The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.                                                                                                                                             John 1:5

A couple of years ago I posted the beginning of a story of a very trying drive from Louisville, KY, to Manistee, MI – or as my husband Marty called it, “the road trip from hell.” Included in the package were heavy rains, holiday traffic, long waits because of accidents and construction, and finally, a flat tire, and a car packed to the gills that had to be unpacked to get to the spare – all after having had just four hours’ sleep the night before, with a dog that loudly refused to let me nap at the “rest stops.”

Although it took me twelve hours to make a trip that should have taken eight, there was one detail that was a definite “God moment.” It was tucked into the story, much as the moment itself was tucked into a steady stream of frustration, and I was surprised that for the most part, virtually all of the many people who saw the post missed it. Every response I got for the first 24 hours was one of mutual griping about “Murphy’s Law” and well-meaning people expressing their sympathy. This got me thinking… Do we usually get so focused on all the negatives that we miss those little moments of awesomeness that God drops into our lives? Well, I almost did. Here’s “the rest of the story,” which I posted the next day:

When I was sitting in my car with the flat tire in a parking lot outside a bar and grill in the rain, waiting for AAA to call me back and texting Marty to keep him updated on what was happening – or rather what was NOT happening – I became aware that I had been joined by a very BAD attitude. I was also reminded that I had asked God to do something with me that day, as I didn’t want to be just heading for another vacation. (Vacations are pleasant, but, shall we say, not always an adventure?) I realized I was in the middle of an adventure, and if I didn’t lose the attitude I might miss a “divine appointment” of some kind. So I consciously ditched the attitude, thanked God (out loud) for whatever He was going to do, and went inside to wait.

There was a couple sitting waiting, too, and I eventually became aware that they were not waiting for a table but for help with THEIR car. They had locked their keys inside it – in the same place I had got the flat. Hmmm… I also noticed that the husband was wearing a t-shirt with an intriguing message on it, followed by a scripture reference, so I asked him about it. What ensued was a very enjoyable (exciting) conversation with the two of them about what was going on in our lives and how awesome God is. I ended up very glad I had met them, especially when the couple that came to get their car open said they were available to change my tire, too.

I decided 90 minutes was enough to wait for a response from AAA, so I employed this couple. While he changed the tire, she did the paperwork, and we got into a conversation about other things. Long story short, she is an avid reader and left with a copy of my first novel, Counselor. I may never know the results, but I’m happier believing that all that was supposed to happen than I would have been sitting in my car stewing over things I had no control over.

Next time you’re stranded where you don’t want to be, with inconveniences piling up and frustration building into the attitude from hell, STOP. PRAY. Take a deep breath, and look around you. God is up to something. (And I’d love to hear what happens!)

(By the way, that “God Moment” that almost everyone missed at my first telling of the story came at about 1:30 A.M., when I was about thirty minutes from my final destination. The sleep deprivation, coupled with this unexpectedly trying twelve-hour solo drive was taking its toll, and even singing along to lively music at top volume was beginning to lose its effect. At one point I felt what seemed like a hand on my shoulder giving me a gentle shake, and my head jerked up, as I realized with a start that I had been dozing off. That final surge of adrenaline was enough to get me the rest of the way home. (Disclaimer: I do NOT recommend taking a long road trip alone and sleep deprived!)

Prayer: Lord, give us Your perspective, even when it seems to be buried in the negativity around us. Rather than being “under the circumstances,” help us to rise above them, in Your name, and for Your glory. Amen.

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”                                                                                                                 John 21:21-22

For a long time I had a scrap of paper in my guitar case that I had cut out of a magazine as a personal reminder. It said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” My guitar case seemed a good place for it, as I have on more than one occasion let my mood be dampened by perceiving that someone else was a better guitarist, better singer, or better songwriter than I was. That scrap of paper was lost years ago, (There are also a good number of people more organized than I am.) but I am hopeful that my attitude has improved over time and I no longer need a tangible reminder.

The “What-about-him?” syndrome is indeed an effective way to suck all the joy out of one’s day. Martha and her sister Mary are one of several examples in Scripture.

