Monday Morning Memo: An Uncluttered and Focused Heart

Memorial Day.  This is the day when we remember the men and women who have died while serving in our country's armed forces.  I so admire those who have been willing to serve our country so sacrificially.  They not only chose to start a life journey where they would have to leave friends and family…often placed in situations which were far from being comfortable…but then gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life so that you and I can have freedom.  We are free because of those who have been brave.

What deeply saddens me is that so many have given their lives for our freedom…but we are now losing many of our freedoms, not because of those outside our country, but because of those inside our country.  Bit by bit…day by day…decisions and mandates are being forced on us which are jeopardizing our freedom to follow the Biblical truths we hold so dear.  Our country, which was started on Christian principles, is now so far from where it began, that it is almost unrecognizable.  The mantra that is now being shoved down our throats is that “everything goes” …as long as Christianity is not included.

The day is here my friends where it isn’t only the soldiers who serve our country who need to be brave, but we also, as Christians, need to be brave.  Our religious freedoms are being taken away, and we need to be willing to stand up for what we know to be the truths given to us by our Lord and Savior.  It will not be easy, and it won’t be the popular thing to do, but it is what we have been called to do.  

In I Chronicles 29 in the version The Message, we find these words of David:

“O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you. And give my son Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so that he can obey what you command, live by your directions and counsel, and carry through with building The Temple for which I have provided.”

David asked God to give Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so he would have the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God would call him to do.  David recognized that it wouldn’t be an easy road but knew that as long as Solomon kept his eyes on His God and his heart pure, God would be with him every step of the way.

We serve the same God that Abraham, Isaac, David and Solomon served and what He did for them…He can and will do for us.  Our job is to make sure our hearts are where they should be and that our eyes are focused on Him.  He will then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God is now calling us to do. 

Today I want to remember those who were brave and gave their all for me.  I do not want their ultimate sacrifice to be wasted by not giving my all to make sure our nation returns to its Godly heritage.  Let’s make sure that those who are coming behind us will have their Christian freedoms…because we were brave.

Monday Morning Memo: He IS Able!

I have shared before that I love to listen to music…especially while I am working around our home.  It just never ceases to amaze me how often just the right song will come on that I need to hear at that particular moment.  Many times, when I’m discouraged or afraid, I will hear a song that has the right words to calm my soul. There are other times when I am feeling so blessed and the only way I know to express my thoughts is to sing to the Lord the praise songs that I hear. 

A song that has spoken to me lately is “God Is Able” and some of the lyrics are: 

God is able

He will never fail

He is Almighty God

Greater than all we seek

Greater than all we ask

He has done great things

 

Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things

This song is such a wonderful reminder to me that no matter what I face, God IS able to handle it.  I am also reminded of this fact as I dive into scripture:

2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (emphasis mine).

Hebrews 2:18: “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested” (emphasis mine).

Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf” (emphasis mine).

2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (emphasis mine). 

Our God IS able. He has shown me over and over that He is able to do so much more than I ever could have imagined.  I don’t know what you are going through today, but if you are struggling or facing something that seems impossible to overcome, you need to hold onto the fact that He IS able. There is nothing that He can’t overcome. There is nothing that is causing Him to fret or wring His hands. HE IS ABLE. As the song tells us “He will make a way, far above all we know, far above all we hope, He has done great things.” 

Place your cares in His hands and then relax...because HE IS ABLE!

Monday Morning Memo: Freak-Out Mode!

Have you ever heard life described as having mountaintops and valleys?  It isn’t uncommon to hear, especially in the Christian environment, that you can have mountaintop experiences when God works in a powerful way and you feel like you are sitting on top of the world.  Of course, then, when things around you seem to fall apart…it is often said you are in a valley…a place where you really don’t want to be.

Unfortunately, a valley often follows a mountaintop experience, which of course is what happened to me this past week. Let me explain.  I was ordained into the ministry through the Church of God and they now require that every five years, their ministers meet with two individuals for a Periodic Ministry Update interview.  Now, they assured the participants that this was not a performance review.  There would be no grades given, evaluations conducted and no judgement doled out.  It was just an opportunity to build connections between and among the 500+ ordained ministers who live in the state of Indiana.   

