In Need of Mercy

 What motivates me?  What am I passionate about?  My love for my children and grandchildren and my desire that they all arrive in Heaven.   That they experience Kingdom living now for eternity.  Many years ago during a sermon, with weariness in my soul, I whispered this sentiment to God and He whispered back – “So do I”.    I heard Him express His longing not just for my children or His chosen people but that ALL His children might join Him in Kingdom living now for eternity.  At that moment I was convicted of my selfish narrow-sighted view and work of loving my children to heaven.  Teaching, training, serving, caring, LOVING them first – only and more than ALL His children.  Love you more is a phrase from the song by Matthew west that we share in our family often.  If you haven’t heard the song he basically talks about how Jesus loves us more than the sun and stars He taught us how to shine – we are His and He asks that we shine for Him in this broken world. I have been hiding His light in me under my own roof.  I am called to shine His love to ALL His children so we might all enjoy Kingdom Living today for eternity.  Who are His children? Sounds like the familiar question of a Bible Expert, Who is my neighbor? Anyone in need of Mercy (Luke 10:37)  Where am I to shine? (Philippians 2:14-16, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Cor 4, Deuteronomy 11) God has commanded us to remember to love Him first, remain in His Love, Obey His commands and Serve Him.  If we are faithful to do so His love will shine through our acts of justice and mercy (compassion) walking humbly through our common life -rest, work, & play will all be acts of worship and bring Him glory and joy as His children join Him in His Kingdom today.  Our family verse is Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

What motivates you?  Do you know someone who needs to be shown His mercy?  Is His Church ‘a safe place for the sick, the sinner the scarred and the prodigal”?  These are the questions I have asked myself since that day many years ago when I realized His light in me was not just for my house or this church.  His children are everywhere, in here and out there, and it is time that I took His light out from under the roof and obey the 2^nd greatest commandment to love those in need of mercy and let it shine through everyday living – common compassion.  Thankfully, God knew I needed a partner for courage and the ability to see a need and fill a need.  Together, Dean and I work to be available to listen and respond in our home, our church, our workplaces, and now more than ever our neighborhood with childcare, words of encouragement, meals, and sharing whatever one has need.

As Compassion Catalyst for the General Wesleyan Church, I am training and collaborating with leaders to love those in need of mercy.

Social Justice and the Church

 Is the Church called to be neutral, accepting, judgemental, political?  Is this the first time the Church, God's people, has been faced with a global pandemic, national financial crisis, global immigration crisis, racial tension, war, increased violence, and rebellion locally? Maybe I should consider just the Western big C Church since I am a westerner.  The answer is NO.  Let's remember the Spanish Flu, Small Pox, Great Depression, 911, civil rights movement, woman's suffrage, pilgrims in search of religious freedom, dictators in Central America and Cuba or tribal wars in Burma and the Middle East forcing people to flee to safer places all scream NO. 

What is the role of the western Church today? The same as His original call to His people in the Old Testament and again to His disciples and again to the Church of Acts. All of humanity, yes including His people/Church, is still broken, sinful, and wicked. Thankfully, God hasn't changed.  He is still King and He plans to have "His kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven." (MT 6:, LK 11 NIV) At the very least we should begin by obeying God's Word, Jesus' teaching, and follow Jesus' example.  We need only to look at His ministry on Earth and His commission to the disciples.  This isn't a theologically complicated call.  It is quite simple and begins with praying - communing with our God, the King of all the universe, ruler of all.  The prophets were known for it and Jesus taught us how in the scripture above and that told us to pray.  In fact, Jesus often went away from His followers to pray alone.  Shouldn't we?

 Is the Church called to be neutral, accepting, judgemental, political?  Is this the first time the Church, God's people, has been faced with a global pandemic, national financial crisis, global immigration crisis, racial tension, war, increased violence, and rebellion locally? Maybe I should consider just the Western big C Church since I am a westerner.  The answer is NO.  Let's remember the Spanish Flu, Small Pox, Great Depression, 911, civil rights movement, woman's suffrage, pilgrims in search of religious freedom, dictators in Central America and Cuba or tribal wars in Burma and the Middle East forcing people to flee to safer places all scream NO. 

What is the role of the western Church today? The same as His original call to His people in the Old Testament and again to His disciples and again to the Church of Acts. All of humanity, yes including His people/Church, is still broken, sinful, and wicked. Thankfully, God hasn't changed.  He is still King and He plans to have "His kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven." (MT 6:, LK 11 NIV) At the very least we should begin by obeying God's Word, Jesus' teaching, and follow Jesus' example.  We need only to look at His ministry on Earth and His commission to the disciples.  This isn't a theologically complicated call.  It is quite simple and begins with praying - communing with our God, the King of all the universe, ruler of all.  The prophets were known for it and Jesus taught us how in the scripture above and that told us to pray.  In fact, Jesus often went away from His followers to pray alone.  Shouldn't we?

