The 2023 Grammy's....

The Grammy awards which are part of the recording academy are suppose to be an outlet to honor  professional music and musicians. At once thought to be somewhat of a prestigious organization the recording academy has been involved in many high profile scandals and news making headlines about their voting practices over the last few years. The 2023 Grammy awards show featured a song called "Unholy" sung by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. The performance was nothing less then Satanic in imagery, content, the glorification of evil, and the mimicking of the Devil by Sam Smith who says he is binary and Kim Petras- transgender. In the category of Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance its hard to fathom that this song won. I would go so far as to say the academy would probably give the Devil himself an award if he submitted a song.  Any kind of scrutiny about the songs message and theme and any attempt to uphold any standard of decency has been thrown out by the academy over the years and although they award and allow a small category or 2 for gospel-Christian, CCM, and inspirational music the highest honor given to a song in the pop-duo category and performance- a song so anti God it wreaks of demons laughing at the academy and its disregard for integrity was voted on as the best in that category. Is this the best we can do? I could give many many accounts of crotch grabbing and overtly sexually charged performances being played on their awards show over the years and their allowing a marriage ceremony on air of many gay couples getting married etc. Maybe I'm a voice of only the few who would start asking what standards does this organization have? I would urge a change for professional musicians and artists to seriously consider a new performance academy and recording organization with scruples, values, and integrity. An academy that wants to mentor high school musicians and up and coming artists even at a young age properly and an academy that will actually follow some form of code that believes at its best music as an art form can bring hope, decency, and inspire our youth with values that once made this country great.

Gene Schmidt

February 7th 2023

 

July 3rd

I'm sitting outside looking at this tree in our backyard.  When we moved in I thought about the danger of it falling on the house every day. During every storm or windy day I would worry and I would pray for protection. Our neighborhood is elevated and the storms seem very severe at times, unlike anywhere I've ever lived before. One day about a year after we moved in, I was sitting in my bed. The night before it had stormed but on this night it was completely still.. not even a breeze. The windows in the bedroom are facing the backyard, about 15 feet from this tree. As I sat reading, I suddenly heard a loud crash. I went running outside to look and discovered that it was a branch from that tree. It must have broken the night before in the storm and had fallen suddenly next to our bedroom window. I knew in that moment that the Lord had answered my prayers and protected us. It changed the way I prayed over the tree because I knew God would protect us. I experienced it. So I continued to pray with each storm, each windy day with a new confidence in my Creator and His control over every branch, every gust of wind. One day, a large wood pecker decided to make this tree his home. It pecked and pecked day after day after day. From early in the morning until late Into the evening, making what I assume was a home for a family of its own to nest in. It chose this tree as its safe place and worked and worked to build something. I thought very little of it other than the noise it made all day long and my memories of the cartoon woody the wood pecker. We watched as it burrowed deeper and deeper into the tree. It would leave for a bit and then return and peck away. One day there was a storm like no other. Tornado force winds, record breaking winds in fact and I was afraid, so I prayed. Lord protect this house, protect us from the stom. And wouldn't you know it, the tree fell that night.   I went outside to look and to my amazement, the very spot the wood pecker had built its home was the spot the tree split. The wood pecker had dug so deep into the tree that it did the work we couldn't do. It caused a weak spot in just the right place that the tree broke in half and fell back in the exact opposite direction of the house. Directly away from everything and anything it could have damaged. Landing against a very large tree able to catch its force and stop it from knocking down other smaller trees or causing any further destruction. I sit here now and remember. God hears our prayers. He is working in our behalf. And sometimes He answers prayers in ways we can't even see until after the fact, that we can't understand until after the storm. Sometimes it looks in the natural like a tree and a wood pecker but it's actually God's protection all along. 

Be Still

I haven’t written many songs lately.   A friend asked me recently if I was still writing, and I had to be honest.   Not much.    It’s not because I don’t want to or even because I don’t have any ideas to pen.   I simply haven’t had time.    Life with a 3-month-old, a 13-year-old, and a full-time job keep me quite busy.    It’s amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing but the days go by so fast I don’t even always realize how much time passes between attempts to sit and write or even just sit and worship.   If you have kids you can probably relate.  Fortunately, my daughter loves music so that definitely helps.    One thing I have managed to keep doing, is serving in church worship, a few Sundays a month thanks to an amazing husband and an amazing church nursery.  A few Sundays ago, during worship, I heard the Lord say very clearly “I am not afraid of anything.  Nothing makes me anxious”.   To explain, I have struggled pretty severely with anxiety since the baby was born.   I have struggled the last few years but the hormones and exhaustion have caused it to escalate some.   I have been working hard, through prayer, and really focusing on the triggers and causes to try and work through it, but it’s still hard almost daily.     So, this Sunday…. These words spoke to me in a biiiiiig way.   The Lord often speaks to me in times of worship which is why I know that it is important to make time for it.   But I have also been reminded lately that there are different ways to worship, when song isn’t an option.   Last week I led worship in the Middle School classroom and as I was preparing, those words He spoke were echoing in my head.  Lord led me to the passage in Psalm 46, verse 10 that reminds us, “He says, “Be Still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””

I thought about this passage, and what it means to Be Still.  I decided to dig a little in scripture and came across these additional passages regarding this command to Be Still.

Exodus 14:13-14

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.””

Psalm 37:7

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 4:4-5

“Tremble and do not sin; When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.  Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”



In general, I don’t like being still.  I like to be doing.   I call myself a busy body because I enjoy having tasks, and projects, working and moving pretty much all the time.   But truthfully, I don’t think that’s what the scripture is commanding in the above passages.   Taken literally, as we often do in the English translations, that seems like the logical referral.   But when you break down the Hebrew words and what they tell us, it shines a light on the true meaning of Being Still.



Psalm 46:10 the Hebrew word used here is raphah.   It means to cease, or let alone.  To become feeble or to let drop.   In this verse, in this context we are being commanded to stop.   To literally remember our humanness and drop what we are trying so hard to hold onto with our human hands.   To remember who God is, and let Him be God.  We try so hard to fix things ourselves, to take all of the workload onto our own shoulders when God is more than big enough, more than strong enough, more than able…and willing, to do it for us.


