40 Days of Lint, Day Two: In the Desert

In grade school I learned the difference between the word ‘desert’ and ‘dessert.’ “The way you can tell which one has two S’s,” my teacher said, “is that you always want more dessert, but you never want more time in a hot, dry desert.” Trials and suffering are desert times; we wish there was less pain, and more water, more palm trees and dates, and more time to chill at the oasis. Trouble comes to us all though, regardless of whether we’re believers or not. The difference is God’s people know where to go for relief.

King David knew how to do that. I’ve had my heartaches, but I can’t say anyone’s hurled a spear at me lately when I tried to soothe them with praise songs. No one’s brought their army into the wilderness to hunt me down and kill me. No one’s thrown rocks at me and cursed me to my face. My friends at church don’t openly ridicule me or celebrate when I get sick. And none of my children have taken possession of the house and kicked me out. But all of this, and more, happened to David. How did he survive? He talked to God about everything.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

Life is hard sometimes. The desert can be a miserable and lonely place to be. You head for a green oasis for some cool, refreshing water and end up getting a mouth full of dryer lint instead. Because what you saw was a mirage, there was really nothing there to quench your thirst. But if you express your thirst to God, He will satisfy your longing and get you to the other side of whatever desert you’re in.

Throughout Psalm 63, David provides the map to the Oasis: earnestly seek God; keep going to church and see God for who He is; praise Him in the desert; sing songs to God at night; and hold on tight to the Source of living water.

Lint Removed: Desert Thirst

Cleaning Process: Seek, Worship, Praise, Sing, Cling

40 Days of Lint, Day One, Part One: In the Dryer (Spiritual Dryness)

Day One: Dry Bones Brought to Life
Death comes in many forms. Relationships die for lack of commitment, dreams fall by the wayside, opportunities pass, and ministries breathe their last without sufficient workers or enthusiasm. Some things die naturally when they have served their purpose. Forcing them to continue only prolongs the agony, like pumping oxygen through a corpse. But many deaths are needless, painful, agonizing, and full of foreboding. How can anybody come back to life after experiencing a loss like that? Only God knows.

I’ve experienced both kinds of death. I’ve been active in programs which served their purpose and died a natural death. I’ve had dreams that God allowed to die gradually so He could bring His perfect plan instead. However, I’ve also experienced other deaths that paralyzed my spirit. Only God can breathe new life into a soul devoid of life.

Ezekiel was a prophet to Israel whose people were spiritually dead; there seemed to be no hope for a comeback. But God showed him there would be a future resurrection. He took Ezekiel to look over a valley full of bones to demonstrate His power over death:

“…he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’
I said, ‘Sovereign LORD, you alone know.’
Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD’” (Ezekiel 37:1-6).

Are you feeling soul-dead because of sin, addiction, or neglect? You may believe there’s no way you’re ever going to live again. Only the Sovereign Lord knows what is possible, and He says, “Yes!” He has the power to put us back together, cover us with skin, and breathe life into our dead spirits. He tells us to speak the words of faith to what is now dead – “Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!” What a perfect way to begin the Easter season: with a personal resurrection, an infilling with the breath of God! You can come back to life and walk with Him, even in the valley of death. Speak the Word in faith and watch your soul rise up.

Lint Removed: Spiritual Death
Cleaning Process: Hear the Word of the Lord

40 Days of Lint: A Unique Twist on Preparing Your Heart for Easter

The season of Lent begins 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays). It’s a time to fast, repent, and focus our hearts on Jesus’ life and sacrifice in anticipation of The Big Day. The resurrection is all-important in the life of a Christian. Without it our faith would mean nothing. Even though our church doesn’t officially practice Lent, Kelly and I have decided to fast from dessert for the forty days. We want to respond in some way to Jesus’ lavish gift of love. Others fast from television, texting, coffee, and even the comfort of sleeping on their bed at night (opting for the floor) during Lent.
It begins this year on Wednesday, March 9th (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Saturday, April 23rd (the day before Easter). Sundays are considered mini-Easters when we are free to break from our commitment in celebration of the coming victory.

