Need Wisdom, Ask...

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [Jas 1:5 NIV] The screen in the car said "No key detected." I was holding the key in my hand in the car. My conclusion: dead battery in the key fob. Ahh the challenges of modern life. Fortunately I was at home with another key fob available.

I was able to use the automobile with the extra fob. Later I'd resolve the battery issue. Who will I call to advise me in my situation? In the olden days of movies and TV, the recommendation was "Ask Dad, he'll know". It was the theme of many of the earliest TV shows (which I watched on reruns, I'm not that old!). Young George Bailey in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" followed said advice when he encountered a Life threatening issue. My dad has been the source of many gems of wisdom. Who did I call for assistance with my dead key fob? The internet. I confess to being of the self-reliant mind who copes with the life's challenges through the internet with the attitude "how hard can this be?" Indeed, after multiple viewings of a demonstration video, I purchased the appropriate battery and installed it. The hardest part was getting the fob opened --that's the reason I had to watch multiple times! This verse in James makes me question my self reliance and trust in unknown sources of technology. Too often when a challenge is presented, do I go to the web first instead of asking The Father? The internet is full of non-trustworthy sites. Just this week I thought I was doing some research into a medical issue and ended up with an annoying subscription. I went to the source for assistance--the creator of the device. A quick trip to the support tab and I had eliminated the annoyance. Too often, even in spiritual matters, I use the internet and other earthly sources of information rather than going to the source, The Creator. The Father who knows all, is all and I have decades of proof of his love, dependability and wisdom. He, as the Creator of all, is absolutely trustworthy. Let's Engage: What was the last bit of wisdom you looked to the internet to provide? How did it go? What criteria do you use to seek wisdom in daily life? How has God given to you generously?

Perseverance

'Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:4NIV

So perseverance has a purpose, a specific work- maturity and completion. In the chaos of our everyday life, purpose and order sounds appealing. But I do like a bit of chaos, the unexpected. Makes me feel like I live on the edge. Chaos lives in my kitchen, first drawer on the left. Realistically the scariest event is sorting through the "junk" drawer. My mom had a junk drawer full of the essentials, like tape and scissors and the obscure, like string and leftover screws. Naturally, if Mom had one, I feel the need to have a fully stocked junk drawer. Periodically I take the safety of my fingers, (knives, nails and other sharps have been known to inhabit the junk drawer) and sort it out and thin the contents. Actually, my husband has a low tolerance for chaos so he regulates the volume of my junk drawer. There was also treasure in my mom's junk drawer. Gum, candy and coins were inevitably found in the bowels of the non-essentials. (When we heard the bell of the popsicle truck, we started rummaging for ice cream money!) Most of my jobs, those I received compensation and those I don't, involve multi-tasking. Handling more than one deadline or crisis became a regular occurrence. To survive I waged war against the panic creeping chaos to take charge. Here's my standard plan: Repile it or make a list and prioritize. Ask "what in front of me is on fire?" (urgent) Take a breath- one of those yoga cleansing breaths- in through the nose out through the mouth. Take the next right step starting with the fire! Spiritually when I face one or more of those many trials, I do the same thing, but hopefully in different order I take a breath in the form of a prayer to God to take control. I'd to say I do this first but usually this step happens after I've patched, procrastinated or pretended I'm in control of the situation. I'm still working on letting God take control of my everyday life. I put the trials in perspective to the span of eternity. Finally I ask God what is the next right step and do it. I rarely hear a succession of steps. I only need my next act. I still remember the advice of my piano teacher - learn the music note by note, line by line. Eventually the whole piece is mastered once each note is mastered. His other meaningful words were "Playing Chopin is good for you." Translation- Sometimes those hard things make you better. A bit of chaos builds perseverance, so embrace a bit of chaos....the treasure of perseverance awaits. Let's engage: I'm persevering through my faith journey day by day. How about you? (The piano lessons ended decades ago and the talent is lost-it's not like riding a bike.) How you handle the scary everyday trials of life? Do you have a junk drawer? Tell me two essential items in your drawer.

What Do I Know?

"because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James1:3 NIV I circled "you know" when I read this verse. Do I know? What do I know about perseverance? I'm not an athlete or an artist who practiced or trained. I'm not sure I've worked for something for a really long time.

The story behind the curious photo: I was assigned to be the photographer at the church cook-out. When the rain came, the cooks stayed with the fire. I got in the car. Who persevered through the circumstances, me or the cooks? How do I know? I usually check The Message for a fresh perspective. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”‭‭ James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬ (Bold added by me.) I made a decision when I was 22 years old that I wanted God on my life journey. I remember standing in the baptismal water thinking "it's you and me God". Looking back, I can't imagine facing life without God. Perhaps my faith journey is the closest I've tried to endure. Over 30 years ago, I had a diagnosis of a serious disease. Amazingly, I only experienced a few of the symptoms and some even disappeared. Then 19 years ago I heard the dreaded "C" word- cancer. There were a few centimeters hiding behind golf ball sized scar tissue. A radiologist being diligent saved my life. Then again I've heard a life changing diagnosis. I continue to get good reports of a well managed challenge. I like to think God has kept my life health challenges on the small side so I can learn more about trust or perseverance. How can I be sure God is with me in those life challenges? Past experience. I judge on past actions and life choices. God is consistent so I can put my trust in His plan and His promise to never leave me alone. I need to hang with God and not try it on my own. My quick trip into my favorite reference, Strong's Concordance, gave me a bit of insight into the word "know". More than one of the definitions listed helped me. "Be sure." "Be Resolved." I conclude that I do know God has "my back" in my life on Earth. Maybe perseverance is repeating it over and over as a reminder, as an anchor for my journey. I am resolved and sure due to past experience which will carry me through my future. To be resolved is my choice to depend on God rather than risk following my inadequate planning. Let's Engage: What jumps off the page for you? Think of 3 times God has had your back? Take time to thank Him. Jot down a few words of praise for your bulletin board. What have you learned about perseverance from a life challenge?

IT

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1: 2 NIV

Ever noticed when one appliance is not functioning, it gets lonely so at least one other appliance joins the repair needed list?  Often life feels like we juggle many trials at once.  Our prayer for one at a time seems to be ignored. Real life is many kinds of trials.  Trials are not something we choose or schedule. Life challenges happen at the inopportune moments.  Superstitious folks think bad happens in sets of three.  Some exhale a sigh of relief when the third trial is identified.

James is a realist.  He reminds us trials of many types will be a part of life.  It's a guarantee.  James gives advice as a prelude to our experience of this fact of life.

First, he opens the advice with "consider".  My favorite study aid is Strong's Concordance.  When a word in scripture "jumps off the page", I look up the Greek or Hebrew word in Strong's to get a better understanding of the word's meaning.  A couple of synonyms (same as words) spoke to me:  Command and lead.  Consider makes me think I have to weigh options of whatever noun is coming in the sentence.  I can waiver on how I handle what comes next in life.  Command and lead remind me to be assertive, proactive and optimistic.  If I face a trial with the understanding that God will lead me through the situation, I will attain the "it."

Second, the it, the goal, the ability to endure life, is pure joy.  Handling life trials seems a strange path.  Yet the fact of life is we are not in control or command of all we see.  Life is intertwined with so many people and events.  One of Strong's description of joy gives me focus.  "Calm delight" is a characteristic I've noted in the spiritual giants I've known.  I think of it as  I Trust.

Pure joy is not cart wheeling happiness.  Pure joy is trusting assurance based on experience with a God who joins, protects and leads. IT- I Trust.

Third, "brothers and sisters" remind me God knows us so well.  He brings flesh and blood, warm to the touch, friends, sometimes closer than a sibling, to assist us with the trials of life.  He never leaves us alone.  He is with us always and so are the rest of our tribe, or family, of believers.  You recognize them by their slight smile of assurance that God is greater and the twinkle  in their eye which encourages us to IT- trust and follow God, God alone.  These people remind me of IT- I Trust.

To restate James' advice for living:  Be resolved to live through real life events with calm delight.

Let's Engage:

What Aha do you see in this verse?

Who is a spiritual giant in your life that you recognize has the calm delight?

When life delivers challenges, obstacles and trials, which member of your tribe of believing brothers and sisters will you call?

Who are you to be a brother or sister to, who needs to be reminded to trust our loving and merciful God?

I'm back!

 

Some of my ancestors

James 1:1, NIV - ’James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.”

Greetings!  It's been a while.  I've been distracted by many things since I've last written.  No excuse because the biggest obstacles are plain laziness and procrastination!  This is another attempt at  "Another Beginning", my blog.  Glad I follow the God who believes in second, third and even fourth chances.  I do appreciate grace!

