Christian

Coyote Alert

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Our doorbell rang the other night. Our next door neighbor and his seven-year-old daughter popped over to introduce us to their new eleven-week-old puppy. He was a tiny thing and may only gain a couple more pounds during his lifetime. He’s such a cutie. That little girl was so proud of her new puppy. She said she lets him sleep with her. I told her that she could bring him over anytime she wanted.

A few months ago, I was having a conversation with that same neighbor. He had told me that, at one point, they had owned a dog. He said he wasn’t sure he wanted to get another one, because he was concerned about coyotes in our area. Now. They have a new puppy. All fears of coyotes attacking a very small dog must have been put to rest. Or. Perhaps it was the constant asking and asking for a puppy by his ever loving daughter. It doesn’t really matter the reason that worn him down. What matters is that they never let this tiny dog outside unattended. Especially in the dark. I’ve never seen a coyote in the area, but I have heard them. And they sound like they’re the ones being attacked and torn apart.

I’m reminded of the neighborhood we left ten months ago. For some unresolved reason, I still follow that neighborhood page on a popular social media site. That small neighborhood nestled in the midst of a large city has recently been targeted by a band of coyotes. And these coyotes aren’t being shy about their intentions. In full view, they follow people walking their dogs during the daytime. They’ve been caught on camera walking right up to someone’s front door or just sitting near the driveway. They’ve made themselves known, and not in a good way. They’ve become a menace to the neighborhood. Recently, one person who lived two doors down from us uploaded a video of the woods behind the neighborhood. The only thing visible was the trees, but the sound was ominous. The coyotes were in perfect harmony with the sirens going by on the freeway. I would hate to be a pet owner in that neighborhood these days.

As I said, I haven’t seen a coyote in my current neighborhood. I’m not sure what makes me more uncomfortable. Seeing the threat or not seeing it. It pays to always be on guard for unseen predators. We can consider ourselves warned when we see or hear predators in our neighborhoods. We have to be prepared for the unthinkable. And we have to know that a predator can appear at any time, ready or not.

I realize a coyote isn’t a wolf, but they both have cunning tendencies. The coyote likes to hide in tall grass in search of its prey. And there is a plot of land behind my neighborhood that the owner doesn’t keep mowed. The grass has been getting tall. It would be a fine hiding place for an animal of prey seeking its next victim. My neighbor has a rightful fear of leaving his small dog unattended near that area behind our houses.

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

These situations remind me of a podcast I listened to earlier in the week. The president of a Christian university was being interviewed about how he makes sure the university he leads remains a solid biblical school. The conversation revolved around un-Christian biases that have penetrated biblically sound schools of higher education. They talked about secular schools where it’s common practice to teach from a secular worldview. And the fact that, at those schools, they don’t have to be dressed as sheep when they’re clearly wolves.

But a school that calls itself Christian is another beast. While the school may have the word “Christian” in its name, does it require students, faculty and staff to sign a covenant attesting that they are living biblically? Does it hire only sound Christian staff and faculty? Does it accept only students who are determined to live a biblical worldview? Because if the school doesn’t have a strong, unwavering standard, secular ideologies will creep in. Oh. It may takes years for the change to be noticeable, but there will be change over time.

The concern is that schools that have always been touted as Christian have been infiltrated by non-Christian leaders and teachers. They also admit a high percentage of nonbelievers into their student body each year. The belief has always been that they will convert the nonbelievers to faithful followers of Christ. But the statistics have shown that the opposite happens. The problem is that once people who don’t profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are allowed into the school in different roles, they will begin implementing nonbiblical teachings and practices wherever they can. And over time, the school will be turned into a den of wolves, hardly recognizable in the Christian community. Is that what Christians want?

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20

Wolves don’t destroy the church from the outside — they lead it from the pulpit. ~Bible in Context

The church’s greatest threat today isn’t from other religions. It’s from false teachers within the church who are leading unknowing believers far from the truth. It happens not only in Christian schools, but also in churches and businesses. Any organization that says it stands for Christian values must be on guard against the devil’s ploys. Their hiring practices and organizational decisions must reflect a biblical worldview. Otherwise, it’s a counterfeit Christian organization.

Christian teachers and leaders must faithfully and humbly live a Christian life? Are they honest, or are they a hypocrite? Do they cheat or take questionable shortcuts in their work? We all know that actions speak louder than words. Evil and deception can be found in Christian settings.

As followers of Christ, we need to know what a sheep wearing wolves clothes looks and sounds like. We can’t claim innocence if we haven’t done our due diligence and can’t spot a fake. That means we need to study the Bible so we know what we’re looking for. We should be able to evaluate someone’s words and lives in comparison to the Bible. Do they pass the smell test of biblical Christianity? They may be friendly and nice, but they’re enemies of the kingdom of God. They are counterfeit Christians. Basically, they’re double agents. We have to be on guard against those who appear to be Christian, but inwardly they are agents of Satan.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was wood, he was one of them. ~Turkish Proverb

Don’t Make Me Spit You Out

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Amaziah became king of Judah when he was twenty five years old. His father had been assassinated, so he was next to ascend the throne. Amaziah ruled Judah in a similar manner as his father, Joash. They both served God, but not wholeheartedly. This simply means that they worshipped God, but they weren’t loyal to him. Let’s just say that they both compromised their faith, and each time there were disastrous results. This father and son duo were of the line of David, but unlike King David they served God with a divided heart.

