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Posted on September 29, 2021 by beverlyeash

My phone whistles at me, indicating another new text message. I glance at it and read another no. No, it doesn’t work tonight. I drop my head slightly and hear the subtle, mocking voice – “you should just throw your hands up and quit.” Tempted to agree, I pause on the image that comes to mind as I consider throwing my hands into the air.

Immediately I see my granddaughters. Their sweet faces fill my mind as I recall each of them coming to me with arms thrown in the air saying, “Up!” or “Hold me!” I eagerly reach down and lift them to my chest, arms holding them tight, words of love pouring out of my mouth and over their sweet ears.

I decide right then I will throw my hands into the air. Into the air, reaching to the One who holds me tight. Into the arms that protect me, shelter me and keep me warm. I listen carefully for His words to flood my ears and chase away the doubts. He does not disappoint.

I reached for my Bible and read portions of Psalm 91.

1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Psalm 91:1-2

From there, I turned to Psalm 18. I found comfort in these words:

19He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. . . 28You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. 29In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

Psalm 18:19, 28-29

Finally, I landed in Psalm 142 and took comfort in these words:

1I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. 2I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. 3When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.

Psalm 142:1-3

Perhaps you, too, are considering throwing your hands in the air. Go ahead! I recommend it, especially if it is a signal to the Father that you need his care and protection, his arms to comfort and calm you. Listen carefully for his words of hope and consolation, the wisdom you need to take the next steps, to do the next right thing!

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Posted on September 28, 2021 by beverlyeash

Today the doctor called me with the results of routine blood work. Not suspecting anything to be wrong, I wasn’t surprised when the report was favorable. As many others in my family, my cholesterol wanders higher than it should be and she noted that, as well as a slight rise in my A1C level. I don’t even pretend to know what it all means, I just try to ask good questions and listen carefully.

She advised eliminating sugar, simple carbohydrates and animal fats. In layman terms, she said get rid of the cake, the white bread and the beef steak. It’s the oddest phenomenon, but when I am told not to do something, I am overwhelmed with the desire to do that very thing. I don’t even eat baked goods that often but today I thought about cakes and cookies all day. How is it that learning those foods are not helping me stay healthy stirred up the desire for all those things?

Paul, in his letter to Rome, noticed the same principle about the law, specifically the Ten Commandments.

7Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life. . .

Romans 7:7-9

God in his wisdom, revealed that sin that separates us from him. Then he went to extreme measures to make a way for us to be reconciled to him. He sent Jesus.

I am always brought up short when I notice how little Jesus talked about sin. Consider the woman at the well – married five times and living with someone who wasn’t her husband. Jesus didn’t condemn her, he invited her into a relationship. Then there is the woman caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders all wanted to stone her. Jesus told her he didn’t condemn her and invited her into a new way of living. What about the criminal who was crucified with Jesus? He knew he was a sinner and asked Jesus to remember him in Paradise. Jesus did more than that. He invited him to the kingdom dinner.

Awareness of our sin is not for the purpose of condemnation and judgment. It is the gateway that opens our hearts to repentance and a relationship with him. Just as my doctor wasn’t judging me for my cholesterol levels or my A1C, she provided information that invites me into a new way of living. A healthy, wholesome path that is best for me.

I don’t have to follow her advice but if I don’t, I will continue to move away from health and compromise my well-being.

We also don’t need to respond to Jesus’ invitation to repent and be made new either. But if we don’t, the path we follow will take us away from Jesus and into desolation.

You choose. I choose.

I choose life. How about you?

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Posted on September 27, 2021 by beverlyeash

My mom tells a funny story about lemon pie. Grandma used to bake fresh bread and pie every Saturday to be enjoyed on Sunday. One Saturday, Grandma made lemon meringue pie. Now my mom didn’t particularly like lemon pie and might have skipped dessert except for one thing. Her sister invited her boyfriend over after evening church and she didn’t eat her pie at the noon meal, intending to share it with her beau later that evening. Mom knew if she didn’t eat her piece, her sister would give it to her boyfriend. She wasn’t feeling that generous, so she ate it.

There is another lemon dessert that a friend from church used to make every time she had opportunity to bring something to a carry-in meal. Lemon delight is truly delightful.

Unlike my mom, I enjoy lemons in desserts, beverages, and savory dishes. Lemon Delight is one of my top five desserts! Lemons provide just the right amount of tang and interest to liven and provide depth to an otherwise bland dish. They also speak to me of sunshine, brightness and joy.

The other day I had a lemon experience. It was one of those days where I worked on all the little duties and responsibilities accumulated in the corners. Phone calls to make, bills to pay, questions to follow up on, details to process. During one particular phone call, I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me in a specific way. I was certain I was sensing his voice, but found myself wondering what Dave would say about it. Should I talk to him first?

