5, 4, 3, 2, 1

A friend posted on Facebook the following:

Tip to help with an anxiety attack

- Look around you.

- Find 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste.

This is called grounding.  It can help when you feel like you have lost all control of your surroundings.

This is great advice to regain your composure when in a panic situation.  But let's take this to the next level for the believer and follower of Christ.  Given the fact that the Bible tells us 365 times “to fear not” leads me to believe a sense of fear, panic or anxiety strikes us all in one way or another.  And strikes often.

So when that knot begins to swell up in your gut, when your heart begins to race, when you want to bolt but you have nowhere to go or when you are frozen with fear….I suggest the following:

-Look up.

-Speak out loud 5 names for the Lord

Almighty, Creator, Healer, Faithful, Trustworthy, Light, Love, Life, Stronghold, Refuge, Redeemer, Conqueror, Mighty One, Holy, Just, Righteous. (these are but a few)

-Remember 4 ways He has shown His faithfulness to you in the past

He has forgiven my sins, He has saved my marriage, He has healed me from sickness, He has made me His child and He has shown me the way.  (these are generic so make yours personal)

-Find 3 ways He has shown love for you today

He made the sun to shine, He sent the rain, He prompted someone to call you, the bill was smaller than expected, you found your favorite shoes on sale, a song played that soothed your heart, a Bible verse jumped off the page.  (these are some of mine to help you think of yours)

-Repeat 2 Bible verses

                Isaiah 26:3

 You will keep in perfect peace

            those whose minds are steadfast,

            because they trust in you.

                Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with

hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(use these or find 2 that meet your needs)

-Say 1 prayer asking God to show you the truth

              I like to pray scripture and so this would be my prayer straight from Psalm 139:23-24

            “Father God, Search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
            See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  In Jesus’
            name, Amen”

 This is called Kingdom thinking.  It can help you when you have lost the ability to trust God to control your surroundings.  Because the truth is we might think we have control but we do not.  It is good to trust in the One who has never lost control…..even when He went to the cross.  

I hope you will join me as I take my eyes off my circumstances and choose to look up.  Five, four, three, two, one. 

Him

“What was I thinking?”  I said to myself as I walked out of Vacation Bible School training.  I was about to turn 57 and wondered if I hadn’t made a huge mistake.  The church was expecting up to 1000 children.  I would be in charge of a small group of 4^th graders.  As I drove home, I confessed to the Lord that I simply did not want to do this and hoped I would find a legitimate excuse to get out. 

The following week I gathered once again for training the night before VBS would start.  The director for VBS along with the 4^th grade directors did an amazing job organizing and preparing so as to make the week as easy as possible for the volunteers. 

I’ll have to give a twenty minute Bible story and the rest of the morning I’m basically a line leader making sure my group of 4^th graders get from one rotation to the next without incident.  I met my teaching partner and I settled into a decent attitude.   As the leaders were about to close our training session, I asked if I could close us in prayer.  I’m not sure about what I prayed but I am certain of this:  I asked God to give us, the 4^th grade team, eyes to see these children as Jesus does. 

Monday morning arrived and VBS began without incident.  We had finished the worship rally, the drama time, the Bible story and craft.  As we went outside for the recreation time I laid eyes on him for the very first time.  He was off by himself and everything about his body language and movement screamed anger and hostility.  I asked if anyone knew what was going on and I heard things like, “Melt down during craft.”  “I don’t know but he refuses to participate.”  “He’s been a challenge since he got here.”

I went over and tried to talk to him.  He was madder than mad and I was determined to find out why.  As he walked around kicking at his name tag which was on the ground, I asked him.  His only reply through clenched teeth, “I hate this place.”  I picked up his name tag and told him he had to sit down.  “I don’t want to.”

I said, “I understand you don’t want to, but I said you have to, now sit.”  Surprisingly he complied and thus began my friendship with this 10 year old boy who apparently had more problems than I could imagine, more diagnosis than I was educated to handle, and a new friend too naive to stay neutral. 

