Lori Stanley Roeleveld's Blog, page 58

Jesus and the Beanstalk

Life is full of giants.

Giants cast big shadows, win battles largely with the weapons of volume and fear, and they rule when we forget they can be toppled.

Atheists and skeptics consider the story of Jesus nothing more than a fairy tale. They mock those of us who have sold our sacred cows to purchase a few, boring beans with no apparent power or value.

As in the original fairy tale, they fail to see the potential these beans hold to slay giants.

Jack was feeling the effect of fruitless efforts. He and his mother planted seeds, tended fields, and worked hard but the land produced nothing to sustain them. In desperation, they sold the only thing they believed had value, their treasured cow.

This is proof that desperation can be a gift. It moves us to take actions we might otherwise dismiss and sends us into unexplored territory beyond our own barren fields.

Jack, however, according to all around him, made a poor trade for his sacred cow. Five, worthless beans. To small, to few, and to common to contain the key to sustaining life. Jack was a fool.

The wise men of this age shake their heads and scoff at those of us who, seeing the fruitlessness of our efforts at producing our own crop of righteousness, traded all that we once held dear for what Jesus had to offer. We saw the truth He offered to the world starting with Peter who wrote:

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

There’s power in those words. Divine power granting to us everything that pertains to life and godliness. How? Through knowing Jesus.

So, what are these boring, underestimated beans? Peter describes them in the next verses:

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,

and virtue with knowledge,

 and knowledge with self-control,

and self-control with steadfastness,

and steadfastness with godliness,

 and godliness with brotherly affection,

and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

Eight boring beans. The world looks at these things with scorn. What could possibly result from planting one’s soul with these ancient, shriveled beans? What good is a handful of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, or love? Toss them aside, the world taunts us! Try to retrieve your dried up cow!

But God promises otherwise. God promises that if we plant the fertile soil of our eager souls with these boring beans, we will find the strength and means to defeat giants.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I ask you, what is more frightening than being ineffective and unfruitful? 2 Peter 1:8

The Holy Spirit not only promises reward for cultivating a soul planted with these characteristics, it warns what will happen if we neglect this work of the spirit:

“For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” 2 Peter 1:9 And that is why the world cannot see the value of these beans. The world is blind.

But you can see, loved ones, can you not?

The world is full of giants. When I was young, the giants were named Temptation, Ambition, Lust, Selfishness, or Rebellion. As I’ve felled those giants, others threatened me with names like Bitterness, Unforgiveness, Greed, Sloth, Worry, or Fear. No matter what, we are wise to remember we dwell in a land of merciless giants.

But we come from a long line of giant killers.

So the next time an atheist or a skeptic warns you not to believe in fairy tales, offer to tell him or her the story of Jesus and the Beanstalk. But, I caution you, the story will be more effective and fruitful if you’ve planted that handful of beans in a heart of fertile soil and allowed them to blossom in your soul.

We come from a long line of giant killers. This is your heritage. This is your inheritance. This is the abundant crop of a heart given over to Jesus and planted with the ancient beans of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brother affection, and love.

Are you ready for the adventure? Have you reached the place of desperation Jack reached? Weary of waiting for your own crop of righteousness to appear? Go ahead, trade your sacred cow for a handful of living potential.

Go forth and slay those giants.

*I’ve loved hearing from the small groups using my book in their study time! I’m enjoying visiting all of the groups I can get to see! If you’re planning to use Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus) with your small group, be sure to check out my Hints and Helps for Small Group Leaders free if you click HERE!

Jesus and the Beanstalk http://t.co/I8G55CQn8q Ready to trade in your sacred cow and become a giant killer? #giantkiller #Jesus #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) April 8, 2015

The Trouble with a King No One Can See

You are innocently (or maybe not so innocently) sitting in a Maunday Thursday service just minding God’s business when the worship leader gives the congregation a simple instruction:

“Take this time to examine your hearts before the Lord in preparation for communion.”

It’s an instruction you’ve received innumerable times through years of communion. Now in your fifties, you’re not anticipating any lightning bolts. But, God is full of surprises.

As you sit, wondering how long your leader can tolerate silence, you hear a quiet voice within you ask, “Why do you demand from me another king?”

One. Simple. Question. But it brings your soul to its knees before God in that room, in that church basement that smells like a hundred years of coffee and Play-doh. He’s named it. The sin to which you cling.

It’s not out of context for the evening. Earlier, the preacher had instructed the gathered on the meaning of the Passover Seder. He’d walked you through the deliverance of Israel from Egypt all the way to the Promised Land. He’d touched on Israel’s demand for a king – a king like all the other nations. A king people could see.

With all the years of God’s provision and protection behind them that should have been enough (Dayenu), they should be content with Him as their king. But, no. They demanded a king everyone can see.

God told Samuel to give them that for which they’d asked.

It’s not always a good thing when God does that.

Such short memories, you and the Israelites. How quickly they’d forgotten what happened in the wilderness when they whined and complained about subsisting on manna. They cried out for meat and God sent them meat. He vowed they would eat meat until it came out their ears. He flooded them with quail and they ate but it came with sickness, too, and death. The fallout of ingratitude.

You, too, have been demanding a king like everyone else.

For all your life, God has provided for your needs but it comes like manna – just enough and just when you need. You’ve been looking around at others. These others have storehouses of manna. They have bank accounts, stock portfolios, long-range financial planners, promised dividends, and IRA’s. And you’ve been thinking, why shouldn’t you get you some of that?

Yes, God has provided. (Dayenu) Yes, God has always heard your prayers. (Dayenu) Yes, you have food, shelter, clothing, and this should be enough. (Dayenu)

But, you have envied the deals others have clearly brokered. You have been looking at their visible kings and thinking, man, I have got to get me one of those.

Now, in the quietness of this silence on Maunday Thursday, you realize how close you came to God answering your prayer and you repent of that foolish prayer and thank Him for giving you opportunity to take it back before He gives you a king like everyone else.

The mercy of conviction.

Jesus is your King and truly, you desire no other. Jesus is your security, your money in the bank, your investment portfolio, your retirement plan, your hope chest, your inheritance. He is like no other.

You sympathize with Israel’s envy of visible kings. It must have been hard to hear the taunts from their enemies. “Show us your king! Bring him out! Where is your fierce leader? Oh, right, he’s invisible, isn’t he? No, no, that’s soooo scary! We’re terrified of your invisible king.”

And when you think of the taunts they would have received from the enemy, you recognized the voice of the evil one, the voice you’ve been hearing in your own thoughts, thoughts you then translated into ungrateful, demanding prayers.

And you are undone before the Lord.

Thank God for mercy. Thank God for Jesus’ death on the cross. Thank God for His resurrection. Thank God that He has included you in His family through Jesus Christ, the only High King.

It will be hard but you’re no longer going to ask for a visible king, one like everyone else has. By the power of Jesus Christ, you will be content with manna, content with a king so real this world isn’t ready to lay eyes on Him but one day, you and everyone else will see Him again.

No king but King Jesus. This is your Easter prayer of resurrection.

Is Jesus YOUR King? Are you willing to be content with a king like no other? Share this with others in celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

The Trouble with an Invisible King http://t.co/7as144ALGq #Easter #ResurrectionSunday #ThatsMyKing #Jesus #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) April 4, 2015

As You Wish – What Jesus Would Not Do

Here’s what drives me crazy about what’s happening in Indiana. It’s a smoke screen. It isn’t real.

I know that will come off as disrespectful to people with skin in the Indiana game but seriously, it’s a child playing with a bullhorn convincing people there’s a genuine authority barking orders.

It’s true that the earthly rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech are rapidly eroding in America. It’s true that that’s a dangerous trend for all Americans. It’s also true that discrimination is wrong and too often misguided believers have vilified certain types of sins over others.

But, the grandstanding, the bill passing, the boycotts, and the drama are just that – theater – all of it – with a script created in smoky backrooms where evil functions in the dark, convincing us the solution is cake.

As real as this world is, it’s not as real as the kingdom of God. Here is the greater truth in all this for every Jesus follower: Our rights we gave up to Christ at the cross and our freedom doesn’t come from the Supreme Court but from Christ. Period.

Think about it. Jesus could have taken the Romans. Jesus had a world of backers – scores of angels at His command and Zealots with swords. The rights of His people were severely compromised when He arrived on the planet and fixing that was within His power. But Jesus never let anyone else decide His agenda. As heavy as Rome’s boot was that fell on His people, it was not as real a danger as the one from which He came to save them.

Jesus kept His eye on the Kingdom of God, not the agenda of this world.

Our local radio personality kept asking today (sarcastically), “What would Jesus do in Indiana?” I don’t have to speak for Jesus because He spoke for Himself in Matthew 5:38-41

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

In other words, we should love the world the way Wesley loved Buttercup.

In The Princess Bride, the beautiful Buttercup relishes bossing Wesley, the farm boy. Every time she gives him a command, he responds, “As you wish.” In his heart, whenever he says those words, what he means is “I love you.”

Wesley loved with a persistent, enduring love and, as we all know, love wins out.

Every time the world says, “Take your light somewhere else. We don’t need it here.” What if we answer, “As you wish?”

