Stepping in the Light

’Cuz You Came

Monica Bass — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:52 +0000

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Arlene!”

“Hiiiiii, Miss Déirdre!”

“I made you some cookies and just want you to know that I love you.”

“Awww, thank you.” [big hug]

I got to hear this delightful conversation repeated several times this evening while making Sunday school visits with my friend, Déirdre.

But one conversation ended more memorably.

“I want you to know that I love you.”

“I do know that.”

“How?”

“’Cuz you came.”

Well, of course! Wouldn’t you believe that someone loved you if they came to your house just to say so?!

As Déirdre and I walked back to her car, that sweet girl’s statement kept turning in my mind: ’Cuz you came.

I remembered the Sunday school teachers who visited me when I was in elementary school. And, yes, their visits did make me feel loved and special.

But I thought, too, of the One who has loved me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and expressed it when He left the spender of Heaven and came to Earth. If Jesus were to stand on my doorstep and say, “How do you know that I love you?” I could repeat little Arlene’s answer, “’Cuz You came.”

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…

But the verse doesn’t end there.

…and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.—1 John 3:16

Our response to God’s love ought to be that we give that love to others. In other words, ‘cuz He came, we should go—touching lives so significantly with Christ’s love that they can feel it.

It’s easy to say we love others—lost people and even our Christian friends. But are we demonstrating that love?

Who could affirm that they know you love them “’cuz you came”?

The Word that Lightens Loads

Monica Bass — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:46:25 +0000

“Hey, Monica. How ya doing?”

Funny that this simple greeting, spoken several years ago, stands out so brightly in my mind. In fact, I remember the exact place I was standing when I heard it, and which direction Mrs. Harp was walking as she passed and said hello!

So what made it so memorable?

It wasn’t the words. It was the timing.

Unbeknownst to her, I had a heavy heart that evening, and her simple cheerful greeting said, “I appreciate you and am glad to see you.” It was Proverbs 12:25 in action: “Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”

I’m sure you, too, can attest to times when a kind word lifted your heart, bringing hope and sunshine.

There are not always people around us to cheer or encourage. And even when there are, they do not always know when we need it. Yet, you and I have a repository of such words at our very fingertips.

How many times has the Lord used His Word to lighten my spirit! God’s promises provide hope and encouragement, perspective and joy.

When we have been thus equipped with God’s Word ourselves, we can give a cheerful word of encouragement and strength to others.

Is your heart stooping? Open God’s Word. It lightens the heavy heart.

Have God’s promises lightened your load? Use them to make another heart glad.

Adventures I Wanted to Avoid

Monica Bass — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:46:20 +0000

I’m reopening a blog post draft that I began almost six months ago, which wouldn’t be so bad if the first post hadn’t been about transmission trouble.

I’m no mechanic, but I know more about a failing transmission now than before I began this post—either time. And I know that the loss of a transmission signals one of two events—days of misery or an unfolding adventure.

Thankfully, both times I got to experience the adventure.

Adventure 1

My brother Daniel, my friend Jill, and I were 627 miles into our 2,000 mile drive home for vacation when our transmission gave out. That left us stranded on the shoulder of the interstate at 5:30 p.m. on a Friday night. Not good.

Right?

Actually, that became the beginning of an adventure—the kind you can’t believe you experienced, but don’t really want to encounter again.

Here are a few of the play-by-play highlights:

Happen to gain help from a pastor across the interstate (thanks to Daniel searching on foot for help) who happens to still be at his church and happens to have enough transmission fluid to get us off the interstate.
Find a really good price for a motel room and have the second room given us for free. (For real.)
Venture a two hour road trip (without Daniel) with two mechanics we have never met before to see friends in a nearby city.
Be chased by a pack of ferocious, growling dogs while on the streets of a strange city. (Okay, the pack is comprised of exactly two dogs, and they are Chihuahuas. But they are ferocious, and it does require a surge of adrenaline to outrun them.)
Have a mechanic offer to loan us his vehicle—completely free—to drive another three thousand miles for two weeks while he works on ours. (Offer, as in suggest the deal. Free, as in no charge at all. Amazing.)
See the Lord’s special provision in meeting the added expenses of the trip.

All in all, I was thankful for the many bright spots I would have missed without the adventure. But as you might guess, a major decision for my brother and me after this trip was simple: fly home next time—don’t drive.

Good idea…only not as transmission-proof as it might sound.

Adventure 2

Daniel and I had greatly enjoyed time with our family for Christmas. Too soon, the time had come to an end, and our dad was driving us to the airport in Chicago for our departing flight. My mom and two younger sisters came with—partly so we could spend an extra three hours together, and I think partly to make the farewell more poignant.

You wouldn’t believe it, but two and a half miles from the airport, the transmission gave out. We limped off the interstate to a gas station to consider the situation. This was bad news on multiple counts. First, it meant my parents had a major car repair to deal with. Second and less important (but more pressing), it meant that Daniel and I would miss our flight. Not good.

Right?

Actually, enter the highlights of adventure 2:

Daniel calls the hotel on the other side of the interstate to explain our dilemma and ask if they have shuttle service to the airport. (Pretty smart idea.) The hotel agrees to shuttle us to the airport free of charge if we can get there.
My dad, Daniel, and I tow our single suitcase and hoist our two carry-ons (which was heavier than the suitcase, on the account that the airline does not weigh carry-ons) to begin the journey across Interstate 80 in Chicago. Thankfully, there is an overpass. We have no time to spare and practically run all the way.
After a brief attempt, we opt out of the shortest route to the hotel, which involves descending a steep wooded embankment, leaping a four-foot, water-filled gully, and scaling an eight-foot chain link fence. (All of this seems excessive, considering our luggage.)
After a run around multiple businesses to the entrance of the hotel, we make it before the shuttle, speed to the airport, and even make it to our flight before they begin boarding. In fact, the flight is delayed about fifteen minutes. (I think it prudent to refrain from telling the other passengers that I believe the Lord kept it delayed for us.)

Quite frankly, I would not have planned either of these two adventures. But I still can’t believe the memories we made through them. (Really, who do you know that gets to drive a stranger-mechanic’s vehicle while on vacation, sleep in a free motel room, and cross I-80 loaded with luggage to catch the shuttle of a hotel where they have never stayed?)

But here’s the catch: I could have missed the adventure. In either of those experiences, I could have suffered in misery. I didn’t tell you about the heat exhaustion, the bloody nose, the delays in travel, the fatigue, the sore back, or the frustrating dealings with mechanics. These were just as real as the free room and the helpfully-delayed flight. But thankfully, they weren’t our focus.

My natural tendency in such situations is to wonder how I could have avoided the problem or to move into a panic mode that insists on immediate action—any action. Yet, in both instances, I’m thankful that at the outset the Holy Spirit reminded me to leave it in His hands. Truthfully, I enjoyed the adventures. And I still enjoy the memories.

I don’t know what this new year holds—in road trips or otherwise. I’ve made plans and goals. You probably have too. But we both know that the year is likely to take twists and turns that weren’t on our lists.

What will we do? Enjoy the adventure, or fret over outcomes that are out of our control?

Let’s just lean back and enjoy the adventure.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”—Jeremiah 29:11

Conversation Snippets

Monica Bass — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:57:07 +0000

I’m not eavesdropping, but I can’t help overhearing snippets of the conversations walking past me. I’m on a layover and am sitting in a row of chairs along a long hallway between terminals in the airport. There’s a steady stream of people walking by, but they mostly come just a few at a time, so I can easily overhear their conversations.

Catching just single sentences or parts of phrases is either disturbing or humorous. Here, you can sit by me for a few moments—I typed some snippets verbatim as people walked by.

“I’m trying to figure out how to take the apartment.”
“I feel bad for you.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be back.”
“Just recently, we…”
“And the banana was smashed a little bit because…”
“We’ll put it on when it’s time to.”

And the classic one, just before two girls stepped on the elevator nearby:

“I had fish, but I was like, should I get a pizza? I was craving something, but I didn’t know what. So I looked, and she was there! And she was like, “no worries. I’ll just put it on my thing before I go to the bank.”

I couldn’t learn much from any single one of these conversations, but I do have two takeaways.

First, never underestimate what the person with a laptop in the airport might be typing—it might be a transcript of your conversation!

Second, and more seriously, read more than two verses of the Bible at a time.

What does Bible reading have to do with conversation snippets? God desires to guide our every day living through His Word. But, too often, we relegate the influence His Word can have in our lives to batches of a few words lifted out of context. And even then, we only retain what we perceive to be valuable.

To really catch the heart of any speaker, to understand the full context of any conversation, we have to listen to it in its entirety.

Consider the airport conversations with me again.

Some statements left me wanting more details. (Just how was that banana smashed? I love bananas, so I’m disappointed that I will never know.)
Some phrases could indicate dark motives. (Take the apartment? What is she, a manipulator? A thief?!)
Even some entire sentences just sounded crazy and disconnected without the larger conversation. (Wish I could have ridden that elevator to understand what thing she was going to put it on, and who she was!)

God desires that we know Him (Jeremiah 29:13). His Word is more than something “a good Christian” should read. It’s more than a magic answer center for a random moment of needing direction.

God’s Word is primarily how God speaks to us (2 Timothy 3:16). Read it to know Him. Read it in context. And, read it in its entirety.

The Label

Monica Bass — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:12:27 +0000

The first Christmas gift had the most miraculous label.

To: sinners
From: God

What love!

Christmas is a miracle because of what God did, but it’s also a miracle because of who He did it for—me. And you.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—John 3:16

Unspeakable

Monica Bass — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:50:52 +0000

You know that line you’re tempted to use in a thank you note: “I can’t tell you how thankful I am for…”? Usually that phase would be more accurately worded, “I don’t know how to put into words…”

There are very few emotions, ideas, or responses that cannot be communicated through the English language. Sometimes we just don’t want to put the effort into finding the words to express them.

But Christmas is different.

God’s gift, first delivered in a manger, is truly unspeakable.

The most skilled wordsmith can’t find the vocabulary to describe Christ’s sacrifice. There are no words full enough to describe His love. God’s gift fills the true definition of unspeakable.

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.—2 Corinthians 9:15

The Difference

Monica Bass — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:43:20 +0000

Have you ever wanted to say, “Yes, Lord, but….”

I have. Just recently, actually.

I was faced with a difficulty with which I had no choice but to trust the Lord. I couldn’t control, change, or manipulate it if I wanted to. (And, frankly, I wanted to!)

When my fate of no control was confirmed, I gave it to the Lord with the words “Yes, Lord.” Yet, in my heart, I added “but….”

“…I don’t like it.”
“…it’s hard.”
“…only because I have no alternative.”

Even as I thought “but…” the Lord whispered a substitute word to my spirit—and.

So now, instead of saying “Yes, Lord, but…” I’m saying, “Yes, Lord, and…”

“…I trust You have a purpose far bigger than I can see and that You will make this work for good” (Romans 8:28–30).
“…I know You will sustain me until You bring that purpose to fruition” (Romans 8:31–34)
“…I will rest in Your love” (Romans 8:35–39).

As parts of speech, but or and are the same; they are both conjunctions. As answers to God, they are worlds apart. One speaks of acceptance with resignation. The other speaks of acceptance with expectancy.

What would it take for you to change your “but…” to “and…”?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.—Jeremiah 29:11

Today…

Monica Bass — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:08:08 +0000

…marks 171 years since David Livingstone first sailed for Africa.

I recently had the opportunity to read another biography about Livingstone this summer. I was especially impressed as I learned that, in the minds of many, he didn’t have much “missionary promise” when he sailed for Africa. He wasn’t a bombastic preacher, and he didn’t have a charismatic personality. Not likely to succeed.

Much of what Livingstone did in Africa was tedious and slow-going. He preached the Gospel everywhere he went, but he was navigating unexplored territory, usually sick, often hungry, and sometimes deserted. He persevered and died without seeing the full fruit of his labor.

Yet, despite the misgivings of early critics and the lack of immediate results, every missionary in Africa today can thank David Livingstone for opening this “dark continent” to the light of the Gospel.

Livingstone’s faithfulness makes me wonder what difficult or tedious task we may be doing today that will bear unforeseen fruit tomorrow!

When the Job Is Too Big

Monica Bass — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:02:58 +0000

Have you ever felt too little? Like the task before you was too big? Like the role you were expected to fill was too large?

Sometimes the answer is not for us to “get bigger” but for us to get wiser.

Proverbs 30:24–28 tells about “four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise.” In every case, these very little animals conquer daunting need—with wisdom.

The ants have wisdom to plan ahead.
The conies have wisdom to seek strength and protection in something larger then themselves.
The locusts have wisdom to communicate and work in unity.
The spider has wisdom to work with diligent excellence.

When your task is daunting and your role overwhelming, remember that what you need more than anything is not less responsibility or better tools, but wisdom. And, like the ants, conies, locusts, and spider, you need the insight to apply wisdom to your specific needs.

I’m thankful that God makes His wisdom freely available to those who will ask Him for it (James 1:5) and seek it in His Word (Proverbs 2:1–6).

The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Monica Bass — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:11:52 +0000

Whoever came up with that advertising tagline was clever. Who wouldn’t want to give a gift that would “keep on giving” all year long?

Far better than this tagline, however, is the reality of having a gift that keeps on giving—especially when that gift goes on forever…and ever.

Friday of this past week was my spiritual birthday, and I was able to spend time that morning reading the book of Romans in one sitting. With each chapter, I was amazed anew at the riches of God’s grace, freely given to me—as a gift. It was like reading an ever-growing gift list—not of what I can only wish for, but of what God has already given to me.

In a nutshell, I was reminded that salvation is so much more than a future home in Heaven. It is peace with God through His incredible sacrifice on the cross. It is freedom from the bondage of sin. It is a relationship with God as my Father. It is the opportunity to serve Christ—to make my life count for eternity. It is the power and the liberty to live for God’s eternal purposes.

In the back of my mind, I kept thinking of John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” The joy of eternal life is knowing God. It starts now, and it gets better and better throughout all eternity.

I’m thankful that God’s gift of eternal life started the moment I received God’s incredible gift of grace. I’m thankful that this gift keeps on giving. I’m thankful for my salvation—a gift greater than I ever realized when I received it!

Have you taken time lately to take inventory of the riches of your salvation—the gift that keeps on giving? The book of Romans is a great place to start.

Note: If you do not know for sure that you have this gift of salvation, I would encourage you to read the minibook Done: What Most Religions Don’t Tell You about the Bible by Cary Schmidt. It is available for free in several formats—as a Kindle or iTunes download, as a pdf, or as an audio book.

Stepping in the Light

’Cuz You Came

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