True North

Picture by Caprice Miller

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119:105

In this day and time having a GPS device or app is a must to get us where we want to go.  But what if we are in a situation where technology was not available?  Many of us may not even know how to use an actual compass due to our dependence on technology to just tell us where to go.  Admittedly, it’s nice to know I can just input the address and follow the little voice that tells me “Okay, let’s go!”  But what happens if I find myself in a location that Wi-Fi doesn’t reach?  I’m not really sure how a compass operates.  How will I know which way to go?  Where is “true North”?  What is “true North” anyway?  I’m afraid my lack of knowledge and direction would get me lost very quickly.

In a very real sense we are all traveling through this life on our own paths.  But how do we know if the path we are following is in the right direction?  The information we hear from various resources can be confusing and misleading.  How can we know what information to trust and what to ignore?  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “life GPS” that tells us in a lovely voice “Hurtful relationship on side of road!  Do not detour.  Continue on the path ahead.” Or “health issues ahead – rest stop and healing at next right.” What we do have is something that acts as a GPS – God’s very Word, The Bible.  It truly does act as a life compass showing us the difference between relative truth and authentic truth.  By reading and studying it we can have direction in our lives that does not depend on the latest popular opinion.  Instead, it shows us God’s direction for our lives which is based on His truth – authentic truth.  In a world that is full of “relative truth” His Word can be trusted as the “True North” in our lives.  With His compass we can travel this life with confidence that we are on the right path and headed in the right direction.

What's Inside?

Picture by Caprice Miller

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

What a head turner a car like this can be!  The color, the shape, the sound of the engine – it all seems to scream “LOOK AT ME!!!!”  And we do look.  We find ourselves wondering who drives it.  We assume things about that person such as their status in life, gender, appearance, even their personality.  We may even start imagining ourselves riding with that person in the car or, better yet, driving it ourselves.  What would it be like to own and drive a car like that?  It’s one of those things in life we can look at and think “if I had THAT I would be set.  Things would be good.”  For many, it’s the status symbol that tells the world, “Look at me!  I have arrived!”

It is curious the assumptions people make.  We see something such as a car and we assume things about those behind the wheel of said car.  Or we see an attractive person and assume they must be privileged or what their personality may be or that their life has advantages that the rest of us don’t.  It’s human nature to basically judge a book by its cover.   Or in this case, by what they….drive. 

 

However, the verse above lets us know that God views us differently.  You see, the profit, Samuel, had been given the task by God to anoint the next king of Israel.  He was told to go see a man named Jesse who had a lot of sons.  However, as the sons lined up, the Lord rejected each one.  So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”  It was only then that Jesse mentioned the son who was still out tending his sheep like a good shepherd would.  So Samuel sent for David.  And when he arrived the Lord said to Samuel, “This is the one; anoint him!”  You see, it doesn’t matter what we drive or wear as much as it matters what the condition of our heart is.  Jesse thought any of his older sons would surely be the next anointed king.  They all possessed what would surely be “king material” – at least from a human perspective.  But that is not what God was looking for.  He already knew David and what the condition of his heart was. 

The question comes to mind, what would we look like if our outward appearance matched the condition of our hearts?  I dare say, we might find ourselves extremely disappointed.  Not many would match up – especially if viewed from God’s perspective.  But how was it that David’s heart was favored by God?  We can probably find evidence of this in David’s own writings such as Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.”   It seems that David was in the habit of asking God to show him the condition of his heart.  That’s a risky prayer.  As we see from David’s life in 1^st and 2^nd Samuel, as much as David loved God, his heart didn’t always align with God’s instructions for his life.  David had to make changes in his life occasionally and it wasn’t easy for him.  

If we choose to ask God to show us the true condition of our hearts we have to be ready for the results.  Chances are that, for most of us, changes will need to be made if we truly desire to have a heart that pleases God.  And as Pastor Ed Young teaches, in order to have growth from change we will experience conflict – Change – Conflict – Growth.  But if we choose to ask God to “search and know our hearts”, He will change our hearts, He will help us to make the changes needed in our lives and overcome the conflicts that will ensue and we will grow stronger and closer to God as a result.  We could discover what real strength, beauty, grace and integrity look like from God’s perspective.  It would probably resemble what bravery, humility, authenticity and a heart for God would look like. 

My prayer is that we use David’s prayer and ask God to “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” I pray that He will move within each of us in such a way that He changes and transforms our hearts to align with His plans for our lives and who He created us to be.  My prayer is that God’s transformation will be so apparent that people don’t have to work to look beyond our exterior to see it.  But it just shines through.  And Lord, help us to see beyond the exterior of others so we see Your transformation of them also.  

