GIRL IN A TUB

Wash me thoroughly from my

iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin

Psalm 51:2

The first few years of my life, we lived in a house that had no indoor bathroom facilities. We had an outhouse that was probably the envy of the neighborhood with its concrete floor, wood exterior that looked like a regular house, topped off with a roof with regular shingles. It was a beauty.

However, when it came to bath time, it was a different story. Saturday night was bath night like it was for many in our culture of the time. Bath was Saturday night and the rest of the week, we washed all necessary parts. Our baths were done in one of my Mother's wash tubs she used for rinsing soapy clothes on wash day. When very young, I fit in that washtub pretty well. Mother kept containers of hot water on the stove and then added to that some cool water from the sink, and that did very well. I could never even imagine what that must have been for my Dad and never felt like asking.

After a time, I was allowed to wash myself in that tub. I had learned from Mother's washing me and the routine how to wash myself. However, when I was finished, I had to go through an interrogation to make sure I hadn't done a hit and miss job. I was asked some things that seemed odd such as: “Did you wash behind your ears? Did you wash between your toes?” I had questions about both of those things but that was okay.

Psalm 51 is a precious Psalm of repentance along with other added blessings. I read this Psalm just this week and when I got to verse 2, my mind went back to that wash tub sitting in the middle of our kitchen floor. David wanted God to clean him up of his sin. His sin wasn't necessarily just behind his ears or between his toes. David was well aware of previous sin we would consider the baddist of the bad. In his moments of regret and repentance, he begged God to not just clean parts of his life or even parts of his sin. He wanted God to do a complete cleansing of his life...not toes or ears...but the most important part...his heart.

David didn't want to be washed but cleansed as well. He wanted God to do a complete scrub-down of his life. This wasn't a casual prayer of “Forgive my sin.” David asked for a thorough cleaning of his life. We may not have partaken in the same sin as David but with God, sin is sin. There's something refreshing after a good bath. May we feel David's refreshment after God took him through HIS bathtub.

Father, wash and cleanse me of my sin. May I never be lax regarding my sin, ignoring it over a period of time. I pray I would keep short account with regarding my short comings. Draw me closer to you than ever before. Thank You Jesus for making all this possible. In Your precious name...A

 

“SO” What

For God SO loved the world that

He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him

should not perish, but have

everlasting life.

John 3:16

Right now in our church studies, we are being bathed in the gospel of John. The pastor will often ask us to read ahead to the portion of Scripture he plans to preach on the next Sunday. Along with these wonderful sermons, our Sunday school literature is also taking us through it's own venture in the very same book. John is probably one of the big favorites of God's people as it is so deep in it's teaching along with being as practical as beans and cornbread.

Anyone who knows me and my personal study of Scripture knows that in my reading and study, I try to be aware of little things, especially little words. In the past I have mentioned a couple of those but a couple of weeks ago, came across another one that I honestly had given little if any thought to. I have capitalized that word in the verse above.

We had just finished our study in the Minor Prophets this last quarter and began our study in the Gospel of John. Someone, very sincerely, thought I might be very happy about the switch in books. I kindly told her that a study in John was of great concern to me. Of those of us who have been in Sunday school as far back as we can remember, we may view the book as a “snap” for study. After all, we've seen folks healed, fed and Lazarus raised from the dead. We can recall any number of precious events in Jesus' ministry.

Here's my point and I'm still personally working on this for my concern is all we think we know or recall from John's writings. My concern for myself and others as I teach is that we sometimes like to stay on the familiar and surface information. We know and are comfortable with the familiar. What about all the good stuff that is just below the surface where there are the deeper things of the Word. Those things we do find, are treasures, rare jewels worthy of our even writing them down in a journal. Those things the Holy Spirit points out to us may not be long or even heavy to grasp.

Not too long ago, I noticed that little word SO in the beginning of John 3:16. I learned this verse in primary Sunday school and have quoted it personally and publicly for years. What else is there to know or notice. Like I said, I watch for the smallest of words in Scripture....But and All are two of them. After the word BUT in Scripture, one usually can find very important and life changing information. I try to be faithful in underlining that word. Then I do the same with the word ALL. I believe when God says ALL that it's just what He means.

In my reviewing the above verse, there it was...SO. It's a tiny word that expresses intensity. God didn't just love the world...He SO loved the world. God didn't just love you and me...He SO loved us....more love than we can ever measure or comprehend. I've just been splashing around in that phrase. Join me!

