The Privilege Is Mine

Yes, it’s time for taxes. We all groan. We gather all the documents that represent our life last year.

This year I had my “Aha” moment as I was taking my files to my tax guy. Really, I did. I do hate the process of gathering the papers, receipts, and 1099’s, and W2’s and WD40’s (Just kidding about the WD40.) But gather I did because that’s what you do here in the United States of America.

It made me think of this story:

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22

I realized that God puts us on this Earth at a certain time in history and a certain place. I happen to be a citizen of the United States of America in the year 2015 AD. My time and placement is not an accident. It was planned by God. I’m supposed to do something here that glorifies God. I’m supposed to make the most of this time in history. Part of this is to appreciate my spot on the globe in this year.

I think Jesus made the Pharisees realize this deeper level. It’s not about whom the political leader is for you, it’s about what you are doing for God in this placement. The Pharisees realized that were using the money available to them under the government in their spot on the Earth. But were they using the time available to them under God in their spot on the Earth?

That was my “Aha!” I remembered the song I sang in college; “Only one life, so soon it will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” I’m here for a heavenly purpose at a heavenly time in a heavenly place. Yes, I will live under the rules of the place where I am. But, yes, I will fulfill my heavenly destiny.

So when the government says, “How about those taxes for last year spent with us?”

I say, “Certainly. It was my privilege.”

And when the Holy Spirit pricks my heart with, “How did you spend last year for God?”

I say, “Thank you for the time here. It was my privilege.”

Crucified With Christ

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I love cross jewelry. I have a few necklaces with crosses. They are pretty and fancy and filled with precious metal and different gemstones. I wear them as a statement of my faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ Son of God. I’m serious about the symbolism of my cross jewelry. But none of them in any way resemble a true crucifixion.

I did some studying on Roman crucifixion. I will not share what I found out. It is ugly, demeaning, humiliating, gory, and the worst form of punishment the Romans of that day could think of. People didn’t talk about it. People absolutely didn’t wear it as a symbol. People avoided conversations about it. It was a visible torture for the community to see what may happen to them if they crossed the line of Roman law.

And yet the Apostle Paul, not so long after Jesus’ crucifixion, said that he proudly stood with Jesus and shared in His crucifixion. He said the hushed up word out loud. And those that heard knew what crucifixion looked like. They had some experience in the tyrannical Roman government and use of force to compel people to conform to their standard. And Paul just put it out there for all to hear.

It must have been a little shocking. Non-believers in Christ must have thought it was crazy. New believers must have known the stand they would have to take in aligning themselves with this crucified Christ.

And now all these years later that ugly picture of crucifixion has become to Christ followers all over the world, a beautiful thing. We spiritually crucify ourselves daily and trust in our Savior Jesus and live for Him. The cross has been transformed because of Christ into a lovely thing. We, as Christ followers today, take the same stand and align ourselves with the crucified Christ.

We proudly wear our crosses.

We proclaim,

“I am crucified with Christ.

I don’t live for myself anymore.

Christ lives in me.”

On What Do I Rely?

I felt pretty good about the safety of my car. I change the oil every 3,000 mile. I have the tires rotated to insure even wear. There is a new battery in the car. I’m a member of an auto club that will be there for me if anything happens on the road. But today I got a recall notice that I have a faulty airbag that may randomly deploy and send shrapnel out on me, the driver.

I felt pretty good about the safety of my house. I get a termite inspection every year. I keep the filters changed in the heat/air. I spot check the roof for any problems. I have everything inspected regularly. I change the batteries in the smoke detectors every year.  But today I found out that all of my outlets were “backstabbed” when the house was built and could cause a fire and there is rust on my furnace and drip pan which means there was an instillation irregularity.

I have done everything by the maintenance book to insure that I would have no problems. But I couldn’t foresee these things. It has got to start out right, to be maintained. I was falsely relying on the builder and manufacturer. I trusted that they and the companies would produce a faultless product that I would maintain. Wrong.

Psalm 91:2  This I declare about the Lord: He ALONE is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I will trust Him.

My reliance is secure in only one builder, manufacturer, maker, and creator – God. He starts out with a faultless place of safety and security - Himself. I can have confidence that I will have no problems with His care for me. Though the future is unsure in my eyes, it’s not in His.

And so, on what can I really rely?

Who is my security?

In whom may I place my confidence?

Where will I find a faultless place of safety?

What is my unflawed protection?

God ALONE

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.)