A Bison, a Dumb Idea and a God-Idea

While having lunch at my home on Sunday, my kids told me this story. Last Wednesday, a 54-year-old woman motorcyclist was attacked by a bison in South Dakota when she sat in the grass to take a photo of a mother bison and her calf. She got way too close to the little family and another bison (maybe the dad bison) charged at the woman, hooked its horns into the belt loops of her jeans and flung her around in the air for a few seconds. The sheriff said the woman was "apparently saved when her pants came off and she fell to the ground unconscious." At that point, the sheriff said the attacking bison ran off with the rest of the herd. I understand she survived the attack – thank God! The gal who filmed the incident, posted this: “Please, please, please feel free to share this, so people understand they’re about to die when they confront an animal this powerful.”

Then, I remembered a similar story and asked my daughter if she remembered when she was about four years old, standing a distance away when her daddy and I had grabbed hold of a young calf to castrate him. The mama cow, rather than attacking us – went after Staci and, with her head, begin to bounce Staci in the air. Thankfully, Staci held onto her ears like riding a bucking bronco. Her daddy turned and kicked the cow who released our girl. It was a scary sight. Staci remembered.

I thought about those two incidents and how we MUST be watchful of everything we do that could give a foothold into our lives by the enemy of our souls. That’s why Godly wisdom is so important to our success in life. Proverbs 4:6-7 says: "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding."

If anyone could speak to us about the snares, traps and lies of the enemy of our souls it was the Apostle Peter. Remember the many mistakes he made because of not recognizing he was a target of Satan? Peter was already in-the-making to be mightily used by God, so of course the enemy wanted to keep him from his destiny. Peter warned us with this: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Peter understood who it was that tricked him into denying Christ, to cut off the soldier’s ear, to cower behind others. Peter goes on to tell us how to defeat the enemy. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9

Wisdom, Holy Spirit’s voice and good old common sense is with us to keep us from making really dumb mistakes like playing around with wild animals or getting ourselves into compromising situations or simply choosing what we know God wants us to avoid. I really believe that God is leaning in close to His kids today to give us His wisdom for successfully living a victorious life in Him. As He leans in, may we lean in closer to Him to hear His voice and know His ways that will surely keep us safe, sound, and successful.

1 Kings 2:3 “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

I Just Want a Gold Star

I was in a bit of a funk yesterday. Even though I've succeeded at getting quite a few household things done, as well as served in many ways during this time of quarantine, and posted my daily blog, still I'm not satisfied. As the doors for restaurants, businesses, and even my church are starting to open more, I’m self-analyzing myself. Did I read the books I was hoping to read? No. Did I immerse myself into God and His Word more than ever because I had the time to do so? I’m ashamed to say that I really didn’t dive as deep into His open arms as I thought I would have. Do I feel that my blogs really impacted my readers and made a difference in their lives? Not so much!

Suddenly, I have a “moment” when I sense the enemy of my heart is assaulting me. The script goes like this: “You can’t be used by God,” "You're over-the-hill -- you're done!" “Who do you think you are?” The lies of the enemy are that we can never measure up to God’s “do good” charts. You know the ones in Sunday School – if we memorized that scripture or we brought a friend with us, we’d get a sticky star by our name. Or the charts our parents made for us to do our chores? I want God's gold star by my name on His "do good" chart.

But then, into my little space, comes the assurance that it isn't God making me feel inadequate and insecure. It is always the voice of the enemy that deceives, belittles and makes us feel we're not enough. I look up scriptures and it is clear who accuses us and lies to us: "The devil was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) And, this scripture: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

And the icing on the cake was this scripture: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) So, therefore "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) So, take that, Satan!

I have come to know that if we are showing up to serve God, if we are seeking to follow Him, and some-thing or some-one is trying to push us away, then we can be sure it is not God. He is not saying we are disqualified. He’s not hollering “shape up or ship out.” His instruction isn’t, “Come back when you’ve got it together.” Instead His invitation is, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

Harvest Time Up Ahead -- Keep Doing Good!

This blog inspiration is brought to us today by our good friend and mentor, St. Paul. His words are filled with hope for those of us who have been on the "do-good" tractor -- planting and planting, and we've been wondering if it has been worth it. Oh, but then comes Paul's firey voice cheering us on: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

It has been a tough row to hoe (speaking in planting and reaping terms) the last few years. Maybe you've gritted your teeth to stay kind and to bear it all. Or, you shut your eyes and put ear plugs in to deafen the harshness of the loud voices of the enemy. You may read these words and relate them to stuff going on in your family, or you may relate them to what's outside. Stones have been cast and angry voices raised. Hit and run proclamations. But we are still standing, somewhat stunned, but we're still here. We must not be done. It’s in times like these that retreat sounds so safe. Let’s go home, lock the doors, bar the windows and disconnect the doorbell. Gather up our stockpiled faith and ration out just enough to survive. It seems tempting to safeguard our hearts by taking them right out and sticking them in a steel encased safe. Then forget the combination.

But, then, our tried, tested and proven faith warrior friend, St. Paul -- who suffered great physical pain, was imprisoned, shipwrecked, mocked and beaten for his faith -- speaks again as a challenge and invitation: “Let us not grow weary of doing good." These words bring tears to my eyes, a lump to my throat. It's in this deeper, invisible place that sees the best in people, that reaches out in love, that keeps believing folks can change. This sort of hope has taken a beating lately. And as I type this blog, I talk to God about it and He replies "I understand."

I realize, He does. More than I can know, more than any of us comprehend. He knows what it is to love and love. To extend yourself so far that you are....oh, stretched out on a cross. Then we hear the words of St. Paul again: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) Fixing our eyes on Jesus changes everything. Consider the perfect Man who endured such opposition from sinful men. Perhaps we are so disillusioned these days because we have been looking at each other. And we, mere humans, always fall short. We disappoint. We cave. But not Jesus.

So, we suit up and we keep doing good -- like Jesus. He is the reason we can stay in the race. Take the next step. Keep going. Keep believing. Most of all, keep loving. Not locked away, but the safest place for our hearts is entrusting them to the One who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. The One who does not grow weary. The One who, in the middle of all the noise and chaos and even danger, will never allow our hearts to be lost. So what do we do? We keep doing good -- harvest time is up ahead. I'm getting the biggest John Deere tractor I can find -- I'll need it because I'm not quitting. I'm going to love even more and expecting to reap a mammoth harvest! Care to borrow my tractor?

We Can't Judge a Dandelion by its Cover

You know those bright yellow flowers that we consider our enemy? I saw this photo and a friend’s post declaring “Dandelions are not Weeds! They build bones better than calcium, cleanse the liver and heal eczema.” Who knew? I’ve always pulled them out of my yard or had my lawn guys spray them away. But though we may not care for them growing wild in our lawns or gardens – still (if not laden with chemicals) are edible and can be used for a whole host of culinary purposes and health benefits. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says edible wild greens, like dandelion, taste good, are low in calories and are packed with vitamins. Dandelions in particular are high in calcium and vitamins A and C.

So, people spray their lawns to get rid of them, while others use them to heal their body of numerous ailments. We can learn a lot from the good found in dandelions. How many dandelions does it take to cover our entire lawn? Only one, given a little time. Ever try to get rid of dandelions? Unless we dig all the way down to the very tip of the taproot, we're not getting rid of them. They keep coming back, undefeated by our efforts to stop them.

Wow! Revelation from Heaven Central! God's creation created with purpose. And so were we! We should be like those dandelions -- knowing what we believe in and what we stand for, and hold us fast when forces try to dig us up – defeat us, discourage us, and wipe us out -- knowing “tough times don’t last – but tough dandelions and tough people do”. Dandelions grow everywhere: cracks in sidewalks, middle of lawns --- its seeds land and they grow and bloom. That should be us. Wherever we are and whatever the situation, we can grow and thrive. We need to be as stubborn as dandelions with our faith – unwavering, relentless, and committed to never giving up.

