Faith

Post-Mortem

Valerie Cullers 2 Comments
We all know what the literal definition of post-mortem is…i.e., an autopsy, but did you know that it is used in the cultural arena as a way to evaluate a loss or defeat? The figurative meaning is, according to Google AI, “An analytical discussion, review, or debriefing that takes place after an event, project, campaign, or game has ended or failed. The purpose is to evaluate what went wrong, what went right, and how to improve future outcomes.”
We have seen this take place recently after the last election. The losing party has been doing its own post-mortem on the election loss. Many times the results are obvious, but other times, it requires a certain amount of reflection and analysis to determine what went wrong.
We can all see the value of a post-mortem in the above situations, but have you ever thought that it can be positive to analyze our own losses, mistakes, motivations, and intentions when we have negative outcomes? The purpose is not to point fingers, assign guilt, or relieve ourselves of personal responsibility, but to take an honest look at the situation we find ourselves in.
Sometimes when we take an honest look at a problem or situation that has turned out negative, it is because we have actually done more than use bad judgment; we have actually committed one kind of a sin or another. 
Sin is definitely a negative word, and it has bad connotations, but did you know that the actual definition from the Greek word hamartia is “missing the mark”? Yes, it means that when we are shooting at a target, we have missed the bullseye or the target. 
So, in truth, sin can be something really bad and intentional, or it can be just a mistake in judgment that hurts or offends someone or ourselves. Large or small, it is important to take a good look at our behavior and evaluate it. 
Some of you (those living in glass houses) may think, “Don’t you dare mention sin to me…I am not a sinner.” But that is not at all how the Lord sees us. In His word, it says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 The word goes on to explain that it is a universal condition: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Yep, take it or leave it, none of us are perfect, and can never  measure up to the perfect, sinless character of the Almighty. Fortunately for all of us, He has made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Because of that, He can offer a full and free cleansing of our sin. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Long story short: the year is coming to a close. It’s a perfect time to look back and do a thorough post-mortem before we begin anew. I’m in need of a good cleansing; how about you?

Photo by Fabio Luciano Sorg. Courtesy of Pixabay

 

 

Dual Citizenship

Valerie Cullers 3 Comments
I don’t know about you, but there are a lot of things in the Bible that I don’t understand…concepts, phrases, and allusions, to name a few. I have been a believer for decades and have read through the Scriptures many times, but I still don’t comprehend a lot of it.
One of those phrases is in Ephesians 2:6, where it says we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. I have thought about it, drawn it out, but it still hasn’t really registered with me. I was thinking about it, and one idea I read recently said that we are dual citizens with Christ and that we have all the benefits of being citizens of heaven. 
Now that is one thought I could comprehend. Several years ago, my brothers and I thought about becoming dual citizens of another country. Our mother was born there, and we qualified to become dual citizens. It was appealing to us that if we went there for any length of time, we would be able to enjoy the benefits of citizenship. The thought of free health care was especially appealing.
Back to the concept of being citizens of heaven with Christ, I thought about all the benefits available to us. I was going to compose a list for this post, but then the Twenty-third Psalm kept coming to my mind. As I thought about each verse, I could see some of the benefits outlined, so here goes.
1. “The Lord is my shepherd” – Someone in authority who is looking out for my welfare.  “I shall not want” – Provision
2. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” – Rest; “He leads me beside still waters” – Refreshment
3. “He restores my soul” – Emotional Healing; “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” – Spiritual Guidance
4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” – Protection; “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” – Guidance, Direction, and Correction
5. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” – Victory over spiritual and physical forces of darkness. “You anoint my head with oil: – Spiritual Strength and Power; “My cup runs over” Abundant Provision
6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” – Physical and Spiritual Blessings; “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” – The Blessed Hope of Eternal Life with the Lord.
This is just a short list of some of the benefits of having dual citizenship in heaven. There are many more, and I would encourage you to investigate them for yourself. No country on this Earth can offer you what the Lord himself can offer you should you choose to follow Christ and become a dual citizen of heaven.
Photo by Jacqueline Macou. Courtesy of Pixabay

