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.

Supply for My Need

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV) We love to quote this verse, because it assures us that God will take care of us. But something that I had never noticed before: The promise is in the future tense! That tells me that some things I need and ask for may come later rather than sooner.

Besides, sometimes I have to feel a need keenly so that I will recognize and appreciate the gift when it comes!

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/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Add Just Enough . . . "

I'm sure many of you had a mother—or grandmother—who reigned in the kitchen without using a cookbook. Familiar food dishes were prepared without referring to any recipe; the cook just put things together in her own time-honored way and it seemed always to turn out splendidly!

I wanted to learn how to make pie crust like my Mom made, pliable enough to be pressed into high fluted edges, baking up crisp but tender and flakey. Okay, I had lard (a permitted ingredient in those days!), flour, and salt. "Now add cold water a little bit at a time until it feels right."

Can I help it if your mouth is watering?

Until it feels right? How was a beginning pie-maker to know when it felt right? I never did learn. To this day I rely on refrigerated crusts or resort to making a crumb one and pretend that's what the recipe called for!

"Just enough." It's not only in making pie crust that we have not learned very well what that means. Many aspects of our American culture rely for success on our penchant for excess. We drive cars with far too much horsepower, we eat restaurant meals that would feed several people, we trade in electronic gadgets that work just fine for bigger ones with more capabilities than we know how to use, we have closets full of clothes and shoes we never wear. We hardly ever feel we have "enough."

Books, articles in magazines, and items on the Internet give lots of ideas about making it through the continuing economic downturn. The one that appealed to me as the wisest was this: Be satisfied with less.

Learning to be content is not a new idea. The Apostle Paul tells us, in his letter to the church at Philippi, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (4:12, 13) While we often quote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," this Scripture applies most directly to being content, learning to be happy with much or little, knowing what it just enough.

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/

Come to the Water

As soon as I turned on the lawn sprinkler to water some newly-planted seeds, a blue jay sat in the tree above the garden area, and issued a stream of loud calls. Soon after he flew away, a number of birds of various kinds arrived to shower and have a good, long drink. Were his calls an alert to his friends and neighbors that he had spotted the location of some cool water on that hot day? It seems so.

That reminded me that we are given the privilege and responsibility of spreading the message, "Come to the water." " 'Come!' say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, 'Come!' Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, Drink freely of the Water of Life!" (Revelation 22:17) All around us are people who need to know that there is a place of peace and refreshing. We have discovered it ourselves, and we can invite them, "Come! There's water here. I've found it!"

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/

Giving and Keeping

One of the important principles of Christian stewardship is that of "flow." We talk about cash flow in our budget or about the flow of goods from one country to another. The word implies that is a movement, not a static condition. Jesus was talking about "flow" when He taught, "Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:38 MSG)

Jesus also told a parable about a rich man whose ground yielded such bountiful crops that he ran out of storage space. " 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' " (Luke 12:18, 19 MSG)

The farmer had successfully provided what seemed to him all he would ever need. He failed, however, to consider one important factor: he could not guarantee a life long enough to enjoy all the goods he had amassed. Life itself was not something he owned and controlled.

Is enjoying "ownership" of things not acceptable? Is it wrong to have a savings program? Is acquiring a valuable collect of certain objects unspiritual? Should one refuse to prepare for retirement years ahead? No, that is not the point of this story at all. The warning, Jesus said, is this: “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12:15 NLT) It is a wrong attitude, more than an action, that He holds up for reproach.

Balancing this part of the life of faith is difficult for many Christians. Some are inclined to give too little and hold on to too much. There are others who would give too much and invest too little in their own self-care.

A Persian lyric poet of the 13th century wrote, and his words have become some of my favorite. They express so well how important the latter is:

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store
two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

--Muslih-uddin Saadi Shirazi

And furthermore, you may share both your bread and your hyacinths with another needy person! Finding the balance is not a once-and-for-all achievement, but a process whereby giving is cheerful and keeping to use is joyful!

