Remembering 9/11

Every year when 9/11 falls on a Wednesday, I have a decision to make. Today is the anniversary of one of the worst days I experienced in my lifetime. And, I must decide whether to write about it in this blog post. Once again, I decided to address 9/11. 

I am always grateful when this day comes and goes without another terrorist attack. Our enemies are drawn to certain memorable dates, like flies are drawn to death. On every 9/11, I expect them to attempt another attack, and every year, I breathe a sigh of relief when the day ends without serious harm to our nation.

Why should 9/11 cause us to worry?

An op-ed by Bruce Riedel for Brookings explained the continued threat to this date each year. Riedel wrote: “Al Qaeda has every reason to be obsessed with 9/11. The plot that toppled the World Trade Center towers and damaged the Pentagon cost al Qaeda less than half a million dollars to pull off, according the 9/11 Commission report. The property damage alone cost about $100 billion, and estimates of the total economic damage inflicted by the attack range up to $2 trillion. The cost of the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that flowed out of the 9/11 tragedy has been estimated recently by Brown University scholars at about $4 trillion. Al Qaeda pulled off the world’s cheapest global game changer ever on Sept. 11, 2001, and we are still living with the consequences and costs.”

The article, written in 2011, identified an unsuccessful terrorist attempt on 9/11 in 2006 and another in 2008. The financial impact he reported would contain significantly higher numbers if written today. Our enemies are still drawn to this date each year, hoping and planning to cause more harm to our nation. Today, because of our nation’s continued commitment to Israel, the open border policies, and those factors becoming election issues, there are reasons to feel threatened.

Americans have a right, even an obligation, to worry about this day each year. Yet, Jesus encouraged his disciples, saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). 

How can we acknowledge the concerns of this life and not allow those concerns to “trouble” our hearts and minds?

What did you worry about when you heard the news that day?

When I watch the video footage from 9/11, my mind is flooded with memories. I was simply catching up on the news and enjoying a second cup of coffee when the morning show went live, and they began reporting the first tower was on fire. I watched the video in real-time as the second plane eerily entered the second tower. That’s when we all knew we were being attacked.

I called Jim and told him to turn on the television. I tried to reach my parents, who were on vacation in Pennsylvania, only miles from the downed plane there. My mom still remembers watching their hotel parking lot fill up with members of the FBI and trucks that were unloading the body bags.

I had two sons in high school and wondered how these events would impact their futures. If our nation went to war, would they enlist or be drafted?

I went to the bank and the grocery store that day. I didn’t know if it mattered, but I wanted to do what I could to protect my family.

I mostly prayed and begged God to forgive our sins and watch over our country. I prayed, not knowing if America was “ one nation under God.” I prayed, knowing our nation had made many choices that didn’t deserve God’s favor.

Do we deserve God’s favor and protection today?

Many politicians continue to end their speeches by saying, “May God bless America.” Have you noticed the many who no longer do? We have passed laws in this country that are fundamentally opposed to the laws of Scripture. In essence, our citizens are being asked to approve ideas and choices that God’s divine character cannot approve of and will not bless. 

The prophets taught the people what God would require of them. The prophets taught the people that God would surely discipline their choices. The prophets warned the people to listen, to think, to change, and to repent. Some did, but most did not.

So, God created a new covenant relationship with people through his Son, Jesus. His blessings were no longer promised to a nation of people. His new covenant was offered to everyone in the world. His new covenant was with “whoever believed” in his provision of salvation through Christ (John 3:16).

In 2030 . . .

The next time 9/11 falls on a Wednesday, it will be 2030 and I’ll be in my seventies. I wonder what I will say on that day. I wonder if I’ll have another 9/11 to talk about. I wonder if I will still be writing this blog post in 2030. 

What I do know is that, given the opportunity, I will still say what I want to say today.

We should be reminded of our highest calling every year on 9/11. A LOT of people died that day. Most people were significantly impacted by that day. Some of the victims went to heaven, while others lost their opportunity forever that day. I’m sure there were Christians who were thankful they had shared their faith with someone who had died. I’m also sure there were Christians who wished they had taken the opportunity to witness but had not.

When 9/11 falls on a Wednesday, I will use this blog post to remind us that there is no higher calling in this life than sharing our faith. We should care about people’s lives, feelings, and happiness, and we need to care even more about their souls.

It isn’t a pleasant thought, but it is necessary: If today is another tragic 9/11 that makes history, would you have regrets? Today is a good day to prayerfully consider that question and ask for God’s perfect answers. Today is a good day to ask God to redeem our nation and forgive our sins.

Will you take that time with God now and allow his Spirit’s voice to direct your life? Today is 9/11 and God still wants to redeem this date for his glory. How will he use your life to make a difference because you have prayed?

May God bless this day, and may God bless our nation.

The power of joy can fix your face

Christians owe it to God to consider their face and make the necessary improvements.

I’m not talking about Botox, fillers, makeup, or using your napkin after a meal. I’m talking about the expressions on our faces that others see throughout the day.  

What does your face look like during church? Walking through the grocery store? Waiting in a line? Waiting at a stop light? Talking to a friend? Talking to someone who is definitely not a friend?  

What does your face look like when you aren’t thinking about it? That is a very real part of our daily witness so it is worth considering. If our face doesn’t indicate our faith, then we should think about fixing it.  

Consider this: the power of joy can fix your face. 

Spiritual Botox 

According to this article, people in America spent more than $2.2 billion on Botox last year. I watched the red carpet show for the Academy Awards, and I’m pretty sure half of those dollars were spent in Hollywood! I didn’t even recognize some of the older actors and actresses. They did interviews, and the only part of their face that moved was their over-plumped lips. It was kind of eerie watching them speak. 

