Perspective

One of the problems of walking on the moon (I am told this; haven’t been there lately myself!) is that perspective is lost. There is nothing to make comparison to in arriving at correct height, depth, or distance.

On earth we have obstacles: trees, buildings, etc. These give us perspective. I can see how small I really am when I stand next to a towering oak for example. When you lose perspective I would recommend standing next to Jesus. He is the measure of the fullness of the Godhead. All will be brought into focus as we draw nigh to Him!

Slo Poke

It is interesting to see the various ways the word slow is used. Of course, we think of SLOW DOWN! But slow is used in other instances also. I remember a candy I used to buy as a kid for a nickel. It was called a Slo Poke. It was hard caramel plastered on a stick and it would last a long time. You couldn’t bite it or chew it; you just licked it till it melted away. A good choice when you only had one nickel and a lot of time!

You have seen signs that warn drivers of children in the area. It says SLOW CHILDREN! That’s an oxymoron since I’ve never seen a slow child. Another sign says SLOW WORKERS! This is usually posted at highway construction sites. I don’t think I should comment here?!?

The Bible says we should be SLOW TO SPEAK. Now that’s good advice considering the fact that nearly 100% of my problems can be traced to a quick tongue attached to a SLOW brain!

Make every effort today to SLOW DOWN your tongue. THINK before you speak and when you lie down to sleep tonight you will have much less to regret!

Washed Away!

I sit here listening to the refreshing raindrops fall on thirsty ground this morning. Go with me to a dry dusty morning in Judea. See Jesus kneel before a woman caught in the very act of sin and her accusers railing against her. He writes in the dust. The only recorded time that Jesus ever wrote. Conjecture about what he wrote runs wild, but this I know. The next refreshing rain washed it all away. I sit here this morning and am blessed that all my sins are washed away!

What’s in a Burden?

A man was climbing a mountain on his way to worship at the mountaintop chapel. Steep was the climb and with great effort he made each step. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed another man coming along the same path just behind him. The man carried a large burden on his shoulder.

Turning around he thought to assist the man would be the “Christian” thing to do. As he looked into the face of the man carrying the burden, he was surprised to see that it was Jesus!

“Are you carrying the sins of the world in this great bundle?” he asked with sympathy and concern.

“No,” said Jesus, “Only yours!”

This man went to church that day with a new found understanding of the burden of sin that had sent Jesus to the cross. His sins were all that mattered. What about you?

The Perfect Measure

In Washington, D.C. resides the Bureau of Standards, where is kept a perfect inch, perfect foot, perfect yard, perfect ounce, perfect quart, perfect gallon, etc. If a question arises relative to measurement, the Bureau of Standards can settle the issue because they hold the perfect measure for comparison. What is the perfect measure of our love for Christ? It is determined in one word: OBEDIENCE. Our love is not measured by ever-changing words nor by fickle emotion. Obedience is the standard! Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them; he it is that loves me.” John 14:21

The Last Key

He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:5-10

Persistence in prayer is like a large ring of keys. One by one you try them in the lock until you have finished all on the ring. So often, we give up when the answer is to be found in the last key. DON’T GIVE UP! Keep knocking and trying each key that God has [placed at your disposal!

Museum or Hardware Store?

To what shall I compare the church? Perhaps I will make a distinction between a museum and a hardware store! Do you see that a museum is a place where relics are kept safe, never intended to be used for fear they would disintegrate to dust? But the hardware store is a place where tools are purchased and put to use, each serving its individual purpose. As you go to your “tool shed”, i.e., your church tomorrow ask God how He will use you as a tool of purpose in His Kingdom!

Push Mower Christians

I find that one of the most amazing characteristics of humans is that we so quickly revert to what we know best and are comfortable with in our lives.

For example, I am now the PROUD owner of a self-propelled lawnmower. It has been years since I owned one of these contraptions. I always PUSHED and was PROUD of my pushing. At least I know that now!

