Keep my focus on Jesus, and continue to be faithful in small things.
I'll call it the "Crossing Guard Principle."
A simple lesson, really, but the Lord reminds me of it every time I ride or walk past him--the nice man who's the new crossing guard at the busy intersection on Lassiter Mill Rd. in front of Aldert Root Elementary.
They've never had a crossing guard there before, and I must say, whoever decided to get one: WAY TO GO! Such a brilliant idea, because cars often come flying down that street and sometimes don't see the stoplight there for walkers. Over the years, we've crossed at that little crosswalk innumerable times with all our children who attended Root and, thankfully, walked were able to and from school everyday. But they never had a crossing guard...until now.
I love to watch him. He sits on a little bench in front of his crosswalk and watches like a hawk (and I do mean that!) for anyone approaching the crosswalk. Whenever he sees parents or children or dog-walkers coming towards him, he jumps up with his big red stop sign and prepares to go into action. All this before the person/child/dog has even arrived at the crosswalk. I'm telling, this nice man is alert and ready to do his job! (And, by the way, he always has the nicest expression on his face.)
But here's what I think about when I see him--that's devotion to duty. Sure, he may not be the Governor or the CEO of an international corporation or the latest greatest sports star...but he's faithfully and fully doing the task he was assigned. That crossing guard is constantly scanning and watching for little ones (and us big folks, too), and when he sees someone, he springs into action.
Focused. Faithful.
Oh how I want to be like that, Father. Focused like a laser beam on You. "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and Perfecter of our faith," is how Hebrews 12:2 puts it. Fixing my eyes day in and day out. Fixing my eyes when the sun shines in happy circumstances...and fixing them on my beautiful Savior just as fully when the clouds and storms roll in and life feels hard and dark. Focused and fixed on the One with all the wisdom, all the love, all the forgiveness, all the strength, all the hope, all the comfort, all the grace.
And then faithful to finish the work He's given me...whether that task be big or small. In fact, especially faithfulness in the small, unnoticed, unremembered duties. "Who dares to despise the day of small things," says Zechariah (4:10). Not me, Lord, not me.
My life might be full of small things--but they are from You. You see them, and You are pleased with faithfulness and obedience in any arena, big or small. Whether watching crosswalks or waiting in carpool lines. Whether performing the duties of President or preparing a meal for your family.
Faithfully and fully doing whatever God has called us to do...and doing it to the best of our ability and to His glory. And all the while focused on the One who is enabling and empowering and encouraging you in your every task.
The Crossing Guard Principle. Might we live it out this day that the Lord has given us.
To God be the glory.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Savoring this day...celebrating that day
A little food for weekend thought--
Right now, I'm thinking of one of many moments in Italy with our girls. Early one morning, the three of us had jogged/walked up to this magnificent church/monastery and piazza overlooking the city...and, of course, my bird brain cannot remember the name of it (even though it's very famous and the girls repeated the name to me about 20 times. Thank you, middle age.) This was the view--
Actually, this isn't really the view, because my crummy photography skills don't even begin to do it justice. Take my word for it: it was spectacular. We walked all around, soaking in the peaceful beauty, and yours truly snapped about a billion pictures...half of which have my thumb featured prominently in front of the photo.
My girls fussed at me a bit--reminding me to enjoy the view and savor the moment rather than obsessively trying to capture the moment. Mighty good advice if you ask me.
Actually, I was trying hard to hold to those precious minutes with my girls in the midst of so much glory all around us. I recall constantly saying to myself--"Remember this. Hold onto this. This moment--this very moment right now--is a treasured, golden gift with our girls." I know I did it imperfectly...but I surely tried to savor with great gratitude each day, each hour on that trip. Well, except maybe for the looooong plane ride home.
This reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther that "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day." Meaning--focusing upon and living fully this once-in-a-lifetime gift of this present day while also always keeping in the forefront of our thoughts that glorious day when we will see Christ. We live today...but we joyfully anticipate that heavenly glorious day.
