Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter. “I’ll give you ten dollars if you let me break three of these on your head,” said the older one. “Promise?” asked the younger. “Promise!” Enjoying the moment, the older boy broke the first egg over his brother’s head, then another one. The younger brother braced himself for the last egg, but nothing happened. “Ain’t ya gonna break the third egg?” the boy asked. His brother replied, “Nah, if I did that, I’d owe ya ten dollars!”

Life is full of empty promises, isn’t it?  “For better or worse” becomes “Until I find someone else.”  “Best buy on the lot” becomes “A lot of car repairs.”  “I won’t tell anyone” becomes the talk of the town.  “Vote for me and I’ll…” becomes a joke.  “Buy this vitamin and you’ll have renewed energy and perfect health” becomes “Read the fine print.”  Unfortunately, too many of the world’s promises leave us unfulfilled or empty.

I’m so glad God doesn’t work that way.  In fact, He is the master at turning “empty” into “full.”  Full of promise, to be exact.

When I went to Israel several years ago, I toured where Jesus was born, where he walked, where he died and where he was buried, but the image I cherished most was that his grave was empty.  He who had died to pay the debt for every sin committed had exited his burial tomb to be with his Father in Heaven.  In Jesus’ day, no one expected him to be resurrected.  Jesus’ death was the end of their dreams.  Two men, however, did not let that stop them from honoring him.

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus in his own tomb.  It was a brave move and a generous gift.  We know little about Joseph except that Mark 15:43 tells us he was “…a prominent member of the Council…” (That’s the Sanhedrin, the supreme judicial authority of Israel who had illegally condemned Jesus to death), and Luke 23:51 says that he was “…a good & upright man, who had not consented to their decision & action.”

Scripture tells us that Joseph was aided by Nicodemus who brought a mixture of myrrh & aloes, about 75 pounds, burial spices for Jesus’ body.  John 19:38 reveals that Nicodemus was not as bold as Joseph.  In fact, he was a disciple, but “secretly.”  Sounds sad, doesn’t it?  Actually, it sounds sort of empty…sort of like the faith of some Christians who keep their relationship with Jesus a secret.

Had Nicodemus known that within three days, that tomb would be empty, I have to believe that he would not have been so hush-hush about being a follower of Christ. Still, he did more than most who ran for the hills when Jesus died.  What I love is that the story was so much grander than Joseph or Nicodemus could ever imagine.  They had gifted the one who conquered death with a final resting place, never realizing that Jesus’ death was just the beginning of a promise to all of us…that we too could join him for eternity if we put our trust in him.  The empty cave assures us of that promise.

We, unlike Joseph or Nicodemus, are assured of the ending. If that confidence doesn’t make us bold in how we share Jesus with others, I don’t know what will.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

My earliest memory of my father occurred in the den of our California home. I was three or four years old and was simply hanging out with my Daddy whom I loved and adored. After supper and before bedtime, he would relax after a hard day’s work at Market Basket. His usual week-night routine was watching TV while eating snacks. One evening I noticed him enjoying a fig cookie, so I asked if I could have one. I’d never eaten one before so I thought I’d give it a shot. I figured if Daddy ate them, then I should too.

Fig trees were abundant in the Holy Land. The smaller immature figs (which can also be eaten) begin to form as soon as the leaf buds appear. The fruit of the fig tree pops out about the same time as the leaves. Therefore, when the leaves are in full bloom it means the tree has also produced mature figs which usually hide under the leaves. I suppose eating an immature fig could be comparable to eating a green tomato. I prefer red ripe ones but, if I was hungry, an immature fried green tomato would keep me from starving.

“The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so He went over to see if He could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat your fruit again!’ And the disciples heard Him say it” (Mark 11:12-14 NLT.)

Some Bible scholars believe that this one particular tree was an exception to the normal season because it was already, at the time of Passover, full of leaves. This fig tree had a form of fruit production, but upon deeper inspection, Jesus found it to be barren and not living up to expectations. Fig trees were not for looks or to provide shade, they were designed to bear fruit. Without any figs, this tree was disappointing and not up to snuff.

Some have thought Jesus was being harsh when He cursed the tree. But considering that Jesus’ earthly ministry was only for three years, He didn’t have time to beat around the bush. He took advantage of this opportunity to actually teach by example. Jesus cursed the tree as a serious sign of God’s displeasure with sham and hypocrisy. The withering of the tree in 24 hours (Mark 11:20) was a vivid warning against having the leaves of false profession, but not bearing the fruit of God’s grace. Professing to be God’s personal ambassador, but denying it with an ungodly attitude and lifestyle, is serious business.

