I’ve been rereading Brother Lawrence’s the practice of the presence OF GOD. It’s one of several classics I try to reread often; classics such as Andrew Murray’s waiting on GOD and Absolute Surrender, Watchman Nee’s The Normal Christian Life, J.I. Packer’s Knowing GOD, Hannah Smith’s GOD of all Comfort, just to name a few. I do this because every time I discover another nugget, something I didn’t get before, something I missed or glossed over or perhaps forgot.

Take Brother Lawrence’s book. It’s beautifully simple, but in its simplicity is able to compress so much Scripture into just four words: love God, love others. Sometimes I need “simple” to keep me from muddling the picture. And for me, Brother Lawrence’s life and book does just that. He worked in the kitchen and then the sandal repair shop during much of his time as a Carmelite lay-brother in the 1600s. He once said, “It’s not necessary to have great things to do.” But everything he did, he did for love of God and his fellows. Every act, no matter how small, how menial, was done out of this love. He had a true servant’s heart and was utterly devoted to God. And in his humility and simplicity, he developed an extraordinary relationship with Jesus.

It’s a wonderful lesson. In this world where we are judged by what we have and what we’ve accomplished, it’s easy to forget that we don’t have to do anything great to be pleasing to God. In fact, God is not really looking for “great” men and women. He’s looking for men and women who greatly love Him and the people He has placed in their lives; men and women whose simple, everyday tasks are turned into acts of worship and love. We need to remember this when we are getting up early to go to that job that is less than exciting, or washing another load of dishes, or doing the never ending laundry, or mowing that forever growing lawn, or driving the kids to yet another soccer game or music lesson. If these acts are done in the right spirit they are indeed acts greatly pleasing to God, and just as in Brother Lawrence’s case, can lead us into a truly deep and glorious relationship with Jesus.

Until next time,

Sylvia

What brings a person to Godly repentance? Is it fear that God will strike him down or load him with troubles in this world? Or fear of hell in the hereafter? Or maybe a desire for rewards in heaven? They could all play some part, initially. But according to the Bible, the reason we are brought to repentance is God’s kindness. Yes kindness. Romans 2:4b (NIV) specifically tells us that God’s kindness leads us to repentance.

Indeed, kindness is one of God’s attributes. Nehemiah (Ne 9:17) talks about God’s kindness in His dealings with rebellious Israel during their wilderness experience. In Psalm 117:2 the psalmist tells us to praise the Lord “for his merciful kindness is great toward us”. Isaiah 54 tells us that God’s kindness is everlasting and will not depart from His people. Joel 2:13 (Amplified) tells us that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness.”

It’s this kindness that prevented God from letting sinful mankind languish in his sin; that prevent God from allowing mankind to be lost forever with no means of escape. It was this loving-kindness that brought Jesus to earth, so He could make, for us, a way back to the Father. How miserable we would be if this were not so! It would mean living in a world without hope, without a future; a world in which mankind was condemned to exist in lawlessness and ever-increasing despair, then face an eternity forever separated from their Creator.

When we begin to understand the magnitude of what God did for us, the magnitude of what He saved us from, the magnitude of what it cost Him; when we begin to see His tender heart toward us, and His longing that none should perish, it’s easy to bow before Him and confess we are sinners and in need of salvation. What a small thing it is for us to humble ourselves before a God whose character is one of such boundless mercy and love; a God Who cares about us and Who wants only the best for us; A God Who yearns for us to come to Him so, as Ephesians 2:7 says, “that in the ages to come he (God) might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Who, indeed, is like our loving, merciful, kind God?

Until next time,

Sylvia

Temporarily suspending blog due to family illness. Looking forward to reconnecting with you in the near future.

Love and blessings to all,

Sylvia

2012. Talk about your little black rain cloud! Other than the Y2K scare in 2000, I don’t remember any other year in my lifetime that has been so dreaded. Look at Hollywood and all the doomsday movies they have made alluding to this year. And don’t forget the Mayan calendar and the Sibyl prophecy that doomsayers say point to a 2012 end of the world.

While I don’t believe any of it, there are certainly many real, tangible things that can give us plenty to worry about; everything from the global debt crisis to the increase in violence and instability around the world, and a myriad of things in between.

So, because of that I don’t think 2012 is the year for making my usual New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, eat better, read the stack of books on my night table, etc.. Instead, this year I’m making only two: 1) love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength and 2) love my neighbor as myself.

I know. I know. No two resolutions are more impossible than these two. But that’s only if I plan on trying to do it on my own. Which I don’t. Instead, I will rely on the power of the Holy Spirit who God has given to us for just this purpose. And He is more than able to bring these things about in my life if I allow Him. Oh, not like some jinni, who with one snap of the fingers, creates an instance fix. Instead, He’ll bring this about in me through patience and grace, with one situation at a time, with one person at a time.

I don’t know about you, but I look forward to this year. I look forward to the things God will do in my life and in the lives of those I love. And though it might be trying, I also believe it will be exciting and wondrous, and very memorable.

Until next time,

Sylvia

We were eleven this Christmas, a far cry from the twenty-five that we had been for many many years. But time changes everything, even family dynamics. Some have moved away, others have passed away. Even so, Christmas was wonderful. Chatter and laughter filled my daughter’s house. And as usual, we had so much food we could have feed the neighborhood. And there were gifts to open, and empty boxes and torn wrapping enough to fill the garbage pail in the garage.  Life is good when you have family and friends to love, and who love you.   

And that’s the thing to remember as we go into 2012. No matter how your own family dynamics have changed, life is still good because whatever else, you’ll always have that larger family of God who loves you and needs you. God never changes, though the world around us might. And your place in His family never changes. You are valuable. You are wanted. You belong. You are important not only to God but to His kingdom.

No one knows what 2012 will bring. But we can all look forward with confidence in these constants. God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us. We can be encouraged by that.

May 2012 be all you hope for in the Lord. May you feel His constant love and presence, and may you become secure in who you are in Him. And may you fulfill the wonderful destiny He has planned for you. 

Happy New Year.

Until next time,

Sylvia

The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And that word “strength” literally means fort or rock. Wow! That’s formidable. It also tells us that joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and should be part of every believer’s life. But if joy is the key to strength, is that why so many Christians are weak? One look around in some of our churches reveals just how few Christians take these scriptures seriously. Instead of joyful faces, they often look worried, fearful, or depressed. Yes, there is much in our world, and often in our lives, too, to cause us to feel these things if we let them.

But the first thing the angel said when he appeared to the shepherds on that unforgettable and holy night of Jesus’ birth was: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day unto the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Nothing has changed. We still have the same “tidings of great joy.” Jesus is still with us. And He has overcome the world. No matter what we are going through, we must remember that. And this, too: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b)

May this wondrous season of celebrating the birth of our Savior rekindle in us the joy of the Lord so we will be strong for the coming year.

Wishing you the unsurpassed joy of Christmas.

Until next time,

Sylvia

Everyone knows appearances can be deceiving, yet we have all, at one time or another, been fooled. And it happened even in the Bible. Take for instance David, the shepherd boy. Who would ever think that an uneducated, insignificant shepherd would become the great king of Israel? And then there’s Daniel, the Jewish teenager, who was dragged to Babylon as a captive, only to become advisor to the most powerful rulers of the then known world. And Rahab, the harlot, who became part of the lineage of Jesus.

But the best example is God Himself who came down to earth as Emanuel in the form of a helpless baby, born in a smelly stable, and who lived the life of a humble carpenter before beginning the greatest ministry of all times, that of reconciling man to God; and changed the world forever. Many were fooled then, too, and couldn’t believe that such a thing was possible. Even Nathanael, one of the twelve apostles, when first hearing of Jesus said, “”Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).  And people are still being fooled today.

As Christians decorate their trees, buy presents, and display nativity scenes to celebrate the birth of Jesus, many others still can’t comprehend that this so called “good man” was in reality the Creator of all, the God of the Universe, the Commander of the Hosts, the One who brought everything into existence with just His spoken word. His having been clothed in the body of a baby fools them. So does the humble way He worked as a carpenter. And they still don’t understand that the reason Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice of forfeiting His life was so that we could have a hope and a future, not only in the present but for all eternity.

As we prepare the room of the inn of our hearts to receive Him, once again, this season, and throughout the New Year, let’s remember and pray for those we know who have yet to receive the King of Glory into their own hearts. Who have yet to receive the God who loves them more than they could ever imagine.

Until next time,

Sylvia

Worry.  It’s part of the human condition. Some worry more than others, but most of us worry at least sometime. And certainly life can give us plenty of reasons to worry. On the other hand, entire books can be written about all the reasons why we shouldn’t. Here, I’d like to give you just five:

1)    God is able. “Now unto him (God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20 KJV

2)    God is faithful. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

3)    God is our hope. Expect Him to act. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,  who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalms 42:11 KJV

4)    God delivers those who trust Him. “And God helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him.” Psalm 37:40 KJV

5)    God can replace our worries with His peace. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7  

And here’s a bonus, for when things get really tough. Jesus tells His disciples (that’s us!) in John 16:33: (I’m using the Amplified version because I think it says it so well) “I (Jesus) have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trails and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer, take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.”

So, “don’t worry. Be happy.”

Until next week,

Sylvia

Trying to know God’s heart is like trying to plumb the depths of the universe. It can’t be done. But I think parents are in a unique position to glimpse at least part of it. Jesus, when praying what has become known as the Lord’s Prayer, begins with “Our Father, who art in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9), thus teaching us that God wishes to be known as a father, and we, as believers in Jesus, are His children (Romans 8:14-17).  But not just father. No. That barely scratches the surface. But He wants us to know Him as Jesus did, as “Abba”, as “Daddy”.

