Drop The Rocks

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

As I lay in bed one night, another night of sleeplessness, I found my mind rehearsing a speech I so wish I could give. I must confess I have not yet mastered the discipline of throwing off worry and I often become anxious at the way things are in our world. So, I lay there, going over and over in my mind the words I wish I could say if I had the opportunity.  The topic changes depending on that day’s happenings.  But most recently, I can’t get away from this topic.

My audience? Everyone. Including myself. The scene? Someone speaking, hurling derogatory statements at the one they see at fault. They stand there self-righteously tossing their stones up in the air from one dirty hand to another, eager to throw.  As I stand up to this speaker, I would start my speech something like this:

In the Words of our Savior, “Let he without sin cast the first stone.”

No, the person you are speaking of is not perfect. Neither am I. Neither are you. In fact, the only Perfect One to have ever and will ever walk this earth is the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

“No, I’m not perfect, but I’m better than they are,” they say, pointing their finger at their target.

But guess what? When you stand before God, He is not going to compare you to the one you are trying to be better than. No. He will be looking at you and looking to His Son.

“Does this one belong to You?” the Father asks the Son.

Because you see, Christ died for everyone. Scholars say that Christ was hanging naked on the cross. I beg to differ. I believe all my filthy, sin stained garments that I, at times, try to find enjoyment in wearing, was thrown on Christ. Yours were, too. So often when we think of sin, we think of the ugly, “big” sins. Murder. Robbery. Rape. But no. In God’s eyes, sin is sin. Not just those “big” sins, but every harsh word on our tongues, every unkind thought in our mind, every impatient breath we blow out, every little lie we speak, every attitude of pride that keeps us from apologizing or accepting apologies, are all filthy rags.

Imagine us all standing before the cross, tossing one stained and torn rag on Christ after another. Those rags formed a garment of death.

I wonder which sin thrown from which person was the last stitch in that ugly robe that shrouded Christ?

Those pieces of rags must have felt like stones thrown on Jesus. Then God had to turn His face from His perfect, sinless Child, not because of His nakedness, but because of the cloak of sin He wore.

But then, praise be to God that Christ rose again!  That sin stained garment is gone. And when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, His red blood washes us white as snow. Our sins are forgiven!

Will Christ recognize you when you stand before Him?  Will the Sacrificial Lamb see His red blood placed on you in exchange for your filthy rags and be able to say, “Yes, this one is Mine,” to the Father?

Or are you still wearing the filthy garments of sin that Christ died for?

God will see each of us as individuals, not comparing us with anyone else. It’s time we drop the rocks. None of us are good enough to throw them.

Check out this song, “Rocks,” by The Isaacs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQDCnKvAi74

Fake Flowers

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!​​

We have several flower beds around our house and out in our yard.  Life has been so busy that I haven’t had time to get out and work in the yard like I would have liked to. Or needed to. Weeds and flowers seemed to have grown a foot overnight.  One day when I finally had a little bit of time to try to pull some weeds, I noticed how much some of the weeds resembled flowers.  Especially before flowers actually bloom, some of the green leaves of the flowers are hard to tell apart from the weeds growing alongside of them.  I took my time to determine which green shoots to pull up and which ones to leave alone and let grow. 

I started thinking about those weeds as fake flowers.  They were growing just as fast and looking very close to the real thing, but they were still just weeds.  Some of the weeds actually do have pretty flowers once they bloom.  And when one of my grandchildren comes running to me with a dandelion in their hand and a big smile on their face, saying they picked the pretty flower just for me, well, then it’s more special than the most beautiful rose in the world!

But as I pondered over the fake flowers, I thought of how often people are fake. We all, at some point or in some ways, are not always genuine.  We may put a smile on our face when greeting others when all we really want to do is have a good cry.  Sometimes being fake is living out the phrase that we need to, “fake it ‘til you make it.”  To persevere under stressful situations until we get through those situations.

