Learning Along The Way

Is Speaking Up a Brave Act?

By

Sometimes I don’t know how to start living brave. I sit in silence pondering how to take the first step, the small act that says I disagree and my voice matters.

I guess I just say what I believe to be true.

I don’t think Jesus cares about our political parties or our nation’s government or whether you are a diehard red or blue.

I think Jesus cares about how we love God and how we love others.

And I haven’t been seeing or hearing a lot of love in our country from people who claim the name of Christ.

It hasn’t mattered what side of politics one stands; there have been a myriad of hateful voices yelling toward the others. I imagine the crowd in 1st century Jerusalem sounded a lot like crowds at any given rally, stirred up against an ideology, or a person or political position, or (fill in the blank)

I’m not saying we all need to believe the same thing. I am saying that if you claim the name of Jesus then your standard of living is higher. 

Love is your standard.

Not a warm fuzzy puppy or a cute cooing baby or a bouquet of flowers kind of love.

This kind of love

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut.

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first”, 

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end. (The Message)

This kind of love is God’s love that flourishes in our lives when we surrender our “I’m right and you’re wrong” attitudes. This love flourishes in our lives when we look at those who are different than our outer selves and realize Christ died for them, too. Especially if they don’t know Him yet.

It takes a lot of courage to say this. Why? Because speaking up is a brave act.

Here’s the thing: the next time you hear someone saying something that is hateful about another person what will it take for you to say ‘that’s not okay?’ Click To Tweet

I’m clear I’m not to be another’s judge; that is to be left to God alone; yet there are those who say they love God, love Jesus and are downright hateful to anyone who doesn’t agree with their political point of view.

When we stop seeing the humanity in each person, and see others who are different from us as an object of wrath, then we can easily go along with heinous acts that are perpetrated against people. And we’re also going along with the enemy of our souls who doesn’t want the love of God to take hold in this world.

There are countless examples of people going along without considering the consequences. Roman citizens who supported Emperor Nero. German citizens who supported Adolf Hitler. Cambodians who supported the Khmer Rouge. Chinese citizens who supported Mao Tse Tung. It’s a short step to saying American citizens who support and/or hate Donald Trump.

Instead of being against opinions, what if we chose to be for Love? 

Corrie ten Boom chose love. Gladys Aylward chose love. Elisabeth Eliot chose love.

Why can’t you and I choose love?

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

As Christ-followers we are called to a different Way. The mystery is how do we live this out, moment by moment. Maybe if we asked the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, guard our lips and love through us, and we considered others as more important than ourselves, we might look different to those who don’t yet know Him and need to know there is a better, different Way. 

Why is Good Friday Good?

By

Four years ago I wrote a post with this title.  You might be interested to look back at it here.

This is still a question that resonates within me; a question that you may wonder about as well. There is so much more to say than what I shared before.

Why is Good Friday Good?  How is the excruciating, violent, prolonged suffering of One man good?  Isn’t it morbid to focus on the blood and gore that Jesus of Nazareth went through?  Isn’t this annual tradition just a little out dated in the era? I am no theologian, or Bible scholar or historian.  I know people who are.  I have listened to them, read their writings and mulled over all the implications on my life, on your life, on all our lives.  I have come to one conclusion.

mattandalliweddingAug2012 138Before Christ got to the Cross there was Love.  Love poured out to His followers in many ways: teaching, compassionate acts, healing, bread and wine, washing filthy feet, and most of all: prayer.

So much love demonstrated to them. For us. To us.

The lyrics from Stuart Townend’s song that I posted four years ago still bring me to tears. How deep the Father’s Love for us, how vast beyond all measure…

Why is Good Friday Good?

Because of Love.

Of willing sacrifice.

Of suffering that I, that you, that we, will never have to endure in eternity future.

We are not without suffering here; the momentary “light affliction” that we go through in this very real 24/7 life we are living presently does have physical, emotional and sometimes spiritual suffering.  But our eternity future has been secured by the extreme suffering Christ endured for us.  We deserve separation from God because we broken, imperfect humans fall short of His holiness and perfection and miss the mark completely. But God…

Because of Love. Because of the willing sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered for our sin payment. Because of all the brutality He endured, His excruciating physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

We are free.

