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Beauty in the Storm
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Yesterday the East TN area where we live had a major snowstorm. A ‘snowmaggedon’ is you will. At our house we had over 12” of snow, much to the delight of all of us. It was and is beautiful.
Snowstorms are great metaphors of life. If you choose to be out driving in the snow, it becomes a storm. The falling snow challenges our abilities and causes us to focus and maybe fear. The driving in the storm causes the beauty of the new snow to become an obstacle to be overcome, fraught with danger and risk.
Alternately, if you choose to allow the fresh blanket to fall and watch and accept what is happening, the snow creates a new, clean, beautiful serene environment. Peace invades when we surrender to the event.
In the midst of yesterday’s snow, my son and I decided to venture out and pick his friend up so that he could come and spend time at our place. As we drove we began to see more and more cars in the ditch. Traffic on the Interstate was snarled and backed up. The roads were covered in snow causing me to comment to Benton that “I am usually pretty good at discernment and we should not be out in this storm!” God hears our cry when we are in the storm of our choosing.
Wow, I chose to leave the peace and tranquility of our home being blanketed with fresh and beautiful snow. I chose to enter the storm and assume the risk of the storm. I chose because I wanted to please my son. I chose because I believed in my abilities, rejecting that those abilities might not be enough to overcome the elements around me. I chose to do it on my own.
We made it! We picked up the friend and made it safely back to our property, only to be rejected by the hill that leads to our house. We made it to within 400 feet and had to abandon the car and walk the final distance. We made it to within sight of our destination, only to then fail. Yet, God delivered us.
I don’t know why God made this event to cause me to recognize the parallels to life that this fresh blanket of snow morphing into a storm because of my choices reflected. I chose to leave the beauty of this gift because I wanted more. I wanted to please my son who was already pleased. I chose to leave and put my son and me at risk. I chose to pursue a want when all I needed was already in the safety, warmth and joy of our home.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV
So as I write this morning, our home is full with our three kids and four of their friends. The one we chose to go and bring back with us. One who was here. And two neighbor kids. Each of these kids adding to the group and the joy of the event.
The friend that we chose to risk the ride to bring back makes us all laugh. The risk was worth the reward because he is a young man of God who sharpens our son. He brings laughter into our home. He brings joy. He reflects optimism and exudes thankfulness in every situation. His presence was worth the risk. God knew.
As we ate fried chicken, mac n cheese, green beans, fruit and homemade cookies yesterday evening, my heart was full. What could be better? The risk of the trip was rewarded by our loving Father with our home filled with amazing young people reflecting joy in the moment and optimism for the future.
So the recognition for me in yesterday’s events was of God’s love in the fresh, clean blanket of snow and how he made my life new. That I choose to pursue things that put the peace and joy of my relationship with him at risk for too many times, selfish purposes. That the beauty of my new heart and life becomes tarnished and scared when my choices create risk in my relationship with him. That even when I choose in the moment what is counterintuitive to relationship with him, he loves and watches over me. That he delights to deliver the desires of my heart. That he loves me more than I can fathom. That his Grace and Mercy knows no bounds. That he abides in me and allows me to abide in him.
And that my friend, is so much more than enough.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.” Psalm 127:3-5 NLT
You’ve got this. Stay warm.
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Getting Pickled
Years ago when I was a boy, my parents would always plant a garden in our backyard. Partly for the joy and satisfaction of planting and watching things grow and partly out of need to provide because of our family’s limited finances. Whatever the reason, I loved to help plant, care for and harvest what came out of those gardens each year.
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
Yesterday, Sunday, January 14, 2024, our Pastor used a story and illustration of a pickle that reminded me of making pickles with my mother.
One particular year when I was probably 10 or 11, our little garden produced an overly bountiful crop of cucumbers. Our family loved those small, crisp cucumbers. Each year anticipating picking, peeling, slicing and then adding just a little salt to that delicious fruit. This particular year, the amount of cucumbers we harvested was so large that we could not eat them all and could not give them all away, leaving us wondering what to do with this bounty. Let’s make pickles!
