One of my favorite poems by Robert Frost (and there are several!) is called “Fire and Ice.”  It’s short enough to quote in its entirety for this article, so here it is:

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

What fascinates me about this poem is not so much the reference to the “end-times,” but the human weaknesses he symbolizes with the elements of “fire” and “ice.”

Had I been the poet, I would have, without even thinking too much about it, connected “fire” with “hate.” Frost, however, uses fire as a metaphor for “desire.” Probably one of his attractions to the word is that it rhymes with “fire”; he is a poet, after all.  But, it works on a deeper level, too.  Synonyms for “desire” in the way he uses it include “envy,” “covetousness,” “greed,” “jealousy,” etc.   We can destroy our own civilization, suggests Frost, with the sin of wanting what may belong to another, by burning and hungering for what we cannot or should not have.

Frost uses “ice” to symbolize “hate.”  Instead of a scorching human hatred fueled by vengeance and angry emotion, his version is one that is cold, without feeling, unconcerned with the plight or suffering of others. This, too, is powerful.

Maybe this is an even stronger idea of hate than the more traditional one.  If you hate me with the “burning” version, at least I matter to you, at least you acknowledge my existence.  The “icy” option reveals that you do not even notice me as a fellow human being.  If we allow this type of hatred in our hearts toward others, it is equally effective for destruction.

Let’s look at Jesus’ familiar teachings about hatred:


“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”  Matthew 5: 43.

“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you…” Luke 6:27.

Whether our version of hatred is a fiery resentment or an icy unconcern, as Christians, we do not get to indulge it.  We must replace it with love, with an active show of good-will: praying for others, doing good to them, wishing good for them.  In Christ’s teachings, no one may be side-lined or ignored, even as no one may be resented or begrudged.

Most of us are clearly aware of what we don’t feel competent in, skilled in or comfortable with.  When put in situations where we are exposed in these areas, we get anxious, feel inept, and try to get out of that situation as quickly as possible.  We all do!  

However, in areas of our lives where we are skilled and competent, we are comfortable with the exposure to those situations and those feelings of anxiety and stress are not present.  We are engaging and participatory in those situations.

I believe that this is one of the reasons that we are hesitant to speak of Christ to others.  We feel somehow incompetent or embarrassed to engage in these types of conversation.  Somehow, coming to church has in many ways become the identity of our faith, when church attendance was never the identification of a Christian, rather one’s daily walk and the spreading of this news to others.

The lack of evangelism in our churches is something that needs to be addressed for several reasons, not the least of which is because we can’t fulfill Christ’s expectation in our lives if we don’t grow in Him and learn to be comfortable enough to share Him. Christ is not someone we keep to ourselves.  Our Christian faith is not something private, something to be hoarded. Our belief in the resurrected Christ is no secret. It is the proclamation of salvation to a world that He adores and to people whom we adore as well – our own friends and families.

Now, let me be encouraging:

1. There is someone in your life who needs Jesus.  Bring that person (or those people) to the forefront of your heart and begin to pray that God will provide opportunities for you to be in his/her life at the right time to hear from you what God would have you say.  Begin with prayer for these opportunities in a routine, systematic way.
2. Watch and listen for doors that God will open.  It may surprise you what opportunities appear when you are prayerful and intentional.  It’s a great moment of joy when we recognize God’s work in us and through us. It’s invigorating to realize that Elohim (The Supreme One) wants Me and needs Me and believes in MY ability to contribute to His eternal plan for the human family. Its fun to see God open doors!
3. Walk through the door when it opens.  Do or say what God puts on your heart to do or say and trust Him, not yourself.  He has gifted you with the ability to love others. We all have relationships and people that we care deeply for. This comes from God.

Let’s start with this. More to come!

What is Truth?

There are many definitions out there for truth. Here are a few factual definitions.

1. The true or actual state of a matter.
2. Conformity with fact or reality.
3. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.

And then we have “your’ truth and “my” truth. There is scientific truth which is supposed to be based in fact.

Is truth based on reality?
One writer writes:
Truth is based on empirical evidence, which means truth is based on experiences and observations about the external world. These experiences and observations derive from reality, so the truth comes from reality, yet what is real has substance and exists independently.

The world, today, is so confused on what truth really is. Much of the world believes that truth is whatever is needed to support their ideas, agendas and desires. Much of science has become an art, the art of calling theories (presumptions) facts.

How can we have different truths on the same matters? Who defines what truth really is? The government? Science? Universities? Religions?

There is only One Truth! All other truths are based in Him. He created government, science, Learning, and religion. He created the heavens and the earth. His breath was breathed into us to have relationship with Him and accept Him as our one supreme Truth.

It has become very difficult for mankind to discern the truth as they are being bombarded with falsehoods through news outlets, social media and centers of learning. They are attempting to pick through all that they hear and see and accept what feels right to them.
If you are unsure if something is true or false, let the Spirit guide you in God’s word. He will show you the truths of the ages, which were in the beginning, are now, and evermore will be.

Do not be deceived. Christ Himself showed the true source of all falsehoods and lies. He continually warned of Satan misleading with not just outright lies, but subtle mistruths and misdirections to fool us into believing what our desires want us to believe.


