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Loving Enough

December 20, 2025 krisshetter

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

Hello Friends! I haven’t written for the blog in over a year and have missed hearing from you with your comments and insights! Many of you know that this year has been one of many highs and lows. In April, I commenced being a full time caregiver to my father, diagnosed the July previous with advanced bladder cancer. It was a blessing filled with trials, sadness and laughter. In September, my eldest daughter and I sat by his bedside watching him take his last breath.

As many of you have experienced yourself, being a caregiver not only takes up your physical time but also your mental and emotional time. The thought of researching and writing was a dim, distant light this year. Recently, that light has burned brighter with each passing day. My prayers have included this burning desire. I just today began gathering materials for a possible study in Romans. I don’t know where it will lead but I know being in His Word is always fruitful.

Holy Spirit Nudges

As always happens when I start pondering writing with more fervor, the Holy Spirit nudges me and reveals truths to me. Today, in fact just a few moments ago, was no different.

In my Truth for Life devotional (Alistair Begg), I was challenged like King David, to repent and humble myself. To stop covering lies and let God cover them for me. I wrote that I don’t love God as I should, nearly enough. It was a hard truth to write but one that has weighed on my mind for some time.

And because God loves a great illustration to bring His point home, as I was sitting indisposed in my bathroom, both my dogs came up to check on my progress. I say “both” because my dad’s dog now lives with us. A dog whose fur is the exact color of my now deceased mother’s hair. A dog who has lived most of his life in an unhappy home, full of strife and anger.

As both came to nuzzle against my knees, I begrudgingly petted Ben – my dad’s dog. Yet when my dog Tucker put his cold, wet nose on my skin I leaned in to snuggle with the big lump. Tucker wandered off and little Ben laid close to my feet. And I felt that Holy Spirit nudge on my heart.

You see, my allergies have gotten terrible with a second dog. And after just one day of my new carpet Ben peed on it in two places. He’s kind of neurotic and yelps at the slightest movement. He follows me around breathing heavily and anxiously wherever I go. He wanders off when we are at the beach as though he’s forgotten what I look and sound like. His bark is sharp and annoying. He’s underfoot and over needy.

And I don’t love him like I should. Like he needs.

Loving At Arms-Length

Ben is cute as a button. But I don’t want to love him. I don’t want to give myself fully over to him. He represents a terrible past that I just want left behind.

In that moment in the bathroom, I realized what it means that I don’t love God the way I should. I stand at arms-length from Him. Because if I were to truly love Him, I would have to give all of myself to Him. I would have to accept the good things and the bad things that come my way through His hands. I would have to give up my fears, my prejudices, my preferences. I would have to go “all in.”

While God may not sneak over to a corner and pee on my new carpet, He might bring people (or dogs) into my life that will. People who need mercy, forgiveness and love. I know this because He put me, a broken, sinful person, into other believers’ lives. And I pray for their mercy, love and forgiveness towards me.

More Jesus

Ben, sweet goofy Ben, needs a lot of love and patience. I need a lot more Zyrtec. More than that, I need a lot more Jesus. I need to love Jesus a lot more than I do. So, I prayed for forgiveness today that I don’t love enough the God who sacrificed His Son for me. Who has forgiven my yelping and my anxiety. For making a mess on beautiful things.

While I know the coming year will be full of unbelievers doing terrible things, I also know that God will be at work. He will be in the tears and the laughter. His glory will be available for anyone to see. And I want to be sure to see and love Him at all times, in all places and in all circumstances.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ben and Tucker

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Day 18 Gonna Be Alright

July 18, 2024July 9, 2024 krisshetter

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  Mark 5: 34

In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6

My youngest daughter sent this beautiful song to me a little while back when I was having a particularly bad bout of the mysterious illness I’ve been suffering the last three years. My head felt as though it was being squeezed in a vise with needles being jammed in my ears. I could barely hear. And in just a few days we were to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I wanted more than anything to fully enjoy all the activities planned with my visiting family. Yet, I barely had the strength to get out of bed each day. I was exhausted from battling through the pain.