Since Amaziah was a follower of God in name only, he did not destroy the pagan shrines in his country. His people were allowed to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Some things that Amaziah did, though, pleased God. But this one act of offering sacrifices to idols, which wasn’t a small matter, greatly displeased God. Oh. His father led the country the same way, you may argue. That doesn’t make it right. And it doesn’t make it any less pleasing to God.

And then there was that one day in Amaziah’s reign when he became too proud. He had defeated the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau. Esau was the twin brother of Jacob, also known as Israel. At this point in history, Israel had been torn apart by infighting. The Israelites had rebelled against the house of David, all because they differed on who should be crowned king after Solomon died. Ten of the twelve tribes favored Jeroboam, and the other two tribes chose Rehoboam. So the twelve tribes split. The ten tribes to the north kept the name of Israel, while the two southern tribes were called Judah. This split occurred as a consequence of Solomon’s sin.

After that short history lesson, let’s go back to Amaziah’s pride.

After he defeated Edom, Amaziah turned around and worshipped their idols. Why would he deliberately choose to worship idols that couldn’t protect the people who worshipped them? And then he arrogantly began plotting to battle against his neighbor, Israel. He thought his two small tribes were capable of defeating the ten tribes of Israel. Foolish. He couldn’t say he wasn’t warned. He shouldn’t have provoked a fight he couldn’t win.

Jehoash, the king of Israel, warned him of the impending disaster. So, Jehoash did the only thing he knew to do. He went to battle with Amaziah and the army of Judah. And guess who won. It wasn’t Judah, and it wasn’t pretty. Israel captured Amaziah and other hostages, and then they plundered the Temple of God taking vast amounts of gold and silver and other Temple articles. Jehoash’s men also broke down some of the wall surrounding Jerusalem and plundered the king’s house, as well. It was a sound defeat.

Amaziah went down in history, but not the way he planned. He made a fool of himself, all for personal glory. He failed miserably. He had let pride get in the way of following God. Oh. There were times he did what looked right to those looking on, but in his heart he was resentful. History tells us that after his loss to Israel, he was hated by his countrymen. In the end, he was hunted and killed by his own people.

You can read the full story of the life of Amaziah in 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

The story of King Amaziah is a reminder today to people who call themselves Christians. We want to look good to those watching us, but we may be resentful and proud. We want to be known as Christians, but we don’t wholeheartedly live as one. We may be born again Christians, but have we fully committed to living a biblical life? Do we look at today’s culture through a biblical lens, or are we looking at the Bible through a cultural lens?

The George Barna research identifies two types of people who call themselves Christians. One group is the self identified Christians, and then there are the theologically identified born again Christians. Self identified Christians say they’re a Christian when asked about their spirituality. They believe they’re going to heaven because they’ve been a good enough person, not necessarily because their sins have been forgiven. The theologically identified born again Christians say they know they’re going to spend eternity in heaven. They admit that without Jesus they don’t have a shot of entering heaven.

People do not want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who only want Him to be their friend, and are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. ~Oswald Chambers

George Barna says that the church has so little power in our culture today because we can’t get clarity on what the Bible teaches us. Which is true if we think about it. If, as a self identifying Christian, we don’t believe the Bible is truth, why do we even call ourselves a Christian? Barna says we aren’t willing to put in the effort to live an authentic Christian life. We believe we personally have a better way, and we put ourselves at the center of our lives. We believe that we’re just basically good people. The Bible says exactly the opposite of those beliefs.

Most self identifying Christians don’t understand even the basics of Biblical Christianity. ~Natasha Crain

We want Jesus to be our friend, instead of Lord of our lives. What does it mean to us when we say we’re Christians? When we identify as a Christian, we must be sincere about our faith. It isn’t just an identity. It is a way of life. It is daily walking in step with Christ. Self-sacrificially bowing to his will. And we must do the hard work of reading our Bible, going to church and applying what we learn to changing our lives.

John, the writer of the book of Revelation, saw a vision of an angel speaking to the church of Laodicea. In that vision, he told the church that they were neither hot or cold. They were lukewarm and would be spit from the mouth of God. The same goes for us today. What kind of Christian life do we live? Are we on fire for God, or are we totally turned against him? Or. Do we say we are on fire for God, yet all the while living in violation of our claims? We can’t have it both ways. And we have to know that God knows our hearts. He will judge us accordingly. And yes, there is a heaven to gain and a hell to lose. It is our choice.

