Archive | September 2020

Chaplain’s Corner – Who Are You?

Sep30

If you were asked to describe yourself, what would you say? Here are some things I would probably say if you asked me about myself:

  • I am Staff Chaplain at Nashville Rescue Mission.
  • I am Jim’s wife.
  • I am Wes and Andy’s mom.
  • I am (pick one) Annie’s, Lincoln’s, Ella’s, Audrey’s, Judah’s, Katie’s, or Gus’ grandmother.
  • I am a member of Life Center Church.

I have been known to frequently use any of the above to describe who I am. What would you say?

When Moses asked God who he was, here is how God replied: “Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you.”’” (Exodus 3:13-14).

Our God is The Great I Am. Simple, but it means that He is everything, always. He is complete and yet never ending.

Jesus claimed his identity in God: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16).

And Jesus made his own “I am” statements:

  1. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
  2. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
  3. “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7).
  4. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
  5. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
  6. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
  7. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1).

The apostle Paul claimed his identity in Christ. While acknowledging that he had the highest Jewish credentials ( circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless), Paul said all that was garbage. He goes on to say in Philippians 3:7-9:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

We know who God says he is, and who Jesus says he is.  We can know then that when we believe Jesus as our Redeemer, our highest identity is to be IN CHRIST.

The Bible tells us that when we are In Christ:

  • We are no longer condemned: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are In Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
  • We become like new: “Therefore, if anyone is In Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
  • We are children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ: “So In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
  • We are one In Christ: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one In Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
  • We are marked with a seal: “And you also were included In Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).
  • We are his masterpiece: “For we are God’s handiwork, created In Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
  • We are near to him: “But now In Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
  • We are heirs to the kingdom: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise In Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).
  • We are forgiven, and forgivers: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as In Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

What a heritage. Christ’s identity is in God. And our identity is in Christ. When we reflect on the attributes of God and his son, Jesus, and when we reflect on the many promises of God, we can begin to understand the gift that we have been given to have our identity In Christ. You may have noticed that I almost always sign my name using the closing, “In Christ.” That is because identifying with Christ by saying “In Him” or “In Christ” is the best way I know to explain to my readers who I am. “In Christ” is my identity. It is who I am. I pray that you can say the same.

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

In Christ,

Judy

Conditioning, Part 2

Sep23

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
    for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

The Chaplain’s Corner devotional last week on conditioning used a couple of analogies to describe the process of growing in discipleship, focusing on Bible study and prayer. The analogies were working out (exercise), and farming. Today I will take up the analogy of farming to add another discipline, that of confession and repentance.

Have you ever seen a plant try to grow in a parched piece of ground? Back in 2005 I went on a mission trip to Tecate, Mexico. Our group built a house for a family on a slab of rock. They had been living in a shanty made of corrugated metal and cardboard and cloth, and I recall that they had a single tomato plant that was struggling in the hot sun. It was limp, didn’t have any blooms, and I’m surprised it grew at all. They would water it from time to time, and some water got in through a crack, but most of it just ran off. It looked something like this:

Our hearts are in the same condition as this parched ground until we break them up, plow them into a condition that is receptive to instruction and God’s leadership. Our human reaction to teaching is often negative: resentment, bitterness, anger, argumentative, refusal. Who are “they” to tell me anything?  The life-giving water just runs off, wasted on us. The problem is that our resistance to the truth also makes us unable to absorb it. The truth is unrecognizable to us. We need it, but we can’t receive it, much like this poor plant in the picture.

The solution is as follows, with diligent, daily practice:

  1. Pray to God to soften our hearts, to make us receptive to the Word of God so that when we hear it, it can work on us. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). When we pray, we also ask for wisdom and discernment so that we don’t get confused by teaching that might sound good but is in reality not biblical.  Otherwise, we might just find ourselves going in circles and not making any real progress. “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together” (Deuteronomy 22:10).
  • When we are receptive and God’s Word can begin working on us, we can then confess our sins. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” (Proverbs 28:13-14).  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”1 John 1:9).
  • And with confession add repentance, resolving to turn away from sin. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21).

When we dedicate ourselves to being obedient and walking in truth, then we can be confident that we are in line with the one true God. As Micah prophesied in Micah 2:12-13 to both Israel and Judah regarding God’s promise of deliverance, once we allow our hearts to be plowed, broken up and softened, He will lead us into the abundant life we have been destined for:

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
    they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”

Let us resolve to seek life in Christ through diligent prayer, confession, and repentance, opening our hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

In Christ,

Judy

Note: Many of the scripture references and analogies have been shamelessly taken from Pastor Spencer Barnard’s sermon series on Farm Facts.

