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The Quiet Ones

[To tell the truth, I wrote this out of the frustration of feeling that I’m
a “nobody”.  So maybe my motives aren’t too pure. But, anyway …]


THE QUIET ONES: Don’t Ridicule Yourself

 
I am grateful for all the people, famous or not, who have influenced me for the better.  Some are famous authors, speakers, etc., and many or most are Christian.  Some are well-known within certain circles. Many of them, whom I might not know personally, have exhorted, pushed and prodded me to desire and reach for a holier and more God-honoring life.  They are an essential part of the body of Christ.

 

But today I would like to write about what I call “The Quiet Ones”. They are not “leaders” in the strict sense of the word.  They haven’t written books that thousands read.  They don’t address large audiences.  They might not, like Paul of Tarsus or Mother Teresa, be very well known.  But nevertheless, they can have a huge influence.

 

I am thinking, in particular, of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Hardly anything is known about her. Very few words of hers are recorded. As far as we know, she was not followed by huge crowds. Yet, I think, most Christians would agree that her influence on the world was tremendous, because she allowed Jesus to live in her, both physically and spiritually.

 

Her life was on one of total submission to God and total humility. I believe that it’s because of her humility, her “nobodyness” in the world’s eyes (but submitted to God), that He chose her to be Jesus’ mother.

 

The things we do know about her show her deep humility.  “Let it be done unto me” was her “Yes” to God. While it was certainly an intense joy to know she would be the Savior’s mother, think also of the courage and faith she had to have, to face the ridicule of an “unplanned pregnancy”.  She could have been stoned to death. We could also probably write volumes about her husband, Joseph, another “Quiet One”.

 

Think of her praises to God, in the company of her relative Elizabeth.  To praise God in such a situation, facing ridicule and social ostracism, she had to focus on the glorious reality of what God was doing in her.

 

Think of how she pointed to Jesus: “Do whatever He tells you”, which I believe as His first disciple, she herself practiced.

 

And think of how she stood by Jesus’ side, not only as He suffered excruciating physical pain, but the emotional pain of scorn and ridicule, and feeling abandoned by God.  And of course, her unspeakable joy when He rose from the dead …

 

Yes, I am very grateful for all the “leaders” in my life, who have pushed me to grow and stretch for God’s kingdom.  It takes great courage to put oneself in the public eye.

 

But please, if you are a “Quiet One”, don’t disparage yourself.  You may be having a greater influence than you know.

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“For everyone has sinned …”

Once I was watching a documentary about the Nuremberg Trials (in which prominent Nazis were on trial for World War II war crimes). A Jewish man who was present related how he suddenly fainted during the testimony of one of the accused. When asked why he fainted, he said, “Suddenly I realized that I, too, was capable of the same horrible actions.”

We ALL need forgiveness.  We cannot do any good without God’s help.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)

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God Is Going to Win!

One day I went to church, soon after the Paris terrorist attacks in November, 2015.  The priest talked about the fact that many boys are kidnapped or forced into terrorist training, as young as age six.  They are taught violence and how to cause destruction.  They may be threatened with death if they don’t cooperate.  They don’t know any other life.  I don’t know if the priest implied it, or I thought it myself – “How can they not be terrorists? They don’t anything else.” The priest also offered heartfelt prayers for violence to end, for our safety, and for God to touch the terrorists.

So, I’m driving home after this, and God knows what unconscious process unfolded in me, but suddenly I kept thinking, “God is going to win! Love is going to win! Love is stronger than all the violence, hate, and destruction.”  This kept going through my mind for perhaps the rest of the day, and beyond.

I feel so sure that God, who is Love, will win in the end.

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Warmth in the Cold

Warmth in the cold — how often do we take it for granted?

A fire, a heater in our home, a warm jacket, a cap that covers our head and ears, a warm scarf, socks and shoes or boots, blankets, quilts, or comforters.  And how about the warmth of a smile, a hug, a gentle voice, a forgiving or encouraging friend?

I once stayed a weekend at a cabin in Grass Valley, California.  All the heating, cooking, and hot water was produced by burning wood.  On mornings there would be a designated person who got up first and got the fire going for heating the cabin.  People took turns because it wasn’t so pleasant getting up in the cold.  Then, if you wanted to get clean in the shower, water had to be heated by burning wood.  Cooking was a lot more work, too.  In the United States and other places, we take our electric or gas heaters and ovens for granted.

So today, let’s be grateful for warmth.  And Lord, help us to offer your warmth to someone today.

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OUR Father

Isn’t it amazing that we can call God OUR Father! Along with Jesus, who was sinless, we are allowed the privilege of calling His Father, OUR Father in heaven. We can walk with Jesus, looking up to the same Father!