God is still King and Earth is still part of His Kingdom.  His plan of restoring all of His creation to the original paradise is still occuring here between Jesus' first and second coming.  His Kingdom is here already but not quite as it should be.  That is what we should be doing. That truth should unify the Church globally to honor their King by obeying His laws.  His ways are beyond our understanding (IS. 55, NIV) so He boiled all of His teaching down to two simple tasks. The key to successfully ministering to the poor begins in each believer's heart. First, they must love God fully to know how best to love their neighbors as themselves. (Matt. 22, NIV)  Jesus gave the why before the how in response to the church leaders in His day.  If we fully love God and trust Him to care for us we will be mindful of the needs of others and how we might give of what we already have to care for our neighbor, the vulnerable, the foreigner, and the outcast.    This begins in our love and commitment to God individually. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in a home, believers practice the breaking of bread in their homes, discipleship occurred in their homes and ends with Paul being placed under house arrest. The first community of believers existed in their homes.  Church begins in the homes of believers as the place for Christian hospitality and then extends to love and serve our neighbors corporately.  Caring or compassion is love in action: servant leadership (civil and ecumentical), challenging the dominant culture/worldview, advocating for the vulnerable, giving generously, protecting the weak, listening to the hurting, comforting the anguished, feeding the poor, freeing the oppressed, housing the homeless foreigner and nursing the sick.  (LK 4, NIV) Simply put compassion is living a life of hospitality.

Kingdom living, the structure of the church, is based on the service or the welfare of the common good. Compared to the dominant culture being structured around exploitation, mistrust, and the power to withhold resources and opportunity. The key to successfully ministering to the poor begins in each believer's heart.  The challenge of today’s church is to continue to live out the Kingdom Economy Jesus began.  The example we set by giving our surplus to those who are in need, sharing our gifts and talents to encourage others to mature in theirs, actively engaging in civil society to challenge the status quo, and advocate for the common good is how we implement Kingdom living today.  Practically, this begins in each believer’s home with simple acts of hospitality, teaching kindness, charity, and giving with a joyful heart to our children and continues by discipleship in our church community.  We have the technology available that allows homes and churches to impact their community and world for the better in giving of expertise, networking, donating money, and advocating for change.  Prayer aligns our heart with God’s so that our actions match the words we speak.  This then is how the world will know we all are His and change our world one home at a time. (JN 13:34 & 35, NIV)

LIVE LIFE FEAR GOD

 Someone asked me not too long back what books I had read.  I haven't had much time to read lately but I read "A More Elite Soldier'' by Chuck Holton a while back.  It is a very good book drawing from his military experience and comparing it to the Christian walk.  I have been studying the book of John with ladies at church and most recently as a Family we have been doing a study called "Go Fish" by Andy Stanley.  Amazing what God is doing. In fact yesterday I was checking the website for our first mission stop in AL and the home page shows the ocean and someone fishing in it alone with the words in the sky "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men'' -- Jesus. My husband and I have been delving more into God's word lately due to God's prompting.  I followed his lead and have been reading --pouring over the book of Psalms.  You don't have to read very many until you are reminded that King David is human like us.  He made all the same mistakes and then some; everything from poor financial, relational choices to bad leadership as a King Husband and Dad.  Yet, according to God, David is a man after God's own heart.  Why?  From what I can gather, despite all of David's failures he still desires to be near God, do His will and align himself with God alone no one or nothing else.  In Psalms 31, 33-35 David prays in times of trouble, affliction and persecution.  Because of David's heart God is just and forgiving.  God brings David healing and joy when despite the outlook and what he is told by man David puts all he has in God.  Psalm 31:10, 14-16, 21-24 is just one example; read chapters 33-35 and you will see that God listens when David cries out.  By the end of every chapter David cries out for Joy!  When David speaks of aching bones I am reminded of my son’s pain and that God can bring him healing.  Psalms 40-43 spoke to my heart as well   It reminded me of songs/choruses that remind me of God's faithfulness.  Psalm 41 thanks God for people who take care of the downtrodden and ill, people just like you. Through you God has sustained us. And again we have joy and sense God's power Psalm 40:16 & 17, Ps 43: 4 & 5.  Psalms 86 and more so Psalm 6 is our prayer at this time.  Here David CRIES OUT and God brings HEALING and JOY!   The place we are at isn't really new, just different.  There is unrest, a pandemic, uncertainty, insecurity.  Like King David, let us focus on the one true King and live without fear the days ahead and find unspeakable joy and unexplainable healing.  

Live Life Fear God (I think King David said this first)

Hokum or Hokmah?

 Hokum is defined by Merriam Webster as ‘unrealistic situations or dialogue; nonsense’ verses hokmah as ‘spiritual wisdom’. The more I listen to the news or browse social media I am beginning to wonder if this isn’t all hokum. COVID-19 has compounded financial stress at public and private institutions across our country.  Our homes are in a state of limbo. The #alonetogether mindset has slowed life down and increased time with family.  It has forced families to rethink their personal priorities.  While that is good on many levels there are some households that see this as suffering confinement and not respite. After 11 plus weeks of limbo, respite or waiting many pieces of our lives and relationships are beginning to suffer. During times such as these my only hope for peace comes from God’s Words of Wisdom, hokmah. 

The prominent theme of wisdom literature found in The Bible are timeless questions:  meaning of life, order of the world and theodicy. These questions apply across all disciplines; scientifically, philosophically, socially, politically, judicially, psychological, relationally and cosmologically. The worldview continues to hold order as an important value in all aspects of living and understanding.  In ancient times wisdom was the pursuit of understanding and preserving world order.  Ancient wisdom held that the key to attaining world order was the ‘fear of the Lord’. (Prov. 1:7, NRSV)  It was recognized that God ordered the cosmos and with obedience of His requirements and expectations comes understanding of life.   Where Ecclesiastes ends Proverbs picks up and all of the Wisdom literature pivots on the key, the beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord. (Prov. 1:7, NRSV)  Secular philosophy struggles to find wisdom and relies on Retribution Theology to explain why good people suffer.   The Old Testament sets the world right with God at the head and his wisdom as the creative order principle throughout making it possible for people that are disciplined and learned in wisdom to find life and fulfillment in God’s will.  Jesus affirms in Luke 13 that the sinner should fear the justice of the Lord but further challenges humanity to recognize that suffering is a normal part of life.  God allows the experience of tragedy so that God’s might will be evident in the fulfillment of His purposes. In John 9:3 Jesus challenges us to look to the future for the purpose and not to the past for the cause or answer to “Why?”.  We are incapable of discerning the cause of tragedy and injustices in this world. Yet, these books of wisdom teach us that “God can bring justice out of circumstances” beyond our control. 

I found reading through the book of Job during one of the most difficult times in my life very reassuring. In Job, God is put on trial for unjust suffering and Job’s defense is Appeasement Theology upon the recommendation of his friends.  Obviously, God is angry or else Job wouldn’t be suffering.  So his friends urge him to repent of his unknown sin so that he might return to God’s favor and receive blessing.  In this courtroom dialogue Job’s life is used to show how best to handle the reality of God allowing adversity and tragedy to continue in our broken world.  God would have lost the court case if Job would have cursed or followed through on appeasing God.  Wisdom is found when Job reorients his thinking to the purpose of experiencing suffering rather than the cause.  The purpose of Jesus’ suffering was to reconcile all creation through grace.  While this was voluntary for Jesus he did pray that the cup be removed from Him, but ultimately submitted that God’s will be accomplished. (Mk. 14:36, NRSV) Job doesn’t receive the mediator he asked for but eventually sees the same Wisdom in trusting in God’s wisdom for His will to be done. 

Job 

The questions of justice and injustice, sovereignty and freedom, innocence and guilt, good and evil, blessing and cursing and worldview and God's view are all a part of the dialogue in the context of undeserved suffering and theodicy.  We are introduced to the hero of the narrative in the prologue contained within the first two chapters of the book.  In Chapter 3 the writer of Job gets to the weighty issues of life regarding the nature of wisdom and the mystery of human suffering with a complaint against God.   It is Job’s lack of lament and accusation against God that forces the dispute between him and his friends for the next 25 chapters.  The summary of the debate is “Who is wise?”  Of course, each friend tries to prove that their theology of retribution portrays a just God and a sinful Job as most accurate and wise.  Job doesn’t agree and places the fault squarely at God’s feet. While his friends talk about God, Job talks to God about the injustice he is experiencing. The middle of the book contains Job’s hymn of rhetoric.  In it, Job is talking out loud to noone, everyone or quite possibly anyone.  He is exasperated with anguish and pleads with God for an explanation.  Job is on a quest for justice or an answer to why must he suffer. “Where can wisdom be found?” (Job 28, NRSV) It is hard to know if who joins the conversation next is a reader or editor of the original translation but, Elihu seems to be invited by the polyphonic nature of the narrative to enter the dispute himself and prepare Job for what might be coming next.  At the end of Job, YHWH speaks in a whirlwind to Job directly, but seemingly not with an answer, or at least with an answer that Job does not expect.  Truly, is there an answer that could possibly explain your suffering while in the midst of it?  God knows that what Job needs is a right relationship with Him, but first Job must recognize that God is just in His allowing suffering, adversity and even unthinkable tragedies.   God does not offer justice, but Job repents of accusing God of injustice.  Why? It is in the storm that God shows up.  The many voices ultimately yield to One voice that brings the book to a dramatic resolution. It is ‘the theophany itself that rehabilitates Job’. Job knows Wisdom, face to face, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You;”. (Job 42:5, NRSV) In seeing God and hearing His Words, Job has gained a peace that passes all understanding amidst his suffering. No further explanation is needed.  

