Bitter or Better

Looking diligently lest any man fail

of the grace of God; lest any root

of bitterness springing up trouble you,

and thereby many be defiled.

Hebrews 12:15

The first time I got a taste of real bitterness was when I was about eight years old.  I was down on my Uncle Bob and Aunt Dora's farm.  It was spring as I recall.  Uncle Bob and I were walking through the wooded area that was right next to his farm.  We came to a tree and he pulled a piece of fruit from it and told me to take a big bite of it as it was very good.  He added that I probably hadn't had anything like it in my life and would never forget it's taste.  Well, he was right...I have never forgotten it.  What I bit into was a very unripe persimmon.  I have never put anything in my mouth even to this day that was so bitter. It felt like it was pulling all the sides of my mouth together into one horrible wad.  It was so bad that it scared me and I recall beginning to cry.  I didn't know much about death then, but I wondered if I had eaten some kind of poison that would lead to my early demise.  Everyone I guess has tasted something bitter in nature either accidentally or on purpose just to see what something tasted like.  To this day, I can think of persimmons and almost feel the inside of my mouth tightening up.  However, that incident involved a physical bitterness that one can get over in a fairly short time. 

What about the emotion of bitterness that can so easily become a part of everyone and I do mean everyone.  There hasn't been a single person who hasn't gone through some tough times that left an almost permanent sting in their mind and heart.  We can even go back to the Word of God and see people who let bitterness get the best of them.

Remember Esau who was robbed of his birthright by his brother Jacob?  Talk about bitter.  Esau wanted Jacob's hide nailed to the side of their barn if they had one.  I think of Haman in the book of Esther.  Haman even with a new queen in place felt sincerely that he was in a place to be greatly rewarded by the king for his faithfulness...enter Mordecai...Esther's adopted uncle who proved himself even more faithful and was rewarded above Haman.  Haman was enraged.  John the Baptist was a victim of a bitter queeen who wanted him dead because of his public revelation of the immoral state of the king and herself.  When the opportunity came for the king to give her anything she wanted, of all things, she wanted a head...John's head.  Bitterness ruled her spirit.

I looked up the word "bitter" in a dictionary and there I found it to be an intense animosity that is distressing to the mind that is brought on by some negative event or personal wrong.  I read that and thought of times I have held bitterness inside of me (that wasn't a persimmon) because I felt I had been wrongly treated or very much misunderstood.  I think "intense animosity" is pretty strong, but let's just see it in the daylight for the ugliness it really is

Bitterness is something that can tear us up physically whether we realize it or not.  People end up with ulcers, headaches, obesity and any number of physical problems when unresolved bitterness is present.  This doesn't mean that if someone has an ulcer, it's because of bitterness, but it can be a result.

We also see from our beginning verse that others can be infected  (defiled) by the bitterness we carry.   Others may be exposed to the rot of bitterness that they had nothing to do with.  As people are defiled, it lends us to thinking that others may learn from us how to be bitter and how to not deal with it.  I wonder how many children have learned well from their parents' example how to be bitter and unforgiving just because of things said in front of them, or of examples set before them.

Bitterness eats away at our emotions.  It leaves us churned up mentally most of the time.  It can amount to something that happened years ago that still today "eats ones lunch" so to speak.  It can take us into the waiting room of discouragement and then into the "bawl room" of despondency if left unchecked.  I realize that our pasts can very often take us down roads we don't want to travel and we end up feeling like life has handed us a raw deal.  We must remember that with God in charge, He always has a plan.  Any negatives in our lives, He has meant for our growth and our good... to form us more into His likeness through any suffering we've been called upon to endure.

Bitterness also affects our spiritual being.  When bitterness takes over, and we refuse to do anything about it, we can so easily turn off the tap of God's blessings flowing into our lives.  Let me hasten to add that bitterness is a one person thing.  It's a spiritual matter that must be resolved with an individual.  I can travel all over to find people who have hurt me in the past.  They may not even be aware that they have hurt me.  Talking it over with them could only heighten my frustration and create ill will with another.  Bitterness is something in the end that I will have to deal with in the presence of my holy God.  Not only can the blessings of God be stemmed, but our growth will be affected...can't concentrate on reading the Word...mind drifts when trying to pray, etc.

How am I to get relief from any bitterness I feel and hold in my own heart?  Let me share some brief statements regarding bitterness with a few comments:

Remember that bitterness comes when others hurt us and we refuse to forgive.

If we are waiting for people to line up apologizing for every hurt they have inflicted on us, we'll be waiting a very long time.  Forgiveness isn't enacted because someone apologizes.  We forgive because it's the Christlike thing to do no matter what someone else without remorse has done to us.  Jesus hung on a cross and said, "Father, forgive them..."  We don't read of a long line of people at the cross waiting to apologize to Him.  Jesus forgave anyway and that's what we are called upon to do if we are to be Christlike.  Forgiveness is the antidote to bitterness...it is freeing and healing beyond words.  No one can force us to forgive...it is a personal choice to forgive and to let go of any bitterness we have hung onto and almost befriended.  Yes there are those who have hung onto grudges for dear life almost like a security blanket.  Remember that unforgiveness is the breeding ground for bitterness.

Bitterness comes when we forget God's grace, which is showered on us each day.

More than forgetting what someone has done to hurt us, the most important thing to remember is not the hurts dished out upon us but concentrating on the goodness of God in our own lives.  God's grace is so generously given...can we do less in the lives of others?

Bitterness toward others is sin and we are to get rid of it.

Paul says in the first part of Ephesians 4:31

                                         Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh

                                         words and slander...

There is a cure!!

Paul goes on to suggest a cure in Ephesians 4:32

                                         Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted,

                                         forgiving one another, just as God for

                                         Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

In Mark 11:25 we read:

                                         When you are praying, first forgive anyone

                                         you are holding a grudge against, in that

                                         your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Grudge:  perhaps a more familiar word that is synonymous with the word bitterness.

May we walk in the freedom of forgiveness despite the actions and attitudes of others both past and present.  Humanly speaking, it's impossible. but with God, we have learned that all things are possible.  May we choose to walk in His "possibility" and not flounder in our own weakness.  Oh, and by the way, I have long ago forgiven Uncle Bob.

Father...In Your power, I choose to forgive.  I know that in that way, I can become more Christlike.  I can only do it in Your strength.  You know every hurt I have sustained, but it's nothing compared to Your Son who took on every sin and wrongdoing known to man.  Thank you for that and I love you.   Amen.

Flight to Glory

But this thing commanded I them, saying,

Obey my voice, and I will be your God,

and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye

in all the ways that I have commanded

you, that it may be well unto you.

