Monday, November 14, 2011 - Body and Soul

"Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God." 

Romans 6:13

"Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate.  

If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.  

You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat?"  

Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. 

Since the Master honors you with a body, honor Him with your body."

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (The Message)

     Satan can no longer touch the soul of a believer, but he's bound and determined to steal our witness. In the passages above, Paul deals with sensual sins IN the churches he wrote. Later in 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle warns us not to be fooled into thinking that because our souls are safe, we can do whatever we want with or to our bodies and get away with it. 

    He uses every sensual or tasty temptation imaginable to draw us into some form of addiction: the taste of food; the rush that comes with sexual images or the next conquest; the drugged or drunken feeling of well-being; the adrenaline and energy from anger; and the list goes on and becomes more personalized for each of us.  If our habits and strongholds, our "personality quirks" and addictions keep people from seeing the power of God, they move on in their search for the life-changing power they need to break the strongholds and addictions in their own lives. Does that mean they want to see airbrushed, photo-shopped Christians? Just the opposite. They need to know we struggle with all the same temptations and addictions, but that we don't struggle alone. They need the same hope and help from the same God Who has already freed us from the greatest threat to our bodies: death. He didn't free us to watch us enslave ourselves to self-destructive habits. He freed us to live in peace, love and joy. (Galatians 5:22)

"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." 

Romans 8:6

   Lord, forgive us for allowing anything into our lives that battles with You for power in us. We've already declared You "Lord," but then we open the door to other "lords."  We want You alone to rule us. You alone are the Mighty God Who has freed us and continues to work in us in Love.  Take away our appetites for self-destructive habits. Live through us so others see You working. May they take hope and know there's a God Who loves them and doesn't use or abuse them.

In the Name of Jesus, Lord over death and Lord Who said "Go and sin no more."

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

Saturday, November 12, 2011 (Happy Birthday, Crystie!) Open Arms

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. 

He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies; 

and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.  Do  you believe this?"  

John 11:25-26

"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, 

I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven."

Matthew 10:32

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." 

Matthew 10:39

      Have you ever been invited to something because you accidentally overheard the hostess inviting someone else? Awkward! The hostess looks up surprised and splutters "Oh, you come TOO!" but no matter how much she insists, you know you weren't on the original guest list.  You graciously mention other plans and, as much as the poor hostess tries to cover it, relief relaxes her face. She was already mentally addressing the changes she would be forced to make to accommodate you if you had accepted.  

     God graciously included us on His original guest list when He said, "Whoever." It's a sincerely open invitation, yet our name cards are already in place at His table. He won't have to add another cup of water to the soup or be forced to pull out the broken chair or cram in an odd dish with the matching set because He wasn't expecting us. His Heart longs for us to believe, turn around and accept His invitation above all the others in the stack. His Arms ache to hold us which results in a breathtaking response when we accept: we realize we're home in the Arms of the Father-God Who loves us as angels rejoice in His Presence. 

"In the same way, I tell you, 

there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

 Luke 15:10

 Father, Grace Personified, thank You for inviting me into Your Arms opened wide with Love when You said "Whoever."   Thank You for opening Your feast of blessings to include me.  Thank You that angels rejoiced when I accepted Your invitation and, Lord, help me never misunderstand my place at Your table as something I earned. Keep me from blurring or obscuring Your invitation, but to make it clear that all are welcome, all are loved, all are accepted.

In the Name of Jesus Who told us angels rejoice when we accept Your invitation

Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado

Friday, November 11, 2011 (11/11/11) Thank You, God! Thank you, Veterans!

     Before I got out of bed this morning, Tom asked me out for a lunch date. I'm blessed to still get lunch dates after 29 years and I'm thankful for my husband who treats me with respect and love. He's stuck with me when I've been as lovable and lovely as that grumpy Maxine on the Shoebox greeting cards.  He's a godly man, a loving husband and the greatest dad for our two kids.     Then I saw the beautiful faces of our children: Julie and Nick, ten years apart but so much closer by heart. Julie practiced becoming a mother on her then "little" brother. During the last year Nick transformed from pre-teen into young man somewhere along the way. Just compare the photo to the right from two weeks ago to the one below of him last year when we visited  Hot Springs
for the first time.    
     One year ago we had just moved to a rent house for the first two weeks of our new life and ministry in Benton.  From Alabama to Arkansas, from the Gulf coast to Little Rock; from the battle between the Crimson Tide and War Eagle to a state where Razorbacks rule; from temperate two seasons to the variety and color of four; from being long-time staff members to being the new kids on the block along with hundreds of transitions and changes we couldn't have begun to predict.

     And here are our other Nick and our Addy, two people God grafted in and grew out of our family who bring joy and love in new dimensions, who represent some of the most important answered prayers in our lives.  I knew from what everyone said that one day we'd make fools of ourselves over grandchildren and we'd think ours are the most amazing beings on the planet  - which she is but God keeps surprising me by pouring out blessings through that son-in-love of ours. We're crazy about him as a person,  a friend, as our daughter's husband, as our son-in-law, as our Nick's brother-in-law, and now as Addy's daddy.  
     We're beyond grateful to have our parents - all four of them, to lean on and draw strength from, to enjoy and appreciate more all the time.  We're thankful for siblings who are a phone call or text away. We're thankful for those closest to us - our families, but today we realize we live out our lives and fulfill God's purposes for us on a backdrop of freedom provided by men and women we've never met.  We enjoy spiritual blessings without the imposition of political or government regulation, thanks to people who've stood between power hungry dictators and our borders.  All the sweet, simple blessings God pours out are sweeter because someone said "No" to tyranny.  God has blessed our family in the the beauty and freedom of the United States. Thank You, God, and thank you, courageous Veterans of the Armed Forces.

Thursday, November 10, 2011 - Failure to Launch

"If someone claims, "I know Him well!" but doesn't keep His commandments, 

he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. 

But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love." 

2 John 6

     As hateful as I know the sin of pride is, it has kept me from joining cults or following anyone off a cliff.  When someone asks me to do something outside my comfort zone, I buck and immediately wonder "Who do you think you are?"  "Why would I do that when it sounds potentially destructive to my personal being?"  

     Unfortunately, I've not always asked myself these questions - as if I know myself and can trust myself to direct my life.  Pride, while keeping me from blind loyalty to the Jim Jones's of the world, has also been the stumbling block that keeps me from obeying the One Person I know I can completely trust, the One Person Whose plan never lets me down. According to 2 John, my failure to launch when God says "blast off" means I don't know Him as well as I claim to know Him and I don't trust Him as much as I say I do.  When God nudges, directs, or commands, I find myself overly interested in running through the checklist again. That's when pride becomes hazardous and self-destructive, fizzling my faith and keeping me unlit and attached to the ground rather than lighting the dark sky for others. 

Lord, ignite our hearts to completely trust You. You deserve blind loyalty but You don't demand it because You prove Your Love to us daily. You plan what's best for us and those we love, help us accept it. You tell us what will bring the greatest joy and fulfillment to our lives, but You don't force us to accept it or follow it. Sometimes I wish You would, but in Your great Love, You lead. Give us wisdom and strength to push the button and launch out into what could be the thrill of a lifetime. Speak to our hearts, Lord Jesus!

In the Name of Jesus - Who ascended into heaven after a wild ride on earth!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - No "Good Cops" in the Kingdom

"Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut, 
Doesn't have a swelled head, 
Doesn't force itself on others, 
Isn't always 'me first,'
Doesn't fly off the handle, 
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end."
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 (The Message)


     We have our work cut out for us to achieve any one of these ideals of Love for even a moment on the smoothest day. In fact, too many smooth days cause us to become overly finicky and, as my Daddy says, "nit-picking." People don't feel loved when we scrutinize their faults or catalogue and file their wrongdoings.  God's Word says - "Skip the interrogation. Don't look at the evidence.  Quit trying to discover motives. The people you've placed under your bright investigative light are human and, therefore, 'guilty.' It doesn't matter how guilty or guilty of what, I call you to love them anyway, love them in spite of the guilt. It's what I do for you daily."  

