Narrow Minded

"Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:6

In the Houston Chronicle, on August 3, 1996, there was an article which stated, "But hell is no laughing matter for most religious traditions.  That's because most religions insist that the idea of a just God suggests that the good are rewarded and the evil punished.  And most believe there is a hell to which the damned are condemned."  No problem so far.

But it goes on to say a little later in the article, "And a lot of the concern about hell comes from religious zeal and the narrow conviction that there is only one way to heaven."  Now my problem is the placement of the word "narrow" when referring to that belief.  Our writer uses the word in a way that makes us look shallow and uncaring.  But we, as christians, didn't come up with that "only one way".  Christ did.  And Christ used the word "narrow" in Matthew 7:14 where He warns us that the path to life with Him is "straight and narrow".

Maybe our writer should take up his ideas with the Authority on the subject.

My prayer for today:  Father, help us be "narrow" in the right way.

Servant

"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,"
II Timothy 2:24

Boy, that word "servant" brings out a lot of peoples' anger real quickly.  We think in terms of slaves or mistreated and abused workers.  But that is not the biblical meaning, and we cheat ourselves of a lot of joy when we refuse the "servant" role in our lives.

For instance, it brings me great joy to have my family over for a meal and get up often to refill their tea glasses or get something from the refrigerator or pantry for them.  I do it because I love them and enjoy bringing pleasure to their lives, not because I feel I'm a door mat.  That is one of our weak points as modern day christians.  Instead of "serving" others and trying to win them with love, we often stand on our "rights" and try to cram religion down their throats.  This verse says we should "teach" and what better way to teach than by example?  If we want others to treat us with kindness and love, we must first show them the way.  There is fulfillment in that beyond the understanding of many people today.  Don't be afraid to "serve".  Christ did it.  Are we better than Him?

My prayer for today:  Father, thank You for teaching me the true joy of servanthood.

Priorities

"And Jesus saith unto him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."
Matthew 8:20

Sometimes it is so hard to keep our priorities straight.  Like, should I save this money for my old age, or shall I spend it on a family vacation while the children are still here to enjoy it with us?  Shall I follow every new trend in fashions, or shall I find a style that fits my tastes and stick with it, therefore spending far less on clothes.  The answers to these questions are, of course, personal and individual.  But we do have some guidelines.

For instance, in the above verse we see that Christ wasn't loaded down with earthly possessions, or even what we see as necessities.  Now, I know we can't all live like that.  But we can use it to remind us not to be overly anxious to own "things".  Sometimes that results in the things owning us.  

In a bible study several years ago, I heard the following question asked, "Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul?"  That kind of sums it up, don't you think?

My prayer for today:  Father, help me enjoy what You give me today, remembering that there may not be a tomorrow for me.

BLT Sandwiches

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
James 4:17

My favorite sandwich is a BLT.  Now you have to have all the ingredients for it to be a real BLT.  If you are out of tomatoes, it would only be a BL sandwich.  If you were out of bacon, it would be an LT.  See what I mean?  It takes it all to be a real bacon/lettuce/tomato sandwich.  

The same is true of the christian life.  It's real good to keep all ten of the commandments (if you could), but it would still be an incomplete christian life.  To live a life like the one Christ lived, we must add the positives to the negatives.  We can't just practice the "Thou shalt not" rules of life.  We must also practice the good works Christ left for us to do.  That's why this verse warns us that if we aren't doing what we should, we aren't doing it right.  Be a balanced christian.  Be God's BLT.

My prayer for today:  Father, help me live a balanced life of service along with faith.

A Friend Loveth

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."
Proverbs 17:17

Throughout my life, I have had many occasions to prove the truth of this verse.  And I think that it is safe to say that the word "brother" in this verse can refer to our christian brothers and sisters as well as blood relatives.  Certainly, I have had christian family that helped me through an extremely painful divorce (is there any other kind?), through the deaths of each of my parents to cancer, and through times of illness in myself and in my husband.  These friends let me cry when I needed to, talk when I needed to, or just sit quietly when I needed to.  They provided meals and transportation and prayer support.  They ignored the busy routines of their own lives to fill a need in mine.  

A friend "loveth at ALL times".  That means even when I am not at my best; even when I can do nothing in return for their kindnesses; even when it is terribly inconvenient for them.  Praise God for real friends.

My prayer for today:  Father God, help me be that kind of friend.

Psychics

"That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:7

Every way we turn these days we see people offering to tell our future or be our "psychic" friend.  Well, you don't have to be "psychic" to know the future of christians. It is given to us in this verse. Let me show you. 

• "In the age to come" that is all of the future, from now on through eternity. 
• "He" is God. 
• "might show the exceeding riches of His grace" refers to the priceless gift of salvation. 
• "toward us" means everyone who accepts this gift. 
• "through Christ Jesus" explains the only means of being a christian. Everything else falls into place. 

