Straighten Up

We love our little farmhouse! Even with its oddities and occasional malfunctions, it has character and personality. Have you noticed periods when life seems "off" - a bit tilted? You get up to begin your day but you need help getting your feet underneath you because the ground just ... doesn't ... feel ... quite ... right. Former captives in Babylon, imagine the Israelites' excitement as Zerubbabel (their governor) led the builders to rebuild the temple of The LORD! It was a joyous sign when they saw "the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (Zecharial 4:10). A plumbline - you know, a builder's tool that identifies vertical. Believers have a spiritual plumbline - The Bible, God's Holy Word. Before His death, it was God's Word Jesus prayed would make holy (sanctify) His followers: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth." (John 17:17). How foolish we are to grab-at and hold-onto cute and trendy words and phrases rather than search-out and embrace Godly Truth. As right and soothing as worldly wisdom may sound, it does little to right the ground underneath us. The Word of Truth is securely and eternally held in the hand of The One Who IS Truth. When the world seems a little tilted and you're struggling to find center, turn to the plumbline of God's Truth with joy ... straighten up.

True Connection

Vanilla or chocolate - summer or winter - mountains or beach - coffee or hot chocolate ... personal preferences, isn't it great to have such wonderful choices! Truly, one of the great things about America are the personal freedoms we have to believe, speak and peacefully live as we choose. Believers must never assume, however, they are free to choose apart from Godly Truth and expect to live in spiritual peace. A right and personal relationship with God is the result of choosing Jesus Who said, "I am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to The Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Choosing chocolate over vanilla or the mountains over the beach may not ultimately be divisive but any chosen path other than Jesus ... well, it won't lead to right-standing with The Father: "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26). You may have guessed I choose the beach but more importantly I pray God strengthens me to always choose The One Who secures me to The Father - that is, Jesus ... The True Connection.

Beauty Mark

Our sweet Grand #4 recently showed me a small discoloration of her skin, and proudly announced it as her "beauty mark." We already knew she was beautifully marked in many ways! I suggest many Believers fail to acknowledge what marks us, and that is The Beauty of Jesus Christ. Although it may show itself in physically, the beauty Jesus produces is far deeper. "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." (1 Peter 3:3-4). The point here is instead of devoting so much time-money-energy into our outward appearance (what is perishable), pay attention to the inner person (what is imperishable). Oh, how tragic when Believers refuse to see in ourselves the wondrous beauty of God's design: "I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14). My Mama used to say "beauty is only skin deep," which is absolutely true when the inner person has been neglected. My greatest desire is to resemble Christ - may He truly be my ... Beauty Mark.

Continually Filled

Sweet tea is a traditional southern beverage, and it is commonly offered to guests. If you really want to pour-on the hospitality, you never let the glass get empty! God commands that Believers be filled with The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Greek actually translates "be constantly being filled," much like that never-empty glass of sweet tea. Continually being filled shouldn't be a foreign concept - we are continually filled with many things: bitterness about current circumstances, anger toward those who have wronged us, lies told to us by the world, etc. What fills us rules us! How fitting and proper God commands His Saints be filled instead with what is good and holy - His Spirit to rule within us and guide us in every area of our lives. The next time you fill your glass with water or milk or ... sweet tea, consider how little or how much you are leading a Spirit-filled life to the glory of God. Open yourself continually and He will keep you filled!

Precious Privilege

Memberships come with privileges. Mister Bill and I are members of several hotel franchises, which come with perks such as discounts, late check-out, etc. How forgetful Believers are of the privileges of being in personal relationship with Jesus. One such privilege we read of in Philippians 3:10, one that comes from God on the basis of faith: that we "know Him and the power of His resurrection." What an opportunity to live free of the "tomb of worldliness," and live in the precious power of Christ-in-me! Spurgeon wrote, "Just as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the Risen Savior." It's a daily choice - from first-to-last consciousness of the day - choosing to sing in the midst of crisis and discouragement and, yes, even quiet tears ... to sing of His Love so deep-and-wide that He empowers me in all ways and at all times with the power of His Resurrection. Oh, Believer, you want something to be particularly thankful for this Thanksgiving? Thank Jesus for the precious privilege of Himself and His Power in you ... then choose to live in it!

Happy Thanksgiving from my heart to yours ... Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Be-And-Do

It's a curious thing to consider why we do certain things the way we do. Maybe because it's the way our grandparents or parents did things even though the "why" escapes us! Serious Believers who make a habit of doing-as-Jesus-did really need no explanation but that doesn't mean there isn't one. For example, Believers are commanded to pray for one another. Scripture tells Believers that Jesus "lives to make intercession" (Hebrews 7:25) and is now "at the right hand of God interceding" (Romans 8:34) for them. When the Saints pray for one another, we are actually doing as-Jesus-does - imitating Jesus Who is presenting our case before The Father. You see, we know Jesus died to redeem us from the penalty of sin, and we know He conquered the grave so we need not fear death. Let us also know He lives evermore to pray for us and deliver us continually from Satan's attacks while we are in this world. In every area of our lives, being as-Jesus and doing as-Jesus is quite simply a great way to live I'm reminded of the childhood chorus: "I've discovered the way of gladness - I've discovered the way of joy." What a beautiful lifestyle it is when we ... be-and-do as Jesus!

The Strong Place

Appearing weak and helpless doesn't usually make anyone's preferred list of qualities! Nonetheless, indeed we do find ourselves weak and helpless at times in life. Scripture uses an otherwise weak and timid creature to teach us a profound lesson: "The rock-badgers are weak creatures, but they make their houses in the rocks." (Proverbs 30:26). How foolish we are to deny our weaknesses, then build our own castles of refuge: financial security, career, reputation, family, friends, etc. As wonderful as these things may appear, none compare with He Who is and has always been.  David wrote, "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in The Name of The LORD, our God." (Psalm 20:7). Ah, The Strong Place where is found deliverance, protection, rest, peace from the turbulent times of life. He is The One, The Place where earth's forces cease and have no power! "Faith gives to men on earth the protection of the God of heaven" (Spurgeon). The rock-badger knows well his weakness; he doesn't try to build for himself a place of security - he uses the security of the rocks as his refuge. Jehovah, the Believer's Rock is ... the Strong Place.

Called to Quit

A key life-lesson I learned from my Dad and can still hear him saying to me when I was ready to quit: "we're not quitters." Several times he [rightly] me finish a commitment. There are some things, however, that true followers of Jesus are ... called to quit: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). Laying aside the things that weight us down, i.e. habits and friends that are neither beneficial nor encourage a right relationship with Jesus. "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." (Revelation 14:12). Most of us see endurance as a negative and [perhaps] a burdensome thing; committed obedience to God's commandments are not - "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3). I'm so glad for the don't-be-a-quitter lesson Dad taught me; I'm even more glad he taught and modeled before me (and others) ... don't quit on God! Consistently and faithfully leave behind, stop and turn away from things which are contrary to God's commands - we are ... called to quit!

Long Obedience

Reverse engineering sounds pretty technical to me, but it's really a common and practical technique. Yes, I've watched Mister Bill look at a malfunctioning object and I could hear his mind say, "now, what makes you tick?" Have you ever considered the lives of men and women who finished their lives spiritually strong then wondered "how did they do it?" Here's what the Bible says about Enoch: "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5). Never tasting death - that's precious enough but take note that Enoch "pleased God." Earlier, in Genesis 5:22, we read, "Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah and had other sons and daughters." Three hundred years Enoch consistently and faithfully walked with and pleased God - what long obedience. Sadly, I can scarcely claim to have pleased God through faithful obedience even a slight period of my years. The Saints who [in my memory] finished strong and faithful are characterized best by one thing, which inspires me to greater heights of pleasing my Heavenly Father and that is ... long obedience. So be it, Lord.

Trust The Truth

Gray days aren't my favorite. It's best  for me to get-up-get-going on those sunny-less days. Life's circumstances can sometimes be much like an overcast day, settling in our spirits and weighing us down. The psalmist presents a different take altogether:"Those who know Your Name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10). Aha! light to the gloom of gray! Times are tough and some times tougher than others. For the Believer, however, there is really only one reality: God is King and He alone rules. When days present more gray than [it seems] the heart can stand, chase away the gray ... Trust the Truth.

A Growing Sweetness

In the world of fine dining, food presentation is important. Why? Because our eyes are most naturally drawn to what is visually appealing. This concept is equally true in the life of Believers. Of course, we long for spiritual peace and joy, however, few are willing to do what it takes to possess it. Perhaps you recall Laban's treachery toward Jacob - giving [firstborn] Leah instead of [second born] Rachel as his bride; to an upset Jacob, Laban explained the custom "to give the younger before the firstborn." (Genesis 29:26). For sure, Laban's trickery is inexcusable but there's a lesson here: some things must come in order. None of us can expect the precious benefits of God's kingdom here unless we are willing to follow Christ in humble obedience. "O soul, are you so vain as to think you can break Heaven's rule?" (Spurgeon). Believers will never nor should they expect to experience the spiritual reward outside this order. Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). Within the labor and heaviness of this life, when we humble ourselves and submit to the authority of Christ, only then do we find His rest - a place of spiritual peace and joy. Surely, as the cross is carried the crown is won and we find ... a growing sweetness.

Altogether There

Seniors are often reminded of their forgetfulness by those who are less ... senior. My grandchildren are some of my sweetest reminders of God's constant unchanging nature. Whenever in my presence, they seem quite delighted to ... be there. One of Satan's tricks, I believe, is to make us forget how "present" God is during naturally occurring times of life: illness, broken relationships, death, etc. When these times occur, Believers should take comfort that our difficult times never blindside our All-Knowing, Sovereign and Compassionate God. He said, "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:16). Take note: it's not my name engraved into His hands - no! Look again - He says, "I have inscribed YOU." It's my whole person, all of me ... my heartaches, my struggles, my sorrows, my brokenness ... yes, He says all that makes me ... me! Spurgeon wrote that in the palms of God's hands, He has "put thee altogether there." More than  when Dad held me during a violent thunderstorm or after a nightmare, God has me altoge there in His strong, safe, sheltering, comforting arms. Oh, my heart, listen and be relieved and comforted. I am now and evermore ... altogether there.