CamDevo

I don’t have to deal with a lot of blood in my life, thank goodness. I am not an emergency room doctor, nor do I work in a slaughterhouse. Both of these professions see a bit of blood on a daily basis, I imagine.

In Biblical times, everyone saw a lot more blood. People raised animals and killed them for meals, and sacrifices. Unlike me, they couldn’t buy a chicken already beheaded, butchered, and plucked at the local market. When I order a hamburger, it arrives in front of me looking nothing like the cow it came from. Even when I make my own hamburger, I pull a blob of pink goo wrapped in plastic from my freezer. I don’t have to look the animal in the eyes and see its fear or confusion or pain. Or witness its blood being spilled. Gruesome.

I could become a vegetarian, but who’s to say the leeks I wrestled from the ground weren’t screaming in pain, in a language I don’t hear, as I yanked them up by the roots. I hope not.

My point is that for me to eat and sustain my life, something else must die. Aside from honey, every other food requires death of some sort. Or as the Bible often puts it, blood.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

In the spiritual realm this is also true. For me to live, something else must die. Why? Because for there to be justice, evil must die. God requires perfection. No evil. Only goodness and love. I am not perfect, and no matter how hard I try, I will never be perfectly good.

But God doesn’t want His children to have to die because of sin. He made a way out, if we choose it. First, He gave the method of animal sacrifice. That was a temporary measure that further illustrated how bad we are at being perfect. We couldn’t even get that right.

Fortunately, Jesus came and took the place of all those animal sacrifices. He did live a perfect life so He was the perfect scapegoat for the punishment I deserved. And He died, spilled His blood, so I could live.

I never want to witness what goes on at a slaughterhouse. I’m even more grateful to know I won’t end up at the ultimate slaughterhouse where all evil is destroyed for good. I have Jesus, and His willingness to go there in my place, to thank for that.

Dear God, you are perfect, pure, holy, and true. I am none of those things. I am so glad that you love me anyway and have provided such a simple way for me to escape my punishment and also to be cleansed so I can enter your pristine presence without mucking it all up. I am so very grateful!

My body doesn’t know what’s good for me. If I obeyed every craving and hunger pang, I would weigh 500 pounds. I would eat an entire cake, roll over, take a nap, and wake up to eat another cake. These desires are not logical, healthy, or wise.

Fortunately, I don’t have to do everything my body tells me to do. I have a brain that understands the dangers in following my physical whims. Although the warm sun feels good on my skin, I shouldn’t lay in it and bake. Although it may be fun and exciting to bet my money on a game, I shouldn’t risk money that I need for rent. Although I might be flattered by attention from someone who is not my spouse, I would lose all the trust in my relationship by indulging my ego.

Even though I know the right thing to do, my body can be pretty persuasive. Just saying no can be challenging because yes is easy and feels so good.

Currently, I’m trying to forego processed sugar. At least for a few months while I get a handle on my sugar cravings. I am two weeks in, and my body has let me know how unhappy it is with the situation. But my brain knows I’m doing the right thing.

I have found that the best way is not to just limit sugar but cut it out entirely. If I allow any sugar, my body just screams for more. If I allow some, why not just a little more? But if I always say no, my body will eventually stop asking. Or at least stop demanding.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Sugar is not the same as sin, but my body craves all kinds of things, many of which are sins. Gossip. Lying. Sloth. Hatred. Apathy. Selfish indulgences of all kinds. If I allow any of the things that draw me away from God, anything that is counter to His character, I will only want more. Sin begets sin in a similar way that sugar begets sugar.

Fortunately, God has provided freedom from the cycle of sin. His Spirit dwells in me as His follower giving me strength to say no to my body. And importantly, forgiveness when I fail.

I am no longer trapped by my selfish and unhealthy desires if I consistently say no to them, “crucify” them, and make room in my life for good things instead. Good things like love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, self-control… Or in the case of my sugar cravings, when I fill up with good things like salads and balanced meals, there is less room for sugar.

Dear God, thank you for my healthy body that is often trustworthy. Thank you also for the realization that just as often my body does not want the right things. Teach me your ways and fill me with your Spirit so I know the difference and have the strength to say no to the bad but yes to all your goodness.

Powerful, wealthy, and famous people are really hard to talk to. If I asked Bill Gates to meet me for coffee, do you think he’d show up? If I looked for Taylor Swift near her home in Beverly Hills, do you think I would find her? If I showed up and knocked on the White House door, do you think I’d get an audience with the president?

