wHo'S on First? Easter/virus baseball

In the late 30's/early 40's, comedians Abbott and Costello did a comedy sketch eventually titled "Who's On First" (Wikipedia). It was a play on words where the baseball players names are pronoun/phrase "nicknames".

This year, 2020, many sport seasons were cut short and/or not starting on time due to the Covid-19 virus. Large gatherings of people for sporting events, concerts and festivals have been called off. The pandemic caused by the virus has rippled into cancellations of May and June events as major planning for Spring and Summer happens right while all of this is happening too.

It is also Easter weekend. A time when many of us would be attending church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. A time when many of us would be having dinner with family and friends. A time to celebrate Spring and nicer weather. However, many of us are under Stay at Home orders. Our celebrations will be different this year for many of us.

The above events are what (2nd base!) got me thinking about what I'm about to write. I have also heard people struggle with faith especially at a time like this or when some other event rocks their world. I do too. Still. I don't know (3rd base!) all the answers. Still. Too much of the time I still find myself overthinking God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible.

It is when I overthink, I start to question something I have stood on most of my life. Faith. To some this is going to be too simplistic. To some this will be filled with theological/non-Biblical holes. Honestly, I don't know that much about baseball other than a comedy sketch and watching some of my nephews games. 

I often hear people say, "How could a loving God let "x" happen?" We often refer to God as our Heavenly Father. When a person has not had a good earthly example of a father, this can be a major sticking point to belief in God. I hear people say that the Bible is full of archaic information and too many rules. However, we follow rules everyday. Traffic lights. Employment. Safety. Rules to Stay at Home when we'd rather be out, even if we have nowhere currently to go.

So. Take a walk with me in your mind to your local baseball/softball field.

The rules. The Bible. How do you play a game without rules? How can everyone play by the same guidelines if each team and/or each player made up their own rules? We may not like it. We probably won't like all of it. Doesn't make it less of a rule. The basic rules of the Bible are the ten commandments*. If it has been awhile, it might be a good time to check out the Bible. It is more than just rules. There are more ways than ever to read and listen. Currently, in the United States, we are free to read it, search it or listen to the Bible whenever we choose. This is not true everywhere.

The team. Christians believe in the Trinity of God. How can one entity be three? A team contains more than one player. The trinity of God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The other team. In this game, it is called spiritual warfare. Playing to win. The battle of good and evil. In today's world, we water it down to good and not so good. Everybody wins. If we are "good", we will get to go home, if you believe in that.

Umpire. God. We may not like the decision. We can question. We can argue. Umpire makes the final call and coaches and fans have to live with it. In a world of instant replay, wow does this come into question. Maybe more than it used to. Depending on which outcome one wants, we can find info to "prove" what we need to see to make us feel better.

The coaches. Other Christians. Want you to join our team. Encouraging. Cheerleaders. Help us learn the rules of the game.

The fans. Rooting for a team. May or may not understand the game that well. Sometimes embarrassed to let their friends know which team they root for. Coaches can be fans too. They might be sitting right next to you. (May probably will be eating snacks from the concession stand)

Home. Heaven. Christians believe that this life we live is not ALL there is. We believe that we will get to spend eternity with our team in Heaven if we accept Jesus as our Savior.

I'm trying to think of a baseball way to explain hell. I'm not being real successful. Right now, the only way I can think of is if you REALLY don't like the game of baseball, but you are told you HAVE to play whether you want to or not.....the umpire doesn't MAKE you spend time forever playing baseball. You can question the umpire, in fact it is encouraged. You can disagree with the umpire, that's OK too. You've had time to decide if you want to play. That is your choice. That is free will. We have the choice to walk.

The World Series. EASTER On Good Friday, the other team thought they had won. They had KILLED the home team. They sent them to the dugout. The coaches and some of the fans were brokenhearted. On Easter Sunday, the home team rose up and the world was never the same. 

In this game of life it may be the 3rd strike in the bottom of the ninth. Are you running home? You can be in the stadium as a fan. Or not. BUT you are always invited to get on the field and play.
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*Ten commandments are found in Exodus 20 BibleGateway.com

John 11:24-26 (NIV)
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Revelation 21:5-7 New International Version (NIV)
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Who is that man?

I meant to write this AT Easter, but life stayed busy. The fog of grief is not easy to get out from under. Planning a funeral is like planning a big party, but the guest of honor doesn't attend. It is a sad occasion with glimpses of laughter clouded by tears. There is paperwork. SO much paperwork. And decisions. Some minor. Some major. Not all can wait until the fog clears. We move slowly through dealing with life without dad, and the world spins on while it feels like a bomb dropped in our family.

I kept thinking what else is there to be said at/about Easter? SO many things have already been said/written. BUT amazingly enough when glancing back there is a link for me this year that I have not felt before. An innocent question recently that reminded me of long ago.

"Who is that man?" asked a 5 year old at our dad's visitation. I had wondered if it would be too overwhelming for the grand kids and other children that would come to see us. While death is a part of life, it is not one that is easy for us as grown ups to process let alone share with children that have questions we may not even be ready to answer for ourselves.

I thought he was looking at my brother so I started to explain that man was my brother like he had his brother along.

"No," he said. "Who is that man lying in the box by the flag?" He meant our dad. I explained it was our dad's body, but he wasn't there anymore. I don't like to say sleeping because that seems like it would make kids scared to go to sleep.

We knew dad's life journey was coming to an end. He had battled melanoma cancer that returned more times than he could fight. We had some time to process at least a bit before that day. While it was painful for us as his children to start grieving. We, as parents, were also worried about how our kids would deal with losing "Grandpa Bob".

I started to explain death to them as a butterfly. The caterpillar goes into that cocoon. When it comes out it is not the same. It breaks out of the cocoon and it is set free!

Each of us are body, mind and spirit. Our spirit lives in our body, but when it is time, we leave this body behind and we are set free!

A long time ago, many people were asking that same question: "Who is that man?"

He was a carpenter's son, he understood things that teachers couldn't explain, he gathered a group of disciples around him, he traveled around doing miracles, healing people, talking about His father, and telling stories that had a deeper meaning. People started to think He was the king they had been waiting for. They welcomed him to town by waving palm branches and saying "Hosanna!"

A group of religious leaders were asking the same question: "Who is that man?" He says he is the son of God. That he can tear down the temple and rebuild it in 3 days. He is getting too powerful. We must stop him! They found a way to get Jesus out of the way. They took him to higher ups that found him not guilty.

They wanted death by crucifixion even if it meant letting someone worse go. The same people that welcomed Jesus to their town with a parade were now shouting "Crucify him!" and they did. They hung a sign over his head to tell the world who he was: Jesus, King of the Jews.

He was later placed in a tomb with a large stone and guards in front of it. On the 3rd day, when some of his friends came, they were met by an angel: He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6 NIV)

"Who is that man?" JESUS He was and is who He claims to be.

This year, the promise of eternal life became more obvious for our family.

It is BECAUSE Jesus died, that we are changed, we can have everlasting life and we are set free.

BLESSED EASTER!

Bullied

We are living in a world where bullying is almost constantly in the news. A world where we think it is just kids on a playground teasing each other. A world where on a "good" day it is "just" words and not fists....or guns. A world where social media can sing your good graces or broadcast your greatest failure instantly to millions of people. A world where it is not just children picking on each other.

One might think that bullying is a new trend or maybe we just hear about it more frequently. Bullying takes on many forms and there is even an instance of it in the Bible.

Jesus came as a teacher, a prophet, a teller of stories that had a deeper meaning and as a leader of twelve disciples that were hand-picked by him. He went into towns and did miracles of feeding thousands of people with only a small amount of food available. He healed people who had been sick for YEARS just by their asking....or touching his robe. He raised his friend from the dead 4 DAYS after he had died. People saw miracles. People wanted Jesus to be a King.

They gave him a parade as he entered town:

John 12:13 (NLT) took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”

However, when someone starts to get a following, there are also those that are not happy with how things are turning out. Maybe that someone is trying to take away their perceived power. Maybe it is "just" as simple as they feel threatened.

In this case, the "they" are the religious leaders at the time. Jesus was cutting in on their gig. He wasn't letting them get away being as holy as they let on. It sounds like they wanted people to act one way while they went on acting holier than thou and making new rules for others to follow that they usually were not following themselves.

They tried to trick Jesus into answering questions in a way that they felt justified their dissatisfaction. When Jesus would question them back, they knew how popular he was becoming and that they were losing ground.

They finally had enough and found a way to get him in front of a governor and demanded the death penalty by crucifixion. The governor wasn't having it. He declared Jesus not guilty. He said he would have Jesus whipped and let go. He sent Jesus to Herod. Also, not guilty. They put Jesus on trial and He did not give them the answers they wanted. In fact, most of the time, he was silent, said "you have said", or questioned them back which made the leaders more angry. They finally nailed him by having others state that Jesus had said he was the son of God.

Then things got even more ugly and it is obvious that bullying is not a new practice.

Matthew 26:67-68 (NLT) Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Matthew 27:27-31 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27:37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Matthew 27:39-44 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way. 

Those that were chanting "crown Him!" and waved palm branches when He rode into town were the same ones yelling "crucify Him!" as they watched nails being driven above the palms of His hands. The same hands that would have been so willing.....that still are....so willing to grab on to ours. No matter where we are in life. No matter what we have done. He is willing and able to be our King.

John 14:27-29 (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

Thankfully, that wasn't the end of the story......

Daddy

Daddy

When I was born

a man became a daddy

He tickled my face

and waited for my first smile

He held my hands

as I took my first steps

He told me he loved me 

He told me of God 

and a love from above

He taught me of Jesus

and took me to church

He taught me with actions

not just from a book

The day is coming

when my daddy will take

his last breath

Then he'll see our Daddy 

he told me so much about

K.L. 3-9-18

Two Chairs

Life. It remains hectic. To my detriment. I get overwhelmed. My cup gets empty. I don't take time to build myself back up. I don't get enough sleep. I don't make it to church. I make excuses. Many. Excuses. But yet. I seem surprised when this happens. It is a cycle. Vicious. Unrelenting. Mostly in my head.

But.

Sunday, I made myself go to church. I made myself "people" (get around people other than my immediate circle of family and friends). I had the nagging for awhile. Not really guilt. Or shame. Just feeling like it was one more thing on the to do list in my head and one more thing I couldn't/wouldn't do. Sometimes I feel like it is one more place where I will find I need/want to do one more thing that right now I can't. Or won't.

But.

Then I get there. I am reminded why I need to go. I need to praise. I need to worship. I need to listen. I need to learn. I've been a Christian for a long time. I still sometimes hesitate to tell people. I'd like to think I live my life like it. Honestly, that's not enough.

But.

There are still new things to learn. New ways of explaining that just seem to make more sense. Sunday was one of those days.

There are various ways to explain God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to someone that maybe hasn't heard, doesn't want to or won't acknowledge the possibility that there is: a higher power, a creator, God. One of the illustrations available is a bridge. That we (people) are on one side. God is on the other. Sin got in the way. Jesus on the cross became a bridge to let us cross the gap. (Sometimes search links don't always work the greatest so search: bridge salvation illustration if you'd like to see one...or many!)

At church on Sunday, there was another illustration...even better than a drawing. (This is a very abbreviated, observational description) I'll break some of it down with thoughts, etc. in another post.

Two chairs. The chairs face each other. The speaker* sat in one depicting us. The other chair was the "God chair". We were created to be in relationship with God. Facing each other. Not equal. But able to know God on our own. Sin entered the world and we turned our chair around with our backs to God because we wanted to see things from God's perspective. A bunch of rules, regulations, laws and communication through the priests became the way to communicate with God. God wanted more for us. He sent Jesus, his son. He lived, grew up, taught, was accused and sentenced to death. He was beaten, crucified on a cross, died and was buried. This. This, paid the price for sin and the curtain in the temple was torn and allowed us to speak to God on our own again. Our chair was turned back around. Three days later, Jesus was resurrected and lived on the earth again for a time.

We have the choice (freewill) to turn our chair back around to God. We can turn our chair around again, but turn it back. We can choose to never turn that chair around.

I will add: We can investigate further to understand more of what God will do for us if we do turn that chair back to Him. There are many resources available to do that. (https://leestrobel.com/ , http://coldcasechristianity.com/ are just a couple)

What Jesus did for us is called salvation. There are people that will think we never need saving. That we are not created. That there is not a Creator. That there is not a God. You may be one of those people.

BUT.

Are you at least willing to take a seat?

*Thank you R.W. Young Life

1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (NIV)
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Getting what we deserve?!?!?!?!

I think we're falling down the rabbit hole, my dear Alices, and I'm not sure that we'll like what we find when we hit bottom!

The world (or the infamous "they") tell us that WE deserve: Better...more...just....just....ugh! They don't necessarily tell us why or how much it will cost OR even HOW to get it. Just that we do. Deserve "it". It, like normal, has become an ever moving impossible to bullseye target. Mostly because what works one day won't necessarily work the next. The big "it" of today becomes the left behind who cares? of tomorrows. We are living in a world that can spread truth, lies, happiness or sadness all in the brief moment of hitting "send" or "post".

However, when we see someone get what the world says we deserve (money, fame, respect, _______, etc etc), people tend to get their panties in a bunch because then jealousy has a tendency to creep in. It is a hamster wheel we can't get off of....or can we?

Truth be written, we get what we think we deserve. Oh, the limits we put on what we think...unless negative thoughts. Those little devils seem to be quite willing to be as loud as we let them get. Yes, I wrote "let them". BECAUSE we have a lot more control over our thoughts than we give ourselves credit for.

I am beginning (again!) to realize how much I place my limitations on God. He believes we deserve better. Why don't we?

God is willing to give us the complete opposite of what we deserve. The question then becomes: are we willing to accept it?

Ephesians 3:14-19 (MSG) 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.

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will direct your paths.

Matthew 7:11 NLT
If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

But HOW do you KNOW?!?!?!?! Who moved?

My early AM pondering is leading me, as usual, to thoughts of belief....and unbelief. I was raised going to church (2x most Sundays). My dad (God bless him!) read a devotion for us at dinner.....where we all sat down and ate together. In later years, grandma V.V. was there too. The T.V. was off. We talked to each other. Do I remember about what? Not necessarily. Do I know I miss those days? YES!

