40 Days of Lint, Day Sixteen: Jesus in the Middle

Grief comes in waves. When someone we love dies, we lose our job, our spouse rejects us, or we suffer tragedy, pain is all-encompassing. It’s normal to ricochet back and forth in the five stages of grief: denial, blame, guilt, anger, and acceptance. I experienced them all after my divorce. The pain was worse than death, because it didn’t end. In my anguish I cried out repeatedly, “Why, why doesn’t my husband love me anymore?” I knew God wasn’t to blame. Even in my sorrow, I knew God grieved with me.

Yet, there have been other times when I have blamed God for pain and suffering. Even hanging from a cross of my own making, I have yelled at God for not saving me from the pain. Whenever grief or hardships appear, whatever the cause, the choices are the same. We can either look to Christ for help and comfort, or rail at Him in anger.

On the cross, Jesus hung between two thieves who faced that same decision.
“They crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle” (John 19:18).

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’

"But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence. We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’

"Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

"Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’ ” (Luke 23:39-43).

Jesus came in the flesh to experience our pain and show us God’s heart for mankind. He didn’t answer the thief who hurled insults at Him, while demanding relief from his pain. He knew this man had no faith. Instead, He turned to the one who admitted his own sinfulness, and sought a relationship with God.

Next to Jesus’ perfection, we’re all sinners in need of His forgiveness. When we suffer – because of our own sins, someone else’s choices, or because we live in a fallen world – the answer is always to look to the cross in the middle. He came to be with us in our pain, our grief, and in every tragedy that strikes. When we do, like the thief who turned to Jesus, He assures us we will be with Him, both now and for eternity.  I pray that today, whatever pain you bear, you will freely give it to Jesus and let Him love you.

Lint Removed: Blame for Circumstances

Cleaning Process: Look to Jesus in Times of Pain

40 Days of Lint, Day Fifteen: In the Courtyard of Denial

She used to boast how impressed everyone was that she could go to parties and not drink or do drugs. “I’m showing them I can have fun without doing what they do,” she said. “I can be a witness by hanging out with people like Jesus did.”

I tried to point out that when Jesus showed up at a party everything changed. People were drawn to Him and hungered to hear His stories about God’s love. They realized they were sinners and wanted to know how they could be forgiven. Jesus didn’t blend in; He stood out. That’s where we so often make our mistake – we want to fit in.

Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and loved Him dearly. Yet on the very same day he vowed he would die for Christ, Peter ended up denying he even knew Him.

“…seizing [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’

"But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said…

"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:54-57, 61-62).

Concerned for his Master’s welfare, Peter followed at a distance. However, out of self-preservation, he tried to blend in. Pretty soon the night chill forced him closer to the fire. Soon, he warmed himself by the fire in the middle of the courtyard with the others. Exactly what happens to us in our desire for acceptance.

My young friend who boasted about her witness at parties is now an alcoholic, floundering in the misery of an addiction she brought on herself. The passionate faith she once claimed has cooled to being “religious.” Her lifestyle denies the One she vowed to love and cherish. She avoids Jesus’ loving look, who longs for her to repent and enjoy intimacy with Him once again. I pray daily that she will return to her Lord and Savior as Peter did.

What about you? Have you been following Jesus at a distance, fearing what might happen if you get too close? Do you find yourself sitting mutely at the fire while others mock Jesus and His message? If so, it’s time to run. Seek His forgiveness. He’s looking at you now to draw you back. He will welcome you with love and make you new by His Spirit.

That’s what happened to Peter. He went from denying he even knew Jesus, to preaching a powerful sermon where 3,000 people got saved (See Acts 2)! What made the difference? At the fire, Peter was trying to follow Jesus in his own strength, and fear took him down. But after the resurrection he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled him to be bold about his faith. We can be His witnesses, but not with our own strength.

Lint Removed: Warming by the Enemy Fire

Cleaning Process: Be Filled With the Spirit

40 Days of Lint, Day Fourteen: True Friends, True Healing

We hadn’t been home long from our swim at the Y when my daughter started to put her towel back in the cupboard. “Oh wow, did you wash it already?” I asked.

 “No, it’s okay though, I dried it.”

 “Um, I don’t think so,” I said, grabbing it from her. “Just because it’s dry doesn’t mean it’s clean. Now it has dry chlorine, dirt, and dead skin on it.”

 She wrinkled her nose, “Ew, that’s gross!”

