Doubt

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Have you ever experienced doubt as a Christian? Contrary to what you may think, having questions about God, the bible, and other aspects of your Christian walk can be a very healthy thing.

Author Peter Enns writes: “Sometimes we think of our faith as a castle—safe, comfortable, familiar. But what if God doesn’t want us to be comfortable and safe? What if comfortable and safe keep God at a distance? Doubt tears down the castle walls to force us on a journey. It may feel like God is far away or absent when in fact doubt is a gift of God to move us to spiritual maturity. Doubt is not a sign of weakness but a sign of growth.”

As a young Christian, I questioned very little about my faith. I was comfortable, and felt perfectly safe within the confines of my castle wall. From atop the fortified keep (highest tower), I could look out over the King’s country and admire the lovely view, but it was not healthy.

The problem with castle living is that God never called us to a sequestered existence. When Jesus gathered His disciples in the upper room it was to commission them to go out. The safety of our Father’s “strong tower” (Prov.18:10) is there for us to run into during times when we are battle weary and need rest and reviving, but it was not designed for residential living.

TREMORS OF DOUBT

The story of Hien Pham is a great example of how doubt can feel like the tremors of an earthquake - the after effects of a crisis that tries our faith and shakes us to the core.

Hien was a Vietnamese Christian who was thrown into prison after the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam. His charges included translating and teaching the Bible. 

From the first day, his captors attempted to indoctrinate him against Christianity. He was bombarded with communist propaganda and the deluge caused him to have serious questions about his faith. He began to wonder if he had been lied to and deceived about the existence of God. He made a decision to stop praying and abandon his faith when he was assigned to clean the latrines. When emptying the bin of used toilet paper, he noticed a piece of paper with words he recognized. When he washed the page, he read these words from Romans 8, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He began to weep and his faith was restored.

The guards were dumbfounded when Hien requested to be assigned regular latrine duty. Apparently one of the officials was using Bible pages as toilet paper, and Hien decided to collect and clean the pages, knowing that God's word would enable him to survive his dire circumstances. God met Hien in his doubt, and used His word to strengthen his faith.

STRETCHED BEYOND UNDERSTANDING

In the New Testament, we read of three circumstances where believers are stretched beyond their ability to understand.

In Mark 9 we read about the guy who sought healing for his son. Jesus tells him that “all things are possible to him who believes.” (Vs.23b) The man replies with, “I believe; help my unbelief.” (Vs.24) Notice that belief and unbelief are present at the same time. This man is wrestling with doubt. What stands out to me is that Jesus doesn’t condemn the man for his lack of faith. Rather, He provides the evidence the man needs for his belief to win the battle.

In John 20 we read about the resurrected Christ appearing to His disciples. Thomas was missing from that event and refused to believe their eyewitness account, “unless I see and put my finger into the nail prints in His hands, and my hand in His side.” (Vs.25, paraphrased) Did Jesus rebuke “Doubting Thomas”? No! He met him in his doubt and provided the opportunity for Thomas to touch and believe. (Vs.27-28)

Using the example of John-The-Baptist, bible teacher, Allen Parr, gives us five recommendations for those times when our situation raises doubts that stretch our understanding and challenge our faith.

1. Never base your beliefs on your circumstances.

2. Turn toward God, rather than away from Him.

3. Pay attention to the evidence.

4. Don’t condemn yourself for doubting.

5. Accept the fact that not all your questions will be answered.

We know that John was imprisoned for making Herod mad for calling him out over sleeping with his sister-in-law. It’s in this place where John begins to think deeply about things and battle the doubts that attack. (Insert recommendation #1.) He sends two disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Mtt.11:3) (Insert recommendation #2.) Did Jesus respond with, “John, you know better. You heard my Father’s voice when you baptized Me; you know who I am.”? No! Instead he points John to the evidence. (Mtt.11:4-5) (Insert recommendation #3) And rather than condemning John for his doubts, Jesus says of him, “… of those born among women, there has not risen one greater than John-The-Baptist.” (Mtt.11:11a) (Insert recommendation #4)

Were all of John’s questions answered before he was killed? (Insert recommendation #5.) I’m guessing not, but that’s not the point. Our faith doesn’t rest on the removal of all doubt. It rests on whether or not we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, despite our doubts.

