Not Tolerance

I know I'm not the only one noticing it.

We are in an age of intolerance though we claim forward thinking and "we are all one."  We like to rail on the fact that a country founded on freedom even had to have a law desegregating schools...

While we're not there, we certainly haven't progressed.  We've in fact, taken two steps backwards.

Think on it.

 The majority of posts I see on Facebook are condemning one religion or another.  Someone posts an opinion you think is absurd and you reply with venom. People were in an uproar over Dan Cathy answering a question regarding his view on marriage.

If he was answering a question, that means he was asked.  He wasn't out picketing or proclaiming. And we claim freedom in speech. 

We have people trying to shut down a New York City pizza parlor because the owner was so excited to have the President of the United States visit his shop, he bear-hugged him.

 "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him." Colossians 1:16.

Honesty and affection.
This is what we're waging war over?  This is why we're trying to destroy people and their livelihoods?

You say you're a tolerant person.   Up until the moment you're given a view which doesn't line up with your's.

Then, come hell or high water, you'll ride your high horse and get into a silent screaming match via social media and tell your "friends" or people you've never met and probably will never meet why they're vile and idiotic.

Yet, we claim to be tolerant and accepting and humble.
This is what has become the norm for our culture.

We like to say America is a melting pot, a land of opportunity and growth...

Only as long as you speak our language and stay in certain neighborhoods and don't go to our schools.

How to raise children in this?  How to reconcile the God of the Bible, who has called ALL (not a certain type or background or ethnicity) to be his children through belief in his Son to the hate that is plastered all over everything?

I think in all our personal views, we've forgotten a very important commandment.  To love our neighbor as ourself (Leviticus 19:18).  Regardless of beliefs, skin color, marital status or income.  Love.  Because he first loved us, so much, that he would send his perfect, spotless Son to die for the very people who reject him and his commandments.

If you're blasting a religious group for not worshiping as you worship - go share Jesus with them (how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!).

Jesus did.  He hung out with the prostitutes and lawyers, the scribes and tax collectors.

If you're up in arms over your neighbor not having the same view as you on Creation - invite them over for dinner.

Jesus frequently ate meals with those who rejected his claim as the Son of God.

He came into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world.  Who are we to cast the first stone?

So if you're spending time and energy, spend it wisely.  Furthering the eternal kingdom rather than berating others for not sharing your opinion is much more satisfying and fulfilling than any earthly thing you could ever pour into.

There is not a battle worth it if it leads to sin and death.

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I am a noisy going 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 my body up

to be burned, but have not love,

I gain nothing.

 

I Corinthians 13:1-3

Exchanging Greatness for Mediocrity

I think we might sometimes confuse "God is good and he does good (Psalm 119:68) with "He's good so that must mean he's going to give me everything I want since I see it as good."

Our wants and our desires are not bad things.  Over and over, in God's unfailing, unchanging Word, it tells us Jesus came so we could have life and have it abundantly and that God longs to give us good gifts.
But...where our hope is tells us if we have taken a simple, good desire and turned it into a lustful, all-consuming want. 
If our hope is in this thing, this circumstance with no regard to God and his will for us overall and in this given moment, we're worshiping at the feet of a false god that will never satisfy.

I hear so often "I trust the Lord."  It's thrown out as our back-up plan.

"I trust him that I won't stumble, this time."
"I trust him to give me this because I really want it and I'm reading my Bible."
"I trust him as long as he succombs to my wants and wishes."

Yes and amen to asking the Lord.  He is the only one that tells us to petiton him.  To keep asking, to basically harass him.  I've learned though, that those things I'm pleading with him for, no matter how innocent or demure they seem on the surface (say, my dad's healing from cancer), I still need to hold them with open hands knowing that because God is good and does good, ultimately his will is good.

When you come to a crossroads, you're presented with choices.  Path A and Path B.
Choices have been from the beginning and some choices are not the wisest ones.

Think back to the garden.  God put something there that would lead to death.  Why? 

Because of his great love for us.  He loves us with a deep, unending love but he wants that love to be returned -- not because it's forced -- but because we have freedom in choosing.
How many times are choices put before us?  A relationship, a job change, a chance to make more money...

And we know, we know, Path A is not the wisest because of our bent to sin but we justify it by saying, "God is sovereign and he would not have put it there if he didn't want me to have it."

We're willing to challenge our integrity all over a simple desire that now rules us.

"We tend to thing that small allowances for sin will not make a lasting effect on our character or keep us from growing in Christ... We let small fires burn thinking the house will never turn to ash around us" (City on a Hill Study Guide, TVC).

So what are those small fires you're just managing?
What are those seemingly flickers of flames that have so clouded your judgement you can't see that in a moment they can overtake you?

If our goal, as a daughter or son of the King, is to live a life to glorify him so we might enjoy Him forever, is that what you're pursuing?
His righteousness?  His holiness?  His will?

Or are you willing to play with fire hoping the heat and smog leads to purity.

Embracing the Uncertainty

Trying to figure out where you're going while being content with where you are.

Am I the only one who feels this?

We're in this moment right now that feels like we're on a crash collision course.  We're standing here thinking "no" but all the signs point to "yes."  The unimaginable is looking to become more and more our reality.

