One spring afternoon, a man came home to find two girls on the steps of his building. Both were crying hard, shedding big tears. Thinking they might be hurt, the man dropped his briefcase and quickly went over to the two young girls. "Are you all right?" He asked. Still sobbing, one held up her doll. "My baby's arm came off" she said. The man took the doll and it's disjointed arm. After a little effort and luck, the doll was whole again. "Thank you" came the whisper. Next, looking into the tearful eyes of her friends, he asked "And what's wrong with you, young lady?" She wiped her cheeks. "Nothing, I was helping her cry" she said.
Sometimes, we women just need someone to help us cry, to cry with us, to hold our hand and feel our pain. Whether it be something as simple as a broken toy or something as serious as the death of a loved one, sometimes, we all just need someone to help us cry.
But what if there's no one around? What if there's no one of physically hold our hand, to wipe our tearful cheeks, or two sit next to us on the steps. Once you find that person who can just cry with you and hand you tissues, hold on to them, they are rare in this world!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Swollen Imaginations
by Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth
"(We are) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)
Friend To Friend
Ada had an uneventful dental visit at my husband's office -- just a routine filling. He was surprised when she called him at home later that evening, complaining of a swollen cheek and excruciating pain.
"Dr. Jaynes," she groaned. "I can barely hold my head up. My face is swollen, I can't open my mouth, and the pain is severe."
"Ada, I'm so sorry you're having trouble," Steve replied. "I can't imagine what the problem could be. I'll call you in some pain medicine and you come in first thing in the morning."
The following day, I was working as Steve's assistant, and was amazed at Ada's appearance when she arrived at the office. Her eyes were half closed, she could barely walk, and her right cheek did appear quite swollen. Ada sat down in the chair as if every movement took great effort. She could barely open her mouth to let Steve see what the problem might be. Finally, she did manage to open slightly. Steve gently lifted her lip and a huge grim spread across his face. He reached in with an instrument and removed a cotton roll from the area between her cheek and tooth... that I had forgotten to remove the previous day.
Ada's eyes popped open as she miraculously bolted upright in the chair. "What did you do?" she exclaimed, all signs of weakness gone. Ada was miraculously healed!
Steve grinned and held up the small piece of cotton. "This is what was causing you so much 'pain.'"
Ada was terribly embarrassed.
Steve and I replayed the scenes from the previous day. Before placing the filling, he put a small cotton roll between Ada's cheek and tooth to keep the area dry. I was assisting him that day and forgot to remove the cotton roll when he had finished. When the anesthesia wore off, Ada felt her cheek and thought it was swollen. As the night wore on, her imagination ran rampant until she had worked herself into such a state, she could barely move with imaginary pain. She had made herself sick. Never once did she open her mouth and look inside. If she had, she would have seen a little white piece of cotton.
That is the power of our imagination and faulty thinking. We can talk ourselves into believing a lie to the point that it affects our actions and our emotions and even our health. However, with close examination, we can recognize the lie and stand on the truth.
Finally, Paul writes to "take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ." Just like the policeman who pursues and captures a criminal on the loose, we can capture those runaway thoughts and lock them away for good. Oh, Satan will try to post bail and set them free again. But we have the power and the authority to lock them up and throw away the key.
Let's Pray
Dear LORD, Help me recognize when I've let my thoughts run away like a wild stallion. Help me rein in worry and regret with the truth of Your Word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who gives me the power to take every thought captive. Help me to cooperate with him.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
I hope today's devotion made you laugh. To tell you the truth, sometimes we just need to laugh at ourselves. Yes, taking every thought captive is serious business, but laughing at the way we can work ourselves up over nothing is sometimes ... well, just plain funny.
Has there ever been a time when you've just had to laugh at yourself over unnecessary worry or fretting? If so, I'd love to hear about it!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Laws of the Lighthouse
by Max Lucado
The first of the year is known for three things: black-eyed peas, bowl games, and lists. Some don't eat black-eyed peas. Others hate football. But everybody likes lists.
The Bible certainly has its share of lists. Moses brought one down from the mountain.
There are lists of the gifts of the Spirit. Lists of good fruit and bad. Lists of salutations and greetings. Even the disciples' boat got into the action as it listed in the stormy Sea of Galilee. (If you smiled at that, then I've got a list of puns you'd enjoy.)
