Even if...

Even if…such a powerful phrase.  Too often as we go about our daily lives, we can identify circumstances that allow us to quite easily be the hands and feet of Jesus.  You know, when the elderly gentleman in the grocery store drops his keys – we smile to ourselves, bend down quickly and gently hand him the keys. 

Or the coworker you sit beside 40 hours a week comes into the office on a Monday morning completely broken.  After 20 years of marriage her husband has left home for a woman half her age.  Giving encouraging words and walking alongside her is our “Christian” duty.  That’s an easy one for us.

Even the sweet old lady that parked her car in two parking spots causing us a bit of inconvenience is typically overlooked on one of our “good” days…we just smile and park a bit further away. 
You see, it’s really not difficult for me to encourage those that I determine “deserve” encouragement.  To walk alongside those who haven’t hurt me, misled me, wronged me or stabbed me in the back – well that’s a piece of cake.  But there are others, and if I’m honest, I think they just don’t “deserve” my kindness, my joy, my love, my encouragement or my time.

Oh, you have them too…those “others”…you know, the husband that apparently has the inability to complete the seemingly simple task of putting his dirty socks in the laundry basket after 8 years of marriage?  Or the brother that just “forgets” you exist and you can’t seem to make it right?  Or maybe it’s the mom who’s always defending your sister whose life is a complete wreck?  It could be the coworker that just got the job that you were entitled? 

BUT GOD…There is always a BUT GOD…

You see scripture reminds me that “even if” it doesn’t make sense, “even if” I don’t understand, “even if” things aren’t going the way I want them to, “even if” I’m afraid, forgotten, abandoned or mistreated…God is still in control. 

In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar: 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.   If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

You see, they knew something we need to remember today…God sees us, He has a plan and purpose for us, and His plans are never, ever dependent on what others may or may not do to us…or for us.
Friends, today, no matter how you may feel…even if you feel there’s been an injustice against you… even if you go home and find several pairs of dirty socks you need to pick up and put in the laundry… even if   you’re called to help train the person that was hired for your position…..let’s do what Jesus has called us to do….let’s do good… even if…

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

Let’s do what’s right… even if you suffer…

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.  (1 Peter 3:14)

Let’s submit to the authority in our lives – whether it’s our husband, or our supervisor…. even if…

You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. (1 Peter 2:18)

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over.  (1 Peter 3:1)

Let’s trust Him… even if you’re afraid…

Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. (Psalm 27:3)

Let’s trust Him… even if you’re wronged…

Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:4)

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1 Peter 2:12)

What is your even if today?

But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. (Philippians 2:17)

Hope After Death

Death – noun \ˈdeth\ : the end of life : the time when someone or something dies

It’s such a cold word…death.  There is so much finality to it.  It’s the end.  Nothing is ever the same after the death of someone you love.  It's as if your whole world stops revolving for a while.  Emotions run rampant.  Fear.  Sadness.  Loneliness.  Hurt.  Pain.  

In the cold, dark moments of losing someone we love through death, too often, grieving and pain and tears often overshadow everything we've ever known.  Whether death creeps in slowly after years of pain, incredible suffering, heart wrenching memory loss and a lifetime of disease; or suddenly and unexpectedly snatches our sister or husband or grandpa or child … the agony of losing someone you love can be almost unbearable. 

And yet…even in the depths of the most excruciating loss, there is hope.  How do I know?  I’ve been there.  Perhaps you have too.

You see, the scripture says:

 "We do not grieve as those who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13b)

Who are those who have no hope?  Well, for a while that was me…I had no hope…I had put all my hope in things of this world.  You see my hope was resting on my mama and my daddy...they loved me, had my best interest at heart, nurtured me, disciplined me...and yet, they left me.  Not intentionally.  They didn't want to leave.  Yet, they failed me.  They abandoned me.  You see, death shattered my world.  Just about 18 months apart...they left me.  And I grieved as  someone who had no hope…. everything I was clinging to was.....gone.

BUT GOD….

In the darkness of my grieving and the profound sorrow that saturated every fiber of my life, I saw a tiny sliver of hope…Jesus.

You see everything in this life will pass away, but Jesus remains.  And He promises that in Hebrews 13:5:

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Not only will He never leave you…He is close, and He is recording every sorrow and collecting every tear.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)

“You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.”  (Psalm 56:8) 

So, today, if you are grieving the loss of someone you love dearly, perhaps they were your whole wide world…cry out to Jesus.  He’s waiting for you…He will meet you just where you are and carry you through this dark valley.  He promises us this:

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.”  (Isaiah 46:4)

Friend, the heartache is real, the pain is intense and the nights may seem like an eternity.  But this too shall pass, for He says:

“Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” (Psalm 30:5)

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Familiarity. Breeds. Contempt.  These words have invaded my thoughts for the last several days. 

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy defines this phrase as:  The better we know people, the more likely we are to find fault with them.

Me? Finding fault?  Probably. Honestly, yes.  Too often lately.

Today, I read the following scripture:

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.  The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”  Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.  Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”  And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.  (Mark 6:1-6, emphasis mine)

Do you see that?  It says “He’s JUST a carpenter…”  Just a carpenter?  Isn’t this the One who healed the lepers, made the blind to see, the lame to walk, fed over 5,000 with 5 fish and 2 loaves??  Yet those in his own hometown, who knew him since he was knee-high, said he was JUST carpenter.

Yet, don’t we do the same thing?  When I first got married, my husband was the icing on the cake…sweetest thing this side of heaven.  Yet, as the days dragged on, the kids clamored for attention, the bills piled up…yeah, he was JUST a husband…

And what about my job…you know, the one I was soooooo excited to have.  I couldn’t believe I finally got THE job.  As I got familiar with the routine, got a little more familiar with my supervisor, worked a little closer with my coworkers…suddenly it wasn’t THE job…it was JUST a job…and I dreamed of something better.

Oh, and let’s not forget about church.  You know, the one that I couldn’t believe how awesome the service was and how “real” the pastor was and what a difference I was seeing in my personal life and the lives of those in my family and community because THE church was there – MY church?  Yet as I got a little comfortable, sitting closer to the leadership, getting to know people better, I can find fault in nearly every service.  The music wasn’t that good, the pastor told the same jokes, nobody spoke to me today…you know how it goes…and now it’s not THE church…it’s JUST a church.  And if I’m not careful I won’t stay planted….

Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  (Psalm 92:13)

Don’t look at me like that…you know you have those thoughts too.  You know you have some contempt for something in your life that is too familiar….

Oh but how this has pierced my own heart as I’ve pondered the scripture today.  I found that I’ve become too familiar with too many things in my life…too comfortable…allowing contempt to creep into the everyday.

So how do I respond now that I’ve identified this dark haze of contempt for the familiar that has clouded my view?  Cry out to Jesus. Because in my weakness, He is strong...and today, this is my weakness.

His word says:  Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. (Psalm 119:18)

My prayer today is simple:  Jesus, let me see ALL things new today…to see the wonder in all of Your creation and not just your creation.  Let nothing in my life be too familiar.