God's Natural World: Language and Cheap Imitations

God's Natural World: Language and Cheap Imitations: Over the past few years our language has changed. Oh, I'm not speaking about some foreign tongue but the words we use seem to me to define o...

Language and Cheap Immitations

Over the past few years our language has changed. Oh, I'm not speaking about some foreign tongue but the words we use seem to me to define our thought pattern and perhaps even our World View.
We used to use words like "attractive" or "handsome" to describe someone who looks nice.  Now it seems we have traded in those words for "sexy."  We live in a world obsessed with sex.  Its in almost every TV program being produced these days; in most clothing stores in the mall; in lots of magazines; and in the movies we watch.  So why can't we seem to use words which adequately compliment the other person without bringing "sex" into the subject?  I believe it is totally of Satan.  Satan decieves and not by some blatant attempt usually but subtlely.  If he can get us to treat what God made as Holy as trivial and common place then he has succeeded in getting us to settle for less than God's best.  Cheap substitutes don't satisfy.  I know we all have adapted to cheap substitutes and have learned to live with things that once were made to last but now may not even last past the manufacturers warranty.  Needless to say, the cheap immitation isn't what its advertised to be and isn't the "real mccoy."
Relationships as they are portrayed on TV are shallow and seem to center around sexual pleasure rather than building a good, solid foundation and saving sex for marriage with only one partner.  Satan has substituted a cheap immitation of intimacy for the real thing and we've swallowed it hook, line, and sinker!  We are in a society that can't wait for things at all and certainly patience is no longer a virtue.  We want things and so we charge them on credit cards.  Sometimes that's a necessity but many times it is not.  What ever happened to saving our money and setting aside some for our goals in life?
Now you may think that I've digressed from my point of this blog but I assure you I do have a point.
Since we have been conditioned to not wait for things that "satisfy," we also don't learn to build relationships and wait for sex until we are married.  We go for what feels good and besides "everybody is doing it!"  But God does not call us to do what everyone else is doing.
In Ephesians 5 we are called to "Live as children of light...."  We are to "find out what pleases the Lord" and "have nothing to do wiht the fruitless deeds of darkness."

So I challenge you to change your language and use words that uplift the other person.  We can choose to compliment in ways that don't imply we are thinking of that person as a sex object.
Change the way you talk and you will change the way you think.
Be aware of content to which you watch and listen.  You will find it is indeed a "slow fade" to a sinful life and you will not be honoring God with your life but instead you will be a witness for Satan and you will be giving your approval to the "cheap" substitute which does not satisfy in the long run.

God's Natural World: Peace

God's Natural World: Peace: Peace. What is it? We all long for "World" peace, for wars to cease, for troubles to end. But what about peace within? What can you do to b...

Peace

Peace. What is it? We all long for "World" peace, for wars to cease, for troubles to end. But what about peace within?  What can you do to bring your soul peace when all around you is in turmoil and strife?
It seems there is always some crisis with one of my family members.  One needs a hot water heater, one needs car repairs, another needs bills paid and it goes on and on it seems!!!  I'm sure many of you have experienced that and much worse.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have a real calamity touch my life such as losing my home to a storm like some have experienced recently in Alabama. 
The Bible tells us a story of a time when Jesus was out on the Sea of Gallilee with his disciples. Jesus was quite tired from ministering to so many that he fell asleep as the boat went its way. Even when a violent storm came up and threatened to sink the fishing boat, Jesus still slept soundly.  How exhausted he must have been!  Just the sound of thunder wakes me up!!!  His disciples were concerned.  No!  More than concerned.  Even though they were experienced fishermen (some at least) and had experienced storms, this one really frightened them.  They woke up their teacher (Jesus) and begged him to save them as they felt as if they were going to drown.  Calm as a cucumber Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and all was calm, all was at peace. (Matthew 8:23-27)  I think this action must have frightened the disciples almost as much as the storm they had experienced.  By doing this, Jesus showed that He is Lord over their cimcumstances (whatever they may be.)
Today some of you feel as if you are going to drown because of the circumstances you face. You may feel as if no one cares and perhaps as if there is no way out.  I want to remind you that Jesus does care.  He knows exactly what you are experiencing and is ready to see you through it even if you are not delivered from it fully. 
Isaiah, the great prophet wrote (ch 26:3) "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
Perhaps God is allowing you to experience the storm so that you will find perfect peace in the midst of it by gazing on Him. 
There is an old hymn I dearly love to sing called "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of this world
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."

My friend if you are in a storm of strife, calamity, or unrest in your soul I hope you will look to the ony one who can provide you with perfect peace.

Shipwrecked

Recently in the news there has been a sad story about a cruise ship that wrecked.  Even now, a week after the incident, rescue workers are trying to locate all the missing passengers.  What caused the ship to wreck?  Did the rocks just grow there over night?  Was it the fault of the map maker not to include the rocks on the map (something the captain suggested?) Was the ship not built tough enough?
No!  It was none of these things.  The captain veered off the usual route that ships travel and decided to come close to an island where he could show off to a friend who lives there. 
What seemed like a pleasurable vacation for many turned into a tradgedy. 

