“You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before others, that  they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”   Matthew 5:14, 16

Although from the same country and practicing the same religious faith, the two young men could not have been more different. One was tall, handsome, self-assured, advanced in his university studies of philosophy, psychology and culture. The other was slight of build with facial features that definitely would not attract admiring glances. His studies were more in the technical field.

Both of these young adult students served as interpreters during a recent humanitarian medical project in their country. They not only translated words and thoughts from one language to another so hundreds of children could understand and respond to the questions and directives of medical professionals, but they willingly volunteered to entertain the squirming children with games, songs and other creative activities.

At the end of the project, each young man seemed unable to break away from us. “Can we talk just a little longer?” was uttered by our philosophy-oriented friend, while the less socially assured acquaintance simply wept on my shoulder.

We were unable to talk openly of God or our faith during these days in this politically sensitive country, but we connected on a level where such words were not necessary. As we conversed on a variety of subjects, clear eye contact provided heart contact. They gave their time and energy; we gave of our skills, time and love. They knew we were Christians.

We know the importance of the “heard word”—How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 12:14). But in this case, the seeds of the message of Christ became clear without actual vocabulary, and the advice attributed to St. Francis of Assisi had been followed: “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”

Father, we too often think that only our words can be used by your Holy Spirit. Help us see how crucial are our actions.

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

I Was Watching You

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

How to Pray

The post Conversation without Words appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

On major highways in the United States there are large signs before exits that lead to nearby cities and towns. On these signs are listed conveniences for the travelers such as gas/petrol stations, hotels, restaurants, etc. But while driving through more rural areas, occasionally one of these signs will have only two words: NO SERVICES. This is to inform travelers that at this exit there are no nearby businesses to satisfy a traveler’s needs. Drivers are free to leave the highway at these points, but they will find only fields, the occasional house or farm and less-maintained roads. There will be no resources to meet basic human needs.

As we travel down the roads of our lives, we are faced with choices similar to those facing drivers on U.S highways. God has promised to provide resources for all our needs but He allows us to make the choices. We are free to investigate all the possibilities, but frequently we turn off God’s best paths only to find that there are, ‘no services‘ at these points.  In the Bible, God gives us all the information we need to make good choices; He asks only that we seek the answers.

God, thank you for providing all I need for living in such a way that you are pleased. Help me never forget how much you love and supply my needs.

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

All Your Needs

God has Enough for Every Need

Help in Conflict

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“I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart…”  Ezekiel 11:19 (New Living Translation)

After much research into which was most recommended, I purchased a small toaster oven. It cost a bit more than others, but was manufactured by a respected company and came with what I thought was an ironclad guarantee. It worked well for months. And then one day, the small door wouldn’t completely close. I gave it a forceful push and the door slipped into place. A few days later, however, the door again gaped open. This time nothing I did solved the problem. Perhaps a screw was loose in the door?

In our town is a small shop that specializes in the repair of such appliances so I shook out the crumbs, polished the surface and placed the oven in my car. My trusty repairman sadly shook his head when I explained the problem. “I’m sorry, but the manufacturer has made this oven in such a way that the door cannot be removed. You will have to send it back to the factory.”

“What about the replacement guarantee?” I asked. “Oh, that guarantee is very limited. It doesn’t apply to the door.”

God’s guarantees are not limited. He promises to replace our stony, stubborn hearts with those that are tender and responsive. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

The New Is Here

New Isn’t Always Comfortable

The Dynamics of God’s Word in Your Heart

The post God’s Replacement Policy appeared first on Thoughts About God.

I lock my doors sometimes too. Emotional doors because I fear hurt or rejection.

“When it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week…the disciples were meeting behind barred doors for fear of the Jews… Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with great joy.”  John 20:19-20 (Amplified Version)

They had moved from the pinnacle of joy to the crushing depths of tragedy within the span of a few days. Exultant “hosannas” were buried beneath horrifying screams of “crucify him.” The healing hands of Jesus were mutilated by spikes. His words of love and freedom were silenced by mockery and whips.

