Keys to the Kingdom

 

I asked my brother one day, “Why is it that I often find myself thinking back to yesteryear when I need a lede for a column?” He quickly responded, “It’s because we’re growing older,” and I knew that was the simple truth. So here goes: When I was a young girl, my Mom was the reporter for our church. She would submit articles to the local newspaper announcing upcoming revival services, and then later report on those services when they concluded. Around 2011, I was alone in my folks’ kitchen when I pulled out a Bavarian soup tureen and found numerous old newspaper clippings inside it. As I began reading one of the articles Mom had written, she had chosen this scripture, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1 KJV).

 

I’ve heard that some people start the day by saying, “Good morning, Lord!“ and some say, “Good Lord, it’s morning!” I usually sit up on the side of the bed and declare, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” After I said that aloud one Sunday morning, I immediately added, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.“ Apparently, I had hidden that verse in my heart because it just popped out of me.

 

It’s important that believers spend private time with God during the week. But going into the house of the Lord to worship Him in the beauty of holiness is the icing on the cake for me. The cake and the icing go hand in hand and both are wonderfully delicious.  However, if the cake has been haphazardly made and improperly baked, it’ll be less than desirable and possibly not even fit to eat. No matter how much lip-smacking icing you smear on it, the end result won’t taste good. We need to do our part during the week to enhance the flavor and texture of the cake. Then when we walk through the sanctuary doors we can, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good…” (Psalm 34:8 KJV).

 

All my life I’ve heard, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” I know what that means out in the world, but I beg to differ when it comes to worshipping God together in the house of the Lord. When we bring our dedicated piece of cake into His presence, God will be more than happy to add His blessing of icing. And that, my friends, will make us glad!

 

“Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return” (Hebrews 10:25 NIRV). When God’s dear children  meet together to worship in His presence, something wonderful beyond my limited vocabulary happens in my spirit.

 

“And they [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ’Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8,9 ESV). When my church family meets together, I don’t want God to look down, notice I’m AWOL, and ask, “Carolyn, where are you?”

 

The Key: If the Lord isn’t tasting so good at church, try changing your cake recipe.

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  The word “holy” appears eight times in scripture, and every time I read it, I pause and ask myself, “Am I holy?”

During one of my Zoom Bible studies, that question was asked.  None of us could answer “yes.”  Then the leader questioned if we knew anyone who is holy.  I was the only one who could list someone.  She is unique.  Separated from most other Christians because her entire life is dedicated to following God’s will for her life.  She lives sacrificially.  Humbly.  She starts every day by asking her Father to give her opportunities to talk about Him to others.  She takes Jesus Christ seriously.

In C.E. Montague’s novel, Rough Justice, one scene describes a little boy, Bron, going to church for the first time with his governess. He watches attentively the entire service. The preacher climbs into the high pulpit, and Bron hears him tell terrible news. It is about a brave and kind man who was nailed to a cross, terribly hurt, a long time ago, and who still feels a dreadful pain even now, because there was something not done that he wants them all to do.

Little Bron thinks that the preacher is telling the story because a lot of people are there and they will do something about it. Bron sits impatiently on the edge of the pew. He can hardly wait to see what the first move will be in righting this injustice. But he sits quietly and decides that after the service someone will surely correct this wrong. Little Bron begins to weep, but nobody else seems at all upset. The service is over. The people walk away as if they had not heard such terrible news, as if nothing remarkable had happened.

As Bron leaves the church, he is trembling. His governess looks at him and says, “Bron, don’t take it to heart. Someone will think you are different.”

(And we all know that no one wants to be “different.”)

In The Message, Eugene Petersen’s rendering of the Bible, he takes “different” to a new level by describing it this way: “energetic and blazing with holiness.”  Any takers?

For some reason, being holy conjures up live in a monastery, fasting, praying, and never socializing, and even though some have been called to that life, for the majority of us, that’s not the case.  Holiness does not mean we have to trade in our Ford pick-up and walk barefoot through brambles or move out of our house and into a cave.  It does not mean we can’t laugh with friends, drink a latte, get a massage or take a cruise.

