Day 75: The Truth Will Stand

Luke 11

 14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

So, I just got home from the debate between Kyle Butt, renowned Christian apologetics scholar, and Blair Scott, renowned atheist. It was... faith affirming.

There are a few things that I was reminded of tonight. 1. My faith is based on truth and reason. 2. I have studied and continue to study the issues to the best of my ability, and my faith stands. 3. God's commands for my life always, always turn out for the best. Every time If he says it, it works. If infallible wisdom isn't proof, I don't know what is.

What does this have to do with these verses? It seems to me that what Jesus is saying here is that the truth will come out in the wash. People will deny it, defile it, and try to crush it. They'll even look right at the truth and attribute it to a lie. But in the end, the truth stands. Always. And that is worthy of my praise.

Day 74: Better Than Christmas (And That's Saying A Lot!)

Luke 11:5-13

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity^[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
   ⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
   ¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for^[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”


Whoa, whoa, whoa... back. the. truck. up. 


For the past... oh, thirty-three years or so, I've thought that verses eleven and twelve talked about how the Lord gives good gifts to those that ask him. In fact, it's a little ironic that I reflected on these verses just today. I was feeding Brennan supper, and Jess was gone to band practice, and I started thinking how fun it would be to see his little face light up if I gave him some orange sherbet. So I did, and it did, and it was great fun, and I thought, "If we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."


Well, that's not what it says, now, is it? What it says is, "how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him"! It compares the Spirit with those great, beaming-smile-producing gifts you give your kids! In my mind, that's huge. I don't know why I'm only now beginning to see how jam-packed the gospels are with references to the Spirit and His power in our lives. 


Also, I think it's interesting that this teaches us to ask for the Spirit. I think we have a tendency to think of the Spirit's entrance into our lives as happening at baptism, per Acts 2:38, and from that point He's just kind of... there. But it seems to me that we can be granted more and more of the Spirit's presence in our lives, and I think too that His presence grows as we get rid of more and more of the sins of our hearts and allow Him more and more room.


I, for one, intend to start praying fervently for more of the good gift of the Spirit in my life. Yay... it's like Christmas morning here!

Day 73: First World Pains

Luke 11

¹ One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

 ² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

   “‘Father,^[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.^[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
   for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.^[c]
And lead us not into temptation.^[d]’”

This is the third day that I've read/contemplated this passage. And I admit that the last two days, I've read it, stared into space, thought a lot, sighed... and then closed the computer. For reasons I couldn't quite put into words, this passage was just a little bit overwhelming to me. But tonight, Jess, Brennan, and I were on our way to Logan's to use a gift card, and suddenly it hit me what was making it hard.

"Give us each day our daily bread." I don't live in a world where people pray for this. I live in a world where abundance is the norm, where we pray instead for self control to keep from eating so much of the daily bread. Hmm. I've honestly never thought about this before, but I have to admit that just the thought sort of made me want to throw up. 

There's a hashtag on twitter that, honestly, has really made me think about the things I complain about. It's #firstworldpains, and it's full of the nonsense that rotten Americans like me gripe about all the time (seriously!). Things like, "I'm so thirsty, but I'm too tired to go get the case of water out of my trunk. #firstworldpains". Or, "I'm slightly warm with my hoody on, but slightly cold with my hoody off. #firstworldpains". Or, "McDonald's was out of ice cream and I drove all the way out there for a milkshake. :( #firstworldpains". You get the picture. We're spoiled.

So how do we apply a verse like, "Give us this day our daily bread"? Well, I've been thinking about it all night. First, we need to be aware that many, even most, of our concerns are "first world pains". I couldn't count the number of times I've said I was hungry, but I've never known hunger. I need to be consistently more aware of that fact. Second, we need to be genuinely and constantly grateful that we have all we need. No more yapping because the McDonald's girl gave me a Filet-O-Fish instead of a Big Mac. I have everything I need, and that is enough. Third, we need to be content with what we have. I'm realizing that what this means is a sense of peace that I've been given all I need for life and godliness. That should give us a quiet and constant joy.

We have enough... more than. And that is enough.

Day 72: Martha to the Max

Luke 10:38-42

New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Well, here it is... the story that defines my life. I am a recovering hard-core Martha. After only three months at our last congregation, the church secretary gave me a copy of the book Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists. I'm not sure, but I think that was a hint. Ahem. 