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. Scriptures marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Clean Your Plate"

Doctors and nutritionists who are concerned about obese Americans no longer think eating everything on our plate was such a good idea. That was probably the start for many people of habitually eating beyond the satisfaction of their hunger. "Waste not, want not," was a stern lesson learned during Depression days by our parents or grandparents, and leaving food on one's plate was careless and wasteful.

A book I've just read with "rules" about food and eating suggests that I practice not cleaning my plate as I was taught, but instead leaving a few morsels so as to eat less and to develop self-control. As a matter of fact, not eating everything is an extremely important courtesy in some cultures to show that the host has provided adequately and the guest does not need to be served more food. Although we are not as concerned as some, it actually makes a lot of sense to give this visual signal to those who would press additional food on us.

Thinking of food and self-control and realizing again the significance of fasting during Lent, I saw in a new light the significance of not cleaning my plate. Could it be a mini-fast, a small reminder of how many people in the world are hungry? "Think of all the children in China who would like to have what you are leaving on your plate," my mother would tell me—as if my eating all of it would somehow fill their bellies. But there was more to it than that. I think her intention, besides curbing wastefulness, was to raise my awareness of the abundance I had while many others suffered lack.

Cleaning my plate down to the shine has become an ingrained habit through the years, so that it no longer has any connection at all with the hunger of many others in the world. I am wondering if not cleaning my plate might remind me of their need. "If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday." (Isaiah 58:10)


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 Marvels of Spring

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.' (Song of Solomon 2:11 NKJV)

Although the calendar says that the official beginning of spring is more than a week away, the crocuses know better, as do the robins and turtledoves. These harbingers of spring have been at it two weeks already, telling me what I am ever so ready to hear!

This city's 43rd annual Garden Show was held this past weekend. The highlight for me was the gardens. Tons of dirt and rock were hauled in during the preceding days to create spectacular "great" gardens, mid gardens, small gardens, and mini-gardens. Waterfalls and a koi pond, rock walls and flowering trees, live owls and an eagle, pussy willows and pansies, hyacinth and hosta. What a varied display of the talents of our local gardeners and nursery owners!

Of course, all of this was enclosed in our civic center. A few feet away from the exotic gardens was bare floor. The trees and flowers basked, not in the sun but in floodlights. The grass was watered by a sprinkler system and the ponds were filled with a hose. It was all beautiful, but only temporary. Nothing could last indefinitely in that artificial setting.

What a grand earth God has given us to enjoy where the flowers and birds are a natural part of the creation in the springtime! Winter was sometimes difficult with sidewalks to shovel, icy streets to drive through, and sitters to find when the schools were closed. But winter had its beauty too—bare trees made furry by a freezing fog, the tracks wild creatures left in the snow, and the warmth and safe feeling of home.

"Who do you suppose carves canyons for the downpours of rain, and charts the route of thunderstorms that bring water to unvisited fields, deserts no one ever lays eyes on,drenching the useless wastelands so they're carpeted with wildflowers and grass?And who do you think is the father of rain and dew, the mother of ice and frost? You don't for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you? (Job 38:25-30 MSG)

MaryMartha

Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. 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/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Watch for Cars"

Since I lived in a rural area instead of in the city, my mother's warning was not "Look both ways before you cross the street." It was "Watch for cars," because along the country roads, cars and trucks could whiz by at kid-endangering speeds. Of course, if we were out on the road for some reason, the chances are good that the day was sunny and dry, in which case, one was usually forewarned by the billowing dust that could be seen half a mile away.

The whole point of mothers giving their children these warnings is that they must watch out for things that can run over them, things that are bigger than they are. When children are still very young, Mother may decide that they are not big enough to be out there alone, and they cannot go unless they are holding somebody's hand. (Although closer to the truth is somebody holds theirs.)

That could be seen as defining life in today's world. There are things out there bigger than we are. There are things that can hurt us, even "run us over"! We have to watch out for them, because they may not be watching out for us unless, unfortunately, they intend to catch us unawares; that can happen too. We need to be holding onto Someone's hand, although the truth is, we need Him to hold ours since we might accidentally let go.

Our great Protector and Guide and Friend says, "I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.' " (Isaiah 41:13)

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.

http:www.sxc.hu/ http:www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures

Seeing Rainbows

An airplane traveler commented that while flying high above the earth, she had seen the unusual sight of a full-circle rainbow. Rainbows are created, we know, when the sun shines through water droplets, breaking the light into its differing wave lengths which we see as colors. In order to see the whole rainbow (the full circle), one has to be high enough that the ground is not in the way.

Each rainbow is unique to the person viewing it, because we each see the apex of the bow at an angle of roughly forty-two degrees. Even the tallest mountain isn't going to work to see the full circle—unless you're hanging off the face of a cliff—because the sunlit drops on the bottom part of the circle are going to be hidden, that is, lower than the forty-two degrees from your head [actually, the shadow of your head. It gets so complicated!]

The rainbow-sign given to Noah and to all his descendants after him signified that God was making a covenant with them. "Then God said, 'I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life." (Genesis 9:12-15) Seeing rainbows should remind us of God's mercy and provision.

Sometimes it rains and we don't see a rainbow—although probably somewhere, someone can. When we do see one, it is only partial; we seldom see the full rainbow. God, though, always sees it as complete, a full circle. It is like that with His providence too. We can see only part of it, and sometimes we fail to see it at all. But He sees it! It's perfect! It's whole and beautiful! If we could just see what He sees!

Although we may be privileged some time to see a full-circle rainbow, and we may at some point understand how huge God is as our Source, much of the time we must be content with the beauty of seeing only a little. That teaches us to walk by faith, not by sight, "for we live by believing and not by seeing." (II Corinthians 5:7)

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://www.sxc.hu/

Glomming Onto the Promises

Throughout my Christian life, I have been "standing on the promises." Perhaps you remember the song:

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring.
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
-- And here is how we sang the refrain after each verse:
Standing (on the promises),
Standing (on the promises),
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing (on the promises)
Standing (on the promis—es) [a huge ritard here]
I’m standing on the promises of God.
-- Russell K. Carter, 1886

Standing on the promises means to rely on them, to consider them dependable and certain of fulfillment. Unfortunately, though, some people "glom onto" the promises they find in the Word of God. (According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, glom is a word for grabbing hold of to appropriate for oneself. That, I think, is a fair description of the misuse of Scripture to claim something we want and to try holding God accountable for giving it to us!)

For example, God told Abram (Abraham), "Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants forever." Who could mistake that to mean that for a promise they could stand upon? Likewise, not every fisherperson is going to be successful by snatching Jesus' words spoken to His disciples: “Throw your net out on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get a catch.” The prophet Isaiah was instructed by God to go to King Hezekiah and tell him, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you and add fifteen years to your life." That is hardly a promise that every deathly ill person can seize and claim for himself/herself, yet I have heard of some who have tried to make that work.

A few questions can help us discern whether the statements we read are promises for us today:

-- Have we looked first to the promises that are clearly intended for all who believe them? A case in point, "Come to me," Jesus said to a multitude, "all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest."

-- Was this "promise" given specifically to a person(s) rather than to all God's people? This must be considered with care. Even so, God may wish at times to give us the grace He has extended to others. Was this "promise" given in circumstances similar to my own?

-- Is the "promise" consistent with others also found in the Scriptures? This is especially important.

-- Does the promise have a condition attached? An "if" is implied in "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." An unconditional promise: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

-- The ultimate test: Do time and actual events prove the validity of our claim to a "promise"? Remember of course, that we have to wait for the fulfillment of some promises until we get to heaven!

To be honest, sometimes we want to control God! And we suppose that the way to do this is to glom onto a promise and remind Him that He is obligated to comply! There are thousands of promises; some estimates are between seven and eight thousand! There are so many that are clearly meant for us to believe, that it seems we hardly need to glom onto those that may not be in God's plan for us personally.

MaryMartha

On Owning Stuff

A missionary to Sri Lanka spoke at my church a few days ago. At the close of the service, he gave us a Buddhist monk's bowl to add to the articles on display from the many nations represented in our congregation. A monk had given it to him, stating, "All that I own in the world could be placed in this bowl."

