"Some Great Thing" - A Lesson from Naaman

     I have been thinking a lot about Naaman lately.  Do you remember him?  Many of us probably do.  His story and the lesson I shared with my 2 and 3 year old class tonight are what prompt this post tonight.
    Many good lessons can be taken from the story of Naaman.  I love that the little handmaiden was so brave to speak of the prophet of God in her country that could heal her master.  We can also learn a valuable lesson from the greed of Gehazi, the servant Elisha who ran after Naaman and sought a gift after Elisha had denied one from him.  Then something could be said about the king of Israel tearing his clothes when he read the letter from the king of Syria.  He knew that he did not have the power to make Naaman well.  I'm sure there are other lessons to be drawn from this story.
     When I think of the healing of Naaman's leprosy, I remember this sentence from that story ..."If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?"  Perhaps that is what I remember most because that is the lesson I feel I need the most - the humility lesson. 
      How often do we think about ourselves and feel that we are living such ordinary, mundane lives that being faithful is sometimes a struggle?  Do we imagine ourselves in some precarious situation and proclaim, as Peter did - "No Lord, I would never deny you?"  Do we think about those great people of faith - the Bible characters from old and imagine ourselves doing something as great and famous as they did?  
      Can you see yourself being brave enough to go the king on behalf of your people like Moses and Aaron or like Esther?  Do you see yourself under great stress denying the king's commandment like Vashti -- or maybe Daniel?  Can you imagine leading great armies like Joshua did?  In the New Testa-ment, when Peter and the rest of apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin they declare they ought to obey God rather than man.  Do you imagine yourself boldly making that statement? 
      I think we read these passages and gain such courage and inspiration from them that we forget these actions came at great cost.  The apostles were beaten, jailed and ultimately did die for the cause of the Redeemer.  Esther knew she was risking her life and Vashti probably knew she would lose her rights as queen even before she denied  Ahasuerus' command.  Often we don't think about the reality of the sacrifice they made - we just think about how heroic they were. 
       Maybe we are like Naaman.  Maybe we lament the fact that God hasn't given us "some great thing" to do.  Maybe somehow we don't think the little things count.  We read about all the great heroes of the Bible and we forget that God demands every day service - not just "one big time and it's over" service.
       That brings me to the story I shared with my preschooler's tonight.  We studied about Jesus washing the apostles' feet.  I know I am kind of switching gears mid-stream here, but please bear with me.  Maybe I can tie it all in together shortly. 
      We all know how dirty and stinky feet can get even when you wear socks and shoes.  We know how they get dirty even when we go most places in an automobile.  We don't always wear sandals like they did back then.  Even if we do, we don't walk everywhere we go.  I imagine those apostles' feet were probably pretty dirty.  And like one of students said tonight about his big brother's feet, some of them probably stank.  But what did Jesus do?  He performed one simple act of love and service. 
      Do you think this may have had an impact on these men?  They were having their feet washed by their Teacher!  And at that time, they still thought He was bringing an earthly kingdom to them.  How could the man who was going to conquer the world and make Israel a proud nation again belittle Himself so that He washed their feet?  He was trying His best to teach them a lesson of love and humility.  He wanted them to know that simple acts of service do count.  How many times had Jesus told them the first shall be last and the last shall be first?
      Now back to Naaman.  It seemed so simple to his servants.  Just go now Master Naaman and get in that water and dip seven times.  Just do what the prophet said.  So what if your healing is not going to be a grandstand event?  Just please go do it - so you can be clean.  Why did his servants understand this so much better than Naaman?  I think part of it was because they were already used to being servants.  They already knew how to humble themselves and do what they were told to do.  Naaman had a lesson to learn from his own servants. 
     One more short illustration -- look at Daniel.  He was the brave prophet of God who was thrown into the lions' den.  I want to ask you though, when  did Daniel start praying?  Did he wait until the king made a decree that it was against the law to pray and then all of a sudden say --"Oh this is awful - we can't allow him to do a thing like that" and then start praying?  No.  Daniel did what had already been his custom for years.  He went to his house and prayed.  This is what he did. three times a day, every day, all his life.  Talk about ordinary and routine, how much more routine and ordinary can you get? 
     Oh, I do not really feel like I am saying this very well.  The point I am trying to make is that little things do count.  Simple acts of love and service go a long way.  They make a great impact and set a wonderful example of someone faithfully serving the Lord.  Ordinary and routine faithfulness is what God wants!!  These are great things!  These are acts of love and devotion -- which God will reward.   Living your whole life faithfully to God may seem dull and humdrum to you.  But think about Daniel praying every day all his life-- and Naaman's pride and his servants' prodding him to obey-- and Jesus washing His apostles' feet.  I think little things do count. Maybe lifelong worship and service to the One and Only Living God is the "some great thing" we can do.

