There is only one God

A topic that no one wants to talk about is God, the father of my saviour, mighty Jesus.  So of course at work the opportunity arose for me to speak up or say nothing.  My co-worker came over to tell me that someone recently got declared a new Saint by the Pope. 

She said she prays to the different Saints and she was excited to begin praying to him as well. 

I could say nothing.  My other co-worker was already saying, "Don't talk about religion".  He anticpated a fight, a disagreement of sorts.  I knew what was ahead as well. She would probably get mad, or get offended. Maybe I would be mad or red with passion for her to see and know the truth. The bible says that the truth sets us free and I wanted them to be liberated!

You know what happens next  right?  I spoke up.  "There is only one God.  Why are you praying to a dead man that cannot help you.  He cannot even raise himself from the grave. He can do nothing. He himself was created by God just like you."  I smile in recollection because that challenged everything she believed and maybe some of you are feeling incensed right now.  She said, "I beleive that they do help you...." Another co-worker said, "You both believe the same thing, God is at the head...." 

Well I had to disagree again. No. We do NOT believe the same thing.  There is no other God but God.  There is no other name to pray in but Jesus. I pray only to God the Father in the name of His son and that is absolute with no conditions.  With a boldness I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit I spoke to my co-worker of umpteen years. I told him (the other one left for a smoke break after telling me that this is her religion and I shouldn't say anything) that he needed to be saved, he needed Jesus.  I told him so that he could not say he didn't know and that no-one told him. I didn't want to loose touch with him, and never tell him that there is a God - ONE GOD.  He is more to me than a person sitting on the other side of my desk, he is a friend.

I have been silent on this mostly because I don't want to get into it; I don't want to offend; I don't want to seem too churchy or preachy.  But how does that help those whom I love and care about?  I take this wonderful news with me to Heaven and they go to Hell because of my fears and selfish motives?  God let it not be so.  I pray for many more doors or windows to be opened so that I can preach Christ, the only way by which men can be saved. 

At the cross, at the cross

Today I got a phone call from my friend.  My sister friend is how I really see her, so it really sent a shiver through me when I heard her voice choked with tears.  She still has to deal with her son's Inverted Anus, and this is surgery number 3 for him. 

I admit that for a moment I didn't know how to comfort her. I am not even physically there to offer her a hug, to pat her back and say there there. I am all the way in Canada and she is all the way in America.  So I listened and I muttered words that seemed to do as I intended - calm her down to now just the occasional sobs.  This was hard and I agreed with her that it was.  She wondered why after two surgeries she still feels all this anxiety and fear.  Why is she crying again?  I thought and replied, why not cry?  When we stub our toe in the same spot on different days does it still not hurt?  Why then should this be any different?  Ahhhh, that did the trick. 

She then said "I wish I could do this for him. I wish I could take this for him".  This one statement, caused me to pause. Is this what God said about His son Jesus?  Think about it for a second or two.  If we in our frail humanity and sinful flesh could say and feel such love for our children, what did he feel as He gave up His only son to die for us? 

Yes I know, Easter came and went, with chocolate and the Easter bunny for some, but this really brings me right back to the cross and beyond.   I wonder if God wept to see Jesus beaten and abused.  I wonder if He clenched his fists or stood up from his throne.  I wonder if His heart felt bruised as his son's body was pierced.  I wonder because as a mom, I feel just my friend does.  I want to take spare my son and nieces and nephews the heart aches in life. I want to shield and protect. I want to hide them from evil and keep them safe from harm. I want their walk to be perfect, having no sorrow or woes.  I want their best.  I want it all for them and would sacrifice so that they could. 

John 3:16 declares for all who are willing to see to see "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...."  His love for us was what kept him from striking dead all those who were persecuting His son unjustly.  His plans was far greater than the hurt and hardship...His plans were for you. Yes, you.  You the one that even now continues to read because God's spirit has drawn you here today.  God loves you.  This is truth and there is no other.  Yes, that same messed up, never got it right you.  He loved you before you were formed and his plans, that including the death and terrible pain of his son, was so that you could live.  He loves you, no matter how you may be feeling right now. He loves you through all your mess and your failures.  He loves you and if He had to send his son Jesus again, He would.  Just for you my friend, God gave his son just for you....

