Paying the Price

I enjoy reading memoirs—of the rich and famous, not so much, but of ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary things or have faced extraordinary difficulties. Recently there has been an outbreak of stories written by people smarting from injury. Among financiers, politicians, religious leaders, sports figures, and entertainers, there are a number who have confessed to wrongdoing, and have brought hardship not only to themselves but also to the more ordinary folk who trusted them. Now some of those others are writing about their experiences. Revenge? I can't say. Truth to set the record straight? Maybe. Money? Quite likely.

We love our heroes, and we choose the ones whose achievements are most closely aligned with our interests and values. If they exude charisma, so much the better. But if they fall, it is a very long way down, and we are quick to focus our attention on another hopeful. That may not be entirely fair, but that is part of the workings of leadership.

People sometimes try to negotiate the price they pay for failure. They didn’t figure on it costing them their career, their family, or their civil freedom. There are people in prison today or held captive by their own fear and regret who didn't plan on that outcome at all. "If I had known, I wouldn't have . . ." But they simply followed the alluring call of money or sex or power, and now must bear the consequences of their so-called "indiscretion."

I read a little of what one disappointed wife wrote; she does not seem bitter, just hurt. She accepts that her husband has done wrong, but she was dismayed by how quickly the flow of money and the recognition vanished. Didn't his accomplishments before failure count for anything? Weren't his relationships dependable enough to withstand the blow?

Well, perhaps not. When the charismatic person at the top takes a tumble, the whole framework is endangered. Although understanding and mercy may be extended—and in some cases, even Christian forgiveness—we are uneasy about the governor or pastor or banker who demonstrated that his/her own interests were ahead of ours. They may be ever so full of remorse now that they have been exposed, but few of their constituents or congregants or customers will want to go on as if nothing had happened. We accept that these leaders are human and make mistakes, but we do not any longer want them trying to lead us. We now know that they don't know where they're going.

King Saul in the Bible was just such a leader. He disobeyed God by carrying away some of the spoils of battle when he had been clearly instructed to destroy everything. "Yes, but I did carry out the mission . . ." "Yes, I know what God said, but the people wanted . . . " "Yes, I know I have sinned, but just excuse that because now I am ready to worship . . ." "Yes, I know I was wrong, but just honor me before the people . . ." He didn't plan to lose his kingdom and eventually his life, but that was the price he paid for failure.

I am supposing that most of us are not the extraordinary people at the top in the world of finance or politics or religion or sports and entertainment; most of us are looking to others for leadership in these areas. But the truth about the cost of failure is true for all of us. All my life I have heard, "You are the best Christian somebody knows." While we all make mistakes and have areas where we fall short, that does not justify abandoning what is right, along with those who are counting on us to demonstrate that for them. The price of integrity is small compared to the price we would pay for failure.

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

What Shall We Call God?

Adam and Eve knew God as the great Creator. When we contemplate the meaning of the first couple of chapters in Genesis, we recognize the awe-full power it took to create the world and everything in it, and by what gracious provision He sustains it.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their descendants, knew God as the Covenant-Maker. He promised to make them His own people, a nation that He would bless. Those early patriarchs lived long enough to see the beginning of that promise fulfilled.

Moses and the people he led through the wilderness knew God as the Law-Giver. How complicated the sacrifices and feasts and the rituals of personal and community purity were! But there was no other way to please God.

Joshua and Gideon and Deborah knew God as "Commander-in-Chief." They understood how futile it is for the enemies of God to stand against Him. They conquered their foes when they followed their Leader's command.

The judges knew God as The Ultimate Authority. They tried, often unsuccessfully, to bring the Israelites under the authority of God. Time after time, the people's rebellion and idolatry was evidenced in corruption from within and oppression from without.

The prophets knew God as a Voice, the Message-Giver. Over and over, the prophets relayed to the people what God was saying. Through His spokesmen, He reminded them of the promises. He assured them of blessing if they were faithful; He warned them of sorrow and destruction if they were not.

