tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18298477478676195512024-03-16T14:50:24.837-04:00Chariti Ministries<center><b>A counseling ministry saturated in and dependent upon the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ</b></center>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-54679316154237089912024-03-01T17:27:00.002-05:002024-03-01T17:27:15.270-05:00March The Lion and the Lamb<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We all know the old adage: “March—In like a lion, out like a lamb.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Or, sometimes,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">vice versa</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">And while the weather of March can make for some interesting conversations, I think the echoes of Biblical truth in the adage are far more significant.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The weather adage is a way to emphasize the drastic change that March brings. Winter to Spring; powerful to mild. The lion and lamb metaphors in the Bible refer to the two natures of Christ that are both eternal and simultaneous. He is the Lion of Judah. The I AM. He is also the Lamb of God, meek and lowly, sacrificed for the sins of the world. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He was, is, and will always be both the Lion and the Lamb.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">In our fallen world and in our minds, lions and lambs do not go together. They are entirely incompatible. Lions eat lambs. Lambs are terrified of lions. Christ as both Lion and Lamb is a sign to us that He has, inconceivably, done the impossible! The Creator of the world is also its Redeemer. The lion and lamb metaphor in the Bible enables us to imagine and visualize the miracle. Before the fall, it is conceivable (depending upon your theology) that there were no predatory relationships among the newly-created animals. But when Adam and Eve made their fateful choice, the entire creation fell with them. God clothed them with the skins of animals who were sacrificed to provide Adam and Eve with material protection. And all heaven wept.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The fall has generated a dog eat dog world of fear and shame. Whatever your position on evolution, survival of the fittest has became all too commonplace in our world. The strong use and abuse the weak for their own benefit. The rich become richer while the poor become poorer. Lions eat lambs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">But. God. Jesus as Lion is not merely the King of the jungle; He is King of all creation, all the universe. And as Lamb, He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant…. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8). Jesus as the perfect Lamb became the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system for sin, dying once and for all.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The weather is not the most remarkable feature of March. We are in the season of Lent, preparing to commemorate the death of the Lamb of God and celebrate the resurrection of the Lion of Judah. This is an ideal time to ponder with gratitude our Lord, the Lion and the Lamb. It is also a good time to turn our face in the same direction, to use whatever power the Lion gives us to serve Him: “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” (Luke 10:3). As we do so, may we look for the day when lions and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 65:25).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-7448688581391372852024-02-02T11:47:00.000-05:002024-02-02T11:47:11.989-05:00A Question of Timing<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">February has arrived, and we find ourselves in the “Love Month.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">As I have thought about this, I find it puzzling that February has become associated with love in general and romantic love in particular.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I know no one who declares February as his/her favorite month, but many people hold love in the highest regard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">At least in our part of the world, flowers are available only if you want to purchase hothouse grown or imported varieties.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Taking a romantic walk on the beach or in a garden has little appeal in February.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">February may be the Love Month, but it is easy to understand why most weddings are celebrated in the summer months.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And so I did some research about the history of Valentine’s Day. I expected to find that February was somehow associated with a St. Valentine. But there is a good bit of debate as to what historical figure is really connected with our celebration of Valentine’s Day, and the association with February is even less clear.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">If I ran the world, would I move Valentine’s Day to a warmer and fuzzier month? Although Valentine’s Day is largely a secular holiday, I think I can make a good Biblical case to keep it right where it is. God’s love is unconditional and remains consistent and passionate regardless of circumstances. And He calls us to love with His love. Regardless of cold temperatures, grey skies, trying circumstances, and “unlovable” people, we are to love. The love God lavishes upon us and calls us to share is not the sentimental (and sometimes insincere) love that is commonly expressed on Valentine’s Day. God’s love pursues the “target” and works for his/her good; it expresses acceptance and grace; it offers second chances. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Valentine’s Day in February is a helpful reminder to us that love is not about easy, or comfortable. It is also an encouragement to rejoice in our Lord’s love for us and to invite the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear His fruit of love not only on Valentine’s Day, not only in February, but every day and every month. Indeed, this unbelieving and hurting world desperately needs to see God’s love in us, among us and through us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-21588299541284326312023-12-13T20:07:00.003-05:002023-12-13T20:07:21.389-05:00Christmas Spirit<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Early and mid-December generally finds us in full anticipation mode.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Christmas is coming!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We purchase gifts, decorate our homes, plan special meals, and prepare for parties.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">‘Tis the season to be merry and bright….</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And then, if and when we dare, we look at the news. Wars and rumors of wars. Displaced migrants. Human trafficking. Natural disasters: earthquakes, volcanoes erupting, hurricanes and tornadoes. Suffering of unimaginable depth and endless duration. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Christmas seems incongruous in our world today. It can feel inappropriate and even callous to celebrate Christmas in light of the suffering in today’s world. But I believe that that is exactly the point of Christmas, and precisely why it is so important to celebrate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago. Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire, known for its authoritarian government which relied on brute strength and cruelty to maintain peace. It was a dark time of fear and suffering. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Madeline L’Engle writes these words as part of a poem celebrating the Incarnation:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"> <i>This is no time for a child to be born,<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i> With the earth betrayed by war & hate….<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i> That was no time for a child to be born<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i> In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And yet the Bible tells us that Jesus was born as God Incarnate “in the fullness of time.” During a time of brutality, hardship, and suffering, the glory of God shined down from heaven, and a host of angels celebrated in giving glory to God. God became Incarnate man and dwelt among men. Sin and suffering did not evaporate: Jesus lived and breathed in the trenches and in the wreckage caused by the fall. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And so, some 2000 years later, we mark the greatest event in human history. And by all appearances, mankind has not made much progress in the centuries between then and now. Suffering continues. Many people live in hopelessness and desperation. We are reminded, again, of our need for the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The Messiah has come, and He is coming again! This is worth celebrating! We are called to manifest Christ, to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with our God. Marking the Incarnation and anticipating Christ’s return represents the sure foundation upon which we can fulfill that calling. A wholehearted Christmas celebration is exactly what this world needs. May the light of Christ—and our celebration of His birth—shine in the darkness….<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-11725268703648835822023-11-22T12:13:00.000-05:002023-11-22T12:13:13.632-05:00November Thought #18<p> "We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count."</p><p> Neal A. Maxwell</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-38834358591975098132023-11-21T21:28:00.003-05:002023-11-21T21:28:26.412-05:00November Thought #17<p> <i>Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's willful you in Christ Jesus. </i></p><p><i> </i>I Thessalonians 5:16-18</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-14706395513336505972023-11-20T11:18:00.001-05:002023-11-20T11:18:14.980-05:00November Thought #16<p> "When we learn to read the story of Jesus and see it as the story of the love of God, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves--that insight produces, again and again, a sense of astonished gratitude which is very near the heart of authentic Christian experience."</p><p> N.T. Wright</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-38461559438641495662023-11-19T10:09:00.000-05:002023-11-19T10:09:02.955-05:00November Thought #15<p> <i>I will extol You, my God, O King,</i></p><p><i>And I will bless Your name forever and ever.</i></p><p><i>Every day I will bless You,</i></p><p><i>And I will praise Your name forever and ever.</i></p><p><i>Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,</i></p><p><i>And His greatness is unsearchable.</i></p><p><i> </i>Psalm 145:1-3</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-78007782638533304322023-11-17T17:42:00.005-05:002023-11-17T17:42:51.429-05:00November Thought #14<p> "We must find time and stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."</p><p> John F. Kennedy</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-90459032756052735692023-11-16T20:52:00.001-05:002023-11-16T20:52:09.410-05:00November Thought #13<p> "Appreciation can change a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary."</p><p> Margaret Cousins</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-38894786487674306732023-11-14T14:58:00.003-05:002023-11-14T14:58:23.402-05:00November Thought #12<p> <i>Though the fig tree should not blossom</i></p><p><i>And there be no fruit on the vines,</i></p><p><i>Though the yield of the olive should fail</i></p><p><i>And the fields produce no food,</i></p><p><i>Though the flock should be cut off from the fold</i></p><p><i>And there be no cattle in the stalls,</i></p><p><i>Yet I will exult in the LORD,</i></p><p><i>I will rejoice in the God oft y salvation.</i></p><p><i>The Lord God is my strength,</i></p><p><i>And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,</i></p><p><i>And makes me walk on my high places.</i></p><p><i> </i>Habakkuk 3:17-19</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-92111747557512876902023-11-13T17:55:00.002-05:002023-11-13T17:55:45.217-05:00November Thought #11<p> "The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings."</p><p> Henry Ward Beecher</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-59168603323420425922023-11-12T15:29:00.003-05:002023-11-12T15:29:31.125-05:00November Thought #10<p> "Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace."</p><p> Arianna Huffington</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-42875476174148178482023-11-10T20:43:00.004-05:002023-11-10T20:44:20.858-05:00November Thought #9<p> "Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."</p><p> A.A. Milne, <i>Winnie the Pooh</i></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-66403319673127723452023-11-09T17:47:00.005-05:002023-11-09T17:47:50.092-05:00November Thought #8<p> "We can complain that roses have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses."</p><p> Alphonse Karr</p><p> </p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-71877243547286742022023-11-08T20:35:00.004-05:002023-11-08T20:35:52.465-05:00November Thought #7<p>Praise God from Whom all blessings flow</p><p>Praise Him all creature here below</p><p>Praise Him above ye heavenly host</p><p>Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost</p><p> Traditional Doxology</p><p> </p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-76379882960611622032023-11-07T07:58:00.005-05:002023-11-07T07:59:11.827-05:00November Thought #6<p> "Let us be grateful for those who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." </p><p> Marcel Proust</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-74756348306674272682023-11-06T14:57:00.000-05:002023-11-06T14:57:15.629-05:00November Thought #5<p> "Gratitude is the ability to see life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation."</p><p> John Ortberg</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-41487030738879907462023-11-05T15:40:00.003-05:002023-11-05T15:40:53.468-05:00November Thought #4<p> <i>O Lord, You are my God;</i></p><p><i>I will exalt You, I will thanks to Your name;</i></p><p><i>For You have worked wonders,</i></p><p><i>Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness</i>.</p><p> Isaiah 25:1</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-14619246995979162562023-11-04T18:48:00.001-04:002023-11-04T18:48:07.932-04:00November Thought #3<p> "Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." Doris Day</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-76813154501176117252023-11-03T19:51:00.007-04:002023-11-03T19:53:22.586-04:00November Thought #2<p> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>O Heavenly Father who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i>The Book of Common Prayer</span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-1495658223895235712023-11-01T14:22:00.002-04:002023-11-01T14:22:52.626-04:00November Thought<p> I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;</p><p>I will tell of all Your wonders.</p><p>I will be glad and exult in You;</p><p>I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.</p><p> Psalm 9:1-2</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-26140262564665380552023-11-01T14:20:00.001-04:002023-11-01T14:20:07.295-04:00November Traditions<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">November is here.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Some are thrilled that we are moving into the holiday season.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Others are stressed at the thought of preparing for the holidays.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">This is nothing new.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Neither is November’s annual reminder to give thanks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">We are called to give thanks. It is a theme that runs from the Old Testament through the New. The Bible is God’s revelation to us and for our benefit. It reveals a God who is glorious and worthy of praise, at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. But beyond that, Scripture introduces us to a God who is as personal as He is glorious. Please consider with me just a few of the many, many examples offered in Scripture. The LORD God breathed air into Adam’s lungs and shared the Garden of Eden with the man and the woman (Genesis 2); He tried to coax Cain to turn away from his murderous thoughts (Genesis 4); He allowed both Abraham and Moses to “negotiate” with Him (Genesis 18; Numbers 14); He satisfied Gideon’s need for reassurance (Judges 6); He engaged in a personal conversation with a rebellious Jonah (Jonah 4). And of course, the LORD used individual, faithful men and women to accomplish His will. He worked in the lives of Eli and Samuel to lead Israel and (eventually) put David, a man after God’s own heart, on the throne and establish David as the progenitor of the Messiah (I Samuel and II Samuel). He used Esther to save the Jews from a hateful Haman (Esther). He guided Elijah to reveal the power of the LORD to the people of Israel so that they would turn away from Baal (I Kings 18). And if God’s personal attention, time after time after time, wasn’t enough, the Father’s only begotten Son, the second member of the eternal Trinity, Christ Jesus, became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">First and foremost, the Gospels reveal a Jesus who spent His days touching and being touched. Jesus opened His arms to those who had been dismissed, rejected, or neglected by their families and communities. He heals lepers (by touching them!) calls tax collectors, and welcomes children. One of my favorite “personal” Jesus stories is found in the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus is ministering to the people who have gathered to see and hear him, a synagogue official named Jairus falls at His feet, begging for healing for his seriously ill daughter. Jesus readily agrees to come to Jairus’s home, but as they head in that direction, they are interrupted by a woman who has been plagued with a hemorrhage problem for many years. The woman is healed as soon as she touches Jesus’s robe. It would be easy for Jesus to leave it at that and continue on His mission to Jairus’s home. But Jesus gently demands a personal conversation with the woman and takes time with her to personally reinforce her faith. I can only imagine the impatience and panic within Jairus as he waits for Jesus to finish this impromptu encounter and get to their destination. When they finally arrive and find that Jairus’s daughter has died, Jesus takes care of the problem as only He can do. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And so as we (hopefully) heed the reminder to give thanks, may we turn to our Lord and Savior who is as up close and personal as we will allow Him to be. We are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence. As we do so, the perfunctory, generic “thank you,” “praise to you,” “praise God from Whom all blessings flow” phrases don’t quite do the job. It behooves us put time, energy, and effort into pursuing our Lord and pouring out our hearts to Him. We don’t need to have King David’s eloquence. We have been assured that when our words fail, the Spirit will intercede for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">As we pursue Jesus, we will find that He has been pursing us! Praise the Lord! May we truly draw near to Him in faith, offering Him the deepest recesses of our hearts. And when we do, something amazing happens. Those who look forward to the holidays are able to celebrate more fully and joyfully; and those who are stressed at holiday preparation can lean on a Lord who genuinely cares about their stress and can help them see beyond it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-77923245198381697192023-10-01T20:36:00.002-04:002023-10-01T20:36:12.435-04:00Stress Testing<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">At my annual check-up this year, my electrocardiogram (EKG) showed an abnormality.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Thus began a summer of medical dominoes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Although my primary care provider did not think my EKG was especially alarming, she recommended a visit with a cardiologist.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The cardiologist was wonderful, and although she did not think the EKG was of particular concern, she made a convincing case that a thorough evaluation was appropriate.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">That meant scheduling an echocardiogram, a calcium cardiac scoring test, and a stress test.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">As I was arranging my day’s schedule to accommodate the stress test, one thought kept running through my head: Given the stress of my days, why did I need a formal stress test?!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">The cardiologist gave me an A+ on my stress test. I am, of course, grateful for that result, and I don’t want to take it lightly. But the fact remains that I do not get an A+ for the way I deal with the mental and emotional stress of days. To be sure, being a fallen creature in a fallen world does not help. But Jesus came to redeem us, not only for eternity in heaven but in the here and now.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">There are, of course, many Bible verses that would call us to trust in the Lord, throw our cares upon Him, and walk in His peace and joy. But as true as these passages are, they are not the whole story. Even as Jesus talks about the peace and joy in Him, He warns His followers about trials, suffering, hardship, and persecution. We may not be of the world, but we are in it. We are living in the now and not yet: tastes of heaven and glimpses of redemption, now but not yet the full fruits of Christ’s victory. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">And somehow, I find this encouraging. It is neither abnormal or shameful to find life in this broken world challenging and even painful at times. But I am still left with the task of living in the tension of the two realities: the challenges that I encounter today even as I catch glimpses of the redemption that will have its culmination in eternity. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">It isn’t easy to live in the now and not yet. Some believers prefer to focus on persevering through the slog of this life, and others would minimize and ignore the hardships and claim victory in Christ. It seems to me that maintaining a “both/and” mindset, while difficult, best reflects the dual realities of our fallenness and our redemption.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">King David gives us an excellent glimpse into living a life of dual realities. In the book of I Samuel, we read of Samuel anointing David as King of Israel when David was a teenager and Saul was the reigning (but disobedient) King. In the approximately 15 years that followed, “King” David was hunted and persecuted by Saul. We can read about David’s distress during those times in several of his Psalms. In those Psalms, David is not restrained in expressing his distress and resentment toward evildoers who go unpunished. But at the same time, David repeatedly expresses his commitment to following the Lord in righteousness and declares the LORD God’s goodness and glory. He walks in faith to the best of his ability, and he restrains himself from killing Saul on not one but two occasions when he has the opportunity. He suffers; he waits; he perseveres; he waits. When he is thirty years old, David—finally-- becomes King of Judah. He becomes King of a united Israel a few years later. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">David’s life as it is recorded in the books of I Samuel and II Samuel and expressed in many of David’s Psalms is one of both struggle and faith. David’s hardships and personal missteps cannot be missed. But we also read how the peace, joy, and power that flowed from his faith relationship with the Lord sustained and empowered him in the hard times and took front and center in the times of triumph. David’s life is recorded for generations of believers not merely as significant history but also as a model of what life on earth as an heir of heaven can look like. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">When we turn to the New Testament, we see John the Baptist, imprisoned for preaching the righteousness of Christ, reach out to Jesus for reassurance that Jesus is who He says he is. Jesus has a ready answer: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i>Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me. <o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus’s answer also reveals an important truth about suffering: while the Lord does not will or rejoice in the suffering of this sin-laden world, He uses it to reveal His goodness and grace. Indeed, I could make a good argument that David’s earlier suffering was used to make him a wiser and wiser king. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">To be sure, none of us has been called to be a king and ancestor of the Messiah, or as a forerunner of the Messiah. But we are nonetheless called to fulfill the glorious purposes for which we have been created, and we are, through the Messiah, princes and princesses of the King for all eternity. We are blessed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;">Jesus, of course, has the last word. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i>These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-67526457893237514892023-09-16T10:28:00.004-04:002023-09-16T10:28:58.574-04:00A Perspective For Living Each Day<p> "A commitment to kindness does not mean surrendering your convictions."</p><p> David French</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829847747867619551.post-73368138448959644312023-09-13T08:48:00.001-04:002023-09-13T08:48:38.575-04:00Thoughts For Every Day<p> "Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought."</p><p> Marcus Aurelius</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things, the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."</i></p><p><i> </i>The Apostle Paul</p><p> Letter to the Philippians</p>Cindy Billshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15590455275118137268noreply@blogger.com