Have you reached a verdict?

I recently spent a month on jury duty. Unbelievably, at the age of fifty two, I participated in my first "tour of duty." My tentative jury schedule listed ten days when I had to call an automated line to verify whether I needed to report in for jury selection. Each time I called in, I held my breath hoping for a cancellation. Four times I was directed to report to the courthouse the following day. Two of those four days, my juror number was called and I was seated on a jury.

I must admit that while I started the month dreading the hassle of a month in limbo, I truly enjoyed learning the details of our judicial process. I also realize how blessed I am to be isolated from the grit and grime of the world around me. My fellow jurors and I heard cases of sexual abuse, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment and murder. We heard awful details and saw gruesome pictures of evil crimes that abound in our society today.

A favorite question lawyers liked to ask prospective jurors was, "Can you stand in judgment of someone?" In other words, "Can you find someone guilty?" Most jurors, without hesitation, said, "Yes." I jumped right in on the bandwagon. No problem, I thought. There are some days when I feel like I'm the most judgmental person on the planet. So it stands to reason that I should have no problem finding a defendant guilty. Wrong. Wrong. Oh so wrong. During both my cases, I wanted so badly to believe the defendants were innocent. I didn't want to believe the horrible evidence presented. I didn't want to believe these defendants could be so, well, evil.

Prior to jury deliberations, the judge gave us a list of instructions. In fact, every jury is instructed that in reaching a verdict, the penalty of that verdict may not be considered. For instance, if we as a jury deliberated over a verdict of murder in the first degree, then as jurors, we could not consider the fact that the defendant would receive a sentence of life in prison. The jury can only consider the facts presented and testimony heard. The judge reminded us that he, and he alone as judge, imposes the penalty.

In the end, I knew the truth. I knew the truth beyond a reasonable doubt. In fact, beyond any doubt at all. In both trials, the defendants were guilty. Guilty.

And so it is with me. That is what I am. Guilty. Each and every day. Guilty of lying. Guilty of harboring nasty thoughts about others. Guilty of manipulating people for my gain. Sometimes I do these things without a second thought. Sometimes I do these things in spite of my thoughts. I am guilty, and God is my judge.

Thankfully, because I know Jesus as my Savior, I can and do ask for forgiveness. I realize the error of my ways. I repent. Then I continue on with baby steps in this life quest. My goal: changing my thoughts and actions completely.

There's a great word in Christianity. The word is justification. It's a big word. Somewhere back in my Sunday School days, I was taught the simplicity of it as, "just as if." Because Jesus died for me, my sins are wiped away "just as if" they had never happened. My slate wiped clean. Erased. New.

Romans 5:1-2 says it this way:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

Lucky for me, I don't receive a penalty for my sins from a jury of my peers. My God, full of mercy and grace, finds me, "NOT GUILTY."

He's BAAAACKK!

Over this past weekend, I suspected and today it was confirmed. I spotted him today as he attempted a dining room fly in! The Red Baron is alive and well. Yee Ha!

Now if I can be this excited about the life and return of a cardinal, albeit an annoying one, I can only imagine the incredible joy I'll feel when Jesus returns. I'm at a loss to describe that day. Elation. Ecstasy. Exhilaration. Wonder. Awe. Pure joy.

Jesus may not return in my lifetime, but just the possibility is exciting.

Mark 25:31 says this, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne."

2 Thessalonians 1:7 says: "This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels."

I'm ready. Are you?

Death of the Red Baron?

On my way into work this morning, I saw a dead cardinal on the road. Now, it's not everyday that you see a dead bird in the road, let alone a cardinal.

My first thought was, "Oh no!"  These bird remains were in close proximity to our home. I was fearful that these remains were those of our "peeping tom" window peeking bird. If you haven't read about the Red Baron, and are curious about the story, click Knock, knock.

Anyway, as the day wore on, I kept a look out for the Red Baron. And now, as nightfall approaches, I have yet to catch a glimpse of him. This sounds really silly, but if he is gone, I will miss that goofy bird.

The moral of the story: "Enjoy every day as a gift. Tomorrow is not guaranteed."

Hopefully, the Red Baron is alive and well. I will keep you posted.

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will got to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

Church on the beach

My church family is important to me. The weekly gathering of believers is an important part of worship, but once in a while, my husband and I like to do our own thing. A few Sundays a year, we venture out of our ordinary routine. 

Such was the case this morning. We packed up the comfy folding chairs, grabbed our Bibles and headed out to Lake Michigan. Our township has a great park for residents that is just a short drive away, and that was our destination. 

On this beautiful sunshine-filled morning, we had the beach to ourselves. Lake Michigan was flat, and just the slightest lapping noise greeted our ears. Gulls soared to and fro. A couple paddle boarders guided their crafts along the shoreline in the distance. We settled in our chairs and enjoyed the peace God prepared for us.

My husband shared Psalm 112. I shared a few verses from I Thessalonians. While neither of us knew what verses the other had in mind, God in his infinite wisdom had coordinated the theme of our verses. I revel in the times I see what I call, "God-cidence."

Looking out over the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, I realize the greatness of God's love. God's creation praises him from the depths of the lakes to the tops of the dunes. We, as his created beings, join in to worship.

From Psalm 96:

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

let all the trees of the forest sing for you,

Let all creation rejoice before the LORD..." 

A Memorial Day reflection

As I sit on my comfy couch, in my warm family room on this chilly May day, I realize how clueless I am. I am clueless to the hardship. I am clueless to the sacrifice. I am clueless to the loneliness. Today, hundreds of thousands of men and women are enduring the hardship, the sacrifice, the loneliness and the separation from family. Each and every one of these folks are ensuring my freedom and yours.

Today's military personnel are joined by millions more, who over the centuries fought, died and endured the extreme conditions of selfless sacrifice for our country. Some have died. Some have been injured. Some are plagued with mental anguish. For me. For you.

Thank you.

A mere, "thank you," does not seem enough. But today, I mean it. From the bottom of my heart.

Thank you.

As Americans, freedom is our privilege in the United States. We are blessed. Truly blessed.

As Christians, we have an even greater freedom. A freedom that releases us from the ways of the world. A freedom that allows us to be heirs to an eternal kingdom. One man gave his life for this freedom. Jesus. Jesus is that man. He gave his life. For me. For you.

Thank you, Jesus.

A mere, "thank you," does not seem enough. But today, I mean it. Today I give you my heart.

Read about our freedom as Christians in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18:

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

I am free. Truly free.

Knock, knock

We have a window peeker stalking our house. That's right. A window peeker. We see him frequently. He peeks in our dining room window. He peeks in our living room window. Mostly he peeks into our bedroom window. I've tried to photograph him, but he is an elusive character. The moment he sees me he darts away.

I am not scared of this fellow. He doesn't even make me nervous. On the contrary, this prankster frequently makes me laugh. Our window peeker is a bird. A cardinal. Yep, a bright red, handsome fella.

He started this business last year. In the wee hours of dawn, at sunrise, he positions himself on a branch outside our bedroom window. His favorite activity involves flying to, or even into the window. And then he pecks. And pecks. And pecks. Off to the branch. Back to the window. Off and back. Off and back.

If something interesting inside captures his attention, he cocks his head to one side, then the other, and then peeks straight into our home. His antics are comical. Seriously, I'm thinking about giving him a name. Maybe Red Baron.

His persistence is impressive.

Unfortunately for him, I never plan on opening a window or a door for him to come into my home.

Fortunately for us, the opposite is true. Jesus tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7: 7-8

Are you peering into God's house? Are you knocking at Jesus' door?

GORP

Two of my favorite people embarked on a wilderness hiking expedition today. A group of Hope College students are taking a May term that sends them out to the Adirondacks in New York.

I got a peek at the syllabus for the course which includes not only lists coursework and schedule, but advice from former trip participants as well. Many comments in the advice section mention eating GORP. Now to me, Gorp is trail mix, and trail mix can take on a ton of different varieties. I have NO idea what combination of dried fruits and nuts will be provided on the Adirondacks trip, but I think of "Good Ole Raisins and Peanuts" as GORP. Naturally, I would also say the mix needs  a good helping of M&Ms to complete the recipe.

Gorp would not be Gorp without a mixture of flavor. Alone, each item gives great flavor. Combined together, they make great flavor outstanding! Every ingredient is important. Each ingredient is necessary for the overall perfect taste experience.

Christ's church is a lot like Gorp. Church is not the building, but the people. Old. Young. Servants. Speakers. Eccentrics. Extroverts. Introverts. People who come with a variety of talents and gifts.  The church needs peanuts who teach middle school Sunday School. The mix needs raisins who mentor young women. The recipes needs fruit who evangelize and serve the needy. And what church would be complete without the M&Ms encouraging others with their sweetness.

The peanut is not better than the raisin, nor is the raisin better than the M&M. Likewise, a raisin shouldn't desire to be a peanut! Each item is important to the overall flavor of the whole!

Next time you worship, look around. Find the peanuts, the raisins and the M&Ms. Then figure out which ingredient God gifted you to be. And then go out and add your flavor to the Gorp of God!

Read I Corinthians 12 for a look at how the God gives an array of gifts to his people to further his kingdom!