It's the Law!

This past weekend I was talking with a group of friends about God's Law. The 10 commandments! The much dreaded 10 commandments, with its list of thou shall nots! How could such a loving God, as He claims Himself to be, put such restrictions on His children? We must obey or else... 

It's actually incredible how often God's Law is used to justify our judgmental attitude towards fellow human beings. Yes, because if the Law has such a bad reputation, is not because of God, but because of us who like to put our hand into everything!

Jesus once said that if we love Him, we'll keep His commands (John 14:15), and that all the Law can be summarized in loving God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37,38.) It seems to me then that the Law is not a bunch of heartless rules, but a manifestation of God's love towards His children.

Here's what I think about God's law: it's awesome!!!! Only a God full of wisdom and love could come up with such incredible guidance for His kids.

Those of us who are parents, do we have rules in our home? If there are no rules, what happens? One word: chaos! So we have rules. And why do we have rules for our children? I believe we all agree that we have rules because we love our children and want what is best for them. "Thou shall not touch the stove while its hot" is a pretty good rule. Why? Because our children can get seriously hurt if they touch a hot stove. So that rule prevents not only our children from feeling pain, but may avoid a trip to the ER or even a stay at the hospital complimented with a chunky bill to pay.

What about "Thou shall not drink and drive or get in the car with someone who's drunk?" Do we agree that's a good rule for our kids? My rule is more like, don't even look at an alcoholic drink, don't smell it, don't come near it! But why do we think this is a good rule? Because of so many reasons. Driving while intoxicated can have serious consequences from a life wasted in jail, to a life wasted inside a coffin. Loss of friends, loss of health and mobility, and so many other things. 

If we think the rules we make for our children are good, why do we think that God's rules for His children are bad? It doesn't make much sense, does it? Let's explore just a few.

"You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) Hmmm... I wonder if I'll save myself a lot of trouble by staying faithful to my spouse. I wonder if I'll avoid quite a bit of pain not only to myself, but to my children, spouse, family and whoever else may be involved. So many families are destroyed and hurt for generations to come because of an act of lust. God wanted to save us from a lot of trouble when He told us not to go after what is not ours to begin with. 

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (vs. 16) Most often than not a lie is uncovered. Some people can go years without revealing the truth, but sooner or later the truth will come to light. Just watch the news and you'll learn about people guilty of embezzlement who had been stealing for years, building what they thought was a solid and rich life, to end in misery in jail. And even the little lies we may tell and the little seemingly innocent not truths we may say about others can have uncomfortable consequences. How much stress can we avoid by just being truthful. Just this past week we have the example of the 2 DJs from Australia who called an hospital in England, pretending to be the Queen, and asking about Kate. We know the results. One nurse has committed suicide and the 2 DJs have lost their jobs. Isn't it great that God wants to save us from all of this and much more by requesting us to stay truthful in every circumstance? 

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (vs. 8) I love this one! God is telling us to take a weekly rest. He knows us. He created us. He knows we can't just go, go, go all the time. So He gives us a day of rest a week to recharge not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally too. Wow! Tell me this is not love! 

We could look at all the commandments in God's Law and learn that every single of one of them is written for our own good and happiness. God doesn't want to restrict us. He wants to set us free! In His Law there is freedom. Freedom from pain, suffering, heartache, and so many other bad things. Isn't it great?

My prayer is that we'll join king David in saying, "oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." Psalm 119:97

"I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. "

Psalm 119:30-32

"But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do."

James 1:25

Rain in Lisbon

It had been raining hard for many days. Too many for the drainage system in downtown Lisbon, Portugal almost 20 years ago. I had left music school and was heading to the subway so I could go home. Since I had some time to spare (ha! time to spare! I must have been a teenager), I decided to go through downtown and just browse some of the stores. The rain had died down some, so I thought it would be nice to do some window shopping on my way home. The music school was up on a hill, but as I got close to the bottom I noticed the level of the water was a little higher than some of the stores in town. In fact, water was coming down the hills flooding parts of downtown as it headed for the river a little farther down. I stopped on a pedestrian only road and watched, somewhat amused, the workers of the stores armed with brooms, trying to push the water out of their shops. It was an interesting battle of brooms vs. water and the water was clearly winning. I thought it was no use trying to fight the fast water, but I confess I got a chuckle out of watching the people try.

That’s when I noticed that I had stopped right on top of a slightly elevated manhole right in the middle of the road, and all of a sudden I was surrounded by water everywhere!!! I had been so busy watching other people’s misfortune that I didn’t notice misfortune was also headed my way.

