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What Love is All About

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for a friend.”  John 15:13 (NAS95)

A few weeks ago, one sweet, lovely and misguided soul decided to start an exercise class at church.  When I heard the rumor, I thought it sounded good - in theory.  Theory morphed into reality and classes began.  I noticed my friends actually going.  Before long, I started to feel left out.  But I was too tired to exercise.  Suddenly, my clear calendar became full so there was no time either.

Just this weekend I read in Isaiah where it states, “In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is my strength.”  (Isaiah 30:15)  Rest and quietness means no exercise in my book!  Of course, I could have misinterpreted the meaning.  Perhaps “my book” is out of date.

Well, I guess I could stand to tone up and firm up.  I’ve notice the jeans are a bit tight.  However, I do walk!  So what if it’s from the kitchen to the sofa.  Doesn’t that count for anything?  Finally, I realized I needed to make a decision when I noticed tears streaming from the readout plate of my scales!  So today, I prepared for class.  I put on my tank top and my sweats.  I found my unused yoga mat and gathered a towel and a water bottle.

As I slipped on my sneakers, I announced to Bob, “I am going to class.  I will not return, so please tell my grandchildren that I love them.  Don’t let them bury me with my jewelry on and oh yeah – if you remarry – I will come back and haunt you!”  I gave him one last hug, took a final look around my house and left.

Ninety minutes later, I arrived back home and proclaimed, “I did not die but am alive!”  Bob laughed as he rolled his eyes exclaiming, “Praise the Lord!”  Okay, I might be sore tomorrow, but I’m going back.

Here’s something you never thought of – Bible study is a lot like exercise.  Think about it.  It requires work and discipline.  It can even hurt.  But it always helps and the more you do it - the more you get from it!

To be honest, I am not a total stranger to exercise.  Bob and I met in a high-impact aerobics class in 1990.  I know the value that exercise can have on your body, your spirit and even your mind. 

However, I also know what happens when you stop exercising.  Muscles get weak and you just get lazy.  The health benefits subside and it’s really hard to get back into it.

Bible Study is the same way.  We think we exercise spiritually when we read one verse of Scripture as we suck down our coffee and fly out the door.  While that can be a start, it’s not good enough for a healthy routine. 

Today, I muddled through class – walking through most of the steps I could fly through years ago.  But I am smart enough to know that if I tried to jump in full steam ahead my body would revolt.  I’d risk becoming injured or discouraged and soon quit.  So I will commit to pacing myself striving to better my routine in the days ahead.  Beginning a Bible study routine works the same way.

Now even though I write devotions, I am a firm believer in real Bible Study.  I will not sit here and tell you that I have expert status in it.  Yet, I know the value spiritual training can have on your mind, your spirit and even your body!  I know that once you start - the easier it becomes.  I also know that if you stop, the harder it is to jump back in. 

Can I offer some help to you today?  If you already have a firm Bible study routine in place – then use this as encouragement and pray for those who might take this invitation to begin, or begin again.  Here is an outline you can use:

1. Make time (min 15-20 minutes) Notice – I didn’t say find time, I said MAKE time.  If you can find time to watch Desperate Housewives, you can make time to read your Bible, so you don’t become a desperate housewife!
2. Get your Bible, pen and notepaper
3. Ask God to bless your reading and thank Him for loving you.
4. Then read your selected passage.
5. Do a brief outline of the verse you read and think about their meaning and how you might apply it.  You may ask yourself a question or make a note of something you do not understand (yet).
6. My version of an example is from Anne G. Lotz.  Take Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 
7. I note: God is already present at the beginning.  He made the heavens and the earth.  I might ponder the greatness of those facts for a few moments.
8. I might ask: Do I daily recognize God as creator of all things?  I might consider: since God is the creator of all things, He can certainly handle any situation arising in my life.
9. Repeat with each verse you select and sit back and be amazed at what God will reveal.
10. Close in quick prayer thanking God for the time you spent together
11. Meditate on what you’ve discovered all day. 

Try this as a starting place and work into 30-45 minutes or maybe do your 15-20 minutes twice a day.  Let God lead you in a wondrous adventure of becoming more personally acquainted with Him.  It might hurt at first!  You could be sore from some of the training that will occur but I promise you – you will not die from it.  Instead, you will COME ALIVE!

The Bible Rocks!

Barbara

PS: if anyone want any specific help with mapping out a study – let me know – I have many ideas!

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What’s In a Name?

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we are saved” Acts 4:12 [That name is Jesus]

I believe people pick out names for their children based on what is pretty, popular and what sounds good.  Since my daughter just had a baby – we’ve just experienced this name-the-child process.  Of course, she passed over my submission, but I digress. 