"He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward."

 Proverbs 11:18

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, 
and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." 

Jeremiah 33:3

Father, stop the snide little voices in our heads that comment and criticize. Replace the putdowns with prayer; the lists of reasons not to love with lists of ways to love; the calculations with kindness.  Help us draw the line thickly and firmly between trying to understand someone and judging them. Take away the badges we've given ourselves and help us understand there are no "good cops" in Your kingdom. 

In the Name of Jesus Who loved us all in spite of the "guilty" verdict

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 - Candidates and Slogans

"You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above 

or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 

You shall not bow down to them or worship them;"

Exodus 20:3-5 

    Something inside me felt sick when I first heard the title for the television show "American Idol," but at least the creators and producers were honest.  Americans love to put other human beings on pedestals, especially when they're beautiful, talented, shiny people, but as a friend of mine said, "God won't stand for it."
     Idolatry rears its ugly head in every arena, but sometimes the church proves to be the most fertile ground for the particular idolatry of humanism.  Humanism leads us to elect candidates and slogans to follow instead of learning to personally trust God Almighty.  

     "Give me a spiritual leader who spoon feeds me what tastes good" and 'wherever he leads, I'll go,'" says the lazy churchmember.

     "'I Surrender All' to someone who's talented, charismatic, and speaks enough spiritual jargon to satisfy my ears and make me feel good," calls out the emotional churchgoer.

     "Just get to the point, keep it short, and get me out on time," votes the busy church attender.

     We break the first two commandments and sacrifice our personal relationships with God when we focus on human leaders. And, being human, they will falter or fail miserably from the pressure we put on them to stay on that pedestal. 
     Many of us have learned the hard way not to bow before another person or to let another human overly influence our lives. Does that mean we've escaped humanism? Heavens, no! Satan simply places a new candidate with new slogans on the platform. 
     "If you want something done right, do it yourself."  

     "People will let you down; you're the only one you can depend on."  

We vote for self-reliance and ultimately, when we get something right or someone praises us, we tip on over into self-worship and there's still a human being on the pedestal.


     But wait, there's more: humanism offers more than human beings as gods. We've developed slogans and goals we'd hate to leave behind: "Quality; Excellence; No glitches; Well-oiled machines."  Odd slogans for people who've studied how God used Moses, the temperamental stutterer; Abraham, the self-preserving truth-bender; David, who would've been executed for his crimes if not for that crown on his head; Elijah, the depressed who should've been most impressed by God's Power; Peter, the big mouth; and Paul, the avenger God had to blind to show the Truth. "Quality; Excellence; No glitches; Well-oiled machines:" strange beliefs for the church that began as eleven men who scattered at the first sign of trouble. Amazingly, God still insists on shining His glory and perfection through cracked pots.


And let's not forget the tools of worship: music; sermons; devotional Books; Bible study classes; tradition(s); a pet theological point; a particular ministry; or, satisfying our appetites for something new and exciting among many others.  If any one of these tools becomes "necessary" to our worship experience or more important than communicating with our Father; if we  "can't worship" due to setting, sound, the soloist, or the  hypocrite sitting nearby, then we've placed something or someone else on the pedestal and, friends, God won't stand for it because none of them are Him. 


Father, help us honestly recognize and confess where humanism and idolatry have pushed You off the pedestal in our churches, off the thrones in our hearts. We've allowed this idolatry to cripple Your church. We confess that we're spoiled and selfish and like things our way. We're lazy and would rather have someone do for us than stretch out our hands to grasp Yours or kneel to beg You to show us Your way. Take away our desire to be "wowed" by anyone other than You: show us Your Glory so we never stop short again. Remove all idols from Your people and Your church and may our eyes, our hearts, our devotion stay riveted to You.
In the Name of Jesus Who said, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)