Cross My Heart Ministry

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4

The word remain is used not once or twice, but ELEVEN times in the first ten verses of John 15. Perhaps Jesus, knowing what was ahead for the disciples, felt a sense of urgency to underscore the importance of remaining.

We, too, face difficult and challenging circumstances. And, like those disciples then, the means for us to survive as His disciples today is to remain. Remain in HIM.

What season describes your life today?

Spring-like hopeful expectancy? Are you anticipating the joy of exciting things to come – birth of a child or grandchild, a son getting married, a new job, new ministry or fresh start?

Maybe you are in a summer of harvest – God is using you to bring forth fruit in abundance. You are experiencing the joy and delight of seeing the Spirit of God take the Word of God and yield fruit in your season. You’ve been used by Him to win another person to Christ. You are teaching or serving or loving in His name and life is good.

Are autumn’s beautiful colors on display in your life? Are others drawn to you because of the seasoned beauty of a life lived well?

Maybe life just now is cold and barren. You’re experiencing the harshness and bitterness that sometimes comes to our souls as we abide on during a season of pain and loss. But keep in mind– that tree in winter – it’s not dead. It’s just dormant. Spring will come again to that tree and spring, Sister Friend, will come again to your life.

These seasons don’t necessarily align with our physical age – although each passing year does bring new and varied experiences. Every generation cycles through these seasons of hope, joy, contentment, and pain over and again. We may experience each multiple times even in a given month. We can carry on through each seasonal challenge because we remain in Him.

Our remaining in Christ brings hope and peace through every season, every trial, every circumstance.

How are you continuing on today by choosing to remain in Him — come what may?

You can hear this week’s teaching lecture in its entirety:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-15-lesson-15-and-16/

Photo attribution: www.vectorstock.com

Everyone recognizes the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein and his famous equation E = mc² (even though many of us have no clue what it means). The story is told that while traveling on a train, Dr. Einstein was unable to find his ticket when the conductor came by. He frantically looked in his pockets, briefcase, seat beside him, but to no avail. The kind conductor reassured him, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it..”

The conductor continued down the aisle and then turned to look back before passing on to the next car. He was horrified to see the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under the seat! Rushing back quickly, he reassured, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.”

Albert Einstein responded, “‘Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

As followers of Christ, who have confessed our sin and turned our lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ, our destiny is eternity. We know where we are going. Jesus promised us in this week’s text in John 14:

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:2-4

This passage reassures us that no matter what comes, we can walk in peace because we know how it all ends.

Living in this world does sometimes brings trouble – angst, anxiety, worry. But Jesus gives the opposite. Our life in Him brings HIS peace.

This world is not the end all for the follower of Christ. This is just a shadow of what will be. We do have sweet times of blessing and joy with each other, with our family, and with the body of Christ. But none of that will compare to what it will be like in heaven when we are worshipping Jesus and freed forever from the struggles and challenges that come with this world.

We can walk in peace now because then we will be with Him!

You can hear this week’s teaching lecture in its entirety:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-14lesson-14/

My husband LOVES Pawn Stars, the reality show on the History Channel featuring business at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In one episode a man brought in a violin he had found in an old chest in a barn he had recently purchased. After dusting it off, he discovered the word Stradivarius inscribed on the inside. He brought it to the pawn shop –of course, hoping to discover it was genuine – meaning it could be worth millions of dollars.

An expert was called in to examine the near-perfect instrument. He relayed the sad news. No, it was not a Stradivarius after all. Just a cheap imitation produced not in the early 1700’s, but 200 years later in the early 1900’s. His final words to the disappointed owner,

Just because something has a label doesn’t mean it’s real.

In John 13 Jesus demonstrates His genuine love to the disciples, using a basin and a towel.

The creator of the universe, the Savior of the World, the King of Glory, chose the indignity of washing the dirty, stinky feet of a group of guys who had been walking in sandals on dusty roads.

Jesus doesn’t just tell them to love one another, He demonstrates what that looks like. He was modeling love and mercy and grace.

It’s noteworthy that Judas, the betrayer, also received a foot washing. Jesus knew Judas would sell Him out, but He still chose to wash His feet. Extraordinary!

The example of Jesus means our acts of love and mercy are not conditional on whether the recipient is deserving. The focus is on the one extending the grace and mercy.

In fact the more innocent the foot washer and the more guilty and undeserving the washee – the greater the example of Christ-like love on display.

