MEASURING UP by Doris Lakey

        Sometimes my mind wanders, often when I watch the TV news describing the terrible trouble someone              has gotten themselves into—road rage on the highway, political demonstration turned violent, highway                deaths caused by someone who lingered too long at the party (just one cocktail more won’t hurt), or a                   neighbor I see entertaining an overnight guest when I know her spouse just left on a business trip—and                 it’s pretty easy to go from observing and deploring their behavior to comparing them to myself and                      feeling just a little self-satisfied. And then I remember, God doesn’t grade on the curve!

      Sometimes I think God may have given us computers so we would see one basic principle:                      each bit and bite in a computer consists of switches 1 or 0, yes or no. Nothing in between,                       no sometimes, no once on a while, no maybe. The Evangelism Explosion course for faithful                 Jesus followers who want to become better witnesses for their faith illustrates this principle                     using an omelet for illustration. If you crack several eggs into a bowl and too late notice a bad                spot on one of the eggs, but they are mixed together and you think maybe it will be okay, most                of the eggs are good. As they cook, however, a terrible stench rises and you understand you                    can't present the omelet to your family and suggest they eat around the bad parts. The odor                     tells you none of the omelet is acceptable. All sin, any sin, is a foul stench to God.

     And Omniscient God has access to facts I can’t see. He looks into the heart and intentions whereas I                       see only the public façade. I’m not equipped to properly and fairly judge others, nor can I look into a                     mirror and see what God sees in me. It's a good thing that's not my job, but His.

    Comparing my behavior with someone else is dangerous. I don’t know that the drunken killer just fell0                  on his knees in the jail and begged for—and was granted—forgiveness. I don’t know the one who ran a                car off the road was rushing to a hospital to be with a family member at the point of death. Only God                    knows whether their hearts are hate-filled or remorseful, forgiven the instant they asked.

    Some people drink and look down on those narrow-minded folk who think it’s dangerous.  Some folks                  feel superior and look down on the indulgent drinker and his lifestyle, yet are faithless, unloving to their                families. Does it really matter which is worse, when they both lead to failure to meet God’s standard?                    Comparing two things which are both harmful, does it matter which is worse? We can always find                        someone around who is worse than ourselves, in our own opinion. Funny, we seldom are comfortable                    comparing ourselves to someone we suspect is closer to God than we are.  

    A carpenter measures his work by an absolute measure, a standard ruler which is the same every time                    and gives consistent results. By this principle, shouldn’t we therefore measure our behavior and thoughts             against the Perfect Standard He sent into the world to show us what He expects us to follow? His Son                   Jesus, though eternal and all-powerful, was our teacher and example of perfection, who became also                     man, unsuccessfully tempted in every way that Satan uses very well against each of us. In doing this,                     we can see our true measure and daily grow more like Him.

   When I catch myself comparing my failures with other people, I must quickly look at Jesus to measure                 my true worth. In spite of my self-indulgent life which could never match His in this world, He loved me             to the point of paying the death penalty I earned and will hold me close until I join Him in Heaven. 

   And I must always remember, Jesus thought my "little" sins were big enough to earn that death                       penalty.

        "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. ...

        The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know                             it?                            Jeremiah 17:9

        For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

                                        Romans 3:23

A Special Day

        Whether we are or not “church people”, most of us think of Sunday as a special day and try to plan for some way to enjoy the day, whether it’s a picnic in a park, a summer day boating on a lake, or football on TV. Two generations ago, Sunday after church the family went to visit each other or took scenic rides in the countryside, perhaps glorying in the beauty of God's world. And while on a weeknight you might enjoy a game of cards or dominoes, never would you allow yourself to be caught at those games on Sunday.


Even most of us churchgoers, at some point, may attend services partly to uphold family tradition or from habit or to avoid explaining to someone we care about why we weren’t there. And usually we feel a twinge of guilt when we fail to go and resolve on Sunday afternoon to be there next Sunday for sure, unless something comes up. Eventually for some of us, this becomes our habit and we feel less and less guilt. We may show up to worship on special Sundays, like Easter or at Thanksgiving or Christmas, failing to realize every Sunday should be special to us and should be kept Holy in whatever we do that day.