He Knows And He Cares

 Picture by Caprice Miller

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” – Matthew 6:26

One of the most pleasant sounds to me is the whistle of a bird right after a storm passes. It’s as though it’s telling me, “You can come out now. The storm has passed and we’re all okay.” I also love those mornings when I wake up and that same whistle is the first thing I hear. It’s a sound that reminds me that this is a new day. It’s up to me to make it what I will of it. In either circumstance of hearing the whistle of a bird, it seems to be that sound that gets my attention and reminds me of who is in control. Thankfully, that is not me. 

The verse above is one of those “tape to the mirror verses”. I’m so thankful to know He has me on His mind. It is a reminder that we don’t have to carry the burdens of life alone. We were created by God and He knows exactly what trials we are going through. He knows who we are individually. We are important to Him. These are the reminders that give us hope when health, financial, relational or other circumstances challenge our lives. Those things that are typically out of our control. 

I’m sure that I am not alone in sometimes feeling that the world is closing in around me. The everyday circumstances of life can be daunting to the point of making me want to just want to pull the covers over my head and never get out of bed. And when additional life circumstances come crashing down on us, well, I’m just locking the doors and never going out again. But that isn’t helpful. The world is still revolving and life is still going on whether we decide to participate or not. Isolating ourselves from the world does not help. If only we didn’t have to worry, right?! 

What happens when life causes us to worry and stress about things beyond our control? Our minds begin to spin and become a breeding ground of negativity. The scenarios we can create with the unknowns of life are limitless and can be debilitating, if we allow them to be. That is why it is so important to remember the truths God’s Word gives us. The FACT that we are more important to Him than the birds of the air is just one truth. He tells us so many times in scripture to be strong and courageous. He tells us that He is with us. Here’s just one example: 

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” – Joshua 1:9

This is another “tape to the mirror verse”. Knowing that God promises to be with me everywhere I go is a like lifting off a bolder. Many times I feel as though that bird whistle is meant to get my attention and remind me of this promise. He reminds me that He is in control, not me. What a comfort to know that the God of The Universe loves me, cares about me and is with me always in everything. 

Whatever the circumstance is you are in right now, know that you are NOT alone. 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Be encouraged today to stand strong and courageously knowing that God is faithful and powerful and is holding on to you.

Be A Reflection

Picture by Caprice Miller

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ‘ – John 8:12

What an interesting picture.  In the forefront you have the big tree with all the branches.  (It could be kind of creepy without its pretty leaves.)  But through those branches you see the light of the full moon.  But the light coming from the moon isn’t really its own light.  That light is actually the reflected light from the Sun, bouncing off the moon which acts like a mirror.  That reflection is a beautiful sight on a clear night.  It is also very welcomed when you are out in the darkness of night and need that reflection from the Sun to light your path so you can find your way.  

As you might expect, there’s a message here.  The verse above tells us one of the ways Jesus identified himself – “…..light of the world…”.  On this occasion Jesus had just dismissed the accusers of a woman who was about to be stoned because she had been found in the act of adultery.  They were not dismissed because they were mistaken about her sin.  She had been found in the act.  (Apparently they forgot to bring the guy along too in this case.)  No, they weren’t mistaken in their accusation. The crowd of accusers wanted to shine their own light on this situation.  They wanted to publicly shame this adulterous woman and at the same time attempt to find fault with Jesus.  Would he obey the Law of Moses and stone her like it said to or would he continue on this path of mercy he had a reputation for?  

Imagine the woman in the center of this dark and angry crowd with a single spotlight on her and her alone.  Her accusers are all still in the darkness of the shadows pointing their fingers at her.  And then Jesus flips the switch and turns the house lights on as he stands and says in John 8:7 “…Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”   And like predators do when caught in the light, they each dropped their stone and walked back into their darkness leaving just the woman and Jesus.  Then he turns to her and asks, 

“Where are your accusers?  Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  “No, Lord.” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I.  Go and sin no more.” – John 8:10-11.

There is something that happens when we have the light of Jesus casts upon us.  It exposes the hidden darkness - the sin - that we ALL have in our lives.  (Romans 3:23)   It’s not a pretty sight.  That’s why we would prefer to keep it in the dark. But when we do encounter that light, we have a choice of our response to it.   We either allow ourselves to be drawn to its powerful grace that forgives and saves or we run from it because of the pain it causes as it exposes the hidden darkness we are holding on to.   When we allow the light of Jesus to expose the darkness in our lives it is then that only He can clean what is exposed.  Sure, it may be a painful process; no one wants to deal with that ugliness.  But imagine the freedom of being able to live inside that light instead of lurking in the shadows of the darkness fearing exposure if you step into the light.  