The interpretation of Job could be theologically challenging.  As with most books in the Old Testament there is a question as to whether the book has been translated in its entirety, is a piece meal of texts or if parts were removed because of the ancient language and ensuing grammatical challenges.  I propose that ‘we can’t handle the truth’ of wisdom found in Job. The difficulty is not in the translation of the literal message of Job, but grasping and accepting the allegorical perspective.  Job may or may not be a real hero of the Bible but he is a hero that the majority of humanity can relate too.  I have sat with Job in the ash heap, praying for the healing oil of joy.  I have heard the polyphony and chaos around me silenced by the Voice of Truth.  Like Job, I had a relationship with God, that when faced with a crisis of belief, I did not let go of God.  Like Job, I made the right choice at the right time to adjust my focus from the injustices around me to know Wisdom and trust God’s will and purposes for me to be just and good.  I can not control what happens to those I love or myself by righteous actions or horrific sin.  Job was righteous and lost everything.  My son Daniel loved God, was faithful, good and kind but he died at 16 of cancer.  My husband wondered what sin he committed to lose his first born.  Much like the disciples questioned Jesus regarding the reason why a boy was born blind.  Jesus responded that the suffering was allowed so that God’s power be demonstrated in his healing. (Jn. 9:2-4, NRSV) In our situation the demonstration of God’s power came in healing Daniel by taking him to heaven. While that is not the answer we wanted, we were able to trust in God’s love of Daniel and see the Wisdom in His will and receive the joy that comes amidst the anguish of suffering.  The demonstration of God’s wisdom and power in our life caused many to seek out God on our behalf and find Him for themselves.  When we look to find someone to blame or focus on the apparent injustice experienced we miss the lesson of how to thrive in adversity. Central to Paul’s teaching is the hidden power and wisdom of God in Jesus. (Col. 2:3, 1Cor. 1:18-2:16, NRSV) This Wisdom defies the worldview of traditional wisdom as pure hokum and becomes a living demonstration of God’s grace and hokmah.   Job was commended by God for taking his doubts, and anger directly to Him.  How will you respond during this time of adversity, with hokmah or hokum?

Bibliography

Alexander, David & Pat. Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1973.

Longman III, Tremper. Job. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2012.

Newsom, Carol A. The Book of Job: A Contest of Moral Imaginations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Schultz, Carl. Vol. 2: Joshua through Song of Songs. 2014. Theology of Work Project, 2019. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/theology-of-work/toc/

Walton, J.H. and A.E. Hill. Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance. Zondervan, 2014.

Waters, Larry J. “Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job”. Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (October-December 1997): 436-51.

To Pray is to Breathe

Matthew 6:7-13  

In Matthew 6 Jesus is teaching the church the importance of caring for the most vulnerable by giving to the needy, not worrying about our investments, food, clothing, or our everyday living.  Luke also shares these verses in the first four verses of chapter 11.  In the preceding chapter, Luke talks about the importance of being in communion with God and then our neighbor. Communication is key to a relationship with God and our neighbor.  Jesus taught communion as a way for  His church to love Him and each other fully is possible when we focus on what He has already done for us.  This Lenten season we have a unique opportunity to praise Him and leave our current concerns and fears about the future in His hands empowering us to share His love with our needy neighbor.

In a time where the simple act of breathing brings anxiety, it is life-giving to breathe deeply in prayer.  The COVID19 crisis has forced us to be still during this lenten season.  The unusual sacrifice of normal living replaces our typical token sacrifice that is traditional during lent and brings us to a place of openness and surrender at the foot of His cross and ours. As we grieve the loss of the normal we have known we must seek His will for what our new normal will be and four our future hope. Here in this strange in-between place the Kingdoms of heaven and earth meet and we Hope for His will to be done and rest in the joy of knowing His good is far better than our dreams.

As we struggle through the difficulties of reconciling an earthly kingdom to God let us work this Lent to open ourselves to God and His will for our happiness.  The Lenten practices of prayer fasting and giving alms to help others will also help us find His hope during this anxious time.  Let us often pray to God in our own words, from deep within our beings. Jesus understood that there would be times when we wouldn't have words to express our fears and dreams.  (John 16:33, Romans 8:26) In times like this we can pray as He taught us: The Lord's Prayer Song

Their Father's Name

“What’s their Father’s name?”
I never knew what their Father’s name was, I was focused on my friend. I knew you would ask the question and despite my annoyance there was a certain amount of peace that came in knowing you were stepping in.
None of my friends had Dad’s like mine.  Most of them had a healthy fear of you – which I liked and didn’t let on that really behind the stern look and growly voice there was always a twinkle in the eyes we share.  They never got close enough to see and I liked that too.
Their Father’s name didn’t carry the honor and respect mine did and it wasn’t so much for his name but Our Father’s name that he carried in his heart and in the cross around his neck and in his cool red change purse.
Their Father’s didn’t laugh like mine or dance and jingle like mine either.  I didn’t hear any stories from their Dad’s that were timeless and true.  Fathers mean family and mine is big and gentle, fiercely loving, and my constant quiet strength.
None else had a Dad that were taller than our doors and loved to play on the floor.  I have a love of driving and hunting and fishing and big red trucks with just one seat for six.  My seat was the best even though it was near ‘the pits’ because it was warm, safe and smelled good even after cutting wood and catching salamanders all afternoon.
I have grown and I married a man, after I knew ‘his Father’s name’ so you would know it too.  The Father’s name that was most important – he shares with you.  He is a good Dad and asks our kids often the same questions you asked of me.  Our Father has taught us well and we continue to learn more about Him as we watch you walk.
I love to sing and songs mean the world to me.  Short little jingles, favorite hymns, Psalms and nursery rhymes.  “I love to tell the story.” “Amazing Grace” “Gum on your bed post”.  “Girls brush your pearls”  “Little house on the prairie”  Thank you for all the songs you put in my heart and encouraging me to sing.
“What’s my Father’s Name?”  Family.  Respect. Peace. Comfort.  Quiet. Provider. Truth.  Dad.
David Warren Hotchkiss – I share him because he is good enough too

