Get Real

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend the past few days.  My brother and I drove down from Indianapolis to celebrate our mom, a woman certainly worth celebrating.  She is always our encourager, our biggest fan, a voice of wisdom, and a listening ear.  I'm very thankful for the gift of my mom.

This morning during church, they asked the mothers in the crowd to stand and be recognized as they prayed for these countless women who are often the unsung heroes in our lives.  As my mom sat back down beside me, I glanced over at a woman a few seats away.  She wiped at uninhibited tears that spilled down her cheek.  Her husband reached around the woman and gently rubbed her arm to console her.  "What's her story?  What has caused such pain and anguish in her heart this day?"  I wondered.  Had she lost a son or daughter?  Had motherhood cruelly been stolen from her?  Had anger and bitterness come between her and her child so that they were estranged from one another?  My own heart ached for her, and I longed to walk over and embrace the hurting woman.  I wanted to ask her if she was alright, why she was hurting, and if I could pray for her.  But I didn't.  I didn't know the woman, I didn't know her story, and I didn't cross that boundary line.  I think I should have.  I don't think it mattered that I didn't know her.  It's irrelevant that I wasn't aware of her situation because I could have lovingly asked.  Why do we keep one another at a distance?  It's time to get real.

Romans 12:10 says, "Love one another with brotherly affection."  If my brother Clay is ever hurting, I want to reach out and help him.   I want to console him, to offer solutions, to do what I can to ease the pain or help solve the problem.  And even when there is nothing I can do about it, I want to share in the hurt and the suffering, to bear the burden together.  So should it be in the body of believers.  I'm drawn to Christ's own example in the story of the death of Lazarus.  Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were a brother and sisters who had encountered Jesus and whose lives were forever changed.  They too were very dear to him.  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (John 11:5)  When Lazarus became sick, the sisters sent for Jesus.  By the time he arrived, it appeared to be too late and the sisters were deeply grieving in the wake of their brother's death.  Here's a beautiful part of the story.  When Jesus arrived, Mary approached him in her state of absolute sadness and hurt.  Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.  And he said, "Where have you laid him?  They said to him, "Lord, come and see."  Jesus wept.  (John 11: 32-36)  In her hurt, Mary approached her Lord with a bit of an accusatory statement.  She was grieving.  And although the all powerful and mighty Lord of all things can and is about to work a miracle (Spoiler alert: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead foreshadowing his own forthcoming death and resurrection and brings all glory and praise to His name!), He's present in the moment and He joins here where she is.  He doesn't avoid Mary or act as if her pain isn't important.  No, he is moved to share in her suffering and he weeps for the loss that she has experienced.

I don't know everyone I encounter, but I do know that there is a world of hurt and pain out there every day.  The men and women I work with, the people I pass in the grocery store, the brothers and sisters in Christ who I worship and grow with on Sunday mornings.....they too are fighting their own battles and carrying burdens that may seem more than they can bear.  It's my prayer that each of us will get real, that we won't back away but will lovingly approach and move toward.  May we talk with, sit with, weep with, pray with, and be with one another in the blessings and the struggles.  May we get real and hurt along with them.  As we do so, let us help direct their focus to Jesus, for He not only feels our pain but is the only One who saves, the One who heals, the One who takes the broken pieces and puts them back together again.  He's the real deal, the Giver of joy and fullness of life!      

Still

Today is the first day of May which means that the last leg of the school year has arrived.  It reminds me a bit of last spring when I ran a half marathon; mile 1 was a breeze, mile 5 I was feeling great, mile 8 I was pushing through, but when I got to mile 12 I was wiped.  I had been going, moving, shuffling, pushing onward, and I was tired.  This seems to be the conundrum of my life lately.  I love to go, to be with people, to embrace life and its fullness instead of sitting at home.  So I plan, I write down dates and times in my calendar, and I go go go.  And then I'm simply tired.  Okay, time to slow down the pace a bit, I tell myself.  I leave blanks squares in my planner, days that are only committed to work and no evening plans.  Yet even as I plop down on the couch on such an evening, my mind races as I reach for the notepad on my living room table.  I begin making a to-do list: laundry, grade papers, finish lesson plans, etc.  After all, if I'm going to be at home I should probably use that time wisely, right?  It turns out that this is not really very restful either and, although my body feels repose, my mind races and paces.  What my heart desires is truly not a furious pace masked as relaxation.  Instead, I must tell myself, Be still my soul.

I am meditating on two verses that I'm letting my heart embrace in this:

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  (Genesis 2:2)

He had done work, but there was a time for the work to be done and rest away from it to occur.  I too have work/tasks to attend to, yet there is a time to lay them aside and simply find respite.

