Today's Wardrobe includes...

"They'll know we are Christians by our love.."  I realized yesterday I was mouthing the words to the instrumental offertory. The light bulb came on. I'd been considering Mark 3:20-35 for several days. 

Jesus was at a house with a crowd so large He and the disciples couldn't eat.  His family heard and came to the house to get Him as they thought He was out of His mind.  The teachers of the law came from Jerusalem because they thought He was under the prince of demons' control.

Jesus pointed out the error in their  logic.  How could Satan drive out Satan?  If Satan acts against himself, his kingdom would end.  The truth was that all the sins and blasphemies of man will be forgiven.  However, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.  They thought He was an evil spirit.

Then Jesus' family arrived.   His mother and brothers sent someone to call Him.  Jesus replied that those sitting in the circle around Him were His mother, brother and sister.

My first read of these verses reminded me that Jesus really knows how we feel when other people misunderstand us.  People think we are out of our minds, possessed by evil and refuse to listen to our logic or heed our warning.  My usual response, after I control  my anger, is to avoid and ignore them, to distance myself from those who refuse to consider me worthy.

Jesus' own family, the ones who grew up with Him, thought He had taken leave of His sensibility.  How that must hurt?  The most educated thought His teaching was derived from evil.  Yet Jesus warned them of the consequence of their thinking.  And Jesus knew exactly what  they were thinking, not just what they said to Him and others but He knew every single angry and conniving thought.  He even knew what would happen to Him as a result of those thoughts, words and actions!

These verses remind me that Jesus loved us, and me, so much that He provided the forgiveness for my wrong thoughts, my sins.  He, Himself, in the midst of others' doubt, conspiracy and misunderstanding, gave His life as a sacrifice for others' sins.  He defines love for us in these verses.  His love is displayed in contrast to hate and confusion.

In addition, to providing the avenue for my forgiveness of sins, He provided me with an eternal destination in Heaven and a spot in His circle of family.  In response to the world treating Him with disrespect and challenge He looked to those sitting in a circle with Him and declared them His true family.

Do I act like I'm a member of God's family as I travel through this world of chaos, misunderstanding and all out evil?  Does anyone see a glimpse of true love from me?  After all, I received an overabundance of love when Jesus died on the cross for me, and others like me, centuries ago.

When I think of the state of the world, is loving it first on  my mind?  Love was first in Jesus mind.  WWJD! (What Would Jesus Do?)

It's time to prepare for today and face the challenges of the world.  I usually plan what to wear first. I'm going to put on love today because Jesus first loved me. 

Come when I call

"When you hear me call, you come!"  It was one of my mom's rules.  Recently my husband and I were reminiscing about growing up in our respective neighborhoods.  My most vivid memory of  outside play was "Kick the Can."  It's basically an outdoor night version of "Hide N Seek."  Most of the neighborhood kids my age were boys so this was the usual activity.  I don't think Mom liked us being out after dark running through yards and jumping fences to avoid detection.  So when she'd thought we'd played enough she'd call us home.

She'd impressed upon me the importance of coming when she'd call.  I don't recall ignoring her even during the game.  Not responding to her call was not an option, even if I was well hidden.

I am still impressing upon Mickey, the male pup, that "Come" is not optional. If he is not ready to come when I call, I go get him.  He gets a  reminder tug on the collar, much as a mother dog would use on her pups.

When I read Mark 3:13-19 I was impressed that when Jesus called The 12, they came.  Jesus was going up a mountain and called those He wanted with Him and they came.  He designated them as apostles so they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority over demons.  These verses name those 12 and includes a bit of description for several.

Would I come when He calls?  Too often we think it's too risky to come when Jesus calls or we think it may cost us something.  Yet I am reminded of John 10 when Jesus tells me He is the Good Shepherd.  His sheep know His Voice and when He calls they listen and obey. If a single sheep strays and gets lost, He goes to find it.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd so coming should not be an option to weigh and choose.  Coming to Jesus' call should be a "no-brainer" because He calls us to be with Him (as The 12 went to the mountain), to have adventures together(as The 12 were sent out to preach) and to have victory (as The 12 had authority over demons, one of the  more incomprehensible situations in their lives). 