The speaker did not elaborate, but many Buddhist monks own only these few things: their robes, that begging or alms bowl, needle and thread, a razor, and a water strainer. Sometimes we read of people who escape fire or flood with "only the clothes on their backs," but to choose such poverty voluntarily is quite another thing. I'm not advocating that we all do that, but God has actually made us with pretty simple needs—that is, actual needs. The Apostle Paul advises young Timothy, "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (I Timothy 6:6-10) We have made things complicated for ourselves by our lust for stuff!

It's interesting to me that we spend most of our lives accumulating things—many of which we don't need and may find we don't even really want—only to realize as we get older that now we want to "downsize," and we must start de-accumulating! I am an inveterate "saver," having acquired that specific gene, I think, from my mother! I had way too much stuff because I was convinced that some day I might need it again, but if I had thrown it out or given it away, I might have difficulty replacing it. The Lord gently reproved me, "I gave it to you once. Don't you think if you need it again, I can give it to you again?" Of course, He can and He has!

I have a long way to go yet to dis-possess myself of so much stuff. The begging bowl was a pointed reminder.

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.

But If Not

These are troubled times, economically and socially, and some of the voices I hear around me express fear or anger. How anxious we become if any of the comforts and conveniences to which we've become addicted are threatened! Compared to much of the rest of the world, we live very privileged lives. Some of the things which we consider our "rights," are totally unknown in other places, but ease is not an essential part of the Gospel. We would like to think that it is, but the experience of Christians elsewhere does not attest to that. If the "American" gospel of peace and prosperity does not work in slums and refugee camps and political prisons, then it is not really the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Jesus' followers, we cannot be harmed! But, one could argue, ineffective leadership and questionable legislation and illogical court decisions harm believers too, just the same as people who don't love God. Yes, of course. That is the point: "just the same." Christians are not excluded from the difficulties that a broken world full of searching people causes. But surely God delivers His people, doesn't He? Yes, but not always from the calamity or out of the distress. Hear what the Apostle Paul has to say: "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." (Romans 8:35, 37 NLT) We cannot ultimately be harmed!

"God wouldn't let it happen," we fondly hope: all-out war, religious persecution, a broken home, desperate poverty, wasting disease, violent death. "We have to live." No, the experience of Christians in many other parts of the world does not bear that out, and neither does the experience of Paul and thousands of people since his time. Death may be the last enemy of Jesus Christ, but it is not the worst. Jesus taught His followers not to fear those who could destroy the body, because "there's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands." (Matthew 10:28 MSG)

I love the attitude of the young Hebrew men in the Old Testament who were threatened with death if they did not worship the image set up by the king. I hope Christians in these uncertain days can develop the same stand. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17, 18 NKJV) It is almost incidental that God did spare them; the fire burned only the ropes that bound them. When they came out, there was not even the smell of smoke on them. God did not have to do that, because they were already free! The king had no power over them when they set their hearts on God and declared, "We won't bow down." The fire could not destroy their determination to trust and honor Him with their lives—or their deaths.

While we desperately look for a way to escape distress or to avoid it altogether, the Enemy of our souls has us at his mercy. He can bind us with fear, self-pity, bitterness, and doubt. "God can and will deliver" is an important stand of faith, and when we can say, "But if He doesn't . . ." nothing can ultimately harm us. We are already delivered.

MaryMartha

Perhaps of interest to you:
http://findingthefaithway.blogspot.com/2008/07/god-sees-sparrows-fall.html
http://findingthefaithway.blogspot.com/2009/05/does-god-always-provide-bread.html

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

A Miracle or a Workable Plan

A co-worker arrived on the job one morning, years ago, and told us that he had stopped to talk with a man whom he saw every day sitting on the steps of an apartment building. It had become obvious that the fellow was waiting for something or someone, and finally my curious friend decided to find out what he was expecting.

The answer was very simple—to the waiting person—but it left my co-worker speechless. The man needed money, and he believed God was going to send Ed McMahon and the American Family Publishers crew to award him the sweepstakes prize. We laughed a little at that misguided faith, but actually it was more sad than humorous. The chance of winning a major prize in such a contest is less than one in fifty million. How many of those millions do you suppose are thinking that this is the miracle they've been praying for? The chances are good that the winner of multiple millions of dollars will thank God; winners often give a nod to Him. But think of how many others will not get the "miracle" they wanted, and if they really expected it to happen, they may be a little miffed at God.

