Would You Say it To My Face?

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed,

or hidden that will not be made known. What you

 have  said in the dark will be heard in the

daylight, and what you have whispered

 in the ear in the inner rooms will

be proclaimed from the roofs.”

Luke 12:2-3 (NIV)

Cell phones can be a great way of communicating . . . most of the time. On the plus side, you don’t have to stay at home waiting for an important phone call because you can be reached no matter where you might be. But there can be a down side to them, too, as a girlfriend of mine found out several years ago.

She had received a call on her cell phone from Marie with questions about a party that was being planned. The conversation was a bit complicated because Marie’s sister was at her home to help plan the party so the conversation went from Marie to her sister, back to Marie and then to my friend.

Marie finally solved that problem: she put her cell phone on speaker so they could all hear the conversation at the same time. When they finally had everything planned out, Marie said “I’ll talk to you later” as my friend said “Okay.”

 The one catch? Marie forgot to hit the “end” button on her cell phone.

That in itself wouldn’t necessarily be bad because my friend could simply have hung up but she heard her name and started to answer, thinking that Marie had forgotten to ask her something. However, what she heard caused her to catch her breath and tears to roll.

The two women she had just talked to on the phone were discussing her and it was not a kind discussion. Their opinions left no item out of the conversation, from how poorly she decorated her home to her lack of cooking skills to her latest haircut.

As my friend heard the conversation move on to her husband and children she hung up, brokenhearted and incredibly sad at the comments of the two women.

I could not help thinking about today’s Scripture after she tearfully shared what had happened. “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight…”

Confession time, my friends. How many of us have made unkind comments and given our opinions about someone that would have crushed that person had we said it face to face?

 Me…I raise my hand here but not in a proud way. I am ashamed to say that I have made comments that would have hurt deeply the person I was talking about had they heard them. I am the one who has whispered judgment about someone that I would never ever want “proclaimed from the roofs.”

It is never okay to gossip and comment hurtfully about someone. As I comforted my friend and her broken heart, I also asked the Lord to forgive me for those things I have said that would hurt so deeply if repeated to the person.

Join me in memorizing Luke 12:2-3. And let us resolve to do everything we can to encourage and not rip apart as we hit the “end” button on hurtful comments so that the only thing “proclaimed from the roofs” is the love of Jesus.

Father, I am ashamed about the harsh words that I have spoken about someone that I would never say to her face. Forgive me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever made a comment about someone that you would be embarrassed to have them know?

• What do you think their reaction would be if they had heard your comment about them? Hurt? Tears?

Application

• Before you respond to a comment made about someone, take a breath and ask yourself: Would I be embarrassed or ashamed if that person was standing in front of me when I answer?

• Memorize today’s Scripture as a reminder before you comment about others.

Power Verses

• Luke 12:2-3 (NIV) “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

• Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is  helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

• Titus 3:2 (NIV) “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

I Don't Live There Anymore

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it? I am making

a way in the desert and streams

in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Moving from my old home to a new one created a lot more problems than I had anticipated. Trying to downsize was a huge issue since I was moving from a 5 bedroom to a 3 bedroom home. And of course, all the paperwork created a near migraine by the time it was finished.

One dilemma that was totally unexpected was changing my address. I thought I was ahead of the game when I bought four packages of “I’ve Moved!” cards to send to friends until I realized that the cards got packed in the move and were not found until a year later.

Fortunately the post office forwarded my mail from my other home for a few months which helped as I notified insurance agents, medical facilities and credit card companies of the address change.

But for six months after the move, I kept receiving mail at my new home that belonged to the previous home owners. I would write “doesn’t live here anymore” and put it back in the mailbox but I continued to receive letters from the same companies over and over. It was almost as though the senders didn’t believe my message written on each envelope.

It occurred to me that sometimes as Christians we are viewed in that same way. When we give our lives to the Lord, we are told to “forget the former things” as the Scripture from Isaiah says. But, as sad as it is, too often there are Christian brothers and sisters who do not.

They may not speak openly about what you did or didn’t do before you gave your heart to the Lord but their actions and glances are every bit as loud as a spoken word. And while God Himself assures us that He forgives and forgets, some do not.

My friends, if that is where you find yourself today, please remember what your new “home” is filled with: room after room of forgiveness and grace and mercy. Pray for those who feel the need to judge you by your past; pray that they will truly experience becoming a new creation, as you are in your new “home.”

Maybe my old “home” was larger with more storage…but it does not compare to my new “home” in Christ.  Just as the message I wrote on those envelopes, you too can live with confidence in knowing that God does not judge us by how we lived in the past. Nancy doesn’t live there anymore.

Father, I praise you today for your forgiveness and mercy and for creating a new me when I turn my life over to you. Show me the new life that you have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever had someone make a comment or look at you in a way that let you know they remembered your past before you came to the Lord?

