Captured By A Camera

“. . . Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to

become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about

the righteous life that God desires.”

James 1:20 (NIV)

    “I am so embarrassed,” my friend greeted me as I opened my front door. “I just made a fool of myself today,” she continued. “That’s an everyday occurrence for me,” I smiled, “so just once isn’t too bad.” But there was no smile in return as she walked in, sat down on the sofa, and with her head in her hands, explained what had just happened.

    She had made an appointment to go to the principal’s office at school because she had received a report from the bus driver that her daughter, Sara, had been jumping over seats while the bus was in motion and had not listened to his repeated requests to sit down.

   “I was so angry when I walked into the office and never gave anyone a chance to speak,” she said. “I glared at the principal and the bus driver and told them that Sara was not a child who would  ever jump over bus seats nor would she disrespect her bus driver by not obeying what he told her to do.”

    At this point, as tears began to fall, she looked at me: “I followed that with a comment about how awful it was that they would accuse my daughter of doing such a thing and ended by saying that evidently someone was lying.” I took her hand and silently waited as she finished her story. “As I made that last statement, the principal leaned over and pushed the start button on his DVD player,” she quietly shared.

    “I watched what the bus camera had recorded. Sara. My daughter. Jumping over bus seats. Ignoring her bus driver’s repeated demands to sit down.”  Oh my. She looked at me as regret and shame poured from her eyes and onto her shirt. “I’m a Christian. A Christian! And today I was a horrible example of Jesus to everyone who heard me at the school.”

   Ever been there? Ouch. Me, too. Instead of memorizing James 1:20 from Scripture and putting it into practice every single day, I find myself changing the words around a bit so that it sounds more like this: “I am quick to become angry, quick to speak, and slow to listen.”

    When my mouth engages without ever consulting my Spirit, I know that, within minutes, regret is going to rise to the surface. Regret for what I said and for my very un-Christian behavior. That is why James 1:20 is so important for us all.

    My friend and I prayed together, and then she immediately went back to the school and personally apologized to both gentlemen. She also shared her shame about being a Christian and acting as she did. They were gracious and instantly offered forgiveness and mercy.

    We need to remember that, as Christians, we represent the Creator of the Universe. No matter what we say or do, there will always be someone watching and listening, even if we are never captured by a camera.

    Father, for every single situation that I face today, help me to remember that I am an example of your Son, no matter where I am. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever become angry or frustrated and shared everything that came to your mind without stopping to consider what you were saying?

• How did you feel afterwards as you thought about what you had just done?

Apply

• The next time you face a situation – no matter what the issue – mentally tell your lips that they are super glued together and open your ears to what is being said.

• Then picture everyone around you watching and listening to see if you will be a Christian example to them.

Power

• James 1:20 (NIV) “. . . Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

• Proverbs 15:18 (NIV) “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares.”

• Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

 

Are Your Eyes Open?

 “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands . . . Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” 

Psalm 119:10, 18 (NIV)

    I made a decision to have Lasik surgery on my eyes. For years, I had had a love/hate relationship with glasses and eventually contacts. They worked great during the day. That wasn’t the problem. It was at night that I struggled. I would wake up and look at the clock, but couldn’t see a thing without grabbing my glasses. That action woke me up even more, and I found myself wishing that I could actually see the numbers and then go right back to sleep.

    After my husband passed away, I was determined to have the eye surgery done. I was not used to being alone and had more than one night of being frightened of unidentified sounds and not being able to see the cause. 

    My rationale for the surgery went something like this: if someone broke into my home and tried to attack me, I would have to say, “Excuse me, but could you stand there for just a minute so I can put on my glasses and see you clearly to hit you with my bat?” Instead, with the eye surgery, I could just grab the bat and whack the intruder in the head before he knew what happened!

    The last straw came when I was showering and could not read the words on the bottle on the shower shelf. Did it say body wash or body scrub, or was it a shampoo? With my glasses on, I realized that I was trying to read French on the bottle! Problem solved, but who wears glasses in the shower?

    May I just say that having the eye surgery was fantastic! I loved being able to see my clock at night without glasses or contacts. I felt more confident that I could quickly see what was causing noises in my home, and I didn’t make the mistake again of trying to read what I thought was English on a bottle in the shower.

    But as great as it is, Lasik is not always perfect. I bought an umbrella with “gold” stamped on the package because it coordinated with my brown jacket, and realized when I got home that it actually said “golf.”

    David was referring to his spiritual – not physical - eyes as he asked God to reveal the wonderful truth in His instruction in Psalms. Notice he did not pray, “God, make your word easy and simple to understand.” Or “Give me something that I can read in 60 seconds so I can get on with my day.”

