Challenge...

A few months ago I found myself being challenged - at the morning service at my home church of RiverStone.

The challenge was to define the perfect father.

Job 36:26 (English Standard Version)

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.

I am a 50 something year old mother and grandmother. I have been a parent for 37 years. During some of those years I felt totally incompetent, like no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get it quite right. That's normal - I think most of us feel that way for long periods of time. The important thing isn't that we feel inadequate - it's that we keep trying...

The more dangerous period of time was for that period of time when I thought I had it all figured out - that I was doing a good job! Ha, ha - little did I know in my immaturity that I was being set up...

Then, when my oldest was 21, Jesus melted my heart. You know the song, "He picked me up, turned me around, set my feet on solid ground....". Well, that's what happened. It was an instant turning - never to look back or return to the things of old.

So, NOW, I thought, I really do get this parenting thing and my two youngest will be blessed because of the change in me...Don't misunderstand, they have been as has been my oldest, but I still didn't get it - I am just now at the beginning of understanding...

Psalm 50:21 (English Standard Version)

²¹These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

I made the mistake of thinking that God was like me - that my attributes were HIS attributes...that if I was happy, mad, sad, or glad that He experienced the same emotions in the exact same way.

Job 36:26 (English Standard Version)

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.


So, back to the challenges of the week-end. In the morning I was challenged to define the "perfect" father. We KNOW that God is perfect, but....what exactly does that mean? So, I started a list:

A PERFECT Father:
Never angry
Never too busy
Never distracted
Always happy to see me
Never yells at me
Hugs me whenever I want or need a hug
Listens to me
Looks out for me
Protects me (from myself!)
Provides for me
Thinks I'm beautiful
Thinks I sing great
Likes my hair :)
Is sad when I'm sad
Cries when I cry
Laughs when I laugh
Likes to do what I like to do...
Calls me lovely
Holy
Beautiful
Beloved
Daughter


And this is only a partial list...

Who can live up to that? Where is the earthly parent that can be all of those things? They don't exist - don't get me wrong, I know that there are a lot of great Dads out there, but who among them has achieved perfection? That has never raised his voice or been too tired, too busy, too annoyed to listen to his children?

The perfect Father, therefore, is God. He has all of those attributes and more - when we mess up and come to Him afraid of judgment, He grants us mercy. When we are disobedient and expect punishment He gives us forgiveness.

So, make your own list of what the perfect Father would be like. Then understand that all those wonderful attributes are in God's character - His very nature.

He loves us - you and me - with an everlasting love that will stand the test of time for all eternity.

The Economy....

Oh no! You say, not another article about the economy! Well, the answer is "yes and no".

A friend told me today that they are about to have a big lay off at her job. It's a really sad situation. The company (a former Fortune 500 company at that!) is losing money at break neck speed and there's no promise in the immediate future for a significant recovery. Now, this is not a company that has been eaten up with greed at the higher levels - but a company that has been stable through the years and has been very conservative in their approach to financial matters.

And yet, they are in trouble and many, many people are on the verge of losing their jobs - some that have been employed there for many, many years.

It's a symptom of the way the world is going.

Time I think for us realize at the deepest levels that we as believers live in God's economy - not the economical system of any country or government, but one that is totally opposite to the way others would tell us to live.

The "world" tells us to save money, borrow money, pay our bills, buy a bigger house, a bigger car, more clothes, finer jewelry, richer food, yada, yada, yada. Many of us are having a hard time paying that mortgage and car payment - as well as keeping food on the table and the lights on....

Jesus tells us to sell everything, give the money to the poor and come follow him.

Wow. Isn't that a little fanatical?

Totally dependent on God for everything.

• People would laugh at you.
• Others would whisper about you.
• Some may even disown you.

And yet. Isn't that what we are called to do? Turn our backs on the lures and temptations of the world and run hard after God? I don't mean turn our back on the lost but turn our back on greed, perversion, materialism, entertainment, and all those things that draw us away from spending time with the Lord and listening to Him only.

We live in a country where self-sufficiency and independence are lauded high and above everything else - we see the ones that work hard and save lots of money - that drive the big cars and live in the big houses - as the ones that are successful. We are led to believe that we too can have what they have so a lot of us end up deeply in debt...because, after all, they are the ones that are living the American Dream.

Mark 10

¹⁷As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

²⁰"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

²¹Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

²²At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Wow.

Sell everything.

Not just your house, but your car.

Not just your car, but your furniture.

Not just your furniture, but your jewels.

Not just your jewels, but your clothes.

Not just your clothes, but.....everything. (Oh yeah...don't forget about that 401-K....)

God has already set the precedent. Remember when the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years? Their clothes never wore out, their shoes never wore out, they had fresh food and spring water everyday...and there were millions of them.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states it very plainly:

Matthew 6 -

²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The precedent has been set. If He did it once, He'll do it again.

Don't worry about what you will eat or drink; where you will sleep or what you will wear. God has it all handled.

Don't worry about your job or lack of one. Depend on God. Seek Him only. He will guide you - He will never leave you - He will not turn His back on you.

We either believe the Bible or not....

Pride and Prejudice

It seems like everywhere I go someone is talking about the movie "Pride and Prejudice". I confess, this has become one of my favorites of all time so perhaps I am one of the reasons that subject keeps coming up. However, I am still astonished at the number of people - mostly younger women - that loudly proclaim this is one of their favorite movies also. A note here - I do have two male friends that enjoy the movie also- one young and one not so young.

This morning I am drawn to consider what it is about this fictional movie that attracts so many and make spiritual application. I feel a stirring deep in my soul for the truth that lies just beneath the surface.

How deep is your love?

If you aren't familiar with the story line it goes like this - set in the late 1700's or early 1800's the movie clearly shows the lines that were drawn between different social levels - distinctly pointing out the need for "good connections" in order to "make a good marriage" and therefore not have to worry about money, provision, or inheritance for children and any widows that may be left behind in the event that the husband/father passes on prematurely.

The story centers around the Bennett family - primarily Elizabeth Bennett and her relationship with Mr. Darcy. There are many excellent characters that keep you interested, however, the story is built around these two and the unlikely romance that develops between them.

In an era where manners are more important than just about everything else, Elizabeth Bennett is opinionated and offers her opinion in a very decided manner on more than one occasion. Just so you don't misjudge her in the event that you are not familiar with the movie, she's not cruel, just frank. Elizabeth is 20 years old.

Mr. Darcy is a man that is stiff with propriety. His manners are impeccable however his ability to relate on a personal level is crippled by his pride and arrogance because of his station in life. He is extremely wealthy. I have calculated Mr. Darcy to be around 26 years old.

In the first two thirds of the movie Elizabeth Bennett can hardly stand the sight of Mr. Darcy (for various reasons) and is confident that he feels the same way towards her. So, when he abruptly and without warning confesses his undying love for her and desire to marry her even though his family wouldn't approve and he barely approves himself, she immediately rebuffs him and sends him off in a huff.

Stay with me here - I'm getting there!

As other events unfold, gradually Elizabeth's heart begins to soften toward Mr. Darcy. And eventually - as we all hoped it would! - they end up madly in love with one another and marry. It is the hope of all that love this movie that at the end, the love they exhibit toward one another is - the kind that has already endured many testings and proved itself to be true -the kind of love that we will also find in this life.

There I believe lies the attraction of the movie. The promise that love can come, when you least expect it and from places where you would not have believed it could and that it will be of the deepest nature - a love that will endure any hardship that may come.

Oh, to find such a love is the longing of our hearts.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day - the day where all over the United States the emphasis on love is at it's peak - we are all challenged to "prove" our love for one another by buying flowers, candy, cards, dinner, diamonds, by the giving of extravagant gifts.

And yet, the One that loved us more than anyone ever could, already purchased for us the "ultimate gift". He paid for it with his very life. All of our efforts to show our love for one another fall pitifully short of this ultimate gift - only Jesus can offer us the gift of salvation. Flowers, dinner, candy and cards are but a poor imitation.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am a romantic. I love the outward displays of love and affection - I love the giving and receiving of gifts that attempt to express that deep emotion of love we hold for one another. We must work hard at not falling into the trap that the size of our love is accurately depicted by the size of the gift...(I confess that I have fallen into that trap many times....)

"How deep is your love? I really need to know." This is poor paraphrase of a song that was popular in the 70's. "How deep is your love?" That is the 64 thousand dollar question - how deep is your love - (for those of you that are too young to remember the program it was the forerunner to "Who wants to be a millionaire".)

How deep is your love?

Why is it so difficult for us to believe that we are already loved beyond measure? Why is it so difficult for us to live our lives in the knowledge and confidence that we are betrothed to our Bridegroom? Why is that we continue to look for love - often in all the wrong places - when we already have the free gift of love greater than any man could express - right here, right now, today.

