You are, you are, you are...

We all should know...

Everyone falls for bad guy

We see him, the rebel, the forbidden temptation, complete with dreamy bedroom eyes, tousled hair and a certain taboo nonconformity, brooding in a dark corner; we’re smitten.

There’s something alluring, dangerous and promising about the bad guy, isn’t there? Its intoxicating argument of an exciting, romantic and perfect life, however that’s defined, leads us into taking the bad guy up on his offer. We make some choices- and, let’s face it, they’re not exactly great choices for us, are they?

I’m not talking about the boyfriend on the motorcycle, the latest “it boy” celebrity or even the famous rebel, himself, James Dean. No.

I’m talking about Sin.

Have you been properly introduced? I bet you have been.

Sin is irresistible. It promises us the world, whatever that world means to us. Yet it fails to deliver. And it’s not like we haven’t been warned. It’s just like our mothers or our girlfriends, trying to get our attention about “that boy” with the bad reputation.

Scripture, itself, likewise, also tries to caution us:

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. ¹⁵ Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. ¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

James 1:13-16

But it’s still so appealing. It looks good; it sounds good. We’ll be happy, only if we take a chance on this opportunity set before us. Besides, we reason, we can “change him,” right?

Stop laughing. You’ve thought it and said it too at some point.

But that’s the seductive power of sin. It made the apple look delectable. It makes the bad choice look like the answer. There’s nothing new under the sun about anything we choose to be that “end all, be all” thing for us. Evil is still the core of it all. Temptation is the vehicle used. And guess who is doing the driving?

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

2 Corinthians 11:14

Nothing new. It can look attractive, beautiful, sexy, decadent, promising, comforting, validating or even good, possibly holy.

But, really, do we test its spirit?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

1 John 4:1-3

Is it “too good to be true?” Do we poke under the hood and look around a bit?

What is “it,” really?

Are we falling for the “bad guy?”

It’s not to be hopeless and negative; it is about being realistic- and empowered in the process.

And let’s not forget a very big element IN that process: God.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

We don’t have to fall for every sin, every kind of bad guy which crosses our paths. We can, with God’s help, see him for who/what he is. And we can stand, in God, instead of falling for everything self-destructive. It is possible, even if it’s imperfect, via our human condition.

So, let’s not fall for that bad guy; God, after all, IS the ultimate “Good Guy.”

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse

His Master's Voice

“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”

John 13:13

The RCA logo of “His Master’s Voice” has long been one of my favorite images. In 1899, the then named Gramaphone Company acquired the image, originally from a painting done by the English artist, Francis Barraud.

According to publicity information, the dog, Nipper, once belonged to Barraud’s brother Mark. When Mark died, Francis inherited the dog; he also acquires a cylinder phonograph, with numerous recordings of Mark’s voice. Nipper, apparently, was quite interested in these recordings, responding to his master’s voice. Hence, the image of the adorable fox terrier cocking his ear to the phonograph’s speaker was captured on canvas and then later adapted in RCA logo form.

“Master.” It’s a hot button word. What do we think of when we hear it? Is it an oppressive association or a positive one? According to its definition, it means…

“somebody or something controlling or influencing events or other things.”

Yeah, that definition doesn’t seem to make us jump up and down with enthusiasm, does it?

And, let’s be honest, if we’re Christians, we struggle with obedience to the spiritual law. Let’s face it, no matter how long we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, no matter how much we’ve read the Bible or have gone to church, we still want to run the show- our way. We may say we follow Jesus, in theory, but, with regard to our feelings about the issue, we want to be our own masters.

“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Matthew 23:10

And that thinking usually gets us into trouble. Addictions, compulsions, vices and bad decisions are usually some products of that independent declaration.

We get confused and distracted. We start depending on and exalting our way of living. We get enticed by it. And yes, that usually produces sin. And sin kills.

“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

It may not seem obvious at first. In fact, we may even think our way is working. We have everything handled. We found our coping strategy, our identity, our solution our answer in whatever we’ve chosen to focus on.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Matthew 6:24

But God remembers “we are but dust” (Psalms 103:14). We need Jesus as our Master, not because He wants to boss us around, but rather because He knows, left to ourselves, we will only head toward destruction.

Deciding on and living out the commitment to follow Jesus and make Him our Master is a challenge. There are so many distractions competing for our attention; they’re often alluring and have loud voices, trying to reach our ears and hearts.

