Been There, Done That

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

So often, we are quick to say to some who is in distress for any reason, “I know how you feel.” A few years ago, I taught one of the most delightful ladies Sunday school classes in the world. The president of our class at the time was a dear lady, Norma. I always thought I'd like to be like her when I grew up...just a very special person. One day in class, Norma asked us to pray for her regarding a doctor's appointment that week. She had Macular Degeneration and was to have an injection in her eye at her appointment. I cringed at the thought, but like others in the class, promised to pray for her and did. I didn't really know what all was involved with that condition, but knew Norma wasn't looking forward to her appointment.

At this writing, I have just returned home from my eye doctor's office. Every time I go there, I think of Norma. Last fall, it was discovered that I too have Macular Degeneration and now I have to go every 4-6 weeks for an injection in my eye. May I tell you that it is scary and not a lot of fun. It wipes me out more emotionally than physically. NOW, if Norma were here, I could sincerely say, “I know how you feel.”

Several years ago, I had a friend who sent her son off to college, a college at some distance from home. I think for at least three months, that dear mother wept in my presence more than we were able to talk. It went on for weeks and weeks, not just with me but with others as well. I remember hoping that I would do better if one of my children went off to college at some distance. At the time, there was nothing I could say or do to console my friend. In reality, I had not idea the depth of her pain.

Guess what? I drove a our daughter from Texas to South Carolina to attend college. I can't tell you how torn up I was. Most of the way back home, I couldn't have even told you what highway I was on or through what state I was traveling. Talk about upset...wow. All of a sudden, I knew what that friend of mine had felt. I am usually good had holding in emotions and was when I got home, but until I got home, I was a mess. In those days, God was definitely my co-pilot. Again it took a shared, personal experience to really appreciate what others might be experiencing.

There may be times when we are critical or impatient with family members and other friends who seem to be taking some things in a more serious manner than we think is necessary. We smile, listen and may even be guilty of that no-no statement...”I know how you feel.” Despite our impatience and lack of understanding, Scripture speaks to some of this in such a way it may seem almost too simple:

Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with then that weep.
Be of the same mind one toward
another, mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate.
Be no wise in your own conceits.
Romans 12:15-16

Here are some practical pointers from these two verses:

*Rejoicing with someone who is rejoicing is harder than you might think. If a friend gets a new car or new house...announces her pregnancy when you can't bear children...a friend's child gets straight A's and your child doesn't. Come on now...do we feel like sincerely rejoicing. Don't be too quick with that answer.

*Weeping sincerely with another person who is in the depths of trouble can also take some doing when we haven't come to the point of having a compassionate (feeling with) heart.

*Try to put yourself in the others persons shoes even if you haven't experienced what they are going through.

*Probably as important as anything, is to not be so conceited that you feel you must give words words of wisdom regarding a situation you know little about because you just haven't been “there” in your own life's experience. Give no advice unless it is asked for. Give comfort and encouragement that God loves them and is in control. Encourage with the warmth of God's Word without being preachy.

In the last 40 or so years, I have known mothers who have children with serious illnesses. I was fortunate and felt so blessed that I had three children who were strong and healthy. I felt bad for those mother's, but often saw in them, God's grace oozing from their lives in those times of stress and concern. I assured them of my prayers for them and their children. I would ask frequently how things were going. Some ladies I would pray with on the spot if we weren't in a busy, open area.

Some years later, I've had children with some serious health issues. As I've walked this path, I've thought back to some of those ladies and my heart has been encouraged in the Lord as I've thought of them.

I love the fact that despite our finite minds and often lack of understanding and experience, we have Jesus. His comfort and understanding is beyond what anyone else can render.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are, yet
without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15,16

Dear Jesus, I realize you never had a doctor stick a needle in your eye nor did you bid farewell to a child going to college, but in Your all knowing wisdom of all things, You understand beyond our comprehension the various tests and trials we face. Thank You for Your love, grace and understanding of us no matter what we face on a daily basis...for it's in Your precious name....Amen

YESTERDAY

Jesus Christ
the same yesterday,
today,
and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

In the mid sixties, the Beatles recorded a song, written by Paul McCartney, one of their own group. It has a beautiful melody to it and the words, very melancholic. In the song, despite various scenarios, there is a repeat phrase I believe many people, including Christians, have come to adopt in many ways. That phrase is: “I believe in yesterday.”