God’s kind of being different begins with the transformation of our minds.  Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).  When my husband coached, he had a poster in his office that made clear how important our thoughts are.

Watch your thoughts; they become your words.

Watch your words; they become your actions.

Watch your actions; they become your habits.

Watch your habits; they become your character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Pastor Rick Ezell wrote about being different.  “Today the world has a desperate need for people who are different. We need people who will carry their faith into the office, into Congress, into society, into the school, into the home. We need people who will be different even if it will cost them their social popularity, their economic fortunes, or their very lives.

“One does not obtain that kind of distinctiveness except through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ… He calls us to be different.”

So the question remains: Am I willing?

 

 

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom

In 1992, I became close friends with Shardel and Misty through a mothers’ group when all three of our little boys were two years old. Later in the mid-90s, both families moved away from Fort Scott. Last summer I had the joy of hosting a weekend reunion at my home with these dear and treasured girlfriends. Even though we had lived apart many years, our souls were still knit together. As we visited, laughed, cried, ate scratch brownie batter, and simply picked up where we left off, I said something like, ”I’m not who I used to be; I’ve changed. My heart is softer and I’m not so judgmental and opinionated.” During those 27 years of separation, I learned (am still learning) what it means to love others like Jesus does. What a difference choosing a mindset of love has made in my life!

 

Practicing love is not based on a feeling, but rather a decision to humbly obey God’s Word. When Jesus’ crucifixion was near, He shared many directives to His disciples. “Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for Me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples” (John 13:33-35 NLT). Jesus’ command requires believers to take the necessary steps to love others. We simply put one foot in front of the other and begin hoofing the uphill climb.

 

To walk in love requires effort on our part — we have to work at it. Being a doer of  love costs something, whether it’s our time, money, pride, or opinions. A good question to ask ourselves is: “Are my wounded feelings and stubborn opinions more important than the person and my relationship with him/her?” Speaking from emotions in the heat of the moment can undo a lifetime of closeness. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT). Being right is highly overrated, and having peaceful relationships  is highly underrated. Peace is like a soothing essential oil for the soul.

 

Loving others is a daily decision that’s practiced on purpose — and it’s not always easy. Sometimes the stepping stones to love are a little too far apart and it’s a stretch for us. But let’s think past the upsetting circumstance and ask ourselves: “Am I loving others in a way that I‘ll have no regrets later on?” We must live in the light of Jesus as we climb every mountain in love. “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT).

 

Because Christ lives in believers, we are more than able to do what is required of us. “…Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other“ (Colossians 3:12-15 MSG).

 

The Key: Love is an uphill climb one step at a time.

The disciples were annoyed.  A Canaanite woman was crying out, begging Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter.  Jesus said nothing, so his disciples told him to send her away; she was getting on their nerves.  Read the story in Matthew 15:21-28.

Perhaps had she been from the right side of the tracks, things would have been different.

Instead of the compassionate Jesus siding with her, he said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”  Not to her kind.  For she was not Jewish.  I picture the disciples smirking as Jesus let her know that she was not one of them.

The woman would not be turned away.  Verse 25 says that she knelt before him.  “Lord, help me!” she said. Surely now he would be moved.  Instead, he replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”  Oh my gosh!  Jesus called this desperate woman a dog.  Surely there’s a misprint.  The mother did not care how she was branded.  She knew that Jesus was the only one who could heal her child.  Her answer shows her humility.

 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”  That’s all it took.  She knew Jesus as Lord.  As Master.  It was then he showed the side he needed all to see.  “Woman,” he answered, “You have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

At. That. Moment.

So what’s going on here?  For one, Canaanites were hated by the Jews.  Hundreds of years before, the nations warred against each other, and even though the Prince of Peace (Jesus) was now walking with the Jews, they wanted no part of their enemy.  (Sounds a little like politics in the United States, don’t you think?)

Jesus’ followers had to be shocked. Had he lost his mind?  No doubt, they loved it when he spoke condescendingly to the despairing mother. But when this woman, this “enemy,” honored the master, the tone changed.  Surely they were confused.

