warren wiersbe

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Enjoy The Right Side of Life Part Two

May 1, 2024April 10, 2024 krisshetter

Did you miss part one? Click here!

We need to put the best people on the horses and don’t apologize for it.”
Warren Wiersbe

I have to ask you – who have you placed as your “experts” in life? Your “ruler who sits on the horse,” (Ecc 10:6&7) who is ready to lead you into battle? Are they leading you in the right hand life of Christ or in the left hand life of folly? How can you know? The Bible. It is the preserved Word of God that does not change, no matter the era or point in history.

When faced with people who think following the truth and wisdom of the Bible say that’s “old fashioned” or irrelevant today, all you really need to do is read through the entire book of Ecclesiastes to see Solomon’s study of life in his age. We are no different. We want what we want and we want it now. Preferably served with a slice of fun and merriment.

If you want to rejoice in the “right hand” life (by the way, the word “sinister” comes from the Latin word meaning “on the left hand”… sorry again lefties), what do we need to do?

Look to and at Jesus like we do our cell phones. When we abide in Him, we experience abundance.”
Pastor Ryan Paulson

When I heard this a few weeks ago at church it really hit home. I carry my phone around in my back pocket throughout my small home. I can hear the phone ring from any room in my house. Yet I keep it close. I look at it even when it hasn’t rung or chimed in a while just to make sure I haven’t missed a call or text.

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

That’s how we need to place God – right in our back pocket. Right in front of our face. Not in a drawer we pull out in times of trouble or a couple times a year. We dust off our Bibles, we sign up for Bible study (and actually do the work and attend), we find a church that is biblically based, not wishy washy. We commune — not on-line in a faceless, non-participatory way — with other Christians to help bolster us and them. We make God our expert, our Lord and our Holy King.

“If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.” Ecclesiastes 10:10

Do you need to sharpen up your edge so that you can cut through the lies of this life? A knife so sharp we can spot the people we should and shouldn’t allow to guide us in the right handed life?

It’s time to learn that the way we’ve always done “life” may not be working out so great for us. We are weak and feel so much rejection from the left hand way of the world. It’s time to step up and rejoice! To enjoy a life of strength and wisdom and acceptance given to us freely by God. The God we put squarely in the center of lives, riding us onward into victory.

"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will lift me high upon a rock. ⁶And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord."  Psalm 27:5 & 6

Enjoying Life With Gladness

April 22, 2024April 8, 2024 krisshetter

At this point in your life, you’ve probably been asked one or both of these questions:

If you were told you were to die tomorrow, what would you do?
If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do tonight?

They are two different scenarios. The first sees life moving forward for the rest of the world without you in it. The second is a complete destruction of all we know. For me, however, the answers are both the same. I would gather my family and others that I love. We would spend time in prayer asking God to sustain us through the trial so that we would see His face at our end. I would want us to gather in laughter, remembering all the wonderful times God has provided us throughout our time together. We would eat a scrumptious meal, most likely prepared by my husband, enjoy good wine, and pray some more.

Here’s the thing, we should always assume these two questions are a distinct possibility. That is, if we truly believe the message of the Bible. First, we will all die, just as we have seen in earlier chapters of Ecclesiastes. It’s not if but when. For every single one of us. Secondly, if it’s not the rapture coming upon us then we should be honest that the world is now filled with weapons that could easily kill us all. Does this mean we live every day in fear of these two truths? No, but truth can and should set us free to live in reality.

^“All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.” Ecclesiastes 9:2

That “common destiny” is the evil we call death. So, what do we do with this truth? We live each day serving the one true God and live in gladness.

^“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.⁸Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-8

Gladness is not hedonism. Gladness is not escapism. Gladness isn’t folly. You could easily imagine, in fact movies and books have taken the “if the end were tomorrow what would we do” topic and shown us the possibilities the unrighteous might take. Some might go on drug, alcohol or sexual benders. Getting blotto to ease their fears or pain. The age-old “eat and drink because tomorrow we might die” path toward annihilation. It’s a twisting of the message found throughout Ecclesiastes. Other might go on a theft and destruction rampage. That thinking shines the light on people who live without wisdom or God.

Why shouldn’t we think this way? I mean your life is about to end, right? Let’s remember the times when Moses and Abraham negotiated with God to save their people.

^“Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not sparethe place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”  Genesis 18:23-26

^“But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ¹²Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.” Exodus 32:11-12

So here you are, you’ve committed every sin possible against man and God the night before you are to die and suddenly a righteous person pleads for mercy on the world’s behalf. The ungodly will surely find themselves on the wrong side of that historical moment. Or maybe that person is praying for your healing because you have been personally given that death sentence. Will God abide or will He see justice done?