The lukewarm Christian has enough of Jesus to satisfy a craving for religion, but not enough for eternal life. ~David Guzik

In Times Like These

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King Ahab. He had every opportunity to turn his heart toward God, but he always turned away. Even when God gave him victory after victory over his enemies, his heart was hardened toward God. And instead of admitting that his blatant disobedience to God was his problem, he blamed the prophet Elijah for all his trouble. Oh. Ahab’s failure to bow to God’s will wasn’t Elijah’s fault. Ahab had a choice, as always. Go God’s way or make your own path. And he always chose his own path, which later led to the destruction of his nation. Sure. He had some momentary victories. But momentary victories are fleeting. Sooner or later, the truth will find you out. And it found Ahab at an inconvenient time. As if there is a convenient time to have the truth shouted at you.

There are consequences for everything we do. And the consequences do not always affect only the guilty party, but others, as well. Our family. Our neighborhood. Our city. Our state. Our nation. Our employer or employees. Someone pays the price for disobedience or greed or violence or any type of ungodly behavior. Ungodliness has a price tag.

And what does this have to do with us today? You ask. Have you seen the news this week? The videos of the out of control riots in Los Angeles? Have you heard about the attack on a world terror a few days ago? Have you heard about the two state legislators and their spouses who were gunned down because of they way they voted? And the continual wars and rumors of wars? Have you heard of the threats to every American base in the Middle East from one of our adversaries? Have you heard of out of control politicians, not only in this country, but other countries, as well? Have you heard of the outrage about higher taxes and political leaders stuffing their bank accounts with money earned under the table?

It isn’t just ungodly politicians and politics. It’s anyone who doesn’t call on the name of God and repent of their sins. Any of us have the potential to live ungodly lives and snub our nose at God. We are all born with evil in our hearts. It’s just our bent. Sinning, that is. But we also have the potential to repent and live a life that honors God. We must humble ourselves before God and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will God honor us.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. Genesis 6:5

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:7-10

At times in life, it appears that evil is winning. We see it all around us. It was the same scenario in Elijah’s time. And Elijah was the bearer of bad news to King Ahab. But he knew that, in good time, Ahab would pay for his rebellious ways. The problem with Ahab was that he did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes, even more so than other kings before him. And he had married the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Her name was Jezebel. And she led him further and further away from God. She actually led him into idol worship, further angering God while at the same time pleasing his wife. The Bible tells us that Ahab did more to provoke the anger of God than any other king of Israel before him. He was evil.

But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord ’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord , the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. 1 Kings 16:30-33

No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord ’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites. 1 Kings 21:25-26

It wasn’t that King Ahab didn’t have opportunities to repent and turn to God. There were devoted followers of God working with him. He didn’t just hire rebellious thugs similar to himself. He had godly men in his circle, as well. One such man was a prophet named Obadiah. Imagine being in his shoes. A godly man working with the most ungodly king of all times. But Obadiah’s faith didn’t waver. He stood strong in a hostile environment. On one occasion when Jezebel was on a killing spree, he hid one hundred prophets who were as devoted as Obadiah was in following God.

Many devoted followers of Christ are walking in Obadiah’s shoes today. They stand strong in their godly convictions, determined to honor God, yet they work in an environment hostile to biblical teachings. Their jobs may prove to be on the line if they don’t bow to the demands to cater to secular ideals. They may feel compelled to hide their beliefs in order to stay employed. But they must know that God is with them. He will give them courage and strength to stand strong in their faith. They need only ask.

In times like these you need a Savior, 

In times like these you need an anchor; 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; 

This Rock is Jesus, The only One! 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 

In times like these you need the Bible, 

In times like these O be not idle; 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

In times like these I have a Savior, 

In times like these I have an anchor; 

I’m very sure, I’m very sure 

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; 

This Rock is Jesus, The only One! 

I’m very sure, I’m very sure 

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

~~Ruth Caye Jones

So. The question is. What time is it for you? Do you have a Savior, or do you need a Savior?

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

Pickleball Mafia

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

So I’ve joined the world of pickleball. And I’ve discovered that I like it. It’s fun. It gets me moving. I try to play once a week. I’m a beginner, but I’m seeing improvement in my game. So I think there’s hope. Oh. Not that I’ll ever be a professional or play in a tournament. Nothing like that. That’s not my goal. But it’s nice to get in an outdoor aerobic workout on a sunny day. It feels good to move around and hit the ball. And I’ve met some new people.

We’re a group of six to eight retirees who met at our pickleball lessons in April. We’re all at the same beginner level and have continued to meet after we completed the four-week class. Some of us have moved to the area in the last few years and others are long-time residents. We’re there to have fun and get a little exercise. So far it’s working.

There is one in our group who told me in front of the group that I needed to correct my serve. I kindly let her know that my serving style was completely legal in the world of pickleball. I could have pointed her biggest flaw out to her, which has to be obvious to the entire group. She doesn’t like to move, so she stands in one spot and never goes out of her way to hit the ball if it’s not directly in her path. And she calls the ball out too many times when her opponents can’t see if it really is in or out. We’re all beginners and have much room for improvement, so let’s be kind and gracious to each other.

We play at the courts in a public park. There are eight courts in this particular park and are open to the public. They’re free of charge and can’t be reserved. It’s first come, first serve. If you’ve been playing for an hour and there are groups waiting, then you must step aside to allow others a chance to play. Sounds harmless. Right? Right.

I’ve been informed by others who are more knowledgeable about these things that there are groups of pickleballers who take the game very seriously. I mean. They’re serious about their pickleball. I think our group has recently run into such a group. We were informed by a member of said group that they use four of the courts for advanced players and the other four for those less experienced. And then after each game, they rotate to play with different players in their set of four courts. And they also use a specific color of ball so they know who is in their group. It was subtly suggested to our group that we follow their rules. Really?

It seems that some in our group were willing to abide by this other group’s rules, but a couple of us were dead set against it. I reminded our group that we are playing at a public park where courts can’t be reserved. We play at our leisure and abide by the park’s rules and regulation pickleball rules. No one else’s. So, to back up my stand on the issue, I called the park district and talked through the situation with someone a few days later. When I explained our dilemma and provided all the details, I let the gentleman know that my goal wasn’t to cause trouble but to get the facts straight. He informed me that he knew exactly who I was talking about. Apparently, this group I call the pickleball mafia have done the same thing to other groups. He said he would speak to them.

And one in their group walked over to our group in the midst of our game and gave us a playing tip. Oh. She was polite, but it felt intrusive. Who does that? And a member of our group actually recognized her and called her by name. Then she was forced to acknowledge the relationship. How odd.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Oh. I know. It’s just a game. That’s right. It is. And we want it to stay that way.

So. The question is this. How do we get along with others who try to manipulate us? How do we work with someone who tries to one-up us? Here’s the catch with that type of scenario. The more you give in to them, the more they’ll try to take. And how do you ever get back to the way things should have been, in the first place? It’s an age old dilemma.

Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. For you know how often you yourself have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:20-22

At the same time, we don’t have to be a doormat and let others walk all over us. We should stand up for what we know is right and true and good. Fairness never grows old. And as Christians, how do we deal with situations where others are trying to exert more control than they really have? How do we kindly and Christianly stand up for ourselves without insulting others?

The Word of God offers so much wisdom on dealing with others and with how to navigate difficult situations. We must live wisely, because not everyone we meet is a believer. Not everyone is looking out for the best interests of others. As Christ followers, we must stand apart and be a godly example in our conduct and our speech. We can’t allow Satan to lead us down the path of ungodly behavior. And we can’t just look away and accept unacceptable behavior.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

We’re also told in the books of Romans that we can’t repay someone when they plan evil against us. We must do what is right in the eyes of everyone, because along with everyone else, God is also watching. And as far as it depends on us, we must live at peace with everyone. That is a tall order, it may seem, especially in certain situations. But when the other party is set on evil, we set our eyes on eternity and act accordingly. We must seek peace and pursue it, but not at the cost of accepting evil standards.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

As we pursue Christ, let’s remember to keep a sharp mind, a soft heart and thick skin.

Alisa Childers

Love and Obedience

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Jesus was both loved and hated. Those who loved him were faithful followers who hung on his every word. They believed his message. They longed to see him perform miracles and change lives. They whispered about him behind closed doors, longing to spend more time with him. They wondered if he was the promised Messiah.

But then there were the haters. They too listened to his words, but they were appalled at what they heard. They asked him what they thought were hard questions, trying to trip him up. He answered all their questions with ease or with silence. They hated his teaching because his words pointed directly at their sin, and their sin was their identity. They didn’t want to change in any way, shape or form. They wanted to be rid of him, even if it meant violence against him. They hunted him and talked about him behind closed doors plotting revenge.

Jesus was gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. He was sharing with them about his upcoming death. They weren’t understanding clearly what he was telling them, and they were confused as to why he was telling only them. Why not tell the masses?

One of the disciples asked Jesus why he was planning to reveal his mission only to his closest followers and not to the masses. But when you think about it, why would anyone reveal such intimate information to those who don’t support them? Why give the haters one more thing to plot against? Oh sure. At the appointed time, revealing his true identity and mission was necessary. But it wasn’t yet time. Jesus’ own disciples still had doubts that he had to deal with. So, why go to the masses with your most private but soon to be ultimate destiny?

Jesus spoke simply and plainly to his disciples when he explained that only those who love him would obey him. And if we truly love him, we will keep his word. There will be no question of our commitment. That can’t be said for those who hate him. Jesus also knew that once his work was completed on this earth the Holy Spirit would come to instruct those who loved him. And anyone who rejects Jesus also rejects his Father and would not receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus lived in complete reliance on and submission to his Father. There was no line he would cross or attitude he would cop in rebellion against his Father’s plan for his life. And he knew there was a price he would pay when he relinquished his heavenly body for an earthly one. He knew the price would be high, and he was willing to pay it in an earthly body that would hold him for no more than thirty three years. But he couldn’t speak publicly of the plans. They were for certain ears only. And his disciples were the chosen audience.

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matthew 12:30

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. John 14:22-24

Jesus’ disciples thought he was planning to establish an earthly kingdom and then overthrow Rome, so they couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t go public with his plan. But the plans set out for the Son of God had nothing to do with an earthly kingdom, and Jesus had plans to share the details with only those who loved and obeyed him. He knew anyone else would try to sabotage his ministry.