Matthew writes this narrative to remind us that we all are equal, no matter our history, our ethnicity or our prejudices, and there’s a good chance some of us outspoken “Christians” might know about spirituality a lot less than others who don’t speak about their faith.  As I write this, I am caught in the middle of a conflict between a “Christian” couple and a couple who profess no faith.  I am siding with the latter.

My prayer warrior friends here in Mexico are doing likewise, as we have watched the church-going couple defame the integrity of our giving, generous, dedicated friends who have spent the last ten years serving the less fortunate.  I have been asked to speak to the head of the organization who has bought into the lies of the one couple, but since my Spanish is limited (poor), I asked a precious Christian, bilingual friend to accompany me.  She answered in length about her attempt to open the eyes of the one in charge, to no avail.  According to her, others have done likewise.  I will be no different.

The difficulty of this is for me not to judge the Christian couple without even offering them the crumbs of my faith by praying for them.  Sometimes it’s easier just to judge…in which case, I am no different from the ones I’m criticizing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom

 

 

Some friends and I put our heads together and made a list of all the different “houses” we could think of. We came up with 40, but I’m sure there’s a bunch more. My top picks were: jailhouse, big house, doghouse, tree house, bunkhouse, well house, smokehouse, outhouse, slaughterhouse, dollhouse, and beach house. My folks’ place had several outbuildings and one of them was a tiny two-room structure nestled behind the lower garage. The right side was the well house and the left side was the smokehouse. The room on the left could’ve been called the storehouse because we didn’t smoke meat in it, we just used it to store stuff.

 

The Bible states that God has storehouses. “How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world” (Psalm 31:19 NLT). God delights in storing up good things for His children. This makes perfect sense, because I do the same thing for my three little granddaughters. I have a drawer where I stash items I buy in advance to give to them at the appropriate time. God says, “I have been saving this, and I have it locked in My storehouses” (Deuteronomy 32:34 NCV).

 

The New Testament tells us that God has a house that’s beyond comprehension. John the Revelator tried to describe it, but we still can’t begin to imagine this glorious house. John Chapter 14 is a beloved text that’s often read at funerals, and rightly so. It encourages those who live in an earthly house now, and also gives hope for a beautiful heavenly home in the future. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-4 NKJV).

 

Several vocalists have recorded the spiritual, “Come and Go With Me.” My favorite rendition is performed by Christian artist Alicia Williamson. She communicates these lyrics with a big smile — like she knows what she’s singing about: “Come and go with me to my Father’s house…there is joy, joy, joy. Peace and happiness there in my Father’s house…there is joy, joy, joy. No more dyin‘ there in my Father‘s house…there is joy, joy, joy.” The invitation to go to God’s house was sent out 2,000 years ago in the form of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Because of the Father’s unfailing mercy, there’s no expiration on the RSVP as long as the individual can think and breathe.

 

In 1963, when my Grandpa Hayward was dying in the arms of his grandson Dwain, he said he saw angels. Although I wasn’t there and didn‘t see these heavenly beings, I believe they were there just like he said. I have no problem believing that Grandpa was carried by angels to his Father’s house. According to the following scripture, Jesus tells us that when believers die the angels bring them into God’s presence. “One day poor Lazarus died, and the angels of God came and escorted his spirit into paradise” (Luke 16:22 TPT).

 

The Key: When life’s timer goes off, believers are escorted by angels straight to the Father’s House.

Oh my gosh!  I can buy Instagram followers.  I guess that everything really is for sale for a price. But Instagram followers?  Yes. While I was trying to get some navigational directions on how to create a post, that ad actually popped up.  I had been told by my agent that publishers probably wouldn’t give my book their time if I did not have several thousand Instagram followers. His daughter, a writer, had over a million. Getting ten on only merit seemed to be a challenge, but for a few bucks, I could impress the people I needed to impress by purchasing their names.

Then I thought, how sad!  Even people who have nothing meaningful to share can buy bragging rights to a huge number of followers.  Which potentially could get their book published faster.  I considered it for about a one-Mississippi moment.                                                                         But even I wasn’t that desperate.  I mean, as a writer of a Christian book, it probably wouldn’t be too spiritual to cheat to impress someone, right? How could I expect God to bless my writing if I had to resort to deceiving the publishing community by pretending to have thousands of friends who delighted in my postings?

