It's Just Clothing!

I like a nice shirt just like the next guy.  And I must admit, I am kinda label conscious, but I feel a little guilty buying a shirt that costs as much as a new TV.   Most of my shirts are gifts from thoughtful and generous family and friends, (so I get the lessened guilt of someone else buying it for me).   I do like to wear the ones with a horse, rider and a mallet, they seem to make clothes that look nice and last a few chukkers.

My kids have started Whale hunting a lot lately.  Fortunately for their Summer job budget, most of their successful hunts have been at the thrift store or on sale somewhere in a discount setting where they harpooned a slightly older Whale, culling the pod.  A little survival of the fittest in the clothing biome.

Why do we like labels so much? Does it help us feel like we belong to a certain group? Does it help us identify with those around us?  Does it help us feel better about ourselves?

I don't know for certain the answer to these questions, but felt like I had to ask them.  My sociology background tells me we all want to feel like we fit in somewhere. We all want to belong to a desirable group and sometimes a uniform can help; even if the uniform is just a certain clothing label. From my experience though the labels don't generate the kind of connection we are all desperate for. The clothes don't make a man, I guess, or a friend.

The desire for a label says, "I want to be liked, included, or connected to you".  Or perhaps, "I want to be envied by you, because I am in the 'cool', 'in', or 'hip' group."

Jesus knows our bent.  He knows our desire for connection...our need for inclusion... our need for an identity.  He addressed it in His longest recorded sermon:

Jesus says, in Matthew 6:25-33 (Message version) "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. ²⁶ Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. ²⁷ "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? ²⁸ All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, ²⁹ but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. ³⁰ "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? ³¹ What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. ³² People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. ³³ Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:30 (NIV) that our view of clothing can be a faith issue... He says,"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"  If we obsess about wearing the "right" clothes, it could be pointing to our need for trusting Him more.



His labels are not worn on the chest of the shirt, but a little deeper inside, on the heart, And they are not an expression taken off and put into the laundry, but worn all the time.  We are loved by the King! We belong to Jesus! We are a part of the body of Christ!  

Don't worry about fabric so much, it's just clothing, just temporal.  But rejoice in His grace and love, His forever connection and acceptance.  God sent His Son to wear one of these earth suits, so He could save us and identify with us and model true connection. 

Next time you are in the closet wondering what to wear, thank God for the way He clothes us. We can identify with Him by the way we treat others, it is more endearing than sharing a clothing label. We can be thankful for His provision for us. Put your Jesus on. 

So Long Sweet Sammie!

mi

Last week we said goodbye to Anita's Aunt Sammie.   She was always the life of the party. If there wasn't a party she made one. This beautiful, strong, confident woman was caring and proactive and generous.  She was lovingly called "the Little General" by the family.  She always knew what to do and what was needed. She was always headed toward the goal.  These traits made this former school teacher a successful Real Estate agent too.  They called her Selling Sammie.

She was like the Proverbs 31 Realtor ...Proverbs 31:16  "She considers a property and (sells) it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard."  I want to suggest the vineyard she invested in was her family and friends. Her three wonderful kids are bearing fruit of their own now because of her investment.  They are blessed and blessing others.  Her legacy of strength, confidence and generosity continues. Sammie now has sons-in-law and grand-kids, step children and grand-children, nieces and nephews, cousins, sisters and brothers, and she has invested in them all. Each of them have been mothered, and nurtured, and blessed by Sweet Sammie in many ways. She claims many as her own and they consider her a second Mom.

I heard it said, if you want to be a blessing to someone, you must make the sacrifice.  Sammie was always sacrificing to help someone else. She would do without so those she loved could have more.

The whole family, like Sammie, enjoys a good party. Which is why her funeral was a CELEBRATION!  As my son says, Aunt Sammie knew how to put the FUN in FUNeral.  At the funeral home and church there were picture books filled with memories, lots of friends, decorations, lots of family and food...even a butterfly release on the beach in her memory. Her kids and husband remembered her well.

She fought valiantly for six years against a horrendous cancer.  She fought to watch her grand kids grow up. She fought against cancer personally and along side her family for Susan G. Komen. She offered herself and her energy like never before (even though those things are much more precious when fighting cancer). Her husband Tom was the picture of the phrases, "in sickness and in health" and "til death do us part." He was strong for her and with her on the days she struggled to go on.  She has won the battle, she is now cancer free because of Jesus.

We are saddened by her loss, but inspired by her life. She is enjoying her Savior and her Mom, Dad, Sister Kay, niece Mickey and others who have gone before. Those of us left behind for a while will live differently, hopefully better, more generously having known her.