The truth is that she was absolutely right. I have always tried to do everything. Be everywhere. Go everyplace. And many times, this has been at the expense of my personal relationship with God. 

That's where Martha found herself: working, going, doing, but not being, learning, experiencing. She was so caught up in the event itself that she missed the whole point. Jesus, the Lord Himself, was in her home, and she was so busy washing dishes that she couldn't be bothered to stop and pay attention to Him. 

What a lesson for us... or for me, at least. And the interesting thing is that Jesus says that Mary has chosen what is better... Mary, who looks suspiciously like a lazy bum. Jesus knew her heart, though, and He knew that she saw an opportunity of a lifetime and seized it.

See your opportunities for spiritual growth. Seize them. And don't get so busy doing for the Lord that you forget how to sit at his feet. It's not laziness. It's maturity.

Day 71: Would You Save A Drowning Man?

Luke 10:29-37

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
 ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
   ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
 ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”


How many times have I read this story? How many times have you? And yet, thinking about it tonight, I have a not-so-good feeling that I haven't taken the message to heart nearly as much as I like to pretend that I have. 


Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not choosing to put myself in a situation because I was afraid. Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not going out of my way because I "didn't have time". Just like these guys, I've hurried on by.


Have you seen this article? http://hypervocal.com/news/2011/police-firemen-look-on-as-man-drowns-off-ca-coast/ It's about a bunch of policemen and firemen in California who chose to look on while a man drowned himself. When they're interviewed after, they say that "policy" prevented them from intervening. And the scary thing is that that almost sounds reasonable to me.


I'm sorry to say that I could see myself standing on the shoreline, telling someone how much I *wished* I could do something to help. That's not the person that I want to be. I want to be the person that, when faced with the opportunity to save someone, doesn't stop to think "what are the possible ramifications for me"? Who finds it impossible to stand on the shore and watch someone drown - physically or spiritually. Who says, this person is more important than my job/my rules/my life. 


If you had been on that shoreline, what would you have done? There are moments in life that tell who you are. The good Samaritan of this story found his defining moment on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Where will you find yours? 

Day 70: Do This And You Will Live

Luke 10:25-28

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

   ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
 ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”
   ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”


Short and sweet tonight: "Do this and you will live." What a short and sweet statement. If you a) love the Lord will all your heart and soul and strength and mind and b) love your neighbor as yourself, you will live. So easy. So hard. 


The principle couldn't be more simplistic. The practice... well, that's another story. It's that little "all". If it said that you must love with part of your heart, or some of your heart, even most of your heart, okay. But all... that means you have to get rid of every single other thing that has laid down roots. You must give them up. If it takes away a single ounce from your strength, love, knowledge for God, it has to go.


Do this and you will live.

Day 69: Why Time Travel Rox My Sox

Luke 10:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

 ²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”


For those of you who don't know, I'm an aspiring author. I have (for years, actually) been working on a middle-grade novel about two super cute and wonderful kids who discover that they're time travelers. Tonight, like many nights, I've spent a couple of hours working to perfect a scene in said novel. I say that to say this: I spend lots of time thinking about time.


Maybe that's why, when I read this passage, my thoughts immediately turned to time travel. (Yes, I know, but still. They did.) How awesome would it be to get to travel back in time, to actually see these events with our own eyes? The prophets and kings that Jesus refers to... what would they have given to travel forward in time and see these events with their own eyes? Why, oh why do I not have a flux capacitor of my very own?


In effect, this is what Jesus is trying to get across to his disciples... how incredibly, amazingly, indescribably lucky they were to get to see him, walk with him, witness his marvelous works. They were about to witness the one event that would change the world forever. Everyone who ever lived before them, and everyone who ever lived after them, would long to see what they saw.


I do wish I could travel back in time. I would love to know for sure what Jesus looked like, instead of having to imagine Him. I would love to see His facial expressions when he speaks, hear the tone of his voice. 


And one day, I will. Until then, I can be grateful that God saw fit to leave his Word with us, and that I'm blessed enough to know how to read it. God is good, all the time.

Day 68: J-O-Y Down In My Heart

Luke 10:21-22

New International Version (NIV)

 ²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
   ²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”


At some point I'm going to have to go back and see how many times the Spirit is referenced over the course of this study. It's going to be an interesting statistic. Here's another reference to the Spirit that I've never noticed before: Jesus is full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Have you ever realized that your joy comes through the Spirit?


