Pass It On

The caller ID on the phone flashed my daughter’s home number. Picking it up, I anticipated hearing Carolyn’s voice. Instead, on the line was 7-year old Kamryn. “Nana, guess what?” she exclaimed. “I got a Bible at church today from my teacher!” I could hear the pride and excitement in her sweet little voice and imagined her standing tall, chest out, as she proclaimed this achievement. As she spoke, I too felt proud because she had chosen to pick up the phone and call her Nana, whom she knew loves the Word of God and would rejoice right along with her.

While raising my daughters, we enjoyed the time we spent at our church: Wednesday nights I attended Bible study while they participated in Pioneer Girls Club. Sunday mornings I taught women, while they attended classes. Then we all worshiped together. Sunday evenings we returned for fellowship. Although I would often talk with them about spiritual things, I don’t recall sharing how the Lord was working in my life. I suppose I thought they would somehow inherit the faith I was slowly and often painstakingly developing. I would do things differently now if I had the opportunity – perhaps that’s why God gives us grandkids!

While reading through Deuteronomy recently, numerous references to the importance of parents and grandparents sharing spiritual lessons with the next generation seemed to jump off the pages. In the book, Moses gave instructions to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, reminding them of all that God had done for them during their 40 years in the desert. Moses expressed concern that the children born during that period of desert wandering would not know what He had done for Israel before their birth. He warned the parents and grandparents, “Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

“I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord or his greatness and awesome power. They weren’t there to see the miraculous signs...they didn’t see the armies…they didn’t see how the Lord cared for you…They weren’t there to see what he did…BUT YOU have seen all the Lord’s mighty deeds with your own eyes! Therefore, obey…and…teach them to your children, write them on the doorpost of your house…so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish.”

Moses went on: “In the future your children will ask you...then you must tell them.”
“Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are home and when you are away…when lying down...and getting up again.”

Upon reading these passages, I was challenged to take seriously the responsibility of sharing God-sightings with the next generation. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, “How will they know of the beauty of my faithfulness in your life if you don’t tell them?” God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so the principle commanded through Moses to the Israelites, would be applicable to every parent and grandparent who knows the Lord. This is a responsibility and privilege to be taken seriously.

How do we do this? Here are a few suggestions that may help to get you started:
1) Watch for teachable moments, 2) Arrange to have one-on-one time with each child, perhaps at bedtime or during “dates,” 3) Ask leading questions that would cause them to think about how they would handle difficult situations, 4) Record in a memoir or journal your “God-sightings” and faith builders, 5) Keep a “Memories of God” file, and 6) Translate your experiences with God into bedtime stories.

Children are not going to automatically inherit our faith. They can, however, gain confidence in our Savior by hearing about our growing faith and His activity in our spiritual development. So, let’s make it a point to pass it on!

Read
Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 11:1-21
Deuteronomy 6:7,8,20
Psalm 48:13
Joel 1:3
Proverbs 17:6

Reflect
Recall God’s faithfulness to you, taking note of applicable scriptures. Pray about these areas and record what God did or taught you through them. Be ready to share about the following topics – keeping it age appropriate:
Faith
Financial provision
Healing
Hope
Courage
Power
Mercy
Worship
Grace
Forgiveness

Respond
Father God, you left the holy scriptures for us that we would know of your involvement in the lives of people, and to point us to our Savior, Jesus. Thank you for the written Word and for those who made it available to us by faithfully writing a history for us to know you better. Help me to know how to convey biblical truths to my children/ grandchildren, in an age appropriate way, of what your power and love will do to transform us into people of faith who are fully devoted to you. Amen.

Christmas - What Love!

As we approach another Christmas, a time for celebrating the coming of our Savior, my thoughts and study have led me to ponder the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus.

Two of my nephews became first time fathers in the last few months. Tom had a son and David had a daughter. It’s obvious they are crazy about these precious children, so much so that I am confident they would give their lives for them. My grand-niece and -nephew’s fathers have hopes and dreams for the success, health, fulfillment, goodness, and wholeness of their kids.

