Divided heart

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

Things to do. People to see. Places to be.

Our days are filled with an abundance of commitments and activities. In order to respond to each task, we allocate the 1,440 minutes of each day among those things that vie for our attention--children's activities, church meetings, work, family obligations, social engagements, household chores, hobbies, sleep. And, the list goes on. Each activity in and of itself is considered good and, in most cases, needful. If we're not careful, however, we can develop the "divided-heart syndrome."

Hosea became a prophet at the end of the reign of the nation of Israel's last powerful king, Jeroboam II. The people of Israel had forgotten God's first commandment: "no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3) and the country was on a downhill spiral. They had hoped to "hedge their bets" so that if the Lord failed them they would have another god to rely on. And so the Israelites turned to Baal, a Canaanite fertility god, and found Baal's worship less demanding than God's.

In the Old Testament book of Hosea, the prophet uses three colorful figures of speech to describe the people of Israel's divided hearts. First, they were like a half-baked cake--burned on one side and raw on the other they were palatable neither to God nor the pagans (Hosea 7:8). Second, unaware of their spiritual decline they were like a proud man who can't see the signs of his aging (vv. 9-10). Finally, flying from one pagan nation to another looking for help, Israel was like a senseless dove (v.11).

Today, we as Christians are often afflicted with the same condition. We trust Jesus but are reluctant to commit every area of our lives to Him. We go to church but don't want to live out our faith each day if it means giving up worldly success or pleasure. A divided heart does not please God; nor does it attract nonbelievers to Christ. Unfortunately, it may take a crisis to show us our true spiritual decline. Not to mention, we live unfulfilled lives even as we flit from one activity to another.

My friend, just as the psalmist calls out to God to protect him from a divided heart, let's pray each day, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name."

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

The mark that distinguishes

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35 (NIV)

During a recent dinner party, I had the opportunity to socialize with quite a few people I'd not previously met. Conversations flowed, social etiquette was practiced, and for the most part guests shied away from the more delicate topics of politics and religion. Overhearing various conversations that took place around me, however, I realized that the belief systems in the room were almost as varied as the number of people in attendance.

The next morning as I mulled over the evening's event during my quiet time, I wondered if any of the people I met knew about my love for Jesus. For that matter, was it important that they knew. After all, it was a business engagement and not a faith-based affair.

Opening my Bible to the morning's devotional reading, I had a personal sense of some insight into my questions. "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35 NIV).

While I'm inclined to dig into God's Word to gain greater understanding, I'm pretty sensitive that I not tear apart every single word or phrase in a passage looking for meaning that doesn't belong. With that said, the "By this all men will know that you are my disciples" portion of the Scripture verse touched my heart.

The Greek word used in this passage is agape--unconditional love. C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves) describes agape, or charity, as love that brings forth caring regardless of circumstances or personal flaws. It describes God's love. The apostle Paul describes what true Christian love is like in his first letter to the Corinthians. He points out that the true measure of spiritual worth lies in self-giving love, no matter what great knowledge or gifts a Christian possesses.

The command is clear. God Himself is love and is the source and measure of all love. I do care that others know about that love. Consequently, if all men are to know that I am Jesus' disciple and if they are to come to this realization through my expression of charity, inherent in the command is that I am concerned for how I show that love.

God's Word provides wonderful illustrations of how Jesus expressed this love during His daily walk on earth. He was generous with His time and accepted what we would perceive to be interruptions in His day (Luke 9:11). Jesus took a keen interest in the people around Him, gave them His full attention, and actively listened to their needs (John 5:6, Luke 21:1-4). He always spoke truth (John 3:1-21,Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 6:9-15). He demonstrated compassion (Matthew 14:13-14, Mark 10:17-23), provided comfort (John 11:17-37), and extended forgiveness (John 21:15-19).

Dear friend, the mark that distinguishes is love. What if each person we meet could actually recognize that we are followers of Jesus by the way we "love one another"?

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

Wilson

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
James 1:13-15 (NKJV)

Wilson! Come back! Adrift at sea, Wilson is carried father and father out into the cerulean waters by the relentless rocking waves. Eventually, he is lost in the wide expanse where briny deep and spacious sky appear to blend as one.

The emotional scene from the 2000 adventure film Cast Away is an interesting illustration of the caution the New Testament writer James issues in the book by the same name.

After his plane crashes on a flight over the South Pacific, fictional FedEx employee Chuck Noland is stranded on an uninhabited island. In his first attempt to make fire, he receives a deep wound to his hand. In agonizing pain, Chuck throws several objects, including a Wilson Sporting Goods volleyball from one of the packages that had washed up on shore. A short time later, Noland draws a face in the bloody hand print left on the ball and names it "Wilson."