I wanted a miracle just as the bleeding woman received from Jesus. Healed of my disease to go about my life in peace. This song was Jesus’ vehicle to remind me that He is my strength when I am weak. He and He alone helped me push through the pain and be able to see the beauty of my life all around me. To see my daughters jump in and take care of anything needed. To feeling the joy of holding my baby granddaughter and the loving embrace of my grandson.

One week after Christmas every single one of my symptoms disappeared. My doctors have yet to determine why for a month and a half I lived completely free of pain. My hearing was restored. It was glorious. It was a beautiful gift.

While many of my symptoms eventually returned, those six weeks provided me with hope that there is a solution. That my hearing isn’t permanently damaged.

I’ve learned so much about suffering these past three years and what relying on the Lord really means. My symptoms may never permanently disappear but I know in my cries for help He hears my voice. I will keep crying out for Him to hold me in His arms. And I know everything is going to be all right.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Gonna Be Alright

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Shock & Awe

December 27, 2023December 26, 2023 krisshetter

"Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking." Ezekiel 1:28

At the beginning of our church’s Christmas Eve service they played a video of kids answering questions about Christmas. One question posed to them was: “How do you think you would react if angels came down to speak to you?” In their sweet innocence, all of the kids mimed being scared and in awe. They hadn’t sanitized and sweetened the idea of angels. They knew the Christmas story well of the shepherds in the field being visited by angels announcing the birth of Christ.

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."'  Luke 2: 9-10

Those kids pictured the lowly shepherds looking toward the sky in fear of the mighty and glorious sight they were beholding. And although I can’t say what the angels looked like that day, if you look through the Bible and read the references to angels they are pretty scary and odd looking creatures.

Last night, we took my grandson to a local area which features street upon street of lights and handmade, large Christmas cards in their front yards. The homeowners take different cartoon themes and make clever Christmas sayings such as “Hakuna MaChristmas!” At one house there were four foot tall, pudgy Precious Moments angels placed all across the yard. Those sweet little cherubs with big doe-like eyes made into tiny statues. I couldn’t help but think how far we have ventured from the Bible’s “shock and awe” angels.

"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back," Revelation 12:7

I don’t know about you but those angels don’t sound like doe-eyed cherubs. In fact, I recently heard a theologian remind us that every time we read about angels visiting someone here on earth they first proclaim, “do not be afraid!” Because of this, he also remarked that a true test of someone claiming to have been visited by an angel or even Jesus should state that fear was their first reaction. The glory of the Lord, whether in the form of angels, or the Lord Himself, is so great that even Moses had to be shielded from His great light! This makes it all the more amazing that God came as man so we could, in fact, see His face, touch Him, and just be with Him.

When I heard this “test of truth” statement it actually gave me comfort. You see, a few years ago I had a vision in which Jesus visited me and gave me clear instructions for some charity work. When I first tell someone about the vision this is how I describe it:

Suddenly, Jesus was standing next to me. I couldn’t look at Him because I was afraid if I did I might die. He was so gloriously bright. I could only peer at Him from the corner of my eye. While I was afraid, somehow He also comforted me. But at no time did I turn and fully look at Him. It was too much for me to take in.

Friends, so much of our Christian story is sanitized to be palpable and “user friendly.” We want Jesus to be our friend, not our glorious King. We want angels to sit on our shoulder cooing in our ears, not appearing and scaring us into action for the Lord. Our God is a god of such great glory that we should fall on our knees and bow our heads when we pray. Because we are not worthy of even being in His presence and yet, He sent His Son to wash us clean and allow us to participate in some of that glory. No man-made deity has ever wanted to share his glory, has ever expressed his love for his believers like the God of Abraham. For that alone we should give Him all glory and honor and thankfulness.