Always verify with the One Truth found in the Godhead.

Isaiah 68:15b-16 but his servants he will call by another name,
16 so that he who blesses himself in the land
shall bless himself by the God of truth,
and he who takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the God of truth;
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hidden from my eyes.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

And if we know the Truth, we must Speak the Truth.That should be our focus in life. People need to hear the truth.

The other day, I listened to two high school students debating an issue.  In a countering statement, Student #1 became fairly bold (bordering on caustic, perhaps).  Seeing Student #2 frown and turn red in the face, Student #1 threw his hands to each side, shrugged his shoulders, and backpedaled with the statement, “I’m just sayin’.”
 
The bell had rung, so I called class to order, and their conversation ended there.  Later, I considered the “last word” of Student #1, that final clause: “I’m just sayin’.”

This line was popularized years ago by two comedians: Paul Reiser and Eddie Murphy.  In their stand-up routines, it was generally an addendum to an insulting comment, “Hey, I didn’t tell you that you were fat (or ugly, or dumb).  I’m just sayin’.”  Like sayings sometimes do, it slipped into common vernacular and began popping up everywhere.  Probably, we’ve all said it and heard it.

After some consideration, I realized that we tend to use this phrase either A) lightheartedly, tongue-in-cheek, with a touch of self-deprecation, or, like Student #1, B) as a method of “drawing back” when we may have stepped too far and possibly offended or insulted our listener(s).  “A” doesn’t seem to be a problem, but let’s talk about “B.”

Culturally, we have found an “out” for any bold or potentially controversial statement we wish to make.  Isn’t that convenient?  When we make a strong statement and someone takes exception, it seems there are two responsible and respectable options.  Either we stand behind the statement because we believe in it and consider it necessary to say in this situation, or, if we feel we spoke too harshly, perhaps not truly meaning what we said, we apologize.

Maybe, in part, we have attached to “I’m just sayin’” because it keeps us from either having to show either the courage of our convictions or the humility of recognizing the errors of our loose tongues. The teaching of Jesus is clear on both of these.

There are over 100 verses in the Bible regarding monitoring our speech.  Jesus says in Matthew 12: 36-37, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Regarding simply standing behind our statements, Jesus says in Matthew 5: 7, “Let your yes be yes, and your no, no.”  Colossians 3: 6 reminds us that our speech should be “gracious” to everyone. A true study of Jesus’ teachings on our words is beyond a short article like this, but suffice to say that our speech is important to Him.

Granted, this is harder for some personality types than others, but we all struggle to control our words.  The Bible teaches that we are to “be transformed” by the work of the Holy Spirit, not stubborn and determined to say and do whatever we want at all times. This is yet another counter-culture concept in 2023, which brings us to a second popular saying that we sometimes proclaim: “I’m just doing me.”  It means a variety of things in different contexts, but can be employed to justify words or actions that might be objectionable to others. The idea is that whatever a person might object to is simply a result of some impossible-to-change aspect of our natures.  “Hey, don’t be critical, I’m just doing me.”

The problem with this:  I’m pretty sure we are supposed to be “doing” Christ.
I’m just sayin’.

The book of Genesis tells us that in the very beginning, before sin, Adam & Eve would walk with God through the garden.  Walking with God in the quiet of the garden gave them a chance to talk things over with their creator. What if you could have that same experience, walking and talking with your creator, one-on-one?   What if you knew He would draw near and listen to what you had to say?  Well, be encouraged because we are told in James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

The Creator of the universe, the God who created the heavens and earth, the God who raised Jesus from the dead, the same God who walked and talked in the garden with Adam & Eve, wants to have a relationship with you.  A life-changing relationship where He gives you a hope and future and fills you with His peace, wisdom, love and purpose.


I don’t know about you, but I need that.  I need that daily.  Because there are times when it just feels like life is spinning out of control.  Have you ever felt that way? Overwhelmed, helpless, or maybe even just stuck?  Or maybe you’re not sure you’ve ever experienced God’s love & power in your life.

When we look at this beautiful world God created we see that our God is a God of order/structure. Which means He is calm, in control, and has a purpose for all things (including a purpose for your life).
Who better to walk with daily than the God who created all things?  We do not know what is going to happen in our lives tomorrow but we have a God who is in full control of tomorrow.  We have a God who is not only powerful and in full control, but a God who is also good and who loves us dearly.  And He has invited you to walk & talk with Him daily.

Walking with God is a daily commitment - a decision we make every day. Are we going to walk with God or are we going walk the way of the world? Are we going to go to church or are we just too tired today or maybe it's too difficult to get the kids ready and make it on time? Are we going to love one another or are we going to gossip, get angry, or jealous with one another?  God is talking to our heart and Satan is in our ear whispering. Are we going to listen to God or listen to the evil one?


He's right behind us, in our ear whispering those lies, trying to discourage us, trying to get us to turn away from God. He wants to steal our eternity. We need to stay close to God.  And we do that by studying, meditating & praying over God’s word daily.  It's a daily commitment.

A close relationship with God also requires a strong prayer life.  That's the talking part. You can't have a relationship with a friend if you don't talk to them.  And you become closer friends the more you talk and spend time with them. It’s the same way with God, the more you spend time with him in prayer, meditation & study, the closer the relationship you have with God.

