Victims of Sin

With the Ashley Madison leak making headlines on all news sites, there are plenty of articles to read as well as the public's response to them.  I've read through many of the reader's comments searching for Jesus and I can't seem to find Him.  Most of the comments are mocking the cheaters, telling them they get what they deserve, sneering at the Christian community, saying they are the largest demographic on this site which is somehow proving that Christians are hypocrites and sinners above all others.

Well, yeah, it's not a real shocker to see that Christians are sinners, just like everyone else.  But the honest Christians I know don't claim to be sin-free.  They only claim to love Jesus and hate a life of sin and strive for something better.  Even Paul knew what that felt like.  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.  (Rom 7:15)

But that's beside the point.  The issue about getting what they deserve is what hits me the hardest.  Because the Jesus I know never told people that they'd get what they deserve.  Instead He said, I'll take what you deserve.  His statement is the foundation of grace.  So if these Christian cheaters remember anything about their Bible lessons, they will fall into the arms of Jesus and experience the all-consuming love and grace for which Jesus died.

I'm so saddened to see everyone laughing gleefully at all the destruction that this leak has caused.  They're so focused on making sure that sinners get what they deserve, calling them names, trying to convince the world that these individuals are not worthy of anything good.  They're so intent on destroying the person that they overlook the victims of this situation.  Their response is more focused on the cheater and not praying for those caught in the line of fire.  But the victims are not just the cheated spouses, they are also anyone who found themselves chained to the temptations of the enemy.  It's hard to see someone as a victim when it's their choices that are causing pain to others.  But if you take an honest look at the controversy of this world, you will see who the real villain is (ie, the devil) and understand that ALL victims are deserving of healing and restoration.

They are deserving of God's gift of healing because Jesus already did the time for their sins.  They are not deserving because of their choices and shortcomings.  In fact, if their restoration was dependent on their actions, they'd be deserving of some horrible things because of the mistakes they've made.

An angry person once told me that Christianity was the stupidest thing in the world.  The idea that people can sin and then simply ask God for forgiveness was ridiculous.  Sinners should do their time and suffer - for as long as necessary.  The disgruntled Jesus-hater mistakenly assumed that forgiveness was a ticket to sin freely.

But forgiveness doesn't grant us a free-ride to live sinfully.  The consequences of some sins have lasting repercussions that cannot be undone even when the sinner is covered in a garment of Jesus' righteousness.  But in spite of the brokenness, Jesus can always shine through.  And because of His extended forgiveness we can experience Him in a beautiful way.

Forgiveness grants us the courage to stand in the face of the enemy's attacks and claim the assurance that we are worthy of Jesus' sacrifice.

Forgiveness offers us an opportunity to shine Jesus' light to a hurting world.

Forgiveness helps us understand that it is not by our doing that we can enter the Kingdom of God, but by Jesus' grace.

Forgiveness draws us into eternal worship for the One that saved us from the clutches of eternal ruin.


It is the intent of the enemy to convince sinners that they are worthless and horrible beings, undeserving of Jesus' grace.  It is him who sets them up to fail and then tries to keep them bound so that they reject Jesus.  When a sinner rejects Jesus' grace, it's as if He is crucified all over again because He vividly remembers their face when He hung on the cross and His heart is broken by their acceptance of the enemy's lies.

I will make my statement again:  It is the devil that is trying to convince sinners that they are worthless and horrible beings, undeserving of Jesus' grace.

And every person who participates in this evil is doing the enemy's work.

Do not be glad when others are caught in sin.  Instead pray for them to see the light of Jesus' face and turn to Him for grace.  Proverbs says Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice. (24:17).

Please do your part in changing the attitudes of so many angry people.  And resolve to spread God's love and grace to a hurting world.  I love how God says it in Isaiah, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."  (Is 1:18)

The dearest friends

We all have different kinds of friends: coworker friends, family friends, grade-school friends, church friends, best friends, etc. I have had many "best" friends throughout the years, and then I've had friends with whom I've spent most of my time, and sometimes those two groups are not even comprised of the same people. Because sometimes my best friends live far away or maybe they live in town but have 4 small children that keep them busy. So if time spent together does not determine the value of the friendship, what does?  

If we were to make a diagram of our circle of friends, some would end up in the innermost circle, others a little further out, and some on the outskirts. But what determines the circle position of these friends? 

For me, it's what is in their heart that places them in mine. Those that have wormed their way into the deepest parts of my heart would be those that serve the same King I serve. 

I have known many people, throughout the years, that have made an impact on my spiritual walk. Whether they still profess the same level of devotion or not is irrelevant to their dearness to me. A connection has been made and it is, apparently, unbreakable. 

Some of those dear friends have ended up hurting me at some point or another and yet I can't find myself holding a grudge. It's impossible. Forgiveness appears to be available regardless of the offense. 

I find myself awed by this type of human connection. There are friends with whom I haven't kept in touch for years and yet I periodically have dreams of heaven and they're always there and I can hardly wait to embrace them. Other times, I can know a person for a very short period of time and yet they feel like a brother or a sister because we've shared testimony or prayer or service in the name of Jesus. 

So if you have ever prayed with me, served with me, defended the name of Jesus to me, or shared your spiritual journey or testimony with me, know that you are incredibly precious to me.  If I could count down the days till we can experience unity with Jesus for eternity, I would. But there is no count down, just a count on.  And so I'm counting on you to feed the need for Jesus in whatever you do. Seek Him. Seek to glorify Him and share His love with everyone around you.  So that we can continue our friendship into eternity.