People are supposed to see how God is when they look at His followers. “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ’Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT.) I don’t want to be a disappointing  exception to the lifestyle of a true Christ follower. I don’t want to look right on the outside and be wrong on the inside. I don’t want to pose as an imposter. God sees right through hypocrisy and, given enough time, so does everyone else. However, God also sees who we can become when we genuinely repent and surrender. My pastor recently shared that, “A moment of surrender is shown in a lifetime of obedience.”

The Key: With God’s help, we can be the real deal and influence others for Christ.

Bringing a future spouse home to meet the family can be nerve-wracking. My experience was made even more traumatizing when my two brothers met Dave for the first time and shared with him that they were shocked when someone in high school actually asked me out on a date.  Not stopping there, they showed him a picture of me from my junior high days—right after I had cut my bangs to resemble a crew cut to complement a face full of freckles.

Brothers can be like that, you know.

Still, that event doesn’t come close to what the Biblical prophet Hosea must have encountered when he introduced his bride-to-be to his family.  After all, God had instructed him to marry a prostitute.  Actually, the word “whore” is used in many translations. I doubt this escaped the relatives’ notice, and even though this had been a directive from God, I’m thinking that this didn’t go over well with family members. Let the rumblings begin.

“I’m not sure what god you’re hearing from, but it sure isn’t the Jehovah we serve.”

“With all the sweet, Jewish virgins in town, this is what you choose?”

“Let’s give this relationship a little time—like a few years—and see if you still feel this way about this woman.”

Scripture tells us nothing about how Hosea really felt when he obeyed God and married Gomer (seriously, that’s her name), had three children, and then had her leave him to return to her former lifestyle.  Let the rumblings magnify:

“Too bad somebody didn’t listen!”

“Talk about disgrace!  This is disgrace times 100!  I’ll never be able to show my face in the marketplace again.”

“Now, explain to us again who told you to marry this harlot?”

If we read only this part of the story, it makes no sense, but when we realize that we are all Gomers, we can better understand God’s plan.  Judges 2:17 tells us that the Israelites had refused to be obedient to God’s instruction and “prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them,” clearly violating the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods besides me.”  God used Hosea to demonstrate the pain He felt when Israel no longer was faithful to Him. Hosea’s obedience proves how desperately he wanted his people to get the message.

After having three children and returning to her former lifestyle of prostitution, Gomer ultimately ending up a slave, and just like God continues to forgive us and woo us back to Him when we sin, so did Hosea with his adulterous wife.  He found her and bought her back for fifteen shekels of silver and thirteen bushels of barley.

Then he said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days.  You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.”  Hosea was able to forgive his wife for bringing him incredible shame and hurt…just like God does for us when we choose anything before Him (prosperity, money, success, comfort, safety, recognition, pleasure, etc.).

God used Hosea to model His undying love for His people, the Israelites, a message that is equally relevant to us Christians.  It’s easy to berate Gomer for her infidelity, but that’s not the lesson intended for me.  I just need to look in a mirror, be convicted of whatever it is I place before God…and then be eternally grateful that He hasn’t given up on me.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

I heard the following statement years ago and thought it was rather humorous: When God was handing out brains, there were some who misunderstood and thought He said trains, so they politely responded, “No thanks, I’ll take the next one.” Or how about this colloquialism: “He doesn’t know his head from a hole in the ground.” I’ve heard that it’s OK to say stuff like this as long as you conclude it with “bless his heart.“

In the book of Mark, we find King Herod, his wife Herodias, her daughter Salome, and John the Baptist in a showdown. On Herod’s birthday he hosted a stag party and invited  his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. For their entertainment, Salome came in and really cut a rug. All the men were fascinated and greatly pleased with her razzle-dazzle dancing performance. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” (Mark 6:22-25 NLT).

I think it‘s odd that a young girl couldn’t immediately rattle off a dozen or so things she’d like to have. Most women have an internal wish list. I can think of a hundred things she could have asked for — shoes, a lifetime supply of chocolate truffles, her own dance studio, etc. I really don’t think Salome should have asked her mother for advice. Herodias was obviously filled with hatred for John, so her head wasn’t on straight and her heart was like a prune. Because Salome didn’t use her own head, all she got out of the king’s rash vow was a grisly dance trophy to give to her mother. Herodias and Salome were both  guilty of murdering John the Baptist, a good, righteous, and holy man. You can get into more trouble than you can shake a stick at by taking the wrong advice.

