PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Is anyone else out there struggling with focus?  Focusing on Jesus, focusing on His message, focusing on His Word, focusing on His promises, focusing on His plan, focusing on the positive, focusing on His guidance, focusing on His direction, focusing on His still small voice?  Well, I am, big time!  The world we’re living in right now really is not ideal for an ADHDer like myself.  There are just way too many things going on – COVID, confirmation, election, work, life in general.  Can anyone else relate?

I tell you what, I’ve been a bear (my family and friends can attest to that).  I feel like my world, which is probably the same as your world is spinning so fast that my mind is boggled, and I struggle to focus.  There are so many things going on, all at the same time, that with the speed of my thoughts I’m getting whipped into a good ole focusless frenzy.  Picture me (or yourself if you’ve got the same thing happening) standing there with a duh look on my (your) face and the words of my (your) thoughts just swirling around above my head (or your head) so fast they are just a blur.  If I’ve looked at you lately and my eyes didn’t look like there was anyone home, there probably wasn’t.  I’m having trouble focusing.  You too?  So, as believers, what do we do?  We Fight for Focus – F³.  How do we do that?

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.  Hebrews 12:2

Just like Jesus…  Jesus fixed his eyes on God, His Father, on whom He depended from beginning to end.  What a prime example He gave us.  If anyone had a right to be distracted, it would have been Jesus.  Distracted by unbelievers, distracted because of fish, distracted because of waves, distracted because of Pilate, distracted because He was being betrayed, distracted because all of His followers left Him, distracted because He was tortured, distracted because He was crucified.  But, here’s the thing – Jesus never lost focus.  He didn’t say “I just can’t think about that right now.” or “There’s too many things going on to be crucified.”  He didn’t give up because of what was going to happen.  He persevered because of what was going to happen to Him and what was going to happen for all of us.  How did He do that?  Well, honestly, He was Jesus.  But, He stayed connected to God.  He was obedient to God.  He did what God told Him to do.  Throughout His entire life He called on the name of His Father.  That’s our answer.

You see, if He knows the number of hairs on our head (or not), don’t you think He knows the number of thoughts swirling in our minds?  He understands.  Remember, Jesus walked this earth, and though He did not sin, He was human.  He knows what we’re going through. So, how do we Fight for Focus?

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears. 2 Samuel 22:7

He says it quite simply.  Call on Him.  When we call on Jesus focus is possible.  When we are mired in the relentless thoughts swirling through our minds, we call on the name of the Lord.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. 2 Samuel 22:17

And He answers.  Always. He will reach down from on high and take a hold of us and pull us out of the deep waters of our mind chaos.  He brings peace, discernment, and organization to our thoughts.  If we have to call on the name of Jesus a million times a day to maintain focus, that’s what we do.  When we can’t quite formulate our call to Him, when we just don’t have words, simply say His name – Jesus.  I can’t help but think He smiles every time He hears one of His children call His name.  Every time we call on His name we can smile too – we know whence our help comes from to focus.  It comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.

Did you see that moon?  Wow!  I have a thing about the moon.  I mean I love the sun, it’s a magnificent creation, our daylight and our dayheat.  But, there’s just something about the fall moon.  The other morning, I was sitting on my front porch mooning.  Not the kind of mooning you’re thinking about.  The kind of mooning in the pitch blackness of early morning, very early morning.  The blackness made by turning off all the outside lights.  It is unbelievable what you can see when you turn out the lights!  Another day…Follow me to the front porch, in the silence of the early morning, in the darkness, to a chair.

This morning I sit and gaze at the moon.  All moons are beautiful but this one’s special.  This round, yellow-white, humongous moon was placed carefully in the sky, on the Fourth Day!  With the naked eye you can see outlines and details on this moon.  Spectacular!  So, in the darkness, I moonbathe.  Ever been moonbathing?  It’s similar to sunbathing, only better.  The moon is at about 2:00 over the mountain.  From where I’m sitting, it’s behind a big old maple tree.  You know when the sun is out and there’s a tree, you try to hide your eyes with a branch so you can see?  You know what I mean, right?  Well, it’s the exact opposite with the moon.  Instead of hiding from the moon behind the branches, I find myself searching for the moon around the branches.  The light shines in the darkness – heard that before?  I close my eyes and I sit.  I feel the fall breeze, listen to the tinkling leaves trying to hold on for just one more day.  I feel the moon on my face and I bathe in its glory and in the One who created it.

