40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-two: Wake Up!

My husband is a morning person. When his alarm goes off at 6:00 he’s up and going for the day. He whips downstairs to watch the news while he eats breakfast, make coffee for me (I know, I'm a very blessed woman!), shower, and read the Word. I usually emerge a little later – then disappear upstairs to quietly sip coffee while I have my own devotion time. On the best of days, one of us goes to the other to share a tidbit from our reading and those are my favorite times of all.

However, Kelly has learned that if he tries to ask questions or share important news with me too soon after I arise, he will get a blank look and sluggish response. He forgets he has a jump on me and I need a little time to catch up. He’s already in hyper drive, and I’m just putting on my seat belt.

It seems like Jesus’ disciples often lagged behind Him the same way. He was up and about the Father’s business while they were still rubbing sleep from their eyes. Most of the time, their sleepiness seemed to coincide with Jesus’ invitations to pray.

Jesus “took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him” (Luke 9:28-32, emphasis mine).

This is an old trick of the enemy. Prayer is a powerful tool against evil. If he can lull us to sleep every time we try to pray, we become weak and ineffective in spiritual warfare. Knowing his tactic is our first defense. Doing whatever it takes to stay alert in prayer is our best offensive move.

Even though my favorite time to meet with the Lord is first thing in the morning, I’ve had to juggle it around over the years. When I had an early bird class in college, I was so sleepy in the mornings and late evenings that I had to come up with a different plan. So I had devotions after my first class when the dorm was quiet. After I married and had babies, they always wanted to get up earlier than I did, so I had devotions while they napped. Even then, it was a challenge to stay awake. When I worked full time, I had to get to bed early so I could get up at 5:00. And it took good strong coffee for my time in the Word. But it was so worth the effort!

You see, it’s only when we become fully awake that we will see Christ’s glory. Whatever it takes to wake up so we can spend time with Jesus and pray, that’s what we need to do. The disciples almost missed seeing Moses and Elijah in glorious splendor on the mountaintop. They almost missed overhearing their conversation with Jesus about His upcoming mission. They had to wake up first.

God wants to hear from us; He has things to tell us; He wants to show us His glory. It would be such a shame to miss it, all for the sake of a little more sleep.

Lint Removed: Sleepiness

Cleaning Process: Wake up and See Jesus

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-One: Reading the Signs




Nimbostratus clouds

Have you ever noticed when we don’t know what to talk about, we usually end up discussing the weather? Here in Oregon it’s a somewhat baffling topic. Even the forecasters struggle to nail down firm predictions of what it’s going to do from day to day, even hour to hour. Here at the coast, our weather changes throughout the day, according to wind currents and amount of humidity.



Altostratus clouds

I checked out Web Weather for Kids (http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/stratus.html ) and got a basic education on what different cloud formations mean. (There’s a fun matching game to play too!) The most common cloud types are Stratus, Altostratus, Cirrus, and Cumulous. Each one has distinct characteristics that tell us what we might expect from the weather at any given moment. I now know that what we witness many days of the year in Tillamook are Nimbostratus clouds – gray with continually falling rain.

However, as intriguing as all that is, Jesus warns us not to limit ourselves to “weather mentality.”
 

“‘When evening comes, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:2-3).

The gospel of Luke adds, “He said to the crowd: ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?’” (Luke 12:54-56).

Apparently our generation is not the first to be distracted by the weather. It makes sense to be curious about it and want to make plans accordingly. No one wants to take the day off to work in the yard, only to have it pour down rain, or worse yet, hail! Since my husband is a contractor, he’s an avid weather watcher. He tries to match work locations day by day, depending on whether it will be wet or dry. If all goes well, they can be inside when it’s nasty and work outside in good weather.

What if we who call ourselves Christians were this intent on watching the signs of our times? How many of us are aware of the prophecies that have already been fulfilled? Do we know what’s happening in our world today that shows Jesus’ second coming is eminent? Do we read the Bible as voraciously as we watch the news, Internet, or radio for information?

In Jesus’ day, many missed their promised Messiah, because they didn’t know the scriptures; they misinterpreted what it says about Him. Today, we not only have Old Testament prophesies, but New Testament revelation to see God’s plan at work. The question is are we looking? Will we comprehend what God is up to in our day and be ready for His return?

Lint Removed: Weather Mentality

Cleaning Process: Looking Beyond the Clouds




40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty: Jesus on the Throne

My husband laughs at how often I make friends in public restrooms. I don’t know, there’s something basic about being there together that encourages conversation. We women are relational by nature. I guess in the bathroom, we’re all on the same level.

