A Very Special Time

Well yesterday was a very big day for the Emmons’ family as the baby girl of our family got engaged. The two families were waiting at a location to celebrate the merging of two families into one. Later last night when I had come home, I was looking through all the pictures and decided to send some to our future son-in-law’s mother. This morning when I awoke, I saw a text from her she had sent after I fell asleep. She stated that Robbie’s phone had died after the proposal and before the celebration. He stated to her that he was glad it died because he didn’t want to be disturbed or distracted from his focus with this being a very special time.

This morning as I was in prayer about this being the week leading up to Easter, I remembered Robbie’s words and thought of the cross. I whispered to the Lord that He keep my focus on the cross this week, what was done for me and the beautiful benefit of eternity with God. Like Robbie, I don’t want to be distracted this week because of the importance of what the cross represents. It represents that because I couldn’t atone for my own sin, a humble and sinless man named Jesus stood in my place. He did nothing to deserve what I deserved but He did everything that I couldn’t do for myself. That is grace… that is agape love…that is unfathomable. I want to skip ahead to the empty grave, but I cannot because the empty grave means nothing without the occupied cross. It is the part of the story where a man had to help Jesus carry the cross because of its great weight and the weakness of a beaten Jesus. "The accused would carry the cross beam to the place of crucifixion. Jesus started to carry it, but simply couldn't bear it very far after all the physical trauma He had just gone through. He collapsed. That is when the Romans drafted Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross the rest of the way." Christian Apologetics Research Ministry website. It is the part of the story where some of His best friends scattered. It is the part of the story where suffering was great, but Jesus was committed to die for you and me. It is the part of the story that makes me want to turn my focus to something 'nicer', so I don’t have to consider what He endured. It is the part of the story where evil thought it had been victorious.

This week we will all have a million reasons to become distracted or disturbed but let us keep our focus on what is important even if it hurts to consider it. Let us approach God in deep reverence telling Him that Jesus is worthy of our consideration of His disparaging journey to cross. And let us keep the joy of expectation of the empty grave in the near distance just like we do when considering our loved ones who have also made their journey to crossover into Heaven.

May the God of comfort give us peace this week as we consider what was done for us.

The Cross Speaks Louder

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

When I was a little girl this verse was the first verse I ever learned. I probably didn’t even understand what it meant but it sure seemed important to people that I be able to recite it. I was a little girl wanting to please people, so I memorized it. I grew into a woman whose pursuit was pleasing people which was a full-time job. My emotions were anchored in the approval and opinions of others. The reason I chose this verse today is to counterattack the following question asked in my Bible Study this morning. ‘Have you already lived too many days blown around by the winds of opinion and careless remarks?’ Stronger, Angela Thomas-Pharr, p 128. I cannot begin to express the many years wasted on assigning my value based on the opinion of others. Thinking too little of ourselves is one of the unhealthiest attitudes that will wreck our fellowship with God. When we allow other people to define our value, we have forgotten that we belong to God and He has determined our value. To value is to love and esteem the object of our affection. We are loved and valued so much that Jesus was sent to die instead of us, and He walked it out.

I know without a doubt that my parents have loved me more than anyone else on earth and no one could ever convince me they did not value me. Nor could I ever be convinced that I do not belong to them. And yet, time and again we allow people to redefine our value instead of believing God for who He says we are. We are His…we were chosen…we were worth dying for…we hold an eternal position with Him forever. When we give the power to others to determine our worth, we become less than the person God created. When we live according to our feelings instead of God’s promise of constant love the lies become more believable. As Angela writes, ‘Wrapped up in his lies, I learned how to think too little of myself. The accuser almost had me, except for one thing: I still belonged to God. I was His, but I had forgotten my name and address. My name is Beloved, and my address is Heaven.’ P 129.

I’m so thankful that when we get spiritual amnesia forgetting whose we are and the address that is really home, we can open our Father’s word and be reminded of our value. The cross tells us the real story of love and value. The empty cross speaks louder than any other voice in history. Instead of repeating John 3:16 to please others I repeat it to remind myself of how precious I am in His sight and so are you!

‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…’ 1 Peter 2:9

Duty or Delight?

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

A while back I did a Bible Study called Duty or Delight – Knowing Where you Stand with God by Tammie Head.  It was at a point when I felt I needed some honest spiritual assessment.  Honestly, I have found myself over the past few months reverting to duty.  I don’t like duty over delight, who does?  It’s monotonous, boring and predictable.  It is the difference between getting an oil change and getting together for lunch with one of my children.  It is the difference between sitting in traffic to do an errand and sitting in a group of friends reminiscing.  It is the difference between Martha fussing with dishes and Mary communing with Jesus.  It’s funny how God knows our shortcomings and bad habits even before we realize it.  It has become clear that I have had a ‘dutiful’ heart instead of a delightful connection. Over the past few days I have really made an intentional effort to ‘slow my hurry’ in prayer and Bible Study…to not pick up my phone before I pick up my Bible.  God has given me fruit from my imperfect intention of delighting in Him.  He has filled me with a sense of connection and helped me slow my racing thoughts and erased my spiritual ‘check the box’ duties.  I’ve decided to understand that some days it will seem like duty but if I commit to give Jesus the time, He will give me the delight. 

I think it is to our benefit to daily assess our fellowship with God.  ‘Delight is about rediscovering wonder where we previously saw only obligation.  Delight marvels at the mystery and indulges curiosity.  It awakens more desire for God and tempts us toward deeper love for Him.  In short, delight energizes us.’ The Whole Church, Charles Stanley, p. 2.  Once we decide that delight is our pursuit then God will be faithful in aligning our hearts with His.  The desires we use to have will be replaced with the desires that parallel God’s heart.

I’m so grateful that God is faithful in turning our duty back to delight when we turn to Him for deeper fellowship. However, we must be honest in our assessment, intentional in our pursuit and fully engaged in our renewal of heart and mind.

A Chair for All

“Then the king said, ‘Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?’” 2 Sa 9:3

One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible is the friendship between David and Jonathan, son of Saul.   King Saul spent much of his time pursuing David in an effort to kill him because of Saul’s extreme jealousy.  David and Jonathan loved each other and were such close friends.  Years later, once both Saul and Jonathan had died, David as king, sought to find anyone who was related to the family of Saul.  This family had meant so much to him even with all it’s dysfunction and David’s heart was to honor any remaining family.  And so, it was that there was a son of Jonathan who had been crippled in both feet for most of his life.  David wasted no time sending for him and elevating him to share in his wealth and become part of the family.  His name was Mephibosheth and he had been hidden away because of his defect.  David’s invitation to family was beautiful and permanent for the man who had been forgotten.  ‘So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table.  And he was lame in both his feet.’ 2 Sa 9:13.

We too have a King who sought us out to bestow His amazing kindness to you and to me.  His desire is to experience life with us and keep us closely around His table.  We all are crippled in our walk needing the kindness of God to be shown to us.  We also have been in hiding not revealing the wounds of our hearts …the sins of our flesh…the shame of our choices.  But Jesus came not to condemn us but to save us and share His abundant spiritual wealth with us.  Mephibosheth wasn’t healed from his lamed state but was permanently invited to a position of power and family.  He went from a crippled orphan to a celebrated royal in the kingdom.  We are no different in our sinful state for healing will not fully come until we stand before the King face to face on that beautiful day.  But until then because Jesus wears the crown and invites us to the table, we all arrive broken but beautiful…crippled but carried…unworthy but chosen.

May we all extend the kindness of God to others as that kindness has been extended to us.  Chairs never run out at the table of the King!

Renderings

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

When I was a little girl, I always loved putting leaves under a piece of paper. By using a crayon or colored pencil I could duplicate its impression on the paper. It didn’t matter what leaf or color I used, my picture would always be a little different because each leaf was different. There was an art as to how much pressure I could apply before I tore a hole in the paper.

I was considering this same principle as I was thinking about my life and the different opportunities offered to leave an impression on my legacy. Times in the past I placed things under the paper that reflected less than beautiful choices. There were seasons when life was so difficult that it didn’t matter how beautiful I was trying to color, holes would appear ruining the picture. This life certainly offers its hand to rub against our lives as we make choices. What we place in our hearts will be the template for the picture that will emerge when the pressure is applied. When we place Christ at the center of our hearts and allow Him to apply the perfect amount of pressure, our lives will reveal the beautiful picture for which He designed. He will be both impression and impressionist as we walk through every experience. Our images will reflect the things upon which God has placed His hand and become a testimony for others.

