Camera Ready

        

      Birds fascinate me!  It amazes me how they can spread their wings and vault into the sky without fear of falling, tilt one way or the other for direction, change speeds while in flight, and still see on the ground the perfect place to land.

We have quite a few bird feeders on our property to accommodate as many kinds of birds as possible and enjoy them flitting to and fro, up and down, over and around as they look for the perfect morsel that will bring ultimate satisfaction!  

The hummer feeder right outside my kitchen window is especially close to the house and has lent itself to some really awesome photos.  However, those birds feeding at the feeders further from the house are especially hard to photograph, because as one friend put it, “Birds don’t willingly pose, so if I want photos of them, I have to be prepared!” 

Our Christian lives are similar to anticipating impromptu photo shoots of the birds, in the sense of needing to be prepared to share our faith with others.  Sometimes we only get a single chance to share with people we don’t know well—or at all; entering our lives for a moment, then are gone. Birds come to the feeders for food--- even daily; but can we know it’s the same bird that came the day before?  

Having cameras ready to snap the shot is the only way to get the perfect view on any given day.  When we prepare, by knowing God’s Word, being in prayer and aligned with Christ, we are making ready for the moment an opportunity presents itself, to share the Gospel.

Another person compared this same scenario with catching fish.  Fishing requires preparation: a fishing pole, some bait, a pond, and patience.  It’s not always instant gratification, just as it isn’t with photographing birds.  Wild creatures don’t come at our bidding—just because we ask.  We must have something to offer!

The bird watcher offers bird food, --suet, dry food or specialty food.  The fisherman offers worms, lures or other bait and then we wait for the bird or fish to spot the food and come after it, or get ‘caught’ quite by accident.  The catch for fisherman is fish to eat (or let loose—depending on the reason for fishing).  For the photographer, it’s the perfect pose of the tiny beautiful bird.

When we are prepared to share the Gospel, our words may seem to be unheard, or even ignored or misunderstood.  But we must put the ‘bait’ out there—offering God’s food—to those who don’t know, then wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to tug on the person’s heart, until ultimately God reaps the harvest!

If we want to share the Gospel, we must be prepared just as the scripture from Ephesians 6 describes, to be effective!  

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:14-17

Muted Addictions

 

  I was reading about a missionary who was working in another country, whose job was cleanup in a horribly contaminated swamp.  It was a hot day, and at one point a conversation was generated between a young man on the team and a newcomer.  The newcomer was commenting on how awful the task was, and wanted to know how the young man dealt with it.

His response: “At first it was just gross.  But as I got used to the smell and surroundings.  I was able to pick up even the most disgusting things. In a way, this rubbish around us is like the sin in my heart.”

As humans and even as a culture, we have become so accustomed to bad behavior around us, we no longer even cringe.   This behavior has the potential to cause sin in our hearts as our minds acclimate to what once was considered immoral, or at minimum inappropriate.  We may still complain about it, but do we turn away from it?  

One example might be seen on any television, which almost every family across the nation has in their home.  There was a time when bad language would not be tolerated, nor would sexual scenes, disrespect to a parent, policeman or other authority figure.  Yet I wonder if this has become a ‘muted or soft addiction?’

In today’s world, it’s so common place, we are surprised when we don’t see (or hear) it, even in commercials that continually interrupt the show we are watching!  Even during sports event, bad behavior isn’t only done, but expected—and on some levels encouraged!

By not taking action against the bad behavior, it lessens the impact on our personal lives.  Our conscience becomes dull to the conduct and we move on, until there comes a point when we aren’t bothered at all.  And to make matters worse, our children are so subjected to this lifestyle, and lack of noting a lack of non-removal of it in some form in our homes, it’s expected and has become ‘normal and acceptable.’

Rather than allowing this to continue wouldn’t we be better served --- and wouldn’t God be better served—if we took stock and took out the ‘contaminated trash’ that is sin in our lives? (I’m not suggesting all TV is bad!)  

These ‘soft sins’ can skew the way we approach our lives, as well. We become complacent and often those feelings we have as parents, transfer over into our children and those we call our friends.  What does this say about how we view God?  

Does God approve that we don’t ‘disapprove’ bad behavior---?  (And it goes way beyond bad TV.)  Does he want us to remain quiet and not remember the scripture which clearly describes a specific behavior as sin? (Galatians 5:19-21) We are not to be judgmental, yet we are supposed to gently teach others when we know that souls can be lost because of sin.  

Beating someone over the head or badgering a friend or condemning another is not what God wants.  But He does want us to live our lives in such a way that He will be glorified.  And this begs the question:  What do we glorify, when we allow sin to engulf our lives to the point of acclimation or complacency? 

Photo credit:  https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/dirty-swamp.html 

Unexpected Opportunities

 

     It seems no matter how hard we try, my husband and I repeatedly receive solicitation calls from telemarketers, via our phone; even our cell phones!  It’s increasingly annoying, and often we don’t even pick up if the phone call is identified as ‘unknown.’ Even when we do choose to answer, very often it’s a robotic call and not even a human!  So, we usually just hang up.  

Recently during a discussion about this problem, a friend of mine offered an alternative to being so disgruntled about the matter.  He and his wife have chosen to use these unexpected and annoying interruptions as ‘unexpected opportunities!

My friends tell the solicitor they would be happen to listen to their marketing proposal, if they would be willing to listen to theirs first!  This would be a perfect time to share the Good News of Christ to those who perhaps have never heard the Gospel of Jesus before!  What an idea!

They commented that sometimes they get willing listeners, other times the caller will hang up!  But how often do we find ourselves in a situation where we could simply share our story, and choose not to?  I expect, for me, it happens likely more than I’d like to admit!

My friend’s perspective on these unexpected opportunities reminded me that often we tend to believe our Pastor is responsible to spreading the Message.  He is certainly likely more versed in the scripture, and has had training with what to say and how to explain it.  He knows the ‘addresses’ of all the scriptures and can quote them verbatim.  (I seldom can do this.  I usually know the town (Book) and the persons involved and the gist of the words, but it scares me to trust ‘me’ to explain it correctly.)

That is where I’m making a HUGE mistake.  It’s not about me at all!  It’s about the Holy Spirit!  If the Spirit wants me to share my faith, there is scripture that assures me the Spirit will fill my mouth with words I should speak if He is guiding me!  Of course, however, I must be willing to trust He is with me and then allow Him to control the conversation!

Our world is going through dynamic changes.  We must not be afraid to share our faith with others, whether it be through word of mouth or even through the way we live our lives.  As the changes continue, we are going to be challenged to remain strong in our faith.  In doing this, others will see the Light of Christ, in and through us, and that is so important.

I encourage you to reach out to someone who you generally consider an annoyance or irritates you slightly and turn a negative into a positive!  Your gift of kindness may open the door of opportunity to share the Gospel, and enable someone else to have a relationship with Christ!  

Photo Credit:  https://www.pexels.com/search/telephone/ 

Lives Fitted For God

 

God has given each of us a mission in life.  Along with being created out of an incredible love by our Creator, it’s why we have breath.  He knows each design of his creation through and through.  He knows when we fail, our successes and desires, hopes and joys.  He knows our thoughts, motives, follow through, and even our deepest secrets we may not even admit to ourselves.

Many of us find joy in books or writing; others in the beauty of nature’s creation.  Still others are happier in the kitchen cooking wonderful meals, or sewing creations made of a variety of different kinds of materials.  These are all pieces of a giant puzzle that are a manifestation of who we are.  What we “do” often helps define us.  Sometimes this is good.  But there are times when we get lost in our personal “loves” and forget how it all ties in with doing what God wants from us.

Because of our many activities, even though there is nothing wrong with them in themselves, we sometimes lose focus of our spiritual state.  We get so focused on doing the right things, even if for the right reasons, our eyes get blinded by the activity and we miss the Bright Light right before us.  

Many of us are on meeting and ministry lists, and activities within our church.  We busy ourselves delivering food to shut-ins, transporting youth to various Youth Group activities, become an usher, or greeter, or any variety of other “positions” within the church arena.  We can have a “heart” for doing good things, and still not be focused on our “spiritual well-being.”

Like a good pair of fitting shoes, or jeans, we need to search our hearts, God’s Word and have communication with The Lord, to find out what He is “fitting our life for.”  Doing all the “events” in a church, each being a great activity, is not a bad thing.  The question remains however, are you doing the “thing” for which God has “fitted” you?

