Our Hope is in Christ

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As I write this, it’s in the morning hours of election day. I’ve voted and returned home. I must say that voting in a small town is much different from big city polling places. I actually voted on a paper ballot, and there were only five voting stations. Plus, there was no wait. It’s not what I’ve been used to for the past forty years, but it works.

Since it’s way too early at this point to know any results, I’ll settle in and wait for the numbers to start rolling in later this evening. I’m sure many will be stewing all day and probably most of the night to learn the results of this nation-defining election. People are on pins and needles wondering how our nation will survive if their candidate doesn’t make it to the needed number of electoral votes. Regardless of who wins, one side will breathe a huge sigh of relief and the other side will be in a stew for four years. Just as happened four years ago, many applauded and many were heartsick. So goes elections.

For those whose candidate is named the loser, they will be troubled and disheartened. For those whose candidate is named the winner, there will be a deep sigh of relief and a stirring of hope. Since this election has been so volatile with both candidates belittling the other, how can we rest easy with whoever is named our next president? We most likely will have four years of finger pointing, investigations, and unrest.

And if the House and Senate majority is not the same political party as the President, there will be trouble brewing and spilling over until the next vote in two years. There will be many promises and threats to impede progress. There will be chaos in the nation’s capital. And we the people will be the ones who suffer the most.

We tell ourselves that we aren’t cut out for trials and tribulations. We want to be coddled and given soft assignments in life. We don’t want trouble and we don’t want to have to speak hard truths to those who need to hear it. We don’t want to be persecuted for our faith or for our voting history. We want to be left to our own devices and just get on with life. We want easy and comfortable. We’ll leave the suffering at the merciless hands of the opposition to the future generations. They can be the ones to suffer tribulation types of trials. We can’t be the generation to suffer. We’ve grown up in an America that was the pot at the end of the rainbow. And we want to keep it that way. We don’t want trouble. We’re not made for that stuff. That’s what we tell ourselves.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Now the election results are public knowledge. And the new reality is setting in. Many are distraught and angry. Many have cried many tears and pointed the finger of blame at others. Many more are relieved and thrilled. They’re pumping their fists in victory and shouting a battle cry for better days ahead. But deep down. This country still needs help. This country needs to wake up and realize that we as a nation have walked away from God. We can’t be saved by a billionaire. He isn’t God. He can’t forgive our sins. He can’t make all things right. Our trust needs to be in God and God alone.

Sure. Let’s continue to pray for our elected leaders. Let’s pray that they appoint godly and trusted advisors who will help right the ship known as the good ole’ US of A. Let’s pray for peace in the areas of the world that have been devastated by war. Let’s pray for the areas of this country that have been devastated by hurricanes and other events. Let’s pray for the economy to right size. Let’s pray for lower inflation and increased jobs. Let’s pray for our men to be godly leaders of their homes. And that women create a nurturing and loving environment at home. Let’s pray that the children in our country can be safe from evil intentions and harmful indoctrination. Let’s pray that America gets back to God.

This may be our last opportunity to set the nation back on the course our founding fathers set for us. Oh. They weren’t perfect men. They were very flawed, just as we are. But they built the country on the foundation of freedom of religion, and let’s fight to keep that freedom. Let’s work to make sure that our speech is free, regardless of our opinions.

Regardless of the candidate we voted for, let’s stand in unity for the country. Let’s stand in unity for our faith and freedom. Let’s hold fast to the truth that every life matters and that the sanctity and dignity of all lives must be honored.

The most important thing to remember is that our hope must be in Christ. He is the giver of peace. He is the Savior of the world. He makes all things right in their due time, not as the world sees things right, but as he knows them to be. And our trust must be in Him, the one who ordains all things and all our days.

We Need to Pray

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I read yesterday that one prominent newspaper which had publicly stated earlier they would not endorse either presidential candidate printed a scathing opinion piece about one of them. It was not an official endorsement of the other candidate, but it could have been. The piece left no doubt of their vile hatred for this particular candidate, because they named names and referenced incidents specific to this person. So. Was it an implied endorsement that they hoped no one would catch? Because they obviously said the quiet part out loud. They were warning voters against one candidate but didn’t go so far as to suggest voting for the other one. You can decide for yourself if that’s an endorsement or not.

Both candidates publicly insult each other. They stoop to the lowest of lows with their accusations and spin.  One speaks in what’s now referred to as word salads, while the other one slings insults out faster than he can toss fries. Shouldn’t this be a sign that we should pray for their dignity?  Because what is said in public is magnified in private. 

One candidate has an unusual first name, which can be pronounced a couple different ways. She has gone on record at different times in her life using each pronunciation, yet now people are publicly called out for using the wrong pronunciation. The other candidate verbally bullies people in public and seems proud to do so. I could list many other faults and offenses of each of them. But like it or not, one of them will be placed in the Oval Office to lead this once great but now faltering nation. Shouldn’t we faithful followers of Christ be on our knees begging God to convict them of their unconfessed sins? Shouldn’t we be praying that they appoint godly people as their advisors and advocates? Shouldn’t we pray for their safety? Shouldn’t we pray that the dangerous rhetoric stops before situations turn violent?