This meeting had been on my calendar for some time and honestly, every time I looked at that appointment date, I got a little bit of a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Why?  Because I had no idea what to expect…and I don’t do well with “unknowns”.  I am a “take-charge” type person…so when I’m not the one leading the meeting…I can get pretty nervous.  Oh, they said this meeting wouldn’t be a performance review…but of course…my mind didn’t believe that and I automatically figured the worst.

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.  The two individuals I had the blessing to meet were just awesome.  They immediately put me at ease, and it wasn’t long until I felt the Holy Spirit in our midst.  As we sat in a coffee shop…sharing and getting to know each other…I kept thanking the Lord over and over again that I had been given this opportunity.  Not only did our time together refresh and encourage my soul…it also gave me clarity on a ministry decision of which I had been praying. 

I stayed on that “mountaintop” for the grand total of two days…just praising and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness.  Then, I woke up on the third day, and I quickly plunged into the “valley”.  Somehow…a virus had infected my computer and it was bad.  Every tab I clicked on took me to the same page, which was a fake search engine.  I grabbed my phone and looked up this virus and sure enough…everything I read confirmed that what I was seeing wasn’t a good thing.  

How could God let this happen?  I use my computer so much in my ministry and I had things to do, but everything came to a screeching halt.  I had no recollection of downloading anything that I shouldn’t have, nor had I clicked on anything on the web which would have caused this.  What in the world was God thinking?  Those heartwarming, soul refreshing feelings were rapidly disappearing and I quickly found myself in freak-out mode.

I frantically contacted my son (he’s my IT guy) and told him what was going on with my computer and he told me he would check it out.  Long story short…in the end, he had no choice but to completely wipe my computer clean and start over.  Fortunately, I had most of my files, etc. backed up and they could all be restored on the freshly wiped computer.  And this past Saturday, my son walked in my door and handed me my restored laptop.

I think there are a couple things I learned from these experiences.  First of all, what a blessing it is to know there are other brothers and sisters in Christ, whom I can walk this journey with…if I just have the courage to reach out and meet them.  The three of us had an instant connection because we all serve the same Jesus.  What a blessing. 

Secondly, I don’t think Satan wants my soul to be refreshed and encouraged and he is smart enough to know where to “hit” me to get me back in a valley.  To a writer…their computer is their lifeline…so he knew my reaction to losing it probably wouldn’t be very Christ-like.  You see, Christ never “freaks-out” over anything and this showed me…once again…that my trust-quotient needs some work.  I need to grow in this area of trusting the One who is in control…instead of spazzing out when life hits me with an unexpected detour.

I don’t know where you are today.  You may be on a mountaintop at this point and full of joy and happiness.  I hope it lasts forever…but I want to encourage you to be aware of what Satan may do to knock you down.  If this happens, I hope your reaction will be much more Christ-like than mine was and that you put your full trust immediately in your Jesus.

And if you are in the valley, I want to encourage you to look up.  Look up to the One who is in control and isn’t “freaking-out” over what is going on in your life.  None of it is a surprise to Him…so take hold of His hand and let Him lead you on the path He has set before you.  Who knows…there might be a mountaintop waiting for you just around the corner…where your soul will be refreshed and encouraged.  Trust me, that’s a mountain you don’t want to miss!

Monday Morning Memo: Looking Like Jesus

I read a story about a man who had rented a house which had a large mango tree in the backyard.  The owner told him that unfortunately, the tree had never produced fruit.  Following that discussion, a man came to cut the grass and he told the renter he knew what to do to get the tree to bear fruit the next year.  The renter was thrilled and told him to do whatever he had to do to get it to produce (I had to wonder what the owner felt about that!).

Later that day, the renter went out to look at the tree and he was mortified at what he saw.  The tree, which was previously lush and provided shade for the house, was now barren.  Almost all the branches had been cut off and all that was left was the tree trunk.  He wanted to be angry…but he knew he had given the man full reign to do what needed to be done.  And much to his surprise, the next year the tree was filled with mangos.  The gardener had known how to prune a tree so that it would bear much fruit.

I found it interesting in this story that it wasn’t that the tree looked dead when the man moved into the house.  He said it was lush and was providing shade.  So, to look at the tree, no one would have known there was a problem unless you were told it was supposed to be bearing fruit…but it wasn’t.

This observation makes me think of my life and what others see when they look at me.  Do I have the appearance of being a Christian only on the outside?  If someone sees the real me…do they see fruit or am I barren?  And am I willing to be pruned by my Jesus to ensure I am bearing fruit to the fullest?

Spring has finally arrived in Indiana, so you will now find me outside as much as possible.  I love to work in my flower beds…doing what I can to help them flourish.  This means that at times…I will need to do some pruning.  I will need to cut off dead parts of plants…to make sure all the energy is going towards the live portions.  I may even have to, at times, cut off parts which look healthy…knowing that in doing so…what is left will be even prettier and more productive.  

Just like these plants, sometimes Jesus needs to cut things out of my life, removing any dead areas that aren’t producing so my life can yield more fruit for Him.  And yes, sometimes He will need to cut things out of my life that may look ok…but in doing so…I’ll have more time to spend with Him…drawing from Him the ”energy” needed to do what He has called me to do.

I think it all comes down to a word I’ve written about many times before…trust.  Do I trust that Jesus knows what needs to be stripped away in my life so that I will bear the fruit that He desires?  The truth is, if I do trust Him completely, then I should be willing to let Him work in me and through me for His glory.

Allowing Jesus to prune us isn’t always fun…but we know it will be worth it in the end.  Why?  Because then we will look more like Him…and that’s a reflection in the mirror we all long to see! 

Monday Morning Memo: Simple Acts of Love

Last week I shared with you an incident that occurred while I was taking care of three of my grandsons for 2 ½ weeks.  Today I am going to bore you with one more “happening”.

The youngest grandson, age four, is like so many other children his age.  He can be loud…he’s tough…he “bulls” his way through life…and yet he has a softer side.  He proved this during those weeks by showing me that he is rather obsessed with dandelions.  If he sees one…you can bet he will run to it…pick it…and then, of course, present it to whichever adult he is with.  I know this because while I lived with them…I seemed to always have a “bouquet” of them on the kitchen counter.  Each time he was so proud of his findings and even more proud to bless me with one, or two, or three.  He would grin from ear to ear and when I would say that I needed to get them in water right away…his face would just glow.

Simplicity.  When I look up this word, it says that it is “the state or quality of being simple. Something easy to understand or explain seems simple, in contrast to something complicated.” My grandson giving me the dandelions was a very simple act of love.  It didn’t cost him anything, but I could have cared less…just the simple gift from him warmed my heart each and every time.  I didn’t care that it wasn’t a huge bouquet of roses that would last for days because I knew, from the look on his face, that his desire was to do something special…and that was enough for me.

Why do we make life so complicated?  Why do we feel the need to always have more…to always have the best of everything…to always be one rung higher on the ladder of success than the person working next to us?  And we wonder why we are under so much stress and so unhappy.  We’ve become a society where the word simplicity isn’t even used much, because for some reason if it is simple…we think there must be something wrong with it.

We’ve even made Christianity complicated.  We often say we can’t tell others about our Jesus because we just don’t know what to say.  We are scared to death they will ask us questions which we won’t know the answers to, and we work ourselves up into a lather just thinking about it.  As a result…we keep quiet and just hope there is a pastor nearby who will share with those whom God puts in our path.

Or, we don’t share with others because, like I said, we are just too busy running here and there…trying to get more and more…and taking time to talk to others is not on our “to-do” list.  It’s just too big of an inconvenience.  We just don’t have time.

What a tragedy.  There are people who are searching for the hope we have in Jesus…but unless we begin to simply tell them about Him…they may never know.  We don’t need big, hard-to-pronounce theological words…we just need to let them see Jesus through us.  In fact, many times we don’t need to use words at all.  We just need to genuinely care about them…love them…and let them see us being the hands and feet of Jesus.

I have an idea.  As we go throughout our day today…let’s keep our eyes open for dandelions.  They just happen to be everywhere right now and let’s use them as a reminder to intentionally take notice of those whom God puts in our path.  I’m guessing if we do that…there will be those who will grin from ear to ear as they begin to see Jesus through our simple acts of love.

“Return home and tell how much 

God has done for you.”

So the man went away and told all over town

how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:39