ON HIS TERMS

...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God... - Exodus 20:5

There's a feature on my smartphone that I use every day, generously and without apology.  It's the MUTE feature for the ringer on my phone.  I work an alternative work schedule and so that means when most people are awake, I'm asleep (or trying to go to sleep) and when most people are asleep, I am wide awake.  And while I try to be mindful of this fact and not call my friends at 4:00 in the morning when I may be bored or otherwise unoccupied at work, my phone constantly rings during "normal business hours" because either people "forgot" what my work hours are or they just don't know (solicitors, telemarketers who have somehow slipped through the "no-call" phone lists cracks).  While having my phone on mute 24/7 works for me, it doesn't always work for people trying to get in touch with me - just ask my brother.  But as I tell my mother all time, my phone is for MY convenience, not the convenience of the people trying to reach me.  My phone.  My terms.

Everything has its own set of "terms and conditions."  When you get your drivers license, one of the "terms" of getting one is an unstated agreement with the State issuing the license that you will abide by the laws of the land when it comes to traffic safety, speed limits, red lights, stop signs, etc.  Now, if you live in certain cities (i.e., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York), it's obvious that every driver behind the wheel doesn't adhere to this "unstated agreement", but that's a blog for a different time and place.

When you download applications or services on your phone, Smart TV or other devices, there are always terms and conditions that you must agree to that govern your use of the application or service that you are signing up to use.  If you are like most people, you don't actually READ the terms or conditions because all you are really interested in is getting to use the app or service as quickly as possible.  I know that I am guilty of this (even though, since I work in a legal environment, I really should know better.)

And I am sure that every child, teenager, or young adult still living at home has heard their parent(s) say on at least one (if not one hundred) occasion(s), "As long as you are living under my roof ..." You know the rest.  Their terms and conditions for free access to the refrigerator, hot water, electricity and other amenities. [By the way, when you grow older, if you move your parent(s) into YOUR home, that saying doesn't work on them.  In fact, if you try it, they just look at you like you have lost your mind and say, "Kristina, I don't care if this is YOUR house, I'm still your mother."  (Or maybe, that only happens in my world.)]

I am currently reading through (ok, listening to) the Bible (again) and I'm in the middle of the book of Numbers currently.  As I listened to the instructions that God gave the children of Israel as they built the sanctuary, as they took the first census, as they set up their government structure, as they gathered and ate the manna that was provided to them on a daily basis (well, six out of seven days of the week) ... God was very exacting in His "terms and conditions" on how He expected His children to follow, obey and serve Him.  When He stated that He was a "jealous" God in His commandments to the Israelites (and to us), He wasn't talking about the relationship-stalking kind "jealousy" that we tend to think of jealousy as being - well, not exactly.  

When God says He is a jealous God, He is basically setting the "terms and conditions" for His relationship with us.  Now, we all should know that the ceremonial laws regarding the sacrifices in the sanctuary were all done away with by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  But that doesn't mean that God doesn't still expect certain things from those of us who claim a relationship with Him.  We are supposed to approach God with reverence and recognize His authority in and over our lives.  We are supposed to bring Him our best and not treat Him casually or like we treat the unimportant things in our lives.  And while we are invited to have a relationship with Him, we should always be mindful that He is Who He is - our loving, awesome, creative, marvelous, self-sacrificing, jealous and giving Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lord and God.

He is a jealous God with "terms and conditions" firmly rooted in His love for each of us.

Be blessed.
© 2018 Kristina E. Smith

THIS IS US

One of the top-rated shows on television these days is NBC's family drama, THIS IS US.  The story of the Pearson triplets, Kevin, Kate and Randall, has captivated audiences for two seasons and a lot of people I know [myself included] watch [or record] every Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. to see what happens next ... or what happened in the past ... to shape the lives of these three characters and those closest to them.

The story is simple, and yet complex - much like real life.  Jack and Rebecca Pearson are the parents of these triplets.  After losing their "original" triplet during childbirth, they adopt a baby boy born on the same day who was abandoned at the fire station by his drug addicted father.  These three young people then grow up as brothers and sister - two boys, one girl; two White children, one Black child - it is a convoluted mess and that is the premise of the story.  Their stories are told through a series of flashbacks and present day scenes, which are all overshadowed by the death of their father, Jack, when they were 17 years old.  One of the biggest ongoing mysteries of the series is "How did Jack die?".  [Supposedly, the mystery will be revealed before the end of this season - we'll see]

Kevin, the oldest triplet, is a spoiled brat of a man, who makes his living as an actor.  His childhood dream was to be a football star, but a knee injury as he started his college career sidelined him and he became an actor instead.  His current story line is that he has become addicted to prescription pain killers as a result of a fall on a movie set.  After being arrested for drunk driving, he is currently in a fancy rehab facility getting the help he needs.

Kate, the middle triplet and only girl, has spent her entire life dealing with weight issues and a food addiction.  The main storyline for her character is the mother-daughter conflict that colored her childhood and has carried on into her adult life.  Kate is a talented singer who, after years of managing her brother Kevin's career, is trying to break into show business as a singer, which was her mother's dream during the triplets' childhood.  A daddy's girl, she appears to be the character most impacted by her father's sudden death.  She just suffered a miscarriage and she and her fiance, Toby, are dealing with the aftermath and trauma of that.

And then there's Randall.  A Black child, adopted into a White family - as if that is not enough to deal with - he's also an intellectual genius, which puts another level of dysfunction into an already dysfunctional family situation.  In the two seasons of the show, Randall has had a nervous breakdown, quit his job and he and his wife became foster parents to a young lady who was eventually taken from their home and reunited with her biological mother.  [The actor who plays this character, Sterling K. Brown, just won a Golden Globe award for his performance in the series.]