EMBRACE THE JOURNEY

Deut.29:29 indicates that there are “secret things that belong to the Lord.” We are going to have unanswered questions - even doubts - that coexist with our faith. Don’t be alarmed by that. God is big enough to handle our questioning Him. In fact, He invites us to embark on a mission to seek and find, search and know, knock and open.

“I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the places where I have driven you…” (Jer.29:14)

If the tremors of doubt have torn down your castle walls through catastrophic or other means, put on your armor and embrace the journey that God has assigned to strengthen your faith. I promise, you won't regret it.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

She Laughs

(by Lorie Codispoti)

We seem to be facing an endless barrage of frightening uncertainties, and everyone I know is concerned about something.

What thoughts come to mind when you ponder the future? Wanna know how the Proverbs 31 woman handles her thoughts about tomorrow?

She laughs!

Huh? She laughs? How can someone look ahead, especially in these times, and laugh? That response seems callous and feels inappropriate.

Obviously, there’s something much deeper going on here, so let’s ask some questions of the text and dig for the answers.

WHAT KIND OF WOMAN IS THIS?

By way of cultural context, the women of that day didn’t have much going for them. They were considered a curse, and the source of all evil due to Eve’s sin. They were subordinate to men and viewed as property, with their value linked solely to their ability to produce male children. Therefore, they were not educated and had no rights. Even the writings of their day were derogatory and degrading, subjugating women on every level.

This is P31’s world, but when we read through the text (Proverbs 31:10-31) we find a counter-cultural woman. And she’s not the only one going against the flow. Her husband verbally praises her to all the important people. And her son, King Lemuel, values her wisdom so much that he puts it in writing.

Among other things, we read that P31 is strong (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). She doesn’t shy away from hardship or run from her circumstances.

In many of our Bible translations, we read that she is “virtuous,” with the emphasis being on her moral character, but the Hebrew word communicates something much deeper. The word is actually “valor” - a term referencing her civic life, evidenced by the actions we read in the passage. One writer describes her valor as “brave, persistent, audacious, resourceful, and ready for anything.”

This word, “valor,” gives P31 a persona of a victorious warrior, which fits with her husband’s trust in her as she returns home with the spoils of her warfare (vs.2) - giving her a “worth far above rubies.” (Vs.1)

(Read that again.)

THIS is who the P31 woman is, people. She is a kick-butt warrior, “clothed in strength and honor.” (vs.25) She resides in the King’s palace, but she doesn’t hide there. Under His authority, she’s daring enough to venture out and risk countering her culture.

WHAT KIND OF LAUGHTER IS THIS?

When we understand who P31 is, we begin to see how she can “laugh” at the future.

“Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.” (Prov.31:25)

The Hebrew word for “rejoice” in this verse is “laugh.” Make no mistake, however, this isn’t the same kind of laughter exhibited when your toddler says or does something cute. Quite the contrary, this is a mocking type of laughter - the kind that derides out of contempt. This laughter scorns its subject, making a mockery of him. It’s the same Hebrew word we read about in Psalm 37, where it talks about God laughing at the wicked who plot against the just, “for He sees that his day is coming.” (vs.13) We also see it in Psalm 2, where the nations and kings of the Earth foolishly plot against the Lord and his Anointed… “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.” (vs.4)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

The P31 woman laughs because her fear of the Lord (Prov.31:30) is greater than any calamity. She laughs because, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” (Vs.21) The harsh realities of a cold, dark winter may visit us, but for those wrapped in the covering of the King’s shed blood, there is a day of rejoicing on the horizon, a day no winter can destroy.

Don’t allow the enemy to cripple you with debilitating fear during these uncertain times. We've read the book and know how the story ends. So P31 up, ladies! Fear (respect, honor, revere) the Lord, gird yourself with strength (Prov.31:17), and go out into the unknown, trusting the future to a known God.

Let’s join the cacophony that laughs at the King's enemy. For "his day (of destruction) is coming" and our forever with the King of glory is nearer than we think.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Feed The Right Wolf

(by Lorie Codispoti)

“There are two wolves at war within me.” said the grandfather to his young grandson.

He went on to explain that one wolf is good (reflecting truth and love), and the other is bad (reflecting lies and hate).

His grandson asked, “Which wolf wins the war, Grandfather?”

“The one that I feed.” replied the wise old man.

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Christians, we’re at war!

The Apostle Paul explains that “The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Gal 5:17)

Fighting the good fight involves many things, but two tactics we must employ include:

1) Resistance. It’s critical for each of us to realize that we have a propensity for developing a taste for war - a propensity we must resist. (The bad wolf craves the blood of its prey.)

2) Feed. At the same time, we need to cultivate and feed our guts for engagement. (The taste buds of the good wolf are being transformed, reordering our cravings.)

RESIST

Ancient Roman history records the story of one its greatest gladiators, a young Jewish Syrian, named Flamma. After being captured and enslaved, his fighting skills were noticed and he was trained as a gladiator. Although the lifespan of an average gladiator was four battles, Flamma won over 20. Four times he earned his freedom, yet he turned down each offer. Why? For one, he had developed such a taste for the sport and a love for the enormous cheering crowds his fame attracted, that he preferred slavery over freedom.

Like Flamma, if we fail to recognize that we can be drawn to the wrong table, we may fall into the same trap and exchange our freedom for bondage.

A modern day example of this is our online presence. I continue to see people who start out with the right motives in their posts and comments - standing up for what’s right and trying to be a voice of reason in a sea of lies and deceit - but then they become so intrenched in the discussion/debate that they forget who the real enemy is. Their posts and comments begin to take on a demeaning tone, as they target their opponent with word bullets wrapped in quick wit and sarcastic humor. Fueled by the attention, they begin picking and engaging in all kinds of fights. They go from someone with a legitimate concern and influential voice to someone consumed by a ravenous desire to draw blood.

What happened? They fed the wrong wolf.

FEED

In the world of wellness a healthy gut is critical for fighting disease.

Right now I’m trying really hard to like green tea. It’s part of the protocol for strengthening my gut. I like most things, but this stuff tastes like grass. Developing a taste for what’s good for you can be difficult, so one has to be proactive in order for the good wolf to thrive.

So, how does one starve the bad wolf into dormancy, while simultaneously cultivating and feeding the good one to action?

FIVE STRATEGIES

~ PICK your fights carefully. Know when to walk away and when to engage. If you find yourself tired, angry, or discouraged, walk away.

Sanballat attempted to lure Nehemiah away from his mission, but Nehemiah was on to his tricks and refused to take the bait (Neh.6). In a world of Sanballats, be a Nehemiah.

~ PETITION God for His wisdom. James 3:17 tells us that God’s wisdom is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Col.4:5-6 tells us to “Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders…” By implementing this strategy, we invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, who feeds us with the ability to starve out ravenous canines.

~ PREVENT your emotions from taking over. We are instructed to set a guard over our hearts (Prov.4:23), and to be slow, not quick ,to speak (Jms.1:19). The ability to control our impulses is a discipline that any soldier worth his salt will put into play, no matter how heated the battle becomes.

Sometimes we need the strength of the pack (other believers) to help us with this. I remember the day I was about to go off on an instructor who was belittling my son in front of the whole class. My friend literally grabbed my arm and stopped me from shredding him. She saved all of us.

~ PREPARE by doing your homework. If the issue is worth engaging then it’s worth your investment of time. You are not called to be a lone ranger, so understand that part of your preparation involves seeking and gleaning from those who can arm you with both the knowledge and the experience needed for your engagement.

~ PRAY for those who oppose you. They are not your real enemy, and your goal is not to draw blood. Your goal is to be a conduit for infusion. Paul Washer said, “If I cannot speak to men about God, I will speak to God about men.” The battle is not over simply because your opponent gets ugly and shuts the door in your face. All that does is change the battlefield as we contend for them on our knees.

Bad wolf. Good wolf. Which one are you feeding?

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Pilgrim's Progress Is Always Relevant

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I remember it as if it happened yesterday.

Like those who remember every detail of a major event, I can recall every detail of the first time I read The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan.

I had never heard of the book or the author. Therefore, I had no idea that it was a Christian allegory. There was simply something about the cover of the children’s version that made me think this would be an interesting story to read to my then young children, so I tossed it into our book crate on our weekly visit to the public library. (Some people have book bags, but we checked out so many books at one time that we needed a crate.)

A few days passed before we had a chance to cozy up on the couch for an afternoon read aloud.

It didn’t take long. By the time I got to the part where Christian leaves the City of Destruction for his journey to the Celestial City my voice started breaking up as tears ran down my face. My children thought something was wrong, so I had to take time to explain what I was discovering about this story and how it parallels our Christian walk. From that moment until the last page was read, they knew that when Mommy paused it meant she needed a tissue.

Many years have passed. My children are grown, married, and raising their own children now. But, guess who is still reading about Christian’s journey - and who still needs a tissue when she pauses?

As soon as they were old enough to understand the story, I began reading it to my grandlittles, and explaining its significance to our own lives. I recently purchased a large, and beautifully illustrated children’s version (my new favorite), which has been perfect since all of my grandchildren live far away and our weekly story time takes place over the computer.

(Full disclosure. I have multiple copies of this classic masterpiece. There’s probably a name for it, but I confess that every time I see one that I don’t have, my purse starts to dance. It’s like every version calls out to me from the four corners of the Earth… “You need me!” And, I answer the call with a resounding, "YES, I do!" I may even have more copies of this book than my husband has Bibles.)

In his article, Seven Good Reasons to Read Pilgrim’s Progress to Your Children (https://unlockingthebible.org/.../seven-good-reasons-to.../), author Tim Augustyne writes, “If you had lived a hundred years ago and you were a Christian, odds are that you would have had a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress in your home. This is no longer the case. I would estimate that less than 1 in 10 Christians I know have read Pilgrim’s Progress, and if you’ll humor me for a moment, 99% of Christians I talk to under the age of 30 have never heard of Pilgrim’s Progress.”

If you’ve haven't read The Pilgrim’s Progress, I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy. (But, unless you like reading Old English, you might want to start with an abridged version - or better yet, a children’s version.) Let’s change that statistic to 10 in 10 readers who have read the story of a lowly pilgrim who perseveres through many trials on his way to the King’s city. Why? Because it's our story too.

Don’t let me be the only cry baby in the bunch.

Remember

(by Lorie Codispoti)

The word “remember” is referenced in the book of Psalms more than any other book in the Bible. How fitting.

Psalms is a book of poetry that was often set to music. There are psalms of praise, thanksgiving, lament, and victory. It was written over a period of a thousand years by multiple authors. Every generation is reminded to remember - to go back and recall the greatness of our God and His unending faithfulness in our lives.

Why do we need to remember? Simple: because we forget!

How many times do we read about the children of Israel forgetting God and the devastating consequences that followed? Yet, every time they stopped to remember and repent, God showed up in the most incredible ways. That’s His faithfulness on display.

Sometimes the darkness of a circumstance feels incredibly hopeless.

“I cried out to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.” (Psa.77:1-2)

I used to be deathly afraid of the dark. Now I sleep with an eye mask and have no fear. How was I able to do that? By remembering that though the darkness appears to block out all the Light, it is still very much there. All I need to do is take off my mask to see it.

Psalms makes it clear, that the way forward starts with going back.

“I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search… And I said, ‘This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psa.77:6, 10-11)

Darkness is loud; have you ever noticed that? It screams in its attempt to make you forget and lose your bearings. Darkness can also be loud because it is mixed with our cries for relief.

Darkness screams, but the awesome thing about our God is that He is tuned in to the cries of His children. And when He hears us He does something amazing. His Spirit brings to our remembrance the songs of His presence and promises. And these songs also do something amazing: they deafen the darkness, rendering its influence over us powerless.

The next time you find yourself in a dark place, open your Bible to the Psalms and sing your heart into remembrance.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Cut It Out

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I absolutely love to write, and over these last few years the Lord has used it like a lifeboat, keeping me afloat in turbulent waters. BUT, there is something about the writing process that I really, really, really don’t like. It’s when I begin to edit and find that I have to cut some of my favorite parts. I get so attached to my words, phrases, and paragraphs. And, I assign great value to the time spent researching and verifying the stories I use in many articles. So you can see why the cutting process feels incredibly personal. Cuts are hard, but they are also critically important.

I wonder if the New Testament writers felt this way.

It was the beloved Apostle, John, who noted that, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (Jn.21:25)

How many rough drafts do you think John had? Did he wonder why he had to leave out some of his favorite stories? I can hear his prayer now, “But God, this was such an amazing event. Don’t you want me to at least mention it? I mean, listen to how I can word this story...” Nope! Chop, chop, chop.

You know what though? Life is filled with cuts. We may really like something; it may even be something of great value, but if we trust the One who controls the wind, then we know He has charted the right course for our lives. It’s critical for us to realize that the things we try to save could actually be things that will slow us down, or even sink our boat.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.12:1-2)

To “lay aside” literally means to cast off. It's a much stronger idea than simply setting something to the side.

Can you hear the voices of those who have gone before us? They're standing on the shoreline, encouraging us to cast off, lay aside, and cut ties with everything hindering our journey home.

The Apostle John may have had much more he wanted to say - many stories he wanted to tell - but He had to rely on God when he put pen to paper.

God makes every cut count. Trusting that each one lightens our load gives us a clearer vision for what lies ahead.

We will have all the time in the world to hear about the amazing stories that we missed. Maybe it’s part of what those on the shore are shouting, “Hurry up! I can hardly wait to tell you about…”

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

In The Garden Of His Presence

(by Lorie Codispoti)

We may be in the middle of winter, but the Spirit of the living God is more than willing to transport our hearts, no matter the season. Day or night, He invites us to come to the place where His presence dwells.

“I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.”

When Mary Magdalene came to the garden tomb that day, she was alone and broken. A veil of downcast sorrow enveloped her, and hopelessness settled heavy on her heart.

Like Mary, we may come to the garden alone and filled with anxiety. But we do not walk through the garden alone.

“And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own…”

After the disciples had come and gone, Mary stood outside the empty tomb, weeping. What had brought her to the tomb had now escalated into full blown hopelessness. She didn't know that something exciting was about to happen.

Neither the appearance nor the voices of the two angels that appeared in the tomb could sooth Mary’s heavy heart. But then she heard another voice. At first, she thought He was the gardener. But when she heard her risen Savior call her name it changed everything. She lifted her head and the veil fell off.

“He speaks and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that he gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.”

She entered the garden carrying an unbearable weight, but she left with a melody that carried her through the trials that awaited outside the gate.

“And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!”

As we meander through our Father's garden, and drink in the grandeur of His presence, our senses pick up on things that a bleak midwinter camouflages. We are awakened to the sight and sound of unveiled Beauty. Anxiety melts away and carries our burdens with it. Conversing with our Father becomes an uninterrupted flow of clear refreshment, as if it were an endless stream, uninhibited as it cascades softly over the jagged rocks in our heart. The more time we spend, the smoother the rocks become.

Your circumstances may not change when you leave the garden of His presence, but when you hear Him speak your name something deeply intimate and transformative happens. As with Mary, His voice will flood your soul with a waterfall of Hope. This Hope embodies us and follows us outside the gate, where we have the opportunity to share what we’ve experienced and guide others to the garden of His Presence. 

(Note: This piece is the result of pondering John 20, and reading the story of how it inspired C. Austin Miles to write the hymn titled In The Garden.)

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Humble Cookies

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Note: The following story/poem packs a humble punch. It's a great example for the point I hope to make below.

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The Cookie Thief (by Valerie Cox)

A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight.

She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. . .

grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.

She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do.

With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother.

This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude, why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called.

She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share.

Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

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Humble Cookies

Things are not always as they seem, are they? How often have you been absolutely convinced of something, only to find out you were mistaken?

You may never see “humble pie” (or cookies, in this case) on the menu at your favorite restaurant, but God makes sure that each of His children are aware of the option. It may not be the tastiest choice, but it is a vital virtue for those who desire to walk in spiritual health and wellness.

We live in a world that links greatness to things like prosperity and popularity. Nothing new. History records plenty of examples for us not to follow. And, If we’re honest with ourselves, we will see that each one of us embodies the propensity to chase after this illusively destructive attribute.

The Bible warns us of the dangers of thinking too highly of ourselves. Three of the four Gospels record the story of Jesus’ disciples arguing about which of them would be the greatest in His kingdom (Mtt.18, Mk.9, Lk.9). Each records Jesus using a child as an example of greatness. He said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever HUMBLES (emphasis mine) himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” In that day, children ranked among the nobodies, so for Jesus to use this radical example was both countercultural and unnatural. It still is.

We’re not told how the disciples responded, but if embracing humility gives us a lower, more accurite view of ourselves, then I think it’s safe to assume that they got the message and adjusted their perspective accordingly.

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Mtt.23:12)

Humility is not only a menu item to choose as we feed on the truth of God’s word and grow in our spiritual maturity, but it is also a consequence for those who refuse the option and chose to chase after the greatness defined by culture.

I'm thinking of the example of King Nebuchadnezzar, who exhalted himself and conquered Judah and Jerusalem, sending the Jews into Babylonian exile. According to Daniel 4, he refused to repent and acknowledge the one true God. As a result he was humbled to the point of going mad, losing his royal status, and found wandering among wild animals and eating grass.

Hmm, grass or cookies? I’m thinking cookies.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Ready Or Not

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I never feel ready. For anything. Ever.

Looking back, I didn’t feel ready for motherhood, teaching, or for my children to leave home. Presently, I never feel like my house is ready to receive guests. My suitcase rarely feels ready for a trip (no matter how full it is), and this article won’t feel ready for publication (regardless of edits) when it's due. And, should tomorrow come, I’m pretty sure I won’t feel ready for my grandchildren to be grown and another season of life to pass.

Like a monkey who refuses to get off my back, there always seems to be one more thing I need to do to feel ready.

I wonder if the Apostle Paul felt ready for the trials he faced after surrendering his life to Christ? What about the disciples? Hardship was a way of life for first century Christians, but were they ready for the suffering they would endure after being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Can we really be ready for something, especially when we can’t predict the details of future events? The answer is yes, we can.

Once upon a day, way back in the 1970’s, there was a song titled I Wish We’d All Been Ready (by Larry Norman). It was the sobering lament of a person who realized he had been left behind when Jesus returned, and his biggest regret was that he wasn’t ready.

I’m reminded of the two stories Jesus told about being prepared for future events. The first one contrasts two sets of women who are awaiting the arrival of their groom (Mtt.25). They knew he was coming, but they didn’t know when. The other story is about two men who build waterfront homes. One was careful to build on a proper foundation and the other thought he was fine without one (Lk.6). Both stories point out the wisdom of being prepared.

I think it’s important to distinguish the difference between feeling ready (emphasis on “feeling”) for something and being prepared for it. A surgeon may be fully prepared for a complicated surgery, yet not feel ready for the unexpected things that may arise during the operation.

Being ready is more of an emotional state that has everything to do with confidence. The wise women were the only ones prepared with oil for their lamps, but neither they or the unwise women were ready. Their confidence waned when the bridegroom was delayed, so they went to bed. They were ALL asleep when he arrived. None of them were ready. Likewise, neither of the two builders were ready for a category five hurricane. How could they be; they didn’t know when it would happen. But, one of them was prepared for the inevitable storms that come with having an ocean view.

None of us feel ready for an accident, a sudden death, disease, or a catastrophic event. We may not FEEL ready, but we can BE ready.

One writer notes, “Ready is the outcome of deep knowing.”

Readiness aligns itself with knowing God and having our confidence rooted in Him. I can be ready for the unknown because of the One I know. I’m sure there were times when Paul and the disciples felt like the were not ready for the things they had to endure. But God had prepared each of them for their assignments, and as they pressed on in knowing the God who sustained them their confidence in Him grew. For 100 years Noah worked on building that ark. He had no way of knowing when the rain would start, but he was ready when it started sprinkling and God shut the door.

When I look back now, I realize that while I didn’t feel ready for some of what life brought, God had prepared me.

My house is not perfect, but I’m ready if you’d like to come over for tea. I may discover something missing from my suitcase when we get to our destination, but I’m ready for a trip. My confidence in Him is what gives me the courage to be ready, whether I feel it or not. I don’t need to FEEL ready to BE ready.

Do you hear that, monkey? You’ve been given your marching orders to get off my back and return to the trees where you belong. No more free rides for you!

Don’t be like the man in the song, who discovered too late that he should have been ready.

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” 

Be prepared and you will be ready. Build your faith on the solid Rock and keep your eyes open for the day our Groom comes to take us to the home He has prepared for His bride.

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