Category: Different Scriptures

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

ponies and caring.

Posted on by Wick

It happens a thousand times a day.  Okay, that may be a hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis), but it happens daily, and usually several times a day.  One of our children will come up to us with a request.  We love our children, and would LOVE to give them every good thing.  But on many occasions, the thing they’re asking for would not quite be the best thing for them.

Case in point: ponies.

They’re great at a birthday party, or a state fair.  They’re even awesome at a friends’ house.  Some people may have the ability to own one as a pet, and take care of it well.

We do not.  Even if our daughters would love one.

In Luke 23:43, we see Jesus loving one of God’s children, by responding to His request a bit differently than expected.  We hear about this story all the time.  It’s about the men who were hung next to Jesus at Golgotha, crucified for what they’d done against Rome and the people.  Both mock Jesus, but one has a turn of heart and eventually asks Jesus, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

At this point we generally hear something about how Jesus spoke His agreement, and the man attained “salvation”.

But as we look closer, we see Jesus not quite giving the man what he was asking for.  We know that Jesus was viewed by many as not just a theological savior, but as a political savior also.  The “messiah” who would free them from Roman rule, and establish the Kingdom of God (think Rome, but with God instead of Caesar) on earth.  This man is suddenly convinced that Jesus is the messiah, and wants to be remembered when this Kingdom of God comes about.

To this, Jesus smiles with love, and offers the man something even better.  Freedom from the desire to be in power over Rome.  Jesus points the man toward “paradise”, a place of existence in the presence of Jesus, to await the completion of what God has begun.  Sure enough, the Kingdom of God is launched in Jesus Christ.  But even in His dying moment, Jesus takes the time to redirect someone who wants power and “being”, and offers something even better – His presence.

Isn’t it good to know that when we pray, God loves us enough to give us more than we even know to ask for???

Posted in Different Moments, Different Scriptures

helper.

Posted on by Wick

Ever since the gluten-free beignets incident, I’ve wanted to try and make some home-made donuts worthy of some hot apple cider.  Our daughters aren’t currently eating gluten-free, because we hope to get them officially tested soon – so I wanted to use this to my advantage.  Yes, I will confess – I believe gluten tastes amazing.

So this past week, I found a recipe that sounded awesome.  I waited until the girls were all awake, and I got the oil heating on the stove.  As I stirred in the cinnamon, and the nutmeg, I’m pretty sure I was more excited than they were.  Finally the dough was ready, and I went to check on the oil.  It seemed like it might be a bit too hot, so I turned it down and waited a minute or two.  I cut the first couple donuts, and gently dropped them into the oil to fry.

They turned black almost instantly, as a sizzling cloud of smoke rose from the pot.

So I turned down the heat, and waited a bit longer.  Finally, I cooked the rest of the donuts to a crisp golden-brown, dusting them each with cinnamon/sugar when they were finished.  They looked amazing.  We sat down together at the table, each with a cold glass of milk.  One by one, as we bit into our donuts, we realized that even though they looked amazing, and ready to eat – the middle was a bit soft.  Okay, it was pretty much still dough.  One out of 3 daughters still loved them.

One of our daughters looked at me, and with a cuteness I could not resist, she offered, “Daddy, why don’t you let mommy help you next time?”   🙂

“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18

I’m thankful for my helper. I realize there are moms and dads out there who, for different reasons, find themselves parenting on their own with His help. But I’m blessed to have an incredible woman, to do so much more than help me not burn the donuts.  This moment comes as a reminder to us as parents:

We are only the best parents we can possibly be – when we understand we have a helper.  We are doing this together, and ultimately – together with The Helper.  You’re not alone, even if you’re reading this as a single parent.  We each have a God who sees what we need, and is working to provide for those needs.  May we turn to toward Him, thankful for what He has given us, and looking forward to the day that, with our children, we will experience healing and newness as never before…

And even now. 🙂

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts, Uncategorized

spilled milk.

Posted on by Wick

Imagine- you’re in the midst of dinner, and your daughter reaches out for the butter dish.  As her arm stretches out across the table, she inadvertently knocks over her glass of milk.  Everything at the table freezes, and gasps are heard from her sisters as all eyes immediately look to you.  There is a layer of fear masking her face as she waits for your response.  You can’t believe she would ever do such a thing.  How could she be so careless?  She obviously has no right sitting at this table.  You respond by asking her to leave the house.

That would never happen, obviously.

As much as we might get frustrated as our children develop their fine motor skills, our Love for them far outweighs any accident they might make.  As they grow, our children experience that Love, and learn it’s depth.  They have the ability to form their identity around the perceived Love felt toward them.

It’s the same in our marriages.  Imagine if I’d accidentally turned my wife’s favorite white shirt pink by washing it with a brand new Detroit Redwings jersey.  Walking up the stairs from the laundry room, I keep my head down, knowing she’ll be unhappy.  As I show her the shirt, her jaw drops at my incompetence.  She tells me firmly that I’m not good enough for her anymore, and there’s the door.

Thank goodness, that would never happen either. 🙂

A marriage is not two perfect people discovering step by step how perfectly they were “created for each other”, so that every step closer to each other is a step toward perfect wedded bliss.  Marriage is two imperfect people, committing to a life together where we are continually refined, forgiven, and grow in our ability to reflect the Love of God.

1 John chapter 4 talks quite a bit about the Love of God.  You’ve probably heard the song, “Beloved, Let Us Love One Another, for Love is of God, and anyone that loves is born of God….etc.”  But I want to point out a verse found later in the chapter…

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

Apparently this was an issue in the early church, and one that is still found in some areas of our walk with God.  The above situations seem obviously silly.  No parent or spouse would ever respond that way. Why?  Because of their love for the other.  Yet, many times we’ll attribute that same judgmental love to God.  We don’t serve a God who’s sitting up straight, nose high, at the end of the table just waiting for one of his clumsy children to spill the milk.   He’s not shaking his head at how incompetent His bride is, as she stumbles along attempting to be the Body of Christ.

As we continue to grow in our faith, and learn about how we are loved by God, we are able to let go of our Spiritual “performance anxiety”.  We are freed from sin, but we may still spill the milk on occasion.  We’ll put ourselves before others.  We’ll make rather silly decisions that require a bit of cleaning up.  The same is true of those we love.  Thankfully, one of the most emphasized messages throughout scripture is the overwhelming Love of God.  Love that we are called to echo in our own lives, toward others as we follow God together.

May we respond lovingly to the milk-spillers in our lives this week, knowing that our own wobbly arms often knock the glass over as well…