Madmen and Pigs

“They told everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs. Those who heard about it were angry about the drowned pigs.” (Matthew 8:33-34 MSG)

In the gospels, there is a weird story about Jesus casting out evil spirits from  two madmen and into a herd of pigs. The pigs end up falling off a cliff and drowning. The people get angry and upset over the loss of the pigs.

When we send soldiers out to fight a war, we know that not everyone will make it back alive and unharmed. Similarly, in the battle between good and evil, there are bound to be some casualties. Whenever there is loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a fortune, a reputation--whenever we experience illness, deprivation, suffering, or failure--it is natural to feel bitter. We do not want to hear that God’s intentions are good, even though evil still exists. We would rather that God vanquish evil immediately with no collateral damage.

Lord, protect us from evil. May your goodness permeate every person and every circumstance. Help us to acknowledge that You are good and that You will ultimately prevail over evil. Grant us the fortitude to accept loss. Please help us to resist bitterness and ingratitude. Instead, may we always remain trusting and confident in your care.

Your Business

“Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of." Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. (Matthew 8:21-22 MSG)

When I travel on airplanes, I rarely check in my luggage. I don’t trust the airlines, because they have lost my bags several times. These days, I pack everything I need into two carry-ons. This limits what I can take--no large containers of liquids or aerosols, no bulky clothing or shoes--only the essentials. I have to pull my bags all over the airport. Even after I get on a plane, I’m reluctant to part with my carry-ons. I either want them in the overhead bin right next to my seat or under the seat in front of me. This way, I can access them whenever I want. I don’t want to relinquish control unless I have no other choice. I’m amazed at those travelers who check everything and walk freely through airports and into airplanes with just their seat assignments. Do they know something I don’t?

According to Jesus, the perishable, transitory concerns of this earth are not our real business. He beckons us to follow Him and pursue life on a spiritual plane. He offers to take care of our baggage, if we are willing to trust Him and let go. It is also easier to find our assigned spots once we relinquish our burdens. Handing over all our concerns  allows us to walk freely with God.

Lord, help me to trust You and hand over all my concerns to You.

Cleansed Life

“Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” (Matthew 8:4 MSG)

How does one live a cleansed and grateful life?

When I think of an unclean life, the obvious sins come to mind: alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity, violence, humiliation, neglect, an uncaring attitude, worry, taking advantage of the weak,--basically, anything that contaminates our body or mind, degrades other living things, or distracts us from a total commitment to God.

If someone dies for you, it is your duty to live in such a way that honors their sacrifice. Christ has died for us. We have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus. Everything we do must honor that sacrifice. A cleansed and grateful life always acknowledges God’s love and power. Through purity we express our veneration. Through thankfulness we show our reverence.  Through commitment and trust we glorify Him.

Avail the Available

“And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52 NLT)

Online shopping can be tricky. When I order something from Amazon, I check for a few things: will the order be shipped directly from Amazon or a third party? Is it in stock? Does the product have lots of reviews from reliable sources? Are the reviews from real buyers or written by those who have something to gain? I have learned from past mistakes. I have ordered things that looked as if they were a great deal initially, only to find out later that I’ve been charged extra for shipping because they were from different vendors.

“In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” (Psalm 33:21 NLT)

Joy is in stock. We merely have to avail ourselves of that which is available. Yet, we have to make sure we seek for it from a trustworthy source. The joy that is offered through the love of God is complete and mature. It is not cheap, but neither does it have any hidden costs. This joy comes from the Holy Spirit. It fills us up until we are spilling over onto those around us. Why would we choose anything else?

Sacred Wisdom

"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.” (Matthew 7:6 NLT)

The above verse cautions against sharing sacred wisdom with those who are incapable of understanding. But how can we gauge when someone is ready? For the first few decades of my life, I was not receptive to sacred wisdom. Yet that didn’t prevent several women from investing in me. The seeds of faith that they planted took years to sprout.

Farmers start planting seeds while the ground is still cold and the nights are still long. They know when and where to plant. They accept that not every seed will germinate. They do their part and leave the rest up to nature. Similarly, those who share sacred wisdom must observe the seasons of life and learn when and how to plant seeds of faith.

A few things to watch out for:  Fundamentalism and orthodoxy can make faith feel unapproachable. Transparency is more likely to make people receptive than feigned perfection. Judgmentalism and holiness rarely coexist. Criticism merely makes people defensive and less receptive. Hearts that are hardened cannot receive the holy. Thus, there is no place for a critical spirit among those who profess to follow Christ.

Self Check

“Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.” (Matthew 7:5 NLT)

Have you ever smelled something bad, scrunched your nose, and then, immediately wondered if you were the source of the malodor?

When I encounter something offensive, there is a pattern to my reactions and thoughts: My initial response is one of distaste followed by an urge to get as far away from the situation as possible. However, I have learned to check myself before I separate myself from the problem. Oftentimes I find that I have slightly different shades of the same issue that I find offensive in others. It is difficult to be objective when you are part of the problem. I’m never sure if I am responding appropriately to the situation. Is it better to avoid further conflict or roll up my sleeves and get even more involved?

Here is a real life example: I received some harsh criticism recently. Naturally, this offensive attack triggered a defensive reaction. However, I knew that there were lessons to be learned here. Thus, I stayed in the discomfort and evaluated myself: How have I contributed to this problem? What traits do I have in common with this offender? What changes do I need to make in my behavior? How can I respond with grace, even in the midst of pain?

Most of us are blind to our own flaws. Every time something offends us, we have an opportunity to check ourselves--to see if we have similar faults. This self evaluation allows us to respond in a better way. Once we are aware of our own darkness, we become less critical of others. Instead of lashing out, we are more likely to extend grace.  And we know that grace elicits more and more grace...

Lord, help us to practice aggressive forgiveness. May we recognize our own faults and change our behavior.  May Your grace fill us and cover us.

Pursue Joy

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11 MSG)

Decisions, decisions--every day is filled with hundreds of decisions. We hope that each choice leads us further along the path of happiness. But experience teaches us that happiness is circumstantial and thus temporary. In our pursuit of happiness, we chase after earthly pleasures and validation from others. The temptation to rely on ourselves--to chase after happiness on our own terms--often leads to dissatisfaction and exhaustion. There is another way.

Pursue joy.

Whenever you are trying to make a decision, look for Christ. Follow His path. He will show you the right way, granting you the joy of His presence. This path is not easy. It goes through barren valleys and dark forests. Yet, God’s radiant presence stays with you as long as you don’t turn back.

Lord, help us to pursue the joy of Your presence over everything else.  

Stay On God's Side

“Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

There are two ways to get a bundle up a hill. You can either push the burden up or climb to the top first and pull it up with a rope. Many of us take the first approach, because it seems to make more sense. Our leg muscles are stronger than our arm muscles. Climbing all the way to the top with a rope and then pulling a bundle up seems counterintuitive.  This is because we fail to take God into account.

God is already pulling up our burdens. Oftentimes we look at our problems from a worldly perspective, from the bottom up. All we notice is the size of the problem and the steepness of the hill. Our view to the top is obscured by our baggage. There is a better way. Climb up and stand beside Jesus. This allows us to have a completely different perspective. We are strengthened by knowing we are not alone. We realize that the bulk of the pulling is done by God. As we work alongside Him, our burdens become lighter.

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Cheerful Disposition

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” (Proverbs 17:22 MSG)

Some people are naturally optimistic. I’m not one of them. The worrywart in me regularly squashes any positive thoughts that pop up. This is exhausting. How do I treat this disease of negativity? According to the above proverb, a joyful heart is the medicine I need.  

The land of gloom and doom is under the power of an evil ruler. Dwelling in this place saps your strength. The kingdom of God, on the other hand, is built on trust that is beyond earthly circumstances. It is not affected by emotional tides. Living here fills you with a deep joy that is based on complete confidence in God’s care and provision.

Lord, please lift up my spirit from the pits of gloom and teach me to have a cheerful disposition.

