Recycle Christmas... Pray!

Call me a miser, but I'm dismayed at all the beauty we throw away each Christmas. The wrappings, ribbons, and bows that get trashed seem like such a waste. Needless to say, I'd like to congratulate the person or persons who have made the beautiful, reusable gift bags so popular throughout the year.

Call me a pack-rat, but I tend to save many of the greeting cards I receive on various occasions. I keep them for sentimental reasons or because I hope to use the artwork as references for craft illustrations. I'm a die-hard saver of Christmas cards, too! Someone once showed me how to fold a Christmas card to make a tiny gift box decoration or ornament. The designs can sometimes be cut and used the following year as gift tags. However, the neatest use for Christmas cards concerns prayer!

At meal times during the holidays we can share Christmas cards we've received. We can pray for those folks and then display the card until after Christmas. Once the cards are taken down after the holidays, they can be put in a box and kept at hand. Throughout the year at mealtimes, we can pull out a single card and pray for the person or persons who sent it.

The Christmas card prayer tradition often is very timely in the way that a person's name is remembered on a day when prayer is needed. Consider it a holiday suggestion. Recycle Christmas... and pray!

"I thank my God in all my rememberances of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all." Philippians 1:3-4

From December 21, 1992

The Love at Christmas

I saw the love at Christmas time --
it was wrapped so pretty and neat,
or it was spoken in words in Christmas cards
that sounded so nice and sweet.
Why does it come on just one day,
and why must it be bought?
Remember, it's not the gift you buy,
but it's the love that's in the thought.
Still, why only on the 25th,
and only the month of December,
or only on someone's birthday
if we happen to remember?
What about the other days of the year?
Why can't love be spoken then?
Why are feelings kept silent and never shown
until Christmas comes again?
Sure, Christmas celebrates the birthday of Christ
and only comes once a year,
but shouldn't we show the love every day?
Isn't that the reason Christ came here?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...." -John 3:16

From January 12, 1982

The Holidays

A time of year called "The Holidays" is something we enjoy;
it's something especially looked forward to by every girl and boy.
We begin our celebrations late in the month of November,
and we hustle and we bustle right up to the last day of December.
We anticipate Thanksgiving Day with anxious appetites,
and we plan, prepare, and partake of a multitude of delights.
We donate food and money to furnish baskets for the needy,
and we suppose this act of generosity keeps us from being greedy.
We thank the Lord for all our blessings and the food upon the table,
for our health, our home, family, and friends and the fact that we are able.
Then we make our Christmas shopping lists and begin an earnest search,
and we look forward to activities with family, friends, and church.
We sing and speak of the Christ child whose birth we celebrate.
We give canned goods, toys, and clothing for those less fortunate.
We attend our banquets and our parties, exchange gifts and distribute cards.
We decorate our homes, our packages, and our yards.
We scurry to and fro and speak of little elves.
We give to Lottie Moon and satisfy ourselves.
But if we slowed down long enough, would we see more than lights and glitter?
Would we see a fatherless child who needs a fatherly baby-sitter?
Would we see the darkened home whose rooms are drafty and chilled?
Would we see the ailing widow whose wood box is not filled?
Would we see the hollow-eyed child who needs more than a second-hand toy?
Would we notice the eager, able hands of someone unemployed?
Would we spot the lonely, older couple with hearts of resignation,
whose only need is company, laughter, and a little conversation?
Would we see a home-bound neighbor who would appreciate a ride
to see the beautiful sights of winter and Christmas time outside?
Would we remember the elderly person who no longer lives at home,
or the person on the street, who is forced to roam?
We thank the Lord at Thanksgiving and praise Him on Christmas Day,
but do we understand the meaning of following in His way?
Do we exchange gifts with friends and family and receive some satisfaction
of donating cans and toys without any true sacrificial action?
As we spend money, time, and effort putting nativity scenes on our shelves,
do we live as Jesus lived -- do we give of ourselves?
Especially at this time, but throughout the whole year, too,
I'd like to ask the question, "What would Jesus do?"

And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." And moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. - Matthew 20:32-34.

From November 11, 1986

The Shepherd's Story

Have you ever wondered what happened after the shepherds left the manger? Well, just maybe...

The stars were shining brightly
upon the shepherd lad;
he looked up from his resting place
among the sheep he had.
The sky grew even brighter,
and then the glow took form,
and an angel spoke unto the men
and promised them no harm.
The angel told of the Christ child's birth
below in Bethlehem,
where and how he could be found
by every one of them.
Then suddenly the skies burst forth
in songs of praise and joy,
something overpowering
for a young shepherd boy.
When the angels disappeared
and the shepherds found their strength,
they left the sheep for Bethlehem,
running the entire length.
Once inside the crowded city,
they began searching for a manger
among the tired travelers,
the beasts, the buildings, the strangers.
Faintly, from the noisy mass
a baby's cry was heard,
and the shepherds made their way
to a stable where animals stirred.
The young shepherd gazed upon the Child,
found just as the angel had said,
wrapped in strips of cloth
with hay beneath his head.
The lad worshiped there in awe
and left praising God to men,
returning to the hillside
to take care of sheep again.
Many nights he lay awake,
wondering if the angels would return,
but no more was said from Heaven;
no more could the shepherds learn.
He had toddling nephews who were slaughtered
He knew years of quiet waiting,
and he spent a lifetime remembering angels,
listening... anticipating.
He heard rumors of a prophet.
He heard stories of miracles done.
A man, the Messiah,
Jesus, God's own Son.
The grown shepherd traveled to Jerusalem
and arrived in time to see an empty tomb.
Jesus' followers told the story
of events in an upper room.
The shepherd visited the believers
who claimed Jesus fulfilled God's Word,
and tears filled his eyes as he listened
and joy filled his heart as he heard.
For he remembered how upon that hillside
the angel had foretold that day
and how the babe was found in a manger,
resting upon the hay.

From December 18, 1990

My Brother's Keeper

They arrived at the inn, but all rooms were full.
Am I my brother's keeper?
Jerusalem wept for her sons' death toll.
Am I my brother's keeper?
The hungry are starving.
The oppressed cry out.
The wicked prevail;
They will not die out
As Cain asked in the garden, in fear for his soul,
"Am I my brother's keeper?"

