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Playing Possum

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

It was during my morning walk. I was nearing the end of my first lap, getting ready to start the second one. That’s when I saw it. There was a possum lying on the other side of the road. It lay perfectly still. Never moving. I wasn’t sure if it was dead or alive, but I didn’t want to get too close. I couldn’t see any injuries or worse on it. There were no flies swarming around, and I didn’t see any blood. I wondered. Could that possum be playing me? Could it be playing dead? Did it want me to assume that it was of no further use on this earth? I don’t know. But I did know that I didn’t want to find out. Now mind you. I don’t know if a possum would try to attack a human, but I didn’t want to find that out, either. So I continued on my walk. But, I decided to shorten the second lap so I wouldn’t pass by the animal again.

The next day, I noticed that the possum wasn’t there. Hmmm. Something sounds fishy to me. And two days later when I walked by, I noticed a peculiar odor in that area. I don’t know if the possum had died and someone had moved it into the ditch. I didn’t stop to find out. And then the following day, there was no foul odor. So, I don’t know what happened to the possum. I really don’t think he was dead, but I can’t be sure.

I read that possums play dead when they feel threatened. It’s a natural defense mechanism that occurs when their attempt to ward off a predator fails. They just drop over and enter a death-like state. This seemingly innocent act saves them from actual death. They fake out their opponents by pretending to die before their opponent actually kills them.

Pretending to die isn’t a strategy the possum chooses. It’s a natural reflex to extreme stress and physical threats. Faking their death keeps them alive to live another day.

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10

There are people who call themselves Christian, but they don’t live according to biblical principals. They pretend to be one thing when they’re something else. They fake out innocent victims who are searching for the truth in the hopes of detracting them from it. They don’t instinctively roll over and play dead, but they do pretend to be something they’re not. Are they playing a human version of possum just to avoid a stressful situation?

Sometimes even strong believers have a moment of weakness and assume a posture of hypocrisy in order to avoid criticism. When our beliefs clash with those of other believers, we can agree to disagree if the disagreement is one that does not conflict with the essential teachings of salvation. Some biblical teachings are essential for all believers who call themself Christians. And some are not essential. When we do disagree on a secondary issue, we can choose to disagree agreeably. There are times when compromise is necessary, but only when we aren’t compromising the truth of God’s Word. The Word of God can never be compromised. It is infallible.

Even the apostle Peter had a moment of hypocrisy. As a Jew, he lived in accordance with the Jewish laws. But then he went to Antioch to preach to the Gentiles who had much different standards. And when he was with the Gentiles, he lived as a Gentile. He didn’t adhere to the strict Jewish laws. But when some Jewish friends came to visit, he wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles. He was even able to sway other Jewish converts to follow his pattern of hypocrisy. Peter thought he was just trying to create a harmonious atmosphere, but he was caught in the middle of two sets of belief. And he was called out for it when Paul visited and confronted him to his face. Paul called him a hypocrite. Paul knew that Peter stood on dangerous ground when he chose to change his beliefs when faced with both sides of the argument. You can’t have it both ways and still be right.

As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:13

Was it fear of not being accepted by his fellow Jewish partners that caused him to set aside eating with the Gentiles? Or, was it because he was just trying to play nice with everyone? Peter was a leader among Christian leaders and he failed in his actions. Oh. He’s not the first. And he probably won’t be the last. But there’s a lesson for us today.

We can’t pretend to believe one thing when we’re with one group of believers and then pretend we believe something different when we’re with another set of believers. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. And then we must stand strong in our convictions. Not everyone will agree with us, but that’s ok. Let’s not live as hypocrites. Let’s stand strong in biblical beliefs so others can be won to Christ because of our steadfast testimony. We can’t act against what we know is right just to please others. Our goal as Christians must be to please God. No one else.

Even when we face potential criticism because of our faithful stance of obeying God, we don’t have to bow to the pressures of others. God is on our side, and he continually fights for us. We don’t need to please others just to get along. We can respect differences of beliefs and opinions while we stand for truth. We have to remind ourselves that God is the one who examines our motives. He’s the one who is truth, and he knows when we stand for or against it.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Customer Service

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

After waiting on hold for nine minutes, I punched nine to receive a callback when the next customer service representative became available. The music playing while I waited had pushed me close to the edge. I couldn’t listen to it a second longer. It wasn’t nice, soothing music. It was country music. And it was awful. I’m not sure why a business would think that noise would be appropriate for customers waiting on hold for far too long. Now. I’m not against all country music. Just that song. Whatever it was. It was awful and unnecessary.

Later that morning, I had to contact another service provider to contest the balance on my account. The first contact was with an automated bot. The answer it gave wasn’t a thorough explanation, so I asked to chat with a live person. This individual was able to provide me with a thorough and satisfactory explanation. I appreciated his help and let him know.