We still travel in the light. We still live free. Our rights are secure in Christ. The world, however, ends up swallowed by darkness. At some point, some people will seek the light.

Truth cannot be legislated away. God’s love cannot be outlawed. Light cannot be murdered – permanently. It will rise.

I know what Jesus would not do. Jesus would never let the crowds, or Rome, or His enemies, or Satan run His agenda. He took His instructions day-by-day, moment-by-moment, from His Father God. When the world told Him to climb up on the cross and die, He replied, “As you wish.”

And freed us all.

As You Wish – What Jesus Would NOT do http://t.co/WytNU6Mab7 #Indiana #maundythursday #ThePrincessBride #ReligiousFreedomRestorationAct

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) April 2, 2015

Stop Scaring Your Brother!

I’m going to get right down to business with this post because there’s something we MUST stop doing to one another in the church.

We MUST stop using Satan to scare our brothers and sisters. Seriously. Be done with it.

I’ve seen it happen a thousand times. Someone shares a new ministry,  a vision, or a risk they’re taking following prayer and leading from the Lord. There’s ALWAYS a brother or sister listening who will inevitably chime in, “Ooo, watch out now. Satan’s going to come after you!” or “With all the progress in your work for Jesus, you’re definitely a target for Satan.”

People weirdly intend this as a kind of backhanded spiritual compliment but seriously, this kind of conversation has to go. Next time someone says this to you, look them in the eye and say “So what? I packed my life in a coffin the day I signed up with Jesus. Do you think Satan can do anything in my life without permission from Him? Are you saying He would ever leave me to my own, unprotected, defenseless against evil? Are you trying to discourage me from moving forward with boldness to do that which God has called me to do? Hunh? Hunh? Exactly what are you saying?”

Okay. Don’t really do that because it wouldn’t be kind to blast some poor little old church lady for saying something a thousand other people have said but do say it to yourself in your head. And stop throwing out comments like this – as if Satan were some sort of boogie man for believers.

Jesus warns us to count the cost of following Him. This is true. And when we give our lives to Him, we are choosing sides in the battle, so Satan becomes our enemy but he’s never anyone’s friend. Satan has no good side. No one makes deals with him over high-stakes poker and wins. He has no bevy of consorts who party through eternity. Satan is evil, destructive, boring, and ultimately doomed.

But, so what?

This week, of all weeks, we remember that Jesus triumphed over Satan. His death on the cross paid our ransom and His resurrection from the dead proved His power over evil, darkness, and death. Satan is defeated. Small. Diminished. Fading. Yesterday’s news.

Yes, Satan is active on the planet and the source of much suffering. I don’t minimize or romanticize suffering in this life. There’s nothing glorious about it. And when we move forward with Jesus, He may allow us, as He allowed Job, to endure various trials and agonies for the sake of the kingdom.

Still, there are many pursuits for which people suffer – Olympic medals, boot camp in the military, chemotherapy, childbirth – which we consider worth the result. If we suffer in the process of building God’s kingdom, we know the suffering will one day end but His kingdom will continue into eternity. Our contribution to the work will be the stuff of stories told around Heaven’s campfires long after the name of the evil one has been laid to rest.

You’ve likely heard tell that in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s, it was so common for Christian missionaries to Africa to die in the field, some took to packing their possessions in their coffins for the trip. How’s that for sobering prep for God’s call on your life?

They said farewell to loved ones as if it was their final good-bye. They set out for the unknown, in faith that Jesus would equip them for everything they encountered – including persecution by evil. Some never returned. Others suffered terribly. But around Heaven’s campfires will be brother and sisters who heard the news of Jesus because of them.

Is it time to pack your life in a coffin?

Modern believers are so used to safety. We’re so accustomed to good health, strong bodies, long lives, and living without threats that we’ve forgotten that isn’t what this life is about.

Jesus loved being alive. He wasn’t a masochist who sought out suffering for suffering’s sake. He lived to please His Heavenly Father and died so that we could be free from Satan – NOT so we could threaten one another with fear of him!

We are free.

The apostle John saw suffering on a grand scale. He certainly saw the targeting of Satan up close. And yet, John penned these words the believers: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4

The next time someone warns you that Satan may be out to get you, remember those who headed for the Sudan as missionaries. Look that person in the eye and say, “I’ve packed my life in a coffin and thrown in my lot with Jesus. I refuse to fear anything except not moving forward with Him.”

So go forward, take risks in the name of Jesus. If Satan targets you, remember he’s defeated and press on. Jesus and Jesus alone has the last word on your life.

And PLEASE, stop scaring your brother!