Like it or not, we need a Master and a Savior; we need Jesus. We cannot save ourselves. If we could have, we would have done so by now.

God is our first love; He’s programmed in every heart. However, life often distracts us and causes us to listen to other things.

Let’s respond, like Nipper. Let’s choose to be led by Him and live for Him. No matter how far away we may have strayed, we can turn back to Him.

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse

Later

                  

I have a friend who insists on never saying “goodbye.” Instead, she utters, “Later” at the end of our conversations.

This word started me thinking. And the first thing which popped up was another word, procrastination. Its definition being...

“... the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished. It is the practice of doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, or carrying out less urgent tasks instead of more urgent ones, thus putting off impending tasks to a later time. Sometimes, procrastination takes place until the "last minute" before a deadline.”

Let’s get real; procrastination is never far removed from addiction. By its very nature, our addictive tendencies whisper such constant lies as “I’ll quit tomorrow,” “I’ll stop when I’m ready,” and “I’ll make things right LATER.”

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”

Proverbs 3:27

You’ve said it; I’ve said it. Perhaps, we delude ourselves with Little Orphan Annie’s musical perspective, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” There is such promise and hope then and there.

But what about now? What about today?

“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”

Arthur Ashe

Those of us who struggle with addiction, compulsion and disorder often have an unrealistic perfectionism which thrives on procrastination. When things are “just right,” when this or that circumstance changes, THEN we’ll get sober.

The hidden message in those theories is this: “But for now, I’m going for my addiction. I’m going to binge, get drunk, overdo it and live it up like there’s no tomorrow.”

And so, not surprisingly, nothing changes. There’s no sobriety, no different or healthier choice. There is only more of the same.

Still, this doesn’t absolve us from reality:

 “For he saith, ‘...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’”

2 Corinthians 6:2

Scripture covers not just our eternal soul destination, but also a blueprint for how to live in the here and now. The Most High is not a Deity Who operates in procrastination (1 Corinthians 14:33).

And we are made in His Image (Genesis 1:27).

Therefore, we are not let off the hook concerning our innate spirituality.

“... ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods.’”

Joshua 24:16

To attempt to wriggle free of responsibility is to come from a place of excuse, negligence and even agreement with the Adversary to us all.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Isaiah 14:12 -

Sound too extreme and far-fetched?

Well, if we are refusing to deal with our faith, our health and our issues, aren’t we, in essence, asserting how we know BETTER than The Almighty?

“But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.’”

Isaiah 14:13-14

Wherever we are on this spiritual spectrum, we cannot avoid or forfeit choice.

“... choose you this day whom ye will serve...”

Joshua 24:15

We possess free will. However, what we do not possess is the opting out of the free will choice’s consequences.

“‘Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.’”

Isaiah 14:15

Now, at first glance, Isaiah 14 may appear to be too strong of a consequence. Surely, we wouldn’t be punished the same as the devil, right?

Well, if we’re lining up in agreement with Satan, who is to say we wouldn’t be responsible for a harmful downfall?

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
John 8:44

Is not addiction, with its procrastination, a murderer?

Is not addiction, with its procrastination, rife with deceit?

Is not addiction, with its procrastination, choosing its way instead of Elohim’s as “the final say?”

Again, no one escapes choice. No one is excused from facing procrastination.

But it’s not hopeless. For we underestimate the power of today. We underestimate the power of NOW.

The Most High will work with whatever we commit TO Him:

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

Psalms 37:5

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Don’t you think that would also include the procrastination issue, even in the middle of our addictions?

There is power is STARTING.

What baby step can be taken right now? What decision? What can be accomplished NOW?

“‘...now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’”

2 Corinthians 6:2

Speaking of the word, “Now,” one more thing.

Years ago, The Most High spoke to me, telling me to observe the word... BACKWARDS. When I saw what “NOW” spelled, it lit faith and assurance regarding my momentary reality.

“NOW” spelled backwards is “WON.”

“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”

Psalms 98:1

What is on the other side of our addictions, our beliefs and our responses concerning them?

What is on the other side of our procrastination?

Will we experience those blessings now... or later?

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse

The Quieter You Become...

Urgent? Why?

I must admit, my favorite question is “why?”

I ask it a lot: of The Most High, of others, of myself, of life.

And yes, I ask the why question concerning the tricky addiction/recovery issue.

