He is the Lord God -faithful and true
Merry Christmas!
We have now entered the Advent Season, which is deemed the beginning of the Church year. It is a time of preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus – celebrating His birth, His coming in the past and anticipating His coming once again.
Every year it is a struggle to keep focused on the reason we celebrate Christmas. The decorating, gift shopping and gift-giving, Christmas programs, Christmas parades and activities, Church Christmas get-togethers, family visits, eating and eating some more, just to name a few things. Taking time to prepare our hearts sometimes ends up at the bottom of the pile.
Yet this is where our Hope is: in Jesus, His coming to Earth, becoming like us, and making a way for us to be with Him eternally. He came, He is with us now in Spirit every moment of everyday and He is coming again. I believe that. I hold on to His promises – even more so during this season – not just for myself but for those I know, and don’t know, who are deeply hurting. In our small group of friends and fellow believers it has been a season of shocking diagnoses, loss of loved ones, struggling family, friends and loved ones. That’s not something anyone is going to get over in ‘sitcom’ time.
Grieving is a process that we all handle differently and it takes time and we will never know all the whys until we get to the other side. But I believe that my Redeemer is Faithful and True, that He is with us every step of the way, whether I ‘feel’ it or not, and I am thankful that He came, that He walks with us through the valley, and that He is coming again.
Let’s take time to focus on that this Christmas season. Spend some time in the presence of the One who walks beside us through the good and the bad.
There are many scriptures in the Bible that remind us that the Lord is faithful and true (Rev. 22), and the His word is Faithful and true (Rev. 21). And here is a good song, from someone who has had to walk through some very dark times after the death of his young daughter, Steven C. Chapman. My Redeemer is Faithful and True.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZc2iu9Dp8k&sns=em
I Know Something. Do You?
“When Father Michael looked up, his eyes met Ivena’s as she trudged under her cross. They were bright and sorrowful at once. She seemed to understand something but he could not know what. Perhaps she, too, had heard the song. Either way, he smiled, somehow less afraid than he had been just a minute ago.
Because he KNEW something now.
He knew there were two worlds in motion here.
He knew that behind the skin of this world, there was another. And in that world a man was singing, and the children were laughing. ….
“….Christ lives. He is not dead…..” the priest told the soldier. Father Michael drew a deep breath. “Christ lives in me, sir. His spirit rages through my body. I feel it now. I can hear it. The only reason that you can’t it because your eyes and ears are clogged by this world. But there’s another world at work here. It’s Christ’s kingdom, and it bristles with his power.” (From the Martyr’s Song by Ted Dekker)
Christ lives! He makes all the difference in how we see life and how we handle life. Sickness is the same for all of us, unkindness is experienced by all of us, fear is experienced by all of us, pain is the same for all of us, growing old is the same for all of us, rejection is the same for all of us, trauma is the same for us all, exhaustion is the same for all of us, uncertainty is the same for us all, cancer is the same for us all, death is the same for us all…whether it is natural, sudden or cruel.
But if we know that Christ lives, that His Kingdom is real, and that it is just a step beyond the veil, then in the midst of the pain, and the despair, and the exhaustion, and the agony that can sometimes be life, we can have HOPE. We know that there is more than what we are experiencing in the here and now, another Force, our everlasting Source, the Lord God Almighty, at work and we can face whatever is thrown in our face, no matter how frail our outward aging human body is or how dark things are around us.
Have Faith, Trust Him and have Hope!
The Road Outside My Door
Bilbo: I’ll be fine. Just let me sit quietly for a moment.
Gandalf: You’ve been sitting quietly for far too long. Tell me. When did doilies and your mother’s dishes become so important to you? I remember a young hobbit who was always running off in search of Elves in the woods. He’d stay out late, come home after dark, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young hobbit who would’ve liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire. The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there.
This piece of dialogue is found in the “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” but not in Tolkien’s book on the same subject; yet the tone of it works very nicely. I, for one, was struck by the conversation and have been mulling over my life’s comforts and how easy it is to get attached to them and to settle into a quiet life of ‘being old’. Why am I afraid to “go out my door”? What am I holding on to in my life? Is it security, comfort, a set routine, fear of the unknown, dislike of uncomfortable surroundings or temperatures?
Is there some adventure waiting for me that I am missing because I would rather sit in front of a nice warm fire in my hobbit hole? Is there something I am missing because I am in a routine of doing a “few good things” and not willing to look outside of the very firmly drawn boundaries in my life? I know for most of us, life is made up more of ordinary days than days of extraordinary adventure, but I’ve been wondering if maybe it’s time to ‘stretch’ a little again, reach outside of my comfort zone, learn something new or touch the lives of some of those around me who do not have nice little hobbit holes. No telling what I will find down the road!