Just for fun, I want to offer daily readings on my blog during the 40 days with a little house cleaning in mind. It's not a typo; I really mean Lint. Annoying, ever-present lint may seem like a stretch from repentance and self-denial. And yet, being a dyed in the wool punster (blame it on my crazy family) I couldn’t resist the idea of exploring the parallels between physical and spiritual lint.

Lint is that collection of dust and material fibers that seem to get everywhere. Even though we diligently clean it from our dryers, pockets, and bellybuttons, it always seems to be back again the next time we turn around. Many people fast during Lent to clear their minds and hearts of selfishness and distraction. We ask God to sweep sin from our hearts to make way for worship and praise to our risen Savior Jesus Christ. So there are many similarities.

We get rid of lint for several reasons. It looks untidy; we de-lint to look presentable to others. Lint can also clog things up, so we regularly clean it from our dryers, vacuums, and equipment so they will run properly. Last of all, lint is a form of dirt, so we vacuum and scrub to keep sickness at bay and vermin from making themselves at home. We clear away spiritual lint for the same reasons: an attractive testimony, to remove anything that hinders our walk, and personal purity before God.

So I hope you’ll join me here for the next 40 days of Lent season for a new twist on an old tradition. I want to be clean and ready for the best Easter ever! Won’t you prepare your heart with me through a search and destroy mission for these five kinds of lint?

• Lint In the Dryer (Spiritual Dryness)
• Bellybutton Lint (At the Center of Things)
• Pocket Lint (What is Hidden)
• Clothing Lint (Appearances) and where would Easter be without
• Dust Bunnies (Deep Cleaning)

I’ll see you here tomorrow for day one of The 40 Days of Lint!

Beth Vice, (c) 2011

Fighting Discouragement

Every year about this time I fight an after-Christmas slump. The days are dark and chilly. There’s usually a cold or flu epidemic going around, and I get the incredible urge to curl up on the couch in a thick blanket and hibernate until spring. This year it’s been even worse.
We’ve had an onslaught from every corner, it seems. Finances have been precarious, I’ve suffered through pain and surgery, we’re braving kid and computer issues, plus glorious menopause. To top it off, my husband’s work trailer was robbed a couple of weeks ago. Tools he has collected for over thirty years in construction vanished into the night. More than anything, though, what has dragged me down is the haunting suspicion that I’m not really doing any good, that I’m flawed and insignificant.

Do you ever feel that way? So many reasons to rejoice, yet wrestling against despair that threatens to suck you down? If you do, don’t beat yourself up. You’ll be glad to know you’re not alone. Suffering occasional blues or even depression is nothing new – even for God-followers. And God knows exactly how to encourage people like us.

Elijah was a powerful prophet, miracle worker, preacher, and prayer warrior, but he had his moments too. His greatest downer immediately followed his greatest win. He triumphed in a “my God’s bigger than your God” demonstration against 450 prophets of Baal, then prayed the prayer that ended a three-and-a-half year drought. However, Elijah sank into despair. One threat from the queen sent him running into the desert with a death wish. Elijah “went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’ ” (1 Kings 19:4).

I love the triumph and excitement of what God did through just one man in first Kings eighteen. But I think I like chapter nineteen even more, because I occasionally find myself under the broom bush. God has cared for me there, just as He did Elijah, and He’ll do the same for you.

Physical Refreshment

God didn’t chew Elijah out for being down on himself. No, the first thing He did was let him take a nap and sent an angel with food and water (1 Kings 19:5-8). Actually, it must have been angel cake, because empowered by this meal, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights. That’s some energy food!

I’ve heard it said that sometimes the holiest thing we can do is take a nap. Why am I so reluctant to rest when I’m feeling down? Another helpful tip I’ve heard is the acronym H.A.L.T. Stop and ask yourself if you’re feeling out of sorts because you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Then take care of that need, before you try to do anything else. Our bodies and emotions are intricately connected, so when our emotions get out of whack, the first place to check is diet, exercise, and rest.

A Chance to Vent

The second thing God did for His despairing child is let him vent his frustrations. He already knew exactly what the problem and solution were, but Elijah needed to get it out of his system. So God gave him an opening, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10).

