“come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

matthew 11:28

you are weary.

you are heavy-laden.

you need rest.

i see you.

my heart breaks for you.

come to Me.

Me.

come to Me.

you.  who are weary.

you.  who are heavy-laden.

you.  who have struggles.

you.  who have lost.

you.  who are lonely.

you.  who feel abandoned.

you.  who are afraid.

you.

come to Me.

Me.

not the television.

not the internet.

not social media.

not your best friend.

not shopping.

not your children.

not decorating for christmas.

not donating to a ministry.

not church.

not football.

not music.

Me.

come to Me.

i will give you rest.

Me.

come to Me.

let me give you the rest you need.

Me.

come to Me.

4 november 2016

“i would have despaired UNLESS i had believed i would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”  psalm 27:13

there are days it feels like something is after me.  pursuing me.  trying to drag me away.

despair.

look around.  there is much reason to despair.

no, i am not going to list it all, for fear we may despair over being despaired.

instead, i am resolute.

i will not let these eyes be distracted away from the goodness of the Lord.

i will not be lured into the land of the dead.

i am intentional.

i will see, acknowledge, and dwell in the land of the living.

THE LIVING.

because God promises life.  joy.  peace.  faithfulness.  strength.  deliverance.  reward.

what is attacking you in the land of the living today?   what strategy is despair using?

is your body sick?  your mind confused?  is your soul plagued with fear?  are you counting down the minutes for the doctor’s test results?  are you battling addiction?

are you struggling through a lost job, relationship, an estranged child?   trying to stay the course through a difficult marriage?  weary from care-taking?

are you in line at the bank, wondering how to make it all work this month?  are you spending the day in an ICU waiting room?   or scheduling another conference with your child’s teacher?

don’t know how to pray?  battling intense loneliness?  temptation?  self-hatred?

what is despair using to make you its captive?

stop.  right now.

read the scripture again.

“i would have despaired UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED i would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

it’s a choice.

believe your God.

and if you’re struggling with unbelief, tell God.

He can take it.  He already knows anyway.

“Lord, I believe.  help my unbelief.”  (mark 9:24)

despair will not give up.  will not give in.  will not let go.

stay in the battle.  engage the armor God has already given you….

truth.  righteousness.  the gospel of peace.  the shield of faith.  the helmet of salvation.  the sword of the Spirit.  prayer.

be intentional about learning, knowing, and believing the words of God.

read them, speak them, sing them, pray them, share them.

see the goodness of the Lord.

plant yourself in the land of the living.

from the inside out.

23 october 2016

“so if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:36

i remember like it was yesterday.  we kissed our parents goodbye that morning, and my brother, sister and i walked to school as usual.  by the time we got home everything had changed.  we were fatherless.

it’s been 45 years.

i’ve never understood why my father made that decision.  i’ve asked myself a thousand times how he could choose to leave a wife and three children.  he was needed.  he was loved.  he was our hero.

this morning at the lexington church of God, the pastor spoke a message called “unloading,” about getting free from the stuff that weighs us down – the stuff we can’t (or won’t) let go of, deal with, admit, confess, take out of hiding.

stuff that holds us captive, takes our peace, steals our joy, keeps us from walking out God’s call on our lives.

it was an incredible word.

he had prepared a different sermon until God changed his direction on thursday.  i’m so thankful he said yes and put his previous message aside, emptying himself to make room for the word God wanted to bring forth this morning.

he shared scripture and testimonies about others dropping their baggage.  getting free.

but he didn’t stop there.

this shepherd humbled himself, took off the mask, and got real with his sheep.

he spoke of a dark, personal struggle not so long ago – one in which he battled through a season of deep depression.  discouragement so crippling that, until he walked through it himself, didn’t even believe existed.

at its worst, this darkness found him watching his family drive off to the store as he stood inside at the window and contemplated suicide.  he described the thoughts that ran through his mind that night as he fought the temptation to get his gun…

“i was convinced they’d be better off without me.  i imagined all they could do with the insurance money.  i felt i just weighed them down anyway.  ruined everything we tried to do together.  had nothing left to offer them.”

i was mesmerized.

paralyzed.

hanging on every word.

it was as if my own father’s voice was speaking, explaining.

i began to weep uncontrollably.

what a prophetic word for me.  God allowing me to finally understand what my daddy had been thinking that day.  i just sat there, tears streaming, as God set me free, ministering healing to my broken heart.

