The Time is Ripe

"Then the LORD said to me,

'The time is ripe for my people Israel.'"

Amos 8:2

"Jesus answered,

'I am the way 

and the truth 

and the life.  

No one comes to the Father

except through me.'"

John 14:6

I am enjoying working in my garden.  One thing that I have learned about myself is that I'm pretty consistent with weeding, watering and fertilizing, but for some reason, I tarry when it comes to harvesting the ripe fruits and vegetables.  Either I think it needs to get a little more ripened, or I just love the way it looks and I don't want to remove it from the garden.  

The latter is what happened with my lettuce last year.  It looked so green and perky against the backdrop of the brown soil; I just couldn't bear to remove it from its beautiful surroundings.  Then the Romaine started sprouting shoots that formed flowers.  When I picked those leaves and served them to my family for dinner, I found out the hard way that the lettuce had bolted and turned bitter.  I had waited too long.

I best not take this same tact in giving my life to Jesus.  If I continue living my life, doing things my way, everything falls apart all around me.  Families crumble, marriages dissolve, relationships deteriorate, children rebel, pain rules.  I'm tired of trying to make it all work out. . . but maybe if I hold on just one more day, things will get better; right?

Maybe. . . maybe not.  The one sure thing is that the time is now to give my life to Jesus.  He will fight my battles for me, love me through the pain and stand by my side when everyone seems to be against me.  What am I waiting for?  What if tomorrow never comes?  

The Way

Back in Jesus' time, people followed many different gods.  There was Marduk, the leader god; Baal, the god of fertility, thunder and lightening; Molech, a god to whom parents sacrificed their own children; Zeus, the ruler of the gods to name a few of the hundreds different cultures worshiped.  People believed there were many ways to worship and the more gods there were, the better.

It's kind of like today when our culture tolerates and honors many ways to get to God.  Some people meditate, others learn to manipulate their breathing to reach a trance-like state, or work hard to impress God with all the good they've done.  Many believe as long as they don't kill anyone, they are okay with God while the extreme teaches killing those who don't believe as they do will win them favor with God.  All in all, the modern belief is that there are many ways to God. 

Jesus contrasted the many-god belief system with the truth using a sheep herding analogy.  Shepherding was a common occupation in New Testament times so Jesus taught that we are like His sheep and He is our shepherd.  Then, he expanded the lesson by saying He is the gate.  Sheep can only enter a pen through the doorway which the shepherd created.  But Jesus said He himself is the only entrance into His pen, or kingdom. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" (John 10:9)

Only one God?  Only one way to Him?  This is a radical concept. . . far-reaching enough to be true!  When I enter through the gate by trusting in Jesus as my Savior, as the One who took the punishment my sins deserved, then I become a part of God's family.  I am His and He is mine.

Now is the time to enter through the Gate, before its too late.

The Truth

I used to love to watch the game show, "To Tell the Truth."  Three people would tell of their unusual occupation or experience, two of whom would be impostors.  Meanwhile, a panel of judges would try to determine which contestant was the real character and was therefore telling the truth.  The most exciting part was after the judges had grilled the three and then made their decisions.  The host would then say, "Would the real 'so-and-so' please stand up?"  The three contestants would then look at each other dramatically until finally the one who had told the truth would stand up. 

One of the tactics the judges would often use in this game was to ask questions to try to trip up the contestants or to determine whether their answers lined up with reality.  If the judge had a good working knowledge of current events, they would know if someone was lying because it wouldn't jive with what really happened.

In the same way, Jesus said He is the truth.  Everything that had every been prophesied about Jesus or which God had given as a sign of His coming came true through Him. The test of whether or not a message came from God was given in Deuteronomy 18:22.  "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken."

If Jesus had been born anywhere else besides Bethlehem, then He would not have been the Truth. If He was accepted and embraced by all the Jewish people, then He would not have been the Truth.  If Jesus' bones had been broken, then He would not have been the Truth. If He had remained in the grave, then He would not have been the Truth.  If any one of the 18 major prophecies and dozens of minor ones failed to come true, then Jesus could not have claimed to be the Truth.

As the Truth embodied, I can trust Him. When He says, "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)  I know this is fact.   

I can believe Him when He says, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)  

If I am feeling dead inside, I can trust His words as truth when He says, "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)

I don't need to ask Jesus any questions to determine whether He is telling the truth or not.  His record speaks for itself.  

