November 15-December 2, 2013 The Things Which make for Peace…

“Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:19

      As I near the end of 2013 and the end of my first year of reading the Bible in its entirety, I am struck by one thing, how much the children of God have to fight for peace.   For those who do not have complete faith in God, that is one sure sign of his existence, in my opinion. If the Disciples of Christ were willing to give their lives and to fight their whole world in order to have eternal life with Him, they MUST have experienced a greater peace when they were in His presence than anything they’ve ever felt.  The peace of God cannot be matched to any other wonderful feeling this world provides.   

     It’s been a while since I have sat down to write, and I tried to start this entry yesterday, but my mind was blank. The only thing I could think about in regards to pursuing peace and edifying one another was the unrest among people who work together in my own department as well as the unrest of people I know in the community who are more often than not complaining about one another or about what they cannot or do not have living on an island so far away from the luxuries they are used to having at their fingertips. I started to write about this, but felt it was so petty and not important enough to write about in relation to this verse.   

     Then, this morning during my devotional time, I continued my journey with Paul as he wrote his letter to the Corinthians, and I realized that life has always been like this.  The world has always been filled petty complaints, problems, and quarrelling among people. The difference is that the unrest, complaints, and drama surrounding Paul and all of God’s apostles led to their death.  They died in order to bring to others the kind of peace that only God can give.  If God’s first church was willing to do this for Him, how much more should I be trying to bring God’s peace and edification to others in my everyday, ordinary, very blessed life than Paul was doing for the early Christians? 

     So many of us are blessed enough to have been born in a country of freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to express ourselves and live good lives, easy lives in comparison to what the people of Jesus’s time survived in.  I am free to choose how I want to speak and what I want to do with my life.  So, why would I choose to do anything that would hurt another human being, which would bring strife or unrest into their lives instead of peace and edification?  Unfortunately, so many of us find that easier to do than to be a bearer of positive guidance and God’s grace. 

     I struggle with not getting caught up in the gossip, drama, and complaining about the little things of life. I struggle with remembering to give it all to God and keep my big mouth shut when my thoughts are up to no good.  I struggle with being the kind of Christian the early disciples of God proved to be, dying for their faith. Would I be able to do that? I don’t know. I would like to think that I would, but more than likely, I would end up like Peter, denying Jesus three times before the sun rose after his arrest. 

     I believe in God, and I have felt that peace beyond compare that comes from faith in Him, but I still have a long way to go in becoming like Jesus.  Today, I thank God for his mercy in giving me multiple chances to get it right. I thank God for his continual forgiveness when I mess up, and I pray for His help as I learn how to be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to bring peace, edify, and uplift others in my daily life. 

November 14, 2012 Twelve Years Ago Today…

“Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” Romans 12:9-12 (New Living Translation)

 

     Twelve years ago today, right about the time I am writing this (7:30 am), my life was changed forever and for the better with your birth.  Now, today, for the first time in your young 12 years, I celebrate here on the island without you, so as the apostle Paul did with his churches back in Bible times, I write this letter to you, to encourage and uplift you on this most momentous occasion in your life.  The verse above is what Paul wrote to his friends in Rome to share the love of God, who called them to be his people, and it is the one I wish to share with you, so you will know and feel our love in the same way. 

     I thought the words in Paul’s letter were very apt for you today as you are already such an example of the traits discussed in the verse.  You have taught me so much about love and how to love genuinely, just by being you.  You love your friends unconditionally, stand up for what is right when you are with them, and work hard to do your best in school and in life.  Continue to do so because God is planning so many wonderful things for you.  You have already been so patient with the troubles in your life, amazingly so.  I have learned from you on that count as well. You rarely complain about problems, although you have them just as we all do, and you are the first to remind me that we need to pray at bedtime if I forget.  So, even though I am not with you physically and able to pray sitting next to you on the bed, don’t forget that I am still with you in heart, mind, and spirit, and I am praying for and with you from afar. 

     Twelve years ago today, you changed my life, and I am so grateful that God entrusted you to my care. You are a joy, blessing, an old soul, and my sweet “Have It” baby boy.  I look forward to seeing the young man you are becoming and will become as you continue to grow.  It has all happened way too fast, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Each experience has enhanced our time together and shown me how very insightful and sensitive God has created you to be.  Believe in yourself, treasure all the special gifts God has given you, and use them for His good purposes and to change the lives of others for the better, just as you’ve changed my life.  I love you, sweet pea!! Happy Birthday!

October 29-November 9, 2013 Benefits of Much Love…

“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:44-47

     There are so many wonderful stories about Jesus during the time his human feet walked in the dust of this earth that’s it’s no wonder the saying, “What would Jesus do? -WWJD” was so popular just a few years ago. This particular story about what happened when Jesus stepped into the home of Simon for dinner one night is one of my favorites.  It illustrates the great compassion of God and the tremendous grace extended to forgive those of us who are the greatest of sinners.  In the eyes of man, the woman in the story who came to Simon’s house to see Him was not worthy to even touch Jesus’s feet. She was a “many times over” sinner, but she did not care what anyone else thought about her. She only wanted to please and praise God.  She wanted to be forgiven and loved unconditionally, and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this “man” was the only one who would and could do that for her. 

