TerryLema

This verse popped up this morning. Ps 138:8: “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.” [NKJV]

The NIV translates it this way, “The LORD will fulfill [His purpose] for me.”

Then they both remind that the love / mercy of the LORD endures forever.

Occasionally, uncertain situations or circumstances can stretch out for long periods of time. Learning to trust the LORD while we are waiting to see the outcome can be difficult.  I would like to be able to say that my faith, my trust in the LORD is always absolute and perfect.  I really would like to be able to say that … but I can’t. Even at 72, after a half-century of serving the LORD, there are still times when my faith doesn’t measure up to what I think it should be.

It is during those times (one of which happened recently) that I need to remember that the fulfillment of God’s purpose for me is secure in Him.  The LORD will perfect, the LORD will fulfill. I may get a bit wobbly at times, but God remains steadfast in my behalf. He will make it happen.

My imperfect faith, my wobbliness, cannot change God’s purpose or His ability to perfect and fulfill it for me … it will only make me miserable in the waiting.

Once again, God proved Himself steadfast in my behalf. Once again, I made myself miserable while waiting to see Him do it. You would think after all these years I would have learned that, wouldn’t you?

It’s springtime in the Treasure Valley in Idaho, which means it’s also the beginning of wasp season. I’m not sure why, but this year the wasps seem especially plentiful. Overnight, they have their little mud nests built in every crack and corner.

Over the last couple weeks, every time I’ve gone over to the church, I’ve gone on a wasp search. Their coloring makes them almost invisible against our log walls and variegated brown carpet. I spray, wait for them to die, and then pick up their nasty little carcasses so no one will step on them. Before women’s fellowship last Friday night, I found five in the aisles and three in the nursery.

I remember a very simple little lady at the church in Loomis who would often show up just to tidy up the church, picking up little bits of trash that often got left. I was an associate pastor there and one day walked past a piece of trash about three times, never bothering to scoop it up and put it in the can. Then she came, headed straight to it and took care of it. I heard God speak to me, “she has pleased me greatly this morning as she did this in her love for me.”

I never forgot that lesson.  It doesn’t matter whether the deed is small (capturing wasps, picking up trash) or whether it is preaching to thousands. It matters the size of the love you have for His name and His people.

Heb 6:10: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  [NKJV]

Bob and I were in a Cracker Barrel restaurant the other evening. We were seated over in one corner. It was a weeknight and not very many people were present. We were quietly talking and laughing when a middle-aged woman exiting from the middle of the restaurant made a detour to our table.

She smiled as she looked at me and said, “I just wanted to stop and tell you how lovely you are and how much you look like my mother,” then she added, “She lives in New York and I miss her so much!”

I returned the lady’s smile and stood up. “I am a mother and I have a daughter,” I said, “do you mind if I give you a mom’s hug?”

There we stood in Cracker Barrel, two women, someone else’s mom and someone else’s daughter, sharing a hug. When she turned to leave there were tears in her eyes. (Bob just shook his head and smiled. I think my husband is finally getting used to me hugging strangers in public places!)

As a mom, I have often missed the hugs of my children when they lived far away or when I haven’t seen them for a time. I can understand how a child might miss the hugs of a parent. I also realize that as I have grown older, I might be seen even by strangers as more approachable. Or maybe, hopefully, they see the love, kindness and compassion of God in me.

Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

I remember from my English composition classes in school that when you begin a written work, whether a book, or poem, or short story, you need to grab people’s attention in the very beginning. You cannot wait until the middle of the piece for it to be interesting, most people don’t have that kind of attention span.

Paul must have had the same instruction because he really knows how to begin his letters. Ephesians is a prime example of that. After the salutation where he identifies himself and the people to whom the letter is being sent and offers a short greeting of grace and peace, “BAM!” he grabs our attention.

“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.” [v 3]

Our God has blessed us (past tense). It’s a done deal.
His blessings are spiritual blessings. They are spiritual, which means they are supernatural. They are blessings, which mean they are bountiful.
He has blessed us with every blessing. There are no blessings withheld … we have them all!
They are reserved for us in the heavenlies where they are safely guarded in Christ. Nothing can destroy or steal them away from us. They are ours!

Yep, Paul got my attention this morning. Makes you want to read the rest of the letter, doesn’t it!

My inbox was full of free offers this morning.  I can buy a dozen Krispy Kreme’s and get another dozen free. With just Bob and me in the house, not sure we’ll partake of that.  Texas Roadhouse wants to offer me a free appetizer. I can choose from “Cactus Blossom (a breaded and fried onion), fried pickles, tater skins loaded with stuff, cheese fries, rattlesnake bites.”  Those all sound like they would send my blood sugars through the roof.

Every morning my inbox is filled with “free” offers.  I can get a “free” chapter of a book but must later pay for the rest of it.  I can receive a “free” sermon outline, well just the first part of it, and if I like it, I can pay for the remainder.  Few of these “free” offers are things I really need.  Or want. They are simply tailored to attract my attention and then get me to spend my money.

My Creator, however, knows what I really need and His “free” offer really is free. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  [Rom 3:23-25]

I have often had that verse recited to me, usually with the focus on “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” part. That is important, but this morning I’m focusing on the “justified freely by His grace” part.

We all need God’s salvation. None of us match up to the Holiness He requires. And none of us can earn it or buy it with our “good” works. If it is not “freely” given by His grace, through what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross … we will never be able to afford it because on our own we are spiritually bankrupt. (Oh, and His offer truly is free! All of it!)

I am surrounded by wonderful Christian women at The Way Assembly of God in Middleton.  At the Women’s Fellowship last Friday, the women literally surrounded me and prayed for me. I had been battling a bad attitude, a little impatience (maybe a lot of impatience), some uncertainty and other such things as I’ve waited for a situation to be resolved. None of the ladies knew any of this, they just spontaneously (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) told me to sit in the chair and they gathered around and prayed.

Early Saturday morning I left for my worship walk. I turned on my music and headed out for a new subdivision across the way from my own. There are a few houses built in one section, but they’ve just finished all the sidewalks and streets in a new section yet to be opened for construction. I knew I’d be able to get my two miles there.

At the end of the first mile I began to sing and pray aloud. I felt an overwhelming sense of godly sorrow and began to repent and ask God for forgiveness. I wept, a lot. [2 Cor 10:11]

How could I have doubted God’s care for me … no matter how the situation is resolved. How could I have become impatient with a God who graces me with so much patience. How could I have let a bad attitude take root, knowing how much God loves me.  I’m not sure “how I could,” but I did.

By the end of my second mile, I knew my bad attitude had lifted and my heart was once again right with God. What happened Saturday morning in my soul began Friday night in a “prayer chair” surrounded by wonderful Christian women who heeded God’s call to pray over me.  I am so blessed. So very blessed. To be loved by God. To be surrounded with these Christian ladies. Thank you!

2 Corinthians 1:11:  “…you help us by your prayers…” 

My online news feed wants to convince me of “All the ways the royals are just like us.”  One prime example to prove that point was the fact that recently the Duchess of Sussex (the former Meghan Markle) shut her own car door! Be still my heart!  I am laughing thinking about all the times I’ve schlepped three kids, diaper bags, groceries, and other items in and out of cars, vans and trucks. I’m pretty sure I closed my own door, along with everyone else’s more than once.

The article also cited the time Prince William and Duchess Kate had to deal with a two-year-old’s tantrum in public. I remember the time my two-year-old decided to throw a tantrum in the check-out at the grocery store, throwing himself on the floor, kicking and screaming loud enough to wake the dead, all the while I’m trying to gather up my bags, my other child and get all of us out of the store as quickly as I could. I must admit I was tempted to just leave him there!

While I’m pretty sure the “royals” are not just like us in most ways, I’m also sure that the royals are in one way just like us. They may have all the privileges and auxiliary help anyone could ever need. They may never have to shut their own car doors.  But they, like us, will one day have to give an accounting of themselves before the LORD.

There are two places of accounting in Scripture. There is the BEMA Seat for those who know Christ Jesus, where believers will receive their rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10). There is the White Throne Judgment Seat for all those who have rejected Christ Jesus as LORD, whose names are not written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-15}.

Being “royal” here will not count there. The only thing that will count is whether we have surrendered to Christ Jesus, whether He has written our names in His Book of Life.

Every preacher knows (or should know) that you must live your messages before you can give your messages to others. As someone mentioned to me recently, maybe that is why preachers often avoid the hard messages.

The last few months have been tough as my messages have centered around seeking more of God. How can I tell people to uncomplicate their lives, unless I uncomplicate mine? How can I tell others they must decrease, if I refuse to do so?  How do I encourage others to embrace God’s will, His plan, His Word, if I demand my own?  Yep, it’s been a rough couple of months.

So, of course, what comes up this morning but Paul’s words as He closes out his second letter to the Corinth Church.

“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you…. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” [2 Cor 13:11-14]

Aim for perfection? Other translations simply say, “Be perfect” or “Become perfect.”  Thankfully, the word for perfect or perfection in the Greek (katartizo) means to thoroughly complete, repair or adjust.

I am sure that we are never going to achieve perfect perfection in this lifetime, but we can aim for it. We can desire to become complete in Christ Jesus our LORD.  His grace, God’s love and the Spirit’s fellowship will be with us as we walk this journey, and with us when we complete it!

I have had a bad attitude for a few days now. I know I have had a bad attitude. Bob knows I’ve had a bad attitude. And surely, God knows I have had a bad attitude.  I think I even know why I have had a bad attitude, but just knowing why has not done much to change my bad attitude.

Usually, when a bad attitude begins to settle in, I turn my attention to the Psalms. Granted, there were times when even the psalmists had bad attitudes, but mainly, what I find are reasons to praise, worship, trust, know, bless and honor my wonderful LORD.  Today I read Psalm 30.

David is the author of that song. David had been granted a great deliverance from an unnamed peril by God. He even blames himself for his distress and speaks about how he cried out to God in its midst. Then he urges others who might find themselves in similar distress to also cry out to God.

Two lines in the song really spoke to me this morning. “weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.” [Vs 5]

And, verses 11-12: “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.” 

I think I need to go for my worship walk this morning (a long one!) and do a little rejoicing, dancing, singing, and thanking along the way.

We have a nice little house in Caldwell, Idaho, bought 12 years ago this month. It needed work, both inside and outside. Over the years we’ve made improvements, including the upgraded kitchen when we had water damage last year. Thankfully, that improvement was expensed through insurance.

The master bath, which wasn’t in very good shape when we moved in, is yet to be improved.  We are “exploring” different options. What we’ve found is “cheap” and “not cheap” builders.  Fortunately, the foundation is good, so we can build on it with little worry.  Ah.

“Each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”   [1 Cor 3:11-15]

Paul told the Corinthians there were two types of building materials, costly ones and cheap ones. We choose which to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  When that day arrives when we will all appear before Christ Jesus at His BEMA seat, we will stand on the foundation and what we built will be tested by fire. [2 Cor 5:10]

If we have built with costly materials, we and our building will be left standing on His foundation after the fire and we will receive rewards. If we have chosen cheap materials, the fire will destroy what we have built, but we will still be left standing on the foundation.

Remodeling our master bathroom on the cheap isn’t that bad; building a building for our Master on the cheap will leave us wanting.