Forget About the Signs

I wrote about signs a few weeks back. Something along the lines of, "you'll know it was meant for you when you have it," or "you'll know you're where you need to be when you get there." It occurred to me only an hour or two later that this season we are in is a season of looking for signs. Several months ago --about two years ago, if I really stop to think about it-- God told Scott and I to prepare for something. It was something we'd wanted to do years and years before, but we never seemed to move on it. When we heard God's voice calling us to it in 2021, I wasn't quite sure. So many things had changed, we were older ("on the downstroke" as Scott says); but "Just get ready," was the word I received. As I said, it's been two years of preparations, and every time we seem to build up momentum, something else scurries out from the roadside, and the brakes are applied. At this present time, we're barely cruising. We've encountered another roadblock with regard to another situation. That has our undivided attention at the moment. But as we address this new delay, we watch. Are we to go with the flow, rest, and simply watch for the lesson in this? Are we to explore new possibilities so that other projects might begin moving again? Is this God's way of redirecting our attention to things that may be priorities to Him? Are we nearing the end of our current season, and being given precious days to pour everything we have into it before moving on? Will this roadblock simply move as it has in times past --no explanation, no obvious change in anything else? God, can you show us, give us even a glimpse of what we are to do, of what will be?

"Signs" make it so easy to trust. What do we do? When do we do it? So does knowing how things will happen. Maybe He'll do this, making way for that. I started writing this article on Thursday and the following week received this from a friend: 

I wish God would tell us the “why” or at least give us a timeframe. It would certainly make hardships more bearable and in my case would’ve given me more patience 😕(always room for guilt).

I could so feel that! We all want to know. We tell ourselves knowing would make it easier in some way. But would that really be the case? I think the words of my friend answer that question: she may have had more patience if she knew just how much more she had to endure. Being given patience is different from having patience developed in you. Life almost certainly would have been easier, but not necessarily better. Knowing may allow us to make it to the finish line, but does it teach us to finish well? Sort of like the man given a fish: he eats for a day but has no idea how he will eat tomorrow. I think it's sort of ironic that none of us wishes to be a puppet, none of us likes to be told what to do, but the minute we think we're in over our heads, we begin praying for things like direction, clarity, signs.

I'm being encouraged today to stop looking for signs or answers, to simply embrace this season we're in and look for My Father instead. He invites each of us to lean into Him, to talk to Him, and He is faithful to respond. 

PRIDE

When I was raising small children, I was torn. They come into a harsh and fallen world, so many strikes against them, so many things looking to consume them. Most days I felt like I was getting it all wrong. And then one (or both) of them would do something completely unacceptable: pick a fight, take something that wasn't theirs, tell a lie (and that was a whole 'nother thing: "detecting" a lie without my having any discernment whatsoever --some of their tales were Jim Dandys, though!). I knew it was time for discipline. How much? In what way? What about grace? It was difficult. These were little people whom I loved with all my heart! I never wanted to crush my children, but limits and truth are essential. I wish I'd known then what I know now; I wish I'd stood on the truth of Scripture and leaned on the wisdom of the Spirit at that time. It would have made the things I had to do so much more sure and so much less difficult. This is what Jesus has designed for you; this is what Jesus has designed for me. Let's walk in those things together. We won't always get it right, but we are gonna live trying. It is in that spirit that I write today.

There are people I love living in sin. They have believed a lie. Because many churches refuse to stand on the truth. Because it's easier than fighting against it. Because they want what they want until they don't, and they've been told there are no consequences, easy to go back; everything fluid. Because there are flags and shows and clothing and an entire month dedicated to saying it's okay. Because, because. But it's a lie. Some have heard all the "clobber" verses; some have never heard a one. I myself have heard a few verses I didn't like when I was looking for reasons to say what I wanted to say and think what I wanted to think and do what I wanted to do. It didn't make them any less right; it didn't make me any less wrong. Even when I felt that twinge of conviction, my very next thoughts were What is getting out of this going to look like? What am I going to have to leave behind? What will my now friends say? But this is home! And the response to all of those things in brief are: Messy but with time you will see it's worth it. Everything but nothing that matters. All kinds of terrible things, but you will choose to love them. No, no it's not; it just feels like home the same way "sheep's clothing" feels like the real sheep.

This, of course, is PRIDE month. There's no escaping it. Even our local grocery store has it plastered all over their weekly circulars. The irony they have deemed it PRIDE is not lost on me. To continue to believe a lie is foolish; to insist a lie is truth is indeed PRIDE. I will not even tell my children I am proud of them --pleased with something they've done, glad they have achieved something they worked hard to do, but proud? No. Not that it keeps me from pride or makes me any less proud in my heart, but I don't even care to give room to inordinate self-esteem; conceit; arrogance; disdain; lofty self-respect (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 1936). I take very seriously what Scripture says about pride, and I know how inclined I am to compensate for my shortcomings with telling myself grandiose stories of my importance and self-worth. Besides, in a world full of words, the best thing we can tell our children is I'm proud of you, or Be proud of yourself? Maybe that's where the lie began. Be whatever you want to be, affirm it, embrace it! Happiness above all else! Self-acceptance at every turn! It's a lie. And because I love Jesus, because I love you, you have to know that.

To live life in homosexual sin should be as much an abomination to society as to live as an intractable gossip or a compulsive liar --nothing good (truly good) can come of it. To live life in homosexual sin should be as much an abomination to the church as a pastor with a drug problem or a philandering worship leader --it will tear down the church, corrupt the message of the gospel, and souls will perish. Practiced homosexuality, specifically within the church, needs to be addressed in love, not unconditional acceptance. Practiced homosexuality in society needs to be exposed for the lie it is, flags burned, and all remnants of affirmation destroyed. The enemy of our souls --of all souls-- is seeking to destroy lives and ensure the deaths of any who would believe him. As possessors of truth and ministers of reconciliation, it is our responsibility to confront this PRIDE deception and speak to those we love (are called to love!) about their sin and its consequences. To those who are living in homosexual sin, particularly those within the church, I lovingly say Repent, please! Purity is what Jesus is calling you to; love and ambassadorship is what Jesus requires of me. Let's walk in those things together. We won't always get it right, but we are gonna live trying.