That same day I sat waiting for an appointment. When I walked in, the person I was meeting with was helping someone schedule their next appointment. It was taking forever, but she was kind in helping this poor gentleman who was struggling with health issues. Once she got him scheduled and took his payment, she walked around the counter and gave him a big hug. She said she would see him in two weeks.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. Proverbs 3:27

Our service matters to God, because when we are serving others we are serving him. We may not see him, but when we do the least to others we are doing it to him. Some people work only as hard as they have to. If the boss is watching, then they’re giving it their all. But as soon as the boss leaves, or if they think no one is watching, then their true work ethic comes out.

And how we treat others matters. If our work involves serving others, we need to serve others well. Even when we’re having a bad day and we show up to work, we need to show up and work. We can set aside the bad mood and hurt feelings. We can treat others with respect and perform our job well, even when we don’t feel like it. Sure. It may be hard, but we can do hard things. Perhaps those we’re serving are also having a rough day. The worker is being paid to perform their job well, so it’s on them to provide good service regardless of what else is happening in their life. And, yes. The customer should be kind, as well. But life is never as we want it. Things go sideways, and people have bad attitudes. Something goes wrong, and we tell ourselves that someone has to pay. And I have to ask. Is the customer still always right?

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

Serving others can be a thankless job. Many people who are treated kindly do reciprocate or even acknowledge your efforts. Others don’t or can’t. Perhaps they don’t know who helped them, or they don’t know how to contact the person. It doesn’t really matter, though. The onus is on the one who is in the position to help someone in need. When we’re in a position to help others, we need to help them and help them well.

Consider the story of the Good Samaritan in the book of Matthew. A Jewish man travelling alone was robbed and beaten and left alongside the road to die. Different people passed him by, but they didn’t stop to help. And they were of the religious sort who would be expected to help someone in need. But they didn’t. Then a man from Samaria walked past him. When he saw the injured man, he felt compassion in his heart and stopped to help. He took him to a nearby inn and asked the innkeeper to take care of the injured man. And this Samaritan paid all the expenses. So. What’s the catch, you ask? The Jews and Samaritans despised each other. They wanted nothing to do with each other. Yet, this Samaritan laid aside all his political and religious thoughts and helped a wounded Jewish man. Can’t we do the same when we see someone in need? Even when we differ on anything, can’t we still serve someone well in their time of need?

You can read the story of the Good Samaritan at Matthew 10:25-37.

Human Conflict Defined

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Cardinal Henry Edward Manning was a nineteenth century Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. I never met the man. Obviously. But he made a statement that I recently read that I can’t get out of my mind. He said that all human conflict is ultimately theological. That statement tells the story of all the conflict this world faces. It’s a simple but profound statement, and the solution is as well. The solution, however, isn’t easy doable within human abilities. It’s the theological differences that must be addressed. We all know there are many theologies held in this world. And many will argue that their theology is the one true theology. So who’s to say who is right and who is wrong?

We read about conflicts throughout the Bible. Theological differences were the cause of wars amongst neighboring countries. Conflicts didn’t occur only between countries, but also between a king and his people. Perhaps the king was a dictator and the people revolted. He wanted control and his people wanted fairness.

Consider world events that are taking place. Multiple wars have started in the last few years. One country pitted against the other. One belief system against another. Both countries believe they are in the right and the other is wrong. They can’t seem to settle their disagreements. Perhaps they don’t want to settle. And so they fight.

We see in election cycles the two political parties at odds with each other. Behind the scenes, one party may have plans to thwart any advances the other party makes. One candidate starts slinging mud in the direction of the other party, and then some is thrown back in their face. And back and forth it goes.

Businessmen disagree and can tear a business apart with their differences. Marriages are dismantled when two people who vowed for better or for worse can’t get past the worst.

Battles have been fought over right and wrong, liberal and conservative, left and right ideals throughout the history of mankind. It all began when the serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit God had told her and Adam to never eat. And thus began the war of theologies.

Whether we realize it or not when we argue an opinion or where we stand on any issue, it comes from our worldview. Is our worldview based on biblical teaching, or is it based on something else? Do we use secular thoughts to guide our decision making? Do we cut biblical thinking out when we are voicing our ideas, our political leanings or when giving advice? Or, do we search the Scriptures and allow them to guide us?

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

Where a person stands on social issues today speaks of their theological beliefs. Everyone’s belief system guides and influences their opinions and issues they support. Abortion vs. right to life. Sexuality. Immigration. Race. Police protection. Free speech. Euthanasia. Globalism. Each side of the argument presents arguments that are based on their theology. But personal theology doesn’t seem to be discussed during arguments of differences. It doesn’t seem to be publicly considered, but it is at the heart of the argument. It is the elephant in the room. Perhaps if theological differences were identified and addressed, proper discussions could be had with an agreement to disagree.