Likewise, as I read scripture and the account of the birth of Jesus Christ,I see no different delight in the Father at the human birth of His one and only Son. However, God the Father’s purpose in sending Jesus to become a baby and then a man, was for Jesus to ultimately take on the sin, sorrow, failings, brokenness and depravity of humankind; to allow the sinless Son of God to experience the disgusting thoughts and acts (yours and mine) of humankind, all while being separated from His Father on the cross of Calvary. I wondered how a loving Father could intentionally plan and allow the torturing of his Son’s body and the pollution of his human mind and soul during those hours on the cross.

The Scripture is resplendent with answers. Love allowed it. The love of a Father for the world, His creation. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave is one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. “
In John 17, we see the love of the Father for His Son. Jesus had confidence in His Father’s love as he prays to His Father in verse 26, “I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.” There was never any question in the mind of Christ about the Father’s love for Him, nor His purpose in being born into the world he himself created.

In John 12:23 and 27, Jesus said as he was preparing to be crucified, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…Now my heart is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
I can imagine a conversation after the Fall of Adam and Eve between the persons of the Godhead.

“We want a relationship with our creation, to know them, to love them; for them to know and love us. They need our strength and wisdom to navigate life. We want them to know the love that we have for one another; to experience the joy of having us at the forefront of their hearts, minds, plans and decisions. But their disobedience in the Garden proved their propensity to do things their own way; it revealed the weak wills of our creation. Now their sin has eternally separated them from us. Only a perfect sacrifice for that sin will provide an unbroken relationship with us. The sin must be atoned for. However, being sinful, they cannot atone for sin themselves. Only pure sinlessness and undiluted holiness can take it on. No amount of human self-effort will do it. None of their self-loathing or continual confessions will solve this problem. Not even good works or selfless living can accomplish what only holiness can. Who is worthy of carrying the burden of sin for the entire world, to free mankind from eternal separation from us? We alone are holy. We alone are worthy. We alone are God. One of us must make atonement and take the punishment they deserve.’ Willingly the Son offered: ‘I’ll go. I’ll do it. I can’t bear the thought of them dying in their sin and being separated from us for eternity. I’ll go. Send me, Father. Send me.’”

As inventive as that scenario might be (compared to how it must have happened), it shows our utter helplessness to get right with God on our own.

Christmas is about a heavenly plan put into action.
First His birth.
Then His life.
Next His death.
Then His resurrection.
God became man.
Man became accepted.
God was glorified.
Man was freed.

At this season, I pray our focus will remain on the truth that Christmas is about redemption, sacrifice, hope, eternity, and most of all, love – love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and their love for us - to God be the glory.
Merry Christmas!

Read
Revelation 5:1-7
1 Samuel 12:22
Luke 2
Isaiah 53
Colossians 2:21-22

Reflect
Do I celebrate the gift of Jesus in this Christmas season?
If not, what can I do to change that personally and in my family?
Do my children (or grandchildren) know the Christmas story or is it all about getting gifts?
Am I living in gratitude for Jesus’ gift of salvation?
Do others know that Christmas is my home is about the gift of Jesus to the world?

Respond
Father, how grateful I am that you loved us so much that you allowed your Son to be born a God-man to take on the sins of the world. I celebrate you this season and always, as I remember and proclaim the love I have for you, that you first had for your Son. I accept the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf and desire to live a life that will glorify you always. By the strength that Jesus offers, Amen.

Is God Sovereign over Disasters

The small country of Haiti has suffered unimaginable losses in the last couple of years. First, the tsunami that killed thousands and destroyed homes and businesses, leaving hundreds of children orphaned. Then, just as it seems that relief efforts had eased their burdens somewhat, we learned that they are now plagued by cholera. Cholera! The worldwide epidemic that killed many thousands of people around the world in the early 1800’s.

Upon hearing this, reflections of God’s sovereignty in the midst of tragedy came once again to the forefront of my heart. If God is good (which he is), and if he controls all things (which he does), then how can these awful things keep happening to the Haitians? The answer concerns all disasters, whether a roof destroyed by a falling tree or an earthquake, tornado, the devastation of a hurricane or others.

Psalm 135:6 says, “The Lord does whatever pleases Him.” Does it please Him to allow the spread of cholera on an already devastated nation? Ezekiel 18:32 reads, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”

So, if God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, then what good can come from a tragedy such as Haiti is experiencing? In Haiti ’s recovery we have witnessed the influx of people from all over the world to provide relief. This is a country once fiercely closed to outside influences. Humanitarian agencies and Christian organizations and individuals have offered comforting arms of love to the Haitians, along with practical help. Because of the tsunami the country is now open to experience the love of God through other nations and people. Untold numbers have turned and are turning from their religious practices of Voodoo[1] to the worship of a God who sent His only Son, Jesus to carry mankind’s sins to the cross (read of one organization’s story of conversions at http://revivalmedia.org/2010/04/30/many-haitians-turning-to-christ-1st-may-2010/)

From this fact alone, I am comforted that nothing is purposeless or wasted with God. God knows the human heart and His passion for all to come to repentance. He states in Lamentations 3:31-33, “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring grief to the children of men.” Romans 8:28-29 bears this out, “For all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” The “conforming” Paul mentions, happens most often as a result of pain. We all wish for a life of no pain, but the result would be that we would be more less likely to know our need of Him, and ultimately be less conformed to the image of Jesus.

There is a clear argument through scripture that God is not weak when tragedy transpires. He is not been trumped by the devil, or cries, “Oh no!” when the tragedy strikes. He allows and causes what John Piper describes as “an occasion for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory (see also Romans 9:22-23)”[2]

All of our heavenly Father’s acts, even his allowing a tsunami and cholera, is a demonstration of his justice in proving the worth of his glory. eHWho are we to judge God? We are mere man and He is the eternal sovereign, immutable, omniscient, holy and good Father. His love and motives cannot be questioned.

He knows every heart. He alone knows what it will take to draw others into his kingdom. He knows the power of His Spirit to turn hearts to himself with the ultimate goal of our salvation for His glory. He lovingly provides his grace to carry us through any sorrow; that is His gift when life is shaken to its core. Grace is provided freely through Jesus for all who would receive it. We choose whether to curse God or accept His grace like one who peacefully sits in His lap as a little child.

It would takes years of the study of scripture and the writings of godly men like John Piper to not only understand, but write about the multi-faceted character of God and the ideology of His workings; and to grasp how the interrelation of the role of Satan and the facts of one’s own responsibility fit into the pleasure and purposes of God in all He does. This blog simply expresses my heart and my understanding of one miniscule aspect of the character and flawless determinations of God regarding disasters.

Piper sums up his submission to the purposes and sovereignty of God when, following the death of his mother in a freak car accident where his mother was nearly decapitated, he wrote, “I never doubted that God was sovereign over this accident and that God was good. I do not need to explain everything. That he reigns and that he loves is enough for now.”[3]

And that is enough for me this side of heaven. I pray it is enough for you.


Prayer

Holy Father, you are Lord of all. No matter what happens in my life, I know I can count on your love at the core. Help me to have faith by your grace, when tragedy strikes in my life. Carry me, soothe me, strengthen me. For those in Haiti , I pray they would know who you are, and that your love is more powerful than a tsunami, disease, or sorrow. Comfort them, I pray. Amen.



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[1] Countries and Their Cultures. Http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html

[2] Piper, John. The Pleasure of God, Sisters, OR, Multnomah Publishers, 2000, p. 73

[3] Ibid, p.75.

Sacrifice of Praise

Today is my 38th spiritual birthday.  On October 24, 1972 I put my trust in Jesus as my Savior and Lord while attending a Bible study in my local Catholic church.  Recently, God gave me a spiritual birthday gift that I'd like to share with you.

When I was 12, and my mother was 35, she suffered a brain hemorrhage.  For the two years she was paralyzed and hospitalized before her death, I watched closely as my father and mother coped with that horrific and painful season.  Mom had been a happy, vivacious, and friendly person.  She was the glue that held our family together, as are most moms.  Her absence from our home created a huge vacuum for my 3 siblings and me.  I won't go into the details of those years in this article, since I'm including it in my book, but I did want to share something I discovered about my parents and their trust in God through this tragedy.

