What's Hiding in Your Heart?

Are you someone who tends to judge others by their flaws? Are you someone who judges another’s allegiances by whether they are wearing a mask or not? Perhaps you judge a person’s heart based on their voting record? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please continue reading.  

This week I have been teaching chapter 7 in the Gospel of John.  The Jewish leaders were mounting their evidence to crucify Jesus.  They justified themselves from breaking the Jewish law to perform circumcision on the Sabbath, but they could not accept Jesus healing a blind man.   It was ok for the Jewish leaders to do something on the Sabbath, but it wasn’t ok for Jesus.  When you find yourself accusing another person, would you excuse or even dismiss the same behavior in yourself?  If so, you just discovered where your self-righteousness is hiding.

The Pharisees hated Jesus because they had evil in their hearts and they did not understand Him.  In fact, they want to kill Him because of his works and words.  Jesus said in v. 38, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”.  When we believe in Christ, the living water of God will flow through us.  The words of the prophet Isiah 58:11:

And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.

Jesus was showing the people he was not just a teacher who performed good works and spoke encouraging words.  Nor was he a man who basked in the glory of the crowds.  Jesus came to expose light into the sin of the world and its people (John 3:19-21). When His hour would come, Jesus, the Son of Man would be glorified, and He would pay God’s debt for our sin (Romans 6:23). 

Jesus exposes the evil in our hearts, so we can believe in His saving Grace.  Jesus exposes the evil in our hearts so that we can experience forgiveness.  Jesus exposes the evil in our hearts so we can believe and have eternal life.  If we ignore our own sin, we cheapen the sacrificial death of Christ.

What evil are you hiding in the scorched places of your heart?  Let Jesus expose your sin so your heart will overflow with rivers of living water. To God be the glory!

 

The Lord's Prayer is Offensive

 

 The Lord’s Prayer is offensive.  Yup.  It is.  Maybe that is why we don’t recite it anymore in churches, in schools at weddings, funerals etc.  The Lord’s prayer comes straight out of scriptures, spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself as an example how we should pray.  So, why don’t I ever hear it anymore?  I was thinking about this as I was preparing a devotional on the Lord’s prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.   

We pray to Our Father…We aren’t praying to the God of your choosing, but to Abba, “daddy”….the loving, caring, patient God of the Universe, whose name is Hallowed, or Holy and deserves to be worshipped above all other gods. 

Everything is about building God’s Kingdom, not your little kingdom. 

God wants His will, His plan, His heart’s desire for your life. Sorry, but life is not all about you.

This is God’s earth and His heaven.  He created it.  We are just passing through.

God provides our daily needs, our daily bread….The kingdom you think you’re building on your own efforts and intelligence…Think again.

Don’t forget, we are to forgive others since God first forgave us.  Yes, that means you forgive the guy who cut you off in traffic and the hacker who stole your credit card number.

Believe it or not, we are all sinners who are prone to evil.  We all are lead into temptation every now and then.  Fez up.  Admit you made the wrong choice and ask God to give you wisdom next time. 

The Lord Jesus is coming back.  Those who find His prayer offensive could care less.  When He returns, the Lord Jesus will restore God’s kingdom after He judges ALL the earth.  Do you want to be delivered from evil? Then you better start believing in the message of the Gospel spoken by the Lord Jesus in His prayer.  Only the Lord Jesus has the power to deliver you from evil.  He paid the debt owed to God for your sin.  It was paid in full when He sacrificed His own life for yours.  When you appreciate this gift of forgiveness offered to you, then you will be able to forgive others with a grateful heart. 

The Lord’s prayer is not offensive to God’s children.  A Christian should know they are weak, prone to wander and in need of a Savior, His truth and His Kingdom.   God's prayer is offensive to a world that doesn’t believe in God and rejects His truth and His Kingdom in favor for their own.  Imagine the world if it embraced the Lord’s prayer and lived it out?  Evil wouldn’t stand a chance.  It may be my fight, but it for His glory!