I have this thought that goes like this, "Surely not...Who does that?!"

Certainly not us.

But again, the Lord seems to like the off-beaten, the not normal.

In all of it, I see the majestic hand of God. 
All my "if only's" become "only You."

Nothing is firm, nothing is set but there are times you just know... you just do.

And the beauty of it is, when He calls, you answer.

Not because of personal strength or righteousness or will power, but because He is all those things for me.  I don't have to be.

What will come is doubts, criticism, and anxiety.

But what remains is faith, hope, and love.

Little Lessons

I have this scrap of paper that hangs on my refrigerator.  No matter how many times I clean and organize, it stays with me. 

Ordinarily orange, in the shape of a triangle, it bears one word.  Rejoice.

Obviously handmade.
Obviously the work of a young child.

More than a treasured, "Mom, look what I made you" piece of artwork, it's a reminder that the Lord uses my children to minister to me, to teach me, to encourage me.

And to remind me that everything comes full circle.

We had had a difficult week with difficult news.  As we walked the boys through the difficulty, we reminded them of a verse we had learned.  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances."

I found myself severely lacking what I had taught them.  Colten became enamored of the word rejoice, writing it on every surface available.

One day, in the midst of typical hurriedness and frustration and meltdowns, I wasn't responding well to anything.  He kept trying to slip a piece of paper in my hands and without looking, I would tell him, "Thanks, can you please go do what I asked you to do?"

Over and over, he would place it in my hand, no matter that I was running to and fro trying to get us ready.

I finally received it, but not very graciously.  Never once cutting my eyes to it, I simply pushed it to the side of the counter and went on doing whatever was so extremely important I can't recall.

Hours later, after being home, exhausted and worn out, he brought me the paper.

I finally looked at it and saw what was so important to him.

He was reminding me what I had been teaching him.  To rejoice always, no matter if it's a simple day or a day filled with aggravation.

My freckle faced babe had known what I needed most and lovingly petitioned me to take notice.

So my hand-cut, painstakingly colored triangle stays...For both of us to remind ourselves that rejoicing is what gives us joy, in all circumstances.

Rejoicing and Mourning

Today I received the joyous news that my friend's sweet baby was being discharged from the NICU and is allowed to go home.

Today I received the difficult news that a dear friend would be starting medication to start contractions to have the baby that has ceased having a heartbeat.

At a crossroads of emotions, which wins?

The mourning sits heavy, causing my heart to reflect on what I believe.
It overshadows the deep desire and want to rejoice.

In a moment of frailty, I'm reminded of the despair.
In a moment of pain, I'm reminded of the brokenness.
In a moment of mourning, I'm reminded my hope is not here.

Yesterday found me receiving pictures of another friend's precious arrival while holding the hand of another who had just suffered a miscarriage.

Mourning and rejoicing; so closely intertwined but one always looming larger than the other.

In the grief, I remind myself of all that was lost in the Fall.  It has been rightly and so wisely said that if you do not understand where we've fallen from (perfect community with God and no shame), you can't understand the dysfunction we now live in (a fracture of what was).

Yet, a flicker of hope stays lit no matter how hard the buffeting winds of death and destruction blow.

Right now, we live out sin and shame, tears and confusion.  Temporarily, for the end does come no matter what you believe.

But one day, He returns to redeem all that has been lost and marred.  He becomes the gospel in action once again.

For those that have received salvation and believe in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, this is what we cling to in the wake of devastation.  Our hope secured, our joy never ceasing.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Romans 12:15

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Most Important Church

I know so many people, being one of them, that grew up in church but never had a true understanding of who God is, what Jesus did, and what the gospel is.

I was never taught those things at home.  It was understood that I since I went to church every Sunday, I knew the Bible.

Many want to blame it on the teachings of the church.  But here, I think we're off.

If your kid gets one hour a week of church, no matter how solid that teaching is, it will not make up for the other 167 hours.  And those 167 are absolutely filled with contradictions.

As a parent, we're called to teach and train our children.
As a parent, we're called to share with them the goodness of God as we sit, lie, rise, and walk.

So often we know it, but we don't do it.

Instead, we expect the church to produce saints in their very limited time frame.
We expect our church to shepherd and guide, rebuke and discipline, teach and lead.

If children are a gift from God, are we treating them as such?

Are we viewing them through the eyes of Christ or do we see them as mere inconveniences to our will and wants?

I found myself being baptized at eight with no real regard to who I was in light of Christ and who God said He was in the Bible.  One hour a week wasn't enough to cut it.

At 26, I found myself entering those waters again, this time with a heart of flesh and deep love for the Lord.

So it is with our kids.  The more we invite Christ to be a part of our seemingly mundane, ordinary days, the more we see the extraordinary.  We have more of an opportunity to watch the Holy Spirit work in our little ones who, by nature, are children of wrath

It's not easy. 
Some days it will seem impossible.

But in all moments, we have a Heavenly Father who walks with us. 
We have been given grace upon grace through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
We have our Helper, the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things.

Be the church in your own home.  Share the good news of Jesus's redeeming work in all you do with your kids.  The Lord is indeed faithful, whether they receive salvation at age 8 or 28.