• What was your first reaction when that happened?

Application

• Make note cards with today’s Power Verses on them.

• Place them around your home, in your Bible, in your car and in a cabinet to remind you about your address change when you turned your life and “home” over to the Lord.

Power Verses

• Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

• Isaiah 43:16 (NIV) “…For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.”

• II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Laughter - What's In It for Me?

“Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone

who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

Genesis 21:6 (NIV)

As a nurse, I am here to tell you that laughter is good medicine. The idea is not new. It actually was God’s idea. It’s a part of His personality. In Psalms 2:4 we are told “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.”

Now in that particular Scripture God wasn’t laughing because the situation taking place was funny but He was laughing. We are made in His image so we can be very certain He created laughter as part of our personalities.

There are several accounts in the Bible of people laughing. When God revealed to Abraham that he was going to be a father and have a son, we are told in Genesis 17:17 that “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’” 

Read on in Chapter 18:10 and 11: “Then the Lord said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’” Scripture tells us that Sarah was listening to this conversation and could not contain her laughter as well.

Honestly, we can pretty much figure out why Abraham was laughing: he knew that Viagra hadn’t been invented yet. But I am quite certain that Sarah’s laugh bordered on hysteria. Bottles and diapers and up all night at 90 years of age? No way! Can I get a collective “AMEN,” Sisters?

But because the Lord is faithful, Sarah became pregnant as He had promised and gave birth to a son and named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.”

California’s Loma Linda University published research regarding laughter. The studies show that there are very positive effects on our immune system when we laugh.

They observed that laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases the ability of our muscles to flex and boosts immune function by raising levels of white blood cells which fight infection and disease in the body.

Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins (brain chemicals) which are the body’s natural painkillers. And if that weren’t enough, laughter produces a sense of well-being in our bodies. God absolutely knew what He was doing when he created laughter in us.

And, did you know that up to 80 muscles are used during a big laugh? A German professor found in his studies that a ONE MINUTE hearty laugh has the same health benefits as a 45 minute gym workout!! That’s because laughing provides a workout for the diaphragm and increases the body’s ability to use oxygen. (Stop and time a one minute belly laugh and your daily workout is done!)

So is laughter good medicine for us? Absolutely. Yes, there will be times in our lives, as it says in Proverbs 14:13, where “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” But laughter can often put a whole new outlook on tough situations.

Think about events that have happened in your life that made you laugh out loud. How did you feel after you laughed? Sad? Discouraged? Angry? Resentful? Or did you feel like you just got an energy boost from the Lord?

I encourage you this week, whatever you may face, to remember that God’s gift of laughter is soothing and healing and it is indeed the very best kind of medicine there is.

Father, there are so many times when I am quick to become angry or frustrated or discouraged when I should take a breath and simply laugh. You created laughter for my benefit. Please help me to remember that every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Make a list of every situation or disappointment or frustration that has come your way this last week.

• Could any of those situations have had a more positive outcome if you had simply stopped, taken a deep breath, and laughed at what was happening?

Application

• Memorize Psalm 126:2 this week and speak it whenever a situation occurs and you are tempted to react with anger.

• Stand in front of your mirror with a stop watch, think of something funny that has happened, and laugh for one minute. Workout complete!

Power Verses

• Genesis 21:6 (NIV) “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

• Psalm 126:2 (NIV) “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

• Psalm 2:4 (NIV) “The One enthroned in heaven laughs…”

My Hiding Place

“You are my hiding place; you will protect

me from trouble and surround me

with songs of deliverance.”

Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

 “Come find us, Grandma! Bet you can’t find us!” the voices giggled and then were immediately silent. I stood at the back door of my daughter’s house and looked around the yard.

Not in the playhouse. Not behind the shed. No one in the loft of the swing set. I scanned once more and then I saw it: a small chunk of dirt at the top of the huge dirt pile that my son-in-law had deposited by the fence was evidently knocked lose by an unseen force and tumbled to the ground.

I pulled back the green lid from the sandbox that had been pulled over the dirt pile to find a rather large hole and two dirty little faces grinning at me. “How do you like our hiding place?” they asked me together. “I love it!” I replied. “Tell me how you did it.”

 Ella and Jude explained that they had used two small buckets and a shovel to dig a hole wide enough for them both to fit in and then pulled the lid to their sandbox up the side of the “mountain” to cover the hole.

“You know why we did that? It’s ‘cause of that crazy dog that keeps coming around. We know we can hide in there and we are safe from that dog!” explained Ella. “And bad guys! Don’t forget the bad guys!” Jude chimed in. “They can’t find us in our hiding place!”

