Joy and Loss

 ~ Christmas Eve ~

From Christmas to the cross

Such joy and such loss.

From the cross to the grave

Jesus died; Jesus saves.

From the grave to the skies

Jesus lives- He is alive.

I penned these words earlier today, as I thought about Jesus’ profound sacrifice – leaving heaven’s glory, stooping to become a baby in a virgin’s womb, and giving His life as a ransom for many. I thought about all the important questions surrounding His birth, and how they were all answered centuries before He came.

Who – God with us. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

What- a son. (Isaiah 7:14)

When - "Seventy weeks, (490 years), have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place." (Daniel 9:24)

Where - "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah. From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5;2)

Why - He shall save His people from their sins. “Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12)

How - By a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14)

I am ever so thankful that the Christ of Christmas is also the Christ of the cross. That cross may have slain Him but the grave could not hold Him. Perhaps you think it strange that I would believe in Jesus Christ; that I believe he is God. Mythology would have men becoming gods- instigating a glorious, self-indulgent rescue, only to be repeated again and again, cyclical and without hope. Religion would have men grovelling for the favour of a god they cannot know.

But it is not so with Christ. God became man. He humbled Himself and identified with us to the point of death. I, for one, cannot even imagine a more humbling act of love- selfless, powerful, and sufficient for the forgiveness of sin.

At our Christmas Eve church service, Pastor Pernell spoke about the paradox many of us encounter at Christmas time: the joys of celebrating Jesus’ birth and the poignant sorrows of remembering those who have died. I am grateful for his reminder that we have Jesus, the Light of the world; that we celebrate a constant, a certainty in a world full of change and uncertainty. “In Him was life and the life was the light of men,” (John 1:4).

The words of my little poem also came from a heart that knows loss. This Christmas, I have been thinking of so many of us who know Loss on a first-name basis. We can take heart, my friends. The God of heaven understands our grief. His loss, when Jesus died, was deeper than what we will ever know.  I am comforted by the knowledge that He knows the depth of our sorrow and the breadth of our pain. God knows. God cares. He will comfort, if you ask Him. And for those who come to know Him, there is not only “Christ in you the hope of glory,” for the rest of your days here on earth, there is also heaven waiting to welcome you home.

This God whom I know is worth knowing. This Saviour born is a Saviour worth worshiping. Our children sang this evening, to the tune of: ”O come let us adore Him.”

For he alone is worthy

For he alone is worthy

For he alone is worthy

Christ the Lord.

You can have MY room

It all seems so romantic and rustic and rather idyllic.  Images of a cozy stable, a new-born baby and sheep and shepherds all ‘round about the happy couple welcoming their first-born, Jesus.  

I’m more inclined to think of the young lad who was the innkeeper in a play about the Christmas story.  The practices all went very well and he would shout: “No room!” at Mary and Joseph, and then slam the door of his inn.  However, the night of the actual play, it ended rather differently.  For this little innkeeper, the story became so real that he had a change of heart.  After the shouting and slamming, he opened the door again and with tears in his eyes, he said: “Wait!  Please come back.  You can have MY room.” He got it right!  A King was to be born and he wanted the monarch to have the best place he could offer.  I wonder, this Christmas, is there room in your heart for this Saviour?  

One of my favourite Christmas carols: 

From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable

From the squalor of a borrowed stable, by the Spirit and a virgin's faith;

To the anguish and the shame of scandal; came the Saviour of the human race.

But the skies were filled with the praise of heaven, shepherds listen as the angels tell

Of the Gift of God come down to man, at the dawning of Immanuel.

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners, humble servant in the Father's hands,

Filled with power and the Holy Spirit, filled with mercy for the broken man.

Yes, He walked my road and He felt my pain; joys and sorrows that I know so well;

Yet His righteous steps give me hope again - I will follow my Immanuel.

Through the kisses of a friend's betrayal, He was lifted on a cruel cross;

He was punished for a world's transgressions, He was suffering to save the lost.

He fights for breath, He fights for me, loosing sinners from the claims of hell;

And with a shout our souls are free - death defeated by Immanuel.

Now He's standing in the place of honour, crowned with glory on the highest throne,

Interceding for His own beloved, ‘til His Father calls to bring them home!

Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds; hope of heaven or the fear of hell;

But the Bride will run to her Lover's arms, giving glory to Immanuel!

