Why I Wore A Dress

"First the teacher explained the rules in the classroom. Then we had an assembly and the principal explained the school rules. Then we went out to recess and they explained the playground rules.  Then I came home."  I had interviewed a kindergartener on his first day of school.  I summed up his first day as a whole lot of rules.  I was a little sad that his innocent free spirited life was now full of rules.

As Jesus, the disciples and a large crowd left Jericho a blind man, the Son of Timaeus, called out to Jesus, the Son of David.  "Have mercy on me!"  Many people rebuked Bartimaeus. So Bartimaeus shouted louder.  Jesus stopped and had them call to him.  "Cheer up! On your feet: He's calling!

When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do, Bartimaeus proclaimed, "I want to see."  Jesus said, "Go, your faith has healed you."  The blind man immediately received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52)

Apparently Bartimaeus had violated a rule.  The "many" felt they  had to protect Jesus and scolded the blind man. Maybe they were on a tight schedule or they thought it was bad for Jesus' image to interact with a roadside someone.  Maybe Bartimaeus was loud and they wanted to keep His travels a secret.  Sometimes, as followers of Jesus, we make a whole lot of rules.  Didn't they realize Jesus was The Rule and The Ruler.  If any rules needed making, He was the One to make them.

I've been known to violate a few rules.  If I can't see the value, I may ignore a rule.  I have always been a free spirit in my choice of attire.  So much so that two wise and dear older women advised that "they will listen to you if you wear a dress."  As much as I wanted to be accepted for my true self and wear blue jeans, I wanted to be heard and not be an obstacle.  I acquiesced and  when I really had to, I wore a dress.  I submitted not to win my point but because I dearly loved Maggie and Mae.  They had made a special effort to know me and encourage me.  I submitted because they loved me,  accepted me and wanted the best for me.

Today as I read the Gospel of Mark, I wonder what rules believers have made up to protect the faith.  Did Jesus really need other people to protect and preserve Him and His message? Can belief be legislated with rules?  Belief comes from the heart.

Jesus came  to change hearts.  I know He changed my heart.  He didn't win my heart with rules, but with love, acceptance and encouragement.

 Won't we attract more to Jesus (which is "kinda" why we are left on earth) by loving, accepting and encouraging?  Shouldn't I strive less to rule and more to love?

It's Not About The Best Seats

"If I tell you something do you promise I won't have to go to the doctor?"    I was a desperate  third grader who had looked so forward to my birthday dinner but couldn't enjoy it.  My throat was so sore I couldn't bear swallowing.  That's when I knew I had to make a deal with my mom.  I'm a coward and going to the doctor meant shots hence the question before the confession.

Fortunately my mom did not promise and also got the truth out of me.  As it happened I not only had strep throat, I had scarlet fever. I still remember some of the fever induced dreams, sleeping in my parents bed and being weak enough they carried me to the bathroom.  It was the first Christmas I remember in our house, since I was too sick to travel to the grandparents. I gained a fondness for the Bobbsey Twins (To keep me entertained my mom pulled out her childhood books and read them to me until I was strong enough to read them on my own) and  I now carry the label "penicillin allergy" from the aftermath of scarlet fever.

"You don't know what you are asking" was Jesus' response to James and John's request for the good seats in Glory.  In Mark 10:35-45, the pair started off with an attempt to get Jesus to blindly grant their request.  Jesus wisely asked what it was  they wanted.  He challenged them with the consequence of such a request, reminding them they would have to "drink the Cup" He drank and be baptized with the "baptism" He would be baptized.  Without pondering the consequence, just relishing the end result, they replied simply "We can."

Of course, the ten other disciples were indignant when they heard.  So Jesus had to call them together and give them some advice for the future.  He reminded them of how the religious rulers lord their power over the people.  He told the disciples not to be like them.  Instead if they wanted to be great, they must be servants.  He reminded them that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

James and John  (J&J) are so like us today. We live in a world that promotes significance. We want credit, kudos and fame. Too often we think we know better than God and have great ideas that we ask God to grant.  Sometimes we cloak our desire as furthering the Kingdom when it is really another J&J request for "better seats".

Unfortunately we don't remember that our selfish demands will have consequences.  The pair found out that their thirst for a high place created discord in the disciples. Rather than making my significance seeking demands known to God and incurring unexpected consequences, these verses remind me to be different from the world, not to expect to be served but to serve.  It may seem as though I am serving others but I really serve God.

