Light Shines through the Darkness

When the sun is shining brightly with few clouds in the sky, I rarely even notice the sun or the sky. But when the sun breaks through the darkness at dawn or fades into darkness at sunset, lighting up the sky with brilliant colors, I am struck in awe at the glorious display of God's splendor. When it rains, I eagerly await the beautiful rainbow that follows, a symbol of hope and of God's faithfulness. When a dark cloud moves in front of the sun, momentarily darkening the sky as in this photo I just took, I am once again moved into a place of awe and wonder as I see the rays of light and hope spilling out all around the clouds, reminding us that God's light still shines even when dark and stormy trials seem to come between us.

We do not really appreciate God's light until we face the world's darkness. We don't run toward His goodness until we are confronted with evil. We can't fully know His joy until we've experienced His sorrow. We can't receive His forgiveness until we've acknowledged our own sin. So let us praise Him for every trial that reveals His glory, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Him.

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (1 John 1:4-5)

Applications from Luke 6 to Help us Endure the Election Year 2020 Chaos

The Bible passage for today (Luke 6:1-26) from the reading plan our church drafted over 18 months ago seems to apply to what we are facing as a nation today, which will surely escalate in severity and intensity as Election Day approaches and as we navigate whatever is planned for the "October Surprise".

The legalistic Pharisees had been watching and waiting for an opportune time to accuse and overthrow Jesus. While scheming to do evil on the Sabbath, these virtue signaling hypocrites attacked Christ for doing good (healing) on the Sabbath while failing to acknowledge Christ as Lord over the Sabbath. They were offended by his teaching, so they, being the thought police of their time, were filled with fury and outrage, so they conspired against him, which ultimately led to the crucifixion of our sinless Savior.

Then Jesus "went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12) When He returned, he called 12 disciples to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to become leaders/apostles for the early Christian church.

Jesus went away alone to pray fervently before any big event. That's where we need to be right now.....on our knees in prayer. We need to confess, repent, worship, express gratitude, pray for His mercy, guidance and strength, and ask Him to appoint for us leaders who love and obey Him, according to His will.

Then Jesus ministered to the multitudes (with teaching and healing) and delivered the Beatitudes and the Woes (Luke 6: 20-26). Those promises should encourage and strengthen us as we face the trials ahead.

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:20-23)

What Black Lives Matter Really Represents

After spending the last week listening to people from various ethnic backgrounds (blacks, whites, Latinos, etc.) including police officers, after studying our nation's history, Antifa, and statistics on police brutality by demographic, after mourning over all the violence, destruction, and lives lost (back, white, & blue) during these destructive, violent and even deadly riots, after studying God's word and praying for our country, after trying to make sense of it all and then being reminded through Ecclesiastes that our God is far too mighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and sovereign for our finite minds to comprehend, and we can't possibly know all the ways He will work all of these things out for good, I have come to a simple conclusion.

This battle isn't between black and white or black and blue. It's a battle between good and evil. If we want to support what is good and resist evil, we must have enough truth to discern between the two and enough of God's love and light to drive out the hatred and the darkness.

The media claims that white privilege and police officers are the enemy.

However, statistics and a growing number of black people disagree.

• Will Witt: https://www.facebook.com/thewillwitt/videos/208742493631870/
• Morgan Freeman, Lil  Wayne, and other Famous African Americans: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=292609615461210
• Terrence Williams:  https://www.facebook.com/terrencekwilliams/videos/3280114432020747/
• The Hodge Twins: https://www.facebook.com/thehodgetwins/videos/292000931822483/
• Candace Owens: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL0u5uz7KZ9q-pe-VC8TY-w?

I don't know of anyone, except maybe abortion workers in reference to the unborn they want to slaughter, who would argue that black lives don't matter. Of course, black lives matter. They were all created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) Our Lord and Savior was oppressed, afflicted, tortured and killed, paying the ultimate price for all mankind, blacks included. (Isaiah 53:7)

When anyone is oppressed, God's people must stand up for them. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed (Psalm 9:9). The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)

God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11) As His children, neither should we. (James 2:9)

Instead of focusing on our perceived "privilege" over someone else, we must remember that no one is greater than anyone else, regardless of race, state, income, or position. (John 13:16) Believers are ALL vital members of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

Our words and actions must be motivated out of sincere love and humility, not out of a desire to make ourselves feel better or more virtuous. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, consider others better than yourself." (Philippians 2:3)

Let us show black people that their lives matter to us through authentically loving interactions with them. Let us be hospitable, compassionate, kind, and generous. But before we virtue signal with the BLM hashtag, let us first consider all that the movement represents. Much of it sounds good and just on the surface, but do you agree with all of their beliefs and with their ultimate agenda? Are you okay with the way it is being used as a political tool by the left, with Marxist themes, for the purpose of creating chaos and division, especially given that chaos leads to tyranny?