As recently as mid-20th century, there were many restrictions (called Blue Laws) on non- ` emergency sales or purchases in Texas, and some states and many other countries still have some varying degrees of restriction on activities or sales on Sunday for preservation of a day of rest and/or worship for workers and their families. Commonly the work week consisted of five and a half days or even six days a week during the 1950s, so Sundays were the unique, special day for most of us. Then came the five-day week and the 1990s began trending toward a ten hour, four-day work week. Perhaps this skewed our attitude toward Sunday as part of our “personal days”, to do what we wanted.

There’s nothing wrong with boating, picnicking, a late party Saturday night, or football, unless they replace church attendance as our first priority. How to adjust our perception of Sunday? Guilt is a reminder only until we become desensitized. I’ve been thinking about this attitude change I needed, and like everything else God says, He made the answer so simple, if I just look.

Remember how loving you felt at Christmas toward everybody? Remember how gratitude filled your heart at Thanksgiving? Remember how humbly and fervently worshipful you were on Easter Sunday? Every Sunday is an anniversary of the day Jesus rose after paying the terrible sin price for what we all too often think of as our minor sins. In recognition and gratitude, let’s promise to greet every Sunday morning and remembering just how much He loves us.

 Six days you shall labor...but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God.

                                                                            Exodus 20: 9-10

Journey of a Traveler

Perhaps I had a dream. Sometimes dreams are vague and short; this one was not. I was cruising along on a wide concrete, multi-lane highway. Distant mountains came into view and diminished as I sped past. Roadway signs clearly marked my route; rest stops and restaurants, signs offering side trips to attractive tourist locations appeared frequently. A pleasant journey overall.

As time passed, the road narrowed to two lanes, then to one and eventually to an unpaved gravel, single lane. Highway signs, rest stops, roadside attractions were now less frequent, the scenery perhaps a little boring, but later I learned there would be thrills and chills further down the road. The bumpy road was uncomfortable at times, but the potholes! I feared for my tires. My vehicle picked up a few rattles as I bounced along this patch of road. I began to look forward to the next fuel stop and the opportunity to check my vehicle's condition and a few minutes to walk off the kinks in my neck and stretch a bit.

The road was poorly marked, but there were few intersections, so chances to become lost were not a problem; however, I began to notice a slight incline. The road stretching ahead was less traveled and gradually wound upward, and the area I was passing through seemed fairly deserted, even lonely. An occasional detour sign slowed me down, but undeterred, I persevered. Most of my fellow-travelers had exited the road but I continued onward, with very few others still on the road. My engine began to overheat as it labored to climb the hill. I had to stop occasionally, open the hood and wait for it to cool down before continuing.

Luckily, I would eventually come to a fuel station along the way, where a mechanic would spot any trouble and repair it and prevent a breakdown. A tune-up aided my car's handling of the elevation without serious problems. As the road wended its way higher, I could see a fork in the road some distance ahead. One appeared to join another wide, paved highway; the other seemed to climb higher still, a barely visible single lane, lonely and even more primitive than I had experienced so far.

I paused at the intersection and read the highway signs: one promised a large city just ahead, with all amenities and entertainment--the other sign announced excellent care for my vehicle, "Repairs, Restoration, Renewal" and "New Cars, Unbelievable Trade-ins".

I pondered this decision, wondering about the two roads ahead. I think of my body as the vehicle; the path toward my destiny offers only two choices. Looking back over my years. I remembered the broad highway when things were easier, more comfortable. I recognize the bumpy road my vehicle is now on and I'm still smarting from some of the potholes I've fallen into. How tempting is the smooth, wide open road? How encouraging is the road promising "repairs, restoration. renewal"?

No contest. The Great Mechanic manufactured this vehicle, my body, and I trust His promise and ability to prepare it (and my spirit) for infinity with Him. I can hardly wait to see His new models!

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 90:10, 12

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

(I'm at 85 this month, but who's counting?)

Unicorns and Rainbows

                                   UNICORNS AND RAINBOWS        

What comes to mind? Cotton-candy pink clouds, fairies taking flight watching unicorns prancing below, leprechauns burying their pot of gold.  Lovely, isn’t it? Linked together it forms a colorful picture. But is it a fable or truth? 

Unicorns. Do we really believe they exist, or once existed? Many tales handed down through the years say they are real, but there’s no proof. We’re curious, but whether or not unicorns are or ever were real doesn’t affect our lives. Fable or fact, unicorns, UFOs, Sasquatch---probably not worth time and energy we give them. 

On the other hand, rainbows are a visual confirmation of one of God’s promises to us, teaching us how seriously He hates sin, demonstrated when He destroyed the world by flooding and His promise never to repeat this act. Ask Noah. He was there.

Our judgment is required to discern true from false in order to live well. 

The Bible is filled with promises, to teach us about Him, teach us to love Him, to describe the rewards of becoming His child, and the horrors of punishment for those who reject Him. The world offers many fairy tales and fables, disguised as truth. The world is filled with false promises, offering freedom, fun and frivolity that please us today but offer the substance of cotton-candy, sweet for the moment but with no staying power, no nourishment to help us stand after the new wears off the fun we’ve had (leaving us with cavities in our teeth, so to speak) and boredom sends us looking for bigger thrills. 

Satan has a few tricks that usually deceive all of us sometime, and some of us every time. He wraps a lie in a big bundle of truths or almost-truths and, just like our pet dog who won’t accept a pill yet gobbles it down wrapped in cheese or peanut butter, we swallow his whole tale. For us, the outcome won’t be good: the pill we just swallowed wasn’t from the Great Physician.

God is patient, but His rainbow, along with His promise never to use flooding again to purge a sinful people, also warns that He will not delay forever a great cleansing of His creation. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, He offers good times that will last, friends who won’t fail, life filled with love, forever. 

No contest, when you compare with eyes and heart wide open.

Who's Driving?

                                  

A new image just came into my mind—at 84, it’s not too often that happens. Lots of time my mind is running reruns, retreads on new images from times past. Not sure if this idea has wheels or if it will crash and burn, but for better or worse, here ‘tis.

I’m in a car with the motor running, a driverless car, and I’m in the right front seat and figure, why not? I start to slide over to the left, but the seatbelt restrains me. Frustrating, but I can reach the wheel so I reach across and put it in gear and off we/I go!

Seems like other traffic is driving too close for comfort, but I can handle it. I reach up to twist the rear view mirror to a better angle. Seems like I’m too close to the shoulder so ease left, resulting in a blast from an 18-wheeler’s air horn as that driver frantically eased left, causing a car on his left to stand on his brakes with a terrible screech. I guess my viewpoint is skewed, since I’m not really in the driver’s seat.

Entering the drive-thru lane (and it was a little tricky), I reach for my deposit and pull forward, and instantly I’m embarrassed and the teller looks a little confused as I wave apologetically and drive through, park to go inside the bank.

Slowly walking back to my car, I mentally review my performance. 

The car was my life. I was not the designated driver and for many good reasons. My view ahead was imperfect and I was not sure of the route I’d be taking. My name was not on the insurance policy. And I had completely forgotten, my name was not on the title. The title bore the name: Almighty /Creator and God, my Holy Father.

I need to keep that in mind and keep my hands off the steering wheel.

THANKSGIVING

 Dear God, our Holy Father, to whom we owe our very existence and the heart and spirit you planted within us, giving us the ability to return your love, I pray you will put gratitude foremost in our hearts for so many good and wonderful things you give us daily.

In Your provision for our physical and mental well-being, your presence and grace enabling and strengthening us for any and all challenges we meet daily, we learn new things about You and learn to walk, knowing you will catch us when we stumble and set us again onto the path You chose for us. Thank You, Father, for great and small problems in our path, unacknowledged gifts which cause us to look up for help and learn something new. Without these challenges, we tend to believe we can handle life on our own.

This magnificent world, though fallen through human failure, still retains beauty and evidence of ever-diligent watch care over each one of us, revealing Your yearning for our recognition and fellowship with our Creator and Savior.

This Christian nation was given to our forefathers, who prayed and fought for a safe place to live and freely serve You, yet most of us carelessly undervalue this freedom today, believing somehow it is our birthright requiring little from us for its continued existence, and which through continued neglect we are losing to Your enemy, bit by bit, without seeing it is ours only through our relation to our Father in heaven. I thank You for Your continued patience with our apparent disregard of this monumental gift.

I am grateful for my family, given to me as a pale foreshadowing of the parental love from my Holy Father. Imperfect as are even the best relationships on the earth, they give us a glimmer of the perfect loving Parent waiting to welcome us into His eternal family.

Most of all, Father, Thanksgiving is given in honor to King Jesus, who left His throne for a time and lived among us, proving that a perfect life is only possible with God’s presence within and demonstrating perfect, infinite love by substituting His death for the one mankind earned by turning away.

For all these things and more, Lord, make us truly grateful.

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