Labor Day

This is Labor Day in the U.S., observed with a Monday holiday, making a welcome three-day weekend for working people.

There are some people who believe work is part of the curse laid on mankind for Adam’s part in disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden. They don’t like the fact that we have to work; it is bad. But there’s good evidence against this.

If you think about the “bad” things that are personally carried out, you come to the conclusion that they’re done by people when they are not working, at least, not working honestly. The death rate for people who stop doing anything productive, particularly after early retirement, is alarming. Work is a good thing!

Work was invented by God. Adam and Eve tended the Garden He had planted, and took some responsibility for the animals; that is, they worked. This was while they were still in their perfect sinless environment, not as a result of sin. It was part of God’s plan. God did not curse Adam, but the ground itself so that it would be productive only through difficulty. Most of us no longer make our living directly from the earth; by extension, this hardship means, for many, keeping a distasteful job that they hate but have to maintain.

This would be a good day to thank God for inventing work as a way to guard and guide us. It would be a good day for gratitude if you have a job. It would be a good day to pray for the unemployed who would labor if they could.

MaryMartha

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

Water for the Thirsty

Kansas has had an exceptionally hot and dry summer. Where I live, we entered the season with a rain deficit from early spring, and had almost no rain in July. I tried to water the plantings next to the house enough to stay green, but I had a “KFC” lawn—extra-crispy.

We finally had some rain about a week ago. I was so excited and grateful, I opened the window and let it blow in on my face! Even with that limited moisture, the grass greened up and began to look alive again. The birds and squirrels whose ready access to water had been limited to the little pool I provided for them, drank from rivers flowing in the gutters. (Although that didn’t last long!)

I am reminded how vital water is, and how much I use it. Fortunately, our City has adequate sources of suitable water, and our use was not curtailed except voluntarily. I try not to waste it carelessly though, recognizing that over a billion people throughout the world lack access to clean water in sufficient supply. (U.S. Center for Disease Control)

When I think of our need for water, I think too of the Water of Life. It is always in abundant supply. Jesus promised, “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6 NLT) There is a thirst in the human heart that He is ready to quench, and that only He can!

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.

Who Will Be King?



Buckingham Palace

 When the royal wedding between Prince William and Katherine took place last spring, some interesting thoughts occurred to me about inheriting the throne. Using the common names by which we know them rather than their formal names, the succession is this:

1. Queen Elizabeth, presently reigning

2. Elizabeth’s oldest son with Philip, Charles,

3. Charles’ oldest son with Diana, William,

4. William’s oldest son, then younger sons; otherwise oldest daughter, then younger daughters. BUT if no heirs are born, Henry (“Harry”) if still living or his oldest son could succeed his brother.

The point that  most interested me was who got left out by the sheer accident of birth order. Elizabeth had a younger sister Margaret, now deceased, but her son is presently fourteenth in the line of succession and will soon be pushed further down by the arrival of heirs born to the eldest child of the eldest child of the eldest child, and so on. Elizabeth has two other sons, and Charles and Diana had another son, “Harry.” These men have less claim to the throne than the younger sons that William might have. Furthermore, no matter how many people might prefer William over Charles as their sovereign, that is not how it works! After Elizabeth, Charles will be king, unless he precedes the Queen in death or he chooses not to serve. There is no official list of those who are line to succeed, but researchers suggest that there are several thousand people potentially in line for the throne! It’s not going to happen!

No amount of wishing it were different is going to change this order which has been established by descent and by law. How wonderful it is then that entering the royal family of Heaven’s King is a simple matter of choice! “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5, 6)

No one is left out of the royal lineage, all are welcome to join in succeeding to the throne! “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (The Christ in Revelation 3:21)

Amazing!

Mary Martha

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A Prosperous New Year

We are only a few days into 2011 and still hear wishes for a “Happy and Prosperous New Year.” I am nearly always reminded that what we consider “prosperous” may not be the same as God's idea at all! He has a different view, you know, about what constitutes time, riches, health, and yes, prosperity too.

When Joshua was chosen by God to lead the Israelites after Moses' death, he received strong words of commissioning. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:7, 8) It is obvious from the context of God's words about prospering that He did not mean career success as we think of it. He did not mean wealth or fame, either.

How does God see that promise of prosperity? My Strong's Concordance gives some insight by defining the term as profitable, suitable, skillful, to be an expert, to guide wisely. Doesn't that describe how Joshua took on the task of leading the people?

Nor is it enough to just wish for this to happen. Joshua had a part to play; we do too. Be strong! Be courageous. Keep the laws of God by meditating on them and then doing them! That is our responsibility. Then as God prospered Joshua, He will also prosper us in the New Year. He would help us to be wise, skillful Christians! Expert Christians! Profitable to the Kingdom!

Happy and Prosperous New Year to you!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation 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.

Why Me?

This morning I was listening to a Christmas song that pictured Mary, the mother of Jesus, as gentle and humble. I'm sure this was true, as it was of many other young Jewish girls of that time. I wondered, then what was special about Mary that God chose her to bear the Savior of the world?

Perhaps that is the point. As far as we know, Mary was an ordinary young woman, very much like many other girls; she was not chosen on the basis of being special. The shepherds too, were ordinary, or perhaps even a bit below ordinary. What a wonderful thing it is that God chose to clothe His Son in ordinary human flesh, born into an ordinary family—although under quite unusual circumstances. Then His gift to humanity was announced to less-than-ordinary people—although in a remarkable way. Any of these people who were just ordinary might have wondered, “Why me? I'm not special.” This part of Christmas is a mystery, but it is a wonder and a delight

Sometimes I wonder myself. “Why me? Why did I hear the Gospel as a child and receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior? Why have I been privileged to understand the beauty and holiness of the Christmas message? Why do I have shelter and food and clothing? Why me, when so much of the world is without?” This part of my life is a mystery, but I am filled with wonder and gratitude.

MaryMartha

The Last Leaf

If I had my choice—which , of course, I don't—I would choose my final season to occur in October—not that I plan for that any time soon! This is my favorite month. I was born in May, a suitable season for life and growth, and it seems to me that the end of life would be appropriate in autumn, the season of harvest and rejoicing.

Leo Buscaglia has written a lovely children's book, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, which tells a story for readers of all ages. It goes something like this:

Freddie and hundreds of other leaves shared life on a tall tree in the park where children played and old people came to sit in the shade and families spread out picnics on checkered tablecloths. But Spring breezes passed as did Summer sun and rain. It was October, and one night everything was covered with a thin layer of white which melted in the morning. Freddie's wise friend explained that the frost signaled the end of summer and the arrival of Fall.

Soon all the leaves began to turn other colors besides green: deep yellow, purple, bright orange or red. And then the breezes that earlier had caused them to dance now pulled on their stems until they were swept away from the tree and dropped softly to the ground.  "What's happening?" they all wondered.

The big old leaf explained that this happens to leaves in the Fall; it's time for them to change their home. "Some people call it to die," he said.

"I'm afraid to die," Freddie admitted to his friend. "I don't know what's down there."

"We all fear what we do not know. You were not afraid when Spring became summer or when Summer became Fall. You do not need to be afraid of this new season."

"Then what is the reason for all this? Why were we here if we are only going to fall and die?"

"It's been about purpose," Freddie's friend explained. "It's been about happy times in the sunlight and under the moon's glow. It's been for old people and children and families under our shade. It's been about colors in the Fall. That's enough."

For a little while, Freddie was all alone on the branch, and then the snow fell and he drifted quietly down and landed softly on the white ground. It didn't hurt at all. And for the first time, he could see the whole tree. He knew that he had been a part of its strong, lasting life. And it made him proud!

The leaf analogy can be carried only so far; it fails when it comes to resurrection and eternal life. But I find that it sweetly addresses the autumn season of life, and the confidence we have that all is well for us!

MaryMartha

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

God Loves

God loves fiercely—always has, always will. Imagine this heavenly conversation:

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

The iridescent blue orb called Earth hung like a jeweled pendant in the dark velvet of space. If One looked through the atmosphere that encased the globe, He could see that it was already teeming with life: fish in the seas, birds in the air, all kinds of creeping and walking creatures on the dry land.

"Yes, it is. It's all quite good, but—" He paused.

"I know. It isn't finished yet, is it?"