At first what I saw was a 10 year old that was really fit to be tied that he had to be in VBS and if he misbehaved enough, we would call his mom and he would get what he wanted, to go home.  I thought to myself, “Not on my watch, Bubba.”  And I told him in no uncertain terms I was NOT going to call his mother.  I looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I will pursue you like God will pursue you.  I will love you like God will love you.  My heart is tied to yours and you can run but you will never get away.  God and I together will reel you in and win you over.  Now let’s go to snack.”  I put my arm around his chest and shoulders and forced him to walk with me.  We got ½ way to snack before he realized what had happened and he finally pulled away.  I let him go but bent over and firmly whispered in his ear, “Stay with me or you won’t eat.” 

The room was very crowded and I picked up a snack.  As I went back to where I left my new friend, I couldn’t see him at first.  I panicked for just a moment and then my eyes spotted him.  He had followed behind me to the snack line, picked up his own snack and was standing at a table eating.  My friend began to relax and I could see the frustration and tension slip away.  I wondered if he had hypoglycemia. 

My friend and I began to talk.  We went to the last rotation of the day and chatted all the way there.  I began to learn about his life at school.  Unbeknownst to him, I had filled my pants pocket with animal crackers.  So as we walked, I handed him one.  Then another.  And another.  He chuckled when I brought out the third one.  Fifteen minutes later when I brought out the 5^th or 6^th cookie he said, “How do you do that, are you magic?”  I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Maybe.”  And I found out he also liked chocolate animal crackers and goldfish.  That information would prove to be useful.  As the day was about over I asked him if he wanted to come back.  He said he did but he probably wouldn’t be allowed.  I asked him why and he told me that once the other teacher tells his mom, his mom will yell at him and keep him home.  And I don’t know what that means….really I don’t.  But what I clearly “saw” was a boy that was always in trouble and had very little hope.

I told him that if he apologized to the other teacher, I bet we could make sure he was allowed to come back.  And with all sincerity, he looked the teacher in the face and said he was sorry.  “Tomorrow will be a better day.” He promised.  They called his carpool group and off he went before I had a chance to say anything else.

I prayed he would be back on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday morning I learned they had transferred my friend from group six to my group.  He walked into the gym and I smiled at him.  He smiled back.  I told him I was really glad he was here and told him he would be in my group.  We had a really good day. 

I had a pocketful of chocolate Teddy Grahams and would hand him a few every so often.  And although he still wouldn’t participate in anything, he followed all directions.  I saw this as a huge victory and hoped he did too.  I learned many things about him.  Too many things really.  He’s been in several elementary schools.  I said, “Oh my, how many times have you moved?” 

“None,” he replied, “I’ve been kicked out of a few.”  I handed him a Teddy Graham.  I asked him if he could tell me why.  He said that when he gets angry he goes downhill fast.  I told him that I understood, sometimes that happens to me too.  This time we both ate a Teddy Graham.

Before I knew it, the day was over.  I reminded my friend that Wednesday was crazy hat day.  I told him I would bring one in case he forgot.  And off he went into the carpool line. 

I prayed he would be back on Wednesday. 

On Wednesday morning I packed a little white sailor’s hat and my own crazy hat and went up to the church.  My friend arrived on time and I gave him the sailor’s hat.  I wasn’t sure he would wear it and it warmed my heart to see him flip it inside out and upside down trying to determine his style.  It also gave us lots to talk about.  I learned his family owned a boat.  And I learned his paternal grandfather was a naval officer in WW2.  We looked him up on my phone.  My friend was proud to tell about his grandfather. 

We got to craft rotation and I could see my friend begin to get frustrated.  He colored his paper with a vengeance.  The cramped conditions irritated him.  The warm room made him feel closed in. But both were low key enough that he maintained control.  We left craft and headed to recreation.  He had previously told me how excited he was to do the rec activity this day.

But as soon as we entered the church gym, his entire countenance changed.  He hit the wall.  He kicked a ball with force.  He went over the PVC pipe-built 9 square structure. 30 years of being a mom told me very quickly, he intended to bring that structure down.  So I went right up to him and asked him why?  He appeared a bit startled as well as puzzled.  I asked him a second time.  “Why do you want to bring this down?”  What followed nearly tore my heart out of my chest.  He told me how he can’t.  He just cannot do anything athletic.  He.  Can.  Not!  He told me how he had no one to play with and that other kids were mean to him and made fun of him.  He said no one comes to his house to play because they don’t like board games or reading.  These are the things he liked to do.  I could see how so much anger had caused so much hurt and all the hurt just added to the anger. 

I directed him to the stairwell and there we sat.  I pulled out the Teddy Grahams and he talked a bit more.  He began to calm down and we talked about a variety of subjects.  He loves History.  I showed him pictures of my father in law in his WW2 uniform and told him some stories about my father in law.

The crisis averted and his anger subsided and soon we were off to the next rotation.  He got a snack even though we were late.  It didn’t matter.  I felt like my friend had experienced a victory.  He managed his anger through conversation and a little help from some Teddy Grahams.  When we got to the end of the day, it was time for worship rally.  I couldn’t help but praise our God in heaven for this small success.  And as if he read my mind, my little friend got up and danced.  It was only a few bars, but he danced.  He clapped his hands and he danced!!

Thursday morning arrived and everyone is dragging just a bit.  And my little friend was no exception.  He entered the gym with a scowl and I asked God for an extra measure of patience.  My friend is exhausting for this old gal.  And I wondered if his mom wasn’t just plain worn out.  I would be.

The morning moved along quickly and in no time at all we were at craft.  The craft was a really neat one as the students were to trace a cross onto water color paper with a black sharpie.  And then using washable markers, they colored their crosses carefully.  When they were all done, the leader would spritz some water onto the paper and all the colors except for the black sharpie would bleed together.  All the other kids understood and followed directions and soon there were the most colorful array of crosses.  My friend likes patterns and I could tell he was intent on making something blue, violet and red.  He meticulously went in order and all was good until he picked up the wrong color marker and made a mistake.  The anger welled up inside him like a volcano and the lava started to ooze out.  He crumpled his paper and squeezed it as tight as he could.  We were in a room with about 40 other children and I quickly asked my friend to walk with me.  I grabbed the bag with the Teddy Grahams.

We left the room and walked around the upstairs hall.  He told me how he hates to make mistakes and he feels so dumb when he does.  Through clenched teeth he told me at least 5 times how much he hates making mistakes.  My heart broke into a million pieces.  I could relate and told him I hated it when I made mistakes too.  And I told him that I liked doing art stuff and I showed him pictures of the cards I like to make.  Then I told him that I had some of that same paper at home and I would bring some tomorrow so he can try the craft again. 

He looked at me with eyes as big as saucers and asked, “You would do that?  You really would bring me some more paper?”

I laughed and said, “Yes.”

He smiled really big and said, “Gee, thanks.”

His anger was under control and we went forward with the day.  We missed snack and half of the worship rally, but he went home content.  I am exhausted.

It’s Friday morning.  I arrived a bit early for VBS.  I feel tired and somewhat satisfied.  It’s been a hard week and yet I feel so certain God lead me down this path to intersect my life with my new friend.  I know I am going to hate to say goodbye and it is with some guilt that I admit I will feel relief as well.  I went to the sanctuary early, before my friend arrived.  I heard later that he was afraid I wouldn’t be at VBS when he didn’t see me in the gym.  Another teacher convinced him that I was already in the “big church” and he cautiously followed her.  He hugged me this morning.  He has my heart.

As we waited for the program to begin he told me about a gift he made.  He meant to bring it, in fact, it was sitting right by the door.  He said he hoped his mom would be able to bring it later.  And then he told me how he took a small jar and decorated it to make a candle holder.  He wanted to make sure I clearly understood that I shouldn’t use real candles because the glass may break.   I promised I would use the battery candles. 

His mom arrived with my gift.  She seems like a really terrific lady and I feel ashamed that I passed judgment on her earlier in the week.  Her life can’t be easy.  I asked God to remind me to pray for her often. 

My friend followed me from worship to drama to Bible story and finally to craft.  Today was a victory in my mind as we completed the entire craft without incident.  After craft we headed to recreation and my friend agreed to sit on the bleachers so I could get some VBS paperwork completed.  He lasted all of five minutes and came in.  He proceeded to tell me it was far too hot outside for him so we went to the gym.  Only a few other people were in the gym and my friend was able to play by himself with a few beach balls.  He was much more coordinated than I expected and it makes me wonder what goes through his mind that causes him to believe he cannot play sports.  His mental illness is cruel.

