Reminders

Do you ever "know" things, but you need to be reminded?

We were playing a trivia game the other night called "I Should Have Known That." Men, is that an appropriate name for that game... There were things that I knew, I knew...but then...I couldn't remember enough to produce an answer that was satisfactory.  As soon as I'd hear the correct answer, I'd be like, "I knew that!!!" But of course, it didn't count that I remembered it after the fact.  It's soooo frustrating!

I was reading through the book of Jude in the New Testament.  I don't think I've ever actually read it through and through.  I don't really have an excuse for never reading it.  This short little letter can be read in a couple of minutes...but for some reason, that's one of those books in the Bible that are easily skipped.  At least for me.  At any rate, I read it this morning, and WOW!  It is packed full with important admonitions and information...but for some reason, there was this one half a verse that really spoke to me:

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you...Jude 5a

I don't know how many times I've been in the middle of a "moment" when someone or something would remind me of one of the many promises of God and of the fact that they are true, no matter what.  It usually happens when I'm allowing fear to creep in and pierce my very soul...then, a song would play on the radio, or a passage from Scripture would pop into my mind, or someone would say something in real life or in a show or podcast...and I'd be reminded...though I already knew all of it...but I'd allowed my thoughts to wander off track and I'd forgotten...

So...I just love that half verse from Jude.  Jesus knew and knows we need constant reminding.  He knows how our brains work and how easily we lose focus.  He knows how anything can and does distract us, making us take our eyes from Him and begin to sink.  He knows we know He is Love, and Peace, and Truth, and Light, and The Way and The Life...but he knows that we also are forgetful and that we need to be reminded.  How Merciful is Our Savior!  Our Lord, in all His Glory, tucks away in little, modest books like Jude, tiny phrases that pack an incredible punch, just when we need them.  And unlike in our trivia game, it does count! Even if at first we didn't remember, and we have to be reminded...it counts!  We don't have to always produce the right answer to win.  We have already won...even if we need help.

Even though we should have known it...the Bible is our constant reminder that God is Love...that He is Present...and that He is Able.  May we find evidence of Your Faithfulness all around us, always.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

The Power of Music

 Research indicates that music does have great powers.  It is increasingly used to promote healing and to reduce stress.  At SRU we have a Music Therapy program that is booming.  The program claims that  it provides the skills necessary so future graduates would become professionals who could offer therapeutic support to people of all ages with a wide range of physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, developmental, sensory and social needs. Like one devotional reading I read this morning commented, God knew about that all along.  He designed it this way.

Back in the Old Testament, we see young David playing the lyre for King Saul when he was tormented by demons, resulting on Saul feeling refreshed and at peace, and the evil spirits fleeing from him. (1 Samuel 16: 23)  In the New Testament, Paul tells us to be careful how we live our lives.  He said to not be foolish, avoid debauchery and to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5: 15-20)

Music can be a formidable force for good when composed for the Lord.  It can move us and renew us as part of worship.  It can transport us to a place of praise and peace.  Have you ever sang a song at church that touches you so deeply that you can't stop the tears from freely flowing from your eyes? The Spirit within us rejoices and stirs inside manifesting Himself in ways beyond our comprehension.  It cleanses us, clears the clutter in our mind and hushes the usual, daily noises that keep us from hearing the One True, Holy Ghost speak directly to us.  Like with Saul, music was the instrument God used to chase the evil spirit away, so the Spirit of Peace could take hold and release his tortured soul.   

The same way, I believe, music can incite to violence and darkness too.  Therefore, we should pay attention to the music we let into our brain.  "Be careful little ears what you hear..." we tell our kids...well...there's a lot of wisdom in that song.  Like everything else, music's power can be used for the wrong purposes.  Music created as an offering to the Lord should be the priority in our play lists.  I know it is difficult to exclusively listen to Christian music all the time.  But at least we should strive to enjoy a big dose of it on a regular basis.  We should share it with others when we hear one that makes us think of someone who would benefit from listening to it.  We should have our go-to-songs for all occasions.  I know I don't always take notice of my own advice...but ever since I discovered Christian music not quite 20 years ago, I can testify it did change my life.  And I pray it changes yours as well.

May the Lord Who Sings Over Us, teach us the way to keeping music as a part of our worship and praise.  In His Precious Name I pray.  Amen!

Encourage One Another

 I always give up too soon.  I lose confidence too quickly.  I just throw my arms out and quit.  Like this evening, we were playing a board game.  We got it as a gift from good friends for Christmas and had been waiting until the 4 of us were home to play it.  It was actually fun and educational at the same time.  It was kind of a trivia game so it tested our knowledge of ... everything!  

