide of these types of scenarios from playing out in our towns, in our schools, theaters and churches.  What if, instead of huddling with our own and keeping the "bad kids" out we worked to create a New Town as:
     Parents teach our children by example to reach out to the kids on the fringes?  
     Believers open our homes -  to the problem children, to the unloved and unloveable, to the rejected, and the least likely to succeed - to show them Christ?  
     Christian young people insist on youth programs to emphasize activities for anyone and everyone instead of focusing on expensive entertainment?  
     Churches spend more time, resources, and hospitality building relationships with unreached people in our own neighborhoods and communities, even as we place an offering in the plate for international missions?
   
     "Be not overcome of evil but squeeze out the unprofitable things with an abundance of good."
 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. "  Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)

Lord, God, help us.  Your children have slept through so many negative, anti-You cultural changes without responding.  Please, don't let Satan trick us into withdrawing even further into our "safe zones."  Use the horror and loss of this tragedy to compel us into action, into lighting the places You've placed us with Your Light.  Father, wake us up and keep us alert to how You want to use us - for the time is at hand.  Don't let evil overcome us, but help us overcome evil with abundance on abundance of good.
In the Name of Jesus, Who holds the children in His loving, safe Arms

I Want My Own Spin Room

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

Zechariah 4:6

     A spin room is as necessary to politicians as the kitchen and bathroom are for the rest of us.  The purpose of the spin doctors in the spin room is to make their candidate (or politician) look good no matter what he/she does or doesn't do. They reduce lies into "misunderstandings," interpret lack of action as deep thought and planning, magnify fortuitous events into premeditated heroism, and let's not forget the one they seem particularly adept at: blaming others for the failures of their guys/gals. 

     I want my own spin room. 

     "Robin lost her temper because she's so passionate about blah, blah, blah," sounds so much better than "That woman was already as mad as a wet hen and ready to blow;' you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." 

     "Mrs. Noland hasn't acted on that project yet because haste makes waste and she insists on having everyone on board to make the project a success,"  is better than "She procrastinated because she's a people pleaser and this project is going to be controversial." 

     "Robin's taking some time to recharge so she'll be a better servant to God and His people," sounds divine when the truth might be, "She's pouting and needs to get over it."

     We didn't get spin doctors but the Holy Spirit, Advocate of Truth, and Comforter.  He's not here to gloss over our mistakes or flaws, but to transform us with Truth.  He stands by us when we look good or bad, when we're popular or outcast, when we're winners or losers.  He comforts us when people misunderstand our stand for Truth, and He comforts us when we're repentant for falling for lies.

  "And I will ask the Father,

and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 

the Spirit of truth.

The world cannot accept Him,

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.

But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you."  

John 14:16-17

"But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.

Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you;

but if I go, I will send him to you."

John 16:7

Father, You've given us Your Holy Spirit to guide us in Truth because Truth sets us free.  Truth sheds light - sometimes blinding light - but light in the darkest of places.  Your Spirit of Light and Truth lives in those Who believe Jesus is Your Son Who lived a perfect life, died a sinless death, and rose to live forever as King of Heaven and Earth. Let Truth shine out of us and help us rely on Your Spirit - not the tide of public opinion, not the flow of popular rhetoric, and not even on the power of people we think are closer to You than we are.  You alone speak pure, unspun Truth.  Help us hear and act on Your Truth for Your Glory.  Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what You alone can reveal through Your Spirit. And thank You, for the incredible gift of You with us always.

In the Name of Jesus Who sent the Comforter, the Spirit, our Advocate.

Making An Inferno out of a Flame

"A man's steps are directed by the LORD. 

How then can anyone understand his own way?"

Proverbs 20:24

"Therefore, is anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 4:17

I don't like to lose and I don't like losing things. I don't like the feeling I didn't get my fair share of the good stuff and I don't like getting an unfair share of misunderstanding or blame I don't deserve. I don't like watching helplessly as Plan A falls down the ranks to Plan D.  Yuck, pooey, and splttttt. Welcome to Life 101.

Today's Jesus Calling offers us a way to handle these potential day-ruiners: barely touch the disappointment before looking at God and saying "Oh, well."  Our joy won't be disturbed if we learn to handle life's little disappointments the same way we're able to move a finger quickly through a candle flame without getting burned. A light touch with daily worries and disappointments opens our eyes to realize the day's irritations don't have to ruin our moods or put our faith in the balance. We leave our fingers in the flame when we dwell, sulk, complain, and lash out at others over what could have been a brief flash in our day. 