Imagine my surprise, after a chatty little conversation with one such individual, when I find out they’re a high powered editor or keynote speaker for a national corporation. Yet they just talked to me, while washing hands at the next sink, as if we were equals, without pretense or condescension. I’m always impressed with those people like that - incredibly talented and much in demand, yet they take the time to treat me like a person of value.

That’s what Jesus does. He came in the form of a man and experienced the same emotions and temptations we do. He was misunderstood and mistreated. He knew ahead of time it would be that way, yet He still reached out in kindness and humility. That’s why we can sing “I am a Friend of God” today with the assurance that we really are.

He meets us in common, everyday situations and chats with us on our level. When we exit this “restroom of life,” we’ll see Him in all His glory, up front and onstage. Ezekiel was wowed by his vision of Jesus:

“Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli,* and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell

facedown...” (Ezekiel 1:26-28). *an intensely blue semi-precious rock

And John’s vision included even more details:

“At once I was in the Spirit, and 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” (Revelation 4:2-3). *an opaque stone of red, yellow, blue, or green **pink to blood red gemstone ***green gemstone

Today, we are three-fourths of the way through our lint-cleansing journey to Easter, and I want to make sure I present the whole truth about Jesus. I’m so grateful we can know Jesus is our friend. He can relate to everything we feel and desire. But He is also God. As a man, He endured unimaginable torture for our sake. But now His mission is complete. Today He reigns in indescribable beauty and power.

How wonderful that we can celebrate Easter knowing Jesus is no longer on the cross, or in the tomb, but on the throne! He sits in radiant splendor, surrounded by rich colors and beauty beyond our imagination, receiving a constant flow of worship by angels and Christians who have gone before us. Yet, we can talk to Jesus anytime we want, about the most trivial matters. He will give us all the time we need. He will hold our hand, walk with us, embrace us, pray for us, or nudge us forward, depending on our need. We are indeed the most blessed of all people - we have a Friend in high places who is worthy to be adored!

Lint Removed: A Lopsided View of Christ

Cleaning Process: Look to the Throne

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Nine: The Look of Love

Our pastor preached on Zacchaeus - the vertically challenged tax collector who climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. The service turned briefly sing-along when he sang the opening phrase of the old Sunday school tune. To his surprise we all chimed in, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he…” although many petered out after the first line, quite a number sang the whole song with gusto.

“Isn’t it interesting,” said Pastor Sid, “that we always shake our finger when we say the line: ‘Zacchaeus, you come down from there, for I’m going to your house today’? As if Jesus was a parent scolding a naughty child. But I don’t think He said it that way at all.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with this thought. Zacchaeus was willing to make a spectacle of himself. This wealthy man ran down the street and climbed a tree because he desperately needed to see Jesus. I can’t imagine Jesus would scold and embarrass him further. I think He surprised Zack though when He looked up into that very tree and with incredible love, spoke his name.

There are two other passages that I think we often misinterpret. The first is Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler, and the second is when Peter denied Him. Many think He looked on them with anger, but I believe in both cases Jesus looked at them with a depth of love we cannot even comprehend. Here’s an excerpt from both stories:

The Rich Young Ruler:

 “‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”’

‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’

Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Mark 10:17-22, emphasis mine).

Peter’s Denial:

“‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’

Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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 22:59-62, emphasis mine).

Why do we assume Jesus looked angry? I had an encounter with someone very dear to me that gave me some idea. She came to pick something up from our house and I no more than opened the door when she asked, “What are you so mad about?”

“Nothing,” I replied in surprise. “Do I look angry?” I was in fact glad for the chance to see her. Her self-destructive choices had kept her away and I missed her presence in my life. She knows her sin is breaking my heart and that I pray day and night for her. What she interpreted as anger on my face was actually jealous love for her soul.

I think we often misinterpret God the same way. Our guilt and shame color our view of Him as angry and out to get us, when in fact He yearns after us with a love we cannot fathom. He can see what sin is doing to us and the pain we’re bringing on ourselves in our self-worship. The sadness we see is that He must refrain from pulling us in against our will. Jesus does not force, but invites us to accept His love.

So when Jesus looked at the rich young man who walked away, and Peter, who vowed he loved the Lord in the daylight, but denied he even knew Him in the dark - He looked on them with love. As far as we know, the rich young man never came back, but Peter did. And he had the incredible joy of seeing the marvelous completion of God’s plan, after He rose from the dead.

