Loyalty

Ally was a good dog. She was a Black Lab we bought as a puppy to help our son Matthew overcome his fear of dogs.........................It worked. Matthew fell in love with that puppy as we watched her grow into a 125 lb dynamo of feet, tail and drool. Now as much as she bonded with Matthew and Rebecca..... and even me- The most powerful connection into our family came with my wife Julie. Julie was the one who walked her, played with her, loved on her and yes even overfed her. I can tell you there was more than once that I envied the love my wife gave that dog- But I shouldn't have been surprised. Julie is like that- A warm, loving, kind woman who can live it out with the best of 'em. Couple that with Ally's love for Julie- Always smiling (Yes I said smiling-Ally had an awesome smile), Always happy to see Julie, Always pouring out unbridled affection for my wife. I imagine there were times Julie wondered why I couldn't have been more like Ally.

With Ally there were no divided loyalties.

She knew who loved her best.

She would choose Julie over all others.

At any sign of threat She would defend Julie for all her worth- Transforming from a sweet adorable pooch- To an incredible display of fury that led many a stranger to ask, "Is your dog safe?"

Ally was a picture of Loyalty.

Mark 12:29-31 Jesus said, " The first command is this- The Lord your God is one.....Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is like it- Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

I wish I could say my own loyalty to my Lord- Father, Son and Spirit- was as pure as Ally's to her Mistress. With Ally it was simple- She knew who loved her best- She knew where her best hope of anything good was coming from. She embraced that and attached herself to my wife in ways that expose my own devotion as paltry.

Her displays of Love for Julie were extravagant.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Forgive me for my divided heart, forgive me for forgetting who Loves me best. Forgive me for not trusting You- for complicating what is simple in an effort to manipulate my own way. Father God, today- because You are in me and have given Life to my dead heart- I will love You, trust You and follow You in all I do. Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Rise up in me today so that this will be true of my life- Unite my heart to Your great Heart so that all that comes out of me today flows from Love for You.

Amen

A Song

The first song I can ever remember learning went like this-

Jesus Loves me this I know-

For the Bible tells me so-

Little ones to Him belong-

They are weak-

But He is Strong-

Yes Jesus Loves me-

Yes Jesus Loves me-

Yes Jesus Loves meeeee-

For the Bible tells me so.

I sang it, having no real grasp of what it meant-

Yet..........somehow.......... it felt Good-

Jesus Loves me

It made me feel Safe-

It made me feel Valued-

It made me feel Wanted

Deep in my heart-

I believed it.

Now- years later- I still don't really grasp it-

This Love of Jesus-

Oh, my theolgy is more sophisticated-

I have some apologetics down-

I can share the 4 Spiritual Laws-

I even teach Sunday School from time to time-

But in many ways I am not sure I feel it like I did back then.........

As a Child.

Now......... as I get a bit older-

As I deal with a bit more of my own cynicism-

As I endure a little more of the pain of this world-

There is even the temptation -

From time to time-

To question His Love.

You know what I mean, don't you?

Things run through my mind like-

"If God really Loves me then why............... "

You fill in the blank.

In many ways it was easier as a child.

Jesus Loves me this I know-

For the Bible tells me so.

Mark 10:14- 16 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me....for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And He took the children in His arms, touched them and blessed them.

Lord Jesus, I pray that You might grant me the blessing of feeling Your arms around me today. Father take me back to those times when the reality of Your Love saturated me. Help me to live in it- to find my Life and Hope and Identity in Your deep deep Love.

Amen

I got no ettiquette.

Juxtaposition- To place unexpected combinations side by side.

Are you impressed?