I love Psalm 32:7. The Lord is my hiding place. I know without a doubt that I am safe with Him and that He will protect me. He delivers me from “crazy dogs” and “bad guys” every single day of my life.

What is your hiding place? Where do you take refuge when the tough times slam into your life? Some will hide in their careers or their wealth; others will choose drugs, including alcohol. Still others will hide behind an outward appearance of indifference to whatever is going on around them.

These hiding places may seem to help for a while but they are just temporary and will only protect from the “dogs” and “bad guys” for a short time.

On the other hand, a permanent hiding place, with the Creator of the Universe, will provide a refuge for us to heal, receive His mercy, and be strengthened for what lies ahead.

Don Moen wrote a song based on Psalm 32:7 that begins this way: “You are my hiding place. I run to You. I need Your mercy and grace to see me through. So I run to You.”

Where is your hiding place?

Lord, I long to hide in you when everything around me seems to be falling apart. Thank You for keeping me in the shelter of your wings and covering me with your love. Today I truly run to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• When situations come up that are difficult, where or who do you turn to first?

• Is that refuge temporary or permanent?

Application

• Memorize Psalm 32:7 and sing it as praise to the Lord.

• Journal Scriptures that talk about the hiding place that the Lord has offered to you each and every day.

Power Verses

• Psalm 32:7 (NIV) “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

• Psalm 31:19 (NIV) “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”

• Psalm 31:2 (NIV) “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”

• Psalm 17:8 (NIV) “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

• Psalm 57:1 (NIV) “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”

Did You Forget Me?

“But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child

she has borne? Though she may

forget, I will not forget you!”

Isaiah 49:14-15 (NIV)

“I’m late! I’m late!” I yelled at myself. All I could think of was my little boy getting off the school bus and me not being there to hug him and welcome him home!

I was chatting with the ladies at a local church after I had spoken at their meeting when I realized that I had stayed too long and was not going to be home to meet my son as he got off the bus. I always met him at the back door – except today.

I quickly buckled his sisters in their car seats and drove the speed limit (well, maybe a little over) in an attempt to get there before the school bus did. I failed.

My eyes filled with tears as I turned the corner at my home and saw my little boy sitting on the swing set, holding tightly to his lunch box as if he could somehow gain strength and courage from it. I jumped out of the car, pulled him into my arms and wiped the tears running down his face.

He looked up at me and only spoke four words: “Did you forget me?” but the way he whispered them – as if he was hurt beyond belief that I would ever do such a thing – broke my heart.

            “Did you forget me?” Have you asked God that question? You’ve been in a situation that has threatened to drown you day after day, month after month – maybe even year after year. And your heart wonders . . . just maybe.

Perhaps you’ve prayed for a prodigal child for years and he or she continues to run from a relationship with the Lord and with you. Or you listened to your doctor share with you that the cancer is back. Maybe it seems like the harder you pray the more distant your spouse seems to be. “Did you forget me, God?” your heart cries.

The Scripture in Isaiah 49:14-15 answers that question emphatically: “I will not forget you!” The Lord is encouraging His people who are going to be in captivity to remember that, no matter what, He has not forgotten them. God knows exactly where they are and what they are facing and, for the moment, He in His wisdom is allowing the situation to happen.

God also knows exactly what is going on in our lives, no matter what we are facing. And He hasn’t forgotten us either. Simply put, He says that a mother could never forget her newborn child and her love for its life. But, even if she did forget, He – God – will never forget us, His children.

Hold on to that promise today, knowing that no matter what storm you are in or crisis you are battling, the Lord is at your side. He has not forgotten you and He is faithful.  

Father, thank you for your reassurance in your word that you will never forget me and always stay by my side. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like God has forgotten about you and what is going on in your life?

Application

• Journal God’s promise from today’s Scripture: “I will not forget you!” During your prayer time each day, speak this truth to the Lord: “I KNOW you have not forgotten me. Give me strength and hope for this day.”

Power Verses

• Isaiah 49:14-15 (NIV) “But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

• Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “. . . God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

• Psalm 139: (NIV) “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

Praying With Disappointment

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

                  Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

                I have a love/hate relationship with my IPhone. Being able to contact anyone, any time, is a great feature – unless I am in the middle of quiet time and get one call after the other.

And as a person who is directionally challenged in small closets and bathrooms, I love that my phone can direct me to my exact destination – unless I miss my turn and have to listen to a very irritated voice spitting out “recalculating, recalculating.”

But my love/hate of my IPhone is the most obvious when I use my voice to text a message. How wonderful that I can touch one little spot on my phone – a mic – and I can talk my message rather than trying to type what I want to say. That is, until my phone decides to interpret my voice conversation on its own. Let me explain.

                I call my sister at 7 am every morning, almost without fail. We both have busy schedules and it makes sense to call before the day gets crazy for either of us. One particular morning I was running late and decided to hit the mic button and send her a text by voice.

                What I said was “Getting ready for dentist appointment. Will call in a bit.” But what my phone picked up when I spoke was “Getting ready for disappointment. Will fall in a pit.” Mercy.

                Fortunately I glanced down just before I hit the send button and corrected my message. But later, as I recalled that text, I thought about my prayer life and wondered if that is exactly how I pray sometimes.

Getting myself ready for disappointment by not believing that God will answer as I have prayed. Hoping He will answer; wondering if I said just the right words in just the right way. Maybe even feeling deep inside that what I am asking is too hard for God or that He really doesn’t care one way or the other.

                Have you ever done that? No, you say? What about praying that the cancer will disappear but thinking “It’s spread too much. There’s no way my husband can be healed.” or praying for a prodigal child while thinking “she is too far gone. Nothing will ever change her mind.”

                May I just remind you who you are talking to when you pray? The Creator of Heaven and Earth, the God of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End, Jehovah, Lord, The Most High God.

                He gave up everything He owned to purchase us, His children He loves more than anything in all creation. And we wonder if He can or will answer our prayers?

                Our Father raised the dead, parted seas, gave sight to the blind, caused those who could not walk to run, closed the mouths of lions and opened prison doors. He is very capable of hearing and answering our prayers.

                It comes down to this: pray with confidence. Pray with assurance that He hears and answers. Your words do not need to be fancy because He is faithful to His children. Will you always get the answer that YOU want? No because the wisdom of the Lord covers everything in our lives. That is where trust comes in. Trust that the Creator of the Universe, the Creator of our beating hearts, knows what is best for us in our lives

.      

                So the next time you pray, resist the urge to pray with disappointment; instead approach the God of the Universe with boldness and confidence. He hears, He understands and He answers.

Father, forgive me for praying but not believing that you can or will answer when I call on your name. You are a faithful Father and I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.      

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

·         Have you ever prayed but felt like your prayer was not heard or would not be answered?

Application

·         Write today’s Power Verses on note cards and keep them paper clipped together in your Bible.

·         Before your prayer time each day, read the Scripture on each card and praise the Lord for hearing and answering your prayer requests.    

Power Verses

·         James 1:6 (NIV) “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

·          Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

·         Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

·         Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

·         Ephesians 7:24 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

               

Engraving God's Recipe

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared

to give an answer to everyone who asks you to

give the reason for the hope that you have. But

do this with gentleness and respect…”

I Peter 3:15 (NIV)

My mother-in-law was a wonderful cook. She gave me several of her favorite recipes years ago and they became my favorites, too.

One that I particularly love is called K-bars. But I have learned through several failures that the recipe must be followed precisely or the results will not be even close to the promised picture.

I have gotten so many requests through the years on this particular dessert that I have memorized the recipe beginning to end. That way whenever someone tastes it and asks for the recipe, I already have it memorized and can easily share how to make it.

If only this were true in our spiritual lives, my friends. We need to have Scripture so engraved in our hearts that when someone is struggling with a situation in her life, we can immediately, from memory, share encouragement and hope with her.

That is not to say that we should simply quote a Scripture to the hurting and go on our way thinking the problem is solved! We need to share, in love, what has helped us hold on when the winds and hail from one of life’s storms have threatened to knock us down and keep us from getting up again.

For example, a friend comes to you because she is convicted that she has a problem with gossip. Can you tell her “I find help with that in Psalm 19:14. It says “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” or do you say “I have trouble with that, too.” and stop there?

When a co-worker confides that she is not certain that God even knows who she is or cares about her, can you hug her and whisper “Our Father loves us so much that he has engraved our names on the palms of His hands.” and share Isaiah 49:16 with her or do you shrug and say “Me, too.” without going any further?

Please hear me on this: I am not saying that we should have every single Scripture memorized chapter and verse. There have been many times when friends and I have looked through God’s Word, searching for a specific thought and unsure exactly where it was found.

What I AM saying is that we should always be ready to gently and lovingly share the hope that we have because of the Word that is engraved on our hearts.

A recipe for K-bars is memorized for future reference but how much more important that God’s recipe for hope and encouragement is engraved on my heart to share with those who are hurting and need hope.

Father, help me to memorize your Word so that I can help others when they are struggling with a concern and need your encouragement. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

                                                            R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you ever feel inadequate when someone shares a concern or problem with you?

• What is your first response when this happens? Do you search the Word?

Application

• Make a list of situations and problems that any one of us could face in this life.

• Beside each entry, write a Scripture that encourages and then memorize that Scripture so you can share it as needed.

Power Verses

• I Peter 3:15 (NIV) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

• Matthew 22:29 (NIV) “Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.’”

• Proverbs 25:11 (NIV) “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”