Exodus 14:13-14 the Hebrew word is yatsab.   It means to stay in one place, to remain, to continue.   Here the Israelites are being reminded that if they want to see the Lord move, they need to get out of His way.    To stay put and wait on Him to move instead of rushing ahead out of fear and trying to make things happen in their own strength.  Taking action with an anxious heart often leads to disaster.   Instead we are reminded to wait on the Lord.


Psalm 37:7 the Hebrew word is damam.   Is means to rest, to hold peace, to quiet oneself.   I imagine it to be like a screaming child, throwing a tantrum, and our Father gently saying, “It’s ok, I have you, calm down.  You don’t have to be afraid.  Take a deep breath, stop being upset and let me handle it”.   
   

Psalm 4:4-5 is the same Hebrew word as the above, damam.   Scripture uses the word silent here, but again we are commanded to hold peace, to quiet oneself.   This word also means to be dumbfounded or astonished.    This passage reminds us to be thankful, and humble before the Lord.   And not to sin, by walking in fear but rather trust in the Almighty who is more than able, and remember just who He is and what He is capable of.



I am so thankful for the Words Be Still.  I am so thankful that we serve a God who knew our nature well enough to remind us more than once that we need to stop, quiet ourselves, let alone our agenda, stay put, and wait on Him.  Even in the chaos of life, those are truths that bring freedom from fear. 

A Posture of Gratitude

I think one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as believers, is how do I respond when the Lord answers a prayer?   It's so easy to become a spoiled brat Christian.  Like a kid who gets upset because they didn't get what they wanted for Christmas even though they got a lot of other really great presents.   When He answers, sometimes they way we had hoped and sometimes not, either way He is worthy.   Either way He is faithful.   Either way He deserves our praise.     And it's so easy to forget to stop and thank Him.   We hold out our hands with expectation, but forget to hold them up in praise.

 I was thinking the other day about how quickly I turn into an Israelites.    I pray earnestly for something and the Lord provides above and beyond what I could have imagined, but after a while I start to grumble.   I start to become dissatisfied with the thing that was at one point, Miraculous.       It's human nature to receive what we want and soon forget.  To fall back into despair when things don't go our way rather than remembering the faithfulness of our Father and all the things He has done for us.   It is important not only for our own faith but for the faith of others to remember.   To stop and acknowledge.   And to share with others in the struggles and the victories.  To join together in praise for the answers we are praying , even if we haven't gotten one yet.      To remember the times He has answered and blown us away with the intricate ways in which He weaves together beautiful stories of redemption, healing, fruitfulness, bounty, and provision.   The way He answers even those small prayers we pray that in the scheme of things are probably insignificant.    

Recognize them.   Respond to them.   Rejoice over them.   Remember them.

3 weeks ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.   She is the most amazing gift I have ever received and I can't imagine my life without her.  The Lord answered so many of my prayers with this child, in so many sweet ways that only the Lord could do.     But there are moments, when she is fussy in the middle of the night, it's easy to forget what a miracle she is.   It's hard, it's exhausting, it's a whole new set of worries, and struggles.   But that does not change the fact, or minimize in any way, that she is an answer to so many prayers.   And I remind myself daily to thank my Father for this amazing gift.   To rest in a place of gratitude because it makes the tough moments a little brighter, and the sweet moments a little sweeter.  

It takes intentionality.   A posture of gratitude.  

In Psalm 20 verses 4-5 David wrote

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests."   

David recognized that all victory comes from the Lord.   That every victory should be shared and that they should celebrated and praise the one who gave them victory!   

I think we need to stop regularly and ask ourselves, are we acknowledging what He has done for us?  Basking in the grandeur of His goodness, faithfulness, glory, and greatness.  Do we find it impossible to resist praising Him for who He is, for His total worthiness.     He is the King.      He is the All in All.  He is the maker of the heavens and the earth.  Nothing is more important than His presence.   Nothing and no one deserves our full attention and focus like He does.  Absolutely nothing compares to His great love and affection for us.    Absolutely no one can fill us like He can.       His answers to prayer, weather we understand them or not, weather we can grasp the full reality of them or not, are sovereign and holy.     He cannot lie, cannot fail, He cannot do wrong.  He is a good Father and He deserves all of our gratitude.   

Know You By Name

The past few Sundays, I was asked to lead worship in our Middle School and then High School group at my church.   I lead fairly often in one of the two rooms, and have grown to really love worshipping with these precious teens and preteens.   I remember how forming those years were for me in regards to my relationship with the Lord and my desire to, and understanding of worship.

 Watching them grow in their faith, and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord has been a joy.     Every Sunday I pray for the Lord to download something into my heart that will reach these kids.    Life and culture are different then they were when I was their age, but that doesn't change our Father or how He works.      And every Sunday I pray that the things that are said, prayed, or shared will sink beyond the momentary participation and stick in the hearts and minds of he hearer.     The past 2 Sundays the Lord put the same thing on my heart.    Something that in some ways I think He downloaded more for me then for them.   But it is still resonating with me now as I type this.     About 6 or 7 years ago, my brother, who I have always been close to, who grew up in the same household, going to the same church, having many of the same friends, confessed to me, that he no longer believed in God.   My brother has always had strong opinions and has always been a bit stubborn, but even with him majoring in philosophy and theology in college, I didn't see this coming.

My heart was broken and continues to break for him as I pray daily that the Lord would draw him back, like the prodigal son.  That his heart would be softened to the truth and that he would realize the lies he has been believing are nothing but the enemy.

But as I thought about this, on this Sunday morning preparing for church, I heard the Lord say "What he (My brother) chooses not to believe, does not change the who I am.  It does not change the Truth".      And I was reminded in that moment, that the magnitude of the majesty of our creator and King, is neither affected by or altered by what we choose to believe or not believe about Him.  That our opinions don't change His power.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.    And our thoughts about Him do not change who He is....they change who we are.     We have the choice to encounter Him, and learn more about Him, not because He owes us an explanation, or is affected by our opinions of Him, but because He wants us to know Him, He wants us to experience His love, His goodness, His kindness, His fullness of life.   

