PAULA WISEMAN

Faith and life meet in a story

Home » Uncategorized » Page 9

Identified

By

9d2c336c40f725ccfad08a86238cd4ffNot too long ago, I bought my daughter season one of Downton Abbey. And of course as soon as we finished watching it, we bought seasons two and three.

(Let me interrupt for just a moment. When I say “we” watch Downton Abbey, I mean my daughter and I, and my twelve year old son. Yes, my son. It began as mild interest because Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall of the Harry Potter franchise) stars, but he is totally hooked now. One day I mentioned to him that, in all likelihood, there were not many other boys his age who watched Downton Abbey. He very matter-of-factly replied, “They don’t know anything about women.”)

 

In the last episode in season three, the family goes to visit the earl’s cousin in Scotland, and there is a fleeting scene with the household staff of the Scottish estate and the personal attendants of the earl’s family eating a meal together. The Scottish servants addressed their English counterparts, not by their given names, but by the name of the individual they served. Mr. and Mrs. Grantham were the valet and lady’s maid for Lord and Lady Grantham.

Their identity was determined by the one they served.

In Acts 11:26, it says “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” They weren’t just “learners” any more. They were do-ers, imitators, “little Christs.” The name was meant to mock by those who spit it at the first century believers. In some circles, in some locations that’s still the case. The name carries a preconception to almost everyone who hears it. Often times because of those preconceptions or in our deference to political correctness, we shy away from the name.

He never does that to us though. He never mumbles under His breath that we belong to Him. No, He makes lavish declarations about us. In Scripture we are called:

  • His friends (John 15:15)
  • Holy, blameless, accepted (Ephesians 1:4-6)
  • His own special people (1 Peter 2:9)
  • A New creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • Elect (Colossians 3:12)
  • Heirs (Titus 3:7)

And many others. The name “Christian” may be a slur to some, but it identifies me with the Savior I serve. I’ll gladly take the name.

 

 

Next week: One more Downton post.

 

Remodeling

By

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. I John 3:2 NKJV

 

Sheetrock or Drywall and LadderI am in the process of redoing my office. The plaster has all been replaced with drywall. I have new windows to install, and this week we bought paint and ordered carpet. Then there’s the new ceiling fan and light. Right now, though, it’s empty, useless, covered in drywall dust, and dark. It takes a special vision to see it for what it will be rather than what it is.

Now my office will be so much nicer when the windows are in. Then when it’s painted it will look brand new. The carpet will give it that finished look, but it won’t be my office until we move everything back in and I start to use it.

 

Then it hit me. We as believers are the same way. Jesus is doing a tremendous remodeling work in each of us. The theological name for that process is sanctification, and the truth is, it won’t be finished in this life. We will see huge changes and improvements, but we won’t be finished and fully ready for service until the next life.

It takes a very special vision to see ourselves and each other for what we will be – the way God sees us – rather than what we are now. In the meantime, maybe we can treat ourselves, and each other, with a little extra grace, knowing we are all works in progress. Yes, perfection will come, but not for a while. Best of all, I don’t have to make it happen. Neither do you.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB

 

Worshiping with Children

By

iStock_000008294050XSmallThings have been super busy here trying to get Sanction ready for release, plus all the usual stuff, and I really appreciate your patience as I’ve relied on some archived posts to help take some pressure off. As I was scrolling through the old posts though, I noticed I tend to gravitate toward a few favorite subjects. I suppose we could argue I use up all my imagination for fiction. I think it probably has more to do with the fact that a blog gives me the freedom to write about things that are on my heart and mind.

If you’ve been around the blog for very long, you know that worship comes up quite frequently. I’m often convicted about the worship that I offer. Is it sincere? Is it jaded and routine? Is it even acceptable? But a few times, I’ve been privileged to witness worship so pure and beautiful it’s breathtaking. This past Sunday was one of those times.

We write our prayer requests down on little cards then take them up to the altar to pray for them. What we call the “altar” is throwback terminology. It’s really just the steps up to the platform. When prayer time came, four or five little kids made their way to the front with cards in hand. A little girl sitting with my daughter looked up at me and asked, “Are we allowed?” Absolutely.

Their cards scrawled with thinline markers named friends and family, folks who were sick, who didn’t go to church or who were having difficulties. They crowded together on the steps and said their prayers. I couldn’t bear to close my own eyes and pray while they were up front. After a few moments, they trickled back to their seats, and the service continued on.

Jesus said in Mark 10:14 “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

I know it’s hard for little ones to sit through an entire worship service, and I know it’s important to teach them in a way that’s more suited to them, so I understand the reasoning behind children’s church. But on the other hand, it was a singular blessing to share in that moment when the little children came to Him.

I wonder how much we miss not sharing in their worship.

 

 

Made to Become

By

iStock_000006813823XSmallEarly in Mark’s gospel, Jesus makes what I believe is one of the most awesome statements in His ministry. Walking by the seaside in Galilee, He sees Peter and Andrew and He calls out, “Follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)

 

It’s not, “you guys already have it together.”

It’s not even, “Follow me and you will become…”

He said, “I will make you become…”

 

Jesus was asking for surrender, then HE would do the work.

So many times we… I… see the task Jesus has for me and I shy away. “Fisher of men? I don’t even know what that means, exactly. How do I start? Has anybody else done this? Am I the only one? I’m not sure ‘fishing’ is my spiritual gift.”

 

He said, “I will make you become…”

He stands ready to see that we accomplish the great things He has in mind. He’s waiting for us (for me) to surrender and follow Him.

“He who began a good work in you, will complete it…” (Phil 1:6) 

Missing the Obvious

By

Close-up of Football Referee Holding WhistleMy son plays junior high football. (If you’re not a fan or know nothing about football, stay with me.) Saturday evening his team was evenly matched and found itself in a tight, back-and-forth contest. On the last play of the first half, the opposing team had the ball and went for one desperate play to try and score before halftime. The quarterback ran around like crazy, trying to avoid being tackled, looking for someone he could throw the ball to. He threw it, but the receiver was quickly tackled and the half ended.

Most of the spectators on our side were pretty sure it was an illegal pass. (I’ll refrain from burdening you with the details of how and why.) The coach went out to talk to the referee about the missed call. The referee assured the coach that he had his eye on the quarterback the whole play, and the pass was legal. The coach however, said, “But you missed the whole offensive line breaking downfield.” (Which means a whole bunch of players who aren’t allowed to catch the ball were out of position trying to do just that.)

 

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day had a similar problem. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” Matthew 23:23.

They were totally dialed into the minutiae of keeping the Mosaic Law (some might argue going overboard) while far more important and obvious things were overlooked– justice and mercy in their dealings with each other and faithfulness to God.

 

Unfortunately, we are not as different from those guys as we would like to believe. We have a tendency to fixate on small fringe details – the latest scandal out of Hollywood, a social or political cause, church structure and politics and so forth, and we miss the more important things. I can’t help but envision a day when we’re trying to explain to God how we never watched those kinds of movies, and we never voted for any of those candidates, and we never supported those companies. We had Bible covers and bumper stickers. We went to conferences and served on committees. I’m afraid He will look at us and say, “But you missed these people. You didn’t show them mercy or deal with them justly. You didn’t tell them how desperately I wanted them here with Me, and how I paid the price to make that possible.”

 

And we miss the obvious. When I say we, I mostly mean me.

 

 

Attentiveness

By

iStock_000001007531XSmallThe eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15

 

God is attentive.

He doesn’t get distracted or bored.

He doesn’t nod off.

He watches. He listens.

 

What would happen if we responded to Him with that same attentiveness?