2020: The Year of Newness

Unstable. Unpredictable. Unprecedented. It's undeniable that this year has turned the entire world upside down in too many ways to count. But in the midst of all the upheaval, this year has been chock-full of new and wonderful things for me: a new nephew, new co-workers, new ministry strategies, a new home, a new "parenting" experience, new friends, a new role as a writer, new language studies, new medical research and health improvements, even new social media. All this newness, while largely unplanned on my part, has brought me so much joy I could not have imagined if things had kept on as they always have.

New things require change. Some unsettling is a necessity for new developments to move in and take over the old areas of our lives where we may have felt comfortable and secure in the familiar. If we could have seen into the future last first of January, I doubt any of us would have jumped for joy and shouted, "Bring it on!" Yet here we are, at the end of all the trials of 2020, still moving forward. There's no guarantee that 2021 will not bring more of the same challenges, but if there's one thing I've learned this year, it's that God remains the same, and not one headline is news to Him. He will lead us through just as He always has.

And just maybe, 2021 will be the year He comes again to make all things new. I'm waiting, hoping. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Then He who sat on the throne said,

"Behold, I make all things new."

Revelation 21:5

A Prayer for Election Day

O Lord,

Ruler of all nations,

You are sovereign over this day.

You saw the outcome of today’s election before the beginning of time.

You are the One who sets up kings and brings them low.

All powers on earth are subject to your power.

Whatever the result of today’s political race,

Your majesty will remain undiminished,

Your rule unhindered,

and Your glory uncontested.

Thank You that Your people’s hopes are secure in You.

We do not depend on a president,

a governor,

a representative,

a judge,

or any other elected official for our eternal safety.

Our trust is in the omnipotent Christ,

King of kings

and Lord of lords,

the One who has defeated Hell itself for our sake

and has promised us a place in His glorious kingdom.

Grant us wisdom as we cast our votes,

that we may honor You in fulfilling our duty

to the earthly nation where You have ordained that we should live.

Grant us grace to view each candidate and issue from Your perspective,

remembering Your heart for justice, mercy, truth, and love.

Grant us sensitivity to our fellow voters,

both those of our own party

and those who differ,

that we may not sin by degrading those who are made in Your image

for the sake of our own opinions.

If today’s election satisfies our wish for our nation,

Let us not gloat in pride,

but remind ourselves that every temporary institution of man, however great,

must one day become nothing, giving way to Your eternal kingdom.

If our wish for our nation is disappointed in this election,

Let us not respond in anger or fear,

but surrender ourselves to Your perfect will,

trusting in your watchful care over us and all that concerns us.

Whatever the outcome,

let us hold more tightly to our citizenship in Heaven,

and await more eagerly our returning Savior and King.

Amen.

I Just Need...

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Hebrews 13:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Peter 1:3, Philippians 2:13, 4:13, James 4:17

Time and time again throughout my life, I have thought or said, "I just need _____, then I can _____." "I just need more time, then I can have a better devotional life." "I just need So-and-So to take responsibility, then I can forgive him/her." "I just need my own home, then I can have healthy habits." "I just need to get through the next two weeks, then I can relax." Right. The perfect circumstances I'm holding out for may or may not happen, and even if they do, my problems will not magically disappear. I will only find myself wanting more time, more money, more _____ so that maybe then I can meet that elusive far-away goal.

Where would we be if the apostle Paul had had this mindset? "I just need the Lord to heal my thorn in the flesh, then I can preach the Gospel in Asia." Daniel could have said, "I just need to get through the next thirty days, then I can worship God again." But he didn't. The heroes of the Bible are remembered to this day because they were faithful in less than perfect circumstances. It's easy to look at great men and women of the faith and feel that feats like theirs are unattainable for ordinary lives like ours. But all of them had to start somewhere, with many small acts that didn't make it onto the pages of Scripture or history. We have the very same God, rich in the very same grace, and He has provided everything we need to accomplish whatever He sets before us to do in this present moment.

If I let my actions (or lack thereof) depend on anything outside of my control, I am discrediting God's present power in my life and - consciously or unconsciously - presenting Him with an ultimatum: "God, give me _____, then I will act." But God does not need to wait for _____ in order to work in me to will and to do for His good pleasure. He wants me to faithfully do the things I can do right now, however small they may seem, that will move me in the right direction. Through Him I can be consistent in spiritual disciplines, even when I face the pressures of a busy life. Through Him I can forgive others and show them grace, even when they are unrepentant. Through Him I can invest carefully in the physical life He has entrusted to me, even when my circumstances make it difficult. Through Him I can work joyfully and rest wisely, even when life is stressful. The truth is, I just need Jesus.

Living With Grace in Challenging Times

I live with a chronic illness. I don’t do well wearing a mask—trust me, I’ve tried. To be honest, I’m not scared of the virus, even though I fall into the category of “immunocompromised.” I’m as discouraged as anyone by the constantly changing mandates and the daily challenges of these crazy times. But even with a legitimate excuse not to, I still try to comply when necessary. Why?

