Looking In The Last Place First

      I am notorious for putting something away in a safe place so I know just where to look for it when I need it!  At the time, it makes perfect sense, but when I’m searching for it, I’m totally at wits end trying to think of what I was ‘thinking’ when I put it away.  

When I was a child, my parents would laugh when they lost something and then when they found it, would say, “There it is!  I always find it in the last place I look!”  I suspect my folks weren’t the only ones who made this observation.  But for a child, it seems a bit confusing.  After asking why they’d say that, with a slight giggle, answer, “Well, because once I find it, I don’t have to keep looking!”

That made sense, and as an adult those words enter my thought process as I’m searching for my lost item!  Yet all the while, I’m also thinking, “Where’s the last place I’d look?” Hoping that it would indeed be my last place---at the very beginning.  It’s a great approach for items like sunglasses, keys (always the keys!), an important piece of paper, a book, or anything that is a ‘tangible’ item. 

But what about those intangible items?  Why is it so difficult to find love, faith, happiness, courage, hope, guidance, or even the path we should take?  These ‘abstract items’ can be lost when life throws us ‘under the bus.’  Circumstances such as divorce, the loss of a child, debilitating diseases like cancer, financial difficulties, natural disasters that takes everything a person owns, those struggling with PTSD and so much can wrack a person’s self-confidence and self-worth to the point of wanting to give up!

Life seems to be spiraling out of control.  We feel totally lost and unable to find our way back to what is right and good.  Where do we look for these?  How can they be found, especially when we can’t even ‘see’ them with our eyes!?

Often, we search, but just like looking ‘in all the wrong places’ for the tangible, concrete items, we do the same for the intangible ones.  People, frequently become so depressed and filled with despair, they just want to run away and forget.  That can lead to substance abuse, alcohol, or other behaviors that are at first glance the ‘perfect escape,’ but end up in only destruction and disillusionment.  

God promised he would not give us more than we can bear.  Some would say, given the circumstance, it is more than they can bear and while dealing with other ‘escapes’ believe the best way out is suicide.

We all have struggles, but we each must choose how we will handle them. Satan and his minions use our choices of free-will to pave the way for some of our difficulties.  Someone else added “the Laws of Physics” as players in this journey.  Falls that break bones, or accidents that cripple our bodies also create circumstances which cause distress and despair!  

God promised to be with us through whatever we face.  His grace is what gets us through.  We must claim that promise however, for it to be effective.  When we live in a way that demonstrates anger and hostility at God, forward progression can be difficult.  Negativity has a way of pulling us further under and Satan will jump on the opportunity to hold us down when we give in!

When we look into God’s Word, we can find the perfect solution for all that is going on in our lives, (including the political arena of greed, hate, and division); even though sometimes it's hard to immediately see! God can make any bleak situation turn bright and good when we allow His Spirit to change ours!

#Lost  #Searching #LookingForSomething  #WhereIsIt?  #PutInASafePlace  #Hiding  #HiddenFromMe   #BleakSituation  

Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/images/search/lost-and-found/ 

Staying In The Faith

  As children, we interpret events based on our level of understanding, the environment we live in, and often our emotions. The same events that sent us in a ‘tizzy’ as a young person, would be viewed completely different if it happened as a teenager, or an adult.  

If a child was to freeze on stage in front of their third grade class during a program and his mom scolded him on the way home for ‘humiliating’ her (it was her child after all and what the child does is a reflection of her), the reaction of the child may be “I’m a bad, stupid kid.”

As a teenager, the same incident would be likely be, “I tried. I messed up and I’ll never do that again.  I embarrassed, myself and Mom!”

An adult view of the same incident, (the adult on stage, freezing in a local play).  “Mom has perfection and shame issues.  I did the best I could, and mom couldn’t see it.  I wish things had been better, but I guess she did the best she could at the time.”

It’s what you bring to the situation that develops your reaction.  In every case, it was a reflection of not one, but both participants.  When we develop habits of downgrading ourselves because of a believed failure, we tend to nurture those feeling into adulthood.  It has a negative impact on relationships.

Being unable to accept our faults or shortcomings is even relevant when we talk about our relationship with The Father.  We don’t believe we are good enough to be accepted into the Faith.   It’s hard to believe that anyone, even God can love us when we view ourselves as ‘unlovable.’  Because of this, there are those who harden their hearts toward God.  Their minds, souls and hearts are clouded with gray images of being unworthy of any kind of acceptance.

Even for those who have accepted Christ as Savior, sometimes have a hard time holding on to the assurance and belief that when we mess up, God can forgive us.  It hinders our ability to be faithful.  Some even become so confused, they turn their backs on a loving Savior.  

We are admonished in scripture not to do this.  We are told to remain faithful, even when things get hard.  God was angry with the Israelites during their years in the Wilderness because they lost their faith, and ended losing the right to enter into the Promised Land.  But when the time was right, the ‘door was opened.’

We have the Holy Spirit now and He helps us hold on, on those days when we feel like we’ve messed up.  And we also have our church family and other Believers with whom we can spend time, discuss our failure and encourage us to repent, rather than giving up.  

There are days most of us, when things get too much, have a melt down and cry, scream, sulk, get angry, or have another mode of working through it.  The best option, though not usually the one we think of first, is just cry out to the Father.  He hears us, love, us, and wants us to trust him with childlike faith.  It isn’t always easy, but it’s the best path to follow!

#Acceptance  ##MeltDown  #childlikeFaith  #DoingMyBest  #remainFaithful  #StayingInTheFaith

Photo Credit:  https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=teens+performing+on+stage  

For Such A Time As This

        The phrase "For such a time as this," has become an expression which is often used without understanding the full context in which it originated. You may see it on tee shirts or perhaps a bumper sticker or other items sporting these words. This quote was actually a statement by Mordecai to Esther, to make her understand the weight of her position in the earthly royal kingdom.

