GIVING YOURSELF AWAY

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV®)

There are many ways to demonstrate God’s love. You give yourself away emotionally, financially, with your time and talents, and sometimes, even physically. You may have donated blood, donated an organ, donated your hair through Locks of Love, offered your bone marrow, or sent your entire self as a short or long-term missionary. Have you taken a friend’s troubled child into your home? Have you sat up all night at the hospital with a friend? There are so many ways we show our commitment to God by demonstrating His love.

What happens when others do not share God’s vision for your idea? Do you let others discourage you when you seek their counsel or approval? The Bible is filled with people who followed God’s leading, even though their actions seemed radical or even bizarre at the time.

What has God placed on your heart? Why would you allow those to whom God has not given the same vision discourage you from honoring God in a way that may seem ill-advised or too radical to others? Perhaps that is why He gave the vision to you and not to the others! In every situation, God knows more about the people and circumstances involved than we will ever know. It is only the Father’s approval that matters.

When I reflect over time, the three most radical ways I felt I was “doing good” were not ideas encouraged by any of my friends, at least not at the beginning. They were adamantly opposed and not afraid to tell me. Yet I could not be dissuaded. I should probably mention the 2,967 or more times God used my “advisors” to point out the flaws in my other “great” ideas, and they saved me from disaster. I was disappointed and surprised those three times when no one else appreciated what I wanted to do. How do I know it was God’s plan for my life? First, the decision was bathed in prayer, and the peace in my spirit never faltered. Second, it came to pass, so I believe it was God’s will.

What dream, risk, or goal would God have you pursue this Lenten season to keep you in His will? With God’s help, you can do that thing that others find unimaginable. Ask God to meet you there, and He will bring you unexpected delight in the process!
—Ann DeVoe

I WANT SPICY!

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV®)

Some time ago, Kim and I decided to treat ourselves for lunch at Chipotle after church. At the time, I believe our son, Matthew, was three years old, so that type of food was not exactly on his menu of favorites (so we thought). As we began enjoying our lunch, he became interested in what we were having and asked to have some of my burrito. I always have the spicy salsa added and told him it was spicy and that he would not like it. This led to a series of loud demands of “I want spicy! I want spicy!” At that point, it was obvious we were not going to have any peace unless he had a sample, so I said, “Here you go.” After two or three seconds, his reaction was as if I had placed a hot coal in his mouth; and he began crying and spit out the food. He had to endure a few well-placed “I told you so” comments from me before he settled down and returned to his peanut butter and jelly.

After some reflection, it struck me how often I have behaved in a similarly childish way and demanded my own version of “spicy.” For instance, rather than consider the warning against being unequally yoked in marriage, I thought I knew better and launched into a first marriage which ended in divorce. Spicy indeed!

Would I not love to be the one in charge of (and taking credit for) my salvation? My path of salvation would have been about my goodness and would not have led to Calvary. Yet, apart from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, this is impossible. Yes, I am still prone to childish thoughts and/or behaviors (just ask my wife!). During this season of Lent, I am reminded anew of our Lord’s gracious sacrifice on my behalf that spares me from an eternity of judgment that would be much more than just “spicy.”

“Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, should’st die for me?” (Charles Wesley)
—Paul Quarry

A CALL TO WORSHIP

“⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” Matthew 28:8-9 (NIV®)

The Christian life has its surprises. I think it was a day in 1974 when I was in our bedroom and the Spirit of God said this to me, “Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. Hold my feet.” I heard no voice, but these words came to me as clear as a bell. I recognized that God was giving me a call for my life. I understood the feed my sheep bit, but what about this feet stuff? My first reaction was to call my good brother, Keith Kintner, to meet me in a restaurant where we could talk. Was this a call to go to seminary? This never was a consideration for me. What about the feet? Like me, Keith did not have a clue.

A few weeks later, I was reading from Matthew 28 when I encountered the verse about holding the feet of Jesus. It all was about worship, and this was part of the call. While at College Hill Presbyterian Church, I taught often. I believe this was an act satisfying one part of my call.

Music became a very important aspect of my worship. Although I love the hymns of the church, I found that more often my worship had, at its core, praise songs in which the lyrics were in the first person (e.g. “I Love You Lord”). Over the years, our house had some aspects of a house of worship. We had a number of small groups in our home. The last group was a Wednesday morning worship time. Sometimes I would be on my knees as we sang “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

The latest aspect of worship occurs in our car on the way to church on Sunday morning. With the aid of satellite radio or a hard drive of my CD worship songs, Lorraine and I sing together on our way to church.