     Unfortunately, she was one of the few who truly believed in and loved Jesus as unconditionally and faithfully as He loved her. There were so many who did not recognize Jesus as God’s son when he lived on this earth. They simply refused to believe that the religious traditions and laws they had been diligently keeping as God’s chosen people could be put away so easily by this one man in his short 3 years of ministry on earth. And they certainly were not willing to accept that this Son of God would come to extend His love to all people with the sacrifice of His own life for us. This changed everything they had known or thought they knew about God and what He wanted from them as a people. 

     Those living in the days of Jesus’s ministry failed to see that God recognized our weaknesses and our inability to remain faithful in the letter of the law over the centuries he fought with the Jewish nation and tried to show them through numerous prophets, leaders, and devastating wars and events that he was the only God they should be following and when they did not, trouble was sure to plague them.  He decided to change it up a bit with the message His son brought to His people and eventually to all people, regardless of their former race or religion. 

     His message was simple: I love you no matter what you do, no matter how many times you mess up, and I am not going to expect you to do all the right things any more.  What I do expect is for you to love well, to do your very best to make Godly choices, and to come straight to me for forgiveness when you make a mistake. What I do expect is for you to have a pure heart, right motives, and a contrite spirit, understanding how very much you have sinned and how very much you have been forgiven by my unconditional love.  I expect you will mess up, and I expect you will learn from that how to love more and love better. For he who has been forgiven much, loves much. 

     If we do not recognize our own imperfection and sin, then we cannot understand how to love others unconditionally because we will be too busy judging them for what they have done wrong and considering ourselves better than them.  If God, who is perfect, can change his whole strategy, negating the “legalities” of the Old Testament and tearing down the divide between Himself and His creation in order to give us eternal life and internal peace, how much more should we be able to love each other without judgment, without pride, without them having to show us they are worthy, but only because they were made by God just like us. 

     Commit yourself to loving much today, and when the urge to judge others for their decisions strikes you as it does for me many times a day (unfortunately it’s a very human failing), think about what Jesus would do and choose to love them anyway and instead of passing on that judgment in your words to them or others, stop and pray for them and for yourself too. J  Remember, the more we have been forgiven and recognize our need to be forgiven, the more we learn how to truly love without reservation or restraint.  

October 28, 2013 For my Youngest on His Tenth Birthday!!

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity…Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:12, 16

     I have this book called “My Son’s Blessing Book,” which I had intended to write in every year of his life until it was full or until I needed to start a new one. Each 5-page blank journaling section starts out with a Bible verse. Unfortunately, my once a year goal was unmet for the first 2 years of his life (first entry 2005-he was born in 2003), then it went into “hiding” until 2012, when he was over 9 years old.  This year, I have now written twice, once this summer and again today, so I suppose I am making up a bit for lost time.

     When I do write in it, I tell my son what he is like at that moment in time. I may talk about the class he is in at school and his accomplishments there, and I write about how his personality has developed.  I hope someday he will enjoy reading about himself in this way, about moments in time that gradually fade and sometimes meld and change themselves into a whole batch of other memories and/or are often forgotten completely as we age.  This is part of what I love about the process of writing and journaling in the moment….the ability to have a “snapshot in time” of not just what was happening, like in a photograph, but the description of how you felt, the mindset you were in, and how your thought about life at that time. It’s fascinating to see how our thinking changes and how wisdom is developed over the years. 

     For this particular 10^th birthday entry, I thought the verse from “My Son’s Blessing Book” (reprinted above) was quite apt.  This school year, we’ve seen a bit of an evolution with our son.  He’s always been a good kid, but this year, he has become an example for other children in his school and student council group. He’s the one who encourages and helps fellow students out in class. He’s the one to stay after the school dance volunteering to help vacuum and getting applause for his “over and beyond efforts” from all the teachers at the end.  He is excelling in his grades, and he takes instruction from his sports coaches well. Everyone can see that he is really trying to do his best in all he is tasked with throughout the week, whether it is at home, school, scouts, or sports. 

     So, I want to tell him today (in the spirit of the verse above) to not allow anyone to bully or belittle you, to not let those who consider themselves “cooler” than you to cause you to think less of yourself or anyone else that they don’t consider “cool” because right now, at this very moment in time, you are setting the ultimate example of good character in your life.  From your sense of responsibility and pride in the work you do to your love for others, no matter who they are or where they come from and your tremendous respect for your teachers and other adults, you amaze me.  You are kind to all you meet, and you work hard to please and be good to even those who don’t always treat you with the same kindness and goodness. You are a blessing and a child of God. He is proud of you and who you are becoming just as we are. 

     Son, watch your life closely and keep the child-like faith you now hold. Do not allow the world to change who you are or to bring you down.  Remember that you are loved by your family and by God and even though life will not always be easy, you always have a choice and that choice could mean the difference between saving or losing yourself.  When those tough times come, remember who you were when you turned 10 years old, a boy who loved with all his heart, was dedicated to doing his best for his God, family, friends, and teachers, and who was strong in his convictions, not allowing others to change his mind.  You set the example, continue to do that throughout life, and you will not only help save yourself from future hurts, but you will also bring others to a better life through your influence.  I love you, baby doll! Happy Birthday!!

