CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY?!!!

Let this mind be in you, which

was also in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5

If you are like me, you don't like interruptions even though as Christians we are told that each interruption in our lives can be one of God's divine appointments.  To be humanly honest, I still don't like interruptions and invariably they come when I am either the busiest or have so much on my mind that I don't want to even stick my head out of my front door.

Philippians 2:5-11 is as near to a photograph of Jesus we will ever have on this earth.  Paul writes for us a picture in words of who Jesus was as He ministered here.  Verse 5 begins this section  and it gives us a choice as to what we want to do with Jesus in our own personal lives.  Paul doesn't hint but gives a strong suggestion that we "let" something happen.  "Let" is one of those words that puts us in a position to either allow something to happen or not.  We make our decision...we either want the mind of Christ or we don't.

In our picture of Christ Jesus we see several things about Him and who He was as Immanuel, "God with Us""

Verse 6 - Although in the form of God, He didn't take advantage of His position.

(I'm not God but whatever positions I hold, I'm not to take advantage of them.  It should not be my hope to appear more powerful or "in charge" than others.)

Verse 7 - He made Himself of no reputation.  (Ouch!)

                 He took on the form of a servant. (But I would rather be served.)

                 He was made in the likeness of men.  (I too am only human.)

Verse 8 - He humbled Himself. (This could lead us where we don't want to go.)

                 He became obedient (Never liked this past or even present)

                 ...unto death.  (I'm called on to die to self and that is usually costly.)

Sometime read verses 9-11 in this same chapter.  It's a "praise the Lord" section.

If we are to have the mind of Christ,  that we should be always looking for His qualities found

in Scripture, especially the Gospels.  As we find those qualities of Jesus as He lived and ministered, we should incorporate them into our own lives.

One of the things I have noticed most in my recent reading is the way Jesus handled interruptions.  This is very much an area of my life where I don't have much patience.  When my day is planned with several things to do, I don't need a last minute call or someone stopping me to talk in the grocery store.  I like to think I'm organized and find I get more done that way. 

There are some things I've noticed about Jesus as He ministered and the example He has put before for us:

*  I have seen His patience with twelve very rough-around-the-edges-men He had called to be His closest cohorts in the ministry.  He loved them dearly and in this love, I see His patience, grace, forgiveness and every fruit of the Spirit.

*  There were those who needed healing who stopped Jesus while He was on the way to do something else.

*  While on the Sea of Galilee, He was in the back of a boat sleeping when a storm came up and the disciples stirred Him because of their fright.

*  He was healing and teaching in someones house when all of a sudden, a stretcher was let down through the ceiling right in front of Him.  On the stretcher was a palsied man who needed healing.  He stopped and took care of the situation.

*Religious hierarchy any number of times interrupted his teaching with their skeptical and conniving questions.

*  One of the biggest interruptions shown in Jesus' ministry, to me is when the little children came to Him.  They wanted to be around Jesus just like many adults did.  The disciples by now were used to some crowd control but that wasn't Jesus' plan.  After getting the disciples under calmed, He ministered to those children.  Don't believe for a moment that their parents missed this scene.  Children in those days didn't have very much status.  It was expected that Jesus would have kindly shooed the children away...but not Him.

From what I have read to this point, one area I need to deal with in my life is that of interruptions.  I must do this if I am to be like Jesus.  I have loved the old hymn, "Be Like Jesus" and it's chorus that says:

                                                                                                                              

     Be like Jesus...this my song,

In the home and in the throng

Be like Jesus all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

Another old chorus says:

                                                        To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus!

                                                                All I ask...to be like Him!

                                                                    All thru life's journey

                                                                    From earth to glory,

                                                              

I want to be like Jesus and want the mind and thinking of Christ.  It's something I must let (or allow to) happen through His power working in my life.  It's nothing I can put on myself.  Hopefully in it all, Jesus will get all the glory!

Dear Jesus...Thank You for the example You have set for us and may we pattern our lives on Who You are.  Thank You for saving me and empowering me to be all for You that is possible.