I have felt guilty that I let myself get too busy, too distressed and too depressed to carry on our family tradition. I did much better when our kids were little. It was "easier" then. It seems that with all the time-saving devices and technologies we would have MORE time. Sure doesn't feel that way though. More time wasters maybe.

I don't remember ever really questioning my faith. I guess I always just accepted it as true. I remember that I didn't think/know/realize about the personal relationship part of faith until much later. I know that even though I now understand the relationship better I still don't spend time doing things I think I SHOULD do, but find plenty of things I WANT to do! One of our pastors used to say his wife got frustrated that they did not sit as close to each other in the front seat as they used to when they dated, etc. He was driving. So he said, "Who moved?"

I see this in my relationship with God also. He's driving. He's in the same seat. IF I'm not as close as I want to be? I'm the one who moved....and needs to slide back across that seat.

I used to be surrounded by friends and family that did not question their faith either. This makes it MUCH easier to know what I believed. Lately, I have been around many more people that would consider themselves atheists or agnostic. I've been to classes and heard talks about "evangelizing". When you are around people of your own faith and beliefs, you can get out of the realization that everyone may not believe as you do. I think this is what is happening to me.

Someone very close to me is one of those people. A couple of the things he asks me is what if you had not been raised "that" way? What if no one had told you about God? I try not to think about it, but my mind keeps getting drawn back to those questions.

I would LOVE to think that if that were true, I would look around at the nature around me....at my own body...that has held and produced a little bundle of joy.....at his body and how he was grown from my baby to full grown son. The fact that my heart beats, my lungs breathe and my eyelids open and shut without me ever thinking of how those things happen. I would like to think of the people that I have been blessed to know. I would like to think that I would KNOW that a piece was missing in this puzzle of life. I would like to think that someone would give me reading material, a Bible so I could form my own opinion.

Thankfully, since I had a foundation to build on, I have found that easier. Many have not been given that opportunity. I have great respect for adults that come to faith. By the time we are adults, we have formed opinions on information. We have logical minds that try to override a loving, not so logical heart and soul. We have to ponder if we even have a soul and where does it go?

I have to admit I don't have ALL the answers and I'm grateful that I do not have to. In the meantime, I will continue to pass on the insights I've been given, plant the seed if you will. I will leave it up to others along the paths of life to help take care of it....to take care of you. I will pray that you will find a way to KNOW that works for you. I will pray that if you are feeling the need to move back or find that missing piece that you actively search for answers that will bring you peace....and understanding....that you can know.


Colossians 4 (NIV) Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I have NO idea......

Being a person who likes to solve problems, I have a difficult time admitting I don't know the answer. I am relatively good at framing Google searches to find an answer if I don't know. I like to share information I discover (probably sometimes TOO much). In the age of technology, there is SO much to discover. Add to that my procrastination problem, and I can end up in a real mess.

When problems (opportunities) arise, I am quicker than I would like to worry. Even though I have watched and experienced God work in my life and the lives of those I love, sometimes worry is my first line of defense. Worry does not solve the problem. Often it makes finding an answer take longer.

So today, the phrase "I have no idea" started rolling around in my brain. I think this is more than "I don't know". An I don't know indicates that there is an answer to be found....if not today, in the near future.

"I have no idea" indicates there may not be an answer. However, sometimes my heart can overrule my logical mind. When I acknowledge that I have no idea how to handle an issue, I give God the opportunity to give me ideas. Usually those solutions, are ones that pop in my head after I feel I've tried everything else.

Now to only remember to 'fess up earlier. I might be able to save some time by just realizing I may have NO idea, but God does.

 Job 36: 22-25 (MSSG) 

 “Do you have any idea how powerful God is? Have you ever heard of a teacher like him?
Has anyone ever had to tell him what to do, or correct him, saying, ‘You did that all wrong!’?
Remember, then, to praise his workmanship, which is so often celebrated in song.
Everybody sees it; nobody is too far away to see it.

1 John 3:1 (MSSG)
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Watch Out!.....On Our Best Behavior?

Matthew 24:3-5 (NIV)
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 

There is a certain street in a nearby town where the speed limit is 35. It does not seem like it should be 35 so many people (myself included) may find themselves doing slightly (or a LOT) over the speed limit. I am somewhat familiar with the area. I know that there is often a police car somewhere in hiding along that road. Usually, I can remind myself and remember to slow down. Recently, a car going in the other direction was obviously going over 35. After checking my speedometer (just in case), I was thinking "bummer if they pass a cop". A few hundred yards later....there was a cop. I thought I wish I could warn the driver....tickets are expensive! The car passed. The blue/red lights went on. Busted.