Love is a commitment. When we choose to love and obey God, we must understand the strength of that bond. God sacrificed his only Son for our sins, so we must love him with everything we’ve got. Otherwise, is it really love? Some say there is a fine line between love and hate. But, I wonder. How fine is that line? Perhaps it depends on the relationship and the reasons behind the love or hate. In this passage of Scripture, there is a definite distinction between those who love Jesus and those who don’t. And Jesus must treat the two groups differently. The groups don’t have the same values or mission. One is out to win the world for Jesus, and the other is out for blood. Jesus’ blood, that is. Love is not out for blood. Only hate seeks revenge and destruction. Only hate seeks to destroy those who disagree with you. Love seeks open discussion and reconciliation, not retaliation.

We read in Deuteronomy that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. This level of commitment to our Lord and Savior is in acknowledgment of the fact that the Lord alone is God. And because of our love for God, we must abide by his commandments. Even if those who hate God or are just opposed to the teachings of Jesus also oppose us and our beliefs, we must stand firm in our faith and commitment.

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Obedience is the necessary consequence of love.
— James Smith

The Heart of It All

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So. We bought this house late last summer. Oh. The stone on the front facade is a look I have always disliked. I’ve just never cared for it, but there it is on the front of a house that I willingly bought. And I’m definitely not going to invest money to replace it with something I prefer. That’s just not in the budget. There are many other updates that I want to put my money and hard work toward, so I ignore the ugly stone as much as I can and concentrate on the parts of the house that I love.

And then I step inside my home. Oh. Every wall is still currently painted white. The floor is a lighter color than I would have chosen. I have paint swatches and wallpaper samples taped to the walls, and I’ve placed rugs in a couple of rooms. I’m making plans to update light fixtures and to paint the cabinets. I’d like to replace the garden tub with a walk-in shower. Those things will happen, but they will take time because we have some big ticket items to consider. We need to install a new HVAC system, and we need to replace part of the roof. We have foggy windows that need replaced. And these updates will come all in good time.

We’ve made this house our home, and it’s a comfortable place to live. Bright light shines in through the tall living room windows and the doors. Fresh breezes flow through the house on nice days. I’m working to make this house a cozy place where we will enjoy growing old. And so far, it’s working. We love being in our home.

The thing is. If I had to buy this house based on the exterior of it alone, I would have passed on it. Not because I disliked the shape of house, because I don’t dislike it. I just don’t like the look of the stone. It’s dated and ugly and way too expensive to replace. But it was the inside of the house that drew me in. The layout. The beauty of the tall wooden ceilings. The shape of the A-frame feels rustic and homey. It is a welcoming place.

The way I’m working on making my home a place I genuinely love reminds me of the story of how David was anointed as the second king of Israel. God was displeased with King Saul’s continued disobedience, so he let Saul know that none of his sons would inherit his place on the throne. Imagine being the prophet Samuel who had to break that news to the king of Israel. But he did it. He shared the bad news.

And God then told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the next king. The problem is. God didn’t tell Samuel which son he had chosen. He told Samuel he would let him know who was the chosen son when he arrived in Bethlehem. When Samuel arrived at the house, he came with an offering to present to God. It was a heifer. Jesse and his sons were invited to the sacrifice where God would tell Samuel which son was to be the next king.

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

When Samuel saw the first son, he was impressed and thought this must be the one. But God told him to keep looking. After checking out six more sons, God had still not given the green light to any of them. So Samuel asked if there were more sons. Oh. One more. The youngest. You don’t want to see him. He’s not worthy. Bring him to me, said Samuel. And when David was brought in to face Samuel, God let him know that the future king of Israel was standing before him. Samuel then anointed David in front of his father and brothers before they sat down to enjoy a feast.

Each time one of the first seven sons stood before Samuel, he thought they looked fine. All he could see was their physical appearance. But God was looking at their heart. And God had told Samuel earlier that he was looking for someone with a heart toward Him. He wanted a king who would obediently follow God while he led his country. Not a small task, at all. And when David entered the room, Samuel knew this was God’s chosen one.

Oh. We would later learn that David was far from perfect. He messed up big time. But he always turned back to God and repented of his sins. The results of momentary temptations and lusts brought him to his knees as he watched the son born of his sin die in infancy. But he arose from his knees a forgiven and changed man. He was a warrior and led the nation of Israel in many victorious wars against enemy nations. He planned and prepared for the temple that his son Solomon, the next king of Israel, would build. He was a man after God’s own heart.

Too many times we look at ourselves and wonder what God sees in us. But when we faithfully follow him, even though we may stumble, he is faithful to us. He will forgive us when we sin, as long as we repent. He knows our hearts. He knows if we have a true leaning toward being a child of God, or if we’re just playing around with our faith. He’s looking for seriously committed followers who will live out their beliefs in public. Oh. We’re not faultless, but we must be repentant when we do sin.

