The Birthing

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John 16:21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.

Paula reminded us on Wednesday that in the midst of the hardest of times, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. It reminded me that before our daughter gave birth to our newest grandson – we were told he was breeched. A procedure was performed in an attempt to turn the baby. Many were praying. For a while it seemed to have worked but our daughter’s follow up visit revealed the baby had returned to the breech position. We were all very sad and disappointed that our prayers had not been answered. But when I received the news my thoughts turned to all the people praying. The first thing out of my mouth was, God knows best. When the C-section was performed we discovered our grandson had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. We realized if the procedure, which had been performed earlier, had of been effective there was a very good chance his birth would have been a tragedy rather than a time of celebration. 

When the angel announced, to an unwed teenage girl, that she was pregnant – it couldn’t have been worse news. The event was scandalous. Can you imagine the shock and terror her parents must have experienced? But what does Mary do after being shuffled off out of town to her aunts home? And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

Before the birth of Jesus – Mary gave birth to thanksgiving and praise. What are you giving birth to?

Thanksgiving and Rainy Day Bells

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Isaiah 55:8-9 states For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Recently Paula Harkey sent me the following e-mail. I’ve gotten her permission to share this Thanksgiving story with you: About 4 months or so ago I found a gold chain in an unpacked box.  It was a rope chain 20 inches,  14  K gold. It was heavy and I didn’t wear it much. I must have missed it when I sold my other jewelry. I didn’t miss it, God tucked it away for me to use at another date. When I had to get another phone because mine died it took some of my extra money. But I had an incredible peace. I decided to take my chain to a jewelry store this morning and I ask if this was worth anything.  He took it and came back with a price. I had prayed for just enough to meet my bills. He said I’ll give you 8.65 dollars and I repeated 8.65. He said no, $865.00.  The tears and praise broke out and another lady and I praised our Lord together. I’m still crying with thankfulness.   

Paula reminds us that in the midst of the hardest of times, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Holidays can be hard on a grieving widow or family. But Scripture reminds us that although our tears are precious to God we are encouraged to give thanks through, and in spite of the circumstances. There’s an old doo top song written by Neil Sedaka, and sung by the Globetrotters in 1970. The lyrics are just as applicable today as they were 54 years ago: Rainy day bells ring in the chapel, telling the people there’s going to be sunshine, Rainy day bells played by the raindrops sing out a message, Don’t be afraid of the storm. Somewhere the sun is shining through a silver lining, wait and see, say the rainy day bells….don’t let the rain make you unhappy, in just a moment we’re going to be walking in the sun, little gray clouds will cheer up, they’re going to smile and clear up, when they hear those rainy day bells.

Double Down!

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When I woke up this morning I was dreading hearing the news regarding our country’s election results. (I did not stay up late to watch the election returns for each state). But then I read Brad McClendon’s facebook post. It was titled the “Season of America Today.” Brad quoted Luke 13:6-9 And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any].7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]. 9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.

Brad went on to say, “We have been given a chance to turn back to the Lord, and to bring forth His righteousness in our lives through the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, we must allow the Spirit of Truth to dig deep within our souls, to bring forth fruit of repentance to walk the path of Jesus, and completely leaving what our carnal desires want. We have been given time to turn, even in this era of great conflict with our country. I pray that the Holy Spirit be poured out again to allow America to turn back to Jesus Christ. It starts with us individually. Let’s walk with Jesus, not ourselves. God bless America.”

After reading his devotional the phrase double down crossed my mind. I knew this phrase was from the Lord because I don’t use this terminology. Not being exactly sure of what the term meant I “googled” it discovering two dictionary articles: to double one’s original stake after having looked at one’s cards and before receiving an additional card (Cambridge Dictionary); to make a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action, especially one that may be dangerous, or risky(Oxford Learner’s Dictionary). God has given true followers of Jesus a narrow window of time to repent (be transformed in your thinking and living) and pursue Him to make Him known. Our country is in the condition it’s in because the Church, and its attenders, have chosen to be passive, judgmental, and critical of governmental policies and practices we do not agree with while remaining luke warm in our obedience to and pursuit of Jesus. The question is, Have you taken as much time in prayer for the very things you have criticized and judged? Have you taken as much time in submitting to Jesus – His Word, and Spirit – as you have in avoiding what Jesus has clearly commanded? For example, Jesus has clearly commanded that our relationship with Him should be shared with the world. What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to share their walk with Jesus – in some way, every day? Doubling down would mean, making a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action which may be dangerous or risky. What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to pray for our governmental leaders – in some way, every day? What would happen in this nation if every true, follower of Jesus took the time to pray for the lost and “prodigals” you know to become true followers of Jesus? Doubling down would mean, making a stronger commitment to a strategy or course of action which may be costly. (Can you name the lost and prodigals you have tried to share Jesus with?)

Trust Fall

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When I was a youth minister I used many exercises to develop team spirit and leadership. Inevitably we would use the trust fall. A trust fall is a team building exercise where one person falls backwards while others catch them, trusting that they will be caught. The exercise is intended to build trust between participants by having them rely on each other for safety and success. Once, while making a point about the reliability of even the weakest members of our group I decided to be the example. To make it even more impressive I stood on a wall and decided the point would be more powerful if I fell face first. After arranging the participants to form two lines – shoulder to shoulder, and face to face, I gave my encouraging pep talk. Taking my place on the wall I had them count to three and yell, “Fall!” And I did – believing, in theory, that the girls I had selected to catch me could do the job. Unfortunately for me some of the girls had not been adequately “pepped” causing them to scream and run away as I plummeted trustingly to the gym floor. Fortunately for me and the panicked girls I had some training in how to fall correctly breaking my fall through my extended fingers and feet. Nothing was broken, and nothing was bruised – but trust.

There are two passages in the Bible that have intrigued me for years when positioned side by side: John 2:24 But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men];…AMPC and 1 Corinthians 13:7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. NIV

1 Corinthians 13 describes the Agape Love of God as ALWAYS trusting. While John 2:24 seems to contradict this statement. Is Jesus’ love different from the Father’s or is there a deeper truth the Spirit wants to convey? Both passages use the same Greek word but how they are used shines light on the difference. The word can be used to convey a variety of meanings: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in. Which helps us understand that Jesus was not putting His confidence in man’s nature because He knew all men. Which raises the question, Can you love someone without putting your confidence in them? Some may say an emphatic, “No!” But ask a father or mother this question regarding their toddling child, or hormonally charged teen ager. Can either parent love that child as God loves them and yet not trust their ability to do this or that? Absolutely! Can a marriage partner be unfaithful to a husband or wife through having an adulterous affair or looking at porn and still be loved by the faithful husband or wife? Some say, “No!” Yet, by the Grace and the Power of the Spirit, what seems to be humanly impossible becomes possible. Will the offended spouse trust them or have confidence in their fidelity? Probably not. But can that trust be rebuilt over time and through the Power of the Spirit? People may react strongly to this saying, Its impossible! It is – if you use soul power. But if you have become a new creation in Jesus you now have the Godhead living and expressing themselves through you and now you can do ALL things through Christ Jesus. You may quote the verse and display it proudly on your living room wall – but is it true – for you? Can you really do ALL things – loving those you don’t trust – through Jesus? If a parent can practice this – we all can. It simply comes down to a choice. Will I choose to be Jesus to this or that person? A person I don’t trust but I am commanded to love?