We are all uniquely and perfectly created to reflect our own beauty as God develops us into a masterpiece. He knew us before anyone else and He loves us more deeply than any person on earth. When He becomes our life, we become hidden in Him allowing God to reveal our beauty and purpose. I only have to witness the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets to trust the work of the Artist. Many times, some of the most beautiful pictures require the most intentional pressure. Trust in God, trust in the seasons and the renderings of our lives will reflect His beautiful image.

"For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." Col 3:3

Caught in a Net

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

I hear so many people talk about trying to strike a balance in their lives with so many commitments and obligations. Some obligations are self-chosen while others are shoved upon us but either way, they require our attention. My Bible study offered a different perspective this morning that is worthy of mentioning. Angela Thomas-Pharr, author of Stronger, compared the hectic life of a person to the life of Jesus who was constantly pulled in a million different directions. Her view pointed out that striking a balance can imitate a healthy goal but in reality, it is the exact opposite of what Christ did. ‘The ministry of Jesus was full of overwhelming crowds, inconsistent disciples, judgmental, ever-present Pharisees, loneliness and temptation…[but] Jesus lived with a consistent calm and wisdom. His soul was filled with grace and peace, and His daily activities were guided by an unwavering mission,’ p. 106. Our verse above stamped its message on the life of Christ…to seek and save the lost.

We are to be imitators of Christ and guide our daily activities by the prodding of the Holy Spirit. We are going to respond to the loudest noises when really our response should always be grounded in the quiet still voice of Jesus. He is our balance and every effort in which we try will fall short if our mission isn’t the same…to seek those hurting or lost people and share the message of love and grace. I love the image Angela painted of a tightrope walker. ‘When I look at the life of Christ, I realize that I am not called to spend my life as a tightrope walker, tediously trying to keep all things in balance, searching for structure and control. By His goodness, I have been caught in a net called grace…show me a woman who is in over her head, yet responding to life with grace and peace, and I’ll show you a woman who has chosen to live like Christ.’ P 107.

Caught in a net called grace…it means that we have already fallen…it means we are safe and secure… it means that we are being held as we tackle our overwhelming circumstances. As we check off our boxes today accomplishing the crowded obligations may we all take a moment to remember the mission for which we too have been called…to seek and to offer the saving grace of Jesus.

Off the Hook

"For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9

A few years ago, we were watching Malcom in the Middle, a funny show about a family with 3 children. They were sitting around the dinner table and one of the young boys said, ‘I had no expectations and still I was disappointed.’ We thought that was funny and thought how true to life that statement seems on the surface. But when we really examine our lives there are very few times when we don’t have underlying expectations of everyone…everything…every moment. It is through our unmet expectations that relationships crumble…prodigals run…dreams die.

This morning my Bible study gave me a powerful reminder of chasing the ghosts of outcome and allowing unmet expectations to keep us hooked to our bitterness, resentment and grudges. We feel entitled to our feelings when feelings can be some of the biggest liars. We walk around not letting others off the hook with something that occurred. And yet, we forget that on the cross through Christ’s sacrifice He let us off the hook forever. We continue to sin…we continue to hold grudges…we continue to keep others on the hook for some unmet expectation they weren’t even aware. We hold our perspective as to what should have happened as a barrier to what beautiful things can happen. We wear our disappointments on our sleeves and miss out on meaningful fellowship.

Letting someone off the hook means humbling ourselves to see that Jesus did that for us. It means equalizing ourselves at the base of the cross admitting our own flaws and mistakes. It means nailing our entitlement and emotions to the cross and picking up the attitudes of Christ. It takes grace to let others off the hook, the same grace that we have been given. ‘What has been heavy will be gone. What you have received, you will long to give. We give to others what we have been given. By grace, they are off the hook with us. Then we live in the freedom bought by grace, held by grace, and promised because of grace.’ Stronger, Angela Thomas-Pharr, p 105.

The grace received from Christ’s sacrifice is the most powerful 'MET' expectation we will experience on this earth. We were…once and for all…let off the hook.