The Right Way

A video I watched recently filmed a daring stunt of a young man sliding down a make-shift watery slope with enough speed to propel him up an incline catapulting him through the air to land in an inflated pool of water.  I don’t care to think how many times it took to get it right!

The life of Solomon, David’s son, is one of the greatest yet saddest stories of old.  In a place named Gibeon God asked Solomon “what shall I give you,” and Solomon answered “an understanding mind and a hearing heart,” which pleased the Lord. (1 Kings 3:5-10)  Scripture then tells us God did as Solomon asked and became known for his wisdom as no other king before or since; furthermore, God gave Solomon riches and honor – things for which he did not ask.  As king over all Israel, Solomon built a magnificent temple and led the people in worship, recalling God’s covenant faithfulness and lovingkindness.  Chapter 8:54-60, King Solomon spoke a beautiful benediction: “Blessed be the Lord, who ha given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised, not one word has failed of all His good promise … May the Lord our God be with us … that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statues and His ordinances, which He commanded … so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else … Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God.”  What a glorious time for Jehovah and His people.  Then, so it happened … “King Solomon loved many foreign women … Solomon held fast to these in love.” (11:1-2)  A king’s heart turned away, divided, embraced idols, held tightly other gods: material things, positions of leadership and service, relationships … yes, Lord, my own list is painfully long.   Oh, what a slippery slope when we follow our own ways, compromising God’s Word.   In the video, the stunt’s successful and safe end involved precise calculations; following God’s commands is the only safe and honorable way of Christian living.  Doing life our way miscalculates and misses the mark – it’s called sin.  Don’t second-guess God – His Way is perfect and always brings a glorious end.  It’s the best way, the only way, the … right way.

Grow In Grace

Fresh is good!  Think of it -- fresh bed sheets, fresh steamed broccoli & squash, summer rain.  Years ago, Danny took a bite of "freshly thawed" cornbread and I he was not impressed.  The cornbread was to be part of cornbread dressing but after one bite, he decided it was ruined and threw it in the garbage. He messed up my dressing and his bowl of cornbread & milk!

A Godly life stems from growth.  The strength and well-being of Christians depend on those things which feed them.  Staleness or the lack of freshness comes when we stop feeding on the goodness of God's Word.  That’s how sin takes rule of our thoughts. Loretta Lynn once said, "you've got to continue to grow or you're just like last night's cornbread -- stale and dry."  Danny got a taste of that -- stale, dry cornbread!  This is how the world sees and hears us when we stop growing, moving forward in righteousness.  Peter asked: "what sort of people ought you to be in conduct and godliness?"  (2 Peter 3:11)  The answer, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).  Right now, today, is the perfect time to shake off the stale and water what is dry. Grow in grace!

Blessing Double

Twin A and Twin B are how they were identified at the hospital, but they are known to us as Dennis and Dustin.  Mr. Bill nor I didn’t give any thought to having twins, but apparently we should have: my mom’s a twin, my grandmother’s a twin, and my great-grandmother had two sets of twins.

It is no surprise how richly blessed of God we are!  He IS our Heavenly Father, after all.  He’s made known His affections for and love to us before time: we bear His image in divine design from creation and He’s adopted us as joint-heirs in Christ.  A double-birth was overwhelming at first – two to feed, clothe, and care for, but we soon came to more fully appreciate the double-blessing.  Matthew wrote how even the birds know the nature of The Creator, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (6:26)   Even with this small [even shallow] glimpse of The Father’s heart, why do we question Abba’s (Father’s) care?  Spurgeon says, “there is heaven in the depth of that word – Father!”  Will we not savor and drink of the joy of Him Whose love knows no bounds, no limits, no end!  If we MUST be overwhelmed, let it be so from  drinking deep of The Father’s love and the beauty of His Beloved, Jesus Christ!