I enjoy writing and formulating a point from my musings while reading scriptures. Putting aside my online Bible app, I took my faithful old Bible in my hands, hoping to find the next book of the Bible to  ponder.  Nothing really sparked my creative juices until one of the half dozen emailed devotionals lit the "light bulb" of an "AHA"!  The scripture that day came from the book of James.  James tells us to be not just hearers of The Word but doers.  I like doing. So here we go "doing" the book of James.

James is a key name in my family.  My dad and brother are James.  My uncle and cousin are James.  There are several James' in my ancestry chart!  Many children in our family have James as a middle name, like my son. 

The traditional view of the author of this book is James, the half-brother of Jesus.  I like to think of the family connection.   The author, James, grew up in the same household as Jesus (!!!!) and also has a broader view of family  as he opens his letter with greetings to the 12 tribes.  He knew who his tribes were.  I know my biological tribe of James' because of the name and relationship. Now I'm greeting my potential online tribe, whoever they are who read my blog musings.

A tribe is a social division of communities by social, economic, religious or blood ties.  A tribe has a common culture.  We can build an online tribe with the common culture of believing that Jesus' blood saves us from the penalty of our sins and establishes the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God and each other.

I am not an "old dog who can't learn new tricks!" The past year I've learned to Zoom, participated in several online bible studies and made new  friends online.  I'm .expecting new ideas and perspectives from an online "tribe".

During the past year I've appreciated the value of connecting with people online. I hope some of you will engage in discussion.  What light bulbs of enlightenment does the scripture offer you?  Leave a comment, please, or send me an email.  I've resolved to respond in a bit more than my customary one word replies.  So let's build a tribe together! (Be sure to click the subscribe link so you'll know how consistent this restart of the blog will be.  My goal is once a week. OR send me an email and I'll personally let you know.)

LET'S ENGAGE

What word or phrase jumps off the page for you?

What is your favorite greeting? ( I had a friend who always asked me "What did the Lord teach you today?"  I tried to be ready with an answer whenever I knew I'd be seeing him.)

What has the Lord taught you today?

T he

R eason

I

B log:

E ncourage Endurance with Excitement for THE Eternal.

Am I Part of The They?

 

Am I part of The They?

I felt badly for the little fellow. Been there and felt the same way. An outsider.

It was the beginning of the mating season for the jackass penguins.  The penguins were pairing up for the season.  The single bird watched as the pair of penguins hopped up the rocks and entered the opening of their own little cave to multiply the species.  Seconds after the pair disappeared into their dwelling my single friend hopped up the same rocks and entered the same cave.  Immediately, he was booted from the nesting place  and literally bounced down the rocks to the ground.  Rejected. 

We've all been in a similar situation.  So desiring to be included yet excluded.  Yearning to be one of The They.

We and They conjure feelings of inclusive and exclusive.  The need to belong fuels our quest for inclusion and  makes the bite of exclusion very painful and personal.

"I came so they might have Life and have it abundantly" is my theme verse to discover the meaning of Abundant Life. 

Examining the next word in John 10:10b, generate the questions, "Who was Jesus addressing when He spoke these words?"  and "Can I be a part of that They?"

As John 8 begins Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard.  He engaged in a theological discourse with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day.  He leaves.  As He walks He notices a blind man  and heals him.  The newly sighted man is called before the Pharisees for an explanation.  The healed man gave an upsetting testimony so they expelled him from the synagogue.

 

“Jesus heard that they had put him out [of the synagogue], and finding him, He asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

John 9:35 AMP 

https://www.bible.com/1588/jhn.9.35,41.amp 

 

Without getting theological, psychological and sociological, lets' stop and relish the words, "Jesus heard....and found him..."  Consider the impact of Jesus' actions.  He responded to the single person excluded by the religious leaders. 

What must the Pharisees thought? Who is this guy to challenge our way of life?

The disciples? This will get interesting, be ready to exit stage left!

The average person in the on looking crowd? Would this Jesus come find me, please?

 

Here's the good news. This Jesus will, and has already come for you.  in a very personal fashion Jesus sees something within me, you and all the rest of The They.  That something is our need to belong and have relationship with God and others like us.  He cares so much He came, died and rose to make the way.

 

“He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.”

