On Prayer

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

Corrie Ten Boom

Merry Christmas!

"The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
   on them has light shined...
  For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
   and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:2, 6

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'

 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

Luke 2:8-20

 "But when the fullness of time had come,

God sent forth his Son..."

Galatians 4:4

The Best of It Is...

Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday.  As the song says, the season is in many ways "the most wonderful time of the year" (Pola and Wyle, 1963).  With the special food and festivities, the wonderful music, giving, and seeing friends and extended family, Christmas is a time when wonderful memories are made.

  Sometimes I wonder, though; in the middle of all the ornaments, Christmas lights, and "'Tis the Season to be Jolly," have we forgotten the magnitude of this day?  Yes, it is great for "parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow." It's a wonderful time of year to give presents, sing carols, and visit family.  But this is not what makes Christmas what it is.

   Throughout his life, John Wesley encountered many dangerous situations (see source).  Through it all, however, God kept him safe.  As Wesley neared the end of his life, his friends gathered around him.  Huddled close to hear him speak, they witnessed his last words: "The best of it is, God is with us!"  Wesley understood that nothing we face - whether it is poverty, ill health, life's oft-changing circumstances, or even death itself - is out of God's control.  As John Wesley left this world, he had no need to fear; his God was with Him, as He had been with him on earth.

   As we celebrate Christmas, enjoying our family, the holiday food, and giving and receiving presents, let us remember that Christmas is more than songs, gifts, and gingerbread men.  Christmas is about Christ - God's gift to us.  This season is when we remember when God became man and lived among us, sharing our sorrows, filling our needs.  He gave us the right to become children of God; He will always walk beside us in whatever we face in life - or death.  In the midst of all our celebrations of this truly joyful time of year, let us remember that "The best of it is, God is with us!"

'""Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel"
(which means, God with us).'"
- Matthew 1:23

Big Dreams, Big Plans

From time to time, I suspect we all have our daydreams of what the future may hold - dreams of what we will be doing years from now.  Like many teenage girls, the young Israelite Mary probably had her own big dreams.  Soon she would be getting married to an upright, godly Jew, just as she had expected since she was a little girl.  What Mary didn't know was that God had plans bigger than her big dreams.

When their big plans were overshadowed by God's great purposes, Mary and Joseph showed humility.  The well-known pastor and author, C.J. Mahaney, defines humility as "honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness" (Humility, p. 22).  Instead of fighting God's plans, Mary and Joseph freely allowed God's purpose to supersede their hopes and dreams.  Mary faced scorn and possible divorce, while Joseph also faced the wounds of local gossip.  Moses, Israel's great leader, asked God if He really knew what He was doing.  Gideon (and even Mary's relative, Zachariah) asked for proof that what he was told would truly come to pass.  But Mary and Joseph never seem to second-guess God's will for them.  Their big plans had changed drastically, but never do we see them even think of resisting in any way.  As Mary answered the angel, '"I am the Lord’s servant...May it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38).  Mary and Joseph viewed themselves as God's servants, and willingly obeyed His will instead of proudly asserting their own will.  They truly thought of themselves "in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness," as Mahaney defines humility.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ demonstrated humility.  The Son of God was born into the world He created, with a manger as a cradle and a stable as a nursery.  The Creator of all lived, ate, and spent time with those He created.  While Jesus walked the earth and taught the crowds, the spiritual know-it-alls of the day haughtily complained, '"This man receives sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:2).  Never did He claim a higher status or a greater honor, though all of creation was at His call.

Christ's whole life - and even His death - was characterized by humility.  Legions of angels were at His bidding, yet He served those around Him, "'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'" (Mark 10:45).  Jesus could rightly claim all possible honors; instead, He gave them up (for a time) to show His love for us.  Even though all created things were at His bidding, He humbly gave up His rights for us.

The Christmas account is one we have (hopefully) heard many times.  It is a story of hope, joy, love, generosity, mercy, redemption...  It's also a story of humility.  God came to earth.  Christ made Himself a servant, sacrificing His rights for us.  Mary and Joseph honored God's will and humbly submitted to His plan.  This Christmas may we do the same.