Because here's the thing: if we'll enjoy that perspective, we'll eliminate futile regrets over yesterday as well as destructive worries over tomorrow. God's given us this day and only this day--so we are to rejoice in it, love Him and others on it, and live to the glory of God to the best of our ability on it. And all the while, when circumstances are hard...or the waiting is tough...or the illness is painful...or the loneliness bears down, we remember that this is not our home. This is not our goal. This is not the end. But heaven and perfection and sinlessness and joy and wonder are coming one glorious day.
To quote C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters: "The humans live in time but [God] destines them to eternity. He therefore...wants them to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time [called] the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity...He would therefore have them continually concerned either with eternity (which means being concerned with Him) or with the Present--either meditating on their eternal union with, or separation from, Himself, or else obeying the present voice of conscience, bearing the present cross, receiving the present grace, giving thanks for the present pleasure."
Thank You, Lord, for this day. Thank You for the joy of eating dinner with those I love...of going to church and hugging dear friends...of walking with our dog on a cool September day...of reading Your Word on a quiet Sunday afternoon...of recalling many happy memories from my trip with our girls.
And thank You, Lord, for the glorious and certain hope of heaven...when all pain, all sorrow, all sickness, all separation, all tears, all weakness will be gone, and we will experience real abundant, eternal, perfect, wondrous Life with You forever.
Might we thankfully and fully savor this day...and joyfully and excitedly celebrate that day.
To God be the glory.
Right now, I'm thinking of one of many moments in Italy with our girls. Early one morning, the three of us had jogged/walked up to this magnificent church/monastery and piazza overlooking the city...and, of course, my bird brain cannot remember the name of it (even though it's very famous and the girls repeated the name to me about 20 times. Thank you, middle age.) This was the view--
My girls fussed at me a bit--reminding me to enjoy the view and savor the moment rather than obsessively trying to capture the moment. Mighty good advice if you ask me.
Actually, I was trying hard to hold to those precious minutes with my girls in the midst of so much glory all around us. I recall constantly saying to myself--"Remember this. Hold onto this. This moment--this very moment right now--is a treasured, golden gift with our girls." I know I did it imperfectly...but I surely tried to savor with great gratitude each day, each hour on that trip. Well, except maybe for the looooong plane ride home.
This reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther that "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day." Meaning--focusing upon and living fully this once-in-a-lifetime gift of this present day while also always keeping in the forefront of our thoughts that glorious day when we will see Christ. We live today...but we joyfully anticipate that heavenly glorious day.
Because here's the thing: if we'll enjoy that perspective, we'll eliminate futile regrets over yesterday as well as destructive worries over tomorrow. God's given us this day and only this day--so we are to rejoice in it, love Him and others on it, and live to the glory of God to the best of our ability on it. And all the while, when circumstances are hard...or the waiting is tough...or the illness is painful...or the loneliness bears down, we remember that this is not our home. This is not our goal. This is not the end. But heaven and perfection and sinlessness and joy and wonder are coming one glorious day.
To quote C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters: "The humans live in time but [God] destines them to eternity. He therefore...wants them to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time [called] the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity...He would therefore have them continually concerned either with eternity (which means being concerned with Him) or with the Present--either meditating on their eternal union with, or separation from, Himself, or else obeying the present voice of conscience, bearing the present cross, receiving the present grace, giving thanks for the present pleasure."
Thank You, Lord, for this day. Thank You for the joy of eating dinner with those I love...of going to church and hugging dear friends...of walking with our dog on a cool September day...of reading Your Word on a quiet Sunday afternoon...of recalling many happy memories from my trip with our girls.
And thank You, Lord, for the glorious and certain hope of heaven...when all pain, all sorrow, all sickness, all separation, all tears, all weakness will be gone, and we will experience real abundant, eternal, perfect, wondrous Life with You forever.
Might we thankfully and fully savor this day...and joyfully and excitedly celebrate that day.
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Safe in our mouth
After a rainy Monday, what a gloriously sunny, lovely Tuesday! Thank You, Lord!
