No Wrong Number Here

I got the cutest phone call last week. Here is how it went:

Me – “Hello”

Unknown child – “Mom?”

Me – “Oh, Honey, You have called the wrong number.”

Unknown child – “But, Mom, I call you every day!”

Me – “But I am not your mother.”

Unknown child – “Do you think she changed her number?”

Me – (Silence and trying not to laugh out loud and embarrass the child)

Unknown child – “Um I’m sorry. I think I called the wrong number.”

Me – “Yes, I think so too.”

My heart went out to the child. I hope this child really found his/her mom. It’s frustrating to call someone only to find out you didn’t get the person you intended.

It made me think about praying. Our intention is to connect with the Creator of the universe. I’ve seen people from all over the world trying to connect with God. I saw one woman crawling on bloody knees from the back of the church to the front, praying the whole time. I’ve seen people stand in front a wall with heads bowed fervently bobbing and praying. I’ve seen those who thought a lighted candle was a constant prayer. I saw a priest spin a tube with writing on it I didn’t understand to get an answer from God for someone. I’ve seen offerings left in front of statues in the hopes that it would bring a favorable response from God.  I’ve seen people bowed down with their heads touching the floor and repeating prayers daily. I’ve seen people doing a lot of extravagant things hoping that they have done the correct thing to connect with God.  I’ve heard some people say, “I just feel like my prayers are hitting the ceiling and not getting through.”

What are the correct ingredients that will cause the God of humanity to bend His ear to listen? Even one of Christ’s disciples (who, by the way, had followed Jesus around for about three years) asked how to get to the Father God. Since Jesus had just said He was leaving Philip wanted to know the way to connect with God.

Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  

                                If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “John 14:8-14

I think Jesus clearly answered the connection question. Do you want to get through to God? Do you want Him to do something great for you or through you? Then believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and submit to His will. Could it be that simple and yet so hard? Man has tried to circumvent God’s way and invent multiple ways to get answers to prayers. But simply believe and yield your will to Jesus the Son of God. He is the way, the truth and the life. He said that no one gets to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

Believe in Jesus

Connect to God

No wrong number here

Evidently, I’ve Got Good Hair

I was in the bank the other day and the teller said, “I notice your hair every time you come in here. I love your hair. You’ve got good hair.” Now I’m not bragging but I have managed to be able to pull off any hairstyle that is currently in fashion: Farrah Fawcett, Dorothy Hamill, Jenifer Anniston, curly, straight,short, long, inverted bob, and “extroverted bob” (a verbal contribution from one of my friends.) You name it and I can do it. No, not trying the Miley. Yes, I’m waiting for BIG hair to come back. Here's the secret: it's not the hair - it's the hair products.

That comment made me think about hair and I noticed people’s hair all the rest of that day. Some people had a little and some people had a lot. And it made me remember that God knows how many I have on my head at any given time. He knows the exact count. We all know we shed some. Moms of babies know that they like to pull them out with their little baby grasps. Ponytail girls know they lose some every time they undo their hair. God even know how many hairs you’d have if didn’t shave your head, guys. God knows that about each of us and that is not even His main priority in keeping up with us.

Matthew 10:29-30 Jesus Himself said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

I was down in the dumps and just remembering this verse and thinking about its implications made me feel refreshed and renewed. That little phrase that God know the daily count of our hair makes me realize just how intimately He knows each of us. It shows how treasured we are to God that he keeps up with His investment in us and calls us valuable.

We don’t have to wonder: “Does God love me?” “Does God know what’s going on in my life?” “Is God even there for me?” Yes, yes, yes! Why would God, the creator of all, take the time to keep count of your hair if He didn’t love you, know what’s going on with you, care about you, and be there for you all the time and every time you need Him? (That was a rhetorical question.)

We are God’s treasure. We are His loved children. We are His investment. We are highly valued by Him.

If He knows about your hair He knows about every part of you. He knows about every physical affliction you have from a cold to chemo to a skinned knee. He knows every heart hurt. He knows your financial condition. He knows and He cares because He values you.

