ONE FOUNDATION

Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe
on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may b one in us:
that the world may believe
that thou has sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest
me I have given them: they may
be one, even as we are one.
John 17:20-22

One of my favorite Bible studies is from John 14-17. These chapters are so rich in love and concern on Jesus' part. In chapters 14 through 16, Jesus spoke to his disciples with regard to His soon departure. He gave a lot of promise and encouragement they couldn't have understood in the moment. By the way, those promises are important for us today the same as back then. Chapter 17, however, is what has come to be known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer. It is a gem above all gems as He prayed for those dear men He had loved and led. The last part of that prayer looks down through the ages to where you and I are right now. The above verses are just a samples of His concern for future believers.

This all has come to my attention because of an event that happened recently at the supper table where we were at the time for a five-day seminar. The tables seat eight and we happened to be alone at one table. A couple approached and asked if they could join us which is the usual question no matter how many are already at the table. We welcomed them.

I would say the couple was perhaps early 60's, nice looking and quite personable, especially the gentleman. They took their seats and proceeded to say grace between them which again is normal for that setting. Usually people look at each other's name tags to at least see where folks are from as a point of conversation. This time, that didn't happen. With his very polished voice, he looked at us and simply asked, “Are you Baptists?” He could have asked us most anything to begin a conversation, but this sounded a little odd, but Brian answered in the affirmative.

With that, in between bites, the man began with giving us his history with Baptists. He had been an association director a couple of times, had offers to pastor but not I'm sure what he ended up doing. He did indicate he was finished with Baptists and they were happy in a non-denominational setting. He had even told his pastor that their church reminded him of a Baptist church. His pastor replied that he was honored to hear that.

After eating, we went into the auditorium. The guest pianist began playing a short concert prior to the speaker coming to teach us.. For at least ten minutes, she played one hymn using a variety of style for each time she played it. As God would have it, after our interesting supper, she played “The Church's One Foundation.” It brought back lines to my mind as she played. Some phrases from that blessed, old hymn came to my mind:

*The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.
*One holy name she blesses; partakes one holy food
*Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three in One

...and there are others describing our Kingdom citizenship because of what Christ has done for each of us. There were several usages of the word “one” throughout the hymn. Name tags gave no church affiliation at this place. I never heard denomination discussed, only this one time. We were there as God's Kingdom Kids and it was so refreshing. We believers are all a part of God's family, no matter the name of the church or denomination. We believers stand on our mutual foundation....Jesus.

Thank You dear Jesus for doing so much to bring us to Yourself. Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit that teaches us from it. Thank You for the fellowship we have with other believers because of You dying for each of us. Forgive our sin and keep us from the evil one. We love you...in Your precious name...Amen 

PREPARATION OF A PLACE

Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3

With the exception of where we now live in beautiful East Tennessee, there has been something very consistent in my life with my husband. We have lived many places, five of which meant the construction of a house where we would live. We have leased a couple of times, but Brian has usually seen those places before I did. When we made a move to Virginia, he went ahead to find a place to lease for a couple of years. He brought back pictures of the house we would live in for that time. When it has come to the roof over our heads, most of the time Brian has taken me to the places he already arranged for. I trusted him to the fullest in the making of such decisions.

Brian has always had good taste in so many ways and choosing a place for us to live was n exception. He's usually picked a place as new a possible for many obvious reasons. All places have been clean and nice and some brand new even to the point of our building a new place. We've never lived in a mansion, nor would we go looking for one.

I must admit when I think about a place to live in Heaven, I get a little concerned. You see, I don't care all that much about anything gold...jewelry, gilt items, etc. For ten years now, I've lived in Eastern Tennessee, a stone's throw from our house to the Smoky Mt. National Park. We are surrounded by “green” as far as the eye can see. I love trees in all of their various shades of green glory. I can't imagine from Scripture what Heaven will be like, but I read of gold, gates of pearl and various precious stones in Heaven's foundation. It's sounds lovely. but I sure would like a green tree or two I can look at.

In pondering all of this not long ago, the Holy Spirit just put on my heart that it really doesn't make that much of a difference the physical make up of Heaven. The cosmetics of it all are going to pale in light of what it will be like with being with Jesus, the Light of the World. Just the privilege of sitting around the throne with Jesus at the right hand of the Father with all believers will be more than we can comprerhend. It was the same with Brian's preparations. Even if I hadn't liked a place, it would have been home because Brian would be there.

Jesus was very clear about His leaving the disciples and as disturbed as they were, Jesus gave them some points of encouragement that are meant for us to consider as well. Those are found in the above verses. Read them and try to soak it all in. Wrap yourself in John's chapters 14-17 and immerse yourself in Jesus' final, personal time with His disciples..

We read these verses and feel they are for the disciples only. Jesus spoke on our behalf as well. We won't always be on the earth in the middle of all it's muck. There will be a day when we, His children, will know eternal peace, an uninterrupted peace...an eternal peace like we've never known. We'll have no more political promises of unity or military promises of peace treaties. There will be no more striving between races or other cultural concerns. We will know a peace and contentment we can't even imaging right now. What a glorious day that will be.

Thank You Jesus for going to prepare places for us where we'll abide with You forever. Thank You for the hope you have placed in our hearts and for Your shed blood that covers we, Your chidlren. In Your precious name I pray...Amen 

GOD GOES BEFORE US

And the Lord, he it is that doth
go before thee; he will be with
thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not,
neither be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8

Moses had already said similar words as above to the Israelites he had been leading. A new leader was required as Moses wasn't going to lead the people himself into the Promised Land. Moses took Joshua to one side to make it official that he would be the new leader of the people in his place. The above verse is just a part of of what Moses said to Joshua.

