A person of great privilege

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (Romans 5:1-2)

We don't 'get right' with God - we are 'made right' with him. This work is accomplished by faith, never by our works. All that was needed to make us right with God was done by Christ Jesus. One of the things we may miss in this passage is this 'place of undeserved privilege' we each enjoy as a result of Christ's finished work on the cross. We might think a person of 'privilege' enjoys extreme wealth, social standing, and easy access to things they want or need. We wouldn't be far off with this definition, except for that part about 'social standing'. Being a Christian doesn't always elevate us to the top of the social charts, does it? In fact, there may even be a 'slippage' in our 'social standing' with friends or family just because we make the choice to be a follower of Christ.

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now,
for in due time you will laugh. What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. (Luke 6:20-23)

Will the followers of Christ choose him for the wealth and fame, or for some other reason? I believe it is the latter, for in choosing Christ, we make a choice to live a life of service, not one of being served. Am I saying a believer will not have earthly wealth? Not at all, but they will not be motivated by it, or live for the accumulation of that wealth. Am I saying the believer will not have 'easy access' to the things they need? Absolutely not - for Christ cares for each of our needs as though they were his own. What I am saying is that a believer is not seeking more from this world, but they are seeking to enjoy more of God's goodness and grace in their lives. Their focus is not on what the world affords them in the way of fame, wealth, or enjoyment, but rather on the peace, love, and hope God brings as we press into him.

We actually enjoy an 'undeserved privilege' right here and now, but we live far below that privilege in Christ Jesus. Why? We seek what the world offers us before we seek to enjoy more of this privilege. It all comes down to where it is we find our fulfillment - joy, peace, and hope. If it is in the things of this world, we will live very disappointed lives. If it is in Christ, we shall soar high above whatever this world affords. Just sayin!

Honor belongs to him

Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalm 29:1-2)

Honor is something we give to another, but we should never seek it for ourselves. When it comes to God, we first recognize he is worthy of all honor, then we 'ascribe' it to him - we declare it in our minds, hearts, and even our actions. Unlike us humans, he actually deserves that honor! Unlike humans, his 'right' for honor never fades and it is not 'circumstantial'. In other words, he deserves it because he is always consistent, never changing, and divine through and through. 

How or when do we honor God in our lives? I think it could begin the minute we begin to speak with him about anything at all. When we consider the words of prayer, are they filled with honor? Do we exalt his name and honor him with our words? Even our songs should bring honor to his name. This is why it is so powerful to enter into worship and praise. It exalts him - revealing that we are giving him his rightful place in our lives to rule and reign as our Lord God Almighty. 

How about those times when we share something really awesome God has done in our lives? Those words come easily, don't they? They proclaim the goodness of his activity on our behalf - having 'done' something that we both appreciate and rejoice over. Do these things have to be 'big' things? No, but a word of caution here. We can become so 'rote' in our 'praise' of God that the words we share are almost 'hollow'. The term "God is Good" with the response "All the Time" can become a matter of 'rote praise' if we allow it. We must always ensure that our praise or testimony of his actions in our lives is genuine, heartfelt, and reveals the true honor he deserves.

Worship is giving honor, but it is very specific. It is done intentionally. We don't 'enter into worship' by just singing along with the worship leaders at church on Sunday. We 'enter into worship' when our hearts are behind the words, our minds are focused on his goodness, and our emotions are given over to praising him with all our being. Worship can be quite engaging, but we might just miss out on something God will do in those times if we aren't worshiping him 'in spirit and in truth'. Just sayin!

Life Hack #17: Recognize, Respect, and Uphold

Life Hack #17:

Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her. Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud! (Proverbs 23:22-25)

In today's culture, we might find that parents have become "chums" to their kids rather than parents. The move toward "befriending" the child has brought about a kind of disrespect which society sees manifest in a multitude of ways - everything from the simple rebellions of back talk, crossing boundaries with too much ease, disrespecting teachers at school, engaging in rebellious behaviors, and keeping wrong company. Parents have a role in raising their kids - more than just to put food on the table and clothes on their back - just as much as kids have a role in bringing respect and honor to their parents. That said, the two roles need to be recognized, respected, and upheld - by all parties.

When an individual becomes a parent, it is a lifelong endeavor - not easily ended at the age when the minor becomes an adult. Kids start out in this life acting like little leeches, hanging on for dear life to their parents, sucking the very life from them. As time goes on, they want nothing to do with their parents. It is a sad fact, but today's society often separates parents from children by not only miles, but also by the demands on one's time, energies, and abilities. In turn, kids end up missing out on the tremendous blessing of the wisdom of the parent and parents end up missing out on the awesome honor of seeing how their kids really function in this world.

We are not to be easily separated from the structure God provided for our overall well-being. Parents are to raise us in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, giving us a set of standards upon which we can base our life decisions and daily choices. Children are not only to listen to the wisdom they receive, but embrace it, and then replicate it in the lives of their own children. 

It is a circle of sorts, passing down from one generation to the next the foundation of loving God first, serving him with all your heart, and then living out that love in the other relationships you form in this world. We bring joy to our parents when we model good behavior, wise choices, and live as examples of Christ in this world. Honor is not something our parents owe us; it is something we owe to them. We bring it to them by the evidence of Christ-centered "foundational living" in our lives. Recognize each other - respect one another - uphold those relationships. They matter! Just sayin!

Adorned with victory

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. (Isaiah 6:1)

In the times King Uzziah reigned, Isaiah is given a vision of the heavenly realm -imagine it - heavens open and you have full view of the most awesome things you have ever experienced. He is escorted into the "throne room" of the Most High - the very place of God's presence. What catches his attention first? It is the "robe" of the King of Kings - God's 'clothes'. This robe is so long it fills the Temple! That is quite some robe - it fills the very space God's presence is felt and experienced! Even the longest wedding veil I have ever seen did not fill more than the aisle of the church! I have admired some of the most beautiful quilts over the years. Depending on the occasion for which the quilt was created, there have been the traditional patchwork types with pieces of varying colors and fabrics stitched close together in no particular order. Then there are the others which show a beautifully pieced pattern, with great care taken in placing each piece so as to continue the pattern with each new row of material pieces. The traditional wedding ring patterned quilts show the concentric rings intertwined, symbolizing the joining to two into one. Regardless of the "pattern", they are a thing of beauty. Even the most beautiful of quilts I have seen must have paled compared to what Isaiah experienced that day.

I think we may not understand the significance of the kingly robes, so I think it may help us to understand just a few things about the robes of old. Each king had a robe. Often, these robes would be very unique - not like the mass-produced clothing of today. They were made of only the best of materials, such as twisted linen. This is a quite dense and enduring material - considered to be one of the finest materials for the base of the robe. They were dyed with the dyes of the region - deep blues, purples, crimsons, and even golden hues. They were decorated in all types of fashion - embroidered, or possibly emblazoned with emblems of gold and silver. They were quite the 'fashion statement', but they usually had a much deeper meaning. The robes "defined" the King. In other words, he could be quickly recognized by the robe he wore. This is much like the current military uniforms we see today. The highest ranking officer has the greatest amount of braiding, color, adornment, and often even 'medals' of honor or distinction. It is easier to recognize the "rank" by the "markings" on the uniform. These robes helped to mark the 'rank' of the one wearing them.

What we may fail to realize is the 'incorporation' of what might see as nothing more than a 'patchwork quilt' of sorts. Each robe had an "original" form which was "transformed" after each battle. The robe started out as one form, but after each victorious battle, a new piece was added. In keeping with the customs of the day, the victorious king would go over to the defeated king, remove a section of his robe, and in turn, this section would be sewn onto the train of the victorious king's robe. In time, the more victories a king won, the longer (and more colorful) his robe became! His 'patchwork quilt' became a symbol of his military might and his ability to rule. Isaiah sees the Most High God seated in the throne room. He is adorned in a great robe - so great that its train fills the Temple. I think Isaiah was being given the opportunity to see just how many "battles" our God has been victorious in! Did you ever stop to think of each new battle you face as being an opportunity for another "patch" to be sewn onto the Most High's robe? He marches right up to each of our "enemies", places his foot squarely on their necks, declares us victorious, then carefully takes a piece of each "victory" robe and weaves it into the train of his heavenly robe!

When I think of the "beauty" of the patchwork he has added just by the battles which have been fought in my own life, I know there are MANY patches which have been added on my behalf! Battles I didn't even know were fought on my behalf have been incorporated into that robe - battles you didn't even realize were being fought on your behalf, as well. Each victory is an "adorning" addition to his robe! As he admires each of these "patches", he can recount each "battle" - the start, the enduring middle portions, and the final victorious outcome. I find pleasure in imagining him running his fingers over each "patch" - taking in the "feel" of each victory taken on our behalf. I see his face, as his fingers pass over the patchwork, eyes filled with excitement, heartbeat picking up with each remembered victory. Imagine the patches added with each new victory in your life. It should give your heart a thrill! Just sayin!

Crown him

10 The Lord loves those who hate evil; he protects the lives of his people and rescues them from the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the godly and joy for the good. 12 May all who are godly be happy in the Lord and crown him, our holy God. (Psalm 97:10-12 TLB)

How do we actually "crown him" Lord of our lives? I think it is in the small ways, like when we choose to be kind when a hurtful word would be easier or quicker to say. It might be in the moments when we give of ourselves unselfishly to help another who is struggling to figure something out. It could be in those moments you offer yourself for 'whatever needs to be done', knowing someone is having a hard time keeping up with the tasks at hand. It is definitely in those moments when we actively choose to worship him, but it is also in those small things that might not seem to matter all that much, but that make all the difference in the lives of another.

Someone once said you can get happy in the same pants you chose to get mad in, or feel good about life in the same pants in which you chose a sour disposition instead. We choose to crown him in our actions - not in just our words. We make conscious, and some not very conscious decisions to honor him within the context of our everyday comings and goings. We don't need to 'have church' to bring him honor - because giving him honor is elevating him to the place of the highest control and the most frequent focus in our lives.

We looked at the word 'honor' just briefly yesterday and found the meaning to be that of having or living with integrity between one's actions and beliefs. It is fine to 'believe' - Jesus told us that even the devil believes. It is fine to make gestures of good deeds, but they don't stand alone. The link between beliefs and actions is what produces honor. Some equate honor to that kind of fame someone gets for winning the gold medal, or coming in with the highest marks. While this is true, it isn't the root of honor - honor began with the belief one could win the medal, underwent years and years of rigorously focused training in order to win it, and then performed at the top of one's ability to obtain that honor. Beliefs were linked to specific actions.

Honor begins with making the right choices. We choose to give Christ his rightful place in our lives - at the center - in control of it all. Then we choose to actively learn how it is we live each day continuing to make the active choices to leave him in that center of control! Yep, it isn't a one time deal - it is a continual choosing. It takes actively choosing to turn away from evil and toward what is right and true. In time, our actions become more consistent and we begin to see our beliefs and actions align. As this alignment occurs, we are bringing honor to Christ, for it is in the evidence of his presence within us that he is seen. Crown him today, in both your beliefs and actions. If they aren't in perfect alignment yet, don't fret - you are on the way! That is one way we honor him with our lives - by taking the first steps in the right direction (even if we have to take them a few times over and over again until we get consistent in taking them each time!).  Just sayin!

Truly honorable

The man who tries to be good, loving, and kind finds life, righteousness, and honor. 

(Proverbs 21:21 TLB)

How does one live in a manner that expresses the goodness of God? This is probably one of the hardest questions for us to answer in life because goodness, true goodness, often evades the human mind and heart. "Good" expresses the meaning of moral excellence - virtue taken to the 'nth' degree. This is why it is sometimes hard for us to truly grasp this type of behavior - because it is motivated in a heart not corrupted in any manner by sin - or with a sin nature at the core of all its actions. Indeed, we need an exchanged heart, for ours is incapable of this type of 'moral excellence' or goodness.