Fortunately, God is not a recluse. He doesn’t ignore or turn away people who seek Him out. He doesn’t wear a disguise or hire bodyguards. He doesn’t hide out at a private estate with impenetrable walls, security cameras, and privacy hedges.

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭8,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God is delighted to make Himself present for anyone who asks for Him, looks for Him, or knocks on His door. God is more powerful than any human could ever be, yet He makes himself available anytime, anywhere to all sincere seekers.

And a funny thing happens when I spend time with God. Often, the thing I came to ask Him about doesn’t really seem to be what I want anymore. Sometimes, something better comes to mind.

One time, back when Dorothy Hamill won her gold medal, I really wanted a haircut like hers, as did every other young girl. Fortunately, when I requested one from the stylist who was about to cut my hair, she talked kindly to me about the curliness of my hair, the shape of my face, and my lifestyle. She showed me some photos of haircuts that were much more suitable for me. We agreed on a different style. Because of her gentle wisdom, I wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t leave with a Dorothy Hamill wedge. I was excited to show off my adorable bob.

Hanging out with God is like that. Maybe I came to the meeting wanting something that wasn’t right for me, not healthy or good. When I listen to His loving wisdom, my desires change. God delights in giving me good things because He loves me. But He doesn’t just slam the door in my face when I ask for the wrong thing. We talk about it. And if I listen with an open heart, I grow, learn, change, and get the best.

Dear God, thank you for your promise to be present with me always. Thank you also for your loving desire to give good gifts to your children. Help me to trust you to know what is good for me. You know me, and you know my future. Open my heart to change my desires so they line up with your plan for me.

No one wants their life to become a to-do list. And yet, every day brings new things that need doing. My list only seems to grow and never shrink.

Because the to-do list seems to demand control of my day, I run out of time to do fun things like paint or play the ukulele. “Where’s my retirement free time?” I whine.

I was feeling particularly put-upon one day when I barked at my husband. Why am I the one that always empties the dish washer and folds the clothes and empties the trash? How come I have to make the appointment to get the car fixed? When did the job of grocery shopping get assigned to me?

My argument was ill-timed because, unbeknownst to me, he had just spent three hours working on a project that I had been avoiding.

This world is hard, and there is a lot of work involved in living and surviving. This is a result of “the fall” when God pushed the rebellious Adam and Eve out of the garden, announcing that they will have to struggle from now on. Life is struggle.

While this is true, some have it easier than others. When I’m feeling overwhelmed by mundane chores, it is helpful for me to remember how good I have it. I can get clean water just by turning on a faucet while many people in the world don’t have that luxury. I have a warm, safe bed to sleep on every night. And I have my husband, my partner in life, to share all this work with.

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Everyone has struggles. Usually I have no idea what other people are going through. When I start to whine about my troubles, it’s because I am only thinking about myself. Jesus never whined about His struggles. Why do I have to heal all these sick people? Why do I have to feed 5000 families with only 2 loaves of bread and a few fish? Why do I have to be nailed to that cross when I didn’t do anything wrong?

Love means doing the stuff that needs doing. Even if it seems unfair. Even when people don’t notice how I’m taking care of them. Even when they aren’t grateful. Love means being like Jesus.

Dear God, thank you so much for not whining about your life but doing the stuff of love. Thank you for being a living model of what love means. And thank you so much for going through with your sacrifice so I don’t have to. Give me the strength to humbly and gratefully do all the stuff of love today.

Lately I’ve been sulking about how nothing in this world lasts. Nothing good stays good. No matter how sturdily a house is built, it decays, sags, cracks, rots, and eventually falls down. Good maintenance can prolong its life, but even a well-cared for roof will need to be replaced at some point.

We purchased the home we currently live in as a new build, a brand new house. We’ve lived here less than a year and repairs are already needed. A drawer suddenly doesn’t close properly. The furnace has developed a rattle. A window cracked.

My own body is frustrating me in a similar way. As I age, there is no stopping the changes headed my way. Hair graying, eyes blurring, muscles weakening, skin sagging. Sure, there are maintenance tasks that can mitigate these degradations temporarily, but eventually my body will return to dust.

Everything changes here. Friends move. Jobs become unstable. Laws change. Weather patterns depart from historical norms. A familiar path is suddenly blocked. Businesses close. Prices rise. A family doctor retires.

