Reflect Mercy

A good mirror can be a useful tool! The key word in that statement is "good" - not broken or warped. Believers are to reflect God's Nature; and, among His characteristics is mercy. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7). You know, it hurts when we're treated without mercy! One mistake, albeit unintentional, can bring on harsh treatment. What if God treated us in such a way - one sin and we're toast! James echoes Jesus' words: "Cursed at those who are not merciful, for they will not be shown mercy." (James 5:7). It's tiring and difficult to stay angry, being merciless to others. Furthermore, for all the tiresome work - that is, being unmerciful - God says that's exactly what we've got coming! Oh, I want to be found among the merciful - the ones who understand well the compassionate mercy God has shown to me and continues to show me. The kinder, gentler and more forgiving I can be toward others, the more and better I will reflect the nature of Christ. Like a good mirror ... reflect Mercy!

Words of The Word

All my life I've heard this phrase: "the word on the street is ..."  This older-me has learned to listen with great caution when I hear the phrase because often it is introducing gossip, slander and/or untruth! There is one word, however, I'm so glad I've come to love and always welcome ... that is, THE WORD. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men." (John 1:1-4 NASB). Jesus - The Word! Yes, that Word "became flesh, and dwelt among us ... full of grace and truth," revealing the glory of The Father (John 1:14 NASB). Pay great attention that Jesus (The Word) is full of grace and truth. As children of God, we should delight to read-study-meditate-live eternal Truth - as revealed from God through Jesus - at every age and in every season of life. What joy The Word delivers to our souls! Thank you, Lord, for the ... words of The Word.

Great Exchange

Sometimes we think-back to former days with a sense of loss and longing' and, yes sweet can be the memories of times past. Other things, however, we do not long for ... hanging out clothes on a clothes line, open windows instead of air conditioning, using a map instead of a GPS. Paul wrote, "Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18 NASB). The fullness of joy belonging to the children of God should be something in which we rejoice. Never again must we fall-back into bindings of sin. In Christ Jesus we have exchanged the dregs of our sinfulness for the robes of God's righteousness: "For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). Praise be to God for the ... great exchange.

Eyes on Him

Karoly Takacs was a champion shooter in his native Hungary when his right hand, his pistol hand, was shattered by a hand grenade. Ten years later, at the 1948 Games, Takacs won his first Olympic Gold Medal -- using his left hand! Did you know that God can take sour, bitter things in our lives and blend them into something that smells and tastes as sweet as honey? Well, He can indeed! All He needs in the midst of our struggles is our trust and obedience. We may not know where we are being led, but we must trust The One leading us. And, by the way, He doesn't care for the whining and grumbling along the way; He has something to say about that in Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without complaining ..." He wants our trust in and obedience so that He can shine through us before others. You've probably heard "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." That's what Karoly Takacs did – he refused to look back, only forward. That's the secret - to follow we must keep our eyes on The Leader. The sour and the bitter will soon become faint shadows of where we are going and what we are becoming. Pastor Eli said this Sunday: "what we think of ourselves is only a shadow of what we can become." Maybe you are dealing with lemons right now in your life and the struggle seems hopeless. Turn your eyes away from what is sour and bitter, and turn toward He Who is firm and steadfast ... eyes on Him.

What a Wonder!

Perhaps you've witnessed a spectacular sunrise or sunset - maybe many of them! Their beauty is remarkable and they speak to us of Majesty and Presence. David sang, "They who dwell at the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs [the evidence of Your presence]. You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy" (Psalm 65:8 AMP). The evidence of God's Presence in His creation is a wonder, a reason to pause - even gasp - at who He is. This same Creator Who speaks through such signs and wonders has poured Himself into the hearts of those who are His children: "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5 ESV). What a wonder that is - that God would consider one such as I, looking down on me when I was lost and undone and hopelessly lost in in my sin; with tender mercy and extravagant grace quickened me to call upon His Name - to ultimately to heal my sin-sick soul. Yes, I can hardly believe it! Let us indeed wonder at God's handiwork - enjoy every sunrise and sunset. Wonder even more at His great love for us. Oh, yes ... what a wonder!