Be very careful when you ask for advice. If his/her own life’s a mess, that would be your first clue to take the next train. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought“ (James 1:5,6 MSG). Wisdom doesn’t come from acquiring information, but rather from God Himself as He generously gives practical and spiritual insight for the asking. He doesn’t scold us because we’re sometimes thick headed; instead God kindly enables us to make wise decisions.

“For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 24:6 ESV). I put this verse into practice when we were planning,  designing, and decorating for my daughter’s wedding in 2009. I prayed for wisdom and then I chose four girlfriends to help me wage the decorating war and we got it done smoothly and quickly. Mom always said, “Two heads are better than one.” However, it depends on whom the head belongs for that to be actually true. So choose wisely. Salome chose her mother’s head, which caused poor John to lose his.

The Key: Don’t hang out with dum-dums — it‘s just too dangerous.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

When I’m shopping at a thrift store or flea market and something catches my eye, the first thing I do is look at the price tag. The second thing I do is ask myself if there’s anywhere to put it in my home! In these second-time-around stores, I’ve discovered magnificent old family portraits that should have been displayed in a loved one’s home because they are beautiful treasures. I’m saddened when I see precious family pictures being offered for some stranger to purchase. Why weren’t these photos treated with love, honor and respect and kept in the family? Because the treasure was treated as a trinket of little value.

When Jesus taught His disciples the parable about the hidden treasure a man discovered on a plot of land, He was not implying that we can purchase or work our way into heaven. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field” (Matthew 13:44 MLT). He was teaching a serious truth that the kingdom of heaven is of such great value that we should be willing to give up all we have in order to gain it. Since there were no banks, treasure was often buried in fields for safekeeping. The supreme value of the hidden treasure (the kingdom of heaven) is worth more than the  sacrifice one can make to acquire it.

It’s worth the cost for believers to follow Christ and live according to His Word. And then when our last breath is drawn, heaven will be worth the price of not compromising our conscience, devotion to God, integrity, reputation, loyalty, and faithfulness. Whatever it costs us to obey God and do the right thing is worth it. Keeping our eyes on The Prize is key. Of course, Christ followers must realize we can’t be so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly value. Everything we do must be weighed and compared against the individualized assignment God gave us. It’s easy to get sidetracked and bumfuzzled when we ignore our calling, forget the treasure, and go our own way. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is worth the cost of personal sacrifice.

We’re trained for the Kingdom of Heaven while we live on planet earth. Our routine life is the daily battlefield where we get to activate our training. Dad trained for 16 weeks at Camp Fannin, Texas before he was shipped out to the frontlines of Germany in 1944. Army training and spiritual training are similar. If we don’t learn to respect authority, follow instructions, and pay attention to our enemy, we won’t be on the survivor list.

The song, “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All” was written in 1946 with lyrics by W. Oliver Cooper. I usually share the lyrics of a mentioned song, but in this case the title says it all. We mustn’t think of heaven as a natural occurrence at the end of the rainbow of life. We can’t merely hope, do good deeds, or buy our way into heaven. Nor can we ignore the glorious treasure of it and stuff it into an empty drawer. One day a bystander asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few have eternal life?” Jesus responded to the crowd, “There is a great cost for anyone to enter through the narrow doorway to God’s kingdom realm. I tell you, there will be many who will want to enter but won’t be able to. For once the head of the house has shut and locked the door, it will be too late” (Luke 13:24,25 TPT). Eternal life is a priceless gift for the child of God, not an earned reward.

The Key: The Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure and not a trinket to be treated lightly.

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.        Jeremiah 31:25

Jesus needed solitude. We are no different. And if we’re not going to find that rest, God might need to find it for us.

I have been blessed with good health. For that, I am immensely grateful. So, when I recently ended up in the hospital in Mazatlán, Mexico, with a severe allergic reaction, I was shocked at how quickly I lost my energy and found the simplest tasks (like getting out of bed) challenging.  Just two days before, I had played tennis, attended social events and run errands.  No longer.  My get-up-and-go, got-up-and-went when a pierogi (apparently) sent me to the E.R.…a delicious pierogi given me by a friend.  A sweet gesture that poisoned my body.

I have already written about the encouragement I received from loved ones.  Juliette, my long-time friend from Florida, understood my discouragement, as daily I thought I would be released but then would relapse.  On day five, I had a melt-down when I was told I needed more time in the hospital.  Juliette’s words were timely: “…You are safe.  Warm.  Cared for.  It could be so much worse.  You got this.  It’s just a matter of another day or two.  Relax.  Surrender.  Be the light someone there needs you to be.”

Read that last sentence again. And again.  Staring at those words, I realized that no matter what I was going through (and yes, it could have been much, much worse), God had a plan for me to stop being consumed with myself and to be a blessing to someone else. Physically, I was exhausted, but that didn’t mean I was to let that affect me spiritually.  Juliette reminded me of a higher purpose.

With limited Spanish, I took her words to heart, looked beyond my lethargy and sought ways to be grateful to the staff: for the nurses’ ability to administer painless IV’s, for how they rapidly answered my call button; for the team of doctors that met daily to modify my medications; for cleaning ladies who came in twice a day, smiling while they worked; and for the dozens of employees who had learned English to better serve us gringos. When I said, “Dios te bendiga” (God bless you), they beamed.

Once I began following Jesus’ advice (“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”), I was able to take the focus off of myself and put it on others. The longer I had remained frustrated over my condition, I was not ministering to others or myself.  I was not honoring God.  Here He had given me days to have quiet fellowship with Him, and I had squandered much of it, fretting over things that drew me away from His provision.

I am home now, doing great, taking meds, and visiting with friends.  One of them asked me what I’ve learned from this. I told her I have learned to trust in the Lord…but not in a pierogi.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

When I watch a movie or hear a sermon, I listen for those great one-liners. Here’s a few favorites that quickly come to mind: “Yo, Adrian, I did it!” “Houston, we have a problem.” “Right turn, Clyde.” “You can’t ride two horses with one butt” (refer to Matthew 6:24). The John Wayne movie, “Chisum,” has a scene where his herd of horses has been stolen by a band of marauders. Chisum (Wayne) catches up with the horse thieves, approaches the ring leader and boldly says, “Those animals are mine.” The red-handed bandit replies, “Oh, there must be some mistake here.” Chisum responds, “You made it.” Oh yah, that’s my favorite one-liner in the whole movie, bar none.

A beloved one-sentence verse in the Bible is: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). This scripture is the gospel in a nutshell. Here‘s another good one, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8 NLT). God is the source of all real love, so everyone who is like Him will have a spirit of love. We maintenance our vehicles, so we should understand the importance of checking our love. Is there even any showing on the dipstick?

Everyone likes the cheery one-liners in God’s Word, and rightly so. Believers are  encouraged and strengthened by reading the Bible. But we need to read the whole truth  and not just the parts we like. There are sobering scriptures we must not neglect to study and reflect on. Jesus is teaching His followers what true disciples are and explains, “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ’Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ’Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ’I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NLT).

In the words of Piglet, “Oh dddear!” I sure never want to hear that one-liner spoken to me — nor to anyone, especially my family and friends. I’ve heard it said that God is too loving to send people to hell. That’s true. Because of pride, people send themselves to hell by rejecting God’s love and not believing on Jesus. I’d say that would be the biggest mistake anyone could make. Our job, as disciples and harvest workers, is to love people into heaven by practicing God’s Word. Everybody gets a one-shot lifetime on planet earth followed by an unchangeable eternity in heaven or hell. So we better get it right. The good news is that, while there’s breath, the Holy Spirit is working diligently to convince everyone to repent, change, and accept and follow Jesus.

Let’s keep our relationship with God healthy and strong so we can offer life-giving encouragement and love to others. Believers are called to help people grasp the truth that Jesus came to forgive, restore, and give abundant life to all who choose to accept Him. Make no mistake, choosing and genuinely following Jesus is the only way not to hear, “Sorry, I never knew you” at the Judgment.

The Key: Possibly the best one-liner for true disciples is, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God“ (Matthew 5:8 NLT).

Sometimes the theme song behind my prayer time sounds more like “Is That All There Is?” rather than “I Surrender All.” Not only do I fail to enter the throne room, I’m not even knock, knock knockin’ on Heaven’s door.

That’s what my prayers are sometimes like. Actually, more than sometimes.  Oh, I start out fine, all right, thanking God that I’m awake/breathing, that I’m in a warm, comfortable bed, and yes, even that my husband is snoring beside me.  And for just a few moments I’m doing fine. Just my Heavenly Father and me.  Sharing the love. AAAAHHHHHH.