They come -- the lame, the sick, and the blind
Am I my brother's keeper?
They took Him away; Peter followed behind.
Am I my brother's keeper?
From manger to cross.
From hay to thorns,
disbelief, indifference,hatred and scorn
HE came to save and to serve all mankind.
Am I my brother's keeper?

Sometimes midst all that goes on in the world, we feel helpless to make a difference. Can we change the condition of those around us? Are we responsible for anyone other than ourselves? Jesus came from glory in order that we might know something other than our own miserable human condition and its consequences. We are to follow His example of selfless love.

"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Phil. 2:4-8

Christ's Birth

Hear the animals as they lie restless in their stables;
hear the shuffle of hoof and paw against the eart.
Experience the sights and sounds of the first Christmas;
pause and quickly reflect upon Christ's birth
Feel the coolness of the night air;
feel the darkness 'round about
Smell the sweet aroma of warm hay and grain.
Know the stillness of the world without

See the mother resting peacefully--
think what her thoughts just might have been.
See the babe asleep, contentedly.
What somber thoughts was Joseph lost within?
Know the joy; feel the awe--
experience the love
Then turn your eyes upward to the heavens
and see the great star shining up above.

Look beyond and watch the angels;
hear them as they sing.
Feel the rumble of the trumpets;
listen to the night air ring.
Do you feel a tremble?
Do you sense the glory of this early Christmas morn?
Praise God! Proclaim His greatness!
Jesus Christ is born!

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger...." Luke 2:7

From December 25, 1983

The Living Portrait of Jesus

I asked, "Lord, how do I begin my walk with you?"
and He led me to the river Jordan.

"I want to share You," I said, and I watched
as He walked and lived among the people.

"How can I see the needs of others?" He
introduced me to a woman by a well.

"Jesus, please teach me to pray," I pleaded, and
I noticed He had tears in His eyes as He took my hand.

"Lord," I asked, "What is compassion?" and I saw
Him embrace a lonely leper.

"How can I learn to care like that? What is grace?
What is mercy? What is love?" He told me of
His throne in Heaven. I looked at Him standing
there in the dusty road, and I began to
understand.

"Master, what must I do to have a servant's
heart?" He knelt and washed my feet.

"Oh, Lord, " I cried, "How do I get rid of this
pride? He did not answer, but willingly
left with the guards.

"How can I know the truth of Your power?"
I went to His tomb, but He wasn't there.

From August 25, 1987

Faith

Faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for--
they lived faithfully.
By faith, we know that God spoke the world
into being.
It was not formed from what existed then
or what we now are seeing.
By faith, Abel offered God a sacrifice
that was better than that of his brother, Cain.
By faith, he was a righteous man;
his faith still speaks long after he was slain.
By faith, Enoch was taken from this life,
and he did not have to die.
He was not found, because God took him.
He was found pleasing in God's eyes.
Without faith, we cannot please God;
when we come to Him, we must believe:
we must believe that He exists
and that those who seek Him, rewards receive.
By faith, Noah built a ark
when warned about unseen things;
the world was condemned, his family was saved
by the righteousness that faith brings.

Hebrews 11:1-7

These are only a few of the examples of faith given in Hebrews 11. This is a wonderful chapter to read when we feel our faith is small. It shows how faith in God worked in the lives of people throughout biblical history. Faith is the same today, and God is the same today. Through our faith, God can transform our lives!

From October 15, 1985

All the Little Things

As I was growing up, my daddy took the time to share with me the wonders of nature, and from those experiences I developed a great love for nature, its beauty and its amazing intricacies. Nature offers a world of wonder and surprises to the wide eyes of a child, but it is a source of wisdom and examples for adults to learn from as well.... Since my childhood, my Heavenly Father has revealed to me in the world of nature many spiritual inspirations that have helped me grow and deepen my understanding of God's love. For these special times, I praise God.

Thank you, Lord, for all of the little things,
for the hope each represents, for the joy that each brings.
Thank you, Lord, for what each means to me.
With your help, my Lord, more like them I'll be.

Thank you for the humble little caterpillars, Lord,
for the butterflies they become; thank for every single one.
Thank you, Lord, for changing my life, too.
With your help, my Lord, might I grow more like you.

Thank you, Lord, for the little lightning bugs;
thank you, Lord, that they let their light shine.
Thank you, Lord, for the light I see in others' lives,
with your help, my Lord, might someone see the light in mine.

Thank you, Lord, even for the little ants,
who never know the meaning of "give it up" or "can't."
I see them, Lord, carry burdens twice their size.
Thank you, Lord, that they helped me realize
that with your help, my Lord, I can carry burdens, too!
With your help, my Lord, everything I can do!

Thank you, Lord, for all the little things,
for the hope each represents, for the joy that each brings.
Thank you, Lord, for what each means to me.
With your help, my Lord, more like them I'll be!

"Go to the ant.. consider her ways, and be wise." Proverbs 6:16

From August 8, 1984

Words

Words.
Sometimes they come so quickly
like flaming arrows
that cannot be retrieved.
With them,
men inspire nations
and persuade the multitudes
and great and mighty things are accomplished.
Words
can bring about destruction
and inflict wounds that never heal,
echoing forever
in the minds of men.
From them,
joy springs forth
like a cool and refreshing stream,
washing over one's being,
reviving hope,
and bringing relief to the spirit.
Words
delivered by solemn messengers
can fall like giant oak trees,
inescapable,
crushing the heart,
smothering the life breath
of loved ones.
Through them,
love is expressed,
and warmth and security strengthen us.
Yet, words
are sometimes insufficient,
meager, hollow, impotent,
and cannot free the heart.

"And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26

From Acorn to Oak

I am just an acorn, but I want to be an oak.
I want to understand and share all the words that Jesus spoke.
I want to grow in Christ and become a sturdy tree,
with my roots embedded in His Word and His Word alive in me.
I want to serve a purpose; I want to be used by God,
and an oak can be so much more than can a simple acorn pod.
I know there dwells within me the precious living seed,
but as long as I remain an acorn, that power isn't freed.
I must deny my tendency to retain my acorn form,
or I will never grow roots and branches and soak up the Sonshine, warm
If I remain an acorn, I'll soon be a hollow shell,
and the potential now within me, no longer there will dwell.
If I'm to be an oak, I must die to self beneath the earth
and allow God to work within me and give my life new worth.
For the growing of an oak tree begins within, unseen,
even before anyone notices a little sprout of green.
Every tall, sturdy, useful oak tree, began an acorn, small.
Without the dying acorn, there would be no oak at all.

"Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and ies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal" John 12:24-25

"That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies, and that which you sow you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own." 1 Corinthians 15:36-38

Thirsting for God

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Psalm 42:1-2

Lord, seems like I've been thirsty for so long
Wanting to know you.
Wanting to be filled.
To know that satisfaction that can be found only in You.
I've read and I have listened,
but have I really seen and heard?
I have tasted,
but I've never drank my fill.
My lips are parched;
my soul is thirsty;
my heart is a vessel that should overflow.
Lead me, Father, into that living water.
Cleanse me.
Fill me.
Use me.

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither And in whatever he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:2-3

Thirst and Hunger

As we do thirst and hunger,
our Father more than meets our needs
just like the little sparrows
and others that he feeds
We know His richest blessings--
we receive them day by day.
His gifts are overflowing,
for that is our Father's way.
Just like the multitudes of people
He fed with fish and bread,
our bodies and our spirits
are always richly fed;
with baskets overflowing,
we receive more than we need,
so that by the grace of God
others we can feed.

Let us give thanks to the Lord and praise His name for meeting our needs and "overflowing extra baskets." Let us remember our responsibility for sharing that which God has given us, physically and spiritually.

"And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, 'Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost.'" John 6:12

The Palm of God's Hand

We are standing in the palm of God's hand;
when our hearts are aching, God understands.
Our world responds to the Lord's command;
we are standing in the palm of God's hand.

No problem is too large, no concern to small;
our Heavenly Father wants to have them all.
He asks that upon His name we call.
Our Lord is creator, master over all.

He knows of our endeavors, the challenges, the trials
He sees our sacrifice and self denial.
He gives us strength and helps us smile.
He carries us over the longest mile.

Things might not go as we had planned--
we might wander before the promised land,
but we have not built our house on sinking sand;
We are standing in the palm of God's hand.

"The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he had made firm; though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24

The Faith of Friends

I told a friend goodbye today
Our paths may never cross again
He's moving on... beyond... away---
His life is turning a new bend.
The roads we travel are not the same;
our direction is different, too
We differ in destination, in aim,
and in the walking that we do.
The road I walk is on higher grounds,
for the Lord has lifted me
to a place where His promises abound,
a plane my friend can't see.
My friend has never walked this path
nor known the Master's guiding hand.
He has never glimpsed the glory
of that precious Promised Land.
But God has allowed me the chance to share,
to show the signs of His love,
to forgive, to comfort, to strengthen, to care,
to tell of Heaven above.
My friend has surely seen the signs,
but the choice is his to make
He is aware of the route divine,
but which road will he take?
I'm not sure if I'll ever have other chances
to show my friend the way;
I can only be thankful for past circumstances.
I can only pray
that along life's road a new walk will begin
in the journey of my friend
and some sweet day we'll be reunited
at our journeys' end

Sometimes we feel discouraged in our efforts to minister to others, especially to a close friend or family member who seems disinterested. However, we must continue to pray and know that God hears our prayers. In this way we are like the paralytic's friends who carried him to Jesus that he might be healed (Mark 2: 3-5). It was the evidence of their faith that helped to make the difference. Verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven" Continue to pray!!

From August 5, 1986

Offering Prayer

During a time when I was troubled
and my heart was heavy with concern,
I wore my worry upon my face,
a half-hearted smile -- downturned.
A caring Christian acquaintance
saw the sorrow in my eyes,
and though the reason of my cares
she did not realize,
she offered a word of comfort;
she promised a word of prayer,
and I wrapped her smile around me
and found so much solace there.
I had requested prayer from others
who knew the reason why,
but I could never know who actually did
or upon whom I could rely.
However, in that one warm person
who had offered to pray for me,
without knowing what the problem was
or asking what it might be,
I found faith and confidence
and assurance of concern
and I was so thankful for her
as a more cheerful smile returned.

Although we shouldn't let our concerns burden us down, we often worry and let our problems get the best of us. God's Word tells us in many passages that we should take our cares to our Lord in prayer, and that we should lift each other up in prayer also. Sometimes we know that a friend is experiencing trials and tribulations, and yet, the person is too shy or embarrassed to request prayer and we are too shy to offer a word of concern. We might be depriving each other of a blessing! As a Christian family, we all need each other!

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also ye do" I Thes. 5:11

From October 18, 1983

Evidence of God

I have not seen His face,
but have I seen evidence of its radiance?
Perhaps I have seen it in the sunshine
that bathes the day and warms the rich earth
and reflects in its waters.
I have not felt the comfort of His touch,
or have I...
in the cleansing rain, the gentle breeze,
the caress of snowflakes?
I have not heard His voice, unless it sounds like
the whisper of wind in the leaves,
the chuckle and rush of mountain streams,
and the sternness of thunder.
How do I know He lives?
He has smiled upon me.
He has touched my heart.
He speaks to me.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
-Hebrews 11:1

From February 1, 1983

Me Serve?

I love to see God's children
winning others to know the Lord,
with faith as their foundation
and the Bible as their sword.
It gives my heart such joy
to see God's family grow--
to watch as they give their lives to Jesus
and my Lord they come to know.
I sing praises of jubilation
as others give their testimony;
My thankfulness is sincere
and my smile - it isn't phony.
I truly love to see those around me
work to share the wondrous story,
and I look forward to the day
when we'll all meet in glory,
and I'll watch as crowns are given
to those who do deserve...

What that? What did you ask me, Master?
What do you mean did I serve???

We are often comfortable with sitting back and relaxing until someone professes belief in Christ, and THEN we go into action. We smile with genuine joy, and we extend a warm handshake to express a welcome; we tell individuals how truly glad we are to have them join the family of Christ. Then, we walk back to our padded pew and wait on the next person to come forward.