Rumors of his resurrection floated in the heavy air of disappointment, disillusionment and despair. His friends huddled together to be for each other what they could not be alone. They locked the doors because they knew what had happened to Jesus could easily happen to them. Then…

Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

I lock my doors sometimes too. Emotional doors because I fear hurt or rejection. Intellectual doors because I’m unsure what deep study will uncover. Spiritual doors because I wonder if giving my all will truly mean giving my all.

I need Jesus to come. I need to hear his voice and see his scarred hands and wounded side. I need to believe that it’s really him. Such hearing and seeing and believing doesn’t come easy. It requires time away from the realities of daily life which so often give birth to hurt, rejection and fear.

When Jesus came to his friends, he somehow miraculously just appeared. I don’t need that miracle today because he is as near as the Word of God (the Bible) and his Spirit who lives within me. To the pressing crowds Jesus once said, “Seek and you will find.” Crowds in my life—whether people or circumstances—so easily block out those words, words I need to hear and believe. It is through such seeking and believing that doors are unlocked so I can see Jesus. And experience his peace.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Pressing the RESET button on our lives 

•   Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

•  Salvation Explained

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“Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”  Luke 23:56

Only Luke, a New Testament author known to include minute details, offers a glimpse into life on the day after Jesus’ crucifixion and the day before His resurrection. I have often thought that the weather on the Saturday before Easter should always be gray and gloomy, atmospheric conditions matching what must have been the emotions of Jesus’ friends and family. In addition to grief, they obviously were bewildered because Luke also records a conversation two had as they walked away from Jerusalem, away from the scene of broken hearts: “…we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel…”

I, too, have known the heavy weight of grief, a weight that causes the body to slump into mindless sleep only to awaken in the dark hours, in those first moments, denying the reality of death, then almost immediately becoming aware of all that has happened. But I also have discovered the comfort of “obedience to the commandment”… By faith in the One who loves me, I laid my anxiety at His feet, I thanked Him for His sovereignty and presence, I prayed for myself and the weeping others, and then…

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding…”

put a guard on my heart and mind so that I could go about the dailyness of life. The women prepared spices and perfumes; I prepared meals and made beds. In a few short hours those women would experience the joy of the resurrection. One day I, too, will fully experience that joy.

It’s not always easy to go about the daily rituals when the heart is heavy, Lord, but I thank you for the balm those rituals bring to sorrowing souls. Thank you for being a God of the daily. I love you.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  The Easter Story – the story of Christ’s death and resurrection

•  Jesus’ Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?  Resurrection evidences made clear and simple.

•  Who’s Got the Body?   A short, documented examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.  By Rusty Wright

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The post Sacred Saturday appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his coat on and threw himself into the sea” John 21:7

Impetuous, wonderful, daring, loving, repentant Simon Peter is determined not to miss this meeting with his risen Lord. He quickly dons his coat and plunges into the water. The distance to the shore with its charcoal fire and forgiving Lord are but a few oar strokes away for his muscled arms. It would have made more sense to stay with the ship; they all would have reached shore eventually. He certainly gained no dignity by his impetuous act. But Peter acts on the small vision he possesses, meets his Master and hears a message meant especially for his aching heart.

Lord, help me act on my Spirit-guided whims instead of staying safely in the boat.  Help me know when you call from the shore, then give me courage to plunge in and swim toward you in spite of the derisive comments of onlookers. Only then will I feel the warmth of your fire and clearly hear your voice.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Courage to Speak the Truth

Be Strong and Courageous

Become a Brave-Heart Disciple

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The post Swimming to the Savior appeared first on Thoughts About God.

All who have experienced soul-ripping grief at the death of a loved one would agree that time seems to stop.

Nights are endless, days drag like boulders pulled by a plow. Saying goodbye produces its own unutterable pain, but the days between death and funeral and burial—though perhaps filled with practical details—seem hours longer than the actual twenty-four. Although we may dread the more public acts of farewell, there is the incongruous something within us that cries to “just get it over with.”

Could this be similar to why we joyfully anticipate the glory of Easter Sunday but do our best to ignore—or at the very least de-emphasize—the emotionally-draining events of Holy Week? To shop for colorful spring clothing is far more satisfying than symbolically wrapping a rough towel around our waists to humbly serve others as Jesus did at the washing of feet.  What joy in preparation for a sumptuous Easter Sunday family reunion meal while how meager—and heart-rending—to contemplate the meaning of the bread, wine and bitter herbs that Jesus and his friends ate just before going out to the Mount of Olives. Triumphant is the music of “Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today.” Somber are the notes of Braham’s Requiem.

