When fears and worries are so real, We sometimes wonder why we feel, The pangs of deep depression. The weight’s extreme – we lose all hope, Our hearts grow sad – for strength we grope, To lighten this progression.
We look within and try to cope There are no answers in our scope It now becomes oppression. We try so hard to rise above, We search in vain for any love. To deal with this obsession.
We cannot do it on our own, We need one advocate alone, To bring our full confession. God takes our hand and leads us out, Relieves our pain – our fear – our doubt. He is our best possession.
His love is great – it sees us through When there is nothing we can do. Our words hold no expression. He lifts us from the pit of death. He died for us to give us breath. To wipe out our transgression.
It isn’t a matter of taking sides in a situation. We must first look at ourselves – our own mistakes and misconceptions – our flaws and voices that speak without thinking first. This week has been one of great ups and downs in my state. Each day there has been the call for justice as the Chauvin trial came to an end and the jury determined within ten hours that the police officer who shot George Floyd was guilty on all counts. There were tears of joy. There was hope in the possiblity of police reform. Steps to take action in that area were swift, but will undoubtedly be stalled in the process. We know that change isn’t something that happens over night. Even the evolutionists believe it took millions of years for man to evolve. I truly hope that it doesn’t take that long for this change to happen, but for now, we wait and see.
I’ve seen change occur over my 78 years – some for good – a lot not so good. I spent my younger years taking on causes. I thought it was the right thing to do. As time goes by, we change how we think. We alter our priorities. We get interrupted by life. We raise a family. We grow old. We finally think about dying and wonder why we got so worked up about all the other stuff.
I tend to get angry with the changes around me. My first thoughts are not always rational. I may react without knowing all the facts. I’ve learned over time that my words can get me into a peck of trouble, so I’ve tried hard not to express an opinion about what’s going on in the world. I am not afraid to say what I believe however.
Change is a slow process for the most part. Not in the area of technology however. We went from a ten inch television to a smart TV thin enought to hang on the wal like a picture. We’ve seen crank phones with party lines develop into smart phones that can track your location, is aware of almost everything about you, can connect you to the world wide web. We’ve gone from wringer washing machines to machines that only require loading and pressing a button. Our refrigerators dispense hot or cold drinks. Our lives revolve around social media rather than physical interaction. Some changes have given us freedom to do things we want to do, while enslaving us to things that have little or no value. The truth is, we’re not much different than we were a hundred years ago. We’ve grown accusomed to depending on some one or something to get us through every day.
No matter what the situation, no matter how hard it may seem, we get through the difficult times and we’re usually better because of it. When we pass the buck or blame society, our upbringing, our religion, our relationships for something that we’ve caused we aren’t being honest with ourselves. We need to look inward to see where the blame lies. Every single one of us is guilty in one way or another. Let’s stop looking at the past and using it as a means to get us to the future. May God help us to look within, ask Him for forgiveness and begin the change.
The only justice for a life of sin is death. Every person that walks the earth is guilty no matter how good they may appear. We have all been judged by God and fallen short of His expectations.
When I was a child and heard these words preached over and over each week, my heart grew ever so heavy. I was convinced that even the smallest of sins condemned me to an eternity in hell. It may seem like a whole lot of brainwashing going on in my little head. I even felt worthless as a teen and young adult. I now realize that my introduction to the wages of sin was necessary. How else would I have seen my need for a champion – a hero – a savior?
The good news is that we all have salvation within our grasp, not by anything we do, but through the full payment for our redemption by the King of Kings Himself. He loves us so much that He made the supreme sacrifice.
He died once for all. Yes, He died for those who defy His name and worship false gods. He died for the executioners who slit the throats of Christians. He died for the thugs on our city streets. He died for the prostitute, the addict, the rapist, the child abuser, cheater, thief, liar, the priest, politician, housewife, business man, child – for all!! He gave His life for the entire world, not just those who think they deserve it. Not one of us deserves justice, but our gracious God believes we do. He made it possible for us to be redeemed.
Look into your hearts. We are all guilty. We will die and go to hell if we do not repent and lean on Jesus. With Him all things are possible. He became our brother so that we could ALL be called Sons of the most high.
Chief of sinners though I be – Jesus crucified for me!