Matthew 6:9-15

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

Wear the Stupid Mask

This summer did not end as I hoped.  My kids didn’t get to perform in their school concerts, I didn’t get to enjoy the finale of Community Bible Study after 31 weeks in God’s word, and I never got to get my final chemo treatment. I missed lunch dates with my friends, date nights with my husband and I did not get to Wales to celebrate a long and difficult year of cancer treatments.  What did I get?  Three weeks in the hospital.  When I should have been celebrating my final chemo treatment, I was lying in a hospital bed, isolated from my family for many days as I was treated for an infection on my spine.  I was finally discharged, only to find myself back in the hospital with a life-threatening infection caused by a tiny parasite in a tick.  Babesiosis almost took my life and took me from the family I love. If anyone had something to be angry about this summer, I guess you could say I had plenty of reason.  Anger, however, was not something I experienced. 

I was used to wearing a mask for the past year when I went out in public.  With white cell counts in the basement thanks to my chemotherapy treatments, I was a marked woman.  I took my life into my hands every time I went to the grocery store, to church to worship or to lead my bible study each week.  Did it stop me?  No!  So, why all this anger and political positioning over a stupid mask?

I am just astounded at the amount of anger I have witnessed over the past few months, especially anger among professing Christians.  Yes, I got frustrated a time or two.  Like the many times I drove to the grocery store only to find out I forgot my mask and had to drive back home to retrieve it.  Or the time I desperately longed for my husband’s hug and my children’s smiles when I was stuck in a hospital bed isolated from them by Covid protocols.  Yes, I was discouraged, but not angry.  Why are so many Christians so darn angry?  Well, I think we have forgotten Who we serve.

 “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant. (Phil. 2:3, 5–7)

Consider the health of the grocery clerk more important than your own by wearing a mask.  Consider your health care worker’s safety more important than your own.  Consider the exhausted mail carrier who left your Amazon package in the rain.  Consider your neighbor’s need to hear the gospel more important than the political statement posted on your yard or Facebook page.  Consider your servant role when your husband and children drive you crazy for the trillionth time this month.  Consider your isolation may just be the very thing that is fueling your anger.  Yes, your anger may be self-imposed.  

Loving our neighbor means we put others before our own needs.  I think we need to revisit that great commandment and take it to heart.  Put aside our personal disappointments and love those who need to hear and see the love of Christ.  Consider not your own fears, but how you may be a blessing to others.  Why do we put others first?  Because Christ did that for us. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

How easily we forget this simple, but profound truth when the going gets tough. Let us not forget.  Our disappointments, our frustrations are nothing compared to the sacrifice and suffering our Savior endured for us.  Doesn’t our Lord deserve more from us in this time of trial? So put on the darn mask.  It is a temporary discomfort to endure to ensure others are loved.  

 

Seas of Fury in the Storms of Life

I’m sitting here at the beach watching and listening to the sounds of the surf pound against the shore from my hotel room.  A storm is on the horizon and the waves are especially rough, leaving an endless white and foamy trail.  I love the ocean.  It is one of my happy places.  I came down to the beach to escape the trappings of a long and difficult year defined by one trial after another.  I came to the beach to rest my soul, to recharge and see the splendor of God’s creation.  Ancient religions however didn’t seek the ocean for respite.  In fact, they feared the ocean and its mysterious power.  They referred to the sea as an abyss and saw it as a symbol of chaos and hell.  Today, we understand many of the ocean’s mysteries and those fears of the unknown have been put to rest.  However, we do fear the storms of life- storms that sweep up suddenly and crush us like the waves. Many of these storms are man-made, created by people whose angry hearts are as furious as a raging sea.  Their words foaming from their mouth like a thundering surf, pounding others with their fury. Today there are many angry voices and fists raised at God, challenging His authority and Kingdom.  But the good news is, God is still on the throne, “robed in majesty”. 

 Let us look at Psalm 93

¹ The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
    indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
² Your throne was established long ago;
    you are from all eternity.

³ The seas have lifted up, Lord,
    the seas have lifted up their voice;
    the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea—
    the Lord on high is mighty.

⁵ Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
    holiness adorns your house
    for endless days.

Fear not friends.  The Lord is clothed in strength and His glory and power will reign forever. The Lord hears the cries of His children and defends those he calls His own.  The voices of the ungodly are all foam and fury. Like waves in a storm, they too will be silenced upon our King’s return.  For those who call themselves Children of God, we must remain calm in the storm.  We dwell in the protection of God’s house and verse 5 tells us to adorn ourselves with God’s holiness.  The way God’s children behave towards others is a powerful testimony.  We need to weather the storms of life with grace and not fury.  We must reflect the words of God’s truth and his holiness if we are to be a reliable witness to the world.  We must also be obedient to God’s word and repent when we fail to honor our King. A true child of God will mourn their sin and offer forgiveness when they have been sinned against.  Our King Jesus paid too great a price to redeem us as His children.  When the seas of life get rough, I will cling to the robe of my King and lean on His strength.  The fight may be mine, but it is for God’s glory!

 

Dead Worship

Over the years I have lead worship in a variety of capacities, whether I was playing one of my instruments or arranging the music.  Biblical worship is very important to me.  I analyze a song’s lyrics to ensure they glorify God and not man.  I check the scriptures to ensure a song’s lyrics speak Biblical truth.  I enjoy matching the music to the sermon and liturgical themes.  These days, I’m not doing much leading, but I still LOVE to worship my heavenly Father, whether alone in my home or in the company of my covenant family. 

Recently, I was preparing a lesson from John 4 (Jesus Talks to A Samaritan Woman).  Many of you are familiar with the story.  A half-Jewish woman from the Samaritan tribe, encountered Jesus at Jacob’s well in the middle of a hot afternoon.  Jesus broke several cultural barriers just by talking to the woman.  Jesus also pointed out her sin, the many husbands she has had in the past and the unwed man she was living with in the present.  Jesus spoke with kindness, authority, and respect.  The conversation eventually leads to Jesus revealing his true identity as the long-awaited Messiah.  It is verses 23 & 24 that have significant meaning.  Jesus says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth”.

What does this mean?  Well, 21^st century worshipers seem to think that Christianity revolves exclusively around the person of Jesus.  Of course, we want to exalt and worship Jesus, but remember that Jesus came to reconcile us to His Father.  He reminds us of this again in verse 23.  Who do true worshipers exalt on Sunday morning?  We worship the Father along with the Son and the Holy Spirit.  True worshipers worship the Triune God.  True worshipers are called to offer worship from the depth of their souls.  True worshipers must know the subject of our worship.  Unfortunately, many of America’s churches are driven more by what the people want on Sunday morning than what God wants.  Polls indicate people want their warm, fuzzy feelings met on Sunday morning.  They desire a sermon that sounds more like a self-help lecture than convicting truth  We want engaging, polished music to replicate the songs we hear on Christian radio.  Keeping these things in mind, how is the picture of today’s worship any different than the worship of the golden calf at the base of Mount Sinai 4,000 years ago (Exodus 32)?  We must guard our worship so it does not become an exercise in idolatry.

If we are worshiping the Father in spirit and truth, we must ask ourselves these questions.  Does the Sunday service highlight God or ourselves?  Does the teaching come from the full revelation of God as noted in the scriptures?  Do we focus on what is relevant to man or does our worship focus on what God desires? Does our music and prayers reflect the will of God and point us to Christ?  Do we come before the throne of God with a sense of awe and adoration or are we just stumbling out of bed half awake, going through the motions?  Does our worship look alive or does it appear dead?

It is clear from John 4:23, that not everything done in the name of Christ is pleasing in His sight.  Our worship is to be patterned after the example of Christ’s worship. Our Savior, being without sin (1 Pet 2:22), endeavored to please His Father every moment of His earthly life and ministry. Of course, we fail to live up to Christ’s standard, but God is gracious, and He forgives all who repent of their sins, including our inadequacies to worship in spirit and truth.  We were made to worship the Father, and we fulfill our purpose for living when we worship Him. 

The COVID pandemic and a string of recent illnesses has prevented me from attending corporate worship with my covenant family.  Despite the pain and discouragement of fighting cancer it is not enough to keep me from worshiping.  I am proof that in this world, we will have difficult times, sickness and heavy hearts. However, I have a Hope that will never disappoint me. I have hope in Christ, who has overcome the world.  It is only right that I worship in the midst of suffering. Satan would like all of us to curse God and die. He wants us to buy the lie that God has abandoned us.  However, this wasn’t true in the Garden of Eden, and it still isn’t true today.

