Keys to the Kingdom

 

In my later teen years at home, my parents would usually “call it a night” before I did. Like clockwork, they would straighten up the living room before heading off to bed. It was their nightly routine to put everything in its place. One time Mom explained their tradition: “Back in the day, we always cleaned the living room before going to bed in case the doctor had to come in the night.” That made good sense to me because it was a good habit and good habits should continue even if the reason for them is out of style. That’s why I can join a few others in saying, “I’m from the old school.“ Another rule I learned was to always wear clean underwear in case you’re in a car wreck.

Generally speaking, nobody sees your underwear because it’s hiding beneath your outer clothing. You’re the only person who knows whether your undies are clean, worn-out, uncomfortable, or stink. Spiritually speaking, what’s on the outside is just a façade, but what’s on the inside (hiding) is the real thing. “As I think in my heart [which is underneath and hidden] so am I“ (Proverbs 23:7). Believers need to be careful of the temptation to harbor negative undercurrents in their mind and heart. Bad attitudes are sure to show up in your conversations, facial expressions, and actions. Although you try, you can’t hide what’s on the inside because it comes out involuntarily. King David wrote: “He [God] knows the secrets of every heart” (Psalm 44:21 NLT).

Everyday we have the choice to wear dirty or clean underwear. The Apostle Paul tells us that believers have the choice to put on Jesus or leave Him in the closet. “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don‘t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires“ (Romans 13:14 NLT). If you’re so busy with going here and there, and doing this and that, you may not even be able to find Jesus to put Him on. If your closet of life is cluttered with stuff, Jesus will just continue to hang around waiting to be worn.

I enjoy going through drawers, cabinets, and closets to throw out stuff that serves no purpose. Christians have to do the same thing spiritually. “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT). You have to take off something old in order to put on something new. It would be dumb for someone to put clean underwear on over the top of dirty ones. (If brains were gasoline, she couldn’t ride a moped around a fruit loop!)

A baby is coddled and bottled and that’s sweet. But if a Christian is expecting God to do everything for him/her, that stinks. God has His part and we have our part. Paul says believers are to “put on our new nature.” By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to dress ourselves with the presence of Jesus every day — one size fits all.

The Key: Beware! If your underwear stinks, then you’re the one to change it.

Americans and Canadians are now leaving Mexico and heading home for the summer, and with a goal of ending up with no food in our condos, “Refrigerator Clean-Out” parties abound. So, we all congregate in the condominium of the ones leaving, pick what kinds of cheese or meats or canned goods we might use, thank our generous friends, and then, a few days later, have our own departing exodus get-together, many times giving away what we took from those who left before us.

We prepare our condominiums until we return (hopefully) in the fall. Darkened shades protect the furniture from the sun’s damage, fans help with air circulation, underwear is placed in the refrigerator (Not kidding; it saves the elastic), cars are garaged with trickle-charge batteries attached, and we pray for the best. “Best” meaning no hurricane or tsunami or earthquake or saltwater damage.

Yesterday, making up for lost time, I had a massage.

For years I have heard raves about Corina, the gal who comes to our complex and is a master at relieving tension. She is not for wimps. Corina started off gently, rubbing my shoulder blades before pressing some area above my hip that shot me into orbit. Hers was a two-hand approach, one kneading my left shoulder area near my spine and the other on that hip spot. Mine was a “try not to whimper” approach. Occasionally Corina would find some body part not filled with marbles, but that was rare, and trust me, holding my breath instead of squeezing her tonsils as a reflexive response was exhausting. Following our time together, I spent an hour trying to figure out how my kidneys ended up above my lungs.

Corina’s hands were weapons, a gift from God to torture those of us willing to hand over 500 pesos ($25.00) to be woman-handled.

Yesterday, the day before Dave and I left Mazatlán, I took my friend Saundra’s advice and made an appointment with Diana, the lady across the street who gives facials. My face, it seems, required about 16 steps to repair its damage, the fifth of which was preempted with these words. “This might make you feel like your face is on fire, but it’s necessary because of the sun’s harm to your skin.” At that point, Diana threw kerosene on my face and lit it with a blow torch. By the 10^th step when she “exfoliated” the dirt lurking in the skin of my nose, I was sure I would be faceless for the rest of my life.

Driving across the mountains of Mexico today was a piece of tres-leches cake compared to the pain endured on body parts I had ignored for far too long but had spent hours of the two previous days repairing. Experts were able to see problems under the surface of my skin that I had no idea were there. Instead of a maintenance program, I had allowed things to get out of hand…or back…or face…or wherever. And I paid a price for ignoring what I needed to do.

Don’t we all do that with our spiritual lives? We go through the motions of daily happenings and ignore the warning signs of what our faith requires until jolted awake by our expert Creator, the One who sees danger below the surface. We are shocked by the damage done when our sins get out of control and question why we did not do a maintenance check on our spiritual life.

When did I stop talking to Jesus throughout the day? How did it become so easy not to attend church? What happened to my New Years’ oath that I would study my Bible on a regular basis? If those questions represent you, perhaps it is time for some spiritual kneading or burning or exfoliating…you know, a maintenance program none of us can fail to ignore.

Keys to the Kingdom

Carolyn Tucker

 

My dad served in the United States Army on the front lines in Germany during World War II. In his later years, he once told me, “It kills me to hear Taps sounded.” I know for a fact that he’s not the only veteran who felt that way. This haunting mournful bugle call is sounded by the United States Armed Forces at dusk, during flag ceremonies, and at military funerals. Dad was in the heat of the battle in the European Theatre from 1944-1946 and he witnessed many of his buddies killed or injured. When Taps are sounded, tears stream down my face as I think about all the brave veterans and their sacrifices.

The Bible best describes a U.S. veteran who dies for his/her Country: “No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIRV). Dying for something you believe in is the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day commemorates the brave men and women who died in battle, or as a result of wounds sustained in battle, while serving their Country and fighting for freedom.

It grieves me to see some Americans lightly treat Memorial Day as simply an opportunity to get together, have a picnic, and start the summer off with a bang. The only reason we’re even able to do that is because of our valiant Armed Forces. Honoring and mourning the loss of those who have died in the line of duty should be the #1 priority on Memorial Day. In addition, Americans have also taken this opportunity to decorate the graves of all their loved ones, not just military graves. God cares about all those who die. “His loved ones are very precious to Him and He does not lightly let them die” (Psalm 116:15 TLB).

When our veterans die for others, there is no more that love can do to show dedication to their fellow man. Fallen soldiers give their lives to protect everyone — not just family and friends but strangers too. They die for those who refuse to salute the flag. They die for those who take freedom for granted. They die for those who refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance. They even die for those who don’t stand for the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

For those who die in Christ, they have a rich reward. “…when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see You face to face” (Psalm 17:15 TLB). Even though God’s Word states that we’re born to die, I don’t see many volunteering for it. Everyone I know is trying to stay alive. But when an unselfish individual signs up for the military, there’s a chance he/she will come home in a flag-draped coffin.

Taps is sounded nightly in military installations to indicate “lights out” and mark the end of an evening. The lights have gone out on our Nation’s fallen heroes, but let’s keep the memories of their brave sacrifices burning brightly in our hearts. The National Moment of Remembrance takes place across America at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Let us pray for those who mourn and also for our national leaders.

The Key: The flag of the United States of America doesn‘t unfurl because the wind blows it. It reverently unfurls with the last breath of every veteran who died to protect it.