Jeremiah 7:23

The Learjet was ready.  It had been fueled, two reliable pilots were in place, baggage was loaded and at least four passengers were on board.  A flight plan had been turned in to authorities and on to the control tower.  The time was 9:19 AM Eastern time when the plane took off.  The FAA said air traffic controllers lost radio contact with the plane at 9:44 AM just after they had cleared the twin-engine jet to climb to 39,000 feet.  An FAA spokesman said that air traffic controllers noted "significant changes in altitude" by the plane, but that the aircraft's crew did not respond to repeated radio calls from the ground.

All radio contact had been lost with the Learjet, but air controllers could tell the plane was still airborne.  Any problem with the jet could not be determined at that time.  It appeared that the auto-pilot system had taken over the plane that was now headed northwest.  Several military jets were assigned to locate the plane and keep it in sight.  By 12:54 PM, two Air National Guard F-16s caught up with the Learjet and reported that the aircraft's windows were fogged with ice and that no flight control movement could be seen.  At 1:14 PM, the F-16s reported that the Learjet was beginning to spiral toward the ground.  Throughout the time of it being followed, pilots reported that the Learjet had varied in altitude as low as 22,000 feet to as high as 51,000 feet but never strayed from a northwest heading.

The Learjet was fully equipped with all pressurization equipment as well as oxygen equipment.  The jet had streaked uncontrolled for thousands of miles across the heart of the country,  its occupants apparently unconscious or already dead before it plunged nose first and crashed in a field near Mina, SD.  No one on the ground was hurt and there were no survivors aboard the aircraft which went down in a marshy area.

Names of those on board the Learjet would probably not be known nationwide except for the main person for whom the jet had been requested.  He was a very dapper and popular professional golfer by the name of Payne Stewart who was on his way to Dallas, TX.  He would  then fly to Houston, TX to play in the PGA Championship Tournament, the tour's final event of the year.

More recently, Payne Stewart had found faith in Jesus Christ through the influence of his children.  He commented after that experience, "I'm so much more at peace with myself than I've ever been in my life."  The sports world was shaken by this sudden and mysterious loss of a golf legend, but he had already made a mark for good and for God on all he came in contact with after his salvation experience.

There was nothing to avoid that terrible plane crash event.  All had been done possible to check out the plane and it's ability to function as it should.  I'll never forget seeing on television the first day of that golf tournament in Houston where most of the golf pro's lined up, each teeing up a golf ball and on signal with one synchronized swing, they together hit their golf balls into the air as a salute to Payne Stewart.

As I read all the reports of this tragic incident, I began  to see some spiritual parallels to this situation and I began to draw some comparisons to my own slavation and spiritual experience.  I believe many of these comparisons can be made with other Christians who are alert to their own spiritual walk, and yes, spiritual needs.  Let me share, please.

1.  The day we accepted Jesus as Savior, we got on board with Him and life would never again be the same for us.

*  We accepted a new Pilot for our lives...God Himself.

*   A new life's flight plan was filed.

*  We were fully provided with the assistance of a co-pilot...the Holy Spirit.

*  We took off on a wonderful spiritual adventure for a lifetime and eternity.

2.  Hopefully, through life as we travel with the Lord, we will walk in obedience, fellowship and in close relationship with Him.

3.  For some folks, even though a flight plan is in place, fuel and power in abundance, some things can go wrong to create a breach in that relationship. This breach will never involve Pilot error.  When something like that happens, we have to look in our spiritual mirrors and not at anyone else.

4.  Whatever goes wrong in our relationship with the Lord, will sooner or later be noticed by others.

Trailing pilots observing the troubled plane noticed the windows of the Learjet were iced over.  This was an expected thing to happen in a plane that had lost oxygen and pressurization.  Those are things essential for the preservation of life on a plane.  In our spiritual walk, we must have the essential inputs of God to keep us alive and functioning spiritually.  We need the input of God's Word, times of prayer, fellowship with God's people, etc.  Without those things, there begins to be an icing, a coldness about us that comes when we are lacking those things God has provided to keep us on a steady, spiritual course.

5.  God has a plan.

He doesn't have to turn that plan into anyone but us.  He makes this plan clear to those of us who really want ot know what it is.  Without the knowledge of it, we are flying through life with no direction.  Even if we lose our way, it may appear we are flying on steady course, but it isn't the course God has planned for us.  We will not reach the destination He has in mind without knowledge of that plan and our determination to follow it.

6.  It is always a tragedy seeing a Christian crash. 

 It's never a pretty sight and it takes time for the spiritual recuperating process to take place.  Hopefully such Christians can realize mistakes made and get back on track.  God is always near to help in that process and His help is necessary in that process for it means reaching out to Him in repentance and accepting His way of living life.

Payne Stewart's untimely death was a tragedy to us humanly speaking.  For him, however, it meant nothing but Glory.  For the straying Christian, there is usually a loss of testimony and the opportunity for being a Godly influence in the lives of others.

So, I ask some questions:

1.  Do I know for a fact that I am a born again Christian?

This is the most important question that must be answered.  The born again Christian is Heaven bound.  The person who isn't a saved person will only know a Christ-less eternity.  I am personally thankful I know I am Heaven bound.  It certainly is of no credit to me.  It is all credit to Jesus Christ who paid my debt of sin.  (My Pilot)

2.  How much time each day do I spend in God's Word?  (My fuel)

3.  What is my prayer life like?  (Keeping in contact with the "Control Tower")

4.  Do I really know God's will for my life and if so, am I following it?  (My flight plan)

5.  Am I staying in fellowship with God's people through church, Bible studies, etc.?

(Traveling this life with those of common spirit is an encouragement and help when I need either.)

Our goal is to stay on course with the help of our Pilot and then to reach our final destination.  Along the way, we will experience some turbulence...that's just a part of the trip.  God so dearly loves us and wants us to be a positive witness for His glory.  We must know the Pilot and accept Him into our lives, stay fueled, keep in touch with the control tower, know God's flight plan, follow it and make fellow Christians our fellow passengers on the journey.  Crashing Christians are very sad to behold.  We must do all we can to avoid being a spiritual casualty.  Payne Stewart didn't reach his earthly destination with no fault of his own, but He did reach his Heavenly one.  May it be so for each of us as well...no ticket necessary.

Dear Father, my Pilot...

How I love traveling this life with You.  You are so faithful to love and lead in my life.  I pray I will always listen to You, Holy Spirit, and heed Your voice in my life.  I want to stay on course and so live my life that others will see You in me.  I err so often, but You are so faithful to forgive and steer me back on the right way.  I am so honored to be Your child and look forward spending all of my days with You both now and into eternity.   Amen.

Preparing the Heart

I have many pleasant memories of my elementary years at Lincoln Grade School.  One of those memories has to do with the day I first realize I could read.  Reading has been a mainstay in my life ever since.  Another highlight for me was in my second grade year when I joined the Brownie Scouts.  I loved being a Brownie all decked out in my official brown dress with Brownie Scout pin attached. (I still have that pin that my Mother saved for me).  But at the end of my third grade year, a ceremony was held at our last Brownie meeting of the school year when some Girl Scouts came to our meeting and pinned us with our official Girl Scout pin.  Talk about feeling as grown up as could be, that was it.   In all of our scouting experience, we were introduced to a word that I think leaders took for granted we knew the meaning of and that word was..."prepare".   Our motto was:  "Be prepared"  and we said it over and over.  I knew it was a good thing to do or be so didn't question it.  

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "prepare" as to making ready beforehand for some purpose.  We know the importance of being prepared in many areas.  Cooks prepare meals, teachers prepare lesson plans, doctors have had to tell family members, "Prepare for the worst" as if that can really be done and the list could go on and on.

Recently I have been doing a study in the book of Ezra.  I know that's an odd place to be in Scripture, but believe me, I've been in odder places than that.  I personally believe we miss out on much God would have us learn from Scripture when we practically ignore the Old Testament except for our frequent reading of Psalms and Proverbs.  In every Old Testament book, we find the heart and character of God revealed as clearly as they are revealed in the New Testament.  There are jewels to be found in the Old as well as the New Testament if we are willing to do a little digging.

Ezra was a scribe who was a part of the captivity of God's people into the land of Babylon.  However the remnant that was allowed to return to Jerusalem after the captivity was led by Ezra.  Others had gone before his group to restore the city and temple.  Ezra was to return and was very excited about being back in the homeland.  Ezra, however, didn't just pack a bag for the trip.  Ezra was greatly anticipating this homeward journey and we see some of his spiritual anticipation in Ezra 7:11:

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law

of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel

statutes and judgments.

Ezra had strong feelings for the Laws and Word of God.  Israel had been in captivity, away from their Godly heritage and the teachings of it.  The people were going to have to be brought up to par if they were going to get back to being the people God wanted them to be.  They had gone into captivity because of their disobedience and coldness toward the things of God.  It was going to be important for them to not repeat the sin and mistakes of the past.  Ezra's job was to bring revival to his people and revival never comes minus the teaching of and adherence to the Word of God.

There are four things I noticed in this one verse about Ezra, four steps he took in getting back to the basics spiritually.  It would have to happen in him first and he knew that well.  What were those things he put into place?

1.  He HAD PREPARED his heart.

Before even tackling what God had planned, Ezra prepared his own heart.  This always takes some settling down, thinking, evaluating and even making plans.  Ezra didn't just jump and run.  He was more methodical than that.  He knew God's call but he also let it soak into his heart and mind.  When he did that, he was ready to act.

When we approach Scripture, whether to read or study it, we too need to prepare.  Many times the tendency is to sit down with Bible in hand, no plan, no thought ahead of time, read at random and expect to reap the fullest from our time in God's Word.  The proper approach to the Word should always be that of prayer.  It cleans us up, focuses our attention, and gets us centered on the Holy Spirit.  After all, we can get nothing of any depth of meaning from it without asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Jesus told His disciples:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name, he

shall teach you all things, and bring all

things to your remembrance, whatsoever

I have said unto you.

John 14:26

2.  Ezra had prepared his heart probably in many ways but the big way was to SEEK the Law of the Lord.

We don't know if Ezra had to do an actual physical search for a copy of Scripture or not.  Theologians discuss this part of the verse as to what that word "seek" meant.  Either way, Ezra had prepared his heart for what the Law would say to him when he had it in hand.  Either way, he was a seeker.  He was a scribe.  He knew the Word as well as anyone could after years of captivity, but even though a teacher, he had to assimilate the Word for himself.  He couldn't rely on the teachings of others.  I don't know how many times I've told ladies how unfair it is to keep afloat spiritually through a preacher or teacher.  As good as any may be, we have to seek the Word for ourselves allowing the Holy Spirit to work on us individually.  I'm afraid that very often our reading is so casual that we don't even see half of what it says.

3.  Ezra prepared his heart to DO it.

What did Ezra do?..".IT"...what was  " IT."..seeking the law of the Lord.  However, it didn't  stop there for Ezra.  He was prepared to put feet to the commands and directions he saw in the Law.  He was a responder, not just a seeker.  Being a seeker sounds good but what is that worth without putting action to what we have convicted of.

Spiritually we usually know what God wants us to do...it's a matter of knuckling down and doing it.  I have generally found that women who seek advice usually know already what God would have them do.  Maybe they want some kind of human confirmation or perhaps they want someone to talk them out of what they know they should do.

Some honest questions are in order:

          *  Am I going to read my Bible on a regular basis?

          *  Am I going to pay attention to what I read?

          *  Am I going to ask the Holy Spirit to teach me?

          *  When convicted to action, am I determined to do what Scripture asks of me?

I believe every Christ, sometime in his/her walk comes to a crisis where the Word of God is concerned.  We must decide if what we read has enough validity to put it into the very core of our spiritual being and then to put it into everyday action.  The decision of what Ezra was going to do with the Word was as good as decided when he "had prepared his heart."

4.  Ezra knew he had to TEACH the laws and judgments of God to his people.

What God taught Ezra regarding His word, Ezra knew he had to pass that along to his people or they would remain in spiritual ignorance.  This is where many Christians duck.  I am a teacher, love teaching, and feel it's God's gift given to me to teach.  I've done it for years.  It's not a matter of bragging, it's just a matter of fact.  I hasten to add, however, that every Christian walking and talking on this earth is a teacher.  We teach all the time and don't realize it.  We teach in our lifestyle and conversation, we teach in the casual advice we give a friend, we teach through notes and cards we send to others and we teach through media contact such as Facebook and e-mailing.

For instance, I can't tell you the things I have learned from friends on Facebook and e-mails.  Some share things they've learned through devotionals or in sharing verses of Scripture.  Many share quotes, messages or small articles that on certain days come to me as refreshing as a cool drink of water on a very hot day.  Many Christians shy away from these means through media.  If Christians would only view these tools as a means for being a spiritual encouragement by sharing God's blessings or His Word through meaningful verses of Scripture.

Ezra was broken hearted when he got to Jerusalem and saw the sin his people had already become involved in, one being the intermarrying with the heathen "ites."  Through the teaching of Ezra, but mostly through his praying, the people separated themselves from their immediate sinful ways.  One of the sweetest prayers in Scripture is prayed by Ezra in 9:5-15, a prayer in many parts we could pray over our own country.  When you have a few minutes, read it for yourself.