Just as my new home needs repairs and updates that may not be visible to the naked eye, so is our heart when it comes to spiritual growth. God sees us as we are, and he knows the work he has ordained for us. Throughout our lifetime of serving him, God will work on the areas of our heart that are not fully in tune with him. When we allow God to correct and prune us, we will grow in his likeness. When we surrender our sinful nature to him, we will experience a lifetime of growth. Just as my house has not been well cared for through the years, we can’t allow our spiritual growth to become stagnant, because our faith will erode and decay. We need daily spiritual nourishment from God’s word, prayer and fellowship with other believers. It is a lifetime of faithful obedience that draws us closer to God and makes us more like him.

It’s Ok

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I recently watched a video of America’s Got Talent from four years ago. A young woman singing under the name of Nightbirde sang an original song titled “It’s Ok.” But things weren’t really ok in her life. She had had cancer for several years and had been given only a two percent change of survival. Yet she lived with a life full of joy and happiness. She said, and I quote, “it’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” And when she sang the words of her song, the calmness and confidence in her voice earned her the golden buzzer. She said that you don’t have to wait until your life is perfect in order to be happy.

And she’s right.

There was a look of astonishment on the face of each of the judges as they listened to her story. Those judges who had fame and fortune at their fingertips were very unsure of how to handle someone who was so calmly dealing with a life threatening illness. Little did they know at that audition that this young woman had only months to live. Oh. They gave her high praise, saying her performance was very powerful and authentic. They were touched not only by her voice, but also with her story.

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. That’s what she said, and she meant it. She lived through hard times, and yet she was glowing with peace and happiness. Knowing that she had only a two percent change of surviving the cancer that was ravaging her body, she lived well. And she lived forgiven.

This young woman was a child of God. She had laid her fears and faults and sins at the feet of her Savior, and he had forgiven her. She knew that if the ninety-eight percent chance of dying came true, she would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. And that’s where she is today. She’s in eternity. She didn’t let fear of the unknown diminish her joy.

I dare to ask myself. If I had a two percent change of surviving some horrendous disease, how happy and calm would I be? I’m not sure I can answer that today, because I haven’t been dealt that diagnosis. I don’t know how I would respond to a medical death sentence. Would I calmly look death in the face and keep moving forward? Would I fight back? Would I look for alternate treatments? Would I listen to my doctors? Would I stand strong in the face of pain and suffering? Would I shrivel up in the fetal position and not get out of bed? I don’t know.

And the song that she sang. It’s Ok. She believed it was ok that her life was falling apart. That there was a high probability she wouldn’t grow old. That she would lose her life before it ever really began. And she was ok with that? If I were in her shoes, would I be ok? I don’t know.

Her friend said that “Jesus is why Jane believed a painfully tragic life could still be worth living—that life could be beautiful even when the world came crashing down.” Do I believe that to be true? Absolutely, yes, I do.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be facing a death sentence in order for life to be difficult. We don’t have to be staring the end of life in the eye in order to be weakened by fear and the feeling of defeat. It could be getting up and going to a difficult job each day. Or, it could be facing a brand new situation that puts us way outside of our comfort zone. It could be a spontaneous moment when we are put on the spot and forced to defend our beliefs in a public setting. It could be a forced premature ending of a marriage we thought would survive until death us do part. It could be a financial crisis we’re facing. It could be the consequences of a very poor decision.

What I do know is that God is the God of the ages. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything that comes our way is ordained and approved by him. Just as he allowed Satan to sift the life of Job down to ashes, he could do the same to us without our consent. Will we still trust him? Will we, at the end of the day, say it’s ok that my life has fallen apart? Will we say that these grim circumstances that we face are worth every moment of suffering as we wait to stand in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

There are many curves in the road of life as our faith is refined, and much of that is out of our control. Oh. We don’t have to sit back and watch life fall apart. We can do our part to pick up the pieces as we place our complete trust in God. As we come to learn through our times of suffering that the sole source of our strength is the Lover of our souls, we can look forward to eternity at the end of our days with calmness and confidence in our Savior.

In the midst of our suffering, can we sing to the God who is with us in our suffering? The song may not be joyful, but the joy of the Lord can remain in us even during those low days. We can have the joy of the Lord within us regardless of our circumstances. During our pain, we can sing songs of lament but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10

It Will Be Worth It All

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!

CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Don’t Be Misguided

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The guy on the podcast I was listening to said that the world is watching to see if a believer’s conduct lines up with their confession of faith. And we know that’s true. There are watchers of people of faith. Who knows if they’re intentionally or unintentionally watching anyone who calls themselves a believer, but some notice when a Christian is in or out of line with what they say they believe. But we also have to know that God himself knows all about us. All the good and the bad and the ugly. He knows it all. He sees it all.

Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist from AD155 said that it is for us Christians to offer to all the opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings. That means we can’t rely on our own understanding, but we must trust in the Lord. We aren’t reliable when left to our own devices. We’re easily swayed by the ideas and opinions of others who seem confident in their own beliefs. We can be easily misguided if we’re not careful of who we’re following or listening to. Whether it’s the pastor of the latest megachurch. Or the best selling author. Or the most downloaded podcaster. Or the slickest politician. Or the newest spiritual fad. We can’t just trust every word we hear from those we listen to. We must do our own study and research. And most importantly, we must study to show ourselves approved when it comes to living out our faith.

Oh sure. Others will be watching to see how we live out our faith. But our Heavenly Father is watching always and forever. We can’t escape his eye or his knowledge of our ways. So, more importantly than doing the “right thing” for others to see, we must most importantly do the “biblical thing” as God directs us. And in order for us to know the biblical thing to do, we must read the Bible. We must study God’s word so we know exactly what God requires of us.

I recently read that, as believers, we shouldn’t have to ask God to guide us because He is automatically guiding those who have put their faith in him. But we must know the truths that he has put in place for his followers. We must be prepared to act on the trust we say we have in Him when push comes to shove. We can’t depend on our own understanding, our own interpretation of right and wrong, when we’re in the fire. We can be wishy washy. Untrustworthy. Unless our complete trust is in God, we may lean on our own misguided ideas.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

The question is. Do we really trust Jesus? As believers, do we put our entire trust in Him for every aspect of our lives? If not, what are we holding onto for our own personal purposes? What part of our lives do we trust ourselves with more than we trust God? Are our ways higher than God’s ways? The Bible would say definitely not. So, why do we think we know better than God?

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

We’ve heard the famous saying “come as you are” when we come to Jesus. We’re told we don’t have to pretty up our behavior. We can come to Him asking for forgiveness with all the ugliness and awfulness of our lives in tow. But does Jesus really say that in the Bible? Actually, there’s no Bible verse that says those specific words, but Jesus does accept us as we are when we come to him in genuine repentance. We don’t have to change before we seek his forgiveness. But the thing is. We can’t stay as we are. We must change after we have asked him to forgive our sins. If we say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we must live as if what we said was true. We must live in accordance with our repentance and confession of faith. Otherwise, we are lying not only to ourselves but to the world and to God himself.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

So. If we say Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we have to trust Him. Oh. It’s a daily dying to ourselves and laying down our faith in ourselves. We must daily hand over our own desires and leanings to Jesus Christ. We must allow our will to be bent to line up with the teachings of our Savior. We aren’t better than Him. As ones who say we have bowed our wills to Him, we must then bow daily to His will. We must honor him not only with our lips, but also with our hearts and actions. How can we say we follow our Lord and Savior if we neglect His teachings and corrections? How can we say we’re His followers if we continually disobey and dishonor Him? Who do we think we are?

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Isaiah 29:13

Like a Good Neighbor

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I saw him through the window. He was shoveling the snow off my driveway with his seven-year old daughter. As they walked up the driveway, I opened the door to thank them. Here’s what he said to me. “You don’t mind if I do this, do you?” He asked if I minded if he shoveled my driveway. That was on Monday. Later in the week, after it had snowed all day Friday, he used the snowblower on my driveway. Again, when I opened the door to thank him, he asked the same question. “You don’t mind if I do this, do you?” What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

He called me one morning this week. This kind neighbor of mine. He asked if my house was staying warm in this frigid temperature. The previous week, I had told him that the furnace hadn’t been keeping the house warm. Oh. I had a repairman come out to solve the problem. It was a very minor repair. And my neighbor was calling just to see if I had a warm house. We had a very nice conversation as he began his workday that morning. What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

These aren’t the first acts of kindness this man has shown to his new neighbors. He has offered to drop off bags of salt to refill my water softener tank each month. He stopped by one day just to tell us that he had run into our brother-in-law at a football game. Knowing that my husband works out of state, he called me on Thanksgiving Day to make sure I wasn’t alone. A couple of days later, he dropped off some leftover turkey for us. He seems to have a genuine interest in getting to know the man of the house and makes an effort to stop by and talk to him almost every time he’s in town. He offered to help stain the deck next summer. And he offered to help clean out the firepit. He has a much bigger yard that requires many more hours of work than our property demands. And he has a family who depends on him. Yet he takes time out of his busy schedule to offer kindness and help to an aging couple next door. What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Proverbs 11:17

Last week when the furnace was struggling to heat our house, everyone in our small group Bible study offered their empty bedrooms if I needed a place to stay.  Now, mind you, these people barely know me.  I’m new to the church, and I’ve only attended the group three times. But these fine Christian warriors are true neighbors, indeed. They’ve texted me to see if the furnace is working while my husband is out of town. They made sure to check on me at church to see if the house is warm.  They’re kind people.  They’re good neighbors.

Some may think there aren’t many good and kind people left on this earth.  But I’ve found a few good ones these last few months after our move to a new state.  These people aren’t lifelong friends or even family.  They’re new acquaintances who I hope will become lifelong friends for the length of time I have left on this earth.

And let me tell you about the goodness and kindness of my family members who live close by.  My brother-in-law dropped off extra space heaters to make sure I was warm enough. And he worked on my car when it wasn’t running properly. When our dog was on her deathbed, my sister came over and stayed with me during the final moments of my dog’s life. And they’ve fed me countless times. They’re kind people.  They’re good neighbors.