Part of Something Big

Hallie squirmed in her seat.  "It's so hard to wait," she whispered to her friend Larissa, who grinned back in understanding.  Finally, Mrs. Lewis started the announcements.

"For the church Christmas play we need thirteen actors," Mrs. Lewis began.  

"Oooh," Hallie almost giggled in anticipation.

"The part of the lead character, Hannah Scott, goes to Hallie Stevenson, while the part of Jimmy Peters goes to..."

That was all Hallie heard.  "I got the part!" she whispered excitedly to Larissa.  

"Congratulations!" Larissa shared her excitement.

Hallie slowed down.  "I wish you could be in the play, too," she told Larissa.  

"Me? Acting?  No, thank you!  No stages for me," Larissa insisted.

~~~~

"And, Mom, my part has almost twice as many lines as the next biggest part," Hallie bragged to her mother later that evening.  "Mrs. Lewis said that I would be perfect for the part since I can memorize so easily."

"Now, Hallie," Mrs. Stevenson reminded her daughter, "it's important to be humble when you are given an opportunity like this."

"But I don't understand, Mom - Mrs. Lewis did say that I did a great job on my audition," Hallie protested.

"Oh, humility doesn't mean downplaying the job you did.  To be humble means to put your performance - and everything else - in its proper place.  This Christmas play is to tell the Gospel to some who may have never heard it before.  If you're lost in thoughts of you and what people think of you, how are you spreading His joy?"  Hallie thought about what her mother was saying.  "And, besides, honey," Mrs. Stevenson continued, "your fellow actors may not appreciate having you around when you're always thinking and talking about how good your performance is.  How do you think that makes them feel?"  Hallie nodded as she remembered sensing other actors' frustration with her attitude.  "Hallie, this play is an opportunity for you to perform for God's glory, to be a part of something bigger than you.  Don't let yourself squander this opportunity on pride.  Be humble about what you are doing, and God will bless your efforts."

~~~~

With her mother's words in mind, Hallie played her part with everything within her, and the audience loved it.  "Great job, Hallie," one of the other actresses complimented her.

"You did great, too, Megan!" Hallie responded.