We need to view our devotional time as an incredible opportunity to know the God who created the universe. He is setting aside time to meet with you each day to listen to your cares and concerns. Let me ask you…what if he shows up and you don’t?   What if he shows up and you’re not there?  Because he will be there!  He will always be there. He will walk with you through your darkest valleys, in the darkest of places. 


Because of Jesus Christ, we do not have to be perfect people to begin our daily walk with God. Prayer is our path to a relationship with God.  Prayer is where we approach the throne of God, and it is only at the throne of God where we find grace and forgiveness.  



God couldn’t love us any more and He couldn’t love us any less. But those who are willing to make time to spend with God, to get away from our daily demands and sit at the feet of Jesus ...these are the ones who will be blessed with a relationship beyond that which many may never know.  For it is there, in that quiet time & place that  “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

We live in a society that is non-stop. Life seems to be moving at a faster pace now than ever before. From family responsibilities, raising children, careers, social engagements, church meetings and activities, sports, household chores, and management, we have so many things that require our attention and keep us busy. Years ago, when our children were very young, I would look at our empty calendar and intentionally try to find exciting things to add to it. These days, with the many activities of a growing family, I hardly have time to get through one month before the next month’s calendar is full of plans filling the pages. Although many of the plans on our calendar are excitedly anticipated events that we look forward to, these many plans can sometimes weigh us down both mentally and physically. Eventually, if we aren’t careful these busy calendars can drain us to the point that we have nothing else to give. We can easily become worn out, exhausted, and unmotivated. I am familiar with this place. This is a terrible feeling. This is right where Satan wants us: surviving and not thriving, and unable to give or pour into anyone for the glory of God and His Kingdom.

This isn’t what our Lord desires for us. Nor is this the way Jesus lived His life. Consider the son of God who came to earth and lived 33 short years. He knew the plans his Father had for Him. He knew how many people he had to meet, build relationships with, to share the good news of the Kingdom with, yet He knew when it was time to stop. He knew when it was time to slow down to be filled by His Father, in order to be able to continue to pour into those around Him.

How did Jesus do this? He retreated to a quiet place alone to pray. He stopped. He carved out space for Himself and His Father. Alone. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” There are different occasions in the Bible when Jesus broke away with His disciples for rest and renewal. Mark points out the way Jesus was teaching His disciples the daily commitment and the discipline of taking time to be quiet. Lastly, we see Jesus going off into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray fervently on the night of His arrest. He knew by spending time with His Father, He would be given the strength to endure what was to come. Jesus knew He couldn’t do it all. He knew what the will of His Father was and that’s what He spent His time doing unapologetically. Let’s pause for a minute to praise Him for that.

What does this mean for us today in this world of constant updates, communication with no boundaries, and instant access to the global world around us? It doesn’t matter what decade we are living in or what the current technology or culture is. It doesn’t matter what the world demands of us. The world will take from us exactly what we let it and will leave us empty and worn out. We must look to Jesus, we must follow his example. We are only flattering ourselves if we think our lives are busier than the Jesus’.

The only way to shift from surviving to thriving is to create healthy rhythms in our lives. We must first be intentional about blocking off time on our calendar for true rest. I don’t mean sleeping late one day. I mean having rest of body and soul. This looks different for everyone but it does NOT include binge-watching Netflix or having a social media marathon and vegging out. If anything our overstimulated brains will be left exhausted and not refreshed. Jesus tells us where to go to find rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Then in verse 29, He says, in Him you will find rest for your souls. Find what brings you peace and helps you to feel rested and refilled. I enjoy sitting on my deck reading my Bible, or a wonderful book, or simply listening to the birds singing in the trees around our home. My mind can rest and appreciate and enjoy God’s creation around me. Next, we need to practice a daily rhythm of quiet time with God. We MUST build it into our days and write it on our daily schedules. It’s simple, wake up sooner if you’re a morning person or break away alone before bed to spend some time with God if you’re a night owl. It can be 10 minutes or 2 hours, whatever your season of life allows. But it IS a vital part of our growth in the Lord to be spending time daily with Him. Pouring our hearts out to Him as Jesus did and meditating on His word is key to experiencing the power of His peace in our lives. This can be done. We are the ones who set our schedules. We have to be intentional if we want to experience spiritual rest and growth.

Above all, Our Creator knew we would need rest. He intentionally took the seventh day after the creation of the world to rest and He gave us this example. He also created the Sabbath because He knew we would need a day of rest and restoration for our souls. I feel like the establishment of the Sabbath was yet another way God showed His merciful love for us. He knew we would be tempted to work and get lost in the busyness of life and forsake setting apart time for Him, by which He provides nourishment for our souls. I have to step back and evaluate our calendar every few months to make sure we plan these intentional times of rest and refilling. As a mother of five, this is a discipline I am trying to teach my children in our daily lives as I work to practice it myself. I pray as you read this, that you will consider carefully the way you spend your days, weeks, and months. Don’t let the world and life wear you out. Plan a restful time with our Father on your calendar and look for the ways He will fill you up and wrap you in His everlasting peace.

What a privilege to come together and all enter His presence corporately.  I have the privilege of leading our praise and worship time, most of the time.  What an honor it is.  I want to spend some time in this piece discussing our worship time.

First, let me say that corporate worship contains a time of praise and adoration to God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:47). His people have always praised.  He inhabits the praise of his people (Psalm 22:3). During this time we are both individually and corporately lifting up our hearts, thoughts, worries and praises to the Godhead. Some of the songs we sing are reflective and focus on our walk and work and life in Jesus.  Some songs we sing are focused on Him personally and are prayer-like. I try, as the leader to blend these two types of songs into the assembly time because I believe we need both.

Second, let me say that our corporate worship is for the building up of one another (Hebrews 10:25). The assembly time is family time.  This is God’s children all coming together to love on one another, check on one another in fellowship and unity.  There is a Biblical emphasis on the horizontal nature of our assembly, one worshiper to another.  

I think we can gather from these two thoughts that our worship time is not consumer time.  The mindset of “what do I get out of worship?” is not a faithful mindset, but a selfish and inward mindset.  A faithful mindset says, “How might I praise my God today?”  “How may I encourage my brothers and sisters today?” How might I sacrifice to support someone else and the Lord’s cause today?”

I look forward to our next time together!
In love, Todd

I want you to ask yourself a question. What are you willing to give up to follow Christ? What is the easiest thing to give up, and what would be the hardest thing to give up? In our country today, we are so tied to “stuff” and “happenings” and “people”. Even when we are at our most spiritual, the things of this life continue to tug at us, actually, especially when we are at the peak of spirituality. Satan wants to deceive us and slowly pull us down from that mountaintop.

Reading through Philippians 3:1-12 we hear from Paul about his extraordinary life and confidence in who he was as a Jew. To hear him say it, one would understand that he had the magic ride to religious perfection. Blameless when it came to righteousness under the law. (He reminds me of a rich young ruler that came upon Christ.) This was definitely a man working his way to heaven.

Something changed all of that. A true change of heart. Literally! He had his own encounter with Christ Jesus. It was somewhat different than the rich young ruler, but he had the same decision to make; give up everything he had worked for to follow Jesus. It’s easy to give up everything if you don’t have much. He was giving up the opportunity to be a great leader in the Jewish temple. He had studied under the best. He had prepared all of his life for this future amongst the elites of the Sanhedrin. He was giving up everything that he had worked all of his life to attain.

With his heart changed, he became an outcast of his people and also the government. But, he did not count that as loss. Even through all of his sufferings following Christ, and there were many, he gave it all up freely, never looking back wanting what he had lost. He was free from the earthly things pulling him toward earthly power. He did not want that power or prestige. He only wanted to be in Christ and have Christ rule over him. Paul wanted to realize the power of the resurrection. He wanted Jesus Christ living in him, the power of the Holy Spirit coursing through his being.

Can you look at your life, your career, your family, your success and your belongs and truthfully say that if God asked you to give all of that up, you wouldn’t hesitate to give it up? Or, knowing that it was the Spirit leading you, would you try to deceive yourself that it wasn’t the Spirit, looking for a way out? What if He told you to leave your church because He knew that they weren’t speaking the truth. Leave the people that you loved in such a spiritual way, the people you had prayed with countless times. What if He went as far as asking you to give up EVERYTHING and live on the streets to preach and care for the homeless.

Is there a limit to what you’re willing to do or give up to follow Him? After all, He’s the one with the plan. He’s the one with the knowledge, and He’s the only one Who can save us and cure our souls.

Two weeks ago, my friends and I went to Wilmore, Kentucky to be witnesses and partakers at the revival at Asbury College. Since I have been back, many people have asked how it was, but words truly cannot describe what we experienced, being in a place with so many races, nations, tongues, generations, and denominations all praising God in unison. The greatest glimpse of heaven I have ever seen. There are numerous stories of people being saved, healed, and set free from spiritual burdens. The encounter with God is indescribable. It was so much more than just an experience. Jesus himself was in the room with us. As soon as we walked into the chapel, the abundance of peace and joy was overwhelming and beautiful.

We stayed for six hours both nights we were there. And many times throughout the night, someone would get up and say, “if you feel the Lord is releasing you from this space and can leave so others can come in, now is the time.” My friends and I would look at each other and say, “we don’t want to leave!” Eventually we ended up leaving our seats for someone else and standing against the wall. To some, that may sound selfish or greedy, like we couldn’t get up and go because we wanted more. But as I stood there, I remember recalling Psalm 34 which talks about tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. Those who taste it and see it don’t ever want to leave His presence.

Just like Joshua in Exodus 33 verse 11 when Moses was in the tent of meeting with God, the text says, “..he didn’t depart from the tent.” He didn’t want to leave God’s presence. He wanted to linger for as long as he could. And that’s how it felt at Asbury. It was so hard to leave. Even coming home, we all kept saying how badly we wanted to go back. We knew that the Holy Spirit was working outside of Asbury, but to leave a place where we were watching the Lord unleash and pour out His spirit on so many people was hard.

