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A blog about the Christian faith by a mere humble follower. A blog which is meant to be self-reflective and intended to sharpen ourselves in our own faith journey. And, where we always remember that each and every one of us will one day stand before God and give a testimony of our lives. That day all the nations (all the people) will be gathered up before God and He will decide our fate.
Will He consider you and I sheep or goats?

“Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” – Matthew 25:31-32

the sheeps and the goats image

Speaking and Hearing the Truth

the truth will set you free

For many years of my life, I have been writing. I write all the time. I mostly write when I’m upset. Even a counselor who counseled me in my early 20s while coming to terms of my being sexually abused as a child, recently wrote me, “Your writing has always helped you heal.” It wasn’t until her words that I realized just how many things I’ve written in my life that I’ve never shared with anyone. Pages upon pages upon pages. I write for hours sometimes. Days other times. I write the truth over and over again. Most of it has stayed hidden, mostly because I have spent much of my life living in fear. But, a few times, I’ve shared a thing or two with close friends who have told me that I need to share my writing with others. To speak through the gift God has given me. But, I never have. For many reasons I will not get into right now, I have allowed others and fear to stifle me. Until now.

I have also learned there are “truth tellers” in this world. These are people who often “see” the truth in its purest form. I’m not talking about telling the truth. Many people tell the truth. But, few tell the truth of what needs to be heard. To see the real truth of a matter amidst a barraging storm – the truth which can calm it. To see and speak about the eye – that only point of clarity that is evidenced in the storm. That’s what I mean. My middle son, Justin, is a truth teller. I realized this about 6 years ago, when he came to me after I had behaved badly in our home. I will never forget this moment. Justin came to me shortly after I yelled loudly…no let me correct this as I ranted loudly at one of my other boys. I was frustrated and angry at my child (about what I don’t actually remember). But, shortly after my loud rant, Justin came to me with big giant tears in his eyes and nervousness in his voice and said with courage and love, “Mom, you didn’t need to yell like that just because you were mad. You shouldn’t have done that. You could have told him what he did wrong without yelling so loudly.” I can still hear his sweet words and picture his concerned face as I write this – even now holding back the tears of his truthfulness and how it impacted me. He was probably 9 years old at the time. Sweet, innocent, and utterly scared to tell me the truth about my bad behavior. Yet, still brave and needing to confront me. Yes, he did what he was supposed to do in that moment. Tell me the truth. And, in his eyes, I also saw me. I saw the truth teller in me trying to speak truth to those in my own life. And, I knew. I knew in that moment I could not and would not shame him or dismiss the truth of his words. I would not punish him for telling me the truth. I would not twist his words to hurt him simply because I didn’t want to hear the truth myself or have to change my own behavior. No, choosing that path would be harmful to both Justin and I. Very harmful for both of us. It would allow me to negate what was so clearly the truth and live in a lie myself; and it would destroy Justin’s young heart along with his ability to speak the truth in the future. No, I would not tell him he was wrong, because he was not wrong. He was right. He was telling me exactly what he should be telling me. The truth. That I was wrong in how I handled myself and that when I act badly my behavior affects everyone around me and my witness as a Christ-follower. That I was not acting like God wanted me to and that I needed someone to correct me. And, God intended for it to be Justin that day. I am thankful all of this went through my head in a flash and I was able to look him squarely in the eye and lovingly tell him that he was absolutely right. That I had acted badly. I apologized to him for how I handled myself. I thanked him for telling me and I hugged him tightly and reassuringly that he did the right thing. I told him I needed him to remind me whenever I lose my way and that all of us, even us parents, can lose our way. I also apologized to my other children about how I handled myself, while talking in a more calm tone about what one of them had done. I told them all that we will never be too old to make mistakes and that it is important we always be open to listening and learning from others. It was an important lesson for me. One I’ve never forgotten. And, I have been reminded of these lessons when Justin has had to repeat them a few more times when I have sorely needed it! 🙂 But, it was also a very important time for Justin. In that moment he was teaching me something, I was able to teach him (through my own humility in hearing the truth) that the truth of what he felt was important, that he can -and should – confront people with the truth, and that we all make mistakes, should repent for those mistakes, and can turn ourselves back to God when we do make those mistakes. I believe this is what God calls each of us to. Humble repentance—even when it is revealed by the faith and truth of a child.

You see, like Justin, I am also a truth teller. I have been since I was about 17 years old. Those people who see the truth and feel compelled to speak it when many others either don’t see it, who see it but still look the other way, or people who simply want to deny the truth. The way Justin saw the truth and called me out on it, when no one else in my household (me included!) saw the error in my ways. Or, maybe they did, and they just didn’t want to change it badly enough to speak the truth to me. Or, maybe they were afraid to tell me about my bad behavior. I’m not sure. But, I know I need truth tellers in my life. Not people who want to blame me for their own misgivings and try to convince me the truth is not the truth, but those who want to speak the truth to me when I have lost my way. To steer me to the truth of who I am in God and how He calls me to live. Because it is when we live in the truth – both the good and the bad of our own actions – that we are set free.

That’s a big part of what this blog is about. The truth. God’s truth. Speaking the truth with love and courage, just as Justin did all those years ago for me. Like him, I come with tears in my eyes and a nervousness behind my written words. But, also like Justin, I come because I care too much not to speak the truth of what I see.

