So Easy, But So Hard!

September 25, 2021rebecca klein 2 Comments

I remember the first time I came across the scripture in Romans 7:15, when Paul expresses his struggle with sin saying, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” As a young Christian and a young girl, I remember thinking, “Yes!! Awesome! That’s me too!” It was such a relief to learn that I was not alone in my struggle. Not only was there someone else who experience the same inner battle, but it was Paul! I mean Paul was a big deal. Apostle of Jesus Christ and writer of more than half the New Testament, Paul was not just anyone, he was a big kahuna (spiritually speaking) and yet he found himself confounded by his own sinful behavior and choices, just like me.

Fast forward a whole bunch of years, although I have aged in years and wisdom and grown in my faith and walk with Christ, unfortunately, I still find myself relating to that scripture. Back then it was a blessed revelation that brought reassurance, but now it is a source of frustration for me. I’m over it! I feel like I should be past that by now, right? I should be doing what I want to do, and not doing what I don’t want to do. It should be the opposite of Paul’s scripture by now, shouldn’t it? I am not so sure. Again, that was Paul who penned those words; who I am to imagine that I would be farther along than Paul?

So this morning I was reading in the book of Leviticus, where God gives the Law through Moses to the Israelites, His people. I am always amazed at how specific the Law is. Yet, I realize that is because God was instructing His children in a way that would guide them and protect them, keeping them safe. It was for their own good. The whole book of Leviticus is filled with these detailed instructions. Then near the end of the book, God lays out the consequences for either obeying or disobeying the Law, and the breakdown is pretty simple–obey the Law and you will be blessed; disobey the Law, and you will be punished. It is so clear and seems so easy, a no-brainer. If I am an Israelite, I would want blessings, not punishment, so I will obey, right? Right. And yet, the Old Testament is filled with account after account of the Israelite’s disobedience against the Lord. They disobeyed over and over again, and ultimately suffered painful judgment and punishment for it, just like the Lord had said. As clear and easy as it had seemed, the Israelites struggled to obey.

I think sometimes we modern-day Christians read through the Bible and feel inclined to judge the Israelites for their disobedience. Why didn’t they just listen to God?! How could they do “that” again?! Don’t they know?? I know I would have done better than them…it was so easy and clear, of course I would have obeyed. Or would I?

As I read through God’s Word and reflect on the history of God’s people, I am keenly aware of how much I am like them…and forgive me for saying so–you are too. We fail and disobey as often as they did. And I would have to think that we actually have it easier than they did. In our time, we have the Bible to guide us and the living presence of the Holy Spirit, and yet we still disobey as well. I still find myself right alongside Paul saying, “I just don’t understand myself! Why do I do those things I don’t want to do, and don’t do those things I desperately want to do!! God help me!” I could have given those Israelites a run for their money! I am pretty sure I would have ended up in Babylon too.

So where is my hope, and our hope, in all of this? Once again, it is in God’s Word. Thankfully, and as always, the scripture does not end with just questions. There are always answers. All the way through, this is true. I love it in the Psalms when David cries out to God in despair, questioning his circumstances and his pain, that he always comes back to the solid truth that God is sovereign and in control, and our hope is in Him. The same is true for Paul, and for us, in the book of Romans. Paul may have started out by asking those questions of himself about his own sinful choices and behavior, but he ends that same passage with a statement of hope and deliverance. He concludes, “What a wretched man I am! (boy, can I relate!) Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” There is our hope–in Christ. We are not lost to this endless struggle with sin, because with His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, Jesus delivered us from it! Because I have put my faith in Christ, I am delivered from my sin. Praise God!

Yet, as long as we are on this earth, on this side of glory, we will still struggle with sin. But we struggle with the hope of knowing that sin and death are conquered in Christ, and that because of His power in us, we get closer and closer to glory each day. On many days, I can still relate to Paul’s angst, but I know with confidence that the struggle is different than it once was, and God’s work in me has made me stronger in Him. So, I may still be an Israelite, but I choose blessing, and I am heading to the Promised Land! I hope you are too!

It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of Times

August 26, 2021August 27, 2021rebecca klein 1 Comment

Lately, I have found it difficult to answer a very simple question. “How are you?” is a polite question that is commonly asked in a casual greeting and should not be hard to answer. Yet, for me, it has been a struggle of late. Depending on my perspective in the moment, my answer could be one of two extremes. Because right now, in this season, it truly feels like Charles Dickens said in the opening line of his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.”

You see, on any given day, there are many terrible things that are happening in the world around us, globally, locally and individually. COVID continues not only to linger on, but seems to have spawned monster offspring in the variants that are spreading like wildfire all around us. People are sick, hospitals are filled, and lives are lost every day. It is depressing, and after a year and a half, we are all weary of this viral battle. But then on top of that, our country continues to proliferate its own battle of opposing views about how to respond to the first battle. Communities, families and friends are divided on the issues surrounding the debate, and media of every kind feeds on the contention. And this is only one of the “terrible things” that truly make this season feel like the worst of times. There are so many more burdens we carry and battles we face day after day.

So if things are so bad, which they are, how can it also be the best of times? The answer is perspective—how we look at things. The older I get, the more I realize that so much of our response to life has to do with our perspective. The bottom line is that we can choose how we look at things and what we focus on. We may not be able to choose or control what we face in this life, but we can choose our perspective. It is up to me—and you—whether I will spend my time and energy focusing on the worst around me, or look for the best. And I promise you, there is “the best” to find.

No matter how dark and depressing things may seem, there is always something good in this world and in this life. I know, I know, I can hear it now—some of the diehard pessimists quickly questioning my assertion that the proverbial silver lining does actually exist. But I continue to assert with confidence that it does, IF you are willing to see it. You have to change your perspective. You have to look for it, and you have to want to first. It takes intentionality, but good can be found.

Discovering the best of times may be as simple as beholding the beauty in God’s creation, or expressing gratitude for the gifts of life we too often take for granted–like seeing, hearing, walking or breathing. When we look harder, we might find even more blessings in our world and lives that we failed to notice while we were consumed by the terrible circumstances happening around us. We might remember that friend who always makes us laugh or the family member who is there for us when we need it most. We might think about a favorite pet who brings us joy. These are just simple examples, but when we focus on all that we have, rather than what we do not, we realize there is more there then we thought. In the Bible, James 1:17 tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” We can find so many good gifts God has given us when we open our eyes and hearts to see them.

Not only that, but when we envision even our most terrible circumstances from a biblical perspective, we also have the joy of finding that the “worst of times” are ultimately used for our good. So either way, we do not have to be lost in despair when we choose to shift our perspective. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” For those of us who are followers of Christ, when we love Him and are called to His purpose, we have this promise that God will work ALL things for our good. This is an amazing promise!! In His Word, God is declaring to us that everything we face in this life—the good, bad and the ugly, of which we have an awful lot right now—will be used to accomplish good things for us. Imagine what that promise can do for our perspective. What if we choose to focus on that truth, rather than the terrible things happening around us or to us?

I believe that if we shift our focus, look for the good in this life and remember that even the bad can bring us good that we can have a revival in our thinking and feeling. So next time someone asks me, “How are you today, Rebecca?”, I can confidently reply, “Times are tough, but I am blessed.” How you respond will have everything to do with which perspective you choose. I hope you choose to see the good.

“Silenzio, Bruno!”

August 22, 2021August 22, 2021rebecca klein Leave a comment

This weekend my husband and I watched the new, animated Disney movie about sea monsters, “Luca.” We don’t actually have young children at home, but we were bored and had heard it was a cute film. It ends up that it was. What made it particularly enjoyable was that it was set in Italy. As a mostly Italian family, we thoroughly enjoyed the Italian language and accents throughout, as well as the frequent references to pasta and Italian food. It was a simple children’s story, but it was entertaining.

An endearing part of the story is the friendship that grows between the two main characters, Luca and Alberto. Alberto, who understands the “ways of the world” much more than Luca, teaches him about new things, shows him new experiences, and helps him overcome his fears. When Luca says he is afraid to do something new and scary, Alberto shouts in response, “Silenzio, Bruno!” At first, Luca doesn’t understand, but Alberto explains that “Bruno” is that voice in his head that tells him that he is afraid, so when he hears it, he tells that voice–or Bruno–to be quiet, “Silenzio!” Then Alberto encourages Luca to do the same, which he continues to do throughout the film as he overcomes his fears.

The more I thought about this simple strategy, the more I realized the biblical truth that was hidden in it. We all face fears and battle that voice in our heads that attempts to keep us from being all that God has created us to be. The message of that voice is different for every person and is often tied to deeply rooted beliefs that stem from childhood experiences and family dynamics. For some it is, “you are not good enough,” while for others it might be, “you are a failure,” and in between are a whole host of other negative messages that beat us down.

Ultimately, the root of these messages is spiritual in nature. Even if it was a dysfunctional family experience that planted the seed in our minds and hearts, it is the enemy of our souls that uses it to plague us and cripple us long beyond the initial circumstances that caused it. The Bible tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12) So those battles we face in our minds may have an emotional, psychological and even physical impact, but they are initiated by our spiritual enemy, Satan. As we are told in the Word, he “comes to kill, steal and destroy,” (John 10:10) and the attacks in our minds and thoughts are one of his greatest tactics.

We know that thoughts that cause fear, self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and depression are not from God. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7) God’s plan and gift for us is abundant life, which begins in our hearts and minds. He has given us a “sound mind,” not a mind full of fear and angst. Yet, even when we know that truth, we can still find ourselves lost and bound by those thoughts that are not of God. So then what do we do? We cry out, “Silenzio, Bruno!”

No, Bruno is not biblical, nor is Satan Italian, but the principal in the exclamation is what is important. The Bible tells us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corin 10:5) and to “submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) When thoughts come that tear us down rather than build us up in the Truth, we are instructed in several critical steps:

Submit ourselves to God–His power, authority and truth
Take that thought captive–grab it, take hold of it, and don’t let it take hold of you
Make the thought obedient to Christ–submit it to His authority and judgement to expose the lie
Resist the devil–take a your stand in God’s mighty power and in the name of Jesus, tell him OUTLOUD to go!

In other words, we need to tell the enemy of our souls to “Silenzio, Bruno!” When those damaging thoughts come, we must tell the him to shut-up, be quiet, and go, in Jesus name! And guess what? He will. That’s right, the Word says it. When we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he WILL FLEE from you–him and his lying thoughts! Let’s stop listening to messages that we know are lies, but engage the powerful spiritual truth unexpectedly brought to us from a child’s movie about sea monsters. We may have to do it over and over again, in a day or even a moment, but like Luca in the Disney film named after him, the time will come when that fearful voice inside our heads will disappear and we will soar.

“Let’s NOT Make a Deal” with Pregnancy Decisions

July 27, 2021rebecca klein Leave a comment

“Which will you choose–what’s behind curtain #1…curtain #2…or curtain #3?” It was the moment of truth for the zany game show, “Let’s Make a Deal.” A contestant dressed in some sort of outrageous costume would be given the opportunity to choose his or her prize by selecting a curtain, but without knowing what was behind it. The prize could be cash, jewelry or a shiny, new car…or just as easily, it could be a crazy gag gift, like a live animal or piece of junk. The audience and contestant alike was holding its collective breath, waiting to see what was going to be behind the curtain.

This moment may have worked great for a game show, building tension and anticipation that made it a family favorite to watch. But in reality, making decisions without knowing your options is not a good idea–especially when it comes to an unplanned pregnancy. On the game show, the contestant ultimately had nothing to lose. She may not get a great prize, but she won’t be losing anything either. The stakes are much higher, however, when deciding what to do about a child that has been conceived.

The bottom line is that when a woman becomes pregnant, no matter what choice she makes, it is a life-impacting decision. Whether she chooses to parent her child, place her child for adoption, or terminate the pregnancy, her life will never be the same. Because of this, women deserve to know exactly what is behind each “curtain” before her decision is made. This is the work that pregnancy centers do–providing women with critical information about all of the options for her unplanned pregnancy so she can make an informed decision, not a random choice just hoping for the best.

Pregnancy centers are often labeled as “anti-choice” in the media, but nothing can be further from the truth. These centers exist to make sure that women actually have a choice–a true choice…an informed choice. This comes when she has been educated about what is involved in each of the three options that exist for an unplanned pregnancy, including the risks she will face. Part of informing her also includes educating her about what is going on in her body specifically. This is done in centers with pregnancy testing, ultrasound and often STI testing. She needs a clear picture of her situation, her body, and her options. Then she can make a decision without it being a shot in the dark, like choosing a curtain on a game show.

If we truly care about women, as it is touted in our culture and the media, then we will make sure that when facing unplanned pregnancies, they are empowered and equipped to make decisions based on accurate information and careful consideration, not leave them to a game of chance like “Let’s Make A Deal.”

God Gave Me Words

July 12, 2021September 25, 2021rebecca klein Leave a comment

It took me too long into my adult life to realize that God had given me the gift of words. When I think back, I see that I should have recognized it much sooner. I actually wrote my first book when I was in third grade. That might have been a clue. It was called “How Peter Learned to Swim.” It was a simple story of overcoming the fear of water and ultimately pushing one’s self to conquer and learn. I do remember my teacher being very excited about my accomplishment, so she helped me create a typed copy that I illustrated and she had bound for me. I still have the book saved today.

Despite that early literary accomplishment, during the school years that followed, I maintained interest and exceled in all of my classes–in History, Science and Math as much as English. At one point when I was planning for college, I had even considered studying to be an accountant. Ultimately, I chose to major in English to become a teacher, but I chuckle now when I remember that I ever consider working with numbers as a career. Because what I know now, with absolute certainty, is that God definitely did not give me numbers! I may have enjoyed a few years of understanding and success in Mathematics through grade school and secondary school, but that ability has long since faded, while my love and passion for words had only increased more and more each year, and that is because God gave me words.

Over the thirty years since graduating college (yes, it has been that long), God has been using the gift of words in my life in many different ways. I love to look back and see what I was not able to see at the time in each season–that He was preparing me for the next step that only He knew was ahead. When I was teaching English for more than 15 years, I had no idea that I would ever do anything else. But God did. So He moved our family from Long Island, NY to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, where my journey in pro-life Pregnancy Center ministry began.

It was in this next season that my my writing and speaking began to grow. Although as a teacher, writing and speaking were an integral part of what I did each day, it was different now. As God called me to protect and promote life, He was calling me to use the voice He gave me for those who had not voice. When I would write and speak, it was for a greater purpose–to save lives. So with the passion for life that the Lord birthed in me for this work, I have spent the past 18 years using my voice for Life.

Speaking, writing, teaching for Life is something I continue to do today and will continue to do as long as God gives me breath. Yet, God continues to grow my gift with words, and as He leads, I am using my voice in other ways for His Kingdom as well. God gave me words…words I can use for writing and speaking…words I can share at events, over air waves, on the internet, and with one heart at a time. God gives me words, and I give them to you.

Trees and Me

July 11, 2021July 11, 2021rebecca klein Leave a comment

I love trees. There, I said it. And I mean it. I have always loved trees, even before I had a very significant reason to…but that’s a story I’ll get to in a minute. So why do I love trees? There are so many reasons. To start with, they are just beautiful. I love their form and structure, even in all the many variations they come. I love that they are held by strong roots that are hidden beneath the ground. I love that they stand up tall, stretching their branches towards the sky. I love the beauty of the delicate leaves that fill those branches, each one exquisite in its own right, but together create a symphony. And I love that even when all those leaves are gone, they leave the promise and hope of return.

When God created trees, however, there was so much more to His design than just adding beauty to the world. Trees also have incredible function. They contribute to the environment by providing oxygen and improving air quality. They help conserve water, preserve soil and support wildlife. Trees give us the tools we need to survive and to live.

Yet, beyond their beauty and their vital function, trees also represent key truths in God’s Word. They represent life and growth. Trees demonstrate worship, as they lift their “arms” to heaven. Their roots speak to believers being firmly planted in righteousness and truth, bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom. Trees represent everything that we are meant to be in the Lord–beautiful, grounded, strong, and fruitful. Like it says in Isaiah 61:3, my heart desires to be an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

So for all these reasons, trees have always been so meaningful to me. But then in 2010, the Lord made trees more significant and personal to me than I could have imagined, and it came in the form of a song called, “Family Tree.” Written by Christian music artist, Matthew West, “Family Tree” is a song about the gift of a new legacy each of us receives when we come to Christ. No matter what background someone comes from, no matter how dysfunctional one’s family or environment was through their childhood, the song proclaims freedom from the repetition of broken cycles and broken family trees. Jesus “breaks the chains that bind you” and “brings new life to your family tree.” What a powerful and beautiful truth for every believer, especially those, like me, who came from deeply broken homes. “Family Tree” is a song that not only relates to my life, it is a song about my life, specifically and personally.

In 2010, Matthew West wrote an album called, “The Story of Your Life,” and in that album wrote songs about the lives of listeners who wrote in to share their stories of redemption in the Lord. I was one of the listeners who wrote to tell what God has done in their lives, and out of the 10,000 stories he received for that album, Matthew chose mine. He shared with me later that he specifically had been praying about including a story about renewed legacy in Christ, and then he read mine. So he wrote the song, “Family Tree” from my story and about my life. What a precious gift that was for me–not just the experience of being included in something so exciting and all that went along with it (another story for another time), but the incredible opportunity to have my story be used to minister to others and give them hope. It is that I am most thankful for. But the icing on top of it all is the tree! Not only is the song called “Family Tree,” and uses the beautiful symbolism of the tree, but the album icon for my song is the picture of a tree. The Lord is good, and I love trees.