Long-term Gain

“When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.” (Matthew 6:2 NLT)

My dad used to buy lottery tickets and then sit around talking about what he would do if he won the jackpot. He would speculate on whether he would take the lump-sum option which paid considerably less, or annual payments which paid considerably more but made you wait a long time to get all your winnings. Most people choose the lump-sum option because they would rather have all their reward up front.

In life, we have the choice of getting immediate gratification or waiting for long-term fulfillment. Most of us choose to receive our rewards up front. We sense that this is short-sighted, but we continue to do what makes us feel good in the moment. We opt for worldly validation, thus giving up the opportunity for eternal satisfaction.

Lord, grant us the wisdom and self-control to sacrifice temporary achievements for eternal fulfillment.

Appointments with God

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matthew 6:6 MSG)

I am fortunate to have the time, privacy, and desire to pray regularly. I start off every day by reading from a devotional, reading the Bible, and praying for those on my prayer list. I  like to use online resources during this time--to look up a verse or a song, or to post something that inspires me on facebook, or write a note to a friend. I will also answer any messages or calls I get during this time. Thus, my time with God has morphed into an amalgam of prayer, reading, writing, texting, emailing, facebooking, etc.

“We have to start by setting aside a time and a place when and where we can be with God and God alone, not once in a while, but regularly. We need to look at our agenda and reserve time for personal prayer so that we can say honestly and without hesitation to those who want to see us at that time, 'I am sorry, but I have already made an appointment then and it cannot be changed.'" ‪(Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ)

Nouwen’s  attitude towards prayer seems a bit rigid at first. However, I can sense truth in what he is saying. If we had an appointment with our doctor, accountant, minister, or a close friend, we wouldn’t allow so many interruptions. Answering calls or texts or getting up to even go to the bathroom would be considered disrespectful of their time. We have been granted access to our Lord. Let’s not take this privilege for granted. Let’s keep our focus on Him and not on any other concern.

Lord, we thank you for giving us your attention. Help us to be faithful and respectful in your presence.  May we sense Your grace as our focus shifts from ourselves to You.

Deepest Longing

“O LORD of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.” (Psalm 84:12 NLT)

I have a long prayer list. I want God to take care of a lot of people who all have a variety of needs and wants. I pray for healing, safety, clarity, happiness, peace, and restoration. I spend most of my prayer energy reminding God about all these concerns. Every so often, I sense that there is something deeper that I long for, but since I couldn’t quite figure out what that was, I kept going back to my surface wants.

“Holy desires are different than surface wants, like "I want a new smartphone” or “I want a bigger office.” Instead I'm talking about our deepest longings, those that shape our lives: desires that help us know who we are to become and what we are to do. Our deep longings help know God’s desires for us, and how much God desires to be with us.” (Fr. James Martin, SJ)

After reading the above quote by Fr. Martin, I sat down and looked at my prayer list. I looked at the underlying desire beneath every request. What do I really want? What are my deepest longings?

I want to stop worrying. I want to hand over my burdens to Jesus. I want to trust God, to be confident in His care. I want to know that it is okay to let go, that He is in control. I want to be held securely by Grace.  I want others to know God and trust Him too. I want everything and everyone to be absorbed in God’s love.

Write down all your surface wants. Be as specific as you can. Then look at each concern and trace it back to its root desire. Keep looking for patterns until you find the underlying, deepest longing. This is the longing of your heart. This is the desire that God has placed in you.

Lord, reveal our deepest longings. Help us to concentrate  on our true desires instead of our surface wants.

The Worst in Me

“Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.” (Matthew 5:44-45 MSG)

Who or what brings out the best in you?

Love and peace bring out the goodness in me. When I am surrounded by those I love, I am loyal, passionate, forgiving, patient, generous, gracious, and kind. When I’m in a situation that makes me feel competent and comfortable, I am clear-headed, creative, articulate, bold, and confident.

Who or what brings out the worst in you?

Anyone who disrupts my sense of self or any situation that creates disorder brings out the worst in me. I become petty, mean-spirited, irritable, uncompromising, and fatigued.