I was reminded this past week of the story of Moses from Exodus 33.   The Bible tells us that Moses would meet with God in a tent and the Lord would speak to him, face to face as to a friend.   And while in the tent of meeting, Moses would plead on behalf of the Israelites.   Asking the Lord not to leave them or send them away without His presence.    The Lord responds in verse 17 saying "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name".    They had an intimate, relationship.   The Lord honored Moses's request for an entire people because of their relationship.   Because of Moses's faithfulness and heart to serve and honor Him.     And then the Lord showed him His glory.   

Here is the thing.....we no longer have to rely on someone to plead for us, to meet with the Lord on our behalf.   To communicate with the Lord and then tell us what to do or how to obey.   We no longer have to encounter the Lord vicariously through someone else.   The veil has been torn.  Jesus has come and made a way for us to be with our Father.   We have direct access to His presence and to have an encounter with Him just like Moses did.    We can seek His face, we can know His heart, we can meet with Him at any place and time.      A huge part of the act of worship is taking the time to do just that.   To spend time in His presence, experiencing an encounter with the Living God, to see His glory, and hear His voice.    And lift up His name.   And I believe that the heavens move when we spend that kind of time with our King.   Intentional, "Tent of Meeting" kind of time.  And maybe what our country needs right now more than anything, is for the children of God, to spend more time encountering Him.  More time in His presence, getting to know Him more intimately and seeking His glory above all else.    That He would say of us, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name".

The Savior's Manger

Last year around this time, I wrote about how amazing I find it that Jesus came down from heaven to be born as a baby.     How absolutely unfathomable it is to me, that the King of the universe CHOSE, not to just come down and live as a human among us, spend His life serving those who hated Him, and die a horrible death to save us, but that He came as an unborn child.   It literally blows my mind to think of Jesus, the Son of God, choosing to be carried for 9 months in a womb, born, and have to grow from a baby into a man, diaper changes and runny noses and everything.   It has given me a whole new perspective on the depth and enormity of His sacrifice.    But then this year as I thought about all of this again, I starting thinking about Mary.    Maybe it's because I am 18 weeks pregnant myself, but I cannot even imagine what it must have been like for her.     Young, scared, pregnant with the Son of God (talk about crazy!) and having to travel, in labor, on a donkey.   I think it can be really easy to read the stories in scripture, and without meaning to, romanticize them a bit.  The way we might an old memory where we forget all of the unpleasantness and only think about the good moments.    But just think about this for a moment.   Really think about it.   You’re a teenager, no parents or relatives anywhere near, traveling with your husband, sitting on a donkey in excruciating pain...no drugs, knowing that you would soon be giving birth to the child you were told was the Son of God, scared half to death.   You arrive at our destination only to be told that you can't even have a regular bed, in a regular room, with bedding and walls, and privacy.....so you have to give birth, with no assistance, in a barn, sitting on hay and who knows what else, surrounded by smelly, loud, dirty creatures, and all of their filth, no soap, no nurses, no blankets or sheets, or anything to even cut the umbilical cord with.    And while I would like to think that maybe God gave her some extra grace considering the circumstances, He really didn't roll out the red carpet for Jesus's entrance at all.    And this is what amazes me about our Savior.     As if His life and death and resurrection weren’t enough.     He came as an unborn child.   To be born in quite possible the worst circumstances a pregnant woman could possibly dream up for giving birth in, and spent the first few hours of His life, surrounded by animals, and smells, in the most unglamorous environment.     God could have provided a room, He could have given His son a little more flash and cleanliness, He could have poured out His provision and made every accommodation to make sure His son had everything He needed from the moment He was born for His comfort and happiness.   Instead, He allowed the humblest beginning.    As I to indicate from the start, the course of His life lived in humility.   This Christmas, I will worship Him with a little more gratitude than normal.   Because while I look at my nativity as a charming addition to my piano decorations, the truth is....it was the humble beginning of a humble King, who came to serve and love and give His life.   And didn't even for a moment, even before He took His first breath as a newborn, stray from the humble heart He came to show the world.     My what a King we serve.   I am so thankful this season for my Savior.

We are God's Poetry

Hey everyone!   Man has it been a while since I sat down to write.   Funny how life does that…. You blink and a month goes by. 

Recently I had the privilege of being a part of the worship team for the Women’s retreat that my church held, at a State Park in Alabama.   We drove down on Friday and honestly, I had no idea what to expect.   I know that sounds a little silly to say out loud, but I have never been on a women’s retreat before and while I was thrilled to go, and I knew that the speakers (all friends of mine) would be awesome, I was honestly a little intimidated.      Man, oh man did the Lord show up!    It was a weekend filled with incredible fellowship and wonderful times of worship.    But the part that stuck out to me the most…. the part I am still chewing on, was the story God told through the speakers.   I thought I would share a few of the highlights of what was shared, and a few of my thoughts, as I process everything the Lord did on this weekend.

 They each shared in the theme of Poetry with a focus on Ephesians 2:10” For We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

That word Workmanship, (also translated Masterpiece or Handiwork) comes from the word Poiema, which means a Masters Piece of Work.  We are literally Gods Master Pieces.   Each one of us.   He is the author and we are His poems.    Not an accident or unintentional story.   A beautiful piece of art that is being penned by the creator of the universe.    One of my favorite quotes from this past weekend was this “The Presence of the Poem, proves the existence of the poet”.     It is indeed the poet that gives a poem value, not the poem itself.  

A few of the ways that the enemy tries to attack our story is by minimizing it, threatening it, isolating it, and tempting us to compare it to others.    But we are God’s unique creation, each of us.   Called to tell our own story, make our God known, and lift others up who may also struggle through the sharing of what God has done.

When we find ourselves struggling to believe in our value, it is most likely due to things we are hanging onto in our lives that are not of Him.    Things like Jealously, Offenses, Unforgiveness, Comparison, and Bitterness.    But Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.   Which means that we don’t have to fight for power, strive for strength, or find courage within ourselves to walk in the fullness of who we are created to be.    God has already given us the power, so if we are lacking, it is not Him... it’s us.   We are choosing not to walk in the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are choosing to try and write our own story.    And the only territory the enemy has is what we give him.    Which means we need to take that territory back.   Refuse to fall into His lies.   Trust and Believe that we are more than conquerors in Christ and walk in that victory, letting God remain the author of our lives.  

