Dog Gone It!

I'm a dog person. I just can't help asking to pet the sweet looking dog that is walking its owner down the street. I like boxers and mostly playful bigger dogs, but maybe you prefer little dogs or even cats. There is just something wonderful about coming home and having your dog be so visibly excited that YOU are home!

I'm dog sitting this week for the sweetest dog. He reminds me of my own "baby" Trevor, whom we had to put down, but I still think of often. The first day we had him I wasn't gone more than 45 minutes to pick up the boys from school, but sure enough when I opened the door he was there to greet us so excitedly; you'd think we left him for days!

The way this friend greets me makes me think of the prodigal son. He runs with complete abandon for the one(s) he's been missing. And unabashedly shows the joy he has for your return.

This too is how God thinks of us. When we turn to Him, no matter how long we've been gone, He is purposeful about greeting us with Joy!

"So he got up and went to his father.   But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:20; 24 )

God loves us without us meriting anything. He just chooses to love. All we have to do is decide to receive it. And then we will have more than we could ever want.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Eph 3:20)

Reflection question: Will you choose to receive His gift?

Spit the Truth

My two preschool aged boys (3 & 5) have a habit of lying when they know they have done something wrong. They don't want the discipline that is due to them for the choice they have made. So they try to lie. The truth is they get in significantly more trouble for lying than for the actual act itself.

I'm not sure where youngsters come up with the idea to lie, maybe it's our sinful nature, maybe self-preservation, or maybe it's a learned behavior from the other kids they're around. Regardless of the reason, as their Mom it is my job to teach them about truthfulness and also about discipline. It's my job to ensure they mature into honorable young men.

How much more then is it Jesus' job to teach us to mature into righteousness? He teaches us to love the way he loves. Thus to live harmoniously together with others He teaches us to abide in Truth and Grace.

Sadly most people, and most Christians for that matter, do not understand this imperative teaching of Christ about how to relate to one another. So we go on surviving our lives stressed, burnt out, bitter and angry. We perpetuate gossip and hold grudges that produce nothing worth sustaining.

The principle of Truth and Grace is the Answer to the squabbles and bad relationships we endure. To live in Truth and Grace means to be truthful (I wish we all learned this as a child, but we didn't), and then give unmerited forgiveness (aka Grace) to others and ourselves. In theory it is an incredibly simple, incredibly potent way to live. In practice it is much harder to break old habits.

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  (John 1:17; emphasis mine)

Some of the keys are:
Not gossiping - if you have an issue with someone you bring it to whomever you have the problem with. And you don't talk it over with your 5 best friends first! You don't bring someone with you to "back you up" because then you're ganging up on that other person.

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” (Matt 18:15)

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (Prov 11:13) 

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;  they go down to the inmost parts. (Prov 26:22)

Then after you’ve talked with the person, you forgive completely…even if they don’t apologize. Take the sin that has been committed against you and lay it at the feet of Jesus. Ask Him to heal you where you've been hurt and then let go. Holding on to a grudge against someone does not hurt them; it only brings agony to you. Revenge should not be a word in our vocabulary, always love.

“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!" (Matt 18-21-22) 

'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." (Matt 18:32-35)

“Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.” (Prov 20:22)

Reflection Question: Where do you need to let go (gossip, grudge, anger, bitterness, etc) in order to start living your life in Truth and Grace?

Don't Have

I got an award for my 5 years in the Army and the first thing I thought was "I deserved more than this". Why do I do that? Because I know how much I have sacrificed, and I had expected something significant for that, and I didn’t get what I thought I deserve.

Frances Chan says "we are programed to focus on what we don't have... We forget that we already have everything we need in Him" (Crazy Love 30).

I have been fairly anxious lately about my future and whether I'm making the right decision. In so many ways this solidifies my plan for the future. People, like my leadership in the Army, will always leave me wanting more, but God is more than enough.

When I think about the lessons I learned, the skills I gained and the people’s lives I touched during my time in the Army, I realize how much more those things are worth than a piece of metal and ribbon on my uniform. I don’t do the things I do, for awards, I do them to glorify Christ. 

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matt 6:1)

I do not want to forfeit my reward in heaven for a few “Atta boys” here on earth. Jesus loves me who I am and where I am in my life right now! He will Justify me by His blood and perfect me through the circumstances I am placed in each day.  

Reflection Question: Are you looking for accolades here on earth, or are you storing up your rewards in Heaven?

Winning

Easter Sunday. The Devil hates days like this. Churches are packed, people are embracing, children are laughing and playing. It is a blessing to our Lord. But I can almost see the devil throwing a temper tantrum. As a matter of fact, I think I could hear the tantrum Sunday. Lightening flashed and the thunder crashed around our humble aluminum Church building. People were hearing the good news and Satan was MAD. At one point in the busiest service the power went out leaving the Pastor trying to compete with the sound of the heavy rain in the dark.