I took a few moments to assess the situation and then decided that I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I was wearing boots, so I thought I would be ok, but the water was rising fast and soon it was higher than my boots and my feet got completely soaked. By the time I got to the subway station, it had been closed down due to the water flowing down the tunnels, so everyone had to use the bus system to get home. I was able to get on a bus that took me close to where my mom was waiting for me with the car. By the time I got in the car I was very wet, cold, and hungry. Miserable!

You know, the Bible says that we should worry about our problems more than we should worry about the problems of others. We should help each other out, but we shouldn’t try to remove other people’s faults when we most likely have bigger ones in our own lives to worry about.

But have you noticed how easy it is to notice other people’s flaws? Maybe is the way they dress, the music they listen to, or the food they eat. Maybe it’s their political views, the way they raise their children, or their use of time. Whatever it is, it’s so easy to notice other people’s faults.

And that’s when Jesus says, “You hypocrite!” Why hypocrite? Because we are condemning others when we are doing the same or even worse. “First remove the plank from your eye,” Jesus says. Wow! A plank? That’s pretty big, don’t you think? And I’m pretty sure my faults aren’t that big.

But actually, if we take this text to heart and examine ourselves, just the fact that we can so easily find faults in others is a sign that we do indeed have a plank of considerable size in our eyes. This is why Jesus counsels us to remove the plank out of our own eyes first. Now that’s no easy task, but as we read God’s word we find that Jesus is the one who removes it for us. And He does such a great job at it. And then, says the Bible, after the plank has been removed from our eyes, we will see clearly to remove the speck of dust from our brother’s eyes. And do you know what? I have a feeling that once we get that plank removed, we’ll realize that actually there was nothing wrong with our brother’s eyes! And even if the speck is still there or if it’s bigger than we thought, with the plank removed from our eyes by Jesus, our hearts will be so filled with God’s love that we will gently and lovingly lead our brother to Jesus, so Jesus can remove their speck of dust.

Now Portuguese shoes are very well made, or at least they used to be, and I still have those boots. Every time I wear them I am reminded of the lesson I learned that rainy afternoon in Lisbon. I was so busy watching the shop owners' problems that I didn’t realize my problem was actually bigger than theirs! I hope those boots last many more years, because this is a lesson I need to be reminded of often.

 http://placesiwishiwere.tumblr.com/post/166790267/lisbon-portugal-by-rui-palha

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eyes and pain no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:3-5

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

Falling among thorns!

It had been a busy morning and I was longing for some quiet time before the day would get even busier. On my way to work I was able to stop in front of a little lake. It was early. The sun was shining on top of the trees which at this time of the year have turned into the most beautiful hues of yellow and orange. A cold mist was resting on top of the calm water. It was truly beautiful and calming there and I picked my Bible to read and spend sometime with God. As I flipped the pages to find the spot where I had left before, I started thinking of all the things that were going on. It has been one incredibly busy summer and I found myself wishing that winter would come sooner.

Just as I found my page I got an important text message. I replied and started reading Luke 8, the parable of the sower. I've read this story many times and thought I could probably just skip it, but continued reading. More text messages, and more replies. "A farmer went out to sow his seed and some seed fell along the path." vs 5. By this time I had my Bible open, but I was thinking about the text messages and everything else that didn't have anything to do with what I was reading. "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants." vs 7. 

Has this ever happened to you? You sit down to have a quiet moment with God and lots of things happen that get you distracted? Or you are so busy with so many things that you don't even find 5 minutes to spend with God? Does it happen to you that you just keep on going all day long and finally hit the bed and thank God for the exhausting day when you are already almost in dream land? Isn't life just getting busier and busier? Daniel 12 talks about the time at the end of the world and verse 4 says that many will rush from here and there, and knowledge will increase. Isn't it talking about us now? Aren't we just running from here and there?

Last week I was watching a music video from the 1970's and I couldn't help but think that life seemed so much easier back then. What is happening?

As I continued reading the parable of the sower, I got to the part where Jesus explained to His disciples the meaning of it all and verse 14 really hit home. "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." 

Wow! I've always applied this parable to people who are making a decision for Christ, but never thought that it could actually be applied to me right now. Can it be that I hear God's words, but I'm so distracted with life that they have no effect on me? Is God's influence in my life being chocked up by my worries? Is spending time with God simply a good habit of mine, but is doing me no good? Is God's word in my life at this time falling among thorns?

I stopped replying to the text messages, looked at the incredible nature in front of me, and quietly meditated upon the words I had just read. God was telling me something. He was helping me understand that I need to slow down, that I need to enjoy my time with Him. He was telling me once more that I need not to worry and that I do not need to take more and more upon myself. He was once again helping me understand that the most important was for me to seek Him first. And I did... that morning I got to spend some pretty nice time with my God. He's so awesome. I love Him!