The risen Lord responds to our worship. He gives us His blessings, and we can be filled with joy.
—Maurie Loomans

REQUIEM

“⁴O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! ⁵Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. . . . ⁷And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:4-5,7 (ESV)

On Saturday, October 23, I found out that a friend of mine, Andrew Howell, had died very suddenly and tragically the night before. I was stunned, to say the least. Andrew was an incredible horn player who had been in our Reformation Sunday and Easter services last year—in fact, he was supposed to play again on Reformation Sunday, a week after his death. He was a loyal friend with an offbeat sense of humor and a rare gift of optimism. How could someone so young, exuberant, and talented be dead?

Earlier that day, I had been practicing my music for upcoming choir concerts, especially two “Requiems.” (The Requiem is the Catholic mass in honor of the dead.) The music was still stuck in my head, and it was now uncomfortably real. As I stood on the street, with this beautiful, chant-like funeral music running through my head, I wept at the thought that the words were true of my friend.

Pulling myself together for the walk back to my apartment, I started wondering how on earth we would make it through the Brahms “German Requiem” excerpt in the concert the next day. I then remembered that our conductors had not given us the meaning of that piece’s text. My German is just good enough that I could tell it was not the traditional liturgical text, but probably a Bible verse. Using a concordance, I found that it was Psalm 39:4-7.

I read the whole psalm, and it hit me like a ton of bricks (in a good way). The fragility of life was so real to me that I could pray verses 4 and 5 from a deeper place in my heart than ever before. When I got to verse 7, God showed me that I needed him more than anything now. I formerly thought it was a great feat of faith to place one’s hope entirely in God in the face of tragedy, with the absolute confidence the psalmist shows here. In reality, it was the only thing I could do. Nothing in this life is certain; lives can change or end in an instant. Thanks be to God for His unchanging goodness and for the gift of His Son, who brings us victory over death!

“Nun Herr, wess soll ich mich trösten? Ich hoffe auf dich.”
—Sarah Grogan

RESERVOIR OR CHANNEL?

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17 (ESV)

I remember well the day, as a young teenage girl, that totally changed the direction of my life. It was not an ordinary church service. As the pastor spoke, I knew the Spirit was leading me to make some decisions. When the invitation was given, I knelt at the altar and became a new creation. Old things were passed away, and all things became new. I felt so full of joy and wanted to tell everyone what Jesus had done for me. Learning His Word as a new Christian was exciting and inspired change and action in my life.

Now that I have been a Christian for many years, I am asking myself if the Word still has the same excitement and impact. Change happens often with seniors—but not necessarily in our Christian walk. It is easy to become an anesthetized Christian. Our drive and motivation often get derailed in the aging process. We have gained a reservoir of biblical knowledge, history, and stories of God’s faithfulness through the years. Are we just adding to the reservoir or are we a channel of that life-giving, life-changing Word?

When Jesus spoke, His words were powerful words. Something happened as a result. His first words after His resurrection, “Go and tell,” moved the women to action. They were a channel to others that day, not a reservoir. James 2:17 tells us that our faith is dead and useless if it is not active. Life is exciting when God’s Word is active in our life and in the lives of others. What has the power of His Word done in my life lately?

May this Easter season bring renewal and a fresh anointing to our Christian walk. Let us discover afresh the ways His Word can change, inspire, and move us to action. The power that resurrected Jesus from the grave is the same power that works through His Word. This Word can transform us from a reservoir to a channel at any age.
—Sherry Smith

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

“Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9b (ESV)

When I was a child, my family adopted a grown female Old English Sheep dog named “Moppie” from a family that could no longer keep her. Moppie was an uber-friendly, energetic, playful dog. She would have made a terrible guard dog. I cannot ever remember her growling at a stranger. It did not matter how long we were away from home, she always greeted us as if she had not seen us in months.

All was not perfect in the beginning. I still smile at the memory of my dad bringing out pieces of something that vaguely resembled one of his brown suede shoes. He was not happy. At first, we let her long white hair grow down over her eyes and face, thinking, “It’s just the way God made her,” until she started walking into furniture.