A loving and kind disposition is what stems from this goodness of heart. Honestly, if we struggle at times to act in a way that expresses the love of Christ, it is probably that we haven't connected in some time with the heart of Christ! We need more time getting to know him, being renewed by his Spirit, and taking in little bits and pieces of his person into us so that we are molded and fashioned by that character into morally strong and confident beings.

Life, righteousness, and honor - the three byproducts of seeking this moral goodness in every fiber of our being. Life comes because we are disconnected from a decaying life source and reconnected to the source of eternal and vibrant life. Righteousness because we begin to see the sin nature stripped away until what is left is right and true. We see an exchange of what appealed to our sinful desires - because our desires begin to change the more we find ourselves spending time with Jesus.

Honor seems oddly placed in this list of character traits because we often see this as belonging to God himself and not us. Did you realize the primary definition of honor is honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs or actions? In other words, get the mind and heart of Christ into the fibers of your being and what emerges is a total "connection" between our actions and that heart of Christ. There is a congruity of character! One that is worthy of being called "honorable". Just sayin!

Take the time

There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time. There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance with joy. There is a time to hug someone and a time to stop holding so tightly. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4-5 ERV)

Today is a bitter-sweet day for I will attend the funeral of my best friend's mother. Together we will mourn, and yet, we will celebrate a life well-lived, a woman well-loved. We will embrace each other and hold each other close, languishing just a little longer than usual in that embrace of companionship that connects us in our love and comforts us in our grief. We will cry for there has been a great loss, and yet, we can do nothing more honoring to her life than to hold fast to the memories she created in the hearts of her loved ones, friends, and acquaintenances over her many years on this earth. The greatest challenge for her husband will be to fill the gap created by her passing. The hardest adjustments to be made by her children will be to realize her hand is no longer there to hold, her "mothering" is no longer there to draw from. The deepest grief any of us experiences is that of the loss of someone we have loved and who has loved us well.

Would you indulge me for just a few moments this morning? I have a challenge each of us can embrace, if we so choose, but the choice will be ours to make.

- Who needs your love today more than anything else you could give or bring to them? How long has it been since you have really sat next to them and just enjoyed being with them? If you come to the realization it has been way too long, your challenge today will be to just make that time - for nothing else matters as much as connecting with that one who so desperately needs that connection, too. We will both benefit from the connection!

- Who has God placed in your life that might need not so much your advice as much as they need to have your listening ear and compassionate spirit? The greatest gift we can give one who needs to unburden themselves, sorting through the issues at hand, or even just being able get things off their chest is to be a listening ear and an open heart. Not judging them, not offering them the "fix" for their issues, but just being there to walk it out with them.

- Who has God placed in your path that can no longer do something for themselves, but who may not have anyone to count on to help them manage through whatever it is they need to have done? The smallest acts of service may make the hugest impact in the lives of those who are aging, debilitated, or disabled by disease or injury. No one wants to "ask" for help, but when we recognize the need, could we meet it somehow? We may never know when we are making the connection that helps them see just how much they are loved, honored, and appreciated in our lives.

There is indeed a "right time" for everything. Perhaps today is the "right time" for each of us to step up in the lives of another - to cry, or laugh together; to be sad a while, and then to experience the greatest of joy because we have been together through it all. There is a neck that needs hugging and a life that needs your loving - we cannot let those moments pass us by - for we shall never get them back again. Just sayin!

What's in a prayer?

Every now and again, we come across scripture which really reads like a prayer we might want to utter in our own voices.  Something in the words rings true in our hearts and minds, making us just want to let God know we feel exactly the same way.  It could be the cry of David, overburdened by the weight of his guilt, crying out for God to look upon him with a heart of mercy in Psalm 51.  Maybe it would be the words of another psalm in which the writer clearly is asking God to "bend his ear toward him" - maybe because the heavens seem as brass, or the urgency of our need needs to "get through" to the one true God (Psalm 5). It really doesn't matter which portion speaks the loudest - it is okay to "pray scripture"!  There is one prayer which should be part of our daily lives - maybe not the exact words, but certainly the intent behind it.  To ask God to eliminate any hint of worthless or deceitful words and to let him know you trust him to provide all your needs is a worthy prayer, indeed.  To actually live as though you want your words "governed" and your needs met by someone other than yourself - that is an entirely different matter!

Two things I ask, O God. Sometime before I die, grant these humble requests: Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips. Do not make me poor or rich, but give me each day what I need; for if I have too much, I might forget You are the One who provides, saying, “Who is the Eternal One?”  Or if I do not have enough, I might become hungry and turn to stealing and thus dishonor the good name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9 VOICE)

Two things I ask - 

Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips.  Worthless words are those which have no value - spoken, but no real meaning behind them, or thought.  They are words which might be described as "barren" - they don't produce anything of value.  Barren land will produce crops of weeds and even give way to fungus.  The land looks useless and unproductive, but even in the barrenness it "shows", there is a growth of something which might not actually be what we want to have.  In Arizona, there is a fungus which grows in the soil known as Texas Root Rot.  It has a more scientific name, but I think this name says it all. Worthless words are like Texas Root Rot - their full potential for destruction may not be noticed because their effect isn't actually "seen" until there is evidence of something wrong deeper down in the soil of one's life which might just be revealed in the words one speaks. Deceitful words are those which are disingenuous - they are artfully stated words which give enough hint of "good" in them that someone doesn't really catch that they are being put down, criticized, or downright made fun of.  Either way, these are the type of words we don't want around in our lives.  Most importantly, we don't want the character of heart which actually creates an environment within which allows these words to form and be spoken. Our writer is merely asking God to help change his heart so his words consistently reveal the grace and love of God.

