Eat, Pray, and Love the Truth of God's Word

Last night I watched the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” starring Julia Roberts. This post isn't a movie review; it's my thoughts on some of the life lessons taught by the movie.

After a divorce, Liz (played by Julia Roberts) travels for a year to Italy, India, and Bali. In Italy she learns to eat, India teaches her how to pray, and Bali helps her love. Beyond that, she makes a spiritual discovery in each country that had eluded her in her hectic New York home and life.

I have seen several movies lately with a similar theme of discontentment with the job, the home, the spouse, and the life. Hollywood is telling us you can’t have those things and still feel the depth, passion, and energy of life. I disagree.

It all depends on where you look for the source of your passion and energy. I say with the confidence of experience that a journey into the truth of God’s Word will teach you how to relax and enjoy life, savor each moment, and value what is most important. It will bring inner peace and contentment. It will define and birth a depth of love into your life that you’ve never dreamed possible. 

It doesn’t require a divorce, a passport, thousands of dollars, and ten pounds gained by eating too much pasta. All it requires is faith, a Bible, and time.

Do You See the Miracle?

The birth of a child is a miraculous, life-changing event. At the same time, births happen every day, all over the world. They have since the beginning of time.

One birth, however, was miraculous on a scale that the world had never seen before and hasn’t seen since. Although many miracles surrounded the birth of Jesus, this verse from Isaiah points to an aspect of His birth that is unique to Him alone.

A child is born. 

In Hebrew, child is yeled which means “child, son, boy, offspring, youth.” Yeled is derived from the word yalad which also happens to be the verb translated “is born” in this verse. Yalad means “to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.” This word can be used not only to bear or bring forth a child but also to bring forth distress, wickedness, or iniquity. Jesus was not born in iniquity, but for every other human born since Cain and Abel, when a child is born, although they look so sweet and innocent, they are sinful from birth.

Although sinless, Jesus was born fully human. He was born as a child. The child was born to us.

A Son is given.

A great miracle occurs in the next sentence of the verse. Do you see it? A Son is given. It doesn’t say a son is born. It says a Son is given. Whose son? The Son of God. As the Son of God, He is fully God and fully one with God the Father.

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

“I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:11).

“He who hates me hates my Father as well” (John 15:23).

“All that belongs to the Father is mine” (John 16:15).

God the Father gave His Son to us. He did so to redeem us and enable us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

Jesus Christ - completely human and completely God. One of the greatest Christmas miracles.

Together Again

Nearly eleven years ago I sat at a funeral service for a friend, teacher, and mentor who had passed away. I just came home from the funeral for her husband. Both fought losing battles to cancer and left this life well before their time. 

Despite their early deaths, they both left behind a testimony of love, service and devotion, not only to each other, but first and foremost to Jesus. I nearly wept when I looked at the cover of the memorial leaflet. I saw a picture of them as a young and happy couple, with the words “Together Again” below.  They are together again, but greater still, they are together in the presence of Almighty God and in the presence of His Son, Jesus Christ. Chemotherapy isn’t there. Radiation isn’t there. Injections aren’t there. Pain isn’t there. 

Now, I grant you, neither are their children and grandchildren, siblings, and many of their other loved ones. But you know what? They will be. By the testimony lived by this godly couple, all of those people will one day join them in that joyous and holy presence of the Savior. When all is said and done, that is all that matters. Our careers, houses, and possessions won’t matter. Even precious photos and special memories won’t matter. All that will matter is that we are standing before the throne of God and those that we love will be there with us.

How do I know? Ten years ago this month, I sat in another service. Before that service, during a private family viewing, I sat in the front pew beside my father as the casket of my mother lay in front of us. I remember asking my dad, “How do people do it? How do people do it who have no hope?” Taken suddenly and at a young age, my mother’s death the day after Christmas came as a shock to our family. I learned during that time that anyone of us can be taken by death at any time. Will those you leave behind have the hope of seeing you again in heaven? Have you made that decision to follow Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you been a witness to your loved ones of that lifestyle so that they will someday join you?

“If the only home I hope for is the grave,

if I spread out my bed in darkness,...

where then is my hope?

Who can see any hope for me?”

(Job 17:13,15 NIV)

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

(Titus 3:4-7 NIV)

What's Missing: Remembering to Love at Christmas

It seems to be the week to focus on love. Therefore, I had to share this poem I came across on the blog of a friend. Like the Chayil Woman in my new book Seven Roles, One Woman: You Expect Me to do All That?, it doesn't matter what we do or how well we do it if God is missing from our life.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata,
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

– Author Unknown

The Love Your Neighbor Remix

This passage surprised me because it starts out, “a new command I give you.” 

Granted, I don’t have the Old Testament law memorized, but surely somewhere it talks about loving each other. It can’t all be the how, when, where, why, and what of animal sacrifice. A quick search confirmed I was right. Leviticus 19:18 says to love your neighbor as yourself. 

So what makes Jesus' command “new?” 

The Greek word used here, kainos, has the idea of being fresh or not worn out, as compared to the Greek word neos which would more literally be a new command. Jesus was taking the same old blah-blah message and making it fresh. 

How did He change it up for His disciples and for us today?

When the Old Testament says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” it gives us many examples of how to have a good relationship with your neighbor. 

If you grew up in church, you may remember your childhood Sunday School teacher about now, “Class, who is your neighbor?” 

To which all of the kids respond, “Everyone.” OK, time to leave memory lane and return to reality. 

The Old Testament tells us:

• Don’t defraud or rob your neighbor. Leviticus 19:13
• Don’t endanger their life. Leviticus 19:16
• Don’t sleep with your neighbor’s wife (or husband.) Leviticus 20:10
• Don’t lie about your neighbor. Deuteronomy 5:20
• Don’t want what your neighbor has. Deuteronomy 5:21
• Don’t move the boundary marker between your property and theirs. Deuteronomy 19:14

That all sounds like good advice for us today but, remember, this is the Love Your Neighbor Remix. Jesus went beyond loving your neighbor as yourself and raised the standard to loving one another as He loved us. 

What are some examples of how Jesus showed His love for us? How can we show that love to others?

• He came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10
• He prayed for and forgave His enemies. Luke 23:34
• He was crucified and calls us to be crucified with Him. Galatians 2:20
• “Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
• He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. Revelation 3:19

When was the last time you sought out a lost person for the sole reason of sharing the gospel with them? I’ll be honest here – I’m not sure I ever have. Have you laid down your own sense of entitlement and extended forgiveness to someone who has hurt you deeply? With all compassion, humility, and gentleness, have you helped a loved one come out of a lifestyle choice that is not honoring to God?

I don’t know about you, but I think it was easier to just make sure the boundary stone between their property and mine didn’t get moved.