Peace

Rest Well – It is Well – Rest in Peace

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Being a Mom and Wife are my favorite jobs –chosen career – highest calling.  It isn’t anything like what I dreamed it would be.
Sunny days, veggies growing, children growing healthy and strong, time passing slow- like cool evenings spent rocking sleeping babies.  Family vacations with all your children happy and traveling well. Plenty of food, time and money for fun, necessities and charity.  Always a home full of laughter and love.  Any difficulty would be small and happily cared for by my Mother’s kiss and kind words. Kind encouraging music plays softly in the background morning noon and night.  Chores are always done as a team, dinner is three course and on time, Sunday is all about God and family.  A family that prayed together stays together. Perfectly peaceful.

I have experienced fleeting moments like this dream in my life, but more often than not my days were like the ones my “Mama told me about”.  Then there were some months – years like no one ever dreams.  Life threatening illness, financial struggles, deteriorating home, job instability, relational stress, character crisis, children with big questions, death of child, parent and grandparents, spiritual battles at church, home, and within. We all have experience a battle for our peaceful home.  Battles that are visible to all and Battles within ourselves and the hearts and minds of our family – loss, lies, fear, worry, infidelity, hurt, idols, brokenness.

Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for War and a time for peace.  Jesus warned his disciples that there would be trouble in this world in John 16:33.  We see evidence of the battles all around us and within us.  We have heard the adage “When Mama ain’t happy, aint no one happy” or “Happy wife, happy life.”  There is a lot of pressure and a lot of clout in those phrases.
HOW do we KEEP THE PEACE?  The Bible gives us the wisdom we need for planting peace in our homes. James 3

PRAY continuously – for wisdom, our husbands, children, church, community, schools, teachers etc.
EXAMINE ourselves – heart, soul, mind – tone, priorities, Who is king of our heart?  Hubby, Self, Job, Children or God?  Confess our sin and fill our hearts and mind with truth and wisdom so peace and joy will quickly follow.
ADJUST our thoughts – yield our will/goals/lists - set our mind on things above – whatever Philippians 4:4-9
COMMIT to Memorizing Scripture – spiritual hymns, songs, scripture – Bible App or marker, journal, note cards
EVALUATE our sincerity -the tone in our home moment by moment

Bottom line is – The Peace that passes understanding is a gift from God, given as we trust in Him and His Truth.  Then joy bubbles up when we rest in His Peace.  There are many verses about peace and most have joy and truth included.  All elude to the gift they are from God, Fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5).  Peace is something that starts from within and shows up in how we talk and walk.  Peacemakers are so closely attuned to God that they are called His children (matthew 5).  Isn’t that what we want for our children as well? Children learn by watching us. Is that what they see in us? Peace is also part of the armor (Ephesians 6) we wear to each of these battles we face. Peace helps us to be sure footed and quick, regardless of our weakness we would be strong in Christ to have peace amidst the minefield of life.

Prince of Peace is our God’s name (Is 9:6).  We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that God is not a god of disorder but Peace and all His congregation/Family would exude peace as well.  Take some time to find a verse or two that you can plant in your heart so when you return to your family you can sow some rows of peace.

Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love – (clip youtube- “Mary comforts Jesus” 1:44)
I have been intrigued lately with Mary, The Mother of Jesus.  Mary was a special Mom because of her son. Just like you and I her children made her the mother she was.  Mary grew up with a desire to nurture and God saw in her the ability to nurture His Love in His son, Jesus. The innate desire we have to nurture was first born in the love we had for a doll or stuffed animal.  As we grew so did our desire and need to nurture.  So we added siblings, friends, child care and pet sitting to the avenues we used to nurture.  
A legacy, by definition, requires us to give it TO someone.  Nurturing is giving of who we are TO others, especially our children.  The legacy is born when we allow them to live out what we have nurtured within them. With this comes laughter, dreams and tears of joy.
The giving of ourselves as a Mother may remind us of Paul’s comment in Philippians 2 of being poured out like a drink offering on the service of our children’s faith.  Despite feeling drained in every way when our children stumble on pressures and temptations; or we struggle with potty training, driving lessons, first day of school, college or even when we watch them first try out their wings.  Who knew two little words could try both our patience and our heart strings – from “I do, I do” to “I do.” The pain of nurturing a little one does not compare to the joy we experience when one day the Legacy of His Love shines in them like stars in the universe and we hear others speak of our children the way Paul spoke of Timothy when he said; “ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2Timothy1:5
We can nurture our dolls and give them to our children with stories to share and add too.  Our dolls can not pass on the legacy and thereby give to us the Joy that comes when we have the privilege of watching our Legacy of Love in action.
I could not find a clip that best showed Mary’s moments of joy; when she FOUND young Jesus teaching in the temples, when she heard God say “this is my son with whom I am well pleased”, when she held Jesus and comforted him and later heard him talk about God comforting us like a Mother does their child, but none compared to the day when she heard Him say to her - ‘well done good and faithful servant.”
Our dolls are cherished memories of nurturing born in us and our children  - the birth of His Legacy of Love.  I share Paul’s prayer that we each may be rooted in His love so that His legacy may grow in our children.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21”

“Because I am the Mom!”

