Hammer on Anvil '

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

In the wake of recent tragedies in the United States, a trend has risen which we have seen before. It has come in many different incarnations over the years, but it all comes down to the same concept: do something unexpected and beneficial for someone you've never met. A Random Act of Kindness.

In 2000, Warner Brothers made a film starring Hayley Joel Osment called "Pay It Forward". It was the story of an elementary school boy who decided to start a Random Act of Kindness movement after receiving a challenging assignment from his teacher (played by Kevin Spacey) to change the world. It was a wonderful movie with a heart-wrenching ending, but the "pay it forward movement" has been something that has stayed in the back of my mind since then.

How would our world change if we put together the command from Jesus above with the 'pay it forward movement"? Jesus essentially tells His disciples to pay forward the message of salvation in Jerusalem (their hometown), all Judea (their own country), Samaria (the neighboring nation) and to the end of the earth. What if He meant that literally? How would our view of this verse shift if we took it literally? 

Each and every Christian is a missionary. From the time you say yes to God, you are His disciple AND His witness. The best way we witness the goodness, the otherness, of God is to wear external evidence that He has changed our hearts. The best place to do that is our own hometown-the place people know us for who we have been. If every one of us reached out in our own church, a few hundred people would be changed. As those few hundred reached out into the community at large, a few thousand people would be changed. And so on, and so on...

This clip from Pay It Forward really puts the whole thing in perspective. Hope you enjoy!

Listening to Christian radio, hearing testimonies of people touched by God, and sometimes even attending Sunday worship can leave the wrong impression on a person. As I drove in to my office today, I kept hearing the same message: your relationship with God cleanses you and takes away your troubles. While I believe that nothing in this world can cleanse you like God's forgiveness, I think the Christian world does a disservice to unbelievers by pushing the message that your sins go away and your life is filled with joy and happiness ever after.

I am a 15-year follower of God. I am a Sunday school teacher, a youth worker, and, I hope, a woman after God's heart. Despite all these things, I still have pain. I still suffer sorrow, hurt, and loss. I struggle with guilt over my sin, and laziness in my relationship with God. Some days, I still crawl out of bed desperately hoping I could just make it through the day. God's love, mercy and grace covers all this, but it doesn't take it away.

I heard part of a speech by Beth Moore this morning that went something like this: "Once you've experienced God's hand touching your life, making you someone you could never be on your own, nothing is important enough to risk that. Nothing illicit, nothing worldly is worth coming before Him." As I listened to this, I found myself thinking, "If that's the case, why do I keep finding things that seem to be able to do just that?" Toby Mac sang, "I was made to love You" this morning, and my inner response was, "If that's the case, why is it so hard to do?"

I think it's only fair to be truthful to people I want to see come to Jesus, and this is the hard truth. First, accepting God's gift of forgiveness and being adopted into His family does not fix you. Second, following Jesus is the most difficult thing you will ever do, if you do it right. It means removing things from your life that will trail behind you like toilet paper stuck to your foot. It means committing and re-committing your life to Him; sometimes with a, "Good morning, God...I need you this morning", and sometimes on your knees because you've wandered away again. Satan will use your past against you at every opportunity. It requires a passionate pursuit that takes up your whole self. A relationship with God demands surrender of your desires, your marriage, your family, your job...everything you are to His control. Anyone who believes that is easy will be in for a rude awakening.

Just as I was about to give up on the Christian radio this morning, I heard something a little different. God heard my questions, and He responded with exactly what I needed to hear. I want to share the song that God wrote for me just for this morning. Maybe He wrote it for you, too.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”-Luke 2: 10-12

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

This Sunday, I will have the wonderful privilege of singing praise to my Lord in my church. As I have prepared for this event, I struggled, as always is the case, with choosing the right piece. I want my choice to have meaning for me personally, but also to translate for the congregation who will witness. 

Throughout the Christmas season, I have fought to keep my eyes where they belong: on Jesus. Being bombarded with the cultural version of the holiday on TV, radio, and nearly everywhere I go makes it difficult to focus. There has never been less of a struggle to buy into the commercialization of Jesus's birth, but it's challenging to find peace with all the noise.

