Linda's Notes

Years ago, when younger and thinner, my husband and I and some friends were runner/joggers.  From our house, which was built on a hill overlooking a beautiful valley, we established many running routes.  There was an 8 mile for Jay; we had a 6 mile, a 2 mile, a 5 mile, a 3 1/2 mile…you get the picture.  Anywhere the trails took us it was always uphill coming home.  One direction was a gentler path.  The other direction was not so mellow.  That road lead to my children’s bus stop.  To this day they will tell you it was a mile down and a mile back.   I believe it was three-fourths of a mile.  Whatever, they had to walk up it coming home.  Mean mamma!

Betty Roberts, a great friend, and I ran together quite often, because when you have a running partner and gab all the time, the runs are much easier.  One of our routes always ended trudging up that lengthy incline.  We usually halted the running/jogging about half way up that old challenge and walked (quickly) the remainder.

I recall one evening when the sun went down before we finished our venture.  Therefore, that horrible, the challenge of that ascent was sightless.  We kept going and talking and jogging and having “fun”.  Before we knew it, we were at my house.  We had finished the task up our uphill battle without completing half the goal by walking.

It gives me thought to the fact that 1) it is wonderful to have someone in life to climb hills with.  2) Sometimes when we can view or face our giants, they seem overcoming.  But when we focus on truth, on our strength, our God, and cease staring at the obstacles looming up ahead, it is easier to accomplish our victory.

 

Many of us were raised in a “works” religion.  Meaning..If you don’t do this, if you don’t do that, if you do this, you never do that….you are a Christian.  Then you can go about patting yourself on the back..  I don’t do that…I am better than you.  I never have done that…I am truly religious.  I can look down on you and put you down, because you do  practice that “sin.”

Problem was, most of those things weren’t really sins.  They were outward performances and appearances.  And they certainly didn’t “save” us.  There was a little baby born in a cave in Bethlehem many years ago.  He lived and learned his earthly father’s trade and studied and assimilated His Heavenly Father’s word  for 30 years.  This Man then traveled and became a Teacher to 12 disciples.  He declared that He was the Son of God and was the Messiah prophesied in the writings of the prophets.  Some would not accept that He was the Messiah, because they were waiting for an earthly King, not a Man who taught about love and forgiveness and wandered with fisherman and hung out with tax collectors and “sinners.”   He turned water into wine, taught love, and healed blind people and lepers and crippled.  He even called the dead to life.  But He wasn’t their expectation.

They created a counterfeit court and trial.  He was tried and convicted.  He was crucified, placed in a borrowed tomb.  As we are now approaching this season, we observe the story didn’t end.  Resurrection was His triumph.  Why? …was this accomplished? ….To save us from our sin.  The single requirement is to accept Him as God’s Son.

Did He come to condemn us?  No.  On more than one occasion His words were “neither do I condemn thee.”

After some observation,  we learned about Grace.  We do not have to work for our salvation.  It was given to us on that Cross through His death and restoration to life.  His three years of teaching gave us numerous examples of Grace.  Thus, we now have works vs. grace.

Did His teaching of grace give us license to sin? No, but His training taught us growth.

Well, in his own words, ” the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy,  I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly (wonderfully).”  John 10:10

He was explaining that Satan (the thief, the liar) comes to us to steal and kill and destroy our abundant life.  Lucifer (the snake, the serpent, the deceiver) tells us…if you participate and partake in certain pleasures…you will be happy, you will be overjoyed, you will be satisfied…these things will give you abundance.  It’s okay to be selfish, it is okay to hate, it is okay to not forgive, it is okay to satisfy all your physical needs and wants, without caring about others. He is an impostor.  His provocations only satisfy you for a short while.  Then you need more…and more… and more.

When our Savior (giver of Grace) taught, “I do not condemn thee,  I love you, you don’t have to work to receive my salvation”, he usually ended that conversation by stating “now, go and sin no more.”  Why?  Not to condemn, but His wisdom proclaims when we followed His gracious Instructions, our lives could be abundant and we could grow and mature in His commands.  Our minds could be free, our bodies could be healthier, and our soul would be fulfilled, contented and quenched.