Stuart TownendCopyright © 1999 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com

I love David Wesley’s rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYXFU8HugMY

The title is a reminder that God came to earth in a spirit of meekness, gentleness and humility, and yet people are still looking for a great king to rescue them, to pay a ransom for them to be forever free.  Our literature is full of sweeping sagas of great saviours, but do we not know that He has already come, has already paid the greatest ransom of all, by dying on a cross, and then rising again?                                                                                      His name is  Immanuel, “God with us”,(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).    

Merry Christmas!   Joyeux Noël!    Feliz Navidad!

Cupped Hands

Mom.

It’s one thing to get a child’s attention, by cupping their face in your hands.  It’s quite another when they cup your face in their hands and say: “I love you.”  Go ahead and feel your heart melting.  The seniors with whom I work understand.  They crave a gentle touch; these people who are well-fed and yet starving for joy and comfort.  “O tidings of comfort and joy,” is their heart’s cry.  A more wondrous Christmas present could not be given, if one was to offer a gentle touch.

You know, it takes time to be gentle.  It takes a spirit of humility to be gentle.  There is a grace found in a spirit of gentleness that you will not find anywhere else.  We’ve known it, when someone loves us well, and we can rejoice in the qualitative touch of a gentle spirit.  It is a great sadness, when we have left gentleness in the dust of our too-busy lives; anxiously reaching for the next empty apparition of more, more, more.

But we are not left without an example, nor are we left without any help.  If anyone exuded gentleness, it would have been Jesus; filled to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. No wonder the people flocked to him; no wonder he carries the titles of Good Shepherd, (John 10:11); Great Shepherd, (Hebrews 13:20); and Chief Shepherd,(1 Peter 5:4).  It does seem a paradox, though, that Jesus was ushered into the world at the proclamation of lowly shepherds.  But isn’t that the way?  I mean, don’t we recognize true strength of character in meekness and gentleness?  I marvel at God’s seemingly “upside-down” way of looking at the world.  

Pastor Pernell’s message about leaving vengeance to God is so fitting, as he spoke about using a spirit of kindness and gentleness to respond to those who have hurt us deeply; to those upon whom we would rather wreak havoc and vengeance.  By responding with gentleness, we may well lead the very perpetrator to repentance and faith. 

Meek is might, if we can take any lessons from Moses, the meekest man in all the earth, and from Jesus Himself, who was “…gentle and riding on a donkey.” (Matthew 21:4).  A gentle answer turns away wrath, says Proverbs 15:1, and this same meek and gentle Jesus answers to the righteous wrath of God, by holding our faces in His nail-scarred hands, and whispering to us in words loud and clear: “I love you.  I died for you.  I rose from the dead for you.  I live for you.  There is nothing too hard for me.”  Jesus' words, in Matthew 11:29:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;

and you shall find rest for your souls.”

We may get a lot accomplished in this life, on our hurry-scurry treadmills.  We might even get even with someone for hurting us.  But the pile of ashes at our feet, at the end of the day, will be all that is left; unless this fruit of the Spirit, gentleness, has been evident.  This Christmas, may gentleness be my hallmark, bringing tidings of comfort and joy.  I can start by taking my mother’s face into my cupped hands and saying:  “I love you.”  At 92 years of age, there may not be much time left for me to do this.  A daily dose would be a good thing, bringing rest to my soul and to hers.  Today was a good day to start a new tradition.  My Mom’s response: “And I love you.”

Reflected Light

Reflected light, this full and bright moon.

Shining the sun’s rays to me at night.

Arced across the sky, moving east to west.

Watching a faithful and beautiful sight.

Reflective. Shining.  Faithful.

So it is for me, in Christ.  

        Shine on.

"Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: "I am the light of the world; 

he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

(John 8:12)

(Jesus said)  "You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

(Matthew 5:14) 

November 20, 2015.

From another mother

As we’ve been studying the book of Ruth together, at our ladies’ small group, I’ve been moved by the faithfulness of a faithful God.  Having lost her husband and her two sons, Naomi left three graves in Moab and returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law, Ruth.  Naomi says that she had left full but came back empty.  Not so, Naomi!  God has always been with you, faithful to the end; Ruth, whom you now call ‘daughter,’ has been ever-so-faithful to you.

One might ask: “What does it mean that God is faithful?”  He is faithful in His written word:

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away”.(Matthew 25:34),

and in His Living Word, found in Jesus Christ,

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, 

Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Your refuge, my refuge, is found in this faithful God who calls believers in Christ to be faithful.  Really, all of us are refugees, looking for a safe haven.  Whether it is a teenager who is pregnant and needing care, comfort and courage to carry her baby to term or a senior who longs for a smile, a helping hand and conversation, there is an innate longing for faithful friends.  And no wonder, since we are made in the image of God.  This triune God is a God of fellowship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  This triune God, in whose image we are made, has created us for fellowship, for intimacy, for joy and as a refuge for others.

Are we so selfish, that we will not allow others from another mother, to come into our country?  Will we really close the airports and the gates and the ports and the borders, so that fleeing refugees will be turned away?  Don’t we realize that Canada has its own version of evil: abortion-on-demand and the legalization of euthanasia?  Haven’t we killed enough of our own blood to staunch the flow of death?  Are we so self-righteous that we claim an excellent human rights tradition while our indigenous communities have no running water and cardboard houses in which to live?

Where is the faithfulness that the fruit of Spirit speaks about, in Galatians 5:22?  Are we so deaf to the cries of the needy that we can say, with alacrity and insouciance: NIMBY- Not In My Backyard?  Oh please, please- let us be a people who love the Lord our God and who love our neighbours, whomsoever they may be. 

Women, children, one-month-old babies are escaping the horrors of a war that has been none of their making.  The politics of generations has gone into these awful developments, and an organization like ISIS has deftly made their way into a vacuum where mercy does not reign, but terror tightens its grip on hearts and minds.  If we are in Christ, why do we feel paralyzed with fear?  Can we not provide a drop of mercy in these oceans of heartache and despair?

The violent takeover of lands and peoples is not new to Islam.  Such was the way of the prophet Mohammed; such is the way of those who follow him to the letter.  They are bent on creating a caliphate where women are objects to be used, where fear prevails and nary a drop of mercy can be found.  Are all Muslims to be painted with the brush of such extremists?  No.  Would some of them make it to Canada?  I wouldn’t doubt it.  But to think this is comparable to the myth of the Trojan horse that was sent into the heart of Troy and filled with the enemies’ soldiers is pretty far-fetched, Donald Trump notwithstanding.

   

Faithfulness to our God, faithfulness to our spouse, to our children, to our world- this fruit of the Spirit can only be played out in the day-to-day decisions that we make; in the places where perhaps no one sees us; in the interactions we have with our neighbours.  Being faithful is only a platitude unless we have a godly attitude- pointing people to our faithful God.  I am grateful for Samaritan’s Purse, who has boots on the ground at the point where these fleeing refugees are at their weakest- getting off rubber dinghies and landing on the shores of an island where they cannot be sure if someone will turn their boat around,sending them back across the lonely, salty waters; back to certain death.

(See here:  https://www.facebook.com/SamaritansPurse/videos/10153016512126809/). May it not be so here in Canada; may it not be said of believers that WE are more important than THEM.  ISIS longs for this; they want these fleeing refugees to think that ISIS is their refuge and as they watch and wait, we might well be playing right into their bloody hands.  Let it not be so, oh faithful God, let it not be so.

While Good News is putting her boots on...

“While good news is putting her boots on, bad news is already down the road.”  I’m afraid this old saying still rings true.  We just can’t wait to pass on a juicy bit of gossip and what my Mom calls facebook is sadly à propos:  “the porte-patchet,” which means “the gossip-column.”  I wonder, is that how you use facebook?  Doesn’t good news deserve a hearing?  In the book of Ruth, the sweet fruit of the Spirit-goodness- still counts!

It was around 1250 B.C. when Ruth, the Moabitess, went to draw water for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi, at the well in Bethlehem.  I can almost hear the other women: 

“There’s that woman from Moab!” 

“How dare she come to our land?  She is our enemy!”

“Her husband was Naomi’s son, and he died. She cursed the entire family!”

“She’s barren- it’s because God judged her!”

Ah, but there was someone who offered Ruth life-giving water and his name was Boaz.   Later on, out in the field where Ruth was gleaning, he said to her:

“When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”  

(Ruth 2:9)

Oh, the goodness of this man, Boaz!  He need not have offered Ruth water- she was, after all, a foreigner and far worse, someone from a land where their enemies dwelt.  He knew her history- it had been reported to him.  But he gleaned the wonderful parts of her story- she had honoured her mother-in-law, left her own mother and father and her country, and had come to a people whom she did not know.  Boaz knew she had left all behind to stay with Naomi and follow Naomi’s God, the God of Israel. 

He didn’t tell her to go back to town and fetch water for herself at the well, nor did he tell her to go and fetch water for the others; he told her to drink, and to drink the water drawn by his own servants.  What dignity Boaz bestowed on Ruth that day!  Such goodness he showed this young widow, who knew only one person in the entire country, namely Naomi. 

Goodness means you don’t just offer help; give a date, a time, a suggestion and follow through.

Goodness means you put yourself out to meet someone’s need.

Goodness means you humble yourself before God, remembering that you are a sinner saved by grace, and you do the unimaginable: tell a prostitute that God deeply cares about them, bring food to a home where conditions are less-than-ideal, put an ad in your local newspaper saying you are available to mow a senior’s lawn for free, take a Bible to someone in prison, sit with a drunkard or an addict while they go through the horrors of withdrawal or…

Boaz was a Kinsman-Redeemer for Naomi and Ruth; a close relative whose role was to care for these two widows.  He could have chosen not to do so; not to demonstrate goodness towards them.  Unbeknownst to him, he was pointing to someone far greater than himself, when he offered water to Ruth.  He was pointing to Jesus Christ, the epitome of goodness,  and the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer who gave up His life; so that we might have a well of water springing up to eternal life,(John 4:14).   

Ah, may Paul’s words to the church at Rome be true of us today:

"I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,

                     filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another."               

(Romans 15:14)

Mercy Finds Us

Naomi - a woman of courage, a woman of honesty, a woman of joy; a widow bereft of her husband and two sons.  She, along with her husband Elimelech and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, had travelled to Moab to escape the famine in Bethlehem, the town whose name means ‘House of Bread.’   (You can read their story here).  Ten years later, she returns to Bethlehem without her husband, without her two sons and with her daughter-in-law, Ruth.  It was a less-than-glorious return, for the famine had followed her to Moab – a famine of spiritual proportions that she had not expected.

Two widows, one of whom was barren, were making their way back home. It was a journey fraught with painful memories; but somehow the longed-for comfort of being home and the companionship of a God who never forsook them made the odyssey bearable.  After seven to ten days of travel, they finally entered through the gate of the town of Bethlehem.  Did she remark to Ruth, on that long journey home, that she and her family had slept at such-and-such a place, or had gotten food at that particular town?  Was there weeping as they walked, remembering the graves left behind in Moab?  Regret, perhaps; regrets about leaving Bethlehem and turmoil about a return that would only cause questions and pronouncements of “I told you so?”  Never mind the raised eyebrows over bringing a Moabite into the land of Israel.  Would Ruth be safe- this foreigner who had pledged her allegiance to Naomi and to her God?  Would she even be allowed to get water at the well?  

Famine is such a huge metaphor for the spiritual drift that can happen when we ‘do what is right in our own eyes.’  Such was the time of the Judges; such was the setting for this story of Naomi - there was a famine in the land, which served to highlight the profoundly deeper spiritual famine that was starving the people of God.  It is a sad irony indeed that they took a never-forgotten journey to what I call ‘the land of dread,’(Moab), from ‘the house of Bread,(Bethlehem).’  And while we do not have all the details, it would appear that going to Moab was not the wisest choice this little family had made.  In the Book of Ruth, Naomi states it this way:  “The hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”(1:13)  “ Do not call me Naomi,(which means pleasantness); call me Mara, (which means bitterness), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”(1:20)  “…the Almighty has afflicted me.”(1:22b)  These are difficult and terse words but Naomi has not denied God’s right to judge, nor has she rejected Him as her God; she is identifying His sovereign hand at work.

Sin takes us on a journey that is longer, more difficult and more turbulent than we had ever planned, but mercy finds us there and repentance brings us home.  Naomi has come home.

My prayer:   “Lord, may my journey home be shorter!  Thank you for the cross.”

My paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 7:9,10

Godly sorrow is a groaning that leads to true repentance and life, while worldly sorrow only moans over being caught and leads to spiritual death.”

Changing our Clothes

“Thanks again EBC for the ongoing gestures of love and kindness.” I’ve been pondering this little note left on our church prayer-site, on facebook. It is written by a widow who is moving away from us. I say, away from us, as in our/her church family. We are sad and delighted at the same time- such is the quality of our relationship. She is moving closer to her daughter, hence moving a few hundred kilometres away from us.

As I have been walking along through the month of September with kindness on my mind, I’ve considered the following: Christians should be the ones who consistently bear this fruit as an outpouring of our faith. Kindness produces a sweet harvest, and the Holy Spirit is aching to bear this fruit in your life and in mine.

I love how the apostle Paul speaks about kindness as an item of clothing for us to wear:

“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

(Colossians 3:12,13)

Earlier in Colossians, he speaks about putting to death:

'immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry."

(Col. 3: 5)

and goes on to say:

"put off: anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech from your mouth.”

(Col. 3: 8)

Some of us change our clothes several times a day; some of us only do it once. Regardless, as we get dressed, we can be reminded of our spiritual clothing. We would do well to consider “putting on” kindness and “discarding” sexual impurity and greed, as seen in verse five and character-destroying conversation, as seen in verse eight.

Could someone say to you today: “Thank you for your ongoing acts of love and kindness?” We can lavish this fruit of the Spirit on those around us, pointing them to the Saviour; to Jesus who poured out His kindness by shedding His blood, bearing our sins on the cross. And, as seen in my friend’s short note to the church, it must be demonstrated to fellow believers as well as to the world at large.

It may cost us, this kindness. Maybe we think a little too highly of ourselves; maybe we consider that rich neighbour as snobby and therefore we couldn't be bothered showing a kindness to them.  Or maybe we are called to reach out to someone who we think is unlovely-someone who doesn’t smell too good, someone who does not have a change of clothes. Go ahead, give them the shirt off your back; demonstrate true kindness. After all, I am so sure you have another shirt at home and the kindness given is the perfect shirt to give away.

Nothing random about being kind

It happened not that long ago; a demonstration of kindness shown to my Mom that touched me deeply. Perhaps the bearer of this kindness didn’t realize what their simple gesture meant, but for me, it was keenly felt. Sitting alone for a few minutes, my Mom was watching some of the children playing, after the evening service. A lady deliberately walked over, from the other side of the room, sat down beside her, and chatted with her for a few minutes. “Just lovely,” I thought to myself!

If you have been the recipient of kindness, you no doubt recognize that sweet sense of having been touched by something greater than us. Perhaps you have even asked yourself: “Why me? What have I done to deserve this?” And there may not be an answer; it is more often the fact that you have done nothing at all to deserve it; that it is, in fact, greater than us. The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 implies a harvest, and kindness is a sweet and sadly underrated fruit in our day-to-day lives. Is it any wonder that we are deeply moved when someone meets a real need, in God’s way and in His timing?

Strong’s Concordance states it this way:

“Kindness: well-fit for use, serviceable, beneficial, benevolent.”

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are both called and equipped to meet a real need; to give that which is both beneficial and benevolent. This implies an understanding of a given situation. It means getting to know one another, in a church family, so that we can truly provide for one another. There are wonderful implications for kindness being shown to those who don’t know Christ; looking for ways to serve others in our community. The “Random-Acts-of-Kindness” movement has, no doubt, benefited many, but as a Christian, there should be nothing random about being kind.

I love the way King Lemuel’s mother speaks, in Proverbs 31:26:

   “She, (an excellent wife), opens her mouth in wisdom, 

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” 

I am struck by the juxtaposition of wisdom and kindness in this text, and while it is about a wife, it can be extrapolated for all of us. It is a powerful statement, really. Speaking wisely will mean demonstrating kindness more than selfishness; meeting needs rather than whining about wants; looking for concrete ways to serve rather than digging for useless information in order to criticize. Showing kindness means taking deliberate, concrete action for the betterment of someone else. Its opposite, cruelty, has a sly way of maliciously speaking about someone or it manifests itself in the withholding of love in your marriage or an “I’ll-make-them-pay” attitude toward someone who has grieved you. You will find neither wisdom nor kindness with cruelty on the tongue.