Amen

Bitter or Better

Looking diligently lest any man fail

of the grace of God; lest any root

of bitterness springing up trouble you,

and thereby many be defiled.

Hebrews 12:15

The first time I got a taste of real bitterness was when I was about eight years old.  I was down on my Uncle Bob and Aunt Dora's farm.  It was spring as I recall.  Uncle Bob and I were walking through the wooded area that was right next to his farm.  We came to a tree and he pulled a piece of fruit from it and told me to take a big bite of it as it was very good.  He added that I probably hadn't had anything like it in my life and would never forget it's taste.  Well, he was right...I have never forgotten it.  What I bit into was a very unripe persimmon.  I have never put anything in my mouth even to this day that was so bitter. It felt like it was pulling all the sides of my mouth together into one horrible wad.  It was so bad that it scared me and I recall beginning to cry.  I didn't know much about death then, but I wondered if I had eaten some kind of poison that would lead to my early demise.  Everyone I guess has tasted something bitter in nature either accidentally or on purpose just to see what something tasted like.  To this day, I can think of persimmons and almost feel the inside of my mouth tightening up.  However, that incident involved a physical bitterness that one can get over in a fairly short time. 

What about the emotion of bitterness that can so easily become a part of everyone and I do mean everyone.  There hasn't been a single person who hasn't gone through some tough times that left an almost permanent sting in their mind and heart.  We can even go back to the Word of God and see people who let bitterness get the best of them.

Remember Esau who was robbed of his birthright by his brother Jacob?  Talk about bitter.  Esau wanted Jacob's hide nailed to the side of their barn if they had one.  I think of Haman in the book of Esther.  Haman even with a new queen in place felt sincerely that he was in a place to be greatly rewarded by the king for his faithfulness...enter Mordecai...Esther's adopted uncle who proved himself even more faithful and was rewarded above Haman.  Haman was enraged.  John the Baptist was a victim of a bitter queeen who wanted him dead because of his public revelation of the immoral state of the king and herself.  When the opportunity came for the king to give her anything she wanted, of all things, she wanted a head...John's head.  Bitterness ruled her spirit.

I looked up the word "bitter" in a dictionary and there I found it to be an intense animosity that is distressing to the mind that is brought on by some negative event or personal wrong.  I read that and thought of times I have held bitterness inside of me (that wasn't a persimmon) because I felt I had been wrongly treated or very much misunderstood.  I think "intense animosity" is pretty strong, but let's just see it in the daylight for the ugliness it really is

Bitterness is something that can tear us up physically whether we realize it or not.  People end up with ulcers, headaches, obesity and any number of physical problems when unresolved bitterness is present.  This doesn't mean that if someone has an ulcer, it's because of bitterness, but it can be a result.

We also see from our beginning verse that others can be infected  (defiled) by the bitterness we carry.   Others may be exposed to the rot of bitterness that they had nothing to do with.  As people are defiled, it lends us to thinking that others may learn from us how to be bitter and how to not deal with it.  I wonder how many children have learned well from their parents' example how to be bitter and unforgiving just because of things said in front of them, or of examples set before them.

Bitterness eats away at our emotions.  It leaves us churned up mentally most of the time.  It can amount to something that happened years ago that still today "eats ones lunch" so to speak.  It can take us into the waiting room of discouragement and then into the "bawl room" of despondency if left unchecked.  I realize that our pasts can very often take us down roads we don't want to travel and we end up feeling like life has handed us a raw deal.  We must remember that with God in charge, He always has a plan.  Any negatives in our lives, He has meant for our growth and our good... to form us more into His likeness through any suffering we've been called upon to endure.

Bitterness also affects our spiritual being.  When bitterness takes over, and we refuse to do anything about it, we can so easily turn off the tap of God's blessings flowing into our lives.  Let me hasten to add that bitterness is a one person thing.  It's a spiritual matter that must be resolved with an individual.  I can travel all over to find people who have hurt me in the past.  They may not even be aware that they have hurt me.  Talking it over with them could only heighten my frustration and create ill will with another.  Bitterness is something in the end that I will have to deal with in the presence of my holy God.  Not only can the blessings of God be stemmed, but our growth will be affected...can't concentrate on reading the Word...mind drifts when trying to pray, etc.

