Because We're A Forgetful People...

During the years that I worked toward my master's degree, one of my professors drilled the following into us, his students. 

"We are a forgetful people, we must daily (and, sometimes, more than once a day) remind ourselves just who our God is and what He has done for us."

Because he correctly nailed the potential for spiritual amnesia among his students, there are days, I completely forget to do what I was instructed not to forget, and, I forget.

God understands (after all, He made us), so He puts the word "remember" into the Bible over 1200 times (this # depends on your translation). 

Here's a taste of a smattering of those passages:

Take care lest you forget your God...(Deuteronomy 6:12)

Remember the former things of old, for I am your God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me...(Isaiah 46:9)

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old...(Psalm 77:11)

Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He has uttered (1 Chronicles 16:12).

In the same way, also, after supper, He took the cup, saying, "This is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me...(1 Corinthians 11:25).

So lately, I've been taking this mandate to heart, and find the cure for spiritual amnesia to be worship...to simply take a few minutes each morning prior to my quiet time to jot down some of the aspects of God's character (who He is and how He has worked in our lives), so that I can focus more intentionally throughout the day. 

It's a great exercise!

Over the last week, I've sensed the Lord whispering into my soul (not audibly, just a tug on my heart), "remind those to whom you speak to 'remember,' as well."

With this in mind, I did a little informal survey, asking the question, "What aspects of your God do you appreciate most? Or, what one word do you use to describe Him?" 

Here is the short list that garnered the most responses:

Loving

Compassionate

Gentle

Savior 

Good Shepherd

Faithful

Kind

Grace-filled

Oh, yes! He is all of those in spades. 

I even asked ChatGPT to give me one word to describe the God of the Bible. Actually, AI had the best answer:

INEFFABLE!

He is, indeed, so great there are absolutely no words adequate enough to define Him. That's my God!

In the journaling, reflecting, pondering, I knew there was just SO! MUCH! MORE! to our God than we tend to even think or imagine. 

I began to list a few more things that my God is (these aren't in any order)...

Untamable

Uncontainable

Unstoppable

Surprising

Constant

Unimaginable

Unpredictable (in action, but predictable in character - the same yesterday, today, forever!)

All-powerful

Unfailing

Fearsome 

Holy

Undefiled 

Unbridled

Unfettered

Undomesticated

Uncultivated

Unsubdued

Uncontrollable

Unseen (yet, strangely enough - SEEN)

Unknown (yet, strangely enough - KNOWN)

The One who will one day set all things RIGHT! RIGHTEOUS JUDGE!

...and, because He is all these things, I am UNABLE to wrap my mind around this God I bow the knee to and serve. 

If I had to pick one word to describe Him, well, it would be a toss up between MYSTERIOUS and WILD!

I'm certain, like me, you noted all those "un" prefixes above. 

"UN," meaning not, or opposite of.

Like 7-up, the "un-cola," my GOD is the "un-god..."

He is not like any little 'g' god I might conjure up to bring me happiness - money, family, home, security, ministry, influence, health, looks...____________________ (fill in the blank).

BUT,

BECAUSE HE IS an "UN-god," 

I CAN TRUST HIM WITH MY EVERYTHING! 

That's why my professor wanted me to remember to never forget who my God is and what He has done for me.

IN REMEMBERING, I TRUST HIM.

IN FORGETTING, I fail to trust Him, and spend my life fretting over the things that do not matter.

IN REMEMBERING GOD STAYS IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE TO ALL MY PROBLEMS:

He is oh-so-big and oh-so-mighty...

& they are oh-so-small!

Need Comfort? God Is...

For four weeks I have been mulling this verse over and over. 

I know exactly how long, because I've been praying through the psalms one at a time, and Psalm 46 popped up on the 16th of September.

I didn't read any further than verse 1. 

There, I stopped, as it grabbed and stuck to my brain, like the leech that once tightly gripped my arm as I floated peacefully down the Snake River one summer while in Washington. 

I couldn't seem to shake it...

Perhaps it had a lot to do with the timing of when the verse appeared and what was going on in our world a month ago.

Why fight it?

So, I pondered...

God is our refuge, our sanctuary, our safe place, when life feels overwhelming and when nothing makes sense.

He tucks us under the shadow of His wings, when we're troubled by circumstances without and there is turmoil within our souls, 

He draws us close to His side, and near to His heart. 