The desire to be a hot shot is a major theme in my book. For much of my life, I tried to measure up to those who were prettier, funnier, brighter, holier. I’m not alone, for as I talk to my friends, most of them (and I do mean “most”) either had tried to become what they thought made them fit in or had just accepted they didn’t measure up.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is a thief of joy.”  If we desire to honor God, we will accept that He created us the way He wanted.  Psalm 139 reminds us that He “knit us together” in our mother’s womb. He stamped a one-of-a-kind DNA marking in our cells.  David seemed to know that, for in his Psalm he continues. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Notice that David does not desire to be taller or a better warrior or a more revered king.  Instead, he writes this: Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.              

I wonder how often we, like David, thank God for how He designed us versus how many times He hears us complain about how we wish we were gifted differently.  Maybe if we had a voice like Celine Dion or a ministry like Francis Chan or a body like just about anybody else who is thinner or taller, we would be satisfied. Instead, we should credit God for creating us with (what we see as) a few imperfections, recognizing that maybe, just maybe, if we had that voice or that ministry or that body, we would become arrogant and prideful and forget about Him.

Certainly worth considering.

As of today, I have 537 Instagram followers.  Not the million I need, but better than the five I once had.  And every day, I remind myself that if I had those impressive numbers, I might think I’m pretty hot stuff.  This way, I know that I’m not.

 

The first song I remember about bones was “Dry Bones” recorded by the Delta Rhythm Boys. I enjoyed hearing how all the bones were connected, even though it was a long  drawn-out musical expression. And then Randy Travis had the big country hit “Diggin’ Up Bones.” The Secret Sisters recorded “Rattle My Bones,” and Lauren Daigle recorded “Come Alive (Dry Bones).” As kids we sang the fun lyric, “with a knick-knack paddy- whack, give the dog a bone….” We even talk about bones: bone tired, funny bone, bag of bones, big boned, broken bones, you need backbone, bad to the bone, etc.

 

On the day that the prophet Elijah knew his ministry was coming to a close and Elisha would take his place, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2 Kings 2:9). Rather than asking for worldly things, what he really desired was a large measure of the Holy Spirit to equip him for the prophetic responsibilities ahead. So as Elisha witnessed Elijah being carried by a whirlwind into heaven in a chariot of fire, the anointing he asked for was immediately transferred to him.

 

At the end of his obedient ministry, “Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet” (2 Kings 13:20,21 NIV). Verse 21 is a one-sentence miracle wrapped around the grave clothes of the prophet Elisha. Assuming the “dead” man had a wife and family, can you imagine the pandemonium when his happy feet walked into the house and he asked his wife, “What’s for supper?” Obviously, the double-portion anointing that Elisha had was alive and well even though he was dead. Death could not stop King Jesus, and death could not stop God’s power from working through the bones of Elisha.

 

As believers, what we desire and need in the spiritual realm is within our reach. God wants to do great things for us and through us. One of the most-important requirements is simply getting close enough to touch the Great I AM. If we will throw ourselves into God’s presence, He will anoint (empower) us to accomplish what He’s called us to do. The dead man that was thrown on top of Elisha’s bones was at the end of the road — until he came into contact with the anointing of God. If you’re living a broken or spineless existence, simply throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and ask for the miracle you need. Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way. Help won’t help tomorrow if you give up today.

 

Elisha was still influencing people after he was dead as a doornail. How deep does your influence reach in your part of the world? After you’re long gone, your impact and testimony will live on. Your legacy as a man or woman of God is eternal. You may not have your name and accomplishments recorded in a history book, but heaven knows all about your struggles and triumphs as a Christ follower. I double-dog dare you to leave a godly legacy of loving God and others.

 

The Key: Make your bones strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Byron Eugene Tillery, age 67, resident of Pittsburg, KS, died Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Pittsburg Health and Rehab.  He was born May 21, 1955, in Nevada, MO, the son of Ivan and Velma Hoover Tillery.  He graduated from Nevada High School.  He married Margaret Ann McHenry on May 22, 1976.  She preceded him in death on September 22, 2008.

Bryon worked for Ennis Inc. in Fort Scott, KS, for over 23 years.  He enjoyed woodworking, working on cars, and was an avid KC Chiefs fan.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

 

Survivors include 2 daughters, Kerri Jo Lawrence (Gary), Fort Scott, KS, and Sarah Tillery, Joplin, MO; 2 brothers, Martin Tillery (Kathy), Vesper, WI, and John Morris (Arlene), Tuttle, OK; 2 sisters, Barbara Bobbett (Don), Ozark, MO, and Elaine David, House Springs, MO; 5 grandchildren, Zachary Cassett, Ryan Cassett, Lucas Cassett, Sven Ash, and Madison Braun; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Carmen Pettibon, and Laura Garrison; 2 brothers, Ralph Tillery, and infant Gary Lee Tillery; and is parents.

 

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, January 20^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Cremation will follow.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 Friday prior to the service.

Memorials are suggested to the Byron Tillery Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

In route to visit my son Andy and his wife Kristen, I phoned my husband and asked him to book me a motel about an hour away from where I was on the freeway.  He chose one with excellent reviews and, of course, a cheap price.

Dave hit the jackpot.  The owners had hung a scriptural plaque beside every exterior door, and the lobby was filled with signs of faith.  When I checked in, I noticed 2016, 2017 and 2018 “Platinum” awards had been given.  I questioned the receptionist about them, and she said that for those years, not one complaint had been lodged against their motel.  She proudly shared that one of its perks was coffee “’round the clock.”  Not exactly a spa or pool or cucumbered water, I told myself, but then again, I’ve never seen Scriptures hanging at a Hyatt.

The owners’ hearts for God were obvious.  They did not hide their faith, and I began to wonder what would happen if we all were infused with a little more boldness in our love for Jesus…not in a Bible-thumping sort of way, but in a way that left everyone we meet knowing there was something special about us.

A few years ago, my son Adam and his wife Jenn were invited to a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.  The topic of faith came up, and Mr. Pompeo shared that when he was invited to speak for a large gathering of Muslims in the Mideast, he added a conclusion that spoke of his Christian faith.  The speechwriters removed his addition.  He deleted their deletion.

When he finished speaking, he told Adam and Jenn, he was shocked at the number of Muslims who approached him to say that, although they did not agree with his faith, they applauded his boldness in professing it. Granted, probably none of us will have an opportunity to address a Mideast conference (I can only dream), but there are other, more common ways we can demonstrate boldness in the ways we represent Christ-likeness:

• Walk away from an argument. (Emily Dickinson: “Saying nothing sometimes says the most.”)
• Honor our family first. (Desmond Tutu: “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”)
• Work with excellence, even when no one is watching. (Jimmy Johnson: “The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is that little extra.”)
• Don’t fudge on our taxes. (Richelle E. Goodrich: “A liar deceives himself more than anyone, for he believes he can remain a person of good character when he cannot.”)
• Choose purity in language and appearance. (Mandy Hale: “Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.”)

Every day we are given choices to exude boldness in our faith.  I know I need to do better and remember that I’m not alone in this.  God has my back.

Of course, what He wants is my heart.  That’s the jackpot that really counts.

 

Keys to the Kingdom

 

My childhood pastor’s wife, Thelma, was an exemplary wife, mother, and friend; a perfect example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Everybody adored her because she loved much, lived well, and laughed often. Thelma inspired other people to laugh also. She told her daughter Christa and I (just young girls at the time) this joke: A mother was concerned that her daughter’s beau  was never going to ask for her hand in marriage. As the daughter was preparing for her date one evening, the mother gave her specific instructions: “When Homer picks you up, don’t say anything — just be quiet all evening. When he finally asks you what you’re thinking about, say, “I’m contemplating on matrimony.” The daughter agreed and the date transpired exactly as the mother predicted. After awhile, Homer said, “I’ve noticed you’ve been awfully quiet and just sitting there with an odd look on your face. What are you thinking about?” With a sigh, she responded, “I’m constipated on macaroni.”

