Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser, teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Proverbs 9:9 NLT.

I wonder how you and I would rank on a “teachableness” scale? Would you consider yourself very teachable? Somewhat teachable? Or lousy at it? Jesus taught with parables. Some understood them, some didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, even His own disciples! They are excellent role models for us. Because they didn’t just go on with their day, nodding, “oh yes, wise sayings”. In Luke 8, Jesus told the parable of the farmer scattering seed. They did not understand, so “his disciples asked him what his parable meant”. Luke 8:9. My friends, we need to ask about things we don’t understand. 

But we must first acknowledge what we don’t know. There are some things in my life I don’t know how to do. Sometimes, I just don’t want to bother with them. Last week, after our Life Group was over, someone noticed a leg on my chair was loose. She picked it up, did something, and tightened it. I didn’t want to admit; I didn’t know how to do it. Usually, I wait till my son comes over, discovers the wobble and fixes it. I never watched him do it or ask how to do it. I just lived with it. However, this week I told myself, it can’t be that hard. I found an Allen wrench, experimented and finally got it to work! Are there areas in your knowledge about God that you have never asked Him to teach you about?

God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher. He wants to instruct us and teach us in God’s ways. Come unto me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30.  I wonder if the reason so many of us grow weary is that we don’t know Him well enough. We are walking in our own strength and wisdom, and doing things harder than need be. We focus on the problem more than on God and His ability to solve it. He wants to teach us better ways to do things, if we only ask.

If we want to be teachable, we must quiet our own thoughts and ideas. Then we must put on our listening ears. Many of us find this hard to do amid our noisy world. I’m trying to remember to pray before I open my Bible every day. “Father, teach me. Help me understand what I am reading”. I don’t want to read simply for information, I want to read for application. Sometimes this is hard, because it means I have to change. Being teachable means you will change your approach, your thoughts, your attitudes, or your actions. But we don’t have to make these changes by sheer willpower. We have the Holy Spirit’s help!

Praying with King David, in Psalm 25: make me t know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25: 4-5. ESV. The more we seek Him and His ways, the more comfortable we are with His paths. A person with a teachable spirit is correctable. They do not need to be defensive. They are soft and tenderhearted toward the things of the Lord. They will admit they are wrong. 

Years ago I was talking with a friend about the scripture about putting new wine in old wineskins. I was sharing my “wisdom” as a young pastor. My friend offered a very insightful comment, and, to be honest, I was embarrassed by my lack of insight. I was dishonest, and said, “Oh, yes I knew that’. Unfortunately, that lie lost me the insight and wisdom she shared. I had to repent and admit my pride stood in the way of my learning something. I ranked very low on the teachable scale that day. Don’t let that happen to you. Let’s be learners, no matter who the teacher might be.

Father, please forgive our pride. Help us humble ourselves and seek to learn from you. Thank you for your willingness to teach us, even if we resist it. Your ways are higher than our ways, once we learn that it is so much easier to do things your ways. In Jesus’ Name, amen/ 

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3: 10 NLT.

Have you ever felt two opposite emotions at the same time? This past Easter, over 100 people raised their hands to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It was so exciting to hear. The next week, we baptized about 30 people! It was exciting to catch their enthusiasm. God is on the move! So I experienced the joy and excitement with our church, and more importantly, The Church. But these new converts are going to need milk and nurturing in God’s ways. They need this if they are to grow up like He desires. I want them to fall in love with Jesus, but also His church.

So my question to all of us is, do you love the church? He does. Do you respect God’s heart toward His church? Is it easy for you to criticize it? But my friends, it is easy to forget the church comprises people.Those people are you and I!  If we as “mature” believers do not model love for God’s house, then how are they to learn to?

Maybe you are struggling to love your specific local church. If something has offended you, do not let it fester. Do you not see how the enemy is trying to separate you? If not physically, then emotionally? Forgive where you need to forgive. Get clarification where you need clarification. Remember, every church is made up of imperfect humans. We often expect the perfection of others and want grace and mercy for ourselves. What type of church would the church be if everyone was like you? Now we know we aren’t all the same and that can create problems. But He has made us a body with separate parts and functions. So learn to be grateful for those with different gifts than you have.

Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Here is another question to consider. How can you stir one another to love and good works? You can’t do this if you are not with one another. Satan wants us to focus on ourselves, so we think “It won’t matter if I go today”. The thing he won’t tell you is how God might use you that day for someone else. If we go with self-focused eyes, we will miss Him using us to help others. Even if you are shy and introverted, God can show you how to pray for someone! “Nobody talked to me” “That church is cold”….hmmm, did you talk to someone? Jesus shed His blood for everyone in your church, the same price He paid for you. It may take an effort to love them, but it may take an effort to love you too!

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without spot. Ephesians 5:25-27. NLT I think we often forget how much God loves His church. We often forget the price He paid for her. We also forget how He is working to make her glorious. We are like spoiled and immature children. We quickly complain and criticize if we don’t get our needs met through her as we think we should. It is time to grow up.

Remember what He said to Peter? And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16: 18. ESV. God will perfect His church. It will keep standing. My friend in India shared with me that a house church was attacked and the pastor put in jail. They are standing strong in the face of adversity and persecution. Let’s not worry about minor issues. Instead, let’s take the time to pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. I am so grateful we have the freedom to worship here in this country. Don’t waste it. There may come a time when we can’t gather. My friends in India are meeting secretly, but they are meeting. They strengthen one another by being together. Let’s do the same.

Father, help us honor and strengthen your church. Not just our local one, but the universal one. We choose to stand with those who may think differently than we do on a topic, but still name you as Lord. Forgive us for disrespecting your Bride, Teach us to love your church, as you do.  in Jesus’ Name, amen. 

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them. Colossians 2:15. NLT.

In his Easter message, one scripture our pastor used was this one. It was an amazing message dealing with time, the cross and the keys of authority we have been given. As he read, in this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. I became focused on the word, “disarmed”. I thought about police officers disarming the bad guys! I kept thinking about how they do a complete search, making sure there were no hidden weapons. They are “stripped” of everything that could be used against them. This is what Jesus did on the cross! He stripped our enemy of all their weapons!

This was the victory Jesus achieved on the cross. He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. I thought, do I really believe it? That Jesus truly disarmed those spiritual authorities that try to lie and steal my victory? How about you? How would our lives be different if we really understood that our enemy has been stripped of his weapons? I am convinced we often live so far beneath His purpose and plan for our lives. We do not really grasp what He accomplished on the cross for us. This was part of the reason Paul wrote this letter. You can hear the longing in Paul’s writing in Colossians 2:1-2. I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church of Laodicea, and for many other believers who I have never met personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

I love verse 14: He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. This is not theory, it is reality. Our past sins are under the blood.We don’t have to live in regret for our past failings. We don’t have to listen to Satan’s lies. When the scripture uses the term “disarmed” it comes from the Greek word that means “stripped”. Do you think you can picture it? Those spiritual authorities standing before the King, and Him taking every weapon from them? They are hanging their heads in shame because there is nothing they can do. He’s done it!

So why don’t we live like this is our reality? Because we must enforce what Jesus has already done. It is our responsibility to resist him and watch him flee from us. This is a reminder. Most of you know this, but sometimes we forget. We just do until we make it a priority to really process it into our soul. I admit, he does sneak up on me with his lies and deception. I am so grateful we have the Holy Spirit to remind us what Jesus did on the cross for us. This is an area where we must allow our mind to be renewed, and most likely renewed again! We need to be in His Word daily to maintain the victory in our own lives.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7. Chapter 2 of Colossians is an amazing reminder of what He did on the cross. Paul’s concern for the believers at Colossae and the surrounding region is so heartfelt. If you struggle with what He finished on the cross for you, take time to meditate on this chapter. It will refresh and encourage you.

Father, thank you. Thank you for allowing Jesus to disarm our enemies. Teach how to put that reality into practice. Every where we have been hoodwinked or lied to, show us. Bring into open areas where we are living beneath what you have done for us. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NLT.

In 1981, while my husband was on a ministry trip to Texas, the Holy Spirit asked him a question. “Darryl, do you have a desire for a son?” As he searched his heart, he told the Lord, “you know, I do”. He called me from Texas and shared that conversation with me. We had already discussed having more children, and he told me he was content with our two beautiful daughters. Rosanna was going to be seven, Elizabeth five. I had already prayed to be content with these two. We were done with diapers, cribs and sleepless nights, but I did some more praying (of course I said, yes!)

This pregnancy was hard. I had extreme morning sickness (all day long!). Then I started spotting blood. My doctor advised bed rest, so that’s what I did. It wasn’t easy with two active girls. This bed rest gave me lots of time to think and pray. I wrestled with God’s question: if this was the promised son, then why was it so hard? Suppose I miscarried? How do I reconcile the two? I processed my trust in God’s Word. I navigated the pregnancy hormones and emotions. I tried to understand what my body was apparently doing. I struggled. One day, I read this verse. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”. Such peace came over me. If, for some reason, I lost this pregnancy, there would be no evil in it. If I carried the baby to full term, there would also be no evil in it, even if it was a girl. For God is the author of life. The very next day, the bleeding stopped!

That scripture goes on to say, I will for no evil, for thou are with me. He is with us through every shadow of doubt and fear. If you are struggling with belief in His goodness through your situation, take heart. His rod and His staff are protecting you if you let Him. The rod is symbolic of God’s protection and discipline. The staff is used for guidance and support. Turn to Him and let Him guide you to safe places in your thoughts and emotions.

Andrew Lloyd Rodman was born September 9, 1982, very healthy and has been such a blessing to our family. The peace that came when I submitted to trusting God’s Word in this matter is hard to describe. This week, the doctors placed my sister Carol in hospice care. It was not unexpected, but still difficult to hear. Hospice care happens when the doctors feel a person has less than six months to live. Carol has been fighting Parkinson’s for several years.

Carol has been the glue that has kept our unusual family together. She was eleven when we were born. Our sister Laura was 4. Because of our mother’s mental condition, Carol and Laura were placed in foster care, and we were placed for adoption. Eventually, Carol and Laura were adopted into separate families as well. Through God’s amazing answer to prayer, we were reunited at 15. Carol was the big sister we didn’t know we needed! Carol is number four of eight children. We were numbers 6, 7 and 8! This valley is not easy for any of us.

The good news is Carol loves the Lord, and we know she will be with Him. My heart goes out to her two dear daughters who have taken such good care of her. It is difficult to navigate the hard decisions that come with end-of-life care. I know from personal experience, there will be a big hole in their hearts and lives when she goes. There is no evil in her passing. Parkinson’s diagnosis is not an easy one, and like all sicknesses and diseases, the result of the Fall.

Our hope lies in the resurrection, doesn’t it? This life has its difficult moments, for sure. The passing of loved ones is one of the hardest parts. But we take comfort in the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Through Jesus, God will also bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

My friends, love well those you care about. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you navigate the difficult conversations. Accept the reality that none of us leave this world alive. Our real life will start when we see Him…aren’t you glad we have a Savior?

Father, I ask you to help us understand in a deeper manner how to navigate every valley that looks like death, and every valley that does lead to a death. Whether it is the death of dreams, or the death of a loved one. We choose to trust you, In Jesus’ Name. Amen.