These sisters had the honor of frequently hosting Jesus and His disciples in their home. On one occasion Martha, the overachiever, was doing her thing and stressing out over the preparations. We don’t know what Mary had done earlier that day, but apparently when Jesus arrived, she felt it was time to sit at His feet and just soak in His words and His presence. Now Martha could have chosen to do the same thing. Although evidently not everything was ready, Jesus made it clear that Martha was trying to do too much, that only a few things were necessary – or only one. (I have read that in those days most meals consisted of just one dish, but I imagine Martha was aiming toward something closer to a six-course meal. Perhaps misguided zeal had made her too eager to impress.)

The final factor in Martha’s having her joy stolen was the comparison between herself and her sister – I’m doing all the work, and she’s just sitting there! I suppose Mary could have spoiled her own mood as well, had she thought, Martha’s got all this lovely food to give Jesus, and I’m just sitting here. He’s going to love her more than me! But Mary’s attention was not on her sister, it was on Jesus, as it should have been. And if Jesus had wanted to be served, He had only to ask Mary. (After all, she was the one who was right there and didn’t need to be flagged down.)

In Luke 15:25-32, the brother of the “Prodigal Son” let comparison ruin what should have been a joyous occasion – his long-lost brother had come home! He could have enjoyed the celebration, but instead he only saw that his brother had blown his inheritance and got a party, while he had stayed home and worked for his father and didn’t get a party! I’m guessing that’s not exactly true. The father told him, “Everything I have is yours,” (vs 31) which tells me (1) he will not be splitting his inheritance with his brother again, and (2) he could have had a party any time he wanted to.

At the end of John’s gospel Jesus hinted that Peter would glorify Him in death, and what kind of death that would be. Peter immediately looked at John and said “What about him?” Jesus replied that it was none of his business, Peter’s job was to follow Him.

What is it about human nature that makes us want to compare? If the comparison puts us on top, we can easily get sucked into the sin of pride. On the other hand, if we see ourselves at the bottom, we can get resentful and depressed and not want to make the most of the gifts and opportunities we do have. Either way, we lose, so why play the game?

The Body of Christ is not a competition, it is an organism of a vastly diverse members, and when each one fulfills his or her calling, the work can get done, and we can all rejoice together. It’s not a matter of who’s in a better place, but being faithful where God has put us. Instead of looking around at everyone else, let’s just look at Jesus. I think we would all be happier.

Prayer: Dear Lord, if we are honest with ourselves, we see that none of us deserve the love and blessings You have showered on us. No amount of wealth, status, talents, or popularity could give us what we can only have through a pure love relationship with You. Help us to get our minds off the comparisons and just serve You in the ways in which You have called each of us, for in that we find true joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”                                                                                                                                    —  Jesus (Matthew 7:6)

Well, it happened again. A know-it-all type declared war on Christians on social media, declaring that there’s “absolutely no proof” for the Resurrection of Jesus.

Just in case this was merely an uninformed person with an open mind, I took the bait. I politely pointed out that if by “proof” she meant scientific proof, she was right. No one-time event like the Resurrection – or any historical event, for that matter – could be “proven” scientifically. That would involve being able to watch the event being repeated in a laboratory. One determines what happened in the distant past using historical evidence, such as artifacts, fossils, and written records. In the case of a crime, one looks at legal evidence, such as the presence of a weapon, fingerprints, and through logical reasoning, such as whether or not there was a motive. But you can’t duplicate a murder to decide who’s guilty. And you can’t create another Julius Caesar to reenact history.

Soon others were chiming in on the discussion, stating that there was no evidence that Jesus even existed. (Really?) I read with interest as some of the most well educated people I know responded with reason, logic, and clarity, only to be answered with the usual canards taught in the state-run schools. To their credit, no one resorted to name-calling in this one. (Yes, I have been in another discussion where I was called an “ignorant troll” by someone I have never met.) But after searching in vain for any sign of an open mind, it wasn’t long before I was voicing my realization that “we are coming to different conclusions, so I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.” And I went on to other things.