I think about how well I can see the moon in the darkness, and how incredibly bright it seems to be.  So bright that it casts shadows.  Then I think, would I realize how bright the moon was if it wasn’t so dark.  When the sun’s out, it is always bright, there is no darkness.  Do we even notice?  Not much.  I don’t always see the sun, because it’s always there.  Does that make sense?   I don’t recognize how bright the light, until I’ve seen the darkness.  I would not be able to glory in the moon and the One who created it, if it were always light.

Life’s like that too, you know.  We must sometimes travel in the dark to recognize the light.  There are many different kinds of darkness.  Physical darkness – illness.  Spiritual darkness – sin.  Emotional darkness – anxiety.  Relationship darkness – separation, abuse.  Financial darkness – there’s just not enough.  We’ve all got dark.  But there’s an incredible hope, a Light.

Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

Do you see what that says?  When we are overcome with darkness, when the night is pitch black,  when the dark hole is so deep, God will break upon us.  He will visit, descend, show up, make Himself known, appear, through the Light of Heaven, Jesus His only Son.

Psalm 112:4 puts it another way:

When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.  The Lord is generous, compassionate and righteous.

When we are in our darkest moments because we’ve made an ever-loving mess of things, or due to circumstances completely beyond our control, when darkness has overtaken us – our spirits, our thoughts, our actions, our wallets, our relationships, our whatevers, the Light, not a light, but the Light will come in.  It doesn’t say that Light may show up, that it will be subtle, it says BURSTING in.  Jesus always shows up.  Not just a tiny speck of light in the darkness, but a full moon, so bright you can find your way.

Here’s the thing, the Light comes, not because of who we are or what we do, but because of who He is.  Remember what it said?  He is merciful.  He is peace-filled.  He is generous.  He is compassionate.  He is righteous.  He is Light.   The light does shine in the darkness and the darkness has not extinguished it.  It just can’t.  What incredible Light for our darkness.  The Light that gives Light to everyone.   To all who receive Him.  To all who call upon Him.

Sometimes we don’t know how dark it has been until we see the Light.

There’s a tree lined development on the way to our home.  Every time I ride by it, I’m curious.  Anywhere from 8-10 trees line each side of the paved entrance to that development.  When the leaves change this time of year, they really are quite beautiful.  The thing that interests me about these trees is that even though they are all the same species, all the same age, all planted at the same time, and all are exposed  to the same growing conditions – same rain, same sunshine, same wind, they’re all very different. Check them out.  Their leaves run the spectrum from a few browns to plentiful robust green to glowing reds.  They range in appearance from lifeless to vibrant. 

It made me think – isn’t that how we people are too?  I don’t know about you, but there are times I’ve felt spiritually lifeless, spiritually robust and spiritually glowing – sometimes all in the same day, or even the same minute.  Now I’m not a treeologist, but it was so odd to me that each of these trees had the exact same growing conditions yet appear so different.  Why is that?  I’m not sure, but it would seem to me that if they all had the same water, sun, wind, if they all faced the same living conditions, it would have to be something happening, or not happening in the trunk, you know, the heart of the tree – the foundation.  How did the tree use internally the provisions of nourishment to give it life?  Could it be the outer appearance changes are a result of how the inner tree used its provisions?  It stands to reason.

And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world.  John 6:33

Why are we sometimes brown with very few leaves and at other times robust and glowing?  Could our appearance change have something to do with our trunk, our foundation, our heart?  Could it be that there’s something in our trunk that doesn’t allow us to lap up the Living Water?  Could it be that we don’t take in the nourishment of the Bread of Life?  It could be all of the above. 

But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.  John 14:26

We are reminded of where our Help comes from.  We are reminded that there is Someone who was sent by the Lord to teach us how to lap up the Living Water and feast on the Bread of Life.  We are reminded that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. 

Mom was a gift giver.  Now, I’m going to tell you right off the bat that good gift givers are terrible, terrible gift receivers.  Sorry Mom, but true. 😊  Tanya, Daddy and I always agonized over gifts for Mom.  Birthday and Christmas gifts were always challenging.  It seemed that no matter what we got for Mom, no matter how thoughtful we were being, we always got the “Oh, that’s nice.”  We’re like, what do you means that’s nice — it’s wonderful! It didn’t matter how much we spent or how personal (that was big for Mom) the gift, or how excited we were that it was just the right gift, our gifts always seemed to fall flat.  We always took that personally, you know, like we just couldn’t please her.  Maybe that was true, but in hindsight, I don’t think so.  Those folks out there who are the best gift givers are always the worst gift receivers, not because you can’t please them, I don’t think that’s it at all, but because they are completely selfless.  They would rather do the giving than the receiving and therefore, receiving makes them feel uncomfortable and all they can say is “Oh, that’s nice.”  Mom always wanted to be the gift giver never the gift receiver.

Looking back now, I realize that Mom’s greatest gifts were gifts literally from her heart.  She loved this Marine enough to quit high school in her senior year and move to Camp Lejeune, North Caroline, at the age of 17, much to my grandparents’ dismay.  She gave the gift of love to Tanya and I and although I think they’re all stories, I hear I tested that love quite often.  She loved Jeff and Tony as her own, unconditionally.  There isn’t a word to explain Mom’s love for her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.  It was simply too big. Mom’s gift of love for Aunt Sandi and Uncle Harry and all her nieces and nephews was unmeasured.  Mom adored her family.

Mom’s gift giving spread to all those around her, from the words she spoke, to the cards she sent, to the love she gave.  Mom’s gifts were always lavish and generous.   Mom would spend hours searching for just the right gift and would get so frustrated, and yes, angry, when she didn’t find the perfect gift.  She hated giving cash or gift cards.  We loved it.  But, Mom didn’t think enough thought had gone into the person if that was the gift – she thought that was the easy way out.  We liked cash!

Mom’s greatest achievement in life was being a nurse.  It surpassed everything else.  It was another gift giving opportunity for her.  She started college fulltime when I did.  Mom finished, I didn’t.  Although Mom finished 3^rd in her class at Shepherd, Mom was voted by the class to be the speaker at the pinning ceremony by her classmates.  They too had been recipients of her generous gift giving — cheerleading, encouragement and love.

Mom went on to become nurse manager of OB at City Hospital where she again gave lavish gifts.  Some of those gifts are still turning up.  Over the weekend,  – – one of the nurses Olivia works with just found a note of encouragement in her locker from 1993 from Mom – it was a treasured gift.   There are nurses out there today because Mom gave the generous gift of books, classes, and most importantly, encouragement.

From the small happy day gifts she gave, a hug, a treat for your dog,  a notecard of encouragement, to books, to unconditional love, to gift cards, Mom was a generous gift giver.

Mom was one of the most generous gift givers I knew.  It wasn’t the kind of generosity you’d expect.  She did not flaunt it, she received no recognition for it.  In fact, if she knew I wrote about it I’d be getting the look – you know the one I mean – the one only Mom could give.  When I think back over her life, I see time and time again her giving, her sharing, her unselfishness, her generosity, her gifts. They are beautiful nuggets of comfort.

But, let me tell you about the greatest, most generous gift Mom ever gave us – she introduced us to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  That is the gift she gave her family and those she came into contact with — the gift of Hope.  There were times we didn’t really want to open that gift and we did our share of eye rolling at it, and that’s where Mom’s gift of unconditional love came in.  But, when we finally unwrapped that most precious gift, it was priceless – Mom introduced us to the Ultimate Gift through the Ultimate Gift Giver, Jesus Christ. The gift of Eternity.

Not only did Mom give us the gift of the Gospel, she gave us the gift of peace.  We know that we are now only separated for a time not for an eternity.  That’s the second greatest gift you can give to someone.  Only when you know where someone will spend eternity can you truly say — It is well – It is well, with my Soul, and it is.

So we celebrate a beginning, not an end.  We have all been recipients of Mom’s generous gift giving.  Mom would be honored if we lavished those gifts on everyone we met, a word of encouragement, a hug, a bone for Rover, the gift of Jesus Christ – Eternity.  Please go be gift givers.  Give the most generous greatest gift from the Ultimate Gift Giver, Jesus Christ.  Give the gift of Eternity to someone else by introducing them to Jesus so it too can be well with your Soul.

Working on Updates 0%. Don’t turn off your PC.  This will take a while.

I knew right then and there I was doomed.  Not a thing I could do about it – for two hours!   Now, I know the importance of keeping my computer updated.  It is necessary for all of us to update our computers in order to keep them running smoothly, to patch up anything that’s not working as it should, and to enhance and improve and simply make things work better.   As I’m sitting looking at the screen watching the number tick up to 100 and then start again for the next update, I’m kicking myself because I know the importance of keeping current, of updating, of the support needed to keep things running as they should.  I’m feeling slightly impatient – slightly!  Ugh!

As I’m waiting, I start putzing around impatiently and flipping pages in several books I have sitting on my desk, including my Bible, and I’m increasingly frustrated as each time I glance up at the screen it has the same message.  I continue to putz and flip through some other things at my desk and still the same message.  So, in my most humble – not – voice I say:   “Lord, what’s going on here?  You know my day.  I’ve got work to do.  I need to finish this up so I can get on to the next thing.”  And he says:  “Really, Beth?”  God really does have a sense of humor.  So, I step out of the frustration frenzy and seek to learn from this experience.  What’s the lesson here?  And it settles on me heavily.  The words of our Savior.  Be holy because I am holy.  I know, odd thought at that time but that’s what came into my mind.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”                1 Peter 1:15-16

You see, in order to function in the way we’re meant to function as holy beings, we must be current.  We must have a current, up-to-date relationship with Jesus.  We must be fully connected to Him and His Word.  We must take in information, let it speak to our hearts and minds and then generate Godly holy living.  God says I’m working on your life.  Don’t turn Me off.  Don’t be impatient, this will take a while. 

Holiness is not just being a good person, it is being a God person, and that takes constant updating, constant rebooting, constantly checking of the connection and making sure we’re plugged in.  The holiness of the Spirit requires pursuit.  How do we pursue holiness?  How do we pursue the holiness God intended for our lives?  By constant rebooting and updating.  By consistently applying patches and rewiring our minds and our hearts to work as the Lord intended so that transformation (changed, a new version) and sanctification (proper functioning) take place.  How is that done?

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

First, we must spend time communicating with our God.  Time spent in prayer joining ourselves to Him is vital.  He’s our motherboard (Fatherboard) – His strength, power, wisdom, guidance, love, mercy and grace must be plugged into and connected to all circuits of our life.  Not just our Sunday circuit.

Second, keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter – and by letter – the Word of the Lord.  It’s very clear.  Be in the Word of the Lord.  You can’t follow God if you don’t know who Jesus is.  We only find out who Jesus is through the Word of the Lord, then through relationship with Him. We are then sanctified (living according to God’s design and purpose) when we live who He is.  When we are in right relationship with Him and fully connected to Him, then we are made Holy.

Working on Updates 0% Don’t turn off your PC.  This will take a while.

Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love sets such a high value upon His people’s faith that He will not protect them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith that now supports you if the trial of your faith had not put you through the fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted as well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro and made you take a firm hold upon the precious truths of God’s gracious covenant.

Charles Spurgeon

Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. 1 Peter 1:7

Today is our first day of school, which means my first day of helping my children navigate a whole new era of school that I don’t think many of us expected. And one, I really feel unqualified to handle. Its only been 30 minutes.  In those 30 minutes my two oldest have argued with each other, my daughter has asked so many questions, and both seem utterly clueless where to start.  And honestly, I’m feeling the same and patience is already running for the window.

So, as my daughter’s yelling “I HATE READING” I am taking a huge breath and praying to God for patience. As my teenager is complaining once again about how things do not make sense, I am looking to the sky for Jesus to come down, finally. But what I need to do is be patient.  Be patient with my kids, they are just as confused as we are. Be patient with the schools, they are doing their best to accommodate everyone’s needs with what they have to work with. And be patient with myself, I can do this. As I type this, I also feel God is testing my patience.

Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.  Proverbs 15:18

Impatience can definitely make my temper rise. If we become more Christ like we will have the patience and peace needed in our mere human lives. And don’t we want the peace, joy, and grace that being more like Christ can give?

But if we look forward to something we don’t have, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:25-26

Even when we lose our way, and don’t know what to say or do, the Holy Spirit is there for us, praying for us. How amazing is that? When the world is too much for our minds, the Holy Spirit is there praying for us, straight to God.