That’s prayer - laying it out before God. Yes, I know worship and praise and thanksgiving are necessary parts of the mix. But you have to admit, when you’re really upset about something, a lot more venting goes on before you make it to praise and worship. God understands that. Once we’ve talked it out, we’re in a better place to listen.

An Awesome Display and a Gentle Whisper

Next, God reminded Elijah who He is. He told Elijah to stand in a safe spot. “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11-12).

There’s nothing like an earthquake, hurricane, and raging fire to make you feel small and attentive. That’s just exactly where God wants us; that’s when we’re ready to listen. When we’re in a place of quiet humility, He doesn’t have to yell to be heard. All He has to do is whisper.

Direction and Help

Finally, when Elijah is focused on God’s magnificent power and sovereignty instead of his own frailty, God asks him to explain his problem again. Elijah says he’s discouraged because he’s the only God-follower left and now they’re after him too. God encourages him with the names of three specific men He has prepared to join Elijah in the work: Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. Then He tosses out a tidbit of information that must have both elated and embarrassed Elijah, “Actually, I still have seven thousand faithful followers in Israel” (paraphrase and emphasis mine). After these assurances that he’s not alone, God tells him to go to it.

I’ve been there, when I thought I was the only one doing the work, and nobody wanted me around. Along the way God has revealed others with a heart for Him, who are ready for active duty. He has also, I think with a bit of a smirk, let me know there are plenty of others who still love Him and refuse to give in to the enemy.

I hope Elijah’s story encourages you like it does me. Whenever dark clouds close in again, I re-read these chapters from First Kings. Elijah was a real life hero who sometimes stumbled just like us, but God didn’t give up on him. He won’t give up on us either. The key is to take our discouragement to God like Elijah did, so He can build us up again. When we’re ready, He’ll send us back into the fray with renewed vigor.

Beth Vice (c) 2011

New Year, New Skin

Have you ever stopped to think how amazing snakes and crabs and other such creatures are? God has given them the incredible ability to shed their old skin or shell and grow new ones. It gives them room to move and function as they should. It’s not something they have any control over; it just happens.

Like them, our physical skin sheds constantly and grows to accommodate our increasing size without any effort on our part. Spiritually, however, we can choose to keep our old shell; live in our old skin. But it tends to cause problems, especially when it comes to being a vessel God can fill and use.

Jesus wants to give us new skin to hold the blessings He pours out. Three of the four gospels present Jesus’ parable of the wineskins. That alone shows this is an important teaching. Jesus said: “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16-17). In other words, old and new don’t mix because the old loses elasticity. Mark records the same thing in chapter two, verses twenty and twenty-one. Luke contains this additional sentence, “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better’” (Luke 5:39).

Even then people said, “We like our old stuff just fine, thank you very much. We’ve always done it this way and we’re comfortable.” Oh yes, there are times when we realize we have some gaping holes in our life that need patching and moments when we thirst for the wine of truth. But when we try to try to combine the new with the old it doesn’t work. So we go back to our old ways. We like the flavor of the old because we’ve developed a taste for rotten fruit. We continually go back, even when we know it’s the cause of our guilt and pain.

Since it’s a new year, I’ve been thinking a lot about the person I want to be in 2011. I’ve noticed that even though I daily drink in the pure wine of His Word, I still have trouble holding what God gives me. For example, why is it that after all these years of walking with Jesus that my words still do so much damage? It’s my old skin. It taints the purity of His wine, or worse, won’t expand to hold God’s message and blows up in my face. The old skin of humanity affects my perception, interpretation, and application of God’s truth.

I obviously need Jesus to give me some skin. I need the new skin of Perception. I want to see things from His perspective instead of my own limited vision. I need the new skin of Interpretation. His ways are not like our ways. I need to interpret what I see, hear, and experience according to His will, rather than my desire for momentary comfort. And finally, I need the new skin of Application. Understanding doesn’t mean anything unless I put it into practice. The new wine Jesus gives is not for me alone, but to pour through me to a thirsty world.

I’ve heard that snakes and crabs are anxious to shed their old skin or shell when it gets too small. I’ve also heard that they’re vulnerable while the new skin is growing. There’s a risk involved. What about you? Are you willing to risk being vulnerable in order to grow, in order to contain what God has for you? Do you want new skin this New Year?

Beth Vice, (c) 2011

Don't Forget Jesus!

I imagine your home is decorated for Christmas by now. Twinkling lights, candles, a tree, and nativity sets of all shapes and sizes. Imagine if you forgot to put the figure of Jesus in the manger. What a ridiculous picture - Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and wise men – gazing adoringly, worshipfully… at an empty space in the crèche. I was recently awakened to how easily this can happen.

Our Christmas cantata was last week and I had a short solo in one of the songs. The line I was supposed to sing was, “Born to be Messiah; God’s only begotten Son.” Somehow, however, at dress rehearsal I belted out, “Born to be Messiah; God’s only forgotten Son.” Even though no one seemed to notice, I turned three shades of red. And I realized how easy it is to forget Jesus at Christmas.

This has been our tendency since sin entered the world. We get so wrapped up in ourselves we forget the giver of all good gifts. God’s anguish comes through when He said, “Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32). A seasonal translation might say, “Do my people forget to exchange presents or buy Christmas trees to decorate their homes? Yet my people have forgotten me, the reason for Christmas, years without number.”

I examined six areas of my own life where I tend to struggle. I pray God will use my thoughts to help you remember the Messiah at Christmas this year.

Entertainment:
Kelly and I love to snuggle on the couch and watch movies. But we’ve been disgusted at many of the “Holiday” presentations this year. They have nothing to do with the reason for the season! They're either humanistic sentiment or blatantly anti-Christian. We rejoice in movies that lift up changed lives, sacrificial giving, and hope. It's easy it is to forget Jesus if we spend our leisure time on stories that muddy and distort God’s message.

Schedule:
Christmas is such a busy time. We have parties to attend, shopping to do, family to see. Meaningful time with the Savior gets squeezed out of the equation. I am exhausted at the end of every day! Yet without Jesus, the season is meaningless. The time I spend reading the Bible every morning and responding to what God is saying to me is the best part of every day. I couldn’t live without it. If God hasn't been a vital part of your Christmas schedule, start now!

Decorating:
I love to decorate our house for Christmas. We were late getting started this year and I pushed hard to transform the house while Kelly was at work. Just before he arrived, I lit candles and put on Christmas music. He stopped just inside the door. “It’s beautiful! he said. “It’s like entering another world. Outside it’s hustle and bustle, but it feels peaceful in here.” Then he started counting: “One, two, three…four nativities in the living room! Hmm, are you trying to make a point?” he laughed.

I guess it’s true. There are stockings and a few Santa ornaments on the tree, but they’re way outnumbered by the manger scenes and Jesus stuff. Yet, it’s still a challenge to remember Jesus and not get carried away trying to create a magazine perfect showcase.

Shopping:
Then there’s shopping. Buying gifts for each other, five kids, two sons-in-law, a boyfriend, two sets of parents, three sisters, three nieces and a nephew (not to mention an adorable first grand-daughter), can easily take over. It’s tempting to spend more than last year, making it better and more impressive, and give in to the shopping frenzy. I have forgotten Jesus at times as I make my lists and check them twice. It helps me to ask myself two questions: what’s my motivation? what's my limit?

Circumstances:
Many of you are experiencing financial disaster, lingering illness or injury, the heartbreak of divorce or rejection, or an addiction that’s sucking you dry. The year my husband of twenty years moved out just before the holidays, and for several years after our divorce, Christmas cheer stuck in my throat. But even in immobilizing pain, I realized the message of Jesus is not obliterated by our suffering, it's enhanced by it. He is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16). He came to give us forgiveness and hope in the midst of our pain. No matter how painful your circumstances may be right now, they’re temporary. Jesus is eternal.

Heart:
I encourage us all to remember Jesus this season. It begins personally in our hearts and minds, and soon shows up in what we say and do, and how we say and do them. Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost. That’s us! And to give us a reason to celebrate and share the joy of His coming with the world. By the way, I did get the words right for my solo in the performance. I’m so glad I remembered Jesus!
Beth Vice, 2010

Sometimes God Waits

Many of you, like me, have a prodigal or two in your life. They know who God is; they have tasted His love and kindness. But for some reason they have chosen to leave His presence. They are off doing their own thing. Your heart aches for them. You see what a mess they’re making of their life and the pain they’re causing themselves and others. The pain they’re experiencing is of their own making. You want to do everything in your power to reunite them with Christ before it’s too late. How can we help them?

I have recently found the answer in two of Jesus’ parables. At first glance, God’s behavior seems contradictory. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18 and Luke 15), the Shepherd leaves the other ninety-nine to go look for the one who is lost. But in the parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15), the Father stays home and waits for his wayward child to come back on his own. Why does God sometimes rescue and at other times wait?

I asked my husband what he thought and his answer made a lot of sense. “Maybe it’s because in the case of the sheep, it has gotten so lost that it can’t find its way home, so God goes to the rescue. The son knows how to get home, but chooses to stay away. So God waits for him to come back.”

This helps me know how I should behave toward the lost. Should I go and bring them home? The answer I get from the first parable is, if they don’t know the way home, yes. If they have followed the wrong shepherd to their own demise, yes. If they are mired in discouragement, caught in the briers of addiction, and don’t have the energy to get back, yes. If they have been trapped by the enemy and immobilized by their wounds, then yes, go where they are and carry them home. Rescue the perishing, as the old hymn says.

On the other hand, when should we wait? The Parable of the Son answers this question. The son has had every advantage. He has experienced his father’s love, wealth, and work, but he chose to reject a relationship with his father in exchange for whatever his father could give him. He squandered his inheritance and explored all the world has to offer. What he found was temporary thrills, shallow relationships, and desperate hunger. Even then, he stayed away, ashamed at his own selfishness. It wasn’t until he mustered the courage to go back that his father could show him the full extent of his love.

In the meantime, the Father waits and watches. He continues his work at home. He loves his missing son, oh how he loves him, and yearns for him to come back. He never stops watching the road. So when the prodigal finally does return, his father spots him while he’s still a long way off, and runs to greet him. He wraps him in his arms, and immediately forgives his son who is now broken and humbled. The father ignores all talk of servitude and throws a party to celebrate that his son is home at last.

In reality, that’s a hard example to follow. Waiting with one eye on the road feels like doing nothing. My heart breaks daily for those who choose to stay away. They say they want to explore what the world has to offer. They waste their godly inheritance seeking relationships with people who use and abuse them, and their souls are malnourished for the abundance in their Father’s house.

It hurts to see this happening, but I cannot force them to come home until they are ready. In the meantime I pray, claiming God’s promise that the Word planted in them when they were young will continue to speak to them: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

For all our prodigals, I pray that they will get sick of the empty life they are living and hunger for the sustenance of Truth. I pray they will remember the relationship with God they once enjoyed and find the courage to come back. Let’s keep our eyes on the road so we can greet them with open arms when they return. And when they do, we’ll party. Lord Jesus, bring them home soon!
Beth Vice, 2010

Bible Reading 101

As soon as we finished practicing the song, our pianist grabbed a Bible and started searching for a something. “Hold on a minute,” she said, “This is really good you’ll like this.” Since the song was, “God is Singing Over Me,” I guessed she was looking for Zephaniah 3:17 and called it out. It happens to be one of my favorite verses. After she read it, someone in back commented, “Beth would know that. She’s like one of three people in the whole choir who’ve ever even read Zephaniah.” And I have to ask, “Why is that?”

Why is it true that we who call ourselves Christians don’t read the Bible? Believers around the world willingly suffer persecution, torture, and death for the privilege of possessing even one scrap of this life-giving Word. They risk everything to smuggle it into their country so they can win others to Christ. Some memorize entire books of the Bible so they can pass it on orally without the incriminating evidence. And here we sit in America with 2-3 Bibles each and we don’t even read them!

I’ve heard all the arguments: “I don’t have time,” “I don’t understand it,” “I don’t like the Old Testament,” “I’m not a reader.” But none of those hold any water. Here’s why.

