The Encourager – March 28, 2024 – Maundy Thursday

What is Maundy Thursday? Maundy comes from the Latin for "mandate." On this day, stooping to wash His disciples' dirty feet, Jesus gave us the mandate to "love one another."

How do we love one another? I’m starting to see that love often involves sacrifice and service. My friend Gitta calls it “dying to self.”

I sometimes find that reading a different translation of the Bible makes a passage strike me in a new way. My devotional reading from the Living Bible this morning featured 2 Peter 1:6, 8. “Learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ.” The English Standard Version says the key traits we are to develop are “faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.” One trait leads to the next, with love being preeminent. If we continue to grow in these attributes, we become “effective” and “fruitful” for Christ.

In other words, as we grow in love, we serve Christ, and thus bring Him honor.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus is the supreme example of humbly putting aside His own desires to give greater significance to others. Although He knew that the Cross would mean He must suffer great personal pain, He looked to “the interests of others” to accomplish our salvation. Jesus obeyed God’s mandate to love.

Lord Jesus, of all days, Maundy Thursday is about humbly putting other people before myself. How can I love others better today? I’m sure You will provide opportunities – You always do! By Your grace, please open my heart and mind to see these occasions for what they are: divine calls to love those around me, whether believers or unbelievers, and thereby love You more. May my first ambition not be to bring glory to myself, but to bring glory to God.

God is faithful,

j

The Encourager – February 16, 2024 – When You Go Through Deep Waters

Today is my oldest son’s birthday. I’m reading the same devotional now as I was back then, and it’s good to remember what happened all those years ago. On February 14th, Dave and I took the tour of the hospital’s maternity ward, thinking we still had a month more of reading up on babies, taking Lamaze classes, and preparing the nursery. On Friday the 15th, I had my separation physical and officially got out of the US Navy that morning, then went to a church meeting that evening. At the meeting, my water broke, a full month early. Naturally I was a bit stressed: this was our first child, and I didn’t know what to expect. How would I deal with a premature baby? How would I get the nursery ready in a few hours? I didn’t even have a place for him to sleep!

That day, my devotional book reading started with “The mighty oceans thunder your praise” from Psalm 93:3, and continued with the water theme in several more verses. There’s no doubt that God has ultimate power over all the oceans. In particular, I was struck by the timeliness of Isaiah 43:2 “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” Coincidence? I don’t think so. I think the Lord knew exactly what was going to happen to me that day. He had divine encouragement ready for me from the Scriptures. All I had to do was to read the verses and ask God for the promised help. But it strikes me: I would not have received the excellent encouragement God had prepared for me if I had skipped the reading that day!

Fast forward to today. A dear friend’s husband had passed away at a young age, leaving her with two sons. A while back, the older son appeared to be struggling with his faith, so we prayed and we kept on praying. So hard to raise sons without a father there! Then, a few days ago, she was shocked when the younger son told her that he doesn’t want to hear her talk about the Lord any more. She wept and we prayed. Some time passed. Today her oldest son got accepted into medical school. I rejoice with my friend’s happy news, but I rejoice even more that this son is now concerned that his younger brother go to church and is even taking him there! If God is answering our heartfelt prayers for the older, won’t he also answer our prayers for the younger?

As the song says, “He knows our need. To our weakness, He’s no stranger.” We may not be prepared for what comes our way on any given day. But God is always prepared! Why? Look at the verses that surround the “deep waters” verse. He is the Lord who created us, redeemed us, and called us by name. “Do not fear...I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your Savior.” We are “precious and honored in His sight” and He loves us. Again He repeats, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

I sent my friend the Isaiah 43 passage, because I believe it applies to her and her sons as well. And it applies to many other parents I know whose children are wandering from faith in Jesus Christ. And it’s encouraging in other difficult circumstances, too. Whatever trouble is shocking, saddening, or worrying you right now, if you belong to the Lord, He is with you. Read your Bible daily, keep praying, confide in a trusted friend. When we go through deep waters and great trouble, He will be with us. Thank You, Lord!

God is faithful,
j

The Quilted Heart Encourager – A Poignant Week

This is a poignant week. As I contemplate Christ’s journey to the cross and what it cost Him, I seek to apply that to my own life. My uncle died last Monday, and I want to offer some support to my aunt and cousins, so I fly out Wednesday morning (tomorrow). I have to admit that at first I was reluctant, due to the high cost of last-minute airfare and rental car. Also, I was loathe to renege on volunteer duties already scheduled for this week. Most of all, I didn’t want to miss our church’s beautiful Maundy Thursday service, a rich time of communion, quiet reflection, and songs of praise. Why did they have to schedule my uncle’s memorial during the week before Easter?! What bad timing!

Last year another elderly man we knew passed away on Easter Sunday. What a triumph for a man who had lived his long life faithfully for Christ! What a perfect time to go! Although we miss our friend, we rejoiced that he rose to meet the Lord on the day of resurrection celebration. By contrast, my uncle was not a Christian, so there won’t be any rejoicing. There won’t be a church service. Instead, on Thursday evening, the immediate family will scatter his ashes in a river, and then we will all go out to dinner and share remembrances.

How touching that this memorial will take place on Maundy Thursday, the night when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples before sharing the Passover meal with them, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice that He would undertake. What is the message of Maundy Thursday? There is much to be gained from a study of that time, but what’s salient to me this week is service. Jesus, the King of Creation, took up a cloth to wash sinners’ feet. Shortly thereafter, He would give His body and His blood to save people like me from our sin. The least I can do is go and be present and weep with my aunt.

This man Jesus had so much sorrow for the lost! Do we share the same sorrow? He came not to be served, but to serve. Do we share that same desire to serve? Our church small group has been reading a book by Pastor John Piper, in which he exhorts Christians to have a “passion” for Christ, an earnest zeal for serving Him generously in every area of our lives. Pastor Ryan Laughlin, in his Palm Sunday sermon, spoke of Mary’s great outpouring of perfume onto Jesus’ body, anointing Him for service. The woman who poured this costly nard was “wasteful for Jesus,” giving generously as an act of true worship. Jesus poured out His life for us; do we pour out our lives for Him?

I have a feeling that this Maundy Thursday will be more significant for me because the Lord, in His perfect timing, has given me an opportunity to serve. I am praying that I may be a blessing to those gathered in sorrow. I know I’m already a good hugger, but I’m also asking the Lord to give me gracious speech, one of my greatest weaknesses. May the Holy Spirit show me when to speak and when to be silent. They are lost without Christ! May I share His love generously, bringing glory to Him.

What about you? Is Jesus calling you to serve in some way this week? Serve generously, as unto the Lord.

God is faithful,
j

The Encourager – Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Do you take time to encourage other believers? This is not an optional activity, but an exhortation to all who follow Christ. As Paul writes in Ephesians 5:19-20, we should be “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But what if we don’t feel like singing?

