I Wonder Why?

I will concede that I know far too little about the man pictured above...the man whom our country celebrates today with a holiday...Martin Luther King Jr (MLK). I need to read more biographies, his own writings and I would even like to one day visit memorials and museums in Birmingham, Memphis and Atlanta that commemorate the life of a man that taught violence was never a means to an end. Most of this has been on my to-do list for quite some time and I need to get moving on it because I believe there is much to learn about justice, love, grace and forgiveness from this man.

I was reflecting on this today when this question occurred to me: Why...when there have been biopic films made on every important figure in ancient and modern history, has there never been one made about him?

I mean, I've seen movies about Malcolm X, Gandhi, Jesus, Lawrence of Arabia, the Dalai Lama, Alexander the Great, Pocahantas, movie stars, and many, many presidents, emperors and royalty (past and present)...but not this man...I wonder why?

Is it because love and non-violence aren't big ticket sellers? That can't be it, because there was plenty of violence surrounding MLK...he just didn't participate in it. Plus, Gandhi and Jesus would fall into this train of thought too and there are plenty of movies about both.

Is it because there is something ugly in his private life we shouldn't know? That can't be it either, there has been plenty of slanderous innuendo about his extra-marital affairs...whether true or contrived to keep his image ugly...I don't think anyone believes the man was perfect. Plus, we all know about the Kennedys and that's never stopped a good biopic being made about them.

No, I really don't have an answer to this question, it was just something I was pondering. But, maybe there's a little nugget of truth in some of these questions. What could a biopic about a man who refused to be kept down because of his race stir up in the oppressed, persecuted, downcast and downtrodden that our culture might want to keep at bay? 

Hope in a better future...that's what. After all...if you sit in a theatre and watch someone living out and teaching/preaching that you were meant for more than what mere man says you can be...you might just believe him and start to do something about it. You may even get inspired and follow his example and someday...

change the world!

Learning How to Pray About Death and Dying

I've been thinking about death a lot lately. It seems I know a lot of people that are either being diagnosed, fear being diagnosed, or are having unusual symptoms that need to be checked out. Also, with my mother-in-law's mini-stroke on Christmas Day and even the recent death of someone we went to church with in Indy...it seems I've been thinking about this more than usual.

Here's my dilemma: How do I pray for someone that may be dying? And even if they aren't dying, how do I pray for someone that has lived a full life, raised their children, knows their Savior and has just had a sudden onset of disease...serious disease? 

The thing this world and our churches have taught us is to pray for healing...and pray confidently. This I can do and have done many times over the years. I won't even allow myself to pray the usual, "Lord, if it's Your will, then please heal them." To me...this always felt like I was hedging my bets....sort of the mentality of, "well...if they don't pull through...then it must not have been His will". This for me, just paints a pretty patina on the fact that I never really believed He could heal the person to begin with.

But as I've followed more than a few journeys with cancer and illness through internet blogs and Facebook postings, the thought that keeps coming back to me is this: "Maybe I shouldn't be praying for their healing...because that's really not the best thing."

What? "Not the best thing?" Where is this coming from?

Our culture and everything in it  screams that life...the good life...healthy, happy and whole...is all there is to a life worth living. But that's not what God's Word teaches. In fact, we are taught that we'll never be healthy, happy and anywhere near whole until we close our eyes here and open them to see our Savior. Isn't that what we should all be praying and longing for? To live a life that has been so well lived, so rich in God's goodness that to exhale here and to inhale Heaven's mercy is as natural as going to sleep...that is my goal.

I've definitely become more Heaven minded...eternity minded...in the last year. Not coincidentally, at the same time I know at least a dozen families that have lost people that were dear to and now much missed by them. So I find myself praying more for the families...for their comfort, healing, dealing with regrets of things left undone and unsaid...and that sometime very soon they'll realize that these "undone" items aren't lost forever...they're just being put on pause for now.

