Parade Candy

               Many years ago when our four children were still at home, our family enjoyed attending the yearly county fairs, especially the parades.  Each child would bring a paper or plastic bag to collect all the candy and other items tossed along the parade route.  One summer as we gathered with friends to watch the annual event, I took note of the candy as it fell upon the street and the reaction of the children. Consequently, as an observant “Mom”, I wrote a modern-day parable referring to Jesus’ parable of the sower. (Mat. 13: 1-9; 18-23)  My parable went like this…

               During the county fair parade, candy (Word of God) fell continually upon the streets along the designated path.  Candy which fell into the mud, the kids left alone. (Word of God fell upon deaf ears.) Candy that fell freely and abundantly upon the street, the kids ran wildly after it. Some ate it as soon as they picked it up. (Heard the Word/digested it but that was all.) Others put the candy in their sacks/bags for later enjoyment. (Heard the Word but left the spreading of its message for another day or perhaps not at all.)  A few eager participants noticed other kids weren’t getting any candy at all so they shared theirs. (Heard the Word and shared it.)  As the candy became an instrument of saving grace, we as the recipients must share its message.

               For all you parade goers out there, enjoy the candy and don’t forget to share!

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

Quiz Bowl

               Sometimes I serve as a judge for our school’s junior high Invitational Quiz Bowl.  I enjoy participating in this scholastic sport because I like educational contests where students are mentally challenged, and I’m always amazed at the variety of information these students know.  They learn and retain volumes of knowledge, and that’s to be commended.

               Now in Quiz Bowls as in any sport or contest, there are rules to be followed.  Quiz Bowl rules of play are relatively easy to understand and are usually reviewed for the moderators and judges before the event begins.  This is good practice, especially for me, since I only judge once a year.  However, this past fall when I judged, I discovered that one of the rules struck home with me personally.  The rule: “If the team rings the buzzer before the question has been read completely and answers incorrectly, they will lose five (5) points and the question will be repeated in its entirety for the other team.”

               I’m saddened to admit this, but I find myself following the actions of the team who rings in before hearing the entire question when I interrupt a person before she’s finished speaking.  Just as the team misses the entire question so I miss my friend’s entire comment.  By interrupting my friend, I don’t give her a chance to complete her thoughts, and this isn’t fair to either of us.  So I ask myself why I interrupt.

               The following are some of my observations:

a      Sometimes when I’m with a friend or friends whom I haven’t seen for an extended period of time, I am so excited that I can’t wait to express myself. (self-centered)

b      At other times, I assume what the other person is going to say so I step in and complete her/his thought verbally. (disrespectful)

c      When someone is speaking slowly or reaching for words, I grow restless. Then I find myself either tuning out the person’s comments (poor listener) or finishing her sentence. (impatient)

d     While I’m listening to the conversation, I might have a sudden, inspirational thought so if I don’t say it then, I’ll forget it. (inconsiderate)

       When I reflect on my observations, I realize I have a long way to go on improving my listening skills. I also need to work on being selfless, respectful, patient and considerate to those whom I am conversing with. It took a Quiz Bowl rule to bring this to my attention. Again, through ordinary life events, God’s Spirit led me to insights about myself. From now on with the Spirit’s guidance, I will be more alert in my conversations. So all my family and friends out there, gently tap me on the shoulder when I interrupt our conversations and reply, “Quiz Bowl.”

“He who answers a matter before he hears it,

It is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13

Screws and Screens

              The other day I decided it was time to open up our bedroom windows to let fresh air flow throughout the room.  When I began my task, I lifted the outer storm window to let down the inside screen.  As I moved the screen down, I noticed that the storm window’s outside aluminum frame was loose.  After further investigation, I discovered two screws were missing and one was half-way out.  Consequently, I found a couple of screws I thought would fit, grabbed my trustworthy screw driver, and headed outside.

               When I surveyed the situation, I decided to screw in the loose one first and then check on whether or not the other two screws would fit.  Yes, they did!  But in my excitement and clumsiness, I dropped one of them.  Now, the grass beneath our window was several inches high as mowing hadn’t begun yet.  “Oh great!” I thought. “I’ll never find it.” But then as though the Spirit took over my plight, I asked Jesus for His help.  I knelt down to look through the blades of grass only to find a dead bug or two.  Yuck!!  However, I continued my search, and there, lying between particles of dirt and grass, I saw the screw.  “Thank you, Jesus!”  I carefully took hold of both screws and completed tightening the frame.  One window down…one to go!