He is our calm in stormy seas; and, He invites us into a place of peace, where rest and restoration are possible (because He can sleep even when the waves are higher than the boat, He's the perfect one to show us how we can, too).

He is our hiding place. 

He is our haven of solitude, when we prefer to sail under the radar, unnoticed; when we need some privacy and a quiet place to process what's happening about us,  

God is our strength, our fortitude. When we really, really just want to throw up our hands, He, through the power of His mighty Spirit, keeps us steadfastly plodding along. 

With His strength, He helps us do the very next right thing in front of us. 

He is our very present help in times of trouble.

He is always with us; He never forsakes us or abandons us.

What a progression!

When we step into His presence, in that sacred place, secreted close enough to hear the rhythm of His heart - He strengthens us, develops us, then moves us into the work He has prepared for us.

But, more than anything, these two words simply jump off the page (or should):

GOD IS!

He EXISTS.

(Never question it.)

He is with us.

Always.

Today.

Right now.

Forever.

Not has been.

Not will be.

HE IS!

And, when we need His help, He's ALWAYS for us! 

What a verse of good cheer for these days in which we live.

Be comforted.

"Snow Sandals"

When we returned Stateside from living overseas in Kenya, we arrived at the peak of summer. So, weather-wise, it was no big transition for our kiddos to continue wearing shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops, which was their typical, daily "uniform." 

Granted, everything they owned was discolored from playing in red-clay dirt (no amount of washing could get that out of their clothes), too small, or out-dated in style; but, at least it was seasonal.

For their sakes, we picked up a few new items that were cleaner, fit better, and were a bit more culturally acceptable. However, when school started in the fall, and as temperatures began to drop, and drop, more and more; while, the girls switched to jeans, sweaters and boots, our son stuck to the shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops (especially, the flip flops).

I figured that would change as soon as the snow began to fly. Surely, his feet would get cold enough that he'd opt for long pants, socks, and, at least, some sneakers. 

Nope.

His feet weren't made for shoes, unless they were basketball shoes meant to be worn on a court. 

My African-hearted, American son wore his flip flops throughout the cold winter (every snowy day), into spring, and back into summer, once more. 

Apparently, his were all-weather-flip-flops.

His siblings, his friends, and I think even some of his teachers, began calling them Adam's "snow sandals." 

While we have had good laughs over his non-conformity to the ways of his Colorado home; there are a couple of spiritual lessons hidden behind Adam's shoes of choice:

1) We are strangers to this world. For most kids who grow up overseas, the word "home" is a relative term. Is it their passport country? Is it the country where their parents serve? Is it somewhere in between? One year, in our dorm, we had a young man whose mom was Swiss, dad - German, and he (mostly) grew up on the continent of Africa. He spoke five languages and was learning his sixth while at RVA. When we asked him where he called home, he thought for a moment, then replied, "America. Now, I've never been there, but I've gone to school with primarily American faculty, staff, and students, and think this culture fits best." Adam, as did our girls, grew up to be a mixture of America-culture and Africa-culture. They weren't exactly a "fit" anywhere.

As Jesus-followers, we are going to be strangers in this world, no matter where we live. We're a little bit the current culture where our sandals are planted; and a little bit other places we've made our home. BUT, these places are temporary. Our "home" is heaven...we've not been there yet, but the culture of the folks we hang around with (other Jesus believers) seems to"fit." Heaven is our home; and, that is where we are to fix our eyes. 

Don't conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:2). So, don't love the world or anything that is in it...For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life - is not from the Father, but is from the world. It is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).

2) We aren't to get too comfortable outside our heavenly home. We can try all we want to do what the world does, teach what the world teaches, twist God’s words to say what the world wants to hear, and, then, talk like the world talks, dress like the world dresses..."conform to the pattern of this world" as best we can. BUT, the Lord urges us, don't get comfortable in this world. Be OK with being a different, peculiar people, consider yourselves exiles. Remind one another daily, not to cozy up too much to the world's way of doing things. It's not only OK, it's better to be pilgrims that aren’t just cookie cutter images of the ways of the world in which we live.

I've been journeying through the first letter the Lord's disciple, Peter, wrote to those who prefer snow sandals to boots in the dead of winter. His encouragement is clear:

...you have been born again to a LIVING HOPE...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,  being kept in heaven for you... You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you may PROCLAIM the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. So, Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to refrain from those desires that wage war with your soul. Keep your conduct honorable, so that when the Gentiles look at you, they see your good deeds and GLORIFY GOD.  (1 Peter 1:3-4; 2:9, 11-12; emphasis mine)

So, if you've already put your flip flops away for winter, get 'em out, dust 'em off, and wear them as a reminder: 

On Goat-Intestines and Being Offensive

In light of last week's Jesus-Be-Jesus-In-Me post, an additional thought for this week...

During one of our midterm breaks at Rift Valley Academy (while our children were off on a little trip with their peers), Bay and I gathered several high school students and drove North to visit the family of a young man who was in our dorm. This family lived and served in quite a remote area; but had won the respect of the villagers, developed a great ministry with the people, and had started a little church.

This precious church actually met in a river bed, which was quite an adventure, in itself, with cows, goats, sheep, and their herders passing by throughout the worship and the word being preached. That, too, was a great experience for Bay and I. As folks crossed the river bed (which seemed quite the thoroughfare), they’d stop to listen to the worship, and more importantly, the gospel! It was obvious this was a normal occurrence and all the church members simply took it in stride.

Another first for us was staying in a little rondavel hut (a round house) built with mud and local materials. The top of the hut is cone shaped and thatched and was a typical home for the local folks. This one happened to be smaller, and the bedroom of our dorm son. We were comfortable (well, the bed wasn't quite long enough for Bay at 6'10," but we made do), and considered ourselves blessed with a roof over our heads (all the kids were sleeping outside next to the fire).

BUT...the one thing that sticks in my memory from that trip was our first meal together with our host family and many of the church members. They planned and celebrated our visit with a traditional goat roast.

As we all sat around on the ground, the men and women of the church, served us our meal on a simple torn piece of newsprint. Because we were special guests and they wanted to honor us, they gave Bay and I the prime part of the goat: intestine.

Somewhere I have tucked away a photo of me "enjoying" this meal (sure wish I could put my hands on it).

I'm not sure that the word, enjoy, defines that dinner correctly.

In the photo, you can clearly see that I'm carefully eating this exclusive delicacy.

With the first bite, I recognized I was in trouble. The squiggly, snake-like piece of meat on my "plate" was as tough as could be and the texture rubbery (to say the least). No matter how much I chewed, the meat didn't break down, but descended into my stomach in whole pieces, landing with a thud (at least I'm pretty sure I heard a thud).

More the problem, however, as I took my first bite, I couldn't help notice that the intestines still had remnants of manure.

😜

What I did not want to do was offend our hosts, who had gone to so much trouble and expense to serve us their very best.

So, I offered up a prayer for protection over my intestines and ate.

All of it.

Other than Bay, I don’t think anyone was any wiser to what was playing around in my head.

As I’ve contemplated this story over the course of the years that have passed by, the key sentence that pops out at me is this: I did not want to offend…

Word-Nerd Moment: 

To offend (Greek: proskopen) - an obstacle, a hindrance, a stumbling block that might anger someone, vex them, or turn them away. 

As one who felt called, sent by the Lord, to serve Him and His gospel, I never wanted to do anything in anyway to anyone that might offend and keep them from being open to TRUTH.

Before I finish, I do know this: Jesus offended people. Truth, even spoken with gentleness and kindness, will offend those who don’t want to hear it. Just a couple examples. Jesus offended by challenging the traditions of the Pharisees and Sadducees (He healed on the Sabbath, He let His disciples pick grain on the Sabbath), and, He confronted their hypocrisy.

However, of this I am certain, Jesus never offended someone because He was trying to exercise His rights or to promote Himself.

In fact, Jesus gave up all His rights and emptied Himself when He came to earth to serve others. He lived the definition of humility.

Back to my point. I think the question I’ve been asking MYSELF is this: 

Do I continue to eat goat-intestines-laced-with-manure and remain unoffensive for open dialogue about Scripture and gospel truth? 

Do I follow these admonitions from the Apostle Paul?

We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:3, TLB)

So, let’s stop condemning one another. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble or fall (Romans 14:13, NLT).

For you were called to freedom, brother. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13-14, ESV).

In this day and age, where social media gives us permission to say things that are probably more divisive than I might say to someone in person; and, in order to show love, look out for others interests, and give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps I need to go back to eating more intestines!

Jesus, Be Jesus in Me!

You?