Road Closed

Obstacle Ahead

ROAD CLOSED—This is NOT a sign you want to see in the early part of a 1000+ mile journey home after being away for over three months. Actually, I’m not sure it is EVER a sign you want to see. I only know that it was particularly painful yesterday. I wasn’t sure we would ever get out of Florida! All lanes  on I-95 N were closed due to an accident just north of Jacksonville. So, we had to exit and find our way back with several thousand of our closest friends. You can imagine our delight!

An Alternate Route

My husband, Todd, doesn’t generally let me do much of the driving, but he succumbed when he had had enough of evading the obstacle keeping us from our intended route. I suggested that I take a turn behind the wheel so he could take a nap. I assured him that I wouldn’t fall asleep in such driving conditions. So, I drove. He slept. We covered 0.8 miles in the process! Finally, we made it  back to I-95 and were on our way again. By midnight we had conquered the rest of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, stopping off for the night in Elkin, NC.

Responding to Obstacles

I’m always asking God for writing material. After an altered night of sleep due to our late night, it came in the form of the Verse of the Day in YouVersion first thing this morning. As we reflect on the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, we revisited the story of Jesus going to the Temple in today’s verse. Like us yesterday, He encountered obstacles. Also, like us, He responded with anger. Okay, His was righteous. Ours, not so much. Instead of the Temple being used for its intended purpose—worshiping God, it was being used to take advantage of those who traveled to Jerusalem for that very reason.

Jesus went into the Temple area. He threw out all those who were selling and buying things there. He turned over the tables that belonged to those who were exchanging different kinds of money. And he turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. Jesus said to them, “The Scriptures say, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are changing it into a ‘hiding place for thieves.’”

Matthew 21:12-13 ERV

Theft

The people who came to the Temple for worship were being robbed, in multiple ways. First, the merchants were selling animals needed for sacrifice at excessive amounts, priced too high for many of the travelers to afford. That led to a second type of robbery—a spiritual robbery. Those who could not meet the asking price were excluded from worship, unable to pray and connect with God at the Temple. The merchants and religious leaders had filled the Temple with obstacles, keeping the poor and vulnerable from God’s very presence.

Clearing the Path

Jesus would have NONE of that! In His anger, He single-handedly cleared the Temple of all man-made obstacles blocking people’s access to God. That was a temporary act, leading to His ultimate act, one that has eternity stamped on it. Jesus tore down every obstacle standing in our path to God when He went to the cross on our behalf to pay the penalty for our sin. The obstacle is gone, the road is open, never to be closed again. Thank you, Jesus!

If you haven’t yet chosen this road, please know that it is an open invitation and one you’ll never regret accepting. I know how thrilled we were to get back on I-95 and get moving yesterday, yet it pales in comparison to the joy of being in relationship with God, only made possible through Jesus. May you know that same joy!

 

Power: Son > Sun

The Power of the Sun

The life lessons continue here on the Gulf Coast of Florida. They will persist as long as I live no matter where I am. I’m just choosing to share a fresh one with you today.

If you have followed my health journey, you may recall that last April I was diagnosed with a MRSA infection that reached the bone and hardware in my neck. This was an unwelcome and unexpected outcome of cervical spine surgery I had 4 months earlier. The treatment for this infection called for six weeks of IV antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics for one year following the diagnosis.

The Power of the Sun

The Infectious Disease doctors determined that doxycycline was the antibiotic for me! At the time of transition from IV to oral antibiotics, I was warned to be very careful in the sun while on doxycycline. Within a week or two, I learned why. Having 2nd degree burns on my hands and feet proved to be an eye-opening lesson regarding the power of the sun.

After that lesson, my doctor really hated sending me to Florida for the winter while on doxycycline yet thought it important to see the treatment through. She didn’t get any arguments from me.

The Sunshine(less) State?

We arrived in Florida the first week in January and the weather was very unFlorida-like for most of the month. It was cold and dreary, not what we’ve come to expect in the Sunshine State, not even in January. I hated to complain as I knew my family and friends back home were suffering through bitter cold temperatures and snow. (It’s amazing how quickly 60 degrees seems cold)

It’s Ba-ack!

The sun has made its presence known pretty much ever since. Oh, has it ever. I didn’t realize how thankful I should have been for that lousy January weather. The photosensitivity side effect of doxycycline reared its ugly head the first part of February and hasn’t let up since.

I’m running out of places to break out in a rash and turn red. After I found out firsthand that you can get a sunburn under your fingernails, a friend told me that I need a space suit with AC. That seems pretty accurate! The latest “hot spots” are my nose and lips. At this point, my face is literally the only part of my body left uncovered when I am exposed to the sun. I’m counting on my peeling lips being the grand finale. It’s not easy hiding from the sun in the Sunshine State. It’s downright hard while volunteering for the Pirates at Spring Training.

The Finish Line in Sight

I am very grateful to be on the homestretch of my antibiotic treatment. The power of the sun has made QUITE an impression on me throughout. However, it is no match for the power of the Son, its homophone. On the fourth day, God, through His Word, created the sun!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” 

John 1:1-3

The Word = Jesus

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

You see, we wouldn’t even have the sun if not for the Son.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” 

Matthew 28:18

There’s that three-letter word again—ALL! Jesus is sovereign; He is over all and above all.

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Philippians 2:9-11

The Power of the Son

What challenge is currently flexing its muscle in your life? I have good news–Jesus is greater. His plan and His purpose will not be thwarted. Will you trust Him as your Lord and Savior?

 

All In

All In

I am not much of a gambler…really. But when Texas Hold’em became quite popular back in the early 2000s, my husband and his game-loving family taught me how to play. They will be the first to tell you that I don’t have much of a poker face. I can’t bluff to save my life, so it’s a good thing there is no money involved. The player who ends up with all the chips simply acquires bragging rights. Until the next time anyhow! I am competitive, so that’s enough to suck me in right there. You know what? Now that I think about it, I believe I still possess those bragging rights.

Ending the Game

As it turns out, there is a limit to my competitive nature. Texas Hold’em just so happens to be the game that revealed that. You see, we generally play it at night when the tank is already running low. I enjoy it for a while, especially when I have a pile of chips in front of me, but then I lose interest. I start taking more risks with my bets, attempting to bluff even. Sometimes that pays off, but not usually. Do you know what the magic words are when you are tired of playing? ALL. IN. That generally ends the game rather quickly!!

The Rest of the Story

If you read my most recent post, you know that the Holy Spirit has me focusing on God’s extreme nature lately, specifically calling my attention to the words all and always. This is Part II to that post.

Self-Sufficiency is Tiring… (and Impossible)

Life is good, yet rarely easy. There are seemingly new challenges that come with each passing day. And they come in all shapes and sizes. If I’m being honest, the control freak in me often tackles life’s challenges in my own strength and wisdom first. God is my last resort more often than I care to admit. Can you relate? It’s tiring!

There’s a better way. His name is Jesus.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”

John 14:6 ERV

Jesus–The Ultimate Gift

God went ALL IN on you and on me when He gave us Jesus, but it wasn’t because He was tired. He simply wanted to be with us, which meant that He had to solve the sin problem. Through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, we have been made right with God through faith in Jesus. God, the Father, and God, the Son, went ALL IN for us.

Our Response

How shall we respond to the Ultimate Gift? He himself answered that question by giving us what is deemed the great commandment.

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”

Matthew 22:37 ERV

There’s that word again–ALL. And it shows up three times in that one verse. It seems to me that God desires a reciprocal commitment from us. He wants us to go ALL IN too!

An Invitation to Rest

Are you tired of struggling and striving to do life on your own? I have good news for you. It’s a personal invitation from Jesus himself:

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ERV

Called to Quit?

I have been described in a number of ways over the course of my lifetime but rarely has the word “quitter” been used. Just ask my mother-in-law about baking Christmas cookies with me! Stubborn—yes, quitter—no. Well, in this case, I am going to condone it because I think quitting is exactly what Jesus is calling us to do in these verses. Quitting, in this case, looks like surrendering your life, with all its complications, to Jesus.

In “The Gambler,” a song made popular by Kenny Rogers, he says/sings, “you’ve got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em.” Friends, it is time to fold’em. Lay your cards down and end the game right now by going ALL IN for Jesus! I promise you won’t regret it.

Enjoy your rest.

All in for Jesus

 

All (Always)

No Exceptions
The word all is a short one but packs a powerful punch. As a result, “all” is in the running for my word of the year. In the days leading up to Christmas, I was especially drawn to the words “all” and “always” with regard to God. I find there is no middle ground with Him.
Have you ever taken a test or filled out a survey with the choices “always, sometimes, or never?” They can be tricky! Not so with God. Sometimes is not part of His equation. Unlike me, He is not wishy-washy. God is the same today as He was yesterday. And He will be the same tomorrow too. You can count on it! His character is always consistent, never swayed by circumstances.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
‭‭                                                                                                                       Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

God is…

      • all-powerful (omnipotent)

        “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
        Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

        There is NOTHING He cannot do.

      • all-knowing (omniscient)

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”
‭‭                                                                                                         Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is NOTHING He does not know.

      • always present (omnipresent).

        “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
        ‭‭                                                                                                    Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬b NIV‬‬

        There is NOWHERE we can go to escape His presence.

        No matter what you are going through right now, I pray that these truths from God’s Word bring you comfort…always.

Always
Without Exception

(Part II coming soon)