Hope When You're Hopeless

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
– 2 Corinthians 4:17

Saturday must’ve felt pretty hopeless for Jesus’ disciples. There they are – a group of men sitting in a small room, huddled together behind a locked door unsure of what the future holds. They are devastated because their leader is gone. They are scared because of fear that leaders will come after them because of their association with him. They are unsure of what will happen next. They are confused because they don’t understand how all of his teachings and miracles and interactions with others have led to what they see as the end. Yeah, he had talked about what would happen, but as Luke tells us, the disciples “didn’t understand” and “failed to grasp what he was talking about” (Luke 18:34). What hopelessness must’ve filled that room on that day so long ago.

Have you ever felt hopeless like that before – unsure of what happens next, of where to go from here, or of how you carry on? I think we all have at some point and time in our lives. Life is full of times where we didn’t see things coming or we are filled with some of the same emotions that Jesus’ disciples had in that locked room. But life – especially the Christian life – is about rising above those feelings of hopelessness and putting our hope in Christ and the fact that He is in control and His ways are higher than ours. He’s not going to leave us hopeless and helpless – His Word is filled with instances of providing us with hope – Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 62, Psalm 91, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:25-34, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:31, and the list could and does go on and on and on.

As Christians, it’s because of Jesus’ resurrection that His hope is ours for the taking (when we ask Him). The disciples didn’t have that understanding, but WE DO! We don’t have to stay behind a locked door in despair or fear or confusion or hopelessness because we don’t know what will happen next – we can know and depend on the fact that our HOPE is built on nothing less than Christ and His righteousness! Yes, we mess up and we fail Him and yes, there will still be days where we will still feel hopeless, but we can know and trust and believe that our Savior is a gentle and compassionate friend who is there to take our troubles and fill us with His incredible, merciful, and undeserving love and hope.

If I could go back in time to that locked room where the disciples were all huddled together, I’d share with them 2 Corinthians 4, ending with the beautiful picture of hope that is promised in verses 17 & 18 – “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” What HOPE!

All He Wants for Christmas is You!

"Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."

- 1 Peter 4:10-11

Near your Christmas tree sits an invisible gift, wrapped in unique packaging that is truly one-of-a-kind. This gift is for the gift-recipient as well as the gift-giver. This gift was known before it was formed. This gift is fearfully and wonderfully made. This gift was made in the image of God. And this gift has something to give to the One who created it. Yep – you’re right – this gift is YOU!

God has gifted each one of us with so many different gifts and talents – some we know and some we may still need to figure out – but ALL that He wants us to use for {and thereby giving back to} Him! 1 Peter 4:10-11 tells us that depending on the gifts God gives us, we should use them to serve others {and in turn Him} “so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.” Ephesians 2:10 says that “we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Although physical gifts, the Magi gave what they had to Jesus, and Jesus gave us the greatest gift of all time - His life for ours. How could we not give our all for Him?

Do you have a gift or talent? Are you using it for {or giving it back to} the One who gave you the gift? This Christmas, let your gift to Jesus be a new resolve to give the gifts He’s given you for Him. All He wants for Christmas is you!

What's in a Name?

"See the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us."

- Matthew 1:23

How did you get your name?  Was it a name your parents liked?  Was it a family name?  Was it a name that was popular in culture during the time period you were born?  My first name was a name that my parents liked; and one of my middle names is a family name.  I also know of many children who have names that were based on movies or celebrities.  Names can be anything from traditional to interesting to down-right “what was the parent thinking?”  God knew what He was thinking when He chose the perfect name for His Son.  He chose a name that would span the ages of time and would be meaningful to all.

In the New Testament, we find that God, through His angel messenger(s), gave specific instructions to Mary and Joseph about what to name His Son.  In both Matthew 1:21b and Luke 1:31b, the couple is told, “…you will call His name Jesus.”  It’s interesting to note that in Hebrew, this special name means “The Lord Saves.”  Coincidence?  I think not.

As we study the Scriptures, we find that our Savior Jesus has many descriptions, which we also refer to as “names,” woven throughout the Bible.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us our Savior will be the, “Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”  He is also described as Christ, Lord, Master, Messiah, Son of Man, Lamb of God, Light of the World, and so many more.  These descriptions help us to connect with and worship our Savior for the great and amazing things he has done and is doing in our lives.

In this season of my life, my favorite name of Jesus is “Immanuel.”  It’s actually the name that was prophesied for Jesus way before He was born.  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).  The name Immanuel means “God With Us.” 

About this time last year, I was ever so mindful of the name Immanuel.  I was going through a very hard time of grief and loss – something that I haven’t really talked about publically.  It was one of the most painful things I have ever gone through in my life and I felt so alone in my sorrow.  Don’t get me wrong, my family and some close friends were there for me and walked with me through the valley, but I still felt like no one anywhere understood my exact feelings and my exact grief.  I came to really rely on the name of Immanuel because I knew He hadn’t forgotten me and was the only one who would walk every single second with me…and He has.

Our world is so uncertain and in such upheaval right now that having Jesus with us is about the only way we can make it through.  Devastation, loss, grief, violence, hatred – all of these are situations happening even as you read this blog that make you shake your head and feel hopeless.  If we place our hope in Immanuel, however, we can change our attitude into one of confidence because we know God is with us…always!  He will guide and direct us.  He will lead us through the valley.  He will help us know what to say and how to help others in their time of need.  Can you imagine how the world would react if we changed our attitudes to be one of hope during hardship?!

I find it so significant that Jesus’ last words on earth were such a testament to His name Immanuel – the name He was given and that was prophesied so many years before.  While ascending into heaven, looking at His disciples who were scared and unsure of when their Savior would return again, Jesus comforts them – and us, because we’re waiting too – with words that are so indicative of His given name.  “And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Amen!

Love Knows No Color

“I give you a new command: Love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” 

John 13:34

My heart hurt when I woke up this morning and saw the news about the tragedy in Dallas and how it was precipitated by other tragedies that had happened in other cities across the United States earlier in the week.  Jesus calls us to love one another – and that’s not just a specific race to another race – it’s everybody loving their fellow human enough to respect their feelings, and most especially, their life. 

Upon hearing this morning’s news, my mind immediately jumped to a conversation I had with one of the inner city children I worked with last Monday.  For those who are unaware, in January I became the childcare coordinator for a Christian ministry in downtown Nashville (in addition to my full-time job) where I am responsible for not only the kids, but the childcare volunteers and program schedule on the two nights we meet each week.  We keep the kids while their moms are learning and studying to pass their GED test so that they can get a good job and provide for their families.

Anyway…back to my conversation with this five year old little girl…

During Bible story time, she had a very pouty look on her face and so I pulled her out to the hall to find out what the problem was and how it could be fixed.  She wasn’t in trouble; I simply wanted to find out what had happened.  (I ended up finding out that one of the other workers had asked her to sit away from another child, so as not to disrupt story time; and she didn’t like that someone was telling her what to do.)  However, instead of explaining to me why she was pouty, she goes into a 20 minute speech, in which she was basically yelling, about black people and white people and how white people don’t like black people and vice versa.  Calmly, I explained to her that this was not the case – especially here at our ministry, but still she continued.  I explained the Bible and how Jesus calls us to love each other, but she brought up stories that involved beatings and violence. I assured her that no one in our group felt this way against anyone and that she could trust that we had hers (and the other children’s) best interests at heart, but she exclaimed that she didn’t believe me.  Ya’ll, she’s five years old.  Five.

It appalls me that a five year old knows and can articulate division and strife among race in her community.  It breaks my heart that she thinks yelling and hate are the responses to counteracting the division and strife she sees.  But honestly, if that’s all she sees, then that’s all she’s going to know.  Unfortunately, this is the case and not just with her, but with all of the children that I interact with at this ministry.  I pray daily that we childcare workers show these impressionable children how to counteract hate with love.  I pray that they are learning from us how to be civil and handle conflict calmly and not through violence and harsh words.

Sadly, though, it’s not just violent news stories where children see negativity.  It’s in their homes.  It’s in their schools.  It’s in their communities.  It’s in politics.  It’s even in the church.  How can I teach love, trust, patience, kindness, compassion, and so on when pretty much every other place these kids live, watch, play, or breathe are filled with hate or violence or dirty words or distrust or lying or countless other negative acts and feelings?

When asked by the Pharisees what was the greatest commandment that all people should follow, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).  Everything that Jesus said in Scripture is for sure important and noteworthy, but anything that Jesus COMMANDED in Scripture must be followed…has to be followed...and followed to the letter.  He spelled it out plain and simple - love your neighbor.  We know this command is important because Jesus mentions it, yet again, following His Last Supper, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” (John 13:34).  What better example of showing love to others than Jesus – the ultimate example of love.  

Loving your neighbor isn’t always going to be easy – they may have caused some serious distrust in your life. 

 Loving your neighbor isn’t going to be comfortable – you may have to step waaay outside your comfort zone. 

Loving your neighbor may cause you to have to give up something that’s been a part of you – a piece of your past that you need to let go. 

BUT it’s important.  

It’s necessary.  

It’s Christ’s command.  

Jesus never promised that this life would be easy.  When we became His followers, we said we were willing to deny everything – our legacy, our family, our lifestyle, and the list could go on and on – to take up our cross and follow Him – Matthew 16:24. 

It’s not about religion, it’s not about lifestyles, it’s not about race, it’s not about flags, and it’s not even about whether or not somebody’s got a tattoo … every.single.human.being.alive. is the “one another” Jesus was talking about.  If He meant for us to leave a particular group out, He would’ve said it…but He didn’t.  One another means everybody.  Loving them like Jesus doesn’t mean you agree with their thoughts and feelings; it means you are being the light of Christ in their lives…and that, my friends, is what our ultimate goal as Christians is in this life – to be His light and help turn the lost to the cross.

I want to end this heart-felt post with a positive conclusion to the conversation I referenced earlier between me and the rather vocal five year old.  About half an hour after her bizarre protest, the precious little girl apologized to me.  She told me she had made a bad choice to say those words and that black people and white people could be friends and get along with one another.  She said, “Even though I have different skin and you have different skin, God made both of us and we are all the same on the inside.”  You’re right, sweet girl, you are so right.  Love - most especially God's love - knows no color.  We are all the same on the inside and we can show friendship and civility to each other.  Now if we can get the rest of the world to realize that.

Love knows no color.  Neither should we.

Forsaken for Me

"About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lena sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')" - Matthew 27:46

Loneliness and abandonment are situations that most people hate enduring.  Feeling like you don't belong and that you're forgotten can bring even the most strong-minded person down in a deep, dark valley full of tears, hurt, and depression.  Thankfully, we know that no matter what we go through in this life, Jesus is our constant and ever-present friend that sticks closer than any brother ever could (and maybe even would).  We don't have to fear being completely forsaken in this life because we know Jesus will be there to walk with us through ever single moment - good or bad.

Can you stop and imagine, however, if Jesus wasn't there for us during our hardest moments?  If you're like me, you probably don't want to even imagine it.  To imagine going through pain and hardship completely and utterly alone seems like more than I could ever endure.  Yet someone did just that...and it is the very person that is with each one of us during our pain and hardship - our precious Savior, Jesus.

Matthew 27 outlines - in detail - the events leading up to the death of Christ.  He endured far more than hardship...He endured torture and agony.  He was accused of lying, when all His words were complete truth.  He was mocked by those who, just days earlier, had praised Him.  He was scourged and beaten and forced to carry part of the cross to which He would soon be nailed.  As hard as all of this is for us to even read, none of it compared to the torment of abandonment Christ felt as He was breathing His final breaths.  Matthew writes that around 3:00 in the afternoon, Jesus yelled to His Father, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).  While this was actually a portion of a Psalm that Christ was quoting (Psalm 22:1), I don't think He was saying this to "just" quote Scripture, I believe that when Jesus said this, He meant it with every fiber in His being.  The torture of having to endure this horrendous suffering alone was now a reality for Jesus - He was completely alone with people laughing at his demise, with blood pouring from his head, hands, and feet, and with death waiting right around the corner.  And God wasn't - really He couldn't be - there.  That is scarier than any horror movie could ever be.

God still loved His Son, He just couldn't be there for Him because God knew that this action and the feelings - all the feelings - associated with it were a necessary step in the redemption of mankind.  As humans, sin separates us from God, and as we learn in Romans 6:23, the punishment for sin is death - eternal separation from God.  When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He took that punishment for us which meant He had to endure it - being separated from everyone and every.single.thing.  So when Jesus was on the cross crying out in a loud voice this portion of Scripture, it wasn't just a repeating of a verse He had learned as a child in Hebrew AWANAs, it was a proclamation of how He felt at that exact moment.

My NLT Study Bible commentary states, "Jesus was not questioning God; he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22 - a deep expression of the anguish he felt when he took on the sins of the world, which caused Him to be separated from His Father.  This was what Jesus dreaded as he prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from him (26:39).  The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God.  Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God."

As hard as being forsaken by others may feel to us, Jesus is the one constant we have to depend on - always.  Jesus had no one.  He was forsaken so we wouldn't ever have to be.  What a friend we have in Jesus!  

As you reflect on this past Easter weekend, I hope you will continue to take to heart the sacrifice Jesus has made just for you.  He sacrificed everything - His relationships, His emotion, His identity, and His life - all so you wouldn't have to endure eternal separation from God and be alone for eternity.  He loves you THAT much.

If you are struggling with feeling forsaken or abandoned by others or someone in particular, remember Jesus' last words on earth and let them be an encouragement to you as you walk through this lonely time - "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b).

Below is a video clip of the song that inspired this blog post...one of my favorite songs that has ministered to me so strongly over the past few months.

The Cross at Christmas

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:14a, 16)

Quite a number of years ago I invited a friend to a Christmas program put on by the church I was attending at that time.  As with many church Christmas programs, the presentation featured the entire story of Jesus – from the manger to the cross to the resurrection.  I knew my friend had attended the program and the following week asked her what she thought of it.  Her reply, “Well, I thought the music and everything was great, but I just don’t understand why we have to see all the cross stuff.  That’s what is celebrated at Easter, not Christmas!”  What a statement...and one that I know she's not alone in voicing at this time of year.

When we attend community Christmas programs, get Christmas cards, or display figurines during the holiday season, we see images of or resembling the nativity – Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, angels, shepherds, wisemen, and maybe a sheep here or there.  Rarely, if ever, are images of the crucifixion prominently displayed.  Our music around this time of the year also centers around baby Jesus and those individuals who were a part of that First Christmas.  While some carols do discuss Jesus in his later years, many times those verses are skipped for time or for the simple fact that they don’t relate to this “season.”  

The fact that Jesus’ later life is overlooked for many during this time of year is an utter shame because without the things he accomplished and did during his later years, He wouldn’t be who we celebrate Him to be at this time of year – our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Crucifixion scene at the recent 2015 Sevier Heights Baptist Church Christmas Program

We sing that “Christ the Savior is born,” but had He saved anyone at the time of his birth?  No.  Yes, Christ had come to earth, but it wasn’t until 33 years later as He died upon the cross did He really and truly become our Savior.  When He died, He took with Him the punishment of all of our sins, “‘He Himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24)  At the moment He cried “It is finished,” and breathed His last breath, He became the Savior of the world.  Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth as a baby those 33 years prior had now been fulfilled.  God so loved the world…past, present, and future…that He freely sacrificed His Son, Jesus, so that anyone who believes and trusts in His Son’s name would have never-ending life in heaven with Him (John 3:16, paraphrased).

Now I know that thinking about image of the cross, as it carries with it the horrors and violence that Jesus endured during his crucifixion, is hard, especially during this time of year.  The Christmas season is for the most part a very happy and joyous season and we are urged to spread “tidings of comfort and joy” to others.  I wholeheartedly believe this and I’m not discounting this at all.  Yes, we need to show love to others this year.  Yes, we should give gifts to others to remind us of God’s gift to us.  Yes, we should sing and rejoice about this little baby born in Bethlehem.  With all of that, however, it is vitally important for us also to remember the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for us in order to be truly and fully aware of how important this time of year is for us as followers of Christ. 

If Jesus hadn’t come to earth as a baby to grow and be the man who died on the cross for our sins, He wouldn’t be the Savior we celebrate Him to be at this time of year.  Without His sacrifice, we wouldn’t know the true meanings of love, sacrifice, mercy, grace, service, forgiveness, and the list of characteristics could go on and on and on. 

At Christmas, as believers in Christ, we should be ever aware what John began his gospel proclaiming, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:14a, 16).  And as we reflect on His sacrifice, we can rejoice and celebrate the fact that He did not stay dead.  He arose!  This baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth, and as a man wrapped in grave clothes at His death, conquered the grave and now lives!  Now THAT is reason to sing “joy to the world!”

It’s somewhat unconventional (and uncomfortable) to think about the cross at Christmas, but it’s important because it helps us to remember, appreciate, and rejoice at the life, death, and resurrection, not just the birth, of this baby who changed everything just for you and me.

Take time this Christmas to reflect on the cross...it's how we remember the reason for the season.

"Live Like That" Day

"And He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him…”  - 2 Corinthians 5:15a

Ice Cream Day, Best Friend Day, Purple Shirt Day…who even comes up with those?  I mean, I know national holidays are instituted by the government, but run-of-the-mill celebration/remembrance days…where do those even originate?  Well, if any ordinary person is the one who develops such days, I have a proposition for July 4.  I know, I know…that day is already taken as Independence Day, but surely to goodness we take part in both.  What is my proposition for July 4?  Let’s make it “Live Like That” Day!

Why July 4?  

On July 4, 2012, two special kids – Nate & Noah – lost their lives in a tragic lake accident.  The days and months that followed were so difficult and challenging (and still are) for the families as they came to terms with what had happened and how to move on with life.  July 4 has become a day that is hard to look at on the calendar, talk about, and most especially live through as it is just tied to the memory of that unforgettable day.  I’m all about taking a negative and turning it into a positive – so how about taking this difficult day and turning it into a day where we make a difference?  Of course we still take time to remember the boys and pray for their families, but let’s make July 4 a day beyond what it is and make it a day to honor them in a positive way!

Why “Live Like That?” 
In the month or so that followed the accident, the Sidewalk Prophet’s song, Live Like That became kind of an anthem of remembrance of the two boys.  The song talks about how Christians should live their lives as one that points to and impacts others for Christ.  Even in their short lives, Nate & Noah impacted their peers & even adults with their talents and personalities.  At their funeral, the stories of their legacies impacted people follow Christ and recommit their lives to Him.  They lived lives that pointed others to Jesus and even through their passing were still pointing the world to Him.  In relation to that, Nate’s family developed red bracelets with the phrase on them to remind people to “Live Like That” which even found their way to the Sidewalk Prophet band with whom the families have had opportunities to meet and share the boys’ story.

Who are we supposed to live like?  

Jesus.  Plain and simple.  2 Corinthians 5:15a cuts straight to the heart of this – “And He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him…”  In life we all strive for perfection, but we never attain it and frankly will never attain it.  The only perfect person to ever live was Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:22 says that Jesus, “committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”  

What’s the first way we can strive to be like Him?  Giving our lives to Him.  This requires admittance of our sin (all the wrong things we’ve ever done) and the acknowledgment that we are not perfect, belief that Jesus is the Son of God, confession of our sins, and commitment to follow Jesus every day following.  Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God.”  By doing this we receive a gift – eternal life with Him.    

The second way we can be like Jesus is to follow His example.  In the Bible Jesus told us, “I have given you an example that as I have done, so should you” (John 13:15).  We can see many attributes of Christ as we study the Bible but some that come to the top of my mind are – compassion, serving, grace, mercy, honesty, thoughtfulness, endurance, discernment, and the list goes on and on.  We’re not going to reach the level of Christ…we’re imperfect humans…but we can live our lives as Christ by making His attributes our attributes and by following His example.

What do we do to “Live Like That?”

Honestly anything positive, uplifting, or encouraging to benefit the lives of others.  Maybe it is baking cookies for your neighbor, buying the person’s meal behind you, visiting someone who is lonely, writing an encouraging letter to a friend, serving at the homeless shelter, having a good attitude, sharing Christ with someone….ANYTHING!  Even the apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, gives us a list of things we can do:

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.

I can’t think of any better examples of kids that sought to encourage and uplift others than Nate & Noah.  Nate was really into art and loved to draw things for people or teach them how to make some sort of art.  Noah loved to help people.  He would go with his family to give out food on Thanksgiving, was super excited to hand out Christmas gifts to kids who didn’t have any, and even helped me run my computer one day when I taught a missions lesson and didn’t have a computer operator.  These boys had sweet servant hearts and they pointed others to Jesus…they “Lived Like That!”

In Closing
To be honest, every day should be “Live Like That” Day.  We should always strive to grow in our walk with Christ by living like Him.  Our faith in Him should be more than the things we say and the songs we sing – we should always show others the light of Jesus  (I wrote about this in my last blog, click HERE to read it).  BUT let’s set aside this day, July 4...and every July 4 that follows...to strive and do something special or meaningful for someone to honor the legacy of Nate & Noah and ultimately to point others to Christ.   

“I wanna live like that and give it all I have, so that everything I say and do points to You!  If love is who I am, then this is where I stand.  Recklessly abandoned, never holding back.  I wanna live like that.  I wanna LIVE LIKE THAT!”

"Let Our Faith Be More Than Anthems..."

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” - James 2:17

In my car the first three radio presets are to Christian music stations – K-Love, 106.9 The Light, and AirOne.  You can pretty well gather that if you see me singing my heart out in my car (not ashamed or embarrassed about that BTW), it’s probably to a Christian song.  All the songs I sing in church are Christian songs and I always try to pick ones that represent the lessons God is currently teaching me.   I love how Christian music artists can take the thoughts of my heart and put them into words.  These songs have a way of speaking to your soul.  They say what you are feeling and express what you’re going through and how God is in control of it all. 

Recently, however, I came across a line of one of these Christian songs that “struck a chord” with me (that pun was intended).  In the new Newsboys song, We Believe, there is a short line in the second verse that reads like this, “So let our faith be more than anthems, greater than the songs we sing.”  Goodness gracious…that is one loaded lyric.  When we’re listening to or singing songs about serving others (Matthew Wests’ Do Something), trusting God in hard times (Matt Redmond’s You Never Let Go), sharing Jesus with others (Britt Nicole’s The Lost Get Found), worshipping our Creator (Kari Jobe’s Revelation Song), or living like Christ (Casting Crown’s Lifesong) we have to make them more than just anthems of our heart – we HAVE to live them out. 

Think right now of your favorite Christian song.  Usually for me my favorite changes from week-to-week…but for now think of the one that comes to your mind first.  Sing it to yourself…it’s okay if you can’t sing, we can’t hear you :)  Okay, now analyze the lyrics you are singing.  Are you living those words out?  Do you believe them with your whole heart?  Is your faith more than this anthem…greater than this song you are singing? 

I’m just using the above songs as examples…any song that we sing in a service at church or at the top of our lungs in our car or shower apply to this thought.  We must put feet to our faith (which is evidenced by the lyrics of these songs we love) and make these anthems more than just words.  The book of James had to have inspired this lyric, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)  FOR SURE we cannot be saved by works alone, we are saved by our faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However as believers in Jesus, our works (which include our godly actions and lifestyle) show the world, especially unbelievers, that we believe Christ.  Our actions are the evidence of our faith.  Galatians 5:6 says, “When we place our faith in Christ Jesus…what is important is faith expressing itself in love.”  We don't need to keep our faith locked inside ourselves, we need to live it out!  My NLT Life Application Study Bible sums this up beautifully, “We cannot earn our salvation by serving and obeying God.  But such actions show that our commitment to God is real.  Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ” (pg. 2118).

Don’t be passive in your faith.  Yes, it’s awesome you believe in Jesus…but show that you believe in Him!  Be that light to the world.  Be that city on a hill.  “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)  Let your faith be MORE THAN anthems and so much greater than the songs you sing.

Why I Love VBS

“But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.  Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” – 1 Peter 3:15

VBS is one of my favorite times of the year…I kind of like it even better than Christmas!  There’s just something about a massive amount of kids coming together to learn and sing about Jesus that makes my heart just burst with happiness and excitement.  I must admit the trazillion hugs and gigantic smiles make it that much sweeter, too. :)

Of course the fact that I get to teach kids about missions and missionaries is an added bonus to this special week.  It’s so cool to watch the kids’ interest peak day-by-day as they are connecting to the missionaries and what they are doing.  I also love that we participate in a mission project.  I never want kids to just learn about missions, I want them to DO missions too.  Our mission project this year is to help a church plant in Denver, Colorado.  Today we got to Skype the missionary we are helping and the kids were glued to the screens as he spoke and brought to life the mission project through the words he said.  

Teaching in my "Map Room"

I also love that this year the missions curriculum has stressed having the kids do a secret service mission project.  Many kids have really gotten into this and it has been so neat to hear their secret service mission stories and also to see that they are really listening and applying what we talk about in missions.  One of my favorite secret service mission stories from this week (and if you’re my friend on Facebook, you probably know about this) is about a little girl who did the secret service mission of writing “Jesus Loves You” notes to someone.  She not only wrote these notes, but she also made cupcakes (she said from “scrap”…she meant scratch) and handed them out to people in her neighborhood.  She also made some cupcakes and a note for me…LOVE.IT. :)

My cupcakes made from "scrap"

My church is using Lifeway’s Agency D3 theme this year.  It has been awesome as kids are discovering Jesus, deciding to follow Him, and learning how to better defend their faith in Him.  1 Peter 3:15 has been the theme verse for the week.  “But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.  Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  It’s a crazy world that kids today are growing up in and these are lessons that they NEED to know.  There is about a 99.95% chance that they will be faced with an issue in their life that they will need to draw on something they have learned this week in order to help them solve it.  That’s not to be taken lightly.  VBS is impacting kids…for the better.  It’s also impacting kids eternally.  A representative from the TN Baptist Convention spoke at our church this past Sunday and said that 25% of children’s baptisms are a result of a decision made at VBS.  That is a major percentage.

But the kids aren’t the only ones who can take away lessons from this year’s VBS, us older ones can too!  (Am I really included in the word “older?”  I guess I am…).  Let’s break apart the theme scripture: 

• “But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.”  What does this mean?  I think this is two-fold.  First of all I believe it means to make sure that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of your life.  Do you have a personal relationship with Him?  I also believe that this part of the scripture stresses to keep honoring Jesus.  He is our King, but do we really worship Him every moment?  Are the things we say or our actions a reflection of Christ?  Do we live with an attitude that reflects Him?  In order to be ambassadors for Him and be on guard to give a defense for Him, we need to live a life like Christ.  1 John 2:6 says, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”  Obviously we can’t live His life…it was perfect…but we can strive to live like Him.
  
• “Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  As Christians living in today’s world, we look pretty unusual to unbelievers.  Where they see hurt, we see forgiveness.  Where they see hate, we see love.  Where they see death, we see eternal life.  The things we see are complete opposite of what they see and they’re going to want to know why.  Be ready for that!  Know what you believe and why you believe it!  The world wants evidence and there’s no greater place to find that evidence than the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Study the Bible so you know how to answer the questions that the world will throw at you…notice that I didn’t use the word “might” in the place of “will.” 

There’s so much to be grateful for with Vacation Bible School.  It’s a timeless tradition that has been a part of many churches for years and years.  I can’t even count on two hands the number of VBS’ I have been involved in or a part of since I was born.  While I loved VBS as a child, I have an even greater love for VBS as an adult because of what it does for kids and how, no matter what the theme, can apply it to my life and my situations.  Stop for a moment and think about your church’s VBS theme.  Think about how you can apply it to your life and use the applications that the kids are/will be learning and be encouraged by them along with the kids. 