Yesterday, after the final moments of the infamous trial in Minneapolis, the governor appeared in a press conference. Throughout his opening remarks he used this phrase over and over again. “We can’t live like this.” He used those words to stress the fear our state has been enduring for far too long. He spoke about the ravages that have occurred in 2020 and 2021. The fact that a thousand businesses were ruined in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Many of which were owned by people of color. He spoke words like – trauma, pain, demands, change, fear and rage.
In the past year, we’ve been striving to exist through a pandemic which has divided us in so many ways. We struggled through this time of isolation, finding new ways of doing things in time of crisis. Americans have always done well under pressure, but we sometimes wonder how much of this can we take. “We can’t live like this.”
During that year, we were forced into our homes, separated from our families, unable to bury our dead or watch our children graduate or get married. We adjusted. We then had an election that divided our nation even more. We feared for the safety of our leaders as well as those we love. We watched as the divisions split us even further. We adjusted. Inequality on our streets became more apparent. Protests turned violent, businesses were destroyed, blood was shed. We became the headline of the day for many months as the killing of a black man by a police officer was made public. The thought of a fair trial seemed impossible. We adjusted. Demands for justice – voices for change in our policing – calls for removing weapons from our public defenders. “We can’t live like this.”
During that year we also were told to be vaccinated for COVID19. We were told this was the only way to lessen the effects and possible death from this plague. Everyone rushed to do so. Some refused, because the vaccine was never approved by the FDA. New cases began to break out. There were variants of the disease which would not respond to the vaccine. Our minds asked if we did the right thing by getting shot. We lived through it, but still wonder if it was the right thing to do. Some felt we were being led like sheep to the slaughter. Again, fears arise and people hide – within the confines of their homes, in the comfort of self-healing, prayer, reading, hoping to erase the outside world from view. Fear is winning. “We can’t live like this.”
A week ago, another black man is shot and killed by a police officer. That along with the trial of Derek Chauvin going to a jury for deliberation has set another climate of fear in our city. Those of us who shy away from watching or listening to the news, are more alert to what’s happening on a daily basis, because of curfew alerts that pop up on our phones. Our city is living on the edge. We’re living in fear. “We can’t live like this.” A peacetime emergency order was issued yesterday to call upon other states to aid in the possible riots, looting, more blood in the streets and dissent. Will that change things? Will we adjust to this as a way of life? Will we succumb to fear? “We can’t live like this.”
Obviously there are no clear answers here. Time will be a factor in all of it. Change doesn’t happen over night. Quelling someone’s fears takes time. Calming a crowd of angry protestors will probably not happen by stirring it up with tear gas. So how do we live like this, without fear? We can, you know. We have a remarkable source of comfort in the fact that God is with us through all of our suffering, pain and fear. He has walked in our shoes. He took on human flesh so He could experience all the fears we live through each day. He died to prove His love for us. He bled so we wouldn’t have to. He paid the price for our place in His heavenly realm. He rose and returned to heaven and will be there to greet us when we die. No fear of death, no fear of life, no fear in anything the world can throw at us – only the confidence that God is in control. Through Him, we can and will live through this.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
A quiet town nestled into the bluffs lining the river – a popular city site of a former flour mill – the corner cafe in a tiny town hidden amongst the trees – a bakery, a lighthouse, a place for a rendezvous. All these images stir the imagination and create thoughts of another time and place. The artist catches the lights and darks. He plants his brush strokes firmly and at times whimsically. He watches as color is reflected upon distant objects and creates an image that will create new memories. All forms of art can create a kaleidescope of magical patterns and design. Find your inner artist.
It’s hard to be part of the world today. Even though we’re all connected to our home towns, our communities, our families, our church, we’re still living life apart from them. In the past year we’ve opted to stay away from the news media as much as possible. There are times we feel the need to connect, but whenever we tune in, it’s nothing but depression, grief, sadness, bigotry, hatred and all the other negativity that reaches our air waves on a daily basis.
Minneapolis in 1973 was a much different city than it is today. We moved from a small town in Wisconsin because of a job opportunity. The tallest building was the IDS tower which had just been completed the year before. Minneapolis was a cultural center, with the sophistication of a big city, but the down hominess of a kind and caring population. So much can happen in half a century. Cities grow bigger. Corruption and crime grow too. Like weeds, those tendrils of hatred and ugliness weave their way through a “Minnesota nice” community and begin to infest every area.
Time tends to change us, but when you look at history, things rarely change much. We just experience some of those changes in different ways. We react to them with different opinions. We address them sometimes out of a feeling of guilt for past actions, or because we sincerely want to see things turn around. It’s really not up to us to determine what others are thinking.
We can’t hide from every day, just by turning off the news. Last night we received a call from our son, who lives on the other side of town, to assure us that they were safe. Since we hadn’t been watching the news, we were completely unaware of a carjacking and shooting that occurred only blocks from their home. Had we known, we would’ve been worried, but our isolation from the facts kept us unaware. It didn’t change the fact that a crime occurred or that someone died in the process. By hiding from the world, we aren’t guaranteeing self-protection. By being ignorant of the truth, we can easily jump to our own conclusions and make irrational judgments.
When we’re connected to the King of the Universe, we are not guaranteed a world without fear. We’re not assured perfection in all our dealings. We’re not given a free pass to do what ever we want, because we won’t have to suffer consequences for bad behavior. We are promised that God will be with us through all of it. He will give us the wisdom to choose the right way to live. He will help us discern between good and evil. We can’t hide from Him, because He’s always there. He knows every idiosyncrasy, every fault, every sin, every misdeed and flaw. We are accountable to Him for the way we live, but only He can provide for our redemption. Instead of running away – run to Him. He is the only way.
At the moment that our Savior spoke His last words on the cross and died as our Redeemer, the curtain in the temple was torn in two. In the original temple built by Solomon, God was specific about the dimensions of everything that went into it. The curtain that divided the Holy of Holies was to set this special place apart and only be accessible to the priest once a year.
We don’t know if this was the case in the rebuilding of the temple by Herod, but the significance of this event is so symbolic, it’s worth thinking about. The original dimensions of the curtain were to be 60′ high with a width of the fabric to be 4″ thick. It would take an act of God to cut through something like this from top to bottom and right down the center. Whatever the size of the curtain, it was a true sign that Jesus had finished the mission He was sent to complete. No more would a curtain divide God from His children. We now have access to Him at any moment in time as well as being able to approach Him with confidence that we’ll be heard.
The perfect sacrifice had been accomplished. The unblemished Lamb of God was given for the sin of the world. On the third day, He would have defeated the devil, conquered death, paid the ransom for our sins and returned to life as we also will,
Good Friday was a horrific reminder of the costly price for our redemption. It also is witness to Jesus’ mission accomplished. Easter Sunday is a glorious example of what we have to look forward to when we depart from this earth. We will rise again, as Jesus did. We will never die. Let that message live with you every day of the year and tell others about the gift waiting for them too.
The cry for freedom has been shouted for centuries. I wonder if William Wallace, a Scottish knight who fought for Scotland’s Independence in the thirteenth century, ever had thoughts that he would someday be portrayed in an epic performance. His name became synonymous with freedom as his band of everyday men multiplied and took on the strongest army in the world at the time. Their zeal for freedom was at the forefront of their endeavor and at times it almost looked like he would win, but the odds were against him, along with a tainted ruling class who was beholding to the English government. In the end, this soldier for freedom, was tortured, drawn and quartered and his body parts were displayed across England as an example to the common man, never again to rock the imperial boat.
When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke the words, “Let freedom ring,” our country was consumed with racism. The call for freedom went unheeded for a long time and the people came together to raise the call again. Things began to change, but nothing would placate the past wrongs. Nothing would change what had been done for centuries. The memory of beatings, inhumane treatment, being viewed as animals or property rather than human beings could not be erased.
Today we hear the cry, “black lives matter,” “blue lives matter,”and “all lives matter” yet the problem of racism fills our streets with protests, acts of violence on both sides and more of a rift than there ever was between law enforcement and the common man. Now it seems that evil has replaced good and being part of any service vocation is frowned upon.
Respect for life is not limited to the black race. We have problems with unborn lives not mattering. There is concern for the homeless, the poor, our veterans, the aging. Christianity is taking a huge hit and the “church” has become an extension of society by giving in to popular social issues and looking for a place to be entertained rather than to be forgiven.
Strides were made in the last sixty years, but there still is much to be done for the equality of human life. Freedom never comes without a cost. Thankfully I have a Savior who has immersed Himself in all the yuck of this world and taken it to the grave to be buried and forgiven. Now there is true freedom – not because of what we’ve done, but what He did for us.
The answers to the world’s problems will probably never be solved. No matter what opinion you have, there will always be someone who opposes it. There will be differences in our thinking, our actions and our solutions will not come easy. Whatever we do in our lives will almost always be offensive to someone. There is nothing we can do about that, but we can have complete freedom in our hearts, knowing that God is using all of this for His purpose. He is in control and is also the One who never changes.