Be Holy as I am Holy

Be holy, for I, the Lord, Your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:2

 This is the verse that has been floating around my head since the last day of March.  It came about as a result of a discussion from one of our infrequent family get together. It was a question as to whether or not grown adults, who professed Christ as their Lord, should be watching shows that promote a life style that is away from their beliefs.   My sister said they are adults and therefore should be allowed to do whatever they want?  That is the issue.  It is not me or her but God’s word that convicts and lays out for those who will follow, a standard that is above and away from what is the norm of today.

God says, be holy as I am holy.  While I am thinking about it, I am examining my own life.  I am looking at the many things that I have allowed my senses to partake of in the guise of entertainment.  I have laughed at the off colored jokes that were laced with immorality.  I have turned a blind eye to shows that have content that are dirty for lack of a better word.  I have allowed the language to leave a stain on me.  I may not repeat it out loud but my mind captures each scene and replays it without a conscious effort on my part.  It sums up to this one word - unholy.

Maybe this is just for me. Maybe the magnifying lens of this verse was to closely examine my own actions as a Christian.  Maybe it is for me to realize that as a child of God, there is a higher standard that is set and I need to live up to it. I need to come up higher and be holy as God is holy.  The question that comes to me now is how can I do this?  How do I live holy in a world that sees nothing wrong with two men in a bed, or speaking about pre-marital sex as an everyday occurrence and a normal part of any relationship?  

After doing some research, I have concluded that God is saying to me be set apart, be the city on the hill, be the light.  There should be some distinction between Christians and non-believers.  There should be a difference that calls others to the light of Jesus Christ that is within us.  There should be a moral standard that is based on the word of God that others can see and know and follow.  So while we are all consenting adults, I will echo Paul’s sentiments to the people of Corinth “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial….” (1 Cor. 10:23).

 

 

 

 

 

Wasn't it just today?

I wrote this song, that has no melody, so I suppose that just makes it a poem. It came swiftly and poured like water out of me.  I was inspired. I was inspired by Peter, an apostle of Jesus. His denial of Jesus was what grabbed my attention. You see, when I read his story, I realized that when he declared with passion and intensity to never deny Jesus in Matthew, it was perhaps the same day that he said I don't know the what's it not man named Jesus in John. I am not throwing stones because I am just like him. I believe that maybe even so are you.  Jesus didn't abandon Peter. He knew it would happen and he told him ahead of time. Yet, he extended grace. You know that favour extended to us from God when it is undeserved.  Jesus called him and set him right. He is calling you today.  Do you not hear him through your pain?  Do you not hear him through your shame?  Do you not hear him calling your name?  Do you love me?  Do you love me? Do you love me?  Wasn't it just today...?


God I did it again
Went against your word and fell
It took only a minute to swing my attention
To one less worthy
To satisfy me

Wasn't it just today
I said with strong convictions
I would rather die than to deny
You Jesus
Wasn't it just today that I declared
with all my heart
That I would be loyal and ever true
Giving you my all and all

How could I ever imagine that this would be my end?
That what you said would really happen
Before the cock crowed three

Wasn't it just today
I said with strong convictions
I would rather die than to deny
You Jesus...

Guilt and shame are by my side
They stand ready to accuse me
To cause me pain
But piercing through the dark abyss
Is your gentle calling of my name

Wasn't it today
I said with strong convictions
There is therefore now
No condemnation within me?
Today my child, I set you free
Come now and stand in my liberty

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day

Carpe Diem is one of two of the only Latin phrases I know. I learnt it in my youth and never forgot it, despite never using it for years on end.  Until today. 

I am a complainer. I admit it.  I have complained about the weather. I have complained about the traffic. I have complained about the lines being too long, the injustice of my pay cheque, my son and his mess, and the list goes on. Today my pastor, Ron Binda, sent out an email which has caused me to re-think my strategy and adjust my attitude.  As God, spoke to him he shared this "David reminds us that "...this is the day the Lord has made...." (Psalm 118:24).  In this scripture he is saying this because God created the day and it belongs to Him. Therefore seize the day. Don't waste the day on negativity, bitterness, ...hating, fuming, worrying, fighting,...."  He continues to say that we must learn to rejoice and be glad in the days.  If God took it from us, well then life as we know it will be over. 