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other is madness, horror, idiocy, rage impotence and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.

― C.S. Lewis

Our Christian faith is personal, but it should never be private. So when we let others know that we’re a Christian, they will know if what we say is Christian. They may be surprised to learn that someone who calls themselves Christian would believe a certain way or have a certain hobby or lifestyle. Because. Those who don’t call themselves Christian seem to think they know how a Christian should live. Right or wrong. And when a Christian voices a thought or opinion that sharply contrasts with what the nonbeliever thinks, the Christian must be willing to defend their belief and not compromise their faith.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16

The thing is. As Christians, we can’t compromise our biblical beliefs. We can never bend the knee to sin and continue to live in fellowship with our Savior. So when we find ourselves being asked to compromise our beliefs, we must stop and ask ourselves if the compromise would build or weaken our relationship with God. Would it put us one step closer or farther from eternity with our Savior? Are we willing to risk our soul being lost for eternity by compromising our beliefs for a moment of peace on earth?

Our spirituality informs our behavior. If we have a habit of lying or stealing, our form of spirituality is showing. If we set it in our hearts to always speak honestly and live with integrity, our spiritual life is on display. A spiritual life doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is living biblically. Spirituality is not based only on biblical teachings. Many religions are based on a human’s teachings and promote forms of spirituality that do not lead to God.

When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. –Oswald Chambers

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

All human conflict is ultimately theological. –Cardinal Henry Edward Manning

When the Soul Rejoices

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She was a teenager. Betrothed to marry a young man. Basically, they were in a legally binding contract which required them to wait a year to formalize their marriage. They were not to spend much time together or consummate their marriage until it was formalized. But she was visited by an angel who told her she would have a child. And she found herself pregnant without ever sleeping with a man. And without formalizing her marriage. This was not acceptable in her culture. She could pay with her life.

Imagine the scorn and ridicule this young woman faced as she walked the dusty streets of the village. As her belly grew, so did the rumors. The taunts from the townspeople may have drowned out the promises the angel gave her. The friends she once had may not have been so friendly now that she was with child. She was in uncharted territory. A betrothed young man could choose to have her stoned to death if he didn’t want to live with the embarrassment. To be a pregnant unwed woman was not for the faint of heart. Her social standing and future were hanging on a precarious precipice if the young man who had promised to be her husband backed out of the arrangement. She could be sacrificed, and he would be free to find a more virtuous wife.

She was young. Very young. And the young man, who was a distant descendant of King David, didn’t want to disgrace her. He decided to divorce her quietly. But then the angel who had surprised Mary with the news of her impending motherhood also visited Joseph in his dreams. The child is divinely conceived, he was told. She has not been unfaithful to you. She is faithful to me and to you and will have a son. You will name him Jesus, and he will save his people from their sins.

Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:19-21

This period in Mary’s life was full of tests and trials. Instead of pitying herself, she rose to the challenge set before her. She embraced the will of God and put each foot forward as she walked into an unknown future. As unfamiliar prophetic words were spoken over her, she took it all in stride and remained faithful to the call of God, her heavenly Father. She did not know the trials that lay before her throughout her life. Perhaps she knew the veiled prophecies of the Promised Messiah, but were they truly clear in their meaning? Most likely not. But she walked in faith that God would lead her into each tomorrow as the mother of this holy child.

She visited an older cousin who was also heavy with child. This cousin’s child was to be the voice in the wilderness awakening hearts and minds to prepare for the promised Messiah. The child in the cousin’s womb immediately recognized the babe in Mary’s womb and leapt for joy in his own mother’s body.

The question of Mary’s virtue, which had been suspect in the streets of her hometown, was laid to rest on the night of the babe’s birth. During the months of her pregnancy, her honor was veiled because only she and God were certain of her purity. But the angel’s celebration on that eventful night lifted the veil on any suspicions of her honor. The angels sang at the birth of her child.

Mary had much to ponder in her heart as she relived the events of the past nine months. The angel’s visit and announcement of her pregnancy. The prophecies about the babe to be born. The Roman emperor’s decree for a census. Even the shepherds who came to worship the child. How overwhelming it would be to think that you had just birthed the Savior of the world. There was much to consider in the days ahead.

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Luke 1:46-47

There are times when we think the events of our lives can’t get any worse. But then they do. Trials of every kind are thrown at us. And it seems as if there are seasons full of pitfalls and unexpected situations that are never ending. One incident after another seems to threaten the stability and security we thought was ours. As followers of Christ, we have a choice as to how we will face the challenges of life.

