"Treat" Yourself

It seems to me that you must 'treat' yourself spiritually (as a doctor would 'treat' you physically) before you can effectively pray for and help others. Just as in an airplane we are instructed that mothers should put on their own oxygen masks first, and only then help their children, we must each make sure we are getting enough of God's 'oxygen' before we can be really effective in the care and cause of anyone else.

So there is nothing at all wrong with getting yourself firmly integrated into the Spirit of God to the point that you know, feel, and understand the Joy of the Lord for yourself. "For the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). In order to build God's Kingdom we must each become good citizens of that Kingdom so that we recognize God's Spirit in others and begin to work together spiritually for good.

This is what I believe the "power of positive thinking" is really about. It's not about thinking yourself rich and successful. It's about exercising our minds to reach this goal - this perfect Joy in the Lord. Strength to live according to the Holy Spirit and in harmony with all of God's children.

Offering Thanksgiving

Today I just want to thank God for His presence and His tender mercies on us. As I read the paper and watch the news and listen to sad stories of hardship and want, I am humbled by God's faithfulness in my life. I pray in Jesus name that relief and comfort will be given to all in need. I thank you Lord for every time you have lifted us up in the midst of our own sad stories of hardship and need, and for being with us always. I am witness to your trustworthiness. Although you do not always keep us from ever having trouble, you deliver us from the bonds of trouble. I pray for us all. I pray we all come to know You and understand that You are "a very present help in trouble."

In Jesus' name, Amen

Typical Mother

I must have read a hundred times the story of disciples James' and John's mother, and how she managed to take Jesus aside and ask him for places of honor in heaven for her two sons. I shake my head and smile. Typical mother. Even Jesus doesn't rebuke her, he just explains why he can't make such a promise. Maybe he has a little extra patience with her because after all, his own mother pulled a 'typical mom' on him at that wedding in Cana, forcing him into his first miracle. "Oh you ran out of wine? My son can fix that. Go on Honey. Go ahead."

The very words, "my son", just evoke a sense of inordinate pride, don't they? Makes me think of my late mother-in-law. The conversation could be about anything from the price of figs to preserving the rain forest and she'd manage to slip in, "My son is a Holy Cross graduate you know." She just couldn't help herself. So even though part of me is disgusted with James' and John's mother for making such a request, part of me understands it.


But as I was reading another part of the Jesus story yesterday, the scene where he is hanging pitifully from the cross, suffering, bleeding, crying out, and then dying, I noticed that this very same woman is in this scene too. "And many women were watching from a distance....among them were...the mother of James and John." (Matthew 27:55 & 56) I guess I never really noticed that before, or slid past it, but it suddenly occured to me: I wonder what was going through her mind now? As she watched in horror, did she remember her request to him? Did she feel ashamed of herself for it? When she had asked Jesus her favor, she had been thinking only about the glory, not about the gore. She had had no idea what it was going to cost Jesus to take his own place in paradise. Now as she looked with revulsion on this scene, did she wonder if her own two boys would have to suffer the same fate in order to be with Jesus? Did she wish she had kept her mouth shut? How did she feel?

How do we feel? As believers we have been guaranteed a place in heaven with Jesus. Our entrance fee has been paid, but not by us. It was paid by Jesus. And we should never forget how much it cost Him.

Who's a Butterfly?

Everyone thinks butterflies are beautiful. Their wings are works of art and their flight is a joy to watch. But have you ever taken a good close look at the body of a butterfly? Eeww! Kinda gross really. Without its wings, a butterly is just a big ugly bug. And yet, when we see a butterfly, we ooh and aah and praise its extraordinary beauty.

Sometimes I'm a butterfly - splendidly arrayed in all my finery, showing the world my best self, but ugly at the center of me. Ugly thoughts sometimes hide beneath my beautiful wings. When I catch myself with these ugly thoughts, I remember that God does not see the outside of me. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (Samuel 16:7) I have been practicing the skill of catching myself when ugly thoughts like jealousy, resentment, anger, and superiority lurk just outside the door of my mind. I do my best to just ignore them out there. But sometimes I hear knocking at the door and I just race to fling it open, without any restraint. I suppose we all do, and I'm not foolish enough to believe that I will never do it again. But by practicing the skill of recognizing my mistake, I can boot those unwanted guests back out the door quick. I can do it by turning my thoughts to Jesus and immediately asking Him to boot them out for me. I can't afford to let them stay for long because they tend to dig in and make themselves at home if I let them. And I don't want to be an ugly bug.

Three Ways With Jesus

I once heard a neat little story about the three ways Christians relate to Jesus. It went something like this:

Imagine that you are out in the middle of a lake, and Jesus is there in a boat. There are three things you can do: You can swim after the boat, always keeping your eyes on Jesus, knowing he is there if you really need him. Or you can cling to the side of the boat, knowing you are safe as long as you hold on tight, with Jesus right there. Or you can rest in the boat with Jesus.

I don't know about you, but I vote for resting in the boat with Jesus. In fact, sometimes when I need to remind myself to let go of fear and anxiety, I tell myself, "I'm just going to rest in the boat with Jesus today." It's a nice image. I don't even like boats, but I still like the idea.

Most of us, at one time or another, opt for one of the first two choices. We go along swimming with all our might, exhausting ourselves with stroke after stroke, but feeling that we are, after all, giving it our best effort, and anyway, we're pretty sure Jesus will help us out if it looks as if we might actually drown. We can handle our problems. No need to bother the Teacher with this.

Or, we cling and hang on with every last ounce of energy we have. We pray in earnest, repeating the same desperate pleas over and over. We hope against hope. We cling to our faith. Jesus is close by.

But DUH, why don't we just climb into the boat and rest easy WITH Jesus? Our mistake is that we've been using so much effort. It isn't necessary.

The Bible says the same thing in lots of different ways:

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you." (Psalm 55:22) In this picture you just shrug off that big weight that's on your shoulders and heave it over onto the Lord. Give it to him, and don't go taking it back.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6) Well that one doesn't need any explaining.

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) In the midst of our anxious days, it's so hard to be still isn't it? But remember this passage, and remember the boat. You can be still.

So as you go about your day today, tossed by the waves and buffeted by the wind, take a breath and remember the boat. It's right there and Jesus is sitting in it saying, "Come, I will give you rest." And not only can you rest easy with Jesus, if the storm continues around you, Jesus will say to it, "Peace, be still." And just watch your sea of trouble and fear become smooth as glass.

Billboards I'd Like To See - Part 2

Billboards I'd Like To See Part I