He appeared to be no older than six or seven. Dave and I were on a four-lane road at a stop light in Mazatlán, Mexico, when he walked in front of all of the cars, carrying two plastic balls. The young juggler was going to perform for tips. The only problem was that he couldn’t juggle. He spent more time chasing his errant ball between cars than he did catching it mid-air. Plus, one cannot call transferring two balls from hand to hand “juggling.” Still, many drivers saw beyond his lack of talent and tipped the youngster. Here in Mexico, it is not uncommon for “entertainers” to camp out at busy intersections. From stilt-walkers to break dancers to fire jugglers to acrobats to musicians, all distract bored drivers and passengers, hoping for a few pesos of gratitude. Occasionally entrepreneurs walk up and down the rows of stopped cars, selling strawberries, trash bags or some yellow drink in a water bottle (which I have no plans to ever try). Groups wash windshields for tips, firemen hold out their helmets for handouts, amputees sit on corners, hoping to earn a living, and blind people are led by a helping friend through the rows of cars. You get the picture. There is no shortage of diversions while waiting for a light to turn green. The other day, however, I saw something disturbing. Across the busy street, standing in front of stopped cars coming the opposite direction, was a woman with a child—a child, not an infant– strapped horizontally on her back, while she attempted to juggle. Just as I noticed her, the light changed, and she hustled to the sidewalk area. I determined that when we returned and would be on her side of the street, I would give her more than the usual amount we donate. Our errand was a short one, but when we drove to her spot, she was gone. I was sick. How desperate this mother had to be to traverse through stopped cars in the hot sun doing whatever it took to make a little money! Had I been intentional, I could have had Dave stop in the parking lot after we crossed the intersection and run the money over to her. Instead, I opted to wait until it was convenient. Convenient. Probably not a word in this woman’s vocabulary. What can be convenient about spending my day begging, having no one to watch my toddler while being a side- show for the travelers too inconvenienced to help out? 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us to keep a sense of urgency, whether the situation is convenient or inconvenient, and Proverbs 3:27-28 reinforces Timothy’s writing: Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow. The intersection where that occurred is about 20 minutes from our house. I have returned there a few times, but the woman has been replaced by political supporters working for the upcoming election. Not only did this begging woman lose, but so did I. Pastor Jonathan Del Turco reminds us of who benefits from being put out: “Life teaches us that all too often the best things in life – its greatest breakthroughs, miracles and memories – seem to be deliberately placed just beyond our convenient reach.” I wish I would have thought of that when I had the chance.

Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker

 

The sound of music — there’s nothing like it! It’s powerful enough to uplift your mood if you’re down in the dumps. The evil spirit that plagued King Saul would utterly vanish when young David played his harp for him. The day God created me, He threw in a little of this and a little of that. But He poured in a gallon of musical sauce that’s still seasoning my life. As a kid, I heard a beautiful song that has stuck with me for 56 years. “What the World Needs Now is Love,” written by Hal David (lyrics) and Burt Bacharach (music), was released by recording artist Jackie DeShannon on April 15, 1965.

The other day I was discussing this particular song with a musician friend and the word “timeless” came up. Because the world needed love, God provided it through what His only Son did at Calvary. And then from the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” He accomplished His part, so now it’s in the hands of believers all over the world to love their neighbor. It’s pert near impossible to truly love others if the love of Jesus isn’t inside you. And even then, it can be a gargantuan challenge if the other person has a scratchy personality.

Sometimes I cut the tag off of my clothing because it’s scratchy and irritating. Some people are like tags, but you can’t just cut them off. We must learn to deal with them and love them like Jesus would. Books have been written on how to love people you don’t like, but none are better than the Bible. “Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13 GW). That’s a tall order, but Christians aren’t called to just love the lovable.

Songwriter Hal David was inspired to pen these enduring words: “What the world needs now is love sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for some, but for everyone.” The world still needs the timeless God-kind of love that emanates from believers. Here’s a red-letter scripture from the mouth of Jesus that’s sure to be a challenge for all of us who are followers of Christ: “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:35,36 NLT).