Now is the time to accept the Truth, before it's too late.

The Life

I remember sitting on the beach, engrossed in a good book.  My toes wriggled into the warm sand as the cold, refreshing beverage quenched my thirst and the sounds of the seagulls and waves mixed together to create a relaxing lullaby.  Ahhh. . . this is the life.

Of course I would think of all the things I like as being the best that life has to offer, but Jesus is the life.  Through Him, I am offered eternal life even though I deserve death because of my disobedience to God and His law.  This is a life that will last forever and which gives me much hope as I go through the difficulties of the present.

Even though this is the life I look forward to,  there is another life Jesus gives to me as His child.  Following Him means my life will be rich with meaning and full of blessings.  He said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)  

A full life is one in which I am satisfied with where I live, who I am and what I've been given.  It is more than just an existence where I run the rat race everyday trying to get ahead.  It is a life in which each moment is precious and every encounter is a divine appointment.  It is a life anointed by God.

Now is the time to live an abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ, before its too late.

I don't want to make the same mistake with my life as I made with the lettuce.  If I wait too long to give my life to Jesus, it might be too late.  Jesus is the only way to God, He is the truth and therefore can be trusted, and He is the life which brings hope for both now and eternity.  The time is ripe to pick Jesus!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I won't wait another moment to give my life to Jesus.

When do I live with the attitude that I have all the time in the world?

How do I end up getting caught up in the present and forget that I may not have a future?

The Plumb Line

"Then the Lord said,

'Look, I am setting a plumb line

among my people Israel;'"

Amos 7:8

"For what the law was powerless to do

in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,

God did by sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful man

to be a sin offering.

And so he condemned sin in sinful man,

in order that the righteous requirements of the law

might be fully met in us,

who do not live according to the sinful nature

but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:3-4

My husband and I are working on a project together out in our yard; we are building a patio area.  As we were digging it out and working to make the ground level, we also needed to dig a straight edge between the yard and where the blocks would begin.  I thought we could just eyeball it, but my husband thought it would be wise to set a plumb line to guide us.  It turned out this was a good idea because the line provided a stable reference point which we could use to direct our judgement as we dug into the turf.  Without it, the edge we were cutting was a little skewed.   I may think I have a pretty good eye, but once we lay the bricks there would be no fudging; either the edge is straight or it's crooked.

It's the same way with me and my own righteousness.  I can go by my own sense of right and wrong and, depending upon my mood, temperament and energy levels that day, I'm either doing pretty darn good or I'm a complete failure.  I need a plumb line to serve as a stable reference point; my own standard is too fickle.

God has provided this "plumb line" in His Word.  As I study His Word, I can see where I'm crooked, or falling short of His standard.  When I use His Word as a benchmark instead of just a manual or list of suggestions, I find that I am pretty warped and twisted.  I'm not at all as good as I think I am when I "eyeball it."

So what hope do I have?  God expects me to toe the line, but I find myself way off the mark.  Is there any hope for a crooked girl like me?  Thankfully, there is.

Powerless

I attended traffic court with a friend of mine the other day.  As I sat with her while she waited for her name to be called, we had to watch a video describing the court procedures and informing us of our rights as citizens.  We were told that we had the right to request an attorney and that it was foolish to represent yourself.  It went through information describing what we could expect and how the procedures would progress.  By the time the 10 minute video was over, we were ready to request a defense attorney and were terrified that my friend would be hauled off to jail for her "failure to yield' ticket.  

My friend knew she was guilty and was prepared to pay the fine for her violation.  Sitting there watching that video, though, knowing that she was at the mercy of the court, she felt powerless against those who were enforcing the law that she broke.

It's the same way with me and God.  I sit in His courtroom, completely guilty of sinning against Him.  I know He has the power to send me to my death because I have violated His laws.  The commandments show me that I'm wrong, but they give me no way out; no recourse against my offenses.  I need a defense attorney!

Even though the law clearly shows me that I don't measure up to God's standard, it has no power to save me.  

Sinless Sacrifice  

I have no power against the law of gravity.  I can jump as high as I am able, but I will always fall back to the ground.  In order to break free from that law, I need a force beyond what I can muster in my own strength.  When I climb aboard a 747 airplane, the power of it's jet engine along with the law of aerodynamics combine to lift me off the ground and fly me 35,000 feet up in the air.  I am free from the law of gravity.