Life

House full of:

Bottles, bottle warmers, diapers, diaper geni

Toys, bouncer seat, story books, fruit gummies

Pack n Play, strollers, cribs, changing table

Riding toys, action figures/dolls, puppies, uncrustables

Purple dinosaurs, Pokemon, Sesame Street, Toy Story

Tricycles, Legos, dirt, bandaids

Soccer balls, basketballs, baseballs, footballs

Dance shoes, pom poms, uniforms, hair bows 

Swimsuits, tennis raquets, bats, batons

Friends, siblings, relatives, teammates

Bibles, worksheets, spelling words, math tables

Exuberation, heartbreak, table talk, encouragement

Cleats, tennis shoes,Sperrys, Polo

Trampolines, bicycles, airguns, slingshots

Video games, video games, video games, video games

Car keys, textbooks, laundry, girlfriends/boyfriends

Prom attire, friends, hormones, image

College boards, campus visits, acceptance, freshman

Happy tears, sad tears, proud moments, restarts

Big decisions, jobs, gray hair, Aspercream

Prayers, Supplications, Intercessions, Praises!

Where Did the Time Go?

My oldest daughter is about to finish high school and join her brother in the ranks of college students. Last night my all grown up girl won an award for citizenship, was honored as a candidate for Miss EHS and gave a speech as the VP of her class. It seems like yesterday when she was a little toddler full of smiles, stepping in the paint bucket, babbling and chasing big brother in the back yard with a Barbie jeep.  At some point she grew up. Did she ever! She was like a grown up Miss America last night. She inspired and entertained us with her short encouraging speech and graciously and sincerely applauded the Mr and Miss EHS winners (2 wonderful students who are very deserving). She turns 18 today, old enough to smoke (hope she doesn't) and vote (hope she does), but not yet considered an adult in some ways (thank goodness).  Tomorrow she goes to prom. Wow, we were just doing the American Girl doll thing, learning to do backhandsprings, and watching Disney Princesses and Barney non-stop. 

But really isn't this is what it is all about?... growing up our children and launching them to make their own impact on this crazy world. Now is when we have to let go and hope that we have given them all they need to thrive in on this challenging planet. The bad parent anxieties haunt me: Did I teach her the right things? Did I give her some life skills to survive in the hostile world? Did I encourage her faith? Did I give her enough without overindulging her? It is her challenge now. Yes, I always want to be there for her when she needs something, but I want her to learn the skills to do things on her own. That means I have to learn the next part of parenting... parenting an adult (or almost adult).  Lord give me grace and wisdom!

My prayers are that in all my short comings, Christ will be her all in all, her daily Salvation, her Sustainer, Teacher, her Protector. 

Good job daughter! I love you, you're a winner, do your best! You will be just fine! Live, Grow, Keep your Faith, Change the World for Good.  Pray for your Daddy!

God's Plan Is Always Best

When Jesus was asked about the controversial marriage issue of His time He went back to Genesis (2:24) and..."He answered, 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.'" (Matthew 19:4-6 ESV) 

Jesus was saying it's best to stick to God's plan from the beginning even though there are great cultural temptations not to do so. Whether the issue is divorce or same sex marriage, God's design for us is always right.  

The Creator loves us and knows what is best for us. He even makes a Way for us to get right again when we miss the mark. I am thankful for His Grace and Mercy, that He cares enough to tell me the boundaries to live within and provides a Way of grace in Jesus Christ to come back when I have crossed them.

I can't argue anything from my own rightness because, except for the righteousness of Christ, I am not right. That is why I have to turn to the Word of God for His instruction and rules and pray for His continued Grace and Mercy as I inevitably mess up. I put myself in an awkward situation however, when I decide that my ways and the ways of the world are better than His ways. 

Can God continue to bless and protect a country that continually makes choices that are contrary to His Word and His Ways? God will eventually give us what we keep asking for, which is a world without the rules He, the Designer, gave us. The consequences will not be good. A world with no moral absolutes turns into a world whose rules are made by those who carry the biggest stick and wield the most power. If I have to trust my God of Grace and Truth and Righteousness or another human's ideas about what is right, I choose God's Word and His Way and ask for His Grace. The Destroyer will lead us all to our own destruction if we choose our plan over God's plan.

Jonah and Ministry While Dying

Some of the most painful hours in ministry for me are those days when I’m called to the hospital to pray with a family and a loved one when the patient is moments away from passing to the next life. I don't take the requests lightly and recognize that it is a great privilege to participate in these sacred moments. I want desperately to help, but I never feel more like Jonah as a reluctant minister than on those days. As I drive to the hospital, I want to turn and escape to the lake for a boat ride (people on boats need ministry too, right?) Instead I proceed on and I am swallowed by the great emotion that drags me to whatever depth it chooses, in spite of my attempts to buoy myself up and keep my head above the swells.