"True. It isn't finished yet."

They waited.

"Let us make mankind," One said. "Make him in our image! We will provide for him, nurture him, and most of all, love him!"

"Yes, oh yes! But wait! You said 'in our image'?"

"Yes, according to our own likeness."

"We would give him a will? He could choose?"

"Yes."

"But—but he may not love us back!"

"Yes, he may not."

They waited again.

"We should make man," One finally said, "and we should make him with a heart like ours—a heart to will, to create, to love and be loved."

"We know what will happen . . . " The sad statement hung in the air, unended.

"Yes, we know. But some will turn their hearts toward us. And they are worth it."

"Oh yes!  I would rather die than live without them."

And so the work of creation, including the making of mankind, was finished.

You would think that we would love God fiercely in return, wouldn't you? Sometimes we do.

Often we do not.

MaryMartha

God's Way of Working

God so desperately wants people to get the message of His love, that He packages it in visible ways. In His created world, in the written Scriptures, most of all in His son Jesus, and finally in us when we demonstrate the genuine characteristics of the Family.

"All this [newness of life] comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you." (II Corinthians 5:18-20)

►The best way to win people to God's love is to love them yourself.

►The best way to convince people that God accepts them is for you to accept them.

►The best way to assure people that God cares for them is for you to care.

►The best way to persuade people that God will forgive them is for them to experience your forgiveness.

What is your attitude toward someone who has offended you?

"Heal my wound," or

"Be reconciled to God."

"Make good the loss I've suffered," or

"Make things right with God."

"I give up," or
"There is great, good hope for you."

"Mercy for me but justice for you," or

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

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/

Vessels of God

The summer my daughter was too old to go to the Latchkey program at school and too young to get a job, we decided to enroll in a ceramics class together. We shared our clay and tools and our successes and failures. We didn't become good artists, but we did have some good times together! I have a very tall pot from that summer, about eighteen inches tall, that my daughter made by the coil method. I have a single mug left from my own early attempts to form something on the wheel. All of my efforts ended up about teacup size because I never did develop the touch that was required to build height in a pot.

There are a lot of things we can learn from the potter and how she works with the clay, lessons which we can readily transfer to our experience of God working with us. There is the beating that the clay takes to work the air out of it before it is placed on the wheel. There are the sharp instruments that dig out any imperfections that come to the surface. There is the dizzying whirl of the wheel itself, and the constant drip of water onto the work in progress. Sometimes there is piercing or etching to form designs or to inscribe the artist's name in the wet clay. All of that has meaning for our lives, but I especially want to note something about pressure.

One craftswoman described her work like this:

"Both my hands shaped this pot. And the place where it actually forms is a place of tension between the pressure applied from the outside and the pressure of the hand on the inside." She goes on to explain that that's the way life is. Sadness and death and financial problems and misfortune and failure—all these are things that influence our lives from the outside, even though we don't choose them. But there are things at work on the inside of us too, if we are women who have given our lives to God. Confidence in a faithful God is there, and things I can believe about myself because I know that He loves me, and the affirmation and support of friends. My life, like the finished pot off the wheel is the result of what happened on the outside and what was going on inside of me. Life, like the pot, comes into being in places of tension.

Throughout our days, we may be buffeted by stress, pulled by responsibilities, pressed by challenges that come to us from the outside. Unless we have strength of spirit on the inside, those difficulties will cause us to collapse under the external pressure. (Like most of my pots did!) Prayer, uplifting music, the Word of God, fellowship with other Christians—these help us to be renewed and restored within. Then when things press from the outside, when difficulties overwhelm us or we are wearied with the ordinariness of life, we are strong enough on the inside to hold our shape. We become sturdy, useful, and beautiful vessels in the household of God.

And news with great hope! God remakes vessels too, if we will be pliable in His hands. At the potter's house, the prophet Jeremiah saw what happens when a pot doesn't turn out right. "So he made it again another vessel." (See Jeremiah 18:1-4)

Probably there are very few of us who are exactly the vessel we originally thought we would become. We've been marred by our disappointments and our mistaken plans and even our failures. But our lives are not defined by our limiting influences: a handicap, a crippling emotion, a troubled family background (or a troubled situation in the home right now), a bad decision made in the past, a failure, shame over a personal or family "secret," lack of education, a child born at an inconvenient time, whatever!

From the point where we are now, we're likely never to become what we were so sure we would one day be! That's all right. It doesn't matter to God. He has a plan, and He's not wasting any time lamenting about what might have been. He's busy making another vessel. HE HAS A PLAN! He sees each of us as a beautiful, useful vessel of honor. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

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/

Is God Necessary?

I read today in a news item that two eminent scientists have authored a new book arguing that the idea of a Creator-God is redundant. Because of natural laws such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason the world exists and why we are here! It is not necessary, they claim, to invoke God into the process.

"In the beginning, GOD .  .  .  "

Since I have not read their book, I don't know whether the authors say there is no God, or just that He isn't necessary. But in the very first place, the vast nothingness of space was formed by Him! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." (Genesis 1:1, 2 NLT) God began speaking His "Let there be . . ." commands, and lo! something did come from nothing! No God necessary for creation? I cannot stretch my imagination that far.

Voltaire was a French philosopher and prolific writer living 1694-1778. He was sometimes critical of the Church and organized religion; nevertheless, he stated, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to create him." We need God. He put it all together, and He is the One who holds it together! "We look at this Son [Christ] and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." (Colossians 1:15-18 MSG)

Many scientists have for a long time been trying to explain the mystery of the universe's creation without recourse to a Divine Creator. With a collection of overlapping theories, they think they are approaching the secret of "the grand design," filling in many—but not all, they admit—of the blank spots.

But anyway, doesn't a grand design imply a Designer?

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/

Things Mama Taught Me - "Answer When I Call"

Sometimes people respond to the calling of their name with the truncated answer, "What--" Given the downward inflection of the word, they are apt to seem impatient or uncaring, as if saying, "What do you want now?" even though they probably do not intend to give that impression. "Yes?" is a more pleasant answer, as if one were expectant and ready to serve.

We used to sing:

When He calls me, I will answer,
When He calls me, I will obey,
When He calls me, I will answer.
I'll be somewhere listening for my name.

How different the grudging, "What. Well, all right," from actually listening for God's call! Sometimes He calls with a Scripture verse that speaks to our hearts, "This is for you." Sometimes with the reminder of something which needs our attention that we have left undone. Sometimes with an idea that we are charged with implementing. He calls if we are listening for our name.

But don't wait for it come on an amplified sound system.

MaryMartha

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

God Is Approachable

One of a series on "God's Endearing Personality:

Before they sinned, Adam and Eve loved to hear the sound of God walking through the Garden. After the day's work was finished and they had eaten supper—I imagine—they went out into the cool shadows, unafraid, and talked with their Great Friend.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve did not alter God's intention to fellowship with His human creation. God did not change, but they did. God still loved them and yearned for the return of their love, but they were afraid to approach Him. And thus it has always been: sin separates us from God, although His desire for relationship with us remains the same. He is never far away, but the fact of our rebellious humanness—we are just like Adam—keeps us from acknowledging and enjoying His presence.

"Come close to God," His Word says, "and He will come close to you." (James 4:8) How do we achieve that? We depend on the new and living Way, Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial life and death, we who were once far away are brought near to Him. (Ephesians 2:13) The writer to the Hebrews urged that we go so far as even to approach boldly. (4:16)

This is what the God wants! "Boldly" does not mean we come rudely or with pride. But we are to come confidently, much like the mothers who brought their little ones to Jesus for His blessing. Yes, God is the awesome Creator. He is the King to be honored and the Judge to be respected. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, eternal and everlasting. But He is, above all, Love, waiting for us to draw close to Him.

MaryMartha

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

Vision

I have a section of curbside yard that I have wanted, for years, to see transformed into something special to look at. These often-arid strips are actually city property, but homeowners are expected to care for what grows there. I had assorted grasses, none of which thrived, and weeds. That's why these sections are frequently called hell strips; they are "impossible." This was the year to do something about the situation. It was going to take heavy-duty work, more than I am able to do: rototilling, leveling, installing edging, digging holes for the plants, laying weed barrier, covering the surface with a couple tons of pebbles and two large rocks. I called in a crew from the garden center.

