This past November I had the privilege of travelling to New York City with my two sisters. We spent four days touring the city and had the opportunity while we were there to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. I have always loved the movie, and the live performance was absolutely spectacular (or should I say it was, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”). Sorry, I couldn’t resist! We ordered our seats on-line and when we got to the theatre we found that we were on the back row of the mezzanine. Needless to say, we weren’t as close as we’d hoped to be, but we learned that there are really no bad seats in a theatre like that; it is designed in such a way that you can see everything quite well, no matter where you’re seated. The small binoculars my sister brought helped seeing the actors and props “up close.” We were a distance away, but we watched in fascination and had an unforgettable evening.

This morning as I read Exodus 32 and 33 I read the story of the children of Israel asking Aaron to make them a god since they figured Moses had gone off and left them for good. Their great sin against the One true God disheartened Moses and angered the Lord. When Moses came down from the mountain it says in chapter 33 that he went out to the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp. In verse 8 we read that Moses went out to the tabernacle. Everyone must have been peeking out the door of their tents, because they all saw Moses go to the tabernacle. It reminds me of a child that has disobeyed and has been sent to their room. They sit at the door quietly, knowing that mommy is not happy with them, and they crack the door open and just watch her from their vantage point.

The Israelites watched until Moses disappeared into the tabernacle, but they keep their eyes alert. They then saw the cloudy pillar descend and they knew that Moses was worshipping God inside. Their response? They rose up and worshipped at their tent door. They had a seat in the Mezzanine – and were looking on this great scene from a distance when they could have had a “front row seat! It’s sad that their hearts were in such a condition that they were removed from what was going on at the tabernacle. Perhaps they didn’t feel they could draw nearer and gather outside the tabernacle because of their sin.

It’s also possible for us to worship while peeking out from our “tent door.” We go to church for the worship service and while worship is going on all around us our hearts are disengaged. We’re simply standing at the tent door observing. If our hearts are cold or sinful, we are only bystanders. We sing the songs while our mind is a million miles away. The cloud of God’s presence could descend quite near us, but our mind and thoughts are somewhere else and we are only observers instead of participants.

How can we keep ourselves from being distanced from the Lord while we’re at church?

1. Pray before going to church. Make sure your heart is clean.
2. Ask God to speak to you through the entire service.
3. Be alert through the entire service and be looking for God to speak. It’s easy to get sluggish, isn’t it?
4. Position yourself in the church in a place where you can concentrate. If you can’t hear well, or if there are little people near that distract you, don’t just complain about it, move closer to the front.
5. As you’re singing concentrate on the words. If you’re singing about God’s promises, think of some of those promises while you’re singing.
6. Pray while others are praying.
7. Don’t allow yourself to be a distraction. Try not to leave the service or move about in your seat in a way that would draw attention to yourself.
8. Come prepared to take notes on the things the Lord says to you.
9. If the Lord prompts you to write or call someone that’s absent, write it down so you don’t have to think about it during the service.
10. Summarize the message in a sentence or two and write it down.

Don’t allow yourself to only watch worship taking place from a distance. Draw near to the tabernacle instead of observing from your tent door!

Dwight Marrow, the father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once held a dinner party to which Calvin Coolidge had been invited. After Coolidge left, Morrow told the remaining guests that Coolidge would make a good president. The others disagreed. They felt Coolidge was too quiet, that he lacked color and personality. No one would like him, they said. Anne, then age six, spoke up: “I like him,” she said. Then she displayed a finger with a small bandage around it. “He was the only one at the party who asked about my sore finger. “

Showing a bit of compassion to a person makes a huge difference! Jude 22 says, “And of some having compassion, making a difference.” While we understand that this verse is speaking about using compassion to bring back those that have gone astray in apostasy, it has challenged my heart as to how all ministry is to be done, if it’s to accomplish what the Lord would desire.

There are two ways to do ministry – in the flesh and in the spirit. When we serve the Lord in the spirit we will respond in compassionate ways to the needs around us. Would you really want an uncaring nurse to administer your shots to you? Would you appreciate your hostess responding to you in a hostile manner when she learns you have some dietary restrictions? Would you want to be greeted by a cold, unfeeling church member when you’re in the midst of a trial?

We are given a wonderful example of compassion in Acts 9. The character is Dorcas, a follower of Christ’s. She was known by the alms deed and good works she had done for the widows. After she fell sick and died the women mourned her death so much that they sent for Peter. Surely he could do something for her. Here’s a lesson in itself. What will others say when you and I die? Would we be missed so much that others would pray for our resurrection? Would our absence in our home, church, and community leave a void? We are each preaching our funeral while we live!

When Peter arrived they spread out the coats and garments that Dorcas had made for them; this was the demonstration of her compassion for these widows. If all our compassionate efforts were spread out in front of others what would we have to show? Would there be evidence that we cared, that we took time to provide a meal for someone? That we had graciously spent time writing a note of encouragement to someone in the midst of a difficulty? It’s so easy to get caught up in our own little world that we miss out on opportunities to show compassion. Dorcas made the Gospel believable by her acts of mercy, coupled with a heart that moved her efforts along like the current of a waterfall. Her life was constantly pouring out good works. We know that these works don’t save a person. We could never do enough good to pay the ransom for our soul. Christ did that on the cross. Our works, however, show that our faith is not dead (James 2:26b).

The ladies’ ministry at Boones Creek Bible Church should give opportunities for us to link arms and show compassion. We can encourage each other in doing that first in our individual homes (sometimes the easiest place to neglect). Our efforts should then run to the church and then our community. Be alert to the opportunities that the Lord brings your way individually, then be listening for announcements in the future for our ladies to work together to show compassion and make a difference. Someone out there has a bandaged finger; let’s find them and minister to them, and in so doing make the Gospel believable!

Today I am reminded that God’s schedule for me is best, and that it is often not what I had mapped out. This was a day of caring for others; of living out the lesson I was to teach in our RefreshHer on compassion. It was a day of letting go of what I thought was important and grabbing hold of what God knew I needed to learn.

I was also reminded today of how wonderful the Lord is to give strength to do what He calls you to do. He helped me to care for those in my family that are sick today, and then He gave strength to lead our ladies’ fellowship tonight after a busy weekend and a tiring day. I had prayed much about this meeting and God answered those prayers. He didn’t need my fussing over the details. He just answered what I’d prayed about without my help. It all worked out and I should not be surprised; this is how God works. He is so good and I praise Him.

Exodus 23:20 – Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

The angel in this verse is Christ. My God sent Christ before me to prepare the way by means of the cross. He prepared my salvation and my way to heaven. He prepares the way for me to follow in His will for each day. He leads me by the pillar of His Word, giving instructions as to when and where to turn. He lights my path and will bring me to the place He’s prepared.

This is a comfort to my heart today as I rest in the Lord to care for my Dad. He sits in ICU this morning due to water around his heart. Christ has gone before my dad to prepare the way for him. We need not fear because Christ has already been here – He went before us.

This truth is a comfort as I rest in the Lord to direct our steps about where Allison should attend college. His leading will be just as He ordained if we will but follow. He will bring us to the place he has prepared. That’s a place of peace, a place of perfectness because it’s His will.

We can each rest in His leadership in our lives today. Oh what a Savior!

Recently I was asked to write 25 random things about myself. I’m sure it was no surprise to those that know me very well at all that I included in that description that I am an avid list maker. When I was a young girl, around ten years-old, my parents let my sister and me host a party. I remember having a clipboard and writing down all the details for the evening’s events. Ever since then, when I have a task before me, the first thing I do is make a list of all the things to accomplish.

As an adult I’ve had a variety of planner books, but my favorite kind is where I can prioritize my week and day all on one page. At the beginning of the week I write in appointments and things I know are happening. Each morning I write (in their order of importance) the things I hope to accomplish that day. Things don’t always get done, however, because of one word I used earlier – priorities. Often my husband will need my help with something, and I need to lay aside what I was going to do and be his helper. A woman looking for “her rights” might scream out, “That’s not fair! Your schedule is important too!” My husband would surely agree with that, and is really very considerate when he knows I have things to do, but my heart wants to keep him my priority. The Lord is first, then Dale, then my girls, then ministry.

I get selfish sometimes and have to be reminded by the Holy Spirit’s sweet tug in my heart to make my marriage and my husband on the top of my list. Reading good books is one way I keep my heart turned towards God’s desires for my schedule. One such book is A Woman After God’s Own Heart, by Elizabeth George. I’m reminded that I was created to be my husband’s helpmeet, one suitable for him. Elizabeth says to keep the words, “Sure!” on the tip of your tongue when your husband comes and asks if I’d like to do something. It might be as simple as riding with him to town while he runs an errand. “Sure!” When our girls were young he would sometimes suggest taking me to dinner when in the back of my mind I’d think about how the girls would cry when we’d leave them with a babysitter. “Sure!” needed to be said anyway.

We have gone away for a week at a time when the girls were young. I can remember writing notes for the girls to read each day as they stayed with their grandparents in our absence. Were there tears upon leaving? From us both – yes! But everyone was fine and my husband was made my priority, not my girls. They were never neglected, never had their needs overlooked, but there were times when they needed to see that their daddy was my priority.

Now that one daughter is gone from home and the other is headed for college, I can see how wise God is in reminding wives that we need to keep on being our husband’s helper. If you maintain that relationship as your children are growing up, you won’t dread them leaving you alone with “what’s his name.” You’ll anticipate the time you can share with the man that stole your heart away and keeps doing just that all through your married years!

What can you do today to make your husband your priority? Have you read A Woman After God’s Own Heart? Even if you have and it’s been a while, read it again!