The next part of the prayer might catch a few of us off-guard.  Don't make me poor or rich, but give me each day what I need.  You could ask 10 people today what they thought was the "right" amount of money to make, save, and give away to others.  You'd get 10 different answers.  Some would say they could live on less than they make, but they wouldn't want to. Others would say they really need more than what they make in order to live the way they'd like to.  Still others would wax a little philosophical and tell you as long as all their needs were met, they could live on whatever amount that was.  It isn't the dollar figure our writer is after here, but the state of heart which finds contentment in relationship with God above all other things.  I think our writer might just have in mind how we get distracted by the attention we give to the material stuff in life, over the attention we give to developing our relationship with God.  If we were honest here, we'd admit we spend far more time "earning a living" than we do focusing on our relationship with Jesus!  We just don't go through our day focusing every second on Jesus.  Yes, we know he is with us, has everything under control, and is helping us do our best at whatever we put our hands to.  But...we don't cloister ourselves away in a monastery somewhere and sing worship songs all day.  We live life, work on challenging stuff, and go about the business of life with an awareness of God's presence.   It maybe isn't a "make me poor" or "make me rich" kind of attitude our writer wants us to develop, but an awareness that even the ability to work and the ability to enjoy leisure are a blessing from God's storehouse of riches we get to enjoy each day.

Two distinct prayers - one distinct purpose - living life in a way which pleases and honors the God who has redeemed our souls.  Our writer connects two very real struggles we all experience with this one prayer - that our lives honor God in the words we speak and the actions / intent of our heart.  Maybe this would be a worthwhile prayer for us to turn to a little more frequently in our lives.  Just sayin!

 

Respect - who knew?

If you have wondered what it takes to live a "blessed life", then you have to look no further than the examples we find in scripture.  Some will say there is a whole lot tragedy and suffering in those pages, so how can I ever equate that with living a blessed life.  It depends on how you view your blessings, my friend. I have learned much from the suffering in my own life - some might even say I have been made stronger, and grown in my relationship with Jesus and others as a result.  Now, in my estimation - that is a blessed life.

Respect the Lord and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life. (Proverbs 22:4 ERV)

A blessed life is one in which the Lord receives the right placement and the right honor.  When we are humble enough to acknowledge we have need of the Savior's oversight and work in our lives, we begin the journey toward true blessing.  As long as we hold onto the reins of our lives, we won't realize the blessing of being in his protective care.  It is much more work to hold on than it is to let go, though.  As "hard" as we may think it is to "let go" of those reins, it is much, much harder to hold so tightly to them when the world around us is spinning in every direction!

I looked up synonyms for the word respect.  Do you know there are about twenty?  In fact, when I began to look at some of the synonyms, I was kind of amazed to see how much they really pointed toward the type of relationship we are to maintain with Christ.  Here are just a few:

- Appreciate.  In essence, when we say we are to "appreciate" the Lord, we are saying we are to place him in the place of the highest of regard in our lives. This means we do more than place him on a pedestal as some "thing" we worship, but rather to give him the prominent place in our lives.  Imagine for a moment that the prime minister, highest government official, or President of your country announced he was going to take supper at your home next Monday and you had the time to prepare for his visit to your home, what would you do?  I imagine you'd clean up the place, buy a few luxurious delicacies, and then ensure the nicest of meals was placed before him that night.  Why?  You want to show him honor or regard for his position.  When we appreciate the position of Christ in our lives, we are acknowledging he holds the most prominent and influential position.

- Awe.  Would you have equate respect with awe?  It came as a little bit of a surprise to find this in the list of synonyms, but it is listed as the second!  When I saw the opposite of awe as none other than apathy, it became clear to me why awe made it to the list for expressing respect.  The opposite of apathy is passion, emotional investment, and excitement.  Respecting the Lord brings into our lives a certain passion - because we begin to pour ourselves into the pursuit of the good things he calls us into.  At first, the relationship is definitely one of what we can imagine we will "get out of it", but in time, the relationship begins to turn to what we can "give back into it".  We move from a place of "bless me, God" to a place of "God, make me a blessing".  In essence, we are moving into a place of passion and excitement - a place where God can begin to use us. There is no greater honor or respect we can give him than to be of use to him in his kingdom!

- Recognition.  At first, I thought this just had to do with giving him the right place in our lives - like we give recognition to the one who wins the race, or plays the lead in a play.  It carries a much deeper meaning, though.  The idea is that of giving admittance to so that we might learn to understand his ways and his movements.  Whenever we let someone into our lives, isn't one of the things we do in the course of time is become more familiar with how they act, what they mean when they say something, etc.?  In much the same way, recognition of God's activity in and around us is a way of showing him respect.  It is us noticing him which begins many a great work within us.  Just sayin!

Principle 16: Do Your Parents Proud

Parents don't seem to get the same respect they once received, do they?  In today's culture, parents become "chums" to their kids, rather than parents. The move toward "befriending" the child has brought about a kind of disrespect which society sees manifest in a multitude of ways - everything from the simple rebellions of back talk, crossing boundaries with too much ease, up to dropping out of school, engaging in rebellious behaviors, and keeping wrong company.  No wonder our sixteenth principle deals with the attitude we are to have toward our kids and the attitude they are to exhibit toward us!  Parents have a role in raising their kids - more than just to put food on the table and clothes on their back - just as much as kids have a role in bringing respect and honor to their parents.  That said, the two roles need to be recognized, respected, and upheld.

Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.  Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.  Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents.  So make your father happy!  Make your mother proud!  (Proverbs 23:22-25 MSG)

Parents - those who give life to the child.  When an individual becomes a parent, it is a lifelong endeavor - not easily ended at the age when the minor becomes an adult.  To this day, my 95 year old mother worries about me - those things which affect me at work life, in my home life, and even in my spiritual life.  She will shuffle over, sit down beside me on the couch, pat my knee and just sit there.  I know this is a sign of her just being concerned about how I am doing.  In the mornings, she will find her way to wherever I am perched at the computer, kiss the top of my head, tell me she loves me, and then she might return to bed or go make her cup of tea.  At night, she tells me she loves me and that she hopes I sleep well.  She is limited in sight, but she picks up on me having a hard day at work when she hears it in my voice or notices me being a little more quiet than usual.  In turn, she asks what she can do for me.  At 95, I should be asking what I can do for her!