Similarly, in order for me to break free from the bonds of sin and the death that God requires for my disobedience, I need a power beyond myself.  God provided the solution to my sin problem when He sent His Son Jesus to earth in the form of a sinful man so that He could take my punishment.  He is the power I need to break free from the constraints God's law has on me.  

After my friend and I watched that intimidating yet informative video in the courtroom, the arresting officer called her name.  He asked her if she was ready to pay the fine or did she want to contest the charges.  She chose the former and was told she was free to go as soon as she settled the fees.  Soon, we were walking out the door.  

Unlike the above scenario with my friend, I have no ability in this life to pay the penalty for the crime.  Death is the only payment.  When Jesus sacrificed His life, my sin was wiped away and I now appear as white as snow as I stand before the Judge.  It's as if Jesus were my defense attorney and He told the judge that He took the punishment for my crimes. . .and the judge tells me I'm free to go. 

What the law is unable to do, Jesus freely chose to accomplish: His sinless sacrifice set me free from the punishment I deserve.

Righteous Requirements Met

When my friend walked out of that courtroom, her transgression was behind her.  According to the laws of South Carolina, her record was now clean.  But when she again got behind the wheel of her van, she was still bound to follow those laws.  Her exoneration did not free her from the responsibility to still keep the laws of the land.

In the same way, my freedom from the punishment my sin deserves does not free me from the requirement God expects from His people.  He still wants me to do things His way.  But I have this thing called a sinful nature hanging over me all the time.  It wants to do what is contrary to God's law.  So what difference is there between me before Jesus and me after accepting Him as my Savior?  

Before I knew Jesus, I was a slave to sin.  I had no other choice but to do as my flesh desired.  Whatever came naturally, that's what I was bound to do.  After Jesus, however, I received the gift of His Spirit dwelling within me.  His Spirit offers a way out, another option besides simply doing as my selfish, sinful self directs.  Instead, I can follow His prompting, obey His nudging, and do things they way His Spirit is encouraging and empowering me to do them.  When I follow His Spirit and walk in step with Him, I will meet His righteous requirements.  

No longer will I need to try really hard to do the right thing.  Instead, I need only walk beside Him and pay attention to His lead.

It's kind of like when I take our dogs for a walk every morning.  When they are walking in step with me, I can tell.  They pay attention to every move I make and are very sensitive to any change in my pace, direction or demeanor.  They respond immediately to these changes and make adjustments accordingly.  There are the times, however, when they are caught up in their own agenda like when they see a squirrel dart off to the side and are ready to give chase.  No longer do they care what I'm doing because they have their own plan.

This is how I can be with God's Spirit.  He is within me, constantly giving me feedback, ready to lead me down the path of life.  Am I paying attention to His every move?  Or am I too caught up in my own will, distracted by enticing temptations?  He still requires that I live life His way, despite my own frailties.  He does not, however, leave me without help.   As Oswald Chambers said, "God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it."

Not only am I free from the punishment of my sin, I am also free from the constraints of following my sinful desires through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of me.

I need God's plumb line to show me how crooked I am.  But His law does nothing to save me.  It only shows me where I'm wrong.  I need Jesus to act as my defense attorney, taking my sentence for my disobedience and also to enable me to meet His high standard when I live according to the prompting of His indwelling Spirit.  This crooked girl does have hope after all!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will be sensitive to the leading of God's Spirit.

How do I try to do things in my own strength instead of relying on His leading?

When do I get distracted from following His lead?

Woe to the Complacent

"Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,

and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria. . .

you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;

your feasting and lounging will end."

Amos 6:1, 6b-7

Luxury cruises while innocent girls are abducted and sold into sex trafficking. 

Flat screen televisions in every room while women make mud cakes for their family's dinner.

Eating out 3-5 times a week while believers struggle under oppressive governments and are routinely abused and tortured by the local police force.

Complacent:  Contented to a fault; Self satisfied and unconcerned.

There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying the lifestyle I've been given.  It is dangerous, though, to live in comfort and comparative luxury.  Even the poor in America are rich by world standards.  There are plenty of resources available to sustain life.  Even though I may feel like I'm not rich, if I have a roof over my head and eat at least one meal a day, I am very well off.  

How is it dangerous?  I become complacent to the hurting that is going on in the world around me.  I no longer am moved by a suffering child or an oppressed woman.  I have hardened my heart against them as I think At least my family and those I love are safe and taken care of.  I'm sorry for them, but what can I do?  

How long will God bless my abundance?  How much longer will He allow me to feast and lounge in plenty?  When will it be my time to suffer?  Don't get me wrong; I do not want suffering or tragedy to befall this country.  These are simply questions I ask myself as I observe how love has grown cold as bystanders callously watch an injured elderly man suffer in the middle of a busy street, or when neighbors turn a blind eye to the violence carried out in front of them, or as parents cultivate an attitude of entitlement in their children, teaching them a lack of respect for the life God has given to them.  

We are in the end times, of that I am certain.  But what does this mean for me?  How do I keep from falling into the temptation of looking just like the wickedness I see around me?  I am in danger of becoming complacent.

Selfless

I feel slightly hungry so I jump in the car and drive up the street to the local fast food restaurant.  I order my favorite meal and within 10 minutes, I am back at home enjoying my food.  Contrast this with food preparation of over a 100 years ago when I would grow my own fruits and vegetables, preserving everything I could for the winter.  I'd tend to a few chickens and a cow out back so that I could have some eggs and milk for my family.  This would mean each morning there was the task of milking and gathering eggs not to mention making bread and preparing the meals.  There was no such thing as fast food.  

While all that work may not sound agreeable, it was a good way of life in that it force people to depend on each other and pull together.  Today, even though I depend on thousands of people to grow, raise, harvest, butcher, prepare, ship, display and sell me my food, I do not know them personally.  It is a process that is far removed from me and somehow sanitized.  I simply choose the pretty package and pay for it at the cashier's stand.  

What results is an attitude that tells me that I'm pretty important and I don't need to worry about anyone else. I only live for today.  As long as I'm comfortable right now, that's all that matters.  Who cares about tomorrow or anyone else for that matter?

I must fight against this attitude of complacency.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  If I want a heart that is inclined toward the hurting world,  I must make life my treasure.  Not my life, but the lives of others. As Paul taught the believers at Philippi, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  (Philippians 2:4)   When others hurt, I want to hurt.  If someone is hungry, may those pangs penetrate my stomach.  For those who suffer, may my heart grieve.  

Fighting against complacency means I must seek to notice the suffering around me.  

Secure

In many ways, I feel untouchable.  I know the dangers that exist in the world, but I have this false sense of security that comes from living in a fairly safe place.  I've always had a roof over my head and food on the table.  I've never really gone without.  I feel pretty protected.  The problem is, my sense of security does not always come from knowing God is with me, but in my position in life and in the possessions I own.  

Job lived a very secure life.  He was wealthy and enjoyed respect in the marketplace as well as with his large family.  He had it good.  Suddenly, he lost all his wealth and his children, all in one day.  His health even declined.  As he sat in ashes, scraping his wounds, you'd think he hit rock bottom.  But in that position of suffering he was able to say, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)

Job understood something I haven't quite comprehended.  My life is completely at the mercy of God's will.  Sure, everything is well now and it may be for years to come.  But God is not here for me; I am here for God!  He can do what He wants.  

If I were able to change my perspective and stop placing my sense of security in my place in life, my position in my family, my good health or in the stuff I possess, maybe I would have a clue as to where my refuge truly lies.  

David knew.  He said, "I love you, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."  (Psalm 18:1-3)

If I can truly place my trust in God as my strength, then my circumstances won't matter; I'll feel safe and secure. . . and I will be safe and secure.  When I put my faith anywhere else, I may feel safe. . .but I won't be safe.  

I don't want to be like a deer grazing upwind from a cougar.  She may think everything is okay, but danger is right around the corner and she is without defense.  I would much rather graze in my Father's green pastures where He shepherds me so I will fear no evil even when the shadow of death falls upon me.  His goodness and mercy will overflow in my life when I dwell in His house.  (Psalm 23)

Fighting against complacency means I need to be insecure in my own resources, but completely at rest in His stronghold.

Compassionate

There is one line in "Hosanna" performed by Hillsong which perfectly describes compassion.  It says, "Break my heart for what breaks yours."  I think that is the essence of compassion.  As you praise our Father in heaven as you listen to "Hosanna," meditate on His great love and concern for His people.  What hurts God?  When His children suffer under oppression, hunger, pain, cruelty, evil.  God is a caring and gentle God. 

As one who is made in His image, I am also able to live my life compassionately,  caring about the plight of the widow who is struggling to raise her grandchildren; or about the elderly man who is all alone with no one to care for him;  or of the rebellious teenager who is scorned and abused at home by an overpowering father. 

