Month: September 2019

September 27, 2019

I Think I Heard A Noise

Several years ago, David was out of town and I was home alone.  Please understand – I am not a “scaredy-cat”, but I must admit that I don’t relish being alone at night.  That particular night, I was in bed reading with ear plugs squashed in my ears and the sound of rain and thunder resonating throughout the room (thanks to a “Sounds of Nature” CD). 

Then came the dreaded thought, “Did I hear a noise??”  I took out one of my ear plugs… sure enough someone was pounding on the door. 

BE STILL MY SOUL!!  Who is it?  What is going on?

I crept downstairs, and peeked outside… Whew! Relief! It was my son-in-law, Jonathan.  David had dispatched him to check on me because he had been trying to call me but never got an answer.  (I didn’t know it, but the ringer of the phone in our bedroom had been turned off.)

I was ignorant of his calls and he was ignorant of my safety. 

Someone once said “ignorance is bliss.”  I choose to disagree.  In most cases ignorance is unproductive and can even be dangerous.  Case in point – the ignorant unbelievers of Jesus’ day.

“Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?  But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.” ~ John 7: 26b-27

Were their assumptions true?  Were there no clues about where the Messiah would come from? 

Uh… what about – He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1) and bring light to Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2)?   If they had only taken the time to study the Torah with open hearts, ask questions and seek to understand, they would have known the truth instead of making assumptions based on ignorance.

When it comes to the Word of God, the more we know, the better. 

Ignorance is not bliss.

Studying scripture and getting to know the God we serve, can mean the difference between turmoil and peace… brokenness and wholeness… life and death.

Is Someone pounding on your door?  Take out the earplugs and listen.  It may be the voice of Truth.  (Revelation 3:20)

Listening with you…

September 17, 2019

Loving the Unlovely

Is your spouse ever unlovely? … Are your children ever unlovely? …

Are your friends ever unlovely? … Are YOU ever unlovely?      

Loving the unlovely is not easy, yet this is what Jesus challenges us to do:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  ~  Matthew 25: 35-36

   Jesus is describing what society calls “the unlovely”.  And He expects us to show them love.  This includes our “unlovely” family and friends!

When our loved one is “hungry” for attention – we stop and listen;

When our loved one is “thirsting” for affection – we hold them close;

When our loved one feels like a “stranger” –  we try to understand where they are coming from;

When our loved one feels “naked” and vulnerable – we overlook their inadequacies and speak words that encourage;

When our loved one is “imprisoned” & guilty (from wrong choices) – we truly forgive and move on.

   Only as we walk in the Spirit, growing His fruit, will we be enabled to love like Jesus loved… touching the “lepers”… talking to outcasts… helping to free those bound by sin.

   Can Jesus love the unlovely through you today?

SKK