The Transforming Word of God

We all have them. Misunderstandings. Foot-in-mouth moments. Overflowing stress. Mama bear syndrome. You name it. Reactions happen. Sometimes mountains are made from molehills. Sometimes we have major issues and confrontations. Regardless, it is so easy to allow our emotions to rule. We had one of those volcanic situations in our family this morning. I'm so often the one caught in the middle, listening to both sides. I had a high school teacher who used to tell me I should be a lawyer because I always defended the underdog. Well, I do that as a mediator, too. But when all is said and done, there is only one Mediator. Thankfully, our situation has been resolved, but it took a little time for emotions to subside enough to be dealt with.  I believe strongly in praying Scripture whenever possible. Since Romans 8 is the chapter I have memorized, I find I use it often. Below is the prayer I prayed, adding the references afterward: (Romans 8:26, 27) Father, we know that we do n...

My parents were such complementary personalities: Dad, the strong, verbal, emotional leader; Mom, the gentle, quiet peacemaker. They balanced each other perfectly. Even their attitudes toward faith were different, but compatible. Mom simply believed, without question; if it was biblical, it was true. Dad, however, taught me to question all I wanted to as long as I never questioned the veracity of Scripture. The Bible is the Word of God and, therefore is God's truth. But there are times when we don't fully understand how its teachings work together. Thus he encouraged me to study and understand and become "a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV). As I reflect on my growing-up years, I realize how much they taught me about the fear of God. I know we often battle with the idea of fear of God while loving Him, while knowing of his never-ending love for us. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love c...

Standing at the corner of our house, our hydrangea tree showed off a profusion of blossoms this year. There is something very inviting about the beauty of a garden, something peaceful. I thank God for the beauty He created but often wish I was a better gardener, a better keeper of that beauty. I would love to have one of those designer gardens with paths and benches and arbors and... I have a friend who is a Master Gardener. She has exactly the kinds of gardens I dream of. She and her husband even have a prayer garden with a cozy little spot tucked away where they can go and read God's Word and pray. I wonder if the Garden of Gethsemane was such a place when Jesus retreated there to pray before His crucifixion, if it provided the peaceful atmosphere He longed for as He prepared for and sought strength for the horror ahead of Him. As I ponder His time in prayer with His Heavenly Father, the example He set for us, I cannot help but examine His well-known prayer: Abba, Fat...

Recently I had a young woman tell me her marriage relationship had gotten stale and so she and her husband were hoping to get away for a purely fun day. I understand what she meant, although I would be more likely to say marriage becomes a habit—a good habit. We all seem to long for that extra zip, the energy, the passion that was there in the beginning. But life becomes busy and feelings are almost buried beneath all our activity. But we also find that eventually in our familial relationships. We know we love our parents, but our emotions remain fairly steady. And those babies we couldn't stop kissing, the toddlers who bring so much joy we just want to hug them, those children we continue to smother with hugs and kisses even when their heads smell sweaty—they grow to be surly teenagers often shrugging off our attempts at affection. Then they get busy with their own lives. We still love them, but the feelings are no longer I-want-to-run-up-and-hug-them! But there are ways we ...

Several weeks ago, my brother called me filled with excitement because he had something to give to fill a special need. Being on disability means he has a very limited income and he struggles accepting help from others. So being able to "give back" meant a lot to him. His excitement has stayed with me as I've evaluated my own attitude toward giving. Admittedly, giving is habitual. Paycheck arrives; I write a check for church. Because pay is biweekly, sometimes I forget. When I do, I find myself thinking, "I owe church." In other words, I tend to treat my tithing like a bill. Granted, there are other giving avenues. We support a number of things and I enjoy giving where I know there is a need. Those are gifts above and beyond our tithes. Plus I enjoy making and giving cards to people. But do I have the kind of excitement, that overflowing joy, my brother expressed? The truth is, we won't always feel joyful as we give. Feelings are always fleeting and...

One of the things my brother wrote on facebook during his recent despondency was that he felt forsaken by God because things were going so badly for him. My ensuing conversations with him have been the inspiration for my most recent posts. One of the things I appreciate about the Old Testament is the many accounts of very real people—people who sin against God and are restored to fellowship with Him, people who endure hardship and remain faithful to God, people who are swayed by their emotions but resolve to worship God.  Joseph is an example of one of those who endured great hardships, yet remained faithful to God. I cannot help but wonder, however, if there were times when Joseph felt forsaken by God, although never recorded in Scripture. But look at his life! Surely he had every right to question, to complain. Here he was, the favored son of his father, given that famous multi-colored coat that denoted him as the privileged son, the one who did not have to work in ...

How would you define "good"? We usually associate that word with enjoyment, comfort, pleasure, purpose. Good things bring joy and happiness. Good tends to center on self—what you call good might not be good in my eyes. Or I might enjoy things and activities that you do not enjoy. When we see others suffering with ill health, loneliness, insufficient finances, etc., we Christians tend to use Romans 8:28 as a one-size-fits-all verse of encouragement: For those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. But the truth is that the discouraged may become more discouraged when things don't seem to be working out for their good, when problems seem to be multiplying rather than decreasing, when everything looks bleak. They begin to wonder, "Don't I love God enough? Does He have no purpose for me? Has God forsaken me?" The problem lies in our definition of "good". We can never take Scripture ou...