TAKING A BIBLICAL SELFIE!!!

Selfies are dangerous to your health!  No lie!  I just heard that this crazy photo-taking trend may have profound repercussions.  Mental health experts say that selfies are creating psychological narcissism (compulsive behavior focusing on oneself, looks, activities, etc.).  Health care professionals are seeing an increase in the spread of head lice!  There is even a case of a teen addicted to selfies (up to ten times a day) attempting to commit suicide frustrated in getting the right pose! 

Well, how about taking a selfie that will benefit both yourself and others. It's a look in the mirror called the bible!  No cell phones needed.  It can be done anywhere instantly, and any pose will do!  And get this, people will see results immediately without you posting on Facebook or Instagram.  The writer James shows us how to start.  It reads:

“²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:23-25 NIV).

Few scriptures mention the word mirror, only eight that I could find, but the one in James gives the greatest insight for Christians.  Vanity is nothing new to this culture or any previous generation.  However, when selfies become more than occasional fun, it is rooted in what the bible calls idolatry.  That’s anything we replace or set our affection (devotion) on above the glory of God (Ex. 20:3; Coloss 3:2-5, Rom. 6:16; I Cor. 6:19-20). Our bodies are not for gloating over but to be used as tools of righteousness.  Seductive poses (exposing butts, breasts or private parts) fall way off the chart of God’s standard of holiness!

As a woman of a certain age, I’ve spent a lot of time looking into the mirror of the bible and asking God to rid me of some Harmful Selfies:  Selfishness; Self pity; Self sufficiency and Self absorption with my looks, needs and desires!  Instead, I do routine Self examinations of my motives when serving God. I Self-check my lips before criticizing or speaking in judgment of another’s’ character and most of all when I get carried away with all the newest and coolest fads coming my way I take my Self to 2 Corinthians 13:5-6: “Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ is in you—unless of course, you fail the test?” 

Sometimes as a Christian you need to stop and ask: Is this what I should be doing with my time and energy?  For what does it profit a woman if she gains a thousand instagram followers but loses touch with reality. (My translation of Ecclesiastes 1)  It's just plain pride!   In the end everything stretches out, sags, and falls down!!  So go ahead take a Selfie but NOT before you take a few biblical ones first!   

No ORDINARY Sunday!

The saints gathered early this Resurrection Sunday, anxious to get their praise on before the onslaught of C.M.E.s crowded the sanctuary later.  That’s what we humorously call folks who only come to church on Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter!  But we had no idea what awaited us!  Sure we would get a powerful, thought-provoking, soul stirring sermon because our pastor is extraordinarily gifted and anointed in preaching.  We admittedly have become quite used to that!  But no one expected to become witnesses of such an astounding move of God on THIS day…a day we know from bible history was No Ordinary Sunday!

During Holy Week this year contemporary gospel songs were pushed aside to embrace the hymns.  Songs like, At the Cross, I know it was the Blood, What Can Wash Away My Sins.  We don’t hear or sing those much any more but this year we did.  I think it’s because spiritually attuned Christians realize that with all that is going on in our world and local communities, the Precious Blood of Christ and His work on the cross is the only thing keeping our hope alive.  Such was the thinking of our pastor as he took his text from John 20:9-17.  His sermon topic: Blessings of the Resurrection.

Methodically he gave his introduction encouraging us not to give up in the midst of trials but to think futuristically.  He drove hard a point in John 2:18-19 (the last thing I wrote before God’s manifested Himself in our service!)  After driving them out of the temple, money changers taunted Christ with these words: “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus responded: Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days.” He was talking about His human body.  About this time a beloved brother who had just led the congregation in hymns had a cardiac emergency right there in the choir stand!  Although he was rendered unconscious, service never stopped!  It was only enhanced by God's presence!

Pastor immediately called the saints to fervent prayer, church nurses flew into action; saints broke out in praise for the miracle we knew was coming, all this before the paramedics even arrived!  We got news that before he left the church grounds our brother was alert and responding to questions! What an illustration of God’s sovereignty and grace…dare any one challenge the Master as the money changers did...Prove Your Authority!  We saw it with our own eyes!  No this was No Ordinary Sunday..but then no Sunday for a Christian is ordinary..for each one is a celebration of the Resurrection Power of Christ…Do You Know this Power?  If not, don’t let another second go by.  New life is awaiting.  Jesus said:  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt. 28:18) and the Word assures “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31).  Do it now.. It's as easy as ABC!

