Shannon Martin

Advent Anguish and A World Lost in the Darkness

December 9, 2015December 23, 2016 Shannon MartinLeave a comment

Advent is here and halfway gone at this point. Two candles are burning tonight as we do our family reading. The flames dancing a beautiful and joyful dance as my boys pay rapt attention to the words that I am reading eager to find Christ in our Christmas season.

This year I am feeling in a new way the pain and confusion and fear that the occupied children of Israel felt all those years ago as they longed for the Messiah to come. Hysteria and distrust and division are running rampant here in our country and around our world.

Neighbor is judging neighbor and vice versa.

Liberals are judging conservatives and vice versa.

Caucasians are judging African-Americans and vice versa.

Church goer is judging a church goer of another denomination and vice versa.

Christians are judging non-Christians and vice versa.

Christians are judging Muslims and vice versa.

And all of this judging is leading to mass chaos and confusion and fear. We fear what we can’t see or what we can’t understand. But we are to busy judging everything and everybody that we aren’t taking the time to understand and embrace our differences. We are so convinced that our ways are the only right ways. The only intelligent ways. The only logical ways.

And we struggle on together sinking further into darkness. Satan is dancing in glee as he watches us tear each other apart.

We all want to know all the reasons and have all of the answers for all of the problems in our lives, work places, churches, communities, schools, countries — the list is endless. We forget that we don’t understand the ways in which God moves in the world or that it just isn’t possible for us to always understand why something has happened. We have to have faith and trust God to work through us to reach the lost. Only he can bring about changes in the hearts of people:

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
    call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
    and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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 55:6-9 (NRSV)

I am learning to try to let go and let God. No changes come that he isn’t behind. It really isn’t my place to judge anyone. Just as it isn’t my place to have all the answers to all of the world’s problems.

I am a sinner too. My sins are most likely different sins and a combination of things unique to my brokeness, but sin is sin. We all have a sinful human nature. The only fix for that is to accept God’s gift of costly saving grace and to give him thanks and praise for it. In return we need to learn how to live in obedience to his will and with a humble heart.

And we are called to LOVE.

But there is just so much hate.

So much anger.

So much fear.

So much rage.

And my soul is suffocating…

I have seriously been contemplating a Facebook fast because all of the hate and anger and fear that is showing up all over my news feeds. It is so overpowering and oppressive. It physically hurts me to see all of the nastiness and the lack of any compassion or empathy for anyone anywhere. This season of joy has felt anything but joyful.

The world isn’t black and white.

It isn’t us against them.

It isn’t Christian or Muslim.

It is all of it. It is Christian and Muslim, and Hindu, and Aethiest, and Anarchist and a hundred other kinds of unique value systems.

It is a swirl of greys with all the rainbows of diversity mixed in and as long as we as humans refuse to look into the swirls we are going to continue to descend into ever darkening chaos! Have we learned nothing in all this time that the world has been turning? Violence begets violence, and may bring about a temporary cease-fire. Peace brought about by violence doesn’t last. Perhaps it is time to look at the third way that we learn from the baby who was born to save us and grew to into the sacrifical lamb who became our Savior.

We are not the new Israel. Even if we discerned that we were, Jesus brought love to temper the law of the Old Testament. Is there genocide and massive killing and destruction in the Bible? Yes there is, but there are many more instances when the children of Israel trusted in Yahweh to fight their battles for them. And he did just that.

With pestilence to hinder and weaken the enemy.

With confusion for the enemy.

With a boy who would be King who won an entire battle by taking down just one soldier, not an entire army, let alone a nation of people.

With his mighty angel armies.

Even though I keep considering a Facebook fast, it hasn’t happened yet. I noticed a conversation on a post yesterday and added a comment which I think is fitting to end this as well:

We as the Christian church in America, regardless of the denomination, have all forgotten that Jesus overturned everything with his commands to LOVE – friends AND enemies. We as a society have got to learn that we can love each other as human beings without accepting all of the actions and/or beliefs of others. We can show mercy and love and compassion to each other. We don’t have to “fix” everyone so that they think and believe just like us. That is the work of God with the Holy Spirit and is done in his own time. We are simply called to love as the hands and feet of God as he calls us to move and work for his Kingdom. A watered down version of his very radical and powerful lesson I know. Tolerance has become a twisted version of itself and more or less seems to be ceasing to exist.