There is so much hurting in this world.  How I respond to such things as sexual impurity among our youth, violence, lack of regard for life, abortion, sex trafficking, slavery to name a few, shows where my allegiance lies.  Am I more concerned about my comfort, or am I willing to take a risk and help out someone in need?  

Fighting against complacency means I need to ask God to break my heart for what breaks His.

It is easy to become comfortable in my own life and not care about anyone else.  But as a follower of Christ, I must fight against this attitude.  I can ask God to help me to be selfless, secure in Him, and compassionate.  Taking on the attitude like that of Christ Jesus is the antidote for complacency.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can will care about those around me.

How do I get sucked into the "every man for himself" kind of outlook?

When do I feel secure in my position in life?

Pleasing God 101

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts;

I cannot stand your assemblies.

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,

I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

Amos 5:21-24

One of the hardest things about raising a child is in letting go once they reach adulthood.  As a parent, I have dreams and expectations for my daughters' lives.  I want them to live up to their potential and for them to be the best they can possibly be.  This desire to see my children thrive, however, can sometimes lead me to inadvertently place pressure on them to perform. . . to succeed. . . to go the way I want them to go (and they way I think they should go).  Mother knows best, right?

Wrong!  We are each accountable to God, as our Creator and heavenly Father.  As such, it is my ultimate desire that my daughters live to please God.  While there's no pleasing some parents, there is a way to please God.  He has made His expectations perfectly clear if I am paying attention to His Word, but sometimes I get caught up in trying to please God in the same way I tried to please my parents when I was a young person.  I do what everyone else around me is doing in church, I sign up for every activity that will show how committed I am to God and His people, and I try to exhibit an exuberance for the Lord whenever I'm around His people.  In other words, I try to impress God instead of pleasing Him.

If I want to truly please God, I must pay attention to what He says and then actually put it into motion.  I can start by stop trying to please people, whether it be my parents or other believers, and proceed by doing what God says is important.   It's really not a mystery. . .maybe it's time for me to go back to school and start with the basics.

Act Justly

When I was in my early 20's, I got into a car accident where my car was totaled, but I emerged uninjured.  I had been waiting for traffic to clear at an intersection when I saw my chance.  I pulled out in front of a car driving without his lights on in the foggy early morning dimness.  I didn't see him until it was too late.  

At the time of the accident, my only concern was in how I would get around since I no longer had my own set of wheels.  Then, I received a ticket.  Suddenly, I gained a new concern: justice.  This is so unfair!  I had my lights on and was waiting for traffic to clear before I turned.  I did not see the real culprit and cause of the accident: the driver of the pea-green car who hadn't bothered to turn on his lights!  How could this be my fault!  I was the victim!  He actually turned into me instead of trying to avoid me.  I can't believe I'm getting a ticket for this!    I ranted and raved to anyone who would listen.

Finally, the day of judgement came and I took my case before the judge.  I thought I was so clever to bring the weather report for that day to show it was foggy.  The judge was unimpressed and matter-of-factly said it was my fault because I am the one who turned.  If I hadn't made that move, there would not have been an accident.  He lowered the fine but placed the bulk of the blame squarely on my shoulders.

Judges are usually fair and impartial; looking at the facts and acting accordingly.  They are not to be swayed by emotions or show any kind of favoritism.  In the same way, God wants His people to act justly, treating others with a sense of fairness.  Many times, though, my judgement is skewed to favor those with whom I share a friendship or work against those whom I dislike.  I can hold some to a higher standard because I see something in them that irritates me: Maybe its a prideful attitude or a sense of entitlement. Whatever the case may be, I don't always treat everyone the same.

James talked about this tendency in James 2:1-4 (NLT).  "My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?  For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another come in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.  If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, 'You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor'--well, doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?"

Why I do things are just as important as what I do.  If my motivation is selfish, any deed I do, no matter how noble-looking, will not please God.  If, however, my drive is to treat people fairly out of a love for God and His sense of justice, then my actions will please God.  

In order to treat people fairly, I must lead with the heart.

Love Mercy

I'm sure if I were a hermit, I would be the most kind and tender-hearted woman anyone had ever met. "Course, if I were a hermit no one would ever meet me so what difference would it make if I were merciful and loving?  

To be honest, it's my exposure to the cruel, hurtful and just plain mean people that brings out the worst in me!  I have plenty of that ugly stuff inside of me already, but seeing it in others just brings it readily to the surface.  For instance, after seeing the callous way a father deals with his son, or the nasty talk that comes out of teenagers' mouths, or the brutal way people treat each other, I tend to drift toward that kind of attitude.  It's way too easy for the harsh and ruthless ways of the world to rub off on me.

If, however, I want to please God, it is vital that I love mercy.  If it were the greatest delight of my heart to be able to forgive those who treated me rudely, then I would truly be reflecting God's character to those around me.  What father doesn't puff up with love and pride as he hears how his son has followed in his footsteps?  God also loves it when we mirror His mercy.

Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant?  The man had a huge debt excused by his master.  Then, he turned around and had one who owed him a small amount thrown into jail. He did not pass on the forgiveness he himself had received.

As natural as it is for me to be hard on others even though Jesus has forgiven me of so much, I am instead called to be generous with my forgiveness.   Martin Luther said that, "The higher people are in the favor of God, the more tender they are."  This gentleness comes as I keep my own sin ever before me.

In order to treat people mercifully, I must constantly remember the forgiveness Jesus has shown to me.

Walk Humbly with God

Sometimes its easier to trust God and obey Him in times of crisis than it is in the hum-drum commonplace ways of life.  But, as 20th Century Psychology Professor Abraham Maslow said, "The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's backyard."  

God wants us to bring Him into the ordinary parts of our lives, the day-to-day living, the ongoing struggles.  It is His desire that I walk with Him in all His ways.  

When I am frustrated with the feeling that no one really appreciates all that I do, I can be assured that God sees my efforts.  

When I am tired of repeating the same instructions over and over again without the lesson ever being learned, I can trust that God can change a stubborn heart.  

When it seems like I'm the same as I was last year, never really growing stronger in my faith, I can rest in the knowledge that, "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 1:6)

Maybe my focus is wrong.  Perhaps I am frustrated because I'm not keeping my eyes on God and all that He is doing around me.  It could be that I'm tired of the repetition because I'm so focused on trying to get a certain result from my effort.  Possibly I'm not seeing the transformation God is performing in my life because I am only concentrating on my failures instead of on His successes.  

In order to walk humbly with God, I must focus on Him and His guidance found in His Word.

Pleasing God can seem like a big mystery waiting to be uncovered.  But really, God has laid it all out in His Word.  It is His desire that I treat other's fairly, delight in forgiving others, and rely on Him in all parts of my daily walk.  Instead of trying to impress God in the same way I try to please my parents or others, I should give His way a try!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will seek to please God in all my ways.

How do I try to impress God instead of pleasing Him?

When do I love my own sense of justice more than I love forgiving?

Blow the Trumpet

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten--

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,

and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has worked wonders for you;

never again will my people be shamed.

Then you will know that I am in Israel,

that I am the LORD your God,

and that there is no other;

never again will my people be shamed."

Joel 2:25a,26,27

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"Breakfast of Champions"

"Every kiss begins with Kay"

"It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

A good advertising slogan contains a call to action; a challenge to test the product at it's producer's word.  A dare to see if what they say is true.  After seeing the claim, I want to improve my health so I vow to eat my daily serving of apples.  I want to prove that I am a champion by eating Wheaties or I give a gift of jewelry so I can receive the inevitable kiss or I buy the watch that can handle all the abuse I can dish out.  I am inspired to do something.

God sent many prophets to deliver to His people a call to action.  It did not, however, come in the form of slick advertising campaigns.  Instead, He simply exhorted His people to, "Blow the trumpet in Zion." (Joel 2:15)  He said to send a summons to all those who call upon His Name that now is the time to back our words up with deeds.   

Now is the time for action.  Now is the time to turn our hearts back to God and become fully absorbed by Him.  Or as Oswald Chambers says, now is the time "to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time." 

"Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?" (Psalm 25:12) The trumpet is sounding.

Restored

God is a just and holy God.  His judgment is merciful and fair; He only gives what is need to bring me back in a right relationship with Him.  The astounding reality of God is that He is both righteous and merciful. . . all at the same time.  So, the same God who hands down punishment will also pick up the pieces after the time of discipline is over.  

Nowhere is this more evident than in the gospel.  God's own righteousness requires that my sin earns death.  Because of my disobedience to God's perfect law, I am under a death sentence. But, since He is also a merciful and loving God, He saved me from His own judgement by sending Jesus to take my punishment.  I am saved by God, from God.  

