Some notes are worth keeping. I tucked this one in the back of my spiral-bound journal, where it resided, undisturbed, for the next 13 years. I pulled it out today in remembrance of its author.
Alan and my husband served together as church elders for nearly a decade, until a painful conflict with another church leader caused our family to leave the warm fellowship we had called “home.” One day, in the midst of the emotional turmoil swirling around this toxic situation, a note arrived in the mail. The front of the card, printed on ivory cardstock, read:
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
I was touched that Alan, a busy Wyoming cattle rancher, would take the time to create such a thoughtful and timely card. Inside, he had handwritten a relevant Bible passage and penned a personalized prayer. This was not surprising, since Alan was both well-versed in Scripture and a dedicated warrior in prayer.
Last Saturday, the Lord called Alan unexpectedly home. He is now in the presence of the Savior he so genuinely loved and faithfully followed. Today is Alan’s Celebration of Life. His life is easy to celebrate. His legacy is desirable to emulate.
I never forgot Alan’s simple message of validation and hope and often thought of it over the years. I’m sharing it today in his honor. And just in case someone else needs this reminder, like I did, during a difficult season of life.
Thank you, Alan. You were right.
Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind. (Proverbs 15:23-24, NLT)
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If you’d like to learn more about Alan’s amazing life, here’s a link to his obituary:
I’ve never been an immaculate housekeeper. Okay, let’s be real. My housecleaning skills are definitely subpar. I’m quite comfortable with dirty dishes in the sink and dust bunnies in the corner. I only clean for company.
But lately, I’ve become a bit of a clean freak. My daily chores now include disinfecting cabinet knobs and door handles, wiping down countertops, and sanitizing sink faucets. My house has never been this clean.
Thank you, COVID-19.
My cleaning frenzy began the last week of March. Our youngest daughter had spent the previous week on spring break in Florida, before hastily flying home to finish her college semester online. Our middle daughter and her husband’s family were enjoying their spring break in Mexico. That is, until an impending border closure led to a sudden change of plans, subjecting them to a sleepless night in the JFK airport as they awaited their connecting flight home. Concerned that some corona viruses might have hitched a ride back with them, we all socially-distanced and self-quarantined.
And I cleaned.
Even though I don’t love cleaning, I’ve come to love the feeling of being clean. At the end of the day, I can sleep peacefully, knowing my house, and my hands, are clean.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be clean, not just from viruses and germs, but spiritually. I’ve been reading through the book of John, where the word “clean” has been calling out to me like a prized package of Lysol wipes. Let’s take a look at one of those passages, a familiar one, found in John 13.
Jesus and His disciples are sharing a final meal before His final sacrifice. During supper, He suddenly gets up, gathers towels, and fills a basin with water. The Master then kneels as the Servant, cupping dusty feet in His almighty hands. The disciples are speechless, but submissive. All except for one. In characteristic fashion, Peter is outspoken in his objection.
Allow me to paraphrase John 13:6-9:
Peter: “You’re not washing my feet!”
Jesus: “Peter, it’s important that I do this for you.”
Peter: “Ok, then don’t just wash my feet; give my whole body a bath!”
Peter is a black-and-white kind of guy. With him, it’s all, or nothing. Jesus pauses to give Peter a brief lesson in personal hygiene.
“He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean…” (John 13:10a, NASB)
Completely clean. I liked the sound of that. Especially now, with my newfound appreciation for sanitization.
But Jesus is speaking of a spiritual cleansing. The kind that occurs the instant a repentant soul appeals to a righteous Savior to remove all the stains. The kind that results from standing naked under the blood-red flow of forgiveness.
It’s a deep clean. Permanent and pristine.
Jesus also offers His followers a second cleaning service. This one is to be received regularly, as we brush up against a contaminated world. Because our feet will get dirty. Our fingers will get germy.
“It is the daily cleansing which we are taught to seek…is it not a relief to be permitted thus to wash our feet after a day’s contact with the earth?” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)
It is a relief, indeed, to slip freshly scrubbed feet between the sheets at night.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9, NASB)
This is a season for cleansing. For washing, not just our hands, but our hearts. For sanitizing, not just our surfaces, but our very souls.
Whether it’s a sin-weary body, or just two tired feet…won’t you let the Servant-Savior do this for you today?
One of the perks of being a youth leader is having permission to act immaturely relive one’s younger years. (Right, Morgan?) The following kids’ song was repeatedly requested in our fifteen passenger van as we drove to and from the “Desperation” conference last month. I found myself happily singing along, belting it out with the rest of them.
(Go ahead. Push play. You know you want to.)
(Now you too can have that song stuck in your head! You’re welcome. Baa Baa Baa.)
Let’s get baaack to the purpose of this blog post.
If you know me, you know I have a thing for sheep.
Apparently Jesus did too.
In John 10 He uses the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate the special kind of relationship He has with His flock. Lately John 10:27 has also been on auto replay in my mind:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me… (John 10:27, NAS)
It’s as if the Lord has been saying to me, “Just be a sheep. It’s that simple.”
If that’s the case, then what does it mean to be a sheep in the Shepherd’s care?
It means that…
1) I belong.
“My sheep…”
I can almost hear the pride in His voice as He refers to “My” sheep. He is fiercely possessive of us. Because we belong to Him. We are His.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! (Isaiah 43:1b, NAS)
2) I am known.
