Livin Lively

          We recognized the tenth anniversary of 9/11 last week, and as I watched the news coverage, I saw the destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center over and over again. As I reflected back to that day and time, I remembered having looked up many verses in the Bible regarding towers.

          In the Bible, towers were symbolic for a city’s strength and power. The goal during a battle siege was to tear down a city’s towers. Towers were also a place of refuge during battle. People would run to the tower and hide in the tower for safety.

Here are some of the verses about towers that I found in scripture:

The tower of Babel: Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4)

A prophecy against Tyre: “He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.” (Ezekiel 26:9-12)

A Message about Babylon: “Take up your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD. Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down.” (Jeremiah 50:14-15)

 Judah looked to Egypt for help instead of relying on God: “Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.” (Lamentations 4:17)

Abimelech ambushes Shechem: “He and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, ‘Quick! Do what you have seen me do!’ So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.” (Judges 9:48-49)

            As I read these verses about towers falling and people perishing inside, I thought about our World Trade Center towers. I was amazed every time the news showed these mighty structures just crumbling to the ground, taking so many lives with them. No matter how much steel they were reinforced with, they were not indestructible.

            Man’s strength and power cannot save us; God is the only one Who is an indestructible tower. Those who run and hide in Him may lose their earthly life, but their eternal life can never be taken away. They have an eternal refuge in Him.

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer… For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.” (Psalm 61:1 and 3)  

 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

          Put your trust in God’s strength and power, and He will be an indestructible refuge and tower.

By Peggy Lively

            In the Bible, Solomon is described as the wisest man that ever lived. It says, ^“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt,” and “Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” (I Kings 4:29-30 and 34, NIV)

           I read these verses in the New King James Version, and this is what verse 29 says, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. (I Kings 4:29, NKJV) What immediately caught my attention was “largeness of heart.” I had not remembered reading that description of Solomon before. As I thought about what this meant and who Solomon was, I thought it must mean wisdom with compassion- considering others as more important than yourself (Philippians 2:3). Someone may be very wise and use their wisdom proudly for selfish gain, or they can use their wisdom humbly to benefit others and pursue peace. That’s where “largeness of heart” makes the difference.

          The Bible elaborates on these two types of wisdom: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:16-18, NIV)

            Has God gifted you with wisdom? How about largeness of heart? Are you using your wisdom to bless others and bring praise to Him? Share your wisdom with others; it’s contagious. “He who walks with the wise grows wise.” (Proverbs 13:20)

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

By Peggy Lively

            As I drove down a busy road, I approached a car on its left hand side and saw the driver’s leg hanging out of the window. I thought to myself, “That can’t be very safe.” Then as I continued to cautiously pass the car, I looked over and saw that the driver was a teenage boy. Along with his leg out of the window, he had his left hand (three fingers actually) on the steering wheel, while the other two fingers held a cigarette. His right hand was holding up his phone texting. I passed by as quickly as I could, and kept looking in my rearview mirror expecting to witness an accident. I wondered, “Does he even realize he’s driving?” He was completely distracted from the most important thing!

            I know in my life, I get very distracted sometimes, and have to re-focus on the main thing. When I do, I always think of Martha in the Bible when Jesus gently rebukes her saying, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42, CEV) Jesus reminds Martha that her sister Mary, “who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said,” was focusing on the main thing, the only thing that matters. Meanwhile, “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” (Luke 10:40) Jesus narrowed it down to only one thing that is most important, spending time with Him and listening to Him. If we don’t intentionally set aside time in our schedule to spend time with Him, we can get very distracted.

            When I was a child I memorized the Westminster shorter catechism, and I still remember the first question and answer:

Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

            If our chief end, the most important thing, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, are we focusing on the main thing? Or like this teenage driver, are we completely distracted from what’s most important? This young driver needs to learn to keep his eyes focused on the road, and he reminded me that I need keep my eyes focused on Jesus- not making Him one of many things I am juggling, but giving Him my full attention.       

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:3

By Peggy Lively

            As I was sifting through nearly twenty years of cards, notes, and keepsakes, I came across something that I wrote almost eight years ago. It was titled “Unanswered Questions,” and this is what it said:

            I struggle with some questions today that I will probably never have the answers to on this side of eternity. Last week, a friend of mine, Hudson, decided that life was not worth living, and he hung himself on a tree limb in his own backyard. In shock and disbelief, I try to absorb this information, but really can’t get passed, “Why, Hudson?”  “Could it really have been that bad?” And in my grief for the family, who has been like family to me, I begin to deal with so many questions swirling in my mind.

            There was a time in Hudson’s life when he was so committed to following the Lord. He would share his faith with every living, breathing person that crossed his path. It was inspirational to me. But somewhere along the way, Hudson became cynical and turned his back on everything that had to do with God. So my questions begin with, “Was Hudson really saved?” “Was he just going through the motions?” “Did he turn his back on God and reject Him to his own eternal demise?” “Did he return to his faith before he took his own life?” “Or did he never truly leave it?”

            For me, as a parent, these become the most difficult questions to answer. I think about the verse, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) Really? Hudson’s parents are very committed Christians, who have given their lives to minister to others. Are they perfect parents? No. But, they certainly trained Hudson up in the “way he should go.” Besides that, Hudson was not old; he was only 34 when he took his own life. And by looking at his actions, words, and choices, he did “depart from” the way he should go.

            I think sometimes we try to put God in a neat formula that allows for everything to work out in an explainable and acceptable fashion. Such as, if I do my part and raise up my children in the way they should to, then God has to do His part and save my child. In this approach though, somehow we begin to expect things from God as if He owes us something. I cannot understand how God works. His ways are, and always will be, higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:9) I do know that He has given us free will, and I praise Him for that. Children grow up, and make their own choices—most importantly whether they will choose to accept Jesus as their Savior or not. Nobody else, not even parents, can make this choice for them. We are called to teach them, train them, share Christ with them, and love them. Through our words and actions, hopefully, they will choose to follow Him. But does God owe us anything? No. He has already given us everything in His Son Jesus.

            Unfortunately, in this world, due to the effects of sin, none of us are exempt from heartache and pain. I have seen much tragedy and sorrow recently, and they have all involved very strong Christian families. This always leaves us with so many unanswered questions.

            In the midst of unanswered questions, and seeming contradictions in God’s Word and the circumstances around us, there are two things I know I can always count on. One, God loves me and He sacrificed His Son so that I can have a relationship with Him. Two, because He loves me, I know that I can trust Him. Even when I don’t understand the circumstances in my life and don’t have the answers to my questions, His unconditional love for me ensures me that I can trust Him.

By Peggy Lively

            At the beginning of this summer I bought a bird feeder and set it up in my back yard so I could enjoy watching the different types of birds. As I sat one morning reading my Bible and watching the birds out my window, I read:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25-26) As I looked at the birds and thought about this verse, I was reminded of what Psalm 8 says:

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 3-8)

            When God created us, He created us just a little lower than the angels. Then He placed all other living creatures, including the birds of the air, underneath our rule. He crowned us with glory and honor, and He loves us so much more than the birds. He reminds us that if He cares for the birds and feeds them, then He will surely provide for us as well.

            As I continued looking at the carefree birds and thinking about how God provides for them, I realized that He was using me to feed them. Although, my motives were simply for my own enjoyment, God had used me to provide food for the birds. This made me think of all the times in 18 years of ministry that God has provided for me and my family through other people. He is the Provider, but He often uses people. Maybe He wants to use me or you to meet the needs of someone else. God is faithful to provide for His children, and He is often very creative in the way that He does it. He used me to feed the birds in my yard, but He also used birds to feed a man in the Bible.

            In I Kings 17:2-6, God used ravens to feed the prophet Elijah: Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

            God loves you so much more than the birds. Trust Him to provide for you. He may provide for you through other people or in creative ways that you never expected. But, there is one more verse in Matthew that reminds us what we need to do as we trust Him to provide. It says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) We must seek Him first and do what He says, just as Elijah did. Not in order to earn or deserve His provision, but so He can lead us to the source of His provision. The more we seek Him and focus on Him, the less we will focus on the things that worry us.

          This morning as I read my Daily Light devotional, I read Isaiah 44:22 which says, “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (NKJV) As I read this, I thought about how the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt using a cloud:

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.  Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. ” (Exodus 13:21-22)

            Then I was intrigued about the significance of clouds in the Bible, so I began searching for different references to clouds in scripture. It was exciting for me to read all the verses that I found, so I thought I would share some of them with you:

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him–His name is the Lord.” Psalm 68:4

“He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” Psalm 104:3

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.” Genesis 9:13-15

“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

            So when you look at the clouds that our Creator has placed in the sky, remember that He has blotted out your sins like a thick cloud; He has faithfully led His people with a cloud; He has placed His covenant promise in the clouds; He rides on the clouds and will return to this Earth on the clouds, and if we are still alive when He returns, the first place we will meet Him is in the clouds. Isn’t that exciting? I think I will look at the clouds very differently from now on.

By Peggy Lively

            I recently read a book titled, Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo. It is a short, quick-read that is becoming increasingly popular. The book is about Todd Burpo’s three and a half year old son, Colton, who nearly died during an emergency appendectomy. During his operation, Colton claims to have made a “3 minute” trip to Heaven. This book is a description of the things Colton saw in Heaven and who he met while he was there.

            Colton speaks of meeting his great-grandfather who died before he was born and meeting his sister who had died “in her mommy’s tummy” also before Colton was born. Colton’s parents never told him that his mom had a miscarriage, so they were shocked when he spoke of meeting his sister in Heaven. He describes rainbows and the colors of Heaven as being brilliant and beautiful far beyond what we can imagine here. He speaks of angels with swords defending the gates of Heaven. He talks of how it is never dark because “God and Jesus light up heaven,” and how “nobody is old in heaven and nobody wears glasses.”

          Colton also speaks of meeting Jesus and what He looks like. His parents, eager to know what Jesus looks like, continued to point out portraits and paintings of Jesus, asking if that is what He looks like. Colton would always say something was not quite right about the pictures. So they began to ask him, “What’s wrong with this one?” when they would show him a portrait of Jesus. One day, however, his dad came across a young artist named Akiane Kramarik.

          Akiane began painting at age six, but at age four she “began to describe to her mother her visits to heaven.” Akiane’s mother was an atheist and the concept of God was never taught in their home. Neither did Akiane go to a preschool, so her mom knew she was not learning these ideas from someone else. Slowly, Akiane’s mother began to believe Akiane’s reports of heaven as real and that, therefore, God must be real. As Colton’s dad looked at Akiane’s artwork on the internet, he found a portrait of the face of Jesus. Akiane describes Jesus as “very masculine, really strong and big. And his eyes are just beautiful.”

         Nearly three years after Colton’s surgery and showing him dozens of portraits of Jesus, Colton had still never seen one he thought was just right. So his dad called him in to look at the portrait by Akiane. He asked Colton, “Take a look at this. What’s wrong with this one?” Colton looked for a long time at the screen in silence, and just stood there studying it. His dad asked again, “What’s wrong with this one, Colton?” Silence. His dad nudged him, and then Colton finally said, “Dad, that one’s right.”

          I have spoken with some people who are skeptical that the stories of these heavenly visits are true. But for me, they don’t change anything I believe theologically whether they happened or not. They simply give me hope, anticipation and eagerness to meet my Savior. I pray they do the same for you.

                     Akiane’s portrait of Jesus

By Peggy Lively

              I spend a lot of time at the grocery store, so I have the opportunity to learn many life lessons there. One day as I was checking out with my groceries, the cashier kept coughing and coughing and sniffling. She paused briefly from scanning my items and blew her nose, then she continued to touch every item I was purchasing. All I could think was, “Thanks, now I get to take those germs home with me on all the food I am purchasing.” On the other extreme, I once had a cashier who wore latex gloves as she scanned all my items. She even sprayed the glass scanner with disinfectant in between customers and wiped it clean. She made me a happy customer.

            After my encounter with the “nose-blowing” cashier, a quote by Brennan Manning came to my mind. “Discipleship is…all about the way you live with each other. In every encounter we either give life or we drain it. There is no neutral exchange. We either enhance human dignity, or we diminish it.” For me, my encounter with this cashier was a negative exchange. However, this quote really got me thinking about what I give or take away from others who I encounter every day. Am I giving life or draining it? Enhancing human dignity or diminishing it?

            It is so easy for me to be focused on my agenda and the tasks before me, that sometimes I don’t realize how I affect the lives around me. I can fly in and out of the circles of my life and not even realize who was there, much less encourage or enhance their life in some way. Here are some verses that challenge me to do better at that:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (I Thessalonians 5:11)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)

           As you encounter others today, look for opportunities to encourage, enhance, do good, and “give life” to them. We need one another, and will continue to all the more as we see the Day of Christ’s return approaching. God bless you as you spur one another on in His name.

By Peggy Lively

                A month ago, my sister and I completed our first marathon together in Nashville, Tennessee. When we decided and committed to walking the marathon, we both knew we would learn many life lessons from this experience. For me, there were two Bible verses that quickly came to mind during our journey on the course.

            The first verse was brought to my mind by the course map. On marathon day, I was very thankful that someone else had already marked out the race for us. They had measured the exact distance and posted large signs counting every mile along the way. So all we had to do was follow the signs. This was one of the challenging parts about training for the marathon, trying to find a course long enough in the middle of my neighborhood and then determining how far I had actually walked. One day as I walked and mindlessly listened to my music, I took a turn from my usual course and ended up much further down the road than I intended. So I was thankful that I wasn’t responsible for charting out a 26.2 mile course and trying to figure out where my destination would be. I just had to follow the signs and stay on the path. And because the path was already marked out, there were thousands of people lined along the way cheering us on. These aspects of the race reminded me of this verse, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1) Jesus has marked out the race for us, and the journey ends in Heaven. His Word shows us the right path to take (Psalm 119:105) as we read it and follow the signs. “Do not merely listen to the Word…do what it says.” (James 1:22) I am so thankful that as I believe in Jesus and follow Him, He leads me on this path of life. Furthermore, because He has already marked out the course for me through the cross, I am confident of my final destination.

            The second Bible verse came to my mind halfway through the marathon when there was a split in the course. Those completing the half marathon went to the right toward their finish line, and those continuing on with the full marathon kept to the left. Thousands of people veered off to the right, and my sister and I continued on the left. It was literally just the two of us. As far as I could see, there was only one other person about a half mile in front of us. So as I watched the thousands go off to the right, I questioned, “Are we going the wrong way?” “What in the world are we doing?” “Do they know something that we don’t?” But we continued on the race marked out for us. The visual of these two roads and those traveling down them immediately brought to my mind Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

           No, there isn’t anything spiritual about a marathon. But the Bible says there is a broad path, and thousands of people will follow it to destruction. When you choose to travel on the narrow road, there will be times when you feel like you are the only one on your course. You may look at the thousands going the other way and question, “Am I going the wrong way?” “What am I doing?” “Do they know something I don’t?” In fact, recently, regarding a Spiritual conviction in our lives, my husband and I asked each other, “Are we the only ones…?”

            If you are traveling on the narrow road, don’t be persuaded to follow the crowd. Persevere on the road that is marked out for you. Then one day you will be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (II Timothy 4:7-8)

 By Peggy Lively

          When difficult things happen in my life, or some blessing is withheld, I tend to question, “What did I do wrong?” Then I begin to examine whether there is some sin in my life that I am being disciplined for. The Bible tells us that sometimes hardship in our lives is a result of God’s discipline:  “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” (Hebrew 12:5-7) However, scripture also reveals that sometimes sin has nothing to do with our difficult circumstances; sometimes God is doing something much greater. Jesus taught this lesson to His disciples in the book of John.

          Jesus and His disciples were walking along when they saw a man who had been blind from birth. And “His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’” The disciples assumed that this man’s hardship, his blindness, was a result of some sin in his or his parents’ lives. But Jesus answered, “‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:2-3) His blindness was not a punishment for some sin; it was a platform to display the glory of God. His parents weren’t being disciplined for unrighteousness, their son was chosen to exhibit to power of God. And his story continues to display the power of God to us today through the pages of scripture.

          Jesus said something similar to Mary and Martha when they sent word to Him that Lazarus was sick and dying. When they needed Him desperately and immediately, Jesus stayed two more days where He was, and Lazarus died. He lay in the tomb for four days before Jesus arrived. The Jews even questioned why Jesus had not intervened and prevented Lazarus from dying. They asked, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37) But Jesus declared, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) In the midst of their questioning and grief, Mary and Martha were not being punished for some sin or lack of faith. Jesus delayed in their time of need because He was waiting for the perfect time to display the power of God. Their tragedy was a platform for the miraculous.

          When it seems impossible that any good can come out of your difficult circumstance, remember these examples, and remember the cross. If we look at the crucifixion of Jesus alone, it seems impossible that any good can come from His unjust suffering and pain. Yet our greatest good came as a result of His death: the salvation of our souls. And the power of God was displayed in His life as He resurrected His Son from the dead.

          When your heart questions God’s plan and His goodness, trust Him. In your difficult circumstance, you might just be chosen to display the power and glory of God.

“In our affliction God is doing nothing to us which we should not wish for ourselves if we were as wise and loving as God is.”  Billy Graham