Are you okay with their new demand for defunding the police? 93% of black homicides are committed by black men with police presence. How many more will die without their intervention? Do you support the idea of law abiding citizens who can't afford private security protection having no one to call on when their lives or property are threatened? Are you okay with allowing looting, vandalism, rape, murder, drug dealing, and gang activity to run rampant because BLM requested that police funding be diverted to housing programs instead?

Do you support BLM's goal to "disrupt the Western-prescribed (aka traditional) nuclear family structure"? Do you support their attack on men which causes even more fatherless homes? Do you believe that coordinated action groups are needed to "dismantle cisgender privilege"?

Do you support anti-nationalism while advocating for globalism?

If so, then by all means, support BLM.

If some of this bothers you, can we find other, more peaceful ways to love, support, and bring justice & equality to black Americans?

(Reference: The Black Lives Matter website)

The Greatest of These is Love

It seems almost ironic to me that while so many are celebrating many long years of academic achievements as they graduate from their respective schools and are now filled with so much knowledge, that my Bible study guide would take me to 1 Corinthians 8 today. The first three verses of this chapter convicted me and have remained on my mind all day.

"Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies." (1 Corinthians 8:1b)

Schools exist to impart knowledge. We hope that when that knowledge is received through the lens of God's word, students will also gain wisdom.

Acquiring knowledge was a big priority for me as a student. I know through personal experience how much hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and endurance it takes to reach lofty academic goals, to obtain a full academic scholarship at a high ranked engineering school, and to graduate at the top of your class. We should celebrate students' outstanding academic achievements. So, I in no way want to take away from the credit due to all the amazing students who have achieved so much, especially in an environment that is exceedingly more competitive than I ever knew as a student.

Thankfully, the Lord held me close throughout my high school and college years, but I deeply regret all the times I made my own academic goals a higher priority than extending the love of God to my neighbors and classmates. In His grace, the Lord opened many doors for ministry during that time, but I surely missed far more opportunities because I was too busy studying. I don't know if my peers will remember me more for my grades, my love, or my lack thereof, but I know for a fact that God is much more concerned with how I have loved Him and others than He is about my transcript.

While we send our kids to school to gain knowledge, we chose a private Christian school with the hope that the knowledge would be rooted in God's truth and love. We are much more concerned with how well our kids love God and others than with their academic achievements. We desire that they give their best in all their academic and athletic pursuits for the glory of God (not their own glory), but love for God and His people must be the higher priority.

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 2:37-39)

No matter where our students attend school, it's nearly impossible to avoid all the stressful striving that so characterizes our affluent, high achieving culture. This constant pressure to perform makes students feel more like a number or a circus animal who must jump through ridiculous hoops and over higher and higher bars to find acceptance and self-worth. Even at the best Christian schools, students are often pressured so much that they believe they must ace their AP exams, win state titles in their respective sports, and gain admittance into an Ivy League school to be "good enough". When decisions that dramatically and directly impact students are made without giving them any input, students assume that since their opinions don't matter to the decision makers, then they must not matter either. Some are regularly being told that their past achievements are no longer good enough. Such pressures and out of reach expectations can easily tempt students to despair. The isolation of this shutdown only further dehumanizes their educational experiences.

Are we as Christian parents, role models, teachers, coaches, administrators, and/or influencers helping students put this pursuit of knowledge into the proper perspective by prioritizing God's truth and love? Are we teaching students by word and deed that their value is not based on what they do or achieve but rather on what Christ did and achieved for us on the cross? Are we pointing them to God's word for true wisdom and understanding? Do they know they are infinitely valuable because they were made in God's image and because Christ paid the ultimate price out of His infinite love for each of them? Have we helped plant seeds of faith deep into the soil of their hearts? Are we faithfully watering and nurturing that faith with truth, encouragement, and love?

Are we celebrating the fruit of God's love in them as much as we celebrate their academic or athletic achievements? For example, if we are going to boast about one student's scholarships or impressive college acceptances, are we also celebrating with full enthusiasm the student who decides to take a gap year so as to take the Gospel and the LOVE of God to the world through global missions? Only God's love compels students to do radical things, which often require laying down their own goals and plans for themselves, for His glory. Let's celebrate that and let students know how much their love for God and others matters to us and to God!

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

How the Media Controls Our Thoughts and Emotions

Have you ever considered what the media is doing to us individually and as a nation? 

I've never studied psychology, but I've always had a passion for truth and have observed the powerful effect that believing a lie (verses believing the truth) can have on a person's physical and mental well-being. Some people choose to believe a lie because their false illusion seems easier to handle than the truth, while others continually believe lies that are absolutely destructive because they are being manipulated by powerful forces that benefit when the masses believe those lies.  As the same lies are repeated over and over, like a hypnotic dangling watch, moving back and forth through their minds, they can no longer discern the truth from a lie. They have traded reality for an illusion.

