I Shall Not Be Moved

One important lesson in life is not to be unduly influenced by what other people say or think.  Some people are encouragers, others are discouragers, and others are determined to hinder.  It is good when people encourage us on our way; appreciate it, but don't depend on their encouragement; you can survive without it.  And don't let the naysayers stop you from your goals; there will always be people who tell you everything is hopeless.  Don't listen to them.

In the old tv series The Six Million Dollar Man and Get Smart, Steve Austin and Maxwell Smart sometimes faced enemy machines and robots which seemed nearly indestructible, impervious to damage.  But humans are not robots.  We have feelings; we can be hurt.  Even if we don't like to admit it, we can be made angry, lose our tempers, or cry.  Emotions are natural, and in many cases they are good.

But emotions can become our enemies if we let them rule our lives.  Everything must have its rightful place.  We must learn to forgive and not holding grudges.  A lot of people say unkind things without thinking.  Don't take them too seriously.  Proverbs 19:11 says, "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."

Don't let what other people say bother you; they won't judge you on Judgment Day.  God is your judge, and He is the only one to whom you must give account of your life.  It's what God thinks of you that really matters.  When you're tempted to become discouraged or upset by what other people say, think of the song, "Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved."

"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint,

 and I know that I shall not be ashamed."  --Isaiah 50:7

Vision

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  --Proverbs 29:18

I recently was able to work in my flower garden for the first time this year.  I trimmed my rose bush, cleaned out the old foliage from my day lilies and some of my irises, and destroyed the remnants of a stray blackberry plant.  I was slightly surprised that weeds were alive and growing as soon as the snow had melted (and before this week's snow storm), and I set to work eradicating my garden of them.

Last year I had my most beautiful flower garden ever, and this year I am hoping to do better; but it takes a lot of work.  Quite a few years ago I was not diligent in keeping it weeded, and I grew a world-champion weed garden: humungous dandelions, 6-foot tall weeds, and healthy wild grasses.  I didn't have a vision for my garden and so nature took over and its floral aesthetic value declined.

The same thing happens with houses.  If someone does not take the time to clean, repair, and upkeep them, they gradually become uninhabitable. In our spiritual lives, we need to deliberately take time to read God's word and spend time with Him, or our relationship with Him will disintegrate.

Nations decline as their people become apathetic, yielding to lives of careless luxury and fruitless pleasures and losing their vision for greatness (as happened with Rome).  We have to have a robust, active vision in life.  Nature's course for men and for nations leads to degeneration, slow steady decline, and eventual death and destruction.  

God has called us to better things.  Never lose your vision.  Build your life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.  Spend time with Jesus; He is alive and He can show you the paths He has for you.  You need the Word of God in your life.  God's course leads us higher and higher into the inimitable exaltation of His glory.  Serving Him is our ultimate goal, and he must be glorified in all that we do.

"Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."  --Ecclesiastes 9:10

Stand up to the Devil

"For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, 

from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."  --Mark 4:25

     A lot of things in life are affected by the snowball effect.  The rich seem to get richer; the famous get more fame.  And the talented get more opportunities to increase their talent.  This is not at all bad, but unfortunately it works the other way too.

If you let one person (or government) knock you down or discourage you, others will know you are vulnerable and knock you even further down.  The spirits of fear, laziness, worry, and doubt are just like alcohol: addictive.  Don't yield yourself to them.  Resist evil and be strong.  

Another lesson I learned from my chickens:  Hens who were picked on by the others developed a spirit of fear.  They'd start clucking fearfully and run away whenever another chicken walked by them.  It didn't matter whether they were bigger or stronger; they were scared!  If they had stood up for themselves they might have had a chance, but sadly fear ruined their lives.

Romans 6:16 says, "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"  Don't let bad habits get a hold of you.  

Waking up at a decent hour is easy for someone who has done so day after day for the past year, but for someone who has said, "Yet a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep!" for the past week, it may be almost impossible.  Getting a job done is easy for someone who is diligent, but for someone who is lazy it may seem like climbing Mt. Everest.