Time to throw up your hands? Say "I give up." "this is too hard" or "This is supposed to be fun." That is the Devil's goal, to take the wind from your sail (or the power from your microphone). The one thing he doesn't want You to know is: It Is Finished! Jesus has Won.

"Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."  (John 19:30)

Each of us who has professed Jesus as our savior, are Winning every single day because He already paid the price. So if the Devil is attacking you with one of his temper tantrums, tell him to go back where he came from ;) ha ha ha

"Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^"(Matt 4:10)

Reflection Question: How are you irritating Satan this week?

Cramming

On my way to Colorado, the man across the aisle was so tall with such long legs he was literally crammed into the seat. His knees were uncomfortably smashed against the chair in front of him. It seemed like every few minutes he would rustle and twitch in his seat to try to "fit" better, but no matter what position he tried to contort, there was no way to fit into that small space. 

Don't we do that with God? We try to cram Him into what our little minds can handle, so we can think we understand.

In our human dullness, God didn’t even have words to explain who He fully is to Moses. All He could explain is that He is the one who always was, and is, and is to come… by saying I am who I am.

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

“Day and night [the angels] never stop saying:

   “‘Holy, holy, holy

   is the Lord God Almighty,’

   who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever.” (Rev 4:8-9)

I don't think I want to serve a God I can fully understand. God is mystical. I barely made it through the first level of college calculus. If God is relegated to the likes of what I can understand, we are in bigger trouble than I thought. Those people who cruise right through math may never be able to explain a Shakespearian sonnet. The truth is, we are made in the likeness of God, but none other than Jesus can claim to be or understand God. Even Jesus did not think he could understand God. He did, however know that The Father's plan was best.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Phil 3:5-7)

In Gethsemane Jesus prayed: “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

This will not stop me from following Jesus or from trying to liken my life to His. As a matter of fact, serving God who is so much more than I could ever imagine has me seeking after Him that much more!

Reflection Question: Have you crammed God into something you can understand? Or do you serve the I AM?

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

When Jesus knocks, he has something a little different for each of us. The thing is, we don’t really know what that will be until we open the door.  Sadly, most people never answer his knock. Then, some people answer the door and invite Jesus in, just to kick him out and slam the door in his face.

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:19-20)

The specifics will be different for all of us, but the basic call to each of us is the same. The greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

I have heard Jesus knocking since I chose to follow Him back in 2001. In so many ways I followed his callings for me. I started a Bible study in my sorority with another Christian sister, I spent a summer in Yellowstone on a mission trip, and I changed from one ministry (the one where I met Jesus) to another based on His calling for my ministry.

When I got married and had my first baby boy, following Jesus became much more difficult. Working 12 hour days for the Army, trying to take care of my family; life was just so busy! I always tried to honor Him in my day-to-day, loving the unlovables in the military. I asked my pastor to start a lunchtime Bible study on post so I could attend, and invited everyone I could, but it never felt like enough. I was plagued with depression and anxiety at different times.

As my transition off of active duty began, I had a million ideas running through my mind of what I should do next. Go back to school, work in the family sales business, try to get an active position with the National Guard… but none of that felt right either.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD” (Jer 29:11-14; emphasis mine)

Back in November, I heard the call into ministry, but all the pressures of this world and desire to make money led me to seek out other options. After looking into numerous possibilities, and even trying out some… I felt Jesus saying, “You can do this… but you’re just delaying the inevitable. I have something planned for you.” I knew that I would never be satisfied with my plans, but I had to let go and follow His. Totally scary for someone like me who likes to plan, but I know that although my plans might have been good, His plan is always best. So why settle for good when you can have the best? I don’t know where it is going to take me, but I’m choosing to follow Jesus into the ministry field. Look for Overflow with Hope Ministry in the near future!

Reflection Question: Jesus is knocking; have you opened the door to Jesus?

Motion

While flying through some turbulence I started to feel something pretty common for me: motion sickness. I have gotten air sick so many times, just the smell of aviation fuel can churn my stomach.

This is the feeling God has when we claim to be His, but simply muddle along doing some good things.

If you look at Rev 3:15-16, it says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

The Greek word for spit there can better be explained as gag on and then upchuck.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our GOOD deeds are like dirty menstrual pads. No really. That's the translation for “filthy rags”.

I'm not saying that Grace isn't sufficient and Amazing. We will all continue in the way of the world, sometimes...but for salvation through Grace, we are required to sellout for Jesus. Don't be fooled, just because you pray or call yourself a Christian, doesn't mean your name is written in The Book.

“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” …You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:18, 20-29)

That is probably the Best trick the Devil has played on us. To make us think that we can be "Christian enough" and then we have our Golden Ticket to heaven. We all want to know, how little can we do and still make it to heaven? What’s the minimum? Sunday church attendance? Prayer? Not saying bad words? …

Reflection Question: How have you been just a Lukewarm Christian this week?