With prepared hearts, we are not only equipped to seek from the Word of God, but to do it in the power of God.  As we learn, we teach others perhaps in quiet ways the teachings the Holy Spirit has taught us through His Word.  So Ezra PREPARED, SOUGHT, DID  and TAUGHT.  Can we do no less?

Heavenly Father...So often  I have a surfacy love of your Word.  I believe it, I wouldn't want to be without it, but I'm often too casual with it.  Help me to prepare my heart for your Word in anticipation of what You want to say to me through it.  Holy Spirit, be my teacher.  I pray you would also energize me in putting into my living the walk of obedience.  Thank you for providing the Bible to me that I may love and know You better.  Amen

Be Alert

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that

is to be brought unto you at the revelation

of Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:13

About thirty years ago, I went to Buffalo, NY to speak at a Mother-Daughter breakfast.  I flew up on Friday afternoon and returned late the next day.  The event was a wonderful one with the pastoral staff and deacons serving all of us royally to a wonderful breakfast with all of the trimmings.

My plane wasn't due to leave until late afternoon which gave us a few hours to kill after the breakfast festivities.  My friend asked me if I had ever seen Niagara Falls to which I replied in the negative.  He and his wife decided to take me on a quick trip to show me this wonderful sight.

Soon after our departure from Buffalo, I noticed  that we were driving right beside a river.  My host told me that it was the river that fed the falls.  He asked me to keep observing the river and to speak up the minute I saw a small white ripple on top of the water.  As we continued to drive, I noticed along the shore of the river caution signs telling those fishing or recreating on the water to turn back.  The further we drove on the road, it was obvious that the warning signs were becoming  more frequent with even bigger letters.

It seemed in ever so short a time that I saw the first ripple.  I mentioned it to my host.  He said that if I were on the river fishing and my boat reached that first ripple that at that moment, I was as good as dead.  He said from that point on the water, there is no boat with any size motor that can turn the boat back to the shore because of the strong, intense current of the water.  The current at that point drags anything of any size right to the edge of the falls.  He told me that at times, a rope has been thrown to people in trouble that have been helped, but by the time a person wakes up to his situation, it's just too late to do much of anything for the one in peril. 

I'm afraid at times, the longer we have been Christians, the more careless we become with this Christian life of ours.  We may have been in church for years, know the books of the Bible by heart and most of the hymns in the hymnbook.  We are faithful to every church service and Sunday school session and may hold any number of positions in the congregation.  Any or all of these things can cause us to become too casual about our relationship with Christ.

I thought of fishermen on that river drifting to their own destruction.  Knowing fishermen, they tend to become very engrossed in their fishing.  My Dad was a fisherman.  He really concentrated on what he was doing to the point he was oblivious to anything or anyone around him.  He could be in a drifting row boat and not even notice the slightest change in location on the water.  Sportsmen who fished on that dangerous river that led to Niagara Falls surely knew the dangers involved when launching a boat in that water to begin with.  People do things they feel sure and comfortable with which may often lead to a lessening of caution.

What does this have to do with anything?  What contributes to a Christian going over the edge and crashing on the rocks of the world?  We must be ever vigilant and alert to the following:

1.  Be alert to location and activities that do not honor the Lord.

Just as those fishermen on a dangerous river had to know the dangers of that river, we must be alert to the dangers the world presents.  It's easy to live in this world and deny the evil that exists in it.  We need to be wise as to places we go that might not be the most beneficial to us.  There are places we know we should avoid or we risk getting drawn into problems we don't need.  Like those on that treacherous river, we too may become sure of ourselves, sure that no disaster can befall us.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27

Notice sometime on the news the circumstances that often contribute to people getting into serious trouble.  I like to watch real life mysteries on TV.  There is one thing that frequently catches my attention...people being at the wrong places at the wrong times.  Many put themselves in dangerous positions where problems can easily occur.  Christians must be cautious.  This world system is not our friend.  An enemy is out to destroy us in any way possible.  We sometimes feel we are untouchable by consequences of our behaviors because we are Christians.  That's another mistake.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

I Corinthians 10:12

2.  Be alert regarding who you "go fishing" with..

I was told by my friend in New York that alot of the time when a boat went over the Falls, there were often two people in the boat.  Surely if a fisherman is with a friend, the friend would help keep an eye out for impending danger.  We need those Christians in our lives who will not only keep us built up and encouraged in the Lord, but who love us enough to hold us accountable if they see us headed for spiritual disaster.  That doesn't give us permission to go on spiritual witch hunts.  We Christians all have our own personal flaws.  A rule of thumb in this thing of accountability is relationship.  A relationship with another Christian indicates a love and care for another individual, wanting what is in the best interest of that friend.  As parents, we often cautioned our children about having the right kind of friends.  This takes discretion on the part of children and adults.  Unfortunately, whether parents or children, we must be careful who we become close friends with even within the church.  Remember that not everyone is a good fishing buddy.

                               Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth

                                          the countenance of his friend.

                                                       Proverbs 27:17                             

3.  Watch the "signs" of impending disaster.

I would put the word "signs" in two categories...printed and personal.

We have the best, boldest and biggest signs possible in the form of God's Word when it comes to any circumstance of life.  We find in the Bible our instructions for life that builds our relationship with Christ.  We also find in the Bible warnings and cautions God put there to keep us safe from the evil one.  This word we receive from Him can come through our personal Bible study, personal meditation time with the Lord, the preaching and teaching of God's Word, reading good spiritual materials that are theologically sound and taking advantage of every opportunity of spending sweet moments in His presence.

                              Order my steps in thy word; and let not any

                                         iniquity have dominion over me.            

                                                      Psalm 119:133

The other signs we may notice are personal ones.  One big danger sign for any of us is our own  level of spiritual interest.  This really isn't too hard to detect if we choose to be honest with ourselves.  There are some folks I am sure who drift ever so slowly down their own river of life oblivious to impending, spiritual danger.  However, most of us know when we're drifting spiritually...lack of interest in church and Sunday school attendance, very little attention to reading the Bible, prayer life just about dead, and perhaps spiritual sensitivity all but non-existent are some major indicators.  For the true Christian, the Holy Spirit will speak and try to woo us back into the place we ought to be in, but His voice can become more and more distant the longer we choose to resist Him.  When we refuse to listen, then we are surely headed to the edge of the falls where spiritual wreckage can occur.