That’s why Good Friday is Good.

No matter how hard it is right this minute to deal with the pain your body is experiencing, Christ knows your pain and loves you in it.

No matter how dark the emotional fog of depression is right this minute, Christ knows your deep emotional pain and loves you in it.

No matter the wayward husband, the wayward child, the addiction, the shame, no matter.

He loves you right in it.

His death on the Cross over 2000 years ago wasn’t just a point in history to be remembered by theologians, Bible scholars and historians.  His death makes all the difference for me. And it can make all the difference for you, too.

It’s still foolishness to those who don’t believe. To those who claim His sacrificial payment by faith in Jesus Christ, there is somber reflection on Good Friday and rejoicing and celebration at the remembrance of His resurrection this Sunday.

The question isn’t why.  The question is Will you let the Love that motivated Good Friday be Good for you too?

Today I am linking up with Faith Barista over here.

 

Love, Loved, & Lovable

By

Quia amasti me, fecisti me amabilem Augustine

Augustine wrote these words about the One who loved him best. God.
The same God who spoke to Abraham, who talked with Moses, who inspired Rahab to hide the spies, who led Ruth to follow Naomi home, who called David A Man after His own Heart, who gave Solomon wisdom, the prophets something to talk about, and Who Came in the Flesh so that we could comprehend Him.

Jesus. He came first as a babe and will come again as a conqueror. The in between is where we live. It’s where Augustine lived. And Thomas a Kempis. And Brother Lawrence. And Galileo. And the millions who have gone before and who are walking here today. God was. God is. And God will forever be.

How do we relate to this very other being? We learn to love.

“Because you loved me, you made me able to be loved.” These are Augustine’s words translated to english.

Because God has loved me I am able to be loved. God has not gotten a great deal in me being part of His family. I am wayward, unfocused and generally a problem child. But He chose me. He calls me Friend. I am His beloved. If you claim His saving grace, these things are true of you too.

Because God has loved me I am able to be loved. He offers us gifts throughout the day. Love gifts. A stranger’s smile. The sight of a beautiful bird. The laughter of children at play. To simply say Thank You for each gift is a beginning. An acknowledgement of His Presence, His care, His love. He offers out of love. It’s His very nature.

The acknowledging of God’s gifts can be part of our day, part of our rhythm. Pausing the music or talk radio in the car and saying Thank You for your ability to hear, to understand, to appreciate the sounds coming out of the radio. Saying Thank You for the good scent of food cooking, or the warmth of a sweater on a cold day. All these are simple ways to be in the process of learning to love, learning to love the One who gives you life.

How will you adjust your rhythm to acknowledge God and His good gifts today?

Quia amasti me, fecisti me amabilem

Life is a Journey

By

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I had Pandora playing. A song I’d not heard came on; a song whose lyrics really expressed my heart. 

It’s not a new song, so some of you may already be familiar with both the song and its composer/performer, Ginny Owens.  The lyrics of her song, “If You Want Me To” are words I would write if I were a songwriter.

I know that life is full of challenges, Jesus told us it would be this way.  “In this world you will have troubles.”  That may sound pretty bleak.  But He also gives us a great encouragement: “Take heart!  I have overcome the world!” 

Jesus has already won the fight for our eternal destiny.  He fought that for each of us because of Love.  Love for the Father and Love for each of us.  In spite of  whatever we’ve done that we might think wouldn’t be deserving of Love. 

He willingly fought for you and me.  Because of Jesus’ battle for our souls and His righteousness alone, you and I can be accepted into that Love.

This priceless Love makes this journey worth taking.  The journey here is a journey toward God’s heart.  We are changed along the Way by the challenges.  Even though life is full of challenges, heartaches, losses, in the middle of it all there is the security of His Presence.  The best part of this journey is that Jesus wants to walk through it all with us! 

Because He Loves You.  Because He Loves Me.  The difficulties give us the chance to grow closer to the One Who Loves us.

This song reminds me that because of this a.ma.zing Love,  I am willing to journey through tough things.  Not alone.  Not forgotten.

Be encouraged. Listen here: If You Want Me To

Follow Me…

Categories