As I have walked through this time, I once again have returned to the idea that Jesus is not only important in December. He's not only important on that one weekend in the spring. He is the most important thing ever-every day of the year. My whole life is about Him. When I fail to remember that, all aspects of my life are negatively affected. 

My choice of music for this Sunday is a reflection of that truth. It's my reminder to myself not to let go of the wonder I experience when I think of all the miraculous things about Jesus. Here are a few of the lyrics; I hope they serve as a reminder to you as well.

As our church choir has been moving through the Advent season, one of the songs we've been rehearsing has challenged my perception. I have identified very strongly with Jesus' mother, Mary, in the story of His birth. As a young, inexperienced teenager, I feel her uncertainty at what lies before her. As a woman, I wonder what it must have been like to have a marriage arranged for me. As a mother, I know how difficult it would be to endure watching my child suffer the way Jesus did.

This beautiful piece of music reminds me that the story of Christ's birth, life and death contained even more dimensions for Mary than these things I can empathize with. The chorus truly sums up the unique position she found herself in, and is a wonderful picture of the heart of Jesus. "I'll hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end."  Enjoy.

"The shepherds of Jesus' day were familiar with bad news. Generally regarded as liars and thieves, smelly blue-collar workers with a penchant for strong drink and faithless living, the shepherds were familiar with being shunned by society. They were not permitted in the Temple courts or the religious establishments of Jesus' day. Sheep herding was a thankless job, and these rough and tumble animal herders learned that isolation from high and holy things was a way of life."-Hope Arriving: A Personal Advent Devotional Journey-Dan Wilt

I am so glad God chose to send the angels to the shepherds. Of all the people society would think deserving of hearing the good news, the Lord chose the least likely group. The guys who slept in caves curled up next to animals for warmth, the people no one wanted to come into close contact with because of the smell were the ones God gave favor to. He picked them up out of their mundane, depressing lives and told them they were special.

I'm glad He did this because it reminds me that I am important to Him. I've got proof in this little detail that it doesn't matter what people think of me, because God loves me.

I am not a fan of reality TV. I don't want to hear the stories of gold diggers in Alaska, or Duck Dynasties (whatever that is!), or anybody who lives in New Jersey (no offense, Jersey...just not my thing). When it comes to my relationship with God, however, the more real the better.

I want to understand the mindset of God's people from Bible times. I feel closer to Adam, David and Paul when I put myself in their very real shoes. At Christmas, my desire for reality is stronger than any time of the year. For me, watching The Nativity Story and reading about Jesus birth are as much a holiday tradition as family gatherings and decorating the Christmas tree.

Because music is such a huge part of my life, songs bring pictures to my mind. This one, in particular, touches me with the majesty of Jesus. It fits in perfectly, in my opinion, with the words the angel spoke to the shepherds: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." -Luke 2:10-11 I hope you enjoy, and this music fills you, as it does me, with the beauty of what God has given us.

Yesterday evening, my husband went to Wal Mart. On Thanksgiving. Against both our better judgements. He was gone a total of 15 minutes when I received this from him:
He returned ten minutes later, empty-handed. "It was not worth it," he explained. "One guy told me he'd been there 30 minutes, and hadn't moved the entire time. All that for $20 off." In case you can't see very well, let me clue you in: the sign in the background proclaims "More Christmas for your money."

As the holiday approaches, relatives have begun asking the age-old question, "What's on your Christmas list this year?" I have been stymied, but also a bit proud, to see that my children cannot come up with substantial answers. Their mindset seems to be shifting away from "me" and more toward "others". I know a large part of it is their youth group--service projects abound in our ministry these days, and I can see the effect it has had on all our students. I also hope it is the product of their upbringing. I have very impatiently awaited the day when I could see evidence in their lives that they see the needs of others, and exhibit the desire to meet them.

The Lord has given us the best gift we will ever receive, and our lives are irreversibly changed by it. As we grow in Christ, may we expand our circle of influence, just has He did during His earthly life. Not out of duty, but because our minds have changed. May we begin to see people as Christ sees them, and live in such a way that we can lift others up. This type of life has rewards in store for us here and in heaven. The way service changes our lives is indescribable, and it pleases our Lord as well.

With one high school and one middle school student in my house, I have found myself pondering adolescent friendships quite a bit lately. The teenage years are a difficult time for young men and ladies. It's the time when responsibility grows as well as freedom.  Emotional maturity begins to develop, and the adjustment can be tough.

The Bible has a lot to say about our friendships. First, a warning about the quality of folks we spend our time with:  He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. -Proverbs13:20.

Also, a word about making big decisions: Proverbs 12:15-The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. 

Maybe the most important of all: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Jesus encourages us to reach out to people who need Him. He doesn't want us to shy away from what some would consider a less desirable crowd. However, we need to always remember that we are to be in the world, but not of it. Followers of Christ need to be purposeful in developing relationships with others who will remind us who we belong to.  Our relational lives need to be balanced to keep us accountable to the Word.

Gal 5:13-For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
 
     In Philippians, Paul talks about Jesus’ willing sacrifice of service to mankind. Chapter 2, verses 6-7 say this:  “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of man.” Jesus set the example for us. And if we truly have Him in our hearts and lives, then service is our truest desire.
     A true servant’s heart is not something that can be turned off and on at will. Evidence of a servant’s heart will spill out of you wherever you go. Probably, names come easily to your mind of people in your church who have a servant’s heart.  They are the people who are always gracious, always willing to jump in and help in any situation. They are the people who embrace God’s will for their lives, and use their gifts to God’s glory.
     Much emphasis is put these days on international missions. There is always availability to sign up for a short-term mission trip to Mexico, China, or elsewhere. While I agree that this is important, I believe we are missing something. In Acts 1:8, Jesus instructs this: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Many American Christians today are doing a great job serving their Samaria and "ends of the earth", but are completely missing their Jerusalem. Think about this: When was the last time you served your home church? Your youth group? Your family?
     People don’t expect others to serve them. We live in a selfish, self-serving world. When we as Christians refuse to conform, and instead, put others’ needs ahead of our own wants and desires, we make people think. We make them wonder why we would make a sacrifice for them. And the people who know us best; who know our selfish inner person, will be the most impacted by our service. 

      And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

I have recently been reading two very similar, very thought-provoking books that have challenged how I look at my relationship with Christ. These authors have made me look at how my faith comes out in action, and evaluate areas of my life I'm withholding from Jesus. They have given me a different perspective on things such as tithing and devotion to the Lord.

One thing that disturbs me, however, is the area of suffering. Much is made of the concept of suffering for Christ in these pages. Each author, in his own way, asks the question, "What has loving Jesus cost you lately?" The question evokes images of continued suffering throughout the life of a Christian. In my estimation, it conjures up the idea that if I'm not in a bad way, I'm not in a true relationship with Christ.

I wholeheartedly agree with Luke 9:23 in which Jesus says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Denying self is, to me, the crux of Christianity-we must be buried to our own desires and allow Jesus to live through us. I just don't believe that Jesus wants His disciples to experience lives of depression and pain. Let me tell you why:

Psalm 37:4-Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

John 10:10-The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Psalm 23:1-3-The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

There are numerous other references in the Bible to support the idea that Christ did not come to make us suffer.  Not that our lives would be continually happy and worry-free; that is an impossible goal for a sinful human living in a fallen world. Plus, the Lord spells out that relationship with Him does not equate a free pass: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.-Galatians 5:13. God gives us balance. "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning."

Perhaps I make too much of what these authors are saying. That being said, if my mind has gone to this place, surely others have as well. Maybe I'm not the only person who needs to be reminded that what these authors have spelled out for us are not the only words the Bible has to say. The love of Christ is deep enough that it covers us with peace and joy. Sometimes those elements will be forced to overshadow suffering, but as it comes from the Almighty, I'd say it's well up to the task.

