Rich We Are

Homelessness is certainly one of the tragedies of our day. I distinctly recall the first sign of homelessness and poverty our oldest son witnessed on the streets of New Orleans. His young heart was obviously moved. Jesus said to His disciples, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heave" (Matthew 5:3). Clearly, there is great blessedness in possessing nothing! He wasn't referring to physical poverty nor homelessness; rather, Jesus speaks of a heart that is not entangled with worldliness and worldly possessions. The word "poor" that Jesus used actually referred to the common beggar seen in the streets of Jerusalem. Tozer describes the poor in spirit as those who "are no longer slaves to the tyranny of things" (The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer). For sure, there's nothing wrong with having things; the problem is when our things have us! Jesus' says we only possess everything (the kingdom of heaven) when we embrace poverty of spirit and soul. When we become spiritual beggars - fully dependent on The All-Sufficient Savior - we find out just how ... rich we are!

Center in Christ

If you're hanging a picture or a mirror between two points, what do you look for? The center, of course! There's an ideology today about "centering yourself," achieving a state of emotional balance and awareness. Frankly I can't speak about this except in a spiritual and Scriptural sound sense; I can confidently confirm there truly is a blissful center found only in Christ Jesus. "Our right and proper dwelling place, our first estate which we kept not, the loss of which is the cause of our unceasing restlessness" (The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer). Sad yet true - man spends much of his days away-from and out-of the Presence of The Creator, Who formed us for His good pleasure. Note what the twenty elders say as they fall to their faces in worship, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created" (Revelation 4:11, NASB). We were not created to live independently of The Creator; rather, we were created and exist to live continually in cooperation and fellowship with The One Who knows us completely and loves us most. "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13, ESV). This whole duty leads to the truest and most desirable center ... center yourself in Christ.

Jesus Most

As much as we may try to hide it or refuse to admit it, the things to which we Americans devote our time and resources will ultimately betray our hearts! There's a great example of this in three of the New Testament gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke. On the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was confronted with two demon-possessed men; He cast the demons out of the men and into a herd of pigs. When the herd subsequently ran into the sea and drowned, see the people's response: "And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region" (Mark 5:17, NASB). I doubt any of us would denounce our love for bacon, but such love-of-pigs [more than Jesus] is a bit much! A good question for every Believer is "what is my true regard for Jesus?" Do I love Him more than my stuff, my job, my family ... you name it. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." It's pretty clear Jesus plays second-fiddle to no one; from the true follower, He demands all. J.C. Ryle said: "Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning ... that we did not love Christ more before we died." It's a profound question, and our lives reveal the answer ... do you love Jesus most?

Died In Faith

Have you considered what will be the inscription on your grave stone? I like this one: "I Told You I Was Sick." Although God promised him the land, Abraham had to purchase a plot of ground to bury his wife, Sarah. That Cave of Machpelah in Hebron eventually became the resting place for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Hebrews 11:13 says, "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." What an epitaph: Died In Faith! In his book Going Places with God, Wayne Stiles writes: "In spite of all we believe as true, we still scurry to find satisfaction in this life." Keeping the faith is a struggle: day-after-day we face disappointments and frustrations that would otherwise cause us to give-up and abandon the struggle. Throughout Chapter 11, we read of those faithful ones who persevered, enduring much. "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, ESV). Abraham is an example of one who believed God's promise even though he died before God's promise was completely fulfilled. Did that mean God's promise was invalid? Absolutely not! Abraham's steadfast faith brought him satisfaction not only in his earthly life but in the next life. For the Believer, death is not an end but a beginning to know God's promises in the most perfect way. What an epitaph - What a testimony ... died in faith!

A Good End

Many moons ago our front yard boasted Mister Bill's creation of a water slide for the boys. There was just enough of a natural slope, which was perfect for lots of slipin' and slidin' summer fun. There is a spiritual slip-and-slide too highly ignored among followers of Jesus. We see in the life of David's son, Solomon how he had great wisdom, which he used to govern Israel; in contrast, however, he applied little wisdom to his own heart. Scripture tells us he took many wives who [in turn] introduced him to many false gods, turning King Solomon away from the one true God. Paul writes in Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB) ... "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." It cannot be understated - the choices we make matter, and they matter greatly! Solomon concluded: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NASB). What fun that homemade slip'n'slide was for the boys; a spiritual decline may seem "fun" fun [at the time] but it's still ... a decline. The choices we make today always lead somewhere; make sure that "somewhere" is to a ... good end.