I can't even count how many times I've thought and said in the last year, "I'm just ready." And I am. I can't imagine anything in this life offering me something better than being with my Savior and the Lover of my soul. It's not an obsession with death....it's an obsession with reality...that we all die and since Jesus has paid for my ticket, this journey is sort of like getting all the work done around the house before I leave. Except this time...it's only a one-way ticket. And I'm okay with that.

I hope I don't sound calloused and I would never minimize anyone's grief or pain. I just know that for the redeemed, once they've thrown off this mortal shell...there is no more grief or pain. Therefore, when I pray for God to use His power to perform a miracle that is for the very best of the one who is suffering...I believe that when they close their eyes here and open them to see Jesus...my prayer has been answered.

Amen!

God of the Tight Places

Yesterday and the day before in my Jesus Calling devotional, the author, Sarah Young, makes reference to the same scripture:

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1, New American Standard Bible)

I know beyond any doubt, that in my life, God has proven Himself true to this word. He has been the refuge where I hide...the source of strength when I have none...the help that is always present when I have trouble. What interested me about this passage though was not Young's devotional entry, nor the version as it reads above. No, what intrigued me and has had me mulling over it...chewing on it...and attempting to feebly form words to express it where two superscripts found in the text that offered additional words for the translation.

The first alternative is for the phrase "A very present help". Being a visual person, the substitute of "Abundantly available for help" just happens to hit me in a way that means more than the word "very".

Isn't it great to be assured that the Creator of the universe not only loves us and is available for help...He is abundantly available for help? He is a veritable cornucopia of overflowing presence ready to bail us out, lift us up or keep us quiet...whatever option would be best for us...just when we need Him.

And we've all had lots of trouble, right? But for me, this word makes me think along the lines of something I've done wrong. That's why I think the other option for translating this word spoke to me as it did. Instead of "trouble", the phrase "tight places" better describes most of the obstacles He's had to help me overcome.

Many of us might not be able to think of a lot of troubles in our lives...but I bet we can envision several tight places. They may be tight places of my own doing...like paths I've wandered down that I need to backpedal out of really fast. They may be tight places that occur because we live in a fallen world and can't escape the physical consequence of a world filled with sin. They may be tight places that someone else shoved me into...accidentally or intentionally. And they may be tight places that I was born into, but didn't realize they were even tight until He started to help me outgrow them.

Whatever the tight place...He's there...providing abundant help. Praise God this is a verse I can hang my faith on! Sometimes, when I look back over my 44 years, I am moved to tears at all of the tight places that have been thrown at me and He has pulled me through. There are some that I shake my head in amazement and just simply ask Him, "How did You pull me through that?" The memory of the pain, the confusion, the exhausted energy and even the situation fades...but what doesn't fade...and in fact, becomes more abundant with each tight place I encounter...is the memory emblazoned on my mind of a God who has been faithful to stick His Hand into that crevice by the side of the road where I have been thrust and gently, patiently pulls me out so I can keep heading forward on The Journey.

Whatever the tight place you may presently be enduring...cry out for Him and you will find His Presence ready to help...abundantly.

Amen!

Downton Abbey

I know you're all watching it...and if you aren't...you soon will be. It's hard to believe that the most awaited premiere on television this season is a PBS Masterpiece Theatre mini-series.

Downton Abbey, now in its third season, began again last night and the wait was far too long. But maybe that's part of the appeal...with only seven episodes in the first season (called Series in Great Britain) and eight in Series Two the anticipation from winter to winter is growing as does the audience.

I began watching this during Series Two. I quickly went through Series One on Netflix and was able to go right into Series Two as it aired on PBS. Apparently, I am not alone. Yesterday, post after post on Facebook was from friends who were excited for the premiere of Series Three. For three days prior, I informed my kids that on Sunday night I would be unavailable. We don't have a DVR and I did not want to wait until Monday morning to watch it on PBS.com.