I might (on a good day) submit to washing the feet of a friend who loves me, but it’s uncomfortable to even think about doing such a humble task for someone who has criticized, condemned, or just been right down mean to me.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John 13:14-15

Jesus didn’t just tell us to love – He showed us how. He wants us to extend love and grace and mercy to dirty, undeserving people – -just like He did.

And we can — not because we’re so great, but because His greatness lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

Foot washing for us might be extending forgiveness. It might mean staying in a hard marriage. It might mean serving a demanding relative. It might mean forgiving a friend who has betrayed you.

“I can’t do that!” you say.

Yes, you can. Because He lives in you. He will equip you for what He calls you to do.

When we love sacrificially and illogically, we love like Jesus. How can you and I take up a proverbial towel and basin and live love this week?

You can hear this week’s teaching lecture in its entirety:
http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-13lesson-13/

Photo attribution: http://www.history.com/shows/pawn-stars

www.

We type these three letters multiple times a day.

We seldom stop to think what they represent – world wide web. We only know that they take us to lots of places and people and information all over the world. WWW is the link to the information age and a tool used by billions of people everywhere every single day.

Let’s transform www to represent: worship, work, and witness.

Let’s examine the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in John 12:1-11. Let’s be inspired by how each of their three living examples challenge us personally to devote our lives to a daily WWW – worship, work, and witness.

• Worship –>Mary
• Work –>Martha
• Witness -> Lazarus

Mary Worships

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume;
she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.
And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
John 12:3

The parallel passage in Mark says she “broke the jar.”

Mary broke the jar! She held nothing back. She didn’t come in with a teaspoon. She didn’t pour out a drop or two. She was all in!

Are you ready to break the proverbial jar?  Break a few less-than-important appointments? Where are you holding out on God? Where is He calling you to be “all in?”

Martha Works

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.
Martha served…
John 12:2

Martha served. Martha’s work was her worship. Her love for Jesus prompted her to use her gift of cooking to serve Jesus.

How has God equipped you to work in His Kingdom? Your spiritual gifts, your abilities, your personality, and even your life experiences – are all resources making you uniquely you and equipping you for the Kingdom work God has for you.

Lazarus Witnesses

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there
and came, not only because of him
but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus
and putting their faith in him.
John 12:9-11

Lazarus died, was in the tomb four days, and Jesus raised Him from the dead. (See John 11) That passage is all about Jesus, “the resurrection and the life.” Bringing back Lazarus demonstrated His power and authority over death. The miracle proved He was God.

Lazarus’ life is living proof that Jesus is God Almighty. It wasn’t anything Lazarus did – after all, he couldn’t save himself or bring himself back from the grave – it was all about what Jesus did in Lazarus.

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and that act made many believe – as it says here in verse 11 – “for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.”

It was Lazarus’ identity with Jesus that made him a witness.

Every one of us who identities with Jesus has a story. Every one of us who has placed our faith in Christ has a testimony. Every one of us who has acknowledged – I am a sinful woman, my sin deserves death, but Jesus gave me life. Because of Jesus, I have been rescued from sin and eternity for me has begun. I may die physically, but my identity in Christ ensures my place in heaven for eternity.

Lazarus didn’t do anything. In fact, look what verse two says that while Martha was serving, Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Lazarus was just hanging out! Being a witness wasn’t about what Lazarus was doing – it was all about his identity in Christ. It was all about what Jesus had done for Lazarus and in Lazarus. People were drawn to Lazarus because of Jesus.

As we type www countless times per day and as those three letters take us to a variety of places and people, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit reminds us with each click to keep the main thing, the main thing.

How do you and I get to worship, work, and witness today?

You can hear the complete teaching on this topic by going here:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-12lesson-12/

Photo attribution: http://www.digitallanding.com/improve-your-att-internet-service/

“This sickness will not end in death.
No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son
may be glorified through it.”
John 11:4

Making sense of any hard thing that comes into our lives must begin with this premise:

We are here to bring glory to God.

I’m not a theologian. I can’t answer those hard questions about whether God allows bad things to happen, whether they are His permissive will or the result of our free will.

In our western culture, first-world mindset, we want answers and explanations. Sometimes we demand them as a condition of continuing to serve God. We want reasons to help us process these hard things. Some want to tell us that “everything happens for a reason.” But I’m not sure I can go there.

When Lydia was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, life as we knew it changed forever. Managing this disease came with a steep learning curve. It was overwhelming at first.

It’s easier now, but I hate seeing my daughter live with multiple sticks with a needle every day. I hate seeing her take 4-6 shots a day. I hate knowing she is insulin dependent. Without insulin, Lydia will die.

