Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house… (Job 29:4)

I’ve never been scuba diving, but I’ve snorkeled with sharks and taken a mini sub to the edge of an ocean trench. What I can say for sure is that there is a lot more life down there than we might ever guess just drifting on the surface. It’s not until you dive down that you really begin to see the strange and wonderful things you had been missing. And what we’re missing is a lot!

Although the oceans make up roughly 99.5% of the planet's habitats, there are thought to be scores of large marine animals unknown to science. When you consider smaller animals too, the number of unknown species rises to the millions. So, basically, what we know about the sea’s creatures is just the tip of the iceberg.

And so it is with God and His Kingdom. What we know of Him and His spiritual kingdom is just the tippity-top of the iceberg. After all, there is just one volume of His inspired writing, The Bible, which has just 66 books, which all together contain a mere 783,137 words. However, by the miraculous magic of the Almighty, that is quite enough to know God, His laws, His miraculous works, His unfathomable love and mercy in the form of His Son, Jesus, and the guidance and comfort of His Holy Spirit. And what becomes obvious in those 700k+ words is that it’s a love story. His greatest desire is to love us and be loved by us in return.

This week at Vacation Bible School we’re teaching the kiddos to ‘dive into friendship with God.’ I encourage you to dive deeper too. Up on the ‘surface’ of church, Bible Study, and congregational prayer it’s easy to miss all the activity and wonder that’s happening at that deeper level. Floating on the top with just a face mask, you might catch a glimpse of something awesome, exhilarating, intimidating or scary. But it’s only by diving down deep that you really begin to experience the wonder, the glory, the power and the majesty of God!

True friendship is characterized by love, and encompasses trust, regular communication, and joy in one another’s company. So, is Jesus just your buddy? Is God someone you know about, but don’t really know? Then dive deeper!

LOVE: God IS love, so you can’t really know love until you know God. God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5) …He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

TRUST: God is far more trustworthy than any person. He keeps all of His promises and has the power to guide and protect you – what a comfort! So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

COMMUNICATION: You can have a running conversation with Him all day long. Every decision, every activity, if we keep the lines of communication open, God hears and responds even when we don’t know what to say. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)

MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER: The more deeply you dive into the spiritual world, the more perspective you gain on the temporary troubles of this world, and the often-overlooked good happening all around us. Spend time with God to feel comforted and inspired. 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) …But the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalm 32:10-11)

So, dive on in, the water’s fine! Discover all that you’ve been missing by just floating along at the surface. Go deep and be amazed.

Blessings,

Jen

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!  All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  So I run with purpose in every step. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26)

I love the Olympics. I’m one of those saps who believes sport can unify the world, and in the triumph of the human spirit – the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I’ve watched many athletes be propelled into Olympic history: Bruce Jenner, Nadia Comaneci, Mark Spitz, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles…I could go on and on. What has always impressed me is the incredible amount of discipline they had, even at a young age.

Many Olympians seem to have set their goals very early with an incredible faith that they would one day win the prize – an Olympic medal. In pursuit of it, they gave up normal lives, proms and graduations, often waking before the sun for the first of two or three training sessions a day! They have the support of their families, even when they have to move away for training. It’s a lot for a prize that will one day fade away or be resold at a pawn shop.

Brothers and Sisters, we are in a competition to win a much bigger and eternal prize – salvation and life everlasting in Heaven! The Apostle Paul suggests that we’re in a race – the human race, perhaps? And let’s be honest – not everyone will win the prize. This is a sad truth. There will not be ‘participant medals’ for everyone at the Pearly Gates.

But perhaps Paul is talking about winning souls, not our salvation. We know that we cannot earn our way into Heaven. Salvation is a free gift to everyone. No amount of training and straining will get us through those gates. So why do WE need to train like an athlete?

Paul himself was serving God in God’s capitol, Jerusalem, doing what he thought God commanded, and branding Jesus-followers as heretics. Then, Jesus’ magnificent glory knocked him off his mule, blinded him and put him on track to be a great missionary, winning the souls of Jews and Gentiles.

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)

Friends, we have been sent. Jesus’ final words are our Great Commission: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

That seems like a tall order: all nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. That sounds like the kind of goal you’d need to have a lot of faith to accomplish. It sounds like an endeavor that would involve training and discipline, hard work and dedication. It sounds like something you’d have to give up a ‘normal’ life to achieve, and need the support of family if you had to move away from home for a time.

