You know what you didn’t do!

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭17

When you hear the word sin, what do you think of? We have all struggled with sin in our lives. But what exactly is sin? It is easy to label all the bad stuff as sin. We look at the Ten Commandments and see things like murder, theft, immorality, covetousness, and things like that. But does that cover all of what sin is? 

Jesus reminds us that two things cover everything in the law and the prophets, Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself. So does that mean anything that does not fall into these two things is sin? 

Then we see James jump in and tell us that “if you know the good you ought to do and do not do it, that is sin!” Have you ever had a moment where you felt the urge to do something or help someone and you passed on because you had somewhere to be? I have. And now as I read this I am convicted as I knew the good I was supposed to do, but did not do it! 

Jesus tells us the story of the Good Samaritan to give us a picture of this. I have a story that is similar that I want to share to illustrate this point and how it can make an impact. 

This story takes place in 1995 on Mother’s Day. There is a woman with two young boys, 13 and 10. They have had a rough time in life. The mother is working hard to provide and not seeming to be able to get ahead. Raising two boys by herself and feeling discouraged in life. That morning is like many others. It’s a Sunday and they spend the morning in church. 

After church they make a spur of the moment decision to visit Grandma, who lives about an hour and a half from their small town. About a third of the way through the trip, a tire blows out on the car. Fighting to maintain control the woman carefully pulls to the side of the highway. Since they were in the fast lane, they ended up on the shoulder by the median of the highway. 

A quick search of the car reveals the spare, but no equipment to change the tire. Maybe a mile from the nearest exit the mother and two boys start the journey to find help or a phone. This on top of everything else starts a mental spiral with questions of “why!!” 

Only a few steps down the highway someone pulls up to the median from the other side of the freeway to assess the situation. When he discovers that the only thing missing is a jack and wrench he advises to head back to the car. He then takes the next exit to circle around and change the tire. 

What could have been a huge ordeal only sets this small family back about 45 minutes because of the kindness of a stranger. Because it resolved so quickly they proceeded to make the surprise visit to see grandma. 

On that trip there was peace and a decision made to make a move to be closer to family. This mother finally started to see a light in her almost hopeless situation. Then a week later she goes to sleep and never wakes up again. Because of the decisions made on this trip those two boys chose to go live with their grandmother. A place where they would learn to seek and serve God for their lives. 

The course of these boys' lives was  changed by the thankless act of a stranger. A man they would never see again. A man who was looking for a reward and would likely never know or understand the impact that he had. 

Now I’m not saying that you should stop and help everyone. There are times that it may not be the right choice. But what if you do stop? What if you help? What impact might you have if you know the good you ought to do and you do it! 

I’ve heard it said, “Be the change that you want to see!” Now there’s a concept. Instead of complaining, take action! Do something. Take a stand! Be different! Start where you are at - instead of walking past that piece of trash and saying people shouldn’t litter, pick it up and throw it away. Instead of complaining about people being unfriendly, you make the change and be friendly. 

Bottom line, you know what you should do, because it is tugging at you! It is that thing that keeps bugging you about other people. It’s that area that you see needs to change. Get up and take action! Do what you know you need too! 

Forgiveness

 “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Forgiveness. Here is a topic that is easy to say that we need to do, but hard to actually do it. Have you ever been wronged by someone? Has anyone ever hurt you or took advantage of you? If you are breathing the answer is YES! We all know the pain. When you experience this, how easy is it to forgive? How do you Love when someone is purposefully doing something to hurt you? 

Have you ever held on to the hurt and pain and not forgiven someone who has wronged you? This is called unforgiveness. Did you know that unforgiveness hurts you more than it hurts the other person? We have the audacity to hold a grudge saying, “I can’t believe they would do that! Wel, I am not going to let it happen again!” And so we hold onto that unforgiveness and the seed of bitterness takes root in our lives. 

Now I want to flip the script to look at this from the other side. How many of you wronged someone? Have you ever done something that you knew would hurt another? Many times this is done in the name of, “I deserve this, so it doesn’t matter if it hurts someone else” or “I want to be happy!” Most people will even defend your position and agree that you should be happy, even at the expense of others. 

Now, don’t take this too far and think I am saying that we should try to make everyone happy. We will never please everyone. I am talking more about the hurts and betrayal we cause to others in the name of our happiness.

So, on one side we defend ourselves and our decisions, but then we hold onto the offense when someone does it to us. Talk about a double standard. And we have all been here. We all try to hold others to a standard higher than ourselves. Because when it is against us they are just being mean, but when it is us we justify it. 

Ok, ok, so what is my point? I’m getting there. The verse above reminds us that we have all rebelled and disobeyed God. We have all wronged Him. Each of us has a part in sending Jesus to the cross. We have sinned and wronged Jesus and others in our lives. There comes a time when we have to stop making excuses for our wrong doing and take responsibility and say, “I am guilty! I need forgiveness!” 

And God forgives us! He lets us off the hook for the stupid stuff that we have done. You remember when Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, it is the sick. I have not come for the righteous, but the sinners!” The truth is, there is no one righteous, no, not one! So what was Jesus saying? Did He not come for everyone? How were some already righteous? They weren’t! They were self righteous! They thought they could make it into heaven by their rituals and actions. In their minds they did not need a savior! It is easy to find ourselves in that place! “I am mostly good,” you might say. “At least I am not like that person.”  

We are sealing our own fate when we do not see our need for Jesus! But when we come to the place of realizing that it is only by the grace of God that we are free from our sins, we understand the importance of forgiveness! “To God belongs Forgiveness and Compassion!” 

Without receiving forgiveness we will never know the importance of extending it! Understanding how much we need it will make it easier to pass on! Jesus actually tells us to forgive so that we can be forgiven! This is more about us understanding the need for forgiveness. If we are holding unforgiveness that means we don’t understand that we too need forgiveness and so then will not receive it! 

To continue on, I know this is a challenge. I have to search my heart everyday for wrongs I am holding onto. Sometimes I realize that I pulled back forgiveness that I have already extended. I think this is why Jesus yeah h us to pray, “forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us!” Because it is a daily choice. We will be wronged everyday. Sometimes the pain lasts for a long time. But we can still choose to forgive. And continue to choose to forgive. 

Sometimes we will have to forgive people we have never met. How do I do that? Now that’s a good question! But Jesus did it! In the midst of being ridiculed and killed He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” So He is our example! He set the standard! We have a responsibility to extend the same forgiveness that was given to us!

Trust!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬

Trust is an interesting thing. Have you ever trusted someone and that trust has been broken? I think we have all been there. We trusted and counted on someone acting or performing a certain way, they failed or betrayed that trust and we were left hurting and angry or disappointed. It happens all the time! But why is that? Because we are all human and as we are human it is in our nature to look out for ourselves first and everyone else comes after. If you are trusting in someone, you will be disappointed at some point. They will not be able to live up to the standard that you are holding them too, nor could you. 

Now let me ask you another question. Where in the Bible are we instructed to trust anyone? We are told to put our trust in God, but no one else. There is no where we are told to trust anyone else. We are told to Love, to honor, to respect, but never to trust. Why is that? Why are never told to trust anyone other than God? Because we are not supposed to put our trust in people. 

I know, I know……how can I say that we are not supposed to trust people? Namely, because it won’t do any good. As I mentioned before you will be let down. None of us can hold to the standard that we want to put on others. We don’t even know if we will be here tomorrow, let alone follow through with our promises. 

So what are we to do then? Shouldn’t we trust our friends, our children or even our spouses? No, as we read in Proverbs our trust should all be put in God! We read, “trust in the Lord with ALL your heart!” ALL means everything. Every bit of trust that we have is to be placed in the Lord! 

Does this make sense? Not really? Good, cause that is the rest of the verse - “do not lean on your own understanding!” If it doesn’t make sense, then we are finally starting to move to the place we ought to be! 

So what happens when we put ALL our trust in God? Does everything work out perfectly as we want it to? To that I can provide a resounding NO! We don’t see the full picture. All we can see is what we think we want and there is so much more out there. 

If I put my trust in God alone I know I can count on Him! Not to fulfill my every desire, but to guide me through this life I am living. If I focus on Him, my wants and desires take a backseat to honoring Him! God also promises that He will “work all things for the good of those who Love Him”! That is a promise you can trust in! 

So what do I do with people? Who can I trust? Well, I can tell you out of the gate, don’t put your trust in me. I know I am simply a man. My goal is to honor God throughout my life, but I will mess up. Also, me honoring God may offend you or let you down at some point. But I will choose Him! 

Here’s the deal. If my full trust is in God and not in people, I will be in a place where I can extend grace and Love in a way I couldn’t before. You wronged me? It sucks and hurts, but who I am was not placed in that moment. I know that God is still going to take care of me. And I Love you, so I will still walk with you through this life. I will extend grace, because God knows I need it just as much as you do.  

So to summarize. Trust God in everything and you will not be disappointed! Love people, show grace, trust God! 

Our words!

Death and life are in the power of the tongue….Proverbs 18:21

Wow! Yesterday we talked about The Word. How powerful God's Word is and how the Bible is His Word. Did you realize that it was through Words that God created the heavens and the earth? Literally He spoke and “poof” - life comes into existence! Talk about a big bang! Not in the way an evolutionist would like you to believe, but I’m a Word! God said it and so it was! 

You know what else God said? “Let man be created in our own image. And so He created them, male and female He created them.” Everything else was spoken - light, sun, moon, stars, earth, land, etc. But man and woman were created! He took time with us because we were made to be like Him! Can you believe that! That is not just our physical appearance - we were created body, soul and spirit!

So now, when we read this verse, “death and life are in the power of the tongue”, we must understand that, just as God’s Words have power, so do ours!!! We have the power of life or death in what we say! Can you believe that? I am humbled by this truth and I think about the things I casually say to myself, my family, my friends and even those I don’t know. 

Have you ever thought about the fact that you can change the whole course of a person's life by the words you say? James reminds us that a large ship can be moved by a small rudder and our tongue is just like that! A small rudder, hidden under the water. Out of sight and out of mind, but that is where the power is! That small piece of the ship controls the course of that mighty vessel! The tongue is the same way! Hidden in the mouth. Out of sight(most of the time)! But it will direct your course and can change the course of others as well! 

Take care of what you say! Every time I think of the power of the tongue I am reminded of something my brother told me many years ago before he died. See, my brother struggled with alcohol. He was addicted and it is what eventually took his life. One time when we were talking about life he told me something that our step dad told him as a young child. As a young boy, my brother was told that he had an addictive personality. That if he ever started drinking, that he wouldn’t be able to stop. As a 30 year old man my brother held onto these words that were spoken to him as a child. 

Now, I am not saying that it was my step dad's fault that my brother was an alcoholic. We all have choices to make, and we will be held responsible for those choices. But we also have the opportunity to influence the choices people make. How do you want to influence? Through life or death?

There is an old expression that says, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Ha!! This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Physical wounds heal so much faster than emotional wounds. Why do you think people get stuck in the social media trap and live to ‘please’ everyone out there? They want to get a few likes to combat what the world has been telling them all their life! But that is not the answer!

The answer is God’s Word! We talked about the power of it yesterday, but didn’t go too much into what it says about us! We are the head and not the tail! We are the children of God! We are redeemed, bought with the blood of Christ! And the list goes on! 

So what does this mean for us? So many things, but right now we are talking about our words. As I go about my life, I need to be conscious of what I am saying. One word I speak could change the course of mine or someone else’s life! So what am I speaking? Am I speaking the Word? That is the source of life! If I am not speaking the Word, I am missing the mark! 

Ask yourself, what am I bringing to those around me? Do I bring life or death? And then, to take a step further, how can I bring life more often through the things I say? Be thoughtful, because your words will affect people around you! What effect are you having? 

The Word

 As I think about the Word of God and what it means to me I think about the beginning of John. The Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was there in the beginning and then the Word became flesh. So, bottom line, Jesus is the Word and the reason we have life. 

As I read scripture it is easy to get in a pattern or a habit of reading it as if it is a book with simple Words on a page. But scripture is so much more. The Bible reminds us that all scripture is God breathed! What does that mean? That means every Word that I read on the page comes straight from the mouth of God! How can I just sit here calmly reading what the God of the universe spoke? Only because I don’t truly understand what I am reading. 

Scripture is life changing. It is not only a book to read, but so much more! If we think about Jesus being the Word, that means that we read Jesus on a page. We are blessed with the inside track on the Savior of the world as we read through these pages. 

So, as John saw it as he wrote his gospel book, he understood that Jesus is God made flesh. There is a differentiation between the two, but they are also the same. Jesus is God on earth! He was born to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. We are reminded by Paul that it was through one man Adam that sin was brought into  the world and man was separated from God. And it is through one man Jesus that sin is defeated and man is reconnected with God! That is what we are reading when we are reading scripture! It is the story of God bringing us back to Himself! 

Now I ask again - How can I read this as just a book? Because I too often take for granted the life I have and what Christ has done. Lord, as I write this this morning I pray that you help me to fully understand what you have blessed me with through your Word. Help me to remember that it is not about me, but this story is so much greater. You have blessed me to take part in Your story. Help me as I read Your Word to never take it for granted. Let me read it with a heart to understand and to obey. Help me to honor You each day with my actions and my Words! 

This is to you

This is to you 

This is to you, 

you know who you are

Christopher Michael, 

now where do I start?

You’ve written a lotta rhymes 

over the years

They talked about all the pain, 

struggles and tears.

You talked about the abuse, misuse 

and even being locked in our rooms.

And also about how our childhood 

ended too soon

Most focused on the negative, 

you often saw only bad

So now let’s take a moment to reflect 

on all the good times we had

We had jokes, 

inside and out

That only we would get 

and laugh about

Even now, 

there are still those things

But I’m the only one laughing, 

and that kind of stings

Anyway, enough about that, 

let’s get on with our list

And talk about all the things 

that made us Terry and Chris

My memories start in Centralia, 

with Latona and “B” street

And of all the friends we had 

and would meet

Scotty, Howie, 

even the Wards

I remember the river, and train tracks 

and sticks used as swords

Then on to Chehalis, 

a new place, a new school

Dad lived down the street for a while, 

and that was cool

We’d see him on the weekend 

for church and action flicks

Then we’d act them out, 

complete with all the punches and kicks

Then other things about Chehalis 

that were never wrong

I’ll just go through a few 

so the list doesn’t get too long

There was pepper, 

our first and only dog

And the stump 

that looked like a frog

There were hills to climb 

and adventures to be had

John was there, 

but it wasn’t all bad

We had “Rummy”, “Sorry” 

and zombie wombat

And let’s not forget 

about Tigger the cat

Then in Salem, at Grandma’s; 

the dirt hole was the spot

Or the woods at the Wright’s; 

or even the Rainier lot

We’d play with our toys, 

each one with its own backstory

Or later, video games, and Tactics 

and all of its glory

Even in the worst of times 

and in the darkest places

We still had things 

that would bring smiles to our faces

There were youth camps; 

Tapawingo, Bethel, even Metzler Park

Lots of fun in the day 

and your talking kept us up after dark

And there was the summer 

when you first began to rhyme

You met a girl who stole your heart 

and filled your mind

She was all you’d think and write about 

at that time

Then, as always, things changed 

and time went on

Even still, 

we were singing the same song

Each time together 

was like we had never been apart

We’d pick up where we left off 

never having an awkward start

Everything that happened 

brought a reference from a TV show

Usually Simpsons, or Friends; 

something only you would know

Then there were movies, 

with quotes we’d both share

“’So you’re nobody.’ ‘Shhh! Don’t tell anyone.’” 

Was always in there

“You’re not a gnat, are you bug?” 

or “How you doin’?”

Were a couple 

that we often threw in

And “These are pretty good cigarettes” 

was often used in fun

This came from a movie 

you placed at number one

So many times and memories. 

So many things I wish you could see

At least I know you are in peace, 

so I’ll rest at ease

And know we’ll meet again 

in heaven one day

But to hold us over until then, 

I will say

This is to you, 

you know who you are

Christopher Michael, 

You’ll always be in my heart.

Grandma Wright

 

Grandma Wright

As I sit here and think about the fact that you are gone it brings tears to my eyes. It’s easy to get caught up in regrets and things I should have done or could have done better. I could have called more. I could have made more of an effort to go see you. But what it comes down to is that I can’t change what was or what could have been and I am left to reflect on what is and who you are.

So, who are you? To me, you are Grandma Wright. To others you were mom, wife, friend. All these titles hold a special place in each person's heart as they have their own memories of how you changed and impacted their lives. But that’s what it comes down to. You were an amazing woman that changed lives for the better. I can’t say who you were to others, but I want to take you through who you were to me. 

My early memories of you. Grandpa and Grandma Wright’s. This was a place of peace and of family. The doors were always open to me and my brothers. Honestly, your house was a house of freedom from the prison I lived in as a child. When plans were made to go to Grandpa and Grandma’s house I knew that I could live free and have fun, even if only for a week or two. I remember running free in the woods behind your house and having adventures with my brothers that remain as some of the best from my childhood. 

In addition to the adventures at your home, we also had adventures at the mount rainier lot. As a child I would end up here at least a couple times a year. I had fun on walks, at the park, swimming and even the merry go round. This is where I first experienced a smore and all of its gooey goodness. 

Then there were Sunday dinners. After church, whoever was in town or available was welcome. And for holiday’s, it was the same thing. There was always fun, family and food. As I said, a gathering place of peace that was open to any of us at any time. 

Which brings me to my next memory. October 1992, if I remember correctly. Chris and I ran from our home in Chehalis and you and Grandpa welcomed us in. I was in 6th grade, Chris in 7th. You and Grandpa had already raised your kids and both worked full time jobs, but you opened your home to us and made it our home. There was never any judgement or issues, just Love. Even when I made the choice to return back to my mom and step dads home. 

Over the years after that, you continued to welcome us any time that we were able to visit. Even after I was married, your house was always open. I remember playing games. Dominos and hand and foot are the ones I remember the most. You would get so ornery, especially when you were winning. And the look on your face as you would laugh about how you were winning. I will never forget it. 

I also remember at your birthday, your 70th I believe, I got to share that we were going to make you a Great Grandma. These are the things that I remember as I think about the impact you had on my life. 

All these memories I hold dear and will cherish forever. But I think that the time I will hold most dear is the time you came and stayed with us when Uncle Dave was in the hospital. It made me feel so good that you allowed me to return some of the hospitality that you showed me your whole life. Even more than that, though, this gave my kids the opportunity to get to know you a little better. Seeing you with my kids and them getting a chance to see the amazing grandmother that I have always seen was the best thing about this time. As they reminisce about you, this is the time they remember. Playing yahtzee. They say that you always won and it must have been because you were cheating, but they loved it. 

So, as I wrap up my thoughts I want you to know that I Love you. In the last months of your life, our phone conversations weren’t much, but I got the opportunity to tell you this each day. You impacted me in a way that I can never truly describe. Grandma, you helped me become the man I am today. As a child, you and grandpa were an example of what life could be like and you two inspired me then and even now to live and to Love. These are the things I will always hold dear. These are the things I will think of when I remember you. Until we meet again in heaven, I Love you.