How am I to get relief from any bitterness I feel and hold in my own heart?  Let me share some brief statements regarding bitterness with a few comments:

Remember that bitterness comes when others hurt us and we refuse to forgive.

If we are waiting for people to line up apologizing for every hurt they have inflicted on us, we'll be waiting a very long time.  Forgiveness isn't enacted because someone apologizes.  We forgive because it's the Christlike thing to do no matter what someone else without remorse has done to us.  Jesus hung on a cross and said, "Father, forgive them..."  We don't read of a long line of people at the cross waiting to apologize to Him.  Jesus forgave anyway and that's what we are called upon to do if we are to be Christlike.  Forgiveness is the antidote to bitterness...it is freeing and healing beyond words.  No one can force us to forgive...it is a personal choice to forgive and to let go of any bitterness we have hung onto and almost befriended.  Yes there are those who have hung onto grudges for dear life almost like a security blanket.  Remember that unforgiveness is the breeding ground for bitterness.

Bitterness comes when we forget God's grace, which is showered on us each day.

More than forgetting what someone has done to hurt us, the most important thing to remember is not the hurts dished out upon us but concentrating on the goodness of God in our own lives.  God's grace is so generously given...can we do less in the lives of others?

Bitterness toward others is sin and we are to get rid of it.

Paul says in the first part of Ephesians 4:31

                                         Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh

                                         words and slander...

There is a cure!!

Paul goes on to suggest a cure in Ephesians 4:32

                                         Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted,

                                         forgiving one another, just as God for

                                         Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

In Mark 11:25 we read:

                                         When you are praying, first forgive anyone

                                         you are holding a grudge against, in that

                                         your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Grudge:  perhaps a more familiar word that is synonymous with the word bitterness.

May we walk in the freedom of forgiveness despite the actions and attitudes of others both past and present.  Humanly speaking, it's impossible. but with God, we have learned that all things are possible.  May we choose to walk in His "possibility" and not flounder in our own weakness.  Oh, and by the way, I have long ago forgiven Uncle Bob.

Father...In Your power, I choose to forgive.  I know that in that way, I can become more Christlike.  I can only do it in Your strength.  You know every hurt I have sustained, but it's nothing compared to Your Son who took on every sin and wrongdoing known to man.  Thank you for that and I love you.   Amen.

Flight to Glory

But this thing commanded I them, saying,

Obey my voice, and I will be your God,

and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye

in all the ways that I have commanded

you, that it may be well unto you.

Jeremiah 7:23

The Learjet was ready.  It had been fueled, two reliable pilots were in place, baggage was loaded and at least four passengers were on board.  A flight plan had been turned in to authorities and on to the control tower.  The time was 9:19 AM Eastern time when the plane took off.  The FAA said air traffic controllers lost radio contact with the plane at 9:44 AM just after they had cleared the twin-engine jet to climb to 39,000 feet.  An FAA spokesman said that air traffic controllers noted "significant changes in altitude" by the plane, but that the aircraft's crew did not respond to repeated radio calls from the ground.

All radio contact had been lost with the Learjet, but air controllers could tell the plane was still airborne.  Any problem with the jet could not be determined at that time.  It appeared that the auto-pilot system had taken over the plane that was now headed northwest.  Several military jets were assigned to locate the plane and keep it in sight.  By 12:54 PM, two Air National Guard F-16s caught up with the Learjet and reported that the aircraft's windows were fogged with ice and that no flight control movement could be seen.  At 1:14 PM, the F-16s reported that the Learjet was beginning to spiral toward the ground.  Throughout the time of it being followed, pilots reported that the Learjet had varied in altitude as low as 22,000 feet to as high as 51,000 feet but never strayed from a northwest heading.

The Learjet was fully equipped with all pressurization equipment as well as oxygen equipment.  The jet had streaked uncontrolled for thousands of miles across the heart of the country,  its occupants apparently unconscious or already dead before it plunged nose first and crashed in a field near Mina, SD.  No one on the ground was hurt and there were no survivors aboard the aircraft which went down in a marshy area.

Names of those on board the Learjet would probably not be known nationwide except for the main person for whom the jet had been requested.  He was a very dapper and popular professional golfer by the name of Payne Stewart who was on his way to Dallas, TX.  He would  then fly to Houston, TX to play in the PGA Championship Tournament, the tour's final event of the year.

More recently, Payne Stewart had found faith in Jesus Christ through the influence of his children.  He commented after that experience, "I'm so much more at peace with myself than I've ever been in my life."  The sports world was shaken by this sudden and mysterious loss of a golf legend, but he had already made a mark for good and for God on all he came in contact with after his salvation experience.

There was nothing to avoid that terrible plane crash event.  All had been done possible to check out the plane and it's ability to function as it should.  I'll never forget seeing on television the first day of that golf tournament in Houston where most of the golf pro's lined up, each teeing up a golf ball and on signal with one synchronized swing, they together hit their golf balls into the air as a salute to Payne Stewart.

As I read all the reports of this tragic incident, I began  to see some spiritual parallels to this situation and I began to draw some comparisons to my own slavation and spiritual experience.  I believe many of these comparisons can be made with other Christians who are alert to their own spiritual walk, and yes, spiritual needs.  Let me share, please.

1.  The day we accepted Jesus as Savior, we got on board with Him and life would never again be the same for us.

*  We accepted a new Pilot for our lives...God Himself.

*   A new life's flight plan was filed.

*  We were fully provided with the assistance of a co-pilot...the Holy Spirit.

*  We took off on a wonderful spiritual adventure for a lifetime and eternity.

2.  Hopefully, through life as we travel with the Lord, we will walk in obedience, fellowship and in close relationship with Him.

3.  For some folks, even though a flight plan is in place, fuel and power in abundance, some things can go wrong to create a breach in that relationship. This breach will never involve Pilot error.  When something like that happens, we have to look in our spiritual mirrors and not at anyone else.

4.  Whatever goes wrong in our relationship with the Lord, will sooner or later be noticed by others.

Trailing pilots observing the troubled plane noticed the windows of the Learjet were iced over.  This was an expected thing to happen in a plane that had lost oxygen and pressurization.  Those are things essential for the preservation of life on a plane.  In our spiritual walk, we must have the essential inputs of God to keep us alive and functioning spiritually.  We need the input of God's Word, times of prayer, fellowship with God's people, etc.  Without those things, there begins to be an icing, a coldness about us that comes when we are lacking those things God has provided to keep us on a steady, spiritual course.

5.  God has a plan.

He doesn't have to turn that plan into anyone but us.  He makes this plan clear to those of us who really want ot know what it is.  Without the knowledge of it, we are flying through life with no direction.  Even if we lose our way, it may appear we are flying on steady course, but it isn't the course God has planned for us.  We will not reach the destination He has in mind without knowledge of that plan and our determination to follow it.

6.  It is always a tragedy seeing a Christian crash. 

 It's never a pretty sight and it takes time for the spiritual recuperating process to take place.  Hopefully such Christians can realize mistakes made and get back on track.  God is always near to help in that process and His help is necessary in that process for it means reaching out to Him in repentance and accepting His way of living life.

Payne Stewart's untimely death was a tragedy to us humanly speaking.  For him, however, it meant nothing but Glory.  For the straying Christian, there is usually a loss of testimony and the opportunity for being a Godly influence in the lives of others.