But then the inevitable happens. My mind sinks from the eternal heights and wanders off to la-la-land. From wondering what will happen if I get tongue-tied in my upcoming talk to organizing appetizers for tonight’s dinner party to reliving the time in 8^th grade when I didn’t make cheerleader, I hip-hop through a gamut of nonproductive brain-traps.  Once I realize what I’ve done, I spend the next few minutes apologizing to God and attempting to get my mind on a more spiritual track…until I remember the trash bill I forgot to pay and the article I need to write.

Can you imagine going out to lunch with your best friend and spending the entire time spewing every random, helter-skelter thought that popped into your head? “Hi, Sue. Saw a red bird on my drive here—so pretty.  How about those Chiefs?  I hear we’re getting a new barbecue restaurant.  I love barbecue.  Hope we get some rain.  Wish I could get rid of these wrinkles.  Do you like horses like I do?  Oh yea, here are some things I need you to do for me.”

Chances are, that would be a short-lived friendship.  So why do I do that with God?

Why is it I give Him second-best (if even that)?  The One who loves me unconditionally, the One who yearns for a relationship with me, and I can’t find time for Him?  My Father “surrendered all” in His son; what keeps me from understanding “that IS all there is” when it comes to establishing my daily/weekly/monthly/yearly/life priorities?

On Instagram this week, I read this: “You can’t be 98% for God and 2% with the world.  Jesus didn’t die for 98% of you.  He died for 100% of you.  That 2% will eat away at you.  It’s a cold world.  100% with God is better.  Trust me.  He won’t fail you.”  Can you imagine what surrendering all would look like?  (Can you imagine what surrendering 98% would look like?)  But 100%?

To have every thought, word and deed honor God?  How I dress.  What I eat.  Whom I hang with.  Where I go.  How I spend my time. How I love.  Absolutely everything that makes me who I am.

Someone once asked, “Would you be willing to die for Christ?”  “Of course,” was the answer.  But the real question is this: “Would you be willing to live for him?”

Because that’s what surrender is all about.

Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker

Around 1971, the Mt. Zion Bible School choir from Ava, MO, came to my church at  Stockton and presented an enthralling concert. The piano and organ were masterfully  played by two students and the musical talents of the chorale had my steadfast attention. I was completely taken by a song I’d never heard before and I don’t believe I’ve heard it since. Some of the lyrics in the refrain was, “He’s my Rock my Sword my Shield, He’s my wheel in the middle of the wheel.” My heart grabbed that song and it’s still in there!

While reading through the Old Testament recently, I felt a strong prompting to study Ezekiel and his God-given vision of the wheels. During this time, I purchased a large round decorative piece of aluminum which reminded me of Ezekiel‘s wheels. I attached the circular décor to my east fence where I can see it from my front porch.

Ezekiel was about 30 years old when God commissioned him as a prophet and watchman and gave him a bizarre vision of the glory of God. He was beside the Kebar River and the heavens opened and he saw visions of God and felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him. “From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, except that each had four faces and four wings. Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around. As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. …each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around. When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went“ (Ezekiel 1:5,6,10,12,15,16,18-20 NLT).

Bible scholars believe the wheels display the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. The explanation of the four faces are as follows: Man is considered the king of the earth and has dominance over the animals and rules the earth. The lion is considered the king of the jungle and represents strength, fierceness, and commands respect. The ox symbolizes strength, honesty, and hard work. The eagle is the king of the air, has an all-seeing eye, and represents victory, speed, royalty, release from bondage, longevity, inspiration, and power. The eyes around the wheel portray an all-knowing God who sees the good and the bad no matter which way humans turn. Ezekiel’s wheels are said to be a symbol of moving forward with the presence of God. As we study Ezekiel’s calling and visions, we can think about the Spirit of God resting on him while moving him forward into the prophetic ministry. May our eyes be opened to the unique ways God still works today.

The amount of time it takes believers to move up spiritually depends on how long we spin our wheels trying to make things happen on our own. When the hand of the Lord takes hold of us, we must be willing and ready to move forward with Him. As we worship and respond in obedience to the moving of the Spirit, heavenly things can be released upon us that we couldn’t have made happen ourselves. Let’s intently ask and expect God to move in our lives daily.

The Key: Allow the Holy Spirit to move you forward in your life and calling.