Late

Valerie Cullers 18 Comments
Have you been late to an important function? Perhaps you forgot to write it down on your calendar or were completely distracted that day. You arrive; the candles have been lit and blown out, the presents opened, and you feel totally cringe. 
That is how I felt the other day when I read about the twins, Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who are sitting in a prison in Isfahan. They were participants in the protests last January in Iran. I was praying for the Iranian people at the time, but because of the war and various other events happening in the news, they moved off of my radar.
Most of us have been overwhelmed by the amount of tragedies that have happened in our world this past year. You just can’t get focused on all of them, or you would lose your mind. Sometimes, though, it is good to put names to some of the faces we see.
Taraneh and Romina, at 19, were dragged out of their beds and bags placed over their heads about a month after they joined anti-regime protests in Isfahan. Four months later, their mother finally found them in Dowlatabad Prison. She barely recognized her daughters.  They had been beaten, tortured, and their feet had been broken. I could continue on about their injuries, but you get the picture.
After I read about them, I checked to see what could be done for them. Was there anyone we could write to in order to ask for mercy for them? No one, as far as I could gather; however, Human Rights Watch suggested we make their stories known. Gladly, but is that all we can do?
I personally believe in the power of prayer, and if nothing else, we can pray for these two young women who are being tortured for their desire to live a full and free life in their home country. They must have known about the danger of protesting, but I am sure at their age they had no idea what could really happen to them.
Will you join me in remembering these two young women in prayer? Who knows what will happen in the next few months between our two countries, but no matter what, let us not forget the hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters who are being held in their prisons.
Prayer changes things, and let us pray for their unconditional release, humane treatment, and, in the meantime, the formation of a government that will allow their citizens a chance to live a life of  freedom and liberty.

Information from Sept.15th article by Efrat Lachter, Fox News. Photo by Gerd Altman, Pixabay.

 

Jesus ~ Who is He Really?

Valerie Cullers 11 Comments
Many of the great religions of the world believe in Jesus. Some believe he was a good man, a saint, a great teacher, a prophet,  or a reincarnation of a deity, but who was he really? Christians have an entirely different take on the subject; they believe He was the Son of God, i.e, co-equal with the Father.
Let’s look at what the Scriptures say: 
“Yet I have set my King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” Psalm 2: 6-7
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Literally, God with us.) Isaiah 7:14
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Child is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with Us.” Matthew 1: 20 – 23
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16
Let’s look at who Jesus said He is:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8: 58 (“This is a profound declaration by Jesus claiming his eternal pre-existence and divinity.” Bible Gateway)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14: 6
Who did his disciples say He was?
“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
“And after eight days His disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20: 26-28
As Holy Week approaches, and Christians prayerfully celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, I urge you to look at the claims of  Jesus. Historically investigate who He really is. Don’t just take someone else’s opinion. 
Several atheists have set out to disprove the claims of Jesus and their historical accuracy, and have become Christians after examining the facts. A few have written books about their experience. “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell and “Evidence Demands a Verdict” by Lee Strobel; are excellent references if you are interested.
When He returns, and He will return to judge the living and the dead, it will be imperative that you know exactly who He is. 

Image by Roger Casco. Courtesy of Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heartfelt

Valerie Cullers 9 Comments
“Heartfelt – an adjective used to describe strong, deeply felt, and sincere feelings and emotions.” Oxford Dictionaries
My husband is a man of few words. When I ask him how he feels, no matter how he is doing, he usually answers me with a one or two-word answer. Before dinner, he says grace, and if one of our kids or grandkids has a problem, same thing…he says a very short prayer for help for them.
I was thinking about his communication style the other evening after he was asleep, and I sensed the Spirit drop the word “heartfelt” into my mind. You see, when my husband does say something, he is very sincere about it. He doesn’t use twenty words when five will do.
I remember some of the most heartfelt prayers I ever prayed. My husband had a stroke and was bleeding inside his brain. The doctor told us that unless the bleeding stopped, there would not be much hope for him. The bleeding was in a place in his brain that they were unable to go in and operate.
That evening, I went into my room and just stared up at the ceiling. I just felt so much pain and suffering that I could not even mouth the words I was thinking. I knew that the Lord heard me, even though no words were spoken. Thankfully, he survived, and I know that I do not even need to utter a word to the Lord when I am overwhelmed.
What about you? Do you have a desire to pray, but you don’t know how? Do you think that you need certain words to express your feelings? Take comfort in the fact that the Lord doesn’t need your spoken words to answer your prayers. He can and does know the thoughts and prayers of your heart.
“For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Dunamis

Valerie Cullers 5 Comments
When we have made a decision to change for the better, that is a positive thing. Some change takes very little effort. Let’s say we need to floss our teeth at night, make our bed in the morning, or quit watching TV so late at night. Relatively, this kind of change is easy.
Other changes are harder. What about beginning to exercise, losing weight, applying ourselves at work…we may definitely need a kickstart to get going. We will also need some help to keep at our desired goal.
Some changes are almost impossible to implement in our lives without some real help. Breaking any kind of addiction, be it tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or pornography, usually requires some outside help. It is pretty hard to muster up the inner strength to kick these on our own. Some would say we need a miracle, especially if they have had a hold on us for some time.
That’s where dunamis comes in. In the Scriptures, it is one of the words used to describe God’s power. Google says it this way, “Dunamis is a Greek word meaning “power,” “strength,” or “ability,” often used in the New Testament to signify miraculous, inherent, or supernatural power from God.” It is where we get the word dynamite from.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have some dynamite power to help us make those difficult changes in our lives? The great thing is that it is available to each and every one of us. All we have to do is ask. Yes, that’s it. We just need to ask the Lord for help, and he is available to help us with whatever we need.
“But I don’t know him,” you might say to me. No problem, he knows you, and he is just waiting to help you. His hand is stretched out to help whoever calls on him. “But you don’t know what I’ve done.” True, but he does, and he is there waiting to help you make the changes you need. 
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matt. 7: 7-8. When he says you, he means you. The ground at the cross is level; anyone can come, there is no litmus test you must meet. Come and ask for help. He is just waiting to give you his dynamite power to change.
Image by Ivan Thomas. Courtesy of Pixabay. 

 

 

 

Unrepentant

Valerie Cullers 17 Comments
The other day, when I was in traffic, the man in front of me was driving a black Jeep. On the back of the Jeep were several stickers with skulls and a few with crossbones, and in the middle of his display was a bumper sticker that basically said he was unrepentant. He was definitely signaling for all to see that he was a bad dude.
I’ve thought about him a lot. Bad? Maybe…but definitely headed in the wrong direction, and that makes me sad.  I hate to see anyone defiant against the Lord,  and I fear for what his ultimate end will be.
Repentant is a word that is not usually used in secular conversations. It is in the Scriptures, and the Lord has a lot to say about it. Most people think that the word means to be sorry…but that is not it. In the New Testament, it is from the Greek word metanoia, which means to change one’s mind for the better.  
In other words, we look at our past sins and misdeeds, and we change our minds about them. We make a conscious decision to go a different way. When we are unrepentant, we are saying we will not change, we will stay the course we are taking.
In the orthodox churches, this past week began the season of Lent, i.e., forty days before Easter. Christians are supposed to examine their lives and see if there is something they need to repent of…some practice, some sin, some habit that has overtaken them. When we are unrepentant, we are saying to God that we are okay the way we are.
As far as I am concerned, there is not a person on this planet who doesn’t have something they need to repent of.  During this season, we would all do well to examine our own hearts. We do not want to be unrepentant. Proverbs 28:14 says: “Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”
The Lord Jesus paid a high price to cover the cost of our sins. Let’s not take it for granted. If he cared enough to put his life on the line for us, the least we can do is take a good, hard look at our own lives and see if there is something we need to repent of.

photo by john hein courtesy of pixabay.

 

 

 

 
 

Indifference – the Cousin of Hatred

Valerie Cullers 2 Comments
Indifference – “lack of interest, concern or sympathy.”  Oxford languages
Last week, I was at a luncheon. I was standing in a group of women, and one mentioned Savannah Guthrie and what she must be going through. We all agreed that it must be terrible. All of us except for one. The lady said, “But she was so disrespectful to President Trump.”  I just stared at her, not believing my ears…and then I said, “What’s that got to do with anything?”
I thought about her comment a lot and realized that the media had done its job. It had caused her to be indifferent to someone with whom she politically disagreed. Lest we think we are immune to that kind of thinking, we should examine our own hearts.
How many times do we ignore or are indifferent to the suffering of those who oppose our political views? What about those who are different than us, ethnically, racially or religiously? We tell ourselves we don’t hate them, but we certainly can’t muster up any kind of sympathy for their suffering either. Our hearts have become stone cold towards them.
When Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves, he gave us a parable to illustrate it. A man was on a road and was beaten up by robbers. A priest and a Levite passed by, and they both did nothing to alleviate his suffering. A Samaritan stopped and helped the injured man. He took him to an inn and made sure he was well taken care of.
Let’s put it in today’s context. A man is walking in a bad part of Tel Aviv at night. He is beaten up and robbed. He is left for dead. A religious person walks by and turns his head the other way. A lawyer walks by and does the same, wanting to get out of the place as quickly as possible. A Palestinian gets off work, walks by, and stops to help the man. He takes him to a hospital and makes sure he is taken care of. He doesn’t leave until he knows the man will live. 
Who do you think fulfills Jesus’ command to “Love his neighbor?” Obviously, the Palestinian. He was not indifferent to the suffering of the man, and he didn’t care about his race, religion, or ethnicity. 
As believers, we are not called to help everyone in the world. But we are called to care about and not be indifferent to those who are right in front of our eyes. Let us not be taken in by the tribal attitudes of today or the division that is being fostered in the media. We can make a difference if only we will view others with the same humanity we view those in our own circles of reference.
Let’s not justify ourselves and tell ourselves we are okay because we don’t hate them. At least with hatred, there is a level of emotion involved. With indifference, we are devoid of emotion, care, and concern. That should cause us all to take a second look at our stony hearts.
Photo by jhraskon. Courtesy of Pixabay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empty Prayers