So, I ask some questions:

1.  Do I know for a fact that I am a born again Christian?

This is the most important question that must be answered.  The born again Christian is Heaven bound.  The person who isn't a saved person will only know a Christ-less eternity.  I am personally thankful I know I am Heaven bound.  It certainly is of no credit to me.  It is all credit to Jesus Christ who paid my debt of sin.  (My Pilot)

2.  How much time each day do I spend in God's Word?  (My fuel)

3.  What is my prayer life like?  (Keeping in contact with the "Control Tower")

4.  Do I really know God's will for my life and if so, am I following it?  (My flight plan)

5.  Am I staying in fellowship with God's people through church, Bible studies, etc.?

(Traveling this life with those of common spirit is an encouragement and help when I need either.)

Our goal is to stay on course with the help of our Pilot and then to reach our final destination.  Along the way, we will experience some turbulence...that's just a part of the trip.  God so dearly loves us and wants us to be a positive witness for His glory.  We must know the Pilot and accept Him into our lives, stay fueled, keep in touch with the control tower, know God's flight plan, follow it and make fellow Christians our fellow passengers on the journey.  Crashing Christians are very sad to behold.  We must do all we can to avoid being a spiritual casualty.  Payne Stewart didn't reach his earthly destination with no fault of his own, but He did reach his Heavenly one.  May it be so for each of us as well...no ticket necessary.

Dear Father, my Pilot...

How I love traveling this life with You.  You are so faithful to love and lead in my life.  I pray I will always listen to You, Holy Spirit, and heed Your voice in my life.  I want to stay on course and so live my life that others will see You in me.  I err so often, but You are so faithful to forgive and steer me back on the right way.  I am so honored to be Your child and look forward spending all of my days with You both now and into eternity.   Amen.

Preparing the Heart

I have many pleasant memories of my elementary years at Lincoln Grade School.  One of those memories has to do with the day I first realize I could read.  Reading has been a mainstay in my life ever since.  Another highlight for me was in my second grade year when I joined the Brownie Scouts.  I loved being a Brownie all decked out in my official brown dress with Brownie Scout pin attached. (I still have that pin that my Mother saved for me).  But at the end of my third grade year, a ceremony was held at our last Brownie meeting of the school year when some Girl Scouts came to our meeting and pinned us with our official Girl Scout pin.  Talk about feeling as grown up as could be, that was it.   In all of our scouting experience, we were introduced to a word that I think leaders took for granted we knew the meaning of and that word was..."prepare".   Our motto was:  "Be prepared"  and we said it over and over.  I knew it was a good thing to do or be so didn't question it.  

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "prepare" as to making ready beforehand for some purpose.  We know the importance of being prepared in many areas.  Cooks prepare meals, teachers prepare lesson plans, doctors have had to tell family members, "Prepare for the worst" as if that can really be done and the list could go on and on.

Recently I have been doing a study in the book of Ezra.  I know that's an odd place to be in Scripture, but believe me, I've been in odder places than that.  I personally believe we miss out on much God would have us learn from Scripture when we practically ignore the Old Testament except for our frequent reading of Psalms and Proverbs.  In every Old Testament book, we find the heart and character of God revealed as clearly as they are revealed in the New Testament.  There are jewels to be found in the Old as well as the New Testament if we are willing to do a little digging.

Ezra was a scribe who was a part of the captivity of God's people into the land of Babylon.  However the remnant that was allowed to return to Jerusalem after the captivity was led by Ezra.  Others had gone before his group to restore the city and temple.  Ezra was to return and was very excited about being back in the homeland.  Ezra, however, didn't just pack a bag for the trip.  Ezra was greatly anticipating this homeward journey and we see some of his spiritual anticipation in Ezra 7:11:

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law

of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel

statutes and judgments.

Ezra had strong feelings for the Laws and Word of God.  Israel had been in captivity, away from their Godly heritage and the teachings of it.  The people were going to have to be brought up to par if they were going to get back to being the people God wanted them to be.  They had gone into captivity because of their disobedience and coldness toward the things of God.  It was going to be important for them to not repeat the sin and mistakes of the past.  Ezra's job was to bring revival to his people and revival never comes minus the teaching of and adherence to the Word of God.

There are four things I noticed in this one verse about Ezra, four steps he took in getting back to the basics spiritually.  It would have to happen in him first and he knew that well.  What were those things he put into place?

