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!

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.

The Story Continues...

The excitement is all over. The ears have been eaten off the bunny. The jellybeans are all gone. Dinner has been cooked, the dishes are done, the eggs hidden and found (at least most of them!), and now its back to the reality of the workweek.

Did you stop for a minute? Did you think about the joy that is yours because of Easter?

A professor of mine asked the question, “What would be different if Jesus had not risen from the dead?” The answer is that nothing would be different. We would still be lost in sin. We would still be trying to work our way into God’s favor. We would still be trying to figure out what exactly God wants from us, and how on earth we could ever do what he wants. We would still be striving vainly. And we would still be condemned.

The real question is, “What is different because Jesus rose from the dead?” And the answer there is, “EVERYTHING!” Because Jesus rose from the dead, I am not a slave to sin. Because Jesus rose from the dead, I have hope, and the assurance that he has secured my salvation. I have a relationship with a real, living person. I can know God, and know exactly what he wants from me. He wants everything, and through his power I can give it to him.

Praise be to the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth

into a living hope

through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead. I Peter 1:3

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have a living hope, not a dead dread of what’s to come. Because Jesus rose from the dead, I am saved. I am.

But what does my life reflect? Do I live like the tomb is empty, or do I live as if its still Saturday, and Jesus and all my dreams are dead?

After the resurrection, there is a new excitement among the disciples. Jesus appears to them, eats with them, lets them stick their fingers into his hands and side, walks with them, cooks them breakfast. There is a new intimacy as a result of the resurrection that lasts even after he is gone from their sight. The Holy Spirit comes, and they are FILLED with him. Peter can’t keep it in; he goes out into the middle of the 5,000 plus people and proclaims Jesus risen from the dead.

My life doesn’t always reflect this excitement. Sometimes I am grumpy. Sometimes I seem to dread the day ahead. Instead of seeing my life filled with possibility, instead of living in expectation of what God can do next, I keep my head down and just sludge through the day.

How different would my life be if I lived into the reality of the resurrection? How attractive to others would it be if I lived the joy that only comes from my risen Savior? Peter couldn’t not share. I am so content to live as if my faith were a private thing. While Jesus would have died just for me, he died for everyone. Why aren’t I sharing that more freely?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17

Go! Live in joy and hope! Always be prepared to share the hope that lives in you, because of the certainty of the resurrection. Let the way you live reflect your newness of life!

Anna and Simeon

She was old. Really old. She had lived a normal life, having married, and then lived as a widow. For the past years, she lived as a prophetess, fasting and praying and never leaving the temple. She spent her time worshipping, and waiting for the Messiah.

And then she saw him. The Messiah.

The poor, young couple had brought him to the temple for his circumcision and consecration to God. They made an offering of two pigeons, and then ran into Simeon. The Holy Spirit had told him he would not die until he saw the Messiah, the “consolation of Israel.” When he saw Jesus, he took him in his arms and praised God.

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

Simeon then told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart.

Anna and Simeon lived their lives in expectation, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Savior. They met him and everything changed. Their lives had been spent waiting, and now the waiting was over. From here on their lives would be about witness, and about worship.

As we prepare for Christmas, every day should be about the same things, witness and worship. As we go about the busy-ness of this next week, we are witnesses to the difference Jesus makes in our lives, and we worship him in gratitude. As we interact with people at work, at school, in the mall or in the parking lot, we are witness to the joy and the hope we have in Jesus.

Anna lived her life looking forward to the redemption of Israel, embodied in this tiny baby. We live looking back, grateful for the life of this man, Jesus.

How will you worship today?

Joy in the midst of weeping

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  The are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:21-22

The book of Lamentations is a book of five poems, thought to have been written by Jeremiah, Israel’s weeping prophet.  It is a book of intense mourning.

Jerusalem had fallen. The nation of Israel had fallen into idolatry and rebellion and so God gave her over to the Babylonians.  Jeremiah made it clear that the only reason she fell was because of the anger of the Lord, not because of the national strength of Babylon – God caused it.  Jeremiah weeps over the destruction of the city.  He mourns because of the sin of the nation that led to the anger and rejection of Israel by God. God had told them that this would happen, and that he would do whatever it took, including being exiled, to bring them to repentance.

           

Almost exactly in the middle of this sad book, Jeremiah remembers and reaffirms the love of God.  In the center of the destroyed city, Jeremiah remembers who God is, and he finds hope.

“This I recalled to my mind, therefore I have hope,” he says.  “If He causes grief, then He will have compassion, according to His lovingkindnesses.”  (3:21, 32)

Jeremiah understood something of the nature of God.  God is holy and will not tolerate sin forever, but God is also love.  He disciplines us for a season, to correct and direct us away from sin.  He loves us too much to allow us to continue in a direction away from Him.  In His compassion, in His faithfulness, He disciplines.  Because Jeremiah understood, in the midst of destruction he could say, “the Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning.  Great is Thy faithfulness.”

As we go through our lives, we will be unavoidably confronted with difficulties.  Sometimes God disciplines us.  Sometimes we go through rough times because of the sin of another.  Sometimes stuff just happens.  The only way through it is to remember the nature of God, and to allow it to give us hope.  In the midst of our weeping, we, like Jeremiah, can remember God’s compassions, His lovingkindness, and can stand firm on truth.  We can only hold on to what we know; we can only remember what we have learned. 

How well do you know God?  If you are not in His word, studying His nature and getting to know Him and in fellowship through prayer, when hard times come you will have little or nothing to stand on.  Turn off the TV, the radio, the movie – the noise.  Exchange the need to be entertained for a solid foundation of truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit to the quiet and receiving heart.  Give yourself a reason for joy in the midst of sorrow, a reason for joy now.