Maybe our government is overreacting. Maybe our “rights” are being infringed. But the government has not instructed me to do anything wrong. Nor am I outright forbidden to do right, however difficult certain right things like ministry and church may have become. Friends, you are not being persecuted, and even if you were, Jesus would have you accept it with joy (see Matthew 5:10-12). May I remind you, God has instructed us to obey the authorities He has instituted (Romans 13:1-5). If the time comes when we must choose between human law and God’s law, I will certainly follow the higher authority (Acts 5:29), but that time is not now.

No human government has ever flawlessly fulfilled God’s intent, yet Scripture speaks multiple times, without qualifications, of submission to our human authorities. It certainly goes against the grain of our selfish and independent nature! Now is a good time to check your attitude against Titus 3:1-2. Are you submissive and obedient? Are you ready to do good? Do you avoid all slander and quarreling? Are you gentle and courteous? We may disagree with our circumstances, but God’s law stands no matter what we face (1 Peter 2:15-16 is quite applicable). Titus and 1 Peter are great books to give us a Christ-honoring perspective of our times—give them a read and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to practically live out your Christian witness in the midst of the current issues.

Remember, one of these days Jesus is coming back. Meanwhile, your testimony is more important than your freedoms. Don’t let your concern for your comforts, political opinions, or anything else damage the reputation of Christ. Live with grace, love your neighbor, honor God.

Tell Me the Truth

Tell me the truth - how can you smile

When the whole world is falling apart?

What is your secret, or what do you know

That inspires your gladness of heart?

Tell me the truth - why aren't you worried

About the things that could happen to you?

How can you possibly hold on to hope

When fears might sooner come true?

Tell me the truth - how can you be

So patient while plans go awry?

What is the source of your cheerful song,

Carefree as a bird in the sky?

Tell me the truth - why aren't you angry

That everything is out of control?

How did you learn to be so composed

And satisfied deep in your soul?

I'll tell you the truth - you too can know

This same peace and joy that is mine.

The secret you seek is waiting for you

In the love of Christ the Divine.

~April 6, 2020

Unity of the Spirit

I don’t understand racism. And I don’t say that because I’m a white female and have never experienced it. I just don’t get why the color of a person’s skin should have anything at all to do with how they are seen or treated. We’re all humans made in God’s image, after all. But I realize that not everyone believes that...and as long as people are without a basis for valuing others, racism will continue to be a thing.

Today is the celebration of Pentecost, the birthday of the church marked by the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in all believers. That day, people of many nationalities famously heard the Gospel in their own languages. It’s not merely that it was publicly preached for anyone who happened to be able to understand it. No, God supernaturally made sure everyone could understand, clearly demonstrating that His heart is for all people, no matter where they come from, how they speak, or what they look like. The Holy Spirit came to all who believed.

If there’s one place on earth that racism and any other kind of prejudice should be nonexistent, it’s in the church. As if our common humanity is not enough, we share the presence of God Himself. I wonder, how might our relationships be affected if we took time to remember the Holy Spirit’s presence in one another more often? Perhaps we would surprise the world with a love that sees more than the outside.

...maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit...one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:3-4, 6

A Message for the World

I saw a picture recently of a man standing outside a hospital, wearing a signboard that read, "This virus is God's wrath." How sad, I thought, that someone would make an effort to stand out "for God," yet give such an incomplete, misleading message. How many people saw this man's sign, I wonder, and what were their responses? Likely, most simply brushed it off as a joke. Did some agree, pointing fingers at those they believe brought down this said wrath? Or is there anyone now trembling in fear that God will strike them down with the virus because of their sins?

I wish I could talk to the people who saw this message and tell them what God's wrath really means. Maybe this virus is a judgment from the Almighty...or perhaps it's just a natural result of life in this broken world. The passersby outside that hospital needed to hear the truth that the real wrath of God is actually far more serious than any virus, and we all deserve it. God is not some temperamental, petty deity, dealing out punishments of disease and death as the mood takes him. He is absolutely and unchangingly just and good, and every one of us is rightly doomed for committing treason against Him by our sinful thoughts, words, and actions. But even this is not the whole truth.

I wish I could tell those people that there is another side of the story the man on the street completely left out. Despite His wrath against evil, God is not hateful towards humans - far from it. The suffering and death caused by this virus, and all other evils, deeply grieves His heart. And every rebel traitor His justice condemns is paradoxically an object of His deepest love. Out of this love, God did the unimaginable: He satisfied the demands of justice by punishing His own perfect Son, to freely offer forgiveness and acceptance to those least deserving of it. Jesus received the full terror of God's wrath at the cross, so that those who trust Him need never experience one bit of it. This is the message the world needs to hear, and I pray they will hear it.

But God shows His love for us in that while

we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that He gave

His only Son, that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Taking Stock of Privileges

When I was a kid, losing privileges was the most dreaded consequence for wrongdoing. This country girl didn't get out in the big world very often, so if I happened to misbehave just before a trip to town was planned, it was a particularly stinging punishment if I had to miss it. As an adult, I still don't get out in the big world much...mostly because there's not a great deal out there to interest me. But now that I'm suddenly not allowed to go out even if I wanted to, I'm realizing just how many privileges I've been taking for granted.

Life goes on pretty much as usual for me, since I work alone in my office and mind my own business at home most of the time anyway. There are so many privileges I can still enjoy, and I'm learning to appreciate them all the more. I'm suddenly very grateful that I have an office to work from and plenty of work to do when many people don't. I'm grateful for time to catch up on things I've been putting off for much too long. I'm grateful for a place to stay home in and an amazing grandma to stay home with. I'm grateful for good food, communication technology, and the postal service. Living a simple, quiet life is truly a tremendous privilege, and I'm glad for the opportunity to be intentional about making the most of it.

Of course, there are privileges I have to do without that I somehow never bothered to notice until there were suspended. Being able to make plans with some degree of certainty is a privilege. So is the ability to visit family and friends. Too often I've failed to make plans to get together with people, for no good reason, and now that I have a reason I can't control, I miss it. And I miss ministry. I knew I enjoyed seeing my students every week at Good News Club, but since that privilege was taken away without warning, I have to admit how much I did take my time with them for granted. It is a gift to be able to look in a child's eyes and tell him how much Jesus loves him, yet the wonder of it has far too often been lost on me. The ability to make a personal impact on others' lives is a remarkable privilege that deserves much more appreciation.

What if this sudden halt to the busyness of normal life is really what we needed more than anything? Maybe it's time to take stock of our privileges and gratefully acknowledge the many wonderful gifts we have, crisis or no crisis. If a temporary restriction of our freedom inspires us to consciously make better use of it now and for the future, it will be time very well spent!

Incomprehensible Love

According to the World Population Clock, there are at the present moment over 7,632,846,000 human beings alive on this planet. The sheer number of souls created in God's image is utterly staggering, each one different from all the rest, full of purpose and potential. More incomprehensible still is the fact that God profoundly knows and loves all of them. I am acquainted with only a tiny sampling of humanity, and have a tough time loving even those I know the best!

What would it be like to love as God loves? Could we begin to understand the depth of it, even for a moment, for just one person? If we could, I'm certain it would break us. The best love I've ever been able to offer is so pitifully weak, fickle, and limited; a drop in the ocean compared to God's infinitely vast, everlastingly faithful, incredibly powerful love for His creatures. I can try to love a few people who happen to attract my affections in some way, but He by nature overflows with perfect love for even the most repulsive members of our race.

Just since I started this post, more unique individuals have started life on this earth than I may ever know in my lifetime, yet God's love has not spread thin. Try to comprehend this truth, and you will find it more than your mind can hold. This is our God, whose love defies all understanding!

I pray that you...may have power...to grasp

how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.

Ephesians 3:17-19

A Perfect World?

I never thought I'd be one to say it, but I quite enjoy dystopian fiction. Well, I'm not sure enjoy is the right word, seeing that one of its main hallmarks is an exceptional amount of tragedy...but it makes me think. The recent trend of stories about a world trying to pull itself out of chaos (with disastrous results our unfortunate protagonists must then suffer and survive) speaks to the unsettling times our own world is in. There is a sense that we are precariously near something that may upend the world as we know it, and we see a variety of tenacious efforts to preserve the stability of society in the midst of rapid, unprecedented changes.

To me, dystopian stories dramatically illustrate many of the moral tensions facing our postmodern world. We must wrestle with very real and difficult questions, such as:

• How far is it acceptable go in the effort to establish and maintain peace?
• What is the responsibility of leaders towards the people they govern?
• When is it permissible to sacrifice the individual for the greater good?
• Who gets to set standards and determine what is good for others?
• What qualities are fundamentally necessary to a healthy society?
• What is worth fighting for, and what is to be resisted at all costs?
• Where is the balance between order and freedom?

The answers to questions like these seem increasingly unattainable as our world subtly grows more and more like the stuff of fiction. But maybe the stories have it right after all -- even with the best of intentions, human efforts to create a perfect world inevitably lead to horrific abuses of power and ultimately greater suffering. Attempts to control humanity end in a tragic loss of humanity. A brave few may stand up against the system, but always at tremendous cost and for seemingly little gain. And there the stories end, with the haunting question: Was it worth it?

Is there any good option for those who bemoan the world's ills? We may follow the tide of human effort in vain hopes of holding onto as much of the familiar as possible. We may shout desperately in equally vain hopes of reversing the world's self-destructive trends. We may throw up our hands in despair and hide away while everything crumbles around us. Or, as believers, we can remember that Jesus told us this would happen, and stake all our hope on the promise of His coming. Yes, it is worth it to faithfully do what's right, even though we will almost certainly lose in the world's eyes. For us, the ultimate answer will be found in the Lord's return and the perfect world only He can build!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death

or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 22:4