So now it has begun. The Emmy award winning show with the same great talent, witty, intelligent writing and beautiful visuals of life in the early 20th Century. I don't know how long it will last, but as long as Masterpiece Theatre keeps producing quality such as this...I'll keep watching!

Two Sherlocks

In junior high, I spent a lot of time reading Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and absolutely loved every one. Quickly after leaving that era in my life, I guess I drifted away from reading the stories, but I've always enjoyed a good mystery.

Over the last few years, I've seen the Robert Downey, Jr. movie versions, but haven't thought they were compelling enough for any subsequent additions to the franchise. I've found them to be predictable...and nothing exasperates my family (and myself) more than when I blurt out less than half way into the movie or TV show exactly whom is the guilty culprit. The humor in Monk and Psych are the exception to this. For the sake of the fantastic humor and witty writing, I keep my mouth shut regarding my suspicions.

Finally, a Sherlock Holmes TV show...actually two that are worth my time and are not pushing the envelope with the grotesque, debased or immoral like so many other shows do. And the actors are pretty good too!

My daughter, Abbey, has told me for several months that England's Sherlock starring Benedict (I've been corrected by my daughter from my previous entry of Benjamin) Cumberbatch and The Hobbit's  Martin Freeman was worthy of watching. But we're so addicted to Doctor Who that I hesitated to indulge too much more in British television.

Enter Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in the CBS series Elementary. I've enjoyed watching Miller over the years, first in Eli Stone (I still watch the reruns on Netflix), Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and the most recent Austen mini-series Emma. Overall, the show is good, fast-paced, intelligent and keeps me guessing most of the time. Miller's modern version of Holmes is as a recovering drug addict which makes for a unique twist with Dr. Watson (yes, Lucy Liu) as his sobriety companion. Honestly, I think the weakest link in the show may be Liu. I've never seen her in anything else, so I don't know if she's always monotone and flat or if that is just how she's playing this character.

After the success of finally finding a show I can watch and neither feel guilty nor have unwanted images in my brain later...I decided to give Britain's updated version of Sherlock a try too.

I was not disappointed. I think it's even better than the version offered this side of The Pond. I said I wasn't disappointed...but there is one thing I don't like about the show...there are only three episodes per season. Netflix currently has six episodes available and I'm afraid I'll be done with those too soon.

Apparently, if I want to find good television I need to look to the Brits to do it. I'm sure they have as much of the inane reality/game shows that we do...but as long as they keep cranking out programs like Doctor Who, Sherlock, and now my favorite, Downton Abbey (posting soon!)...I'll keep watching! Interestingly, the one American program I like has the British Jonny Lee Miller in the lead role. I'm noticing a theme here...and I'm not alone. Given the "Who-vians" that are cropping up everywhere and the overwhelming response Downton Abbey has received in the U.S., maybe it's time for American television to take the hint from "the motherland" and make our programs smarter.

Witty repartee versus yet one more "you can be a rock star" show. Really? Is there even a choice? No...in fact, I think the answer is,  "Elementary, my dear Watson."

Dishonor

This is a tough one...but I'll try. The tough thing about this topic is not writing about it...it's keeping my temper in check. Curious? Read on. Not in the mood to look in the mirror? Stop reading here and come back when you're ready. And yes, I'm looking in the mirror too.

There is a passage in James 2 where I become teary almost every time I say it.

"But you have dishonored the poor man." (James 2:6a)

Actually, there is a lot leading up to and following after this one small sentence and in order to understand why my temper needs checked and I'm teary when I say or read it...I'm going to have to explain a little...or a lot. Please bear with me.

This one line follows hot on the heels of James 1:19-21 where we have been strongly cautioned to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger." (verse 19) James also reminds us that our anger doesn't accomplish "God's righteousness". (verse 20) Dictionary.com defines righteousness as "the quality or state of being just or rightful." So our anger...no matter how "righteous" we may think it may be...does not bring about God's justice, morality or uprightness (also as defined on dictionary.com). 