Christ above all things,
Robin

A Flat Tire Can Be a Good Thing

       I apologize for my delinquency in posting lately.  It certainly was not my intention to let so much time go by.  Hopefully, I am back on track now, and will write at least somewhat regularly. 
      Have you ever had the feeling that God was sending a message so clearly and strongly you just couldn't overlook it?  I have - on more than one occasion.  Such was the case on the way to work the other morning.  The day and night before had been pretty stressful.  I was deep in thought and more than a little down in the dumps.  Lo and behold, to add it -- I had a flat tire!  "Well this is just great, I thought to myself.  Here I am stuck on the side of the road and now I am going to be late for work." Ah, but little did I know.
      As a woman having any kind of car trouble is a scary thing, especially if we are alone.  I usually feel so helpless.  I am always concerned about the type of person who might stop to help while at the same time, knowing that I need help.  Oh sure, I was taught how to change a flat tire - no, I was shown how to change a flat.  I had never actually done it myself. 
      The surprise was on me, though.  That flat tire was the best thing that happened to me that day.  OK - before you think I am totally crazy, let me explain.  First of all, I was close enough to my work place that if absolutely necessary, I could call and get someone to pick me up.  Secondly, I was not on the four lane, but in a residential neighborhood - just in front of a house where there was ample room to pull off the road safely.
        Two blessings to be thankful for already.  And I was.  I said a quick but heartfelt "Thank you, Lord" before I called my supervisor to tell her I was going to be late.  That was blessing number three, because instead of being upset she simply said, "Bless your heart" and then asked if I needed help.  I told her I didn't think so, and that I would be there as soon as I could. 
       The next thing I did was text my prayer group.  We have a "groupme" text set up -- I told them what was going on and asked for prayers.  That was when the best parts started happening!
      I already knew that the Lord had blessed me this morning.  I hadn't had a blow out going down the highway at a faster speed.  Instead, I was only a few miles from work in a quiet residential neighborhood.  I truly already felt blessed and protected.  It only got better from here.
      An older man stopped and asked if I needed help.  I said, yes.  He pulled over and got out of his car.  After surveying the problem, he asked me if I had a spare with me.  I did.  Then he told me that his health was not good enough to change the tire himself, but he would go into town to one of the auto places and send someone from there to come and help me.  Knowing that this would soon get me some help, I thanked him very much.  He told me to be patient and someone would be with me in about 15 to 20 minutes. 
       He left and I checked my phone.  Several of my sisters were willing to jump to my rescue.  One of them, declared she did know how to change a flat and was on the way.  Another, was ready to send a male co worker of hers.  I told them someone was coming from the auto shop.  Both told me to let them know if they didn't show up.  
      It is such a wonderful thing to know that good Christian brothers and sisters have got your back.  I love having that precious bond with other Christians.  Our prayer group is so close to one another and so loyal.  Any one of us would do anything we could to help the other.  This flat tire reminded me of that.  I felt God's love and His presence through them.
      The older man soon came back, followed by the truck from the auto shop.  He got out and told me the young man was going to take care of me.  Again, I thanked him.  He was certainly a very good and kind man.  The young man from the auto shop, promptly went to work changing my tire.  He was also very kind and respectful.  I realized God was with me. 
       Then as he was working on my car, one more sister from the prayer actually came by to make sure I was OK.  She wanted to see for herself that I was being taken care of.  I hugged her like three times and told her how much I appreciated her coming to check on me.  She simply smiled and said, "That's what sisters do for each other, right."  Of course, she was right!!
        Through that flat tire, I felt God's presence in my life.  I felt like He was indeed sending me a message.  No, it was not some voice from heaven calling down to me.  It was just a gentle reminder from the Lord that He cared for me.  I do believe in God's providence.  I believe with all my heart that God uses people.  He used the kind man to let me know I was not alone.  He used the young man from the auto shop (who charged me nothing for changing my tire) that help was never far away.  And He reminded me through my beautiful sisters that it was very, very good to be part of God's family. 
        One of my sisters often uses the phrase that God takes lemons and makes the best lemonade out of it that you could ever dream of having.  I agree with her.  My Dad has often said that if you have car trouble but are able to get it taken care of - don't fuss about the car trouble, just be thankful you can get it fixed and back on the road again.  He has often reminded of the blessings within the misfortunes of life.  You know, kind of like Paul says in Philippians, "Be anxious for nothing, but in all things give thanks."
     My blessings did not end there.  I decided that since I was already late for work - that I would go buy soft drinks to take to work.  It is less expensive than buying them out of the vending machines.  At the store, the man in front of me let me go ahead of him.  As I paid and was about to leave I turned around to thank him and he said, "Have a blessed day."   As I walked away, I thought to myself, "I already have, sir.  I already have."
      It was then, I remembered all God's promises about being with us in times of trouble.  I remembered the Psalmist said God is "a very present help" in trouble.  I realized that if God is with me over the mishap of a flat tire; He would certainly be with me during any other of my struggles. 
        Our God is a great and powerful God.  He is kind and loving - a protector of His people.  He will be with us - He has promised His children that.  If we love Him and follow Him, He will be with us through all our troubles.  The troubles may not always go away - we still have to deal with and get through whatever life throws at us -- but God is with us.  He is always willing to help us.  He loves us that much. 
      Yes, that flat tire was the best thing that happened me to that day.  Thank you, God for the reminders!