still crying, i walked up front and in the Spirit i laid down 45 years’ worth of baggage on that altar.  baggage that has held me hostage.  kept me from trusting.  kept me from connecting with others for fear of being left unexpectedly.

explains why i didn’t really fight for my first marriage as it ended.  why i let him leave me.  i guess i always expected him to anyway.

explains why, when things get tense around the house, i’ve invited tim to go if he wants to.  why i won’t let him help me.  why i don’t admit i need him.

explains why I’ve been able to let go of people and places and jobs so easily.  it’s not hard to let go when you don’t allow yourself to really connect.

today i left that place with a lot less baggage.  i’m pretty sure i won’t miss it.

outside the world seemed happier.  the sun brighter.  my steps lighter.  trusting feels safer.  i’m a lot more free.

free indeed.

tonight I’m thanking God especially for healing, for revelation, for freedom.  for men of God who aren’t afraid to be authentic, who have ears to hear God’s voice louder than all the others, who love and trust Jesus to set them free.

from the inside out.

“seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”   2 peter 1:3

barely awake and already tired, i stopped by the grocery store this morning on the way to school.  hearing myself sigh (quite heavily, i might add) i realized how discouraged and stressed i’ve become over the last few weeks.  it doesn’t feel good.  i don’t like myself this way.

finding my way across the store, i began to pray out loud, “God, i need joy.  i need peace.  please, God.”

with tenderness and love, He answered.  i almost started crying right there on aisle seven.

“why do you keep asking for what i’ve already given you?”

instantly the verse above came to mind.

“haven’t i already given you everything you need for life and godliness?  does my Son live inside you?   is He the Prince of Peace?  and what about the joy of the Lord?

busted.

why do i continue to ask God for what He’s already given, already provided, already promised?

“i believe; Lord, help my unbelief.”  (mark 9)

it’s my unbelief.  i’m not believing God.

it’s also distraction.  people and stuff (most of which i can’t even control) I’ve allowed to get piled up inside my soul, on top of the joy, the peace, the strength that is already in me.

well, that stuff needs to be moved out of the way.

immediately.

and for that i do need to ask.  i need to ask for wisdom, which God says He will “give generously to all who ask.”  (james 1)

wisdom to know what to let go of, what to hold onto.

so that i can access what is already mine. right now.

thank You, God….

for Your patience, Your love, Your faithfulness, Your voice, Your word, Your wisdom, Your peace, Your comfort, Your strength, Your joy, Your provision.

for giving us everything we need.

“shout for joy, o barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord, “enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your pegs. for you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. and your descendants will possess nations.  and will resettle the desolate cities.”

isaiah 54

so tonight i packed seven shoeboxes for operation christmas child.  yes.  seven.  i packed them full.  fuller than you’re supposed to.   i went a little crazy.

i packed them as if i were gifting my own children.  and i guess i sort of was.

because these are the children God has given me.

yep.  these are my babies.

and this is what God’s idea of “momma” looks like on me.  it doesn’t look like I expected, and it doesn’t look like most other mommas.  it does look exactly like God planned for me since before i took my first breath as a baby myself.

it looks like packing shoeboxes for children i’ll never meet.  it looks like sending support to three different international orphanages every month for the last seven years.  It looks like world vision, compassion international, and food for the hungry.  it looks like sponsoring a third grade class in haiti.  it looks like loving jerusalem school students in palestine for two years.

it looks like being a mimi, an aunt mary, and a stepmom. it looks like snuggling and cuddling my friends’ babies and the  littles in the church nursery.   it looks like teaching and loving other people’s children every day for 31 years.

it looks like band bible study and the youth group at church.  speaking the scriptures into the hearts of teenagers.  praying with them.  praying over them.

and let me tell you…. it is nothing short of beautiful.

that God would choose me – would trust me – to sow into the lives of all of these.  it’s overwhelming.  it leaves me speechless.  it often brings me to tears.   it makes me dance.  for the generosity  of the Lord.  the provision and the purpose of our loving God.  to me.  yes. me.

of course I wanted “my own” children.  I even (secretly) wished that tim and I could have had a baby, even though were were in our late 40’s when God brought us together.  (guess that secret’s out now.)

but God….

and well, you know the rest.

so how can it be, that I could be filled with such JOY, all these years, in the midst of not having what i wanted so desperately for so long?

how can it be, that i can still truly rejoice with others and watch in amazement as they birth their babies and their families?

here’s how:  i have seen the goodness of the Lord.  He has proven Himself faithful. over and over and over again.

His plans are good.

and i am not invisible to Him.

i never was.

i never will be.

in fact, according to the scriptures, my sons “will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman.”  and i will “spread abroad to the right and to the left.”   and my descendants “will possess nations.  and will resettle desolate cities.”

and for that reason –

thanks be to God-

i shout for joy.

“and your ears will hear a voice behind you, ‘this is the way, walk in it.'”  Isaiah 30:21

so i just gave away one of my most treasured possessions.  to a guy on the side of the road.

he caught my eye because he was pulling an old rolling suitcase down the sidewalk, trying to stuff a few belongings back into his plastic shopping bags.

and God said, “I wanna show My glory to that guy you just passed.  are you interested?”

as if.

so i turn the car around, pull over, and completely empty my treasured bookbag into the back seat.  if you know me, you’ve seen the thing.  i carry it to school every single day.  black and red, sewn and patched together with safety pins.  i just haven’t been able to part with it.  what a history.

this pack has traveled with me all over the world through airports, on buses, in cars, on boats.  up and down streets that felt dangerous at times.  on my back as i rode a donkey up petra (with no rails.)

to jerusalem, through the west bank, to jordan and turkey.  it’s been with me on the mount of olives, in the garden tomb, and to the sea of galilee numerous times.

this bag has the presence of Jesus and the favor of God all over it.  seven years’ worth of my  journey with Jesus is soaked into this bag. 

i’m fairly certain i took it on my honeymoon.  #true

you get the picture.

so i drive back up the street, park nearby, grab the empty bag, and walk down the sidewalk.  i ask him if i can sit down.  he says sure and moves his stuff a bit.  i ask his name, introduce myself, and shake his hand.

it’s fairly obvious that brent just got kicked out of wherever he was living.  he looks pretty nervous and afraid.  can’t be more than 20.  tattooed all over the arms.  just a little ragged with a scratchy beard. 

i don’t ask him for his story; somehow it feels intrusive.  but i tell him mine.

so brent, i need to tell you why I’m sitting here.  by the way, do you know Jesus?  have you met the Lord?  (nods.)   i met him at 15.  at a church camp i attended, invited by friends at school who i ridiculed and made fun of all the time.  but they were the real deal, and they invited me to their camp.  and for the first time in my life i heard bible preaching and teaching not about going to church or being good, but about a real, living Jesus who wanted a relationship with me.  brent, i literally ran down the aisle to find out how to meet this Jesus.  and man, i tell you, i’ve never been the same.

when you know Jesus you sense His voice speaking over you, giving you direction and wisdom.  it’s His voice that sent me here to you.  i passed by a few moments ago, and God spoke very clearly to me.  i’m here to give you something.  something that is very dear to me.

can you use a bookbag, brent?  (yeah.)  well, i’m here to give you this one.  but first you have to understand what this bag means to me.  how dear it is to me.  and brent, you need to know that you must be incredibly loved by God for Him to ask me to give this bag to you.”

i tell him the journey of the bag.

you are not invisible to God, brent.  i don’t know what your story is, but you need to know that God sees you.  and He wants to speak over you.  let me show you what i’ve put in the bag for you.  there’s a cold water, an energy bar, and a scripture book here.   these verses will remind you that God never stops wanting relationship with you.  and here’s five dollars too.  it’s all i have right now, but it’s yours. 

he thanks me.

brent, i need to tell you that it gives me great joy to give you my bag.  i love you, brother, and I’m praying for you. 

he allows me to hug him from the side and then thanks me.

and i walk away, get in my car, turn up the music.

what song is playing?  “the sound of Your voice.”

God is awesome.

what is His voice saying to you?

“for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?  for to the one who pleases Him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to the one who pleases God.  this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.”  ecclesiastes 2:26

“for we are not unaware of his schemes.”  2 Corinthians 2:11

i might call myself lots of things, but shopper is not one of them.  if i need something i’ll go out and brave the crowds; otherwise I’m fairly content with what i have.

i prefer consignment clothing to new, partly due to cost and also because i can have more variety.  there’s a humility of atmosphere God offers when we choose to receive the blessing of the gently used rather than always demanding to be the original owner; I’ve found this to be true whether it be the house, the car, the furniture, or the clothing.

sometimes, though, i will spend the money on a fresh, new item.  maybe to treat myself, maybe it’s one of a kind, maybe the sale really is that good.

last night as tim and i were preparing to attend a worship event – yes, a worship event:  celebrating the goodness of God – i searched my closet for that piece i let myself buy a few weeks ago.  the one that made me feel especially pretty, the one i took with me on our anniversary weekend trip to see our grandchildren in south carolina.

usually an overpacker, i was particularly proud of myself on this trip, because i packed only a few more items than i knew i would need, plus i packed only favorite things.

it only took a few minutes of searching last night to realize something was amiss.  not only could i not locate the desired piece, but a few others seemed to be missing as well.  where was my clothing?

and then it hit me.

no, i didn’t.  NO, i didn’t.  NO, i didn’t.

yes.  i did.

standing frozen in my bedroom, i realized i had not emptied the closet as we checked out of the hotel those few weeks ago.  we were rushing to pack, trying to make it to breakfast, and in my haste i left our clothing – mine and tim’s.

careless.  how could i be so careless?  tim immediately called the hotel and described the situation.  the clerk was more than accommodating and searched the lost and found for our items.  she located a bag containing every item we remember leaving.  every item except one.

i’m ashamed to tell you how upset i became as i realized that my treasured item was not among the found.  not only was i angry at myself for my carelessness, i was angry at “whomever” decided to take the nicest piece and keep it for themselves.  the clerk apologized and promised to look further.  i said thank you.  but i didn’t mean it.

i’m also ashamed to say that even though i know it’s only a piece of clothing, and that i have way more clothing than i need anyway, and that – after all – we were on our way to a WORSHIP event, i couldn’t stop thinking about what had been taken from me.  i rationalized in my mind all the reasons i should and should not be upset.

i’m sorry to say that it wasn’t until we arrived at the event that i was able to really let it go.  let’s be honest.  it’s just not possible to sing to Jesus, “You set me free; You are my everything,” when you’re fixated on some (truly) meaningless material possession that doesn’t even deserve to compete for your attention.  #hypocrite  #idolatry  #repent

the more i let it go, the more open my ears were to what God wanted to say to me. i remembered that “every good thing comes down from the Father of lights.”  it’s all His anyway.  none of my stuff is even mine.  i know this, but i let the enemy distract me. 

i began to pray blessing on the person who took it.  yes, blessing!  because hey, if i have the Spirit of God in me, then everything i own has been blessed with His Spirit also.  so wherever that shirt is, the presence of Jesus is too, and i’ll just bet the person who took it needs a little Jesus!

hallelujah!  the gospel is being spread through a piece of clothing.  only God can do that.

so this morning i got up, and you would think i’d be all refreshed and free and celebrating the simple lessons God is teaching me, right?

nope.

i got up thinking about that piece.  and how i really still want it.  and that it was new and i never even got to wear it; not even once.

seriously?  I’M STILL THERE?!?  what is wrong with me?  this is ridiculous.

so i sat down.  in the quiet.  and i opened the scriptures.

i read psalms, proverbs, and then ecclesiastes.

ecclesiastes.  vanity, vanity, all is vanity.  go read it for yourself.  there’s so much wisdom in there.  i read the entire book.

my God reminded me again how very real the enemy is.  how he is always looking for ground in my life.  available space where he can set up camp.  get some attention.  pull my focus from God, His words, His ways.  influence me as much as possible to think and act and speak like the world.  persuade me to dwell on things that turn into obsessions, idols, little gods.

i began to think of all sorts of ways the enemy can get ground in my life:  LOSSES.  DISAPPOINTMENTS.  UNFORGIVENESS.  SELF PITY.  SELF CONDEMNATION.  RELIGION.  SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS.  CRITICAL SPIRIT.  ARROGANCE.  IDOLATRY (possessions, knowledge, entertainment, self indulgence.)

and well, i don’t have to tell you that my silly little clothing item all but disintegrated in the atmosphere of the Spirit.  it just couldn’t survive.  because i determined not to let the enemy have that ground.  it’s NOT AVAILABLE!

i’m also looking at those other vulnerable areas in my life, asking God to search my heart and show me where i’m being distracted by my losses, disappointments, and self pity. because that’s available ground. 

is there someone i haven’t forgiven?  that’s available ground.

am i condemning myself for my sins and imperfections?  available ground.

