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

… When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. (Genesis 46:29)

If I were to ask you to tell me your father’s name and a little bit about him, I would expect an answer like, “His name was Bill, and he joined the Navy right out of high school and then became a mechanical engineer.” If you continued you might tell me where he worked or lived or how many kids he had. But if so, that’s because you are an adult.

In Sunday School last week, we asked the kids the same question and not one of them mentioned their father’s profession. A few mentioned some hobbies, but by far the most common answers were about the qualities of their father: he’s kind, he’s funny, he throws us on the sofa, he draws with us, he’s creative, he builds things, he loves me….

To me, this is evidence of what Pastor Bill suggested last week: kids don’t want our stuff, they want time with us. I think this is true even as we grow to adults. A friend recently shared that she lost her dad when she was 15. One of her deep regrets is that they didn’t get to know each other as adults, to become friends and spend evenings just playing cards and talking. I know personally that I didn’t really appreciate my parents as individuals until the day I became a parent myself. Suddenly all their worries and warnings and stress made perfect sense and I regretted how selfish I had often been. Then our relationship deepened as we related more personally.

God instituted the family as the primary societal unit – our tribe. In those ancient days, mothers and daughters spent a lot of time together, cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc. Fathers and sons spent a lot of time working together in the fields, or in the workshop apprenticing, or walking to town. These were the precious moments of ‘quantity time’ that God wanted us to spend talking about the right way to live: “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

The special events of ‘quality time’ are what we tend to remember the most: trips to the zoo, craft time with grandma, road trips, outings, special family meals, etc. But it’s in that ‘quantity time,’ being taxied around in the car, doing chores together, dragged along to the store, helping out at church, etc. where real conversations can happen about the real challenges kids are facing and how God wants us to handle them. And God’s laws and life principles bear repeating again and again, especially in these crooked times where the world will constantly bombard our kids with messages of greed, instant gratification, selfishness, self-indulgence, vengeance and all kind of sin.

If we want to raise resilient kids who can stand firm through any storm of life, we must always be teaching them the golden nuggets of our faith such as, “we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:3-5) Watching us and learning from us how to actually live these principles out in our lives will be far more precious and useful than any ‘thing’ we could give our kids.

We only have one chance to lay a firm foundation under the ‘right path’ for our kids and teach them to follow it. And those years slip away so quickly. But it’s much easier to do if you do it a little at a time every day, do it with a tribe of family and believers, and ‘practice what you preach.’ Like Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Blessings,

Jen

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37

As we approach Mothers’ Day, I wanted to highlight just how difficult a job motherhood really is. No doubt I could start with laundry and dishes, sibling rivalries, finding a balance between family, work and self-care, or staying on the same page with your spouse, but I won’t. I want to dig deeper, to the heartache.

God knows the heartache of parenthood very well. Again and again in the Old Testament we read of His anger, disappointment and heartbreak as He watches His wayward children reject His warnings and encouragement and stubbornly go their own way to their ultimate detriment. Being a mom, or any parent, often feels like watching the world’s slowest train wreck – we see it coming, we warn, we threaten, we try to intervene, and yet the feared outcome arrives, and we are left to watch our children struggle with the consequences.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t end at childhood. As our chicks grow into responsible adults, they have to make their own choices about politics, morality and faith. It can be painful to watch them veer off the path we carefully cultivated for them, a path with a firm foundation of faith, that would lead them to their truest best life. But worldly college campuses, cosmopolitan cities and digital virtual reality are filled with pit falls, traps and delightful distractions promising much more than a godly life could offer, and ultimately delivering none of it. As we struggle to remain relevant in our grown child’s life, it’s hard to know how far we should go in our admonitions and telling the truth in love.

If you look at the verses just before the one above, be warned – you’ll see Jesus at His saltiest, giving the religious leaders a dose of very tough love. This is not the picture of the loving teacher with a baby on His knee and little kids all around. This is more of an Old Testament prophet giving God’s harsh warning to repent or else.

So, as parents, how do we watch our kids and others’ kids assault campus security, destroy school property and espouse non-historical viewpoints with truly antisemitic rhetoric? It wounds our souls. It makes us feel pity and compassion for these kids who ‘know not what they do.’ It angers us that this could happen in the 21^st century in the wake of ‘wokeness’ and the kindness campaign.

