Finishing Well

15 Apr

Last night my husband, who is an associate pastor, received a call from one of our church members that his wife, M.J., had been given 24-36 hours to live. M.J. had had a two year battle with cancer and the past six-seven weeks had been spent in the hospital with doctors trying desperately to identify and treat a new set of issues for her. Within a few hours of that call, we received another that she had passed away.

 

M.J., her husband, Norm, and their children are dear friends to us. Even as I type this, tears are in my eyes. I loved her dearly and was loved by her – as was anyone she knew and/or met. M.J. was that kind of woman. All I could say when we got the news of her death is that she finished well.

 

I’ve been thinking all morning about that phrase – finishing well. How does one finish this life well? Here are some things I observed from my friend’s life that I think we can all implement.

 

M.J. recognized she was in a battle for her physical health as well as her spiritual health. She fought hard to get well. She did not give in to her circumstances. She did not give in to fear and discouragement. It’s not that she didn’t experience those things. She just did not let them rule her. M.J. acknowledged them openly, but chose not to stay there. Being mad at God and giving up were not in her spiritual DNA. M.J. overcame “because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of [her] testimony, and [she] did not love [her] life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11).

 

She filled her mind with truth (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8). Not a week went by that she did not post along with an update on her condition, a devotional thought or scripture. M.J. soaked up God’s Word through personal reading, listening to sermons, and reading from godly writers. She listened to Christian music that led her in worship. If she couldn’t do these on her own, her family members would read and sing to her. M.J. cooperated with God to finish the good work He had begun in her (Philippians 1:6).

 

She shared what she was going through and learning with others. She posted regularly through Facebook and Caring Bridge. Her family members told how doctors and nurses enjoyed coming to her room because she would listen to their needs and then share with them the hope she had in Christ. M.J. identified with their hurts and failures because she had experienced them herself and knew what Christ had done to change her life. (2 Corinthians 4:9-11)

 

She thought of others – her family, her friends, her co-workers, her church, etc. And she prayed for them. If she knew you were going through something, she would be one of the first to contact you and let you know of those prayers. She was extremely sick, but her heart was always toward people (Philippians 2:3-4).

 

M.J. voluntarily presented her life to the sovereignty of her Heavenly Father to do with as He saw fit (Romans 12:1; Luke 9:23). She kept her eye on the Prize (Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 3:13-14) Though she prayed and sought healing, she wanted His will and best above her own. Her sweet and supportive family joined her in this. The lives and testimonies of this family spoke volumes for Christ as they walked through her illness.

 

I’m forever grateful to have known M.J. I look forward to seeing her again. I said it last night, and I say it again today. You finished well, Girl! Thanks for setting the pace.

 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

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I Need an Advocate

13 Mar

My mother lives in a nursing home. On a few occasions my sister or I have had to speak with someone in authority to advocate on our mom’s behalf. We’re called alongside to help her by pleading her case where her care is involved.

 

Recently, I was mulling over a particularly difficult situation and thought, “I wish I had an advocate where this is concerned.” The Lord gently reminded me, “You have one.” Immediately the verse 1 John 2:1 came to mind:

 

“My little children, I am writing these things to you

so that you may not sin.

And if anyone sins,

we have an Advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous.”

 

Jesus Christ, the One who is completely in right standing with the Father, who is right in all His ways, advocates for us before the Father. He is completely capable to come to our aid, to plead our case, to come to our defense, to intercede and comfort us.

 

Not only does He do this for us before the Father, but He has provided the Holy Spirit – another just like Him – to dwell within those who belong to Him forever (John 14:16; 16:7). He is our helper, teacher, and reminds us of all that Jesus taught (John 14:26). He always tells us the truth and points us to Jesus (John 15:26). Talk about an Advocate!

 

“…We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

 

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.”

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Rocky, The Encourager

6 Feb

Earlier this week I attended the funeral of a man who was a great encouragement to people worldwide. His life verse was Philemon 1:7,

 

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,

because you, my brother,

have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

 

As I listened to several members of his family and friends speak about the impact of his life on those around him, it was obvious that he was an encouragement. I, myself, have been a recipient of that encouragement through direct and indirect means. I also couldn’t help but think of the life of the man I married 31 years ago today, and how his life mirrors this verse as well.

 

An online dictionary defines “encourage” as follows: “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to attempt to persuade; to spur on; to give help.” Encourage is much the same as the word “exhort” in the Bible. It speaks of coming alongside someone to give aid, help, comfort, etc. It’s a picture of linking arms with someone to give support. Rocky fits this description well.

 

Through our years of marriage Rock has inspired me to hope when mine was waning. His confidence in Christ’s power to work in any situation and God’s sovereignty over it, encourage me to look to the Lord and not the circumstances of life. He is sometimes called “VOR” (voice of reason) because he is able to sift through my emotional upheaval and let me see the reason behind something or the reasonable response to a situation. His encouragement has given me courage to try new venues for expressing what I’m learning from God’s Word. I’ve witnessed his encouragement to our children in the challenges and highlights of their lives. He weekly spurs on his Sunday School class as well as the group of men with whom he meets to godly living as he shares God’s Word and the life-changing truths in it. Friends often call him for counsel or help. He chooses to lock arms with them to give support in their time of need. His acceptance of people where they are and for what God can do for them, gives them comfort, and is a challenge for me to view people with God’s eyes and not my own.

 

I can truly say that for 31 years of marriage, God has shown me love through Rocky. Sharing life and love with Rock has given me great joy and encouragement. My heart is refreshed when I’m with him. I totally recognize that this is because of God’s grace, and is not something I have earned or deserved. I’m grateful for the years we’ve had and look forward to what the Lord has for us in the future as we seek by His power alone to “magnify the Lord and exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).  

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Words

1 Aug

“It is a trustworthy statement,

deserving full acceptance,

that Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners,

among whom I am foremost of all.”

(1 Timothy 1:15 NAS)

Words are important. Words express concepts and ideas. Words are used to share personal accounts or proclaim truth. Words have purpose.

The Apostle Paul carefully chose words to convey his message when writing to his spiritual charge Timothy. He tells Timothy, “Christ Jesus came to save sinners.” A wonderful statement in and of itself, but even more impactful when one unpacks it further.

Paul tells Timothy this statement is deserving of full acceptance, of recognizing its value as truth, of letting it soak into the very core of one’s being. Christ, the Messiah, who was also Jesus, the Savior, came from heaven into the world at a specific moment in time, for the specific purpose of saving sinners – those devoted to sin, people unable to free themselves from its grip without a Savior.

Christ Jesus not only came to save. He saved sinners, Paul declaring himself to be chief among them. Good news for Paul. Good news for Timothy. Good news for a world of sinners who are offered to fully accept this life-changing message, this life-changing Savior.

“But as many as received Him,

to them He gave the right to become children of God,

even to those who believe in His name.”

(John 1:12 NAS)

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Progress vs. Perfection

12 Jul

Progress: “Movement, as toward a goal; advance. Development or growth. Steady improvement.” (thefreedictionary.com)

 

Perfection: No explanation necessary.

 

I awakened this morning with a very “Debbie Downer” mentality. I was weary of seeing my commitments to do or not do something fly out the door after two days, two weeks, two months, … (You get the picture.) I was overwhelmed because my “performance” wasn’t perfect. 

 

Then my husband, without knowing what was going on with me, complimented me on one of my “commitments.” As I started to protest, he said, “At least you’re making progress.” Immediately I was reminded of wise words Rocky and I had heard many years ago from a very godly teacher: “Be encouraged by progress rather than perfection.” I so needed to hear it again.  The encouragement of progress was Ephesians 4:29 to the emotional wreck happening inside me.

 

My discouragement was based in a dependence on self-effort and not reliance on the Holy Spirit to empower me in the process of change. I was forgetting that just as a child learning to walk will step, then fall, he/she gets back up and continues to learn how to walk. As a favorite teacher of mine once said, “They keep doing this until their practice is walking and not falling.” It’s the same in the Christian life. The danger of falling is always there, but getting back up and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, walking by faith is of utmost importance. Remembering this teaching encouraged me again, in a very Ephesians 4:29 kind of way! 

 

My dad used to sign off on phone calls with “Hit it hard!” That was his version of Paul’s conviction in Philippians 3:12 to “press on” or Hosea’s challenge to “press on to the know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). Even now his Ephesians 4:29 words call me to keep moving toward the goal, to keep developing, steadily growing in my walk with Christ…to be encouraged by progress!

 

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,

but only such a word as is good for edification

according to the need of the moment,

so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (NAS)

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Chariots and Air Conditioners

12 Jun

This morning my husband and I awakened to a non-working air conditioner. Not a particularly fun thing for the start of the morning. Not only visions of how hot the house would get in the Oklahoma heat, but also how much money would go flying out the door for the repair began to dance in our heads. We quickly found some paperwork that might be needed with our home warranty company and called them to set up the appointment and made sure the repairman would have an open path to our unit.

My husband and I, along with my sister and her husband, are facing a financial situation in the care of our mother. Additional repairs, big or little, are not necessarily thrilling to have hit us at this time. But God reminded us both that He had provided for this need, and that He knew what was going on. If God allowed this situation to take all our reserves, then He would provide when this other outlay comes due. (To be honest, I was not ready to jump up and down to think God might work that way. I wanted the security of seeing the money in hand. I wanted my chariots all in a row, and my horses safely in their stalls. The Lord wanted me to trust Him no matter what.) In His mercy, He gave me peace about our current “opportunity” in spite of potentially seeing extra money take wing!