Check out the previous verse: “be filled with the Spirit.” It’s a simple fact that we can’t encourage others until we ourselves have been encouraged by the Holy Spirit. When we are struggling to rejoice – due to external circumstances in this broken world or to our own internal sin – we have ready sources of encouragement in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs! Feeling down? First let the poet/harpist King David inspire your worship with his songs of pleading and praise. Then sing your own songs in prayer to the Lord. You don’t have to be a professional musician or even a good singer to make a joyful noise. If the Lord made you tone-deaf, you are not released from the command to sing. Find a prayer closet or a spot out in nature and go for it!

Last Sunday in church we sang a wonderful song. I woke up with it on my mind and Dave and I have been singing it all week. Thanks to YouTube, we can search for songs with lyrics and play them over and over if we want to. Eventually, we memorize the words and they become part of the free library of encouragement in our minds. As the Spirit brings these songs to mind in difficult times, the memorized words penetrate our hearts, as yeast is worked into dough or fertilizer is worked into garden soil. Our faith grows.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17 That’s right, God rejoices over us with singing. So let’s sing with Him! And from hearts overflowing with thankfulness, we can lift up others and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

God is faithful,
j

PS Here’s the chorus of the song I’ve been listening to and singing all week. May it encourage you as it has encouraged me.

“Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
Highest praises, honor and glory be unto your name, be unto your name.”

- “Be Unto Your Name” Words and music by L. DeShazo and G. Sadler, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. I recommend this version on YouTube by CRC Worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSPwjMv_-5k

The Encourager – August 22, 2022 – A Prayer for Our Children

This past Sunday was Bless Our Schools Sunday, so we prayed for students, teachers, and staff members returning to school. Whether your children are just starting school, finishing a degree, going through a mid-life crisis, or raising children of their own, they could all use prayer. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you can probably think of some child to bring before the Lord. Remember, you may be the only believer in that child’s life, and your positive influence could be significant.

While it’s fine to pray that our children will work hard, do well in school, make good friends, and be successful in sports or music, we mustn’t neglect the Lord’s higher priorities for prayer. This is work with eternal consequences.

Nancy Guthrie, in tracing the theme of Offspring through the Bible, says, “we are in the midst of a spiritual battle….The Enemy wants you to be in league with him, not at enmity with him. He wants to claim you as his own for eternity. And if you have children, he wants them too. So what do we do? We take up spiritual weapons to fight this spirtiual battle.” Here’s how to pray, Guthrie says: “We saturate ourselves, and our homes, in the Word of God. Rather than presume upon God to save our children, we plead with God to save our children. We pray that our children will be at enmity with the Evil One and reconciled to God. We pray that they will not be deceived by the Devil’s lies, nor linger in rebellion against God. We pray that they will recognize the voice of their Savior when he calls to them, that they will be clothed by him in the righteousness of Christ. We pray that they will take hold of the grace that was promised in the midst of the curse. We pray that when Christ sees his offspring, he will see the faces of our children.” What a wonderful prayer, and one that is surely steeped in Scripture.

I’ve used Colossians 1:9-12 as a prayer for my children: Father, fill them with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthen them with all power, according to Your glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience. May they joyously give You thanks, knowing that, through Christ, You have qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Parenting/Mentoring can be really challenging, but the Holy Spirit is there to help. The more problems you see, the more prayer you need. For gender-specific prayer, add Proverbs 31:10-31 for the girls and Psalm 112 for the boys. Or just pray through whatever Scripture you are reading each day. (You are reading every day, right?) You really can’t go wrong with the Word of God. And kids today really need our prayers.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” - Colossians 4:2

God is faithful,
j

I recommend Nancy Guthrie’s encouraging book, “Even Better than Eden,” if you’ve never studied Biblical themes as they are developed in the Old and New Testaments. These quotes are from page 119.

The Quilted Heart Encourager – May 6, 2022 – Mother’s Day Reflections

What a confluence of national news, personal news, and Mother’s Day. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I just learned that a dear friend’s daughter and son-in-law have been able to adopt! God has been faithful and good to answer our prayers for this wonderful Christian couple. Praise God! In national news, a leak from the Supreme Court indicates that the fateful Roe vs. Wade ruling allowing abortion may be overturned by our current more conservative court. My social media is blowing up. Reactions have been strong and varied, with pro-abortion people enraged and pro-life people rejoicing. While it is not my purpose here to get into politics, I can encourage us all to pray.

When you think of Mother’s Day, who comes to mind? Do you think of your own mother or yourself? Whatever your thoughts, whatever your situation, you can choose to trust in the Lord, our Perfect Parent.

You may have been blessed with a good mother or you may have suffered under a bad one. Your mother may still be alive, or you may have lost yours. Or maybe you never knew her at all. One of my life verses is Psalm 27:10: “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.” Those who know my story know that God used my parents’ failures as an instrument of faith in my life. Perhaps, like me, you were given godly mentors who became like mothers to you, showing the way with love.

You may be a mother yourself, with kids who are doing fine and walking with the Lord. If so, rejoice! And please don’t take that for granted. Motherhood is such a high calling. Or you may have the ongoing pain of children who have fallen away or wandered away. If so, you already know that all you can do is pray for them and trust in God’s perfect plan and timing. Or perhaps you have lost a child. You may wonder each day how you can go on with this crushing grief. If so, I hope you are comforted by the fact that Jesus knows your sorrow and weeps with you. And He promises that one day, there will be no more tears.

You may be pregnant by choice or by accident. You’re expecting your first child with joy or with trepidation. You may feel confident in your ability to raise this child, or be convinced that a baby is the last thing you need right now. This is where I must say, God created you and your baby. Psalm 139 says, “For you [God] formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Moreover, all our days are written in His book, which is an amazing thought! When I think of the young couple I mentioned above, I’m reminded that adoption is an excellent alternative to abortion. Support is available if you have the courage to continue your pregnancy. Please consider the joy you can bring to someone who longs for a child but is unable to have one. And, for the rest of us, let’s pray earnestly that expectant mothers in difficult situations will make a wise choice.

Lastly, you may be unable to have children, for a variety of reasons. Maybe you wanted to have children, but never had the opportunity. God loves you as well. Run to Him as your wise Shepherd who will lift and carry you home. My point is that there may be many different reactions to the idea of Mother’s Day, and we should be sensitive to those for whom it’s not a happy holiday.

Heavenly Father, we don’t always know why You allow hard things to happen, but we do always know that You are good and wise. We do know that You are all-powerful and yet You love us far more deeply than even the best earthly mother (or father) could. Help us to trust in You no matter what our circumstances. Thank You for your promise in Isaiah 66:13: "As a mother comforts her child, I shall comfort you." Thank You for being the Perfect Parent. We praise and honor You. We love You.

God is faithful,
j

As always, I welcome your comments below.

The Encourager – April 22, 2022 – Unity in Christ

I had a wonderful Easter! The worship service we attended (in person and masks optional) was so uplifting. It was good to ponder the greatest truth of the Christian faith: He is risen! Our singing was especially joyful. God is so good to have provided Jesus Christ as the way to forgiveness and reconciliation with God. By the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we can experience nourishing tastes of heaven in this earthly life.

After the church service, we were blessed to host 12 people for Easter lunch. It’s my practice to invite our sons and any people I know who may be alone or perhaps going through a rough time. The group is a little different each year, depending on who is in town and needing a place to go, but I believe that no Christian should be alone on the greatest holiday of the year.

After everyone had left, I started thinking about the people who came this time. Four of us attend a Presbyterian church together, and two more attend a sister church. We had one person from an independent Charismatic church, another of the Roman Catholic faith, and two who worship at a Messianic Jewish congregation. One Baptist has not gone to church in a while, and the last friend attends a church in Boston. Altogether we had seven churches represented at one celebratory meal!

I can’t help but think that this little assembly was especially blessed. Many of our guests hadn’t met one another before the meal, yet they all got along, thanks to our unity in Christ. At a similar gathering years ago, our friend Greg Smith said, “We’ll be living with these folks in heaven, so we might as well meet them now.” How profound. When we get to heaven, we will not only have the amazing privilege of seeing Jesus face to face, but many thousands of other believers to get to know and appreciate.

Have you ever considered that there are no denominations in heaven?! The Scripture says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” - Acts 16:31 Also, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9 So the requirement to get into heaven is faith in Jesus, not membership in a particular church or denomination. Now I’m not saying that membership is unimportant. The Bible is full of encouragement to commit to and grow with a local congregation of believers. There’s also a fair amount of exhortation on the importance of correct doctrine. We strive to know and promote the truth of the gospel as best we can. There is a great value in time-tested statements of faith to remind us of who we are under God and what we believe.

However, it seems to me that so many churches feel that they have a corner on the truth. Some Christians give the impression that their own denomination is superior to others in some way. We must all be aware that our understanding of the Bible may be flawed. In fact, since we aren’t the one omniscient God, it certainly IS flawed! I see the Christian community as a multi-faceted jewel. Maybe the Baptists have a better understanding about one aspect of God, but the Methodists have a better grasp of another facet. To each has been given a measure of grace, and we must use it well to benefit all of Christ’s church.

Meanwhile, let us treat one another with respect and love. Don’t let the acrid polarization which now characterizes our national politics to become your default stance toward other Christians. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ. We can all benefit from associating with those whose perspective might be different. For example, my church small group is currently reading a book that appears to have flaws, since it doesn’t seem to follow the Scripture in every point. Yet, exposure to this book is a good test for mature believers. We want to be like the Bereans, testing everything against God’s word. We are gleaning what we can from this book, focusing on whatever is true, honorable, right, and pure, as Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:8. The bottom line is that the author of the book believes in the same Jesus as we do, and I feel pretty sure that we’ll meet him in heaven one day. There, all mistakes of interpretation will be corrected, all errors of implication revealed, all sins forgiven. And it will be done with grace.

Let’s be careful not to think too highly of ourselves, but remember the Lord whom we celebrate at Easter. The Bible says, in our relationships with one another, we should have the same mindset as Christ Jesus did. He did not try to preserve His exalted position at God’s right hand, but humbled Himself, becoming a Servant to die on a cross. He is the model of how we are to treat one another, in church and out. Jesus says, “Love one another.”

Paul writes, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” - Philippians 2:1-2 Indeed, when Jesus prayed for all believers, He asked for unity. In John 17 we learn that Jesus prayed that we would be one, as He and the Father are one. I am confident that when we love other believers well, especially when we disagree, we are also making Jesus’s joy complete.

I thank God for a little taste of heaven on Easter Sunday!

God is faithful,
j

As always, I welcome your comments below.

The Encourager – April 15, 2022 – Maundy Thursday Meditation

It’s 3:27 AM and I can’t fall asleep. A thought occurs: I doubt that Jesus got any sleep on that fateful Maundy Thursday night so long ago.

We went to the Maundy Thursday communion service at church this evening. It’s always a special time to remember the last Passover meal that Jesus shared with His disciples. “Maundy” refers to a command or mandate. The Lord said, “A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you.” He gave the command and then He fleshed it out. By washing His followers’ feet, He showed them what love does: it serves. By eating and drinking with them, He showed them what love does: it shares. By speaking words of comfort, He showed them what love does: it encourages.

The next day, He was crucified. By laying down His life for His friends, He showed them what love does: it sacrifices. The Lord of Glory was cursed, hanging on a tree, suffering unimaginable pain for our sins. God had given His Son to be the Passover lamb. In ancient Egypt, the lamb’s blood marked the homes of the Jews who trusted in God, saving them from the angel of death. By Christ’s blood, all who trust in Him are saved. How can this be? I struggle to comprehend this miracle.

A few days ago, I totally messed up. I was already tired and out of sorts when my dear husband stumbled upon a sensitive issue of mine, and I went into major attack mode. As an ENTJ, this comes naturally, but that’s no excuse for a Christian. While trying to explain my own weakness, I ended up criticizing his area of weakness in the most cruel way. My feeling defensive may have been understandable, but what I did was offensive. I know I hurt the person I love the most in this world.

Of course I apologized, and of course he said, “it’s okay,” but I know it’s not. When we love someone, especially in the close intense relationship of marriage, we put our heart in their hands. What I did was a horrible violation of that trust. I dishonored my husband and Christ. How I wish I could take back those words.

Oh Lord, pass over my sin! Pass over my sin that is worthy of death, and spare me from Your all-consuming righteous wrath!

Have you ever felt like this? All week I’ve been contemplating my failure, yet singing the songs of communion and joy. But this is what Holy Week is all about. My sin is too great to be forgiven by a holy God, yet that is exactly what He did! Apart from Christ I can do nothing. I have absolutely no hope of forgiveness in and of myself. I have no hope of love, no hope of a meaningful, fruitful life in any sense without Christ. Yet in His great mercy, He reached down and touched my heart with rich, abundant, overflowing grace. By His wounds, I am healed. By granting forgiveness, He showed what love does: it forgives. “My glory and the lifter of my head” is worthy of all praise! Thanks be to God! Crown Him with many crowns!

Wishing you a Blessed Easter.
God is faithful,
j

As usual, I welcome your comments below.

