HEY CHURCH, JESUS IS HERE!!!

Saturday was Caleb’s first T-ball game.  I think Grandpa was just excited as Caleb as we drove the 45 minute drive to Saginaw.  Game time arrived and Caleb in his brand new team t-shirt and ball cap, carrying his glove ran onto the field.  The coach put him at 3^rd base and we stood at the 3^rd base fence to cheer his every move.

  Suddenly, Caleb looked toward the fence, his excitement for the game vanished and his focus on the field was transferred to what was on the other side of the fence.  “Grandpa, Grandma,” he yelled, waving with a big grin on his face.  We waved back, but his excitement couldn’t be contained, “Coach, my Grandpa and Grandma are here.”  The coach smiled and helped him refocus on the game.  The inning was over and Caleb’s team went to the dugout for their turn at bat.  As exciting as a turn at bat can be, Caleb had a more important task that just had to be completed.  Suddenly, a little 5-year old boy came running out of the dugout, wrapped his arms around my legs and said, “Grandma, I missed you.”  How could I resist such a display of love? 

Standing in church on Sunday, I realized exactly what Caleb had felt when he spied two people in his life that he is confident love him unconditionally and showers him with blessings at every opportunity.  As we began to sing praises and the Presence of God filled the sanctuary, I wanted to yell, “Church, Jesus is here.”  The excitement at His Presence was too much, my joy overflowed, raising my arms out to Him, I began to talk to Him in a special “love language” that He always responds too.  You see, Jesus just can’t resist such a display of love.

The Bible records many that joined the crowd surrounding Jesus.  They came to hear Him speak; see the miracles and perhaps they even hoped they might be one of the people to receive a personal blessing.  Then, there were the individuals that could not contain their excitement.  Zacchaeus climbed a tree and blind Bartimaeus ignored those trying to hush his cries, crying out even louder because Jesus was passing by.  A woman pushed through the crowd to touch the hem of His garment and a group of friends cut a hole in a roof for a sick friend, all to touch Jesus with their needs.  Jesus touched many, healing them and supplying their needs but there was one lady that pushed past the ridicule just because she loved Him so much. 

Luke 7:37-38  “And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, ³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”  

Of course, Jesus could not resist such a display of love.  He told those who ridicule her, “Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.”

What beautiful things would we experience in our life, in the church, if we would become so excited over the Presence of God that we could not contain ourselves?  If our love for our Savior just began to overflow and before the singing or the preaching, someone would yell out, “Hey Church, Jesus is here?”  If we would run to Him with our arms outstretched for that special “God Hug,” and tell Him how we have missed him; I’m sure Jesus couldn’t resist such a display of love.  

Take a little time today to pour some precious ointment on His feet, let the tears flow, raise your hands toward Heaven and talk to Him in the language reserved for Him alone.  He will touch you because He just can’t resist such a display of love.

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE CHURCH?

REPOST FROM JULY 2011, ORIGINALLY POSTED APRIL 2010

Originally posted in April, 2010, I felt led to post it again.  It is so easy to take our eyes off Jesus and become so discouraged that we fail to see the good in anything including the church.  It was at such a moment that the Holy Spirit convicted me and I began to think about what a blessing The Church has been throughout my life.

Recently, Steve was talking with a man who wanted to change his life.  He confessed that his attempt to change on his own wasn’t working; he could be good for a short time and then his desires would overwhelm his efforts.  Steve, of course, began to tell him that being filled with the Holy Spirit was his answer.  It is only through the Holy Spirit that we have the power to overcome our sinful nature.  As the conversation continued, the reasons for his resistance began to spill out; he had been failed by the Church.  It wasn’t really “The Church” but people who claimed to be members of “The Church.”  He had been betrayed by people who talked “Christianese” but didn’t carry it through to the action phase.  BEEN THERE!!!

I have yet to find an individual who has NOT been disappointed by a church member or a church member who has NOT disappointed someone.  I have been let down by pastors, SS teachers, Christian “friends,” choir members and the list goes on.  Sometimes as I sit quietly on a Sunday afternoon, I realize that I am the one who disappointed that member who needed encouragement, a friend or someone just to care.  Yes, The Church is full of imperfect people; people who get angry, act hateful, betray trust, are insensitive and even sin; people just like you and me.

If you talk to enough disgruntled people or read enough religious news you will begin to get the picture that The Church is just a “Club for Hypocrites.”  Is there anything good about The Church?  This is an excerpt from a devotional by Christopher J. Harris called The Church Has My Vote.  I’ve seen church members that take their faith serious and walk that out in their daily lives. I’ve seen Pastors have such an encounter with God that they live what they preach. I’ve seen choir members that were the same righteous people in public and in private. I’ve seen more preachers that were committed to their wives than I have seen the opposite. I’ve seen more Deacons support their Pastor’s than the opposite. I’ve seen church members that love people so much that they’ve given money, time, and their talents just to help someone that they’ve only met a few minutes ago. I’ve seen people cry together and laugh together. I’ve seen men connect with other men when otherwise there were walls of mistrust. I’ve seen women get restored when they’d decided they would never trust again……….That’s the other reason why I’m sold out to the church. It doesn’t belong to any one person. It is God’s!

I was introduced to the church at 10 months old and 53 years later, I still love The Church.  It was a place where I learned to love God’s Word.  Beginning with wonderful Sunday School teachers who lovingly taught me not just Bible stories but the awesome truths they contained.  I had pastors that cared about their congregations and sacrificed personal opportunities to follow the call of God and preach salvation to lovable and unlovable sinners.  It was surrounded by The Church that I gave my heart to God and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at 9 years old.  It was The Church that encouraged an awkward teenager to sing, teach and learn to play the piano, and then use her talents for God.  Church has always been a place of safety, where I could feel an arm around me as I poured my heart out to God.  There are so many good things about The Church but the best thing about The Church is that I have been accepted as a member.  Now it’s up to me.  My behavior and attitude will determine if seeking people can find something good about The Church.  Will they find welcoming arms or an exclusive club with a closed membership?  Will they find the truth of God’s Word or an ear-tickling, back-slapping homily that leaves them unchanged?  Will they find the power of the Holy Ghost or dead religion?  God, help me to be a part of what’s good about The Church.

FAVOR IS ABSOLUTELY FAIR!!!

REPOST FROM MAY 2011

A few years ago, the famous Pentecostal preacher, T.D. Jakes preached a message entitled, “Favor Ain’t Fair.”  It was one of the messages at which you find yourself yelling, “AMEN,” high-fiving someone and at times jumping up just to relieve the excitement.  To me it was also one of those messages that a day later found me saying, “Huhhh?”  “Favor ain’t fair?”  Are you saying, “God ain’t fair?”  For years, now, every time I hear someone use this quote, a red flag pops up in my brain and says, “Huhhh?”

I have been blessed to be the recipient of God’s favor in some things but not everything.  I know people that seem to live under the “favor spout” while others have never found the place where favor is poured out.  Soooo, maybe “Favor ain’t fair.”  Except something in me refuses to accept that statement.  If favor ain’t fair and its God’s favor, that would make God not fair.  I decided to find the answer once in for all and opened my Bible.  I found there were men and women who received the favor of God and many who did not.  I also discovered that every single person who received God’s favor had one thing in common; FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE.

Take Noah for example.  Genesis 6:8 tells us that Noah found grace (or favor) in the eyes of the Lord.  Why?  Was it a random choice?  Did God like his name or the family he was born into?  Genesis 6:9 explains why God’s favor rested on Noah and through him allowed life to continue on earth; “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”  Hebrews 11:7 again repeats, “By FAITH, Noah…..became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”  The Bible records that Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness and I believe that during the years of building and preaching, God gave everyone the opportunity to share in the favor He bestowed upon Noah.  Obviously, no one else obeyed God’s command, so was God’s favor unfair?

 Let’s move on to Abraham.  I ask the questions again, random choice or good family?  Abraham was born in a pagan land to a family who worshiped pagan gods, yet somehow out of all of his family, Abraham knew and believed in the one true God because when he heard God’s voice, he obeyed without hesitation.  Why was Abraham blessed along with all of his descendants?  Hebrews 11:8 answers the question, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.”  Because of Abraham’s FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE, Galatians promised, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”  Because of the favor shown to Abraham, his descendants become “God’s Chosen People.”  We also have the opportunity to share in the promise according to Galatians 3:9, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”  Notice there is a condition, FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE.  Is God being unfair to those who are not of faith?

As a mom, I possess the power to bestow favor upon my children, as I choose and when I choose.   Because I love both of my children and would give my life for them, my favor is not handed out randomly or because I find one better looking.  My children are blessed because I love them but at times there is special favor given.  Let’s suppose I give both of them a specific task and only one obediently completes the task.  Would it be fair to show favor to the obedient and the disobedient child equally?  I can guarantee you the obedient child would answer emphatically, “NO.”  My favor would be given in a direct response to their obedience.  We are all favored with the blessing of salvation when we obey the plan God has set forth and become His children.  Is it fair for God to favor those who ignore His Word and through unbelief reject His salvation?

This opens up another question, “I have obeyed the salvation message, I try to follow after God every day, I pray and read His word, yet some receive favor for specific situations and I do not, what more must I do?  Perhaps there is nothing more you must do because it is not the will of God for your life or perhaps it is not yet God’s perfect timing.  Back to being a Mom and Grandma.  I have a 4-year old grandson, Caleb and a 2-year old grandson, Nathan.  I allow Caleb to cut out shapes with a pair of scissors but no matter how much Nathan kicks and screams, he does not get to use a pair of scissors.  Am I being unfair?  Is Caleb more highly favored than Nathan?  Someday, the time will be right and Nathan will get to cut shapes just like his brother.  If I have one son who loves peanut butter cups and another son who loves them but has a peanut allergy, it is not unfair to favor one with a peanut butter cup and the other with something else.  In my superior knowledge and wisdom, I understand that favoring the allergic son with a peanut butter cup would cause great harm; possibly death. 

Many times what seems to us to be unfair or God’s favor resting more highly on others is really the mercy of God preventing us from the very thing that could cause spiritual harm or death.  Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” It was not because Paul had decided to just settle on less than God’s best or because God had decided to favor others, but Paul could say this because he had total confidence in his knowledge that “all things were working out for his good, that God had a plan for his life and whatever state he was in had to do with the plan of God being fulfilled.

I submit therefore that God’s favor is always FAIR. Maybe, not fair as we would measure it with our limited knowledge, but always fair according to the plan of God.  When we finally learn to submit our actions, thoughts, decisions and our entire life to God we will walk in FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE and rest in the knowledge that God’s favor is ABSOLUTELY FAIR.

BEYOND THE "WHAT IF"

Tragedy has a way of making us reflect on our lives and reassess our priorities.  I am reminded today, that not only is life fragile but it is made up of moments in time.  There are moments of pleasure, joy, laughter, sorrow, pain and intense grief.  At times the moments seem to last for eternity but then there is a new moment to take its place.

Reflecting on tragic moments, I am always struck by the exact timing required to make the moment happen and the question that follows, “What if?”  Several years ago, a young lady my boys knew from school, was home from college for the weekend.  Her sister had attended the Homecoming Dance and an after dance party.  Sometime after midnight the elder sister went to pick up the younger.  On the way home, a young man who had been drinking ran a red light and the girls were killed instantly.  WHAT IF the timing had been just one minute earlier or later?  WHAT IF they had lingered just a little longer at the party?  WHAT IF one driver had been driving a little faster or slower?  The “what if” could have made all the difference in “what was” but it didn’t so we are left with the question.

Six years ago, I received a call from my husband saying he had been involved in a fatal accident.  A motorcycle had sped up around a semi just as Steve was pulling out of a McDonalds.  The motorcyclist hit Steve’s truck broadside at a speed of about 80 miles per hour and was killed instantly.  WHAT IF?  We struggled with the “what ifs” for a long time.  WHAT IF he had not taken the exit and stopped at that McDonalds?  WHAT IF he had paused an extra couple of seconds and taken one more look?  WHAT IF the motorcyclist had been going the speed limit?  Is there peace beyond the “what ifs?”