On a rare, impromptu visit to my grandparents' house last evening, I got a rare opportunity to see something I wasn't sure was possible outside of the church realm. There's a new program on Game Show Network called, "American Bible Challenge". Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, teams of three compete on behalf of a chosen charity to see how much they know about the Bible.

The contestants are given an opportunity to tell their story in the opening sequences of the show. In the pilot episode, viewers were treated to the story of a man who was given a new life by heart transplant, a woman who was experiencing God's mercy through a child with extreme scoliosis, and a group of strong men and women who use their muscles in a mission around the country.

In a culture riddled with 'me first' messages, this is such a breath of fresh air. I mentioned to my grandparents that I was surprised this show was even allowed on television outside of the religious channel. We found ourselves challenged and riveted as we watched the contestants test their knowledge of the Bible.

I intend to encourage everyone I know to check out this program. Watch it with your children or your parents. Challenge each other to be able to answer the questions week to week. Maybe this mix of game-show fun and Bible study will be a shot in the arm to our spiritual walk!

"What if we were just living as if the Bible were the truth, and Jesus is exactly who He says He is? What if we stop using apologetics on ourselves and simply lived like we believed what the Bible tells us?" Brian Hardin, Daily Audio Bible, August 23 (paraphrased)

The human race has been on a quest for knowledge since time began. God created us with an innate curiosity that has allowed us to develop medicines and technologies that have changed the course of history. Our curiosity becomes dangerous, though, when we allow fear into the mix. God never promised to give us all the answers, and the unknown frightens us.

In response to fear, we begin to search for comfort. We adopt a spiritual position that doesn't change, and we spend all our efforts poring over the Bible for reassurances that it actually contains truth, and that God really is on our side. Prayers become rote, and contain pleas for personal success and safety. In other words, our Christian lives become all about us.

Let me say that I don't believe there is anything wrong with wanting to know we are loved. In order to grasp the power God wants to give us, we must be convinced He wants to give it to us. Nor is crying out to God in our anguish to be considered selfish; King David gave us a large number of Psalms to prove that.

When we let the world into our hearts, we become insecure. In the face of ridicule, we begin to doubt. When we hear of some new scientific discovery that potentially hurts the credibility of the creation theory, we believe it. Advertisements that tell us we need a certain something to make our lives complete give us a sense of urgency to fulfill a perceived need. The world is no place for a Christian without the armor of God!

What would change in your life if you were living like you believed what the Bible says? 

A friend of mine and I were talking early this morning about cloud formations as Hurricane Issac makes its way up here to the Midwest. We were both fascinated by how the system was still formed into a sort of circle, even as it begins to dissipate and play itself out. Then my friend said something I'd never thought about before. "They're predicting about 5 inches of rain from this storm-it's been dropping 5 inches of rain all along it's route. How does it pick up THAT much seawater, convert it to fresh, and dump it down on us? And why can't we figure out how to do that? If God can do it, why can't we?"

Most of us, in the course of our lives, will witness, hear about, or be involved in a heated religious discussion. As many different religions as there are (not counting the differing beliefs within the same religion), the odds are that passionate people are going to disagree. When I first became a Christian, my sister had a lot of questions for me-tough questions that I usually didn't have an answer for. Even today, I'm sure there are some of those questions I still don't have an answer for. 'Why does God let bad things happen to good people?' 'Why does the Bible teach inequality between the sexes?' 'How can the God who killed all those people in the Old Testament be the God of love?' 'How do you explain dinosaurs?'

The answer to these hard questions is not easy. Many times, the answer is, "I don't know". It is very easy to get frustrated in the face of these questions. For me, it's times like these that I think of the clouds. How could a big explosion have created the intricate weather patterns that are in storms? How could an accident have created exactly the right mix (made up of more variables than we can count) to sustain human life? How could evolution have played out so perfectly that it created entirely new, completely functioning species?

When asked one of the tough questions, my response is always the same: "I don't know all the answers-I am not God." What I do know is that God shows me something every single day to remind me of who He is, and how He is wholly different from me. If God can do it, why can't we? Because we're not Him.

What has God shown you about His character lately?

Over the past several months I have become increasingly aware of the growing loss of community in our society. When I was a little girl, I lived on a square block with a park in the middle. If I stand in my parents' old front yard, I can still point out 90% of the houses on the block and tell you who had lived there. Above that, I could recite at least one story of how each family touched mine. Now, having moved back very close to my old neighborhood, I know the names of only one of the neighbors on my block.

It has been said that it takes a community to raise a child, and that was certainly put into play when I was a kid. All of us living in that square block knew that if any of our neighbors saw us behaving badly, our parents would hear about it before we got home. Likewise, if we were ever in need, we could knock on any door and request help, whether if it was for a band-aid or a glass of water. So much of our time was spent in the company of others living near us, and families were connected by much more than proximity to each other.

As I drive through my neighborhood these days, I rarely see a person outside of their house. Some of my neighbors have lived in these houses for decades, but no one on the block knows who they are. I have never seen the inside of any of the homes on my street, nor invited any of them inside mine.

This isolation is not only happening in our communities; it is also a problem in our churches. Hebrews 10:24 & 25 reminds us: "let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Followers of Christ need each other to stay strong in the faith. There is so much evil in the world, and so little refreshment. Out of  168 hours in a week, one hour on Sunday morning is not enough to power us for the other 167. 

Living in community in our church leads to greater compassion for the lost in our neighborhoods. As we get encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ, we begin to see (and feel) the great need of unbelievers. When we truly empathize with our neighbors, we begin to repair the overwhelming damage that isolation has done to our country and our world. Consider how you can stimulate your church family to love and good deeds, and what impact those deeds will have on your neighbors. It could be a world-changing activity.

God is merciful, just, great and mighty. He is omnipotent (all-knowing) and omnipresent (with us always). There is one thing, though, that God is not: He is not a safety bubble. Difficult times will come to many of God's faithful followers. I have often asked "Why?", and knowing what I know about my Lord, I have more often asked "When?". In my Bible reading this week, I received a hint of the answer to "Why?", and I wanted to share it with you.

In Romans 8, Paul writes about the suffering of the Christian, and how we are called to handle trials. He assures us that the Holy Spirit sends up our deepest hopes and fears on our behalf-ones that are too deep for us to have the words to express. He speaks of the strong hold God has on us; one that nothing can break. Then, in Romans 9, he humbles us to show us the way:

 You are only a human being. Who do you think you are to talk back to God? Does the clay say to the potter, “Why did you make me like this?” Doesn’t the potter have the power over the clay to make one pot for special purposes and another for garbage from the same lump of clay?  --vv.20-21

God has created us for a purpose, and He is the only one with the authority to define us. This truth applies to hard times we face. When tragedies happen in our lives, our role is not to question why, as hard as that may be. We are called to ask "How should I respond to this?".  The answer to "Why?" is, in short, "for God's glory". When we respond to tragedies with peace and steadfast faith, that behavior becomes a powerful witness for God. 


Perhaps this is not the answer we are looking for. Certainly, it's not the answer that solves all our problems. What's important is that it's the answer that helps us cope. We will still grieve, and feel sad, but we know that God will always be with us and will always give us what we need to conquer whatever is before us. All we have to do is trust Him.

This past Monday, I drove my daughter to a cross-country running camp in Joplin, MO. Her father and I signed her up back in June after a very successful but injury-plagued spring track season. She and I talked and joked, stopped along the way to pick up some last-minute supplies, and ate breakfast and lunch, but something began weighing on me the closer we got to our destination. After getting her registered, helping her set up her tent, and checking out the facility, it was time for me to go. The moment I drove out of the camp driveway I started fighting tears. It was the longest drive home I had ever experienced. The first 30 minutes I considered turning around at every exit and going back to get her. For the next 90 minutes, I kept bursting into tears. Through it all, I couldn't understand what was wrong with me. I wanted this experience for her-I knew it would build her character, and I hoped she would have a great time and grow her passion for running. I just couldn't get out of my mind how alone she was-surrounded by strangers. It was the first time I'd ever sent her out into the world alone.

As a parent and a youth worker, I recognize that as hard as I've tried to make my children independent, I have actually sheltered them more than I intended. I have sent them to Christian summer camps in other states, to retreat weekends and other youth group functions. I have allowed them to go to concerts and sporting events in other cities--but always with a group of people I knew and trusted. As long as they were surrounded by other students they had good relationships with and adults I had a good relationship with, I thought it was a good risk. What I realize now is that these trips really weren't much of a risk at all, which is why I was so uncomfortable with the real risk of leaving her in Joplin.

A very wise person counseled me about my fears. She said, "If she isn't allowed to step out of her comfort zone (or yours), she will never learn to deal with tests of faith." It was as if the Lord was speaking directly to me. God does not want us to live in a bubble. He doesn't want us hiding out in our homes or in our churches. Not only does our faith fizzle when it is not tested, but as long as we fail to step outside our comfort zone, we cannot do the work God has set out for us. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.-Matthew 28:19-20.


A truly fulfilling life is not without risks. We will experience moments of doubt and uncertainty. As Matthew has clearly recorded for us, Jesus will always be with us. He has been with us all along. He is with my daughter right now as she waits for her dad to come pick her up.  He is with me as I (very anxiously) wait for confirmation they've made it back safely. He's with each of us always, ready to share every moment and every experience with us.  If God led you to it, He will lead you safely through it.

One of my mother's favorite things to say about me is that, since I was a little girl, I could "work a crowd like a politician." It was her way of saying that I was really good at commanding attention and entertaining people. This week during my Bible reading, I came across some verses that really made me look at this pun in a new way. Check out this story of David's rule:


A heavenly Adversary arose against Israel and incited David to count Israel. So David told Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and take a census of the people so I know how many people there are.”
But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase his people a hundred times! Sir, aren’t you the king, and aren’t they all your servants? Why do you want to do this? Why bring guilt on Israel?”
But the king overruled Joab, who left and traveled throughout all Israel...God was offended by this census and punished Israel.  Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done! Now please take away the guilt of your servant because I have done something very foolish.”...When Gad came to David, he said to him, “This is what the Lord says: Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from your enemies while your enemies’ sword overtakes you, or three days of the Lord’s sword, that is, plague in the land and the Lord’s messenger bringing disaster in every part of Israel. Decide now what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.”...So the Lord sent a plague throughout Israel, and seventy thousand Israelites fell dead. 1 Chronicles 21: 1-3, 7-8, 11-12, 14.


Over the centuries, the word "politician" has become synonymous with "cheater" and "liar". Citizens are predisposed to believe that one political party or other (or both) is full of scheming, self-serving manipulators. And while the saying "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely" has its basis in fact, it is certainly not true for all persons serving as leaders of our country. The real truth is that most politicians do not start out with the intent to do harm. Most are driven into a tough profession by a desire to make a difference; to truly be a "public servant".


David's mistake in the above passage was thinking the people of Israel were his. In Old Testament times, only the owner of such things as livestock or servants had the right to count them. Several times in the Bible we see God commanding His chosen 'public servant' to count His people. This census was of David's doing, for David's own selfish purposes. Only after the deed was done did he realize he had sinned against God. You see, David forgot that he was merely a steward of God's people-not their master. Because of that mistake, the people of Israel were punished. 


A country's leader is responsible for its people, and his sins cost those people, not just himself. The people of Israel were punished, not because of their sins, but because of their king's. It was a heavy burden for David to bear, knowing he was responsible for the death of so many. 
  
Time magazine did a slide-show of before and after photos of presidents. You can check it out here. Say what you will about each of these men, but there's certainly no doubt that their years served did not go easy on them. Instead of spending our time criticizing the decision of our president and congressmen, we should pray for them. Regardless of their decisions, mistakes or political party, we should lift up our leaders to the Lord as often as we can. It is the best service we can offer to our country, and maybe it will help us to begin to view politicians as people again.

