Why Yogurt Caused Me to Roll My Eyes

 Earlier this week, I opened some yogurt for breakfast to find a quote printed on the underside of
the foil. It said, “Create a life today that’ll be worth writing about tomorrow,” credited to Nancy
Jooyoun Kim. I’ve heard the sentiment before and get the intention of the statement, but this
week, I rolled my eyes.

As an avid reader with a degree in English Literature, it has been drilled into me that an essential
component of a good story is conflict. Stories without some kind of obstacle to overcome, where
everyone is happy and good with life, are boring. So when I read that quote on my yogurt in the
middle of an incredibly busy work week, I was annoyed.

Over the past year, there has been plenty of conflict in my life, plenty of obstacles to overcome,
and plenty of anything-but-boring days. I’m all for doing hard things and pushing oneself beyond
what you thought you could handle, but I’m tired. A simple, happy, boring-to-read-about day
sounds wonderful right now.

We live in a fast-paced world that values high productivity and pushing beyond our limits. But
we were not designed to function at our highest capacity all the time. Rest is a gift from our
Creator built into who we are as image-bearers and the order of the world (Genesis 2).

The result of always striving for a story-worthy day is high anxiety and burnout. There are
absolutely seasons of life when we need to push ourselves to do the hard thing. But there are also
seasons of life when we need to allow ourselves to take a step back and enjoy a time of rest.

Days of rest may be boring to read about, but they don’t have to be boring to experience. There
can be such simple beauty in taking a step back. There is more time to notice the natural beauty
around us and to connect with those we love on a deeper level. There is room to thrive instead of
merely surviving.

This may be a busy season of life for you as it is for me, but I encourage you to find time to put
aside the busyness in your life and allow yourself to rest.

May my heart be enthralled
By the sacred and simple things
May I find it all holy
May I learn to be content
And know the joy of resting
A place where perfect peace can hold me
So lead me to still waters
And let this be my new prayer
I want...
A little more love, A little less hustle
A little more quiet, A little less noise
A little more wide-eyed wonder
At the simple things I'm holding
Embracing ordinary moments.

“More Love Less Hustle” by Jenny Simmons

--Concetta Swann

His Soldier

In sitting down to write an introduction for this post, there are a lot of things that come to mind, but I am excited to get right to the point, so I'll skip the backstory for now. I hope you have time to do what the next paragraph asks...

This poem comes with an important request: please don't read it by itself! It was written to be lyrics for the Scottish tune most familiar by the song title "Loch Lomond," the melody having first appeared in McGibbons' Scots Tunes Book 1, published in 1742. The second part of my request is that you play the instrumental music while reading the poem, letting the music bring the words to life, so to speak. The link to do that is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvMttq9zBTY&list=RDGMEM8h-ASY4B42jYeBhBnqb3-wVMYvMttq9zBTY&start_radio=1

Thank you, and may His truth stir and encourage your soul as it has mine!

-MaryBeth Hall

His Soldier

The Angel of the LORD (Jesus) sets up His military camp in a circle around those who deeply revere Him and defer to His right to govern their lives, and is intentionally in the process of arming / equipping them for successful war. Good it is, and see - Oh taste it for yourself - how blessed is the warrior who will seek refuge in Him! -Psalm 34:7-8

Jesus, Divine Warrior*, as Scripture proclaims,

Has set up His camp all around me.

He gives me His armor to wear in His name,

And though fierce is the fight, mine's the victory.

The belt is His truth; it holds me together,

Anchors other armor, and it's freeing.

His righteousness, a breastplate my heart shall e'er cover

His untarnished holiness – what a gifting!

Shoes under my feet of a sure foundation:

His gospel of peace knowing, going.

And faith is my shield when the fiery darts fly in,

That I'll take up and hold with His helping.

Salvation's helmet I receive with great joy,

Loving all that it means now and ever.

His Spirit takes His Word in the battle to employ.

His hands o'er mine to wield it; foes tremor.

In prayer always to He Who leads Heaven's host,

For all things at all times for all soldiers,

I call to the One Whom I need the very most.

By His great sacrifice, He has won the war.

"Be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might,

That against Satan's schemes you may stand fast."**

I follow Heaven's Prince Who redeemed me from the night;

And in Glory I'll join Him at long last.