Valerie Cullers 21 Comments
“I put an empty hand on an empty head and said an empty prayer.” 
Several years ago, I heard Dick Mills speak. He shared an episode from his life. He had been ministering in a church. He was finished speaking with the people. He was tired, hungry, and he had no energy. As he was walking out the door, a woman approached him for prayer. He then said, “I put an empty hand on an empty head and said an empty prayer.” As he turned to walk away, the lady was healed, right then and there.
That story gives me hope. There are people I have prayed for over several years. Although I have seen shifts in their circumstances or their personalities, I still have not seen a total answer to my prayers. Sometimes, when I am praying, I feel like I am praying “empty prayers.” The requests are the same, but it has been so very long, and I just kind of mouth the words.
Jesus encourages his followers to pray and not give up. “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 Amplified. 
All well and good but when we have asked for so many years, so many decades, what do we do? Even though it seems like sometimes we are praying just “empty prayers,” we should do just what He said. Keep on asking, keep on seeking an answer and keep on knocking til the door is opened.  
The true lesson from Dick Mills’ story is this. The ultimate answer from God does not depend on us, it depends on Him. His timing, His reasons, and His way of doing things. So if you are like me and sometimes you feel like you are praying “empty prayers,” take heart. He hears us. He will answer, immediately, eventually or ultimately. 
 

Temptation

Valerie Cullers 12 Comments
Temptation – we all deal with it. It comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and types. So let’s look at a few and what we need to do about them.
Obvious:
The easiest kind of temptation to identify is the obvious kind. What are we not supposed to be doing? Most of us have a list of those things we need to keep away from. So how do we do it when confronted directly by them? First, identify it in our minds. Second, make a conscious choice to not indulge in it. And third, turn around and walk away. The Scripture says, “But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 It sounds simple, but it can be very difficult. If we make the choice to turn away at the very start of the temptation, we have a much greater chance of not falling into it.
Subtle:
This kind of temptation is much harder to identify in the beginning. It just sneaks up on us and then wham, we are right in the center of it. This kind of temptation usually comes with a thought that flies through our minds; we don’t even recognize it, it is there, and then it is gone. A while later, it comes into our minds again, lingers a bit and vanishes. Again, we take no thought of it. This begins to happen over and over during the day, and at the end of the day, we realize we have been fighting a battle in our minds and have not even recognized it. That thought has come in so many times, that it has begun to take root. Again, we need to Identify it, Reject it, and Evict it. Joyce Meyer said, “Frisk every thought.” I will add, “at the door of your mind.” Excellent advice. The sooner we recognize it, the sooner we can evict it.
Manageable: 
This is the kind of temptation that makes the Enemy of our Souls laugh. We realize we have a weak area, but we make excuses or provision for it. We say to ourselves, “Well, I can handle this temptation.” We may be an alcoholic, but tell ourselves we will be okay going to the bar with our friends.  The fact that we usually end up drunk at the end of the night should alert us to the fact that we are not okay, and should make a different choice. What about the temptation to only look at porn that one time? “I can handle it.” How many people have been sucked into that addiction? To think that we are somehow stronger than everyone else is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. Again, we need to Identify it, Reject it, Turn around and leave it behind. This one comes with a caveat…and get help if you need it. Some battles cannot be fought alone. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide the way out so you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians, 10:13