Perfect

 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

  An interview in a magazine about the Miss Universe Pageant really caught my attention. A gentleman who was a major supporter of the contest was asked what determined the final outcome and the winner. His answer was frank and to the point: “Let’s just say what it is: it all comes down to beauty. How they look. Oh, yes, they can be intelligent and businesswomen and all those things, but what really matters is how they look . . . how beautiful they are.”

  I looked at the pictures of each young woman in the contest and they were truly all physically beautiful. Perfect skin and perfect teeth. Perfect hair, perfect curls. Perfect gowns on perfect bodies. Perfect smiles. Perfect conversations with the judges. They . . . were . . . well . . . perfect.

  And then I looked at my reflection in the mirror. A scar on my neck from surgery. Wrinkles that make deep inroads from the corners of my eyes to my hairline. Varicose veins on my ankle resembling a tattoo gone horribly wrong. Crazy hair that wakes up in a whole new world every morning. A crooked tooth in spite of three years of braces. Nothing perfect at all. According to that gentleman, I would not compare or ever come close to his – or the world's – definition of what matters: physical beauty. Can you identify with me?

  Look at Proverbs 31:30. It says“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Solomon must have been well aware of that truth. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. He knew a beautiful woman when he saw one and he was surrounded by hundreds of them. And yet he makes the startling observation that charm and beauty are not what’s most important. He says that the key to what makes a beautiful woman beautiful is her spiritual life. Wow!

  Those lovely women in the pageant will not always look perfect as they did during the competition. No one can escape the aging process. Solomon reflects in Ecclesiastes that we all came from dust and that is where we will all return.

  Solomon understood true beauty when he said “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” She fears the Lord; in other words, she respects and reverences the holiness of her Creator. Her heart is focused on being an example of Jesus. That inner beauty will not fade with age as physical beauty most certainly does.

Will physical beauty continue to be what most consider “perfect” in this world? Oh, I’m positive about that. But, more than anything, I want my beauty to come – not from a reflection in a mirror – but from a reflection of Jesus. The Perfect Creator.

  Father, too many times I look at my physical appearance and forget that you made me in your image to worship you. Today my heart is focused on you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

  

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Can you think of a woman who you would consider to be physically beautiful?

• Does she reflect a mirror of physical beauty only or does she also reflect the inner beauty of Jesus?

 

Apply

• Society today is continually focusing on physical beauty. If you have children or grandchildren, take time to share with them about God’s viewpoint of real beauty.

• Share today’s power verses with them and praise their desire to be a beautiful reflection of Jesus.

 

Power

• Proverbs 31:30 (NIV) “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

• I Samuel 16:7 (NIV) “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

• Psalm 139:14 (NIV) “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

 

Four Little Words

 “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said . . .””

Matthew 28: 5-6 (NIV)

 

I am amazed at the significance that four little words can have in our lives. Let me give you some examples:

            “The toilet is overflowing.”   (“Where is the plunger?”)

            “My mother-in-law is early.” (“The house is trashed!”)

            “You have been fired.”           (“I have no job.”)

 

But the most significant, most important four words that have ever been spoken, I believe, are these:             “Just as He said.”

 

In Matthew 28, we are told that after the Sabbath, two women went to the tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed after He was crucified. They needed to prepare Jesus’ body for permanent burial.

 

However, when the women arrived, they found an angel sitting on the stone that had previously been rolled in front of the tomb opening. In verses 5 and 6 we read “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said . . .”

 

If we can’t believe Jesus, if we can’t take Him at His Word - “just as He said” - then there is no need for the Bible. Forget Scripture, forget the promises, forget forgiveness and grace, and certainly forget salvation and resurrection.

 

But, if we DO believe those four little words with such a powerful meaning, then nothing prevents us from believing every other promise He has made in His Word.

 

Promises like this are found in Isaiah 41:13 (NIV):  “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Or the promise in Hebrews 13:5 that “. . . Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

 

And one of my favorite promises in Scripture: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 (NIV)

 

The choice is ours: take God at His Word or rely on our own earthly wisdom. I choose four little words that promise Truth in everything He says.  What about you?

 

Father, I do not understand everything in your Word, but I believe you and trust you with my life every minute of every day. Keep my focus on you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Is God’s Word also God’s Truth in your life?

 

• Do you find that you sometimes doubt whether God really means what He says to you in His Word?

 

Apply

• Keep a daily journal of the Lord’s promises to you.

 

• Begin each entry with “Just as He said . . .” and then write down His promise.

 

Power

• Matthew 28: 5-6 (NIV) “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…”

 

• Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV) “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

 

• John 17:17 (NIV) “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holding it Together

 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 (NIV)

 

            When our children were small, my husband and I decided to buy them a swing set. I was in favor of simple: one swing, a glider, and a slide. But my husband felt that with three children, bigger was better and we ended up with a monster set complete with monkey bars and every swing, slide, and glider known to man.         

            Stamped on the box in huge letters were these words: “five-minute assembly, instructions included.” May I tell you that it took five minutes just to pull the parts out of the box and another 55 minutes to find all the nuts, bolts, and screws that fell out on the ground? It did. And TWO days later (yes, you read that right), only the frame was assembled.

            When we finally completed the job (“we” meaning my husband, his brother, and two curious truck drivers who came over after delivering a dryer next door), there was a slight resemblance to the picture on the carton. But there were problems. Big problems.

            The bolts that came with the set weren’t long enough to hold the rides onto the frame and the frame itself was not sturdy enough to support one child, much less three. In addition, some important parts – like chains for the swings – were missing. We had to reinforce the entire frame and change the bolts and screws for every ride on it, just to get it to hold together. Our five-minute assembly was finally completed - in five days.

            Life is like that sometimes. Instructions say one thing but reality says something totally different. Marriages where two people promise vows of  “forever” fall apart and no amount of reinforcement can hold them together. A career that was supposed to have been a perfect fit until retirement crumbles to the ground without warning or explanation. The death of a spouse and adding a  second job to keep bills paid take the place of a carefully planned map of states to visit together. 

            In Colossians 1:17, Paul shares a part of Christ’s character that is vital to us as believers. When we have lost all hope, when there is no earthly way a problem can be solved or a relationship mended, Jesus the Creator is able to hold ALL things together. Not some things. Not a few things. But ALL things. While we know there may be times when restoration of certain situations or relationships may not occur, we also know that God remains in control. 

So where are you today? Are you facing a situation that promised to be a “five-minute assembly” but weeks, months, or even years later, there is no solution in sight? I encourage you to not give up. When everything seems hopeless to you, call on the Creator of the Universe. He will not fail you or leave you. He is holding your life together. No instructions needed. 

Father, thank you for holding my life together in your hands and keeping me on solid ground through your faithfulness and love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like everything in your life was falling apart and you had no hope?

• Was your first reaction to take it to the Lord or to give up?

 Apply

• Journal a situation that you are currently facing that does not seem to have an earthly solution. 

• Spend time in prayer with Jesus and ask Him to take that situation and reassemble it for His glory. Praise Him for His faithfulness in all things.

 Power 

• Colossians 1:17 (NIV) “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

• Acts 17:28 (NIV) “For in him we live and move and have our being . . .”

• Psalm 75:3 (NIV) “When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.”

Take It From Here

 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Romans 8:26 (NIV)

  There was a good reason why my daughter did not talk until she was 2 years old. She didn’t need to. She had an older brother who took it upon himself to speak for her. She struggled with her words as she tried to explain what she wanted but her brother was able to tell by her few syllables and her gestures what she was trying to say – even when I could not.

  The word “Mommy” was clear to me but the rest of her words did not sound remotely like any language I was familiar with and daughter and parents were all frustrated on a regular basis. Until her brother took over.

  Not only did he understand and interpret what his little sister was saying, but he also had a special name for her: “your baby.” He would come to me and say “your baby” and then finish the sentence with whatever he believed she wanted or needed. In other words, he interceded for “your baby.”

  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, too. Look at Romans 8:26. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” How amazing is that!

  We’ve all been there: the heartache, the grief, the weight of a situation in our lives that is almost more than we can bear and we reach a point where we don’t even know what to pray. It is at that exact moment that the Spirit steps in and lovingly says “Let me take it from here.” He lifts our tears, jumbled thoughts, and aching hearts into a beautiful prayer before our Father on our behalf. And our special name? “Children of God.” (I John 3:1)

  I pray that you are encouraged and renewed with hope by realizing that when we come to the place of not knowing what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us, the Children of God.  I must repeat: how amazing is that!

  Father, thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede for me, lifting up my jumbled thoughts to you when I don’t know what or how to pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

• Have you ever reached a point where you didn’t know what or how to pray for a person or situation?

• What was your first response? Give up? Frustration? Keep praying?

 

Apply

• When you do not know what to pray in a situation or for a loved one, turn to Romans 8:26 in your Bible.

• Read it aloud and then ask the Holy Spirit to intercede and speak for you to God the Father.

 

Power 

• Romans 8:26 (NIV) “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

• John 14:16 (NIV) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever . . .”

• John 14:26 (NIV) “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

 

 

 

Do You Really Want to Take it With You?

 “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.” Psalm 49:16-17 (NIV)

  I could only shake my head as I read the magazine article about a wealthy man from Brazil who wanted to be buried beside his $500,000 Bentley Continental automobile. I know that sometimes people have different or unusual ideas about how they want to be buried – that’s not the problem.  It was his reason behind the decision: he wanted to take the car with him when he died.

Because he was extremely rich, the wealthy entrepreneur had everything that money could buy in this world. However, he stated that he did not want to risk being without all those possessions after he died.

His idea to bury his expensive car came after watching a documentary about the pharaohs of Egypt and how each one was buried with those things most precious to him in life so that they could accompany him in the afterlife. That prompted his idea, he said, of burying HIS most prized possession, his car, because he wanted to have it with him after he died. “I wanted to copy them,” he said of the pharaohs.

 I know what this man was doing sounds silly to us - wanting to take his treasures here on earth with him when he dies. But I am afraid that sometimes I act as though I do, too.  I envy people who are financially well off and I get caught up in the “bigger and better” mentality that we live in. I am guilty of putting all my time and energy into owning what I think will make me happy as if I can keep it forever.  

           I’ve never wanted a Bentley, but I have struggled with more clothes, nicer jewelry, or a newer cell phone, even when what I have is perfectly fine. I spend my time and money trying to make more time to have more money. What in the world am I thinking? Please understand that there is nothing wrong with having money in the bank and working hard for those things we need or want - unless it becomes the focus of our existence here on earth. 

God makes it very clear in Scripture what we will take with us when we die: nothing. The last part of verse 17 says “. . . when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.” We will take nothing with us when we leave this world. Not a home, not jewelry, not even a $500,000 Bentley. Consider this: everything we have belongs to the Lord. Everything. The cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), silver and gold (Haggai 2:8) – everything. None of it truly belongs to us anyway.

And, most importantly, we are rich beyond compare because we will spend eternity as children of the King of the Universe. I can’t take it with me – but why would I want to? Nothing on this earth compares with the priceless gift that I have been given of forgiveness of sin and an eternity with Jesus.

 

Father, thank you for reminding me that nothing in this world compares with the riches you have waiting for us as your children. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you spend a lot of your time trying to save more and more wealth?

• Do you frequently look for ways to have bigger and nicer things?

 Apply

• Make a list in your journal of everything that you want and how much money it would take to buy each item.

• Beside each item write down Scripture that reminds you about the wealth that you will receive in heaven and circle every entry that is eternal.

 Power

• Psalm 49:16-17 (NIV) “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.”

• Luke 12:20 (NIV) “But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”·        

•  Mark 8:36 (NIV) “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” 

 

A Reason to Remember the Past

 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

 Psalm 77:11 (NIV)

My friend and I sat in front of the box fan blowing air on high and groaned about the unbearable heat of the summer. Temperatures were well into the 100’s and our families were suffering with no air conditioning in our homes. Even swimming didn’t seem to help because the water temperature was so warm. “It’s only June and it’s 100 degrees,” my friend commented. “We haven’t even gotten to August!”

Two weeks later she called me with great news: “Ray is having air conditioning installed in our home! Can you believe it? We will have it by the weekend!” I was so excited for her. “Wow,” I said. “Sleeping in cool comfort all night!” She chimed in “Putting on makeup that actually stays on my face and doesn’t run to my belly button.” We giggled like little girls at her great news. As the summer temperatures continued to climb, my friend enjoyed the coolness of central air. Although we were not financially able to have it installed at our home, I was so happy for her and her family.

One hot August morning brought 109’ temperatures by 10 a.m. I had three fans on high and windows open for a breeze but it did little to cool us off. I called my friend to chat. “I think this is the hottest day we have had this summer! We are roasting in our house! I am praying for some cooler temperatures soon,” I was telling her. But her response caused me to stop in mid-sentence. “Seriously, Nancy. You think this is hot? I’ve seen a lot worse than today, or this summer for that matter. It’s not bad at all.”

Huh? What in the world had just happened? The weather hadn’t changed; in fact, it was hotter with each passing day. But what HAD changed was my friend’s perspective. She was sitting in a cool, air-conditioned home and had forgotten how hot she had once been. The empathy we had shared concerning the summer heat was gone because her situation had changed. She had once been exactly where I currently was, but somehow she had forgotten that fact since it no longer applied to her.

  Sometimes we do the same thing, don’t we. Oh, not about air conditioning, perhaps, but about other, much more important issues. For example, we see a young couple in the church struggling with finances and instead of offering help and encouragement, we are quick to comment on how they should be able to make ends meet while we forget that we, too, were stressed with budgeting when we were first married.

Or perhaps we see someone searching for a certain book in the New Testament during a sermon and we think “How hard is it to learn the books of the Bible?” while forgetting that we too had to search until we became more familiar with the Word. The empathy that we should have for our brothers and sisters in Christ is often lost as we forget what the Lord has done for us and respond – not with compassion and support – but with judgment and a lack of understanding.

We need to always remember how the Lord directed our steps and got us through tough situations so that we can, in turn, help those around us who may be struggling as we once did.  

  Father, forgive me for judging my brothers and sisters. Help me to remember how you helped me and to be an encourager and not a discourager. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever forgotten what the Lord has done for you in the past and been quick to judge someone?

• When you faced the situation they are facing, was there someone who encouraged or discouraged you?

 Apply

• Reflect on those times in your past when a Christian encouraged you as you struggled with a situation in your life.

• Determine to be that same kind of encourager to people around you as you keep your eyes open for opportunities to show the compassion and understanding of Jesus.

Power 

• Psalm 77:11 (NIV) “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

• I Chronicles 16:11-12 (NIV) “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…”

• Psalm 78:11 (NIV) “They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.”

 

 

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)                                                                           

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

• If so, why did you believe you were not heard by the Lord?

Apply

• Write the Power Scriptures 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      

• 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.”