Sometimes we name our babies after someone special in our lives or even ourselves. Perhaps it follows a pattern or makes cool initials.  These are all fascinating ways to name a child.  However, in Biblical times, names often represented who the child would grow up to be or circumstances surrounding the child’s birth. 

Abraham of the Old Testament means “father of many.”  Pharaoh’s daughter named a certain baby, Moses, because she drew him from the water.  Mary was instructed to name her child Jesus, which translates “the Lord is salvation.”  If you read the Bible, you will find these names were indeed, accurately given.

Just out of curiosity, do you know what your name means?  I know what mine does and I’ve been poking fun at it for years.  Maybe I shouldn’t have been so glib.  For grins and giggles, I researched the Internet to see if anything new popped up.  Nope, the meaning has not changed but I did pick up a few more morsels of information.

My first name has Greek, Latin American and English translations.  The short definition is “strange” Not too many of my friends will argue that point!  However, the more accurate definition is foreigner or stranger.  That ties in with Psalm 119:19a that declares, “I am a stranger on this earth.”

My search also uncovered that apparently some other Barbara is the patron saint of miners, sailors and architects.  She is called to defend them against any untimely death, like lightning strikes.  Apparently, her father killed her and then he was struck by lightning.  Tisk-Tisk.  The moral of the story: you might mess with Texas but not a gal named Barbara!

All in all, I guess my name represents a very real aspect of my Christian beliefs.  After all, I am truly only a stranger in this land – my real home is in heaven.  However, the bottom line is that I was named after a cousin who was a secretary for the FBI. 

I think it is safe to say that the true value of my name is not measured by mere definition of words but perhaps of works.  Do I live out what I believe with consistency?  To coin a phrase, does my walk match my talk?  You see, I voluntarily choose to have my name identified with Jesus.  However, my name and my life mean nothing without Jesus.  Therefore, do I actually live in a way others can see Christ in me?  Is there meaning to what they see in me?  What about you?

Rather than searching a website for what our name means, maybe we should try something simple like this: write these words on a piece of paper:   (insert your name here)   means  . . . .

When someone hears your name, how would they fill in the blank?

As your name is spoken - does it mean: faithfulness, compassion, kindness, gentleness, word of salvation to the one who hears it?  Is there any way it might mean: unkind, unforgiving, prideful, hateful, uncaring to those around you?  I pray not!

So what’s in a name?  You tell me!

May our names be a constant reflection of the name of Jesus and His character! 

Barbara
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The Turtle, The Wallet and The Purse

“Delight yourself in the Lord.”  Psalm 37:4

A woman walks through her house and notices something on the floor.  It’s against the baseboard on the carpet.  It’s small and dark.  At first glace, it appears to be a small piece of plastic – perhaps off a toy belonging to her grandchild.  The mysterious object is about the size of a quarter.  It sits idle on the carpet.

It draws her attention, closer and closer until she bends down for further inspection of this very small, unidentified object.  To her great surprise and delight, she discovers a baby turtle!  Yes, a baby turtle, just like the kind sold in the pet store. 

How this tiny little fellow crawled over door transitions and got in the house – who knows!  How it managed to escaped detection by the family cat – no one could say!  But the delight that little turtle brought was undeniable.  It was silly but delightful!

Same woman, a few days later, goes to the local open-square mall with her husband for some fresh air and maybe a pretzel.  She goes into a store she almost never visits and contemplates buying a purse – one she normally would not consider. 

After some mental debate and permission from her husband, who sees this as a way to get off the hook for Mother’s Day – she makes the purchase she normally would not have made.  It’s interesting what God can do when we quit doing what we normally do and take a risk – even on a shopping trip.

While the woman paid for her purchase, she laid her Scripture-embroidered wallet on the sales counter.  This led to someone noticing the verse, which led to the woman explaining it was the foundational mission verse for the faith-based non-profit where she worked.  That led to the passing out of business cards.  The cards led to the young sales person asking the woman to pray for her extremely ill father.  That led to tears, which led to prayer, which led to ministry in the name of Jesus right in the middle of the store!

What a delightful moment!  Yes, it was the more serious moment of the two I experienced last week, but I stand in awe over the delight that God provided to this gal. 

Life throws numerous tasks and obstacles at us each day.  Some of them are things we normally expect such as work, children, traffic and deadlines to name of few.  Then again, we are subject to some abnormal things like unexpected illness or injury.  They leave us drained and in some cases, in darkness.  Where is the delight?

Dear friends, our delight is in our God!  We have a Father who lives to delight us and have us delight in Him.  Last week, God gave me moments of silly delight over a turtle – one of His creations.  Ask my husband how delighted I was as I begged, “Can we keep it please!  I’ll feed it and take care of it.”  It was truly joyful.

