Rooster Reminder

"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly"- Luke 22:61-62 (NIV).

It is 9:00 right now. That's the time, 2,000 years ago, that Jesus was nailed to the cross after a night of accusations, mocking, beatings, and scourging. We call this Good Friday, but it was horrendous for the Lord Jesus. As I prayed this morning, our rooster crowed outside the window. I couldn't help but think of Peter's journey that night. He had passionately told Jesus he would die for Him, but within hours denied knowing Jesus three times...just as Jesus had told him he would do, and then a rooster crowed. There will be communion service tonight. So many will partake of the sacraments, who deny Jesus. How do we deny Jesus? We do it with our thoughts, our speech, and our actions. We should all be able to hear an alarm of some sort, like a rooster crowing, that points to our own insufficiency without the Lord. If Peter's fortitude, who walked with Jesus for three years, failed him at the crucial hour, we too, will fail and deny Jesus. We need Jesus. We can't do this without Him. He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). I'm thankful God gave me a "rooster reminder" that I'm a sinner saved by undeserved mercy and grace through the blood of His Son. 

Cup of Thanksgiving

"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?"- 1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV).

That reminds me of a funny Communion story. We were visiting an Episcopalian church on the other side of town. Episcopalians have communion every Sunday. Unlike our church, where the sacraments are brought to you, you went down to an altar, knelt down around what looked like a table, and awaited the sacraments to be served by the priest. They had the usual individual crackers, but everyone drank from the same goblet. Our friends told us to extend our arms if we were participating, if not, to cross them across our chests. I could see our nine-year old daughter on the other side. She had already made a confession of faith and I beamed with pride to see her at the Lord's table, her arms extended. The bread came around first and we partook of the body of Christ. It wasn't until I took my sip from the goblet that I realized the wine was authentic; not grape juice. Now I was alarmed as I watched the priest making his way around toward my daughter. I tried to catch her eye, knowing she would not have an appropriate response to the taste, nor did I want my nine-year old tasting real wine. I did what any "responsible" mother would do: I yelled out "No" when the priest began to tip that goblet to my daughter's little lips; not exactly an appropriate response either. My face was heated, but today the memory makes me laugh. I want my daughter to partake of the blood of Christ; it's a cup of thanksgiving and I want it tipped to her sweet lips in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for her and for all of God's children. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (11:26).  

Guarded

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day"- 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV).

Did you see that Steven Hawking died? He was 76. That's a pretty long life for someone who, at age 21 or 22, was diagnosed with ALS, and told he would only live a couple more years. He lived over 50 more years. He was an incredibly intelligent man, but an atheist. He knows now; and so will every person who leaves this life. Every person will face Jesus one day. I wonder what Steven Hawking's first words were when he saw the Lord? I heard a preacher say that the gates of hell were bursting with highly educated people. Many a college freshman have left the church after having their faith challenged by college professors. I remember my philosophy professor shaking a chair at me because I would not admit there was no substantial evidence of God. The Bible was excluded (written by man); creation was excluded (evolution, a science, proved otherwise). Yet I still refused to say there was no evidence. He threw all sorts of questions at the "monotheists," as he called the few of us who persevered. Why didn't God talk to us if He's all loving? Why is there so much violence if He's so good? Why does He allow the innocent to suffer? For a young person, that's a full-scale attack on their faith and many aren't prepared spiritually to defend their belief. We need to pray for America's "Ivory Towers," and for our Christian youth who walk through their doors, that God will guard what is in their hearts.  

Driven to my Knees

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him"- 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV).

We picked up our two baby daughters on the same day, same hour, three years apart. This is that day. It's an emotional day for me. God demonstrated His love by answering a prayer petition that was completely out of my control: He made me a mother. I can't describe the intensity of joy of those two events. We will always hold March 9 as the day God created and enlarged our family. I've got my Kleenex close by, because I've shared the story twice so far this morning. Even after all these years, I still tear up talking about God's wonderful gifts. It absolutely amazes me that the God of all creation hears and answers our prayers, often in ways we never could have imagined. The gift is always wonderful, but the fact that God is listening humbles me and drives me to my knees. Thank you Lord God for Your precious gifts, Your love, and especially Your Son..

Three Little Monkeys

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is"- Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV).

Live wisely, make the most of every opportunity, and understand the Lord's will. That made me tremble, but I was consoled this morning as I looked around my office. On the corner of my desk sits a statue of three monkeys. Monkeys are usually thought of as very foolish, but these monkeys held the answer I was seeking. One is covering his ears, one his eyes, and one his mouth: hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil. That doesn't mean a life of no action. You have to understand the Lord's will. The Scripture says the days are evil and we're to make the most of every opportunity. We are to hear the needs of our fellow man, speak up for those who cannot defend themselves, and refuse to close our eyes to the persecution of the innocent and weak. I interpret the monkeys as saying to stop listening, speaking, and seeing evil things. When you encounter evil, you either become part of the solution or you become part of the evil. To sit on the sidelines, doing nothing, is like the parable Jesus told of the talents. One servant was given ten, one five, and one one. The first two doubled the given talents, but the last servant hid his, instead of investing it into the Master's kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30). The last verse is the consequence of inaction: "And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Be very careful, then, how you live; how you invest the talent God has given you this day.

God's Inscription

"Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at Him"- Mark 12:17 (NIV).

Pharisees and Herodians had just asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. Should they pay the tax or not (vs14-15)? Jesus knew they were trying to trip Him up. He asked that a coin be brought and then asked whose inscription did they see on the coin; of course, it was Caesar's inscription. Jesus then uttered his answer in verse 17. The coin belonged to Caesar; give it to him. Verse 17 also says to give "to God what is God's." Believers bear an inscription.  If the Holy Spirit rests on us, we belong to God. We do not belong to this world. This world is not ignorant of the inscription we bear. When we bear the inscription of God, we will be rejected, but persevere Brothers and Sisters; "For this world in its present form is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:31). Yet, just as the Pharisees and Herodians were amazed, the world is still amazed at God's children. Look at the number of people who were impressed with Billy Graham's 80 years of evangelism. His message never changed; he persevered to the end. Billy Graham bore God's inscription. The world knew who he belonged to; he gave himself to God and now is with God for eternity. One questions we need to ask: Whose inscription rests upon me?

Pruned To Remain

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door"- Matthew 24:32-33 (NIV).

My peach tree is in full bloom and little green leaves are emerging. This is exciting for me, because last year I finally got a harvest: one peach. This is a tree I had not wanted, but my sweet daughter planted it anyway. That one peach had me Googling how to prune a peach tree to get a larger harvest of peaches this year. Today's Scripture is about a harvest. 'All these things' were the events Jesus prophesied would precede His return. Then the disciples asked Him when would 'all these things' happen. Spring makes me think of the day Jesus will return. He'll return with power and great glory. "And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other" (v. 31). All the prophecies concerning Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection have taken place; what Christians wait for is the fulfillment of the last prophecy: His return...for His harvest. God is pruning creation, even now, to produce a large harvest. I felt sorry for the branches I had removed from the peach tree. Some still had blossoms on them, some with buds not yet opened. Scripture came to mind as I gathered up those branches and carried them off. We are Christ's branches, pruned to bear Him fruit; if we remain in Him; attached to Him. Jesus said, "If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6). Prune away, blessed Lord, that we may bear more fruit; for we will remain in You.