First off, the assault on our children and young people is coming from every angle these days: social media, the internet, bullying, school safety issues, the general rise in violence, the pervasiveness of drugs, the normalization of irresponsible sexual activity, exploitation, the eroding of ethics, incivility, and a real push to remove faith from all public life. As Greg Bell says, ‘we have to teach our kids to believe in God before the world teaches them not to.’

Understand, however, that these attacks are ultimately from Satan. As His time grows short, His attacks grow more intense. How do we fight that deceiver? Ephesians 6:16: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Rebuke the devil: tell him to leave, and quote promises from Scripture just as Jesus did when He was tempted. And most of all pray. Pray for your kids, pray for my kids, pray for the little kids, pray for the adult kids, pray for the grandkids, pray for all the kids everywhere. Pray for God to protect them, pray for Him to surround them with good and godly teachers and mentors, pray for them to distinguish wise teaching from worldly teaching, pray for them to know Right from wrong. Love them unconditionally with agape love even when you don’t support their choices, and be ready to forgive quickly.

Do not be discouraged or dismayed. The world may look unrecognizable sometimes, but God is still in control. Jesus will gather all His chicks in Jerusalem one day. Sing along as I remind you of a very real and encouraging truth:

This is my Father’s world.

O let me ne’er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world:

why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!

(Maltbie Babcock)

Be Blessed,

Jen

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many…

(Deuteronomy 11:19-21)

Like so many things, faith is better ‘caught than taught’ they say. Meaning that rather than just preaching goodness, kindness, prayer and Bible study, it’s more important to model these behaviors. The other saying is, ‘your actions are speaking so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying,’ suggesting that the old, ‘do as I say, not as I do’ just doesn’t cut it, especially with kids.

Over the years I’ve heard so many people tell me they can’t teach. But everyone is a teacher in their own way. Actually, with no disrespect to schoolteachers, I submit that family is the first and best teacher, and it’s the place God established for passing on His Word to successive generations. School is a wonderful thing and a terrific opportunity, but it’s at home at the table where lessons are reinforced, love of learning is instilled, values are passed on and stories are shared. Not to mention all the teaching that happens at the craft table, in the garden, in the workshop, at the chicken coop, in the kitchen or on walks in the woods. There’s always something to be taught and so much to be learned!

Every moment we’re sitting at home, walking together, or driving around town is time that we can be sharing, teaching, passing on knowledge and learning. And not just with kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. We all have so much wisdom and experience to share. The Bible encourages older women to teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). Men are encouraged to mentor younger men. At all the ages and stages of life, it is so valuable to learn about the Christian walk from others who have trod that same path.

And of course, we teach others around us with our words and actions in everyday life. We have a responsibility to carry Christ with us into all of that. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8)

Never think that your faith and your knowledge are not worth passing on. Never think that you are too inexperienced, or too shy, or whatever your objection might be. Jesus chose ordinary men as His students. He lived with them, spoke with them and then sent them out two by two to spread His Good News. It changed the whole world. It isn’t us, and it wasn’t those disciples that impacted people forever, it was and is God’s Holy Spirit working through us. We’re all cracked jars, imperfect and fragile, but containing the most glorious knowledge of all: Jesus lives! His salvation is for all! That is really something to pass on.

PRAYER:

(from Kurt Kaiser, “Pass it On”)

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;

That's how it is with God's Love,

Once you've experienced it,

You spread the love to everyone You want to pass it on.

Lord, create opportunities for me today and each day to pass on your love: at home, at work, everywhere to everyone.

Blessings,

Jen 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Isaiah 43:1-3

I have very fond memories of my school days. I remember looking forward to learning, feeling safe and valued and enjoying the challenges of the work. Sure, there were a few teachers or students who I didn’t get along with so well, perhaps a bully or two who said some mean things that have stuck with me, and a few project assignments that didn’t go as planned. But it really wasn’t until I had kids of my own in school facing challenges that the memories of the negative stuff resurfaced, and I got a more comprehensive view of the school experience.