Be still, and know that I am God... (Psalm 46:10)

This one's a favorite.  I love this because it gives two commands.  The first is the one I desire so much, and the second one knocks me back a few feet.  First, be still.  Quit worrying about the demands and the whirlwind of activity that can take precedence.  Be still.  That's pretty hard though, right?  Because I can really let my body and mind be still, but what about all those things that we're letting go?  ...and know that I am God...  That one's pretty much a smack in the face of my ego.  Those other things; they're actually not all that important.  Christ is the The One who deserves my attention, my meditation, my thoughts, and my focus a zillion times more than a silly daily demand does.  And you know, so what if I drop the ball and don't get all those other things done?  So what if someone's a little upset that I said no to this or that activity.  That's alright. 

Rest.  Be quiet.  Be still and know, be still my soul.

    

Quit Tipping Your Chair

Quit tipping your chair.  Put it down on all four legs.

If I've told a student this once, I've said it a hundred times.  Let's get this straight.  It's not that I really care one hoot about the chair being tipped.  To be honest, I get the fact that it's relaxing to tilt it back onto two legs.  It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of life.  But, I also get the concept of gravity as a student precariously balances on two chair legs.  So when I say to quit tipping the chair, it's not about the chair.  It's about the one who sits in it.  It's about their safety and well-being.  That same kiddo who over and over again leans back eventually reaches that moment of regret when he has gone a millimeter too far and the great spill occurs.  The seat dramatically plunges to the ground, jarring and slamming its passenger into the unforgiving floor below.  Ouch.  Don't say we didn't tell you.

Quit tipping your chair.  "I know better than that," you respond, agitated and offended that I'd even waste your time with something so common sense.  But seriously, quit.  We've been warned and reminded, so listen up and put it back on the firm foundation. 

It's practically childish at such a basic level, but too many of us don't get it in the chair of life.  Humanity began with the best of seats on a firm foundation, but from Adam and Eve right on down the line to you and me, we've been tipping it back dangerously ever since.  Sure, we'll keep it positioned just right in this or that area of life, but you willingly make allowances for sinfulness here and there.  "After all," you think, "I can keep it balanced."  Perhaps you even encounter a scare, a moment when the ugliness of sin and disobedience burns you just enough to pull back.  It's like almost falling, but catching yourself before a true tumble.  Yet you're unrepentant and fall into the same patterns again.  Tipping, tipping, tipping.  That's dangerous business.

In Zechariah 1, the prophet addresses a people who come from a long line of chair tippers.  Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.'  But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. (Zechariah 1: 4)  The Israelites, God's people, had tasted and seen the consequences of their forefathers' disobedience and turning from the Lord.  It seems ludicrous that they'd even so much as tiptoe toward this way of living, but Zechariah's words from the Lord made it clear that they were just as hard headed and stubborn.  Why should they listen to His call:  Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. (Zech. 1:3)?  Just as my warning to my students comes from the heart of a teacher, a caregiver who desires the well-being and good of the children in my care, how much more must our great Teacher love us?  Jesus Christ left His rightful place in heaven to walk among humanity teaching, healing, and loving.  He lived a sinless life where we could not and stretched out His arms on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins and receive the judgment and wrath that our disobedience and evil deserved.  But the story was not over, for He conquered death and rose victorious offering union with Him, abundant life, and salvation to those who confess Him as Lord of their life.  Our great Teacher, our beloved Savior instructed, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)  With a heart overflowing with thankfulness and joy for His grace and mercy, I want to please Him.  And the incredible part of it is that His commandments are there for our good and best interests!

Are you done deliberately tipping your chair, precariously balancing on the edge of destruction and heartbreak?  Put it back on the firm foundation of Christ, our Rock that cannot be shaken or moved.        

Because He First Chose Me

A little over a week ago, I sat down at my computer wishing to write an Easter inspired blog reflecting upon the incredible sacrifice and saving power of Jesus.  A message that fills my life with joy, I wanted to share it in words but couldn't figure out how to wrap it up as a gift for you to read.  I stared at the screen for a while but to no avail.  After retreating to Youtube to watch a few videos and listen to some of my favorite songs, an idea finally began to take shape in my mind.  With two weeks of Spring Break ahead, I decided to take on a small project, so I sent an email out to several friends who were wonderful enough to contribute.  Thank you to each of you who shared your story and your words of how Jesus has changed your life. 

This blog post is inspired by the song "I Choose Jesus" by Moriah Peters.  Easter Sunday is the most beautiful and glorious day of the year, a time when we can celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as He rose victorious over sin and death.  But if we are only joyous of His victory one day a year, are we truly giving Him the praise He deserves?  Are we stepping into the glorious light of redemption and grace?  We may celebrate Easter but one day a year, yet the Gospel transforms me every single day.  As Moriah Peters sings, "I will stand and let the whole world know.  I choose Jesus, the One who first chose me."

I asked several of my friends to ponder this song and to share with you the incredible way that Jesus has changed them, remade them, loved them, and made them new.  Their words speak volumes more than I alone could say.  Our Savior is great, and we want the world to know.  We choose Jesus, the One who first chose us!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  Romans 1:16  

(Push play to start the song, then scroll down to enjoy.  We choose Jesus!)

Jesus called me from a life of mediocre Christianity to a life of complete surrender to Him and living for His glory.  As my Savior and Lord, He fills my heart so fully that it could burst with joy and thankfulness.  If I am to boast, may I always boast in Him!  My name is Cassie and I choose Jesus.  

I grew up in the faith but I wandered away from Him and into darkness. Jesus then reached, healed my blindness, and showed me a new way to live. My name is Jason Chapel and I choose Jesus.

I am continually amazed at how much He loves me. “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” – Isaiah 49: 15-16.  It is through the blood of Christ that I have right standing with God…I am His.  My name is Nancy and I choose Jesus! 

I found true joy and humility in Jesus. My name is Ali and I choose Jesus.

I found the meaning of unconditional love and true selflessness in Jesus Christ. When He becomes greater and I become less, there is purpose in my life. My name is Dan and I choose Jesus.

Knowing that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by dying to cleanse me of my sins even though I don’t deserve it is a reminder that I try to focus on every day.  I’m not going to be perfect, but Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy gives me the hope and direction to try to live my life for Him.  My name is Marc and I choose Jesus.

I am thankful to have learned about Jesus’ love for me at a young age, but truly grasping and understanding the depths of His love for me is something that changes how I live my daily life today. He died for my sins and I am so thankful for His love, though I’m undeserving, and I try to reflect His goodness every day.  My name is Amy Gene and I choose Jesus. 

Jesus is helping me to find contentment Him alone. He is showing me daily that even though there are struggles and disappointments in this world, joy and hope can be found in Him. My name is Jennifer and I choose Jesus. 

Every morning, I wake up in awe of the fact that the Creator of the universe also longs to be my friend. At the foot of the cross, he transformed my broken heart into something beautiful. My name is Nancy, and I choose Jesus.

Through knowing Jesus my life has been transformed into one of feeling unconditional love and forgiveness. As  my walk in my faith continues to grow I look towards him for guidance in every aspect of my life. My name is Jessica and I choose Jesus.

Jesus has always been there to guide me when I've humbled myself and allowed him to.  Knowing I have eternal life because of his love makes all the difference!  My name is Clay and I choose Jesus.

Jesus has shown me just how big and powerful He truly is.  He reminds me every day that when compared to Him, my worries pale in comparison, and that I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.  My name is Mel, and I choose Jesus.

Jesus is the source of every joy in my life.  He is the reason I have purpose, the reason I have hope for what is to come, the reason I am able to love, the reason I sing, the reason I proclaim I am forgiven, and the reason I can live as a new creation.  My name is Rachel and I choose Jesus!

Apart from Christ I was dead in the midst of existence. In Christ I have been given life in God. Each day I am transformed by His gospel through His grace yearning for Him to be glorified in me and I in Him. My name is Patrick, and I choose Jesus.

Jesus heard my silent plea for comfort and gave me peace when I didn't think anyone was listening.  I hope that I never live without knowing His love is always there.  My name is Leslie and I choose Jesus.

Jesus has revived my soul. I am ever thankful to open my heart to a growing and loving relationship with my Lord and Savior. My name is Sara Jo and I choose Jesus.

I was raised in a faith based solely on the rules and commandments we kept.  After experiencing true Christianity and depending only on the blood of Jesus to save me and the assurance of eternal salvation, my life was completely changed.   My name is Jo Ann and I choose Jesus.

Thank you Lord that while we were still in darkness and dead in our sins, you reached down and chose to fill our hearts with your truth, understanding, and light.  Because of this, we can stand and say "We choose Jesus!"

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

-The Sound of Music

We all have "raindrops on roses" or "warm woolen mittens" in our lives, those experiences and entities which bring a smile to our hearts.  For me it's curling up with a blanket and brand new book, singing along wholeheartedly to one of my favorite songs, or opening my mailbox to find a card addressed to me.  Enjoying a home cooked meal with family and friends, a cup of hot tea, or being wrapped up in a hug by a loved one I haven't seen in quite some time...these are a few of my favorite things.  I'm incredibly fortunate to have a multitude of such blessings that are present in my life from the small to the significant.  As I enjoy these "favorite things," it's key to recognize their source.  David reminds us in the Psalms: I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." (Psalm 16:2)   

From where do the beautiful and enjoyable aspects of life originate?  They are gifts from our Heavenly Father, our God who delights in our joy and desires to bless His children.  So whether minute or lavish, everything wonderful and good finds its source in Him.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights... (James 1:17)

This is one way that I understand and am impacted by Psalm 16:2; I cannot separate any good thing in my life from Him or ultimately give thanks for my blessings to anyone but God.  On a deeper level, though, this verse is even more critical.  As lovely as our favorite things in life are, the gift of Christ makes everything completely pale in comparison.  Apart from you I have no good thing.  Raindrops on roses or the piercing rays creating a crimson horizon are mere rubbish when laid next to the glory of God.  The apostle Paul articulates this so well.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. (Philippians 3:8)  Every single thing in this world is fleeting and momentary, yet the One who is worthy of all praise and honor will reign forever.  No matter how much joy His gifts and blessings bring, they are no substitute for One who has taken His place in my heart as my true "favorite thing," my Savior and King.

Let us give thanks for His goodness in showering our lives with our favorite things, yet may our hearts always raise up on a pedestal the very best thing of ultimate worth and value, our relationship with and salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let Loose

A few weeks ago I spent the afternoon in an indoor rock climbing excursion.  Being my third time, I knew what I was getting myself into.  Although it may look quite simple, rock climbing is actually physically taxing and a somewhat intricate process to make everything run smoothly.  If you find yourself with enough strength and finesse to pull your full body weight from knob to knob and ledge to ledge, you can take a few moments to catch your breath and revel in glory at the summit.  But then of course, there is the whole business of getting back down.  Looking below, you find that you are much higher up than you'd realized, and it sinks in that your descent rests in the hands of your climbing partner.  Giving him or her the signal, you simply let go and drop away from the wall trusting that the equipment and instruction from the employees will work as planned.  Bit by bit, your climbing partner works the cables to return you to the ground below.  It's really not all that difficult, but it's a great deal easier talking about it than actually letting go and trusting when you're yards above held safely by only a few ropes, pulleys, and cables.  You have to let loose, have faith, and let them take care of the rest.

This act of faithfully letting go even when it's ridiculously scary and difficult reminds me of a passage of Scripture that has repeatedly come before me in the past few months.  I'm a firm believer that God brings certain verses before us for a reason, so when the story of Abraham and Isaac repeated in my life, I had to stop and ponder what He was revealing to me through it.  In particular, I've been very impacted by the story of Abraham's willingness to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice when instructed to do so by God.  At first glance, I have to admit that it seems a bit bizarre.  Child sacrifice is something I connect to pagan cultures, not a story of great faith.  Nonetheless, we must look deeper to see what is really happening in this story.  In Timothy Keller's book Counterfeit Gods, he addresses this story in regards to idols of our hearts.  For many years, Abraham and his wife Sarah had longed for a child.  In their old age when they were convinced that it would be impossible to conceive, God provided them with a baby boy who they named Isaac.  Keller posits, then, that after all of these years of yearning, Isaac would have held a place of dearest importance in the heart of his servant Abraham.  This is important to note, because we then can truly appreciate Abraham's response.

Let's take a look at Genesis 22.  Some time later God tested Abraham.  He said to him, "Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.  Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. (Genesis 22: 1-2)  Can you imagine?  I have trouble truly wrapping my head around that one.  God wasn't asking him to inconvenience himself just a little bit.  He was asking him to have faith and let loose of his child.  And not just his child, the son for whom he and his wife Sarah had waited decades!  So what does Abraham do?  He and Isaac load up and obey.  Following what God has directed, Abraham takes Isaac and upon arrival he binds him to the alter to sacrifice him.  I seriously commend Abraham because this is the moment where, if I hadn't yet, I'd be struggling.  Maybe a really long pause, a prayer offered up asking for clarification.  But no, Abraham, our man of great faith obeys.  Just as Isaac was about to be sacrificed in obedience, an "angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.  "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said.  "Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." (Genesis 22: 11-12)

There is so much that we can learn from this story.  First, I see that God will ask us to have faith and let loose of those things which are dearest in our hearts.  Not just the things we sort of like, but those which perhaps we've longed for and cherish.  And like Abraham, He wants us to move forward and obey unswervingly and without question, having faith that God knows best.  But an even more incredible insight and takeaway from this story is the connection to the Gospel.  I absolutely love how God, the most creative and beautiful author, wove such intricacies and connections from the very first book of the Bible to the last.  In reflecting upon the story of Abraham and Isaac in her book The Names of God, Marilyn Hickey notes that when God sent an angel to keep him from killing Isaac, God also provided an animal stuck in the thicket to be used as the sacrifice.....and this is just a foreshadowing of what He would do in sending Jesus to die on the cross in our stead!  Isn't that beautiful?  Here is what I'm seeing:  God asked something really huge and quite painful of Abraham, to have faith and to offer up his beloved son.  While we can say this seems harsh, this is exactly what God did in sending Jesus.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)  Although Isaac was spared, Christ was not.  God loved you and I so incredible much that He had a plan ready, even all the way back in Genesis, to redeem His children.  Christ was able to live a sinless life that was impossible for every human, He died upon the cross taking the full wrath and judgment upon Himself that our sins rightfully deserved, and He defeated death and rose again.  Because of His great sacrifice, we are offered forgiveness, grace, and His righteousness.  Wow!

This story of Abraham's faith is really quite incredible and spurs me on to have greater faith and obedience in trusting God and letting go when He commands.  But it's not the story of Abraham that gives me the power to do so.  Looking down from the top when only a few cables, pulleys, and ropes keep me safe, I see Christ standing at the bottom with His hands firmly on the ropes.  "Cassie, just push off and let go.  I've got you, and I'll bring you safely to me."  That is exactly what gives me unending confidence and hope as over and over again I strive to let loose, have faith, and let Him do the rest.           

Beggars Can't Be Choosers

     These past few weeks have been icy cold.  It's that kind of cold that cuts you to the core and makes you chilled to the bone.  It pulls at my heart to think of anyone without a home this winter forced to face the elements.  As I drove to meet a friend for coffee yesterday, I passed a man at a nearby exit ramp holding a cardboard sign.  As he hobbled along next to a line of cars, I can only imagine that he was asking, perhaps even begging, that those with would spare a bit for one without. Despite the physical comforts in my own life, it's humbling to realize that I once was a beggar myself and so were you.  In fact, some of you may still be in this condition without realizing it.  Before any Christian receives Christ as their Lord and Savior, that is in essence all we really are: beggars seeking to fill a deep need within.  We may search far and wide, within ourselves and with those around us, but we find ourselves continually empty-handed.  The things of this world simply do not satisfy.  But when you lay it all down at the cross surrendering your life, your desires, your everything to Christ, he fills our begging hands to overflowing.  We no longer need look elsewhere to fulfill our desires, hopes, and dreams for we know that His plans and path for our lives are leading us toward our greatest good in Him.

Although we can renounce our status as beggars and embrace our membership in God's own family, it's important to keep in mind from whence we came.  Beggars can't be choosers the old adage says, and yet I'm sorry to say that I myself and many other believers can become quite choosy and selective in their walk of faith.  Many will seek to conform God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to their own image, to place God into a small mold or box.  Be wary of such an attitude, for we were made in His image and not the other way around.  We are a mere reflection of His awesome glory.  He is so much greater, so much more powerful, so much more holy and awe inspiring than I can even fathom or understand.  I'm also embarrassed to admit my own failings in often looking to the ideas of popular Christian authors, artists, bloggers, and tweets to inform my own doctrine.  Although other believers can teach us much about God and spur us on in our faith and learning, it's sad to realize how many Christians find these sources more trustworthy and credible than God's own Word.  When I hear someone say, "I'm a Christian but...... (insert some teaching or truth that they aren't willing to go along with)" a red flag goes up that he or she is getting choosy.  The path which Christ offers us is grace filled and a free gift, but it's not a grab bag to be filled with the parts we like best.  In His teachings, Jesus never minced words to the crowds that gathered around Him.  He made it clear that He offered the path of everlasting life, but He made it equally evident that it required absolute surrender.  Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for me will save it... (Luke 9:23-24).

So this is a challenge for myself as I seek to feed my appetite to grow in the depth of my knowledge of Christ.  May I lay down my life, my agenda, and my will to pick up His cross daily.  May I remember that I am no longer a beggar, but I also can't allow myself to become a chooser.  May I not listen to the voices around me or the sinful nature within that tempts me to make less of my Savior to fit what is comfortable or convenient.  Instead, may my mind be challenged and moldable to be reshaped by His teachings.  And lastly, may the basis for my knowledge and truths be first and foremost based in study of His own inspired and all-sufficient Word.  Beggars can't be choosers.  The only thing I choose is to be neither but to simply be His.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)