The next day, after leaving Asbury, my friend and I read Mark 9, which was a very spontaneous choice, but it was what I had been reading in my personal study and so we read it together. But boy, it was no coincidence. The Lord knew we needed this. Mark 9 is all about Jesus taking his inner circle guys (Peter, James, and John) up on a mountain where he transfigures before them. This imagery is staggering for the imagination. His clothes became radiant and then before them appears Elijah and Moses. Immediately, Peter interrupts Jesus, Elijah, and Moses’ conversation (imagine doing this, Ha!), and says, “Jesus it is good that we are here! Let us make 3 tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah!” He said this because he was terrified and nervous and didn’t know what else to say or think. Then, just like Peter did to Jesus, God interrupts Peter and says from a cloud, “This is my beloved son; listen to him.” After this, only Jesus was seen standing there.

There is so much to this story that I could unpack, but the main part I want to highlight is what happens after this glorious moment. We see after Elijah and Moses disappear, Jesus and the disciples go back down the mountain together and immediately are met with opposition. An unclean spirit and a bunch of scribes and disciples arguing. Back to reality, back to the real world. Imagine how hard that must’ve been to come into after all you’ve just witnessed on the mountain with Jesus.

I couldn’t help but think about our time at Asbury like this. It was truly a mountaintop. No, we didn’t see Elijah or Moses, but we certainly did see Jesus. His glory, his majesty, and his splendor (Side note: the Psalm I referenced earlier mentions in verse 5, “those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed”) think about what Jesus did when He transfigured! He shined. This is called Shekinah glory. The word ‘Shekinah’ means ‘God’s divine presence’. There are multiple times in the Bible when God is present and whoever or whatever is around Him shines. An example of this would be when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, after receiving the Ten Commandments, his face shone. Also, the Star of Bethlehem, when Jesus was born was a sign of Shekinah glory (God coming to earth.)

And we, like Peter, didn’t want to leave. I was reminded the very next day, by this passage, that, though we have to go back down the mountain and sometimes into a valley, Jesus doesn’t and he didn’t stay on the mountain. He went back down with his disciples, and He goes with us!

Dear reader, we don’t have to be afraid or feel alone, we have Jesus with us everywhere we go. He’s not leaving us (John 14:18). And the presence and majesty we crave to see and live in happens now! In our own daily lives. As my friend said, “corporate revival is amazing, but I keep reminding myself that personal revival continues with me dancing and singing and praying before the Lord just at home.” He comes back with us. Thank you, Abba, for your presence.

 And now, even as I sit here on the beach reflecting and writing this, I don’t want to leave. I feel as if I have tasted a bit of heaven, being with the Lord in His creation. My soul longs to stay, just to be His, with no distractions or worries. But then Jesus reminds me, “Go, not until heaven will this be your’s forever. This is only for a moment. But don’t worry. I’m going back home with you. You must go tell others.” And just like with Peter, Jesus needed him and his other disciples to not stay on the mountain but to go back into the valley so that others could hear the good news and also taste the goodness of Jesus. This gives me so much peace, and joy, and hope to carry on, until one day in eternity, this will be my forever.

Lizzy was introverted, almost reclusive.  A young woman in her twenties, Lizzy still lived at home and, in fact, rarely left the house, except to pick up some grocery items or go to church with her family.  Her parents reluctantly allowed her to leave school as an adolescent because the experience was simply too painful for her.  As busy, working, social people themselves, they did their best to gently encourage her to continue her education at home while still trying to win ground in her battle against social anxiety.

In one of life’s ironies, Lizzy’s sister Lu was her exact opposite.  Where Lizzy was quiet, meek, and diffident, Lu was loud, boisterous, and outspoken.  Lu jumped in where angels—and Lizzy—feared to tread.  She held strong opinions and voiced them vehemently, sometimes offending others; Lizzy’s personality was sweet and inoffensive.  Despite this, Lizzy and Lu were incredibly close.  Their very opposite natures created mutual respect, admiration, and love.  Lizzy longed to be bold and sure like Lu; Lu wished to be content and gentle like Lizzy.  They could not imagine life without one another.  They shared secrets, hopes, dreams, and fears.  Sadly, these two sisters were destined to part too soon.  Lizzy became ill and died at the age of 27.  Lu was inconsolable. Her sister, who loved her, supported her, understood her, always thought the best of her, was irreplaceable in her life.

It is a sad story….but it is a story that most of us already know.  In fact, many of us “know” these two sisters fairly well.  Louisa May Alcott (Lu) was an author of a famous novel called Little Women, writing herself as the character “Jo.”  In the book, the death of the third sister “Beth” (Lizzy) is one of the most poignant, heartbreaking, and beautiful sections.  Generations of young women—including myself—have cried, despaired, and felt inspired by the passage.
 
Elizabeth Alcott, by most standards, accomplished little in her short life.  She did not complete a formal education, never married, had children, held a job, or traveled the world. Very few people who lived near and around the Alcotts would have even recognized her by sight.  However, within her own family, especially with her sister Louisa, she made herself essential, valued, precious and necessary.  Her influence and life inspired Louisa Alcott to write one of the most well-read and influential novels of all time.

The Alcotts were Christians.  They believed that their lives mattered, that God had a purpose for each of them.  In Little Women, Beth thinks it is her purpose to serve her family, to help make home a sweet and pleasant place for the parents and sisters who went out in the world to work, teach, learn, etc. Would Lizzy—could she—ever have imagined that over a 150-year period, the story of her simple life would inspire millions of readers, that thousands of young actresses would vie to play her character on stage and screen, that “Beth” would become a popular name for baby girls…all because of her?  Elizabeth Alcott submitted herself to God’s will and followed the teachings of Christ, making herself irreplaceable to her sister Louisa.  Then, Louisa, also following God’s purpose, made Lizzy’s life’s story immortal, a story for all of us.

Everyone’s life matters. God has a purpose and plan for every human.  We may not fully know, but He knows. We may plant seeds that we do not see grow to maturity; we may never on this earth know exactly how our “life’s work” reaches others, but each of us is irreplaceable.

Even though we may be faithful Christians, that does not mean that we will not face challenges & struggles in our lifetime.   God will allow us to face challenges, yes allow, because that is how we grow, it is what builds & strengthens our faith.  (James 1:2-4)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt he did not take them along the short route into the Promised Land.  (Exodus 13:17-18).  He knew that if they had to face the Philistine’s in battle they would flee back to Egypt in fear.  So instead, He led them through the longer route, around the desert, and right up to the biggest obstacle that they would ever face…the Red Sea.  

WHY didn’t God just help them defeat the Philistines and immediately give them the Promised Land?  WHY did He instead bring them into what looked like an impossible position, and most likely a death sentence?

• First of all, they couldn’t run from this challenge, because Pharaoh’s army was behind them and the Red Sea in front of them.
• More importantly, if God had helped them fight the Philistines and take over the land they might think that they won it through their own efforts, their own skill.

On the other hand, can you imagine standing there at the Red Sea when the waters parted?  Now that would indeed be a jaw-dropping experience!  No way they could think they did that on their own.  Instead, they were able to witness the ‘Glory & Might of the Lord’ as He led them through the deep waters.

God could have taken the Israelites along the short route directly into the Promised Land, but He chose the longer route through the wilderness so that He could strengthen their faith and they could grow in their knowledge of Him.  I know that there have been several times in my life that I have hit my knees in total awe because I knew without a doubt it was only the Lord that brought me through the most difficult of times.

Truths to Lean On:

• While He allows us to go through some difficult challenges, he never abandons us. He wants us to grow to trust Him, let go of control and let His glory shine through, no matter our circumstances.  Hold on to the fact that If He doesn’t remove it from our path, he will lead us through it.
• God longs for us to know, through our own experiences, that there is nothing that brings Him more pleasure than demonstrating His power & love in and through our lives. Though we may not always see it at the time, sometimes it may be years later.
• We may be brought through some very painful experiences because we live in a fallen world with a spiritual battle going on.  We are not promised ‘heaven here on earth’.   “In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33).  Instead, our life here on earth is a journey preparing us for heaven…before He leads us into the eternal Promised Land. (James 1:4)

Still, it is hard to let go of control and wait.  Especially if it appears that God is being silent.  Read Exodus 32 - what compelled the Israelites to create the golden calf?  They got tired of waiting and panicked.  And, when we panic and take things into our own hands we usually create more problems for ourselves (remember Sarah and Hagar?).

When God seems silent, we grow anxious.  The irony is God wasn’t silent …while the Israelites were waiting God was speaking volumes.  He was revealing His law & instructions to Moses for the people.  Only the people of the Lord didn’t see it, so they grew anxious.

It is easy to have deep-water faith when we’re standing in the shallow end.  But there will be times when our faith is truly tested, when we may have to tread water and simply trust.

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the founder & perfecter of our faith…  (Hebrew 12:2)

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”  Psalm 27:4

David writes in Psalm 27 that his only request from the Lord is to dwell in His house, and to gaze on His beauty. I love this! The desire for the Lord and passion that David expresses in this passage is humbling and convicting to me in my own life. As a follower of Jesus Christ, can I honestly say that this is my desire too? Sure, I can “say” that, I agree with David, but does my life reflect my desire? Does my day to day tell the story of a heart whose only desire is to dwell with the Lord and gaze upon His beauty?

We know that during the time David wrote this he was in great distress and was seeking refuge of the Lord to protect from his enemies.  If we study the context before and after Psalm 27 we can assume that he was in great need for deliverance from his enemies. In my life, I can say that I have never experienced a time when my life was being threatened and hopefully many of you can say the same. So what can we learn from this Psalm?

 We recently finished celebrations that wrapped up last year’s holiday season and we welcomed a new year. We all experience a wide array of emotions and feelings around this time of year. Some people experience depression due to the climax and anticipation of the holidays ending and life getting back to the “normal” routine. Some people are exhausted and worn out, trying to catch up after the busy season. There are others who are energized, excited, and motivated about the year ahead and are planning for what the future holds. But then there are many who are nervous and anxious about what a new year brings with many unknowns. Honestly, I have experienced all of those emotions at some point in my life with the coming of a new year.