The Encourager – April 7, 2022 – A Fatal Genetic Disease and Its Cure

So much has happened in the last few months, I haven’t had time to sit down and write. Let me share one recent event: the death of Calvin, a sweet little baby who was born with a fatal genetic disease. This was a time of joy and heartbreak for those of us close to the family. Calvin’s parents, Stuart and Jen, were models of Christian faith as they cared for their child, knowing that his time on earth would be brief. Although there were many tears, there was also real joy in being given the opportunity to care for this child. Jen wrote beautiful statements of faith on Caring Bridge, bringing in scriptures which encouraged us all. These parents also taught their older children to cherish their little brother as he lay on the living room sofa with tubes attached, unable to lift his head on his own. It was touching to see the siblings greet Calvin and give him a kiss or a hug as they returned from school each day. Never has a child been more well loved than baby Calvin.

As we approach Easter, Calvin is very much on my mind. Why? The Bible says that ALL of us were born with a fatal genetic disease! God created us to be “very good,” but He also gave us free will, the power to choose obedience or disobedience. Adam and Eve, although given a rich life of perfect fellowship with their Creator in a beautiful garden setting, were tempted by the devil. They wanted to be in control of their own destiny, to be like God. They chose to believe the lie of self-sufficiency rather than the truth of God’s perfectly wise loving care for them; so they fell into sin. And because of their fall, we are also born into sin. It’s genetic, still being passed down through every generation to you and me and all who follow.

It’s natural to wonder, if God is all powerful and all good, why did He let this death happen? He could have cured Calvin in a moment! But we fell. We are all sinners in a fallen world, deserving of death. We can’t look into the inscrutable mind of God, but He does show us His heart. God loves us so much that He sent His own precious Son to be the cure for sin, our fatal genetic disease. Jesus, “gentle and lowly of heart,” left His exalted world to enter our debased one, enduring all the suffering and sorrow that we do, but magnified many times over. While He hung there, I’m sure some people taunted, “If you’re really God, come down from the cross” but He chose to stay. Jesus knew that His obedience would bring Him a far greater reward than escaping the suffering ordained by the Father. Jesus became our Servant that He might become an even greater Shepherd.

In the same way, we must choose to obey God through our own pain, always believing that God has a good purpose in mind and a glorious reward for us later. We may not see the purpose of each hardship as it happens, but I think all questions will eventually be answered. Meanwhile, if nothing else, let our joyful obedience to Christ be an encouragement to other believers and a witness to unbelievers as we humbly take up our cross. As I have seen in my own life, every loss is preparation for ministry. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 We do not seek suffering, but when it comes, we let God use it.

Our time on earth is short. Whether we die as infants or live for many years, death catches up with everyone. The greatest athletes can still get cancer or die in a car accident or just get old. EVERY death is a tragedy. We rage against it because we were not made to die! Baby Calvin looked just like his dad, and we bear the image of our heavenly Father. We were made for a rich life of full fellowship with God (and with other people) for eternity! Death is hard, but there is always hope.

Stuart and Jen showed us that every life is precious. Every life has infinite eternal value. The way they loved their son, carefully considering medical advice, praying, then providing the best possible care, gives us a small glimpse of the way God loves us. His love is compassionate, generous, all-encompassing, faithful, and forever. To access this love, we need only admit our need. We come as a little baby lying on the sofa, unable to lift our head, totally dependent upon the Perfect Parent. The tubes feeding us are conduits of the Holy Spirit. The cross of Jesus is the only cure for our fatal genetic disease. To enter His kingdom, come as a child. How blessed Calvin is now, basking in the loving care of God without having to endure any more suffering for all of eternity. “Let the little children come to Me,” Jesus told the disciples. How blessed we will be one day, in the land of No More Tears.

True faith is obedience with joy, out of thankfulness to our Loving Father. This Lenten season provides a golden opportunity to reflect upon the cross of Christ. Are we willing to accept everything from the Father’s hand, as Christ did by faith?

“Oh that rugged cross, my salvation, where Your love poured out over me!
Now my soul cries out, Hallelujah! Praise and honour unto Thee.”

Have a Blessed Easter Season,
j

The lyrics quoted are the chorus of “Man of Sorrows” by Hillsong.

The Encourager – December 2, 2021 – Unto Us a Son is Given

Last night I learned that a sweet younger woman whom I love has heard distressing news about the baby boy she is carrying. I have four good friends who have lost beloved sons well after birth. Several friends have had miscarriages. Others are suffering silently from the ongoing sorrow of infertility. Still more are single women who would love to have children, but have never had the opportunity to try. I know that Mother’s Day is especially hard for all of these ladies, but is Christmas hard for the same reason?

Here they are: reading the Christmas story, hearing sermons, putting up decorations, wrapping gifts, going to parties, and singing carols about a young woman having a precious healthy baby. But their cradles are bare. Oh how my heart goes out to these women!

My sympathy as a sister in Christ can only go so far. Of course I pray for these dear ones, and try to help if I can. But there is only One who understands fully, who sees into the very heart of pain and bathes it in His lovingkindness. He says, “Come unto Me.” But what if your heart’s burden is not children, but some other issue? Is it social, financial, spiritual, physical? Whatever is the one thing you cry out to God about, He hears. And He understands.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:15-16

In this vale of tears, my friend heard bad news about her son. Mary heard good news about the baby boy she was carrying, the Child who would be the hope of salvation for all who believe. As the angel said to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” - Luke 2:10-11 ESV Did you catch that? Unto YOU. For ALL people. This Son is for you.

I don’t know what to say to those whose hearts are breaking, except the words of Jesus Christ, Son of God. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

I can also say with full confidence that God loves you and He does all things well. We may not understand why, but someday we will. I do know that every trial brings us closer to “the quilted heart,” the suffering heart of Jesus, who was pierced for our transgressions. I also know that every trial is preparation for ministry. As you see God meet you in your need, you will be able to comfort others with the comfort you have received from Christ.

As joy comes in the morning, may you be encouraged in this season.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6 KJV

God is faithful,
j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney
I welcome your comments below.

The Encourager – September 23, 2021 – Suffering and Sufficiency

I’m sorry I haven’t written in quite a while. I’ve jotted down many topics I wanted to write about, but I never seem to have the time or the energy. I may look fine on the outside, but inside I struggle with depression, insomnia, and the ongoing effects of trauma and abuse. And, sadly, I’ve never really regained my energy since having cancer four years ago.

I have good friends who must endure chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, lyme disease, and/or various rare conditions. Others struggle with deep depression, PTSD, or other mental illnesses. Many of us have heard comments such as, “You shouldn’t park in the handicapped space,” or “What, you have to cancel again?” or “If you had more faith, you would be healed,” or “You don’t look sick,” or “Why are you still grieving - that happened years ago?” That’s why these are sometimes called “hidden illnesses” or “invisible illnesses.”

Christians, stop assuming that everyone is fine or should be fine! We need to ask one another what’s really going on, and be prepared to listen to the answers. I remember 2005, my year from Hell/year from Heaven when my husband was not getting paid at work, his brother Nathan died in a motorcycle crash, my mother died of cancer, two of my best friends moved very far away, we were dealing with multiple painful family challenges, there were problems at church, and I broke both feet, requiring emergency surgery. Guess what all the well-meaning friends and family asked about: How are your feet? How long before you can walk again? Most people only asked about and prayed about my visible illness: broken bones which required me to be on bedrest. To be sure, I did appreciate the many acts of loving service such as bringing wonderful meals, sending beautiful flowers, cleaning our house, putting up our Christmas tree, etc., but I also wished someone would just sit down with me for a half hour, empathize with my grief, read me an encouraging Scripture, and pray with me.

The apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. Yet he was also given great gifts. I find this to be true of many of my friends who have a hidden illness. We know from Scripture that we live in a fallen world; there will be suffering. Yet His grace is sufficient for all our need. I sometimes wonder if our thorns are there to humble us. Perhaps we would be too proud if God never pushed us to our knees.

“And He [Jesus] has said to me [Paul], ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 1 Corinthians 12:9-10

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” - Psalm 34:19

I recently posted on facebook at around three in the morning that, again, I couldn’t get to sleep. Out flowed streams of well-intentioned advice from far and wide. Everyone had a remedy. But I’ve talked to the doctors, done the research, etc. I have excellent “sleep hygiene” and I’m on a prescription med for sleep. Yet there are nights when I do everything right and it still doesn’t work. There are some things in this world that Can’t. Be. Fixed. And we need to accept that. When lying awake in the middle of the night, I often use the time to pray for others. More importantly, God is humbling me through this regular reminder of my weakness. Not just my strength, but my every breath is dependent on Him, and I need to remember that. Afflictions push us to our knees. And we are to thank God for that!

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

No matter how we are suffering, Christ is our strength and sufficiency. He gives us songs in the night.

God is faithful,
j

As always, I welcome your comments below.

The Weekly Encourager – June 3, 2021 – Here’s What I’ll Do

If you read last week’s Encourager, you know that I’ve been dealing with the issue of forgiveness, specifically as it concerns a friend who ghosted me 10 years ago and now wants to reconnect.

I’m glad to tell of the Lord’s goodness toward me this week. I have seen how faithful our loving Lord is to answer prayer! Although this has been a week of grieving over losses, it’s also been a time of rejoicing. The Lord has brought several scriptures to my attention, and some were about forgiveness.

God is “merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; He is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” - Psalm 103: 8-13 TLB

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you.” - Mark 11:25 TLB

A study of Revelation 18 this week made me more aware of certain idols in my life. Revelation 18 foretells Babylon’s fall in a single hour by God’s holy and just judgement. Babylon’s sin was idolatry, putting money and power above the true God. That led to the question: what are my own idols? One of the things I’ve always been proud of is my ability to retain friendships. So when someone ghosts me (it’s happened twice), that idol is toppled. I need to recognize that if I have any good friendships at all, they are a gift from the Lord. He could have made me a person with no friends, if that were His will. And I would need to accept that with grace.

Then, on Sunday morning, our church met with no masks for the first time since the pandemic began, and it was so wonderful to hear the congregation singing again! The particular hymns and songs chosen seemed to speak directly to my situation. You know when that happens that the Spirit is at work.

Pastor JT Tarter spoke about “strengthening grace” from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3. His first point was Paul’s posture of humility before the Lord. In effect, Paul said, “You are God; I am not.” This struck a chord. In my heart the Spirit again spoke about forgiveness. It is human pride that wants to hold on to grudges and hurt. By contrast, humility takes account of the wickedness of my own sin and God’s tremendous mercy toward me. The Bible clearly says that we are not to judge one another. God will do that. If we refuse to forgive, we are usurping God’s role as judge. “Vengeance is Mine.” - Deuteronomy 32:35 “Love is not proud. Love keeps no record of wrongs.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Now, here’s what I plan to do. By God’s providence (no coincidences in God’s world), I had already planned to drive down to Tennessee to sing at my uncle’s funeral this Saturday. On Friday, I’ll be passing right through the town where this friend lives! She has agreed to meet me in person and share a meal. Instead of angst, I’m full of forgiveness toward her. I’m excited about seeing her again and looking forward to this visit. Friends, God has done this! This dramatic change in my attitude is from the Lord alone, through the Holy Spirit’s work in my heart.

Does anyone besides me need to hear this today? “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” - Colossians 3:13

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – May 28, 2021 – What Would You Do?

I recently got a letter from C., a friend from the past who ghosted me almost 10 years ago. She says, “please forgive me” and writes about some of the wrong ways she acted then and how the Lord has humbled her and changed her heart now. What would you do?

I confess my first reaction was, Wow, you really hurt me and I want to tell you about all the pain you caused by your prideful selfish attitude. I can’t believe you’re coming back after all these years! I’ve felt the grief of losing a dear sister in Christ without a word of explanation, and I’ve moved on. Your actions have had consequences. I want a full and complete apology, and I want you to ask for my forgiveness, not assume you have it. Have you really changed? I want to discern whether you are worthy of my forgiveness and friendship.

But immediately the Holy Spirit (not the spiteful spirit) reminded me of Jesus’ parable about the servant who was forgiven a huge debt, then turned around and failed to forgive a man who owed him a much smaller debt. So I began to pray for the Lord to change my own prideful selfish attitude.

Lord, I know I must forgive her, but do I want to forgive her? Her betrayal tapped into my own serious issue of abandonment, and I’m very wary of trusting her again. However, the forgiveness God requires is not synonymous with irresponsibility. Of course I can still protect myself from harm, but I also need to recognize God’s care of me through any harm. God is an expert in using evil for good. “Trust but verify” is a phrase used in our DC area. I can still be cautious going forward, but I must offer my forgiveness freely.

Since I prayed for a more Christian attitude, I have been more aware of my own sin. How great is Christ’s forgiveness toward me! And of course, verses on forgiveness have been popping up all over. This came up in today’s devotional: “He saved us – not because we were good enough to be saved, but because of his kindness and pity – by washing away our sins…” from Titus 3:5 TLB. I thought of the prodigal son, who was welcomed home with open arms and abundant grace. The son was humbled and returned, just as C. is doing. The father was joyful and forgiving, just as I need to be.

We are saved not because we are worth forgiving, but because He has a loving nature. Forgiving C. is about me and my character and my walk with Jesus, not her, her character, and her walk. It doesn’t matter if she apologized or if she is worthy! It’s not for me to judge. This is a time to show my quality. As the old song goes, “Freely, freely, you have received; freely, freely give.” This is my opportunity to give a sinner a gift, and in so doing, give glory to Christ!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32 ESV

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12

What would you do?