That’s what the “fear of God” is about. Knowing there is a presence higher than us who will one day serve justice to all. Do we love God and therefore want to live our lives in service to Him? Or do we grieve the Holy Spirit daily, hourly even, and turn our backs on Him?

^“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. ⁶Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

Until the day we actually die we still have time. Time to submit ourselves over to the Lord Most High. Time to reconcile with loved ones. Time to give out mercy and forgiveness in abundance. Time to enjoy our lives with gladness. Because once your time is up, the dead have no such chances.

Joy is the serious business of heaven.”
C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcom

Rejoicing our lives in gladness means we make the most of every moment. We make as many everyday moments special. Because they are special. That moment right now, you will never have back. The moments pass by so quickly in our short lives. Do you want to live them in bitterness and anger? In the fog of folly and hedonism? Or in joyfulness and with endurance?

I saw a great example of taking everyday moments and making them full of gladness. Once a month a mom of four young children creates “Fancy Dinner Night.” The children all dress in their finest clothing. She makes picture menus of the meal she has planned. There’s candles and cloth napkins and the fancy china. She plays the role of waitress and hands out the menus as though she is serving clients at a 5 star Michelin restaurant. Even the toddler has a picture menu from which to choose his meal. She is training them not only to enjoy an everyday moment but how to act with character at mealtimes. It was so sweet and beautiful!

Console yourself, dear Battos. Things may be better tomorrow. While there’s life, there’s hope. Only the dead have none.”
Greek Poet Theokritos

There is always hope for tomorrow; a tomorrow filled with gladness. Why? Because we have the life and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He suffered the most gruesome of deaths to take on our sins. He sacrificed not only His human body but His heavenly one when he came to earth to live among us. He showed us what the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven will look like – ones who fully rely on God, they forgive and are forgiven, they put others ahead of themselves, they mourn over their sin. And when He was resurrected, He proved that those Kingdom Citizens will also be raised from the dead and be given yet another new life. What amazing hope we have for our eternal lives after this short time here on earth.

When we live in gladness and joy, we seek to serve others in His Holy Name. We love others well in His name. We take every moment, even in the trials and tribulations, and thank Him for providing for us, for healing us, and being our guiding light. So why oh, why would we want to miss out on that hope? Why would we not want to share that hope with those around us who choose daily leaning toward something less?

It’s not by searching for special things that we find joy, but by making the everyday things special.”
Warren Wiersbe

Friends, our time here is truly short so consider well your answers to the first two questions I presented. Because eternity is forever. A forever spent in the presence of the glory of God or of the pain of hell.

"So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.” Ecclesiastes 9:1

King Solomon eventually, in his study of the meaningless life, discovers that we do, in fact, know what awaits us. If we take the narrow path set before us by Jesus we are greeted with unmeasurable love. Our knowledge of that truth should give us the endurance to live each day in gladness. And to spread that truth to so many others.

Are you the type that tells your family and friends that your best china is sitting locked away in some dusty cupboard? “It’s for special times.” And those times never seem to come? Break out that china, the linen napkins, the candles, even if it’s just you enjoying it or grab a few neighbors you’ve always wanted to meet. Make your everyday special in some way and rejoice with gladness!

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
C.S. Lewis

Enjoying the “Enough” Life Part Two

April 10, 2024April 9, 2024 krisshetter

Did you miss part one of Enjoying the Enough Life? Click here!

Enjoyment without God is merely entertainment.
Warren Wiersbe

No one on this great blue planet is without sin. Without sinful desires and thoughts. Without sinful emotions. So, if we seek contentment, or unconditional wholeness solely from within what do we find? Our sinful selves just like I did when I embarked on my happiness journey a few years ago. And we turn back to the unfulfilling emotion of fleeting happiness.

What guides a person to being truly joy-filled or content in every situation? How do we achieve that “unconditional wholeness” researcher Daniel Cordaro mentioned after visiting that Himalayan tribe? It requires something outside us to guide us through the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations of life. It’s easy to enjoy a new car. But what about when it breaks down? It takes no effort to enjoy the birthday party at the park you so expertly planned but what happens when it rains? Does your happiness bucket completely empty and you turn into Attila the Hun, raging at others? Or you weep and sulk feeling the cosmos hates you?

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4: 11-13

That strength to endure a peasant life that Tolstoy witnessed, a life of labor and toil, a life of disappointments and tragedy, and yes, even a life full of wealth comes only from God. (Ecc 5:19 & 6:2) Through the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in us when we say, “Yes!” to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It’s the fountain from which we draw on every single moment of every day to guide us and strengthen us. Because my friends, you cannot find wholeness without Him.

