Christian growth

Gracious Words

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Without opening up the notebook you take with you when you go to church, can you remember what your pastor’s sermon was on last Sunday? How has the Truth from the Word of God impacted your life so far this week?

In Luke 4, we find that Jesus had come “home” to Nazareth where He’d been brought up and went to the synagogue to preach. The people listened and then were amazed as they listened to His words. Then verse 22 reads, “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?” They were impressed with the “grace-filled” words which He spoke, yet many of them weren’t letting the Word change them into a follower of Christ. They didn’t heed the Word that was spoken. We read just seven verses later that they thrust him out of the city and cast him down the hill headlong! What happened to their initial response to His preaching? They heard words, but they didn’t allow it to change them!

If we were to translate this to last Sunday at your church, we would see your pastor standing at the church door greeting the congregation after his sermon. As the people passed by they would be saying, “That was a good sermon, Preacher!” “Good talk, Pastor!” Then, heading home to dinner and into the rest of their week, they would totally forget what they had just heard, and the changes they need to make. Continue reading “Gracious Words” →

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Daily Maintenance

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Maintenance – here’s a word that keeps us busy every day that we live! Maintenance means to repair, keep up, look after. Think of all the maintenance that your outside of your house requires:

 

    • Mowing the lawn

 

  • Raking the leaves

 

 

  • Washing the windows

 

 

  • Sweeping away spider webs from the doorways

 

 

  • Weeding the flowerbeds

 

 

  • Cleaning out the gutters

 

How about the inside of your house? Consider:

    • Painting the walls occasionally
    • Cleaning out the refrigerator

 

  • Scrubbing the floors
  • Changing the filters in the heat and AC
  • Clearing away piles
  • Doing something with all the mail
  • Keeping the dishwasher emptied
  • Cleaning the oven and stovetop

 

Then, of course, you and I require maintenance too.

  • Doctor and Dentist check-ups
  • Fingernails trimmed and perhaps painted
  • Hair cut, styled (and colored?)
  • Exercise (oh yeah, I had to bring that up, huh?)

Sometimes we forget about things that need our attention until there’s a malfunction. If we haven’t had our teeth cleaned and checked in a while we may wake up one morning with a toothache. Then we call the dentist. We ignore the oily mess in the bottom of the oven, then when we go to bake a cake the kitchen fills with smoke. Then get out the rubber gloves and start scrubbing! Think of what a sorry mess all of those things would be in if we fail to maintain them. It’s called neglect.

There is another area of our lives that requires Daily Maintenance that too often gets put off until there’s a malfunction. An illness touches our lives, someone we love dies, we’re in the midst of a financial crisis or need, and suddenly we need God. But when we call out to Him in prayer, or seek comfort in His Word we find that the heavens seem shut up, and God seems very far away. There’s a malfunction in our spiritual lives because there hasn’t been daily attention given to it. Oh, we may have attended church, perhaps even read our “devotions”, but there hasn’t been a seeking for Him.

Proverbs 8:34 says, Blessed is the man (or woman)that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. When we wait for Him each day we will find Him. The maintenance that needs to be done on our hearts will be tended to. It will accomplish more than fulfilling an obligation, it will fill our hearts and draw us to our God. It will reveal sin that needs to be confessed and forsaken. It will point to the areas of our lives that are drawing us away from our Savior.

Maintenance is necessary in our practical lives, but it should be longed for in our spiritual lives. Without it, we are a spiritual malfunction waiting to happen! Spend time with Him today in His Word and in pouring your heart out to Him. We all need a spiritual “Fall cleaning”!

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Twenty-four years ago today I became a mother for the first time. God blessed me with a daughter (the prayer of my heart)! As I sit and reflect today on her birth and growing up years, I am filled with awe at God’s enabling grace and help in this tremendous joy and also huge responsibility called motherhood.

I remember feeling a bit overwhelemed during her infant months, but then as experience gave way to a little more confidence I was able to enjoy watching her change and develop. I’ll never forget the first time she laughed outloud, and the delight it brought her dad and me. We were a family and were now experiencing Family Fun Night!

It was our desire as her parents to spend time teaching her and training her in God’s ways. How many books did we read, even before she was able to hold a book? How many songs were sung to tell her of her Savior’s love? How many kisses and cuddles were shared to tell her of her parents’ love? Many, but not enough. How many times did we do things the wrong way? Too many, but praise God for His help and wisdom that he shared through His Word, as well as godly instrctors in many places.

Some of my favorite memories of motherhood are:

* Giving “clothes basket rides” through the house

*Making homemade play dough

*Playing library

*Tea parties

*Bike rides

*Teaching her to read

*Leading her to Christ

*Taking her to piano lessons

*Baking cookies

*Letting her roll out jam pies for Daddy

*Library Story time

*Celebrating her birthday, which included breakfast in bed

Today I celebrate her 24th birthday, even though she’s in South Carolina and I am in Tennessee. I thank the Lord for the special gift of a sweet daughter that has made me so thankful to be a mother and proud of the fine Christian young woman she has become.

Happy Birthday, Whitney! I’m eating chocolate cake in your honor!

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Side By Side

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Today was a 17-mile bike ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail. We had beautiful weather for the trip and we saw some spectacular sights. We rode our bikes on many overpasses of a stream. The sun sparkled on the water like so many diamonds in a jewelers window. The trees made a tunnel of greenery under which we could ride. It was one of those outings that you don’t soon forget.
The trip was a blessing, but the best part about it was my travelling companion; my husband. When we first started out, he lit out and led our group. Then realizing the slower pace of his wife, he hung back and waited on me so we could travel side by side. As we pedaled along we stopped many times to ooo and ahhh over a waterfall or mountainous view. We were in no hurry. As we rode together it was quiet for the most part, save the occasional biker wanting to pass. It gave us the opportunity to talk. It was sweet conversation between us as we travelled along.
That’s how the Lord intended marriage to be – travelling side by side. Not one way ahead of the other, each trapped in their own little world. It’s so easy to get caught up among the other cyclists that there’s no time to talk; you have to yell to be heard. There’s no opportunity to “lollygag” – you know, do nothing, and enjoy doing it!
I pray that you and your spouse are riding side by side in the journey of marriage and enjoying the ride!
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Faithful Friend

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I don’t know what it’s like to have a brother, but I do know what it’s like to have a sister, as well as a twin sister. Sisters share their burdens (and their clothes), understand each other’s hearts, even if their words are just tears, are willing to give the other the benefit of the doubt, and are willing to go out of their way for the other.
When I come to Proverbs 18:24 and read “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” I think about my sisters and the great love we have for one another. Then I realize that Christ would do even more for me. He loves me greater, and understands me better than either one of my sisters. His love is eternal. His presence is constant. His understanding is infinite.
When, in this earthly life, a person is lonely, they only need remember the greatest Friend – better than a brother (or a sister!).