are my thoughts praising myself for my own spiritual right-ness?  available ground.

am i spending myself on entertainment, technology, social media?  available ground.

am i promoting the words of my favorite speaker, band, blogger, social cause, even my church, more than the gospel of Jesus?  available ground.

listen.  the enemy never lets up.  he hates God and he hates us.  the scriptures tell us he constantly prowls around looking for someone to devour.  he’s a schemer.  he watches us, learns our habits, determines our weaknesses, and then he pounces on us in our distraction.  and he gains ground.  because we let him.

in our distraction, we let him.

in our hunger for entertainment, we let him.

in our thirst for attention and fame, we let him.

in our gathering and our collecting, we let him.

so what’s the alternative?  it’s right up there in ecclesiastes:  “for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?  for to the one who pleases Him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy,”

THAT is the alternative.  we acknowledge God as the only source of true enjoyment and fulfillment.  we lay down our distractions, refusing to make space available for the enemy, and we fix our eyes on Jesus, striving to please Him only.

and then we rejoice, receiving the rewards for pleasing Him:  wisdom and knowledge and joy.

and the enemy gets no ground.

“it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  galatians 5:1

“now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 corinthians 3:17

“let everything be done decently and in order.”  1 corinthians 14:40

so today I’m sitting at my classroom desk writing this.  yes.  I know.  it’s saturday.

with a heavy sigh i leaned back in my chair a few moments ago.  feeling completely overwhelmed by the mass of unfiled paperwork on my table, i covered my face with my hands and asked myself how things got so out of control.

why didn’t i take care of these items when I should have and could have, during the school year on a regular basis as needs arose?  a few moments each day or week, and it would all be in order.  but now there’s this mass of undone work.

and it’s in the way.

to start another school year like this just won’t be a smooth ride.  going forward isn’t going to flow.

to experience the freedom of a new school year, i’m gonna have to spend some time and energy dealing with this junk, item by item.

sitting here thinking over this, i see a parallel in my walk with God and my fellowship with others around me.  during those times when things don’t feel smooth, don’t seem to flow, and can’t go forward, i need to ask God what is in the way.

and then I need to deal with it.

sometimes it’s a lack of personal, intimate fellowship with Him.  i don’t mean reading a devotional or tuning the radio to a Christian music station.  what i mean is getting ahold of the scriptures and sitting in the quiet with the word of God.  to see what HE wants to say to ME.  what i mean is setting aside some real time to pour out my heart to God in prayer and then be willing to wait for His response.

sometimes it’s unforgiveness.  i need to let go of bitterness, offense, and making everything about  me.  I need to have that difficult conversation or confess to God my critical, judgmental attitude.

sometimes it’s unbelief.  do i really believe God, which is way deeper than just believing in God?  do i know Him, know His character, know His word and believe what He says about Himself and what He says about me?  do i walk in true belief or doubt most of the time?

sometimes it’s a wounding.  maybe a memory.  or something that someone said to me or about me.  do i need to ask God for healing?  to show me where He was present during that time, to remind me that He never takes His eyes off me, never lets go of me, and only allows into my life that which has real purpose?

sometimes it’s idolatry.  how much of my thoughts, energy, or finances are going toward temporal things rather than eternal things?  am i investing myself in people, or just looking for the comfortable way through life?

today and this week i’ll spend more time than i want to at my classroom table getting caught up on what’s undone, what’s in the way. then and only then will i be free to enjoy the school year.  i’ll have the energy and time to pour into the 19 new third graders God has assigned into my care.  i’ll be free to embrace the next season He has for me.

what’s in your way?  what’s keeping you from embracing the season you’re in?  what needs to be done, forgiven, healed, completed, “filed away” for good so that you can experience freedom in your walk with Christ and your relationships with others?

ask God.  He’ll tell you.

He’ll even give you wisdom to find your way through to the other side.

and then you’ll be free.

because then nothing will be in the way.

