The Real Scandal

Committed, enduring love is not extinct.  I watch it play out on Thursdays at Southpark Meadow Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Austin, Texas.  These three gentlemen faithfully sit beside the wife of their youth, holding conversations with the love of their life who cannot communicate or cut food, lift a glass or spoon feed their love who cannot feed herself.  It’s as though I am watching a scene unfold before my eyes from Proverbs 5:18-19.

May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love

When you encounter the real deal, counterfeit depictions of love become glaringly apparent.  Let’s not confuse lust, infatuation and obsession with the authentic covenant love between a husband and wife described in Proverbs.  These three men who include my father are still enraptured by their wives.   We should be mesmerized and yet inspired by their example.  Yes, counterfeit love may be fun to watch but any attempt to place the imitation of love on an even keel with the captivating love of these three men is the REAL Scandal.

This Kind

 

Would you were this crown?

How deep is your love?  What limits have you set or boundaries have you drawn that you will not venture beyond?  Life brings hurt and disappointment.  People we love the most have caused the deepest pain.  As a result, we build walls, hold grudges, build defense mechanisms and vow never to allow that person into our personal space again.

Our Creator, God of the universe has the same problem with us.  He loved us, we hated Him.  He gave His Son whom we crucified.  But God demonstrated how deep is His love is in Romans 5: 5b-8.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God models for us the kind of love He has put in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Those who claim Christ have this kind of love if we submit to the power of the Spirit working in our hearts.  How arrogant it is to refuse to do what Our Creator has already done for us.  While we were yet enemies, He wore a crown of thorns as He hung on the cross dying for us. That is the truest form of love. This kind of love forgives.  This kind of love restores.  This kind of love overlooks.  This kind of love suffers long.  This kind of love looks out for the interest of others. Begin this Resurrection Day to share this kind of love.

 

It's Not About Us

There is an advantage to living with a Pastor.  Sermons are much shorter at home.  I’m just joking.  My husband was excited about a new Messianic Jewish Synagogue in the city.  He spoke about the difference in their style of worship as compared to Christian congregations.  Messianic Jews worship God for who He is.  Christians have a tendency to worship God for what He does.  Even our prayers can become heavy on supplications and weak on adoration.  Our worship can easily shift to what has God done for me lately.  It can become about us. The psalmist exemplifies the essence of authentic worship.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
 

The key word throughout this passage is His presence, His people, His pasture, His gates and His courts.  Not ours but His.  We were created to worship Him.  Try falling down prostrate before Him, calling out His many names and attributes in humble submission.  Be awestruck, be amazed, and be astounded by His glory.  Transform worship from being about us to being about Him. 

I hope this song inspires you to Worship!

Suit & Tie

Zachary is putting on his suit and tie.  His dance moves are not haphazard.  The movements were choreographed to the lyrics, showcasing a young man preparing to step onto the stage common to most teens.  Zachary’s stage was the Johnson High School Junior Senior Prom.  He chose the tuxedo, the matching tie and handkerchief, the haircut and the shoes.  His was an intentional effort to present his best self to the world.  As new creatures taking off the old man, we are commanded to put on our very best as Paul entreats us to do in Colossians 3:12-13.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

I know our moves may not be as smooth as Zachary’s, but every day endeavor to put on a better attitude, increase our patience and make ourselves more available to others. Dressing in suit and tie is easy; it’s the putting on meekness, longsuffering, forgiving and bearing with people that we struggle with each day.  Start with prayer and meditation before getting dressed in the attire God set out for us to wear.  His attributes will look even better with a suit and tie.