I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

Revelation 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:17-18 Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 2:8-9 These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your affections and your poverty yet you are rich!      

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Jesus says he is the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty, the First and the Last, the Living one. And he says he holds the keys of death and Hades. What a promise! He is the one and only God of the universe, the Creator, the Redeemer. 

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek Alphabet and Omega is the last. Jesus is saying he is supreme. He is the first and the last. He encompasses all knowledge and all wisdom and all power. He is in control of every person, every event, and every particle of the universe.

Father,

We thank you that you are the ALL Mighty God. We thank you for this promise that you are the beginning and the end. We thank you for giving us some understanding of what an ALL MIGHTY God you are. We can hardly grasp your eternal, almighty, everlasting power and glory. We praise you for revealing yourself to us. We praise you for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master and the Master of the universe. We bow before you and praise and love you.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

PURSUEING OUR DREAMS

Q.  Why is it that some people accomplish a great deal in life while others with similar talent and ability waste themselves in dead end jobs, TV viewing, and shopping at the mall? My life falls between these two extremes as I do help out in some community groups and in my church. I wish I had pursued a more interesting career and that I had the courage to do something that would really make a difference in the world. 

A. It’s never too late to pursue a dream. It’s never too late to pay attention to our inner self and what we are “called” to do. Our strongest, most persistent wishes or dreams are about God’s plan. Whether you see this as following God’s call for your life or being true to your authentic self it involves using your talents to create or do something of benefit to others. It involves having a vocation – not just a job. The world vocation means God’s call.

What stops us from pursuing our dreams? What keeps us from answering God’s call? Often we don’t want to put in the effort and time pursuing our dream will require. We don’t want to live a less affluent life, we don’t want to sacrifice. Nor do we want to take the risks involved. 

Another reason we don’t pursue our dream is because we think we aren’t as capable as others. If you worry about having the talent to accomplish your dream, remind yourself that this is your calling. God calls us and then he equips us. Your talent will grow as you take the risk and exert the energy to accomplish it. If this is a “divinely inspired” project then God will give you what you need to accomplish it as long as you do your part. Your part is being willing and giving God your all.

Following our dreams involves risking. When we don’t take the risk we protect ourselves from both success and failure. Most of us play it safe in the way we live our lives. We bury our talents instead of using them. Or we spend our talent in a job that pays us very well but isn’t our dream vocation. Believe in your vision, work hard and take the risks involved.

Another road block we throw up is concern about what others will think. “You’re giving up a good job and going to college at age 41? Are you crazy?” To launch out in the direction of our dream means ignoring what others think or say and it requires listening to our God inspired desires and hopes. It means knowing God’s call and being true to it.

When you begin your new direction don’t tell others about it at first. Tell only those you must tell. Also, expect to receive negative comments from those you do tell, even from those closest to you. They will think their criticism of your plan is for your own good and because they care about you. But negative comments about God’s call on your life are really designed to keep things the same. Others do not want us to change as it forces a bit of change on them. Remain confident within yourself that this is what you are meant to do.   

To understand God’s call further read my adaptation of 1 Corinthians 13 and the Beatitudes to vocation. I wrote these when I was in my twenties!

Vocation and I Corinthians 13

Though I speak the language of secretaries and stenographers, but have not love for my work, I am like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal simply attending to details with no joy in the doing.

And though I have the prophetic powers of a newspaper editor or understand all the mysteries and all the knowledge of a chemistry teacher or though I have the faith to be a minister able to remove mountains of secularism, but have not love for my work, I have not found my true vocation.

Though I give away all I hold dear to become a foreign missionary and though I sacrifice my entire life to live in a foreign land, but have not love for my work, I have not found my true vocation.

One’s true vocation is challenging and creative.

One’s true vocation makes use of talents and abilities to the full.

One’s true vocation helps to meet needs in the world.

One’s true vocation is not necessarily easy or well salaried.

Love for your work should never end; as for your talents and your abilities they should continually grow; as for your training on this you must work. For your abilities are imperfect and our training is imperfect but when one loves one’s work the imperfect is perfected.

When we were children we spoke as children, we thought as children, we reasoned as children saying we would be a fireman or a doctor or a teacher. But when we grow up we seek God’s will and our true vocation.

Vocation and the Beatitudes

Blessed is the one who chooses his vocation wisely, for he shall help build the Kingdom of God.

Blessed is the one who chooses his vocation in terms of the needs of the world rather than the money it pays, for he shall find joy in serving.

Blessed is the one who evaluates his abilities and talents before choosing his vocation for he shall be well suited to his job.

Blessed is the one who adequately prepares himself for his life work for he shall do a more competent job.

Blessed is the one whose work is a joy and a delight for he shall be truly happy.

Blessed is the one who, having made a mistake in choosing his life work has the courage to find his vocation for he shall be satisfied.

Blessed is the one who seeks to discover the will of God for his life work, for he shall know the meaning of vocation.

Blessed are you when you carefully and prayerfully evaluate your capacities and interests before choosing your life work; when you diligently and purposefully prepare yourself for your chosen vocation; when you throw yourself unreservedly into your chosen work – to meet the challenges and the needs presented as best you can.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad for your life will be a meaningful adventure and God will be with you.  

                                                  

Blessings, Dottie

MAKING THIS YEAR COUNT

Q. At the beginning of each year I think about the past year and make plans for the New Year. I intend to make better use of my time. Each year I plan to learn new things, change old habits and get involved in more worthwhile activities. Instead there’s never enough time or I’m too fearful to try something new or I’m busy just getting done what must be done. How can I change? How can I use my time better this year?

A. Many of us struggle with how we use time, often wishing for more time, often pressured by time. Human beings are different from any other creatures on this earth.  We are aware of time. We are also blessed with both memory and imagination. We can remember the past and we can imagine our future. These enable us to live thoughtful and creative lives. 

However, our memory and our imagination can create problems for us. We are influenced by our memories and by negative, imaginative thoughts of the future. Our memory reminds us of past fears, worries, guilt, hurts and discouragement. It warns us, “Don’t do that new thing.”  It may say, for example, “Remember how foolish you felt when you tried something new in second grade and the class laughed at you.” And so we back away from change because of our memories.   

  

Memories, conscious and unconscious, may cause us to be fearful in the future. Many of our fears, worries, and jealousies, are created by our negative imaginations. And our imagination is often inspired by our memories. Someone has said that worry about the future is interest paid on a debt that may never come due. Worry changes nothing and keeps us from growing.

  

How do we not worry since the world is complex and the future unpredictable? We can use our minds, our memories and our imaginations to remind us that God’s in charge and that his purposes are good. Relying on God we can then make prayerful conscious choices. We can remember the past but we don’t have to be bound by the past. With God’s help we can use our will and determination to set priorities and to move toward them. 

  

There are only three ways to spend the present. We can waste it, spend it or invest it.  Time wasters include worry, fear, sleeping more than we need to and busyness that accomplishes little. We also waste time on petty anger, procrastination, indecision, complaints and pity. These confuse us and keep us from accomplishing our dreams.

Spending time might be described as merely existing. Our life has no purpose or direction. We simply do what has to be done, no more. We sleep, work, eat and little more. Our life is dull and routine. Most of us have many “chores” and “work” that require our time; these are necessary routine things we must do. We can do them with a song in our heart and a prayer on our lips – and then this time brings glory to God.

  

We invest our time when we know that our life has purpose and meaning beyond our own self-interest. We invest our time when we do something which touches the lives of those around us, when we offer a smile, a helping hand or a kind word. We invest our time when we help a worthy cause. We invest our time when we pray and when we worship God.

  

To make changes this year learn to live in the present. Learn to make conscious choices about your priorities in life and then take small steps each day to pursue your God given dreams. The more time you spend in His Presence the easier it will be to live in the present and to be intentional. Someone has said, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11 NASB

Blessings, Dottie

Best Books Read in 2016

In 2016 I read a total of fifty-three books. Forty were new to me and thirteen were books I reread. I’ve selected the best of the books I first read in 2016:

1. A novel about the plight of Christians in China.

2. A biography about a doctor’s help to poverty stricken people in Haiti.

3. A book by a black woman about the negative effects of government help to the poor. 

4. A book on hearing God speak to us.

Each book is well written and each is packed with information and wisdom. Enjoy!

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

Safely Home is a profound and brilliant novel about the plight of Christians in the house churches in China. The story revolves around an American executive and his Chinese college roommate – twenty years after they have graduated from Harvard. Woven throughout are delightful Chinese proverbs, intense meaningful conversations between the two roommates, the truth of the Bible, and many trials and adventures. The book gives insights into various Chinese eras and subjects including Buddhism, the Dali Lama, Mao, the Boxer rebellion, and Tiananmen Square. The corruption of people in power and the blind collusion of big business are vividly shown. Safely Home beautifully depicts the humble acceptance of suffering for Christ by the Chinese house churches. The ending gives a thrilling view of the doorway to heaven.

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World

By Tracy Kidder

This is an amazing book about an amazing man. Dr. Paul Farmer is a unique and fascinating person; he is brilliant, kind, funny and tireless in his pursuit of health care for the poor people of the world. The book gives excellent detail about Farmer’s life and work. His unusual childhood and family of origin set the stage for his adaptability to living with poverty stricken people and truly connecting with them.

Paul Farmer is a Harvard professor, infectious disease expert and an anthropologist. He lives and works in a remote town in Haiti and develops a health center there lifting the health of the region and saving many lives, though utter poverty continues. As an infectious disease specialist he and his organization, Partners in Health, create many changes worldwide in the policies for treating TB and Aids. The struggles around this are detailed.

Farmer seems to thrive in all environments and to have unlimited energy – sleeping little and working always to serve the poor. He hikes for seven hours to see two patients. If anyone questions this he says, “You’re saying that their lives matter less than some others, and the idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that’s wrong with the world.” Pg 294

Mountains Beyond Mountains takes you through Farmer’s experiences in Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia. Though not a professing Christian he lives out a life of service given with love and respect. He has been called a saint and I would say he is close to this yet more fun than you would expect a saint to be! This book will change your views and may unsettle you.

Uncle Sam’s Plantation:

How Big Government Enslaves America’s Poor and What to Do About It

By Star Parker

Uncle Sam’s Plantation is a very important and comprehensive book about the negative effects government help has on the poor. Star Parker gives historical background on Roosevelt’s New Deal, President Johnson’s War on Poverty and about current government programs. She offers facts and figures that clearly show government programs do not help. In fact, they are keeping the poor from freedom and personal responsibility and wasting tax dollars.

Parker writes “In multiple studies for the Heritage Foundation, means-tested welfare spending in America exceeds $400 billion annually. That’s a whopping 14 percent of the federal budget. That’s more than a billion tax dollars per day being spent on various poverty programs yet…the data shows that less than twenty cents of each dollar actually gets into the hands of the people society is trying to help. Eighty percent is bureaucracy.” Pg 5

The author, Star Parker, has been there herself. She tells of her rebellious youth in which she stole, did drugs, had random sex, four abortions and didn’t care about life. She lived on welfare and knew how to work the system. Parker turned her life around and is now helping others do this. She is a champion for changing the system.

Toward the end of the book she writes about protecting freedom. Regarding education she says: “Our country needs to be free but not value-free. I don’t want to force my views on my neighbor. What I do want, and what is essential for the future of our country, is the freedom for my neighbor and me to choose where to send our children to school, and for our children to learn there is such a thing as right and wrong.” Pg. 233 This book shows us how to restore freedom with responsibility to our way of life.

Hearing God in Conversation: How to Recognize His Voice Everywhere

By Samuel C. Williamson

Samuel Williamson in his book Hearing God in Conversation affirms the primary importance of hearing from God via Scripture but goes on to encourage believers to cultivate an ear for hearing from God and having conversations with God in a variety of ways. His parents taught him how to hear God and he assumed everyone expected to hear from God directly.

This is an excellent book, true to the Word and also citing the fact that God wants a personal relationship with us. This means we can converse with him daily; we can dialog with God, not just share our thoughts but “hear” (in our minds) from him as well. The author’s convincing unfolding of this idea is inspiring. He weaves his own life stories thorough out as well as citing many biblical examples.

Chapter titles include: The First Time I Heard God’s Voice, Conversation is the Point, How to Recognize the Voice of God, What are Scriptures for?, Brainstorming with God, God Speaks in Our Detours, Hearing God in the Ordinary, God Shouts in His Silence and The God Who Guides and more. He also includes two excellent appendixes Answers to the Arguments and Questionable and Excessive Practices.

Williamson says that sometimes God will nudge us to make a phone call, sometimes we’ll hear a verbal message and sometimes we see a picture. He tells of his grandfather in 1915 seeing red capital letters which spelled the name of a province in China. He prayed and felt called to be a missionary. He lived in that very province for two decades and planted four China inland churches. Pg 31

Williamson notes that God guides us with his voice in conversation but he also carefully orchestrates our lives. There is much good information in this book that can teach us how to hear God in conversation and recognize and better know our mighty God.

“Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 NRSV

Blessings, Dottie

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Changes at Christmas

About ten years ago our church worship morphed from blended traditional to out right contemporary music and worship. We adapted as best we could most of the time. We sang the choruses, listened to the praise team, focused on the repetitive words, praising God. And an occasional hymn or hymn phrase fed our souls. "Amazing Grace..."

At Christmas we were further challenged. Contemporary worship at Christmas left even more to be desired. We experienced two Christmas seasons with no traditional Christmas carols and no classical Christmas music. Instead we were "entertained" by contemporary music.  

Adapting to seekers is a common strategy in today's churches. This seems misguided at Christmas. Many seekers grew up in church. Most everyone holds these Christmas songs, music and Scripture secreted in the inner recesses of their heart, mind and soul. These songs, music and Scripture tell the amazing story of the birth of Christ. They tell the Reason for the Season. God came to earth as a babe in a manger. He came down to us to show us who He is and to redeem us. God intersected history in person. Why are churches deleting Christmas carols that tell about this marvelous event?     

   

"O Come, All Ye Faithful . . ." O Little Town of Bethlehem. . ." "Silent Night, Holy Night. . ." Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. . ." "Joy to the World. . ." All missing!

We were unbelievers for years, but we enjoyed Christmas carols playing in stores as we shopped or on the radio as we traveled. We also watched Christmas TV programs, especially Charlie Brown's Christmas. In this well known story Charlie Brown is depressed. He visits Lucy's psychiatric booth and she recommends he get involved in a nativity play. Twists and turns in the plot include Snoopy's elaborate decoration of his dog house (commercialization of Christmas by a dog) and the other children attempting to modernize the play (messing with tradition). 

Charlie Brown searches for a Christmas tree determined to focus on the traditional side of the story. The children laugh at the scrawny tree he finds, throwing Charlie Brown back into despair about discovering the real meaning of Christmas. Linus then takes center stage and quotes the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, verses 8 through 14 from the King James Version.

"'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

Pastors and Churches: Take a lesson from Charlie Brown. Keep the Christmas worship traditional. Sing the carols. Read the Christmas scripture. As Linus said,

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Christmas Blessings, Dottie

HELPING CHILDREN GRIEVE AT CHRISTMAS

Q. My husband died this past year after a brief illness. Until recently I thought my kids were handling their loss OK. Since Thanksgiving, however, each child has shown signs of grieving but none of them talk much about their Dad or about how they feel. 

Now I’m dreading the Holidays. How should I handle things so we won't be sad throughout December? What can I do to help the kids enjoy Christmas? I knew it would take time to recover and to grieve but when does it end?

A. Grieving is intensified during holidays, birthdays and anniversaries because of the memories from the past that involve the person we’ve lost. This is especially true the first Christmas after a loss. Christmas is a family time and a time when we enjoy being together. The absence of Dad accentuates the loss.

         

Grief is a process. It takes time to work through all the feelings involved in the loss of a primary relationship. We cannot just grieve for two weeks or even for six weeks. For most people it takes at least two years to grieve a major loss. 

This doesn’t mean you must be sad every day for two years. The sadness and depression of grief are cyclical. They come and go. It would be too painful to experience all the feelings at once. The stages of grieving - denial, anger, guilt, depression and acceptance allow us to work through our feelings little by little. We may move back and forth between these stages, each time resolving a bit more.

         

Your children are working through their grief each in their own way. This Christmas can be an important time for them to experience more of the depth of their loss and it can be a time to let go; to recognize that their father really is gone.

         

Talk with the children together and individually about Christmas. Listen carefully to how they’re feeling and what they would like to do both to remember and honor their Dad and to enjoy Christmas. Tell them it’s OK to enjoy Christmas; that their Dad would want them to do so. 

         

Don’t worry too much about avoiding grief or about making the day happy. While it’s OK to be happy in spite of your loss, it’s more important to allow yourself to feel your grief. It’s more important to be real than to pretend. You can model this to your children, letting them see some of your sadness while not overwhelming them with your feelings.

         

Plan one special time during the holidays in which you talk together about your loss.  Each of you might write a Christmas letter to your husband. Younger children could draw him a picture. Then share these with each other. A candle could be lit in his memory and all could share a favorite memory of him as you laugh and cry together.

         

You and the children don’t have to go through your grief alone. Take your children to a group for grieving children. There are a number of grief support groups available for children in various locations around the country. These grief support groups are child friendly, divided by age, with knowledgeable and caring leaders. Crafts and games encourage children to express their feelings about their loss. A concurrent parent’s group may also be available. A grief support group will help you and the children understand and express grief in a safe environment with the support of others. Then your future Christmases will be brighter.

If you and your family are Christians, your faith in life after death can also help you and the children work through your grief. As Christians you believe God had a good reason for taking him and you know you will see him again.

“I am the resurrection and the life, anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Blessings, Dottie

See also Be The Miracle http://deloresliesner.com/2016/12/09/after-losing-a-child-christmas-and-new-traditions/

The Christmas Story for Families

Q.  Our families will be with us on Christmas day including a number of children. My wife and I want to recognize the birth of Christ in addition to our usual gift exchange and feast. Any ideas?

A. The best idea I can think of is to read the Christmas Scripture. We have done this with our family, including the children in the reading. We assigned roles to a Narrator, Angels, the Prophet, Shepherds, the Magi, Priests and Teachers and Herod. Children enjoy this, learn from this and like being involved. Our NIV script is below.

The Birth of Christ as told in the Bible

Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

ANGEL:  "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

PROPHET: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Luke 2: 1-10                                                                                             

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

ANGEL: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."          

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,                                                                           

ANGELS: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

SHEPHERDS: "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.

Matthew 1:1- 12 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

MAGI: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

PRIESTS & TEACHERS: "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

HEROD: "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Christmas Blessings, Dottie