The Trustworthy One

It's pretty cool that you can hire someone to do your planning. That fail-to-plan-plan-to-fail concept is truer than any of us care of imagine! Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." The fly-in-the-ointment of planning are those things we cannot anticipate or predict. That's why so many planners always have a contingency plan - a backup when things do not go as-planned. Be sure of this: God needs no contingency plan because His plans are certain. In the earthly realm [of things] where we live by and within time and limitations, there is no such constraints with God. I'm learning everyday is when faithfulness to God is Priority #1, do not get settled and [too] well-rooted because God just may unsettle you even if it's only in your way-of-thinking ... that is, you're in charge of your life! A fruit of The Spirit is faithfulness (Galatians 5:22), and that faithfulness isn't to this or that, here or there; rather, it is to God and God alone. So, here's the two-part question: (1) are you counted as faithful, and (2) to what or whom are you counted as faithful? We are wise to consider to whom we trust with the plans of our lives. Truly, there's only one ... trustworthy.

The Lovely One

The psalmist's song says, "How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts!" (Psalm 84:1). Our minds typically go to breath-taking things of creation: a morning frost, sunsets, spacious skies,  painted canyons, snow-capped mountains, the soaring eagle. Oh, what shallow thoughts we have of God! "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (Romans 11:33). Make no mistake, where God is, there is nothing lacking. He is The Lovely of any and all habitations. The psalmist continues, "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside." (V.10). Just one day! Wherever you are - Wherever you go - The Lovely One is there. Enjoy Him.

The Climb

Our little grandson has discovered the thrill of climbing - a phase most children go through. During the climbing phase, parents discover the habit of gasping for breath! God said to Abraham, "take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Genesis 22:2). Such a command is unimaginable but having to climb a mountain - really? Truth is, we'd much rather go-around a mountain than climb it! The stress, the strain and the struggle of the mountains before us  are very unappealing; when faced with the climb or the detour, we'll take the detour. Like Abraham learned, obedience to make the climb is where God shows more of Himself, where we learn to trust Him more, where our faith is deepened. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4). Are you in the shadow of a looming mountain? Although it's our nature to take the detour - the path of least resistance - don't fear the mountain. Take the climb and trust The One greater than the mountain.

Check Your Pockets

The contents of emptied pockets seem to collect on top of the dryer: coins, nails, gem clips, nuts, bolts and such. I must say I prefer those things rather than frogs and lizards of [little boy] days-gone-by! The loads of life can be heavy and burdensome at times. They tend to leave us gasping for breath and anxious for a different source of fresh air. Carrying one day's burdens into the next is definitely not a good practice; each new day seems to manufacture its own troubles. It's a terrible thing to awake with yesterday's leftovers crowding out the freshness of today. The new day should not be welcomed with dread and begun in despair. Alma Barkman writes of patching 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'." Oh, yes! Ecclesiastes 9:10 offers crisp instructions for each new day, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" and then 11:10 guidance for the worried, "So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body." Oh, how we need to empty our pockets [cast off our troubles] at the end of each day -- give them to Jesus. Tossing and turning, worrying and fretting accomplishes nothing ... only hinders our effectiveness for tomorrow. As you end and begin each day ... check your pockets!

Spiritual Grit

 Grits are great! My Granny taught my Mama who taught me who taught my boys how to make grits. The recipe has been “tampered” with by adding this-and-that so there’s some debate who makes the “best” grits but nonetheless ...  grits are great! God is never in a hurry. We, on the other hand, are seldom patient!  Have you noticed the more unpleasant the circumstances, the more impatient and whinier we grow? Most of us just don’t do well in God’s greenhouse yet it’s where great spiritual growth occurs as we surrender to His sovereignty in quiet and peaceful and obedient patience.  Oswald Chambers makes this observation: “If we wait, we shall see that God is pointing out that we have not been interested in Himself but only in His blessings.” Perhaps it's true: Believers are more interested in what God can do & give instead of the awesome Creator & Redeemer & King that He is!  When we persevere [by God’s grace], the spiritual hammering produces (like Christ) that “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2).  Oh, how we need spiritual grit!  The word “grit” is something produced by pounding, and we [Southerners] love the taste of that coarsely ground corn.  Yeah, yeah, I know not everyone appreciates a good bowl of hot grits, but [oh my] how the world needs to see God glorified when His Children patiently wait upon The Lord.  Let’s take a breath, step back, and put forth some spiritual grit to the glory of The Father!