It is often times like this, even though I am not running for my life, as David was, that I have to cling to those passages and hold tighter to the Lord, trusting that He will get us through the days that are long and tough. As I look out my window at the bare trees and the brown dormant grass I have to remind myself the beauty of the Lord is still all around me. It’s in the love of the Father who sent his Son for us, it’s in the fellowship of the church that is Christ’s bride, it’s in the care and concern of a friend calling to check on me. It’s in the comfort the Lord gives me when I seek His face no matter what is going on in life around me.

So, as we walk through this new year let’s remember to ask the Lord to draw our hearts to Him. Let’s intentionally take time to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and delight in Him and dwell in his presence. This will fill us up and give us the strength to not only make it through tough times this year but will fuel us to shine like stars in the universe for His glory.

May the peace of Christ Dwell in you richly.

Some of us may think the following:
“What role do I have in the kingdom?”
 “I don’t preach. I don’t teach. I don’t lead worship. What is left for me?”
“I don’t even always go to assembly,” or “Going to assembly is all I do.”

First, let’s address the issue of assembling.

1. A person’s salvation and faith are not about how often he or she “goes to worship.”  Let’s get that idea out of the way.  We often emphasize scriptures regarding attendance at assembly.  We seem to place them above other texts like “pray without ceasing…do not worry about tomorrow…or love your neighbor as yourself.”  Our tradition and culture of “church services” has almost become a stand-alone indicator of someone’s faith. This is unfair and judgmental.
2. People live in and out of their own contexts.  This involves many considerations. What does a person do for the kingdom in everyday life?  What is the person’s personal prayer life made of? How much time is this person spending in the word of God, seeking the face of the Father?  Is this person continually measuring his or her desire for a deeper walk, a better marriage, more effective parenting, kinder attention to friends and neighbors?                                                                                

Could a person who is uninvolved in the life of the church strive for all of the above things?  
The answer is yes.

Does this mean that being an integral part of the church family has no additional spiritual value?
The answer is no.

What do I mean by “being an integral part”? Being there, showing dependability, demonstrating priority and commitment to the cause of a local body.  Here are some thoughts to help our deliberations of involvement.

1. It is true that every church member could be more involved in the body than we currently are. Therefore, no one should stand in judgment as to how much another participates, or says “yes” to work opportunities in the church.  
2. However, let’s all remember that there is power in numbers!  We  need people to help and support the local work. Everyone’s involvement and participation in the body’s life is an encouragement and support for the kingdom’s cause.
3. When I show up to be with the people of my faith community whenever I can, it demonstrates that this community is  a priority in my life. This is encouraging to others, and emphasizes the importance of the church body, and surely deepens my walk with the Lord.  

Bottom line: Friendship needs her people.  Our body has such a sweet sense of unity and love; we need what each member has to offer.  God has gifted each of us to contribute in unique ways. Your talents are a blessing to the rest of us!

Last week I woke up early before the sun was rising. As I sat in silence looking out the window, the sky started to transform from dark to light. In the silence of the dawn, I soon heard the birds calling out as the sun began to rise. As the sun shone more light through the trees, I saw the birds coming out for their morning breakfast. One was eating seed from our bird feeder. I noticed two others flying around together and landing in the yard to eat an insect or a worm the Lord had provided for them that morning. As I observed the birds collect what God had provided for them for the day, my mind went straight to Matthew 6 and Luke 12.

In these two passages, Jesus teaches against worry, anxiety, and fear and what a disciple of Jesus should do to combat those emotional responses. Interestingly, Jesus points his listeners to birds and their carefree reliance upon God. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus says, “Consider the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” And then Jesus, who was masterful at asking questions said, “Aren’t you worth more than they?”

Jesus understood what the people of his time were going through. Jesus also knew that  the birds were not made in the image of God, yet he provides for them. He wanted his listeners to hear and know that God cares much more about His image bearers and will provide for them. Some worried about where their next meal would come from and if they would have enough clothes to keep them warm. Jesus gave three commands in Luke 12: “don’t worry about your life”, “don’t be anxious”, and “don’t be afraid.” Instead, he told them, “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you” (Luke 12:31).

I know that many of us struggle on a regular basis with worry, anxiety, and fear. For many it dominates your thoughts and actions. It is a real thing and Jesus understands that. He also understands that we must seek after the kingdom and in doing so we are seeking after our Father’s guidance and provision. It should bring us so much peace to know that we have a Father who knows what we need and will provide us with those needs daily. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

I want to encourage you to thank God for the blessings you have today, instead of worrying about tomorrow. Make a list of those blessings and thank God for them. Know that Jesus’ remedy for anxiety is to make the kingdom of God and his righteousness the center of our priorities. I also want to remind you that the “Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).

GRACE AND PEACE

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  (ESV)                                

As we begin a new year, looking forward, we can be assured that the One Who was in the beginning, the One Who created all things, offers us a new beginning. Our frailties of the past year, our ill spoken words, the actions that hurt others are in the past. The thoughts that brought us to tears or hurt our very souls exist in our minds, yet, He forgives and gives us a new beginning. He is the only One who can create a new and clean heart, as we start this new year, yearning to be better… to be whole.

Just as He is the light of the world, my prayer for this year is that He will put His light in my heart, that it might shine throughout my thoughts, my words, my actions and my total being. I do not want this year to be about ME. I want this year to be about Jesus Christ, the Creator, the  Savior and the Light that shines upon this earth. I do not want my light to shine, I want His light to shine through me. I want my God and Lord Jesus Christ to be my new beginning.

I also pray that His church thrives with the power that He has given His church, to withstand Satan and the evil in this world. I pray that the church will have it’s focus solely on our savior and His kingdom, and that the things that try to draw our attention away from Him are drowned in our constant praise and worship of Him. He calls us to be united under His banner, and there is great strength in this union.

What an awesome God we serve!!!

On what he knew would be his last mortal night on this earth, Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers. After poignantly declaring that his soul was “swallowed up in sorrow to the point of death,” Jesus fervently implored the we, his believers, might “be one as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You” (John 17).  

The word “unity” is defined as “oneness.”  Jesus prayed for our unity.

In the last few years, believers and non-believers have exhibited deep divisions.  An obvious example is politics.  I have beloved friends and family on both sides of the Great Divide: devoted Republicans, convicted Democrats.  Most are also Christians.
 
Interestingly, each side often claims the moral high ground.  Christian Democrats and Christian Republicans both feel that they support causes most important to Jesus.  Sincerity and a desire to do what is right are also mutual characteristics of my diverse friends and family.

How can this be anything but a formula for division?  It is difficult to maintain passionately held  convictions but discuss them dispassionately.   However, passionate discussion easily leads to elevated tempers, and often degenerates into a trading of insults which we’ve all witnessed, maybe even participated in.  #social media!

Christians sincerely want to stand up for Jesus.  Please do…..But, let’s make sure it’s Jesus we are defending, not our opinions…no matter how passionately we feel about them.

If we cannot sit (literally or metaphorically) on a pew with those who hold differing political thoughts, biblical interpretations, moral applications, social solutions, etc., then we are “canceling out” half of the population on any given issue.
 
We are going to get very lonely there.  

Jesus prayed for unity, not uniformity.  A place where people are expected to be uniform and conform to identical positions on all subpoints of methodology or theology is not a healthy church body—it sounds more like a cult.  Surely the body of believers for whom Jesus prayed that night should be made up of Jew and Gentile, Democrat and Republican, black, brown, and white, vegetarian and omnivore, labor and union, Yankee and Southerner, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, vaxxer and non-vaxxer, and the list should go on and on.  The gospel is good news for everyone, not just the people in my corner on the matter in question.

Also, maybe Christian unity is more meaningful and faith-building when we have to work for it.
It’s not easy.  The challenge is deepened by the fact that the only person whose behavior I can semi-control—sometimes even influence—is myself.
 
Unity is hard.  It will never be automatic for our flawed human race; our Lord knew this, hence his prayer in the Garden.   It is achieved in part by the mutual submission and deference that Paul clearly outlines in his epistles to those very human first-century believers who struggled as we struggle.  It is not natural, but supernatural, a work of the Spirit in us.

May we be one, as They are One.

I don’t remember a lot about my paternal grandfather. He passed away when I was only 6 years old, yet his gentleness and playfulness are still very vivid in my mind today. The stories passed down through the years tell of a man full of laughter & mirth, and of great faithfulness to his God...the anchor from which my christian heritage derives.  

“Papa” was a preacher during the time when preachers received their pay in the form of food, farm animals, or a percentage of whatever was placed in the collection plate on Sunday morning.   As told by all 10 of his children, his one sticking point was that he had to be in the pulpit by 11:00 am sharp every Sunday morning.

It was during the 1930s, the great depression era, when the collection plate had been pretty slim for several months that my grandmother looked to my grandfather one Sunday afternoon and asked “Papa, what are we going to do?” My grandfather’s answer to that one question has resonated with me ever since I first heard the story. “Well, mama” he said, “I guess we’re just gonna have to give more”.

Now what may seem to be a comical answer, would have indeed been said with laughter, but with the laughter of peace & joy that comes from fully trusting in God. And, I have learned a great deal from this one funny yet profound statement, which has stuck with me throughout the years.

I have learned that when I put God first, I don’t have to worry about anything else. For I can do nothing without God, and all things through him (Philippians 4:12-13). I’ve learned that our God is a powerful God, who created and controls all things, yet he loves and cares for even the smallest thing happening in my life (Psalm 62:11). I’ve learned that God always makes time for me, and when I turn and lean on Him, He delights and showers me with comfort, peace & blessings (Jeremiah 29:11-12). I’ve learned that today’s junkyards are full of this world’s material possessions, long wasting away; yet the most valuable thing we can pass on to our children is our faith in God.

My grandfather passed away October 11,1964; yet he was not afraid of death, for in this too, he fully trusted God. His only desire was that when his time came, he would go home on a Lord’s day.  Papa got his wish, for he passed away on an October Sunday morning at exactly 11:00 a.m., sharp.  (Perhaps God wanted to give tribute to a covenant long established).   Gone, but not forgotten - Papa’s faith still carries on through his children, and their children…and throughout the many generations that followed.

May we too, individually and as His church, fully put our trust in God and in doing so, build a strong heritage & legacy for our children and the generations that follow.