1.  He HAD PREPARED his heart.

Before even tackling what God had planned, Ezra prepared his own heart.  This always takes some settling down, thinking, evaluating and even making plans.  Ezra didn't just jump and run.  He was more methodical than that.  He knew God's call but he also let it soak into his heart and mind.  When he did that, he was ready to act.

When we approach Scripture, whether to read or study it, we too need to prepare.  Many times the tendency is to sit down with Bible in hand, no plan, no thought ahead of time, read at random and expect to reap the fullest from our time in God's Word.  The proper approach to the Word should always be that of prayer.  It cleans us up, focuses our attention, and gets us centered on the Holy Spirit.  After all, we can get nothing of any depth of meaning from it without asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Jesus told His disciples:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name, he

shall teach you all things, and bring all

things to your remembrance, whatsoever

I have said unto you.

John 14:26

2.  Ezra had prepared his heart probably in many ways but the big way was to SEEK the Law of the Lord.

We don't know if Ezra had to do an actual physical search for a copy of Scripture or not.  Theologians discuss this part of the verse as to what that word "seek" meant.  Either way, Ezra had prepared his heart for what the Law would say to him when he had it in hand.  Either way, he was a seeker.  He was a scribe.  He knew the Word as well as anyone could after years of captivity, but even though a teacher, he had to assimilate the Word for himself.  He couldn't rely on the teachings of others.  I don't know how many times I've told ladies how unfair it is to keep afloat spiritually through a preacher or teacher.  As good as any may be, we have to seek the Word for ourselves allowing the Holy Spirit to work on us individually.  I'm afraid that very often our reading is so casual that we don't even see half of what it says.

3.  Ezra prepared his heart to DO it.

What did Ezra do?..".IT"...what was  " IT."..seeking the law of the Lord.  However, it didn't  stop there for Ezra.  He was prepared to put feet to the commands and directions he saw in the Law.  He was a responder, not just a seeker.  Being a seeker sounds good but what is that worth without putting action to what we have convicted of.

Spiritually we usually know what God wants us to do...it's a matter of knuckling down and doing it.  I have generally found that women who seek advice usually know already what God would have them do.  Maybe they want some kind of human confirmation or perhaps they want someone to talk them out of what they know they should do.

Some honest questions are in order:

          *  Am I going to read my Bible on a regular basis?

          *  Am I going to pay attention to what I read?

          *  Am I going to ask the Holy Spirit to teach me?

          *  When convicted to action, am I determined to do what Scripture asks of me?

I believe every Christ, sometime in his/her walk comes to a crisis where the Word of God is concerned.  We must decide if what we read has enough validity to put it into the very core of our spiritual being and then to put it into everyday action.  The decision of what Ezra was going to do with the Word was as good as decided when he "had prepared his heart."

4.  Ezra knew he had to TEACH the laws and judgments of God to his people.

What God taught Ezra regarding His word, Ezra knew he had to pass that along to his people or they would remain in spiritual ignorance.  This is where many Christians duck.  I am a teacher, love teaching, and feel it's God's gift given to me to teach.  I've done it for years.  It's not a matter of bragging, it's just a matter of fact.  I hasten to add, however, that every Christian walking and talking on this earth is a teacher.  We teach all the time and don't realize it.  We teach in our lifestyle and conversation, we teach in the casual advice we give a friend, we teach through notes and cards we send to others and we teach through media contact such as Facebook and e-mailing.

For instance, I can't tell you the things I have learned from friends on Facebook and e-mails.  Some share things they've learned through devotionals or in sharing verses of Scripture.  Many share quotes, messages or small articles that on certain days come to me as refreshing as a cool drink of water on a very hot day.  Many Christians shy away from these means through media.  If Christians would only view these tools as a means for being a spiritual encouragement by sharing God's blessings or His Word through meaningful verses of Scripture.