4.  We have to consider how others are affected  by our spiritual conditions.

I thought of families who had to be notified of the demise of loved ones who had gone over those mighty Niagara Falls.  Bodies had to be recovered, empty places at the dinner table, children without a parent, financial consequences, not considering all of the emotional damage done to family and friends.  When one is a walking, talking spiritual disaster, let me say that a tremendous amount of damage is done to friends and loved ones as well.  Some may turn their backs on God for a lifetime because of the negative example set by careless Christians.

I must say that Niagara Falls was one of the most awesome things I had ever seen...what a wonder of God's creation.  But a more beautiful creation than that is what happens when Jesus Christ comes to live, rule and reign in the life of a human being.  The power of the Holy Spirit is the greatest power known ( sorry Niagara Falls) and He is in us enabling us to be all for Christ we can and want to be.  May we stay alert and sensitive to His leading and may we stay on course, avoiding going over the edge into the abyss of spiritual disaster.

PRAYER:

Dear Father...Keep us from spiritual pride that ever makes the statement, "That could never happen to me."  With those words, Satan flexes his evil muscles, ready to pounce.  Keep us sensitive to Your leading.  Help us watch the signs when spiritually drifting.  Thank You for loving us so much that You desire to rescue me when I do drift.  I love you, Father, and never want to disappoint you.  Amen.

In His Steps

For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example, that ye

should follow His steps.

I Peter 2:21

To be considered an American classic, a book has to have been in constant publication for at least 100 years.  By the end of the 1980's there were only two such books in our country  that fit in that category.  One of those books is entitled "The Last of the Mohican's" and the other is a religious book entitled, "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon.  In this book, a young minister (after a series of events) challenged his congregation to do what they felt Jesus would do in every situation of their lives and commit to it for one year.  This book follows the changes that came about in the lives of some of the parishioners during that year...a debutante, newspaper editor, railroad executive, young lady with a beautiful singing voice and a couple of other persons as well.  Someone gave me a copy of this book when I was in high school and I have tried to read it every couple of years since that time.  I dearly love the book because it is so inspirational and challenging at the same time.

A few years ago, we saw in our country a motto that seemed to appear on everything from key chains to  bumper stickers...WWJD "What would Jesus do?"  That was the question the young pastor suggested his parishioners ask before making any decision.  Interesting isn't it, how WWJD would come to the surface in our country about a century from the writing of the book?  No matter be it the 1800's, 1900's, 2000's or even much earlier, Christians have been challenged in some way to follow in Jesus' steps which leads to a life of great joy but that can also include suffering as well.

Even in high school, this book took me back to an incident when I was the age of five or six and a definite learning experience.  It was a very snowy morning.  I loved those mornings when I could look out my bedroom window and see the snow that had blown up in piles by my swing set and on the roof of the next door neighbor's house.  The first snow was always so beautiful.  When I could stick my head out the door, everything was so quiet.  This was very tempting for children who couldn't wait to get out in it throwing snow balls, making snow angels and getting the sled out of the garage with it's year's worth of cob-webs on it.

This particular day was no exception.  Daddy was about to head out the back door to the coal shed that stood between our garage and outhouse.  Daddy grabbed the coal bucket and had his big galoshes on over his shoes.  I began to beg..."Please let me go too."  Daddy said that I couldn't go because the snow was too deep and if it got in my galoshes, my only pair of weekday shoes would get wet.  That would mean that I'd be in the house the rest of the day with my leather shoes sitting near the big coal stove that stood tall in our living room.  I kept begging and begging.  Finally, Daddy said I could go on one condition.  I would have to walk in the steps he made for me as he led the way to the coal shed.  Things went well.  He took small enough steps to make a trail-like path for me to walk behind him.  The air was crisp, the morning on the cloudy side but I was one happy little girl in the backyard of our house that day.

Daddy got the coal while I stood in the coal shed watching him use a small shovel to fill the bucket.  I wanted to sneak a small piece of coal in my coat pocket because I loved chewing on coal in small measures.  Today we could call it natural food I guess.  I kept myself from yielding to temptation and followed Daddy out the door heading to the back door of our house.  Things had gone well until we were about halfway to the back steps.  I began to look at that beautiful, smooth-surfaced snow on either side of the path my Daddy had made for me.  I had stayed carefully in his steps.  I didn't have any snow in my galoshes or on the legs of my snow suit (gray with pink trim).  The more I looked from side to side, the stronger was my desire to take just one step outside the boundaries my Daddy had set for me.  Soon, I stepped with my right foot to the side just a little onto the smooth surface of the undisturbed snow.  It was much deeper than I had anticipated.  Not only did my right boot get filled up but I lost my balance and down I went.  I was covered in snow from the waist down....both galoshes full of snow.

My Daddy heard me begin to cry, turned and came back for me.  He brushed what snow he could from my snow suit but it was too late for my shoes.  Daddy picket me up and hustled me to the back porch of the house.  He hurriedly pulled off the galoshes and removed my shoes before the snow had too much of an opportunity to melt and cause more damage than it could have otherwise been.  I really thought I was going to get a good "whippin" but Daddy stayed very calm.  As he brushed the snow off my snow suit, he said, "You know what this means, dont' you?"  I think I commented about my shoes having to sit by the stove.  He went further though and told me while other kids were out playing in the snow, I would be inside the house the rest of the day.  He said after work, he would pull my little sister Kay on the sled for awhile but I would have to stay in.  Believe it or not, that's just what happened.  Even though I checked my shoes off and on all day and knew they were dry by the afternoon, that didn't matter.  I had been told to stay in Daddy's steps that morning and in one brief moment, I ended up in the house the rest of the day, the day of the first beautiful winter snow.  There was no negotiating, talking about it or compromising...my fate was sealed in concrete.  I've never forgotten that day.  My Daddy looked disappointed at my disobedience...my Mother was furious...but I'm so glad now that Daddy stuck with the consequences.  It was a valuable lesson for me up to this very day.

There are memories I've carried with me from that day with some lessons thrown in as well.

I still like:

*  First snow day of winter

*  Coal sheds (although I have given up chewing on pieces of coal)

*  Being pulled on a sled (which hasn't happened since way back then)

*  Warm leather shoes for winter

*  Making snow angels if I could find a yard big enough, and

*  Snow forts and throwing snow balls.

I still don't like:

*  Galoshes

*  Snow suits that get wet

*  Galoshes

*  Slow drying leather shoes, and, oh yes,

*  Galoshes

That snow day my Daddy was my authority and I'm grateful he insisted on obedience and didn't reward my disobedience.  When I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior at the age of ten, another authority came to be known to me.  I learned from Jesus that I was to walk in obedience and that He always had my best interest at heart.  That has never changed in my life.  Jesus has never wanted me to get off track, away from His chosen path.  Anytime I have gotten away from the very clear steps He has laid out for me in His Word, the results have been negative in nature.  My little galoshes were meant to keep my feet dry and warm.  Without them, I could have gotten very cold and maybe even sick.  I hated wearing them...hated wearing a bundle some snow suit.  Everything that day had to do with obedience, authority and protection.

The Apostle Paul tells me in Ephesians 6, that I am provided with spiritual armor to put on everyday that will keep me protected.  My feet are even covered with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  I have a choice of putting on this armor every day.  Without it, I am unprotected.  Without my spiritual snow suit and galoshes, I am a walking target for Satan to attack.  Believe me, it'll amount to more than having mere snow in my galoshes.

My prayer is that I will stay in His steps, stay suited up, walk in obedience, not even daring to look to the right or left of the path He has so carefully planned for me.  I want to move straight ahead lest I get things of the world in my spiritual galoshes and that just isn't worth the consequences.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus...Thank You for going ahead of me, making Your way plain.  In Your steps is joy unspeakable and full of glory.  I may be called upon to suffer as I walk that path but being in Your presence no matter the circumstances is worth any discomfort on my part.  Give me the courage to follow You no matter what and do on a daily basis what I know would please You.  Thank You for forgiving me of my sin and setting me back on the right path...back in Your footprints.      Amen.

GIVE ME MORE THAN ONE OF THESE

Having  been asked to speak at a nursery worker's banquet, because of being a nursery director myself, I had no idea how I would approach the subject with just giving a list of good/bad characteristics.  I wanted very badly to take a Scriptural approach, but let's face it, there isn't much in the Bible directed to nursery workers.  Whatever notes I took over the course of about three weeks just weren't taking any shape.  They were centering on alot of do's and don'ts, good qualities and bad but not what the ideal servant of God should be.  Most pastors could relate what an ideal church worker would be, but I wanted to hear from the Lord on the subject and not other human beings.

I spent those weeks thinking about the subject.  It would have been nice to have just one chapter from Paul that dealt only with the subject of nursery workers but that wasn't to be going to happen.  I looked through Bible dictionaries and concordances and found very little.  I did the "open Bible to the right page, point at a verse" thing...you know what I mean, but that wasn't working either.  Last resort, I prayed.  Yep, I prayed.  I'm ashamed to say it but that's the order things went in.  I can't say the Lord gave me something immediately.  I did find that I began to relax and not be so frenzied about the process.  I felt in God's timing, He would provide the Scripture I needed.  Two days prior to the banquet as I was finishing reading through  I Corinthians, I came to 15:58 and it reads:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEDFAST,

IMMOVABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work

of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your LABOR

is not in vain in the Lord.



There it was.  There in that verse were four qualities or characteristics any nursery director would love to have in every work.  But then again, probably every pastor, music director or church leader would give anything for a church full of members with those four qualities.

These four qualities took me to various dictionaries.  In a nutshell, this is what I found about each characteristic:

STEDFAST...

This is a person who patiently endures.  These folks are reliable, faithful and loyal...they are steady to the task.

IMMOVABLE...

These people occupy a certain position and are going to stay put no matter what.  They also cannot be deterred from belief or service.

ABOUNDING...

These folks are always doing the over and above.  They arrive early and stay as late as they must to see a job to completion even if others don't.  They are usually enthusiastic and positive in their dealings with people.

LABOR...

This word doesn't just speak of work in a casual manner.  Labor is always work, but work isn't always labor.  Labor is a very intense, nose-to-the-grindstone kind of work.  Labor is difficult work that is often physical but can demand mental exertion as well.  God's work is some of the hardest one can do simply because there is an enemy at the turn of every corner opposing anything done for Christ.  Our labor will be for nothing unless it is done for God alone and in the power of His Holy Spirit.  

I looked at those things and could pick out ladies on my own staff who had one or more of those qualities seen in our verse.  I had a few and even less than a few with all four of them.  It wasn't hard to look at all four qualities and see how important they would be in the nursery division of our church.   However, that verse wasn't written by Paul for nursery workers even though they can be included.  Paul was writing to every Christian in the Corinthian church and thus, to us as well.  These qualities are things even now that should be incorporated into the life of every laboring church member.

Who is that STEDFAST church member?

He is faithfully in church.  He is patient when he doesn't get his usual parking space on the hottest Sunday of the year.  He is loyal to the pastor and program of the church.  If the pastor preaches an extra 10 minutes, he doesn't sit looking at his watch.  If a guest should sit in his pew, he looks for another place to sit without asking the person to move. (Asking someone to move from one's "spot" at church isn't an unusual thing to occur in churches.)  This member is at church to serve, worship and learn.

What about that IMMOVABLE Christian?

She has her place of service which could be the choir, teacher, etc...and she faithfuly carries out her responsibilities.  For her there is nothing more important than being in her place.  If she plans to be away, she has her responsibilities covered and faithfully prays during that time for her substitute and the work that is to be done while she is gone.  She takes her job(s) very seriously and it would take a herd of buffalo to pull her away from any of them unless the Lord led her to something else.  She is loyal to her spiritual authority from the pastor down, so don't talk about them in a negative way around her.

Then of course, there is ABOUNDING...

These are people with energy galore who are always looking for extra ways to serve the Lord.  They are the ones who sign up for those things that no one else wants to do.  They arrive on time and most often early.  They will call in if something has come up that keeps them from fulfilling their responsibilities.  They may be the same ones who stay late until everything is complete.  They will stay with that straggler child whose parents fail to pick him up right after church or church activity and do it with a smile.

Oh yes, last but not least....WORK/LABOR...

This is what it's all about.  The three previous qualities are thrown into the mix of work.  That's what it's all about...God's work...the most important work we can do on this earth of ours.  It won't always be done within the four walls of our churches.  God's work is done behind the desk of an office where people observe carefully our witness for Christ.  It's seen in the volunteer work we do in schools, hospitals, etc.  It's the ethic that is with us when we do our dishes or mow our lawns.  The list could go on and on.  Everything we do is to be done heartily and for God's glory.  It gets done by rolling up our sleeves and doing the work God has called us to and to be faithful to our tasks.

You might ask, "Did Paul say all that?"  Well yes and no.  Paul used those big words with the Corinthians knowing they would know what the words meant.  Look though how Paul started out the verse:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren"...speaking to fellow Christians, people he loved.

"be ye"...no suggestion from Paul in this verse.  He was giving a very loving but firm command.

The Lord speaks to you and me out of love, yes in the form of a command that we are to be stedfast, immovable and ALWAYS abounding in the Lord's work.  That word "always" is an important one for it speaks of consistency that is expected when it comes to any work for God.  May we be ever faithful to those things God has called us to, not for personal attention but for His glory alone.

