Weekend Worship—Good Courage

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. I Timothy 6:11

We were singing an old hymn in church and one phrase in the chorus caught my attention, Good Courage. I’ve heard that all my life, but it struck me today as I watched the words flash across the screen, and I began to think about what it meant.

Is there such a thing as bad courage?

I mean the very word, courage, brings to mind admirable qualities of standing firm no matter the odds. But is that always what God wants us to do? So I did a little digging into my Bible and came up with this answer…it depends.

Weekend Worship—The Question We Must Ask

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. II Corinthians 3:15 

Travel back in time with me as we watch Joseph and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus from the cross that fateful Friday and prepare it for burial. It must have taken valuable time to convince Pilate to let them have Him, but they managed. Nicodemus carried seventy five pounds of myrrh and spices to prepare the body. It was an offering worthy of a king—a dead king.

Weekend Worship—Letter of Love

Spring is here, and with it come the flurry of Easter activities. Spring break falls during this time for us, and we have extra services at church. And, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m frequently involved with my church’s Easter musical. This year is no different, and it would be easy to get lost in the business of the season and forget the reason behind it.

But instead, I’ve spent time studying that last week Jesus spent on the earth and I’m once again struck by the way God turned the world upside down in His loving pursuit of us…of me.

The thing that stood out for me this year, is the difference between the way the world views our short-comings and the way God sees us.

Once again, the words have come to me, begging to be placed a certain way. So I’ve written this version of a palindrome called, Letter of Love. A special thank you goes out to my friend, Cindy Sproles, creator of Tinkertime Productions for bringing it to life on YouTube.

Weekend Worship—Weary & Heavy-laden

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. Matthew 11:28-29

Just reading the words weary and heavy-laden weighs me down with exhaustion. But it’s a feeling I’m all too familiar with right now. Don't misunderstand, I know I can’t blame the burden on God, or even on someone else.

It’s all been my own doing.

As I read that sentence I see the truth staring back at me—my own doing. Instead of sharing my load with Jesus, I’ve once again gone haring off on my own, trying to do everything for everyone.

When will I ever learn? When will I heed what I’ve learned?

I’m trying, and today I’d like to share with you what I’ve been reminded of about Jesus’ yoke and the rest He has for me. There are three applications I’ve found from these verses. 

• First, our yoke is personal. In biblical times the yoke of an ox was made from wood. It was hand carved—especially for that particular animal. It wasn’t interchangeable between animals.
• Second, our yoke is a partnership. A young, untrained ox was paired with a more mature ox that could guide and teach the young one and make his work easier.
• Finally, our yoke is perfectly fair and just. The word Yoke has the same Greek root word as the balance on a scale.

So as I once again return to the side of my Savior and protector I already feel the load lifting. I encourage you to try yours on for size, I’m certain it will be as deftly tailored and perfectly suited as mine.

Weekend Worship—Chosen

You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain... John 15:16

Growing up I was never athletic. In fact, my idea of exercise was turning the pages of the latest book I was reading. You can imagine what the playground games were like for me. I was always the last one chosen. At least that was true until I met Amy. She was the exact opposite of me, excelling in sports. And, although we attended different schools, we got to know each other at church and became best friends. Then, one summer, she somehow convinced me to play softball with the church.

We were a large church and had enough players to field two teams. Amy and another girl were chosen to captain the teams and I found myself once again transported to the memory of grade school playgrounds while two popular athletes chose teams. The other girl won the coin toss and got to choose first. When Amy’s turn came I determinedly stared at the ground in front of me, praying this torture would end quickly. Imagine my surprise when the person she picked first was me.  I moved to her side and the teams were decided in short order. Later, I asked her why she’d chosen me first. Her answer floored me, “Because you have potential. I can see how athletic you are.”

I don’t know about the athletic part, but I didn’t embarrass her at church softball. God sees the same thing in each of us, and when we trust His view we can find the confidence to move forward and let Him bring about the fruit in our lives.

Weekend Worship—Cross Roads

O taste and see that the Lord is good: how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Photo provided by John Melson

Are you at a Cross road in your life? Has God brought you to a point where you don’t know which way to go on your journey with Him? Well, don’t feel like you’re alone. These moments come to all of us. I have so many things I can spend my time on—necessary things—all of them good things. As a matter of fact the only thing I know is that there isn’t enough time in the day to do everything! I can usually decide between good and evil, that’s a no brainer, but good and good, that’s much tougher.

This hits me constantly in my writing life. I have so many things I can spend my time on—how do I know what to chose? I’ve found there’s one choice that’s right every time. I’ve learned to chose God.

I know, it sounds like a Sunday school answer, one of those situation when the teacher asks a question and the answer is always God. I’m not talking about that kind of flip, hip answer. I’m talking about choosing a constant, consistent relationship with God, so that when those Cross roads appear, we’re ready. I’ve found that when we’re are walking closely with God, His leading is almost automatic. We get so tuned into His Spirit and His will for our lives, that we don't have to stop and think about our response.

On the other hand, when we’re walking in the flesh, in step with the world, our logic will usually lead us in the opposite direction from God. My logic, in and of itself, always seems to contain self justification and realization. I always know that I am out of step with Him when I have to stop and pray about every little thing, looking for God because I seem to have lost Him. I have wandered from His side and am once again seeking my own way. Of course there are times when I am walking with Him, and I am still unsure about what to do, but I find this doesn't happen as often.

So I encourage you to get in step with God. Build that relationship and let Him prepare you for the Cross roads ahead. Remember—He already know what you need to make the right decision.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Weekend Worship—Shield of Faith

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

I love rainy days. The rest of my family are sun worshippers, but I look forward to those cozy days, hemmed with rain and raveled in jagged strips of lightning. 




I especially love walking in the rain. There’s just something comforting in huddling beneath a large umbrella, safe and dry, while the world around me is wet.

It occurred to me that this is a perfect picture of what God does with us. As we move about our days, we’re sheltered by Him. Once we put our faith in God, He becomes our shield—our umbrella in a dreary world. We live in this world, but we’re not of this world.

Our faith is a shield—not because it’s always strong—but because the One we believe in is always strong.

            

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #8—Mission Trip, Why Bother?

“Why spend all that money and go half-way around the world when folks here need help?”

I've had a lot of people ask me why I went on a mission trip.

The answer is both simple and complicated—and it started with God. First and foremost, I felt like God wanted me to go. I felt drawn to people in other countries.  It wasn’t as simple as hearing an audible voice. It was much more like a yearning, deep inside.

The second reason is totally selfish. I felt totally ineffective in my own spiritual life. I was insulated in our culture—sacred and secular. The time had come for me to experience the way the rest of the world lived.

As much as I looked forward to my trip, I was totally unprepared for the results . . . in me . . . my family . . . my community.

I experienced a personal revival. My entire way of looking at life changed and I was deeply moved by how easy and blessed my life was. I experienced—for the first time ever—how truly wealthy we are in America.

I had the unprecedented opportunity to reach out to loved ones in my family and share the love of Jesus in a different way. This resulted in not only a strengthening of my faith, but theirs as well.

Finally I’ve had opportunities to reach out and impact my community.

So was it worth it? Absolutely.

How about you? Have you had the opportunity to experience something similar? How has it affected your life?

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #7—A Simple Faith

Now faith is the assurance of thing hoped for, the conviction of things not see. Hebrews 11:1

Our trip to Ethiopia was filled with amazing highs and devastating lows—and many times it was hard to tell which was which. As I read back through my journal, I’m struck by how everything God showed me had to do with light.

Today I want to share one of my experiences.

Early in the trip we visited a mountain outside Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia. We were going to visit those who’ve been exiled because they suffer from the Aids virus. As we traveled through the city we saw painted walls and women in bright colors, all against bleak patches of poverty, outlined in dark grays and browns of despair.

It was cloudy on the mountain and a storm threatened, but that didn’t deter the children that gathered, hopeful and curious, always begging. We were invited into a young mother’s small home. The home was neatly kept, but barely the size of two double beds. Sarah’s son was asleep when we arrived, but he soon roused, watching us with beautiful dark eyes.

Through an interpreter Sarah (not her real name) shared her story with us.

"When I found I had the virus, I came to the mountain. There’s a spring here, blessed by the church, and said to have the power to heal. I visited the spring daily, but I didn’t expect healing. I came here to die, and instead I found life.

"It was going to and from this spring that I met my Jesus. He has given me hope and peace. And now I know that in Him, I will live forever. He has provided for my every need and I know that I am a woman blessed."

The simple dignity of her faith touched me deeply, as she put everything about life into perfect perspective. I hope her message touches you as well.

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #2 - Contentment in All

. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

I’m already looking forward to returning to Ethiopia next year.

When I share this, my listeners always want to know why.  They want to know what it was that stood out most about the people of Ethiopia. My response is always immediate and emphatic—it’s their unwavering joy.

This usually catches the questioner by surprise. You see, by western standards, most people in Ethiopia live in extreme poverty. Many are homeless, and those that have homes live in circumstances we can only imagine. In comparison, here in America, we live with wealth beyond belief. Yet we’ve become a people who let our circumstances dictate our outlook. Our joy, or despair, is determined by what we have, or don’t have. We’ve let our riches replace our blessings.

I met countless people on my trip who had suffered extreme persecution for their faith, and yet their joy sustains them. One elderly woman, introduced to us as Mama, put it so well when we visited her small home. “I live like a princess. I am rich beyond measure because I’m finally free to worship my Jesus.” 

Weekend Worship—A Weight Loss Journey

I've been on a journey of sorts for the past few years—a quest to change my lifestyle. It’s involved the usual—eating better, losing weight and exercising. It’s been an incredibly slow process and I think if I’d known exactly how slow, I might not have attempted it. But it has been marked with steady progress. And I’m well on my way to being half the woman I used to be!

Not long ago, while several of us were having lunch, a close friend showed me just how much progress I’d made. The question came up during lunch about how much weight I’d lost.

“I’ve lost 86 pounds so far, but I’ve still got 31 pounds to go to get to my goal.”

“Wow.”

Then came the inevitable follow up questions.

“How long has it taken you?”

“Do you have any before pictures?”

There was a time I wouldn’t have shared any pictures of myself—especially when I was at my heaviest. But now, those pictures are proof of the changes that have occurred in my life. I feel so much better physically—after all I was carrying what equaled an average 13 year old on my back. And, everyone could clearly see I wasn’t the person I used to be.

As I passed around the pictures I couldn’t help but think about Pilgrim’s Progress, the classic by Paul Bunyan. I love that allegory—especially the part where Christian is carrying the burden of sin. It’s such a visible picture of who we are in Christ, as opposed to who we were before.

I began to wonder how I’m doing in that area. Sure, I’ve shed excess physical pounds, but God is much more interested in my heart. Am I walking in freedom or am I weighed down with pounds of unconfessed and unconfronted sin? Can people see evidence of Christ in my life—or does my sin obscure His presence?

I’ve decided that as Easter approaches I’ll spend as much energy getting into shape spiritually as I have physically. Then, hopefully the changes you see will be even more pronounced!


There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. Psalm 38:3-4

Weekend Worship — Preparation

Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. II Corinthians 8:14

“That makes no sense at all.” The lady sitting next to me broke through the drone of the stewardesses instruction monologue.

When I looked up to see what set her off I saw the oxygen mask dangling from the stewardess’s hand.

“If I was traveling with a child or someone who needed help I’d put their mask on first.”

I smiled again and returned to my magazine, but my thoughts were on the instructions and possible scenarios. At first thought, my seat mate’s opinion seemed unselfish and even vaguely Christ-like. But the longer I considered the instructions the more I began to see how that wisdom was rooted in truth — spiritual truth.

It is not possible to share something I don’t possess.

I had to ask myself about my priorities. There I was, representing Jesus as a Christian writer, yet not spending consistent, daily time with God. Ouch. So my challenge to you is the same as me that day—make Christ your priority and then hold on and watch what He can accomplish through you.

Don't forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

Weekend Worship - Take Action

And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 NASB

I used to agonize over decisions in my life, worried that I might miss God’s answer and the consequences would be devastating (or at least unpleasant). This worry often kept me from acting because I really did want what God wanted. Then I realized that this concern was actually a lack of faith. I was, in essence, saying that hearing God was dependent on me—not God!

Paul didn’t have this problem. These verses are the start of his second missionary journey. He left on that journey with the decision to go to Asia. Reading theses verses show that God had something else entirely in mind. But nowhere in these verses do we find condemnation of Paul for having acted, even though he obviously missed what God had intended. What an inspiration, what comfort! I can act on what I think God is saying without worrying about Him abandoning me. The key to this is my heart—if I’m truly seeking what’s important to God, He’ll never leave me to my own devises, but always guide me back to His path.

Don't forget to join the conversation,
Blessings,
Edie

Weekend Worship - Beneath the Cross

Welcome to Weekend Worship! This is a new section of my blog where I share a short devotion - just something to make us think. So join me here, every Saturday morning.
And don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie



Beneath The Cross

Last Easter I found myself huddled beneath the cross where Jesus hung dying.

Now, for those of you that know me, that’s not as strange as it seems. I love the theater; I even majored in costume design for a time in college. But now, my favorite theater is found in the church. I love being involved in church dramas. For me, the Bible comes alive when it’s being portrayed on the stage.

I do have to confess that I don’t like being one of those onstage – hence the major in costume design. I absolutely hate being in front of a large group of people. I’ve found my place, though. I love being part of the stage crew and that’s what I was doing last Easter.

So, last Easter I huddled beneath the cross while Jesus hung suffering. I was dressed all in black, trying to make myself as small as possible so I wouldn’t detract from the actor portraying Christ. But as I crouched there, I heard his groans and watched him writhe in agony. I heard the cry of the crowds and felt my heart chilled by their impassive faces as they observed the drama.

Was this the way it had been 2000 years ago? The question in my mind transported me to ancient Jerusalem as my heart flooded with parallels. It was no longer just a drama on stage, Jesus’ agony and sacrifice became real in a way I could never have imagined.

The black I wore represented my sin and my invisibility to God in my wretchedness.

My silence, while necessary and expected during the performance, stung me with the resemblance of real life. The world expects me to be silent about the cross, or at least tasteful. And so often I comply, remaining quiet instead of speaking out.

Finally my attempt to remain hidden reminded me that while the world might not see me as I really am, Jesus had a perfect view of me while he hung suffering.

Yes, last Easter I found myself huddled at the base of the cross where Jesus hung dying.

And I will never be the same.