I have no greater joy

It Spread Like Wildfire through the Nations

phillipians 3-17

Over the last several years, many of my Christian friends have shared their concerns about how “the world” has removed God from our nation. Certainly, things do happen in this nation – and in our world – that don’t feel aligned to our faith, but we are not called to look to the world (any person, place, or thing) for answers to solving it! For one thing, the Bible is clear that for Christians, God’s temple resides within our hearts (through the Holy Spirit). You see! Nothing and no one can ever take God from us when He is buried within our hearts! No power of Hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck Him from our hands – or our hearts! His very temple is “built-in” to each one of us who submit to Him as our Lord and Savior. He is built in to us by design of the Holy Spirit. By an amazing and glorious design. And, Christ is built into us in the exact same way that He was built into those first disciples in that upper room. And, into the thousands on the day of Pentecost. We have received nothing less to work with than exactly what those first disciples had! And, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop the Holy Spirit! Not the world. Not death. Not life. Not evil (remember we win by the way!). It is up to each and every one of us to choose to keep Him alive in our hearts so that the “fruit” of His Spirit is evident to everyone we meet in our lives. So that anyone who crosses our path is drawn to God, because they see and learn about Him through the testimony of our witness and the love of Christ in our actions! That’s how we help God build His Kingdom! That’s how we keep God alive in this world! When we follow what He has taught and others see God in US CHRISTIANS. When they see the fruit of Christ’s Spirit evident in our lives every day: When we exhibit the power of God’s love in all that we say and do. When we foster joy unlike anyone else – even in hardship. When we have that reassuring peace, even in the worst storms. When we are patient with others’ misgivings. When we foster kindness in every word we utter – even the difficult ones. When the goodness of others is always at the forefront of our minds. When we are faithful to God and to serving everyone who was made in His image! When we are gentle with our thoughts and our words toward ourselves and others. When we exhibit self-control to bridle our tongues and forgive our enemies. We are called serve our neighbors – and our enemies! – with love as we reach use our own hands and feet to help those who are poor, those who are marginalized, the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, the foreigner…”the least of these” in our society. We are to help those who need help. Those people made in God’s image that everyone but Christ has likely rejected and forgotten. And, when we feed someone, give them water or a bit of love, Jesus tells us that we are doing those things even unto Him! It is our faith in Christ – and then following His example with our own lives – that we keep Christ alive in this world.

Despite anything that happens in our world, it is impossible for anyone to remove God from those of us who carry Him in our hearts! Consider this: Even when Christ walked the earth – and for at least two more centuries afterward – there were never any regular “group Christian prayer” or Bible study meetings happening anywhere. Not in schools, not in any public places at all! And, there were no Bibles to be found anywhere; the Bible was actually not printed until hundreds of years later! In fact, during those early times of the Christian church, if you even uttered the name of Jesus or admitted to being one of His followers, you were sentenced to death! Talk about opposition from the world! This is what real persecution looks like! Those first disciples had no public prayers, no Bibles, no church buildings to meet in, no Christian leaders in places of power in either the (Jewish) church or the government of that day. Yet, somehow, despite “the world’s” harsh opposition to these early Christ followers, these 12 disciples prevailed and built Christ’s church from nothing but the Holy Spirit and the message of Christ’s Gospel being lived out in their own lives! There is simply no example in Scripture of the disciples complaining about “the world” they lived in or where they sought answers from the world or complained of the persecution they were suffering. As Christ taught them and us, they counted it “all joy” when they faced trials or persecutions for Christ’s sake, and they submitted to whatever fate became them – whatever “cup” they were given – in carrying out the call on their lives as Christ followers! And, remember, it was in these disciples’ faithfulness to Christ and in their submission – even in dying for Him – that those who witnessed their faithfulness and testimonies came to believe themselves! In fact, the disciples submitted to their governmental, non-believing leaders and trusted God, exactly as Christ himself did when He submitted to death on the cross at the behest of the non-believing government leader of His day, Pontius Pilate who was led by the Jewish church to do so. Christ and His disciples did not complain about their place in the world, but understood that God had a plan through it all! They had unwavering joy and faithfulness facing far worse than we will likely ever know in our faith journeys! They were laser-focused on following Christ and building His Church while simultaneously denying themselves and loving others. And, with just 12 steadfast and faithful servants, Christianity began spreading like wildfire throughout all the nations! And, it is through their lives and their unwavering faith and focus on Christ that the world took notice, repented, and turned to God and the teachings of Christ! Christianity has never been reliant on anything the world did or did not provide!

If, like Peter walking on the water, us Christians were able to keep our eyes on Jesus we could be like those early disciples and be hope-filled and faithful even amidst the harshest trials and darkest of storms! I’m sure Jonah’s world looked pretty dark while he sat for days in that whale with his entire future uncertain! But, let’s not forget what happened throughout all of that; how many people God saved on the ship Jonah was thrown from as well as eventually all of those people in Ninevah (who Jonah saw as “enemies” he didn’t want God to save). God did all of this through what looked like quite a dark time in Jonah’s world.

And, how about Paul? I’m sure he experienced pretty dark times when he was chained and imprisoned instead of being able to travel the world spreading the Gospel as he had always done. Yet, in Paul’s seemingly darkest time as he was spent all of his days in jail, he still kept His focus, hope and joy on Christ and used his time to write letters of encouragement – and also rebuke – to the churches of his day. And, through God’s miraculous sovereignty, Paul’s letters have impacted people – and will impact people to the end of time – more than he ever would have on foot! Yet, clearly being imprisoned was a very dark time for Paul.

If we look carefully to how the disciples handled themselves amidst absolute and undeniable daily persecution and suffering, they never complained or blamed anyone about their circumstances in the world! Paul, along with the other disciples, persevered in the faith and continued to live out the Gospel of Christ no matter what the world threw at them! They persevered in the faith DESPITE their circumstances in this world! And, just how dark did it look to every single one of Christ’s followers as they watched Jesus be crucified? These were dark times not even close to anything any of us will likely ever encounter! I’ve absolutely no doubt in those days after his death and before his resurrection, the world sure looked pretty dark! Yet, if we’re paying close attention, we notice that all of these trials and “seemingly” dark times in the world, were either part of God’s plan or instances He used to further His Kingdom greatly! It only appeared to the non-believing or unfocused eye that “the world” had won in all these instances! But, that was never the truth! We can clearly see that in none of these examples (and the many, many more we have), did the world actually win! These were huge strides in bringing God’s love and light to the world! We already know the truth: God wins! So, do we remember and believe this truth in our daily walk or do we falter in fear and worry at each passing storm?

We must remember that we already have everything we need to persevere in the faith – in fact, we have more than the disciples did! We have our faith in Christ along with the gifting of the Holy Spirit which is safely encapsulated within our hearts. Only we – ourselves – are capable of removing Christ from our hearts! We have the written testimony of Jesus and His Disciples translated into our own language and encapsulated forever in the Bibles we openly carry around. And, we can buy those Bibles online, in Wal-Mart, or in the corner Christian store that operates without fear in our town. We have churches practically on every single street corner (especially here in the Bible Belt of the south!). We can pray openly anywhere and everywhere without a hint of fear. We can go with our families to church without fear of being imprisoned or killed on the way. We can hold Bible studies in our home for youth without fearing religious leaders coming after us. We can post Scripture online anytime we like without being hauled off to jail. We are more blessed than we realize! And, the disciples had none of this – yet 12 faithful men managed to spread the Gospel throughout much of the world like wildfire!

I am convinced that what made those first century disciples so powerful in the Spirit was both their love of God and their dedication to give up everything to serve God. They put their faith into action. There was evidence of the Fruit of theSpirit in their lives. Every. Single. Day. They spoke about their own testimony and witness of what Jesus had done, and they loved and served people from all walks of life and from every nation. Maybe, just maybe, we have made things too complicated or things have become too easy that Jesus’ two greatest commandments are so easily forgotten: to love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind – and to love and serve our neighbors – and even our enemies – using our own hands and feet every day of our lives.

If the disciples can spread the Gospel like wildfire with less than we have been given and while facing far more persecution each and every day than we have ever even known; what is keeping us from being able to do even greater things than they did in this very day and age and in this very place and time? In fact, Jesus said we would do even greater things than He did. So, what’s keeping us from continuing to spread the Gospel like wildfire? Maybe we should study more closely what the disciples did and how they acted and how Jesus told all of us to respond in persecution and trials. Though flawed, they are clearly our examples of faithful and Spirit-wielding servants. And, Jesus, gave us the perfect example of how we are to act in this world when the Spirit is guiding us. What does he say we should do when we are persecuted or when we face trials of any kind? How does Jesus teach us to treat our neighbors – and even those we consider our enemies? How did the disciples treat their neighbors? How did they respond to the Jewish leaders or the government of their day? How did they act and what words did they utter whenever they were persecuted? What did they do? How did they act? These are men who were walking with the Spirit and the Spirit clearly guided their actions. These are our models. Just as the disciples were laser-focused, we must look closely at how Jesus – and the disciples handled themselves and how they lived in the spirit? Do you see any Fruit of the Spirit evident in the disciples’ lives? Do non-believers see that same Fruit of the Spirit when they look at you and me?

As Christians, our faith, focus, and guidance are always, ALWAYS found in Christ and in no one and nothing else! We know what we are to do: love God above ALL else, fill our hearts and minds with all the things of God and His Word, love and serve our neighbors as well as our enemies with the radical love of God, and go to God in prayer with our anger, frustrations, fear and hurt, and also share our joys with Him. We are even called to pray for those who persecute us – to love them, to pray for them, and to do good to them. We are even told to consider it “all joy” when we are persecuted! We are not to be like the world! We are to look radically different! But, do we? Will God find our thoughts, words, and deeds to replicate what He taught us and the disciples taught us? Will He find us to be sheep or goats? Remember, we will each stand alone before Christ and give an account for our lives on Judgment Day. Let the Fruit of His Spirit penetrate our thoughts, words, and deeds here on earth – every day – help to ensure we actually do receive the response, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

James 1-27

Theirs is the Kingdom of God

Let the children come to me

Jesus loves His children. He loves our children. He loves them when they’re infants and He loves them when they’re teens. He loves them even when we aren’t doing a very good job of loving them ourselves. In fact, He says the Kingdom of God belongs to them! And, when He describes the type of faith we should have, He points to our children as an example for us follow! How about that! There’s that upside down Gospel again! But, make no mistake, Jesus loves His children!

My husband and I have hosted a group of teens in our home for the last five years to do a Bible study. It is our three boys and whatever friends they have invited throughout the years. Most everyone who was originally invited have continued coming every Friday for all five years (although now that they are old enough to have jobs, we have lost some to their work). No two kids go to the same church; some don’t attend church at all. Many go to the same schools, but others are home schooled. But, we have been reading the Bible together virtually every single week for five consecutive years now. Like our son, Jason, many of these kids were in 7^th grade when we started and they are now seniors in high school. It is an amazing group! I wish you knew them! I wish you knew how they lean in to learn about God. How they love each other and support each other – and to our surprise – sometimes even pray with each other. I wish you could see their faces – intent and listening – as they want to learn more about God and His Word. One time, a mom even confessed to me that she used NOT being able to go to Friday Night Bible study as a punishment for her son!! Can you believe it? That’s how much these kids want to come! They come week after week and year after year with no prodding and nothing but a bag of chips and cups of water offered by us. That and each other. It still baffles me when they show up each Friday afternoon! But, there is one thing we do offer these youth. We offer each and every one of them the abounding love of Christ. I hug each teen when they come in our door and I hug each one when they leave. We ask about how their week was. We know who has girlfriends and boyfriends and when their hearts are broken. We know when they ask for prayer for their parents. and other family members. We visit them at work or go to one of their games or band performances. We pray together, we’ve cried together, and many times we laugh together. Yes, and sometimes we even have to take away “talking privileges” for a bit when someone gets out of hand or is too disruptive to the group. We INVEST in them, in the same way Jesus INVESTS in us. And, they know it and I believe they are drawn to ti. It is not a ministry my husband and I ever planned for, but one God certainly arranged for and has sustained. And, one we are so very, very thankful for because we are so very blessed each and every week by the fervor and energy of these youth!

And, so when I hear my brothers and sisters in Christ speak harshly against the youth, I think us Christians must have forgotten what Jesus says about the children and youth of this world. Mostly what I’ve heard from my Christian friends is that our youth are: disrespectful, entitled, don’t know right from wrong, lost, and many other much more derogatory terms. How this must grieve the Spirit to hear this from our own mouths about His own children! Just today, I heard someone on a conservative news station state: “Millenials don’t even know where to buy a stamp!” with nothing but vile disgust in his voice. Here’s my question: If us Christians look down on our youth and harshly point our fingers at them instead of investing in them, who is leading them to God?

I can tell you from first-hand experience the view that many of my brothers and sisters have been expressing of late is NOT the truth of what I have experienced by engaging with youth most all of my adult life. Not for the many high schoolers and not for the countless college students we have hosted in our home for many, many years. And, not the children I have advocated for who have been taken from their homes due to abuse and neglect. I see children and young adults who want mostly to be heard, loved, respected, and valued. I see youth who are smart, curious, and wanting to learn from the wisdom of someone who has gone before them. I see passion and energy in their lives that unfortunately has waned from my own life. I see commitment and much more wisdom than I would have ever believed possible coming from these young hearts. I certainly was not as wise and smart as these kids are when I was their age! I see the possibility of world changers! I see the future of our faith, IF we take the time to love them and show them the truth of what it means to be a Christ follower! I see a hunger for God in these kids that I could never have imagined if I hadn’t committed myself to them.

Here’s just one example. Last Christmas, we received a gift from one of our Bible Study teens. This sweet young lady is a gifted artist, but she also has an amazingly deep relationship with God. She is faithful way, WAY beyond her years. Her young, but deep, faith is a very bright beacon in this world. Just ask anyone who knows her! I have learned so much from this young lady and she has blessed my husband and I far more than we likely have ever blessed her. Here is her painting and her gift to us:

Amy picture

Here is the Scripture she referenced for the painting.

Amy picture back2.jpeg

I love the simplicity of the painting, as well as the Scripture that she put with it. There is nothing in the painting but two candles, with the suggestion that one candle is lit as it gently leans over to light the other candle. Or, maybe it is one candle – a bit wider at the base seemingly planted more firmly – while another smaller candle leans into it to gather the light it shines. Either way you look at it, it is just two candles. Representing two people. And, the light of Christ is being shared one to another. The painting also exudes peace and simplicity. Nothing fantastic surrounds it. No noise. No anger. No chaos. In fact, the only thing that surrounds it is – darkness. Yet, the light is central to the painting and it is bright. Doubly bright when joined together (maybe you have noticed that when you light one candle with another, when the two are together the light is much brighter!)

This painting is a beautiful example of what we, as mature Christians, are supposed to do for the next generation. This is what the disciples looked like for that first generation of Christians. Simple. Peace-filled. Firmly planted. Exhibiting and sharing the bright light of Christ’s love one person to another. Sharing that light one by one with no grand gestures but for one “leaning into” and serving another, sharing the love and light of Christ. Having nothing but the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, and our prayers to equip and sustain our every need. There is nothing else in this picture. Just nothingness (darkness) beyond the bright light we are empowered through our faith and the Holy Spirit to shine.

And, here is what she wrote in a personal note to my husband and I: “Father God told me to paint this picture for you guys, because you and your house are like a burning candle to others. You light up others’ darkness, and God is honored with your servant hearts.” Hardly does she realize these very words reflect herself! This is the light of Christ in each of us as we go and serve Him in love to others! It is the same light and the same description for all who are led by the Spirit!

So, you see, it so burdens my heart to hear anyone put down our youth, just as I’m sure it burdens God’s heart far more to hear and see this same thing. It is especially disappointing when it is Christians who are the ones condemning and criticizing our youth. Mostly because this is not what God believes about them. God does not look at them that way any more than He looked at you and I that way when we were their age.

As Christians, we are called to look at our youth as an example to our own faith. What does Jesus see that they have that we have lost? Let us seek to find that again! Laughter, curiosity, energy (to serve others), passion – we need all of it! We cannot live without them any more than they can live without us! God put us together and we should also be an example to them! Let us Christians choose to love our youth, find a few to engage with regularly, and seek to earnestly find out who they are. Many schools and YMCAs have mentor programs – we are called to love and serve and what better place to do so than with the next generation!! Commit to sharing our own testimony of God’s love with them and listening to theirs. Find some youth to truly invest in, for many years! Plan to see them through school and plan to attend their wedding! Don’t let go; just like Jesus doesn’t let go! Find the “least of these” in our youth and regularly share Christ’s love with them. Host a Friday Night Bible Study of your own in your neighborhood! Let them see through you who God really is! Help them and encourage them to be God’s leaders in this world. Remember to have patience with them as they make their own mistakes. Even God did not make the world in a day! And, surely, God has been patient with us!! Show grace to them when they mess up, as we inevitably did when we were in our youth! Show them what they’re missing by loving them as Christ loves you, and let them notice something “different” and “wonderful” about you as you are guided by the Holy Spirit in all your words and actions. Help them to want what you have – the unimaginable and undefinable love and peace of God. If every one of us Christians took an active role in the lives of 1-3 youth, imagine the HUGE impact we would have on the next generation!! We would make a much better witness to them and they might actually SEE God in this world! Certainly, we cannot expect atheists to teach our youth about God or point them to God. So, if not us Christians, then who is doing it? Like a previous post, God can only be “missing” from our world if we (yes, us Christians!) are not – ourselves – using our own hands and feet and our own precious time pointing people to Christ, helping the needy, caring for the children and elderly, etc. God calls us to be holy. And, that holiness – through the power of the Holy Spirit – is very definitely an action verb!

