THE LITTLE THINGS

THE LITTLE THINGS

               Not many of us live a life that is full of thrilling, exciting events!  And even those who go from one adventure to another find that after a while, even that becomes commonplace and mundane. Just a few days ago I was reminded that very important, God sent, and even life changing events many times start with common, ordinary, and seemingly run-of-the-mill experiences.

               My regular Bible reading had brought me to I Samuel chapter 9.  It tells about a rather wealthy man by the name of Kish.  One day Kish’s donkeys broke out of their pen and wandered off.  Any of us raised on the farm know that when livestock get out of the fence, the first thing that needs to be done is to find them. They need to be brought back before something happens to them or they ruin some neighbor’s crops, fences or even worse. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take a servant with you and go look for the donkeys.”

               After searching unsuccessfully Saul said, “Let’s go home.”  But the servant said, “Let’s find the prophet who lives around here.”  The day before they found him, the prophet Samuel got a message from the Lord.  He said, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin.  Anoint him to be leader of my people Israel.”  Notice the Lord said, “I will send you a man.”  How did the Lord do that?  By allowing (causing?) the donkeys to get loose!  I am sure that Kish, his son Saul, or the servant had no idea that God had arranged for the donkeys to get out!  But God had an agenda!  He ALWAYS does!

               Saul obeyed. I thought to myself, “What if Saul had not obeyed?” Actually, since God was working this out in order for Samuel to meet Saul.  Saul had no choice!  God was at work and Saul’s obedience led to a startling event that he could never imagine in his wildest dreams…to be anointed King of Israel.

               Through a series of “coincidental” events such as: 1) the servant suggesting they find the prophet, 2) they “happened” to meet some girls who knew what road to take to find the prophet; 3) Samuel “happened” to be walking on that same road toward them; 4) Samuel knew Saul was the man as soon as he saw him.

               So, the mundane daily requirements of life many times lead us to untold blessings and opportunities.  As with Saul, it might begin with a disappointing inconvenience or an interruption of a schedule and regular routine. But God is working on the other end of the story!  Who knows what thrilling things He has for those who obey in the “little” things? 

               I am reminded of the Lord talking to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:10 as he was doing some small things to begin the temple. The Lord said, “Do not despise these small beginnings…”!

Note: This was written the first part of November, 2012. It is to be published in InterAct Ministries InterCom edited by Judy Richardson.

Christmas thoughts

I just saw this in a message I got from someone and it struck a note in my mind and I pass it on.


C. S. Lewis described the meaning of the incarnation of Christ on a radio address this way: “Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine for the moment that your dog, and every dog, is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into your beloved’s face and wagging your tail unable to smile or speak. Christ, by becoming man, limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world, His unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.”

The Display of His Splendor

"The display of His splendor" is a phrase tucked away in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
(Chapter 61:3) This phrase has held my attention once again. Here are some thoughts "for what it's worth"

God wants to make Himself known. He does this through Israel, through what He has made, through His Church,and through those He has redeemed.

It is obvious in the context,that His chosen people, Israel, is what is referred to in Isaiah 61:3. He says He is going to "bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

God displayed His splendor through Israel throughout the Old Testament. He displayed His splendor through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus, the Christ. He displayed His splendor to modern day Israel by preserving this little nation when all were against her. (Google "Miracles in the 1967 Israeli war"). And this whole passage in Isaiah tells about the future display of His splendor through His chosen ones.

The 19th Psalm says "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies declare the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." Creation displays His splendor.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul when speaking of the Church says in Ephesians 3:10 " His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." He displays His splendor through His Bride, the Church. His splendor is revealed to humans, angels, demons, and possibly other creatures.

He displays His splendor through His redeemed ones...all who have placed their trust in Him. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." The word "workmanship" is translated from the word "poiema" in the greek language...it has the idea of poem. Think of it this way, "We are God's masterpiece..." We are to display His splendor.

