The Look

When I was in high school, we had a conversation with my mommy. It began when my brother asked Mommy what she had done to one of our classmates, because he was afraid of her. She replied that she hadn't done anything, she just looked at him. We were both appalled that she had given him "the look". It's the mom "look", the one you get when you are REALLY in trouble. And you really should be in trouble, but it's kind of that last straw warning before punishment is imminent. Anyway, "the look" is what came to my mind this morning when I read these verses:

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Psalms 34:16

That's the bad news. The good news actually comes earlier in the Psalm (and even in the previous two Psalms).

A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalms 32:1-2

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
Psalms 33:18-19
 
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
Psalms 34:8-15

But if you want to get the full impact, go read Psalm 32-34 for yourself. =)

What are sisters for?

I had an opportunity a few weeks ago to encourage a "little sister" in the faith. She was having a rough week, and I simply encouraged her to make her devotions a priority. Then I had a sister just this weekend ask me if I was okay. She had noticed that I just seemed a little down. She listened as I shared how I've been a bit overwhelmed, and she encouraged me to keep on trucking. But as I've been replaying and comparing these two situations, I began to wonder, "What are sisters for?" And here's what I came up with:

Sisters are for driving you crazy and making you mad. They are for telling you when you are being a brat, or when you're being just plain ridiculous. They're also for cheering you on when you're doing something well, or something worthwhile. They are for knowing when you're a little "off your feed" and asking what's up. And then for listening while you spill your guts-- and maybe more than a few tears. They are for laughing with you and crying with you, and mostly for just walking with you through the ups and downs of life.

(I looked for verses that talk about sisters, but didn't find what I was looking for, so...you could insert "sisters" for "brothers" in these verses.)

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
 
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14

Song of the Day- 13

I have been feeling overwhelmed recently. And much of it boils down to the fact that I want to be selfish with part of my time. I want there to be enough time for me to do all the things on my various lists, but still be able to spend several hours on exercise and entertainment. Now, while there is nothing wrong with either exercise or entertainment, neither of those is at the top (or even near the top) of my current priorities. So, as I was praying this morning, I thought of this song:

Change My Heart Oh God

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like you

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like you

"Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'? Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'"
Isaiah 45:9-10
 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:28-32

How does she know you love her?

You may have seen Disney's "Enchanted", and if you have, you'll be familiar with this line. Giselle sings it to Robert as they are walking through the park. The point of the song is that his lady friend will not know that he loves her unless he shows her (and tells her).

I've been praying for many months that God would show one of my daughters how much she is loved. When she was tiny, I used to call her my little shadow. She wanted to be wherever I was, helping me do whatever I was doing. And I had learned how to let her help, and delight in her presence. But over the years, as my responsibilities have increased, and as she's grown, I have pushed her away. I was convicted today, as I reminisced over her youngest days, that she will not remember those days. What she remembers is too many days when her mama has treated her more like an inconvenience than a delight. And I realized that if I want her to know that I love her, I have to SHOW her. I HAVE to change the way I'm interacting with her on a day in and day out basis. I have to let her help me in the kitchen, or sit on my lap, or any number of other things that allow her to be near me... That's how she'll know she's my little love.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Colossians 3:21
 
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalms 103:13

Creation Groans

A couple weeks ago, I read an article about how lionfish are taking over Atlantic waters. Because they are predators, and because the Atlantic ocean is not home to their natural predators, the lionfish are beginning to run the show in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. But as I thought on this a bit more, they are just doing what they were created to do...

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
Genesis 1:21-22

Then yesterday I was watching a couple of cats. The neighborhood cats tend to congregate in my front yard, but they don't seem to get along... Anyway, one had been in my garage, rubbing around my legs, and had left  to sun itself in the yard. A few minutes later, another cat came up, and tried to approach the first. What followed was about a three minute face-off. The first cat hunched down and hissed at the second cat, who had his hackles raised. And as I watched this, I thought of Romans.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Romans 8:19-22

God created all creatures to live in peace, but when Man sinned, creation was corrupted. And as bad as that is, Man's corruption is the pinnacle. If it is bad that the animals fight and die, it is even worse that God's image bearers fight and suffer and die.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23

The more that I see sin (not specific sins, but just the sin nature, and the fallen-ness of the world) ravaging the bodies and minds of the people I love, the more I groan with creation for Christ's return.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:23-25

Fear of Death

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Genesis 2:16-17

We know from the next chapter in Genesis that Adam did eat from the tree, and that death entered the world. And people have spent their lives ever since trying to outrun death. I did a little search and found out that "fountain of youth" stories have abounded in many cultures around the world for thousands of years. And these days, exercise and healthy eating are touted as the proverbial fountain. But the fact of the matter is that we sin, and we will die.

However, as I prepared the devotion for my Christmas play kiddos last week, I was so encouraged by Hebrews 2.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:14-15

I was just struck by the phrase "those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery". It appears that our fear of the result of sin actually drives us toward sin. But our great Savior "tasted death" so that he could free us from the power of sin and the fear of death! Because as believers in Christ, we have the hope of resurrection.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Just a Guy

During the summer, my Crew watched quite a bit of TV. Topping the list were "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2". I memorize the lines of the movies the kids watch because they are in the background so much when I'm in another room-- and I ponder... =)

Late in the summer as the girls were watching, I heard this conversation snippet between a couple of the characters:

Troy Bolton: Dad, detention was my fault. Not hers.
Jack Bolton: You haven't missed a practice in three years. That girl shows up...
Troy Bolton: [interrupts] That girl is named Gabriella. And she's very nice.
Jack Bolton: Well, helping you miss practice doesn't make her very nice. Not in my book, or your team's. Troy Bolton: Dad, she's not a problem. She's just a girl.
Jack Bolton: But you're not just a guy, Troy. You're the team leader. What you do affects not only this team, but the entire school.

That line about Troy not being "just a guy" really stood out to me. It seems like there is something intrinsic in us that screams for responsibility. Our actions impact others. And the more authority you have, the MORE your actions impact others. Or, the more of a platform of influence you have, the more you impact others. Professing faith in Christ gives us an ENORMOUS platform. And so the question is, will I act like just a nobody, or like an ambassador of the King???

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Love does not insist on its own way

It's Friday!!! Which means LOTS of cleaning! =) With six mess makers in our space, there is ALWAYS plenty to do. One of the things that I try to do on Thursday or Friday is change everyone's sheets. This requires that I spend several minutes in the kids' rooms. Most of the time I peek in their rooms, or at the most, am in there for a couple of minutes. Today as I was in their rooms, I had to battle with myself over the way that they have been doing some things. I have spent time teaching them how to do their chores, like making beds or organizing their toys. But as they are getting bigger, it is hard for me to let them find their own ways of doing things instead of insisting on my own way. And then I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 13. As long as their way meets a certain level of cleanliness, I need to not insist on MY way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13