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Everyone knows Mary; she saw Jesus' empty tomb. But Joanna was with her (Luke 24:10). A group of women hiked out to the tombs on that Sunday morning expecting to prepare their Master's body properly for burial. They brought spices and myrrh, good company and great sorrow. When they arrived, the tomb was open, but they couldn't find Jesus anywhere. And then Joanna saw angels and heard their famous question and answer, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" God blessed Joanna to experience that first Resurrection Morning, and invited her, the same way He does us, "Come and see where the Lord lay!" Happy Easter! He is risen!  In case you don't (remember Rhoda that is), she was the servant girl who answered the door after Peter was rescued from prison by an angel (Acts 12). She literally was so excited -- she left him standing at the door to tell everyone else. And not surprisingly no one believed her, until Peter kept knocking at the door. My guess is everyone looked at Rhoda, a nice (but somewhat ditzy) servant girl and said, "She'll never be important." Maybe she even thought, "God can't use me -- I am not (connected enough, smart enough, rich enough, the right sex, or the best occupation)." But God said, "I am going to use her. People will hear about her for 1000s of years and know -- I can use them too."  Ever given a small child (say under two and a half) something they really wanted? Maybe it is ice cream or a stuffed Mickey Mouse or a shoulder ride, but their expressions of joy are without compare -- and the feeling you get is pretty special too. Your reward of shrieks of laughter, huge smiles, and exuberant hugs make whatever sacrifices you made to give it to them worth it. Our Father, too, delights to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). The Creator of the Universe dips down to share His blessings with us. A beautiful blossom or a stunning view. A comforting conversation or hug from a friend. A restful nap or a successful day's work. May we respond to His gifts like little children -- with joy-filled thankfulness to our God who has done great things for each of us (Deuteronomy 10:21 and 1 Samuel 12:24).  God is:
A -- All-powerful over... L -- Life (John 11) M -- Mankind (Job 9:12) I -- Iniquity (Luke 5:17-26) G -- Governments (Romans 13:1) H -- Health (Mark 10:46-52) T -- Time (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Y -- You & Me (Romans 14:12) So what should I be? 1. After all this human history to learn from, why do people still make mistakes?
2. If that's why they make mistakes, is that why I make mistakes? 3. Lord, can you fix me?  Most historians consider the antidote of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree a historical fiction used to prop up the image of our first president as a boy of integrity. In other words, somewhere along the line someone thought it would be a good idea to tell a lie to demonstrate the importance of not lying...which is ironic. The story itself circulated as the truth for so long that it is actually difficult to prove that it was a fabrication. When it comes to truth claims, several hundred years tends to muddy the waters.
But, unfortunately, we don't need to several hundred years to begin lying to ourselves. In fact, most of us have lies that we tell ourselves on a regular basis. Things like: "I would be happier if I were prettier/richer/smarter." "This skill/job/temporal relationship makes me valuable." "I deserve X, Y, or Z in exchange for obeying God." We generally have believed these things (or others like them) so long, they are completely integrated to our thinking and priorities. It often takes something extreme for us to be able to see our lies for what they are. Lord, please show me "my lies" and help me uproot them today. Amen. Change is a
Chance from God to Hope and Heal, and become Alert and Appreciative of the New Opportunities to Grow and Gain Eternal Investments and Perspective Jeremiah prophesied during one of the most difficult periods in Israel's history. His people had forsaken Him, and God's wrath was imminent. But what should a godly person supposed to do? Leave the Promised Land? Desert the temple of God? Abandon the people of God? Or go on living among "God's people" -- who sacrificed their children to idols? Be content to watch the corruption of priests who cared nothing for the Lord? Accept that your neighbors gave God lip service, but their hearts were far from Him? In Jeremiah 21, God answered those questions. God's punishment was falling on Jerusalem in the form of the Babylonian and Chaldean army. Those who stayed in the city would either die by sword, famine, or pestilence, or be taken captive. But -- God repeated Himself multiple times -- there would be no escape. However, those who would defect to the Chaldeans, they would live, and their lives would be as treasures to their owners. Most of the inhabitants of Jerusalem refused God's unpatriotic "advice" and paid with their lives. But what do I do when God's "advice" is distasteful to me? When I see His instructions as embarrassing? Or uncomfortable? Or contrary to something I value (but He does not value at the same level)? Something worth thinking about.   A Bible that is falling apart, generally belongs to someone who isn't? So, is my Bible falling apart enough?
Honestly, no; and I don't think it ever could be "falling apart" enough. We can't "overdose" on the Bible. It isn't the simple reading or studying that is an end in and of itself. Studied correctly, the Scriptures keep us in perfect balance, because it leads to obeying God. If the Bible tells us X, the Bible believer gets up and does that. It says we need to work hard. So we work hard. It says, we need to love others. So we serve. We need to engage the world, worship God, and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. So we minister, we sing, and we keep returning to our Bibles...that can never be falling apart enough. I love stories. I read them...obsessively at times. I write them...when I have time. And I dream them...my last thoughts often before sleep are about my characters. How can I help him grow? What will help her overcome? What opportunity do they need to change? Would this circumstance push them away or pull them closer to Christ? And while my endings are always happy -- sometimes the answers to these questions lead my stories through some dark times for my characters. Death. Consequences for sin. Sorrow. Pain. Illness and injury. These things pave the way for me to mold each character into better versions of themselves on the way to that wonderful ending. My characters always turn out precisely as I want...because they aren't real. We are God's characters. The ending to God's story isn't just happy -- it is perfect (check out read Isaiah 11 or Revelation 21). But until then, God is writing His story in each of our lives. And sometimes that story hurts. People die. We reap what we sowed. We grieve and hurt. We fall ill and suffer. We are not precisely the way God wants. But God knows the answers to those questions I ask about my characters. And He is bringing us through what we need to our own wonderful ending, heaven. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. -- John 16:33  |
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
December 2021
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