Honest Moments with God

 I continue to find gems of wisdom and beauty as I cautiously read through the book of Job.  chapter 15 is Eliphaz's "the termite" second reply to Job...I know is supposed to be "the Temanite" but...you know what I mean...this guy is like a termite.  He gets under Job's skin and without compassion, he eats away seeking to destroy Job's ability to just have an honest moment with God without being harshly judged.

Have you been there?  I don't know Eliphaz's intentions.  I don't know if his desire is to crush Job's spirit even more than it already is.  But, what I do see is that Job is a man who needs space to come to terms with what is happening to him, while a "friend" is not allowing him to do that.

I know I have not experienced the torments of Job, PTL!! But, sometimes, I do find myself in a pit of despair.  Sometimes, that pit is of my own making.  But, there are other times when I blink, and I'm there...no idea how...and in those moments, I often just need to have room to wrestle with God a bit.  I have learned that is healthy to have those honest moments of questioning.  God can take it.  He is nothing like the parent who is confronted by their kids when he or she gets caught in a lie.  NO!  God does not lie.  It is us who choose to believe the deception from the world and who decide to get entangled in the enemy's schemes.  

Scripture is clear, but when we don't know it, when we do not carry the Word of God in our hearts, we believe the lies that have passed around through the times by people who do not know The Word either.  Scripture doesn't say life is going to be easy and smooth.  Jesus says, if you want to follow me, you have to pick up your own cross and move along.  This is not an image of a smooth and problem free life.  Jesus says, take on my yoke...it is light...but it is still a YOKE!!!  no joke about it.  He says to expect to encounter trouble in this world just as He encountered it...do you remember what happened to Jesus?  

So, the expectation of a problem-free and smooth-sailing type of life while in this world is a fabrication of the enemy with the help of the unbeliever.  Believing that lie is the unveiling of our own foolishness and ignorance.  So, in those moments when we realize our journey is rough and we want to raise our fists at God and ask "why, Lord, why?" we should.  I think we definitely should do just that, because it is precisely in those moments of honest wrestling when we finally begin to learn the Truth.  And the Truth is not that we will have it easy and without trouble.  The Truth is that Jesus will be and IS with us always.  The truth is that even though we will encounter trouble, He has overcome the world and the power of Him who overcomes, is in us and will guide us to His Victory.  The truth is that Truth is a Person, and His Name is Jesus, and He is in us, and He is God, and God is Good all the time...and all the time, He is good.

Gems from Job

 I often feel like I have no clue what I'm talking about, especially in my new position as Department Chair.  9 out of 10 times I'm confronted with a task, I am completely lost and have no clue where to even start tackling it.  To make matters worst, our Administrative Assistant, on whom I completely rely, has announced her retirement, effective May 7th...exactly 2 years before my term as Chair is over.  I am feeling so overwhelmed by her decision to leave, that I am pushing the thought aside, pretending is not happening, avoiding talking about it, hoping she'll change her mind at the last minute...

At any rate, my point here is, most of the time, I feel like I'm full of garbage...pretending to sound knowledgeable, when in reality, everything is above my head.  

Reading through he book of Job, I wonder if his friends ever felt like that too...even if just for a fleeting moment.  Remember how right on they were at the beginning of the book, in chapter 2, when they first showed up and just sat with Job in silence for like a week?  That was exactly the right thing to do.  But then...things got sour when they started to open their mouths. By chapter 13 we have Job exploding, telling them to their faces basically that they are phonies...full of empty words and speeches...and my favorite:

Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.

“Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may. Job 13: 12-13

Job is expressing the despair that he is experiencing as he finds himself in the bottom of the pit. From that place of desolation, the words of his friends sound hollow and crushing. He doesn't need the recrimination he hears. He doesn't need the preaching. He needs to come to terms with what is happening to him, and for that, he needs silence and supporting presence, so he can process and think. It is then, when we witness one of the most important verses for the soul that cries out to the Lord:

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; Job 13: 15

Like Bible Commentator, Jon Course said, "here is the moment when Satan lost."  This is Job's expression of absolute trust in the Lord.  Though in  his humanity, Job's resolve falters, in this words are contained the most brilliant gems of wisdom we ever need to contemplate in our moments of despair: it's OK...I'm broken up, but in my brokenness, I still hope in You...I still trust You...I love You and I rest in Your Shadow, My God and My Lord.

I know I will continue to spin garbage for as long as I work in the position I have now, because wisdom is going to elude me in my struggles...but I hope I can keep this passage in mind when I encounter a suffering soul along my way...I hope my maxims are not proverbs of ashes, and that I listen twice as much as I speak...like the old saying goes, right? "God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.

Gems from Job

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12: 10

It's easy to get discouraged, isn't it?  I know every generation thinks they had it rougher...every era has its own conflicts and life just seems plain difficult in every period of history...but, when you are experiencing it, it's hard not to get caught up on the circumstances and believe we are going through end-of-time-events.  I know...but, boy, sometimes I wonder...I wonder if, perhaps, it will be ours the generation who will finally witness it...

But then, in the midst of gloominess and despair...in the middle of death, decay, injustice and suffering, the Word of God jumps out of the pages of Scripture like a spotlight, breaking through the darkest of nights. And the record of such light is made permanent for the benefit of all who venture into the Bible.

Such is the case of the words of Job, a man stricken by every kind of affliction, whom from his corner of the pit is able to say: "In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12: 10)  The beauty of these words is moving.  If I knew how to embroider, these words would be framed all around my house.  They would be in pillows, towels and handkerchiefs so I could keep them in front of my eyes at all times. 

These magnificent words travel through centuries, from one of the oldest books in the Bible, to us today, to rescue us from whatever place of entanglement that we might be trapped in.

This is the declaration of how God is in control.  Our dependence on His Sufficiency is expressed in a most harmonious flow, like a gentle stream or a soft breeze.  God sure knows how to make His presence known in a bombastic way.  Most of the time, however, His presence is tucked in places we often dismiss.  I have never read through the entire book of Job.  I've been too afraid to do that.  So until now, I have missed this gem.  I have missed the very words that can breathe life back into my soul...

So today, I am grateful for the encounter, and I bow down to His Majestic force, as I rest safely under His Merciful wings.  God is in control. God is in control.  God is in control.  Amen!

The Light!

 Something that has always brought hope to my spirit is opening the blinds early in the morning and seeing sunshine cutting through the field in front of our house on a backdrop of perfectly blue sky.  On mornings like this, I can breathe in the light and I feel it inside my soul, energizing me to step into the new day with renewed strength.  Light does that to us.  It awakens us.  It clears our path.  It clears our minds.  It destroys darkness.  It uncovers what is hidden.  It makes things grow and bloom.

My devotional reading yesterday said: "The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions of Peace.  Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or fears.  Holiness is letting Me live through you.  Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy.  Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you.  Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me..." (Jesus Calling, Sarah Young)

How often I deny the Light in me or opt for dimming it with worries and fears?  How many times I forget that Christ lives in me, and try to take care of things on my own, rather than allowing space for Him to act through me? Why do I ignore His Words and dismiss the truth that He spoke when He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  Why do I reject the light?

Perhaps, because the light also exposes.  As I look around and see the wonderful rays of sunlight filtering through the windows, I also see all the dust particles flying in the air.  As the light of the sun uncovers all the dirty surfaces in my house, signaling it's time for an overdue spring-cleaning; The Light who lives in me, when I don't dim it or ignore it, also uncovers the grime and dirt all around my soul...and the same way I might be tempted to close the blinds back up so I don't have to stare at the dust in my home, I am often inclined to close the blinds in my soul so I don't have to see the sin in my life.

The good news is, darkness cannot overcome Light! (John 8: 12)  No matter how much I try to put out the Light...it is not within my power to extinguish it.  The Light will continue to shine, whether I want to ignore Him or acknowledge Him.  Even when it might seem as if darkness has taken over, Light is triumphant forever!