 As propaganda was produced and distributed at record rates during (and after) the Great Depression, George Orwell noted that “useful lies were preferred to harmful truths”. He went on to say, “History stopped in 1936 – after that, there was only propaganda.” Misleading propaganda was used as psychological warfare by Hitler to gain power and to control his subjects.

Orwell’s statement could also be applied to the mainstream media today. A glimpse at leading headlines over the past three and a half years from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, the NYT, and others have echoed the same destructive themes:

• The sky is falling! Worldwide doom is near.
• It’s all Trump’s fault! 
• The "orange man" is a monster. 
• We must get rid of Trump! 

These themes are all intentional for the purpose of sowing hatred, antagonism, and division.

After three years of lying to the public about collusion with Russia while burying the real collusion story surrounding the fake dossier, after repeatedly insisting that Kavanaugh’s accusers (now discredited) were telling the truth while denying Kavanaugh due process (yet now these same media outlets are discrediting Biden’s accuser without evidence, denying her press coverage, and burying the story), after repeatedly slandering Nicholas Sandman (only for his family to fight back through successful legal actions against mainstream outlets for libel), it should be obvious to all that the media is not telling the truth and will say or hide anything to promote their narrative. Yet, many Americans continue to choose to believe “The Big Lie” by consuming these exaggerated and/or deceptive headlines daily. The seed of hatred has taken root, and it's roots run deep, always hungry for more.

Then when COVID-19 became the focus, the same hate messaging continued, except this time, the hatred was compounded with unjustified fear, panic, and hysteria. The media profits from every click, so the worse the pandemic seems, the more revenues the media earns and the more negative outcomes they can falsely blame on Trump. Furthermore, the more the media exaggerates the threat of this virus, the more people will surrender their liberty to the control of tyrants who "own" the media. No matter what the facts reveal, no matter how contradictory statements may be from one week to the next, the same message has prevailed, “The virus is going to kill the masses, and it's Trump’s fault, so let’s all keep hating Trump.”

There are just too many examples to cite here, but I'll list a few. The media included ER clips from Italy and claimed it was filmed in New York. Other video clips supposedly taken inside emergency rooms showed staged mannequins on “hospital beds” instead of actual patients. Headlines claimed hospitals are facing dire shortages of equipment when the actual data indicated the opposite. Media headlines insisted hospitals did not have enough capacity, while actual resident photos showed empty triage tents. Hospital lay-offs across the nation provide further proof that hospital capacity is way below normal, not at capacity. The trending news story this weekend was the media’s attempt to misconstrue Trump’s off-the-cuff comments regarding the power of UV light to kill the virus into a crazy claim that Trump advised people to inject bleach directly into their bloodstream to kill the virus. This is not the telephone game we played as children. This is intentional deception, which some might call mind control or psychological abuse.

Regardless of our political leanings, the media will manipulate and control us if we let it. If we accept whatever they say as true without fact checking the information ourselves (by looking up source documents, the full transcript, or the full video for context), without considering the credibility of the source, without looking for repeated themes that reveal an agenda, without following the money, without running the calculations ourselves, without expanding the data or timelines for the bigger picture, without reading the entire article, without comparing one source’s information to another source holding the opposite perspective, then the media will control what we think and how we feel.

If the media is feeding negative emotions like hatred, bitterness, fear, anxiety, depression, or panic, turn it off. Odds are you are being lied to and have been programmed to only consume media that feeds those same toxic emotions. It is likely that you have been lied to so much you that you don’t even realize it and have no idea how much those emotions are hurting you and society in general. This often holds true whether your media sources are conservative or progressive, pro-Trump or never-Trump. While some are more honest and forthcoming about it than others, all media is biased. I saw it up close as freelance writer, and yet I have also let the media corrupt my thoughts and impact my emotions.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us physically.

Toxic emotions weaken our immune system making us more susceptible to colds and infections. Daily self-care (nutritious diet, sleep, exercise) suffers. Alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse increases when we are emotionally unhealthy. Blood pressure, headaches, body aches, back pain, insomnia, fatigue, and sweating all increase. Appetite and weight changes are common. Stomach upset, chest pain, constipation, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing are all symptoms of poor emotional health.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us emotionally.

Hatred, turned inward, will consume and distract us so that we cannot focus on meaningful tasks or on our relationships with others. Hatred will eat us up inside and make us miserable and angry. Hatred turned outward becomes destructive behavior, and it may even lead to violent crimes. It will leak out into our relationships with others and damage the relationships that matter most to us. Words and actions spewing from toxic emotions could cost us our job, reputation, marriage, and freedom.

Let us consider what toxic emotions do to us spiritually

Toxic emotions take our focus off God and lead us to obsess over our negative feelings. They lead us away from righteousness and into sin and darkness. They lead us away from wisdom and into folly. They stir up anger and wrath and cause  us to grieve the Holy Spirit. They keep us from God’s good and perfect plan for each of our lives. They rob us of joy. (Reference 1 John 2:11, Leviticus 19:17, James 1:19-20, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4: 25-31)

Given how these lies can harm and destroy us, let us throw off deception and cling to the truth. To know and discern the truth, we first must know (as in a personal relationship) the Truth, who is Christ, Savior and Lord.