Isn't Jesus amazing to provide such an opportunity for unity in His name?  Heaven is about Jesus, for sure, but it's also about wholeness in Him. And without the whole body of believers, it just wouldn't be the same.  He created us so He could share His love with us. So heaven isn't just praise for Him, it's a completion of everything He ever dreamed. What better way to honor His heart and desires, than to foster human relationships with Him at the center. 

I love how the bonds of friendship within the followers of Jesus is so amazing, so satisfying, that nothing this world has to offer even compares!  

You don't really need a ring

Most of my super-Adventist cousins don't wear wedding bands. The whole "jewelry" thing, you know?  When discussing it with one of my cousins a few years ago, I mentioned the fact that I did not see that the wedding ring qualified as jewelry but only as a visible symbol of a commitment. That's when she said she didn't need one because the most visible symbol would be the fact that she constantly talked about her husband. No one would ever have to wonder if she was married or not.

I've thought about that comment for many years. And decided that I quite agree with it. A wedding band wouldn't be necessary if you went around bragging about your spouse all day. It is quite true that if the outward symbol was visible devotion, the necessity for a ring wouldn't exist. So I'm okay with not wearing a ring.  (I'm also okay with wearing it, of course.)

In my case, I do not have an earthly husband but I have a heavenly one. Jesus. He is also a husband to many others. Some people wear a cross necklace to identify their loyalty or love to God. Others have dove stickers on their car or Bible verses on their t-shirts or iPhone cases or whatever.  All those identifiers make it clear to the public that they love Jesus (or at least profess to be Christians). 

I like all those Jesus identifiers; they draw Him to my mind whenever I see them.  But my favorite thing is when I walk into a church or a home or anyplace, and see evidence of Jesus on people's faces, hear it in their words, and see it in their actions.  I'd like to live in a world where I don't have to wonder if a person loves Jesus or not, I could just KNOW it because they wouldn't be able to stop talking about Him. 

You know what's sad?  I've been in Christian homes where the name of Jesus wasn't even spoken for days and days.  Just the memory of those moments brings a cold shiver through my body. How is that possible?  How can a person profess to love Jesus and not talk about Him? It'd be like if a wife visited some friends for a week and never even let on that she was married. Wouldn't her friends be surprised? Of course they would be. They'd be like, "Oh my goodness? You're married?  When did that happen?  Why didn't you even tell us?  Can't believe it didn't come up in the last seven days!"  Would the wife say: "It's not that big of a deal. I see Him about once a week. And I listen to the mixed tape he made for me every day. I just didn't have anything terribly interesting to share. He's just a husband. Does husbandy stuff. Besides, I had more fun talking to you guys about our favorite movies and tv shows and getting that pedicure and going out to dinner and shopping."  

Yeah, you'd have to wonder about how devoted she was to her marriage. I'm sure you'd expect that it probably wouldn't last. 

It would be my eternal earthly joy to live in a home where Jesus is an integral part of everything we do and think and live. And I do thank God for the blessing of the children I have.  Jesus often seems to be on their hearts and lips and I pray that it continues to grow.  I pray for the wisdom to teach them what I know and the passion to never neglect this kind of example and instruction.  

Because I want to live in a community where people KNOW who I serve.  I don't want them to wonder.  I want to wear Jesus on my face and represent Him in my actions and identify Him with my words.  I don't want to wear a ring.  I just want my heart to sing His praises, silently and out loud.

And someday, when this earthly phase of eternity is over, we will live in a community where love for Jesus will be pouring out of people's hearts like Niagara Falls.

I so look forward to the next phase of earth's history...

A fork in the road

For most people a "fork in the road" means that there was a decision to make at some point along their path.  But the photo above caught my attention because, in it, there appears to be only one road.  However there is a small obstacle in the way; an object so small, yet with the ability to puncture a tire and render your trip un-traversable.

I do not see my world as a series of paths.  I see it as one road, one goal, one purpose.  I wish to seek Jesus with all my heart, make Him greater, allow my joy in Him to be my beacon and then boldly shine His light on anyone who is in the dark about their infinite value.  Regardless of the turns my life takes, this is still my main highway.  There are no other roads I need to worry about.  If I am derailed from the road I'm traveling, its usually because I'm distracted by an inconsequential obstacle in my path.

For example, right now, I feel like I'm at potential crossroads, wondering if I'm making the correct choices.  I have so many to make: where to move, with whom to homeschool, what kind of work I want to pursue, how to invest, etc.  These are important decisions and I feel as though I have lost the beacon that has directed me in the past.  As a result, I can't take another step because I don't know where to go.

All I can see is all these decisions I'm supposed to make, and I'm worried about making the right ones, wondering how I'm supposed to be able to logically decipher the correct path on the road with many.  There are so many possibilities right now, so many paths, so many mistakes I can make.

There are too many roads in my line of sight.  And that's how I know there's a fork in my only road; an object so inconsequential but with the potential to utterly derail me.  The fork is Fear.  Fear of being abandoned by God, as I have been by so many others.  Fear of making the wrong decision, as I have in the past.  Fear of not having the courage to follow where God is leading.  Fear for the future and fear of the past.

But fear doesn't belong to me.  Only joy and peace and love do.  Fear is such an easy target for Jesus because love casts out fear and He IS love.  It's just what love does and what love is.  Love is the absence of fear.

And so the decisions still need to be made, papers still need to be signed, job applications need to be filled out, leases are running out and school is starting soon.  But I reject the fork that is in the road.  I reject fear and I stand in the promise that God's got this.  He's proven Himself over and over and over.  For me to allow fear to derail me at this point would be as foolish as the Israelites doubting God's direction while they were nibbling on some manna, filling their cups with rock water, under a cool cloud cover in the middle of the desert.  Ridiculous.