It's Personal

Living with persnickety eaters over the years has caused me to not introduce many new foods.  Mr. Bill never complains but you can watch him and know when "that dog won't hunt."  About foods he doesn’t like, he says, "I wouldn't eat that with your mouth."

Something else that just "won't hunt" is the foolish notion that my relationship with Christ Jesus depends on someone else.  Truth is, it’s perhaps my ONE most personal thing – altogether MY responsibility.  It can't be transferred [like a car title] or inherited [like a family heirloom].  The relationship can certainly be ignored [like mopping the kitchen floor] or believed it will automatically grow to maturity [like a potted plant without water] but when neglected, it surely becomes ANYTHING but personal.  My Heavenly Father knows me intimately but I miss knowing Him the same way when I don’t spend time with Him.  Just how personal and intimate My relationship to Christ is depends completely on how much time I spend with Him daily in prayer, study and meditation on His Word.  Like any relationship, the closeness and sweet fellowship simply doesn’t exist when we fail to grow it!  No one -- not parents, grandparents, spouse, pastor, or friend -- makes a personal relationship with Christ what it should be … only me!  You see, it really is a very personal matter.

Through and Through

Veneer makes me sad!  Foolishly, over the years, we purchased several pieces of furniture that are not solid wood.  They certainly appeared pleasant to the eye, that is, until the otherwise pretty top-coat peeled off.  That’s when times got sad!

The Creator-Designer of our lives is interested in making us holy in every part.  For the born-again Believer, this process (called sanctification) takes a lifetime.  What really slows things down is our tendency to rebel against what happens in our lives rather than responding in trust to the Holder of the happenings!  The Father is forevermore at work in the circumstances of our days, and He knows what He’s doing.  When the thin outer layer of furniture peels away, it is unsightly and a constant reminder the wood is an imitation – not the real thing.  Paul reminds us of God’s intent for His Children, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)  You see, God desires and calls us to genuine Christ-likeness, not like that veneer outer layer!  Ask The Father today to sanctify you for His glory, then trust Him fully in all circumstances to complete the process to holiness through and through!

Face the Son

Shadows are creepy, don't you think?  Nasty.  Dismal.  Cold.  Scary.  I don't get warm fuzzy feelings from thinking about shadows.  Itty biddy things can cast huge shadows, intimidating even the bravest of folks.  I wish all shadows to be banished!

What shadows overwhelm us?  Bad choices.  Disappointments.  Poor health.  Finances.  Loneliness.  Grief, sorrow, & loss.  Failures.  Fear.  Our past.  These shadows can certainly do a number even on the strongest of Believers.  Helen Keller said, "Keep your face to the sun, and you cannot see the shadows."  What a plan!  In contrast to the dismal, cold, scary shadows of life, the warmth of the sunshine is welcome to weary spirits.  The light reveals those nasty shadows to be the allusion they are.  We can hang around in the shadows and be swallowed up by them, or we can turn away -- change direction, turn our focus to The Son where Light shines eternally.  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ... think on these things." Philippians 4:8.  Ada Blenkhorn wrote the words to this tune made famous by the Carter Family, “Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side.  Keep on the sunny side of life.  It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way.  If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.”  Banish shadows – turn your face to the Son!

Feel the Peel

Onions!  I love the flavor but rarely like the crunch!  If my Dennis sees an onion in something (trust me, he’s looking), he won’t touch it.  This Mama always opts for onion powder – all the flavor with no crunch OR [painful] odor!

How does God bring holiness into our lives?  Holiness usually involves some degree of difficulty!  But who wants that!  Apparently, the psalmist understood this, “You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to Your Word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.” (119:65-67)  We’ve all peeled an onion and felt the sting of its potent aroma bringing tears!  Some of the sweetest moments have come to my life in times of tremendous sorrow.  Much like peeling an onion, God stripped away layers of dependency on temporal things that only hindered my relationship with Him.  That’s when I really understood God is much more interested in my holiness than my happiness!  An incredible [and totally unexpected] thing happened: God then began to graciously redress me with a renewed mind, deeper commitment, and greater joy in service to Him.  If you’re in a hard place right now, don’t despair.  God never wastes an opportunity – not one – to grow you in His amazing grace.  This present struggle can be a great gift.  Embrace the opportunity and feel the peel to His Perfection.

God Who?

Don’t you just love it when you see someone you know but can’t remember the person’s name!  My Dad is one of the best at carrying on a perfectly normal, even lengthy, conversation but have no idea who he’s talking to. Then there’s Mr. Bill who was on the phone one time for over an hour with someone who dialed the wrong number!!!