But in the Saviour's wise voice, we hear words of kindness~ beneficial and benevolent, useful and serviceable:

  "I am the good shepherd; 

the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." 

(John 10:11)

"My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me; and I give eternal life 

to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 

 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; 

and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 

 I and the Father are one." 

(John 10: 27-30) 

Ah, there you have it. For those who know Christ, we are caught in His capable, nail-scarred hands and He and our heavenly Father shall never let us go.

Kindness, indeed!

Impatience, the rebellious kick-starter

August 24, 2015.

Impatiens or impatience

Impatiens-such a great name for such a sweet flower, taking root and growing and spreading in a seemingly impatient manner! It is in a hurry to spread; wherever, whenever, however. Our own impatiens, pictured above, have brought the fourth fruit of the Spirit, (patience), into sharp relief against the backdrop of Paul's prayer for the church in Colossians 1:9,10, He prays that they might be

Ë filled with the knowledge of the will of God; with all spiritual wisdom and understanding

Ë walking in a manner worthy of the Lord

Ë pleasing the Lord in all respects

Ë bearing fruit in every good work

Ë increasing in the knowledge of God

As is so often the case, Paul’s prayer includes the grace that is necessary for such fulfillment:

“strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.(verse 11)

He gives an ultimate purpose:

for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience,”

and concludes with the antidote to impatience:

“joyously giving thanks to the Father

who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”(verse 12)

Being impatient goes directly against what Paul prays for the church.  Meaning, my impatience is in direction opposition to the will of God. It is in a hurry to spread; wherever, whenever, however. And, it must be admitted, it is often the precursor to unrighteous anger. A lack of patience basically underscores my own unwillingness to trust God in any given circumstance.  But, it seems that impatience is such a trifling sin; unimportant when set against the heavyweights of adultery or murder.  Or is it? 

Could it be that Adam and Eve were the very first impatient ones?  Allowing Satan to convince them that God was holding something back, they really didn’t need to obey Him or wait for Him to reveal more of Himself; they could take a shortcut, with impatience as the kick-starter.  By hoping to circumvent the will of God, they took matters into their own hands, wanting to be just like God.  They were unwilling to wait for the very One who created them, loved them, and has been patiently waiting ever since time began, for people to turn to Him.

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness, and forbearance and patience,

not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”  (Romans 2:4)

There is a repentance that leads to salvation, and an ongoing repentance that leads to godliness. While the old saying is still true: “patience is a virtue,” I am thankful that it is a fruit of the Spirit, and one which my Saviour wants to see flourishing in the garden of my soul  ̴ ‘strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.’

I won’t be uprooting my impatiens any time soon, but I will be digging deep to tear out the insidious roots of impatience in my own heart, replacing it with a joyful and thankful spirit.

It Wears Thin...

It wears thin, after awhile; like a garment that is getting old- I speak of patience.  This fourth fruit of the Spirit, mentioned in Galatians 5:22, has had a habit, lately, of not quite coming to full maturity, full fruition; and I am left with the dregs of a lecturing tongue or a fuming heart.  Having stopped by someone’s home this week, I couldn’t help but notice the little rock sitting next to their door…and you guessed it, painted ever so lovely there was the word, ‘patience.’   A lack of patience is somewhat odd for me, since I tend to be very patient; sometimes excessively so.  What to make of this? 

I suppose I could be forgiven for a little impatience from time-to-time.  But I need to take a serious look at “why now?”  Why am I so quick to demand my own agenda; so concerned about doing it my way, right away?  Where does this come from?  Bottom line, of course, is the fact that it is sinful.  But under-girding it is, admittedly, a tired heart. The words of 1 Corinthians 13:4 almost shouted at me: “Love is patient, love is kind…”  Berating myself, and determining to become more patient, has hardly helped.  

So, I am thankful for my pastor’s recent comment: “You have two jobs; one at The Villa and one with your Mom.”  He is right, and it was helpful to get some perspective on it.    A warning bell has gone off in my mind; I really need a break.  And the same words: “Love is patient, love is kind,” are now whispering to me; breathing life into my soul as I consider the patience and kindness of Jesus Christ.  He is patient.  He is kind.  I am His daughter. I can truly find refreshing rest, in my Saviour, and in admitting my own weakness and fatigue.  