Will we continue to find joy in the God of our forefathers even when we don’t find joy in our everyday life? Do we only seek immediate gratification and fulfillment? Do we still find joy in the Lord when life changes instantly? Or, are we willing to find joy in the long obedience of following our Savior’s footsteps regardless of where those footsteps lead?

Sure. Mary’s tests at her young age were monumental, but they paled in comparison to the challenge of seeing her firstborn hanging on a Calvary cross. Did she fully understand that he would rise from the dead on the third day? Or, did she believe he was lost to her forever as his broken body was placed in the tomb?

As she stood watching her son die on that cross, did she recall the Magnificat she sang as the babe John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb? Did Mary recall the joy of being chosen to bear the Savior of the world now that his mission was being fulfilled? At what cost did she rejoice as a teenager? And did she still rejoice in the agony of seeing her son tortured and killed thirty odd years later?

Our momentary troubles can seem overwhelming and life altering. What once may have been cause for joy in our lives may have turned into a deepening sorrow as time passes. Can we still claim joy in the Lord during the passing test of time? Or, do we only declare joy when we get what we want?

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Luke 1:46-55

The Light That Won’t Quit

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I have nightlights in every room in my house. When I walk through the house in the dark, I want to see the path in front of me. I want no surprises. I want to see at least a hint of light coming my way. I don’t like the darkness. Spooky things happen in the dark. So, as soon as it is dark outside, the curtains are closed and the lights come on. It all goes back to my childhood living on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Spooky things did happen in the dark on that farm. But that’s a story for another day. I’m just not a fan of the dark.

The thing about the darkness in my house is that once I plug in a nightlight, the darkness has no chance of winning. The light always wins in the dark, because it is immediately visible. The light can’t hide. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the light. So. As soon as I turn on a lamp or light a candle, the darkness is in a losing battle. The darkness can’t overcome the light. Sure. There is still darkness, but it’s no longer everywhere. The light makes all the difference in the world.

Now, if the darkness had any sense, it would try to fight the light. Would it try to become even darker? Or would it try to spread its wings to other areas of the house? Would it try to extinguish the light? The darkness is in a battle for its life and has no chance of coming out the winner.

As soon as it’s daylight in the morning, I happily throw open the curtains and let the light invade the space. I want as much natural light as possible coming into my house. And in these short days of winter, there is just never enough daylight.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5

I’m living alone for the most part these days. So after the move, I began a daily reading habit. One chapter a day. And I’ve finished a few books with this routine. I’ve recently joined a group at my church that has a required reading list. So I’m reading even more now. I don’t mind the reading. What I mind is that some books are so much deeper than my simple mind can comprehend. But I plug on anyway. I don’t want to get behind.

I finished one of the required readings earlier this week. It’s titled Three Apologies by G.K. Chesterton. Some say he’s a great Christian apologetics writer, but I struggled greatly to see his point. One of his final arguments in the book was that humanity cannot exist without a hope and aim of some kind. Too often our only hope and aim in this life is for the next best thing. If we don’t accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our hope is lost. It’s empty and void.

One thing we must understand about God is that he is light. There can never be darkness in him. Darkness means there is an absence of light. And the reason light is so important in our understanding of God is that he is sinless. Sin in our lives is equal to darkness. And unless we live holy and pure lives in line with God’s Word, we live in darkness. God and sin cannot coexist, just as light and darkness can’t either.

The thing is. Eternity is set in the hearts of all mankind. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we know there is more to life than just our everyday lives. There is a life beyond our earthly years, and in order to live eternity to the fullest we must accept the Light of the world.

He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that believers should not team up with unbelievers, because light can’t live with darkness. He asks how there can be harmony between Christ and the devil. And how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? Believers must be set apart, because our hope is in the Light of the world. He will not be extinguished, regardless of what others say and do.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. ” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Human nature cannot subsist without a hope and aim of some kind; as the sanity of the Old Testament truly said, where there is no vision the people perish. G.K. Chesterton

You’re Not the Only One

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Obadiah was in charge of the palace of King Ahab. Ahab was a wicked king of Israel, and his wife, Jezebel, was even more wicked. But Obadiah quietly served God in the midst of the wickedness. And he thrived. Surrounded by wickedness each day, Obadiah had the strength and courage to stand strong in his faith. He didn’t allow the evil around him to influence his commitment to serving God. What can we learn from his example?

Aside from where he worked and who he worked for, we only know a couple of stories about this man. Apparently, there are at least a dozen other men named Obadiah in the Bible. Most of them are as obscure as this particular Obadiah. He may or may not be the prophet Obadiah who wrote the book named after himself.

