What Are We Afraid Of?

"It's too bad they have to call it that," 6 year old Lily said. "People will be scared of
God and they won't like Him."

My  granddaughter and I had just read how the King of Egypt ordered two midwives
to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth. To disobey Pharaoh's commands was a life
threatening choice. Still, the midwives continued to help deliver Hebrew babies and
let all of them live. Why?

Because the midwives feared God (Exodus 1:17).    

Their fear of God took away their fear of Pharaoh. Lily and I were impressed with
Shiphah and Puah's willingness to go against the king's orders. From a young age we
learn about the importance of courage in this life. Sooner or later we all need to take a
stand for what's right. Interesting how God fear becomes courage when we act upon it.

But as Lily pointed out, the "fear of the Lord" doesn't draw a crowd. Our first reaction 

to it compares more to our response to okra with mustard greens than say, apple crisp 

alamode. Nothing against okra or mustard greens. I'm sure they're nutritious and even 

tasty in their own way. Even so, most families don't eat them every week or even once 

a month.  

So is the fear of the Lord among many Christians. This fear comes across like the cod
liver oil of Christianity. something most likely good for us, but when it comes to learning
more about it, ahh... maybe another time. But that's only because we don't know what
we're missing.

Like Moses and the burning bush, the Lord drew me to the fear of Him 20 years ago,
and I've been fascinated by it ever since. Some of the amazing things I've learned fill
the pages of my new book, "The Neglected Journey." (Amazon Kindle) A reader
friendly book with relatable, family examples and gentle humor. Yet even though I've
been studying and writing about this fear for years, it feels like I've just scratched the
surface. Proof that when it comes to the things of God, we're all lifelong students at best.      

       

What Are We Waiting For?

Perhaps we aren't waiting for someone to say, "Go pursue your dream." (As I mentioned in the last post.) Still, the years keep passing and we don't get much closer to living our dreams. For many of us, it will take more than January to jar us from the procrastination and discouragement that fits us like a well-worn jacket. So what is stopping us? 

Like my sister, some people regret not finishing their degree. She would like to turn back time and take those higher education opportunities serious. But for her and others it may seem like it's too late for an educational makeover. 

Speaking of too late, others of us are closer to the finish line than the starting line as it relates to the work of our hands. How can we consider a new pursuit as we near the age when most people retire? If we'd just made better choices when we were young and strong.  

In the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey points out the third thing we often let stop us. In a conversation, George asked Clarence the angel how he could help him get him wings.

       "By letting me help you," Clarence said. 
       "You don't have eight thousand bucks on you?" George asked.
       "Oh no, no, we don't use money in heaven."
       "Well, it comes in pretty handy down here, bub." George said.

We can't disagree with George, money does come in handy. But God reveals there's something we need more than education, physical strength, and cash. 

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

let not the mighty man boast in his might,

let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him 

who boasts boast of this, that he understands 

and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises 

lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; 

for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. 

(Jeremiah 9:23, 24)  

• Do we let the lack of a university degree stop us when the Creator of the Universe promises to help us? (Psalm 32:8)
• Do we think having lived half a century or more disqualifies us from pursuing the new things nestled in old dreams? Yet God promises to renew our youth like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5).
• Does a low income stir inferior feelings that hold us back when all the silver and gold belongs to our heavenly Father? (Haggai 2:8)  

Taking God's lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness personally is the catalyst that breaks us free. Allowing Him to exercise these blessings on our behalf, changes everything, including our outlook. And it all unfolds as we get to know Him a little more each day. He loves it when we do new things - the good works he prepared for us before we ever took our first step. 

New Year's Eve - Things To Do

Shortly after we make it through the challenges of December, the dare of New Year's  

resolutions confronts us. I like the idea of choosing to do things better in the year ahead, 
but it brings a few challenges too, if only because of the dismal success rate.   

A statistic I read last January said only 8% of those who make resolutions succeed in

reaching their goals. That means 92% of us fall short, get discouraged, and eventually 
give up. I'm tired of the calendar being the only one who changes each year. It's time
we reached more of our goals, or more importantly, God's goals for us. So what's 
stopping us?

For some of those pursuits, we may be waiting for someone else to open the door for us. 
But whether we live our dream or not isn't their responsibility. A good writer doesn't put 
what matters most to her protagonist in the hands of another person to grant or withhold. 
In the same way, God doesn't place the fate of one person completely in the hands of another. He really does give each of us a special work, and people don't get to decide whether we'll achieve it or not. For instance, a publisher can choose whether to publish a manuscript or not but they can't decide whether we write the book.  

This New Year will only be "new" if we make it a "do" year. 2015 will bring more challenges but also more successes as we do the things close to our heart, the works God has been encouraging us to do all along. 

Have a Happy New Year pursuing, doing, and accomplishing the things that make you
you. And as you do, the people you love most will be blessed. 

Christmas Eve - Things Undone

Quiet morning, cup of coffee, and Christmas tree lights aglow. I hold this moment like a fragile ornament, knowing all the yet to do things on my Christmas list. Still, I hold onto this peaceful moment a little longer. 

Like a soldier home from battle, I can't go back to the store with the crowds and chaos of choices. I've spent more hours there in the last week than I can count. What I've already bought will be enough. I have to remind myself, the things we're shopping for aren't found on department store shelves. 
Contentment, peace, and joy don't wear price tags.

My undone list: I didn't hang twinkling lights in the outside windows. I didn't bake a single cookie. What? That's borderline Scrooge! In my defense, I did decorate the tree, the one that's leaning to the left. My husband said if it tips over the wall will catch it. Peace of mind... And I've only wrapped a couple of gifts so far though a dozen precious people will walk in our front door Christmas morning.

Somehow the presents will get wrapped. My daughter said she might have 
time to bake a batch of cut out cookies - stars, bells, and trees. The ham dinner will most likely come together and land on the table as it did last year. And all this will take place by God's generous grace.  

So what are the truly undone things on our holiday lists? Things like Pastor Saeed, a prisoner in Iran, who is spending his third Christmas Eve in a cell. 
He needs us to pray. His wife and two young children will be without him again as he endures beatings, sickness, and hunger. All because he loves Jesus, the One born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. 

The Baby asleep in a manger surrounded by animals seeking a warm place 
for the night. We see it portrayed in church yards, on Christmas cards, and in our homes. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds adoring the newborn King, the Light of the world who came to destroy the works of darkness.

Other things undone. Many of us have grown children and grandchildren who have wandered from the truth. In their darkness they can't see what they're missing. I pray they will catch a glimpse of our Savior's Light and find their 
way back to the manger. May they discover Adoration for the only One who 
can destroy the works of the enemy in their minds and hearts. Our prayers are the most valuable gifts we can give our children  for Christmas.

The decorations, gifts, and cookies do help make the holiday bright. But a truly Merry Christmas can only be found in the Light and Peace of Jesus.