My mother and I took turns walking her alongside a creek that ran through our backyard some distance from the house. Usually it was just Moppie and me, walking by ourselves under the stars in night’s darkness. Those were special moments. Although it could be very dark, as long as Moppie was at my side, I felt safe and secure.

God met me during those evening walks. Some of my most palpable experiences of God’s presence took place while walking Moppie. I could pray and sing out-loud without worrying what people might think. Often I would make up songs and sing with earnestness and joy.

God began to speak to me in those times of prayer and singing. He would say things like, “Rich, I love you. Don’t be afraid. I am with you and will be with you wherever you go.” Those words confirmed things that I had previously heard from my parents and church; but in those walks with Moppie, they took root in my soul. They were internalized.

Over the years, there have been times of failure and disappointment where God has seemed far away; and I have wondered if these memories were just the wishful dreams of childhood.

In times of doubt, I keep coming back to the historical reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus. How do I know that God loves me? He gave up His one and only Son for me. How can I know that God’s promises are trustworthy? The best evidence points to the truth that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead on the third day.

Before I understood the historical evidence for the truth of Christianity, there was a boy and his dog walking and talking with God.
—Pastor Rich Lanning

WHERE DID LAST YEAR GO?

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession” Hebrews 3:1 (ESV)

This is another year to marvel and learn amid God’s creation. One wonderful thing in our Christian tradition is, at the end of our yearly cycle of God-honoring holidays (Holy Days), we hold the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and King—a joyous occasion. He came to us on a godly mission of love. He came to restore us to a true relationship with Him—to turn us away from Satan, the world’s ways, temptation, and yes, from self. Mankind readily drops its spiritual defenses and wanders into new rebellious acts to offend God. However, God’s salvation plan is foolproof for those who love the Lord. Keep that thought! We know that God’s love, mercy, and grace are at work in our lives. What an awesome realization of hope His Word promises to those to whom He gives faith! (Read Psalm 57:10.)

Looking out into the circle of another year, we are reminded of how it reflects our journey, on a larger scale, through the seasons of life. Are there many difficult trials, even harsh storms on our path? If so, “That’s O.K.” We face nothing in this life alone. Even at times when we are too consumed with everyday demands to notice His presence, GOD is with us!

The recent Christmas of 2010 was followed by the lull of winter. After snowfall one brisk wintry day, I sat watching as wind picked up small swirls of snow, light powdery flakes, which rose and fell repeatedly. Soon they floated down in waves on gentle streams of air to the snow covered lawn, like little micro-clouds doing controlled landings. All the while, I was looking forward to spring. Spring is a time of blessing in nature for all species.

Winter is an excellent time for serious thought on spring, its meaning and promise. To this, we have been given God’s parallel blessing of spiritual spring. Easter, our spiritual spring, is the true time of restoration, of new life. The Lenten season points us there. It serves as a herald, a clarion call to give thought to God’s profound purpose for human life. This season is all about God, the source and reason around which all love, truth, and life revolve.

Jesus fulfilled His role in God’s plan of redemption for mankind. How each person responds to this God-ordained grace will determine his/her eternal destiny.

Be confident. Trust in God’s solution to our fallen nature. Salvation is in the Lord. His faithfulness is in His Word.
—Ron Douglas

THE LORD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE

“The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.” Psalm 11:4 (ESV)

This time of the year allows me to reflect on Easter as a child and also from a historic perspective. Growing up during the 1940’s and early 1950’s in a small United Presbyterian Church located in a rural area west of Canton, Ohio, I have fond memories of Easter. My father was a steel worker, as were many of the men in that area; and Easter Sunday was much anticipated. Dad would go out on Saturday to buy an orchid corsage for my mother and put it in the refrigerator until morning. Mother would wear a new dress and hat (Easter bonnet), and all the ladies looked so fine. Pastor John McCall would give his Easter sermon; and Mrs. McCall would play the piano, as we had no organ.

My elementary school was down a block across from the parsonage. We had prayer during most events and a pledge of allegiance every morning. I took for granted it would always be this way. After all, this country was founded on our belief in God. We were taught our rights were God-given and not government-given.

Our country has a rich Christian heritage. The first English language Bible, a King James pocket edition printed by Robert Aitken, was authorized by Congress in 1782. That session was known as the “Bible Congress”. Our national capitol building was used as a church building from its beginning until after the Civil War. Many presidents from Jefferson through Lincoln worshiped there. Up to four different denominational services were held on Sundays through these years.