New clothes, good food with friends and family and uplifting music are all rightful celebrations of the resurrection, what the Apostle Paul preaches as the bedrock of our faith. But I wonder how much more meaningful would be our Easter joy if we first took the time and concerted effort to walk thoughtfully through Jesus’ last days, if we asked God to let us more deeply glimpse his agony of relinquishment in Gethsemane, if we wept over his human cry, “I am thirsty.”

Many churches of a more liturgical nature practice what is known as the Easter Vigil where individuals gather in the darkness of Saturday night to read scripture and contemplate the sadness that surrounded Jesus’ followers after his death and burial, a darkness that represents all the meanings of darkness: hidden and secret sins, the darkness of the world and of our hearts. At a point soon after midnight, one candle is lit to symbolize Christ’s resurrection and members of the congregation light their own small candles from the larger one. Those who have participated in such a service of remem-brance and celebration relate how their view of Easter has been forever changed.

While this may not be practical or possible for all, let me encourage you to not avoid the pain of walking with Jesus through the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. I assure you that the sunrise of Easter will never be more glorious!

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

More Easter Reading:

Who’s Got the Body?   A short, documented examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.  By Rusty Wright

The Power of Resurrection – by William S. Stoddard

Touched by the Risen Lord by Elfrieda Nikkel

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The post The Sad Path to Easter appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness… For this very reason, make every effort to add to.” 2 Peter 1:3 and 5

The business owner who wishes to see positive numbers in the profit column regularly traces the company’s financial progress. Any supervisor who genuinely cares for the welfare of her employees – as well as for the success of her company – consistently tracks how well the employees are doing.

Christians, too, have a way to measure their progress, or growth. God wants to see his children grow to be more like Jesus, and who among us does not want to have the characteristics of Jesus increasingly evident in our lives?

Peter writes that we should make every effort to “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

In their effort to increase employees’ progress, employers and supervisors can provide a positive and encouraging work atmosphere, training sessions, seminar, etc. But God provides much more. He “has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” The Apostle Paul writes,

“God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.” (Philippians 2:13)

How’s your progress?

Father, thank you for providing everything we need to grow spiritually. Forgive us for too often being satisfied with the status quo, or measuring ourselves by others.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

The post Making Progress appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I urge you to imitate me…” 1 Corinthians 4:16

“Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised..” Hebrews 6:12

“Consider the outcome of (your leaders) way of life and imitate their faith..” Hebrews 13:7

After refreshing her cup of coffee, my always-stylish friend returned to our table with a chuckle. When I asked the reason for her amusement, she replied, “As I passed a nearby booth, a woman said,  “I want to look like you! Not just your clothes, I want to look like you when I’m your age.”

Whether joining me for our regular Monday morning meeting at a favorite restaurant or cleaning out the garage, Anne’s wardrobe is “together.”  Her finances are minimal so I know her clothing is not from the exclusive stores on the north end of town, but she always somehow knows how to dress whether the outfit is casual or dressy. On this particular morning she leaned toward the former: jeans, sandals, black tee and oversized white shirt. And a straw hat perched on her short, stylishly cut white hair.

But my seventy-year-old friend possesses much more than an innate talent for putting together the right clothing. It is her “inner wardrobe” that sets her apart, the quality that draws people. Anne spends much time in the Word, seeking to always obey what the Holy Spirit reveals. She devotes herself to life-changing prayer, prayer that includes her family, friends and their concerns, her church family, the broader Christian community, her country and the world. While reading the newspaper or hearing media broadcasts, she prays for people and events. She is well read, well informed. She attracts people not only to herself but to the Jesus she loves and follows.

The Apostle Paul was bold to say, “I urge you to imitate me“.  While recognizing his human tendencies, he also knew that, when controlled by God’s Spirit, he could relax and allow that Spirit to produce life that could be imitated. What an affirmation of God’s work within us when someone says, “I want to look like you!”

Lord, you know that too often there is little family resemblance between me and you. Please remind me to dress my spirit as well as my body each morning and thus draw people to your beauty.