I went to a luncheon recently that honored a group of people who had reached some milestones. As I sat at my table next to a young lady I had not met before, but had seen around our work place I noticed the table setting. The silver (Plasticware) was wrapped in a napkin there on the table and the dessert was sat out in temptingly ornate style. This arrangement suggested some level of expected formality. Now I have to tell you I am not altogether comfortable at formal meals- For one thing I am never sure at these kinds of functions which place setting is actually my own- Is it the napkin, spoon and fork to my right or to my left? To confuse the issue even more, I am left handed, which seems to throw me off in all sorts of ways. Anyway, I went on to introduce myself to the young lady and explain to her my confusion- I got no ettiquette training- This nice lady mercifully educated me a bit on what was what- At least she gave me enough information so that I did not use her spoon and fork. In my own explanation for my lack of knowlege of the social graces, I am not really sure where the words came from- maybe just wondering aloud- but I can hear myself saying,

"Really I guess I shouldn't worry about all this- I mean how formal do I have to be when the beautiful meal is actually being served on plastic plates."

Ah, the beauty of juxtaposition. Yes there was this sense of formality- But there was also the reality of the common man- The two folded together in an incredible way. Me the common man invited to the table of the ornate. The ornate itself descending to a level that gave me access- Wait- beyond even just access- Actually inviting me to come and to participate- Just as I am- No ettiquette and all. Amazing!

Colossians 1:15-20 (Excerpts) Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation- by Him all things were made- things in heaven and on earth, things visible and invisible....... He is before all things and in Him all things hold together...... God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Christ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself.

Philippians 2:6-8 Jesus, being in very nature God Himself, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself .

John 1:1 - 2 and 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us

The Ornate opening the way for the common by taking on the form of the common-

Raising the common from ordinary to sacred-

From death to Life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for opening the way to the ornate- Thank You for bringing God Himself into this world to be juxtaposed against all that is broken here in this place. Holy Spirit move in me today and tomorrow and every day after that to live out this same juxtaposition-Move in me to live out the reality of Your Life in this world- Move in me to invite all You bring my way into the Life You have won for us.

Amen

What are you afraid of? (Part2)

The fears that isolate. The fears that cripple. The fears that steal Life. I thought maybe that little excerpt from the last blog could use some elaboration. I am afraid of rejection. I am afraid of embarassment. I am afraid of being exposed as a weakling. I am afraid of being exposed as inadequate. I am afraid of failure and disgrace. I am afraid of letting God down. Now these are the biggies- These are the ones the enemy uses to cut to the heart. I thought maybe just taking a minute to list some words God has given might be helpful to us all as we deal with some of these and other fears and lies the enemy uses against us.

Psalm 87:6-7 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples; This one was born in Zion (born again). And as I make music I will sing, All my fountains (Life) are in You my God.

Psalm 89:33 God has said, "I will not take my Love from you, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness"

Psalm 91:14 "Because you love Me says the Lord, I will rescue you; I will protect you , for you acknowleges My Name."

John 15:9 Jesus said,"As the Father has Loved Me, so have I Loved you. Now abide in My Love."

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither present nor future, nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all Creation will be able to seperate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Hebrews 13:5b-6 God has said,"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So that I may boldly say," The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."

In the end I think overcoming these kinds of fears comes down to trusting God's Love for us and His Goodness towards us.

More and more- little by little-

I am finding my identity and worth in realizing the Truth-

I am His-

His child-

A child of the Great King.

Still......... it is a slow process.

Father God seal to my heart the truth-I am Yours.

Holy Spirit help me feel it every day-

from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for making all this Life possible.

Amen

What are you afraid of?

I am afraid of monsters. When I was a kid- I guess about 5 or 6 years old- We lived in a house that sat up on brick pillars- I suppose you would call that a crawl space- The thing was though that this crawl space was open all around the house. Somehow- I don't know how- I got the idea that monsters lived under our house. They were there- I was sure of it- In the dark recesses of this horrible underworld. Maybe it was my trickster brother who planted the idea- I'm not sure- but I was certain of one thing- There were monsters there- They were waiting to get me if I ventured too close. Well I guess I have gotten over the fear of monsters in the dark- Although there are still times when I might be alone at home- Late at night- The house dark and quiet- Except for those sounds a house seems to make- When you are alone- Late at night- The house dark and....... In those times it is so easy for a mind to run wild- Dancing to the tune of a real monster- The devil himself- He is a fear merchant- A master of subtle deception. He raises many of those old fears- The fears that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck- The fears that isolate- The fears that cripple- The fears that steal life.