No Crumbling

Castles are interesting places to visit, and I suppose the closest I've been to one is Biltmore House.  Danny had a Skeletor castle and it had a draw-bridge, hidden escapes, and was fortified with huge stones, but Skeletor nor his mighty castle were a match for He-Man!

One of Israel's great archaeological sites is Megiddo, translated the "place of troops."  It’s located on the ancient Via Maris highway (Way of the Sea) and has a history of more than 3500 years.  A royal city of Canaan, strategically guarded passage through the Carmel mountain range.  History records more than twenty civilizations built on the mountain's flat plateau overlooking the Valley of Jezreel (Armageddon) where Revelation 16:16 says the final battle between kings and The King of kings will take place.  Years ago, I stood in one of Solomon's gates there and the rocks were massive: the people must have surely felt secure and safe within Megiddo’s walls.  Oh, but history also reveals Megiddo was conquered many times!  There exists a place more secure than Megiddo, a refuge completely impenetrable!  Psalm 71:7 says God is our "strong refuge" and 91:2 says he is "my fortress." Psalm 94:22 tells me he is more than my refuge -- he is "the rock" of my refuge.  What do you know of such security?  The Father knows how weak we are and desperately in need of protection and security against the enemy.  A trick of Satan is to make us FEEL safe, giving us a false sense of security in temporal things such as relationships, careers, and bank accounts.  Everything here is subject to [and does] crumble much like the strong and fortified walls of Megiddo. What joy it to know The Rock, The Fortress, The Refuge and to KNOW there’s no risk of crumbling!

Stake Your Claim!

We don’t have a safety deposit box although I can think some important papers that could be kept there.  On second thought, they’re pretty safely tucked away in the house … even from me.

Charles Spurgeon refers to Christ as “our Brother in the blest tie of kindred blood.”  He writes of the relationship between Christ and the Believer.  Old Testament Law made provision for the poor man who was forced to sell part of his property or himself into slavery; his nearest kin could “buy back” what the relative was forced to sell (Leviticus 25:48). That kinsman became a redeemer, one who freed the debtor by paying the ransom price.  See the beautiful picture of our Kinsman Redeemer, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:8)  We all have kinfolk: some we love to claim and others we claim to love J.  How glorious is the kinship between Jesus Christ and His children, and we delight in declaring it!  We must not live as poverty-stricken.  No!  We are rich in God through Jesus Christ; He made every provision for us to overcome the difficulties and struggles of this life.  We suffer nothing which Jesus Christ has not already suffered and conquered. We are made more than conquerors in, by, and through Him.  We have a Goel (Hebrew), a “kinsman redeemer,” Who has redeemed us – bought us back.  We must not lock away this marvelous inheritance as we would some possession in a safety deposit box.  Spurgeon writes we wear Him “like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of thy memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King’s own seal … “  Will you claim to love Him or love to claim Him?  Stake your claim!

Pay Attention!

“Pay attention,” we hear and say.  Attentiveness is tough when we’re tired, sleepy, bored.  One of Dustin’s elementary teachers once said he stared out the window instead of listening in class.  When I repeated this to him, he said, “Mama, I like what’s going on outside better.”  J

Do you wonder what you would look like spiritually without distractions?  Interestingly, our vision of true Christianity is often shaped by what we see [do not see] in other.  When God says, “look to me, and be saved” (Isaiah 45:22), He is clearly directing us away from hindrances (distractions) to concentrating on Him. What He desires from His Own and what His Own requires is a clear focus on Jesus Christ.  He is The Only Way we find what we’re looking for, in Whom we experience genuine Christianity.  Wake up and look to Jesus Christ, the “Author and Finisher of our faith,” our One and Only Hope.  Simply put … pay attention!

Wrapped Up!

When the boys were little and I would go to their rooms in the morning to wake them, each one was buried! Buried beneath mounds of covers and wrapped up snuggly.  No wonder I couldn’t get them up!  Buried and wrapped in The Father's loving arms is exactly where God wants to keep us.  Helen Steiner Rice describes this in a beautiful poem, "What More Can You Ask."

God's love endureth forever -- what a wonderful thing to know

When the tides of life run against you, and your spirit is downcast and low ...

God's kindness is ever around you, always ready to freely impart

Strength to your faltering spirit, cheer to your lonely heart ...

God's presence is ever beside you, as near as the reach of your hand,

You have but to tell Him your troubles, there is nothing He won't understand …

And knowing God's love is unfailing, and His mercy unending and great,

You have but to trust in His promise -- "God comes not too soon or too late" ...

So wait with a heart that is patient for the goodness of God to prevail --

For never do prayers go unanswered, and His mercy and love never fail.

Journey

Easily moving from Point A to Point B shouldn’t be a problem.  After all, we have the GPS, right?  I have determined, however, our GPS has a virus which listens to Mr. Bill’s verbal navigation then cleverly and stealthily alters its maps.  Go ahead and laugh, but prove me wrong!

The Christian’s life is not about shortcuts.  It is, of course, how we prefer to travel – getting from one place to another with the least amount of time, effort, and suffering.  John 4:4 tells us Jesus “had to pass through Samaria.”  Shortcut or not, that route came with serious issues!  There was great hatred between Samaritans and Jews yet Samaria lie the most direct route from Judea to Galilee.  You recall how Jesus stopped for water and it was a Samaritan woman who served Him and found The Source of Living Water.  I find myself preferring the path more visibly pleasing and well-marked rather than the one dimly lit, less traveled, and ominous at best.  The Samaria of this life just isn’t appealing or attractive yet it’s exactly where Jesus traveled to fulfill a purpose in His life and in the life of another.  Do you find yourself in a circumstance, place, or season of life that resembles Samaria?  Make no mistake, God has led or allowed us to be where we are, and He has no intention of wasted the opportunity to grow us into something beautiful for Him.  Forget about the shortcuts – find joy in the journey and peace in the travel Partner.  We DO NOT travel alone!

I walked a mile with Pleasure; she chattered all the way

I never learned a single thing from all She had to say

I walked a mile with Trouble; never a word said She

But, oh, the many things I learned when Trouble walked with me

The Right Thing

Every parent has lived through the lying-stage with their children.  I remember being the lying child and the parent of the lying child!  My sister, Debbie, will gladly share how my lying got her two spankings in one day!

God has a lot to say about the Truth.  As Believers, we are called [commanded] to speak and live It.  Since Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, why do we have such trouble with this foundational principle of Christianity?  Our obedience to living according to God’s Truth reveals how authentic our faith is. When we’re willing to stand with God’s Word, it shows.  Isaiah warns us what happens when God’s People reject and neglect His Truth: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.” (59:14)  When we wink, turn our heads away, and shut our eyes to the Light of Scripture, God doesn’t allow us to see that which delivers us FROM calamity and UNTO blessed peace.  There is never any profit [at all] in rejecting Christ and the Gospel.  Living according to Truth isn’t easy -- actually, it’s tough and [at times]  lonely and [often] misunderstood. We aren’t usually presented with easy situations or circumstances, but speaking and living obediently to Truth is holy and righteous.  So, what’s the problem?  That’s what Deb’s been wondering all these years – why wouldn’t I just speak the truth!  (Sorry, Deb)  This is a question every Believer must faces today and will one day answer before Almighty God.  Know the Truth. Speak the Truth. Live the Truth. Obey the Truth.  It’s just the right thing to do!

His Image

I am not photogenic, and quite frankly, do not care to be photographed.  There are, however, a few [literally few] pictures I actually like.  Consequently, there are a large number which have been quickly and discreetly discarded!