Not only do we display His splendor now , but will continue to do this through eternity. Ephesians 1:7 says that "in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." He will point to us, sinners saved through His love and by His grace, and display His splendor in that way...forever.

HE MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN IN SO MANY WAYS BY MAKING A DISPLAY OF HIS SPLENDOR.

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

This morning I read the first chapter of the book of Jonah.
A question stood out as if were written in BOLD.

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

Jonah was sound asleep in the hold of a ship.
His traveling companions were struggling to survive in a troubled sea.
Jonah was running from God.
His companions did not know the true God.
Only Jonah knew God and he was asleep!

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

When there are people all around who do not know God
as He can be known through Jesus the Christ?

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

When there are people hopelessly trying to save themselves,
and you have the answer?

HOW CAN YOU SLEEP?

When you possess the “cure” for the fatal disease of man’s sin?

HOW CAN I SLEEP?

"Thrilled with Joy"

Last Sunday was Easter. I know Easter as a name, was taken from the name Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. Hence the bunnies, baby chicks, eggs, and the like. Regardless of all that, Easter is a time when, at least in the west, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is remembered by most everyone. Probably a better name for the day would be "Resurrection Sunday". But in our politically correct world, it'll not happen.

The early church celebrated the resurrection over a period of time...not just one day. They had what they called "Bright Monday. They also celebrated the following Sunday they called "White Sunday". These were times of laughter, joy, celebration, jokes, and parties. Jesus had risen! And they were ecstatic!!! Real joy!

We Christians should be the happiest people in the world! Sin is conquered! Jesus is alive!
Heaven is 0urs! God won!!!

Luke 15:10 tells about the rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents. Think of the rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the angels when the stone rolled away and Jesus came out! Wow! The cheering of 100,000 people in the grandstands when the home team makes the winning touchdown in the last minute of the game is nothing compared to heaven rejoicing when Jesus Christ rose!!

When Jesus appeared to the apostles the evening of that Resurrection Sunday it says in John 20:20 that they were "overjoyed". Another translation says they were "thrilled with joy". The Amplified Bible says they were "ecstatic". And why not...Jesus was alive!!!!

In our world today with all the wars and rumors of wars, senseless killings, governmental intrusion into our lives, and economic turmoil, we Christians have JOY!!! Jesus is alive!!!! We are winners!!

"You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart."

HOW OLD IS OLD?

IS "OLD" DETERMINED BY THE NUMBERS OF YEARS YOU'VE LIVED?
MAYBE.
OR IS IT DETERMINED BY HOW YOU FEEL?

I JUST CELEBRATED MY EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY...QUITE A MILESTONE!
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE FAMILY THOUGHT AS THEY MADE A BIG DEAL OF IT.
AND I ENJOYED IT!! IT'S NICE TO BE FUSSED OVER.

OUR THREE SONS CAME DOWN FROM ALASKA. OUR DAUGHTER, JOANNE HAD US ALL OVER FOR A BIG DINNER.
TWO GRANDCHILDREN WERE THERE..ANOTHER DROVE FROM SEATTLE PACIFIC JUST FOR THE EVENING.

AND THROUGH TECHNOLOGY (SKYPE) WE ALL WERE ABLE TO SEE AND TALK TO OUR DAUGHTER, JEANNETTE, FOR AN HOUR. SHE AND HER FAMILY LIVE IN SPAIN.
SO , IN A SENSE, WE HAD A MINI-FAMILY REUNION. FUN!!

WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS IN ALASKA HEARD HOW OLD I WAS HE SAID,
"BEING EIGHTY IS A FULL TIME JOB!" YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO THE DOCTOR,
TAKING SOMEONE ELSE TO THE DOCTOR, DENTIST, CHIROPRACTOR,OR TO PHYSICAL THERAPY.
THEN THERE'S THE PHONE CALLS TO ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR A SITUATION...(WE GOT TWO TODAY!)
ALL THAT ALONG WITH ENCOURAGING AND ADVISING NINETEEN GRANDCHILDREN.
AND I COULD GO ON....BUT WON'T.