Jesus looks at us the same way. The sacrifice has been made, our sins are forgiven; He calls us to come and accept His love. He longs to make us whole. Do we see Him as angry because we’re not willing to part with our shame, or as the loving Savior He is?

Lint Removed: Misinterpreting His Countenance

Cleaning Process: Accept His Love

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Eight: A Wise Face

two of the wisest women I know! My mom and friend Jerrie

You can always tell when a person knows the answer to a riddle or has heard the joke being told before. They have this knowing grin; they wait for the punch line like a Cheshire cat. I see the same look on Kelly’s face sometimes when I’m describing a problem I'm having. He’s already figured out what I need and he’s just biding his time until he can offer the answer, whether what I need is comfort or information. He has the knowing look of wisdom.

Our countenance reveals a lot about us. I don’t think I would make a very good poker player because I just don’t have the face for it. When I’m unhappy it shows in my jaw line and when I’m winning, even if I try to hide it, the delight shines through. This is true for all of us in our day to day life. The wisest man who ever lived said:

A person’s wisdom brightens their face
   and changes its hard appearance.

Ecclesiastes 8:1

This makes me ponder what my everyday countenance is saying to others. It’s actually a two-part question: Do I have the wisdom of God? And, can people see it in my face?

It’s an amazing delight when I first meet someone if I can tell they’re a believer, even before they say so. There’s a light in their face, even in hard times, that gives them a peaceful, hope-filled visage. It speaks of Christ and draws me to them. On the other hand, there are many Christians who have head knowledge of the power of God, that hasn’t yet touched their heart. They tend to look hard and angry, which keeps others at a distance.

Which one am I? I know I want to be filled with wisdom from God that not only fills my head, but my heart...and my face. J James describes God's wisdom as pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, producing good fruit, impartial, and sincere (3:17). It’s not a façade to put on, but a genuine glow from within when we are filled with God’s wisdom.

So today, I’m asking God to wipe the hardness from my face – whether it’s from lack of faith in the depth of His love, power, or purpose, or the infiltration of despair or hopelessness that clouds my face. I pray He will fill me with His Spirit and wisdom that shines, no matter what my circumstances or mood. He alone can light our faces from within.

Lint Removed: Face Clouded by Cares of this World

Cleaning Process: Glow of Wisdom

My dad and wise counselor

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Seven: An Inside Look

Part Four: Clothing Lint (Appearances)

It always amazes me that even after numerous washings that clothing can still give off so much lint. You’d think there would be nothing left. Yet there’s still enough fabric in our towels, bedding, and clothes to hold them together. Much of the lint on the surface is not from the items themselves, but the stuff they collect from other sources – hair, dead skin (I know, ew!), dirt, and particles in the air. Just think how unappealing they would look if we didn’t have lint catchers in our dryers, and all those OCD people out there constantly picking lint from other people’s clothes. I’m one of the guilty.

Why are we so intent on ridding ourselves of surface lint? Because it’s unattractive. There are times when I can’t even focus on a conversation with my husband because he’s covered with sawdust from work, or has one of my long blonde hairs hanging from his arm. I just have to pick it off!

So today, we will begin to delve into part four of this series – appearances –what they reveal about us, how they can deceive us, what they say about our relationship with God, and much more.

Day Twenty-Seven: An Inside Look 
I can really sympathize with one complaint of many people currently looking for work. “Almost everybody wants you to apply online,” they sigh. “I don’t have impressive qualifications on paper. I don’t have much education or experience. If only I could talk to someone in person. I feel like I’d have a better chance of showing what a good job I could do.” That’s not the only time when it’s helpful to talk in person.

Hearing the inflections of another’s voice and talking face to face are huge factors in interpersonal communication. That’s why relying on e-mails, texts, and social networks can mess it up. It’s incomplete. Messages are often written in haste and sent before they’ve been proofed. The results can be disastrous. When we hear ourselves garbling a message, we’re more likely to correct it immediately. And we can tell a lot about how the other person is feeling by their facial expressions, body language, and the words they emphasize.

But what if one person in the conversation is dishonest? How can we know what’s going on inside their head? Being human, we're limited to what we see and hear. Like the sons of Jesse Samuel watched file by, several of them looked handsome and impressive. Surely one of them would be the one God chose as the next king of Israel.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).

