Connect or Disconnect

4   I used to have a game called Connect 4. In my early twenties I played it at a friend’s house and was so intrigued with it she bought me one.

Online you'll find this game in various sizes. It’s a two-person game and I had the small table version. The winner was the first person to rack up four tokens vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

I have no idea why I enjoyed that game so much, but I played it a lot before I gave it away in one of my many moves.

2   While reading a Psalm this week, Connect came to mind. Two players mentioned in Psalm 32:7-8 (NIV) had a connection worth thinking about.

The first player, David, declared his faith in God this way (v. 7): 1) You are my hiding place, 2) You will protect me from trouble, and 3) You will surround me with songs of deliverance.

Below these three declarations, he wrote SELAH. There is no direct translation of the word, but the Amplified Bible explains it as “pause and think calmly of that,” so I did.

The second player was God. In verse 8 David shared four things God said He would do: 1) I will instruct you, 2) I will teach you in the way you should go, 3) I will counsel you, and 4) I will watch over you.

If you don’t know much about David, read the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament. His life was never easy, but he kept a strong faith in God.

In connecting with God, David had the same problem we do---timing. God’s timing always seems slower than ours. Perhaps that’s why David declared, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word, I put my hope” (Psalm 130: 5 NIV)

1   The Apostle Paul said God has given each person a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Some people, like David, choose to use their faith to connect with God.

Others choose to disconnect their faith from God and put their trust elsewhere.

To connect or disconnect from God is not a game, but a personal choice with consequences. If you wonder if it matters, read Acts 10:39-43 and Revelation 20:12-15.

 

Good (For Us) Friday

Time changes things. Yes, I know prayer changes things, too, but by the time you read this, we will have celebrated Resurrection Sunday, commonly called Easter. Today I’d like to share thoughts about Good Friday. 

The small midwestern towns of my childhood offered Good Friday community services. Since my minister father always belonged to the local Ministerial Association, it was my privilege to grow up with an appreciation for all sincere believers in Christ.

Some churches are more formal than others, but Good Friday’s message is the same: Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, and burial. These are sad events, so why call them Good?  

Afternoon community services have given way to individual church services, many of them now in the evening. That’s true of my church---this year's topic: Jesus' Seven Last Words on the Cross.

I wanted a head start so I googled that phrase. First up, however, were the Seven Last Sayings of the Cross, drawn from all four Gospels.

Google them for yourself, and note the Seventh Saying: Into Your hands, I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46). Now count the words . . . seven!

I’m thinking this makes Friday good for Jesus, too.

Doesn’t it feel good to complete an assignment? John 19:30 records the Sixth Saying: “It is finished.” With that, Jesus bowed his head and gave up His spirit.

Earlier Jesus had said He had authority from His Father to lay down His life and take it up again; no one could take it from Him (John 10:17-18).

If you’re wondering where Jesus is today, Hebrews 10:12 says He offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, then sat down at the right hand of God.  

We would have no Resurrection Sunday to celebrate without the events of Good Friday. I do not enjoy thinking of the pain Jesus endured for us that day (John 19).

I am, however, grateful for Jesus' complete obedience to His Father, even unto death. Because of Him, John 3:16 became true for all of us: For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

 

WC: 357

The Fabric of Society

Have you ever watched someone work with a small loom? Whenever I have, I’m amazed at their patience. Thread by thread, or yarn by yarn, they pull the shuttle and develop a rug or piece of cloth.

A society, or community, is built up the same way. Its threads include areas of influence such as Families, Schools, Businesses, Entertainment, Media, Government, and Churches.

It’s easy to take these things for granted. I couldn’t help but think of Ukrainians today as I read Psalm 38:12 NKJV: Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all day long.

Who could miss news about the current European David vs. Goliath conflict? Refugees by the thousands keep trying to escape war-torn Ukraine. Most are women and children since men are fighting against all odds.