But the greatest day of lists is still New Year's Day. And the number one list is the list I call the Laws of the Lighthouse.
The Laws of the Lighthouse contain more than good ideas, personal preferences, and honest opinions. They are God-given, time-tested truths that define the way you should navigate your life. Observe them and enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and crash against the ragged rocks of reality.
Smart move. The wise captain shifts the direction of his craft according to the signal of the lighthouse. A wise person does the same.
Herewith, then, are the lights I look for and the signals I heed:
-- Love God more than you fear hell.
-- Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
-- Make major decisions in a cemetery.
-- When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
-- Succeed at home first.
-- Don't spend tomorrow's money today.
-- Pray twice as much as you fret.
-- Listen twice as much as you speak.
-- Only harbor a grudge when God does.
-- Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
-- Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
-- 'Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
-- God has forgiven you; you'd be wise to do the same.
-- When you can't trace God's hand, trust his heart.
-- Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
-- Don't feel guilty for God's goodness.
-- The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
-- Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
-- Live your liturgy.
Approach life like a voyage on a schooner. Enjoy the view. Explore the vessel. Make friends with the captain. Fish a little. And then get off when you get home.
Part the Waters/ I need Thee Every Hour- Selah
This song is so clearly the cry of my heart that I come close to tears every single time I hear it, and I listen to it often. "I need Thee every hour, in joy or in pain! Come quickly and abide or life is vain!" These lyrics complete what my heart tries to begin to express in my worship. I need God so much that if He does not show up, my whole life really is worthless and in vain. All that I have worked for in my life, my friends, my family, and my education is all completely worthless without Him as the center and controller of it all.
Listen to this song, read the lyrics, pray the lyrics. Believe and watch God totally change your life as He did mine!
Part the Waters Lord/I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
When I think I'm going under, part the waters, Lord
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea
When I cry for help, oh, hear me
Lord and hold out Your hand
Touch my life
Still the raging storm in me
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford
REFRAIN
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain
REFRAIN
Listen to this song, read the lyrics, pray the lyrics. Believe and watch God totally change your life as He did mine!
Part the Waters Lord/I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
When I think I'm going under, part the waters, Lord
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea
When I cry for help, oh, hear me
Lord and hold out Your hand
Touch my life
Still the raging storm in me
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford
REFRAIN
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain
REFRAIN
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Head-In-Cloud Fantasies Keep Her Up Nights
Has anyone ever told you to “get your head out of the clouds”? Has anyone ever stopped and asked “just what you were thinking”? Have you ever wondered what you were thinking? I have. I seem to live in a little dream world where fantastic things could happen, but hardly ever do and then I get disappointed because reality is not like my dream world. But disappointments have not stopped me from dreaming in my little world. Disappointments have not stopped me from staying awake at night, dreaming of what could be, what’s nearly impossible but still nice to think about, and what is and how that is so close to what could be.
Speaking for myself only, I understand that living in a dream world is neither practical nor realistic. I know that you can’t live your whole life in a fantasy land where ordinary people like me are suddenly extraordinarily important to the very survival of the earth. I know this is not reality and I know I shouldn’t let it keep me up nights. But it’s still in my head, still pounding away and sometimes I find myself drifting off in the middle of something important because my head is just so full of this “nonsense.”
I often have to ask people to repeat themselves because while they have been talking and while I have been looking right at them, my mind was literally light years away on some fantastic adventure. I might have been saving a race from untimely extinction on some far away planet, I might have been flying through skies of blue populated with purple and orange clouds, or I might have been just down the road at the farmers market (in 1863 of course) perusing the vegetable selection. You just never know. Some people actually ask where I just was, some people recognize the look in my eyes when I’m still looking at them, but my mind has made the jump to fantasy. Not too many though.
My most recent adventure took me to England in 1913, a popular adventure for me. In fact, most of my adventures take me to England at some point in time. Even as I narrate the story in my head, my voice takes on a distinct British accent. I’ve wanted to go to England for as long as I can remember, wanted to see all the silly touristy things, but also wanting to just spend time with the people there. I want to travel to Stratford-Upon-Avon and see the birthplace of Shakespeare, to see the graves of the great British poets of World War One, and to feel the wind on my face as I stand at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
Will I ever see these places and feel these feelings? Are they really all that important? Today, I’m not sure, but this I do know, I would like to sleep at night instead of staring at my ceiling thinking about fantastical places, people, and adventures. I would enjoy more than 3 hours of sleep a night.