Being around people is how my heart flourishes.  Currently people contact is minimal.  A virus is slithering through the world and our country like a fog with fingers reaching to interrupt our daily living.  Since my biological numbers are in the “most vulnerable”, am I to be afraid?  My biological # doesn’t accurately reflect my mind, body and soul.  My heart aches, for small businesses, for employees, for mother’s whose professions continue to function, and do not have day care.  My heart aches for families and friends who have lost loved ones and cannot have a proper memorial for them.  Weddings cannot be attended.  Graduations for students, who have studied and struggled for a great portion of their life, will probably be suspended.  Places of worship which are the foundation of our country will be empty today (for how many weeks we do not know).  The worship and spiritual instruction is imperative.  Many churches will be “live-streamed” or use some form of Social Media to spread their message.  Two things are omitted from this scenario:  1) Many of the elder individuals in congregations do not use social media, so are kinda prohibited from seeing their pastor. 2) And I believe, this is the most crucial…they (we) are missing the fellowship.  The hugs, the handshake, the “God Bless You’s”, the “I’m Praying for You”.

Understand, the Church is not the building.  The Body of Christ or Body of Believers is the Church.   Our Heavenly Father will never leave us or forsake us.  He is there with is whether we are in a building with 2500 people or with 25 people.  He is with us when we are sequestered at home.  He will guide us, comfort us, keep us from evil.

A Day of Prayer has been called for today.  Pray for this Virus to be conquered.  Pray for protection of all ages.  Pray for the lonely.  Pray for the sick.  Pray for those in pain.  Pray for those who are afraid.  Pray for comfort.  Pray for the United States of America and for our entire world.

Soon, our isolation will end.  And we can hug again.  But until then, “if I should die before I wake, this is what I want you to know”.

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If I should die before I wake…  this is what I would like you to remember.  For ten or more years I have thought about this….what I would like to leave for my children and grandchildren and friends….Notes and thoughts that I have collected through the years. My reflections will lean toward what I have gathered since I was a child.  As a 3 or 4 years old, I learned “be ye kind, one to another”, “treat others as you want them to treat you”.  (condensed Bible verses).  If only we would all heed these instructions!

You see, I believe that the Bible is a manual for humans to know how we should best function.  God was our creator.  All creators or manufacturers give us a manual.  In that manner we can know how to properly keep that item functioning.  So our Creator gave us a manual.  Some think that the suggestions were created to hold a hammer over our head and keep us from “having fun”.   Some think they are punitive!  As I progress leaving my contemplation with you, I will explain some.   i.e. forgiveness.  This is a great one, we will consider what the lack of forgiveness does to a person.  But later.

For this to resonate with someone (you), there has to be a belief that there is a Supreme Being known as God, Heavenly Father, Creator and many other Omnipotent monikers.  If you don’t, maybe we can explore that together.  As I am not a great theologian, I have learned and can read, explore, research and maybe put them into simple terms for you to ponder.

So today, I leave you with one of my little tidbits (origin unknown).  Will be back another day.

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.  “What food this might contain” the mouse wondered.  He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.  Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed this warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.  I cannot be bothered by it.”

The pig sympathized, but said, “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray…Be assured you are in my prayers.

The cow said, “Wow! Mr. Mouse, I’m sorry for you, but it is no skin off my nose.”

So…the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap…Alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house–the sound of a mousetrap catching it’s prey.  The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness, she did not see it.  It was a venomous snake whose tail was caught in the trap.  The snake bit the farmer’s wife.  The farmer rushed her to the hospital.  When she returned, she still had a fever.  Everyone knows that you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup.  So the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient:  But his wife’s sickness continued.  Friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.  To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.  But, alas, the farmer’s wife did not recover and unfortunately passed away.  So many people came for the funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for the funeral luncheon.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn’t concern you…remember!