The next time you gather to worship with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, remember it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to comprehend grace and truth so that we can worship the Father in an acceptable manner.  Scripture declares that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27, Matt 22:37). We are to love God with everything we got.  Our worship is for God’s glory, not our own.  Let us cling to the truth of God’s Word which never fails.  Let us worship with a spirit of a hopeful heart despite trying times.  Let us worship the God of our salvation, who has promised to return and reconcile all things to Himself. 

Our worship should look alive and always point to the glory of God.  If worship is not leading us to repent and giving us a heart to love our neighbor, then our worship is dead.  John Piper said,  “Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead.” When we exalt God on His throne, we see Him as our Holy God, the Sovereign Lord, the giver of every good and perfect gift, and the author of salvation. When we worship in spirit and truth, then worship that is alive will naturally spring forth from our lips and hearts. Love for our neighbor will flow out of our love for God (Mark 12:30,31).  If we see God for who He truly is, how can we not but give Him our best, living worship.  The journey may be ours, but it is all for God’s glory!

When My Faith Doesn't Move Mountains

Many of you know I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago.   I underwent a double mastectomy and year of chemotherapy. Recently, I developed an abscess in my spine, which put me in the hospital for a week.  I am grateful the doctors located the infection and started treatment when they did.  If left untreated, in 3-4 days I would have been paralyzed.  This is a sobering reality.  But what is more painful to me than the physical pain I have endured this year, are comments made by people who claim to know Jesus yet accuse me of insincere faith.  They believe my “lack of faith” has interfered with God’s healing.  This is troubling and it grieves my heart. 

This week I was preparing a lesson form the Gospel of John, chapter 5.  A man who had been handicapped for 38 years was hanging out at a pool in Jerusalem that claimed to have healing powers.  The locals believed angels stirred up the water and if the ill person jumped in the pool at just the right time, they would be healed.  Jesus happened upon this pool as the handicapped man lay there waiting for someone to help him into the waters.  Instead, Jesus healed the man on the spot, telling him to “Pick up your mat and walk”.  Soon after, some Jewish leaders asked the man, who healed you?  What comes next is important.  Verse 13 says, “The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there”. 

No one else in the pool was healed. Only this nameless man.  It wasn’t the man’s faith that healed him.  He had no idea who Jesus was.  It was not the waters that healed him.  He never even entered the water.  It was the will of God that healed the man, so that Jesus could show His authority as the Son of God. 

Why are Christians today so preoccupied with physical or “miraculous” healing?  Do I desire my cancer to go into remission? Absolutely.  That is why I underwent 12 grueling months of chemotherapy.  I am bothered by people who confront me and in the name of Jesus, claim to speak healing into my life.  Faith is not some self-generated spiritual force that leads to wellness as some would believe.  Nor is prayer a vehicle by which we make demands from God.  I think one of the best quotes on the definition of faith came from the late theologian Charles Spurgeon, “Faith is believing that Christ is what he is said to be, and that he will do what he has promised to do, and then to expect this of him.”

Returning to chapter 5 in the gospel of John (verses 19-47), we hear from Christ himself who explains His identity and mission.  Christ said in verse 24, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life”.  Christ came to forgive sin, to offer eternal life and warn of final judgement.  Nowhere in verse 24 does Christ say he will heal all our disease and promise us a trouble-free life.  Then, Jesus proceeds to tell the Jewish leaders that he is a testimony “weightier that that of John (the Baptist).  Christ does not need man to prove His deity! So why then do we get so caught up in searching for miraculous signs and healings?  I think it is because we as Christians put way too much emphasis on the strength of our faith than the object of our faith. 

We want to see prayers answered, to validate our faith. We want to see healing, to validate our faith.  We want to see an engaging worship service, to validate our faith.  We want to see our political candidate win, to validate our faith.  The Apostle Paul tells us our faith is a gift from God, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). 