 “Sorry, but I only want clean towels in the cupboard,” I said, tossing it in the hamper.

Jesus got a worse reaction from the leaders of His day when He pointed out the need for true cleansing:

 “Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’

"The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

 "Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’

"Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God” (Luke 5:18-25).

 There must have been quite a stir when they cut a hole in the roof and lowered their friend from the ceiling like a spider on an unseen thread. The Pharisees and teachers hated Jesus’ response. They wanted to see a show, but Jesus was more concerned about the deepest need of the paralytic. I think it’s fascinating that when Jesus saw the faith of this man’s friends, He forgave the man. They had faith that He could heal their friend physically as well as spiritually.

 The Pharisees and teachers fumed at Jesus’ audacity. How could a mere man claim to speak for God? Jesus read their minds, another miracle, and answered them in front of the crowd by asking them, “What’s harder, to forgive sin or heal a man physically?”

Seems like a toss up to me. Only God can do either one. Of course healing is more of a show stopper. You can’t see the effects of a clean heart right away. We’re more drawn to the spectacular. So, to prove He can do both, Jesus healed his body as well. He fixed the source as well as the symptoms of his paralyzed state.

 The man picked up his mat and left praising God. I wonder which miracle meant the most to him – that his heart was clean, or that the consequences of his sin were revoked. In the years to come, when he was tempted to go back to his old way of life, did his friends remind him of this life-changing encounter with Jesus?

God has blessed me with friends who carry me to Jesus when I’m too paralyzed to get there myself. Sometimes I think I need relief from the consequences of my sin, when what I really need is a clean heart. They place me before Jesus in prayer and let Him do the work. As a true friend, I want to do the same for them. Repentance may not look fancy from the outside, but that’s where healing begins, front and center with Jesus.

Lint Removed: Paralyzing Sin

Cleaning Process: The Healing of Forgiveness

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirteen: Mistaken Identity

Last summer I rescued a terrified bird entangled in the net covering our strawberry plants. Even though I didn’t want him eating our berries, I hated to see him trapped. From the look of terror on his face and his wildly racing heart, he must have thought I was going to devour him on the spot. He didn’t recognize me as the one who filled the bird feeders only a few feet away. He didn’t know Kelly and I delight in their antics as they gobble up the seed.

The disciples made a similar mistake when they saw Jesus walking by their boat across the lake. I admit it must have been disturbing. It had been quite a day. Jesus had fed 5,000 men, plus women and children from nothing but five loaves and two fish. Afterward, He stayed behind to say goodbye to the people and spend some much needed time in prayer. Jesus sent the disciples ahead saying, “I’ll meet you in Bethsaida.”

They were tired, it was night; they were in the middle of the lake rowing against the wind. Who wouldn’t freak out to see somebody walking past the boat on the water? But the disciples were wrong about who it was.

“… they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:47-52, see also Matthew 14).

First of all, the disciples were afraid because they thought Jesus was a ghost. He was doing something they’d never seen a person do. They assumed He was there to harm them, just like the bird in my yard. Sometimes I make the same mistake when Jesus comes to my rescue in a way I don’t expect. Especially when I’m in the middle of a crisis.When He appears unexpectedly I panic.

Secondly, they were amazed because their hearts were hard. They had just witnessed a miraculous food-fest. Jesus had empowered the disciples to drive out demons, heal people, and preach the Good News! And yet when the Lord over demons, sickness, sin, and hunger walked on the water to calm their storm, they were shocked.

I can’t fault them. Even though I’ve seen God drive the enemy out, heal people, bring joyful repentance, and feed the hungry, I’m still amazed when He shows up in an unexpected way. I still lack understanding, and my heart is still hardened.

This year, as Easter draws near, I want to be expectant and aware of the many ways Jesus comes to my rescue – whether in a child’s antics, a sermon, a song, a verse, or on the ocean waves. How wonderful that instead of lecturing His disciples for their fear, Jesus’ first words to them were, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” His words to us are still the same. Praise God for His patient love!

Lint Removed: A Hard Heart

Cleaning Process: Recognizing Jesus as Lord of All

40 Days of Lint, Day Twelve: Outstanding in Your Field

The card read, “Happy Birthday to a guy who’s out standing in his field!” On the front was a farmer in the middle of a field of wheat. We told my uncle it was really alfalfa, since that’s what he grew on his land and he laughed at the pun. However, it’s not just a fun play on words. In order to get ahead in agriculture, or anything else, you have to spend time in your field.

