Tag Archives: love

Lent Day 18: Light thy way

10 Wednesday Mar 2021

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Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” — Mark 4:21-23

Do you ever look at social media posts and think, “They have best life”? It’s easy to compare our insides to other people’s outsides. Unfortunately, the outside doesn’t always show the real truth. When we bring our lives into the light, they aren’t as pretty as we thought they were. But that is the authentic truth we need to own. It truly is our friend because it points us to God, who “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The primary means by which we walk in the light with God is the simple act of confession. And let’s be honest, confession is not something we race to do. Confession does not secure forgiveness, but rather facilitates the power of forgiveness and its cleansing effects in the life of the believer. The acting agent is the blood of Jesus, his sacrificial death on the cross (1:7). Jesus is willing and able to cleanse us and restore our relationships if we will just get the real us into the light.

To walk in darkness means to neglect or even deny the truth about God, or about ourselves. A toddler may close his eyes and believe that he cannot be seen, but only because he does not see. So it is with the one who walks in darkness. He thinks his way of seeing things is in fact reality, but nothing could be further from the truth. He will not be able to have fellowship with God or with others until he sees according to truth only found in the word of God. In the realm of truth, he will be able to relate to God and others on the basis of what is real, and experience the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood.

That sounds great, but when it comes to our actual lives, we are not always so eager to be authentic. Instead, we deal with reality in other ways. We distract ourselves with the artificial lights of work, entertainment, and hobbies. We let the world tickle our ears with distorted scripture. When ordinary busyness doesn’t work, we take it up a notch and give ourselves to something so completely that it consumes us. These are our addictions. Pretense, excuses, busyness, addiction, and despair are not our friends. They turn us in upon ourselves, which leads to death. An honest look at reality, with God’s help, gives us insight into the way sin works and how God can bring healing and transformation to those areas of our lives. We can only repent of what we are able to see.

Search us, O God! Every dark corner and every hidden place. During this journey to the cross, are you ready to confess your sins, the sins that Jesus died for?

Lopsided Pictures

22 Friday Nov 2013

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Romans 5:3-5 And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.

“Either God sent it or He allowed it.”

I had just finished telling a friend about a monumental meltdown that I had the previous weekend. I was attempting to hang a picture on the wall of our “new to us” house that we were renting. It wasn’t working out so well. It was lopsided, which appeared to be a mocking reminder of how my life felt. Lopsided and chaotic. So, when I told my friend about it and how upset I was at the circumstances that led me to be hanging this print in a house that wasn’t mine, she responded with “either God sent it or He allowed it.” REALLY?!!

I found myself contemplating this phrase. In some ways, it made total sense. God is all-knowing and has the power to do what He pleases. But I just couldn’t buy into it. I mean, the God I have a relationship with is one of Love and Grace. Would that God actually send pain my way? Or was it the result of free will which caused bad decisions to be made? Slowly, peace replaced anguish. Acceptance replaced anger. Submission replaced unbelief. Could God be allowing these circumstances to change something within me? Was God granting permission to experience suffering for a specific reason?

Malachi 3:3 —

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver.
He will purify the Levites
and refine them like gold and silver.
They will belong to the Lord,
presenting a righteous offering.

Can’t you just picture the silversmith purifying the silver? God is like the silversmith in our lives, refining us; He’s who burns away the dross, which is something that is unnecessary or trivial.

I cannot count the number of times I have asked why the suffering is occurring in my life. Why is the suffering occurring in some of my friends’ lives. These trials can feel like a punishment. Major roadblocks seem like they’re meant to make us miserable, just sucking the joy out of our lives. But as I read Malachi and many different translations, I can see that maybe I have been misunderstanding the meaning behind these trials. Maybe, just maybe, the pain actually serves a good purpose. And maybe God is using the pain to transform us with each anguish we persevere through. He is removing the “dross” from us. Each time we survive a major ordeal we grow stronger, wiser, more prepared for the next challenge. We are conquerors and overcomers with God’s help.

Ordeals, hardships, distresses are permitted by God for our perfection. But I do not believe that God causes pain. I do not believe that He brings this pain into our lives. Permitting pain to occur is much different then causing it. With free-will comes free suffering. He allows us to suffer through our choices so that we will be ultimately rely fully on Him. He wants us to see that when we seek our own guidance instead of His, the results are often painful and hard. But when we seek Him, we find comfort and peace. So the pain is allowed so that we might live in the peace.

Even knowing this knowledge about God and His love does not ease the immediate suffering. Tears still fall. Anxiety still rises. Fear still takes hold. But now I can feel the peace that I know is coming. You see, sometimes the best way for God to perfect us is through our tears, angst and suffering. However, if I am to fully believe God is permitting my pain, then I have to trust He has a purpose. I have had so many other people tell me that God “must have great things planned for me.” I hope so. I want to be a shinning example of His mercy and grace. I honestly have no idea what God has in store for me. I feel called to speak publicly about God’s grace. I think that if I keep all of this to myself then I am not glorifying God for all that He has done in my life. I know He isn’t the cause of my pain. I know that He isn’t the reason I feel angst and frustration. So I have to show that to others who might NOT know that.

The ultimate truth is this – nothing compares to having complete faith that the Lord is in control. When everything in my life seems be unstable, God is the rock that is unmovable. He won’t allow us to walk through any trial without having a greater purpose behind it. And He will hold your hand as you walk through it, letting you know He is right there with you.

Sometimes, a lopsided picture can be a reflection of our lives – chaotic, out of place. But sometimes a lopsided picture just needs to be straightened up.