Thoughts on how to accomplish this?
Speaking for myself only, I understand that living in a dream world is neither practical nor realistic. I know that you can’t live your whole life in a fantasy land where ordinary people like me are suddenly extraordinarily important to the very survival of the earth. I know this is not reality and I know I shouldn’t let it keep me up nights. But it’s still in my head, still pounding away and sometimes I find myself drifting off in the middle of something important because my head is just so full of this “nonsense.”
I often have to ask people to repeat themselves because while they have been talking and while I have been looking right at them, my mind was literally light years away on some fantastic adventure. I might have been saving a race from untimely extinction on some far away planet, I might have been flying through skies of blue populated with purple and orange clouds, or I might have been just down the road at the farmers market (in 1863 of course) perusing the vegetable selection. You just never know. Some people actually ask where I just was, some people recognize the look in my eyes when I’m still looking at them, but my mind has made the jump to fantasy. Not too many though.
My most recent adventure took me to England in 1913, a popular adventure for me. In fact, most of my adventures take me to England at some point in time. Even as I narrate the story in my head, my voice takes on a distinct British accent. I’ve wanted to go to England for as long as I can remember, wanted to see all the silly touristy things, but also wanting to just spend time with the people there. I want to travel to Stratford-Upon-Avon and see the birthplace of Shakespeare, to see the graves of the great British poets of World War One, and to feel the wind on my face as I stand at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
Will I ever see these places and feel these feelings? Are they really all that important? Today, I’m not sure, but this I do know, I would like to sleep at night instead of staring at my ceiling thinking about fantastical places, people, and adventures. I would enjoy more than 3 hours of sleep a night.
Thoughts on how to accomplish this?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Politically Correct Merry Christmas
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, best wishes for an
environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress,
non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the WINTER SOLSTICE holiday,
practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion
of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the
religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice
not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
In addition, please also accept best wishes for a fiscally successful,
personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset
of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect
for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to
society have helped make this country great (not to imply that this
country is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice),
and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability,
religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishers.
This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period
of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting,
whichever comes first. " Holiday " is not intended to, nor shall it be
considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or
observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious
community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).
Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at
the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no
reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to
the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to
actually implement any of the wishes for the wisher her/himself or others,
or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the
implementation or non-implementation of it.
This greeting is void where prohibited by law.
Please check with your physician before accepting this, or any other
greetings.
Or we could just say: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress,
non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the WINTER SOLSTICE holiday,
practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion
of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the
religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice
not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
In addition, please also accept best wishes for a fiscally successful,
personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset
of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect
for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to
society have helped make this country great (not to imply that this
country is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice),
and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability,
religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishers.
This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period
of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting,
whichever comes first. " Holiday " is not intended to, nor shall it be
considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or
observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious
community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).
Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at
the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no
reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to
the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to
actually implement any of the wishes for the wisher her/himself or others,
or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the
implementation or non-implementation of it.
This greeting is void where prohibited by law.
Please check with your physician before accepting this, or any other
greetings.
Or we could just say: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
Time Will Tell
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, and all the others including Love. One day a horrible earthquake came and the island began to sink. All the feelings escaped by boat, all except for Love. Love was the only one who stayed. When the island was almost gone, Love asked for help. Richness passed by in a grand boat.
Love called out, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No I can't... There is a lot of gold in my boat and no room for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love, you are all wet and will ruin my boat", Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you!"
"Love, I'm so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she didn't even hear Love call to her!
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you."
It was an elder! Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he forgot to ask the elder her name. When they arrived in dry land, the elder went her own way. Love realized how much he owed the elder.
Love ran to Knowledge, another elder, he asked, "Who was that who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge replied.
"Time?" asked Love, "but why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
Love called out, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No I can't... There is a lot of gold in my boat and no room for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love, you are all wet and will ruin my boat", Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with you!"
"Love, I'm so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she didn't even hear Love call to her!
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you."
It was an elder! Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he forgot to ask the elder her name. When they arrived in dry land, the elder went her own way. Love realized how much he owed the elder.
Love ran to Knowledge, another elder, he asked, "Who was that who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge replied.
"Time?" asked Love, "but why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
What now?