However, there are also people who are fake, pretending to be someone they truly are not.  They are intentionally trying to deceive others for their own personal gain or other ungodly reasons.  So how do we tell the difference?

Examination.  Just as I looked closely at the real flowers to compare with the fake ones, we can examine the fruit that is produced.  Like I have heard someone say before, “We shouldn’t judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors!”

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Matthew 7:15-20 NIV

As we see all of the flowers and trees during this time of year, may we all do a little self-examination.  If we have received Christ and He lives within our heart, then the fruit we produce will give evidence to that fact.  May we bloom and produce a beautiful fragrance that draws other to Him!

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing reminders of how we are to live in everything we see.  Even pulling weeds can teach me so much.  I want to look like You, Lord!  Help me to bear fruit so that others know I belong to You.  May I live in a way so that others never question if I am real or fake! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For more encouragement, visit Joan at joanwalkerhahn.com.

© 2019 by Joan Walker Hahn.  All rights reserved.

Lessons Learned From Blackberries

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!​​

I had been fighting the briars for years. Every spring and summer they would appear and I would pull them up. What I couldn’t pull up, I would cut off as close to the root as I could. But one spring, life had been so busy that I hadn’t spent much time cleaning out the flower beds. Before I knew it, the briars had completely taken over a group of purple irises. Then I noticed the vines were full of small, green blackberries. I figured I might as well leave them alone and enjoy the blackberries once they ripened.

One Saturday morning I went to pick the berries that had ripened. The ones easily visible were mostly small. But as I began pulling some of the branches and leaves out of the way, I discovered larger berries.  I had thought there would only be a small handful ready to pick, but I ended up picking enough to eat and to make a blackberry cobbler on Sunday.

The berries that had been more visible had not been as protected by the leaves as the larger berries I had to pull branches and leaves away from to see.  Those small berries had still gotten ripe, but were smaller because of being exposed to the hot sun and lack of rain.  Insects and birds had eaten on those berries more in the open, too.  But the berries hidden within the branches and leaves were plumper and sweeter.  They had been protected from the sun and birds.

As I was picking those larger berries, several verses came to mind.

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5 (NIV)

And one of my favorites:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.  Psalm 91:1-3 (NIV)

In Christ, we are protected from the enemy.  As we rely on Him as the life-giving, life-preserving, main branch, we are able to produce the fruits of the Spirit.  And as we allow Him to be our shelter and rest in Him, we are kept safe from being consumed by the dark forces of sin.  Yes, we still have to face trials, but we will overcome each one.

Perhaps you feel entangled by worries like the briars strangling out my flowers. Maybe you are struggling to live a Godly life.  Remember that when we accept Christ as our Lord, we are grafted into the family of God.  We need to allow Him full control of every aspect of our life.  Then, like that main vine of blackberries that produced many branches full of fruit, we, too, can become productive for Christ.  Allow God to fend off the enemy as you rest within Him.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the promise that when we allow You full control, You can use us to produce much fruit.  I’m also grateful for the shelter and protection You give us against the enemy.  May we continue to remain in You and not try to handle this life on our own, for we know apart from You, we can do nothing!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Alone In A Crowd

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!​​

Have you ever been in a group of people but still felt all alone?  I have many times.  Often it was because I was enveloped by deep shadows of depression.  Sometimes it was because of the situation I was in and feeling no one could understand.  At other times it was because I kept to myself, feeling insignificant and unworthy of friendship.

There was a woman in the Bible who I believe must have felt that loneliness.  She was a widow and had just lost her son.  In those days, a widow who was childless often became destitute with no one to take care of her financially. 

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”   Luke 7:11-16 NIV

I noticed a couple things in this passage.  First, the woman didn’t approach Jesus.  He went to her.  Perhaps she didn’t see Him or recognize the Miracle Worker that had just arrived in town.  In many of the miracles Jesus performed, people came to Him asking for that miracle.  Not so in this case.  Jesus saw the woman first and went to her. 