The 12 disciples had missed the point of Jesus' ministry- His life as a ransom for many.  The point of my life is to serve God so others will also see what Jesus has given- His life as a ransom for their life

.

The ransom Jesus paid for my life guarantees me a spot in Glory.  I'll be in Heaven, a place so awesome my mind can't comprehend it, with Him forever.  Do I really need to be on the front row?  Will there be any bad seats in Heaven?

Barely a Sport Fan

Note: Everyone else is wearing team colors.  I opted for comfort and style!

Technology has aided sports fans deal with the pressure.  I hang out with several types of passionate sports fans.  Their passion for the team creates tension.  But the advance of recording sporting events has given them options to handle the stress.

These passionate fans fall into three categories based on knowing the end result:

§  Never know the end.  I know people who zealously protect their ignorance of the final score while they watch the recorded event.  They want to enjoy the journey and hopefully rejoice at the conclusion.

§  Need to know the end.  The pressure will be eased if this fan knows the end result.  Then he can enjoy the journey even if the final score is a loss. 

§  Total avoidance.  It's just too stressful to watch.  These fans just read about it the next day.

I wonder if we all fall into these categories when we face the challenges of life.  I think  I am in the "ignorance is bliss" category.  I don't really want to know what will happen.    Rarely do I think "if I'd only known" because I'm not confident I would have made different decisions even if I'd known the end result.  If I know too much about the procedure or process I'm too stressed to cope with the present.

In Mark 10: 32-35 Jesus gave the disciples the basic schedule of the events, including the final score.  The people following Jesus on His way to Jerusalem were afraid.  The disciples were astonished. 

Jesus made it plain.  He'd been making it plain to The 12 since Chapter 8 in Mark.  The  Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders.  They will condemn Him to death.  He will be handed over to the Gentiles. The Gentiles will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him.  Three days later He will arise.

The people may have been afraid since they assumed trouble awaited in Jerusalem.  The disciples may have been astonished that Jesus was going in spite of knowing exactly what was going to happen.  I was curious if there was a difference between afraid and astonished. In my mind there was no difference as both Greek words used in the passage are defined as terrified and afraid.

Jesus knew The 12 were going to experience difficult days.  He was preparing them with the basic schedule of events and the final score!  He hoped the important words, "3 days later He will rise", would comfort them through the stress and grief.

I rarely know the end result of the tensions and tragedies of my life.  I often think "do I really what to know?"  Would knowing really help?  These verses in Mark give me some guidance for living through life's unchosen events:

à        Jesus leads the way.  He led The 12 to Jerusalem and He leads me through life, if I let Him.

à        Jesus knows exactly what will happen.  I don't need to know or even want to know.  The Most Powerful One knows and is in control of what will happen.

à        Jesus wins. He conquered death! I'm on the winning side. 

In the "Big Game of Life" I may think I'm playing to win my way to Eternal Life with God.  The Game has already been won for me- Jesus did that when He died and rose from the dead.  How I experience the earthly journey is my choice. I can stress and strive or I can trust and enjoy.  I know the ending. I need to enjoy the journey.

E ntrust

N eeds and experiences to

J esus

O nly let Him control

Y our passion for life.

Today I Choose Not RICH

"The next time I see you, you will be  one."  The gracious and wise elderly woman had leaned back into the car to leave us with this promise.  Dick and I had spent the day with her during our engagement.   She was right, even though we broke a few "rules" but that's a story for another blog. This week we will have been married for 41 years  and becoming more alike than ever.  The becoming one is both instantaneous and a process!

When I started reading Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Mark, I remembered her proclamation after considering Jesus' response to the disciples' query.  The Pharisees had shown up at Jesus' teaching session to test Him with His position on divorce.  Jesus included in His response that the two married individuals are no longer two but one.

The Pharisees remind me of our world today.  Too often our faith is confused by controversial or complicated situations.  We become distracted and afraid (because some of our controversies today are very scary).  We have a thirst for being on the Right Side.  We think the rules and  laws will protect us. I continued reading in Chapter 10 to get some guidance on how to surf the world's controversies.

When people brought little children to Jesus, the disciples rebuked them.  Apparently these people had violated some arbitrary rule.  Jesus rebuked His disciples and proclaimed, "Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  He explains that we each must have faith just like these little ones.  He even took them in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them (My favorite part).