Fast forward four years. With Wilson in tow, Chuck is able to construct a life raft and sail over the powerful surf, enabling the now companions to finally escape the island. Soon, however, an intense ocean storm all but destroys the raft. The tethers binding Wilson to the craft loosen and the ball falls into the water. As Chuck cries out "W-I-L-S-O-N!" in gut-wrenching agony, the ball is drawn farther and farther out of his reach and is lost at sea.

In his practical letter that encourages living a vibrant faith, James addresses outward trials and inward temptations. The former must be endured, the latter resisted. He writes that each of us is tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires and enticed. Drawn away from what?

The Old Testament book of Psalm 1 helps answer that question. As you consider this piece of Godly wisdom, take special note of the progression: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).

As a child of God each of us is marked with the blood of the Lamb. His nail-pierced hand is imprinted on our hearts. By the power of the Holy Spirit, dear friend, bind yourself securely to the Truth of God's Word. As we resolutely turn our backs on evil and set our hearts and minds on doing what He wants, we please God (Colossians 1:9-12).

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

Cast Away, directed by Robert Zemeckis, 2000

Focus on family

...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him...

Colossians 3:14-25

My daddy was just shy of his 24th birthday when I was born. In and of itself, that tidbit of information isn't very noteworthy. The fact that I was part of a second set of twins--born just 16 short months after a first set--makes this detail a bit more interesting. At 23 years old, my father was responsible for four babies under the age of two.

Were he living today, I thought about what I would say to my dad in recognition of this Father's Day. I believe my tribute would include the following.

How many times did you lie awake in the dark hours of the night, Daddy, wrestling with the unknown and fighting the uncertainty of how to care for your young family? Thank you for your bravery. You worked the land day in and day out to provide a roof over our heads, put food on the table, give us clothes to wear, and grant us a sound education. Thank you for your gift of determination.

You shared your rich, tenor voice and handed down your passion for singing. I cherish the memories watching you glide across the dance floor with mom in your arms. Thank you for passing on to me the joy of song and dance.

Thank you for loving Mom and modeling how a man should honor and respect the mother of his children. When it came to discipline, you demonstrated how a "look" garnered as much respect, if not more, than a "hand." You taught me the value of working hard, living within my means, setting aside money in savings, and being a good neighbor. How I treasure you showing me how to live with integrity.

Most of all, Pop, thank you for bringing me to the Lord and helping me embrace what it means to be part of the body of Christ. With love, your grateful daughter.

It's been said that raising a family today is, quite simply, harder than it was 50 years ago. With an overabundance of electronic gadgetry, a plethora of personal comforts, and an assortment of activities, parents struggle with a seemingly endless array of distractions. It's hard to keep life simple. Sometimes I wonder, however, if there are indeed more things today that distract us. Or, as in every generation before, do we simply need to choose to focus on the thing that matters.

I'm forever thankful to have had an earthly father who chose to focus on his family.

Happy Father's Day!
Faithfully Following

PS A fifth child was born to my father 15 months after my birth; followed by another son 13 years later.

Fix it

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

My husband is an amazing fix-it guy. From broken toys to car engines, he repairs items ranging from the simple to the more complex. He's able to install electrical appliances, replace plumbing fixtures, lay tile floors, and pour concrete steps. In six of the houses in which we've lived, he's built a fantastic set of solid wood storage shelves, each designed to perfectly hold different size boxes of Christmas decorations, equipment and tools.

During our 28 years of marriage, I've come to appreciate several characteristics of Bob's work, whatever the project. First off, he's very attentive to the things around him. He notices when a lawn mower isn't cutting correctly and hears when a toilet isn't flushing properly. Secondly, he has the wonderful ability to step back and observe a situation. To make a repair, he studies how something works, or more often than not, doesn't work.

Bob dares to do something about a problem. When he realized that the firebox in our living room fireplace had rusted through, he had no fear picking up a sledge hammer and gutting the 50-year-old stone hearth. At the same time, he doesn't rush. Whether it's repairing the plastic leg of one of our daughter's Breyer horses or tearing out a plaster ceiling, he's willing to ask advice from those he trusts and dedicate an appropriate amount of time to care for each project. He is tenacious; his follow-through is admirable. Very seldom does he not finish a project that he starts.

The New Testament book of Hebrews is an intriguing and powerful work. While we don't know who wrote it, nor the precise location and identity of those who first received it, its message points us to the basics of Christian discipleship. Surrounded by heroes of faith (Hebrews 11), we're encouraged to consider Christ--the ultimate example of faith, its pioneer and perfecter. Why? So that in our walk we will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).

How does the fundamental teaching to fix our eyes on Jesus play out in the everyday-ness of our lives?