Secondly, the passage said there was a large crowd with the woman.  In a crowd that size and because of the tradition of mourners wailing loudly, there must have been many women crying.  I wondered how Jesus immediately spotted the mother.  Of course, we know that He sees all.  Even in the midst of a large crowd, He knows each of us as individuals and sees our needs. 

And thirdly, Christ, Himself, certainly knows what if feels like to be alone in a crowd.  The one time that stands out in my mind is when He didn’t want to be alone.  He asked His closest disciples, His dearest friends, to go with Him to pray.

And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?”   Matthew 26:37-40 NKJV

Three times Jesus looked to His friends who were there for support, and each time He saw them asleep.  Can you imagine how alone He felt?  We can learn by looking at Christ how to handle those moments.

First, Christ continued to pray.  He kept returning to His Father for comfort.  We, too, can always find comfort in our heavenly Father when we feel no one else understands.

And then, Christ trusted the Father’s will.  Even though His flesh wanted a way out of the suffering, He knew the Father’s plan was perfect and relinquished Himself to that plan.  When we keep our trust in God, everything always works out for our good and His glory.

 As long as we cling to Christ, we will never be alone!

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing me! Even when I feel so small and unnoticed, You see my heart and hear my pleas. Help me to keep my trust in You and Your plan for my life. May I always feel Your presence and know that I’m not alone.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Choose Better

Published on by Joan Category: Dad's Journey

I’ve had many folks asking how my Dad is doing. We appreciate all the inquiries and the continual prayers.

Dad’s 4th chemo treatment was the last week of May. Because it was Memorial Day on that Monday, he went 4 days that week and had the last of 5 days of treatment on June 3.  After that, he had a PET scan on June 11.  That scan revealed there was slight improvement in some of the lymph nodes but there were still several in his chest that had not cleared up.  The doctor discussed with Dad how difficult the treatments had been.  Even though, on paper, he is 78 years old, his body has aged by two years due to the side effects of chemo.  So it is like his body is that of an 80 year old.

They discussed the fact that this rare form of cancer, T-cell lymphoma, is aggressive and will continue to come back even with treatment.  The pros and cons were openly discussed of continuing treatment or ending chemo. For now, Dad has chosen to stop treatment.  He will continue to go regularly to have his port flushed and blood work done.  His next appointment with the doctor is three months away, at which point a scan may be scheduled.  If the cancer has progressed, he can chose to begin treatment once more.

My Dad made that decision with the doctor on the week before he had been scheduled to start another round of chemo.  He was immediately relieved that he did not have to endure another week of feeling sick and exhausted beyond description.  Each day that week when he was able to get outside and do anything, he would tell Mom that he would not have been capable of doing that task if he had continued with treatment.

Now, he has some days when he feels good and is able to get out and do things.  He can mow a little bit and rest.  He can clean out a stopped up drain pipe, then rest.  Other days, his 80 year old body doesn’t feel strong at all.  His legs are the biggest problem, feeling like he has little strength at times to walk any distance.  Yet, days spent sitting on the carport visiting with neighbors who stop by have been enjoyed.  He and Mom keeping hummingbird feeders filled so they can enjoy watching the birds.  Visits from family and just getting out and riding around have occurred.  Small things have been enjoyed that he would not have felt up to doing had he still been taking treatments.

The feelings have been a mixture of relief and worry. Of anxiousness and peace.  It is after all, ultimately Dad’s decision.  It’s been hard on Dad, enduring the harshness of the treatments and it’s been hard on family members watching it.  It’s nice seeing him getting out and doing things, even though there is a limit to how much he can do. 

As I have tried to process all the varying emotions, one Bible story kept coming to mind.

