Grandest Love

Aren’t copiers grand!  Just the idea that one can lay a piece of paper on the glass and have it duplicated.  I’m sure today’s “photo copier” [copier, for short] looks very different than the first one introduced by James Watt in 1799. It’s really quite a concept.  Thanks, James!

There’s no potential for improvement to the Love of Christ!  Spurgeon wrote, “The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fullness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension.”  When I ponder the love I hold and practice toward others, words like sweetness, greatness, and faithfulness seem quite a stretch!  How is it humanly possible to love the unlovable, like the unlikable, and tolerate the intolerable – impossible! It really isn’t “humanly” possible, but “I can do all things through Christ” Who gives me the strength (Philippians 4:13).  Oh, how we have forgotten it is we (you and me) who were unlovable, unlikable, and intolerable in our destitute state of sinfulness yet Christ loved and rescued us (Romans 5:8).  “To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more,” Spurgeon adds.   It’s so easy to give up on people, quit trying, and walk away when Master Love calls us to love – to stay – to persevere.  Oh that we “may be able to comprehend … what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:18-19).  James Watt would be proud of how advanced his invention has become; there lies no improvement, however, on the Love of Christ only the advancement of Its sweet and bountiful application in the lives of those who love Him and claim His Name.  It is the Grandest Love!

Missing Part

One time my grandparents gave me a twenty-five pound bag of flour -- I was so excited!  Soon, however, I was dis-kabobbled about how to make it work in my favorite recipes.  You see, I've always used self-rising flour and I found myself confused about just how much salt & baking power to add. You could say, the missing ingredients put me in quite a stew!

The Creator made man perfect in every way.  Sin, on the flip side, robbed man's heart of what was required to know The Creator completely – that is, righteousness.  Since the Garden, [you could say] we've been behind the eight ball [of sin] always missing the mark of holiness.  Why is this so important?  “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." (Psalm 119:1)  When sin reigns our hearts, we are not "blessed" or "happy."  True happiness cannot exist outside the precepts of Holy God.  Of course, we can smile and chatter, grin and sing, laugh and  bounce all we want but it’s always short-lived and our supply of "happy" eventually plays out.  When day is done and quiet, we feel the heaviness of sin and understand discontent.  The tugging within cries out for the missing part ... His righteousness.  "Blessed  are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!" (v.2)   The part is not really missing -- it's within our grasp. Seek Him and find it!

Spirit-Living

My Dustin (Twin B) had an unusually large number of opportunities to learn Scripture when he was little.  He sat at the kitchen table and wrote Ephesians 6:1 many many many times – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”  And, for the record, the older Dustin remembers the verse very well!

Christianity isn’t about what followers of Christ do or don’t do.  Paul knew this because as a proclaimed “servant of Jesus Christ,” he wrote things such as “spirit of holiness” and “serve with my spirit.”  (Romans 1:1, 4, 9)  You see, Dustin eventually associated bad behavior with having to sit and write – tough for a little fella.  His behavior improved but it wasn’t necessarily from a changed “spirit.”  We all can exhibit “learned” behavior and impress lots of folks, but God is not fooled!  It’s the spirit of man Paul later writes about in Galatians 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: against such there is no law.” (V.22-23)  Quite simply, these Spirit characteristics originate in a heart filled with The Spirit of Christ hence amazingly delightful behaviors!  No wonder Paul wrote about the “spirit of holiness” and “serve with my spirit.”  Christianity isn’t a sporting-event with the prize going to the best-behaved.  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (V.25)  Spirit-walking is always a result of real Spirit-Living!

The Me I See

Have you ever been accused of not being able to see the forest for the trees?  If you haven't, you have a keener eye than most!

God probably would like to take a chainsaw to our spiritual vision at times! How is it we behave as if He sent us into life so ill-equipped?  His Word tells us according to His divine power He has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world ..." (2 Peter 1:3-4) Now, that certainly doesn't sound like He's thrown us to the wolves.  I suppose it brings into grave question the "me I see" for each of us.  " 'Twixt optimist and pessimist, the difference is droll: The optimist sees the doughnut, while the pessimist sees the hole." What "me" do we see?  Do you see the "me" full of the same powerful faith Peter talks about later in Chapter 1: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, fruitfulness?  God know our potential, because He knows His power.  It’s true, "The me I see is the me I'll be."  Consider today: what do you see and what will you be?

Time to Dance

I love to dance! Dad didn't approve of my dancing as a teenager, but he warmed to the idea over the years.  I was never a good slow dancer; I always stepped on Mr. Bill's feet!  Of course, I do very little dancing now because "things" seem to keep moving after the music has stopped!

God loves to see us dance!  Oh, I don't mean the boot-scoot-boogey, but soul-dancing when we allow Him to satisfy our deepest and most authentic longings.  Consider things we think bring us lasting joy -- family, homes, jobs, wealth, health; the list is endless.  Which of these aren’t temporal, subject to going "poof" at a moment's notice? And, what about the if-only’s -- if only I had this or that, if only I had been given this opportunity or been treated differently, if I were taller & thinner.  Seriously, who wouldn’t change something about their present circumstances!  What stops you from dancing?  There is only one thing [Person] that turns our "mourning into dancing" --  Jesus Christ and an intimate daily walk with Him.  This walk isn't scheduled just for Sundays; it is an inseparable pilgrimage each day of the week.  Such a relationship turns disappointments, hurts, and sorrows into joy.  Psalm 30:11 says He gives us festive garments in which to rejoice, and we cannot help but sing of the gladness that is ours in Christ.  Have you danced today?  Well, it’s time to dance!

Quiet and Holy

If I close my eyes real tight and cover my ears, I can imagine myself in a favorite spot: sitting underneath my umbrella on the beach with only the sounds of waves and shore birds.  Oh, yes, I can!

You know, there’s something that must not go unnoticed to those who venture into those otherwise peaceful waves.  The undercurrent of the ocean is a force to reckoned with.  As long as you're aware of its presence and its strength, you're okay.  Should you dare to ignore its pull, however, you're in trouble.  Such is the Christian walk.  Evil's pull on our life is continual ... bad versus good.  It’s because of our sinful nature that evil thrives.  Good must be pursued. Our struggle is sometimes tumultuous; other times a quiet battle.  Either way, however, the stress of it can leave us discouraged.  In his book, Forging a Realworld Faith, Gordon MacDonald writes: "In the third century, St. Cyrpian wrote to a friend named Donatus: 'This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wide lands, you know very well what I would see; brigands on the high road, pirates on the seas, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please the applauding crowds, under all roofs misery and selfishness. It really is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. Yet in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians ... and I am one of them.'"  People of a joy a thousand times better: those who, in the midst of restless – sinful – disobedient undercurrents of today, -- can be of a quiet and holy spirit.  I do not live at the beach; why, I don’t even get there but perhaps once a year but I can live in the Spirit of the Risen Lord Who soothes my soul and quiets my spirit.  "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 5:23).  Oh, yes, I can!

Beloved

Like many couples, Mr. Bill and I have some endearing names for one another.  I must confess, however, his names for me are [shall we say] more complimentary than my names for him.  And, yes, there’s usually good reason.

The writer of Song of Solomon uses perhaps the most charming of names for Christ, “My Beloved.” (2:8)   Consider some of the sweetest sounds we know – a baby’s chatter, song birds, rain on a tin roof, silence.  Because life is filled with hard winters and dry seasons, we need to experience the Savior as He is -- “chiefest among ten thousands” (5:10) and “altogether lovely” (5:16).  Ever my heart needs to echo, “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.” (5:16)

I've a friend who's always near me. I've a friend who always cheers me.
I've a friend who is so dear to me. What a precious Friend is He.
On His promise I’m relying. All my needs He is supplying.

He’ll be there when I’m dying. What a precious Friend is He.

He'll go with me through the valley.  He'll go with me all the way, everyday.
Savior, help me to have faith in Thee. What a precious Friend is He.
(Written by Henry Slaughter)

Empty Pockets

It was Mr. Bill’s idea to put the washer and dryer in the basement – yes, Mr. Bill’s idea.  Hence, Mr. Bill does the laundry.  On occasion, however, I make the dreaded journey to casa’s depths.  Since washers and dryers prefer empty pockets, I usually discover an interesting collection of items on the dryer: coins, nails, ink pens, gem clips, receipts. Hey, sometimes the collection is actually worth the trip south!

Like loads of laundry, the loads of life are often heavy. At times I find myself gasping for breath, anxious for a fresher source of air. Hauling one day's burdens into the next is a terrible day-starter, too.  The new day should not be welcomed with dread nor begun in despair.  Not sure what Alma Barkman’s burden was but she wrote these thoughts as she patched pockets, "As I mend the holes and reinforce the seams, I am reminded of all the worries, fears, anxieties and doubts we carry around from week to week without really noticing them.  Suddenly the accumulated weight becomes too much, and we break under the strain.  We need to develop the habit of emptying our pockets, so to speak.  We must spread out our feelings before the Lord, prayerfully sort things through, and ask him to dispose of the trash. In so doing we will discover that we have exchanged our 'spirit of despair' for a 'garment of praise'."  I love how Solomon offers this recipe for the new day, "So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body."  (Ecclesiastes 11:10)  My, how I need empty pockets, giving their troublesome contents to Christ rather than tossing-turning, worrying-fretting.  Do you want to be effective for Christ today?  Well, now … let’s empty our pockets!

Inhale!

There’s just something invigorating about living in the country: wide open spaces, slower and less traffic, wildflowers and honeysuckle, wildlife, fresh air, and [don’t forget] those delightful natural fragrances.  Tell me where else can you inhale such distinctive aromas unique to country-living -- chicken litter, skunks, pigs, cows!

Life is not always the fragrance of a rose.  No, sometimes life just stinks -- housework, bills, inoperable vehicles, disobedient children, disappointment, rejection, sorrow, etc.  Joni Eareckson Tada writes, "To think about heaven is to think about Jesus. To pursue heaven with your heart is to pursue Him.  The King of heaven wants us to see this tight connection between the Place and the Person. When our heart melts into God's and when our mind is thinking on Him, Place and Person no longer seem separated."  The fragrance of Heaven exists right here where we are -- doing the housework, paying the bills, waiting for the tow truck, disciplining our children, dealing with disappointment and rejection, overcoming sorrow, etc.  Getting a strong and intense whiff of Heaven clears the mind, renews the heart, and overcomes life's stench with Christ’s Peace and Joy.  I know, of course, country-living isn’t for everyone but kingdom-living is for all Believers.  Seek Christ and His Mind as you do life today then go ahead and ... inhale!

Bear On!

There’s a baseball phrase used to describe a baseball pitcher who [seemingly] needs to be replaced in a game: “Stick a fork in him, he’s done!”  A former pitcher’s mother, I assure you it is not a good thing to say when his mother is nearby.

Spiritual meekness is hard work!  It’s tough because of the pridefulness of sin within us.  It almost “feels” good to say, “I quit” or “I’m finished” or “I wash my hands of this.”   Yes, that seed of sinful pride deep within the soul swells of contentment having accomplished such a mark.  Paul writes, however, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6:2-4)  “Oh, stop it” our pride yells!  Truth is, we share the same weakness and foolishness of others.  We ultimately fulfill the “law of Christ” when we bear with others in love and compassion, which brings genuine joy and testimony of conscience unto God.  I’ve never been a baseball pitcher but I’ve known the stress of a pitcher’s mom so I sympathize with other pitcher-moms.  There’s really only one measure of how deeply we are commanded to bear another’s burden, and quite simply it’s to the depth Christ bore every debt of our own – even death on the cross. Weary not, my friend.  Bear on!

Let It Loose!

The younger me loved roller coasters!  Yes, I loved to ride them but I made sure to hold on really tight.  Sometimes I even shut my eyes, but for sure I’d get a good grip before take-off and hang-on until the end.

God wants us to let go of life’s stuff: jobs, clothes, money, children, relationships. Our use to Him is very limited when we grasp other things so tightly.  We also tend to hold on to attitudes of pride and unforgiveness, which hinder His fellowship with us and His work in our hearts.  In his book, "The Final Week of Jesus," Max Lucado draws attention to the "guy with the donkey" in Matthew 21: "Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." (V.1-3)  Christ had need of that donkey, which makes me wonder what He needs in my life.  Lucado writes, "All of us have a donkey. You and I each have something in our lives, which, if given back to God, could, like the donkey, move Jesus and his story further down the road."  Yes, letting of what we hold so tightly is the first step in being free to God's use.  What is your donkey, my donkey? Whatever it is, it doesn’t belong to us -- God wants it.  Let it loose!

No Shame

Shameful moments – oh, how we’d love to erase those from our history.  Times when we’ve acted completely irrationally, causing a scene!  Mr. Bill paid quite a price for one of my most shameful moments.  Many years ago I yelled something [benign], although loud, at the umpire then I calmly sat down.  When the umpire turned around, there stood Mr. Bill [all alone] so the umpire threw him out of the ballpark.  Good trick, huh?

The Psalmist must have known something of shame, and he knew one action that would never bring him shame.  “In You, O LORD, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me never be put to shame or [have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver me in Your righteousness!” (31:1, Amplified)  It’s believed David wrote this psalm when he was on-the-run from Saul, perhaps even after some narrow escapes.  As you read the chapter, David doesn’t fail to make the case for his miserable situation but he never strays far from his trust in God.  In the LORD, we’re never disappointed nor do we risk a shameful moment.  How many times have we found ourselves pacing-sweating-anxious when just in [God’s] time, our spirits feel the tender rescue of His Presence.  Those are the times I’m certain I hear Gomer Pyle say, “Shame! Shame! Shame!” And, honestly, shame is exactly what I feel – shame I didn’t trust the LORD!  Let us avoid shameful disappointment – trust the LORD, and know no shame!

Nanny's Hope

As recent storms spawned tornadoes, the death of my grandmother also sent emotions racing through me; some devastating and others gilded in humility for the gift of knowing her. One email of condolence said how blessed I was to have had such a wonderful "tutor." I certainly don't want to over-spend time on the subject, but I've had quite a bit of [unanticipated] time this weekend to ponder the events of the last few days and hope you’ll kindly hear my heart.

What does it mean to live life in hope?  My first thought is often the Sears Wish Book, but nothing could be further from the Truth. Octavius Winslow, 18th Century pastor and writer, wrote: "Where there is divine love to man, there is a divine hope for man." We know Divine Love exists hence Divine Hope. That Hope is a confident expectation wrapped up in Christ bonded by The Father’s eternal love. My grandmother was one of the most contented people I’ve known; she didn't waste time or energy wishing for a brighter future.  As best I knew, she accepted God as her full Portion in each season of her life, knowing whatever it held was held securely by her Great God. One of my last real conversations with Nanny, she paraphrased Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Nanny lived each day trusting the promise of Psalm 34:15, "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry."  She understood nothing mattered more than being righteous and holy in all her ways as “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” (Psalm 145:17). I can’t count the number of times she said to me, “Bev, the Lord’s been good.”  You see, my grandmother didn't live some foolish Wish Book faith – no, hers was genuine.  Watching her live taught me what real Hope is and how to live in; it’s one of her greatest legacies. My prayer is Nanny’s Hope long outlives her through me and my own children!  Thanks, Nanny!

Pausing a Few Days to Celebrate and Honor Nanny

Mrs. Reba Lillian Fuller

October 1, 1914 – March 6, 2012

Stay Awake!

We understand wakefulness at our house, and an infant isn’t part of the equation.  Mr. Bill isn’t a sound sleeper so pretty much anything wakes him, and his wife doesn’t rest very soundly, largely a result of windy nights and full moon phases.  Quite a pair we are!

Believers are commanded to keep one another awake!  There is no Scriptural basis for Mr. Bill and I disturbing one another’s sleep, but Paul admonished Christians at Thessalonica , “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober …  since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation … therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6,8,11)  God never intended Christians to isolate themselves or walk alone.  Rather, one way we remain alert and stay spiritually awake is by encouraging and refreshing one another in Christ.  It’s true, the Church today is weakened and troubled in many ways, thus some choose to live apart from the Body but Scripture just doesn’t support this.  Truth is, as God tells us, we need one another!   There’s sweet counsel in worship, study, and fellowship with others who seek to improve one another in the Grace of Christ Jesus. Christian, are you on the teetering on the brink of spiritual slumber?  Fight the drowsiness side-by-side with other Believers.  It’s really great way to stay awake!

One Way

Some people like making a grand entrance.  I've heard its okay to be "fashionably late,"  such an entrance does not excite me!  Slipping in unnoticed works just fine for me!

The city of Jerusalem boasts seven gates: the Lion's Gate -- named for the carved lions on its face, is also known as Stephen's Gate because of it's nearness to the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7; Damascus Gate -- ornately fashioned after Ottoman architecture; Zion Gate -- marred from two modern-day wars; Dung Gate -- expanded by the British to allow traffic and access to the Wailing Wall; Herod's Gate -- fell to Crusader conquests; Jaffa or Western Gate -- leads to port town of Jaffa (Tel Aviv), and has remains of a tower built by Herod the Great to protect his fortress; and, finally, the Golden Gate – the only closed gate, located on the east side of the Temple facing the Mount of Olives.  The Golden Gate is often referred to as the Beautiful Gate because of its massive structure covered with plates of Corinthian brass.  Seven unique and historically rich gates leading to the Holy City yet Scripture defines only One Gate leading to salvation of man’s soul: Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)  Jesus Christ, Son of God – One Way … oh, what a Grand Entrance!

No Indifference

As far as I know, there are very few things I’m indifferent about; yes, like most people, I have an opinion.  Opinions, however, have been described “like armpits -- we all have them and they usually stink.”  And, “yawning may be rude but at least it’s an honest opinion.”  I guess if we’re bound to share opinions, on some things, it may be best just not have an opinion at all!

Spurgeon wrote, “anything is better than the dead calm of indifference.”  I pondered some of my opinions and was forced to consider my indifference to important matters of the heart and soul.  We read in Song of Solomon 4:16, “Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat his precious fruits.”  Beautifully, the writer describes the righteous-chosen (The Church) pleading with Christ (Her Beloved) for a movement of His Spirit among them. This isn’t the voice of indifference!  Oh, that His Grace be poured out upon His Church today us and drive away our lack of concern for that neighbor-coworker-friend who does not know the LORD, the lack of interest in developing and sustaining a vibrant prayer life, laziness in opening His Word, and unresponsiveness to the power of The Gospel to change us!  His Spirit longs to blow upon and through the garden of His Church stirring Its fragrance, impacting the world unto His Harvest of souls.  You see, indifference is not a Christian characteristic!  We may be given to opinions on matters of the moment but with regard to Christ, boldly and faithfully, refuse to be indifferent!

Happy Place

Who doesn't want to be at a happy place in this life?  So much of each day is determined early -- how we face the dawn!  The happy place is there; we just have to decide that is where we will go and spend the day.

The Psalmist wrote, "Blessed [happy] are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart." (119:2) There's the road map, the recipe for happiness and the first blessing of the day.  I love what George Eliot wrote, "I've been a great deal happier since I have given up thinking about what is easy and pleasant, and being discontented because I couldn't have my own will." What a Godly attitude ... and what a challenge for each of us to just give ours up to Him.  So, where will you spend today?

The comfort of a mind at rest

From every care Thou hast not blest;

A heart from all the world set free,

To worship and to wait on Thee.  -- A. L. Waring