I didn’t grow up with next door neighbors. I grew up on a farm surrounded by fields. Oh. We had neighbors, but we could only see their houses clearly through the lens of the binoculars. And I didn’t mind being so far from anyone. So, as I’ve lived in true neighborhoods all my adult life I’ve seen how neighborly some people are and some people aren’t. Oh. My parents and other surrounding farmers were neighborly, all right. Even though we didn’t live next door to anyone, others were kind to our family. And my parents were kind to others. They helped each other out in times of need.

Whether we have next door neighbors or not, we can still be a good neighbor. We can still extend the hand of friendship to others who are in need. Just this week, I met the women from my small group for lunch. They were talking of the good deeds that they and others have extended to needy ones in the church. They weren’t bragging. They were just talking about the little things they’ve done over the years for others in a moment of need. That’s the kind of neighbor I want to be. Oh. It’s grand to have a great neighbor, but the help shouldn’t be one-sided. I need to keep my eyes and ears open for someone in need and then offer help. It does the soul good to be on the giving end.

The Bible tells us to treat others in the same way we would like to be treated. So, as followers of Christ, being good and kind to others should be a part of who we are. It shouldn’t be forced, but it should be a natural extension of our own blessed lives. As we see people who need a helping hand, we can extend ours with love and generosity. If each of us does our part to make our own corner of the world a place of care and giving, who knows what can happen. Let’s do our part and find out.

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31

Do You See What I See

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Have you noticed the world events that have been taking place lately? World politics seem to be blowing up in major proportions. The leader of France was ousted in a vote by parliament. The South Korean president’s attempt to declare martial law was quickly voted down, and now he’s been impeached. Turkish rebels have overtaken Syria and sent the corrupt leader escaping to Russia by the skin of his teeth. The presidential election of Romania has been overturned. Israel has blown up pagers and cell phones in a direct response to enemies who attacked their innocent people and still hold some hostage. In an effort to ward off high tariffs, the newly elected President of Mexico and the Canadian Prime Minister have spoken with the incoming American President on border and fentanyl issues.  Antisemitism is on the rise around the globe. Regimes have been trying to wipe out the Jewish state for many years, and Israel is working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Domestic events give us an assassinated healthcare CEO, and certain groups are applauding this horrific event. Posters calling for the assassination of other CEOs have been found in one major city. Music moguls are charged with heinous crimes, with more names expected to be released. Political appointees are targeted with highly publicized scandals that may or may not be true. Tiktok is close to being banned in this country in the new year. States ravaged by devastating hurricanes are still struggling as winter approaches, while our nation’s leaders send more foreign aid to a war that shouldn’t have taken place. A Marine veteran charged with killing someone who threatened subway riders has been exonerated. Members of violent illegal immigrant gangs have taken over apartment complexes in some cities. Multiple large mysterious drones have been spotted over different states. The American presidential election was won by a former President whose last eight years have been hampered by one unproven scandal after another.

The mayor in the largest city in the state where I live is proposing raising taxes in his fair city by an astronomical amount. A contest is underway for a new design of the state flag of this state, and ten finalists have been chosen. Aren’t there more pressing issues than the design of a state flag? A recent report shows that this state had the third highest number of residents leaving the state, mainly due to jobs and high taxes. The largest union for the teachers of this state is losing more members than it is gaining due to the organization’s increased spending. Nearly two million residents of this state were recipients of the federal food assistance benefit program.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

You may wonder why I give all these details of recent news events. The world we live in is very unsettled. There are record levels of violence and hatred. Taxes, inflation and unemployment are high. There are wars and rumors of wars around the globe. Global Christians are being persecuted. It’s as if we are close to having a new world war erupt at any moment.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.“ Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

We see that violence and violent events are flooding the news. And this type of news won’t stop. It will continue to increase and worsen the closer we get to the Rapture. As God allows Satan to stretch his evil reach into all avenues of society, people of faith are being put on notice that different forms of persecution could be ahead. The Bible warns us that Christians will be persecuted in some manner. It doesn’t mean we’ll stand before a firing squad or sit in a prison cell. We may lose our homes or jobs. We may be debanked or endlessly prosecuted for crimes we’ve never committed.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

As all the unsettling events take place in every area of the world and in homes across the globe, we pause to remember the birth of our Savior. We can still have peace on earth as the earth is in turmoil. Joy to the world is still possible as we celebrate the Promised Messiah who came to this earth long ago. Now, as the earth groans in anticipation of his return, we see and hear of the turmoil in places known and unknown. And yet we rejoice that those who have chosen him as Lord and Savior will one day be with him for eternity.

In this season, we celebrate the One who was born as a babe in the manger. Jesus, who was nailed to the Calvary cross and then buried, rose from the dead on the third day. We celebrate his ascension to heaven and now await his triumphal return to gather his people to him. Regardless of the events taking place throughout the globe, we can have peace in our hearts knowing that our Savior is coming to rapture his children. It could be at any moment. I pray that you’re ready.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10,13