Think about the engaged couple - the delight, joy, planning, and preparation they experience as they move toward their wedding day. The bride is smiling, joyful, excited, and at times stressed as she plans and prepares herself for her groom -

This is intended to be a picture of the church - "the bride of Christ" - as she prepares herself for her groom - He IS coming - He is coming soon -

His love is eternal. It has already endured the tests of time - He has already forgiven us for our many short comings; He has redeemed us from the pit; He has given all He is and has;

How deep is your love?

That longing that you feel - that emptiness in the pit of your heart - that place that isn't quite full - that is the receptacle waiting to be filled with the love of God. Receive His love -

He has already seen you at your worst (yes, without makeup and before you brush your teeth or take a shower), he was with you when you cursed your brother, your mother, your father - even when you turned your back on Him, He never left your side. He was there when you were abused - when you were mistreated - when others that were charged to love you, didn't. Jesus was there - He never left your side, not for one minute.

His love for you has already endured the test of time.

How deep is your love?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjD0lv8hx5o

Wisdom and Revelation...

Ephesians 1:17 (Contemporary English Version)

17I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.

Job 36:26 (New King James Version)

26 “ Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him;

Today a friend contacted me and asked me to pray for her - it seems her husband that left her 7 years ago wants to come home....

I remember how devastated she was when he left - it caught her completely by surprise and she sank into a deep depression as a result. She was hospitalized for over a month and others came and took care of her and her home in the interim.

Now, he wants to come home.

Wow.

What a decision that has to be made.

I am reminded of a catchy phrase that the Lord whispers in my ear regularly - "Sing like nobody's listening; dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt."

A lesson that I had to learn first hand and continue to be taught - "love like you've never been hurt" and now my friend is facing the same thing.

And then I think about Jesus. I think about the parable of the prodigal...isn't that what it's all about? Loving like you've never been hurt? Isn't that what the father did? Even after his son came to him and demanded his inheritance stating something like "give me what I've got coming to me" and then left and spent it foolishly...

Even so, when he came home the father was overjoyed! He not only welcomed him back home but he made him the guest of honor - all the pain and separation dissolved into thin air and they were once again united....

I know this is a picture of how God feels when we return home to Him - that He will always welcome us with open arms; that we have nothing to fear and that "the porch light" is always lit -- He's always waiting with His arms extended ready to hold us close.

But I also think that there is a practical, earthly application. Aren't we obligated to forgive even before forgiveness is requested? And shouldn't we welcome with open arms one who wants to return after a period of separation? Are we able? No, not in our flesh we are not. But, yes!, when we lean into the arms of Jesus and lean on His understanding and not our own, we are able to do all sorts of difficult if not impossible things...

Ephesians 1:17-19 (English Standard Version)

¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Thinking rightly about God...

Some friends and I attended a seminar yesterday titled "Passion for Jesus". To be totally honest with you, I didn't have much expectation for anything deep...not out of pride but out of resignation. I've somehow drifted to a place where it's easier to encourage others in their walk than it is to keep myself encouraged.

But....

Behold, God is great and we do not know Him. (Job 36:26)

Oh - how I long to know Him - really know Him. Not the superficial stuff that we experience with people we don't know well - but the deep sharing - loving, giving, receiving that we have with those whom we know love us....that we trust.

A W Tozer says in his book "The Knowledge of the Holy"

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

So this morning I find myself thinking about God and noting what comes into my mind. So far my list is:

-distant
-distracted
-only notice me when I beg for His attention (such as in prevailing prayer or violent intercession)

So, I am starting on a journey today. Not a new journey per se' but taking up where I left off after many false starts...on redefining in my mind who God is and how He feels about me...I know that He loves you, that He reaches down to you to encourage you, that He is totally aware of your weakness and need for comfort - but that somehow I'm not as visible or worthy as you.

I think a lot of us suffer from low God esteem...if you are one of those, then I invite you to come along on this journey with me and any others that may join us.

I'm going to spend time this week focusing on this verse. Jeremiah 31:3

"the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

I'm going to write it on an index card and keep it with me - on my dash in the car while I'm driving and on my desk at work while working -

If you are reading this - I encourage you to do the same thing...reflect on God's goodness, reflect on His great love for you, and try to put aside our misconceptions of Him...at least for this week.