Today's Truth
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Friend to Friend
Have you ever had a shattered dream? If so, you're not alone.
If ever there was a group of people who lost their dream, it was Jesus' disciples and the women who ministered to and with them. They had such high expectations that Jesus would be the next political leader of Israel (Luke 24:20). They had witnessed his power in feeding 5,000 men plus women and children with two loaves and five fishes; they felt the waves beneath their tiny boat subside at his command; they had watched him breathe life into a lifeless child, open the eyes of a man blind from birth, create new skin from rotting flesh on the limbs of lepers, and command a lame man to take up his pallet and walk. They had seen him walk on water, outwit the Pharisees, and win the lost.
In their narrow scope of hopes for a political leader to save the Jews, they missed the bigger picture of God's plan for a Savior to free mankind from the bondage of sin. While Peter realized Jesus' identity ("You are the Christ."), he did not understand His destiny. Peter was shocked when Jesus explained that He had to go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and on the third day rise from the dead. He even took Jesus aside and said, "Never, Lord. This shall never happen to you!" (Mark 8:33). This was not part of Peter's dream. Suffering did not fit into his plan.
"Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Call me stupid, but don't call me Satan. Yet, that is how Jesus sees it when we try to block God's plans. He sees us as an instrument of darkness, an offense, a hindrance and a snare. It is amazing that one minute Peter could be a building block and the next a stumbling block but that's the trap we all fall into when we have our minds set on the world instead of on the things of God.
Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, but whoever lose his life for me will find it." (Matthew 16:24)
Even though Jesus forewarned the disciples of his death and resurrection, they fled when the soldiers came to arrest him, and they hid when he was hung on a cross to die. When Jesus was sealed in the tomb, their hopes and dreams were sealed in the darkness with him.
Every day, I receive emails from women who have had their dreams shattered. A husband has an affair, becomes addicted to pornography, abuses the children, or deserts the family. A child gets caught with drugs, gets pregnant or dies in a car accident. Parents divorce, friends betray, careers come to an abrupt halt. The list is endless. So what do we do when our dreams are seemingly destroyed? The answer to that question will shape the rest of our lives.
Does that mean we give up our dreams? I can promise you this, whatever dreams you have for your life, God's dreams are greater. The power of the Holy Spirit the disciples received after Jesus' resurrection, and the impact they made on the world thereafter, was beyond their wildest dreams. That's what God does with a heart wholly yielded to Him. That's what He does when we give our shattered dreams to Him. I have learned to stop saying "Why me?" but instead start saying "What now?"
Let's Pray
Dear Lord, there are things about my life that I don't understand, but I do know this. You are good and You are kind. I thank You that nothing happens in my life that is a surprise to You. You have a greater plan than my small vision can imagine. I pray that You will reveal that larger plan for my life to me. Help me to pay attention to Your promptings and obey Your bidding.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Think back over your life and list two or three dreams that did not turn out like you thought they would.
Is there a prayer request or dream in your life that, in retrospect, you are glad God did respond to affirmatively?
Write down any areas of your life where you have said, "Why me?" and are now willing to say,"What now?"
Place yourself in the disciples' sandals for just a moment. How do you think you would have felt the night Jesus died on the cross?
How do you think you would have felt the day you saw Him walk into the room ... resurrected from the dead?
How would that experience have affected the way you viewed trials in your life from that time forward?
Now, how should that affect the way you see trials today?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
He Calls you by Name
Today's Truth
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1 NASB).
Friend to Friend
Over the years, several people in my life never seem to remember my name. A few of my more popular aliases are Sarah James, Susan James, Shannon James, and Jane Jaynes. Then there are the people who just can't remember me altogether and don't even try to fish a name from their memory pool. To tell you the truth, I'm not very good with names either.
However, names are very important to God. In the Bible, a person's name revealed a unique quality of their character. Moses meant "drawn out of water." Ruth meant "woman friend." Naomi meant "pleasant," and she changed it to "Mara" which meant "bitter." Her two sons' names meant "Puny" and Piney." Evidently, these two fellows weren't exactly strapping young he-men, and both died at an early age. If a person had an encounter with the living God, many times He changed their name to fit the experiences He had planned for their futures. Abram was changed to Abraham. Sarai was changed to Sarah. Saul was changed to Paul.