So, what are some of the areas where we have allowed the enemy access or power in our lives that maybe we don’t even realize, because after so long it has just become our “normal”.   Maybe we think of it as “who we are” when God is telling you “This is not a part of the poem I am writing”.

He has good works planned for us, just like Ephesians tells us.   So maybe it’s time to take a look at those places where the enemy has convinced us that this is the story we are stuck with, and start allowing the Lord to write His story over us.   It may not look the way we planned, or dreamed it to look, but the story, the poem of the King is the beautiful story of repentance, healing, authority, boldness, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, hope…. this is the story I want for my life.    

One of the things I was left with this weekend was the idea that sometimes to get back to His story and out of the one we are trying to write for ourselves, is to pray over what good work the Lord may be calling you to as an act of obedience.   It doesn’t need to be a huge grandiose work.   It doesn’t even need to be public…. just something the Lord is saying “This is what I need you to do for right now”.    Maybe in preparation for something more, maybe just as way to clear out some for the junk.  Maybe it’s something as small as committing to wash the dishes every day because your spouse hates doing it and it would bless your marriage to take that job on, or committing to that quiet time you always say you will take but seldom do.   For me it was something rather simple, but actually rather difficult for me.   And to many of you this will sound silly but I know that the Lord has called me to this as my good work.  What His full purpose is for this in my story I may never know.     I lead worship often at my church for different events.   This means that almost daily I am working on new songs, spending time in worship on my own, and going over the songs I plan to do at the next event.   I have a keyboard, and now we also have a piano in the living room.     But since the piano has arrived, I rarely play it when anyone else is home because I am terribly self-conscious worshipping in front of my family.    It’s 100% the enemy and I know that.    They don’t care, and even if they did it shouldn’t matter to me at all.    But this has been a struggle for me for many years, so I generally hide away in my room to worship/prepare/write.   It has become clear to me that this is my way of hiding a vulnerable place in me, from those who I trust the most.   The Lord called me out this weekend, that my Good Work, is to start playing on the piano no matter who is home.   That I am to walk in boldness as a worshipper in this way.    It truly challenges me, to worship without distraction or concern for what others are thinking and it will be an act of obedience.   I imagine after a while I won’t think about it anymore….and maybe it will be just the thing my family needs.   But it is a challenge none the less.   I was sure to tell my husband as I wanted to voice my commitment so that I could not back out of it.  

 I want to encourage you to pray over what good work the Lord may have for you.   The enemy wants to silence our voices.   To make us ineffective for the kingdom.   Whether by fear, or by keeping us occupied, or distracted.   Maybe by telling us we have nothing to say of any value.   But the Lord has something to say through each of us.   We are His poems and we are His beautiful handiwork.   It’s time to take back our story and hand it over to the author and finisher of our faith.    

That Is What We Are!

Often times in Long term relationships, friendship or romantic, you reach a point where there is a shift that takes place.   You move from a learning to a knowing.  From an unfamiliarity to a familiarity.  Where most of the questions have turned to answers, roots have been planted, and the love has developed into a foundational element of the relationship.  No longer a question mark, but a truth.   Love becomes more about the act of showing rather than proving or earning.  There is a security in this kind of love.  But love never starts out this way.   And isn't always an easy path to get to.  Even when you do arrive at this kind of love, It requires a lot of time, attention, and work to keep it strong. 

I was thinking about my husband recently.  How our relationship has grown over the years.  We are both very stubborn, and while that most definitely presents its challenges, there is a hidden blessing in that neither one of us are quitters.   Neither one of us run when faced with difficulties.   We fight for each other and push each other.     This has helped to build a foundational element of security in the love between us, over the past 9 years.   We are by no means professionals at marriage, nor do we have the best marriage possible.   But it has really helped me to see more of God's love for me in watching my husband love, and watching our relationship grow.

I believe God designed marriage as an earthly example of His love toward us and desire for intimate relationship with His people.   And while our relationships contain many cracks and holes, It can help us to see a tangible picture of what His love looks like.   

He doesn't give up on us, or turn His back when we turn ours.   He doesn't deny us grace because we make a mistake or hold against us the things we do that are not honoring to Him.   He loves us just the same, through difficult circumstances, Joy's and pain, heartache and victory.  Even when it doesnt make sense, the love remains.  

    

One of the big differences in His love for us though, is that He loved us first.  Before we even knew Him, before we ever had a chance to fall in love with Him.   Before we ever heard His voice or read His words.    He already loves us, and He has already proven it.  His word says "We love Him because He first loved us"    But that's it really...there is no catch!   We dont have to do anything to earn it or deserve it.  He already knows us more intimately than we could ever hope to know our best friend or significant other, and loves us so much that He chose to give His life, the ultimate sacrifice of love for us.   That is what makes His love for us so incredible.  Even the best human relationships have struggles, and difficult seasons.  Even the most dedicated, loyal people fail at times to love unconditionally.  His love for us is complete.   His love is perfect.  Whole.  Full.  Safe.  Unchanging.  

I think the part that amazes me the most when I think about our Savior is that He would have died just for me.  Even if I was the only person in the earth.   And He would have died for you just the same.   That amazes me, and I hope it always amazes me.   To love others this way is the call we have on our lives.  Our purpose really.   Not just our best friend or spouse but to love others as we love ourselves.  To love our neighbors as ourselves.  To love as Jesus loves.  And He doesn't tell us to "Do what I say and not as I do", in fact His word says in 1st John 3:19 "This is how we know that what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.   And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.".   And even more, He has given us all we need to love the way He loves, through the power of the Hoy Spirit.  

People don't always seem lovable.   Sometimes they really aren't from human standards.   And frankly it can be an inconvenience to love others well....But I think the conviction level rises for me when I think about the fact that I just turned 34, which means I have now been on this earth longer than Jesus was.    And have I spent this time loving others?    Or am I more worried about the things I need, and want, and care about?  Have I done everything I can do to love well, not just when its convenient, easy, or makes me look good?  