Deep-seated in the American mind, for example, is the disastrous idea that we should pursue happiness. But what is happiness? And what are the realities through which one could achieve it? And how, practically speaking, does one pursue happiness? One might pursue happiness on the carpe diem principle. But that can be understood in many ways. It could endorse a sensuality of the present moment or endorse devoting the present moment to improvement of one’s character, to serving others, or to serving God. Usually in our times, however, it is some form of sensuality. Our choice between these options will have profound implications for our efforts to become a genuinely good person and to live harmoniously with reality, with how things really are.
Dallas Willard

My Bible study ladies are currently studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkins. In the first week we read and discovered the messages behind the first 12 verses, also known as the Beatitudes. Jesus’ goal in this sermon was to re-define for the disciples what not only the Kingdom of Heaven looks like but what its citizens look like. The first four beatitudes describe the character of its citizens:

We Are Poor in Spirit: accepting we are weak and sinful in need of a strength outside ourselves
We Are Mourners: we recognize our sinfulness and weep over it daily. Asking God for forgiveness for each time we act, speak or think (even feel) in opposition to God’s will for us.
We Are Meek: in modeling Jesus’ submission to the Father in going to the cross for humanity’s sins and therefore suffering a terrible death, we too seek humility and submission to God.
We Are Hungry and Thirsty: not for earthly glory, praise and wealth but for our hearts and minds to be daily cleansed. We constantly seek His will for our life so that we can glorify Him. We cast off our old selves and thirst for the new bodies and New Eden to come.

These citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven? They will be abundant with fruit and content in all situations. The fruits of love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, patience, self-control and faithfulness can be seen by all around them. They spread that fruit and His Word throughout our families, communities and the world. We achieve the ultimate peace in the face of persecution. Peace with God. Our friction between us is gone. We are made whole because He breathes the Holy Spirit into us, making us one with Him.

"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one…²²The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." John 17: 11 & 22-23

One with the Creator of all things seen and unseen – Elohim, Jehovah. What more could a tiny, sinful human want for all eternity? All other pales in comparison! No self-help book without God can help you achieve such gloriously contented status. King Solomon discovered that our sinful toil without God is usually for our own gain and our appetite is never satisfied on our own (Ecc 6:7).

"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    there is none who does good." Psalm 14:1-2

I once saw an interaction with a non-believer and a street preacher. The young, unbelieving woman stated, “How can you say I won’t go to heaven (which as a non-believer why would she care?) when I’m a good person. I’m better than most Christians. I don’t lie, cheat or steal.” Yet, as Jesus reminds us further in the Sermon on the Mount if you even let your heart yearn to do any of those things you are guilty. And I would bet all that I have she has, in fact, actually lied. She has probably stolen something – maybe someone’s dignity by gossiping about them. And cheating? She might have thought that little deed or breaking some municipal law wasn’t that “big of a deal” but it’s still cheating. She is at odds with God, broken and not whole.

It is only through the gift of reconciliation for our sins, no matter their size, of which Jesus Christ paid for, that we can come upright before the God of the Universe. Where we receive mercy and forgiveness so we don’t have to live in shame and hurt, grasping for pleasures to dull our pain. No, instead He brushes us off and clothes us in white garments. He brings us into His family and calls us His sons and daughters. He pours out His love and gives a piece of Him to live in us so we can have that “unconditional wholeness.” He gifts us with “enough” each day so that we may be satisfied.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  James 1:2-4

We are made perfect and complete, meaning made whole, when we face life’s trials and rely on the God who gives us strength and hope. We are honed and shaped into the image of the only being that walked this earth who was sinless and fully content — Jesus.

Friend, if you want to get off the roller coaster of seeking “happiness” and then being brought low by trials, look to our All Mighty God and His Son. He is our provider, our protector, our armor, our joy, our hope. He has never broken a promise and He never will. He promises you a new life at the end of the rainbow – not a pot of gold. And with that promise and hope we can live a contented, meaningful life of “enough” in a world of chaos.

Enjoying A Gifted Life

April 1, 2024April 7, 2024 krisshetter

Ecclesiastes Five Part One

About four years ago a few friends and I gathered together to start a new Bible study group. We selected the book, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, by Donna Partow. It was a 90-day study on the Proverbs 31 woman. After tackling such topics as meditating on God’s Word, creating healthy, godly habits, and family relationships we were asked to declutter our lives. The scriptures for Day 31 were from Luke 3:11; 6:38

"And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunicsis to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”… (Jesus said) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

It was the beginning of journey of freedom. Freedom from clutter, freedom from hoarding, and freedom from stuff. We were to sit in each room of our house and quietly meditate and pray about what the room spoke to us. Was it chaos? Was it peaceful? Was it full of stuff that brought us joy or shame?

“The key to minimizing clutter and keeping an orderly home is a resolute commitment to give away everything you can. Give, give, give! Give until it hurts.”
Donna Partow, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be

This sentiment is echoed by John Wesley’s sage advice to “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Why? Because as King Solomon reminds us all in Ecclesiastes 5, you can’t take it with you.

"As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand." Ecclesiastes 5:15

And we can’t forget from Ecclesiastes 3, there’s “a time to keep and a time to throw away…” (v 6)

According to Pew Research, in 2013 the average global annual household income was $9,733. In the United States that number was $51,939. Poor Americans were actually classified as global middle class. And only 2% of all Americans could classify as “globally poor.” The good news in 2019 however, was that the United States, according to the World Giving Index, ranks first in charitable giving. But the second ranked? It was Myanmar, considered to be on the lower-middle income scale. Researchers surmise this stark difference in income to charitable giving is due to the large population of Theravada Buddhists for whom frequent acts of giving are the norm.

So yes, the majority of Americans are wealthy from a global perspective and we give and give. But we also hoard. About 10% of US households are currently renting a storage unit filled with stuff. In 2019, a survey found the average American spent $18,000 per year on non-essential goods. That’s twice the annual income on average globally! One unconfirmed statistic said we have more than 300,000 items in our home by average. That’s a lot of stuff. And you have to ask, why?

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6: 6-10

And while many of our bank accounts don’t show a lot of money, our homes sure do. So, when we were asked to sit in each room and evaluate the atmosphere, it brought out a number of uncomfortable feelings. The stuff that had accumulated was embarrassing and not bringing my family much enjoyment. It reminded me of when I would visit my husband’s grandmother’s house and think, “When she’s gone who is going to have to go through all this stuff?” She hoarded all manner of paper goods and supplies. When my mother-in-law was in her last days, I truly appreciated one of her last requests of me and my eldest daughter – to start cleaning out clothes closets and freezers before she was gone. She didn’t want her husband to have to deal with it all later.

There is more than one way to be rich and more than one way to be poor. If we accept His gifts, but complain about them we are guilty of ingratitude. If we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others, we are guilty of indulgence. But if we yield to His will and use what He gives us for His glory, then we can enjoy life and be satisfied.
Warren Wiersbe, Be Satisfied

Our ability to have an income and even a “disposable” income are gifts from God. We turn so much of what we buy into “needs.” I’m just as guilty. Because even though I did a great job de-cluttering my home during that study I’ve noticed the stuff has gathered steam again in my house.

What is this need we have, especially those of us in wealthy western countries, to turn to stuff to satisfy? To find our joy in hoarding money and possessions? To build up bank accounts for the distant future? We need to feel secure that the nest egg is the right size – even though the right size never seems big enough. We need our freezers and refrigerators full, our garages and closets stuffed. We need, we need. Once while driving through our neighborhood my eldest daughter, who was about 8 years old, commented on an open, three-car garage. “I’m glad we don’t have two garage doors,” she said. And I asked, “Why?” “Because that would mean we would need more junk,” she sagely replied. Oh, the wisdom of innocence.

I believe one reason so many Christians in America are apathetic is they don’t really believe they need God. They have replaced Him with their estate planner and retirement fund. I’m not implying we should ignore planning for the future and, in effect, presume on God. But when you cling to your possessions and live in fear of not having them, you ignore the Holy Spirit’s leading and put your confidence in your wealth instead of God.
John MacArthur

Ouch! Imagine if you would, before buying anything — and I mean anything – we have a short chat with the Lord. “Do I truly need this?” “Will this help me live in the fruit of the spirit?” “Am I buying this because I think I deserve it?” “Is this financial decision made in trusting You?” I would probably buy less potato chips and therefore be treating my body as a better steward! I believe this is what it means to pray without ceasing. We are in constant contact with the Lord even in the grocery store, but especially when it comes to bigger wants and needs. A prayer life rich in listening and trusting God so that we can be good stewards of our blessings and gifts. Asking God to help us truly enjoy the riches He bestows on us — that’s what I want to seek each and every day.

Join me on Wednesday for Part Two of our look at Ecclesiastes 5, Enjoying The Gifted Life! Click here for part two.

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, christian podcast, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, proverbs, religion, Uncategorized, wisdom

Enjoy The Ever-Changing Sameness

March 4, 2024February 28, 2024 krisshetter

We took a chance that night. My husband wanted to go to the coast, about 20 minutes away, to capture the sunset with his newly revived photography interest. The weather app said cloudy without even a chance of sunlight. Being free of any other obligations, we decided to go anyway. We might not catch a glorious sunset but standing high on the cliffs above Torrey Pines State Beach is never without its own beauty. Just watching the waves take their turns kissing the beach, people and dog watching, silently encouraging each surfer as they paddle furiously to catch one more wave before the light is gone, peering with hope to see a dolphin or even a whale spout – it’s all the draw of standing at the edge of the sea.

We hopped on our Vespa scooters (realizing too late we weren’t dressed for the chilly air!) and wound our way to the coast. The “parking gods” were with us and we found a place to park with the beachside cliffs just over the short berm. At first the sky was just as the weather app had predicted – slightly gloomy. For some reason we kept watch.

Off on the distant horizon a glimmer of gold began to break through the greyness. Minute by minute a tear in the clouds began to emerge. The scene soon revealed a fiery, heavenly furnace with bright golds, oranges and red bursting through the clouds. As the sun continued its nightly, predictable path to the west, soft pink and blue cotton candy-like clouds joined the canvas. At one point the sun itself made an entrance in blinding suddenness. Its rays glowed across the surface of the sea. As it lowered further and further toward distant lands, the furnace became a gentle glow of a dying campfire. My eyes drawn into the soft light of God’s glory on full display.

Soon the torn sky began to heal with clouds marching together to close the scene. And those of us standing there wanting to squeeze every ounce of beauty out of what was before us looked around and finally breathed.

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.  The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.  The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course…All things are wearisome more than one can say.” Ecclesiastes 1:4-8

It seems easy to enjoy life when surrounded by such beauty set before us. An hour of admiring the ending of another day. Yet, how often do we get caught up in what King Solomon repeats throughout his study of life in Ecclesiastes, “the meaningless life?” We wake up each morning with our to-do list firmly planted at the front of our mind. We trudge through our morning routine and either go off to work or begin our work at home. We stop for lunch then pick it all up again. Dinner time, tv, reading, our evening routine, and then to bed. It’s the life Solomon laments in its “routineness.” He asks what is the point of our toil (Ecc 1:3)? The sun rises and sets and nothing ever changes. It’s meaningless.

Now I warn you. The book of Ecclesiastes has its pitfalls just as the Book of Job. There’s danger in opening either book and grabbing a piece of scripture to represent the whole message. It’s why I avoided quoting Job in any post for a long time. And the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes could be used in destructive ways. But I’m going to give you the spoiler – life is meaningless, unless you have God as your Lord. We will toil for selfish or pointless reasons. We will lose or not ever have any hope. We will feel like prisoners. We might even see God as evil or unloving. We lose sight of how beautifully made this cyclical world really is.

But God.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called  the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Genesis 1:1-3

King Solomon was gifted by God to be one of the wisest men ever to exist. But I find myself challenging him straight away when he says, “Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” (Ecc 1:10)

Why do I disagree to some degree with that statement? Because God is the god that bursts into our lives and upsets the world from time to time. There once was nothing and He created something magnificent! There was a time the sun didn’t rise or set. A time were there weren’t any seasons. God then gave us constants like knowing the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, every. single. day. of our human existence.

But then He goes and puts His finger to the artist’s canvas again for that unique sunset, the duplicate of which will never be seen again. The giant oak tree in front of my daughter’s house will bloom this spring again and produce giant leaves. In the fall the leaves will change color and fall to the ground. The cycle goes round and round. But each new leaf will never look exactly like another. The fall color change pattern will never be repeated exactly the same.

And you, when you were formed in your mother’s womb, may look like your parents, you may have some of their mannerisms, you may have similar beliefs about the world. You generally look like everyone else and your body performs pretty much like everyone else’s. But you, you will never be repeated. His artist’s finger has touched you and made you beautiful. Yes, you. You with the aches and pains. You with the slightly longer left leg than right. You with the hair you always wish were the opposite. You with that funny freckle right there.

In the infinite wisdom of the Lord of all the earth, each event falls with exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His divine plan. Nothing, however small, however strange, occurs without His ordering, or without its particular fitness for its place in the working out of His purpose; and the end of all shall be the manifestation of His glory, and the accumulation of His praise.
B.B. Warfield

In His omniscient wisdom He gave us constancy and variety all at once. We can thank Him for both. He gives us blessings and trials – all so we can give Him glory for His hand at work. It’s not meaningless monotony God created but a sturdy white canvas ready for something new each day.

Friend, like I said, it is easy to take an hour and enjoy a sunset. But let me finish the story of our trip to catch the sun on its nightly, guaranteed journey. You see, the city where we chose to park is very strict with their parking. We rolled up our little Vespas to the perfect spots and decided not to walk the half block to pay for parking passes (I think it’s their evil plan to spread the meter machines so far apart). After watching God’s performance, we hiked back to our rides. And yes, each had a $50 parking ticket. Did we let it ruin what we had just witnessed? No, we knew we had willfully disobeyed the set rules. Instead of getting angry I said, “Well, we stayed home for our date night this week so we can just look at this as our date night. A bottle of wine and a nice meal would’ve cost us just as much!” I shocked myself realizing the work God has done in me. How He has changed this typical, average woman into one that gives Him the glory. I enjoyed the lesson and message He set before me – follow the rules and don’t be lazy.