We Need to Read the Bible…

1. To get the whole story. Many people read the New Testament and skip around to other favorite verses. This is like reading only the last half of a novel or haphazardly watching scenes from a movie. We miss the setting, the plot, the introduction of characters, foreshadowing, motive, and continuity of thought (Colossians 1:25-26). It’s helpful to acquaint new believers with the story of Christ through the book of John or one of the other gospels. But when do we grow up and read the rest of the story?

2. To protect our hearts from false teaching. In 1517 Dr. Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church. In it, he pointed out the discrepancies between the current teachings of the Catholic Church and the written Word of God. He suggested services be conducted in the language of the people instead of in Latin, so they could understand what was going on. Most people couldn’t read or write and relied on their priests to teach them what the Bible said. The Church had become corrupt and greedy, but the peasants didn’t know any better because they couldn’t read the Bible for themselves.

What’s our excuse? We know how to read and have easy access to Bibles and a wealth of resources. If we rely solely on pastors, teachers, and TV preachers to tell us what the Bible says, but don’t read ourselves, how will we know if what they’re saying is right (Acts 17:10-12)?

3. To protect our minds from worldly thinking. There’s stuff coming at us from every direction – TV, movies, billboards, radio, music, and popular slogans. The only way to counteract those deceptive voices is through regular contact with the truth (Jeremiah 4:22).

4. So we can tell others. If we’re not in the Word, how can we know what the Good News is? We have to get it ourselves before we can share it with others (Matthew 22:29).

5. To be a team player. If the quarterback is the only one who reads the playbook on his team, they’re not going to have a winning season. Yet, many Christians depend on our quarterbacks (pastors, teachers, missionaries) to lead the team and win the game. This attitude of nonparticipation is passed on to our children and new believers in the church.

6. To receive God’s power. Our only two weapons against the enemy’s attacks are prayer and the Word of God. We have no other offensive weapons. I don’t know about you, but I would rather fight the enemy than just stand there while he shoots at me (Ephesians 6:17-18 and Hebrews 4:12)!

What keeps us from reading the Bible?

1. Laziness. Let’s face it, self-discipline is difficult. Anyone who’s ever tried to diet or maintain an exercise program knows that. But the results are worth it!

2. Peer pressure. Who would think that Christians would experience negative peer pressure from other Christians regarding Bible study? And yet I face it all the time. If I refer to a lesser known story from the Bible in a Sunday school discussion, I get blank or guilty stares. I feel like an oddity. Comments, like the one in choir practice point out the fact that I’m different, even in my own peer group. But I’m resolved to please God rather than man.

3. No felt need. Many pour over the Bible when they first become Christians, or when they feel a need for comfort or direction. However, if we don’t read consistently, we won’t have anything to draw from when tough times hit. We need to store up God-talk in our minds and hearts.

4. Wrong impressions. It’s not how much we read every day that matters. It doesn’t do any good to read five chapters of the Bible a day if it’s just to check it off our list. I once heard a speaker say she reads until God stops her. That helped me to slow down and savor what I read instead of racing through devotions each day. The point is to take it in and respond to God’s message. It’s meant to be a conversation.

How Can I Start?

1. Ask God for help. The Bible is hard to understand; it’s a spiritual book, meant to be read over and over. If it was easy to “get” the first time, we wouldn’t keep coming back. God wants to give us understanding. So each day before you read, ask Him to speak to you.

2. Make it do-able. Reading the Bible in a year is a great goal, but most people get bogged down. Pastor Rob Baker recommends beginning each day with 90 seconds in the Word. You’ll be amazed how much you can absorb in that short period of time (the length of an average commercial). Once you get a taste, and it becomes a habit, you’ll want to read more.

3. Talk about it. It’s much more fun to learn when you tell somebody about it. My husband and I often read verses we like to each other. And we marvel at the way God gives us direction for our current situations, no matter where we’re reading.

4. Use tools. Bible study books, chain references, commentaries and other resources can help us get the most out of our reading. This time through the Bible, I’m reading Jon Courson’s Application Commentary as I go, and I’m learning terrific stuff! Just recently, he pointed out that when Isaiah prophesied that a guy named Cyrus was going to rebuild Jerusalem, it hadn’t even been destroyed yet (Isaiah 45)! But 200 hundred years later it happened just like God said it would.