They are now in a variety of countries around the world with one word in common: Different. Life as they knew it is gone.

Think about it. Picture yourself in a torn-apart society. You are out on the street because your home has been bombed, food is wherever you can find it, to even try to escape you must walk, and safety is the most elusive thing ever!

In such a state, would you be thankful for any kindness or mercy, no matter how small? Jesus taught “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7, NKJV).

Mercy is a character trait. A heart of mercy can be shown by kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, grace, or compassion. As individuals, we show mercy in different ways.

Some people offer their skillful service to world relief organizations. Others assist at food banks or missions. Many show mercy by donating to charitable organizations, including churches involved with local communities.

Refugees aren’t the only ones dealing with society’s torn fabric. Worldwide COVID has also had a destructive impact. 

If you've ever torn a favorite shirt or skirt, you know that, even with mending, it’s never the same. That’s also true of society, but don’t give up.

Hang in there, show mercy wherever and whenever you can. A little mending is better than none!

  

Acorns and Oaks

 

Whenever I see a nursery truck hauling small trees to a landscape site, I think somebody is certainly getting a nice start on their yard. At the same time, I marvel that someone way before that had to plant a sapling, and before that a seed.

You’ve probably heard big trees from tiny acorns grow. They do, but it takes time. It seems Nature’s rule is a gradual growth in all things.  

Somewhere along the way, we moderns have lost sight of the value of acorns, spiritually that is. How many parents take time to read their child a Bible story or even talk about one? 

We have the easy option of sitting a child down in front of a TV for illustrated Bible stories, but that should never replace personal time with a parent for meaningful reinforcement.

Children love to learn, and I happen to think knowing the Books of the Bible is a valuable skill. It’s sad to see how many adults missed out on that acorn blessing as children.

They know there’s an Old Testament and a New Testament. They may even know Psalms is in the middle and Matthew begins the New Testament, but trying to locate a scripture is like trying to muddle through a foreign language.

You’re never too old to learn if you really want to. When I was doing a one-on-one weekly Bible study with an older lady new to her Christian faith, we started each lesson by looking at her Bible’s Table of Contents and saying the names of all the Books together.

She would say them at home, too, drawn in by the rhythmic sounds, day after day. Then we started breaking them apart. I would say a book of the Bible and she would name the next one.

No matter your age, I’m hoping you will receive the words of Proverbs 15:32 NKJV: He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.  

Perhaps you feel like a tiny acorn lost in a Bible forest, but don’t discount your option for growth. Plant yourself in your Bible and choose to grow.

Read the Table of Contents. As the names become familiar, call one out. See how quickly you can flip pages to get to chapter one. 

You are now in acorn growth mode; given time you’ll become a tree.      

Time Out for Truth

Most people are familiar with the “T” hand signal for “time out.”  It’s an important strategy in a coach’s playbook.

Like the “T” signal, you may also be acquainted with Pontius Pilate’s famous quote. He had asked a question and Jesus was answering. 

Just as Jesus was saying people on the side of truth listen to Him, Pilate cut Him off saying, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38, NIV)

It’s not hard to see that truth in our day is fluid and irrelevant. Take fake news, for example, we don’t know who or what to believe. Yet some areas of truth seem so stable and unchangeable that we take them for granted.

In the marketplace, we expect a truthful 16 ounces in a pound, 4 full cups in a quart, and 12 eggs in a dozen. Then we expect the aisle price to print out truthfully at the register.

Since childhood I have known the truth of 2+2 = 4, a square always has 4 equal sides, and 4 sets of 4 anything will make a total of 16.

Why do we seem to reject truth on a more personal level? Do we really think it’s OK for someone to lie to us, or for us to lie to others? Is it really OK to cheat or fool people with half-truths?

Watch a carpenter use his level and he’ll make sure the “bubble of truth” falls right in the middle of the tiny glass window.

Where would we be if God had not included the stability of truth in His Creation? It’s that truth, or stability, that allows doctors and scientists to discover marvelous treatments for overcoming illness and disease.

He also gave commandments and guidelines to build stability and truth into relationships. We can choose to believe or not, but our unbelief does not change the “bubble of truth” on God’s level.    

When a coach calls “time out” he gives truthful advice to fit the occasion. Team members wisely follow it. Is truth any less important to our everyday lives?

Jesus’ truth is easily found in red-letter editions of the Bible. Short pithy truths are found in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Why not call a daily “time out” and discover God’s baseline truths for yourself?

 

Don't Ignore Needed Elastic

Comfort wear often comes with elastic in certain places, especially at the waist. You’ll find it in comfort slacks, pajamas, sweat pants, and sports clothes in general.

Elastic is popular because it’s flexible. You can bend, stretch, and even gain weight without resistance. And if you lose weight, elastic will just return to its original size, no problem.

Did you know that elastic can be applied to temperament also? Thinking about the dictionary meaning in that way I come up with adjectives like buoyant, adaptable, resilient, and flexible. These qualities would definitely put elasticity into relationships.

Non-elastic people are rigid, harsh, stiff, and hard to be around. Sometimes it simply boils down to their self-centered attitudes.

Inflexible people totally disagree with Barbara Streisand’s “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” 

They prefer Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way;” however, their version is “I’ll Do It My Way,” and you can like it or not.

It’s not easy to live in harmony with people. We’re all different and sometimes those differences bring strong feelings. Relationships falter due to misunderstandings of all kinds.

Wise people insert elastic into these situations with forgiveness or forbearance. Do you know the difference?

Forgiveness means you’re willing to give up resentment against someone. You willfully release your right to exact a penalty for an offense.

Forbearance means you choose to keep yourself in check or tolerate something you know will happen. For example, a friend told me she was going to lunch with a friend who was late for everything. She said, “I know she’s that way, but I want her for a friend, so I choose to overlook her lateness.”

Elastic stretches in any direction. Matthew 6:12, The Lord’s Prayer is a great example. First, we stretch vertically . . . Father forgive me . . .  then we stretch horizontally, as I forgive those around me.

In your relationships, don’t ignore the need for elasticity. Misunderstandings might stretch it to the max, but forgiveness will bring it back to normal.   

  

Do Yourself a Favor

 

The Golden Rule says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I like that idea, but there’s another rule that gets even more personal.

If you know “The Lord’s Prayer” you’re already aware of it - - - the give and take of forgiveness.

Whether you say debts or sins or trespasses the scriptural intent is the same (Matthew 6:5-13; Luke 11:1-4; (Matthew 6:14-15). If I want God to forgive me, I must forgive others.

We’re all familiar with “No Trespassing” signs. They mark personal boundaries. People understand if they cross the line, they do so at their own risk.

We have all had to deal with trespassers. The Amplified Bible explains trespasses as reckless and willful sins. To forgive means to let them go and give up resentment.

I’ve often heard Joyce Meyer teach about forgiveness. She was abused as a child and carried bitterness and resentment for many years. Then one day the Lord reminded her that by retaining bitterness and unforgiveness, she was only hurting herself. Her trespasser, unaware of her unforgiveness, was totally unaffected by it.

To be totally free, don’t keep score. Peter asked Jesus if we were to forgive our brother up to seven times? Jesus blew Peter away by upping the math to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22 AMP).

You can’t say you love someone if you are unwilling to forgive. True love means not being self-seeking, touchy, resentful nor even paying attention to a suffered wrong (1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP).

Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. The enemy of our souls does not want us to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. He will say, “You haven’t forgiven so-and-so for (whatever).” 

When this happens, don’t give in. Just reinforce your original decision by saying, “I have forgiven them, God has forgiven me, and I’m moving on.”

Are you carrying feelings of resentment, bitterness, or anger toward some personal trespasser? If so, do yourself a favor. Prayerfully choose to forgive, then let it go.