Of course, with today’s technology there are a lot of ways to carry the message to all the nations. Sadly, in our post-Christian society, there are many people in our own community who may not have heard the Good News. And what is our church if not a missionary training center, sharing the Good News of salvation, making us into disciples, baptizing and teaching God’s Word? Each church is an outpost on the vast world-wide missionary field.

On August 11, the 2024 Summer Olympics will come to an end. All the races will have been run, the competitions decided, and medals distributed. One day soon, our race will end too. Our performance in soul-winning will be tallied and crowns will be awarded. Of course, the real reward will be the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who will share Heaven with us because we dared to share Jesus with them. Then the sacrifice of time, talent and money will not only seem tremendously worth it, it will seem like less than our best effort. Like that little boy on the beach, we will long to be able to save just one more starfish.

As the Day of His Coming draws near, let’s finish this race strong. If we put our total dedication and effort into it, we’ll have no regrets. Because unlike the Olympics, everyone can be a winner in the soul-winning game!

Go for the gold,

Jen

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. (Matthew 7:26)

Sand is notoriously unstable stuff. Just last week, a girl was digging a hole at the beach and nearly lost her life. (See Article) Shifting sand even has a name: liquefaction. The shaking of an earthquake can cause soil to behave like a liquid, similar to how wet sand turns to muck when you wiggle your feet in it. This can swallow roads, cars, and even large buildings. Luckily, we can do as the wise man does and build on a solid foundation. Christ is our solid rock.

Things on this big blue marble called Earth have always been rather uncertain. For the ancient everyday person, there were few things one could trust to measure time or space. It’s not too surprising, then, to see some of those mentioned as names for Jesus:

• Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4)
• Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
• Dayspring (Dawn) (Luke 1:78)
• Light (John 8:12)
• Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)

Jesus is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) He is our “true north," our plumbline, our “firm foundation” – a constant and unchanging source of truth to build our life on.

We, however, get shaken. Our hearts melt like sand in liquefaction. The news seems more surreal every week. In these crazy days where the culture tries to convince us that Truth is relative, that there are different versions of Truth for different people and furthermore that they are all valid, it’s more important than ever to stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word. We are seeing the realization of Isaiah’s prophecy:

Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
    and clever in their own sight.

(Isaiah 5:20-21)

But fear not. Just as the horizon looks crooked and crazy from a boat tossed in a storm, things seem very wrong now. But that’s why we need the perspective of our True North, our Firm Foundation. As Pastor Bill often says, “God is not in Heaven ringing His hands with worry.” God has a plan. The earth has a destiny. There is a Truth on which we can depend and unchanging promises on which we can stand.

It’s fun to play in the sand. My family has always loved to build castles and moats and ponds. And the rapid rate at which the ocean swallows them up is a good lesson about the impermanence of this world. We build in shifting sand, but God builds on a firm foundation of solid rock Truth. Hallelujah to the King of Kings that we can shout, “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken!” (Psalm 62:2)

Stand firm with compass pointed True North,

Jen

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

(1 Peter 3:15)

Recently, on a spur of the moment weekend trip to the shore, I forgot to pack my sneakers, my earplugs, and my wallet! It’s easy to leave a few essentials behind, but always remember to pack Jesus.  

Whether your trip is near or far, there’s bound to be some down-time waiting in line, sitting on planes, trains and automobiles, getting gas, or at your destination. Often, we’re thrust uncomfortably close to perfect strangers. If you’re a recovering introvert like me, it can range from awkward to daunting. But there’s another option: consider it an opportunity to practice sharing something far more important than talk of the weather or elections: share Jesus!

My hubby was boarding a long flight to Guam years ago. He was not much in a mood to be social, and someone had told him that the best way to silence a chatty neighbor was to ask if they had met Jesus. When the ladies next to him started some small talk, he tried out the advice. To his surprise and ultimate joy, they turned out to be two nuns on the beginning of a missionary journey. They ended up chatting happily about Jesus for the entire flight.

The thing is, we can never know where our sharing will take us when we dare to step out in faith. You might get rebuffed or rebuked. But…you might find incredible encouragement in your own journey, or find out about a need that you can actually meet, or hear a tear-soaked story from someone who prayed for someone to talk to, or get to lead a total stranger to Jesus. I’ve heard first-hand accounts of all these.

On our cruise to Alaska, we were seated at a table with couples from Georgia and Texas. It turned out that all of us wrote devotionals (and even a book) for our churches. In Europe, several on our small tour bus were believers and made a special effort to visit the cathedrals and churches where we stopped. We even got a blessing from a German priest. We also prayed together for those lost on MH-13 which had flown out of the very airport that we flew into only days earlier.

So, give it a try! God may have arranged that conversation just for you. You could be the answer to a prayer. No matter how it turns out, you’ll be participating in God’s great plan for us to go and make disciples!

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always pack Jesus wherever I go. I want to join the Psalmist in singing: “In the assembly of all your people, Lord, I told the good news that you save us. You know that I will never stop telling it. I have not kept the news of salvation to myself; I have always spoken of your faithfulness and help. In the assembly of all your people I have not been silent about your loyalty and constant love.” (Psalm 40:9-10 GNT) I am Your witness. AMEN!

Safe travels,

Jen

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

(Ephesians 6:13-17)

On my journey back to health I’ve had to learn some hard truths. I confess it is reassuring to see that the contestants on Biggest Loser all faced these too. The first and hardest truth, but the one most necessary for actual life-long change, is the acceptance of reality, and taking full responsibility for it. On a weight loss journey, it’s the hard acknowledgement that you are fat. I was morbidly obese. The morbid part means death. No one shoved pie down my throat in the night, I was digging my own grave with a spoon. Many of the reasons for that stemmed from lies I repeated to myself over the years that became a subliminal soundtrack in my mind: “You’re not worth the effort,” “It seems so good, how bad could it be?” “The doctor says you’re healthy” “You’re happy this way,” “You’re a disappointment,” “No one cares about you anyway,” etc.

You probably already see the similarities to coming to Jesus. We think we’re in control, but then, in the lonely, quiet moments, the truth of our sin and corruption reveals itself. And often what has kept us from kneeling at the cross are the same kinds of lies that the devil has been whispering to us from the beginning: we’re not worthy, we can’t be forgiven for THAT, it’s too much work to be saved, there’s not really a final judgement, people will disown you, or call you crazy, only the good die young, etc.

Whether it’s a spiritual transformation or a health transformation, or ANY kind of transformation, really, it WILL be a battle to get better. Nothing worth having comes easily anyway. And God is not shy in telling us in His Word that the struggle is point. It’s the struggle, the battle, that turns us into warriors, that builds character and teaches us perseverance, builds value in the victory.

So, it seems the Salvation Work-Out is a fighting discipline. Philippians 2:12 says “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…”

ROUND ONE: Fighting the Old Inner Man. “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:19-20) This is a daily exercise. Like all exercises, it gets easier with time, but you’ll never be finished. If the great Apostle Paul struggled with it, we certainly will.

ROUND TWO: The Spiritual Battle. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12) If it wasn’t going to be a battle, we wouldn’t need armor! But God, the Great Personal Trainer, will supply all of the necessary equipment. Still, daily training is necessary so that you’re strong enough and know how to use the equipment when the actual fight comes.

ROUND THREE: Battle with the World. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you is the greatest accomplishment.” This has always been true, but in this age of social media, comparison and conformity are demanded like never before with real potential consequences. To follow Christ is to turn around in a massive crowd and start walking the opposite way. This is a full body work-out, but even more so, a battle of the will. Again, our Great, High Trainer is always in our corner shouting out words of encouragement, warning and instruction. And He is there to bind up the inevitable wounds.

Yes, getting better is a battle, but it absolutely WILL happen! “Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Whoo! I’m ready to suit up and get training! And here’s a pro tip, post note cards all over your locker room or training space (house or prayer closet) with your favorite inspirational quotes (verses) from the Trainer. He is the only One who knows our true potential and how to get the most out of us if only we will get real with ourselves, set aside our fear and hesitation and trust the process.

Get after it,

Jen 💪

In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered God’s anger because we were sinful by nature. We were the same as all other people.

But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:3-5)

I love cupcakes. They come in so many tantalizing flavors, sizes and colors. Cream filling, shimmering glitter, colorful sprinkles – they’re like little edible works of art. But there’s another side to cupcakes.

As I began my health journey over a year ago, I learned some hard truths about food. For decades the food industry told us that fat was the enemy. And beginning in the late 70s, the diet industry was happy to provide us with tempting, highly processed foods that were fat free. But to replace the missing flavor, they added salt and sugar. Sadly, this was the worst thing that could have happened because it turns out sugar is poison. Now, the obesity rate is staggering and the link between diabetes and heart disease is well established.

What’s more, studies have shown that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. And the food industry is well aware of it. In the 1970’s they discovered the perfect combination of fat, salt and sugar that would make a food nearly irresistible. It’s called the ‘bliss point.’ “Bet ya can’t eat just one” is a safe bet because using science against us they have created hundreds of foods that are highly addictive.

Back to cupcakes. Watching an old episode of The Biggest Loser the other day, the contestants were faced with a Temptation Challenge. Dozens of colorful cupcakes with all kinds of toppings were displayed on shelves. Under one of them was a prize. But in order to get the prize they had to eat any cupcake they touched. If they didn’t find the prize, they got a clue and could keep going. Many players participated, despite being 100 pounds overweight with health issues and on a weight loss show. The winner ended up consuming 1,300+ calories.

And friends, the world is our cupcake. The world and its sin and godlessness are wrapped in all kinds of tempting and delightful packages: promises of fame, fortune, beauty, comfort, acceptance, pleasure, etc. available for the price of only a bit of compromise. But compromise to sin has its costs – costs much greater than a few hundred calories. Marriages, families, friendships, businesses, reputations, health and souls can all be lost by succumbing to temptation and sadly, sometimes it only takes just once.

Satan’s job here is really pretty easy. All he has to do is to convince us to be selfish and do what makes US happy, what would help US. And after all, don’t we deserve to be happy? Don’t we deserve to get ahead? Isn’t everyone else lying and cheating and using others in order to ‘make it?’ And in the final analysis doesn’t God want us to be happy?

Hopefully you know the answer to all of those questions is No. We don’t DESERVE anything in this life except for God’s anger for being so disobedient and sinful. Everyone is not sinning to get ahead, but even if they were, “…what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) And although there are many good things God wants to give us, these are gifts to advance His Kingdom. His goal is to make us Christlike – humble, surrendered and obedient to Him – because that is what we were created to be and that is the highest, best version of ourselves which will lead to the greatest personal growth and deep, abiding joy. By God’s grace alone we have this option.

We are those sick, obese contestants reaching for the delightfully tempting cupcakes. God, our Great High Personal Trainer, is desperately trying to remind us of our final goal. He is trying to save us from ourselves and our addiction to sin. We know full well that in our own power we cannot resist the temptation. Our brain chemistry is even fighting us. The desire for temporary reward is clouding the joy of long-term success - salvation. The only way through is to fully trust, follow and obey the only One who truly has our best interest at heart at all times.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Your sister in temptation,

Jen

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)

I love lighthouses. I’m not sure why, but I always have and now visiting them is one of my many ‘collections.’ Perhaps it’s because a lighthouse’s mission is so much like our Christian mission – to illuminate, to guide, to give hope, to save.

Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3

Like a lighthouse, we can bring light to dark places. Part of our duty as Christians is to shine. Our light stands in stark contrast to the darkness of the world and points the way to Christ and God’s salvation. We can illuminate the goodness of living for Christ, and the Truth found in God’s Word.

Send out your light and your truth;
    let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you live.
There I will go to the altar of God,
    to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
    O God, my God!

Psalm 43:3-4

To sailors arriving at port, the sight of lighthouses guided them to a safe harbor. To the Hebrews wandering in the desert, God provided a pillar of fire at night to guide them. And Jesus asks us to guide others to Him. The first step in making disciples is to bid them come and meet Jesus. He is our safe harbor, our secure anchor, our refuge from the storms of life. Once people are guided into safety, they can begin to experience what it means to find their rest in Him.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Ephesians 1:18

For sailors caught in a tempest, a lighthouse is a beacon of hope. They know that the safety of the shore is nearby. The light of the Holy Spirit gives us the confident hope of the safety of eternity in God’s Kingdom. Hope is such an amazing thing for people facing trials. Just a small ember of hope can be the difference between hanging on and slipping under the water. We carry this precious hope with us every day, and we should be ready to share it with those barely keeping their heads above water. The sure safety of the Solid Rock is always nearby!

This is what the Lord commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that you could bring salvation to the end of the earth.” Acts 13:47

And there it is – our ultimate mission is to shine, guide, and give hope so that unbelievers will ‘see the light’ and find Jesus and salvation. The weary, the lost, the abused, those that feel unworthy and unloved can all find fulfilment in the loving arms of God the Father, eternal life in the friendship of Jesus the Son and guidance and correction in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

This mission of salvation and guiding light has never been far from the American imagination. Not only are we called to it as individuals, but our country adopted it as our national mission from its inception. Now we have our own colossal lighthouse of liberty guiding all pilgrims to the Land of the Free.

…A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 –Emma Lazarus

Have a wonderful, blessed Independence Day, remembering that all our blessings of liberty, all our vast lands and resources, all the wealth and resilience of our people are gifts from God because God HAS blessed America. I pray He will continue to, as we continue to serve and glorify Him.

God bless America, Land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her ‘Thru the night with a light from above; --Irving Berlin

Shine on,

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

There’s A Snake in Our Garden

I’m not a gardener. I dabble in weeding and mulch occasionally. But the other day, as I was surveying our front flower beds, I saw something slithery. It was a tiny brown snake. I shuddered but left him to do whatever it is snakes do. Later, I told Kurosh, “There’s a snake in our garden, beware.”

It occurred to me then that we all have a snake in our garden – “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” (Revelation 12:9) And like my little friend, just because you don’t see him doesn’t mean he isn’t lurking just out of sight. Jesus knew well that temptation would always be an issue, which is why it’s included in the Lord’s Prayer.

It seems to me that temptation is one of Satan’s most effective weapons in making Christians worthless for the Kingdom. As C.S. Lewis, wrote in Mere Christianity, “Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. ... We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means—the only complete realist.”

I face hundreds of temptations daily: temptations of distractions, temptations to eat what I shouldn’t, watch what I shouldn’t, spend what I shouldn’t. The temptation to remain on the sofa with a cat in my lap is a strong one. Temptations to cut corners, procrastinate, go easy, give up too soon are daily companions. I’m frequently tempted towards the ‘small’ sins like idle chatter, gossiping, swearing, telling white lies, exceeding the speed limit, etc.

But perhaps the worst is the temptation to ignore the important work God has called me and all of us to: caring for others, looking in on neighbors, defending the oppressed and powerless, showing mercy, refraining from judging others, giving generously, and sacrificing my precious time, etc. This is followed closely by the temptation to put off the daily practices which would make me mindful of my negligence to my Godly duties: prayer, Bible reading, Bible study, meditation, and daily acts of worship.

Paul really had it right in Romans 7:18-25: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Evil is always dwelling in us, and Satan is ready to encourage it by whispering in our ears tempting us to do the easy thing, the pleasurable thing, the worldly thing, the thing that will not raise any eyebrows or ruffle any feathers – in other words, the wrong thing. As Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Sounds a bit hopeless, but remember, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) We cannot, but with God all things are possible. Begin developing godly habits. God’s Holy Spirit will lead us if we’ll listen.

PRAYER: Lord, Guard me today against the serpent’s temptations. In my heart I want to love and serve You only. Help me to resist the temptation to go my own way and do my own thing, the temptation to live as the world lives and not as You have called Your followers to live. Stir up the embers in my soul so that the fire of devotion burns so loudly it drowns out Satan and the world. Put me to your service today.

Watch out for that snake,

Jen

Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:9-10

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that ‘date falls as Police Week. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Since 1971, it has been observed on the last Monday of May.

This is the time of year when I consider how very hard it is to defend the oppressed and powerless and fight evil and violence. Although I’ve been concerned about justice and society since my elementary school days (Equal Rights for Children!) I have to admit that I haven’t come to any comprehensive conclusions. Evil is the absence of Good, like black is the absence of all color. Since God is absolute Good, all evil and violence are really an attack on God and His kingdom. Evil represents humans going their own way and doing what is right in their own eyes. But remember that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) However, here are a few things to contemplate:

IT’S RIGHT TO BE ANGERED BY INJUSTICE AND EVIL: Defending the rights of the powerless is one of the things God asks us to do: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) And Jesus, himself, had strong words for the religious leaders of His day: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” (Luke 11:42)

BUT DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON: Jesus said it best in the Sermon on the Mount - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“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, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:38-44)

VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

GOD IS THE ONLY RIGHTEOUS JUDGE:

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

(Isaiah 11:3-5)

 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Jesus is our ultimate role model for righteous living. He focused on bringing healing and repentance personally to individuals He met in the course of His ministry. He didn’t take up arms or foment rebellion. However, He didn’t shy away from ‘speaking truth to power’ either. He called for each individual – those in power, those in business, those who were powerless – to live their lives in accordance with God’s law of love, justice and mercy. And when He was unjustly arrested and tortured, He went like a lamb to the slaughter, without a fight, trusting that God’s plan was bigger and better. And wasn’t it though!

Be Blessed,

Jen