And on this beautiful day, I had the privilege of walking and praying with some very dear friends...and can I just say, that's a fabulous way to pray. Seriously, walking keeps your mind alert and undistracted and praying with friends, well, Jesus said that "where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them." (Mt.18:20) Jesus right there amongst us--what could be better than that?
Not to mention, anything done with friends is a beautiful gift, don't you think? So, praying with Jesus and friends and enjoying God's magnificent creation all at the same time, let's just say that's a totally "peak experience," to quote my wonderful sister, Mary Norris. (And just to put that in perspective, my sister and I used that term to describe going together in 1982 to New Orleans to watch our beloved Tar Heels win the NCAA basketball championship. Yessirree, that was a peak experience...but so is walking and praying with friends.)
Good grief, I digress. After all those long-winded words, I'm gonna get to the point. While we were walking and praying, our friend, Becky, used a beautiful phrase that I both loved and that really convicted me. She prayed that other people would be "safe in our mouths."
Becky said she read the phrase a while back. It referred to a young child's answer to the question of how to describe love. He said that when someone loves us, "we are safe in their mouths."
Are your friends, are your family, are other people safe in your mouth? Are you someone who covers over an offense of a friend...or are you someone who broadcasts it? Are you looking for ways to encourage others...or searching for any little thing that might tear them down? Are you quick to assume the best of those you love and their motives...or are you too hasty in doubting, questioning, and assuming the worst? Do you build up others with your words...or demolish and destroy?
James put it this way: "With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (James 3:9-10)
In other words, how dare I proclaim my adoration for God and at the same time ever speak hateful or unkind or gossipy words about the eternal souls He created, He died for, and He rose again to redeem! Oh forgive us, forgive us, forgive us, Father, when words that destroy and demean come out of our mouths. Those kinds of words are like toxic poison--poisoning us and poisoning those who hear them.
Forgive me for anytime those that I love have not been "safe in my mouth."
This day and every single day of our lives, might we ask God to enable us to use words that bless, magnify, and glorify our Almighty Lord and that build up, encourage, and edify the people He has so graciously put in our lives.
Might our wonderful Jesus, and all of His children, be safe in our mouths.
To God be the glory.
And on this beautiful day, I had the privilege of walking and praying with some very dear friends...and can I just say, that's a fabulous way to pray. Seriously, walking keeps your mind alert and undistracted and praying with friends, well, Jesus said that "where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them." (Mt.18:20) Jesus right there amongst us--what could be better than that?
Not to mention, anything done with friends is a beautiful gift, don't you think? So, praying with Jesus and friends and enjoying God's magnificent creation all at the same time, let's just say that's a totally "peak experience," to quote my wonderful sister, Mary Norris. (And just to put that in perspective, my sister and I used that term to describe going together in 1982 to New Orleans to watch our beloved Tar Heels win the NCAA basketball championship. Yessirree, that was a peak experience...but so is walking and praying with friends.)
Good grief, I digress. After all those long-winded words, I'm gonna get to the point. While we were walking and praying, our friend, Becky, used a beautiful phrase that I both loved and that really convicted me. She prayed that other people would be "safe in our mouths."
Becky said she read the phrase a while back. It referred to a young child's answer to the question of how to describe love. He said that when someone loves us, "we are safe in their mouths."
Are your friends, are your family, are other people safe in your mouth? Are you someone who covers over an offense of a friend...or are you someone who broadcasts it? Are you looking for ways to encourage others...or searching for any little thing that might tear them down? Are you quick to assume the best of those you love and their motives...or are you too hasty in doubting, questioning, and assuming the worst? Do you build up others with your words...or demolish and destroy?
James put it this way: "With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (James 3:9-10)
In other words, how dare I proclaim my adoration for God and at the same time ever speak hateful or unkind or gossipy words about the eternal souls He created, He died for, and He rose again to redeem! Oh forgive us, forgive us, forgive us, Father, when words that destroy and demean come out of our mouths. Those kinds of words are like toxic poison--poisoning us and poisoning those who hear them.