So I have decided that the next time I feel distressed and depressed I’m just going to start counting my hairs and with each one say, “God loves me, God loves me, God loves me.” I’ll probably get the message before I get too far in the counting.

And I will imagine God saying to me,

“Jan, you’ve got good hair.”

And He will say that about you.

Evidently, you've got good hair too.

Close Harmony

My roots go deep into southern gospel music. I started singing as soon as I could talk. My mom and dad were in a quartet at church when they were young and newly married. Well, my dad sang until he had been married long enough to make my mom happy, then he quit. But my mom and aunts were singers. And my sister and I sing and would like to sing together if we didn’t have about 500 miles between us .I love the close harmony of four people singing four different parts that come together to make beautiful sounds. I just love it. And you can giggle all you want behind your hand but I’ve picked out quartet people in heaven I want to sing with for about a thousand years or more.

I have been excited in my Bible study of Colossians 3:12. I have taken each word apart and….I won’t bore you with details of my study but I’ve had southern gospel quartet close harmony fun.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones (*here are the group of singers,) holy and beloved (*God loves the sound of :) compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

(*My own thoughts about the verse)

1.    Compassionate hearts: deep feelings of God’s love for someone’s difficulty  or misfortune and understanding how God can use you to help that individual

2.    Kindness (useful kindness): meeting real needs in God’s way, in His timing, by His Spirit’s leading without any form of selfish greed or cruelty. It’s a word we don’t really have in our language –this unselfish kindness with no ulterior motives

3.    Humility and Meekness: gentle strength that begins with God’s inspiration and finishes with submission to His direction and empowerment putting others before ourselves

4.    Patience: waiting without fear, worry, stress, or anxiousness and staying steadfast in our desire to please God with every action

When these spiritual character qualities come together…Well, can you just imagine the harmony? When we put love, unselfish kindness, humility, submission, and steadfast waiting on God together in one person all working in that person at the same time…Well, stand back Bill and Gloria! (Only true gospel quartet lovers will get this.) And when we put a group of God’s people together all unified in these character qualities… Well, Gospel Singing Jubilee! (I told you my roots run deep.)

This is the close harmony of God’s people living Godly lives beside each other pointing a lost world to Jesus Christ. People with an understanding of God’s heart showing God’s heart to others. We are to have these God given qualities all together as one harmonious sound that reaches to the ends of the earth.

The other name for this close harmony of God’s people is…

 

wait for it …

His Church

Prayer for the New Year

( In my recent studies I found this prayer by Thomas Brooks in New City Catechism. The Lord used this to help me set the tone for my new year. I don't speak English like they did in the 1600's.I rephrased this prayer in 2000's American English so I could understand it better. It sounds kind of funny when I describe it like that. This is really for me but I’ll share it with you. Please forgive me, Thomas Brooks.)

Lord, here am I. Do with me as You please. Write on me what You please. I give up myself to be at Your disposal.

The ambitious woman gives herself up to her honors but I give up myself unto You. The worldly woman gives herself up to her pleasures but I give up myself to You. The selfish woman gives herself up to her idols but I give up myself to You.

Lord, lay what burden You will on me, only let Your everlasting arms be under me. I lay down my will to You. I have learned from my past to surrender everything to Your will for Your will is always for my good. You have a greater interest in me than I have in myself so I can surrender my all to You with this confidence.

I am ready to receive what impression You want to stamp on me.

Your mercy pardons me. Your salvation justifies me. Your righteousness clothes me. Your Spirit leads me.Your grace enriches me. Therefore, how can I not give myself totally to You?

Lord! here I am. Do with me what is good in Your own eyes.

I know the best way to live my life  is to say, “ Amen,”  to Your, “Amen.”

So Be it!

Amen!

(Thomas Brooks (1608—1680). An English Puritan preacher, who lived in London during the Great Plague. This was remade from a prayer in "The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" in The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, edited by Rev. Alexander Balloch Grosart, Volume 1 (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1866), 305—306.)

Another Goal, Another Dream

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis

I spent 14 hours with C. S. Lewis (CD’s of some of his books) in all of my travels over the Christmas holidays. Needless to say, we bonded. As I consider this New Year, I was reminded to set another goal and/or dream a new dream.

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 says that we are to live our lives in belief and hope in Christ not by what the world shows us. And so our reality is really our future dream not what is going on around us. We would rather be in our future dream of heaven but this dream gives us the courage to live in the present world. So wherever we fall in this world/heaven area our goal is to strive in zealous pursuit of hearing, “Well done!” from our Heavenly Father God through Christ Jesus. (OK, I’m channeling my inner C.S. Lewis.)

For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9  

I have decided for my 2015 New Year’s resolution to strive for the “well done.” I’m setting this as a goal. I’m dreaming this as a new dream.

And, thank you C.S. Lewis, it’s not too late to pursue this.

It's not too late for you to dream this dream either.

There is no expiration date in pleasing God.

My Messiah

We hear the word “Messiah” used a lot around this time of year in carols and Christmas plays and sermons. So I did a little study on this word used in the Bible.

Messiah in Hebrew means anointed chosen one. Messiah is “Christ” in Greek. So all through the Old and New Testament our Messiah Chosen One Christ is sprinkled about. It seems everyone in scripture was talking about Him and looking forward to this special time of His rule and reign.

Some thought the Messiah Christ would be their deliverer king. Some thought He would be ordained for a special Jewish oriented purpose in an unmistakable political role. But all of the Children of Israel lived with a future hope mentality. I must say that most were a little selfish in their hope because they thought Messiah was just for their own people.

Now before I get all down on the Children of Israel I have to admit I’m a little selfish with my Jesus Messiah. After Jesus The Christ’s resurrection a new hope was introduced to the world: that He was for everyone. I’m so thankful.

I rest firmly in the belief that He was, is, and will be Deliverer, Lord, God, Savior, set apart, and ordained for me, me, me. See, I said I was a little selfish.

When I need to find hope I go to My Christ. When I need to resolve my sin I go to my Christ. When I need help in any of my life situations I go to my Christ. When I want to worship I go to my Christ. When I want to feel unconditionally loved I go to …..well you know what’s coming next. He is the all and supplier of everything to me, me, me.

I know I kind of sound like the seagulls in the cartoon movie, Jesus is “mine, mine, mine.”

Good news !!! Jesus the Christ is ,”yours, yours, yours.”

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God

1 John 5:1

So this Christmas, my Messiah can be yours too.

That’s enough to give everyone a Merry Christmas!

Come, Lord Jesus!

Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Rev. 22:12-13 & 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

I was subbing in a first grade class at my favorite Christian School. When it came to Bible time, I was to read from the Bible curriculum about the shepherds that came to the stable to worship the baby Savior, and the Wisemen who came to the house to worship the child Savior, and Joseph taking his little family to Egypt because of the anger of the king. Well, I got through the whole account of events and ended with, “And you can see how God the Father protected His Son Jesus Christ through this whole time.” And I closed the Bible curriculum book.

One little girl shouted out, “Wait, Is that the end of the story?” I know she meant, “Was it the end of Bible time?” but the Holy Spirit pricked my heart. An “Aha” moment reminded me that this is not the end of the story. We have been for centuries and are continuing to wait for the end of this wonderful story.

Jesus is coming again. We are waiting with anxious anticipation. Just like the Children of Israel waited with eager hope of the coming of Messiah, we wait. Just as the shepherds and eastern Magi rejoiced and worshipped the Messiah, the Emmanuel, the God with us, we will rejoice and worship again when He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Our Pastor Wade is taking us through Revelation but I raced ahead to the end of the Revelation from God in my Bible. Jesus ends our scripture by saying that he is coming soon. He said He is the beginning and end of it all. And John the writer of this Revelation ends by saying that he is anxiously awaiting that Day.

We haven’t come to the end of the story. So I shout like John of old;

Amen!

                                                          

    Come Lord Jesus!