Will you have doubts in your walk with Jesus? Sometimes.  Will trials rock your faith? My testimony is proof. (James 1: 2-3).  But when these doubts or trials come, don’t look for a miracle or an answered prayer to validate your faith.  Look to Jesus.  Take your eyes off yourself.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: (John 14:6). Only Christ has the power to offer salvation.  Jesus promises to work when our faith is as small as a mustard seed (Matt. 17:20), for it isn’t the size of our faith that finally matters, but he who is the object.

Physical healing doesn’t always occur, and spiritual growth does not come instantly.  When trials come we should pray to God for our physical and spiritual needs. The answers to our prayers may come quickly, they may come in stages or they may not be answered at all. One thing that Jesus has taught me through my cancer journey is that true discipleship is costly and involves suffering.  When we read through the Bible, we will see Jesus in all its passages.  Our faith grows as we see the power, goodness and love of God displayed in Christ, whether that results in miraculous healing in our lives or simply the grace to endure pain.  Regardless, God’s grace should be sufficient. (2 Cor 12:9).  This may be my journey, but it is for His glory!

Lab Coats, Credentials and Jesus

This week I have been hospitalized with an abscess in my lumbar spine. As a result, I have had a steady stream of white lab coats coming to visit me in my hospital room.  Their name followed by a long list of credentials on their lab coat is the first thing I see when they walk through the door towards my bed.  Embroidering one’s name and credentials on your lab coat is the closest thing to wearing your diploma.  These credentials reflect a person’s expertise and advanced training.  In the medical world, these credentials make a statement and they identify you.  When someone expects our trust, we look for credentials. This applies to our faith in Jesus. He too has credentials.

When Jesus was baptized, God's own personal testimony was heard from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22).  Jesus also made astonishing claims about himself.  People didn’t know whether to stone him as a blasphemer or believe him as the Messiah.  In the gospel of John, we see the cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist testify four truths about Christ’s identity. 

First, he announced Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the One of whom the prophets wrote. John even quoted the word of Isaiah concerning himself, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord'" (John 1:23 NIV). 

Secondly, John announced Jesus to be "the Lamb of God." This is my favorite credential of Christ. To his own disciples Jesus said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29). Jesus is the innocent, sacrificial lamb who suffered in our place, taking our sins upon himself so we can come into fellowship with God the Father. 

Thirdly, John announced Jesus to be the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit as he witnessed Christ’s baptism and the Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove.  “The man on whom you see the spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit”.

Fourthly, John declared Jesus to be "God’s Chosen One" (John 1:34).  John the Baptist was careful not to mislead others into thinking he was the Messiah.  John did not misuse his credentials.  John did not even think he was worthy of untying the sandals of Christ.

It is against the law to impersonate a doctor or nurse or falsely use their credentials.  It was also wrong for John to claim something he did not own.  Only Jesus is the true son of God.  Only Jesus has the power to forgive you of your sins.  Only Jesus demonstrated that he was God in human flesh by manifesting the credential of sinlessness. (1 John 3:5) Only Jesus has the power to give you eternal life in heaven.  God gave Jesus his credentials.  John 3:35,36 says, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

My cancer journey has been a very hard and painful one.  Sometimes, there doesn’t seem any hope of ever being normal again, doing the normal things I love like gardening or traveling with my family. Today is no exception. God shows me His loving care for me through a kind nurse, a knowledgeable doctor or a friend’s encouraging words and that gives me hope.  During this very difficult time, what a comfort it has been to wrap myself in God’s word and the credentials of my Lord and Savior.  When God looks at me, He doesn’t see my earthly credentials.  God doesn’t see my sin.  God sees his son Jesus.  I am wrapped in the protective grace of Christ.  I am a child of God. Those are the only credentials of any importance that really matter to me. 

x

No Pain! No Gain!

Last weekend I was laying wood chips around the yard (one of the perks of having a neighbor who is a tree surgeon).  Let me tell you, these wood chips are HEAVY!  I not only had to dig 8 shovels per load, I had to haul them 100 yards up my steep driveway in a heavy wheelbarrow.  I must have repeated this process 100 times.  Clearly, my strength and endurance are returning, but my back, arms and legs are definitely feeling it.  Every time I started up the hill with another load, I heard the words of my high school track coach saying “Just one more hill Kunkle. No pain, no gain”. 