What does the great deceiver do – he deceives!  It’s his duty, purpose, and ultimate intent.  He’s the bane of our life here!  Satan blurs the line of truth and righteousness with what glitters and is fashionably correct. Sadly, we take the bait and swallow hook-line-sinker!  This was not so with Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego.  Even though the king cleverly created this utopia-like environment, “the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music,” they saw right through it and refused to bow to the king’s golden image. (Daniel 3:5)  Hopping mad, of course, King Nebuchadnezzar asked a question that resounds even today?  “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (V.15)  Apparently, the king didn’t know Jehovah’s many “last names” --  Creator, Sanctifier, Shepherd, Healer, Provider, Redeemer, Deliverer, Almighty, Everlasting,  Banner, Righteousness.  Those Hebrew boys knew their God as Lord of Hosts and Holy One of Israel hence their answer to the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”  These mighty men knew what the great deceiver also knows – our God is mighty to save and deliver; “even the demons believe—and shudder!”  (James 2:19)  Believer, when you’re feeling the flames of that fiery furnace, call on Jehovah and … don’t forget His many last names!

Take the Plunge!

I love being in water!  Swimming pool, ocean, lake – some of my fondest memories involve water.  One such memory is when Mr. Bill and I went to Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, and floated down a lazy intra-coastal river.  Of course, that leisure float was after I plunged backwards off the float, lost my sunglasses, and Mr. Bill dove into 15-16 feet of chilly waters to retrieve them.  Yeah, those are mostly MY good memories! (Thank you, Mr. Bill!)

Do you recall when your heart plunged into the incredible Love of God?  What amazing rebirth came about because of His Love!  His mercy and grace catapulted us into undiscovered levels of allegiance and obedience.  To worship, honor, and serve Him became an outpouring of His Spirit living in us.  We were given a new nature, one which would “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:12) Octavius Winslow writes, “The outward holy life of a believer is the result of an inward principle of love to God.”  At re-birth, Christ became our new Affection and we craved Him and His Ways.  Has the life-giving spirit-refreshing love of Christ become faint to you?  It’s always good to immerse yourself once again into the Divine Spring of His Love. Don’t ponder it, just do it: shut your eyes, draw in a deep breath, hold your nose and take the plunge!  Once again, new and fresh, know His tender mercies and let His Love flow within you!

Home Away From Home

Do you believe in aliens?  Sure, I’ve heard the strange  unexplained stories,  and frankly, don’t know what to make of them either.  The only real first-hand experience I’ve had was with alien-type behavior of little people Mr. Bill and I call our “children.”  Yeah, that was real!

If you are born-again of Christ, guess what?  You are an alien!  You should be evermore aware of this because it is abundantly clear: you have little in common with this world. The Apostle John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)  The great heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 – Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham -- knew their place out-of-this-world; they understood they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (V.11)  They knew of and desired a better country, a city prepared for them by God (V.16).  How important it is we understand we are not made for the likes of this place we presently call home.  Jesus assured His chosen He would “come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  (John 14:3)  Glorious, glorious day, when we will eternally be with the Creator, Father, Redeemer, and Lover of our eternal souls.  So what do aliens in this world do until that time?  We are salt and light to a dark and dying world, boldly and unashamedly lifting the Banner of Christ in word and deed.  We do this victoriously and with out fear, finding complete rest and full courage in our peaceful home-away-from-home: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)  Yeah, Mr. Bill’s children J acted like little aliens at times but God’s children will act as aliens -- pilgrims in this foreign land – at all times! Be strong, Believer and don’t get comfortable here – we’re just a’passin’ through!

Gateway to Cheerfulness

I don't know how to "hot-wire" a car and I guess that's good.  Anyway, I'm an old-fashioned key sort of gal myself!

Hope found in Christ Jesus isn't a "hot-wire" to cheerfulness -- it's The Gateway!  An intimate relationship with Him nullifies deceptive measures of contentedness, which fade with evening shadows.  The Israelites often found themselves in less than cheerful circumstances such as when they were captive in a foreign land.  God sent word to Israel through His prophet Isaiah, "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up -- the flames will not consume you." (43:2)  That sure makes deep waters and oppressive flames seem harmless! Unfortunately, the threats of flood and flame are real enough to chase away a cheerful heart.  God's faithfulness to  be with us -- that we will not drown, we will not be burned up or consumed -- is the foundation for authentic cheer-of-heart.  God's Words of promise are our claim to joy beyond measure, peace that surpasses understanding, yes … the Gateway to Cheerfulness!

When It Pleased God

"When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  I know you have heard this before, and ... I must say, Mr. Bill makes sure Mama stays happy in this castle.  I admit I’m spoiled and Mr. Bill seems to be pretty proud of “his work.”