 

Are you contemplating on wanting a better year in 2023? I suspect all of us would like to come up higher in multiple areas in the new year. I suggest that all of us consider our ways. When the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, he told the Jews who had returned from Babylon, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5 ESV). In the Old Testament book of Haggai, the major problem was that the temple of God was in ruins and the people weren’t doing anything to restore it.

 

In the New Testament, we know that the believer is literally the temple. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20 NLT).

 

If you’re a Christ follower, but your life seems to be in ruins, pause and consider your ways. The word “consider” means to think carefully, chew on it, be mindful of, ponder, examine, inspect, scrutinize. One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. How we do our life is worth the effort to mull it over, which is to analyze and meditate on the possible actions as well as the outcomes. Are we doing everything we can to closely walk in all the light of Jesus?

 

Let’s consider our ways. The definition of “way” is: a method, style, or manner of doing something; our habit, practice, procedure, routine, conduct, behavior, or nature. If we’re not including Jesus in all areas of our life, we need to seriously consider changing our ways. Jesus wants to be flat-dab in the middle of everything we do. And (if we have any sense) that’s exactly where we should want Him. Jesus desires to be intricately involved, but He has to be invited to do so. He’s not going to bulldoze His way into our lives.

 

“Jesus once again addressed them: ‘I am the world’s Light. No one who follows Me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in‘” (John 8:12 MSG). If I’m walking in the dark with someone who has a flashlight, I need to stay close enough to  benefit from the beam of light. “Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me” (Psalm 119:105 NIRV). Today is the day to consider our ways and see if there are behaviors that need to come under the Lordship and light of Jesus. The Key: Mull it over and change whatever rears its ugly head in the light.

“I’ve discovered that if people are not on my heart, they’re on my nerves.”                       Pastor Rick Warren

Struggling to find a New Year’s resolution?  Maybe we could start with Jesus’ suggestion: “Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.” Of course, it’s not a suggestion.  Seriously hard to do…but no one did it better than Jesus. His capacity for love is infinite. How else could he forgive his crucifiers while hanging in agony on the cross? Still, we make it so hard.  Why can’t we love like he does?                                                                           Saint Augustine said, “Good for good, evil for evil, that is natural. Evil for good, that is devilish. Good for evil, that is divine.”  Dave would say I need a little work in the “divine” department. I told him I’m going to get my Conceal-and-Carry license.  He is concerned.  Not that I won’t pass the test but that I might kill someone.  I’ve given that a lot of thought.  I don’t think I would kill thugs who ransack an Apple store or help themselves to racks of clothing or purses.  But I might wound them.  If they were threatening a loved one, however?  Dave might have reason to be concerned.  Does that make me unloving?                                                                I read about a young couple who went to see their pastor to try and get him to approve their divorce because, as they put it, “There’s no feeling left.” The pastor told the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The husband said, “I can’t do that.” The pastor asked him to love her as he would love himself. Again, the said that ‘I can’t do that’. So the pastor said, “The Bible says to love your enemies. Try starting there.” (Is it possible to love someone you shoot?)                                                                                                                                                  Just how do we love the unlovable?  The first step is remembering God’s love for us when were/are unlovable. Beauty and the Beast illustrates this well, and it certainly represents how we are loved by God.   After all, there’s a little beast in all of us.  Scripture says that none of us are sinless, yet God loves us.  “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) His love is not based on my goodness; nor is it based on my prayer life or my Bible reading or how many cookies I made for the church potluck. I didn’t have to work out my imperfections or do any good deeds for Him to love me.  He loves me, beast that I am.                                                      The second step to loving the unlovable is to recognize that the people we aren’t loving are no different than us.  We have no right to set ourselves in the lofty position of choosing not to follow God’s mandate to love them.  1 Corinthians 13:4-5 tells us how we are to act: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” God loves like that and calls us to do likewise.

The ability to love the unlovable, to hate the sin but to love the sinner, represents God’s divine nature.        In 2023, I’m going to work on loving the unlovely.  I guess I’ll figure out that shooting thing later.