Miracles do happen. It is very clear to me that only Divine intervention could produce the outcome we experience in some of our human affairs. We see grace and good far exceeding anything we could create, and we see catastrophe averted that we ourselves were unable to prevent. But I have found that it is helpful to be open to every kind of possibility, not the supernatural alone, and to pray, "God, please give me a miracle or a workable plan." During many months, I pleaded in this way regarding a financial need that was reaching critical proportions. I did not have a startling, all-at-once answer, but slowly an idea began to develop in my mind. I pursued it and found there was a reasonable hope of success—in other words, a workable plan. And now, much later, I know that it was indeed God's way of answering. Just because the solution God had in mind required extra effort on my part does not mean it was any less an answer to prayer than winning the sweepstakes prize.

Answers don't come in the same way for everyone. Maybe the man sitting on the apartment steps will some day win an amazing amount of money. Or maybe there will be a job he can do or community resources he can find. If we depend on God, He will give us the miracle we need—or a workable plan.

Amber Waves of Grain

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
"America the Beautiful," Katharine Lee Bates

Except for the part about purple mountains, this is so true now in Kansas in June! There is something very satisfying to me to see the wheat fields in this area beginning to ripen. When I drive between towns, I keep watching for the first evidence that harvest has begun, and sometimes make a special trip into the rural community where I grew up so that I can see the familiar process once again. Just this past weekend, I was able to do that. I get a thrill out of seeing the wide reel pulling the grain into the combine's inner workings and thrusting the straw out the back end. When the bin on the combine is full, the grain is augured into a waiting wagon or truck and hauled to the elevator. City kids visit the bakery to see flour turned into bread; I like to see rain and sunshine and hard work turned into amber waves of grain!

But I'm especially interested in "red" waves of grain. The reddish-brown fields were probably planted with one of the varieties of Turkey Red Wheat. Some lines etched in the marker placed along US-50 east of Walton by the Kansas State Historical Society tell the story of that wheat.

Children in Russia hand-picked the first seeds of this famous winter wheat for Kansas. They belonged to Mennonite Colonies preparing to emigrate from the steppes to the America prairies. A peace-loving sect, originally from Holland, the Mennonites had gone to the Crimea from Prussia in 1790 when Catherine the Great offered free lands, military exemption and religious freedom. They prospered until these privileges were threatened in 1871. Three years later they emigrated to Kansas, where the Santa Fe R.R. offered thousands of acres on good terms in McPherson, Harvey, Marion & Reno counties, and where the legislature passed a bill which exempted religious objectors from military service. Within a month after landing in New York the Mennonites planted the red-gold grains their children had selected. The harvest was the first of the great crops of hard Turkey Red and its derivatives that have made Kansas the Granary of the Nation.

Although not a descendant of this particular group, I have a certain sense of pride in the fact that these were "my kind of people," God-fearing farm folk!

It's clear to me how dependent we are on farmers, and how dependent they are on the weather and other mercies of God. "He never left them [the nations] without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” (Acts 14:17)

Those waves of grain in the fields are a reminder to me of God's faithfulness!

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.

Does God Always Provide "Bread"?

Some months ago, my Bible study group was using a series of lessons based on "The Lord's Prayer." I admit that I wrestled with the part that says, "Give us this day our daily bread." The author of our study guide assured us that the God who put the glittering stars in the sky would certainly not fail to give us food. God is committed to caring for us, he said, and our provision is His priority. Even though we may not have had a feast, hadn't we always had food? Perhaps there wasn't a banquet, but wasn't there at least bread? And he quoted Martin Luther who defined bread thus: “Everything necessary for the preservation of this life is 'bread'. This includes food, a healthy body, good weather, a house, a wife, children, good government and peace.” [Unfortunately, I do not have a primary source for this quote, only the repeated assertions of various writers and speakers who may, of course, be simply quoting one another.] I agree that it is fitting to ask for these things; what troubles me is the seeming assumption by many that God then is under obligation to provide them for us.