As I got ready for work, the Lord brought this scripture to mind:

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

The thought occurred to me that whatever financial situation (and really, any circumstance) that is touching my life right now is one that God wants to move and work in such a way that there is no doubt He is the One who did it. Nothing I do, say, think, or feel will matter. It will only be about Him. What a privilege to trust Him!

The Lord so encouraged me with these thoughts and brought to my remembrance a chorus based on this verse that I had learned years ago, as well as another chorus from Psalm 42:11. He set my heart to singing! His peace and joy have been present all day long.

My husband met with the repairman a little while ago. This time our repair was only the cost of the service call. A part needed replacement and would be covered by our warranty policy. We are grateful beyond words! To God be the glory!

“Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:11 GNT)

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TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

11 May

Two sides of the same coin. What in the world does that mean? Every coin made has two sides – a head side and a tails’ side. Both sides combine to make one coin. Both are necessary in order to make the coin useful wherever you go, to make it worth something.

It’s the same in dealing with people. There is a dynamic in relationships that make the following truths essential.

ASSUME ACCEPTANCE

Several years ago a youth minister shared this truth with me. He related that many people (myself being one of them) seem to approach relationships with a “grid” or “filter of rejection” in their minds by which they monitor people’s responses to them. If the responses are positive, that person feels accepted and responds accordingly to the individual. If the response is less than positive, the person will hold back in the relationship. Often this grid acts as a protective device for the one using it to keep from getting hurt by others, much like pulling the petals off a flower one at a time. “He accepts me. He accepts me not. She accepts me. She accepts me not.” There is not the sense of freedom in relationships because there is always the fear that their actions will confirm what was believed all along – “I’m not accepted.”

There is an answer to this merry-go-round. Assume acceptance. Ephesians 1:6 says, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” According to Strong’s Concordance the word for “accepted” means “indue with special honor.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states it means “to peruse with grace, to compass with favor; to honor with blessings.”

We can see what blessing it holds when we discover that the same word for “accepted” is the same Greek word used in Luke 1:28 when the angel announces to Mary, “…Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee…” What was the favor that the Lord bestowed on Mary? To be the birth mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world! And what honor has He given us? To be the dwelling place of this same Savior! “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Imagine! You and I are common clay pots, yet the God of the universe has chosen to let the treasure of His dear Son dwell in us.

When we see our acceptance in Him, then we can follow in our relationships by assuming acceptance with them, rather than constantly being on guard. We’re free to be who we are in Him – ACCEPTED!

RECEIVE OTHERS

When my family used to go visit our grandparents in the thriving metropolis of Blanket, Texas (population 300 – though where that number came from, I don’t know!), one of our grandmother’s would yell as we knocked on the door, “Come in this house, you sorry thing!” In no way was she casting dispersions on our character. She was excited to see us. She was practicing what one Bible teacher calls “the principle of receiving.”

According to Romans 15:7, we are to “receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” When Christ received us, He brought us to Himself: He admitted us to His friendship and hospitality. He took us as a companion, receiving us into His home, granting us access to His heart (again, Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). He did this so that God would get the glory, and He asks us to do the same with others – receive them so that God is glorified.

When I have chosen to obey and receive people who are difficult to love, by cooperating with the Holy Spirit for these people to be all He wants them to be in my life and being willing to do the same for them, I have experienced a difference in my attitudes. Instead of self-righteous attitudes that do nothing to engender warmth toward others, I gain a new appreciation for those God has placed in my life and a willingness to participate in relationship with them. I’m able to see them as a gift through whom God wants me to receive benefit – for His glory and my best.

Two sides of the same coin. Two truths for the same relationship. ASSUME ACCEPTANCE and RECEIVE OTHERS. That’s a coin God gives us to use wherever we go. That’s a coin worth its weight in gold.

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Bet Shean

20 Feb

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Romans 1:16a KJV)

   A group of tourists follow their guide up a long trail to the top of a hill. As they walk, they see remnants of a Roman road which led to Nazareth and pieces of pottery – all signs of a civilization from long ago. Some wonder if this is all they will see. Others anticipate more to come. The top of the hill is reached, and below the group is an impressive archaeological find – an ancient Roman city known as Bet Shean.

   Tourists to this site can see columns, an amphitheatre, homes, all sorts of buildings being unearthed and painstakingly pieced back together. Many of the places discovered are examples of the perversion that permeated the Roman culture, a culture that had self-indulgence at the core of its being. Here was a city that, because of its location in Israel, was influencing all who passed through it as well as those who lived there. Bet Shean, “The House Somewhere There,” was a place where one could engage in the worldly pleasures of the city, then hypocritically return to his/her Jewish customs, or choose to take a stand and live solely for God.