There’s enough evidence, both historical and legal, regarding the Resurrection of Jesus to convince anyone willing to look at the facts objectively. Such intellectually honest people have included Lee Strobel, investigative reporter (The Case for Christ); J. Warner Wallace, homicide detective (Cold Case Christianity); Josh McDowell, law student (Evidence that Demands a Verdict); and C. S. Lewis, history professor at Oxford and Cambridge (Mere Christianity).

I love a good, honest debate with open-minded and educated people, but as the great theologian Mick Jagger has said, “You can’t always get what you want,” and I have no desire to argue for the sake of arguing. Those times I have been sucked into the social mud have only left me frustrated, angry, and profoundly sad for the person who has closed his mind to the existence of the God who loves him.

Jesus told us to go forth into the world and share the gospel, and this is both our duty and our privilege. Converts have come from some very unexpected places, and we owe it to them and to the Savior who loves them to try to reach them. But Jesus knew that there were, and still are, those who hate us for our faith and will stir up a fight simply for the fun of seeing us get upset. These people can all too easily be used by our enemy to drain us of our time and energy, so that we have nothing left to give to the people who are open to the Gospel. The arguers may or may not be won over to Christ at some future time, but for now we have the Lord’s permission to walk away from them, shake the dust off our feet, and devote our time and energies to those who want to hear our good news.

One last thought: Even if we were to win a battle of words over biblical truths, that is no guarantee that our opponents will be saved. People come to the Lord because the Spirit draws them, not because they lost a debate. So pray for discernment. I believe the Holy Spirit will let you know when it’s time to “agree to disagree” and calmly walk away, with your joy intact and your faith unshaken. Besides, you can still pray for those people – and they can’t stop you from doing that.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your incredible gift of eternal life. We are overwhelmed by Your grace, and we desire to spread the word to anyone and everyone. Help us not to get sidetracked trying to sow seed into hard ground. Give us discernment and lead us to those whose hearts are open, that we may share salvation where and when You desire.  In Jesus’ precious name. Amen

 

 

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.     Isaiah 64:6a

I don’t do windows.

Well, every few years I try. There will be that bright sunny morning when the light is streaming in, and the need for cleaning is so obvious, I grab the window cleaner, spray bottle, rags, paper towels, and squeegee and get to work. Two or three hours later I throw in the towel (and everything on it) and once more promise myself, never again!

Every summer we go to the house in Michigan that my grandparents built it in the 1940s. It was elegant then and it is still elegant now. Forty-six years ago, my husband Marty and I got married there, and two years ago our youngest daughter was married there. The house has French provincial architecture, fireplaces, a bay window, and French doors that open onto a patio overlooking the lake.

It also has windows that have had a curse put on them. Or maybe it’s just the paint on the frames that dissolves every time any liquid touches it… Each magical little pane is specially made to get dirtier the more it’s wiped. After several attempts at cleaning, the glass will go from mildly dirty to ridiculously streaked on the outside – when you’re looking out. Of course, when you’re outside looking in, all you see are the streaks that are inside. I have on occasion treated the job like an Olympic event, “the Window Sprint” – Can I run outside and get that streak off before I forget where it is? Pretty soon I’m streaked too, with sweat and dirt, and breathless with exasperation. No gold medal here.

(Now please don’t write and tell me how you clean your windows. Believe me, I’ve heard the advice, all about vinegar and newspapers and yada-yadda-yadda… I’ve tried it all.)

A few years ago, we put our house in Port Huron up for sale, and one of the many jobs that needed to be done was … clean the windows. [Insert scary horror movie music here.] When a perfectly gorgeous day came up and I had absolutely nothing on my schedule, there was no excuse to put off the job, however desperately I wished for one.