Fix means to direct or concentrate our eyes, attention and mind on something. It seems then that the first step is to examine the things that currently have our attention and influence our lives, as well as how we respond to them. Prayerfully consider the attitudes, activities and relationships that hold your interest. To whom and to what do you give priority? As you step back and observe each situation, does it align with the manner in which Jesus encourages us to live? If not, will you dare to do something about it? Change isn't easy and it isn't always immediate. It may require time, as well as trusted counsel and a deeper study of God's Word.

The writer of Hebrews knew that keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus was the only way we could make it successfully in our walk with Christ. Helen Lemmel captured this thought beautifully in the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grown strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

Wherever you are, my friend, fix your eyes upon Jesus. He's tenacious. He's there with you all the way to ultimate victory in Him!

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, words and music by Helen Lemmel, 1922

Empty net

It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you."

John 21:1b-2 (NIV)

The setting is by the Sea of Tiberias, which is probably the official Roman name for the Sea of Galilee, the area's popular name. The event involves the third, visible appearance of the Risen Christ to His disciples.

We're not told how or why the disciples came to be back in their home region of Galilee after the events of the Passover week in Jerusalem. For three years, these men walked with the "headliner." In recent days, however, they hid behind locked doors in fear of the Jewish leaders. They didn't seem to have a clear purpose in mind in spite of Jesus' commissioning in John 20:21-23.

Some scholars suggest based on Peter's comment that he bailed on his calling to "fish for men" and had gone back to his old career of fishing for fish. Considering recent events, Peter's attitude may have been partly the result of discouragement over his threefold denial of Jesus during the trials. Perhaps the fishing trip was out of economic necessity. Whatever the reason, it's interesting to note that when the seven men picked up their old profession, they caught nothing after fishing all night.

Life doesn't always turn out the way we think it should. Quite frankly, sometimes the trouble with life is that it is so daily. Things don't go the way we expect. We become buried by feelings of disappointment. Discouragement threatens to drag us away from God's call for our life. Some of God's best people struggled with the same thing.

Reading through the Gospels, it becomes quite clear that more than anything, Jesus cares about people. He came to our planet because people needed what only He could bring to us. And, as you probably know. He went to the extremes of self-sacrifice to prove how committed He was to meeting our needs.

Jesus showed up on the beach of the Sea of Galilee and called Peter back to His side.Whether you're struggling through a season of disappointment, a time of uncertainty, or the memory of personal failure is still fresh in your mind, my friend, listen. He's calling you back to Him.

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

Keeping the happily in ever after

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you [Laban] seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."
Genesis 29:18 (NIV)

Someday my prince will come; someday I'll find my love,
And how thrilling that moment will be
When the prince of my dreams comes to me.
He'll whisper "I love you" and steal a kiss or two.
Though he's far away, I'll find my love someday,
Someday when my dreams come true.

Someday I'll find my love, someone to call my own,
And I'll know her the moment we meet,
For my heart will start skipping a beat.
Someday we'll say and do things we've been longing to.
Though she's far away, I'll find my love someday,
Someday when my dreams comes true.*

Aaahhh. Every little girl's dream--someday her prince will come. They'll fall in love. Wedding bells will ring. He'll whisk her away to his castle and together they'll live happily ever after. I met my prince 29 years ago on April 10. We were married May 1, one year later.

Bob is a loving, faithful husband and an affectionate, devoted father. He is a generous provider and a kindhearted friend. When it comes to working around the house, he's great at "ripping up" things. More importantly, he's absolutely fantastic at putting them back together in better than original condition!

When we entered into our covenant relationship, I doubt that either of us appreciated the kind of spiral that would lead our original commitment to a deeper, richer love. It's something that has developed during the years and involved grace, which has shown itself in forgiveness, that has led to serving each other.

Not surprising, when we think about service in marriage, it's often how another person should serve us. Service is usually linked to power. If someone is serving me, then I have power over that person; if I serve another, he has power over me. But that is the opposite of how service growing out of grace should look.

Love and grace lead to serving the other person rather than being served. We don't use power over another person but use power on behalf of another. As a result, mutual submission leads to a wife and a husband who empower one another to be what God wants each one to be.

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul wrote, "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord...Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:21-33) If anything in this concept seems like weakness, this is precisely what Jesus has done for us. He serves His church by dying for it and living for it.

Marriage for anyone can be challenging at times, no matter how much in love you are. Bob and I have had our ups and downs and we'll experience more in the years to come. The plain and simple truth is, however, I'd marry that guy all over again if I could! And, that would be thrilling indeed.

Blessings, dear friend.
Faithfully Following

*Someday My Prince Will Come
Words & Music by Larry Morey & Frank Churchill