My friend expressed to me that he didn't understand why the other driver was so rude: there was nothing he could have done to get out of the guy's way, why couldn't he see that?
I have written about 1 Corinthians 13 before. "Love is patient, love is kind..." Many of us don't realize this is the most important concept in the Bible. Let's put two and two together here: Christ took our punishment and died for us, who was the embodiment of God, Who is Love. So in theory, we could exchange "Love" for "God" in all these verses. When Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, He is challenging us to love like God does. This love is sacrificial; it has no place in the same breath as "me first".

I am a Family Life Today junkie. Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine's interviews with people whose lives have been touched by God in a big way are exciting and addictive.  Whether a prodigal returning to do the work of Christ or a grass-roots ministry doing extraordinary things in communities, the stories are always amazing. In the recent past I can recall hearing about the grandson of Billy Graham who abused drugs and broke relationship with his family, an associate pastor whose marriage was on the rocks for the better part of 10 years, and a man committed to purity whose first kiss was on his wedding day. All of these stories included redemption and grace-and an extraordinary life.

To be honest, 'amazing' doesn't even begin to describe the feeling these stories evoke. It's so uplifting to hear stories of how God is still working miracles in our time, and very encouraging to know that He is still using the weak to lead the strong and the sinner to reach the world with the Gospel.

There's just one thing that nags at me: if I am this kind of sinner who has been radically changed by God's love, why is my life so ordinary? I teach Sunday school, I sing in the choir, I volunteer in the youth group; but my story is not one that anyone would be interested to hear about on the radio. I have never started a ministry nor have I ever been part of anything particularly 'world-altering'. And I can't help but hope there's more out there for me. In fact, I NEED there to be more.

The cold truth of this situation is that 'amazing' is hard work, and I like my comfort. Just like millions of others, I enjoy air conditioning, television and quiet time. I value 8 hours (at least) of sleep, and wi-fi internet. I don't want to sacrifice my free time to do something physically or emotionally demanding.

Unfortunately, God's work is both of those things. He tells us outright in Luke 9: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Homelessness can't be fixed with a phone call. The gospel shared over Skype doesn't have the same impact as face-to-face. We can't serve others if we're too busy serving ourselves. We're also sure never to find God's passion for our lives if we don't go out into the world and try some ministries on.

God does not want us to settle for an ordinary life, and when we try to override His will for us, we will be left empty. Our hearts will always desire something more, and we will never be able to fully experience His peace and joy. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.-John 10:10.  It really comes down to a single choice: to follow Christ, or not to follow Him. The first path leads us to adventure and fulfillment (and yes-some hard work), and the second leads us to continually search for these things in vain. Which would you prefer?

Last Friday I was driving down the road with a heavy burden on my heart. Many things happening all at once in my life had begun to take a toll on me. I had the radio on, as usual, and a song came on that I'd heard a hundred times. Suddenly, though, the Lord focused me in on the lyrics. Check it out:



I began thinking about the thing that has burdened me the most: a mistake I made a couple years ago. What I did caused a lot of hurt to my family, and the ripple-effect of that one choice is still hanging over my head as a possible consequence. At the time, I prayed to God, asking for His forgiveness, but  I still couldn't let it go. I couldn't forgive myself, and so I couldn't believe that my family or God had forgiven me either. As months have passed, this burden has become heavier. It invades my thoughts daily, and it affects my relationships with my loved ones--and with God.

As the singer tells about building up walls, mine become tangible to me. As he pleads with us to let them fall down, I hear the Lord say to me, "I have seen every mistake you will ever make, and I still love you." That is the most comforting thing I can think of: God knows the mistakes I haven't even made yet, and His forgiveness is available for those too!

Life is tough. There's a lot of pain out there. Some of it will come from our own choices, some from circumstances outside of our control. When we can't bring ourselves to accept forgiveness for sins, we torture ourselves with unnecessary hurt. I read something on Facebook the other day: "Sometimes, when we evict Satan, we let him leave his bags behind." Guilt is Satan's bag. I think it's high time we throw it out.