That doesn't mean we won't experience troubles and pain in this life, but do we really want to know about those ahead of time?  The eternal future is what we should be most interested in.  After all, this life won't last long anyway.  But eternity, wow, that's a long time.  Get yours settled today.  If you do, I can honestly forecast a great "eternal" future for you.  Not because I am psychic, but because God gave us that promise.

My prayer for today: Thank You, God, that I can trust all my future to You.

History

"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world."
Acts 15:18

When I was in high school I was a pretty good student.  I managed to stay on the honor roll.  But history just about did me in.  I received my only failing slip ever in history.  I couldn't understand why we should care who fought what war, when, or why.  So it has come as a surprise to me as I've grown older, how much I enjoy bible history.  I think the above verse has something to do with it.  

It is fascinating to me how God inspired the old testament writers to predict events which would take place in new testament times.  And suddenly, it becomes very important that we know who was coming, where, and why.  As we see the fulfillment of old testament prophecy in the life and teachings of Christ, we are enabled to rest more securely in knowing that God knows ALL of the whens and whys in life.  He is in complete control and nothing takes Him by surprise.  What a Savior.  What a Father.  What a God.

My prayer for today:  Thank You, God, that I don't need to know all the answers.  You have already taken care of everything.  Even things yet to come.

Security in God

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

We read so much today about how social security is going broke, and medical costs are spiraling upward.  Terrorism is everywhere, even in America where we thought it could never happen.  All of this is true and could really depress us if we dwelt on it.  But I believe with all my heart, the truth of this verse.  We have to be wise in our stewardship, but we can't worry every minute of every day about every possibility in our lives.  God didn't say He would guide us around troubles, He said "I will carry you".  He wants us to do our best, but to trust HIS power and HIS control over everything.  I've seen His miracles in my life, and I expect that if you think about it for a few minutes, you can name some in your own life.  

God made us, and He cares for us.  Earthly family may walk away, but God never will.  Even to our "old age and gray hairs".

My prayer for today:  Rescue me, Father, not only from the evils of this world, but also from my own selfish ways.

Freshly Cut Wood

"Is not this the carpenter's son?  is not his mother called Mary?  and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?"
Matthew 13:55

My husband is a wood worker and I love the smell of newly cut wood.  Now we have a new group of houses being built just down the street from us, and that smell drifts to us on the breeze most of the day.  Freshly cut wood always makes me think of positive things... of CONstruction rather than DEStruction.  Jesus was a "carpenter's son", therefore he learned the carpenter's trade.

That's the positive side.  Unfortunately, the negative side is that mankind took a tree and instead of building something lovely from it, they used it to hang our Savior on.  But He turned even that into something positive and constructive.  He used it to provide our salvation.  He built a bridge across the gap between a righteous God and sinful man.  What a Carpenter.

My prayer for today:  Lord, each time I smell freshly cut wood, remind me of Your great building program and help me share it with others.

The Hart Panteth

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
Psalm 42:1

I am a chocoholic.  Anyone who knows me will testify to that.  Chocolate is so rich and creamy....so velvety smooth.  I really have to fight myself to keep from including it in every meal and every snack.  I guess I "pant" after chocolate like the "hart panteth after the water brooks".  But look at what this verse says:  "so panteth (in the same thirsting way) my soul after thee, O God".  Not after water for physical needs, or chocolate for pure pleasure, but for God Himself.  Do we really do that?  Are we addicted to learning more about God and how to live our lives in the center of His will?  Those are treasures far outlasting the temporary pleasures or even supposed needs of this life.

My prayer for today:  Father, let my desire to learn of You increase daily and the pleasures of this world fade slowly away.

Shadows

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty".
Psalm 91:1

A shadow serves several purposes.  It can offer protection from the searing heat of the sun.  It can show direction of east or west.  Jesus speaks of this in a slightly different way in Luke 13:34 when he tells Jerusalem how he would have "gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings".  The symbolism is the same.  The shadow or the hovering wings protect those under them. 

If we have to be outside in the heat of the day we would be foolish not to take advantage of a shade tree if possible.  Isn't it, then, even more foolish not to hide under the shadow of the Almighty?  The choice is ours.  I don't know about you, but I prefer the shade.

My prayer for today:  Thank You, Lord, for hovering over us with Your eternal care.

Sunflowers

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
II Corinthians 4:6

Have you ever noticed how sun flowers seem to follow the sun?  They seem to lift their faces toward whichever direction the sun is shining from.  In the morning they face east, at noon straight overhead, and in the evening west.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did that?  If we turned our faces towards God's Son at every hour of every day, how much better our lives would be.  

This verse says we experience the "glory of God" in the "face of Jesus Christ".  In what better direction could we look, then, than the direction of Christ as revealed in scripture and in every day life.  Let's not let a flower be wiser than we are.

My prayer for today:  Father, lift my eyes and my heart to You every moment of every day.

 

Dragonflies

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years."
Revelation 20:2

Do you ever wonder where we get some of the words we use?  This last weekend, I was watching several dragonflies darting back and forth across the yard.  I have always thought them so lovely, with their wings reflecting beautiful glimmers of color.  So, if they are so lovely, why do we call them "dragon" flies?  In the bible, Satan is described as a dragon, one to avoid at all costs.  Well, I looked up "dragon-flies" in the dictionary and here is what I found:  "Large, harmless insect with a long body, four filmy wings, huge eyes and strong jaws".  It goes on to say that they eat bugs and look very fearsome to other insects.  Unfortunately Satan is wiser than the dragonflies.  He doesn't come to us looking fearsome and deadly.  He works in the opposite way.  He comes with all the beauty of the colors of the rainbow, but hidden within he is vicious and cruel.  It is easy to see why he is called a dragon.  We would do well to fear him.

My prayer for today:  Father, help us to see with spiritual eyes, that we won't be led astray by seeming beauty.

To Touch A Child

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
Exodus 21:19

Mothering is a role I have always loved.  I am a biological mother, a step-mother, and a grand-mother.  I have also been room mother, foster mother and den mother.  So it is especially sad to me that there is a trend today to falsely accuse people of improper behavior with a child.  I am sure that much of it is justified.  But I am equally convinced that much of it is simply "tall tales", often generated by over zealous protection agencies.  

In working with small children in vacation bible school, I often find myself inclined to reach over and brush a strand of hair from a little girl's face, or touch her hair bow and compliment her on it, or hug a little boy who has scratched his knee on the concrete.  Yet I draw back, afraid of how it might look to others.  

I wonder who the biggest loser is here...we adults who really love children, or the children themselves, who hunger for a gentle touch or a kind word?

My prayer for today:  Guide us, Father, that we might honestly love, without being seen as perverted in our relationships with children.

Vacation Bible School

"And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?"
I Kings 19:13b

Sometimes God has to kind of hit me over the head to get my attention.  I don't respond to "still small voices" too well.  I am working in vacation bible school (VBS) for the first time in several years, and I can't get used to children not obeying.  You tell them to stop doing something, and they look you straight in the eye and continue to do it.  

The first night, instead of God asking me what I was doing there, I was asking Him -  something alone the lines of, "Lord, I don't know why on earth we are wasting our time.  You surely can't do anything with this lack of discipline and atmosphere of total chaos."  Not a pretty prayer, I admit.  One little boy was so rowdy that I called him aside and promised to sit right beside him if he didn't behave.  I thought that was the meanest thing I could offer to do to a child that age.  But the second night, he came to me asking if I would sit by him again.  He actually wanted me to and was much better behaved when I did.  

If I would just stop boxing God in, He really can speak, even in the midst of confusion and chaos.  It doesn't matter what I am doing here.  What matters is what He is doing here.

My prayer for today:  Thank You, Father, that You aren't limited as to how and where You touch lives.  Help me be more open to Your possibilities.

Instruction Book

"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."
I Timothy 4:13

I want you to know I am really observant.  We have had our Jeep for a little over three years, and only yesterday did I learn that the luggage rack is adjustable.  I never knew that.  :-)

I never even thought about it.  

They say when you get something new, the first thing you should do is read the instructions.  I seldom do.  So when I learned this neat new capability of my Jeep, I began to wonder what other features it has that I am not aware of.  Then I went one step further with the thought and wondered how many great things the Bible has for me that I have never taken advantage of, because I never studied the "instruction book" enough to know they were there.  So often we miss out on blessings because we don't know the right think to do or say in certain circumstances.  I encourage you to let the "instruction book" help you.

My prayer for today:  Father, show me what I may have been missing out on.  Help me be wise enough to take advantage of all that You have for me.

Wasted Land

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
James 2:17

Several years ago, when our oldest son was only about eight or nine years old, and his dad was a cross-country truck driver, they went together on a trip to Portland, Oregon.  As they drove along between Gallup and Farmington, New Mexico, Phillip gazed out at the barren landscape.  Finally, he turned to his dad and said, "Dad, there sure is a lot of land going to waste out here."  

I wonder if God doesn't look at our lives sometimes and think, "There sure is a lot of talent going to waste out there."  So often we don't make use of what He has given us.  Just as the desert land can be irrigated and used, each of us has abilities which God intends us to use in His service.  When we don't use our talents to work for Him, we don't show our faith to those around us.

My prayer for today:  Father, help me not to be a barren wasteland.  Help me use my every resource for You.

Patchwork Vest

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age:  and he made him a coat of many colors."

I have a vest made of patchwork.  My aunt made it for me several years ago from material in her scrap bag.  It is very colorful and pretty.  But beyond the beauty of it, I realize that making it was a labor of love, so I understand how proud Joseph was of the coat his father made for him.  Clothes were not easy to come by in those days, and this must have been a very beautiful garment.  

In the same way, to put all those small scraps of cloth together into a pleasing and colorful pattern for my vest was a difficult and time-consuming job for my aunt.  But she did it out of love.  Today, it seems so much easier to run to the nearest store and buy a gift.  But think of the difference it makes to receive a gift that says, I love you enough to give of myself as well as my income.

My prayer for today:  Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You gave of Yourself completely that I might have the gift of salvation.