I believe this warning to check our anger...also called "setting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness"  and to instead "in humility, receive the word implanted" (verse 21) is one that greatly needs to be heeded by the American church culture. This is not the first time I've shared my frustration over what was plastered all over Facebook during the political election season. Too many times to count I was ashamed at the anger, divisiveness and nastiness that was spoken (in our culture...that means typed) by people calling themselves Christians. 

The huge sigh of relief I felt after the election was short-lived, as now, almost two months later comments are still being made! Ugh!...is the only word that will sometimes express my feelings. Unfortunately, I've had to unsubscribe from more than a few people just so I won't harbor anger and bitterness toward them. I would never "unfriend"...but I don't have to have their poison spewed all over my news feed! Enough said!

Or maybe not.

Because James goes on. In chapter 1 he not only tells us to "receive the word" but that we need to prove ourselves to be doers of it. Also, that I should never forget "the kind of person [I] was" (James 1:24) But one more warning that should smack us all out of our bitter jibes and deriding comments is this: "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." (James 1:26, emphasis mine) Maybe it's time we start "bridling" our keyboards too! 

Do you want to have "pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father"? Then James not only cautions us to bridle our outbursts...but to also "visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) How many people do you know that were pontificating on the evilness of one side or another (and still are), but have actually sat down with a single mom (a.k.a. the widows of our society) or latch-key or fatherless kids (a.k.a. the orphans of our society) and tried to understand why they feel a sense of entitlement or despair? Yeah...I don't know very many who've done this either.

And right before James makes me teary and sad about how we "dishonor the poor man". He warns us yet again to not get too high and mighty about our faith. (see James 2:1-3) In fact, this segment of Scripture in the NASB is entitled "The Sin of Partiality". James wants us not to give favor to the rich and look down upon the poor because "Listen, my beloved brethren, did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5)

The question I keep wanting to ask when someone is concerned about "entitlement", "hand outs", "redistribution of wealth" and "lazy people that just want society to take care of them", is this: "Do you actually know any poor people?" 

I'm not talking about someone that gets posted on broadcast news, YouTube or elsewhere talking about how great it is to get all of this free help. I'm also not referring to someone that just can't afford to eat at a sit down restaurant. Nor am I alluding to someone that doesn't have the latest iPhone, iPad or accompanying fluff to go with it. No...I'm talking about have you actually sat down and had more than a 5 minute conversation with someone that has to scrape together money for gasoline so they can get to work...which is a job that pays less than $10 an hour (equal to only about $20,000 per year) and probably has to work a second job, has their kids in daycare or before and after school programs, might be in school part-time or full-time, has no husband paying child support, no medical insurance if they or their child gets sick and can't stay home if they are sick because they'll either miss much needed income or worse, lose their job. 

How many grandmas have you conversed with that are living on medicare and social security, raising their grandchildren and trying to help those kids sustain a standard of living that will keep them from being made fun of and bullied at school?

When was the last time you sat down,  held the hand of and prayed with someone who just needed a few forks, a couple of bowls, some decent clothes for a new job and maybe a pillow and blanket so the floor would be more comfortable?

It's been awhile for me too. But when I have, I have walked away not only humbled, but astounded at the ones that say, "No, it's alright...I don't need free food...I get food stamps. Leave it for someone that doesn't have help." They haven't asked for a new set of dishes or towels or sheets that match. They've been thankful and grateful to just get enough to get by.

Are there people that feel entitled to food, clothing, shelter and other assistance? Absolutely! Try taking all of that away from your family for a few weeks and see if you begin to feel like you should be entitled to it too.

And, yeah, yeah...I know there are chronic abusers...I've met a few. I am by no means excusing their laziness or brazen expectations for it to just be handed to them. I'm just hinting at this idea that maybe instead of making blanket statements about the thousands of poor in America (or billions around the world)...might it be more beneficial to sit down with them and find out why they have these behaviors and attitudes?