This year the Lord has put upon my heart to “ENJOY.” Not just seek joy, but as a friend noticed, to take action. Enjoy is a verb, not a feeling. When I researched “enjoy” in the Bible, I found it repeated throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. So, for the past few months I’ve been reading, researching, noodling and most of all praying. And here we are with the new series, “Enjoy Life — From meaningless to meaningful.” I’ll be posting a least once a week for the next few weeks. To be honest, the Holy Spirit and I haven’t worked out the full length of this series.

I want to leave you today, however with this piece of scripture and a quote by Warren Wiersbe to encourage you to enjoy today, enjoy this hour, enjoy the sameness and the fact that you will never have another day quite like today. Enjoy not only the good, but the bad and sometimes ugly. Because the Lord is always with you. He can always be found touching your life. When we believe that, we can see Him making all things work for those who love Him. Without Him, everything will seem so meaningless.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-30

“Since early dawn, that bird has done nothing but try to survive. He’s been wearing himself out hiding from enemies and looking for food for himself and his little ones. And yet, when he gets to the end of the day, he sings about it.”
Warren Wiersbe

Enjoy.

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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

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Gentleness Misunderstood

June 14, 2023June 15, 2023 krisshetter

When I announced to my non-religious parents many years ago that I was going to start attending church, my mother asked why I needed religion and my father called it a crutch. To my father I responded, “Great, I’ll take two please!” It’s so frequently the case when speaking to non-religious folks that they will say similar things. “Who needs faith? Your religion is just a ‘sky dad,’ I don’t need some fake person to tell me what is right and wrong.” I’ve also heard people say, “Christians just turn their minds off and give themselves over to a made up god. They don’t think for themselves.”

As for the last comment I would say they are half correct. A true and faithful Christian seeks to turn their sinful self “off” and submit their heart, mind, body and soul to the one true God. The world calls that a weakness. In fact, some twist the idea of “meekness” or “gentleness” to mean that very thing: a weakness. When the world says we need self-praise and self-assertion we say we look to God for His will, His love, and our direction.

Meekness is not weakness, for both Moses and Jesus were meek men. The word translated “meek” was used by the Greeks to describe a horse that had been broken. It refers to power under control.”
Warren Wiersbe, commentary on Matthew 5:5

The word “meek” and “gentle” come from a similar word in Greek – praus (prah-ooce) and prautes (prah-oo-tace). One is an adjective and one is a noun. It’s interesting, however, when you look up the word “meek” in the English language you get these definitions: quiet, gentle, easily imposed on. Isn’t that what we tend more to think when we read in the Bible that the meek are to be blessed and inherit the earth? And when we read in Galatians of the fruit of the Spirit, one being “gentleness,” don’t we think of some sweet old person quietly living out their days in obscurity? Someone who probably doesn’t have much of an opinion about anything? And if they did, they certainly wouldn’t voice it!

But wouldn’t that be in conflict with the full picture of Jesus? In the one place where Jesus describes the state of His own heart, He gives us a picture of what we too should mirror – a gentle and humble heart. And yet He was a man with an opinion. A man who clearly spoke of sin, judgment, mercy, righteousness, and eternal life. He stood strong and faithful in front of those who mocked Him. He was meekness under control. More importantly, gentle under God’s control.

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So, what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground." John 8:3-8

As a person of action, frequently lacking in gentleness, I had always found this passage so frustrating! I wanted Jesus to look these hypocrites in the eye and tell them off. Put the full strength of God into His words and watch them melt into a puddle of shame. But He squatted down (a look of weakness it would seem) and started doodling. Doodling!! And the world shakes their head at His apparent lack of authority and power. “Here is the God YOU submit to,” they say. “If He had any god-like qualities He would have given them the ‘you’re fired!’ response.”

And yet…

"But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:9-11.

Jesus brushed off His hands and shrugged. No anger needed. No smoting. Just a gentle ripping open of the accusers’ souls. And still the world misunderstands because they are so attached to the sins of pride and self-importance and fleshly pursuits of power.

Friend, the world will call you weak. The world will say you have turned your mind over to a god. You are submissive. Your response? Tell them thank you for noticing because it means they can see your fruit. It may not be to their liking but it’s not the world we seek to please.

