I Wish You Enough

 

Recently, at an airport boarding gate, a man overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. Her flight departure had been announced, and they were standing near the security gate. They hugged each other and he said, “I love you. I wish you enough.” She in turn said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, daddy.” They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where the man was seated. Just standing there staring at the airplane as it departed the gate the man could see the father wanted and needed to cry. The father turned to the man sitting there, not wanting to intrude on his privacy but desiring a friendly conversation with someone asked, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” Welcoming the solicitation to converse the man replied, “Yes, I have. Forgive me for asking, but why is this, a forever good-bye?” Looking back toward the window, the plane now gone, the already lonely father said, “I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip will be for my funeral.” Then the man asked, “When you were saying good-bye, I heard the two of you say, ‘I wish you enough;’ may I ask what that means?” The father began to smile and took the seat next to the man. “That’s a wish that’s been handed down for many generations in my family. My parents said it to everyone.” He paused for a moment looking off into space as if remembering it in detail. He smiled even more. “When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we are wishing for the other person a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” Then turning toward the man, he shared the following: “I wish you enough sunshine to keep your attitude bright; I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sunshine more; I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive; I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger; I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting; I wish you enough lose to appreciate all you possess; And I wish you enough ‘Hello’s’ to get you through the final ‘Good-bye’” With tears in his eyes, the old man stood and walked away.

[1 John 2:15-17] The media is always bombarding us with things we know we cannot afford and things we will never have. But people dream anyway. They dream of being rich, owning large tracts of land with acre after rolling acre. They desire sports cars and speed boats, or cattle and horses. They have a picture in their mind of that “dream house” and being a jet-setter. Some dream of power and prestige. Some will do anything to make their dreams come true. They desperately want to be active participants in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Practicality and reality are not qualities and truths that enter their minds often. So, what is your dream? What is it you want more than anything else in your life? Hopefully it has nothing to do with the things of this world. Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). This is a question that ought to give pause for serious reflection. Is pursuing any worldly dream of wealth, power or fame worth losing your soul? Jesus implies, absolutely not! These things are not only temporal and slated for destruction (2 Peter 3:10), but just the desire for them, not even the acquisition, can damn our souls. If we are going to dream then let’s dream (anticipate), gaining heaven. Don’t let the excitement of going there be choked out by the mundane trinkets this world has to offer. Our most imaginative dreams cannot compare with the joys and glory of heaven. I wish you enough to be comfortable but not miss heaven for the world!

Get Back Into The Pool!

 

There’s this story about an overweight out-of-shape fellow who started a swimming regiment. For many months before he had walked for weight-loss, but in his research on “the best way to lose weight” later reasoned, swimming would be a faster way of shedding his accumulated and unnecessary poundage. Three times weekly he went to the local gym to make good use of its state-of-the-art indoor pool, but he did so acutely aware of how he was not like the other swimmers. He watched out of the corner of his eye, awed by the maneuvers others performed. With ease, chiseled and sculptured bodies performed their picture-perfect flips, and somersaults, and dives as he sheepishly held on to the pool’s edge, occasionally bobbing up and down showing off his ability to hold his breathe while pinching his nose. None of the expert swimmers seem to give him much attention so, after three weeks in the pool, he returned to the safety and security of walking. Discouraged and ashamed, he walked round and round the local school track and said to himself, “When I get into shape, I’ll return to the pool.”

I wonder how many people use that same line of reasoning when it comes to meeting with the church, or more accurately, attending worship. “When I get into shape, I’ll go.” “When I get my life in order, I’ll be there.” “I’ve got a few things in my life I need to straighten out first, then I can attend worship.” These attitudes of the heart reflect faulty reasoning. These thoughts assume wrongly that everyone else is perfect but we are inadequate and will not “fit in”. These ideas suggest that the church is more a safe haven and sanctuary for the self-righteous than it is a hospital for broken and hurting hearts. I must confess that I have, in the past, chosen the earthly over the spiritual when I worried about this world and its distractions; when I neglected prayer and Bible study; when money and material things were becoming too important to me; and when I was not actively seeking ways to serve Christ and save souls. An occasional short-coming that does not characterize me is one thing, but I do not want to become like those bread-chasers recorded in John 6:22-40. I do not want to resort to Christ when all else is falling apart in my life. I want Christ to be the priority of my life, letting him fix what is broken in me and use me as a tool in his hand.

