In Season

 

To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under

the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Preach the word; be instant

in season, out of season...

II Timothy 4:2a

About this time of year, many folks experience falling into the doldrums. In our country, we've gone through lots of holiday hoopla. It started October 1 and ended January 2...lots of celebrating, purchasing, eating, decorating, dressing up, anticipation of parties and gifts...and on an on. Whether we like it or not, or whether we even participate in all of the hilarity, we are caught up in it all emotionally. January 2 arrives and about all there is to get excited about are football teams, pro and college finishing up their seasons. If we aren't into football, we don't even have that going for us.

I spoke with a friend many years ago who was a part of the funeral business. That funeral home had just had a service for someone who had committed suicide. In our conversation, I asked if there are certain months in the year where the suicide rate seems to be higher than other times. Two months were mentioned. One I couldn't understand but the other was obvious....August and January. January I understood because it is a real “downer” month after all of the holiday highs. Perhaps when it comes to August, there can be a lot of change, but I'm not sure about this month.

Believe it or not, we Christians are just as affected by the three months of holiday events as is anyone else. Even though we may take part in church activities that consists of class parties, children's Christmas programs, family Thanksgiving dinners, choir specials and there are probably more I could list, we are still affected. All of these events for we Christians are wonderful, wholesome, blessings and memorable in every way. We may be busy singing all of the Christmas hymns (as I choose to call them), read the familiar holiday Scriptures, extend generosity to those in need...all good things.

Here's the sad thing in it all...our Father is usually pushed to the back of our minds, if not left out completely. It's easy to become lax in our usual activity for Him that often replaces our love and service for God. When we get past it all, it's as if we suddenly wake up to the fact that we'd better get back to some normalcy. The problem is that it's hard playing catch up. We can't really make up the time lost because of our intensive involvement in so many other things. Those three months of holiday activities can move us backward instead of forward spiritually speaking.

So how do we get back on track?

We first need to confess our spiritual negligence to God and make any necessary corrections. Hopefully we learn from mistakes and try with all that is in us to do better the next holiday season in sticking with spiritual priorities. In order to solve a problem, we have to admit that there is one and then make necessary changes.

Secondly, embrace the new year. There are things we can plan for 2014 to look forward to...vacations, weddings, birth of babies in the family, spiritual retreats, etc. All such things will keep us looking forward.

Third, we need to set some goals, spiritual and otherwise that will bring some real growth in our lives. Some of these things could be: work to get out of or stay away from debt, or focus on being physically healthy (physical checkup, dental checkup, be faithful to taking any prescribed medications, exercise, eat healthy, etc.). We need to evaluate where we are spiritually. One of the dangers of holidays and their frivolity is that we are pulled away from our normal spiritual routine. This is where it gets difficult because it's hard to get back to some normalcy in our own power. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit for the power and resolve to serve God in every way. We also have to determine some things within ourselves. We are too quick to give in to defeat, declaring our weakness and helplessness. As God's kids, there should be no such thing as giving up spiritually when we have His power at our fingertips.

If we go by feelings, we will rarely read our Bibles, pray or remain faithful to spiritual responsibilities. There must be a determination and a grit in us to do what is right in God's sight. In this case, determination and obedience go hand in hand. My hope for us all is to be faithful...in season and out of season. No matter the days or times, our faithfulness in relationship with our Father must be maintained. This will be done through Holy Spirit power in each of our lives.

Dear Father, forgive me for my lack of spiritual discipline no matter the days or holidays. I want to be faithful to You and maintain my fellowship with You no matter the times. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for the love You pour into my life, knowing that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus' precious name...Amen.

Holy Ground

 

And He said, “Draw not nigh
hither: put off thy shoes from
off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is
holy ground.”

Exodus 3:5

I have always been fascinated in the books of Genesis and Exodus with the response of men to whom God spoke and their reactions. These were men, who for the most part didn't know the God you and I know. God appeared to Abram and right out of the shoot told Abram to move from the place he was living to a land he knew nothing about. Imagine that conversation with Sarai:

Abram: “Sarai, we're moving.”

Sarai: “Where to?”

Abram: “Don't know the place.”

Sarai: “Who told you we were moving?”

Abram: “God.”

Sarai: “Who's God?”