Ezra was broken hearted when he got to Jerusalem and saw the sin his people had already become involved in, one being the intermarrying with the heathen "ites."  Through the teaching of Ezra, but mostly through his praying, the people separated themselves from their immediate sinful ways.  One of the sweetest prayers in Scripture is prayed by Ezra in 9:5-15, a prayer in many parts we could pray over our own country.  When you have a few minutes, read it for yourself.

With prepared hearts, we are not only equipped to seek from the Word of God, but to do it in the power of God.  As we learn, we teach others perhaps in quiet ways the teachings the Holy Spirit has taught us through His Word.  So Ezra PREPARED, SOUGHT, DID  and TAUGHT.  Can we do no less?

Heavenly Father...So often  I have a surfacy love of your Word.  I believe it, I wouldn't want to be without it, but I'm often too casual with it.  Help me to prepare my heart for your Word in anticipation of what You want to say to me through it.  Holy Spirit, be my teacher.  I pray you would also energize me in putting into my living the walk of obedience.  Thank you for providing the Bible to me that I may love and know You better.  Amen

Be Alert

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that

is to be brought unto you at the revelation

of Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:13

About thirty years ago, I went to Buffalo, NY to speak at a Mother-Daughter breakfast.  I flew up on Friday afternoon and returned late the next day.  The event was a wonderful one with the pastoral staff and deacons serving all of us royally to a wonderful breakfast with all of the trimmings.

My plane wasn't due to leave until late afternoon which gave us a few hours to kill after the breakfast festivities.  My friend asked me if I had ever seen Niagara Falls to which I replied in the negative.  He and his wife decided to take me on a quick trip to show me this wonderful sight.

Soon after our departure from Buffalo, I noticed  that we were driving right beside a river.  My host told me that it was the river that fed the falls.  He asked me to keep observing the river and to speak up the minute I saw a small white ripple on top of the water.  As we continued to drive, I noticed along the shore of the river caution signs telling those fishing or recreating on the water to turn back.  The further we drove on the road, it was obvious that the warning signs were becoming  more frequent with even bigger letters.

It seemed in ever so short a time that I saw the first ripple.  I mentioned it to my host.  He said that if I were on the river fishing and my boat reached that first ripple that at that moment, I was as good as dead.  He said from that point on the water, there is no boat with any size motor that can turn the boat back to the shore because of the strong, intense current of the water.  The current at that point drags anything of any size right to the edge of the falls.  He told me that at times, a rope has been thrown to people in trouble that have been helped, but by the time a person wakes up to his situation, it's just too late to do much of anything for the one in peril. 

I'm afraid at times, the longer we have been Christians, the more careless we become with this Christian life of ours.  We may have been in church for years, know the books of the Bible by heart and most of the hymns in the hymnbook.  We are faithful to every church service and Sunday school session and may hold any number of positions in the congregation.  Any or all of these things can cause us to become too casual about our relationship with Christ.

I thought of fishermen on that river drifting to their own destruction.  Knowing fishermen, they tend to become very engrossed in their fishing.  My Dad was a fisherman.  He really concentrated on what he was doing to the point he was oblivious to anything or anyone around him.  He could be in a drifting row boat and not even notice the slightest change in location on the water.  Sportsmen who fished on that dangerous river that led to Niagara Falls surely knew the dangers involved when launching a boat in that water to begin with.  People do things they feel sure and comfortable with which may often lead to a lessening of caution.

What does this have to do with anything?  What contributes to a Christian going over the edge and crashing on the rocks of the world?  We must be ever vigilant and alert to the following:

1.  Be alert to location and activities that do not honor the Lord.

Just as those fishermen on a dangerous river had to know the dangers of that river, we must be alert to the dangers the world presents.  It's easy to live in this world and deny the evil that exists in it.  We need to be wise as to places we go that might not be the most beneficial to us.  There are places we know we should avoid or we risk getting drawn into problems we don't need.  Like those on that treacherous river, we too may become sure of ourselves, sure that no disaster can befall us.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27