Sometimes the changes we experience are good ones. But even good changes require adjustment. Change is hard but absolutely unavoidable. Except…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭34‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

God never changes. He is the Great I Am. He always was and always will be. He exists in all the verb tenses.

God doesn’t get tired or distracted by boredom. He doesn’t sleep or go on vacation. His mind doesn’t wander. He can’t be tricked or fooled or swindled.

God’s character does not change either. He is good. He is love. He is wisdom. He is all-powerful and infinite. He is everywhere, always, all at once.

God is the one and only thing that does not change. And He is the only thing I can count on. And the only one I should ever rely on.

Dear God, thank you for the reminder that you, and only you, are reliable. When I put my hopes in anything or anyone else in this world I am headed for disappointment. Teach me to rely only on you and not to worry about losses I suffer here.

I think it’s possible that one of the reasons God selected the time and place for Jesus to be born was because it was a time of shepherds. Everyone alive then knew exactly what shepherds were, the kind of lives they led, the dangers they faced, the tasks involved in their jobs. Most probably knew a shepherd or two personally.

So shepherds were a very relatable and simple illustration for the way God cares for His people. The metaphor of God as shepherd is well-used in the Bible.

In modern times, much of that relatability is lost. While there are still shepherds, it’s not commonplace.

When thinking about more modern occupations that might apply, I come up short.

Garbage collector? They do care for some very basic needs. They are very humble. But I don’t have a personal relationship with my garbage collector.

School teacher? There is a relationship, hopefully a caring one. And the teacher does look after a large group, but only groups of children, and the care doesn’t extend to nights, weekends, and summers.

Maybe some kind of local politician? Still the modern metaphor falls short.

Thankfully we have historical records to help us understand the life of a shepherd, so we can see the points that God was making by describing Himself in such a way.

A shepherd’s job was 24/7. He knew all of his sheep well. He knew when they were sick, injured, pregnant, hungry, and thirsty. He met their daily, mundane needs. Nothing in the care of his sheep was beneath him. He protected them from themselves as well as outside dangers. And the sheep knew him too. They recognized his voice and trusted him enough to follow.

“He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭11,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s astonishing that God describes Himself as this humble caretaker. In the same chapter as the verse above, Isaiah describes God as “the everlasting God” and “Creator of the whole earth.” He says God has “measured the waters in the hollows of His hand” and “brings out the stars by number.” He proclaims that God’s power, strength, and understanding are limitless.

And yet God tends to my daily needs. He cares about everything I do and everywhere I go. Nothing about my life is too small to capture God’s attention. This Almighty Majestic God of the Universe wants to be your humble shepherd. Will you let Him?

Dear God, thank you for caring about me and my life. I can’t really wrap my head around it. You are God. You understand the vastness of space and see the bottom of the sea. You created everything and will still be here when it is gone. Why you care about me I will never understand, but I am so very grateful that you do!

I grew up in a very rural area. Our house was surrounded by 16 acres of heavily wooded land. We had a few trails through the forest, but their maintenance was patchy. Sometimes the trail’s path was overgrown or just petered out. But I still loved to hike off into the trees to see what I would see.

Occasionally I would worry about getting lost. But despite the lack of well-marked or groomed trails, our forest had a couple of special ways to overcome being lost.

One way was to stop and listen for the dim sound of a freeway that passed a mile or so away from one edge of the property. As long as traffic was humming, I could usually get a general sense of which way was north.

I discovered the second way of avoiding disorientation one evening when it started to get dark much sooner than I expected. I had been climbing trees or watching ants in a huge anthill or something else equally absorbing to a child when I suddenly realized I could barely see what I was doing. I didn’t really know where I was, and the freeway traffic had died down. It was barely perceptible.

My fun forest suddenly became a frightful warren of tree trunks and brambles. I panicked a little, in this era before cell phones.

Then I saw it. A beacon. There, and then gone, there, and then gone again. White, then green, then white, and green again.

Through the trees I could see reflections from the glimmer of the nearby regional airport’s rotating beacon. It was several miles away but bright enough to light up the dark sky. Relieved, I got my bearings and headed toward home.

“Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.” (Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭3,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God has lovingly provided a beacon in our figurative darkness too. When I feel like my life doesn’t make sense, and I lose sight of what matters, God is always available to shine His light on the right path for me — the one that leads to Him. I have to stop whatever I’m doing, recognize my helplessness, and turn to Him with humility, obedience, and trust. His light is so bright, I cannot escape it. And it is always there for me. But I need to look up to see it.

Dear God, thank you for your word and your ever-present brilliant light of love. Forgive me for thinking I know the way, and remind me to look up constantly to make sure I am always treading the right path. Your word is a lamp to my feet.

The thing that most stands out to me about stars is not that they are pointy, the way we draw them in kindergarten, or that they twinkle, like in the song. No, what stands out to me is that you can really only see them at night. Occasionally, right after sunset, you can see one or two of the brightest stars, but otherwise you must wait until well after dusk to see the full panoply of them. And even then you have to be far away from the light pollution of a big city to enjoy their true splendor.

It is in the dark that these bright anomalies shine; glimmering pinpricks of light in the vast black void of space. The darker the sky, the more stars you see. Not because there are suddenly more of them, but because they are contrasted more fully with the surrounding inky nothingness. Even the dimmest stars become beacons.

“Those who have wisdom will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭3,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

In a dark world, followers of Jesus are supposed to shine like these stars. We are meant to contrast ourselves with the gloom, fear, despair, and hatred of our society. We do this by reflecting the love and hope of Jesus. His brilliant love pours out of me into my community, lighting up my little corner.

The wonderful thing is that the darker the world becomes, the more apparent His love becomes, when displayed through His people. Just a little love distributed today becomes a beacon of hope in the inky nothingness. And I am not alone but joined by billions of other beacons of Jesus’s light of love.

Dear God, thank you for the example of your kingdom displayed in the awesome night sky. Teach me how to be one of the bright lights of love in this dark world. Remind me to shine this little light of mine and not to fear the dark but to be encouraged by the others I see shining brightly around me.

Several years ago Marie Kondo became famous as a decluttering guru with the catchphrase, “Does it spark joy?” She encouraged people to gather all their possessions, to hold them in their hands one by one, and ask that question. If the answer was yes, they should keep the item. If not, it should be discarded.

It seems like a simple concept, but apparently it helped many people solve the challenging problem of having too much stuff and not knowing what to do about it.

Life can get very complicated with conflicting information coming from myriad sources. Decision-making becomes convoluted and stressful. Having one simple question to answer when confronted with a choice turns the essay questions of life into much more manageable true or false options.

God knows how important our choices in life are. And He knows how difficult we tend to make them. Even our daily choices bog us down with indecision and confusion. We wonder, what should I do?

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you:  to act justly, to love faithfulness,  and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Well, God provided this Marie-Kondo-like guide. At each decision point in my day, I should ask myself, will this choice promote justice? (Or will it tip the scales in my favor?) Will it demonstrate my faith in God? (Or will it reveal that I trust in someone or something else, or that I feel the need to take care of it myself?) Will it put others’ needs before my own? (Or am I worried about how I will look or whether my rights are being trampled?)

Dear God, thank you for reminding me that life doesn’t have to be complicated. If I trust you and bring my priorities in line with yours, I will have peace. Teach me to seek justice, demonstrate my faith in you, and follow you humbly with every choice I make today.

I recently visited my childhood home. I hadn’t been there in decades, and a lot had changed. So much so that I didn’t really recognize the place. The meadows had turned into thick groves of trees. A few familiar big old trees had fallen or been removed. Small trees had grown large or been crowded out. The undergrowth had even changed from thick blackberry brambles to Virginia creepers.

There used to be path, a shortcut my sister and I would take to catch the school bus every morning. We were usually running late so we’d need to fly down the path that had been worn into the side of the hill. In rain or sun, thick greenery or deep snow, we knew exactly where to step and which trees to grab onto to keep from falling when careening down the steep slope.

During my recent visit, I tried to find that old path. I pushed through some thick vines and saplings, climbing unsteadily where I thought the path had started. I turned back and tried again a few times, but the landmark trees, roots, and cleared dirt patches were nowhere to be found.

I nearly gave up when I started to notice one element that remained unchanged. The rocks. Several boulders that we had used to mark our way were easily recognizable in the thick undergrowth. Like old friends, they remained unchanged and unmoved, ready to guide my way.

“Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

God is unchanging. Like a rock, He is unmoved by time or changed by seasons. He is the same today as He was when He created the earth. And He will be the same long after I am gone.

When I feel lost in this life, I can always turn to God to be reminded of the truth. He will guide me to the right path.

Dear God, thank you for being my solid rock. I so easily get distracted and confused by conflicting voices and blinded by worry. Teach me to return my mind to your unchanging word and anchoring promises. You are my rock.