 I’ve been fooled by beautifully written prose, a smiling face, cheerful words, and personal charm. It has caused me heartache. Samuel had the wisdom to wait and listen before he took action. He rejected all of Jesse’s sons who looked like king material, and held out for the youngest son who was out doing the dirty work of a shepherd. Because Samuel listened, God was able to bring the best man for the job. David was His chosen servant, a man after God’s own heart.

If you’re currently trying to discern another’s character, I encourage you to ask God to reveal their heart. He alone can give us wisdom to see beyond appearances to the heart and fruit of their life. God will direct our choices and relationships. All we have to do is ask.

Lint Removed: Surface Vision

Cleaning Process: Get God’s Perspective

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Six: Don’t Hide Your Light

My favorite camping memory is from a trip to Detroit when my girls were nine and twelve. They each brought a girlfriend and we spent more time laughing at them and their antics than anything else. The first night at the lake, we amused ourselves around the campfire until everyone was so silly and drowsy we barely had the energy to go to bed. Just as we prepared for the trek to the bathrooms we realized we’d forgotten flashlights.

One friend suggested they each carry a citronella candle to light their way to the bathroom. Off they went, weaving and giggling through camp, fragrant torches held high. The lights shone more on their mischievous faces than the path ahead, but it made for an exciting adventure. They managed to make it to the bathroom without tripping and I followed, smiling at their playfulness.

They made friends quickly at the restroom when several women asked about the citronella buckets lining the wall. The girls excitedly told them the secret of their ‘flashlights.’ Several chuckled; some were even impressed at their creative solution. I delighted in my girls and their zest for fun. Now, years later, they still share stories and sweet memories from that trip.

Sometimes, we intimidate ourselves out of sharing the light of Christ with others because we feel unprepared. In order to be a witness, we think we have to perfectly understand and practice our faith. But Jesus simply said:

“‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ ” (Matthew 5:14-16).

And from the gospel of Luke, “‘No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light’” (Luke 11:33).

Maybe shining our light should be more like my girls and their citronella candles – when we use what’s available and do our best with a joyful heart. It’s not perfect, but it’s what we have on hand. So many times, we feel inadequate to do the job properly and hide in camp. Or, we carry our citronella candle embarrassed that our light looks different than others’. When people ask, we apologize for the light instead of rejoicing in it. But when we admit our light is imperfect and use it anyway, delighting in the adventure along the way, our Lord walks with us, enjoying our laughter and exuberance.

The point is not our presentation of the light, but to overcome the darkness with what we have.

Today, I let go the lint of embarrassment over my inadequacies. I want to shine the light I have now and joyfully walk with my Lord. When others ask about the light they see, I want to boldly proclaim Jesus. His light is not inadequate, but the way I represent Him often is. Even so, I will not hide it; so many who need God’s light are stumbling in darkness.  

Lint Removed: Hiding the Light

Cleaning Process: Share What You Have

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Five: Exposed!

I heard the story of a man who was secretly married to two different women. The families lived in two different states, and had a completely separate life unaware the other existed. Imagine their shock when he died and these families discovered each other. A similar case was revealed in 2010 when thirty-three men were trapped in a mine in Chile. The families gathered for prayer where his wife came face to face with her husband’s mistress. The events of his rescue proved to be a revelation for them all.

I’ve had secrets uncovered to my own demise too. When I was a child, I disliked meat. At our home in Tennessee, I had been able to sneak it out to a spot in the garage where the cat ate it. But when we moved to Oregon, I unwisely tossed my partially chewed meat under the table to dispose of after the meal. But one night, my dad discovered my little secret. And he was none too happy.

I’ve been caught in lies, disobedience, irresponsibility, and even cruelty. I’m thankful for the times I was discovered and forced to see the harm I’d done to myself and others. It gave me opportunities to think things over and make different choices the next time.

On the other hand, it’s nice when we have secrets that are for the blessing and encouragement of others. Even when we try to keep them hidden, sometimes others find out. The best treasures, though, are the secrets we share with Jesus. He delights in our plans and rewards our efforts for His sake, even when we make a mess in our attempts.

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them;

 the sins of others trail behind them.

In the same way, good deeds are obvious,

and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

1 Timothy 5:24-25

Someday, everything will be revealed – our intentions, thoughts, words, and actions. At the Judgment seat, what’s hidden in our pockets will be emptied for all to see. We will either hang our head in shame for giving in to temptation, or gratefully praise our Father for leading us the right Way. We might fool others now, but God sees it plainly. Even our deepest heart and most private thoughts are open to His gaze.