"That was wonderful, Hallie!" Mrs. Lewis hurried to praise the star actress.  "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Lewis - I enjoyed being a part of God's work."

~~~~

"Good job, honey!" Mrs. Stevenson hugged Hallie when she joined her family later.

"You were right, Mom," Hallie said.  "Once I stopped thinking so much about myself, it seemed to be a lot more fun for everyone.  I even have a couple new friends!"

"That's great," Mrs. Stevenson smiled.  "We'll always be glad we live the way God tells us to.  I'm so proud of you!"

"Not proud, Mom," Hallie grinned.  "Humble."

The Smallest Things

In contrast to everything you hear about "self-esteem," the Bible has no flattering descriptions of man.  Some of the adjectives used to describe us in our sinful state are "dead" (Ephesians 2:1-3), "alienated and hostile in mind" (Colossians 1:21), and "corrupt...none who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3).  The Genesis flood in Noah's day occurred because of man's sinfulness, for "'the intention of man’s heart is evil"' (Genesis 8:21).  According to the London Baptist Confession, every one of us is"...utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil" (see here).  Doesn't sound too promising, does it? Part of being humble is realizing our true position before God.  Without His mercy, this is what we are: dead in our evil-ness, and powerful to do anything about it.  We are, if you will, "bad to the bone."  Once we are saved through Christ, we become a new creation - but none of it is our doing.  As Paul asked the Corinthians, "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).  As Christians, everything we have we have received from God.  We did nothing to deserve our material pleasures, family and friends, talents and abilities, or even our salvation; all of it was freely given to us.  Paul's point is that, if we didn't earn it, we shouldn't be proud and conceited as if we are somehow worthy of it.  In Humility: True Greatness, author C.J. Mahaney quotes Carl Henry, a brilliant yet humble theologian.  Henry, when asked how he had remained humble for so long, answered, "How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?" (Humility, p. 68).  It's a thought-provoking reminder.  How can we be proud when we reflect on what Christ has done for us?  We who were "dead in our transgressions" God made us "alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:5).

The English Standard Version of the Bible has an intriguing translation of Romans 12:10b: "Outdo one another in showing honor."  While one aspect of humility involves our relationship with God, another branch guides our relationships with other people.  Paul encouraged the Romans to see who could give more honor to others.  Instead of being proud and wanting to receive the attention ourselves, Paul taught that we should see how much honor we can give instead of receive.  Paul himself was an example of humility.  He wrote to the Corinthians, "Do we not have the right...?...Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:4-5, 12).  Paul humbled himself by not demanding his rights, and instead chose to bless others.  Teaching by example, Paul showed that it's not about fairness or insisting on our rights; Christians should be humble by realizing that their first priority is glorifying and serving God - not seeking honor for ourselves.

It's hard to be humble.  Sometimes the hardest things are the smallest things - like not bragging about the part you played in winning the game, or insisting that you get to go first (because your sibling always gets to go first), or maybe showing off your abilities and talents.  As sinful humans, we will often feel the need to look for esteem from others.  But as Christians, we must remember that our priority is God's glory, not our esteem.  It's not easy, is it?  But the Bible is full of promises for those who are humble (see Proverbs 15:33, 22:4; James 4:10).  No, it's not easy, but it is worth it to honor God, know Him more, and be rewarded by Him.

"Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is my throne,
   and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
   and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
   and so all these things came to be,
declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look:
   he who is humble and contrite in spirit
   and trembles at my word.'"

Isaiah 66:1-2

What Child is This?

Philippians 2:1-11

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves,
which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,

though He was in the form of God,

did not count equality with God a thing
to be grasped,

but made Himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form,
He humbled himself by

becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed

on Him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11, ESV

November 25th

Happy Thanksgiving!


'"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving

and honor and power and might be to
our God forever and ever!

Amen."'

Revelation 7:12

Set an Example

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12, emphasis added

If Someone Asked You

My little brother loves trash trucks.  He notices them, imitates their sounds, and points them out to all of us - every time he sees one.  Every Monday morning it is the highlight of his day to sit and watch the trash truck pick up the neighborhood trash.  While many things are important to him, it's clear that trash trucks are pretty high on the list.  We all have things that are important to us.  For some, it's sports.  For others, entertainment.  For some, it's trash trucks.  But if you had to name the one thing that is more important to you than anything else, what would it be?

Before he became a Christian, the apostle Paul had a lot of things going for him.  He was given a very privileged Jewish education, and, as a Pharisee and a "Hebrew of Hebrews," (Phil. 3:5) enjoyed much esteem from his fellow Jews.  Additionally, as a son in a Jewish family, Paul could take pride in his genealogical line.  But once Paul became a Christian, something else was more important to him.