Christ above all things,
Robin

The Joy of Forgiveness Bind Us Together

           One week a month I am truly blessed to be able to interact with other Christians and worship the Lord four days in a row.  On Sundays, I worship God with my home congregation. Worshipping on the first day of the week - every week -- is a very special part of my life. 
        Monday night is the night I meet each week with my prayer group. Together we are learning more about prayer every week.  As our prayer life continues to improve, so does our relationship with God.  We become closer to our Heavenly Father each week.  We have seen so many prayers answered!
        On the first Tuesday of every month, (sometimes the 2nd Tuesday if a there is a holiday or something) many of the ladies in our congregation come together for a monthly ladies' devotional and fellowship time.  The fellowship draws us closer to one another and during devotional time, we share our thoughts and learn from one another about God's word.
      Then on Wednesday night the whole congregation meets for a time of Bible study.  Different classes study together based on age and/or grade level.   After Bible class, everyone goes back to the auditorium for a short period of announcements and a devotional time.  These devotionals are given by different men in our congregation.  We have so many smart and talented men in our congregation who love the Lord and share some wonderful lessons with us. 
     I am so thankful that we live in a country where we are free to do this.  We must pray and speak up for our rights at every available opportunity so that we will always be able to worship and study together.  I think sometimes we don't realize how blessed we are right now.  I also think that we don't realize how dangerously close we are to losing the rights to practice and express our faith.  The right to meet in public assemblies of worship should be very precious to us.  We must do what we can to keep those freedoms alive for our children and our grandchildren.
      OK -- getting off track here.  The only thing different about this one week a month is the Tuesday night.  The other meetings I participate in take place weekly.  Yet, that one extra night - that one extra meeting adds a special quality to that week.  It gives me an additional spiritual boost and I happily embrace it. 
      All this makes me think of the early New Testament Christians.  Acts 2 tells us they met daily and from house to house.  This fellowship was a time of learning, of bonding, of exhorting and encouraging one another, and of praying together.  When I read Acts 2:42 and through to the end of the chapter, I see the meetings are full of joy. 
      These Christians had been pricked in their hearts after hearing the first gospel sermon.  Peter and the other apostles told them they were the very ones who crucified the Son of God.  Some of them were probably present at the crucifixion.  They heard Christ say -"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  Those words probably came back to haunt them as the full impact of Peter's charge hit them.  They took part in and witnessed the cruel death of Jesus.  They were pricked in their hearts and asked Peter and the other apostles what to do.
     We all know how this turns out.  They were baptized for the remission of their sins and added to the church.  They were forgiven!  That is the reason their meetings were so full of joy.  Through the obedient act of baptism they had been washed clean of all their past sins, including their part in the death of Christ.
    It is an amazing thing when one comes to the realization they are forgiven for their past sins.  To understand the true beauty of forgiveness -- to relate the death of Christ to your own actions -- to think of where your sins would have taken you if not for the intervention of the great love of our Savior -- to know, really know that His blood washed your sins away is a wonderful, beautiful liberating event. 
     It is the joy of forgiveness that connects us to one another.  As Christians we begin to understand the cost of our forgiveness.  We come to realize the love Christ had for us.  We know that His blood is what binds us together.  Being with others who are forgiven sinners only magnifies the beauty of God's plan.  That joy and beauty of forgiveness is what forges our relationships with one another.  We are brothers and sisters through the blood of Christ!   No wonder they ate their meat "with gladness and singleness of heart!"
     Jesus built the church so that we could share that joy with one another.  He never meant for us to be alone in this world.  God's plan was perfect.  He had perfect vision. He knew we would need each other.  The joy of fellowship strengthens us, encourages us and helps us to mature and grow as Christians.  I am thankful for the blessings of fellowship. 
      This past Sunday night, my teenaged son was waiting for me to finish visiting with various members of the congregation so that we could go home.  When we were finally on the way he told me if we all have our own places in heaven, he knew my place was going to be one where I could talk as much as I wanted to.  Oh well, he knows me well.  I do like to talk; but I love being with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are like family to me.  I think that is the way it is supposed to be!

Christ above all things,
Robin
    
       
    

The Perfect Team

       I love hearing my 2 and 3 year old Bible class students talk about their parents and grandparents.  At that age, we are still the good guys.  They still like us.  During class time, I often hear surprising and amusing stories about what goes on in the children's homes.  Over the years I have learned to listen, but to hear their stories with a pretty big grain of salt. 
      A couple of weeks ago, I was using a flip chart that I often use during class.  Pictures of young children are engaged in different activities.  I use the flip chart to explain that no matter where we are or what we are doing, God knows and cares about us.  He knows when we are swinging or watching TV.  He knows when we are hurt.  He knows when we come to Bible class.  In other words, God loves us and is there with us all the time. 
      As I said, it was not the first time the children had seen this flip chart.  Yet, tonight it prompted what I thought was a very important conversation between me and one of the little boys in my class.  I can only paraphrase, for there would be no way that I can remember everything word for word.  We were finished with the flip chart, but the dialogue that ensued went something like this:
     My young student asked: "Well, does God know when there are monsters in my room?"  Now what a challenge.  I was not sure if this child really believed there were monsters in his room or if he was just trying to think of the most outrageous thing he could to see what I would say. 
      I just replied, "Yes, IF there were monsters in your room, God would know about them and He (God) would chase them away."
      I thought the conversation was over, but I was wrong.  My little friend proceeded to ask if God would know if there was a tiger in his room.  I was pretty sure that he had not really imagined a tiger in his room.  This particular child has a very vivid imagination.  He recently told me that he and his family were going on vacation to the moon.  He said this with all sincerity and complete genuineness.  I just never quite know when to take him seriously. 
       A teacher should be very careful what she says to her students.  We have so much responsibility and we must take this seriously.  Young students are very precious.  They are so impressionable.  I didn't want to discourage this child's imagination.  I also knew although he was dreaming up some very unlikely scenarios there was a much deeper question at stake.  He wanted to know if I was telling the truth.  He wanted to know that no matter what, God would still be there.  That was the ultimate question.  It was important for him to understand the Heavenly Father is always
with us.
      So I played along with his question.  "Yes, God would know even if there was a tiger in your room." 
      "What would He do then?" was my student's next question.
      "Well maybe," I said,  "God would do with the tiger exactly what He did to the lions when Daniel was thrown into their den.
Maybe He would shut the mouth of the tiger so that it would not hurt you."
        The next question came, "Would Jesus know, too?"
         "Yes, Jesus would know too."
         "What would He do about it, then?"
         "He would help God with the tiger."
         My little friend was very surprised, "He would?"
        "God and Jesus are a team.  They would work together on
         that tiger."
         "Really?"
        "Yes, Jesus is God's son and they always work as a team to
         to help us in our lives."
         He seemed very surprised at this and said, "Well!  I
        did not know that."

       I very much enjoyed this conversation.  I was amused at the wonder in his voice when I told him that Jesus and was God's Son and they worked as team.  I knew he had been told this often; but this night -- this night, it was clicking with him on an entirely new level.  What a beautiful sight to see the look of realization in his eyes!  He made the connection that God was Father and Jesus was the Son. 
       I asked him if he ever helped his daddy do anything -- if they had ever been a team.  This immediately prompted a story about him helping his dad work outside cleaning the yard.  You see, he was relating his good relationship between himself and his father to the relationship that God and Jesus must have with one another.  That realization is so very important because it will help him understand (now or later) the precious relationship that God also wants to have with us.  It will help him know that God does love him -- and He really is with us no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Yes, it was rewarding night for this teacher!
     Now have you ever considered the "team" aspect of the God, Christ and the Holy Spirit?  They are the perfect team working together to bring salvation to mankind.  God is our Father who loves and cares for us.  We are His children and He wants nothing more than for us to want to be with Him.  Jesus is our Savior.  His precious and innocent, righteous and holy blood was shed to save us from our sins.  No other sacrifice would do.  It took His perfect blood to atone for our sins.  He did this willingly - with perfect love.  The Holy Spirit is God's own Spirit -- sent to us to comfort us and to teach the apostles the perfect will of God.  His Spirit abides in us as we learn more and more about the Father and Son. 
       God is the perfect Father.  Jesus is the perfect Savior.  The Holy Spirit is our perfect teacher and Comforter.  Together they make the perfect team -- to bring imperfect people to live in Heaven with them.  IF -- we love the Father,  obey the Son and allow the Spirit's teaching and the fruits of His words to rule our lives.  We must study to learn and we must love to obey.  We must obey to obtain a place on their team - the perfect team. 
        My young friend is just beginning to learn; but I would say he is off to a good start. 

Thank you, so much Father for your love and for the perfect team joined together in unity to save us and bring us home to you! 


Christ above all things,
Robin

       
 

Enoch Walked With God

    This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit with one of my brothers.  We had a wonderful discussion involving the Bible and other spiritual matters.  I realized just recently how much I enjoy these types of conversations.  I only wish I had discovered this joy much sooner in my life.   Nonetheless, I do love to learn from others as we share our thoughts together.
             Our talk touched on several topics and my niece joined in on parts of the conversation.   Prayer is one of my favorite subjects as of late.  Being part of a prayer group has helped my spiritual growth in so many ways!  I suppose that is a large part of the reason, I like to talk about prayer so much. 

My brother and I agreed that one can learn a lot about prayer from observing the relationships some of the Old Testament characters had with God.  Consider, for example, Abraham’s plea with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham did not want God to destroy a whole town because of the righteous who might dwell there; even if it were only a few.  He asked God to save the town if a certain number of good men could be found there.  Abraham started with 50 to which God agreed.  Then he continued to bargain down from that number until he got to only ten.  God was longsuffering with Abraham during this conversation.  He tells him He will not destroy the cities if He finds even 10 righteous people dwelling in them. 

It is amazing to think about the relationship these characters had with our Creator.  They spoke with Him as if they actually knew Him.  Abraham actually negotiated with God in an effort to save his nephew.   He asks again and again – each time bargaining with a lesser number.

Another character my brother mentioned is Moses.  He also seemed to have a certain bravado in speaking to the Heavenly Father on behalf of the Israelites.  Exodus 32: 31-32 says: “And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”   Whew!  That seems to me like some pretty serious stuff.  Can you imagine having the kind of relationship that Moses had with our Heavenly Father to tell him that?  I suppose Moses had full confidence in the love God had for Him.  By now, Moses had developed a strong and very close relationship with the Lord. 

Other Bible characters were mentioned as we continued to talk about God’s relationship with man.  We talked about how Adam and Eve had walked in the Garden with God.   How wonderful that must have been!  We also mentioned Enoch.  Do you remember him?  Not much is said about Enoch in the Bible; but what is said is very significant.   Adam’s genealogy is given in Genesis 5.  Enoch is the sixth generation from Adam and if my math is correct Adam was still alive when Enoch was born.  I know that does not necessarily mean that Adam and Enoch knew each other.  Sometimes I get curious about such things.

As stated earlier, we know from the early chapters of Genesis that Adam and Eve perhaps had the most intimate relationship with God than any other human beings.   He visited them in the Garden of Eden and even after their fall, God made clothes for them.  We know the Heavenly Father loved Adam and Eve.  All that being said, I am curious to know if Enoch knew Adam.  Perhaps he talked with him about what it was like to actually speak to God and walk with him in the Garden.  We are not told these things – we can only ponder what might have happened (if anything) between the two men.

What we are told about Enoch is found in Genesis 5:21 – 24:  “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

The man is mentioned in just a few verses here, and in Hebrews 11:5.  Yet what we are told in these few scriptures is quite remarkable.  First of all, in that lineage of Adam – only Enoch is mentioned as actually “walking with God.”  As if to emphasize the fact – the Holy Spirit tells us twice that Enoch walked with God.  Then he was not for God took him.  How awesome is that?  God took Enoch without him seeing death.  I have decided if such things will be possible, that one person I want to meet is Enoch.  I would love to know the sort of man who “walked with God” so closely. 

Read the wonderful words spoken of Enoch in Hebrews 11:5 – “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”   What a wonderful testimony to have!  How great would it be to be known as one who pleased God?!!! 

Oh but we must notice something else and perhaps this is the most important thing of all.  Enoch did not just obtain this testimony by accident as someone who accidentally runs into a door when he doesn’t look where he is going.  Enoch knew where he was going and who he was going along with.  He walked with God remember.  He sought to please God.  He strongly and earnestly desired a relationship with His creator. 

How do I know that?  Read the next verse in Hebrews 11 and it will all come together for us.  Verse 6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, (Enoch had faith for he pleased God) for he that cometh to God (if Enoch walked with God, he came to him, right) must believe that HE is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  Well, there you have it.  Enoch was rewarded beautifully.  He believed that God is – He believed that God would reward Him.  He sought God – diligently.  Enoch took seeking God very seriously.  He wanted to walk with Him – to be with Him and that pleased the Heavenly Father.  What a wonderful, loving and faithful man Enoch must be! 

Now we can bring that all home to ourselves.  God loves us too.  He wants to be with us; but He wants us to seek Him first.  This is not a part time thing.  It involves a daily walk – daily – all day, every day walking with Him.  Imagine being His little child and holding His hand.  God IS.  He really is.  And if we seek Him, if we want to come to Him, we must believe that He will reward us.  Heaven will be our home just like it is Enoch’s home.  Knowing that my friends is what makes life’s journey worthwhile!

Christ above all things,

Robin