God is faithful,

j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney

The Weekly Encourager – April 26, 2021 – Have Your I.D. Ready

For several weeks, our church meeting place was also being used as a vaccination station for COVID-19. A security guard was posted at the front door, and as soon as we entered, another person would say, “Have your I.D. ready.” We would answer, “Good morning! We’re here for church. Have a good day.” Then we were free to bypass a multitude of tables with various people, papers, and equipment.

One of my favorite comic strips shows a long line of people waiting to get into heaven. They each have to give their name to St. Peter, who stands at an entrance podium similar to that used at fine restaurants. One guy in line turns to his friend and says, “We should have called ahead for a reservation.”

Exactly! Our government-issued I.D. is an essential item that we need to go places and do things in this world. We need it to travel. We need it to get vaccinated against deadly diseases. We need it to prove who we are and where we belong. But it won’t get us into Heaven. The only way to get into Heaven is by calling ahead for a reservation. By faith, we look at Christ’s death upon the cross and His resurrection on Easter morning. In heartfelt prayer, we call upon the Lord Jesus to forgive our sin. Because He is loving and merciful, He forgives us. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. He has set a beautiful table where all who are His will enjoy an abundant feast together. Fine dining, indeed.

God has issued me a permanent passport that can never be damaged, lost, revoked, or stolen. This I.D. now states to one and all that my new name is Christian, my new position in society is daughter of the King, and my new country is Mount Zion. This document certifies that I have believed in Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s the earnest of an eternal inheritance of joy, shalom peace, true love, and precious fellowship. This card gives me the right to travel directly to Heaven – do not pass Go, do not collect $200. It gives me the promise of complete healing from every deadly disease, sorrow, and pain man has ever known. Because of Jesus, I have a passport that will never expire. Do you?

Satan and his cronies are busy trying to convince people that we need something else to make it into Heaven. They say we need to be good enough, strong enough, smart enough, rich enough, popular enough, powerful enough, or whatever. But these are all lies from the father of lies. When Satan attacks, all we have to do is cry out to Jesus and stand firm. How do we do this? We pull out the passport and review our identity in Christ. If we belong to Christ, we are safe!

I love the final verse of “Jesus Lives, and So Shall I” by Christian F. Gellert:

“Jesus lives, and death is now but my entrance into glory.
Courage, then, my soul, for thou hast a crown of life before thee;
thou shalt find thy hopes were just: Jesus is the Christian's trust.”

Have your I.D. ready.

God is faithful,
j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney
To hear a beautiful modern tune to this classic old hymn, visit http://www.newhymns.org/jesus-lives-and-so-shall-i/index.html

The Weekly Encourager – March 25, 2021 – Help My Unbelief!

So many of us are struggling during this time of pandemic with fear, anxiety, exasperation, anger, loneliness, grief, depression, a critical spirit, or boredom. Any of these emotions, unaddressed, can diminish our faith in an all-knowing, all-loving God. Just as good habits of sleep, exercise, time outdoors, and healthy food can help our state of mind, good habits of regular quiet devotional time with the Lord and participation in public worship can help our hearts.

Remember what the father of the deaf mute boy said to Jesus? “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the boy. As He explained later to the disciples, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Dear friends, take heart. Jesus loves you and intends your suffering for your good. Your heart is being quilted with stitches of love. Keep on praying!

A Better Resurrection

By Christina Rossetti

I have no wit, no words, no tears;

My heart within me like a stone

Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears;

Look right, look left, I dwell alone;

I lift mine eyes, but dimm'd with grief

No everlasting hills I see;

My life is in the falling leaf:

O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,

My harvest dwindled to a husk:

Truly my life is void and brief

And tedious in the barren dusk;

My life is like a frozen thing,

No bud nor greenness can I see:

Yet rise it shall—the sap of Spring;

O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,

A broken bowl that cannot hold

One drop of water for my soul

Or cordial in the searching cold;

Cast in the fire the perish'd thing;

Melt and remould it, till it be

A royal cup for Him, my King:

O Jesus, drink of me.

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” - Psalm 61:1-2

Remember, it’s not IF He can, but YES He can!

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – February 23, 2021 – The Lord Delivers Us

“Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” - Psalm 28:6-7 ESV

A few days ago, I was attacked on Facebook. I had made what I thought was a simple post* in a private Facebook group, and the first few comments were positive. They got my brand of wry humor. I went away to watch a drama on Netflix, never realizing that the real drama was playing out on Facebook. After the show ended, I decided to do a quick check back, and it had all blown up in my face. My post was grossly misinterpreted. What I intended as information was taken as insult. Apparently, I came across as feeling superior to others in the group because I knew more than they did, and this was a trigger for some to hijack the conversation with a different agenda.

Even worse, one of the admins messaged me privately to tell me of the huge battle that occurred while I was gone. People were not only criticizing me, but each other. The admins deleted the contentious post, but there was a new outcry over that decision. Now the admins themselves were attacked and spent two hours during a work day defending their decision to delete. People felt that the discussion should stay up as an example. The “resources” shared in the comments should not be stifled. Finally the admins bowed to the crowd and put it all back up.

When I arrived on the scene, I was shocked and saddened at the anger and hurt I had caused. I immediately posted a sincere apology before re-deleting the entire thread. I was ashamed of having offended people and tried to fix it the only way I knew how to do. I just wanted to get rid of what I did wrong. If I spill tomato sauce on the floor, my first instinct is to mop it up, not leave it there for others to slip on. I encouraged the admins to start a new thread so that people who wished to educate an old white lady could post all their resources in one place.

I was miserable for some long days and unable to work, but I called upon the Lord. I really appreciate those who wrote encouraging words and/or prayed for me during that horrible time. It’s always good to know that my Christian friends have my back – what a blessing! With perseverance and prayer, I was able to apologize to all and sundry, learning several new terms such as OP, dirty delete, ableism, emotional labor, tone policing, white tears, and centering along the way. By God's grace, the situation has been resolved. For now. I know I have a lot more to learn when it comes to communication. But He who has begun a good work in me will complete it, for He is faithful.

Why didn’t I just ignore the painful drama or even leave the group? As a Christian, I am called to be a peacemaker: to seek peace and pursue it, to be at peace with all men, insofar as it depends on me. My very witness to the transforming power of Christ was at stake! Yes, there are times when we are not to answer a fool according to his folly, but this was not one of those times. This was a time to apologize, listen, and learn. A dismissive attitude would only worsen the offense. Whether or not I intended harm, harm happened on my watch. Whether or not I agreed with everything that folks were saying, my post was the origin of the problem. Therefore, I needed to be the one to fix it.

As one group member commented to me, “you are fixing this by staying here, listening and taking this all in. It’s hard, but everyone is taking time to educate you and you are hearing it. I am seeing you do this and stay with it. This whole thread is a blessing and you are now changed for the time spent on this. Thanks to all the posters. Thanks to you for not running from the discomfort, the pain is worth it when growth comes from it.”

I don’t know if this person is a Christian, but her comment was in line with what the Holy Spirit was showing me in my heart. God says, “In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” - Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV I firmly believe that a habitual failure to resolve conflict is a sign of fear or laziness. It’s an immature attitude which does not trust that God will get us though difficulties, or doesn’t take seriously His command to seek peace in all our relationships. Even when I am very upset, I am bold in trying to resolve conflict, because I know God is for me in this effort. He strengthens me and upholds me with His righteous arm. No matter how badly I feel, His love is always greater than my sorrow, shame, fear, or exhaustion. His mercy covers even my very worst failures. Despite my mistakes, the Lord enabled me to be a positive force for healing in this Facebook group, and I thank Him for that! That’s why I’m there in the first place. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen and grow, thus showing Christ’s love.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." - Psalm 34:19

God is faithful,
j

*My original post clarified the difference between palette, pallet, and palate in a quilting group. It had absolutely nothing to do with racism or ableism; it was hijacked.

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney

The Weekly Encourager – February 11, 2021 – Darkness Into Light

During these dark days of winter, are you feeling a little down? Seasonal weather can add to whatever stress we’re already feeling. How is your faith holding up during this time?

I’ve been watching a crime series. In this show, two college students in a philosophy class become friends. The first man, Nick, is highly intelligent and an outstanding student. Reading Nietzsche, he absorbs a nihilistic philosophy in his search for meaning. Confronted with the truth that everyone dies, he believes that what people do cannot matter ultimately. He is obsessed with danger and death, and engages in very risky behavior “games” so that he can “feel something.” Nick also internalizes an ubermensch persona, convincing himself that he is superior to others and therefore can devise his own morality.

That would be bad enough, but Nick also possesses a strong, dominant personality which is highly charismatic. The second student, Jamie, comes under his spell. Over time, Nick convinces Jamie of his philosophy, and encourages him to participate in the dangerous “games.” Spending more and more time together, the two men become a closed loop of dark thoughts, dark feelings, and dark activities. Their crimes become more serious, eventually reaching the logical conclusion of murder.

These two characters are neatly contrasted with Vic, an ex-military man who says that faith in God is the only thing that got him through his time in Afghanistan. He’s an upbeat, upstanding guy who wants to help catch a criminal. The star of the show is the detective Harry who is somewhere in the middle between Jamie and Vic.

Watching this series, I can’t help but consider what it says about the larger issue: why are we here, are there any absolute values, and is there any hope for us? What light can we shed?

First, I have to agree with Nick and Jamie that most people are scared of death, and scared that this life is all there is. These men believe “you have to look death in the face” to feel alive. In some ways, I agree with them. No, I don’t sanction throwing oneself into dark near-death experiences, but I do believe that every person must realize his own mortality in a fundamental way. Until we come face to face with the fact that, no matter how we live our life, we will die anyway, we cannot know our need for God. It is the inexorable journey toward death that arouses the uneasy feeling that there must be something more. When we realize that this life alone can never satisfy our longing to live forever, we will seek an existence beyond this life. Everyone, whether he realizes it or not, is seeking light on the other side of darkness.

After I pondered this one evening, guess what came up in my devotional book the very next morning?! You’re right: some verses about light, The Light! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 4:6. What an amazing gift we have been given! In Jesus Christ, we have the answers to life’s most important questions. We know we were sent here as part of a Divine Plan for our good and His glory. Everything He does is holy, so we can look to Him for Truth. And we no longer fear death or any of life’s difficulties, for we have the blessed hope of eternal life.

Another lesson from this show is a good reminder: be careful who your friends are. If you are feeling down, and some leader-type presents himself with a strong personality, it’s very easy to be swayed by his attitudes and perspective on life. Nick had an uncanny hold over Jamie. He kept pushing him to do the next dare. As their relationship progressed, they started shutting out other more rational thoughts. Be careful to minimize contact with friends on the dark side. As my husband says, “You will do things for your friends that you would never do for your enemies.”

Lastly, there are people all around us who are in the detective’s camp. Having seen great tragedy, Harry is wandering in the darkness of grief, not committing crimes, but not feeling any hope, either. We need to pray for these people! They are our family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, and they need someone to show them the light of Christ. O Lord, “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ].” - Acts 26:18

Every one of us is capable of dark thoughts. If not for God's grace, I might be committing murder. Thank God, we have found a charismatic leader in Jesus Christ. “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” - Psalm 23:3. We “face our fear” not by stalking death, but by seeking life in the One who created life and gives it meaning. We can rejoice in the Lord always, even in the most difficult seasons of life. We walk in the light. “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” - Psalm 56:13.

God is faithful,

j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney

The Weekly Encourager – January 11, 2021 – Crossing the Bridge

This past week was really difficult and draining for me. By Saturday night I was on empty. Besides the horrible happenings on Capitol Hill, I had three challenging conversations with friends during the week. On Wednesday, I received a very hurtful email from our longtime friend and Christian brother with the subject line “Put a fork in it…” in which he says the friendship is over because I don't speak out for his views on social media. 

There are a number of things wrong with his letter, not the least of which is his evident anger and lack of kindness or self-control. But the main thing bothering me is his underlying assumption that Dave and I should agree with his political views simply because we’re all Christians. I’ve seen this attitude in a number of my friends on both the Left and the Right. And they don’t just want me to believe the same things, but to act upon these beliefs in the same way that they do. I feel like I’m in a car approaching a bridge. I’m trying to get to the other side of this messy traffic jam by encouraging calm, respectful, and rational debate between people with opposing views. Please, stop your cars and talk to one another! That’s the only way to move ahead in our divided nation. But I’m stuck because folks on the Left want me to drive off the bridge on the left, while folks on the Right want me to drive off the bridge on the right. Everyone is so emotional that they’re headed off the deep end and encouraging others to do the same. Splash, splash! Neither side is willing to let me cross the bridge.

The second assumption is troubling as well: this person believes that people must express their political opinions on social media. Here’s what “speaking up” looks like for me: After the debacle of an unruly mob breaking into the US Capitol building with elected legislators voting inside, I did re-post Pastor Rob Yancey’s comment that “despite the signs they are holding, there is nothing Christian about what this mob did today at the Capitol building.” I also posted a plea for people to be “polite and respectful” when sharing their views. While some agreed with me and others said “if only,” there were a number of comments saying that it’s too late for respect and kindness. I expect nonbelievers to feel this way, but I’m shocked and saddened by the number of Christian people on both sides of the aisle who display no humility whatsoever and no sense that they need to listen to other views. They only want to stand on a bridge and shout. 

