ALMOST TOO LATE

This has been a week. It didn’t look this busy a couple weeks ago. There was not much written down. Then Monday filled up. And Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday. And – OH NO – It is Friday. How did Friday get here?

I have not written my blog and it is time to post it. How did I forget? Where did this week go? It is Friday and I am almost late.

Almost! Sometimes it is fine to be almost late. It is okay to be almost late to a ball game. Almost late to dinner. It would be okay if I was almost late to church. I wouldn’t miss anything since it was just almost. So, I guess it is okay that it is Friday morning and I am writing this at 8:07 AM instead of posting it. I am just “almost” on time.

Oh, I feel better. I haven’t really missed anything. Or have I?

What if this morning, one person needed to hear about God at 8:07 AM and instead of finding words of encouragement they found – nothing? (No I do not have grandiose ideas that my blog makes a huge difference in the world.) But, what if, one searching soul randomly stumbled on Mary’s Moments and --

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 24:44

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

ALMOST TOO LATE

What if some searching soul almost found words of encouragement? Would they be ready when the Son of Man returns?

What if I am almost ready to give up what stands between God and me? Will I be ready when the Son of Man returns?

What if you have almost made a decision to give your life to God? Will you be ready when the Son of Man returns?

Or will we be standing there saying, “I was almost ready.”

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Will you be too late?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Lord, Slow my breathing. Give me deep breaths as I calm myself. As I take a moment to – A moment to save my soul. I do not intentionally make myself so busy that I forget you. I no not intentionally fill my calendar to the point of breaking. Slow my breathing. Give me deep breaths as I calm myself. As I take a moment to save my soul. As I turn to you and say, “I am ready Lord. Your return is one thing I do not want to miss. I want to live each day so I am ready and will never have to say I almost made it.” … Amen

OLDER SON: “I WANT THE PRODICAL SON’S FATHER.”

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: Luke 15:20, 28

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

OLDER SON: “I WANT THE PRODICAL SON’S FATHER.”

When I turned the radio on, the minister was giving his take on the Parable of the Lost Son and again I thought, “Wrong.” Can you stand one more time on this subject? I do believe this is the most discussed, most preached, most one sided parable there is. Let’s get the given out of the way: Yes, this is a parable about us coming home to God. Coming home after we have taken his blessings, wasted them, hit rock bottom and hoping we will be forgiven.

My problem is that I think the older brother is getting a bad reputation he does not deserve. I do not think he is mad about his brother coming home. I do not think he is even mad about the fattened calf. He might have been a bit upset about the ring, but who knows for sure.

I think he was upset because he wanted his brother’s father. He wanted a father who was so excited to see him that he would run to meet him. He wanted a father who loved him enough to throw him a party. Not one that said, “My son you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But…” You see, it is the “But” that causes the problem. He wanted his brother’s father. That father did not say “but” to the lost son. That father just showed love!

From the first time this parable was told, the older brother was the bad guy. I just don’t agree, because I know how he felt.

You see, I wanted my brother’s mother. There were four of us and my mother had one child. My brother! He could do no wrong. He could be late for a family dinner and we all had to wait. If he wanted something mother had – even if one of us girls had given it to her – she gave it to him. My brother’s mother showed him love! Love I felt I did not get.

One time I asked mother about this. “Why do you love my brother most?” Her reply was, “There is just something about your firstborn.” When I asked, “What about your second, third and fourth born?” she had no reply.

I know my Creator, my Father, my God loves me unconditionally. He loves all His children equally. But I am like the misunderstood older brother. I did not want the “but”. I just wanted to know that this third born was loved as much as the first.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you the prodigal son? Are you the older brother? What do you feel when you read this parable?

Most children have issues with their parents. Some we leave behind in childhood. Some we carry with us into adulthood.

I no longer carry resentment or bitterness and, when my time comes to go back home to God, I will be thrilled to see my parents and my brother again.

What feelings toward your parents or siblings do you have? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Talk to God. Believe me, it works.

And remember: GOD HAS NO FAVORITES! GOD LOVES US ALL! EQUALLY!

AWFUL WORDS TO SAY AND HEAR

TODAYS SCRIPTURES

Judges 10:6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them.

Judges 10:13-14 But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!

AWFUL WORDS TO SAY AND HEAR

If you read the history of the Israelites, it is no different from our history. The phrase ‘did evil in the eyes of the Lord’ appears repeatedly. This time their evil was not only worshiping/serving one other god, but multiple gods. I guess you could call it “god of the day” worship.

AWFUL WORDS TO SAY:

We, like the Israelites, continue to tell God no. We refuse to do X, Y or Z. We do over and over things, we know we shouldn’t. Our gods have different names: Money. Pride. Sports. These are all gods we serve by our actions. And by those actions we tell God no! We tell God we will not serve you alone.

But could you:

• Look into God’s face and say, “Sorry, God. I would rather spend my time watching football/sport of your choice than go to church with my family.”
• Shake God’s hand and say, “Thank you for the plan you prepared for my life, but my plan is better.”
• Sit next to God, remember what you have in the bank, put 1% into the collection plate and say, “Well, God. That is better than nothing.”

How loud would your voice be if you had to raise your head, open your eyes, look into the face of God and say, “I pick these things over you. I no longer serve you.”

I no longer serve you. Awful words to say.

AWFUL WORDS TO HEAR:

In these scriptures, the people have turned to God and asked for help. God tells them, “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!” Now that would be tough to hear. Immediately you would know you had really messed up this time. Instantly you would realize those gods could not save you.

These are not the awful words to hear though. The awful words? “I will no longer save you.”

Our Sunday School class studied these scriptures and I asked the class, “How would it feel to have God say he would no longer save you?”

No one spoke. Most looked down at the table. It was as if the air was sucked right out of the room.

One person finally said, “But he didn’t take away his presence.”

Another said, “They truly repented. (Verse 15) They gave up the other gods.”

What reaction would you have? Would it seem as if the world stopped spinning? As if time stood still? Would you --

I will no longer save you. Awful words to hear.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord forgive me for all the times my actions have refused to serve you. Open my eyes so I will recognize the gods that take my time, my resources, my soul. And when I finally see, when I truly repent - please Lord, forgive me.

Lord, I know you will always be present in my life, but I pray that the Holy Spirit stays strong and so fills me, that I never hear you say, “I will no longer save you.” For if I ever turn to other gods and hear you utter those words, I will be lost forever.

Amen