I play drums. I am still learning and [...]]]>

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Are you holding YOU back?

I play drums. I am still learning and my new thing is to master 16th notes on the hi hat. When I took up the instrument almost two years ago, I had a badly frozen shoulder.  For those of you who don’t know what that is, frozen shoulder can happen when tendonitis goes untreated, and your arm fuses with your shoulder blade, by means of scar tissue. (It’s painful as all else tearing through that scar tissue.)

Anyway, the constant movement of playing the drums dramatically improved my condition.  I enjoyed playing immensely! There was just one thing: I still had a limited range of motion on my left arm, so I had to twist my drumstick in a funny way just to hit the snare. I chose to play with matched grip, but I could never get both my hands in the same position. Yet, I coped and even started playing in public this past year.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, the other day, as I was practicing my 16th notes on the hi hat, I thought to myself, “Self, why is your left hand twisted? Set it correctly for matched grip.” So, I fixed my hand position and it was much easier to do the exercise.

It only took me until last evening to recognize that I had been holding that stick incorrectly for how many months, when my arm had been healed that entire time! I was in the habit of thinking my hand could not do something properly, and I never checked that it was better.

I was holding myself back from going forward, when all along, I had what I needed.

Do you ever do that?

All we have to do is ask, seek, and knock

Jesus never speaks in “sort ofs” or “well maybes”. He tells the truth.  I know this, because He was always saying: I tell you the truth. Then why when He tells us to ask, seek, and find, do we often do nothing?  Why do we choose to steep in our stresses?

Just yesterday I was feeling overwhelmed because there is a lot currently on my family’s plate, and there is always a sub-plot with my own health struggles.  I was very upset trying to figure out how to handle a certain medical situation.  I was playing out every possible scenario in my mind— what I would do and say—and I was riling myself up to a good state of dizzy-tizziness. Then suddenly, the Holy Spirit smacked me upside my head with a nerf bat. I thought, “Oh YEAH! And I started praying for the Lord to intervene and give wisdom to the doctors and protect me from false diagnoses.” I felt a lot better, and silly for not praying in the first place.

Just ask. Jesus said so.

Another thing about me is that I misplace everything.  I am definitely the person who would lose her head if it weren’t screwed on in the first place. One thing I am grateful to God for, is that He finds everything for me.  I mean, He is the King and Mighty One, yet, He doesn’t mind telling me where I put my keys.  Many times I search high and low for things and I have no clue what I am doing.  Finally, I give up and pray. Invariably within no time, I am led to a weird place in my house and there is what I tore the place up for, right in front of me. Often, I crack up. (I think God laughs at me, too.) But more seriously, when I was starting to read the Bible and I wouldn’t understand something in it, I would pray to Him to help me find the answers.  The next thing I knew, someone was giving a lecture on the topic, our small group leader would decide that’s what we were studying next, a sermon would address it, or a friend would just offer the information I saught.  It was freaky, but cool.

Just seek. Jesus said so.

I was a believer as a wee kid. To have the faith of a child…man, that’s a solid faith. I was deeply spiritual with a calling to serve and minister, and I loved Jesus and thought He was from my neighbourhood. (Not much difference between Nazareth’s reputation and Verdun, Quebec’s at that time.) Hard times at home and disillusionment from my denomination took me away from the church as a teen, and for many years, I only trusted God, but not His people. The problem with not corporately worshipping, is that you often stop learning.  I believed, but I was not letting myself be strengthened and supported.  I cannot list for you all the mistakes I made with my life then.  I did some pretty horrible things. But, as a mature adult, I decided to trust again, and I asked to be let back into a new church, made new friendships, started using my musical gifts to serve, recommitted myself to the Lord through baptism, and found myself spiritually complete again.

Just knock. Jesus said so.

Snakes and stones…

…may eat and break your bones, but the Lord will never deliver them. Jesus tells us that if we are flawed beings, yet we know how to be kind to our children when they need us, then how much more will our Father in heaven give to us?

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

Further, Jesus says in John 16:24 that if we ask Him, we will receive, and we will be whole in the joy He brings. Now, I know there are times when you ask for things and you are upset when you do not receive them. Remember that God has a plan for your life, and He knows what is best for you. Assure yourself with the knowledge that He will not metaphorically give you a snake or a stone—something that will damage you—but He will give you what you need, and the full power of His strength, peace, joy, and comfort will enable you to endure. Just believe that He is there, and He will richly bless your soul.

Don’t hold yourself back from all that He has to offer.  You have Who you needed all along. The Lord is really there for you.  Jesus always told the truth, right? So, it’s true.

Ask, seek, and knock. Then prepare to be amazed.

Ever feel like that?  C’mon, now, even you mature Christians, fess up if you have.  It’s books like Job that convince [...]]]>

““What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?”
(Job 6:11-12)

Ever feel like that?  C’mon, now, even you mature Christians, fess up if you have.  It’s books like Job that convince me that the Bible has stories about real people in real situations.

Job was steadfast in his belief in the Lord, but he became subject to all sorts of afflictions, including the deaths of all his children. Finally, when he became very ill with a wasting disease, he was confused as to why God was punishing him.  (In those days people believed that trials were punishment for sin. Job’s friends did little to comfort him by coaxing him to admit any wrongdoing.) Job remained bewildered, because as he recounted his life’s decisions, he could not recall anything that he had done to deserve his current state.

Even though he was a person of strong faith and who trusted God, he came to a point where he was losing hope.  What is sad about this, is that all of his so-called friends did little to comfort him and just told him to repent.  Every time Job defended himself, they in so many words called him prideful and wicked.

When you are pushed to the brink, and it even gets hard to pray for yourself, what type of people do you want around you? Those who tell you that with enough faith, your problem will go away? Or, those who comfort you by saying: “No matter what happens, God will be with you, to give you the strength to face this difficult time, and we your friends will be right by your side.”

I want friends who will pray for me, when I am too overwhelmed to pray myself.  I know God still loves me, but every person can be walloped by the challenges of this life.  No one is indestructible that way. There will come a time in each person’s journey when they will face something that will rock their world.  Before that happens, I suggest that you do two things:

• Discover who God really is, and how He can bring a peace that transcends all understanding.  Grow in your faith by learning about Him, praying to Him, and serving Him, so you can build that trust that He truly goes before you and has your back.
  ..
• Pick and choose your friends carefully. Reflect on the people in your circles.  Who are those anam cairde (soul friends), who will encourage you to go the distance and help you carry your burdens?  I like to think of them as my “two o’clock in the morning” people.

At a ladies conference I recently attended, the speaker taught us the value of hoping.  She told us a story about when she was just pushed to the brink and a friend told her to keep hope alive. She admitted that she was too stressed to hope, so her friend said:

That’s OK.  I have enough hope for the two of us, so you can have some of mine.

And as simple as that sounds, it was enough for the woman to get through her situation. She even remembered those words after all those years, and it still moved her to tell them to us.

I love the words of the prophet Isaiah:

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)

Sometimes we are deceiving into thinking that hoping is some fool’s errand, and we try to be realistic about our current dilemma.  We look to statistics, medical findings, and whatever seems more rational to believe. Even while those facts might be true, failing to add hope into the mix will change how you deal with the situation.  Because if something is God’s will, then it will defy what we think we know. Also, even if what seems like the worst thing does happen, somehow that hope in the Lord allows us to get through it in ways we do not fully comprehend.  We find that our needs are being met, seemingly “out of the blue”, and no matter how bad things get, somehow we are staying afloat. We don’t realize it, but we are being bombarded will a thousand tiny miracles, which added up, help us thrive.

