Monday, August 29, 2016

What is the value of salt?

Nana is the best cook on this planet.  She is her own best critic though, especially when it comes to butter beans.  Too much salt; not enough salt....that seems to me to have always been a dilemma since I can remember.  They have always been perfect to me!
Jesus teaches the parable about the cost of losing our saltiness or our effectiveness as disciples in this world.  Salt is used in many ways; to purify, to preserve and even to penetrate, just as when we share the Gospel.  We are called to purify and preserve the good in this world; to keep things from going stale and even to penetrate hearts that need to hear God's word.  If we become stale we lose our effectiveness.  Ancient salt was compounded with impurities such as gypsum.  If it became damp, the salt was leeched out and was useless.  It could not even be used on compost piles.  It was simply thrown into the streets and trampled upon.
There is a precious fairy tale that goes something like this:
A famous king, depressed by circumstances in his kingdom and feeling rejected by many of his subjects, called for his three daughters to comfort and reassure him. After they had talked awhile, he asked how much they loved him. Two of them answered that they loved him more than all the gold and silver in the world; but Mary, the youngest, said she loved him like salt. Her answer did not please the king, for he considered salt to be of very little value. The cook, who overheard the conversation, knew that the child’s reply had more significance than the father could ever imagine. She devised a subtle way to emphasize the true meaning of the young girl’s words. The next morning at breakfast she withheld the salt from everything she served, and the meal was so insipid that the king could hardly swallow any of the meal. Then he realized the full force of his daughter’s remark. She loved him so much that nothing was good without him! With a smile he said, “I understand now, Mary. Your love is the greatest of all!”

Salt has the capacity to change everything it comes in contact with, just as our saltiness for Jesus has the same possibilities.
So, how are you going to stay "salty" in helping others understand that nothing is good without Him?
I invite you to share in a Wednesday morning Bible study 9:30-11:30am in the Edward Room or to attend Wednesday Evening suppers; or have you registered for a Sunday school class yet?
http://www.trinitysc.org/grow/adults/sunday-classes/
I encourage you to make a plan and stick to this plan in order to feed your spiritual soul so that you might be that salty butter bean to feed others!

Monday, August 22, 2016

Which seat will you chose?

Have you asked your child who they sit by in school; who they sit with at lunch; on the bus; in gym class?  I am sure you have or they have told you.  Have you asked why?  I need to share a quick story about choosing a seat.  I received a frantic text from mine last week.  She had walked into a Biochem Lab (whatever that is) and there were only 2 seats left.  One was with a very cute boy she knew from high school, but not necessarily the best lab partner or the only other seat was with a tutor she had last semester.  So here is how the conversation went:
"Help!  I can either sit with this cute KA or with my SI (that's what they call a tutor) from chemistry last year who I loooooved and he helped me understand so much but his English isn't so great, but he's so much smarter than me so if I went and sat next to him I'd probably hold him back and he'd be like what is this girl thinking.  Or I can sit by myself in this impossible class where the text book doesn't even make sense!"
Yes, I know, I should not have answered the text and let her figure it out, but I had just read the Gospel lesson for this week, which I like to call "Choosing the Ueker Seats" (Luke 14:7-14) and could not let it go.... stay tuned...

In this week's Gospel, Jesus is teaching about seeking honor.  He encourages us to look for a place where we can serve.  To be all in for the All in All.  Our service on this Earth is so much more important than our status.  So, be humble.  But, what is the definition of humble?  Webster says this: not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive; actions reflecting, expressing or offered in a sense of submission.  Humble is not putting oneself down, but comparing ourselves to Christ.  Realizing our sinfulness, our limitations, but also realizing our spiritual gifts and using them to further God's glory.   Jesus is also teaching about serving others despite appearances and the blessings in this service.  May I suggest a fabulous bedtime story?  Lord of the Cranes written by Kirsten Chen.  This is an old Chinese folk tale about a very wise old man Tian who comes down from his mountain top to see how generous and kind people can be.  He dresses as a beggar and meets an innkeeper who welcomes him every day without any kind of expectations for payment.  Tian rewards the innkeeper in the most unexpected way with only one simple request.  Please, please, please take the time to share this story with your child or family member. I hope you can find the book but if not this is a summary: http://www.learningtogive.org/resources/lord-cranes

She chose to sit with the SI, if you were wondering.  Through some "motherly wisdom" and with a whole lot of help from the Gospel I reminded her that what we may see as the not so desirable seat or a seat we do not think we deserve on this Earth; the Ueker seat, may be just where God is calling us.  The seat where He wants us  to serve or to be served; to humble ourselves or to be humbled. Jesus came as the perfect example of service without any pretenses or expectations of repayment.  He was the ultimate payment and just as in the story of Tian, what a beautiful reward we have received.

Monday, August 15, 2016

What's bending you over?

When I first read the Gospel for this week, I thought "I know, I know, I know I am the worst at keeping the Sabbath holy". Especially when I was teaching, Sunday was the day of laundry, grocery store, cleaning the house day; totally guilty.....but if we only concentrate on that part of Luke's message, we miss some of the good news.  It's the "bent over woman" who we need to look at this week.  18 years of not being able to stand up straight, the agony of trying to sleep at night or never being able to look someone in the eye, and not to mention, Luke makes it clear this was the work of a "spirit".  Imagine her joy when Jesus says "Woman you are set free from your infirmity."  Her "bentness" was gone.  
 
We all experience weakness; areas of our lives that just linger in the back of our minds, concerns about our children that keep us awake at night, that thorn in your side, not seeing eye to eye with someone, a dread or fear, unbreakable habits, seeing the cup half empty, guilt.  I may not have mention your exact bending point but I bet you thought of it.  Maybe these things don't physically bend us over or show themselves outwardly in our appearance, but they are there.  Here is the good news!  "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hb. 4:14,16)  Mercy and grace; sympathy.  Sometimes that is all we need to face our weakness. 
He may not call us forward and immediately straighten us for many reasons.  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me....For when I am weak, then I am strong (2Cor. 12:8-10).  When we admit our weakness, truly lay our burdens down, stand on His promises, we will find ourselves straightening up; looking upward.

Monday, August 8, 2016

What's in your backpack?

Have you seen the Staple's back to school commercial?  I guess it is all in our perspective or where we are in this race that is set before us as to your reaction. 
15 years ago it was "the most wonderful time of the year".  My children were bored; I could not take another rainy craft day.
10 years ago, when I was going back to school along side of my children, my perspective change once again.  There was NOTHING wonderful about a 5:50am alarm clock every single morning!
And now today, I write this blog with tissues in hand as we say goodbye to Brooks who is leaving for her Sophomore year at Clemson....not so wonderful. However, on the flip side John Allen starts his final semester with graduation in sight in December...yes, that will be the most wonderful time of the year!

There is a season in this race for all of us; seasons full of challenges, anticipation, expectation, heart breaks and disappointments, but also joyous times. Do not be discouraged as Hebrews tells us this week "we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us therefore throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hb. 12-1-2)
So, as we all set out into this new school year where will we find strength and perseverance? This year will involve hard work for all of us, but we first and foremost need to remember we are not alone and we are not the first to face the struggles ahead. So what is our inspiration?  Keeping our eyes on the prize....Jesus!  What a sweet victory.


So, what is in your backpack?  Here is a suggestion for a "goody bag" for any age!
an eraser: We will all make mistakes. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
a ruler: in all your ways submit to him , and He will make your paths straight ( Proverbs 3:6)
an energy bar: I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
a stuffed animal: So do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. (Is. 41:10)
a fruit: So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)
band-aids: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Ps.147:3)
a flashlight:  Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Ps. 119:105)
a Bible: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.( Ps. 18:30)

Prayers for a peaceful start of this new season!