Do You Have An Itch You Can't Scratch?

Friday, July 25, 2014

For this reason, I say to you, don't be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25).

Hey Gang:  When was the last time you were satisfied?  I mean really satisfied.  Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy, “We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out.  But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.”  (Timothy 6:7-8). 

Paul also said: "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).  In 4:17, Paul referred to those things listed as thorns in his side, as ‘slight afflictions’.  To me a ‘slight affliction' falls within the category of pest, or something that comes and goes through our life, but is no big deal.  

But to Paul ‘slight affliction’ carried a far different, often menacing meaning.  Later in his letter to the Corinthians he gives us a short overview of his definition of ‘slight affliction’: far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death, stoned three times, beaten with rods, shipwrecked , encounters with robbers, hungry on many occasions, cold and exposed, daily pressure on him from the church, etc. etc. etc.  (2 Corinthians 11:23-30).   Notice how he closed this descriptive section on the "slight-affliction issue, "If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness" (vs. 30).

But yet, in his letter to the Philippian believers, he wrote, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in (Philippians 4:11.  And on what did he base that contentment? "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content" (1 Timothy 6:8).

Jesus, the wisest man to ever walk the earth and now sits at the right hand of Father God in intercessory prayer for us, gave us advice that we need to take to the bank.”  He said, "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).  An old country preacher preached a powerful message on the two days he never worries about, “Yesterday, for I can do nothing about it, and tomorrow, I do not have a clue what lies ahead.”

In the preceding verse Jesus gives us the remedy to discontentment, and anxiety:  "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Recently a reporter interviewed a woman who won the lottery but had lived in poverty all of her life.  When asked how she felt to be free of worrying about having enough money to live on; she replied that the fear of having someone take it away was even worse!

Sooooo, I repeat, “Seek the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be given to you.”  What things?  Paul answers that question, "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans. 14:17). And the neat thing about the kingdom, we can enjoy the fringe benefits of the kingdom here and now!

Blessings, 

Gramps

GOd, The Compulsive Decorator

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  (I Peter 1:3-5).

Hey Gang:  Do you know what God’s desire is for you today? “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians. 1:18-19a)

And how do we make this happen?  We don’t. “It comes through the working of the strength of His (God’s) might.”  (vs. 19b).  Did you know that God is a compulsive decorator?  Let Him live long enough in your heart, and change will take place. 

This might account for some of the discomfort we fee-l when we die to self and place Him (Jesus) in control of our lives. Remodeling of the heart can be a very uncomfortable trip.  We don’t mind it much when a new coat of paint is added or new carpet is laid, but God is not satisfied with superficial changes, He desires to dig deep into the recesses of our hearts with the spade and shovel and do some serious digging.

Why?  Because He has such high hopes and aspirations for each of those into whom He breathes life.   When God has a chore that He needs done, He looks for a broken vessel and smashes it and molds it into His Son’s image. There was a saying, a few years back, that stated, "God does not make junk". 

Paul wrote, "Be imitators of God, as beloved children."  He also said, "Be an imitator of me" (1Corinthians. 4:16.  Do you think your life would look different if you were an imitator of Jesus or Paul?    Is it even possible, in this hectic, sin-filled world, to be an imitator of Jesus or Paul?

Paul goes on to list a smorgasbord of how to be an imitator:  "Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians. 5:2).

 In years gone by we had a friend who was an wonderful teacher of the word.  He said, "When I am going to teach on a particular section of the Scriptures, I read it no less than fifty times.  And, when he stood on holy ground and taught what God had taught him in those fifty readings, there was something very special about what came out of his mouth.  There was a 'fragrant aroma' when in His presence. 

But, one day in one of his seminars there was a pretty young lady who caught his eye and Satan began to do a work in his heart.   To make the long story short - he left his wife and family, and entered into an adulterous relationship with this chick which placed his ministry on hold.  He later committed a crime that sent him to the ‘big house’ for a number of years, but God did a mighty work in his heart and restored him to fellowship with Jesus.

Soooo. Friends and neighbors, we do make choices, each and every, as to whether we will be a 'fragrant aroma' or 'stinketh'.  Paul went on in the sixth chapter of Ephesians to give us a formula for being a "fragrant aroma for Jesus"- by being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might".   How?  "By putting on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians. 6:10-11).  When we are clothed with the armor of God, Satan cannot tell us from Jesus – especially if you keep your helmet on!

Blessings,

 

Plant a Miracle Toda

Monday, July 7, 2014

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not break and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take in to account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  (I Corinthians. 13:4-7).       

                  Hey Gang:  Do you want to see a miracle?  Then plant a seed of love in someone's life.  Nurture it with a smile, pray diligently for them, and watch what happens.   Bruce Barton wrote, “When we plant a seed in someone’s life we purchase a little slice of immortality, for through that person’s life your encouragement and love lives.” 

 A work associate gets a word of encouragement, a wife gets a compliment on something she did, a child is praised for picking up his cloths, a word of kindness is spoken to the check-out lady at Walmart, a preacher is praised for his labor.  These are Eternal seeds that will grow into all that God wants it to be and will be recorded in your book of life. 

 I recently read of a divorce attorney who, after listening to the reasons why the husband felt he had run the course in his marriage and wanted out, had a unique way of preparing for the divorce.  He explained to the husband that the settlements were always easier to agree on when there was a degree of compatibility between the divorcing partners. He suggested that while he prepared the paper-work, the  husband should treat his wife with honor and respect, complimenting her at every opportunity and fulfilling his duties in every way.  

 A week went by, and then another and still another.  When the client finally arrived at the attorney's office the attorney laid out the divorce decree for him to sign.  The husband picked up the papers, put them in his pocket and replied, "We don't need these any more".   Galatians 6:7 is a wonderful promise when used in the positive, “We will reap what we sow" (Unfortunately it also works in the negative!)

 I learned very early, in my tenure of working with children and families who were struggling, that planting seeds of encouragement early in any relationship and finding positive points on which to build, sets the stage for dealing with the tougher issues later.   It was always so much more productive to tackle difficult problems when you had a solid positive foundation on which to work.

  Soooo as you prepare for the world today, keep in mind when you step out the door of your abode - you are entering the mission field!   Don't forget to take along God's toolbox and feel free to use all the neat tools He provided: "But the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control, against such things there is no law".  (Galatians 6:22-23) "Have a blessed seed-planting day.

 Blessings,

 Gramps