Now you might be wondering how I “discovered” my pride at work in a lawnmower??? Here’s how it happened:

This morning I pulled out my NEW mower and got all ready to begin the process of giving my lawn a “haircut.” Checked the oil, filled the gas, etc., etc. etc. Up to this point I’m doing fine. I have a mental recognition that this mower IS self-propelled. I cranked the mower and promptly began to PUSH the mower back and forth across the lawn! The thing that made me realize my error was when I came to an understanding that this mower is really HEAVY and is NOT designed to be PUSHED. It has been designed with the purpose of propelling itself. My only input is to guide it and release the drive mechanism at the appropriate times. What a revelation! I bought the mower. I brought it to my home. I read the manual. I understood with my head that this mower would PROPEL ITSELF, but I insisted with my heart that I would PUSH it along.

Result: WASTED ENERGY BASED ON SELF-EFFORT!

The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God desires is to work through us, not in spite of us! Yes, we serve a part, but we are NOT the source of our strength…HE HIS!!! God’s purpose for us has been prepared beforehand. Now walk behind them and let Him propel you to accomplish His will for your life.

Cushion of the Sea

Let us go to the other side. So Jesus commanded his disciples and forthwith went fast asleep in the bow of the boat. A short time later in the journey across the sea of Galilee a storm arose. The disciples were pummeled by wind and wave. With each blow their resolve diminished and soon they had forgotten the command of Jesus, “Let us go to the other side!”

That command carried with it the promise of success. God cannot command that which He cannot perform. His intent in giving us the command to perform is to empower with the ability to complete the task. So, JESUS SLEPT! With the crash of the wave and the roll of the thunder, JESUS SLEPT with calm assurance of the spoken word.

When the disciples finally awoke the Master, their concern was of no little doubt. They voiced it loudly over the tumult, “Care you not that we die!” Having seen so much they believed so little! And would Jesus just let them die? Would the only lesson learned be a trip to the bottom of the sea? Oh no! He is gentle with our unbelief. He knows that we are feeble and frail as dust. He is ready to show himself able in the midst of our doubt! With yet another spoken word Jesus spoke the wind out of existence and brought calm to a troubled sea.

If only the disciples would have trusted in the midst of the storm how much greater blessing would have been theirs. If only they had realized that just a little way beneath the surface of the water all was calm. Oceanographers call it the cushion of the sea. Undisturbed by the roiling surface the cushion of the sea is undisturbed by surface conditions. The deeper you go the calmer it gets.

When you find your sea beset by a storm, GO DEEP! Remember, that God gives a peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus promised a peace that the world didn’t give and the world can’t take away.

Flowers Along the Path

Born into slavery, this poor man had never seen a day of freedom. His “job” was to carry water from a mountain spring to his master’s house. The job was never ending as the thirst of his master was unceasing. One day a traveller happened upon this man sitting beside the path sobbing as he rested his tired feet and aching shoulders. “Can I help you?” the traveller asked, but the weary slave only sighed. “What is it that you do with these buckets?” asked the traveller with curiosity. “I must walk each day up this mountain and carry fresh water back down to my master,” replied the slave. “But, he is a hard man. He not only requires the water, but refuses to give me new buckets.” “I have used these same buckets for many years and now they leak all the way back to the master’s home.” “My work is made difficult as I can never get all of the water back to the master’s table.” ” I am only a poor slave.” “I have accomplished nothing with my life.” “When I die, there will be nothing left to show for all of my labor!” “Oh, but you are mistaken,” smiled the traveller. “Lift up your eyes from your labors and look along the trail you have walked these many years.” “Don’t you see what has happened?” he asked the slave. “As you have carried the water, the leaking buckets have brought life along the trail you have walked” “None of these flowers would be here had you not travelled this way!” Sometimes we are wearied by the work and load given us to bear. We complain about the path laid out before us. But God has put us on that certain path to spill His blessing along the way so that His flowers of mercy might spring up for some traveller that passes your way.