As much as things have changed, the Lord is still on the throne and always will be.
—Bill Lafferty

CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

“holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Phillipians 2:16 (ESV)

As I listened to Bart Campolo’s message to the volunteers at the Thank You Dinner for the Feast of Love ministry a couple of years ago, it struck me that his words fit perfectly with the Bible verse I was inspired to select. With thanks to Bart, I would like to expand on his cross-country running analogy.

Being the mom of two cross-country runners was an interesting journey. There were the conditioning drills during the sweltering summer months. Jesus says that, to condition ourselves, we must “pray unceasingly” and “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:15). As we condition our prayer and spiritual lives, we need to think of the distance we will cover. Some will have a “quick” race, but most will take longer to run our race. How do we equip ourselves for the long haul? “. . . Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV®) We say with confidence, “. . . The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) We need water to sustain and replenish our weary bodies. Our “Living Water” is Christ the Lord (John 7:37-38).

As the runner runs the race, there will be hills to climb, valleys to descend, and straight-aways where one can improve his time (Psalm 23:4). There is a finish line. As the race started, some faltered, some dropped out, some ran at a steady pace, some ran in a pack, and some flew across the finish line while others staggered over the line. We all need to endure (2 Timothy 2:5).

What struck me in Bart’s message was those cheering on the runners—the spectators. Where do we stand to watch the race? How do we cheer on the runners? I would shout inane things like, “Run faster!” “You’re almost there!” “Water shortly!” Do you know what? I want someone to cheer me on—“Run!” “You’re almost home,” so when I cross the finish line, victory will be mine. At that time, the words I hope to hear are, “. . . Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . .” Matthew 25;21 (ESV) The rejoicing in heaven will be glorious!

Prayer: Amazing love, how can it be that You should die for me? I will endure and not grow weary. I will not lose heart. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:6 (ESV) Amen.
—Barb Weidus

BE OF GOOD CHEER

“‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’” John 16:33 (ESV)

Sometimes day-to-day life can drain just about all the life out of me. Many things happen to delay and discourage me. I try to do my best, and I discover that my best is not good enough. Sometimes I just flat out mess up. I lose sleep over “silly” things and really get discouraged. I read the headlines, listen to the news, and wonder what can be done. I discover that I truly am quite inadequate for this world.

When I feel this way, I try to look to God’s Word to reassure myself that He is in charge. I try to believe what He has said about overcoming the world and who I am in Him. Jesus not only is my source for peace, He is peace itself. Jesus not only helps me overcome my inadequacies, He is the over-comer. If I can keep my eyes on Him and stay in His Word, then these wonderful gifts are mine. Yes, it is easier said than done; but I know where to go, and I know Whom to seek when “tribulation” overwhelms me in this world and my life in particular. Because of this, I can “take heart”, or as the King James version says, “be of good cheer.”
—Becky Powell

AM I SALTY?

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV®)

Being an average kid in high school can be rough. Being a Christian and going to a public school can be a chore. Everyone struggles to fit in and find his/her place in life. The biggest point on that road is high school. No one wants to be considered a loser, ugly, or dumb, so we try to change. We change to fit; we change not to be considered less than others.

When you are a Christian, you cannot just blend in, try to slip through the cracks, and hope everyone will forget about you. You also cannot join the crowds and hide from the persecutions you might receive because of your faith.

I have to remember constantly that I am not supposed to be like all of my friends. I cannot use the language that some might use or participate in acts in which others participate. I cannot because I have Jesus, and I do not want to be the one who gives Him a bad name. Sometimes at lunch a topic might come up or a word said, and instead of objecting—nicely, of course—or putting things in a Godly perspective, I will let it slide and decide to pick a different battle. I am realizing more that I cannot do that. People will never take me seriously if I only have one foot on the boat. As an announced Christian, I need to hop on board and ride it out.