Vacation Bible School isn’t about the snacks…it’s not about recreation, missions, crafts, singing or even certain individual people.  VBS is about Jesus and growing ourselves, and most importantly kids, in the knowledge of the truths of the Bible and HIS sweet, sweet love.

Believing the Unbelievable

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." – John 20:29

Have you ever had to just see something for yourself in order to believe it?  100 people could tell you that the sky is most certainly green, but unless you actually see for yourself that the sky is indeed green, there’s no way on earth you are going to believe them because it’s impossible for the sky to be anything but blue. 

For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes (okay…sandals) of the followers of Jesus during the time of His crucifixion, death, and burial.  Think for a moment about the wide range of emotions you would be feeling – grief and loss at the death of such a great Teacher, anger at those who had betrayed him, confusion that someone who claimed to be the Savior seemingly hadn’t saved anyone, among other emotions.  You’re sitting there wondering what to do next and all of a sudden someone runs into your house and tells you, “Jesus is risen from the dead!”  Would you take their word for it or would you have to see it to believe?

On the third day after Jesus’ death, a group of women traveled to his tomb to anoint his body.  When they arrived, they discovered that the tomb was open and that Jesus’ body was gone!  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “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. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee’” Matthew 28:5-7. 

Following the angel’s instructions to the letter, they rush back to Jesus’ disciples and tell them this miraculous news.  Luke 24:9-11, “When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.  But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  I’m sure those words seemed like nonsense to the disciples because they watched Jesus take his last breath and die on the cross.  Many were probably there when Jesus’ body was carried to and placed in the tomb.  To hear that Jesus’ body was gone and that an angel had stated that He had risen from the dead was just so far out of the realm of possibility that unless they saw for themselves, they weren’t going to believe an ounce of what these women were telling them.

Sure enough, a few of the disciples decided to see for themselves if what the women were saying was true.  “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first” John 20:3-4.  I’m sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were running…this was virtually unbelievable.  A casual stroll to the tomb wouldn’t cut it…the faster one got there, the faster one would see if this was true or not.  The disciples made it to the tomb and what do they discover?  Sure enough, the stone was rolled away from the door and the strips of cloth that had covered Jesus’ body were lying right where His body had been!

Now was it at this moment that the disciples believed Jesus had risen?  Well, not really.  The only one that truly believed was John, “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They [the other disciples] still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead)” John 20:8-9. As for the others, what evidence had they really seen?  Really just pieces of cloth that any thief could have set up.  No angel greeted them when they walked in the tomb.  No note that said “Hey guys, I rose from the dead!  Sincerely, Jesus.”  Nothing.  There was seemingly no factual information to back up the women’s claims that Jesus had risen….until later that night.

For some of us it takes actual proof to believe something…it was no different for Jesus’ disciples.  That same night, they got their actual proof.  Locked away in a house, confused and afraid that people would think it was they that stole His body, the disciples had an unexpected visitor that didn’t come through any window or door.  “Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” John 20:19-20. Okay so this had to be a moment where everyone’s mouths fell squarely on the floor.  I mean, can’t you just see this in your head?!  This was Jesus…beyond a shadow of a doubt.  It couldn’t be an imposter and it couldn’t be his long-lost twin…why?  Because He showed them the piercings in His hands and side…the same piercings they had watched Him receive on the cross.  Everything was true!  They believed! ….well, all except for one.

Good ‘ole Thomas…he didn’t make it to this particular Sunday night meeting (guess He thought He could watch it on live streaming….joking, jokin!! Ha ha!).  Anyway, when the disciples told him what had happened, he said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” John 20:25.  Another doubter…another “I have to see it to believe it” person.  Several days later, when they were all together again, Thomas got his proof.  “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’” John 20:26-27.  The look on Thomas’ face at that exact moment had to be one of surprise and also embarrassment.  Surprise because truly Jesus was risen!  Embarrassment because he was wrong, the others were right, and Jesus had just called him out in front of everyone.  But what Jesus says next to him is one of the most poignant statements of this whole evening.  Jesus says, “You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” John 20:29.

This Easter season remember, fellow Christians, that you have been blessed by Jesus Himself.  How?  Because you believe He rose from the dead, but didn’t need to see Him to form that belief.  Maybe there are some of you, though, like Thomas who need to “see it to believe it.”  All I can tell you is why I believe what I believe and pray you will see how this is all the proof and evidence needed to believe the unbelievable.  For me personally, I believe because the inspired, infallible Word of God tells me so.  I’m taking the Word’s word for it if that makes any sense! :)  John 20:31 says, “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.”  I also believe because I’ve seen the Spirit of Jesus shine through the stories and experiences of other believers.  2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”  I mean who else could take someone whose life was falling apart and turn it into something beautiful?  Not a dead man, that’s for sure. 

JESUS IS ALIVE!  HE IS RISEN! And you know what?!  I don’t need to see it to believe it!

Heaven is For Real (Movie Review)

“[As believers in Christ] our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20

Last month I had the opportunity to see a pre-screening of the upcoming movie Heaven is for Real.  This movie is based on the true story of the Burpo family from Arkansas.  If you’re not familiar with the story, a young boy named Colton became deathly ill due to a ruptured appendix and was rushed into surgery.  He survived and when he got better, began recounting to his parents “experiences” he had while he was under the anesthesia.  He told his parents that he had visited heaven, seen Jesus, met an unborn sister, hugged his great-grandfather, and told them other things that had happened.  I’m not going to offer an opinion on the plot of this story at all.  If Colton (the real Colton) believes he saw heaven, then he saw heaven.  I can’t say that he did, I can’t say that he didn’t – what make us unique as humans is that we have our own perceptions of things and experiences.  I do, however, want to offer some thoughts about the movie and things I felt were missing. 

I had mixed feelings coming out of the movie.  On the positive side of things, I was pleased that this movie was adding to the number of faith-based/spiritually inspirational movies that are out in theaters today and also that it is a subject matter that might cause unbelievers to think about heaven and their destiny, and maybe seek out answers at a church to those thoughts and questions.  On the negative side of things, I felt that there was a little too much “Hollywood” in the movie.  For instance, there were a bit too many romantic innuendos for a movie that is about a boy who saw heaven.  Also, the advertising for the movie was a bit misleading in that before seeing the movie, I would have thought it was about Colton.  However, it was really more about Colton’s dad, Todd, and his coming to terms with his faith and also what is going on with his son.  Sadly, it felt like Colton was just a side-note and that just didn’t correlate well with the advertising that features Colton by himself at the “door of heaven” (see photo below).

However, the biggest negative for me about the movie was a particular scene where Todd Burpo, who is a pastor, is visiting the grave of one of his parishioners’ son who died while in combat.  The parishioner, fully aware with what has gone on with Colton and also upset that God chose to save Todd’s son and not hers, sits down next to Todd and says, “Do you think my son went to heaven?”  (Ohh…great opportunity to share the gospel here!)  The scene continues and Todd replies to her question, “Do you love your son still?”  She answers, “Yes, of course I do!”  Todd says, “Do you think I love Colton?”  The parishioner says, “Yes, I know you do.”  He says, “Do you think I love my son, more than you love yours?”  She says, “No.”  Todd concludes by saying, “Do you think God loves my son, more than He loves yours?”  She begins to cry.

Huh?!  That’s TOTALLY NOT how you answer a question like that…and that is what was ringing in my mind right when this scene in the movie ended.  For those (like the parishioner's son) over the age of accountability (and I’m not going into that here), the solely and ONLY way to heaven is through salvation in Jesus Christ.  In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father [who is in heaven] except through me.”  John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name.”  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  I could keep going, but you get the gist…we only get to heaven through salvation through Jesus; it’s not our works, it’s not about how good we are, it’s about Him and ONLY Him.

Heaven is For Real comes out on April 16, right before Easter Sunday.  Is it a great Christian movie?  I say, no.  It's a good inspirational movie, but in order for it to be a good Christian movie in my eyes, the directors and producers should have put the focus on salvation in Christ, something they chose not to do.  Personally, I wouldn’t spend the price of a movie ticket to see the movie in theaters (especially because movie tickets are so costly!).  I’d wait until the movie comes out on DVD and rent it.  However you see the movie, keep in the forefront of your mind that there is only ONE way to heaven.  And finally, if you take an unbelieving friend with you or if you know of an unbelieving friend that is going to see/has seen the movie, afterwards, share with them the TRUTH that was so sadly left out of this movie.  Who knows, maybe you can plant and help cultivate the seed of salvation in their lives?!

Regardless of what you or I believe about the Burpo’s experience, one thing they say over and over again is true.  Heaven IS for real; and hand-in-hand with that, so is hell.  What bridges them together?  The cross.  It’s our sinful nature that should send us to hell, but it’s Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sin and our repentance, belief, and acceptance of that knowledge that gives us the gift of eternity in heaven.  Heaven is real and John gives us a tiny glimpse of it in Revelation 22:1-5:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

One day, as believers in Christ, we will get to experience for ourselves the beauty and glory of Heaven, we will wade in that river of life, fellowship with those who have gone on before us, and greatest of all, worship and praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in His presence at His very throne-room!  “Our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Philippians 3:20.  Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.