Have you ever wondered how to obey God’s command to love someone you can’t stand to be around? As usual, Jesus is our example because He practiced what He preached. In John Chapter 13, Jesus knew the time had come to ascend back to the Father. He loved all His disciples in the highest degree right to the very end. By now, the devil had Judas Iscariot firmly in his grip and everything was set for the betrayal. After supper, Jesus set aside his robe and put on a servant’s apron, poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. If we had been in Jesus’ sandals, we might have chosen not to wash Judas’ feet. But Jesus did the right thing by not showing partiality and demonstrating His boundless love to that scratchy disciple. We can choose to love like that too.

The Key: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

“Friends are the family you choose.” Jess C. Scott

Barry, my husband’s longtime baseball buddy, once told him that if you have five close friends when you die, you are lucky. I thought that sad, but the older I get, I realize the blessing—and rarity–that close friends really are. This morning I was examining the friendship between David and King Saul’s son, Jonathan. The chapters in 1 Samuel I find tragic, largely because of Saul’s schizophrenic behavior. One day the king hums along as David accompanies him on the harp, and the next day he throws a javelin at the musician’s head. Into that royal family, Jonathan was born. (I hope you can’t relate.) Scripture says that Jonathan, the King apparent and himself a courageous warrior, was caught in the middle. On days when Saul was in a “Today I’m going to murder David” mood, Jonathan defended Goliath’s slayer, convincing his father to honor David’s bravery and deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Sometimes Saul listened; sometimes, not. Jonathan, recognizing his father’s cruel, unforgiving nature as well as God’s desire for David to one day rule as Israel’s king, made a covenant with David, forgoing his own right to step into the king’s role to which he was entitled by giving David his robe, armor, sword, bow and belt. He easily could have despised David for taking his (Jonathan’s) rightful position. Instead, according to Chapter 18 v. 3, Jonathan loved David “as his own soul.” Their bond of friendship was to last forever. Am I that kind of friend? I mean, I care deeply for my friends, but if I’m in line to be King (or in my case, Queen), I question if I would act so unselfishly. Especially when it means I betray my parent (although that’s probably not so difficult since Saul even tried to murder Jonathan). Especially when it means I put my life in danger. Especially when it means my friendship is pretty one-sided. Especially when it means I will become a casualty instead of wearing the crown. It’s a kind of friendship concerned only with what I give and not what I get. Professor of psychology Robin Dunbar’s research survey concluded that the average number of Facebook friends possessed by most people is around 150. Out of those, 28 might be recognized as low-level “friends.” But when participants were asked how many of those friends would help out in a time of need, emotional distress, or other crisis, the average answer was four. Maybe my husband’s friend was right. Scripture tells us that Jonathan was married and had children and that both he and his father were killed in battle. When news of their death came, the nurse of Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth dropped the young lad when fleeing their home, causing him to be lame. This, years later, gave David an opportunity to repay Jonathan for saving his life multiple times as he offered to help “someone” in his former friend’s family. Mephibosheth was suggested, so David had the boy brought to him. From then on, Jonathan’s son was treated like one of David’s children. It’s a sweet ending to a friendship—and a rarity of Old Testament happy news– that appeared so one-sided for so many years, a payback for Jonathan who loved David unconditionally. It’s the kind of friend I hope to be. A forever friendship…forever.

 

 

Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker

 

You can stick in the corner of my eye what I know about playing cards. Although I have three decks of cards in my possession, it’s only because each card has a different photo of Elvis on the back. Old Maid was the only card game in my childhood home! All I know about playing cards is what I’ve seen on Western movies and heard from Kenny Rogers’ hit song, “The Gambler.” I think you’re supposed to have a holstered Hogleg tied to your thigh just in case there‘s any cheatin’ goin’ on. I could never play Poker because I don’t have the essential “poker face,” plus I wouldn’t know a winning hand from a losing hand even if it slapped me in the face.

But on the other hand, if you’re gonna play the game of life, you gotta learn to play it right. That’s where Jesus comes onto the scene in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I’m grateful for the word “whoever” because it’s all inclusive. No one can be cut out of eternal life except the player who refuses to believe in Jesus. Our choice determines our destiny, so choose wisely. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV).

Righteousness is God’s gift to all the “whoevers” from the beginning to the end of time. As with any gift, we have the free will to take it or pass on it. Everyone has the responsibility to choose and the power to act without being forced. Righteousness is freely given to anyone who truly believes in what God did for him/her through Christ Jesus. [“Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:24 AMP).

In 1982, The Hinsons released their hit song, “Two Winning Hands” written by Ronny Hinson. Partial lyrics from this “sermon set to music” speak for themselves: “Don’t gamble on life with all your luck and your skill. ’Cause you can’t play the cards that death’s gonna deal. The Bible has planned who the loser is gonna be. Ain’t but two winning hands and they were nailed to a tree. That same Jesus you’ve heard of can take a black heart without love, wash it in red blood and make it whiter than snow.”

The stakes are too high to gamble on your eternal destiny. Don’t place a bet with the devil thinking you can run your own life successfully. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 GNT). The devil is the master deceiver who knows how to bluff his weak hand. He’s been tricking mankind into believing God’s Word isn’t true ever since the Garden of Eden. Don’t be a loser and fall for Satan‘s lies. Choose to be a winner with the King on your side.

The problem with unstable people is that they’re apt to fold. But grounded believers place their confidence in Christ to keep a victory hold.

The Key: Put your hand in the hand of the One who will never lose.

When God created penguins, I bet the angels giggled. There are few creatures, I believe, as entertaining, and today, when I met Haley, a young gal who works in Antarctica during the winter months, I learned a few things about their behavior.

 

Haley shared that in her area penguins rule, and with no fear of humans, they come by to hang out, occasionally bringing presents like rocks or dead fish which they lay at her feet. For the most part they are friendly, unless being tagged by scientists; then they slap their flippers against the workers’ shins, leaving them badly bruised. Haley had proof.

 

Penguins there are well protected. One day, when a helicopter was needing to land and a group of penguins chose the runway for their squatters’ hangout, a “penguin manager” had to be called to use his expertise to not agitate (or touch) the animals while encouraging them to waddle off to another location. Only because the pilot radioed that he had 15 minutes of fuel left were the seabirds relocated. It was a really, really big deal. Each country involved in Antarctica’s scientific study and international treaty had to be alerted to the penguin conundrum.

 

Haley said that the environmentalists have protected the Antarctic in regards to everything having the potential to endanger species or trash the continent. Since the ocean is not to be used as a garbage bin, food scraps are smashed into special boxes which are loaded onto freighters and taken to the West coat of the U.S. where they are discarded.

 

I know all of this—and more than I have room to write– only because I asked questions. Many questions.

 

Earlier that day, Dave and I had played pickleball with Haley’s parents where I learned that one daughter played volleyball, one had been in musical theatre, and one loved the environment.

 

After our games, we met for breakfast where their daughter Haley joined us, and I asked her which child she was. She laughed and answered that she was the “middle child, no one special.”

 

When I questioned what she did for a living, she said that she scheduled helicopters.

 

Pretty boring, I thought, but I continued prodding, only to find she had a double degree in molecular science and international finance, was an Alaska guide, had gone on a 72-day kayak trip and now lived in Antarctica.

“No one special”? This gal was off the charts with what she had accomplished in her 20+ years.

 

Mind you, Haley volunteered none of this information. I had to pry it out of her, but soon her answers were longer than just a few words as she saw my excitement in learning about an area of the world I probably never would visit.

 

Not only was I blessed, but so was Haley, the “middle child, no one special,” as she felt edified and appreciated. You see, everyone has a story.