    Within the pages of the Bible, and Book of Esther, we see Esther being scolded by Mordecai for willfully accepting a luxurious life while having deep concern for her own well being instead of her people.  Her priorities were not on the Eternal Kingdom.  She was being reminded she had been chosen to to set her personal desires and ambitions on 'the back burner' and face an enemy who would destroy the Jews, if she chose not to intervene.

        This 'calling' would place her life at great risk with no certainty of how the end would fall.  This quote 'for such a time as this' caused Esther to reflect on her priorities and further challenged her to made a difficult decision.  Could she face the situation before her with strength and the belief in God to go before her?

        Just like Esther, we are each given opportunities to work toward God's Kingdom purposes.  We aren't here to spend our days swinging on the porch or napping under a tree all day and not be engaged in what is going on around us.  

       Just today, I heard a Pastor speak of 'remaining silent' as a Believer is actually giving 'consent' to whatever evil we have going on around us.  While becoming a politician might be a dangerous  arena for any of us, remaining silent when horrible things happen to our children, is actually giving consent of approval by not saying 'this is wrong!'

        The Pastor likened this 'silence' to a wedding where the Preacher says 'speak now or forever hold your peace.'  Your silence is a consent of agreement that you give for the Bride and Groom.

        Our world is in a horrible place as our little people are learning all about 'transgender-ism', living lifestyles totally against God's word and other practices, which in my mind, is nothing short of evil!  We need to step up to the plate--or dig down into the trenches and join this battle---or war --which is enveloping our entire country.  Its a conflict of nothing short of good versus evil! 

Additionally, our culture has become so micro-‘don’t be offensive to anyone’, we’re afraid to share any opinion that might slightly ruffle the feathers, or otherwise offend someone who disagrees with us.  It’s become the latest political ‘go-to’, and money grabbing folks who want to market to a particular entity and you find yourself wanting to scream at the nonsense!

So we sit in our homes, afraid to get up out of our chair and dare to challenge the ‘powers that be’ who tell us it’s wrong to say we love Jesus, or we are a Born Again Christian or even to spread the Gospel and encourage others to become Believers!  It’s time we look at our world and say ‘I am here for ‘such a time as this’ and then do what God has asked us to do, regardless of those who frown upon us, or those who would say we are offensive!  We, as Believers have as much right to share our beliefs as any other group who exists!

        To miss out on an assignment given by God to any one of us is nothing short of a horrible misfortune, because not only do we lose out on a blessing, but we deprive those we've been sent to (or for) of their blessing.  And while this is a true statement, you can be sure God will send someone to do the work. His will is always going to win out. But where does that leave those of us who choose to not step up to serve?

#ForSuchATimeAsThis  #Queen Esther  #Mordecai  #KingdomAssignment

Photo Credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=Free+pics+of+Queen+Esther&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj7x9iiwJr-AhXmElkFHTeUAPgQ2- 

Celebrate Every Day

       Easter is considered, in the Christian Faith as perhaps, the Holiest Day of the Year, called Resurrection Sunday.  It’s the day churches are filled to the brim, not only with regular church attendees, but those who only attend services occasionally.  The other service where Christians gather in mass, would be Christmas.

While I am delighted people across the world find themselves in services on Easter Sunday, it bothers me a bit, as well.  Resurrection Sunday is such a special day!  It’s celebrated in traditional ways, while across our world our cultures turn and skew it to make it ever more commercial.  

Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before his betrayal and crucifixion.  Palm branches were strewn on the ground as Jesus Christ rode on a lowly donkey in a demonstration of victory, as the people shouted, “Hosanna in the highest!”  Palm branches, as symbols of victory and goodness, were even carved on Solomon’s Temple.  

Palm branches are not available in all parts of the world, so other countries have used their native tree branches like willow or olive instead, to keep their traditions active, as they re-create the original celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry.  

Aside from Sunrise services and Easter Egg Hunts, people around the globe celebrate Passion Week, with cantatas, pancake breakfasts, plays of the Passion of the Christ, musicals, Passover meals, and offer communion.  Some denominations offer Holy Eucharist Rites and foot washing, a children’s palm parade, an event of ‘Stations of the Cross,’ while still others offer music and dance to celebrate.

It’s a little like a birthday.  It happens only one day out of the year so, we celebrate with dinner, parties and gifts.  I remember as a child, being so excited as my birthday drew close.  I didn’t recognize that each of the other days during the year were also worth celebrating!  I had grown physically, challenged my mind mentally, grew in maturity and developed in ways I could not even comprehend!  

Mostly, it never even occurred to me that who I was developing into, was shaped and forged by environment; those things taught by teachers in school, scripture I learned in church and Sunday school classes, lessons from my parents and even my peers.  Yet, here I was waiting for one day to celebrate the entire passing of the year.  It was MY day and I was claiming it!

We often also, treat our faith a little like this.  We attend church faithfully, are kind to those we are around, pay our bills and try to live a godly life and then on Easter celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.  It’s like we forget we can celebrate His Resurrection every day of the year!  What an amazing gift!  The joy we feel on Easter isn’t reserved for that day!  Every day brings reason to celebrate a Risen Savior!

I encourage you to not only celebrate your faith on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, but every single day of the year!  Fill each day with jubilation, joy and praise!  We have a Redeemer that is Savior every single day!  Celebrate his Resurrection today and always!

#EasterCelebration  #EasterSunday  #ResurrectionSunday  #CelebrateEaster  #EasterCelebrations

Photo Credit: Free Palm Sunday pics