An Irresistible Invitation

When I was sixteen years old, my family moved from the glitter and glam of Southern California to the small town of Roanoke in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia. I was a junior in high school and like any other new person in a new community, I knew no one except for the people I had met at my dad's office that summer.

The very first day of school, I sat down in the second row of study hall. I always liked sitting a row or two back in class - not right in front staring up the teacher's nose, but close enough to where the teacher would see that I was interested in learning. Study hall wasn't any different. I knew I would not be one to clown around, so I just did what I always do and sat toward the front.

That day, the study hall teacher gave us an opportunity to talk with the people around us. So I figured I would turn around and introduce myself. I hadn't met anyone yet, and lunch break was coming! It was scary back then, thinking about heading to the cafeteria and sitting down with complete strangers. Fortunately for me, a sweet girl from Texas just happened to be the person sitting behind me. Amazingly, it was also her very first day at this Virginia school. We became instant friends.

The world's first selfie, circa 1989, with my sweet Texas friend

A short time later, she invited me to join her on a trip with her church. I chose to go for social reasons mostly, because I really liked her. I also hoped to get to know some other people and be happy in my new environment. That church trip was memorable for two reasons. First, I experienced my first real kiss with a boy. Now that is getting socially acquainted! The second reason the trip was memorable was because it was the first time I heard the truth about who Jesus Christ was.

I always had considered myself a "good person," even at the young age of sixteen. A year or two before that, early in high school, I had made commitments to avoid alcohol and drugs. I also had made a personal commitment to stay pure sexually until marriage. My friends for the most part described me as a sweet and smart girl who loved everyone including all my teachers - a real goody two shoes.

At that young age I also recognized myself as a "spiritual" person - someone with deep thoughts and emotions. Even though I wasn't raised in the church, there was no doubt in my mind that God was real. As a young person I had already seen both American coasts, the Grand Canyon, the giant redwoods in California, and the plush Blue Ridge Mountains changing colors through the seasons. I innately knew those things had to be designed and created by an intelligent being much greater than I.

My spirituality went beyond just knowing there was a God though. I had some head knowledge of who Jesus Christ was, based on things I'd heard over the years. I didn't have any trouble intellectually believing His birth was the reason Christmas was celebrated and His death and resurrection was the real reason behind celebrations at Easter. But something inside of me wanted to know more. I desired to learn more facts about who Jesus was, and I longed for an emotional connection with God.

The church trip with my new friends was fun. I remember staying up past light's out giggling with my Texas friend as I described my first kiss to her in detail. That is something we still giggle about to this day! Our group sang songs by a campfire and rode paddle boats along a lake. There were also small group meetings where we would talk about things that were all new to me. In one of these meetings, the youth pastor asked us all to answer the question, "Who is Jesus?" Not coming from a church background, I was happy I could come up with an answer at all to avoid embarrassment. When it was my turn to answer, I recall saying, "He is God's son." The pastor was satisfied with that answer, so I exhaled a sigh of relief. As we continued around the room, one of the kids answered the question this way:

"He is God."

That answer came as a huge surprise to me. I didn't know about the concept of the Trinity at that time, and I never before had considered Jesus Christ to be the same God who created all those beautiful things I had seen around me growing up. That one answer, "He is God," jump started my spirit and caused me to seek more answers from some Christian friends I met on that trip. I began attending church after that time and got to know a sweet young mother who taught our high school Sunday School class. She was kind and accepting of me even though I am sure she knew I was an outsider, part Yankee, part California girl. She must have sensed I was searching. One of the things I remember her doing was encouraging the other kids in class to reach out to me and help answer any questions I may have had. So they did. My sweet friend from Texas bought me a Bible for Christmas, and a few others came to my house to answer my questions. My spirit was attracted to and comforted by the Bible the more I read it. I was also grateful my friends cared enough about me to try and help me believe in this Jesus they spoke of. When I was alone in my room, I would pray to God and ask Him to help me to have clarity about what I was learning. All I wanted was to believe. It was as if I knew this was my future, but my spirit wouldn't quite let go of its own pride.