Children - those who take life.  Kids start out in this life acting like little leeches, hanging on for dear life to their parents, sucking the very life from them.  As time goes on, they want nothing to do with the parent, leaving them alone to fend for themselves, even in the advancing years of "old age". One of the things I hear my mom say quite often is that she wished this friend or that one had someone as good as her children to take care of them in their elder years.  It is a sad fact, but today's society often separates parents from children by not only miles, but also by the demands on one's time, energies, and abilities.  In turn, kids end up missing out on the tremendous blessing of the wisdom of the parent and parents end up missing out on the awesome honor of seeing how their kids really function in this world.

Our writer puts the two together as a reminder that we are not to be easily separated from the structure God provided for our overall well-being.  Parents are to raise us in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, giving us a set of standards upon which we can base our life decisions and daily choices. Children are to not only listen to the wisdom they receive, but embrace it, and then replicate it in the lives of their own children.  It is a circle of sorts, passing down from one generation to the next the foundation of loving God first, serving him with all your heart, and then living out that love in the other relationships you form in this world.  We bring joy to our parents when we model good behavior, wise choices, and live as examples of Christ in this world.  Honor is not something our parents owe us, it is something we owe to them.  We bring it to them by the evidence of "foundational living" in our lives.  Just sayin!

Investing or Divesting?

We may think we have good friends, but in the midst of crisis, friendship is tested.  Those who come out on top are those who actually stick with you when all the blessings appear to be gone.  A man or woman of integrity has this unique way of being sensitive to the needs around them.  They are moved into action to meet those needs, no matter how small they may seem.  Even the smallest need met in the roughest of times for a friend can make the difference between going under, or rising above the circumstances.  As we have been studying throughout the past month or so, a man or woman of integrity actually lives in such a way so as to avoid the planning and action of evil.  God's unfailing love and his faithfulness surrounds those who will choose to align their priorities with his, remaining open and sensitive to the needs which are all around them.

Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security. Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death.  (Proverbs 14:26-27 TLB)

Riddled in between various passages throughout Proverbs is this concept of exhibiting a strong work ethic.  In essence, we are reminded of the "gift" of working - it is a privilege to fulfill the work we are given.  Did you ever stop to think of just how many ways we actually engage in "work" outside of the workplace?  Yes, we are called to be good stewards of our time and talent IN the workplace, bringing a good return to our company.  We are also called to be good stewards of the relationships God gives us and the truths he provides for our learning.  Both of these actually require a great deal of "work" on our parts, so when God speaks of having a good work ethic, we can apply this to our willingness to really commit to and work at solid relationships, as well as our actions of getting as much out of his Word as we possibly can.

Reverence is something we kind of associate with "church", right?  Really, it is the regard with which we hold something or someone.  It is the idea of both respect and honor.  When we place God in a place of honor in our lives - at the central control panel, so to speak - we are reverencing him.  When we commit to relationships with others by holding those relationships in a place of respect and honor, we are showing we "reverence" those relationships as "special".  Taking time to really explore the Word of God in order to do more than read its words, but to allow them to impact the way we live is to reverence the very truths we are given by a loving God.  So, reverence is more than a "church" word - it is a way of living - even a way of "working".

I love this idea of God being a place of refuge and safety for those who love him and hold him in a place of "reverence" in their lives.  As we know, a refuge is a place of shelter from danger or distress - a means of resort for help in times of difficulty.  Most shelters have a means of entry, don't they? Even putting up an umbrella to shelter yourself from falling raindrops has a way of "entry" into that shelter - you step under it, or move it over your head. God's shelter is no different - there is a way of entry into his place of refuge and safety.  It is "reverence" - honoring and respecting his rightful position in our lives.  There is a way of entry into solid relationships and deep learning - both require commitment, integrity, and fortitude - three characteristics of honoring and respecting the value of both.  

There is one thing which we are also warned about throughout much of this book of Proverbs which appears to influence how well we manifest our "reverence" of God, each other and the Word.  The idea of anger is considered repeatedly - almost as much as this idea of working hard.  There is much which occurs when anger - displeasure expressed or repressed - is allowed to enter into our "work".  We "divest" ourselves of the commitment we have toward the work at hand.  If it is the "work" of maintaining close relationship with God, or even one of his children, we can "divest" ourselves of commitment, causing each relationship to begin to crumble and fail.  Simply put, when we "divest" ourselves from the relationship, we strip the relationship of what it needs to remain strong and vital.

Attitude reveals how much we are really "invested" in relationship - almost as much as it manifests just how much we have "divested" ourselves.  Just as a relaxed attitude will lengthen life since stress cannot perform its destructive work within, the right attitude can lengthen and strengthen our relationship with others, God, and even his Word!  I think God wants us to recognize how much our attitude reflects our intent; intent reflects our desire; desire reflects our reverence.  The child of God not only finds refuge in times of trouble in the shelter God provides, but they also find refuge from their sins.  Remember how I said we need a point of access into any refuge?  The point of access into God's refuge is always confession - confession of our need for his forgiveness, our inability to live upright on our own, and the need for a Savior. Access into his presence is through Jesus - he is the door.  

Just a few lessons from Proverbs to bring us together this morning.  How is your attitude today?  You showing your "investment" or your "divestiture" in your relationship with God today?  How about with each other?  How about toward the truths he wants to teach you?  Remember, reverence is really holding something or someone in the place of deep respect and highest honor in your life.  This place belongs to God first - then the "investment" into another is an outflow!  Just sayin!

Sing, shout, get connected!