Abram: “Don't know Him very well.”

The conversation could have gone on and on. I'm judging a lot from what some of my reactions have been when Brian has come home to tell me that we were moving. You can't imagine my questions even with full information. In Abram & Sarai's day, doing a lot of moving to some other country wasn't the usual. Abram's response to God, however, was one of obedience. As he stood in God's presence, there was an immediate respect and positive response.

What about Noah? He didn't know God either. The future existence of the human race was to rest on his shoulders if he obeyed the voice of God. The comical thing to me with Noah is that he didn't know what an ark (boat) was. He didn't even know what rain was. At that time the earth was still watered by a mist. He didn't know about any waters in the deep that could erupt to the surface of the earth. Think what it took Noah to obey God and then to try to explain it all to his family. Worse yet was doing the job with everyone around him laughing and making fun of him.

Moses, too, had a major encounter with God. He stood before a burning bush, one that wasn't consumed and from it, we read how God spoke to Him. He too was asked to do something major for God that was going to take a great deal of faith like Abram and Noah. What I find interesting is what God said to Moses that is our opening verse. Moses was out shepherding that was his regular job. He was out minding his own business when something very dynamic happened. God appeared to Moses...the great I AM appeared to Moses with a really big charge that was to take place in his life. A bush that was burning drew Moses' attention and then God spoke from the bush.

Moses was told three things by God in the beginning of a lengthy conversation:

“Draw not nigh hither”...Moses could have been burned or even died because of the fire, but being in that much of God's presence could have also caused some serious physical problems. Don't know on this one all of the why's and wherefore's.

“Take off thy shoes from off thy feet,..” Of course in that day, sandals were worn but to remove ones shoes under these circumstances was an indication of respect toward one who was considered to be a superior. It was also a thing of trust. Sandals were important to one like Moses who was working out on rocky, and often treacherous ground. Adults kept sandals on their feet for protection. However, it must be noted that slaves of that day went barefoot that indicated their own personal relationship of respect and obeisance toward their owners.

“For the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”... This is the most important part of the verse that fascinates me. What made the ground where Moses was standing “holy ground?” I believe it was because he was in the very presence of God, and it was where He chose to meet with and speak with Moses. With that being the case, I believe Abram and Noah stood on that same kind of ground minus the burning bush. What did those three men have in common? All three of them had a personal encounter with God Himself. All three were called upon by God to do some things that would change their world. All three responded in positive ways to God's bidding.

When was the last time we felt like we stood on holy ground...yes, we born again people? I will venture to say that we should look forward to times on holy ground for it is exactly that when God speaks to us in such a meaningful way that we feel we have been with everything holy. Do we anticipate when walking into our churches on Sundays that we are about to stand on holy ground, feeling that God is about to speak to us. What about when we read our Bibles and the Holy Spirit speaks so clearly into our minds and hearts? Do we feel like taking our shoes off because of being in the presence of God's holiness.

I am the one who types the church bulletin for our church. Someone asked me the other day why I don't put cartoons or humorous things in the bulletin instead of Scripture verses and meaningful quotations. I told her that it's because when entering the church, there's nothing funny going on as far as I'm concerned. We need to be preparing for walking on holy ground. We are so into spiritual entertainment that we want to get lots of laughs and fun stuff at church. What a horrible way to treat God. He wants to speak and we want to laugh and joke...there goes the holy ground. I'm not saying we can't smile, be pleasant and even laugh. However, we mustn't loose sight of the importance of that holy ground that makes up our spiritual hearts where God wants to speak and us respond.

We don't have to back away from Him or even remove our shoes. God wants to speak and wants us to regard those times as meaningful and yes, holy. May the words to a familiar song always be meaningful as we think of our relationship with our Father.

We are standing on holy ground,
And I know that there are angels all around.
Let us praise Jesus now,
We are standing in His presence on holy ground.

May we ever long for those precious times on holy ground. It is there we come to know God's heart for us as well as His plan for us. It's where our relationship deepens with Him and we feel His love for us in the most meaningful of ways. So, wherever we meet Him with sincerity of heart, there we are in His presence on holy ground.

Dear Father...I so often take for granted that You want to meet with me regularly and want to be a part of my life like no one else. Help me, Father, and grant me more of a longing for “holy ground” times in my life. I love you...In Jesus precious name...Amen

Unspiritual Clutter

Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature: old things are

passed away; behold, all things

are become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

Every now and then, I watch one of the “hoarding” television programs. To be honest, they make me sick but that's okay. I watch such for one purpose. I want to be reminded that almost anyone can end up with a very cluttered house because in the beginning it seems like such a slow happening. People who are hoarders have generally accumulated their “precious stuff” over a period of time. Even though a psychiatrist may be brought in to help a hoarder cope with the cleaning up process, the whole clean up event can become hostile. In the beginning, the attending psychiatrist will usually pick up something from off the floor...something very insignificant like a scrap of paper. He will usually ask the hoarders permission to throw it way. That's when he's really confronted with what he's in for because most hoarders will give a reason for saving a dirty, torn scrap of paper.

With everything going on even with a counselor present with the hoarder, it's amazing how the smallest, dirtiest item is protected, not to be discarded. I've often wondered if the hoarder didn't want to throw out that filthy piece of scrap paper, then what's going to happen when they get to the really big stuff.

People working on such a project find some things in common upon their arrival. First of all, upon entering the house the experience a horrible smell. Many respond by putting a handkerchief over their noses and mouths. Then there is the sight...stuff, junk, garbage stacked and packed floor to ceiling. Rotten food, infestation of bugs and even rodents is evident. It's also noticeable that there's no place to sit. The hoarder may have a chair and part of a bed that is clear for use but that's about all. The kitchen is totally unusable. The refrigerator is usually packed with spoiled food and beverages. No clean dishes can be seen, so paper plates have been used and then thrown on the nearest pile of junk in the room. I won't even go into the condition of the bathroom. One of the major problems (and a dangerous one) is that there is only one very narrow path through the house and very often it is obstructed at times with more junk making the house a real hazard for falling and even a house fire.

With the condition of such a house, it becomes obvious that people living in the house seem to have their share of mental or emotional problems. One could say that the hoarding is caused by mental issues. However, hoarding can also lead to mental and emotional problems. You see, space is very important to us as individuals. We need space to move and a place to breathe. We need light coming through the windows and we also need to be able to move about unhindered. There ends up being so many health issues for folks who have become accustomed to the hoarding way of life that they don't even consider that.

As sad as it is for folks who get caught up in hoarding, keep the hoarding problem in mind, but let's switch to the problem of hoarding in our spiritual lives. As sad as it is to see folks so miserable in their junked up houses, it's also sad if we as Christians find ourselves hoarding some things in our lives that ought not to be so. We can ignore our spiritual clutter/junk just like hoarders living in an immeasurable mess. Most don't mind the mess they live in...it's become a way of life and a means of security for most.

We may live in nice houses that don't have to be mansions or castles...they are just home to us and I don't know a one of my friends who live in a filthy mess due to hoarding. However, how about the temple that we are as Christians? We are told that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit...it's where He lives if we are born again Christians. I wonder how cluttered up our individual temples are with spiritual junk. In some cases (and I hope not) folks may have become accustomed to such spiritual junk, used to it and comfortable with it but God isn't. It isn't physical junk that we can tough or see with our physical eyes. It is junk though that occupies our minds and hearts.

Let me list some things that can fall into the category of spiritual junk that we might we guilty of hoarding:

+Unfaithfulness to the things of God...church attendance, service, devotions. Most hoarders can't even locate a Bible in their cluttered houses.

+Unforgiveness...this is one many almost hold and caress, proud of their unforgiving spirits

+Hurt feelings...this is going to happen...forget it, get over it and walk away from it

+Dirty mind...there are Christians who feed their minds on the things of the world and their spirits are contaminated

+Temper...how quick are we to be upset with people or situations and are quick to blow a gasket

+Gossip...I don't even think Christians consider this a sin anymore but it is and keeps our minds cluttered with information we don't have any business knowing or remembering

The list could go on and on. We have the best Psychiatrist there ever could be to help us with this de-cluttering project. We may resist but nothing is going to work right if we don't work in cooperation with Him. Ridding ourselves of all this clutter of the world has some huge benefits:

+Open, loving relationship with God...with nothing between ourselves and the Savior

+Our testimony will please God and can be of influence in the lives of those who need our example

+We will see more answers to prayer in our lives

+God's word with break through our minds and hearts with a new and powerful refreshment we perhaps haven't known in a long time

+We will have the joy of being in partnership with the Holy Spirit in this cleaning up process that will bring about a whole new relationship with Him.

