Grace and Peace

Jake is my cat.  He also is plenty smart.  During a recent gathering at our house when all of our kids were home and some extra guests were present as well, Jake decided to withdraw from the noise and activity and take a snooze in an out of the way place.  Some might call him a "party pooper," but I praise him because he knows when solitude is needed and isn't afraid to withdraw to a quiet place.

As believers, our lives are plenty busy with a multitude of tasks.  Sometimes it gets so bad that the noise and activity begins to wear us out and run us down.  Jesus' example can give us a clue as to how to remedy our situation.  He was running a busy ministry and travel schedule and His miracles were attracting increasingly larger crowds.  That is when Luke shows us the key to Jesus' life:

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:15-16 New King James Version)

Jesus knew that sometimes He needed to push away from the busyness and get alone with God.  Solitude and time in prayer have a healing effect on the wearied and worn human spirit.

We all encounter heartbreaking situations as we deal with family, friends, and even strangers.  I look at individuals and families under duress and am either amazed at their ability to courageously go forward or heartbroken at the hopelessness they feel.  Understand that I am not passing judgement on people, because we can not definitively say what we would do until we have walked through the fire ourselves.

In my observation, I see two commonalities in the lives of those who navigate their way through tragedy with a measure of grace.  First, they have a solid faith that holds them afloat even in the midst of troubles.  Second, they live in community with other believers who support, encourage, and minister to them.  The bottom line is we need God and each other.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV)

Becky and I spent part of Saturday afternoon/evening taking an old dining room set down to our son, Ben.  Ben has lived in Wilmington since August and attends UNC-W.  He and his buddy, Skylar, have an apartment and were more than willing to take our "cast off" table and chairs. 

After getting the stuff up to their second floor apartment (no elevator), we sat and chatted for awhile and then went out to eat.  Skylar couldn't go with us because he had a hot date and that left Ben, Becky and I to go out on our own (Ben's lady lives near Albemarle, so he lacked the excuse of a hot date).

 We don't often get to spend time alone with Ben.  Ben will turn 21 in two weeks, lives in a city 60 miles away, goes to school full time, works 30+ hours a week, has a brother and sister, courts Nicole long distance, and the list goes on why we don't often  get him to ourselves.  But this night, we did.

And we had a great time.  He talked about his life, his plans, his relationship with Nicole, and all the while I was thinking, is this the little boy I used to play ball with?  Could he really be almost 21 and talking about career plans and marriage?  It felt good to be there with him.  It felt good to see his excitement and hope.  I was surprised by his good judgement and maturity.  It felt a little weird because I realized that Ben was not my little boy anymore.

I got to talk with Teal Moran today by telephone.  Dan is recuperating faster that any of his doctors believed possible.  Since the end of December, he has been allowed to stay at the apartment with his family there at Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio and receive his treatments as an outpatient.  What a mighty God we serve!

Teal is planning on being in Onslow County later this month to oversee the packing up of their home so that their personal belongings can be transferred to San Antonio.  They will set up housekeeping there while Dan continues his recovery.  Teal will be sharing a testimony of God's power in our Prayer and Praise Service on Wednesday, January 24, 2007.  That is one service you will not want to miss.

Just a bit ago, I was in a worship service with my church family and we read these words together:

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"

And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."  (Matthew 25:334-40 New King James Version)

For me, these words brought to mind another passage where Jesus said:

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?"  (Luke 6:46 New King James Version)

What both passages assert, is that a changed heart is displayed by a changed life.  We are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works.  The scripture was shared with us by a group of men and women who minister to prison inmates and their families.  Certainly their prayer was that God would call some of the group gathered to come along side them in their particular ministry.  I would encourage that, but a greater message for me was to look for the "least of these" around me every day.  Ministry isn't intended to be something we do once in awhile only at a special weekend or event, but ministry is our calling everyday, everywhere, in a variety of ways.  Why not look for "one of the least of these" that God is going to put in your path tomorrow and take the time to love them with the same love Christ has shown you.

My sweetie and I have been using the gym this week as part of our commitment to lose some weight and get some exercise in 2007.  Since my injuries of 2003 and 2005 had taken me out of sports officiating, my physical activity has been greatly reduced.  Becky made mention of the fact that she actually wanted to keep me around for awhile longer, so I realized some lifestyle changes were necessary...hence the exercise and dietary changes.  So what does that have to do with Saturday and sunshine?

Today, was just too beautiful to spend in a gym.  I suggested to Becky that we go over to the Jacksonville Commons area and walk there.  What a great idea!  About three o'clock my baby doll and I walked the area and had a glorious time.  When we weren't concentrating on pace and heart rate, we had time to talk and just enjoy being outside.  After all, 70+ degree days in January are not all that common here and there is never enough time to spend with your spouse and best friend.  I think I will treasure today for a long time.

I woke up today while it was still dark outside.  I then awakened Jake (the cat) who was reclining on my left side (the lovely Becky was on my right) and slide out of bed.  After a quick trip to the kitchen to feed Jake (THE CAT'S BREAKFAST MUST BE PROMPTLY SERVED), I made my way to my home office to spend some time with the Lord.  As I sat at my desk with my Bible open to Romans 8, I rejoiced with Paul over God's mercy extended through our Lord Jesus and marveled at the glorious day dawning outside.  The clouds and grayness of yesterday are gone, and the bright sunshine of the first Saturday of 2007 is reigning supreme.  There is something about sunshine after a day of gloominess that lifts the spirit.  The world looks different and the brilliant warmth seems to seep into every fiber of your being. 

As I turned from the window back to God's Word, it struck me that I had just witnessed in nature a picture of the contrast of Romans 7 and Romans 8.  In Romans 7:24, Paul writes:

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Paul reminds us of the despair and frustration that can exist within us.  Although we have a desire to please God and do the right thing, we also have a fallen nature which seeks mainly to please itself.  The conflict which results makes peace of mind and heart impossible.  I am convinced that this sad state is all to often the norm for believers; where we live far below the abundant life Jesus spoke of and exemplfied.  But this cry of despair turns to a shout of triumph as we move into Romans 8:1, where Paul writes:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

It is Jesus who frees me from my despair.  He paid the price for me.  I no longer stand guilty before God, but I am now judged righteous.  I no longer have to yield myself to sin as its slave, but by the Spirit I am able to walk in obedience to God.  God never meant for us to live the Christian life in our own power.  He gives the Holy Spirit as an indwelling, abiding possession to quicken, guide, and empower my spirit.  As I live and move in the Spirit, the devil's "whipping stick" of guilt, which he used to beat up on me, is vanquished.  I am free.  Free to be what God designed me to be.  Free to live in unhindered fellowship with my Saviour and Lord.  Oh the glorious sunshine of God's grace.

Tonight will be my first chance in 2007 to worship corporately with my faith family.  I am excited to meet God's people for prayer, study, and a time of praise.  I always get a sense of anticipation as the time nears for us to gather together.  One of God's good gifts to us is the privilege of gathering in His name.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

Today, many people in our community returned to work.  I did, too.  I will admit that I have enjoyed the holidays and somewhat dreaded hearing the alarm clock ring today.  On the other hand, I love my job and the people with which I work.  To work with your friends doing something you love is a little taste of heaven.  The other thing I thought of this morning was how blessed I am to be physically able to work and to have a job.  I have some friends who are unable to work at their desired profession due to physical disabilities.  I also have some able bodied friends who are without a job.  I count myself blessed.  If you went to work today or must return tomorrow, give thanks to God and work so as to please Him.

Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.   (Ephesians 6:5-8)

I love New Year's Day because it reminds me that the Lord allows new beginnings.  There is mercy and grace with our Lord Jesus.  If your life has not been charting a course of obedience in following the Lord, why not admit that truth and ask for His cleansing and restoration.  I can't think of a better way to start the new year than with a renewed zeal to love and serve the Lord.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)