God pleases only Himself ... for He is God.  Galatians 1:15 says, "But when it pleased God ... " and that is sometimes a forgotten concept to us.  We enter His Presence often with things already figured out how God should bless us and meet our needs.  Often it's in the midst of circumstances we have created that we share our “wisdom” with God and tell Him how “best” He can fix them.  Where was our wisdom before we landed ourselves in such a mess to begin with?  God pleases Himself " ... to reveal His Son in me." (v.16)  By God pleasing only Himself, there is a pivotal moment when we acknowledge Who God really is and who we are.  This is tough, but it is what it is and how it must be.  As God pleases Himself, be assured what is best for us comes to pass.  In the end, that is pleasing to all!

Strained

There are three strainers in my kitchen.  Now, I really don’t recall thinking “I need three strainers,” but the resulting benefit is they strain differently.  Each one is different in the size of the food item it strains! 

An awesome attribute of Almighty God is He makes no mistakes!  The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand.” (14:24)  This is an amazingly wonderful truth that we find difficult to grasp but it’s true -- God never messes up!  We live in the reality that everyone makes mistakes, and at times the results have serious and long-term consequences.  God, however, is always accomplishing His purposes and human failure doesn’t stop Him.  Believers (those in Christ) must remember thus live in this truth – our lives are completely in His Hands and everything we experience is filtered (aka strained) through His love and devotion to His own.  It’s hard to see and acknowledge this, I know, when we’re in the middle of some life-storm but when we can look back, it becomes so clear God was at work all the time.  We can live confidently in “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)  Now, Mr. Bill will suggest I don’t cook enough [any more] to need three strainers, but nonetheless I have the perfect strainer for every kitchen-occasion.  Child of God, rest in peaceful assurance God is in your circumstances, filtering you through His love to blessed uncommon perfection!  

Melted & Made New

Hats off to those chocolate-makers!  Melting the chocolate, pouring it into the mold, waiting for it to harden – such a tedious and time-consuming process which usually yields very few [especially after you sample a few].  I’m so glad there are those who enjoy making chocolates otherwise those-of-us [who don’t] would be sad!

Do you feel sometimes God smiles and other times frowns on you?  Regardless of how it seems, He’s the God of love and there’s no changing that!  Truth is, everything God allows into our lives is meant to “direct your hearts into the love of God.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)  In other words, the God of Love wants to lead us more and more into His loving ways – refine us.  It is often His love that plants the thorns, crushes hopes, allows sorrow yet we emerge from the difficulties as pure silver and refined gold. 

My soul, your gold is true, but full of dross

Your Savior’s breath refines you with some loss

His gentle furnace makes you pure as true

You must be melted before you are cast anew –Octavius Winslow

Those pretty chocolates in their dainty attractive shape are the result of a tedious process.  The chocolate must be melted to just the right temperature, poured into the mold to take shape, then given time to cool and harden.  It’s their delicate beauty and flavor that makes them appealing to the eye and taste.  Such is the Believer who trusts The Master, confident the process remakes the heart and spirit into His Love (the manifestation of Perfect Love – Jesus Christ).  Yes, it’s true -- what the world needs now is love -- God’s Love made pure and perfect in the hearts of His own … hearts melted and made new!

Turn In Your Troubles

Do you remember staying up late writing that term paper that was due the next day?  Perhaps you worked on it for weeks, but that last night was spent editing and proof-reading, editing and proof-reading, editing and proof-reading.  There was such relief, however, finally turning in that paper. Pizza time!

Oh my, how troubles get to us.  They easily take over command-central and paralyze us even to the point we can barely function.  The Hebrew word "trouble" refers to being in a tight place, being restricted, or being hung up.  That's how it feels sometimes when troubles overtake us; we lose focus and hope, then despair sets in.  David wrote, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."  (Psalm 34:17) This verse assures us when we cry for help the Lord hears and delivers. And, I like that word "all."  God doesn't deliver me from a select few of my troubles, but ALL of them!  This promise gives me hope that what troubles me doesn't have to consume me and wrap me up.  Haven't you heard: "troubles come to pass, they do not come to stay."  Because God is always listening and ready to deliver, there's freedom from troubling troubles.  Want to be trouble-free?  Turn in your troubles to One Who delivers!

Bad Business

Oh, how the younger-me loved the arcade game, skee-ball.  Give me a handful of quarters and Id sling those wooden balls all night -- 10, 20, 30, 40, 50!  What a thrilling game!  The first time I played skee-ball was at a beach-side arcade with a group from my church, and I begged every quarter I could from my boyfriend (Bill).  Still today, Mr. Bill steers me away from all arcades and rarely carries quarters!

Sin is a thrilling game or so Satan presents it!  His move is rarely sudden nor quick, but rather gradual and deliberate.  It's very similar to easing into a swimming pool: one careful step after another, we allow just a little bit of the cold water to touch us until we have grown accustomed to its temperature.  Eventually, we're completely in and guess what?  It feels quite nice and comfortable!  Can a genuine follower of Christ practice sin and be at peace, comfortable?  Absolute not!  I love how Isaiah described what we forfeit when we live contrary to God’s commands: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” (Isaiah 48:18)  Truth is, sin thrills then kills; it costs you more than you ever wanted to pay, takes you further than you ever wanted to go, keeps you longer than you ever wanted to stay. In a nutshell ... sin ain't so thrillin' -- it's bad business!

Reservation Secure

We’ve all made dining, lodging, or travel reservations and felt confident all was “in order” for the event or trip.  That is, until you find out the company overbooked and your confirmed reservation won’t be honored.  I’ve spent some seriously grueling moments negotiating otherwise “confirmed” accommodations. Deep breathing helps!

Eternal reservations for the Believer share no such comparison, only contrast!  For the redeemed, death brings release from present restraints and users us into delights such as we have yet to know.  How can we know this?  Paul writes, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)  There’s no overbooking in heaven; reservations are secured for all the blood-bought and their Secure Deposit rests completely and confidently in Christ Jesus Who seated at the right-hand of The Father.  His Righteousness [in us] gives hope, peace, and evidence of joy not only in the life-to-come but here and now.  We have no need to negotiate and wrangle with Satan to know Fruits of God’s Spirit; we can live yet even rejoice victoriously over sin, tasting the sweetness of righteous living.  So, the question -- is all “in order” for your eternal plans?  If not, seek Him while He may be found and make that reservation secure!

Misplaced Things

Misplacing things is one of my past times!  Socks, receipts, paperwork ... the list grows endless.  Like many folks, however, of all the things I've lost - it's my mind I miss the most!

 

For the Believer, perhaps the easiest and most frequent thing lost, is the Joy of Christ. You do know, of course, it’s not really lost ... just misplaced.  The following "borrowed blessing" written by blind eight-year old Fanny Crosby, reminds me in Whom (the Person of Jesus Christ) real joy is found!  May His Joy be renewed within!

 

O what a happy soul am I!  Although I cannot see,

I am resolved that in this world contented I will be;

How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't!

To weep and sigh because I'm blind, I cannot, and I won't. – Fanny Crosby

Loaded

Hunters are an interesting breed; can never quite figure them.  Seriously, what pushes them to get out of bed before daybreak, brave frigid temperatures, shimmy up trees [sometimes skinnier than they are] or trudge through swamp sludge, shoot at wildlife, then come home and boast about the good time?  Fuzzy math to me!

 

Mr. Bill tells of one of his most famous duck hunts.  He and a buddy did the crawl-outta-bed-frigid-weather-swamp-sludge-trudge-thing.  They were on different sides of the swamp but within sight of one another; the ducks came, Bill “dropped” two, his buddy took aim but never fired.  Mr. Bill described it as what duck hunters dream about and drool over!  Seems there was a good reason his buddy never shot -- he forgot to load his gun!  As ill-equipped and unprepared as this hunter was, so are Believers when we foolishly think we can live victoriously apart from Christ!  Oh, my!  Don’t we know how much He longs for time with us so He can impart His wisdom and understanding!  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Truth is, we’re no match for Satan when we advance unequipped into battle!  Just like hunting with an unloaded gun proved ineffective, so is facing the enemy with spiritually empty tanks.  Don’t try it!  Get alone today (ever day) with The Father, anticipate the wonderful things He shows us then … live life loaded!

Thumped!

Mr. Bill was a thumper.  Whenever the boys misbehaved, he would use the thumb-forefinger combination as a weapon.  Thankfully, it only took a few thumps to establish the weapon as viable and effective.  In a few rare moments of insanity, Mr. Bill thumped me – that was a mistake!

It’s always amazes me how little some Christians read God’s Word then it occurred me one day:  aha, they don’t like getting thumped!  Now, I don’t really think “thumped” is a Bible word, but the results are the same.  Without a doubt, Mr. Bill’s “thump” was an attention-getter, caused those boys to stop and listen.  God indeed gave and preserved His Word to comfort, encourage, and inspire BUT also to make us sit up and take notice of our sin: “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)  Matthew Henry writes, “It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient.”  This living and active Word of God drags us [often] kicking and screaming to the seat of justice where, rather than justice, God’s mercy and grace reign.  Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace.” (Hebrews 4:16)  Amen and amen and amen!!!  Spiritual thumpin’ is rarely pleasant but without it the Believer never grows, and will surely miss the real prosperity of God’s Kingdom here.  Take note, Believer – open His Word faithfully.  Don’t mind the thumpin’ – welcome it and relish the sweetness of His Grace!