I want to take a sentence or two here to thank all of you who are messaging me about what my book has meant to you. I love that you’ve taken time to leave Amazon reviews, spread the word about Running from a Crazy Man, or reach out to me. That’s all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Stop Scaring Your Brother! http://t.co/Yz8bU3Fg5y The think we Christians MUST stop doing! #HolyWeek #Easter #amwriting #amwritingfaith

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 31, 2015

There’s Been a Recall on Your Protective Gear

These are dangerous days for loving people.

There are the greater dangers like terrorism, war, kidnapping, and disaster. There are the lesser but more personal dangers of car crashes, poor choices, disease, and financial ruin. And there are dangers that tear up our emotional landscape like broken hearts, betrayals, and emotional wounds.

It’s why we’re tempted to bubble wrap those we love.

It’s why we’re tempted to devise a form of self-protection, body armor, castle walls, a moat, a fortress, a stronghold.

We don’t like to hurt. Our loved ones break easily. We’re united in our desire to avoid loss and pain. We seek the cure.

The worldly wise barrage us night and day with what passes as good advice on this planet. Insure yourself against all harm. Surround your loved ones and your home with locks and alarms, with bank accounts and IRA’s, with low-risk, high-return relationships, with educations and secure jobs and possessions. Oh, and get that Jesus rider on your life insurance – that’ll cover you for eternity but don’t worry, someone else has paid the premium. Get yours now, lock it in the safe box, and be sure to pull it out on that day you exit this planet.

Fortify your defenses. That’s something we learn as children. Before we even know what life’s about, we pick up survival skills, perfect moves, and adopt stances designed to keep us safe.

Hide the real you. Lie, if necessary. If someone hurts you, hurt back, cut them out, or destroy them. Please others, all the time. Make yourself small. Don’t get noticed. Or puff yourself up. Appear larger than life. Keep ‘em guessing. Make ‘em laugh. Outsmart them all. Work hard. Keep your head down. Never risk loving in the open.

Exhausting, isn’t it? That’s because we weren’t meant to wear this armor. Self-protection is a lie from hell. Like a child in a burning house who refuses to leave the safety of the closet when the firemen come calling to carry her to freedom. She has found her place of safety and so she remains as the flames crawl up the walls and the smoke seeps in under the door.

Self-protection backfires.

King David knew this. Challenging Goliath – the giant making veteran warriors hide in their tents, the giant casting a shadow greater than their living God, the giant making so much noise the Israelites couldn’t hear the truth – in challenging Goliath, David risked his life.

“Take my armor,” said the king. And who wouldn’t? The king’s armor would be the finest, the highest quality, the greatest strength, designed by the best. But, when David put it on, he recognized it for the untested illusion it was.

David had experience risking his life. He’d fought bears and lions in defense of his father’s flocks. His only armor: his faith in God to watch over his life.

So, he returned Saul’s armor to him, rejecting self-protection for the only true safety – the fortress of faith in the One who holds our lives in His hands.

This same God, when David was on the run from Saul, consistently called David out of every human stronghold. God proved Himself to be all the stronghold David required and David testified to this in Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

And what about you?

What armor have you purchased from the world believing it could save you? To what stronghold have you fled believing it could keep you safe from the storm?

God loved David and so he chased him from the palace, from false safety, from self- protection and sent him on a wilderness journey so David could learn the only safe place is God. Has he sent you also to live in the caves?

What of your Goliaths? As they loom over you, do others toss their armor to you, tempting you to self-protect? Can you see the deception of it all?

God wraps Himself in light. This protective force is available for us, too, against the darkness. The armor of God is perfectly designed for battle. It is no lie. It doesn’t weigh a warrior down and it never fails.

These are dangerous times for a people called to love God, love our neighbors, and love our enemies. What leader would issue such commands without providing protective gear? But, when we try to fashion our own padding – from fig leaves or fake selves or false fronts – He’ll have nothing to do with that nonsense – He’ll foil it every time until we learn, until we say, “I can’t operate with this untested illusion you call armor. Thank you, but no. I’ll go with God and the armor He provides.”

They’ll laugh when you do. Or try to scare you. Or reject you. Call you crazy. Or take aim.

You’ll feel unguarded and uncomfortable out in the open. But when the spears and arrows fly, when the sword falls, when the well-aimed words head your way – Jesus will be your stronghold, your shield, your deliverer.

Good news, loved ones, your protective gear’s been recalled. Check in with command. You’re eligible for a free upgrade.

