For the past several weeks I have had the privilege of leading a group of Christian women through the book of Malachi in the comfort of my own home. (added bonus - a great excuse for dessert and coffee) We are learning to recognize the deception that says modified obedience is a worthy sacrifice. Christians are exhausted in our service and addicted to saying "yes", yet we are failing to please the Lord and starving for His blessing. We must remember His glory, strictly obey and delight in this guilt-free reason to say "no" to things that draw us away from His purpose. A BIG offering is not what pleases the Lord - rather a beautiful one. More service is not His delight - rather obedient service. One particular verse in Malachi addresses this act of remembering.
Malachi 3:16, "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name."
When "those who feared the LORD" realized the sin of their insufficient sacrifices they turned to the LORD and wrote a book of remembrance. Compiling a script of the notable deeds the LORD had done and of the wonder and power of His person aligned the hearts and minds of the people in proper perspective. Our knowledge of Him yesterday is the hope of Him tomorrow and the strength of Him today. He is worthy. He is worth it.
Every day is an anniversary for something if you take the time to remember it. Obviously, there are days that hold more bad memories than good, but, in general "remembering" is a great morning exercise that can give both roots and branches to our day. Besides, you may find there are more excuses for cake than just birthdays. God is faithful and gives good gifts. His activity in our lives is reason to celebrate.
What does your book of remembrance say? Comment below and share. Let us who fear the Lord remember Him and His great deeds.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Resolution Fail
January 2012 Status Report???
Just over one week since people everywhere made late night declarations for new year improvements. Exercise? Eat Right? Spend less? Sleep more? Bible Study? How are you doing so far? If you are anything like me, my resolutions tend to get packed away with the Christmas decorations. I view New Year's resolutions as personal competition rather than self-improvement and the moment I slip up rather than dust myself off and press on I just declare "fail" and eat an entire cake. (Well, I don't, but that would be fun.)
I am so grateful that the Lord deemed it good to give us time and seasons as reminders of the freshness of His mercy. Not just self proclaimed do-over time on New Year's day, but the daily rising and setting of the sun that teaches us about the infinite grace of God. The fear of the dark is always met with the hope of a sunrise. He forgives our sin and failure and brings out of filthy rubble an abundant life. He does not just mend; He heals. He does not just cleanse; He purifies.
A couple of months ago, my sister and brother-in-law hosted a bonfire at their house for my family. We had a wonderful time roasting marshmallows and enjoying being outside. However, when we went inside the smoke followed us. We stunk. Everything and everybody had to be thoroughly washed. I could not help but think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in Nebuchadnezzar's fire. These men were washed with flames and yet the grace and mercy of God brought them out and "the smell of fire had not come upon them" (Daniel 3:27).
Whatever stench has followed you into this new year or even this new day our Holy God can and does cleanse and make all things new.
Happy New You!
Just over one week since people everywhere made late night declarations for new year improvements. Exercise? Eat Right? Spend less? Sleep more? Bible Study? How are you doing so far? If you are anything like me, my resolutions tend to get packed away with the Christmas decorations. I view New Year's resolutions as personal competition rather than self-improvement and the moment I slip up rather than dust myself off and press on I just declare "fail" and eat an entire cake. (Well, I don't, but that would be fun.)
I am so grateful that the Lord deemed it good to give us time and seasons as reminders of the freshness of His mercy. Not just self proclaimed do-over time on New Year's day, but the daily rising and setting of the sun that teaches us about the infinite grace of God. The fear of the dark is always met with the hope of a sunrise. He forgives our sin and failure and brings out of filthy rubble an abundant life. He does not just mend; He heals. He does not just cleanse; He purifies.
A couple of months ago, my sister and brother-in-law hosted a bonfire at their house for my family. We had a wonderful time roasting marshmallows and enjoying being outside. However, when we went inside the smoke followed us. We stunk. Everything and everybody had to be thoroughly washed. I could not help but think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in Nebuchadnezzar's fire. These men were washed with flames and yet the grace and mercy of God brought them out and "the smell of fire had not come upon them" (Daniel 3:27).
Whatever stench has followed you into this new year or even this new day our Holy God can and does cleanse and make all things new.