Notice sometime on the news the circumstances that often contribute to people getting into serious trouble.  I like to watch real life mysteries on TV.  There is one thing that frequently catches my attention...people being at the wrong places at the wrong times.  Many put themselves in dangerous positions where problems can easily occur.  Christians must be cautious.  This world system is not our friend.  An enemy is out to destroy us in any way possible.  We sometimes feel we are untouchable by consequences of our behaviors because we are Christians.  That's another mistake.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

I Corinthians 10:12

2.  Be alert regarding who you "go fishing" with..

I was told by my friend in New York that alot of the time when a boat went over the Falls, there were often two people in the boat.  Surely if a fisherman is with a friend, the friend would help keep an eye out for impending danger.  We need those Christians in our lives who will not only keep us built up and encouraged in the Lord, but who love us enough to hold us accountable if they see us headed for spiritual disaster.  That doesn't give us permission to go on spiritual witch hunts.  We Christians all have our own personal flaws.  A rule of thumb in this thing of accountability is relationship.  A relationship with another Christian indicates a love and care for another individual, wanting what is in the best interest of that friend.  As parents, we often cautioned our children about having the right kind of friends.  This takes discretion on the part of children and adults.  Unfortunately, whether parents or children, we must be careful who we become close friends with even within the church.  Remember that not everyone is a good fishing buddy.

                               Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth

                                          the countenance of his friend.

                                                       Proverbs 27:17                             

3.  Watch the "signs" of impending disaster.

I would put the word "signs" in two categories...printed and personal.

We have the best, boldest and biggest signs possible in the form of God's Word when it comes to any circumstance of life.  We find in the Bible our instructions for life that builds our relationship with Christ.  We also find in the Bible warnings and cautions God put there to keep us safe from the evil one.  This word we receive from Him can come through our personal Bible study, personal meditation time with the Lord, the preaching and teaching of God's Word, reading good spiritual materials that are theologically sound and taking advantage of every opportunity of spending sweet moments in His presence.

                              Order my steps in thy word; and let not any

                                         iniquity have dominion over me.            

                                                      Psalm 119:133

The other signs we may notice are personal ones.  One big danger sign for any of us is our own  level of spiritual interest.  This really isn't too hard to detect if we choose to be honest with ourselves.  There are some folks I am sure who drift ever so slowly down their own river of life oblivious to impending, spiritual danger.  However, most of us know when we're drifting spiritually...lack of interest in church and Sunday school attendance, very little attention to reading the Bible, prayer life just about dead, and perhaps spiritual sensitivity all but non-existent are some major indicators.  For the true Christian, the Holy Spirit will speak and try to woo us back into the place we ought to be in, but His voice can become more and more distant the longer we choose to resist Him.  When we refuse to listen, then we are surely headed to the edge of the falls where spiritual wreckage can occur.

4.  We have to consider how others are affected  by our spiritual conditions.

I thought of families who had to be notified of the demise of loved ones who had gone over those mighty Niagara Falls.  Bodies had to be recovered, empty places at the dinner table, children without a parent, financial consequences, not considering all of the emotional damage done to family and friends.  When one is a walking, talking spiritual disaster, let me say that a tremendous amount of damage is done to friends and loved ones as well.  Some may turn their backs on God for a lifetime because of the negative example set by careless Christians.

I must say that Niagara Falls was one of the most awesome things I had ever seen...what a wonder of God's creation.  But a more beautiful creation than that is what happens when Jesus Christ comes to live, rule and reign in the life of a human being.  The power of the Holy Spirit is the greatest power known ( sorry Niagara Falls) and He is in us enabling us to be all for Christ we can and want to be.  May we stay alert and sensitive to His leading and may we stay on course, avoiding going over the edge into the abyss of spiritual disaster.

PRAYER:

Dear Father...Keep us from spiritual pride that ever makes the statement, "That could never happen to me."  With those words, Satan flexes his evil muscles, ready to pounce.  Keep us sensitive to Your leading.  Help us watch the signs when spiritually drifting.  Thank You for loving us so much that You desire to rescue me when I do drift.  I love you, Father, and never want to disappoint you.  Amen.