Lord forgive us for living our days as if we're the only ones who matter.  Lift us above the trivial "I don't likes" and help us see with Your great, far-reaching eyes.  If we must complain, let it be to You.  If we feel overlooked, help us look to You.  If no one appreciates us, may we look around us to see who we need to appreciate.  Lord, help us grow up and shine for You instead of making destructive infernos out of flames.

In the Name of Jesus Who was treated unfairly yet remains the Light of the World

Sunday, November 13, 2011 - Shoe Boxes

"God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. 

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."  2 Corinthians 1:4

"I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 

that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 49:6

"Truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." 

Numbers 14:21

  

     Today represents a day to cross cultural lines, to send a little light into another country on another continent where spiritual Light can be as scarce as water. Today, in many churches is Shoebox day, the day we bring a shoebox full of gifts for children who may understand why or know Who Christ is. We'll see those gifts piled on the stairs by the altar and know we're reaching out into the world with "this little light of mine."  

     Due to the high price of traveling, I don't get out of the country much. I've been out of the country four times, twice as a friend's guest and twice as a gift from my parents. One of these trips was an official "missions" trip but, because I've been commissioned by God to "Go, Tell," they were all missions trips. In fact, because God made us lights for the dark world, a trip to the grocery store and a stay in the hospital are mission trips for believers.  Discussions at the water cooler, with the mechanic or the doctor, with our children's teachers, all represent opportunities to let our lights shine and draw people to the One Who loves them best and can given them true, lasting, meaningful Life. We can be "Christmas in a shoebox" for anyone we meet on any given day if we take off the cover and let Him shine.  

Father-God, You've given us all the gifts we need and all the Light we need to share.  What's our problem about sharing what You've given us? Help us overcome all the shyness, the fear, the pride, and the selfishness to give away what You continue to pour into our lives: Light and Love.  Make us someone's "Christmas shoebox" today. Use us to bless someone with the knowledge of how much You love them.

In the Name of Jesus, the Christ in Christmas, the Christ in Christians who let You shine

Sunday, January 23, 2011 - Too Bright For Our Britches

     I have a confession to make, but please tell anyone you tell not to tell anyone else: I stay in my pajamas until it's time to walk through the door except on rare occasions when I've been caught running to the mailbox still in my p.j.'s. (Hey! the mail carrier shows up early in my neck of the woods.) My mornings seem to be one long train of thought and if I hop off the train, it leaves the station until the next morning. However, when it's time to be seen, I go through the customary primping and preening as I try to cover all the bases and flaws revealed in my artificially lighted bathroom. I've learned not to give the final thumbs up until I look at my reflection in the full, natural light of my car's rearview mirror. 

     We do a lot to make ourselves look better on the outside for other people but in the stark light of God's Love and Grace, all the cracks in our jars of clay come to light. Those cracks provide openings for God's glory and light to shine out of us but we don't want to accept our humanity as part of His plan. We try to cover the cracks because we're afraid if we let Him shine too brightly one day, we may not feel so shiny the next. We shudder to think people will label us "hypocrites" so to keep them from expecting too much or watching us too closely, we choose to maintain the same, non-attention-getting mediocre wattage by either dimming the Light or flipping on artificial light as needed.

     Scripture clearly states that God's Light shining through us is the natural outcome of Him making His Light shine in our hearts: 

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts

to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay 

to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Hiding His Light makes us hypocrites. We can't produce the Light and we're not to hide the Light He placed in us. We're miserable and we become miserable witnesses when we attempt to diminish or brighten Christ within us. Looking openly and fully into the Face of Jesus means we lose control over His shining with ever-increasing glory through our humanity as we become more like Him (2 Cor. 3:18). Our spiritual goal is to look constantly to the Lord so we become too bright for our britches as the Treasure we hold pours out through the cracks in our jars of clay. It's a Spirit-to-soul transformation no other light can imitate or radiate.  

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,

are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, 

which comes from the Lord, 

who is  the Spirit." 

2 Corinthians 3:18

"But He said to me, 

'My grace is sufficient for you, 

for My power is made perfect in weakness.' 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ's power may rest on me." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

"Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be terrified because of them, 

for the LORD your God goes with you; 

He will never leave you nor forsake you." 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Lord, forgive us when we try to tone down or add to Your Light. Teach us to do as the hymn says and turn our eyes to You so everything else dims. You are soul-transforming, Glory-infusing God. Give us strength and courage to let Your Grace be sufficient for our weaknesses. We'd rather You remove or at least hide our flaws, but then we'd start polishing and buffing ourselves instead of looking into Your beautiful Face. Show us how to throw back the veil and open ourselves completely to Your Light. 

In the Name of Jesus, our Shining Transforming Treasure!  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Jesus Calling
Photo taken by Robin Noland in