CHUTES AND LADDERS

When I was very young, about 20 years old, I remember earnestly praying for God to guide me, to show me His will for my life. The more silent His response, the more fervently I prayed, but alas, the yellow brick road never appeared! I was looking for revelation of where and what I was supposed to be 20 years ahead, so I could hone my skills and somehow reach that plateau God and I had in mind.

As it turned out, I can see flaws in my plan and can see the pattern of my growth as it has occurred and can see the resemblance to the Biblical plans referenced as 40 days or 40 years as they are recorded; the Israelites languishing in the desert 40 years because of fear and rebellion, Moses' flight and lengthy exile far from his ultimate destiny (time God used to refine and prepare him for service), Noah's 40 days in the ark, Jesus's 40 days facing Satan in the desert and His 40 days on earth after resurrection before returning to His throne in Heaven.

Like an infant who depends on others to feed him until he matures and becomes able to take responsibility for his own future, a young Christian may live from Sunday to Sunday, fed by his Pastor. Some, like me, linger in this state, growing very slowly, for years, before actively searching spiritual meat for themselves, before hearing God speak clearly to their spirit.

It seems God’s plan is to teach us one truth daily, one command or instruction, instead of over-whelming us with knowledge of the rocky road ahead. (Think: If Jesus had foretold His apostles the horrible deaths waiting ahead, who would follow?) Once we obey that instruction, He will give us another—a ladder we climb one step at a time. However, until we obey what He has told us, He will remain silent. But we don’t remain poised on that level, we slide backward, like the game Chutes and Ladders—but there is a penalty in sliding back: loss of fellowship and guidance from our Father while we stumble in the dark.

Though I was saved and baptized by the age of 8, I now see I was developing very slowly, maintaining week to week on sermons I heard, coasting the rest of the week, until I attended a life-changing revival at age 40. Suddenly I was ravenous for God’s written word and listening for His voice in my heart. I felt complete, filled with new knowledge, strong faith and confidence, fearless for my future, though this was a time of great turmoil, losing my mother, soon after losing my marriage, with 2 daughters nearing adulthood. I stopped worrying, gave worry to God, where it belonged.

I was happy now and complacent, living at this new level for about another 40 years—until age and health began to limit my life to a smaller existence, a time of reminiscence and awareness of missed opportunities no longer available and a sense of urgency for those few souls still in my part of the world to know our Savior. He has given me a new hunger and boldness, a passion, to share things He has taught me, even to deaf ears. My job now to speak; His to open ears and hearts.

Come soon, Lord!

             But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount
             up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and
             not faint.                                  Isaiah 40:31


             Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall 
             be filled.                                   Matthew 5:6    

I pray when I leave this world, I can kneel at His throne and say:

            I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
                                                                  2 Timothy 4:7

















                                 

     

Here We Go Again

Have you ever found yourself facing a problem, one you thought you had resolved before, and you find yourself stumbling toward the answers you thought you had locked in? That’s where I am today. It’s just like Windows 8 all over again. I came so close to giving up.

See, I know me. Just as my feet no longer dance through their day, my brain, though still there (praise the Lord), no longer absorbs great lumps of facts in a sprint—I have to settle into a marathon or sit in my recliner in front of the TV and grow moss on my brain.

Once again I have taken the challenge to venture further into this new millennium. I traded my cute little flip phone for the smart-alec phone. At least, that’s what I call it now. Someday it will mean more to me or so I tell myself.

After the first week, I’m familiar with the alarm clock and can make a call. Sandy waves her hands across its screen and many wondrous things flash by my eyes, then disappear once she hands it back to me.

Remembering my love/hate relationship with Windows 8, I recall how I survived and realized here we go again! Take notes this time, Doris—the subject is bound to arise again; you’re not going away any time soon, so get with the program: start small, exercise a little every day instead of cramming for the exam—that doesn’t work any more, build those powerful muscles behind your eyes little by little, day by day, and never quit, never give up. And this new phone will give you a few of its secrets as you go!

I may be slow, but this time I think I’ve got it.