Blog Break

MWB will resume Monday 08-26-2024
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Run to Meet Him

The days of having scarce moments alone are behind me but not forgotten. I recall thinking, "if I just had ten minutes of quiet." Genesis 24 gives an overlooked detail in the life of Isaac, Abraham's son: "Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening" (Genesis 24:63, NASB). From whatever Isaac sought solace, a quiet place, his intent was to meditate. Unfortunately, the world has twisted the act of meditation into something entirely different from what is described and commanded by God. To meditate is to be engaged heart, soul and mind in thoughtful and prayerful consideration of God's words. God commanded Joshua to meditate on His words "day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it" (Joshua 1:8, ESV). The psalmist wrote: "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). Until Christ's return, each of us is given the same number of hours in the day; and, we may wonder how best to use at least a small portion of each day. Spurgeon writes, "If the business of this day will permit it, you will do well to spare an hour to walk in the field this evening. But if not, the Lord is in the town, too, and will meet with you in your room or even in the crowded street. Let your heart run out to meet him" (Morning and Evening). Wherever the morning or noon or night finds you, the Lord is there ... run to meet Him.

Mouth Full

Surely, one of the first things we learned at the table as children was ... don’t talk with your mouth full.  The older-me has found chewing and talking can be a problem itself. Psalm 118:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!”  Wow, what a mouthful!  Consider what the psalmist said in this short verse: the LORD is good, steadfast, loving, enduring, and eternal.  Nothing else can be referred to with such amazing descriptors!  Mister Bill and I are planning a trip and carefully reading travel reviews.  Well, the Bible is loaded with reliable and sustainable reviews of God’s character.  The greatest testimony we give the world about God’s greatness and His faithfulness is living a life of gratitude.  Of course, no one wants to see our food but it’s perfectly okay and quite acceptable that our “lips will pour forth praise” (Psalm 119:171) that God is good-steadfast-loving-enduring-eternal.  For the sake of God's glory and praise ... keep your mouth full!

New Season

During the drought days of summer, we may see even the greenest of grass and trees begin to show signs of thirstiness. You may recall Lot's choice of that well-watered Jordan Valley: "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere ... like the garden of the LORD ... So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan" (Genesis 13:10-11, NASB). That grass-is-greener mentality is still powerful today! Make no mistake the pleasures of sin are alluring and inviting but only a "passing pleasure" (Hebrews 11:25, NASB). In his book, Going Places with God, Wayne Stiles writes: "Consider how often we make lifelong choices based on the impulse of a glance." Oh yeah, we often buy clothes, books, cars, an endless parade of things times simply with ... a look. Don't forget how Eve "saw that the tree was good ... that it was a delight to the eyes ... that the tree was desirable" (Genesis 3:6). In Genesis 19, we read how God destroyed those sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Lot's home), including the vegetable; sin always leads to spiritual judgment. How marvelous, however, God forgives - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, NASB). He gladly welcomes the repentant back from bad choices into His arms and a new season of peace, joy and gladness. Yay, for forgiveness and a ... new season.

Demo Your Faith

One thing [I know] little boys enjoy is demo (demolition) of anything actually: cars, buildings, sand castles, etc. I want you to consider a different kind of demo, one that builds-up instead of tears-down. That is the demo (demonstration) of faith in God! In Genesis we read of God's great creation of which He blessed. After Abel's murder, the rebellion at Babel and the global flood, we see how sin demolished what was perfect and good. Because God sought to once again bring His blessing to mankind, He chose a man (Abram) and instructed him to leave behind all that was familiar to go "to the land which I will show you ... And in you all the families of the earth will be bless" (Genesis 12:1, 3). And that's exactly what Abram did ... a demonstration (demo) of great faith! I wonder where that kind of faith is today: faith to walk through storms fearlessly; faith to face uncertainty with confidence; faith to rest in life's anxious moments; faith to know peace in turbulent times; faith to simply trust no matter what. We are wise to consider if the faith we profess is actually the faith we possess; is there evidence in our lives of a demolition (demo) of our trust in God or a demonstration (demo) of deep abiding and unwavering faith in the same God of Abram and ancestor of The Savior (Matthew 1:1)? Rightly ... demo your faith.

Be the Ambassador

A video game my oldest son loved to play was "Civilization" - a game of great strategy ... in my opinion, too serious to be called a ... game. As we study the life of Jesus, it's clear to see how strategic God was in every detail. From Scripture, we know Jesus grew up in the small obscure village of Nazareth but later moved to the bustling Galilean city of Capernaum to begin His ministry; a city where there was a constant flow of peoples from Syria to Egypt. "Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan." (Matthew 4:25, NASB). Perhaps we can imagine the move from a small community to a populous city only to discover a longing for a quieter and slower pace of life. Then, there's the reality that spreading The Gospel is more important than our own personal preferences. It was not haphazardly that Jesus grew in safety and seclusion but then moved to where the people were - He had a message - He WAS the Message - and people from all walks of life, near and far, needed The Savior. David Livingstone said, "I will place no value on anything I have or possess unless it is in relationship to the kingdom of God." Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20: "we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us." Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zone in order to best use us for His kingdom and His glory. It's been said ships are safest in the harbor but that's not what ships are made for. Set sail ... be the ambassador!

What Is Written

Note-taking has always been something I've done, and this older-me appreciates notes taken! You'll recall God's affirmation of Jesus following His baptism: "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased" (Matthew 3:17).  Right away, Jesus went into the wilderness, fasted for forty days, then came under attack by Satan. The first of three temptations, Satan said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matthew 4:3). Forty days without food, I'm fairly confident Jesus was hungry! Isn't that just like the enemy to launch his attach when we are vulnerable! In his book, Going Places With God, Wayne Stiles writes: "Temptation always offers to fulfill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way." How do we respond ... well, how did Jesus respond? He said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone' (Luke 4:4) - a shortened version of what Moses said in Deuteronomy 8:3, "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Oh, there is an urgency for Believers to know what "saith the LORD" - it is most critical at all times, particularly in vulnerable moments when we are tempted to choose the illegitimate over the legitimate! Stile says, "When temptation squeezes, Scripture should spill out." Scribbled notes here-and-there help me remember and call to mind things - dates, times, names, places, etc. Just as Jesus spoke, so must we speak ... what is written!

Heart Needs

It's amazing how much debris gathers on the floor between sweepings.  I admit to NOT sweeping enough, and I usually know it's been tool long by what’s in the dustpan! The Believer's heart needs a good continuous sweepin'.  The dirt from my floor ain't nothing compared to that which collects in my heart. It doesn’t take much to know when it’s past due for cleaning either: my talk and walk are … well, off.  Mark 7 gives quite a list of nasties from a neglected heart: envy, slander, deceit, arrogance, foolishness ... to name a few. In Psalm 51, David penned some of the best steps for a good sweepin’ of the heart: "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." (V.2) and "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (V.10).  I’m often reminded how I need to keep a “short list” of sins – staying confessed-up for continued fellowship with The Father!  A short-list represents a frequent sweepin’.  It’s truly my ... heart needs.

Gift Yourself

On or near my desk where I write each day are things gifted to me - reminders of those whom I love and who love and support me on many levels. Those items represent precious people who have poured their lives into mine in some way.  Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”  The sharing of gifts – a card, a phone call, an email, a text, a prayer, the gift of time – has great potential to lift a burden, heal a wound, encourage a heart, or cement a relationship.  The act of giving is a powerful way to show someone you care, and to extend the Greatest Gift-Giver of all – The Father Who gave us His Son, Jesus as Savior and dearest Friend. A moment of me poured out into the life of another is a moment well-spent.  You can do that today, right now ... gift yourself.

Your Remarkable

You know I love words! A particular word appeared on Mister Bill's recent medical report and ... well, it just made me laugh out-loud! The report described the result as "unremarkable." In other words, the results "lacked distinction, ordinary." Perhaps many of us are waiting on God to call us to something [by our own standards] significant, extraordinary ... remarkable, and it seems we've been waiting a very long time! This has left us ... here's a good word - baffled (perplexed, bewildered). This would rightly describe many Bible heroes: for example, "Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did" (Acts 9:36, NASB). We learn she was a seamstress, and her "deeds of kindness" involved making tunics and garments for people (Acts 9:39, NASB). Do not miss the greatest detail of her story: she was a "disciple" - a follower of Jesus. Throughout history, God has used simple, otherwise ordinary, people to accomplish His purposes. "A Christian is one who trusts the wits and wisdom of God. If instead we trust our own wits and wisdom, if we go off pursuing our own ends, we will destroy the simplicity and the leisureliness which ought to characterize our lives as children of God." (Oswald Chambers). Do you, like me, wonder how many opportunities we've missed by relying on my own "wits and wisdom." Jesus put it like this: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much" (Luke 16:10). How foolish we are to consider any obedience to God as insignificant or unremarkable! God uses the small to accomplish the great. Be sure you don't t miss ... your remarkable!

Number of Days

We often hear "time passes so quickly," and yes it does! In [what seems] a blink of the eye, kids grow up - birthdays come - loved ones become a memory. We have no control over time, however, we are given the choice in how we use the time we're given. Most likely near the end of his life, Moses wrote about the days of our lives - it begins like this: "LORD, You have been our dwelling place [our refuge, our sanctuary, our stability] in all generations." (Psalm 90:1, AMP). I suggest Moses is certainly one qualified to soundly testify of God's Presence and faithfulness! He continues, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night." (V.4). Oh, how our struggles, sorrows, disappointments, loneliness all seem to drag us into periods of weariness. Moses knew this but concludes joyfully, "So teach us to number our days that we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom ... And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; confirm for us the work of our hands - yes, confirm the work of our hands." (V.12, 17). August is a celebration month for me: August 1998 is when I began to seriously read-study God's Word then write. This month, twenty-six years later, I celebrate the glorious ... number of those days!