Just like we must stay physically fit by exercising our muscles, we must exercise our will power every day and face the challenges before us.   We must face our bad habits, our fears, our enemies, and every evil that comes against us.  We must stand up to the devil!  If we cower, we may get nothing done in our lives.  We will be just like a poor scared chicken, buffaloed by everything.  But as the saying goes, "Where there's a will there's a way!"  It may be hard at first, but it will get easier as we establish good habits.  The Bible says resist the devil and he will flee!  With God all things are possible.

Decisions, Decisions

"Do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?

 for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."  --Galations 1:10

Be wise when making decisions.  You are the only one who will have to live with the decisions you make for the rest of your life.  Other people are well-meaning, and in trying to influence your decisions, they may have your best interest in mind, but they won't have to live with your decisions.  You do.  

Ask the Lord for guidance, follow His leading, and make the decisions you believe are best.  Don't let others pressure you into making decisions you may later regret. 

In Reassess Your Chess, Silman tells us that we have to defend our position and prove it is superior.  You need to believe in what you are doing.  If you don't, no one will.  Your opponent will insist that his position is better, but don't listen to him.  It's your job to prove your position is the best.   

Seize the opportunities you have; if you don't they will soon be gone.  But don't go into commitments half-heartedly.  Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.  As Davy Crockett said, "First make sure you're right, then go ahead."  

Pleasing others is a hopeless cause.  It doesn't matter what people think of you; they come and go.  Don't depend on other people's principles.  People fail.  People change.  But God is always there; He never fails or changes.  Nothing can be hid from him.  On Judgment Day you won't be answerable to anyone else.  You don't have to give account of your deeds to friends or church or anyone.  You will give account to God.

We each must have the attitude to say, "I'm going to do what God wants me to do, regardless of what anyone else in the entire world says, does, or thinks."  Only people with that attitude will be able to stand in the face of trial.

Throughout history most people simply flow with the tide.  In Nazi Germany most churches started singing the praises of Hitler from the pulpit and the pews.  Only a few dared to stand against it; they suffered persecution.  Under other wicked regimes the story has always been the same; only a chosen few will raise their voices against evil and refuse to bow to the devil when all their friends do.

God is your Judge.  What you do in your life is between you and God.  It doesn't matter what other people say.  Please God.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  For thou has possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:  marvellous are thy works;
 and that my soul knoweth right well."  --Psalm 139:7-14

Legacy

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."  --Psalm 16:6

If time continues, sooner or later, we all will die.  What matters is how we live our lives and what we leave behind us.  What will be our legacy?  Will our lives continue to bless others long after we are gone?

Bach and Beethoven will never be forgotten.  Their music has blessed others for hundreds of years.  Anthony Burger died when he was only 44, yet his piano playing still blesses people today.  Many authors like Victor Hugo, songwriters such as Fanny Crosby, actors like John Wayne, statesmen like Thomas Jefferson, tyrants like Mao Zedong, conquerors like Alexander the Great, criminals like Jesse James, lawmen like Wyatt Earp, and inventors such as Thomas Edison have all earned places for their names in history, whether in fame or infamy.  

Children are another important legacy.  They are the ones who can carry on the good fight after the parents' generation is long gone.  In them, many of the parents' traits, characteristics, and (hopefully!) wisdom can live on.  

Many people's life's labor is in providing for themselves and their families; in their endeavors these ordinary people play an integral part in keeping society running smoothly.  They construct buildings, build tractors and cars, drive trucks and busses, fly airplanes, deliver newspapers, repair farm machinery, sew clothing, and doctor the sick.  They leave a legacy of hard work and prosperity.  Without these "ordinary" people, society would long ago have collapsed.  

But sadly, the names of ordinary individuals are often forgotten, by society and even by their own descendents.  Someone may see their names etched on gravestones, but who they are and what they were like is unfortunately soon lost forever.  As Ecclesiastes says, "The memory of them is forgotten.  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."

There are a lot of things that we think are very important now that won't matter at all 100 years from now.  But there are other things that will never be forgotten.  Small deeds of kindness and acts of love live on.  Today we still talk about Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with ointment and wiped them with her hair.  