Forgive me for anytime those that I love have not been "safe in my mouth."
This day and every single day of our lives, might we ask God to enable us to use words that bless, magnify, and glorify our Almighty Lord and that build up, encourage, and edify the people He has so graciously put in our lives.
Might our wonderful Jesus, and all of His children, be safe in our mouths.
To God be the glory.
Friday, August 28, 2015
The power of words
Isn't it funny how oftentimes something seemingly small and simple can radically change your perspective and attitude?
Today, for me, that supposedly "small and simple" thing came in the form of a little note from a very dear friend.
Actually, she's one of those folks who often seems to drop me a note at the most opportune times...meaning, right when the old spirit is flagging and I desperately need to hear a word of encouragement or exhortation. She has no way to know, of course, since we don't live near each other and don't get to see one another in person very often.
But He knows. And He tells her...and she responds, because she loves Him that much.
Think about it: the God who created the vast expanses of the universe--the hundred billion galaxies--and who holds them all together, down to every minuscule atom, every neutron, all by the power of His Word, also knows the very thoughts of our often confused minds and the emotions of our ever wildly vacillating hearts. Not only does He know those thoughts and feelings...but our mighty Lord understands them and cares about them. Cares personally. Cares perpetually.
And cares powerfully...meaning our Lord can, and does, act upon what He knows, sees and cares so deeply about in His bewildered or discouraged or frustrated or exhausted or disappointed child.
Sometimes He acts through the sound of a song that reminds us of His great grace. Sometimes through the beauty of a summer sunset. Sometimes through the smell of His ocean or pine tree or honeysuckle. All quietly singing their own hymn of God's forever faithfulness. Sometimes through the timely hug of a friend or the sharing of unexpected laughter when smiles have been hard to come by. Jesus, once again, singing His song of "I love You" through His children.
And sometimes He does it through a note of encouragement and love.
Isn't it appropriate that a simple letter would have such power? After all, God has given us His greatest treasures in the form of words....or more specifically, the Word. Both His written Word--praise God for our Bibles!...and His glorious Living Word--praise God for the Lord Jesus, the Word of God! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1,4-5)
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like the Word. Thank You, thank You, thank You, Father.
But what a privilege, what a remarkable gift, that we, too, get to use words--words just like God used and inspired and breathed out for us in His Word. We have the remarkable privilege of using words with one another! He's given us words so that we can express love to others. Encourage others. Exhort others. Teach others. (Sometimes correct others--right, parents?!) Change others. Forgive others.
And He's given us words to speak directly to Him. Who can get over that wonder--talking to God! Words to use to ask forgiveness from Him. Pray to Him. Praise Him. Question Him. Magnify Him. Glorify Him.
So today, how are you using His gift of words?
Have you spent some of those words today in glorifying the wondrous Savior who made you, loves you, and gave His very life to redeem you? Have you thanked Him...I mean today? Have you thanked Him today for the very breath you just took and the eyes that are reading these words and the inconceivable, unmerited, unending treasure of His saving grace?
How about others? How have you spent your words when it comes to those around you? Is there some name God is whispering to your heart? Maybe right now, Jesus is gently speaking the specific name of some priceless soul who needs your words of encouragement. Or of love. Or of "I know you feel alone and discouraged, but you're not...I'm with you...I'm talking to the Sovereign King of the universe about you...and in His Word He just told me to remind you He loves you perfectly and He is with you powerfully."
Use your words. Don't let them die within your heart this day...write them down or speak them out loud. To your Lord. To your loved ones. To whomever the Holy Spirit is directing you. His Word is Life. Might our words share and spread that glorious Light.
To God be the glory.
Today, for me, that supposedly "small and simple" thing came in the form of a little note from a very dear friend.
But He knows. And He tells her...and she responds, because she loves Him that much.
Think about it: the God who created the vast expanses of the universe--the hundred billion galaxies--and who holds them all together, down to every minuscule atom, every neutron, all by the power of His Word, also knows the very thoughts of our often confused minds and the emotions of our ever wildly vacillating hearts. Not only does He know those thoughts and feelings...but our mighty Lord understands them and cares about them. Cares personally. Cares perpetually.
And cares powerfully...meaning our Lord can, and does, act upon what He knows, sees and cares so deeply about in His bewildered or discouraged or frustrated or exhausted or disappointed child.
Sometimes He acts through the sound of a song that reminds us of His great grace. Sometimes through the beauty of a summer sunset. Sometimes through the smell of His ocean or pine tree or honeysuckle. All quietly singing their own hymn of God's forever faithfulness. Sometimes through the timely hug of a friend or the sharing of unexpected laughter when smiles have been hard to come by. Jesus, once again, singing His song of "I love You" through His children.
And sometimes He does it through a note of encouragement and love.
Isn't it appropriate that a simple letter would have such power? After all, God has given us His greatest treasures in the form of words....or more specifically, the Word. Both His written Word--praise God for our Bibles!...and His glorious Living Word--praise God for the Lord Jesus, the Word of God! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1,4-5)
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like the Word. Thank You, thank You, thank You, Father.
But what a privilege, what a remarkable gift, that we, too, get to use words--words just like God used and inspired and breathed out for us in His Word. We have the remarkable privilege of using words with one another! He's given us words so that we can express love to others. Encourage others. Exhort others. Teach others. (Sometimes correct others--right, parents?!) Change others. Forgive others.
And He's given us words to speak directly to Him. Who can get over that wonder--talking to God! Words to use to ask forgiveness from Him. Pray to Him. Praise Him. Question Him. Magnify Him. Glorify Him.
So today, how are you using His gift of words?
Have you spent some of those words today in glorifying the wondrous Savior who made you, loves you, and gave His very life to redeem you? Have you thanked Him...I mean today? Have you thanked Him today for the very breath you just took and the eyes that are reading these words and the inconceivable, unmerited, unending treasure of His saving grace?
How about others? How have you spent your words when it comes to those around you? Is there some name God is whispering to your heart? Maybe right now, Jesus is gently speaking the specific name of some priceless soul who needs your words of encouragement. Or of love. Or of "I know you feel alone and discouraged, but you're not...I'm with you...I'm talking to the Sovereign King of the universe about you...and in His Word He just told me to remind you He loves you perfectly and He is with you powerfully."
Use your words. Don't let them die within your heart this day...write them down or speak them out loud. To your Lord. To your loved ones. To whomever the Holy Spirit is directing you. His Word is Life. Might our words share and spread that glorious Light.
To God be the glory.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Remembering August 24...and rejoicing again
So I'm sitting here feeling a bit overwhelmed...lots and lots to do, not much energy, missing the hustle and bustle of a full house, a bit melancholy, really sad over several friends who have gone home to be with the Lord, not to mention still fighting this virus...
But I haven't forgotten what today is--August 24th, the anniversary of the girls' car accident three years ago. In fact, even as I write these words, three years ago, I was just learning about the wreck and was preparing to drive with the wonderful Andrews to the hospital in Greenville. It's as vivid in my memory as the day it happened--I had just rushed in the door, bringing pizza from Mellow Mushroom home for dinner (yes, I'm such a great cook!) when Pat called to say there had been a wreck...
And life changed in an instant.
Just thought I'd put in some pictures to remind myself of all that God did in that remarkable month. And to recall, once again, the great truth of Ephesians 3:20 that our Lord "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations and forever and ever. Amen." (Eph.3:20-21) Never forget it. He is able. He is so, so able.
Russ and Creecy trying to help us get down Janie's fever--who knew how useful a bedpan could be?!
Mary Norris and Matt (and Peter)--so thankful for them!
All by Your grace...all to Your glory.
To God and God alone be all the glory.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Remember Jesus...and rejoice
"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim.2:8-10)
Paul wrote these words in 2 Timothy when he imprisoned for the final in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. These would be his last words, written in the final days of his life shortly before his execution in Rome. As I wrote about the other day, visiting this tiny, dark, damp place was something our girls and I would not forget.
The picture does not even begin to do it justice. The cell is minuscule and was cool even on a sweltering August day, so think how miserably frigid it would have been in wintertime. Because the room was originally constructed to be a water cistern, it would have been damp and wet most of the year. Moreover, the cell would have been unimaginably dark without our modern day artificial lighting. In the days of Peter and Paul, access to the cell would have been through a hole in the ceiling that opens to another level, and prisoners were typically thrown or lowered into the cell through that hole.
You put all that together, along with the filth, the smells, the lack of any fresh air or sunlight, and you have a place of hopelessness, degradation, and misery.
And in that place of despair and wretchedness, Paul wrote the words of 2 Timothy. Words that begin his letter like "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers day and night." (2 Tim.1:1-3)
Really, Paul? Amazing--Paul recognizes that he is an apostle and, therefore, is where is, "by the will of God." And the one who who should be despondent over his wretched condition is praying for other people day and night (so much for being self-focused) and is thanking God for the privilege of serving Him, even in a terrible place such as this. Not to mention, Paul knows that any day now he will be executed for his faithfulness to his Savior.
So, how ya doing?
Yes, I know life can be hard, and we all will suffer, but look at Paul and be encouraged. As far as I know, none of us has had to languish in tiny, dark, wet cell--neglected and alone, awaiting our execution. Sort of puts our trials and difficulties in perspective, doesn't it?
The past couple of days, I've been sick with a virus that has left me feeling pretty miserable--sore throat, fever, aches and headaches, exhaustion. But then I think of Peter and Paul in that prison, and it changes my perspective. If Paul could be grateful in a place like that, then surely we can as well no matter how hard and dark our current circumstances.
And do you know one of the secrets to such contentment and even joy in the midst of hardship? I think Paul says it so succinctly and clearly in 2 Tim.2:8--"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead." When we remember our Savior, remember His sinlessness and His sufferings on our behalf...remember His faithfulness all the way to the cross...remember His defeat of sin and death and rising from the grave...remember His resurrection glory...then how can we not be encouraged in the midst of whatever we are enduring?
That's the key--remember Jesus! Remember His resurrection. Remember His grace. Remember His power. Remember the unconquerable hope we have in Christ. Remember and be encouraged to endure for the joy set before you and the Savior who will never ever leave you.
No matter what we might be dealing with today, like Paul, let's remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead...and rejoice. To God be the glory.
Paul wrote these words in 2 Timothy when he imprisoned for the final in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. These would be his last words, written in the final days of his life shortly before his execution in Rome. As I wrote about the other day, visiting this tiny, dark, damp place was something our girls and I would not forget.
You put all that together, along with the filth, the smells, the lack of any fresh air or sunlight, and you have a place of hopelessness, degradation, and misery.
And in that place of despair and wretchedness, Paul wrote the words of 2 Timothy. Words that begin his letter like "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers day and night." (2 Tim.1:1-3)
Really, Paul? Amazing--Paul recognizes that he is an apostle and, therefore, is where is, "by the will of God." And the one who who should be despondent over his wretched condition is praying for other people day and night (so much for being self-focused) and is thanking God for the privilege of serving Him, even in a terrible place such as this. Not to mention, Paul knows that any day now he will be executed for his faithfulness to his Savior.
So, how ya doing?
Yes, I know life can be hard, and we all will suffer, but look at Paul and be encouraged. As far as I know, none of us has had to languish in tiny, dark, wet cell--neglected and alone, awaiting our execution. Sort of puts our trials and difficulties in perspective, doesn't it?
The past couple of days, I've been sick with a virus that has left me feeling pretty miserable--sore throat, fever, aches and headaches, exhaustion. But then I think of Peter and Paul in that prison, and it changes my perspective. If Paul could be grateful in a place like that, then surely we can as well no matter how hard and dark our current circumstances.
And do you know one of the secrets to such contentment and even joy in the midst of hardship? I think Paul says it so succinctly and clearly in 2 Tim.2:8--"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead." When we remember our Savior, remember His sinlessness and His sufferings on our behalf...remember His faithfulness all the way to the cross...remember His defeat of sin and death and rising from the grave...remember His resurrection glory...then how can we not be encouraged in the midst of whatever we are enduring?
That's the key--remember Jesus! Remember His resurrection. Remember His grace. Remember His power. Remember the unconquerable hope we have in Christ. Remember and be encouraged to endure for the joy set before you and the Savior who will never ever leave you.
No matter what we might be dealing with today, like Paul, let's remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead...and rejoice. To God be the glory.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Mamertine prison...and steadfastness
It's been a tough week...well, actually in many ways it's been a tough summer.
Yes, lots of happy, fun this summer--the absence of homework, the mountains with our family, the trip to Italy with our girls (so much joy, so much gratitude--thank You, Jesus!), wonderful dinners out with friends (my kitchen has forgotten who I am--I wonder if our stove still works?), the family reunion at the Homestead, and, oh, did I mention NO homework? Hallelujah!
But the last few weeks have held their share of heart-crushing sorrow--several dear friends who have gone home to be with the Lord. Sickness. Disappointments. Children flying the nest and leaving a too-quiet home. Not to mention the struggles of growing older...and tireder...and confronted with change and more change on every front.
For the record, I rarely like change. Let me rephrase that--I almost always despise and resent change. Give me the status quo any day--people you love staying healthy. Beloved neighbors staying put and not moving. Older family members staying strong and sharp. Children--yeah, you guessed it--staying at home and not growing up and moving away. Shoot, even restaurants we've enjoyed for years staying open and not closing.
When faced with so many of life's difficult but relentless changes, it's mighty easy to give in to discouragement or wallow in self-pity. Because let's face it--life isn't easy. It's so true that this world is not a playground but a battleground, and everyday we open our eyes, we need to be armed and ready with a battleground mentality.
Not, mind you, an attitude of hostility. No, no! Instead it's an attitude that's powered by the mind of Christ and grounded in the Word of God. I love the words of James that we will be studying in our Bible study this year: "Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Don't you love that word, "steadfastness?"
It means the ability "to endure patiently...a steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end...Perseverance." Who doesn't want and need that? No matter life's changes or difficulties, we want to persevere, to faithfully endure to the end and to do so with joy and faith. And James says that when steadfastness has it's full effect in our lives, we will be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Sign me up!
But here's the thing--such steadfastness of character, such indomitable joy, such completeness and even perfection requires one thing--trials.
No trials and difficulties...no steadfastness.
But add struggles and changes to the mix, and you'll discover steadfastness...and develop joy, gratitude, strength, love, peace, and hope that no longer ebbs and flows based upon your ever-changing circumstances but remains certain and secure based upon your ever-faithful God.
I'm going to talk about this more in a day or two, but can I just give you a quick picture of steadfastness? It's from Rome...the Mamertine prison, to be exact.
Mamertine prison was reportedly the last place both Peter and Paul were imprisoned before their executions in Rome.
Like I said, there will be more on this in a day or two, but for now, let's remember what just two of our brothers in Christ endured...and how they were steadfast under trial and faithful all the way to the very end...
...which was really, gloriously, only their magnificent beginning.
I don't know what kinds of trials you might be enduring right now, but might you, might we all, take courage and be strengthened to "Count it all joy!" Count it all joy, like our brothers, Peter and Paul in Rome, and like our brothers and sisters across the globe today who are suffering and even dying for the name, and to the glory, of Christ.
Oh Lord Jesus, You are worthy! Help us to be steadfast--
Renew our thinking with Your mind, fill us with Your power, guide us by Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us with Your Word, and encourage us by the gift of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Make us steadfast, Father, and enable us to count it all, all, all joy.
By Your grace. For Your glory.
To God be the glory.
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