To soar with the eagles no matter how high, To reach all my goals or at least I can try, To try and to fail but never give up, to turn to my God to fill my cup, To speak what I feel without fear of dissension, To believe what I choose without intervention, To live without fear and to follow my dreams, To love and be loved with a peace that redeems. The only thing needful for freedom that’s true, Is to love one another as Jesus loved you.
The movie, “Evan, Almighty,” featuring Morgan Freeman as God had one line that stuck with me. At the end, Evan who is a modern day Noah, learns the valuable lesson that what it takes to change the world is an act of random kindness. This clever sentence sums up how transformation begins. From the lowly caterpillar that emerges from his cocoon to the transforming of ideals, philosophies and basic principles of a country should take note of that very thought. Think of it. If everyone did just one act of human kindness – not because they were required to, but because they wanted to – there would be a huge metamorphous to the world as we know it today.
When sin disfigured life as God had planned it, there was nothing He could do but destroy it and start over. We all know the story of Noah and the Ark. It’s really more than a fable, since almost every culture today has a worldwide flood story in their history. A handful of survivors would come through the flood and live to repopulate the world – to transform it. We all know what happened when man was left to his own devices. Transformation requires action. God makes it happen, but we are left to care for it. It’s up to us to make a difference for future generations.
We’re reminded of the fragility of life and the lack of respect for it when a senseless act of evil unfolds. If we let the events that occur in the world get us down, we’ll lose the biggest battle we ever have to face as human beings. The desire to do things our own way, will definitely get in the way of God’s plans.
The ideal world would be filled with a population that loved God and obeyed His law. The perfect place would be one where people cared about each other more than they care about themselves. Paradise was once lost, but we have the hope of perfection in eternity. In the meantime, it’s up to us to make our time on earth worth living. We can only do that with the help of our Creator. He who formed the sea and all its inhabitants- who carved through granite mountains and made streams trickle down to water the earth – who created life itself – He is the only One we can turn to in times like these.
One act of random kindness can and will make a difference. The first step is to set yourself in the background and reach out to someone else. It won’t happen on its own. God will bless those acts and He will transform our world, but it won’t happen unless we take the first step.
Dear God, keep us steadfast in your Word, so that we can walk this earthly walk with confidence. Even when things seems so out of control, remind us of your enduring love and presence. We must hang on to the only truth that gives us hope. Clinging to the things of this world won’t deliver peace in the end. None of our earthly possessions will go with us when we die. Lord, life is fleeting. You remain the same day by day. Amen!!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see. O thou who changest not, abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Verses 2 & 5 of “Abide with Me,” from Lutheran Hymnary
In a world that’s constantly changing, in flux, transforming or redesigning itself, isn’t it good to know that we have a God that never changes? This week I’ve been talking about change – which seems to be in the news again. We need change to progress – to get better – to straighten out the kinks and clear the garbage out of the way. We must be open to change for the better of our communities, our churches, our homes. We must be willing to make change when we see improprieties in legalities which seem immovable.
This week in MInneapolis, we’ve again seen an act of violence carried out by a police officer as another police officer is on trial for a similar crime. Those who have sworn to uphold the law are facing charges of defying that very law. I will make no statement regarding my feelings about either of these events – for when I do, I’m often misinterpreted. What I will say is that there comes a time when change is necessary for the good of the whole of civilization. It will not be accomplished through more violence. It will not be won through looting or burning down businesses that are just beginning to recover from a pandemic and remnants of rebuilding from the violence of last year. It will not be determined by politicians who want to be re-elected. We’re often told that this is the only way that the voices can be heard. Even then, the voices are muffled by unhearing ears on both sides of the fence.
There is a way in which understanding can be achieved. The laws of our country were set up for the purpose of protecting all people from harm, danger, death, and loss. This includes people of all colors. It was also established as a way of creating order out of a chaotic system of lawlessness, which began a long time ago when our country was just a new nation. It was a time when people were afraid to walk the streets for fear of being shot at or mugged. Sound familiar?
We’ve spent the last year living in isolation from each other. In that year, we are still experiencing laws being broken. We’re under daily curfews. We still see inhumanity and injustice. We still hear the loud voices of discontent, but those voices often close their own ears from listening to the other side.