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)

We have so many decisions in our life that we have to make each day.  Some we make involuntarily and without any thought at all.  Other decisions that affect our life, we need to make carefully.  The most important decision we will ever make is whether or not to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  But even after that, we still must chose each day whether or not to follow His leading.  Mary and Martha both loved Jesus.  And even though Martha was doing well to serve the Lord, Mary had chosen what was better, to spend time with Him. 

My Dad could have chosen to take treatments until all the cancer was gone.  But the side effects were grueling.  He was unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of any task because of feeling so bad.  He chose what was better for him.  To enjoy the summer, doing whatever he feels like doing each day. He chose feeling up to sitting around spending time with family and friends in conversation, rather than lying in a bed from feeling too sick to set up. 

We do not know what the future holds.  None of us do.  So each day we need to choose the better thing.  Spend time with the Lord.  Spend time with family.  Enjoy simple tasks.  Choose better.

I Love You, Dad!

Is It Worth It?

Published on by Joan Category: Dad's Journey

I have to admit right up front that I have really struggled writing this.  The older I have gotten, the more pain and suffering I see and hear people having to deal with, the more I see how far away from God people get, the more I long for the day I enter into eternity with Christ. 

Although I can’t say I truly understand all my Dad has felt and gone through in his fight against cancer, I can see it’s been hard.  I’ve heard about the struggles others have had in trying to decide whether to continue treatment options to hopefully prolong life or to just allow nature to take its course. I also know from experience the depth of despair caused by depression and the feeling of just wanting to give up.  It seems every which way I look, someone is struggling with something.

I would dare say at some point in every person’s life, the question has been asked, “Is it really worth it?”

My Dad had another round of chemo the last week of May.  Since Monday was Memorial Day, he went Tuesday through Friday, had Saturday and Sunday off, then had the 5th treatment on Monday.  He felt really bad Friday night and over the weekend.  His legs feel very weak and keeps him from being able to walk very much at one time.  When he does walk, he’s sometimes unsteady and wobbly.  He’s felt nauseous and has had chills. 

When I went to visit Mom and Dad on Sunday before his last treatment on Monday, we talked about how he felt.  I had debated whether or not to ask him the question I had been pondering for so long. Maybe I thought waiting until the treatments were over and he was in remission once again would allow him to give me a more favorable response.  But asking him the question when he felt so bad worried me.  However, the opportunity arose and I asked.

“Is it worth it, Dad?”

His answer was immediate.  “Well, sure it is.”

He went on to discuss with me how the doctor had said he was helping a lot of people.  The type of lymphoma he has is so rare and how he is responding to the specific type of chemo being used is being noted.  A neighbor recently visited Dad and told him how Dad was an inspiration to him.  Through the blog posts and entries in Facebook my sister-in-law and I have written about him, many people have been blessed with how God has worked in the lives of both Mom and Dad.  The wonderful workers at Levine Cancer Center have been both blessed and been a blessing. So yes, it was worth it.

However, just believing that our struggles are worth going through if it glorifies God, doesn’t make the struggles any easier. Discouragement is still present. Physical, as well as, emotional weakness exists. So how do we reconcile staying positive that God is in control with the sense of defeat and wanting to give up? The answer to this question is the same answer to every question a Christian ever asks.  Jesus.   Just, Jesus.

Anytime I start thinking about writing something, I ponder over it a good while before I actually begin writing.  As I stated to begin with, this time I really struggled.  Because my mind would go from pondering this big question about our struggles being worth the pain, then my mind would picture Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I think we often forget that Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God, struggled in His human body as He faced going to the cross. He knew exactly what He was going to have to endure.  He knew the pain and suffering that would be inflicted upon Him.  He knew.  And in His human state, He fell on His face to the ground, and in great anguish he was sweating drops of blood.  He asked His Abba if what He knew was coming could be taken from Him.  And this is where the thought kept going through my mind. 

In His great anguish, was Jesus seeing my face and contemplating, “Is it worth it?”

Selah. (Think about that.)