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 ESV
So I recall my mother and I spending an entire summer day, picking, washing, peeling, slicing, preparing those cucumbers. We then prepped the jars with vinegar, herbs and spices that would “pickle” the cucumbers, giving them a delightful taste in the coming months.
Mom and I must have peeled 1000 cucumbers that day, or at least it seemed to a young boy. We “put up” (my Southern and country friends know this term) dozens of jars of cucumbers, now defined as ‘pickles.’ We proudly displayed our day’s hard work to present to our family and especially my dad when he arrived home from work.
I’ll never forget when dad came home from work. He praised our hard work. Then looked at the jars. Picking them up and holding them up to the light. Carefully examining the results of our hard work. After a few minutes he said, where are the skins? What? Skins?
In that moment we learned that we had prepared the cucumbers wrong. The hardest and longest part of our process, the peeling, was wrong. We had removed what held the cucumber and ultimately, the pickle together. We had removed the protective skin that God surrounded the meat of this fruit, giving it a firm foundation that held it together through the transformative, pickling process.
As you likely have surmised by now, the cucumbers assigned the name “pickles” by my mother and me, became mush in the jars. Being denied the foundation of their tough, outer skin they became vulnerable to the harsh treatment of the vinegar and eventually succumbed to the continual pressing in of the chemicals designed to work in concert with the whole cucumber. Their armor of skin had been removed, leaving them defenseless and ultimately discarded.
I want to encourage you today to wrap yourself in the protective arms of Jesus. To recognize that your tough, life-worn, experience hardened body is a gift from God, preparing and protecting you. The scars of risk and experience have formed an outer layer of ability to withstand what the enemy, Satan plans to throw at you. Your battle hardened outer skin protects the beautiful, giving, loving, caring, life-sharing inner person that God has created for hope and purpose to others. Accept and trust the process that God has and is taking you through.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.” Luke 6:43-44 NIV
So today I invite you to laugh with me as I reminisce about that long day of cucumber peeling. I invite you to accept who and whose you are in Christ Jesus. I invite you to change the trajectory of your thinking from victim to victor. I invite you to accept that you are so perfectly and wonderfully made, that God created a single DNA for you. I invite you to allow yourself to be submersed in the life-altering solution that is Jesus Christ, resulting in a new and transformed you. A person pickled, preserved and prepared for the new life that God has for you.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV
You’ve got this.
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Be Willing to be Naive
“‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 NIV
I recall when our kids were young we would pull up to stop signs or lights and oftentimes there would be someone asking for help. These signs would say things like “Homeless Veteran,” “Homeless and Hungry” and on and on.
Invariably our kids would say “are we going to help them?” “Daddy, we need to give them some money!” With emphasis!!! “Daddy, should we invite them home so they can eat, shower, sleep?” Oh my heart aches as I write this because I missed so many priceless moments of example.
Every now and then (but not often enough) we would give them a few dollars. The absolute joy and faces shining with an understanding that transcended age that shown on our kids faces warms my heart now and reflects in my inner self as I examine my heart.
“and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 AMP
My daughter asked me one day when I ‘educated her’ that “many times these people are not being honest and taking advantage of good people,” she asked: “How do you know?” A dagger in my heart. How did I know? What right did I have to assign the discernment only available to the God that I claimed? How did I know? I didn’t!
What a blessing our kids are to us. They teach us so many things. They reveal so many things to us. They exemplify the innocence that God commands of us in the form of righteousness. They fill our lives with laughter and our hearts with consciousness to be better. To grow. To live the words we say. To exemplify Christ in the way we treat one another in our family and how we treat all those that God places in our path.
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 NLT
Our kids cause me to seek a deeper relationship with my Father in Heaven. I realize how much more their hearts are developed than mine. I see in them and their mom a genuine desire to love. A genuine desire to help. To encourage. To care for and include. They welcome others without pretense or without guarding against ‘being taken advantage of.’ How blessed am I that I should be called a child of God!