For those of us who have hope in God’s promise for eternity, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We know that a better place lies beyond this. Too bad we have to die to experience that. But we don’t have to wait. We have a God who is consistent. He never will change and we can count on that. Today, make the world better by having real conversations with your fellow man. Conversation is not all about talking. It’s also about listening. Everyone tends to say things without thinking when they feel abused, wronged or angry. Take a breath. Look at the entire picture and then come together and debate the issues sensibly. When we take God into that conversation, we are opening doors that we never even knew existed. We must trust in His almighty wisdom, for He is the One we’re all accountable to.
Being a Christian is not being part of an exclusive group of people who have received favor from God. Jesus tells us that His kingdom is in heaven, but His mission on earth was to redeem those who were lostTOn sin. That, to me, indicates that He came to save everyone. He ministered to all people, from various walks of life as well as those who others considered to be “low-lifes.” Why can’t we be more like He was? Well, for one thing, He’s God and we aren’t. However, His life is to be an example for us to follow. Still, everyday we see injustice, unfair treatment, bizarre behavior, immorality, hate, bigotry and on and on. We’ve forgotten how to talk to each other as well as how to listen to one another. In our exclusiveness, we’ve turned people away from Christ’s everlasting message, rather than bringing the good news to their attention.
We’ve all had experiences where we place our trust in a close knit group of people. For some it’s a group we share coffee and conversation with. For some it can mean being part of a clique or gang that makes you feel important. In the world of business, your success is a measure of your worth. In regard to your popularity, it can be your sense of humor, your zest for life, your ability to manage more than the average person that gets attention. There is even a sort of hierarchy in the church that poses that same works oriented value on people, In God’s eyes, we’re all the same. Even though we don’t deserve to be in His inner circle, every human life has the same opportunity to be part of it.
Have you ever heard Jesus differentiate among people? He definitely criticized what was happening with the leadership of the church, because it was going against God’s Word. He associated with all kinds of people, from the very rich to those who had lived in poverty throughout their existence. He conversed with prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, princes, soldiers – people from every walk of life. His mission was not to save one exclusive group over another. He came to save all of humanity.
That is the good news we all need to hear right now. Our hearts are breaking in so many ways, but God loves us so much that He gave His life for us. He then overcame death and resurrected as a foreshadowing of what we will experience in the end. In order to come together again, we must be willing to talk and to listen. Those key elements to problem solving have been underused for a long time. Instead we often feel our voice is the only one worth mentioning. Instead we should be following the commandment that Jesus gave us.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 ESV
The idea of transformation is tough for most of us. We feel comfortable in our own skin. Change isn’t easy. In fact, many of us are satisfied to live the same every day, without ever taking chances, risks or any alteration in behavior , because they want no complications along the way.
We’re exposed to advertising that urges us to dress to kill, reshape our bodies, shop until we drop, climb the ladder of success, do the unthinkable. The world lures us into believing that we deserve the best. All we need to do is step on someone else’s toes on your way. Competition has sadly become the norm.
Then we notice something else about our world. It’s filled with injustice, unfair treatment and all sorts of inhumane behavior. Our streets become battlefields. Our neighborhoods become territories for drug lords, looters, violence. Our homes are breeding grounds turning out children without parents. Morality seems to hit an all time low, but next week it will sink even lower. We try to find the answers to all of the insanity and it leads us to believe there is no answer.
There is an answer. We won’t find it in the news stories that break each day. It’s not available online to be delivered to your door for a price. It won’t show up in universities, churches or places of great knowlege. Our transformation occurred when we were redeemed by Jesus and His precious blood. He took away the ugly part of us – making us acceptable to His Holy Father. Thus our souls were washed clean. We know we will inherit the keys to paradise and that death will have no dominion over us ever again.
Therefore, all that we do in this world will be affected by that transformation. We can make life decisions based on God’s plan for us. We can trust in His perfect direction. That doesn’t mean there won’t be problems. In fact, we may expect more than our share of them. Yet we no longer dispair in those difficulties. We continue being works in progress. Part of that restoration requires us to trust in God’s will. He promises to give us a way out. We can push forward, even in a world filled with ugliness. We can stand united in Christ who has given us the victory.
An artist on the move will find interesting locations and take them into his vision. He will look at lights and shadows, contrast, clarity, and focus in on the subject matter. Like a photographer, he can replicate an image. As an artist he can take it a step further and make it a part of himself. Creativity, intensity, grasp for all that God has laid before him, the artist will pour his heart into the work.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