I’m not a big fan of all the cosmetic procedures that are now available. There is a huge profit for those who administer these procedures. Meanwhile, it’s getting more difficult to find a doctor who wants to treat our important health needs. We might need to evaluate our priorities just a bit. 

It’s okay to get old and it’s okay to get wrinkled. For Christians, it just means that you likely have wisdom, experience, and a shorter walk to the gates of heaven. Why would we want to erase our smile lines that indicate we have lived a life of joy and laughter? 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, prescribed some spiritual Botox. He said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4). 

People earn their wrinkles by living a life full of trials and tests. Spiritual Botox is to count it all joy knowing even the tough times help us perfect our faith. Joy has the power to fix our faces into peaceful smiles as “steadfastness” has its “full effect.” When our face carries a smile, we can tell the world we are Christians who are “lacking in nothing” because our hope is in the Lord. 

Spiritual fillers 

I must confess that I knew “fillers” were popular, but I didn’t really know much about them. I googled and was amazed at the quantity of stuff that is now being injected into people’s faces. Fillers are expensive and very popular. I’m sixty-five years old and could probably benefit from a few fillers, but frankly I’m way too frugal (or cheap) to think it worth the time and money. 

This is the face God gave me, and I’m good with that. Maybe I’ll change my mind a decade from now, but so far I’m okay with my lines, wrinkles, etc. I’d rather have that money in my bank account. 

We have a spiritual “bank account” in addition to our earthly one. Each day we invest in this world and we invest in our treasure in heaven. Our faith will determine our earthly priorities and our eternal investments. The apostle Peter said, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9). 

Every day there are moments when our face will reflect our faith. When are those moments for you? Is anyone else aware that your smile is sourced in the joy of your faith and the hope of your salvation? How can you help them see and know the Author of your joy? 

The glory of God is the best “filler” for our faith and for our face. When we believe in him, we “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.” People will notice joy on your face more than they will notice a wrinkle or two! 

How do you obtain a spiritual facelift? 

The psalmist tells us how to obtain the fullness of joy for our face. He praised God, saying, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). 

If you want or need a spiritual facelift, spend time in the holy presence of God. God will put a smile on your face because he will provide his joy to your life. Christians will one day dwell in his presence, but, for now, we need to make daily, frequent visits to the throne of heaven.  

God is “the God of hope” and faith is the spiritual “filler” our faces need. People will see the beauty of Christ within us, and that is our best witness to the world. 

Are you ready to fix your face? 

I close with these words from Paul. His wish for the church in Rome is my wish for all my readers today. Paul said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).  

I hope these words from a blog post put a smile on your face because they provided his joy to your soul. Now, carry that joy throughout your day and allow your face to reflect your faith to the world. I bet someone will comment on your smile today if you do!

The newness of life

Those of us who live in Texas are already enjoying the beginning of spring. The trees have begun to bud and the bulbs are shooting up with the promise of the flowers we will soon enjoy. And the ground is covered with pollen making everyone sneeze. (Not everything is perfect about spring in Texas!)

It’s hard not to smile when we look around at all God is able to produce from the earth, shrubs, and trees that only a few weeks ago looked dead. God’s creation is one of the best illustrations of God’s character. He is represented in all four seasons because each has a unique meaning and purpose for our lives. 

Jesus spoke with the Apostle John on the island of Patmos saying, “I am making everything new!” Then Jesus told John, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5). Jesus had just told John about the perfection of heaven and all that God’s people could look forward to when they gained their eternal lives. Jesus told John to write down all that he said about heaven because his words were “trustworthy and true.” 

Imagine the hope those words gave John, an elderly man living in exile and enduring hardship and pain each day. No matter what we possess on earth, it doesn’t compare with the riches of heaven. No matter what we face in our earthly lives, we have a great and powerful hope because of Christ. 

Our lives have seasons too

God is always inching us closer to heaven, the place where we will truly have the peace-filled life he wants for us. Heaven is the place where we will finally comprehend how much we are loved by our Creator.  

The hope of heaven is as real as the hope of each spring. Aren’t you glad we can celebrate Easter this time of year? God’s timing is exquisite. Jesus “looked” dead when they placed his body in the tomb, but the only thing that had died was the power of sin. Christians emerge from the baptismal waters to witness to the world that they have been made new.  

Our faith practices shout to the world that Jesus was raised from the dead and, through faith, that can be true for everyone. Each spring season is the chance to remember we are one year closer to our final, eternal rebirth. 

A new focus

I like this quote from a character named Socrates in Way of the Peaceful Warrior: “The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” 

Most of us look forward to each season and the promise of change. As wonderful as spring is, we look forward to the warm days of summer. When we grow tired of the heat and dried-up flowers, we are presented with the amazing colors of the fall. And, after the fullness of the fall season fades and the lights of the holidays are boxed up, we rejoice at the quiet simplicity of the winter months. 

When we embrace the changes in life, we enjoy the God who provides each season. This world is a reminder that change is an inevitable gift provided by our unchanging God. God never changes because he is perfect and doesn’t need to change. Our world tells a much different story.  

It’s good to gain a new focus with each season of the year and with every season of our lives. God will always step into our plans with his will to “make everything new” again. His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us as Jeremiah 29:11 makes clear.  

God gave us this season

It might surprise you to know that I struggle every Easter to embrace the joy. I’m actually grateful for the Monday after Easter Sunday. It breaks my heart to remember all that Jesus endured to provide for our celebration. In many ways, the Easter story is about the price paid for our sins. I’m sad Easter Sunday was necessary. I don’t ever want to forget that the majority of the Easter story was incredibly difficult for everyone who loved Jesus. 

We can’t know the depth of God’s love for us until we understand the depth of his commitment to us. God gave us his Son. God gave us Easter. God gave us spring as our annual reminder that only he can give life to what was dead. 

God holds our future. He doesn’t reveal it.

The disciples would probably describe the days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday as the most difficult week of their lives. In the space of one week, joy turned to fear, fear to distress, distress to anguish, and then anguish to uncertainty. It would be a while before uncertainty turned to joy. Our future will have each of those emotions as well. 

I like this quote from the Christian author Bob Goff: “Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.” It might be a surprise to some but the title is often the most difficult part of what we author. Oftentimes, my title changes as a blog post, Bible study, or book evolves. 

The same is true with life. We think we know our direction and then God guides us to a different place. How is your life different from your past thoughts, goals, or dreams? 

God doesn’t reveal our future but instead holds it in the palm of his hand. He feeds our life with breadcrumbs, one direction at a time. Christians know our destination, but we each have our own path to take in order to arrive there.  

We know the next season will come, but we don’t know what we will be doing when it arrives. As Bob Goff suggested, we should “embrace” the uncertainty. Each chapter can’t really be titled until it has been lived. 

Enjoy spring but meditate on Easter

Once again, Jesus is making all things new. Enjoy watching the trees bud and the bulbs send out their flowers. But, don’t forget to grab a tissue before your afternoon walk. It’s spring (at least here in Texas)! If you live in Wyoming, think of this blog post as a promise for your future. 

For all of us, it’s time to do some deep thinking about all this season meant to our Lord. Jesus came so that one day we could leave this changing world and enter the perfection God has always wanted for his creation.  

Let every hint of spring serve to remind us that God can give life to what was dead. Let’s embrace the changes of life and the newness of each season knowing that each one moves us a little closer to our promise of eternal joy. 

Jesus said, “I am making everything new!” 

Those words are trustworthy truth all of us can embrace. 

When you need God to speak

A few weeks ago we sang “Word of God Speak” in our chapel service. That is one of my favorite songs because it seems to usher us to the throne of God where we can sense the comfort of his presence. 

For many reasons, the phrase “Word of God speak” has been my personal prayer since that time. 

I have experienced the truth of God’s voice for a lot of years now and I wanted to write this blog post to teach, remind, or encourage all of you that his voice is a gift we should cultivate for our souls.

Sometimes when I am praying for a person who needs healing or a sense of peace or direction I pray, “Word of God speak.” I want to pray in his will so I ask for him to author my prayer with his words. Often, I want to pray for direction for my own life and choices so I pray, “Word of God speak . . . I want to hear your voice and follow your lead.”

There are times we need to hear God’s voice of comfort and love. During those times I often pick up the Bible and pray, “Word of God speak to me from pages. Speak to me from your truth.”

God speaks. 

When you need his voice, you will learn how to pray and how to listen. 

Frederick Faber’s teaching is wisdom

Frederick Faber was an English theologian and hymn writer in the mid-1800s. Faber struggled most of his life with poor health and eventually died of Bright’s disease at the age of forty-nine. His spiritual journey was marked by a brilliant theological education that he then applied to the needs in his life. His faith was strengthened even as his body grew physically weak. So many times, God redeems the hard times by using them to sanctify our souls. 

Frederick Faber has a quote that has been a goal and a strength to my own soul, especially when I need God’s direction or comfort in my own life. I wanted to share it with you all today. When you need God to speak, consider Faber’s teaching as truth for your life. He said:

There is hardly ever a complete silence in our soul. God is whispering to us well nigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these whisperings of God. He is always whispering to us, only we do not always hear because of the noise, hurry, and distraction which life causes as it rushes on.

What does the prophet Isaiah teach about God’s voice?

Isaiah 30 is a great education in our need to listen for, and to, the voice of God. It teaches us why those words by Frederick Faber are spiritual truth. 

We never have to wonder if God is speaking. God gave us his Holy Spirit so we could live with his voice. So why then do we struggle with knowing God’s will and obeying his voice? 

Isaiah 30 provides some answers.

The chapter begins with the words “‘Ah, stubborn children,’ declares the Lᴏʀᴅ, ‘who carry out a plan, but not mine, who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin’” (Isaiah 30:1).

Have you ever wondered how many mistakes you would have escaped if you had just asked God first?

Have you ever prayed for God’s direction only to immediately begin charting your own path? 

Sometimes we even say, “Lord, I’m moving ahead so stop me if I’m making a mistake.” 

The Israelites didn’t care what the prophets told them to do and didn’t want to wait for God to work in his timing. They made their own plans and did what they thought was right, not what God had shown them was best. That’s why God said in Isaiah 30:15, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Then the prophet told the people, “You were unwilling.”

God speaks all the time and God speaks when it is time. To move forward with our own ideas after praying for guidance is like turning on the faucet to fill the tub and then allowing the water to continually run while you take a shower instead. 

Let’s just say not to wait for God’s answer is to cause yourself a big mess and maybe significant damage.

The grace of God’s answers

As I’ve said, I’m not a fan of waiting, but I have learned that I am a fan of waiting on God. 

It is amazing to pray and then see God’s direction unfold through my circumstances. It is profoundly humbling to hear God speak his direction into my thoughts. When I choose to act on his words, I often realize that the Almighty God spoke into my life to call me to his purpose. 

God really does speak “well nigh incessantly” just like Frederick Faber said. His answers come with his grace and his understanding. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Isaiah 30:21. I discovered it almost three decades ago through my personal study of God’s word. I needed to know when and how to hear the voice of God in my life. I rarely take the time to offer that verse in the full context. But consider the passage so you can know that “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying . . . .”

Isaiah promised the nation of Israel and God’s people today:

For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 

Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!” (Isaiah 30:19–22).