Shammah was one of King David’s mighty men who excelled at what he did, because he continued to work diligently, even when the odds were against him. When Samuel listed the thirty-seven faithful warriors who served David, he began with the exploits of the “Three.” Shammah was one of the elite of these elite men in David’s army:

lentils come in a surprising variety of colors!

“When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:11-12).

Maybe you’re thinking, “So what? A guy stood his ground in the middle of a field of beans and defeated the enemy. How does that affect me?”

Lentils may not tantalize your palate, but they were essential food to the Israelites - they were filling, cheap, and nourishing. So often those are the things for which we fail to take a stand - the basics. The everyday stuff seems too boring to bother with. Guard a rare treasure? Yes! A secret passageway to a hidden world? Sure thing! But Shammah was willing to risk his life in the defense of lentils.

What is it that’s most basic in our lives – those that sustain, yet seem ordinary? The Bible. Family. Marriage, as God defines it. Purity. If we’re ever going to keep what God has given to us, we must value it first. Only then can we stand to defend it when the enemy attacks.

The second thing I see in these verses is that everyone else ran away. Yet Shammah still won the battle. Was he inspired by his great passion for lentils? Did he succeed because he stood in the middle of the field where no one could sneak up on him? Or was he a rebel soldier who worked best alone? None of the above. Shammah won because he fought for God.

So there’s still hope for us. We might be listed in the heavenly records as an outstanding warrior in our field. Shammah’s friends ran away. There will be times when our friends and family will not stay to fight the enemy, even when we’re fighting to rescue them! How many of us agonize daily in prayer for others who do not value their minds, bodies, and eternal destiny as much as we do. But with God’s angel army surrounding us, we have the advantage. God is working and those who live for Him are on the winning side. Don’t let the enemy chase you off your land; stay and fight!

Lint Removed: Enemy Forces

Cleaning Process: Stand and Fight for Your Lentils

40 Days of Lint, Day Eleven: Pick Your Tree

Have you ever noticed that it’s hard to stay away from temptation? When I gave up dessert for Lent, I was suddenly drawn to the last Lindor truffles from Valentine’s Day. The bowl of pastel mints for Easter called to me each time I passed. And I was suddenly in the mood to bake! It took constant vigilance to resist the voices luring me into the kitchen.

 Kelly absentmindedly filled his pocket with free candy at the store the first day of Lent, until he remembered his promise. Even then, there was a little voice inside that said, “She’ll never know.” But of course he would know and so would God, so he put them back in the bowl. It would have been no sin to indulge, except that we chose to give up dessert for Lent in order to focus our minds on Christ.

Doesn’t it seem like whatever you’re trying to resist suddenly throws itself in front of you everywhere you look? But often, we cause our own demise – we flirt with temptation, tantalizing our desire until we finally give in. Where do we find the guy who ends up in the arms of the adulteress woman in Proverbs 7:8? He just happens to be strolling down the street where she lives…just before sunset. And where were Adam and Eve when Satan tempted them to eat? They were conveniently located right beside the forbidden tree.

“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’

 ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 2:8-9, and 3:3-6).

If you read carefully, you’ll find the tree of knowledge wasn’t the only thing in the middle of the garden where Adam and Eve were hanging out. The tree of life was there too. They had a choice. Would they choose to eat only what God allowed, and believe it was satisfying and perfect? Or was the serpent telling the truth? The fruit did look tempting. Maybe God was keeping it for himself because He knew if they ate it, they could be gods too! So they believed the lies of a slick-tongued serpent over God.

We face the same choice every day, and the stakes are life or death. Six thousand years or so later, the serpent is still using the same ploy…successfully, “You’re not going to die if you disobey God; He’s keeping the good stuff for himself.” The two trees stand in the middle of our world – the tree of evil and the tree of everlasting life. Satan claims the first tree will satisfy our desire for sensual pleasure, God is holding back on us - that if we eat of it, we’ll be like God himself. The other tree promises eternal life in harmony with our loving Lord and Creator who has already given us everything we need. Only one tree fulfills its promises.

How we respond to this question is the key to everything else; that’s why it’s in the middle. We can try to ignore it, walk past it, but sooner or later we’ll end up at the trees of choice. Whatever we pick and consume will produce fruit in our lives in keeping with its origin. Whose voice will we believe; who will we follow?

