My Favorite Uncle

Both my parents come from huge families. I have a total of 26 uncles and aunts. Yet, there is one that has influenced me more than all the others. He started with very little. When he was 18, he left his village to live in a big city, far away from home. He learned to type and got a clerical job. Along the way, he got married and raised 2 kids. Even at 60, he is still one of the most energetic and inspiring people I know.

The character traits that I admire the most in him are his faith and discipline. He is unapologetic about his faith. He will break for family prayers even if there is a crowd of people at his house. And we aren’t talking about a 30-second, pre-meal grace. Evening prayer at his house usually goes on for 10-15 minutes, and it always concludes with singing together! 

I, on the other hand, feel very uncomfortable with PDF (public displays of faith). Although my faith is very important to me, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it. I’m a closet Christian. I have a penchant for crosses. My mp3 is filled with Christian songs. I usually have several Bibles open on my desk and chair. I love using my rosary as a meditation tool. (I don’t actually say the prescribed rosary prayers. I just like to pass the beads through my fingers while repeating a scripture verse or the name of Jesus). Yet, only a few close people know this side of me. When we have guests, I clean up. I put away anything that might peg me as a holy roller. I put away the Bibles, the rosaries, and pretend the crosses are just part of my décor. We say a quick 10-second grace before meals at home. I sneak prayers at restaurants before meals while smiling at the waitress. Even this blog is written under a pseudonym.

My uncle is also known for his self-discipline. He eats healthily and exercises regularly. He sticks to a budget and lives well within his means. He thinks and plans carefully before making any decision. He makes responsible choices. He takes care of his family. He doesn’t have a college degree, but he loves learning. It’s amazing to see how far he has come with the limited opportunities and resources he had as a child. I try to emulate his discipline. Whenever I feel like slacking, I think of him…working out on his elliptical while watching the news after a full day’s work at the local factory. Or when I feel like indulging in decadent foods, I remember his lectures on the importance of fiber.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul made the connection between faith and discipline.

“I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:5 MSG)

I know plenty of people who have one of these traits but not the other. My uncle has both. I think that discipline has given structure to his faith, thus making it stronger. I hope to learn by his example of steadfastness, perseverance, and uncompromising faith. 

Instrument of Praise

Psalm 150 directs everyone to praise God with musical instruments. I don’t play any instruments. I can use words, but that’s about it.

I have a friend who praises God through her pain and suffering. This is her instrument. She is battling cancer. She doesn’t use a lot of words to describe what she’s going through or about how God is working in her life. She simply lives a life of praise. She responds to difficult circumstances with acceptance, grace, and trust. Her attitude of joy, in the midst of suffering, surpasses all human logic. I have learned so much from watching her.

I asked her what her secret was. She said:

“I don’t know. I get up every morning and say, Lord, thank you for this day. Let me know what you want me to do today.”

What I’ve observed from her life is this unwavering trust, dependence, and reliance on God. She has accepted that she is not in control, but that God is. The difference between her faith and mine is…the difference between Mt. Everest and a pimple. I say I trust in God, but then I try to rely on my own intellect or resources to fix things. I talk and write about faith, while she lives, breathes, moves in FAITH.

I never thought that pain could be an instrument of praise. Yet, the melody that comes through her suffering has influenced and inspired me more than any other. Her attitude is, in itself, an act of worship. I watch and listen while she plays her life-song unto the Lord.

“O God. God, you’ve done it all! Who is quite like you? You, who made me stare trouble in the face, Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face. I’ve been to the bottom; Bring me up, streaming with honors; turn to me, be tender to me, And I’ll take up the lute and thank you to the tune of your faithfulness, God. I’ll make music for you on a harp, Holy One of Israel. When I open up in song to you, I let out lungsful of praise, my rescued life a song.” (Psalm 71:17-24 MSG)

Closed Doors

“Then the LORD closed the door behind them.” (Genesis 7:16 NLT)

Recently, I’ve had to experience several closed doors in my life. Some options and opportunities are no longer open to me. I don’t have access to certain areas. I can’t influence some people or change certain circumstances. Certain paths have been blocked off. I don’t like closed doors. I feel the urge to keep knocking, keep pushing. Yet, I know there is value to these closed doors.

The Lord sometimes closes doors to bring us clarity. When certain options are blocked off, it helps us to narrow down our choices. If a certain job opportunity is no longer available, we know we need to move on to something else. If we are rejected repeatedly for a promotion, or keep failing to enter a particular educational program, maybe we are meant to do something else. Throughout our lives, doors will open and close between our relatives, friends, and co-workers. As we age, physical and mental limitations prevent us from pursuing options that were open to us when we were younger. When we have small children or any dependents, our choices are severely restricted. As life’s seasons and circumstances change, doors close and others open. Acceptance of these limited options brings clarity.

How can we make sure that it is the LORD that is closing the door? What if we shut ourselves in because of fear or pride? What if we are just reluctant to knock at doors that are meant to be opened?

Lord, I don’t know which doors are closed by you and which ones are not. Yet I know if I stay tuned in to You at all times, trusting You completely, then You will lead me.

 

Enjoyment

My dog brings me joy. She greets us with such enthusiasm. Most dogs just wag their tails, but our dog wags her whole body. She always likes to be face-to-face with humans. Unless we get down to her level, she will reach up to our level, so she can look us in the eye. She tries to please us by sitting still at our feet when we are reading, obeying our commands, and fetching us things we ask her to bring to us. She is not really good at fetching. She will bring something close to us, but drop it a few feet away and then come running to us the rest of the way. She also expects us to fetch toys for her that roll under the furniture; she cries, looks up at us, and we get up from where we are sitting and retrieve her toy for her. Almost every time she approaches us, she expects something from us: a treat, some attention, a hug, a toy, or to be taken outside. Yet, we still delight in her.

“For the Lord delights in his people.” (Ps. 149:4 NLT)

The Lord delights in us, even in our feeble attempts to please Him. When we sit by his side listening, when we pray, when we sing, when we try to serve, He rejoices. When a dog fetches a slipper and brings it to its master’s feet, it brings a smile to his face. The master can easily get his own slipper, but the dog’s attempt to please brings joy. When a child tries to help his mom sweep the floor, it brings her joy, even if the child doesn’t know how to sweep properly. In the same way, God rejoices at our attempts to be close to Him, to please Him. It is true that most of the time we approach Him, we want something from Him. Yet God doesn’t hold this against us. We can do nothing for Him that He can’t do by himself.  When we cry to Him, when we look up at Him, He meets our needs and wants. Why He would get pleasure from this one-way giving is beyond me. Yet, the Lord enjoys us, delights in us.

Hallelujah!

I was reading through Psalm 148 which is about all of creation praising God.  Hallelujah!
Praise God from heaven,
praise him from the mountaintops;
Praise him, all you his angels,
praise him, all you his warriors,
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven,
praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—
he spoke the word, and there they were! (Ps. 148:1-5 MSG)

The first word in this Psalm is Hallelujah. I’ve grown up with this word, but I’ve never really thought about what it meant. I looked it up:

Hallelujah—from Hebrew-- hallalu-yah "praise Jehovah," --from hillel "he praised," of imitative origin, with primary sense being "to trill." Second element is yah, shortened form of Yahweh, name of God. (www.dictionary.com)

Hallelujah--to trill, vibrate, quaver in response to God.

How can trees, animals, snow, and ice praise God? They just exist; they don’t have thoughts or words. Yet they fulfill the purpose for which God created them, and thus magnify the Lord.

As humans, our potential for praise is exponentially greater than everything else in creation. We were created for higher thinking. We are given the ability to form thoughts and words. We are able to glorify God through our actions. We are able to appreciate and vibrate in response to God.

What is the purpose of a magnifying glass? It allows the viewer to see something more clearly. Our purpose is to magnify the Lord, to allow others to look through us and see God’s glory.

“My soul ·praises [exalts; glorifies; magnifies] the Lord” (Luke 1:46 EXB)

Fixation

My dog can become fixated on food. If you show her a treat, she won’t take her eyes off of it. She’ll do pretty much anything you ask her to do: come, stay, sit, rollover. However, if she is outside, she gets distracted by rabbits and other animals. She tends to fixate on the closest scent.

I tend to fixate on my immediate problems. I obsess, worry, and sweat over whatever issue I’m dealing with, while ignoring the fact that God is in charge.

“Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” (Romans 12:2 MSG)

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.” (Hebrews 12:2 MSG)

Both Hebrews 12:2 and Romans 12:2 have the same message. Fixate on God. Don’t let your immediate concerns distract you. Never lose sight of where you are headed. Be willing to put up with suffering, humiliation, whatever.

Oh God, I’m already distracted…I wonder what kind of pain you have planned for me. How long will it last? Is there any other way? I can’t help it. I’m fixated on the suffering. I’ve already lost sight of YOU…

I feel like a kid who is about to get an injection. I’m focused on the needle. I’m wondering how much it will hurt. I can’t think past this pain to the purpose of the vaccine or medicine. Instead I want to be more like a grown woman who is going through labor, willing to go through pain to bring forth life.

Focus on Jesus. Breathe…

Spring shall come

“He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed—who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!” (Ps. 147:12-18 MSG)

My thermometer says it is -3 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Snow covers everything. The trees are bare and the grass is brown. I can’t even hear any birds chirping. I’m glad this isn’t my first winter.  Even though it is hard to imagine that things will get better, I know spring shall come. For months, I will have to endure. Yet one day I shall see little bumps on the tree branches. Then my heart shall quicken. Even though the frost may kill these early buds, I know it is just a matter of time. I shall not despair at the false starts. I have seen the seasons change.

I have lived through many seasons of trial and spiritual dryness. The suffering always seems to last forever.  Each time I have allowed myself to become discouraged and despondent.  I pray for it to end, but God in his wisdom has a prescribed time for each season. Meanwhile, He is our shelter during the howling winds and frigid temperatures. We have a choice whether we enter into Him or we stand outside in the cold.

Then the first signs of change appear. There shall be many false starts, many frosts that kill the early buds of hope. Yet we know that this too shall pass. The same God that sheltered us during the dark cold months will bring light and warmth.