Hi loved ones, this post is about letting go of those things we think will protect us. I challenge you to ask God to show you what false shields you’re holding in front of you. Sometimes it’s our identities, our jobs, status, power on this planet, or our security. Other times, we hold loved ones up in front of us as shields and protect ourselves at their expense. Self-protection is no small lie. It  keeps us from one another, it keeps us from effective warfare, it prevents us from fully inhabiting God’s idea of us. It isn’t easy to relinquish our self-protection nor is it wise to stand unprotected on this planet. Ask God to guide you in this. Reach out to me if you want prayer. I do care. Pray for me as I let go of my false armor and learn to rely only on the armor of God. The day is coming, loved ones, we want to be prepared. Yes?

When self-protection backfires! http://t.co/B3djiSldLN There’s been a recall on your protective gear #armorofGod #dangerousworld #amwriting

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 28, 2015

Worshiping with Dead People

Week after week, they arrive; expecting nothing; so that is exactly what occurs, and they leave, unchanged.

All but one. He holds out hope. Sunday after Sunday after Sunday, he walks through the doors open-hearted, seeking God with his whole soul, striving to see Him, ready for Him to move in their midst, worshiping among the dead.

God points him out to the watching angels. “There, see how he worships with expectation even in the midst of their unbelief?”

“Yes,” says a cruel angel, “but his hopes are dashed week after crushing week. Is that your plan for him, that he should worship you each week to the sound of his breaking heart?”

“My plan for him includes eternal rewards beyond your wildest dreams, cruel one. I see his enduring hope, his commitment to love the way I love, his faith that I see him, and it is all written in the record of his days.”

“Is it right to let him suffer his way?” asked a sweet angel, one who had compassion on humans.

“You think he suffers? He bears sadness, yes. He faces disappointment, yes. But week after week, he sees my face, he hears my voice, I fill Him with my love. This is the love that fuels his hope. The love that bears and believes all things, the love that hopes and endures all things. Suffering is what they face who have abandoned their Sunday morning hope, have vacated their hearts, have no expectation of change.”

The sweet angel leaned over to see better. “He receives the benediction with a heavy heart.”

God says, “Watch.” He whispers into the wind, a wind that flies like an arrow to the mind of him who hopes. “There,” says the Lord, “see his smile as he hears my voice. His heaviness is lifted as He allows me to bear it. My joy is his strength.”

“Pathetic,” said the cruel angel, although he too leaned closer to see. “Why does he remain with them? There are gatherings where he would not be alone.”

God smiled. “I have placed some trees in the forest while others stand alone on city streets or desert paths. They each serve their purpose and dig their roots in deep exactly where I secure them. See how he flourishes!”

“What will happen?” asked the sweet angel. “Will he remain alone?”

“Watch. Watch and keep watching. See, not from their view, but from ours.” And as God spoke, they watched the man in prayer at the back of the sanctuary as the others gathered their belongings and headed out of the service.

“What is that?” asked the sweet angel.

Waves like an eruption of light in the Northern skies went out from him and flowed through the crowd like a blanket of green and gold and blue. As they touched the people, passing over them and through them, the cruel angel recoiled.

“What is it?” asked the sweet angel.

“Nothing,” shouted the cruel one as he departed.

“Lord?” asked the sweet one.

“Those are the prayers of one righteous man as their effect touches and covers the people. The cruel one knows all too well their power,” God replied.

“What is this one’s name, Lord?” asked the sweet angel.

“Persistent Warrior, Enduring Loved One, Friend of God,” replied the Lord.

Always, loved ones, there is the world we can see and the one that is more real. Do you labor alone? Have you interceded for long without result? Are you the single one who holds out hope where others have abandoned theirs?

Ask the Lord for eyes to see and ears to hear and faith to hold out just a little longer.

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:36-39

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.  And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3

Worshiping with Dead People http://t.co/DXFFBGWCsk Are you the only one who sees the truth? Feeling alone? #amwriting #church #Jesus #hope

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 25, 2015

Why Not Here? Why Not Now?

I have never been ready for anything that’s happened in my life.

Not the real stuff. Not the stuff that turned out to be moments when the veil grew thin between this kingdom and the kingdom of God. Moments when I inhaled the pure, intoxicating air of glory

(which smells oddly enough like clean wet sheets hung on the backyard line and blown by a summer breeze.)

Nope. I’ve never been prepared to follow to the places Jesus leads. Not the way you think you should be prepared. Not in that perfectly ordered I can see this coming from a mile away prepared we all hope to have. Even when I think I’m prepared, when the Jesus adventure arrives, I’m likely blown right out of the perfect shoes I chose for the journey.

That’s unsettling, off-putting, frightening, nerve-wracking, and disturbing on the highest level. But, it’s when the good stuff happens. The Bible stuff. The stuff of stories we’ll be telling around eternal fires.