It is difficult and will continue to be so; but I have a Savior, and I am not going to let Him down. I do not want to conform to this world and be no good for the work of the kingdom. In order to do this, I have to surround myself with the right group of kids. I need to be that light for our Lord even if it is rough . . . we all do—at our work, in our homes, and in the world. It may not give us a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but those stars are trampled by men. If we, as Christians, stay salty, we will be given an eternal place in heaven. People may still walk all over me; but God will pick me up because He is my all in all. For Him, I will be salt.
—Allison Baumgartner

THINKING ABOUT GOD

THE SHOCKING GOSPEL

“And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” Mark 10:34 (ESV)

When I was a senior at a large high school, one of the younger students died in an accident. When I heard about it, I was overwhelmed. He was someone to whom I had spoken a few days earlier—or so I thought. Actually, he just had the same first name. On the morning of the third day, when I saw the guy I thought was dead, walking around and looking healthy, I had a little taste of the shock that Jesus’ followers might have experienced when they saw Jesus (whom they knew to be dead) breathing, walking, talking, and eating fish.

Of course, none of this came as any surprise to Jesus. He had already told the twelve on three different occasions what was going to happen in Jerusalem, “And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” Mark 10:34 (ESV) Perhaps they filed it away in their brains as one of those hard-to-understand sayings of His. For these words to be so simply, so literally true, was perhaps difficult to imagine before it actually happened. Even after it happened, they wondered if they were seeing a ghost.

We need to see Jesus eating fish after His resurrection just as much as His apostles did. We need to believe and be shocked that Jesus is alive—that He is truly alive, not just in some ethereal, ghostly way. His bodily resurrection gives us real hope. He truly suffered and died as one of us, and He was truly raised and glorified as one of us. It is only these shocking, but totally real events, that give us reason to participate joyfully in the sufferings of His body, the church.
—Andy Eatough, serving with Wycliffe

SEEING DIMLY

“¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV®)

My earliest memories of Easter are family visits with my aunt and uncle. You need to understand that I was raised in a Roman Catholic home, and Easter was indeed an important day. As I look back, it is a bit blurry just what the importance was—it was certainly a day of celebration with Easter egg and Easter candy hunts, but it was also about Jesus coming back to life. I never quite understood exactly how the hunts, eggs, and candy all connected with Jesus; but there was no doubt in my mind that Easter was good. It even had a good Friday. I was not sure why it was Good Friday— but it was good; and that was, well, good enough for me.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

You might be thinking that my upbringing was inadequate—and it probably was—but I do not think my seven-year-old brain could really absorb much more anyway. In fact, as I grew older these simple memories were nurtured, both inside the home and elsewhere. Eventually, I grew to know Jesus, not just in an abstract way, hanging on the cross, but as my Savior and my Lord. I do not think I really got Easter into my heart until, as a young Christian, I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I suspect that many have read this book and know the great allegory that it presents. Edmund has lied and betrayed his family and friends. The witch now has a claim on Edmund’s life; BUT Aslan, the great Lion, makes a trade—his life for Edmund’s.

Why do I tell this story? I found myself in Edmund’s shoes, completely aware that I was a liar and betrayer, deserving of death, but amazed that I was free. I think this was the first time that I got a little glimpse of what it really meant to know Jesus as my Savior.

When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

What I saw only dimly then, and only a little better now, is just how much I need a Savior. What I saw very dimly then, and only a little better now, is the love of my Savior who stepped in to bear my sin. I cannot wait for that day when I will fully know.
—Pat Dollard

CELEBRATING GOD’S GREATNESS

“³Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. ⁴One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. ⁵They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ⁶They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. ⁷They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:3-7 (NIV®)

As I select the music to sing for our visits to nursing homes at Easter and throughout the year, I try to follow the church calendar. However, I have questioned this at times. Does it really make a difference to observe these times and seasons?

Some Christians believe it does. Pastor Joseph Prince from Singapore teaches how much we need reminders of God’s goodness, and this is a reason to attend church regularly. He says, “Even the memorials on the Old Testament priests’ shoulders were constant reminders of God’s power and love, and there are many references to the need to be constantly reminded of all that He has done for us.”

Author Robert Heidler writes in “The Messianic Church Arising!” it is “important to retrace the steps into God’s Presence . . . because each of us is surrounded by temptations and influences that try to draw us away from God.” We cannot be reminded too often of our dependence on the Lord.

We have to remember continually what we believe. The teachings of Christianity will not automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed. This is why, in our ministry to the elderly, we visit the Alzheimer’s Care Center located west of our church office. With patients who have brain injuries and diseases of the mind, it becomes even more important to be reminded of the Great Almighty God, Lord of the Universe, Our Healer, Deliverer, Redeemer, and Soon Coming King.

