Good and Evil

 5/14/2022

1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

"Evil always eats its own." Ryan Collins

It was 93 degrees today in Maine, so our family decided to watch and old campy movie. We are big movie watchers and often prefer old ones to what is currently being produced. All movies, and any story really, has a central conflict. Many have good against evil themes; this can even be found in Rom-Coms. In these stories, good almost always prevails. 

The movie we watched today was Latitude Zero. It's about some scientists and a reporter that have a mishap with an underwater experiment and get taken to a deep-sea utopia where there is no greed, war, of politics; all the people who live and work there are striving towards a higher purpose. There is, however, an evil genius that also has an underwater compound. He is full of arrogance and hubris, only wanting to destroy good and gain as much power as he can. He, of course, has other unscrupulous people under his employ. 

The good guys are all about teamwork and altruism, and the evil people turn on each other in a blink. While the heroes stand by each other even against the greatest of dangers, the villains will happily sacrifice each other if doing so provides a shot at victory. This is also true in our spiritual battle against evil. Many times, the church or "good guys" are striving to help people and live by God's word. Although not perfect, the goal should always be to strive for something better and reflect the love of Jesus. People who operate in evil by concentrating only on their self-interests will sell each other out and do anything to succeed. You can see this happening ever day if you watch the news. Being motivated by selfishness is not of God; it is what the evil one uses not just to destroy an individual. but sometimes also a community.

So, I ask myself, which am I?

Straight Talk

5/10/2022

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

If you have not read the Book of James in a while, or perhaps never did, I would recommend it for sure. After the Gospels, I would say Psalms, Proverbs, and James are probably my favorite books of the Bible, even though my life verses are in Philippians. 😇I love James because it is written very clearly. It starts out with straight talk and keeps going, and that is what I love. When I share with other Christians that I am very fond of this book, they usually tell me it is their least favorite. There I go, being a rebel again.

My husband and I are reading through it once again, and it always sparks a lively conversation between us. This morning we were both challenged, like we usually are when meditating on this book.  The heading of chapter 1:19-27 is "Hearing and Doing the Word". Just by that, you know you are in for some truth bombs, so let's unpack verses 19 and 20. "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." Boom! What if everyone in the world practiced this way of communication? 

We live in a culture where everyone talks, but precious few listens. We need not look farther than cable news or our politicians to see such hubris. The verse doesn't begin with talking, but instead listening, and it says, "quick to listen". You almost get the vision of a coach getting their teams attention by shouting, "Listen Up!" This charge is difficult in our society, particularly because of the distraction of technology. I know I am guilty of half-listening while on my phone, and I am not proud of that fact. If we could all really listen to one another we would certainly gain a deeper understanding of someone else's point of view and their journey. It is also a sign of respect. 

The next part is, "slow to speak". This is sometimes a tough one for me too, as I usually practice a shoot-from-the-hip kind of communicator. I am also uncomfortable in the silences, especially when I do not know someone well. However, I am learning to be more thoughtful when I speak, even though that takes effort for me. I have certainly known people that are slow to speak, but they usually are tougher for people to build relationships with. We are so used to rapid-fire conversation and information that being with someone who is thoughtful when speaking is a bit rare. It is, however, Biblical indeed. 

The third part says, "slow to anger". Boy, is this one that is lost in our society today. Anger seems to be the go-to emotion with all of the divisiveness in our current world. The idea of people agreeing to disagree has become somewhat of an antiquated notion. Covid and our political climate have certainly brought out anger in people that I would have considered very gentle and passive before. Many people are just letting their anger fly without even thinking anymore. It is a sad state, indeed. Even believers I know are easy to anger recently over the state of our world. The follow up, of course, is that man's anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Let that just roll over you for a minute. We may claim righteous indignation when we are angry, but if we really stopped to think about our motivation, it would probably come from a place of judgement. As believers, we know that judgement belongs to God. 

So in summary:

1. Listen with openness and willingness.

2. Consider what you say before you say it.

3. Do not get angry, for our anger does not honor God.

Like I said, these verses are clear and to the point. If we could implement these three things and take action, it could change everything. 

Thanks Mom

 5/8/2022

Proverbs 31:28 "Her children rise up and called her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her."

I have taken a few days off from blogging because I wasn't feeling well. Stress often does that to me. I am feeling much better today, so I am back to it once again. For the few of you who do read daily, my apologies. 

Today is Mother's Day. I think it is right for there to be a day celebrating mothers, as most of them are unsung heroes all year long. It is good for children to pause once a year to reflect on how important their mothers have been on their journey. It has been said many times that mothers wear a lot of hats throughout any given day, without expecting praise or gratitude. The best moms lead by example and teach their children how to live by showing them. I know this was true of my mom. She raised five children, often alone because my father was a Merchant Marine. She took care of everything in the house and all of us kids, which I know was not easy. I cannot imagine having teenagers and toddlers at the same time, but that is exactly what my mom had. So much energy coming from both age groups, but she handled it all with grace. We always had clean clothes, nourishing food, and a safe place to call home. She cared for us when we were sick or hurting, and she didn't expect anything in return. She was a very petite lady who was a powerhouse of strength. 

One of the biggest influences my mother had on me was her deeply devoted faithfulness. She was not only faithful to my dad for the 30 years they had together (and beyond), but she was faithful to Jesus until her very last breathe. She didn't tell her children about how to be a Christian; she lived it. She was devout all of my childhood and continued to grow on her faith journey. The last five years of her live, while she suffered the effects of stroke, were the most faith-driven of her life. Even though this time is often fraught with sad and difficult memories of our vibrant mom being so fragile and incapacitated, for me it was filled with conversations about her love for Jesus and His love for her. She could have been frustrated or angry while shaking her fist heavenward, asking the unanswerable question, "why?" But instead, she exuded peace, grace, and faith. Shortly after the stroke, she told me she had a dream that she was going to be a minister and speak to many people about Jesus. This happened every time she shared the love of Jesus with everyone that came into her small world. Even through her brokenness, her bright blue eyes shined, and the Holy Spirit power was evident to all that were around her. It was so amazing and inspirational, and I am forever grateful that God gave me such a wonderful mom. 

Love you mom, forever and always. 

Acclimation

 5/5/2022

1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-"

We have almost had our sweet pup for a year now. She is loveable and spoiled, but she has the most amazing personality. Another thing about her is that she does not like when any of the family leaves the house. We can be gone for two minutes or a few hours, but she reacts the same every time we walk in the door. This evening, my husband and son went out for a while, and for the first time she did not pace, cry, and look for them, Instead, she let them go and took up her usual space on the back of the couch (we believe she is part cat). When they arrived home, she was also quite calm instead of the crazy jumping pup that usually greets us. It was a bit surprising for the guys, but I looked at it like a good sign that she is finally starting to self-sooth. 

When we adopted her last summer, the paperwork that came with her said that it would take a full year for her to truly acclimate to her new home, and we all saw the start of that tonight. It has taken her a while to listen, learn, and become a part of our family. Even though we accepted her right away, she needed to learn about her new environment and to trust us. We, on the other hand, needed to be patient with her while she was learning to trust and adjust to us.

I was thinking how it is the same with us as Christians. When we yield to Jesus, we are adopted into a new family. Most people start attending a local church and begin to become part of a fellowship of believers. We have to, all of us, acclimate to a new way of life. We learn to follow the Bibles teaching and live by its precepts. All these things take time, just like it has for my pup. Also like her, we eventually learn to trust and lean into our new way of life. 

I also think that we as mature believers need to also be patient with new Christians while they are learning and growing in the faith. We need to be available to disciple while letting them grow closer to Jesus in their own time; for we are all on our own journeys. We need to just love them, and God certainly will do the rest. 

Extended Excuse

5/4/2022

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet so it with gentleness and respect."

I have only physically been to church a few times since the beginning of Covid. Last time was before the surg that started in late fall. Since a symptom of my OCD is avoidance, Covid has seemed like a very valid reason. No one judges me for it at all as many others have made similar choices about not only church services, but many other activities that involve large groups of people. Unfortunately, this new hermit like behavior is taking its toll in many ways. Fear is always just around the corner ready to undo me. 

You see, I am not a person who craves group interactions. These times of having to rise to a social occasion wear me out. I find even sometimes find going out to dinner with my family draining. I am happy to stay in the safety of my little house and do my own thing. The problem is, I feel God leading me back out into the world for Him. He has more for me to do, and I feel that deep down in my soul. I believe He has more for every believer to do at this current time in our world. It is time to stop hiding and being comfortable. 

So, my little anxiety ridden, hermit self needs to prepare to get back out there. Where will God lead me? I have no idea. Will it be into the same circles as before? Will it be the same church? Will it be the same fellowship? Will it be down a path I never imagined? I cannot say. All I know is that the tug is happening, and it is time for me to prepare for whatever lies ahead. It is the end of my extended excuse. 

Going to have to spend more time in prayer seeking and searching. 

Super Soldier

 5/3/2022

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sumaria, and to the end of the earth."

If you have seen the Mavel Avengers movies - and most people have - you know what a hero looks like. My favorite character of the franchise is Captain America. I feel this way because he stands for truth even when those around him do not understand. As I was praying in my closet chapel this morning, I got an image of a warrior with a sword and shield. Now Cap doesn't use a sword, but he has one of the most recognizable shields in popular culture. 

In the first Captain America movie, Steve Rogers is just a scrawny young man who wants to enlist in the army during WWII. He is all heart and courage, but he is not physically up to the challenge. Because of his persistence, he is given the chance to be something more, much more. He has a procedure that changes him physically for battle, making him a super soldier. However, he maintains all of the characteristics that brought him to that enviable place. He has to submit to this happening and does so with gladness and expectation. During the procedure, he is placed into a capsule of sorts, and injected with a secret serum. When the door of the capsule opens, he is ready for battle in a different way than before. Initially he is all spirit, but now he has the strength to fight. 

So, as I was praying this morning - feeling willing, yet unprepared, for battle, as I often do - I thought of the transformation that occurs through the Holy Spirit. It is through a yielding to the Spirit's indwelling that I find my power and ability to fight. My prayer chapel is like Cap's capsule, and the Holy Spirit is my super soldier serum. That connection and indwelling is how I get my strength to battle. I envisioned a heavenly shield in one hand and the Godly sword (scripture) in the other. These are my weapons given to me by God. Like Cap, I have to be willing to submit to this transformation, but unlike his one and done injection, I have to submit daily to this regeneration. I have to seek out the strength I need each day to do God's will, to journey wherever He leads me. 

Divided We Fall

 5/2/2022

Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

Division in the church is like a cancer, and unfortunately, it seems to be growing.  Christian churches use the same text to build their doctrine on, so how can there be so many different interpretations? I have shared before that a former pastor of ours used to say, "In essentials unity, in all else grace." I have held this as wisdom for the past 30 years, and I still do. Yet I have to wonder about why there are so many things that we disagree about. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. I believe that to the core of my soul. My husband has often said that if you can extract or think that even one part of it is nothing more than a fable, than you cannot uphold any of it as truth. These words too are wise. 

When my son was younger, he once said that there is no such thing as a place of gray where belief is concerned. He also said that those that walk in gray places are too weak or misguided to choose. Again, I find these words very wise. In the song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns, part of the chorus is "It's a slow fade when you give yourself away, it's a slow fade when black and white turns to gray." It is a powerful lyric, and exactly what my son was saying. 

So, how to combat this place of gray that causes division? I believe it is by letting the living and active Word of God be the total focus of our worship and our personal journeys with Jesus. To seek the Holy Spirit's leading for illumination on how to apply the Bible to all areas of our lives. We must continue to worship and pray for our churches to become places of truth and sanctuaries for all people. A sanctuary from the evils of this world where everyone can find community, love, mercy, and the truth of the Gospel. If division continues, we will fall, and worse yet, fail to bring the love of Christ to a hurting world.

Rooted

5/1/2022

Ephesians 3:17 "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, may be rooted and grounded in love."

We have a large private English flower garden behind our home. It is absolutely glorious in the summertime, and it is one of my favorite places to spend time. It is also something we inherited when we purchased our home almost seven years ago. It is full of perennial flowers and bushes, and we always add some annual flowers to it every year. It is a peaceful and wonderful place to have a meal, read a book, listen to music, or just sit quietly and marvel at the beauty of God's creation. I love every minute I am able to spend there, and I am grateful.

This large garden, however, does require many hours of work to keep it looking and feeling like a place someone would want to spend their time. There is the cleanup after the winter months. I cannot express how many maple seeds rest there, or how I pull so many maple shoots that we could start a forest with. There is the daily watering, which thankfully my son has taken on. Then there is the constant weeding, and because I have OCD that is often difficult for me to ignore. Last summer, after we got our puppy, I largely neglected the garden, and it became over grown. One issue was a thistle weed that took hold, and although it was pretty, it got out of control. Just today I was able to pull up part of it, but even this small plant had roots that went deep. Unfortunately, the larger ones are going to require quite a lot of work to extract. Again, we have this issue because of neglect. 

I got to thinking that it is the same with our sin. When we face it and deal with it right away, it will not overtake us. However, when we neglect our sins and let them run rampant in our lives, the roots will be difficult to remove. Even if we try after a while, we may not get it all out of the soil of our souls, and it will just grow back again. Thankfully, Jesus is the gardener that never neglects us, His children. When we confess with all contrition and submit to Him, He will extract the deepest roots of our sin. Then we can be firmly rooted in God's love and mercy.