When the landscape planner came to arrange the work, I told him I wanted the area to be bright and beautiful but there had to be tough plants that could tolerate some "neglect." He looked it over. "Well, I see yarrow here," he said. "About three brown-eyed Susans here, some Stella de Oro daylilies—I really like those—and probably over there an Autumn Joy sedum," and so on. I am not gifted with the insight to see what an area will look like when the plants are mature and blooming. But this experienced designer said several times, "I can see . . ." He had a vision of what could be.

God's people need vision—not necessarily visions of a supernatural sense—but vision that can see what is not yet visible! In the spiritual realm, the things that have validity are those which are unseen by our human eyes. "We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18) God lives in the Eternal Present, and He speaks of those things which do not "exist" (in our temporal scheme of things) as though they did. (See Romans 4:17)

Like "father" Abraham, we need the trust in God that sees past the impossible to what can be and what, in God's eyes, already is.

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.sxc.hu/

The Good and the Not-So-Good

In my shaded front yard, there is some grass that is stubborn enough to try growing where in a few more days there will be almost no sunshine. Even wild violets and white clover (weeds to real lawn people) are more desirable, I think, than the weedy grass that sticks up more than a foot above anything else. I have elected to deal with it by grubbing it out by hand. Wouldn't it be easier to spray the whole area with Roundup and start over? Yes, it might, but there are some things growing—like the vinca minor I planted as ground cover last year, and the violets and clover until I'm ready to replace them. I don't want to destroy what I've already done by getting rid of everything.

That reminded me of Jesus' parable about the tares (weeds) and wheat:

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

The farmer’s workers went to him and said, "Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?"

"An enemy has done this!" the farmer exclaimed.

“Should we pull out the weeds?" they asked.

“No," he replied, "you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” Matthew 13:24-30)

The problems in our society are so obvious and so serious that some people would like to just pull up our educational system, our politicized government, and even our religious institutions by their roots. As it is now, they believe, things are hopeless. But the result of such action—were it even possible—would be sheer chaos. No, we sometimes have to let the "weeds" grow too or else we will destroy what is good and necessary in our effort to eliminate the undesirable.

God will eventually sort out the weeds. We can trust Him with that job.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation 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.

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

The Reasonable God

Sometimes in the Old Testament stories of God's dealings with His people there are little glimpses of His character tucked into the narrative. I have no idea how many times I've read the instructions for worship that God gave to the priests and the people, but re-reading again the other day I discovered one such revealing light.

The children of Israel had now been out of Egypt for a year, and God told Moses it was time to celebrate the Passover—the "passing-over" by the Angel of Death. One of the regulations was that touching a dead body made one ceremonially unclean and thus not able to participate in the worship celebration.

But there were some men among them who had touched a dead body; perhaps they had just buried a loved one, or attended someone whose illness resulted in death. There was not time for them to fulfill the proper procedure for cleansing. They came to Moses and Aaron with their dilemma. "We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting our Passover offerings at the proper time with all the rest of our people?"

Moses answered, "Wait here while I go ask the Lord about this."

And this was what God replied. "Any people now—or in future generations—who are ceremonially unclean because they have touched a dead body may still celebrate the Lord's Passover. Or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they too may participate. Their celebration can be held one month later, on the same day and in the very same way. But those who are present and able must follow the normal regulations." (This story is in Numbers 9.) I was struck with how reasonable God was to make this arrangement for those who desired to keep His law, but were prevented from doing so by circumstances they couldn't help.

Considering God "reasonable" doesn't mean that I think we can understand Him. His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not like His. But He is compassionate towards us, providing ways for us to make right our shortcomings. "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (I John 2:1)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation 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.

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

God's Finest Creation

Edit 4/21/10: Having seen the billboard again, I realize that it states "God's Finest Creation . . . " instead of "Greatest" and have edited this entry accordingingly.

I saw a large billboard the other day, installed by our state pro-life organization. It pictured a happy, adorable child, and the message was, "God's finest creation—a baby!"

Babies really are miracles. With all the things that can possibly go wrong, it's a miracle that healthy babies are born every day! With all the perils of childhood, it's another miracle that they grow into adults who can then perpetuate the race!

