Beware of Sacred Cows

 

By Andrea Merrell

Beware of … the deceptive teaching 

of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 16: 11b-12b

“Wow, another sacred cow bites the dust,” my husband said as we left church one Sunday.

The sermon had centered around old, man-made traditions we had both been exposed to growing up. All the dos and don’ts (mostly don’ts) that had become etched in stone in certain religious settings.

The problem? None of them lined up with Scripture.

I thought back to my first memories of church as a child and all that I was taught. The “rules” so to speak. Unfortunately, over the years every church I attended seemed to have its own set of rules, causing even more confusion.

I always wondered who made those rules. And why did they differ so drastically? Just like the Pharisees and their man-made traditions, all those dos and don’ts revolved around a person’s actions. Their performance. How they dressed. How often they attended church. No tattoos. No piercings. No holey jeans. No smoking. No drinking. No R-rated movies. I once heard someone say if you go to a bar or a pool hall, you’re surely going to hell. I even heard a preacher ranting online recently about conducting church services “in the dark,” as he put it, and having a rock band on the platform. Drums, it seemed to him, were of the Devil.

Many years ago, I heard the story of a church that split over men wearing ties and another over women wearing makeup and jewelry. Jesus warned the religious leaders of His day about coming up with their own rules.

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes:

Do not be like the Pharisees who multiplied regulations, creating their own form of godliness. They got so wrapped up in their own rules that they lost sight of Me. Even today, man-made rules about how to live the Christian life enslave many people. Their focus is on their performance rather than on Me. ~Jesus

Thankfully, God is the only true Judge, and He looks at the heart—not on what we do or don’t do. When we try to live by man’s opinions and standards rather than God’s Word we end up in bondage, always dealing with guilt and condemnation while trying to measure up.

God never intended for us to live that way. Instead of playing by the rules, let's allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide. He will always lead us in the right direction.

Photo by Diana Shchurova on Unsplash

Where Do You Belong?

 

By Andrea Merrell

You’re no longer wandering exiles.

This kingdom of faith is now your home country.

You’re no longer strangers or outsiders.

Ephesians 2:19 MSG

I watched her go from one scenario to another. From church to the bar scene. From Bible studies to drinking and wild parties. She finally ended up as a druggie because she felt “accepted.”

People can spend a lifetime trying to find themselves. To fit in. To find where they belong. But the Bible says God has planted eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He created each of us with a God-shaped void that nothing or no one else can fill except Him.

In Ephesians, Paul writes:

That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what He is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now He is using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home (vs. 19-22 MSG).

Everyone needs to feel loved and accepted. To belong. To fit in. Being God’s child is the perfect fit. We carry the hope of eternity in our heart. We are in this world but not of it. We no longer have to search for our place. We are part of God’s family.

That’s where we belong.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and tuelekza.

Home Sweet Home

 

 By Andrea Merrell

 

O Lord, you have always been our home.

Psalms 90:1 TEV

 

I smiled as I opened a gift from a friend. The beautiful gold lettering on a long piece of parchment paper unfolded a lifetime of memories, and I realized the truth in those few simple words: Home—the place your story begins.

 

Some say we are what we eat. Others say we are what we read. Still others insist we become like the people we associate with. I believe we are the sum total of our life experiences, yet it all begins at home from our earliest recollections.

 

As a writer, I draw from everything that has touched my life. Even when creating fictional stories and larger-than-life characters, I find many of my own attitudes, experiences, and hang-ups sneaking their way into the story.

 

Everyone who touches us leaves an impression—some to a greater degree than others. We are influenced by success, relationships, and blessings, as well as pain, heartache, and failures. Seeds are planted throughout our days—both good and bad—and they spring up when we least expect them.

 

Even though home has great bearing on who we become, it has not always been my safety net. There were times in my life I wanted to be anywhere else but home. The good news is God takes all the broken pieces, smooths out the rough edges, and strategically puts the puzzle together, forming the bigger picture. When we belong to Him, He takes every trial and every triumph, refines them, and wraps them in His grace. God promises to work every situation for our good, His glory, and the benefit of those around us. He also promises to prepare a place for us where we will spend eternity. That’s when the journey really begins.

 

My story began in my childhood home, dysfunctional at best. It continues today as a wife, mother, grandmother, author, editor, and devoted child of God. He is my dwelling place. My Forever home.

 

In the Wizard of Oz, young Dorothy had a grand adventure and met lots of quirky characters on her way. I’ve had some pretty grand adventures myself, but one day when I reach my heavenly destination I will say just like Dorothy, There’s no place like home.

 

How about you? Will you let Him re-write your story and become your forever home?

 

 

 

The Self-Pity Trap

 

By Andrea Merrell

He lifted me out of the pit of despair.

Psalm 40:2 NLT

When I first met the young woman, I soon found her to be full of self-pity—which Sarah Young calls, “a slimy, bottomless pit” that quickly leads to depression.

Coming from a dysfunctional home filled with anger, addiction, and abuse, she could not get past the events that had stolen her sense of well-being. Even after escaping what she called “her prison,” she walked around in darkness and despair. She felt hopeless and confided that she just wanted to escape. To end her life.

Her progress came about slowly, but surrounded by believers who cared about her, she began to climb out of that pit. When she took her eyes off her past and put them on the Lord, He opened up her future and restored her hope.

Her transformation was a beautiful thing to behold. A few months later, she could proudly say, along with David:

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

and He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

 out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

 and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

 a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what He has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

(Psalm 40:1-3 NLT)

If you’re battling with depression, stop looking behind and within. Look up. Set your focus—your mind, your heart, and your eyes—on the Lord. He is waiting to take you by the hand and pull you out of the darkness into His glorious light.

 

 Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Fa Barboza.

 

 

Duck Syndrome

 

By Andrea Merrell

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and 

supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests 

be made known to God, 

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

 

The man always seemed in control. Laid back. Taking things in stride. Nothing appeared to rattle him. Others envied the way he handled whatever life threw at him. But on the inside, he was a powder keg of worry and fear. A bundle of nerves—all of which led to serious health and emotional issues.

Some call it Duck Syndrome. We might see a beautiful bird gliding across the water, calm and serene. But what we don’t see is that underneath the surface of the water, he is paddling like crazy.

According to the experts, this condition describes those who hide all their stress and anxiety behind a veneer of peace and composure while they are falling apart on the inside, struggling to keep their head above water.

These same experts suggest many ways to overcome this problem: Be more aware. Set boundaries. Practice time management. Get counseling.

But for the believer, there is a better way. An old song tells us to “take it to the Lord in prayer.” That means casting our cares over on Him. Laying our burdens at His feet. Then trusting Him for the outcome.

The Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing and to pray about everything. When we do, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Sounds like a much better way to live. Let’s not be ducks but doers of the Word.

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash