Gifts

Dia de los Muertos

Day of the DeadBut let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

On November 1 we celebrate All Saint’s Day. In Mexico, they celebrate Dia de los Muertos. This multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions of the holiday include honoring the deceased using sugar skulls and marigold flowers, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.

I remember being a bit horrified by the decorated skulls and the festive way they remembered their dearly departed when I first heard about this holiday. They seemed way too comfortable with death. But I have come to see that as Christians, death is not a period but a comma. It is a temporary separation that will be overshadowed by the immense joy we will feel when we are reunited in heaven. And at the final resurrection we will all receive glorified bodies that will never die! That is certainly something to celebrate.

Additionally, we know that the ‘veil’ that separates this world from the next is very thin. Our faithful loved ones surround us and root for us as we complete our Christian walk. As Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” In that case, it makes sense to acknowledge those witnesses at least annually.

My father would have been 93 this year. His birthday was one week before All Saints’ Day, and so at this time of year I find myself thinking of him and wondering. I can’t say for sure that he’s in Heaven. I don’t know if he’s surrounding me in that cloud. It is very possible that he is. But the bottom line is that I don’t know for sure. I know this is a pain that many of us share. It’s a pain that motivated me to do everything I could to introduce my mom to Jesus. It’s a pain that motivates me to pray continually for the souls of family members and friends and to be bolder in speaking about my faith with anyone and everyone. I encourage you to join me in that.

But I also encourage you to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone on before us. Share stories with the younger generations, remember the things that made them unique. Pull out the photo albums. Maybe even have a little feast of their favorite foods. After all, we’ll all be reunited again soon, in the blink of an eye. Then we’ll have eternity to thank them for their steadfast faith, finish all the conversations left unspoken, and rest together in the all-surrounding, overwhelming, infinite love of God Almighty, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What a fiesta that will be!

Remembering,

Jen


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in the Bible

Bear Bones TextI love to dress up for Halloween (and any other occasion which could possibly require a costume!) It’s fun to pretend to be someone or something else, and to imagine fantastical creatures. However, I was amazed to see just how many of the creatures from fantasy stories actually had their origins in the Bible!

This year, if any of these weird and wonderful creatures show up at your door looking for candy, you can smile knowing that these all had their origins in God’s word. And perhaps it’s worth pondering the awesome mystery and power of God to bring these things into creation, even if some of them are just metaphors and visions.

DANCING SKELETONS

So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. (Ezekiel 37:7)

RESURRECTED MUMMY

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (John 11:43-44)

GIANTS

A race of giants called the Emites had once lived in the area of Ar. They were as strong and numerous and tall as the Anakites, another race of giants. (Deuteronomy 2:10)

TALKING DONKEY

Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. (Numbers 22:28)

UNICORN

But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn; I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92:10, 21st Century King James Version)

COCKATRICE (a two-legged dragon, wyvern, or serpent-like creature with a rooster's head)

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (Isaiah 14:29 KJV)

BEAST MAN

That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:33)

SEA MONSTER

In that day the Lord will take his terrible, swift sword and punish Leviathan, the swiftly moving serpent, the coiling, writhing serpent. He will kill the dragon of the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)

DRAGON

Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads… The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. (Revelation 12:3,9)

DINOSAUR

“Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox. See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly. Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together. Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron. It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.” (Job 40:15-19)

WITCHES & WIZARDS

The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”

Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up to you?”

He said, “Bring Samuel up for me.” (1 Samuel 28:9-11)

GHOST

The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. (1 Samuel 28:13-14)

ANGEL

I looked up and saw someone who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of fine gold. His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning, and his eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd. (Daniel 10:5-6)

Wow! There’s a lot of weird and wonderful stuff in the Bible. Who needs Harry Potter? We’ve got enough beasts and supernatural creatures right in God’s Word!

Happy All Hallow’s Eve,

Jen 🎃


The Power of Christ Compels You

Fabric PumpkinsFor Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

I’m not a fan of horror films, but I’ve always been interested in the ones with religious themes. I guess it’s a study in the wrong ways this world portrays the other world – the world of angels, demons, devils, hell, and what happens after we die.

It’s easy to scoff at these movies and their villains and pronounce them garbage. But to that I say, not so fast. The Bible is very clear, especially in the New Testament, that demons exist and can possess a person. We learn from Luke 8:30 that more than one demon can possess a person. We see in Acts 19:16 that demons can use superhuman strength. Acts 16:16 tells us that demons can have fortune-telling power. In Luke 9:39 we find that demons can cause the possessed person to convulse and hurt themselves.

The Bible is also clear that Hell exists. “…God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;” (2 Peter 2:4) And speaking of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude 1:7 says, “Those cities were destroyed by fire. They still speak to us of the fire of hell that lasts forever.” And Revelation 20:14 reveals, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”

So, no worries, we won’t end up as zombies or vampires roaming the earth eternally. But we can end up extinguished eternally, along with Satan and the demons. Heed the warning in Matthew 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” That One is God Almighty.

This would be terrifying if there were no way to be saved. Many people in our world today dread death because they see it as the end of everything – and without the saving grace of Jesus Christ, it is! But we know and need to share the Good News. As Paul says, “the love of Christ puts us into action. We are sure that Christ died for everyone. So, because of that, everyone has a part in His death. Christ died for everyone so that they would live for Him. They should not live to please themselves but for Christ Who died on a cross and was raised from the dead for them.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLV) And even more than that, Jesus tells us in Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Christ has risen from the dead and controls death and Hell. It gets better: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) We can have eternal life if we believe in and live for Jesus Christ!

But wait, should we fear mortal death and Satan and those demons? Well, here’s one of the most reassuring verses in all of Scripture:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)

So yes, demons, Satan and hell really do exist. And sadly, people can be tormented by them, even people in our neighborhoods and families. But the love of Christ compels us to share Jesus like Halloween candy – generously and with everyone! Once we have Jesus as our Savior, NOTHING can separate us from God’s love and an eternity in Heaven. THAT is something to celebrate!

Have a Kit-Kat, Jesus loves you!

Jen

**Don’t miss our annual Trunk or Treat So Others Can Eat at Hereford Faith & Life Church on Sunday, October 27 from 2-4pm.


Harvesting the Fruits of the Spirit

Fruit of the SpiritAfter growing up in Parkville, far from farms and agriculture, I remember being absolutely amazed to see cherries, apples, pears and more just hanging on the branches waiting to be picked at our first fruit tree harvest after we moved to Hereford. What a wonderful thing it is to be able to pick nutritious fruit right off of a tree, vine or bush without a trip to the market!

It’s no surprise that in an agrarian culture, Biblical writers frequently used fruit as a metaphor. Think back to the cursed fig tree, the vine and the branches, the grapes of wrath, and of course, the Fruits of the Spirit. But perhaps it’s a bit of a revelation just how far the metaphor goes, even in our day. Here’s a few things that occur to me:

FRUIT IS HARD WORK – a lot of preparation goes into an orchard. First the sowing, then the growing, then the waiting, usually for years, then the pest removal and chasing away birds and squirrels, then finally, the harvesting.

For us to gain the Fruits of the Spirit it is a similar process. We need to plow up the hardness in our hearts to become tender and responsive, plant the Word of God into ourselves, patiently wait and be tested, resist the old, negative responses, and finally we harvest joy, patience, peace, etc.

FRUIT TAKES GOD – yes, we plant and tend, but it’s God that provides the rain. All our hard work is worthless if a drought, storm, or pestilence comes and takes it away.

The Spirit that causes the Fruits of the Spirit to grow in us is not by our doing. We cannot achieve these on our own in any real, lasting way. We can only grow these qualities when we are fully submitted to God and His Will for us.

FRUIT IS GOOD FOR YOU – fruits contain fiber, vitamins A & C, all kinds of phytonutrients, and special sugars. They are mostly water, so they provide a lot of nutrition for just a few calories.

What could be better for us than a life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control? Isn’t that what we wish for our children, our neighbors, our country and the world? It would be Heaven on Earth if everyone had these qualities highly developed in themselves!

FRUIT CARRIES THE SEED OF MORE FRUIT IN IT – the idea of exponential growth is used often in the Bible. Each apple has the seeds for at least 4 more apple trees in it. Just ask Johnny Appleseed! The more fruit you produce, the more fruit you have the ability to produce.

The Fruits of the Spirit work the same way, the more you use them, the more capacity you have to continue to use them. The more loving acts you do, the more your love will grow to want to do even more, etc. But also, we can plant seeds of love, patience, joy…in other peoples’ orchards which will hopefully be watered by the Holy Spirit in their lives.

AS YOU CARE FOR YOUR ORCHARD, THE BIGGER THE HARVEST – careful pruning, pest removal, and tending to your trees will lead to a bigger harvest in the future. Remove the branches that bear no fruit, prune some that aren’t fruitful enough, and watch the harvest increase.

Jesus, himself, said He would cut branches that don’t produce and prune others. This refers to testing and chastening us. We know there are some pursuits that diminish our Fruits of the Spirit, or at least don’t increase them. The Lord can send tests to show us just how far along our growth is, or warnings for us to cut out behaviors that are hindering our growth. As He says, this is not pleasant at the time, but our increased yield will be a huge blessing later.

FRUIT IS ATTRACTIVE – fruit comes in so many bright colors, shapes and sizes and the aroma and taste are amazing. Tropical fruits, melons, berries, citrus, stone fruits…juiced, baked in pies, topped with ice cream, chunked up in a salad, or just as a handy snack – fruit is hard to resist.

The Fruits of the Spirit are even more attractive. When someone shows love, patience or kindness towards you, it’s wonderful. These qualities can create lasting bonds between people. But even more importantly, these are the inherent qualities of God, demonstrated powerfully to us through the life of Jesus. He attracted crowds of thousands just by exhibiting these qualities, especially during the most difficult of circumstances. As we live our lives in the world, the fragrance and appearance of our fruits attract others. Someone might ask how you can be so loving to one who is unlovable or be so patient in a difficult situation. Our fruit points to the Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control of God Almighty. Without these magnificent qualities of God, we could not last a day, much less look forward to eternal life in Heaven.

Enjoy your orchard,

Jen


Rosh Hashana Remembrance

Wisdom is a Tree of Life rescanOn the first day of the seventh month observe a special day of rest, and come together for worship when the trumpets sound. Present a food offering to the Lord and do none of your daily work.

The tenth day of the seventh month is the day when the annual ritual is to be performed to take away the sins of the people. On that day do not eat anything at all; come together for worship, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do no work on that day, because it is the day for performing the ritual to take away sin. (Leviticus 23:23-28)

This week is very important in Israel, and to Jewish people everywhere. It marks their High Holy Days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, analogous to Christian Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter.

In the Bible, Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, is also called the Feast of Trumpets. The feast begins the Days of Awe with the blowing of the ram's horn shofar, calling God's people to repent from their sins. The celebrations continue for ten days of repentance, culminating on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. On this final day, Jewish tradition holds that God opens the Book of Life and studies the words, actions, and thoughts of every person whose name is written there. If a person's good deeds outweigh or outnumber their sinful acts, his name will remain inscribed in the book for another year.

Rosh Hashanah is also the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, as well as the initiation of humanity's role in God's world. Apple slices dipped in honey are served, symbolizing hope for the sweetness of the coming New Year. Rosh Hashanah provides God's people with a time to reflect on their lives, turn away from sin, and do good deeds. These practices are meant to give them a more favorable chance of having their names sealed in the Book of Life for another year.

This year, however, this solemn feast also marks the one-year anniversary of the unprovoked attack on Israel that left 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 230 people as hostages. As the war spreads and violence increases, it is important for Christians to remember that the Jews are still God’s chosen people, Israel is still the Promised Land, and Jerusalem is still God’s city.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:3-5)

“O Lord, you have chosen Jerusalem as your home: “This is my permanent home where I shall live,” you said, “for I have always wanted it this way.” (Psalm 132:13-14 Living Bible)

It is very true that God gave us all a new and permanent way to salvation in Jesus Christ. As Jesus himself said to the woman at the well, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:22-23) Jesus is the only way to God because he is the incarnation of God. Nevertheless, eventually the Jews will embrace Jesus as Messiah. Paul speaks of this in Romans 11:25-29:

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

As Christians, it is important to remember this overarching principle which should guide all our interactions with and prayers for everyone in the world: “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:1 NLT)

Shalom & Shanah Tovah (Peace and a Good Year),

Jen


What Do You See in the Mirror?

HEDGEHOGBut you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

(1 Peter 2:9)

The Bible warns us not to develop a big ego and “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” (Romans 12:3) And there is no doubt that humility is a constant struggle. However, I have found that the opposite is also often a problem – not grasping, acknowledging and abiding in our actual status in Christ.

That passage of Romans continues, “but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Paul asks us to be realistic in our assessment of our talents and gifts. But when it comes to assessing our worth, God has a whole other criterion, one the world rarely uses. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) So what does your heart look like?