Why waste the day on things that don't matter in the big scheme of things?  Why spend the day complaining half of it away?  OUCH!Pastor Ron is right, we cannot control the weather, other people or even the circumstances  we sometimes face, but we can control our attitude and responses to them. 

So today, I encourage you, and maybe this is mostly for me, to Carpe Diem (Seize the day) by rejoicing and being glad in it!

F.O.R.G.I.V.E

Friday nights for me are usually spent surrounded by kids. I teach bible at my church's youth night.  Usually these kids have me on my toes as they want answers supported by the bible.  This Friday, our topic was about Forgiving.  It is a topic that seems to have no end.  I find that repeating the truth of forgive and forget God's way is beneficial to all.

So I asked them what they think Forgive means.  I got answers like this:

To forget it.  To give someone a chance to say sorry and then you can be friends again (emphasis on the apology).  To not think about something anymore.  To say sorry to someone else and more.

When presented with a scenario, not one single person was able to say they could forgive the wrong doer.  I asked them if they found out that someone had told the entire school that they were "ugly" which resulted in other kids sending face book name calling, tweets and other terrible insults would they forgive the person.  No-one said yes. For everyone, there was a list of deeds that were "forgivable" and "unforgivable".

However, while I may agree that we do feel that way sometimes, I had to highlight the lie in that way of thinking.  Clearly, the bible does not say that we are allowed to pick the offences against us that we forgive.  The truth, whether we believe or not, is that we have to forgive.  We forgive whether or not the offender is apologetic/sorry.  We forgive even when the deed against us is horrific. We forgive even when we our self still hurt and show fresh bruises. We forgive because God says we ought to and that is the final, blaring truth. We forgive so that we also may receive the Father's forgiveness as well.

By now, some of you are choking on this and perhaps your thoughts run along these lines "You don't know what has been done to me."  You are right. I don't.  But because I know the truth, I can say with bold assertion, it doesn't matter the situation - you are called to by God to forgive.

I told my class and I will tell you, to forgive is to rid yourself of a poison that if allowed to stay, will eventually destroy you. That will also destroy relationships with others, cause you to be sick and promotes evil. Lastly, unforgiveness separates you from God's provision and is a one way ticket to Hell. 

While this may be a lot to ingest, let me leave you with this acronym from my students (4 - 15y/o):

F   - Forget about it

O  - Old, it's in the past

R  - Respect the person and others

G  - Go on. Keep moving ahead.

I   - Ice the pain with prayer and include the person

V - Vent it out to God

E  - Enjoy life, dont get trapped in the bitterness of unforgiveness.

Living in Holland

My Friend and I read an amazing piece written by Emily Perl Kingsley.  What makes it so wonderful, was how it spoke to both of us and I am hoping you as well. 

I made up my mind that I will live in the moment.  I am still amazed that God does what he does.  I am even more determined to live in my “Holland” with joy.  I don’t want to miss the details of it.  I am not going to pine over what I don’t have.  I am not going to say things like “why is it that my son can’t be like that other child. You know the one in university, not smoking and is gainfully employed.  Yeah that child that is different from the one I really have.” He is a part of my Holland experience.  He asked me the other day “Am I not doing okay?  Am I not going back to school?”  I have been guilty, if I were charged, of telling him about “Italy” and how much I wanted him and I to be there – not in HOLLAND.  I am not going to pine over what is not and what could have been.  I am going to live in the moment.

 

For my friend, she writes:

I can hardly believe that it has already been 1 week since my baby's PSARP. I am amazed by his strength and resilience. I guess after 6 hours of surgery I did not expect him to be sent home 3 days later with Tylenol (as needed) and some Polysporine cream for the incision. He is a happy baby and is doing wonderfully well.  God knows we had a rough time getting those colostomy bags to stick when he came home from the NICU but today I am happy to report they are sticking for at least 24 hours which is a victory for us.

Someone shared this poem with me and I wanted to share it with you because it helped me put things in perspective. A little sad but it really spoke to the sadness and worry I felt last week.

 

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland