Love Well!

This will be my last post for the month of September. I’ll be back in October with more self-examination and more challenge to live as people of God! I’m headed out of town on the vacation of a lifetime. I won’t be around to announce the new blog posts, so decided to just take the month off. I have no idea how you use my posts, if you use them regularly as devotions or as inspirational reading when you see my reminder. My guess is out of sight, out of mind. My blog is always there, so if you miss me, go to famousapril.blogspot.com and read back. Some of the oldies are goodies!

While I am gone I hope you will pray for me. Pray that I will be a good representative of Jesus where ever I am and whatever the situation. Pray that my words are kind. I’ll be traveling with both daughters and my mom, and they know how to push my buttons. I’ll be doing all the driving, and on the “wrong” side of the road, so pray for our safety! Pray that we aren’t ugly Americans, but that we respect the culture we find ourselves in. Pray that my words and actions are gracious and a living testimony. Pray that our money stretches far!

While I am gone I will be praying for you!

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God! Philippians 1:9-11

God is working in you. He began a good work, and will keep working, stretching you and growing you and loving you, until Jesus returns and you are complete and mature (Phil. 1:6). He is faithful!

Have a good month, friends. Keep your eyes open for how God is working today, and your ears tuned to hear his voice. Love well!

Heal My Heart

I’m not the type of person who holds on to hurts. People hurt us. That’s the nature of life. We hurt others, too. Some hurts go so deep, though, that letting them go and moving forward is really hard. It takes work. Even then, sometimes those hurts rise unbidden in our minds.

I have to choose to let hurts go. I have to decide that I am not that person who broods and mulls over old stuff. I have to acknowledge that I was hurt, work through all those feelings and then set them aside. When they arise from out of nowhere, I have to once again look them over and then give them to God. I pray over each angry thought and ask God to remove it, and replace it love. We’re still working on that last part.

Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and all my sighing is not hidden from Thee. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; and the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me. Psalm 38:9-10

God understands hurt. David expressed it well in the Psalms in many places. Joseph bore the hatred of his brothers, being sold into slavery by them. Dinah bore the shame and hurt of rape. Paul was stoned by the people he was trying to share salvation with, more than once. Jesus bore the hurt of the betrayal of one of his own, his closest. He felt the whole world turn against him. God gets it.

When my kids were growing up, we went camping with our church family every Labor Day weekend. I will confess that I hate camping but it was a good time of fellowship with our best friends. (We went one Memorial Day, but it rained so hard we couldn’t get a fire started, and had to go back to town and buy pizza for dinner!) A while ago I found myself watching the news and seeing the weather report for Labor Day weekend – RAIN! All weekend long. The thought sprang to my mind, “I hope my ex-husband is going camping this weekend!” I wasn’t sitting around cooking up evil things to do to my ex. I wasn’t consciously thinking about him at all, and yet here was this ugly, hateful thought.

First, I laughed at myself. I am human. I don’t think I am angry and hateful, and yet here was a thought that revealed my heart. I had to ask God to forgive me, to take that thought and to banish it. Once again, I had to give God my heart and ask him to transform it. I certainly can’t do it on my own.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Next I choose to dwell on other things. I fill my mind with things of beauty and joy. Getting rid of the bad and dark thoughts isn’t enough; I need to replace them with something positive or the vacuum sucks in the first thought that comes along. I want to fill my mind with better choices. It’s going to wander (someone said my mind is too little to be allowed to wander on it’s own!) so I want to shape ahead of time where it goes.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

I want to be a joyous, positive person, one who laughs and loves freely. I can’t do that if I’m weighed down with hurt and anger and hatred. I choose to let those go to live lightly. God can heal me, if I let him. He can heal you, too. Whatever hurt you are hanging on to, give it to him. He is trustworthy. He wants better for you.

A joyful heart is good medicine! Proverbs 17:22a

Choices

When I first learned that I was diabetic it became apparent that I would have to change my eating habits. I needed to make healthier choices, to eat more protein and veggies, and to forgo carbohydrates. I learned to read labels and packaging, looking for hidden sugars and making my calories count. Some days it was harder than others. I developed a mantra that I repeat to myself even today: “I can eat to live or I can eat to die. Today I choose to eat to live.” Not every day, though. Some days I am tired or discouraged or grumpy, and I eat the wrong things. I eat to die. I didn’t just come up with this and say it once. I repeat it every day. I have to make this choice every day.

The same is true with my Christian life.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying his voice and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

First I must choose life, the life that is only found in Jesus. If you have not placed your faith in Jesus for salvation, do so. Do it now. Don’t wait. Why would you choose death? Choose life today.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.