That is the phrase I promised myself I would never say.  I knew she was the Mom – never questioned it.  I never understood how it had relevance in whatever conversation we were having.  I have said it once with each of my children out of total exasperation – needing to have the last word in a conversation and put my foot down, that the decision was final.  Only with one child did I need to apologetically explain myself in no uncertain terms that if she should ever doubt that fact again and the authority that comes with it - she would force me to repeat it.

Because I am the Mom
I get to carry a new life for 9 months.  I get the privilege of learning the heart of another human far before they can fully understand it themselves.  I am blessed by the laughter and chaos of children that fill my home and request special things to eat at the most in opportune times of the day.

Because I am the Mom
I am called for relational advice. I am called on in the middle of the night when life doesn’t make sense.  I am their nurse and taxi driver, drivers ed teacher, event planner, calendar keeper, cook, baker, teacher, financial counselor, bank, guidance counselor, Sunday school teacher, music teacher, coach, art teacher, interior decorator, landscaper, truant officer, advocate, prayer warrior and keeper of all secrets.

Because I am the Mom
I have sleepless nights.  I have a facebook page, Instagram and snap chat.  I refuse to be a twit on twitter.  I know more about the stress teenagers face than I want them to experience. I understand the importance of graduation parties – empty beds, empty parking spots and an empty fridge.  I never knew how much I would like to clean dirty floors, clothes and dishes if it meant the house was full of kids and their friends. I am blessed by their small successes as young adults and for skype and the dreaded technology that invaded my home.

Because I am the Mom
I know that I am not perfect but He works all things together for those that love Him.  I know that we won’t always share a home but there is a place in my Father’s house where we will all meet.  I know that what I have isn’t always enough to match what I so much want to give.  I know how very much I loved them from the moment I knew they were to be but I know He loves them more.  This I know and show them daily –

Because she is my Mom.
You will know she is mine because of the dimples in my cheeks, my beautiful hands and nails, how my face turns red for no reason whatsoever and because I cry when I am angry and when I love so much.

Because I am A Mom
I find strength in time spent with other Mom’s.  My sisters and cousins are top of the list and my truest friends.  We share trials, joys and all that is in between.  I know how to be a friend and have the courage to stand firm because I know no matter what they love me, truly.  I have learned how to walk, talk, think, laugh and grow by watching and listening to my Grandmothers.  To each of these Mom’s I attribute my talents, ailments, tastes and choices - Some of it is DNA and some comes from their mother’s heart.

Legacy of Love

I have been intrigued lately with Mary, The Mother of Jesus.  Mary was a special Mom because of her son. Just like you and I, her children made her the mother she was.  Mary grew up with a desire to nurture and God saw in her the ability to nurture His Love in His son, Jesus. The innate desire we have to nurture was first born in the love we had for a doll or stuffed animal.  As we grew so did our desire and need to nurture.  So we added siblings, friends, child care and pet sitting to the avenues we used to nurture.    

A legacy, by definition, requires us to give it TO someone.  Nurturing is giving of who we are TO others, especially our children.  The legacy is born when we allow them to live out what we have nurtured within them. With this comes laughter, dreams and tears of joy.

The giving of ourselves as a Mother may remind us of Paul’s comment in Philippians 2 of being poured out like a drink offering on the service of our children’s faith.  Despite feeling drained in every way when our children stumble on pressures and temptations; or we struggle with potty training, driving lessons, first day of school, college or even when we watch them first try out their wings.  Who knew two little words could try both our patience and our heart strings – from “I do, I do” to “I do", on their wedding day. The pain of nurturing a little one does not compare to the joy we experience when one day the Legacy of His Love shines in them like stars in the universe and we hear others speak of our children the way Paul spoke of Timothy when he said; ^“ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2Timothy1:5

We can nurture our dolls and give them to our children with stories to share and add too.  Our dolls can not pass on the legacy and thereby give to us the Joy that comes when we have the privilege of watching our Legacy of Love in action.

I could not find a clip that best showed Mary’s moments of joy; when she FOUND young Jesus teaching in the temples, when she heard God say “this is my son with whom I am well pleased”, when she held Jesus and comforted him and later heard him talk about God comforting us like a Mother does their child, but none compared to the day when she heard Him say to her - ‘well done good and faithful servant.” 

Our dolls are cherished memories of nurturing born in us and our children  - the birth of His Legacy of Love.  I share Paul’s prayer that we each may be rooted in His love so that His legacy may grow in our children.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21” 

Stay Here

The last two words my oldest son spoke to me here on earth, "Stay here."

It has been eight years and I haven't forgotten anything about the room where we laid, how tired we were, how close God was.  Remembering still brings a pain from deep within my soul to a lump blocking my throat. The only way to express all that is going on in my heart and mind are the tears that stream down my face, a quiver in my chin and a sigh of my heart.  "Stay here."