The crowd that accused this woman tried to hide in their own darkness.  They tried to turn the light on someone who they deemed “more sinful” or “more recently sinful”.  But Jesus knew better.  He also knows when we try to do the same today.  It is easier to pick up a stone of condemnation to throw at someone else instead of allowing our own darkness to be exposed.  It’s time to put down the stone of condemnation, but don’t walk away.  Come further into the light.  And as we experience the forgiveness and grace that only the light of Jesus can bring, we will discover something else too.  Like the moon reflects the light of the Sun, we will reflect the light of THE SON.  We will drop our stones of condemnation and offer compassion instead as we point others to The Light Of The World. 

 Be a Son Reflector.  Drop the stone of condemnation and offer compassion, grace and forgiveness instead.  

Burning Bush Moment

Picture by Caprice Miller

“There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.  “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”  – Exodus 3:2-3 NLT

Outdoor parties are fun.  But when the sun goes down light becomes important in order to keep the guest around.  In the case of the picture above, creative lighting can work great.  It becomes not only a source of light, but a conversation piece also.

I wonder if this was God’s initial intention with the burning bush.  Grabbing the attention of Moses through the light of fire would work, but for the bush to not be consumed by the fire…..now that’s an attention getter.  An event that must be examined more closely.   Like a moth to a flame, Moses is drawn near.  Little did he know he was coming into the very presence of God.  What an encounter!  It was truly life changing for him.  Because he didn’t ignore the burning bush, he was able to spend time with his Creator.  Moses was able to get perspective and discover his purpose in life.  He was able to actually question God about this decision to choose him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  He was able to hear God respond to the arguments he put up against this decision – I stutter, they won’t listen to me, etc….  Thankfully, God didn’t give up on Moses and turn out the light of the burning bush and leave him there talking to ashes.  Moses took the mission and led the Israelites out of Egypt.

What if Moses had ignored his burning bush moment?   How would that have changed history?  Would there have even been a book of Exodus?  That was a monumental moment for Moses and the entire nation of Israel.  

It could be said that God has “burning bush moments” for each of us also.  It may not be to instruct us about leading an entire nation out of captivity, but He has a purpose for our lives.  Too many times though, we allow ourselves to be distracted by the whirlwinds of life.  We ignore the nudges that could lead us to those moments when God would speak to our hearts.  We speed along in our days in pursuit of finding purpose.  Yet, we never seem to consider that if we stop to examine God’s word and allow it to speak into our lives, we could actually have our own “burning bush moment”.  Is He drawing you closer so He can give you a directive…..some instructions?  Don’t ignore the burning bush of God’s Word.  Take time to spend with your Creator and the instructions He has left you. Listen for His whisper in your heart as He gives you direction.  Get ready to take the steps He will guide if you take on the mission He gives you.  It will be a life changing adventure.

Appreciation

Picture by Caprice Miller

Art - "Standing Ovation" by Anitra Blayton

“Come, everyone! Clap your hands!  Shout to God with joyful praise!” – Psalm 41:1

I really appreciate a good performance.  I also appreciate the beauty of the world around me in nature and art.  And I appreciate desserts too – chocolate especially.  There are a lot of other things I appreciate also, but we’ll stop at these categories.  I have to admit though; I probably don’t show my appreciation for the things I appreciate in a way that lets others know just how much I appreciate these things.   Instead, I tend to take things for granted more often than not.  I just trust that people know that they did a good job in their performance, their display of art or creating something delicious.  I would also admit that there are times that I actually envy those skills and spend a lot of time trying to do something similar or better. I soon find myself frustrated at my attempt and just quit the whole project.  In the midst of it all I’m left wondering how those people make it look so easy and how my attempt could be such a flop?

The sculpture featured above can be found in Terminal D of the DFW airport.  Caprice actually looked up the story behind the piece.  Basically the artist wanted to give a reminder that we should more quickly applaud those around us who are doing good things.  There are so many around us each and every day who share their gifts and talents with us.  However, we may have become so use to it that we take it for granted and don’t think of it as special any longer.  I dare say that many don’t even consider their own gifts and talents as special at all.  That’s sort of the secret of understanding if it is a gift or talent…it may come easy to you, but to someone else, they wonder how in the world you do that thing you do. 

 These skills are truly God-given.  Within each of His creation God has woven unique abilities that help to set us apart from each other.  These are also the very things that give us joy as we do them.  And in turn, they give joy to those around us also.  It is important to remember that gifts and talents are not limited to musical, artistic or culinary skills.  Many times we overlook the gifts and talents of those who make life simpler because of their gift of hospitality or administration or encouragement or organization or wisdom and a whole list of other “out-of-the-spotlight” skills.  The bottom line is that we ALL have gifts and talents.  God wired us with these gifts and talents to use and share and to appreciate in ourselves and others also. 

It is interesting though that many times we don’t appreciate these gifts within us because they do come so easy to us.  We feel that “surely anyone can do what I do because it’s easy.”  Not so.  You are made with unique gifts and talents for a unique purpose in life.  Do not be distracted by the enemy who would like for you to believe otherwise.  Don’t envy what you don’t have.  Instead, appreciate and applaud the gifts and talents of others and recognize and appreciate what you have been given yourself.  As you do, show appreciation to God and thank Him for what He has given. 

Ask God to guide you in just how He would like for you to use what He has given you for His purposes – the purpose you were created for.   By pursuing His purpose for your life and utilizing your God-given gifts and talents you will find that you applaud others for doing the same instead of envying their gifts and talents.  Soon you may even lead others in what the verse above says as you show your appreciation:   “Come, everyone! Clap your hands!  Shout to God with joyful praise!”

Building or Beacon?

Picture by Caprice Miller

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” – Matthew 16:18

Old, beautiful buildings like the one pictured above make me wonder about the history surrounding it.  When was it built?  Who designed it?  What’s happened there?  What’s inside?   I can imagine on the other side of those big, heavy doors there is an interior that would be just as dramatic and beautiful on the inside.  I love the idea that this place would be busy with activities all the time.  People coming to this place find encouragement, others to celebrate with and experience life together.  Those that come in find “The Church”.

The verse above is one of those “red letter verses” that was spoken directly from the lips of Jesus to Peter’s ears.  I’m sure at the time Peter could not fully grasp the meaning of this declaration from the Messiah.  He may have had the thought that this “church” spoken of was a physical building.  But what we know is that the church is not just a building.  The church really consists of the people who come together in the building and worship Jesus Christ and praise His name.  It is really a world- wide phenomenon.  From the beginning of “The Church” in the book of Acts, we see that this was the case.  Due to persecution, the people who made up the church realized they had to move from where they were or die.  As a result, the church expanded beyond the borders of Jerusalem and continues to expand today.  God is amazing at taking what the enemy would use to destroy and turning it around for His glory.

Now, imagine yourself as one of the first Christians.  If you had been threatened with persecution would the Good News of Jesus stop with you?  Or would it continue because of your determination to share the difference He has made in your life?  Many times we think because it is a “personal thing” we just need to keep it to ourselves.  Don’t ruffle any feathers.  What if the first Christians had kept it to themselves?  That isn’t what Jesus suffered, died and conquered death for.  Yes, He did it for you, but He did it for me too and the rest of the world.  It says so in John 3:16.  Some may find it difficult to share this message on your own.   But we are not meant to take this journey alone.   That is why we are told to come together in Hebrew 12:24-25  -

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

So, while a church building may just be a building, it should stand as a beacon of light and hope.  It is a place where fellow Christians – “The Church”- can come together to corporately praise God.   It is a place where there should be so much excitement about what God is doing in the lives of those there and that excitement can’t be contained. It is a place where those searching for that “missing piece” in their lives feel welcomed and at home.  A place where they will be encouraged also as they begin their journey in being part of “The Church”.   If you don’t already have one, find a local beacon today so that you can be a part of “The Church” where encouragement and worship happen when you come together.

Get Clean

Picture by Caprice Miller

“The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”  So the people came streaming from the village to see him.” – John 4:28-30

Machines such as this front loading washing machine sometimes make me ponder the past.  Before this invention, clothes would be painstakingly scrubbed on a washboard, rinsed and then hung on a clothesline to dry.  That must have taken forever.  No wonder there was a designated day in each home called “wash day” – it would literally take all day – so I've been told.  Today, we can usually just throw a load of clothes in the washer, carry on with something else, then throw them in the dryer, carry on with something else, then fold and put away.  Sure, the “washing, drying and putting away clothes task” can be time consuming and a real chore.  But when we compare it to what it used to be, it’s not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.  In the end, you are thankful it is done and it didn’t take longer than it did.   We usually end up asking ourselves, about any chore in life, “Why did I wait so long to do that?  I could have had this feeling of accomplishment so long ago.”

It’s funny to think of, but I’ve heard something similar from people who have made the decision to follow Jesus Christ.  And, even though I accepted Christ as a young child, I didn’t always do things His way.  When I finally began to actually follow His lead, I too asked, “Why did I wait so long to do that?”  I was like the woman at the well running to tell everyone what I had discovered. It wasn't even a “chore” to do so.  The real chore was living outside of His path for me.    I wonder why so many wait or just ignore the message of Christ – The Gospel?  I know there are some that just believe if they are a “good enough” person, they will be just fine.  God will give them a pass.  But then we have to ask ourselves “What defines ‘good enough’?”  We all have different versions of that.  We all mess up in some way.  The Bible even tells us in Romans 3:23 –“ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”  So being “good enough” can’t be right.  We all have dirt and stains to be dealt with.

There are also those who don’t even try the “good enough” path, they just convince themselves that because of whatever they have done in the past God could never forgive them anyway.  There’s no use in trying.  In other words, the past has been allowed to define them.  However, the Bible says this about that: “ For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” – Romans 10:13.  Jesus himself even assures us - “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:17.  So even if you bring the most stained things of your life to Him, He can handle it.

There are many who don’t understand what it could mean to be “washed clean”.  There are many who don’t understand their own need to experience this in the first place.  But that’s all right.  Most of us don’t understand how a washing machine operates in order to get our clothes clean either.  Yet we still put our clothes in with the detergent trusting that it will come out as it supposed to – clean.  The irony in this scenario is interesting though.  It is through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus – the shedding of His blood – that we have the opportunity to be made clean.  However, the process of His death, burial and resurrection was very dirty and cruel.  He was sinless – clean.  But he was betrayed, spat upon, beaten, nailed to a cross and died.  His blood was shed, but not without cause.  That blood could be said to be the detergent that makes us clean.  He was the sacrifice for the world so that we could have the opportunity to spend our eternity in Heaven with Him.  God is in the cleaning business.  Allow Him to clean the dirt and stains in your life.  You may end up like the woman at the well as you run to tell everyone what you have discovered.

No Fear

Picture by Caprice Miller

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” – Psalm 27:1 (NLT)

Holy Cow!  Who would have thought that an overhead light and sunglasses pocket of a car could look like it wants to eat you? That is not a face I want to have stuck in my head.  So much for peaceful dreams as that image pops up!

In a similar manner that’s what can happen when the stresses of life get to us. They become “scary monster faces” that keep us awake at night as we wonder when and how they will attack us.    We become that child again that is convinced there is a monster under the bed AND in the closet.  We become so convinced of their presence that we have our parents come look in those places for us to scare them away.  It was always a comfort to realize that our parents had some sort of “super hero mojo” that made the monsters go away.  Those monsters were no match for them.  If only we could have the same “mojo” for ourselves as adults.  Oh, but we can!

The verse above is a great reminder that our God is our protector.  I love the questions it asks – “…so why should I be afraid?”  “….so why should I tremble?”  Many times we allow even the possibility or thought of the presence of monsters in our life to overwhelm us.  Our minds spin with “What if” questions.  These are questions that keep us distracted and draw our focus away from God, our protector.  As a result of this mind game, we mentally, and sometimes physically, curl up in the fetal position waving a white flag of surrender.  In these times we forget about the power of the God we claim to know and love.  The enemy, with his mind games, causes us to be ineffective for God’s purposes.  We don’t have the courage to step out and do what God created you to do.  We don’t even have the courage to lift our voice and call on Him to take us out of the spin cycle of fear that the “what if” game creates.  God is bigger than that.  We should not be afraid or tremble because we are His.

But then there are other times when the monsters in our lives are actually very real.  They come in the form of illness, violence, debt, addiction, loss and a host of other things that can go under each of these categories.  When we are faced with these real life monsters our lives can quickly be turned upside down.  It is at this point that we come to the proverbial fork in the road of our life journey.  One road will be full of overwhelming fear, pain, and grief that the monster of the circumstance can cause.  If will consume us and cause more destruction.

The other road will have its share of fear, pain and grief also.  However, this fork in the road will have rest stops for us to pull in to.  Not the seedy, questionable rest stops.  No, these rest stops are truly refreshing for our souls.  They are full of light and reminders of how God is working on our behalf even though we may not be able to see it at the time.  These rest stops help us to take a moment to refocus and regain our strength to stand strong under the weight of the circumstance.  There can even be people at these rest stops that are there to encourage us and pray for us.  The choice seems pretty easy of which road to take.  But due to the size of the monster that may be in our life, we can become confused and a bit disoriented and end up taking the wrong path.

Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”   See?  We aren't alone in our struggle.  #thestruggleisreal.  Confusion is a part of all of us and apparently has been for a really long time.  When we allow fear and doubt to overtake us we tend to take the wrong paths in an attempt to control the circumstances in our lives.  There is a way truly regain control of our lives though - by giving up control.  Sure it sounds counter to what we think will help us.  But this is what the verse is talking about.  When we give control of our circumstances to God, we make the choice of taking the right path where we can experience rest, encouragement, comfort and rejuvenation. We force ourselves to be still and turn our focus to Him.  (Psalm 46:10)  When we do, we are reminded of His power and strength in our lives.  We are reminded that He is God and we are not.  We are reminded of His command over and over again to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9. It’s like asking your Heavenly Father to look under our beds and in the closets of our lives to make sure the monsters are gone.  We are then able to rest and think more clearly in order to determine what path God wants us to take.

Do not allow the fear of monsters – perceived or real – overwhelm you.  Ask God to clear away those monsters in your life and take control.  Ask Him for clarity in order to see the path He is guiding you to.  Ask Him to give you that strength and courage that only He can to step out onto that path and become that person He created you to be with no fear.

Just A Squirrel Tryin To Get A Nut

Picture by Caprice Miller

 

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”   Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.” – Luke 19:5-6

As I looked at this picture I was so taken by the contrast of the grays and browns of the tree against the bright blue sky that I almost missed the furry little guy in the middle.  I’m the kind of person that enjoys watching squirrels scamper around.  I watch how they interact with each other and I laugh at how they seem to enjoy tormenting the dogs at times.  Looking at him I’m reminded of lyrics in a song – “It’s your world and I just a squirrel tryin to get a nut.”  (Everybody Dance by Bob Sinclair)  This little guy also reminds me of a guy mentioned in the book of Luke – Zacchaeus.  In a way you could say he could probably have related to those song lyrics too.  He may have thought of himself as “just a squirrel tryin to get a nut” although his means were not very honest. 

 The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus was the head tax collector in the region of Jericho.  He was basically working for the Romans and taking money from his own people, the Israelites.  And to add insult to injury, he was known to be very dishonest about it and took much more than he should.  Needless to say, he was not a favorite person among the people of Jericho.  But in spite of his transgressions, there was something in him that obviously stirred when he heard Jesus was passing through the town.  It was such a stirring that it caused him to run ahead of the crowd and climb a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus for himself.  For a man of his position this was an extremely undignified thing to do.  You know that it must have been REALLY important to him to see Jesus if he went to such undignified means to do so.  Perhaps this undignified activity is what drew the attention of Jesus to him.  In the verse above we see that Jesus stopped, looked up in the tree, called him by name and then proceeded to invite himself over to the guy’s house for dinner. 

It’s important as your read the Bible to slow down sometimes and really consider what is being said.  As I slow down here I have to ask,

·         How did Jesus know his name?  He just came into town. 

      ·        And if he knew his name, wouldn’t He also know that he was not an honest man? 
      ·         Why wouldn’t Jesus choose the house of a nice, hospitable person to go to? 
      ·         After all, what would people think?

What I then realize is that this is Jesus.  Why wouldn’t he know the name of Zacchaeus?    He knows all.  And yes, He knew the little guy was a notoriously dishonest man.  And yes, He could have gone to the house of any nice, hospitable person.  And of course, he knew this choice would not be popular among the gossipers – the Pharisees. (Those that thought themselves to be more appropriate host of the “nice and hospitable” nature probably) This was not the first time Jesus encountered this reaction.  We see in Matthew 9 another occasion He decided to befriend a tax collector – his future disciple, Matthew.  Jesus response to the Pharisees who asked the disciples, “…Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” – Matthew 9:11 was this:

 “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” – Matthew 9:12-13

 We are all sick in some way, shape or form.  But too many times we don’t recognize our illness.   Zacchaeus knew he was sick and that he was doing wrong.  When we sin, when we are wrong, we instinctively know it too.  There are times when we would like to ignore it and pretend it’s not there, but the reality is that we know what is wrong and we also know that God knows.    If we allow ourselves to pause we also realize that Jesus is passing by in our own lives.  We know we want to get a glimpse of Him, but that transgression in our lives seems to get in the way.  We even convince ourselves that we are too sick or too messed up to see Him anyway.  But if can choose to climb above that sin, that transgression, that wrong in our lives we can discover that Jesus already knows all that.  He also knows our name and He still wants to come into our house and spend time with you. 

As you continue to read in Luke 19 you see that because of his encounter with Jesus Zacchaeus became a changed man.  He determined to correct his wrongs and give back four times as much as what he had taken.    That’s what happens when we humble ourselves enough to recognize the sickness in our lives and choose to spend time with Jesus.  We can experience healing and restoration of that relationship with Him that leads to amazing life change.   And really, you don’t even have to climb a tree – Jesus sees you already and knows your name. That’s how truly special you are to Him.  

True Freedom

Picture by Caprice Miller

 ^“For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.  This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” – 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Lady Liberty….well, a replica anyway.  But no matter how small she may be in this picture, what she represents is still very significant.  As we know, the real Lady Liberty stands tall in the middle of Ellis Island.  For so many years this statue has been a beacon of hope to those seeking an opportunity for a better way of life in this “Land of Freedom” called America.  For those of us who are blessed to be a part of this land, we can take for granted the freedoms we have and ability to pursue our dreams that it offers.  We can also take for granted that this freedom we have was not free.  Many have sacrificed their very lives so that we can continue to have hope and pursue those dreams.  We forget that this freedom that has been fought so hard and valiantly for is something that others in the world want to steal, kill and destroy.  Why would anyone want to take away freedom?

It really isn’t a surprise that there are those who want to steal something they don’t understand and have never experienced.  Having a relationship with Jesus Christ can be met with the same disdain by those who don’t know Him and have never experienced Him.  They don’t realize that He told us what the enemy was doing then and what he continues to do in our world today.  Jesus also told us what His purpose in our lives is.  He said:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10

Those who haven’t experienced Him look from the outside and assume that being a Christian is all about a list of “don’ts and can’ts” and if you cross the line on any of those rules and regulations, you’re doomed.  The reality is that we have ALL missed the mark – sinned.  The enemy would like for us to live a life full of hopelessness, shame and despair that the realization of our mistakes – sin brings.  Sin has created a gap…a chasm between God and humanity.  It has robbed us of our freedom and damaged the relationship that God so desires to have with us.  Jesus bridges that gap to enable that relationship to happen. Jesus came to this world, died a sacrificial death and then defeated death through His resurrection so that we could have freedom from that sin and the hopelessness, shame and despair it brings.  This freedom allows us to have a relationship with God Himself!   He provides us the opportunity to live in the freedom and peace that His forgiveness and grace brings.  Jesus is the path to true freedom and destroying the enemy’s attempts to kill, steal and destroy the freedom and peace only Jesus can provide. 

The world we live in today is full of people being used by the enemy to carry out his mission of killing, stealing and destroying.  There is a lot of fear that can come with this - fear that will rob us of our freedom. Know that your freedom in Christ is so much stronger than whatever the enemy can sling.  Grab on to the peace He provides and determine today to live a life NOT of fear, but one of abundant love and joy in freedom. 

If you haven’t accepted the free gift of freedom Jesus provides, here’s how you can do that right now:

“Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner and that I have messed up from time to time. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that God raised Him from the dead. I choose to follow You, Jesus, and I confess that You are my savior. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and giving me freedom. I love You. Amen.” 

Now, tell somebody so they can celebrate with you and get involved in a local church so you can be encouraged by others.

Run Your Race

Picture by Caprice Miller

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

 

I don’t know about you, but when I see advertisements about races such as the one above my first thought is usually NOT “Hey, I want to do that!”  Typically it’s more like “Note to self, avoid that area on that day.”  But then I see pictures of the participants and the crowds cheering them on as I watch the news and I feel a little tug inside that seems to say “Aaawww, they look like they had fun.  I could have done that.”  But alas, I’ve missed the opportunity and continue on with my normal, everyday routine.  Although, now I have a twinge of inspiration that has been lit inside so in the back of my mind I make another note – “Note to self, find out when the next one will be.”   Who knows if I will actually sign up.  But I’m encouraged by Caprice’s comments of her own experience:

“In the 5K ... well... I didn't come in last.” – Caprice Miller

But at least she was IN the race.  Way to go, Caprice!  So many times we don’t even attempt these types of challenges because of the thought that if we can’t win, then why try?  We forget that it isn’t about the win, it’s about the journey and the experience of being a part of it.  The ability to declare, “I was there!  I ran that race and I’m here to tell you about it!” 

This is the same declaration we can have as we run the race in the verse mentioned above.  God has given us this life for a reason.  Many of us search endlessly for what that reason is.  Much of that search though consists of comparing ourselves to everyone else and what they are doing. There is a race that each of us has been designed to run.   But we sometimes get stuck in the comparison game and tell ourselves that if we can’t run the race like someone else, then we just won’t run at all.  As a result, we never get off the couch of life so that we can step in to that race God has marked out for us.  We miss the cheers of the crowd encouraging us and giving us inspiration as we run our race.  We also miss the opportunity to witness life change as we influence others to begin the race God has for them.