Heavenly Father, sometimes life just seems overwhelming and the chaos becomes my focus instead of the peace. Thank you for your love and grace that is always constant. Help me to focus on your plan instead of my problem. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Joneses Are Overrated

18 Sunday Aug 2013

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For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:11-13 (HCSB)

It’s official. “The Joneses” are overrated.

Yes, I’m referring to those Joneses. The ones we all are trying to keep up with. Totally overrated. I should know. I’ve been trying to keep up with them for years. Once I achieved it, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

These past few months have not been easy financially for me and my family. We were certain when all of this hardship began that it would be very temporary. Three or four months. But now, nearly seven months later, there does not appear to be an end in sight. Essentially, we are destitute. Hand to mouth. Etc. Etc. At first it was late bills. Then it was selling a few personal items. Now, the house, cars, jewelry … all of it is gone. Yes, it is painful.

This morning at church, the sermon was about suffering. Oh boy was I going to relate to this one! I had a story about suffering. I was losing all that I owned. I was ostracized by former friends. Yes. This sermon was definitely for me. Pen in hand, I was ready to take notes and then wallow some more in why my life was so bad. Then God’s Word spoke to me.

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. –Matthew 27:27-31

Yep. God quickly reminded me that I didn’t know suffering at all. How could I possibly feel sorry for myself and the circumstances I find myself in when I read those verses? So what if I don’t have the home of my dreams. So what if I am no longer accepted in some social circles. I am alive and free because my God loved me enough to allow His Son to suffer for my sins. And boy was I sinning today. I was feeling jealousy, anger, resentment, bitterness… And Jesus suffered because He knew I would sin just like that. That’s some powerful stuff.

When I think of the emotional pain that I am living with, I have definitely wondered when God would step in and make it stop. But in the message today, I heard a wonderful statement. “God is not the author of my pain.” Wait. What? You mean it’s choices I have made that have impacted my situation? So what does it all mean then? What’s the point?

The point is that God is not the author of the pain but He will definitely use it for good. I can now have compassion for others walking through some dark valleys. I can offer them love and acceptance. I can show them God’s grace through my actions. That’s the point. God isn’t going to cause us pain but He will show us how to use it. Matthew 25:31-46 drives home this very point.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

Getting back to the Joneses…

I’m fairly certain there will be times when the Joneses will invade my thoughts again. We are told over and over that to be loved and accepted we must look a certain way, live in a certain home and wear a certain label. But I believe God is showing me exactly how He wants me to be used in His ministry. He doesn’t want me to be like the Joneses. These comparisons destroy our contentment. When we see others owning, enjoying, or experiencing what we do not have, but wish we did, it can make us doubt our self-worth. In a letter to the believers in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote Philippians 4:11-13. “For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” I’m definitely not where the Apostle Paul was. Not even close. But at least God has deliberately shown me how He expects me to live my life – content in whatever circumstances I am.

God has already prepared a place of contentment for us when we can’t pay the bills. We find that place when we take our eyes off of our situation and fix them solely upon God.

A blog that I read about comparisons said the following:
” When we cease making comparisons and instead willingly embrace our current lot in life, welcoming all that God will teach us through it, we will finally unearth the secret Paul knew. True contentment is not merely having what you want, it is wanting nothing more than what you already have.”

Heavenly Father, forgive me for not embracing my current situation and seeing it as an opportunity instead of a sacrifice. Show me how to be your hands and feet to others walking through pain so that I might be of use to you. Thank you, Lord, for never wasting a hurt. Amen.

Remove the Mask

14 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Scripture – Jeremiah 17:10 (The Message)

“But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind.I get to the heart of the human.I get to the root of things.I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.”

Observation – God sees through the mask we often present to the earthly world. He knows the depths of our hearts and what we are really feeling and thinking. He isn’t fooled by our attempts to cover and masquerade.

Application – I have often said that I wore a mask for many years. I remember tearing off that mask and the feeling of vulnerability was almost suffocating at first. Yet, it didn’t have to be. God already knew what I was hiding. He loved me in spite of my attempts to conceal the core of my being. Looking at it now, it’s a very freeing thing — to know that my friend, my father, my lord — knows me better then anyone and still loves me completely and unconditionally. If He, who is without sin, can love this sinner, then why do I worry about the approval and opinions of others so much?

Prayer – Lord, thank you for seeing beyond the mask. You have always been there, even when I tried to hide from you. You have waited patiently for me and wooed me until I finally came to your arms. Please forgive my resistance to be my authentic self. Amen

Delivered

13 Monday Aug 2012

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Scripture – Jeremiah 15:21 (The Message)

“I’ll deliver you from the grip of the wicked. I’ll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless.”

Observation – God is all-powerful but He is also all-loving. In the verses leading up to this one, God was showing His anger to Jeremiah. But then His love showed up. He wants nothing more then for His people to love Him and worship Him.

Application – I believe there are times that we, as humans, feel we have gone too far into our sins to recover. I know that I have thought that in the past. I can remember times thinking, “there’s simply no way God can ever forgive me for this.” But that was just the Evil One trying to win out. God forgives all who truly seek forgiveness. There are not degrees of sins. One sin isn’t worse then another. They are all equally wicked. And, as He said, He will “deliver you from the grip of the wicked.” The thing we must remember is that we have to ask Him to deliver us. He is always there waiting. We just get too prideful to ask for His help. I am amazed by the length He will go to love me when I ask Him too. I have seen so many people delivered from ruthless behavior. I know it was because the Lord intervened in their lives when they surrendered to His will. It’s when we lack faith that He can help us that we find ourselves hopeless.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for ever constant love. I know I have disappointed you in my life many times, and yet, like any good father, you are always there. You are always ready to lift me up and kiss the hurt away. I praise you, Lord, for the forgiveness you constantly show me. Please continue to lead me down the right path and always convict my heart when I stray. Amen