I was delightfully surprised to find the job was not only effective but surprisingly fun when it actually worked! I found myself singing as I got into the rhythm -squirt-squeegee-wipe, squirt-squeegee-wipe – and pretty soon I was looking around for more windows to clean. At the end of the day, I was standing in the living room, gazing out at the Lake Huron, relishing the fact that the windows were virtually invisible, and I may as well have been standing outside. >Eureka!<

For some reason I took this to mean I now knew how to clean windows, so when we later went to Portage Lake, one bright, sunny day I confidently grabbed my trusty squeegee and began to make the dining room gorgeous, one little pane at a time, forgetting that these windows were cursed… Two hours, one roll of paper towels, one bottle of Windex, and one tantrum later, there was not one pane that was totally clean. I threw up my hands and yelled “I GIVE UP!” followed by a few other things that were probably inappropriate for a Christian to be saying.

Have you been there? I don’t mean just with windows, but anything that you’ve tried to “fix,” that only gets worse the more you try? As I stood there that day, hot and exhausted, scowling at the streaks blocking the view of the beautiful lake, I figured the only way to get a clear view would be just to break the windows. That’s it! Just take out the pains – er, panes – completely, and the view would be great. Of course, that would have made the house a bit drafty and buggy, so Marty didn’t go for that idea.

It occurred to me that I was looking at a picture of sin. The Bible tells us that ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, all of Mankind has been under the curse of sin. For many people, their lives may seem “good enough.” But then the light of God’s truth shines through, and it becomes painfully obvious that we “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 6:23) The more we look at our sin, the more it bothers us.

So, what do some of us do? We try to clean up our act. Somehow, we think we can make it right on our own, although it should soon be apparent that if we were so capable of doing good, our lives wouldn’t be such a mess in the first place. After trying to make things right, we see that we have failed, and more often than not, our feeble attempts have made the situation worse than ever. At this point we should see that we can’t do this ourselves. But some of us refuse to believe we’re that helpless. So, we try harder, thinking if we could just try hard enough, we’ll finally clean up our lives.

The bottom line is, we can’t fix the mess ourselves. We have only two choices. We can avoid the Light and hope nobody notices the dirt, or we can go to God and ask Him to help us. Fortunately, He can. In fact, He sent His Son, Jesus, to take all our dirt onto Himself. When He died for us, He was taking our sin and nailing it to the Cross, and we never have to be enslaved by it again. He can make our lives clean, and He can shine His light through us. Isn’t it a relief to know we don’t have to try to clean ourselves up?

I haven’t yet figured out how to get Jesus to do my windows for me, but two years ago before our daughter’s wedding, we did hire a professional exorcist – er, window cleaning service. Now when I look out through the crystal-clear glass and remember how it used to be, I know what a mess I would be without Jesus. I’m just grateful that I’m not without Him, and that He was willing to do what was necessary to make me clean, so He could shine His light through me.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in ourselves we are powerless to clean up our own lives. Thank You that You have not left us on our own, but You have shed Your blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, that we can live the lives You want us to live – the lives we truly want. We choose to trust You to shine through us today, in Your power, in Your name. Amen

And my God will meet all your needs, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.                                                    Philippians 13:19

 

I love spending time with Janice. Listening to her is always uplifting, because she sees God’s hand in just about everything, and those things most of us would call “problems” are to her just occasions to wait and see what amazing thing God is going to do.

One of Janice’s daughters had had a mysterious illness for a long time, and recently Janice needed to drive her from Louisville to Zionsville, Indiana, to see a specialist and have some tests done. This was an important matter of prayer for Janice, but she had something else on her heart that was even more pressing.

Janice’s sister in Chicago had recently lost her husband and was depressed. She was also getting up in years and had not yet placed her faith in Christ. Janice wanted very much to go and see her, spend some quality time with her, and tell her one more time about Jesus and His plan of salvation. One of the women at the church had sent this sister a Bible, and Janice was eager to find out whether she had been reading it. She was thinking a trip to Chicago would be wonderful, especially since Zionsville was already halfway there. But she was very short on funds and thought maybe extending the trip and having to stay overnight in the Chicago area would be asking too much … or would it? The answer came through a seemingly unrelated source.

Janice had been getting her dental work done by one of the students at the University of Louisville Dental School, and at the time she had some cavities that needed attention. The dental student called her a few nights before her daughter’s appointment to tell her that it “just so happened” that a fourth year dental student at Midwestern University needed to fix her particular kind of cavities to take his board exams that week. Midwestern University is in Downers Grove, IL – about 35 minutes from Janice’s sister. In order to have Janice there for his exam, the student had offered to put her and her daughter up in a hotel for three nights!

