Michelle Layer Rahal's Blog, page 4

False Identities

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,

not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;

not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3

There aren’t many people capable of running a country all on their own, but French King Louis XIV did it masterfully because his life depended on it.

This future king was only four years old when his father died. Because Louis was too young to rule on his own, his mother, church leaders, and numerous members of the aristocracy vied for the position of regent—a position that would provide power over the country and influence over Louis. As a result, Louis’s young life was marred with manipulation, war, rebellion, and lies. Twice, the prince and his mother fled Paris for protection, and for several years they were held under house arrest. It’s no wonder Louis grew up mistrusting everyone.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Versailles, the hunting lodge Louis turned into a palace when he finally assumed the throne at age 21. While Versailles is indeed extravagantly beautiful on the surface, Louis had it built as a fortress of protection from the inner machinations of the nobility in Paris. Moving the seat of authority to Versailles forced both clergy and parliament to travel more than nine miles to meet with the king, which was no easy feat in the 1600s. An overnight stay ensured that visitors would have ample time to be intimidated by the power Louis wielded at Versailles.

Room after room testifies to the wealth and domination of this young monarch. For example, the paintings on the ceiling in the Hall of Mirrors, which is over 70 meters long, chronicle the political successes King Louis had during the first 18 years of his reign. The War Room, covered with marble panels and decorated with sculptures and bronze weapons, guides visitors’ eyes to the cupola where a painting depicts King Louis as the conqueror of Germany, Spain, and Holland. Then there’s the Royal Chapel, which held mass every morning at 10:00 when King Louis appeared on the balcony. According to travel writer, Rick Steves, “While Louis looked down on the golden altar, the lowly nobles on the ground floor knelt with their backs to the altar and looked up—worshipping Louis worshipping God.” Louis even went as far as to dub himself the Sun King saying the planets revolved around the sun just as France revolved around him.

Though no royal blood courses through my veins (that I’m aware of), I can understand King Louis’s actions. There were people and principalities who wanted him dead. To remain safe, Louis portrayed himself as powerful and divine. It was an image he held to all his life to the detriment of his offspring.

If we’re honest, we’ve all got a little of the Sun King in us. Though we are not in danger of being dethroned, we fear humiliation or embarrassment. So, we embellish our resumes to appear smarter than we are. We hang out with the wrong people to appear more popular than we are. We buy expensive clothes and fancy cars to appear richer than we are. And we tell people we are fine even when we’re miserable in order to appear stronger than we are. The apostle Paul warned, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).

Several years ago, I served on an interview panel to hire a school executive. Our top candidate had all the attributes we were looking for, but during the final interview, he lied about his experience. He claimed credit for something he did not do, and our panel knew it. Consequently, we could not offer him the job. If only he had told the truth.

Catholic priest and theologian Henry Nouwen wrote, “Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity—an illusion! Loudly and clearly, he says: 'You are not what the world makes you; but you are children of God.’” All too often, we forget this. Apparently, so did King Louis.

He is remembered as King Louis the Great, but he was a tyrant who invaded other countries, built Versailles on the backs of peasants, persecuted French protestants, and enslaved Africans to work the galleys of his ships. He ruled with an iron fist and left a legacy that was hard for anyone to maintain. His children’s children couldn’t live up to King Louis’s standards. Less than two generations later, the people revolted, and Louis’s great-grandson King Louis XV, and his wife Marie Antoinette, had their heads chopped off.

Using a false identity is never a good idea. As God’s children, we should strive to live up to God’s expectations, not those of the world, our parents, or our church. Remember what Jesus said. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)

I don’t know if King Louis lost his soul in the process of ruling as a dictator, but I do know that we can learn from his example. The only person we need to please in this world is Christ, and we do that being who God created us to be. Nothing more. Nothing else.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Truth Be Told by Matthew West.

Favorite lyric: “I say I’m fine … hey, I’m fine, but I’m not. I’m broken.”

Sleepovers Aren't Just for Kids

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and

take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

John 14:1-2

As a child, I idolized my aunt’s granddaughter. Lisa was everything I was not. Lisa’s parents allowed her bright red hair to hang loosely around her face. My mother always pulled my stringy brown hair back into a tight ponytail. Lisa dressed in flowing outfits and often went barefoot, like her mother. I was required to “dress appropriately” and keep my shoes on. Lisa didn’t have to attend church, pray before meals, or ask permission to reach into the cookie jar. I did.