Luke 21:7-9 (NIV)
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Maybe it is just me, but did you ever notice that if there is an officer of the law around ..... or the thought of an officer of the law being somewhere in the vicinity, that you pay a little closer attention to make sure you are driving the right speed, using blinkers, etc.? Maybe it's not just driving. Maybe it's when you're in class at indoor recess and you know the teacher on duty may be lurking out in the hall and quick pop into your room to see what's up. Or we dress up to go before a judge.

We are usually on our best behavior around people we consider our authority figures. Why is that? Without the uniform and/or title, that person isn't much different than you or me. However, we benefit from having people in authority. When children are small, they need to be taught that their parents have authority. They will not like it, but they learn to respect it.

Recently, I have had some discussions in person and online regarding life, God, death, evolution, creation, God, absolute truth....and did I mention God? Some of the conversations have made me think about what I believe by hearing or reading what others believe. Honestly, sometimes it has gotten me to question my own faith or lack thereof. How do you explain faith to someone who has a hard time grasping that there could be someone bigger than us?  It is difficult to explain sometimes when what I believe is becoming less and less tolerated and more and more made fun of.

I was asked if I believe in God because of fear. I am not scared of death. I am scared of the actual dying part. Mostly because I don't know how or when. I am scared of not living my life to its full capacity because I let fear rule too many of my decisions. I think I would be more afraid if I thought I had to handle all THIS by myself.

I was asked how can I love a God that would let all these terrible things happen in the world. I've tried to think that out in some other posts: Under His Umbrella and What kind of loving God?

I was asked how I can believe in a God that would send people to hell. Right or wrong, I picture hell as eternity separated from God. Does God want that to happen? No. However, if we live our lives not wanting to be in a relationship with God, why would we want to spend eternity with Him? God honors that choice. Because we still have free will. He made us that way. You have a choice.

I don't mean to get all evangelistic on you. This may not be what you expected when you started to read. However, the cop car and subsequent pull over reminded me. I wanted to warn the driver. That was just over a ticket.

When I started writing this, it was EARLY September 11. I didn't really think about a connection. However, those people that were on a flight, heading to work, doing their jobs, etc. did not plan on not making it home that day. It was just an ordinary day, right? Just like today. We never know what tomorrow holds.....or even the next few minutes or hours. This puts my life a little more in perspective. Some of the things that seem huge to me today, probably won't be by next year or maybe even tomorrow.

In the end, on this side of heaven....none of us truly have all the answers.....maybe not any of the answers you may be seeking. I just ask that you leave your heart open to the possibility that you are loved here, now and forever by those who know you and by Him who wants you to know Him better.

Matthew 28:17-19 (NIV) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Sneaky?!?!?!

Sneaky!?!? Maybe not so much....IF you know what to look for:

1 Peter 5:7-9 (NIV) 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 

It seems that it would be more than likely that if we saw or heard a roaring lion prowling around that we would pay attention. However, usually before the lion roars....he has been prowling around waiting for an opportune time to pounce.

I am finding in my own life that I blame an awful lot of stuff on myself, depression, family members and their attitudes and just life in general.  

How many of our daily battles are actually spiritual? If even Jesus could be tempted in the wilderness by the devil, why would we think that it would be any different for us mere mortals? It seems that as we try to move closer to God the more the devil stirs things up. We have been trying to make more efforts at family time and making sure we get to church. At the same time, we have had more rental problems than ever.

Have you ever got in an argument over something (in hindsight) that is really dumb? However, no matter how much you want to you just don't give in. People joke around about the "devil made me do it". That may not be the reason WHY we do it. Sometimes, though, doesn't it seem that circumstances will try and hold you back the more you try to move forward and follow through on what God is trying to get our attention for?

James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Resist has a couple of different meanings, but in this case I like this:  to withstand the force or effect of

The devil may be sneaky and can have some effect on us....or at least the circumstances. It is up to us to recognize the tricks for what they are and remember that ultimately God is in control, even when we feel like we're in control the least.

Under His Umbrella

I have thought about this for a few days and have still hesitated before actually writing this. Mainly because I don't want to come across as sounding all preachy. I fear that the recent storms in Alabama, rising gas prices, and other world events will make this seem hard to believe, but hang with me. I definitely do not want to diminish the fact that these events can rock someone's faith.  I feel that we are living in interesting times and if not now, when? So....here goes.

One of the things I struggle with a lot is when bad things happen to "good people" and others wonder how can God "let" this happen. If God can control the weather, why doesn't He? What if it's not physical storms, but events that are happening in our lives that feel like storms? 

Maybe we want protection....but not restraint.  Boundaries but we don't want to feel caged in. What if sometimes we don't realize how bad things COULD have been?

I started to think about umbrellas.  They help keep us dry. The wind may whip below the umbrella and even turn it inside out. We pull them out when we fear the weather will be bad.  However when things are looking sunny we keep them put away somewhere....until the next time it rains.  My prayer life is kind of like that.  When things are going well, sentence prayers seem to fill the need.  BUT when life gets stormy?  Out come my umbrella prayers.  My leave the radio off when I'm driving, really talk to God prayers. 