I don't believe this is a giddy sort of joy, or a hyper sort of joy, or a "everything all perfect all the time" joy. Instead, it's that deep knowledge that God is in control, and that He will make all things perfect in their time. It's that joy that keeps you from blowing up at the fast food cashier who keeps getting your order wrong. You're able to back up and look at the bigger picture... and smile.


Spirit-led joy is a wonderful thing. Here, Jesus sees the Pharisees and teachers of the law twisting his words, plotting against him, and generally making his life miserable, and he is filled with...joy??!!? Yes, because he sees the bigger picture. He sees the irony in the fact that little children can see God when these "teachers" can't. I can almost picture him shaking his head, a tiny smile on his face. Nothing but Spirit-led joy could take such a negative and allow it to be viewed as a positive.

I want, covet, desire that joy. But I realize that it starts with me. To get it, I have to allow the Spirit to be active in my life, and to follow His lead in each and every situation. It will take discipline. But the payoff is JOY! (Right now I'm picturing Perry Taylor singing, "J-O-Y, down in my heart, deep deep down in my heart!") And that is a payoff worth working for.

Day 67: Learning From the Devil

Luke 10:17-20

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
 ¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. I'm not sure I've ever heard a sermon on this passage, or even read an article on it, but, well... this is something. I got a sort of chill when I read it. There's a lot to ponder here.


First, the ones who were sent out have gotten a charge out of the fact that they have power over demons. And who could blame them? I can only imagine what watching someone who was demon possessed must have been like (I've seen a few kids that have made me wonder, but I digress). And then to realize that you could do something about it? It must have been quite the experience. 


But you see, that's the thing. They couldn't do anything about it - on their own, anyway. Only Jesus could. And that's what he is trying to get across when he points out that he saw Satan himself fall from heaven. He's saying that while their "authority" is just a shadow, his is the real thing. It's a proclamation that He Was, and Is, and Is To Come. He was there when Satan went from an angel to the devil. I have often wondered what that moment was like. It must have been terrible.


In any event, it seems to be a serious business to Jesus, with good reason. Just think of all the  harm that Satan has done. I can't count the things he's done to me personally, and Jesus has watched every one of them unfold, multiplied by every person who has ever lived. When he tells the disciples not to rejoice that the spirits submit to them, he's teaching a valuable lesson. He knows why Satan fell... because he coveted the power of God. He got a taste of power, and that taste grew until it was insatiable. Jesus doesn't want to see that again. And so He says, don't exult in the power. Exult in the fact that you have salvation.


Keep your focus. Keep your humility. As Micah 6:8 says, "Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." Learn a lesson from the devil, and don't follow in his path.

Day 66: A Road Map For Missions

Luke 10:1-16

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

 ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.   ⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
   ⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
   ¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]
   16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”


We've been meeting lately with a group that's planning a mission trip to Christmas Island next summer. Some of us have been on many missions; some have never been before. It's interesting to see the differences in the attitudes toward the trip and the differences in what people are concerned about. This passage is a good one to consider before going anywhere "foreign" (read: outside of your normal realm of experience) with the gospel. 


I have to say that I never have, and still don't, understand why they were to greet anyone on the road. But the rest of the passage is an excellent road map for missions.


1. Eat and drink whatever they give you (mentioned in both v. 7 and v. 8). In other words, be grateful for what others are giving you out of the goodness of their hearts, and be considerate of the fact that they may have different cultures or customs. Don't lose your influence and look like a jerkface because you don't like fill-in-the-blank. Don't be a diva.


2. Do not move around from house to house. Honestly, I'm not sure of the original purpose behind this one, but I know a good purpose for it now. I have actually known people staying in homes on mission trips who have asked to stay with someone else because they didn't want to sleep in the floor, or because the person didn't have food they liked. Umm... no. Again, don't be a diva. Remember that your purpose is to proclaim the message of Jesus, and he had "no place to lay his head". It's pretty hard to proclaim his message when you're not even willing to sacrifice a little bit of comfort for a few nights. As my college instructors always said, "No complaining while campaigning!" Your attitude will show people the way to Christ... or not.


3. Heal the sick (meet their needs). People cannot listen to you if there's an enormous need smacking them in the face while you're trying to talk. Think about the last time you had to sit through a class while you were super hungry... it's no different with those you're trying to teach. If they're hungry/cold/sick/worried, they can't focus on your message. First, heal their physical need to the best of your ability. Then you can begin to meet their emotional need. Which leads us to...