Dear Father...

We grow weary at times, but You have promised in this special verse that our labor is not in vain.  May every single thing we do be for You.  We pray we will always be faithful to You...that we will be stedfast, immovable and that we will always abound in all we do for You and others.  May we be consistent in our service.  Give us strength, love and whatever else we need in serving You better.  Amen



A MERRY HEART

A merry heart doeth good

like a medicine:   but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

There was a day when just about every child in our country knew by heart most nursery rhymes.  I still have a picture in my mind, from when I was about five years old of Old King Cole.  I learned that he was a "merry old soul and a merry old soul was he."  I pictured a fat old man on a golden throne dressed in a red robe that had white fur trim on it.  I saw him as having a crown on his head that was a little lop-sided because he chuckled and laughed so much.  When he laughed, I pictured his tummy jiggling just like Santa Claus' supposedly did.  We had imaginations then (no TV), lots of books and people who read them to us.  Even as a little girl, I wondered if it would be possible for regular people to be merry old souls.

I saw this merry spirit in Miss Irene, my first grade teacher and others at Lincoln Grade School.  I saw it in Nellie Barker, the first Sunday school teacher I remember having at a pre-school age.  She was from England and we loved to hear her talk in her perky, friendly way.  I think of my most recent choir director, Fred.  Even when in serious conversation, that merry heart of his just comes shining through.  You leave his presence with a smile on your face whether you felt like smiling when first seeing him.  In all cases, and more, such people have been an encouragement in my worst of times and probably are responsible in great measure for whatever sense of humor I have now.

Our Scripture speaks of a merry heart.  We are to know that this merry, cheerful spirit is not something we just conjur up whenever we want to.  This merry spirit is something that is born in the heart and comes from God.  I realize that there are people who don't know God from a totem pole who give off an air of friendliness, caring and even glee; but, the REAL thing, comes from a relationship with the Lord.  This spirit springs from an inner joy that isn't controlled by circumstances.

Let's begin by defining what is meant by "merry" as Scripture views it.  In  Hebrew, the first definition given of this word in noun form is "good."  The verb form of the word "merry" means beautiful, best, better, cheerful, at ease, gracious, joyful, kindly, loving and pleasant.  When we read all of that, we have to agree that that's a whole lot of "merry."

Without any pretense, the person with the merry heart brings refreshment and at times, healing to just about any situation, thus the use of the word "medicine."  It isn't the kind of medicine a physician would prescribe.  When taken as ordered by a physician, such medications can affect a persons entire well being.  Some medicines may relieve pain or some may be preventative.  However, the medicine of the merry heart touches the emotional, mental and spiritual side of an individual all of which may in turn affect the physical side of the person as well.  I have known many people with merry hearts who are healing influences to others just by their very presence.

The other half of our verse cannot be overlooked.  Solomon in his wise writing through inspiration of the Holy Spirit addresses a broken spirit.  Matthew Henry in his commentary writes, regarding Proverbs 17:22:

"A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with a sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow and makes the body a mere skeleton.  We should, therefore, watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation."

A very kind orthopedic surgeon once told me that there is a definite correlation between the healing of a broken or surgically repaired bone and the inner spirit of the patient.  He stressed that having healthy marrow in the bones is of the utmost importance to overall health.  He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said that in our day, an awful lot of folks are walking around with rotten bones.  So I guess we could say:

                        Broken Bone + Broken Spirit = Slow Physical Healing

I have to wonder how many people, especially Christians, are walking around with severe physical problems because the are first suffering from broken spirits and they may not realize it.

The merry heart is a wonderful thing to have...something we all should desire.  The broken spirit, however, does not just cause the spirit of a person much damage, but also is extremely damaging to the human body as well.  We will face problems and hurts, so the sooner we turn them over to God and deal with them spiritually, the healthier and merrier we will be.

There are some places we can begin to work on this.  Confession is a good place to begin.  If we can't think what sin we might have in our lives, a quick scan of Colossians 3 gives us a good check list.  The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us out in this area.  Turning everything of concern over to the Lord can lighten the spirit.  Being people of the Word and prayer can ensure we keep that extra skip in our spiritual step.  Let me add a suggestion.

Let me add that people who have this spiritual quality of being merry in heart are always appropriate in behavior.  This isn't a person has to be the clown of the party, who giggles a lot or who acts like a six year old wouldn't even act.  In fact, those with a merry heart may at the same time be going through heartache they would never reveal to anyone.  Being a person with a merry heart is not a goal...it's the end result of a sold out relationship with Jesus Christ. 

As a side line thought, those who are merry probably do a lot more singing than talking.

James 5:13 tells us:

Is any among you afflicted?

Let him pray.

Is any merry?

Let him sing psalms.

Scripture also promises that a merry heart can be ongoing and not a temporary thing.

Proverbs 15:15 says:

All the days of the afflicted are evil:

but he that is of a merry heart

hath a continual feast.

Notice that it isn't the afflicted who are evil but the days of the afflicted.  We live in a terrible, confusing and troubling world.  All of us can fall into affliction just because of the times we live in, but we don't have to stay there.  For those merry in heart, life is one big spiritual feast even though they may be going through times of great suffering.  Circumstances change nothing for the merry in heart.

Old King Cole may have been a merry old soul but what about us?  Can others view you and me as being merry of spirit...healers, encouragers...filled with the joy of Jesus.  He came that we might have life and have it in abundance.  There are those troubled in spirit who need to see the joy and merryment of the Lord Jesus in us.

PRAYER:

Dear Jesus...I long to be a reflection of You.  I believe every positive quality found in the Bible was a part of You as You walked on this earth.  I know that a merry heart isn't something I can pretend to have...it's either a part of me or it isn't.  Help me to be an encouragement to others, but before that, I want all You are to be a part of me.  Thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your kingdom plan.   Amen.

Been Wounded Lately?

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

The first time I can remember hearing the word "wound" was when I was a little girl in the 1940's.  World War II was raging and I heard my parents talking about soldiers from our town who had been wounded in battle.  My mother explained to me that a wound was a really bad hurt that bad soldiers had caused our own soldiers.  She explained that it would be like my being pushed down on the sidewalk and skinning my knee except that for soldiers, it was much worse.  Mother wasn't very graphic, but I knew what a badly skinned knee was.  I knew it hurt and I knew it made me cry.  My skinned knees and elbows usually healed with a kiss from Mother, that "red stuff in the small bottle that didn't burn" and a band-aid.