"And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:32)

We must reject falsehood and fill our hearts and minds with all that is true and wholesome.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.“ (Philippians 4:8)

We must choose love over hate.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;" (Matthew 5:43-45a)

Is there grace in the timing of the coronavirus pandemic?

Is anyone else struck by the eerie timing of this coronavirus pandemic?

A month or two before this virus began spreading in Wuhan, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted Event 201 (which was largely funded by Bill Gates' and Geroge Soros' foundations). This event was a pandemic simulation in which a "heavyweight group of policymakers, business leaders, and health officials" gathered together to discuss strategies to address such a crisis and to assess each country's preparedness. The virus selected for this simulation was coronavirus.

"Event 201, dropped participants right in the midst of an uncontrolled coronavirus outbreak that was spreading like wildfire out of South America to wreak worldwide havoc. As fictional newscasters from "GNN" narrated, the immune-resistant virus (nicknamed CAPS) was crippling trade and travel, sending the global economy into freefall. Social media was rampant with rumors and misinformation, governments were collapsing, and citizens were revolting."   Source: https://hub.jhu.edu/2019/11/06/event-201-health-security.

To see the highlight reel from this event, watch this video:

This simulation experiment and those before it highlighted gaps in our current systems and should have developed an action plan. If this project helped improve our response plan, perhaps the timing was grace. If the project only highlighted our powerlessness against such an attack, perhaps it is also grace in that it humbles us and shows us the vanity of putting all our trust in human plans and inventions.

This pandemic also occurred in the middle of a huge election year, disrupting presidential campaigns, debates, and rallies. While many surely see the mere reduction in divisive political campaign activity as a blessing, the timing is also a reminder that we must not depend upon politicians to save us. This pandemic struck America at her zenith. Unemployment rates for all demographics were at record lows, while GDP, salaries, and the stock market were at record highs. Our healthcare system, particularly for veterans who had been abused for far too long by a corrupt system, was thriving again as Obamacare's shackles on it were lifted, and our military was strong again. Religious liberties and the traditional family, which are foundations of a healthy society, are being upheld and protected. Our borders are stronger. Our infrastructure was growing like crazy. We are energy independent. We were soaring higher than ever a few weeks ago, and now much of that has been decimated and will take many years to restore after this pandemic has passed.

Is it grace that we were so well positioned to tackle this pandemic? I think so. Imagine if our economy, borders, and healthcare systems were still floundering as they did under Bush and Obama. 

Or is the greater grace in the fact that we are being forced to acknowledge the insufficiency of man. It is vanity to place our trust in anything besides God. Military might, stock portfolios, government leaders, economic prosperity, high paying jobs, healthcare capacity, and our own individual strength, health, and vitality can all fail us in an instant. While we were commanded by God to be wise stewards over the earth and to serve and protect our fellow man and must therefore do all we can to help the sick and strengthen our economy, ultimately, the outcome is in God's hands. As Solomon said repeatedly throughout Ecclesiastes, it is vanity to trust in any of these. (See especially Ecclesiastes 12)

Jeremiah 17 also gives this warning: 

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives."

But God...

He is our strong tower forever. (Proverbs 18:10) 

The Lord is my strength and my song...and salvation (Exodus 15:2)

He is our healer. (Exodus 15:26)

He alone is omnipotent forever. (Romans 1:20)

He will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

His plans for us are good. He gives us hope and a certain future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

He is faithful and true. (Revelation 3:14, Revelation 19:11)

His steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 136, 1 Chronicles 16:34)


In Him alone must we trust!

"7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Examining and Healing the Soul as the Corona Virus Invades the World

During this time of social distancing, isolation/quarantine, tremendous disappointment, frustrating cancellations, shattered dreams, ruined plans, fear/concern, and uncertainty, most of us should be finding more time for stillness, reflection, and introspection. The trials and inconveniences brought about by COVID-19 and the proactive responses to reduce the spread and to protect the most vulnerable and those serving the sick and needy have the benefit of exposing the true substance of our hearts and minds. For those who want to join me in using this time to examine our own hearts, confess, repent, receive cleansing, and be refined, I have provided a few questions and scripture references to ponder below.

By Original: https://www.scientificanimations.comDerivative: علاء - Derivative from File:3D medical animation corona virus.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86368808

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way." (Psalm 139: 23-24)

Are we resting in God's promises and the full assurance that comes through faith in Christ and total dependence upon His sovereignty, omnipotence, wisdom, and love, or is the uncertainty causing us to panic? (Isaiah 41:10)

Are we hoarding excessively out of self-interest or are we seeking ways to love and serve others? (Philippians 2:4)

Are we anxious because we are so entitled and spoiled by what we have that we don't know how (or aren't willing) to improvise?