I don't know what can “rattle our cages” more than huge change in our lives. Even if a family makes a move, going together, there is something very lonely about a huge move of some sort. I didn't have a family at the time, was single working in a Christian Center. I thought I would spend my life there, but God had other plans. After a sermon on Sunday morning, I sensed God's leading for me to leave the position and work I loved so much. Making such a move seemed an impossible thing to do. I had no money, no car, forthcoming job or place to live. It was overwhelming.

Early one morning while praying and pondering, it “came to me” that I had enough college library science hours to have minored in the subject. Just down from my church was a fairly new public library. I borrowed the Center's car and ventured to that library and spoke with the head librarian. After a lengthy conversation, he simply said: “When can you start?” I told him it wouldn't be for at least a week or so. That was fine with him.

I walked out the door of that library and looked across the street. A lady was putting up a “For Rent” sign in the door window of a very old apartment building. I hurried over to speak with her. She had a very small furnished apartment for rent. After conversation and telling her I had no money, she offered the place to me with no deposit. I would be a block from Kroger's, two blocks from my bank, a half block from my church and three large blocks from downtown. I got back to the Center that day exhausted from all the blessings of the day.

From that move, in a matter of a couple of months, I met Brian and within a year, we would be married. It was almost unbelievable how God led in less than a year having gone ahead of me. I didn't know that the library needed new personnel, nor did I know an apartment would need a tenant, but God knew. He knew THE day I needed to go to that library and how He already had my life planned out.

I usually don't like to give this much personal information, but God can teach any of us so much in such a short period of time. I learned to listen and trust Him when he led. I can't say I was a great person of faith at the time, but my faith was reinforced times over in just that one day. A big thing I learned is how God goes before me. When I got to the library, He was already there. When I walked out and looked across the street, God was already there. It was if He had swept everything out of my path to get me where He wanted me to be.

This kind of incident in my life isn't unusual. Probably anyone reading this can think back and see how God wonderfully led in their lives. For us all to have experienced such, something had to die. My dream of living and working where I had been had to die for new life to begin and any kind of death isn't comfortable for any of us, but drastic change usually demands dying to self. In it all, God is always in charge and leads in our lives in very personal ways. We can't see how He's working, but we must have faith to believe that He loves us beyond comprehension and does all things well.

Father God, I continue to be amazed at how You work in the lives of people. You are Sovereign, Someone who knows all and can function on my behalf in such amazing ways. I am so grateful and dearly love every part of You...Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. It's in Jesus name I pray...Amen

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS

There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: But God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Corinthians 10:13

Black bears are a real fascination for folks who come to our mountains. People swarm to our nearby cove to just have the joy of spotting a bear or two. We are near enough to the park to even have bears occasionally visit in our town. If a neighbor spots one, he is quick to alert other neighbors. Black bears are not like stuffed animals one can purchase in a visitor's center. They are very much alive, very fast runners, defensive of their young, unpredictable and usually very hungry.

Black bears really are beautiful signs to behold. The smaller ones are fun to watch as they follow close behind their mommas. As fascinating as it all is, there are signs that warn people to stay at a good distance from any bear they see in a nearby field. My shock is to see the carelessness shown toward these seemingly friendly animals by well meaning visitors. We have seen people do really stupid things. We saw a father with a two year old little boy, edge up to a bear to the point of being just about 10 yards or less from the bear. He just wanted his son to get a good look. There is no way that dad could have outrun that bear if the bear had turned on him and his son.

People are cautioned about feeding the bears. Human food can turn that animal's system into something that is unnatural. If used to human food, bears will seek out human food and such a venture can mean real danger for a well-meaning tourist. Bears can see or sense food left in a car while a family goes for a hike. Bears have been known to open car doors to gain access to delicacies left behind in it. Bears just being bears can end up being euthanized because of the careless behavior of human beings.

Sin can at times look as innocent as a cuddly little black bear. The sin may seem innocent enough and harmless at best. The problem with little bears is that they quickly grow to be bigger ones, bears that can show their fierceness at times with little provocation. A live bear always has to eat to keep alive and satisfied. Such is the same with sin.

There are so many seemingly innocent things that can take hold of our lives and I'm speaking of we Christians. Somehow because we are God's children, we feel we are immune to the horrible effects of little innocent temptations that can eventually have destructive effects in our lives. Moderation can go out the window when presented with any sin.

One of the attributes of sin, like our bears, is that it demands to be fed. It will plead, beg and nag to be fed. It is relentless. This is why temptation is such a dangerous thing. Many Christians feel they are immune to temptation. Satan loves when we feel like that. What tempts you might not tempt me. Satan has us and our weaknesses all figured out and knows just the right thing to dangle in front of us.

I think the older we become, the more immune we feel we are from most worldly things and that may be true. However, we may have our own set of sins that God still hates. Where some younger person may get hung up on alcohol, an older person may get great delight in gossip and spreading as much negative information as possible. We can have issues of anger and resentment that may seem harmless when just the opposite is true.

I know the “bears” in my life that demand my attention, time and response. Let the real black bears feed on all the berries and nuts they can find. Our answer is to be folks who feed regularly on the Word of God. When faced with the roar of temptations, flee it as quickly as one should get away from any black bear found in a park. Both can be terribly damaging.

Father, thank You for Jesus who died for our sin and to give us life eternal. Keep us alert as to Satan's tactics. May we act against such with Holy Spirit power to resist him while clinging to Your precious word. In Jesus name...Amen