Friends and family

Today: Proverbs 16-18

Perhaps one of the most tragic things I've seen in life is the break-ups of great friends and great families. And on the flip side, one the BEST things I've ever experienced is friends who are like family and family members who are actually friends.

I think the writer of today's passage may have had a similar experience. Take another look at a few verses from today's chapters:

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;

fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,

so stop it before it bursts.

Friends love through all kinds of weather,

and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Words kill, words give life;

they're either poison or fruit—you choose.

Friends come and friends go,

but a true friend sticks by you like family.

What causes friendships to break? What pulls families apart? In many cases, it starts with words--words that are hurtful or positive words that are left unsaid. Sometimes those words lead to offenses...and in the most tragic cases, unforgiveness, bitterness and brokenness.

On the flip side, encouraging words, a Facebook post or a handwritten card from a great friend or family member can strengthen bonds. Love, loyalty and forgiveness are the bonds that hold friends and families together. Good relationships take effort--they will cost you time, energy and sometimes, doing and saying what you want.

One thing I've learned so far? You can't keep score. If you do, love never wins (and neither will you). Fight for who and what you love most--forgive.

Tomorrow: Proverbs 19-21

Beauty, the brain and brokenness

Today: Job 8-10

Isn't it amazing how real the Bible is sometimes?

We've already read about the tough things Job faced in his life. And in this passage, there are sections that seem downright depressing. Job says things like, "I wish I had never been born!" and "I can't stand my life--I hate it!" He definitely dealt with deep human emotions like grief and a sense of abandonment. However, there's some beauty in the midst of Job's brokenness. I love what he said here about God:

You gave me life itself, and incredible love.

You watched and guarded every breath I took.

But you never told me about this part.

I should have known that there was more to it...

Confession: I've felt exactly that way at moments even though I haven't come close to experiencing Job's tragedies. As humans, we can't fully comprehend the whys of the universe (but we try!). Our minds don't understand how a good God could allow tragic things to happen to good people.

The fact that we just don't get the mysteries of the universe may be a good thing. I, for one, can't fully get the concept that beauty can come from brokenness--much less the idea that the brokenness itself can be beautiful. I can't fully explain things like love, grace or miracles. The fact that I don't know everything is good--because it brings a sense of awe, surprise and wonder to my life. Job recognized that, too, when he said this about God:

We'll never comprehend all the great things he does;

his miracle-surprises can't be counted.

Somehow, though he moves right in front of me,

I don't see him;

quietly but surely

he's active,

and I miss it.

Tomorrow: Job 11-13

Rebuilding

Today: Ezra 1-3

When I hear the word "rubble," I think of The Flinstones. :)

But if I were one of God's people at the time today's passage was written, Barney and Wilma wouldn't come to mind. I'd picture the Temple of God and my beloved country--ravaged, forsaken and left in rubble.

One thing I know for sure about God? He doesn't like to leave things or people in shambles. In today's chapters, the people of Judah were actually sent back to rebuild their homes and God's House.

It's an interesting passage to read on Easter weekend. To be honest, there are a lot of people on this planet whose lives resemble piles of rubble. Some people feel like Humpty Dumpty--they believe that their lives are so broken that they can't be put back together again. Others don't see their brokenness, but that doesn't mean they're whole--piles of rubble might be all around them.

The good news is that God is a great rebuilder (He'd probably be REALLY good at puzzles, too!). He is able to take lives resembling piles of rubble and turn them into inside-out beautiful works of art. God heals the broken and He brings the dead to life.

What can He build in you? What can he resurrect in someone you care about?

I am forever grateful that God continually builds, shapes and molds me. I'm still a work in progress--but I'm thankful to be taken from the rubble and rebuilt. Happy Easter!

Tomorrow: Ezra 4-7

Bread and a broken heart

Today: Mark 8-9

If I said or wrote, "I have a broken heart," what would you think?

You may think that I fell in love and lost it. You might think I got laid off. Or you could assume that some serious health issue was plaguing me, my family or a close friend.

But would you ever guess that I'd say, "I have a broken heart" because my friends were hungry?

Didn't think so.

(And by the way, I don't have that kind of a broken heart at the moment. These are the little mind games you can play as a writer for dramatic effect...mwah ha ha.) :)

But in today's chapters in Mark, Jesus did:

At about this same time he again

found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands.

He called his disciples together and said,

"This crowd is breaking my heart.

They have stuck with me for three days,

and now they have nothing to eat.

If I send them home hungry,

they'll faint along the way—

some of them have come a long distance."

Interesting. Most of the time when I think of Jesus having a broken heart, it's because of something more serious-- a man who is blind, a woman bleeding non stop, a little girl who is dead. But He gets a broken heart when people are hungry?

Let's be clear--the kind of hunger in this chapter doesn't even seem as compelling as those ads for World Vision with starving children with wide-eyed pain staring at you from the screen. The hungry people Jesus saw were not suffering because of a famine or widespread poverty. They were mostly regular people who just listened to Him and were so drawn into His message that they didn't stop to eat. That's all. But their hunger breaks Jesus' heart.

So what does He do? He multiples seven loaves of bread and feeds thousands. It's a miracle--but it's a miracle that meets a very basic, practical need.

When I think about this story, I think of people who believe God doesn't really care about them. They may believe God exists, but feel like He's got bigger issues (world poverty, war, famine, etc.) to deal with than providing them with a job, a roof over their heads, transportation or food for their family. But Jesus is different--this chapter shows us that His heart breaks over things like that. He cares--about the big things in our lives, but also the basic things.

It's interesting in these chapters that the topic of bread comes up again. A few paragraphs later, the disciples start arguing because they forgot to bring food on a trip. Here's Jesus' interesting reaction:

Jesus overheard and said,

"Why are you fussing because you forgot bread?

Don't you see the point of all this?

Don't you get it at all?

Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand?

How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?"
They said, "Twelve."
And the seven loaves for the four thousand—

how many bags full of leftovers did you get?"
"Seven."
He said, "Do you still not get it?"

I think Jesus' questions show us that He was trying to teach the disciples...and us...something through these stories. What do you think it was?

I'm guessing that it's something like this--God cares about you and your specific needs. He takes care of you. Remember that He took care of you before. He'll do it again. And He's bigger than your expectations--He can give you more than you need. He keeps His promises. Believe it--and remember.

Tomorrow: Mark 10-11