Finally, it was time for the last rotation of the day and we headed to the sanctuary for the final worship rally.  He still does not participate by singing or dancing, but I can see the joy creeping into his demeanor.  He is less guarded.  He is more relaxed.  I praised God for this sweet moment. 

The music faded and I told my friend that soon he would have to go.  I asked for a hug and he submitted.  We agreed to look for each other on Sunday.  I told him I was so glad we got to be friends.   And as suddenly as he entered my life, they called his carpool line and he was gone. 

I am changed forever by him.

Disturbed

I am saddened by a trend I see among women, especially women my age, who are flocking with eagerness to see a movie or read the latest version of books like 50 shades of Grey, Twilight or Heaven is Real.

I am disturbed by the comments, posts and tweets regarding these books or movies.  Everything from loving a fantasy to a fantasy heaven, these books replace the truth with a lie.  I understand fantasy literature and its intended purpose.  My concern is that Satan takes what is good, in this case literature, and uses it to deceive.  The word of God says our enemy, Satan, is on the prowl like a lion to kill, steal and destroy.

The truth is that heaven is real.  And God has revealed to us all we need to know and all He wants us to know in His word.  John 3:13 says, “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.”  John 1:18 says, “No one has seen God at any time.”  And Hebrews 9:27: "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." 

In Scripture, there are 4 occurrences when God gave a human a glimpse of heaven.  These are not near death experiences, they are Holy Spirit inspired visions.  While Paul felt he could not speak of what he experienced, the other men: Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John, all give a God exalting description in scripture that included, I might add their own powerful fear and trembling at God’s holiness.  These accounts are found in Isaiah 6:1–4; Ezekiel 1, 10; and Revelation 4–6.

First of all, I do not know what Colton Burpo experienced.  And I am certain he is accurately describing what he thought he experienced.  All I know for sure is that his description of heaven does not square with the Bible's description.  Bible trumps man, in my book, every single time. 

What makes this book dangerous is that it replaces the truth with a lie.  We get a warped and unbiblical picture of heaven that not only is bad doctrine that leads to confusion.  It gives a false hope that leads to disappointment.  And when a believer prefers a glossy, pie-in-the-sky account of heaven instead of biblical accuracy, they are walking on thin ice. 

The Twilight books made me feel unsettled since the beginning.  And I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I picked up the first book and began to read it.  I have heard it said that I have missed the whole point of the story.  That there are many redeeming elements of the books....it represents good vs. evil; moral vs. immoral; and the themes of abstinence, marriage, and family overcome. 

I found the story to be intensely sensual where the main character tells lies and where it is ok for a man to stalk a woman, abuse her and control her.  What really disturbs me is the how deeply steeped in the occult these stories are.  And the Bible clearly warns us about flirting with Satan. 

Both the Old and the New Testaments forbid us to have anything to do with the occult.  The occult springs from Satan’s desire to usurp God’s power and authority.  Deuteronomy teaches us God’s opinion of occult practices, and He is quite clear:  they are detestable to him.  See Deuteronomy 18. 

God is also quite clear regarding the drinking of blood.  Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”  Jesus fulfills our need for atonement when He pours out His sacred blood to pay for our sins.  We were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

The Twilight books are dangerous because they replace the truth with a lie.  Resonating with Satan’s lie to Eve to become “like God,” Bella eventually becomes a god-like vampire, perfect in beauty, she escapes her humanity and becomes a goddess. The message of these books is clear.  The way to have immortality or eternal life is to become a vampire.  It eliminates a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It ignores our huge sin problem. And it completely overlooks our need for forgiveness.  The most dangerous part of this message is that it belittles and degrades the work of Christ. 

I remember back in the 70’s when out of the women’s rights movement “Playgirl Magazine” was published.  And I remember thinking “I don’t want a naked man, I want a knight in shining armor.” 

And it is not a secret, the way to a woman’s heart is romance.  Romance novels generate over a billion dollars in sales per year with over 7,000 published books annually in the US alone. 

50 Shades of Grey would fall into the category of a romance novel.  I call it pornography.  It is not necessary to enumerate the dangers of pornography as related to men.  It is epidemic in our society.  The bottom line:  pornography destroys lives, families, and marriages.  And now it is about to spread like a wildfire into a whole new population: women.

1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman [OR MAN] with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This book is dangerous because it replaces the truth with a lie.  The book is written to appeal to a women’s sexual appetites.  And just like a real wife cannot live up to a photo shopped centerfold, neither can a real husband live up to the make believe world of a romance hero.  Just like pornography in a man’s world leaves him discontent at home, so do books like 50 shades of Grey leave a woman emotionally discontent.  It is finding sexual pleasure outside of your marriage.  This is true of both married and unmarried women.

If you have read any of my blog postings, you are aware of how much I admire Daniel of the Old Testament.  Daniel was taken captive by a hostile and culturally very different country.  He went from living in a God-honoring environment to one not unlike America today.  The picture of Babylon is that it was indulgent and permissive, in every way.  It was an extravagant and extreme philosophy, not just a city.  And to live there was to follow this path.  Except for Daniel and his three friends. 

And so, my friends in Christ, we are called to be the Daniel’s of our day.  To be resolved not to be defiled by the ways of “Babylon.”   We are commanded to live by a higher standard.  Leviticus 11:45 says, “I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” And it is repeated in 1 Peter 1:15-16 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”  I do not want to be “holier than thou.”  I want to be a Daniel….set apart to impact a nation or maybe just one person. But to do all that I do because I have a heart like His. 

Let’s be determined to influence Babylon and not let Babylon influence us.

Where?

A few weeks ago was Mother's day and as I perused Facebook, it occurred to me that Mother's day is not always a wonderful holiday for everyone.  The weeks leading up to Mother's day, my friend  spent in the hospital as they watched their son lose his battle with heart disease.  My friend is regularly on my mind and it has made me aware even more than ever that in the midst of the affluence of north Texas, there is also much pain and suffering.  So on Mother's day I posted on Facebook this comment:  "I am profoundly aware that this day can be as painful for some as it is joyful for others. Praying for those who are hurting today. Christ's grace is sufficient."

The event of my friend's son's memorial service has opened my eyes to see people around me just a little bit differently.  I can't quite put my finger on it but I know that God is at work wanting to awaken my compassion and shape me to look and act more like Christ.  I am trying very hard to cooperate with Him. 

But back to Facebook for a moment.  I check my Facebook page regularly enough to keep up with what is going on in the lives of my friends and acquaintances.  Reading Facebook often reminds me of receiving that Christmas card in the mail. You know the one I mean.  The one with the three page newsletter describing in detail the events of The Perfect Family.

Now before anyone gets offended, let me assure you.....I have sent said letter for many Christmases.  But I have to admit, often my letters were purposefully vague.   Everything wasn't always perfect in our family. 

And then it struck me.  Where do people go when they can't go to Facebook?  After all, I've never seen this posted on Facebook:  "So proud of my girl!  Today she will graduate at the bottom of her class.  Somebody had to do it and my baby girl did!"

Or this post:  "Thrilled to announce my son's job loss.  This would be his third since graduating college last year.  Way to go, son!"

Or how about this one:  "Discovered my kid's alcohol stash today.  So proud of myself for being clever enough to check under the bathroom sink.  Smarter than an 8th grader!"

What if your Facebook post would say:  "While your daughter was graduating, mine was arrested for shoplifting!"

Where?  Where do people go when their life looks like this?  I don't know where they go.  I know where my friends went and I know where I go.  I want to tell you so you can go there too.  His name is Jesus.  And the Bible says in I Peter 5:7 that we can cast all our anxiety on him (Jesus) because he
cares for you.  Isn't that wonderful news?  One translation says "throw your whole anxiety on him."  I like the image that creates in my mind.  I throw like a girl but when it comes to my troubles I can hurl them to the feet of Jesus.

I love what I found in Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834].  Mr. Barnes writes about 1 Peter 5:7 and says:  "The meaning is, that we are to commit our whole cause to him. If we suffer heavy trials; if we lose our friends, health, or property; if we have arduous and responsible duties to perform; if we feel that we have no strength, and are in danger of being crushed by what is laid upon us, we may go and cast all upon the Lord; that is, we may look to him for grace and strength, and feel assured that he will enable us to sustain all that is laid upon us. The relief in the case will be as real, and as full of consolation, as if he took the burden and bore it himself. He will enable us to bear with ease what we supposed we could never have done; and the burden which he lays upon us will be light."

I hope you didn't miss any of that.  Read it again.  Did you notice that relief will be real?  I assure you it is. And my friends who lost their son?  They can assure you too.  Mr. Barnes could not be more accurate.  But why can we trust Jesus like that?  It says because He cares for you.  I wonder do you know what it means that Jesus cares?

Jesus is not a god that is distant and uncaring like what you would find in Greek or Roman mythology.  Jesus is not a myth.  The word care means with watchful care of interest and affection.  God's love for each of us is real and it is demonstrative.  It says in Romans 5:8 "that God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Oh how He loves you and me!

So where do you go when you are being crushed? Where do you go when your Facebook post would shock your friends or when your Christmas letter would get you shunned by the family.  Where?  Follow me to Jesus and start casting because He cares for you!

Peter

Yes, Peter!  A fisherman.  A Galilean.  A sanguine. A man who had been with Jesus.    Acts 4:13 says, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."  I want people to take note that this girl has "been with Jesus."

After 3 years with Jesus, Peter is still impetuous, impulsive, and insecure. Remember in the garden how he draws his sword and cuts off the ear of the nearby soldier?  And just a few hours later he's in the courtyard denying Christ.  Poor thing, lacking the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter is a mess.

I can identify with this Peter.  I'm sure many others can too.  But what's so attractive about Peter isn't his raw humanness; its his transformation.  Oh how God loves us.  The word says he knew us before we were born and he fashioned us in our mother's womb.  But God never intended us to stay immature.  He desires to take all those coarse personality traits and transform them into a magnificent and distinctive thing of beauty.  Because I'm a girl who loves jewelry.....I think of myself as a plain ordinary rock that God is chiseling away to become something like the Hope diamond.  Not for my gain or beauty but for God's glory!  It's what he did for Peter.

Take a look at 2 Peter, chapter 1.  I've always regarded that Peter's transformation was a work of God through the Holy Spirit.  And by no means do I intend to change that position.  It always begins and ends with God.  But I also think we have some responsibility to cooperate and mature.  And I just keep wondering if there's something I'm missing.  How did Peter go from A to Z in just a few months?  I've been a believer many, many years and I dare say I haven't even gotten to M.  Then I read (well and studied) 2 Peter 1:1-9.

There is so much in these verses it blows my mind.  Verse one alone is so profound.  It begins with Simon Peter, a servant.  Peter never failed to remember he was once Simon, but Jesus called him Peter.  Peter knew his past but he also knew his future and Peter was certain of his calling.  In humility he did not consider himself better than others, but served them as Christ served.

Look with me at 2 Peter 1:5-7: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."

Very specific instructions to make every effort to grow....to mature in Christ Jesus.  What helped me the most was looking up and writing down the definition of the words in this list.  Sure, I had a working knowledge of these words but something struck me as I wrote out each definition.

Virtue:  conformity to a standard of right
Knowledge:  a skill you gain from education and experience
Self-Control:  control over your feelings and actions
Steadfastness:  firm in purpose
Godliness:  conforming to the ways of God
Brotherly affection:  affection for and devotion to
Love:  Christ-like, 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love

I noticed this progression of behavior changing and knowledge learning determination to "take every thought captive" and to "lay hold of." And I wondered out loud if this 55 year old had the strength. And I asked God to teach me.  And then my eyes fell upon verse 3.  Oh such sweet words....

I liked the Common English Version best:  "By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory."

I already have all I need.  Peter knew it.  Now we know it too.  So no more excuses. I have everything I need to go from Simon to Peter. But it requires knowledge of the one who called us.  Get to know Jesus.  Get to know him well and watch your life transform.  Digging deeper because I want others to know I've been with Jesus.



Forgiveness

Back in May I shared a little bit about a broken relationship.  Things are better, but well, still broken. Except that I know my God, I would have given up.  Except that I know my God, I would have walked away.