Friends, this is not the Way of Christ. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” - James 3:17 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Each person has to prayerfully consider what God is calling them to do, both in private and in public situations, during these difficult times. We have different personalities and different gifts. We have different callings and different audiences. I may not be required to say or do exactly what you are required to do. For some, silence is violence, and they must speak out. For others, silence is quietly working behind the scenes in another way to achieve the same goal. One approach is not superior to the other. Only God can judge whether my approach to Facebook and Instagram is the best use of my time and talents. I answer to Him alone. If you see a fellow believer “not doing enough” or “doing it wrong” that’s an opportunity to pray for the Lord’s enlightenment. We are not called to judge one another, but to love one another and to pray for one another.

The third disturbing factor is a form of “Christian nationalism” that argues that, if we could only get the right Christian president to lead this country, all our problems would be solved. It’s unsettling to see followers of Christ fall into this trap. Jesus came to a people who hoped for a strong political leader to overthrow the oppressive Roman government, but Jesus had a higher purpose: to establish a spiritual kingdom characterized by holiness, justice, and righteousness. “My kingdom is not of this world” He told the disciples in John 18:36. So no matter who is king or president, that man or woman can never be the savior of a nation nor of any individual in a nation. I march under the banner of Jesus Christ, not of any political leader. 

"Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God" the Bible says in Psalm 146:3-5. To be sure, Christians can certainly work toward justice and equity in the nations in which they live. They can even support and campaign for candidates. But Christians must always understand the difference between the church and the state, and keep each in its proper realm. Christ’s priorities will always be higher than any others.  Any other flag I fly had better be under His! “You have given us a banner to rally to; all who love truth will rally to it.” - Psalm 60:4 Christ-followers will also strive to be winsome in speech and behavior. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” - James 1:20 “His banner over me is Love.” - Song of Solomon 2:4 We will reflect the attitude of whomever we worship.

Heavenly Father, help our nation to repent where we have sinned, to listen where we have shouted, to love where we have hated. I ask for shalom peace in our nation, and it must begin with me, in my own heart. Show me my wicked ways, and lead me in the Way of Christ. Make those of us who claim Your Name to be bearers of Your clear light. Let us not be led astray by our own prideful desires, but be guided by Your Holy Spirit to accomplish Your purposes. We humbly ask for your supernatural grace to heal this land. We need Jesus.

God is faithful,
j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney

The Weekly Encourager – January 7, 2021 – Choose Love

I have so much to say about the horrible happenings in our Nation’s Capital on Wednesday. While I collect my thoughts, please read this story posted by my friend Donna Daigle about her sister Holly and their opposing views. The same applies equally to me and my brother, who is not a Christian and often on the opposite side of issues. Yet we choose to maintain our connection out of love and family.

Donna writes:
“My sister and I are on different sides of the political aisle this time around. And still we talk every day. We appreciate each other's perspectives even if we see things differently. We both campaigned for our respective sides as we could and yet we love each other. We honor each other. We do not loot each other's houses or businesses. We build each other up every chance we get! 

“And here's the thing, we do not have the same parents. I was adopted by her biological parents. I was a full family member my whole life, even though some relatives perceived/treated me as "other". 

“We have learned throughout our lives to cherish our diversity, embrace our differences as greater strength – together. 

“We have chosen to stay in conversation, in relationship, and keep working on understanding each other's viewpoint and examine the logical outcomes from believing as we do. No one sees perfectly so we have each other's back.

“This is what being an American family is supposed to be all about.

“Words created this world we now see and words will create the one to come. Choose your words wisely!”

Donna’s later comment:
“Yes I have been blessed with a wonderful sister AND the point is that we CHOSE to put relationship before politics, Love before religion, faith, or hope. We intentionally set aside our personal thoughts and opinions to listen to each other, to try and understand each other's point of view. We ask questions and listen to the answers. We try and follow our views to their ultimate expression and that often changes our understanding of each other, of the circumstance, of the moment.

“These are choices we can each make in every relationship every day.

“We have a special relationship because we CHOOSE to have it.”

Here let me add some of God’s words:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." - James 1:20

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” - James 3:17

We need to remember God’s words as we relate to people with opposite viewpoints. Seek Shalom and pursue it.

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – January 1, 2021 – Shalom Peace

“May the peace of Christ be with you.” How often have you heard this phrase? It’s a regular part of the liturgy of many churches around the world. Often there is a specific time in the service to “pass the peace” by repeating this greeting to those around you. Pre-pandemic, this may have included smiles, hugs, handshakes, small talk, inquiries after one’s health, etc. But since the Covid-19 lockdowns, many churches have been meeting online only. Although my church now has limited in-person worship with masks, rigorous cleaning, social distancing, etc., we continue to offer online worship for those who must stay home. Therefore, our leaders regularly encourage us to “pass the peace,” even if we are not able to meet in person, by calling, texting, or emailing someone to wish them peace on the Lord’s Day.

As you may know, the phrase “peace be with you” originated with the Hebrew phrase “Shalom.” Shalom שָׁלוֹם‎ occurs 237 times in the Old Testament, and the similar Greek EIRENE appears 91 times in the New Testament. Shalom is still used to say hello or goodbye, but its meaning is far richer than a simple greeting. As I understand it, the concept of shalom means wholeness, intactness, and completeness. It includes safety, prosperity and well-being with delight in God’s gifts and universal flourishing forever. Adam and Eve knew shalom in the Garden before the Fall. Everything was good and very good, for people had right relationships to God, themselves, and all other creatures. God’s world was in complete harmony and fulness, each one playing its proper part to contribute to the benefit of the whole. Love, joy, and peace characterized the world as God created it. All needs were met in abundance. No one was sick, lonely, poor, depressed, or at war.

I want to express this concept of peace to all of you. I want to use the Hebrew shalom because it embodies so much more than the temporary worldly peace we mean in English. I wish shalom for all of you, for everyone I know, and for the whole world. But, since the Fall, there is only one way any of us can have this kind of shalom peace. Due to our rebellion against shalom, God sent His Son to redeem us from sin; only the Prince of Peace makes any whole or lasting peace possible again. Christ’s peace means being reconciled to God, ourselves, and other people, in that order. Shalom is linked with salvation and sanctification. Even in this broken world which is clearly not whole and at peace (look at 2020), we can experience an inner harmony and wholeness through trust in God.

“Great,” you say, “I’ve trusted in Christ.” But we can’t just sit there and expect peace to arrive without any effort on our part. This life requires an active seeking of God’s face on a regular basis. We must spend time with Him in His word, prayer, and worship. It’s our daily bread. We must turn over every aspect of our lives to Him, including private sins and struggling (or severed) relationships. We are hurting, but He is wholeness. We are lazy, but He is motivating. We need to step forth in faith, and a new year is just the time to begin again. We fail, but He forgives. Run to the Lord, and beg for peace. He will answer.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:3-4

Wishing you the true shalom peace of Christ in 2021. שָׁלוֹם‎

God is faithful,
j

Copyright 2021 Janet A. Marney