Rarely do we find ourselves telling everyone we meet the good things God has done.  In fact, we are sometimes more than a little "reserved" in our praises to God.  We think others will "judge" us as odd, a little out there, or just too much of a "holy roller" for them to hang out with.  So, we rein it in on occasion.  I wonder just what might happen if people actually began to express their appreciation for God's graces in their lives just a little more and enjoy his presence just a little longer?  Maybe this world would begin to see a little more of Christ's action and a little less of ours!

Thank God! Pray to him by name!  Tell everyone you meet what he has done!  Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music!  Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life!  Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.  Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered...  (Psalm 105:1-6 MSG)

Our psalmist gives us some cause to pause this morning.  He indicates some lifestyle "actions" which really reveal the intensity of connection we are experiencing with God himself.  

* Thank God!  This is not just a simple reminder of our need to be grateful to God for his actions in our lives.  This is a command.  It is instruction to keep an attitude of gratitude in all our dealings.  When we keep gratitude foremost in our thoughts, we don't focus on the things we 'don't' have as much as the things we 'do' have.

* Pray to him by name!  In case you miss it, you don't actually converse with him as a stranger!  You know him by name!  So, there is a suggestion of more than a passing or casual relationship with him - it is dynamic and intimate.  In order for it to be intimate, there must be a frequency to the exchange.  If we want a dynamic walk with Jesus, there must be some quality time spent in exchange with him.

* Tell everyone you meet what he has done!  Now, this is where we feel the "rub", right?  We aren't about to just blurt out, "Hey, you wanna hear what God has been doing in my life?"  Most of the time, the other person would just about turn tail and run if we started the conversation out this way!  The idea here is of a lifestyle which conveys more in action than in words the very actions of grace in us.  In fact, when a life has been changed, the words which are shared are not the focus - the life which is lived outwardly is because it is a reflection of what has been taking place inwardly.  It is not hard to spot someone affected by grace - they kind of "ooze" it from their pores!  

* Sing songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music!  If you had trouble with the last one, this one will likely send you over the edge!  Most of the time we don't just go around singing little melodies and putting into music the good things which have happened in our lives.  In fact, we are often a little reserved in our expression of song because we don't think we have a good voice!  The important thing to remember here is the idea of song being an expression of the heart.  God is simply looking for us to express what is trapped in our hearts!  If you don't think this possible, just think about the last time you sang in the shower and actually thought it sounded good!  God has a way of allowing our heart to know the privilege of escape - we just have to yield to the escape of what is contained deep within.

* Honor his name with Hallelujahs!  To some, this is an expression of relief.  We use the word as though it were a "pressure relief valve".  God is looking for expressions of gratitude and praise - for the root of this word is actually simple praise with a heart of gratitude.  

* Live a happy life!  Many times we equate "happiness" to some "thing" which happens or some "event" which transpires.  God's command - live a happy life.  Take it apart and you see God telling us to actually live in blessed pleasure and contentment - not so much because all the circumstances are good and enjoyable, but because we have him with us in the midst of them.  Happiness is really a state of contentment - it is realizing and walking in the place of joy even when the times are rougher than we might like.

* Keep your eyes open for God!  Now, in all this, our psalmist brings us back to anticipation.  He opens with us being aware - now he brings us to a place of anticipation.  Giving praise, singing hallelujahs, living out the grace we have been given - these are done because we are aware of the presence of God in our lives.  Being attentive opens us to anticipation - to being on our toes - for God's move may be subtle and we don't want to miss it!

* Remember...  This is probably the most powerful of all these characteristics, for it is in the recollection of what he is, how he moves, what he has done, etc. that we come to the place of anticipating what he is doing today.  We celebrate the past being "put right", we realize the joy of today being "made right", and we anticipate the ecstasy of tomorrow being "eternally right".  As we remember the past grace of God, it causes us to hope for the present grace, and we look forward to even more grace tomorrow.

So, don't be afraid to "express" God in your life.  It is not just the words we speak, it is the lifestyle we model.  It speaks volumes.  Just sayin!

Honor your parents.

Honor:  To hold in high respect; confers a combination of liking and respect; high respect as for worth or merit.  The passage today speaks about the "first commandment that has a promise attached to it".  Many commandments in the Bible are simply to be obeyed as "boundaries" over our lives - the provide protection in some form or another.  For example, some of the commandments are "relationship" based - ones like don't commit adultery (get into bed with another person's spouse and your own relationship will crumble).  Others are designed to ensure some semblance of control over our emotions - like the command to not covet (desiring what others have and never being content in our present circumstance).  Still others are clear boundaries on who is to be first in our lives - like the command to have no other god but God himself (give him first place - make no room for any other thing to be first in your life).  Yet, these commands don't come with a promise.  They are "rules" for living which will keep us safe and on a "solid" foundation, but the one in our passage today refers to a promise.  Let's explore.

Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”  (Ephesians 6:1-3 MSG)

It is a command to "children".  Now, unless you are upon this earth by some other means than being birthed, this command applies to you!  Children are to honor their fathers and mothers - respect - have a combined degree of "like" and "respect" in relating to our parents.  For some of us, this comes easily, as we had great examples in our parents.  For others, this might present a little bit of a challenge.  For those whose parent(s) may have been less than "honorable", here's what I can advise.  God looks at our heart in the matter.  If we hold onto the "hurt" they caused - through their abuse, neglect, absenteeism, or any other factor - we get "hurt", not them.  We lose out on more than the relationship with them, but also on the promise referred to above.  So, how do we get past the "hurt" of our "less than honorable" parents and into a place where we can "honor" them?

Let me just say, "honoring" our parents does not always mean we will have perfect relationships with them, but we will have "clean hearts".  In other words, we release the "hurts" of the "bad parenting" to God, allowing him to model for us what parenting should look like.  We don't hold onto the bitterness of the past abuses and neglect, but release our parent(s) to God - allowing him to work on our parents while he works on us.  This may seem very simplistic, but for those who have been able to bring "bad parents" before God, giving him all the hurts of their parenting, and allowed him to begin the work of setting their hearts right, there has been release, renewed strength, and often compassion for the parent who just did not do "parenting" well.  God's work begins when we let go of the hurt - his restoration begins when we give him the ability to "parent" our lives like our own natural parents did not.