October 7-27, 2013 The Joys and Sorrows of Parenthood…

“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” Luke 2:33-35

     After reading through the entire Old Testament, I have finally made it back around to the time of Jesus. I love this part of the Bible because this is where God brings His message to the common man, to those not born into the culture of

complicated, ritualistic ceremonies and processes of the Jewish people in days gone by, but to all of us and in a way that can still be easily applied to our lives today. By reading about Jesus’s life, including his trials, temptations, and responses to those who questioned Him and came to Him for help, I understand so much better what He wants us to do within our own lives.  I also love reading about His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, and their feelings about Him because as a mother myself, I relate to them. 

     The verse above occurs a little over a month after his birth when Joseph and Mary take him to the temple for the rite of purification where every first-born male is to be consecrated to the Lord according to the Law of Moses. Simeon (a man in Jerusalem who was considered righteous and devout and to whom the Holy Spirit had revealed the identity of the baby Jesus) took Jesus in his arms, praised God, and said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

     We (and I think I can speak for most parents when I say this), start dreaming about the lives of our children before they are even born or promised to us. What are they going to be like? What will they grow up to do? What kind of person will they be?  And when they are finally born, they are perfect, at least in the eyes of their parents, and it’s hard to imagine anything but wonderfulness when you look into the eyes of an infant in your arms. Unfortunately, for Joseph and Mary, they learned early on, from Godly men like Simeon, that their Son, although perfect in righteousness, would still have to go through so many trials, and in the end, their souls would ache because of what it would mean for His life in becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our sins forever.

     Most of us have to wait a long time to see our questions about our children answered, and somewhere, along the way, we realize they are fallible, imperfect people, who make mistakes and struggle through life in the same ways we do, but we still love them, no matter what. Our dreams for them do not always turn out like we hoped, but they are a blessing from God, nonetheless.  And we find, we are thankful to have been given the opportunity to parent them, even if we messed up a few times along the way.    What you can never prepare for is the same thing experienced by all parents at some point, even our own Father in heaven. You can never prepare your heart for the pain of watching your children suffer or struggle in life.  Even thinking about the possibility of hard times is painful.  And what a way for Simeon to put it into context for Joseph and Mary, “…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” From the first time they have to be admitted to a hospital all the way to the little hurts, such as dealing with a bully at school, every pain our children experience is amplified ten-fold for their parents because you watch them go through it for the first time and lose that child-like innocence and faith little by little. 

     I would never ever wish for my life to be any different. Being blessed by God with two beautiful baby boys who have become my greatest joy has taught me so much and brought me so much closer to God.  Reading about Mary and Joseph and feeling the pride in their hearts for their son, just as I have pride in my heart for my babies when they are praised by their teachers or friend’s parents, helps me to understand more about how God loves us.  Parenthood is the ultimate humbler of the spirit and teaches us so much about unconditional love.  Even though I know there will be struggles for both my boys ahead in their lives, I pray that God will teach them through those struggles, bringing them joy in the morning, knowing that He loves them so much more than even I could as their mother and their biggest advocate on this earth.  I commit my life to my boys through good and bad, joy and sorrow, I will be there for them and hope and pray they know that, and even more, that God’s love is beyond infinite and will hold them and protect them when nothing and no one else can! 

September 24-October 7, 2013 The Lord IS with you…

“…Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Fear not, and be not dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s’…Fear not, and be not dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17

     When I think back on my life and the times that were most difficult, I realize now that I made those times harder because I tried to battle them all on my own.  I feared; I worried; I cried; I fought HARD against things happening that I didn’t want to happen and that I didn’t think I could possibly deal with.  What I’ve learned from my relationship with God over the past couple of years is to stop battling my problems and give them over to God to fight. 

     The great multitude spoken about in the verse above is the large number of Moabites and Ammonites who want to fight God’s people in Judah, but when I read the verse and put it in the context of our lives today, I think of the “multitude” as the large number of daily concerns and troubles that overtake us at times. It may be a death in the family, a really bad day at work, increasing debts, and/or personal relationship problems. It may not be warriors coming to kill us physically and take over our land and possessions, but it is our “multitude,” and we don’t have to allow it to stomp us into the ground. We can give whatever ails us or whatever difficult challenge is before us to God to battle. He longs to guide us through this life he’s put together for us. He loves it when we lean fully into Him and reveal our faith in His protection and promises. 

     I can’t imagine living in Bible times when battles were won by God’s miraculous power and when whole seas were parted to save the Israelites from going back into slavery with Egypt. Reading through the Bible this year, I am struck by the many, many awe-inspiring stories of God’s power and when I put them all together in my small mind, it’s hard to understand how God’s people could have ever lost faith when God showed them real, physical evidence over and over again that the battle was His and He was with them. Well, the battle is still His, and He is still with us.  Whatever it is you are facing today, remember this: fear not, and be not dismayed for the battle is God’s, and the Lord will be with you.