I went with my gut that day and inside I felt a burst of sunshine and lemons! I was filled with joy and my heart sang. It sang because I obeyed His voice and trusted His power in my life. It sang because I eliminated a place for the devil to have a foothold. It sang because a burden I carried was cast down. I genuinely felt like I stepped across a threshold of growth with the Holy Spirit all because I agreed to his nudging.

Last week I wrote about listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and relying on His power rather than human wisdom and reason. Practically, the opportunity to do that presented itself and I don’t regret saying YES! to Him.

In what ways are you holding out? Scared to follow his leading? Unsure of next steps? There is a prayer by Thomas Merton from his writing Thoughts in Solitude. I reprinted it below. How does this resonate with where you are right now?

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton — Thoughts in Solitude

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Posted on September 24, 2021 by beverlyeash

. . . I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

When I read this verse, I am brought up short. Immediately, I have to ask myself a question: am I relying on the power of the Holy Spirit?

It brings to mind another letter Paul wrote to his protege, Timothy. He warns him of the difficulty of the last days where people become lovers of themselves and money. He goes on to characterize the downward spiral of humanity in these terms

 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. 

2 Timothy 3:3-5

I believe the power rejected by people in the last days is the very power that Paul was determined to rely on — the power of the Holy Spirit! He goes on to tell Timothy what to do when he encounters people matching this description.

Stay away from people like that!

2 Timonthy 3:5

Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, not only for words to share the good news of Jesus, but to make you godly? Because without the Holy Spirit, we really are nothing!

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Posted on September 23, 2021 by beverlyeash

Apostle Paul intrigues me. His determination before conversion to do what he believed to be the right thing — get rid of Christians — and his complete reversal afterwards — telling everyone that Jesus is the Messiah, astounds me. He pursued his goal relentlessly with fervor.

His strategies could easily be adapted for sharing the gospel today. His encounter with the people of Athens stands out to me. Paul had been in Thessalonica where he successfully shared the gospel but not without stirring up trouble with some Jews who lived there. He was chased out of town so he went to Athens to wait.

While in Athens, he noticed the idols around town and was deeply troubled by it. He debated with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, raising their curiosity about Jesus. They invited Paul to come and speak to them some more about these new ideas. It sounds like he saw an opportunity and took it. But it didn’t produce any fruit. These people just loved to talk about all the latest ideas.

19Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20“You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

Acts 17:19-21

Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth. It seems to me he changed his strategy after his experience in Athens. Well crafted arguments didn’t produce change so he opted for a different approach.

1When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

I find in here a strategy I want to perfect. Rather than concern with being clever and persuasive, I want to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and keep the message simple. This is Paul’s simple message.

Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

How has your message or approach become complicated and filled with human wisdom rather than the power of God? I am encouraged to keep it simple. What about you?

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Posted on September 22, 2021 by beverlyeash

4He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

John 4:4-10

Jesus is an excellent example to follow. In this account, Jesus is on his way from Jerusalem to Galilee. On his way, he stops at a well to rest. He is tired and thirsty from the journey. When a woman comes to draw water, he siezes the opportunity, and asks her for a drink. This one simple question opens the door to an interaction that changes not only her life, but ultimately the lives of many people in that village.

Have you ever been somewhere — at the grocery store, filling your car with gas, at the bank or the library — and you feel prodded, almost compelled, to ask someone a question or comment about the day? One day I was in a local park enjoying the water feature and another woman was across the stream doing the same thing. I felt prodded to say something to her and we enjoyed a bit of conversation. I remember that I prayed with her that day before we went our separate ways. I don’t know how that interaction changed her day or even if it did. I only know that I was supposed to open the door to conversation.

I don’t always acknowledge those promptings and sometimes I say something with no response in return. I am still learning and in the process of learning, there is success and failure. But I want to grow in the habit of responding to the promptings because I believe it is the Holy Spirit helping me along the way.

Do you respond to the proddings in your life? What do you find makes it easiest to respond? What makes it difficult? How can we grow in our trust of the Holy Spirit as he guides us to opportunities to make disciples?

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Posted on September 21, 2021 by beverlyeash

Considering the great commission — while you are on your way, about your every day activity, make disciples. Teach them how to follow me! (Bev’s translation) — what makes doing this complicated or difficult?

The most obvious hindrance is a limited social context – everyone in my circles is already a Jesus follower! It seems this would be an easy obstacle to overcome. I just need to make new friends. Right.

The next, not so obvious hindrance, is a lack of concern for someone who doesn’t know Jesus. I am just fine that someone is sinking in the deep mud of despair. As I said in Monday’s post, praying for an outpouring of love for those who don’t know Jesus is the best place to start.

Along with prayer for love is for open eyes. Eyes that see opportunities to show someone the love that is now welling up within your heart.

12Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.

Acts 3:12

I pause at this simple statement. Peter saw his opportunity and he acted. He took his every day situation and used it as a springboard to tell someone about Jesus.

How many times have I missed the opportunity to speak words of life and love to a thirsty soul because I wasn’t attentive? Probably so many!

