Sunday, January 8, 2012 - Happy Anniversary, Prince Charming

Tom as "Pops" -
one more reason to love that man!

     I was 21 and weighed in at 105 pounds; Tom was 23 and weighed 170 pounds when we married 29 years ago today.  He had a little more hair, a mustache and a beard.  I  had longer, wavier hair and we've both certainly "filled out" since then.  Twenty-nine years brings a lot of unwanted change to the exterior while bringing lovely and lasting inner changes.  I thank God He's the third Person in our marriage since our commitment to Him has held us together through certain stretches and challenges.  Our story grows sweeter: we're together and we love each other while we're still learning to give and take.  When we've felt out of control, God reminds us He's the Master of Order and Dependability.  He's still teaching us His Laws and Principles work best overall when we apply them first to the people at home.   Twenty-nine years later we're grateful and humble for all the ways we've seen our God love and work in us, for all the times He lifted us above our circumstances, and for all the times He's guided us to a new reason to fall in love all over again. 

     "In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and he saved us.  This is the LORD, we trusted in Him;  let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." 

Isaiah 25:9

"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 be faint." 

Isaiah 40: 30-31

Thank You, Father, for bringing Tom and me together.  You knew what You wanted to do through us and with us.  You've ordained our time for our good and for Your glory.  Don't stop now!  Lift us higher in Your Love, take us further in our faith,  and give us many more reasons to rejoice.
In the Name of Jesus, Who sanctified marriage with His commands of love

Saturday, January 7, 2012 - Playing the Fool

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' 

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."  

Psalm 14:1

     We only question God's Presence, Love and Purpose when things don't go according to our plan, when someone lets us down, or when we want to change God's plan or rules because temptation whispers persistently from dark corners.  At those times we must guard against playing the fool who questions God's right to rule us, His plan for us, His protective laws, His saving Word, and His loving watchfulness.  In spite of our ignorance of His big picture we, like the angry thief on the other cross, angrily demand He prove His God-ness by saving us from our present predicaments.  Our unspoken ultimatum?  "If You don't, then You're not God"  or at least, "You're not my God," and that's scary, shaky, sinking, sandy ground on which to try to build a life.  

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. . . But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  Matthew 7:24 and 26-27

Lord, be patient with our petty, pouting faith.  We're babies - wanting what we want now and we're unwilling to wait and see what You're doing in us, in the people around us, and in our circumstances.  Enunciate clearly, Spirit, and drown out any seeds of doubt in You and Your Truth.  Save us from foolishly trying other foundations and self-created laws. Our plans fail when You haven't breathed them into our hearts and minds.  Keep us from temptation and help our unbelief.

In the Name of Jesus Who lived an unwavering life of faith

Friday, January 6, 2012 - Curiosity May Kill Cats, But It Could Save Your Life

Nick and I decided that, in this picture, Addy looks like a talk show host or a teacher waiting for her students to settle down to hear a good story.  Doesn't she have an intelligent, patient look about her - as if she knows things and she's just waiting for you to listen so she can explain?  Or, maybe she's storing up the questions that will gush out of her sweet lips one after the other when she learns the verbal skills to ask.  Addy already shows the first sign of intelligence: curiosity.  She turns her head to see who came in the room, who's talking, what made a noise.  She reaches out to touch what interests her - "Can I catch the dog's tail? Why did he make that sound?  What sounds can I make?" 
   "Why?" "What?"  "Who?" "How?":  All these questions will come and I'll pray for Julie and Nick as they prepare their answers,  especially when the answer is "God."

"Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? 

Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? . . ." (God to Job in Job 38:32-33)

     Big Bang Theorists believe that the beauty, order and longevity of the earth, solar system, galaxy, and universe erupted from the chaos of an explosion. Their answer to "What caused the explosion?" is "some form of energy."  Under what other circumstances would they accept such an obscure and unscientific explanation? If such a thing were possible, why don't researchers simply put all the chemicals on a lab table, shut the door, lock it, and wait and see what happens?  
     Even a young child knows to ask, "Where did it all come from?  Who made the sky, the stars, the sea?" 

"Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?" 

(God to Job in Job 38:36)

 It's only as we get older that we answer from frustrated ignorance.

      "Then Job replied to the LORD:

 'I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.  

You asked, 'Who is this that obscures My counsel without knowledge?' 

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.  

You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 

My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You.  

Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.'" 

Job 42:1-6

Lord, how could the universe exist without intelligent order? Without a plan?  All our lives we learn the importance of planning, purpose and design before building anything or planning any event.  A two-year old with blocks knows a poorly built tower will tumble.  Forgive us for our vain and prideful audacity in trying to come up with "plausible" explanations for what You've done. Help us appreciate and fall in awe at the detail, the Power, the Intelligence, the God-ness and Goodness You put into creating an orderly, healthy place for Your creation. Keep us childlike and may we always bring our questions to You, for You alone know the answers.  You WOW us with Your wisdom. Like Job, we see our puniness in the light of Your Presence and Power.  May we, also like Job, see You personally and gain the right perspective.

In the Name of Jesus, "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  He is before ll things, and in Him all things hold together."  

Thursday, January 5, 2012 - Just Say "Yes"

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.  

And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 

Now it is God Who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  

He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 

2 Corinthians 19-22

     I finally saw Steven Spielberg's dinosaur movie "Jurassic Park" from beginning to end over the holidays. I had only seen bits and pieces (pardon the visual imagery that phrase may evoke) before but now I understand the plot and the debates about how far science should and shouldn't go in the pursuit of creating life.  One intelligent scientist voiced his concerns about reviving the dinosaur world based on his theory of chaos: always expect the unexpected because it will happen. We can't control life even if we get to the point of cloning it.  Life has a way of getting around our control, breaking through restraints and obstacles and happening in spite of us. 

    God deposited in each living being the will to live.  He also puts His Spirit in the lives of believers to empower us to live by faith in Christ when the world pushes us to give up and quit.  

"'But My righteous one will live by faith.  

And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.'  

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, 

but of those who believe and are saved."  

Hebrews 10:38-39 

Just like Jesus' disciples in the early days of their journey, we decide daily whether to say "Yes, all things are possible with You" to Jesus or to say "No, I don't believe we (You) can handle this one." 

"He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  

They were terrified and asked each other, 

"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"  

Mark 4:40

People disillusioned with the "half-gods" in their lives need to see believers live by faith in the One Who replaces chaos with order, darkness with light, "no" with "yes."   They need us to stand firm by hanging on to Christ in a world of both slick and sticky immorality. Their spiritual future could change by seeing us live with divine purpose, unashamedly giving God all the credit and speaking the Name "Jesus" without discomfort.  Neighbors and acquaintances watch to see if the future frightens us as it does them or if we're unfazed because we know we're in the Hands of Love. They need guarantees and Our One True God is the only guarantee in this life and the next.  

Lord, we need You.  Terrify us with Your power as You did the disciples so we can't deny Your Presence.  Jolt us into living by faith and loving every minute of You working in and around us.  Fill us with the desire to be the shining lights You call us to be.  Fill us with love and compassion to live so others will know You and live forever in heaven with us.   Guard us from guarding ourselves from You.  Open our hearts wide to release the Spirit's work in us. May we say "So be it, Amen" to whatever "Yes" You have for our lives today!

In the Name of Jesus, the "Yes" to all God's promises

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 - Copy of a Copy

     Being married to a musician with an incredible ear for 29 years has taught me that a copy of an original piece of music is rarely as crisp or clean as the original track.  Over the years I've learned to detect what were once obscure differences to my untrained ear.  Last night Tom sat at the kitchen table transferring music from one device to another.  When one song began to play, Nick, who was playing a video game about ten feet away, asked, "Was that song recorded live?"  His ear already picks up  the levels of quality between a honed, hour-consuming studio recording and one without all the tweaks.  
    The Bible describes people who lived their lives in personal and original relationship with God as their Lord, Friend, Confidante, and Covenant Keeper.  Strung between Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Samuel, Daniel, John the Baptist and Paul were also people living in the shadows of these "giants of faith" who demonstrate copy-cat lives of flimsy, fading faith.  


Aaron wanted to lead like his brother Moses and ended up leading the Israelites to worship the wrong god in all the wrong ways. (Genesis 32)


Barak, leader of the Israelite troops against the Canaanites, refused to exert his own faith in God before battle but insisted Deborah, prophetess and judge, go with him. God then allowed the honor of defeating the enemy pass to a woman with a tent stake. (Judges 4)

Eli's sons wore the priestly robes like their father, but the robes failed to cover their lack of love and respect for God and His people. (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25)

Ananias and Sapphira thought they could cloak their greedy hearts by imitating Barnabas' generosity, but Peter busted them and they died in their sin, serving as a warning to others. (Acts 4:36&37; 5:1-11)

Many men wore the crown as kings over God's people but none were men "after God's own heart" like David. No, every other one was more evil than the last, with only occasional bright spots of courage of faith. (1st & 2nd Kings; 1st and 2nd Chronicles)

Abraham enjoyed an intimate, lifetime relationship of trust and action with God to become the father of a nation. But what about his son Isaac?  Did Isaac's sons see in their father only a copy, a second-hand and passive relationship with God?  There's no record of Isaac sinning, but there's also no record of a faith-walk with God.  Jacob's wording in Genesis 31:42 shows he picked up on the difference. 


"If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands,  . . . " Genesis 31:42  


Jacob himself was well on his way to a life of leftover faith until God came to him personally in a dream and offered him the same covenant He had made to His grandfather.  Only then did God become the God of Jacob.  


"Then Jacob made a vow, saying "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that You give me I will give You a tenth." Genesis 28:20-22


Father, reveal Yourself personally to each of us today because none of us want to live a second-hand faith in the shadows of spiritual giants. We want You working in the details of our lives and leading us to become spiritual giants of deep faith. 
In the Name of Jesus the Alpha and Omega, the biggest of them all














   

Tuesday, January 3, 2012- Timely Time to Get Serious

  "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Jesus, Luke 18:8)   
      Like every other new year, 2012 is a question mark in the fog when we look at it as a whole year.  This one holds an election and, according to many who believe the Mayan calendar was designed by those who knew, the possibility of the Apocalypse. We heard a radio commercial about the importance of buying food insurance on our drive home Atlanta which brought back memories of the Y2K scare. For $3 a day per person, this company insures you won't have to stockpile food or water for potential catastrophic events this year. They'll provide delicious, easily prepared food for you and your family.  Could they start practicing now?  Nine dollars a day for delicious, easily prepared meals would help the 2011 budget immensely.  
     I don't laugh at the idea of the end of the world since the Bible declares it will happen, but I do find it mystifying that people make promises based on the supposition they'll still be here to feed whomever is left behind. My Bible says no one knows the time of Jesus return which means the Mayans could be wrong about December 21, 2012 - (12/21/12) it could happen sooner.

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  

    But you, brothers are not in the darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.  We do not belong to the darkness.  

   So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. . . since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."  1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,8

    Lord, You work in mysterious ways so I pray You'll use this "scare" to encourage people to search for You with all their hearts. Help us as believers to prepare our hearts and hands to help them find the Way.  Guide us to live out this year as if it were our last - daily seeking You and letting you change the future for others through us.
"Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  Matthew 6:9-13
In the Name of Jesus Who first prayed this prayer
   

Monday, January 2, 2012 (1-2-12) - Screensavers Can't Toast Your Marshmallows

"Life can never be abundant unless it has abundant resources." (E. Stanley Jones, Abundant Living)  


"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:20, NIV)


Screensavers can't toast your marshmallows or warm your toes, but then again neither can unlit or unfed wood. I don't want to be a screensaver believer providing no warmth or use, but that's what happens when I fail to plug into God's Presence.  My faith and witness are as flat as that monitor screen when I opt for a superficial glance at a Bible verse and and a "God bless us, every one."  That's not enough charge time for those who want the abundant life Jesus promised us, for those who are ready to take the next step into the deep end of faith. 


Jesus made the Eternal Source of His own Life and ours clear: 
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19


"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life." John 5:26


"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it." John 5:21  (adulterers and prostitutes, thieves in their final hours, traitors, outcasts, the poor, the rich and, even the rare self-righteous religious person who repented and turned fully to Him.) 


"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24


Have we "crossed over from death to life?" If so, then, what contributes to the burnout or discouragement? Why the occasional fizzling faith or layer of dusty old pride?


The answer is always the same: We've settled for a screen-saver relationship with God instead of taking off our shoes by His burning bush. We've plugged into some artificial source of energy such as ego-strength, human love, or duty, all of which have short shelf lives and end up draining us rather than filling us. 
May 2012 be the year we learn to stay plugged into the God Who can supply all our needs and Who wants to use us in His cosmic plan.  


Lord God Almighty and Eternal, Love Unending - I'm plugging in to You today. I'm kneeling before You to draw from You what You want to run through me today.  Jolt me into the vision You have for this life and this time in this place.  You bless us with Your Presence yet we turn to lesser powers. Forgive us. Charge us. Refresh us. Use us for Your greater purposes and remind us to keep coming to You rather than feeding on alternate sources of power.
In the Name of Jesus Who knew only Your Power and Direction


Inspired by Abundant Living, E. Stanley Jones