I've had a lot of physical wounds since that time in my life.  I carry a couple of scars on the back of my right hand where a very friendly dog accidentally scratched me.  Boy did it hurt and I have to tell you that for weeks, the back of my hand was a sight.  It wasn't enough to have any stitches but it probably took a month or two for my hand to heal.  During the healing process, my hand was very sore to the touch and was not pretty to look at.  Right now though, I can touch those scars, and they don't hurt anymore.  I can look at the criss-cross scar on the back of my hand now and remember a loveable dog and it's wonderful owners.   However, I'm not going to be addressing physical wounds in my words to you. No matter how bad they are, I have found that wounds of the heart and spirit inflicted by others can be so much more painful.  Just as the healing on the back of my hand took time to heal, so do our inner wounds.  Healthy healing really does take time.

Our wounds of the heart can turn out the same if we let them.  However, I know people who have held onto bitterness for years.  They relive their wounds over and over only to find that the infection of bitterness has taken over their lives.  Christians holding onto such bitterness, may find their testimony negatively affected and perhaps their health as well.  We're not meant to hold on for dear life to those hurts that probably in most cases, we couldn't have done anything about anyway.  Wouldn't it be better if we let our hurts and wounds grow us spiritually.  There are good things that can come from wounds.  The following are some examples from nature:

     Wheat that is thrashed...for what....that you and I may have bread

     Peeled oranges................for what....healthy food, juice and refreshment

     Pressed fresh flowers.....for what....perfumes and resulting products

     Beaten olives...................for what....oil for the golden candlestick in the tabernacle

     Olives couldn't just be pressed to render oil from them.  Scripture says that the oil for the golden candlestick had to come from olives that were beaten.  That particular oil caused the light from the candlestick to burn clearer and brighter.  I often think that when you and I feel the most wounded (beaten up) is when our light for Christ can shine the brightest and clearest.

I don't minimize the wounds we are sometimes called upon to endure, but I have learned that our wounds can be turned into blessing for God's glory.  He wants to use every single thing in our lives to somehow touch the lives of others.  We are living in a world-weary day with people who are looking for Christians who live out their faith in such a way that a relationship with Jesus Christ looks inviting.  Some Christians may even watch us to see how we get through  the wounds that are often inflicted upon us.  When people know we have been through a terrible time of wounding, they may not understand the sweet spirit that can radiate from our lives during those times.  When we go through our own thrashings, others hopefully will be lead to the Bread of Life.  Our wounds for a time may be very red, hurtful and noticeable.  As we keep functioning in Holy Spirit power, we will later look at a personal scar or two and we may even be able to smile.

Some things we can remember:

1.  God knows every hurt of any kind inflicted by anyone that touches us.  He wants to comfort us like a mother would tend to her child's physical boo-boo.  There are some folks, however who refuse the comfort of God and want to roll around in self-pity, always seeking the sympathy of others.  Others can do only so much...God comforts as no one else can.

2.  Every wound in our lives is to be basted in praise.

                                       In EVERYTHING give thanks:

                                                   for this is the will of God

                                             in Christ Jesus concerning you.

                                                      I Thessalonians 5:18

3.  Along with the above, we need to be careful how much energy we give to our hurts and wounds.  Such loss of energy can affect us mentally, spiritually and maybe physically.  When wounded, we still need to take care of ourselves physically.   Attention still needs to be given to our prayer life that isn't always complaining to God, but that offers times of praise as well.  Bible reading is a must.  I might suggest though that when sorely wounded, Revelation might not be the best book from which to read.  Select those Scriptures that are a balm for the soul.  Select some of those passages ahead of time when not hurting for your spiritual emergency kit and keep that list handy to refer to in times of difficulty.

4.  Remember that there are wounds that are contageous.  Physically there are infections that can spread because of exposure to someone else.  There are vulnerable people who will take on the hurts of others and we don't want to be a spiritual hinderance in their lives.  We should limit sharing information about our wounds only with a very few trusted, spiritually mature persons.  Sometimes speaking openly about a specific difficulty can minister to people, but  I am talking about the habit of just venting our hurts with anyone who will listen.  That isn't beneficial for anyone...speaker or hearers.

5.  I have to say somewhere in all of this that we must avoid self-inflicted wounds.  Too often we take on the problems of others.  In doing so, our minds can be marked and scarred causing constant turmoil.  I have decided that I am at an age where I just can't do that anymore.  I tend to go off on guilt binges.  I've decided if I have done something wrong to someone, I will  apologize, learn from it and go on.  I'm weary of people who get ticked off at just about anything because so much rides on their mood of the day.  I allow things like that to do too much damage to my own spirit.  That's not God's intention for any of us. 

 We can also  wound ourselves with worry.  We moms are especially pro's at this activity.  I have determined that I will have a concern for those around me, but only God can take care of  things no matter how much of it I mentally take on.  I will do what God wants me to do and leave the rest with Him.  It's a huge order for me but in His strength I know I can have victory.  If it doesn't work, it sure isn't His fault. 

6.  We must pray for those who have wounded us and forgive them.  This is about as tough as it gets, but we are commanded to forgive even when people hurt us deeply.  We forgive because God forgives us and He commands us to forgive.  Jesus in His model prayer said, "Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us."  That's a lot of forgivin'.

7.  Take everything to the Lord.  He doesn't mind tears and doesn't need fancy long prayers when we sit in a heap of hurt.  There have been times I've just had to say through tears, "Lord, help me!" because that was all I could utter with the broken heart that was throbbing inside of me at the time.  We tend to go first to everyone else with our hurts instead of where we are supposed to go.

                                           Cast thy burden upon the Lord,

                                                and He shall sustain thee;

                                        He shall never suffer the righteous

                                                          to be moved.

                                                        Psalms 55:22

Let's never forget  the wounding that Jesus endured for us.  He suffered pain...the worst of pain...undeserved pain...and it was for you and me.

                                But He was wounded for our trangressions

                                          He was bruised for our iniquities:

                                         the chastisement of our peace was

                                             upon Him and with His stripes

                                                          we are healed.

                                                            Isaiah 53:5

Wounded...bruised...chastisement...stripes...all four of those things were deliberate physical acts.  He endured hateful, aggressive torture not counting the malicious taunting involved.  This occured all for you and me.  Through all of that, you and I have spiritual wholeness and healing.  In light of His suffering, the wounds we sustain on this earth for a time seem to pale in light of all He endured.

PRAYER:

Thank You, my Savior, for bearing all You did for me on the cross.  The hurts I endure on this earth are nothing compared to what You bore for me.   May I never forget Your willingness to be wounded for me.  Thank You dear Jesus for who You are in my life everyday.  Forgive my being forgetful of all You did.  As You forgive me, may I be willing to forgive others.  I love You.   Amen