Do You Trust?

Charlie, our dog, received a Christmas present from Sarah, our daughter Tammi’s dog. His tail was beating a rhythm against the wall as I helped him unwrap it … Pup-Peroni sticks. He danced around the room as I ripped the top of the package off. Now he could smell it and his enthusiasm grew.

Let me set the stage for what happened next.

Apparently as I walked on the carpet, rubbed against the wrapper as I took the paper off and then slid my hand around on the package … I created an electric charge in my hand. I removed one stick from the package, held it toward Charlie and he grabbed for it with his mouth. I heard the spark of electricity as he yipped and jumped backward. It had shocked him.

He no longer trusts me. 

 

When I hold a treat out for him, he paces the floor and makes little growling noises at me. I say, “It’s alright Charlie” but he doesn’t believe me. I repeatedly assure him that the treat is his for the taking … and there are no consequences … but he paces and mumbles.

We, as human beings, are just like that. We’ve been burned by someone we trusted and so refuse to trust again. Perhaps it was an intentional act toward us … or maybe that other person intended no harm. But the result was painful to us emotionally.

And so we refuse to trust again.

Just as Charlie missed out on a treat due to his lack of trust, we miss out on many blessings as we protect ourselves. Yes, we may get burned again. But what about all the treats we miss out on as we pace and mumble about the wrongs that have been done to us?

Do you trust?

“God makes everything come out right; He puts victims back on their feet.” Psalm 103:6 (MSG)

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Do You Believe It?

Black Friday shopping has now spilled over onto Thanksgiving Day. The news is full of stories about the shoving and screaming … the grabbing and wrestling … over a Christmas present purchase. Last year someone actually died in the stampede to be first in line.

In all that noise and chaos it’s hard to believe it … the reason for Christmas.

Today is the first day back to school … after the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook School. Teachers, secretaries, counselors, janitors … and students … enter their school filled with fear. The sound of a book falling to the floor will cause repercussions for anyone hearing that noise. Some may even throw themselves to the floor ... a knee jerk reaction to the sound of gunfire.

With all that fear and high anxiety it’s hard to believe it … the reason for Christmas.

I refuse to do the Black Friday thing. Nothing is that important to me to brave that carnage to make a purchase. And I have no little kids headed out to school this morning. But I do have a daughter that is standing in a classroom as I write these words. I know she would give her life for her students. My heart is broken for the families touched by this recent tragedy.

With all the crying and clinging going on it’s hard to believe it … the reason for Christmas.

But as a Christ-follower, I do believe it. That little baby born in Bethlehem came for a reason … to give us hope and peace. Above all the chaos and grief is love … God’s love. And as a believer, it is up to me to show that love with skin on. If I could, I would hold all the wounded hearts close. But since I can’t, then today I will be very aware of people I come in contact with. If they need love with skin on, I’ll be there.

Jesus is the reason. Do you believe it?

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” John 3:16 (MSG)

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One In Every Crowd

It seems there is at least one in every crowd … they need attention. When they show up, they change the whole dynamic of the group. Recently I’ve been part of a gathering that is experiencing some disturbance in our force. One of the group (who shall remain nameless) has expressed their feelings in an email. The following is what they wrote:

One might say she was annoying.  She came in like door busters with ideas and stories she was sure were of interest to everyone.  Conversations ceased as she started in and I swear her car was her home because if you needed something, out to the car she went and returned with just the right solution or at least so she thought. 

She was at home with everyone and no one was a stranger.  Oh she knew so and so who was a friend of what’s her name and they may even be related.  She could top every experience with one of her own and she did so in a loud voice that carried across the room.

After a time, the group became divided.  There were those who cringed as her car entered the parking lot.  Some went so far as to leave before she entered.  Some never came at all so as not to risk being in her presence.  There were those who turned their backs to her so she couldn’t join in their conversations.  She was not one to be ignored and became more animated and loud. 

If you were considerate of her feelings, you were now in her web and it became harder and harder to converse with others and the conversations ceased but silence only drove her on, filling the void with more of herself.

It wasn’t the same, the old coffee shop, with easy friendships and quiet moments.  An intruder has entered and taken over.  Funny, it wasn’t that long ago that many of these people were strangers to me.  Now I consider them friends.  Why, I have even been to some of their homes or places of business.  I am comfortable with them. 

Why then, does this one person receive so much notoriety?  She is just one of the group now and shouldn’t she be tolerated and even enjoyed just for being one of the group?

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

My question today … for all of us … is “Could this person be me? Exactly how do others feel in my presence? Am I overbearing and oblivious to other’s reactions?”

Now you can ponder the same thoughts I’ve been having.

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NASB)

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How Determined Are You?

Even though my passion for watching NASCAR has been circumvented by other priorities this racing season, I’ve been trying to watch the last ten races leading up to the Championship. Yesterday’s event had me focused on one driver … and not one I usually watch.

Denny Hamlin

Going into the race he was fourth in the Championship points … and he had a great car. Winning was his goal. He started in the back of the field … passing cars every lap … until he had reached the top ten. Yet when he drove to the pits for tires and fuel, he went too fast down pit road.

That meant he was given a drive-through penalty. While the race was still happening he had to drive through pit road at pit road speed, which placed him at the back of the field again.

Once more he aggressively maneuvered through the cars … finally securing a spot near the front. But all cars periodically require new tires and fuel. When he pitted, he drove too fast … again.

Once more he received a drive-through penalty. Once more he was making his way through the field … headed toward the front. With 100 laps remaining in the race, Denny had positioned himself in third place. Suddenly he slowed … cars flying past him. An electrical problem had caused him to have no power.

While the race continued, his pit crew frantically worked on his car … and once again he returned to the track. But NASCAR has rules about how fast you must go to be able to race. He was traveling too slowly … was black-flagged … and removed his car from competition.

With only three races left, he has dropped to fifth in the Championship points.

As I watched the race, my thoughts turned to the race I’m in … with the goal of Heaven. Just how determined am I to reach that prize? I’ve been given some big time penalties by life … been black-flagged by my previous choice of church denomination … and have had to work my way through a lot of obstacles.

But … unlike Denny … I have a Power Source that will never fail.

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power …” Psalm 147:5 (NIV)

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Do You Trust?

Perfect weather … 70’s … no wind … contrails from passing airplanes marking a giant tic-tac-toe game on the large blue canvas overhead. And the forecast was for the same tomorrow … and the next day … and the next.  

Perfect for motorcycle riding.  

My husband, John, and I arrived at the motorcycle rally Thursday afternoon … me in my car (loaded to the gills with our motorcycle club’s stuff) … and him on his fairly new motorcycle. We were both looking forward to the next two days. He would be going on group rides each day … and I would be reading and relaxing.  

Friday morning … and they all geared up … ready to head out. John’s motorcycle wouldn’t start. With several hundred motorcycle riders in attendance, he received a lot of advice on what was wrong.

 

Nothing worked.

 

Long story short, his bike was placed on a towing truck and hauled to the nearest BMW dealer … Boise, Idaho. He and I spent the day together. The call came about 5:30 that it was repaired and he could pick it up tomorrow. No problem. That was just a four hour drive away.

 

We headed out at 5:00 on Saturday morning. By noon Boise time we were ready to head back … me driving and him on his motorcycle. Arriving back at the rally at 3:00, that day was pretty much gone.  

 

Sunday morning there was a stir of activity as we all took down tents, rolled up sleeping bags and emptied the coolers. One problem. John’s motorcycle wouldn’t start. We did the same drill … same towing company … hauled to the same dealer in Boise … and adjustments had to be made in what I was taking in my car. I now had to make room for John.  

 

Motorcycle riders … especially those with off-road motorcycles like John’s … go into the back country where there is usually no cell phone service. They need to be able to trust their bike is going to start. Trust. Right now we aren’t too sure about the reliability of his motorcycle.  

 

But there is Someone who is always trustworthy. No matter what journeys our lives take us on, the trust is never broken. He is there when we need Him … every time.  

Do you trust?  

 

“God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.” Psalm 9:9-10 (MSG)

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