Soli Deo Gloria. Amen

Hope for All

December 25, 2023December 18, 2023 krisshetter

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

In my Bible Study groups we have talked occasionally of the need to be educated about major religions so that in speaking with folks about Christ we know their general beliefs and positions of faith. When obeying the commands to love our neighbors and make disciples of all nations we must be aware and sensitive to the distinctions between Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. We’ve talked about missionary failures when believers enter into cultures too aggressively and trample on the very people we are tasked to love

Unfortunately, this history has caused many Christians to be overly cautious — thinking they shouldn’t ”push” their faith on people. The lack of apologetics and addressing the differences in religions in churches only makes this situation worse. If we truly believe in Jesus, if we seek to obey Him and therefore are promised peace and joy, then we must accept as truth His directive.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19

It’s not about just trying to get Jesus’ conversion numbers up for the next quarter so God will be pleased. No, it’s about sharing the truth and glory of Jesus’ message to the world. It’s about wanting so desperately for our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and even strangers to experience the fullness of life for all eternity. It’s about how we view conflict and strife and fear – praying for, yes even our enemies, to come live in peace.

On this Christmas Day, when we celebrate the most significant day in the history of the earth since it was created, we should re-commit ourselves to this mission. Why? Because today the God of all monotheistic religions came down from the heavens and choose to live among us. Not as a prophet, as the Jews, Muslims and Hindus would believe. As God. That should be earthshaking news. It seems so un-god like which is why those religions have a hard time believing it. But God, over and over in the Old Testament and Torah (which both the Jews and Muslims accept as Holy Scripture) shows Himself to be atypical of gods.

He choose the least of us to lead thousands. The sinner is the savior for an army. A woman outsmarts a king to avoid genocide. A farmer stands before a ruler issuing warnings. Musicians defeat a powerful army. A tiny nation is taken under His wings as loved. A baby is crowned a Savior for all people.

Today, a few thousand years ago, God came to tell us the best news we have ever needed. We don’t need to keep striving. We don’t need to give more money or kill a few doves or lambs. We don’t even need to be a “good person.” In fact, He came and pointed a finger at you and said, “Sinner, I love you.” All three other major religions — Judaism, Islam and Hinduism — require you to just work harder. Sacrifice more. And hope that you’ve done enough on one column to make it into heaven (as we lie about what we put on the other column). Their own scriptures tell them it’s impossible on our own. What a terribly hopeless way to live!

"Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17

If we believe in God, no matter the name we put on our faith, then how can we not believe He can do anything? Including coming to earth as both God and a human baby. A baby, not born of kings and queens but of an every day woman. Yet another worldly view that God shatters and turns upside down.

My friends, when we think of believers in other religions we should find common ground first. And then, we reveal the glory and hope of the Lord — through grace alone, through Jesus alone. No other religion offers true hope. Their messiah is really themselves, as in Buddhism. The truth of human history is that we cannot save ourselves. It’s something we are miserable at accomplishing.

Jesus is the only spokesperson for the most beautiful message of God’s love. He holds out His hand to every single person and says, “You can’t, but I can.” So again, today commit or re-commit yourself to His commands. Pray for people who hate each other to turn to Jesus. Pray for people who hate you to accept His love. Pray for knowledge and wisdom. Pray for your neighbors who are devoted to a religion that requires them to run daily on a never ending wheel to earn their way into heaven. And thank God that He came, revealing His light as a child born in Bethlehem.

May all honor, glory and power be given to the One True King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Work of His Hands

December 24, 2023December 18, 2023 krisshetter

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Merry Christmas Eve! My hope is that you are not only enjoying time with family but also time in prayer thanking God for what we truly celebrate at this time — that the Word became flesh to be our only Savior. We need to grasp the immense hope this event holds, not just for believers but for all people. In turn, we should grieve for our friends, family, neighbors and strangers who either haven’t heard of this hope or have rejected it.

I’ve been thinking on a few people I know who are not Christians, yet celebrate during this time of year. I know a family whose grandmother is Catholic yet her children and grandchildren are unbelievers. In fact, one grandchild converted to Judaism to marry her husband. She converted not out of faith but out of cultural requirements. So on Christmas Day they will celebrate Gift Giving, not Jesus. It’s a curious evolution of a significant event in world history. People finding themselves celebrating something they don’t believe!

I can thank the Lord that He changed my heart and mind so that I can experience the fullness of the gift of Christmas. The gift of a Savior come to wash me clean so I can stand before the King of Kings one day. It’s an amazing task God has set before Jesus. To take on the sins of the entire world, day after day and year after year. But He is a powerful and glorious God!

When I was searching for scripture for today, I came across a psalm which speaks so beautifully of the power of God and His Holy Word — and of the greatest command to Love One Another. So on this Christmas Eve I want to share it with you. And as so often happens when I’m writing, God reveals Himself in amazing ways. In finalizing this post I looked up commentary on this psalm. I discovered two things. The first being that C.S. Lewis considered this psalm to be “the greatest poem and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.” Second, traditional church lectionary (which my church doesn’t follow) assigns this psalm to be read on Christmas Day, when the “Sun of Righteousness came into the world.” Warren Wiersbe points out the emphasis in this psalm is on “God’s revelation of Himself in creation, Scripture and the human heart.”

Peace be with you, my friends. And may all glory be given to God.

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19

Planting His Flag

December 23, 2023December 20, 2023 krisshetter

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger... O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8: 1-2 & 9

Close your eyes and picture the scene of Jesus’ birth. It’s probably nighttime with Mary and Joseph and the little baby laying peacefully in a straw-laden manger. A cow and lamb may fill the empty spaces of the room. Above is a bright light shining down on the small structure. It’s the scene shown over and over throughout the earth in church Christmas stories, front yard manger displays, Instagram and Facebook posts, and even blow up Christmas decorations.

I’ll be honest, until just recently I was “all in” with that peaceful, sweet panorama unfolding before me. Lately, however, as I’ve learned more about Old Testament prophecy, the history of the actual way of life and traditions of people in Judea, and the necessity of seeing Jesus as King, my picture has changed. And right on cue, just before I sat down to write this an Instagram post featuring Christian singer Phil Wickham popped up on my screen singing “Manger Throne.”

Glory be to You alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
My life, my praise, everything I own
To Jesus the King on a manger throne
Phil Wickham, Manger Throne chorus

Tied with our verse today I see the amazing and glorious God at work splitting the heavens apart for His entry with all majesty and power. I also see Him mending the world with humility and grace; a baby wrapped in basic, cotton cloth quietly sleeping. He is the Lion of Judah and the Lamb all at once.

So often the nativity scene shows no one touching the baby. Mary sits by with hands clasped either in prayer, reverence or delight. A curious posture for a mom with a newborn. She is possibly remembering the promise from God’s angel. That this sweet little child will be the Savior for all mankind. A promise that would seem too hard to completely grasp. As a mother myself, a promise that also might terrify me.

Jesus didn’t just come quietly into the world. It may have looked that way to us humans. But the battle God will have victory over is not just in this physical world but the spiritual realm. Jesus, the King — when He arrived that day — threw down the proverbial gauntlet. The demons knew. They immediately went to work trying to eliminate Him. The angels worked on God’s behalf to protect Jesus until He was ready to take evil on Himself.

This weekend, as you go about your day and see the nativity scenes in your home or around town, close your eyes and create a new picture. A picture of the King riding down to a little town called Bethlehem and planting His Holy flag in a manger. Declaring in glory and majesty that He shall reign, forever more!

Soli Deo Gloria. Amen.

Glory Revealed

December 19, 2023December 18, 2023 krisshetter

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

You may have seen the widely distributed story and corresponding photos of the family who, after placing their Christmas tree inside their home, found an owl living in it. Four days after it had been decorated beautifully, admired, sat around, and I’m sure photographed. Four days. While the owl wasn’t some large barn owl, it wasn’t a tiny baby either. It appears to be about 6″ tall. Let’s be clear about this too — the tree wasn’t decorated by children in some slipshod way. Someone draped and swirled gorgeous red, gold and white checkered ribbon. Lights were strung throughout, placed deep inside the branches. And no one saw the owl.