Do you know just how much God loves you?  More than all creation!  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them … And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1: 27 & 31)  I fear we do not understand the priceless value of our souls to The Father.  Consider it: we were fashioned after The Creator!  There’s a problem with that handful of pictures - they no longer look like me!  Over time, the image changed much like the heart of man, once fashioned in the perfect likeness of God.  Sin changed us but God bought us back at great price. That price was in-through-by Jesus Christ.  His Son is the proof how much He loves us: no trouble too great, no humiliation too deep, no suffering too severe, no love too strong, no labor too hard, no expense too large, no price too great to redeem us.  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  His purchase complete, The Creator looks upon His children through the shed blood of Christ, seeing redeemed souls restored to His Image.   What a visual, a splendid picture of compassion and unmerited grace … one certainly worth keeping!

Refreshments

What would life be without refreshments?  Why, it’s the most popular thing at Vacation Bible School.  And, ballgames wouldn’t be ballgames without refreshment stands! 

Know anyone named Stephanas, Fortunatus, or Achaicus?  Me neither.  Well, they are specifically named with deep appreciation by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 16: 18, “For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.”   Oh, the beauty of these biblical refreshments!  When God’s children love one another in the boundless grace and beautiful Spirit of Jesus Christ, it is balm (salve, ointment, comfort, solace) to the soul.  What would we do without spiritual refreshments!  Have you EXPERIENCED such refreshment FROM another?  Have you BEEN such refreshment TO another? Be a refreshment today.  You’ll find it delightfully refreshing!

Wise Hearts

What do you do when you get anxious?  Bite your nails? Pace? Eat? Mow the lawn?  Anxiety displays itself in many strange and unusual ways.  When I am anxious, I gotta get busy -- vacuum, clean closets, sweep, do laundry. Thankfully, I don't get that anxious too often!

God gives us the antidote for anxiety.  Proverbs 2:10-11 says this, "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee."  Anxiety is a major thief of prudence and good sense -- it makes us lose all reason. In short, it usually leaves  us witless!  My pastor once said knowledge is knowing what to do and wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge.  The use of good sense serves us well, however, many situations in life call for more than just using good sense.  Paul wrote "know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." (Ephesians 3:19)  We need not only think with our heads, but also learn to think with our hearts.  This is the "understanding" God promises will preserve us and keep us -- and settle anxious spirits.  Learn to listen, understand, and reason with a wise and Christ-centered heart.

I Am His

Do you remember the days when a girl wore her boyfriend’s class ring?  Well, I do!  I could barely wait for Bill to get his so I could wear it!  As was custom, I melted enough wax to make it fit my finger, then sport it I did!

It’s important we consider just how well we are identified as belonging to Christ.  Think about it – we put decals on our windows and embroider logos on our clothing to call attention to our favorite teams, entertainers, etc.   How do we reveal Christ’s claim on our lives?  Paul made it clear God’s chosen belong to Him: “You belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:23)  Because we ARE His, we bear a mark, evidence of His righteousness.  Spurgeon wrote it eloquently, “When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply ‘Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ’s.’” This is how the world knows we belong to Christ, to God.  His mark upon us shows!  I really wanted to wear Bill’s ring because I loved him and wanted everyone to know it.  The world must know to Whom we belong.  Just like the song says, “let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Dear Lord,

Make Your Light within me so great it cannot help but shine before men so they will see The Savior.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I Am His

Do you remember the days when a girl wore her boyfriend’s class ring?  Well, I do!  I could barely wait for Bill to get his so I could wear it!  As was custom, I melted enough wax to make it fit my finger, then sport it I did!