A short time later, we all were singing in a youth choir concert at church. At the end of the service, we were lined up against the walls singing our last song. I suddenly felt a comforting warmth come over me, and I heard God tell my spirit that it was time to just believe. So I did. It was an irresistible invitation, and I accepted it. In that very moment, a divine exchange occurred between God and me, and it felt amazing! As I accepted Him, He accepted me. I knew in the deepest parts of my spirit that because of that decision, my eternity with God was secure. His Holy Spirit came to live inside me that day, and I have never been the same since.

Throughout high school and college, I followed Jesus. Day by day, I would read devotionals and pray. Unlike many college kids, I continued to abstain from the party scene and sexual activity. I married young and served in the church. My desire was to follow God, but I was also confident in my own ability to make good choices. In my twenties and thirties, I felt like I was a good person capable of making the right decisions, and I wanted other people to know it. The truth was I was filled with pride and didn't even realize it.

Honestly, I don't think I was alone in my thinking. Most individuals think they are good people, and if asked, would answer with, "Yes, I am a pretty good person." In fact, many of us spend a large portion of our lives trying to make others think we are good people and that all is going well for us. Particularly in social circles, we seek to bring ourselves glory and to magnify all that is good about us, so we will be well liked. Social media has only increased the natural inclination to puff ourselves up.

The perception we have of our own goodness also shapes our judgement of others. Society generally holds the belief that humans do and should possess more innate goodness than evil, so when something seems askew from our world view, we judge. We have all seen that idea played out during this presidential election as supporters of each side assume the worst about followers on the opposing side.

Perhaps because we take on the role of judge, measuring what is considered bad or good among our peers, it has contributed to the overwhelming societal view that this is also how the creator of the universe views things. When it comes to eternal matters, many in our society believe that our good deeds versus our bad deeds will be what is ultimately judged by God, and it is that measure of our overall life that will determine our eternal destiny.

Television and movies perpetuate this thinking by selling the idea that at the end of our lives, we all will cross the pearly gates and our maker will stand us in a judgement line to determine our final worth based on how we've chosen to live. The thought is our good deeds will be weighed against our bad deeds. God will look at your life on earth and determine that you were mostly good, thus giving you a pass into heaven. Recently polls suggest that a large majority of Americans believe in heaven, and most of those same people believe they will make it there based on their own worth or good deeds done on this earth.

Some mainline Protestant Christian denominations and most Catholic churches regularly teach this philosophy as gospel: that good works are what truly matter in this life. And that is tragic, because it isn't about being good enough. None of us could ever be good enough in our own merit to match a matchless God. One sin - just one mistake - separates us from the creator because He is perfectly good and sinless. Even the holiest among us falls short at least once. This is why God originally instituted the sacrificial system among the Israelites before the birth of Christ. According to Scriptural and historical accounts, only a blood sacrifice from an innocent life could atone for one's sins and restore one's relationship with God. Animals were innocent, so a lamb would be chosen to atone for sins and draw people to God. The Israelites later tried to follow the law recorded by Moses, but the law's purpose was ultimately to show people how impossible it was to follow in full.

The essence of the true Christian message is that our spiritual merit before a perfectly Holy God could not ever be based on what we do. Something drastic had to occur to bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness and to make it possible for human beings to experience communion with Him. God the Father chose to send His one and only Son, the very essence of Himself, as a mediator for all of humanity. That man's name was Jesus Christ. That kid back in that small group meeting was absolutely correct. Jesus is God! He was the culmination of the Passover Lamb.

God has created us as relational beings, so our spirits long to have a relationship with Him. That longing is stirred for some as children, some, like me, as teenagers, and some at different stages of adulthood. Be sensitive to that feeling when it comes, because that is God calling you to Himself.

When we recognize our inability to be good enough and acknowledge Jesus Christ as that mediator for us, to just believe as I did that day after the youth choir concert, a divine exchange occurs for us. His sacrifice on the cross covers our smallest and biggest sins. All of it is wiped away forever. That fact allows us to stand before God and spend eternity in heaven. Not because of us, but because of Him!

Recognizing your true human nature is important, because it allows you to seek humility and allow the glory to be where it belongs - with God alone. When we understand what Christianity really is, we can also share the gospel authoritatively in love, because what Christ did for us is miraculously loving.

Understanding the true Christian message was a process for me personally because it is easy to believe what society is teaching. My human nature - and yours - is to want to take some credit. However, something happened to me a few years ago, and a process has taken place in my soul to get me to a point where the song "Amazing Grace," truly means something to me. I had to be broken. The years surrounding my divorce were a spiritual turning point. Any security I had in my former marital commitment was ripped from me. People I thought cared abandoned me. I made some mistakes too through that time causing unnecessary pain for others. Some of the losses have not been recovered, but some beautiful things have come from all that pain. The Lord brought me Jonathan. I have never known love like what we experience daily. God has also drawn me to Himself in ways I never thought possible. And miraculously, a person I hurt deeply in my life offered me complete forgiveness. I hope to write about that particular situation more in the future, because the love and forgiveness she displayed toward me significantly impacted me.

I am grateful God is bringing me to a place where there is less of me and more of Him. It is a freeing feeling to know His love for me is not at all dependent on what I do or don't do. It is completely - totally - dependent on what He has already done. Worship increases and pride decreases when we recognize this truth and take the focus off of ourselves. An irresistible invitation is open to all.

Where Are You Mr. Bird?

We have a couple of cages for our parakeets, and on occasion I like to open them up and use the doors to build a bridge between the two houses. The birds seem to enjoy that because they have a change of scenery and can step between cages to visit with each other. Their excitement level increases as they jump in the bird bath and sample each other's food. 

Sometimes, one of the parakeets will slip out around the gap between the two cages, climb around the outside, and glide down to the kitchen floor. I have trained them to remain in a small section of the floor under one of our tables, and normally they are very good at staying where they belong. On occasion, however, Mr. Bird, our original bird and the most curious of our nine parakeets, likes to venture a few feet outside that small area. I call him my "little explorer." When I am close by, I just shoo him back into the safe zone under the table. The birds are surprisingly obedient and routined. For the most part, they have learned where they are safest and happiest, and that is staying within the boundaries I have established for them.

Last week in the rush of leaving for work, I neglected to close the cage doors back up. As soon as I walked in the house a few hours later, I felt an "oh no" kind of feeling and prayed that all the birds were either in their cage or their designated spot on the floor. I did a quick count and soon realized that Mr. Bird was not where he belonged.

Knowing he had to be in the house somewhere, I walked around searching for him and called, "Where are you Mr. Bird?" Suddenly I remembered a time when he glided down to the living room then flew down a little further into the foyer. Low and behold, I walked down two sets of stairs and there Mr. Bird was resting below a hall table in the unlit foyer.

Mr. Bird in the foyer (only it was dark)

 

What I knew, but what Mr. Bird did not know, is that his home in the kitchen was only about 20 feet away. But because he had made a couple wrong turns to get down to our foyer and was now standing in the dark, the little parakeet had absolutely no idea how to get home. Mr. Bird was not going to fix this problem without his master's help.

As I approached Mr. Bird, I wrongly assumed he would be thrilled to see me and step right up onto my welcoming hands. He actually freaked a little, flapped his wings and tried to run then fly away from me. Amazing how despite years of caring for him, my little explorer didn't recognize I was actually there for a rescue! I was able to corner him by the front door then gently scoop him up. Cupping my hands over Mr. Bird protectively, I spoke sweetly to him and carried him back home to safety.

There was a time in my life not too many years ago when I was just like Mr. Bird. I got curious and left the safety of God's protective presence. I walked outside the bounds of holiness an inch, thinking I was better than the boundaries. And before I knew it, I had run many feet away and found myself in a very dark and lonely place. Have you ever felt deep in a dark hole? If so, you know it is difficult to remove yourself.

The good news is, our master, the Lord of the universe, cares so much for us. He seeks us out, like I sought out Mr. Bird when I knew he wouldn't be able to find his way back home alone. As his master, I wasn't going to give up until I found that little explorer. And God doesn't ever - not ever - give up on us either. Be assured that He will search for you - even if you're in a bad place or flapping around in protest, thinking you can find your own way out. His love for you is custom made and very personal. He cares enough to corner you if necessary then cup you up in His hands and carry you where you will be safest.

It may be tempting to explore a little - to venture a few steps outside the safe zone. My advice to you is don't do it. The risks are not worth it. Mr. Bird was fortunate - the only damage done to him was being alone and lost in the dark for awhile. He could have crashed into a window or eaten something he shouldn't have while satisfying his curiosity.

Temptations are everywhere. Stay alert, and be committed to remaining within the bounds of God's safe zones. If you're past that point, have already flown off, and are now standing alone in a spiritually dark place, please know your Master is right there. Picture Him bending down, opening His merciful hands, and inviting you to step up to safety. He will carry you home.

Parakeet Pursuit

Two of our six parakeets, CiCi and Sprite, are less than a week away from becoming first time parents! CiCi, our beautiful turquoise parakeet rescue, laid five eggs a few weeks ago, and it has been fascinating to observe the pair innately adjusting their behavior in preparation of their offspring's arrival.

Since removing the other four parakeets to an alternate cage, CiCi, the Mama bird, spends a large portion of her day and night in the nest box. When she hears one of us walking nearby, she peeks her head out to be sure there is no imminent threat. I speak to her, she looks at me for a few seconds, then pops back into the nest box, moving her eggs around to better position them for incubation.  CiCi is noticeably thinner as the only time I have seen her feeding the last month is when Sprite passes food to her directly. That behavior is excellent practice for when the babies hatch. In addition to feeding the babies himself, Sprite will also pass digested food to CiCi and then CiCi will feed the babies.

While CiCi is busy caring for her eggs, Sprite normally sits on the top perch. This allows him to protect CiCi and the nest from a high viewpoint. The last few days I have noticed an increase in his appetite. I am hopeful this means the time for hatching is near! Sprite's favorite time of day, however, is not when he is eating. Rather, his entire demeanor changes when CiCi leaves her nest for a few minutes and engages with him. They will move from perch to perch, groom and feed one another. Sprite fluffs his feathers, speaks to CiCi, feeds her, and occasionally dances for her. CiCi likewise enjoys picking at his feathers and receiving food from him. They are adorable together.

When CiCi goes back to her duties in the nest box, Sprite quiets down, and I observe a noticeable difference in his mood. On a few occasions, I have looked in the cage and been unable to find either bird. In those moments, Sprite overcomes his dislike of a dark box to keep his mate company in the nest.

It has been so fascinating observing these two lovebirds come together over the past few months and then transition to preparation for parenting. After being the only unpaired birds in our cage for several months, one day the two of them finally showed signs of courting. Mating came a short time later.

As someone who has always had dogs as

pets, becoming a parakeet parent was an interesting transition for me. They are the easiest pets I have ever had and are surprisingly social. Because my children are away from home several weeks in the summer, and last year I didn't have a job or friends in our new town yet, admittedly I bonded with the birds. They talk a lot during the day, so they filled the silence left by my missing children. I have also found that observing them often teaches me something about human life.

Most of my observational time the last year was directed toward CiCi, because prior to bonding with Sprite, she had a difficult life. I have also found her exceptionally

intelligent. We rescued CiCi from a local shelter where she was formerly the companion of another female bird. We chose to introduce her to our sweetest parakeet Bert, since our other four parakeets were paired off. Bert and CiCi successfully paired a few weeks later. The two of them were as in love as two birds could be. She had a special, sweet, high pitched call designed just for Bert. They were so meant for each other, I started calling them Jonathan and Laura! However tragically, last spring, Bert unexpectedly passed away. CiCi instantly became a different bird due to the trauma of losing him. Her sweet personality disappeared as she began snapping and squawking meanly at the other parakeets. Despite our attempts to introduce her to a new parakeet, Sprite, she spent about three months last spring and summer "alone." Ignoring any and all attention from Sprite and clearly mourning Bert's death, my heart broke for her. I sincerely believed she would never recover. Watching her in our kitchen, my tears flowed and prayers were lifted for my sweet CiCi. I also felt bad for Sprite, who continually pursued and was rejected by CiCi.

The day I saw CiCi respond positively to Sprite was a very happy day in our home. Our entire family rejoiced when CiCi finally opened her heart up to Sprite in August and they paired. The rest, as they say, is history.