Every time it was my turn to answer a question, though, my first reaction before I even had a chance to really listen to the question, was to say stuff like:  "there's no way I know this." Most of the time, however, thanks to Dan's encouragement, after thinking about it for a moment, I could actually figure out many of them.  If I hadn't had anyone encouraging me to pause and concentrate, I would have ended up with no points on the board.  Left on my own, I'd just do what I always do: quit.

I wonder if that's one of the things Paul had in mind when he wrote 1 Thessalonians 5: 11,

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

I tell you, without the help of those along my way, it would be very difficult for someone like me to do life.  Sometimes I wonder, though, if I ever make a difference in anyone's life the way my encouragers do in mine?  Am I allowing my life to be of any benefit to others at all?  My own kids complain about me all the time: "you're too harsh! You have no patience!  You expect too much!"  Those phrases don't sound like thank you notes to me.  Am I forgetting this command to encourage and build one another up?

I like the last part of the sentence, where Paul says:  "just as you are doing..." I'd like to think those words are also meant for me.  That in itself is an encouraging thought: to know that I might be actually doing it already...even if ever so slightly.  To think that my actions are not a complete waste of energy is encouraging. It encourages me to believe I can do it...and to do more every day.  So, I'm going to claim those words too, and use them to propel me to be better at this calling to encourage and build one another up.  It is part of love.  And in this world where there is so much to be distraught about, a little encouragement goes a long way.

I pray, that the Holy Spirit will fill us up with a desire and an ability to lift people up, to bring cheer and to invigorate others.  And at the same time, to remember that this calling usually comes back two-fold.  In the Precious Name of Our Lord.  Amen.

Wear Your Crown Well

 March 8 is supposed to be International Women's Day.  I don't even want to get into this because it is all so very political...but my sister sent me a video that truly gave me perspective and made me glad to be a woman.  The video is in Spanish, but the gist was this:  Jesus is the real Champion of women.  

The video relates a sample of the instances in the Gospels when Jesus showed the value of women as precious jewels of creation.  From allowing Himself to be humbled to the condition of a baby born of a woman...to choosing women to be the first witnesses of His glorious resurrection, Jesus exalted women to a position of high regard where it had never been.  

Jesus and His actions toward women showed the world the worth of women regardless of what society may have decided.  He sought them out of their sin.  He saved them from being stoned to death by making her accusers realized we are all equal opportunity sinners.  He healed them spiritually and physically.  He let women come to Him and touch the hem of His tunic or wash Him with their tears.  He listen.  He comforted.  He addressed their concerns. He walked with them.  He never dismissed them.  He always gave them of Himself and covered them with compassion and mercy as He enlighten them with His wisdom and knowledge.  He literally went out of His way to meet them.  Nobody took them seriously, but He called them by their name.  He made women a bridge upon which He'd cross to humanity and to the lost. What an amazing inheritance of love.

What a blessing to be counted among the women.  What a blessing to be the spiritual heiress of the women who went before me.  What a blessing to be a bearer of Jesus' design for womanhood. This is the real revolution.  We were born to be His princesses.  I'm proud to be one of them. May we all wear our crowns well. 

Love Doesn't Go Away

 I was watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie...I know, I know...with all the trash that's on the media today, this is about the only show we can watch anymore! At any rate, the episode was about the family losing their dog.  Having gone through that recently, the episode stirred tender emotions in me.  I got sad all over again about losing our Link...I just can't believe he is gone...sigh...I identified with the character of Laura Ingalls because she was so heart broken about losing their dog, that she just didn't want to even consider the possibility of having another dog again.  The loss was too hard to bear.  I'm right there.  I think I even said that, "I never, ever want to have another dog, ever!  I don't want to have to go through this again."

But then, another character told Laura to remember that, though she understood the reluctance to open her heart to another dog for fear of experiencing loss in such an intense way again, it was important to remember that "the hurt goes away, but the love doesn't."

That phrase stayed with me.  I don't think I ever thought of this before.  It is so true, I think of all my loved ones that I've lost over the years.  I think of my Mom, gone almost 23 years ago...the pain of losing her cut me so deeply, I thought I've never get over it.  I think of losing a pregnancy.  I was so devastated, I thought I'd never laugh again.  My Dad.  My Father in Law.  My Step Father in Law.  Dear aunts. Even some friends.  Link.  The intensity of the pain that accompanies loss is deep, indeed.  But eventually, the pain does become less acute.  The intensity of the love, however, never gets dull.  We continue to love them no matter how long they've been gone...always...the love never changes.  Love never fails.  It's true!  I love the Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 13: 8a

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].