This gives me hope.  Even when I stray far away and God has to bring out the big guns to get my attention, He promises to repair any damage done by His act of judgement.  

For instance, when the people of God were turning their backs on Him during the time of the prophet Joel, God sent a plague of locusts to destroy the land of Judah.  If that were the extent of the message, it would be pretty dismal indeed.  God, however, is a God of hope.  And He wants to encourage His beloved people with the thought that once the punishment was over, God would re-establish the fruitfulness once enjoyed by His people.

If I am suffering through a time of drought, I can be assured that the life-giving rain will return.  If I am in the middle of reaping the pain of the hurtful seeds I sowed, I can know without a doubt that God will put the broken pieces back together.  If I am going through a lonely time of worry or sickness, I can trust that God will nurse me back to health.

Responding to the call to action and committing my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ means my wounds will be bound, my broken heart will be healed, and my faith, restored.

Reinstated   

Recently, a meat clerk at a grocery store chain jumped from behind the counter to come to the defense of a pregnant woman who was being kicked by her boyfriend.  He was promptly suspended from his position by his employer on the grounds of a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence.  After customers boycotted the store in protest, however, the company reinstated him to his former position.  This is the kind of worker I think any business owner would be proud to support.  Sometimes, however, our human sense of justice is out of balance.

In contrast, God never acts unjustly.  If a sentence is handed down and carried out, I can be sure I deserved what was coming to me.  God is always concerned, however, with His good name.  Just as I can't help but lower my sense of regard for the particular grocery store chain that took the unfair action in the above example, if God continually acted in an unfair way toward His people then He would become an object of the world's scorn and mockery.   People may begin to wonder what kind of God would treat His people this way.

For this reason, God blesses obedience.  When I fall out of line, I can expect discipline for, "The LORD disciplines those he loves." (Proverbs 3:12)  When I come back to Him, however, I can trust that He will reinstate me to a position of plenty and abundance.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)  

Responding to the call to action and giving my all to God results in the blessing of an overflowing cup of His goodness.  

Redeemed

Stanley "Tookie" Williams,  founder of the Crips street gang in South Central Los Angeles in1969, was sentenced to death for murdering four people in cold blood.  While on death row, he had a change of heart and began trying to redeem himself by trying to bring an end to gang violence.  However, he continued to refuse to help authorities to investigate crimes committed by his fellow gang members up until his death by lethal injection in 2005.  His attempts to compensate for his crimes by doing some good fell short.  Since God was not a part of his efforts, the impact was minimal and superficial at best.

God is the One who knows how to fully redeem a sinner.  As He said to His people as recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

True release from the burden of my sins only comes by submitting my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  The healing that He brings is permanent, deep and meaningful.  Then, I will be called His child and He will call Himself my God.  The relationship is restored and my life has been redeemed from the pit.

No longer will I need to work so hard to try to make up for everything I have done wrong: I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

No longer will I find it necessary to punish myself for all the ways I fall short; I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

No longer will I think I need to deny myself good things like the love of another human; I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Unlike Williams' efforts, only a commitment to living my life for God will bring about real redemption.  It is then that He will once again call Himself my God and I can rest peacefully in His arms.

The trumpet is blowing in Zion!  It is calling God's people to come back to Him so that He can repair the damage done by His righteous right hand, bless obedience with the reinstatement of the abundance of His goodness, and redeem His people as His precious possession.  Heed the call of the trumpet, O people of God, and act!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will pay attention to what God is telling me to do today.

When do I ignore His calling and simple continue along, status quo?

How do I try to make up for past mistakes without repenting and receiving the forgiveness of God.

My Wayward Heart

"Even now," declares the LORD,

"return to me with your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.

Rend your heart and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

Be not afraid, O land;

be glad and rejoice.

Surely the LORD has done great things."

Joel 2:12,13,21

I go to church every Sunday.

I consistently and faithfully study the Bible.

I pray on a regular basis.

I remember to thank God for my food before I eat.

I do my best to put His Word into practice in my daily life.

Wow!  I sound like a pretty solid Christian, don't I?  The only problem is that there are many times when my heart has wandered away from the LORD.  

I may still take part in all the rituals, habits and practices that are necessary to develop a close walk with Him, but my heart is not in it.  I'm going through the motions, possibly even getting some intellectual stimulation and motivation to live a more godly life, but when it comes right down to it, I'm more concerned about my character, my holiness and my godliness than I am about glorifying God.  My motivation is purely selfish with little regard for Him, His will, His Name or His renown.