    He knew that there was so much more that he needed to learn. And he also knew that he could not keep God’s commands if he did not know what they were. David was constantly learning about a Father who loved him so deeply, and he longed to know Him even more.

    What about you? Do you long to know more about the inheritance waiting for you? Do you have questions about death or life or health or money or a million other things? It’s all there, in God’s Word. Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes, just as He did with David, so you can experience all the wonderful things He has in store for you.

    Father, too many times I do not ask you to reveal your word to me so that I can see with my heart what you want me to learn. Help me to experience you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like the Bible was just too hard to understand, and you felt like giving up on it?

• Did you ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes so you could understand the message in His Word to you?

Apply

• As you read Scripture, write down verses that you do not understand.

• Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He is saying to your heart. Share with a prayer warrior and discuss the verses together, using a Bible concordance.

Power

• Psalm 119:10, 18 (NIV) “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands . . . Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

• Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV) “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength…”

• Psalm 19:8 (NIV) “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

Are you Password-Protected?

 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do for it is the wellspring of life."

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

    Forgetting the password that protects a computer can cause a mountain of problems, but that's exactly what I did. How in the world could I have forgotten? I log on to it every single day because I am a writer, and that’s where I work. I don’t give my password a second thought because it’s second-nature to me. Almost like a section in my brain that silently speaks the unspoken to my fingers; I type, almost without thinking, and I am “in.” But I had forgotten.

    At first, I was sure the answer would come to me. “How hard can it be?”  I asked myself as I tried one password after another and was immediately informed that what I had entered was wrong. I tried again . . . and again . . . and again. Finally, frustrated, I made a cup of hot tea and pouted on my sofa.   

    I suddenly remembered that, as little kids, we would have our bedrooms “password-protected” and would not let anyone else in unless they knew what it was. And why a password to get in? Because we had priceless items hidden there: a diary, coins dug out from under the sofa cushions after  “company” had left, notes from a girlfriend or boyfriend.   It was simple: you don’t know the password, you are not coming into my room.

    Our world is drowning in passwords for almost everything we have: cell phones, garage doors, cars, laptops, email accounts, online banking, online shopping, security systems, and social media - just to mention a few. And the answer to the question “Why protect them all with a password is simple: to keep OUT whatever is not supposed to come in and destroy.

    Then I realized that we have something else that must absolutely be password-protected 24/7: our hearts. From what? How about the “viruses” of gossip, porn, hate, pride, greed, and envy, just to name a few. The password to protect your heart from all these “viruses” is only one word, but it’s the only word you need: Jesus. 

   You might think you are completely safe with that password, and you are, as long as you use it. But when you allow the world around you to replace Him, viruses immediately sneak in. How is that possible? Let me explain. Jesus protects you from un-Godly things in this world. He offers peace, patience, self-control, love and kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.  

    Your job is to stay focused on Him, no matter where you are or what you are doing. But if you allow the eyes of your heart to ignore or look away from Him, or to replace His presence, you invite the viruses I mentioned earlier to come in.  And once they have dug a place in your heart, it will be harder to remove them. 

    The most important thing in our lives that must have a password is our hearts, and there is only one password to protect us for eternity. Speak the password of your heart with confidence. You will never forget it: One Word. One Message. One Savior. One Password. Jesus. 

    Father, thank you for your gift of Jesus, the Savior of my life and all that I need. Help me to focus on Him every single day. In Jesus’  Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• When you face tough decisions, where do you turn first? To the protector of your heart or to someone who shares an opinion or advice?

• Can you think of a time that you pushed aside your Password and let “viruses” into your heart? 

Apply

• Write “Password Protected” at the top of the first page in your Bible.

• Praise Him for His protection of your heart. Share this with your family. 

Power

• Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

• I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

• Matthew 6:21 (NIV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

   

No Fine Print

 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

   When my oldest daughter became engaged, she immediately attended every wedding fair and bridal show within a 200-mile radius. Part of the attraction of many of the booths?  Free drawings for everything from a honeymoon to wedding photos to cakes.

   The only requirement for each one was to sign your name, address, and phone number on entry tickets. So, she signed up for literally hundreds of “free” offers. There was only one problem – but it ended up being a big one.

   A free signup for a wedding dress had a very small sentence with an even smaller font at the end of the form that stated, “The signer agrees to switch his/her phone service to Rainbow Phone Exchange.”

   My daughter had not read the fine print of that sentence and had signed her name along with my home phone number. Imagine my surprise when, a month later, I received my phone bill from a new company with double the rate of the previous one.

   It occurred to me that Ephesians 2:8-9 does not contain any hidden fine print, but I often act as if it is there when it comes to God’s gift of grace to me.

   My human thinking says that somewhere in the Word there must be tiny letters at the end of a chapter that says “Come to me after you have taught a Bible study and fed the poor and not missed a day of church and not sinned for an entire day, and I will accept you.” In other words, after you have done a certain number of good deeds, you will have earned your salvation from God.

   Nowhere in the Bible are there hidden conditions to God’s gift of grace. When you become the “signer” and hand your life over to the Lord in faith, you do not have to fear the hidden fine print with a list of “must be good enough first” items. Grace cannot be earned and is not deserved. But it IS a gift of love given to us, through faith, from our Father.

   It took several days of long phone conversations for me to get my phone returned to the original company and the form with the fine print to be deleted. But it only takes an act of faith to receive the gift of grace from God.

   Father, I do not understand your love gift of grace, but I accept it now and thank you with all my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

•  Have you ever felt like you needed to “do” something to earn grace from the Lord?

• Does Scripture say anywhere that grace must be earned?

Apply

• Journal Ephesians 2:8-9 and underline the word “grace.”

• Thank the Lord that salvation does not depend on you but rather on God’s desire to save you by His grace.

Power

• Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

• II Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

• Romans 11:6 (NIV) “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” 

Let Go!

 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” 

Luke 9:25 (NIV)

   Trying to capture a monkey is not at the top of my bucket list, but I could not put down an article detailing a unique way to catch monkeys alive and unharmed in the jungle so they could be delivered to zoos. Trappers had tried several different devices, including nets. But they were concerned that the small animals could be hurt if they became entangled in the webbing, so they devised a clever solution.

    The trappers built several small boxes and placed a banana inside each one. Each box was then nailed shut, but not before a hole was drilled on one side, just large enough for a monkey to reach in with its hand. The boxes were then placed on the ground around trees and left there.

   Once the trappers left, the monkeys quickly converged to examine the boxes. Finding a banana in each one, they immediately reached in to pull it out. They tugged and pulled on the banana, but it wouldn’t budge. The opening was just big enough for a little hand to reach in, but not for a little hand clinging tightly to a banana to come out.

   As soon as the trappers returned, the monkeys immediately tried to flee, but they could not. The reason? They would not let go of the bananas! They would scream and screech and twist and pull as they attempted to escape. Every monkey simply had to do one thing: let go of the banana . . . but they refused to do so and were captured.

    I see myself in that article. That box represents this world that we live in. And it’s not a banana that I want to hold on to with all my strength. It’s being in physical shape, or being wealthy, or owning a bigger home, or a newer car, or a more important career. It is power, and prestige, and prominence in the community.

    And all the while, Jesus is calling to me, “Let go. It is nothing compared to what I have to offer you. It’s a trap!” but I keep holding on and pulling and tugging as I convince myself that happiness exists when I have a firm grip on all those earthly things.

   Consider this: if the trappers did not come back and the monkey continued to hold on to the banana, he would soon find that it would begin to spoil and rot, and would not be anything that he would even consider eating. That is, unless he is eaten first by the wild animals around him as he holds on to nothing. So it is with me and my grip on all the empty promises of this world. 

    Holding on to what is temporary and worthless compared to that which is eternal and priceless will never have a good outcome. Just as there is a part of us that wants to yell, “Let go of the banana!” after reading the article, even more so, the Lord is prompting us to let go of the fake possessions here on earth and focus on the precious treasures He has prepared for us in heaven.

    Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporary things of this world instead of what you are offering me: life for eternity with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are you holding on to in your life because you consider it to be important?

• How does it compare to what Jesus is offering you?

Apply

• Make a list of everything in this world that you consider most important in your life.

• Next to each entry, journal what Jesus offers you instead, and a Scripture that speaks to His offer.

Power

• Luke 9:25 (NIV) “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

• I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

• Colossians 3:2 (NIV) “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

 

In the Morning, Lord? But It's Too Early!

 “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

   When my children were small, I had absolutely no time to myself. From the moment they woke up until they fell asleep at night, I heard “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom” from three kids ages 5, 3, and almost 1. There is an old saying that having children is like being pecked to death by a chicken. I am convinced that whoever said that had three kids like mine. 

    I could not even take a soaking bubble bath without three little ones watching me and asking for a sandwich, a puppy, a drink of water, or another brother. I would give up on the bubble bath and pray “Lord give me strength – and patience – and more of both!” as I made sandwiches, got each one a drink, and explained - again - why they were not getting another brother or a puppy. There did not seem to be one minute, much less 30, that I could spend reading my Bible and in prayer.

   That is. until one day, when I was whining to the Lord that I just couldn’t fit time with Him into my “busy” schedule, and He suggested to my heart the unthinkable: get up at 5 a.m. every morning for quiet time with Him. What?! Are you kidding me?

   At first, my mind and body refused to consider such a radical idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized He was right. If I truly wanted to have any time alone with the Lord, it would have to be early in the morning, before anyone was awake.

   Can I be honest with you? The first week, I got up with an attitude. “This had better be good,” I would mumble to the Lord. Then I would make a cup of hot tea, grab my Bible, an ink pen, and paper, and curl up in our oversized recliner in the living room. And wait on the Lord. And wait. And wait. Then something happened.

   I began to sense that the Lord was waiting on me. I was physically up early each morning to be with Him, but spiritually I was still asleep. So I flipped my Bible open to Psalms, and it fell on chapter 5, verse 3: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

   Not only was the Lord waiting to hear my voice, but He wanted to hear what my day was all about! Just as David had done countless times, I, too, should have been starting my day by sharing with God everything going on in my life and then quietly waiting on His answers. I was too busy grouching about getting up early to meet the Creator of the Universe! Shame on me.

   Now I truly know that we can’t all get up at 5 a.m. to spend time with the Lord. Different jobs and hours can make that almost impossible. But I would encourage you to begin your day – whether it’s at 11 p.m. or 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. – by talking with the King of Kings. Praise Him for his love and mercy. Share what is on your mind. Lay your requests before Him, and allow Him to speak to your heart. Quietly listen for His nudging. He will never disappoint.

   The problems you face before your prayer time may still be there after you talk with the Lord. But you will gain strength and courage to face each one just by knowing He listens and answers – even early in the morning.

    Father, forgive me for making excuses for not seeking you before my day begins. May I never forget to begin my day with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are some of the excuses you have made for not spending time with the Lord before your day begins?

• Are any of those excuses more important than a few minutes of prayer?

Apply

• For one week, set your alarm and get up 30 minutes early to meet with the Lord. Make a list of activities and possible problems for each day and lay them down at the Cross.

• Ask God to speak to your heart. Journal His answers and thank Him for His faithfulness.

            Consider setting aside time for the Lord as your #1 priority.

Power

• Psalm 5:3 (NIV) “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

• Mark 1:35 (NIV) “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

• Psalm 63:1 (NIV) “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

 

The Voice of the Father

 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 (NIV) 

    The high school tennis match was intense and fierce. Both girls were obviously competitors, but I noticed that one appeared to slowly but firmly begin to dominate the other. Encouragement from the large crowd was all around, the voices loud and strong. Emotions were being offered up with each serve, each return, each miss. And then I heard his voice.

   It had a deep, rich sound - but I noticed something else. The owner of the voice was confident, calming, and quietly encouraging in what he was saying. “You are doing fine. You are strong. She is good, but wait until she sees your backhand and your serve. Take a deep breath. You are going to be okay.” That’s when I saw the owner of the voice.

    Words spoken softly by a father, meant only for the girl who was struggling on the court to hear:  his daughter. And hear she did. I watched her do exactly what he said. She paused, took a deep breath, and nodded ever so slightly as if to say, “I heard you. Thank you.” 

   I couldn’t help but watch the father. He was sitting in a lawn chair a few feet away from his daughter, but he was not leaning forward, stressing at her every move on the tennis court. Instead, he was relaxed, calm, and confident in what she could do. 

    He knew that his daughter had panicked and was struggling to focus on her skills, training, and ability. And he was right. As the girl listened to her father’s voice, she regained her composure and her confidence and ended up beating the other girl to win that set, the next ones,  the match, and the tournament. She knew her father’s voice. She had heard it before. She knew he spoke the truth and that he could always be trusted to lead her in the right way. 

    My heart instantly focused on God’s voice. He is never panicked, never worried, never afraid, and never rushed. Never once has God spoken to my heart to “hurry this second and do what I say or something bad will happen!” He is never wrong and has had to correct His directions for me on the journey He has me on. Not once. 

    The world, on the other hand, is full of opinions and worries and fears and bad advice.  People - sometimes even friends - will steer you toward the opposite of God’s plan for you.  And the only way you will know 100% what you should do is to listen to the voice of the Father. How will you recognize His voice in the loud craziness of this world? By being in His Word daily. By talking to Him in prayer. By asking Christian prayer warriors to hold you accountable. By ignoring the advice of the world that you can do whatever you want to do.

    The voices all around us are loud and compete for our attention. They are full of opinions and advice and worry and fear and lies. As for me, the only one I need to listen to is the Voice of the Father. 

   Father, help me to stay in your word and in your presence daily so the only voice I will listen to is your voice of truth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever had a situation with several opinions and voices and you struggled to decide what to do?

• Did you pray and ask the Lord to speak truth to your heart, or did you listen to the world?

Apply

• Pray daily for guidance with each decision you have to make. Be patient. 

• Remember that God never panics or makes mistakes; wait on His answer.

Power

• John 10:27 (NIV) “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

• John 10:14-15 (NIV) “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep.” 

• Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.”