One day Lisa invited me to spend the night at her house. It was the most exciting proposition I had ever received in my eight years of life. She extended the invitation during a visit at my grandmother’s house (her great-grandmother), which was right next door to my home. It would have been easy for me to run across the field and pack an overnight bag. But mom said no.

Thankfully, Lisa’s mom came to my rescue and said something about us girls seeing so little of each other and that it would be fun for us to have more time together. It was the summer, after all, and since we didn’t have school the next day, Lisa’s mom promised to drive me home after breakfast in the morning. Mom finally gave in, and my adventure began.

The Bible is full of adventure. It tells us that Jesus and his disciples traveled all over Judea. They attended a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-2) and dined at a tax collector’s house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). On the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, they saw Jesus drive demons out of two possessed men and into nearby pigs (Matthew 8:28-34), and on the western shore he healed the sick (Matthew 14:34-36). Jesus and his disciples went as far north as Tyre, where he healed a Canaanite woman’s daughter (Mark 7:24) and as far south as Bethany, where he raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:17-19).

Without public transportation, it’s estimated that Jesus and his disciples traveled over 3,000 miles on foot. And I guarantee they didn’t stay in five-star—or two-star—hotels. This vagabond group likely slept outside, perhaps in makeshift tents that they carried with them. No doubt, they ate together, drank together, and sat around a campfire late at night talking about the day. This is, after all, what is supposed to happen at a sleepover.

Which brings me back to Lisa …

I packed just what was necessary for my one-night stay: toothbrush, pajamas, a change of underwear, and my pillow. Then off we went in Lisa’s station wagon to her rickety house, a whopping 20-minutes away.

I don’t remember what we did that night or whether we ate dinner together or watched TV. But I do remember being tucked into bed by her father and giggling under the covers till Lisa fell asleep. But I did not. Sleep would not come. The bed was strange. The smells were strange. The noises were strange. The light coming through the windows was strange. I missed my parents and my sister’s breathing in the twin bed next to mine. So, I did what any eight-year-old would do in this situation. I started to cry. And once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Somewhere around midnight, Lisa’s dad called my father for help. I tried to explain my fears over the phone, but complete sentences were impossible to deliver through my heavy sobs. I was inconsolable and just wanted to go home. Dad conceded and made the drive to Lisa’s house to pick me up.

My experience with sleepovers had ended disastrously, and any future requests to sleep at a friend’s house would be denied.

I wonder if any of the disciples cried at night when they were far away from loved ones and familiar sounds and scents. Or were they so comfortable in Jesus’ presence that they slept soundly, even on the cold earth? This much I know, they must have felt the safety of God’s presence because no one abandoned the group to return home. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

When I was in my late 40s, I finally had my first real sleepover with a group of women from my church. I packed just what was necessary: toothbrush, pajamas, my pillow, night cream, and a bottle of wine. Then I jumped into my own car and drove myself 10 minutes down the road to my girlfriend’s house. Five other women did the same. That night, we donned our PJs, popped popcorn, watched a chick flick, drank wine, and talked and laughed until we couldn’t keep our eyes open. Before seeking a bed for the night, we prayed together. Sleep came soundly in the shadow of God’s wings.

I am not the best sleeper, but I can attest that when I am surrounded by Christian friends, a sense of peace descends like a warm blanket. I believe our combined faith and our love for God and each other creates a wall of protection that keeps the darkness of night at bay.

As Christians, we are taught to imitate Jesus. Since Jesus and his twelve disciples basically had a sleepover for three years straight, we should all participate in at least one during our adult lives. Don’t you agree? It can take place in a campground, at a cute B&B, or in your own home—wherever you can enjoy fellowship with your Christian friends.

So, pick a date. Call your sisters in Christ. (Or your brothers in Christ if you are male.) Tell them to pack just what is necessary. Then invite Jesus into your gathering and enjoy each other’s company in the shadow of God’s wings. After all, it’s good practice for the biggest sleepover of all time, which is yet to come when we meet in heaven.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Safe in Your Arms by Josh Baldwin (Bethel Music).

Favorite lyric: “The only shelter I need is the shadow of Your wings.”

What Do You Want?

Starting from the beginning,

Peter told them the whole story.

Acts 11:4

A group of actors on a stage somewhere in Italy bickers with their director about the ridiculous costumes they are expected to wear. Rehearsal is already tense when a family of six wanders into the theater. Annoyed by this unusual interruption, the director barks at the father, “Who are you? What do you want?”

The family is lost—not geographically, but spiritually and emotionally. They each have a different interpretation of past events, which has left each member feeling either confused, hurt, guilty, angry, or abandoned. What they want is the truth about their lives and direction for their future. They are six characters in search of an author who can write the end of their story.

