N---again!

12/31/09 Though “N” sections in the dictionary and the phone book are relatively short compared to the other alphabetical offerings, I have to include another “N” here because it is NECESSARY. That’s it. As 2009 closes out tonight, I would be remiss if I did not remind myself (and you, dear reader) that Jesus is necessary. I have never seen that in my life the way I have this year. He has been absolutely essential and indispensable for the Liles this year as we have faced my (MAC) cancer and ensuing surgeries, Grandaddy’s numerous ICU stays followed by his funeral, Mommar’s increasing “dementia,” a miscarriage, and engagement.

A few years ago I taught Luke 10:38-42 passage both at First Evan and at Germantown Methodist and I came face to face with myself. You probably know the story of the two sisters who welcome Jesus to their home. Mary sits at His feet and listens and Martha. “distracted with all her preparations,” asks the Lord to tell Mary to help her. But God….the Lord tells her that she (Martha) is worried and bothered about too many things, when only one thing is necessary. Can you guess which sister had chosen the one good thing? It wasn’t Martha.

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.(Luke 10:38-42)

I have lived many years as a “Martha”---a “driven” doer, a caretaker and a goal setter. This past year I have had time, thanks to the cancer diagnosis, to be a Mary---a Mary in a Martha world. The world kept going as normal but it was necessary for me to take time out and spend time at the Lord’s feet. He was NECESSARY in my life.

He is still necessary. He is my life!

N is for Nigh

12/30/09 The Lord is as close as our “breath prayers.” He has said He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) So why sometimes does it “feel” as if He’s distant??

A couple of days ago I wrote that I had trouble wrapping my brain around God’s love. After meditating on His love for me, I’ve decided that I can wrap my brain around it; it’s just my heart that has trouble. Sometimes it’s easier for me to figure scripture out theologically and to “spout” it than it is to move those truths a few inches southward to my heart and “feel” it as I live it out. Ever had that problem?

God is near---all the time. Billy Graham once said, one doesn’t feel the heat of the fire when one moves away from it even though the fire is still there." It’s the same in our relationship with the Lord. If we don’t feel the warmth from that relationship---guess who’s moved?

Want the warmth? Want to “feel” His presence? Get back into the Word! “But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that you mayest do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:14)
Start with Psalm 73---especially verses 25-28a.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;

Extinguish your lights tonight with “Taps” knowing He is indeed nigh.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

L ……is for LOVE!

12/28/09 LOVE.....................

One of the hardest of all the attributes of God for me to wrap my brain around is love---unconditional love. I know of His sacrifice and I know scripture tells of the breadth and depth of His love but it’s still hard to comprehend, on a personal level, because I know me. I know that the one who writes this---a blog that sometimes inspire others---spent the day asking forgiveness for impure thoughts arising from impatience, unfulfilled expectations and anger. I wore myself out but I kept at it. Believe me, it was work! I thanked the Lord that He loved me, through the grace of His Son, but…….I didn’t “feel” that “love belief” in my core---it felt more like a mantra. I did repeat it over and over but did I believe it? I had to confess my unbelief. “ …I believe, Lord; help thou my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

The good news is that this unconditional love, which He offers, does not change whether I “feel” worthy of it or not. Even on days like today when my esteem is dragging, His love is constant.
No power on earth or heaven can separate us (even Me) from God's love. Not our (my) sin, not any authority, not any spiritual force. God's love is unshakable and can always be relied upon. That’s Romans 8:38-39 in a nutshell but………….the first 4 words say, “For I am convinced”-----

To convince myself of His love I plan to linger on this passage today----Romans 8:38-39

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

His love is there whether I “feel” worthy of it or not.alpha

K is for…………….

12/25/09....a King is born!…………..KING OF KINGS!

For unto you (and me) a king is born…….