After working, training, and/or planning for years or even a lifetime to pursue a goal that can no longer be attained due to cancellations, do we still trust that God is good and that "the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."(Proverbs 16:9)

Are we allowing the inconveniences, disappointments, and losses to refine us, reorder our priorities, and redirect our attention off of ourselves onto others, or are we allowing them to defeat us and rob us of joy?

Are we willing to sacrifice and be inconvenienced for the sake of those at risk in this situation while still refusing to be inconvenienced or to stand for the most innocent and vulnerable human lives who still reside within their mother's womb? (Psalm 127:3)

Are we fearful and anxious or are we resting in Him? Are we complaining or praying? (Philippians 4:6)

Are we considering it all joy when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance which makes us perfect and complete, lacking nothing? (James 1:2-4)

Are we greatly rejoicing in our various trials so that the proof of our faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ? (1 Peter 1:3-7)

Are we allowing the trials to refine us as silver is refined, and to test us as gold is tested, that we may call on His name, and that He may say, "They are My people", and that may say, "The LORD is our God." (Zechariah 13:9)

Are we judging others' actions with our finite knowledge (only God knows their circumstances, health conditions, financial situations, risks, family details, etc.) instead of judging ourselves rightly? (Matthew 7:1-3)

Waiting Eagerly for His Return

My husband has been traveling for work frequently enough throughout our marriage that the kids and I should be completely accustomed to not having him here, but we have never adapted. Each time he travels, we all wait eagerly in expectation for his return. We miss his presence every hour, every day. The kids are usually on their best behavior, especially when unexpected trials come as they almost always do when he is away. And despite being completely wrung out by the time he returns, I usually have the fridge & pantry stocked with his favorite foods, the house tidy and clean, and all the laundry done, for I want things to be in proper order when he returns. I can only imagine how a military wife must prepare for her husband's return after deployments of 6 months or longer. Those sweet reunions of servicemen with their families like we saw at the 2020 SOTU melt our hearts as all those months of longing and eager expectation are finally realized. So much peace floods a home when the father/husband returns to his family.

How much more, then, should we be fervently preparing and eagerly awaiting the return of Christ our Savior, lover of our souls? How precious will be that reunion when we see him face to face and join him in glory. Are you ready?

For further study, please read Luke 12:35-48 and Matthew 24:42-44.

How my Dog Reminds me of the Incarnation

Just as my kids did as toddlers, my dog almost always follows me to the bathroom If I can't find him or if I can't get him to come to me, all I have to do is go the bathroom, and he is sure to follow. I think little kids and small dogs do this because when we go potty (using a western version with a seat), we lower ourselves to their level. When we're at their level, they think we are there to spend time with them, building our relationship with them.

To all who have joked that I can spiritualize just about anything, I'm about to prove you right. When my dog comes running to me when I go potty, I am reminded of the incarnation. God himself came down to earth as a man to meet as where we are at our level, so that we could know Him and to draw all people to Himself. Because Christ came down and bore our shame, we can have (and grow) a personal relationship with God Almighty. He wants us to run to Him like our little children (or dogs) do to us, especially when we get down on their level. Only our Heavenly Father doesn't simply wait for us to come to Him, He runs to us, just as the prodigal son's father ran to him while his son was still far off. (Luke 15:20)

“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead He emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.” - Phil. 2:5-7

They Call Me Teacher; He Calls Me His Child

I recently came across the journal entry copied below which dates back to the first year I taught STEM classes to 3rd through 6th graders. The entry was a timely reminder, so I thought I would share it here as well should I ever need to be reminded again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The theme of my STEM class today centered around air pressure differentials. As we performed various experiments in class to aid student discovery, the students' big takeaway was as follows:

When areas of high pressure meet areas of low pressure, the higher pressure pushes harder causing cool stuff to happen." 

The burning candle uses up air molecules reducing air pressure inside jar.  The air pressure outside of the jar is much greater, so it pushes the water down, forcing it up into the jar.

I shared how we all face seasons of high external pressure, whether it be persecution, loss, sickness, or any array of external stresses. But as believers, we also have a wonderful type of pressure that comes from the heart and was placed there by God. "Christ's love compels us." (2 Corinthians 5:14). 

I've been in a season of high external pressure lately with today being especially difficult, but thankfully, the love He has given me for those students is greater than those external pressures, so I was recharged and ready to go before class began. As I crushed a cup in class to illustrate what happens when the pressure outside is greater than the pressure inside, I thanked God for this truth:

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

After completing various activities to demonstrate competing pressures, particularly as it relates to the weather, I took the kids outside to meet their parents where we all discovered a very unexpected snowfall. Low pressure meets high pressure, beautifully illustrating what I had been trying to teach the students and sending a clear message of grace from our merciful Father. "Why are you feeling squeezed my child, when You know I hold all things together in my perfect, loving, all powerful hands? Rest in Me."

When His power meets the pressures of this world, He pushes harder, and cool stuff happens, amen?

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

Teaching our Daughters about Modesty

I have been asked by other moms how I believe a mother (or both parents, ideally) should instruct her daughter on the issue of modesty from a Biblical perspective. I will share some of my response just in case anyone else is interested or wants to add valuable input in the comments.

Modesty is a delicate topic as everyone has a different standard, and no one wants to be "judged" by someone else's standard. Rarely, however, do I hear pastors and other Christian teachers speaking to the implications of modesty decisions on hearts and souls or what they may reveal about the longings of the heart. Many highly esteemed mothers and daughters will argue that it's not a woman's responsibility to consider how her dress or behavior could influence what a guy thinks, and if he is prone to stumble in his heart when looking at her, he should simply look away. That perspective, however, fails to consider how clothing, gestures, and postures affect oneself, much less what they communicate to others. So instead of focusing on the impact on the guys, I first ask girls how they can best respect themselves and draw other's attention to God, whose light is often reflected in their words, eyes, smiles, or caring actions. School-aged girls tend to be more inclined to want to draw attention to themselves than to the Lord. So if that's where they are spiritually, then I ask them if they feel respected more when others are most interested in their heart, mind, soul, or body. There aren't many girls out there who do not want to be perceived as beautiful, but beauty is never only skin deep. Rarely do girls honestly want to be noticed only as an objectified body.

I haven't met a girl yet who doesn't want to be respected. Yet, churches usually only speak about girls wanting to be loved, and then girls confuse being loved with being lusted after by a hormonal boy who only wants to gratify his own carnal desires. The good guys will try their best to look away, but they can't avoid that first glance. The creepy guys will not. They will misuse the girls repeatedly (abusing them in their minds only would be the best case scenario). I ask young girls if they really want to use their bodies to give jerks cheap thrills, even if only in their minds? Do they want to leave a lasting immodest image of themselves in the minds of their teachers, administrators, pastors, friends' fathers, etc.? I try to help them understand how immodest images linger and are imprinted in the human mind whether we want them to or not. It was God's design that these images have a lasting, powerful effect to strengthen marriage faithfulness and intimacy. If the young lady's focus is attracting guys she likes for the purpose of being loved and cherished, I ask her what type of man she would want to attract and then ask her to consider what qualities would attract such a godly gentleman. How would he want her to dress?

I may tell them real life stories of girls (no personal identifying information) I knew who dressed immodestly not out of impure motives, but simply because no one counseled them on this issue and how that led them down the road of being used and abused repeatedly instead of being loved and honored as a man should love and honor his wife. All those girls ever longed for was to be loved and cherished for who they are inside, not outside. I avoid telling them what their own personal standard for modesty should be (although we do set standards together as a family), but I will point out areas that tend to be stumbling blocks when exposed, if they ask.

Others view the human body as God's masterpiece to be put on display like the Mona Lisa and assume that those who cover up are ashamed of their bodies. I have tried to counter this argument with my own story. Before I knew any better, I dressed like everyone else without considering any of these modesty issues, even though I was ashamed of my body at the time. Now I do regular weight training to rehabilitate my damaged back and spine from decades of competitive running. The result of that rehab training is a physique other women might show off with pride at my age and after difficult pregnancies/deliveries. I asked my daughter if she ever wants me flaunting my body via less modest outfits in front her friends. Of course she doesn't, not because my body is shameful but rather because that would be prideful, attention seeking, and embarrassing for her. So I keep encouraging her to always ask herself, particularly when making modesty decisions, what her motives are and what consequences those choices could have on others. If a girl shows off her body by wearing immodest clothing, it could make others feel envious, it may cause others to stumble in their thoughts (such thoughts can drive men to look at porn and it's been estimated that over 80% of men are regularly looking at porn which leads to all sorts of disastrous societal problems), it would probably draw judgment (or maybe even ridicule) from others, it may embarrass family members, and if the motive is to draw attention to oneself instead of to God, then it is prideful, a form of idolatry. A woman may show more of her body in a private setting to inspire other women to follow a similar healthy eating/exercise regimen (a physical trainer, for example) or to show God's answer to prayers for physical healing, but when is there ever a purely beneficial reason to flaunt one's body immodestly in public?

The Bible is very clear that we are indeed God's masterpiece (Psalm 139:14), but our bodies are too sacred and valuable to be cheapened by free public exhibition. A woman's body is so precious that God's intent was that only the one man who has pledged his life and agape love through a marriage covenant would be worthy of the privilege of viewing and enjoying it. So guard and protect this sacred treasure, which is wonderfully and marvelously crafted by God Himself.

Devotion: Yahweh Shalom

Israel was languishing under Midianite oppression, and Gideon surely felt discouraged, abandoned, and afraid when the angel of the Lord appeared to him offering comfort, courage, and a divine commission, rooted in God’s presence and promises which bring perfect peace.  The angel of the Lord greeted Gideon with words that should have encouraged him.

“The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”  (Judges 6: 12)

Secretly threshing wheat in a winepress where he hoped the Midianites would not find and steal it, Gideon could not have felt very valiant, and his response in verse 13 indicates that he did not sense God’s presence. He was too consumed with his own problems and the suffering of His people to look up to the omnipresent, sovereign God who mercifully meets us where we are in our low places, transforms us into who He created us to be, and equips us for His good and perfect purposes (Jeremiah 29:11).  In trying times, do we, like Gideon, become anxious and afraid or do we rest securely in God’s presence (Proverbs 18:10), praying always with thanksgiving and supplication? (Philippians 4:6)

When the angel of the Lord commissioned Gideon to save the Israelites from the hand of Midian (verse 14), Gideon hesitated and made excuses, but God promised to go with him and to deliver Israel.  Such reluctance to accept God’s calling flows out of a heart of unbelief. Gideon had heard of God’s mighty deeds as He delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage (verse 13), yet he initially resisted the Lord’s calling, just as Moses had.

The Bible is filled with historical accounts of God’s faithfulness and provides all we need to grow in faith, wisdom, and understanding of His great love for us (Ephesians 3:14-21). We need only study, believe, and apply it. Yet, how often do we worry and fret, living as if God is not present or does not even care?   How many times have we resisted a calling as simple as sharing our faith or meeting a physical need without any lurking dangers or significant risks at all?  We do not obey when we give in to fear or selfish desires. Faith waivers when we focus on our weaknesses instead of on God’s almighty power and His certain promises. True strength and courage come as we step out in faith, trusting that His power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) May we continually fill our hearts with God’s word and worship Him for who He is so that our faith, love, and obedience will increase.

Unconvinced, Gideon asked for a sign, and our loving Lord provided what Gideon needed to finally believe. Then the Lord gave him another promise: “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die” (verse 23). Comforted by the Lord’s presence and promises, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and called it “Yahweh Shalom”, which means, “The Lord is peace.” 

How desperately we need the Lord’s peace in our frenzied, chaotic, immoral, angry, and divided culture where billion dollar industries peddle harmful products and services that falsely promise to offer some measure of peace. Those manmade substitutes never satisfy and only leave us desperate for more.  Our world needs to know that all we really need is Yahweh Shalom.

Only God’s peace is perfect, surpassing all human understanding. (Philippians 4:6) His peace calms the wind, the waves, and the storms that rage within our restless hearts. (Mark 4:39)  God’s peace gives courage, comfort, and strength through tribulation (John 16:33). The Lord of peace protects His people and turns enemies into allies. (2 Chronicles 14:7)  Our Savior’s deep, soul satisfying peace envelops us as we meditate on His love which frees us from bondage to sin and death, washes us in forgiveness, and reconciles us with God and one another.

Even after tasting God’s perfect peace, Gideon became fearful again when the Lord instructed Him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah beside it. Gideon obeyed without making excuses this time, but he took ten servants with him (presumably for protection) and carried out God’s instructions at night when he was less likely to be seen. Gideon was growing into the valiant leader God called Him to be, but he still lacked sufficient confidence in the Lord. Gideon would not be free from fear and fully experience God’s lasting peace until he removed the idols and trusted in God alone. Similarly, we must throw off all the idols that consume our time, treasure, and trust in place of God. In addition, we must let go of the lesser idols we lean on for backup, should God not deliver as we would prefer.  Are we willing to face our greatest obstacles in God’s power alone, knowing that He will never fails us? (Joshua 21:45)

God protected Gideon from the wrath of the Baal worshipers, and the Spirit of the Lord “clothed” him as a great army of men followed him. Yet, Gideon sought additional reassurance. So, he set out a fleece two different times for more confirmation from the Lord.  Longsuffering is our Lord, for He answered Gideon’s tests, further strengthening Gideon’s faith and preparing him for the battle ahead.

As we undergo the sanctification process, our faith may falter as Gideon’s did.  We may not feel God’s presence or His love. Like Gideon, we may be tempted to believe that God has forsaken us.  When fear sneaks in and shakes our faith in God’s presence, power, and love, we must look to the ultimate fleece that Christ provided us on the cross.  The cross of Christ confirms His unfailing love for us. His resurrection is proof of God’s power over all, even sin and death.  His indwelling Holy Spirit assures us that we are never alone or forsaken and provides evidence of His power in and through us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

His inerrant word provides an abundance of confirmation and strengthens our faith as we feed on it regularly.  As we lift up our eyes to God (Isaiah 40:26), keep our minds steadfast on Him, and trust Him, God’s perfect peace abides in us. (Isaiah 26:3)

Thoughts for Christian Leaders: Do the Ends Justify the Means?

We often hear Christian authorities (the term "leaders" only applies when authorities demonstrate attributes of true leadership such as humility, authenticity, selflessness, edifies others, etc.) justifying their questionable actions by insisting that the ends justify the means. However, God is just as interested in the means as the ends.

1.  If we hold ourselves or those under our authority accountable according to a list of man-made metrics focused on the final goal or ends but do not set standards or hold them or ourselves accountable to the how, the means will likely be compromised, and we are setting each other up to stumble.

a.  Jesus’ means [immaculate conception, ministry, sacrificial love, fulfillment of every dot and tittle of the law, sacrificial love, teaching about sin, hypocrisy and judgment (Matt 23 & 25), grace (John 8), death on a cross, etc.] were just as important as His ends.

     If even one action Jesus had taken was different (for example, not being beaten by the Sanhedrin) he would not have fulfilled all of the law. (Passover law required laying hands on the Passover lamb by the priests as a sign of the lamb taking upon himself the sins of the people, so by beating Jesus, they fulfilled the Passover law without even realizing it.)  If any means had been different, Jesus would not have fulfilled all 300+ Messianic prophecies.  Every single detail of Christ's means worked together for our salvation. Had there been any other method, way, or path taken, there would be no gospel of Christ.

    .

b.  When David wanted to build a house for God, God told him no because David had too much blood on his hands. His holiness mattered. When God appointed Solomon to build the temple, he did not say, “Build it however you like”. He gave incredibly detailed instructions for how it should be built and raised up craftsmen whom he uniquely gifted to do the work.

c.   When a priest entered the Most Holy of Holies, he wore a string with a bell on his ankles so the other priests could pull him out should one of his means of serving the Lord be outside of God’s instructions to safeguard his holiness.  Instant death would come because of the tiniest alteration to God’s desired means.

d.   When God called the Israelites to take the Ark of the Covenant from the home of Abinadab in Balaah toward Jerusalem, the oxen stumbled at the threshing place of Nacon. Wanting to keep the Ark from falling (not a bad motive, but he was focused on the ends instead of the means), Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Covenant box. As a result, God struck him dead right there for treating it irreverently. (2 Samuel 6) 

Moses and Joshua bowing before the Ark, painting by James Tissot, c. 1900

e.  God commanded Saul not just to gain victory over the Amalekites, but to kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. They were to slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys. But Saul defeated them his way. Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag. Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn’t want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak. As a result, God rejected Saul as king for disobeying Him. (1 Samuel 15)

f.   When Moses told Joshua to fight the Amalekites, Joshua gained victory only as long as Moses held up his hands to God.  We can’t achieve our goals or win our battles if we aren’t relying on God. The "how" matters. (Exodus 17:8-16)

2.  Our plans, visions, and enterprises will all pass away, but the souls of those involved or influenced by us as we build these temporal things will last forever. If we are more focused on the goal and the metrics than how we treat people, we are out of alignment with God’s plans and purposes. There is a right and loving way to do hard but necessary things. His priorities are our sanctification and His glory. All the enterprises we build, facilities we establish, systems we manage, good works we do, even if they seem like they are serving other’s best interests, are like filthy rags if done apart from Him. (Isaiah 64:6)

  

3.  We know our plans and purposes are surrendered to His will by the way we respond to challenges to those plans or to our authority.

a.  When challenged, do we still have peace?  Do we humbly bow in prayer and seek God's word for wisdom while submitting to God's will no matter what, knowing His ways are better than ours (Isaiah 55:9), or do we retaliate, belittle, lie, slander, make threats, coerce, or use human force to get our way?

b.  If we deliberately hurt people (God's image bearers) to protect our own plans or goals, then those plans are an idol for us.

c.   Have we treated those who have offended us or who seem like obstacles to our plans in a Christ honoring way?

4.  Those who have fallen, failed, or suffered the most and come out of all of that stronger than ever by the grace of God alone have the greatest tendency to rely upon God instead of on their own knowledge, business acumen, or earthly training.  Those who have achieved worldly success and great wealth will be less prone to trust in God alone, for total dependence upon God is forged through trials. Those who have been forgiven much love much. (Luke 7:47)  Those who are privileged in the things of the world without as much hardship or suffering and who tend towards self-reliance should partner with those who have great God-reliance to find balance and to remain surrendered to the Lord (1 Corinthians 4) and to remain steadfast in prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Together, they can use the skills, insights, and gifts given to each of them to accomplish God's plans according to God's desired means by relying upon His wisdom, guidance, and strength.

Bottom Line:  
God's perfect plans (or ends) will NEVER require taking actions that violate God's commandments or other Biblical precepts. Any authority who uses unbiblical means to achieve a goal that may seem good and right is NOT trusting in God, seeking Him, or walking in His ways.  We can’t achieve the right goals or win spiritual battles if we aren’t relying upon God alone. The "how" matters, and if the means are not surrendered to Christ's Lordship, neither will be the ends.