Honking Horn

   When I was a young Christian, while driving on the expressway, someone

would always beep his or her car horn at me. “What did I do?” I wondered. These people even had the audacity to smile as they drove past me while blowing their horns. This would irritate me to no end.              

   One particular summer day while driving, a car filled with young adults got behind me. The driver literally laid on his car horn. I switched lanes so he could pass me. Instead of passing me, he switched lanes directly behind me. He continued to lay on his horn. I switched lanes again—this time to the far right lane. He deliberately followed me, blowing his horn mercilessly.            

   In an attempt to get rid of him, I took the first exit I saw. To my surprise, he veered off the same exit. My irritation had quickly turned to fear. I made a sharp turn; he followed suit. I made another turn, and he did the same while still blowing his horn. I decided to pull over and face my fear. To my amazement, he didn’t stop but slowly drove past me, smiling. The passengers’ outstretched bodies limply hung partially out the windows of his vehicle. I watched in astonishment as they waved their hands in unison, yelling in harmony, “We love Jesus.” I continued to watch as the vehicle drifted out of my sight.            

   I could feel my heart pulsating as I placed my hand over my chest, as if I could suppress the pounding. Then I heard the Lord say, “See how they love me.” I immediately remembered the bumper sticker—the one I had so proudly placed on the vehicle several months earlier. The bumper sticker read, “If you love Jesus, honk.” How often had others beeped their horns at me while I wondered in disgust what their problem was? I had quickly forgotten the words on my rear bumper. To make matters worse, I was in the middle of nowhere. I had no clue where I was. In my haste to escape, I found myself sandwiched between two cornfields. To get back to where I should have been, I had to back track to the expressway.  

   I removed the bumper sticker from my vehicle—not because I didn’t love Jesus, but because I did. I made up my mind that if I could not live the life I preached, I was not going to preach the life I lived. I realized it wasn’t the words on a piece of laminated paper that identified me with Christ, but the living Word manifested in my life. 

   Our heavenly Father wants to remove the mask His children wear. We have been masquerading long enough with the pretense of being His church.

   Our heavenly Father is looking for those who are willing to be real (honest, genuine, and true) with themselves, God, and one another—people who are no longer content with just going to church, but are willing to be the Church.

Excerpted from MASKED:(WestBow Press, 2011).

  

                                Herbert Jermaine Robinson's Photos

Press On

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:" Philippian 3:13-15a (KJV)

     A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook. As I looked at the picture, my mind wandered to the numerous times I felt like this man. He was inches away from a breakthrough, but quit. I wondered how often I had fervently prayed, believing I would receive because I had faith, only to see my circumstances get worse. I wondered about unanswered prayers. How close was I to a break-through, when I quit praising the Lord for the answer. It appeared as if God wasn't going to answer me, so I too walked away discourage and disappointed.

     I went through the spiritual checklist, you know that invisible list: Have I not forgiven someone? Is there unknown sin or unrepentant sin, etc.? I of course would conclude with— it must not be God's will. How easy we blame God, for our lack of faith or lack of perseverance.

     I looked at the other man. He had a long way to go, but at least he was heading in the right direction. I realized my prayer request was worth fighting for, whether it was for a loved one, needed financial blessing, divine connection or intervention, they were all important and according to God's will. All this man had to do was turn around, continue pressing forward, and don't give up. The break-through is there. That's all any of us have to do is not give up, but press on. However, all to often, we allow our emotions to rule what faith in God's alone will do. Our Heavenly Father is not moved by our poetic words, assertiveness or even tears. However, He is moved or acts according to our faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (King James version)." It is never too late to turn around, put on the whole armor of God, and press toward the mark. 

"Let me Lead"

It was time to take our dog Tiger to the vet. Tiger’s name fit him. He had a bad habit of lunging at you, or lunging on our comfortable couch.  His playtime consisted of trying to get your hand or arm, and other things in his mouth. He was named Tiger as a puppy because of the striped markings on his body. I wonder if we had named him Striped or Marble, if that would have changed his behavior.

We had just purchased a new vehicle. As I looked outside, the ground was wet, so I decided not to put Tiger in the vehicle. I envisioned him leaving muddy paw marks on the leather seats, and slobber all over the windows. Since the veterinarian office was only a few blocks away and the weather was warm, I decided we would walk.  Tiger and I could use the exercise.

Although Tiger had been to the vet numerous times before, he had never walked before.  As we proceeded out of our driveway, Tiger was eager to lead. Tiger had no clue where he was going; he just knew he wanted to lead. I found myself constantly pulling on the leash. This was turning into a trot instead of a walk. I also realized I wasn’t walking Tiger; he was walking me. I felt like an Eskimo in a sled race, without the snow. Every so often I would yell, “No Tiger.” However, Tiger wasn’t listening, he was leading and that was all that mattered. I marvel at how he didn’t have a clue where we were headed, yet he confidently lead.

I had learned not to take more than one dog at a time for a walk. Whether it was our pit bulls, Tiger and Domino, or our gentle dogs, Buddy and Gizmo. They each would try vigorously to take the lead, pulling my husband and I, as if we were excessive baggage. This time it was just Tiger and I.

Tiger was choking as I pulled on the leash to get him to slow down, and let me lead. I didn’t have a problem with him walking beside me; this was what I wanted. But, the more I pulled on the leash, the more he resisted.

Finally we had reached our destination. My back ached; I just wanted to sit down. It seemed like I had walk for miles, when it was only four blocks. When we got into the vet’s office, to my surprised I noticed Tiger’s eyes were blood shot and somewhat bulging. I blurted out, “Oh my goodness, what’s wrong with his eyes?” The vet replied, “You were choking him.” Of course I informed the vet, that I did not choke him, Tiger choked himself. If only he had yielded to the pull of the leash, then he would have been fine. Fortunately Tiger was just a little sore.

Tiger had received his shots and we were out the door heading home. The trip back was far more relaxing as Tiger was tired, and yielded the lead to me.

Each year we look forward to hear, “What saith the Lord” as we enter into a new year.    Like Tiger, we are ready to lead, but have no clue where we are headed.

Many of us assume that every year means a new season in our lives. We yearn to see change, but have we allowed God to change us to receive the new?  We quickly take the lead, unknowingly telling the Lord, to come and follow us. When we don’t see the desired changes in our lives, we become disappointed and tired. What the Lord wanted was for us to relinquish the lead to Him, and walk beside him.

Each season seems to have a theme, or a catch phrase that characterizes it. These phrases express a hunger and yearning in our hearts. It is the long awaited promises and blessings that we have hoped for, and that God so desires to give us. What many have failed to realize is if we have failed to allow The Lord to work in the past season of our lives, we are not ready to enter into the new season that the Lord desires us to walk in.

In my book “Unmasked” I wrote, “We tend to focus our attention on what God hasn’t accomplished in our lives, instead of what He is accomplishing in us. Whether we admit it or not, we are that diamond in the rough.

While we focus on progress, God is focusing on the process. Instead of focusing on the lack of progress, we need to turn our attention on the process. Some of the things we view as obstacles, trials or disappointments in our lives are the very things God uses to promote us. How we handle the process will determine how much we progress. God will not allow a trial to come into your life unless He has a purpose. Know that the storms and challenges are not sent to destroy you. God allowed it to increase, strengthen and promote you.” So enjoy the journey, and let the Lord, lead.

 Love to hear your thoughts.