“True tolerance is not a total lack of judgement. It’s knowing what should be tolerated, and refusing to tolerate that which shouldn’t.” – Chuck Colson

Still Wondering — What Happened To Love?

November 17, 2015January 13, 2016 Shannon MartinLeave a comment

Originally posted in December of 2014, I am incredibly saddened by how relevant all of these thoughts and feelings are to this upcoming season as well. We can’t quite seem to grasp the concept that Jesus, the reason for the season, is LOVE:

Our world is hurting. This season of hope is filled with pain, anguish and suffering for far too many. Hurt is running rampant. Many live in fear. Fear of men. Fear of their neighbors.

Christians are being exterminated in some parts of the world by extremists who are killing men, women, and children — young and old alike. All because they cling firmly to their faith and refuse to renounce their God.

Looters are doing damage to property and stealing because they feel that justice hasn’t been served. In response they are protesting by destroying the homes and businesses of people who had no control over the verdicts.

Mothers are crying for their babies that will never again hug them in this life.

Police officers are no longer safe in their own cars.

Our world is in utter chaos. It isn’t just happening in some distant part of the world. It is right here in our own streets.

How can we ever heal all of the pain? The answer is simple. We can’t. All we can do is be there for the lost, the hurt, and the wounded. Love them. Comfort them if we can. And pray. Always pray.

“You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sister, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-47, NRSV)

But this season we are celebrating by continuing to place our faith and hope for humanity in the small hands of the baby that was born over two thousand years ago. A baby changes everything, according to a Christmas song recorded by Faith Hill. As a mother I can say that is definitely true. However the baby born to Mary and Joseph changed more than just the sleeping habits of Mary and Joseph. This baby brought love and reconciliation to a cold, dark world.

The wee babe would grow up into a man who didn’t resemble the Messiah the people were expecting. He was, however, the Savior they needed. The same Saviour we look to and still need today. Jesus. A man who reached out to the poor, the marginalized, the sick, women, the outcasts, and the down trodden. Who corrected the educated in the temple and did not seek out the company of the wealthy.

This rebel Messiah led a revolution of love. He was the son of an unwed mother and the step son of a poor carpenter. The most unlikely person to become a powerful savior who would take on the Roman Empire. Let us be the unlikely people in our time who live out that same message in a broken, hurting world.

The ancient people of Israel missed the lessons of love and forgiveness Jesus brought. They were more concerned with being citizens of this world and getting the revenge they thought their enemies and persecutors deserved rather than focusing on becoming citizens of heaven and extending a hand of forgiveness. They were more concerned with removing their oppressors. So busy in fact that they missed the love and ever lasting joy being offered to them by the longed for Messiah.

Let us strive to remember the message and live in the way the Great Deliverer taught us. Even as our Lord Jesus hung from the cross, in the utmost anguish, completely innocent of any crimes, he still asked his father to forgive his enemies. Defiled, humiliated, beaten, and tortured, Jesus still begged forgiveness for the ones who knew not what they did. He asked for nothing for himself. He freely forgave his enemies and put their eternal welfare before his own frail human condition.

Love was the guiding principle Jesus taught. Forgiveness his sovereign decree. A baby changed everything.

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord. (Zechariah 8:16-17 – NRSV)

Making Sense of Darkness

November 14, 2015January 13, 2016 Shannon MartinLeave a comment

Today as we add filters of the French flag to our Facebook profile pictures, we read with horror all of the emerging details of the horrific attacks in Paris yesterday. We struggle to make sense of it all, and as humans we sometimes begin to question where was God? How could he let this happen? The simplest answer to this question is we just don’t know.

This made me recall a poem written by Grandpa Eber that I included in a post called It Is Good – Eber’s Legacy back in August of 2014. As we continue to pray for the people of Paris and all of the families affected and in need of healing, take a moment to glean some comfort from the word of this dear departed gentleman in the following excerpt from that post :

It Is Good…..God Called It So

How could God be so remiss

To put us in a world like this?

This world is evil, of little worth,

We’ve heard this said about the earth.

Why put us in this evil place,

Did this show lack of grace?

This we endure, it is our curse,

We think that nothing could be worse.

Are His motives then suspect?

Such thoughts we quickly should reject

If we remember as we should.

He formed the world, then called it good.

Goodness we should contemplate,

It shows His care and love so great;

Sunrise and sunset, sky so bright,

He gives us light, for he is Light.

He gives us such joys to bless our days,

We should respond with love and praise;

Created things we now applaud

And worship the Creator God.