 

EVERYONE! Not one of God’s creations is “no one special,” and a Christian’s responsibility, I believe, is to make sure that they know it.

 

Jesus was the master at engaging the “no one specials.” Read John 4:1-30 where he encounters the woman at the well and changes her life because her story was important to him.

 

If we don’t give others a chance to share their stories, not only do we lose, but so do they. Sometimes we just have to be willing to ask.

 

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Hayward Tucker

 

Even though I’ve been a mother for 34 years, I usually don’t think of myself but rather my own mother as Mother’s Day approaches. Most everyone believes they have/had the best Mom in the world, and they should. The last time my brother and I celebrated this special day with our Mom was 2015. The definition of angel is: a spiritual being who acts as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God with greater-than-human power appearing in human figure with wings and halo; a person of exemplary conduct and virtue. Hmm, this description sounds a lot like a loving mother.

According to the dictionary, a mother is the female parent of a child. That matter-of-fact definition doesn’t butter my biscuit at all. A mother is a teacher of faith, a giver of hope, and God’s earthly example of love. In addition to the usual information, Mom’s headstone has five words engraved on it: “An Exemplary Life of Love.” In 1 Corinthians 13, we find that love is the more excellent way to live. There’s faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.

The supreme goal for all mothers is to practice love. Love is most important because it lasts forever. When children have been loved appropriately during their nurturing years at home, they will continue to carry that love until their last breath.

Mom’s words still resound in the warm and fuzzy places of my heart. Her teaching topics on everyday life were quite varied: “Be sure your sins will find you out.” “Smile at everyone — it doesn’t cost you anything.” “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” “Shoes make or break your outfit.” “Never leave the kitchen while you’re baking cookies because you need to watch them so they don’t overbake.” “Keep your word, do what you say you’ll do, and be dependable.” “You might as well laugh as cry.” “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all.“ She also proved that God had first place in her heart by her everyday lifestyle.

Country/gospel music artist Randy Travis released the song “Angels” in 2004. Buck Moore, Troy Seals, and Harvey McNalley co-wrote the song. Here are some of the lyrics that will warm your heart and make your eyes leak: “Me and some of the boys were sitting around the other night and started talking about politics, religion, love and life; and is there or isn’t there angels here on earth. And then one guy said, ’If it’s something I can see or something I can touch, well I might believe in all that stuff.’ So I just had to say to him, ’Are you tellin’ me that you’ve never seen an angel? Never felt the presence of one standing by? No robe of white, no halo in sight, well you missed the most obvious thing! Man, are you blind? Just look in your mother’s eyes.’” (I suggest you to go online and give this song a listen.)

Mom began keeping a diary when her first grandchild was born in 1970. After she died, I found multiple diaries and eagerly read them. I was tearfully impacted by her acts of love in her daily life and I decided that I wanted to be like her. Because being like her was the same as being like Jesus.

The Key: A loving mother is as close to an angel as you can get. Happy Mother’s Day!

On my recent trip to Florida, I hurriedly rounded the aisle in Target, my daughter-in-law and grandbaby waiting for me in the car. An agitated, middle-aged man was talking on his cell phone. “I’m so sick of Christians,” he said. “In all my years in the business world, no one has stabbed me in the back more and been more crooked than they have.” I continued pushing my shopping cart away from the man who wasn’t through giving us a tongue-lashing. I wanted to linger, to tell him that I was sorry and to say that we all aren’t like that. Then again, maybe too many of us are. I certainly have my moments. Fewer, the older I get, but there still are times I don’t represent Jesus Christ very well. Jesus spoke of his “followers” who failed to embody the fruits of the spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These people pretend well and are referred in Scripture as “lukewarm” Christians. Francis Chan spends a chapter in his best-seller Crazy Love describing behaviors of people in this category. Following is a short list of his descriptions. These people:

give money to charity and the church…as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living care more about what others think of them than what God thinks of them don’t want to be saved from their sin but only from the penalty of their sin fail to share their faith for fear of being rejected gauge their morality by how they compare to the secular world have a hard time loving anyone other than those who love them back or don’t disappoint them

Here in Mexico, I have befriended Jessie, a sweet, young woman who is studying to be a missionary. A few weeks ago, she called me and said that her team of missionaries was at the beach near our condominium, and she wanted to talk. When I picked her up a few minutes later, she was wearing her swimsuit with a cover-up and shorts. I could tell immediately she was struggling with something. I was not prepared for what she had to share.