During the years of Ahab’s reign, the prophet Elijah foretold of a coming famine and drought. He said it would last until the time he said it would end. And he was correct. It was during this famine that in an act of courage, Obadiah hid one hundred prophets in caves when Queen Jezebel wanted to have them killed. He kept them hidden and fed until Elijah confronted Ahab about who the real God was. Was it God or Baal? God proved himself in a mighty way, and all the prophets of Baal were killed. And the only reason anyone in Israel worshipped Baal was because King Ahab had married this foreign woman who worshipped an image of this manmade god. She brought her idol worship to Israel, and turned the king and country over to pagan worship. However, a remnant of faithful followers of the God of Israel still remained. Many never bowed their knee to this pagan god who couldn’t hear or answer their prayers.

You can read the story of Obadiah in 1 Kings 18.

Although Ahab adopted the practice of worshiping foreign gods, he didn’t require it of his employees. He never forced Obadiah to bow to Baal. We may wonder why. But perhaps he knew that any man who faithfully served God would faithfully serve him, as well. He didn’t ask Obadiah to be dishonest or cruel. Ahab didn’t convert Obadiah to Baal worship, and Obadiah didn’t convert Ahab to worshiping God.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23

Some of the characteristics of Obadiah that make him an outstanding example of living and working in troubling times can be a model for us today. He retained his integrity. He feared God and was faithful to him. He courageously cared for other faithful followers when they were in need. He was trusted by a wicked employer. He did not bow his knee to a false god. He didn’t hide his faith. He didn’t quit.

Christians today may find themselves in a difficult work environment where they are asked to support activities or workforce policies that go against their beliefs. Their employer may endorse and favor people who live in direct opposition to the word of God. We don’t have to run from those situations. We must remain steadfast in our faith and always do the right biblical thing.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us, there is nothing new under the sun.  Just as the faithful men in the Old Testament worked for compromised employers and retained their faith, we may find ourselves in similar situations. There will always be times of testing for the believer. We must not run from it. We must stand strong in our dependence and trust in God. We know God is always good and faithful. Instead of allowing difficulties to ruin our faith, the test of faithfulness to God will build our strength and resilience. We can be tough when tough times come. And we can do hard things with God’s help.

If we read the stories of the Bible closely, we’ll learn that many who faithfully served God were put in a position to compromise their faith in order to survive or stay safe. Some gave in to the compromise while others stood firm in their faith. Standing firm in our faith doesn’t always require us to leave the uncomfortable situation. Perhaps our faith would be more refined if we walked through the fire a bit. We aren’t assured of an easy life when we lay down our sins and follow Christ. We may walk through the fire of intense trials. Today’s trials aren’t unique to our heavenly Father. He knew this time would come where our faith is tested. But his unwavering love for us can strengthen us during those times.

The night before Jesus was crucified, he asked the Father to keep his disciples safe from the evil one as they lived in the world of ungodliness. He didn’t ask for them to be moved to a safe place. He didn’t ask for them to be sheltered from their enemies. He knew they would face troubles, even death, and he wanted them to be safe from the enemy’s grip on their souls. He knew it was one thing to fight for their life, and another to fight for their soul.

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. John 17:14-19

Work Observations

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I’m bored with my job. Oh. It may not show at work, but I stare at the computer and wish I didn’t have to be there. I don’t always have enough work to do, which makes the matter worse. I’m not interested in the work. It’s numbers, after all. I’m more into words. But I sit there entering numbers and paying my employer’s bills. I work in Accounting, and an accountant I am not. I always wonder if I will be found out. So far, no. But it’s a part-time job that I took when I retired from full-time work a couple of years ago. So I guess I could quit at anytime if I wanted. I’m seriously considering it.

Now that I’ve been in the job for a while, I have a clearer picture of the company I work for. By the way. I’m not an employee of the company. I’m actually an employee of a staffing agency. The company where I do my work has never offered me a permanent position. At first, it was indicated that would happen. And I kept waiting for that day. But now. Now I’m glad that offer was never made. I’m free to go when I want without any repercussions on my part. But I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t just walk away without giving a notice. It’s just not in my nature. Unless, that is, I was expected to do something immoral, unethical or illegal. That would be an entirely different situation.

I’ve noticed in this company that not everyone is fully honest. Oh. They make sure that the company is abiding by all appropriate laws and regulations. They don’t want to put the company at risk. Nothing underhanded is happening. But there is one who has a position of some authority who will tell their small white lies. If small white lies are really a thing. But this individual tells them when it suits their situation. And this individual confesses the lies to me that they’ve pushed onto others. It’s not like they’re hiding their thoughts or plans from everyone. Their lies are an underhanded way to get their way. Perhaps they think others don’t notice. Perhaps they think I don’t notice. I do. And this individual will underhandedly treat people they don’t favor a little more harshly than they treat others. I could be the only one who notices and knows these things because of my position. But it happens. And it bothers me.