Author, Jonathan Lockwood Huie really takes that matter to task, using two words.

“Urgent? Why?”

It’s not merely a question; it’s a statement...about the significance of urgency.

And this is right up addiction’s alley. The fix driving the addiction- why?

Why is this my answer?

Why will this solve things?

Why will nothing else do?

Why must I be instantly healed?

It is that last question which brought two scripture passages to my mind: Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus.

First, let’s look at Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:22-42).

If you know anything about me and the writing I’ve done over the years, this bit of scripture is close to my heart. It lit the fuse to the creation and publication of my book, “Thin Enough.” And it provided life-changing revelation and healing concerning my faith and eating disorder issues.

Let’s review its power.

Jesus was out and about one day...

“²² And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

²³ And besought him greatly, saying, ‘My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.’

²⁴ And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

So, okay, Jesus has set about to deal with this urgent matter. Things look hopeful.

And then life interrupted. There was a woman in need of healing...

²⁵ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

²⁶ And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Now, I know if I were Jairus or any of the disciples, I’d start feeling like Jesus was getting distracted.

“Come on, Lord. You already promised to take care of this life and death matter and administer miracles for Jairus. We’re not in a position to over-schedule here!”

Still, Jesus was Jesus. So, that meant He tended to her situation also, even in the face of a “booked appointment.”

And how could He not? Her desperate circumstances prompted her bold move to seek Jesus for her healing...

²⁷ When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

²⁸ For she said, ‘If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.’

²⁹ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Now, keep in mind, this malady existed for years. She suffered for years.

So, in this moment, suddenly, she was healed? Really?

That sounds quite powerful and unbelievable.

And what contributes to its impact, if we look closely is how, indeed, this healing not only affected her, but Our Savior as well...

³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’

³¹ And his disciples said unto him, ‘Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?’

³² And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

He was moved by her actions. What was the factor which made all the difference? Faith.

³³ But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

³⁴ And he said unto her, ‘Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.’

I think we underestimate this Truth too often.

Faith... in an interruption...

Faith... in imperfect lives...

 Faith...in the midst of disease...

Faith...in the middle of...addiction?

One can reason, perhaps, while this woman was afflicted for years, her faith was also being fine- tuned, stretched and strengthened. I’m sure none of it felt great in the process.

Indeed, God, it seems, was in no hurry to develop something as important as that attribute.

“Urgent? Why?”

It takes as long as it takes until...

Pow! Results!

This woman with the issue of blood illustrates faith, healing and the Most High in action, spiting circumstances and schedules. He works regardless.

Furthermore, He does not have preferential treatment of anyone (Romans 2:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; Galatians 2:6; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34).

If there is a person needing healing standing in front of another person needing healing, His desire is to heal them both.

Any human-imposed “deadline” on making that happen, therefore, is a nonfactor to Him.

Which brings us back to the original matter at hand: Jairus’ daughter...

³⁵ While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, ‘Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?’

While fresh from performing one miraculous healing, Jesus gets slammed with the dreaded bad news: “She’s dead.”

So, it’s over, huh?

Not so fast...

³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’

But, because Jesus knew human beings only too well, He decided He needed to take drastic action.

Undeterred, He proceeded in His intentions to heal the girl, with absolutely no doubters or naysayers in the room.

³⁷ And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And, oh yeah, also helpful to this negative environment? There was also drama going on.

³⁸ And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

³⁹ And when he was come in, he saith unto them, ‘Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.’

I can almost hear the groaning, the sobbing and the fussiness from everyone. I’m sure there were a lot of “ugly cries” on faces.

And, of course, everyone still had the presence of mind to answer His reassuring declaration with a logical response...

⁴⁰ And they laughed him to scorn...

(Sigh).

People...

 Am I right?

Still, Jesus was not interested in suffering fools...

“...But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Verse 40

He gets right down to business...

⁴¹ And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, ‘Talitha cumi;’ which is, being interpreted, ‘Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.’

What followed next was the reaction of our dramatic, fussy, whiny and impatient critics...

⁴² And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.”

So, this miracle was noteworthy. It should have removed all doubts about His Power.

However, things being what they are concerning the human race, you and I know it’s just not that simple. Scripture tells us to have everything established by two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1).

Okay. Just to make sure things weren’t a fluke, let’s check out another situation, one, in which death is already a reality.

Oh, Lazarus...

Scripture (John 11:11-46) sets the stage; Lazarus is dead.

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

¹² His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” ¹³ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

¹⁴ So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe...

Seeing is believing, right?

...But let us go to him.”

Yep, they went, even though things look bleak.

¹⁶ Then Thomas...said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

Well, that’s the spirit...

So, while that cheery outlook is happening, oh, yeah, Jesus proceeds to comfort the dead guy’s sisters. But only one of them happened to show up.

¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days...¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

You would think these sisters would enthusiastically appreciate this caring concern.

Well...

²¹ ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’

Passive-aggressive translation: “You’re late.”

^22 ‘But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’

Uh, can we say, patronizing?

²³ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’

The calm reassurance proceeds, even despite this dead scene.

To which we get this response...

²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, someday’ is her thinking process.

After all, when death is right there in your face, your consolation prize is often the “someday” hope.

But there was still a challenging concept and question for this particular sister, even in this dire situation...

²⁵ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’

And, in spite of the painful circumstances, Martha, however half-heartedly, accepts the radical thought and answers with a yes.

²⁷ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’

Still, with that being said, stuff needs to get done.

It’s time to get the other sister involved.

²⁸ After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. ‘The Teacher is here,’ she said, ‘and is asking for you.’ ²⁹ When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

Let’s see what happens.

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Again with the passive-aggressive translation: “You’re late.”

Sisters of a feather, I guess.

Still, her distraught response didn’t change the effect she had on Him...

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Okay, okay. Jesus might have thought, “Showtime. Gotta prove it. Faith is running low here.”

³⁴ ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked.

‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

There has been a lot of conversation and speculation about verse thirty-five. Most children, when faced with the challenge of memorizing and reciting Bible verses, hope for the opportunity to parrot this one, the shortest verse in the Bible.

And, over the centuries, debates have questioned what, exactly, Jesus was weeping about.

Was it sorrow for the sisters?

Was it the frustration of people doubting the loving and miraculous power of the Most High?

Was it Jesus’ genuine love for Lazarus himself?

It all started here and now, in this moment...

³⁶ Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’

It looks like we might just have some compassionate folks who finally get the power of love. But we’re not out of the woods yet.

For, human beings being human beings, we, a few seconds later, have some spectators, piping in with their critiques...

³⁷ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’

There is just such a human need to express oneself, isn’t there?

In any case, it is the moment of Truth; our Messiah knows He has to get to work.

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ ‘Take away the stone,’ he said.

‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’

The stinky argument is a legitimate concern, I suppose.

Still, our Savior had to have been at least slightly irritated with all of the “but, but, but” reasons arguing against the Divine.

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’

“Which part of ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ did you NOT understand?”

Hopeful, embarrassed or convicted, we’re not sure, exactly, what state of mind the peanut gallery was operating from.

Nevertheless, they obliged.

⁴¹ So they took away the stone...

And then a power prayer, specifically designed to prove, to everyone, the reality of God’s love and desire to heal...

...Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’

And now, drumroll, please...

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’

You must have been able to hear a pin drop in that moment.

 ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face...

Ta-dah!!!

Now let’s get Lazarus back to the land of the living.

...Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’

So, yet again, in verse forty-five, we see the results of God’s timing and power, even in spite of an “urgent” situation...

...Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.”

As we go about our individual recovery processes, at some point, each of us needs to challenge our own “urgent why questions.” We do have them. They are as unique as snowflakes.

 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, ‘Why hast thou made me thus?’”

Romans 9:20

If we learn anything from the accounts of Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, it is the reality of healing, of recovery, coming not necessarily in a typical fashion or in an instant “presto-change-o” way.

 It is, instead, the deeper, more gradual, lengthier experience of “years-in-the-making.”

 It is, perhaps, the seemingly absurd “against all odds” defiance of hopeless circumstances.

It is the Most High God doing a thorough, meaningful and life-affirming work, one which will not be rushed because of any “urgent’s” desperate plea.

Where are you right now?

Are you wanting God to speed your healing?

Are you wanting the instantaneous, painless cure?

Are you wanting “life more abundant” (John 10:10)?

Are you wanting your urgent way or God’s way?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

When things seem too hopeless and impossible for us, we need to remember they are not for a very Specific Someone Else...

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

Jeremiah 32:27

So, with that in mind, really, where is the urgency?

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Isaiah 46:10

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse