Pushing the Start Button

 Last night we had a mix of leftovers and freshly cooked vegetables.  It was a good meal.  Our microwave is above our stove.  I stuck some of the leftovers into the microwave to heat them.  Then I set the timer and went back to stirring what I was cooking on the stove. 

It was funny because after a minute or two, I realized I hadn’t heard the beeper go off signaling the time was up for the food in the microwave.  “Well, what is going on here?” I said to myself.  As soon as I looked up, I figured out what the problem. 

“You have to push the start button, Robin.”  Yes, I was talking to myself again.  I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who does that. 

A microwave will not do its job until someone pushes “start.”  I used to wish my kids had start buttons.  Ha! – I needed a start button for myself occasionally.  Sometimes I feel like my ‘get up and go’ – ‘got up and went.’  It is a good thing God allows us a new opportunity every day to do better than we did the day before.  I think that is what Christianity is all about - having the desire to build and grow on the good every day and leaving the mistakes in the past.

We can’t let our past haunt us or make us feel unworthy to serve Jesus.  Do you remember when Christ healed the paralytic who was dropped through the ceiling in front of Him?  The first thing He told was that his sins had been forgiven him.  The Jews balked at that.  No one had the authority to forgive sins.  Only God can do that.  But Jesus was God in the flesh, and He could do that.  So to prove it to those who doubted Him, to told the man to ““Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Matthew 9:6b)

Wouldn’t we have loved to see that happen?  It must have been a wonderful sight.  See Jesus gave the man a start button – but it wasn’t when He told him to get up and walk.  It was before that.  The paralytic’s real start button was when Jesus told him his sins were forgiven. That was when the true rejoicing should have begun. 

When we hear and believe the gospel – and understand Jesus died for our sins – when we faithfully follow His commandments and are baptized for the remission of sins – in a sense, that is when we push start.  It is when we begin a life of love and service to Him. 

Jesus gives a fresh start.  He died so we could live.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17.

Each day brings new opportunities.  Let’s choose to push the start button every morning and live for our Lord and Savior every day! 

Christ above all things -- Robin

Caught in Heavy Traffic

 

Good morning and Happy Friday!  I am praying we all have a wonderful day today.  You know how good you feel when someone tells you how much they appreciate you – or says something good about you?  Sure, we all do!  Cheerful kind words build us up and help us through tough times.  It means something to us when someone expresses confidence in our abilities or tells us they have faith in us.  Let’s be the person who offers up kind words to someone else today.  Build someone else up by expressing your faith in them.  Someone you know needs just the right words today and you may be just the right person to say them. 

 Caught in Heavy Traffic –

My parents were on a trip together.  They were driving through Atlanta.  If you’ve ever driven through Atlanta, you know how bad traffic can be there.   Well, I guess they came through at one of the busiest times of day.  I remember Mom telling me about it when they came back home.  She said it was scary. 

There were multiple lanes of traffic all going the same direction at what seemed like hair-raising speed.  Cars were speeding by in a blur and the lanes were tight.  They felt pinned in.  Every lane was moving so quickly, they could not slow down or get to another lane so they could exit the interstate.

 “What did Dad do?” I asked. 

“The only thing he could do,” she said.  “He focused on the road ahead.  He maintained his speed and kept moving forward.  He could not afford to look around.”  

They made it through Atlanta just fine; but I remember what she said about how much concentration it took both of them to make it through the city.    Mom compared the experience to our journey to get to heaven.  I loved her parallels.

 She compared looking straight ahead on the highway to staying on the straight and narrow road to heaven.  They could not look from side to side on the highway or they might end up veering into another lane and getting hit by another car.  While travelling the road of righteousness, we cannot afford to look around.  We don’t want to wander off the path, we will most likely get hit by sin if we do.

 Just like they didn’t want to have a wreck, we shouldn’t allow the world to cause us to have a spiritual wreck.  We need to say focused on what is good and true.  We need to concentrate on God’s love and showing that love to others. 

 Mom said the cars were just racing by.  The world is distracting.  Things happen fast all around us.  We must keep our attention on the main thing – getting to heaven.  In the situation with my parents on the road, they were in it together.  They were not alone.  As Christians we are never alone.  The Lord is our partner, and He will help us stay focused.  If only we let Him. 

That’s the key.  Choosing the right road … not veering from it.  Moving forward – not lagging behind.  Keeping our eyes on the road to heaven.  Concentrating on our destination.  Keeping God as our travelling companion. 

We can do this – together we can make this journey.  It is not always easy.  Sometimes we get caught up in heavy traffic.  We might think it would be easier to take a detour.  But if we keep God in our hearts and continue to move straight ahead, we will make it!

Christ above all things – Robin Whitley  

I Don't Really Want to Do This

 Adam and I were on our way to the funeral home.  We were going to express our final respects to someone we both knew.  It’s been so long ago; I don’t even remember how old Adam was.  Maybe 13?  It was the first time he made his own decision to go to a visitation.  

I didn’t tell him what to wear; but he dressed nicely.  I was proud of him and his decision.  On the way to the funeral home, he was a little fidgety.  Finally, he looked over at me and said “Mom, I really don’t want to do this. I just want you to know.” 

“Son, I don’t know anyone who ever wants to go to the funeral home,” I said.

He responded, “Yeah, I know.   It will be sad, and I am a little nervous.  But I know later I will be glad I was there for my friend.” 

We started talking about Romans 12:15. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  Christians are supposed to love and comfort one another.  We are to be there for each other through the good times and the bad times. 

Those things we do for each other are not always pleasant tasks.  But if we truly love each other, we will do them anyway.   Jesus said, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – (Matthew 5:4).  I think part of that comes through the faith and peace we have as Christians.  I also think part of that comfort comes from other Christians. 

I believe Jesus built the church because He knew we would need each other.  We do this for our fellow Christians to help keep them from losing their way.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (1 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

We know we have all drawn comfort from our Heavenly Father – so then we comfort others who need it.  To show we love them – like God loves us.  Losing a loved one is one of the terrible losses we face in life.  It is good to know we never have to go through that journey alone. 

People need comfort for other reasons.  It could be when we realize we have fallen short and we repent before the church confessing our sins.  We should be right there offering help and comfort in any way we can.  Struggling with temptation is difficult.  Sometimes we just need help.  Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 –"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

We may need comfort when we or someone in our family is sick or recovering from surgery.  Our Christian family can help in so many ways during these times.  When natural disaster strikes, and homes are destroyed – the church as a group and as individuals pitch in to help. 

We all need a little help now and then.  Because God comforts us, let us also comfort others – even when it is not always easy. 

Christ above all things – Robin   

 

 

Made in 1967

A few days ago my husband retrieved some speakers from his storage shed/ workshop. The speakers we were using had stopped working, so he went outside to get these.  Guess when these were made?  You got it.  They were made in 1967 and sold under the JC Penney’s brand Penncrest.  They still work remarkably well!! 

Many things are made to last. Some furniture is of the best quality and lasts for a hundred years or more.  Houses built at the beginning of our country’s history are still standing.  We have old cars from the 50’s.  Even movies and TV shows have been around for decades.

What about you?  When were you “made” – or shall I say born?  I confess, I am older than Robert’s speakers.  I must admit I was surprised they still worked. He was very pleased they did! 

By the way, out of curiosity I looked up when the Super Bowl was first played.  Guess when that was?  1967.  So the speakers and the Super Bowl are the same age.  I find that amusing. 

All the things I’ve mentioned are old by our standards; still they will not last forever.  But we know some things will.  Wonderful, beautiful things which give Christians hope, joy, peace – and yes, comfort and courage. 

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are eternal.  They have always been and always will be.  The Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit are timeless.  They have no beginning and no end.  They all had a part in creation and as Christians they all have a part in our lives and in our faith today. 

The second thing which lasts forever is God’s word.  Isaiah 40:8 says – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”  Isn’t it wonderful to know we can stand confidently in knowing the word of God which we believe in – the word upon which we build our faith, and which guides our every action as Christians – will last forever?   Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”  Matthew 24:35

What else lasts forever?  God’s love.  His love for us.  He has loved us from the beginning.  He created the world with us in mind.  We were made with love.  Genesis 1:28 says God blessed Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over the earth and its creatures. What an amazing act of love! 

We can read in 1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”  These words are repeated several times throughout the Old Testament.  Aren’t they some of the most beautiful words imaginable?

 Not only is God’s love everlasting, but it is also powerful!  We cannot be separated from the love of God.  Read Romans 8:37-39 with me: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Considering this powerful, steadfast, never-ending love – why wouldn’t we want to follow Him?

Love to all – Christ above all things – Robin 

Christ Gave Up Heaven

 Christ Gave Up Heaven

 “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”  Psalm 94:19

What a comforting verse!  We are living in a time when anxieties are high for all of us.  It seems as if every day we have some new challenge to face.  There is a fear of the unknown. 

Yet, we know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us all!  He loves us so much that He gave us His son to redeem us.  Christ gave up heaven to live on earth. Just imagine that!  I still find this so amazing. 

Not only did He give His life for us; but He left the glory of heaven to grow up in our world!!   

Jesus “emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:6-8   

Another verse which points to how much Jesus gave up for us is 2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”   We can’t even begin to imagine what He gave up for us.

Christ our Savior knows what we go through.  He knows … and He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).

I find great comfort in knowing He understands our human frailties and fears.  What a joy and delight it is to know our Savior cares!!  

No matter what we go through, no matter what we face His comforts can delight our souls! 

 Christ above all things -  Robin