This is why I have struggled so.  After all that Christ endured for me, after saying to God the Father, “Yet not my will, but Thine be done,” – how in the world can I complain about anything God asks of me?  If depression is my battle for life, then may God get glory from it.  If sickness or other struggles arise, then praise God anyway. Anything we have to face in this world will never compare to what Christ endured for us.  Thinking about all that has brought me to my knees.

May we remain faithful to accept the plan God has already ordained for our lives.  May we remember always what Christ did for us.  May we praise God for using every situation for our good and, most importantly, for His glory.

So you were right, Dad.  Well, sure it is.  It’s most definitely worth it.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”     Matthew 26:36-46 NIV 

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.    Luke 22:41-44  NIV 

Why?

Published on by Joan Category: Dad's Journey

Dad handled the second round of chemo a little better than the first.  During the first round, by the fourth and fifth day, he was very weak and nauseous.  The second round didn’t hit him that hard – until the weekend.  He has felt weak and not up to doing a whole lot at a time. It’s been a struggle.

Another bad thing about chemo is the affects it has on parts of the body not affected by cancer.  Like teeth.  One tooth was to the point of just crumbling away, so he had to have it pulled.  He had already had one pulled prior to beginning chemo this time.  He has several places in his mouth now where he has no teeth at all.  Mom has kept him supplied with mashed potatoes and homemade puddings.  When the family gathered together for lunch on Easter Sunday, he still could not eat anything that couldn’t be mashed up to a soft state because of the soreness and fewer teeth to chew with.

It’s hard to understand sometimes why certain things happen in this life.  I struggled a lot with the “why Dad?” question when he first got sick.  I guess that was a big reason for beginning the series of blog posts that I have written about him.  I had to find a purpose, a reason to praise God in the midst of what seems to be, really, just plain unfair.  I had to keep remembering that God didn’t promise us life would be fair.  He did, however, promise us His Best. 

Stop and think.  If we could choose, and some have, would it be better to have things go perfectly here, being able to enjoy every pleasure this world can offer in exchange for an eternity without Christ?  Or, choosing a life with struggles, knowing that eternity with a perfect Savior will be more than this world can possibly offer?  This life is just a vapor.  Focusing on eternity with Christ is way sweeter than whatever temporary sweetness this life can offer without Him. 

So, have we figured out the why, yet?  No, not exactly.

One day when Dad finished his treatment, a lady was there sitting with her friend who was receiving treatment. The lady had recognized my Dad and told her friend he was a preacher. The lady taking treatment asked him if he was still preaching anywhere.  Dad told her that he wasn’t because of his health.  She then asked, “You still pray?”

Dad assured her that he did.  She asked him to pray for her.  So there in the treatment room, a small group of people, including two patients besides my Dad, formed a circle holding hands and he prayed.

I look back over the last few years and see so much that my Dad has had to go through.  And there is still much in front of him to have to endure.  But could it be that my Dad was there in that place, that very day, for that very reason?  To offer encouragement and a prayer to a God who hears and is faithful in an unfair world? Or maybe, someone among the many who have prayed for him through the years and have been touched by his story, maybe they were encouraged and challenged to draw closer to the Lord.

We could sit and play the guessing game, we could keep asking “why” all day long, but that doesn’t accomplish anything.  But when we leave the accomplishing up to God, much can happen.  He promises His Word will not return void.  So, if we continue to honor Christ, praising Him for the comfort and peace He has given, trusting Him to bring healing once again, and then praise Him for that healing when it comes, His Word will be proclaimed over and over.

Dad will start his third round of treatment on Monday, April 29th.  Please continue to pray for him.

This struggle is not in vain, Dad. It’s not why, but Who.  And His purpose is being accomplished through you!

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.  11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.    Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV)

Turning Your Back

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions, Uncategorized

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16 NIV

The story of Ruth and Naomi has always been one of my favorite stories from the Bible.  The message of Boaz being Ruth’s kinsman redeemer is a direct portrayal of Christ being our Redeemer.  It’s a beautiful love story.  But the only way Boaz was able to be Ruth’s kinsman redeemer was because Ruth had turned her back on her homeland, her family and all that was familiar to her.  She had chosen to stay with her mother-in-law and move to a foreign country.  She had chosen to follow the God of Naomi.

I never had to make the choice to leave my family in order to follow Christ.  But some have.  Whether we’ve been blessed to have always lived in a Godly home or not, we still have to make decisions every day as to whether or not to follow Christ.  Before dismissing the idea and thinking to yourself, “Yea, yea, I’ve done that,” stop and really think about it.

Ruth completely separated herself from her home country.  More than likely she never saw her family and friends again.  Have we separated ourselves from the world?  Do we live according to the lifestyle revealed to us in God’s Word, or do we still live according to the ways of the world?  Are there people in our life that we need to stay away from in order to live the Christian life?  Is our life with God really different than the lives of those who do not profess Christ as their Lord?

Ruth chose to worship the God of Naomi, putting aside the idols and gods that were part of her life before.

What idols are we holding on to?  Do we pursue pleasure and spend time doing what we want to do more than we spend time with God?

Ruth received the love of the one who could redeem her.  Have we received the love that God is offering us?  Again, before we answer the question lightly and think, “Of course I have,” stop and think.  When we receive the love God offers us, it should be just like the bride that receives the love of her groom and commits herself to him and him only.  We are to cleave to God with all our hearts.  Have we given our love to something else more than to the Lord?  It may be easy to put God in front of the things we consider worldly.  But what about the things that God calls good?  Like our family and friends.  God is to be above all others and all things.

I’m burdened that we as believers in Christ, take our commitment too lightly.  I know I have many times.  We have so much at our fingertips and so many things to grab our attention.  Yes, we have commitments to work, to care for our families and homes.  But we should put as much effort into worshipping the One who gave us all we have, as we spend time enjoying those things.

No, we can’t spend every moment on our knees in prayer and praise.  But think about the love story.  Ruth was aware of Boaz’s presence even while she gleaned in the field.  He made sure that she was watched over as she worked.  We can be aware of God’s presence each moment of the day.  We can be attentive to His voice even as we go about our daily routines. 

Living a life with the Lord is the most beautiful love story ever!  We need to stop and really think about the relationship we have with Christ.  We ought to be willing to turn our backs away from everything in order to follow Him.  Are we living that kind of love story?

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be my Redeemer!  Help me to really examine my heart to make sure I am putting Christ first in everything.  If there are things I need to turn my back on, please reveal it to me.  I want to be completely committed to living this life of love with You!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Ant

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions, Uncategorized

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

Nothing upsets me any faster than seeing ants inside my house.  With all the recent rain we have had, it seems they have decided to come in out of the wet weather.  There is nothing to attract them except for a warm, dry place to live.

During my recent bout with them, this scripture about ants came to mind.  I have to admit I was not considering well of them at the time.  But this verse calls us to stop and think of them in a good way.  So let me try.

They are steadfast.  They are hard-working.  They work together. 

There.  Is that enough?  Well, the verse says to consider and become wise.  Which means to not just think about their characteristics, but to try to have those same characteristics. 

So I have to ask myself, am I steadfast? Here is a favorite verse of mine.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Isaiah 26:3 NIV

When my Dad was first going through cancer treatment, he brought this verse to my attention.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 NIV

We have no idea the things we may face, or how those things may end.  But if God, Himself, has promised to restore us and strengthen us, then that thought in our minds can help us to stand firm in Him.

Am I working for God?  I recall as a child when we had art, the teacher had everything prepared ahead of time.  She would come into our room and show us step by step how to make something.  The end result was something I would not have known how to do, but with her preparations and guidance, I was an artist!  It’s the same with God.  He has prepared everything for us.  We follow Him step by step and the end result is beautiful.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Do I help other believers? We are told in Hebrew 10:25 to not forsake assembling together with other believers.  It is through the joining together that we are encouraged and built up.

Yes, ants know what they are doing.  Though they still get me agitated.  But maybe that is also a good characteristic to have.  When we are around unbelievers, they ought to feel a little agitated.  Not because of something we are doing wrong, but because of us reflecting the characteristics of Christ. 

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV

It’s a good thing to feel agitation that leads to repentance.

So, as hard as it is to admit admiration for the critter, we should want to be like an ant for Christ.  To desire to be found faithfully working, steadfastly, for Him.  We need the encouragement and edification that comes from being around other believers, just as we can offer the same to them.  We should want to be so close to Christ that unbelievers are uncomfortable, yet attracted to the One living within us.  May we all consider kindly the ant.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us practical advice about how to live.  As we go about our daily lives, bring remembrances from Your Word to our mind to guide us, even if it means fighting with ants!  May we live a life that is steadfast and be busy doing the work You have prepared us for.  May we always point others to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Chair

Published on by Joan Category: Dad's Journey

The first month of the treatment cycle is almost over.  Dad had chemo for 5 days straight.  Monday and Tuesday were not too bad, but by Wednesday, each day was progressively worse.  By Friday, the nausea, weakness and other side effects were in full force.  The weekend and following week were not pleasant.  He felt week and unable to do much at all.  But over the next two weeks he grew stronger.  He was able to get outside and do some things he had been wanting to do. 

The Levine Cancer Center provides my Mom with a calendar for the entire month that shows each appointment time, location and purpose.  When Dad is scheduled to receive a chemo treatment, the calendar will state the time, location and states, “Chair #.”  There are 9 different chairs in the treatment room so the number can change.

One day as I was looking over the schedule, seeing the word “chair” caught my attention.  I had seen it listed that way many times from the last time Dad was going through treatments.  But somehow this time it made me stop and think.

 It draws attention to the fact that it’s not just another routine appointment.  It’s not just a short visit with a nurse to draw blood.  It’s not a time to speak with the doctor.  It’s a time to receive the treatment that all the other appointments had been preparing for.

As I thought about that, I thought about another chair, or seat, reserved for us.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV

When we receive Christ as our Savior, we are seated in heavenly places.  Even as we continue to live our lives on this earth, we have our own chair already placed with our name on it in heaven.  And every God appointment we experience on this side of heaven is preparing us for the day when we take that seat, our appointed place, for all eternity.  I don’t completely understand how we are already seated with Him and still be here, but it makes sense.  He takes up residence in us through the Person of the Holy Spirit so we are already in residence with Him in heavenly realms, as well.

Dad is scheduled to begin the next round of treatment on Monday in Chair 06.  I can’t say he’s looking forward to sitting in that chair.  I can say that the wonderful ladies that work at Levine try to make each visit as comfortable as possible.  They came to realize pretty quickly when he first was diagnosed with t-cell lymphoma that my Dad loves to pick.  So every time he goes, there is friendly conversations and picking taking place.  Somehow the laughter relieves the gravity of what’s taking place in his body.  It has meant a lot to him and my Mom, and all of us, how well they have treated him.

Sometimes we just can’t understand the reasons why certain things take place.  Why we have to sit in some of the “chairs” we find ourselves in.  Why some appointments we face are difficult to go through.  We can, however, rest assured that each appointment with troubles and trials, each chair we have to spend a little time sitting in, Christ is sitting right there alongside us.  After all, if we are already seated beside Him and since He lives within us, His chair is always right next to ours.  He’s there taking care of us in each situation just as the wonderful ladies take care of my Dad.

So now I must ask, do you have an assigned chair waiting on you?  Have you received Christ as your Savior and know for sure the Father has seated you in heavenly places? There won’t be any extra chairs to pull up next to Christ once we leave this earth.  We either have our chair reserved or we won’t have one at all.

But for now, Dad, your chair awaits.