Can our relationships be defined as “intimate” with The Father?  He wants to share His heart with us, guide us toward his plan for our life.  But sometimes we miss it, because we are so busy doing other things.

When adding the responsibilities we carry at our church, to our overload in our secular life, with work schedules, children’s schedules, parenting, political activity, sports events, maintenance on our homes, cars, boats, and the myriad other “toys” we own as adults, and even our social life, we are seriously busy!  

And when you add “social media” we’ve added another whole dimension to our already full schedule.  How many times a day do you see an adult on an iPad, cell phone, or computer?   And I’m likely missing one or two! Social media has become a huge obstruction to being productive, for both adults and children! 

Our lives are supposed to be not only “fitted” to God, but by God.  I encourage you to evaluate all the “busy things” that keep you from intimacy with The Lord.  Is your life “fitted” according to your ideas, or is it “fitted by God”?

Through The Dark Days

  

As a nation, we’ve been experiencing dark days and there seems to be no end in sight.  Our world as we’ve known it for years, is changing.  The culture, habits, opinions, even beliefs from friends and neighbors, to Pastors and leaders of our country, seem to change everyday, and for Believers, not in a way that is godly.  

I read a story about a little girl, who when traveling to visit a grandmother she loved dearly, closed her eyes as the family car passed through a long, dark tunnel.  She would peek out occasionally, just to see how close they were to the end and then wait for the sunshine to again hit her face.  Her wise father asked her if she really wanted to visit her grandmother.  She of course, answered yes, so the wise dad said, “We have to go through the dark tunnel to get there.  Be patient; it’ll pass, just keep remembering that.”

Life is like that sometimes.  We experience a particularly difficult season and want only to close our eyes and wait for it to pass, dreading another day or even moment to have to endure.  We were over a year just getting back to some semblance of ‘normal’ as we were required to stay in our homes, wear masks, and avoid interaction with our family and friends.  Even as we continue to enjoy the re-opening since the COVID pandemic, there are still many unanswered questions about what the virus is capable of, and further, what the vaccine can and can’t take care of; or how long it really ‘protects’ you.

Other significant events in our lives that can bring a period of darkness may include health issues which seem unsurmountable, a marriage breakdown, financial failure, destruction from a tornado, hurricane, fire, or other natural disaster, a death of a loved one, and the list could go on for pages!  

Regardless of what we are facing, or what tunnel we are going through, we are going to face darkness for a while.  Even Jesus faced darkness before going to the cross.  But there was rejoicing in the morning of the resurrection!  What unspeakable joy!  If we can hold on to the promise of our Lord; that he is with us in all circumstances we, too, can have hope for a joyous heart when the morning dawns, even if ‘that morning’ seems forever coming!

Darkness is going to attempt to dim our vision and hide the joy we have as a Believer.  Facing our dark days is difficult.  But I encourage you to think of your dark tunnels or dark days as a giant which can be destroyed with a simple sling and stone like David did when he slew the great giant.  He faced the monster with confidence in an all powerful God, who went before him.  We can display that same confidence when we rely totally on God, allowing him to work out the details, and again feel the warmth of sunshine hitting our face!

It's A Cross Country Journey

 

Several years ago my husband and I bought a ‘fixer upper’ home in state 1800 miles from our current home.  The plan had been to move to this ‘new’ region, and we were happy to have bought in a nice area, even knowing there would be plenty of work to do on the house.  My husband has always been an “I can do this myself” kind of guy and was quite good at getting things accomplished, once he figured out what exactly he wanted, and how he wanted it done! 

Initially, we made small improvements, but we felt like we were at least moving forward.  Then my husband, who’d been fighting varying illnesses for a very long time, became increasingly more ill.  He was now in no position to continue the large projects staring at us, waiting to be finished.

As we get older our lifestyles eventually change.  Our bodies are weaker, funds may or may not be available, our interests change and it’s just hard to keep up the fast pace we moved in, before the years took its toll.  We learn a lot along the way, if we allow it, and are open to the lessons.  We all experience ‘firsts’ and ultimately, we also experience ‘lasts’ in our lives. 

As Believers, we find it’s vital to growth when we listen to what our journey teaches us.  It’s those lessons we’ve learned from experience, that enable us to teach our young ones, and sometimes even those not quite so young.  

Life isn’t supposed to be a sprint.  We are given just enough ‘umph’ to be driven to get things done when we are young and full of energy.  We begin slowly, pick up speed as we become more educated and physically able, until we often find ourselves moving so fast we can’t even see today!  

As we age, our journey slows once again and we have the opportunity to stop and ‘smell the flowers.’  It’s not always a sweet smelling place we find ourselves, however.  Getting older brings joint pain, the inability to run a marathon, the lack of energy we once had, the need for greater rest and the list goes on and on.

But God’s grace is always available to get us through.  We are given our ‘daily bread’ just as God planned, if we ask for it.  We are provided with the needs of our day that helps us continue this ‘cross country journey’ that was never designed to be taken at a gallop!

As we persevere, our ‘new normal’ that seems to have entranced our leaders and subjected us to isolation and other restrictions (which are being lifted), we need to remember that regardless of the circumstances that threaten to overwhelm even the strongest of us, God is still in control.  He’s the one who isn’t blindsided by any situation.  He’s with us, pulling (or pushing) us onward with just the right amount of energy, as long we are doing our best!  

I’m grateful for a God who cares about all my journeys, even the daily ones! His Spirit offers me peace and comfort, while allowing my journey to glorify Him when I stay focused on His Light.

Photo credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=cross+country+running

Pushing The River

 

      On our way to church yesterday morning, a person ran a stop sign, only to go about 1/4 mile and then stopped at the local mini-mart.  I didn’t see him get out of the truck, but clearly he was in a hurry to get there!  

It isn’t uncommon on a dual highway to see people travel six to ten miles above the speed limit.  Some will even travel even faster.  No doubt each of these who swerve between cars, in and out of lanes at a rate of speed much higher than designated safe, are in a rush to get to somewhere quickly.  They may be late for an appointment, work, or just want to get past the traffic first.  

Other times as you travel the highways, particularly in the morning, you may witness a person putting on make-up, combing their hair, or even brushing their teeth!  It seems totally absurd that someone would leave their home so late they can’t finish their personal morning grooming in the bathroom; but find it necessary to drive with their knees, or finish ‘getting done’ at a stop light or going down the road!

Our lives seem to be lived by a ticking clock, with only five seconds to spare no matter what the event before us!  This seems to apply to every aspect of our lives, from getting up in the morning, to flying to work, getting as much done as possible in that arena, only to finally make it home to rush through dinner (or needing to stop at a take-out to supply the family with their next meal), to rushing out again to sports events our children participate in, or appointments or other obligations to which we’ve committed, all the while glancing at the phone for the time, so we aren’t late to our next engagement!

Is this the way God wants us to live?  Are we setting ourselves up for an anxiety attack or worse a heart attack?  Are we stressing ourselves so much we don’t even allow time to think?  We fret from moment to moment on a racetrack we have created (even if unintentionally) trying to accomplish as much possible, in as little time as possible. 

In addition to what all this stress can do to us physically, I wonder about the impact it has on our families and spiritual lives.  Are we taking the time to nurture relationships with our loved ones?  When we are so much on the move, our minds have little time to rewind and reset to be still long enough to enjoy those precious moments with our children, spouse or Savior.  These are moments that can never be reclaimed.  We are so busy being busy, we are missing the ‘now’ in our lives and theirs!  

Our children continue to grow even when we aren’t looking.  They can be involved in numerous activities, yet, if we don’t spend personal time with them, what example have we set and more than that, how can you nurture a relationship?  Simply being ‘taxi driver’ and meal provider isn’t the same as sitting down, breathing for a moment and then having conversation with them. 

We miss what is on their minds, hearts, and in their world, or problems they are facing or to take note of successes they have had.  The world is cheating us of the relationships that make our lives worthwhile, including our relationship with Christ.

Are we ‘pushing the river” or trying to ‘paddle upstream’ while staying on the fast track of life?  How’s that working?  I encourage you to share!  I think we all try at some level to accomplish this.  What discoveries have you made?