Then a man approached Him and asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus reminded the man that the law had listed the don'ts.  The commandments were plain.  Don't murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony, defraud or dishonor parents.  The man responded that he had kept these rules since he was a boy.

Jesus looked at the man and loved him.  (My favorite part.)  "One thing you lack, Go, sell everything, give it to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven.  Come.   Follow Me."

The man was devastated and went away because He had great wealth.

Jesus commented that it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.  It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The disciples asked then who can be saved.  Jesus reminded them that what is impossible for men is totally possible with God.  "Many who are first will be last and the last first."

These verses give me another definition of rich because these verses present our obstacles to completely following God.  Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees and the rich man what the Law states and then He offered them the better way, The ONE Way.

We have such a thirst for a structured world that we create rules and laws to demonstrate  our worth.  These verses made me ponder RICH-

R eally

I nto

C reating the world for

H erself/Himself

The RICH life is challenged by changing circumstances and complicated controversies that we have to make new rules and take new stances.  My rules will only offer me limited protection.

Yet Jesus offers the simple life centered on ONE - one way, His way, following Him. His Way will give me the most assurance of worth and protection.  It's not about being right but following The Right One.

O nly

N eed

E lohim- The One and Only God to follow

The end result of the RICH life is accumulation of the temporary.  The end result of the ONE life is everlasting life in the eternal Kingdom with God. Becoming one with God's Way is both instantaneous and a process.

So today I'm going to live simple and come to Jesus, like those little ones brought to Him. He'll take me in His arms, put His Hand on me and give me His blessing.  He will protect me an give me worth. What else can be more important?

Serve and Protect with Salt

"Serve and protect."  I've see this motto adorning a police car.  This same motto came to my mind as I meditated on Mark 9: 33-50.

The disciples and Jesus went to Capernaum.  When Jesus was in the house, He asked about what the disciples had been arguing.  They kept quiet as they had argued about who was the greatest.  (Jesus knew.  He always knew and always knows.) Jesus sat down and called them to Him.  He said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all." 

Jesus brought a little child to stand among them.  Then He took the child in His arms and said "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My Name welcomes Me and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me."

Be a servant to all. 

            Be the last. 

                        Welcome the least.

John asked about a man driving out demons in Jesus' name who was not part of their group.  The disciples told the man to stop.  Jesus told the disciples not to stop him.  "No one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for us."  Anyone who gives a cup of water in Jesus' Name because  they belong to Jesus will not lose their reward.

The Good News is not exclusive, but inclusive.

            Whoever is not against us is for us.

Jesus continues with this warning:  "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin it would be better to be thrown in the sea with a millstone around his neck."  He continues to advise them to protect the little ones and themselves by removing the cause of their sin (like cutting off the hand, the foot or the eye that sins).

Jesus adds a vivid description of the consequence of life outside the kingdom of God.  Hell will be a place where the maggots continually devour and the fire always burns.

Evaluate my behavior. 

            Eliminate what causes damage on others and causes me to sin.

                        Life without sin is better than the alternative.

Jesus finishes with an analogy of salt.  "Salt is good but if it loses its saltiness how can you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other."

These verses remind me it's not about me being among the greatest or my group being the greatest.  These verses warn me about being legalistic and imposing my standard of who is for Jesus.  Jesus reminds me that it takes a lot of "flavor" to get along with each other but it will be well worth it.  My reward is The Everlasting Kingdom of God and not everlasting maggots and fire.

S erve one another

A nd

L et's get

T ogether

These verses remind me to serve and protect

            the innocents

            my daily witness

            the differences in believers.

S acrifice

A ll

L ive

T he eternal life

Beyond Comprehension

This will be on the test. I would really pay attention when my teachers said this.

In Mark 9: 30- 32, Jesus shared coming events with His disciples. His lesson was so important He didn't want the crowds to distract them.

He told them The Son of Man would be betrayed into the hands of men, be killed and after 3 days rise.

The disciples did not understand but they were afraid to ask about it.

Jesus identified Himself as the Son of Man.  The One with authority over everything, illness, Weather, demons and earthly rulers. He forgave sins. He had demonstrated His authority before their eyes. Yet they did not comprehend.  They didn't know what would be on the test or even what the test would be.

With hindsight I can see Jesus was alerting them to the coming disaster and He gave  them hope beyond their comprehension.

I wonder how often Jesus has done the same for me?  Has the crowd of the world distracted me from hearing Jesus tell me what's coming and assuring me that He has all authority?

Perhaps I am afraid to ask when I don't understand. Yet  this passage reminds me that Jesus is The Final Authority and He offers comfort beyond my comprehension.

Hope for a Colorful World

"Perseverance.  When you look in the dictionary you'll see their story."  This is just one of the thoughts in my mind as I listened to her testimony of praise.  We knew many of the details and a fraction of the pain she and her husband had experienced because they had shared during our prayer times.  This night when the leader asked for praises, she gave a testimony of praise:  how the circumstances, events and resulting pain had brought them closer to each other, closer to our group and closer to Jesus.  When the going gets tough, go to God!

Jesus told His disciples in Mark 9:29 that there will be  situations that will require perseverance in prayer and maybe fasting.  Beginning in verse 14, Mark describes the circumstance.  When Peter, James, John and Jesus returned after the Transfiguration, there was a large crowd observing an argument.  The teachers of the law were arguing with the other disciples.  Jesus asked about what they were arguing.  A man had brought his son who was possessed by an evil spirit.  When the evil spirit would seize him it would throw him to the ground.  The boy would foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth and become rigid.  The man had asked the disciples to drive the evil spirit out but they could not.

They brought the boy to Jesus and as soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into convulsion just as the father had described.  The father asked Jesus if He could do anything to please take  pity on them and help them.  Jesus replied ".. Everything is possible for him who believes."  Immediately the father exclaimed "I do believe help me overcome my unbelief."

So Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and commanded it to leave the boy and never enter him again.  With another violent convulsion the spirit left him.  The boy appeared to be dead but Jesus took his hand and pulled him to his feet.

Later, the disciples privately asked Jesus why they couldn't drive out the evil spirit.  He replied, "This kind can come out only with prayer and fasting."  I noted when I checked other translations that some did not include fasting. My Bible had a few further references in Acts 12:5 and Philemon 22 that added the description of earnest prayer and some preparation may be needed for the answer to prayer.

Earnest prayer with preparation for the answer that will come made me think of perseverance. to me. the dictionary defines it as steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay.  Earnest meaning I may have to put some effort  to it.  Preparation meaning there is the promise of The Answer, the hope to continue.

I am not always perseverant (did I invent a word or learn a word?) in quilting.  My quilt group remembers a table runner a few squares short. I sewed a couple the wrong direction.  I threw them away rather than risking ripping along the bias. (They might pull out of shape and create other problems.)  I am trying to be perseverant with a too large and too heavy flannel quilt I am quilting.  It may be my last one but I am persisting!

Recently I was asked to share a devotion.  I first thought of one of my favorite "God" words- manifold because years ago I had read that it also meant many colored.  When I opened Ephesians to hunt for the verse with the word  manifold, I noticed that I had previously underlined "Keep asking in verse 1:27"  That made me think of perseverance and my friend's testimony.

In  Ephesians 3:7-10 the Apostle Paul shares his call to share with the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. God's manifold wisdom, His many-colored wisdom, His great variety of colored wisdom.  That's what we need to get through the tough times.  When the going gets tough go to God!

I found a quilt block when I searched for color wheel.  It uses scraps of any and  many colors.  I thought it has great symbolism with the center neutral block.  I thought there is God in the middle of our crazy colorful lives.  Maybe I should make it a more regal or godly color,  gold, or blue or purple.

Then I pondered the importance of neutral. 

I don't have many neutrals in my stash( that's the collection of fabric for future use).  I always think I'll pick out my neutral later when I  had a project in mind for the lovely color I have to buy now.  Then I get picky about my neutral and it's hard to find the right one.

If I left the neutral out it would just be a block of chaotic color.  Too often the way of our lives.  One "colorful" event after another without rhyme or reason!

The neutral frames the color. 

The neutral emphasizes the color.  In this design the neutral and the color draws your eye to the center, to God. 

The neutral is essential. The neutral really creates the design. The neutral surrounds the color and is the center of the color.  The neutral is the most important ingredient!

I need more neutral, more God.

So my thoughts today, persevere and when the going gets tough and too "colorful" Go for more Neutral Go for God!