When we are faced with people or circumstances that typically bring out the darkness within us, the solution is prayer. God’s light is within us. He will shine through us, if we allow it. This involves surrendering our limited identities and growing into our God-created selves. Whenever something threatens to bring out the worst in you, ask God for help. Under His influence, we are able to give up our diminutive selves and grow up into the noble characters we were meant to be.

Lord, may Your light shine through me, bringing out Your best in me.

Thankless

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (Romans 1:21 NLT)

Everyone can agree that gratitude is a positive thing. However, acknowledging God and giving Him thanks is not considered crucial. A person is often regarded enlightened if he has a general attitude of thankfulness, directed at no one in particular. Many imagine that good luck, their own abilities and foresight, or ‘the universe’ are responsible for their fortune.  Yet, when bad things happen, they are quick to conclude that God is unfair and uncaring.

Misplaced gratitude leads to misdirection. When we fail to give God the credit, we often reroute it to ourselves. We imagine the Self is lord and  master. Eventually this can spiral downward into dark delusions of self-absorption and emptiness.

Lord, we shall honor you with thanksgiving and praise--for everything is from you. We pray that you will direct our hearts to You and save us from delusions and senselessness. When we turn away from you, gently turn us back.

Songs of Thanksgiving

“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalm 28:7 NLT)

This past Thanksgiving morning, I woke up early. I made up my schedule for all the cooking I had to do--when to prep each dish, when each dish would go in the oven, when to shower, when to set the table, when to clean, etc. Then suddenly we had a rainstorm and the electricity went off. All my appliances are electric--thus, all my plans came to a standstill. Well, there wasn’t much else I could do but pray--so that is just what I did. I prayed and thanked God for everything. Since I didn’t have my usual sources of music, I sang songs that I knew in my heart--songs of thanksgiving and praise. After about an hour, the electricity came back on. I was relieved and overjoyed. I was so much more conscious of all I had to be thankful for throughout that day.

Life rarely goes according to plan. Serious illness, death of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, and natural disasters can bring us to an impasse. What is the best thing to do when we are at our wits’ end? Rely on God. The Lord is our strength and our shield. So trust him with all your heart. He helps us and fills our heart with joy. Express your gratitude with songs of thanksgiving and praise.

Shades of Anger

“If you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” (Matthew 5:22 MSG)

I’ve never thought of myself as an angry person. I rarely fight with my family or friends. We don’t scream, hit, or throw things in our home. We don’t call each other names or yell obscenities. My anger issues are camouflaged. I have learned to dress them up in presentable clothes, in muted shades that are less obvious. Instead of getting angry, I tend to get disappointed, annoyed, irritated, and frustrated at people. I have been known to use words that maim others in order to get my point across. I can hold a grudge like nobody’s business. Unforgiveness festers in the deep recesses of my mind.

Anger corrupts our heart, blocking the ability to perceive God in this world. Bitterness overpowers His flavors, while muddy attitudes mask His colors.

Anger doesn’t improve anything. People and circumstances will continue to disappoint us. We cannot even change our own frustrating habits, so why do we think we can influence others to change? The only real solution is to release every  person and circumstance to God. Relinquish expectations. Let God take care of everything, as only He can.

Private Faith

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it.” (Matthew 6:1 MSG)

When my husband is fixing things around the house, I usually help out by pointing a flashlight on the spot where he is working. For quick jobs, we often use the flashlight app on our cell phones. When the job is done, I’m tempted to switch the phone to camera mode and take a picture of us in front of ‘our’ project. Even though I really had very little to do with fixing the problem, I’m happy to be included in the credits.

We can shine a light on whatever God is doing. We can be open about our vulnerability. We can share our brokenness and how God is working in our lives. We just have to remember to keep the spotlight on God’s work and not on ourselves.

Lord, help me to be sincere and authentic in my worship, while remaining open about Your love and care.