Jesus called The 12 to the good and gave them authority over evil.  Jesus calls to me to come to the good, Him, and away from the evil.  Why do I hesitate or deliberate? Because I'm selfish and want to play a bit longer the way I want to play.  So my mom had a rule.  So I have to go get Mickey and remind him of my rule.  I want Mickey to come to me to protect him in the future.  I want him to listen and obey so that if he is in danger and I call, he comes to me.  Jesus calls to me so He can protect me from sin, mine and others.

I know Jesus' voice.  I will listen for His voice and I will choose to come.  It's really not an option.

Have a Good Walk

"Keep walking" Most mornings I feel like Dori in Finding Nemo when she urges "keep swimming" or that mechanical voice in a large airport that subliminally urges travelers to "keep walking."  This week is the two year anniversary of Mickey and Molly joining our family.  The puppies are still in training, as I mention to those who pass by us on our daily walks.  They are better, I keep telling myself.

After months of "jerk and pull" and a few weeks of my self-designed chaos method(I'll describe it in a future blog), I finally enjoy the walks and for the past two days have declared them "good walks."

I keep distractions to a minimum.  We walk in the early morning. It's just the puppies-I haven't added our third dog Makena.  When we encounter other dogs we cross the street and I turn on  my Dori voice - keep walking.

When we meet humans on the path, I take plenty of time to pull them to the side and give the sit and stay.  Now more often than not, they stay as the human passes.   Early on, I mentioned "we're still in training."  Now we often get a "well-trained" compliment.

We walk the exact same route every day.   I know the obstacles and don't feel we are prepared for the unknown.

When I read Mark 3:7-12 I noticed three similar "bullet points."  Jesus took His disciples to the lake and a large crowd followed. They came from everywhere, Galilee to Tyre and Sidon.  To keep these people from crowding Him, He told His disciples to have a small boat ready.  He healed many as they pushed forward to touch Him.  When the evil spirits cried out "You are the Son of God",  He gave them strict orders not to  tell who He was.

Jesus knew these crowds could distract Him from His mission and distract others from hearing His message.  So

ü  Jesus kept His core group, His disciples, close. 

ü  He handled the curious by healing their disease, and

ü  He was strict with the evil.

(I've always been curious as to why Jesus was so strict about the evil spirits keeping silent.  Now during the political campaigns I have a glimmer of understanding.  Candidates spend far too much time answering and defending the negative comments.  Who knows what they stand for?  Instead we keep lists of their negatives and argue which is worse.  Jesus knew this was a waste of time and energy.  Unlike today's politicians, He had the authority to silence them because He didn't need their kind of advertising. He knew it would only distract the crowds from hearing His message of grace and understanding His gift of love.)

These three points remind me how to have a good daily walk with Jesus.  When circumstances beyond my control become part of my life, I need to keep my focus on my mission, my relationship with God. When I face challenges

ü  I should enlist the assistance of my core group, my family and my friends in the Lord.  They "get me" and have my interests as their goal. 

ü  I need to be "real" with the crowds of the world and live out  my relationship before them.  If others see how God gets me through a challenge, they will be attracted to God, not distracted. 

ü  Finally,  I need to keep evil in check.  This world presents far too many opportunities for evil, opportunities to focus, not on God and our relationship, but on distractions, emotions, gain, loss, pleasure, pain....

Each morning the puppies start the walk with a few moments to calm down.  First they sit calmly to have me connect the leashes.  Then at the end of the driveway, they sit again and I'll say "good walk" as I remind them of our mission.

Today I am reminded that each day I need to start with a few moments to focus on my mission for that day, the mission God has for me, not my "to do" list of activities and chores. I must learn to keep the distractions of life challenges from crowding my day and keeping me from my real mission. Each day I interact with people that may need to see or hear God and  I might be the instrument.  Each day my goal is to have a good walk with God.