Do we intentionally use offensive names and words when we discuss the candidates? Would we say those same words about these individuals if Jesus Christ was standing next to us? Perhaps if we prayed for our candidates by name with conviction and the love of God, we might speak truth about them with a gentle and humble attitude. 

Not only should we pray for them, but we should speak about them respectfully. We don’t have to agree with them, but our government heads are in those exact positions because God has ordained their days. Even though they may speak and act against biblical principles, God has allowed them this moment in history. We must pray for their salvation. We believers must rally together and intercede for them, because who else can and will do so? They need God’s help, and we who call ourselves Christ followers must pray for our elected officials.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Many have voted early, so the vote has been cast. For those who are waiting until election day, there are still two days before you punch the ticket. Yours will be one of the million deciding votes. But just to state the obvious. Every vote is a deciding vote.

Do we really want our elected leaders to be men and women who love and serve God? Do we want a strong moral and ethical leader of the free world? We need to pray that people of the highest caliber and most noble character throw their hat in the ring when the next election cycle begins. We need to pray that God nudges godly people to run for office. We can’t leave our nation’s sovereignty in the hands of godless fools or our nation won’t stand.

When I reference ungodly people, I speak of those who haven’t acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. I’m not saying they’re horrible people.  They’re capital G Godless people. We all serve a god of some sort. It may not be Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.  But we serve someone or something. We bow to another authority whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as Joshua commanded the people of Israel, we too must choose today who we will serve.

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord , then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15

Word has it that millions of believers won’t even vote. Perhaps they think they should vote only for someone who has openly confessed to being a born again Christian. Or perhaps they will only vote for someone they agree with on every issue. But do we hold everyone else we do business with to the same standard? If we did, we might just be sitting alone running the world by our unqualified selves. Wouldn’t that be a dreadful sight? Here is our choice this year. An unremarkable woman or a self-absorbed man.

Some say this is the most important election in the world. It’s make or break time. Do or die time. And we must get it right. But just know this. God already knows the final tally of the votes. He knows who will move into the White House. He who created the world allows good and evil to happen. He allows good and evil leaders to be inaugurated. We must trust him.

God is sovereign over the entire universe. He is still and always in control, and he allows evil to take place. We are a fallen people, and just as those before us made poor decisions and walked away from God, so has our nation. We are reaping the consequences. Be mindful of that. But also know that it isn’t too late to turn this country back to God. Oh. It would be a massive undertaking. But it isn’t an impossibility. God is a God of miracles. If we as a nation would humble ourselves and pray, he will hear our prayers. That’s why we must pray. Even for those we disagree with and don’t like. They too are made in the image of God. And they too will someday stand in judgment before him. We know the effects of others praying for us in our time of need. Let’s humble ourselves and do the same for candidates we stand for and against. 

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Years ago there was a person in my life who rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn’t like them. We had different personalities. And different life stories. Different approaches to just about everything. And when I would see them, I would breathe an internal sigh of disgust. No. I’m not proud of myself. 

And then one day I realized I should pray for that person. They had become a Christian, but they carried a load of baggage that needed to be set aside. As we all do. So I began praying. And guess what happened. That person didn’t necessarily change, but my attitude toward them began to soften. Where once I was annoyed to be in their presence, I now had a softening of my spirit toward them. It didn’t change the fact that we still had many unresolved issues. And we never became best friends. But I now saw them as I am. A sinner saved by God’s grace in need of discipleship and love and correction.

Let’s learn the same lesson as we compare our own failings to those of our presidential candidates. We’re no better than them.  Our ugly words and demeaning actions are not in the public arena as theirs are. But we  are always on display in front of God. 

Shall we pray.

Sacred Traditions vs Sacred Surrender

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Jesus challenged the religious leaders who were trying to trip him up for not following their traditions.  The fact is that he did follow many religious traditions, but he didn’t require his disciples to wash their hands before eating. Washing your hands before eating does seem to be a really good idea, but these Jewish leaders did it out of a ceremonial obligation unrelated to hygiene. And they disavowed those who didn’t follow this practice.

Jesus called out these leaders for following the religious traditions so strictly that they neglected God’s commands. This group of men accusing Jesus of ignoring their traditions of ceremonially washing hands regularly disregarded the commandments and any other truths from the Scriptures that didn’t fit their agenda.