God's Word shows us that these are "the latter days," and Christ's return draweth nigh. The words of the prophets seem to be found in the headlines of our newspapers today, and yet we sometimes prefer to not draw a connection between the two. Members of our family are still without Christ, neighbors are out of fellowship with God's children, and we're still sitting on our padded pews. Think of the results we would see if EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US sought out at least one person to share God's Word and love with. What would happen if every member of our church put the name of one specific person on our prayer list and asked the Lord to open up ministry opportunities with that person?

Perhaps we're thinking that as long as SOMEONE is doing the work, we're off the hook. No way! Each of us will be held accountable for the efforts that we didn't make. What about all those who will face eternity without God because we never left our pews?

From February 14, 1984

Teach and Learn

Sometimes when we are teaching
we find that we must learn;
we know that before a coal can give off warmth
it must be able to burn.
We discover that before we can answer questions,
we ourselves must understand---
We find so much room to grow
when offering a helping hand.

Just as we invite company into our homes
and notice dust upon our shelves,
when sharing our faith with others,
we learn so much about ourselves
We realize where we are weaker
and then strive to become strong.
We improve upon our quality of living
when we help a friend along.

We should welcome the chance to share with others;
we each have so much to learn.
Before a coal can give off warmth,
it must be able to burn.

Love

Even if I could speak all languages--
those of angels, as well as men--
I would just be making noise
unless I had love within.
And if I could tell the future
and know all there is to know
and had all the faith in the world,
so that just believing would make it so,
I still would be worthless without love;
even if I gave my all to the poor,
or if I sacrificed my life, without love,
I would have nothing and nothing more.

Love is long-suffering and kind.
It does not envy and is not vain.
It does not act unseemly
or for its own pleasure or gain.
Love doesn't get angry easily
and doesn't have evil thoughts;
it isn't glad to see evil done.
It is glad when the truth is taught.

Love holds up under intense pressure,
believes, hopes, and endures to the end.
It never fails, unlike the prophecies
or the languages, or the knowledge of men.

For we don't know all there is to know
and can't foretell all that is to be,
but when that which is perfect has come about,
the partial will cease to be.
When I was a child, I talked like a child;
I thought and understood as a child understands,
but I put away those child-like things,
when I became a man.
For now we don't see things clearly,
but later we'll be shown;
the things I don't know right, I will know,
even as also I am known.
But now these things abide--
faith, hope, and love -- all three,
but far above the other two,
love is the greatest of these.
- 1 Corinthians 13

From September 10, 1985

His Garment Hem

I reached out and touched His garment hem
as I came into the midst of them:
the midst of those who knew Him well.
I thought that if I could only touch
the mere garment of the man who loved so much,
I would be healed before the dusty linen fell.
I thought He wouldn't notice me,
and I reached from where He couldn't see,
but somehow He must have felt my need.
That same hour my stricken body was healed
and the emptiness within my heart was filled
as from my pain and suffering I was freed.
For He turned and looked upon my face
though many were about the place,
and He spoke with words directly to my soul.
He said for me to be comforted
and with promising words, He kindly said,
"Thy faith hath made thee whole."
-Matt. 9:20-22

These few short verses tell us so much about Christ's love for us, His concern for our needs, and His promise of salvation. In them we see that Christ is always aware of our suffering and responds when we reach out to Him. Just as the woman was healed, not by her actions, but by her faith, we are saved from sin by God's grace, through faith and not by our works and deeds. The woman stepped out on faith and reached out to Jesus, finding compassion, comfort, and so much more.

Are we depending upon our own strengths, actions, and intelligence, or are we reaching out to Jesus?

From July 30, 1985

Thankful

"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

As we celebrate a time of thanksgiving, the first item on my list is thankfulness itself. In a world where the focus of the pilgrims' Thanksgiving is often omitted from our history textbooks, we should be grateful that we have a thankful heart. In a society where public prayers are often prohibited, those of us who understand the meaning of worshiping the living God should be thankful for whatever circumstances have brought us to the consciousness that we have.

I'm thankful I was born in a time when even the television characters still customarily went to church! I'm thankful that during the first three years of my education, the public school teachers were still allowed to begin the day with Bible reading and prayer. I'm thankful I grew up in an area that had churches on every corner and where church attendance was the norm and not the exception.

Today we live in a society that has a leftover Bart Simpson attitude of, "It's all paid for, so thanks for nothing." The only time many children hear the name of our Savior is when their parents use His name in vain. To many, Thanksgiving is just a day of food, floats, and football. For some, it's less than that.

I could have been born in an area where the community youth group is typically called a gang. I could still be waiting to hear the name of Jesus spoken lovingly by someone who knows Him personally. I could be cold, calloused, scornful and empty. I could be many things other than thankful.

But somehow, by the grace of God, I was born to a family who loved me. I was nurtured by a community that cared about my soul. And I was ransomed by a Savior who gave His life for me. So before I even begin to count my other blessings, I'm thankful that I'm thankful.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:15-17

A Tree Not-So-Firmly Planted

This view along the Virginia Creeper Trail was strikingly beautiful. I found the leaning tree, whose stand of roots had been washed away by the stream, very poignant in the midst of perfection. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Many years ago when I was very active in my church, I struggled with the question of whether or not God frowned upon women taking leadership roles in ministry. Personal circumstances inclined me to think that Paul had good reason to "suffer not a woman to teach." (1 Timothy 2:12) Yet, I was asked to do so and seemed equipped to do so.

I spent a lot of time in my own personal research of the issue, reading from articles by Robert L. Saucy, A. Duane Litfin, and H. Wayne House, as well as the Broadman Bible Commentary and other sources. For a period, declining specifically to teach men served more than one purpose, even though I felt I was forfeiting gifts and blessings along the way. I saw that Jesus empowered women, but I couldn't argue against the seemingly obvious instruction of Paul's words.

