HUMAN NATURE

I've lived a long time and have a few memories almost from the beginning of my time. I have realized that many people perhaps remember nothing of their early years and my flashes and glimpses of the tiny me must surely have some permanent value and perhaps I finally have discerned their purpose.

flash!   I was standing at the window, stretching to see outside, yearning to see the passing fire truck screaming past our house on its way to some unknown, exciting destination and I wanted to go too. Anger at being confined inside, perhaps also, as Mother explained a few years later, after I questioned her--possibly due to resentment or self-pity at being denied further bottle feedings, hungry but defiantly refusing to drink milk from a hateful cup.

flash!   I was crying over my skinned nose, after falling yet again as I sneaked next door to try again  to climb up into our neighbor's big porch swing. When Mrs. Cook or Mama found me screaming and rescued me, she reminded me I had been told to wait for grown-up help to lift ne up  so it wouldn't topple over backward, dropping me face-first  into a nose dive. But I thought surely this time----

flash!   I was in the front yard alone, with a new goal. Half a block away on Vickery Boulevard there was a street car! Mama and I must have ridden it before--I don't remember, but I knew it would be exciting.  Toddling to the sidewalk in my high top black patent leather Roman sandals buckled up to my ankles, I faced a formidable foe: the giant red ant nest straddled the sidewalk I must get past that on my way to adventure.  Quandary: Whether to run very fast on my wobbly legs before the little warriors  swarmed up my legs  or to tiptoe quietly, slowly past so they wouldn't be angry and sting me. I opted for the stealth approach and became frozen in fear and pain as they began to attack, which alerted Mama to run to the rescue, again. If not for those pesky pests, I surely would have gotten to the bigger street where the street car waited--or the heavy traffic there. Foiled again, but maybe next time-----

Common factor of these memories? I knew I was doing something wrong because my mother had told me not to do those things. Even if I didn't know why it was wrong, I knew by age two not to do them. Just in case you doubted what the Bible said about our inherited sin nature and still believe the fashionable fable about natural man reaching for the stars, always moving upward toward perfection--which they somehow expect to happen despite the  daily headlines to the contrary. Come on now! With all the unstoppable evil around us in this world?  Really?

Our Father often needs to get our attention quickly lest we fall into some danger or destructive behavior. He promises we will understand later (or much later) and will be grateful for His restraining hand. And since we've been adopted, redeemed, into His Holy Family and have become Children of the King of All There Is, how can we disregard His guidance?

            For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall be like Him, as He is.     1 John 3:23

Master Mind

 Whatever you do, don't think of a purple  hippopotamus. Nope, not likely. He's right there in living color, big as life.      

You have just learned a Priority One lesson, the gateway to understanding a Law of the Universe. which can change your life forever. and that's the truth.

No  two  different objects can ever occupy the same space at the same time.

"Well, duh!" you say, " "That's obvious to a first grader, so what?"  But-----wait!  There's more.

You know, we Jesus Followers desire, or should desire above all else,  to follow Him closely. After all, isn't that why we bear His name? Jesus Followers. But often, with the best intentions, whenever we discover an area of our lives that doesn't measure up, we tend to feel frustrated at how stubbornly it clings to us. So what do we do?  We keep a close eye on it, hoping to avoid stumbling over it again. Or NOT?

 

That brings us to another Axiom of Life that can increase our success rate, that most of us are slower to learn.

Perspective: Items seen in the rear view window may be closer than they appear. Thoughts concentrated on appear closer, bigger, more important than those held at a distance.

    Remember, you are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.

 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Col. 3:2

 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.        Colossians 3-:9-10

 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119::11

  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans   12:2

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.      Philippians 4:8

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Col. 3:2

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.                     Colossians 3-:9-10

 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Col. 3:2

 

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.                     Colossians 3-:9-10

 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119::11

 

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans   12:2

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.      Philippians 4:8

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Col. 3:2

 

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.                     Colossians 3-:9-10

 

have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119::11

 

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans   12:2

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.      Philippians 4:8

 SEt your minds in thibngs VOCWM NOR ON EARTHLY THINGS, cOLOSSIANS 3:2

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is noble, whatsoever is lovely,                               whatsoever is  admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on such things.                                      Philippians 4:8

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 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119::11

2

I  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans   12:2

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans   12:2

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.      Philippians 4:8

 

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Settinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.      Philippians 4:8

 4

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

  

Keeping Score

When you were a kid, you learned on the playground that life is not fair—big kids picked on little kids because they could. They didn’t need a reason. I guess it made them feel better, recalling how it was when they were little and got picked on and now figured it was their turn to be the boss. If you were like me, you probably gritted your teeth and promised to get even with them someday, somehow.

But then, also like me, your mom probably took you to Sunday school and bought you a Bible of your own and encouraged you to read it. Passages like “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord” and “Judgment day will come for evil-doers” found their way into my heart and soothed my ruffled feelings, and I waited eagerly for my tormentors “to reap what they sowed”.

As I grew older, I occasionally ran into other adults who I figured had been that kind of bad kids, who still thought they were more important, more fun, members of the “in-crowd” who seemed to consider me and my friend out of step, a source of entertainment at our expense. They huddled in a private group, whispering and laughing if we ordinary folk passed by. A puzzling situation best ignored; other people in the workplace- (and the church) considered us normal—We may have been a few years older, not wearing the newest styles, but still?

Embarrassed and hurt, I asked God why He permitted us to be so abused and when was He going to handle this hateful treatment.

Now, I’m sure you have learned as I did, that God doesn’t feel obliged to let us enjoy His “handling the problem”, but bless His Holy Name, this time He pulled back His curtain for me to see. One of these young women fell in the office and broke her hip, had surgery and their group seemed to lose their focus. Months later, she returned to work, leaning on her cane. No longer carefree. No longer looking young.

She sought me out to tell me of the changes in her life. Doctors had replaced her hip but told her it was good for 10-15 years before needing another replacement surgery, and due to being bedfast so long, her other hip must also be replaced periodically. Now in her early 30s and no fun, her husband left to find someone else to party with. She told me she had finally understood what her mother had told her: “Sometimes God has to get us flat on our backs before we look up to Him” and her life forward was with her mother and with her God.

I was happy now. Not glad because of all she had lost, but for all she gained. And grateful that God showed me the difference in revenge and forgiveness. She found the difference in fun and peace.

Just Imagine

 History tells us that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Can you picture this? As flames approached his palace, did he feel immune from harm, with smoke circling around his head?

Imagine with me a sunlit community where one lovely house, bigger than the rest, crowned the neighborhood in its brilliant white splendor, envied by many,  and perfect in every way--except for a wisp of smoke rising into the summer sky from its chimney.

Alarmed, a neighbor called the fire department and soon they arrived in their big red truck, axes in hand, and knocked on the door. The cloud of smoke was now bigger and much darker, but the lady who opened her door seemed unaware and questioned the firemen, refusing to let him in to check. "With those boots. on my lovely carpet? You are NOT going to swarm all over my clean house, breaking things with that huge axe!  Goo away! Leave me alone."

They tried to reason with her, but she refused to listen, so they sadly left her to her delusion and retreated to the street to wait, in case the fire spread beyond her house and endangered others.

Now, imagine two people from a local church, Bible in hand, knocking on your door. You weigh your options: let them in and listen to them tell you all the things you must change in your life in the hope of some reward later? Or send them away--you're happy and enjoying your life, doing as you please?    

Still, isn't it possible they know something you don't know? Isn't it worth checking out--just in case?

Behold I stand and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

         I will come in  to him and will dine with him , and he with me.

                                                                              Revelations 3:20

Digging for Gold

 Wisdom can come from various places, sometimes surprising places. Take gold miners for example. There are a few TV shows featuring their frenzied efforts to get rich quick. One thing they learn quickly is that it doesn’t promise riches quickly (or ever); it requires a hunger, hard work, team work, perseverance, and the ability to learn from experience. 

He learns to “read” the ground, to negotiate with owners for permission to mine, bring in his faithful crew and work hard to find the treasure he seeks. Now, I can look at a green hillside beside a river and see a lovely place created by God—he visualizes a future based on successfully probing the earth for the riches below. 

I have evaluated the Bible and believe there are riches beyond measure deep inside, which I can own if I am willing to search. (Actually, my name is in the Title Book, so they belong to me whether I ever find them and hold them); Since age and infirmity limit my reach, I have enlisted a team of ministers like Dr. Jeremiah, Dr. Jeffress, and others  I meet with weekly or daily via television to direct my search for gold nuggets inside, which cannot be consumed by fire, blown away by the wind, or stolen. 

Many people live their lives, never considering any attempt to mine for gold—they believe the gold story is a fable, the work is too hard, don’t know how, don’t want to learn. There are those who believe they can succeed quickly, but fail and walk away disappointed, a few who find a few grains or a gold nugget and walk away, satisfied. 

But a hunger consumes a true treasure hunter, keeping him searching for more, knowing in his heart he will find the mother load--Father load?) of shining promises from his Creator and Savior, who loves and rewards his faithfulness.  

 

 

Rose-colored Glasses: F A I T H

 

Sometimes I wonder if what we’re teaching our children isn’t upside down. What I remember of the superhuman accomplishments I read about in my Bible formed in my eyes a picture of super men unlike us, men who seemed to know God and follow His path in perfect knowledge of our Lord, secure in their success, infallible—expecting  a perfect outcome in all they did. Children fear the unfamiliar; why aren't we teaching them how to deal with fear?

Growing up with that picture relieved me of any responsibility that God would ever expect anything even vaguely similar from me. There were “comic book-like heroes” who walked with God, who seemed so sure of what God wanted them to do and had the capability to do exactly that, and there was me: paralyzed by fear, surrounded by giants in my life. I never dreamed My Lord expected me to face His enemy as did those “perfect” heroes! Even more impossible to consider: His faith in ME was greater than my faith in HIM!

And I began to see those following verses telling how they lived AFTER their heroic deed and wondered how they could lose that sureness of step, how they could become fearful, doubting God’s continual presence and protection, after their eyes had seen real miracles God used them to perform? How could they be heroic one day and unfaithful or fearful the next?  

Talking about falling on your face--look at King David who killed a giant, then killed a friend to steal his wife and ended up running for his life from his own son who wanted his crown! Was it possible after all, that these heroes were unsure of success, doubtful or fearful of the outcome or that when they stood tall, that I had failed to see their faith had propelled them forward in spite of the paralyzing fear they brought with them to the battleground?

 Before Moses died, God told Joshua, Moses' 2nd in charge, that He chose Joshua, because of his faithfulness, to lead His people, as Moses had done. I'm sure Joshua felt shock and  awe and unprepared to replace the mighty Moses, who had met God face to -- shadow at least--on the mountain and returned with God's law for His people. But Joshua was assured God would lead him, just as he had led Moses, the miracle Hebrew boy, to battle against the Pharaoh who held God's chosen ones captive. 

Perhaps we shouldn’t keep our daily struggles completely to ourselves. Perhaps knowing that we have had a problem and dealt with it through the wisdom of God can encourage a friend struggling secretly, drowning in debt or doubt, to look to God for strength and wisdom, which He joyfully will provide.

 God doesn’t change. He’s not with us one day, someone else another day and then lose His train of thought, to wander away! NO, it’s me who looks away—at the looming giant facing me today, forgetting yesterday's crisis won, forgetting in the heat of today's battle, that my Father can beat   any giant,   any day,   every day!

It's Not REALLY What You Know--

 It's WHO you know, WHO you trust.  Here's WHY.

I heard of an older preacher who asked his young friend, "Which is better, 200 inches of faith and 2 inches of ice under your feet when you cross a lake? or 2 inches of faith and 200 inches of ice? Is the size of your faith more important than the trustworthiness of the object of your trust?" Not a trick question,

His answer: "The object of your faith has to be trustworthy--if it's not, no amount of faith can save you from falling through the thin, fragile ice."

In this 21st century, there's an app for almost everything, limited only by someone's imagination and all these new gadgets cost big money (my phone even has an app to program my hearing aids, but that's another story). You've been hearing about a map app and it's worth a try--getting lost is a pain and gas is big money too! Try it out on a little road trip!  Sweet, soothing voice--nice!

Then "exit freeway turn right onto small local road" and you look suspiciously at the rough two-lane road leading into the woods and hesitate--you're making good time on the freeway, why follow that sketchy little road? You speed right past the turn until suddenly flashing lights ahead call your attention to a big sign ahead "BRIDGE OUT".  Ohhhh! That's why the detour! How did the voice from your phone know? Because it constantly "reads" highway info on road conditions and highway traffic volume--information you didn't have until you've hit the problem spot. Follow last year's map or today's up-to-date warning?

You can ignore expert advice, tune out the little voice of your map app--but sooner or later you will certainly regret it. Another very important fact: until you listen and take the new revised route as told, you may receive no more info. Wisely, the app gives you instructions one step at a time--you could never memorize the whole route. You need to respond to each instruction before you will hear another step.

You probably have a Bible. Probably a dusty one. Remember, the Author has information you don't have. If you're choosing your own path instead of following your Creator's Manufacturer's Guide  on how to negotiate twists and turns along your dangerous road to Heaven, you have forfeited your right to complain about your problems you chose to handle for yourself! 

If you take a detour, you're stuck--until you return to the spot where you left God's path for you, before He will give you further instructions. His instructions are not "multiple choice" You don't get to pick your preference! He will sit quietly, waiting for your response before He speaks again. You don't get to ask "WHY" (Well, actually,  you can complain but He's patient and will outwait you)

We accept the map app's infallibility, why do we insist God should open his map for our success for the next five years before we take that next step forward? ---and we all do it!  The book of Proverbs lists many suggested steps which can lead to the outcome He planned for each of us. God asked King Solomon, said to be the richest man ever, what one gift he desired from God, and he asked for wisdom, above all else--he shared the wealth of his wisdom from God with the world in this book.

His ways are not our ways. In Matthew 7, we learn that difference clearly:

        24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”      Matthew 7:24-27