While visiting Carolyn in Florida recently, I was excited to find an album I had given her which had some clippings of my father's over 400 published short-stories. Some were fictional articles and others non-fiction.  There were stories about mountain climbing (which made me laugh since he was an indoor kind of guy), and nostalgic articles about his homecoming after the war.  Some were researched topics, such as the Shroud of Turin and others written from his experiences in an Irish-immigrant family.

As I was flipping through the articles I found one describing an organization called Catholic Union of Sick in America (CUSA).  I remembered that my parents had joined it during Mom's illness.  It was a kind of FaceBook for the sick.  Except back then, ill members would use snail mail to write to one another for emotional and spiritual encouragement.  Whenever a letter would arrive from another ill member of the organization, Dad would sit on the edge of Mom's hospital bed, hold her hand, and read it to her. They would then pray together for their ill companion.  Although she couldn't speak, I was told Mom prayed along in her heart, often with tears trickling from the corners of her eyes.

What touched me in reading the article, was a deeper realization of my parents'  growing faith during those horrendous years of suffering.  The article spoke of their sense of abandonment by friends and family and the temptation to feel that God had abandoned them, too. 

He wrote regarding CUSA members, "...once disconsolate and despairing sufferers have learned to give meaning to their agonies...they have been reborn to an understanding of the why of their pain; they have heard the words of the apostle Peter, 'Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal you are suffering ....'"  The sick come out of themselves and find a chance for tranquility and resignation to the will of Almighty God.  They come to realize that their pain is linked with the agony of Christ on the cross, and that by suffering patiently they are indeed not abandoned by Him, but very close to Him..."  He went on to proclaim, "We suffer for a purpose." 

Dad then shared the prayer that he and my mother and other CUSA members prayed daily: "Dear Lord, here is a new day You have given me in which to love You and help others to love You as well.  So that my love for You may be ever stronger, help me to spend the hours of this day in Your Presence.  To offer as small sacrifices, some of my own little likes and dislikes; help me not to waste my time in idle pursuits but instead to busy myself to the greatest possible extent in works which are pleasing to You.  And above all things, help me to love and accept Your holy will.  Lord Jesus, in giving me this cross of my illness, it was Your desire to bring me nearer to Your divine heart and especially to offer my cross...help me today not to waste a single of the trials, both large and small, which are the lot of the invalid, and which if borne with patience, can obtain so many graces.  I offer them to You with all my heart ... bearing courageously and even joyously the cross which is ours." 

In reading my father's words, I discovered that they were strengthened through their association with other ill members who also turned to God for peace and joy.  It is clear to me that my Mom's suffering physically and emotionally, her inability to speak, to hold her children, to laugh, or to kiss her husband, was offered as a sacrifice of praise to God.  Likewise, my father's loss of normal family life with his beautiful wife and the mother of his four children was submitted to Jesus as his sacrifice of praise in submission to His will. 

I cried when I finished the article because it gave me insight into the hearts of my parents which I had not fully realized until now.  As I remember my struggles of the past, I am more aware that what Dad and Mom taught my sister, brothers and me was strength to endure trials through submission to a loving God.  I know that their prayers and faithfulness are what led me to my own personal relationship with Jesus Christ 38 years ago today.  Happy spiritual birthday to me!

Read
Hebrews 13:15
I Peter 4:12-13
James 1:2-5
Isaiah 40:27-31
Romans 5:3-5
Reflect

1. Do feel abandoned by God?
2. Are you ready to submit your unhappiness and pain to God as a sacrifice of praise?
3. If you are minimally reading the Bible and get little out of going to church, it may be time to let go of your self absorption and turn to the One who can fill your heart with joy. 

Respond

Father God, The pain I am enduring is excruciating.  I don't feel you are near or that you even care.  Show me how to turn from my constant dwelling on my sorrows and put them into your hands.  If Sandy's parents, Tom and Barbara Dowling could do it during their terrible ordeal, then I know that with your help I can do it too.  I submit________________ to you, for you to work in it according to your will.  I pray this by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.