   No place is this clearer in the excavations than in a bathhouse that was used for selfish pleasure. A special niche in a wall has been uncovered. On this niche a faded red cross was discovered. It is surmised that possibly a Christian slave under Roman captivity painted this cross on the wall as a silent witness to the Lord Jesus and the power that enables one to live for Him even in the midst of such decadence.

   Bet Shean stands today as a reminder of the influence of the world on Christians. The choices are still the same – a life for self or for God, empowered by self or by El-Shaddai.

   As a singer stands on the stage of the amphitheatre below the tour group, The Lord’s Prayer is sung and heard by those seated as well as by some of the groups touring the other buildings. The singer’s voice gives words to this silent witness of a slave’s painted cross:

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13b KJV)

   The singer and the slave have joined to testify that the only kingdom that will not crumble, will not be full of self, will not have to be pieced back together – the only kingdom worth living for – is the kingdom of El-Shaddai, the One who is our all-powerful God.

EXILED!

7 Feb

Ezekiel was exiled in Babylon. He was a priest, a minister, yet because of the sin of King Jehoaichin and the rebellion of the Israelites, he was sent away with them to Babylon – exiled until further notice.

 

The purpose of an exile is to bring shame on the person or persons for their actions, to separate them from the life they’ve known, to make them captives. Not a pleasant experience to be in by any stretch of the imagination.

 

When you feel shame, you usually don’t want to be around people. You want to hide. When you’ve been separated from the only life you’ve known, you tend to want to go back to your old life, discontent with your current lot. When you’re captive, you can’t do anything but stay where you are…trapped, seemingly forgotten, apparently useless to those you once served, enslaved to your new ruler.

 

But Ezekiel did not let himself be a victim of his circumstances. He was still a priest, though his location changed. And while he was being a priest in exile, four incredible things happened to him.

 

  1. He saw God (Ezekiel 1:1);
  2. God spoke expressly to him (vs.3);
  3. God’s power, strength, and assistance were available to Ezekiel, even in exile (vs.3)
  4. God sent Him as a prophet to the Israelites (2:3)

 

This encourages me. Too often I will see my circumstances of what I consider “exile” as a sentence to be put on the shelf, forgotten, never to hear His voice or experience His power again, never to be used by the Lord again. But circumstances do not have to keep me from fellowship with Him or ministering to people. He can still reach me where I am. He can still speak to me. He can still empower me to live for Him where I am. And He can send me out or keep me there with a new focus for what He wants me to do.

 

In exile? Don’t be a victim. Continue to spend time with the Lord and serving others where you are. You might be surprised at what you learn of Him and where He directs you.

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Breathtaking

1 Feb

It all started with one breathtaking statement. John the Baptist is with two of his disciples. He sees Jesus walking by and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:35). In all likelihood, these same disciples had heard him make the same proclamation earlier regarding Jesus, but adding the astounding qualifier, “…Who takes away the sin of the world” (vs.29).

  • When John spoke the word “behold,” it was as if he was breathless from what he knew of Jesus. He had literally seen the Spirit of God descend from heaven and rest on Jesus – his cousin! That event and family tie in and of themselves would be breathtaking!
  • But he also knew that Jesus’ life was spotless, just like the sacrificial lamb was to be for the atonement of sin (vs.30-34). He was declaring that this blameless Son of God was going to die for sin! Breathtaking!
  • Not only was He going to die, but His death would take away the sin of the world! One sacrifice for all people for all time. No need for yearly sacrifices of atonement. A blow your mind, take your breath away statement!

So amazed by this statement were John’s disciples that they started to follow Jesus. He turned around and asked them what they wanted. “Where are You staying?” They wanted to know where He lived, where He lived life, HOW He lived life. Jesus gave the invitation, “Come, and see.” Simply breathtaking!

After a day of being in His presence, Andrew (one of the two) wanted to find his brother to tell him about Jesus. He declared Jesus to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the King to his brother Simon. Andrew had put two and two together. The Lamb of God John had pointed out, was the Son of God, who was the Messiah! He had spent the day with the Messiah! He had to share it. This was breathtaking news.

Simon came with Andrew to meet Jesus. With one look, Jesus changed Simon’s life forever. Simon was now going to be called Cephas (Peter). Jesus saw in Peter that he could be a rock, a stabilizer, a foundation-builder. Though he was not there yet, Jesus knew that in Him (Jesus) and by the Spirit of God, Peter would become such a man. He gave Peter new purpose for living. I can only imagine that Peter left Jesus that day with breathtaking excitement over what his future would be.

But it all started with one breathtaking statement: “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!”

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