Thank You Father, just isn't enough but I do SO appreciate You SO loving me despite my being SO unworthy. Forgive my sin of ingratitude. Thank You for Jesus Who loved more than anyone on this earth ever could. In His precious name...Amen

THE LAST CHECK

Whereas you do not know what will

happen tomorrow. For what is

your life? It is even a vapor that

appears for a little time and

then vanishes away.

James 4:14

Bev and I were sitting in the living room where I think I was reading and she was writing checks. Brian left her with our finances and continues to handle things very efficiently like her Dad would.

She mentioned something to me that gave me pause to think about. As she was writing the info of checks on the pages of the check register, she mentioned how much she had appreciated having the writing of her Dad in the first part of the register where he had written checks before going to Heaven. She's at the end of the register and will need to begin another one, minus her Dad's hand writing.

Bev had made note of the last check Brian had written. I couldn't guess what it could have been. She said that the last check he wrote was on 2-12-22, just twelve days prior to his Homegoing. She said the last check he wrote was to Broadway Baptist Church, our home church. How fitting that his last written check on earth would be to the church both of us love.

I don't think Brian had any idea that in twelve days, Whereas you do not know what would be with the Lord. I'm not sure we human beings have seriously faced the fact that the day will come when we are going to die. We tend to live life, no matter our age, like death will never come to us or to those we love. I've thought off and on that perhaps the Lord will came and take all His children to Heaven n one fell swoop.

I wonder what the last thing I will do before the Lord comes for me. Will I be fixing a sandwich, taking a bath, sleeping, walking a path in the mountains or perhaps in the hospital after a procedure. We don't think of these things very often. We see life as just moving on and on...death isn't something we want to talk about. The very best of Christians can speak of death in a very spiritual way, with no apparent fear or anticipation. Jesus didn't look forward to death. It was what He came to earth to do on our behalf, but the experience wasn't any human being would look forward to.

Perhaps we should live a day as if it could be our last. If we knew that for a fact, I wonder how we would spend it? I would hope you and I would live each day to our fullest in pleasing the Lord and others even if it should come down to writing our very last check.

Father, You gave us Jesus that our last day as a believer would bring us into Your presence. Help us to always be reaching to be in right relationship with You in humbly serving and loving You as well as others. Help us to not take life for granted and live each day for Your glory. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

THE PROBLEM OF WAITING

Wait on the LORD: be of good

courage, and He shall strengthen

your heart; wait I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Confession time: I hate waiting at any time, in any way, no matter the reason. In these days we live in, waiting isn't on the agenda of anyone I know. We live in a busy time and want things in hand or soon coming no matter what.

I recently had a fender bender and went to the collision place I had chosen. I went looking for an old metal building with cars strewn about, looking like a bomb had hit. The place I arrived at was just the opposite. After taking pictures and all, I was taken to a waiting room. Everything was so neat and in order and the room itself reminded me of a doctor's office waiting room. We've all been in places of waiting. We may wait in a waiting room of sorts or an entry way of a restaurant, waiting for our name to be called. We no longer have waiters in our eating places. I guess server sounds better.

We wait in lines...grocery stores, mall shops, stop lights where the first person in line never moves quickly enough after the light turns green. At times, we may have to wait for reports on medical tests we've endured. Sometimes a much needed check seems slow in coming through the mail. Waiting just goes on and on.

The meaning of waiting for most folks in simple words is staying put until something anticipated happens. No matter how it's defined, we still don't like it. Biblically I read where waiting can involve positive anticipation, hope and trust. I know we are anticipating our Lord's return. Even in our praying, however, we can become impatient with the Lord. We pray for or about something and hope our prayer will be totally answered as we want it to be within at least ten minutes or even an hour.

God's hope that in all our waiting, no matter what for, that patience will be worked into our lives. James 1:3,4 speaks clearly regarding God's hope for patience being a vital part of our spiritual journey...”But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Impatience will never work well in the life of a growing Christian. God doesn't leave us to flounder. The Holy Spirit is ready to empower us to do those things that are impossible to do on our own whether standing in line or sitting in a waiting room.

Thank You Father for Your patience with us and for Jesus' example that shows us who and what we can be for You. In His precious name....Amen