Our guest speaker at the conference described the absence of hope as despair.  That is not a place for anyone to be.  Please know that you are not alone. There is a loving God who is available to all people.  He hurts when you hurt, because you are His creation. Let Him comfort you, as the perfect Father that He is.  Let Him provide for all of your needs, because He wants to.  He might not change your situation, but He will change how you face it, because He will lead you through it.

Just follow Him. He knows what He is doing.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
(Psalm 130:7)

May your hope be in the Lord, and may He grant you loving people who reflect His love for you.

This is the last devotional of my Resolutions series. By now, if you have resolved to 1) get in shape, 2) spend more time with friends and family, and, [...]]]>

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, [Jesus] went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Mark 1:3-5)

This is the last devotional of my Resolutions series. By now, if you have resolved to 1) get in shape, 2) spend more time with friends and family, and, 3) not stress out so much, then you are going to really need to keep this resolution. You need to start praying.

For those of us who believe, prayer is a gift from God. It’s like having a smartphone whose battery never dies, and no call is ever dropped. (I saw something like that on a friend’s wall, and it’s true.) The Lord makes Himself completely accessible to us, 24/7. It’s not only that He is above us, in heaven, but He also sent His Spirit to be within us, as a constant guide. God is omnipresent and He wants to listen to what we have to say.

One of the smartest things the apostles asked of Jesus (in Luke 11:1) was, “Teach us to pray.” Christ responded (in Matthew 6:5-8) by telling them not to orate with empty words that go on forever, showing off like some do in public. He instead said that they should go into their room, close the door, and pray. He even gave them an example of what to say, which is what we now call The Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus says that the Father knows our words before we even say them. So, you might wonder why you should say them at all? I think it’s a simple answer: we need to tell God because it benefits our souls to say the words, and it grows our relationship with Him.

Think about your relationships with people. Have you ever been so close to someone that you suspected they knew what was on your mind, and when you spoke out anyway, you felt this huge weight off your shoulders? Didn’t you end up feeling closer to that person afterward?

Those of you who are parents: have you even seen one of your small children admit they did something wrong, which you absolutely knew they did, and as they looked up to you with their big eyes and confessed, you just wanted to scoop them up?

If anyone does something for someone else and receives a word of thanks, even though you knew they would say that, isn’t still wonderful to express and receive gratitude?

God knows you inside and out, but to Him, you are His little child, who confesses problems and expresses gratitude and praise. Knowing what you are going to say doesn’t mean He wants you to keep it to yourself. He wants to communicate with you. He cares for you in more ways than you can imagine.

Does God answer us when we pray? Yup. In my experience and what I have observed, the Lord gives us customized responses. It can be a thought of revelation the bolts into your head. It can be events and people that pop out of nowhere, and you just know these are His doing. It can be a still small voice, or a major wake-up call. My favorite answer is the overwhelming sense of peace that comes in the middle of a situation that is devoid of peace.

When you pray, try to steal a moment alone. Praying with others is grand, but sometimes you need that one-on-one time with the Lord. If you don’t know how to pray, you can start of with the Lord’s prayer, but then just try speaking in your own words. Tell God why you are happy, sad, grateful, angry, lonely, busy, confused, sick, joyful, and whatever else you can think of. Even better, try to set aside a time each day to do it, like exercise for your spiritual health.

Jesus was surrounded by people when He carried out His mission on earth. So, knowing how important it was to pray to His Father, He woke up early, and found a quiet spot. A good example for those who are very busy. I personally know people who do this, people with a lot on their plate, and they have told me that it helps them tremendously. I can even see how their souls are contented by the look in their eyes and the joy they express. Yet, they still have a lot on their plates. The difference is that they know in their hearts that God is leading them through each day.

Remember this quote from four weeks ago?

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

You need to pray to be godly, because we tend to imitate the person with the biggest influence over us. Let that be God!

My prayer for you reading this is that you know that you are truly loved and the door is open. The Lord wants to hear from you. Just believe it, and start talking.

Peace be with you as you go forth this year.

I hate to admit it, but I am a worrier.

Through a medication mishap two years ago, my chemistry took a bad spell, and [...]]]>

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

I hate to admit it, but I am a worrier.

Through a medication mishap two years ago, my chemistry took a bad spell, and I have been battling obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) responses to stress and fatigue.  Thankfully, my nature is to be laid back and optimistic, and that coupled with a lot of help from God is taking me out of this acute state. I find OCD fascinating in a way.  For me, I could be merrily chatting, and then a brain hiccup would occur and I would worry about something for a few seconds, and then resume my conversation where I left off.  I called them OCD commercials!

Any mental illness can be a real trial.  For me, the worst part is the reaction from others.  Those who are ignorant will coax you to “snap out of it.” What I say to that is, “Hey, buddy, if I could fix things in a split second, don’t you think I would?”  My heart goes out to my fellow soldiers who battle their brains each day.

There is something else about me that many do not know.  I have magical powers.  Yes, it’s true.  I can draw all sorts of useless situations and trouble my way without even trying.  I am not a drama queen, I am a drama magnet! I have no idea how I even do it. One moment I am minding my own business, just being myself, and the next, people start freaking out around me.  Perhaps I should tell them to snap out of it…

And there’s my body.  As soon as I triumphantly climb out of one hurdle, a new part of me goes dreadfully wrong.  Maybe I should just tell my body to snap out of it, too.

I am a worrier.  Not an unreasonable one, but I am one.  How about you?

My situation is not that unique.  I bet many of you think you have drama-magnet powers, too.  I know we all at one time or another face problems with our health, both mental and physical.  And there are just so many other things that can occupy our head-space:

• children
• parents
• spouses and partners
• neighbours
• finances
• work environments
• political tensions
• church atmospheres

Many of us know that “do not worry” message that Christ taught us.  Hands up all of you who want to say to Him, “Yes, but…”

What do you want to tell Jesus after the word, “but”? I suggest that you say it to Him in prayer. He can take it. He also can do something about it. Just have faith that He’ll do it, even the teeniest bit of faith.  He’ll take your teeny bit of faith and grow it in you, if you let Him. Remember He said:

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

The mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, but when it grows, it’s like a tree. When Christ talks about the mountain, we can take that as a metaphor for our greatest challenges.  What is the mountain that you need to move, by His strength?  Notice that He says that nothing will be impossible for you? Jesus is not mincing words.  He is stating as a fact that even with a little faith in Him, He will take you where you need to go, to get through whatever faces you.

A few years ago a woman in our small group kept forwarding e-mail from this other woman who was dying of cancer.  I can still remember how blown away I was by her sheer joy.  She talked about the word terminal, and likened it to a bus terminal, saying that she was reaching her destination, and she seemed to be looking forward to it! Every moment she was still alive, she cherished her life.  I’ll never forget how very close to her death, her husband bought her a ring.  She described its glitter and hues with such rapture, it was like she understood beauty and color in a way that we had all forgotten or had taken for granted.

When I heard that she finally died, I was happy for her, because she was so very happy herself. I remember thinking, “Wow, now that’s is a way to go.” One thing about this lady, was that she had such faith in the Lord.  She knew beyond a doubt in her heart that He was waiting for her, so she peacefully enjoyed the last days of her life, unburdened by worry.