That is a long passage, but this is the “Janet Denison” rewording of those verses because of the way they have come to be God’s truth for me whenever I need to “hear” the Word of God speak. I would write this passage to you this way:

One day, every Christian will dwell in heaven and never shed another tear. Until then, know you have a gracious God who hears every word you cry out to him. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 

God will allow you to endure adversity and affliction on earth, but the Holy Spirit of God, the Presence of Jesus, is there to guide you through each moment. You can see him if you will search for him. You can hear him if you will listen. You will hear God speak to you in your quiet moments of worship or as random thoughts that aren’t random at all. 

God will most often speak straight from the pages of Scripture. God will tell you, “This is the way, walk in it.” 

And, when you realize the God of the Universe has spoken, you will throw away or submit the lesser things that might influence your choices and trust what you know is the true answer from God from the leadership of his Spirit.

Word of God speak

If you need to discern the voice of God, stop, study, and listen until you do. 

Pray without ceasing and give God the quiet attention his answers deserve. 

How do you start? 

I’d advise you to begin with one of my favorite worship songs, “Word of God Speak,” then move to a careful study of Isaiah 30. Listen and read prayerfully and hear God’s voice guide you to the verses that constricted your soul and spoke to you. Live with that truth and then adjust your life to obey.

That is how God speaks and how he directs our path. 

Trust him to know what is best and God will say, “Here is the way. Walk in it.”

Reconciled to God and others

M of us use the word reconciled in our vocabularies to discuss a marriage relationship that was broken and is now put back together. We say, “They have reconciled.” Every earthly relationship goes through periods of distance or separation. It might not be a physical separation, but it still feels like there is a distance that has occurred. To be reconciled is to do what it takes to close that gap and grow close again. 

We know we were given the presence of God’s Holy Spirit when we became a Christian. The Holy Spirit is the proof that Christ has closed the gap and we have been reconciled to God. But, as long as we live on this side of heaven’s glory, we remain in “a gap.”  

It’s a good picture of what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 5 when he wrote, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight” (vv. 6–7). 

Let’s take Paul’s words to heart for just a moment. 

Our source of courage

Have you ever noticed it seems easier to handle a busy schedule when you know a vacation is coming?

Jim and I had an early mentor in our ministry. He told Jim that he and his wife always planned their next vacation while coming home from their current trip. He said it had been a key to their happiness, even when ministry was ramped up at top speed. It is easier to navigate the gap of an over-busy life when you know the separation from each other is for only a time.  

Paul said “we are always of good courage.” There is never a time we can’t look forward to our eternal lives. Right now, we are “away from the Lord,” but one day we will stand with him, in his presence.

It’s good to envision that permanent vacation every now and then. Has it been a while since you allowed your faith to carry you to those visions of heaven? Like the song says, “We can only imagine what it will be like, when we walk by his side.” 

When it seems like there is a gap between you and God, take a “trip with faith” and walk with Jesus on those streets in heaven. Take courage knowing that one day all we have faithfully imagined will be a physical, even more amazing reality. 

We are, right now, reconciled to God through our faith in Christ, and the relationship we have through faith will one day be a relationship experienced in his presence. 

Our reconciliation

We once celebrated a seventy-year anniversary with a couple in our church. Someone at the party asked them how they had been able to stay happily married all those years. He said, “Well, we are still working on that.” That was such a perfect answer! 

Those two people had one of the finest relationships I have ever seen. They never stopped “working on it.” They had their rough spots and had sometimes grown apart. But, they were married forever so they chose to work their way back to a better relationship with each other. The same is true in our relationship with God. 

Paul wrote the church in Corinth, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20–21).  

Christ made a permanent relationship with God possible. Christians are his adopted children and always will be. Every family relationship needs work so we can remain “reconciled” to one another. Our kids are always loved, but it takes effort to keep the relationships close. 

Our Righteousness

In Christ we “become the righteousness of God.” Maybe those words have become so familiar that we have forgotten they are “familial.” When you and I enter a room, we enter as one who is part of God’s family. We are called to represent our Lord and bear his name. That’s why Paul called us “Christ’s ambassadors.” 

We are to manifest the rightness of God in our relationships with others. Our righteousness is the rightness of God, displayed through our lives. THAT seems like a high, holy, and wholly impossible calling! Our calling is all of those things, this side of heaven. That’s why we need to be reconciled to God. 

When we get it right, it’s because we allow God to use our lives to make us right. The only righteousness in our lives is the righteousness of God. Thankfully, when we need to represent God in a room, he is willing, able, and would prefer to do the talking. He will need us to get our own sense of self out of the way. 

One day, in heaven, we will live like righteous, holy children of God in every moment. Now, we live in that gap. When we have a reconciled life to God through faith, we have become the righteousness of God. Perfect faith isn’t possible this side of heaven, but it is nevertheless to be our constant goal. 

Our reconciled relationship

I know that every Christian who reads these words will be fully reconciled to God’s presence eternally. That said, if our lives aren’t bearing witness to the “righteousness of God,” we need to work on our relationship with God.  

How do we strengthen our family ties? 

  • Take a vacation from the world, from media and technology, in order to spend time with God. Take courage through faith that one day you will spend all your time present with him in heaven.
  • Ask God if there is anything separating your heart from his. Our sins separate and widen the gap. Confess those things and ask God to help you draw as near as possible. We are his children and we need to work on that relationship. Imagine how much he looks forward to that time together.
  • Finally, live aware of the fact that you are the righteousness of God every time he speaks or ministers through you. Is there any other agenda that seems more important as you enter a room? Focus your thoughts on God. His words, his thoughts, and his presence will soon follow.

Reconciliation is the business of God

In case any of these words seem like too much to handle, remember that it isn’t our abilities that bring about reconciliation. God is the giver of reconciliation. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).  

Everything you need is given by the Creator of all things. Reconciliation with God is certain because it is always his will. Reconciliation with another person requires two wills, neither of which is perfect. Hopefully, both will turn to the perfection of God and be reconciled. Either way, God judges our hearts. We can be right with him, even when we can’t be right with another.  

We can do our part to be reconciled to God so that we can be his ambassadors and his righteousness in the world. What a holy privilege we have been given! I hope the Lord has brought someone to your mind as you read these words today. Let’s take time to pray for ourselves and others. 

Blessings to all of you “reconciled ambassadors.” It will be fun to hang out on our eternal vacation someday!

Chasing peace in a Walmart parking lot

I am now on Instagram, even though I’m still not quite sure what it is. I’ve always thought it was a place to post pictures of babies, dogs, and prom dates.


If you happen to know what it is and are on it, I hope you will follow me here.

I waited in my grocery pickup spot at Walmart for twenty minutes. 

My grocery order was ready, according to the app. This was the grocery order that was supposed to have been ready three hours earlier. 

I watched as I waited. Angry people got out of their cars demanding groceries and answers. They didn’t want to spend their Saturday in the parking lot either. 

The winds were howling, things were swirling in the air, and all of us wished we were somewhere else, doing something else. Then my order arrived. 

The person in the car next to me jumped out and demanded to know why I was getting my order when they had pulled into their spot before I had pulled into mine. 

That’s when I noticed the face of the young man delivering my groceries.

Chase peace 

The young man was gripping the cart and had to lock the wheels because the wind was blowing it around. He tried to explain that my order had been scheduled for pickup three hours earlier and orders were running way behind that day. He was cursed at before the angry person pulled away. Quickly, two cars fought for the newly emptied spot next to me. 

I got lucky that day. I was as cranky as the person in the car next to me. I had better things to do with my day than wait for a bunch of groceries. 

Then I saw my own attitude acted out in front of me. 

And I saw the face of the young man, who wasn’t to blame, being blamed. 

I got lucky that day because God gave me a chance to change my attitude before I spoke. 

The young man quickly put the groceries in the back of my car, trying to get his job done, and go on to the next person. Out of all the angry people in that parking lot, he had the right to be the angriest. Instead, he looked beaten down. He had just been cursed at because he came to work that day. 

I got lucky because I was given the chance to change my attitude before it was my turn to speak. 

The Bible says, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:19). Christians aren’t told to wish for peace; we’re told to pursue it. 

You’ve heard the familiar saying, “You get what you look for.” God told us to chase after peace. Pursue those things that cause and create mutual upbuilding. 

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9, emphasis added). 

I wrote this blog post in my head as I drove home. 

Chase peace, not privilege 

The news this week is tough. 

Our country relaxed our attitudes and now COVID is once again the lead story. Last spring, they told us the fall months would bring a second wave. We shouldn’t be surprised, but we seem to be. Americans are used to our freedoms and used to doing and having what we think we deserve. 

The person in the car next to me thought she deserved her groceries first. I thought I deserved my groceries three hours before I got them. The young man hauling our food deserved our gratitude. None of us were getting what we deserved. 

Americans are a privileged people, and we chase our privileges. God’s word tells us to chase peace, not privilege. “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). 

All of us sat in our comfortable cars, impatient because our grocery orders were delayed. Meanwhile, a young man pushed a cart in the wind and unloaded our food into our cars—and we thought we deserved something better. 

I looked at the young man’s face and realized he was doing his best and no one thought that was good enough. 

The next couple of months might seem like things aren’t good enough. The holidays are going to be different. The holidays this year should be different, if you want them to be safe. 

Are we chasing God’s peace for our present reality, or do we feel like we deserve something better?

Chase peace as a priority 

The highest priority for the next few months is to keep people safe until they can be vaccinated. All of us are tired of waiting. Some will get the vaccine first and others will be forced to wait. Everyone will need to “pursue peace,” but only some will. 

Today is a good day to make your choice. 

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). God’s children are blessed when they make peace. Creating peace in this world is our Christian priority. 

Why is peacemaking our job? 

That question is answered by Jesus’ half brother, James, the same brother who probably argued with Jesus about his preaching in Mark 3. James later wrote that “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18). 

Christians are tasked with making peace, not wishing for it. Our blessing, our eternal reward, and our “harvest of righteousness” result from that priority. 

Are you peaceful and content with your blessings these days, or wishing for something more? 

Let’s not wait for a vaccine to bring us peace. Let’s pursue peace now. 

We are children of God, tasked with peacemaking. Our blessing will be a harvest of righteousness. 

Who will be right with God because we choose to pursue peace? 

Chase peace as an opportunity 

When I met the eyes of the young man loading my groceries, he quickly looked away. I think he thought I was going to complain about the long wait. 

Truthfully, if I hadn’t seen him get “cursed,” I might have missed an opportunity. 

Instead of venting about the inconvenience, I was able to speak some words of peace, gratitude, and compassion. I got lucky that day. I was given the opportunity to witness someone else’s sin so I could recognize my own. I was given the opportunity to serve the Lord’s purpose. 

When the young man’s eyes looked up again, I was able to see a tired smile and I was blessed. 

All of us have opportunities ahead, especially in the next couple of months. This is a good day to decide how we are going to “pursue peace” in a season that is about peace. 

We don’t pursue peace by hoping for it. 

We are called to “make peace” for the sake of others and for ourselves. 

When you chase peace, you chase God 

I will close this blog with the words Paul wrote to close his second letter to Corinth: “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). 

The next few months are an opportunity. 

Let’s commit to being peacemakers in a culture that desperately needs peace. 

Paul reminds us that when we aim at peace, we are literally seeking the presence of God. 

Don’t hope for peace; make peace. “And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 

I lived Paul’s words while driving home with all my groceries. 

As it turned out, I didn’t have anything better to do that day.

P.S. Have you signed up for my bible study, Foundations of Faith, yet?

It’s not too late, we just released another lesson!

Visit https://www.janetdenisonbiblestudy.com/ to sign up for this study, if you’ve already signed up you can login and access the newest video too.

The pursuit of peace

The best conclusion to a good argument is arriving at a place of understanding, knowing how each person involved is somewhat right and somehow wrong.

Our country is probably better off than any of us think, but, right now, it just seems like a mess. It’s the truth that will bring about permanent change, but the truth is that every side is partly right and partly wrong. 

Until all are able to speak honestly and rationally about facts, the problems will continue. 

Conflict is a normal part of life

The good news is that, throughout our history, some of the best adjustments in our thinking have taken place after arguments. 

God already has a plan to redeem the hurt, for a greater good, if we will be called to his good purpose. (Romans 8:28). 

So what is God’s purpose? 

Romans 14:19 says, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” 

I often teach that one of the most important words of a verse is the verb. Romans 14:19 teaches that we are to pursue those things that bring about peace and the mutual good of everyone. 

I expect that our country will heal—if we can recognize that everyone involved is somewhat right and somehow wrong. 

If we pursue those things that bring peace and mutual upbuilding, we can arrive at a place of change that will be based on truth. Truth will likely humble and help everyone involved. 

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). 

What is the truth?

In that same passage, Jesus tells us why complete truth evades most of us at times. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). 

Every human being is enslaved by, or controlled by, our sin natures. Our salvation gifted us with the indwelling of Christ, through his Holy Spirit. We are able to be filled with, or controlled by, his Spirit, but that is a free-will choice. 

We live in a culture that was quick to believe Oprah when she used the phrase “personal truth.” In other words, truth can be what seems right, or feels right, personally. 

It will just take a minute to think about those words and realize that “personal truth” is just another way of saying “personal opinion.” 

Truth isn’t based on what seems true or feels true to a person. Truth is not personal because it transcends opinions. 

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 

That’s why Jesus could tell those disciples, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). 

Our daily choices are because we are enslaved to the Holy Spirit of Christ or because we are enslaved to our human nature in the moment. None of us is completely free, yet. 

As Christians, we are completely saved, but we don’t enjoy the full benefits of our salvation until heaven. 

Choose truth; choose freedom

I hope that when tempers calm, truth will be spoken by people who realize its high value. Everyone is right and everyone is wrong—because everyone is an imperfect human being. 

We are free to speak, but if we are enslaved to Christ, we are not to speak freely. If we are enslaved to Christ, we allow him to speak his words of truth, peace, and mutual upbuilding through us. 

God’s word has been changing people’s lives since the beginning of time. The freedom we all need is the freedom to live enslaved by God’s thoughts, which are the truths, spoken by his Holy Spirit, in agreement with Scripture. 

Why do people still suffer?

One of my life verses is from the book of Hosea. God spoke to the prophet Hosea during one of the darkest times in human and church history. I’ve often said that God’s words to Hosea have been the reason I keep teaching and writing. 

God told Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). 

People are being destroyed by opinions because they have rejected the knowledge of God. Jesus is their Messiah. He is the way, the truth, and the eternal life they need. And there is suffering in our world because they have forgotten the God who created and redeemed it through his Son. 

People suffer now, and will suffer eternally, if we don’t help them know God through salvation in Christ. 

The thought that prompts

If you are like me, words fail. I don’t know how to speak my thoughts well. I don’t know who to speak them to. I don’t know if I should speak at all. 

But the thought that prompts me today is the knowledge that I know the One who will always speak the truth—and the truth will set us all free from sinful thoughts, words, and actions. His word is truth and is therefore the solution to our struggles. 

People suffer when they lack knowledge of God’s truth. May the Lord help all of us quiet our opinions so Jesus can speak his truth through us. 

Let’s take time to pray Samuel’s prayer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9). God speaks to servants who take time to listen. 

Maybe our words need to fail right now so we will take the time to listen for his words. 

It’s his truth that matters and his truth that will help. 

Let’s live consistently aware that we have a high calling. We are to be enslaved to God for his good purpose. 

“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” 

Let’s be servants who listen.

One Day, Two Stories, No Words

I received an email telling me that the horrific story I had listened to on the morning news had happened to a family I knew. I had been praying for the people involved, not knowing one of them was a woman I teach in Bible study.

Sometimes evil has a face.

My friend’s family was impacted by evil personified. Her niece, a twenty-two-year-old woman who had recently graduated from college, was kidnapped, robbed, attacked, and then violently murdered. The attack was recorded on a nearby camera, and it was truly horrific. 

My friend’s grief is compounded by the darkness that surrounds her niece’s death. 

Thankfully, the man was quickly arrested. A jury might allow him to live, but I can’t imagine he will ever be set free.

Sometimes grief has no one to blame.

That night, the first story in the news was my friend’s nightmare, and the last story of the evening was about a different kind of nightmare.

Babe Laufenberg is a favorite sports broadcaster here in Dallas. His son had hoped to play football in college this fall. Instead, the news ended with a report that Luke Laufenberg, aged twenty-one, had died of cancer. 

The entire sports broadcast was devoted to what a fine young man he had been and what a hero he was to the people who knew him. Jason Garrett, coach of the Dallas Cowboys, could barely complete his interview. He was grieving for his friends. 

Sometimes grief is the result of living in this imperfect world. Bad things happen, indiscriminately, and no one is to blame. 

We want heaven’s promises now—but this world will never be heaven. 

Is there really help for the horrible?

It was one day and two incredibly sad stories. Two young people, two families, and crowds of people who wish they had words to help.  

What can we say or do when people experience their worst moments of life? 

Are there words for the impossible moments of grief that life inevitably brings? 

Every life is different, but no life is spared loss. 

What can we say, do, and offer that will help in the worst moments of grief?  

I’m not a trained psychologist, but I have shared the journey of grief with a lot of people throughout our years of ministry. There are some powerful verses from the Psalms that I believe apply to moments of grief. 

Words—even the truth of Scripture—don’t end our grief, but they can offer some help we need for it. God provided us these Psalms. There is truth he wants us to know and give to others.

God is near.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” 

Many grieving people talk about feeling numb. That numbness feels wrong or worrisome to most of them, but what if that numbness is a gift of God’s presence? 

We use anesthesia to keep a person from fully experiencing pain. Everyone has different experiences, but almost all experience the numbness. 

I’ve often wondered if that was God’s nearness to them in their pain. What if God’s Presence, his nearness, grants a numbness that is simply his blessing for the crushed spirit? 

Anesthesia is only for a limited time. Eventually, there is the pain involved in getting to our feet. 

God is there for that as well. 

God won’t let you fall.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” 

Some translations say, “He will never let the righteous fall.” 

When the world has moved forward, people remain in their grief. It hurts to walk again. Rehab is hard. People know they need to try because professionals, friends, and loved ones tell them to try. 

But no one else has to feel the pain and loneliness of the grieving person’s steps.  

I think God would say, “Here is my arm. Grab on. It’s just us now, and this will hurt, but I won’t let you fall.” 

God guides us through the tunnels of this life, and some are incredibly long, dark, and lonely. But, the only failure is letting go of the arm that knows the way through the darkness. 

Grief is a tunnel, not a cave. As surely as there was a beginning, there is an end. You will emerge in a new place, but you will always know it is the place God brought you. 

There will be joy.

Psalm 30:5 says, “His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” 

Grieving people will never feel “happy” about their loss. The psalmist doesn’t say they will. It’s joy that comes in the morning. 

This psalm was written about God’s anger not lasting, but the rest of the psalm offers great truth about God’s help. What does this psalm teach us about the Creator of the universe and the way he cares for his people? What does this psalm teach about God’s care for the grieving?  

God’s favor lasts for a lifetime. 

He will continue to show his favor, even as the grief subsides and invariably returns again. 

God’s gift to the grieving person isn’t about happy circumstances. It is something greater and more complete. Joy is the incomprehensible peace and contentment that transcends our happiness—and our grief. 

The night may be longer than you would wish, but morning will come. It always does. There will be joy in the morning.

Even when God is barely enough—He is still enough.

When God calls you to minister to a person who is grieving, it is important to realize that he doesn’t want you to minister. He wants to minister through you. 

The reason you have no words is that you have no words. Only God has those words. You don’t know what to say, and it might be best to remain still until you have prayed and asked God to speak through you. 

And, often, it is just about bringing his Holy Presence into the room. 

If you are a Christian, Jesus enters the room with you. That’s why so many grieving people will say, “I don’t remember what you said . . . I just know you were there.” 

Your words might not matter, but allowing Jesus to minister through you will matter—eternally. 

Again, we don’t choose that job; we just obey if he chooses us. Every Christian should pray. 

God honors the prayers of his people and there are two families that need prayer. So, together we pray: 

Holy Father, bring people to these families who will bring you into the room. And God, if it is one of us, may we be your hands and your love and speak only your words—through the power of your Spirit and for the glory of Christ. It’s in his name we pray, amen. 


God Knew It Would Take Effort

Three of my favorite words in the Bible are found in the book of Hebrews. Whenever I see them, I breathe a sigh of relief because those words reveal God’s expectations. Those three words are found at the beginning of Hebrews 12:14.

The NIV version says, “Make every effort . . . .”

The Lord knew that living our faith was not going to come naturally. It would take effort.

Who wrote those words?

We don’t know who authored Hebrews, but I would like to meet him one day in heaven.

Theologians think it was probably Barnabas or Apollos, and that would make sense. Those men spent a lot of time with Paul, learning Christian doctrine, traveling from city to city, and teaching Christianity to people from many different backgrounds.

If you study the life of Paul, you’ll learn that he was highly respected, was loved and appreciated by many, but probably was not the easiest person to live with. He burned everyone’s candles at both ends.

Barnabas and Paul argued over John Mark and went their separate ways for a time. First Corinthians seems to reveal that some tension existed between Paul and Apollos. No one was better at Christian doctrine than Paul, but no one caused quite as much trouble as Paul either.

Is that why theologians think the author of Hebrews was Barnabas or Apollos?

God expects us to make an effort

Whoever the Holy Spirit inspired to write the book of Hebrews really understood the Christian life in a non-Christian world. God has very high standards for his children, and all of us are going to struggle to live up to his expectations. But, then again, God expects us to struggle.

What God is really asking us is to “make every effort.”

The New International Version of Hebrews 12:14–15 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Our salvation doesn’t depend on living up to God’s standards. We were saved by his grace through Christ because we couldn’t live perfectly. Our witness, however, does depend on our efforts. And a LOT of Christians are making a great effort to “live in peace” and be “holy” because they want people to see the Lord.

A different way to view the news

I decided to look at the news a bit differently and was surprised by the thoughts that followed.

There was another mass shooting, this time in Virginia Beach. I was appalled at the pain that one man’s massacre left behind. I was impressed by his coworkers and the law enforcement who risked their lives to stop him from killing more.

I also wondered if, in the aftermath, there were Christian coworkers who were wishing they had made “every effort” to lead that man to the Lord.

After those thoughts, I decided to consider the story from a different point of view. I wondered how many news stories do not exist today because of the Christians who have made every effort to make sure that “no one falls short of the grace of God.”

The unreported news

We normally hear about the failures, but, one day in heaven, we will learn of all the successes.

If I see things from a new perspective, I’ll realize that there are hundreds, thousands, and maybe tens of thousands of people who have lived full lives because somewhere, sometime, a person made every effort to live like God requested his children to live.

I know there are countless millions of people who will live eternally because Christians made that effort.

For every shooter, there are billions of people who are not evil. For every human being who falls short, there are humans who don’t. There are a lot of people making an effort to live in peace with others and be holy. As a result, there are a lot of people who will get to meet their Lord one day.

Growth that isn’t good

There is one more word from the author of Hebrews. He knew what comes naturally for Christians who make an effort to live holy lives while surrounded by people who don’t.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Do stories like the Virginia shooting increase your efforts to share God’s grace or do they feed the “bitter root” that grows up and causes trouble?

I know I’m guilty of the latter. I almost can’t watch the news these days without my “bitter root” growing another few inches. I need to make a greater effort not to fall short of living with the presence and power of God’s grace. I need to make every effort to help others find that blessing in their lives as well.

Praise God for the news we don’t see

It is a different way to view the news. Most of the news does not reflect holy living. Praise God for all we don’t see on the news that does. There are people who are making every effort to live with God’s standards, and people come to know God’s salvation every day.

Does your bitter root need a little tending to?

If so, make every effort to live a holy life and lead others to faith. That effort will be rewarded here on earth and in heaven. People are rarely bitter at a baptism!

Today, you will have the opportunity to be an example of God’s grace to someone. It was an effort for the author of Hebrews, and it will be an effort for us. But someday the good news will be known.

Let’s joyfully and faithfully be part of those headlines.

Marie Kondo’s Advice

Who is Marie Kondo?

I kept noticing a beautiful Japanese woman popping up on various news programs and talk shows. Her name is Marie Kondo and, apparently, I’m late to her fan base. Marie Kondo has written a best seller titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and has a hit show on Netflix.

That book title grabbed my attention. I’m known among family and friends for being a stickler for cleanliness. So, I investigated her website to learn more about this woman. Marie Kondo, as it turns out, is making a fortune encouraging people to clean up and simplify their surroundings by choosing to keep only the things that give joy.

The concept was intriguing. Even as I type, I’m looking around and realizing that, if I were to take her words to heart, I would get rid of several things, just in this one room. I’m sixty. I’ve been married for thirty-eight years and we have accumulated a lot of “stuff.”

Six rules for a tidy life

Marie Kondo has six basic rules to tidying:

  • Commit yourself to tidying.
  • Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
  • Finish discarding first.
  • Tidy by category, not by location.
  • Follow the right order.
  • Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

Marie teaches, “If you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again.” (And yes, I checked. She does have children.)

A lot of what she teaches makes good sense. I started making a home in the 1980s. Back in those days, we couldn’t put enough “stuff” on our shelves. Every stack of books required a small brass pot with a plant on top. And every wall was to be a collage of something rather than one giant canvas of one giant flower. And, we were taught to find our joy in God and in people, not things.

God’s rules for a tidy life

I teach Bible and therefore believe that the highest joy is a product of knowing God and walking in a right relationship with our Creator. But the Bible also teaches about the importance of simplicity and not being consumed by the “stuff” of life.

Paul taught Timothy to keep things simple in his life, writing, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6–8). I think people in our culture would be happier today if we took these verses to heart in our lives.

Interestingly, Marie Kondo teaches that the first place a person should simplify is their clothes closet. The second step is their books. I’ll be honest, I’m really “tidy” except for my clothes and my books. Maybe Marie is onto something here! I don’t think I will become a Marie Kondo disciple anytime soon, but I do think she inspires some healthy thinking.

If you are like me, you probably have too much “stuff” cluttering your life and home as well. Maybe spring cleaning this year should be a little larger in scale.

A clean life and a clean soul

A few weeks ago, I sent around an idea on my Facebook page. A friend had shared the idea with me and I thought it was a great one.

Christians have a tradition of “giving up” something for Lent. The season of Lent begins in one week. The Facebook post suggests that we all take boxes and bags, and, for the forty days of Lent, give up at least one thing we don’t use anymore, that someone else could. At the end of those forty days, we can donate those things to a ministry or resale center.

As I look around my home, I could probably do this every day for a year! One thing, each day, that we can give to someone else. How will that choice simplify our lives and bless others?

To that I would add this idea: The “stuff” Christians give shouldn’t always be material. What would happen if we added a second commitment?

What words can you give away each day as well? Easter is a time when people are more aware of Jesus and his sacrificial gift of salvation. Whom can you share the joyful hope of Easter with this year?

Marie Kondo instructs people to only keep those things that give them joy. I think there is some value in her thinking. But, there is a higher value in God’s thinking, and I want to close with his words.

Isaiah 55:1–3 reveals the compassion of God for his people. God told Isaiah to tell us:

Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live.

I’m going to choose something nice each day of the Lenten season that I can give away to someone who needs it more. I also want to commit to inclining my ear to God’s voice for those forty days. I want my closet and home to look a little better by Easter, but, even more, I would like my soul to be better as well.

Will you join me in choosing some of Marie Kondo’s advice and all of God’s?

We can bless other people with what we give up and give away. Our homes, our lives, and our souls will look a lot better for Easter this year if we make that commitment for the season of Lent.