My kids had a few terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. These issues and episodes reminded me of times in my own life I had forgotten, and they also highlighted to me how little control I had as a parent to protect my kids from these kinds of things. Which is one of the reasons we must surrender our kids to God and trust that He will protect them or use any suffering and sadness for their growth and ultimate benefit.

Many kids have a much harsher school experience. Severe learning or behavioral disabilities, gun violence, an unstable home life, language challenges and communication issues make school beyond difficult. And thanks to social media, teasing and torment doesn’t stop at the schoolyard gate, it follows kids home on their phones and computers. Add to that the stressful, fear-based daily news and the pressure to succeed and we shouldn’t wonder why so many young people today are suffering from anxiety and depression.

The world is not going to change, at least not right away. Therefore, it is up to us, as prayerful people, to intentionally pray for our schools, our children, our teachers, staff, bus drivers, crossing guards, and daycare workers, etc. We can daily pray for a hedge of protection to be placed around them, and for God’s will to be done in their lives and their schools. We can look for ways to support our local schools and teachers. We can be the first ones called when they need supplies, books, or a fundraiser for equipment. We can volunteer our time to assist teachers, do admin work, or help out on the playground or in the cafeteria. We can’t go to the schools and preach Jesus, but we can preach His message silently by being salt and light as His hands and feet and by showing His compassion and care.

It's a different time now, and school is not as safe and nurturing as it once was. Complaining, worrying and crying won’t accomplish much. Instead drop down to your knees (in spirit if necessary) and start and keep praying. Prayer changes things. Prayer accomplishes God’s will. Prayer puts God’s power into action. Pray without ceasing.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I pray for the students as they head off into a new school year. I pray as well for the teachers, professors, administrators, staff, custodians, bus drivers, safety personnel, aftercare workers and volunteers in our schools. May they all be sustained by your blessing. May You keep each one surrounded by Your hedge of protection and lead them in Your will. And remind me to support their call to teaching and learning and surround them with constant prayer, love and care as well. Amen.

Blessings,

Jen

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

-- Isaiah 53:5-6

This is going to sound like an Easter message, but sometimes it’s good to hear things when you don’t expect to. At VBS this year, this was our Gospel presentation. It’s always hard to talk to kids about trials, capital punishment and death, but this particular lesson really brought it down to kid-level. And I’ll admit, it made me look at this story and my part in it a little differently. I hope it will have an impact on you too.

We started by reminding the kids that Jesus lights the way with love and caring. Even in His final hours he cared for us enough to endure a lot of hurts.

JESUS IS BETRAYED.

Jesus knew He would be betrayed by a friend, but He let it happen. Have you ever betrayed someone? Turned your back on them or told their secret? I have. It hurts when a friend betrays us. Jesus was willing to be betrayed because He loves us.

JESUS IS DESERTED

The soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden and Jesus reminded everyone there that He could call to His Father and have legions of Angels protect Him. But He allowed himself to be arrested and then deserted by His friends. Have you ever deserted someone? Turned away when they needed help? I know I have. It hurts to be deserted. Jesus was willing to be deserted because He loves us.

JESUS IS BEATEN

After Jesus was arrested, the soldiers spit in His face and beat Him with their fists. Have you ever physically hurt someone? I know I have. It’s ugly and mean, but Jesus was willing to be hurt and beaten because of His great love for us.

JESUS IS MOCKED

The soldiers made a crown of thorns and jammed it on His head and then pretended to bow down and worship Him, mocking and making fun of Him. Have you ever made fun of someone? I have. It hurts to be mocked and made fun of, but Jesus was willing to go through it because He loves and cares for us.

JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

Jesus had never sinned, but He was willing to take the punishment of death for my sins. And for your sins. It was our sins that nailed Jesus to that cross.

When we betray or desert a friend, we nail Jesus to the cross.

When we hit or hurt someone, we nail Jesus to the cross.

When we mock or make fun of someone, we nail Jesus to the cross.

But Jesus’ love for us is more powerful than sin and death. Jesus was willing to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. And when He came back to life three days later, He defeated death! When we believe in Jesus, all of the wrong things we do are forgiven and we can be with Him forever in Heaven! I’m so thankful for Jesus and the way that He loves and cares for us!

That was a powerful day at VBS. And having to say that I did all those things, which of course I have, really made it very personal, especially when it came to admitting that those same sins nailed Jesus to the cross. It‘s easy to think of Jesus dying for ‘my sins’ or ‘all our sins,’ which generalizes it out into an abstraction. But bringing it smaller and more personally to ‘Jesus died for my lie on my Income Tax,’ or ‘Jesus died for my mean gossip,’ or ‘Jesus died for the swear word I used driving down the highway,’ well, then there’s the pinch of guilt and regret that leads to true repentance.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross so our sins can be forgiven. Thank you for defeating death by coming back to life. Thank you for making a way for us to live with you in Heaven. Thank you for loving and caring for us so much. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,

Jen

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. -- 1 Peter 5:7

Last week was Vacation Bible School at Hereford F&L Church. Our theme was Pets Unleashed, discovering how Jesus cares ‘fur’ us. We hadn’t had one since 2019 and I had no idea how it would go. We switched the format to evening as well. Thanks to prayers we had more kids sign up right before it started. And thanks to the hard work of two Teacher Moms and a bunch of volunteers, it was brilliant.

One of the best things about teaching kids is that the message is presented very simply with plenty of object lessons and analogies. I find that I actually learn more from these simplest of lessons than from Bible Study. So, I thought I’d share a little of what we learned with you.

Our first lesson was from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). We picked a few key passages and looked at them in turn. So much good stuff in there!

1. Salt & Light

Jesus says that we are salt and light. The kids tasted unsalted wafers and salted popcorn to see how salt enhances taste. And a Christians, we should ‘taste good’ to the people we meet, enhancing their lives with love and service. Then we looked at a literal light hid under a basket. We learned that we can’t be ‘undercover Christians,’ we need to shine our light everywhere, telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ and showing love and caring.

2. The Golden Rule

This is one of Jesus’ teachings that seems simple, but it’s easy to say and much harder to do. The kids practiced their grumpy faces and then their happy faces and we all decided that happy people are much more fun to be around. So, treat others the way you would like to be treated and make sure you have resting smiley face and not a perpetual frown.

3. Don’t Worry

Again, easy to say, harder to do. We looked at a variety of flowers and feathers to see how God dresses the flowers and feeds the birds, realizing that He loves us even more, and will abundantly supply our needs too. This is a great time of year to look around at the beauty of the Hereford Zone and its wild inhabitants to spark some gratitude for God’s creative abundance.

4. Finally, we learned about the Lord’s Prayer and how it is a blueprint for all our prayers. Using our fingers to count, we identified 5 principles in the prayer: Praise, Purpose, Provision, Pardon and Protection. This one was an insight I had not had before, but you better believe I will be saying my prayers counting on my fingers now.

And of course, we discussed how all of the above are commands that Jesus gave us for our own benefit so that we can have the happiest, godliest, most abundant life possible. God’s rules are to keep us safe and happy and to help us grow, just like crates, fences and leashes keep our pets safe and happy even though they don’t seem pleasant to the pets sometimes. Additionally, pets require our sacrifice to clean up after them, fix what they mess up, and build a relationship with them. And Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to clean up our sin, fix the punishment we deserved and restore our relationship with God.

And that was all just on day one! Whew!

Blessings,

Jen

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18

Kurosh’s Dad used to tell this story to his sons when they were little. I suppose it’s like a parable, and I can definitely see a little Bible lesson in there:

One day a father was at the bathhouse with his young son. It was hot and steamy, and the father became thirsty. He asked his son for something to drink. The boy, wanting to please his father left the bathhouse and went to the bazaar where he bought ice, lemons, and some sugar. He squeezed the lemons into a glass of cool water, mixed in the ice and sugar and returned to his father only to find he had dozed off. So, the boy waited patiently until he awoke. The father received the cool beverage with much joy and refreshment.

Now, when that boy became a dad, he decided to test his own son in a similar way. He sat in the bathhouse and asked his son for something to drink, and then pretended to doze off. His son hastily grabbed a dirty glass from nearby, filled it with tepid bath water and then upon finding his father asleep, kicked him to wake him up!