So here is the tough question part..... How would marriages improve if we loved our spouse the way Jesus calls us to love?   How would our friendships improve?   Relationships with kids or neighbors?   Even the way we treat people we see on the street or in the market.    What about our enemies?   What if we chose to love them?      

What if we woke up each morning and asked the Lord, how can I love well today?    What would change?

Will it be easy?   Absolutely not!   Will it require sacrifice?   100% of the time!    But will it be worth it?   Without question!    Just imagine the impact it would have in the church and in the world around us, if we started living in the true calling and purpose of a believer.  To "Love not with words or speech but with actions and in truth".   Our world needs it now more than ever.

1 John 3:1a "See what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"

 

A Beautiful Reminder

So my husband and I bought a new car a few weeks ago.   It's the car I have been wanting and hoping for, for about 5 years.    I was waiting for the right timing and after praying over it, felt peace to to go ahead and make the trade from my current car.      I spent hours cleaning the old car, and making it look as shiny and new as possible.   I took everything out of it, and sorted all the paperwork and on Friday evening we went to the dealership.  After a few hours, we we off in our brand new, beautiful, car.  It was exciting.   This car checked all of the boxes for our family, you know?  Like extra seats the fold down in the back, and extra trunk space for the groceries I deliver for my part time job.  It was great and we were thankful.   I have had a few cars over the last 10 years or so, and this one, for me, for some reason, was the most exciting.   I was already picturing this car, as the one we would use to take kids to games, or pick them up from school, go on road trips, or teach my stepson to drive in.   Oh how dreams change as we get older haha....anyway back to the story

So, the next day my stepson had a soccer game.  I was so excited to drive the new car to the game.   We loaded up the camping chairs and soccer gear and headed out.   It was an early one, at least for a Saturday, (I mean who plans games for 9 am on a Saturday?) and we had to be there even earlier so my stepson could change into his uniform.   So at 8:30 we rolled into the parking lot, still drinking our morning coffee, and grabbed our lawn chairs and prepared to watch the kids play, along side dozens of other parents.     After the game, we loaded back into the car, and I started to back out of the spot.   This car has a rear camera which I am still getting use to, but this was only the second time I had used it, so I watched carefully as I pulled out of the spot.    I needed a little more room so I pulled forward slightly, and then preceded to put the car back into reverse to back up a few more feet. Just as I was about to pull forward the rest of the way to leave, we noticed in the rear camera a person backing up....before I could even honk my horn he had rear ended us.    Less than 24 hours after leaving the dealership, we had been hit.   I sat a little stunned for a minute while my husband got out of the car to talk to the other driver and then I pulled into another spot to see the damage.    Everyone was fine.   No injuries, and really, minimal damage.   But my bumper was no longer in it's new, pristine condition and my heart sank as I looked over the new scratches and dents.    I have been in accidents before, but never with a brand new car....and never a car that meant so much.   Somehow I held it together.    We exchanged insurance information, while the other driver apologized and admitted he did not look behind him as he was backing out.    While this didn't fix anything, I knew we would be able to resolve this situation.   But man was I bummed.    As I sit here my husband is researching a collision center for us to take the car too, so hopefully soon she...yes it's a she ;) will be good as new.  

That Sunday (the day after the accident) I was leading worship in the middle school room at our church.   I originally thought I would just keep the news to myself and not make a fuss, but then the Lord reminded me of something.     When we are in these kinds of situations, we have a choice.   A choice of how we are going to respond.   How we are going to handle these moments.     Our reaction is a choice, and we are the only ones who can make that choice.    I prayed, and continue to pray, that the Lord would use this story for good, and for His glory.    But what it led me tp think about, and what I also explained to the kids, is that this is the same kind of opportunity we have during our time worship.   We have a choice.   When His presence comes crashing in, disrupting our comfortable normal....pushing away our comfort zone or squeezing us out of our hiding places, what will our reaction be?   Will we choose to push Him away and stay in our safe place?   Will we choose to walk through the motions, simply standing and singing because it's what is expected, or because our friends are doing it?   Or will we choose to take a step closer, dive a little deeper, let the Holy Spirit have His way?    He already knows what we hide away.   The messy bits, and all the cracks.  But He won't force it on us, we have to choose it....Respond to it.  
When we feel disconnected from His presence, it's not Him, it's us.   We are the ones who drift away, letting our focus turn to ourselves or the things going on around us.  We are the ones who are being pulled in so many different directions that we forget to look up.    But like the song says "When You walk into the room, sickness starts to vanish, every hopeless situation ceases to exist, When You walk into the room, the dead begin to rise, cause there is resurrection life in all You do...." And that is the kind of encounter I want, that is the reaction I want to have in His presence.     So from now on, when I get in my car, or think about that accident, it will forever be a reminder to me to consider my response.     To make a choice.    To engage with the Father and choose His presence.    Who knew an accident could turn into such a beautiful reminder.  

Order and Chaos

The older I get the more OCD I become.   I know I know...this is a cliche thing to say these days, but it's honestly true.  Sometimes I literally drive myself nuts with the amount of time I spend thinking about the little things that need doing.   Stuff my husband wouldn't notice in 100 years, stands out to me like a highlighted line in a text book.    I haven't always been this way...I used to ignore dirty floors, or nail holes in the wall.   But I like order, cleanliness and precision.

Recently, This got me thinking about how we were created in the Lord's image.   Genesis 1:27 says it twice, as if to make sure you don't miss it the first time, "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them."      No two people are the same, and that in and of itself speaks to the tremendous depth, and complexity of our Father, and of the gifts He has poured into each of us.

But the thing that strikes me and continues to amaze me as I think about it more and more, is that God is a God of order and clarity.  It tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:33, that He is a God of peace, not disorder.    He is by His very nature, organized, precise, and intentional.   He created a world with such structure and precision, that we are so deeply engrained with, It's easy to completely miss the Creator evidence all around us.   They are things we take for granted as "normal".  
We know the world is a fallen world, due to sin, and within that there is much chaos, hardship, brokenness, and calamity but...  
                                       His design was perfect.   His design reflects His character.
  He has given us the Grace to recognize and build upon some of these truths for our benefit, enjoyment, and development.   Things like Math, rhythm, Architecture, decorating, cooking... all come back to our God given ability to recognize pattern, structure, function, and plan....that already existed.   Other things like, law, government, schools, even jails....comes back to our God breathed ability and guidance to recognize order, growth, and peace....that already existed.   We did not create these things, we simply saw them around us and developed them into patterns, order, and function.