 

It’s important we consider just how well we are identified as belonging to Christ.  Think about it – we put decals on our windows and embroider logos on our clothing to call attention to our favorite teams, entertainers, etc.   How do we reveal Christ’s claim on our lives?  Paul made it clear God’s chosen belong to Him: “You belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:23)  Because we ARE His, we bear a mark, evidence of His righteousness.  Spurgeon wrote it eloquently, “When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply ‘Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ’s.’” This is how the world knows we belong to Christ, to God.  His mark upon us shows!  I really wanted to wear Bill’s ring because I loved him and wanted everyone to know it.  The world must know to Whom we belong.  Just like the song says, “let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

 

Dear Lord,

Make Your Light within me so great it cannot help but shine before men so they will see The Savior.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Just Right Behavior

Of course, no one likes to be called "strange."  Since words like bizarre, eccentric, peculiar, weird, alien, curious, and odd can be used instead, "strange" doesn't sound so bad!

Christians should be good stewards of God's grace, which calls for "strange" behavior.  First Peter 4:4 says the world will think it "strange that ye run not with them," which the Greek interprets as “to assemble or be in union with.”  If we are obedient and have the "same mind" as Christ (1:1), such strange behavior [as defined by the world] is JUST RIGHT for Believers.  Strange is actually in the "eye of the beholder," and when The Beholder is God Himself, it’s okay – no, GREAT – to be strange!

Dear Lord,

May my life be an offering of obedience.  Give me courage to stand strong in the face of adverse reactions to doing what is honorable and holy in Your sight.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Divine Cloud

Cloudy day?  How about a good book, a toasty fire, and a good cup of Java?  Honestly, the first thing I need on a cloudy day is a trusty alarm clock!  Several years ago I replaced the blinds in our bedroom with light-filtering shades so between those shades & a cloudy day, morning sunshine has trouble getting through.  If the alarm clock fails, I'm in big trouble!

How easily we can forget God's Promise to be with us always.  The gloominess of cloudy days threaten the sunshine in our days.  The world hammers us on every side with negative news which can easily mar our thinking and cause a real Light deficit.  And, then consider the pounding our spirits take when the alarm clock fails to go off, there's no hot water, the car won't crank, and the boss is in a foul mood.  God used a cloud to remind the Israelites of His Presence along their long journey from Egypt to The Promised Land: "For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys." (Exodus 40:38)  It's amazing how reassuring the sight of something is: a policeman in a dark parking lot, unexpected money to pay a bill, our children's vehicles parked in the driveway.  God knows our struggles with forgetfulness and what joy it must have been to see that cloud -- a symbol of God's Presence.  God's promise of faithfulness is no different today than it was thousands of years ago, and His Presence is visible when we choose to see His Goodness.  Why not look again, there just might be a Divine Cloud in your day!

God's Handwriting

Penmanship is an art, which has almost become lost with technology.  As a young girl, I learned from Mom how to handwrite notes of gratitude and encouragement.  Emails and Ecards have replaced the time devoted to scripted notes and handwriting practice!

Jeremiah the Prophet writes not of style nor beauty of God’s handwriting, but of His topic.  “’But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’” (31:33)  With absolute confidence we know what God handwrites is of glorious and eternal significance.  Furthermore, He does not write with anything temporal but only with permanence.  God’s covenant with His People, that about which He wrote, is fully satisfying – enough to fill the cup of thirsty man.  Will we not say with David the psalmist, “my cup runneth over!” (23:5)!  Indeed, God’s words are sufficient and simply that He is our God and we are His people fulfills every need, all the portion we require.  Spurgeon wrote, “Desire is insatiable as death, but He who filleth all in all can fill it.” Herein is genuine fulfillment of The Gospel of Christ – He’s all we need for redemption and forgiveness of sin, all we need for victorious living, all we need for life eternal.  A friend commented kindly on my penmanship recently, but truly nothing compares to the Penmanship of Almighty God Who continues to impress His precepts upon hearts today!  Let us read and obey The Writing!

The Secret

As much as I don’t like rising early, there really is no better time to meet The Father than when the world is still sleeping ... only the intermittent sound of central heat, the hum of the refrigerator, and the ticking of an alarm clock.  At that time I imagine how He's been looking down upon me while I slept, and lovingly waits for those quiet moments with me.  Bishop Ralph S. Cushman wrote it beautifully:

"The Secret"

I met God in the morning when my day was at its best,

And his presence came like sunrise, like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered, all day long he stayed with me,

And we sailed in perfect calmness o'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered, other ships were sore distressed,

But the winds that seemed to drive them brought us to a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings with a keen remorse of mind,

When I too had loosed the moorings, with the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret, learned from many a troubled way:

You must seek him in the morning if you want him through the day.

Looking Ahead

The day after a big basketball loss was terrible!  Coach would always pull out those tell-tale charts to remind us of fouls made, shots missed, and careless turnovers.  There was no denying or trying to excuse any of it -- it was there in black and white.  Singularly and meticulously he would point out what we did wrong, and we would consider how the game could have been played differently ... and perhaps won.

 

Looking back at past blunders is rarely fun.  The beginning of a new calendar year generally brings a new "frame of mind."  We may shrug off New Year's resolutions or goal setting, but somehow we can't shake the New Year mindset.  The clean slate, fresh piece of paper mentality is challenging and unconsciously we gear up to "turn over that new leaf."  No surprise, that’s Satan's cue to turn our minds backwards, ruining our new thinking patterns. Well, shot charts certainly are discouraging, even depressing, but the surety of God's grace and mercy is most likely kept in check by the memory of yesterday's blunders and bloopers.  Oswald Chambers puts it like this: "But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of the past lest we get into a shallow security in the present."  The gracious Truth is God is our Security for today and for tomorrow, as well as from the gripping past.  Psalm 25:4-5 remind us the key is to keep our eyes fixed, focused on Christ, looking neither right nor left nor behind lest we  stumble and fall.  He is faithful to show us His ways, teach us His  paths, guide us in His truth ... for He is our God and Savior, and our hope is in Him always.

Root-Out

Wild hogs have become populous in our state.  For years now, Mr. Bill has complained about stumbling in morning darkness over ground disturbed by the hogs.  Of course, the woes of his stumbling has not deterred his walks in the dark!

Can you point to something particular in your life that hinders an effective walk with Christ?  Perhaps, like me, you can point to several! In Christ by grace, we are no longer bound to sin, rather we are free to walk closely with Him in obedience to the Gospel. In other words, those things don’t have to have hold of us! The trouble lies in our affections!  We choose evil over good – we love our sin! We make excuses for such things: but it’s so entertaining, but it’s on the best-seller list, but it’s how I unwind, etc.  Paul gets to the point, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)  Heaven and earth are contrary one to the other – we cannot be devoted to both; affection to one will inevitably weaken the other.  Wild hogs are known for “rooting” up vegetation causing uneven ground and Mr. Bill’s stumbles.  A new year is here – a fitting time to move towards spiritual maturity, to “root-out” those trouble spots that get in the way of growing closer to and more like Christ!

His Process

Meat processing – we don’t care to think about the process through which our barbequed pork, charbroiled hamburgers, smoked turkey breast, and grilled chicken go to make it to our dinner tables, but nonetheless, there is a process.   I developed a deep appreciation for meat processor years ago when Mr. Bill decided to process his deer meat.  Henceforth and forever more, meat comes to MY freezer in neat tidy packages!

Growing in Christ is a process, and that process has a name – sanctification.  It’s not such a common word, but it’s good Bible that describes a Christian’s pursuit to be holy from the moment of salvation to the grave.  Sadly, some Believers live as if salvation is an end instead of a beginning.  We’re made new and righteous, of course, by God’s Redemption, then begins the life-long journey of becoming like Christ.  This process of becoming holy (sanctified) is of divine origin and purpose, “according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ … “  (2 Peter 1:2)  Who doesn’t love a good plate of barbeque or a big juicy burger, but much has happened before that time.  God wants us to become “vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)  Interestingly, we all are in a process of becoming something (honorable or dishonorable) right now.  Consider where you are in His process today!