Unmixable

The season for homemade ice cream is upon us; well, I suppose ice cream really never goes out-of-season! Like my Mama's, my recipe is simple - milk, sugar, vanilla, and it's one of my favorite things to mix together! Doyou know that sin and holiness don't mix? Perhaps one of the greatest utterances in all Scripture is Isaiah's "woe is me, for I am ruined." (Isaiah 6:3). Like dingy is to white, the ruinous condition of the heart is clear to the prophet when confronted with the holiness of God. Certainly one of Satan's most effective tools is to convince Believers they can DO right even when their heart is NOT right. God said, "Be ye holy" - not "do holy things" ... key word is BE [holy like God IS holy]. When we will BE holy [according to His Word] then we will DO holy! How foolish Believers are to think they can actively participate in worldly things without their hearts being persuaded and influenced away from God. Rather, "blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2). How great is the reward for those who neither walk, stand nor sit with worldliness. It's not just an unlikely mix, it's no mix at all. Like oil separates from water, so should Believers in order that God's Holiness is revealed in us. Are you trying to mix sin and holiness? It is ... unmixable.

Big Talk

Consider your conversations: would you describe them as mostly small talk? While verbal interaction with others can certainly be beneficial, I suspect most of our conversation are less than serious, surface-level ... yeah, small talk. Jesus "presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to [the disciples]  over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3). For sure, Jesus was a people-person; and, we have numerous records of Him in conversation with others. In the brief time after His resurrection, Jesus' purposefully spoke to His followers of "things concerning the kingdom of God." Why is it we can talk of the weather, our grandchildren, pets and the garden but we seem unable to even slip-in a word about Godly things? It should be as natural for Believers to speak of eternal things as it is for a farmer to talk about the price of quality seed and fertilizer. Jesus did! So many we know are in desperate need of some significant conversation; and, we - the gloriously Redeemed - have so much to say about victorious living and dying. Oh, don't give-up your small talk ... let's just deliberately add some life-changing ... big talk!

Carry On

In our new-old home, we've had to do some re-flooring. Oh, and I mean all the way down to the floor joists! After Jesus' ascension to Heaven, there was much Kingdom-work to be done. "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to Heaven, after He had by The Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen." (Acts 1:1-2). Jesus' work of Salvation was now completed through His death, burial and resurrection; His disciples' work, however, had just begun - proclaim The Gospel. Jesus had laid the perfect foundation by teaching and modeling Truth to His disciples; now, it was time for them to build upon what He had established. Those orders to His chosen then are the same for His chosen today. Jesus' words are always timeless - "And He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach The Gospel to all creation.'" (Mark 16:15). While we gratefully rejoice in God's Salvation, we are called to more. The faithful sharing of The Good News should be a lifestyle as we work, shop, vacation, converse, serve ... yes, in-and-through whatever we do. It is the continuation of what Jesus has done and the change brought about in the hearts of those who believe. The simple of it is this: carry on!

Shine Big

How "small" is small - how "little" is little? There's teaspoons and tablespoons; rulers, yardsticks and tape measures; pints, quarts and gallons. If you give ear to the world's idea of measure, it's usually linked to wealth or power. Consider the otherwise small thing Rahab did: "She tied the scarlet cord in the window." (Joshua 2:21). What a bold exclamation of faith this [Gentile] woman made in the Hebrews' God. What shame I feel at the times I've stood quietly when a bold exclamation of faith was needed. As Believers, why do we shrink to such small faith at times? Scripture tells us Rahab's house, built into the wall of Jericho, stood firm and secure when the city's walls crumbled. What a small thing - hanging a red cord from the window - yet Rahab's statement of faith was huge and greatly significant. Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "Let men or devils gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song." To His followers, Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16). You see, in God's hands, even the smallest shine has great potential to ... shine big.

Heaven's Best

We all have our limits: we can only give so much time, money, energy, effort, etc. At some point, we declare "enough" - it's the best we can do. "In Him Thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more." (The Valley of Vision). Man was unable to save himself from his sin; in perfect knowledge and might, God provided what was needed and sufficient. God's Salvation is Enough to redeem man from sin and reconcile him to The Creator, yet His Salvation is even more! Know this: the same "blood of sprinkling" [described in Hebrews 12:24] is also The Life-Giving Fountain that leads Believers to holy living. The same Holy Spirit that drew us from death-unto-life [in Jesus] continues to draw us to The Fountain for forgiveness and to repentance and renewal. Oh, yes, God knew the best heaven could give, and it was Jesus. He's not The Savior for Easter alone - no, He's The Savior Who is faithful and true, The Hope of who we are every day as we await His promised Return. Let us every day, remember and honor ... Heaven's Best.

Our Power

The measure of power: amps, kilobytes, volts, horsepower - call it whatever you want but it's still gitty-up-go juice. "Herein is power; when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart He united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created." (The Valley of Vision). In comparison, man's best description of power doesn't come close to what has been manifest unto man by God through Jesus Christ. That which ignites trembling in man, Jesus overcame - that is, death. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting ... Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Oh, that Believers knew the power of The Holy Spirit within. "To Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the Power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21). To the powerless have been great power through Christ. And, therefore we know we are "strong in The Lord and in the strength of His might." (Ephesians 6:10). He is All-Power ... He is our power.

Amazing Grace! Amazing Love!

Many many years ago, Mister Bill and I took a ride in a hot air balloon once. It was pretty cool although we remained tied to the ground!  I don't known, maybe that doesn't count. "Herein is love; when I cannot rise to Him He draws near on wings of grace, to raise me to Himself." (The Valley of Vision). In this life many things are out-of-reach; this is not so regarding God's Love. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Unable to reach out to God for salvation (aka dead), God looked on man with tender mercy on man's helpless state then sent Jesus as Savior. How amazing is that grace! "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5). Amazing grace - Amazing Love!

Wonder of Wonders

Life if filled with wonders. Mister Bill's wonder-of-wonders is the cell phone; he notes we now do [with our cell phones] what Dick Tracy did 91 years ago, even talk to our wrist watches! As Mister Bill often says, "who'da thunk it!" To wonder is to marvel or arouse emotions of awe, astonishment or admiration. "Herein is wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above, was born like me that I might become like Him." (The Valley of Vision). Who woulda-coulda imagine The God of the universe would take-on flesh in order to experience human pain and suffering, even death! "But we do see Him Who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things, and through Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through suffering." (Hebrews 2:9-10, NASB). In all things [known to mankind], Christ suffered and emerged victorious so that we [too] might do the same through Him. Oh, marvel at what a Savior ... the Wonder of wonders! 

Sweetest Song

For most parents, looking back at their children's baby pictures is bittersweet. Those [oft stressful] days of pitter-patting little feet, sticky hands and sleepless nights evoke sweet and precious memories of the heart. Believers seldom think-back to Bethlehem's wonder as they consider Jesus' finished work of Calvary. I like how the Puritan put it: "O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and enlarge my mind; let me hear good tidings of great joy ... Place me with the ox, ass, camel, goat to look with them upon my Redeemer's face ... Let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart, embrace Him with undying faith." (The Valley of Vision). From the wonder of His birth through the agony of The Suffering Savior, mankind finds the greatest chorus at Jesus' empty tomb. The birth, ministry, death and resurrection of God's Son for the sin of man certainly make the Redeemed's ... sweetest song!

The Whistle-Blower

A whistle-blower is someone who tells the [untold] truth about someone or something, and typically whistle-blowing is frowned upon. I read this recently: “Pleasure is the whistle-blower of the heart, because pleasure is the measure of our treasure.” If you want a general idea of what you are most passionate, consider how you spend your time or your money. I caution you, however, you may not like what you see! What may be most revealing is what is missing from that closer-look. In Matthew 6, Jesus cautions His followers to “take no thought for your life,” then He follows this statement with beautiful examples how God sufficiently cares for birds and flowers and grass. He then tells us what we should pursue: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Churches don’t sing this song anymore but I remember it from childhood: "Search me, O God, and know my heart today - Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray - See if there be some wicked way in me - Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free." Based on my own measure of treasure, I wonder how many Believers could stand the whistle-blower of their hearts. Why not begin your day before The Searcher of hearts and ask Him [like David] to "create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 51:10). Only then will we learn to not fear the heart's ... whistle-blower.

Keep Stirring

Although I rarely cook anything new, I occasionally look at new recipes. One thing that makes me turn-the-page are the words “constantly stirring.” Honestly, there are times when I sit down to write and I’m just not inclined to do so. Since retirement, I often ponder when I will retire from writing as well. Then I read Apostle Peter’s words as he wrote to fellow Believers near the end of his life, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities … I think it right as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder … And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (2 Peter 12, 13, 15). Every Believer should consider this: is there really a time when we can justifiably lay aside our spiritual gifts while on earth? Even from a cross, in agony, Jesus prayed for and forgave His persecutors then spoke words of promise to a dying thief; Christ was faithful to His ministry until He breathed His last breath! You may have heard that "preachers don't retire - they only re-fire"; well, that's a good slogan for each of us. To our very end or the Day of Christ’s Retu8rn, we must persevere not only in right-living and well-doing but in speaking The Gospel in-and-out-of-season, ready at all times, preaching the Word of Truth. I have no idea how much longer I will do this but to the very end, I want to be found faithful and "constantly stirring" others to be faithful as well. Let us all … keep stirring!

Heart Words

Go ahead, if you so choose, and spend your hard-earned money on the professionals but if you really want to be thoroughly examined and evaluated, let your grandchildren do it! Most recently, it was about the words we use - actually, it was a great heart-check. "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things." (Proverbs 8:6). How revealing are our words! Quite foolishly we presume words originate most closely to the lips from which they take flight - uh, no. James asks, "does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water ... can a fig tree produce olives or a vine produce figs ... can salt water produce fresh?" (James 3:11-12). I suggest the heart of our words are the words of our heart. Perhaps as adults we spend too much time instructing the young how to speak when it is more prudent we teach our own hearts according to righteousness. Jesus said, "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart." (Matthew 15:18). Let's not forget: words matter - they produce evidence of the inner man. Thank You, Father, for children who keep us on my toes by stepping on my toes! Help me ... consider my heart words.

Watch This!

Many acts that follow the words "watch this," ... well, they end up in some hilarious yet not-so-funny videos. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul [basically] said "watch this" and he wasn't jokin' around: "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9). What a bold statement that absolutely must be followed by a serious commitment to walk worthy of the calling of God. In truth, none of us know who is watching us - yes, the things we say or don't say, do or don't do, the habits and lifestyle we embrace, our interaction with others, as well as how we face the circumstances of our lives. Real faith demands real commitment to walking [only] in the power of The Holy Spirit "so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). Don't you just love Paul's commitment and confidence to be the model of Jesus Christ to other Believers, to the lost! How willing am I, are you to walk worthy of Christ? Committed enough to say ... watch this!

Work It Out!

Even the word "exercise" doesn't sound very inviting [to me] but certainly more inviting than " working out." Perhaps anything that has the word "work" in it can cause us to approach with caution. Writing to the Believers at Philippi, Paul said this: "Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]." (Philippians 2:12, AMP). Living-out what we profess as Believer is ... well, yes, it's hard work! Our own sin-nature and the sin-nature of others are often like sandpaper - rough and tough resulting in unpleasant and unappealing situations. How easy (and natural) it is to just let the chips fall-where-they-may, applying the so-be-it to situations without further thought or effort. We all know what happens to a muscle from lack of use: it becomes weak and ineffective! So goes the faith of one who never exercises it, works it by applying the principles of God's Word. No, we absolutely will not "fix" every problem that comes at us but we learn this: "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God Who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (V.13, AMP). His strength working in and through us in every flex of faith! Let's not be spiritually timid when it comes to the exercise of our faith ... work it out!

Highest Law

Tie-dyed bandages - who'd ever imagined it! Two of the Grans were tickled when I produced such colorful non-traditional ones. They didn't stick worth a toot but I must confess – they’re pretty cool! Perhaps one of the most asked questions in America is "how do we fix our problems?” Songwriters Ricky Skaggs and George Michael Green released a song in 2004 titled “My Father’s Son.” Words from the chorus include: “Well, a rich man writes the book of laws the poor man must defend – But the highest law is written on the hearts of honest men.” In Jeremiah 31:33, God said, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it.” God spoke of the spiritual law, which leads to lives of integrity and righteousness. Sadly, American continues to refuse God's path to healing and restoration. No, the truth revealed to us in in God’s Word falls from hearts as quickly as those tie-dyed bandages from the Grands’ boo-boos. Oh, how our nation (the world) needs a return to The Highest Law – that spiritual law written on each heart. Let us not forget, however, it begins with you and me!