Yes, names are very important. That's why when someone very dear to me forgot mine, it broke my heart.
My father accepted Jesus as his Savior when I was 21 years old. The transformation I saw in him was nothing short of miraculous. One of the benefits that I received was that he learned how to love me. In my father's later years, we had a very tender and dear relationship. But it was short lived.
A few years after dad committed his life to Christ, I noticed him becoming very forgetful. At first, it was small idiosyncrasies: forgetting an order at work, misplacing his shoes or keys, not remembering what day it was, drawing a blank on a close friend's name. Then it progressed to more serious absent-minded behavior: forgetting where he parked in a parking deck (and even which parking deck), coming home to take my mother to the market forgetting he had already taken her an hour before, and becoming confused when taking measurements for cabinets which he had been doing for over forty years. In 1987, our greatest fears were confirmed. Dad had Alzheimer's disease. He was fifty-six-years-old.
My dad had been a tough cookie as a young man. From the time he was fifty-six to sixty-six, I watched a competent, quick witted entrepreneur reduced to a man who could not remember how to speak, button his shirt or move a spoon from his plate to his mouth. But what pained me the most was the day he forgot my name.
I still remember holding his face in my hands and saying, "Daddy, it's me. Do you know who I am?" But I was only met by a childish grin and eyes that seemed to look straight through me.
Names. They are important. In Isaiah 43:1, God says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine" (NASB). In Isaiah 49:1, the prophet announces, "Before I was born, the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name" (NIV).
As God's child, He has called you by name and the Bible promises He will never forget it. Your name is engraved on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).
On a Friday morning in May of 1996, the Lord graciously came and took my earthly father to his new home in glory. He's probably up there right now measuring for cabinets and working on all those mansions we've read so much about. His memory has been restored and I look forward to the day when my earthly father and my heavenly Father welcome me with open arms and say, "Welcome, Sharon, my daughter, my child."
Let's Pray
Dear Father, sometimes when I think of you calling my name, I am moved to tears. You know my name! You have it engraved in the palm of your hand. Thank you Lord that you will never forget me. In Jesus' precious name, Amen
Now It's Your Turn
As we have seen, names are important. The most important name in the universe is God's name. Do you ever say His name flippantly or without reverence? ("Oh my God," for example.)
How do you think God feels about His name being used as an explicative? (Exodus 20:7) Make a commitment today to speak God's name in reverence and holiness.
What does it mean to you that God knows you by name?
Write a prayer of thanksgiving to God expressing the joy of knowing that your name is engraved on the palm of His hand.
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine" (Isaiah 43:1 NASB).
Friend to Friend
Over the years, several people in my life never seem to remember my name. A few of my more popular aliases are Sarah James, Susan James, Shannon James, and Jane Jaynes. Then there are the people who just can't remember me altogether and don't even try to fish a name from their memory pool. To tell you the truth, I'm not very good with names either.
However, names are very important to God. In the Bible, a person's name revealed a unique quality of their character. Moses meant "drawn out of water." Ruth meant "woman friend." Naomi meant "pleasant," and she changed it to "Mara" which meant "bitter." Her two sons' names meant "Puny" and Piney." Evidently, these two fellows weren't exactly strapping young he-men, and both died at an early age. If a person had an encounter with the living God, many times He changed their name to fit the experiences He had planned for their futures. Abram was changed to Abraham. Sarai was changed to Sarah. Saul was changed to Paul.
Yes, names are very important. That's why when someone very dear to me forgot mine, it broke my heart.
My father accepted Jesus as his Savior when I was 21 years old. The transformation I saw in him was nothing short of miraculous. One of the benefits that I received was that he learned how to love me. In my father's later years, we had a very tender and dear relationship. But it was short lived.
A few years after dad committed his life to Christ, I noticed him becoming very forgetful. At first, it was small idiosyncrasies: forgetting an order at work, misplacing his shoes or keys, not remembering what day it was, drawing a blank on a close friend's name. Then it progressed to more serious absent-minded behavior: forgetting where he parked in a parking deck (and even which parking deck), coming home to take my mother to the market forgetting he had already taken her an hour before, and becoming confused when taking measurements for cabinets which he had been doing for over forty years. In 1987, our greatest fears were confirmed. Dad had Alzheimer's disease. He was fifty-six-years-old.
My dad had been a tough cookie as a young man. From the time he was fifty-six to sixty-six, I watched a competent, quick witted entrepreneur reduced to a man who could not remember how to speak, button his shirt or move a spoon from his plate to his mouth. But what pained me the most was the day he forgot my name.
I still remember holding his face in my hands and saying, "Daddy, it's me. Do you know who I am?" But I was only met by a childish grin and eyes that seemed to look straight through me.
Names. They are important. In Isaiah 43:1, God says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine" (NASB). In Isaiah 49:1, the prophet announces, "Before I was born, the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name" (NIV).
As God's child, He has called you by name and the Bible promises He will never forget it. Your name is engraved on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).
On a Friday morning in May of 1996, the Lord graciously came and took my earthly father to his new home in glory. He's probably up there right now measuring for cabinets and working on all those mansions we've read so much about. His memory has been restored and I look forward to the day when my earthly father and my heavenly Father welcome me with open arms and say, "Welcome, Sharon, my daughter, my child."
Let's Pray
Dear Father, sometimes when I think of you calling my name, I am moved to tears. You know my name! You have it engraved in the palm of your hand. Thank you Lord that you will never forget me. In Jesus' precious name, Amen
Now It's Your Turn
As we have seen, names are important. The most important name in the universe is God's name. Do you ever say His name flippantly or without reverence? ("Oh my God," for example.)
How do you think God feels about His name being used as an explicative? (Exodus 20:7) Make a commitment today to speak God's name in reverence and holiness.
What does it mean to you that God knows you by name?
Write a prayer of thanksgiving to God expressing the joy of knowing that your name is engraved on the palm of His hand.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Freedom is a....
.... funny thing. I mean, there are so many different ways to think of freedom in this world, in this day and age. There's the freedom to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion. But freedom is not everywhere, nor is it free. The freedoms we have in America were fought for, blood was shed over each and every one of them. Other places are still fighting for their freedom, still struggling to define it. No, freedom is not free. And it is finite. You can only vote so many times before there's no one to vote for anymore, and you can only speak so much until you have said all there is to say. And just because you have spoken does not necessarily mean you have said anything. Freedom is a funny thing.
But there is a freedom that is infinite, limitless, without boundaries, and from a source of never-ending power and knowledge: God. Regardless of our past, He freed us. From what? From anything and everything that hinders our communication with Him. Our sin, our past disappointments, our failures (see Romans 6-8). There is nothing that can separate the Christian from God! The price for this freedom was paid long ago by Jesus who died for us. One sacrifice, one man's blood shed for all, future and past.
Impossible you say? Fantastical? Want proof? Look at the people who follow Him for the thousands of years people have followed Him. Would so many people follow a god who wasn't real for this long? Would people risk there lives for thousands of years for a god who didn't exist? Look at this universe and see His power radiating from every corner of it!
Psalm 118:5
In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
But there is a freedom that is infinite, limitless, without boundaries, and from a source of never-ending power and knowledge: God. Regardless of our past, He freed us. From what? From anything and everything that hinders our communication with Him. Our sin, our past disappointments, our failures (see Romans 6-8). There is nothing that can separate the Christian from God! The price for this freedom was paid long ago by Jesus who died for us. One sacrifice, one man's blood shed for all, future and past.
Impossible you say? Fantastical? Want proof? Look at the people who follow Him for the thousands of years people have followed Him. Would so many people follow a god who wasn't real for this long? Would people risk there lives for thousands of years for a god who didn't exist? Look at this universe and see His power radiating from every corner of it!
Would people try so hard to disprove this God unless they were afraid that He actually exists?
I'm not going to try to prove that God exists, He has already done that through nature, through this universe, and through His own power manifested in these things. No, He exists.
Here are just a few places that the Bible talks about freedom. Find a verse that means something to you and claim it! Claim His freedom as His child and know that Satan has no hold on you and sin cannot touch you! You are free!! Claim your freedom!!
I'm not going to try to prove that God exists, He has already done that through nature, through this universe, and through His own power manifested in these things. No, He exists.
Here are just a few places that the Bible talks about freedom. Find a verse that means something to you and claim it! Claim His freedom as His child and know that Satan has no hold on you and sin cannot touch you! You are free!! Claim your freedom!!
Psalm 118:5
In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
Psalm 119:32
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:45
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Ephesians 3:12
In him [Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
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