Among my mother’s belongings, after her death, I found a little slip of paper with the following typewritten words, which inspired me to write the words above:

“Pride says ‘Look how great I am,’ and then runs ahead of God.
Despair says, ‘Look how awful I am,’ and then runs away from God.
Humility says, ‘Look at the greatness of my Father,’ and then walks with God.
Sometimes I need to ask myself, ‘Which child of God am I?’ “

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Are You a Hopeless Case?

Do you feel like you’re a hopeless case? That no matter what you do, you can’t do it right? That no matter what, your circumstances will never improve? THEN REJOICE!

WHAT ?!?!?!

Yes, I said “REJOICE!” Because God delights in rescuing and healing hopeless cases. Some examples:

1) The Israelites were stuck between Pharoah’s army and the Red Sea with nowhere to escape. BUT GOD, through Moses, parted the Red Sea waters, led the Israelites through, and then let the waters return to their place, drowning Pharoah’s soldiers (Exodus 14).

2) Naaman, not even a believer at the time, and stricken with leprosy, followed the advice of a young Jewish servant girl and visited Elisha, who instructed him how to be healed, and he was (2 Kings 5:1-19).

3) When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an enemy army, God sent an army of angels to rescue them. Elisha had to ask God to allow his servant to be able to see the army. (2 Kings 6:15-19)

6) Moses, although murdering someone in anger, eventually became the person who led the Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 2:11-15)

7) David, though having committed adultery and indirect murder, repented and was “a man after God’s heart.” (Acts 13:22)

8) A woman who had had five husbands, and living with a sixth man, had a deep encounter with Jesus. (John 4:1-30, 39-42)

9) Mary Magdalene who had had seven demons, was healed by Jesus (Mark 16:9)

So, pray that God will show you how to allow Him to change your heart and be willing to receive Him.

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Blues assignment

[For a Music assignment, we had to write some Blues lyrics, so here are mine.
Hope you can imagine it to a blues rhythm. I was imagining myself as a young
woman again, not knowing how to deal with aggressive men.]

———————————————————————————–

[Parentheses indicate speech]

I’m leavin’ the city, gonna find me a country home,
(You know) I’m leavin’ the city, gonna find me a country home,
You know the city ain’t so pretty; it’s just got me down.

You know, it just got too crowded; people all around.
You know, it just got too crowded; people all around.
No place for a girl to breathe, and they all clownin’ around.

‘Course when I got to the country, things were just as bad.
‘Course when I got to the country, things were just as bad.
What’s a girl to do? — all the men are mad.

Well, I’m back in the city; nowhere else to go (don’t seem to be).
Well, I’m back in the city; nowhere else to go (right now).
Just ask God to take control; and I’ll be heaven bound.

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Even if …

Even if you don’t perceive it, God is working. Even if you don’t feel it, God is working. Just because we have limited perception, doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. You can trust Him. You can believe Him. You can hope in Him. You are part of His plan, and “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (Philippians 1:6) Keep on hoping.

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The Existence of Evil Proves God’s Love

This came to me a few days ago.  A friend said that it was good as far as it went,
but that there wasn't enough about God's chastisement.  I added one sentence about
that later. At any rate, here it is.  Comments are welcome.

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The title statement may seem shocking or incomprehensible.  Evil brings much pain
and suffering to this world.  Bitterness, hatred, trauma, violence, and it goes on
and on.  History is littered with the consequences of evil.

But we need to know this:  Love is something that can never be forced.  You cannot
MAKE someone love  you.  You can attempt to make yourself more attractive to them
perhaps, but attracting the person doesn't necessarily mean they love you; they 
may be out for their own pleasure, or trying to fulfill a need.

God's love, however, is totally pure.  God IS love.  He will never force us to 
choose Him, and if He did, it wouldn't be real love; it would be a lie.  Therefore,
God allows us to accept or reject Him.  He doesn't want false love.  He knows that
real love is a totally free decision.

Don't confuse what people may have presented to you as God's love; there may be
a confusion in your heart and mind between how people may have treated you,
how some bad things have happened to you, and what you would consider love.  
Instead, go read the Bible and see how merciful God is to the woman caught in 
adultery (John 8:1-11), or the book of Judges, where over and over God rescued 
His wayward people, or the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, where God mercifully brings
back His people to Israel after a period of exile for their grievous sins.
Notice the story of Peter in John 18:15-18, 25-27 and 21:15-19, how Jesus gently
draws Peter back to Him after denying him three times.  You will notice that God
is always offering love, even when people are doing wrong things.  

You may not be aware of the things you are choosing.  It may even be that some 
people unconsciously choose or reject God's love.  I am not the one to judge 
whether you have accepted or rejected God.  But, I do believe that if you reject
His love, evil will grow.  Maybe you don't even realize you're doing it.

So, God allows us incredible freedom.  He gives us real love, and He wants only
real love from us. It is our choice to accept His love or not. [His love can 
include chastisement, but it's a loving chastisement designed to guide us back to
His truth.] The consequences of our choice are huge.

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