One of the strangest influences in my eventual realization was Dennis Covington's book, Salvation on Sand Mountain, a true story about a preacher convicted of attempting to murder his wife with rattlesnakes. If you read the book, you must also listen to Kate Campbell's haunting song, "Signs Following," which is related to the same story. Near the end of the book, Covington writes about a message he delivered at a snake-handling church:

I knew I was in the Word now. It was close to the feeling I'd had when I'd handled. "Mary Magdalene was the first person to spread the news of the risen Christ!" I shouted. "She was the first evangelist, and the men didn't even believe her! So when we start talking about a woman's place, we better add that a woman's place is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! In Him there is no male or female, no Greek or Jew!" and I spun on Carl. "Am I in the Word?"
"No," Carl said. "You're not in the Word."
"Are you telling me I'm out of the Word?"
"Yes, you're out of the Word." He smiled. It was a smile of enormous satisfaction and relief. At last, we had reached the end of our story, his eyes seemed to say.

About that same time, I read Nancy Ammerman's collection of articles, Southern Baptists Observed. Let's just say a lot of things came into focus for me.

On Wednesday nights, I'm now attending a class that's discussing, "What the Bible Doesn't Say about Women." Still seems to me that we work too hard to climb over Paul's words. Look at how Priscilla taught Apollos in Acts 18:26. Now, about that leaning tree....

Seeing and Knowing Fully

Today I rode the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA, and the day was perfect. The air was just cool enough to be invigorating, and the sky was a beautiful October blue. My favorite parts of the trail were the spots where the aromatic pine needles scented the air and where the fall colors were reflected in the streams and looked like Monet paintings.

At a particular spot where we stopped to take photos of little waterfalls, I noticed this wonderful leaf in the water, light reflecting in places, the details muted and vibrant at the same time.

I used to look for concrete answers in life and think that I could actually find them. I found it pretty unsettling to consider that things might not be quite so easily determined. I looked to others who could help me interpret God's Word and tell me exactly what it meant. However, I've come to believe that one reason that the Bible is as relevant to today's world as it was when its words were penned is that it reveals to us what we require to meet the day's needs. No matter how many times I might read a passage, I can still find something new. To me, God's word is truly living, and as I've grown, I've learned that the more I come to understand, the less I seem to know for certain, and I'm OK with that. I can now say, "I'm not sure," and it doesn't bother me. God is big enough to handle my questions, and He's not offended by my quest, as long as I'm still seeking and desire to draw closer to Him through the process. People who think they have all the answers now scare me.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Boundaries

Turn the other cheek. (Matt. 5:39)
Keep no record of wrongs. (I Cor. 13:5)
Forgive seventy times seven. (Matt. 18:21-22)
If someone takes what's yours, don't ask for it back. (Luke 6:30)
Control your anger. (Eph. 4:26)
Love your enemies and pray for them. (Matt. 5:44)

I gotta admit, I used to think that the fruit of the Spirit described as self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) was all about the things I wasn't supposed to do in response to other people. And then I read the book called Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, and realized that Jesus did not intend for us to be doormats. That certainly was not His example.

He overturned the tables in the temple. He rebuked. He cursed the fig tree. And even though He came to die for us, He didn't allow the mob to throw Him off the cliff before it was His time to die.

The fruit of the Spirit called self-control is not only about keeping yourself from climbing over other people's fences but also about keeping others on the other side of your fence when necessary as well. It takes wisdom and discernment to know when and how to do that, but to be a doormat is not only unhealthy, it does not honor God.

"... your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground. And like the street for those who walk over it. Awake, awake! Clothe yourself in your strength..." Isaiah 51:23 - 52:1

Pocket Treasure

Our church is focusing on commitments to give, and we've been looking at the related joys of giving. This all reminds me of a particular Sunday when my son was just a little fellow.

One of the most stoic pillars of our former church was passing the offering plate down the aisle. I honestly do not remember having ever seen this quiet, gentle giant smile before. He came to our pew, where my son had scooted beyond my reach to the end nearest the man. When the somber gentleman presented the offering plate, my son began to methodically empty his little-boy-pocket of its contents onto the seat. One by one, out came all the treasures: a crayon, a matchbox car, a string, etc.

As his mom, I was getting a little nervous, knowing the serious nature of the man who still stood holding the outstretched plate. I looked up to see the man almost chuckling! He was deeply enjoying the process with great patience, and his eyes sparkled with true delight.

I've looked back on that moment many times down through the years as I've thought about the process of giving. What does God watch us empty from our pockets? Is he amused by our struggle to sort through our treasures and find what we want to give?

Transitions

OK, enough of that. For 12 years, I wrote from the heart for my church's newsletter, but I can now submit so few of them here. Some of them were "event specific," like the one I wrote in response to the Los Angeles street riot in 1992 or the troops going to Kuwait in 1991. Others were related to holidays or special activities like Vacation Bible School or the National Day of Prayer. Maybe I'll still work some of those in when it's appropriate to the calendar. However, most of the ones I feel uncomfortable sharing now are about thoughts and feelings that seem foreign to who I am today, even more so than many of the ones I've already posted!

As a young adult, my naiveté and idealism were even more pronounced than they are now! It was easier to see my world in black and white, and life's issues seemed simpler. But I've lived a little while since then, and I've found things a lot more complicated than I had anticipated! It's been about 15 years since I wrote for the newsletter, and let's just say that the Janni Journey has taken some twists and turns. Somehow, the mushroom seems just right.

Here begins a new chapter of posts.

Battles lost and won

Do you ever wonder why Satan manages to outsmart and overpower you even when you know you're trying to do God's will? Perhaps we are trying to obey God under our own strength, fighting spiritual battles with our human resources instead of God's. Are we ignoring the Holy Spirit and living as though Pentecost never happened?

The executor of a "last will and testament" is someone who has been appointed to carry our the wishes of the person who wrote the will. In this same way, the Holy Spirit has been given to each follower of Christ to see that God's will is done. Only through the Spirit can we become all God wants us to be, and only through the Spirit can our work for the Lord be blessed, successful and fruitful. As Christians, we each have the Holy Spirit within us, so why aren't the battles won and why aren't our efforts bearing fruit?

Having the Holy Spirit within us and being filled with the Spirit are two different things. We receive the Spirit when we accept Christ as Savior (Romans 8:16-17), but we are filled with the Spirit as we allow Christ to be Lord of everything in our life. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." While most of us are quick to agree that we should not be drunk, few emphasize the fact that we are supposed to be FILLED with the Spirit. Being filled is a continual process.