Observing these precious creatures is a valuable spiritual exercise for me, because I regularly learn lessons from them. CiCi has taught me to persevere and trust God's sovereignty even through painful loss. Animals do mourn. I witnessed her grief every day. It was very real for her, and I doubted Sprite would heal her from the trauma of losing Bert. Week after week, my husband would compassionately say to me, "they will bond, just give her time." He was so right! She did find great love and companionship in Sprite. She chose to reopen her heart. CiCi is a very happy bird because of Sprite, and now she is going to be a mom!  If God could answer my prayers about my parakeet, provide her strength to overcome her obstacles and then bless her with joy, of course He can also be sovereign in my life!

Likewise, I have watched Sprite patiently pursue, care for, and protect CiCi. He waited months for her, never giving up on her even though her heart was cold and closed for a time. He protectively watches over her from above, and he rejoices when she joins him. Sprite's behavior is a beautiful picture of how Christ loves us. We are often God's stubborn and hurting bride. How often do we squawk at God and push Him away because of pride? And yet He just waits, lovingly and tirelessly pursuing us, until we finally decide our need for Him outweighs whatever is keeping us from Him. The sweetest moments in our lives are found when we are in complete fellowship with Him.

One of the things I am most grateful for in this life is how patient - yet persistent - the Holy Spirit is with me. There have been periods in my life when I refused to see the truth and beauty that was right in front of me because I was too stubborn to see past my own selfishness, pain, and fear. Like my Mama bird CiCi, I pushed away the One who loved me the most because wallowing in my grief or staying frozen in fear felt more comfortable than trusting Him. CiCi makes the choice every day now to submit to what is clearly the better life for her - trusting Sprite's love and protection. He is her perfect companion.

Christ can and should be ours.

Pastor Bobby - Part 2

Every morning, I remind my son Bobby to wet his hair in the back, because it has the tendency to stick up in the air like a chicken. Most mornings he listens and comes down the stairs with a perfectly wet down head. Except for this morning. I looked at him and said, "Bobby, you need to wet your head. Your hair is sticking up in the back." Anticipating my comments, Bobby looked me straight in the eyes and calmly replied, "Well Mom, I think God wants me to wear it like this today. That way, if someone looks at me and says something to me about it, I can tell them God cares about someone's heart, not about what someone looks like on the outside." He then paused and thoughtfully said, "I am pretty sure that's what God told me to do." (Mama is Melting...)

Literally two minutes from needing to walk out the door to the bus stop at this point, I realized what a significant spiritual moment this really was. So I hugged him and said, "Okay honey, that's so awesome. You know there's a verse in the Bible about that. Let me find it for you." So I grabbed his cell phone, opened up the YouVersion Bible app, and found 1 Samuel 16:7, which says:

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 

Bobby loved the verse, so he told me he was going to memorize it. And he meant now. It did not matter that he had a bus to catch. As I stood there holding his backpack and lunch bag while he put on his sneakers, listening to him say the verse over and over again, I was utterly amazed. How incredible, my son is about to miss the bus because he wants to memorize Scripture! Not too many twelve year old boys are like this one. I am so blessed to have this gentle young man living in my home with me. What a privilege it is to raise him up in the Lord. My precious Pastor Bobby.

My Favorite View Today: Pastor Bobby

One of the greatest blessings of my life is watching my son and daughter grow in their faith. This morning, as Bobby was eating breakfast, he pulled out his cell phone. Instead of watching video game tutorials or texting, Bobby opened the YouVersion Bible application and completed his daily devotionals. His cell phone's main purpose now is for growing in Christ, because every morning Bobby has the same routine. He has made spending time with God and learning about Him his top priority. Jonathan and I are so proud of him! Bobby's spiritual persistence is an inspiration to me, and this is why we call him, "Pastor Bobby."

My Favorite View Today: Piggyback Prayer Warrior

What a blessing to have a husband who begins the day on his knees. Rachel decided to join him, so I had the privilege of seeing and hearing the prayer today. :)

Later in the day, on our way out of the Dulles Plane Pull event, Rachel jumped on Jonathan's back again! I am tremendously grateful to have such a loving family.