Open Up

“By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God.” (Matthew 5:16 MSG)

Many of us like to hold our cards close to our chest. We are guarded and careful when sharing personal information with others. Here are some reasons why we are reluctant to open up to others:

--We don’t want to feel vulnerable.

--We don’t want our weaknesses to be used against us.

--We don’t want to be misunderstood.

--We don’t want to reveal our imperfections.

--We prefer admiration over condescension.

--We are afraid that our openness might bring shame and rejection.

Keeping our imperfections private might make us feel better about ourselves, but it also makes us less relatable. Vulnerability allows us to connect with each other, while an air of superiority merely creates distance. Once we accept our flaws, we are less reluctant to share them with others. Opening up allows us to show others how God has worked in our lives. As we expose our wounded self, the scars reveal where the Lord has stitched us up--healing our iniquities and restoring us to wholeness. As long as Christ dwells within us, self-disclosure ultimately results in bringing glory to God.

Lord, help us to open ourselves up to others, so that they can see how You are working in our lives.

True Humility

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5 KJV)

Most Bible translations use the word meek/humble/gentle in this verse. According to Strong’s Concordance: “Biblical meekness is not weakness but rather refers to exercising God's strength under His control – i.e. demonstrating power without undue harshness.”

My personal favorite version of this verse is found in the Message:

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.” (Matthew 5:5 MSG)

Humility is not insecurity.  It isn’t trying to be like someone else or hiding behind false modesty.

In Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, a little boy brings up a few loaves of bread and some fish to Jesus. Jesus uses this offering to feed five thousand. This child brought forward whatever he had--no more, no less. Most people would have thought to themselves: I can’t take this up, it is nothing. Everyone will think I’m trying to appear as if I have something substantial to offer when I don’t. It might seem prideful if I call attention to myself. I better just keep my fishes and loaves to myself.”

True humility realizes that everything you have is from God. It would be silly to take credit for something that was given to you. It would be wasteful to hide your gifts or use them only for your own pleasure. When we exercise our God-given strengths under His influence, when we are content with who we are--then we shall have possession of all that has been promised.

Lord, thank you for all thy gifts. Instead of hiding them, may we use them according to Your purposes.

Cycles of Grace

“Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!” (2 Corinthians 4:15 MSG)

Think about the last time you lost something  or someone who was dear to you. How did you feel?

Every time I’m faced with deep loss, I feel vulnerable, stripped down, exposed, and powerless. Because of my neediness, I turn to God. Because of my nakedness, I can feel His embrace. Because of my frailty, I surrender to His will. Awareness of my vulnerability leads me to Grace. God takes His time. He restores me lovingly. He revives me patiently. I am thankful. Unfortunately, once I feel strong, it doesn’t take long for me to regress back to my old self-reliant ways. Then the next trial comes along, and the cycle of grace repeats.

Trials expose our limitations. Our vulnerability propels us to seek God. The experience of Grace leads us to thanksgiving. Even though we will continue to fall, God is there to pick us back up. Every relapse merely highlights God’s grace. This becomes an opportunity for praise. Gratitude begets even more grace. This cycle continually multiplies and spreads to more and more people until everything comes together for the glory of God.

Living in the Light

"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3 NLT)

Imagine that you have always lived underground with a whole community of people. Everything is dark except for some artificial lights installed by those who lived before you. You have gotten accustomed to the stale air, the cold, and the dampness. Yet, you sense there is something better. You seek a way out. Finally one day, you break through the ground and encounter sunlight for the first time. Everything feels different.

Many of us live underground--under the power of human influence. Our beliefs and actions are dominated by worldly circumstances and attitudes. We get accustomed to this oppressive environment filled with each other’s noxious excretions. Then one day, we realize that we can’t accomplish anything good on our own. We need a higher power. We break out of our limited underground kingdom, built on human wisdom, and into God’s sphere of influence. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get sucked back down into the familiar, subterranean life. The muck feels comfortable, while the bright light is a bit unnerving.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1  John 1:7 MSG)

Lord, we can’t accomplish anything good on our own. We need You. Please draw us up to Your light and keep us from getting pulled back down into the darkness.