But I don't think they are absolutely God's finest creation. (Please don't accuse me of being anti-baby—I love 'em!) But God doesn't have to make a separate creation of each of the new babies, little Adam's and Eve's made from clay or ribs. Human beings, like the rest of God's bio-creation, have reproduction as part of the Divine plan, and they are capable of "bringing forth according to [their] kind." Life itself is certainly a gift of God, but it does not take special action on His part to begin its formation, in fact, it often happens quite unintentionally!


The greater creation, I think, begins with the second birth. For each "baby Christian" born into the kingdom of God, it is a miracle of being re-created. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (II Corinthians 5:17 NIV) No amount of hoping and planning results in the new birth, and neither are people accidentally brought into the Kingdom. "They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." (John 1:13 NLT) It's a miracle of love and grace—God's finest creation!


MaryMartha


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 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.

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

More Pruning

I have been pruning my old rose bush this morning. It is the size of a small tree, much taller than I—although that's not saying a whole lot! I've never see a bush (tree?) quite like it, loaded throughout the summer with pink blooms. Because it is so tall and so wide, I've never given it much care other than to cut off the long canes that were in the way when mowing. Today I decided to do some real pruning. I cut out a lot of dead branches, and some green ones too because they tangled with others. A third of the bush, perhaps, is gone now.

It isn't easy for me cut away living parts of plants. "I'm cutting off future flowers," I tell myself. "This twig is alive. So what it it's in the way? It might be beautiful eventually."

Then I remember: If I want more of that same satisfying beauty from the bush, it is important to free the plant’s growth energies. Removing the old and tired makes way for the new and fresh.

Gardening speaks God’s truth to me. Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” Much fruit, He said, or lots and lots of roses in the garden of my life. And does Jesus come walking through to prune the plants there, removing what is old and faded and drooping? Indeed, He does! "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2)

I could understand if the Lord of my life lopped off the branches that aren’t bearing anything. That makes sense. But having fruit-bearing branches pruned is painful, and I've been known to argue!

-- “Lord, You were with me from the beginning of this project, weren't you? Why should I now turn it over to someone else, just when I’m beginning to see the results of my effort?”

-- “Lord, I’ve been involved for a long time now in this part of Your work. What will people think if I tell them I have shifted some of my priorities and I’m not able to serve in this particular way any longer?”

-- “Lord, You gave this work to me. What's the matter? Why aren’t You pleased?”

Then He reminds me, “I am not unhappy with what your life has produced. I am pleased with your love and service. I'm only encouraging further production!”

He'd like more roses, if you will. So then, I gladly trust my life to the Lord of Gardens. (He planted the very first one, after all.) He alone knows how to produce beauty and abundance in my life.

MaryMartha

You might enjoy reading "Pruning" here.

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/

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

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/

Recovery Specialists

A few weeks ago, this area of our state endured a really cold winter blast lasting several days. Night temperatures were below zero and daytime's were only a few degrees above. The water company warned customers to protect the pipes in their homes and businesses, but for some people that caution was too little or too late.

On my way home from work one afternoon, I saw two large trucks parked outside the home of a neighbor down the street. "Recovery Specialists" was lettered on the vehicles, and I re-constructed the scenario. Pipes froze and burst during the extreme cold, then when warmer days returned so did the flow of water: soaking the floor, dripping through the ceilings perhaps, ruining carpets and damaging the owner's possessions. What a mess!

I have been thinking about the ultimate recovery specialist. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18, 19) The world needs a recovery specialist. As first created, it was good; God declared that it was. But because the people He formed in His own image had choices, the possibility of things going wrong existed. And they did. Knowing this would happen, God planned from the very beginning to provide the way to recover what was damaged. He would send His Son.

Not only the world in general, but people as individuals need the recovery specialist. We need the Good News of salvation that Jesus brought. We need release from our bondages, understanding for our blind spots, freedom from the things that overburden us. We need to experience God's favor, seeing Him through the Son as our loving Father. We are not equipped to do this on our own. We need to call in the "specialist."

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. (Psalm 86:1-7, 11-13)

He is always ready to respond. No extra charge for nights or weekends.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations 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.

Art from http://wwwlsxc.hu/