Think about music.   Rhythm itself, is just patterns.   So what turns it into music?  a melody, maybe some harmony, perhaps an instrument, layered over another.   But how do we even know what music is? Or have the ability to recognize when a note works with another, or a sound fits with another sound?    Even my husband, who does not sing and cannot play an instrument, can recognize a good song when it comes on the radio, or notice when someone sings flat...why?   What we know of as music, was built into the fabric of creation.   We are engrained with these principles by a creator who designed every detail down to the finest detail.  

Even our bodies recognize patterns and rhythms.   How often fo you wake up on a Saturday at the time when your alarm goes off Mon-Fri, even though you don't have too?   Or find yourself getting hungry the same times each day?
In our house, even our dogs have a schedule.   And they except us to follow it each day without exception.   They know what to expect and when to expect it....without a watch or calendar to look at.      I love this about the Lord's design.   I love that it shows the detail and great thought He put into His creation.  And how it speaks to an intelligent designer.  It reminds me of the passage that tells us "Even the rocks will cry out".   His creation speaks to His glory....even if we don't notice it.

As I looked up scripture related to chaos, what I noticed was this.  Who causes chaos in most cases?   We do.

Due to the Original Sin: Genesis 3:6-19
Due to Disobedience: Isaiah 24:5-6
Due to Wickedness: Genesis 6:5-7
Due to Pride: Jeremiah 49:31-32
Due to Hardened Hearts: Ephesians 4:18-19

What is the opposite of chaos?  peace.  And peace comes from the Lord

We are called to live in Peace: John 14:27
We are called to live in order:1 Corinthians 14:40
We are called to walk in obedience: Jonah 3:3
We are called to live in righteousness: Isaiah 32:17-18
We are called to dwell with Him: Psalm 91


Psalm 46:2-6 tells says "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.    There is a river who's streams make glad the city of God.  The Holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not fall: God will help her at break of day.   Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall, He lifts His voice, the earth melts."

God is a God of peace and the creator of the universe.   In Romans 1:20 we read "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature-Have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  
If He can build this amazing, complex, intricate world, full of creator evidence, that within it exists things like structure, order, function, and logic, all the while weaving throughout time and space the story of Love, Hope and Redemption, then surely He can keep us, protect us, and guide us today.

Press On

About...goodness, 9 or 10 years ago now, I went through a bit of a rough spiritual season.  It wasn't something that happened overnight, but just a gradual distance that I allowed to develop between the Father and I.  I started walking on a path that was not the one I knew in my heart, (but chose to ignore) that He had for me,  making some choices that were not stupendous, I had stopped going to church or reading the word, didn't pray much.....pretty much parked my faith on the back burner.    Looking back now, I can see the Lord's hand all over that season, in His protection, covering, and guidance, even in my choices.   But at the time, though I knew in my heart He was with me, I did not live in that truth.   Around the time I had reached a point that was probably the lowest for me, there were a few circumstances that began to turn the spiritual tide of my heart.    After a short period of time I found myself back in church, involved in a young adults study, digging into the word with an intensity and passion I had never had before and pouring myself out in worship every day for hours at a time.   I fell in love with the Lord in a new way.   A way I had never really known His love in my life....much I imagine, like the prodigal son coming home.   The group of friends who I had grown close to throughout this season (many of whom I am still good friends with now), were all coming out of similar seasons.   We joined together as kindred spirits, all seeking to know this king who had redeemed us.   Desperate for His presence, and  thankful for what He brought us out of.   It was a time of spiritual growth like I have never experienced before.   Still to this day, I look back at that time with such joy and gratitude.  
    A few days ago I was thinking about that season.  About how much I missed those Bible studies, sitting in a living room with a few dozen friends, praying and worshipping, discussing books or passages of scripture.    Encouraging one another and experiencing what I can only describe as an Acts like fellowship.
Since that time we have scattered.   Most of us married, many with kids.   A few of us moved on to work in different ministries, some left to go to another church, some have moved away, a few of us stayed behind where it all began.    But regardless it was a season that has shaped me even to this day.    And at times I think "If I could only go back" or "I wish things were like they were then"
But the Lord reminded me recently,  that while the memories are precious and the season fruitful, it was just that....a season.    And to dwell in the past, no matter how amazing it was, will not help but rather harm me in the present.   Not because we should forget, or because we should not be reminded of His faithfulness to us.   But because if we are looking back at the past, we aren't looking forward toward Him.   That season served its purpose....a great one, and I don't think I would have been adequately prepared for all He has called me to over the last decade had it not been for that sweet time in my life.   I am thankful, but we are called to press on toward the goal to win the prize, not get stuck on mile marker 23.   And maybe that verse is in scripture, partly to act as a reminder for us to keep moving forward regardless of what season we just came out of, or are moving into.    Not to get stuck in a moment in time, good or bad, that has shaped us for better or worse.  But rather to press on, take that next step, move forward trusting...knowing that the Lord will use every moment for His glory.   That He will redeem every tear, and polish every scratch, He will mend the broken heart, or use the victory for the good of the kingdom....but we have to be willing to take the next step.  We have to be willing to move on and let the Lord do the rest.