He called them hypocritical. To their face. He didn’t back down from challenging their misconceptions about his calling and ministry. His life and death and resurrection did away with the need to practice the law, but their eyes and ears and hearts weren’t open to accepting him as the Promised Messiah. Oh. Perhaps behind closed doors and in whispered conversations, they acknowledged who he was. At least one member of their sacred sect privately approached Jesus and acknowledged his Lordship. But publicly, there was no way they were going to hand the name of Promised Messiah to a man from Nazareth. After all. It had been said that nothing good comes from Nazareth. So they denied his deity.

How many of us are in the same boat today? We don’t publicly recognize the Savior for who he is and his ultimate sacrifice for us. Or maybe we do recognize him, but we don’t give him the time of day. We won’t admit that he is the ultimate author of truth. We don’t acknowledge our need to put away our legalism and foolish pride and rely on his love and grace and mercy. We just want to point our finger and call out those who disagree with us.

You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.” Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ ” Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Matthew 15:1-12

As I read this week, Jesus didn’t come to make us religious. He came to save us from our sins. The Pharisees and religious leaders were all about being religious. They expected complete compliance with the Jewish traditions, at all costs, even if the traditions they held sacred were just acts of personal piety. And Jesus was bucking every demand they threw at him. No wonder they hated him and sought to kill him. He was a threat to their establishment.

Jesus didn’t come to make us religious; he came to make us God’s children by freeing us from bondage to sin.

Will Duval

Do we sidestep God’s law in order to hold to our own sacred traditions? Would we rather appear holy by our false pretenses? Or, would we rather speak boldly for Christ when called to do so? Which is better? To reject Jesus in this life and be shamed for eternity in hell. Or, to accept Jesus in this life and be accepted by him for eternity in heaven. I know which path I’m choosing.

C.S. Lewis says it best in his classic Mere Christianity:

And the present state of things is this. The two kinds of life are now not only different (they would always have been that) but actually opposed. The natural life in each of us: something self-centered, something that wants to be petted and admired, to take advantage of other lives, to exploit the whole universe. And especially it wants to be left to itself: to keep well away from anything better or stronger or higher than it, anything that might make it feel small. It is afraid of the light and air of the spiritual world, just as people who have been brought up to be dirty are afraid of a bath. And in a sense it is quite right. It knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, all its self-centeredness and self-will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that.

I pray that I’ll be consistent and constant in my desire to follow Jesus and serve him until my dying day. It is a daily dying to my selfish interests and laying down my pride and greed to faithfully follow in the Savior’s footsteps. I humbly bow in surrender to my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Will you join me?

Lover of My Soul

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She walked into church with her three boys. As the boys jostled to get into the pew, I noticed they followed a particular pattern laid out by their mom as they found their place. The oldest boy went in first, followed by the mom. Then the other two boys were last. The final boy didn’t want to sit on the end of the pew. He actually wanted to sit by his mom but was told no. He sat down with a dejected look on his face which the mom noticed with a watchful eye.

I watched this family as the service got started. The boy on the end with the rumpled curly hair didn’t seem happy, but mom would glance over at him to confirm he was ok. He wasn’t really ok, and he sulked. Mom noticed but didn’t call him out. When we stood to sing, he was fidgety. She tapped him on the shoulder and said to stand still. The other two boys were standing still and acting content. Of course. They were both standing next to mom. One on each side.

As the service continued, the curly hair boy asked his mom if he could stand by her. She said he would need to ask his brother if he could switch places. Brother said no. Mom knew curly hair was needing her love, so she motioned for him to stand in front of her because both sides were occupied by the other boys. He gladly climbed past his brother to stand in front of mom, where she put her arms around him. He stayed in that position for only a few minutes and then sat back down and began drawing pictures.

A little later, he asked the brother on the other side of mom if he could sandwich between the two of them as they were standing. The older brother obliged, but instead of standing he sat between them as they were still standing. When everyone sat down, he finally crawled onto his mom’s lap. And as she placed her arms around him in a warm embrace, he laid his head back onto her shoulder. Content at last, he was in his mother’s arms. He reached back and wrapped his arms around the back of her head. She tousled his curly hair in love, and when their eyes met his eyes were filled with love and contentment. He was safe at home in his mother’s arms. All was right in his world.

He didn’t stay long on his mom’s lap. He soon had enough and moved back to the end of the pew where he sat contentedly until it was time to leave for children’s church. He just needed the reassurance that he was still hers even though he wasn’t seated next to her.

I don’t know why this particular son was unsettled. Both of the other boys sat still and stood quietly near their mom. But then. They didn’t have to fight to be near her. They both had the assigned place near her for as long as they needed. The third boy had to fight to get near her. At one point, he squeezed his fist tight and slowly brought it to the back of his brother’s head, as if to punch him. But no punch was made. No touch was made. His brother never knew. Perhaps he was acting out his hidden frustrations.

Who knows. Perhaps the three boys have to take turns sitting beside mom each week, since there are three boys and only two sides of mom. And this Sunday the curly haired boy was out of luck, but he was doing everything he could to get some mom time. He desperately needed reassurance of her love.