Coming up: Gentleness in action

A Covenant of Love

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 krisshetter

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

“When you find yourself sinking in the quicksand, there is little else you can do but cry to the Lord. Sometimes He allows the “quicksand” experiences to turn you to Him. Wait for God. Acknowledge that He is in control. Give Him the pieces of your broken heart and watch Him work for you. You can depend on His faithfulness.” Prayer, Praise & Promises, Warren Wiersbe

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Two Witnesses

March 14, 2022March 28, 2022 krisshetter

Last year my BSGs did a study on Revelation. It was a challenging deep dive into one of the most mysterious books of the Bible. Any Hollywood script writer or New York Times bestselling author would probably consider the story told in Revelation to be a pinnacle piece. It weaves its way through the story of the complacency of the times and the coming storm of evil. It has heroes and martyrs. It has all the special effects of world-wide destruction to win an Oscar. And it has a savior. And a beautiful new beginning for the world.

There’s been plenty of apocalyptic movies and stories told in the last 100 years or so that draw upon the themes found in Revelation. Man and satan lead the world in its own inevitable destruction and a savior rises from the ashes. But what is unique about the Bible’s Revelation is it’s all true.

From Genesis to Jude, new beginnings abound. But in this one final book of God’s Word, we see 1,000s, millions even. Martyrs rising from the ashes to take their place near the throne. The 1444,000 appointed Jews who are to be God’s instruments in spreading the word of the final judgement. And of course, the rapture of believers, taken up before the final judgements are passed on this world.

But there are two people that have a special place in this book. Two ordinary people to whom God will speak and send out to the world as prophets or truth tellers. Smack in the middle of the 22 chapters of Revelation you’ll find two people whose new beginnings will send shockwaves around the world.

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:3

The two witnesses’ identities have long been up for debate. Suffice it to say if they were extraordinary people I believe the text would say so. But they aren’t even given names, just like Naaman’s little slave girl. And unlike Jonah, they appear to walk boldly into a hostile world without pause. Maybe God has a pre-game “pow wow” with them where He explains the plan. More likely, God tells the witnesses, after having been prepared through their own study and trials, to go to Jeruselem at an appointed time and start spreading the Word that judgement time had come. But also unlike Jonah, they will tell how to avoid a terrible death.

“Now when they have finished their testimony,…” Revelation 11:7

Notice the two witnesses won’t go about town crying out, “The end is near!” They instead speak of God’s rescue from sin — their testimony. God will protect them for 1,260 days while they tell the world of the Good News of the Gospel and yes, about the impending judgement. And when God’s time for them is up, they will be killed by evil forces. It appears their new beginning would end there. But their death is just the middle of their story. For all the world to see after three and a half days lying dead in the street of Jeruselem, God will cause them to rise to their feet, sparking terror in the hearts of those who celebrated their deaths. Their new beginning, a reunification with the Lord, sets the world on fire.

At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:13

Thousands, most likely, will give glory to God. Because of two unnamed people speaking the truth about God’s love, promises, rescue and judgement. Two people that are like you and me – flesh and blood. Two people, who like Noah, heard God’s voice and obeyed courageously. Who like Moses sought out an intimate relationship with God. Who like Queen Esther will stare into uncertainty and know God will not fail her. Two regular humans like Onesimus who studied at the feet of a teacher and then asked for forgiveness from both his spiritual and earthly masters. Like Joseph who stood alone against judgement by his community knowing God was with him. And like the 3,000 who put discipleship at the forefront of their faith.

In my study of Revelation, Warren Wiersbe points out the Gospel of John shows us how and why to believe. The epistles give us confirmation of who God is and what He expects of us. And Revelation is all about being ready. Ready for what? Ready for your new beginning. To be a witness for all of God’s glorious ways.

Friend, we don’t know when the events outlined in Revelation 11 will happen. But we need to be ready, they are nearer today than they were yesterday. You might be one of the witnesses called to be part of this amazing New Beginning for the world. Your name may never be known by man but God has a plan for you. A plan for your new beginning.

The Heart of the Matter

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 krisshetter

“And I am so angry I wish I were dead.”  Jonah 4:9

I’ve shared before about the miraculous year I had doing God’s will during our 100 Lunches project. When Jesus first spoke to me, directing me to make 100 lunches and deliver them to the homeless in downtown San Diego I had no idea the lessons He had in store for me. Initially, I thought it was just a need that He directed me to fill. My spiritual gifts were perfect to complete this task – or so I thought. What began as a one-time submission to God became a year-long lesson in trust, compassion, faithfulness and humility. Definitely not traits I would’ve confidently listed amongst my gifts.

With each passing day that year, God placed new trials and new opportunities for me to finally grasp what He really wanted of me. I could administer any program at my church, work or other organization. I’m organized, comfortable with leadership, a successful multitasker, and can teach readily. As long as I was in charge life was good, so it seemed. Until someone was unhappy with me or disagreed with me. Or I hurt someone’s feelings. Or I felt overlooked and unappreciated. Praying came after the fall, if at all.

But the Spirit of God came upon me that fateful day. I like to think of God seeing my potential. My new beginning. And He knew with some pruning and care I could shake off many of my old ways and start working on new ones. Starting with praying to Him to help me make the change. And learning that God wants our heart first, above all, so that it’s our heart that pours out to the world.

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. Jonah 1:2-3

The story of Jonah and the whale rank up there with Noah and his ark as being widely known by Christians and non-Christians alike. Jonah tried to get away from God, jumped overboard, was swallowed by a giant fish, prayed to God and God spit him out onto the shore. A nice story of turning back to God in faith, right? But in these four little chapters there’s so much more! There are lessons on being a “I’m fine, it’s fine” sleepy Christian. Lessons like Moses experienced when he told God he wasn’t up for the job. Lessons on how one person can help save so many.

Jonah was actually a man of great faith. He knew that if he went to Nineveh, a sworn enemy of the Jews and well-known for its evil ways, God would most likely use him to rescue the people there. But Jonah’s patriotism got in the way of his faith. So, he resigned as God’s prophet. He didn’t want his new beginning to look like betrayal back home. But God gets His way no matter how hard we try to thwart Him!

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah 3:3

So yes, Jonah sees how amazing His God is while sitting in the mouth of a giant fish and prays, remembering how God saved him before and asking for him to do it again. And Jonah finds himself once more pressed on toward Nineveh.

While there he spreads God’s message that in 40 days the city would be destroyed because of their wicked ways. But there’s something missing. Within this story you will not find a message from Jonah on how to stop this destruction. You won’t find compassion and love for these 1,000s of people. He states the fact, does it efficiently and without pause. In three days this one man had reached the ears of every citizen, including the king. Pretty impressive right? And although God loved the fact that they believed and turned from their evil ways you can’t help but think the real target of this lesson was just one man – Jonah.

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah 3:10-4:1

Jonah had the gifts of prophecy, faith, evangelism and apparently administration. And he begrudgingly used them. Where God saw an amazing new beginning as a man who could help bring so many to faith, Jonah saw embarrassment and shame. He didn’t want to go home to face his people who hated the Nineveh citizens and be known as a traitor. He stopped remembering that God loves everyone and God can work miracles in all our lives, even our enemies.

In chapter 4, Jonah is like the Prodigal Son’s elder brother – critical, selfish, sullen, angry and unhappy with what was going on. It isn’t enough for God’s servants simply to do their Master’s will; they must do “the will of God from the heart.” Eph 6:6
Warren Wiersbe

So as Jonah sits on the hill outside town in the last chapter of this amazing story God takes another shot at softening Jonah’s heart. He provides another lesson for him to experience and learn. Because God is love He doesn’t give up on us. He wants our new beginnings to be filled with love and compassion. I love this quote from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on Jonah:

“The deeper your trouble, the greater are your possibilities of adoration.”

When I first went into our 100 Lunches project, I was certain I could complete this simple task with efficiency and ease like Jonah. But God put me on the hill, overlooking all that I had done that first week and said, “You have much more to learn.”

With each distribution of lunches He said, “do it again, this time like this.” He showed me how to be ok with people turning me down when I asked for help. And how to be grateful when people came out of nowhere to help. He taught me how to slow down and look the hurting in the eye and offer a kind word or even a gentle touch. He reminded me to trust in Him, to love Him. He answered prayers which encouraged me to pray even more. He allowed me to be loved by society’s “unwashed”, giving me the opportunity to tell them of God’s glory and provision.

Jonah’s story ends without a word from him letting us know he “got it.” His last lines are the first in this look at Jonah – “I wish I were dead.” God’s last words are about His love and care for all people – no matter their nationality, financial status, religion, or sins. Think of the amazing new life Jonah could’ve had when he left Nineveh. Not just knowing about God, not just having faith that God is in charge. But loving God and loving the fact that He wants us to live like Him, in love.

Jonah’s faith was a divided one. He held onto his patriotism and pride with a vengeance. It caused him to withhold his love and compassion. When we think of the Bible’s greatest lessons about love, 1 Corinthians 13 probably comes to mind. In verses 4-13 Paul tells us what love is. So many think these passages are about romantic love but in the context of the entire letter it’s about how we serve out God’s will with our gifts. In a way, the more important lessons are in verses 1-3. The lesson God was trying to teach Jonah. The lesson which can help us all in our new beginnings as God’s servants.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Cor 13: 1-3