I have strayed from my One True Love. . . but all is not lost.  There is still time to return.

Return

The prodigal son desired things beyond what his father had provided.  He wanted to explore the world and experience all it had to offer.  Soon, though, as he lived it up in that distant land, he fell into hard times.  Once rich, he now yearned for the food he gave to the pigs.  He had hit rock-bottom.  

Finally, he came to his senses and realized how good he once had it in his father's house.  He decided to return, saying to his dad, "I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." (Luke 15:18-19)

My heart sometimes leads me to faraway lands, distant from God and His people.  My desire for comfort and excitement overpowers me and I am swept away from all the good He has given to me.  I no longer appreciate what He has provided for me and I want more. . . and more . . . and more.   My state of discontent gets me into trouble.  

As with the son in the parable, I have to reach a point where I come to my senses.  Maybe it's when I realize I just can't do it by myself anymore.  Or it hits me that despite all the effort I put into life, I never really feel fulfilled; there's always a hole inside of me.  Or I think back to how good I had it when I lived in my Father's kingdom.  Whatever it is, I become conscious of my need for Jesus.

When this awareness is awakened inside of me, I am suddenly alert to how I have offended God in my rebellion.  I want to return to Him.

Even though I have been unfaithful, my heart can return to God.

Rend

It is said that in order to train a horse, their will, but not their spirit, must be broken.  In other words, the animal must reach a point where he is willing to obey the handler's commands. For some, this is a fairly quick process. For others, however, it could take a lot of patience and persistence until the horse is ready to submit to his trainer.  Until that "breaking point" is reached, a handler can expect a battle of the wills.

In a similar way, the LORD says He is, "close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)  This is not to say that I am damaged goods, but that my heart hurts over the way my sin has grieved God.  A tender heart is sensitive to the sin found within and painfully aware of the need for Jesus to save me from the punishment I deserve.  A contrite heart is ready to submit to God.

As I humble myself before God, trusting Him to do what I cannot, He shows me things I almost cannot bear.  I think Oswald Chambers said it well when he wrote, "God's Spirit continually reveals what human nature is like apart from His grace."  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  If this thought does not lead me to broken heart, I don't know what will.  There is nothing good within my own flesh.  I am hopeless without Jesus!

Martin Luther understood the importance of rending, or breaking, my heart before a holy God.  He said, "Until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him."   Trusting God with my life means letting Him start from scratch in remaking me into the woman He created me to be.  

When I return to God, it should be with a broken and contrite heart.

Rejoice

It is fun to look through old photo albums, reminiscing about old times.  One of the things I have noticed, however, is that many times my memory does not match up to reality.  For instance, I always felt like I was pretty big and overweight, but when I look at pictures, I don't seem as hefty as my memories led me to believe.  Sometimes, my perspective is skewed, causing me to see things inaccurately.  

It's not much different with life in general.  There are so many good things around me, if only I'd take the time to look.  Unfortunately, most times I'm too caught up with all my problems, difficulties and the minor irritations of life.  It seems like there's nothing good under the sun! 

Looking for all that He has done take practice.  Once I'm accustomed to seeing His hand in all things, it will become second nature.  For instance, it is easy to walk past my hydrangeas everyday when they're in full-bloom and never really see them.  I am too focused on what's going on inside of my head!  If, instead, I would take a moment to marvel at the beauty of God's creativity, I would rejoice and my heart would be lifted up.

Other times, I fail to notice the small blessings in the midst of each momentary crisis, like the protection of His hand on me as I drive or His mercy in granting an additional day to live my life.

The psalmist reminds me that, "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:3)  Choosing to look at all that God has done, instead of focusing on all that is hard in my life, will bring great joy to my heart.  

When my heart is soft, I am able to see all that He has done in my life. . . and I rejoice!

On the outside, I may seem like I have everything together and that I am close to God, but my heart tells a different story.  It tells a tale of waywardness and a need to return to my Creator.  It highlights my need to see my sin for what it is: an affront to God.  My heart is sorely lacking in eyes to see all that He has done.  It is time for my wayward heart to return Home where it belongs!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can humble my heart before a holy God who loves me.  

How do I go through the motions, leaving my heart out of the relationship I have with God?

When is my heart hardened against my sin, seeing it as a flaw instead of as a black hole of evil?