If you are also feeling chocked up by life's worries take warning. Don't let that prevent you from receiving the amazing blessings God has for you in His word. Quiet time with Him is extremely important. He truly enjoys spending time with you, but in the end you are the one who benefits the most. God's mathematics defies all logic. The more time we spend with Him, the more we get done. I love what Martin Luther once said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer." He had learned that the more he had to do, the more time in prayer he needed. 

Enjoy your time with God. Don't let His word fall on thorny ground. Even if you get to spend only 5 minutes with Him, enjoy those precious minutes to the maximum. Seek Him first, and then all those other things you think you need to get done will be taken care of. They sure did for me.

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, 

and by persevering produce a crop."

Luke 8:15 

Back from the past

I recently I made a trip to my past as I was looking for my high school diploma. I don't know why I need it if I already have a college degree, but ok, I guess I need it if I want to further my education. As I was looking through some papers, I found a stack of letters from friends and loose pages from old journals from my times as a teenager and young adult. I hadn't seen those in a long time, so I sat on the floor and started reading through them. Some of the letters brought me smiles, some made me cringe at my foolishness, and some brought tears. I have a letter handwritten by my dad when I was 11 years old. How I miss him!

As I read those letters, I felt a desire to go back in time and redo some of the things I did. I wish I could've used different words or done things a little differently. I wish I could go back to some people and apologize for my childish behavior and for thinking I knew better. You know, teenagers know everything. ;) I guess some things of my past where dragging me down.

I sat there on the floor, resting against the foot of my bed, just thinking about those days gone by. In some of my journal entries I asked God to change me. I guess I didn't like me that much then. Maybe I felt like I was holding myself back. I wasn't where I wanted to be because of me. I didn't have the life I thought I wanted and I turned to God to change the person I was.  So it is incredible to look at my old self and my new self and realize that God did change me. Not how I was expecting at the time, but God has made me into a better person. I'm not sure how He did it, but He did it! And I know He's not finished with me yet, so I can't wait to see what else He's going to do. I'm a masterpiece in progress, although I have a feeling that in God's eyes I'm already a masterpiece. :)

Thoughts were racing through my mind and I slowly came back to 2012. I really can't change the past. And some of the things I did were the result of immaturity. I would've done differently now simply because I've grown a little more and I've changed. People change. The past is exactly where it's supposed to be: in the past. It's part of my growth. It happened how it was supposed to happen based on what I knew and the life experience I had. It's no use trying to change or fix it. I can't! It would probably just make things worse anyway. And I really don't have to. Unless I hurt someone and I need to express my sorrow, my past happened how it happened and now I just need to keep moving forward. And I'm sure a few years from now I'm going to look back at 2012 and not know what I was thinking because I'm not done growing and learning.

So there's no need to dwell on the past. The only reason the past is there, is to help me see God's work in my life, and that has been incredible. I need my past to see where I was and where I am now, which gives me hope to where I will be when God is finished with the work He has to do in me. He promised to complete it so I know He will.

Now, like Paul said, I forget the things that are behind me and press forward. I look ahead. I have a crown of glory waiting for me. When I finish this race, God will smile and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:23

Is your past dragging you down? Do you feel like you just can't get out from under it? Are you constantly being reminded of your mistakes and immaturity? Your past is part of your story, but it doesn't need to be your story. God can change it into something amazing. He's got plans to prosper you and to give you a future. He has a crown of glory with your name in it waiting for you. Any past mistakes, sins, wrongdoings God wants to forgive and bury in the deep of the ocean to be gone forever as if they never existed! Give it all to Him and watch what He does with your life. Get up and continue the race. You're almost there! No need to rely on how many times you've fallen. You just need to get to that finish line. And God will run with you, helping you along the way. Keep your eyes on the prize! What's behind is exactly where it needs to be, behind. Now just press forward, toward the amazing future God has prepared for you!

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. "

Philippians 3:13,14

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:6

Just like the butterfly

I don't know how long it had been there, but when I noticed it, it stayed in the same place at least 2 more days. A little butterfly had landed on one of the flowers of the pot on the porch and just didn't leave. I nudged it gently, but it didn't fly away. It's wings were closed and the butterfly didn't want to go anywhere!
It had been raining for almost 2 weeks and so I thought it must have been a new butterfly and was waiting for the sun to dry its wings and then fly away. I was half right.