Even while I write this, I received a text message from a member of a team I work with at church. He stopped his day, he took the opportunity, to send an encouraging word to the team, not because he had to but because the love of God overflows in this man.

My greatest problem is I make loving someone too difficult. I need to be more attentive to the simple opportunities that comes my way and then respond.

My prayer for myself today is an overpouring of God’s love in my heart, eyes to see opportunities and courage to do the next best thing! Will you join me?

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Posted on September 20, 2021 by beverlyeash

Sunday morning our church had baptism. In two services, there were twelve people who said yes to Jesus and, in front of hundreds of others, took part in Christian baptism. It is a public testimony of an individual’s desire to follow Jesus.

Before the baptisms, the individuals shared a brief testimony of their personal commitment to Jesus and why baptism was important now. My heart overflowed with joy as I listened to the simple and yet profound ways God reached out and touched the lives of these people. No two were exactly alike and none of these people were perfect. They just knew they experienced the power of God in their lives and wanted to make a change.

In recent months, I have been challenged to take seriously Jesus’ final words to the disciples in the gospel of Matthew.

18Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

In this pericope, there is an imperative, something Jesus emphasizes. Often times we emphasize the word “go” and compel one another to leave home and go faraway to be a missionary. In reality, the imperative – the thing we must do – is make disciples, teach others how to follow Jesus. It could actually read, “and while you are on your way, make disciples. Jesus emphasized his desire for us to make disciples right where we are in our current situation.

As often happens when one develops a keen love for something, like following Jesus, the people she surrounds herself with tend to love the same thing. Before long, she finds she doesn’t have many people, if any, in her circles who don’t love Jesus. If that is true, it’s pretty hard to follow Jesus’ command to make disciples.

I freely admit this has been a challenge for me. I like my friends and my cozy circles. I like doing what I do. But if everyone I rub shoulders with already loves Jesus, how am I fulfilling his command to make disciples? What do I do?

The first step in making disciples for me has been to pray for an outpouring of God’s love for people who don’t yet know him. People are not projects or notches in a belt or ribbons on the wall. My deepest desire is to be filled with deep love for anyone who doesn’t know the joy and peace of walking with Jesus. From that place of deep love, I want to do the next right thing. I’m still working on that.

What about you? Is your life filled with people who look, think and act just like you? What would happen if you opened the door to the possibility of being an agent of change in someone’s life? Is it impossibly scary? I know, it is for me too! But we can do it together!

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Posted on September 17, 2021 by beverlyeash

Occasionally I come across something I wish would not end. It might be some food or drink that is absolutely incredible, a great movie or book, a perfect evening under the night sky or a great interaction with a friend.

It seems more often I am eager for something to end. It might be a long, difficult week, an illness, an awkward social event, a mundane task. I am okay with these things coming to an end.

There is something I always look forward to that scripture says will never end.

7His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

Isaiah 9:7

I long for the day when I live completely under the authority of the government of Jesus. I long to live with the certainty that I am ruled with fairness and justice. I long to know peace that doesn’t end.

Until then, I live knowing he is already ruling my life with fairness and justice and that I experience his peace everyday. In the midst of it all, I look forward to the day when the not yet will be reality.

What do you experience that you wish would not end? How does that help you appreciate the rule and reign of Jesus already, knowing it is not yet as it will be?

Happy Weekend!

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Posted on September 16, 2021 by beverlyeash

Somewhere along the way I learned, as a parent, it was easy for me to over promise and under deliver. I made commitments I couldn’t keep.

Likely, this has as much to do with the way I am put together as anything. I hate to disappoint anyone so I am eager to please. I want to help make your day great even if it costs me more than I can do.

Unfortunately, this also sometimes happens with my grandchildren. During outside spring clean up, we found a baby bunny hiding in the landscaping. Removing the leaves and debris from the winter uncovered the vulnerable, quaking little rabbit. We tried to protect him as much as possible, sheltering him with a box until he could find his mother.

In the meantime, I sent a photo to my granddaughters knowing they would absolutely love it. Sure enough, they did. I talked to my oldest about the bunny and said, “You should have it, Finley!” Immediately, I heard my daughter ask, “Can you follow through on that, Mom?” Hmmm…. was I over promising with a certain outcome of under delivering? Was I going to catch that bunny and give it to her to raise?

If I am honest, it isn’t ever fun to be the recipient of a promise that doesn’t come to fruition. It would be better to not make the commitment than to make it and never come through.

I love what scripture says about God and his promises. Isaiah attributed the coming of the Messiah to the commitment of God to his word.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Isaiah 9:7

Passionate commitment! That is a bold and heady statement to me, filled with love. God doesn’t grudgingly fulfill what he says. He isn’t over promising and under delivering. He does what he says, in exactly the right time with passion.

Do you feel like you are waiting for God to act? What promise are you waiting to be fulfilled in your life? Remember, God is a promise keeper, passionately committed to his word. You can count on it!

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