How do we know whether we are filled with the Spirit? We shouldn't have to ask! If we are merely witnessing and doing good deeds because God's Word says we should, we probably aren't being very effective. Are we motivated by God's command or by the Holy Spirit? To accomplish God's mission, we must utilize God's power. Is the Holy Spirit an influence we possess, or is it a person who possesses us?

Christians and Politics

Some would argue that as Christians, we have no place in the world of secular politics. For some, the "separation of church and state" seems to imply a two-way barrier that should never be crossed.

Unfortunately, many history books seem to support that theory. In reality, many of our nation's founding fathers were Christians whose ideas and principles were directly quoted from or credited to the Bible as they formed the shape of our government. "Separation of church and state" is actually a phrase coined only within recent history. Those three key words don't even appear in the Amendments. Originally, the intent was to protect the church from the government, not the government from the church. Our nation seems to have lost sight of some things.

It's true that often it's much easier to build a new wall where none stood before, than to rebuild among the ruins of a former one. However, Nehemiah, through God's direction, showed us how it can be done. As Christians, we must take concern for and participate in the process allowed us. Once God had placed the burden in his heart, Nehemiah spent days in prayer and fasting in preparation. The task was not easy, and it was met with opposition. As the people worked, they labored with one hand and held a weapon with the other. At one point, Nehemiah writes, "When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14

I suggest that our task is to rebuild foundations, and as we labor (become informed, vote, and be vocal and active) the weapon we hold with our other hand is prayer.

God's Resume

Have you ever considered what God's qualities might mean to you personally? Here are a few to consider:

CREATOR: Lord, You created me and each member of my family. You created or allowed the circumstances that we are in now: our jobs, home, teachers, friends, and opportunities. You have created or allowed our resources: financial, spiritual, material, emotional, and mental.

EVER-PRESENT: You are with each of us when we are otherwise alone, as well as when we are together with others. You are at school, at work, at home, on the road, and anywhere we might visit. You're not just here now, but you are present in the future. I cannot go anywhere without you. I need not send my family anywhere without you -- today or in the future. You will be there when I cannot. You are here with me and there with my loved ones when I fail You and them.

ALL-KNOWING: You know my thoughts and the thoughts of others. You know our tendencies, weaknesses, strengths, and limitations. You know our desires, attitudes, motives, and concerns. You know our fears, doubts, and lack of faith. You know every word spoken and every decision made. You know the future; You know the choices we will make, the sins we will commit, and the obedience we will show. You know our destinations.

ALMIGHTY: You can do everything and anything. You can change things; You can bless; You can influence; You can prevent; You can protect; You can set aside; You can intervene; You can empower. You can fill, guide, direct, persuade, and teach. You can comfort and heal.

UNCHANGING: All these things will always be true about You. You and Your promises remain the same throughout time.

"I will extol Thee, my God, O King; And I will bless Thy name forever. Every day I will bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.... The Lord is righteous in all His ways, And kind in all His deeds. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them." Psalm 145:1-3, 17-19.

The Comforter

We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord at Easter and otherwise; let us also celebrate Pentecost daily!

Pentecost is recognized as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the church as they waited and prayed expectantly, according to the instructions given to them by Christ before His ascension. Jesus had told them:

"And behold, I am sending for the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:49

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Jesus often referred to the Holy Spirit as the "Paraclete," a Greek word that we have interpreted as "the Comforter." A Paraclete was someone who went into the courtroom with a person and gave counsel, cheer, and advocacy. The Paraclete advised a person what to say, helped him or her think clearly and encouraged the person to carry on.

In James G.K. McClure's book, Intercessory Prayer: A Mighty Means of Usefulness, we are challenged to revival. The book was first printed in 1902 to encourage Christians to pray. In 1904, a spiritual awakening swept across our nation and around the world. McClure wrote:

"Prayer for the Holy Spirit is offered when Christians are determined to do the will of God. Where formal religious life prevails and where a sense of responsibility concerning the spiritual welfare of others is weak, prayer is offered less frequently and less fervently. Self-centered people and self-satisfied churches give the Holy Spirit a small place in their prayer petitions...."

"No one can have the Comforter's power if they wish Him as a sedative. People who ask to receive the Spirit for these purposes, have no idea of the Comforter's particular function in the kingdom of grace -- or the nature of His mission. Unless a person wishes to serve Jesus Christ in the lives of others, they will not profit by His presence...."

"Prayer for the Comforter is a searching prayer. It is a prayer that empowers the church to break loose from listlessness and hindrances, to become a mighty giant to pull down sin's strongholds."

As we think about Pentecost, let us look for revival and pray -- LORD, FILL ME, MY CITY, AND MY NATION WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT! COME!

Not so good Samaritans

There was a man I saw along the highway every day,
for it was his home, and he had not a pillow for his head.
My heart ached for him as I saw him there each day,
and I wondered where he came from, who he was,
and whether he knew my Lord.

But, what, me Lord?? Stop my car and talk with him?? Oh, I can't!

Now if the circumstances were different some day,
I would show my concern, talk with him, and share with him.

I was in a department store cafe one day
and was surprised to find that man sitting near, alone.

But, what, now Lord?? Here among all these people?? Well, I just can't!

Of course if it weren't so crowded another day,
I would share with him the bread of life.

I heard about that man's death the other day,
and I ached and was filled with shame.

I wish I could say I know he's with my Lord, but I can't.

We look with dismay at the priest and the Levite in the story about the good Samaritan, but how many times do we pass by those in trouble along the highway of life? Folks don't have to be lying in the ditch along the road to be considered in need of our help! How many of our co-workers, neighbors, and family members just need someone to slow down long enough to show concern for their lives? The story of the good Samaritan was told by Jesus in order to teach a man about loving others. Remember that Christ also said, "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40

Need and Giving

Each need in our lives is an opportunity for God's power and glory to be made known. Because of the needs that a church can face, we must recognize that this is not only an opportunity for material and physical improvement but spiritual growth and enrichment as well.

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.... And let them construct a sanctuary for Me that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it." (Ex. 25:2, 8-9) The chapters following this challenge to God's people describe in great detail the building and furnishing of the tabernacle. Notice, however, that the giving was to be done by each one "whose heart moves him." Although God was greatly concerned about the condition and appearance of His house of worship, He was equally involved in the conditions of the heart.

After the challenge and instructions were given, God's people were revealed and judged according to their worship of idols. Revival took place. "All the men and women whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the Lord." (Ex. 35:29) The people gave and continued to give until Moses had to command them to stop!

When David set aside provisions for the temple of God that would be built by Solomon, again the hearts of the people were moved. "Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly... 'Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee.'" (1 Chron. 29:9, 13-14) When the people gave with their whole hearts, they were amazed at their own giving!

Indeed, God uses needs to make His power and glory known, and He does so through the moving of hearts!

Love: God's definition

Love. It's a word that has many shades of meaning in our society; we use it in reference to our spouses, our friends, our Lord, and our favorite candy bar! We talk about it as though it were a location -- to be "in love." We refer to it as something tangible -- to "find love." We speak of it as a condition -- to "feel love." We even insinuate that it is something accidental that we "fall in and out of." And yet God's Word most often refers to love as an action -- something that we are commanded to do and choose to do, rather than a feeling that comes over us or something we find ourselves in.

We are to love our enemies. Matthew 3:44
We are to love our neighbors. Matthew 22:39
We are to love our spouses. Ephesians 5:25
We are to love our children. Titus 2:4
We are to love the Lord. Mark 12:30
We are to love fellow Christians. 1 Peter 2:17

According to these verses, love is expressed through prayer, service, selflessness and sacrifice. We don't have to wait for love to "happen" to us. We can choose to love.

Psalm 119: Revive Me

Psalm 119 is special in many ways. It is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses). It is an acrostic that uses the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (all eight lines in each of the 22 sections begin with that same letter in the original Hebrew). It is God's Word in praise of God's Word.

The writer of this Psalm expresses great desire to know and be committed to the Word of the Lord. Many terms are used to describe God's Word: law, saying, commandment, statutes, precepts, ordinances and testimony. Reading Psalm 119 is a wonderful way to prayerfully begin each daily quiet time with our Heavenly Father.
"Revive me according to Thy word."
"Revive me through Thy righteousness."
"Revive me according to Thy loving kindness."
"Revive me, Oh Lord, according to Thine ordinances."
"Revive me in Thy ways."

These petitions and their variations are repeated throughout the Psalm. The sincerity of the psalmist's heart is reflected in his approach and his requests:
"With all my heart I have sought Thee." v.10
"Thy word I have treasured in my heart." v. 11
"Open my eyes..." v. 18
"Teach me..." v. 26
"Make me understand..." v. 27
"Strengthen me..." v. 28
"Incline my heart..." v. 36
"Sustain me..." v. 116
"Uphold me..." v. 117
"Establish my footsteps..." v 133

These are the words and this is the attitude of a person seeking the Lord's revival in his/her heart. Does Psalm 119 reflect our own? The psalmist didn't wait until he had manufactured his own longing for God -- he asked God to create it: "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant..." v. 176.

Spiritual Targets: Growing in Christ

Remember the games where we tried to place a game piece on a target after we had been blindfolded and spun around a few times? We knew what we wanted to achieve, and we knew what the target looked like. We were also very willing to do our best, but the fact remains that we have difficulty hitting a target we cannot see. It's even more difficult to hit a target we do not have!

As Christians, each of us has the goal of becoming more Christ-like, as is stated in Philippians 3:12-14. "Not that I have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We know that our ultimate goal is, but how do we get there? Do we have a plan of action toward spiritual growth?

As Zig Ziglar, a Christian, motivational speaker says, most people spend more time planning their vacations than they spend planning their career, and most people spend more time planning their wedding than they spend cultivating a successful marriage! How much time do we spend setting goals and taking plans of action in our Christian lives? Perhaps if we aren't growing much, it's because we have no specific, measurable goals.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 that the Christian life compares to a race, and if we want to cross the finish line victoriously, we must do more than just put forth effort. We must "run in such a way, as not without aim."

God's Family Tree

Have you ever researched your family tree? Doing so can be interesting and educational as you discover the who, when, where, why and how of your own family history.

The nation of Israel was meticulous about record keeping and took great pride in roll calling. The book of Numbers is a detailed account of generations of Israelites. Their inheritance was so important that even if they lost it, it would eventually revert back to them.

What about my own spiritual family tree? I am a child of the King. My brothers and sisters span throughout time and are born all over the world. Yet, no one is a "distant" relation in either time or space; no matter whether someone came into the family back in 200 A.D. or just a moment ago. There are no grandchildren, nieces, or cousins.

Our inheritance is equal and total for each of us. Favoritism does not exist. No one is ever disowned.
My Father is all powerful and everything is His! What a heritage!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." I Peter 1:14

Sing a New Song!

"Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy."
Psalm 33:1-3

Have you ever thought about writing your own Psalm of praise to the Lord? If we are ever guilty of merely mouthing the words to the songs in our worship service and singing without sincere awe and reverence in our hearts, then maybe we need to consider letting praise arise from our own words and "sing a new song"!

Praise the Lord
For it will bring joy to your heart to sing God's praises
God has given us the freedom to worship Him;
He desires to pour out His blessings upon us.
He comforts our hearts and heals our brokenness.
He is in control of everything and has provided for all our needs.
He is mighty; He is all powerful!
He has all wisdom and gives it to us when we ask.
Sing to the Lord and rejoice!
Raise up beautiful music to the heavens.
He makes the beauty of our world and blesses us with the richness of living.
He is not impressed with our intelligence or our talents. He doesn't sit in awe of our accomplishments. He longs to see our pride broken so that He can multiply our joy.
Praise the Lord, dear friends, praise God!

My Imagination: Angel Wings in Worship!

I have sometimes been accused of letting my imagination get the best of me, and I must admit that it has been true more than once! However, I believe that an imagination can be a healthy, creative tool in learning and that it can be an important factor of Christian growth.

Have you ever stood alone in the darkness of night and looked up to the stars, trying to capture the exhilaration the shepherds must have felt as a host of angels appeared to them and proclaimed glory to God when Jesus was born? Have you ever imagined what the guards must have felt as an angel appeared and rolled back the stone from Jesus' tomb? These are glorious moments in God's Word, and we can't fully appreciate them unless we use our imagination to re-create the situations and make ourselves a part of them.