Today consider being vulnerable. Consider that what you have been entrusted with is for so much more. Consider willingly being taken advantage of. Consider the eyes that are watching you and the ears that are listening. What value can you assign to leading someone to relationship with Christ through random and naive acts of kindness.
The leaders of the day felt Jesus taught a naive concept of relationship with God when he taught love, kindness, help, all are brothers and sisters. Jesus removed the shackles of legalism and replaced them with the hope, joy, assurance and eternal relationship that exists when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Live a naive life of love that causes eternal impact. That is the priceless purpose of God’s children.
You’ve got this.
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Lead well. Love better.
“We sing
God is so good
God is so good
Oh, God is so good
He’s so good to meGod is so good
He’s so good to me
God, You’re so good
You’re so good to me”Last night a group of Fight Club Men and I were invited and privileged to go into the home of fellow Believers and share our stories of hope with their micro-church. It was a beautiful time of sharing. Sharing food. Sharing laughter. Sharing tears. Sharing that special thing that happens when sisters and brothers of the King come together. Family is expanded. Love is shared. Hope invades. Joy, joy, joy arrives as the hearts are recognized. What a blessing. God truly is so good.
I was reminded of Acts Chapter 2 and the new church, God’s Church and how they must have rejoiced together after centuries of darkness. Legalism. Enslavement. Intercession with God only through the priests in the Temple and through animal sacrifice. Then suddenly this son of God, this God in human form, this God of hope and love arrived. Jesus arrived and removed the chains of a broken humanity. He taught this new church, his Church the value of the person. The value of love. The value of humility and service. He taught what that beautiful group showered us with yesterday evening. Love first.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:42-44
The Father spoke to me during this special time with the words: “Lead well. Love better.”
So my prayer for you today is that God would bless you as he blessed me and the Fight Club Men guys last night. That you would open you heart, your home and your life to fellowship and to all that God has for you. My prayer is that you would lead well and love better. Love larger. Love with risks and with the promise of reward.
There has never been a time of greater opportunity for the Church to impact the World. Our leadership is needed. Our love is required.
Peace be with you my sister and brothers. Know that you are loved. Jesus rubs the scars of loved in his hands and says “Father, I would do it all again. I love them that much.”
You’ve got this.
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Victor or Victim? Your Choice.
What if you just blindly accepted that everything that occurred in your past was to prepare you for what God has planned for your future?
I am old enough to remember meeting many WWII veterans and people who had their lives interrupted by the psychotic goals of madmen in Germany and Japan. It was such an epiphany for me that these men and women that I looked up to with gratitude and admiration for literally saving the World, were young boys and girls when they accepted the greater call of service and sacrifice. These boys and girls put their lives on hold. Too many suffering incomprehensible trauma and yet too many more, giving their life for the greater good. So humbling to consider.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 NLT
As I was privileged to get to know some of these WWII veterans a common theme emerged. As I asked them about the war, about their experiences, about their heroism (and they were/are heroes), there was a beautiful, humble, acknowledgment of their brothers and sisters and always a deflecting of attention from what they did to what all those around them did. Beautiful.
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8 ESV
The amazing veterans saved the World as young boys and girls. They suffered and were exposed to trauma too horrible to comprehend and quietly, humbly, purposefully came back to their homes with the singular desire to build a life. There was a commitment to the greater good. There was a desire to leave the past in the past and focus on the current and future. These boys and girls accepted the calling on their lives to become fathers and mothers, citizens, leaders and for many, Christ followers.
For these veterans and those who followed in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, the lesson is accepting the circumstances that we are placed and using these experiences for good. I realize that issues resulting from these traumatic experiences exist. I also see that from these groups have emerged great leaders, great providers of love. Great builders of our County and countries around the World. From these groups we can see and learn that how we start does not determine how we finish.
We determine how we finish. We decide to trust, accept and take steps forward in faith. Or, the decision can and is all to often being made to blame past experiences for lives limited and purpose unfulfilled. Consider that a victim mentality denies God’s deity and purpose for our lives.
“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:3-6 MSG
So my question to you again is what if you chose to accept your past as a training ground for your future? What if your prayer becomes ‘thank you, God, for the life experiences and roads travelled as preparation to help others dealing with similar trauma and confusion?’ What if you choose to live a regret free life? What if you surrender the ‘victim’ and accept the empowered and experientially blessed person that you are? What if you choose to use bad for good? What if your past is worth the future that God has for you?
You can! You can! You can! It is!
“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NLT
You’ve got this.
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What will you do with this day?
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Good Morning,
Wherever you are physically, mentally, spiritually financially, health-wise, God is here. He stands beside you. He holds you. He carries you. He desires to live within you through the Holy Spirit. The greatest truth is he loves you.
Whatever is occurring within you, God knows. He knows your heart. He knows your desires. He knows your needs. He is already where you need to go. He understands your wants and like a good father, the Heavenly Father loves to provide all that is good for you.
So today look in the mirror and acknowledge whose you are. This affirmation in Christ will cause you to become who he says you are. This day, this week, this month, this year…this life, walk as the child of God. Walk in the confident knowledge of whose you are. Walk in the humble example of our Savior, Jesus and love the loveless. Help the helpless. Bring hope to the hopeless. Care for the careless. Forgive the unforgivable. Pursue the righteousness that you have inherited as a child of God.
“But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12 AMP
So today and every day for however many days that God has given you in this life, acknowledge you are His creation. Who or what can come against you? You are God’s and he is yours. The power that created all things, that controls all things, that provides all things, loves you. As you love him, you will begin your love yourself. As you love yourself as God loves you, the immeasurable gratitude as his child will invade all areas of your life. Doubt replaced with confident expectation. Purpose replacing wandering. Undeniable hope driving away despair and doubt. Oh can you feel it? The blood of Jesus beginning to course through your veins as righteousness permeates your body, your life, your witness.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What will you do with it?
You’ve got this.
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The Love of the Maker
Mamaw would get up about 4:30 am to make her homemade and World famous biscuits. Well, they were famous in our family and that was my whole world as a little boy.
I remember there would be groans and begging from the teenagers and pre-teens aimed at Mamaw to ‘please start making the biscuits later, to which she would smile and stay with her schedule.’ Anyone who knew my tiny little grandmother would tell you she was stubborn (resolute in today’s “proper” definition) and maintained her schedule.
The flour would be sifted and mixed with just the right amount baking powder, water, Crisco (only Crisco), rolled out with the same rolling pin that she had had for decades. I know there is a story about her rolling pin that may have gone back to she and Papaw’s wedding. Then the biscuits were cut out using a Clabber Girl can that had one end cut off, precisely cutting each biscuit perfectly round to fit exactly on the baking sheet to maximize amount. I am guessing the amount made on Christmas Eve morning was less than the 100 dozen that my mind recollects. I’m not sure who has that Clabber Girl can but it was a treasure among our family and we asked Mamaw every year ‘how many biscuits she had cut with that can?’
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
The groans of the early morning surrendered to the aroma of those heavenly inspired circles of pure love. The desires to prolong the night and delay the morning soon gave way to the joy of splitting the biscuits in half and drowning them in homemade gravy (still don’t like gravy), or adding butter or some type of homemade jam, or just using them to sop up some of the eggs. Yes, ‘sop’ is a word in the Crooked Creek Christmas, Ky and now, Lenoir City, TN language.
I remember Mamaw being asked by my aunt and mother “if she was going to eat,” as she sat back and watched her beloved family devour her hard work. As a young boy I thought that was a lot of work for 20-30 minutes of eating. Now as I look back, I can see the absolute love and joy in her face as she watched what she created with love be ingested in love by her most beloved. Tear rolling down my face as I write this.
Grandma’s biscuits were discussed for decades to come after she graduated to Heaven. There were many attempts to replicate them but the truth is we could not replicate being 9,12,13,14 & 15. We could not replicate the sounds of Mamaw, mom & Aunt Lorraine talking and reminiscing. We could replicate dad, Uncle Monroe & Papaw discussing the events of the area and extended family. We could not replicate those delicious biscuits made most delicious by the beauty of love, kindness and serving. Joy invaded our Christmas Eve and the gateway was most certainly Mamaw’s biscuits.