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelations 21: 23

May we allow the Holiness of Jesus living in us to empower us to let the Light shine brightly in our hearts and lives.  May He strengthen us so we, too, can bring the Light to this world that so badly needs it.  May Our Lord shine through us today.  In the Precious Name of Christ.  Amen!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

 We are told all the time that we need to count our blessings...name them one by one...well, today, I would like to count and name one of the most life-changing blessings I've received from Our Heavenly Father:  my husband, Dan.

A day like today, quite a few years ago-I'm not going to reveal his age here, just suffice it to say that we were roaming our high school's hallways in the 80s-Dan was born.  And to me, his birthday is a day to rejoice...because it is the day that God decided to bring into the world this creature that would eventually go on to college to meet this alien, to eventually form a culturally diverse union that has brought meaning to my existence.  

So, all I wanted to say is that, I don't want to miss this opportunity to celebrate Dan's birthday and proclaim to the internet void, that I am blessed for calling him mine.  I haven't gotten many things right in my life, but one of those few things was to say yes, when he asked me almost 30 years ago.

Well, that's all for today.  Just a heartfelt desire to say Happy Birthday, Danny!  May the Lord continue to bless us for many more years, and may our adventures keep piling on.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, our Lord.  Amen!

The Comfort of a Quiet Presence

 The same way life is beautiful and filled with moments of joy, it is also filled with moments of loss.  In the years we've been married, Dan and I have experienced our share of both.  Today, I contemplate our moments of loss.  We've experienced the loss of loved ones: the death of Dan's Father and both of my parents, for one.  We've experienced the loss of dreams with the loss of a most awaited and desired pregnancy.  The loss of financial stability has visited us a couple of times with the loss of jobs.  The loss of health has been a companion of ours too.  The loss of the "normal" experienced mostly through Grant leaving for college...boy, did that hit us HARD!

Through each of these moments of loss and sadness, I think of what has brought most comfort to our hearts, and I realize it has been the ability to rely on Christ, and the ability to give each other space and to just hold each other in silence.  The worst ways to cope with our difficult moments have been those times when I had allowed words to escape my mouth.  For instance, I think of how, out of my own selfishness, insecurities and fear I was terribly harsh and exhibited total lack of compassion with hurtful words after the passing of Dan's Dad.  Almost twenty six years later my heart is still filled with regret and remorse.

At the end of Job chapter 2, we see an illustration of the power of silence as a tool to show solidarity with those who suffer.  After hearing about Job's troubles, his three friends showed up in his presence to bring comfort.  They witnessed Job's great distress and decided to just sit with him in silence for a while:

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2: 13

I absolutely love this image.  What compassion.  I know that later, after Job's friends decide it's time to speak, they do more harm than good...just like I did when I gave room for my words to come out of my mouth, rather than keeping it shut...but in this moment...for these seven days and seven nights, these men are doing exactly what they need to do:  offer their presence in quiet solidarity...suffering alongside their friend in need.  

Being there for someone, and knowing when silence is needed could be therapeutic for the person who is suffering so they can process their situation while not feeling alone...while knowing they are not alone.  We see in chapter 3 the result of these silence therapy:  Job's outburst in lamenting the day he was born.  Job needed that space of silent company in order to get the hurt out of his chest without interruptions.  We all process loss differently, but in reality, our needs are very similar: we need space without feeling abandoned.

Jesus needed this also on that fateful night in the Garden.  When He was facing the loss of His physical life on this Earth, He went to this place of peace with His disciples.  He didn't want to be alone at this hour of great pain.  But, He also knew He needed silence so He could have His quiet time with His Father. That's why He told them:   “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matthew 26: 36b)  Then, He took His closest friends, and went further still and said:  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26: 38)  Jesus needed the quiet company of His spiritual brothers so He could go through with the drinking of the bitter cup that was awaiting Him.  How much more would we need this in our bitter hour too?