“I gave all my clothes away last night,” she began.

“All? And how would you define ‘all’ your clothes?” I asked. Apparently, all meant all, except for what she had on. At base camp the previous night, the discussion had been about our idols and what we love more than God. Two girls shaved their heads because they found that their hair determined much of their self-worth. Jess prayed about it and realized that she loved her clothes far too much, so she gave them away. “Well, honey, you can’t go to your classes this week in the outfit you’re wearing now,” I reminded her. She knew that, and within a few hours, I drove her back to her base, finding my closet now barer than when Jess arrived. Somehow, not surprisingly, her sacrifice had become mine as well. I had to laugh. The first commandment states that we are to have no god before God, yet lukewarm Christians do just that. Anything we don’t want to do without has the potential to be the one thing we probably should do without, if we want to grow in our faith. If the “Christians” with which the man in Target worked had put God before the idol of their business transactions, his conversation about them might have been radically different. We all must understand that we have the potential to be the person(s) about whom he was talking.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

Brylcreem pomade hit the shelves in 1928 and has since become an iconic hair cream. Most TV commercials are forgettable, but the one for Brylcreem is not. I remember the jingle more than the instructions on how to use it. At the age of five, I wasn’t really interested in having gorgeous hair that attracted a lot of girlfriends. However, it seemed to work for my one-and-only older brother. The lasting impression I got was that it didn’t take much of the product to style your hair — just a little dab is all ya needed.

 

There may be seasons in your life when just a little dab of prayer is all you can squeeze out. Sometimes your heart can be like a bottle of ketchup. You open it, turn it upside down and pound on it but nothing comes out. When your heart is heavy, don’t despair because a sincere one-sentence prayer will get the attention of your heavenly Father. You can say,  “I love You.” Or “Please help me.” Or “I trust You.”

 

I’m not against lengthy prayers, that’s not the point. We simply need to understand that prayer is a comfortable privilege. Being part of a loving family has privileges such as eating whatever you find in the refrigerator or cabinet. When God’s children face a problem, they have the privilege of immediately giving it to God in prayer. He’s volunteered for the job and you can trust Him to do it right. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).

 

Believers are to pray to our heavenly Father in Jesus’ name. Jesus said, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you“ (John 16:23 NKJV).  Jesus is our intercessor, lawyer, and friend. He sorts our words and thoughts, makes them perfect, and then sends them on to the Father. By the time they get to Him, they’re fixed up right because Jesus knows how to do His job.

 

Believers don’t have to use eloquent words to touch the heart of God. Jesus is your closest friend and the Holy Spirit is your personal helper and these two already know what’s on your mind and in your heart. A best friend can finish your sentences and so can Jesus. We’re assured of this in Psalm 139: 4 NKJV: “For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.“ 

 

Prayer is like breathing. You can pray whenever and wherever you are because it‘s a conversation — it‘s not a ritual. Lots of people put their phone on speaker while talking and continue folding the laundry or peeling potatoes. You don’t have to be on your knees to pray — you can if you want to, but you can also pray and slop the hogs at the same time. When a troubling situation comes to your mind, pray about it immediately and refuse to worry.   

 

Prayer is powerful and when we humbly communicate with God, we access grace for the moment and strength for each day. Jesus’ prayer from the cross was not lengthy: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT).

The Key:  A little dab of believing prayer will do a lot of damage to your worries and cares.