When the play, Six Characters in Search of an Author, premiered in Rome in 1921, it incited a riot. Theatergoers did not appreciate the characters’ claim that they were more real than the actors on stage who wanted to play them. The Italian playwright, Luigi Pirandello, had triggered a defensive response in his audience by forcing them to examine their own identities.

Who are you? What do you want?

These can be difficult questions to answer, especially when we don masks to appear like the people we wish we were. We are parents who wish we had perfect children. We are sons and daughters who carry secrets. We are employees who yearn to climb the corporate ladder. We are spouses who long for something more. We play many roles and carry a lot of baggage. As Shakespeare said in his play, As You Like It:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts.

Playing many parts can mess with our understanding of our own identity. What do we want? What is our purpose? Where are we going? Who are we?

Truth be told, we are who God says we are, and we’re going where he says we’re going. He’s written our story in loving detail and knows how every act will play out.

This is just my opinion, but I think an appropriate title for our life’s performance would be: We are the Children of God. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). We do not have to don masks and play many parts. God wants us to be only the men and women he created us to be. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

I’ve worked with youth and young adults for a good part of my life, and I can tell you that most of them struggle with their identity: who they are in relation to their family, their friends, and the world. They want to belong to something great, do something great, or obtain something great, and society tells them these are all noble quests. But God tells us something different.

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). This scripture passage reads like the opening text of a playbill. It clearly defines who we are so there is no misunderstanding about our purpose. Our greatness is tied up in God’s story with a big, red bow.

The next time you feel lost, lonely, or off script, throw away everything that hinders you and run with perseverance the race marked out for you. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). There is only one role for each of us to play and only one script we need to learn.

Pirandello may have won the Nobel Prize for literature, but God created Pirandello. If you are a character in search of an author, turn to the master playwright. He has given you a name and a purpose. He knows your entrances and exits. He’s written His story with you in mind.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is ,God Is In This Story by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy

Lyrics: “God is in this story. God is in the details. Even in the broken parts, He holds my heart, He never fails.”

Prepare Him Room

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and

wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger,

because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

Years ago, when I was young and single (and naive), my sister and I decided to take a last-minute trip to New Orleans. Flights were cheap, so we booked two tickets for the weekend. Our next step was to book a hotel room for one night. In the days before Internet and cell phones, everything was done by phone—and you paid for it. My long-distance bill increased by the minute as one hotel after another informed me that they had no rooms available.

Finally, I called the airline to cancel the tickets.

Mary and Joseph did not have the luxury of canceling their trip to Bethlehem. “In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David” (Luke 2:1-4).

Can you imagine if everyone in the United States was instructed to return to their place of birth to register for a census? Think of the chaos! Airports, hotels, and restaurants would be emptied of staff trying to return to their birth homes and flooded by visitors trying to get to theirs.

It’s no wonder the innkeeper in Bethlehem had no room. But was he really an innkeeper?

Ancient Bethlehem possessed fertile land for harvesting barley and wheat, and the surrounding countryside was ideal for shepherds to graze their sheep and goats. The people who lived there would have had small homes with family stables for their livestock. It’s unlikely that an inn—as we know it—would have existed anywhere in this area. It’s more likely that Joseph took his pregnant wife to his family home, hoping for space in the guest chamber, which was commonly an upper room.

There are two possibilities as to why Mary and Joseph were relegated to the stable. First, Joseph would not have been the only family member returning to Bethlehem for the census. If several others had already crowded into the small living space, the stable may have been the only option left. Second, it would have been inappropriate (scandalous, even) to allow an unmarried man and his pregnant fiancée to sleep together in a guest room.

Whatever the reason, Joseph was not totally turned away. He was given a place out back, away from judgmental eyes, where there was hay to sleep on and where the screams of a woman in labor would be less disturbing. The “innkeeper” made room.

So did my airline. When I called to cancel our plane tickets to New Orleans, the airline offered to find us a hotel room instead. My sister and I were thrilled. We packed our bags and headed to the airport.

We arrived in New Orleans early on a Saturday morning to discover that the room waiting for us was in a seedy, little strip motel near the airport. We thought we could do better. So, with our overnight bags in hand, we headed into the French Quarter. Between shopping and eating, my sister and I inquired about vacant rooms at every hotel we passed, and we stopped at every pay phone along the way to call hotels that were a little farther out. But nothing was available.