Later in his life, Paul wrote to the Christian church in Philippi, listing all the reasons he had to enjoy life: good family line, great education, etc.  But at the end of the list, what does Paul say?  "I wish other Jews still thought highly of me"?  No.  "At least I still enjoy the good family line"?  No.  Once Paul finishes naming everything he could take pride in, he writes, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8).  Paul's priorities had changed.  No longer was human applause important to him.  Gone were the days when Paul's own obedience to the law was a source of pride for him.  Now it was all rubbish, in his opinion.  All that mattered now was Christ. 

Paul wrote of "sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2-3, emphasis added).  Paul lived pursuing Christ and Christ alone.  The things of this world held no value for him and received none of his devotion - all of it was given to Christ.  If someone were to ask Paul what was most important in his life, he would answer without hesitation: Jesus Christ.  If someone asked you the same question, what would your answer be?

Of Cups and Vessels

Kaitlyn lived a normal life.  She had friends, hobbies, a great family, and went to church every Sunday.  But one day, her normal life was changed.


It started simply enough.  Kaitlyn was busy getting ready for church that morning.  She picked out an outfit that was just right, but then she found the perfect one.  Then she fixed her hair just the way it would complement the perfect outfit.  Kaitlyn and her family walked into church just before the service started.  "Oh, a visiting speaker," Kaitlyn pointed out.  "This should be interesting."


"It is my pleasure to introduce to you this morning, Dr. Randall Sparks," Kaitlyn's pastor told the congregation.  As the applause died down, Dr. Sparks began his message.


"Every day I ask myself, 'Well, what kind of cup will you be today, Randy?'  I know that question sounds a little strange, but there is a purpose behind it.  You see, Paul wrote to his student, Timothy: 'Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work' (2 Timothy 2:20-21).  Paul's exhortation to Timothy has to do with purity.  You see, if something is pure, it is without other substances.  It is completely one thing and only that one thing.  Pure gold, for example, doesn't have any iron in it.  Pure chocolate doesn't have any peanut butter.  If we are to be pure in our walk with God, to be a vessel for honorable use, we must 'cleanse' ourselves, as Paul instructs us, of anything that doesn't honor God, anything that isn't fully for our one goal of glorifying God.  To remind me of this decision I must make every day, I always ask myself, 'What kind of cup - or vessel - will you be today?'  Now, today we're going to look closer at the concept of..."


Kaitlyn couldn't remember the rest of the sermon, for she didn't hear it.  She wasn't listening.  She just couldn't get past his opening illustration.  What kind of cup are you? she thought to herself.  But Kaitlyn was a good girl - what could she need to change?


Slowly, Kaitlyn walked into her room after they returned home from church.  She sat down on her bed and thought about how she spent her time.  No, there was nothing wrong with talking on the phone to friends, or spending time on hobbies.  But what am I doing for God? she thought to herself.  How am I spending time working to be a vessel for honorable use?  She thought about how she had spent her time the day before.  She talked with her friend Rebecca on the phone, then went over and did some reading and talking with her friend Michaela.  But what time did she spend seeking God?  What time did she spend doing things that would bring Him glory?  Just a few minutes for my morning devotional, she remembered, a little guiltily.  Kaitlyn reached over for a piece of paper and wrote on it, then she propped it up on her bedside table.  "There," she said to herself.  "Now I can always ask myself, 'What kind of cup will you be today, Katie?"

Photo by Catherine Hadler at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Finish Line

Many things take our focus off of God.  Common modern idols are money, fame, or being first in something.  If those define the ideals of life, then there was one man who had it all.  But what if there is more to life than what man says is important?

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Eric Liddell stunned the world of sports by refusing to submit to their expectations.  Already known as an accomplished runner, Eric dashed the hopes of many of his countrymen when he refused to run in the 200-meter race (his personal best) because the qualifying preliminary was held on a Sunday.  Some even called him a traitor.  What kind of athlete would forfeit an Olympic medal for his country because a meet was on a Sunday?  Despite the sour feelings of his supporters, Eric stayed firm in his conviction to remain true to God.  God rewarded his faithfulness and Eric won a gold medal in the 400 meter race, which was not one he was expected to win.  Not only did he win, but he set a new world record: 47.6 seconds.  He had stunned the sports world again - this time impressing them.

But Olympics was not what Eric lived for; winning races was not his life goal.  The son of missionaries, he left running to become a missionary to China for the last twenty years of his life.  While there he married another missionary kid, Florence Mackenzie, and they had three daughters.  Together, they labored to bring the Gospel to the hurting Chinese people.  Back home, however, many were questioning Eric's decisions.  Why would a famous Olympic runner give up his sport to labor in a foreign land?

In the early 1940s, while the Liddells were working in China, the Japanese invaded China.  Life was dangerous for everyone, and Eric sent his wife and daughters to his wife’s family in Canada for their safety.  Choosing to stay where God had called him, Eric stayed with the people of China.  He and many others were soon put in a Japanese internment camp.  As a prisoner, Eric busied himself with the needs of others by assisting the elderly, providing games and activities for the children, and helping teach chemistry.  Eric continued to faithfully serve God first and put the needs of others before his own.  While still a prisoner of war, Eric became sick.  Unfortunately, the camp had no means to treat his brain tumor, and he died just after he turned forty-three.  The world was still wondering.  Why would a promising young husband and father spend the end of his life in an internment camp away from his family?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Eric Liddell was a good runner - that’s for sure.  Striving to follow God first and foremost, he was an example of what it means to prize what God prized and not what the world around him treasured.  What kind of athlete would throw away an Olympic gold medal because the first meet was held on Sunday?  One whose goal was knowing God, not winning gold.  Why would a world-renowned Olympian walk away from the sport he took by storm in order to work among a foreign people in a foreign land?  Because winning a race was not the purpose of Eric Liddell's life.  Why would a healthy, popular, smart, young husband and father live the last of his days as a POW away from home and family?  Because Eric Liddell followed God and God alone.  His heart was pure because God was on the throne of his heart.  Eric ran his race with endurance; pursuing a life that glorified God.  Let us also run toward the finish line, ignoring all else as we pursue God and God alone.

Following the Rules

   Some people think that the Bible is just a bunch of rules. "Do this, do that," or "don't do this, don't do that," is how many people view Christianity. The first five books of the Old Testament - the Torah - contain (by many estimates) 613 laws. These rules covered everything from sacrifices and cleansing rituals to family life and foreign relations. There was a rule for almost everything. Many people assume that Christianity is like Old Testament Judaism. But not even Old Testament Judaism was about rules.

   When Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five, he was replacing a ruler who, like many other Old Testament kings, was not a godly one. King after king in Judah's royal line ruled in defiance of God and His ways. But things would be different with Hezekiah. As soon as he sat on the throne he began sweeping reforms to wipe out idolatry and to reaffirm Judah's allegiance to God and God alone. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah

"trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following Him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him" (2 Kings 18:5-7).

Judah had a revival. The people were excited to be returning to the God of their fathers, and they were ready to be ceremonially cleansed for the celebration of the Passover. However, the time set to celebrate the Passover was quickly approaching, and there would not be time for all of the people to be made clean before the Passover began. Hezekiah saw the impending problem: many people of Israel and Judah would want to partake of the Passover, but would not meet the requirement of being ceremonially clean. Hezekiah prayed:

"'May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness'". And next we read, "And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people" (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).

   During one of Jesus' many encounters with the strict rule-keeping Pharisees, He called them '"whitewashed tombs,"' a vivid word picture of a place without life yet decorated to look nice on the outside. In other words, the Pharisees were putting on a good show of serving God with their actions, but not with the attitudes of their hearts. For example, the Pharisees were so strict in their tithing that they even gave a tenth of their spices like mint and cumin, yet they were neglecting the more important matters such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus told them, "'So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness'" (Matthew 23:28; see also Matthew 23:23-24). When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees reprimanded Him for "working" on the Sabbath, as they focused on the letter of the law and completely missed the intent of it. Instead of kindly shepherding the people Israel, the Pharisees, as Israel's spiritual leaders, chose to impose more exacting rules on Israel than those that God required. Jesus taught that the Pharisees' rules did not help them gain eternal life - only a heart right with God gives that.
 
   The Israelites who ate the Passover during Hezekiah's reign had not followed all the rules. Yet they did right. The Pharisees rigidly calculated their every move in order to keep all 613 laws of the Torah. Yet they were the unwashed tombs. "The Lord says: 'These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men'" (Isaiah 29:13). Maybe we follow all the rules, but where do the allegiances of our heart lie? What is our heart attitude? Yes, there are rules, and they are meant to be followed, but the Bible is about so much more than that. "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). God desires a humble spirit and a heart that seeks Him. No rule can duplicate a heart attitude. Christianity is not a religion of rules, because no matter how many rules we follow, "the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Filled Up

The other day I was really hungry.  REALLY hungry.  I could've eaten anything!  (Okay, not anything.  But close.)

While I was hungry for edible food, Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes about another kind of hunger: "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied'" (Matthew 5:6). Righteousness is right standing with God, but we can't get that on our own.  Jesus gives it to us (1 Corinthians 1:30 and Philippians 3:9) when we trust Him alone and repent of our sin.  Righteousness is Christ-likeness; we must be close to Christ to be like Him, to be righteous.  But what does it mean to hunger for righteousness?

When my little brother was a baby, he let us know when he was hungry.  Once he decided that he was ready for a bottle, he wanted it immediately, and he screamed until he got it!  Nothing else would satisfy him.  "Like newborn babies," Peter wrote, "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).  When we're spiritually hungry, we should settle for nothing less than that which alone will ultimately satisfy.  Trying to satisfy our hunger with anything else is like giving a starving man a Hershey's kiss - it tastes good but doesn't help the hunger or give any nutrition.  No little baby would settle for anything but the bottle; we must not settle for anything less than God's Word.

We are not to be proud of our righteous acts.  The Bible says that sometimes the righteous begin to trust in their righteousness instead of God's mercy and then they commit evil (Ezekiel 33:13).  Righteousness is God's gift to those who believe in Him and repent (Philippians 2:13).  To hunger for righteousness is to hunger to be like God - to put Him first and to bring glory to Him, not to earn our own way to Heaven or impress those around us.  Righteousness is something God gives to us; we must give the glory to God for our righteous acts and not try to steal the glory for ourselves.

“To know You is to want to know You more,” the song testifies (Casting Crowns, "To Know You"). Matthew 5:6 holds one of the greatest promises in the Bible.  "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...'"  Now, hungering and thirsting are not pleasant experiences.  They're worth it, though, "'...for they shall be satisfied.'"  He will not leave us hungry, or give us sweet but non-filling treats.  We will be filled.  As the famous psalm tells us, "my cup overflows" (Psalm 23:5).

Photo Credit: Simon Howden from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Nothing Short

"In my deepest heart I know that some of us have to face our comfortable,
self-oriented lives all over again.

The times are too tragic, God's sorrow is too great,
man's night is too dark,the Cross is too glorious

for us to live as we have lived, in anything short of

holy obedience."


Thomas Kelly

Solitaire

I look at my computerized-Solitaire winning percentage.  37%.  Not very high.  But I don't feel like I have much else to do, so I keep playing.  And keep playing.  About fifteen games later, I finally stop, convicted that I could probably find something more productive to do.  But before I leave the game, I look at my winning percentage one more time.  Guess what?  It's still 37%.  Well over thirty minutes of my life and nothing changed - you can't even tell I spent time playing Solitaire.  Thirty minutes of my life had been used up without any lasting significance.

"Everyday is a bank account

And time is our currency

So no one's rich, nobody's poor

We get twenty-four hours each

So how are you gonna spend

Will you invest or squander

Try to get ahead 

Or help someone who's under?"

"Life Means So Much," by Chris Rice, raises a thought-provoking question.  How are we going to spend our lives?  We have less time than we think.  "What is your life?" James asks us.  "For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14).  When I was little, time seemed to drag by very slowly.  Adults always told me that time flies, but I found it hard to believe.  At the end of our lives, though, we will be surprised how quickly we have spent our days.


It has been estimated that, by the end of a sixty-five-year-life, the average person will have spent nine years watching television.  Nine years spent sitting in front of a television tube.  Other ways we waste our time are more subtle: a little daydreaming here, watching the same YouTube video four times in an hour, or a game of Solitaire that turns into ten games.  Sports, movies, chit-chat, gossip; our time is spent "mulling over things that won't live past today" (Casting Crowns, "Here I Go Again").  What about purpose and vision? Where is our passion for a life that glorifies God?


While there is nothing inherently wrong with TV, sports, or Solitaire, why do we spend such great amounts of time on activities that have no eternal significance?  God calls us to pray without ceasing, study to show ourselves approved (so that we can be able to give an answer for the hope that is in us), and make the best use of the little time we have - and we're squandering so much of it on activities that have no eternal purpose.  We must use our time to do what God has called us to do.


As Chris Rice's song continues, "Teach us to count the days/Teach us to make the days count" ("Life Means So Much," Chris Rice).  While, again, there is nothing wrong with a game or two of Solitaire, may I always remember that playing a game is not what makes a day count.  Obedience to God and diligent working to do His will is what determines a day well-spent.  May we always be careful to, as Paul entreated, "Look carefully then how you walk...making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Only, Part Three

Read Part One Here
Read Part Two Here

"I've called three different nursing homes - I haven't found one with an Esther Powell," Mrs. Stevens told Logan and Larissa.

"Great!" Hallie interjected as she hung up the phone. "Good Shepherd Nursing Home has an Esther Powell in Room 223," she informed the others. "The receptionist said that we can visit anytime!"

"That's great, Hallie," Mrs. Stevens told her daughter. "Let's get ready to go and Larissa can ask her parents if she can come, too. But we need to remember, even though we have some of Mrs. Powell's pictures and diaries and we know quite a bit about her, she doesn't know us or anything about us. We don't know how her health is, either. Let's remember to take it slow and be understanding."

~~~

Once everyone was in the car and they started for Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Hallie opened the diary Mrs. Powell wrote when she was twelve years old and began reading. "August 3, 1929. Today I met Mrs. Anderson. She is about eighty years old. She was kind. She gave me a wooden figurine. Love, Esther." Hallie closed the book and wondered what it would have been like to be twelve years old in 1929.

"We're here!" Mrs. Stevens announced.

~~~

"Here's Room 223," Larissa whispered to Hallie.

"Go ahead, honey. We're right behind you," Mrs. Stevens assured Hallie.

Hallie knocked on the door. "Come in," they heard a feeble voice say. Slowly, Hallie opened the door.

"Mrs. Powell?" she asked.

A frail woman looked up from her reading. "Yes?" she answered.

"My name is Hallie Stevens; my family and I live in your old house. We found some things that might be yours."

Logan brought the box of mementos to Mrs. Powell. "Oh, yes," Mrs. Powell gushed excitedly. "My, these bring back memories," she smiled as she picked up some of the old photos.

For a moment no one spoke as she lovingly looked through her long-lost treasures. Finally Mrs. Stevens broke the silence. "Mrs. Powell, if it's okay with you, we would love to hear more about these," she gently suggested.

Mrs. Powell leaned back in her chair. "My husband George and I got married in 1939, right before World War II. We were married fifty-three years."

"Where did you get this?" Hallie asked, handing Mrs. Powell the wooden figurine of an open Bible.

Mrs. Powell fingered the decoration in her hands and read softly, 'Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.'" After a moment's pause she continued. "A lady named Mrs. Anderson gave this to me," she said.

"Oh," Hallie remembered. "I read about her in one of the diaries."

"Yes!" Mrs. Powell smiled at Hallie. "My parents became Christians when I was around your age, largely due to Mrs. Anderson's example and testimony. Mrs. Anderson gave this to me to remind me to spend my one short life only on things that matter."

"Did you?" Logan spoke up.

Hallie glared at Logan. "That's not very polite," she whispered.

Mrs. Powell noticed Hallie's reprimanding look. "Oh, no, I'd love to answer his question," she interrupted them. "No, young man, unfortunately I didn't. I was a Christian, but I didn't count the days."

"Count the days?" Larissa was confused.

"Yes; Psalm 90:12 says, 'So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.' All of us have a limited time on earth. When I was your age, it felt like my adult years were decades away, but once I was an adult, the years passed by all to quickly. I wish I had realized that at your age." Mrs. Powell looked at Hallie. "I wish I had followed the advice of this figurine when I was younger. Life is short - we want to live it for a purpose, and only Jesus Christ is a purpose great enough." Mrs. Powell handed the figurine back to Hallie. "Here, I want you to have this. When you see it, remember me, and remember that life is short."

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Stevens asked.

"Definitely," Mrs. Powell asserted. "I want to give it to someone who will remember - and live - its message."

"Thank you," was all Hallie could say as she felt the privilege of receiving what had been given to Mrs. Powell many years before.

~~~

That night, before bedtime, Hallie settled into her bed with her diary and opened it to a blank page. She started to write, but then paused and picked up a wooden figurine of an open open Bible. Hallie read what was written under the Bible: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." Hallie set it down and began to write. "Today I met Mrs. Powell. Psalm 90:12 says..."