Heaven Is Cheering Us On

Like most of you, looking out into the world’s activities, my emotions are like runny scrambled eggs – unappetizing and all over the place. All I can do is encourage you.

Time was slipping away, and it being a school night, a mother sent her fifth-grade boy to bed. In a few minutes she went to make sure he was getting into bed. When she stuck her head in his room, she saw that he was kneeling beside his bed in prayer. Pausing she heard her son praying over and over again, “Let it be Tokyo! Please, dear God, let it be Tokyo!” After his prayer she entered his room to say good-night and asked him, “What did you mean, ‘Let it be Tokyo’?” “Oh,” the boy said with some embarrassment, “We had our geography exam today and I was praying that God would make Tokyo the capital of France.” Prayer is not a magical means by which we get God to do what we want. While God desires that we bring our petitions to him, He has not promised to give us everything that our heart desires. We realize that a godly earthly father sorts through the needs and wants of his child and ultimately decides to give his child what is in his best interest and what will bring that child the most happiness in the long run. William Temple was right when he said, “We do not pray in order to change His will, but to bring our own will into harmony with His.” As we make our requests to God, we remain open to the idea that God may have something better in mind for us. His purpose may be fulfilled in our lives in a way we cannot even imagine. So, if we pray like we ought, we come away feeling blessed, knowing that God has received our petition, but confident as well knowing that if God knows a better path for our lives, He will lead us in that direction. Please continue to pray that our leaders and society as a whole will turn to God in prayer and return to the godly country that was once in majority with God’s will.

[Romans 8:26-39] The ten-year-old stood at the plate. His batting stance was not great, but neither was it terrible. He nervously stared at the pitcher as he began his wind-up. With runners on second and third and his team down by one run, he needed to get a hit. The pitch...the batter stares as the perfect third strike passes him and caught by the catcher. The umpire rings him up, and he begins to jog down-trodden back to the dugout. What can be heard from the stands are not jeers but cheers. There is an encouraging flow of, “It’s alright!” and “You’ll get ‘em next time!” especially from the section where his parents were setting. You see, no matter what happened on the field that day, that boy was loved by his parents. He could have dropped every ball hit to him, missed every pitch he swung at, or fell down as he walked out of the dugout. None of that mattered. His parents loved him and were there for him no matter what. As we live our Christian lives, we need to remember that we are not on the field alone. We are not trying to live this life for Jesus without our supporters. We have each other (Hebrews 10:24; Colossians 2:2). But, on a grander scale, we have a heavenly audience rooting for us. Jesus said that once we are in the Father’s hand, no one or no thing can take us out of it (John 10:27-30). Paul wrote that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:26-39). As long as we are on the field, we need to remember that in the stands, so to speak, our Father and our Lord are rooting for us no matter what happens. First John, Chapter one, clearly states we must walk in the Light, stay on the field, and in spite of the falls, in spite of the strike-outs, pick yourself up and keep going. And by the grace of God we’ll win the game.

Coin In My Pocket

I was taking inventory of all the stuff I tote around in my pockets every day. Like Dennis the Menace every item is important and generally needed sometime throughout the day. A phone, keys, wallet, note pad, pens, comb and handkerchief, antacid tablets and a small coin I’ve carried like forever. It’s the size of a half-dollar and embossed on one side is an eagle along with the words, “Man of God.” On the other side is a quote from Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles...” I continue to carry this coin because it is a lasting reminder for me of who’s I am and who I should continually strive to be every day.

“The Cross In My Pocket” by Verna Mae Thomas: “I carry a cross in my pocket, A simple reminder to me; Of the fact that I am a Christian, No matter where I may be. This little cross is not magic, Nor is it a good luck charm; It isn’t meant to protect me, From every physical harm. It’s not for identification, For all the world to see; It’s simply an understanding, Between my Savior and me. When I put my hand in my pocket, To bring out a coin or a key; The cross is there to remind me, Of the price He paid for me. It reminds me too to be thankful, For my blessings day by day; And to strive to serve Him better, In all I do and say. It’s also a daily reminder, Of the peace and comfort I share; With all who know my Master, And give themselves to His care. So, I carry a cross in my pocket, Reminding no one but me; That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life, If only I’ll let Him be.” I couldn’t explain carrying around the coin in my pocket any better.

[Psalm 119:105-112] Several years ago I saw a pair of bumper snickers on the rear of a car in a parking lot somewhere and I made a mental note of them thinking of developing a lesson around them some day. One read: “Yes Lord, We Will Ride With You” and the other read: “Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up and Hold On!” I can’t help but combine the two statements in my mind and think, “so often it seems that people really act in that manner towards Christ.” It seems nearly the entire religious world, and millions of folks who don’t even claim to be faithful, declare a deep reverence for Jesus Christ. They are willing to say to Him, “get in” or “come into my life,” however, for Jesus to come into one’s life, he or she must first enter into Christ. In Galatians 3:27, Paul wrote, “...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Without obedience to Christ, a plea for Him to enter our lives is in vain (Matthew 7:21-23). Then there are those who enter into Christ, but by their actions they have said to Him, “sit down and shut up.” They say, “I love you Lord, but I don’t want to hear what you have to say about pre-marital sex” (1 Corinthians 6:18). They say, “Save me Lord, but I don’t think it’s necessary to commemorate your death with the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). They say, “I am yours Lord, but I will not hear your ways.” “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;” (Isaiah 30:1). We must be so careful that our lives do not send this message to the Lord: “Get in Lord, but hold on because I’m driving!” Jeremiah wrote: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). We must have the humility to realize that God’s way is ever superior to our own. So, let go of the steering wheel of self-will, and let Him take control. Wait on the Lord and sore on eagle’s wings.