Oh, what a tender word “daddy” is! It tells us that our Father’s heart isn’t cold or distant.  It tell us that our Daddy is someone on whose lap we can crawl when we need hugs, or on whose shoulder we can lean or cry. As Daddy, God invests Himself in our lives.  He cares about every aspect of them.  No detail is too small to warrant His attention. He knows us better than we know ourselves.  His love is unconditional.  We don’t have to earn it. Oh, how often we are like babies, demanding and helpless; and like babies, not appreciative of the love and care our Daddy lavishes on us. But He loves us anyway, because He is love. And He loved us even before we first loved Him. And when we make mistakes, He doesn’t disown us or threaten to cut off our inheritance.

He’s a Daddy that weeps when we hurt, rejoices when we succeed. He sees us for what we can be, and not the mess we sometimes are. He’s there to encourage, guide, direct, and help. He wants and knows what’s best for us, even when we don’t, and patiently bears our scorn and anger and temper tantrums when He withholds something for our own good. He has set down rules for our benefit. And not wanting us to be spoiled, but rather to grow into that person He has created us to be, He must often correct and discipline. Yet at the same time, He is ever ready to lavish His undeserved love and blessings upon us. And His mercies are new every morning. We can never exhaust them. He’ll never throw in the towel or wash His hands of us, but He’ll stay the course; able and willing to use our mistakes to make something wonderful of us.

And even when we turn our back on Him; when we refuse to acknowledge that He is responsible for all the good in our lives or when we’ve gone off to live in the pig sty, our Daddy’s heart is ever with us, watching and yearning for us, the prodigal, to return to His outstretched waiting arms.  And like any good parent, He’s willing to lay down His life for us, and He actually did, over two thousand years ago on Calvary’s cross.

Yet all this is but a small glimpse of God’s heart. As much as I love my children, I know God loves them so much more, and that puts me in a place I can’t comprehend. But isn’t it marvelous that we don’t have to? All we need do is just allow Daddy to love us, and though we can never love Him as He truly deserves to be love, we can give Him our own puny, shriveled little heart in return.

Until next time,

Sylvia

It seems like the “in” thing, even among some Evangelical Christians, to claim that there are many ways to heaven. It sounds rather sophisticated, too, like it’s coming from someone who’s been around and knows a thing or too. And isn’t it oh, so, tolerant? Almost making all other positions appear narrow-minded. But is it true?

Every religion in the world, other than Christianity, has a system of works, whereby you must earn your way to heaven. Only in Christianity are we told this has already been done for us, and done by the person of Jesus Christ; and that all we need do is accept it and believe in Him. Based on my years on this earth and observing how people operate and what generally motivates them, my logical mind tells me it’s impossible for any of us to work our way to heaven. For one thing, our motives usually stink. Like the Pharisees in the Old Testament who stood on street corners and had trumpets blown when they presented their tithes so that everyone would see them, our motives are all too often based on a desire to be admired by others. Oh, what a “good person” he/she is!  Don’t misunderstand, I’m stating a fact, not pointing a finger for I’ve been guilty of this myself. But knowing this makes it easier for me to understand that man is sinful and in great need of a Savior, thus Christ satisfies my need.  For me, any other route would be like embarking on “Mission Impossible”.

I do, however, understand the draw of a “works” religion. When my children were toddlers and I would try to help them do something, they often said, “me do”. And this was fine as long as what they wanted to do wasn’t dangerous or way beyond their capability. But most times they wanted to do something unsafe or what they sorely lacked the ability to do, and this while not even understanding these realities. So it really boils down to a question of pride. And doesn’t the Bible tells us that “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall? (Proverbs 16:18 KJV)

But when it comes to Christians believing there are many ways to heaven, well, this is a real puzzler to me. If indeed there are many ways, why did Jesus have to come at all? Why did God the Father send Him to be tortured, beaten, brutalized and hang on a cross to die an agonizing death? Is God a sadist? Is He unfeeling? Or a cruel jokester? If there are other ways to heaven then Jesus’ death was unnecessary and that’s tantamount to pouring His precious blood down a drain.

Those who call themselves Christians should actually believe in who Jesus Christ is, what He did, and what He said. And that includes the hard sayings, like this one where Jesus claims, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58 KJV) proclaiming His eternal existence. Or “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6 KJV) proclaiming He is the only way to heaven. Or this one, “I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his sins, but has already passed out of death into life” (John 5:24 LB) proclaiming that forgiveness of sins comes by Him. Or “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;” (John 11:25 KJV) proclaiming that belief in Him is required for gaining eternal life. Oh, there are so many more I could quote, but just these four show how radical Jesus’ statements were, and how He purposely left no wiggle room. Either Jesus is exactly who He says, or He’s a liar, and a madman or con artist. It’s a question that each of us must answer for ourselves. But no true Christian can have it both ways. For him/her, Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Until next time,

Sylvia