MAYBE BEING EIGHTY IS A FULL TIME JOB!

OUR SON, MARTY, SAID THAT WHEN YOU ARE EIGHTY YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT,
AND YOU ARE ALWAYS FORGIVEN. WELL, WE'LL SEE....

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN ASKED, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?"
I HAVE TO ANSWER,"I DON'T KNOW." THE FUTURE IS AS UNKNOWN NOW AS IT WAS 30,40,50,60
YEARS AGO. THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 23:18, "THERE IS A FUTURE HOPE FOR YOU AND YOUR HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF."

SO WE KEEP GOING...NOT AS FAST AS BEFORE (UNLESS I AM DRIVING) BUT WITH ASSURANCE THAT
THE LORD WILL LEAD NOW AS HE HAS IN THE PAST. WE TRUST HIM!!!!

FEELING INVISIBLE

OUR GRAND DAUGHTER, TAMARA VAN DIEST, WHO IS ATTENDING ECOLA BIBLE SCHOOL IN OREGON, SENT THIS A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND HAS GIVEN ME PERMISSION TO SHARE IT HERE.

Feeling Invisible?

This topic has been on my mind for a couple days now. The other day I was walking down a sidewalk on campus and spotted one of my guy friends. I smiled, but he didn't acknowledge me or say anything. I continued walking and after I passed him, I heard him call out to a pretty girl walking behind me. Now I had three options, either feel angry at the guy for not acknowledging me, feel depressed about myself because I wasn't worth acknowledging...or just blow it off. I chose one of those options...and have been thinking about it ever since. So I had to write to get all of it out. And here is the full extent of my thought...


We've all seen them. They're the nerds who sit in the front of the class, or the quiet ones who sit in the very back. They are the guys who dress like dorks, or the fat girls who laugh nervously. They are the ones with names no one knows how to pronouce, or even knows. They are the ones who will stand behind us for at least 7 seconds, saying "excuse me!" so they can pass by. But we don't hear them. Because to us, they are invisible.

For most of my life I've felt pretty invisible. I've struggled with self esteem, basing my worth off what people said to me, whether the popular people knew my name, or how many times I was told "you have a beautiful voice". I hid behind my love of music, thinking that since I wasn't pretty, since I wasn't popular, and because I was just a nerdish 'fat chick', I had to be known for something. So I chose music to identify me. When I felt nervous, I would sing. When I wanted to impress someone, I'd sing. When I felt like crap, I would sing. My whole identity was based on my music skills. I felt that since they were the only things going for me, I'd use them like a shield to hide behind. That way, I could protect the parts of me that had been seen and rejected too many times. So, music, I thought, was the only thing I had left to use as a megaphone to the world, to scream out "I'm a person too! I have worth too. I'm someone worth talking to, worth hugging, worthy of friendship!"

I think the majority of the world's population bases their identity on something else, whether it's beauty, fame, talent, merit, people's opinions or soly on their significant other. We all scream out "look at me! I'm worth something!" But there are those who, no matter how hard they try, still feel invisible.

Our true identity is covered up by what we base our worth on. The world tells us that it is not enough to be a real human being, we must be more. But honestly, when we peel off all the layers that we've added to ourselves, we find one thing: we are either dead in sin, or alive in Christ. One of those two phrasesis the only thing in life that will ever truly identify us. It will effect our atitude, our personality, and all of our choices in life. Who I am in Christ is so much more valuable than anything I could ever do myself or become. Since I discovered, this my cloak of invisibility has disappeared. I struggle with self worth issues so much less, knowing that what I mean to God is of the utmost importance. Nothing else matters.

But there are so many more invisible people. Our task is to help peel off their 'layers of identity'. To show them that what this world thinks of them is nothing compared to what the Amazing Creator thinks of them. To tell them that He is the only thing we should use to identify us. And that without Him, we are more than invisible; we are nothing.