John 14:6

I must also choose each day who I am going to live for. Will I live for myself, investing in temporary and earthly things? Or will I live for the One who gave me life? How will I invest my time and energy? Will my day belong to me or God?

Choose for yourself today whom you will serve… Joshua 24:15

It’s a choice I have to make every single day, sometimes hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute. Will I stop and share God’s love with that inconvenient person? Will I choose to spend a few minutes in the Word? Is my time mine, or his?

Just like choosing to eat for life, I have to choose to live for life and for the One who gave me life. Some days it’s harder than others. Some days all I want to do is nap and eat chocolate. Bring on the brownies! Some days I want to walk by that annoying, needy person without seeing them or stopping to affirm their worth in the eyes of God.

It helps to remember that I am chosen, and was chosen first by God before I even knew that I needed him. My choice to live for him is only possible because I am his beloved. I can be kind because of his kindness to me. I can be patient because of his great patience.

And so, as those who have been chosen by God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14

Today, choose life. Choose to live the life that God has given you. Put on life and love like your favorite jeans and t-shirt. Wear them and grow comfortable with them. It’s a daily thing, but it’s worth it.

My Crown!

Something amazing happened this week. I became a grandmother! 

 And it’s doubly amazing because it happened twice! My son and his lovely wife gave birth to Peter David, 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 and a half inches long. Perfect in every way. My daughter and her soon-to-be husband (pictured here) became the parents of 20-month-old Sophia, bright and sweet and full of sass, also perfect in every way.

Grandchildren are the crown of the old. Prov. 17:6

Ok, it actually says they are the crown of old men, but I gender- neutraled it because they are my crown too. The point the scripture is making is that grandchildren are awesome, and an honor to their grandparents. Many of you have been grandparents for a long time and already know the joy that is mine today, but to me this is a new thing. I hope you will bear with me.

I love that I am a Nana. I love these little people with an intensity that took me a little by surprise. I love their smell, even after Peter urped on me and my hands smelled like sour baby for the afternoon. I love that Sophia took video with my phone that I didn’t find until the next day. I love their books and songs and little clothes. I love their giggle and coos and the funny noises they make when they sleep. I especially love the sense of purpose that I have as an influence in their little lives.

My job as a grandmother is different than that of a parent. I am not responsible for them, so my input is strictly out of love and a desire for their best. I can love them unconditionally, and influence their values through love. Paul commended Timothy for the sincere faith he saw in him, noting that he knew that it had lived in Timothy’s Grandmother first (2 Tim. 1:5). My life will speak into Peter and Sophia’s, simply through my interaction with them and my example to them. We will walk together and play and talk together, and they will know my heart.

How many times have you heard someone give testimony that the only reason he or she thinks he is alive and not in prison and in relationship with God is because of a praying Grandmother? I consider it a great privilege to pray for my grandchildren (my children, too). I began as soon as I knew of their existence. I will continue for the rest of their lives.

Mothers and fathers brought their children to Jesus to be blessed by him. The disciples shooed them away. They felt that Jesus was too important to be bothered by children.  Jesus didn’t feel that way!

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all." And he took them in his arms and began blessing them, laying his hands upon them. Mark 10:13-16

I have long believed that we in the church should be involved in the lives of whatever children God places in our lives. Whether we are parents or grandparents or aunts or friends, we have much to learn. I have much to learn from my grandchildren. I pray for an open heart to receive. I am excited to learn who these little people are, their likes and gifts and talents and personalities. I am so grateful for the opportunity!

Being Good Listeners

How do you hear God? Do you hear his voice in your head, maybe in your own voice? Do you hear him speak in the thunder? Or in the wind? Perhaps you hear his voice in the words of a friend, or your pastor, or you mother.

…The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, ad his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3-4

When I was younger I was always fairly certain what to do. I had trained myself to listen for the voice of God, and when I was uncertain I just asked. God always pointed the way. He lived in me, and there was no doubt in me which voice was his.

Then I hit a dark period in life, and God became strangely silent. I prayed. I prayed some more. I cried. I screamed and hollered and yelled my frustration at God, and still he seemed silent. Finally I quit. I waited for the still small voice that we hear so much about. It never came. Instead of waiting to hear, I moved forward, acting on what I knew from scripture. If there were no clear direction I would do what I wanted to. I discovered that God talks to us in a variety of ways.

When my children were very young, I communicated with them in a close and intimate way. I did things with them, guiding them moment-by-moment. As they grew older my direction became less hands on and more directional. I left them lists. I reminded them to think about what they had already been taught. When they became adults they knew they could call me, but they had to rely more on the training they had received, on the knowledge they had been given and on what they knew I would say or direct them to do. If they lacked wisdom, all they had to do was ask.

