Unlimited Expertise

"So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own.
There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings."
Matthew 6:34

"LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You." 

Psalm 84:12

     The day came last week when I had to face the "boogey man" computer program I've dreaded for a year.  When I first started working for the judge, someone came and showed me how to access and use several programs to do my job.  I promptly forgot what I didn't understand (most of it) and have used only what I've needed on a daily basis.  But, the time has come to dig deeper, to master my fear and to dominate this frightful program.  It didn't start well: nothing worked and I felt like I was in a land where no one spoke my language.  

     When I called the helpline, (I'm not proud when it comes to technology) a nice young man led me through steps which gave him remote access to my computer. A strange combination of relief and anxiety overcame me as I watched the cursor on my screen come alive to glide across the screen and click on boxes which dropped twenty mysterious options. It magically deleted excess information and updated what was left  - all within a matter of minutes and without my help.  When the job was complete, the young man exited my computer and placed the reigns (mouse) back in my hands.  

     Do we see God's work in our lives this way? As some sort of helpline we call to take over, clean out and update when we're nervous, frightened, confused, uncertain?  Do we take the reigns back when the way seems clear or until the next glitch occurs?

     If so, we're missing out on all our Mighty God wants to do in and through us, with or without the glitches.   He's more than a temporary helpline who takes over to clean up our messes or get us through the scary parts of life.  He's the 24/7 All-Knowing Friend, Brother, Savior, Consolation, Guide, Teacher, Tutor, Father, Boss, Shepherd, Strength, Wisdom, Physician, Psychologist - Whoever we need Him to be every minute of today so that tomorrow we're already on track.  He offers us love, joy, peace, rest, relief, forgiveness, understanding, opportunity, reprimand, guidance, patience - whatever we need for the moment - so we're in the right place at the right time to be blessed. 

     I like knowing the nice young man or one of his co-workers is on the other end of the line when I need computer help, but that's where his expertise and input end in my life.  God's expertise knows no end. Any day I fail to invite Him to take the reigns is a day I don't live up to what He could and would do through me. 

Father, take today and make it what You want it to be. Clean out the excesses of materialism and self-absorption. Update stale faith.  Open the hearts within our hearts to deeper lessons, life and love.  May today be a day we live and move in You. Do all that You desire and make us who You created us to be in Jesus Christ. 

In the Name of Your Son, "God With Us" - Who sent the Holy Spirit to work in us.

     

Liar, Liar, Pantsuit's On Fire!

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a big dinner and celebrate. This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’"   Luke 15:21-24

     I was a third-grader the first time I recognized God's grace pouring over and through "such a wretch" as I.  Pantsuits were the newest and neatest little outfits a girl could have and I didn't own one. Audrey did, though. Angelic Audrey always seemed to have what caught our teacher's eye and approval.  She was tiny and had Shirley Temple curls, a little purse that held tissues and a tube of Chapstick, and her mother was the PTA chairperson, wielding Audrey inexplicable power over teachers and administrators. 

   One Friday, Audrey showed up in a red pantsuit.  When I heard our sweet, beautiful teacher exclaim, "What an adorable pantsuit!"" as adorable Audrey twirled with an "I'm adored" glow, the green-eyed monster arose within my eight-year-old heart and I bit into the apple (a green one, I'm sure). Jealousy led to lying as I tapped my teacher on the arm to say, "I have a pantsuit (lie) - a blue one (lies, all lies) - it's at home and I'll wear it Monday (liar, liar, pantsuit's on fire!)."   My teacher smiled and said, "Oh, I can't wait to see it!" That's when the apple bit back. 