               I returned to our bedroom and began the process all over again on our second window.  However, this time it wasn’t a loose outside frame I was dealing with; it was a stubborn inside screen. The latch that I needed to press and lift was stuck as well as partially broken which made it difficult to move.  I tried several times…grunting and groaning as if the noise would help.  I was ready to give up and let my husband deal with it later.  But then, once again I asked Jesus for help and it seemed as though He said, “Try one more time.”  So I did. I pressed against the latches and the screen lifted so easily I was awestruck. Wow!! Both window screens were now in place and the welcomed spring air entered our stuffy bedroom.

               As I reflected on this incident, I was reminded that it’s the common, every day events in life where Jesus greets us and welcomes our requests. We can call upon Him for anything at any time no matter the situation.  Often we fail to seek help from Him until we're struggling with serious life circumstances, whether it be financial, relational, health related, or spiritual. But Jesus wants us to come to Him even with what we might consider silly, simple, but frustrating every day issues. I was momentarily baffled by the loss of the screw and the stuck screen, but Jesus through the Spirit helped me even though I had failed to ask Him first. What a forgiving, loving, and caring Savior we serve! 

"Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me."

Psalm 86:6-7

Passing On...

               A few days ago our family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, my Aunt Alvena, who was married to my dad’s brother.  Even though she was 94, her death came unexpectedly because she was still living independently in the country, driving her car to and from town, and enjoying life in general.  So when I heard the news of her death, I was deeply saddened but thankful that she had led a long and meaningful life.

               With the passing of Aunt Alvena came the realization that our faithful, strong, hard-working older generation was leaving us.  In fact, only three aunts remain in that older generation on my side of the family. Soon, my generation will be the “older” one, and that was a humbling thought.  Perhaps my daughter Haley expressed it best when through our tears, she said she felt like “a stranger… that everyone in that generation we looked up to was leaving us.”  We had depended on their strength, their security, their love and their faith to lean on and embrace. Now they were gone.

               On the drive home I silently reminisced as well as reflected on the day’s events.  I couldn’t help but be drawn to an appreciation of what my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles and other extended family members had taught me. Theirs was a life filled with commitment, dedication, loyalty, and a strong work ethic. BUT one aspect of their lives stood out above the rest…their reliance upon God.  Their testimonies of God were not a rip-roaring, showy outburst of words but a quiet, steady dependence upon “the Man upstairs” as my dad referred to Him at times. They shared their faith and trust in God through their everyday life encounters as well as in their service to the church. Many were Sunday school teachers, leaders in church business affairs, Bible study leaders and participants, Ladies Aide ministries, and choir members. This service was part of their lives, no questions asked.

   Of course, laughter and joyful celebrations occurred along with hardships and overwhelming challenges, but they persevered and endured whatever life tossed them. They were a responsible Christian generation, and whether they realized it or not, they were shaping my generation to pass on to the next generation how they had lived. As Ecclesiastes 1:4 states, “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever.”

               Now, it’s my generation’s turn, duty, and responsibility to “pass on” the values of leading a Christian life:  to be faithful to our commitment to God and His Son, to persevere when life’s pressures overrun us, to be bold in our Christian witness, and to place our trust in the hope we have through our Savior Jesus Christ that someday all generations of believers will be together forever.  Finally, my hope is that my generation will be admired and respected as much as what we admired and respected those family and friends before us.  Praise be to God, the Father of all generations.

“Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children,

Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,

And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done."  Psalm 78:1-4

An Overlooked Battle

I find it quite exciting when the Holy Spirit reveals Scripture to me in a new light. One such enlightenment took place several years ago when I was leading Beth Moore’s women’s study on David, entitled A Heart Like His.  It was a short and often overlooked incident that took place during the life of David.  However, this story didn’t mention David but his dearest and most loyal friend, Jonathan.

               From I Samuel 14: 1-14 we learned that the Israelites were once again facing battle with the Philistines. Without informing his father, King Saul, Jonathan and his armor-bearer decided to fight the Philistine garrison alone.  As they approached the enemy, Jonathan placed his faith and trust in the LORD. “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us.  For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (verse 6)  Without hesitation Jonathan’s armor-bearer followed. His reply was, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” (verse 7)  Now, that’s what I call loyalty, obedience and trust.  As it turned out, Jonathan and his armor-bearer destroyed the Philistine garrison as the LORD led.

               In Beth Moore’s study, she showed through this story and other Bible references how Jonathan compared to Jesus in the sense that both were leaders and positioned themselves ahead of their armor-bearers, who represented today’s Christians.  In other words, our God goes before us through the daily challenges and storms of life. We, as Christians, should respond with faith and obedience recognizing God’s presence, like Jonathan and his armor-bearer.