The Irish have an expression: Don’t borrow trouble.  We stole it from Jesus, Who said:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

Sometimes when there is too much on my plate, it’s a good thing.  I reach this place when there is so much I can worry about that I see how ridiculous it is.  I just say, “Forget it!” to the stress and hand it over to the Lord. (Now, if I could I just relinquish it sooner, that would be awesome.)  One thing that really helps me is relying on faithful friends of faith! They encourage and pray for me when I cannot do it for myself.  Their love and support gives me strength, and a shared burden is so much lighter.

So, do yourselves a favour.  Don’t snap out of it.  Don’t suck it up, either. Starting talking.  Start sharing. With God, and others. Face your trials with loving people surrounding you. Know that an ever-loving God goes before you every step of the way.  With Him, nothing is impossible, and His will for your life is perfect.

No matter how big your but, is, don’t worry. You still look good in those pants. 

Huh?  Why the heck did you choose that verse, Cait?  What does idolatry have to do with not being able to be with friends and family?

Well, whoever said that, it has everything to do with [...]]]>

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. (1 Corinthians 10:14-15)

Huh?  Why the heck did you choose that verse, Cait?  What does idolatry have to do with not being able to be with friends and family?

Well, whoever said that, it has everything to do with it.

OK, we know that idols can be god-like statues that some people worship in place of the Lord.  While I am sure that many people reading this do not have those types of things at home, I bet that they still fall prey to idolatry.  You know how I know? Because there are just too many distractions that can take our minds off God in this modern world.

Whatever occupies your thought so much that you push aside time with God and your loved ones…that is an idol.  We all do it, too.

I have written about this topic before, but it never hurts to read it again.  Our minds, like a room, can get cluttered with stuff and junk. And just as you cannot manoeuvre properly in such a place, you cannot get around a plethora of mental distractions.  Why is it so many of us feel guilty when we just choose to take some time for ourselves to relax?  That guilt is so wrong, it’s not funny. And there is nowhere in the Bible that commands us to fill every second of the day with stress so we just collapse under the pressure.

What are your idols that prevent you from truly being with the people God has given you?

• Work?
• Sports?
• Food?
• Financial gain?
• Material possessions?
• Clothes?
• Busyness?
• Worry?
• Health?

You might be wondering why I included health as a idol.  It does seem unfair, but I can justify it.  On one extreme, you can pursue your physical fitness with so much activity, that you exclude others.  On another, you can obsess so much about your lack of health or perceived lack of health that you have left no place for God to give you peace. Personally, my health is a 24-7 maintenance game and I catch myself talking about it all the time.  Then I think to myself, “Aw, we could have used that time to have more fun. Why did I go on like that?”

While it is important to take responsibility for your life, like a good steward of the blessings God has given you, it is equally important to remember to enjoy your life!  It’s not all supposed to be one big trial or stress.  Yes, work, but don’t stay at a place that is making you ill, or preventing you any opportunity to unwind.  Yes, we need some clothes and material objects, but put limits on yourself and don’t equate possessions with happiness. Yes, be concerned about your finances, but don’t think about that every waking moment, and be content with what you have if you are living comfortably. Yes, don’t be bone idle, but don’t let your busyness get out of control to the detriment of relationships and health. Sports?  I have no idea why I wrote that.  There is nothing wrong with too much football…

Jesus tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:25).  He also tells us that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person [who thinks only of wealth] to get into heaven (Matthew 19:24).  Most importantly, Jesus is standing at the other side of our door, waiting to be let in (Revelation 3:20)!

Whatever you are doing to prevent yourself from having time to connect with God and others, please, stop it or tone it down.  It just is not worth it.  If you are carrying a burden alone, then please, invite others to carry it with you.

We are not meant to walk this life distracted and on our own. Write a list of what is preventing you from connecting.  Then, pray for wisdom to change the top two items to:

1. Spend time with God.

2. Spend time with friends and family.

Your relationships are the only thing in this life that are truly valuable. Pursue them in love, and leave all your worries and cares in the Lord’s capable hands.

“O God of mine, I’ll have no idols…” ~Rita Springer (Listen to song)

(Judges 3:21-22)

Ok, you [...]]]>

Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.  Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out.

(Judges 3:21-22)

Ok, you know you have eaten way too much cake, even gluten-free cake, when someone kills you and loses their sword in your belly fat. Ewww!  I think I am going to post this quote on my mirror, because it just makes me want to go on the treadmill, and eat carrots and broccoli.

Every January, a good lot of people decide that they are going to get in better shape.  They resolve to eat right, exercise more, and listen to their doctors and other experts.  They buy DVDs of fitness tapes and new yoga outfits, they might get some hand weights and a treadmill, they read diet books, and they cause gym memberships to peak at the first month of every year.

Why do we do this? Remorse from eating with two forks at Christmas?  Wanting to keep with the tradition of making resolutions? Or is there something inside us that just gets excited by the possibilities that a new year can bring?

Something else happens around end of February-March. We get tired of eating carrots and broccoli. We stop watching the DVD.  We put laundry on our treadmill. We are too tired from work to go to the gym.

Why do we run out of steam so quickly? Well, it takes a lot of work and discipline to get in shape.  The only successful method to keep to a plan is to resolve to change your life, permanently.  Something has to click in your spirit, where you realize that this is not just for fitting into your old pair of jeans (this applies to both men and women, let’s get real) but it’s also for your health, and hopefully, an improved quality of life. It’s an endurance race, where the finish line is God-willing, many, many years away.

This week marks 7 years since Bruce and I lost John LeMoine, a most dear friend. A couple of years before John died, my poor Bruce was very overweight.  It was a product of letting himself get roped into the sedentary lifestyle of high-tech and too much overtime. Bruce was in the military when he was young and he was always in top shape, so it was hard for him to have his body sluggish and unhealthy.  Twice Bruce tried to stick with a fitness regimen and twice he failed.  The third time, he went regularly with John.  Bruce said to John that discipline was really hard to achieve and maintain.

John’s response was, “But discipline is a fruit of the Spirit.  You already have it.” (Galatians 5:22)

It was one of those BOING moments for Bruce.  Something just clicked.  He not only maintained his fitness, he searched out trainers to change up his routine.  He sought new ways of getting stronger, running longer.  (Yes, he’s my six-million-dollar man!)  When he severely herniated a disc a few years ago and was told he should not run, Bruce eventually defied that.  This year, he ran his first 10-K race!

The funny part was that an old friend from the Navy saw Bruce after he had lost 50 pounds.  He hadn’t seen Bruce since they were younger and he and said to Bruce, “Wow, you haven’t changed a bit!”

I found it interesting that my Bruce was inspired to succeed after he had been told he already had something that he thought he didn’t have. I think the number one thing that slows us down is discouragement.  We can talk ourselves out of goals, and we can listen to negative talk from others who have a defeatist attitude.

There is more to health than a mind-body connection.  What takes us over the top is the spiritual connection. I can have a positive attitude, I can eat my carrots and broccoli, but what sustains me, is God working in me.  When I can’t keep going, it’s His Spirit that is my personal trainer.  That’s the still small voice that tells you that you can do it, you can do anything, through Him, who gives you strength (Philipians 4:13). God encourages the best things for you.  Don’t listen to anything that tries to distract you from being who He wants you to be.

If your end goal is just to be a ripped jock, and leave God aside, well consider this…

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

God doesn’t care about your abs, or if you look good in those jeans, if your spirit does not love.

