Poker Not Patience

Every now and then I like to read excerpts out of a particular book – a compilation of letters that C.S. Lewis wrote to friends and a variety of other people with whom he had correspondence.  Several of the early letters in the book express the atheistic views he had during the period prior to his conversion to Christianity. 

Then, there are about two or three letters he wrote during his “spiritual limbo” in which I find rare and precious glimpses into his conversion . . .

In one such letter, he writes:

“You will be surprised to hear that my outlook is now definitely religious.  It is not precisely Christianity, though it may turn out that way in the end.  I can’t express the change better than by saying that whereas I once would have said ‘Shall I adopt Christianity,’ I now wait to see whether it will adopt me: i.e., I now know there is another Party in the affair – that I am playing poker, not Patience, as I once supposed.”

I looked up the game “Patience” and it is the equivalent of what we would call Solitaire – a single-player game.  The spiritual journey is a multi-player game, not Solitaire! 

This is so exciting.  How easy it is to maneuver myself through life as if I am the only player making the moves!   It is a relief, a thrill, and a humbling matter to be reminded that God is making moves as well.  Without a doubt, I ought to pay more attention to those moves.

God – we are so appreciative and humbled that you reply, engage, and join.  How could life be bearable otherwise?  May we have in our minds a picture of a game of interaction when we despair that we are playing Solitaire.  Help us be aware of and searching for evidence that You are in the game with us.

Who is Right?

In the book of Acts, there is a passage that often prompts one to ask, "Who was right? Paul or Barnabas?" (Acts 15:36-41).

Paul and Barnabas were partners together in spreading the gospel; traveling long distances, spending countless hours teaching and discipling new converts, and enduring persecution together.  Certainly a deep bond was forged between these two men of God.  And yet at one point in their ministry, they "had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company."

How is this possible?  How could someone as supremely in love with Jesus as Paul part ways with his partner in ministry on bad terms?

When an argument or disagreement occurs among believers, do you typically take sides?  Do you find that your natural inclination is to determine who is right and who is wrong in the matter?  If so, you are not alone.

Surprisingly, it may not be possible for us to ever determine who was right and who was wrong in this scenario.  But what if there is a deeper message?  What if they were both right?  What if neither Paul nor Barnabus were simply being selfish, or foolish, or stubborn?  Instead, what if the Holy Spirit was directing both of them, but in opposite directions?

Paul and Barnabas had done great things for God together.  Perhaps it was time to go their separate ways, each with a new disciple to mentor, and to reach a greater number of people than they could ever reach by staying together.  It would not be surprising if through the course of time, Paul and Barnabas were able to see the hand of God in their dispute, and to acknowledge His plans are always the best.

If we become aware of a dispute in the body of Christ, before we decide who is right and who is wrong; before we jump to conclusions and start passing judgment; before we take sides and try to persuade others to our viewpoint; let's seek God and his purposes.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be led in all circumstances to bring glory to the Father. 

Blue Monday and Bird Songs

Welcome to January!  Did you know that January has the privilege of hosting “Blue Monday,” the most depressing day of the year?   Evidently, a formula has determined that the third Monday in January is when everyone collectively feels . . . well, terrible.  They reference several factors: 

1) Holidays are over and none are on the horizon
2) Post-holiday debt
3) Failed resolutions
4) Gloomy weather
5) Low motivation levels
6) “Hibernation” effect ( eating and sleeping more)

. . . and there are surely more.

A few days ago, I was wearing my “Blue Monday” mindset and thinking rather negatively about the current January weather when I stopped myself in my kitchen to listen to birds chirping!  It had to have been only 25 degrees outside.   If anyone should be sour about the January weather, birds certainly have the right.  Instead, they burrow their tiny heads in their wintery feathers to the best of their ability and congregate in the trees making sounds that decorate the silence of winter.   (I snapped a photo of them in my yard!) 

In light of the January blues, I’m asking God to help me be like the birds -- to be ignorant of the insignificant things in life that cause frustration and accept everything with a song.  May joy be completely unrestrained and unhampered by Blue Mondays!

“Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1).

Be of One Mind

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude" (1 Peter 3:8).

The night Jesus was arrested, He was pouring out his heart to his Father, and do you know whom He included in his prayers that night? YOU!  Just after praying for his disciples, he prayed for "all who will ever believe in me through their (the disciples') message" (John 17:20). Do you believe in Him? Then that's you. And guess what He prayed then? That we would be ONE.

Jesus was about to face an excruciating death and his prayer was that we be ONE. As we leave behind 2011 and move into 2012, let us be mindful that it is important to Jesus that we put aside petty differences, critical attitudes, judgmental spirits, and be united to one another in love.

Let's remove our masks of righteousness because there is no one without sin. In fact, it is the admission of our struggles and sinfulness that makes Jesus all the more attractive to those around us. It is also what makes us effective in relating to a hurting world. What do we have to offer to others who are hurting and grieving or to those struggling to overcome an addiction or sinful behavior if we go around pretending to have perfect lives? We have received the message of hope. And His name is Jesus Christ!

Heed the call today to be authentic and unified in Him so you can sympathize with others, love the unlovely, be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

Rest and Rejoice in Knowing God is WITH You

As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, be sure to REST and REJOICE in the One who came to save us, to redeem us. Take your time reading the following scriptures; pray them back to God, journal them, sing them – do whatever you need to do to prepare your heart for the King of Kings who came to dwell among us.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you”  (John 14:16-17).

“. . . for we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16).

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).