Jesus sets up His camp all around me...***

*Is. 59:14-20, **Eph. 6:10-18, ***Ps. 34:7-8

Intentionality Amidst the Busyness

 

Life is busy. Between teaching both at school and at church, homeschooling my children, grading papers, keeping up with meals and housework, spending Saturday mornings at the soccer fields watching my kids play, and various other things that come up throughout the week, it seems there is nothing else that could be added to my days. Instead, it feels like I need to cut back. Yet a few weeks ago, as I read through 2 Peter, I came across these words, “Make every effort to add...,” followed by a list of things Peter wanted the believers to be adding to their lives. There was no exception given for those who were busy. These were a necessity. As a matter of fact, Peter stressed their importance by saying, “So I will always remind you of these things” and “I think it right to refresh your memory as long as I live” and even, “I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always remember these things” (2 Peter 1: 12, 13, 15). What were these things that Peter felt were so necessary for these believers to add to their lives and not to forget about? Thankfully for those of us with full calendars, these things are not tasks to be written down in our day planners. However, perhaps even more challenging, they are traits to be added to our very being.

            There is an interesting paradox in verses 3 through 10 of 2 Peter. Preceding the verses that tell us what things we need to be diligent to add to our lives (5-7), there is this well-known verse: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (3). So the truth here is that God has given me what I need to live rightly, but I also have to actively work at it. In my own strength, I can’t be transformed into the person God wants to mold me into, but that doesn’t mean I sit back and “let go and let God.” Peter explains this is not passive: “Make every effort” (ESV). “Apply all diligence” (NASB). It is work. It is intentional. We work at it precisely because we have His power and have been rescued from the corruption of sin in the world and in our desires (3-4). So, what should we be adding? Before anything gets added, there has to be something already there. This is:

Faith: This is the starting point. There is no relationship with God, and there is no transformation to Christlikeness that doesn’t start with faith that God is who He says He is and that salvation is in His Son alone (Hebrews 11:6, Galatians 2:20).

Now Peter starts his list of what to “make every effort” to add to that faith:

1. Virtue: This word is translated “goodness” in the NIV and “moral excellence” in the NASB. It is a broad term that implies integrity of heart, one who does right.

2. Knowledge: There are two words for knowledge in the Greek; this one can also be translated “doctrine” or “wisdom.” Are we growing in wisdom? This can only come as we get to know the Lord and His Word better.

3. Self-control: Are we growing in controlling our tongue? Our thoughts? Our actions? Are we self-disciplined in how we prioritize our time?

4. Steadfastness: This word can also be translated “perseverance” or “endurance.” It is standing firm in the faith even through hardships, patiently waiting on the Lord.

5. Godliness: Are we devoted to the Lord? Are we pursuing Him and seeking to live in a way that reflects Him to others?

6. Brotherly Affection: This can also be translated “kindness.” Do we care about and show concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ? This should show itself in our interactions within our church body. Are we getting to know people well enough to share both joys and burdens with them? 

7. Love: There are four words in the Greek for “love.” The word used here is “agape;” it is the love that is sacrificial, willing to give of oneself for the benefit of the other.

            These traits are the ones Peter is asking Christ followers to diligently apply to their lives. As all Scripture is inspired by God and useful, this list is ours as well. How can we be intentional? Here are two ideas: One, we choose one of the above virtues that we know we struggle with and focus on adding that with the Lord’s help. Or two, we focus on one a week, going down the list, and asking the Lord to grow us in those areas, looking for opportunities to do just that.

            So, instead of adding one more thing to your “To Do List,” let’s focus on our “To Be List.” And the nice thing is that this “To Be List” can be practiced even as we check off the items on our “To Do List.” Peter gives the following encouragement after listing these traits: “If these qualities are yours and increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (8). Don’t we want that?

 --Amy O'Rear

Ain't None of My Business

 

Ain’t None of My Business 

I don’t remember the exact words, but a friend of mine on Facebook once said, they (people on Facebook) don’t need to know. She was referring to the ins and outs of her daily life. She was saying people don’t need to know everything she is thinking and doing (and eating).

There’s a delicate balance between connecting with others by sharing and knowing where to draw the line. On the other side of things, there’s a delicate balance between trying to help and meddling in others’ business. It’s tricky and might even be different for different people. 

I’m embarrassed to admit that I am a fixer. I’m too quick to offer suggestions for other people’s problems. As I have matured, I now see that people often know the answers to their problems and sometimes they just want someone to listen to them process those answers. Or maybe they just want to complain. It isn’t my business to fix them or correct them. It takes discernment to offer a fitting word when needed and to know when to quietly listen – to draw people to come to their own conclusions. I am particularly tempted to set people straight on social media, especially if I don’t know them or if they have angered me. But it “ain’t none of my business,” most of the time, to correct them. I’ve been trying to “pick my battles” carefully. (For example, I might speak up for the defenseless or oppressed but refuse to argue over which way toilet paper should go on the roll.) The bickering on social media has become ridiculous! 