I have come to believe that God communicates with us like we do with our children. Every child is different, and so every form of communication is different. My relationship with God is different than it was when I was younger, but he has never stopped communicating with me. Sometimes it’s a word from my pastor. Sometimes its clear direction; I just know what I’m supposed to do. Sometimes it’s a word from you, encouraging me or saying exactly what I know he wants me to hear. Sometimes he gives me the desires he wants me to have.

Most of the time it is through his word. As I read and meditate and study I get to know him and his nature better. As I know his nature, I can understand what he would have me do and how he would have me live. I take on the mind of Christ, becoming more like him.

God speaks to all of us. His word is abundantly available, especially here in the United States. The trick is to learn to listen, to apply his word to our lives and to be obedient.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion…See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. 

Hebrews 3:17-18, 12-13

We help each other hear the voice of God. We help each other obey. A young friend of mine worries because she doesn’t feel like she hears God. She belongs to him. He lives in her. It takes time and training to distinguish his voice from the multitude of others that shout into our lives. It is up to her to study to know him. It is up to me to help her.

Witnesses of Life

A common theme among several of my friends lately has been how to share the gospel of Jesus to others. We all know that we are supposed to be ready to share, but we struggle with how exactly we are supposed to do that. Here are a few guidelines that I have found helpful:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

1. Set Christ as Lord. If you want others to embrace the good news of life in Jesus, they need to see that you have fully embraced it. Live. Be fully alive in him.

2. Be prepared. Read your Bible. Get to know the Jesus you are hoping to introduce others to. Just remember that you will never be completely prepared. God will use you to love others, right where you are.

3. Life in Christ is hope. Because of Jesus, our lives are better. We may not have money and ease, and our physical lives may be difficult, but we have the promise of never going through anything alone. We have access to the peace that passes understanding. Jesus came that we might have joy. Joy is good! A certain future is great! Knowing that we are loved, no matter what, is better yet.

4. Treat others with gentleness and respect. We need to see others as individuals, people about whom God cares deeply, and not notches on our belts. We reach to others for their benefit, not for ours. We are reconcilers, bringing people together in relationship with their God.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  

Acts 1:8

Jesus told his disciples that they would be his witnesses. Not that they needed to do anything to become witnesses, but that they would simply be witnesses. Witnesses are people who testify about what they know. That’s all. They don’t say anything that they don’t know; just tell about what God is doing in their lives. God will give them whatever words they need.

Often I complicate the matter. How can I convince others to accept the love that Jesus has for them? How can I save people? These are questions asked out of my own fear, not out of love or faith. I don’t want to look foolish, or fail. What if someone else’s salvation depends on me? What a silly question! I can’t save anyone. I can’t convince anyone or coerce anyone into heaven. The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation, not me.

My job is to abide, to live immersed in the love of Jesus, and to live that love for others. I am alive! Life is good. No fear. Just love. Witnessing to others the love that Jesus is living out in my life. Radiating joy. God will do the rest.

Touched by Generosity

I was touched by the kindness of strangers this week. My daughter and son-in-law are adopting his almost two-year-old daughter, and as part of that process they have moved into a bigger apartment. They are young and still finding their way in the world. They are changing their lifestyle, and need everything. On top of that, money is tight.

We have been scouring garage sales and have found some of what we need, but are down to the wire. They get their first overnight visit with this sweet little girl this week. I posted the last of the key items they needed on a couple of Facebook pages. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people who knew nothing about me and nothing about my daughter. They just knew we had a need. They offered generously, and gave many of the items we needed for free.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this very way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19

The women who gave so generously of what they have aren’t wealthy in this world, but they are rich in good deeds. They are willing to share. They understand the key to a life that is truly life. They know that the only hope that is dependable is hope in God. They have learned to hold tightly to God and loosely to things.

What they didn’t know was that they were being watched. My son-in-law is not a believer. He has no experience with church or with the family of God. All he knows about Christians are what he has seen on TV and in the media. He is learning more as he interacts in my home, and he learned a lot today. He was touched by the kindness of strangers. He witnessed the love of a community of people such as he had never seen before. He witnessed the love of the people of God.

Freely you have received; freely give.

Matthew 10:8

I am grateful for each of you who gave so generously. I am praying for you today, praying that you are blessed in both small and large ways. I am praying that you would find rest and peace, and know that the way you live your lives is a witness and a sacrifice that God will honor. Can you feel him smiling at you?

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken. Psalm 112:4-6