I long to see hunger for the Bible in the hearts of God’s people. I yearn for the day when a verse in Zephaniah is mentioned, and instead of saying, “Zeph-a-what-a?”other Christians respond with equal excitement and others are encouraged. I hope you will be one of them!

I would love to tell you more! Invite me to your church or gathering. I teach a fun workshop called: "Ten Reasons to Read the Bible and Ten Ways to Go About It."

 

(c) Beth Vice, 2010

Sister Chicks and Friendship

Dinner With Best Friends

When I open my laptop, I’m greeted by a picture of my sisters and me on our Sister Chick weekend earlier this month. What a treat to spend two and a half days with my best girlfriends! It’s been several years since we’ve all three been together, so we chose to meet in Ashland to celebrate our birthdays. We went to “Twelfth Night” in the Elizabethan theater, shopped, ate out, and pampered each other. But the best part was just being together - talking for hours about anything and everything. There was no schedule to keep or husbands or children to attend to.

Before we left, Dad innocently asked what we had planned besides the play. We laughed. We’re going to TALK! We live in three different cities and stay connected by phone, email, and occasional letters. But face to face time is rare. Yet our friendships stay strong because we make them a priority.

Interestingly enough, the greatest example of friendship in the Bible is between two men. David and Jonathan had a bond that went beyond the norm. They chose to bind themselves to each other for life. Their commitment was tested in every way – marriage and family commitments, King Saul’s developing hatred for David, physical dangers, rumors, and opportunities for personal gain. Yet they remained true. Even after Jonathan’s death, David showed his loyalty to Jonathan. Their example of friendship is one I want to emulate.

Laughter and Tears:During our trip, my sisters and I laughed a lot and cried a little. I treasure the laughter and silliness in my heart and the special memories, as well as the sad moments when we shared our heartaches. Authentic friendship takes time and a listening ear - two commodities which are in very short supply in our world.

I’m sure David and Jonathan laughed a lot over the years, but the depth of their dedication to each other is revealed by their tears (1Samuel chapter 20). Jonathan checks out the situation with his father and discovers Saul does intend to murder David, so he meets his friend secretly to warn him. Despite the danger, they reaffirm their commitment to each other and cry, not knowing if they will ever see each other again.

Encouragement:
One of the reasons I love my sisters so much is they are such encouragers. We each have exciting things going on our lives but also many challenges. Sometimes, I get mired down and discouraged. Then my sister/friends come alongside and those challenges suddenly seem smaller. I strive to do the same for them. Praying together, sharing verses and insights, and venting in an atmosphere of trust sent each of us home with new courage and energy.

David and Jonathan encouraged each other repeatedly. They affirmed their commitment, exchanged gifts, did favors, defended each other, and listened while the other vented. My favorite verse about David and Jonathan, and my life verse is 1 Samuel 23:16, “Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.” Jonathan didn’t go out against his father with an army to defend David (which might have split the kingdom and cost many lives). Neither did he try to bolster David with empty promises about how it would all work out. I imagine he listened while David poured out his fears and frustrations. Jonathan probably expressed a few of his own. Then they left it up to God. Jonathan helped David look to the only One who could help him through this mess, a habit that David continued even after Jonathan’s death.

Friendship is Personal:
My birthday was Tuesday. My parents sang to me on the message machine and both my sisters called. Kelly made me coffee in the morning, sent a rose at noon, presented me with a card when he got home, took me out for a romantic dinner, and treated me to cake and a foot rub when we got home. I received many happy wishes via text, email, and Facebook, and yet it was a very lonely day. Cyberspace cannot replace the physical presence of a friend. It seems silly to complain when Kelly spoils me so, but I missed having a friend who wanted to celebrate my birthday with me.

I know I’m not the only one who longs for this personal touch. In her article “Friendship Dilemma,” Marla Paul talks about her efforts to make new friends after moving to a new community. She attempted many of the same things I’ve tried – inviting women over or out, getting involved, and initiating conversations hoping for a “spark.” Her words echo my own feelings, “People were happy to get together when I called, but nobody ever called me. I was mystified, frustrated and lonely.”

Another gem from 1 Samuel 23:16 is that: “Saul’s son Jonathan went to David...” That speaks volumes. Saul was so jealous of David that he repeatedly took his army into the desert to find and kill him. Despite the danger (and the fact that he was next in line for the crown), Jonathan made an arduous journey into the desert to encourage his friend. He didn’t send a messenger with an encouraging note or a donkey loaded with food and supplies. He went to be with David in person.

Wisdom and Prayer:

Throughout my life, my parents and sisters have been wise and loyal counselors. All five of us have chosen to follow Christ and are bound by stronger-than-blood ties. I ask for their advice, because they do their best to base their answers on God’s truth, not popular opinion. With all of the talking, gift exchanges, fashion and makeup tips, meals, and such, my sisters and I ran out of time for an in-depth prayer time. Yet I know they are praying about the things we discussed together. Each morning as I lift them to the Lord, I remember their specific needs as well.

As for David and Jonathan, “The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained...” (1 Samuel 23:18). Eventually, friends have to go home. They have their own lives to live and families to care for. That’s why praying is so important! Prayers can get in where we can’t and penetrate barriers we cannot cross. That visit in the desert was the last time David and Jonathan ever saw each other. Jonathan and Saul were killed in battle and David eventually became king. But there’s no doubt in my mind that even though parted, they prayed for each other daily. God answered, giving each the courage and strength they needed to do the right thing.

There's so much to learn about friendship from David and Jonathan and I'm inspired to keep growing in this area. Even with a fantastic marriage partner (like mine), we need to nurture same sex friendships. God created us for relationships. When we make friendship a priority and allow ourselves to be vulnerable, He can inspire us in ways we could never imagine. As I sink my roots deeper into this coastal community, I look forward to building friendships with several like-minded women. I hope you find the friends you are looking for as well.

*If you want to read more about David and Jonathan’s story, you can find it in 1 Samuel chapters 18-23 and 2 Samuel 1.

(c) Beth Vice, 2010











Gentle On the Journey; Get on the Bus

My fabulous roomate Jan, and me

I've been  memorizing Philippians 4:4-9 for some time now. And the Spirit always stops me at verse five: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Does that grab you like it does me? I see two significant reasons for gentleness. First of all, the Lord is privy to everything we say, do, and even think. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to be gentle with His other children. As a believer, I don't see this as a threat, but a sweet reminder. Dad's around and I want to make Him proud of me.

Secondly, and the one I love most, is the security of having our Lord so near. He's got our back. We don't have to defend ourselves, prove our worth to anyone, or boast about our achievements. He is our Defender, our Creator, the only One we need to impress. So there’s no reason to be harsh or inconsiderate.


I saw that played out at this year’s Oregon Christian Writer's conference. In a profession where competition is fierce and we sometimes confuse what we do with who we are, I came home feeling blessed. This community of writers, all vying for success in the same arena, practiced gentleness. This was a terrific reminder to me as a member of the Body of Christ.

They gave us the bad news: the economy is depressed, publishers are going out of business, and our field is more competitive than ever. It reminded me of Erma Bombeck’s story of her son's first day of school. He said he didn't want to go back because it was too long and too hard.“Kid," she said, "you’ve just described life. Get on the bus.”


It's not just writers who have it hard though. As Christians, we realize our world is depressed, other believers are falling away from the Lord, and the competition for our souls is fierce. There are days when this life does feel like it's too long and too hard. But the eternal rewards are worth the effort. So every day, we choose to "get on the bus" and participate in this life of faith that requires our full attention.

Happily, there was also a pervading sense of encouragement at the writer's conference. Our leaders set the tone, reminding us that character is the most important part of the writing journey. The words and actions of those who have been at it a while said, "Let me help you grow and succeed." This also applies in the Church.
 
We who have been Christians for a while can reach out and encourage new believers. We're not in competition with each other, but want everyone to grow and be victorious. If we mentor and challenge with gentleness, remembering that our Lord is near, we can inspire one another even in tough times. What a great reminder this has been for me! I hope it speaks to you too.
(c) Beth Vice, 2010