A Chosen People

Have you ever felt totally left out? I think we all experience this at times. I was the kid in school who was always picked last for any team sports, and for a good reason. I couldn't run because of arthritis and was over weight. Not exactly a bonus for any team to be honest. By the time I reached 6th grade I expected it even though it hurt every time.

I'll never forget the beginning of that school year. A number of kids who wanted to be Patrolers signed up, and then we had a meeting to receive our assignments for the year. Patrolers wore bright orange straps over their clothes and were responsible for helping kids cross the road and go safely through the halls before and after school. Not only was it an honor to be considered grown up enough to do that, but you got to come to class late and leave early to get to and from your post.

Later that week we had a meeting after school with our Patrol Leader/Teacher after she decided which post to give to those who would be allowed to participate. One by one she called out our names and that person went to the front of the room to discover their assignment for the year. I sat there in that room with about 30 kids hoping to get a good assignment, but after the first half were called, I just wanted to get anything. As the room slowly dwindled so did my hopes.

Finally, there was only one other girl left besides me. The teacher called us both up at the same time and I braced myself for the, “That's all I have for now, but perhaps if someone drops out later...” speech. As I was staring down at my toes in humiliation, there was a list thrust before my eyes. Taking hold of it I realized it was a check list with most of the other kids names on it and their post location. My teacher then told the two of us that we were to be the Patrol Leaders. Our job was to daily check every post and make sure the person was there and doing their job. If not, we were to report back to her. I had the front of the school and streets and the other girl had the main building. I was floored! I never considered myself to be worthy of this post so it had never enter my mind. I was chosen as Patrol Leader!

I was reading 1 Kings today. 1 Kings 1:10 tells us how when King David was old, his son Adonijah offered a sacrifice to the Lord in order to make himself king. All of his royal brothers were invited along with the men of Judah and the kings servants. Everyone, but “Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.” I have the feeling that Solomon was also left out a lot. Not only was his mother, Bathsheba, a favorite of the kings, but everyone knew of the circumstances of the their getting together. We know for a fact that he was left out in this instance. I wonder how he must have felt. Not being invited, when nearly every other person in the kingdom was.

Solomon was not chosen by the masses. He was, however, chosen by God. He became the richest and wisest king the world had know. When we find ourselves not being chosen for a particular job, event, or gathering, we as Christians must remind ourselves, that our God has chosen us. If we look to Him in everything we do, we will be in the right spot at the right time for the right reason.

Don't fret over what the world or other Christians think of you. Your God thinks highly of you and knows which tasks He desires for you.

Good

The Lord is good.

Sometimes that's all we need to know. It's not that the Lord can be good, or that He is described as good: He is the essence of good. We would know no good if it weren't for Him. I was amazed how long the definition for this tiny, common word was.

Here is a sampling of how Webster's Dictionary defines Good: “having the proper qualities; as one should be... honorable; worthy... enjoyable; happy... dependable; reliable... thorough... adequate; satisfying... morally sound or excellent... virtuous, kind, benevolent... proper... able; skilled... worth, virtue, merit... benefit; advantage... something desirable or desired...”

Take some time to meditate on these attributes of God's “good-ness” today, and find security in who He is.

Psalm 16:2 “I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.'”

Are You A Sponge Or Rock Candy?

As Western Christians we have two options of who we will become.

The first is sponge. We accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and soak up all we can of Him into our lives. The dry skeleton of our former life fills with the Holy Spirit till we can hold no more and drip. We fill every crack and crevice of who we are and what we do.

The other thing we can become is rock candy. We offer nothing of who we once were to sweetness of Christ and let Him shape us from scratch. We are grown into a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”

Are you fitting God into your life, or is your life God?

Just Say It

Why does no one tell you there is a dried booger on your nose?

That question ran through my head the other day as I sat in a group of people and scratched my nose. No only did I discover the inevitable, but I then had to get rid of it, along with several still attached nose hairs, discretely. And men think we can't hide pain...

It started me thinking. Not only was it a great comparison for the sin that sneaks into our lives as Christians, but it was proof that God can use anything to teach me. I began to wonder why no one had told me about it. Love for your neighbor is telling them about the booger on their nose, right? It's also telling them about sin that has stuck as well. I thought of two reasons why we don't mention it.

The first reason is, some don't notice it. They may not have been paying attention to your nose/habits. Unless they take the time to really look you in the face, the time to really get to know you, they just don't see it. I realize we can't get to know everyone that well, but we need to make sure to get to know some that well. And not just the people expected, like family. Are there people you know well enough to notice when some habitual sin has crept up and latched itself on? If not, get to know some people. If you have, make sure you let them know, out of love, when they have a “nose” issue.

Second, some people are afraid to mention it. They think you, or they, will be too embarrassed. One of two things happens then. They either can't look you in the face, or they can't stop looking. That follows the pattern of sin as well. When it enters into a Christian's life, other Christians either back away or can't stop gossiping. The problem is that you look a fool to those around you and don't even realize it! This is where we need to remember that true love is at times, tough love.

So, next time you see me with either attached sin or a nose companion, please... just say it.

A Godly Wife

Last Sunday my pastor gave a sermon on Proverbs 31:10-31. As soon as I saw the passage I cringed. This is the one set of Scriptures that, honestly, makes me feel unworthy every time I read it. It's an example of as close to a perfect wife as you can get. One of the things that has always made it so difficult is the change in culture. I don't have a house full of servants and a vineyard to plant. I've never spun linen and there is no city gate for my husband to sit at. There are also many moments I relish being idle. So how do we as modern women take this passage?

Please read Proverbs 31:10-31 first. Then meditate the 10 points my pastor gleaned from these verses. I pray they are an encouragement to you and not just salt in your wounds. But even if they are... remember – salt heals.

A Godly Wife...
Is hard to find.
Is loved and trusted by her husband.
Is industrious.
Is full of mercy.
Cares for her family's needs.
Is supportive of her husband.
Isn't anxious about the future.
Is full of God's Word.
Is praised by her family.
Invests in the eternal, not the frivolous.