I suspect many who read about this shipwreck just shook their heads and said to themselves something like "what an idiot to have done something so stupid and irresponsible as that!"
Such an obvious act of irresponsibility is easy for us to condemn, yet how many of us do the same thing spiritually?  The Bible tells us plainly what is the right way to live and yet we blatantly deny what God has told us and go our own way.  Sadly, we too will shipwreck our lives by doing this. And sadly as well we tend to put the blame on something else besides ourselves.  "The devil made me do it." or "Everyone is doing it so it must be ok." We veer off course and into dangerous waters thinking no harm will come to us. 

In the book of Joshua we see how Joshua, a man of valor, courage, and leadership was reminded by God to not veer to the right nor to the left and that if he did and if the people of Israel did, then there would be severe consequences.(Joshua 1:7-8)  God was faithful to keep His promises to Joshua just as long as they were faithful to keep true to Him.

Do not think you will be the exception here.  God will not be mocked. Be faithful to follow Him and you will get to your destination safely.

Barns

I enjoy photographing old barns. So many are set in serene places. Though many are in some state of disrepair there is a beauty I find in the weathered wood.  Some have quilt designs on them designating the farmer's wife makes quilts of a certain design.  Some are made to store grain while others are designed to house animals. 
I'd like to tell you a story from the Bible about a man who had a barn. Its found in the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 12:16 begins the story.  " The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do?  I have no place to store my crops.'  Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I wil tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods.  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
But God said to him, 'You FOOL!  This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"

Though barns are good things to have and farmers need them, Jesus was making the point about being selfish and greedy.  In that day some dishonest people would hire others to tend their fields and then after the harvest not pay them at all!  The attitude of this man should have been more giving.

Every so often in my work I earn overtime pay.  There is always the temptation to make plans as to how I will spend this extra income on myself.   I do have many expenses to be sure, but it always seems that others are more in need than myself.

Elsewhere in the Bible we read "Give and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down and running over." I'll leave it to you to discover that verse.  Now we should not give with the thought that we are to expect something in return, but this is the law of the sower and the seed.  The farmer sows seeds and they are expected to grow into the plant of its kind and produce a crop.  Now if you were given some apples let's say and God told you it was ok to eat them what would you do?  A wise man would perhaps share an apple or two with his family or friends.  An even wiser man would plant seeds from one or more so that in time an apple tree would grow and perhaps produced hundreds of apples!
Now those apple trees don't grow up and produce fruit in just a few days. No!  It may take years for that to happen.

I want to encourage you to be generous.  God knows your need and he will not let you go hungry.
Its a matter of trust in God I suppose.  "Test me, try me, prove me" says the Lord "and see if I will not pour out on you a blessing which you cannot contain." (paraphrased)

So when you see a neat old barn just remember to thank God for His blessings and ask Him how He wants you to use those blessings to help others.

Hope

Just what is hope anyway?   Well for one thing the word "hope" is always used in a positive sense.
We "hope" something happens or turns out positively.  We might "hope" our team wins the game. We might "hope" we have a great birthday.  When we use the word in that form we are wishing for a positive result to occur, but there is also some doubt associated with it as well.  We "hope" something turns out well but we don't know that it will.  It is simply a wish or a desire for things to go "our" way.

Today, however, I want you to think of "hope" in a little different light.  Thirty eight times in the Bible the word "hope" is used.  It is not a wish or a "hope so" kind of thing either. No!  Rather, it is a surety and a trust in God.  I'd like to quote a few passages from the Bible where this word is used and give you a bit of "hope" today for what lies ahead.

Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is being sure of what we "hope" for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 6:19 "We have this "hope" as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf."
I Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love."
Psalm 25 vs 4-5 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my "hope" is in you all day long."
Psalm 25:3 "No one whose "hope" is in you will ever be put to shame...."
Psalm 147:11 "the Lord delights in those who fear im, who put their "hope" in his unfailing love."
Isaiah 41:31 "but those who "hope" in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

I'll leave it up to you to discover for yourself all the other passages in the Bible where "hope" is used.
We who are Christians don't just "hope" we get into heaven when we die.  No! since our "hope" is in God who made the way for us to be with him eternally thorugh the cruxifixion and resurrection of his one and only Son, Jesus, we can know we have eternal life and a life more abundant even now before death.  Our "hope" is not some wish that everything is going to turn out alright.  When we have God as our "hope" we know that He's got everything under control and that He will take care and love his children.
If you don't know God as your Savior, Lord, Master, and yes even as your friend, then you have no "Hope."
Hope is what anchors us and keeps us from being tossed about like a leaf on the stormy sea.
This kind of hope is something we can count on and we will not be let down.
This world give us a wishy-washy kind of "hope."  Things might turn out alright but they might not.
My prayer for you today is that you put your "hope" in Christ who will take care of you and not let you be dashed against the rocks when the storms of life come as they always do.

"Hope" spring eternal.