Are You a Member?

Are You a Member?

    Many country clubs are very exclusive places. One must be a member to enjoy the facilities. One of my daughters is currently a hostess at a country club. Because of an unfortunate incident with a deer one night while driving home, she found herself in need of a ride to work for her next shift.

    As we turned into the facility and I took in the beautiful surroundings, she advised me to keep driving. We drove through the lot, right past the front doors, and almost all the way around the lot. Just before the edge of the lot, she said it was okay to pull in to let her out. She explained that the workers needed to park the furthest away, and that she needed to enter through the back. Members enter through the front; help enter through the back; members enjoy the amenities at the facility; workers provide those amenities.

    While this is of course typical protocol, the concept made me think about my relationship with the Lord. Jesus reassured his disciples with the following words from John 14: 1-4, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

    Forgive me for using a country club for the sake of comparison, 

but let's explore this.

     I can't get into a country club because I haven't paid the dues; I can get into heaven because Jesus paid my dues with his sacrifice on the cross. Not only that, but Jesus says there is a room prepared for me. I don't have to park at the outskirts of the lot; I don't have to enter through the back door.

    I can freely and confidently walk through the doors knowing that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me. As if that weren't enough, but Jesus also promises to be there with us. 

    Maybe we have the same question as Thomas had when hearing Jesus' words. We aren't told whether Thomas boldly asked Jesus this question or whether he pulled Jesus aside and whispered the words, but the conversation continues in John 14:5-6. "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

    Today, since I am not a member of a country club, I can not walk in to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere, but I can be assured by Jesus' own words. I have a better place waiting for me if I put my faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father, I trust in you and in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I desire to live with you now and into eternity. I surrender my life to you, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    

In the Garden

In the Garden

Let's establish a quiet time! Let's do it!

I hope you know the song "In the Garden." If not, please stop, Google it & take the time to relax and listen.

Did you hear these words, "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses"? What a peaceful picture is offered in these words! The song continues with the following, "And He walks with me and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known."

The song is beautiful. C. Austin Miles wrote this song in 1912, and it is reported that he based it on the joy he felt after reading John 20. This song has certainly stood the test of time, and it has been recorded numerous times over the years by a variety of artists including, Alan Jackson, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, and Anne Murray. 

The pictures created by this song are so beautiful and peaceful and calming. One of my favorite Bible verses is Micah 6:8, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Walking with the Lord seems like a wonderful way to pass my days.

But how? I have a spouse, four children, a full-time job. How in the world do I "walk with the Lord."

By making time with the Lord a priority. Taking a few minutes to quiet your heart and connect with the Creator makes all the difference in the world. It is worth it.

Trust me. I have had to face many days when I did not seek the Lord. Looking back, I find many of those days to be full of stress, anxiety, and less than ideal reactions by me. It would be intriguing, and humbling, for me to look back on how those days might have been different if I had taken the time to connect with the Lord before facing my day.

Why make time for a quiet time? This answer comes from Scripture and is filled with so many promises that come directly from the Lord: Isaiah 40:28-31
"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
 they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Why have a quiet time? Break these verses down into a strong rationale to find time to meet with the Lord each day.

1. Use quiet time to acknowledge your Creator and His endless power. v 28
2. He will give that power and strength to you. v 29
3. Everyone gets tired, worn out, and weary. You are not alone! v 30
4. Have hope that God will sustain you with His strength and might. v 31
5. God will help you to soar! v 31

Why have a quiet time?

"....He walks with me and He talks with me, 

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known."  

Father, I know you are my God and my Savior. I want to meet with You. Help me to create a habit of seeking You and Your strength to get me through each day. In Christ's Name. Amen.

Grab the Remote

Grab the Remote

One expression that is repeated endlessly in people's homes and is often muttered in desperation followed by a heavy sigh. "Where's the remote?" We often misplace this tiny gadget, and we sorely miss it when we do. It may be small, but it is mighty in its ability to control what we are seeing and experiencing.

Image by Adriano Gadini from Pixabay 

I once passed through our living room and was surprised by something my son was watching, and when I asked him about it, you can probably guess his response, "I couldn't find the remote." Rather than expend the energy to find it, he settled for whatever was in front of him. Many of us are guilty of the same action just letting whatever comes on the screen next entertain us. 

While we may do this with television, let's not do the same with our thoughts. When it comes to our minds, we must always be fully in control of the remote. We cannot afford to be cavalier with our thoughts.

Let's grab the remote and grab control of our thoughts.

Paul advises in 2 Corinthians 10: 5b, "...and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Philippians 2:5 encourages, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Both of these verses are challenging. Both of these verses advise us to grab the remote and to actively change the channel of our thinking. It won't work to watch whatever comes up. Our thoughts can be destructive and negative at times; we don't need to be there! Grab the remote! Take captive those thoughts!

What "channel" should we go to? Philippians 4:8 offers excellent advice and a variety of options: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." What options! God isn't really limiting our thinking, but He is saying take control over our thoughts. Replace the fear with what is true. Replace the complaining with what is lovely. Replace the gossip with what is praiseworthy. We need to grab the remote and gain control of our thoughts!

While we still may struggle in my home finding the TV's remote control, I am now actively striving to take back control of my thoughts.

Father, one area in which I struggle is with negative and self-defeating thoughts, please give me wisdom and discernment over my thoughts and attitudes that they may be pleasing and glorifying to you, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.