We don't have to conquer the world to leave a worthwhile legacy.  But we must remember that our lives will soon be over; we have only a short time to leave our mark upon this world.  Leave a legacy that will make the world a better place, and shine the Light of Christ.  Be a blessing to others.

A Thankful Heart

"You never know how good you have it until it's gone...gone!"  Aunt Esther used to remind us, frequently starting to cry as she repeated "gone."  She had a long and sometimes hard life.  She was born in 1900, before the first airplane flew and the Titanic sank.  She was from a different era, and she saw many things come and go before her death in 2009.  Though she now too has passed on, her advice on thankfulness has stayed with me.

I was reminded of it again this Thursday morning when I temporarily lost my voice due to a mild cold.  I wanted to sing a song; I wanted to talk with my family; I wanted to call my grandparents; but all I could manage was an occasional whisper.  I generally have very good health (thank the Lord), so this rarely happens; it's certainly a reminder of how thankful I should be for my voice!

It's easy to take a lot of the wonderful things God has given us for granted; we sometimes are guilty of complaining when in reality we have everything so good!  We 21st century Americans are particularly spoiled.  We have clean running hot and cold water at every faucet, electricity, more food than we know what to do with, high speed internet connections, good medical care, and nice warm homes.  We haven't had foreign troops invading our soil since the war of 1812.  Many of us have loving families and good health.

We have everything to thank God for. We need to appreciate all the Lord has done for us and give Him the credit.

God hates it when people who are very blessed complain and turn their backs on Him.  God said to Israel in Deuteronomy 28, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."

Take a moment to tell the Lord how much you appreciate all the wonderful things He has done for you today.  In every circumstance there is always something for which we can be grateful.  The Lord always sends a ray of sunshine and a beam of hope.  Thank Him!

Secret Sorrow

"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"
  --Psalm 56:8

Treating everyone respectfully, kindly, and considerately is a good general rule.  There are many things we will never know about the people we deal with: the cashier at the grocery store, the mailman, the waitress at a restaurant.  

Most, if not all, people have a secret sorrow, physical or emotional: a sore foot, a cough, a back-ache, an injustice, a broken tooth, a heartache, insomnia, and the list goes on.  They may smile and try to be brave, living their lives as joyfully as they can in spite of the problem, but the pain is still there.  

Even the apostle Paul had a "thorn in his side" which he prayed the Lord would deliver him from.  God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Be kind to your fellow humans.  Try to encourage and lift them up.  Everyone has a pain or secret sorrow.  

There are three types of people in the world: those who tear down, those who do nothing, and those who build up.  Help others along life's way; encourage others.  Be a blessing in this life.  

"Only one life; twill soon be past.  Only what's done for Christ will last."  

Bad Friendships

I recently decided to make a quick study of friendships in the Bible.  Below are listed a few types of friendships/friends which seem advisable to avoid.

1. Friendship with the world: "Know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."  --James 4:4

God has called us to be a holy and peculiar people.  The world hated Jesus and will criticize anyone who preaches the truth.  The devil is the god of this world and to please the world a person must bow to him.  Stand up for what's right.  Never compromise with the devil even if you are ostracized, persecuted, and hated. 

Biblical example: When Pilot was trying to find a way to release Jesus the Jews told him, "If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."  Pilot bowed to their will and crucified Jesus.  Who cares if you're Caesar's friend?  You don't want to be friends with the devil.  

2. Friendship with the wicked: Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul" --Proverbs 22:24-25

Don't make close friendships with bad people--even "to reform them."  Bad habits, like the flu, are contagious.  Do not tolerate evil.

3. Fair weather friendship: The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends."  --Proverbs 14:20  "My lovers and friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off." --Psalm 38:11

Some "friends" will desert you as soon as any problems arise.  They'll be there for you when you're rich, having a good time, and famous, but will be gone the moment things turn sour.  Even worse, they may betray you to save their own skins or make a little extra money.  This type of friend is dangerous!