The Apostle Paul said this, "Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (I Thessalonians 4:9-12, emphasis mine) 

Boiled down: Lead a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands.

In my efforts to mind my own business, I have been trying to remember that I don’t know as much as I think I know. And my comments will likely not change anyone’s mind. I do not have to respond to every offensive remark. I can move on quietly, minding my own business, doing my work.

Other Scripture verses point to correcting a brother or sister lovingly and in humility. Which is it? Correct others or not? Yes, to both. It is my opinion that we should seek first to mind our own business, but then carefully offer correction if really necessary after much prayer and with the right motives.

What do you think? Maybe I don’t need to know.

joyce hague

One Whom Jesus Loves

 

I love Easter! Not only is it less stressful and more relaxed than Christmas, Easter celebrates the most important event in Christian history. Several years ago, I put together an extensive Easter playlist. I tweak it a bit every year, but it currently stands at 56 songs with a runtime of 4 hours and 4 minutes. The first half of the playlist is carefully arranged to follow the chronology of Holy Week while the second half celebrates the resurrection before pointing to the Second Coming in the last few songs.

As long as the playlist is, it only begins to scratch the surface of the music that has been written to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thousands of songs have been written about this one event in history. And why not? Jesus loved us so very much that He came to die for us, and then He defeated death itself!

I have enjoyed going through the book of John over the past year, both at church and in my personal reading. One thing that has stood out to me is that the author refers to himself several times as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Growing up, I always heard this talked about in a joking way, as if John was being a bit bold and presumptuous. It wasn’t until last year that I read a different perspective, which I believe is closer to the truth. John was placing his identity in being loved by God. He did not talk about himself as an apostle, evangelist, or author—though he was all of those things. He identified himself as loved by God.

In our world today, there is a lot of talk about identity. What political party do you belong to? What gender do you identify as? What denomination are you a part of? In our personal lives, we can often worry about how others perceive us through what we do, titles we hold, achievements we are proud of, or shortcomings we are ashamed of. But what would happen if you saw yourself first and foremost as one whom Jesus loves?

One of the songs on my Easter playlist is “When Love Sees You” by Mac Powell. It’s from the album Music Inspired by the Story, which I highly recommend. The chorus and bridge speak to how Jesus sees us:

“Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds
And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you
Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised
And I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you.

I see what I made in your mother's womb
I see the day I fell in love with you
I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance
I see My Father's fingerprints

I see your story, I see My name
Written on every beautiful page
You see the struggle, you see the shame
I see the reason I came.

I came for your story, I came for your wounds
To show you what Love sees when I see you.”

God looks at us with the greatest love that has ever been or ever will be. It is immense beyond measure and incomprehensible. As we celebrate on this Easter, I invite you to place your identity in being loved by Jesus.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

 

--Concetta Swann

 Life Lenses

If you’ve ever been to the eye doctor, you’ve probably experienced when they put a big metal mask in front of your face and proceed to flip through different lens options and combinations until you can see clearly. Many times they’re going back and forth and back and forth because it’s hard to tell the difference between one or the other.

We all walk through life with lenses, whether you’re wearing a pair of glasses or not. They’re in how we see the world, the experiences we’ve had that give us first hand knowledge in different areas. New lenses drop down in front of us, altering that understanding or personal perspective. 

These are some lenses I have in front of me that have shaped the way I understand, empathize and see life:

Being an only child

Attending 6 different schools between K-12th

Having a parent with a mental illness

Having a parent with stage 4 cancer

Playing sports

Moving to new places and knowing no one

Teaching elementary students

Being married and having kids

Most recently the lens that dropped down in front of my eyes was losing my dad. 

All of these things significantly shape the way I think about things, who I relate to, and the decisions I make. 

Do we have any in common? Are there some differences? I think about how the common ones mean that we can empathize with one another and support one another. Some of these things are hard. When we experience something new or challenging, it broadens our capacity to walk alongside others going through the same things. 2 Corinthians 1 talks about how Christ comforts us in our trials and struggles so that we in turn can comfort those around us who may be going through the same thing. 

It wasn’t until I lost my dad that I truly understood how many friends and family members have felt walking through the deep grief and life changes that come from losing a parent. As much as there is pain, there is also the gift of community and being able to relate to one another and bear one another’s burdens.