When I arrive the air is often thick with unrest, especially if it is a labored homegoing. There are often livid moments of life followed by almost complete stillness. Each one in the room wants to help their loved one escape the pain and make the journey that can only be made alone. And yet, in a way, each one of us dies a little bit with each arduous in-breath of the person we care about. The horribly descriptive "death rattle" is not a pleasant sound; It just hangs in the air until it mercifully ends. Furrowed brows, muted sobs, and soft sweet words of encouragement usually make up the feng shui of the otherwise sterile room as the patient struggles to both hang on and let go. God usually refreshes us momentarily with emotional daylight and fresh air as we speak prayerful requests and praises to Him. Most of us gulp down the reassurance eagerly, knowing that the sorrow is going to plunge us to the bottom, like a giant catfish on a small Zebco again soon. We are reminded by the medical beeps and whooshes that this journey won’t be cancelled, even if it is postponed temporarily.

The dying experience seems to be different for everyone, but these ministry opportunities don’t seem to ever get any easier for me. It makes me so appreciate the hospital staff, ministers, hospice workers, volunteers, friends, and chaplains who are gifted at helping others through this part of life. These are definitely “take up your cross and deny yourself” moments for me. I want to help people through this difficult time, but I often take on so much of deep sadness of those around me. I sometimes get a hard shell of protective covering or spew mushy emotional talk while I attempt to get a handle again. That is selfish, I know. They need ministry and I have been invited to give it. I guess the reality becomes only Christ in me can do it.

There have been a few notable exceptions to this trail of tears type journey toward the hereafter. I once had the privilege of sharing the final moments of one lady whose Catholic Priest and several of the lady’s family members were present. Each had said “goodbye”, there was a great peace in the room, and there was no struggle. The nurse had disconnected the respirator and the "beep, beep'" of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room. The family gathered and held hands around the bed and the Priest began with the traditional last rites. The "last rites" ceremony was a new experience for me as a lifelong evangelical. The words were comforting and reassuring. As the Priest finished his last words with “Amen”, the monitor immediately went flatline and the beep, beep of the monitor was replaced with an unbroken tone. The nurse turned the monitor off and we all celebrated this woman’s transition to eternal life. At the instant she heard the last goodbye of her faith from this life, she heard the welcoming sounds of the place promised by Jesus. Her loved ones were gathered around her on this side of heaven to say “so long”. And, (according to many of the near death stories I have heard), her loved ones in heaven were gathered to welcome her to her place of comfort and rest. It was a beautiful drama played out in one of the best possible scenarios. A life well lived with few regrets, a passing that was easy and celebrated with loved ones into the welcoming arms of family and a Savior who have gone ahead of her to heaven. This was a wonderful serendipitous trip to the hospital.

Regardless of the amount of duress in dying, the hope that comes from Christ is what ultimately sustains us. Whether it is an easy celebration of a life well lived or a laborious and tragic passing, the result for those who are in Christ is a wonderful place full of love, where tears are wiped away, and sin and death no longer taunt us. The victory is won and we are safe and secure in LIFE; in real, never to be taken again, LIFE.

I request your prayers for this Jonah’s brother and any of the other ministers in your life who may struggle this part of the calling too.

Learning from the Three Amigos!

An old movie I enjoy is the Three Amigos.  In one of the scenes the three friends are riding their horses across the desert.  They are all parched.  They are hot.  They are obviously in need of water.  So they stop and get out their canteens.  Steve Martin’s character turns his canteen up and one little drop of water comes out.  Martin Short’s character opens his canteen, turns it up and only sand comes out.  Chevy Chase’s character opens his canteen, puts it to his mouth and water gushes out soaking his mouth and clothes.  The other two turn to him hoping he will share just a little with them.  Chase’s character, however, is oblivious to their need and proceeds to not only gulp down the liquid, but spill it out all over himself, swish it around his mouth then spit it out. When he has had all he wants, he throws the canteen to the side and the rest of the water pours out all over the ground.  He then blissfully pulls out some chap-stick and coats his lips.  Finally he notices his friends’ woeful stares and offers them some lip balm… a sad consolation for these two were desperate for some water.   

Sometimes we believers are like that; we have the living water of Jesus. We are refreshed and enjoying His blessings, but we are totally oblivious to those around us who are spiritually parched.  We enjoy worshipping, and studying God’s Word.  We enjoy the Christian fellowship of the body of Christ.  We are refreshed when we serve others in Jesus name.  But  we neglect to share the blessings of salvation with those who are desperate to know Him.