On the Journey …. Valerie
Are You a Pioneer or a Settler?
We are on an incredible journey at our church, Life Church Knoxville, and even though we don’t know what’s over the horizon we are trusting the Lord to lead us as we put one foot in front of the other. I am reminded again of the story of pioneers and settlers that I read years ago and thought it was important to share it at this juncture, because no matter where we are on our journey, we must decide who we are.
“There are two visions of life, two kinds of people. The first see life as a possession to be carefully guarded. They are called settlers. The second see life as a wild, fantastic, explosive gift. They are called pioneers. …
In Settler Theology, the church is the courthouse. It is the center of town life. The old stone structure dominates the town square. Its windows are small and this makes things dark inside. Within the courthouse walls, records are kept, taxes collected, trials held for bad guys. The courthouse is the settler’s symbol of law, order, stability, and—most importantly—security. The mayor’s office is on the top floor. His eagle eye ferrets out the smallest details of town life.
In Pioneer Theology, the church is the covered wagon. It’s a house on wheels, always on the move. The covered wagon is where the pioneers eat, sleep, fight, love and die. It bears the marks of life and movement—it creaks, is scarred with arrows, bandaged with baling wire. The covered wagon is always where the action is. It moves toward the future and doesn’t bother to glorify its own ruts. The old wagon isn’t comfortable, but the pioneers don’t mind. They are more into adventure than comfort.
In Settler Theology, God is the mayor. He is a sight to behold. Dressed like a dude from back East, he lounges in an over-stuffed chair in his courthouse office. He keeps the blinds drawn. No one sees him or knows him directly, but since there is order in town, who can deny that he is there? The mayor is predictable and always on schedule. The settlers fear the mayor, but look to him to clear the payroll and keep things going. Peace and quiet are the mayor’s main concerns. That’s why he sends the sheriff to check on the pioneers who ride into town.
In Pioneer Theology, God is the trail boss. He is rough and rugged, full of life. He chews tobacco, drinks straight whiskey. The trail boss lives, eats, sleeps, fights with his people. Their sell-being is his concern. Without him the wagon wouldn’t move; living as a free man would be impossible. The trail boss often gets down in the mud with the pioneers to help push the wagon, which often gets stuck. He prods the pioneers when they get soft and want to turn back. His fist is an expression of his concern.
In Settler Theology, Jesus is the sheriff. He’s the guy who is sent by the mayor to enforce the rules. He wears a white hat, drinks milk, outdraws the bad guys. The sheriff decides who is thrown into jail. There is a saying in town that goes: those who believe the mayor sent the sheriff, and follow the rules, they won’t stay in Boothill when it comes their time.
In Pioneer Theology, Jesus is the scout. He rides out ahead to find our which way the pioneers should go. He lives all the dangers of the trail. The scout suffers every hardship, is attacked by the Indians. Through his words and actions he reveals the true intentions of the trail boss. By looking at the scout, those on the trail learn what it means to be a pioneer.
In Settler Theology, the Holy Spirit is the saloon girl. Her job is to comfort the settlers. They come to her when they feel lonely, or when life gets dull or dangerous. She tickles them under the chin and makes everything okay again. The saloon girl squeals to the sheriff when someone starts disturbing the peace.
In Pioneer Theology, the Holy Spirit is the buffalo hunter. He rides along with the covered wagon and furnishes fresh meat for the pioneers. Without it they would die. The buffalo hunter is a strange character—sort of a wild man. The pioneers can never tell what he will do next.
He scares the hell out of the settlers. He has a big black gun that goes off like a cannon. He rides into town on Sunday to shake up the settlers. You see, every Sunday morning, the settlers have a little ice cream party in the courthouse. With his gun in hand the buffalo hunter sneaks up to one of the courthouse windows. He fires a tremendous blast that rattles the whole courthouse. Men jump out of their skin, women scream, dogs bark. Chuckling to himself, the buffalo hunter rides back to the wagon train shooting up the town as he goes.
In Settler Theology, the Christian is the settler. He fears the open, unknown frontier. His concern is to stay on good terms with the mayor and keep out of the sheriff’s way. “Safety first” is his motto. To him the courthouse is a symbol of security, peace, order, and happiness. He keeps his money in the bank. The banker is his best friend. The settler never misses an ice cream party.
In Pioneer Theology, the Christian is the pioneer. He is a man of daring, hungry for a new life. He rides hard, knows how to use a gun when necessary. The pioneer feels sorry for the settlers and tries to tell them of the joy and fulfillment of life on the trail. He dies with his boots on.
In Settler Theology, the clergyman is the banker. Within his vault are locked the values of the town. He is a highly respected man. He has a gun, but keeps it hidden in his desk. He feels that he and the sheriff have a lot in common. After all, they both protect the bank.
In Pioneer Theology, the clergyman is the cook. He doesn’t furnish the meat. He just dishes up what the buffalo hunter provides. This is how he supports the movement of the wagon. He never confuses his job with that of the trail boss, scout, or the buffalo hunter. He sees himself as just another pioneer who has learned how to cook. The cook’s job is to help the pioneers pioneer.
In Settler Theology, faith is trusting in the safety of the town: obeying the laws, keeping your nose clean, believing the mayor is in the courthouse.
In Pioneer Theology, faith is the spirit of adventure: the readiness to move out, to risk everything on the trail. Faith is obedience to the restless voice of the trail boss.
In Settler Theology, sin is breaking one of the town’s ordinances.
In Pioneer Theology, sin is wanting to turn back.
In Settler Theology, salvation is living close to home and hanging around the courthouse.
In Pioneer Theology, salvation is being more afraid of sterile town life than death on the trail. Salvation is joy at the thought of another day to push on into the unknown. It is trusting the trail boss and following his scout while living on the meat furnished by the buffalo hunter.”
Which are you? Valerie May
–Lion and Lamb: the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning, Chapter 3, Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, NJ, 1986.3
It’s Who You Know!
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, learned about faithfulness the hard way.
He began his reign by faithfully obeying God’s commands. (2Chronicles 17:3-9). But he entered into a military alliance with Ahab, king of Israel, against God’s will. The results were disastrous and God was displeased. No wonder Jehoshaphat was anxious when more invading armies approached his kingdom! .
This time the king and his people all sought the Lord: confessed their powerlessness and cried to the Lord for help and the Spirit of the Lord answered saying THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S! They found the enemy destroyed!
Faith Knows Who to call on and remembers what He has done!
HE HAD BEEN FAITHFUL IN THE PAST AND THEY KNEW HE WOULD BE FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT – Jehoshaphat knew what the Lord had done in the past and this enabled him AND the people to have FAITH enough to trust God in this present crisis.
This is critical in regards to building our faith. His appeal was based on GOD’S HELP IN THE PAST!!!!! Remember what the Lord has done for you! How He has blessed you and has taken care of you – even when you didn’t realize it! KNOW that He is taking care of you right now – no matter what your circumstances are! Remember – it’s Who you know and we know the Lord, God Almighty!!!
On the Journey … Valerie May
Just Waitin’ On You Dad
Father’s Day is this Sunday. These type of celebratory days are great for some people and really hard for others. Great if you have a dad, or a significant father figure in your life: Hard, sad or depressing if your father has passed away or if you never had a father figure in your life or a less than ‘acceptable’ father figure if your life. No matter our lot in life – what I am thankful for, is, “Our Father, Who Art in Heaven”. We are all familiar with those words. I am thankful for the constancy of our Father in Heaven – the One who says I have been and always have been with you! Praises for that!
One of the most stick-to-you stories that I remember reading is the one about a little boy, a 4-years-old out playing in the front yard at the family’s vacation lake house, who ran too close to the edge of the pier and fell in. His older sister (who was supposed to be watching him) screamed and his dad, who was in boathouse, knew immediately what had happened and dived into the 8 ft water after him. Frantically he felt around in the murky water for his son, but twice, out of breath, he had to return to the surface. On the 3rd try he found his son – clinging to the wooden pier several feet down. Prying the boy’s fingers loose, he bolted to the surface with his son in his arms.
Safely ashore, his dad asked him, what were you doing down there? His son, little Billy, replied, “Just waitin’ on you Dad, just waitin’ on you.”
As young as Billy was, he already had a history with his father – a history of feeling safe, protected, accepted and loved. He knew from experience that his dad loved him, was delighted in him and he was aware of his dad’s faithfulness. His dad had been there in the past for him, so little Billy was hanging on, trusting that his dad would come and help him in this current situation. That’s the kind of Heavenly Father we have! I am thankful to have had a father who loved me dearly. He passed away at 52 (over 30 years ago) and I still miss him a lot! I am also thankful for a husband that strives to be a good dad to our 3, now grown, kids. I am thankful for the many ‘father’ figures in my life! But most of all, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who loves me just the way I am; and loved me enough to send His Son, Jesus, so I KNOW that I will see my own father and the many others that I love, again someday!
How do we get to know our Heavenly Father better? By spending time with Him, by reading His word to see how faithful He has been to all who followed Him through the ages; by being around his children (being a part of the body of Christ, i.e. church, small group, etc.), hearing others talking about how He has been faithful to them; by reading stories about how He has been faithful. Get to know this Father who loves you dearly!