When we have different lenses it shows how the church functions as a body. Not only do we have different gifts and skills, but we also have different experiences. God uses those differences so that we are full and multifaceted as a church family. There is beauty in differences. We come together as a family often despite differences and learn how to love one another as Christ loves.

Over time the lenses are added to, perspective and understanding grows and shifts. But all the while, we need something (someone) to hold fast to and who holds us fast. So that while life throws new things at us, we won’t be blinded by and lean on our own understanding. We would get our prescription wrong if we didn’t have the correct training to give us a clear vision. (Prov 3:5)

Those constants are who I am in Christ, that I believe I am who He says I am, and He is who He says He is:

I am a sinner.

I am saved by grace.

I am a child of God.

I have a hope and a future.

He is Holy.

He is Just.

He is True.

He is my creator, He knows me and He loves me.

He is love.

These things are what I must cling to first. Because these things are stable and sure, I can let the experiences God gives add to my life, add to my understanding, add to my disappointment, add to my strengthening. 

So, what are your life lenses? What experiences have shaped your vision? What remains constant through your changing prescriptions? Who holds you fast?

He Is Risen!

        In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye:  for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him:  lo, I have told you.  And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.  

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.  And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them.  Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.

Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain.  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But now is Christ risen from the dead.

        These passages have been precious to me all of my life.  My mother insisted that we memorize them.  She sang them to us as well.  Easter is my very favorite time of the year.

Over the years I have played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in several dramatic presentations, including in a pantomime behind a sheer curtain in The Redemption, an oratorio by Gounod.  In this last I felt the grief of the march to Calvary, the crucifixion. I placed myself at the cross and felt an intensity of grief I had not felt before.

In 2015 I went with Tom Kilpatrick and Bill Summers to Israel.  We were at Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb on Good Friday.  I begged Bill to allow me to quote these Scriptures. It was a very moving experience.

In 1977 or 78 I was in Israel with the Sandbergs and Martins.  Tom was also in Israel, but I did not expect to see him.  But as we were going into a little Arab restaurant in the Old City, there was Tom.  We had a free afternoon so Tom invited me to join him and Mike Bentley, a Temple grad who was a missionary in Israel, for the rest of the day.  It was an unforgettable afternoon.

        First we went to a little gift shop that had a special connection with the Dead Sea Scrolls.  The owner had bought the first scrolls from little Arab boys.  He had one of the jars that the scrolls had been hidden in and a small fragment of a scroll.  I got to feel those two and wonder who had valued the Scriptures so much that they had hidden them only to have them discovered centuries later.  In that shop I bought a widow’s mite from about 70 A.D.  That was the year that Jerusalem was destroyed.  There would have been no widow’s mites after that tragic year.

Our next stop was  Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb.  This time no one else was around.  There were no tour groups crowding the small garden.  I sat and read Scriptures and prayed under a huge mustard tree.  I believe that is probably the exact place where Jesus was buried.  It fulfills many of the descriptions in Scripture.  But my faith is not based on whether that is the place.  I know my Savior lives.

The last place we visited was Bethany, now a small Arab village.  Earlier the whole group had visited Bethany.  We had stopped outside the village at a cave which our guide assured us was the exact place Lazarus had been buried.  That had been a stretch for me.  But now at twilight with no tour buses belching their fumes and noise, I saw the village much as it might have been when Jesus walked there. The dusty narrow streets were deserted. We could hear an occasional donkey’s bray and other animals settling for the night.  We went through a gate into a courtyard, then up a flight of stairs to the home of a Greek Orthodox priest. The room was dark.  (The priest went into another room to move what was evidently his only lightbulb to the cord hanging down in the room we were in.)  He read from the Old Testament in Hebrew for us.We had come to a walled house with a flat roof and no lights.  It was easy to imagine Lazarus’  lying in a home such as this, not too far from where I sat, his sisters moaning and saying, “Where is Jesus?”  And when Jesus came, death had already come.  His sisters then said, “If you had been here, our brother would not have died.” And Jesus wept.  He loved Lazarus, just as He loves us. But then He spoke to Martha.“I am the resurrection and the life.  He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe Me?”

As we grow older, deaths seem to be piling one after another. This year I have lost three dear friends and gone to funerals for others.  I miss Jessie, Doris, and Steve.  But because of the resurrection, I will see them again. Last year they celebrated Easter in Heaven.  In that little house in Bethany I heard Jesus say “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Because He lives, we too shall live.  

Do you believe?  I do!

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

                                                                           Faith Himes Lamb