I was thinking about that story when I heard a podcast about the announcing of Jesus’ birth by angels to the shepherds. How His glory was revealed to the lowest on the economic totem pole, not to the religious elite. And once again I was struck with how God flips our view of “the way things should be” upside down.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13

While we are told at various points in Holy Scripture that God sees all, sees and knows every single hair on our heads. However, there are those among us who are destined to never see or understand the glory of God. We are told in Mark 6 that after teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth many were astonished to hear such wisdom. Instead of wanting more, however, they “took offense” and shunned Him. The result was that Jesus did not use His might and power there. They had closed off their hearts and minds to Him. They missed out on his glory.

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” Matthew 13:11-13

You know how that owl was finally seen? A neighbor was bending over to plug in some sort of device and saw the tree from a different angle. As believers, we should have that same perspective change so we can see and know the secrets of the Kingdom. Like that owl revealed in the tree we can see the glory and the light of the Lord shining in hidden places and in places that seem so obvious to us. Once seen, it can never be unseen.

When God reveals His glory to us, once we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we are able to see two worlds. The world of the flesh and the world of promised His Kingdom. We see the joy and the hope while the world may just see bitterness and despair. The world so often looks down and inward. We turn our eyes outward and upward taking in the view of God’s people in need and ask how we can serve them. We see the glory of God revealed at work throughout our day — if you aren’t, just ask the Holy Spirit to help clear your eyes.

Friends, the King of Kings doesn’t just knock on the door of palaces and mansion. He knocks on our doors. At our apartment, our tiny home, our tent, our bedroom door. We need only to open the door, unlike the people in Nazareth, and welcome Him in (Rev 3:20) and His glory will be revealed.

All honor and praise to the God who loves the lowly and reveals the secrets of the Kingdom to all believers in His Holy Word. Amen

Fake, Dead or Alive?

December 18, 2023December 17, 2023 krisshetter

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."  John 15:8

My pastor yesterday asked a very controversial question of our congregation and the results were surprising to me. ”Raise your hand if you have a fake tree. Now raise your hand if you have a real tree.” The majority of people have a fake tree. I, however, will always have a real tree gracing my living room! He went on to talk about how a real tree is really just a dead tree cut off from the earth. He used this analogy to talk about dead faith and not abiding in God.

However, I wondered, how many Christians out there are actually relying on a “fake faith?” A faith in which we go through the motions and do all the right volunteering and giving. We pray and do Bible Studies. And yet, we also despise our neighbor or that person who hurt us years ago. Forgiveness? Forget about it! We compare ourselves to others, especially during the Christmas season. We give to charities but ignore the person in need that’s right in front of us! We play victim that no one gives us the attention we need and deserve. We make excuses for our language, our thoughts. We look so much like the world but “at least we go to church.”

Today was the first day of my challenge to love and serve others. I wonder how you did? Did you stop and help a person struggling to get a cart loose from the cart corral? Did you let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store — without feeling like you deserved a badge? Did you help out that person at work who just is so annoying? But you did it with love? Send a comment about what you did in His name without any benefit to you!

Yesterday, as my church continues through the book of John we focused on John 15:1-17. It’s the famous verses on Jesus declaring Himself to be the vine and His disciples being the branches.

When my husband and I left church I asked Him what new things he learned. He hadn’t realized that Jesus was the root stock and we are the branches that grow out of that stock along the strings which the “vine dresser” makes. As Jesus’ branches we can only exist as an outgrowth of Him. I shared that I learned that the verse John 15:2 isn’t what I originally thought:

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

On face value this seems a bit scary. We think we need to work really hard at serving the Lord, serving others and bringing people to Christ. It may seem so difficult that we don’t even try. Or we make halfhearted attempts to love the Lord by serving others. And if the fruits of our labor aren’t successful then chop, chop! But the words “takes away” in Greek actually are “airo,” meaning to elevate. So the Father doesn’t cut off believers when they supposedly fail. No, in His loving and glorious way He picks us up off the ground and gently puts us back along His life giving strings. It is only those folks who consciously choose to hate God that get cut off. (John 15:6).