[Colossians 3:1-17] When worshippers come together to praise and give thanks to God for what he has done for each of us, we assemble on equal footing. All are sinners. All are sin sick. All are in the need of God’s grace. All are needing and seeking God’s forgiveness. The call of Jesus is not, “Get it right, and then come unto me.” The call of Jesus is, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The key words here are “learn from me”. Jesus said, “…I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:13-17). The call of the church must be identical to the call of Jesus. Even if you don’t feel “good enough” or “in shape,” that’s exactly the kind of heart for which God is looking. Stop walking and wandering around in the world looking for fulfillment in your life. Get back into the pool! The church does not exist to tell you how to live. The church and God’s Word exists to help build one up, become spiritually strong, preparing one for the life to come, saving one from the horrors of eternal punishment. A person changes from the inside out and a God-fearing spirit develops a faithful, disciplined life. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

Are You Weary?

 

Have you ever mowed so much grass in one summer? It seems every time I turn around it’s grown two or three inches inhibiting my little Chihuahua’s navigation thorough the yard, chasing down squirrels and running the fence line warning unwanted predators of her dominance. The South Texas temperatures have remained unusually low so far this summer, our rains have been persistent, and mixed with a little bit of sunshine, is the perfect receipt for growing grass, and everything else. I suspect all the fertilizers and growth stimulants I’ve applied to my lawn the past ten years, without any noticeable success, have been activated all at once because my lawn looks better than it has in many years. The problem with that is, I’m pushing the lawnmower a lot more than I really want to. Oh well, Bella and I are getting some great exercise and sleep well.

Working all day at a physical activity leads to a tiredness we can all relate to. We all know the relief of being able to finally sit down and rest. The great thing about physical tiredness is that after a period of rest we feel better and able to return to our activity. When Jesus talks about those who are weary, in the Book of Matthew, Jesus is talking about the weariness of spirit or mind. We seem to be seeing this more often in our modern society. I know many of us have felt that weariness of facing a long-term challenge that wears us down. This mental weariness is a kind of fatigue that physical rest often does not help. This mental fatigue is often brought about through worry, frustration and discouragement which are all tools of Satan, “And Satan is very patient.” Allow that thought to capture you for a few minutes. Your mind is quick to point out to you the patience of Job and the patience of God, but we fail to recognize that the work of Satan may very well be in a field all its own. For we read in God’s Word that “…the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I don’t ever recall hearing of a lion giving up after one failed attempt. The lion sizes up its prey before attacking and as an example one can watch the common domestic cat in its preparations to attack and disrupt a normal day. There is no rush; just a calculated wait before pouncing on an unsuspecting victim, which never gets old to them. I hate cats.

[Matthew 11:28-30] Maybe you don’t see Satan in that way, but perhaps it’s time for us all to re-think the working of our greatest enemy. No doubt Satan waited patiently before Eve (and Adam) succumbed to the temptation of the fruit in the garden. And as he waited then, he does so with us “seeking someone to devour.” And unfortunately, his success rate seems to be climbing! Solomon characterizes the one falling into the temptation of adultery “…as an ox goes to slaughter” (Proverbs 7:22). Is it possible that we have allowed ourselves to be so caught up in the pleasures of the world that we have become like ox to the slaughter? The apostle Paul warned Timothy to teach with gentleness so that God may grant repentance, “…and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). Jesus says there is an answer when the world takes us captive and wears us down. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And it shouldn’t surprise you that even positive things can wear us down. “…let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Satan’s slaughter will void Jesus’ sacrifice and your hope of life eternal.

Yes, I Can!

 

“I can’t; I won’t; I don’t.” These are the words that keep people from reaching their highest potential in life. There’s no telling how different this world would be if certain people throughout the ages had not lived up to their fullest potential. Consider this: What if… Michelangelo had said, “I don’t do ceilings.” * David agreed with his brothers and said, “I can’t do giants.” * Michael Jordon believed his grade school coach and said, “I can’t do basketball.” * Neil Armstrong feared the unknown and said, “I won’t do outer space.” * George Washington weighed the odds and said, “I don’t do revolutions.” * Henry Ford had no vision for the future and said, “I can’t do cars.” * Walt Disney had no sense of humor and said, “I won’t do mice.” * The apostle Paul was worried about persecution and said, “I can’t do mission work.” * Thomas Edison, after failing hundreds of times, had said, “I can’t do lightbulbs.” * Not willing to fulfill the promise of God, Jesus had said, “I can’t do the cross.” Just think what a different world this would be. We have been super blessed all because of a few individuals who chose not to say, “I don’t; I won’t; I can’t.”

The hymn writer, Fanny Crosby (March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915) gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs. Although blinded by the improper treatment of an illness at the age of six weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, “I think it a great pity the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” She quickly replied, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?” Surprised the preacher asked, “Why?” Crosby stated, “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” One of Crosby’s hymns was so personal that for years she kept it to herself. Kenneth Osbeck, author of several books on hymnology, says its revelation to the public came about in this way: One day at a Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by D.L. Moody to give a personal testimony. At first she hesitated, then quickly rose and said, ‘There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes, when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.’ She then recited the lyrics while many wept. The first stanza and chorus reads, “Some day the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; But oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story – saved by grace!” (“Saved by Grace” Crosby/Stebbins)

[Matthew 5:45] “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Somewhere, someone is receiving bad news and having to deal with unexpected challenges. It could result in existing in the darkness of being alone, or having feelings hurt, or unsure of when that next meal will come, or wondering how that next payment is going to get made, or surgery combined with excruciating pain during recovery. During times like these sometimes we want to quit right where we are and never take another step because we don’t know what the future holds. Our Creator has given us directions to overcoming our biggest obstacles if we will love, trust and submit our lives to Christ. We will persevere during challenges when we realize: We all suffer at some point (Matthew 5:45); Christians are not immune to grief or suffering (2 Timothy 3:12); We are to help others who suffer (Galatians 6:2); We must bear our own burdens (Galatians 6:5); We must learn to always be content (Philippians 4:11-13).

Are You Willing?

 

We (and I’m using that term very loosely) have almost molded this world into our own image and have it just the way we want it. We can satisfy all our desires, fulfill all our pleasures, feed our fragile egos, do our own thing and no one cares, even if what we do is at the expense of others. The hurt, the heartbreak, the unhappiness we cause others is not important, so long as we come out on top. That is where the world seems to be today. I want to go on record to proclaim – That’s not where I live!!

At a Stanford University commencement ceremony, then Professor David Kennedy, spoke of the “Old West” – specifically, about the regions where the railroad had not yet reached, and people still traveled by stagecoach. Stagecoach lines in those days offered three levels of ticket: First-class, Second-class and Third-class. If you bought a First-class ticket you were guaranteed (or your money back) you would arrive on time after a comfortable ride while enjoying all the amenities offered. A Second-class ticket guaranteed arrival, but also stated that in the case of difficulty en route – a mud slide that might have blocked the road or a broken axle on the wagon – you might be asked to stand-by aside the road for a period of time while the problem is remedied. A Third-class ticket carried the stipulation that in case of difficulty en route, the holder of such a ticket would be expected to get out, go to the back of the coach and help push it through the mud, use a shovel if needed, remove cargo to lighten the load (then repack the cargo) or even help lift the coach to enable repairs. Then Professor Kennedy said, “Even though you have a first class education from a first class college, don’t take the first class or even the second class route through life. Go third class. Get out and make things happen. Put your shoulder to the wheel. Do the heavy lifting. Roll up your sleeves. Spit on your hands and get to work!” In fact, Jesus said that if you want to have a first class life, the only way is to travel third class. “…the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Luke 22:24-27).

[Ester 3&4] When Queen Ester was faced with pleading the cause of the Jew, and perhaps losing the love of the king, she could have reasoned much as does the world: “Right now the king loves me. He chose me from a large number of qualified women. He’ll never permit them to kill me, not even if he does learn that I am a Jew. Why should I jeopardize what I have going for me? After all, I have no assurance that he will save all those people just because I ask him. And after all, did not Mordecai himself say that if I do not ask the king, someone else will be raised up to defend their cause (Ester 4:13-14)? God, I’ve got it too good. Will you please get someone else?” Mordecai was right. God can always get someone else. God could have gotten someone else: *…to be the father of His nation, but Abraham was willing. *…to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses was willing. *…to direct His armies, but David was willing. *…to pave the way for Christ, but John the baptizer was willing. *…to preach the sermon in Acts 7, but Stephen was willing. *…to be the apostle to the Gentiles, but Paul was willing. Have you noticed all the great men and women we read about in the Bible are those who were willing to do whatever God wanted them to do, regardless of the cost to them personally?

Unreasonable taxation, freedom of speech, religious rights (especially Christianity), capitalism – all the things our fore-fathers fought and died for, are on the line this very day, under fire by those who wish to destroy the United States of America. Are you willing to stand and assure we get to celebrate another Independence Day?