Another individual complained about someone else at work. His words, which I fully agreed with, could have been the start of a gripe session between the two of us if I had taken the bait. I didn’t. I just listened to his words and got away from the conversation as quickly as I could. I want no part of badmouthing anyone I work with. Because ears may be listening. Tongues may start wagging. And I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a difficult conversation. It’s just not worth it. And besides. Gossip is evil.

One individual recently had major surgery. In their preparations for being out of the office, it became obvious that they didn’t want to let go of their responsibilities. Oh. It’s good that they take their work seriously. But they were holding on just a bit too tightly. This person is past the age of retirement but has no immediate plans to stop working. They work more hours than anyone else at the company. And they just can’t let go of anything. In other words. The person is a control freak. It’s become more noticeable to me over the past few months as they prepared for their surgery. And to be honest. Their controlling nature has become the bane of my existence at a place where I don’t have to be.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Proverbs 18:15

This person doesn’t want to bring the company into the current century as far as adopting new procedures. The old ways are very comfortable and they’ve voiced their thoughts that change will have to wait until they’re no longer around. Meanwhile, the company is suffering from antiquity. The problem seems invisible to most, because there are several others there who are in the same age group. I’ve realized that when this person is no longer employed, the one who replaces them will come in and make sweeping changes. This will be very uncomfortable for most everyone. Some will fight it. Others will leave. And a few may be relieved. I don’t plan to be around at that point.

I’ve realized that this individual’s unwillingness to make changes could slowly and silently send the company into a death spiral. Not necessarily financially or in any obvious way, but change needs to happen regardless of one’s opinions or comfort level. A company can’t wait to make multiple large changes at one time just to keep the old guard satisfied. When leaders resist change, it’s time to change leaders.

One of my responsibilities is to post a listing of all the birthday and anniversaries each month for everyone to see. As I was working on the flyer for the upcoming month, I noted that one individual has been with the company for over twenty years and another for over thirty years. There’s nothing wrong with longevity at a first glance, but longevity breeds complacency. These two individuals are resistant to change. And they’ve lost the drive to work hard. They just show up to collect a handsome paycheck. And it shows in their work ethic.

Why am I documenting all this on this page? I’ve realized that it’s easy to become complacent and comfortable with our lives. We all need change at times. We become stagnant, unfulfilled and boring if we live the same life we’ve lived all our lives. We need to continually challenge our minds by reading well. We need to continually move our bodies in order to be able to move them as we age. We need to continually grow in our faith or it will stagnate and die. We weren’t meant to sit idle all day and do nothing. We weren’t made to live thoughtless lives.

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon says there is a time for everything under the sun. Change is one of those things that we must be willing to make. Whether we like it or not, change can be good for us. Oh. It’s always better if we’re the instigator of the change. If change is our plan, then we’re fully onboard. If it’s someone else’s idea, then forget it. That’s what we say. Sometimes change happens when we least expect it and we have no say in the matter. We have to go with the flow, because there’s no choice. Life is tough.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I know of someone who recently learned that he will be losing his job. He’s been with the same company for many years. He is paralyzed with fear. He doesn’t know what to do. To make matters worse, he’s close to retirement but not close enough. Relocation is a possible option, but that would mean uprooting his entire life. What if his family isn’t onboard with that? But what if moving is his only option other than the unemployment line? The man has some uncomfortable decisions to make in the near future, and I hope he gets wise counsel.

Oh. Unemployment isn’t fun. I know. I’ve stood in that line three times. But each time I was involuntarily placed in that waiting season wondering if I would ever be employed again, I learned not to take so much for granted. New jobs can be found at most any age. New habits and patterns can be formed. New skills can be learned. New friendships can be formed. Life can be good again. It’s just that, instead of placing our trust in God, we place our reliance on that thing called a paycheck. It is necessary, of course. We were made to work. But God is in the business of providing, and we must lean into his goodness and timing.

My intent is not to complain. I realize life is good. I also realize that life is unsteady and weaves through unpredictable cycles. Our strength and trust in God is learned through the tests and trials that come our way. If we only stay in the lane we’ve always been in, we may not be as prepared for the waves of unpredictability as we would be if we allowed the changes of life to shape our faith.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Consider the Children

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

There is a large group of people who are silent on the day we celebrate mothers. Sixty three million people have never been able to celebrate Mother’s Day. They never made it out alive. Out of the womb, that is. Each of their mothers decided that the life she had created wasn’t necessary. Whether the act of creating that life was consensual or not, life had begun. And she knew it. But she opted to end the life of her child when their life had barely begun.

But make no mistake. Life had begun.

There’s confusion over whose right should be heeded. Is it the mothers? After all, she has the ability to make decisions. Or is it the baby’s right? The baby, who is helpless and can’t make decisions. Oh. Some say it’s her right to have control of her body. They believe this innocent, helpless life is an inconvenience. A needless clump of cells. An unnecessary expense. An unplanned pregnancy. So they remove the life from their womb.

But has anyone stopped to ask about the rights of the baby being formed? Has anyone thought of other options besides killing the unborn child? Don’t the unborn have rights? These millions of unborn babies never had the chance to declare their rights over their bodies. They can’t speak for themselves.

Somehow it seems that these lost children are overlooked. In the wake of demanding rights, we only hear of the woman’s rights. The mother’s rights. Nothing about how precious a new life is. It seems to be all about the mothers.

So let’s consider these children who have been lost to us. The generations of unborn lives can still speak to us. Their loss is magnified in the empty chairs and empty places in our lives. Our loss is overwhelming, because we have no idea what we have missed out on. We have no idea what those children have been denied. Their life. Their accomplishments. Their successes. Their inventions. Their mistakes. Their failures. They’ve missed out on their earthly lives. Only God knows the deepest losses placed on us because of the loss of these individuals.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:13-16

I wonder which one of those sixty three million would have been the next Mozart. Or Michelangelo. Or Einstein. Or C.S. Lewis. Or John Wesley. Or Billy Graham. Or Abraham Lincoln. 

I wonder who in the group would have been an Olympic athlete. Or a brain surgeon. Or a florist. Or an engineer. Or a stay at home mom. I wonder if any would have been a bus driver. Or a farmer. Or a nurse. Or a teacher. Or a Heisman trophy winner. Or a photographer. 

We’ll never know. They never had the chance to live their life. But their mothers did. You betcha. 

These children missed out on piano lessons. Cooking classes. Softball tryouts. Prom. Sleepovers. Cousins. Grandparents. They missed their first loose tooth. They never got their first spanking. Or grounding. They never hit a home run. They never celebrated Christmas. Or their birthday. They never got married. Or had their own kids. They never went on a job interview. Or got a raise or promotion. They never got to teepee their neighbor’s yard. Or learn to drive. They never bought a house. Or rocked their own baby to sleep. They never got to retire. These children missed out on life.

Those sixty three million could have started a revolution. They could have been a powerful army.  They could have been a small country. They could have been someone’s spouse. Or mother. Or father. But they never got the chance. 

Instead. Heaven holds sixty three million precious souls who were never given the chance to live their lives. Their life was in the hands of a woman who chose herself. They were never allowed to become old.

Consider how many children never had a chance to be born because their parents never had a chance to be born.  We’ve lost many more than sixty three million lives. And that’s in one country alone. In the last year, forty two million unborn babies lost their lives globally. It’s unthinkable. This world isn’t overpopulated. It’s underpopulated.

Even before the mother knew she was with child, God knew. He knew the child intimately and had ordained the child’s life. God is the giver of life. And he’s the taker of life. No one else.

The Excellent Gift

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Cain and Abel were brothers. They were the first brothers in the first family that God created. Adam and Even were their parents. Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. Competition may have been fierce between them. Brothers will be brothers. As many will say. Or perhaps. Their personalities and demeanor were completely opposite. Nevertheless, things didn’t end well in their relationship.

They both presented gifts to God according to the custom of the times. Cain presented some of his crops. Abel offered the best portion of his firstborn lambs. God accepted Abel’s offering, but he rejected Cain’s. Scripture isn’t clear why Abel’s offering pleased God, but Cain’s didn’t. Many speculate on the reasons. But we can’t read into Scripture what isn’t there. And I’m no biblical expert or theologian. What I know is that Abel’s gift pleased God.

But that pleasing gift cost Abel, because Cain was angry that God didn’t accept his offering. So he took matters into his own hands. He killed Abel in a moment of rage. Was it jealousy? Did the brothers always provoke each other? Did Cain have an evil intent and Abel’s was pure?

Abel’s faith cost him his life. He gave his best offering to God. He wasn’t competing with his brother. He was offering the best of his livestock. His heart was pure. His motives were pure. He didn’t hesitate to give the best to God.  And God saw that and was pleased.

What we see in the story is that Abel offered the best of his livestock. Cain, on the other hand, offered some of his harvest. Perhaps he didn’t offer his best to God. Perhaps he offered second best. The leftovers, as an afterthought? Or perhaps an act of defiance. We don’t know what we don’t know.

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord . Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Genesis 4:2-8

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:3

Cain and Abel had been taught to love and obey God from an early age. Because oh. Their parents, Adam and Eve, had learned a very hard lesson on obeying and respecting God’s commands. Oh how the disobedient fall.

God respected Abel’s offering of faith. Perhaps God had given specific instructions on the types of offerings he would accept. Perhaps Abel obeyed completely and without hesitation. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. He sees the intent of our hearts when we give.