Happy New You!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The Angels Sang Anyway
Several Sunday mornings ago I was standing with my friend Kelli in a hallway of our church. People moved carefully around one another in the small space making their way to worship. Out of nowhere I hear, "Mrs. Kelli!!!!!" I looked and one of the sweetest little girls I have ever known was running through that crowd with a crinkled gift bag extended as far as her little arm could reach. Her face was beaming and excitement radiated all around her. She half crashed into Kelli with the present, not saying a word. Inside was a book and a fluffy stuffed bear - a gift for Baby Reeves (due May 2012). Kelli was so touched and thrilled to receive one of her first baby gifts, but nothing compared to that little girl who was elated with the joy of giving. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves a cheerful giver. I know why now. I was washed with the warmest happy just to have watched the exchange. How pleased the Lord must have been with that sweet heart.
As if that wasn't enough, as the little girl and her family started to walk away her dad said, "She bought that with her own money; saved and bought it herself." Of course, Kelli was immediately in tears. Such a big sacrifice for such a small girl, yet she didn't see it as sacrifice at all, instead she had been carrying the bag with her (hence the crinkles) waiting for the moment she could give it away.
Many years ago, angels sang the joy of our Heavenly Father as He watched the world unwrap the gift of His Son. What a gift! On that day God also saw the cross and knew the weight of the sacrifice, but the angels, God's messengers, sang anyway. What a good God! The most cheerful Giver! Not only did He give us His Son so that we may be saved and have a relationship with Him, but He wrapped that gift in ribbon of song and delight. We celebrate Christmas in the shadow of the cross with smiles on our faces because God declared it good. May we cheerfully give because we have been so graciously and cheerfully given too. May our hearts and lips be full of praise like the angels who sang so loudly, on a night so often called silent, "Glory to God in the Highest!"
Merry Christmas!
As if that wasn't enough, as the little girl and her family started to walk away her dad said, "She bought that with her own money; saved and bought it herself." Of course, Kelli was immediately in tears. Such a big sacrifice for such a small girl, yet she didn't see it as sacrifice at all, instead she had been carrying the bag with her (hence the crinkles) waiting for the moment she could give it away.
Many years ago, angels sang the joy of our Heavenly Father as He watched the world unwrap the gift of His Son. What a gift! On that day God also saw the cross and knew the weight of the sacrifice, but the angels, God's messengers, sang anyway. What a good God! The most cheerful Giver! Not only did He give us His Son so that we may be saved and have a relationship with Him, but He wrapped that gift in ribbon of song and delight. We celebrate Christmas in the shadow of the cross with smiles on our faces because God declared it good. May we cheerfully give because we have been so graciously and cheerfully given too. May our hearts and lips be full of praise like the angels who sang so loudly, on a night so often called silent, "Glory to God in the Highest!"
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
White Balance
What is "White Balance"? Have you ever even noticed that setting on your camera? Like all electronics, a camera is only as smart as someone (someone smarter than me that is) tells it to be. When our eyes see something "white" it may actually be off-white, cream, eggshell, or just plain dirty, but our brain factors in all of that information automatically and is able to process, with very little effort, that the object is white-(ish). A camera, on the other hand, sees something as white when it is told the object is white and the camera uses that information as a standard and adjusts accordingly. If the camera is pointed at something cream and told the object is white then the photographs will not be entirely true in color. Want to see? Take a look at my pumpkin centerpiece and happy little scarecrow.
In the first picture it is as if you were dining at my table on Thanksgiving Day.
After setting white balance using a Coca-Cola can it is like dining at my table after being hit in the head - not great!
This is the way we should approach the Scripture...like a camera. We need to pour over the pages of God's Word and set our life's "white balance" to Truth. Afterwards, everything else: circumstances, emotions, and theories have to adjust around the standard. Unfortunately, we regularly read God's Truth and then modify and theorize until we end up with distorted information that eventually fails us. In these times we rail at God as if He has failed us, when in reality we put our eggs in a basket made of imagination. He is so faithful and so good that He wrote the book on it! Read, know Him, and really see.
White Balance:
"Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!" "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." "I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me." Psalm 119:5,9, 15-19
In the first picture it is as if you were dining at my table on Thanksgiving Day.
After setting white balance using a Coca-Cola can it is like dining at my table after being hit in the head - not great!
This is the way we should approach the Scripture...like a camera. We need to pour over the pages of God's Word and set our life's "white balance" to Truth. Afterwards, everything else: circumstances, emotions, and theories have to adjust around the standard. Unfortunately, we regularly read God's Truth and then modify and theorize until we end up with distorted information that eventually fails us. In these times we rail at God as if He has failed us, when in reality we put our eggs in a basket made of imagination. He is so faithful and so good that He wrote the book on it! Read, know Him, and really see.
White Balance:
"Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!" "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." "I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me." Psalm 119:5,9, 15-19
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Just As I Am and Never Again to Be
A recent phone conversation with my sister:
Her: "oh, I see Travis (her husband) coming down the driveway"
Me: "Well, I will let you go so you can get a breath mint and put on some gloss."
Her: (in jest) Hey, he should love me just the way I am.
Me: "NOPE. HE DOESN'T."
We both laughed and I'm pretty sure she went to get some lip gloss.
But I was serious. (As serious as you can be goofing with your sister) I go to a lot of trouble to not be "just the way I am". I shower, put on makeup, color my hair, brush my teeth, workout, read books, Google, etc. all of this, in an effort to be an increasingly better version of myself. I think that it is safe to say that the people in my life appreciate it - especially the showering and teeth brushing.
In Psalm 51 David uses the phrases, "wash me", "purify me", "make me", "create in me", "restore me" - change, change, change me. David knew that His God is love, but that love is one of a Maker and Redeemer. God accepts us as we are, but He does not accept that we remain that way. He has called us and received us for more. I am uncomfortable that in our churches we are cultivating a culture and a gospel that says that Jesus Christ died so that our sin can be "accepted" and "tolerated" rather than forgiven and changed. Jesus did not die so that God wouldn't mind if we lie, gossip, cheat, or stew in our anger. Jesus did not die so that God would let it slide if we continue in our addictions and remain ignorant about His Word. He died that we might be forgiven and set free to be changed for His glory.
I am so grateful for the wonderful truth that God will take me and love me just as I am, but I am all the more thankful for the grace that draws me closer to Him and further from me.
Her: "oh, I see Travis (her husband) coming down the driveway"
Me: "Well, I will let you go so you can get a breath mint and put on some gloss."
Her: (in jest) Hey, he should love me just the way I am.
Me: "NOPE. HE DOESN'T."
We both laughed and I'm pretty sure she went to get some lip gloss.
But I was serious. (As serious as you can be goofing with your sister) I go to a lot of trouble to not be "just the way I am". I shower, put on makeup, color my hair, brush my teeth, workout, read books, Google, etc. all of this, in an effort to be an increasingly better version of myself. I think that it is safe to say that the people in my life appreciate it - especially the showering and teeth brushing.
In Psalm 51 David uses the phrases, "wash me", "purify me", "make me", "create in me", "restore me" - change, change, change me. David knew that His God is love, but that love is one of a Maker and Redeemer. God accepts us as we are, but He does not accept that we remain that way. He has called us and received us for more. I am uncomfortable that in our churches we are cultivating a culture and a gospel that says that Jesus Christ died so that our sin can be "accepted" and "tolerated" rather than forgiven and changed. Jesus did not die so that God wouldn't mind if we lie, gossip, cheat, or stew in our anger. Jesus did not die so that God would let it slide if we continue in our addictions and remain ignorant about His Word. He died that we might be forgiven and set free to be changed for His glory.
I am so grateful for the wonderful truth that God will take me and love me just as I am, but I am all the more thankful for the grace that draws me closer to Him and further from me.
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Whole Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth
On television when a police officer wants to interrogate a suspect the suspect is shut in a tiny, cold room and a bright light is shining in his/her face. Do you know where the police picked up this technique? The dentist office. Or maybe it was the other way around.
Yesterday, I went to the dentist for a cleaning. I was quickly escorted into a cold, blue room about the size of my walk-in closet. The hygienist reclines my chair, shines a bright light in my face, and with a sharp, metal instrument poised near my eye she begins her work. Unsettled by the scraping sounds I wait for the interrogation to begin - "So . . . do you floss?"
Why is this question so unnerving? What do we think is going to happen if we say "No"? Dentist jail? Floss flogging? I have never had a cavity nor have I ever not received high marks at the dentist, but still I get nervous. I think the reason is because no matter the answer we give, the proof is in our mouth - and we know it.
Similarly, regardless of the show we put on for others or even ourselves, the Holy Spirit examines our heart and knows fully the corruption and ungodliness that prevents our obedience to God. We know what we should do and simply do not. The Bible has a great deal of mysterious and difficult to understand teachings, but not as much as we would like to pretend. The Lord has given us wisdom and knowledge for holiness and righteous living. The excuses we make only last until "we open our mouth and remove all doubt." What a generous God we serve who satisfied His own justice in Christ Jesus so that even as He searches and knows us, He loves and has forgiven us. What a God we serve!
So, just for fun, let's do a survey (see poll to the right). Do you floss on a regular basis? Truth: cathartic and contagious.
Yesterday, I went to the dentist for a cleaning. I was quickly escorted into a cold, blue room about the size of my walk-in closet. The hygienist reclines my chair, shines a bright light in my face, and with a sharp, metal instrument poised near my eye she begins her work. Unsettled by the scraping sounds I wait for the interrogation to begin - "So . . . do you floss?"
Why is this question so unnerving? What do we think is going to happen if we say "No"? Dentist jail? Floss flogging? I have never had a cavity nor have I ever not received high marks at the dentist, but still I get nervous. I think the reason is because no matter the answer we give, the proof is in our mouth - and we know it.
Similarly, regardless of the show we put on for others or even ourselves, the Holy Spirit examines our heart and knows fully the corruption and ungodliness that prevents our obedience to God. We know what we should do and simply do not. The Bible has a great deal of mysterious and difficult to understand teachings, but not as much as we would like to pretend. The Lord has given us wisdom and knowledge for holiness and righteous living. The excuses we make only last until "we open our mouth and remove all doubt." What a generous God we serve who satisfied His own justice in Christ Jesus so that even as He searches and knows us, He loves and has forgiven us. What a God we serve!
So, just for fun, let's do a survey (see poll to the right). Do you floss on a regular basis? Truth: cathartic and contagious.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Roaring Lion
Recently, there has been a post going around among my Facebook friends; check it out: Can anyone tell me why it is so hard to pray, but easy to swear? Why clubs are growing and churches are shrinking? Why it is so hard to re-post a Christian status, but easy to post gossip? Why we can worship a celebrity, but not Jesus?
I would like to answer. . .we have an enemy. I have to admit it bothers me when pastors/teachers shoot guilt aimed questions like "why is it that you can sit through a four hour football game, but not through a one hour worship service?" into the congregation. There is a part of me that always wants to answer back, "let me bring hot dogs and funnel cakes and yell every now and then and I'll happily stay four hours." Obviously the two scenarios cannot be compared, but the larger truth is, we have an enemy. Not a mystical, fantasy enemy an actual, biblical one. The devil does not care if we read every volume of the encyclopedia or stay on Facebook twelve hours a day, but try reading God's Word and suddenly we have the attention span of a three year old. The devil knows in whom our success rests and he will do anything to keep us from Him.
We are not accustomed (I hope) to factoring enemies into our day. The closest thing I can think of is that years ago I had a coworker who worked as hard at sabotaging my job as she did at accomplishing her own, maybe more. She was delighted to see me fail, but she did not want to kill me. We have an enemy who certainly delights to see us stumble but is dedicated to "steal, kill, and destroy". We tend to regard the devil like an older brother who stands in a dark hallway to jump out and startle us. However, he is not interested in merely startling us for a laugh, but in destroying our very lives. He is evil and loathesome. He hates our God and us by extension.
We need to remember this truth, keep it on our minds, and teach it to our children. Why? First of all, because the reality of Satan is part of our biblical theology. Second, because only in awareness can we respond accordingly. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (I Peter 5:8). As believers in Jesus Christ we do not have to fear this enemy, but we should be reminded that even though the victory is secure the battlefield is a dangerous place to live.
"Know in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
I would like to answer. . .we have an enemy. I have to admit it bothers me when pastors/teachers shoot guilt aimed questions like "why is it that you can sit through a four hour football game, but not through a one hour worship service?" into the congregation. There is a part of me that always wants to answer back, "let me bring hot dogs and funnel cakes and yell every now and then and I'll happily stay four hours." Obviously the two scenarios cannot be compared, but the larger truth is, we have an enemy. Not a mystical, fantasy enemy an actual, biblical one. The devil does not care if we read every volume of the encyclopedia or stay on Facebook twelve hours a day, but try reading God's Word and suddenly we have the attention span of a three year old. The devil knows in whom our success rests and he will do anything to keep us from Him.
We are not accustomed (I hope) to factoring enemies into our day. The closest thing I can think of is that years ago I had a coworker who worked as hard at sabotaging my job as she did at accomplishing her own, maybe more. She was delighted to see me fail, but she did not want to kill me. We have an enemy who certainly delights to see us stumble but is dedicated to "steal, kill, and destroy". We tend to regard the devil like an older brother who stands in a dark hallway to jump out and startle us. However, he is not interested in merely startling us for a laugh, but in destroying our very lives. He is evil and loathesome. He hates our God and us by extension.
We need to remember this truth, keep it on our minds, and teach it to our children. Why? First of all, because the reality of Satan is part of our biblical theology. Second, because only in awareness can we respond accordingly. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (I Peter 5:8). As believers in Jesus Christ we do not have to fear this enemy, but we should be reminded that even though the victory is secure the battlefield is a dangerous place to live.
"Know in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
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