Chaplain’s Corner – Conditioning

Sep16

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

I’ve recently pondered the term “conditioning,” as in (per Webster) the process of training to become physically fit by a regimen of exercise, diet, and rest. One fitness center described sports conditioning as “an all-year round commitment for athletes that usually includes pre-season, in-season, post-season, and off-season. … Once the athlete is in the right fitness state, they can start doing advanced exercises to help improve performance in their specific sport.” Okay, that’s a bit intense and over my head, but I think I get the general concept.

The reason this term has interested me is because I believe it to be a key to strengthening my relationship with Jesus. I’m sure that is what Paul had in mind when he wrote the verse above as part of a letter to the Corinthians.

In the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8 (which we just studied in the Thursday Bible Study), Jesus explains that the key to understanding this teaching is that the seed is the Word of God, and the key to its effectiveness is the condition of the soil for the seed and the condition of our hearts for the Word of God.

I am a gardener, and I very regularly work in my garden, conditioning it to keep it as productive as possible.  I keep the soil worked up, fertilized, watered, and mulched so that it can produce strong roots and plants. I remove the weeds as they make their appearance so that they don’t steal precious nutrients from my vegetables and choke them out. I am on the lookout for critters – hornworms, squash beetles, birds, deer, and squirrels – that want to devour my plants and vegetables. As a gardener, I love Jesus’ use of agricultural metaphors to explain his biblical principles. I can really relate. I know that if I don’t constantly work on my garden, and my heart, it will quickly revert to its natural state. It might look okay, but it will not be productive.

The same concept is true of physical fitness. I ran a marathon twenty years ago. I had been a runner, but it was a big jump to go from 3 miles a day to 26.2 miles. In fact, it took me nine months in a consistent conditioning regimen including running and cross-training to prepare. I was faithful to my training plan, and I met my marathon goals. However, I haven’t run much since, and I imagine it would take more work and time to prepare again than before because I haven’t kept up. Conditioning implies a concerted effort to gain strength, stamina, and/or knowledge. One of my sons played football. A commentator attributed their team’s success (they won the state championship for his high school division) to their conditioning and strength training. My son lifted weights, but he didn’t start with the heaviest weight; he had to build up to it. We can’t do it all at once, or even on a schedule that is convenient to our own whims. We can’t pick and choose activities because we like them more than others; we must choose activities that are designed to help us grow in our intended areas.

We know it takes appropriate and consistent conditioning to stay in shape and to improve our performance. We know it takes constant awareness to keep enemies at bay, whether it be crows or the opposing football team.  Our spiritual health is no different. We need to commit to a plan that is designed to help us meet our objectives of a deeper relationship with Christ. Here are some conditioning tips:

  1. Start with the basics: reading and meditating on the Scriptures and prayer. David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Paul included the Bible as part of our offensive and defensive strategy when describing the armor of God: “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). We must read and medicate on the Scriptures. Jesus prayed regularly.  “Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer.“ (Mark 1:35). “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18). There are additional spiritual disciplines; however, the Bible and prayer are foundational. Let’s start here.
  2. Set aside a place and time to devote to your spiritual exercises. I have dedicated garden space. I have a gym membership and a schedule for doing workouts. And I have a space at home that I use for my Bible study and prayer time. It’s easier for me to get my mind and body prepared when I am in my space and on my schedule. I try not to be “religious” about it, but I do try to be faithful. I find that my phone is my biggest enemy, so I try to leave it in another room.
  3. Start small and manageable. If you are planting a garden, start small and increase your space a little every year. Likewise, start at your current fitness level and gradually increase your time, distance, and weight. If you try to read your Bible and pray for an hour a day, you may get discouraged and off track. Start with five minutes and add five minutes every couple of weeks. As you are increasing your “stamina” you are also solidifying a habit. People who work out and run regularly can really feel it if they miss a day. It’s the same with prayer and Bible reading.
  4. Look for ways to engage others and share the harvest. The Parable of the Sower leads into the Section called A Lamp On A Stand which is the passage in the Bible that tells us not to hide our lamp under the bed. This passage tells us to consider how we listen; that if we share what we hear, our spiritual blessings will increase, but if we keep it to ourselves, our spiritual blessings will decrease. “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
  5. Lastly, be obedient to what you learn from your prayer and Bible study. For anything to be long-lasting, we must be changed, transformed. When Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were waiting for him, “He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). When Jesus raised people from the dead, they got up and walked.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Foolish Talk

Sep9

Chaplain’s Corner – Foolish Talk

So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people. Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. (Ephesians 5:15-17 GW).

At the Thursday morning Bible study awhile back, we read through Ephesians 5 and had a great discussion (I recommend this gathering to anyone who can attend). We see in this passage that we are told to live like wise people and to not be foolish. Beginning with the Chaplain’s Corner on January 28, we had five weeks of devotions devoted to wisdom. Now we see another reference to wisdom in a letter written by Paul to the church as Ephesus. This letter contains so many clear and practical lessons on how to grow in our Christian walk. For example, Ephesians 5:3-4 (GW) advises:

“Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people. It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God.”

Most of that passage seems to be very clear; however, I did wonder about “foolish talk.” What exactly does that mean? It’s ranks right there with dirty stories and obscene jokes as “what not to say” if we want to be wise rather than foolish.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “foolish” as “having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion.” The Christian website Got Questions? defines it similarly: “Foolishness is the result of a person misusing the intelligence God has given him.”

That’s still a bit general. What are some specifics? If we include Ephesians chapter 4, we can begin to develop a list of specific things that would be considered “foolish talk.” For example:

  1. Lying. Instead: “So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body” (Ephesians 4:25).
  2. Unwholesome or hurtful talk. Instead: “Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you” (Ephesians 4:29).
  3. Bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander. Instead: “Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ. Ephesians 4:31-32).
  4. Obsenity, foolish talk, coarse joking. Instead: “It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God” (Ephesians 5:4).

This is not a conclusive list of what is considered foolish talk. Probably the best way to determine what is foolish talk is to consider again what is wise talk, and to make it our goal to say nothing unless it is:

  • Truthful (Ephesians 4:25), and
  • Good and Helpful (Ephesians 4:29), and
  • Kind, sympathetic, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:31-32), and
  • Thankful (Ephesians 5:4).

My sweet Mama was fond of saying, “If you can’t say something nice, then just don’t say anything at all.” She was right. If our words (including our tone and nonverbal speech) are not truthful, good, helpful, kind, sympathetic, forgiving, and/or thankful , then they are better not spoken.

In Christ, Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Storms

Sep2

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house…” (Matthew 7:25a).

As I write this, it’s Thursday, and Hurricane Laura is bearing down on Texas and Louisiana. The storm surge is possibly “unsurvivable.” This is more than catastrophic; this is in the “we need a miracle” category. Several of our staff have family and/or friends in the “bulls-eye” of this storm. One of my high school friends announced to us that she had gone to Dallas to escape, and I was so thankful. Some of you are still worried about family who are trying to ride out the storm. (Since this writing, the storm is passed, and my friend is safe and her home is standing although she has damage to her home and all her trees and shrubs were destroyed.)

We reflect that sometimes storms and calamities come in threes, but honestly, this year it seems like they are coming in multiples of threes. Some storms affect all of us, like the tornado earlier in the year; the ongoing pandemic and its effect on health, jobs, school, economy, travel, availability of needed items; even the heat wave and humidity that make everything else insufferable if not dangerous. Other storms of life affect us individually such as health, family concerns, housing, car trouble, family members out of work, etc. The list goes on and it can be overwhelming. The least thing can seem to tip us over the edge.  

What do you do when it seems like there is nothing that can be done? Here are some ideas that have helped me in the past (not in any particular order):

  1. Remember there is always hope. Dwell on the scripture: “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
  2. Be thankful. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).Talk it over with someone that you respect. If you think there is no one to talk to, then remember that as your Chaplain this is what I am here for. I am available and willing to be a listening ear and sounding board. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5).
  3. Talk it over with someone that you respect. If you think there is no one to talk to, then remember that as your Chaplain this is what I am here for. I am available and willing to be a listening ear and sounding board. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5).
  4. Honestly examine your role in your problems. Ask God to convict you. If there is anything that you have done to contribute to them, confess, repent and ask for forgiveness. That means change. Even if your repentance, seeking forgiveness, and change cannot impact the consequences you are now dealing with, it will make you right with God and that is more important than earthly thing. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20).
  5. If your circumstances have been brought about by or worsened by the actions of another, pray for them. “After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:7-10).*
  6. Do what you can, with God’s guidance. List the problems you are dealing with. Think through logically what your options are and the priorities. While there may be much that you cannot do, there is likely something that you can do. Maybe it’s a budgeting issue and there is something you can change to free up funds for another more pressing need. Maybe you can trade or barter for goods or services. Again, having a sounding board might help. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3); “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).
  7. Cry out to Jesus. “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”” (Matthew 8:23-27)
  8. Meditate on God’s Word. Some scriptures to meditate on are below:

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path” (Psalm 142:3).

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming” (1 Peter 1:13).

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11).

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

*If you want to be truly awe-inspired, read what God told Job, leading up to Job 42:7, starting with Chapter 38, which begins, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.” (Job 38-42).

Remember there is always hope. Our God not only created the winds and waves, he also created the rainbow. Our God is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and He loves you.

In Christ,

Judy