Then God delighted me once more as a serious situation unfolded in my presence – where I was allowed a ministry moment with the most precious of His creations – His child.  There is no greater delight than a divine appointment.  What a joy to touch the heart of another.

Let me ask, what is your week looking like thus far?  Are you in need of some divine delight?  Then look to the Father!  Lift your eyes to the Lord!  Ask Him to delight you!  Then prepare yourself for the silly or the serious – either way you win!

He may send a divine appointment or a sensational sunset, but in whatever way He sends the delight, remember to delight in Him right back.  He loves to delight His children and lives to have us delight in Him!

This week I wish for each of you a turtle, a wallet and a purse!

Love, Barbara

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Remember Me!

“You who know, O Lord, remember me, take notice of me.”  Jeremiah 15:15  (NAS95)

“O Lord, please let me get this picture!”  I was semi-stalking one of the staff members of Anne Graham Lotz this weekend.  Only because many of us here in Jacksonville had worked so closely with Carole – she was like family.  I was in the Veterans Memorial arena to hear Ann speak.  It was almost 2:00 pm on Saturday and the event would be over at 5:00.  I wanted to have this picture as a remembrance.

After a quick photo, Carole rightfully rushed back to her duties.  Before I could do the same, I heard these words emerge from the surrounding crowd, "Are you Barbara?  Do you remember me?”

I about jumped over the railing when I recognized two friends from Panama City.  Friends that I’d not seen in nearly 15 years.  They were dear women from the church where I accepted Christ and served for many years.  It was a sweet and precious moment of recognition and rejoicing.  Yes, I did remember!

This past weekend, Jacksonville experienced the blessing of God Almighty through the Biblical teaching of Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham.  The blessing started Friday night and continued all day on Saturday.  During the event, I ran into many friends as they entered what I considered Holy Ground.  I met new friends and bumped into women I remembered from meetings we had during the last year leading up to this event.

One sweet sister and I took at few moments to share our desires for the event.  She told me of her desire to be there because she needed the spiritual feeding.  Her heart (and mine) ached for it.  She indicated her need of being reminded that God remembered her.

There are many reasons to have revival.  One has stood out prominently in my mind.  It is remembrance.  During the course of this “Just Give Me Jesus” revival event, Ann G. Lotz took us from the hours before the death of Christ to the appearances He made after His resurrection.  We needed to remember.  I needed to remember.

However, there are two purposes for remembrance.  One is for us to remember and the other: knowing that we are remembered. 

Perhaps this morning, you are feeling a bit forgotten by those around you.  I know I have days when I wondered if anyone actually paid attention to me at all.  I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that we’ve all had days where we wondered the same thing.  “Did you even listen to my report?”  “If you’d actually read my email…”  If they had – we wouldn’t have to repeat ourselves. 

In reality, it’s not the repeating we object too, but the “you’re not important enough for me to pay attention too” message heard by ours hearts.  I doubt anyone intentionally means that, but it produces pain nonetheless.  Feeling forgotten in any fashion is miserable. 

You know, I can’t even get my computer to be kind to me!  No matter how many times I check the “remember me” block on my sign-in screen, it never remembers me!  UGH!

Ahh….but there is One who will never forget you or me.  His name is Jesus.  You might think you are not significant enough to be remembered.  But you are!  Perhaps you think Christ is too big to be bothered by remembering a lowly heart such as yours.  But He does.

Think of it this way.  Remember the most important thing you ever did for someone else.  It doesn’t matter if it was for a friend or a stranger.  Do you remember for whom you did that?  No doubt, you do. 

What makes us think Christ would do any different?  Especially considering the scope of the work, He did for us.  It was the work of grace and eternal salvation. 

The Lord told Joshua that He would never fail, forsake or leave him.  (See Joshua 1)

Jesus told the disciples He would be with them to the end of the world in Matthew 28:20.  John 15 tells us that Jesus abides in us.  This tells me that if I am not failed, I am not forgotten.  If I am not forsaken, I am not forgotten.  If I am not left, I am not forgotten and since Jesus actually lives within me, I cannot be forgotten.

This weekend many people received a reminder that Jesus Christ remembered them.  Many others came to know Christ as Savior and now they will be remembered for all eternity.  Praise His Holy Name!

As your week progresses, remember that you are remembered by a God who knows.  He knows you.  However, if you start to feel a bit forlorn or forgotten, please do what Jeremiah did.  Call to the Lord to remember you and take notice of you – knowing in full confidence that He’s never forgotten you for a second.  Lift up the eyes of your heart and see the Lord Himself take your face in His precious hands, and speak, “How could I ever forget YOU!

 In remembrance,   Barbara