All these characters.  All these children with different talents and needs and demands.  And as the stories of the adult triplets are being told, the story of their childhood and of the parenting by Jack and Rebecca is also being told.  You see Jack's struggle with how he can be a good parent to a young Black boy with intellectual gifts he is uncomfortable with and doesn't understand.  You see Rebecca's attempt to mold her daughter into a mini-version of herself, even when it is painfully obvious that this is an almost impossible task.  And how both Jack and Rebecca put their hopes and dreams for success on the shoulders of their young football star, only to have those dreams shattered in an instant.  

I think the  show appeals to so many viewers because when we watch it, each of us sees a little bit of Jack, Rebecca, Kevin, Kate, Randall, Sophie, Toby, Beth, and Miquel [secondary characters and significant others] in ourselves.  Each time, they overcome, we are given hope that we will overcome.  Each time they make a misstep, we cringe and then wait to see how they will recover.  Each loss becomes our loss, each victory our victory.  

Parents have an awesome responsibility when it comes to molding and shaping the lives of the children put in their care.  Some of them parent very well, some of them just do the best they can, and unfortunately, some are horrible at their jobs.  Some parents recognize that every child is different and therefore, need to be parented differently - while some feel like "if it worked for one, it will work for the other(s)".  

The most common reference for God is of a father - a parental figure.  I am so glad that my Heavenly Father KNOWS me and knows exactly how I personally need to be parented.  Jeremiah 1:5 states that, "before [I] was formed in the womb, [He] knew me." [paraphased]  Not only does He know every hair on my head [Luke 12:7], but He knows my thoughts, my hopes, my dreams, my future.  He is there to comfort and sustain me through each trial, hurt and loss.  He is there to cheer me on through every success, accomplishment and achievement.  And He is there to love me every step of the way.  The most wonderful thing about it all is He is there for YOU in whatever way YOU need it as well.  Ain't that good news!?

Be blessed.

© 2018 Kristina E. Smith

RIVER ROCKS

That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? - Joshua 4:6

Years ago, I was a member of a Bible study group that met on Friday evenings to read and discuss a book entitled DESIRE OF AGES by Ellen G. White.  This book explores and discusses various aspects of Jesus Christ's life and ministry while He lived here on earth.  At the end of the Bible study, one of the members gave each of us a polished rock, similar to the ones in the photo attached.  With it, she gave a note with the attached verse and a message saying that she wanted each of us to have a stone - not only to remember our Bible study experience together, but to also remember how God is always with us and how He always brings us through.

It has been a long time since I have written on this blog.  When I gathered up my favorite blog postings and self-published them in a book a few years ago, I somehow lost my way - my love for writing - my "daily" insights into why I feel/proclaim I am God's Favorite Child.  I don't know, the "pressure" to write after the book just became overwhelming.  While I was humbled and encouraged by the comments of support from readers of the book, I guess I felt that, where before I just wrote from my heart, without really considering who was reading or even the impact of my words on them, now there was an expectation that every blog posting would be deep and profound and spiritual.  Basically, I put ME and my feelings/demands/expectations in front of God's purpose for my life and for this blog.

In the past two years of not writing, a lot has happened.  A LOT.  But through it all, God has been (and always is) faithful to His Favorite Child.  As 2018 approached, I read lots of stories on Instagram (I gave up Facebook in October 2016) about the challenges of 2017 and how people were glad the year was over and how they hoped that 2018 would be better.  Goals they were setting, things they wanted to achieve, plans they were making.  And I realized that the time had come for me to write again.  Not only in my personal journal, but here - in a more public forum.  

So, why the rocks?  The story in the Bible of the children of Israel crossing the River Jordan as they FINALLY entered the Promised Land gives me hope for the coming year.  For 40 years, the children of Israel had been on a journey that many Biblical scholars estimated should have only taken weeks.  FORTY YEARS!!!  That's a long time to be wandering around a desert with your destination in sight, right beyond your grasp.  As they finally gained the victory, as they were finally crossing the River Jordan to enter the land God promised them, their leader, Joshua, made a profound statement.  He told the leaders of each tribe to pick up a stone.  HUH?  Pick up a stone, he said, and when your children ask you "What is the meaning of these stones?", you will tell them the story of how God brought you through the River Jordan on dry land.

There are a lot of spiritual lessons in this story, but here are my favorites:  1) By their very nature, children are inquisitive, but they also have short memories.  Joshua knew that even though some of the children he was thinking about were in the crowd that very day, in time, they would forget the miracle of walking through the middle of the River Jordan on dry land.  The altar made of the stones would prompt their curiosity and they would ask, giving their elders a chance to recall and tell the story of God's glory.  By telling the children, the elders would be reminded.  2)  Memories should have tangible evidence.  Whether you take a picture, record a video, keep the ticket stub or theatre program, pick up a rock - if you don't have something tangible to remember an experience by, you tend to forget about it.  Life gets busy, it's understandable.  We need things we can touch and hold to remember things from the past.  And finally, 3) God is with us - always.  Whether we are approaching our "River Jordan", standing in the midst of it with the waters still swirling around our ankles, or we have reached the other shore and waters are slowly falling back into place - GOD IS THERE - and sometimes, we need to pick up a stone in the midst of our illness, in the midst of our spiritual crisis, in the midst of a loss ... pick up a stone and remember His faithfulness in the past guarantees His faithfulness in the present and the future.

God bless each of us as we embark on the journey we will come to remember as the year 2018.  Be blessed.