Leaf Me Alone

Seems like my neighbor's tree turned colors overnight. As we all know, leaves change color when the flow of chemicals into the leaves changes with the shortening of days. Wouldn't it be interesting if we all changed colors according to the spiritual nourishment we're enjoying?

God's Word actually compares us to trees in many passages. In Psalm 1:1-3, it states: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

Would I be a vibrant green if I were drawing daily from God's word? Would my haphazard habits keep me red and orange? Would I be brown or void of foliage?

Woolly Wonderer

While driving through the mountains, I kept noticing all the woolly worms (caterpillar larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth) crossing the road. Of course, I couldn't see them well enough to know whether their black and brown sections indicated a rough winter, but I kept thinking about how I've never seen a woolly worm crossing at any angle other than perpendicular to the road. From their lowly vantage point, how do they do that? I mean, they aren't tall enough to see that it's the shortest distance to the next green patch of grass. And besides, scientists tell us they're practically blind!

And black bears. When they're relocated hundreds of miles from their home, how do they find their way back to it so easily?

Isn't it neat that God equips them both with what they need to go where they need to go?

How do we humans find the right route in our lives? Psalm 119:105 says: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." It's interesting that God's Word is compared to a lamp or lantern, which only shows enough light for us to take a few steps. It doesn't illuminate the whole journey before us. How kind of God to not show us everything that lies ahead!

When God's people were worrying about the direction for their lives in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, He told them they didn't have to send someone across the sea or send someone to heaven (or have a billboard!) for direction. He said the answer was in their hearts!

When trying to know God's will for direction in the next step, we should search our hearts. If we keep ourselves in his word and will, we'll know. Just as innately as woolly worms and black bears.

Autumn Awe

I was walking outside the other day when I heard an unusual squawking, which was getting louder and louder. I recognized it as the sound of a gaggle of geese, so I stopped and waited for them to appear as they flew over, headed south for the winter. The experience was well worth the wait, considering it was the largest V formation I’ve ever seen! A very majestic uncommon sight.

God’s word tells us in many places to consider His handiwork of nature, whether looking at how the ants work, how the lilies and birds don’t worry, how you can identify a tree by its fruit, etc. As I contemplated the huge V formation of Canada geese, I thought about how even geese are smart enough to take a rest. They take turns being the point of the V and taking the exhausting headwind for the group, then return to rest in the draft of easier flying in a leg of the V. Together as a group, they fly more efficiently for a longer distance.

I was reminded by a passage from Mark 6:30-32: “The apostles gathered around Jesus. They told him all they had done and taught. But many people were coming and going. So they did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said to his apostles, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place. You need to get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a quiet place.”

Spring Cleaning

Spring is here, and with it comes a little spring cleaning. We put away the winter sweaters, the boots, the sleds and the heavy blankets; we bring out the shorts, the sandals, the lawn chairs, and the lawn mower. Perhaps we clean the windows, clean out a few closets and let the house air out a little after all the months of being sealed up warm and tight. As we do these things we come across items that we forgot we had and must decide whether they should be thrown away or maybe put to new use.

Spiritual revival is a lot like spring cleaning. Uf we open up our hearts to God and allow Him to clean out the corners and closets of our lives, we're amazed at all He finds there. Perhaps we have old bad habits that have become so familiar to us that we don't even see them any more. At one time we might have been concerned about them, but we've become accustomed to them and they no longer bother us. It's possible that He'll also find talents there that we haven't used in years and have forgotten. He might ask us to bring them out of the closet and put them to use again. Maybe it's just that we need to clean and polish up the capabilities that we use only occasionally now. Whatever the case, God can make a difference in our lives as we see them today. We may be a little dusty in places and a little cluttered in others, but no heart or life is beyond the miracles of God.

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts." James 4:8

May 1, 1984

Bearing Fruit

Spring. This is a special time of year. Not just because of the warmer weather, the budding of the trees, the blooming of the flowers, or the nearness of the last day of school, but also because it's time for gardening. Now, the turning and tilling of fresh earth might not bring joyful tears to everybody's eyes but it does for some. And surely everyone does look forward to the first fresh green onion or homegrown tomatoes!

So what is a garden, really? Is it the broken warm earth, plowed with neatly spaced straight furrows? The seeds that nestle among grains of soil? The plants or sprouts that spring up and then wax and wane according to the sun, wind, rain, weeds, bugs, and fertilizer? Are we satisfied with the full grown stalks, vines, and plants? No, we're looking for something more. Something of value. We're looking for the fruit. For what is a garden that bears no fruit?

God's Word has a lot to say about fruit in our lives, and it's usually not talking about what we eat, but rather what we produce. As we look again and again at the parables Jesus told, we find how individuals were judged because their condition was reflected in the actions of their lives. In Matthew 24 and 25, the evil slave, the five foolish virgins, the unfaithful slave, and the "goats" were not judged by where they were, what they were called, what they planned to do, or what they thought or believed to be true. They were judged according to their condition which was evident in the fruit of their lives. Yet each was SURPRISED by the verdict!

In Matthew 7, Jesus said, 1) few enter the narrow gate to Heaven; 2) they can be known by the fruit of their lives, and 3) many who call Him "Lord" do not really know Him. One of Satan's greatest weapons is the satisfaction we can find in a false sense of security. Are we being deceived by what we "hope," "think," "feel," or "would like to believe" is true in our lives and in the lives of those we love? God's Word ways the truth can be seen in the fruit we bear.

What should we look for? I John 5:13 says, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order tht you may KNOW that you have eternal life." Some of the things John writes about are:

• Fellowship (1:7)
• Obedience (2:3)]
• Christ-likeness (2:6)
• Righteousness (2:29)
• Ministry & service (3:17)
• Sharing of faith (4:15)
• Love for others (5:1)

We are not saved by the works we do, but God's children bear fruit that is characteristic of the change that has taken place in their hearts. Who is a child of God?

"I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing... By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." John 15:5 & 8)

From May 8, 1990

Christian Friends

Having a close Christian friend is a very special blessing, and being a close Christian friend brings many blessings as well. Close friends are very important in each of our lives, and each of us has had a very special friend at one time or another. Although each friend is loved as an individual for his or her unique personality, certain qualities are desirable in any special friend. What does the Bible say about friends and friendship?

Proverbs 17:17 tells us that "a friend loveth at all times." That's almost too good to be true, because none of us are lovable all the time! However, a true friend does love us in spite of ourselves and somehow sees past all our faults to what lies in our hearts.

Sometimes we don't see our own faults, and we need a friend to give us a little constructive criticism. Or perhaps we "can't see the forest for the trees," and we need a friend to talk out our thoughts and feelings and give us an objective opinion. Proverbs 17:9 says, "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by his counsel."

A good Christian friend is someone to cherish, because sometimes one is not easy to find. We should each be thankful for the friends we have and should always make our appreciation know. A person is very fortunate to have a friend to share in her joys and help carry her concerns.

Have I counted my blessings of friendship lately?

From January 31, 1984

Economics and Eternity

"Economics, inflation, recession, and depression" are familiar words to all of us. I've heard that the situation is a "recession" when our neighbor gets the lay-off, but it becomes a "depression" when the lay-off hits home, and I once saw how quickly attitudes toward the future can change. The usually comfortable atmosphere I worked in suddenly became tense and full of worry when management started talking about laying off employees in each department. The "future" that everyone took for granted was suddenly one of great concern.

I wonder how many people take eternity for granted. Perhaps may do not give it any thought because they never hear the subject mentioned. Just as workers are comfortable until the security of their jobs is questioned, some people may go throughout life without considering eternity unless someone asks where they're going to spend it. Don't we discuss the future of the people we're close to? Well, what about the hereafter, when all these other things have passed away? Do we care enough to talk about it?

"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" I John 3:17

This verse tells us that if we have riches to share with a brother in need, God expects us to do so. If we have the love of God in our hearts, we should want to do so. The greatest treasure is salvation. Share it with someone!

From October 5, 1982