But as for you, be strong and courageous, for you work will be rewarded.  2 Chronicles 15:7

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

So don’t give up.  Keep your patience and know God has you in his arms. He has given his Son as our sacrifice and left us with the Holy Spirit to make sure we are connected with him.  He has thought of everything for us. He has made sure we have a safety net so keep walking that tight rope, slow and steady. Trust in him and patience will be easy to find.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

All scripture is beautiful because it is God breathed.  Some scripture is melodic and rolls right off the tongue.  Some scripture is more difficult to speak.  Some scripture is easily understood.  Some scripture is only understood with prayer and revelation by God.  But, all scripture is beautiful because it was whispered by the One.

We recite scripture in our worship services, at funerals, at weddings, at anniversaries, at special events.  We memorize scripture for times of fear, anger, comfort, strength, exaltation, hope, honor,  praise.

One of the most widely recognized scriptures is the 23^rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:  he leaded me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  though anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This is such a beautiful Psalm.  But to be flat out honest, usually when these verses are recited in unison, it is just downright depressing.  Could we be any less dramatic?  Any less enthusiastic?  Anyone else feel that way?  We recite it in monotone, as slow as we can possibly go.  It is just a dirge!  We certainly don’t make it sound like the breath of God whispered to His children.

If you carefully read the words, visualize the sights and sounds of David’s time, Psalm 23 is not actually a dirge, it’s a psalm of praise!  Check this out:

The Lord protects me!

He is all I need!

I find rest in him!

He is my strength!

He leads the way and when I am following His lead, He is glorified!

When I travel through tough times and my spirit is crushed,

I won’t be afraid because He is always with me!

His love, mercy and grace are constantly protecting me!

He shows my enemies how much He adores me!

He honors me, even when I’m not honorable!

His love for me is overflowing!

His mercy and love seek only

good for me every day!

And I will live with the

One True God in eternity,

forever!

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like praise to me.  That sounds like something we can call upon for comfort, for strength, for support, for blessing.  Our cup runneth over, isn’t that worth a little enthusiasm people?  What I have recently learned is that it is my attitude toward the Bible that really matters.  How I read it.  I’m learning to read the Bible the way I believe God meant for it to be read.  Reverently, respectfully, hopefully, joyfully, expectantly, instructionally. 

Are you a checkmark person?  I’m a checkmark person.  I love, love, love making checkmarks.  Any other checkmarkers out there?  Give me a list and I can go to town.  Check-Check-Check-Check-Check.  I used to be a Bible checkmarker.    When I read the Bible I would mentally make checkmarks.  Love your neighbor – check.  Be charitable – check.  Do not kill – check.  Do not steal (if that doesn’t include postits from my employer) – check.  Be patient – check(ish).  Be kind – check.  Love the Lord God with all your heart – check, check and double-check!  You too!?!

Flat out, I wasn’t reading the Bible the right way.  If I read it seeking the character of God and expecting Him to reveal his character to me, and not looking to make checkmarks of God, I will be making checkmarks like crazy. This is how it works.  If I’m mirroring His imagine, I will love God the way He loves me – check.   If I’m mirroring His image, I will love my neighbor – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will not kill, by hand or by heart – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will not steal, even scrap paper that doesn’t belong to me – check.  If I’m mirroring His image, I will be kind – check.  You get it, right?  It’s all about Him!

It is exciting to read the Word of God because all scripture reflects the character of God.  All scriptures are His whispers to us.  Yes, scripture can put us in our place, but instead of reading or reciting scripture as a dirge, we need to read and recite looking for his character.  In looking for His character, we will see His guidance, direction, encouragement, discipline, support and blessings.  The Creator of the Universe revealing himself to us!  Isn’t that worth a little enthusiasm people? 

We need to read the scriptures like they really matter, because they do.  Not like a dirge and not for the checkmarks.  Alistair Begg seems to say it best:  “The confidence of heaven is in the Word of God.  If you want to know God.  If you want to consider God.  If you want to know if God knows you, read the Bible.”

It’s a double — double the hope, double the promise, double the love. Sometimes the beauty is such a contrast with the hardness of the road, but He is always God.