But see...that's the hard part isn't it? Actually entering into someone's life...messy life...is exactly what we try to avoid. But there is no shirking the responsibility that it is exactly what God calls us to do and Jesus lived out!

James, doesn't let this go and I don't want to either...if we claim to be Jesus followers, in our culture that's called a Christian, then James says our works will put feet to our faith. If we don't have works that match our faith then we are no better than the demons who believe in God. Oh wait! At least "the demons also believe and shudder." (James 2:19, emphasis mine) I've heard a lot of Christians use this passage against people who say they "believe" in a god but live lives contradictory to the Bible's teachings. Interestingly enough, it was actually written to Christians that said they had faith and had no works to back it up. Yes, the ones who were dishonoring the poor!

Is it maybe time for us to start doing some shuddering too?

My loving Abba, I am ashamed at the people we have become! Myself included! We are more concerned about our own comfort...our own toys...our own gluttonous "needs"...that we are more than willing to dishonor the poor with our words of accusation or judgment and our condemnation than we are to cry out for mercy, justice and love on their behalf. How patient and merciful You have been with us! May we never, ever stop looking in the mirror and remembering "what kind of person" we were! (James 1:24) Or maybe the person we would still be if not for your unconditional, undeserved Love! When we are tempted to wade into the filth and wickedness of this age and accuse people who do not know You of not living up to standards that we somehow, miraculously expect them to just understand and live by...may we shut our mouths...close up our keyboards and instead open up Your Word and our hearts to hearing how much YOU love them and want us to as well. May our anger and fear at what appears to be "unfair", "unjust" and "unequal" not drive us to social media and rants about political positions...but instead, may we be driven to our knees to intercede on behalf of the billions who are dying without the knowledge of an Abba who loves them without any limits. And when we've been on our knees long enough to have our hearts broken for the poor, the widow, the sick, the imprisoned, the orphan, the destitute and the outcast and yes...the clueless...in the same way that Your heart has been broken...may we rise up to become the people that you created us to be...a people that is known by our Love for one another. Lord, through your servant James, You have told us that 'blessing Your name and cursing men who have been made in Your likeness' should never come from the same mouth (James 3:9-10). Lord, may it not be so! Instead give us mouths full of praise for You and edification, mercy, hope and love for others. For we know there is no where else in this world they will find these but in You.

Amen!

After this...you may unfriend me. That's okay, if you feel the need to differ with my convictions. Eventually, the only posts that may come up on my Facebook news feed will be photos of grandkids, puppy dogs and cutesy little sayings about rainbows and butterflies. Actually...I'm okay with that too.

A Simple Christmas

About a week before Christmas, I sat down with our kids and talked to them about why we don't make a big deal out of Christmas or cram a bunch of activities into one month just to make it feel like December is special. They've already picked up on a lot of this, but to have the formal talk was important...I thought at least.

My point was that every day is special...a gift. And every day, we should be focused on loving and serving Jesus. We shouldn't run to a soup kitchen in December to make ourselves feel better about spending hundreds of dollars on "stuff" at Christmas. We should be loving our fellow man daily.

We also should be watching our spending daily and only buying the things we need, can use often or will help streamline our lives so we have more freedom with our time to serve God. If we put all purchases...including Christmas ones...through this filter then we'll not only spend less and have more resources for God's use...but we will have a more simple lifestyle that will look very different from the materialism and consumer-driven culture around us.

Did I 100% live by this standard of gift-buying? Of course not, there were still fun and pointless things under the tree. But hopefully, those were more appreciated and will be better taken care of because there was not an excess.

But here were the best gifts I received:

photos of all four of our kids, taken and framed by our oldest, Abbey

Not even my gift, but Abbey painted the cover of The Great Gatsby onto a mug for her dad and I was very impressed by it.

Also, getting an "I Love You" note in my stocking from Leah.

With some Christmas money, I purchased a new vacuum because ours has slowly been falling apart for the last two years. I never dreamed I could be so excited to sweep the floors! Truly...poverty and the inability to buy whatever you want, whenever you want has huge blessings.

I also bought a toaster oven...our first. We haven't owned a microwave for about three years now. With the addition of the toaster oven, we could not only get rid of our broken toaster...but can now reheat leftovers without using the oven or caving into the use of an unhealthy microwave.

But yesterday, as I reflected on the past week, there were two gifts that stood out even though they weren't wrapped and placed under the tree.

When we learned that a blizzard was coming toward Indiana on the day we planned to drive there, we offered to let the kids open their presents on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning. Traditionally, we insist on staying home Christmas Day, but the anticipated weather required a change in plans. I expected the kids to be excited and to immediately want to rip into the presents...but no, the two oldest were very disappointed and insisted on waiting until Christmas morning. Our third child just wanted to do what the majority wanted and a small disagreement ensued when the youngest saw her hopes raised and dashed in a matter of seconds...so we compromised and each opened only one that night. We saved the rest until Christmas morning.

Best gift #1? We've reached a place in our family where tradition and spending time together matters more than "stuff"...at least at Christmastime.

And best gift #2 was that because we left early to head to Indiana, we were there when Dale received a call that his mom was heading to the hospital on Christmas afternoon. Dale's sister lives in Indiana as well and they were able to take off to Ohio together and be with their mom while they tried to find out what was wrong. Turns out, she'd had a minor stroke. She has been blessed to have very minor side affects that will mostly include speech therapy, but she's already home and recovering well. The gift is that God's protecting hand and foresight of our futures kept Dale and his sister from having to travel in a blizzard and prevented Dale's mom from enduring a long, slow recovery.

Really, as far as downtime versus running around...it wasn't a "simple" Christmas. Instead, it was the "simple things" that made it great.

The Law of Liberty

In James' style of recurring themes and words, there is a phrase (or some variant of it) that keeps coming up..."the law of liberty" (see James 1:25). Elsewhere, it's also called "the perfect law" (also James 1:25), "the royal law" (see James 2:8). If you actually clicked on James 2:8, then you'll find out exactly what this "law" that is royal, perfect and full of liberty is..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself". In fact, James goes on to say that if you are fulfilling this law, "you are doing well."

I long to do well...don't you? In my heart of hearts I want to please my Abba and become more like Him. Isn't that essentially what following the Law of the Old Testament was all about? To become a godly people set apart from the rest of the world. Later when Jesus walked this earth, He was asked, 'What is the most important commandment of the law?' (see Matthew 22:35-40) Jesus said the whole law and even what the prophets had taught could be summed up by two commandments: 1. Love God with everything that is within you and 2. Love your neighbor just like you love yourself. What I just caught in this passage in Matthew is a phrase I've heard every time I've read it. Jesus says the second commandment is like the first.

Having recently seen Les Miserables, I'm quickly reminded of the line, "To love another person is to see the face of God." I think there is profound truth in this. In fact, am I being too simplistic to say that this may be the only Truth there is? If God is Love (see I John 4:7) and Jesus out of His deep, deep love died for us (see John 3:16) and He taught that any drink shared, food or clothing given, sick or imprisoned person visited was exactly like doing it to Him (see Matthew 25:35-40)...how could we expect anything less than to see the face of God?

I notice two more things about James' attention to this "law":

1. It is foundational to everything else in this book that bears his name. This is sort of why I'm defining it here. Upcoming posts regarding James may not make much sense unless we have a basic understanding that James filters everything through the command to "Love your neighbor as yourself". 
2. He doesn't mention what Jesus said was the first and greatest commandment.

I by no means think James is circumventing the teaching of Jesus and somehow elevating loving our neighbors above loving God. No, I choose to believe that the man who was challenging the Jewish Christian recipients of his letter wanted them to set aside themselves for the sake of others. After all, this same man whose half-brother had been nailed to a cross because of His perfect love for humanity would probably be the first to know that loving your neighbor as yourself is absolutely impossible if you don't "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 25:37)

I'm not a New Years' resolution-type person, but I do have some goals I believe God's Spirit has laid upon my heart to work on...and it all starts here...in James...being reminded that the intertwining of my faith with my works is inseparable in the eyes of God. I absolutely cannot confess a faith in God without hands that are willing to serve, feet that are willing to go and expressions of love I am willing to speak and a willingness to die to myself so that my neighbor (a.k.a. my fellow man) can know they are loved as much as I love myself.

Amen!

Removing the Title, But Not the Intent

If you've been following our journey, you may recognize that I've removed the subtitle, "Boundless Ministries" from the heading of this blog. I've been feeling the necessity to do this for a few months and now feel that it's time.

While in my heart, everything I do will hopefully continue to be filtered through God's Boundless Love for others...apparently, what I conceived to be a traditional ministry...God did not conceive to be as such.

I'm not disappointed, I began what I thought was God's desire for us as a family. And it absolutely is still His priority for us to serve single moms, orphans, widows, the poor, destitute, lost and forgotten of this world...we just don't have to have a name for it to be official.

For many, many months this blog has been almost solely about my journey and our family's as well. I am not letting go of a heart's passion...just a name.

No, the only Name I need to cling to and never let go of is the most beautiful Name we can ever know...Jesus!

So with a new year, comes...well, really...nothing new. Just a reminder that may all I do and say not be in the name of Boundless Minstries (or even Angela Barthauer)...but, solely...wholeheartedly...and exclusively...in the name of Jesus.

Amen!

Flowering Grass

As I've been memorizing James, I've been moved to tears, have felt righteous anger and become much, much more aware at exactly how much further I have to go in becoming concerned with the plight of the poor, widowed, orphaned, destitute, downtrodden and forsaken ones. The ones my Abba says to serve and love with reckless abandon. But some unexpected and now highly anticipated things have grabbed my attention as well.

While God's word is becoming "implanted" in me (see James 1:21), I am seeing how it "saves your souls" (also James 1:21). It wells up in your memory and overflows into your heart...just when you need it...and I am forever grateful for this.

We journeyed to my mother-in-law's to spend Sunday and Christmas Eve with them. In her dining area I have walked by a painting many times...I'm certain I've even read it more than a few times as well. But now because God is implanting His Word into my soul, I looked at this painting and the proverbial "light bulb" moment occurred.

You see, every time I repeat James 1 to myself, I have said these words: "But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away." (James 1:9-11)

A few weeks ago, I blogged about the confusion I felt over this passage. Was I the poor or the rich? (See Humble Glory) But Christmas Eve morning, when I walked by my mother-in-law's painting that reads,

"The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

I realized it no longer matters whether I'm poor or rich in the eyes of the world...but it deeply matters what I do with the word God has given me. Both titles of poor or rich will someday pass away. When I stand before my Abba, financial status will not prevail...only "the word of our God" will stand.

Therefore, shouldn't that be my only focus now?

I like to use the phrase, "in the grande scheme of things" and another favorite is "does it matter in the eternal?" And really, "when all is said and done" (yet, another favorite phrase!) is it going to matter if I was rich in this life or if I was poor? No, what will last was if I believed and put into practice this belief (see James 1:22-25) that God's word stands forever.

If I received it implanted and was not just a hearer, but a doer of the word...then absolutely, positively...my life will have looked very different from others around me. I'm okay with that. Because as much as I love to garden...do I want to leave behind some pretty grass and fragrant flowers (which will just be fought over by some left behind anyway)...or do I want my life to have shown that God's Word stands forever?

Seems like a pretty clear choice to me!