Fly Right

One day I walked into church with my sweater wrong-side out.  Later, when I mentioned it to Mister Bill he admitted he saw it!  Speaking “candidly” to him for not telling me, his response was “I figured you meant to wear it like that.”  Really? Now, we all know our world is terribly mixed-up; the word catawampus come to mind. Maybe you can’t define catawampus but you know it when we see it: a slightly tilted picture frame,  a car parked crookedly between the lines, a disheveled book on the shelf.  Yes, those with an eye for catawampus know it well!  I gasped to hear someone say in an interview, “the matter of God is just a distraction.”  Bout choked, I did!  Paul reminds us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2).  We should expect world-thinking to be askew but I greatly fear too many Believers share this mindset.  Be clear -- God is neither a “matter” nor a “distraction.”  Have we lost sight of God’s Sovereignty, that He is the Supreme Ruler Who rules all the affairs of the universe including every smidgen of our lives?  He IS the Place of Rest for Believers as well as the Center of our world and worship. “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods … Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:3, 6).  The boldness and shame of mankind are easily summed up in imagining we are kings and lords!  My Mom used to tell me “young lady, you best straighten up and fly right.”  I knew what that meant -- change your attitude and misbehavin’ ways! Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12).  I challenge you to refuse catawampus thinking-and-living; fly right according to God’s Truth.  Don’t honk if you love Jesus – obey Him!  Don’t imagine God is your co-pilot – He is The Pilot!  Choose this day whom you will serve!  Refuse catawampus!  Fly Right!

God's Portion

When it was Mister Bill plus three hungry boys living here, I admit portions mattered! I usually announced we were having an “all you can eat” meal, put portions on their plates, smiled and said, “this is all you can eat.” During periods of our lives, we learn just how frail we really are. It doesn’t have to be a health pandemic to make us consider if we’re at greater risk; no, sometimes normal-everyday circumstances push us to consider our personal limits. The psalmist began 73:26 this way: “My flesh and my heart may fail.” Makes me think some-thing happened [in thought or reality] that caused him to know his own confines of mortality; made him realize this mortal-me isn’t as tough as I thought. His next thought-affirmation, however, encourages us all: “But God is the Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.” (73:26b). God is my “portion” – my share, my tract, my possession … forever. My guys knew when Mom said “this is all you can eat,” she meant the pans were now empty – there were no more helpings. God’s Portion is literally all we need – it’s an endless buffet of Himself for each day, every day, all of life and forever!

Conscious in Christ

A vacant mind? Mister Bill assures me there are times when [in his mind] there is no conscious thought.  Hmmm, I have trouble with that one! It seems the more technology advanced we become, the less contented we are with free and quiet moments.  I love to sit in my porch swing, but even there my cell phone is nearby.  Consider the words of this Puritan prayer: “Thou has given me the ordinance of song as a means of grace – I bless Thee for tempering every distress with joy – I love Thee for giving me clusters of grapes in the wilderness – Apart from Thee I quickly die, bereft of Thee I starve, far from Thee I thirst and droop – Thou art all I need.” (Valley of Vision).  Perhaps we don’t know how to rest completely and contentedly in Christ, The All-Sufficient One.  In Him alone is absence of all else; in Him we confidently trust and deeply rest and find the soul’s Joy and Peace.  “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). May our conscious thoughts be fixed securely and contentedly in Christ Jesus our Lord!

No Stinger

There’s a science to knowing which flying critters bite or sting, but my rule is … avoid ‘em all!  The warmer weather has, of course, caused stingers and non-stingers to emerge so porch-sitters beware!  Death can be a scary thing especially if you or someone you love is facing it. Some of God’s most repeated words came to us through the Apostle Paul – “death, where is your sting?” I’m confident all have experienced death’s sting – often untimely, always cruel. So, what are we to think of this persistent enemy, death? “Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57). The Redeemed of God – the Saved, Saints, Believers – may experience sadness-grief at separation of loved ones BUT we do not grieve as those who have no Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Even in tears and personal pain of present-or-pending separation, we look death squarely in the eye and say “Oh death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).  Mister Bill is usually armed with  fly-flap and bug spray as we sit on the porch, but there’s never enough spray to kill all the biting-stinging things! Until such time when death itself is put-to-death (1 Corinthians 15:26), we have Hope: because Christ conquered death, Believers need not fear it. Death has no stinger!

Rest For Now

Never had a pet hamster myself, but I’ve wondered how it would be. I’m fairly certain, however, an incessant running inside a wheel would make me nuts.  My goodness, there seems to be lots of [figurative] hamster wheels at work these days. How elusive it is at present to acknowledge how we’ve been gifted a slow-down of life. Yes, I know there’s justifiable anxiety about many things but there’s also an immense lack of rest. “For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own. (Hebrews 4:10). Failure to trust God (aka unbelief) in our circumstances [whatever they may be] puts us in that hamster wheel. A Believer in a hamster wheel – oh no, say it ain’t so! “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves].” (V.11). Truly, this is the day the LORD has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Today  with all its panic and worry is still one the Lord has ordained for each of us; in determined joy and gladness, there is rest beyond measure and explanation. And THAT is how it works – this entering into God’s Rest. Yes, know His rest now!

Draw Near

Maintaining a safe distance between myself and the next person just doesn’t come natural. It’s like telling me not to smile – it’s a hard thing to do. Unfortunately, it does come natural for us to distance ourselves from The One Who loves us the most. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8).  James says the first move is ours!  Believers must intentionally position themselves in heart, soul and mind to seek the Presence of God. In a world of so many attractions and distractions, we have to create environments where heart, soul and mind can settle-down and focus on God Himself and what-how He wants to speak to us. Now that many of us are home-bound and distanced from others, conditions are good to shorten that distance between ourselves and The One Who longs for our  company. Draw near!

Blog Break

The Open Door

While most people I enjoy a lovely garden view from their picture window, we have a deer feeder which automatically spreads corn twice a day. Unfortunate for Mr Bill, the local raccoons like corn, too. So for the past several evenings he’s had the back door wide-open while doing his best to persuade raccoons the corn is not meant for them. Now, an open door may not be so alarming to some but the thought of nocturnal creatures and-or critters venture inside – well, it’s frightening! Oh, how we leave our heart’s door open to worldly intruders! The psalmist writes, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” (Psalm 119:37). The Hebrew phrase “turn away” carries with it the concept of alienating oneself from something. Turning away from or cutting ourselves off from something can be tough especially when it’s pleasing and enjoyable. The opposite of an alien would be a friend, and Scripture warns us of being friendly with the world: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4). We are wise to consider the doors we’ve left open to the enemy (Satan) – be sure, he’ll venture right on in!

 

Delightful Formula

Choosing a hotel is tricky! It’s easy to get bogged down in looking at pictures and ratings and reviews, but there comes that moment of decision. Can any of us count the number of times we’ve heard God’s Good News of Salvation preached? I doubt it! On their way to The Land of Promise, the Israelites heard God’s promise of rest and saw the untold displays of God’s power. Yet – however – nonetheless, they doubted which [we know] led to whining and rebellion. The writer of Hebrews clears this up for us: “For indeed we have had the good news [of salvation[ preached to us, just as the Israelites also [when the good news of the promised land came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith [in God] by those who heard.” (Hebrews 4:2).  Knowledge must be united with faith – that’s where we find confidence-assurance-peace, and yes – the rest God promises. I finally choose a hotel and book my stay but it wasn’t until I arrived, open the door and saw my room that my doubts and fears were settled. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). Real faith [in The One True Jehovah God] sets aside wishful thinking and that annoying need to know-for-sure with our physical senses. To know God is to trust Him! Knowledge + Faith, what a delightful formula for life!

The Whole You

Now, Mr Bill is too kind to roll his eyes at me, but I know he does sometimes. Part of his morning routine is a kitchen-stop where I’ve set-out an energy drink and vitamins. That’s when and where I think the eye-rolling occurs. The current climate has made everyone consider habits which [in reality] should have been a normal practice – hand washing, attentiveness to healthy immune system, etc. This leads me to consider how attentive I am to my whole person: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. I’m not sure Paul was in the midst of a pandemic but he wrote to Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). One of Satan’s most effective tools is to get us so busy we carelessly neglect important things. This happens because there are certain things about ourselves we don’t see as urgent as others. We certainly can’t neglect personal hygiene, diet or being at work as our jobs demand.  On the other hand, sitting quietly before God in study and prayer – well, those are easily pushed down the priority list. Paul was challenging us all to be serious about personal faithfulness to being approved by God, to avoid the shame of neglect to study God’s Word. Interestingly, those things Mr Bill rolls his eyes at – things we’ve been doing routinely for years – are what is being suggested now in this current crisis. Take a moment to consider the part-of-you that may suffer from neglect; make sure it’s not your spiritual well-being! There’s only one fix for that: read and study God’s words of truth. That’s a mandate from God Himself! 

Your Spiritual Health

Oh my, so many new terms and phrases I'm learning - social distancing, self-quarantine, asymptomatic. I can barely keep up! Truth is, each one of these speaks to me in a spiritual sense ... as they should all Believers. While putting distance between myself and the next person may lower the risk of exposure to a germ, many Believers have practiced spiritual-distancing for many years, and without even realizing it. Here's a New Testament command: "Draw near to God" (James 4:8). To "draw near" is to be joined in sweet communion-fellowship with The Father: read-study-meditate on His Word, pray-talk-listen to Him, corporately worship-fellowship-serve with other Believers. So many, however, have fallen away (self-quarantined themselves) which [seems] to always lead to an unawareness (asymptomatic) of their own loss and spiritual disease. "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe ... all who believed were together ... had all things in common ... day by day continuing with one mind ... taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart ... praising God and having favor with all the people ... and the Lord was adding to their number day by day." (from Acts 2:43-47). Wow, what a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ, His Church - drawing near, being joined with God. And here's the reward for those who do so: "... and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8). Let's practice good habits to stay physically well in these days but let us never forget - today or in the days ahead - God's promise to be near to those who make every effort [in obedience] to be near to Him. It's His way to Believers’ good spiritual health!

Get Moving

Those pesky stink bugs seem to be everywhere!  How they make their way indoors is a mystery to me – they seem to rarely move! Even when they're in imminent danger, they just sit there - never moving away from danger! Oh my, how this sounds like me at times. Knowing my weaknesses and conditions of vulnerability, I just sit tight. Of all sorts of evil, Paul writes, "flee these things." (1 Timothy 6:11a). There is no hint of inactivity in that command!  He continues, "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11b).  So, we don't just patiently wait until danger passes like a wave of nausea, but rather get-going and moving toward what is good and holy and honorable. My Mama used to describe my doing-nothing mode like a "knot on a log" -- let's not be guilty of this is our spiritual battles. Like Peter teaches be sober and watchful (1 Peter 5:8), always moving away from danger and toward spiritual preservation! Who would have guessed we could learn such a lesson from a stink bug!

 

Heart-Space

Did you own a Etch a Sketch? What fun to write-draw, give it a’shake to erase then start all over. Now, wasn’t that just the cat’s meow!  Through the ages, God commanded men to “write” and aren’t we glad they obeyed! To Moses, He said “write this for a reminder in a book” (Exodus 17:14); to Jeremiah, God said “write all the words that I have spoken” (Jeremiah 30:2); to Habakkuk, He said “write the vision and make it plain” (Habakkuk 2:2). I spent last weekend  with a few Christian writers, and had opportunity to consider my own writing. God brought to mind His greatest writing assignment: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart … Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3, 7:3).  That Hebrew word “table” refers to a board or plank or tablet, and in context, for inscription or writing. The heart of man is God’s intended table for His words of truth yet I wonder just how spacious my heart is at times – is there any room for Him to write? Is it filled with the world’s scribble-scratch, leaving little-to-no room for what God wants to write there. I suggest every Believer’s heart need a good and continual shakin’ (cleansing) to wipe away the space Satan has stolen and claimed for himself. After this weekend, I’m conscious and further committed as a writer to keeping my heart-space free and clear for the Finger of God to write His words upon the tablet of my heart. I pray you’ll examine your own heart-space.

Add Faith

Rest doesn’t always do its job. Surely, you’ve got up from a time of “rest” and not felt “rested.”  See what I mean? There is a spiritual rest for Believers: “Let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1). Similar to physical rest, there is a danger of not actually knowing the spiritual rest God promises-provides. There are many things which interfere with physical rest, but the absence of spiritual rest is caused by one thing: “For indeed we have had good news preached to us … but the word was not united by faith.” (V.2). See, knowledge alone just isn’t enough; the spiritual rest God promises through Christ Jesus must be joined with faith!  When God says “My Rest,” He means all the wonderful benefits and promises that comes to those who truly trust Him. God’s Rest is present in all situations and circumstances of life! Without faith, however, spiritual rest escapes us much like the physical kind; we always fall short! Even on good days when I’ve rested well and feel invigorated for the day ahead, by mid-day, I often need to rest again – well, you know how I love naps! How wonderful though by faith to experience God’s Rest from life’s struggles.  If God’s Rest seems to be eluding you, trust Him … add faith!

Oh, Joy!

Really now, who doesn’t love a happy ending!  It’s what we really expect in a story, but it doesn’t always happen in life. It’s not clear if David really expected a good ending to his rooftop decision to take Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, for himself. We see David’s prayerful and repentant heart, however, after the Prophet Nathan confronted him: “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” (Psalm 51:3-4). Clearly, David understood the offense, the offender and the offended. It’s pretty nuts how we think things are “secret” when they aren’t. The heart God has redeemed (saved) for His own will rightly know – as David did – the presence of sin. Oh but-but-but, the ending is sweet because The Offended (God) is rich in Mercy and faithful to forgive and restore the offender: “Restore to me the Joy of Your Salvation … My tongue will joyfully sing of Your Righteousness … Open my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise.” (V.12, 14, 15).  Oh, joy! Don’t you just love happy endings?

MWB Back Soon. Stay in The Word! Miles of Smiles, Beverly

The Rose of Sharon

There are very few flowers I can rightly identify but among those few is the rose. It's not necessarily my favorite flower but at least I can see it and name it!  Among the many Scriptural names referring to The Savior, I'm especially fond of one in Song of Solomon 2:1, "I am the Rose of Sharon." Israel's coastal Plain of Sharon is known for its richly fertile soil producing lovely flowers. How fitting Jesus would be likened to Sharon's roses, growing right where He was born, lived and ministered. Oh, and I can also close my eyes and identify the presence of a rose - yes, by its sweet-smelling fragrance! Did you know that's exactly how Believers are to be identified - by the Presence of Christ in us! Second Corinthians 2:15 says we are to be the "aroma of Christ to God" as we walk among a world in need of God's saving grace! It's good we consider if our lives are producing a pleasing aroma to God and to the world around us. Like the rose, let's the sweet aroma of The Rose of Sharon be your fragrance!

Refreshment

Among many sweet memories is my boys' excitement when Mom hosted a meeting here at home. They knew there would be snack foods! Time spent in prayer, worship and fellowship is sweet but none-as-sweet as that with fellow Believers - it is an immeasurable joy. The same is true of walking in faithful obedience to Christ. The psalmist says such a person is like "a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." (Psalm 1:3). Sadly, there are many Believers who are absent from The Body, therefore, missing the full-blessings of Christ. Just like I cannot imagine not being involved in the lives of my biological family, I do not want to think of my spiritual life apart from my spiritual family! God intended His Church to be one way we "taste and see that the LORD is Good" (Psalm 34:8). As we each one taste of the Lord's Goodness walking with Him and other Believers, we trust Him to use us to refresh others along the way. I smile when I remember how patiently but anxiously the boys waited for meeting's end when they could join in the "refreshments." Are you missing the refreshing part of your spiritual life - regular prayer, worship and fellowship with other Believers in the spiritual Body of Christ, His Church? Oh, I sure hope not! There's nothing quite like it - find yourself a church family soon and begin to experience refreshment!

What's Your Song?

When you say “I will,” are you resolute?  Resolute – unyielding, firm, determined,
staunch.  There’s no doubt of my intent when I use those words, but [shamefully] my actions don't always bear them out.  Let me tell you one thing: if you say “I will” to a child, you better be prepared to follow through! David writes, “I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength.” (Psalm 18:1). Those words are followed by some powerful statements about Jehovah – “The LORD is my rock … my fortress … my
deliverer … my strength.”  Verse 1 alone sounds the resoluteness of David's heart.  When he wrote these words, he was running from King Saul - his enemies were everywhere.  Nonetheless, David says "I will."  Spiritual discipline isn't spoken of much these days yet in the life of a Believer, it is an urgent matter.  No one may be coming to take you away, but the forfeiture of spiritual blessings is massive.  One of our church musicians, Anna, just took 2nd Place at the NFAA Indoor Nationals.  After days, weeks, months, years of archery lessons and endless practice, she is experiencing positive results of discipline. Paul describes the fruits of God's Spirit in the Believer's life: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ... against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22).  These fruits do not just appear nor do they surface by default.  Rather, they are a result of spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, meditation, and focused obedience to Christ.  A personal resolution of "I will" isn’t enough; "I will" becomes resolute only when we acknowledge "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).  David knew his rock, fortress, deliverer and strength personally and knew for certain He would not, could not fail.  Hence, his song forever would be "I will love Thee, O Lord!"  So, what's your song?

Avoid the Traps

Did you ever have a wooden rabbit box? Dad helped me set mine up in the back yard; Mom provided the lettuce as bait then every morning I looked out the window to see if the door was closed. Finally, one morning the door was shut - it worked; I had trapped a rabbit!  I raced to the box only to discover it wasn't a rabbit at all - it was a possum! What an unwelcome guest! The  compromise of Godly principles cause the [otherwise] "wise" to falter.  Think about it: lean a little here, waver a little there, bend this way and that - soon right and wrong seems a little fuzzy. Satan say, "cme on, be reasonable, times are a'changin'," Soon, our spiritual eyes are weak-dim, discernment is poor, and our conscience is distorted. You don't believe it? Think about the things that used to make people blush - why, no one even blushes anymore! No, these things now are labeled "entertainment." Satan's aggression against good-right-wholesome-decent-honorable has dulled our spiritual wit and caused God's truths to be compromised within our own minds.  We've become trapped!  The only release I've found [personally] from these trappings is a spiritually aggressive offense. Actually, it's the only hope one has to remain free! "Incline your ear and hear the words of the Wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you." (Proverbs 22:17-19). Like my rabbit box, traps sometimes catch the most unsuspecting victims.  Well, Dad released the possum; I imagine ole possum had quite a story to tell about the danger of lettuce! Be wise: open God's Word, read His wise words. faithfully apply God's principles to life. Avoid the traps!