This Christmas Eve, take a moment to read the Christmas Story with whoever you are with. It can be found in Luke 2:1-20. Recognize that the joy of life is in the process. That God created us for a lifetime of growth and gain. That the ingredients of your life will prove to be someone’s source of hope and joy if you will allow the Baker to mold and make you.
This Christmas Eve, recognize the simple and inexplicable beauty in the way that the only true King came and dwelt among us. See Jesus for exactly who he was and is. The Son of the most high God who taught us the least will be first and the first will be last. He showed us that royalty washes the feet of the broken. That the Creator of all most often speaks to us in whispers as Elijah learned because He wants to make sure we are listening. The Omnipotent does not have to announce himself and you, his daughter of son can rest wholly in the knowledge the he loves you so much that his son was born for you this night. Oh, holy night. Oh night when God came down for his children through his beloved son.
“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
Mamaw’s biscuits were made without bright lights, photos, Snap, BeReal or other attention drawing desires. Mamaw made her biscuits as an external outpouring of her amazing internal love for each of us. She did not have to say “I made these because I love you.” That was more than understood.
You are loved by the only King who came to earth. That is enough.
You’ve got this. Merry Christmas Eve
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Experiential Ramblings
I’m not sure why God has placed upon my heart to reminisce about my childhood Christmas memories this year. Maybe it’s the loss of my father and facing this and every Christmas to come without his physical presence. Maybe it’s the profound sadness that all of the grandparents and parents are gone. Perhaps it’s the absolute celebration of knowing exactly that all of our family’s leaders are in Heaven celebrating the King of all Kings every day in inconceivable worship, joy and praise.
“No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:27
I wrote earlier this year the beautiful African proverb that says “when an elder dies, a library burns down.” I have lost Smithsonian-sized libraries over the past few years but they left indelible wisdom and faith within me that causes the library to continue. The truths shared and taught have not changed, just the messenger.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
I don’t know why and I don’t need to know why. I just need to remember and share. I just need to willingly accept a new role of leadership within my family, my extended family and anyone that God chooses to place in my path. A role that conveys the Savior’s love. A love so deep, so wide and so long that he desires for every person to choose him, whether early in life, mid-life, or in the last season of one’s life. Choose him. Matthew 20:1-16
I have lived in seasons where phones still sat on a table or hung on a wall. Where cars used leaded gas and paint contained lead that covered our walls. I have lived in times where friendships and relationships were formed based upon parents schedules. A time of parents leading families. A time where the value of eating around a table for dinner was recognized and protected. A time when mothers felt comfortable and compelled to be mothers to all kids around them. Where fathers were present and leading, not fleeing. Regardless of socio-economic status, race, political leanings or spiritual beliefs, people were valued. I lived in a time that your kindness and genuineness mattered more than your wardrobe or achievements on a grass field. I lived in a time where disagreements were handled face to face, not by the fickle mob. I lived in a time when we walked up to one another’s doors, knocked and were accepted in without numerous layers of pre-meeting vetting. We were a community that existed for one another.
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
I feel compelled to write this year about Christmas memories because I was and am blessed beyond blessed to have had deeply flawed and incredibly kind people love me despite, not because. My family loved me and provided me a safe, kind, loving, encouraging, environment each Christmas, regardless of how I had failed them during the year. It was a sweet time where we set aside issues and personality conflicts because Jesus came so that all who chose him were welcome. In similar manner, our family welcomed all who were present regardless of issues preceding or proceeding those blessed days of celebrating the birth of the only true King. The Son. The Savior. Jesus. Christmas
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
We’re in a next Season of confusing days. A Season where we are saying we’re not religious, we’re Christ followers. (Someone’s clever semantics that I have used.). A Season where we use terms like ‘my truth,’ ‘your truth’ and refrain from sharing the only truth for fear of rejection or offense. A Season that says if I disagree with you, I am rejecting you. A Season that rewards ambiguity and rejects absolute truth. A Season that is calling Christ’s daughters and sons to become loud bearers of truth through incomprehensible love that comes only through the Father. A Season saying the World desperately needs hope like never before. What will you do?
I guess I have felt compelled to write about my blessed childhood Christmases as I witness the continual dilution of the greatest Christian event in the history of humanity. God sent his only Son, who he loved and loves with a greater love than any human mother or father can ever possibly love their child. He gave us the blessing of Christmas to remind us of the greatest gift that would ever be given. Hope. Grace. Mercy. Salvation. Eternity. His only begotten Son.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT
I know many will read my posts as that of an old man “who just doesn’t get that times have changed and that he needs to change with the times.” You are correct. I am a man turning 60 in seventy days. I am a man blessed to have lived long enough to tell you that everything of limited meaning or human assigned value will change, but the steadfast love of God never changes. That God never changes. That the reason why Jesus was sent to earth as a baby has not and will not change. I am writing to assure you, as a man with some years of experience, that the love, joy, hope and offer of eternity with the Father in Heaven is the same today as it was when Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven.
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 KJV
I encourage you to accept the opportunity that God has placed in front of you this Christmas Season. Set aside the bling and focus on the only true thing. Jesus and salvation.
You’ve got this. Merry Christmas
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The Most Valuable $5 That I Never Received
The Most Valuable $5 That I Never Received
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 NLT
“Myron, I will give you $5 if you can guess what I got you.” The words and challenge that would live in infamy for decades to come.
For years in those Crooked Creek Christmases, we would buy a gift for everyone else. So each of us would buy 10 gifts for the ten family members. I believe the gift limit was originally set at $2 per person, then upped to $5 as the years went by. It was awesome. I remember my mother taking me to places like Gold Circle, Ben Franklin and if in Mt. Vernon, Hyatt’s Five & Dime. Each store laden with treasures too marvelous to comprehend.
“He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.” Job 5:9
The learning and incredible value in these gift limits and buying for all ages from 10 to 70 was in the thought. In the effort. In the anticipation. In the beauty of giving from limited resources to express one’s unlimited love. It is really quite remarkable as I recall those Christmas mornings so choked full of presents, that the only present I distinctly remember is the one given me by my Aunt Lorraine. My mom’s only surviving sister, who was in many ways a second mother to me.
We made the gift-giving fun by making the giving and receipt a production. The preparation of the gift included disguising the gift with large (or small) boxes, placing things like bricks, coins, things that rattle, etc., inside. Using wrapping paper and various types of tape that made the gifts difficult to breach, and on and on and on. We always took turns, either from oldest (person) to youngest or vice versa. I always dreaded the oldest to youngest because the wait was brutal for a young boy.
There were ten rounds of gift opening that always involved a bathroom break. Yep, head out to the outhouse or for the boys, one end of the porch. Usually involved gathering up the massive amounts of boxes and wrapping paper at halftime. Getting a drink, a snack or whatever was needed. How could anything be ‘needed’ while gift giving and opening was occurring? The agony of halftime! Almost too much to bear.
So the gifts were given and received. Miraculously as God always does, the love for one another grew exponentially. Those limited value, by the World’s standards, gifts became priceless. Valued because of the giver, because of the effort, because of the thought, because of the time expended. Valued because the giver loved the recipient and they switched places during the gift opening process where giver became receiver.
On that infamous Christmas morning around 1976, my aunt threw down the challenge whose value was equal to or greater than the value of the gift. $5 if I guessed the gift. $5! A fortune. So I held that gift. I shook it. I smelled it, as we were all prone to do. I lifted it high to see if light might shine through and reveal a key detail. I thought and then it hit me: ‘it’s a ball.’ My aunt’s face fell and revealed that I had solved the mystery. It was indeed a ball. Specifically, a football. And that’s where the great disagreement began. And it was great for decades to come.