I am honored to have had two very wonderful parents.  Dad was a stellar example of a father - always there, always a solid provider, and never too busy to take time for us.  He was firm, yet loving.  My mom is very special to me because she actually "chose" me as her child.  You see, my birth mother died when I was just a toddler, leaving my brother, sister, and I with much "parenting" which needed to be continued through the years.  God's gift to our family was my mom - marrying into our "ready-made" family when I was just a wee lass.  She was a perfect help-meet to my father for the nearly 30 years they enjoyed together before he passed.  My brother and sister have been privileged to know two mothers.  I have known only one - and a blessing she has been all these years.

Honor your parents - a command with a promise.  The promise:  So you will live well and have a long life.  Ponder that one a little, will you?  So you will live well - not mediocre living, but a life which is lived with propriety, justice and reason.  Propriety bespeaks solidly good behavior.  Justice bespeaks moral choices which are upright and sound in all respects.  Reason bespeaks what we often refer to as exercising good sense.  Honoring our parents helps us to develop these three characteristics in our lives.  Who knew?  Not only do we develop some pretty awesome character traits which keep us on the course of living upright lives, but we live a long life.  Maybe this is because when we understand the "choice" to "honor" we understand the choice to also "give over" what we cannot "honor" in their parenting skill.  In other words, we don't harbor bitterness over the stuff they do/did wrong.  We let go - in letting go, we don't get bogged down with the things which eat away at us and serve to shorten our lives.

None of us had "perfect" parents.  None of us who are parents were the perfect parent either!  We made mistakes - they made mistakes.  Some of us easily recognize our mistakes and make every effort to correct them - others may still not see their mistakes and suffer the consequences of broken relationships as a result.  Regardless of where we find ourselves today, here's the crux of the matter:  Honor your parents.  In exhibiting good behavior, which is filled with sound choices and solid morals, exercising the best of sense when we make decisions, we are showing evidence we have moved into a place of honoring them.  We may not have the most "honorable" of parents, but we do have at least one "parent" worthy of our honor - God himself.  When we begin to give God the "less than honorable" in our natural parents, he gives back the "more than honorable" life traits we begin to form as a result.  Just sayin!

You a Cain or Abel?

This past Sunday, my pastor spoke about faith.  Not just that we need it, or that without it we cannot possibly please God.  In fact, he was teaching against the argument that all we need is enough faith and then anything is possible.  In his teaching, he referred several times to the tendency we have to "doubt" - believing if we have ANY doubt at all, we must not have biblical faith!  Now, let this one sink in a little.  I had to consider it a couple of times before I really got it.  He said, "You cannot have faith without doubt."  His premise - faith isn't the absence of doubt - it is obeying God in the presence of doubt!!!

^3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.  ^6-7 God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”  (Genesis 4:3-7 MSG)

So, what does this passage have to do with biblical faith?  First, let me set the stage a little.  Two sons were born to Adam and Eve - Cain and Abel.  Cain was the first-born.  Now, if you know anything about the "birthright" of the firstborn in Old Testament times, you know this was a pretty privileged spot in the family line.  The firstborn was the recipient of a double-portion of the inheritance - but he also had some other responsibilities, such as taking on the family business.  If you remember back to when God "closed Eden" to Adam and Eve, you will recall he also gave them a "family business", so to speak.  He told Adam to "work the land" - so farming was his business.  It makes sense to see Cain (the firstborn) following in the footsteps of his father in the family business!

So, Cain is a farmer and Abel seems to be a herdsman.  If you also recall, Adam was given charge of the creatures of the land - at least in Eden.  So, he was aware of the goodness of the creatures and the care they needed.  It is then possible to believe Abel was also following a little in the "family business" - but probably not the "main" business of the family.  Yet, somehow, he connects with the idea of a "blood offering" to God the Father - the firstborn of his herd - the choicest of all.  Cain, on the other hand, brings an offering - but it was just described as "produce of his farm".  I don't think we should skip over this.  Let's dig a little deeper.

Abel could not "produce" a lamb or even a little goat.  He needed the animals to do what he could not do.  He simply knew the beauty of the firstborn and the special place of the firstborn in God's order.  Cain could collect the seed of this year's crop and plant it again next year, producing what he planted.  I realize Cain did not "produce" the crops, but he worked them, watered them, and then harvested them - the harvest a direct result of his efforts.  Abel simply kept the herd where they had food and water provided for them - taking them from place to place where their needs would be met.  

Somehow Abel trusted God to provide what he was incapable of producing - the offspring he'd offer on the altar.  On the other hand, Cain produces what he was "capable" of producing - the harvest was a direct result of his doing.  To him, one bushel is equivalent to the next.  Nothing about the grain seems more important as he looks from one bushel to the other.  If you have ever tasted the "first" of the crop, then you know how sweet and tender it is.  He doesn't seem to connect to the idea of God being more concerned with what we offer than in the fact of us giving an offering in the first place.  He brings the off-hand offering, then thinks God should acknowledge it - blessing him for his "obedience".  Abel brings his offering, thinking God has blessed him with the best, so he will bless God with the best.  

Our pastor made another connection related to biblical faith for us this weekend - we often think things will turn out a certain way just because we have faith.  Yet, if we read scripture long enough, we will certainly realize God is more concerned with our obedience - not just that we did a certain thing!  He wants our heart to "connect" with the offering - not just our minds.  He wants us to realize the importance of what we are offering - this is biblical faith.  When we connect action with belief - we are operating in biblical faith.  Yet, this "connection" is riddled with all kinds of doubt - simply because faith is best revealed in the presence of doubt!  Cain came with his offering - doubting it made any difference which bushel he placed upon the altar.  Abel came with his - selecting only the choicest cuts to offer.  In the end, one was accepted - the other rejected.

Why did Cain sulk?  Maybe it was because he had "expected" God to be delighted with his "careless" offering.  Isn't this how we often act?  We don't give our "obedience" a whole lot of thought - then expect God will just bless our "off-handed" obedience.  Silly us!  God wants our best, not just our "stuff".  He wants our hearts, not just our minds.  He wants our "sacrifice", not just our excess.  Biblical faith is based on trust - give God the best, and trust him to do the rest.  One more thought from this weekend's talk - we often doubt God most when we don't want to obey him!  Cain sulked away - doubting God's heart, questioning God's care for him.  Why?  He was struggling with his heart-response in the offering.

God wants us to hear the message to Cain with ears of "obedience" and "faith".  We may struggle with doubts, but when we surrender our best to him, he is quick to envelop our doubts in his care.  When we are obedient to what we know to be true about God - like Abel did when he acted on what he knew about God always giving HIS best to us - God is honored.  God doesn't expect more from us - but he will never be delighted with accepting less from us, either!  Just sayin!

The Eagle, The Globe and The Anchor

³⁰ Even young people become worn out and get tired.  Even the best of them trip and fall.  ³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. 
   They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. 
      They will walk and not grow weak.

(Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV)

I wonder how much we know about the United States Marine Corp's emblem.  I listened to a mother on the radio yesterday describing her son's pursuit for the coveted emblem of honor - showing he had completed his grueling basic training as a new U.S. Marine recruit.  She was so alone in her loneliness, not knowing the status of her son's latest achievements, his struggles, or the state of his health.  As she drove to work (an hour long commute in the Michigan area), she was overwhelmed by the "God moment" she experienced - so much so that she had to pull over to the shoulder and just revel in the beauty of his touch.  You see, as a Marine Recruit, her son's focus was to obtain the coveted Eagle, Globe and Anchor.  As a mom, praying for her son's welfare, God sent an Eagle across her path, soaring right in front of her car.  There she sat, wondering about his well-being, and God reinforced that he was with her son in his pursuit!  We serve an awesome God!

As I continued my commute to work, that young man's pursuit of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor began to speak to me about who God is in our lives.  You see, first and foremost, he is like the wings beneath us - quickly taking us from the pits of our despair, into the heights of his presence - much like the Eagle.  It is his Eagle-Sharp vision that targets the enemies of our soul and makes nothing more than prey of them.  It is his ability to view things from the vantage point high above life's situations that gives us perspective that we never would have otherwise.  So, as this young man is pursuing his Eagle - let us pursue ours!

The Globe portion of this emblem spoke to me about the fact that God is our "world".  He becomes the center of our existence - in fact, he is the very thing around which we find our world rotating!  In thinking this through, I began to see that God calls us to be "all in" with him - in turn, he commits to being "all in" with us.  He becomes our world!  He becomes that which gives us footing, sustains us, and meets our every need.  I think my message to that mother with a hurting heart for his war-bound son is simply this:  "He is all in with Jesus - Jesus is all in with him!"  He will sustain him, encourage him, and found him on a firm footing.  My message to each of you is the same!

Last, but not least, this young recruit is pursuing the Anchor.  Need I say more than that God is the thing that holds us steady when all around seems to be at unrest, pounding waves seek to carry us into the currents of depression, the hurricanes of disease threaten our peace, or the drifting of the lazy currents of apathy catch us unaware of our drift.  God is an anchor like no other.  His steadfast attention to every detail of our lives, every threat to our walk, is what we hold onto today.  

Lest we forget the most important words of this emblem - lodged securely in the beak of the Eagle:  Semper Fidelis - the meaning speaks volumes!  The words are "Always Faithful".  Now, what could describe our God better than those two words?  Nothing!  He is the one, always faithful, always there, always watchful over our lives!  

This young recruit may be pursuing the honor of the emblem of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.  We are pursuing the honor of knowing the Eagle, the Creator of the World, and the Anchor of our Souls.  So, "recruit", what about you?  Are you pursuing the honor of the "corp" of the Chosen of the Most High?  If so, you are indeed honored to bear the emblem of the Eagle, the Globe, and the Anchor of your Soul!

Say good-bye to the booby prize

^3-4 Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.  Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. ⁵ Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don't try to figure out everything on your own.

(Proverbs 3:3-5)

Solomon's words remind us of the importance of "storing" God's commands in our heart - so that we will be assured of a long and satisfying life.  We look all kinds of places to find satisfaction - I bet we never really considered that it could be linked to who "authors" the words we hold closest to our hearts!  As a matter of fact, Solomon goes on to say that even renewed health and vitality is found in a closer walk with God (not at the health food store or the gym).  Four repeated themes emerge over and over in these first three chapters of the Proverbs - 1) Remain loyal to your God; 2) Trust him with all your heart; 3) Learn to live with kindness as your earmark of action; and 4) Seek God like no other.

God is to be honored with the best part of all that we have.  Part of honoring him is in valuing and responding to the discipline he brings into our lives.  We often make the choice in the moment of correction to either ignore it, or to give way to being discouraged because we didn't get things right the first time.  Both discipline and correction are signs of just how intensely God loves us - loving us enough to correct what we did not get right the first time.

God offers his friendship (companionship) to the godly.  This is significantly more than an acquaintance with us - it is a deep and intimate relationship with frequent and meaningful sharing.  Wisdom is found in a person - not in a book.  The Words of God are just that - they are his words, recorded for us to review over and over again, falling back on them in our times of need, searches for answers, and in our moments of peaceful repose.  

The very last verse of this chapter points us toward the one truth that sums it all up:  "Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize."  Loyalty reflects the focus of the heart and mind.  Trust reflects the hope of the heart.  Kindness reflects the exchange of heart that occurs when Christ is central.  Seeking is the condition by which the heart is exchanged.  Wise living is reflected in these four actions - this is the kind of living that gets rewarded with honor.