     Welcome to the longest bus ride in history.  The bumps in the road were nothing compared to the pounding I experienced sweating out my sin and my dilemma between Kennesaw Elementary and Melody Lane. Monday, hateful day, smothered me against the window as I contemplated the trap I had created.  Closing my eyes, I saw myself sneaking through the classroom door on Monday. But, my teacher would spot me with the eyes in the back of her head and run to me in eager anticipation. Then as the awful truth hit her that I wasn't wearing a pantsuit of any color, confusion and disappointment would cover her face and gradually turn to horror as she realized she had a liar in her class.  I would, of course, spend the rest of the school year under a table in the back of the room wearing a sign and probably a dunce hat. 

     What had I done? What could I do?

     I prayed.  "God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I lied. I'm sorry. Make her forget what I said. I'll never lie again, if You'll just make her forget what I said and don't let her ever say anything about a pantsuit."

     It never once occurred to me that God might have another way of dealing with His little liar. Never once.  My family bought clothes at the beginning of the school year, sometimes Christmas, Easter, and maybe for birthdays.  I limited God to my eight-year-old way of thinking and could never have imagined forgiveness with grace for such an outright sin. 

     When I arrived home, glum and weighted down, my mother seemed excited.  She escorted me to my room where a navy blue pantsuit lay across my bed.  My heart burst - with relief and gratitude.  Mama probably didn't know what to think about my reaction, since I enjoyed clothes but had never swooned over them. Did I say, "No, mother, I don't deserve this, for I have lied to my teacher and must suffer the consequences?"  No way! I was too young not to appreciate the gift, the grace God (so obviously God through my mother) had laid on my bed for me.

     The invisible God I went to church to worship; the bleeding Jesus on the cross; and the eerie Holy Ghost Who always watched me - all became the Friend of a most humble child that day. For the first time in my young life, I knew God wasn't out to get me and didn't delight in punishing His children. In fact, the God I fell in love with that day is the God Who goes beyond forgiving to pouring out blessing after blessing on His repentant, prodigal, lying children. 

     Don't be too mature, too sophisticated, too self-incriminating, too dignified, or too ridiculous not to take God's gifts when He gives them.  Just humbly swoop and swoon.

"Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don’t, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Luke 18:3

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - Teacher of the Day, Year, Century, Millennium, and Eternity

"Take My yoke upon you. 

Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29

"He (the Word - Jesus) was in the beginning with God. 

He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make."

John 1:2-3

     I've been blessed with some gifted teachers through the years and I've suffered through a few less-than-stellar ones.  Sometimes I came into a classroom with bias toward or against the subject which affected my perception.  If I admired a teacher personally, he or she could do no wrong and I opened my mind to learn in those safe environments, often going the extra mile to please.  These teachers often, but not always, took personal interest in my gifts and goals. However, other teachers were a waste of academic effort since they operated solely to take their unhappy lives out on students.

     The teachers who stand out as the worst were a high school math teacher (not my forte) and a college English teacher (my minor).  The math teacher was a screamer who was angry about life, loved to throw chalk and erasers and turn over desks, and humiliate students who dared ask questions. The English teacher was more subtle and used a smooth Southern accent and steely sweet smile as a thin cover for her barbed personality and sarcastic putdowns.  Needless to say, all I learned from these two teachers was to survive in the hostile land of "life's not fair" which is a valuable lesson but not the algebra or English composition I'd signed up to learn.

     Our loving Rabbi - Lord Jesus, teaches from His perfect and personal knowledge of the Father and from His eternal wisdom as a the Teacher of all teachers. He knows His Subject and He knows how to teach the weakest student with gentleness and patience.  Our part is to let Him teach us by opening our minds to His Voice as the Word of God. We can relax and learn in the safe environment of His restful Presence and soak in all He knows we're ready to receive.

Sweet Rabbi, Teacher, Lord, thank You for Your down-to-earth way of teaching heavenly subjects.  We're limited but You throw down obstacles between us and knowing the Father. Our sin kept us in dark ignorance but You light the way, the only way to know God. Thank You for Your infinite patience with us. May we be infinitely patient in pointing others to You, to know You for themselves.  May every lesson You teach us stick.

In Your own Excellent Name, Jesus, we ask these profound blessings for Your Name's sake