John 10:10 Jesus said, "The thief has come to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have Life and have it to the full."

There is no shame in being afraid-

In many ways I think it is those very fears that drive me to my Hero-

The One who has bested all my fears-

The One who says-

Be strong and courageous, for I am with you.

I will never leave you or forsake you.

I have given you a Spirit of Power and Love

Behold I am coming soon.

Take Heart, I have Overcome.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Rise up in me today and every day to be courageous. Help me to minute by minute live in the reality of Your Love that casts out fear. Help me to take to heart Your Love for me and live out of that Love as your Child- One who need not fear anything of this world or my enemy. Help me to say truely along with Your servant David that,"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death- I will not live in fear, because you are with me."

Amen

Come to think of it- there's no reason to be afraid of monsters any more.

Personal Space

I have this friend- Oh you know where I'm going already don't you- You read the title- Yep! Anyway- No matter how much I back up he just keeps coming- Eventually I will back into a wall and he's got me- Two inches from my face- Me squirming under the force of his hot breath. Thank you Lord that this guy brushes and doesn't eat onions!

So what about this business of Personal Space?

It's funny how we don't mind some folks all up in our personal space but others................

Well we might rather kiss a Rattlesnake than kiss Aunt Susie

So what makes the difference?

Why do I invite my wife into my Personal Space-

Even pursue times for us to be in each other's Personal Space (I think you get my drift here right?).

Yet......... other folks- No Way Baby- Give me my space!

I think it must be all about the relationship- You know- Trust- Intimacy and all that.

So then- What about God and my Personal Space? Where am I with that?

I think there is a sense in which God will not violate our personal space uninvited.

Revelation 3:20 (Jesus speaking) Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and dine with him and he with Me.

James 4:8 Come near to God and He will come near to you.

So what do you think? Do you invite God into your personal space?

Are you comfortable with Him there?

Maybe it's easier to invite Jesus into my personal space-

After all He seems alot more understanding-

Not nearly as scary.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Triune God, Come into my personal space today- I invite You to continually search my heart and reveal any thing in me that remains broken- expose my sin and mercifully lead me into healing. Lead me into the Life You have for me. Comfort me Almighty God- The God of All Comfort- Come deep into my heart and soul- into my personal space and do what You do- Bring Wholeness and Life.

Amen

Is there any Hope?

How many times have you heard those words? I have a friend who is dying- Is there any hope? Someone I love is caught in what seems to be an inescapable trap- Is there any hope? My own mind runs after unspeakable ugliness- Is there any hope? I have reverted back to nail biting- Is there any hope? I have a friend whose marriage has come apart at the seams- Is there any hope?

Is there any hope that any of these things can be fixed?

Any hope they can be resolved in a way that suits me?

Ah, now that last question- that's the sticky one.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

Notice it did not say those who hope in the Lord will have their way.

It's time for a change-

It's time for me to stop hoping for God to do what I want-

It's time for me to start placing my hope in God Himself-

That is my part- It is an act of my own will.

To place my hope in His Goodness, Love and Power.

He is Good- He does Love me- He is Able.

It is for me to decide to live in that- minute by minute.

Psalm 147:11 The Lord delights in those who take Him seriously, those who put their Hope in His Unfailing Love.

Holy Spirit of the Living God- Fill me with Hope- Move in my own Spirit to take hold of the the Reality of Hope in You. Move in my own spirit to Trust You. Move in my own spirit to grow in Love for You. Thank You Lord Jesus for the Hope You have given us all in Your Resurrection. Because of the Hope I have in You, Today I will be Hopeful- Strength renewed- Full of the Life You have won for me. All praise honor and glory be to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen

Alright then........ So what adventures do you have in mind for today Lord?

Let's go see!