We cannot ignore dandelions. Their bright yellow color screams at us to either weed them out and now we know the health benefits so they'll scream at us to eat them! We'll never ignore them again! They’re unabashedly, loudly here. They are relentless. They teach us to not let the haters get us down. Some people curse dandelions as a weed and try to take them out, but they keep coming back. And, we need to know what and WHO we stand for so we can be as resilient and single-focused as the dandelion. We just keep coming back.

Maybe it’s time we become dandelion-minded. God put us here for a reason and while others might see us as nothing more than an irritating weed, God sees us as His daughters and sons and He endowed us with abilities and strengths to conquer and overcome whatever comes our way. Inside of us are prayers to be prayed, songs to be sung, books to be written, words of encouragement to be given to others to heal their hearts and souls, ideas that can change the course of history. So go ahead, be as stubborn as a dandelion and never quit. Just be the best dandelion (YOU) that you can possibly be and let your bright colors of God’s grace and love shine through you.

Are You a Lion Player or Lion Slayer?

I've been thinking a lot about David, the shepherd boy. He loved God so much. He spent a lot of time with his sheep. He knew them and he knew their enemies. He protected them when he killed the lion and the bear AND the giant. He had the incredible ability to conquer those "normally" scary, life-threatening opponents.

I thought about him again when I heard Dr. Dan Posey at Texas A&M speak for the Vet School Open House on Saturday. He told us his "lion story" when he was a Vet School student. He was asked to help with unloading a tranquilized, 600 pound lion. But when he went to grab for his head, the lion started to bite at him. Posey's gut feeling was "This lion isn't asleep!" In his humorous style, he said, "When it doesn't feel right -- it's probably not right." I would suggest that feeling is WISDOM. Posey went on to pull the lion out and put it on the ground, but the lion got up. He asked us, "What would be your instinct?" Someone yelled out, "RUN!" But he said it didn't even enter his mind to run. His instinct was "I can't let this lion get away!" All the other vet students had run away. He thought "What can I give him? I'm graduating in 3 months, so I'm not going to give him my hands. Then I thought of having children, so I'm not going to give him those body parts, so I lifted my leg to protect myself and he grabbed my leg. He drug me 25 feet. That day I saw a miracle. Everyday we should acknowledge miracles of all kinds. We carry cell phones. They are miracles. That day, my professor jumped off a 6 ft platform and nailed the lion. They got the lion tranquilized, but the lion got up and was coming after me again and I put my arm up over my face and he grabbed my arm. A technician got him and pulled him off of me." Posey spent several days in the hospital recovering from his wounds, but he lives today to tell his famous lion story to people about his experiences and love for his career. He wasn't a lion slayer but a lion player.

There's two schools of thought here.....being a protector of your body, your sheep, your resources or talents and slaying the lion that comes after those things that are nearest and dearest to you OR playing with the lion and leaving wisdom out of the equation. I think the common denominator here is "protection". David protected his sheep. Posey was protecting the lion, but in doing so, failed to comprehend the instincts of the King of the Jungle and he failed to use wisdom.

I think of the scripture 1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." We are involved in combat with an enemy who is powerful and deceptive. Strong confidence in God doesn't justify carelessness. We still need to be alert. He is dangerous. He’s not a joke. He’s not a little person who sits on our shoulder trying to influence us. But, here's the deal -- he is just "LIKE" a roaring lion and his first priority is to intimidate us. He's looking for an opportunity to catch us unaware. As in any sport we have to know our opponent and what he's capable of. Like David, we must be prepared for the times when the lion, the bear and the giant come against us. Not so much to KNOW the enemy, but Jesus Christ Who is our defender, strong tower and victorious Lord. I choose to be a "lion slayer" like "David" -- to know when to "hold 'em" and know when to "fold 'em"....er....know when to slay them.