As Resurrection Day approaches, let us remember and meditate on God’s immeasurable grace and all He gives us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Noreen Mocsny

COMMIT, TRUST, AND I WILL ACT

“⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, . . .” Psalm 37:5-6a (NIV®)

In my backyard, I have several bird feeders connected on one black metal pole. The central and largest feeder is comprised of two clear plastic chambers, one over the other. It holds about ten pounds of seed and has sixteen feeding ports, eight at the base of each chamber. It is rather impressive, as bird feeders go. I am always impressed by its size every time I fill it and have to hoist it back up to its perch on the top of the pole. We have constant bird traffic during the winter and are rewarded by seeing about thirty different types of birds. I have been feeding the birds for decades and never tire of the show.

It struck me that, while the birds come and go constantly taking seed from the bottom of the chambers, they are totally unaware of the amount of seed that is disappearing. As long as they come to the feeder and find seed in the port, the supply seems endless. When they look in the feeder, it appears “full”; but my view leads me to believe it is almost empty. When I go out to refill the feeder, the birds, mostly chickadees, scold me from the nearby branches, reprimanding me for interrupting their lunch.

Obviously, the “bird’s-eye view” is not as comprehensive as mine. They only see the seed in the port, unable to comprehend the big picture, which is the necessity of my intrusion to insure their sustenance. As long as they live, they will never be capable of understanding this. They just come every day, trusting the food will be there.

In many ways, I am like those little birds. No matter what I do, I cannot grasp the scope of God’s plan for me or the ways He intervenes. Sometimes He seems to interfere in my life, all in His effort to sustain or possibly even save me.

My job is not to try to figure it all out . . . to know the answers to all the questions. My part is to recommit and trust every day, knowing He sees the big picture, and cherishing the promise I will some day share in His righteousness.
—Linda Young

KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

“¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Calculus is that level of math where seemingly innocuous problems can snowball into many-headed monsters spilling across an entire page of college-ruled paper. In many problems, every step could go in many directions. However, each problem usually has a relatively short path to the answer; the trick is to find it. One of the best methods taught to me for finding that short path is to examine every step with the goal of the problem in mind. What kind of answer are you seeking? Why did you use this technique or that formula? Keeping the goal in mind has prevented me from hours of headaches of going down mathematical rabbit trails.

As nerdy as it sounds, life is often like a high-level math problem. The “solution,” the goal, is to glorify God; and the only way to know how to reach that goal is to read His textbook, the Bible. Paul’s life and writings show how much he focused on his goal of glorifying God; because no matter what obstacle presented itself, he stayed fixed on God’s calling on his life. The book of Philippians, from which I drew my verse, was written while Paul was in prison. The depth of purpose Paul had is astounding.

I have found in my life that much more is possible if I focus primarily on my goal of glorifying God. How much of a difference could all of us make in our communities if we constantly would bring our goal to mind? I can say with certainty that God and His glory would truly be at the heart of our community.
—Jonathan Rainous

WORRY DOES NOT EQUAL LONGER LIFE

Matthew 6:25-34.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27 (NIV®)

This must be pretty important if Jesus took the time to include this in the Sermon on the Mount during His ministry on earth. Whenever I read this verse, it is a good reminder. Then I walk away and continue to worry—worry about money, weight, work, what people think of me, or that one of my loved ones is hurt somewhere. Worry will not change any of these things; worry may actually make things worse. When you worry, you focus on that thing and can become fixated on it. It can eat away at you. It can also cause stress and lead to more worry.

What we need to do is to turn our worry into prayer. Pray that God will enable you to exercise self-control. Pray that God will give you favor in finding a job or favor with your boss and enable you to work your best to glorify Him. Pray that God can help you see yourself the way He sees you—as a wonderful creation for whom He has a plan. Pray that God will protect your loved ones and bring them back to you safely. The tricky thing is to give it up when you pray; give that worry to God and trust that He will take care of you and yours. God loves all of us; and He will take care of us, guide us, protect us, and enable us to be strong.