Do The Small

Little things often seem so ... little. I catch myself thinking -- why bother, it won't really matter, it's not enough. John Duckworth wrote about how God seems interested in little things ... "a widow's coin ... the washing of a foot ... a small boy's lunch of loaves and fish. He makes much of little things -- as much as He wants to. He may call us to move mountains once in a while, but the rest of the time He has plenty of molehills to be re-located ... That's good news for those of us who have only little things to work with." I suggest we often skip-over the small things because we're more often drawn to big chunks of time, energy and results. We easily forget small things are made might in the hands of Almighty God. Those otherwise tiny insignificant things we do may not even be remembered except by the recipients who may never forget them! What small thing do you have to offer? Don't dismiss the small things because it's the small things that touch hearts in big ways. Do the small!

Good For You

There's really no excuse for us not knowing these days the things that good for us and the things bad for us. The psalmist wrote these words in Chapter 73, which continually resound in my mind: "It is good for me to draw near to God." (Psalm 73:28a). Just like the discipline of making good choices for the body, choosing good things for the heart and mind is absolutely-completely vital to a healthy spiritual life and a close relationship with God. Are you experiencing an unexplained distance from The Father? To be sure, it isn't Him Who has moved.  Choose wisely - draw near to Him - it's ... good for you!

Weary Not

Oh, the sweltering heat and humidity of southern summer days! It's not just the flowers that wilt! How do you hold-up spiritually under life's heat? It's our nature to grumble and complain; if we could ask Moses about a grumbling-complaining people, I'm sure he'd have much to say. They were barely across the Red Sea before they were ready to string him up! God says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12, ESV). I know, it's hard to invest ourselves in something when we may not see an early return; nonetheless, God says, "You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." (Hebrews 10:36, ESV). Life is tough and the fires of it get fairly hot at times but "let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9, ESV). Don't give up - Persevere - Endure ... weary not!

Above 'Em All

Of all the places I've ever been, one place I never care to go again is ... under the house! I don't like the things that hang-out there! Have you ever been “under” your circumstances? Being in the midst of circumstances is bad, but to be under them -- well, that’s a crisis indeed! In Psalm 142, David describes his circumstances like this: “my spirit faints within me … they have hidden a trap for me … I am brought very low … [my persecutors] are too strong for me.” If you think about it, circumstances alone wield no power – their fury comes only from how we perceive and respond to them. Kicking and screaming into-and-through them are common responses but produce no good results! David knew all about being under circumstances, but he and also knew just how to shake 'em off resulting in peace and deliverance: “I cry to You, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my Refuge, my Portion in the land of the living.” (Psalm 142:5 ESV). There are lots of joy-killing things that hang-out in the land-of-the-living but when we know Jesus as our full and perfect Portion, circumstances become opportunities and things that threaten don’t survive to overtake us. Now, Mister Bill isn't spooked by under-the-house things; even better, God is Mighty and in control of all circumstances  - He's ... above 'em all!

His Perfect Work

No doubt, should someone we love be in emanate physical danger, we would use all our power and resources to rescue them ... and rightly so! God says, "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1;4). I'd venture most of us would be more willing to endure hardship ourselves than to watch a loved one suffer. Paul called for rejoicing in suffering because "tribulation brings about perseverance ... perseverance, proven character ... proven character, hope" (Romans 5:2-4 NASB). God showed me more than once that when I tried to "play the fixer" in the lives of my children, I was only interfering in what He was doing in their lives. That's never a good move! If we really trust God in all things, we understand that "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us" (Romans 5:5 NASB). That work God is doing not only in our lives but in the lives of those we love is His work having its full effect, a bringing about of perfection and completion. Oh, yes, it's hard to not interfere and do all we can to avert the suffering even if only for a moment. God has something to say about that as well: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV). The best we can do for ourselves and those who may be going through tough times is to pray and offer encouragement, patiently trusting The Lord to complete in us and them ... His perfect work.

Be Bold!

Boldness is a characteristic that can be used to describe someone in a positive or a negative way. If it were not for some daring, courageous, brave and fearless moves by people through history, well ... today would look a bit different. Consider the life of Ruth: in an otherwise hopeless situation with few options - a widow and childless - she boldly chose uncertainty, leaving her homeland and all she had ever known to go with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem. I suggest that was a bold move of great faith! The four chapters of the Book of Ruth track her uncertain journey to a certain end: Ruth married Boaz ... gave birth to a son ... named him Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of David (see Ruth 4:13-22). You don't have to be a Biblical scholar to know Jesus came to us through the line of King David! God used Ruth's bold move of faith to bring about His purpose of salvation for you and for me. What kind of bold moves are you making these days? Does uncertainty paralyze or progress you? Hebrews 11:1-2 NASB says, "Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval." If our boldness depends upon certainty, there's an absence of faith! Ruth gained approval by God as well as secured her reputation for generations by her bold faith - not allowing uncertainty to intimidate her. There's a huge demand today for that kind of bold faith ... be bold!

Number the Days

How has the place you live changed over the years? Even if your home is somewhat new to you, I suspect they've been some changes. Several years ago, Mister Bill and I sold our house of forty-plus years and moved into a smaller place that once belonged to his grandfather. This old farmhouse has had several additions and remodels since it was built in the 1940's. Moses prayed, "LORD, You have been our dwelling place [our refuge, our sanctuary, our stability] in all generations. Before the mountains were born or before You had given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are [the eternal] God." (Psalm 90:1-2 AMP). This house was built three generations ago; it's fair to say, there's been a lot of living done under its roof. Indeed, it's provided refuge, sanctuary, stability for those who've lived here; however, it does not compare to God Who Himself is our "dwelling place." What constant hope and comfort is ours when we choose to pray as Moses prayed, "O satisfy us with Your lovingkindness in the morning ... that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (V.14). Mister Bill and I jokingly say this place is a work-in-progress - I guess he's right! I'm so glad God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - He cannot improve upon Himself! What a wonderful habitation - the safe and all-sufficient dwelling place for every day of life here. Teach me, Lord to "cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom" (V.12). What a way to ... number the days!

A Safe Heart

Personal safety is a matter of concern today. Among other things, each night Mister Bill faithfully and routinely checks the doors, making sure they are locked. For sure, we do not live in fear but we aren't oblivious to dangers that exist. In the same regard, how well do we protect our hearts? God says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23 AMP). He's pretty clear that the heart needs protection, and our first thought is to protect it from outside influences - and rightly so. However, I suggest there's more to the guardianship of the heart; let's back up a few verses: "My son, pay attention to My words and be willing to learn; open your ears to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing and health to all their flesh." (Verses 20-22 AMP). The psalmist said, "I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:111 ESV). The children of God must have God's words at the center of their hearts! There is to be a "constancy of heart and purpose, honesty in speech, steadiness of gaze, and a right goal in walk and life" (Amplified Study Bible). Ultimately, it's not just what we lock-out of our hearts - it's also what we lock-in our heart! The practice of watching over our heart includes habits of careful choices - what we read, watch, listen to, who we hang with and conversations we engage in. Trust me, it's something we do faithfully and routinely and one that brings immeasurable rewards. Keep your heart safe!

Embrace the Ifs

Watching a little one beginning to do things for himself, we see that I-can-do-it-all-by-myself principle at work. Unfortunately, we seem to never outgrow it! In this information age, answers are everywhere! Whether you want to explore possibilities or search for specific answers, knowledge is available. God said, "My son, IF you will receive My words and treasure my commandments within you, so that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; yes, IF you cry out for insight, and lift up your voice for understanding; IF you seek skillfully and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures; then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] and discover the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5 AMP). I noted all the the "ifs" in this passage; IF is the condition by which [God says] we find true wisdom and knowledge. Let me suggest it's only the first step, however; the completion comes when we  THEN put Godly wisdom and knowledge into practice! We can watch an instructional video but unless we put the instructions to work - apply the knowledge - we miss the understanding. I encourage us all not to stumble-over the IFS; no, don't see the IFS as options. God put the IFS there leading us to guide us into Godly understanding. Embrace the IFS!

Your Soul Knows

Oh, the things we fail to truly appreciate until they are unavailable! Things like electricity, running water, air conditioning, a properly working washing machine - the value of these modern conveniences are often overlooked. In Lamentations 3 Jeremiah spend quite a few verses on his afflictions: "I am the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of His wrath. He has led me and made me walk in darkness and not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me repeatedly all the day." (Lamentations 3:1-3 AMP). He continues throughout the chapter to describe a dismal life filled with enemies of his soul and a tremendous hopelessness that threatened. For sure, we can identify with him in this regard. Our focus can become the have-nots of life rather than what we know to be true. Thankfully, Jeremiah doesn't linger there too long: "But this I call to mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the LORD's lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness." (Verses 21-23). The mercies of God are always sweet and welcomed but perhaps after times of intense struggle, they seem sweeter and more welcome; it is good that we are afflicted, that we suffer. It is in those hard times, we become more aware of who God is and how tender He is always toward us. Jackie Gleason was known to say, "how sweet it is;" and David said in Psalm 139:14, "my soul knows it very well." O child of God, listen to what ... your soul knows.

Living Right-Side Up

It takes very little to turn a day upside down! Maintaining a calendar helps keep Mister Bill and I on-track ... appointments, meetings, events, deadlines, etc. A common discussion at the breakfast table is what is on the calendar for the day and week. It isn't uncommon, of course, for plan's to be up-ended, cancelled, rescheduled or cancelled altogether. A psalm of Moses says, "O satisfy us with Your lovingkindness in the morning that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14 NASB). We can save ourselves from needless stress when we realize our plans amount to very little in relationship to God's perfect plans. In Him - day by day - we find the satisfaction for our souls; and, the psalmist enjoys satisfaction early in the day ... in the morning, he writes. I suggest those morning hours may well be the most slippery - moments turning into minutes, minutes into hours then "boom" the morning is gone. In Mark 1:35, we learn that Jesus rose early "in the morning" to spend time with The Father. A pre-determined, deliberate and well-orchestrated start to the day. There's a much greater reward and certain satisfaction in a day begun with The Lord rather than a perfectly-kept calendar. It's really the only way to live ... right-side-up!

Just Jesus

It's true - we are life-long learners. I suggest we are [also] life-long ... un-learners! Just think about the things we've had to un-learn in order to take advantage of new and more efficient ways of doing things: shopping, cooking, banking, traveling, etc.  As children we grew to learn and assume our independence from our parents - that's a good thing. What is not good, however, is how Believers often indiscriminately shrug-off their dependence on God. Oswald Chambers notes how in Scripture clouds are often associated with God. For example, "Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne." (Psalm 97:2) and "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7). Respectively, we often attempt to face life's storm clouds independently of The One Who surrounds Himself as such. How do we un-learn this I-can-do-this-on-my-own mentality? "Looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only." (Mark 9:8). Perhaps the storms in our lives aren't meant to teach us as much as they are designed that we may un-learn dependence on anything or anyone except God! Embracing newer and more efficient ways of living isn't all bad, but may we never-ever grow into an independence of The Father. When we look into the clouds, always see ... just Jesus.

Stay Amazed!

What do you find amazing these days? What once went into the shock-column is now seen as common ... un-amazing. It is concerning [to me] how Believers are no longer amazed at God. Noah Webster (1828) says to be amazed is to be "astonished by something extraordinary." Jeremiah wrote, "It is [God] Who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens" (Jeremiah 51:15 ESV). A former pastor made this profound statement: "we've lost our wonder of who our God is." How can this be? How can we not wonder at flocks of birds that fly in perfect formation, or planets and stars that line up perfectly, or waves that know just how far to wash ashore, or the form human life takes in a mother's womb? The wonder of wonders that God would come to this earth in human form to save lives from eternal hopelessness. Are we not astonished by the extraordinary-ness of our God! "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene - And wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclear - How marvelous, how wonderful - And my song shall ever be - How marvelous, how wonderful - Is my Savior's love for me" (Charles Hutchinson Gabriel, 1856-1932). Let us ever ... stay amazed!

Be Little

Chicken Little wasn't exactly happy with his "little" self.  Most people I know who are little (as in short) would not choose that height.  I am 5'8" and have never considered myself short nor especially tall, however, I find myself struggling to reach things shoved to the depths of my kitchen cabinets. It has been an especially nice that God blessed me with guys-of-height.  G. Tersteegen wrote "how lovely it is to be nothing when God is all."  Most of us behave much "too big for our britches" - a particular bigness I heard about as a child.  Taking that attitude with my Granny was risky business and certain trouble with God. Getting taken down a notch or two by Granny's switch was also mild compared to God's lessons in humility.  Those lessons are necessary when we become wrapped up in me-myself-and-I and lose all usefulness to God -- quite a contrast to the humble example of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 14:5 says, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." There are sweet blessings in littleness no matter what Chicken Little thinks. Oh! Just ... be little!

Joy of Doing-Not

For a moment, consider things you do that make you happy. Your list may be long and varied, or it may be short and concise. Whatever is on your list, it came to be there because it made you ... happy. Psalm 1 introduces us to the phenomenal truth of happiness that comes from ... not doing!  "Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers." (Psalm 1:1 NASB). What a contrary idea - the opposite of the most common or natural way of finding happiness. It is not uncommon, however, that we live within particular guidelines and adhere to certain disciplines to reach goals; for example, consider the strict discipline of an athlete who aspires to be a winner! There's an old lie Satan has peddled for a long time: that children of God lead a dry-dull-dismal life. Not so! Those who go the do-not route delight in in God's words - they are "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3 NASB). No dry-dull-dismal there! What a blessed (happy) joyful life found in ... doing not!

Thank You, Jesus

What is freedom?  To our last dog, DC, it was being out of his pen to "paint" every tire in the yard.  The word "freedom" doesn’t’ begin to describe its true value, yet the word rolls off our tongues with way too much ease. Do you know ... The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men. Some names well known in American history - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson - other names not so well-known. Have you ever wondered what happened to those others men who signed our Country's certificate of birth?  Five signers were captured as traitors, and tortured before they died; twelve had their homes ransacked and burned; two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, while another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, never questioning the cost of freedom -- the price of it is always great.  The freedoms we share as Americans were literally paid for with courage, commitment, and blood of men whose dreams of liberty far outweighed their own lives.  So it is with spiritual freedom;  the Cost is immeasurable ... like no other.  It cost God something extremely precious: His only Son, Jesus.  Pure and unblemished, His desire that we be eternally free far outweighed His own life.  There in the Garden, He spoke our words of liberty, "Not my will, Father, but Thine be done."  He pledged His life, His divinity, and His Godly honor for our liberty.  Lest we forget, the cost of freedom is always great as is our salvation ... thank You, Jesus!

Prayer Partner

Why is it we sometimes have trouble saying "I don't know." Perhaps the struggle in admitting not-knowing is rooted in the foolish idea that we should know everything. My Mama would often describe someone as a "know-it-all" ... trust me, it was not a compliment. A struggle I face sometimes is not knowing exactly how to pray for someone or for my role in a particular situation. God says,The Holy Spirit "helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27 NASB). What a wonderful truth we have here as children of God who bring before God their cares and those of others. When we don't know how-or-what to pray, The Holy Spirit helps us in those moments of not-knowing; here we are promised that He (The Holy Spirit) speaks to The Father in ways we neither know nor can put into words! In every plea we bring before God, we are to pray it is His will (not ours or others) that be done: "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us." (1 John 5:14 ESV). Consider what a sweet and fully sufficient advocate we have in The Holy Spirit - our divine ... Prayer Partner.

My Good

Team work is a good thing especially when all team member are working toward one goal! Scripture tells us that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 NASB). We struggle at times to understand or see the "good" in the troubles we encounter. How can cancer, broken relationships, loss of a job, financial headaches, sorrow and death be a work towards good! We must read on: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (V.29 NASB). Before the foundation of the world The Creator knew those of us who would one day be one of "those who love God," renouncing our hostility toward Him and obediently following Jesus. Once a child of God, everything we face in this life - joys, sorrow, afflictions - He uses for one purpose: to bring us into the images of Jesus His Son. Is God the author of evil - of course not! The days are evil and "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:29 ESV). Nonetheless, because God is sovereign and nothing happens outside of His control, He allows both the good and the bad in our lives to bring us into a sharper and more glorious image of Christ Himself. Instead of moaning and groaning and fighting against what God is doing in our lives, be a [spiritual] team player, submitting to His authority and realizing our "good" is His ultimate goal. CityAlight sings this: "There is hope in every trial - For I can trust the Lord - He will turn my heart towards Him - And help me bear the thorn - So in faith I follow Jesus - On the road not understood - For I know that He is working - For His glory and my good." What a challenge for every day and every trial: all things for ... my good.