And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Romans 9:5

	When morning gilds the skies, My heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer To Jesus I repair: May Jesus Christ be praised!   To Thee, my God above, I cry with glowing love, May Jesus Christ be praised! The fairest graces spring In hearts that ever sing, May Jesus Christ be praised!
	Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised! Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
	When evil thoughts molest, With this I shield my breast, May Jesus Christ be praised! The powers of darkness fear, When this sweet chant they hear, May Jesus Christ be praised!
	When sleep her balm denies, My silent spirit sighs, May Jesus Christ be praised! The night becomes as day, When from the heart we say, May Jesus Christ be praised!
	Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine, May Jesus Christ be praised! Be this th’ eternal song Through all the ages long, May Jesus Christ be praised!

You might have heard about my girls – my chicks – there are seven of them.  I love those stinkin things.  We do a lot of chicken watching at our house.  During the day they run a muck – they cover every inch of our 12 every day, and where one goes they all go.  They’re flockers.  They stick together unless someone’s sitting anest.

During the day they wander and at night they’re cooped up – it’s one of those two story jobs.  Settling in for the night is a process, which doesn’t voluntarily begin before darkish.  When dusk hits they instinctively head for their coop.   Settling in for the night is a process for them.  They take turns going in and out before the doors close.  They run in and think about roosting then they run out for one last bite.  In.  Out.  Bite to eat.  Drink.  Hop up.  Hop down.  Jostling.   They chase each other and squeeze each other out, jockeying for the best roost position.  If one tries to go up the ladder before another thinks they should, they get a peck or two on the head.  Maybe even a pluck.  Ouch Georgie Girl!  Poor Ethel is always the last to ascend she’s most often pushed, pecked and bullied.  It’s a tough crowd.

After finally ascending to the coop, the jockeying for position is not yet over.  They move, they ruffle, they peck, they squawk.  It’s constant.  I try to intervene, to restore calm, but I’m reminded that it’s what chickens do.  They’re animals – fowl, technically.  They have a pecking order.

One thing I’ve noticed is that we, me, I, have chicken-tendencies.  We, me, are not so different from them, really.  We do the same sometimes.  I know I do.

After watching the news the other day, I started thinking how very similar we are to my girls.  We treat each other the same way my girls treat each other, and it’s permissible and acceptable.  I wondered to myself – when did it get okay?  When did it get okay to be mean?  Push.  When did it get okay to call people names?  Squawk.  When did it get okay to degrade other people?  Bump.  When did it get okay to mistreat others?  Peck.  When did it get okay to speak our minds without care for others’ tender hearts?  Pluck.  When did it get okay to say what we want, regardless of the cost to someone else?  Scar.  When did it get okay to bully?  Jostle.  When did it get okay?

Clearly, my chickens have not heard about the Greatest Commandment.  Sometimes I act like I’ve not heard it either.

The most important commandment is this:  Hear, O Israel!

The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,

All your mind, and all your strength.

and your neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:29-31

According to Jesus, this is the most important commandment.  Notice He gives us a few directions before we are to love each other.  His directions are just that – listed in order of importance.  First, he gets our attention.  Then He identifies Himself.  Next, He tells us exactly what we must do.  He says:

Listen up folks!

I am the only God!

You must love Me with absolutely everything you have – heart, soul, mind, strength,

Only when you do that can you love your neighbor as you should.

Only by putting God first in our hearts, in our souls, in our minds, with all the strength that we have, can we love others as we should.  He knew we would struggle with love because we are human, that’s why he gave us the directions – He’s shown us how to work this love thing.

God did not tell us to love our neighbors if we want to, if they love us first, if they’re loveable.  He said love your neighbor as yourself.  Do we do that?  Do we love each other as we love ourselves – maybe.  Maybe that’s our problem.

Paul tells us living in the Spirit – heart, soul, mind, strength – produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We can pretty much tell if we’re living in the Spirit or living in the world by the fruits we produce.   Will they know I’m a Christian by my love?  By my words?  By my deeds?  By my eyes?  By my life?  The fruits are not to be practiced occasionally, they are to be how we live our life.  They are to be practiced consistently.  What a wonderful world it would be if we all immersed ourselves in the fruits.

We peck.  We bump.  We shove.  We squawk.  We pluck.  We scar.  We jostle.  We act like animals.  We act fowl.  That’s the truth.  Ugh!  We need a Cross check.  We are sinners living in a fallen world but that doesn’t excuse our actions.  Because we are His we are to be of the world and not in the world.

When did it get okay to peck, bump, shove, squawk, pluck, scar, or jostle each other?  It didn’t.  It never did.  It’s just not okay.