Two days later we woke up to a beautiful sunny day. I checked on the butterfly and it was gone. I couldn't stop thinking on how fascinating it was that the little butterfly didn't move while it was raining, but then as soon as the sun came up, it opened it's wings and flew away. I did a little research and this is what I found out. Butterflies can't fly well in the rain because they can't fly with wet wings. So they usually settle in a safe place and stay there until the sun shines and they can fly again. If their wings get wet, it is extremely difficult to fly, and some can't fly at all. And what if they land in a dangerous place?

How fascinating that the butterfly knows when to fly and when to wait. I so wish we humans had also the wisdom to know when to move and when to wait. I don't know how about you, but I'm finding it difficult to slow down. I just gotta keep moving, keep doing things, just going, going, going until my wings get wet and then I'm forced to lay still where ever I land! And not always do I land in a nice and safe place.

God wants to impart to us this wisdom of waiting. So many times He tells us to wait... when it's raining, when the conditions around us aren't the best, we should just find a safe spot, preferably at the feet of Jesus, and wait until the sun is shining again. If we don't do this, the results can be very painful.

 It's difficult for us humans to wait. We're so impatient. We want things done right now! If we have problems, we got to get things back to normal, pain free, as soon as possible! And we live in an age where we are constantly bombarded with information. We have to be plugged in the whole time! We are constantly on our ipads, laptops, and phones. Have you noticed how the news channels have all kinds of other news going on the screen while they are talking? Talk about information overload. And this can be all so addicting that we don't take the time to just sit down and relax. And what about our to do lists? They just keep growing and growing and we cut down on sleep, family time, and other important things so we can get all of those things done. And we still think there's not enough time in the day to finish everything! I'm tired just writing about all this!

We need to slow down!

I encourage you to slow down. Stop what you are doing and listen to God's voice. What is He saying? Move when He tells you to move, but until then wait for the rain to stop and for the sun to shine again. Just like the butterfly :)

http://www.ucolick.org/~egates/CostaRica/CostaRica-Pages/Image5.html

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

"Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"

Psalm 27:14

Never alone

I love it when I get to wake up earlier than everyone else in the house so I can spend some quiet moments with my God. He always has incredible things to teach me and today was no different. As I sat quietly on the couch looking outside the window, He revealed some important truths to me. I had just read Mark 4:35-41 where it talks about Jesus calming the storm. Now, how many times have I read this story? Most of us know this story by heart and many of us have learned about it since we were kids. But just as anything else in the Bible, there are always new things to learn and discover.

So this is how the story goes...

Jesus is tired after a long day of teaching. He had been teaching his disciples and a large crowd of listeners and in the evening He suggested that He and his 12 disciples get in the boat and cross the lake to the other side. They leave the crowd behind and step into the boat. It's a calm evening as they quietly cross the waters of the lake. Jesus is tired and lays down to sleep in the stern. While He was sleeping a big storm comes up and the situation gets quite serious. The disciples try everything to keep the boat and everyone safe, but all in vain and they were getting desperate. The storm is just too big for them! They finally remembered Jesus who was still sleeping and quickly wake Him up: "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Mark 4:38

Don't you care? Jesus! We are in the middle of a storm. We are all about to drown in this sea of problems. The waves are too big and water is getting into the boat. Jesus, don't you care? We can't do it on our own anymore! We've tried! Trials and temptations are all around us and we just can't make it! Don't you care? How can you just lay there sleeping?

Jesus gets up and commands the storm to stay still and lovingly rebukes His disciples: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" vs. 40

Why are you so afraid? We've been together all this time and you still don't trust in me? I'm in the boat with you. I'm going through the storm with you. Is your faith so small that all I can do is calm the storm? Why not ride the storm together? It's ok, I'm here. I'm not leaving you. I do care...more than you'll ever know...

As I read the words of this story, I could so see myself in those scared disciples. How many times have I gone through difficulties and after trying everything and realizing that I just can't do it, I finally turn to God, not to ask Him for help, but to complain that He must not care about me. Does this sound familiar to you too? We easily tend to ask the question "why? Why me?" And if God is so loving, then why does He allow us to go through such difficult things? Doesn't He care?

Years ago I read the story of a young man who had gotten cancer. The tittle of the story was "Faith Enough Not to be Healed." You can read it here. As I read his experience, I had to agree that it required a lot more faith for him to go through all he was going through and remain trusting in God, than to have his cancer simply cured. It does take more faith to go through a trial and remain faithful than to have the trial removed, and that's why Jesus asked His disciples "Do you still have no faith?"

Jesus promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Even if our own mother forgets us, and that's pretty difficult to happen, Jesus will never forget us. He loves us more than anyone else in this world. He knows we live in a difficult place, He knows we don't like to suffer. He didn't create us to suffer. That's why the Bible is full of promises for us during trials. God is always near us, and when we are going through problems, we can be sure that He is going through them with us. He's in the boat too!

So next time you are going through a difficult time, and you may be going through one right now, hold on to the boat and rest assured that Jesus is inside the boat with you. And if you start getting afraid ask Him to help you stay calm. Whatever He thinks is best for you, one thing is for sure. If you trust in Him, He will not only calm you, but will also ride the storm with you for He cares for you more than you'll ever know. The waves may be huge, the thunder loud, and water may be even getting inside the boat, but everything will be ok because He's with you. Just trust. Hold on! And at the end of the storm you'll be able to say like king David, who walked with God through the valley of the shadow of death ,"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6

 

http://lisadelay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Ludolf_-_Christ_in_the_Storm_on_the_Sea_of_Galilee_-_16951.jpg

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."

Psalm 23:4

 "I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 34:4

To a Wonderful Woman

God has placed some incredible people in my life, but there’s one in particular that has had a lasting influence in my existence from an early age. This summer I got to spend a few weeks with her, and what a remarkable woman she is.

I don’t know if it is because I’m older or because I'm a mother, if it is because of where God has brought me in my walk with Him, or maybe a combination of all, but this time I saw her with different eyes. We've been together a lot, but this time it was different, and I truly enjoyed what I saw. Let me tell you a little about her.

She has the most beautiful smile. Her face lights up when she sees me and it makes me feel happy. I just have to smile back. Her smile transmits love and joy, and through her eyes I can see how much she cares.

She’s humble. She doesn’t exalt herself. She wants others to feel their best. And when I’m with her, I do feel my best and I can’t stop sharing how wonderful she is. She’s also very generous, no strings attached. She gives from her heart. She would give me the world if I needed it. She likes to help, and loves to surprise me with little things and sometimes with big things. I know she wants the best for me.

She’s pure. She focuses on the future and where God is taking us. She really doesn’t care about the past, unless it brings glory to God. She looks at the good in people and there’s always something good to find. When I’m with her I feel motivated to be even better. She’s such and encouragement.

She’s very talented and quite the artist. If she doesn’t know how to do something, she’ll figure it out and learn what she needs to learn. She’s an amazing musician. She plays her piano with passion and the simplest piece of music becomes a masterpiece under her talented fingers. I could listen her play for hours!

She loves her husband and her children. Her grandchildren are a crown in her head and  she loves them with all her heart. She truly enjoys spending time with them, reading, playing, and listening to them. There’s just something about grandparents and their grandchildren. Some day I’ll figure that out.

One thing that I’ve always admired in her, is her ability to make us talk and share. I think it may be because she’s a great listener, but I truly enjoy our conversations, and this past summer we got to spend hours and hours talking. And our conversations are always so interesting. Love it!

Of all the wonderful things I saw in her, I always ended up saying the same thing: Jesus shines through her! I can see that she's been spending time with her Savior because I see Him in her. The Bible says that by beholding we become transformed, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she has been beholding Christ!

This remarkable woman is the one God gave me as my mother, one of the greatest blessings in my life and what a role model she is to me. I too want to be an encouragement to others and I want them to feel their best when they are with me. I want to only see the good in people. I want to be humble and pure. But most of all, I want to reflect Jesus in everything I say and everything I do. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want my life to glorify God just like my mom’s life does.

Right now we live worlds apart. There is a big ocean separating us and we get to see each other maybe once a year. Thankfully the internet keeps us in touch daily, but I miss her hugs, her warmth, shopping and trying new recipes together, or thinking of new and better ways to decorate my house. I miss our cello-piano duets. I miss seeing her playing with my son or sitting at my desk chatting with my siblings on the computer. I miss going for walks with her or just sit on the deck chatting while trying to avoid the mosquitoes. I miss walking her to her cabin every evening and I miss seeing her smile every morning when I come downstairs. I miss not having her beside me in the car when we were going somewhere. How I miss her...

You know, the prophet John wrote Revelation when he was exiled to the island of Patmos, and in a vision that God gave him about the new Heaven and the new earth, he noticed that there was no sea. ( Revelation 21:1) Now I love the ocean, but that ocean separates me from the woman I love the most on this earth, so this promise is very dear to me.

I just can’t wait for that day when we’ll walk through the gates of our heavenly home and I’ll get to spend eternity close to this wonderful woman whom God placed in my life.

                 Happy birthday mama. I love you with all my heart!

"Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:  

'Many women do noble things but you surpass them all.' 

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

Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

Proverbs 31:28-31