On top of that, I had my 17^th chemo treatment yesterday.  These past 18 months certainly have been a year of suffering.  From the pain of hearing my diagnosis of breast cancer to having a double mastectomy with reconstruction, my year has been a painful one.  Adding to this a serious infection, 2 more surgeries and chemotherapy every 3 weeks, pain has been a part of my reality and life.  The Covid Pandemic is just icing on the cake. 

Indeed, when we suffer, no matter what the cause, we hurt.  So, what is there to “gain” in all this pain?  I think I can speak from experience when I tell you, you have a LOT to gain from your suffering.  I am not talking about the muscle strength and endurance you gain after a painful work out.  The good news is, you can gain God’s comfort.  In the Old Testament of the Bible, God comforted His people as they wandered the desert after their exile in Egypt.  When they disobeyed Him time and time again, He still provided for their needs.  When they came under captivity time and time again, God promised to free them.  Why did God do this?  To show us that God fulfills His promises.  The book of Isiah prepares Israel for the arrival of the Messiah and the Lord’s glory.  Here is what the prophet said in Isaiah 40:1-4

“Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

³ A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord^[a];
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.^[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.”

Isiah tells Jerusalem that its pain is coming to an end when the Lord comes and the His glory will replace her misery.  The promised Messiah was indeed coming.  He would arrive nearly 1,500 years later in the form of a little baby, born in a Bethlehem stable.  This miracle birth made God’s comfort complete in the form of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd (John 10:1-21).  But this baby did not come to lead God’s people to victory through battle.  He came to lead them to glory through His own life and death.  Jesus came to provide forgiveness of sins for all people and to bring us back into a right relationship with God. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

I have been showered by God’s mercies many times in the midst of my suffering and pain this year.  I have seen God’s comfort through people, their cards, flowers, candy and words of encouragement.  I have been comforted by God’s Word. I do not deserve any of the mercies my Lord and Savior has shown me.  I especially don’t deserve the forgiveness of sins He has offered me through his own sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary.  But, what a comfort it is to me to know my Lord understands my suffering and my pain, because He too suffered very, very much for us.  Why did Jesus Christ suffer for us?  So that we would not have to.  He suffered so our sins would be forgiven by God.  Jesus suffered temptation in the wilderness, but He never gave in to sin during His suffering (Hebrews 4:14-16).

I don’t know for certain what the future holds for me.  I do know some things.  I won’t be going to Wales in 2 weeks.  I have one final chemo treatment.  Many more doctor appointments to make in the future. But none of that matters. I for one consider it a privilege to suffer for Christ.  No pain, no gain.  It is true.  Through Christ’s pain and His death, I have gained eternal life in Heaven.  Through my pain, I can suffer like Jesus.  Why? So that I can depend not on my doctors, my own strength or my medicines, but on the strength and comfort of my Heavenly Father. 

Dear friends:  If you are suffering right now, I know firsthand you may feel abandoned.  You may feel forgotten by friends, family or even God.  I pray you will turn to Jesus.  He will give you comfort that He alone can offer.  “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). It may be my journey, but it is for His glory!

Abundant Life or Abundant Pantries: Which Do you Desire?

Yesterday I went to Wegman’s Grocery store after my chemotherapy treatment.  This is considered a high end market, always over flowing the isles in abundance.  Shelves are lined with beautiful fruits and vegetables, artisan breads, sushi, pastries…You name it, Wegman’s carries it.  But yesterday, the isles were completely bare of meat, there was no flour.  There were no beautiful pastries to look at or gourmet sushi to admire.  Armed guards stood at the check out line and everyone seemed on edge.  It was surreal to say the least.  Anyhow, I managed to get a few items I needed and stocked up on my cat’s favorite litter. 

I was contemplating on this experience as I drove home.  What a society we have become.  I include myself.  We grab everything we can to provide for our needs, for the fear of running out.  Thieves are stealing provisions.  Some are hording and selling necessities on the black market.  Instead, we as a society should be sharing and helping out our neighbor.  We worry more about our own health and well being than the collective good of our fellow man. 

One of my favorite passages is John 10.  Jesus talks about himself as the good shepherd as well as the gate through which one may receive eternal life.  He said in verses 9 and 10, ^“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

With Jesus, we will never lack anything.  Yes, we may run out of flour and meat and perhaps you will run out of healthy days in your bodies, but with Christ, We will NEVER run out of the love our Savior has for us.  He is the abundant life.  Abundance is found in Him, NOT in stuff and yes, not in other people or our careers or our health. 

Imagine what a much better world this would be, if more people headed the words of Christ.  I have breast cancer.  I don’t fear death, because I know I have already conquered it.  Christ conquered death on the cross for me.  He died so that my sins would be forgiven, and I can come before God the Father and live with Him in eternity.  Christ and I have a beautiful relationship.  Christ strengthens me when I feel weak or scared (Psalm 46: 1-3).  Christ encourages me when I feel defeated (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).  Christ comforts me when I hurt (2 Corinthians 1:3).

If you are feeling anxiety, or fear during this Corona crisis…you can find peace.  Pick up the bible and start reading the gospel of John.  Stop and get on your knees and seek God.  Let Him know your fears.  God already knows them.  He also knows you are not perfect, but He will accept you and your prayers.  Enter His gate and walk through.  The abundant life God promises is waiting.  He is just waiting for you, to take those steps. 

Patience is Not An Option

Most of us recognize that patience is a characteristic we all desire, but we’re just not in a hurry to obtain it.  Some define patience as a delay in getting what we want. Margaret Thatcher once remarked: “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” In today’s fast-paced society and self-centered culture, patience is quickly disappearing, even among Christians.  Patience however, is not an option for a Christian. 

Patience is a recurring theme in James.  In chapter 1, verse 12 James tells that “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  Patience and endurance makes its appearance again in chapter 5 several times, reminding us to be patient in the face of suffering. 

James gives us three pictures of patience to encourage us.  First, he tells us to be patient like a farmer waiting for the harvest.  Any of you who garden or grew up in a farming family understand how dependent farmers are on God’s provision of the weather and seasonal changes.  Too much rain will cause a crop to rot, too little rain causes drought.  Plant too early or too late and the risk of frost will kill your crop.  The image of a farmer reminds us that faith involves trusting God with what we can not control.  But a farmer doesn’t just sit back and wait for the rain or the sun, he continues to work.  Likewise, a prophet who spoke God’s word spoke out boldly, despite the persecution they endured.  And Job, poor Job.  It took him 42 chapters of suffering in His life and only in the end did he confess,  My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.(Job 42:5-6)

Whatever trial you are walking through at this season in your life, remember…this is not the end of the story.  The end will reveal that the Lord is indeed “very compassionate and merciful”, just as James said.  I am learning to be patient as I sit through long chemo treatments and wait on the Lord for ultimate healing.  I don't know for certain if I will be cured of my cancer in this lifetime.  I do however know that healing awaits me in glory, when I will be given a new body, which will be free of all sin and disease.  In the meantime, I will patiently wait on the Lord and allow Him to use me and my suffering to bring Him glory. My suffering is a blessing and a joy when I can encourage others to persevere their own trials.  More importantly, I hope my cancer journey and suffering with patience will point others to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Patience is a test of a Christian’s genuine faith.  And dear friends, we better learn it quick.  

The Drummer Boy In You

One of my favorite Christmas songs, “The Little Drummer Boy” (especially the David Bowie/Bing Crosby version) has been banned from many churches these days.  It really is quite a shame.  While simplistic in its melody and no, there was no drummer boy at the nativity scene, it does speak some biblical truth.  The little drummer boy “was a poor boy too”, but he recognized the baby he was playing for was a poor King.  It reminded me of a verse in our most recent lesson.  “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love Him?”  (James 2:5)

Other poor visitors to the manger scene, who are in the Bible were shepherds. Isn’t it wonderful that a lowly group of smelly shepherds were the first to receive the Messiah’s birth announcement?  “Do not be afraid,” the angel tells them, and gives them a sign that must have made the shepherds feel at home: “You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  The messiah they were to visit was lying in a smelly barn inside the suburbs of Bethlehem.  The shepherds represent for us a picture of the far-reaching nature of God’s love.  God’s message of salvation has the power to break through all barriers.  The little drummer boy may not have been in the Bible, but he does represent us, before we were saved.  

Before we knew Jesus as our Savior, we were poor in so many ways.  Now, we are united to Christ.  The Kingdom He shares with us makes us richer beyond our imaginations.  Merry Christmas and remember, the gift of your salvation you celebrate this season is the most precious and most costly gift you will ever receive.

Hope from the Birds

This past week I noticed the blue birds were back.    What a beautiful sight to see. As long as I keep them well feed with meal worms, I think they will stick around.  Some people say you shouldn’t feed the birds, believing it keeps them from fending for themselves.  I don’t think the birds need to worry.  God provides plenty of food and protection for them in our woods.  If my blue birds don’t appear worried, neither should I. 

Life’s pressures can certainly put a lot of worry on our plate.  Take for example cancer. Not only are the treatments painful and something I dread each time, it becomes so easy to worry about my prognosis.  Will I be around to see my twins graduate?  Will I ever get back to nursing?  Will I ever have the strength and breath to hike a mountain again? 

As a child of God, I know God’s is sovereign and He makes my anxiety look foolish. Birds do not worry, they sing, and still they find food each day. I am God’s image-bearer and God tells me I have more worth than the birds.  I have confidence that He will feed me as well (Matt. 6:26). I don’t have much of an appetite these days, but I do love to feed on God’s word.  It gives me encouragement, where people fail.  God’s word gives strength when my body fails.  God’s word directs my eyes to His Kingdom. God’s word shows me I do not need not worry about tomorrow, for God always takes care of His own (Ps. 37:25). 

We shouldn’t worry about tomorrow if we are serving Jesus.  Even if we don’t get all of our wants, He will certainly give us all of our needs. If you are struggling with worry, take your eyes off yourself and look to the birds. Then, ask God to help you learn to trust in Him.  Matthew 6: ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

It may be my fight, but it is for His glory!

Thankful For Cancer and Loneliness

I think I like Thanksgiving more than Christmas.  Thanksgiving has less preparation, less stress and offers a chance to slow down and enjoy God’s blessings.  This year I will move slower in the kitchen, the meal will be simple, but God’s goodness and his Grace will be my focus, rather than celebration.  Mark and I, along with my dog Keena and three cats, will be home this year grilling steaks while our kids are at my father’s house.  I just couldn’t muster the energy to host a house full of guests this year.  So, my husband and I are spending Thanksgiving alone.  But being alone is something I experience quite a bit in my cancer journey this year. Even loneliness can be something we give thanks to God for.    

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the cure for loneliness. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, are never alone.  Jesus, the Son of God, “emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). We learn from the Psalmist about what to do when we’re lonely. He turned to God for help,“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted” (Psalm 25:16). Then we wait for God to fulfill our loneliness; “God makes a home for the lonely” (Psalm 68:6).

I have so much to be thankful for this year.  I have even found it in my heart to thank God for my cancer and the many hours I spend alone with my Savior.  1 Thess. 5:18 tells us to “give thanks to the Lord” in all circumstances.  This is a lesson the Lord has been teaching me in great abundance this year.  I know the source of my gratitude comes from God the Father, who did not spare His only son but gave Him up to die on a cross for my salvation.   It is no surprise the scriptures link God’s goodness with our gratitude.  “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is GOOD” (Ps. 107:1) Ingratitude is not just poor manners but for the Christian, ingratitude towards God is a sin against the One who saved us from our sin. 

I have much to be thankful for this year.  While cancer is no picnic, I am grateful God has been by my side through it all.   I will thank God for my cancer and the many hours spent alone with Him.  I am grateful for the people God has placed into my life through my cancer journey.  Seeing others suffer over the years as a nurse and now to suffer myself, has taught me how to have a joyful heart during trials and to allow the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with His faith, hope and love. I am thankful my Lord and Savior has overcome the world (John 16:33).  

This year, I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving with turkey, a crowded dining room or football on the television.  I will be spending some time alone, in prayer, giving thanks to God for life and all its precious blessings.  Happy Thanksgiving.  No matter how you choose to celebrate, may you remember to give thanks to God for your salvation and everything you have (the good and the bad).  If you are celebrating a lone this year, know that as a child of God, you are never alone.