When we give our best in service to God, not everyone will be pleased. Some will be jealous. Some will ridicule. Others will try to discredit us. And others may want to harm us. We must still be faithful and serve God wholeheartedly, without fear of the actions of others. God is on our side.

I think of Stephen. He was defending his faith in front of the council. The crowd was angered by his testimony and charged at him. They rushed him out of the city and stoned him to death. And in those unbearable moments as stones were beating down on his body, Stephen asked God to forgive them. Stephen held no contempt for his killers. Stephen lived his faith in front of those who hated him. His faith stood strong to the end. Just as Abel’s.

There will be times in our lives, as we’re living in obedience to Christ, that our faith will be tested. There will be those who pursue us with the intent to destroy our witness. Perhaps there is the intent to destroy our lives. Our faith must stand strong in the midst of evil. We must remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that faith is the reality of what we hope for, the evidence of what we can’t see.

We know that living a holy life is an act of choice. Abel obeyed God’s commands. He chose to live under God’s authority. So must we. Regardless of the cost. Abel’s faith pleased God. Perhaps it’s time to ask ourselves if our faith is pleasing to God.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I watch news shows. I read commentaries. I follow news people and influencers on social media. They’re quick to point out their opinion on how poorly they believe the President is doing his job. Some of them are calling him all kinds of names. Some are using harsh language to describe his decisions. They are saying they don’t trust him. They’ve lost faith in his leadership. I’ve heard that some have buyer’s remorse.

Now an obscene chant is taking over sports events.

I’ve been thinking about this. A lot. I hear their words. I read their words. And they aren’t kind. These people don’t hold back. I mean. If they’re holding back, then I’d hate to know what they really think. Honestly, they’re saying shameful things about the man.

Here are some of their words. He’s being called a coward. Not cognitively prepared. An idiot. Severely cognitively impaired. Low IQ individual. Dangerous combination of arrogance and incompetence. Abysmal failure.

I’m not saying I agree with his decisions. I’m not saying I support his work. But I’m starting to wonder if the words of these news people and influencers should be toned down. Couldn’t they say things a little more kindly? A little more respectfully? Even if he is making poor decisions, is there a way to speak the truth without being disrespectful?

The thing is. Scripture tells us that God is in charge of everything that happens. He ordains who wins elections and who loses. He knows the outcome of every situation and approves it. Otherwise. It wouldn’t happen.

So who am I? Who are you to say the things that are being said about the leader of our country? Oh. I know. I get it.

But I wonder what would happen if we would start seriously praying for our leaders, instead of calling them names? Instead of complaining and whining and throwing barbs, how about kneeling down and pleading with God to speak truth to them? Why not flood the gates of heavens with pleas for a return to godly leadership?

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 12:18

Oh. It’s easy to say harsh words about someone when we’re not speaking to them personally. It’s easy to call someone horrible names on social media when we think they’re not looking. It’s even easier to say those mean words when we don’t really know the person. When we don’t have a personal stake in their lives or in their business. But does it make it right? Would we say those same words to the person if they were sitting in our homes?

It brings up a good question. How are we supposed to call out others when we see them doing something that is wrong? What kind of words should we use when we disagree with our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers? Do we use kinder words to those we are close to? Do we save the really harsh words for total strangers? People we assume we’ll never see again? Does it matter which words we use when we call out others? Does it matter if they’re friend or foe? Cruel words are cruel words.

How do we talk about people we disagree with without being disrespectful?  How do we talk to people we disagree with without being disrespectful?

Or….are there some things that shouldn’t be said out loud? Even if they’re true?

Where and when does respect come into play?

It is possible to communicate the truth in an ugly way.

Paul M. Gould

There’s an art to having tough conversations. Hard truths sometimes need to be told.  There is definitely a time and a place for direct language. Oh. People need to be held accountable for their poor choices and unthinkable actions. But what kind of words should and shouldn’t be said to them? It’s sometimes hard to know. Emotions get in the way and agendas are sometimes driven by those emotions.

Perhaps some words are appropriate for public hearing and other words are best said in private. Oh. I believe that there is a time to use strong words. Absolutely. But the intent and purpose of the heart needs to be examined. Is evil the true intent? Or is it to publicly shame someone? Or to puff up oneself?  

Do we stop to consider that everyone, whether we agree with them or not, is made in the image of God? Would we say those same words if Jesus Christ was standing next to us? Do we stop to remind ourselves that God hears every word we speak?

Let’s start a movement to bring back constructive conversations. Let’s create open dialog in a safe setting where we agree to disagree. Where we can speak honestly and openly. And still love each other at the end of the day. Let’s spend less time on social media and more time in personal interaction. Let’s find out what breaks someone’s heart and what makes them smile. Let’s work to heal wounds instead of opening new ones. Let’s show some respect.

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