Just like the daily walk—not sprint—with God. In this life you can never learn all the wonderful promises in His Holy Bible, never perfectly follow His path. No one can, so don’t give up. Just keep practicing using those verses you learn along the way to keep you on His path without letting doubts discourage you and steal you away. You'll get there.

Shiny Toys

Today Andy Stanley said: The kingdom of this world is designed to distract you from what really matters.”

This reminded me of distracting a bored baby by jingling a shiny keyring to distract him. You know it works. Why should we be surprised that the same ploy works so well for Satan? He knows if we’re Christ’s followers, our souls are safe, but he can steal our joy and fellowship with our Father, diminish our obedience, rob us of time, hours, years of service to our calling by deceit and distraction. "You can go to church next week--a party like this is rare as a blue moon. "Everybody will be there for good, clean fun. (BYOB) No harm done." Warning: Distraction!                    

We’re too smart to be fooled, right? We’re not babies. Really?

Why are there football games back-to-back Sundays? Spicy, guilty-pleasure television shows? Why are shopping malls open Sundays? Why X-rated movies ANY day? For the first half my life these didn’t exist for mainstream folks, but mainly in the mind of someone bored or greedy for fame and fortune. Shopping for non-essentials on Sunday violated the “blue laws”, designed for workers’ day of rest and worship. Satan reminds us that watching TV isn’t wrong. Football isn’t either. Unless it steals time we should be using in better ways. That’s where Deceit succeeds (and makes millionaires of his people, but trust me, you can't take it with you).

Sundays families gathered after church to eat, visit, rest, take a scenic ride in the family car – together. Change is not inherently progress. Let's not fall for his shiny toys.

   1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
      3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.  Romans 12:1-3

A New Car

                                   

Thinking back over the last 25 years, I have had the pleasure of acquiring three new cars, right from the showroom. Along with the title, I was presented with the Manufacturer’s Warranty, spelling out my responsibilities for the care of the new vehicle.

No one required any promise from me to follow explicitly all the instructions. I think they expected anyone smart enough to have a driver’s license and car insurance would understand that the manufacturer who built the car knew best how to maintain its safety and reliability. Read it or not, the car was mine. Following the instructions and suggestions was optional. Life expectancy and reliability of the vehicle was not optional.

The warranty was based on the quality of my care, my following the basic rules, caring and feeding the new baby properly: changing its tires, oil, well-baby checks at the dealership or other professional caregiver, routine maintenance and learning the unique features not included in my previous car. 

Consequences of ignoring the manufacturer’s manual was usually expensive in one way or another, when the vehicle required intensive care.

Same way with the Bible. Really, did you think it was just a “vanity-published book” , created by God to pat Himself on the back for His own amusement?

Consider that He is the manufacturer of humans in His spiritual likeness (which everyone since Adam has rebelled against at times). Consider that He knows you inside and out, front to back, head and heart to toes and wants to introduce you to the best way to live and become prepared for an eternal future with Him, warranty and all. Same as with the new car, following the Manufacturer’s instruction manual is optional; the result is not optional.

How to Get What We Really Want

According to Andy Stanley, everybody wants something, every day. Tomorrow we will lose interest in today’s “want”—we’ll want something new every tomorrow. Yesterday’s prize no longer sparkles. it no longer satisfies. Perpetual pleasure gratification is addictive but perpetual satisfaction is the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  

Simply put, I may want cheesecake today, ice cream tomorrow and someday to lose 15 pounds, but getting what I want on all my todays will prevent my getting what I really want—new clothes one size down! That elusive someday never gets any closer.

Andy says, "Lurking in the shadow of what we want is what we value. We never get what we really want until we discover what we really value, what would satisfy, keep us happy long-term."

We stay busy deciding what we want right now, resulting in a lifetime of chasing the rainbow and end up with nothing more than our most recent “want”. Pleasure is transient, joy and contentment happen over time. That’s why we laugh at the tee-shirt printed with the demand “Lord, give me patience and I want it right now!”  Down deep we have to admit that’s no way to live.

Something time has taught me over the years is that happiness catches up with you when you're busy doing something for someone else.

Faith and Gratitude

 What has God done for you lately?

We know God loves us. We've been told this from childhood. We accept as if we deserved it and may become unaware of His intervention and watch care. And since He is omniscient, we believe that He knows in our hearts that we love and appreciate His many gifts (beginning with our existence). So why is it important to acknowledge His role in our lives?

Let's look at this from another angle. You have a friend who is always in hot water, struggling to stay afloat, and who asks for your help. You quickly agree because this is your dear friend and you drop everything to assist in finding a way out of this current trouble. Your friend is grateful and you feel relief that all is well.

But before you get your own life back on schedule, your dear friend calls again; again you rearrange your schedule and rush to help. And soon this pattern is established; your friend seems to expect you to drop everything when you get the 911 call. And if you are not instantly available, you sense a little impatience or resentment implying that you are unfeeling and selfish, and a distance grows between you. Your friend begins to resent your failure to rescue and may even blame you for the latest pit he or she has fallen into. She seems unable (or unwilling) to learn how to avoid the bumps in her road.

You begin to feel hurt as you realize your friend hasn't taken your advice in the past and doubt she deeply appreciates your sacrifice of time and energy you have given her. You doubt she will ever stop depending on you to solve her problems. The gap in your relationship grows wider until she stops seeking your companionship; clearly the breach is beyond repair. Both of you have lost a friend. Do you really want to be the needy friend described above?

A little genuine gratitude affirms our relationship with others (and with God) and prevents our growing complacent, assuming that God is like Santa Claus, existing to fulfill all our wishes. For our relationship to flourish, love and gratitude must be expressed by word and deed—our willingness to heed His Word and testify to His faithfulness before others  who don’t know our Savior.

Also, gratitude shown before fulfillment of a prayer demonstrates our faith in His provision. In the story of the ten lepers, Jesus told them they were healed and to go show themselves to the priest to be declared clean. They began walking toward the temple before they saw evidence of healing. Only one of the ten turned back to thank Jesus before proceeding to the temple. Jesus's comment on this shows He values our gratitude.

Ten Lepers Cleansed     Luke 17:11-19  

      11While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18“Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”    

Why Do Christians Have Problems?

When things are going good, we forget we need God’s protection or that we need to return His love and attention. He may, gently or otherwise, send us a reminder that we cannot handle everything headed our way without His help. He yearns for our love and obedience. 

We’ve misbehaved, made a choice that carries a penalty which must be enforced, yet His promise is to go through our day with us, whether good or bad, easy or difficult, peacefully or in pain. He doesn’t punish us by sending trouble our way—the trouble we receive may be of our own making. “Do the crime. You do the time.”

Others, who don’t know God, are watching to see how we handle the same problems they endure.  God may use our attitude in time of trouble to get their attention. (Let’s try not to give them the wrong impression.)

In His greater plan, we may be bit players in His complex plan for someone else’s life. 

News Flash!!! None of us is the center of the universe, yet He is fully aware of every fleeting thought, our kindnesses, our failures, and all of us individually are the apple of His eye.

In order to grow confidence in His provision for us, He may allow Satan to test our resolve and faith, enabling us to exercise our faith muscles, strengthening our determination to fulfill His purpose for us without demanding He first explain before we consent.

We’ve forgotten we inherited Adam’s sinful nature. We do not live in Eden, folks. We live in a fallen world, where things go wrong, even if we’re not misbehaving. Our problems are not punishment; troubles rain on the just and unjust. (Once a man said this to me when he took away my job, along with several other unfortunate folks, and I thought at the time he didn't even look damp! But in God's time I was soon blessed with the best job I ever had and somehow, when I began work at the best workplace I had ever experienced, my bank balance was very like it was on that scary day two months earlier. God had been watching after all.) While Satan is free to wreak havoc in this world, evil exists and disease and there will be victims.

No matter what the reason for the tenor of our day, we must remember we are not alone. Our Holy Father is right beside us, His Spirit within us, to keep us from fear and failure.

It’s true this world is not fair but the next one is.

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalms 139:16

Following Jesus, whether through blessings or burdens, has the same result: being conformed to His image.       (Romans 8:28-29).