Us Christians cannot sit back and sidestep what God has called US to do and then blame “the world” if God is not in it. If you see a family where the parents aren’t caring for their children, instead of criticizing or judging the parents and children, choose to “adopt” the children for one hour a week! Ask if you can take the kids out for ice cream and just start to get to know them. Commit to spending one hour a week with them! And, please remember to have patience with our youth as they are still learning. Remember also how little we knew and understood the things of this world and the things of God in our youth! And, if you just cannot invest in our youth, at least be kind enough to not destroy and hinder their opportunity to know and love God by putting them down or speaking badly of them. Our youth need wise adults in their lives to help point them in the way they should go, just like we needed them. And, just because not all of us are fortunate enough to have parents to point us to Christ, it is up to the rest of us Christians to do so. And, if we truly give them a righteous example to follow, they will follow, they will learn and they will (prayerfully) not depart from it.

God has given you the choice to love our youth or to hinder them. All we do when we put them down and criticize and judge them is to defeat them and turn them away from God. And, when we do this our actions do not reflect God!! Be an example to the next generation about how to have a relationship with Christ and how you allow God to lead your life. Point each and every youth you meet to God through your own righteous example and life! Just as Scripture says, do not let them witness you speaking ill of anyone or harboring anger or hatred toward anyone. Teach them how to handle their own anger and how to leave it at the foot of the cross before going to bed – and leaving it there for God to deal with! Show them how to defeat the enemy as he tries to ensnare them in their own young lives! And, like the angry man on that conservative news station, if God crosses your path with someone who doesn’t know where to buy a stamp, instead of criticizing them and condemning them, offer to show them where and how to buy a stamp and then take them out for a milkshake afterwards! Get to know them! Love them! Invest in their lives – for a long time. Point them to Christ and keep pointing them to Him! And, love them when they act poorly, just as God loves us when we act poorly. I promise, you will likely be even more blessed than they will be! But, whatever you do, please do not hinder our youth! They face enough battles of their own in this world. Choose instead to look kindly upon them and be an example of Christ’s love in their lives.

And remember as with all things in our life, we will each stand before Christ on the Judgement Seat and given an account for how we ourselves handle this. Will Jesus judge each of us as a sheep or a goat in how we invested in our neighbors that were of the next generation? Will God tell you, “Well done!” for reaching out to love His youth and to share His Gospel with them? Or, will He only see the way you stood in judgment of and criticized them? (Remember, we will be judged in the same manner in which we judge here on earth!)

One last thing, look at the young man in the picture below. What if I said that not long ago he was a runaway who was always angry and bitter toward his parents and every other adult. Mostly, he was disrespectful and rude. Do you believe God has the power to turn him around to be this peace-filled young man quietly reflecting on God’s Word for answers? I do. God does miraculous things like this every day! And, He uses willing people just like you and I to help Him reach and teach His youth. Be that person for this young man. The call is on you and I to show this young man who God is. The question is, will we answer that call?

boy reading bible by lake

Will You Trust Me?

Teach me to do your will

We, as Christians, are called to be the light of the world. Above all, we are called to love God and to love our neighbors (just as Christ first loved us). This Gospel of Jesus’ is radical: it is an “upside down” way to live. God’s unique way for us to live and respond in our lives in order to draw people to Him is mind-boggling to say the least! Honestly, it is not an easy job to be a true Christ follower. It is a radical, upside down kind of love that says to even love our enemies! What? Love my enemies? Are you kidding me! Why would I do that, I hate them? They’re evil! Upside down in saying to fight evil with good! What? No way, I have to fight back!! You can’t win against evil by doing good! Upside down in requiring us to consider it “all joy” when we face trials or are persecuted! Be joy-filled when things aren’t going my way or when I am persecuted?!? Okay, now this is asking way too much! Upside down in not judging others! Don’t you see what “they” are doing? If I don’t show “them” how wrong and misguided they are, who will? Upside down in requiring us to show humility and not be prideful! But, I’m the Christian; I’m the one doing what God wants! “They” are just a bunch of messed up people! “They” don’t know what they’re doing! “They” are so lost! “They” need to wake up! Upside down in our having to forgive people when they wrong us! But, you don’t know what “they” have done? “They” are evil! I can’t and won’t forgive what “they” have done! “They” don’t know your will, Lord! “They” are just wrong and don’t deserve forgiveness!

It’s crazy, really when you think about what Jesus requires of us as His followers! But, did you notice how many times when God puts an admonition onto US, that we tend to point to THEM instead? We must be careful, as Jesus says, to get the log out of our own eye in order to see what God requires of US in following Him!

Still, these are not easy directives for us (the bolded items above), because we are inclined naturally to do something else (the non-bolded responses)! In fact, what Jesus calls us to do is completely opposite of what we want to do! As Paul says in Romans 7:18, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” The truth is, it is easier to fall away from what we are called to than to stay steadfast in it! I know, because I have fallen away many times! It is really, REALLY hard to do what Jesus calls me to. I find it difficult each and every day. But, I have also learned that His ways are so much better than my ways.

None of this has ever come easy to me. Like Jacob (Esau’s brother), I would find myself “wresting with God.” The biggest example of how I wrestled with God was that I wanted control over my own life and He wanted me to submit to Him. But, I didn’t want to give up control of my life for God. I didn’t want to deny myself. Even this is upside down from what we naturally want to do! Who wants to give up control and deny themselves? For many years now, I have had a vision of how I came to submit to God – and it all centered around driving a car. I was driving and, because I was a Christian, I happily allowed God in the car with me. I let Him sit in the back seat. When God came to me one day and said, “Trust me with your life; let Me drive.” I was like, “I love you God, but don’t worry I got this…I’m driving just as you’d like me to. I’m a good driver. You’ll see.” And, He did as I asked. He was patient with me as He stayed in the back seat. Yet, I struggled at every turn. I was angry and frustrated, fearful and hurting – I never seemed to be going the right way! The only time I was at peace was when everything was going my way! And, as we all know, that rarely happened! Over time, I let God sit in the front seat with me, you know so He could navigate while I drive. I’d occasionally let Him give me directions, and sometimes I’d listen, but most times I didn’t. Sometimes I didn’t even feel like He was in the car at all. And, that worried me. Anyway, one day, God was in the front seat with me and He was asking me yet again to let Him drive. As always, I fought hard to try and keep control myself as my hands clutched the steering wheel even tighter at His request. I still believed I could drive the car of my life better than God. But, then I have this image of something so weird happening…and bear with me as I know it goes against Scripture in how God lets us choose how He is in our lives… but God used His much bigger butt to finally nudge my own firmly planted butt out of the way since I was so doggone stubborn to move or let go of the steering wheel. Yep, I have a distinct image of God getting me out of the way and out of the driver’s seat of my life using His butt! I laugh at this image every time I see it in my mind or think about it. It reminds me of just how stubborn I was. Maybe this was just a vision God gave me to show me how stubborn I was being so I might finally get out of His way and submit to allowing His ways be my ways.