So, Janice’s daughter got to see the specialist, Janice got her tooth fixed, they both got to stay in a nice hotel for three nights, and most importantly, Janice had plenty of time to be with her sister, “planting seeds” and talking to her about the Bible, which her sister said she had been reading.

As if that weren’t enough, the dental student taking the exam gave Janice $200 when he was finished fixing her tooth. (I don’t know about you, but when my dentist fixes a tooth, I have to pay him.) I guess we know where they got the gas money to get home.

Do you have problems? Needs? Instead of doing what comes naturally for so many of us (griping), ask your heavenly Father what His solution is. You may have some great “God stories” in the making.

Prayer: Lord, You are the Creator of the universe, of all that is seen and unseen, all that is beautiful, powerful, mysterious, and fascinating. Forgive us for all the times we were too preoccupied with our “problems” to see Your hand at work. Help us to trust You more, truly believing that all things are working together for our good, because we love You and are called according to Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”                — Jesus  (John 10:10)

 

One of the devil’s tactics that seems especially effective in American circles is the lie that being a Christ-follower is somehow boring. I am sometimes asked by people who spend their weekends at bars and cocktail parties, “So, what do you do for fun?” My response, at least in my mind, is, Are you kidding me? as I try not to burst out laughing. Usually I’ll just smile and answer, “How much time do you have?” (I have a lot of stories.)

I’m not the only one. My friend Janice is another one of those people who could tell “God stories” all day. She will agree with me that when a need arises, it’s not a “problem” so much as an opportunity to see how the Lord is going to show Himself sufficient. The fact that her funds are limited is not a source of complaining on her part, but rather a constant reminder of her dependence on the Lord to meet every need. It also sets the stage for some great testimonies about His resourcefulness and creativity.

When Janice and her two daughters needed a car, their natural response to the need was to ask their heavenly Father for one. Janice prayed that the car would be an SUV, because her dream was to have a job delivering flowers. One of her daughters had prayed that they would get it for a good price – to be specific, free. The other daughter had just prayed for a blue car, because blue was her favorite color.

Meanwhile, the son-in-law of “Amy,” a lady at Janice’s church, was in another part of the state when his car blew a head gasket and was rendered useless. Upon hearing that the car had “died,” Amy loaned him her car to get him to work until he could purchase another car. But since Amy needed to get around, too, she and her husband decided this was as good a time as any to get that new car for Amy that they had been talking about.

A couple of days later, Amy was happily driving her new car. A couple of weeks later, her son-in-law had his new car, which was much better suited for him than the blue SUV he had borrowed from his mother-in-law. Of course, Amy no longer needed her old car, so when they heard from the church that a lady was in need of a car, Amy and her husband were happy to let her take their old one off their hands. They had no idea that “SUV,” “free,” and “blue” were the specific requests Janice and her daughters had presented to their heavenly Father.

Scripture says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) To truly believe that is to see God’s hand in every little detail of our lives. There will be those events and situations we don’t understand, but those occasions give us opportunities to exercise and stretch our faith. On the other hand, if we have a “divine perspective,” we may be surprised at how many details we do understand and see falling into place to meet our needs – and often even our wants. God loves to delight His children.

If you ask me, seeing things from a divine perspective – and telling the “God stories” that follow – is much more fun than drinking – and God’s blessings don’t leave you with a hangover.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for every time we have treated You in a “ho-hum” kind of way, when prayers were looked upon as a chore, and when Your provision went unnoticed. Help us to recognize Your hand in our lives, to tell our “God stories,” and to listen to the stories of others. Help live each day with an excitement that the rest of the world will envy and want. And when they ask, may we be ready to share the Good News boldly with them and see souls added to Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.                                                                                                                                                                       Revelation 19:7

She was a beautiful bride, and I had the privilege of helping her get ready to walk down the aisle. From our little table in the church basement we could hear the music starting and knew that guests were being seated upstairs. I twisted strands of her hair, weaving little white blossoms into the pattern and imagining how lovely the sanctuary must be with thousands of flowers and candles and smiling faces.

