Words

Words.
Sometimes they come so quickly
like flaming arrows
that cannot be retrieved.
With them,
men inspire nations
and persuade the multitudes
and great and mighty things are accomplished.
Words
can bring about destruction
and inflict wounds that never heal,
echoing forever
in the minds of men.
From them,
joy springs forth
like a cool and refreshing stream,
washing over one's being,
reviving hope,
and bringing relief to the spirit.
Words
delivered by solemn messengers
can fall like giant oak trees,
inescapable,
crushing the heart,
smothering the life breath
of loved ones.
Through them,
love is expressed,
and warmth and security strengthen us.
Yet, words
are sometimes insufficient,
meager, hollow, impotent,
and cannot free the heart.

"And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26

Thankful

"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

As we celebrate a time of thanksgiving, the first item on my list is thankfulness itself. In a world where the focus of the pilgrims' Thanksgiving is often omitted from our history textbooks, we should be grateful that we have a thankful heart. In a society where public prayers are often prohibited, those of us who understand the meaning of worshiping the living God should be thankful for whatever circumstances have brought us to the consciousness that we have.

I'm thankful I was born in a time when even the television characters still customarily went to church! I'm thankful that during the first three years of my education, the public school teachers were still allowed to begin the day with Bible reading and prayer. I'm thankful I grew up in an area that had churches on every corner and where church attendance was the norm and not the exception.

Today we live in a society that has a leftover Bart Simpson attitude of, "It's all paid for, so thanks for nothing." The only time many children hear the name of our Savior is when their parents use His name in vain. To many, Thanksgiving is just a day of food, floats, and football. For some, it's less than that.

I could have been born in an area where the community youth group is typically called a gang. I could still be waiting to hear the name of Jesus spoken lovingly by someone who knows Him personally. I could be cold, calloused, scornful and empty. I could be many things other than thankful.

But somehow, by the grace of God, I was born to a family who loved me. I was nurtured by a community that cared about my soul. And I was ransomed by a Savior who gave His life for me. So before I even begin to count my other blessings, I'm thankful that I'm thankful.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:15-17

Battles lost and won

Do you ever wonder why Satan manages to outsmart and overpower you even when you know you're trying to do God's will? Perhaps we are trying to obey God under our own strength, fighting spiritual battles with our human resources instead of God's. Are we ignoring the Holy Spirit and living as though Pentecost never happened?

The executor of a "last will and testament" is someone who has been appointed to carry our the wishes of the person who wrote the will. In this same way, the Holy Spirit has been given to each follower of Christ to see that God's will is done. Only through the Spirit can we become all God wants us to be, and only through the Spirit can our work for the Lord be blessed, successful and fruitful. As Christians, we each have the Holy Spirit within us, so why aren't the battles won and why aren't our efforts bearing fruit?

Having the Holy Spirit within us and being filled with the Spirit are two different things. We receive the Spirit when we accept Christ as Savior (Romans 8:16-17), but we are filled with the Spirit as we allow Christ to be Lord of everything in our life. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." While most of us are quick to agree that we should not be drunk, few emphasize the fact that we are supposed to be FILLED with the Spirit. Being filled is a continual process.

How do we know whether we are filled with the Spirit? We shouldn't have to ask! If we are merely witnessing and doing good deeds because God's Word says we should, we probably aren't being very effective. Are we motivated by God's command or by the Holy Spirit? To accomplish God's mission, we must utilize God's power. Is the Holy Spirit an influence we possess, or is it a person who possesses us?

Growing

As children grow older, they search out ways to increase their maturity, often seeking to make their own mistakes or their own accomplishments. Parents cooperate by giving them more opportunities to make their own decisions, and often must restrain themselves from intervening when they sense a failure is coming. This is the way in which we all grow wiser, more confident and stronger. The same is often true in our Christian lives, as God smiles at us and watches us grow.

Today I know God smiled at me, and eventually I smiled at myself,
but it took me a while to see the humor and put my pride on a shelf.
I started my day with an earnest prayer and sincere desire to grow;
I realized so many shortcomings - so many things I wanted to know.
I asked the Lord to strengthen me, that I might be more as I should,
and I had faith that with God's help, grow indeed, I would!
Well, shortly after I arrived at work, things began to go wrong,
and the hopes I had of having a good day didn't last very long.
I ran up against some tough personalities - my temper, I admit was tried,
but I managed to keep a steady voice, although I was shaking inside.
It seemed that I needed to be in fifteen places all at the very same instant.
I only wanted a calm reprieve, but everything went against it.
I almost cried; I almost screamed; I almost threw up my hands in despair,
but eventually the work day was over, and I could forget about my cares.
At home I reflected on the events of the day and suddenly remembered my request.
Why had the day been so disappointing, when I had wanted to give it my best?
The reason was made quite clear to me, as I thought a little longer --
only through meeting with resistance is any muscle made stronger.
I had asked my Lord to give me strength, and I had met obstacles along the way.
I suppose these are the little ways in which we grow...
Yes, I know God smiled at me today!

"...but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Romans 5:3 & 4

Peace or Stagnation?

How can we discern a peaceful life from a stagnant one?

Throughout the Bible, God tells us that true peace is a desirable state of heart and mind that can only be found in knowing Him. (Philippians 4:7, Romans 5:1,Ephesians 2: 14). The dictionary defines peace as "a state of tranquility or quiet.... freedom from disquieting or oppressive emotions," and John 14:27 tells us, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." Peace is a wonderful, healthy asset in life. It is always in company with other positive attributes also:

• Romans 8:6 "The mind of sinful men is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
• Romans 14:17 "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
• Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Stagnation means being inactive or motionless. A stagnant body of water is quiet and tranquil, but its also without a current or flow; it is not troubled. It is without disruption. It is also without life.

Too often we mistake stagnation for peace. We are inclined to be satisfied with a life that is motionless, as long as it is quiet and tranquil. Instead we should have "peace like a river," a life that is in a constant state of forward motion. Flowing. Useful. Moving toward a greater source.

"If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:18.

Pretty Feet

Do you have pretty feet?

That's a strange question to be asking! I never seriously considered the beauty of anyone's feet and certainly never thought God did either, until I paid attention to Romans 10:15... "...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

We've all been in situations where we were so appreciative of someone or something that we exclaimed, "That's a beautiful sight!" Perhaps it was the first glimpse of home after a long and tiring trip, or maybe it was seeing someone bringing out an iced drink when we were hot and thirsty. Perhaps it was the appearance of someone returning home when he's been late and we were worried. My grandmother would have exclaimed, "Now, there's a sight for sore eyes!" Whatever the circumstances, the beauty we saw was a direct result of the need we felt.

The verses preceding the statement about beautiful feet are these,"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet..."

Our world desperately needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and each of us has been commissioned by God to go and tell others. Folks within our community are weary, thirsty, and tired, and may are anxious for the beautiful sight of someone bringing good news of God's Word. They won't know peace unless they know God; they won't know God unless they hear the Word. They won't hear the Word unless we share it with them.

Are our feet beautiful in God's eyes?