In my years of teaching ladies and having many come to me for advice, I often have found something most of those ladies have had in common. It's a tiny thread that winds itself in and through many lives and that is the thread of “yesterday.”

There are many things in our lives Satan can use to try to rob us of our joy. I'm not sure our joy can be completely stolen if we are walking closely with our Savior, but it can be battered to a great extent. Most negative things in our lives can certainly rob us of our happiness. Our happiness relies on our hap-in-stances...those events we rely on to keep us smiling and satisfied. Joy is supposed to do that for the Christian and joy is one of those assets that comes into our lives through Jesus. Scripture goes so far as to tell us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

Things from our past can rise up at most any time to taunt us. Satan is good at digging up things taking us down a path of guilt and maybe even shame. Although we shouldn't, we may believe in yesterday more than we should...reliving over and over things long past.

I've talk to ladies who:

were untrue to their husbands
gave parents fits during their teen years
shop lifted from stores
had abortions
were addicted in the past to drugs or alcohol
deeply hurt good friends
failed to return library books years ago
wrote hot checks
left the scene of a minor car accident
pornography (yes, women can have the problem as well as men)

...and that list could go on and on if I could remember it all. Many have wept on my shoulder and many on the telephone. I've usually said to the caller, “Go ahead and cry...I'll hang on until you feel you can talk.” I have assured many that God's love putty so wonderfully fills in the cracks of our yesterdays and broken hearts as only His unconditional love can.

I believe there are times when we wish we could go back and do things differently, but knowing me, I'd make most of the same mistakes again in my own life. I have my own list that I've had to give to the Lord in repentance. His forgiveness is not only cleansing, but freeing as well. Life never gives us a do over. We have to just do whatever we can at the present time to do what's right and pleasing to the Lord. If we can do that, our yesterdays from this time on will pretty much take care of themselves.

My counsel has always been the same...seek forgiveness from Jesus with genuine repentance, making corrections in one's lifestyle may be called for. I am always amazed how careless we can be in putting ourselves right in Satan's path either in our worldly activities or associations. Somehow we tend to take on the same attitudes of our youth that nothing evil can touch us. No matter what age we are, we must be spiritually cautious.

Let's be practical:
*Stay in the Word of God...whether we feel like it or not.
*Be a person of prayer...our spiritual strength can be measured by our prayer lives.
*Be in God's house with God's people as often as possible. Being with God's family will be of genuine strength.
*Guard your heart. Keep a close check on your outside influences.
*Pick your friends carefully. Just because a friend is a Christian doesn't mean that person is someone who is good for you.
*Stay away from problem areas in your life. Don't go where angels would fear to tread.

In this world, as Christians, we can't be too cautious. Our witness and testimonies are so needed in our day. We will not reach perfection but people are looking for genuine examples. They want to see that our faith really works...that Jesus is really Who we says He is. They don't care about our yesterdays. By the way, neither does Jesus if we have taken all of that old baggage to Him and left it with Him. People need Jesus in these very troubling days. If we are sloshing around in our yesterdays, we will be of little help. Folks who need Jesus need to hear from us that their yesterdays can be just that...yesterday. Jesus is for today.

Thank You Jesus for dying for me so I might know your love and forgiveness. Thank You for relieving me of the burden of yesterdays, giving me daily renewed strength to face today. May I continually rely on Your strength in all things. Thank You many times over. In Your precious name....Amen

CUT and PASTE

For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to thee dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

I was fascinated by a historical fact found in our Sunday school literature regarding Thomas Jefferson. I had read of this particular thing, but never saw the end result of what Jefferson actually published. It was in later life that Jefferson completed a publication entitled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth. It came to be known as the Jefferson Bible. I have read about such a Bible. The problem with that Bible is that Jefferson did a lot of cutting and pasting. He took the Gospels from the Bible to patch together portions of selected Scripture he saw as important. He literally took a Bible and cut portions of Scripture from it and pasted it in whatever order he chose, often omitting the miracles of Jesus and even portions that spoke of Jesus' deity.

We might read that information with mouths open that someone would have the nerve to do something like that no matter how popular they are. However, it goes on all the time. Take a good look at all the Bible translations or transliterations and just read some of them carefully. It will almost seem like someone took scissors and rewritten verses on every page that no longer make the same sense as before. In some editions, pronouns are changed...no more

“he/she”...or God is no longer “He.” Folks are seeking what is politically correct even to the point of wanting a different Bible.

Just because a book says “Bible” on the spine of it doesn't mean it's automatically the right thing for one to invest in. Whatever translation we choose, we tend to really latch onto it and will defend it to the bitter end, even if its accuracy can be very much called into question. There are computer Bible programs where one can read chapters in most of today's Bible translations. That can be done prior to purchasing a new Bible.

There are some things one should never accept, though, in selecting of a new Bible, especially if contemplating a new translation. Watch for:

a translations approach to Creation

sin not being watered down or the names of sin being changed to please society

miracles being included without adding to or from them

Jesus' life and His credentials as God's Son, Savior, Redeemer, victor over death, etc

proper approach to the Holy Spirit and His work in a born again person

what the Bible says about itself

encouragement to appropriate worship and praise.

There's much more to look for, but having the right translation of Scripture is very important for us for so many reasons.

Like I said, we might be critical of Thomas Jefferson and the way he chose to handle Scripture. However, I wonder how much cutting and pasting we do with the Bibles we own. We don't need a pair of scissors and a glue stick to censor Scripture passages. We can do it in our minds. Yesterday, I was reading my usual five Psalms that is a usual process for me. Two of the chapters happened to be very long....30 or more verses. My first inclination was that I was tired and would just let them go until next month when I would come to the same chapters again. But, this cutting and pasting thing was in my mind. At times, if we read any part of Scripture with regularity, some passages may seen overly familiar to the point we feel almost bored at the thought of plowing through them again. Worse yet, is when Scripture convicts you and me...the “Thou shalt not's” or calls to obedience that don't seem to agree with us at the moment. The natural tendency might be to simply disregard those passages.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness.
II Timothy 3:16

Sometimes I think we take God's Word for granted. People in Hitler's Germany probably took Bibles and Torah's for granted, but they had to watch them burned in city squares. The same is going on in Eastern countries where Christians are being persecuted and killed. Their Bibles have been burned before them, churches destroyed prior to much martyrdom.

My challenge to us, if appropriate in any reader's case, is to wipe the dust off of our Bibles and dig back into it's truths that hold power for our lives. It's ours for the reading at anyplace and anytime. May we keep our focus on the precious blessing God has given us in His Word. It's His desire to communicate with us and this is His main way of doing that....without any mental cutting and pasting.

Study to show thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
II Timothy 2:15

Thank You Father for Your desire to speak with me through Your Word. Thank You, Jesus, for being the living Word and my gratitude to You, Holy Spirit for the way You teach me the Word. Without Your teaching, I wouldn't know how to interpret or apply it to my life. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

Making Memories...Making a Life

I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3

More people than I can remember have asked me how my husband and I ended up in Eastern Tennessee when we retired. My husband had never been to this area until our first vacation here a year or so after we were married. I wasn't sure how he would take to these mountains, but he sure did.

When very young, I was brought to Eastern Tennessee by my Mother and Grandmother on vacation. My child's imagination ran wild as we drove through the mountains, seeing the rock-filled streams, flowers and an occasional deer. However, as fascinating as that first trip was, I had already been to the mountains as far as I was concerned.

Folks from Southern Illinois would laugh at me for this, but my first mountains were at a place called Giant City State Park. There was a wonderful playground, but I was much more interested in the trails through the woods and rocky areas of the park. In that park I could pretend to be a pioneer girl. It's where I learned something about directions and how to take in everything around me. This state park had/has a lodge. It was a huge log building where you could go sit in funny (rustic) furniture and buy souvenirs. Today, it also has a wonderful dining room added on to it. It had cabins people could pay to stay in. That was really my first of being inside a log structure that I could remember. I decided then in my elementary youth that I wanted some day to live in an area with mountains or big hills. My house now, however, isn't a cabin in any way.

I say all of this to say that parents and even grandparents often have no idea where memory- making can lead. As parents we may plan special events for our children or take them places usually that we like more than they do. Somehow they survive all of our connived plans and who knows what might rub off on them. Our children as adults love coming to the mountains. Not too surprisingly, some grandchildren have also come and can't wait to return.

There are so many ways parents and even grandparents make memories. My children remember Grandma's goulash...my grandsons usually request my chicken spaghetti. I'm not talking about huge events, things or even big expense. It can be the little things that shape a life, but that can be huge in memory banks years later.

Think of others in our lives who helped shape us that we so often forget. I think of neighbors in my growing up years who were almost like family members. Remember those Sunday school teachers and youth leaders? I didn't know what a youth or children's minister was. I had Ruth Young who did a little of everything with the children in our church. She was the first one who said to me, “Glendarae, some day you will be a great teacher.” I don't know about “great” but I think of Ruth so often when I teach ladies in Sunday school, conferences, retreats or Bible studies. The Randolphs had us teens in their home and took us all over the place. Memories galore thanks to the investment of such dear people just in our home churches.

School teachers have left impacts on all our lives more than we can know. I think more of the little things. I learned from Mrs Wolfe, a high school teacher of mine, who one day sensed I was going through a tough time. I was, but never told anyone about it. She stopped me after class one day to express a concern and to lend a listening ear. She will never know what that meant to me that taught me to this day the importance of an encouraging word, being sensitive and available to people who are hurting and who can't bring themselves to talk about whatever the burden might be.

The most important influence we can have in the life of a child of any age has to do with spiritual and emotional encouragement along the way. With computers in our day, we have a perfect means of sending little typed messages to children or grandchildren. When I purchase books for family members, I try to get books that will build character or that presents Scriptural principles. The smallest things said or given can have greater influence in lives than we can imagine, things that say to another that we believe in them and God's purpose for their lives.

Think back and recall things said to you or things given to you that encouraged you so much at the moment. Perhaps those came your way by someone who has since passed away. There is no way now to give them a huge thank you. The best thing any of us can do is repay those dear folks by following their example. We live in a world that expects big things. Most folks in future years remember so many more of the little kindnesses than huge gifts or big things done.

How do I repay a Ruth Young, the Randolph's, Mrs. Wolfe and so many others? I learn from their example and in their examples, I see Jesus. We are always to strive to be like Him. Philippians 2:5 begins...”Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus...” and from there, we see so many of His characteristics. There are hurting children and adults around us who need a touch of kindness and encouragement. In all of that, we will build memories in lives that can be life changing down the road. We may know nothing of results until Heaven, but that's not to be our concern in the present time.

I never knew Jesus in His physical presence nor has anyone else for approximately 2,000 years. That's not necessary at this point. He has not only left me with eternal life, but has given me a life of the sweetest of blessings that are turned into memories that have completely changed my life. The least I can do is to pass some of that along through investing in the lives of others.

Thank You Father, for the memory makers in my life. I thank You for those folks who taught and encouraged me, especially in my family and extended family. I pray I will have the joy of making some memories in the lives of others, especially among the young. In Jesus' precious name, the One Who gave me the greatest of memories...His life for my sin.....Amen

SOWING AND REAPING

Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
Galatians 6:7

It is the time in our small town for vegetable gardens. If anyone is going to have one on their property, it is already in process. Our neighbor always puts out a beautiful garden. He carefully measures out each row to the inch and as certain things begin to come up, he has various props to keep them secure.