This raises some questions for me. I just cannot reconcile this expectation with suffering believers in Ethiopia and even school children in my own city who don't have anything to eat on weekends. I went through a brief period in my own life when there simply was not enough to eat, and nothing I could do about it. So, was I not in God's will, not praying correctly, or what? Or was I in company with Paul who had to learn "the secret of being happy . . . when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12, 13) We have all these promises about provision, and yet . . .

If the Gospel we preach in America doesn't work in India and Africa and Appalachia, then it's not the Gospel, is it? So how should well-fed, middle-class Americans who really would like to believe that the Lord is their shepherd and they shall not want, interpret the Scriptures?

David, the shepherd boy, was not stupid. He knew that grass doesn't magically appear in a desert place; he had to lead the sheep where there was pasture. He knew he was responsible for the safety and welfare of his flock. When he wrote the shepherd poem (Psalm 23), he was acknowledging the role of God as the shepherd watching over him. "He always goes ahead of me; He is in charge of my need just as I am for my sheep." The key idea, then, in praying for daily bread is not "God, gimme," but "God, take care of me." That does not preclude times of need or even suffering, for the Scriptures don't really say that we'll never be in want. (Just read the Apostle Paul's personal accounts!) They tell us that we shall never be abandoned.

Why do we try so hard to convince those with ample supply that God will never let them down, while those whose supply ran out long ago continue to put their trust in God? We could learn something from them: "A Gospel that makes my personal comfort God's priority fails to take into account the realities of almost every other historical period the Church as experienced."

MaryMartha

You may be interested in another entry, God Sees Sparrows Fall

Daily Bread

When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, the example He gave them included these words: "Give us this day our daily bread." Well-fed Americans probably have less understanding of this part of the prayer than many people in other parts of the world. The poorly nourished are fully aware of the meaning of daily bread since they seldom have on hand more than is needed for one day, if not for only a single meal. Praying this prayer, they literally rely on God to provide what is needed for their next meal.

By contrast, major grocery chains here vie for our patronage with 24/7 business hours, doubled coupons, and two-for-one specials. Convenience stores located every few blocks not only provide ready access to necessary items, but also promote a wide array of goods that entice one to purchase "extra's." I am very aware that there are also Americans who are truly hungry, but the average person, even if shopping on a limited budget, can still buy what is needed for the next meal or even several meals. Because this is so relatively easy, we may slide over our Lord's teaching about daily provision.

Remember the little widow of Zarephath? It was a time of terrible famine in Israel, and she had no source of provision. She was not living on Social Security, after all, or drawing her deceased husband's railroad pension. All that stood between her and starvation was the one little pancake she was going to make for her son and herself--and then they would die. The prophet Elijah, finding her gathering sticks for the fire, asked her, "Would you bring a little water for me to drink?" As the woman turned away to fill his request, he called after her, "Oh, and bring me, please, a bit of bread also."

"Sir, I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour is left in the bin and a little oil in the bottom of the jug. I am going to make one last meal for myself and my son, and when that is gone, we will die."

"Don't be afraid," Elijah told her. "Go ahead and cook your 'last meal.' But first, bake a little loaf of bread for me out of what you have. Afterward, there will still be enough food for you and your son."

Incredibly, the woman risked the flour and oil, and even her life, on the word of God spoken by the prophet. "There will always be flour in the bin and oil in the jug until the famine has ended." She did as Elijah said, and all three of them ate for many days from that handful of flour and the few drops of oil . Did God fill up the flour barrel and the oil jug so that the widow had an abundant supply? No, every time she dipped into the barrel, there was just enough. When she went back the next time, there was just enough. Whenever she poured oil from the jug, there was just enough, and when she needed oil again, there was just enough.

When we ask God for our daily bread--and by extension, all our needs for the day--we acknowledge that we are relying on Him to care for us. We never get so "spiritual" that these physical needs are of no consequence to us, and therefore also to Him. Just because they are part of the natural realm does not mean their consideration is foreign to faith. We choose to see through eyes of faith, and we choose to see Him as our source.

