Living Letters is a book!

November 27, 2016 Suzanne Chambers

Dear Blog Friends,

Guess what!!!! I wrote a book! I have been pretty absent from blog world so I could get this project done and here it is! It's a year long devotional (5 days a week only - I always need a couple of days to catch up and thought other folks would, too!). I have had an absolute blast putting it together and I'd love for you to join me in reading through it this year. My prayer is that it will help other women fall more in love with Jesus and His Word as they immerse themselves in His riches.

It's available in Kindle format for you digital gals and also in print version for those of us who love the feel of turning pages. If you want to order the print book from me, you can do that by emailing me at chamfam @bellsouth.net You can pick it up to save shipping costs or I can mail it to you, just like Amazon does.

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Letters-Daily-Devotional-Women-ebook/dp/B01NB81TQ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480277588&sr=1-2&keywords=living+letters

If you're in the Athens/Watkinsville area, I plan to have a book signing in December (isn't that a hoot??? ) I'll put the details on here once they are confirmed and I'd more than love it if you'd come by and give me a hug, whether you get a book or not!

Many thanks to so many of you who encouraged me to do this, praying for me, giving me ideas, and showering me with love. You are truly the best. And more than a huge shoutout to two women who made this project possible - Tricia Bauman and Mandy Rice. Priceless treasures does not even begin to describe you both. Thank you!!!

Check out the link - and Merry Christmas, sisters

!https://www.amazon.com/Living-Letters-Daily-Devotional-Women-ebook/dp/B01NB81TQ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480277588&sr=1-2&keywords=living+letters

Lives Matter

July 8, 2016 Suzanne Chambers

I don't often go public with posts that I think will offend or upset a particular segment of the population. While I'd like to think I am being wise and loving, it is more likely that I am just chicken.

But today I will step out. And what I am posting will probably offend every segment of the US population.

Here's what I want to say:

ALL LIVES MATTER

Our country continues to experience heartbreaking violence that appears to be targeted at certain populations: black, LGBT, law enforcement, non-Muslims to name just a few of the more recent. Each time, we recoil in horror and kneejerk to all sorts of options as solutions.

Let me quote Ben Watson here - after the tragedy in Missouri, he said it best: We don't have a SKIN problem, we have a SIN problem.

As long as we attempt to segregate the problem according to ethnicity or religion or sexual orientation, we cannot solve it. As long as we condone actions as "reactions to hate or discrimination" we cannot stop the violence or the hate. As long as we pin our hopes on things like politically correct speech or gun control, we will end up hopeless. As long as we stick our heads in the sand and say "I'm not the problem - someone else is", we will make the problem worse. As long as we distance ourselves from the issues, blame "the other side" and figure they will have to change first, change will never come.

I am as angry as anybody that these things are happening. Against whoever is perpetrating them - radical Muslims, prejudiced police officers, misguided young African-Americans, or abortionists. ALL lives matter. Every single one. We Americans have come to a tragic place in our history where we value our own political views, or convenience or religion or preference more than a person's life.

And this is abhorrently, categorically wrong.

ALL LIVES MATTER

We cannot solve the problem by abdicating personal responsibility.
We cannot undo the wrongs of the past by exacting vengeance on those in the present.
We cannot erase prejudice by continuing to prejudge others and punish those we see as enemies.
We cannot stop violence by taking away tools of violence.
We cannot erase hatred by reacting with our own anger towards some we hold responsible.
We cannot demand that others spread love when we insist on retaining our own selfish views.

ALL LIVES MATTER

We are in this place of hatred and violence because we do not hold fast to the truth that all lives matter regardless of political views or occupation. Regardless of skin color or religious beliefs. Regardless of sexual preferences or age. All lives matter because God gives life. And every single person to whom He gives life matters. Every single one.

Because every single person is created in His image. It doesn't matter the circumstances or actions of that life - every single person should be treated with dignity and compassion and respect .And every life should be valued. No, I am not saying wrong-doing should not be punished. Nor am I clamoring for "tolerance" or universal agreement on controversial issues. But I am saying that every single person should be viewed as valuable. Regardless of the sacrifice of our own convenience, political ideals or religious convictions.

ALL LIVES MATTER

I do not have a three step solution. I do not know how to fix this. Honestly, it feels like we are in a state of anarchy. Hopelessness. Tragic and terrifying tumult.

All I can offer is that we each one examine our own hearts. Is there prejudice there? Of any kind? Do we dislike, distrust, dis-value any group of people?
If we find any wrong there, then let us each one address our own issues. Let us each one confess that sin and realize that we all are capable of the most egregious of sins. Apart from the grace of God, every single one of us could be pulling the trigger in any one of these situations.

And after searching our own souls for hatred towards any one, let us resolve to reject it completely. Let us refuse to harbor resentment and distrust. We do not have to agree with someone on how to vote or how to live our lives but we do need to agree that

ALL LIVES MATTER

and then resolve to protect ALL LIVES.

And then we have to throw ourselves on the mercy of God, praying : May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13)

Love...bears, believes, hopes, endures

June 1, 2016 Suzanne Chambers

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

The idea conveyed here is similar to what we ended with last week – that of love covering. Perhaps the best way to think of it is that love does not cave under the pressure of all things put upon it. Love is so strong that it will not collapse, it will not give up, no matter what. This is not saying that love is naïve or gullible but it means that love does not despair or lose confidence in what God says is true. Love withstands failures and setbacks, trusting in God’s ability to accomplish what He desires. Love is not an unrealistic “Pollyanna” but it does persist with a positive, persevering attitude regardless of what circumstances seem to dictate. Love refuses to be discouraged or dismayed but delights in finding joy in the Lord’s truth.

This love is what enables us to remain in difficult situations and refuse to say “I can’t take it anymore”. This love is what holds us in a marriage that others say is hopeless. This love places trust in what God says, not what we can see. One of my favorite sayings is that God’s Word is tru-er than our circumstances. That’s what love clings to.

Take some time today and ask the Lord to speak to you about places in your heart where you have given up, where you have succumbed to the pressure of difficulties, or where you are not hoping in Him but rather are walking by sight. He wants His children to be mighty in spirit, to not grow weary in well-doing, to remain courageous under pressure. He longs to answer these prayers for you. Run to Him. Remain in His arms…abide in His love. Endure.

Love does...not....

May 25, 2016 Suzanne Chambers

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.

This aspect of love is not referring to our actions but instead calls up our relationship with others. This description reveals that when we lack love, we are guilty of an attitude which is glad (secretly or otherwise) over the faults, failures, or misfortunes of others. Love, on the other hand, is grieved by such and rather rejoices when others walk in truth and enjoy the blessings of that.

One commentator described it this way: “…the malicious pleasure which comes to most of us when we hear something derogatory about someone else.” Ouch. Does that prick your heart like it does mine? It brings to mind I Peter 4:8 – Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins. Love does not want to expose the sins of others – it longs rather to protect, to shield, to redeem. When confrontation is necessary (Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18:15-17), it is done gently, privately, with restoration as the goal, not exposure. The “covering” is not a denial of sin but rather a protection, a desire to see the person walk uprightly and avoid the consequences of sin.

Love is glad for another’s righteousness and finds pleasure in the blessings that brings. This reminds us of the basic nature of love – that of unselfishness. Of delighting in the highest good of others.

Let’s pause for a moment and let the light of His truth penetrate our hearts. Is it shining on any dark spots of wrongly rejoicing? Take a few moments and confess this, knowing that He is faithful and just to forgive us when we do.

Then ask Him for the gift of repentance so that we can walk forward in truth.

Love keeps no record of wrongs

May 18, 2016 Suzanne Chambers

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love does not take into account a wrong suffered.
Before diving into this verse, let’s look at another verse that will set the stage for us. Romans 10:8 says Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. So basically, we owe love to everyone. Anything less than love means that we are in debt to them.
The Greek word used here in the Corinthians passage (logizomai) is a bookkeeper’s term, the word used for entering an item into a ledger so that it can be accounted for and not forgotten. What great imagery! Is that not an accurate picture of how we respond to the offenses committed against us? We “write down” the debit transaction incurred by another so that we might deal with it later. Perhaps we do not react immediately to a trepasss against us but we store it up in our heart, stew over it, take revenge or at least complain about – uh, “share” – it with others so that they, too, might make an entry in their ledger.
But that’s not what LOVE does. Love does not ignore or deny the wrongdoing but, instead of recording it as a debt owed, love erases the debt…by paying it oneself. That’s right. Love does not take revenge but rather love forgives. That does not mean that we pretend the wrong never occurred. That would actually be foolish and unhealthy! But love does not hold the offender responsible for paying the debt. Love releases the offender and refuses to keep a record of their action. But since the lack of love resulted in a debt owed, love pays the debt for the offender. Just like Jesus did at Calvary.
How do we pay the debt that another person owes us? In God’s amazing economy, that payment can be made in a thousand different ways. It can be the absence of wrong action (as in not “telling your story” or not treating them as they well deserve) and it can be the presence of right action (blessing the offender in some way, praying for them, showing kindness to them). And, what a delight that God’s economy works just fine with the installment plan! He allows us to make these payments for others’ debts a little at a time if we need to!
As you read through this today, did your heart remember a debt that you are owed? Are you willing to not take it into account…will you forgive that debt and pay it yourself?