Some time ago, (Feb.17, 2014:”Golden Threads”), I wrote about a couple - Jim and Lillian Scott.  Mr. Scott was the epitome of patience, especially as his dear wife slipped further and further away into the dense fog of Alzheimer’s.  His own heart ached so, for the love of his life; spending hours by her side, devoted to the end.  His testimony did not go unnoticed and a friend of mine, who got married on August 1, 2015, wrote me the following note, in response to my congratulatory words: 

“I thank Mr. Jim Scott for showing me by his treatment of his wife Lillian, how to conduct myself in marriage. Margo and I met 6 years ago at the Yonge Street Mission.”

Thank you, John, for refreshing my tired soul, by reminding me of these dear friends and Mr. Scott’s example of patience and kindness. We can be sure that he would be the first to admit that it was the Lord’s doing.  And for this I am grateful.  It's true: "God is not finished with me yet," and He is the one who is determined to bear this precious fruit of patience in my life.

I will be planning a break; and that right soon.

Healed

I've been thinking and praying for all of the women who have had abortions. You are many.  In Christ, may you know grace and mercy; may you know peace and forgiveness.
I pray that you will not be overwhelmed by a burden of sorrow. I pray that you will not be haunted by a past that is already gone; by actions that are already forgiven in Christ.

"So if the Son sets free, you will be free indeed," (John 8:36).

I pray that you will find trusted friends who will walk with you through this journey of repentance and faith. I pray that you will find renewed strength and courage for the days and times that your soul is overwhelmed with sadness. I pray that you will know unrelenting joy in the face of internal accusations, and that you will be reminded of this beautiful word from our Lord:

"So if the Son sets free, you will be free indeed," (John 8:36).

And I've been thinking and praying for all the men whose wives or girlfriends have had abortions. You are many.  For some, your counsel and urging has led to the abortion.  In Christ, may you know the same grace and mercy, the same peace and forgiveness that are found at the cross.  

"So if the Son sets free, you will be free indeed," (John 8:36).

For others, your loss is a great loss, as fatherhood slipped away from you and you are heart-broken. I pray that you, too, will know the peace of God that passes understanding.  I pray that your forgiving heart will lead others to faith in Christ- the One who said:

“…He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted..."  (Luke 4:18)

Hillsong sings:  "Man of Sorrows" ~ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlOJ5o8W4Lw

July 18, 2015.

Torn.

That’s what I have been, these past few days…torn apart at the tragedy that is presently going on in the United States; the illegal selling of aborted babies’ organs and body parts, by Planned Parenthood.  If you can stomach it, watch this video clip: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/undercover-video-planned-parenthood-uses-illegal-partial-birth-abortions-to.

Is it not enough that, in Canada alone, on a yearly basis, over 100,000 babies in the womb, (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/access_acces/archive.action?loc=/pub/82-223-x/82-223-x2008000-eng.pdf&archive=1), are already being torn apart, aborted; those unloved, unwanted “mistakes?” 

Perhaps some of these babies were conceived out of the inconceivably horrible crime of rape.  How is it that a baby should be given the death penalty for their father’s crime?  Perhaps it is discovered that the child in the womb has a particular disability- are they any less human?  These are unmitigated, horrible actions; unspeakable and evil things.  But speak I must, or I will have no peace. 

Who will be the voice for these unborn, voiceless, vulnerable people?  Yes, I will call them people.  Even though Canadian criminal law states that they are a child in the womb, they are not recognized as a human being until they have exited the womb; what utter doublespeak!  I will call them people.  We all know that a woman does not carry an animal in her womb – she carries a person, stamped with the very image of God upon them. How precious and priceless we are; unless you are doomed to die in the place of life- in your mother’s womb.  And at that, your body tissue sold to the highest bidder; echoes of slavery haunt my mind and I am reeling at the implications of it all. 

My heart is torn.  I have prayed with heartbroken women who have had abortions, and I have wept for the babies who never caught a breath.  I fall in anguish and sorrow and ask the Prince of Peace, Jesus, to bring His peace into the heart of this latest battle for the souls of humanity. He was torn.  He knows the pain of nails driven into His hands and feet.  His heart was torn apart at the full weight of the sins of humanity and he did something about it.  He laid down His life and rose from the dead so that people might be forgiven; so that sin’s debt could be paid by Him, rather than by us.  Faith in Him will bring true peace, and will lead us to action; the kind of action that speaks louder than words, bringing justice to bear in these days of tragic barbarism.  So I will support this organization:                                                                       www.tricountypregnancycarecentre.ca

 The old saying still rings true: ‘If you don’t stand for anything, you will fall for everything.’

                                             "My eyes fail from weeping,  I am in torment within, 

                   my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed,
             because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.(Lamentations 2:11)

Images of the unborn being destroyed haunt me. The idea that someone, or some “entity,” is willing to buy these torn-apart babies for research leaves me almost speechless.  Read here: http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/StemExpress-flyer.pdf It gets worse.  They have stooped to illegally using ultra-sound so they can “harvest” an aborted baby’s intact organs.  The very thought of it is despicable beyond belief.  Oh, how I shudder at the righteous judgment of God, before whom reckless lawmakers and money-grabbing lawbreakers will one day stand. 

“Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey.” (Isaiah 10:1-2)

The Price of Peace

July 7, 2015.

Where the Whole World Stands

Peace. Who needs it?  I would venture to say that the whole world stands in great need.  As I continue my walk through the fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22, I find myself pondering peace.   Of late, I have received a greater measure of it.   Mom has been in need of more supervision, with summer’s arrival.  She loves to be out working in the yard, which is a huge understatement.  You can hardly persuade her to come inside, even as the sun is setting, the air is cooling and the bugs have the munchies. At the age of 91, it is truly wonderful that she can enjoy such pleasures.

Until now, she has been able to manage being on her own when I head out to my part-time job as a Recreation Worker at “La Villa Acadienne,” a long term care facility.  But dementia has a sneaky way of changing the rules.  So now, I’ve hired someone to come and spend time with her when I am at work.  It is only for a few hours.  I have much more peace about her well-being, but this decision is tinged with sadness and I am reminded that peace usually comes with a price tag.  Should you ask any soldier, they would understand.  Should you ask Jesus, He would show you the wounds in His hands and His feet, and He would tell you: “Tetelestai!” (John 19:30)

“ Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, 

He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

This Greek word, which is most often translated: “it is finished” means “paid in full,” like a bill that has been paid. Jesus was willing to pay for all my sin, (and yours), at the cost of His life. Stamped over every sin are the glorious words: “paid in full,” if a person is willing to believe the weighty truth of such an unimaginable sacrifice.

This is where the whole world stands - in need of the peace that Jesus offers.  It is deep. It is glorious. It is enough to pay for sin and to quiet the uncertain heart. It will be sufficient for this next season, as I walk with Mom through these summer months and on into Autumn.

A Joyful Melancholy

As dusk approaches, my little hummingbird rejoices in the remaining few minutes of the day.  After one last drink at the feeder, he rests on ‘his’ branch in a nearby apple tree-his nightly perch, where he watches the sun go down.  A feeling of melancholy sweeps over me, that place where loneliness and loveliness meet.  I am profoundly aware of the longing in my heart for my heavenly home, even as true joy not only anchors me in the present, but also prepares me for the future limitless joys of being with Christ.

It’s not as though I am preoccupied with death; on the contrary, I am preoccupied with life and the kingdom of heaven here and now. The apostle Paul says that this “kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”(Romans 14:17). Paul goes on to say: “For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then let us pursue the things that make for peace and the building up of one another.” (14:18,19).

Why should I waste my time on things that, in light of eternity, have no value; indeed are downright destructive in nature?  This joy in the Holy Spirit precludes uncharitable judgment and jumping to wrong conclusions.  It won’t allow misery to rule the day or jealousy to rear its ugly green head, or let petty pronouncements get turned into gossip columns.  Enough already!  

Can I not find ways to encourage the saints, rather than discourage and tear people down?  Can I be more like my hummingbird, enjoying the everyday events that are so beautiful and so touching?  

In Philippians chapter four, verse eight, Paul pens these words: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

Such a bittersweet place to be; this living here, and yet waiting for Jesus to make all things new.   Henry van Dyke’s hymn, penned in 1907: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” is a good antidote for a moping heart and a disquieted mind. A modern-day version of this beautiful hymn sums up my delight in God’s creation, my joy in knowing Christ as Saviour, and my desire to cultivate this fruit, this Holy- Spirit- joy.            

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJRuCWFmxMQ