taerT ro kcirT

   What a great night for taerT ro kcirT. Never heard of it? Well, we were just having too much fun away from the house on the night when all of the cute little beggars come out for candy. So, when we returned, there was no candy to give. The general discussion as the house was being approached was, “make a dash for the door”, “get everything you need now,” “don’t make eye contact and Hurry!” It was a mad dash with giggles all the way. There were a few persistent door ringers and knockers even though the lights were turned out. So, the concept was born, a backwards trick or treat – rather a taerT ro kcirT! The trick-or-treater approaches the door. But, when they are about to knock, we knock from inside and start yelling trick or treat. Then, we open the door and they give us candy. Sounds like a great plan to me! Candy, candy coming to me, I don’t even have to put on my shoes to go out! Okay, so obviously the kids aren’t going to go for it. But, you can’t blame a girl for trying.
   I started wondering what else we do that for in life, where do we have it backwards. What else do we approach, only to have someone inside the door take instead of give? Perhaps you have been in a taerT ro kcirT relationship with someone, be it a professional or friend or family relationship. It is essential to have not only good boundaries, but to also be ready to give instead of take. You see, we can be on both sides of the door any given day. We can be the one who is intending to receive the gift, and end up being the giver instead. Boundaries are essential to know your role, otherwise we can become confused and just start approaching random houses with our candy – having it taken away from us, rather than being shared with. No matter where relationships occur, they are quite difficult. They are messy, confusing, and at times just frustrating. They can also be rewarding, gratifying, and encouraging. But, think of successful relationships that you have witnessed. The roles are understood, and both give and both receive.
   I don’t think we will be seeing a taerT ro kcirT trend starting anytime soon, at least with candy. But, I hope that we do become more aware of how we may indeed be stealing someone else’s candy from the wrong side of the door.

Escape Hatch

   Stop the world – I want off! Okay, so maybe I don’t really want the world to stop spinning on its axis, but it is a call for a break. And a break is most definitely a needed thing. The news that is displayed is saddening at best, disturbing at worst. So, what do we do when we are wanting an escape hatch? Well, it’s not rocket science. Thank heavens!

   Instead, it’s a gift. “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Did anyone else catch the escape in there? Here is our escape hatch! We, who have God within us as one of his followers, may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world. Forget the stopping part, I already have my escape hatch!
   2 Peter 1: 4-5

On the Other Side of the Table

   I had an opportunity to help pass out food to around two hundred families last weekend. With around 10,000 pounds of food shared, approximately 800 people were helped. It was a beautiful experience. The mobile food pantry works by a truck loaded with food coming. The food contained inside on palates is a combination of canned goods, fresh produce, and items which are considered extras by many grocery budgets - like large bags of walnuts and juices. There were large ripe tomatoes that were bagged up for easy delivery. A family even had picked a truckload full of sweet corn the night before and it was also bagged and added to the stock of food.

   People started lining up about two hours before the registration could even begin. Workers came approximately an hour early to help unload the truck and set up the tables. Registration began and people passed through. Soon, grocery carts were filled with food and people were loading their vehicles full of produce.
   One of the discussions I heard going on was being on the other side of the table. It is a joy being on the giving side. It is a beautiful thing to hand out milk, tomatoes, corn, cereal, soup, and a variety of other foods. It is not always so easy to be on the receiving side of the table. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t gratitude there, but there may also be wounded pride, embarrassment, and feelings of failure. It is not always easy to be on the receiving side of gifts. Especially gifts you cannot pay back.

   And yet, isn’t that what grace is?

Just on Time

Different plants bloom at different times. I don’t if you ever noticed, but it is spring – so take a look around. There are some trees which have budded, bloomed, leafed out and look ready to go for another year. Others are somewhere mid-process, while still more are just beginning to bud. What would happen if we set up a timetable of when this should occur? All trees that are going to be productive are going to bud and be fully leafed out by April 24. If they are not, then they are just weaker or dying and we are cutting them all down.
That sounds rather foolish doesn’t it? We don’t do that with trees, flowers, but do with people. So, let’s change the metaphor just a bit. If someone is to bloom, I’m not talking about an age range or biological factors. Instead this is blooming by perceiving and then reaching towards meeting your potential and purposes. Society often has this preconceived timetable of when this should be, the mysterious and shrouded “they” are in charge of this time table. We know that when someone tries to bunk the myth and ask why, “because they say so....”. Who says you have to college at a certain age, who says you are going to learn a new skill, you have to learn it by a pre-appointed time. Does that mean if I don’t meet your timetable that my head will explode or the time continuum as we know it will shatter?
Sometimes, we need to just provide a little encouragement. Provide a bit of fertilizer and nourishment, a word or two of pep talk, and then sit back. After some time and lots of sunshine, you may find that this person is not only blooming, but is one of the best fruit producers of the whole lot.
In the church, do we put age limits on ourselves or others? I’m too young to do that. I’m too old to do that. I had my time, now I get to sit back on my laurels and just watch. No offense, but who really wants to sit on a laurel – ouch! Nonsense! There may be years and years of nourishment that has gone into this person that suddenly springs forward in a burst of blooms and ability that is absolutely breathtaking. Where would we be if we just cut them down? It is important to remember that our timeline is not God’s timeline. He will insist we bloom just on time.

Splinter

About a week ago, I felt the need to pray once again, Lord change me. It’s a prayer that focuses like a laser beam on my own heart and life. Finishing up reading in Isaiah, finishing up a book about God answering prayer, I was hearing repent and restoration over and over. What was it in me, in my life that I needed to address?

Ever seen a child with a splinter in their finger? They will quite often take off across the room, yard, house, to avoid having the splinter removed. It will hurt to have it removed, the pain from it being infected will be worse. I think that admitting sin and then asking for forgiveness can be kind of like that splinter. At least it was for me this week. Mulling this over, wrestling with it, asking and seeking after God, I asked Him to change me and grow me. What I found was that I needed to first ask for forgiveness of God, where I was holding a splinter of sin and trying to just ignore it. The word malice came up. Malice? That has such a Hollywood dark flavor to it. Malice – as in wickedness and spite? Surely not!  Pride? I thought I had addressed this hurt long before. Still, a splinter remained and I needed to let God remove it. Once that was done, then that left a hole.
What now God? Amazingly enough, the book I had already been reading and the verses I had been leading up to led me to this very time. God’s timing is so perfect. The hole that is left when we ask for the sin to be removed, when we repent , can also be filled by God! He will not leave us with an open wound that just anything can go and get stuck in. I was amazed at the peace and relinquishment I have had.

By preparing me for this week, by insisting that I read these things, I have found that splinter removed. Restoration to God by God, starting with God urging me to get better – what an amazing God we serve!

Acts 3: 19-20 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus."

Accepting the Gift

Has anyone ever given you a great gift?  It doesn’t have to be some thing; it could be a gift of time, care, sacrifice, or an act of service.  The reaction that most of us have is that we have to do something to give back or we just can’t accept that gift.  Sometimes though, we can receive gifts that are so overwhelmingly generous that we just don’t feel comfortable accepting them. 

Thank you – but it’s just too much. 

In your head, you are thinking – there is just no way I could ever repay them.

The story that we are more familiar with starts with Mary and now, Luke introduces us to her.  Many talk about Mary being a young girl, probably in her teenage years.  Mary was pledged to Joseph, a local carpenter.  Pledged, she was engaged or promised to Joseph, to be his wife.  And with that also came an expectation that Mary was a virgin, coming into her marriage with this precious gift of herself saved for her husband. 

Here is Mary, going about her daily life; chores, wedding plans, gathering, cleaning, cooking, visits with friends, and then – she has a surprise visit!  An angel visited her, saying "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you," (Luke 1:28).  Ummmm, what to think now?  What should she say? Do? What does that mean?  The Lord, the most Holy God, sent the teenager Mary an angel messenger with a very specific message.  I can just imagine how Mary’s head was spinning – did it go completely blank or did all sorts of thoughts and questions come rushing in?  Did her knees tremble, her hands shake, or was she calm?  In fact, Luke goes on to tell us that Mary “was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be,” (Luke 1:29). 

Mary is about to receive a gift, a gift that is just too much.  Additionally, Mary is about to make a choice, a lifelong changing choice.  The angel realized that shocked look and quickly spoke up with words of comfort, telling Mary to not be afraid.  Instead, he reassures her by telling her she has “found favor with God.”  Then, the angel goes on to deliver the gift.  Mary – you are going to have a baby!  You are going to have a baby boy named Jesus.  “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end," (Luke 1:32).  I wonder if that angel had to pick Mary up off the floor. 

The gift has been given, Mary you are receiving this incredible honor.  Way bigger than a new car, we are talking about impacting the entire world’s history and future.  It is a pivotal moment in time.  Mary could have balked, refused, stomped and railed at God. 

How could you do this to me?  Do you know what people will say?  And do you mind telling me exactly how I’m going to have a baby?  I’m not married!   What will Joseph say?  What if he doesn’t want me now?  Will people stone me?

You see, Mary had some real concerns.  Becoming pregnant outside of marriage was a stoning offence, a death penalty in gruesome and painful way.  Words could also carry death, words in rumors and gossip, whispers that cut and hurt. 

Picking herself up, Mary asks how this can happen – remember, not married and a virgin. 

The angel gives an answer.  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1: 35-37). 

Again, Mary receives words of encouragement.  The angel gives her an answer which reflects the sovereign power of God, the Creator of the world who spoke everything into existence – now is sharing the very life of His Son, the Son of God with this girl. 

Mary must make a choice, and she makes it so gracefully.  Showing us that the Lord’s choice of who to give this gift too was perfect.  Mary answered that she is the Lord’s servant, the handmaiden.  With this, she accepts the gift. 

The angel leaves.

What a beautiful graceful gift giving.  How often do we turn down gifts God would like to give us?  It’s really hard to be on the receiving end, it’s humbling.  When we do this, are we turning away someone else’s blessing?  How can you help bless someone today?  How can you accept God’s blessing gracefully today?