A Thousand Times a Day

Happy new year!   It's hard to believe it's already 2018.   Seems like yesterday I had finally gotten use to signing checks with 17 on them, and now it's a whole new year.    This period of time when we reflect on a year over, with a new one lying ahead, is always for me, a time of remembering with sentimentality mixed with sadness, on what has been that will never be again.   Paired along side excitement and anticipation toward the newness, the possibilities and the potential, that a new year brings.   I was thinking a few days ago about all that happened this past year.   So much change, challenge, and growth.    So much business.   So very busy.   And while it was good things mostly, I realized that to some extent it has become a my normal to be busy.  Culturally we have conditioned ourselves that change is good, being busy means you are achieving something, and the quicker we can get things done the better.   Our food has gotten faster, our jobs suck up more hours, our errands can be done online, so that we don't even have to stop what we are doing to go to the store.   This started me thinking about my parents.     They are an older generation.   A generation that grew up without the choices and options we have today.   And my parents, who are by no means behind the times, bare the evidence of this in their lives.   They have lived in the same house for almost 30 years, and they have stayed with the same insurance company throughout this entire span of time.  They have the same phone service (AT&T) they have had since the day my dad brought home his first brick cell phone.  They even have some of the same furniture they had when we moved into the house....and I love it.   Every time I think about it, it fills me with a sense of peace and stability.  now don't get me wrong, there can be benefit to shopping around for a cheaper rate on your home owners insurance, or switching cell phone carriers to the unlimited plan.   But the thing I can't help but think is....it's a mindset.   They aren't trying to constantly change or upgrade everything, comparing themselves with their neighbor's plan or feeling unsatisfied because they have an older car or a less "trendy" landscaping.   they are just happy with what they have.    This mentality is missing I think, from a lot of the current cultural trends and attitudes.    And I think it can affect us spiritually if we aren't careful.   We want a fast food faith.     Memes and one liners fill our social media feeds.  We have church on line or on tv.    And even when we go to a service, we want it to fit within a time frame we have decided is appropriate for a Sunday service.  If it goes to long, or doesn't follow a certain format we expect, we begin to grow impatient.   We want that part of our lives to fit neatly into the portion of time we designate for it.    But here is the thing,  a fast food faith will produce low quality fruit.   We have to make the choice ourselves to take the time with the Lord.   Prioritize Him.   To ask Him what we can do for Him, instead of asking Him to fit into our lives.    Even good things, can be bad things, if they pull us away from His presence.   I am the worst of them all when it comes to this.     I struggle with the idea that it is not only ok, but for our good to stop.   To rest.   To wait on the Lord.  

Brother Lawerence said it best in his book The Practice of the Presence of God

"Whatever we do, even if we are reading the Word or praying, we should stop for a few minutes-as often as possible-to praise God from the depths of our hearts, to enjoy Him there in secret. Since we believe that God is always with us, no matter what we may be doing, why shouldn't we stop for a while to adore Him, to praise Him, to petition Him, to offer Him our hearts, and to thank Him?
What could please God more than for us to leave the cares of the world temporarily in order to worship Him in our spirits? These momentary retreats serve to free us from our selfishness, which can only exist in the world.  In short, we cannot show our loyalty to God more than by renouncing our worldly selves as much as a thousand times a day to enjoy even a single moment with Him.   This doesn't mean we must ignore the duties of the world forever; that would be impossible.  Let prudence be our guide.  However, I do believe that it is a common mistake of Spirit-filled people not to leave the cares of the world periodically to praise God in their spirits and to rest in the peace of His divine presence for a few moments."

I pray that 2018 would be a year of resting in His presence.   Not rushed or hurried.     That our business would be an inconvenience to spending time in His presence, rather than the other way around, and that we would choose to stop a thousand times a day if necessary to be with Him, thank Him, praise Him, and worship Him.  
  

The Humble King

So I'm walking through the store, aisle after aisle, familiar and mundane.   Picking up items for the order I was working, confident I would finish in time and be on my way.  In case I forgot to mention I work for Shipt.   It's a grocery delivery service I have worked for for a little over two years.   So this is no new occurrence for me....in fact I have been in this store so many times I know most of the employees by name and even know the products so well, people ask me where to find things instead of the employees....anyway, I digress...So I am walking through the store and get to the frozen section.    As I get closer to the part of the aisle containing the frozen broccoli I needed for my order, I notice that one of the managers, Tony, is talking to a young man sitting in one of those motorized carts.   I could tell that the conversation was a little tense and as I got closer I realized why.  It was clear that he was neither injured, nor planning to use the cart for its intended purpose.  It was also clear that Tony, despite his role as an authority, and his job keeping the store a safe and pleasant environment, was being blatently disrespected, regardless of his attempts at a calm, rational, resolution.   But rather then asserting the authority he rightfully possessed, or getting angry a the disrespect, he remained calm and stable through the entire confrontation.   I told him later on that it was all I could do not to give the kid a piece of my mind, but that I was very impressed at how he managed to divert the situation without becoming angry, or escalating the situation any further. His steady humility against someone who really had no right or ground to behave the way he did, really shone a light on his character.

With Christmas coming, I have been thinking a lot lately about what it meant for Jesus to come down to earth, not just as a man but as a baby.  

Think about this for a minute.    He came as a baby.  A newborn from the womb.    Crying, sleeping, unable to control how he was treated.  Unable to do anything for Himself.  Needing to be fed, cleaned, changed...Unable to protect Himself or anyone else.    And then think about this for a minute.   And He didn't just come to exist in that moment.   He existed before, in heaven with His Father.   Honored, worshiped, loved, with no pain, suffering, or trials.   While I understand as a human some of the beauty in our world, and the wonder of life, I also understand, even in my own life, the pain, hurt, disappointment, trials, we face every day.   And let's call it what it is....His life was not easy.   Even from the beginning He was born in a manger.   Dirty and smelly, unclean, no medical attention or even a proper bed.
 Even on our best days it pails in comparison to the glory He deserved and even on our worst it falls so short of the suffering He endured.   It's hard to fathom.   And while we know He was God and Man, this does not in any way negate or minimize the incredible, unbelievable, extraordinary love and humility that was shown in this act.    As though dying wasn't enough, He gave up literally everything, to come and be helpless.   To come and suffer.   To come as an infant where He may not have even been cognitively aware of who He was for a period of time.   This.     This is why we celebrate Christmas.    Why we celebrate His birth.

Tony showed such humility that day in the store.  He chose to lay down his pride for a total stranger who did not deserve this grace.     And it was a tangible reminder to me of what Christ did for us, on such a huge scale.  He chose humility to the point of complete and total surrender, all so that we could have a way to the Father.    
 I can't help but feel an incredibly deep sense of gratitude toward my king for what He did for us.

Why Do We Worship?

Recently I was asked to speak to the middle school class at my church.    In this precious class there is a worship team made up of mostly middle schoolers with a few of us grown ups.     Our goal as adult leaders, is to grow, encourage, and lead these kids in developing their abilities, strengthening their understanding of worship,  growing as leaders within their class, and building a community.   They are the future leaders of the church.  They are the ones who follow behind us and we do not want to miss the opportunity to pour into them now.    Once every few months we get them together after service and do a bit of a pow wow if you will....(busting out the old verbiage on that one lol).  We feed them, encourage them, and then have them take turns playing through a few different worship songs.   I was asked during this past pow wow (there is is again) to speak to them about what worship means to me.    Now if any of you have been reading my blogs, you probably already have a pretty good idea what I might say.   And at first, my mind went to many of the things I have talked about in past blogs.    But then I stopped and thought, "To really answer this question, I need to answer a question of my own....Why do we worship?"  
So I set out to answer this question for myself.    
I'm sure I have heard sermons on this a time or two in my life, but honestly, I don't know that I have ever asked myself this question with the intention of finding out what the Word says, rather then just inserting my own answers or reflecting on things others have said about the subject.
As I read the Word, and found Biblical reasons for worship (and these are only a fraction of the scriptures I came across on the subject), I realized that these were more then just nice things to share with the middle school kids.   These were scriptures that stood out to me like the roots of a tree.   Our walk, as we grow in the Lord and in the knowledge of His word, grows from this root base, into the trunk, branches and eventually fruit of the tree.   These verses are like the roots of the Worship branches.   I long to hide these in my heart, and meditate on them as a foundation for everything the Lord calls me to.   I hope they encourage you as well.


We worship to glorify His name-We are called to bring Him glory through Worship
1 Chronicles 16:29
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

We worship to obey-We are called as the righteous sons and daughters of the Lord to Praise Him in song
Psalm 33:1
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

We worship to give thanks-We are called to reflect on all He has done and with awe, thank Him as an act or worship
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

We worship to fight Spiritual battles-We are called to wage war in the heavenly realm, trusting the Lord to fight the battle as we worship
2 Kings 17:39
Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."

We worship to lay down our crowns-We are called to humility.  To lower ourselves so that He can be lifted high
Revelation 4:10-11
the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

We worship in Spirit and in Truth-We are called as children of God to worship not in flesh and blood but in Spirit and truth.   It's not about our gifts, but rather how we use them.
John 4:23-24
23“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

We worship with a pure heart-We are not called to walk through motions or duplicate an experience.  We are called to invite His presence, glorify His name, and allow Him to move, regardless of what it looks like, what it sounds like, or what we have seen before.  To lay down our agenda and simply use the tools we have been given to praise Him.
Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Eternal Legacy

We tell our kids that what feels good isn’t always what is good for you.  That in fact sometimes it is those very things that can cause us harm.   We discipline them to show them right from wrong and the reality of consequences because we love them and we want them to grow up to be strong, wise, and good.   We understand that life is not easy and that it takes work to live a healthy productive life.   And yet...when it comes to our faith, so often we choose the easy path.   The one that doesn’t push us to far outside of our comfort zone.   Or make us look bad in front of our friends or our boss.   The one that keeps us in our safe bubble of security in salvation without any cost.    We seek out that sermon that makes us feel good.  Or avoid that church because the pastor is too challenging.   Or maybe stop participating in the Bible study because it’s too hard to get homework done and kids to bed and make time for the word.  So often it’s those subtle moment to moment decisions that slowly eek away at our purpose, our focus.  They pull us down to this world, and keep our focus horizontal, rather than vertical.  It’s not even that those things are bad.   Working, sports, church events...But the question becomes, what is the legacy that we want to leave for our kids?    When we are gone, what do we want them to remember? To emulate? Do we want them to remember that we lived a long healthy life with money, possessions, travels, lots of friends?   That we worked hard, aimed for earthly happiness?   Or do we want them to have the legacy of a family that lived with honor, integrity and truth regardless of the circumstances, or the consequences.  That we gave generously, prayed fiercely, obeyed relentlessly, and followed courageously the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives.      In John chapter 9 there is the story of a blind man who Is healed by Jesus.  The Pharisees were not sure what to think of this man Jesus, and were trying to find out what had happened and if it was indeed a miracle or trickery.   They called for the blind man and inquired about the healing.   He claims in verse 17 that “Jesus is a prophet”.   Still unsatisfied that this event was a miracle they called for his parents.    In verse 19 we see that they ask his parents “Is this the one you say was born blind?  How is it that now he can see?”   We read on in Verses 20-25

 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.  But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know.  Ask him.  He is of age; he will speak for himself” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.   That is why his parents said “He is of age, ask him”.  A second time they summoned the man who had been blind.  “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said.  “We know this man is a sinner.”  He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not I don’t know.  One thing I do know.  I was blind and now I see!”   

As I read this passage I was amazed at a few things.   First of all, this man has just received site after being blind all his life but his parents were so afraid of the Jewish leaders that they threw him completely under the bus the minute they were brought into the picture.  Their fear drives their actions and forces their son to defend himself alone.   And rather than allowing him the joy of being healed, he is forced to be questioned while his parents deny him their support.     He boldly states his thoughts but all that gets him is ridicule and eventually we read in verse 34 that they throw him out of the synagogue.   Now we know that as followers of Christ there will be times of ridicule and persecution...but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened If his parents had had his back.  Or even more, had gone before him and taken the brunt of the questioning and ridicule.     Our kids have and will face challenges and difficulties probably even beyond anything we have ever or will ever face.   The world is growing more and more against the things of the Kingdom of God and increasingly falling into darkness.   If we do not take a stand now to be parents who fight for our kids.  Stand up for them, and choose to leave a legacy of faith, then they will be left to defend themselves.   They will be left to answer for their faith against a world that wants to find any reason to throw a stone.   It is time to get out of our comfort zone and take a stand against the enemy for our children.   Let's create a legacy of more then earthly value.   An eternal legacy.  Something they can stand upon, to build their own foundation.  To go before them and show them the way.