As diseases go, there are much worse diagnoses that could be given. I know that. But this was the crisis that God brought into the Macfarlan Family. This was the situation that He used to teach me and to help me understand a little about hard things.

I rose to the challenge in the hospital. I took notes, I studied. I asked questions. I made lists. I was going to be the best mom ever in caring for my baby. But after getting home, I just melted. I fell apart. I curled up in a fetal position and I cried out to God, “Why?”

God could have made it all go away. He could regenerate her pancreas and un-do the damage caused by whatever virus attacked and caused her to have juvenile diabetes.

But God was silent. He could do it. But He chose not to.

That was my crisis of faith. That place where I learned that we live in a world with many consequences that come as a result of the fall of man in Genesis 3. God had to make me see that diabetes wasn’t in the garden.

And neither was cancer, birth defects, heart disease, and dementia. (We can add divorce, bankruptcy, depression, and an unending list of other challenges that many deal with daily.) Those times of hurt and pain and disillusionment make us ask questions that can drive us mad – questions that we can’t truly find answers to.

So what we must do is cycle back to what we do know. We declare what is truth:

• God loves us.
• He loves those that we love.
• He created us for His glory.
• He is for us!
• He understands our pain because He saw His own son suffer.

When we come to accept that we are here to bring glory to God,  our paradigm shifts. We can begin to look at our circumstances through a different lens, or from a different perspective.

I want to be willing to lay down the Laura lens. The lens that sees my life through the near-sighted perspective that God’s love is defined by comfort and safety and health. I want to exchange it for an eternal lens that offers a more far-sighted perspective – one that sees how our great God can and will use all things for HIS glory. A perspective that enables me to hear from God what Isaiah heard:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

Aren’t we glad we serve a God we don’t always understand? I mean really…? A God that Laura Macfarlan’s human brain could always predict and fathom would not really be much of a god. I’m grateful to serve a God whose ways are higher than those of this world, whose thoughts are higher than my own.

It’s all about Him. We were created for His glory.

I’m not saying this is easy. But as we begin to embrace this perspective, life takes on a shade and purpose that transcends the here and now. And it changes everything.

• It changes how we view life.
• It changes our look at bad things.
• It changes the way we see people.
• And it even changes the way we pray.

I find myself learning and then re-learning what this means. God keeps reminding me that He is the master and I am the servant. And that means I must pray HIS will to be done and not my own. And I can’t even presume that I know His will or what He wants. It is abundantly freeing to simply pray the prayer that never fails, “Thy will be done.”

This new view of praying for God’s glory will prompt us to pray bigger, more expansive prayers. Prayers that go beyond mere physical healing, but prayers that draw others in. Prayers that want all those affected to be impacted spiritually. Prayers that want God to be made much of – prayers that God will be glorified. Prayers that see hard things as greater opportunities to bring glory to Him.

The woman of God knows God will use all things for His glory.

We begin with the basic truth – our existence is to bring glory to God.

It’s not about me and it’s not about you. It’s all about Jesus.

If we begin there, it becomes perhaps a little easier to put challenges, heartaches, disappointments, tragedies, suffering, and difficulties, into an eternal context.

Could these painful, hurtful events actually serve a great purpose – the purpose for which each of us was created – to bring glory to God.

How do you and I need to open our hearts and minds to see that our great God can and will use ALL things – even sickness and disease – for His glory?

You can hear the Mother-Daughter sharing from Lydia and myself on the topic of hard things and Lydia’s living-with-diabetes testimony here:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/mothers-others-2014mother-daughter-testimonies-of-laura-lydia-macfarlan/

(We presented this at a Mother’s Day event two years ago.)

+++

This post comes from a portion of the teaching lecture for John 11. You can listen to the full teaching here:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-11lesson-11/

We will study John 12 this week. If you are local (Siloam Springs, AR), please join us at First Baptist Church on Thursday, January 14t, at either 9 am or 6:30 pm. If you are out-of-town, you are invited to study on your own and then listen to the teaching lecture on line.

“…So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” John 9:7b

Jesus employees an interesting method for healing the blind-since-birth man in John 9:

1. Dirt + Jesus spit = mud
2. Apply mud to eyes
3. Find Siloam Pool
4. Wash away mud

Why did Jesus use mud of all things? And then why did He send a blind man to find his way in the dark to wash in a specific pool?

• He could have healed him by touching his eyes.
• Or – he could have just healed him by speaking.
• Or – he could have just looked at him or nodded at him or just thought it and the man would have been healed.

