Faithful One

Holding tightly to something can be tricky, even disastrous if someone is depending on you ... holding tightly.  Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for He is faithful that promised." The Greek word for "fast" [here] means "to secure, to make firm," but it also means "to possess, to take possession of."  What I've learned [through the years] is the faith I came to possess at age 5 - through belief in Jesus as Savior - also took possession of me!  Times when I didn't hold fast, He Who Promised held ME securely-firmly.  You see, my security (who I am in Christ) doesn't depend on how tightly I hold to Him but rather the full confidence He holds me securely and faithfully.  And, why?  Because He promised!  Okay, I'm about to have a running fit!  Thank you, El Shaddai - Almighty God - for Jesus, our Redeemer and Most Faithful One.​

Face The Son

How do you like your eggs?  If grits were on the menu, Dustin wanted his egg scrambled and Dennis-Bill-Danny wanted theirs over-easy.  Scrambled eggs were easy; over-easy were tricky, and I served many over-easy ones with a smile and an "oops, sorry." Staying joyful through the troublesome times-of-life isn't so easy. Satan is ever waiting for the optimal moment to steal-kill-waylay our joy!  James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."  The mastery of a joyful life is a steady focus on the Joy-Giver - Christ Jesus.  Helen Keller, blind from infancy, said: keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.  What a wonderful challenge in the face of life: always face The Son!

Essential Ingredient

My homemade peanut butter cookies are somewhat famous - at least with my family. They're not so tasty, however, when I leave out the sugar - just ask my family!  The name "God" has become common today; word of caution - be alert to the mention of God and no mention of Jesus or The Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father." (John 16:27).  Too many - saved and unsaved - boast of godliness yet have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  In the absence of Christ and the work of The Holy Spirit, we can expect no relationship with The Father.  Do you long to know more of the One True God - Jehovah, I AM?  Spend time getting to know His Son, Jesus Christ.  He is Key to unlocking the Beauty of The Father. ​

Good Medicine

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​

It's almost miraculous how laughter can soften a moment. After the last baseball game of Danny's senior year, which they lost terribly, the ride home was a sad one. In the quiet of it all, I noticed

​Mr ​

Bill chewing -- no, chomping on

​a really big

piece of gum, so big his jaw popped with every chew.  I knew he was struggling, too; in fact, the more tears he blink

​ed​

away, the faster he

​ ​

chew

​​

ed

​​

.  Soon my mind was
so

​ ​

focused on

​the​ ​

chomping

​I ​

lost all sense of present sadness.  When I could

​ ​

stand it no longer, I blurted out, "Where in tarnation did you

​ ​

get that wad

​ ​

a'gum?"  He looked at me

​ ​

and retorted,

​ ​

"none of yo' business." That did it!

​ ​

All the

​ ​

buds of sadness

​ ​

burst into

​ ​

laughter

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and overcame us all!

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That was when

​Mr ​

Bill announced

​ ​

this Pity Party had come to an end, and we were going to eat!  Food --

​ ​

that wonderful stuff

​ ​

that seals all deals!

​ ​

Proverbs 17:22

​ ​

says

​​

, "A happy heart is like good medicine."

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Good medicine

​ ​

is the perfect description for laughter: it's soothing and contagious.

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Life's hard knocks often leave us lacking a "happy heart," and

​ ​

what we need are regular doses of that "good medicine" called laughter.

​ ​

When

​ ​

was

​ ​

the last time you

​ ​

considered

​ ​

how hard life is and that you just might be

​ ​

taking it way-too-seriously? Jonathan Swift said, "May you live all the days of your life."  Lighten

​ ​

your load - and the load of others - laugh a little and live a lot! ​

Abandon

​ Next to my Pop and Granny's was an abandoned house, and I remember the big-bold sign warning people to stay away.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, "I tell you, stop being worried or anxious about your life." We say, "it's only natural" to to be ever uneasy about life.  Of course, it is!  The Christian, however, has been given a new nature - one which does not practice infidelity (unfaithfulness) to obeying the Holy Spirit Who lives within.  Most commonly, it's the little things of life that distract us and draw us away from fully trusting God. "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor gather and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?" (V.26). Jesus' message is simple and clear: trust Me!  Prayerfully and humbly consider what cares trouble you then abandon them, giving them to God Almighty (El Shadday) the One (and only One) Who is completely able and trustworthy. Abandon! ​

Good Indeed

The Bert and John Jacobs' story is an inspiring account of perseverance, which paid off in a big way for them as their products bear three simple yet profound words: life is good. The essence of those words is the theme of God's message in 2 Corinthians 4; Paul writes, "We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed. (4:8-9, AMP). I had the joy of spending the day with Dad yesterday; hearing him pray, he referenced this Scripture passage, "Lord, Paul put a comma where we typically put a period."  What insight!  We can all testify of life's crushing and frustrating pressures but [as Paul did] those who know and trust and walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ persevere because of the Hope [confident expectation] that is ours.  That beautiful connecting word - but - trumps the punctuating period [finality] thus compels us to press on in God's Strength! Yes, indeed, life is good. ​

Best Education

​There are some things taught and committed to memory while other things are taught and transforming to the heart.  Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33a). As obedient children of God, we are commanded to first and most importantly aim for Christ's way of being and doing.  Time spent in study [of Scripture] and prayer [talking-listening to God] produces a change of heart which results in having the attitude and character of God.  This is character education at its finest!​

Soaking Him Up

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​

Visited my grandmother (Nanny) and grandfather (Daddy Bill) yesterday.  They have finally after about 65 years of

​​

marriage put in central heat and air.  Wow!  What

​IS this world coming to?

​ A​

nyway, I spent most of my visit sitting at the bar watching Nanny make pepper sauce.  She had just gobs of little green & red peppers that Daddy Bill had grown in his garden.  She said to me, "That grandfather of yours can grow anything, and whatever he grows he grows a lot of it.  The only bad thing about his growing stuff is that I have to do something with it."  She is so funny.  She started by washing those peppers and then she began to drop them into cute little pouring-type jars.  At first she just dropped them in one at a time, then as the jars began to get full she started pushing, then cramming those peppers into the jars.  After she filled the jars with peppers, she went to the pantry and got a big jug of distilled white vinegar and began pouring that strong liquid into the jars.  The liquid seeped down through the peppers covering them until the jar was filled to the brim.  She put lids on each of them, then moved the beautifully colored jars to her cabinet.  She explained to me that the vinegar would soon take on the flavor and pepper "heat" which would make the vinegar more like a sauce which would be used to spice up vegetables and meats.  I love my grandmother very much, and as I recalled that wonderful time of watching her do what she'd done so many times before, I could not help but think about a spiritual parallel.  When we meditate and spend time talking to, listening to God, reading His word, we too [just like that vinegar] take on His flavor, His attributes, His characteristics.  It is when we become more like Christ that we [just like those peppers] flavor those around us with gifts of the Spirit -- love, kindness, forgiveness, patience, joy, mercy.  Just think what a better world this would be if only we could "spice" up this world with what is missing so desperately. So, what are we promised when we seek His face?  Isaiah 2:3 " . . . and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths . . . " Be sure to soak up some of Him today. ​

Vacation Alert

MWB is on vacation until May 21.

Stay in The Word. Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Our Times

Do you remember the sleepy-eyed donut man who, sitting on the side of his bed, says "got to make the donuts."  If we didn't love donuts so, we'd almost feel sorry for the guy!  Solomon wrote in Psalm 127, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. it is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labors - for He gives blessings to His beloved even in his sleep." (V.1-2). A mother is well-acquainted with the labors of home and family; and, yes, she can often be found on the side of the bed facing challenges of the day ahead.  The foolish make plans but it is God Himself who orders and directs our lives (Proverbs 16:9).  What joy and rest for those who live in full knowledge that our times  are in the hands of God (Psalm 31:15).  This is the second Mother's Day since Mom left, and looking back to her devotion to home and family, I wonder how often she faced a day in wonder of how she would accomplish it all.  This Sunday you'll have opportunity to honor Mom - even if it's with fond reflections and deep gratitude for the breath you're taking.  Always remember: we honor Mom best when we choose to rest completely in The Father's hands.  Live in honor of Mom!

Glorious Side Effects

We hear a lot about side effects, in particular, of medications.  It's actually pretty disheartening we must consider if the benefits outweigh the side effects! Not all side effects are bad, however!  I want to expound on a familiar passage, which should be the refrain of every Christian. "And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine." (Leviticus 20:26).  It is common-thinking yet wrong-thinking that holiness is first-and-foremost what we do.  We witness bad behavior, declare it unholy, and say [to our ourselves] "I'm glad I don't act like that."  But holiness isn't what we do – rather, it's who we are. Note that God said "you shall be holy unto Me."  True holiness is when the heart is in deep abiding fellowship with Holy God.  Oswald Chambers writes, "Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true." If we try really hard and stay on our P's and Q's, we can appear holy … well, most of the time.  However, the Christian who faithfully seeks the Presence of Almighty God and develops a right and wholesome fellowship with Jesus Christ is actually allowing God to make us holy unto Himself.  No matter how hard we try, you and I cannot manufacture holiness!  The side effect of Godliness – heart holiness – will indeed show in our behavior but holiness works its way out of a holy heart.  You see, the side effects of genuine holiness glorify God!  And, yes, the side effects are glorious!​

The Warning

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Many of us remember the late 60's science fiction television series "Lost in Space," and Rob

​ot B-9's catchphrase, "Danger, Will Robinson!"  Much like the adventures of the pioneering Robinson family who struggled to survive in a strange and often hostile universe after their ship was thrown off-course, we [too] know the struggle to live righteously in a culture hostile to God.

​  God appeared to King Solomon a second time to warn and advise him, "walk (live your life) before Me ... in integrity of heart and in uprightness, acting in accordance with everything that I have commanded you, and ... keep My statues and My precepts." (1 Kings 9:4).  God does not speak casually or lightly of the dangers we face spiritually, emotionally and [even] physically. Because He is kind and loving, much like a guiding parent, He cares for our well-being so He cautions us to remain close to Him and underneath the Shadow of His protection.  Some of the sweetest words of guidance He spoke to Joshua: "Do not turn from [My precepts] to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7).  Have you heard then heeded the warnings of The One Who loves you most? He always and forever knows and cares you experience His very Best!​

Divided Heart

How affected are you by our culture?  Are your practices, thoughts, standards, and beliefs your own or do they belong to someone else?  In reality, we're all influenced by something or someone, and we are faithful to that which we embrace.  Disobedience (unfaithfulness) to God creeps into our lives when our hearts are more closely attuned to contemporary culture and peer pressure than to the voice of God. This is exactly what happened in the life of the world's "wisest" man - King Solomon.  Instead of obediently offering an undivided heart to God, Solomon allowed foreign-pagan wives to "turn his heart away" from God (1 Kings 11:3). Are there contemporary and cultural influences you are allowing to divided your heart and compromise your love for and devotion to the One God?  Beware of those things that lead to a divided heart.​

The Beaten Path

Many a'family gathering took place behind the house at the fence-line; that's where Dad, Mom, sisters and I shucked corn to the utter delight of Uncle Neal's cows and pigs. They heard us and we soon heard them a'coming down the beaten path!  How tragic so many Christians today have no beaten path - no real habit leading to personal holiness. Because of our sin-nature, we cannot just be holy "on demand."  No, a life of righteousness is a lifelong pursuit - a discipline that creates a well worn path.  "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1). That path to the fence-line wasn't created overnight! It came to be by a daily trek to water and good grazing.  Do you have an established path toward the rewards and delights of Christian maturity?  If not, start one and let it show some real signs of wear!​

Consider the Smell

Maybe because I hear it too often, I don't care to hear these words: "smells like something's burning."  It wasn't Noah's cooking but he certainly burned something pleasing to God! "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man." (Genesis 8:20-21).  Although safe, life on the ark couldn't have been ideal - cooped up with two of every kind of animal as well as all his family for 40+ days and nights; what a hot and humid ride that must have been!  Think about the haunting sounds of drowning men, women, and children outside the ark as the waters overtook the earth. Then the first thing Noah does outside the ark, after a big breath of fresh air, is worship.  On my best day, it seems I struggle to grasp the measure of God's goodness and lovingkindness.  Noah's commitment to see beyond himself and look gratefully to The Creator is a lesson to us all.  Before, during and after extraordinary circumstances, Noah praised God. May our lives also be a sweet smelling savor of Christ to God and to everyone around us. Yes, let us consider our smell! ​