Oh, and if you are spiritually on board and are just looking for the secret to losing weight and keeping it off, here’s some wisdom I found that works:

“Eat less. Move around more.”
~ Craig Ferguson

See you on the beach in June!

Happy new year, everyone!

He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

And he [...]]]>

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

He said: “I am

‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

“ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

(John 1:19-26)

John, known to us as John the Baptist, was a great prophet.  His job was to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah, but unlike other prophets, John was to finally announce the actual arrival of the Christ!

And what better way to prepare the hearts of the people for meeting the Lord than to baptize them into the repentance of their sins?  That was the ritual that John performed.  You were to confess your sins and be immersed in the water.  It was very much in the tradition of ‘coming clean’ before the Lord, and the Levitical law often talked about washing with water to remove any uncleanliness.

To me, this was more than just repentance, it was also anticipation!  “The Lamb of God is coming, so shouldn’t we get ready for His arrival?  Let’s clean ourselves inside out, now that we know He is living among us!  We have been waiting for hundreds of years for Him to come!  Quickly, let’s go into the river with John, and repent before the Lord!  The Messiah is here, the Messiah is here!”

John is sort of like the best man to the bridegroom.  He wants all those invited to the wedding to not only come prepared, but to prepare the way for the groom to enter, and claim His bride (and the bride is all of us, who were to follow Him).  Yet, this time, instead of at night, when bridegrooms often arrived,  Jesus comes in broad daylight to meet John, who makes an enthusiastically proclamation:

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’  (Verses 29-30)

Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, was now a man in the world’s eyes, and He stood before the people.  John was not told to say, “Here is the one would will slay our enemies, and bring back our nation to its full glory.”  John didn’t say, ”Look, here he comes, riding on a white horse and clad in armour, silk, and linen, with a crown of gold on his head!”  He didn’t even say, “Behold, the King!”

What John did say was, “Look at Him closely.  This is the One who would be slaughtered like a lamb, to make atonement for everyone’s sin.  He’s the Man I told you about Who is more esteemed than I am, because He reigns over me.”

What was everyone else thinking?  Perhaps, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” or, “How can this one man take away everyone’s sin?” or, “What about our enemies?”

I am quite certain that Jesus knew what was on each person’s mind.  His response to John’s announcement was to tell John to baptism Him. This wasn’t because Jesus needed to repent, but it was for the Father to commission His Son to the mission He gave Him and to verify that Jesus is the Christ:

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”   (Verses 32-34)

The Messiah was born, and the Lamb walked among men and women.  He talked to people who were labeled as “sinners” and loved them.  He showed compassion on those who were rejected.  He cured people of all types of illnesses, and He even raised the dead. He fed thousands of people from a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. He performed countless miracles.  He explained to people what God’s kingdom was actually like, and He corrected the teachers of the law from their ignorance, lies, and deceptions.  He only spoke the truth.

And because the world did not recognize Him, they sent Him to die on a cross. Those closest to Him, the remaining eleven apostles–who walked with Him daily, watched Him calm down the winds of a storm, and heard all that He had to say–did not even understand that it was by this death, they would be saved.

So after the crucifiction of the Christ, they locked themselves in a room, and waited…

God gave Isaiah a message to the people of Israel.   Something miraculous would happen.  A young woman, a virgin, would become pregnant and give birth.  And this child [...]]]>

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)

God gave Isaiah a message to the people of Israel.   Something miraculous would happen.  A young woman, a virgin, would become pregnant and give birth.  And this child would be called, “God-with-us.” The Lord was promising that He would walk among them.  He knew that His people needed Him, even though He had constantly been with them from the creation of the world, through the deliverance from Egypt, through the establishment of the nation of Israel…and He was still trying to bring them back to Him as they started to turn away to other gods.

God had shown so many signs that He was there, and not just with metaphorical phrases, but with tangible actions.  It’s sort of difficult to miss a parting of a sea, or food falling from Heaven, or smoke filling a temple. He delivered them from vast armies, and provided for all of their needs.

Yet, He knew that they needed more than just one more prophet.  He knew that they needed His Son to walk among them.

So, Israel waited. And waited. And waited some more.  And as they waited, they  imagined who the Messiah, or the anointed one, was to be.  They knew that there was to be another king, and that he would deliver them from their enemies for good.  I am sure that they expected some mighty warrior on a noble steed, guiding legions of warriors to come to their rescue.  For they needed rescuing.

But God knew the type of rescuing they needed. Not against man, but against evil itself. And salvation not just for Israel, but for everyone.

The word advent comes from the Roman word, Adventus, which means to wait. If you are anything like me, it’s tough to wait—especially for something really good to happen. And it’s worse when you have no idea when it is coming. You think about it all the time and wonder, “Is today the day?” That could have been the situation for those who heard God’s message to Isaiah.

And years passed.  Hundred of years.  So, like the “phone game”, you could picture what the concept of the Messiah was by the time Jesus was actually born.  Was he 7 feet tall with long flowing dark hair and muscles by the acres?  Did he have a booming voice and did he brandish a double-edged sword with a jewel-crusted handle?  Did he wear a large crown of gold and was he dressed in the finest linens and silk?  Was he a formidable sight to behold? Did his enemies grow faint at the sight of him? Would his reign last 50, 60, or 70 years?

Could fathers and mothers have told such musings to their children as bed-time stories of hope? Did each generation pass on new tales of the mighty and powerful Messiah? Did they get more and more excited as time passed, thinking, “Surely, this will be the year!”?

Were they chronically waiting for four hundred years, or did some stop waiting altogether? Either way, with either attitude, most completely did not recognize the Christ when He came.

We sometimes let speculation and projection get the better of us. When God inspires us or blatantly tells us to wait, especially for something that would save us, we have to also pray for patience and wisdom.  Patience, so we won’t go mad from the delay, and wisdom, so we won’t go mad from an over-active imagination.

Remember, God never reneges on His promises. I keep remembering this verse from Jeremiah:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

What was the promise of the Messiah but to bring the Prince of Peace to us?  What was the promise of Jesus but to give us a future and hope?

God knew Who the Messiah would be,  and that He would enter the world in the most unique and humble way…not into riches…not into human royalty…but just as He promised.  A young virgin would conceive by the power of His Spirit, her betrothed would marry her after the Lord explained in a dream how this happened,  and a poor but faithful married couple would enter into a stable nine months later.  The Messiah was born and placed in a manger, where animals had once fed, and that was His first bed on this earth.

He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, not fine linens or silk.  He did not have a golden crown or jewel-encrusted sword.  He did not have legions of earthly armies.  But He has power—to heal.  He is mighty—to save.  His words are a double-edged sword that cut through lies and deception, and expose the truth. His actions have delivered and will deliver endless generations of all those who believe in Him from sin and death.

He was and is the Messiah…the anointed one. And He reigns forever.

He wasn’t what people expected.  He was better than expected.

Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to us.  He was worth the wait.

This week, I decided to make a video instead of writing a blog for Remembrance Day.  This occassion is a time of reflection, prayer, mourning, and gratitude. May this short film inspire you to [...]]]>

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ”
(John 15:13, King James Version)

This week, I decided to make a video instead of writing a blog for Remembrance Day.  This occassion is a time of reflection, prayer, mourning, and gratitude. May this short film inspire you to remember what is important on this day.

Rath Dé ort, and may the Grace of God be upon you.

