Sunday, November 28, 2021

WHERE DID TRUTH GO


Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
John 14:6

There are just some memories that seem to stick in my mind. I was about four years old when my Mother said she heard me tell a lie. She went under the bathroom sink and retrieved a half bar of Ivory soap. They may still come as a double, but not sure. Because of my lie, my Mother said my mouth had to be washed out. I was required to take a good bite into that soft soap that claimed to be 99.44% pure. I couldn't have cared less how pure it was. I pulled all the soap our of my mouth I could but most still coated my teeth. I tried washing my mouth out with water, but that just created lots of suds...all because of a little lie I was sure was trivial compared to the punishment.

I found in looking for a definition of truth that it seemed to be a difficult word to define without using the word itself. I looked at several sources for a definition of truth and found it to be somewhat complicated for most. Some definitions made some sense such as: real facts, quality of being genuine, adherence to reality...even just factual.


I must say in our day, that I would love to pass out some bars of Ivory soap, especially to some politicians I've seen and heard who seem to know nothing about truth. When there is a breakdown in truth, trust is broken and that shakes our culture in the worst of ways. I wish it could be different but am learning in these days that I can't live life for others.

Truth must happen in the lives of we individuals. There are mandates for a little of everything in our country. The fact is that for the most part, mandates aren't worth the paper they are written on unless they are accompanied with a great deal of threat. Something like truth cannot be ordered or maintained consistently by anyone.

Truth has only one Source and that is in Jesus Christ. Without Him in ones life, truth has little meaning. For unbelievers especially, truth is what individuals decide it to be. Jesus was speaking to His disciples before going to the cross. He was doing His best to steady the ground of life under the feet of His disciples. He knew they would face some difficult days so wanted them to have a firm spiritual foundation.

What He taught then is just as appropriate for us today. Many people feel there are many paths to Heaven and declare their own truth. People speak of their own personal truth. There is no such thing. Our focus must be on THE ONE WHO IS TRUTH with the benefit of His direction no one else can offer.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your words of comfort and guidance. Help us to stay focused on You...Your way, life and also the truest of Truth. Thank You for making those things possible in our lives. Help us to be people of truth in these days when it seems to be lost to so many. In Your precious name...Amen 

Monday, November 22, 2021

COME YE THANKFUL



I will praise thee, O Lord, with my
whole heart, I will shew forth all
thy marvellous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee.
I will sing praise to thy name,
O thou most High.
Psalm 9:1,2

It was two days before Thanksgiving. I was in the fifth grade at the time and remember a holiday was far from my mind. My dad was in the hospital at the time, and hadn't been able to work for awhile. Food-wise, it had been “slim pickins.” We didn't talk to anyone about it and just lived day to day. It hadn't always been that way, but was that year. Looking toward Thanksgiving in a couple of days, there wouldn't be the usual meal, but we were grateful for Thanksgiving whatever we had.

About 9:30, those two nights prior to THE big day, there was a rustling on our front porch. Mother went to the door and found no one there. However, there on our porch were two good sized boxes that were full of food. The items weren't just for Thanksgiving dinner, but a lot of extras in the way of staples to get us through for awhile.

We sat down to Thanksgiving that year with such a new look at the holiday. Being only in the fifth grade, we had colored all the pictures of turkeys and pilgrims. I had accepted Christ as my Savior early in November so for the first time, I began to realize what being thankful to the Lord and to others really meant.

We all have our Thanksgiving stories...some are highlights and others not the best. Through the years, we all have experienced both. For we who are children of God, He is the main thread that winds around Thanksgiving Day and other days. Despite circumstances, He is our constant and our presence everyday We may not eat turkey and dressing every day, but each day we live and breathe should be times of thanksgiving for we are a blessed people.

As the verses above suggest, David teaches us down through the years what we can do to be grateful and thankful people, lessons that should be a part of us to matter the special days.

David used “I will” four times in those brief verses. This indicates we must determine to be people of praise. What does thanksgiving look like to David?

*praise in singing
*praise with our whole hearts
*praise that is obvious
*praise with gladness and rejoicing

Our Heavenly Father is more than deserving of our praise and thanks despite any circumstances we are facing. He is our presence, provider and true love.

Thank You Father for all You are in our lives every day of every year. Thank You for Jesus and for Your Holy Spirit guidance. Your love is all-consuming, the root of all goodness toward us. We love You this and every day. In Jesus' name...Amen

Monday, November 15, 2021

IN THE SHADOWS

 

He that dwelleth in the secret place
of the Most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

My red bicycle awaited me by our Christmas tree. I may have been about eight years old. I knew it was a used bike but my dad had a friend paint it, adding a new basket to make it all really special. There was enough snow on the ground that riding a bike at that time was out of the question. In fact, I didn't get to ride it until the warmth of Spring made it's appearance.On one of those days, I got to go outside and ride my bike to my heart's content. However, I had to go to the next block down from our house in order to have a smooth, concrete street to ride on. 

 Mother told me to stay just in that block and I did. Kids rode bikes in the street all the time with safety. I had a great time that late afternoon riding back and forth keeping to the right side of the street.

Soon two BIG boys made an appearance...Richard and Jerry. They both lived in corner houses of that block. They were really BIG boys...probably about 12 years old. They stopped me and told me they had called the police to come for me because it was illegal for me to be riding on their block. One guarded one end of the block and the other the same on the other end. I couldn't even go home, as they blocked me. This went on for what seemed forever.

Sooner than I expected my Daddy called my name. He had walked from our house into the block where I was “captive.” The boys scattered and Daddy said nothing to them. He just took my bike and told me to walk in front of him on the sidewalk to our house. He had gotten home for supper and I guess saw what was going on. We never did talk about the incident.

However, I was left with something I've carried through life. Behind my Daddy was the sun. It was lowering toward evening. For some reason, I immediately, looking ahead and at times down on the sidewalk, noticed I was walking in Daddy's shadow. That told me that he was right behind me and no one was going to “get me” while I was in that shadow. I almost made a game of staying right in that shadow.

Through the years I've learned some things about shadows. In themselves, they can't hurt anyone. Sometimes, one can hide in shadows if there is danger. Shadows come as a result of a light shining behind a person or thing. We have the assurance from Hebrews 13:5 that Jesus will never leave or forsake us. Even though we can't see Him physically, He casts His shadow all around us. He makes His presence known in so many ways in each of our lives. Would I like to see Jesus in person? Sure would, but for now, that is reserved for another time.

Meanwhile, we will rejoice in the privilege of hiding under the shadow of our loving Heavenly Father. He is quite capable of scattering any bullies that may come our way.

Dear Father, thank You for the security of knowing You are always with us in any circumstances. May we be willing to stay hidden in Your loving shadow where we know Your warmth and care. Thank You for Your presence in our lives. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Monday, November 8, 2021

CLIMATE CHANGE


In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Perhaps you, like me, are tired of all the talk about changing our climate. The nerve and audacity of even such a suggestion is beyond stupidity. It is discussed across the world as if mere man can change our weather patterns. Of course, the thought is that all can change if only enough people put enough money politicians coffers for such massive changes to come about.

Lest we ignore the facts, the Bible mentions just about every weather and season phenomenon most people wouldn't be able to name. It doesn't take much research to find climate terminology that includes: rain, fire, hail, snow, storms, floods, whirlwinds (tornadoes), droughts and probably more. God, their Creator, has those tools to use as He sees fit for what may be for good or for judgmental purposes.

Brian and I watched a documentary several days ago that featured two major forest fires in our country. One started with just a touch of lightening on the top of one tree. From that, the wind took over spreading live embers for miles causing devastation that was incredible. Lives were lost and homes totally destroyed in less than several minutes. Okay, you clever “changers”, what is your plan for such an incident? When a tornado develops and moves toward a town, do you call the police or fire department? What about the National Guard? What do you do about that tornado? I'll tell you what you do, you run for cover and hope to be alive after it passes.

With all that is involved with climate, we must consider the creative process God planned for there to be seasons.....a time for planting and reaping. Even His created sun and moon have their influence on our seasons. All of God's creation is beyond wonder, even beyond those brilliant folks who seem to have everything about weather, climate and “green” figured out.

There is another climate change that is much more needed. Climate doesn't just refer to weather conditions. Climate can indicate one's mood or spirit. As critical as we might be regarding natural weather misinformation, our own personal climate of spirit or mood is also more than important. We may not be able to do anything about tornadoes and storms, but we do have something to say about our own spiritual condition and relationship with our Lord. In all of the culture wars going on around us, the fact is that it is in Jesus we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28a.) It is our own spiritual climate we can do something about as we maintain our focus on THE One who is most important and Creator of all.

What a glorious place Heaven will be where the climate will never need changing, where Jesus is the light and all will be perfect. There will be no need for debating about anything, all because of God and God alone.

Help us in these days, Father, to stay focused on You knowing You are sovereign and are in control of everything at all times. You never have to scratch Your head in wonder about anything. Thank You for Your provision of love and security for we,Your children. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

Monday, November 1, 2021

ROCKS GALORE


...for they (Israelites in the wilderness)
drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock
was Christ.
I Corinthians 10:4

Where I live, there are rocks. In size they can be as small as a pebble, but can also be as large as a mountain. They can be found in various sizes along trails, sitting in rivers, streams and waterfalls. Many people use them in their yards for landscaping. Rocks can cause stumbling or can be a kind of defense. Our river would look pretty plain without the rocks that grace those waters.

For close to a year, I kept a small rock on my chair-side table. It was given to me by one of my grandsons. He and his siblings when they visit, love going to my “place” that is near a small cascading water area. He and I used to go near a place there where we would throw pebbles into the stream. That small, lonely rock sat on my table with the promise that after I got over my knee replacement surgery, he and I would go back to that place and again throw our rocks into that rapid stream. It was a reminder to me to get well and to keep a promise. We recently got to throw our rocks in that river...on the count of three. When their family left, guess what? I found another rock on my table. I don't know who left it there, but nevertheless, it encourages me.

Scripture is full of “rocks” mentioned for one reason or another. When Moses met God on Mt. Sinai, God carved out a cleft in the rock for him to take shelter in as God passed by. Moses was also told on one occasion to smite a rock for receiving water. Further into Scripture God Himself is proclaimed to be the Rock. It was even declared that there is no Rock like our God. Scripture also tells us that God is our rock as in fortress and security.

There are other “rocks” I can recall from time past. Those rocks are people I have known who in the direst of circumstances have been strong and firm in it all. I'm thinking of friends and some family who have gone through the dregs of cancer. There are folks in our day I know who have suffered greatly from Covid but their faith remains in place and growing. The answer to that strength is Jesus the true Rock. That Rock stays with us and gives us a firm foundation on which to stand. We sing: “On Christ the solid rock we stand...all other ground is sinking sand.” That goes a long way when life seems to cave in on us

I'm so grateful that the greatest power even beyond the knowledge of man is with me no matter my circumstances. All other sources of security the world presents is temporary at best. In our river here, one thing rocks do is provide a beauty camera lovers strive to capture. There is a beauty in one in Christ who stands firm on Jesus THE Rock.

Thank You Father for the loving security You provide us in every circumstance. May we knowingly accept Jesus as that Rock of security we need in every circumstance of our lives.. Thank You for Your loving provision that meets our every need. In Jesus' name....Amen