Friday, November 30, 2012

The Comfort Series – #2 Your Dad and your Father


I’ve always looked up to my dad. When I was growing up, he was a very tall, dark, and handsome man. In his prime, he was around 6’2” and 180 pounds. He was the strong, silent type. He never stayed mad long. He persevered through his life and found some pleasures to enjoy along the way.

Now, he is a little bent-over 88-year-old man of about 5’11” with a much weaker voice than I remember. He’s more compliant and doesn’t want to make a ruckus. I still look up to him—in more ways than one.
In Crazy Love by Francis Chan, he talks about God’s constant love for us as our Father. I always knew my own dad loved me, but I don’t remember hearing the words very often. Now, he tells me often that he loves me because he knows his time is fleeting.

God has told me He loves me every day of my life. He’s never stopped, never grown tired of me not responding or never telling him those same words in return. He’s been patient, caring, merciful, and given me more grace then I deserve.

So what’s the difference between these two fathers? In my small finite mind, I believe the difference is love. God has told me from my conception that He loves me. In Psalm 139 He tells me He knew me when I was being formed inside my mother. He has loved me through my youth, teens, and young adult years when my decisions may not have pleased my earthly father. God has loved me without fail and has continued to love me unconditionally all 64 years of my life.

My earthly father loves me, but as with all humans, that conditional part comes into play a lot. I’m sure he had dreams for me, but I haven’t been known to conform. I’m sure I’ve disappointed him in some ways. Striking out on my own even as a young child, I would often just do my own thing and not stick to the rules too much. God loved me even through those times.

It’s great to have the love of two fathers—even if that love has been different through the years. I appreciate both of them and know that my heavenly Father has the greater plan for my life, the beginning and the end both within His sight. I look up to both of my fathers with respect, praise, and thanksgiving. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Comfort Series #1 – Prickers on my Pew



I’ve been teaching Francis Chan’s Crazy Love book in devotions at work and also in our ladies’ Bible study at church and it’s making me uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable!

It’s not that I don’t like the way Chan writes or what he teaches us, it’s the subject matter.  It focuses on trying to encourage me to do more. I don’t appreciate feeling like I’m not doing enough with my faith. I can feel the prickers poking me on my chair.

What do I mean by that? When I take a look at myself as a believer, I tend to look at myself with an “I think I’m OK” face in the mirror. I teach the Word, try to live out my faith as best as I can, and then this guy comes along and upsets my apple cart! He tells me that maybe I’m not doing enough or maybe I’m not living the kind of life God would choose for me. Who does he think he is—my conscience or something?

The truth of the matter is, he’s right. Self-righteous people often think they’re doing enough and don’t need to grow or need anyone else’s help in figuring out their spiritual life. They think they have life pretty much under control. Nothing could be further from the truth though. If we don’t check whether we’re meeting God’s mark, then we’re failing. We need to check this every day.

That’s why I’m uncomfortable. There is much, much more that I could be doing as a believer. I am failing every single day. Like this list, for example:
1) How many people have I told about my Savior this week?
2) What kind of love have I shown to my neighbor this week?
3) What can I give up that will free my time for more service to my King?
4) What don’t I need to own? 

And the list goes on and on and on!

I’m beginning to figure out some things about myself that are a little too up-close and personal. This is the first one—I’m too comfortable. That’s why I keep finding prickers on my pew when I do the lessons for Chan’s book. They are convicting me that I need to get out of that chair and into the field. Stop saying and start doing. Ouch! Have you felt a pricker on your pew lately? What are you going to do about it?

Stay tuned for more in this series about being too comfortable.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Animated Leaders

Anyone who talks about children has my attention. If it has to do with their care, their safety or their spiritual condition I am all ears.

So, when this article came out on a Tuesday in November, I was livid!  I am not an atheist. I believe in a true, living, just God who is the creator of all things. I believe he was born sinless and took our sins upon him. I believe children are His creation and very open and naive in their early years. They are pliable and able to be taught right from wrong and good from bad. That's why I was so upset by this article.


This article should shake you to the core!

When a network news reporter calls you...you'd better respond! This article about atheists hit the news yesterday and I got the call. My staff said I was very 'animated' while I was talking on the phone. She didn't print half the comments I said but hit the high spots. I think targeting kids with atheism is the last straw for me.
http://christiannews.net/2012/11/14/atheist-activists-targeting-children-with-good-without-god-campaign/

I would appreciate your comments after reading this article. I have been trembling just thinking about the children and families who are going to be led down this path of lies straight from Satan himself. If someone doesn't speak up for the children...who will.

Please pray with me that God will be known!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A Critical Attitude


Do you know a critical person? Someone who can’t see the good in anything or struggles to find joy? I know critical people. Sometimes it’s difficult to be around them.

Some comments a critical person might make:
Me: That’s a beautiful sky. Not a cloud in sight!
Critical: Yeah, but think of all the pollen the wind is blowing around. I know I’m going to be sick.

Me: I’m so glad the weekend is here!
Critical: Yippee. You work all week and then work all weekend at home. Oh joy.

There are times when I withdraw myself from people with critical attitudes because I don’t need negativity around me. But then the Holy Spirit convicts me: I need to show them more love! What a strange relationship this can be.

God’s Word tells us in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times…”  I think that means that no matter what attitude this person has, I still need to love them like Jesus loves them. I can’t begin to criticize them like they criticize everything around them. I need to encourage them to see the good in life. I need to be their joy!

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” I like that quote, but I also like the fact that God included the word “love” in his description of friendship.  So how about you? Do you have a friendship that needs a little love? As hard as it can be, try to demonstrate that Christ-like love today!

Monday, November 12, 2012

At the End of the Road

Last month, I took a trip to Maine. I have wanted to visit this picturesque state most of my adult life, so it was a dream come true. I have no connection to anyone there, but I had a pastor who grew up in Maine. He spent a great deal of time talking about the scenery, the food, and the people. When I found out I was going for sure, I emailed him and he told me some great little places to visit. I was so excited!

We visited beautiful, quaint towns all along the coastline. Usually we would find a lighthouse at the tip of an island, so we’d head out on the narrow roads to take a look. Some of the sights at the end of the road were breathtaking.

Huge rocks and tall cliffs stood mightily along the shore where the surf pounded them daily. A small, well-groomed caretaker’s house was always next to each majestic lighthouse. Sometimes we could take the winding staircase to the top of the lighthouse and other times we could just walk around the outside. When the lighthouse was closed, we could appreciate the view of the coastline.

I could sit for hours watching wave after wave retreat and then pounce down with amazing intensity on the huge rocks in front of me. There was something therapeutic about the sound of those waves and their dance of force. The spray of salt water made the scene postcard perfect.

These moments reminded me of some friends I’ve known over the years. Some seem to weather a storm no matter how hard the waves of despair or defeat crash down on them. They gather their beaten selves, stand with firmly placed feet, and wait. They challenge the next blast of pessimism or attacks from satan with the hands of God helping them stand. It’s an amazing phenomenon to watch.

Other people I know fall down at the first spray of disaster. They can’t stand up against anything and they whimper and cry in defeat before the pounding surf comes on the scene. Their faith in God is so shallow they fall like a tree with only surface roots. FLAT on their faces!

Oh LORD, make me steadfast, like the tree in Psalm 1: “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper.”