The Jewish people had been waiting for Messiah for so long it’s hard to believe they weren’t prepared for Him when He arrived! For centuries all they’d done was prepare and yet, what did John preach? “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” A better modern translation of that would be, “Brace yourselves, people. He’s here.”

But, some had grown so accustomed to waiting, they missed Him. Think about that. Something inside them had decided the waiting was what life was all about, not Him, and they were left behind.

That will happen to some of us. We aren’t different from them. We aren’t smarter or more spiritual or more special. Humans are humans and ever since Noah, it’s been clear that some of us will always miss the boat.

We’ve been waiting for Jesus to return since He ascended. So, there’s a real danger that we’ll be so accustomed to waiting for the end, to dismissing the false end days prophets, to ignoring the pseudo-signs, that we won’t act when the real deal unfolds before our eyes.

I’m not sure I know the answer to this, the prevention, the guard against but here’s what’s working for me – I believe when I read Biblical commands that Jesus means for me to do these things NOW. When I read that Jesus came preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” I think – “Why not here? Why not now?” and I repent.

Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength – Why not here? Why not now? And I love Him.

Love your neighbor as yourself – Why not here? Why not now? And I love my neighbor.

And when you stand praying, forgive – Why not here? Why not now? And I forgive.

I do this Christian life clumsily, messily, always needing forgiveness and grace, but when Jesus comes, I want to know I left it all on the mat. I don’t want Him to find me still waiting for some sign to begin, to get serious, to finally believe in a way that affects how I live.

My friend Diane wasn’t a perfect Christian. She was loud. Oh. My. Goodness. The woman was loud. She talked too much. She moved too fast for some. But right out of the gate with Jesus, she was a full-throttle follower trying to live every verse she read whether she could do it well or not.

When she and I were broken, seriously wounded from a church split we only barely survived, she decided it was the perfect time to throw a party for her unsaved friends and share the gospel with them all. Yup. Just like that. Diane didn’t want to leave this planet thinking she hadn’t given everyone within earshot a chance at eternal life.

Diane died way too young. She was diagnosed at the start of a winter and we buried her as that summer rolled around but she went out as she lived, telling everyone within earshot about Jesus.

I’m a wallflower compared to Diane. I hate parties. I’m a remedial evangelist. If I waited until I was bold like Diane to follow Jesus into action, I’d still be sitting on the bench. So, I don’t wait. In my own way, in the way Jesus designed me, I’m living this Jesus adventure NOW.

Just as we aren’t any different kind of people than the ones who missed Him the first time, we’re also no different than the ones He called to be apostles. Galilee. Nazareth. Cana. Peter. James. John. They weren’t prepared for what Jesus brought their way but they dropped everything when He called. Their spirits said, “Why not here? Why not now?” and they lived the Jesus adventure.

What about you? What are you waiting for? When are you going to love? To forgive? To speak up? To speak out? To believe? HE WILL COME AGAIN SOON.

Repent, loved ones, for the kingdom of God is at hand. Not just where I sit right now but also where you sit as you read this. Don’t miss Him. Don’t miss the adventure. It’s here. It’s now. Where are you?

 

Do you need prayer to move forward with Jesus? Leave me a note through my Contact Me page. Do you find my blogs worth reading? If yes, would you consider sharing them with others? Use them as the Lord leads. The I’m In page describes my goal for readers with this blog – you share that page, too. Don’t wait to inhabit God’s idea of you, loved ones. Why not here? Why not now?

Why Not Here? Why Not Now? http://t.co/TDDOj565ZH Brace yourselves. The kingdom of God is here NOW. #KingdomofGod #amwriting #Prepareye

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 24, 2015

The Day God Forgot His Call on My Life

The year I turned fifty was the year I knew God would expand His use of my writing for His glory.

The last thing I wanted to be doing was interviewing for a full-time job working with troubled families. All my prayers, training, and passion had been focused toward writing, something I’d planned to do full-time now that my children were grown. But, my husband had suddenly lost his job and been offered a new one sans medical benefits. At the same time, I was offered an interview for one with benefits included.

I sat before the interview panel mentally looking for reasons to decline the work, angry that God appeared to be forgetting or ignoring His call on my life to write for His glory. As the panel compared my education and experience to their needs, it became apparent to everyone that I was well-equipped for the work.

That only served to increase my anger.

Finally, the lead interviewer said, “You seem perfect for the job, so I hesitate to mention this final requirement. It’s what always leads candidates to refuse the position.”

At last, I thought, here’s my exit. “What is it?” I said, leaning forward.

“Well,” he replied with a sigh, “the job requires a lot of writing.”

I wondered if I was the only one in the room who could hear God’s laughter.

As it turns out, the first task I have with troubled families is to write their story so that everyone working with them can see them in context. The story describes their culture, values, and strengths as well as their problems. I can’t tell you how often now I’ve heard a family say that that piece of writing was pivotal in helping them remember who they were as a family or to access the right services or to convince someone to provide them the help they needed.

Just when I thought God had forgotten His call on my life, He showed me how His call went beyond what I had envisioned. I do, indeed, work full-time writing for God’s glory, by day, in this job and by night for my blog and my book.

Turns out, God’s idea of full-time was fuller even than mine !

Has God placed a call on your life? Are you ready for the unexpected adventure that may entail?

Feel forgotten by God? The Day God Forgot His Call on My Life http://t.co/EUTFiflV5w #amwriting #amwritingfaith #bebrave #bebravemakeart

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 21, 2015

My Kids Are Messed Up and I Did It

My kids are messed up.

My kids are messed up and what really galls me is that it’s my fault.

My brother and I are messed up but there’s good reason for that. My parents made mistakes. They messed us up but that’s okay because I learned from them what not to do.

I looked forward to having children of my own because it was clear to me from an early age what comprised good parenting. My parents got a little off track but that wouldn’t happen to me. Of this, I was certain.

Plus, faith would be the centerpiece of our home. Faith in Jesus Christ. So, this would be great! I mean, I’m not arrogant enough to think I would be a perfect parent or that following Jesus would guarantee me perfect children but we’d hit darn close to the mark, I was pretty sure. Whatever I couldn’t do, Jesus would. It was a perfect plan.

So, when I realized my kids are messed up, it was most disconcerting. How did this happen? What could I have done differently?

I was distraught until my eyes landed on the culprit. The fault in my plan. The foil. Right. Their father.

Clearly, he was not as skilled at parenting as I am and somehow, his mistakes were able to override my amazingness. Well, that was a troubling deal! I’d already tried to fix the things that are wrong with him but hadn’t found a reliable method for every failing. This was getting most frustrating!

The faulted partner theory was a comforting conundrum for a time. It fueled many hours of prayer and whining. Still, as much as I clung to the faulted partner theory of why my children are messed up, it didn’t explain why they were messed up in ways similar to the ways I’m messed up.

That was tricky to figure.

Jesus was involved. I knew how to parent. My husband had me watching him every second. Ah. Maybe it was a generational thing. That’s it! My parents’ sin was visited on the next generation. I could blame them twice! Them AND their parents.

Okay, okay, I could work with that. MY children aren’t perfect but we’ve made great strides toward the perfection of my great-grandchildren, and I was still in the clear.

Until the day I looked into the mirror – two of them – my children. Sigh. There’s no denying they’re messed up like me, by me, in some ways less so but in other ways, surpassing me.

HOW did this occur? How did tares get sown in my wheat field? I built my home on Jesus. I prayed. I read James Dobson. I mean, seriously, I homeschooled! How are my children still messed up?

In fairness to my messed up kids, they’re no more messed up than any other sinner on the planet. In reality, my children are amazing, giving, hard working, Jesus following, grace-covered adults with issues – just like the rest of us. The problem in this entire scenario was not them. It was my delusion and my refusal to believe the Bible.

The Bible says there is no one righteous. No one. That we all fall short of the glory of God. Even those of us with perfect parenting. Even those of us with deluded parents who think they’ll be able to be more perfect than any who’ve gone before. No one is not a sinner – even the children raised in our Jesus-loving homes.

We can’t parent people into righteousness. Each one of us needs Jesus.

This is what I forgot to believe when I was raising my kids. I said it. I nearly believed it. But I didn’t really. If I’d believed it, I wouldn’t have been so surprised that my kids are messed up – or that I did it.

Not all of it. They’re sinners in their own right. Still, I made a sizeable donation to their messed up-ness fund. (But, I don’t have to convince you, by now, right?)

We all need a moment under the broom tree, like Elijah, when he realized this truth: “And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’ And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” I Kings 19:4b-5

Elijah has this massive realization – that he’s no better than his fathers and it nearly kills him. God’s response? “Big news flash, Elijah. Take a nap. Have some chicken soup. You’re the only one in shock here.”

It’s in that moment – where we offer grace to those who messed us up and extend grace to our messed up offspring and we reach for grace ourselves – in that moment Jesus says, “Finally! Welcome back. I thought you almost forgot about needing me.”

We start out realizing our need for Jesus but in our enthusiasm to show Him our love and gratitude, some of us treat Him like a booster rocket, that launch power we need to escape sin’s gravity but once we hit orbit, we eject Him and think we can circle the planet on our own.

That’s why children are a blessing. They’re daily reminders that we all need Jesus. Every minute of every day of every hour we walk the earth. And that’s beautiful because we need that reminder.

So, if you’ve been raised by messed up parents – forgive them. If you’ve raised messed up kids – forgive yourself and thank them. Thank them for reminding you daily that we all need Jesus.

I’ve done my best parenting on my knees. How about you?

**To my kids: don’t read this post. You’re perfect and beautiful and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Haven’t met my messed up family and my messed up heart? Stop by My Heart page and check us out.

My kids are messed up and I did it – http://t.co/tXVLNFGQz7 #perfectparentingmyth #amwriting #Christianparenting #raisingbelievers

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 20, 2015

Celebrate Like a Saint

I am a remedial evangelist. Ask any of my victims (I mean, non-Christian friends.)

God’s given me other gifts to use to build up the body of Christ so I don’t worry about it (much). Even so, I believe I’m still called to speak up for Him when I can – even if I do it in clumsy and Youtube-worthy ways.

Some time back, I met a coworker for coffee once a week over several months before I realized she was Jewish. Oh, yeah, like THAT remedial.

When it finally became so obvious even I realized her heritage, I apologized. “I’m sorry to be so obtuse but, seriously, you’ve listened patiently to all my Jesus stories for months. Why didn’t you ever stop me?”

She shrugged. “You’re kind of a curiosity. Every other Christian I know is sweet and nice but you’re, well, not. I was fascinated at how Jesus looked on you.”

Hi, my name is Lori. I am an evangelical lab rat.

Another time, I casually mentioned to another coworker that I’m a follower of Jesus.

He nodded. “Ahh, that explains a lot.”

“Really?” I said, hoping I was about to hear how often he’d wondered why I was so special.

“Yeah, I’ve always wondered what kind of weird you are and that totally fits.”

Great. So, he does think I’m special – like special.

No one would ever refer to me as a saint. But, they would be wrong because a saint is what I am. That’s right. I’m a saint. Go ahead, laugh, but it’s true because the Bible says it’s true, so there.

Not a saint like people will petition the government to recognize Saint Lori day. (That would likely involve everyone tipping back large hot black coffees while moving as little as possible and watching marathon reruns of NCIS.)

No, I’m a saint because Jesus has called me to be a saint. Once I was a citizen of Sinville, a kingdom with high walls, barred windows, and locked gates. Coming from Sinville, I was a Sinner with permanent residence status, unable to visit outside the boundaries of the city.

Jesus called me out. Freed me. Handed me the key to His city, the Kingdom of God, inhabited by permanent residents known as Saints. I sometimes forget where I live and wander back to my old neighborhood in Sinville but that doesn’t negate my permanent address in the Kingdom of God or my saint status.

Saint Patrick didn’t start out as a saint. He started out like me – a slave – trapped in a place he didn’t belong. Longing for escape. Seeking release. Once Jesus freed him, he could even return to the place of his original captivity and retain his free state. That’s what happens when Jesus calls you to sainthood.

If you follow Jesus, you, too, are a saint. How do I know? The Bible says so. “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:7

That’s right. You’re a saint. We could be celebrating you!

Sainthood has nothing to do with our actions and everything to do with our relationship to Jesus. Sort of like Princess Diana – remember her? She wasn’t born royalty but the moment she married Charles, royalty she was. At first, she stunk at it. There’s photographic evidence to back that up! But gradually, as she owned her royalty, she became royalty in a way she didn’t lose even after she lost it.

The sooner we inhabit our sainthood – the sooner we’ll be able to live like Christ – and Patrick – sacrificially loving others, able to re turn to the place our original captivity and model freedom. The sooner we’ll have the power to chase the snake out of our land.

There are many ways to honor St. Patrick’s Day, but I’ll tell you how saints celebrate. We celebrate by inhabiting our own sainthood. That’s right. I’m calling you out. I’m calling all of you who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Today, walk in grace and peace. Live as free souls even if you are surrounded by those who would keep you captive. Drive the snake out of your land – you have the power through Jesus who crushed his head under His heel. Inhabit your citizenship in the Kingdom of God, your status as saints. THAT’S how you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

I don’t usually link to other articles but I was moved by this article from World Magazine titled, Poor Whites Need Jesus and Justice, Too to look anew at the world around me, the people in my vicinity, and consider the harvest at my own back door. I encourage you to do the same.

Celebrate Like a Saint http://t.co/s4HELgvT7R #amwriting #StPatricksDay #StPaddysDay #youcouldbeasaint

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) March 17, 2015