The human brain fascinates me. I observed its development as my babies learned to talk, walk and eventually drive away. Oswald Chambers' quote recently challenged me to consider the brain from a new perspective:
“God does not give us the mind of Christ. He gives us the Spirit of Christ, and we have to see that the Spirit of Christ in us works through our brains in contact with actual life and that we form His mind.” *
A well-crafted phrase intrigues me. It also helps me think new thoughts. Here’s one from a new-to-me resource, The Love of God, a small book from the Oswald Chambers Library:
“Watch the circumstances of life. We get them fairly well mixed, and if we are getting fairly well more than enough of one kind, let us thank God for it. It is producing the particular grace God wants us to manifest.” *
Having an undivided heart recently became a goal of mine. What does that even mean? I decided to earnestly seek answers from God.
How many times have I anguished over my “self-image”? I can be my own worst critic. I am not pretty enough, ambitious enough, good enough, smart enough. What must God think? Where did it all begin?
Sometimes you could describe me as “rebellious.” I love nothing more than a good walk around the neighborhood talking to God, but when a Bible Study book instructed me to do so, I had little enthusiasm. I liked it better when it was my own idea.
When I saw his face, I pitied him. I noticed he sat in a corner and I could not help but wonder what had happened to him. I wish I could say it was total compassion I felt, but curiosity had something to do with it too. Little did I know how my feeling toward him would change!
On a recent trip to a car wash I tried to tip the young man who washed the baked-on bugs off of people’s vehicles before they passed through the wash. His response totally caught me by surprise.
“No mam! This is my job! It’s what I do!” He made this statement with a huge smile on his face and in all sincerity. I totally believed him.
The Letter of Jude is quite a read. It is one of the shortest books in the Bible—one chapter with twenty-eight verses—but verse for verse, it packs a punch.
When these words are given at the end of a service you are attending, remember that you are being blessed by some of the oldest words in Scripture. The Aaronic blessing, the oldest benediction in the Bible, was spoken over the people of Israel at the end of the daily sacrifice.
For most of my life, I have preferred to read non-fiction books. In the last few years, however, I have become a fan of mystery novels. Since I read them mostly for relaxation, I prefer those without complicated sub-plots or multiple minor characters to keep track of.
In Psalm 11:3, David asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” and these days of upheaval and outrageousness in the most foundational of our country’s institutions, a lot of Christians are asking the same question.
Historical scholars would tell you that our present turmoil is nothing exceptional. What is truly unusual is the era of peace and prosperity that most of us have experienced as our norm.
In one way, all of Scripture is both good and true as well as “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
And, as most of us will testify, these benefits of Scripture have saved, guided and protected us on more than one occasion.
But there are special passages called benedictions that are some of the most powerful and beautiful passages in Scripture.
Usually when I start something new, there is… training.
Typically, it is from someone who has been there before me.
And often, I am very thankful for the training.
But it can be a challenge for both the trainee… and the trainer.
Life with Jesus is like a puzzle.
There are all these pieces to life… but they don’t always make sense alone.
Walking through fields of beautiful flowers… amazing!
I don’t have to know much about gardening to enjoy it… thankfully.
I know that if mixed correctly, flowering plants, dirt, sun, water, time… out comes beautiful flowers!
God does the growing!
I don’t have to know all the details of how… I can just be amazed by the results.
Baby steps are so cute!
Little pudgy feet, wobbly, trying to move forward… step by step.
But think about spiritual steps… of the baby… of the mature.
As I think about what mine looks like, what about you?
Am I growing?
This is a good question to ask yourself.
Just like a flower growing up tall in the bright sunshine… in Jesus I grow too.
But are you?
A cruise may be a relaxing get-away, but the months of preparation before you step onboard are strenuous. I didn’t expect so many hoops to have to jump through. Getting a passport, adding four smartphone apps, completing applications, and coordinating port requirements took many hours of concentrated work.
“That’s the way life goes.”
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
These responses are used to explain events in life that are beyond our control. Somehow, saying these idioms, makes undesirable occurrences more easily accepted or excused. However, these overused catch phrases allow compromise and ignore God’s involvement.
The new widow entered the sanctuary alone. I walked behind her. Her young daughters were already seated with my two teens. As I followed her to the front-row pew, an unexpected thought caught me off-guard. Walk alongside the grieving widow and hold her hand.