“for i was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, i was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, i was a stranger and you invited me in, i needed clothes and you clothed me, i was sick and you looked after me, i was in prison and you visited me….. i tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”   matthew 26:36, 40

so this morning i got up early and stopped at chick-fil-a on the way to my teachers’ workshop.  i didn’t have much time, and the drive thru line was insanely long, so i opted for a to-go order inside.  i knew i only had five or six dollars in cash, so like most of us these days, i slid my debit card through the register slot.  my small order seemed to take forever, putting me behind schedule. i still had 30 minutes left on my commute, and parking is almost impossible at this particular meeting site unless you arrive considerably early.

pulling out of the parking lot i noticed a young man sitting under a tree; i’m fairly certain he was waiting on a ride to a job site, because i’ve seen him there once before.  a young woman with headphones on made her way to the bus stop.  another man waited on the corner of the restaurant’s sidewalk, watching for his breakfast appointment.  i passed them all and headed toward the red light.

and then i noticed him.

passed him, actually.

he was scruffy and had on too many layers of clothes.  scraggly beard and mustache, long hair.  shuffling along near the bushes and trees, heading nowhere in particular but careful to stay out of the way of cars.

“buy his breakfast.  he hasn’t eaten.”  it was almost audible.  seriously.

ok!  yes, i will.  i still have that cash.  it’s all yours, God  it’s all his.  yes, i will.

grabbing the wad of ones from my wallet as i swerved back into the parking lot, i slowed until i was beside him.  rolling down the passenger window, i reached through and handed him the money.  “good morning; i’d like to buy your breakfast today.  get something good, okay?”

he was so grateful.  “thank you, oh, thank you so much.” 

as i drove back around to the exit, i looked back to see him walking into the restaurant.

by himself.

and for a split second it bothered me that he was alone.

but.

i had to be somewhere.  and i was already late.

i prayed and asked God to multiply the money.  like the loaves and fishes.  so that he could get whatever he wanted.  then i asked God to send someone, a Christian someone, in to talk to him.

except here’s the thing:  God had already sent a Christian someone.

me.

but i was too busy.  i had an agenda.  a plan for a parking spot.

and well, this would have interrupted my plan.

and so.

i kept driving.

i cannot tell you how i wish i had responded differently.

oh, if i had it to do over again, i would park my car.  walk over to him.  take off my sunglasses.  look him in the eyes.  call him sir.  pat him on the arm.  invite him to have breakfast with me.  with someone who cares.  someone who has a few minutes to listen to his story.  to make a personal connection.  to see him as a human being.  someone of value.

i would tell him that he is not invisible.  that God sees him.  and that’s why i saw him.

i would speak life over him.

throw some courage on him.

pray with him.

yes, the money was a good gift.  yes, it did help him out.  yes, he ate today because of it.  and no, i’m not planning to beat myself up over what i didn’t do.

but listen, it’s not just about giving the money.  or donating the items.  or sacrificing an afternoon at the soup kitchen. or volunteering at the outreach event.  or sponsoring the child.  or going on the mission trip.

it’s about connecting with people.  hurting people.  needy people.

slowing down long enough to really see them.  acknowledge them.   set aside the discomfort and inconvenience and spend some time with them.

i could have done it.  i could have taken the time.

Jesus did.

when i  read the scriptures i see how Jesus interacted with people in need.  he never just solved their problem and moved on.  he touched them.  he looked at them.  he spoke to them.  he spent some measure of time with them.

he met their physical needs, their emotional needs, their spiritual needs. 

i’m too busy.  i’m too distracted.  i’m self-centered.

it’s idolatry.

and it doesn’t please God.

oh God, please give me another chance.  more opportunities to walk out the gospel of Jesus like Jesus would.  like Jesus did.  empty me of me, so that i can see the needs of hurting people.  you said, “inasmuch as you have done it to the least of them, you have done it to Me.”  teach me how to love “the least of them.”

change my heart. 

whatever it takes, God, change me.

from the inside out.

“I am the way and the truth and the life.  no one comes to the Father except through me.”   john 14:6

you know the scenario. you’re outside working in the yard or washing your car. perhaps throwing the ball with your dog. you’re enjoying the weather, away from everything noisy and electronic.

or maybe you’re inside your home. relaxing. spending time with family in conversation or around the table. watching something funny on television. reading a book. checking a post.

outside.

inside.

either way, some down time.

and then you see them.

they travel in pairs. they carry a religious book or a handful of pamphlets.

“missionaries” from a group that believes a bit different from the one you’re connected to.

they’re walking up your street.

in fact, they’re walking up your driveway.

at this point, things move in one of two directions: (1) you run for your life. you become immediately unavailable. (2) you gear up for a religious conversation battle. you’ll show them. you have strategies and you intend to win.

this afternoon i found myself in just this situation. out of the corner of my eye i saw them approaching my driveway. i was busy with something in the yard, and i hoped they would keep walking.

they didn’t.

“hello there, can we speak with you for a moment?”

“um, sure, okay. but you probably won’t want to speak with me for long.”

“why would you say that?”

“well, I’m sort of a Jesus freak, so whatever you want to share, you know, i’m gonna come back to Him. and you’re from… ?”

(they told me their affiliation.)

“right. well, i’m a bit familiar with your book and your beliefs, and i know there are several points on which we’ll disagree.”

“can you give us an example?”

“well, i just know that there are some foundational issues you have that are not in line with what the scriptures teach.”

“what do you mean?  what church do you attend?”

(pssst.  mary… mary…. throw your net on the other side of the boat.  you’ll catch more there.)

(what? go where? do what?)

(mary, this isn’t a competition or a debate.  just tell them about me.  keep it simple.  talk about me.  the gospel.  my gospel.  it’s simple.  talk about us, mary.  tell them how I’ve changed you.)

i felt the muscles in my face relax. soften.

“what I really want to say is this: i’m all about Jesus. i was raised catholic, i’ve been a methodist, i’ve been a baptist, i’ve been church of God. all great churches, but you know, the church didn’t hang on the cross for me. Jesus did. and honestly, I’m not so much about a particular church as i am about Jesus and the words of Jesus. you see, when i was 15, i spent a lot of time making fun of the christians at my school. really harassing them. irritating them. and do you know how they responded?   they responded by continuing to offer their friendship to me, to the point of inviting me to their church camp. at that camp i heard the gospel preached. heard the claims of Jesus. read his words and what He promises to those who follow Him. and listen, i couldn’t run down the aisle fast enough. i had never heard preaching like that before. never knew what Jesus said, that He claimed to be THE way, truth, and life. that He offers that life to any who will believe, who will follow after Him.  i wanted that Jesus.”

“yes, we believe in Jesus too.”

“that’s so great. because listen, i’ve never been the same since. i was changed completely that day, and i’ve had this peace in my life that i can’t explain. do you have that peace?”

“we follow Jesus Christ.  yes.”

“i’m so glad. because Jesus said many will come to heaven expecting to be invited in, and He will have to tell them He doesn’t know them. even if they did and said things in His name, if they didn’t have relationship with Him, then He won’t recognize them. in fact, God says through the prophet isaiah that He created us for two reasons: to know Him and to believe Him. that’s it. even if we never DO anything FOR God, we are His if we know and believe Him.”

“hmmmm.”

“listen, let’s say you’re big fans of taylor swift. like, seriously, you love the girl. you buy her music, you promote her concerts, you send gifts over to her house, you speak about her to everyone you know; in fact you’re responsible for bringing her a sizable number of followers. but listen, no matter what you’ve contributed toward her fame, we both know that if you walk up to the door and knock, she’ll call the police on you. in fact, while you’re standing on the doorstep recounting all you’ve done for her, she’ll look at you with a blank stare and tell you to leave her property because she doesn’t know you.”

“yes, she will.”

“Jesus said the same thing will happen when some stand before Him at the door to heaven. He will have to say He doesn’t know them.”

“umm-hmm.”

“so here’s where i want to land with you and everyone else who may not believe exactly the same on every theological point. all else aside, every other issue stripped away, if we can gather at the foot of the cross, if we can agree that the work was done on the cross by Jesus, just Jesus, then really that is what matters. that our hearts belong to Jesus.”

“hmmm.  can we leave you a card?”

“sure. and thanks for stopping by. be careful walking around today.”

and they left.

i was actually a little sad to see them go.

but what a privilege it was to speak Jesus over them.

oh, God.  send more.  send any and all, from whatever belief system.  send them to my door.  to my driveway.  let me speak Jesus over them.  no competition.  no debate.  no proving them wrong.  no arguing.  no issues.  no condemnation. just Jesus.   the Way, the Truth, the Life.  just Jesus.  Amen.

i know there are many who will say that i ignored important foundations of the faith today in this exchange. and perhaps i did. i don’t know.

God knows our hearts.

and well, the gospel is supposed to be simple enough for even a child to understand without getting all tangled up.

so here’s what i do know: today the voice of the Savior stopped me. redirected my conversation. replaced my (planned debate) words with a testimony all about Him.

today I got to preach the gospel.

today those girls heard about Jesus.

just Jesus.