The kings knew God as Ruler, if they knew Him at all. The kingdom was divided; one king reigned over ten tribes and the second king was over the remaining two. Some followed God faithfully while others were violent and wicked.

Then Jesus came. Was this not the only way that God could reveal Himself as Father? He wanted many children, but no one knew He could be understood as Father until the Son Himself came to reveal that to us. Some still acknowledge God only as creator or law-giver or ruler of everything. He is all those, of course, but to those who know Jesus, God's Son come to us as man, He is our loving, concerned, tender-hearted Father.

"No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27 NLT) Or as another rendering paraphrases it, "The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to"! (Luke 10:22 MSG)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Picture.htm

My Little Library

Just suppose that my life experiences were written as little books and kept safely somewhere within my being. I have a whole little library inside me! Some of the books are dusty; I don't look at them very often. Others are well-thumbed, used on a regular basis. Here is a sampling.

There are several big, thick reference books detailing some of my hard-won lessons. If I didn't keep them handy, I might repeat some of the mistakes that taught those lessons. There are finance books in that section of my little library, books on personal relationships and parenting, books on sane Christian living.

I have some fine travel books with many pictures: the Washington countryside as it looks from a hot air balloon, the massive faces of Mt. Rushmore, the art in the shops and gardens along Canyon Road in Santa Fe, winter camping at the edge of the Grand Canyon, the blue of the Caribbean Sea, the special retreat place at Prairie Oasis.

There are adventure books about my experiences among Native Americans in South Dakota, of live-in ministry in Jamaica, and a foreign adoption completed in Honduras.

How-to books are in another section: How to churn butter or make a corncob doll, build a shed or paint a house, crochet an afghan, lead a group discussion, ride a train from here to over yonder, plan a funeral.

A couple of romances are in my library, but nothing exotic. Still, they are memorable and I will always have a place for them on my shelves.

A few fantasy books are included—or maybe they're not fantasy after all. Maybe they will yet turn out to be true! (No science fiction, though.)

Family stories abound of happy times at reunions, of what might be called "search-and-rescue" missions, of sharing our losses in Kansas and Washington and Texas and Georgia, of rejoicing in our blessings.

History and biography and genealogy are found in my little library too. My Amish/Mennonite grandfather's story is in a little book, and the birth of the Wonder Baby, and the accomplishments of my siblings. The details of my career choices are kept there, along with my moves from one part of the country to another.

There aren't any joke books as such, but lots of little books of humor. One is called "Launching the Goose," another is "I Don't Want to Be at This Rest Stop," and still another, "What It Was Was Football, as Told by Lloyd."

I have a few self-help books, and I keep them because they were put in my library by other people: an exceptional pastor; a couple of wise, professional counselors; the Dear Dr., special friends who challenge me to become more than I expect of myself.

My little library has devotional classics too, "classic" because they have stood the test of time, that is to say, my own lifetime. I turn to these books often.

The thing is, I keep adding to my library. Isn't that exciting?

Look inside yourself. You probably have a little library in there too!

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Don't Pick at a Scab"

Eww, gross! Yes, the topic I'm writing about is just a bit on the unpleasant side. Why did our mothers (because probably yours said this too) tell us not to pick at the scabs on our scraped knees, our mosquito bites, and even our chicken pox? Why did we want to anyway? Well, because they were there? Or maybe it was the itch that sometimes comes when healing is underway

4 Our mothers knew that picking off the protection that nature has provided reopens the wound and might cause fresh pain and more bleeding. And more trauma for the afflicted youngster! Not a good idea.

4 Taking the cover off the healing wound tears the new skin that is forming. That delays the healing process and is apt to cause scarring.

4 Opening the wound open again increases the chances of bacteria entering and an infection developing. A greater chance of scarring.

4 When left alone, eventually the crusty scab will be shed—without any help—and bright, new skin is underneath.

This is a great deal like the injuries we sometimes suffer emotionally. Someone hurts us, and it is natural for us to have some kind of response. We may realize the hurt was unintentional, or it may have been completely unrelated to us and we just happened to be handy as a target. We may understand that the other person has unresolved issues, or we may truly have been at fault but were dealt with harshly. Whatever the reason, we have been wounded; now what do we do? The Bible is very clear about our need to forgive, and if possible to seek reconciliation with the other.

But often people treat personal injuries much like children treat scraped knees. In a little while, the initial sting has gone away, but they begin to pick at the healing offense. Time goes by and they continue to re-open the wound, never treating it with the antiseptic of forgiveness and then leaving it alone to heal. What happens then?

4 Every time remembrance of the offense comes to mind, or whenever the offending person is around, there is fresh pain and more "bleeding." The trauma is kept as current as when it first occurred.

4 The healing process is delayed, or it never happens at all. Scarring is almost inevitable, and to a much greater degree than that of a clean, neatly healed injury.

4 Bad stuff can get into the wound: ill will, revenge, gossip, and other things that infect the spirit. This infection can become so vicious that it attacks other people who are nearby.

I have a few scars from childhood injuries that I did not allow to heal well. But with the help of the great Forgiver, I am working hard to promote healing of inward "scrapes" so that they can heal cleanly!

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Illusions and Truth

Looking through an optical illusion book yesterday, I came to a puzzle on which a number of irregularly-shaped black blotches contrasted sharply with the surrounding page. The question was, could I guess what the parceled image represents? A further note explained that our brain tends to enclose a space by completing the contours that are present. We ignore the fact of the gaps and organize as well as possible a figure that represents to us an understandable composition.

What was even more interesting to me was the information I found on the answer page. Once I recognized the image for what it is—a knight riding on a horse—it was almost impossible not to see that again. After my brain defined the blots as a recognizable shape, it stored that definition for ready recall, making it virtually certain that when I looked at the puzzle again, I couldn't not see the knight and his horse.

This brings to me to two observations about truth which correspond negatively with my puzzle-solving experience.

l When we observe the actions or hear the words of other people, we tend to fill in the gaps with something familiar to us, making the incident fit into our understanding. But the interaction of human beings is much more complicated than a bunch of spots on a page, so there are more factors involved than just what is clearly black or white. But unlike looking at the puzzle page, the scene we come up with is not always pleasing and comprehensible. We would be wise to remember that often, very often, what we are hearing or seeing is not even the truth when all we have are a few "parcels."

l Coming to understand something doesn't mean we can retain that viewpoint. Truth is not necessarily accumulative. Well, some is—like learning how to solve algebraic equations, but some truths like "God will take care of you" have to be accepted, believed, proved, affirmed, learned, re-learned, and doggedly held-onto! Unlike our looking at the illusion puzzle, it is indeed possible to see something other than what we knew to be true in the past. That is why we need to be reminded regularly of what the truth is, through the spoken or written Word of God or by "hearing from God" Himself.

Truth is not an illusion. We are not puzzling out some misleading impression when we seek it. "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship." (John 4:23)

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.


Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Forgiving Seventy Times Seven

I wonder what Peter had in mind when he came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus told him, “but seventy times seven!" (Matthew 18:21,22)

Was Peter at odds with one of the others who were also followers of Jesus? That seems quite possible to me, for Peter was not noted for refinement and gentle conversation. And where did he get the idea that seven occasions of forgiveness would fulfill his obligation? Was it perhaps from the Old Testament laws that prescribed the sacrificial blood, or oil, or water to be sprinkled seven times? Or had he at an earlier time heard Jesus say, "If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it's personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, 'I'm sorry, I won't do it again,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 MSG) Whatever the reason for his question, Jesus gave him an answer that implies, "Stop counting! Just forgive."

To me, it does not seem likely that we will be faced with someone repeating the same hurtful action seven times in one day and apologizing each time for it. (The unrepentant offender is a whole different problem, and in another Scripture, Jesus instructs us how to handle that also.) But what's more apt to happen is our hitting the "replay" button and going over the incident again and again until our mind is muddled and our insides are churning with emotion. Then is the time to ask, "How often must I forgive?"

How often does the remembrance of the hurt come? Forgive that many times.

How often do you think, "But he/she didn't even apologize." Forgive each time.

How often does some anger, righteous and justifiable anger—oh, of course!—surge up? When it does, forgive again.

How often do you wish God would pay them back since He doesn't allow you personally to get even? Forgive, and just go on.

The greatest incentive to forgiving until I've lost count? Jesus isn't keeping track of my failures and blunders and the hurts I've caused Him. "Love keeps no record of being wronged." "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (I Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 4:32 NLT)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Under the Circumstances

We use the idiom frequently: "Under the circumstances, I had to leave," or "Under the circumstances, we were not able to attend" and so forth. We understand it to mean "in this situation" or "given these conditions": or "such being the case." But it is a strange way to express that, don't you think? Under the circumstances? As if something is on top of us, preventing action that we would otherwise take.

And that is what caught my attention: the idea of something being on top of us, perhaps even weighing us down. A spell of foul weather. The bus running late. The grocery store out of my brand of coffee. The toddler who can't go to daycare with the sniffles, or I don't feel so good myself. All of these things are "circumstances"—situations, conditions, cases that we have to deal with. And sometimes they get us down. We get under them.

"Rejoice in the Lord always," the Apostle Paul wrote, and for emphasis he added, "I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:4, 8)

Yes, the weather is terrible, but it is going to clear tomorrow—or by next week, or whenever. Yes, the bus is late, but when it gets here, I'll get warm again—or cool, as the case may be. Yes, my favorite coffee isn't here, so I'll get this smaller can of Brand B to tide me over—or maybe I'll check at another store. Yes, the baby can't go to Wee Care, so Grandma or one of us will give her a lot of TLC today. Yes, I'm sick but I'm not going to make it harder than it has to be by complaining.

I think sometimes we are afraid to look on the positive, hopeful side of things because we are afraid of being accused of being a Pollyanna. If that seems like a problem, just smile and don't say anything about your reason for doing so! Refuse to be under the circumstances!

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Hail to the Chief

This is President's Day in the U.S. Once observed on George Washington's birthday, during the Nixon administration it was designated by many states as Presidents Day to honor all the men who have served in that office

The President's arrival for many public appearances is announced with four ruffles (played by drums) and flourishes (by bugles) and the band playing "Hail to the Chief." The music was composed by James Sanderson around 1810 for verses from Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake: "Hail to the chief, who in triumph advances, Honored and bless'd be the evergreen pine!" It first became associated with American presidents in 1815 when it was played to honor George Washington and the end of the War of 1812. Later, more suitable lyrics were written by Albert Gamse, but they are rarely sung.

Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all.
Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation
In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.

Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander,
This you will do, that's our strong, firm belief.
Hail to the one we selected as commander,
Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!

I realize that not everyone who reads these lines actually believes we are headed toward being a grander nation. You may not have had a part in selecting our President as commander, and you are not ready to pledge cooperation in proud fulfillment. Nevertheless, the Scripture gives us a clear directive. "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)

Some say, "Don't gripe if you didn't vote." Not that I'm in favor of griping, but I think that certainly one doesn't have a right to be griping if they're not praying!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Better Than Diamonds

Someone asked me the other day if I had special plans for Valentine's Day this weekend. When I replied that I did not, she said, "Me neither. I don't need candy, and I don't need flowers, and I don't think anyone is going to be giving me diamonds!"

Although I like candy and flowers and would welcome any given to me, I already have something better than diamonds! "God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds." (Psalm 19:10 MSG)


♦ Better than diamonds because diamonds can be lost or stolen; they can chip or break; they can burn. Mary of Bethany, hanging on the words Jesus spoke, found something which He declared could not be taken from her. The Word of God, hidden in our hearts and practiced in our lives, is indestructible. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35 NIV)

♦ Better than diamonds because most, if not all, diamonds are imperfect. "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7 NLT) To be sure, our understanding of God's instructions is imperfect, but we can rely on the fact that there is unchanging, ultimate Truth and that one day we will see it as it really is. "Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless." (I Corinthians 13:9, 10 NLT)

♦ Better than diamonds because diamonds don't change lives. Countless thousands who believe the Word of God could testify to the difference that faith has made in them. It is not to mere improvement that they would bear witness, but radical life-change. The Word showed the way to freedom in Jesus Christ, brought hope and peace in their times of difficulty, and provided guidance when their way was uncertain.

♦ Better than diamonds because diamonds, contrary to the famous DeBeers ads, are not forever. Twelve precious stones are set into the twelve foundations of the heavenly city; a diamond is not mentioned. That does not mean it couldn't be there, for the identification of some of the stones is uncertain. Whatever the case, any heavenly diamonds are not going to be the same ones that are set in tokens of our earthly loves—rings and bracelets and tiaras. All of these, as precious as they are to us, are worthless baubles when compared to the eternal beauty of the Living Word, ''who being the brightness of [God's] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3 NKJV)

God's Word is better than a diamond! I'm pretty happy even if there's no candy or flowers!

MaryMartha

Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotation marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked NKJV taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Bargaining with God

Although it's possible to find instances in the Bible where people successfully "bargained" with God, unless we're very sure of right standing with Him, it's not really a good idea. Pharaoh of Egypt demonstrates this.

Moses and Aaron appeared before the ruler to inform him that God wanted His people to travel a three-day journey into the wilderness to hold a festival in His honor. "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go."

Pharaoh adamantly refused, even when the men demonstrated their authority by turning Aaron's staff into a serpent and causing the water in the Nile and everywhere else to become blood. But the king's magicians were able to conjure up both these signs, and he was implacable. The two called up frogs from the Nile to swarm the land—even in the ovens and kneading bowls and beds. Ugh! The magicians were able to bring up the frogs too, except there's no record that they could control the creatures and herd them back into the river! When Moses cried out to the Lord, though, the frogs all died and created a terrible stench! Was Pharaoh now persuaded? No way.

Next, gnats (or lice?) infested the entire land, covering animals and people alike. Ugh! The magicians couldn't create living things and had to declare, "This is the finger of God!" Their confession did not move Pharaoh however; he was as hard-hearted and hard-headed as before.

The two men warned Pharaoh of the next disaster to come: flies filling the houses of the Egyptians and covering the ground. Ugh! But this time, a distinction was made. Miraculously there were no flies where the people of God lived. They were spared, while the whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the swarms of flies. At this, Pharaoh relented and
4 began to bargain.

“All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said.
4 “But do it here in this land.” But Moses insisted that wouldn't work. The Egyptians detested the sacrifices to God and might stone the people as they worshipped. "We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, just as he has commanded us.”

Pharaoh offered his second bargaining chip. “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God.
4 But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me.” But no sooner were the flies gone than the king became stubborn again.

It took a deadly disease attacking the Egyptian livestock, festering boils breaking out on people and animals alike, and devastating hail that destroyed the ripening crops and the trees in the land to convince Pharaoh that he had sinned. However, once the disease abated, the boils dried up, and the hail and thunder stopped, he refused again to let the people go.

Locusts descended on the land, devouring whatever was left of plants and trees. One could not even see the ground, the swarm was so great. They overran the palaces and all the homes in Egypt. Ugh! “All right, go and worship the Lord your God. But who exactly will be going with you?”

Moses told him, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.”

Pharaoh retorted, “The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan.
4 Never! Only the men may go and worship the Lord, since that is what you requested.” And he threw them out of the palace. As soon as the locusts were gone, he again refused his permission to leave.

Darkness came over the land, darkness so thick that you could feel it, and people scarcely moved for three days because it was impossible to see. Finally Pharaoh called for the men, “Go and worship the Lord,” he said.
4 “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”

Moses told him that all the livestock must go also—not a hoof left behind—and furthermore, the ruler must provide additional animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord! Pharaoh was enraged. He yelled at Moses, "Get out of here! I’m warning you: never let me see your face again or you're dead!”

Pharaoh was out of chances. The death angel visited every Egyptian family from the palace to the prison, taking the life of every firstborn son. Even the first in the barns and sheep pens died. During the night Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron once more. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone.

4 Go, but bless me as you leave.”

You know the disastrous end of Pharaoh, his troops, his horses and chariots—all drowned in the Red Sea. He thought he would pursue the Israelites and make them return to slavery. He changed his mind one last time to his own destruction. He had bargained with God once too many times.

But we would not be so foolish--

Would we?

MaryMartha

The story of the Exodus is found in the book of Exodus, chapters 7-14. I have used some verses from the New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/pictures

Mile-Pebbles

We call some of the outstanding events of our life "milestones." We were too young to comprehend the significance of some of the early ones, but our families celebrated for us when we took our first steps, when we started school, when we lost our first tooth. Later, in no special order, there were our first jobs, our driver's license, our first car, the first date, graduation from high school and perhaps from college. Marriage for some of us. Our first home. Parenthood maybe. A marked career achievement. A hard-won honor. Retirement. Life has a number of places where we stop and say, "Wow! Look at where I (or we) have been and what we've done!"

But life isn't only about extraordinary occasions. It's mostly about the "nitty-gritty" of day-to-day issues and tough decisions. Yesterday an advertisement in a magazine caught my attention. A financial company wants to help me reach all my milestones—and my mile-pebbles.

No matter where you are on your life-journey, there are still important goals at which to aim. Perhaps you have already arrived at many of the milestones you expected to reach in your lifetime, but don't stop there! Not every goal has to be so lofty that it takes a lifetime to achieve. There are many less-imposing but worthwhile things to do and to be. They don't all have to be momentous milestones.

Celebrate the mile-pebbles too!

MaryMartha

The ad is by Ameriprise Financial in the current issue of Time.
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Spinning Our Wheels

Fresh snow fell during the night, and I was awakened by the sound of a roaring motor on the street near my window. I could hear the whine of spinning wheels, and I knew someone was stuck in the ice and snow. There were only a few inches of snow, not enough to severely "high center" a vehicle, so I decided the person didn't know how to drive in snow or was just too impatient to apply what he/she knew.

Easy does it when you're trying to get unstuck from snow. You have to resist the temptation to give it the gas and try to blast your way through; the hot, spinning tires just make the snow more icy and slippery. Keeping the wheels straight and moving back and forth, back and forth, even just a few inches at a time, usually builds up enough momentum that eventually you can drive out on the snow-packed runway you've created.

How often in life, when things aren't going well, we give in to the desperate feeling that if we just try harder, try harder, try harder something will happen. But sometimes we are only spinning our wheels. We are not making headway by simply repeating what we have already been doing, except with greater intensity. Especially if our attempts to get "unstuck" involve personal encounters, the others involved are likely to feel our impatience, frustration, and anger. They might even think it is directed at them, burying us still further in the troubling situation.

Easy does it. Gently move forward a tiny bit at a time. When you meet resistance but before you start "spinning your wheels," back up just a little, then try moving forward again slowly. Whether you're snowed in by snow or snowed under by the things and people you're dealing with, spinning your wheels only makes thing worse. Getting unstuck is an exercise in wisdom and restraint.

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Developing in the Dark

I remember my first camera: a Baby Brownie Special by Kodak, an absolute wonder of technology! It was tiny; it took 1-5/8 inch by 2-1/2 pictures on a roll of 127 film. The camera was molded Bakelite (a plastic now found only in collectible items), with a white push-button shutter release and a white film winder knob contrasting smartly with the sleek black body. A braided handle completed the stylish look! I was only ten or twelve, and easily impressed, I suppose!

When the whole roll of film had been exposed—I knew this by peering into the little red window in the back—I rolled it back onto the spool, and my mother or someone took it to the photo shop for developing. In a week or so (or whenever the next trip to town took place), I held in my hand the eight little photographs of my brothers, the dog, the cow barn, and grandma and grandpa at their house, their likenesses preserved forever!

Eventually I moved up to a slightly better camera, but still just a box that took black-and-white pictures. I enrolled in an elective photography class in high school. In the darkroom, in complete blackout, I rolled exposed film into a light-tight canister and poured the developer in. After the prescribed time elapsed, I clipped the negatives up to a line to dry and later printed the photos or cropped and enlarged them with only a faint red light in the room. Mostly I worked in the dark to produce my work.

Sometimes life is like that. Everything is bright and sunny for a time. All is well, and we suppose this is how things are going to be now. But sometimes we have to work in the dark. In fact, that is often how God accomplishes His purposes. We don't stay in the dark always, for He leads us in the way of light. But sometimes while something is "developing," we have to wait without seeing clearly. The children of Israel were guided along their wilderness trek by the cloud of God's presence. God was in the dark cloud that covered the mountain as He issued the Ten Commandments. When Moses went to the Tent of Meeting to speak with God, a cloud covered the entrance. When the Tabernacle for worship was set up, a cloud of God hovered over the place of atonement which covered the Ark. When Solomon's temple was dedicated a great cloud filled it. When Jesus gave up His life on the Cross, darkness filled the land.

"He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies." (Psalm 18:11 NKJV) Know that when the process of "developing" and "enlarging" is finished, something of lasting value will have been worked into your life.

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Art from http://www.brownie-camera.com/manuals/babybspecial/index.shtml

Sad Words

You are probably familiar with these lines about sad words. "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' ” (Maud Miller, John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892) Francis Bret Harte's response to that, in Mrs. Judge Jenkins, is "More sad are these we daily see: 'It is, but hadn’t ought to be.' "

We may get caught in this sadness if we repeat to ourselves over and over, "If only . . . " When children play games, they sometimes extend grace to one another in the form of a do-over, offering another chance to do it right or at least better. Life seldom offers us do-overs, although many times an unlearned lesson is repeated in a somewhat different form; then if we are able to see the similarity and make some changes in our responses to the situation, we may see a happier outcome. Whether we get that opportunity or not, we aren't benefited with too much looking back and lamenting, "If only . . . If we are to enjoy the full use of our mental powers, we cannot re-live the past as if it were today.

It is equally sad to ruin our hopes for what lies ahead by fearfully wondering, "What if . . ." If we were to spend every waking hour imagining our future, we still could not consider every contingency; there are just too many variables. Unless we are actively solving a problem that is certain to present itself, we are borrowing trouble. Jesus reminded us not to do that with these words, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matthew 6:34) Try as we might, we cannot live the future as if it were today.

So that leaves us with the NOW. "Yesterday is history," someone has said. "Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift, and that's why it is called the present."

Live your present to the fullest!

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Quotes of Whittier and Harte from http://www.bartleby.com/100/439.html

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

A Dangerous Trap

Only moments before, Jesus' disciple Peter had declared, "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." For this understanding, Jesus commended him, "You are blessed because this was not revealed to you by any human being, but by my Heavenly Father." Then the Lord began to tell His followers that He must go to Jerusalem where He would suffer and die.

Now Peter took Jesus aside and remonstrated Him. I can just see him swelling up and saying something like, "This won't happen to You! Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 6:23 NLT) Commentators agree that Jesus did not call his friend "Satan." Instead, He recognized in Peter's brash words the devil's attempt to lure Him away from His purpose. This was nothing new: the same Tempter had used the same tactic in the wilderness, "If You are the Son of God, prove Yourself!" And Jesus' answer was the same, "Get out of here, Satan!"

The problem which led to the stern rebuke Peter received was that he was operating out of his natural inclinations. His forgetfulness or his carelessness or his excess of kindness was causing him to see things merely from a human point of view. Of course because we are human, we are going to see things from a human standpoint. But that should not be the only way to look at them. We do have to face the realities of life; we cannot escape difficulties by denying their existence. But to see them only as human problems which must be solved by human efforts is a dangerous trap. It makes us feel like our problem may be the end of the world as we know it! It makes us wonder if our struggle is worth it, or should we just admit defeat? It makes us forget to look for the purpose God may be working through what we are experiencing.

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (II Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/