1 Timothy 2:4-7 MSG  Emphasis added.

https://www.bible.com/97/1ti.2.4-7.msg

 

The earthly world divides us into We and They. Jesus includes and joins.

Am I part of the They in John10?

Yes.  All includes me, and you.  Everyone includes me and you.  No longer to feel like the rejected penguin. Jesus, The All in All, notices you and me, hears us and finds us.  

To So or Not to Sew

 At last!  I'm able to continue  my blog journey of The Abundant  Life. I'd signed myself up for three online Bible studies.  (What was I thinking?)

My theme verse is a fraction of  verse 10 of John 10, "I came so they might have Life and have it abundantly."  The plan is consider each word to discover the meaning of Abundant Life. 

The world's interpretation of abundance is accumulation, control and visible. This view is quite enticing and seems so available.

Here's a recap of what I've discovered so by mediating on each word.  Abundant Life is more of Jesus, not worldly stuff.  Abundant Life is eternal, not temporary.  Abundant Life is about following, not trailblazing.  Abundant Life is for our benefit and fills our deepest needs.

"I came so..." I've been pondering the word "So."  (Hearing the word "So" brings visions of my glorious new sewing room. 

 

I'm being brutally honest with this photo of my untidy room.  Be kind.... creativity is messy!  In my room,  large pieces of fabric are cut into small bits to be sewn into particular patterns to create intricate designs. 

Some ask, why cut large pieces of fabric into small pieces only to sew them back together to make a large piece? My answer to this why: It is my expression of creativity. The process gives me enjoyment, satisfaction and anticipation.

As humans we long for purpose, for ourselves and the circumstances affecting us.  The why question is often the first a small human asks.  If you are a parent or have interacted with young humans, remember back to a  child whose response to any request is why.  It can be exasperating to the adult and occasionally the adult's response is "because I said so."  This   response is totally unfulfilling in the quest to make sense of the chaos in the world.

Too often in life, we ask the wrong question.  On one of my overseas adventures, an official asked me from where I was coming.  My recitation of my recent itinerary confused him.  Rather he was frustrated.  His English was limited. English is my only language.  We had a failure to communicate.  Three times he asked the same question until he had a revelation and altered his question to "Why are you coming?"  My  answer satisfied him and he welcomed me to his country.

Perhaps we don't dwell on the Why Jesus came question enough.  Today's thinking has inspired me to consider the Why. Sometimes I avoid the question thinking it a sign of doubt.  Yet today it generates anticipation.  Jesus invites me  to a unique opportunity. Jesus brings us a way of life the world cannot.  What seems to be bits and pieces  of life, He actually has a special design just for me  and you.  Jesus invites you, and me, into His creative design for life.  He can use the bits and pieces of our life, sometimes made messy by our own misdirected efforts, into a unique plan, a purpose.

 

The word "So" in this portion of verse 10 in John 10 brings anticipation  "So" is a conjunction, a joining word, an alert that something important is to be revealed. The why question will be answered.

Some ask why Jesus came.  "So" is the signal of the answer given.  Jesus came to earth to offer me, and you, not just Life, but Abundant Life.  My mind visualizes Jesus opening a door and inviting me, and you, into His abode. It's not the famous church school rendition of Jesus knocking on a door with no handle, asking to enter.  Rather it's a rendition of the Ghost of Christmas  Present in The Muppet Christmas Carol.  The giant character, whose presence swelled to fill the room,  joyously holds open the door and invites Scrooge to enter and "Know me better, man!"

We may feel like waiting for His invitation but the invite was proffered years ago.

 

“But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.”

Isaiah 40:31 AMP

https://www.bible.com/1588/isa.40.31.amp  (emphasis added)

 

 

Isaiah 40:31 has always fascinated ,me.  The irony of waiting and binding together.  The definition of the Hebrew word for wait includes "to collect, bind together."  Jesus came to collect, what seems to us, chaotic bits and pieces of everyday life to join (or stitch) together to give us a purpose, a part of the master design of life.  Our role is to spend time in anticipation, hope and trust.

Sounds too simple yet, anticipation builds as I explore His description of this Life.  Remember He calls it abundant!  Abundant Life must be big, fill the room big, super-power big.  Oh right, Jesus does have super powers, like flying as an eagle, like fatigueless energy, like victory over death.

Perhaps as the Ghost of Christmas Present  invited Scrooge, Jesus invites you, and me to step through His open door of Abundant Life and know Him better, people!