I believe, one of the greatest gifts we can give a person going through their hour of great pain is the comfort of our quiet presence.  I pray the Holy Spirit would give us the awareness to be intentional about our efforts to be there for those who need us, and to know when it is time to just be ... without saying a word.  In Christ Precious Name.  Amen

Job's Wife

 I've never read the Book of Job through and through.  I've kind of been afraid of it.  The whole idea of God letting Satan take over a person's life to mess with it, even though that person has been a good and faithful servant of the Almighty makes me really uncomfortable.  And I'm not going to lie, when I turned the page to chapter 1, the sight of the name Job in big and bold letters made me shudder.  But here I am...deep sigh...

There's been a ton of things that have impacted me, already, and I'm only on chapter 2.  But, this morning, I wanted to pause on Job's wife for a minute.  When Job got his skin covered with painful sores from head to toe, what did the wifey do? Well, this is what she said to him:   His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2: 9

I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh at this.  She is so harsh she is funny.  It is no laughing matter, though, for she is serious.  It's not a line from a sitcom on TV that is meant to be hilarious.  She meant what she said.  And as painful as it is for me to admit it, I've said horribly harsh things like these to my husband as well.

Being a wife is hard.  Being a good wife is almost impossible.  I pray I can become, a decent wife...one who at least doesn't cause too much damage and is occasionally helpful.  There was a time when I tried to be perfect...that didn't go well at all.  I learned perfection as a wife was not going to be attainable for me...so I settled for prayerful.  Once I became honest with myself, I realized the best I could be was a wife who demonstrated her love by praying for my husband and marriage.  So, every day, I pray God would guide me, change me and make me new.

There are still moments when my mouth gets away from me and I spit out hateful things.  But one of the most valuable truths God has been teaching me as a wife is that, indeed, Dan is not the source of my satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment, support, peace, love...none of that.  And if I insist on making him my all in all, I'm going to end up sorely disappointed, grumpy, bitter and completely empty, while as a bonus, I'm going to make him feel absolutely inadequate, angry, fully emasculated and wanting nothing to do with me other than reject me and run away.

Sigh...

I don't know what motivated Job's wife to say such cruel words to him in his moment of suffering.  I don't know what caused this lack of compassion.  All I know is that I can't be a self-righteous hypocrite and judge her as if I've never done the same or worst...because I have.  Therefore, my reaction to this woman's experience is prayer.  I pray I can experience godly sorrow as I see myself in her.  I pray I can experience forgiveness as I confess my own sinfulness as a wife.  I pray I can experience the liberation from the Holy Spirit as He leads me away from whom I have been, and towards the person and the wife I was designed to be.  I pray I never forget.  I pray I'm always aware.  And I pray these things in the Name of Jesus, the One who Makes us new.  Amen!

Seeing, Understanding and Feeling Victory in Him

The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. Esther 8:11

Our Pastor yesterday talked about how it is necessary for us to "see" with the eyes of the Spirit so we can "understand" what's behind our trials to develop the much needed endurance to finally be able to "feel" what Jesus feels and embrace the challenges. The sermon made me think of Chapter 8 of the book of Esther where finally, the Queen is able to make her full plea for her people to King Xerxes in order to save the Jews from the evil attack that Haman had set into motion. What caught my attention in this passage was the fact that King Xerxes did not stop the attack, for it had been designed by royal edict through the plotting of Haman, and no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” (Esther 8: 8b)  Therefore, the Jews were not going to be delivered from the imminent attack.  In fact, they would have to experience it and endure it.  However, through this unavoidable disaster, the People of God would be enabled to "see" and "understand" the greatness of Our God and "feel" what He feels in the end, through His empowerment.

That's the key of this passage, I believe: often, God does not eliminate the challenges from our lives.  But, He empowers us to go through them so we can experience what victory in Him tastes like.  And it is Glorious!