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Just Like Jesus

Mirroring God’s Image

Son Reflectors

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The post Family Resemblance appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

For over three months I have been recovering from surgery. Until one month ago, there were many household tasks I was simply unable to perform due to a fair amount of immobility. While my patient and skillful husband did much of the work I usually do, I neither asked nor expected him to do what many women would call “deep cleaning.” (He probably doesn’t even notice those nooks and crannies that catch my eye!)

But as the calendar marches to spring and warmer weather, there is that inbuilt (and easily ignored!) urge to wash windows, dust hard-to-reach shelves, reorganize closets, etc. I want to do more than surface cleaning; I want,” in a sense” to purify the house.

Many Bible translations use the term “forgive” instead of  “purify” in the verse written by the Apostle John. The sense of purification is best described in the Amplified Version: (He will) forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us!

God is in the business of purification, continuous cleansing, around-the-clock, around-the-calendar spring cleaning as we submit ourselves to His gracious plan. He asks only that we recognize and agree with Him about the things (sin) we know are wrong; His grace goes on to purify us from all unrighteousness, even what is hidden in the nooks and crannies.

Loving God, I can hardly imagine grace that flows so freely that you would bow to my humanity, asking only that I confess what I know to be wrong. You then go on to continuously cleanse me from even those things I’m not yet aware.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Cleaning in the Corners

Spiritual Cleaning

Tiredness

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“Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.” Proverbs 27:1

“..I tell you, do not worry about your life…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”   Matthew 6:25-26

I live in an area in the United States where the weather can change dramatically within the space of a few days. As I write these words in the first days of spring, the sun is shining with summer-like brilliance and temperatures are warm enough to imagine basking on a beach. But as I glance ahead to what is forecast for just a few days from now, I see the possibility of cold weather and a fair amount of snow.

We smile (or perhaps grumble!) at the vagaries of weather, but most of life is similarly undependable and uncertain. This very afternoon a nearby church is filled with family and friends of a vibrant, energetic young woman who just a few days ago died in her sleep. Her husband and three young children are stunned with disbelief at the loss of this woman who was the dynamic central figure of their home. Life that had been filled with the warmth of her personality was now frigid with the finality of her death.

Jesus counseled the religious people of His day to care for each other, especially members of their families, but He also pointed out that our lives and families are ultimately in the hands of a loving God. When storms enter our lives—whether literal snow or wind or fire or unemployment or tsunamis—the Son of God provides the sun of His love in the midst. We can trust Him.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Comfort in Times of Uncertainty

Life’s Uncertainty Teaches God Can be Trusted

Our Safety Net

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The post Sunny Today, Snow Tomorrow appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly,  But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ” Proverbs 18:24

^” just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)

“I’ve been in this church 14 years and I can’t find anyone to talk to on Sunday morning.”

When I heard those words from an intelligent, attractive, mature woman, I questioned their validity. Because the church is large, it provides myriad opportunities for involvement, everything from hiking to knitting groups, Bible studies to craft classes, mission trips to music.

How is it possible for an individual, over the course of many years, to not find a niche in a local church? An acquaintance employed by the foreign service of her country’s government and who moved every three to five years, usually to areas of the world far from friends and family, said there was a relatively simple way to emotionally survive in such a lifestyle: “Dig in immediately. Try new things. Invite strangers to your home. Find a place to serve. Don’t give up”

Jesus is our example for entrance into a new culture whether it be a school, church, community or country. He moved out of his ‘comfort zone’ of heaven. He developed relationships with people of diverse backgrounds. He unselfishly served. He went to parties and weddings, even daring to eat with sinners!

Followers of Jesus must be people with passionate purpose. While not everyone is an unreserved extrovert, we must not use our personalities as an excuse for lack of involvement. We dare not wait 14 years to find someone to talk with. We are called to intentionally serve, not be served.

Jesus, you are my friend but also my example of friendliness. Not a friend whose hand is weak and words glib, but one who intentionally reaches into my life. Help me be creative in doing the same for others.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Building Lasting Friendships

Amazing Friendships

How to Foster True Friendships

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The post How to Find Friends appeared first on Thoughts About God.