My aunt refused the payment with laughter and love because I had not specifically identified a football. I harassed her for decades to come that she owed me $5 for the correct guess. And it struck me after several years that the $5 offered was worth infinitely more because of the joy, love and laughter that the giver represented in my life. She was a priceless gift from God to me, throughout my life until God called her home last year. I never received that $5 dollars, but received a lifetime of love and encouragement from my sweet aunt and those 10 people giving gifts each Christmas morning.
My prayer for you is that this Christmas you become acutely aware that your presence in someone’s life is worth exponentially more than the present you might hand them. That your life is a gift to those around you. That Jesus came to earth on Christmas morning because you were and are worth his life, his death and his resurrection. That Jesus looks at you, rubs the scars in his hands and comments to his father (God), “dad I would die for them all over again.” I pray that this Christmas $5 shows up in your life.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV
It is truly more blessed to give than receive.
You’ve got this. Merry Christmas
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Dashing Through the Snow
“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” Psalm 73:23 ESV
I remember vividly coming to mamaw and papaw’s house for Christmas when we lived in Fort Worth, TX, while dad pursued his Master’s Degree (and graduated) from seminary. This would have been around 1969 or 1970.
The travel time was really long in that old Ford Fairlane station wagon. We drove through Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and into Kentucky. As we came out of Jellico, TN the snow started. We were within 60 miles of our destination.
In those days, road plows were rare and especially rare during the holidays. I remember mom being nervous. My sisters and I being awestruck by the snow, at first, then becoming increasingly worried as the inches piled up. Dad kept driving. Resolute. Focused. Assuring. Carefully passing those who had pulled over or who clearly lacked his ability to navigate this white gift.
As we got to the Mt. Vernon exit it hit me that we had to go down ‘Big Hill.’ So named because it truly was a big hill. For those with knowledge of road grades, probably a 10-degree slope for at least a half mile. The road down Big Hill had literally been cut into the side of the mountain, with turns and twists for that treacherous 1/2 mile. And I guess for budgetary or lack of proper machinery reasons, a guard rail had never been installed.
My questions spewed out as my nervousness grew. ‘Dad, should we stay somewhere else tonight?’ ‘Dad, are we going to be okay?’ ‘Dad, what happens if we slide over Big Hill and down the mountain?’ And on and on. My father, in that moment patiently answered my questions, allowed me to snuggle up right next to him, sans seatbelts or car seat. Apparently I grew up during the period of negligent parenting, yet miraculously survived. Ah, another story for another time. Dad knew that in that moment, his presence was paramount for my little heart’s peace and feeling of safety.
As we crested Bill Hill and began the descent, my heart raced, my anxiety became outright panic and my fear of the unknown almost too much to bear. Dad kept driving. I look anxiously around the car and my sisters were calm and looking at the beautiful snow all around. Finally, beautifully, assuringly, lovingly my oldest sister said “Myron, we’re fine. Dad knows what he is doing. He would never allow us to get hurt.” Immediately, her words of assurance and wisdom, because she is 5 years older than me, released all my emotions of fear and dread. Dad had us close and safe.
Dad skillfully went to the side of the road closest to the mountain and furthest from the edge and drop off. He put the driver’s side wheels in the rut that water runoff had eroded and that rut served as a guide and guard as we conquered Bill Hill, which when we reached the bottom was not so big after all.
Christmas that year was especially awesome because we played in the snow for what seemed like eternity. Forgetting the stresses and time of the journey and experiencing the joy, love, play and laughter of the destination. Papaw and Mamaw’s little green oasis tucked in that little Kentucky holler.
My prayer for you is that you see that the obstacles placed in your life’s path are there to draw you closer to our Dad in Heaven. That you see and understand that what causes us to fear, God has already conquered. That by releasing your anxiety of the unknown to the Author of all, allows hope and joy to invade your life with the refreshing blanket of new fallen snow. That by surrendering your life’s journey, the eternal joy and love awaits to reward you in infinitely greater ways than those moments or seasons of worry.
The lyrics to that beautiful hymn ring out “trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”
My prayer for you this Christmas Season is that a blanket of safety and an understanding of a life surrendered to Jesus becomes more than enough. It is.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV
You’ve got this.
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