Promises, promises

"Nothing compares to the promise I have in You."

Along with the rest of the world, I discovered this song several years ago. It is one that touches my heart, deeply. I find myself closing my eyes and singing with complete abandonment when I do sing it. I'm ashamed to say that after about two years of singing this, I found myself asking, "What is the promise?" Now, I was raised my two Godly parents who had also been raised by Godly parents, so why did I have to ask? I think I wanted to specify so that I could honestly believe that there is nothing on this earth or in the heavens that could begin to compare to His promise. So, what is that promise?

Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises from God. Promises for a long life when we obey His commands. Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Promises to the enemies of His people. Promises to the mighty men of Adam, Noah and Joseph. The beautiful and wondrous promise of the Messiah. The promise to cleanse our sins and carry our burdens. The promise of a living, breathing relationship with the Holy Spirit. The promise of His return and our eternal home. I mean, take your pick, people! His promises to us are numerous! To my, sometimes, literal mind I wanted something different. I wanted to know which specific promise was incomparable.

So, like Winnie the Pooh, I 'thunk'. I thunk and I thunk and I thunk. Why do we 'thunk' instead of just asking Him? Finally, I felt the gentle reminder of the Holy Spirit. He reminded me that I am never alone. That even to the ends of the earth and the ends of time, He is with me. He will NEVER leave me. He will NEVER forsake me. And that, my friends, is a promise that is beyond compare.

Forgive? Are you kidding?

Can we truly ever understand forgiveness? Think about it. Have you forgiven the person who cut you off in traffic this morning? If we can't do that, how are we supposed to forgive those who hurt us the most? The friend that turned their back when we needed them most? The hand that reached out in hate, not love? The lie that turned others against us? What about our leaders? The ones who seem to disappoint just when we start to trust?

Scriptures tell us, no command us to forgive. But surely He didn't mean those circumstances I just listed! Doesn't God know what that person did to us? Maybe if I tell Him about it, He will see my point. Maybe if I complain and whine long enough, He will take my side. I would be willing to bet that's what the disciples meant when they asked Jesus how often we should forgive.

He surprised them, of course. He requires us to forgive. And before His crucifixion, the disciples could have said that He couldn't understand. But then there was that execution. Was there ever a more violent, despicable execution? If he, hanging on that cross, could express forgiveness how can we not? He understands your worst. He understands the worst that has been done to you. He chooses to forgive you. And somehow He understands the one who did the worst to you. He is there to forgive them. Like it or not, He is forgiveness at His core. And if we are to be like Him, this is something we must learn. Because I believe that forgiveness is not at our core, He has to teach us. So, let's learn.

September?!?!? Are you serious?!?!? I haven't posted since September?!?! Well, no, I haven't died, quit writing or decided to close out this blog. I am just a victim of time flying, as well as being lost in my own procrastination. I would like to blame the Christmas drama, but there were many times I sat in front of my computer playing games & reading other blogs, so that won't hold any weight. So, I'm back. I'm tempted to promise to write more frequently. And I probably would... for a little while. Then I would drop off the blog world again. Wish I could tell you differently, but since I'm in my forties, I don't think I'm going to change that much.

I hope you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Cross of Christ this past Holiday season. I hope that the January "blah's" are keeping their distance. I've got several post ideas brewing and I promise to write them down before they go the way of snow in the Deep South! Happy New Year!

Faith of a Child - Part 4

"She's being a butt-face!" Little Girl

"That's not a nice thing to say.

Maybe you can pray that she will be

nicer tomorrow, " Mommy

"I know what I'll pray!

I'm gonna ask God

to put a sock in her mouth!" Little Girl.

Search the world over, and you will never find anyone more honest that a child, or the childlike. On one of my friend's FaceBook status, he mentioned that his first experience in kids church was a child saying that he needed help 'wiping'. Now if you've worked with children this does not frighten you at all, or even make you pause. To the rookie, a statement like that can blow you away!

Children are not political. They don't know the meaning of the word tact. They don't see multiple sides of each view. They only see their own. They have to be taught the proper times and places for words. But something can be lost. That 'something' is what these last posts have been all about. This one? It's about honesty. Loose that facade. Drop the mask. Show yourself, raw and wounded. Honesty.

I remember growing up in Sunday School when no one wanted to pray out loud. We were old enough to be concerned about what we would say and how it would sound. Not just to God, but to the friends around us who were hearing also. In the decades since then, I have come to an understanding. The only One that is listening and that matters is not going to diagram your sentence. He's not grading your grammar. He doesn't even care if the words make sense. You see, He hears your heart. So no matter how bad or good your prayer sounds, He's not only listening to it. He's hearing what you're thinking. He's hearing the honesty.

So, step back. Use your words. The ones that expose you. Stomp your foot. He's not intimidated. Wait and see, He will be honest with you. Be honest with Him.

Faith of a Child - 3

Jesus loves the little children,

all the children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white,

they are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

of the world.

Prejudice is nothing new. Even Elizabeth Bennett in Jane Austin's novel held her own prejudices. Everyone struggles with prejudice. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or hasn't dug deep enough into themselves. The biggies are race, gender, creed or religion. But the truth is, we are all prejudice or afraid of anything or anyone different. That 'different' could be from ourselves or even what we have become accustomed to.

A perfect representation is what has happened across the Deep South and East Coast over the last few decades. When Central American immigrants began to travel east, we here in the South were faced with a new race in our neighborhoods, grocery stores and schools. Used to only two races in our communities, we have had to adjust. And who among us adjusts to change well? The Australian Aborigines were not a free people until the middle to end of the twentieth century. That is in our lifetime and how can that be possible? The Jews of the 1940's were called 'Christ Killers'. Have we forgotten that it was our sin that held Him on those beams of wood? He hasn't.

Is this the way He wants us to live? Obviously not, as the words of that little chorus tell us. No matter who or what they are, Jesus loves them. No matter who or what you are, He loves you. Scriptures tell us that He does not respect one person above another. King or peasant. Millionaire or beggar. Slave or slaver. Believer or unbeliever. Not one of us can outrun His love for us. Even our own hate is snuffed out by His love. There is not one moment of your life that He has not loved you. Whether you are the victim or abuser. He was grieved by what you did or what you received and He loved you. In that horrible moment, He loved you.

Faith of a Child - Part 2

I see the moon and the moon sees me.

The moon sees someone I can't see.

God bless the moon and God bless me.

God bless someone I can't see.

A coworker of mine quoted this prayer to me. She learned it when she was a little girl. We agreed that it was a sweet prayer for a child to pray. Then we both thought about it for a few minutes. It is more than a child's prayer. It says much more.We live in a world of goodbyes. We always have. But in this day and age, this world is smaller than ever. Thanks to unlimited texting, free long distance, FaceBook and Skype, 'goodbye' is temporary. It only lasts until the next 'hello'. That leaves only one question, 'Can any of these amazing creations replace the connection of a hug or the touch of a hand?'

They cannot. And there are always going to be moments that we miss. Moments when we can't see the ones we love. Parents who are deployed throughout the world. Broken homes. Job transfers. The fact remains that the same moon we see above us, is the same moon those loved ones see as well. And the same God, sees them just as closely and intimately as He sees us.

So those moments when all you want is a hug from that missing loved one; when you long to hold their hand; when you long to sit next to them in sweet silence, remember that prayer. Remember that the Lord of all the universe holds you both in His Hand.

God bless someone I cannot see.

Faith of a Child - Part 1

13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

Mark 10:13-16

The Message

Over the next few posts I will be writing about the beauty that is faith from the perspective of a child. So often, we Christians, over analyze, over complicate life and all it entails. You can't fake it for long with children. They tend to see the bottom line. They don't worry about the manners or embarrassing truths that we avoid mentioning in 'polite' society. There is so much we can learn from them. There is so much we can learn by returning to the simple things. The Bible stories, the prayers, the songs. We may know them all, but how often to we concentrate on the words? On the truths?

I have the next two posts already, but if you have your own ideas, please leave a comment. This group of posts can be as long as we want. So put down your pens and pick up your crayons. Stop walking and skip a few steps. Take your mom's or dad's hand and hold it. Don't worry about your grammar or spelling, just say it. Go to bed early. Watch an old cartoon. Sing at the top of your lungs, whether or not it sounds good. Throw your head back and laugh loud, long and hard. Be 'little' for a while with me. Let's see where it takes us.