4. Tell them, "the Kingdom of God has come near to you". Share what you know! Everyone has a personal story of faith. I've found that it's good to start there. Be excited... you know the most exciting story that has ever been told. The kingdom of God has come near to you! Amazing!


5. When you enter a town and are not welcomed... not everyone will listen. It's a fact of life. And it's okay. Don't feel like you have failed personally. The decision to follow Christ is one that every person has to make individually. Not everyone who heard Jesus followed Him; in fact, most people didn't. Why should it be any different for us? Shake it off and move on.


These are simple thoughts, but we proclaim a simple gospel. Sweet.

Day 65: My Personal Harvest Worker Hall of Fame

Luke 10:1-16

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

I thought and thought about what to say about this passage that hasn't already been said. And then I realized... I can't. What I can do, though, is share a personal account of a few of the few... harvest workers who are answering the call and inspiring others to do the same. Each of them are working in their own unique ways and with their own unique talents, and each of them have been a personal inspiration to me. I want to be more like them. If I had just a little bit more of each of them in me, I would be a much, much better person, and an incredible harvest worker.

I want to be more like my dear friend Whitney Burgess, who is a true prayer warrior. When I am concerned about something - anything - I know that Whit is the number one person I want to approach the throne room for me. I feel so blessed every time I get a message from her saying, "I've been praying it up for ya." (Not to mention that she takes Hebrews 13:2 more seriously than anyone I've ever known.)

I want to be more like my mother, Dianne Tays. No one will ever know how much she had done and given and sacrificed for other people. She's the very definition of service, and she has spent her life washing feet. Sometimes I feel discouraged because I know I will never be the wonderful example, encourager, and servant that she is. But I just keep trying because Brennan deserves a mother like I have.

I want to be more like Cory Collins, whose gentle spirit and positive attitude infects everyone around him. He always knows what to say and when to say it, and he never has a harsh or bitter word for anyone. His words and his life make people understand what Christianity is all about.

I want to be more like Joey Krieger and my father, Mike Tays, who give 100% every single day to the calling to which they've dedicated their lives. They give all of themselves to the children who have been placed in their care, and challenge them to be more than they ever thought they could be. I want to have that kind of focus and dedication in my own life.

I want to be more like Nicole Hagood, the sister of my heart. She has faced the trials of life with a beautiful grace and an unshakable faith. Everyone who knows her loves her, because she has a heart big enough for each one of them and it shows. She is the woman of God that I pray to one day be.

I want to be more like Anne Russell. She's the busiest person I know, but she always, always makes time for more ministry, more serving of others. She always has time for me, and I know a hundred other people who feel the same way about her. There is no limit to her giving. 

And these are only just a few of the hard, hard workers who have blessed me. What about you? Who are the harvest workers who have influenced your life? Are you the harvest worker that others can look to?

Day 64: Stark Raving Mad

John 10:19-21

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁹ The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
 ²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Raving mad. I have to admit... the first time I read this, I found this a little bit shocking. I mean, after all, this is the guy who healed Legion (you remember him... the guy who lived in a cemetery, naked, and ran around screaming and cutting himself and scaring people all day). And yet, the old Jews are calling Jesus "raving mad"?

Seriously?

It just goes to show you that no matter what you do, some people are going to have a problem with you. I'll say that again: no matter what you do, some people are going to have a problem with you. These guys looked at the Lord God Himself, and said, "Look at all the amazing stuff he's done. He must be demon possessed." They took what was good and twisted it into something evil.

I'm sure this has happened to you, because it happens to all of us. Someone takes something you meant for good and twists your words, or your actions, or both, and uses it to attack you. Just remember that the Lord truly understands. He's been there. And remember that some people saw the truth: "Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" If he was stark raving mad, then all I have to say is, "Gimme some of that!" I want to be too.

What a blessing to have a savior who truly knows our sorrows. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Day 63: I Am A Sheep

John 10:7-18

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
   ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
   ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”


Well, it's been a rough week in the Eastep house. A baby with bronchitis (plus taking steroid meds which made him C-R-A-Z-Y), a hubby in serious pain, stress on the job... all made for a tired mommy/wife/employee/person. I don't know many times I've said (usually while rocking Brennan in the dead of night or making yet another pot of chicken soup) that I didn't think I'd make it through the week. And yet... here I am!


I had planned to write a post tonight about relative truth; about the fact that Jesus claimed to be the gate, the way of salvation. I had planned to focus on the way the world has perverted truth to the point that by claiming that one gate, we are labeled closed minded at best, bigots at worst. 


But as I come to the end of a long, hard week, I find myself wanting to focus only on the great love that the Great Shepherd has for me. I want to remember that He came for me, his sheep. Because He loves me. I just want to be led by the still waters of His grace. 


I'm reminded of the beautiful devotional song, I Am A Sheep. Following are the lyrics and even a recording of it. The words are perfect.... He is constantly watching over me.


I am a sheep and the Lord is my shepherd
Watching over my soul.
My soul to keep guarding over me ever,
Watching wherever I go.

And when the winds blow He is my shelter
And when I'm lost and alone He rescues me.
And when the lion comes He is my victory
Constantly watching over me
He is constantly watching over me

We are his children and he is our Father
Watching over our souls.
Great is His love for His sons and His daughters,
Watching wherever we go.

Day 62: Navigating the Land of the Grey

^{John 9:39-41}

³⁹ Jesus said,^[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

 ⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

 ⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

As far as hard sayings go, this is one that, for me, tends to slip under the radar. But it's certainly food-for-thought, and one that I'll be mulling over in the days to come.

Kids (and when I say kids, I mean teens) will often ask about this very thing. Obviously they don't use this language, but the gist of the question is: At what point does something become "wrong"? And it's a valid question. This is usually brought up somewhere amidst the how-far-is-too-far/how-short-is-too-short discussion. Some things are black and white, sure, but what about the many (many!) gray areas? 

Well, for me, these verses are a good, valid answer to that question. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees about their own hard hearts, but I certainly think the principle applies today. Our maturity, our understanding, our growth is something that the Lord keeps in mind, and it's something he takes into account when he views our lives. Some things are not clearly right or wrong, but we must constantly be striving to be something better. To mature in our faith. And as we do, we will find more and more things to change about ourselves and our actions. It's not necessarily that we were doing "wrong", per se, before; it's just that we find a more excellent way. And when your eyes are opened to that more excellent way, it is God's intention that we never revert to our former ways.

When I was in college, I wore clothes that were much shorter than what I wear now. I was a naive kid... honestly. I would have denied - vehemently - that it was even possible that what I was wearing could "cause my brother to stumble".  (I've been challenged on this: "Come on. You know you knew what you were doing." I submit to you that I was so absurdly naive that I didn't think anyone ever lusted after anyone, period. It was that bad.) One day, and I don't remember what was said or who said it, but I came home to my dorm room and looked at my clothes, and I realized that some of them had to go. I could "see", so to speak. And from that day on, it would have been wrong for me to keep wearing those clothes. I had to get rid of them, that very night. A few months later, I purged again, more this time, because I had matured some more. 

That's the process. Do I believe that I would have been condemned for the clothes I was wearing prior to that night? No, because I was "blind" to their inappropriateness. But would I be judged if I took to wearing those same things now? I believe I would, because "now that you... can see, your guilt remains". Now, is this an excuse to never learn/grow/mature? Of course not. We must grow. But growing is good. A great experience. 

As the song says, I will never be the same again. And that's a good, good thing.

Day 61: Living Miracles

John 9:34-39

New International Version (NIV)

 ³⁴ To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

 ³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ³⁶ “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
 ³⁷ Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
 ³⁸ Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
 ³⁹ Jesus said,^[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”


Boy... in some ways, don't you envy this guy? He saw (literally!) the work of God with his very own eyes. He saw it in a powerful and undeniable way. It sort of makes you think, why does God not do miracles like that today? Then everyone would believe! They would have to believe!

But the truth is, that lots of people saw this miracle with their own eyes. Even the guy's parents saw it - firsthand - and yet it didn't result in a lifechanging faith. It's difficult for me to fathom, but as usual, the Lord was right... some people's hearts are rocky and unfertile.

The good news is that this man did respond to what he saw. When he realized the power of God, he acknowledged it, and he worshipped God. Even so, the fruits of our lives as Christians will result in action in those whose hearts are "good ground". The question is, do we produce fruit for others to see? Or do people view us any differently from the world around us? There was no question in this man's mind that Jesus was of God. Is there any question that we are of God to the people around us? It's a question worth asking ourselves. We are the only "miracle" the world will ever see.

Day 60: Sold Out Parenting vs. Sell Out Parenting

John 9:8-25

 ⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was.

   Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

   But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

 ¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

 ¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

 ¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him.

   “I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

 ¹³ They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. ¹⁴ Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. ¹⁵ Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

 ¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

   But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

 ¹⁷ Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

   The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

 ¹⁸ They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ¹⁹ “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

 ²⁰ “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹ But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³ That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

 ²⁴ A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

 ²⁵ He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Long passage tonight, but I couldn't really see a way to break it up... it's too important. Lots of material here - lots and lots and lots - but there's one thing that has always gotten me about this passage. It's the cowardice of the parents, and it's heartbreaking. 

Of all the people on earth, this man's parents were the two who knew full well what Jesus had done. When other children were discovering the world around them, mimicking the actions of their brothers and sisters or copying a goodbye wave, their son was locked in a world of darkness. They tried unsuccessfully to describe a sunset, and the way moonlight reflects beams across the waters. They watched him struggle to find work, and maybe to find a wife. They wept for him.

And then he met Jesus.

Suddenly, he could see. Their son could see! What an incredible, indescribable gift! And yet, go back and read verses 2-23. They deny the power of Christ, and even sell out their son, for fear of being ostracized by their collective community. When the rubber met the road, they sold out. Devastating.

And yet, the truth is that I see this all the time. Maybe not to this extent, and certainly not this exact situation, but sell out parents are commonplace in our society. You'll know them when you see them. They let their daughters wear tiny little bikinis to the class swim party because it's not worth the fight. Their kids don't come to Bible class or devotionals or youth activities, and when asked they'll say, "I don't make them come because I don't want them to resent the church." They're the first to rebuke you when things aren't going their way, but the last to jump in and help.

On the other hand, I also know some 100% sold out parents. They're the ones who pick their kids up early from practice so that they won't be late for the service project. Their kids never ask, "Are we going to Bible class tonight?" because they already know the answer. One sold-out parent I know just threw away a pair of her (college-age) daughter's brand new shorts because they were too short. You know how well that went over, and she knew too, but she did it anyway, because it was the right thing. She reminded me that the tough decisions, where the rubber meets the road, are the ones that define us. They're the ones that separate our kids from the world. And we just can't afford to be like these parents, who were sellouts when that defining moment came.

Rock on, sold out parents. Rock on.

Day 59: What Is Work, Anyway?

John 9:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
 ⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Aaaaand we're back. I've been gone a few days, and I'm sorry to have been a slacker. But I (think I) have had a pretty good excuse. Last weekend I headed up a tiiiiny little fundraiser with President George Bush. That's what I do in "real life". As you might imagine, it was an enormous job with lots and lots and lots of fun and very stressful requirements. I came home, not to a relaxing couple of days as I'd hoped, but to a sick (read: up-all-night) baby. And my hubby had surgery yesterday. It's been wild around the Eastep casa, to say the least.

Bren was feeling better today, and he let me sleep last night, so I'm feeling less zombie-like than I have in a week. So when I pulled out the scripture for tonight, I must say that I was a little bit taken aback but the topic. "Night is coming, when no man can work." When I read these verses, I always think of that song, "Work, for the night is coming, when man's work is done. Work as the day goes brighter, work blah blah blah blah..." I actually do like the song, but do you ever think, "I just. Can't. Do. Any. More." I'm at my limit, I'm over my limit, and there you singing me a song about work and work and work and work and work. What did Jesus mean here? Is there no room for rest?

Well, first of all, I had to go back and take a good look, and nowhere in these verses does it say (or imply) the words/feelings I've always associated with them; that I've-got-to-keep-going-even-though-I'm-about-to-pass-out sort of thing.

Are we called to work? Yes. Are we called to action? Certainly.

But what do we do during crazy, my-kid-is-sick-busiest-work-week-of-the-year-oh-and-the-hubs-is-having-surgery times of our lives? The more I think about it, the more I really believe that the key is considering those things a part of our work. Not in an add-more-stress kind of way, but in the sense that I must always be aware that my Christianity does not dissipate during those times. Instead, that should be where it shines. We've got to do our best to show grace and mercy and love during those imperfect life moments. And in that way, we will still be working toward that future and ultimate goal. People will see that peace and joy in us. And we will be the light of the world.