In the Middle East they say that if you have water and refuse to share it with a thirsty stranger that’s the sin of the dessert. But would you want that water in a dirty glass?

Here’s what Jesus had to say about that: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!” Matthew 23:25

 That’s why we need to be holy. As John 14:15-18 above points out, we are filled with the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. And as Christians we are to be carrying the Living Water (Jesus) to the whole world. As Jesus answered the Samaritan woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14.

Yes, it is a thirsty world, panting for the refreshing, live-giving water of eternal and abundant life. But who is going to want to take a sip from a glass that is only clean on the outside? One peek at the filth inside is going to send them running the other way. We want to offer our friends and neighbors and perfect strangers sweet lemonade water in a sparkling glass. We want them to eagerly reach out for what we have and what we offer.

Peter summed it up well: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16

Obedient children long to please their fathers. They obey his commands. They don’t just do the bare minimum to fulfill his commands by the letter of the law, they strive to embody the spirit of the law. And the striving is the point. We will never be able to be perfectly holy or follow all of God’s commands in this broken, sin-soaked world. But with the help of the Holy Spirit within us, we know that we are holy (chosen, set apart) to the Lord, and we can strive for holiness. We can endeavor every day to be more like Christ, our brother and perfect example. We can seek to glorify the Father in all we say and do. We can remember that we are ambassadors of Christ, speaking for Him, being His hands and feet, carrying His living water to a world dying of thirst.

God, like that father in the bathhouse, is not really interested in our sacrifices (or glasses of water). What they are both looking for is devotion and love and effort towards pleasing them. Don’t offer your living water luke-warm in a half-clean glass. Go above and beyond, giving your best to the Lord, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude for all He has done for you. He is our Abba, Daddy. He adopted us, delights in us and stores up good gifts for us and has good plans for our future. He deserves our best.

Blessings,

Jen

SACRIFICE

 …And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -Ephesians 5:2

To be honest, I have never really grasped the necessity of sacrifices in the Bible. It is clear that sprinkling blood is necessary for forgiveness of sins, but I’m not sure why. Perhaps part of it is for us to understand the seriousness of sin to God. Sin causes death and to take away death requires a life.

No matter the deeper symbolic import, God requires sacrifice. In the old days it was bulls, rams, doves, etc. and these days it is our will, our tithes and our praise, etc.

Those things seem woefully small in comparison to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. For us, he gave up His reputation, His life and His unbroken fellowship with God so that He could be that blood offering – the life that takes away death by sin. It was an immense sacrifice, born of immense love, and it’s one we can never hope to imitate. And even if we tried, what might that look like?

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. --John 15:12-13

A few months ago, my hubby’s dad, Jamshid, passed away. As families do, we had the occasion to gather together and share stories of his life. I got to hear the complete version of a story that had always intrigued me and which, I think, represents real sacrifice.

In the 1950s, life and culture in Iran were changing rapidly. The country was moving quickly from a predominantly agrarian village lifestyle to a modern digital age society. Ideas of modernization and progress were flying around the universities, and it looked like democracy might take hold. But alas, it was not to be.

Jamshid’s oldest brother was at one such university when he was suddenly found dead. The following year his father died, leaving the family grief stricken and without a wage-earner. Extended family, trying to be helpful, arranged for his sisters to be married off at insanely young ages, and for his younger brother to be apprenticed to a tin shop at the bazaar. Jamshid was away in his final year at a very prestigious university studying engineering at the time. When he heard the news and the family’s plans, he rushed home to intervene. Taking a job with a stipend and housing while still at university, he was able to enroll both sisters in a good boarding school. He took his younger brother back with him to finish school there.

He impressed upon all his siblings that they should be able to choose their own destinies. He encouraged them to pursue education as a means to freedom and a better life. He challenged them to dream big dreams, to go after those dreams and to never be deterred by fear or challenges.

Jamshid eventually got married and started a family of his own, but continued to care for his mother and siblings who were much younger than him. They all lived with him at different times and in different places. Through his own initiative, intellect and good character he was able to move rapidly within the Iranian National Oil Company from Safety Inspector all the way up to Project Manager, overseeing the construction of the country’s largest oil refinery, eventually negotiating most of the country’s petroleum contracts.

Because of Jamshid’s sacrifice of time, money, marital bliss and more, his brother was able to go to university, then on medical school, eventually coming to America to study mental health, where he became a very notable adolescent psychiatrist. His sister studied nursing in England and became a devout Christian despite the Islamic Revolution. And his littlest sister married a college professor, found her way to America and earned her PhD in special education, teaching for Baltimore County for years. The whole family is now filled with PhDs, doctors, CEOs, college professors, diplomats, police, lawyers and more, all serving others, all because of the difficult decision a 20-year-old made to go against the culture, sacrifice his own pleasure, put family first and pursue his belief in the potential of education and the importance of caring for others.

This is just one example of how we can honor Christ’s sacrifice for us – by making the challenging decisions to sacrifice our time, money, pleasure and perhaps dreams to care for others. When we allow ourselves to be inconvenienced by loving and caring for others, whether in our family, our towns, or the world, we know that we are about our Father’s business. We can be assured that we’re storing up treasure in Heaven that no one can take away. Sacrifice makes us just that bit more like Christ.

So, take time to consider the first responders, nurses, doctors, and caregivers who sacrifice for us. Pray for those serving in disaster relief organizations, crisis centers, homeless shelters and missions. Lift up all the clergy and missionaries all over the world bringing the Good News of Christ to the lost and lonely. Give thanks for the people in your life who sacrificed for you: teachers, coaches, grandparents, mothers and especially fathers, whose sacrifice and care so often go unnoticed and underappreciated.

Blessings,

Jen

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.
-Isaiah 66:13

It’s said that when wounded soldiers cry out on the battlefield, they call for their mothers. I think this must be because the first and longest job of a mother is to comfort her child – first with food, warmth and touch, later more with a listening ear and advice. And of course, there are plenty of Band-Aids, warm blankets, story books, and bowls of chicken soup in between.

Comforting others is one way to be Christlike. I struggle with Christlikeness because I just don’t feel worthy or able to be anything like Christ at all. And of course, in our natural, fleshly self we can’t. But with the help of the Holy Spirit living within us, we are able to begin exhibiting the love, joy, peace, patience and comfort that Jesus lived out every day. You see, God is in the comfort business:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. -2 Corinthians 1:3-4

One way God comforts us is through provision. He knows what we need, and He will provide for us exactly when we need it. Just like a good mother, God doesn’t so much want to make us comfortABLE, as He wants to be with as we go through the inevitable tough times and comfort us in our distress. When we look back, we should be able to see that God didn’t always give us everything we wanted, but He gave us everything we needed, and His love was always there to fill in the gaps.

Another way God comforts us is by listening and giving advice. Through prayer we can unburden all our cares and troubles on God and He will respond by reminding us of scripture, sermons or stories, or having our paths cross with someone who’s been there or is a comforting presence.  

And God comforts us with His promises. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He has promised that if we believe in Jesus, we will gain eternal life and inherit Heaven as a child of God. He has promised to work all things for good for those who love Him. He has promised a clean slate and new mercies every morning. He has promised to be faithful in completing the good work He has begun in you…and so much more!

And isn’t that what all good mothers do? They give themselves up for us. They make the time, they expend the effort, they show up, and they sacrifice their desires out of love for us, to give us comfort in a world that often doesn’t seem to care.

Now think about it. We can be Christlike by comforting people in the same ways. We have been blessed with abundance, and we can open our hands to share with friends or the needy. We can come alongside people going through a difficult season and walk with them through it. We can allow our children to endure some uncomfortable situations, making them confident that our love will always be there for them. We can be a listening ear, a sounding board, and an impartial advice giver, reminding our friends and loved ones of uplifting scripture and encouraging them with our stories of God’s comfort. And we can be people who keep promises. We can put our relationships first, be a friend in any weather, uphold our marriage vows, really show up for people, and be persons of integrity who say what they mean and do what they say. We can be willing to sacrifice our time, money, convenience and emotions to comfort others with the same comfort we have received from God.

PRAYER: Father, give me Your eyes and Your heart to recognize people who need comfort and encouragement and show me ways to be a comforter to them just as the Holy Comforter comforts me. Amen.

Tidings of comfort and joy,

Jen