The mom would occasionally glance at each of the boys, one by one, with pure love in her eyes. It was obvious she cared deeply about these kids and wanted the best for them. She was training them the discipline of behaving and worshiping in church with adults. It was a moving scene if you were noticing.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Our Heavenly Father shows his love for his children in a multitude of ways. He shows his love by holding us close when we are facing a difficult situation. By disciplining us when we go astray. By bringing us into fellowship with like believers. By providing for our needs. By hearing our prayers and answering them in accordance with his will. By showing favor on us.

We may not always feel physically close to God, but we can be sure that he has his eye on us. If his eye is on the sparrow, then he surely watches over those who call on his name. He knows when it’s our time to feel his presence near and dear to us. He knows when we’ve moved a little further from him. He always knows our name.

But most of all. God showed his supreme love for us by giving his Son sacrificially on the cross to die for our sins. He provided an alternate offering instead of asking each of us to die for our own sins. He punished his son for our sins, so we could have eternal life. And he willingly forgives us of our sins when we ask him. When we repent and bow to him, he forgives us and wipes our sinful slate clean.

The God of the universe created all of mankind to serve him. He created us with a love and purpose. He is the lover of our souls.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

~Stuart Townend

Every Church Is Not Alike

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My new neighbor. The good one. The one who works hard to support his family. The one who’s been very kind and generous to his new neighbors. I’ve talked to him more than almost anyone else since I’ve moved. The mister of our household had noticed this particular neighbor was wearing a shirt for a local church. It’s actually the church that some of my family attends. He asked the neighbor if he attended the church named on his shirt and was told yes. When his family attends church, that is. He told the neighbor the first weekend we moved in that we were visiting a church close to our house on our first Sunday.

The neighbor happened to be doing an installation at my house a couple weeks later, and he asked if I had been attending the church near us. When I said yes, he mentioned that his family had attended there for awhile, because it had a good children’s program for his daughter. But now they attend the other church when they attend church. He told me of the church he grew up in, and he added that they’re all the same. All the churches are the same, so it doesn’t matter. That’s what he said.

I didn’t beg to argue his point or correct him, but it made me question why he felt that way. Oh. I didn’t question him, but I pondered his words in my heart. Perhaps there will be room for further conversations about faith and beliefs and churches down the road. Perhaps he’s searching for a deeper relationship with Christ and doesn’t know it yet. Perhaps his new neighbors have been divinely placed next door to be Jesus to him and his family.

Now. It’s not my place to say he isn’t a Christian. I don’t know. He may be a solid believer, yet I know he isn’t in church every Sunday. And some may say people don’t have to attend church every Sunday in order to be a Christian, but there is a verse in the Bible that tells us not to stop meeting with others as some are in the habit of doing because the day of Christ’s return is close. Attending church doesn’t make one a Christian, but avoiding church is not the way to go. A Christian should have a desire to meet with likeminded people to worship God.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

And I’ve been at this new address for several Sundays so far, and he hasn’t attended his sometime church in these few weeks. I know what time the service is that he attends, and he’s been home at that time. I’m not judging him. I’m just observing. As, I’m sure, he’s observing us. And that’s ok. We’re all under someone’s observation, whether we know it or not. Whether we like it or not.

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

But back to all churches being the same. They’re not, and there’s plenty of proof for that. Just because a church claims to be a Christian church doesn’t mean they preach the Bible accurately. There are churches that don’t preach sound doctrine. They may not even preach the Bible. The pastor may give book reports. Or political commentaries. Or politically correct speeches. Or really motivating ted talks. Or he may just share his opinions. They may never preach from the Bible or even quote a Bible verse.

Some churches preach a gospel other than the gospel of the Bible. The goal of some churches is for those attending to have a great experience. They don’t look to bring the person closer to Christ or to learn a biblical truth. Their goal is hyping up feelings and making people comfortable. And that isn’t a biblical church. Biblical churches preach the Bible, and that isn’t always comfortable for the listener. We may hear things that tell us we need to make changes in our lives. Preaching biblical truth should be a common denominator, but it isn’t. And the Bible warns us that there will be churches and teachers whose aim to to push away from the truth rather than toward it. We must be on our toes and know what to listen for at church. We need to be able to identify sound teaching and teaching that isn’t so sound.

When we turn away from the true gospel, we’re turning away from Jesus Christ. We can’t be fooled by teachers who call themselves Christian but don’t teach biblical truth. The apostle Paul thought it serious business if someone taught something other than the truth. He called down curses on them.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Galatians 1:8-9

And then, some people don’t want to hear the truth. They will surround themselves with teachers who teach anything but biblical truth, and they seem to thrive on it. But they are only fooling themselves because there will come a day when the truth will be brought to light. And it may be too late for them to change their tune.

So, no. All churches aren’t the same. There are a host of theological and doctrinal beliefs that cause biblically sound churches to teach different biblical concepts, but that doesn’t mean they’re teaching false ideas. If a person studies the Bible, they will see there aren’t always black and white to all the teachings. Some passages of Scripture are left up to interpretation and conviction. The reason for the different church denominations is based on interpretation of Scripture and practices of worship.

The bottom line is this. We need to gather with fellow believers to worship God in a biblically sound church.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Lawn Mowing 101

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I grew up on a farm where I was expected to help mow the lawn. And it was a huge lawn. No. It wasn’t a lawn. It was a yard. Nothing fancy. No landscaping. Just grass. All grass with a few trees thrown in. My siblings and I took turns mowing this big green space. We would set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and trade places when the timer when off. As far as I know, no one cheated and let someone mow longer than fifteen minutes. But what do I know? And not all of us seven kids actually took turns mowing. I guess some were privileged and never had to mow. They know who they are. For those of us who did, some years we used a push mower and other years we drove a tractor mower. So I have mowed my fair share of grass in my day.

Now that I’m living two states over from where I’ve lived for over forty years, it has once again become my responsibility to mow. The gentleman of the house is still employed in the other state, so he’s only home every now and then. So the task has fallen to me to do the yardwork. The lawn is bigger than comfortable for a push mower, so we purchased a new tractor mower.

I had my first experience at mowing the entire lawn this week. Now I must say. I haven’t mowed in almost 50 years. It’s not that lawns have changed. Or that mowers have changed. But the person driving the mower has changed. The gentleman of the house trained me on the use of the new mower, so I felt somewhat comfortable with it. But the maneuvering and plotting of the mowing path were almost foreign to me. Oh to be sure. I waited until late enough in the morning that my perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor had left for work. I didn’t need an audience for this first solo trip.

I wasn’t sure how low to set the blade, so I’ll just say that I set it low. Really low. And as I looked back at the path I was mowing, I realized that was a problem. Too low is not good. So I raised the blade a bit. Much better. But the first trip around the yard was lower than the rest. And it’s obvious. And to top it all off, the low row is right next to the perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor’s yard. There’s no way he can’t spot it. It’s a good thing that grass grows.

I finished mowing the lawn, and it turned out fine. All except that first pass. And of course. When the neighbor got home, he went out and started mowing his lawn. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes at my work, but I’ll never know for sure.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

All this lawn mowing got me to thinking. Mowing a lawn is much like the life of a believer. Even though we may have been raised in church, and even though we know how to be a Christian, it’s not complex but it’s also not all that simple. There’s much to learn and experience as we grow in our faith. Oh for sure. I had to text my husband to see what setting I should use for the height of the mower. And when he didn’t respond instantly, I made my own decision which turned out to be incorrect. Just as we need guidance on performing new or unfamiliar tasks, we too need guidance and mentors when we face new hurdles as a Christian. We can’t do this life alone.

Oh. The longer we’re following Christ, it should become natural to lean on him for guidance and wisdom and strength. But we’re human, and we humans have a mind and a will of our own. We think we can make the right decisions in any and every situation, but we can’t. We get distracted by circumstances and desires that aren’t godly. We become dissatisfied with life and search for something better.

We need godly mentors to disciple new believers in the way of walking the path of Christianity. We need seasoned Christians to walk alongside newbies to guide them in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We need people willing to speak truth to fellow Christians on the disciplines of Bible reading and study, praying, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Some things aren’t second nature to us, so we need help. We need mentors to share their up and down experiences and how to maneuver through this tricky thing we call life.

Oh. I’m sure the man of the house chuckled to himself at my explanation about this job mowing. And that’s ok. But he also gave me pointers on how to handle the situation the next time. That’s what we need in our spiritual walk. Not necessarily someone to laugh at us, but someone to give us pointers on how we can keep our walk consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Yesterday the neighbor asked how the lawn mowing was going. I knew he could see my mistake, so I explained it to him He just shrugged it off. He said that grass will grow. He was kind. He’s always been kind to me. So maybe he isn’t standing back judging me for the poor decision making when it comes to mowing the lawn. We need those kind of neighbors and followers of Christ to stand beside us as we follow the path of life.

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Hoo boy. It’s been a week. I haven’t even lived in this new house for a month yet, and we’ve run into some pitfalls. And I don’t necessarily mean pitfalls with the house, but there are those, too. One of our cars was totaled earlier this year, so we had to hurriedly buy another one. Wanting to keep the price down, we chose what we thought was a gently used car. Small SUV. Four years old. Lower mileage. Sounded like a solid deal. But driving the vehicle on the way home from the car dealer, the check engine light came on. On the way home from buying the car, the check engine light came on. Yes. I repeated that sentence. We didn’t even get the car home, and it began to show its true colors.

After a couple of repairs in just a couple of months, we knew we had lost the bet. This car was going to be a financial drain. And we began hinting that this car may not be a keeper for the long haul, as we had planned. But we moved forward and we moved two states over taking the car with us.

Because the car was registered in my name, we decided that I should keep it after the move. The human of the house would drive the newer, more reliable car. I hated to give up the newer car, but I knew it was the right decision. I didn’t want him to drive an unreliable car for long road trips. I would sacrifice my comfort for his safety.

Then one day, the car wouldn’t start for me. The battery wouldn’t turn over. Long story short. Someone somewhere in the life of this four-year-old car had installed the wrong battery. Why? How? And when the repairman told me that the other repair was temporary and would require a hefty dollar sign to totally repair it, I had had enough. The car was a piece of junk. But I didn’t know why. How could a four year old car have so many problems?

When we bought the car, we had been told that it had been in one minor rear-end fender bender. Ok. We can live with that. But why were there so many problems under the hood? It didn’t make sense. So we made the ultimate sacrifice and traded the car in for a newer model. Oh. We had researched the value of the junker, so we knew what we should expect for a trade-in. But did we get the shock of our lives when we were told that the car had been in not one, but three accidents. One of those had caused major structural damage. No wonder there were so many problems with it. And we were offered a third of what we thought the value would be. We lost thousands of dollars in the whole ordeal.

The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! Luke 12:2-3

The car had been sold under false pretenses. It hadn’t been repossessed, as we had been told. It had most likely been totaled and incorrectly rebuilt and then sold at auction. None of this was listed on the supposed tell-all report that auto dealers provide these days. And we, the unsuspecting buyers at the dealership, believed that we were buying a reliable car. Perhaps we should have looked under the hood before we drove the car off the lot. If we had, we would have seen the black tape in several places holding parts together. But we did test drive the car, and it seemed fine at the time. No. Not shame on us. Shame on them.

Shame on anyone who covers their tracks hoping some innocent, unsuspecting victim doesn’t notice the black tape. And shame on anyone who tries to work in an underhanded manner to make a dishonest dollar. Honesty is always the best policy, no matter what line of work you’re in. Because. At some point, your dishonesty, your laziness, your lack of ethics, your selfishness will be found out.

Oh. Your dishonesty may not be discovered this side of eternity, but there is a great big God who knows all and sees all. Everything we’ve ever done and said. Even our intentions are being recorded. And unless we have repented of our sins and lived a holy life in continual submission to God, all those sins will be on display when we stand in front of our holy God to be judged. Only when we repent and confess our sins is our slate wiped clean and our sins are no longer remembered by God.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10

I wonder. Do people like these auto dealers sleep well at night? Do they toss and turn knowing they’ve fooled some gullible sucker into buying a piece of junk? Do they laugh themselves to sleep knowing that some unsuspecting buyer is going to be forking over thousands of dollars for unforeseen repairs in the near future? Do people have no shame these days?

It’s not just auto dealers who pull off shady deals. It can be home sellers or repairmen. It can be politicians or pastors. It can be moms or dads. Students or businessmen. Any of us are capable of swindling others out of their hard earned money for a defective product. We’re a selfish, self-centered people.

Satan does this all the time. He doesn’t try to sell us a defective or offensive lifestyle. He shows us only the pretty and the fun and the glamorous. He shows us a life that is very appealing. It’s not until we get involved in the sin that we realize we’ve been duped by someone who wasn’t looking out for our best interests. He has his ulterior motives at the heart of every temptation he offers to us. He isn’t looking out for us at all. He doesn’t tell us that his lies could very well cause us to have to tape our lives back together, and then life might never be the same because of the train wreck we’ve put ourselves through. We have to be very mindful of the influences in our lives so we aren’t caught up in living a lie. So we aren’t caught up in a situation that we never imagined ourselves to be in. Satan wants to drag as many unsuspecting souls to hell as he can. And he will stop at nothing to charm us away from Christianity. We must stay alert at all times.

But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

Observations of a Church Guest

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

So I’m new to the area and I’ve attended the same church for the past three weeks. The first week, the only person who said hello was the greeter who held the door open as we walked in. No one else said a word. I guess that’s ok. I don’t really care to be in the spotlight. I did fill out a card with our contact information, but no one contacted us.

The next week, I had just pulled into a parking spot when someone stopped their vehicle in front of me. I was afraid they were going to tell me that I couldn’t park there, but no. The man leaned out his window and asked what kind of music the church sang. Was it contemporary or traditional? I told him that it was only my second week, and I gave him my view of the songs from the previous week. He asked what kind of preaching they had, so I told him it was very biblically sound preaching. And then he asked how old the person was who preached. So I gave him my guesstimate. He said that he was in town for a quick trip, so he thought he would pop in for the service.

We walked to the building together, and he said he was in town picking up a part he had ordered. He liked to visit different churches when he was in a new area and thought this might be a good one to check out. He asked if I was new in town or just church shopping. He said he thought my impression of the one service I had attended would be more accurate than someone who had attended for years. Perhaps he’s right.

We split up when we went inside. He went to find coffee, and I went to find a seat. Later, I saw him sitting a few seats behind me in the opposite section, coffee in hand. He seemed to be enjoying the worship. Then as the service was closing, I looked back to find his seat empty. Who knows. Maybe he wanted to get a head start back to his home. Or maybe he didn’t enjoy the Bible teaching that day. Perhaps he didn’t agree with my take on the church. We aren’t all looking for the same type of church service.

I’ll never see the man again. I don’t even know his name. All I know is that he had moved back to Illinois in retirement to be near his family, as I have. And like me, he grew up on a farm but in a different area of the state.

This man was the only person to speak to me at church the second time I attended. And he was a first time visitor.

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

I was anxious to see if anyone would acknowledge my existence on my third visit. And shazam. I walked in the door, and the greeter said hello. Then I found my seat and began to get comfortable. A gentleman walked up and introduced himself. We had a nice conversation. Then a woman sat down in the row in front of me. She turned around and introduced herself, and said she was trying to do better at speaking to people she didn’t know. We chatted for a bit. Later she introduced me to the woman who sat with her. All in all, I met three people that morning. I felt like a rock star.

I like the church. I enjoy most everything about their weekly service. I find it to be a reverent display of honoring God. The music isn’t too loud or obnoxious. The expository preaching is very spot on. There are multiple Scriptures and prayers offered throughout the service. I feel like this could be a good church home. Time will tell.

I’m not exactly sure what I expect from a new church. It would probably be wise to visit others before we decide to call one church home. And perhaps churches don’t act overly friendly the first few weeks because they don’t want to scare off newcomers. But when do they start being friendly? Should the visitor make the first move? Granted. I’m an introvert, so making the first move is not easy for me.

Or. Do most churches abide by the three week rule? No laying claim to the person until their third visit, because they may not be looking for a new church. Churches shouldn’t try to draft new people if they’re only visiting for just one week.

All I know is that I’ll find a church that fits what I’m looking for and then look to get involved in some way. It’s an intimidating sort of thing for an introvert to do. But I’ve done other scary things. I’ve walked into interviews not knowing the interviewer. I’ve started many first days on the job without knowing a soul. And I’ve always gotten to know people over time. Some are still dear friends to this day. So why should a new church be any different?

I guess the moral of my story is that people who’ve attended a church for a long time should welcome visitors and guests. Your kindness will go a long way in making a newbie feel comfortable and welcome. I’m preaching to myself here, because I’m not known for my welcoming ways with newcomers. As I said, an introvert doesn’t usually go out of their way to be the instigator of much of anything. But perhaps it’s time for change. Perhaps this new move will make this introvert overcome her quiet ways and start talking to strangers in safe places.

Gaming the System

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’re the new people in our neighborhood. Three of the neighbors have stopped by to introduce themselves and welcome us to the town. They all seem to be very pleasant people. It’s a quiet little town where some people seem to know what’s really going on. And they’ve shared bits of information that we probably don’t need to know, but now we do.

The neighbors to the left of us are very kind and friendly. They’ve extended a warm welcome and made us feel at home in the neighborhood. The man stops over to chat. He’s offered to help with small yardwork tasks. Our house had sat empty for a year before we moved in, and this neighbor kept our lawn mowed the entire time. They’re good people.

The house on the other side of us is empty. Our view of the house is a boarded up window in their garage. Not too pleasant, if you ask me. The lawn isn’t mowed regularly. And they always have two vehicles sitting in the driveway. A few days ago, a crew showed up and began tearing out drywall and two by fours. Rumor has it that the house is full of mold. And it’s going up for auction soon. One neighbor mentioned that he hoped the house would be torn down.

Oh. We’ve never met the neighbors who own the empty house. The story goes that they are in foreclosure and have moved into government assisted housing less than a mile from us. But here’s where the story gets interesting. Both the man and the woman work. They drive very nice vehicles. In fact, we’re told they have four vehicles. Two personal cars and two work cars. Since they’re only allotted two parking spaces in their new housing complex, they keep their personal vehicles parked at their foreclosed home during the week. At the end of the workweek, they trade vehicles and park the work cars in the driveway next to us for the weekend.

My question about the situation is this. How do two working people who drive nice vehicles qualify for government assistance? Why did they forfeit their home? I realize that financial circumstances can upend us at times, so I’ll give them that. But I’m just wondering if they are gaming the system. Are they playing with fire? I mean. Technically, they aren’t allowed to be on the property at this point. But the man has been there the past couple of days working on one of the vehicles. And the lady was there a few days after we arrived. She must have seen me through the door, and she had an odd grin on her face. Yes. She had been seen walking around a property that technically is no longer hers.

Now granted. I don’t know their situation. It may all be legit. I’m not trying to be judgmental, but from what I see and know I have questions. And the neighbors told me other unsavory stories about these people. So I think there was bad blood in the neighborhood, and some neighbors were glad to see them go.

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

I wonder if I’m guilty of gaming any system that I’m involved in. Do I overstep my privileges? Do I shirk my responsibilities? What areas of my life am I overlooking because I’m comfortable with how I do things? What might others see in me that causes them to question my motives and intentions? Do I represent Christ well in every area of my life? Do both my public and private actions scream selfishness and privilege, or do they show the love and adoration of my God and Savior?

Not that it matters so much, but what do others say about me when I’m not around? Do they complain about how I treat others? Do they notice that my walk doesn’t match my talk? Do they say that I speak out of both sides of my mouth? Do I?

What kind of representative am I for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I recently read an article that said we should be a Christian in every situation. That means whether someone is watching us or not. Even when we’re alone or in the privacy of our own home, our attitudes and actions should mirror those of Jesus. The way we conduct business, whether it’s personal or professional, should be a statement to the fact that we are followers of Christ. There should be no question as to how we will conduct ourselves in any situation. We will be better and do better when we make a deliberate decision to represent Christ in every facet of our lives. Oh sure. We’re not perfect, and we’ll fail. But we can always rise and try again. This life is a life of choosing daily to live for Christ.

Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. J.C. Ryle

Empty House

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We lived in an empty house for a few days last week. I had never done that before, as most people likely haven’t either. The house was bare of furniture. There were boxes packed full of treasured items. And necessities were scattered throughout the house. But there was no soft furniture. No bed. No couch. No chairs. All of it was loaded and shipped to our new home two states away. We slept on an air mattress for a few days. Our dog even roamed the house looking for a soft spot. One day she ventured downstairs to see if she could find a cushy spot to rest. But no. There were none to be found. Even my massage therapist asked me if I had been sitting on a hard surface. You bet I have.

Everything echoes in an empty house. Voices. Footsteps. Every sound echoes.

We let go of some furniture to new owners, because we downsized and not everything could make the trip. One friend told me that the pieces of our furniture in her home made her place feel more like home. Her humble abode felt better with a few gently used pieces from an old friend. That made my heart sing.

Oh. Now that some of my furniture and belongings have arrived at our new house, I’m unpacking boxes and arranging and rearranging furniture.

One of my final tasks before moving was cleaning out not one, but two fridges that hadn’t been cleaned in an obviously long time. Built up spills had hardened. Crusty spots were hidden behind drawers that hadn’t been removed for cleaning. Something green, possibly dried lettuce or kale, was lying under a shelf. Crumbs that had dropped from unknown food were found living safely in the unseen crevices and corners.

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Hebrews 13:14

An empty house is not a home. It’s when the chosen furniture, artwork and cherished family heirlooms are put in place that the house becomes a home. As personal belongings are unboxed and placed in their new home, we see the love and feel of our last home in a new way. Sure. We’ll continue to buy new items over time and discard unneeded items, but we’ll work to fill the home with possessions that warm our hearts and tell our story. We’ll paint walls and hang curtains. We’ll cozy up the house with layers of texture to make it a comfortable resting place. We don’t want to live in a sterile environment. We want our home to reflect the nature of our love for each other and for God. When guests arrive at our new home, we want them to feel welcomed and loved. It doesn’t matter if the furniture matches or is new or is professionally arranged. What matters is that it feels like home.

The empty house gave me pause when I thought about living a Christian life. We repent and confess our sins in order to become children of God, but we can still live empty lives. If we don’t fill our newfound faith with solid biblical teaching and prayer and fellowship with other believers, we’re an empty version of a Christian. We will stagnate and not show maturity. How long will it be before we walk away from our newfound faith if our faith doesn’t have any substance?

Sure. A house without furniture is still a house. But it isn’t a home. It isn’t warm and inviting. It may be appealing and full of potential, but who would willing choose to stay for any length of time? No one.

A soul without Christ is still a soul, but it’s still searching for fulfillment. The searching soul won’t be satisfied until it finds the source of life. When the soul connects with its Creator, it has found its way home. But continual growth and development of the relationship with Christ is essential for a full Christian life. We can’t just visit with him occasionally and think we have a true relationship with him. We must become closer to him than we are to anyone or anything else in our lives. It’s only then that we truly understand that this world is not our final home. We are meant for our eternal dwelling with Christ.

This world we live in offers empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. It doesn’t feel like home. At least, not a home where we want to live forever. We aren’t content here. Oh sure. We may be happy and feel content for a season of life, but ultimately we’ll feel less fulfilled as time goes on. As we draw nearer to our final days, we begin to long for our final resting place. Our bodies and minds are less reliable, and we know that we will soon move on. We can know with confidence that our final home will be with Christ when we repent and confess our sins and live our lives according to God’s will.