True love for Jesus, true “abiding in Him” means thinking on Him every minute of the day. It means asking Him when we wake up to place people in front of us to serve. It means before we head out to work that we ask Him to help you be at peace in traffic and to guide you in being kind and loving to those challenging people you encounter. It means when you are tasked with something difficult you immediately turn to Him for strength and wisdom.

We glorify God when we tap into every ounce of power and wisdom He has available to us. Like an inert seed placed in the ground, it can’t do anything without the soil around it, the water to feed it, and the sun to give it life. WE are that seed. And when we stay close to the Lord we grow and produce fruit, not on our own, but because of the work He has done through us.

Jesus’ love and care for us produces fruit. Our love and abiding in Him gives Him the opportunity to serve the flock. And the results for us personally?

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:10-11

And I don’t know about you but I want and need joy in my life. A joy that is so deep and everlasting that only our Glorious Savior can provide. Let us all, as we approach the celebration of our Lord’s birth this week remember to abide so closely in Him. Allow Him to shine out of you so brightly that the world wants to know more.

Soli Deo Gloria

High Fives

December 14, 2023December 13, 2023 krisshetter

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6

The other night, just before we were about to go to bed, I looked over our Christmas shopping list to see who my husband still needed to check off. It caused me to ask him where a gift certificate was that had come in the mail the day before. It is an “old school” paper certificate for $100 to a local attraction. Thus began an all out search for this thin piece of paper.

At the same time, I know it sounds odd, I was also searching for a brand new bra that disappeared about a week ago. Since I don’t go around tossing my bra off outside my house I just knew it had to be inside somewhere! So, here we were at 9:00pm going through trash cans, drawers, paperwork, sheets, towels, etc searching for a piece of paper and a bra.

At one point my husband was ready to give up. He was going to call the shop the next day and ask for a duplicate gift certificate. He told me to just buy a new bra. But I’m not a quitter so we kept searching. At last, I looked in one last place for the gift certificate — the office recycling bin. And there it was stuck to an empty Christmas card envelope! Moments later my husband was digging around in the clothes hamper and he pulled out my bra displaying it like the Lion King Mufasa holding up the baby lion Simba. How I didn’t see it the other 10 times I looked in there I have no idea.

As we fell into bed laughing about our search I said, “We are practically like a Bible story — you know, the ones about the lost coins and the lost sheep! We didn’t give up and we finally found our precious things.”

As so often happens when I’m in the midst of writing, my everyday experiences lead me to ponder on the glory of God. In this instance, how He also never gives up. He goes into our trash heap of sins and pulls us from the depths. He seeks us out under the dust and brushes us off. He cleans us up and makes us righteous before Him through our faith in Jesus.

"And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:9-10

Christ not only welcomes us home but He runs to meet us like the father to the prodigal son. Through His bountiful mercy (not dishing out the punishment we deserve) and grace (giving us the love and justification we don’t deserve) He celebrates our entrance to His Holy Kingdom.

Think on the last time you lost something and finally found it. You may have performed a little, silly dance or shouted out in glee. Now imagine when you accepted Christ as your Savior how God must have danced in joy because He is a God of great celebration. While we can’t change someone’s mind about God, He can. He asks us to join with Him in the search effort. Imagine each time you share the message of your salvation with an unbeliever how God must be saying, “YES! LET’S DO THIS! Let’s bring another home!”