               I found this particular story comforting when both my daughter and my son took overseas mission trips while in college. As my daughter departed for China and later, when my son left for Egypt one summer and for India the next, I prayed for God to go before them to prepare the way as well as to keep them safe. As a result, both experienced unforgettable encounters and returned home stronger and closer to God, our Father.  God had indeed led the way for both of them, and they had responded with faith, obedience and courage.

               Ever since this passage was re-introduced to me, I have referred to it often in my spiritual walk.  Whenever a new and often unexpected situation presents itself in my life, I am drawn to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, remembering who leads the way, now and into the future.

“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

A Skunk's Presence

               Just before rising for the day, the pungent smell of a skunk’s presence permeated throughout our house.  At first, my nose detected a slight odor, waking me from a peaceful slumber.  Then, gradually it became more noticeable, growing and gaining strength until the sickening scent seemed to engulf our entire bedroom, so much so that staying in bed was unbearable.  However, even though its intrusion was unwelcomed, I had no choice but to wait until the forces of nature extinguished its invasion.  Meanwhile, I got to thinking J

               Isn’t that the way temptation invades us?  It, too, comes gradually, springing from thoughts in our minds, often going unnoticed until the thoughts keep repeating themselves, spreading so thick that they become intolerable.  So we react, whether for the good in us or the bad in us.  The consequences will vary. But who is the instigator of these temptations?  Satan, of course.

               Satan is very crafty and delights in surprise attacks, similar to a skunk.  However, Satan’s perfume is pleasant rather than pungent. Consequently, we need to be aware of his ploys and be on guard to protect ourselves from falling under his spells.  How do we resist him?

               Unlike waiting for the skunk’s lingering presence to pass with the wind, we can take immediate action from Satan’s temptations by relying on God, our Father.  I Corinthians 10:13 states, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  To me that verse reassures me of God’s faithfulness, His concern for His children, and His escape route when we are tempted by Satan, whose scent is even less desirable than a skunk’s.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

First Friend

Once again I am reminded how precious my friendship with Jesus is.  As we begin the Lenten Season, we pause to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for every one of us.  He left His Heavenly status and lowered Himself to become one of us.  And as a man, He established Himself among us, not only as our Savior and King but as our friend as well.

               The Gospel, the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament, reveals incident after incident of Jesus befriending people as He lived on this earth.  Some of His first friends became his 12 disciples.  Jesus, compassionate and gentle, reached out to common, ordinary people.  From Matthew 11:19, Jesus remarks that He was accused of being a friend to tax collectors and sinners: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  But wisdom is justified by her children.”

               Another example of friendship comes to mind when the names of Lazarus, Mary and Martha surface. These three individuals had welcomed Jesus into their home.  Not only had they served Him but they had also listened to His teachings.  The closeness they felt for Jesus was reciprocated by His love for them.  Jesus referred to Lazarus as his friend when He said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” (John 11:11)  And most of us know the rest of that story as Jesus did indeed wake him up…wake him from the dead!

               Then, on the night when Jesus was betrayed, He referred to His disciples as friends. (John 15:15) He no longer thought of them as servants but as true friends. As followers and servants of Jesus, we, too, are His friends.

               Jesus became my friend when I was a child, although at the time I wasn’t fully aware of what it meant to have Jesus as my friend.  Being raised in a Christian home aided in developing that friendship, but it wasn’t until I was in junior high that Jesus became my First Friend.

               Being raised in the Lutheran denomination, it was customary for seventh and eighth graders to attend Confirmation classes.  During these classes we studied the Bible’s Old and New Testaments thoroughly as well as Martin Luther’s Small Catechism . It was during these two years that I developed a deeper understanding of the Word and the walk of a Christian disciple.  Consequently, drawing closer to Christian principles separated me from the “popular” group at school.  For a time I was without any close friends, except one --- Jesus!

               Jesus took me under His wing so to speak.  And when I made my public confession of faith by accepting Jesus as my personal Savior when I was 13, my life changed.  In high school, Jesus provided me with an entirely new set of friends, friends that were trustworthy, faithful, and fun-loving.  My high school years were some of the best of my life. And Jesus had arranged it all. What a loving, caring friend!!

               Today, as I reflect on my friendships through the years, I see Jesus’ hand in all of them.  He has placed friend after friend in each of my life experiences…each friendship at the perfect time.  I consider all my friends, near and far, precious gifts from Jesus, my First Friend.  Jesus knows about friendship, and He wants to be our friend….our First Friend.  You couldn’t ask for a better one, especially a friend who gave His own life to save all of His friends.

Instead of a Bible reference, I want to share the lyrics of my favorite hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Oh what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.