As long as we live, God looks on us with love and compassion, calling us to walk with Him and take pleasure in His ways. But if we pull back from Him now, we’ll be exposed on the Day of Judgment. I’m so grateful for Jesus’ blood that covers all the sins of our past. We can walk in newness of spirit with Him every day. Whatever we openly show Him now is cleansed by His forgiveness. That gives us hope for the Day we stand before His throne, with no secrets to hide.

Lint Removed: Secrets

Cleaning Process: Be Honest With God

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-Four: Hidden Love

In the story of Cyrano de Bergerac (1897 play by Edmond Rostand) a gifted poet, musician, and swordfighter falls in love with the beautiful Roxane. Although he’s confident in many other ventures, Cyrano is insecure when it comes to women because of his enormous nose. So instead of risking rejection, Cyrano woos and wins Roxane for Christian, who uses Cyrano’s poetry to win her heart. The story ends tragically, when the truth finally comes out fifteen years later as Cyrano dies in Roxane’s arms.

The story is tragic because of all the wasted years when Cyrano and Roxane could have been together. Cyrano cheated himself and others out of happiness because of his own insecurity. We do the same thing all the time. Instead of showing tough love to those we care about, we hide behind a veil of meaningless chatter. We’re afraid if we’re truthful we’ll lose the relationship. I have been so guilty of this. But scripture tells us:


                                                 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Proverbs 27:5-6

One thing I value so much about Kelly is his honesty with me. He not only praises the good he sees in me (which I'm so thankful for!), but he also tells me when he sees a problem brewing. When I'm whiny, negative, or critical, he gently takes me in his arms and challenges my attitude. It still hurts, but his tenderness melts my defenses. He doesn’t say these things because he enjoys cutting me down to size, but to get me back on the right path. The wounds of a friend can be trusted.

So many times I run from being a true friend to the people I love the most. Because of past hurts, I fear rejection and abandonment. Instead of speaking the truth in love, I allow our conversations to remain surface and trivial, never getting to the real issues of faith, obedience, heaven, and Jesus.

These verses challenge me to show genuine love. Like Cyrano, I have many faults that are as plain as the nose on my face, but I also have a message to share that is pure poetry. Sharing God’s truth is not always seen as loving, especially when it steps on someone’s “everyone goes to heaven” theories. Real love risks rejection for the sake of the other and their eternal destiny.

Lint Removed: Hiding the Truth

Cleaning Process: Tough Love

40 Days of Lint, Day Twenty-three: Foolishness

I've done a lot of foolish things in my life. I’ve paid good money for things I later realized were worthless and trivial. I’ve spouted meaningless verbiage in my efforts to be wise and helpful. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of others, even blushed at my stupidity when no one else was around. The worst sort of foolishness, however, is when I realize my words or actions have made God’s name look bad.

It’s so easy to do. Careless words can wound and fester. An unguarded look can become the poster for Christianity in someone else’s mind. When I act before thinking, worse yet, before praying, it can damage the cause of Christ and everything I hold so dear.



That’s why David’s prayer is also the prayer of my heart:

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Lord, the LORD Almighty, may those who hope in you

not be disgraced because of me;

God of Israel,

may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.

Psalm 69:5-6

I plead with God to weed the folly from my heart. All the hidden stupidity that comes so easily. On the other hand, I ask that He let me be His jester instead. Interestingly enough, European monarchs used to employ jesters not only to entertain but to offer wisdom and insight in the form of poetic humor. Shakespeare often used the jester in his plays to speak truths no one else dares bring into the open.

In the 1956 movie Court Jester, Danny Kaye pretends to be a jester joking his way through his mission to save the true king. My favorite scene is his famous monologue and tongue twister, “The pellet with the poison in the vessel with the pestle. The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!” No matter how silly the presentation, the jester’s heart to serve his king was true and good eventually won.

We must be willing to serve our Master well, sometimes appearing foolish to the rest of the world. How appropriate, as April unfurls, that we ask God to remove the lint of foolishness from our hearts that would bring shame to Him and the cause of Jesus Christ. He will replace it with boldness to proclaim a message the world often sees as foolishness.

• “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
• “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).
• “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:23).
• “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor. 1:25).
• “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:14).
• “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Cor. 3:19).

May each one of us be on guard against the pellet with the poison and have the wisdom to choose the brew that is true!

Lint Removed: Worldly Foolishness

Cleaning Process: Serve as God’s Jester