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, ……….. (Zechariah 9:9)

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1 Timothy 6:15)

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)

May the King be crowned anew in our hearts and lives this Christmas Day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I is for IDENTITY

12/23/09 Organ chords of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing’’ rang out as the choir began to process along the red carpet down the aisle toward the choir loft at the First United Methodist Church in Hopkinsville yesterday. All of this was so familiar to me. Except, there was no Mr. Scruggs, or Mr. Tilley or short lady on the front row with the “big” strawberry red hair now occupying that loft, just Marian Adams looking mostly the same, but now graying.

This church with its large stain glass window above said choir loft (in memory of J. Brownell) stating, “He is not here. He is Risen” is where I began to discover my identity.

I walked that same aisle toward the altar at age 13, during a revival---somewhat unusual for a Methodist church---against my mother’s protestations too, because “we” didn’t express our emotions in public like that. Methodist became my moniker. Oh I had so much to learn. So much grace and knowledge to acquire---still do. (I need to insert an emoticon here but I only know this one---☺---have never created my own.)

Remember, I come from a small town where names like Baby, Bugs, Cookie and Junebug given at a young age still mark the identity of these folks, some of whom are now in their eighth decade. But names/labels do say a lot about who we are.

During this time of year certain names of our Lord resonate throughout church services:
Infant---the babe born in the lowly manger stable.
Incarnate One---“incarnato” Latin for being or taking flesh. He came and dwelt among us that we might have abundant life. “Hail the incarnate deity.”
Identity---“I AM”--- is the personal name for the God of Israel and Judah as revealed to Moses in the Wilderness (Exodus 3:14) In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you before Abraham was born, “I AM.”

• And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

This verse gives identity to Jesus because He reflects the identity of His Father.

May I find my identity in Him as well---called by God to reflect His Son.
Call me Christian!

H is for.............Hand of God

12/19/09 Assignment: Look for it today in your life.
I certainly have seen the hand of God at every turn this year in my cancer journey.

G is for……………Gifts of Grace

12/14/09
Popeye, the comic strip character (which began 80 years ago) gave us lots of food for thought---mainly about spinach. But I also remember him saying, I “yam” what I “yam.” I could say that about myself and the connotation would be derogatory. “I yam what I yam”…..apart from God’s grace, what “I yam” is not a pretty picture. Today "I yam" tired, grumpy and "down." But God......continues to bestow grace on this undeserving old lady.

I learned years ago that grace is "unmerited favor" from God. This gift of grace is a description of the character of God---His gift to humanity. We just have to receive this beautiful gift all tied up with His love---open it up and use it. What a gift----and we can never use it up!

Theologian, J.I. Packer, describes grace this way, “New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves.”

Here’s a gift of “grace scriptures” for you today---open the scripture that appeals to your heart and use it in your life---that’s what meditation does. Open the Bible, accept the Word and use it for yourself and to bless others.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10 (THOT---the gift does, in fact, go on)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 (THOT---Grace always precedes peace in the salutations (I found 16) of the epistles ----God’s grace must be present in order to experience His real peace.)

Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. (Romans 5:14-16)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (Ephesians 2:8)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (I Corinthians 15:10)

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16)

I hope you chose your gift of grace carefully and prayerfully and will continue to delight in it throughout the week.

G is for GIFT, indescribable

12/11/09 At a recent “Christmas Carol” production, a young boy sitting behind me, who seemed to enjoy kicking my seat, asked his Mommy, “Where are the presents from the ghost of Christmas Present?” His question was typical of the season’s mentality---not where is His Presence but where are my presents!

“On Dasher!” “On Dancer!” “On MasterCard!” “On Visa” was the intro to a Trinity Methodist Church (Denver, CO) sermon message on “Unplugging the Christmas Gift Monster.” So often we are so busy with the peripheries of the holiday that we lose sight of the One whom we celebrate. The One who gave us our greatest gift.

“The Father gave the Son. The Son gave the Spirit. The Spirit gives us life so we can give the Gift of love. And the Gift goes on. And the Gift goes on.”