I won’t go into gory details but suffice it to know, I am wounded.  And I think it is fair to assume the other person is wounded as well.  So as I am working through these emotions, the most exciting thing happened.  I found this priceless jewel.

Are you ready?

In Sunday school, my friend is teaching from Exodus, chapter 1.  My Bible is laying open on my lap with Genesis 50 on the left and Exodus 1 on the right.  All of a sudden I hear God whisper to me, "Do you see it?”  I thought to myself, “What should I see, God?”  He replies, “The legacy of forgiveness.”

The legacy of forgiveness.  Wow.  Tears filled my eyes and the picture comes into focus.  I see Israel as this nation, 2 million or so people living in Egypt.  Did you know that when they went to Egypt about 400 years earlier they were a family of 70?  Now, at the time of Moses they are a nation. A nation in bondage to the Egyptian Pharaoh.

But God is about to rescue them.  You see his promise to Abraham was to make Abraham's descendants too numerous to count. But God also promised that the world would be blessed through Abraham's descendants.  This blessing comes wrapped in swaddling clothes, dies on the cross for our sins, and rises again to sit at the right hand of the Father.  His name is Jesus.

God is going to preserve this nation and bring forth our Savior through the nation of Israel.  We get to experience God and know God because of this nation.  A nation that would not exist except that one page before and 400  years earlier, Joseph chose to forgive.  Joseph chose to leave a legacy of forgiveness.

Oh, Lord, that I may forgive as Joseph did. May I forgive as you do.

So, my friend, whatever comes into your life that might hurt your heart or wound your spirit I pray that you would be quick to give it to God, quick to put it behind you and especially quick to focus on the legacy of forgiveness.

Postscript 9/2/2013  As I have been contemplating this forgiveness legacy; it occured to me that offense is Satan's greatest weapon because forgiveness is God's greatest offer.  Read that again and let it sink deep into your heart.

Committment

Recently I began reading a book called What's it like to be married to me? by Linda Dallow. Actually, I am in a small group that is reading the book together as a sort of Bible study. To say the book is a challenge would be a gross understatement. While I recommend the book to every gal who is, was or intends to be married; the book is not for the faint of heart. It cuts to the core of some very real challenges we must overcome in order to make our marriages work.

At the end of the first set of assignments, there is one particular task that I really enjoyed. I finished reading the chapter just before heading to Boston for a visit. The thought of seeing all the places that were important during the birth of our nation, hearing and reading about the heros and battles, and learning about the uniqueness of the founding documents set my mind afire. So with that as the background, I dove head first into the assignment.

At the end of chapter 1, we were supposed to write a personal Marriage Purpose Statement. The intent is to think about, pray through and form a statement that could serve as a roadmap to where you want your marriage to go. The thought is that if we don't plan for success, we very well may end up with a disaster. Since I've been married almost 33 years, the following statement is more like an affirmation of where I have come from as much as it is where I want to go. The following is what I wrote.

Declaration of Commitment (an imitation of the Declaration of Independence)

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for this wife to strengthen the bonds which have connected her with her husband and with great respect to the opinion of God it requires that I should declare the causes which compel me to remain committed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all women are in need of love and all men are in need of respect, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable duties to leave their mother and father and to cleave unto one another and that to secure these duties insures the two shall become one. Marriages are instituted by God deriving their power from the Holy Spirit. And whenever a marriage becomes destructive it is the Right of the wife to alter her ways and institute new patterns which lay its foundation on biblical principles and organizing her life in such form, as to most likely effect her life for God's glory. The Almighty dictates that marriages long established should not be dissolved for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evil behavior prevails. But when a long train of changes persist pursuing the same Object, God, they shall produce a design which reduces the chance of separation. Such has been the patient experience of this wife. The history of and with the present Patriarch of the Arebalo Family is a history of mistakes, grace, love and commitment all having a direct effect on this woman's life. To prove this, let the evidence of our 33rd anniversary be submitted to a candid world.

I would also add that inspite of the challenges, a life with this man as we pursue God together has been worth every minute. And I would say to those who are in a hard place right now, seek first the kingdom of God and remain committed.