When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.  Matthew 8:14-15

This week celebrates the 93^rd anniversary of my mother’s birth; the 98^th anniversary of my father’s birth; and the the 73^rd anniversary of their marriage.  Yes, they packed it all neatly into one week…with Mother’s Day thrown in for good measure regularly.  As I take time to remember them and what they meant to me, I am grateful for them and thankful that they pointed me to Christ from the time I was born.  Further, I am grateful for what they taught me through example.  A significant gift that they each exhibited regularly was their servant’s heart which caused them to be helpful and compassionate in a variety of circumstances.  It is a desire that was passed on to me.  As I prepare to make a lengthy drive to visit and help my mother-in-law, I am reminded of the honor and privilege it that it was to help my parents and my father-in-law at the end of their lives.  Now I have the opportunity to assist Ma as well.  When we help others whether through acts of service, encouragement, teaching or some other form, it is a blessing to both parties. 

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We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Merriam-Webster defines encumbered as impeded, hampered or hindered with respect to functions or activities.  A reality of my life and the lives of others dealing with chronic illness and pain is that we are encumbered in everything we do.  Those of us are encumbered with respect to our ability to function are also, by definition, encumbered in our activities.  Often it’s not just the physical issues but also the mental ones.  It takes so much energy to accept and manage our physical problems and limitations that we are also mentally encumbered.  Further, the problem is not limited to those with physical or mental problems, but also extends to those who are grieving, have relationship problems or are enduring some other trial.  These may also find themselves encumbered as they attempt to accomplish the tasks set before them.  Despite our struggles, God still calls us to complete tasks for Him.  It is not ours to question or deny but rather to complete with aide of our Heavenly Father.

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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:1-2

Over the course of my life, I’ve encountered a wide variety of individuals.  Most of these events are buried in the recesses of my mind as they had little noticeable impact.  The encounters that I do remember are the ones that were: repetitive, damaging, unexpected, uplifting, or loving as they left a significant mark on my life.  At the top of the list of memorable encounters are my encounters with God.  Encounters with the Lord come in a wide variety and are perfectly tailored to the people involved as well as the need.  They may be direct encounters as Noah, Abraham or Moses experienced; through His messengers as was the case with Mary and Joseph; through a grand event as Paul’s conversion or the more subtle work of the Holy Spirit.  No matter what form our encounter takes, we can be certain of one thing: we will never be the same afterward for we will either trust the character of God and draw closer to Him or we will reject Him in disbelief and pull away.

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So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Colossians 3:12-14

Within the past couple of weeks there have been quite a few conversations to make plans for Thanksgiving.  While the menu hasn’t varied too much from year to year, the people with whom we share the meal have varied greatly.  Naturally, the core group has always been our immediate family. However, many years have regularly included extended family, friends and acquaintances.  As I consider those with whom I have celebrated this holiday, I am reminded that I am most thankful for the people that God has chosen to weave in and out of my life.  Their roles, the length of time in my life and the affection for them has varied greatly, but they have all had a purpose.  As the saying reminds us, some people are a blessing while others are a lesson. 

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“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”  Ephesians 1:18-19

We have a pair of binoculars stored in our closet that belonged to my parents.  I remember looking at them as a child and learning how to use them.  Employed correctly, they provide clarity; however, used improperly they distort making matters worse than if they had not been used at all.  The same principal applies in our lives when we fail to look at things from God’s perspective.  This is true with respect to both our circumstances and our interactions with others.  It is a matter of hope and faith.

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“Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure.”  Proverbs 15:26

I recently spent a couple of weeks with my mother-in-law.  As she likes to listen to the news a lot, I heard just about every broadcast regarding the Judge Kavanaugh hearings.  Our culture seems to have lost the concept that people are innocent until proven guilty.  As I listened, to the newscasts, I was struck by the fact that I was listening to them in Danvers, Massachusetts.  For those who are unaware or need a refresher, Danvers was originally Salem Village.  In the late 1600’s the town held witch trials that resulted in the death of 25 people…19 were hung and another six died in custody.  (One of the victims was Rebecca Nurse whose house is shown above.  See also Britannica.com)  The trials started due to the behaviors of some girls that could not be explained medically and were, therefore, assumed to be satanic.  Lack of information, bad assumptions, and false accusations led to a tragic end.  The words of the girls and others involved led to the abominable deaths of innocent parties.  Contrary to the poem many of us learned in grade school, words have the power to harm and destroy; they also have the power to heal and encourage.   That’s why our use of words is so important.

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O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.  Psalm 10:17-18

As I stated in the last post (Pride and Humility Part 1 –  Pride Renounced), we live in a culture that promotes autonomy, independence and self-assuredness.  When controlled, these characteristics are useful tools in life.  However, left unchecked, they will likely lead to pride.  Prideful arrogance impedes a relationship with God, inhibits relationships with others, multiplies guilt, brings dishonor and insures judgement.   Alternatively, humility is often despised by our culture because it appears to be the weaker trait.  However, it is desired by God because it yields rewards in both this life and the one to come.  Following are a few of the benefits.

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But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:11-12

I’ve watched several people die…it’s not a particularly pleasant experience.  The closer you are to them, the harder it is.  The longer it takes, the more time you have to think.  That time and that pondering offer an opportunity for personal reflection in a way that no other experience does.  As someone you love is on the brink of entering eternity, what is important in life seems to be much clearer than when we are in the daily race meeting deadlines and running errands, etc.   Knowing that a loved one will shortly meet their Lord and God allows the Holy Spirit to speak to us and apply God’s word to our lives in ways that drive home His message with more depth and understanding.  In short, it is a wake-up call to pursue a life well lived…that is, to live intentionally rather than passively.

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“Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight.  Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”  Psalm 119:143-144

Anguish is the inward response to trouble.  For those with a balanced perspective, anguish is reserved for extreme circumstances.  The Hebrew word used is derived from the word for a narrow place.  Therefore, in this context, the connotation is a place of confinement or disability.  That’s exactly what anguish does to us mentally; it makes us feel hemmed in and incapacitated.  It is both suffocating and immobilizing.  Even so, the writer of Psalm 119 expresses delight in God’s commands when faced with trials.  While at first blush it may seem odd to experience both anguish and delight in the same circumstance, as Christians, there are several reasons to be delighted in dire situations.

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“Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight.  Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”  Psalm 119:143-144

Healthy relationships are built on knowledge, understanding and grace.  Sharing a conversation with a person will, in most cases, allow one to get to know them.   However, that does not necessarily mean that they have any kind of significant relationship…at this point they are, for the most part, acquaintances.    Solid relationships are built when people share their lives.  They celebrate the high points together, comfort at low points and offer aid, wisdom and guidance in the midst of struggles.  Grace covers the gap between knowledge and understanding as well as when there is a need for forgiveness.  Developing a strong relationship takes time and effort but yields a great reward.

Last week I was looking for scripture verses to post on social media and came across Psalm 119:43-44.  Despite having read and sung it many times, this time it struck a nerve.  The natural tendency of any human when faced with trouble that causes anguish is to seek understanding.  The important question is: what kind of understanding?

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