Lint Removed: Disobedience

Cleaning Process: Repentance

40 Days of Lint, Day Ten: The Throne

When you walk into a person’s house, you usually enter the living or family room. Whatever piece of furniture sits in the middle of that room is probably symbolic of the lord who lives there. It may be a lazy boy recliner with a remote on the arm, or an oversized chair with an ottoman. It may be a leather couch flanked by neat piles of books and magazines. The central piece of furniture in a woman’s home might be a multi-pillowed couch with luxurious blankets for snuggling.

What then, do you think we will find in the middle of heaven? Several scripture passages tell us it will be the Lord’s throne, who reigns without equal:

“…there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne…From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing…Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal…Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne… the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’ ” (Revelation 4:2-6; 5:6; 7:17).

In this glimpse of heaven, Jesus reigns on the throne in the middle. He is identified as the Shepherd who will lead us to living water and dry our tears. In His glorified state, in the center of heaven, Jesus still appears as the Lamb who was slain. He’s not a potbellied couch potato with a remote in one hand and a beer in the other (or even a scepter!). Even in His glorious, heavenly radiance, Jesus bears the marks of the sacrifice He made for us.

If not for the wounds of love, John might have been terrified by this vision of Jesus. Instead, He sees his Master, his friend, his Savior. And he falls in love with Him all over again. For those of us who have never had the privilege of seeing Jesus in human form, it is comforting to know where to find Him when we get to heaven. He’ll be the One in the middle – the One so beautiful He escapes description - surrounded by rainbows, gems, and storms of praise. People and angels surround Him in adoration. Yet He reaches out nail-pierced hands to wipe the earth-tears from our eyes and welcome us home. 

For those who have accepted Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and new life in Him, we need not fear death. We need not wonder if heaven will be tedious or if we will be accepted. I’m confident that when we see what John saw, we will be overcome with the splendor of our Lord and heavenly delights beyond anything we can experience here on earth.

Lint Removed: Fear

Cleaning Process: Gratitude

40 Days of Lint, Day Nine: In the Middle of Camp

Part Two: Bellybutton Lint (At the Center of Things)

Everyone has a bellybutton. They’re not the most attractive part of our anatomy. They serve as a testimony of our humaneness, our need for nourishment and attachment from the womb and beyond. Our navels are also symbolic of the center of things in our lives, and the stuff that tends to accumulate there and throw us off track. Welcome to part two of the “40 Days of Lint.”

Day Nine: In the Middle of Camp

A while back a young friend of ours asked, “Why do you want to go to church when you’re on vacation?” It seemed strange to him that we would waste our morning with a bunch of strangers when we could be out having fun. I’m glad he asked; it has helped me confirm all over again why I love to go to church.

To me, it’s not about being fed, although I do enjoy lively discussions in Sunday school and powerful sermons. It’s not about the music, even though I love to worship with live accompaniment and singing with fellow believers (even those I don’t’ know). However, more than that, church is an expression of who I am – a grateful believer in Jesus Christ. The Church is my family. It doesn’t matter whether we’re in Tillamook, Mexico, or the Philippines. It’s a joy to gather in the presence of the Lord with brothers and sisters, reminding each other that God is on the throne. It puts everything in perspective.

During the week, things can get out of whack. The frustrations of everyday life can become the focus instead of God. I need to remember He is all-powerful, all-merciful, all-loving, ever-faithful. When we don’t go to church regularly, we miss the opportunity to share our praises and needs, and be energized by what God is doing in the lives of others. We miss the joy of the hope of heaven.

That’s why God told Moses and Aaron to have the Israelites set up camp surrounding the tent of meeting with the portable church and the priests camped in the middle.

“ ‘The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.’ …the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps” (Numbers 2:1-2 &17).

That way, they wouldn’t get distracted by whatever “Thelma and Ernest” and their seven kids were doing in the tent in front of them. Every family faced the holy place where God came down to speak to Moses. If they paid attention, they could see when the Spirit of God descended. Pretty exciting view! They knew when the pillar of cloud or fire rose from the tent signifying it was time to move on.

That leads me to ask, “Which way is your tent facing?” Are you distracted because your focus is on others? Does the holy presence of God descend unnoticed as you gaze dejectedly into the desert? How do you know when it’s time to stay put and when to get going? What does the banner say that flies above your home? Is God in the middle of your camp?

It’s so easy to let work, sports, entertainment, or education set up camp in the middle of our lives. Those things are great, but when they push God and church attendance to the sidelines, we lose our most important family connection. We need to be accountable to each other, maintain our focus, and lean on each other in the journey.

Lint Removed: Centering on the Wrong Things

Cleaning Process: Gather Around God and His House

40 Days of Lint, Day Eight: Insults

I still remember the day my college roommate hurled her dresser drawers at me. I had returned to our dorm room moments earlier, happy and energized after a game of tennis. I don’t know what I said that ticked her off, but suddenly she started yelling how cocky I was about my “athletic ability.” She emptied the contents of her drawers at me - I dodged socks, underwear, and t-shirts. Once they were emptied, she flung the drawers themselves. Thankfully they bounced off the bed and walls instead of my face. I breathed a sigh of relief when, instead of finding more ammunition, she flounced from the room.

What in the world brought that on? I wondered. I looked around at the wreckage and tried to figure out why my normally sweet roommate had attacked me with such venom. Then I got it. Earlier in the school year she had been in an accident that shattered her ankle. She had spent months in pain, the winter in a walking cast, in and out of surgery and numerous doctor’s appointments. When I bounced into the room after running around the court in the sunshine, it was the final blow. She snapped.

 

Jealousy is often the reason people insult and attack others. That’s what caused so much friction between Jesus and the teachers of the Law. He was stealing their audience and they decided He must be dealt with. Knowing this attitude would continue after He returned to heaven, Jesus warned His disciples. Even on His way to the cross He said:

“‘For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ ” (Luke 23:31-39).

Are you in a dry season because of cruelty or insults? Have you suffered persecution for being a follower of Jesus Christ? If Satan wanted to kill Jesus and His message at the cross, think how much he hates those of us who repeat this message of hope and salvation? He is jealous of Jesus’ supremacy, the victory He had over death and sin, and His power at work in us.

Insults hurt, so does persecution in any form. Jesus wasn't surprised or bitter about it, instead He prayed for the ones who hurt Him. Even in the agony of rejection and crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated how we can lift our pain to the Father. He was able to forgive others because He knew He would soon be home. His assignment and ultimate desire was for all to come with Him to heaven, even those who mocked and killed Him.

One of the criminals realized, just in time, that Jesus was His Savior, and repented. Jesus promised they would be together in paradise (Luke 23:42-43). Our resurrection day is coming too, and the way we respond to our persecutors can either take us down, or bring others up with us. It’s not something we can do in our own strength. Only Jesus can give us both the desire and the ability to forgive those who treat us hatefully.

Soon after her outburst, my roommate requested to move. She disappeared from the campus at the end of the term. I don’t know if she ever dealt with the bitterness she had developed toward me, but God helped me to forgive her and gain understanding. He helped me see her through His eyes, as a person in pain, needing His love. I hope to be with her in heaven someday.

Lint Removed: Bitterness

Cleaning Process: Forgiveness

40 Days of Lint, Day Seven: I Have Nothing to Offer

One of the worst parts of spiritually dry times is the guilt Satan heaps on us. He loves to convince us we’re useless, either because of our past sins, or the damage others have done to us. After my divorce, I felt useless, irreparably broken. Imagine my surprise when I was invited to serve on the church board and the mission council at my church that same year. Through this validation of my fellow believers, God showed me I could still serve in His kingdom.

Guilt and insecurity are nothing new in our generation. For centuries now, men and women alike have refused to believe the Good News that they can be saved, or once saved, that they are fit to minister for a number of reasons. We say:

·         I’m not worthy

·         I’m not smart enough, don’t know enough

·         I turned my back on Him; He’s given up on me

·         I’m handicapped

God’s answer is always, “If you love me, I can use you. The world needs your gifts and perspective and voice.”

“Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, ‘The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.’ And let no eunuch complain, ‘I am only a dry tree.’
For this is what the LORD says: ‘To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.
‘And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’” (Isaiah 56:3-7).

No one is excluded from the Lord’s invitation. A barren, unfruitful life given to Him will flourish and become productive. None of us are beyond the reach of His love and healing. He will not reject anyone who comes in repentance and humility. That goes for first-time comers, as well as repeat customers. He has a way of taking our messy lives and making something new and beautiful out of them. Instead of remaining worthless, we become showpieces of His amazing love. 

Lint Removed: Hopelessness

Cleaning Process: Accept His Invitation