“Be still” and “Know” that I am God. (Ps. 46:10)
On the Journey … Valerie May
Back to the Basics
In John 25, Jesus heals a blind man and some of the Jewish folks marched the now seeing man before the Pharisees whose perfunctory behavior was true to form: “obviously Jesus cannot be from God because he didn’t keep the Sabbath.” Talk about missing the big picture! They were always focusing on the wrong things. Jesus kept telling them to open their eyes and look at Him and what is going on. Didn’t happen. 2 Timothy 2:14-18 reminds us of this again. “Remember the basics, don’t get caught up in pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith… and just wears everyone out.” Isn’t that what the Pharisees did, and don’t we see the same thing happening today in our churches? We are taught “they will know we are Christians by our love” – not our bickering, our rightly dividing the word, or by how busy we are in church activities. LOVE! Show compassion to the hurt and needy and those suffering or lost!
Dear Jesus save us from ourselves! Keep us from forgetting that we all deeply need YOU – your love, your mercy and your grace. Teach us to build one another up in a world that is constantly tearing us down! Help us to see that but for your death and resurrection we would be so lost! Help us keep our eyes fixed on you! Help us to ‘see’ people more than traditions. Help us to reach out to humanity in your name: to not just give you lip service but heart, soul, body and mind service!
“Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. 2 Timothy 2:14-18
Is everything sad going to become untrue?” Prayers for Oklahoma
Is everything sad going to become untrue?”
A few years ago my husband, Larry, read Tim Keller’s book ‘The Reason for God’ and I wanted to share some of his thoughts from the book on suffering as it relates to the joy of heaven. In light of the recent tornadic devastation in Oklahoma, I think it is a thought worth pondering. Our hearts go out to those who’s lives have been turned upside in a moment – for those yesterday in Oklahoma and for those who have suffered in past disasters. This earth is not the right place and when things like this happen, we are reminded of that. I am so thankful the Lord is with us through all of life and for the promise of LIFE whole and complete after our life here is over.
Keller’s Biblical view of the resurrection is that it is not a ‘consolation’ of the life that we never had, but a ‘restoration’ of the life that we always wanted. Resurrection means that every horrible thing that has ever happened will not just be undone and repaired, but will some how be brought to an even greater joy… an even greater glory. In other words, we will not just be consoled in Heaven but ‘all things will be reconciled and brought to a joy and glory that ‘hath not entered into the hearts of man’.
In the ‘Lord of the Rings’, Samwise Gamgee discovers that his friend Gandalf was not dead as Sam had thought but alive, and he cries, “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to become untrue?”
Christianity answers that question with a loud and emphatic…. yes! Everything sad is going to become ‘untrue’ and somehow reconciled to be made into an even greater glory!
C.S. Lewis said this ……. “they say of temporal suffering, no future bliss can make up for it, not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work ‘backwards’ and turn even that agony into a glory”.
Working ‘backwords’ and becoming ‘untrue’…. all to His Glory. Hallelujah!! I like the thought.
I’ll finish with an excerpt from a passage that so eloquently describes the hope and the joy that is set before us in arriving at that place that He has gone to prepare for us.
“I will rise again…….. the earth will recede and the heavens open up and I shall see the Son of Glory.
And when you see me again, I will be seated at His feet basking in a brilliance that outshines that of a thousand suns …. yet, it will but gently warm my face. And when I see the Ancient of Days .. He that hath no morning .. never began; He that hath no evening.. never will end, I will remember this, no man on earth hath seen the face of God and lived. Yet, until I saw His face, I never knew what it meant to live at all.
“Until I saw His face, I never knew what it meant to live at all”
Amen and to His Glory!
by Larry May
Are We Ready?
I sometimes wonder what it would take to get us out of our comfortable churches and lives into a world that is desperately dying to hear about the love of Jesus. Actually, there seems to be more and more things happening around the globe – forcing believers to rethink who we/they are and what they are going to do about it. Persecution is on the rise and restrictions and sharing the gospel are getting tighter in many countries, including ours.
What will be your response in the days ahead?
We are just finishing up John 12 and I was struck by vs’ 42-43 where many would not openly share their faith “for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” Are we ready and willing to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have?” (1Pet. 3;15-16)
I wish life could just be comfortable and pleasant! Don’t you? I don’t like stress, I don’t like to ‘go’ through things. I for sure don’t like persecution. But here’s an interesting turn of events in Acts 8:3-8. Saul went berserk against the church and it forced most of the followers of Jesus to leave the city and become missionaries! Imagine that! The events in their life forced them out of the comfortable fellowship and out into the world. Our world is right outside our front door. It could be the workplace, the store, the mall, a child’s dance class or a sporting event. People need the Lord and they need to see His kindness, His love and mercy and compassion. So much of that is disappearing in this world.
Are we ready?
Acts 8:3-8 MSG
“And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!”
Alert Expectation
The Kingdom's Keeper 