Sometimes we are impatient with the "dailiness" of God's provision. How about He just gives me half a million dollars, and then I won't keep asking Him every day for what I need? Most of us are okay with depending on God if we can see that we have everything we need for the present--and then some! And yes, sometimes God does work that way; for example, when Jesus fed the crowd of ten or fifteen thousand, He gave more than enough and the disciples aferwards picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. But if we are praying honestly, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are committing ourselves to receiving His supply on an as-needed basis.

MaryMartha

A Safe Dwelling Place

Have you ever been perplexed by tragedy which comes to a family of earnest Christian believers? It's hard, sometimes, to reconcile what we understand about God's faithfulness with what we see happening around us—or perhaps to us. Yes, we hear stories of miraculous deliverance, apparently because someone prayed or even "commanded" the elements to cease. The tornado lifts up and spares the home, the flood stops rising just in time, the fire sweeps past the house without burning it down, the earth leaves off its quaking before the walls collapse.

Well, what about such intervention? Why does it work for him/her/them and not for me? Am I not good enough for God's special attention? Is my faith not strong enough? Or are these disasters something God doesn't bother to interrupt?

There is no doubt in my mind that sometimes, for His own good reasons, God performs a rescue; I think we cannot explain some occurrences any other way. There is also no doubt in my mind that sometimes, for His own good reasons, He does not step in with a rescue, and people of faith suffer huge loss right along with those who care nothing at all for God. We quote Scripture over and over: "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home." (Psalm 91:9-10) A wonderful promise. Well then, why can't we make it work?

I think we don't see the promise of God's protection "working" because we don't understand what the promise says. Our earliest written psalm is a prayer of Moses. He declared, "Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!" (Psalm 90:1, emphasis mine) God was his dwelling place! Not the king's palace of prestige and plenty where he grew up as a boy. Not the land of Egypt where he ate fish and all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic he wanted. Not the heat and dust of the wilderness where he tried unsuccessfully to lead a fearful and disobedient crowd to their homeland. If "home" consists solely of the roof over my head, home can be destroyed by wind or flood or fire. But no evil can conquer me nor any plague come near my home if that "home" is God Himself.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

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.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

The Tax Man Cometh

Income Tax Day in the U. S.

Whether or not we like the way the government spends our money, it's a responsibility that income-earning citizens of this country have. Jesus Himself did not oppose the paying of civil taxes. Some men who were trying to get Jesus in trouble with the law confronted Him. “ 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'

He saw through their trickery and said, 'Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?'

'Caesar’s,' they replied.

'Well then,' he said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.' ” (Luke 20:21-25)

I took an unexpected hit from the IRS when my tax preparer had finished figuring my return. It wasn't due to my coming into sudden wealth, but my failure to file a W-4 correctly. After recovering from the shock, my next thought was, "Well, paying this tax on my income means God is providing for me!" I don't want to be insensitive toward those for whom this is a difficult time, but we do have around us the evidence of God's provision. I am reminded of the poem my mother used to quote:

Thank God for Dirty Dishes

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us. -- Author Unknown

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

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.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Failure

To many people, Jesus looked like a failure. He announced the Kingdom of God, but there was no kingdom visible. He drew a following, but eventually they betrayed, denied, or forsook Him. He claimed that He came to give life, but He Himself died. One could certainly think that He was a failure.

I had an angry talk with God about failure one time. I had given my best to a demanding job, and the results met with mixed reactions. Some people thought I was not really qualified, others felt the experience had been worthwhile and they could expect improvement, and still others considered I had done reasonably well. I was not accustomed to even minor failure; I was disappointed and hurt. (I did not understand, at that point in my life, that one could do a failure or make a failure and not be a failure.) "I have done all I could and failed," I whined to God.

"I provided Jesus," He seemed to say. "He experienced human sorrows, your hurt and disappointment."

"That's all well and good," I countered. "But You're God! You don't know how sharp and bitter failure tastes."

"Well, there's Jesus," He said again. "And if He is not enough for your situation, then yes, I have done all I could do—and failed."

MaryMartha
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Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com