Ginormous houses. Huge SUVs. Large trucks. Multi-caret diamonds. Big hair. Plump lips. Longer vacations. More muscles. Super-sized meals. Why do we seek bigger, larger, more?
These words struck a chord while reading Psalm 33:16 in the Bible. “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.” What? Size doesn’t matter?
The shepherd boy David defeated the giant Goliath. Size didn’t matter. Joshua and his army defeated the enemy in Jericho. Size didn’t matter. Paul and Silas were freed from prison when their stocks were broken. Size didn’t matter. The stone was rolled away. Size didn’t matter.
Are you like me and to tend to think our country is safe because we have a mighty army, a strong Navy, a fearless Air Force, forceful Marines, a vigilant Coast Guard, as well as state and local police? Yes, we have thousands of men and women who work tirelessly and selflessly to protect the USA. I am grateful for each and every one (especially for my family members). Many have given the best years of their lives and many have given their entire lives for our blessed country. Yet, I don’t want to think for one skinny minute that our country is safe because of the sheer size of numbers protecting it. It is only the grace of God that allows us to live. God could wipe us out with a single breath.
May we not hold on to a false sense of security because of the size of our army. May we place our complete trust in God – who holds everything together for His good and His glory. With God, size doesn’t matter. He does.
Kids seem to think they are going to live forever. Like nothing is going to hurt them. They aren’t afraid to jump off walls, fences, tables, or try crazy bicycle jumps, etc. They have no fear in picking up things to investigate – no matter how disgusting.
Most of my grandkids are up for challenging adventures like rock climbing, rappelling, extreme Jeeping, hiking, dirt biking, camping, picking up snakes and bugs, etc. There have been a few occasions I’ve been concerned about their safety (and mine) while they seem oblivious to impending danger.
Years ago, my son-in-law challenged me about living life to the fullest so I’m not as fearful as I once was. While driving from Indiana to New York with him and my daughter during a particularly difficult season of life, Jon quoted Pastor David Jeremiah. The words sucker punched my fearful heart. “A man of God in the will of God is immortal until His work is done.” Immortal? Until His work is done? Then why was I always worried about dying? Immortal until His work is done? I had never thought that way before.
Friends, we will all die. There’s no way to get around dying unless Jesus returns first. So until then we are immortal. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting you do something foolish or stupid. What if we change our mindset and choose to live every day until we are no longer alive here on earth? What if we go after the dream God has placed in our heart? What if we choose not to live in fear – afraid of everything and everyone? What if we act like we are immortal just like little kids? What if we are busy doing His work until we are no longer able? His work can be done until we take our final breath. Oh, what is His work? To “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 NIV
May God empower us to live like we are immortal. May we live every day like it is our last. May we try something new. May we make every moment count. May we do His work until He calls us home. May we love Him and our neighbor.
This painting caught my eye while walking past shops and street vendors along the main road in San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala just six weeks ago. I stopped and stared as it touched my soul. It reminded me of some very special books. You may think I am weird – but I sense God’s presence whenever I look at this painting. It is comforting.
Oh, the books? The Chronicles of Narnia series written by author C. S. Lewis in the 1950’s. Here are several quotes from the seven books (my favorite part is when Susan questions Mr. Beaver about Aslan) – I get goosebumps every time I read these words:
“Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion” … “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver … “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
“Will the others see you too?” asked Lucy. “Certainly not at first,” said Aslan. “Later on, it depends.” “But they won’t believe me!” said Lucy. “It doesn’t matter.” ― C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian
“But who is Aslan? Do you know him?” “Well-he knows me,” said Edmund. “He is the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, who saved me and saved Narnia.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
“I have come,” said a deep voice behind them. They turned and saw the Lion himself, so bright and real and strong that everything else began at once to look pale and shadowy compared with him.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
“’Rabadash,’ said Aslan. ‘Take heed. Your doom is very near, but you may still avoid it. Forget your pride (what have you to be proud of?) and your anger (who has done you wrong?) and accept the mercy of these good kings.’” ― C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy
“Then Hwin, though shaking all over, gave a strange little neigh and trotted across to the Lion. “Please,” she said, “you’re so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I’d sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy
‘My son, my son,’ said Aslan. ‘I know. Grief is great.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
“Emeth speaking of Aslan, “Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek…And since then, O Kings and Ladies, I have been wandering to find him and my happiness is so great that it even weakens me like a wound. And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me Beloved, me who am but as a dog” ― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
Do these excerpts give you goosebumps, too?
We are quickly finding new ways to be safe during this COVID-19 crisis. Often we equate “safe” with being locked down, closed in, sheltered or quarantined.
No matter our circumstances, no matter our political preference, no matter our skin color, no matter our sexuality, no matter our religious affiliation, no matter our nationality or ethnicity – our great God is not safe – but He is good. Oh, the-not-safe part? God is not in the business of making us comfortable. He doesn’t always allow the safest route. He is the God of risk. He gifts us with abilities to use for His kingdom – some in very unsafe localities.
It seemed unsafe when God told Moses and the Israelites to cross the Red Sea. As Moses approached the Red Sea it surely did not appear safe to cross. BUT God parted the waters so His people could cross over – on dry land. Oh, our God is not safe – but He is good.
Consider the Old Testament story of Joshua and Jericho. God told Joshua to take the city of Jericho but not in a manner we would have expected. You would think if you were to conquer a city you would need weapons. God told Joshua to use rams’ horn trumpets. Huh? Trumpets sound really scary – said no one ever! Going up against the enemy with trumpets didn’t seem very safe. BUT God intervened. Joshua and his people had victory. Oh, our God is not safe – but He is good.
Or how about my friends who have been called by God to serve full time in countries that don’t look kindly on Jesus’ followers. In fact, some risk their lives and livelihood by serving. It didn’t and still doesn’t appear to be the safe thing to do. BUT God is at work. Some are seeing people coming to faith in Jesus. Oh, our God is not safe – but He is good.
Or another friend has served on short term trips – working with refugees who are stranded in a country not their own. She goes knowing the risk involved. She loves on the people – giving comfort and hope – listening to their stories. So many are scared, suffering, feeling alone and forgotten. Oh, our God is not safe – but He is good.
Friends, look at the painting again and then picture in your mind Jesus, the Great Lion, protecting, watching over, guarding His people – even when we have been asked to do some very “unsafe” things – even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – even when we are worried or afraid — and remember – our God is not safe – but, oh, is He good.
May we see the goodness of our God even in a world that seems so unsafe at the moment. May we be ready when the Great Lion returns to take His people home. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come!
We were in Flagstaff for a few days at our daughter and son-in-law’s home. Behind their house is a perfect sledding hill.
The snow was untouched when Phil and I joined in the downhill adventures with Kelly, London and Grady. We used a variety of sleds to create the paths. The greatest challenges were avoiding the pine trees, the hidden rocks and patches of yellow snow.
I screamed and laughed the entire way down. It was so much fun being outside with the family and their two dogs – until Grady and I veered off the path and slid over a large rock. Ouch! Fortunately neither of us were injured but it sure didn’t feel good.
We would reset after each slide down the hill – focusing on where we wanted to end up but as hard as we tried to guide the sleds we sometimes ended up off the path.
Our spiritual life can feel the same way. We want to stay on God’s path – avoiding things along the way that could harm us – yet we get side tracked. The beauty of God’s grace and mercy is we can reset and start over. We don’t have to be stuck on the wrong path. God is a forgiving Father who offers a fresh beginning to all who ask.
Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Deuteronomy 5:33 NLT
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV
May we stay on His path. And if we are stuck on the wrong one, may we ask Him for help. He is there to pick us up, turn us around and set us on the right path. May our hearts squeal with joy as we make our way home to Him.
We left Litchfield Park, Arizona on Thursday afternoon and headed north on I-17. About half-way into our trip it began snowing. The roads were not an issue until we were 30 miles from our destination in Flagstaff.
Visibility was reduced to a few feet as the snow intensified and cars began to bunch up. Drivers used their flashers to indicate they were proceeding slowly. Eventually everyone was in a single file following the car in front of them. A few times we ran over the rumble strips which meant we were getting off of the road. Needless to say, it was a little nerve-wracking.
I’m thankful my husband was driving and not me. I wanted him to stay back further from the car in front of us but he said we needed to stay fairly close so we would know where the road was. We agreed we were counting on the person in front of us to guide us – and they were counting on the person in front of them to guide them.
We had to make a pit stop and when we started up again there were no cars ahead of us which made it very difficult to see the road. Thankfully the side rumble strips indicated where the pavement ended. We were grateful that we made it safely to our daughter and son-in-law’s home in Flagstaff.
This trip reminded me how often we need someone to guide us – to show us the way – to lead us to our destination. Hopefully, the people we are trusting to guide us are worthy of our trust. We could easily be led astray – off the beaten path – in the wrong direction.
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” I Corinthians 1:11
May we follow those who are leading us in the right direction – closer to Jesus. May we never lead anyone astray.
The holidays can wear us out. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Pulling decorations down from attic or up from the basement. Setting up trees. Decorating. Thinking of gift ideas, finding the gifts, wrapping the gifts, distributing the gifts. Christmas cards, finding addresses, licking envelopes, applying stamps. Thinking of menus, purchasing the items for baking and cooking, serving the food, cleaning it up. Packing, repacking, unpacking. Scheduling. Thank you notes. And then continuing on with everything else in our “normal” routines. Whew! Nap time sounds good.
This year I have given myself permission to:
-Not send Christmas cards (thank you and bless you to all who send cards so faithfully)
-Buy partially or fully prepared dishes (HoneyBakedHam, pre-cut-ready-to-bake cookies, sliced cheeses and charcuterie meats)
-Use gift bags (much quicker than wrapping)
-Shopping via online stores (no crowds or struggle to find a parking space)
-Put up less decorations (I’ll set up the Coke Village next year since I’ve missed it this year)
-Not feel guilty about going out for lunch or dinner (no prep and less mess)
-Sleep in a bit later whenever possible (so good for the body and soul)
-Watch as many Hallmark movies as I want (sorry Phil) plus The Holiday, The Elf, The Family Stone, It’s a Wonderful Life, Love the Coopers, Four Christmases, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
-Spend more time with uplifting friends and family (no Scrooges allowed, please)
Dear friends, it is not in our best interest to become weary because of a holiday. We have to work hard to not get overwhelmed with to-do lists. Pinterest has burdened us more than it should. Life is not perfect and our lives don’t have to be picture perfect. In fact, if someone looks like they have a perfect life, it’s not real life. Please don’t kid yourself because their life is not perfect. No one’s life is. People have said our life looks perfect. I can testify here and now — it is far from perfect. There is struggle. There is anxiety. There is pain. There is heartache. There is weariness. I force myself to say “no” and to pass on things that aren’t feeding my soul. Yes, I am blessed and get to travel frequently to see family and friends but I work at not becoming weary and depressed – and I still have to work while away from the office (as mentioned in a previous post about being self-employed). These verses are life savers for me:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
May we cast our anxiety on Him. He really does care. May we find our rest in Him. May He deliver us from self-inflicted, unnecessary weariness. May He protect us from weariness brought on by destructive influences. May God hold us in His loving care. Merry Christmas and as Tiny Tim said, “God bless us, everyone.”
So sorry Dr. Seuss but I never cared for the Grinch story until 2000 when Jim Carrey played the part. Mr. Carrey is insanely talented but I can’t fathom him in any other role. He is forever Mr. Grinch to me.
Do you have a Grinch in your life? Someone who steals your joy? Someone who can turn the happiest occasion into a sad situation? Someone who is never happy no matter what you or anyone else does or doesn’t do? I’m fairly confident everyone has at least one. I’m so sorry to those of you who have more than one.
How do we respond to our Grinches? I worked with someone who was a Grinch. Never happy. Always grumpy. I decided to shower them with love (when I really wanted to punch them.) I left encouraging notes on their desk and gave sincere compliments when appropriate. Slowly, they began to warm up and acted a bit nicer and a little kinder. We never became close friends but they weren’t such a big pain in the office. I think they were lacking love and kindness in their life and therefore lashed out the first person available.
Mr. Grinch was grouchy and mean because he had been hurt and reacted by hurting others. When shown love, he grew kinder and more loving. Love tends to do that. Love is a healing balm to a breaking heart. Everyone needs someone to love and to love someone – a dear friend, a relative or a spouse. The Grinch said, “Bleeding hearts of the world unite.” Unite is what we can do in the name of the One who showed the greatest love. Jesus was hurt by those He died to save. That is a love like no other.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” Luke 6:27-28
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you” Proverbs 25:21-22
May we love others even and especially the Grinches in our lives. Heaven help us not be a Grinch.
The shepherds were tending their sheep on that night in the fields just like the night before and the night before that. Nothing spectacular happened save an occasional predator to be scared off or eliminated.
Here’s what Dr. Luke wrote Chapter 2:8-20 –
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favorrests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Marytreasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Holy cow – or should I say holy sheep! The shepherds had to be freaked out when the “great company of heavenly host appeared with an angel.” I wonder if they were so surprised that they couldn’t speak right away. Imagine them looking at one another and saying, “Did you see and hear what I just saw and heard, too?” Another part of the Christmas Story that was not your normal every day occurrence for shepherds taking care of their flocks.
The shepherds left the fields and went into Bethlehem to see “this thing that has happened” and they found the baby Jesus just like the angel had told them. They were so excited they told everyone the saw and all who heard were amazed. Who wouldn’t be amazed about a bunch of angels appearing to the shepherds with news of a newborn baby – the Messiah?
There are people around the globe who haven’t heard about Jesus. We are normal everyday people doing our every day jobs – and like the shepherds in the Christmas Story – are tasked with sharing the joyous news of the Messiah. It’s funny that nothing about what God does is viewed as normal and every day and yet everything He does is normal and amazing – day in and day out for His people, His sheep.
May we be shepherds spreading the Good News as we take care of our sheep.
Would you have believed Mary if you had been Joseph?
Joseph is often a behind the scene character in the Christmas Story. Baby Jesus and Mary take center stage for sure.
From Matthew 1:18-25: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Mary took the news of her pregnancy much more maturely and accepting than if it had been me. How frightening and life-altering it must have been to hear the angel’s news – then having to tell her family AND Joseph, her future husband. Can you imagine Joseph’s feelings when Mary told him of her immaculate conception? Yeah, right, Mary, and I am Caesar Augustus’ BFF. Joseph, being a great guy, decided not to disgrace Mary or her family and planned to quietly divorce her (Matthew 1:19) UNTIL an angel spoke to him in a dream. I am thankful God sent an angel to Joseph – otherwise that news would have been an even harder pill to swallow. God knew how Mary and Joseph would respond to this situation and maybe that’s why He chose them.
What guy is okay with his wife getting pregnant by someone else? What guy would believe this seemingly far-fetched story? What guy is willing to stand aside and allow another to father his son? Well, Joseph is that guy.
What can we learn from Joseph? A great deal. He was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55) and took his son to the temple (Luke 2:22) . Joseph was a godly man of high moral character. He believed in God and he believed God. He was a willing servant in the story of our Messiah. He was okay with standing in the background. He lived out his faith in God raising Jesus as his son.
So, let’s consider our hearts. Are we godly? Are we of high moral character? Do we believe in God? Do we believe God? Do we have servant hearts? Are we willing to stand offstage and not be in the center?
May Joseph’s life show us what it means to live out a hard faith. May we obey God even when He asks the difficult of us. May we be willing to play second fiddle so He will be lifted up. Thank you for being the model step-dad, Joseph.
This part of the Christmas story has always bothered me. Matthew 2:16, “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”
Why would God allow Herod to eliminate all of the baby boys in Bethlehem and surrounding areas who were under two years old? Does your heart hurt for the parents and families who lost children under Herod’s rule? This is Herod is the father of the Herod who sent John the Baptist to prison and Jesus to trial. The name Herod isn’t one that evokes warm fuzzies.
We do not have an easy answer for why God allows evil but He does. Our world is fraught with it. Persons in power with hearts of stone. People hurting or killing others. I once heard a speaker say, “Hurt people, hurt people.” Then there must be a lot of hurt people running around, don’t you agree? Yet in the pain and hurt, we can find comfort and peace in God.
Herod tried to eliminate Jesus but he didn’t understand Jesus is not to be reckoned with unless you want to be knocked down. Until Jesus returns we will face evil. It is what we do in spite of evil that will make a difference in our individual worlds. Don’t choose the way of Herod.
May this Christmas be filled with hope as you remember that even in the midst of the scariest diagnosis, the most painful hurt, the darkest moment – God’s plan can not be thwarted – by anyone or anything. He will prevail. Evil will not win. That is Good News!
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