As darkness descended, I remember wandering around side streets in search of places that were not listed in the yellow pages. (Boy, am I dating myself!) At one point, my sister pointed to several men and women passed out on a street near an abandoned piano. “That could be us,” she said. She was right. If we didn’t accept the room the airline had booked for us, we might end up sleeping on the street.

A similar fate awaited Joseph and Mary had they not accepted the offer of the stable. Though not ideal, the stable provided the new parents with shelter and an exact location that could easily be found by shepherds in search of the Messiah.

I can’t help but wonder what the “innkeeper” thought when the shepherds showed up praising the child. Did he second-guess his decision to put the couple in the stable? If he had known that Mary was about to give birth to the Messiah, would he have cleared the guest room for her?

Before judging the so-called innkeeper, let’s ask ourselves some similar questions. How often do we turn a blind eye to people in need? How often do we go just one mile when two are required? How often do we give away the damaged goods and keep the best for ourselves? Do we make it a priority to feed the hungry, supply clothes to the naked, look in on the sick, visit someone in prison, extend hospitality, provide shelter, or spend time with the lonely? As Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

I will never again take off for a faraway city without a hotel reservation. However, if someone arrives on my doorstep in need of shelter, I pray I am found to be not only willing, but also eager to give them the guest room and a warm blanket.

Merry Christmas.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Make Room by Casting Crowns with Matt Maher.

Lyrics: “Is there room in your heart for God to write his story?”

Relationship Trumps Performance

Martha had a sister called Mary,

who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted

by all the preparations that had to be made.

Luke 10:39-40

Mushrooms stuffed with cheese and sausage. Dates wrapped in bacon. Sliced cucumbers topped with a smoked trout pate. Rosemary flatbread with blue cheese and grapes, then drizzled with honey. Deviled eggs with cornichons and fennel fronds. The list was extensive and extravagant, but I was up to the task. The centerpiece would be an entire poached salmon served with a fresh dill sauce, red onion, and capers.

The list of attendees we invited to our biannual Christmas open house had grown significantly over the years, thus ensuring that our home would be packed. Luckily, warm temperatures were predicted, which would allow for overflow into our screened-in porch.

With the cold hors d'oeuvres strategically placed around the house, I began working on the hot dishes just as guests began to arrive. The apple cider—accented with cinnamon sticks—provided an enticing aroma as it heated on the stove, drawing visitors to congregate around the kitchen island.

As our home began to fill up, I found it harder and harder to stick to my plan. People were everywhere! Opening the doors of my double oven became an NFL maneuver as I ducked and twirled and forced my way to the goal. Every time I successfully presented another tasty treat, I returned to find my kitchen overrun with guests who blocked my next move.

Had Jesus been one of my guests, I would have turned to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that all these people are making it difficult for me to do my work? Tell them to get out of my way!” I’d like to think that he would have accommodated my request, but based on Luke 10:41-42, I suspect Jesus would have responded like this: “Michelle, Michelle, you are distracted by many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”

When Martha complained to Jesus that her sister Mary wasn’t helping her in the kitchen, Jesus said something similar. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Granted, Jesus was not one of my guests, so I didn’t have the option of sitting at his feet like Mary did. However, there was a better choice, but I didn’t take it. Like Martha, I chose to focus on “doing” rather than “being,” on myself rather than others, on performance rather than relationship.

Jesus’ ministry was all about relationship. Though twelve chosen apostles made up his inner circle, hundreds of others were also touched by his charisma. One might say people followed him around because they wanted to see miracles performed, but I believe it was because he made everyone he encountered feel special. He met with Nicodemus in the dead of night (John 1-15). He fed thousands of people twice (Mark 6:35-44 and 8:1-10). He rescued an adulteress woman from stoning (John 8:3-11), healed a centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), and forgave the sins of multiple individuals, including a sinful woman (Luke 7:44-48). I’d follow him around, too!

Jesus had a way of giving each person he encountered his full attention. He wasn’t concerned about the meal, the atmosphere, what people were wearing, or whether they washed their hands. He was concerned about THEM.

This is not something I was doing well at that Christmas party, nor does our culture value this in practice. We are distracted by activity. We bury our heads in our cell phones, get caught up in our sports teams, and bring our work home with us. Instead of asking our friends how we can pray for them, we gossip about the guy at work. Instead of making eye contact with our spouse, we yell at him from another room. Instead of playing with our children, we sit them in front of the TV. There is a plethora of distractions to choose from, and we take full advantage of them all.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves. None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

So, my plan for Thanksgiving this year is to make my guests feel loved and special beyond the food I serve. I’ll still make a delicious and memorable (borderline extravagant) meal, but everything will be cooked and in the warmer when my guests arrive. With cooking on the back burner, I’ll be able to give each guest my full attention—just like Jesus gives us. “So, whether you eat or drink (or cook!) or whatever you do, to it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:33). And be thankful.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Full Attention by Jeremy Riddle

Lyrics: “Please keep my eyes fixed on You. Please root my heart so deep in You.”

Eyes Focused Ahead

Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

Proverbs 4:25-26

I could have hit her—the woman walking her dog on the side of the road. Without a sidewalk, she was forced to walk on the narrow shoulder, which put her in a dangerous position for inattentive drivers like me. I wasn’t driving fast or recklessly. I just didn’t see her because I was driving while looking in the rearview mirror when I should have been looking through the windshield.

You might ask, “Why were you looking behind rather than forward?” The answer has more to do with escape than arrival. I had just made a right hand turn at the stop sign, and I wanted to see if I had succeeded in losing the car that had been driving close on my tail.

Sometimes we’re so focused on what’s behind that we fail to see what lies ahead.

Consider the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God planned to destroy them because of their sinful nature. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lived there with his family, so Abraham pleaded with God on their behalf. In his mercy, God sent two angels to Sodom to oversee the rescue mission. With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished” (Genesis 19:15).

The angels were able to lead Lot and his family safely out of Sodom. But the story didn’t end there. Once outside the city gate, an angel of the Lord directed them to flee for their lives.“Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere on the plain” (Exodus 19:17). In other words: keep moving forward. Focus on what lies ahead, not what you left behind.

It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But it’s not. An unknown future can be more frightening than an ugly but predictable past. What if the place we’re going to isn’t as good as the place we left?

By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Exodus 19:23-26)

Why?

The clear answer has to do with disobedience. God had directed Lot and his family not to look back. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order. Lot's wife disobeyed.

There have been times in my life when messages from God came through loud and clear. In such cases, it was not my prerogative to question or ignore what I heard. My responsibility was to comply. Jesus himself said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). Based on this line, I think we can safely assume the following transposition is also true: Those who hear the word of God and disobey it will be cursed. Adam and Eve disobeyed and brought sin into the world. Jonah disobeyed and was swallowed by a whale. Saul disobeyed and the Lord rejected him as king. I could go on, but you get the picture.

The not so clear answer has to do with trust. Though Lot’s wife left Sodom with her husband, it’s questionable whether she truly believed that God would punish the city. She had to turn around to see. But “God is not human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind” (Numbers 23:19). Lot’s wife did not fully trust God. She did not believe. “The wise see danger and hide; but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3).

To be honest, I would have been tempted to look back, too–not out of curiosity, but out of faith; not to see whether God would destroy the city (because I believe him at his word), but to bear witness to his power. And if I did look back, I’d like to think that God would accept my act of disobedience as a testament to my devotion, not an act of distrust.

The bottom line is this: God knows our hearts. He sees our intention behind every action. If our hearts are aligned with his, we are safe. But there are consequences in store for those who hear the word of God and choose to turn away or refuse to believe it. “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus performed by Sovereign Grace

Lyrics: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”

A Complacent Christian

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Proverbs 1:32-33

I can whip up a pie crust with rote perfection. First comes the flour, salt, and a tablespoon of sugar if necessary. Then I cut in the butter and lard (yes, lard!). Sprinkle with just enough ice-cold water to bring the dough together so it can be rolled into a circle or two. I don’t need a recipe. I’ve been doing this for years and no longer have to think about the process.

Some activities are meant to be performed by rote. Faith is not one of them.

Yet some people practice their faith by going through the motions without much thought. They attend church most Sundays, listen to the sermon, put something in the offering basket—perhaps they even give a full tithe. But their heart isn’t in it. They are merely doing what Christians are expected to do.

I’ve been there. And to be honest, I wasn’t bothered by it.

My life was good. I had a job I loved and was making decent money. Out of guilt, or maybe out of habit, I went to church every Sunday and said my rote prayers every night. I was a good person. For the most part, I adhered to the 10 commandments. Wasn’t that enough?

The simple answer is, “no.”

From the beginning of time, God has called us to remember him, to worship him, and to follow him. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. (Deuteronomy 8:11) Remembering the Lord properly is not possible, however, if all we’re doing is checking the boxes.

Though I believed in God, I wasn’t living life the way he desired. My attitude toward him was much like that of the Israelites in the 5th century B.C. before Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, destroyed Jerusalem and led the people away in exile. My faith, like theirs, was stagnant. God was undoubtedly pursuing me, but I was paying no attention to him.

“Your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money” (Ezekiel 33:30-31).

In the midst of my “good life” my marriage crumbled, and my bank account was depleted. I was not in a good place. Yet somehow, in my pain and anger, I managed to make a life-altering decision that changed everything: I joined an intensive, yearlong Bible study.

Though I had attended church all my life (and I mean ALL MY LIFE), I had never taken steps to go deeper in my understanding of scripture. The experience was eye-opening! The disjointed readings I had heard at mass every Sunday suddenly came to life as I realized that they all fit together into one big story. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.

I felt like King Josiah who in the eighteenth year of his reign found the lost Book of the Law. When he read it, he was overcome with repentance. Tearing his clothes, he ordered the elders, priests, and prophets of Judah and Jerusalem to assemble for its reading. Together they pledged themselves to the covenant of old. Shrines to foreign gods were destroyed, and their priests were slaughtered. Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25)

How did the previous kings stray so far from the law? And why did the successive kings go back to breaking the covenant? I would venture to say they got complacent, or lazy, and stopped putting in the work.

God wants a relationship with us, and a relationship takes work. It won’t always be easy, but the rewards will be OUTSTANDING! So, I for one press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians3:12). I am a work in progress. It has been many years since I gave my life to Christ, but I am still learning and growing into his image, which is something I will not attain this side of heaven.

I no longer consider myself a “pew-warmer” but a disciple. I’ve gone from reading the Bible to teaching it, from saying rote prayers to talking to God throughout the day, from financially supporting the missionary work of others to going on mission trips myself, from ignoring the homeless to meeting with them weekly. Speaking from experience, I can say with confidence that all it takes to move from complacency to action is one step. God will do the rest.

I leave you with these words from the Book of Hebrews: We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:11-12)

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Called Me Higher by All Sons and Daughters.

Lyrics: “I could just sit, I could just sit and wait for all your goodness. But you have called me higher, you have called me deeper, and I’ll go where you will lead me, Lord.”

P.S. If you are signed up for my online newsletter, I promise to share my pie crust recipe in the next edition!

A Promise is a Promise

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,

just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:4

My church takes baptism seriously.

Standing in front of the congregation, the person about to be baptized is asked, “Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, and do you trust in Him? Do you intend to be his disciple and obey his word, and to show his love to others?” In the case of infant baptism, the parent assumes the promise until the child is old enough to claim their faith as their own. Whether it’s an adult or an infant, someone always answers, “I do.”

Then the pastor will turn to the congregation and ask, “Do you promise to guide and nurture these new believers to know and follow Christ?” If we commit to the promise, we are asked to stand. Hundreds in my church do, but some don’t. And that’s fine. They may be visiting, or they may not feel equipped to “guide and nurture,” or they may be unsure of what the promise really entails. But I know, and I stand.

I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic church. My godparents stood alongside my parents and made a similar promise to guide and nurture me in faith. But they didn’t. They were Catholic on paper, but not Christians at heart. As I matured, there were no words of wisdom. No encouraging birthday cards or thoughtful Christmas gifts. No phone calls or visits. In fact, without possession of my baptismal certificate, I would be unable to tell you the names of my godparents.

Luckily, there were others who filled in and provided wise counsel along the way, who took the command of Christ seriously. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Guiding and nurturing new—and not-so-new—believers to follow Christ is not that hard. The main thing is to show up and show Christ.

In the Bible, Paul poured into Timothy, and Peter poured into John Mark. As I look back over my life, I see all the people who poured into me when they modeled God and pointed to his love through their actions and words: Dave, Anna, Felix, Paul, Mike, Louise, Bonnie, and Jack. They showed up to show me Christ.

So, when my church asks the congregation to guide and nurture these new believers, what I commit to is showing up and showing Christ. This does not mean that I knock on their door unannounced or send them birthday cards. It means that I will model God for them as much as humanly possible, and when I interact with them directly, I will do my best to reflect his love.

Parents have the opportunity to do this every day. But because I’m not a parent, I must create or seek out situations where I can speak about God to the next generation. That’s why I volunteer to work with the students at church, host a college Bible study in my backyard during the summer, financially support kids who go on mission trips, and invite students over to my house for coffee. I also strive to love on my nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews in ways I wish my godparents had loved on me.

On occasion, opportunities to reflect God will present themselves organically. In such instances, it is my duty as a Christian to be prepared. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

I recently attended a town picnic in the park across from my church. As my husband and I approached an open bench to take a seat, a pre-school boy crawled up and settled himself in the middle. Undeterred, I asked if we could join him. He politely moved over as we introduced ourselves. He said his name was Oliver.

Within seconds, his mother was over asking her son not to bother us, but I kindly asked if he could stay and chat. He was so delightful, and I felt privileged to be in his presence.

To make a long story short, we all ended up talking, and I learned that this family had been contemplating attending my church. (No coincidence that we should meet!) I told this mother about our pastors and programs, and I let her know that my husband and I would be leading the worship music that coming Sunday. (Once again, no coincidence, that we would be singing!)

Who should I see as I stepped in front of the mic to sing two days later? You guessed it! I waved, and little Oliver waved back. I remembered him, and he remembered me! After service, I approached Oliver’s mom to say hello. Still several feet away, Oliver ran toward me and threw his arms around my legs. I’d like to think that Oliver’s precious greeting was a sign that he felt safe and welcomed by the love of Christ in me.

We often make promises we can’t keep, or we make promises thinking no one will hold us accountable. But God is watching and listening. So, whether you’re a parent, a godparent, or just someone sitting in the pews—a promise to help raise a child to follow Christ is serious business and should not be taken lightly. Luckily, showing up is quite easy and, oftentimes, incredibly rewarding.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Baptized by Zach Williams.

Lyrics: “All those years I spent running, You've given me back. Now I'm stepping in, oh, I'm stepping in.”

A Glimpse of God in Action

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

“Use me today for your glory, God. Put someone in my path who needs to know of your love.” These are the words I speak most mornings before I get out of bed. Most mornings. Not every morning, and especially not when I am on vacation!

But last week, while I was on vacation in Napa with great girlfriends, I felt the urge to pray that prayer. It was day three of a four-day trip. Oh boy, I thought, what is God going to do through me today? I know there is no stopping God when he has plans. “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).

Let me begin with some background information. My two friends and I planned this winery trip months in advance. Because of Covid, it was not possible to just walk into a winery without a reservation, so we strategically booked tastings at just two wineries a day. But on day three of our four-day trip (the same morning I said my little prayer), Tristen decided we needed to add a third winery to the list. I wasn’t even sure this was possible, but figured we’d give it a try. She picked the winery, and I made the call. Wonder of wonders, there was availability at the end of the day!

To maintain privacy and not elevate one winery over another, I will not share names. Suffice it to say that we began the day with a wonderful tasting at winery #1, followed by a not-so-wonderful tasting at winery #2. Then it was on to winery #3.

Denise was not confident that a third winery was a good idea, so she prayed that God would protect us. Praying for protection is always a good thing, but in this case, it was necessary. From the moment we pulled into the parking lot, we felt a darkness that was not visible to the naked eye. Everything looked beautiful, but it felt dark.

We were greeted by a beautiful young lady with piercing blue eyes who walked us to our table overlooking the vineyard. It was a stunning sight to behold—perhaps the best view of any winery we had visited. We were seated at a lovely table with the most comfortable outdoor seats my tush has ever graced, and we were handed a tasting menu of exquisite wines. Everything appeared perfect.

Jesus warned his disciples to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing when he addressed the church leaders as hypocrites. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27). We three were on high alert.

Our wine pourer arrived with several bottles and introduced himself as Nabeel. “Are you Lebanese?” I asked. “My husband is Lebanese, and he has an Uncle Nabeel.”

“No,” he answered, “I’m not Lebanese or Arab in anyway.” Surely there was a story here itching to be told. But first, there was wine to taste!

We let Nabeel tell us about each wine, the story behind the label, the grapes used, and the aging process. He had a smooth voice, and there was a gentleness about him that didn’t match his tattoos. “What did you do before you worked here?” I asked.

Nabeel shared that he had been a bartender at some rough establishments. Pouring wine allowed him to continue interacting with people while providing a sense of peace. “Are you a Christian?” I asked.

Nabeel hesitated. So, I responded by telling him that we three women all went to the same church and were Christ followers. It was what held us together. He thought that was cool. And he was right! Having Christian friends IS cool! We shared a little about us, and he began to share a little more about himself. Then I asked, “Tell us about your name.”

We were Nabeel’s last customer of the day. He excused himself for a moment, then returned with more wines—better wines—and sat himself down at our table with a glass in hand. As he poured, Nabeel began to share a personal and moving story about his name, his childhood, and his hopes for the future.

Talk about a God-ordained moment! While I would like to share Nabeel’s story with you in detail, it is not my place to do so. It is his story to tell. I can only tell you my story, and how God showed up that day.

When I learned that Nabeel was an avid reader, I said, “I’d like to suggest a book for you to read.” He grabbed a pen, ready to write. “It’s called, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.”

“Who’s the author?” he asked.

I answered, “Nabeel …”

We all took a moment to look at each other. This was no coincidence. “Nabeel Qureshi,” I finished.

“I will definitely read it,” he said. And I believe he will.

Some may call this a coincidence, but I know it was a God thing. I felt called to pray that God would put someone in my path who needed to know of His love. Tristen felt called to add a third winery to our schedule. Denise felt called to pray for protection. The winery was beautiful to behold but felt dark, and we learned later that the owners have a somewhat scandalous background. Our wine server’s name was Nabeel, which sparked a personal conversation. And I—no, God—suggested a book for Nabeel to read by an author with the same name.

We didn’t purchase any wine from that winery, but that wasn’t the purpose of our visit. We were on a mission from God to plant a seed, which we did. Whether that seed takes root and grows is between Nabeel and God.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is God Thing by Anne Wilson.

Lyrics: “Don’t say it ain’t a God thing. Don’t say it ain’t a miracle. It’s so obvious when He does His stuff. It’s not anyone else but Him.”

No Stone Unturned

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

What do we really know about Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect who ruled over Judea and sent Jesus to the cross? Yes, he is mentioned in all four gospels and by the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, but hardcore evidence of his presence on earth—like coins with his image or a papyrus with his seal—don't exist.

If the presence of Pontius Pilate isn’t credible, how could anyone believe the story about Jesus’s death, let alone the resurrection?

I was raised to believe in God. It might be more accurate to say that I was raised to fear God. As a child, I imagined the Great Almighty as the ultimate Big Brother who was always watching to catch me when I screwed up. Saturdays were when I had to admit my sins to the priest in the confessional, say my penance of Hail Marys, and promise to try harder. (Yes, I was raised Catholic.) It was a never-ending cycle that did nothing to strengthen my relationship with my creator, but it certainly kept me on my toes!

Then somewhere in my thirties, I attended my first Christian getaway called a Cursillo weekend. This 72-hour retreat is designed to strengthen a believer’s faith and provide her with practical tools to grow closer to God. Think of it as Boot Camp for Christ.

Cursillo was the event that kick-started my relationship with Jesus. It didn’t solidify it, but it got me thinking. Though I walked away from the weekend with more questions than answers, at least I was curious. And that curiosity was enough to make me seek God in scripture and hope that everything I read was true.

Sometimes doubt can be a good thing. In the Christian faith, doubt can lead to study, and study can lead to hope, and hope can lead to truth. As Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He said this to Thomas after the disciple asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). I find it encouraging that even the disciples had to ask questions. If they were confused, I was in good company.

Shortly after Jesus’s resurrection, he met the remaining eleven disciples in Galilee at an appointed place. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28:17) Some doubted? Eleven men who spent the better part of three years with Jesus, who witnessed the miracles in person, who testified to his crucifixion, who knew he was placed in a tomb for three days, who then saw him alive… some of these men had doubts!

Yet, despite their doubts, rumor has it that all but one of the original disciples (John) was martyred. Peter was crucified upside down. Philip’s ankles were impaled with iron hooks so he, too, could be hung upside down to die. Thomas was pierced by spears, James was beheaded, and Matthias was burned.

No one in their right mind dies for a lie, so somewhere along the way, their faith superseded their doubt. What changed? How did these men go from questioning to evangelizing?

The Book of Acts tells us that the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)

The Holy Spirit is available to all of us—not just to the original disciples. Jesus did not leave us alone to struggle through this world; He left us a counselor, an advocate, an intercessor. But to tap into this power, we must seek Him. We must look for Him in scripture, in our lives, in our world, and in our hearts. Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “You will seek me, and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (29:13). That’s a promise!

In 1961, an Italian archeologist digging in the port city of Caesarea overturned a thirty-one by twenty-three-inch stone that brought clarity to the question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The stone was used to dedicate a pagan temple to the emperor Tiberius around 30 A.D. The governor of this Mediterranean city had his own name inscribed on the stone: Pontius Pilate. There was proof.

God has much he wants to reveal to each of us. We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began (1 Corinthians 2:7). There are truths waiting to be discovered. So, lean into your doubts. Open your hearts. Seek answers. Leave no stone unturned.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is I Have This Hope by Tenth Avenue North.

Lyrics: “As I walk this great unknown, questions come and questions go,” and “I don’t want to live in fear. I want to trust that You are near.”