Lord Jesus,

I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to ransom my soul;

Break down every idol,

Cast out every foe:

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow,

Yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Amen and Amen!!

Something Old and Something New

Remember ye not the former things,

neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now

it shall spring forth...

Isaiah 43:18-19a

Well...what did you get for Christmas? Even as an adult, did you get something you really wanted or perhaps you got things for Christmas that you didn't expect but that you liked very much. Either way, I think we enjoy new things. As I've been out and about over the last few days, it's been fun to observe children at church, malls or restaurants. Some little girls I saw were carrying new baby dolls. I saw a little girl at Kroger’s pushing her new little grocery cart. Boys have computer games for the most part but I saw a couple of Tonka trucks being carried around. New outfits were being worn by many girls and women. Christmas is a fun time for the new.

I love the verses above. First God says to His people to not remember or think about things past. I'm sitting here typing on New Year's Eve. I have a choice while on the brink of 2014. I can think of my mess ups of 2013, and believe me, I've had them. I didn't mean to mess up but I'm a member of a fallen people and you are as well. I've found more with Christians the tendency to look back and grieve over past mistakes. God plainly says that we aren't to look back to those times of regret and disappointment.

In this new year though, I believe God puts before us some new things. Knowing my Heavenly Father, I'm sure He has some wonderful things for my life already prepared for me to experience. Thrown in the mix though I know will be times of testing. Those things should not come as any surprise for we are promised testing and trials that are meant to fine tune us in our walk with the Lord.

So, 2014 is a time to look forward. I try to do my part as I look forward to a fresh new year. I don't choose to make resolutions. A resolution indicates what a person resolves to do in her own strength. They rarely work for me beyond the month of January. However, I do jot down some goals because I don't want to just flat line spiritually in this new year. I don't only want to be more for the Lord this year, but want to grow in Him like never before. My desire is to really know Him and rid myself of past junk.

I find myself feeling bad right now. I've searched high and low for a church that might be having New Years Eve services....watchnight services, we used to call them. One of my fondest memories about the new year is going to church new year's eve and seeing in the new year in prayer with fellow believers. The service didn't start until 8:00 or 9:00. We would have a regular church service and then break for a big potluck meal. After the meal, we would then view a Christian film or have some other activity. There were testimonies and lots of singing. Then at about 15 minutes before midnight, the group went to prayer. By then, little kids were asleep with their blankies on various church pews. Right at midnight or a minute afterward, the pastor would then lead the group in prayer. After prayer, people were hugging and wishing God's best for the new year for friends and family.

What happened? Well, if you've noticed at all, it's next to impossible to get Christians out for a Sunday night or Wednesday night service. As I've inquired as to why there are no New Year Eve services, I've been told pretty much the same thing...people won't come. A couple of people told me that things are different now. They say that there are lots of activities for folks to take part in...some spiritual but mostly not. I guess it's a spiritual indicator of how far we've fallen.

So at home tonight, I'll look forward to 2014, something new. I'll take a good look at myself and how I can do better with Holy Spirit help. I need more of the basics...prayer life, more time spent in the Word, working more with my Sunday school class...I even need more piano practice so that I can do a better job with the church music program.

I have learned through the years that if I aim at nothing, I'm sure to hit it. There are things all of us can do to walk in closer relationship with the Lord. The day is going to come, however, when in Heaven, we can be assured of God's loving intent no matter the year.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain: for the former

things are passed away.

And He that sat upon the throne said,

“Behold, I make all things new.

Revelation 21:4-5a

Perhaps 2014 will be the year that Jesus will come for us. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing. Talk about something really new...can't beat that. Come, Lord Jesus...come quickly!

Dear Father...I thank you for 2013 and the things I learned during that time. I'm so grateful for Your guidance and love during the hard times, but I'm looking around the corner to 2014. Walk me through it...may I not walk ahead of You or behind. I want to be right where You are.   I love you....In Jesus' name...Amen