If we’re honest with ourselves we are all too aware of our faults and failings, struggles and secret sins. We definitely would feel uncomfortable standing before God waiting to be His anointed. In Jeremiah 17:9 even God says, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Yikes!

But Peter calls usa chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” And Paul describes us as role models: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16) So which is it? How can both be true?

It's all about being ‘in Christ.’ If we are in Christ, then He is in us. His precious blood covers our sin, and His Holy Spirit resides in us to comfort and guide us. This allows us to be reconciled with God so that He no longer sees or remembers our sin and shame, but instead sees us as righteous. In Christ we are no longer sinners, but saints. In Christ we have been adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters of the King who will all inherit His kingdom. In Christ “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) In Christ we are more than conquerors. In Christ we will spend eternity in God’s presence, whole and perfect, just as in the Garden of Eden.

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT) As we mature in Christ, we become more Christlike. Less of us and more of Him. Today, when you look in the mirror, you know what you’ll see? A reflection of Christ which you can reflect out into our weary, faith-starved world every day.

You are royalty! You are a precious, worthy, worthwhile Child of God, full of spirit and power, created to do good works and advance God’s kingdom, and He will use you for that purpose. Know this truth, treasure this truth and live out this truth daily.

Your sister princess in Christ 👑,

Jen


The Art of Praise

Ballerina Angels x 2Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Psalm 150:4-6

I’ve always loved the arts. They’ve been the area of my greatest joy and greatest success. My family was a very arts and crafts family, my parents’ specialties being woodworking and needle arts. As an only child I had plenty of time to let my imagination run wild –drawing, writing, singing and dancing just to amuse myself.

Later I slowly came to understand that some talents and subjects were more practical and useful than others, especially in the working world. The school system and my parents tried hard to make me a practical person. Alas, their efforts failed.

It was hard for me to justify pursuing the arts as a vocation, or even an avocation above all the other things that would make money or serve God better such as lawyering, administration, finance, grant writing, teaching, directing non-profits, etc. But as I continued to read the Bible, I began to see evidence of the value of the arts and craftsmanship to the Lord. Craftsmen and women wove and embroidered cloth and worked wood, metals and precious stones to make the Temple and all the things used in it. Singing and dancing and making music to the Lord was well established by the time Miriam led her praise parade. David was writing poetry and music while he was still tending sheep. The Bible itself is a masterwork of literature and poetry, with wordplay and double meanings that we are still unravelling centuries later.

God is the Creator. And it only makes sense that He inspired us with His breath of life to be creators too. Art, music and dance communicate to our hearts and souls in a deeper way than words. As they say, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ One of my greatest joys in discovering the Bible was finding all the poetic word pictures used to describe complex ideas. For instance, thinking of God’s kingdom as a lush garden reveals so many truths, and that metaphor just goes on and on (sowing and harvesting, pastures, vineyards, the of water of life, fruits of the spirit, trees, soil, etc.)

I have come to believe that Beauty is a representation of God in as much as it is a representation of love. Many war movies have a scene where the horror of war is contrasted with music or art. I often wondered at that. But whereas war represents the worst of humanity, a Bach concerto represents the highest and best of humanity. It’s quizzical that mankind is capable of both. But it is not quizzical that God would be pleased to be praised with music, dance, art or poetry dedicated to Him. It is His creation using the spark of creativity He gave to us to return the praise so richly deserved by our Lord and Master. Perhaps it is our spirit calling out to His spirit within us.

This is definitely the intention behind Liturgical Dance. Some of our United Women in Faith recently attended a workshop on Liturgical Dance. It was a little awkward removing our shoes and our inhibitions in order to praise God with our whole bodies. The movements were simple and symbolic in order to communicate the meaning of hymns on a more profound level than mere words. The leaders told us stories of worshippers who had unexpected emotional responses to the dances. I don’t doubt it. After the nervous laughter faded, we all had pretty profound responses to the dances ourselves. Perhaps one day we’ll have the nerve to share one during a worship service.

In the meantime, expand your concept of worship to include your imaginative and creative side. There are many ways to give it a try. There are Bible coloring books that allow you to creatively color scripture as you meditate on it (so fun). There are Bibles designed to be doodled in, so you can illustrate your own favorite scriptures, or use stamps and stickers. Sing your favorite worship songs and make up your own dance moves (my favorite while doing dishes or cleaning house), or be more intentional and start a project dedicated to the Lord (woodworking, quilting, painting, drawing, sculpting, knitting, etc.) I know the prayers and praise that go into all my illustrations, and into Erica’s beautiful tapestries that adorn the altars, into all the handmade items sold at the Holiday House Bazaar, and into the prayer shawls donated to the Care Committee. These are wonderful ways to glorify God with the creative talent He has breathed into each of us. Or write a song, poem or devotional and send it to me here for everyone to enjoy! 😉

Happy creating,

Jen


Pumpkin Spice and Harvesting Lives

9 Pumpkin Spice sqr“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (Genesis 8:22)

God gave us the moon to mark the seasons, each for its own purposes. And now the most magical of all seasons has arrived – Pumpkin Spice Season! Love it or hate it, it seems it’s here to stay, arriving as early as August now.

There are many kinds of seasons: seasons of our lives, seasons of waiting or illness, planting season, harvest season, holiday season.

Traditionally autumn is harvest season, although that really depends on the crops. But whether it’s summer, late summer or fall, one thing is true about all harvests – as soon as they’re ready we have to bring them in. We can’t leave the fruit on the vine, the stalk, the tree, or underground too long or it will spoil. If we want the fruit of our labor, we have to pause everything and harvest that crop.

In many parables, Jesus likened making disciples to planting and harvesting. But his heart for lost souls was perhaps the most evident in Matthew 9:35-38: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

This is really the first statement of the Great Commission. Jesus asks us to become migrant workers, moving from mission field to mission field harvesting souls for God’s kingdom. And we are to pray for more workers to help bring the harvest in. When the harvest is ready, there is no time to wait. We must work hard and get as much help as possible to bring in the harvest while it’s ripe. If the harvest of lost souls was ripe in Jesus’ day, how much riper is it now that the Day of the Lord draws even nearer? We don’t want to leave even one willing soul to wither on the vine.

One day we will close our eyes and harvesting season will be over. One day the Lord of the Harvest will blow the final trumpet and all reaping will stop. We will feel joy at the abundance of the fruit of our labor seeing all those in Heaven because we planted a seed, tended a sprout or harvested a crop. And we will feel regret for those we coulda, woulda or shoulda reached and didn’t. With regular mail, email, Zoom, What’s App, Facetime, and all the various social media apps, there’s never been so many ways to reach so many people without even leaving the house. And besides that, our fields right in our own community are ripe for harvest. So pray to the Lord of the Harvest and ask Him to send more workers into His fields – and ask Him to point you to the fields which you can reap. And grab a cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte on the way! 😉☕

Happy Harvesting,

Jen


The Ultimate Sacrifice

HeroesIt is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; (Romans 5:7-9)

A total of 441 first responders were killed on September 11, 2001, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, port authority personnel and more. They were not already in the buildings. They did not board an ill-fated commercial jet. Unlike the thousands who senselessly died that day without a choice, the first responders ran towards the danger, into the fiery infernos, into the immanently collapsing buildings with one purpose in mind: to save as many lives as possible even while risking their own.

Rescuing people is not easy. Our fight or flight response causes people to react in many counterintuitive ways. Children often hide in small spaces, some people freeze completely, some resist violently, some endanger the life of the rescuer as they are being rescued. Not to mention that many rescue situations are still extremely dangerous: homes engulfed in flames, flood torrents, rip tides, active shooters, battle, etc. To be so dedicated to saving lives that one would choose to go toward what everyone else is fleeing is amazing to me. I’ve spent 35 years of my life with one of them, and I still find it miraculous that people do it.

Perhaps that’s why the story of Jesus’ sacrifice touched me so deeply when I first heard it and still does. Jesus didn’t have to accept His mission from God. The Bible makes it clear that it was His choice to obey God. At so many points in His life He could have chosen a different path and saved His life. He could have remained a carpenter, had a family and died peacefully in Nazareth. He could have bowed before Satan and become a wealthy world leader. He could have listened to the advice of His apostles and stayed away from Jerusalem and the angry religious leaders. He could have renounced His claim to be the “I AM” in front of the Sanhedrin, or the ‘King of the Jews’ in front of Pontius Pilate. He could even have called for the angels to rescue Him from the cross.

Accepting His calling wasn’t easy. How many times did He look over the needy crowds pressing into Him and feel compassion for them? How many times did he feel frustration that even His own apostles, weren’t grasping His crucial, life-saving message? How many times was He so exhausted He had to go off and refresh himself through night-long prayer sessions? How many times did he narrowly escape imprisonment or stoning from angry crowds? How many miles did he log on dusty, rocky roads wearing only sandals?

He sacrificed His time, His talents, His finances, His family, His home, His employment, His reputation, His comfort, His control, His future, and everything He was and ever would be, all for God’s glory. Only once do we get a peek at how exceptionally stressful facing His final ordeal truly was:

“Then he went off…and knelt down and prayed. “Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:41-44)

Bloody sweating is a real medical phenomenon called hematohidrosis. Rarely, in people suffering from extreme levels of stress, blood vessels around the sweat glands can constrict. Then, as the anxiety passes, the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The sweat glands push the blood to the surface, which comes out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.

Now, if Jesus was willing to voluntarily suffer all of that for no benefit of His own, but merely to benefit sinners and enemies of God, can’t we endure some discomfort, some persecution, some doing with less, and trusting God more? We, who are heading towards an eternal home in Heaven, owe Jesus EVERYTHING.

We were not innocent victims, but guilty people facing a certain eternity in hellfire. Our fight or flight response wrongly told us to flee from God, to run away from the Truth. Or else to attempt to hide from the reality of our sin and our need to be saved. Jesus risked everything to come and rescue us – even when that rescue meant losing His own life.

Just before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus deputized us all as Spiritual First Responders, giving us the command to go and rescue the perishing, bind up the broken, and save the lost. May we have the courage, the strength and the compassion to take up our commission as bravely as the first responders on September 11, 2001.

Be bold,

Jen


Wisdom From Above

Wisdom is Sweet (2)A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

Proverbs 24:3-5

As kids head back to school, it’s worth reminding ourselves what school is, and what it isn’t. In law school we read many school-related cases. The Supreme Court determined that free public education was necessary to create good citizens for our country. Later, the Supreme Court decided that our country was not a ‘Christian nation’ when it created ‘Separation of Church and State.’ The exclamation point on that was the removal of prayer from public schools. Love it or hate it, this is the reality we live in.

Our public schools teach many important subjects that will help students become good citizens: reading, math, social studies, physical education, music, art, etc. But here’s what they DON’T teach: the Fear of the Lord. “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7) Schools can impart knowledge, but wisdom comes from God with a focus on making Christlike disciples. James 3:17 explains what godly wisdom is:

First, godly wisdom is pure. Our world might promote envy and selfish ambition, but godly wisdom has a pure motive which involves doing what is best for others.

Second, it is peace-loving. Selfishness and greed can start a war or tear a family apart, but God's wisdom values peace over getting our way.

Third, it is gentle. Gentleness is having strength and power but having them under control so that when we have the opportunity to hurt or take advantage of somebody, we won't.

Fourth, it is submissive. Being willing to yield to others means being willing to listen and to learn. To be submissive is to be humble and teachable, not a doormat to be walked over, but meek, so that your strength is guided and submitted to God.

Fifth, it is full of mercy. Mercy means not only forgiving those who wrong us, but also being willing in our hearts to help them.

Sixth, it is full of good fruit. Jesus taught us to judge a tree by its fruit. We cannot fake the Fruits of the Spirit – they are the result of having the Holy Spirit live within us and teach us.

Seventh, it shows no favoritism. Those who live by worldly wisdom cannot be impartial because they are always trying to please themselves or someone else, but those who live by God's wisdom are impartial and authentic.

Eighth, it's sincere. A sincere person is genuine, not wearing a mask and not a hypocrite. A sincere person is trustworthy and faithful.

Teachers do a very hard and admirable job of molding young minds into good citizens. But it is up to us to mold young hearts to be Christ-followers. A heart submitted to God controls itself. A heart submitted to God puts others’ welfare first. A heart submitted to God lives for Him, to please Him, not itself. God’s wisdom is the True knowledge. Make time to teach God’s wisdom to the children you influence, and to develop it in yourself. Image what the world could look like if we all lived out these lessons!

PRAYER: Lord, place Your hand of protection over all the schools, students, teachers and staff. Give an extra dose of perseverance to God-loving teachers who do their best to exhibit Your wisdom every day in their classrooms. Help me also display Your wisdom in my life, in all that I do, and to all that I interact with. Amen.

Blessings,

Jen