During a certain few seconds of a worship service, my imagination takes over and becomes a wonderful part of my worship experience. As I hear Bible pages rustling when God's Word is about to be read, I can't help but think that it sounds like the settling of angel wings as God's kingdom prepares to worship and rejoice with us!

God has done so much for us and His works go beyond our dreams. Sometimes our imagination is an avenue for God to speak to us and make His Word more meaningful in our lives. As we read our Bibles and study God's messages, we can use our imagination to open our minds and hearts to what God would have us to know. Put yourself at the foot of the cross and see what God lays upon your heart.

Man's Plans and God's Purposes

"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.... When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.... The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Prov. 16:1-4, 7, & 9.

What do these verses tell us about mans plans and God's purposes? First, we see that they differ. Isaiah 55:8 & 9 says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than our ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." What might seem like an innocent, good idea to us can actually fall short of God's purpose. God also weighs our motives.

Verse 3 admonishes us to commit our works to the Lord so that our plans will be established. This assumes that we have considered our objectives and sought God's will concerning our goals and plans. It's difficult to hit a target we cannot see, but it's impossible to hit a target we do not have! In order to accomplish God's work, we must have goals, but they must be GOD's goals.

In Revelation, the letters to the churches commend them for their love, faith, perseverance, and reputation, but the Lord points out that they are not accomplishing His will. Are we going through the motions as we teach? worship? listen? serve? Do we have God-centered, measurable goals for our classes, groups, ministries, and lives?

What are we accomplishing? What is God accomplishing through us? What is God's purpose for me? for each of us?

Second Chances

What if God gave no second chances? What if our relationship with Him depended upon our ability to avoid displeasing and disappointing Him? What if He cast us aside once we made a bad decision or behaved in some way contrary to His expectations? Without God's grace, we have no hope!

What happens to the person who cannot reflect God's grace in his or her own relationship with others? The person who gives no second chances lives in direct opposition to God's will. In Matthew 18, Jesus illustrated how we are to be gracious to others, just as God is gracious toward us. The slave who had been given a second chance by his master was impudent in his response to someone who had wronged him, and he allowed no second chance. His lord confronted him: "Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?" Jesus continued, "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

What is the torture that besets the person who will give no second chance? Guilt, perhaps. For he or she knows the attitude is wrong. Defensiveness, because the guilt must be balanced with some kind of logic that justifies the sin. Hardness, maybe, because the inability to trust others creates an insecurity that must be protected. Isolation, probably. For no one is beyond the judgment of someone who gives no second chances.

Why does someone develop a "no second chance" attitude? A person might have been hurt by a loved one and had no way of restoring the relationship because of death or lack of cooperation. A person might fear his or her own inadequacies and be seeking affirmation by finding fault in others. A person might have felt rejected and be unable to give the grace to others because he or she has been denied it by someone else.

If God responded as does the person who give no second chances, the Bible would be full of holes. David would have no influence. Peter would have no ministry, and Israel would be long forgotten. If we refuse to give others second chances, we'll miss the blessing of people like James, John, Martha, and John Mark.

What are the results of an unforgiving spirit? Misery. The inability to be satisfied. Depression. Distance from God. But hope is available, because God IS gracious, and He give second chances even to those who do not. Many revivals have come about as the result of those who have decided to simply lay their attitudes at the foot of the cross.

Rummage Sale of the Heart

I decided to have a rummage sale one day, so I went into the attic of my heart to shuffle through so many items I had forgotten: broken dreams and broken promises that I had stored away in pain with hopes of mending them some day; antique habits that I had clung to simply because they had been in my life for a long time; dusty grudges that I had harbored in the dark attic corners of my heart, unwilling to give them up. The broken items were useless unless someone fixed them, but I thought that someone who liked to do that kind of thing might want them. I thought I would also get rid of the old habits if anyone would take them off my hands, but I knew I could easily keep them if they didn't go. The old dusty grudges would be like new if I cleaned them up a bit, but I hoped to get rid of them because I had never really liked them anyway.

I then went to clean out my heart's closets. In one I found forgotten commitments; I had made them long ago with good intentions, and someone might want them now. In another closet I found unused talents that were a little rusty, and I wondered whether they were of any worth. Here and there were unforgiven sins that amounted to quite a number that were cluttering my heart. I knew I needed to get rid of them.

I gathered everything together and organized them on tables in the sunlight of my heart's front yard, and I was amazed to see how ugly many things actually were, while others still had a little sparkle there in the light. I put up my sign down at the road, and soon a man named Jesus came by.

He looked my tables over, examining each item, then He picked up the broken pieces and mended them there before my eyes. He gave me a special solution called Grace that helped me renew my forgotten commitments, and He showed me how those rusty talents could still be used. Then He surprised me by paying a very high price for the things I was most ashamed to have displayed. Instead of carting off His purchases, He helped me bag up and get rid of the ones like my old grudges and habits. And then He left without taking anything with Him. I noticed my pile of sins on the grass. He had paid for them and then forgotten them.

"Hide they face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit withing me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore until me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit." Psalms 51:9-12

Praying with Confidence for One Another

God tells us many things about effective prayers. He encourages us to join together in a bond of prayer (Matt. 18:19-20; James 5:14-16) We must ask according to His will (I John 5:14-15). We must ask in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14). We must ask in faith (Matt. 21:22). We must ASK (Matt. 7:7; James 4:2)!

We can see many examples of what the Lord does in a church where believers bond together in prayer for the same thing, applying the principles mentioned above (Acts 2:42-47; 4:23-35; 6:1-8; 12:5-17). This is the type of unity that Jesus asked the Heavenly Father to give us in John 17. It is the same type of unity that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13.

We can pray for one another by name the same prayer that Paul prayed for the members of the church at Colossae. It is a prayer we know is in accordance with God's will for our lives. This is a prayer we can pray in faith. This is a prayer God will answer:

Lord, May _____ be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that he/she will walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You in all respects. May _____ bear fruit in every good work and may he/she increase in the knowledge of You. Lord, strengthen him/her with all power, according to Your glorious might, that _____ might attain steadfastness and patience. May _____ give thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)