Jody Along the Path

For a variety of reasons many people may be surprised by my question. For over 30 years I went to church nearly every Sunday and I cannot remember really thinking during the message or any other part of the service. The songs were so familiar that I could sing them without looking at the book. Their language was dated and did not lend itself to understanding much less mustering a feeling that I was actually singing it to worship the Lord. I could write my grocery list and review the children’s activities and never miss a beat! Many messages were more about church ‘doctrine’ and as I did begin to study the Bible I found the doctrines to have only a minimal connection to God’s teachings.

The last 10+ years I have been challenged, had all of my toes stomped, and not only carried my Bible to church but also found the best use for a bulletin – paper for note-taking! I come home and spend the next week reading and re-reading the marked passages and going further into cross references! It’s a wonderful thing! I have found myself grateful for those who share their message from God. I have even occasionally disagreed with them which becomes fertilizer for spiritual growth! Just sitting and nodding is like dining on milk toast when you are craving a thick steak or a big turkey leg!

I invite you to go to my daily devotion page and follow the next three days as I share some of the message I recently received about witnessing. Allow yourself to explore this fundamental purpose for which God has created us. Spend some time THINKING!

And he [Jesus] took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16 (NIV)

Like so many, many MANY young adults today – I grew up going to church every week, following the example of my parents. When I reached college and was able to freely make a decision to stay connected or not – I chose “not”. I had no personal knowledge or relationship with God so making a weekly pilgrimage to a church was not a high priority.

Then I became a “Mom” and the reality of evil that permeates the world got my attention and caused me to begin again to attend church and take my children. I became sometimes overwhelmingly involved in church activities. I had a large circle of friends that met my social needs and included a connection between our children. Looking back now, I see a wonderful social circle of caring and support but little in the way of personal spiritual knowledge that forges a relationship to God.

My children are grown now and the truths that I could now pass on to them and their children are these:

1) Pray. Pray that their children will find God as the answer to that ‘hole’ in their lives. Like a loving and tireless shepherd, Jesus is out there looking for all His lost sheep. Pray that when Jesus is standing there with outstretched arms that your children will respond.

2) Walk out your own life in Truth with the Holy Spirit. Speak and do only what you know and believe. Your child has been given discernment to ‘see’ a hypocrite at a very early age! If you don’t know – say, “I don’t know” and “Let’s look for an answer together”. What a great opportunity to ‘touch base’ with your child, sit down and look in God’s Word and seek answers together. And when you come to that HARD QUESTION: “WHY?”

· “Why am I still alone?”

· “Why am I different?”

· “Why did he/she have to die?”

· “Why is this happening?”

I believe God answers this question individually. The answer that works for me may not (even probably will not) work for my child. God is truth. God is faith. God won’t leave us. God will answer. Keep asking. Keep listening. God will answer.

3) Let them work in God’s Kingdom doing what they love to do. Like baseball? Start a fellowship group to go to games – and begin the Bible study in the fall after the season. Working parents? Church Movie Night with child care provided – soda, popcorn, and a DVD! Short devotion before you break for the night. See where Jesus will meet His children!

Jesus went out to people where they lived their lives and spoke about relevant topics to ‘catch’ them and then brought them into theology. Many times it was the person who brought up God – not Jesus. (Like the Samaritan woman, John 4)

Whether in music, with guitars and drums and contemporary styles – we must go to our young people and draw them in with language that relates to them and speak to how much God is relevant to the activities and questions they have. We ‘water’ them with God’s Spirit and they will grow into the deep roots that come with study and a relationship with God.

I won’t know the full story this side of heaven on what I did obediently to God’s direction and what I didn’t in raising my children. It is in what I said and didn’t say, what I set as priorities and what I didn’t, and what I valued and what I didn’t that I pass on to my children whether I am aware of it or not. In the end, my children and grandchildren’s journey of faith will be as unique as mine. I will continue to pray that when Jesus meets them – they will respond.

I believe forgiveness is about the heart. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34), He was looking at my heart not at the actions or the words. What was my heart really saying or doing?

God wants me to forgive. Jesus gave me vivid examples about forgiveness like the one as He stretched His arms out on the cross. He spoke about its importance and how much I am to forgive.

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)

Peter wanted to know how many times he had to forgive his brother! (Do you wonder if he meant Andrew?) Jesus essentially says, “A BUNCH!” (Matthew 18:21-22)

So – I am to forgive. But that act of obedience is not usually tied up in a neat bow, in a pretty box, that has an opening and a closing. Forgiveness usually involves someone with whom we have a relationship, whether it is spouse, parent, child, sibling, friend, fellow church member, or co-worker. We have a level (minimal or large) of trust with that person and the trust has been broken.

Sometimes that ‘brokenness’ can be identified by both parties and both want to reconcile and reconnect again. That’s a good thing. Both parties come back and speak words that hopefully clarify and offer repentance for poor choices or decisions or responses. Though the relationship can never return to what was – a new one can begin to grow and form.

Too often, in my experience, forgiveness, or the need for it, is identified by only one party. The other truly does not recognize a problem or chooses NOT to recognize a problem and so complete reconciliation is not possible…for now. However, healing is possible with God’s great help as He shows us how to move forward, taking ownership for our own mistakes, going to our knees to Him to ask forgiveness, and receiving His truth and light in the circumstance. Since God is the only one perfect enough to judge, it is with Him that we can find peace in all circumstances as He freely gives His all-sufficient grace to us. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Forgiveness is something to begin NOW; a road trip not to be put off by the million-and-one excuses that I can find. It is to be seen as one step at a time, directed by a Savior who knows my heart and knows my endurance. He moves me in perfect timing and shows me the blessings of staying on course. Jesus is ready and available for countless discussions; a teacher and confidant.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

I am not a very political person. I do not watch broadcasts of debates or read transcripts of speeches. My decision on the candidate that will receive my vote on an election day is done with 60% prayer and 10% actual listening to the candidate on issues that are important to me. The other 30%? It’s about integrity. I ask myself how does this person conduct themselves over the mud-slinging, back-biting months of the campaign? And what is their track record in life with their marriage and priorities?

If Senator Obama wants to be the President of the United States, he cannot sidestep the fact that he is black. If his faith is a priority and affects his decisions as he has alluded, then he must deal with that issue also. He has done well, in my opinion, until this report came out, and I quote from CNN.com:

Sen. Barack Obama says in an interview that aired on TV Friday that he would have left his church if his pastor had not retired and had not acknowledged making comments that “deeply offended people.”

I suspect this statement came about after the media ‘hammered’ in their usual relentless fashion for Senator Obama to make some response to Hilary Clinton’s remark at how quickly she would have left her church if her pastor had made such statements. (I won’t even qualify that ludicrous comment!) While my personal experience with the media is not in the same universe with Senator Obama, Clinton, or McCain, I have been misquoted (out of context or in no context) and had an offhand remark receive the spotlight and the purpose of the interview become lost in the sludge.

It is time for Senator Obama to make a stand and say, “NO MORE! I WILL NOT respond to any more questions or comments about this issue! Let’s keep our eye on the ball and this game has MOVED ON!” There is no more that he needs to say in explanation or in defense of a man who, though imperfect, was used by God to bring him to Christ.

I look forward to the day when we have a black president. I have looked with interest at Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, and now Senator Obama and said, “Lord, is this the one?” It is an important step in healing and ‘moving on’ to a country that is unified in Spirit, looking past colors.

I haven’t made a decision … yet. I am still listening to the One who always reports the truth!

Maybe I’ll have something to say about Senator McCain on another day. Don’t look for anything about Senator Clinton. My mother always told me that if I can’t say something nice – don’t say anything.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb… John 20:1 (NIV)

If you check the four gospels, you’ll find that there is no mention of Saturday. The gospels, each in their own way, records the burial of Jesus on Friday (three specifically mention the haste of burying Jesus before the Sabbath sundown) and then the scene picks up on Sunday morning. Early. What did the disciples and the women do on Saturday? . . .

Continue reading at Jody’s Devotionals.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Luke19:10 (NIV)

Have you ever been lost? Being in an unfamiliar city can make me feel bewildered and even frustrated – especially if I have inaccurate directions. Both of those emotions may find their root in fear. I don’t know where I am and will I find my way back to something familiar?

Today’s Devotion continues…

Depression may arguably be the most common malady of the human body. Doctors are prescribing more anti-depressants and mood stabilizers now than any time in history. Self-help books crowd our book shelves and TV talk show hosts bring in ‘experts’ on a weekly basis to advise their listeners on how to overcome their feelings of depression. Even a well-known television preacher says that one of the reasons he makes no apology for his “feel good sermons” is because people are depressed by what is happening in the world and need a positive word when they come to church.

What is a Christian to do when depressed? Is depression even ‘allowed’ in the life of a Spirit-led disciple of Jesus Christ?

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Psalm 137:1 (NIV)
I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Psalm 6:6 (NIV)

Three times I pleaded with Lord to take it away from me.
2 Corinthians 12:8 (NIV, emphasis mine)

I can see many in the Bible that went through difficult ‘seasons’ in their lives. I imagine that Adam was a bit down when he had one son that murdered the other! I imagine that John had his cloudy moments on the island of Patmos before and after his visions. In these passages, I see the writer of the two psalms crying out to God, even using the word ‘flood’ to describe the amount of tears he has cried. Paul verbalizes his feelings with saying that he has ‘pleaded’ with God to release him from his pain and torment. These people saw their cups – half empty!

What can I do when I am down in the pit? How do I take a step when all I seem to be able to do is sleep or stare into space? How did the ‘greats of faith’ pull themselves up? They didn’t.

God did. That isn’t cheesy. It isn’t just a good answer from Sunday School. It’s the truth. Just as I took that first tentative, I-have-no-idea-if-this-is-going-to-work step to accept that I was a sinner and I couldn’t fix that and so I stepped toward Jesus, I take that tiny, tiny step that says I am choosing God to fix my depression. God does the rest. Mine was a tiny, tentative step toward Him, admitting that I was too weak to do anything. In my depression, I reach for my Bible Promise Book that sits on my bedside table. I look at the index under ‘Belief’ or ‘Guilt’ or ‘Hope’ and read what is on the page. It’s a tiny step. It’s an admission that I choose God. He does the rest.

A tiny candle, a tiny light is lit to push back the darkness of my pit. I read on. Maybe now I have the courage to call my friend or email my friend and say, “Pray for me”. Nothing else. No explanation. That’s all right because a friend doesn’t need details. Prayer begins. I find that helped and so I do it again the next day. And the next.

Depression can be an illness like any other. God can use anti-depressant medication in the same way He uses antibiotics. Medication can be a part of God’s treatment plan. I don’t believe medication is the only answer.

God wants us to turn to Him and seek His truth. In depression, my eyes are too often turned toward myself and what is wrong in MY life. I focus on the ‘I’ of my life and not the ‘Faith’ in my Creator. It is in God that I find balance and peace and more reality than any TV show can invent!

Trust in the LORD with all that I am, choosing not to lean on my limited understanding. I acknowledge God in everything and He will point out the best path. Proverbs 3:5-6 (my paraphrase)

January 19^th dawned rainy. It was no different than the previous 24 hours! The Sixth Annual John Webb Winter Golf Tournament had a first – too much rain to play! John and volunteers arrived at the golf course as planned at 7:30 a.m. Faces were pretty sad and glum because this is the day that we work all year to make happen for the children of Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.

On Friday, January 18^th, twelve baseball players, coaches, and mascot visited the children at the hospital. This year, John invited the local college teams to join him and see a principle taught to him by mentor, Travis Fryman, “Don’t ever forget where you came from…give back to your community”. As I followed the players through rooms, handing out balls, pictures, smiles, and gentle joking with babies, toddlers, teens, and parents, I noted that every player at some point had a moist eye as we met beautiful children and brave parents who are fighting their way through a difficult ‘season’ in their lives. THIS is why we do what we do!

And so on Saturday, when rain threatened to de-rail our plan, God came through and spoke through a wonderful woman. I am not going to give her name here but when we were thinking we should cancel the whole day, she suggested we continue with the lunch (that was already a non-refundable expense) and raffle and silent auction. She was right! Though the day was gray and more than a little chilly, hearts were warm and generous as they made their raffle choices and bid on the auction items!

The food was delicious bar-b-q chicken served up by the Tiger Point Golf Club’s chef! We are still awaiting a few promised contributions but the children will be receiving some surprise gifts this year for sure!!!