A - Admit You Are A Sinner (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe Christ Rose From the Dead (I Cor. 15:3-4)

C- Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9)

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY!

JESUS: Lily of the Valley

Holy Week began yesterday, Palm Sunday. Christians all over the world are remembering Christ's last days on earth.  I too am remembering.  That's why this morning I revisited the bible's account of our Lord's last week before His death: Monday, He cleansed the temple (John 2:12-22).  Tuesday, He preached on Mt. Olive (Matt. 25).  Wednesday, we have no accounting.  But on Thursday, He outed both Judas and Peter at the Last Supper (John 13:18-38) and then endured seven mock trials before dying on Friday!  Talking about a busy week!!

But there's a back story to these events. One that grabbed my heart much like the way it did our Savior.   Mary of Bethany, the quiet and unassuming sister of Lazarus and Martha with only a few simple gestures endeared herself forever to Christ (Matt. 26:13).  Hopefully, you will feel the same when you hear her story.

We first meet Mary on one of Jesus' visits to Jerusalem (Luke 10:38-42). While Martha was busy serving, Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet. You see Mary was hungry too, in fact starving for the Word!  Nothing else mattered.  Christ understood that and Martha was quickly rebuked when she complained.  Next we find her sitting quietly amid wailing women grieving over Lazarus' death while Martha confronts Jesus about His tardiness (John 11:1-20; 28-33; 45). It was Mary's quiet faith that sustained her and her tears that moved Him emotionally. She knew her Lord would not disappoint! But then during Holy week, probably Tuesday, again Martha served while Mary did what she knew how to do best--adore and adorn Christ. She took expensive perfume and anointed His feet and dried them with her hair, exchanging a woman's crowning glory for His divine (John 12:1-8).  Christ defends her once more as she is accused of wasting money.  A WASTE???  At least three times (13 times recorded in the gospels) Christ predicted His death and not ONE disciple got it, they were too busy!  Mary did!  She knew this was the last chance she'd get to show her love!  Let's not make the same mistake!

As you shop, cook, and prepare for Resurrection Sunday, remember the three things Mary taught us today:

1.  Christ is the BREAD OF LIFE, our spiritual food  (John 6:48)

2.  Christ is the GOOD SHEPHERD, He clothes us in righteousness (John 10:14)

3.  Christ is the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, life is eternal in Him (John 11:25)

Thank God for BOSSY Women!

Bossy is the other B-word, Sheryl Sandberg says in a recent Wall Street Journal article and shouldn’t be used to describe little girls who are confident and show leadership.  Since then she has started a public service campaign to get rid of the word!  She goes on to say, when a boy asserts himself, society calls him a leader. When a girl does it, she is called bossy.

Hmmm…I understand this word can have a negative connotation…but I think Sheryl would do well to read God’s WORD!  I found some pretty Bossy women in there and it didn’t hurt their success at all.  In fact, they achieved some pretty astounding things.  Take Zipporah, Moses’ wife in Exodus 4:25-26.  As men often do, Moses forgot an important detail when he fled Egypt.  He forgot to circumcise his baby son to honor God’s covenant with Abraham. God’s anger was kindled against Moses and to save her husband’s life, Zipporah quickly sprang into action and did the deed herself.  Result: Moses got the Israelites to the Promise Land and we now have the Ten Commandments.

How about Naomi in the book of Ruth who refused widows’ wages (ancient welfare) but schooled beautiful Ruth step by step on how to attract and catch a man of means for future security thus creating the bloodline that brought our Savior in the world? (Ruth 3: 3-4).   Abigail gave orders that saved the lives of her household after foolish Nabal’s disrespect of David and became the wife of a King (I Samuel 25:18-25). And Esther made the Persian palace her command center for months to rescue an entire Jewish race from annihilation. (Esther 4-8). She even had her uncle Mordecai stepping!  And there are so many more.  

I thank God for Bossy women! One raised me!  Being bossy simply means taking charge when things need to get done but recognizing whose truly in charge—our Almighty and Sovereign God.  All must be for His glory!  Ladies, Bossy is in our spiritual DNA.   We were already chosen to be God’s own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had.  We who were the first to put our trust in Christ should thank Him for His greatness. (Eph. 1:11-12 NLT).   So BOSSY Women everywhere… CHARGE!!!!