Those words from Sandi Patti’s song resonate with the truth of Christmas. We have been given a gift. Now it’s our turn to pass it on. Love, His love, is a gift that keeps on giving.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,…(James 1:17)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

F is for Faithful Friend

12/9/09
In Shelby County Schools this month, the “Character Trait of the Month” is "Friendship.” The quote given to us in our Silver Bulletin this week was, “A friend is someone who sings your heart’s song back to you when you have forgotten the words.” (David Coppola P.H.D)

When I returned to work this week, I found friends like that everywhere I turned. They poked their heads in the library, stopped me in the hall, left notes and goodies and basically blessed me beyond measure.

When I was flagging in zeal, they lifted my spirits, especially the “lunch bunch.” Everyone should have a prototype of this HHS “lunch bunch.” We are a diverse group---in age, marital status, stature, interests, etc. We all love to eat so we talk about food (a lot)---- even though someone is always on a diet. Gender is the common denominator since Ben no longer has C lunch. Occasionally Mr. Suchman drops in so we really don’t discriminate. We’ve laughed together, cried together, prayed together, bashed men (only those deserving bashing) together and just enjoyed each other's company.

The entire HHS “bunch” has been with me this year through thick and thin---surrounding me with listening ears, open hearts and open hands. They’ve fed me and my family too many times to list, joined the HHS café with receptions and tea parties to brighten my day and sent me off to Dallas with a friendship quilt, books, pictures, cards, tea cups, tea pots and enough tea (when brewed correctly) to float a battleship.

But I have also known other friends who, in their human frailty, have found it hard to be faithful to a relationship when it no longer suits their needs. I know how devastating that kind of betrayal can be. Conversations with other women have affirmed that. It’s even worse if it comes from someone within the community of faith.

Scripture alludes to this in Psalm 55 when David cries out to the Lord in the anguish of his heart saying that he could bear it if the one who had brought this reproach against him had been an enemy but it wasn’t………………..

13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

So who is a true friend who walks in when the world walks out? Who is always there for you regardless? Who is it that pleads on your behalf before a holy God? Who is this One who is Faithful and True (Revelation 3:14) and calls us friend? (John 15:14-15) Jesus.

What a friend we have in Him!!!

E is for Emmanuel

12/7/09 As we approach the Christmas season that “E” word probably seems like a given---but I didn’t think of it. But God…I sat down to write this blog not having a clue of an “E” word---one that rang clear. I had some alpha bits floating in my head---eternal came to mind but not much else.

Then, I remembered a book that had the names of Jesus in it and I even remembered where it was. GLORY! At the Name of Jesus was on the bottom shelf of the lawyers’ chest in the living room. On the flyleaf I had written: From Allan and Carolyn Bowden on my 40th birthday. This “little” book has ministered to me over the years but especially that year, 1986-87. The underlines and the marginalia are reminders of His very real Presence in my life as I was struggling with two very necessary losses in my life. Naïveté and unreal expectations----those things one often has to give up in order to grow up. Also in the book was a cross-stitched “Dotsy” bookmark given to me by my former Longreen neighbor, Cheryl Mc.--it was stitched by her mother, Nancy G. It too was a reminder of God’s Presence in both our lives during another difficult season.

He was and is my Emmanuel---God with me in all my seasons.

“Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Em-manu-el, which being interpreted is God with us." (Matthew 1:23, KJV)

Ponder that.

Dippin' Dots (Dots, Nancy Rouse’s nickname for me, is dipping back into the “D” word bank

12/3/09

D is for DELIGHT He is my delight!

“Delight thyself also in the Lord and He will give thee the desires of thy heart.” (Psalm 37:4---Dotsy’s memory version)

Years ago (1978-79) when I was teaching her son Nathan, Carolyn Hughes cross-stitched that verse for me. It was really an answer to prayer because I was struggling trying to memorize scripture and “Voilà !” ---a gift of scripture. This visible reminder did the trick.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that the more I delighted in Him, the more He would change the desires of my heart. Now my heart’s desire is for my life to be so aligned with His---that my delights would be in sync with His delights.