Month: May 2012

The other day I was talking to my friends Ian and Emily about peace, specifically the peace that is to rule in the believer’s heart according to Colossians 3:15. Our pastor spoke of it being an inner tranquility and restfulness, no matter what our circumstances may be on the outside.

“My middle name’s definitely not Tranquility,” I said.

“No,” said Emily, “It’s Rumble Strip.”

Oh, yeah.

I came by the nickname  fairly or unfairly (depending on your perspective) during a road trip a couple years ago where I may have veered slightly off to the right and . . . rumblerumblerumble. It happened only twice during the thousand miles I drove. Still, I am now Rumble Strip.

It was kind of funny that Emily reminded me of the nickname during a conversation on peace, because it’s true. I often live my life like I’m driving on rumble strips, with my heart shaking and quaking and getting all disturbed. I worry about this. I fret over that. I think God can’t handle such-and-such or so-and-so. Rather than driving peacefully on Tranquility Highway, I choose to bump uncomfortably on the rough edges of my road.

It ain’t fun. And it’s not right. Since the peace of God is ours when we simply rest in his promises, why do we choose to drive on the rumble strips?

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body; and be thankful.”

Aaaaaaa! This is CRAZY!

So, if you hadn’t heard, there is a new “outreach” program started by the White House, where you can sign up and get randomly selected for a 5 minute Skype chat with the President of the United States. I’m guessing he does 3-4 of these every Saturday afternoon. Anyway, yours truly signed up on a whim a few weeks ago, and would you believe it? I got chosen! (!!!!) Now, I’m not a big fan of Obama’s policies, but I figured it’s 5 minutes of the undivided attention of the leader of the free world, so why not give it a shot? I was so excited, I could barely sleep last night after I got the “you’ve been selected” email. You better believe I wrote down some notes on what I wanted to say to him.

Here’s the play-by-play:

Today at 1:05pm CST, I was sitting at my kitchen table, and my Skype notifier rang. I freely admit I was a little ( A LOT) nervous as I accepted the call and saw the President appear on my computer screen.

“Hi, Katie,” he said. For a second, I couldn’t think beyond the thought, Oh, wow. He knows my name! It was all a little stunning.

 

Also, very fictional. Had ya going there for a minute, didn’t I? (Or not. Some of you are waaay too smart.)

Change the scenario a bit: This morning, I prayed for 50 minutes. OK, stifle the yawn. I know. You were all impressed when I talked to the President of the United States of America for 5 minutes today, but the fact that I communed with The King of All That Exists for 10 times as long  is no big deal.

Do you see the problem? What is wrong with us?

That’s easy to answer. We tend to be far too in awe of the trappings of this world, of the Shiny Things and Important People we can see and hear and touch. We who are children of God through faith in Christ Jesus forget too often the incredible privilege that is ours. I’ll say it again. We are children of God! He doesn’t just know our names; he knows our hearts, our personalities, our secrets, our struggles.

Because of Jesus, we have the right to come before the infinitely powerful, holy, and awesome God and talk to him about everything and anything, anywhere, anytime. And, as if it couldn’t get any more wonderful,  he WANTS us to talk to him. In view of this, neglecting prayer is ridiculous in the extreme. Prayer should be a treasured time, a delight to our hearts.

When I’m thinking right, I can’t help but realize that talking to my Father in Heaven beats Skyping with the President in Washington in every possible way.

Hebrews 10:19, 22 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (emphasis mine)

The other day, I was cleaning out my fridge and looking at all the little dates stamped on the cartons and cans. As I tossed out old yogurt and the tomato sauce, I thought about my expiration date. (Yes, that is rather a deep subject to be contemplating during such a mundane task.) It would be kinda nice to know when it is. Imagine all of us walking around with dates stamped on the back of our necks informing us when we are going to die.

August 17, 2072

September 3, 2036

May 12, 2012 . . . oh.

OK, maybe not so nice. Still, our time will come, and we don’t have a clue when. Compare 31 year old me with a 95 year old.  Whose expiration date will come first? Odds are, his. But he may have another 10 years, while I may have another 10 months. Or 10 minutes.

This talk of death, it doesn’t scare me. I’m thankful for my life here, but I’m really excited about what happens next, because my final breath on earth simply means a new start in that perfect place with a beautiful Savior. He died for my sins and he rose again. He’s given me eternal life just because I trusted him and nothing else.

The point is, I’m ready to die, whether it’s today or 70 years from today. No matter when my expiration date is, I know eternal life is mine.

Do you?

1 John 5:13a  “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. . .”