The Jews were given a day to assemble and protect themselves against the mortal threat they faced.  The Power of the Most High was with them and people all around it knew it.  Neighboring peoples even started converting to Judaism for fear had ceased them.  Once the day of reckoning came and went, the Jews were, indeed victorious.  Mordecai, their leader, recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. Esther 9: 20-22

Just like Mordecai considered it important for him to record all these events and establish an annual celebration to commemorate them so the People of God would not ever forget the feeling of deliverance and victory...so should we do the same in our lives, intentionally pause to remember how Great Our God truly is...a pause to see, understand and feel His hand of protection, His loving embrace and His desire to empower us through the trials, attacks, hardship and challenges that may come our way while we still walk on this earth.  

May the Holy Spirit empower us to see, understand and feel the goodwill of Our Heavenly Father through the smooth as well as the rough journeying in this life.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, from whom all our strength derives.  Amen!

A Whole Year Later

 A year ago, on a Friday much like today, the world changed.  It was March 13th, which it happened to be not only a Friday but also a full moon...that should have been an indication of the things to come.  That fateful Friday, my kids came back from school with the content of their lockers in their back packs.  They were confused and worried.  they had been sent home for "two weeks to flatten the curve."  Remember that?  Well...they never went back to school.  They wrapped up the year at home.  Grant's Senior year's excitement turned into disappointment and Dylan's grades tanked because the online learning system was just not good for his learning style.  My own students were confused and alarmed.  It was the beginning of life turned up-side-down.

I remember clearly how worried Dylan was.  It was at his urging that I decided it was probably a good idea to go grocery shopping that evening.  Little did I know, by the time I'd make it to the store, complete isles would be empty.  Toilet paper had vanished and it would be months before we could get kitchen wipes again.  Food was scarce and  rationed.  The talk of face covering in public began to take force.  And "social distancing" became the thing.  Soon, the whole world would be on lock-down.  Soon, teleconferencing would be the only way to stay in touch.

Today, a year later...A.WHOLE.YEAR.LATER...we look back at what we experienced and continue to experience and wonder whether we would ever go back to the way things used to be like. I have no clue if we ever will.  I have a feeling the world has changed and it might not return to what it was before Covid-19...but, one thing is for sure, as with everything in life, God is Sovereign.  

He is in control.  It does not matter how crazy things get and how messed up it all seems.  It is not crazy or messed up to Him Who Reigns over all.  We know He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1: 17)  Therefore, we trust that He knows what He is doing.

As we contemplate what this past year was like, and dread the things ahead, we don't have to wonder, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? (Job 12: 10) For we know to whom we belong.  And we know that Our Redeemer Lives! (Job 19: 25-27)  That's all the assurance I need.  No amount of hand sanitizer or disinfectant can ever protect me the way My Lord takes care of me.  I trust You, Lord, and I remain under the shadow of Your wings. May Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen.

Would you ignore a gift?

Who leaves gifts unopened? Who in their right mind would ignore a present? My devotional reading this morning was pondering these types of question.  And I agreed...who would reject or ignore a gift? Not me! Then, a recent memory popped into my mind...

You see...I love summer sunsets.  There is something about the intensity of the pinks and oranges mixed in with the blue of the sky that no master artist could ever truly replicate.  I have the blessing of being able to see those magnificent sunsets from the front of my house. So, every time that there is one, Dan usually calls me up and we just stand in awe, quietly contemplating the beauty of God´s handiwork.  Once in a while, we get the gift of a beautiful sunset at other times that are not summer too...even in the winter we might get the gift of color in the midst of grey.  When that happens, it feels like a special blessing that brings hope when hope is lacking.  A couple of days ago...we had one of such gifts of hope.  And I ignored it...

I was so frazzled and frustrated with something or other about work that, I saw the pinks peeking through the closed blinds of my home office, and instead of pausing and taking the time to get up, open the blinds wide and contemplate...I grunted and looked away...

I knew that was a mistake.  But I did it anyway.  And today, I realized, that was a total rejection to God's gift.

Yep...

I believe, God was inviting me to take a break...if only for a few minutes...and I chose to pout and continue on my frustration so I could complain later that I don't even have time to look out the window.

I missed it.  I missed the blessing that evening.  And I feel terrible thinking about it now.  But, there's nothing I can do other than to learn from that experience and pray it doesn't happen again.  I pray I can remember how every good gift is from above, (James 1: 17) sent down to me from my Heavenly Father so I can have a glimpse of paradise while still wandering through the valley of shadows.  So, I pray that I would listen to the Holy Spirit next time He is trying to offer me a blessing. I also hope Dan is around, so he won't let me miss it again.  

The slavery of the paycheck

 What's a paycheck to me?  Yesterday, I saw a quote that equated a salary to a dream-killer.  When I read that, I started thinking that for me, my salary is actually a form of slavery.  I've become a slave to my paycheck because it gives me security.  My salary makes me feel safe and protected.  Then...those thoughts made me feel really worried.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

I have never considered myself so enamored with money to the point of letting it become my master.  I have never thought I have an idolatry problem when it comes to money.  But, I need to let Jesus examine my heart and search it in a way that it will expose whatever is in there that needs to be cleansed...praying that in His Mercy He does get rid of those tendencies and make me whole.  Because, lately, if I'm completely honest to myself, I'm afraid I might have been devoted to the wrong master...

My life has become so consumed with work that I'm afraid I am neglecting my mission to seek Him first...

Quitting is not an option for me, though.  It's like when I asked Dan if he believed the quote was true, he said, "of course it's true, but we have to work.  We can't just not do anything."  That made me think, for people like us who were not born wealthy...isn't a salary a way to achieve our dreams?

That made me feel really confused. Is a salary a good thing or a bad thing? UGH!  

I think that the key lies on figuring out who my master truly is...just like Jesus said.

Is my job my master? Is my paycheck my master? Is my lifestyle my master? Is my bank account my master? Is my retirement fund my master? Is my house my master? Is my car my master? Can I let go of it all and still be in one piece?  Can I still remain standing on solid ground even if I'm stripped from it all, like Job?  

I believe God would not frown upon me for having a paying job...as long as I can claim Job's words as my own: 

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him...Job 13: 15a

Will I continue to hope and trust in Him even if I lose it all?  If the answer is not a resounding "YES!" then, I'd be in trouble.  

That's the way to stay free from the slavery of money: a heart that is humble enough to recognize that whatever I have is never mine, but the Lord's and as He gives, He will take away, but even so, my soul will rejoice and bless His name.

May this be the truth you find when You search me, Lord. May You grant me a heart that is not attached to the things of this world, but that beats for eternity.  In Jesus' Precious Name.  Amen!

What's my motivation?

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up. 

Esther 5: 14

Have you ever had people who you trust give you bad advise?  Advise to be and act in harsh, mean, vindictive, vengeful, spiteful ways in response to someone having wronged you?  The advise sounds much appealing and justified.  We are hurt, beat, exhausted, depressed, angry, emotional, sad, humiliated...so the thought of taking back a shred of our dignity by paying back their wrong with mean seems like the right thing to do to satisfy our broken trust, heart, feelings, pride: "why should I put up with that *&%$#@ and let them get away with it?" "Why should I be nice to them when they have been so rotten to me?" "They're getting what they deserve."  "O yeah?  Well, I'll show YOU?"

Am I acting fairly or am I building my own gallows?

It's not fair that people seemingly get away with things they should never get away with.  It's just not right to take abuse and let the abuser go unpunished.  We can't be door mats and let people just walk all over us.  There's a fine line, however, between reacting out of spite with a desire to crush and destroy someone and acting justly against abuse.  

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ 

Matthew 21: 12-13

This passage of Jesus overturning the tables at the temple is one of my favorite images of Christ...I know...but, for someone like me who overreacts to everything and who has overturned her share of tables, seeing Jesus taking action this way helps me live with myself.  The difference between Jesus actions and Haman back in the book of Esther is the motivation.  Jesus was motivated by righteousness.  Haman was motivated by pride.

Jesus was working towards the goal of helping people realize the error in their ways and how they should not bow down to the god of money and the idolatry of self, while Haman was working towards the exaltation of self at the expense of others.  Haman was willing to crush, destroy and kill others to make himself higher among men.  Jesus was willing to be killed to save us all, sinners and saints.

What is my motivation to be irate by what other people do to me?

That is the question I need to ponder in my heart every time I am feeling the sting of a deflated ego.

That's why I pray today, that the Holy Spirit will help me and all of us discern the reason for our ways and redirect us every time we begin to follow the path of pride.  May we always be aware of our motivations and know revenge belongs to God.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, the Only One who leads us where we need to go.  Amen!

Fully Armed

 Isn't it AWESOME how Scripture comes alive with relevance today?  The fact that a book like Nehemiah, for example, set in the 5th Century Before Christ...which I'm not even sure how long ago that was... is so full of lessons for our current circumstances, is mind-blowing to me.  There is no doubt this IS the Word of God.

At Sunday School yesterday, we were going through chapter 4 of this great story of Nehemiah and his quest to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, when a verse just jumped at me with great force.  It was verse 18.  I went back and read a few verses before, and the whole context just brought the whole thing together.  It was when Nehemiah and the people of Judah were facing some of the many obstacles they faced while conducting their mission to rebuild the wall...not only were people getting tired and frustrated while clearing the mountains of rubble, but they were receiving word of imminent attacks by those who felt threatened by the idea of a reinforced Jerusalem.  

Nehemiah acted swiftly.  He posted guards on the weaker spots, armed with swords, spears and bows to protect the families.  He called the assembly of the nobles, officials and people in general to give them an exhortation and remind them of God's faithfulness and love for His people, and how He would never abandon them; therefore, there was no need to be afraid.  And then, he proceeded to organize everyone so, in trusting obedience, and on full alert, they would continue to do their work.  And here's the passage that struck me: 

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Nehemiah 4: 16-18

The work was not abandoned.  Nobody cowered in fear.  On the contrary, the work continued with renewed efforts and energy.  This is a magnificent instance of how we must put on the Full Armor of God, to speak in New Testament terms, and remain in confident vigilance, fully on guard at all times.  I mean, look at what it says, not only were officers posted behind the people as a layer of protection while they continued their work, but the people themselves were armed!  Those carrying materials "did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other," and the builders kept their swords at their side as they worked!  I mean, this is an outstanding illustration of the way to be in the world in the present age:  fully armed at all times, while doing God's work uninterruptedly.

In this day of trouble, when society is seeing a collapse that will take its people to a new low...when people have forgotten, ignored, denied, deliberately walked away from God, when our enemy remains in a constant siege to defeat us, scheming and saying that “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” (Nehemiah 4: 11) we need to look at this moment in the history of God's people, when they took their fear and turned it into courage, stood behind each other, covering each other's backs, and stayed on guard and armed, but never abandoning the work of His Kingdom that had been entrusted to them.  

That is our call for today:

1.  To know that He is God.  Remember His Faithfulness. Remember His Love.  Remember He is with us, always.  Trust in Him and in His deliverance for His people of whom you are a member.  Pray without ceasing and remember His promises and mercies, which are new every day. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, Lamentations 3: 22-23)

2.  To be on guard and armed.  Keep the sword in hand at all times.  And what's our sword?  Our sword is the WORD. (Ephesians 6: 17)  Never stop reading Scripture.  Memorize it.  Engrave it in your heart and mind.  That is the weapon against the enemy that wants to destroy us and put an end to the work of God.

3.  To guard each-other's backs.  Not only protect yourself, but protect those around you.  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4: 12

4.  To choose godly leaders.  Support leaders who are guided by the Holy Spirit so you can trust their decisions and feel confident about following them.  Like Nehemiah, leaders who put God first, and who will be the first ones to sound the alarm at the first sign of harm, for they keep the trumpet with them at all times.

May Our Great God protect us and inspire us to seek Him First and to renew our strength to do His work on this earth, fully clad on His Armor, for the battle is not of this world, which requires us to fight with the weapons of the Spirit.  In Christ's Precious Name.  Amen!