Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Laughing in All The Right Places

Little Addy Foo-Foo
with her carrot rattle.
It's ok to laugh.

     Tom talked to our son-in-law, Nick, last night and asked about Addy, who'll be seven months old on the seventh of this month.  Nick shared that they were watching a movie with friends last night with Addy sitting in the floor with Julie.  He said every time he laughed at something in the movie, she looked over at him and laughed, too.  Monkey see, monkey do.  Evidence of how our children learn from us long before the time-out chair, the lectures, and the natural consequences.  Addy reflected her daddy's sense of humor by laughing when he laughed. 
     Does what we laugh at follow our Father's lead or does it reveal we're reflecting the world's sense of humor? For instance:
     Do we laugh at other people's expense or with them?  Do we snicker when we see someone embarrassed or caught in a no-win situation? 

"Some people make cutting remarks, 
but the words of the wise bring healing." 

Proverbs 12:18

     Do we mock what others hold precious or their best efforts?  Make fun of what people can't help?  Deride the down-and-out? 

"Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; 

those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished."

Proverbs 17:5

      Do we laugh at what God calls lewd?  

"You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God 

in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. 

Let your lives shine brightly before them."  

Philippians 2:15

    If our prayer is "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me," then we need to reflect our Father's Spirit in our sense of humor. Laughter is healthy and healing when we laugh:
  *at ourselves and our little flubs;
  *at good clean fun when someone tells something funny; (Withholding laughter is a form of pride and control which steals the healing moment).
  *from sheer joy, discovery, enlightenment, and bursts of love. 
     Laughter goes hand-in-hand with goodwill, but we need to listen to our Father and laugh in all the right places. 

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."  

Proverbs 17:22 

"And Sarah declared, 'God has brought me laughter!  All who hear about this will laugh with me.  For who would have dreamed that I would ever have a baby? 

Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!"  

Genesis 21:6-7

"We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.  

And the other nations said, 'What amazing things the LORD has done for them.'  

Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!'

Psalm 126:2-3

Father, shape our sense of humor to rejoice when you do.  May our hearts always put other people's feelings ahead of any questionable entertainment value.  Mold our hearts to let compassion rule and develop in us the self-control we need in a world that pumps out crude and rude humor for profit.  May our hearts beat to please You and to laugh when You laugh.  Help us let go of the pride and insecurity that laughs at others and their misfortunes. Teach us to laugh in all the right places.
In the Name of Jesus, the Teacher Who often used  humor to make His points but never to point out the flaws in others  

Ho, Ho, Ho - Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - Sticks and Stones

     When others insult you, ignore you, forget you, or work around you - turn around, face God and ask, "Is this true?  Am I invisible? Useless? Obsolete? Unlovable?"  Max Lucado writes:
"Others demote you. God claims you. Let the definitive voice of the universe say, 'You're still a part of my plan."  - The Numbers of Hope
     We make the terrible mistake of assuming other people are mostly wrong until they say (by word or action) something negative about us, never considering that their unkindness arises from their own insecurities or immaturity.  Instead, our own uncertainties and faults add weight to these "sticks and stones" and the unkindness embeds itself deeply into our hearts and minds, making forward movement difficult and Satan is satisfied.
     Trying to become more self-confident won't fix the problem since we've failed many times. Loving ourselves only takes us so far since we know how unlovable we can be. Shooting our mouths off in similar retorts or actions only reveals our insecurities and immaturity, leading to further hurt and adding guilt. So, how do we handle the demoters in our lives?  We don't.  We don't focus on them at all.
     Instead, we spend our time living for and listening to One opinion, One response, and only Two thumbs up.  We fill ourselves on the fullness of God until we're too full of His Love to take in the hurtful words of a "demoter."  We live to discover the "extravagant dimensions of Christ's love." (Ephesians 3:18 the Message)


"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father Who parcels out all heaven and earth. 
I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit -- 
not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength -- 
that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in.  
And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.  
Reach out and experience the breadth!  
     Test its length!  
          Plumb the depths!  
               Rise to the heights!  
                    Live full lives, full in the fullness of God!" 
Ephesians 3:14-19
     The best Christmas gift we can give ourselves this year will be to trade in the "sticks and stones' other people throw at us for the Solid Rock Who was born in the straw and died on a tree for us. We should pity the demoters and live for the One Who promotes Love and lives in us.  
Father, thank You for loving us with Your own, unconditional, unmatched Love.  We crave the Love You don't hold back.  You are perfectly kind and You draw us in and use us. Please, show us how to let You surround us and fill us so we have no room for sticks and stones.  May we accept Your Truth as we conform to Your image. Deflect all other opinions we have of ourselves as we lose ourselves in Your unfathomable Love. 
In the Name of Jesus Whose extravagant Love lives in us


Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - What A Best Friend Should Be

     Yesterday I substituted for a group of first graders I felt were socially mature for their ages. They worked beautifully together in the classroom and enjoyed discussing ideas and working with one another.  Everyone had the same rules, tools, assignments, and privileges so there was very little tattling or disharmony until we went to the playground and joined the rest of the first grade classes.  Suddenly two rubber kickballs resulted in a power struggle among a number of boys while groups of girls huddled to re-negotiate best friends for the day. 
     I remember the safety of having friends, and sometimes a best friend, on the playground.  I also remember the loneliness of a "bad day" when a best friend was sick or decided to play some stupid new game with another girl in our class, leaving me watching from a distance or lost and wandering around figuring out what to do.  
     Jesus never has to choose between friends so He alone could make the promise, 

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20)  

He doesn't play favorites but still treats each of us as His best friend.  Where we move away, fail to stay in touch, forget special dates, don't make time to get together, let hurts cause distance between us, or drop the ball when we're most needed, Jesus sticks because we're grafted into Him.  

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches." John 15:5

He's the Friend Who died for us when our own sin condemned us. He's the Friend Whose example we should follow but never expect from anyone else. He's the Friend Who cannot be replaced by a thousand other friends.   
Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege of friendship You give us.  Forgive us for allowing anything and everything to put distance between us. You put into our friendship so much more than I can or do. If you were like other friends, You might have given up on me long ago. Thank You for looking out for my needs and interests. Thank Your for the compassion You show me. Thank You for not throwing up Your Hands when I'm in a dark mood or just plain irritable.  What would we do without Your friendship? Thank You that we don't have to find out,
In Your own comforting Name I pray




   
 

Monday, November 28, 2011 - Perfect Gifts in Store

"I will praise the LORD at all times. 

I will constantly speak His praises.  

I will boast only in the LORD; 

let all who are discouraged take heart.

Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; 

let us exalt His Name together.

I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me, 

freeing me from all my fears." 

Psalm 34:1-4

     When I realized we would go shopping while we were in Branson with a group from our church, I called my mom to see what she wants for Christmas.  Mom would rather have something she wants than be surprised with something she doesn't, so it seemed wise to check first.  She knew exactly what she needed: a new robe, lightweight but long-sleeved that zips or buttons up the front.  Although this request sounded simple, I stepped off our bus asking God to put Mama's exact robe in place for me to find.

     The first store in line was Belk, one of Mom's favorite shopping spots, so I headed to the sleepwear department in full faith that God was working on my request.  I found two that fit her description - twice as many as I had asked for but with differences in fabric, length and color.  So, I called Mom to ask, mid-calf and mint green or ankle-length and light blue?

     "Aww, (She honestly said "Aww") when your daddy and I were dating, his mother called my mother to see what he could give me for Christmas and he gave me a mint green sweater and skirt set. I've been drawn to mint green ever since then."

     "Mint green it is, then," I said, replacing the other robe. It was then that I noticed the label in the collar: Miss Elaine, my mom's name.  No doubt, this was her robe.  I bounced  to the cashier in joy until I saw the price tag and heard that gosh-awful sound you hear on television shows when something goes terribly wrong: the sound of a record player being abused.  I turned to look for price cut signs on the "Miss Elaine" nightwear racks, but saw only space - empty, empty space.  

     "Fits her description, right size, sentimental color, is already personalized - what other evidence do you need that this is the exact robe God placed here for you to find??  Get it!! He'll take care of the budget some other way."  

     When the cashier said (without blinking), "That's twenty dollars and ninety-two cents," the small cloud that had blocked some of my sunshine evaporated and I think I heard God laugh.  

     "How much?" I asked, afraid she would change her mind. She repeated the price that was 75% less than the tag demanded.  When I told her I hadn't seen any sale signs she just shrugged and said, "That's the price it rings up for."  Well, hallelujah and thank You God!

     Sometimes I wonder about my own sanity: Why don't I pray constantly about everything when God keeps revealing how much He cares and works in exact ways?  Today, I share this story of God's perfect blessing to ask, "Why do we let our pride lead us to settle for what we can do when God has perfect gifts in store for those who ask?"  God heard my request and answered it within ten minutes just as clearly as if He had spoken or put up a neon arrow pointing to that mint-green robe.  If He's willing to take care of a Christmas gift for me and my mom, what other, greater things might He do through us if we ask?  Maybe we don't ask because we're afraid we might find out, and that discovery could change our lives.

Lord God, praises to You for loving me, hearing me, and answering me so exactly, so perfectly.  Thank You for gifts we don't deserve, for answers beyond our requests.  Thank You for speaking our language to help us understand Yours.  Lead us to ponder Your Love and Your Faithfulness and then to respond just as You want us to respond.  Shape our prayers to fit Your Will.  Mold our hearts to receive and pass on Your Love.  There is no one like You.  May we never settle for less than You want to do through us.

In the Name of Jesus, the Perfect Gift and the Giver of perfect gifts

Sunday, November 27, 2011 - Singing Parts vs. Shouting Opinions

"Live in harmony with each other.  Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people.  And don't think you know it all! . . . 

Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible." 

Romans 12:16 & 18

 "Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but those who are wise will calm anger." Proverbs 29:8

     Music can be therapeutic or traumatizing - depending on how, who, when, and even where.  Hearing your favorite Christmas carol sung by a death metal group - traumatizing. Hearing a generic version of "Happy Birthday" shouted to you in a crowded restaurant by a group of stressed servers who don't know you or your name - traumatizing. Oh, but a choir singing "Silent Night" in harmony and with heart or singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" with vigor - therapeutic and inspiring.  Listening to children singing "Away in a Manger"  or "Little Gray Donkey" melts the cold heart and warms the toes. 

     I wonder what the musical score would look like if some great musician could write the notes out for our home, our church, or our community. Would the notes be piled on top of each other until they were an indistinguishable blob on the page?  How many measures would beat along harmoniously until some sour note broke the spell?  How many screeching voices would drown out the the soothing ones?  With everyone claiming their right to "share" their opinions and criticisms, a pianist would have to scramble across the keyboard to play every note equally and forget any kind of melody or structure at all. 

     "Peace on earth" may begin with me keeping my mouth shut until my appointed time to sing or even keeping my opinion to myself - period.  My part may be small, but it adds to the overall effect.  You may or may not have a solo.  I may play in an ensemble. Either way, singing in harmony even poorly is more therapeutic than shouting because we have the right to shout. 

Lord God, forgive us for being consumed with spouting opinions when You've given us good works, great works to sing so the world can be healed. Use our voices for good, as testimonies of Your Power and salvation. May our lives demonstrate Your "Peace on Earth and Good Will to men."  Dissolve our personal agendas and wills into Your own, just as Jesus prayed You would do in His life.  

"Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. 
Yet I want Your will, not mine." 

Luke 22:42

We're entrenched in our bad habits of mouthing off instead of singing Your praises.  Heal us with Your mighty Power and lift our hearts to higher ground to share more than just our opinions, 

"And now, may the God of peace, 

Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 

equip you with all you need for doing His will.  

May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him." 

Hebrews 13:20-21

In the Name of Jesus Who spoke only the words You gave Him,

"The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in Me 

does His work through Me." 

John 14:10

Saturday, November 26, 2011 - "How to Love People FOR DUMMIES"

"So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks of them." 

2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT 

Walter is one nasty, grumpy, cussing old man.

    We watched part of a video of comedian Jeff Dunham using his talent for ventriloquism to create characters based on stereotypes. (Disclaimer: the bleeps were so numerous we stopped watching.) There was a crotchety old man named Walter, the Dead Terrorist Achmed, and a redneck named Bubba J.  Through the mouths of these "dummies" he said things he couldn't say without them, voiced unapologetic stereotypes and stated biases that would blackball him if it weren't for those little guys with their humorous faces.  
     We do the same thing with a different set of dummies. "Righteous indignation" handles all our grudges. "Spot Light" points out other people's sins to avert eyes from our own. "Reputation" labels people as "bad influences" to keep our families at a safe distance.       However, when Jesus said, "Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:44), He tore these dummies away and exposed us as the voices behind these unloving, unkind, unChristlike attitudes and comments. 
     Father, You are Love and You embrace the least of these, including me. Who are we to think we're better? Forgive us when we label people as unworthy of our forgiveness, our time, our attention, our friendship, our compassion.  Help us minister without regard to age, color, creed, religion, appearance, or their response to our efforts.  When we're tempted to judge or label others, put a picture of our own hypocrisy before our eyes and bring us to our knees in repentance.  Speak Your healing, loving words to anyone who needs them through us today.  
In the Name of Jesus, Love in human form


"Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked."
1 Corinthians 13:5


"As we have opportunity, let us do good to all."
Galatians 6:10


"Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.'
1 John 4:7

Thursday, November 24, 2011 - Thanksgiving Blessing

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

"I will wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken."

Psalm 62:1

May your list of blessings far exceed your list of requests today.

May you find a quiet hour to reflect on the God Who reigns.

May your day in every way celebrate how God has carried you through the year,

how His Presence is with you today,

and how He'll be with you through the winter ahead.

May thanksgiving and praise be on the menu 

and may you enjoy seconds and thirds!

Happy Thanksgiving!