The excuses for not being in the race are endless.  We don’t like to talk about our race – it’s private.  We think we aren’t needed – there are already others doing it.  We think we might do it wrong.  In other words, we let fear stop us before we even get on the track.  Could this be the day that we stop comparing ourselves to others and stop allowing fear to dictate our lives?  This is what the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”   Could this be the day that we get off the couch we’ve molded ourselves into and begin the race designed for us?   God has provided us with exactly what we need to run that race.  He has also provided that crowd to cheer us on and encourage us.  They are already running the race or have even completed their race in life.  And as we run our race for Him, it will be the inspiration someone else needs to begin their race. 

That’s really what this race is all about.  Letting others know what God has done for us and about the relationship we have with Him.  Letting them know that they can experience that relationship too and begin their own race.  The life change we will experience in our own lives and witness in the lives of others will be just the adrenalin rush we need to continue on in our race.   And when you look back on it all you too can declare, “I was there!  I ran that race and I’m here to tell you about it!” 

Talk About It

Picture by Caprice Miller

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,” – Deuteronomy 11:18-20

 

What a sweet baby calf!  It is incredible to think that this baby could actually stand within an hour of its birth.  Imagine trying to keep up with that child after it gets comfortable on its own legs.  This momma cow has to start teaching fast!  Every baby in the animal kingdom has certain instincts that come naturally to them.  But they are still dangerously curious about certain things.  They don’t yet know they should stay away from certain fences because it can hurt them.  They don’t know not to play with the slithering “stick” on the ground because it could bite them and hurt or even kill them.  And, of course, they don’t know to stay away from certain cows in the herd because they are just mean.  And then there are basic skills as they grow such as the best places to get water and graze.  And make sure you aren’t late to the “hay party” that Farmer Joe throws every day.  You don’t want to get left out of that one.  There are all sorts of things this baby has yet to learn as it grows and matures.   Momma has a big job ahead of her.

As a mom, I’m grateful my daughter wasn’t walking by the time she was an hour old.  I needed time to take the parenthood thing in for a while.  I remember that moment of panic when I was left alone with her for the first time – that was 18 years ago!  “What if she cries?  How do I know if it’s a hunger cry or a wet diaper cry or a gassy cry?  Oh God, please just let her sleep and not cry!  I’m not sure if I’m prepared for that yet.”  Even before this moment though, I recall another “cry out to God moment”.  When we learned we were having a girl, I immediately thought of those pivotal teenage years and I began to pray right then.  “Oh God, please help me to teach her how special she is in Your eyes.  Help us to raise her and guide her in the path You have created for her.”  We had been blessed with such a gift and we needed His guidance NOW!

The verse above is a directive to the Israelites.  He knew this was a fickle crowd and they needed a strong reminder for their lives and parenting skills. God was reminding them to not have short memories about the miracles they witnessed as He lead them through the desert and to remember the commandments they were given.  Not only were they not to forget, but they were told to share it with their children.  Earlier in the chapter they are reminded of why it was important to share this with their children.  Their children were not witnesses to the miracles that brought them out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.  They didn’t witness the manna each morning that just appeared on the ground for them or the water coming out of the rock and so much more!  And if the children were not told, how would they know?  How would they understand the reverence and love they should have for their Creator if they aren’t taught?  It amazes me that they would have to be reminded to tell these stories.  It’s as though God’s miracles had become so common place to them that they just took for granted that these things always happened to everyone.   And yet, we do the same thing in our own lives today.

It is said that Christianity is only a generation away from extinction.  If the story of the amazing love and grace of God is not shared with our children, we could be responsible for that.  The enemy would like for us to believe that whatever relationship with God we have is just between ourselves and Him.  NOT TRUE!  How can we keep such a thing to ourselves?  He loves us so much that He does miraculous things in our lives every day.  So much so that we take them for granted just like the Israelites did.   Stop and take an account of the blessings in your life and thank God for them right now; let that gratitude overflow so much so that it can’t be kept quiet.  And as you do, tell your children!  Do as the verse says – talk about these things as they lie down and get up, as you’re walking, or just sitting around talking.  Let them know of your love for God and the miraculous things you have witnessed in your life so they can become that next generation sharing His love with others.  The daily survival skills of life are important to teach our children.  But to help them know and understand God’s love for them is really the most important lesson we could ever share with them.