Love Is...

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody - and a bit muddled. Though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of the holiday, one good place to start is ancient Rome. From February 13th to 15th, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed and then whipped women with the hides of animals they had just slain. Young women would actually line up for the men to hit them. They believed this would make them fertile. The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men, both named Valentine, on February 14th of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day. Handmade paper cards became the tokens-du-jour in the Middle Ages. Eventually, the tradition made its way to the New World. The industrial revolution ushered in factory-made cards in the 19th century. And in 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Mo., began mass producing valentines. February has not been the same since.  Today, the holiday is big business: Total U.S. spending on flowers, candy and cards on Valentine's Day is predicted to reach $18.2 billion this year (2017), down 7.6% from $19.7 billion in 2016. The average consumer is expected to spend $136.57 on holiday merchandise and services, down 96 cents from 2016. That's an average of $136.57 per person. WOW!

[1 John 4:8, 16] “God Is Love” You may have seen the recent commercials by the Ad Council that tells us love has no limits. It shows people behind an x-ray screen embracing, showing only their skeletal outlines. The people emerge from the behind to reveal they are a same sex couple, to a cheering crowd. The scene is redone with people of different races, religions and ages. Each one is accompanied by the text; love has no gender, love has no race, love has no disability, love has no religion, love has no labels. The ad campaign claims to combat what is seen as bias in our world today. It got me to thinking about how the world is trying to redefine love. We also hear the argument in our world today, "How can a person be against two people who love one another? To try to put limits on love is wrong.” But how does the Bible label love? “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). To me, some things stick out in this passage that is in conflict with the world’s definition of love. The world says you should cheer when someone is in sin, but Biblical love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. The world says love can act anyway it wants, but Biblical love never acts unbecomingly. The world says you should be proud of your lifestyle, but Biblical love does not brag. The world says you are offensive and should be shunned if you don’t accept what it accepts, but Biblical love does not take into account a wrong suffered. The world says you should accept any belief no matter if it is valid or not, but Biblical love rejoices with truth. There is a saying, “He who controls the language, controls the masses.” When it comes to love, who makes the definition - God, who is love or the world who does not know God? (“I Know What Love Is” by Barry Haynes; Bulletin Digest Feb’18)...love comes from God (1 John 4:7).

Treasures of Great Price

I know I’m not the only person in deep prayer for the revival of our country to the defense of fading freedoms and unfair justice. In light of the recent revelations of truth in actual written documents, I think the prayerful can shout hallelujah and give thanks for answered pray. Don’t ever think you can’t help this country because you're not a politician. This country was built on the foundation of Biblical principles and God is still in charge.

A young college student left his backpack in a public place and walked off. A homeless person found the backpack and rummaged through it, finding a laptop and an envelope. The envelope contained $3,300.00 in cash! The homeless person, to their credit, turned the backpack into the police who located the rightful owner. Well done! The homeless person gets an “A+” for integrity. However, the student gets an “F” for vigilance. How does a student forget an expensive laptop and $3,300 in cash and walk off? Most of us cannot afford such a loss. What was he thinking? November 10, 2011, the Miami Herald reported; “Employees at the dump yard in Pompano Beach, Florida gave Brian McGuinn zero chance of ever finding the custom-designed ring he had given his wife, but accidently tossed into his trash at home October 30^th. Facing nine tons of 10-foot-high rotten eggs, dirty diapers and other disgusting garbage (which made him vomit before he got started digging), he actually found the ring within thirty minutes.” Some things are priceless! And we are willing to do almost anything to retrieve that which we have lost, like sifting through rotten garbage to find a custom-designed ring. As human beings we tend to place infinite value on objects; of course it’s not so much the objects that are valuable, but the sentiments and meaning attached to those objects. It’s those things that cannot be replaced if lost; those are the things that are truly priceless. I’m sure that the custom-designed ring came at a price, but the thoughtfulness behind the ring, the thing that the ring represents, that’s what makes it priceless.

[Matthew 13:44-46] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” The gospel is one of those priceless things in life. Man has done an outstanding job of trying to replace the truth, but nothing is worth as much as the priceless message of salvation. The gospel and our obedience to the gospel is what will get us to heaven. By the way, heaven is another of those things which are priceless. Much like Brian McGuinn’s search for his wife’s one-of-a-kind and priceless ring, the merchant went in search of a pearl that was so valuable nothing could compare to it. And Jesus tells us, like that pearl of great price, heaven is truly priceless. It is something we should do everything in our power to possess and never let it out of our sight. Yet, like the college student, people often thoughtlessly walk off to play, leaving the pearl of great price behind. It seems when we have great treasure in our possession we are incline to lose sight of its value. So, how valuable is heaven to you? What would you do in order to spend eternity there? Would you search out the truth, no matter the cost, and once you found it would you rejoice and hold it dear and never let it be lost from you again? Take care of your treasure in Christianity. Don’t leave it carelessly open to theft or corruption (2 John 7-11). PRAY!