When time shall end, He’ll show us more,

Still greater things He holds in store;

Then we will finally understand

This is what he always planned.

How did Eber know the world would look so hopeless just three short years after his death? Christians are being exterminated in Iraq and other places, children are being gunned down in schools, women are being forced into sex trafficking, millions are being displaced or fleeing the violence in their homelands, and the threats of terror and violence are making people afraid to go about their daily lives. It is probably human nature to question the why of it all and want God to explain and answer why he would allow such atrocities to happen. We must put the blame for it all on SOMEONE.

It occurs to me that my generation is probably not the first generation to say the world has become a cold and hopeless place, how will humanity survive, what possible future can my child have in a world like this? We are seeing a lot of evil right now all around, but the generation before us dealt with the Cold War, Vietnam and segregation, and the one before that with World War II, and the one before that with the Great Depression, and the one before that with World War I, and the one before that with the Spanish-American War, and the one before that with the Reformation period and the one before that the Civil War — I could keep listing, going on and on, backward over the decades to list the tragedies and travesties that have been plaguing humanity since time began, not just here in the United States but across the globe.

These words of Eber’s followed by my thoughts from over a year ago strike me as being relevant today. May we continue to try to be people of peace and light in a world that is struggling and dark. As long as we have faith, hope, and love we can each in our own ways make this world a better place. Our God sits on the throne, and he will conquer all evil. The battles are being waged, but the war is already won.

Dear brothers and sisters in Paris, may the God of Light fill you with comfort and wrap each of you in his loving arms. In the days and weeks to come may you begin to feel his healing balm in your lives. As the apostle Paul said in Ephesians, Stand firm! We must stand firm in our faith and stand firm in the promises of God. Horrible things happen at the hands of other men, but God is the great Physician. Turn to him, let his healing begin to wash over the streets of Paris tonight.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and you healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. – Isaiah 58:8 (NSRV)

Glimmers of Light and Looking Towards Eternity

October 19, 2015January 13, 2016 Shannon MartinLeave a comment

The twists and turns of our paths are a mystery. We come around bends never knowing what we will find there. Sometimes we find good freshly paved road and have a smooth journey during that stretch. Other times we suddenly find ourselves on bumpy uphill roads filled with pot holes and decaying black top that can slow us down and trip us up and sometimes break us down completely.

A couple who know this truth all to well are Gerard and Jeannie Long. In an eight year period they lost two of their three children – one to suicide and the other through a tragic accident. Today I was blessed to attend a seminar presented by them at the C.S. Lewis Institute of North East Ohio and got to spend some time with them journeying through their Valley of Baca with them.

Some of my take aways from Gerard and Jeannie in today’s sessions were:

even in the darkest of places in the lowest valleys there are glimmers of light
God is there with us, and wants us to call out to him to help us get through what ever darkness we may enter into.
He will give us the grace we need to get out of bed everyday and carry on.
There is purpose in the pain and suffering we endure here on earth. Even when we can’t see it, God is working to use all things for good.
God is okay with our questions about the why of a bad situation or event and he wants us to wrestle with him. He wants to have a deep and intimate relationship with us.
we are just sojourners here in this life.
look towards eternity and live our life here in preparation for the next one.

To hear more about their incredible ministry or to listen to Gerard and Jeannie tell you their story, you can visit their ministry page, Awakening to God. It is my prayer that they continue to feel the comfort and love of God surrounding them.

For myself, today has forced me to confront my own thoughts and fears. I wonder if I could find the same strength that the Long’s have found through God if I were ever to find myself in a truly dark place. I also wonder how these new thoughts about eternity that I soaked in today will help ease my fears of death and what comes next.

Eternity has always been a subject that leaves me feeling queasy and full of dread. So it isn’t something I focus on. EVER. Which seems rather backward in retrospect considering my desire to be an obedient child of God. So how do I reconcile being a kingdom worker and light bearer with the concept of being prepared for my heavenly role? With every fiber of my being I want to share the good news with others and help to sow the seeds of love and grace! I just never stopped to reflect or meditate on how God will have me use the gifts he has given me in heaven.

And there is comfort in that thought. I don’t need to fear eternity because I serve a God who is good and gracious. His grace will prepare us for and see us through anything in this life and the next. All he asks from us is that we take part in his kingdom work here on earth. Whether we are helping to shepherd his flocks or sowing or reaping the seeds of his harvest, all the work is done for his glory. Scripture says his yoke is easy so who wouldn’t want to be employed by the King of Heaven and Earth?

In light of living with eternity as our goal, while I am here I can love hard with all my might and trust in God above. He will always be right here beside me. In joy and in sadness or suffering, my God is an awesome God.

This year of my fellows journey has just barely begun and already I can feel His love nudging me to step out of my comfort zone. He is bringing me wonderful people whose words, spoken and/or written, are pushing my boundaries and helping me to let go and grow in his strength. It is all part of the twists, turns, and bends in my journey. I am braced in his love for an adventurous year of learning and growth sitting at his feet like Mary and letting Martha take a rest.

Loving God, let me live each day showering those around me with love. Let me strive for peace, both in myself and for those around me. Let me treasure the gift of your precious Word and soak in the messages and wisdom contained in it. Father God, raise me up to be the person you are calling me to be. Let me always be full of thanksgiving and praise for you, Lord God, who is deserving of all of my worship and adoration. Fill my heart with your love and let it flow through me into a dark and hurting world. In Jesus loving name I pray. Amen

Gerard Long offered us many pieces of scripture today as he shared his heart with us. There was one, however, that he kept coming back too. It feels fitting to also end this piece with that same wonderful verse:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men: yet they can not fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Successful Living and Legacies

October 12, 2015October 13, 2015 Shannon MartinLeave a comment

Have you ever pondered on what it looks like to have a successful life? When we are younger we probably picture it with lots of career milestones and the accumulation of lots of expensive stuff. As we get older, some of us start to realize that what truly matters doesn’t come with a price tag. Memories filled with family, friendship, laughter, love — these are all things that truly matter and are all part of being successful in life.

This past week I have been reminded again just how precious the memories we make become part of the legacy that successful people leave behind them when they depart this life for the next. Today we said our final good byes to the wonderful, caring man who filled the lives of those around him with humor and love. I was blessed to call this man Grandpa.

Facebook has been filled with awesome, beautiful memories of Grandpa shared by my many cousins, aunts and uncles, and others. Pictures posted like wildfire and captured the life of a man whose face radiated with joy as he was surrounded by his family. As our family came together to celebrate his life and remember him, the stories flowed like milk and honey. He touched so many of us and helped make us into the people we are today.

We remembered all of the times that he told us to, “leave a quarter,” if we wanted to use the bathroom (I don’t think he was serious, but if so, I guess I ran up quite the bill over the years!). We remembered his unique sayings and commented on how we could hear him speaking those sayings in our minds. Tales of Easter Bunny stew and Easter Bunny traps were mentioned by more than one person, and many other stories that showed his love of life and his sense of humor.

For myself, there are two quick stories that stand out in my mind when I think back over my time with Grandpa. The first goes way back in the day, to a long time ago when I got my very first job in high school at Taco Bell. Forever more, when ever I saw Grandpa he would always ask me, “So are you still working for that Mexican phone company?”

The second memory that vividly comes to life in my memory left quite an impression and is the reason why to this day I have never had the desire to get a tattoo. Grandpa had a tattoo of an anchor on his arm that he got during his time in the Navy. There is quite a story to go with the tattoo. The part that made such a lasting impression on me though, was his saying that he was so tired of looking at the tattoo because what seemed okay back then wasn’t anything he cared to immortalize on his arm today. You can’t erase a tattoo. Please don’t take this to mean I am against tattoos. I just haven’t had the urge to get anything tattooed because I figured he was probably right. I would hate to be stuck with something permanently that I will be tired of seeing in twenty or thirty years.

His funeral was a private affair, only his family in attendance. His very large, very close family. In a day and age when the traditional family is falling to the wayside, and families live more in strife than in unity, Grandpa Jerry’s family filled the entire funeral home. The bonds of love between his children show just how close this family is. The jokes shared among the grandchildren a testament to a close-knit family. This is a family that lives life together, not just a couple of times a year on the holidays, but year round.

The legacy of Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Lucille (who was known as Teedy by her family and went ahead of him to Heaven) is the wonderful family they created and the example they have been to all of us. They have shown us how to love, how to laugh, and how to treat others.

To quote my Aunt Judy, his passing has left a large void in many hearts. We will never meet him again in this life, but look forward to seeing him and Grandma again in eternity.

Thank you Grandpa for showing us what a life well done looks like. We will miss you. Thank you for always making me smile.