I've read this a million times, but today, I think, I'm finally starting to get it.  Love does endure all things...even loss.  I think back at the memories of Link and of all my loved ones who are departed, and the love jumps, and my heart smiles.  Of course, the raw emotions of recent loss would not allow us to think beyond our hurt...but it does get better...and the love remains, just as it was when they were with us.  WOW! What a great mystery love is, isn't it? It really never ends...like the One Who Is Love.

I pray that we can remember this truth when we face the sting of loss, so the knowledge of the enduring promise of endless love may cover our wounds with a thick blanket of comfort.  In the Precious Name of Our Loving Lord.  Amen!

Feeling Superior?

 I have such a hard time remembering names anymore.  I hate to admit it, but after more than half of the semester gone, I still only know the names of maybe 30% of my students.  Back in the day, during my first years as a teacher, I was able to know all my students by name after the first 2 weeks of class...how low I´ve fallen...

This is why I could never be a name-dropper, LOL!  I can't remember any names to drop! :)

At any rate, I'm not sure why I'm thinking about this, but maybe it is because I was listening to my usual morning podcast and the minister was talking about how ridiculous it is for us to think that we are so important. Our inflated ego often betrays us and makes us belief that we can just say something like: "don't you know who I am?" And that at the mere sight of our presence, the waters would part, and mountains would move so we can get through.  The minister challenged us to imagine Jesus doing that: "Don't you know who you're talking to?  I'm the Son of God!  The Second Person of the Trinity...shoo, shoo..."

It was kind of hilarious to even consider that.  But it was also a slap on the face.  I might not drop names, but I have occasionally pulled rank.  There's moments when humility escapes me, and to get things done...or to feel a sense of preponderance of sorts, I've used a version of "don't you know who I am?"...and that is totally shameful.   

Jesus, the Word, the very One to Whom the Winds and the Waves Obey...Our Lord and Our God...did not do any of this.  Instead, He,

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness. Philippians 2: 6-7

Why would I ever think it is OK for me to do it?  That's what's ridiculous: me feeling superior.  

May the Holy Spirit guide us in our path to humility, and allow us to put God first in everything.  May we extend mercy, grace and compassion in the same measure we have received it from above.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, Our King Who Humbled Himself to Save Us.  Amen!

Our Mighty Fortress

"Mom, when are you going to put that stuff away? You've been working on it all weekend!"  Dylan said to me on Sunday night, pointing at a mess I had on our coffee table...sigh...

The thing is that I actually spent the entire weekend stressed out looking for fun ways to teach a poem to my classes today.  The reason I was stressed out about it was because students in these classes despise anything to do with literature.  They are absolutely NOT interested...especially in poetry...They don't get it.  They think is boring.  They don't see the point of it.  They don't want to have anything to do with it.  They can't relate.  So, I was tempted to skip the poem and move on to a film.  But I said, no...I am going to teach them the poem.  But that resolve cost me hours upon hours working on a strategy that would not put them to sleep. 

After thinking about it from many different angles, I came up with my intro line:  songs are poems we sing.  And poems...and songs...always tell us a story.  Sometimes we don't fully understand the story we've been told in a poem, but there's always one.  

From there, I proceeded to read the poem, which contained several words that I knew they would not understand...but that was part of the learning experience.

Yesterday at church we sang one of my favorite hymns: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  I don't know what it is about that song, but it speaks to me.  Not unlike the poem I was teaching in class today, this hymn contains many words I don't understand.  I don't even know how to pronounce many of them.  But, I can't help it to be inspired and moved by it.  Regardless of my shortcomings with the language...  there is something about it that makes me want to take a deep breath and go fetch my armor of God.  It's a battle cry.  It's a call to arms.  It's a reminder of Who He Is and why He is deserving of all of our worship.

The hymn tells us the story of God's mighty power, and of His strength.  It tells us the story of how the enemy tries to devour us, but his efforts are futile, for "one little word shall fail him."  And even if the body is killed, it doesn't matter, not one bit, because, "God’s truth abideth still/His kingdom is forever."

...sigh...

The lesson today flowed in unexpected ways in my classes.  Not all got it.  Not everyone showed intense interest.  I doubt it that I made my students suddenly love poetry.  But the story was told.  I didn't skip it.  I believe that by making them do this exercise, they experienced the power of words...the power of rhythm...the power of beat...and for that, I believe they are better off.  Just like I'm better off having been exposed to The Mighty Fortress that is Our God ... "a bulwark never failing."