My first experience with gardens, however, was in the 1940's when I was just a little girl. During those years, people were encouraged to plant what was called “victory gardens.” It was the time of World War II and it was hoped that by doing that, there would be other foods that could go to the soldiers at home and overseas if family gardens took up the slack. At least, that was what I was told. We had some neighbors with beautiful gardens. We didn't have one, but we had chickens in our backyard. Neighbors shared food items with each other and we shared eggs and sometimes whole chickens. It was really a wonderful and healthy process during the spring and summer months. Some gardens produced enough to eat, share and can for the winter.

My Grandma Benbrook (my Dad's mom) had a beautiful, large garden in her backyard. She had some vegetables I had never heard of. She was known in our town for winning first place prizes for her flower garden plots, but she could really grow a mean tomato. The first raw carrot I ever ate, she let me pull it out of the ground, showed me how to wash it and then I chomped on that thing for the rest of the afternoon.

Mr. Rennie, two houses down from my early childhood house also had a large vegetable garden. I could go there and he would let me pick a tomato to eat. He would pick one too and we would sit on his back steps eating our tomatoes. His only requirement was that if I picked it, I had to eat it while on his steps.

One day, Mr. Rennie brought out a cloth bag that had a lot of seeds in it. After pouring some into his hand, he asked if I knew what they looked like. They looked like dried up corn to me and that's what they were. He saved them and allowed them to dry. He had taken them from some ears of corn from his garden and planned to plant them the next spring. That's just what he did the next year and again had beautiful corn stalks in his garden with huge ears of corn just waiting to be cooked and eaten.

I didn't understand until further in years the significance of just one of those kernels of corn. When planted, one of those kernels could bring forth a beautiful stalk of corn, a stalk on which there could be at least 4-5 ears of delicious corn. However, look at one of those ears of corn after shucked and count how many kernels are on that ear...each a potential stalk of corn in someone's garden. Tomatoes are full of tiny seeds, all potential for bringing forth a lot of tomatoes in someone's garden if the seeds are harvested, dried and kept for planting.

One of our pastors had a great quote this week that I think he said was from Dr Charles Stanley with regard to sowing and reaping. He said regarding the law of sowing and reaping:

Reap what you sow
Reap more than you sow
Reap later than you sow.

We may feel we can live life unpleasing to the Lord, living in such a way that seems harmless in our lives and lives of others. There are things done in younger years that we perhaps thought we got by with, that even Jesus ignored. If those things are evil, of sin, those same things can come back to us often in abundance. We may even be caught off guard in later years, surprised that something familiar has shown up in our lives that causes shame. Yes, God is forgiving of our sin and I'm so grateful for that fact. There are some things we may not be proud of that can follow us.

I remind us that when a corn kernel is planted, from it will grow corn and only corn. If I plant a tomato seed, it won't produce squash. I can be assured that tomato seed will give me a tomato plant full of red, ripe tomatoes. We can't sow onions and expect green beans to appear.

This doesn't mean this law has only to do with sin. There are things we can plant in the lives of our children, friends, fellow Christians and others that can bring forth a positive yield. Our opening verse sounds rather foreboding... no hope...all negative. However, we need to move on to the next two verses (8,9) that give us positive encouragement:

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth
to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting.

So as usual, we come back to choices...the flesh or the Spirit. The flesh will count for nothing, only leaving damage in our wake. Those things of the Spirit are those things that count for God and eternity. I'm glad Paul added the next verse to encourage us:

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.

I love that because sometimes, I get weary in well doing. I don't just want to go around being an evil influence. Let's be real, friends, Godly living takes work. If we want to please our Heavenly Father we are going to want to reproduce good things of the Spirit. What we sow in this life can come back to either haunt us or bless us in abundance.

Dear Father, please keep me aware through Your Holy Spirit that my negative actions can be costly both now and in the future not only for myself but for others. I want to be a blessing in the lives of others and want Your blessing in my own life. Forgive me for disappointing You and failing you. I want to sow good seed for Your glory. In Jesus name...Amen