While I was writing this, we found out that one of our friends lost their baby daughter. This just floored me. It really puts my worries into perspective. I have not had to go through that grief, but God will carry them through. God cares about all of us and all of our hurts, big or small. God wraps us all in His loving arms every day, every moment. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place and then rise again, defeating death and the Devil. This should be a good reminder to all of us—I am important enough for Jesus to die to save me from my sins. We will not add any time to our lives by worrying, so take a deep breath and lift all you worries up to God.
—Megan McEnaney

WEARING THE CROSS

“¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV)

Last week, Tender Child ran straight into my arms, muffling that Jesus’ dying on the cross was “mean and scary.” That cross was really a gross torture tool—and she would never forgive soldiers for Jesus’ death. Through tears, we talked about how the cross also reminds us of Jesus’ choice to die. He humbly accepted His Father’s plan and willingly died for her, in order to call her to Himself and His ways. Hopefully, when she wears her cross necklace, it will remind her of purposed, loving redemption—and as we put on the cross, it makes us beautiful.

Daily “wearing the cross,” letting God transform the sin-ugly into His beauty, starts with death. Small Son recently realized it, as he writhed on the floor. There was nothing farther from his mind than reconciliation. “I CAN’T say I’m sorry to Boppa. I’m NOT SORRY!” “I’m tired. I’m TIRED of BOPPA! . . . I feel that I’m DYING!” I am thinking, “Yes, dear son. You are dying.” We cannot have transformation without dying to our self, joining Christ on the cross. Redemption of rebels is God’s way, not ours. Do I not feel this way at times—refusing to apologize, holding on to my right to feel hurt? Much later, grandfather and grandson’s tight hug lingers. What do I give up for my self-proclaimed “rights”?

Wearing the cross, being continually transformed into Christ’s beauty, signifies that God is in control. Nothing happens to us except through God’s will. Everything is given by God’s loving hand. What are our annoyances and frustrations? Can we use the sin-ugly to look for God’s hidden blessing—His provision, shepherding, and love? A young lady’s frustration—brothers with their unconscious sound effects who practice piano “too enthusiastically” and tell jokes without logical endings—is eventually transformed into understanding and even love.

Can we practice “Thy will be done,” accepting His comfort, even resulting in praise? Those twenty-three boots, sneakers, flip-flops, ballet slippers, and soccer shoes,—not always tucked neatly in cubbies—endless dishes, laundry, and (ouch!) that renegade Lego under-foot can result in PRAISE! We die to ourselves. We whisper, “I do this for YOU, oh precious Savior.” The muddle of grumpy selfishness, whining, disobeying, and kid-squabble are nothing but opportunities to enter together into God’s redeeming, heart-changing power. It all melts into love when we wear the cross.

May we wear the cross to transform the “sin-ugly”, through His death, into making us “beautiful”.
—Christy Claydon

LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION

“If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV)

Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead? The resurrection is the centerpiece of the Christian faith. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15 that if you do not have the resurrection, you do not have Christianity. Just when we think Paul is introducing Apologetics 101, he turns instead to address the believer, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

His statement is odd. Why should we of all people be the most pitiable if our religious claims about the resurrection of Christ are wrong? Paul’s premise is that Christians should live in such a unique way that someone may only make sense of it by the resurrection of Christ. If we are living in such a gospel-centered, radical way and there ends up being no resurrection—so argues Paul—then the world should pity us for not indulging in the pleasures of this life.

Do you live in a way that only makes sense when taking into account the resurrection or is your life indistinguishable from your neighbor who rejects the resurrection? I am not talking about good ethics. Many people who reject Christianity are outwardly conformed to “good” behavior. I know many non-Christians who serve others and treat people with kindness. Rather, do you make decisions every day based on your hope in the resurrection, even if the world thinks you are crazy? Paul certainly did—it is why he travelled and preached even after being beaten, whipped, and jailed (see 2 Corinthians 11).

God is calling for radical followers of Christ who do difficult things that the world calls crazy: leaving everything to bring the gospel to tribes in Iran; downsizing to a smaller house in order to send more money to missions; moving your family into the inner city to reach the poor; rejecting the “corporate ladder” to devote more time to discipling your children; remaining married to a difficult spouse to honor the Gospel in marriage; getting rid of your internet service in order to fight temptation. The world calls people like this crazy and deluded. The fact of the matter is, since Jesus rose from the dead, we, too, will rise. This life is sprinting toward an end. Do not waste your life. Examine your life and see if it can only be explained by the resurrection of Jesus.

Do you believe the resurrection? Then let us be bold enough to live like it.
—Michael Lyons