Powerful words that carry sincerity in its truest form.  I write when I think, which keeps the lesson He is teaching me fresh in my heart.  I have been holding and thinking on these words for eight years and I can't believe I have never written or shared --maybe it is due to how deep the lesson goes, making it difficult to express with words what my heart has known.

Daniel's last words to me ring in my heart most often when I say the Lords Prayer.  Particularly "Thy will be done on Earth AS IT IS in Heaven."  I can still hear the vocalist sing those words as she did on my wedding day almost 25 years ago.  All my life Earth and Heaven, Eternity and Now, Spiritual and Physical have all seemed so distant and unrelated. Telling me to stay meant he was leaving.  He was going so far away I could no longer see or touch him.  I would be unable to hear his voice or laughter.  Watch him fish, play soccer, hold children. No more punch kisses and the chase that ensued. Oh the anguish that fills my heart. When he uttered those words heaven was so close it warmed me, eternity was that moment and I could not see the difference between spiritual and physical things.  There I would like to stay.

I search God's Words for when He may have said those same two words.  I googled lyrics to songs to better understand the human heart behind those words.  I have found that there are three variables to the command - stay here: place, duration and commander.  James 4 warns us about our self-confidence in making plans of where to go and what to do for how long.  Even with the best intentions "what we ought to say is 'if the Lord wants us too THEN we will do this or that'" (James 4:15)  Where am I to stay - heaven or earth?  Who am I listening to - Love or Fear?  For how long must I stay - just for now or eternity?

Long before the day I was told to stay God whispered John 16:33 to my heart; "I have told you these things that you may have peace.  Here on earth you will have many troubles and sorrow but take heart, I have overcome the world."   Most of John 16 is devoted to Jesus comforting the disciples anguish that came with the realization the Jesus was to go and they were to stay.  Many of the questions I asked, they were asking too. Jesus wanted to explain and share so much more but they were not able to comprehend more than what He had already shared. Where was He going? To His Father. For how long? A little while.  Who said?! Gods Love.  For Daniel, the answers are all the same.

A faithful follower I want to be so I will trust and obey God's command to stay here while my oldest goes where I can not, right now.  Here -  where heaven can be glimpsed and eternity has already begun and spiritual life exists so deep within our physical beings that they can not be separated. Peace flows, joy bubbles, Hope springs, His love warms and His will is done here where I stay just like the place Daniel walks, not so far away.

"In a little while you won't see me anymore.  But a little while after that, you will see me again...So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again. Then you will rejoice, and noone can rob you of that joy." (John 16:16, 22)

The Heart is deceitful?

"The heart is deceitful above ALL things AND beyond cure, who can understand it?" Jer 17:9

I came across this verse several weeks ago when I was reading about righteousness and the imagery of trees in the Bible.  I love how God says things in such a way that they become alive, real and relevant to our hearts right now.  When I read the above verse I agreed with the question, who can understand  it, and this bothered me more.

I heard a recent sermon "For those to Good for Jesus".  I have met people like that and always struggle with how to show them we all need Jesus.  At some point of the sermon Jeremiah 17:9 came to mind along with Luke 10:27 "Jesus said ' Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself."   What does our heart have to do with what we think of ourselves and others?  Should we not trust our heart?  Isn't that where God lives?  If I don't trust my heart than how will I know what is right and what is wrong?  It doesn't help that at this same time one of our teenagers is struggling with this very thing and trying to personalize their faith in the process.  It is horrifying to watch someone else struggle with heart issues, knowing that my help isn't what they seek.

The deceitful heart is only mentioned one other time in the Bible, Hosea 10:3.  After comparing Hosea and Jeremiah I found that in each instance either corporately or individually a human was put on the throne of their hearts.  This was evident in self-confidence, government power, wealth, and/or military power.  The hearts of many people loved the comforts and instant gratification the flesh had awarded them.  These same hearts soon found death, destruction, pain, desolation, anger, hurt on every level of the human experience.  Who can understand our heart?  God and Satan.  They war for our hearts.  Satan has a head start because we are born with sin and deceit in our hearts.  The easy or wide path is to remain on the ride of worldly pleasure that comes easy and with little pain but costs our entire life and is fleeting in its pleasure.

Our heart is also where love pours out.  God is Love.  He too is in our hearts but we have to choose who we will allow our hearts to serve.  God or Satan.  God will not stay where Satan lives.  He despises sin, evil, hate.  We can not understand our hearts. So to have confidence in our ability to balance sin and love is selfishness at its peak!  I have seen ultimate selfishness and it does not bring the confident one joy, peace, or any other fruits of the spirit because God will bow out and let you try and run your heart.  This gives Satan free reign to use your heart to reach others and cause them to love themselves.

How do we cure our heart?  We don't. There is no cure. Healing is possible only if you are willing to look to the Creator of your heart (Psalm 139) and accept His self less mercy and amazing grace.  When you find healing your heart will overflow with the Truth found in unfailing love your Creator gives. You can receive this unfailing love by believing the Truth found in His Word - God Confidence not Self Confidence.

Lord, help me to love you unfailingly with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength and all my mind.  Be King of my heart every moment of my days. In You may my confidence rest. Amen.

