Bob MacLafferty

Our lives often feel like a confused mix of challenge and disaster, gifts and blessing. Sometimes it seems the stress of the challenges overshadows everything else. Jesus had a long talk with his disciples toward the end of his ministry. He reassured them of His love and the Father’s love. He prepared them for trials to come so that they wouldn’t be surprised. Then he said the following words:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus never promised an easy life. In fact He promised that there would be trouble in this world! Isn’t that just great? It doesn’t sound great. I would prefer a promise including the words “trouble free” in it, wouldn’t you? But where’s the miracle in that? It’s not so difficult to experience peace in the absence of strife. Jesus wanted more for His disciples. He wants more for us. He wants to give us something that will spontaneously cause us to praise Him, realizing that He could be the only source.

Yes,  He actually wants us to live through trouble with peace in our hearts, knowing that He has won the battle already! I don’t want to miss the chance to live a full life of peace and joy and strength until I really go home. I have experienced the wonder of that peace gift through hard times, knowing that it could have come only from Him. Choose today to let Jesus’ promise liberate you and let your life shine like the sun!

Oh child, precious one
Let your life shine like the sun
But you say “How long ’til I can come home
‘Til I can rest in your arms again”
And I say “Not long but don’t miss this life and I’ll be
Waiting ’til then”

Live with the wonder of a child
Pray with your arms thrown open wide
Love with a love that has no end
Until I see you again

Oh child, precious one
With each breath know you are loved
But you say “How long ’til I can come home
‘Til I can rest in your arms again”
And I say “Not long but don’t miss this life and I’ll be
Waiting ’til then”

-from “Until I see you again” by Mark Shultz.

shared with my three jewels 1/12/2009

Have you seen the fast food ad recently? The one where the guy comes up to the counter and in a stage whisper asks the employee if she remembers him and the special “deal” he got the other day. She caters to him, rolling her eyes because she knows that the special “deal” is available to everyone!

How about the guy next door who tells you about a care salesman downtown. “Yeah, just ask for Eddie. Tell him I sent you. He’ll give you his best price.” It is so tempting to believe that we need connections to get the best, to get close to people.

I was reading one of my favorite parts of the Bible the other day. John 14 through 17.  One of the longest stretches of red letters, that is, if you have a red letter edition. Before the cross, Jesus shared some of His last moments with His disciples, again sharing with them  key truths about His Father, His kingdom, and what He wanted for us and from us.

In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. John 16

What? Jesus won’t ask the Father for us?  Didn’t He just talk about us asking the Father in Jesus’ name? Confusing, huh? Maybe that’s why I skimmed right over it even after reading it so many times. Yeah, it might be confusing if I stop reading too soon. If I keep reading, things start to become clear.

What was one of Jesus’ constant themes? What the Father is like!  Here Jesus says that the “Father himself loves you”. Often we succumb to the view that the Father is a distant, stern, powerful God that should be feared. A God who requires an interface or connection to become reachable. No! Jesus wants us to know that the Father loves us like He does, that the Father wants to be approached directly, that the Father wants a loving connection with us just like Jesus does.

My mom was laughing at me the other day at lunch. I picked up a cookie and took a bite. Suddenly a little hand came out of nowhere and took it out of my hand. I took another cookie, another bite, and the hand took that cookie as well! I finally got my third cookie and ate it all! My youngest daughter was the culprit. She often will take a swallow of my drink too- all without asking. She knows her position in my heart. She knows that whatever I have is hers. She knows that she can confidently come to me for what she needs. She doesn’t need a go-between. She doesn’t need anyone to ask me on her behalf.

In the same way, Jesus desperately wants to introduce us to Father as He knows Him, One who wants us to confidently approach His throne, asking for what we need, asking for more of Him.  How about now?

shared in the workplace 3/1/2010

“There’s two opinions, yours and the right one!” Have you heard that one? There are many more just like it. We laugh about them because- because what? Because they’re true to how we think? What do we have against being w____? Friendships die, marriages dissolve, work relationships corrode, all because not one of us is willing to admit that we might have been what- unright?  Go ahead and say it- the “w” word- w-r-o-n-g!

Some time back, I was in a conversation with some colleagues and one made a critical comment about something I said. So, I claimed my “right” to respond unkindly. That was wrong of me. The actions of others, right or wrong, should never justify wrong actions on my part.