~Cait

Last night our ladies Bible study group finally got together this fall. We coordinated our schedules and now we’re raring to go! If I were to describe what is was like to be with my sistahs again, I [...]]]>

 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
         For brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Last night our ladies Bible study group finally got together this fall. We coordinated our schedules and now we’re raring to go! If I were to describe what is was like to be with my sistahs again, I would choose an unusual word: relief. I think that’s because I feel like someone who has been running alone for a few months, looking for refuge, and now that I found it with God and my ladies, my soul just sort of says, “Whew! I’m home again. Now I’m safe and can relax and be completely real.”

I love people and I love socializing with them. I am a bit mad, so my insane sense of humor comes out everywhere. But as much as I love being silly and fun, even this clown just needs to settle her spirit with those she trusts. A small group should be one of the places where you let yourself be completely “imperfect”. If you want to cry, then cry; if you are angry, then let them know; if you are frightened, then share your fears. The other members of the group are there to hold you up with love, support, and prayer. And when it’s your turn to give to them, do so wholeheartedly, out of love for God, your peeps, and sheer gratitude.

A small group is like a mini-church. At least, that’s how I feel it should be. It reminds me of the people in Paul’s time who met at home.

Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ. (Romans 16:5)

Going out to church each week is also really important for your spiritual health. Singing praises to God, praying, and worshipping together with a larger community of believers reminds you that you are part of something special, bigger than yourselves, and you are united with these people under Him. I remember going to Kingdom Bound in 2001 and I was in an outdoor concert arena with hundreds of people. I thought to myself that I have no idea who they are, what their favorite color is, which church they go to, or if they prefer pop to classic rock, but I did know we had something in common–we loved Christ. I told Bruce that this is must be what heaven is like. You meet tons of people you don’t know, but you share one faith.

So, we Christians all love each other and never argue about anything and live under rainbows and always have mint-fresh breath, right? Uh…well…

The problem with Christians is that they are human. GASP, NO! Yup. We also have bad days, scarring from the past that creeps up on us, fatigue that can shorten our fuse, misinterpretations of scripture that can cause harm, and on occasion, too much pride. We’re people, and whenever people are together, there is a potential for conflict. Look at how many denominations are out there. You would think there are 3000 Jesuses!

But there is one Christ, and one church. All of us who believe make that one church, no matter where we come from. Collectively, we are the bride of Christ, not the brides. That means that whatever our expression of our belief (traditional, contemporary), we are called to be united.

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:4-6)

Jesus wants us to resolve any disputes that we have with each other, even before we give anything to Him at church:

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

Jesus also says that a house that is divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25). He wants His church to stand. If we ignore the problems in our churches, then the issues will mount and fester, and cause such a division that the church won’t be able to function. We need to collectively have the will to stand. This means putting aside pride, being humble before God so we can take His counsel, and learn to live together in peace.

Yes, this is easier said than done. Yet, it is easier done with help from the Lord. Don’t fly this plane without His help. There is no damage that He cannot heal. There is no conflict that is unresolvable. Remember:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

This week, think about where there might be rifts with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Have a mind to want to live in unity. Ask God to be in the middle of that situation, and to bring healing, so that His peace would govern the relationship. Start making it a practice to pray for harmony in your church. When we stand under the Lord, He will bless us with joy and the means to defy the temptation to be bitter. He will replace anger with love, and helplessness with hope.

We can untie, but God can unite. Amen!

This YouTube video was going around on Facebook this past week and it just made me laugh. What horrible resulting perceptions of such innocent premises!You know that the poor protagonists are thinking, “Gasp! This is not what [...]]]>

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

This YouTube video was going around on Facebook this past week and it just made me laugh. What horrible resulting perceptions of such innocent premises!You know that the poor protagonists are thinking, “Gasp! This is not what it looks like!” (I feel for the lady on the plane because I always need to go to the bathroom and I am forever snagging my clothes everywhere.  I can just imagine that happening to me.)

Seriously, though, I think I have made an art form of encountering people who make snap judgments about me.  Of course, moving me out of my extremely urban and working class upbringing and putting me in an upper-middle class private school didn’t help. Placing my enthusiastic and outspoken Celtic personality in a politically conservative suburb doesn’t help.   Putting my Catholic culture in a Baptist church doesn’t help either.  See, all my troubles can be blamed on my parents and my husband.

Let me dispell a few myths about me:

• I do not seek or crave attention. Somehow I get a lot of attention, though, and people assume I need to be at the center. I just have a big personality and am generally upbeat and happy to see people.
  ..
• I am not a feminist. I am confident and offer my opinion freely.  I believe women should be exactly the person that God designed them to be, and to ignore stereotypes that have nothing to do with His plan for their lives.
  ..
• I do not need to be perfectly dressed and coiffed to feel good about myself.  I love fashion, but spend most of the week in pyjamas, because of my health challenges. When I go out, I like to dress up because it’s fun and and colour cheers me up.
  ..
• My Irish accent isn’t phony. The moment I was born, I became a citizen of two countries. My Dad gave me my accent, and it was always with me.  I tried to hide it because I was shy and trying to blend in. Now that I am learning the Irish language, it’s thicker. I call it my “factory default setting”.
  ..
• I have no wish to dominate my husband. Bruce and I have an amazing relationship.  I look to his leadership all the time, and lean on him constantly. As I said before, I just offer my opinion freely, and he loves that about me.  He’s told me many times that he’d go crazy if all I ever said was, “I’m fine,” or “Whatever you like.”

Could you make up a list of things you’d like to clarify about yourself with those who might judge you too quickly?  I bet you could.  You know, there is a balance between caring enough about people’s opinions to set the record straight and just overly worrying about your reputation. In my life I’ve noticed that there are certain stubborn souls that won’t be budged.  They have their view of you locked in and nothing is going to change that.  I personally find that unbelievably frustrating, but in the end, I just have to let it go.  You cannot really force someone out of their obstinacy.  In the end, you just have to do right by God, and lean on Him and the wonderful souls He’s put in your life that love you.

OK, but…what about you? Have you only been the victim of judgment and not the judge? If you said yes, then I’d really like to meet you, and know your secret.

It is really, really difficult not to judge with our eyes alone.  When I was young in the business world, a corporate coach taught us that first impressions are 70% visual. That’s a huge chunk. I would have to add that now with our increasingly busy culture, the visual becomes more of a blink, and we have no time to explore the truth of the matter. So, *poof* a judgment is conceived and born in seconds. That’s pretty frightening.

Where snap judgments get even more dangerous is when they come right out of your mouth and into someone else’s ear.  Then they spread like an infection.

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.  (Proverbs 18:8)

You can completely decimate someone’s reputation like this.  It is such an unholy thing and you are breaking the eight commandment, which is not to spread lies about someone. God won’t hold us blameless for this behaviour, so better to repent now.  Ask the Lord’s forgiveness. Stop what you are doing, make amends if you can, but above all, do not do it again.

Jesus is really clear about those who judge others:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:1-3)

I believe that this means not only will others judge you as harshly as you judge them, but also that the Lord will judge you more severely.  God will humble those who are not humble. Best to listen to Him first, turn your life back to Him, and obey Him. That’s better path than to face His judgment for your lack of compassion and good judgment.

Jesus says that when we judge, do it righteously.  Righteous judgement comes from wisdom.  It’s not tossing your perception out in front and stamping it as the gospel truth.  Righteous judgment might actually come slowly at times.  It might be you saying, “You know, I have no idea what I am looking at right now.  I am going to withhold my opinion until I understand the situation more clearly.”  It might also prompt you to say, “Hey, maybe I should go over to that person and ask if she needs my help.” It might even prompt you to think, “This guy might just need to connect with people. Let me see if that’s true.”

And then you pray and pray and pray that God reveals the truth—at least just enough, so you can be of service, or back off, and give space. Let Him guide your heart.

But if you really struggle with judging harshly, then be honest about it.  God can fix that in you, too.  I always say this, but find someone you trust unwaveringly, and share that with them.  Being humble enough to admit you have this problem is the first step toward changing. Know you are in good company, because many of us struggle with this, including me. (Yeah me, who is judged all the time.  Doesn’t make sense, does it?)

Thankfully, Jesus is our judge.  God is patient, wanting us all to repent and come to Him. The Spirit is in us to steer us in the right direction.  Listen to the Lord.  He will let you know when you are going off track.

Put down your gavel.  Stop judging harshly. Start loving completely.

]]> http://www.gotgraceyet.com/2011/10/28/put-down-your-gavel/feed/ 0 http://www.gotgraceyet.com/2011/10/20/a-cheeky-guideline/ http://www.gotgraceyet.com/2011/10/20/a-cheeky-guideline/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:30:56 +0000 Cait G. http://www.gotgraceyet.com/?p=2210  “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him [...]]]>

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
(Matthew 5:38-41)

You can also listen to this devotional!

I despair at these verses, because they are so very often misunderstood.  For some reason, someone put it into people’s minds that from this passage:

• We’re supposed to get slapped around a lot.
• We’re supposed to hand over everything we have to an oppressor.
• We’re supposed to say, “Yes, sir, and do twice of what is asked of us”.

Can I make one thing perfectly clear?

Jesus Christ was no pushover, and neither should we be, in the presence of personal injustice.

Why is it that we are led to think that we are obliged to be so “nice” as Christians?  Did the Lord not create us with a backbone?  I think He did, or else we’d be piles of mush lying on the floor. Now, God teaches us that vengeance is His alone to take (Deuteronomy 32:35), so that’s cool.  He also teaches us to feed our enemies when they are hungry and give them something to drink when they are thirsty…but He says by doing so, by repaying evil with good, it would be like heaping burning coals on our enemies heads  (Romans 12:19-21). Why?  Because repaying evil with kindness is the last thing they would expect.  It also demonstrates that you do not fear your enemies, because you know God is greater than any man, and fear (respect and obedience) of Him is more important.

But what about this turning the other cheek, giving someone your cloak, and going the extra mile? Well, at that time, the Jews were oppressed by enemies on every side.  They suffered ill treatment at will, by their enemies.  They also treated each other poorly. Jesus is teaching His followers how to cope in this hostile environment.

Let’s break this down. This was how it was explained to me years ago.

Turning the other cheek

In those days, being left-handed was considered sinister, so you always used your right hand.  If  someone were to use his right hand to hit you on your right cheek, it would be a back-handed slap.  This was the way that you struck those who were beneath you, like slaves, or the lowest people of society.  It was a condescending way of hitting a person, which basically said, “You are nothing.  Know your place in my presence.”

However, if you turned the other cheek, there was a problem.  The aggressor would be forced to hit you with a forward slap or a punch, which in those days meant that he was challenging you, the way one would do with an equal (1). By turning the other cheek, you are in effect saying, “OK, I’ll deal with you, but as a man (or woman), on a level playing field.”

I love how you are to do this with action and not words.  That’s what’s so beautiful about it.  It’s quiet, yet speaks volumes.

The cloak off your back

Yes, even back then people were litigious.  Sometimes if a poor person owed a debt, the debtor would literally demand that you hand over your clothes until you could pay it back.  This of course, was humiliating to the one who owed the debt, and it was against the Hebraic Law.  In Deuteronomy, God specifically says not to bully around a poor man and demand a pledge of him:

“When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.  You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.  And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.  You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 24:10-13)

However, if you hand over your cloak after he took your inner garment, well, then your enemy would be exposing your nakedness. This was simply not done.  So, the humiliation would be on your enemies’ head, and not yours. And once again, it displays a quiet fearlessness.

That extra mile

It was common in Jesus’ time on earth for soldier to demand anyone to deliver a message for them.  This was under Angaria, which was the Roman law of transportation and communication.  So, if someone told you to deliver that message, you kinda had to go, up to one mile, to carry it out.  However, it was against Angaria to force anyone to go a longer distance.  So, if you chose to go the extra mile, then you would be forcing your enemy to break the law.

Sometimes I wonder if that you chose to go with him the extra mile, as Jesus says, what would you talk about?  Could there be an opening for discussion that might lead to something positive?

***

I find it interesting that Christ does not suggest that we do these things on occasion, but to do them, period.  It’s as if He wants us not only to stick up for ourselves, but also to use these opportunities to instruct others, and who knows what else He has in mind? If we are faced with personal or familial oppression by an enemy, what is the most creative way that we can deal with the injustice, under God’s authority?

It’s an interesting thing to be a Christian.  We have to be humble, yet we have the right to dignity.  We have to have a servant’s attitude, but we also have the right not to be treated as inferiors. There seems to be a desire on God’s part to remove all pedestals.  This makes sense, because we should not regard ourselves as greater than anyone else:

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:3)

There will always be conflict, and God’s wisdom should guide how you react to it. Just don’t discount the counsel of Christ, or turn it into something it is not.  Jesus is gentle and kind, but He is also the Son of God, and He is mighty and a warrior. When He comes back, look out! He might be a Lamb, but He is also a Lion.

This week, think about those who might oppress you.  How can you influence them to deal with you directly, so you might resolve a situation, or for them to consider you differently, so your communication might be more effective together? There is no one answer, but look to the essence of what Jesus is teaching us.  Take your enemies’ method, turn it on its head a little, and force them to go, “huh?”

Repay evil with good.  Your end goal is not revenge, but a change of attitude, which God-willing, will result in peace.  In any case, do not let yourself continually be subject to abuse without taking a stand.  That’s just wrong.

Just let Jesus guide you in your stance.  You can peacefully, yet firmly face your enemies.

1. David Daube. The New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism. Hendrickson Publishers; Reprint edition (October 1994)

Thanks to Wikipedia for these references, and to Bruce, for teaching me about this once upon a time!

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS DEVOTIONAL!

Where can you find a wife with a good character? She’s worth more than a 60-inch large screen television and the latest iPhone. Her husband can rely [...]]]> …because the woman of Proverbs 31 was so tired, Solomon had to make supper and couldn’t write anymore.

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS DEVOTIONAL!

Where can you find a wife with a good character?
She’s worth more than a 60-inch large screen television and the latest iPhone.
Her husband can rely on her and trust her implicitly.
He’s spoiled rotten by her love!
She is good and not nasty,
each day she is alive on this earth.
She grabs from the knitting or sewing basket
and happily makes or mends things.
She’s like the pizza delivery van,
bringing yummy food from the other side of town.
She gets up really early
and makes breakfast and prepares lunches,
She would do it for the nanny, too, if we could afford one.
She has a grasp of the real estate market;
and she buys some land where we can grow our own crops.
She works out regularly
and boy, do her arms look good!
She always checks that what she buys is of good quality,
and remembers to pay the electric and hydro bills.
She gets out the sewing machine,
and makes that last-minute school play pumpkin costume.
She always remembers charity work,
yeah, she gives to people all the time.
She doesn’t worry about the snow,
because she makes sure all the winter clothes and boots are in top shape.
She likes to engage in hobbies;
her clothes look really good, too.
Everyone knows her husband,
even when he sits with really important people.
She makes all sorts of things and sells them, too,
and has a nice home-operated business.
She radiates with confidence and dignity;
one day, she’ll be rejoicing for eternity.
She says very wise things,
but she is also governed by kindness.
She keeps a keen eye on her family,
and is no couch potato.
Her children say, “My Mom is awesome!”
Her husband says, “There are some good woman out there
but you are the best!”
You can never really trust charm,
and beauty doesn’t last,
But a woman who respects and follows the Lord is really something.
Reward her for what she does,
and praise her efforts, for she deserves it.

(Proverbs 31:10-1, New Cait Gordon Version.  Read the actual verses and compare!)

Years ago I read Captivating by Staci Eldredge, and her quick-glance opinion of the Proverbs 31 woman was, “When does she have time to read a book?” ¹  I would have to agree in principle, and I feel that these verses can be grossly misinterpreted.  So, let me share what I believe about them:

God doesn’t want us ladies to be run ragged.  He just wants us to use all the gifts and faculties He’s given us!

What is beautiful about the Proverbs 31 woman is that she is not some pitiful and docile servant in the corner of her house.  Solomon chooses his words carefully, because Someone is feeding him those words: a wife of a noble character, or, a wife of a virtuous character.  This entire passage is about what’s going on in a woman’s heart, mind, and soul.  So, let’s look at her character for a moment.

• It’s worth considerably more than what any man considers valuable.
• It’s trustworthy.
• It’s abundantly caring.
• It’s teeming with goodness.
• It’s resourceful.
• It’s organized and on top of things.
• It’s giving.
• It’s shrewd.
• It’s strong, confident, and carries itself with honour.
• It’s forward-thinking.
• It’s not lazy.
• It’s wise.
• It’s kind.
• It’s praised.

Any woman can be these things. Sadly, we women are constantly comparing ourselves with other women and often feel that we fall short of the mark.  Remember that this is not a competition to see which one of us will hit the grave earlier from stress and over-work! We need to stop doing so much, and start focusing on who we are.  Who is the woman God created when He made you?  How did He design your character?

Have we forgotten ourselves so completely because we’re so busy?

Since when does busyness equal having a great personality and a soul in a right frame of mind? Wake up, girlfriends! The Proverbs 31 woman figures out what is best for her entire household—that includes her!  It doesn’t matter if there are two people in it, like with Bruce and me, or if you have five children.  Ask God to show you how to care for your family without killing yourself. Because you don’t have to have a lot of children to burn out.  Even single women can pile their plates to the brim!

The Proverbs 31 woman is wise and shrewd and kind.  Hmmm, I know a man who came to this earth who was the same.  Jesus was also these things.  So, perhaps without even realizing it, Solomon is teaching women to follow Christ’s example.  One thing about Jesus was that He loved women and loved to stick up for them.  It’s doesn’t surprise me then that the Spirit is speaking to Solomon about all the things that a woman can be.  God is trying to free us from bondage by writing these verses.  He’s in effect saying:

• I gave you a sharp mind? Then be sharp!
• I gave you wisdom? Then be wise!
• I gave you organizational skills? Then be organized!
• I gave you kindness? Then be kind!
• I gave you craft skills? Then use them!
• I gave you Myself? Then follow Me!

In my church we have women who are scientists, technologists, nurses, teachers, managers, real estate agents, consultants, and who knows what else? We have women with spiritual gifts of shepherding, prophecy, compassion, teaching, preaching, and who knows what else?  We have women who are girlfriends, wives, mothers, sisters…only God knows the breadth of all these amazing ladies.  He didn’t just create Eve and say, “Behold, I have made a woman.  All women will look exactly like her and behave exactly like her!” The Lord isn’t that small-minded.  He is the Creator, so He is creative with His lady designs!

This week, ladies, I encourage you to look at your lives and see where you might be lacking in character, not in your to-do list…unless you have “Look at my character,” on that list! Men reading this, take the time to think about your wife or girlfriend.  How does her character compare with the Proverbs 31 woman? (If she compares well, then you’d better shower her with praise before she wakes up to you. If she doesn’t, I would say nothing if I were you.  Especially if you can’t cook. )

Women, you’ve been designed with unique personalities, but under a certain character.  Let God show you who that amazing lady is! Go and be a P to the 3 to the 1!  Hollah!

(Sorry, I’ve been watching too much Tyler Perry lately.)

^{1.Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul John Eldredge, Stasi Eldredge Thomas Nelson / 2007}

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS DEVOTIONAL!

Last week, I was excited [...]]]>

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heartbrings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO THIS DEVOTIONAL!

Last week, I was excited about renovating our basement.  I worked 14 hours the on the weekend with painting and an untold amount of hours creating artwork, arranging items in the room, and giving it a good scrub. Oh, my aching back.  But the room looks really nice!

My temper does get the better of me, though. (What, the Irish have temper issues?  NEVER!)  Anyway, I nearly ruined the paint job with the blue language that came out of me as I started to get fatigued and sore.  My original enthusiasm was turning to impatience, as I put more and more hours into this project.  Yesterday, I had to repair my electronic drum-kit, because the bolts were loosened on the rack and by this time, my muscles were a mess.  I was swearing and cursing a storm.

The interesting thing is that I had gone downstairs to fix my kit because I wanted to practice on it for worship.  I am on a roster of musicians at our church and while I normally play bass guitar, this year I’m having an adventure and am playing drums. Because I am new at it, I like to have a lot of time to practice, so I grab the songs as early as I can and faithfully hit the drum pads.

Anyway, I was wearing my iPod and the worship songs were playing in my ears while I was livid with my really heavy drum rack falling everywhere.  And something neat happened.  My mouth stopped spewing profanities and instead started singing along with the worship music.  I stopped singing the melody and instead made up harmonies, and this is how I continued on in my assembly work.

My heart was filled with praising God, so that’s what came out of my mouth!

Jesus says that whatever we stuff into our hearts will exit our lips.  I shoved pain, fatigue, and impatience in there, and out came cursing.  I shoved music dedicated to God, and out came worship.

What are we putting in our hearts on a regular basis?

You must have heard a thousand times the story of how a person who never swears and starts working in an environment where everyone does and next thing you know, that person has a foul mouth.  The defense is always, “I can’t help it.  I hear it all around me every day.”  We think it’s no excuse, but really, it’s a tough one.  Humans are so adaptable.  We were designed that way so we could survive in every land on this earth.  The pitfall is that we can be culturally influenced very easily. That’s where we need to take extra measures to protect what’s in our heart.

Years ago I was a consultant in a place where someone was no fan of Christians.  It became obvious to me after awhile that he must have been hurt by the church when he was young, and he was also basing his loathing on radicals, who do not reflect who Jesus is.  I think I coped in that environment because in church, I was surrounded by a strong community of kind and solid believers.  Their faith and support gave me faith to keep my relationship with God active, so I could go into the office and face that poor soul.  One day, as he was really ranting, I wrote him a message so it would pop up on his screen while he was talking to someone.  It read something like, “This Eric Claption fan is also a born-again Christian.”  (You see, we often had talks of classic rock bands that we liked.)  He was floored because my personality did not reflect the stereotypes that he had encountered, and we had a good long chat about my faith—what was true, and what was false.  He still respected me after that and did not treat me with any sort of disdain.

My heart was filled with the strength of God’s Spirit and the love of His people.  That’s why what came out of my heart was compassion and tenderness, and not anger and defensiveness.

Lately, though, I must confess that I am recovering from a terrible hurt.  For some reason it seems like the theme of this year was Let’s Treat Cait with Heaps of Disrespect.  As a result, my heart is jam-packed with painful memories, anger, resentment, and sorrow.  I am having a difficult time mending from this heart-break.

My heart is teeming with sadness, so bitterness is coming out of my mouth.

When you think about me, send God up a prayer for my healing.  It’s no easy task to move forward when your heart has been walloped.  Thankfully, I am taking inventory of the still-loving people in my life, and this painful experience is forcing me to see faithful relationships that I didn’t realize were there.  It’s also helping me form new relationships with kind and loving souls.  I know with God’s help, I’ll be OK.  For now, it’s also OK to acknowledge the state of my heart as it is, and let Him be the heart surgeon.  (As I said last week, let’s not whitewash anything.  Let’s keep it real. That’s how we heal.)

This week, take a look at your life and note what you are shoving into every corner of your heart.  Reflect on how it affects what you say and how you say it. What Christ says is very true—from the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak.

I pray that our lips spew the fruit of His Spirit: kindness, joy, love, self-control, goodness, faithfulness, patience, peace, and gentleness. This doesn’t mean you have to only speak rainbows and fluffy bunnies, but even when you rebuke and admonish, as God leads you, do it out of love and the desire to encourage.

Peter tells us to speak as if we are saying exactly words that God has given us (1 Peter 4:11). You might have to pause after you’ve said something, and check yourself.  It’s OK to correct yourself at that moment and rephrase your sentiment the way God would expect of you. After awhile, as you’re filling your heart to the brim with His love, you’ll just naturally speak as if He’s doing all the talking.

What’s in your heart this week?  If it’s of God, then keep its contents.  If not, then ask Him to help you remove the clutter.

May your words reflect a heart and soul that is at peace, under all circumstances, because you know Who loves you without fail.

“Haven’t you fantasized sheer nonsense? Aren’t your sermons tissues of lies, saying ‘God says…’ when I’ve done nothing of the kind? Therefore—and this is the Message of God, the Master, remember—I’m dead set against prophets who substitute illusions for visions and use sermons to tell lies. I’m going [...]]]> New! You can listen to today’s devotional!

“Haven’t you fantasized sheer nonsense? Aren’t your sermons tissues of lies, saying ‘God says…’ when I’ve done nothing of the kind? Therefore—and this is the Message of God, the Master, remember—I’m dead set against prophets who substitute illusions for visions and use sermons to tell lies. I’m going to ban them from the council of my people, remove them from membership in Israel, and outlaw them from the land of Israel. Then you’ll realize that I am God, the Master.

“The fact is that they’ve lied to my people. They’ve said, ‘No problem; everything’s just fine,’ when things are not at all fine. When people build a wall, they’re right behind them slapping on whitewash. Tell those who are slapping on the whitewash, ‘When a torrent of rain comes and the hailstones crash down and the hurricane sweeps in and the wall collapses, what’s the good of the whitewash that you slapped on so liberally, making it look so good?’ (Ezekiel 13:9-11, The Message)

Tomorrow, Bruce and I have a painting project.  We’re trying to turn our basement studio-office into an urban loft design.  I’m pretty excited about it.  It will be hard work, but fun togetherness time.

I love when rooms are newly painted.  You get the feeling that your house is completely different, just with changing its colour.  It really gives me a lift to see how the artwork stands out against the walls, and how the light changes the atmosphere, depending on what time of day it is.  My moods are very influenced by colour—probably because I am a bit of a fashionista—and I really get into every aspect of redesigning a space.

Of course, even the nicest colour needs to rest on a sturdy surface.  What’s the use of painting something if it’s just going to topple down at the next second?

The Bible mentions “whitewashing” several times.  It’s always used in a negative context.  The LORD tells Ezekial that whenever someone tries to bring up an obstacle or truth, the priests just cover it over in whitewash.  “Everything’s fine, pay no attention to the wars or famine, or poverty that’s heading our way…or the true prophets that are warning us…we’ve done nothing wrong and all will be well soon.”

Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are like “whitewashed” tombs, which look pristine on the outside, but are filled on the inside with everything that is dead and unclean (Matthew 23:27).

Paul says to the high priest, “God will get you, whitewashed wall!” because Ananias had given the order to strike Paul, which was against the law (Acts 23:2-4).

When you slap white paint on an object, it just seems to glow and give the presentation of absolute cleanliness.  It looks like you can eat off it.  You feel it’s completely devoid of anything that can cause harm.  People can be like that, too.  They can groom their hair and face a certain way, they can wear the right clothes, and they can carry out a certain manner relating to an affluent social class.  We look at them and think, “Well, there is a professional,” or, “That is a trust-worthy sort.”

In James 3:1, James writes that we should not all presume to be teachers, because they are judged more harshly.  I feel for priests, because they must have a lot of pressure on them to live up to a certain standard.  Yet, they are only human, too, and subject to the same temptations as anyone else.  Did the Pharisees start out with good intentions and then get corrupted by a lust for power and status?  Even Paul was so zealous for keeping the law that he completely missed the truth of Jesus until the Lord Himself confronted him on the road to Damascus!  As a priest or teacher, does the adoration and admiration lure you away from what is right?  Will you do anything to keep your position?  Are you adding another coat of paint on the surface so that people will continue to believe anything you say?  And all the while,  are your sins  mounting up inside your soul because you have not sought forgiveness?

You don’t even have to be a priest to whitewash yourself.  We do it all the time; each one has at one time or another  hidden behind a painted wall that’s crumbling.  Why are we so afraid to say that our wall needs reinforcing, the gaps and cracks need to be filled, and the rough edges need to be smoothed?  We need to stand firm before we can add decoration on the surface. 

Our outside should embellish what’s on the inside—it should not cover up what’s on the inside!

If we cannot see that our soul is about to collapse, then we must listen to people who can see it.  Who were the prophets but people who were chosen by God to give that message?  Do you think God wants to see us fall away from Him?  He will give warning—many warnings, actually.  If we do not hear and obey these warnings, then nothing in our outwardly appearance will save us.  The Lord is absolutely not dazzled by our paint jobs.  He cannot be distracted from what is going on in your heart and soul.  He always sees that first.

This week, challenge yourself to look for personal evidence of whitewashing.  Do you:

• Hide behind a smile when you are suffering?
• Refrain from telling the truth, and just say a pleasantry instead?
• Tell yourself  and others that everything is fine, and block out what’s bothering you?
• Pressure yourself to behave perfectly when you know there is a sin or habit that you need to confront?
• Refuse to listen to loved ones who are urging you to change a destructive behaviour?
• Live under fear of being ‘found out’ that you are not what you seem on the outside?

Remember, Jesus DIED for you.  For you!  Insert your name here!  The Lord loves you more than you can ever imagine.  God sees and knows every single thing about you.  That should comes as a relief, not a stress—to know that there is nothing hidden and He STILL loves you.  God wants you to be free and live the life He’s offered you.  His plans for you are good.  You don’t have to be afraid of Him.  He wants to help you.  Pray to Him, seek Him out and the people He’s sent to you—friends, family, pastors, professionals—and let God help you reconstruct your spirit.

As you are healing, you won’t need whitewashing.  Your joy will be what’s shining on the surface. And it will be more radiant than any painting!