The bride stood up and I smoothed her veil. As she stepped away from the table, I lifted her train and let it fall gracefully behind her. Her face was beaming as I handed her the fragrant bouquet. As she started up the stairs, the swishing sound of the train blended with the muffled music, which became momentarily louder as the doors opened to her, then muffled again. I hadn’t been invited to the wedding as a guest, yet I couldn’t have been happier for her.

A moment later I woke up with a song playing in my heart:

“How beautiful the radiant bride,                                                                                                  Who waits for her Groom,                                                                                                         With His light in her eyes..”                                                                                                                                                      (“How Beautiful,” Twila Paris, 1990)

As I lay there smiling and reflecting on the dream, a name came to mind: “Char.”

Char was a delightful lady from our church. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but a few days earlier, doing my volunteer rounds at the hospital, I had been surprised to see her there as a patient. I had not even been aware that she had cancer, but the disease had already reached an advanced stage. I had spent more time in her room that day than the rest of the patients combined, talking about the Lord and sharing fond memories. We had sung songs of worship and prayed together, and later I had prayed with her family in the visitors’ lounge.

Somehow I had a feeling this dream had been about Char.

I can’t say I was surprised when later that day I heard that she had died, although “died” was not the word I would have used. Char’s Big Day had come. Her earthly preparations were finished, and she had gone to meet her Bridegroom – her King! I was not there to witness that happy moment first hand, but I felt I had had the immense privilege of helping her in her final preparations before going to meet Him. Her body had been ravaged by cancer, but none of that mattered now. With her mind focused on Christ, as it always was, a song of praise in her heart, and prayer on her lips, I know that when Jesus appeared to take her to Himself, she was indescribably beautiful to Him.

Prayer: Jesus, we know that when You appear to take Your bride home, everything of this world will fade into nothing. The only thing that will matter is: Are we ready? May we be found waiting expectantly, with Your light in our eyes and our love for You overflowing from our hearts. In Your precious name, Amen.

 

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”                                                                                      Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”                  Romans 12:2

Every year my Arizona sister and I take a “sisterly adventure” in her motor home. The first time I took this mode of travel, it was a little unnerving. As we rode the monstrous vehicle around turns with a mountain blocking our view of what was coming on one side and on the other side a clear view of the edge of the cliff we were on, I was only somewhat reassured to focus on the guardrail. If the brakes were to give out, this strip of metal could be the only thing keeping us from tumbling to our deaths.

Other times we would encounter a “Detour” sign, and suddenly we knew our travel time would be longer that day. But although the sign felt more like an annoying inconvenience than the reassuring guardrail, both were there to protect us and to help us arrive safely at our destination.

We humans travel a lot. We drive from Point A to Point B in our home towns. We visit friends and family in other cities and states. We vacation in exotic places on the other side of the world.

But as much as our physical bodies move, our minds are even more in motion. Our thoughts and imaginations can take us virtually anywhere, and at astonishing speeds. Here’s the problem: Often where we end up is not a good place! Have you ever let your mind wander and suddenly stopped short and wondered, “How did I get here?” Beware of an unbridled imagination!

Paul summed up the truth in one sentence: “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) So, how do we make certain that our minds are controlled by the Spirit and not taking us in the wrong direction – on the path that leads to death?

A good place to start is to ask God for wisdom. James wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) Other advice pertaining to guarding the mind is in I Peter 5:8, 9a: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith …” Being self-controlled can mean not letting your mind wander but keeping it focused where it should be. For someone like me, whose mind seems to go in a dozen places at once, this can be challenging – for me, but not for God. Its’ important for me to pray for the discernment to recognize the enemy’s subtle suggestions that try to creep into the mind, and the moment I am aware that he is “messing with me,” to end the thought by focusing back on God and His word.

Not all of the enemy’s thoughts are obvious, and he is a master of confusion. We can have plans that seem very good and right to us, but we can’t assume that every time our plans are thwarted that it’s the enemy’s doing. We always need to start with the assumption that God knows way more than we do, and that He may have an alternate, or modified plan that will turn out even better.

Is that closed door Satan’s barrier, or is it God’s boundary? Is that limitation Satan’s roadblock, or is it God’s guardrail? Is that delay Satan’s obstacle, or is it God’s speedbump? Is that “sign” Satan’s smoke screen, or is it God’s direction?

I hope that all those questions don’t make the reader more confused than ever. We don’t need to be! At the risk of preaching what I practice, I’d like to share what I pray daily when I commit my mind to the Lord. After I pray this, I simply assume that any “obstacle” is under the control of God’s sovereignty, and that delays mean He’s getting me to slow down and continue to trust Him, on His timetable. I want not only to go where He wants to take me, but to arrive when He wants me to.

Prayer: Lord, You know best. Please take hold of my mind, and take me where You want me to go. Break through the barriers and roadblocks and obstacles of the enemy. Blow away the smokescreens and fake detour signs. Put up Your boundaries, so I will  not stray out of Your will. Put up Your guardrails, to keep me from going off the path and getting hurt. Set out Your speedbumps, so I don’t race ahead and miss something. And direct me with Your Word, so that I will know where to turn to go where You desire. Help me not to run ahead of You and get lost, or drag my feet and lag behind. Keep me in the center of Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”                       Ephesians 6: 10-12, 17

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword …”                                                    Hebrews 4:12a

The dream was short and sweet, its meaning crystal clear.

In the past I have been able to remember a staggering number of dreams – too many. While taking a class in dream interpretation taught by a Christian counselor, I had kept a dream journal, until I found I was spending about 45 minutes every morning just writing down the dreams I could remember, and even more time interpreting them. As this was taking too much time and attention away from my waking life, I stopped writing down everything and began just recording the ones that seemed the most relevant and important. Recently I have been daily asking the Lord to help me to remember only the dreams that were from Him, and to forget what our counselor/teacher called “enchilada dreams,” the subconscious ramblings of the brain as it processes information from the day before. Now, although I know I dream a lot every night, I remember on average only about one dream per week.

Recently in a dream someone was holding out a box to me, and as I lifted the lid I saw it was full of knives – beautiful, polished, sterling silver knives. They were the sort of knives Marty and I received as wedding gifts, back when that kind of elegance was fashionable. I could tell just by looking at the blades that each knife was sharp and ready to be used. What impressed me the most was the fact that every one of them had my name engraved on the handle!

I was invited to take one, but as I grasped the handle and lifted the knife, the blade hung limp; it was not securely fastened to the handle. I tried another one – also loose. Every one of those knives was unusable, as beautiful, valuable, and sharp as it was.

When I woke up, I knew exactly what the Lord had been telling me. My devotional habits had gotten into a bit of a rut. I would pray for a half hour or more in the morning, usually while walking my dog. (It’s the perfect time for me to pray. I leave my cell phone at home, there’s no housework distracting me, and as far as I know, the dog thinks I’m talking to him.) I would also pray at the end of the day, again usually about a half hour, before crashing into bed. But unless I was either in adult Sunday school or doing homework for the Wednesday Bible study with the ladies, there was no guarantee I would be reading the Scriptures every day. Usually when I got back from walking the dog there was something waiting to be done at home. It was almost never urgent, but that didn’t seem to stop my ADD mind from getting distracted. The Wednesday before this dream, the ladies’ Bible study had been cancelled due to weather, so I had had no “homework” to do for that particular week. My daily Bible reading was already not-so-daily and had come even closer to non-existent that particular week.

I knew the dream was God’s gentle reminder to me to keep a strong grip on His word – daily. The prayers are all good, and I shouldn’t lessen up on them, but reading the Bible is the chance for God to talk to me, and my chance to strengthen my grip on the “sword of the spirit.”