It took me several hours, but I finally listened to Spirit prompting that led me to apologize to the individual and to do so in front of the same group. That is rarely an easy thing to do.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

Is Jesus saying that asking forgiveness is more important than worshiping Him? Hmmm. One thing I know.  Jesus’ ministry was all about mending broken relationships. Relationships between Him and us. Relationships between us as humans. He knows that harboring ill against another, or causing another to have bad feelings against us not only blocks our earthly relationships, but can get in the way of our heavenly ones.

Jesus is Love. Anything that is not about love will prevent us from connecting to Him. Is there a fence that needs mending in your life? A wrong that needs righting? Remember that fault is not an issue here. Reconciling is. Don’t wait for the other person to act. You take the first step. Hit the PAUSE button on your day and reach out to someone with forgiveness in your heart. Do it today!

shared in the workplace 10/5/2009

Recently, our laboratory has been able to acquire a new chemistry analyzer. It runs test such as cholesterol, glucose, and a myriad of others. We were even able to save money by this upgrade! It is very impressive at almost 14 feet long! It is actually a little intimidating! It will be a huge gain in technology and efficiency for the laboratory.

Included in the purchase price are three training slots for lab techs to travel to the manufacturer and spend a week or more learning how to operate this complex machine. We trust that the one who made it will be able to effectively train us how to use it!

Do you ever feel that you just don’t have the ability to handle the responsibilities in front of you with quality? Sometimes this is true at work, sometimes with our responsibilities at church, maybe even in our family roles! God is the originator of every talent and ability. We can trust that the One who made us will be able to give us what we need to operate effectively!

During the Exodus of the Israelites, God gave them very detailed instructions to make a sanctuary which would be the focus of corporate worship for them.

Then the LORD said to Moses,  “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-  to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,  to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.  Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:  Exodus 31:1-6

God, in His own words, stated very plainly that He would fill Bezalel with His Spirit and with skill, ability, and knowledge! Wow! the very best Source of information! Some time later, Moses repeated these words and added more:

And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. Exodus 35:34

When these men were filled with the Spirit of God, they were powered up to not only create amazing things out of a wide variety of materials, but they were able to teach others to do the same! Interesting. God wanted their worship. He gave them instructions to build a sanctuary. He filled them with His Spirit so they were able to carry out His will!

Do you feel called to do something that seems a little out of your comfort zone? Do you feel unworthy or unable to perform the jobs set before you? Do not fear. through His Spirit, He will provide you with everything you need to do His will at work, in your church, and at home. Hey, if two guys named Bezalel Urison and Oholiab Ahisamachson could do it, so can you!

shared in the workplace 1/20/10

Gott Mit Uns, German for God with us, has, over time, become commonly known because of its use as an inscription on German army belt buckles in WWII. Interesting that such a phrase was used to promote such actions. Immanuel, God with us. What does that mean to you?

Eight-year-old Joey lived in a low-income housing development. Church buses made periodic runs through his neighborhood to gather children for Sunday school and other special events. One day, the bus came through and he was invited to a party at the church that very evening,  but he only had 15 minutes to get ready. Joey rushed home to tell his mother. Bursting in the door, he shouted with excitement, “There’s a party at that big church tonight and I’m invited!

Assuming it was like the last party he had attended at the church, a costume party for Halloween, he rushed around trying to come up with a costume. While time was short, money was even shorter. Certainly not enough for him to have costumes to wear. Finally, he thought, “Why not go as a haystack?” He took an old brown sweater, put it on and stuffed it with weeds. He even stuck some of the weeds to the outside of the sweater to make it look more real.

Rushing outside, he made it to the bus just in time. Poor Joey was more than surprised when the party turned out to be a Christmas play, not a costume party! Embarrassed, he found his way to a corner and stood there, miserable and feeling out of place. As he waited, he heard one of the adults saying that they couldn’t find the manger.

Forgetting his embarrassment, he said,”Can I help? I’m good at finding things!” The leader explained to Joey that what they were looking for was a box full of hay where baby Jesus could be laid. Apparently, someone had borrowed the one that the church used each year and had not returned it. How could they have a play without it?

Joey looked and looked, but the manger was nowhere to be found. He finally looked down at his costume: Baggy sweater with weeds stuffed in it and poking out in all directions. “I could be a box of hay”, he thought. Laying down on the floor, he announced, “I’ll be your manger. Let Jesus be born in me!”

He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and  will call him Immanuel.-Isaiah 7:14

God with us. Let this be more than a name. Let it be our greatest wish for this season. Let Jesus be born in me!

shared in the workplace 12/23/09;adapted from a story shared at www.savingourboys.com