We can’t know for sure, but I think Jesus was giving some time for FAITH to sprout in the man’s heart. One thing I’m picking up by following Jesus through John — He never gets in a hurry. (And I feel like I’m ALWAYS in a hurry!)

The man was given an opportunity to cooperate with Jesus. He had to choose to stand still while the mud was applied.  That could have been embarrassing or humiliating. Like the bully in the locker room picking on the weak kid by smearing something on his face.

That, of course, wasn’t the case here. And no one was holding the blind man there by force. He chose to stand patiently in front of Jesus and allow mud to be put on his eyes.  He couldn’t know for sure if this experience was going to turn out positive or not. Would he be the brunt of the joke? Would they all laugh and poke fun at him…or might he/could he/would he be healed.

It was a risk he was willing to take. He wanted to see. So if there was any chance at all that could happen, he was willing to take that chance. He cooperated with Jesus.

Isn’t that really the essence of real faith? Not really knowing, but believing Jesus?

This blind mind believed Jesus. He cooperated with Jesus. He stood there while the mud was applied. And then he obediently made his way to Siloam to wash.

His obedience demonstrated that a spark of faith had been ignited.

Faith says,  I believe. It’s not necessarily I know ….or I understand. I believe. That blind man believed he could be healed. And his belief prompted action and cooperation and obedience.

As followers of Jesus, are we willing to obey even when the instructions might seem embarrassing, absurd, awkward, or humiliating to the watching world?

John 9:7 records the blind-since-birth man’s obedience. After getting mud-in-the-eye treatment, he “…went and washed, and came home seeing.”

Obedience brings blessing. Every. Single. Time.

Have you tested this? Do you want to? Would you ask God for an obedience assignment for this week? If you pray this gutsy prayer, be ready to see how He provides and what doors He opens. And then ask Him for the courage to walk on through. Are you ready to be blessed?

But please remember – blessing in God’s economy looks very different from the way the world would describe it! This-blind-since birth man received sight. As followers of Christ, our reward might be spiritual sight or the removal of a spiritual blind spot.

The child of God knows obedience brings blessing!

Here’s the link to the complete teaching from last week on John 9:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-9lesson-9/

[Photo attribution: http://fralfonse.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html]

Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
John 8:6b

John 8 opens with the Pharisees staging what they believe is a clever trap. They really think they’ve got Jesus this time. They haul in a woman accused of adultery and thrust her before Jesus and the group in the temple court. Quoting the Levitical law that demands stoning for adultery, they sneeringly bark out to Jesus, “…Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (The text doesn’t say they bark out the words with a sneer, but that’s how I picture it playing out.)

If He doesn’t agree to stone her, He is failing to keep the Levitical law. But if He does say to stone her, He gets in trouble with the Romans because they are the governing authorities and only they can issue death sentences. It would also undermine His message of love and forgiveness. Jesus has been hanging out with sinners and if He goes on record by condemning one, His message will be discredited.

The whole episode seems questionable. First of all, both the law and logic say it takes TWO to commit adultery. Where’s the guy? Then there’s the mean-spirited public way they handle this. It’s all done for the purpose of trying to trap Jesus.

This is Jesus! Do they really think they are able to outwit HIM?

Have you ever been in what seems to be an impossible situation? Stuck between the proverbial rock and the hard place? Have you ever been placed on the hot seat – someone ever set you up for embarrassment? Have you ever been in a situation where you feel trapped – where you are in trouble no matter which way you choose?

Let’s see how Jesus responds.

The Pharisees are staging a spectacle. I picture the scene with a lot of emotion, a lot of loud voices, words of condemnation. Outrage. Meanness. Yelling. And a crowd looking on watching it unfold like a made-for-TV drama.

But Jesus refuses to jump in the ring with them. He doesn’t play their game.

We see a huge contrast between their behavior and his. Calmness. Patience. Peace. All seem to describe the attitude and countenance of our Lord. He seems un-phased by their demands. He’s just calmly writing in the dirt with his finger. (Lots of conjecture on the part of theologians through the years about what He was writing, but since the text doesn’t tell us, we can’t know for sure.)

Perhaps He was giving time…allowing for emotions to settle and tempers to recede.

They tried to illicit a response from Him but He didn’t cooperate.

Have you ever been in a situation where you responded badly? Can you remember a time you allowed the behavior of someone else to bring out the worst in you? All of us can probably think of a situation that we regret. A situation where we would like a do-over. (Maybe even one from this very week!)

Whether it was a whiny two-year-old throwing a tantrum, a mouthy teenager demonstrating disrespect, a critical mother or mother in law, or maybe a rude waitress or a customer service person that was not only not helpful but right-down mean.

If our responses are dependent upon the behaviors of those we are responding to…then that means we are more controlled by a two-year old or a teenager or a waitress than by the Spirit of God living in us.

The behavior of others should not affect the way we respond.

I’ve gotten it wrong enough times that I know from where I speak. It’s a lesson I’ve learned and re-learned and then I find myself in remedial class again and again. Who controls the child of God?

In movies, they keep doing “re-takes” until they get it right. And in life, God often offers new opportunities for us to live out the truth we are learning. The Christian life is not about always getting it right, but owning up to it when we get it wrong. Sometimes our assignment is to go back and make it right. Own it. Apologize for it. Receive forgiveness and move on.

Jesus modeled incredible self-control, patience, and godliness in a time He was being set up. Next time someone sets us up (or pushes our buttons), maybe taking some time (or writing in the dirt) before responding would be a good plan.

Here’s the link to the complete teaching lecture covering this passage:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-8lesson-8/

Photo attribution: https://boldlyproclaimingchrist.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/writingindirt.jpg

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5

Our Lord often used questions as he taught, giving his disciples an opportunity to reason through the answers as he patiently, gently, and kindly led them to find answers.

5000 men (most likely 10,000 or more when adding in women and children) had gathered that day and as Jesus taught, the day grew long and the people grew hungry. The disciples wanted to send the people away to fend for themselves, but Jesus had something else in mind.  He would not only be filling empty tummies, but filling up hearts and minds with powerful truth.

The question was posed to Philip, but it seems all the disciples heard it.  Maybe Philip was the numbers or finance guy in the group.He replies to Jesus in verse 7, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite.”

He counted noses, did the math, and figured out it would require a whole lot more money than they had to feed the crowd.

Phillip looked at the proverbial glass and saw it way more than half empty.  Philip chose to focus on what they didn’t have, what wasn’t available to them.  We are defeated when we choose to focus on what we can’t do, what we don’t have, where we are unable, unqualified, and ill-equipped.

When a need comes before you and me, do we automatically look at our own proverbial glass half empty – is it easy then to come up with reasons why we can’t? Is God giving us a task too big for us on our own?  A task that requires Him to equip us?

We know that apart from Him, we are nothing. We know that our salvation is completely dependent upon Him and not ourselves.  So – why do we think our lives living out our salvation can be done on our own?  Just as we needed Him to save us, we need Him to live as saved women.

The Gospel was for that day — and it also is what equips, encourages, and enables us for this day!

Instead of being like Phillip and focusing on what we don’t have, perhaps we should be more like Andrew and look at what we do have. Back to the proverbial glass again – Andrew sees it at least a little bit full. Far less than half – he sees just a smidgen – but at least he sees something. He acknowledges there is a little bit available.

“Hey, Jesus, here’s a kid with a couple of fish and five little biscuits – it’s not much but…here it is.”

Just a tiny bit of lunch – enough for a little boy.  Just a wee bit of faith demonstrated by Andrew.  But the resources were offered up.  The smidgen of faith was directed at Jesus.

On our own, we are never enough. The task is too great, the needs too many. If we are relying on ourselves to be the need meet-er, we go from being overwhelmed to feelings of disappointment, defeat, and despair. Our insufficiency must drive us to Him who is all sufficient.

We are not, but He is. We are lacking, He is complete. We cannot.  He can.

The woman of God looks to Jesus to meet needs.

Are there needs in your life and in the lives of those you love that seem overwhelming?  Impossible?

Are you trying to meet a God-sized need with human effort? Are you a glass half-empty person like Philip – pulling out your calculator and crunching the numbers to prove the task impossible?

Are you a glass half-full person (or just a smidgen full) like Andrew taking inventory and offering up to Jesus the pitiful amount you do have with an expectant heart of faith?

Where do you take inventory and find you don’t have nearly enough– not enough patience… not enough love….not enough courage…not enough time or talent….how about enough FAITH? Are you willing to take what you do have and offer it to God, acknowledging it is not nearly enough from you…but trusting in faith that He will fill in what is missing.

Do you believe Jesus can?

Listen here for the entire teaching lesson from John 6 to find out how He provided food (and leftovers) for the hungry crowd:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-of-john-chapter-6lesson-6/

Photo attribution: www.friarmusings.wordpress.com