Yes, life is made up of moments and full of “what ifs.”  It seems the “what ifs” are more difficult to get past then the actual event.  Until the “what ifs” are dealt with, it is impossible to move on to a new moment.  So how do we move past the “what ifs?”  First we must recognize the past cannot be changed but the future is still being written.  Give yourself a break; if it something that needs to be forgiven, give it to Jesus.  Receive His forgiveness, and then forgive yourself.  If it involves something that was beyond your control, accept your limitations and put your trust in the One who is strong in our weakness.  Last of all look to the future and allow God to take all the “WHAT IFS” and use them for your good.  In all the moments of life, He is still God and He wants to be God of the “WHAT IFS.”

AUTHORED AND FINISHED BY GOD

Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  I have heard numerous sermons on this verse during my 54 years of sitting on a Pentecostal pew.  The sermons ranged from “Jesus started it, He’ll finish it,” to “There is one God and His name is Jesus.”(If you are Apostolic, just about every scripture has been preached as a “One God” message.)  I’m sure Pastor Chipman preached a wonderful message; I did try to concentrate and I do remember brief “amen” moments.  On this Sunday morning the scripture sent me to memories of my Dad.  My dad loved to work with wood and the smells of freshly sawn boards and piles of saw dust still evoke memories of a happy time.  Dad always dreamed of living in a house built with his own hands.  Some days he would go help a friend who built houses, framing the shell, nailing shingles or hanging doors.  I’m not sure if he did it for the experience or the satisfaction of seeing something come together he had helped build.  Many years later, this friend’s daughter told me her dad always said there was no better “Finish Carpenter” than Deloy Hawks.

A “Finish” carpenter is the important crew member that adds the last little touches to complete the project.  There may be a few inconsequential gaps between the drywall and the floor but once the finish carpenter nails the last bit of baseboard in place, who would know.  The posts on the porch may be just rough wood poles until the finish carpenter surrounds and trims them turning the porch into an elegant, inviting portico.  The home or project may be just as serviceable without the finishing touches but not as appealing or valuable to the occupants.

How did all of this come from Hebrew 12:2?  It took me back to a special project my dad was building many years ago.  It was a gun cabinet for a friend.  This was not a self-assembly kit with numbered pieces and detailed instructions.  OH NO, my dad was clearly the AUTHOR of the project.  It was his design and his hands shaped and lovingly fitted every board into its precise place.  Even beautiful oak boards can have flaws but that was no problem for the “author.”  I watched my Dad as he took a “hand or block planer” and slowly shaved away the flaws until he could run his hands smoothly over the surface.  Once Dad had assembled the gun cabinet, the finish work began.  If you have always purchased furniture from a furniture store, you have no idea the hard work that goes into the rich finish.  It takes layers of stain for just the right color, then a layer of polyurethane, sanding, more polyurethane, more sanding and more polyurethane until the desired depth and richness is attained.  I still remember the way the felt-backing was painstakingly glued to the inside and the Amerock hardware was installed on the doors and drawers.  Finally, the day came when Dad took a step back and with pride announced “She’s finished!”  Dad was the Author and the Finisher of that gun cabinet from the first nail to the last hinge on the door; it was his creation.

As, the memories faded and the sermon became more clear, suddenly, Hebrews 12:2 took on a whole different meaning to me.  I’m not just an old lump of clay that someone had formed into a pot then sent to the finisher to be glazed and fired, nor am I an ugly rock picked up to be cut and polished into a valuable diamond.  I AM A SPECIAL CREATION, AUTHORED BY GOD.  He formed me with great plans in mind.  As I matured and the pieces began to fit into place, each part of my life was lovingly orchestrated for my good, according to His plan.  At times a rough spot has to be planed, a bubble in the varnish has to be sanded or the lining has to be repaired, but I am in the capable hands of the “Master Finisher.”  There is still a little finishing to be completed to fulfill God’s ultimate plan but as is so eloquently stated in Hebrews 12:2, I’m “looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER of my faith.