The word of God doesn’t change. It will always be precious, always powerful, always “sharper than any two-edged sword.” The question is, do we have a firm grasp of it, so we can personally fight the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly [unseen] realms”?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing us with everything we need to live the lives You have planned for us, including the armor and weapons to fight the evil one who would thwart every one of Your plans. Help us to take a firm hold of Your word, as soldiers ready for battle. We thank You that through Your word You have already given us the victory, in Jesus’ name, Amen

 

          And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.                                                                                     But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.                                                                                                                                                                                                               II Corinthians 15: 17-19

He seemed angry and frustrated with everyone, except the woman who repeatedly tried to calm him down and persuade that he shouldn’t worry, they’d all get by, and he should just forget about them for a while. The angry tone of the songs and  exchanges began practically from the moment the show started, matching the darkness and gloom of the set. As the story unfolded, the tension built, and we got the impression that this man was reluctant, even resentful of the mission he had been sent on. When the sick came to him to be healed, he complained that there were too many of them and finally blurted, “Heal yourselves!” A last meal with his disciples found him cynical, saying they wouldn’t remember him ten minutes after he was gone. A last exchange with his betrayer was full of bitterness and rage on both sides, and in a final prayer in the garden, the superstar reminded his father that he (the father) was the one that started the whole thing, before reluctantly, resentfully submitting to the plan. The only scene with a hint of joy was when the people were singing “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem like a rock star on a ego trip. To me he seemed indistinguishable from any regular guy enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame, maybe even a little more full of himself.

If it hadn’t been for the title of the show – “Jesus Christ, Superstar” – I would never have recognized that this was supposed to be my Best Friend. Yes, I’ve read the gospels, many times, and I’m aware that there were moments of extreme frustration for Him, especially dealing with the religious elites. But there was so much more to His life and ministry than heated arguments. There was mostly the gentle, compassionate side of Him that Andrew Lloyd Weber is sadly unaware of. I watched in vain, waiting for a moment of tenderness that would show this side, but even in the scenes with Mary Magdalene, she seemed to be not so much an object of love, but more like a comfortable old shoe. Where was the One sent to the lost and dying by His Father, because “God so loved the world...”?

The real Jesus was a Man who welcomed children, healed the sick, touched lepers, befriended the outcast, defended the condemned, and had so much compassion on the grieving that He raised their loved ones from the dead! Even on the cross, He prayed for forgiveness for those who had put Him there. And even in His agony He continued caring about others. Contrary to the TV special, He did not whimper, “Where is my mother?” The real Jesus looked down, saw His mother at the foot of the cross, and told her, “Here is your son,” and to John, “Here is your mother,” making sure that the trusted disciple was going to take care of her.

But to me the most glaring omission in the popular Broadway musical was the very centerpiece of the Christian faith – the Resurrection. (Odd, since NBC chose Resurrection Sunday to air the production.) After two hours of virtually non-stop strife, as Jesus spoke His last words on the cross, there was no earthquake. (How could any director pass up that kind of drama?) We just heard violin music, and the last we saw of Jesus, He was drifting off into the distance (still on the cross) as the back of the stage slowly closed up. Again, what really happened was so much more dramatic – and actually the opposite of what was shown! The curtain in the Temple – the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from everyone except one priest on one day of the year – split open, top to bottom, opening up the way between God and Man once and for all.

The original “Jesus Christ Superstar” was hugely successful in the 1970’s, and its airing on Easter this year has introduced a whole new generation to this version of Jesus. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I am frustrated that with such a rare appearance of hugely talented people, so much of the story was omitted or distorted. And if Christians decide to get indignant about this and refuse to discuss it, then I see a victory for the “father of lies.”

But if this Easter special has people thinking about and talking about Jesus, we should be ready to engage in the dialogue, to tell people about the Jesus we know, the real reason He came, and by all means telling “the rest of the Story” – that He rose from the grave, defeated death, and opened up the way for us to come to God. We should tell them that we too can be resurrected through Him and spend eternity with the God who, contrary to the cruel way He is portrayed by some, is a loving Father with His arms wide open to anyone who will repent and place their faith in Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for a Love Story so magnificent, even unbelievers feel compelled to tell it. Help those of us who truly know and love You to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that we have,” (I Peter 3: 15 ) Help us be to a cynical world the reflection of a loving God, in the name of Your true Son, Jesus. Amen