Mind Warrior

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

HOW do we wage war with our minds?  The best defense in any war is a strong offense.  Last entry I spoke of the Helmet of Salvation we are told to our arm ourselves with everyday of life on earth.  The helmet is to guard our minds, the door to our hearts.  How do we guard our minds.  Simply put, garbage in garbage out.  The quickest way for Satan to convince you to succomb to temptation is mentally.  He convinces you that it isn't really a sin.  There are plenty examples in the Bible starting at the very beginning with Eve.  "Thats not what He meant. Just this once.  It isn't bad for me."  All things we use to excuse our bad choice.

We need to guard our minds and hone them to sharp weapons against sin.  We need to be able to identify sin for what it is and flee from it.  When Satan tries to cast doubt we need to have in our arsenal the truth to extinguish the flaming arrows of doubt.  How do we guard our minds?  "In every situation, with PRAYER and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God."  Talk to God, KNOW Him through His word and hide it in your heart.  THINK on true, right, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things - not the garbage, lies and doubts of this world.  HOW does this guard your mind?  Paul tells us when we look to God in prayer and think on his truth "The peace of GOD will guard our hearts adn minds in CHRIST JESUS!"

So it is simple really Think on things of God and SHILOH will protect your mind AND heart in Christ Jesus.  Fellow Warrior, put on your armour and SHILOH be with you. Amen.

Mind Warrior

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  
2 Corinthians 10

This last week a prominent topic has been battle, drawing the line, protecting whom God has put in our sphere of influence, standing firm so not to cause others to stumble and suffer!  Rarely is there a person we can identify to battle against.  Often it is against powers unseen; laws, ideas, temptations, music, technology, time, momentary choices (2Cor4).  Our front line of defense is our minds.

When our children were younger we identified there minds as the place we needed to take a stand.  So we home schooled each of them during the middle school years to provide a safe harbor for them to grow and develop mentally, emotionally and ultimately spiritually.  Obviously, the hope was that when they returned for their High School careers they would be fully armed and ready to take a stand for right as far as it concerned them, in their sphere.

The last month we, as parents, have been waging a fierce battle on behalf of our High School children and the ideas of this world.  I have believed and experienced the realm we can not see and long to be there with my Lord.  I have known of the Armour God has given us so that we might take a stand where He has put us for a time such as this.  Yet, just today I have seen all that God intended for me to know in Ephesians 6:10-17, The Armour of God.  First of all He says WHEN the day of evil comes, not if.  He reminds us that our struggle isn't against flesh and blood but this dark world and evil in the heavenly realms. The first three pieces of armour are listed together, Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness and Shoes of Peace.  All three are issued to us when we claim Jesus as Savior.  He will speak Truth to us.  We will seem as righteousness to God because of His cleansing blood and we are full of His Peace when we receive assurance of His salvation.  The shield of Faith stands alone and is one you choose to take up.  You choose to have Faith that God stands with you and gives you power to extinguish the lies satan throws at you.  Finally, we are reminded of the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of God's Word.  They are the offensive weapons freely given when asked for, invaluable to standing firm.  Think of the helmets of armour worn by knights, how they covered the whole head and protected what was within - life.  

I became keenly aware of the purpose of the helmet this morning during our devotions.  The helmet makes me think of Professor Xavier in Xmen.  His mind had such extreme power that needed to be contained to protect himself and others.  Such power as to bring life and take life.  His mind could do wonderful good and horrendous evil.  Ours too.  Paul reminds us of all that Jesus warned us about.  Our mind, our offensive weapon, can not be contained on our own but ONLY with the helmet of God's Salvation.  May we all be humble enough to adorn the helmet of Salvation and wield wisely the power God gives us with it.  How refreshing it is to realize that there comes a point when there is nothing more we are able to do then rely on the Armour He gives willing to those who claim Him as Savior.

Seed

Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
s.
The parable of the sower (Luke 8:1-15), a simple story that can be brushed over easily and one that Jesus took the time to explain.  When I was young I always thought of myself as the seed that grew in God's love. Which isn't at all the way God intended and has huge implications regarding the chance of being thrown in God's love or not.  

The Truth is this.  The essence of who are is dirt, our hearts.  Jesus says plainly in verse 11 that the seed is the Word of God - Himself.  Without Him there is no way to grow into an Oak of Righteousness rooted in Him.  How can we remain or abide without The Seed?

We have the responsibility of giving The Seed a good place to grow.  Truth be told we all have things in this world we like or set our sites on (thorns v14), we all go through testing (v13) and the devil prowls around looking for anyone to devour(v12).  John 16:33 says "In this world you WILL have trouble."  So, how do we keep our soil good?  How do we retain The Seed?  Verse 15 tells us it will take perseverance. 

The Seed, God's Word, is full of scripture that explains how to keep our soil good, our hearts from deceit.  Without the Holy Spirit's guiding it is impossible to see the rocks and the thorns or not to become a well worn path of conformity with the world by desensitization to the Only Truth.  How does God keep us?  2 Peter 1:3-11 explains The Sower (Holy Spirit) and how to keep The Seed (Jesus - God's Word) in the soil of our hearts.  It will take God's power but it is possible with perseverance of KNOWING God.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Lord may we desire Knowing You like a deer pants for a drink of water.