Now, I am the one who joyfully sits in the front seat with God as He drives the car of my life and leads me in my journey with Him. I trust Him to drive, as I have learned that He is a much, MUCH better driver than I am! It doesn’t really matter if things are going well with me or out in the world or if they’re not going well. When I actually REMEMBER that God is driving and that He really is a much better driver than I am, the ground is level and I am at peace. And, yes, I do continue to fail; I forget that He is trustworthy and a better driver than me and I sit up in panic when things look bad and I’m wanting to go my way again! But, then His Word calms me every time and reassures me that God has “got this.” And, yes, sometimes I still argue about which way we’re going, because honestly I don’t always want to go the way He wants to take me. But, over time I have learned to fully trust my driver! I have found that God is much better than me at guiding me in the journey of my life – and for managing the world I live in!

I believe this is a crucial step to being a true servant of and for God. Submission. Complete and utter submission of our lives – and the world around us – to God. By not submitting everything to God and trying to keep my fingers clenched to the steering wheel, I only get distracted and inevitably mess things up. And, in doing so, I drastically mess up my witness to the world of who God really is. I stood in harsh and critical judgment of those who thought different than me instead of loving and serving them; I fought back and sought revenge instead of overcoming evil with good; I held grudges against people instead of forgiving them and turning my anger over to God; I was fearful in trying to control the world around me instead of remaining faithful, trusting, and joy-filled in the promise that God has already overcome the world; I was relying on the things of this world (other people, the news, money, politics) to tell me what I wanted and needed or how to “implement” God’s plan instead of staying focused on what my role actually is as a follower of Christ; I didn’t trust that God is fully capable of handling all He has created! I was trying to lead the way for God instead of trusting God to lead the way for me. I judged, feared, and controlled the world instead of loving, trusting, and submitting to God in His reign of all things in and of the world. There are a zillion times in which I have gone the wrong way. And, each and every time I have veered from loving God and actively loving and serving those in need around me, I am bearing a false witness to the world of who Christ really is!

I believe us Christians would be best served by humbly praying to God, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” And, as Christ followers, even when we don’t want to drink of the cup of suffering that is before us, let us proclaim as Jesus did, “Not my will, Lord, but your will be done.” Just as those first disciples did! Let us give or return our love, heart, and focus to God and trust Him with the keys to the car of our lives and to this world. Let’s not give in to our own sinful nature – with its harsh, judging, prideful and controlling ways. Jesus teaches us to be like Him, not to save the world for Him! It is His job to save the world! He tells us our job is by being a true reflection in living out the Gospel in loving and serving all those neighbors in our lives! When each of us, like the original disciples, are true to who God calls us to be, the world will actually see the love and light of God – in US! That’s what our job is – to be an example of and to point to Christ in this world. To do the hard work of actually living out that upside down Gospel! Trust that God’s “got this”, that He has already overcome the world just as He repeatedly tells us in Scripture. It is really up to each and every one of us Christians to live out what we are called to do: be humble as we love and serve others with an upside down Gospel! That is what changes people! That is what changed me! That is how I help God bring the love and light of Christ into this world! As The Message version of Micah 6:8 so beautifully puts it, “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.”

So, turn over the car keys of your life – and of the world – to God! Fill your mind with the things of God in how He wants you to love and serve the least of these in this world; don’t fill your mind with the things of this world. Do not fear and do not be in despair! (How many times does God tell us this; He probably tells us this more than anything!) And, don’t listen to anyone who tells you to be fearful of any one or any thing – fear and despair are NOT of God! Love, peace, and joy are God’s signature brand! We are not to hate or fear our neighbor or anything in our world! That is definitely not what Jesus taught us! Do not listen to ANYONE who tries to convince you that all is lost in this world or that you need to be fearful of anything! This is a lie meant to get our eyes off of who God calls US to be in this world! As Christians, we are supposed to KNOW and ALWAYS REMEMBER God wins! Let us not forget what He tells us! Look in the Bible, He tell us more than once that He has already overcome the world; He has ALREADY overcome evil; He has already won and defeated Satan! So, walk in faith in being the hands and feet of service to the people who need you and who God wants to send you to serve. And, then leave the harsh words, the angry retort, and the critical judgements to God – our job is to love people not judge them!! Look for the very people Jesus sought after that are around you right now: those who are hurt, lonely, sick, oppressed, in need, the young, the old and, yes, even the sinner. Seek after them yourself! Love and serve them just as Jesus did! That bratty teenager, that grumpy sales clerk, and even that person we disagree with needs US CHRISTIANS to show him/her who God is today – the truth of who He is and how He wants to show them about Himself through us! This is our focus as Christ followers!!! The harvest is truly plentiful if we commit to doing the work as God intends. Sit and share a meal with people others don’t associate with, just as Jesus himself did. Invite them into your home and into your life. Be a part of their life. And, stay there with them a good long while. And, show them in your words and deeds the miraculous and life-changing love, peace, and hope of Christ. They will see God in you if your focus is on nothing and no one but God’s call on YOUR own individual life.

This is an important Scripture to consider from Matthew 7: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” Did you see it? Did you see the word “do” in there? We Christ followers are called to be “doers”! Not for our salvation, but because of our salvation! Because the light of Christ now fills us with His Spirit and His Spirit is bursting with Fruit!! Think of it like this, someone creates a power source of energy through peddling a bike. If we attach the light bulb to the bike (professing Christ), but we don’t pedal in our actions (Christ follower), there is no light. The light won’t shine if we peddle backwards either (doing it different than He has told us). If we peddle in the way God has commanded, He says all the Law and Prophets are contained in these two “greatest commandments”: We must love God above all else and love and serve our neighbor. We must “do” the hard work of peddling (humbly and justly loving and serving the people God brings to our own attention and in our own lives) in order for God’s light to shine in this world. God’s light will not shine if you and I, as Christ followers, don’t “do” the hard work of following God’s upside down Gospel and allowing Him to lead our lives. God doesn’t want us to take the easy route of bypassing the hard work ourselves and putting our hope and faith in someone or something in this world. Or of putting our focus into gaining power in this world instead of what he asks and demonstrates by denying ourselves and following His true call on our lives. And, never forget, there is always someone who is prowling around like a lion trying to deceive us into thinking our hope and salvation is in some person or some group or some thing in this world…to get our heart and mind off of God Himself and onto something – really anything – else! Do not be deceived! Our hope and faith should rest on no one, NO ONE but God. It’s about being a Christ follower in actually living out Christ’s upside down Gospel to those He puts in our path. And, yes, it’s hard work. Lord knows, I know just how hard! I have gone astray too many times; but I always come back the minute God reveals to me that I have strayed! But, when we follow his upside-down-from-the-way-we-want-to-do-things commandments, people actually DO see Christ in us and Christ is multiplied in this world! If we stay focused on our own difficult Christ-like walk, we can trust God with everything else. He knows what He’s doing! We are not to fear – even in the worst of times, no matter how bitter the drink in that cup may be! He has already overcome the world, so why don’t we believe Him and why do we turn in fear to the things of this world instead of trusting that He has already overcome the world, just as He tells us! Trust Him and thank Him – in ALL things! He knows how to drive the car. Far, far better than we do!

Micah 6-8

Do what is right and what God calls us to do, humbly extend the mercy-loving hand of grace and love to others, just as God Himself continues to extend His loving, merciful hand to us.

Just a little later in Matthew 7, it reads: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ In the NLT version of Matthew 7:21-23 it is entitled, “True Disciples.” This heading tells me God knows who is His true disciples are and He is warning us to be true to Him and not to seek our own ways in His name! I don’t believe this passage is about the non-believer who doesn’t know God; it is clearly about those who do things in this world while saying “Lord, Lord…” I did this in your name! I believe this passage is for those of us who profess Christianity, but are putting our hope, faith, and trust into ourselves, other people, or the things of this world instead submitting and trusting all to God and keeping our own focus on loving and serving the least of these in that upside-down way He has taught us – those things that are opposite of what we, ourselves, want to do.

It is up to each and every one of us Christians to follow Christ’s true teachings so that we make sure we are the sheep our Shepherd knows and recognizes on that day of judgement! It brings me to my knees to even think that I may be going around thinking I am a sheep following my Shepherd, but that I may one day stand before Christ on that Judgement Seat and Him tell me He does not know me! Yikes! We are called to the Narrow Path, and He has given us the directions: love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love and serve your neighbor as yourself. That’s it! Those are the directions we are to follow – Jesus tells us that all the Law and Prophets are fulfilled in His two “greatest commandments.” The question is, can we stay focused and follow His lead and directions to that “narrow path” He calls us to?
Oddly enough, I believe that God is so sovereign that if we stay on that narrow path of Him and loving service to others, He will also use our lives to produce much fruit and draw many to Him! He is just so amazingly cool that way! 🙂

narrow path

Who is My “Neighbor”?

Matthew 5-46-47

Gulp. This is a pretty straightforward and harsh rebuke to each of us from Jesus. There is no parable here. No hidden message. These words are straight forward and direct. And, the message is loud and clear – we are to love and serve even those we don’t want to love. Gulp.

I think it’s actually pretty revealing that we have the examples of those who have gone before us in Scripture. They are just like us. They mess up. They get it all wrong. They go the complete opposite way Jesus wants them to go. They judge; they condemn; they hate their neighbor. Just like us. But, I am so very comforted also seeing how amazingly patient God is with them – and us – as He teaches us the way in which we should go!

I think about the disciples and how utterly human they are. Sometimes, I’m like “How did you not get this, Jesus told you this three times!!!” But, then, God inevitably reveals to me how I am just. like. them. How many times must He tell me something before I get it? And, once I get the log out of my own eye, I realize God has been telling me something much more than three times and I still haven’t gotten it! Gulp.

In “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37), an expert of the law stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Scripture says that Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law?” (I feel like He is asking, “What have I already told you?”) The man responds, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus told the law expert that he was correct and to “Do this and you will live.” (Ugh….there’s that DO word again!) . But, then, immediately after Jesus said this, Scripture states that the man wanted to “justify himself” before Jesus and asked, “But, who is my neighbor?” From what I can tell, this “expert of the law” (I read this as “church law”) was trying to justify himself by deciding for himself who “his neighbor” was or why he didn’t need to actually be a good neighbor. And, we all know the rest of the story about how the people of the church walked by the man that was helpless and bleeding on the ground, but that it was a Samaritan who was the righteous neighbor to the man in need (his neighbor).

So, all this begs the question, who really is my neighbor? Does my neighbor live next door to me? Or, how far do I have to go to count someone my neighbor? Do I really have to love the man who walks his dog and lets his dog do his business on my yard? Because I really don’t want to love him! How about the shopkeeper across town who is always rude to me! Do I have to love him? Or how about the neighbor across the world who is from a different culture that I don’t understand? Do I have to love him or can he be someone else’s neighbor to love?

Like the lawyer in the story of the good Samaritan, we will try and find excuses to justify ourselves for not actively loving our neighbor. What I find interesting about this parable of the Good Samaritan is that the people Jesus told this story to were Jewish. And, the Jewish Israelites despised the Samaritans! They hated them so much they would literally walk around the entire city rather than having to walk through it and deal with or talk to a despicable Samaritan! So, I can only imagine with this mindset, how unnerving it must have been for this Jewish, learned leader to listen as Jesus made the EXAMPLE of righteousness to be the very person he hated, condemned, and avoided at all cost! (Have you ever avoided someone on the street by walking the other way? Can you imagine Jesus coming to you at the moment and using them instead of you as an example of someone “good”? How utterly unsettling and completely unnerving I know it would be for me!) What is also keenly interesting about this parable is that the “church folk” – the priest and the Levite – both passed right by the hurt man as he lay beaten and naked in the street! And, given that this man was a traveler (presumably not from the area), the Samaritan likely did not know or even recognize this man. But, what the parable does say is that the Samaritan “had compassion” on him. The Samaritan had a heart soft and tender enough to see someone in need – even someone he didn’t know and someone that likely was not like him – and to have compassion on that person. He saw the stranger as a “neighbor.” Having compassion for another – whether we know them or not – seems to be an indicator of what Jesus expects from us as a “good neighbor”.

I certainly do not claim to know much of theology or the history behind Scripture. But, one thing that stands out to me is why the Israelites hated the Samaritans, and why Jesus would use the very people the church of His day hated and condemned to be the example of the “good neighbor.” The Samaritans were the “demonized” group of the Irsaelites. Scripture says, in John, “Few Jews travel through Samaria.” The Israelites would walk 5 days instead of 3 to get from Jerusalem to Galilee – apparently just to avoid these wretched people! The Samaritan woman at the well was surprised a Jew would even speak to her (there’s Jesus doing the opposite of what we do!). The Israelites certainly had some pretty harsh hatred and condemnation for their neighbors the Samaritans. And, even in Jesus’ final journey, He intended to go through Samaria again (“toward Jerusalem”) and He sent some messengers ahead of him. When the messengers returned and said the Samaritans did not want to receive Jesus because He was headed “toward Jerusalem”, Jesus decided to take a different route. But, what did His followers ask when they heard of the Samaritan’s refusal? They said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” Why do us Christians always slide so easily and so quickly into hatred and condemnation? Ugh. Thankfully, Jesus always teaches us in the way we should go: “But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.” Why is our heart so quickly and easily filled with what is not of God before what is of God? Why are we so very ready to condemn our brother rather than to have compassion on him as we love and serve him? And, why does this hatred flow so easily into our hearts for groups of people we don’t even know personally?

But, what is most interesting is while my focus is on how awful my neighbor is being to me, I am completely missing the fact that (as a Christ follower), I am the one not having compassion on nor being a good neighbor to him! Too often, I forget compassion when I am wronged! All of this challenges me to have compassion on my neighbors. All of them. Maybe that neighbor that lets his dog do his business on my lawn has a bad back; maybe it is too hard for him to bend down. Maybe he is struggling with something unimaginable and the “clean-up” of his dog’s mess is the furthest thing from his mind. Maybe he moved into my neighborhood from a farm where there were no “dog ethics” or need for cleaning up after your dog. Maybe no one was compassionate enough to kindly teach him the ethics of city life and dogs. Maybe he was never very loved by his own family and he has grown into a bitter man. Too often, I let my own flesh lead the way instead of remembering God’s compassion on me and relying on God to lead the way in how I treat others! Thank God, He doesn’t treat us the way we treat others!! What I take from this passage is that in order for ME to be the good neighbor, I am challenged to have compassion with everyone – even those I do not know, those who disagree with me, and especially those who do me wrong. As Christ followers, we are all challenged by the Gospel to forgive the unforgiveable, to extend grace when someone has wronged us, and to even offer the coat off our backs to our enemies!

I know I cannot do this without the help of God and His Holy Spirit. I simply cannot forgive the unforgivable on my own! I cannot love my enemy on my own! And, I certainly don’t want to offer the coat off my back to anyone who has wronged me! But, then there is no difference between the me who didn’t know God and the me who now does know God! And, I recognize: it is ONLY with God’s help that I can truly be a good neighbor – the kind of neighbor God calls me to be. To love my neighbor as myself, and even as Christ loves me. To be at peace and in unity with anyone and everyone who crosses my path. To pray for those who persecute me. To extend the love of God, even when I cannot love them myself.

Honestly, it is easier not to do these things than to do them. And, only with God’s help is it even possible to do them, because it is literally the opposite of what I want to do. What did Paul say? “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” But, Jesus challenges us to follow in His footsteps in the example of the Good Samaritan and in the example of His own life. And, He empowers us with His Holy Spirit in order to be able to NOT given in to the evil in which we – ourselves – have a tendency to do. It is just up to us whether or not we lean into that power or we lean into ourselves.

The next time I become angry at my neighbor or seek to divide from my neighbor, first I hope I remember whose I am – I am a new creation in Christ – and I hope that with God’s help I will look deep inside my own heart to see whether or not I am the one being a good neighbor. Remember, this is the crux of Jesus’ greatest commandment and directive to us: love your neighbor as yourself – or even more – love them as I have loved you. This is it! Remember, it is always about people with God! Every single person He created was made in His own image! And, we must – we have to – see ever person in the truth of this light! We do not want to stand before Christ as He sits on that Judgement Seat and have to answer for why we did not love our neighbor as ourself! May we never stand before Him and say, Jesus I did all these things in your name and He responds back to us, “I do not know you! Depart from me!” Two. Simple. Commands. Changes the world. And, it is up to us to…live. them. out.

love one another