“I know them…”
It’s easy to focus on knowing GOD and overlook the wonderful truth that WE are known by HIM. Don’t we all long to be known, understood, and loved? The fact is, we ARE! The shepherd David penned a beautiful description of sheep living under the knowing gaze of God:
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. (Psalm 139:1-4, NAS)
3) I can hear His voice.
“My sheep hear My voice…”
Sheep who spend time in the fields with their shepherd come to recognize His voice. It’s the same with our Shepherd. He desires to communicate with us and to teach us to respond to His voice.
Here are a few ways He speaks to us:
Through His Word. Have you ever had a Bible verse just jump out at you? My heart beats a little faster when this happens. Because I know it’s His Spirit, highlighting a particular passage just for me.
Through fellow sheep. He did this last week while I was chatting on the phone with my mom. She just “happened” to say just the right thing at just the right time. God was reaching out to encourage me through her words.
Through prayer. A few days ago, the Lord answered a specific prayer, mid-prayer, by inspiring a new thought in my mind. I knew it was a word from Him, because it was almost startling in its wisdom and clarity.
Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21, NLT)
4) I get to follow Him.
“…they follow Me.”
Sheep have only one job, and that is to stay near the shepherd. He is the source of their protection and provision. It only makes sense to follow Him.
My little dog Beau (who actually reminds me of a lamb when his coat is cut short!), is a great example of this. When I leave the room, he leaves the room. When I go out, he waits at the door anticipating my return. He only has eyes for me.
I want to be more like that. Eyes on the Lord, sensitive to His movement, staying close.
He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. (Matthew 9:9, NAS)
I didn’t make my high school cheer squad. I blame that on the unfortunate fact that, try as I might, I never could quite get those darn splits. I did get a chance to fill in several times as the school mascot, a “sabercat.” (Let’s just say that jumping up and down while peering between two “saberteeth” in a sweaty, paper mache headpiece that flattened one’s hair into a matted mess was not as glamorous as one might think.)
Despite those traumatic experiences, I’m still a cheerleader at heart. I love to root for my favorite teams, whether they be Central High School, the Denver Broncos, or the U.S. Olympic athletes. I am a loyal and enthusiastic fan.
So it should come as no surprise that as a Christian, I also like to cheer for the “home team.” I love me a good testimony. I applaud at baptisms. I tear up at missionary stories. Gimme a J! J! Gimme an E! E! (I’ll stop now. You get the idea.)
I recently finished a book, however, that is really messing with my cheerleader mentality. It’s called Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Pastor Kyle’s basic premise is that Jesus was more interested in gathering followers than attracting fans. He came to this conclusion after studying the gospels: “It wasn’t the size of the crowd Jesus cared about; it was their level of commitment.”
The dictionary defines fan as “an enthusiastic admirer.” Idleman relates this term to our modern-day approach to Christianity:
…I think Jesus has a lot of fans these days. Fans who cheer for him when things are going well, but who walk away when it’s a difficult season. Fans who sit safely in the stands cheering, but they know nothing of the sacrifice and pain of the field. Fans of Jesus who know all about him, but they don’t know him.”
Jesus isn’t looking to fill a stadium with fans or a sideline with cheerleaders. He is recruiting participants who will get in the game. And leave everything on the field.
Most of us don’t mind Jesus making some minor change in our lives but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down. Fans don’t mind him doing a little touch-up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation. Fans come to Jesus thinking tune-up, but Jesus is thinking overhaul. Fans think a little makeup is fine, but Jesus is thinking makeover. Fans think a little decorating is required, but Jesus wants a complete remodel. Fans want Jesus to inspire them, but Jesus wants to interfere with their lives.”
Whoa. I’m such a wimp. If I whined when the Sabercat Hat messed with my hair, how do you think I might react when Jesus wants to mess with my life?
There is no way to follow Jesus without him interfering with your life. Following Jesus will cost you something. Following Jesus always costs something.”
I’ve been challenged along these lines lately by the example of another pastor, Saeed Abedini. If you’re unfamiliar with his story, Saeed is an Iranian born American citizen who has been imprisoned in Iran’s notoriously deadly Evin Prison since this past September. His crime? Being a follower of Jesus, in a country where following Jesus can literally cost you everything.
Last month a letter from Saeed was successfully smuggled out of prison. In it, he relays some of what holding on to his faith is costing him. But he also shares how his imprisonment and suffering have afforded him “golden opportunities” to point others to “The Shining Morning Star.” The letter reads a lot like other letters written to the early church from ancient prison cells. I think the church today could use more letters like these.
So I’m compelled to ask myself: When was the last time my faith cost me something? Messed with my plans? Interfered with my life?
Am I a fan or a follower? That is the question Jesus asks each of us.
I’m still pretty “rah rah” when it comes to my relationship with Jesus. I’m passionate about His church and loyal to His cause. But I’m laying down my pom poms and lacing up my cleats instead. Because there’s work to be done.
And I am not a fan.
“He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.” (Mark 2:14b, NLT)
*The quotes shared above are from the introduction and the first twenty or so pages of Not a Fan. The rest of the book is good too! Kyle offers helpful insights into what it really means to be a follower of Jesus.