Give all honor, praise, and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Facts & Feelings

December 12, 2023 krisshetter

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."  Romans 4:20-21

I have Christians friends that struggle a bit in their faith life because they don’t feel like they “love God.” They see someone sitting near them in church who seems to cry every single Sunday, no matter the message or song. To these friends that must mean that person “loves the Lord.” And while I admit to finding myself shedding a tear occasionally during church, I find myself more enthralled with the facts of the message — the unique links that good pastors find in scripture. I especially enjoy sermons that show God’s plan at work in the Bible from beginning to end. In other words, I like facts to back up my faith. But those facts have led me to tears of thankfulness for what the Lord has done in me.

Last night at a Christmas gathering of my Bible Study Girls we began a discussion about apologetics. One of our members — probably the most scientific minded of us — recently completed an apologetics class at her church. What drew her to this class was that Christian apologetics, defined as a formal argumentation in defense of something, such as a position or system, is facts based. You don’t go to a class like that to learn how to sing songs to the Lord or how to pray fervently. You go to strengthen your faith in what you know…about your faith.

“We have not yet got as far as the God of any actual religion, still less the God of that particular religion called Christianity. We have only got as far as Somebody or Something called the Moral Law. We are not taking anything from the Bible or churches, we are trying to see what we can find out about this Somebody on our own steam.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity on the Moral Law

The above quote is from the great apologetics book by C.S. Lewis wherein he first looks at the fact that all humans (who aren’t pathological) subscribe to a Moral Law. He then goes on to discuss life within this Law and why it has to come from somewhere outside us. His final intent is, of course, to bring Christianity to unbelievers. But his approach is not, “Do you know the Gospel?” It’s “how do you explain the realities of human life?” He takes facts about our everyday behavior and logically takes you through to “there must be a God.” At the end you either accept facts or decide to pretend those facts don’t exist. In accepting the facts the reader now has knowledge of the Christian God. It’s up to him or her to take the next step — believing in God’s promises.

In our opening verse today we see the results of Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promises. He took facts — that God had already made promises to him and fulfilled those promises — and decided to believe God would come through on the rest of His promises.

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead." Romans 4:18-19

Too often we humans want to experience feelings first in order to take action. “I don’t feel like doing xyz.” “I feel like I should be nice to that person so I guess I will.” But our God expects us to first have the knowledge of His Moral Law and His commands. I have plenty of people in my life that have encouraged me to cut off my parents who have been dismissive at best and cruel at the worst of times. However, as their only child remaining, God has told me it is my duty to “honor my mother and father.” It doesn’t have any exceptions. What honoring them looks like is what I take to the Lord in prayer.

“It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law and a Power behind the law and that you have broken the law and put yourself wrong with that Power — it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk.”
CS Lewis Mere Christianity

The facts of life tell us that we all believe in “good” and “wrong.” But who has set that on our mind? Who has decided what those are? Because when you look around it isn’t obvious that humanity desires to constantly live in those “good” boundaries. So why would man create them? He wouldn’t. Only something greater, who has a greater plan and love for us, would create this Moral Law. You see, no overwhelming feelings or tears needed. Just facts.

“If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15

That’s love from our Christian God. To show Him love we do something — not feel something. We can know He loves us by the millennia of promises He made, revealed and kept in His Holy Word. He asking us to show Him we have noodled on the facts and have accepted them as truth. In doing so it leads us to action.

In the miraculous and glorious ways of our Lord and Savior, those actions lead us to feelings. We see how when we obey He stands alongside us or even in front of us. He comforts us. He brings others to us to love us. It’s a beautiful circle that when practiced day in and day out reassures us and strengthens our faith and allows us to give all glory to God.

My friends, if your faith is built mostly on feeding your feelings be aware that the devil loves to use emotions to turn our head from God. We need to study the Word God has given us so we know the facts and the promises. In this way we can be at the ready to share His Word and stand strong in it.

If your faith is mostly head knowledge, take action on His commands. An unopened gift is good for no one, especially the believer. When you see Him at work your heart will be lifted. Whichever you need, ask in prayer. Our glorious God will provide what you need.

May all glory, honor and power be to God alone. Amen