I'm thinking that even though we have our little umbrella of protection God provides an even bigger umbrella over us.  An umbrella of protection and boundaries.  An umbrella that sometimes we think blocks the sun and we ask God to let us just step out from the umbrella for a little while.  And He lets us.  Because He loves us enough to still give us that choice.  We wander out into the sun.  We enjoy the warmth and the brightness.  But then it gets TOO hot or the horizon starts looking a little dark.  The storms are back and we rush back under His umbrella.  It was never put away.  It is there when we need it and there when we think we don't need it.

When we're under the umbrella, we don't always see what is going on overhead or around us.  We may not even realize that we need protection every day in every weather because weather changes quickly. God loves us too much to leave us unprotected.

It's raining even if right now it's just a drizzle. There's room under His umbrella.

Psalm 140:4 Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

What kind of loving God?

Occasionally, we have on Family Guy for a few minutes.....that's about how long it takes for something said to make me say, "Ugh! Change the channel!"  One of the most recent occasions appeared to be for  Christmas.  I should say "holiday" (which I am normally against), but in this case would fit better.  "Santa" took somebody through the workshop filled with deformed elves....and eventually said, "What kind of loving God would allow this to happen?"

That was my UGH moment.  Channel changed.  The thought and question lingered...and still does.  I know it does for a lot of people - and not about elves.  When things go badly in our own lives or the world, we are quick to question God...even if He was not a consideration before.  It becomes a convenient way of dodging the possibility of God.  A loving God would be more in control.  He would not let these things happen.  People get caught up in "religion" and the actions of people that may not be the best example of a believer.

Relationship is what God wants with us....not religion.  Often, God is referred to as a heavenly father.  This is hard for someone to picture if their earthly father is not a great example of love and kindness.  They let this taint their relationship with God.  The teenager/parents relationship remind me of this.  We want to do our own thing, but we want mom and dad there to clean up the messes we get in along the way.  We don't always want to be responsible for the choices we make.

We don't always consider seeking Him BEFORE we make a decision that could end up badly, but we are quick to place blame when it doesn't turn out as we'd hoped.

I think the "loving God" comments come from things we feel like we can't control and we feel that SOMEBODY should.  However, is that really true?  Did God decide to "genetically enhance" our foods and products?  Did God decide that women really don't need to be inconvenienced with a monthly period....so we'll just take some meds and skip it?  Did God decide to put up huge cell towers and create technology that can pull us further away or push us closer (depending on how it is used)? 

I could argue myself right into a corner.  I guess my point is that sometimes as humans, WE have DECIDED to "improve" upon God's plan.  Some of the improvements can prove hazardous to our health.  Is that God's fault or ours?  Does that mean He is not loving?

When you need to fight a battle, do you need Mr. Nice Guy OR do you need a knight in shining armor willing to lay down His life for yours?  When you screw up, do you need somebody that constantly reminds you of your mistake OR somebody that forgives you and loves you anyway?

We can be LOVED through anything that this life throws at us.  God promises us everlasting love.  Love that we don't have to earn.  We just have to be.  What kind of loving God does that?

Jeremiah 31:3 (Message)

God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
   Expect love, love, and more love!

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts

Missed opportunity?

2 Corinthians 5:11-13 (NLT)
We Are God’s Ambassadors
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

Recently, I was in a dollar store. Through talking to the clerk, she mentioned her husband had died 3 weeks ago while waiting for a liver transplant. I have a friend that received a transplant. I know how hard that wait is. I expressed my sympathy, we finished the transaction and our conversation and I walked out. As I got in the car, I got the feeling/almost a small voice saying I should go back in and give her a hug. ???? That would not be something I would normally do to a stranger.....OK, maybe every once in awhile as the Spirit leads. Unfortunately, I argued myself out of it and didn't do it. I've thought about it for the past few days. The more I think about it, I know it wasn't me talking to myself. I didn't listen. What if God wanted to use me to let her know she's not alone? Missed opportunity!

Tonight, I started reading a book I "happened" to pick up at the library over a week ago. It's called God Speaks To Me....Stories of Triumph Over Tragedy from Women Who Listened to God. The first main point "Sacred Lesson" of the first story? "Your Intution Is Really God Sending You a Private Message"

And I thought I was good at deciphering the small voice as not my own. As the above story shows, sometimes inconvenience and discomfort get in the way. Sometimes I have heard words repeated in my head that did not stop until I said them, then it seemed more obvious it was God. Sometimes, apparently, we get one chance.

I wrote this over the summer. Ties right in.....even when/if we don't listen, it doesn't mean God stops trying to get our attention!

Still Small Voice

We know that God does not often shout
so why do we try so hard to drown His voice out?

We turn up the music, and the TV, invite over friends,
rarely content to be by ourselves.

But if we never make time for quiet, how can we expect to hear?
The still small voice of God telling us He’s here.

He tells us that He knows us:
the us we hide from the world
the us we WANT to be.
The way that He made us
to sit and talk with Him.

If we don’t take time and turn off the noise,
The still small voice remains….still.

KL

If you are given the opportunity to carry out a mission, take God up on it. Who knows where it might lead and who it might bless!

God is there....and He cares about even the little details!

“The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”- Psalm 25:14-15 (NIV)

Wow, did I need that today (it was the Biblegateway.com verse of the day). I SO love God's timing. It is so much better than mine.

One of my struggles with keeping busy is because I feel like if I get quiet, God starts to deal with my mind and heart....which is truly a good thing, but it's still kind of scary. The first part of this verse deals with that. He WANTS to confide in us during those times. So instead of pushing away, we should pull closer. It's during those times of quiet that we're able to seek and find God.

Lately, I've felt myself slipping back toward not feeling like myself. I hate the feeling of falling back into that hole where it's hard to see the light. However, during those times I realize I have not been keeping my eyes on God so he can release "my feet from the snare".

When I do something I consider dumb, I replay it in my head over and over....what a waste of precious time. God forgives me, why am I so hard on myself? I suppose if I keep my eyes on God, I wouldn't have to replay it. My lesson learned for today.

Give yourself a break. God's up all night anyway and he is MORE THAN capable of handling our worries and concerns...and there will be more things tomorrow to worry about anyway.

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So in shampoo terms: Let Go, Let God, repeat

OR in math terms: God > me

:) LOVE day!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The verses above are some of the most well known verses in the Bible. They are often used in weddings. Read back over them s-l-o-w-l-y. There is a lot of wisdom in those 3 little verses. One thing I noticed while reviewing is that the list for what love is NOT is almost equal to what love is!

To review:
Love is: patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love does not: envy, boast, proud, rude, self-seeking, anger easily, delight in evil

I don't know about you, but I have some work to do! I do not always love like this. In fact, many times I'm doing what love is not supposed to be. Let today be a reminder of how we want others to love us and how we should be loving them.

I received this in an e-mail and it is a great reminder of the ultimate love:

For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
John 3:16

Hide and Seek

1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10! Ready or not, here I come!

I was reminded of the old hide and seek game the other day when I heard a song entitled, Hide, on the radio. The more I'm thinking about it, Hide and Seek is more than just a kid's game. Some of us still haven't outgrown the "need" to play hide and seek. Not with other kids, but with ourselves ... and God. We kid ourselves into thinking God's not there, seeking us and wanting us to seek Him every time we have a problem. Too many times, we're the ones hiding behind things that don't matter and keeping ourselves too busy to seek after God's will for us.

Luke 8:16-17 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

There are many verses in the Bible where people asked God not to hide himself from them. Unfortunately, many times it is us hiding from Him! God calls us to come out of hiding and continue to seek Him while He may be found.

Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

1 Chronicles 16:10-12 (NIV) Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

So, in our new, updated version of no more hide and lots of seek....
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1! He is here!

This is a video for the song Hide by Joy Williams. There are some really cool pictures within pictures. One is:

GODISNOWHERE (looks like God is nowhere), but if split up differently?
GOD IS NOW HERE! :)

She's got personality......

Did you ever wonder how someone describes you when you're not around? Did you ever pay attention to how you answer when you are asked to describe someone? Why does it always seem like such a negative if a blind date is described as having a nice personality?

People have a conversation, one doesn't recognize the name so the other goes on to describe how that person looks and will probably say, "you'd know him/her if you saw him/her". I suppose it's a given that you need to describe how a person looks as that is how someone will recognize the person mentioned. However, there is a difference between recognition and truly knowing someone.

Taken to the extreme, as in television or movies, looks are such an unfair way to describe someone. It doesn't tell the person anything about their qualities. Once you get to start really knowing someone you want to know ABOUT them.

TV, movies and beauty pageants (oops, I mean scholarship opportunities, smile) set such an unfair standard. We can feel so self conscious about how we look, we forget all the wonderful inner qualities God has given us. Things people will never see if they don't take the time to get to know us. When we give compliments, it is often about how a person looks that particular day or a haircut or new outfit. All things that are based on outward appearance.

1 Samuel 16:7 (New Living Translation)
The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

I challenge us to look beyond looks and find something that you really like about a person and LET THEM KNOW. It may mean more than you realize. Who knows? You may find a friend that at first glance may not have been someone you would take the time to see their heart and soul.

When it comes to people we know, quality is better than quantity! AND take it as a compliment if someone says you have a nice personality! :)

Questioning......

Luke 2 : 45-47 (New International Version)
45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When Jesus was a boy, he stayed in the temple when his parents moved on. It took them 3 days to find him. He was asking questions and answering questions with an understanding that was well beyond his physical years. They were amazed.

Do you ever question why something happens? Why it happened now? Why? Why?, etc. and many times it does not seem like we get a good answer. Is it OK to feel unsure and want an answer even if it means questioning God?

I wrote this awhile ago when I was in one of those moods. It seems a little intimidating to question God. Maybe we need to remember from our school days...there's no such thing as a dumb question. For some reason, I felt like I was supposed to post this now. If it's for you, know that God is OK with the questions and you may not get the answer you want right now, but He'll listen and answer in a way you might not expect. Sometimes we look....but we don't see.

Why do I question?
Why do I doubt?
Why do I feel I need
to figure it all out?

You said I could question
You said I could ask
You said that you are up for the task

I don’t have to do it all on my own.
You made a promise
I’m never alone.

Help me not let my feelings rule
Know that you’re loving
Not far away or cruel

Search for answers inside the Book
You’re always around
I need to see when I look

kjjalsweet
10-19-07

Thinking of you and hugs too!

PS I can't even count the number of times that surrender came up today! On talk radio, in songs, in conversations with other people. Must be the word for 2008!

Snowflakes - God's breath - Make your mark

I received an e-mail from imom (http://www.imom.com/) a few days ago. It mentioned if the kids have seen snowflakes....really, really up close. It referred to a website: http://www.snowflakebentley.com/snowflakes.htm about Wilson Bentley. He photographed individual snowflake crystals...in 1885! http://www.snowflakebentley.com/index.htm

Now, I am NOT a big fan of snow, but looking at the images of individual snowflakes....WOW! I am amazed that there is such intricate design. In over 5,000 photographs, he never found 2 alike. I kind of always thought that was just a saying, no 2 snowflakes are alike.

If God takes such care and creativity with snowflakes that are only here for a little while and even less when we head indoors and they melt away forever, how much does He have planned for us?

We are like snowflakes too. Each individual with our own unique perspective on life, each here for a reason and purpose in this time in this place because God designed us to be the one right here right now. Even twins can look similar, but their personalities distinguish them as individuals.

I knew there was a passage in Job where God questions Job if he has ever been to the storehouses of snow. I read back over that in NIV and then found this in The Message version.

Job 37 1-13 (The Message) "Whenever this happens, my heart stops— I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath. Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice. He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole. In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic. He lets out all the stops, he holds nothing back. No one can mistake that voice—His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding. He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside! 'No one can escape the weather—it's there. And no one can escape from God. Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens, When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land. It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid. And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way. He puts them through their paces—first this way, then that—commands them to do what he says all over the world. Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark.

When snowflakes are blown about, they can seem pretty scary. As they settle on the ground, and the sun glints off them, they look like diamonds. THEN we see the flakes as a problem, needing to get the shovel or snow blower.

Our problems can be like that. When looked at as a whole, kind of overwhelming. Sometimes we need to make our way through the problem before we can sit back and see the individual twists and turns that we have grown through. AND if they get too bad, we have a pretty good snow blower that can help us make a path through it all and get to the other side where we have the ability to help somebody else.

May we feel God's breath helping us to make our mark.

Do You Have Room? Prepare for the Gift and pass it on!

Matthew 7:11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (NLT)

Do you ever picture God as the Ultimate Father? Sometimes that may be hard to do, especially if your father here on earth let you down, or isn't in the picture of your life, or is just plain human. ;) As parents, we strive to do the best for our kids. We may try to meet their needs before they even ask or to anticipate the desires of their heart. God prepared a gift for us that we weren't even aware we needed. We don't always show appreciation for what we've been given and what we can be saved from.

Can you imagine taking the time and effort to prepare the greatest gift ever and have it rejected time and time again?

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. (NLT)

God did that for us when He willingly laid aside his kingly robes and came from heaven in the form of a helpless baby. There was no room for Him in a comfortable place in an inn. He was born in a barn where animals were kept out of the way. He was wrapped in "swaddling cloths", basically rags...leftovers. He gave us a gift by going through trials and temptations here on earth so He can truly understand when we cry out in desperation when the going gets too hard.

What do you do when you receive a gift that you can never even imagine how much it cost the giver to give it? The word sacrifice comes to mind. I looked it up and my favorite definition is: a: destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else b: something given up or lost . In this case, Jesus became someone given up FOR the lost. Us! How do we not let that precious gift stop with us but be a gift that keeps on giving?

Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (NLT)

Like Mary when she was visited by the angel and found out she would become the mother of the Savior, ponder and treasure in your heart the sights and sounds of Christmas this year. Recognize the fact that because of Jesus we do not travel this frustrating path of life alone. We are made for better times and a better place. What a gift and God is willing to keep giving and giving! Are we prepared to make room and receive it and pass it on?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!