Biblical examples: Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver is the most well known example.  Others are the "friends" at Samson's wedding who cheated on a bet and later stole his wife. Jeremiah prophesied that in the fall of Jerusalem, people would "eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friends in the siege."  Does that make you feel like being more careful about choosing friends?

4. Job's friends: "Miserable comforters are ye all."  --Job 16:2

Some friends are determined to straighten you out for "your own good."  They have good but mis-directed intentions.

Biblical examples:  Job's three friends are a perfect example of this.  They came to comfort their good friend Job, and instead ended up accusing him of being a terrible bad sinner who needed to repent.  Their "comfort" made him even more miserable than he was before (God said Job was a perfect and upright man).  Another example are Jesus' friends who thought he had lost his mind and needed mental help (Mark 3:21).

Thankfully there are also examples of wonderful friendships in the Bible:

Stayed tuned for my next post about good friendships!

Capriciousness

Here in Iowa the weather is extremely capricious.  One year we had a day in March reach 90 degrees; 2 days later it was below freezing again.  Some years we plant in March, and other years it snows 6 inches in May.  We never know what to expect.  

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever; he never changes.  We are supposed to be "changed from glory to glory" to be like Him, but not "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine."  A person who changes his beliefs and way of life to please other people will always be changing and always confused because it is impossible to please everyone.  

It's important to know that what you believe is the truth, not because someone else said so, but because you know for yourself.  As Paul said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he has able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."

People are often well-meaning but misguided.  Listen for good advice and ways to improve, but take everything with a grain of salt and weigh it prayerfully against the Word of God.  You will be miserable and regret your decisions if you change your life just to make others happy.  

People fail.  Trends change as quickly as Iowa weather.  Don't base your beliefs solely on what other people say; if you do, you will be disappointed.  There will be a new trend tomorrow. Base your beliefs on the Word of God.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Jesus never fails.  He is the solid Rock and foundation on which we must build our lives.  

Running the Race

The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi will be held today as the world looks on.  Olympians will be watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators in the stadiums and billions more on television (An estimated 4 billion people watched at least some part of the London Olympics in 2012).  The athletes represent their countries to the world in what is intended to be an international display of sportsmanship, competition, and goodwill.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul likens our Christian life to a race:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

The athletes at the Olympics have worked very hard and endured hours and hours of practice and training to ensure they represent their countries well.  We are ambassadors, representatives of the Kingdom of God.  Do we represent the Lord well?  

The prize for which we strive is much more important than a gold medal.  Eternal life, the gift of God, can be ours through faith in Christ Jesus.  We must not let anything distract us from doing His will.  We need to read the Bible and ask the Lord to open to us the Scriptures, so we can understand how He wants us to live our lives.  

The Apostle Paul's work was not applauded by men.  Billions of spectators were not there to cheer for him as he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.  In fact the only time thousands of spectators cheered for many early Christians was when they were fed to lions and other wild animals in the Colosseum.  Paul was beaten, stoned, persecuted, and finally beheaded; he did the will of God regardless of the consequences and regardless of whether anyone else approved.  Before he died he was able to say with confidence, 

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."  

--2 Timothy 4:7-8

Be bold in your work for the Lord and represent Him well.  God has wonderful things prepared for those who love Him and confess Him before men.

Happiness... Today!

Ecclesiastes 6:9 says, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire."  It's important to have goals and "Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established" as Proverbs 4:26 says, but it's also important to enjoy today and what you have and see now.  

What good would it be on a hot summer day if we sat roasting in the sunshine thinking of how wonderful it would be to someday be a millionaire, have a built-in swimming pool in the back yard, a maid to bring us cool (freshly imported Parisian) lemonade, and a servant to hold our parasols and fan us.  Chances are that this "wandering of the desire" would end in a horrific sunburn.  

I think most of us would agree it would be better to squeeze a couple lemons and make lemonade, and go swimming in the nearest lake or river (nevermind the leaches), or a 15'x36" swimming pool from Walmart.  

The sight of our eyes is usually not perfect and often a lot of work, but the key is to enjoy it!  Riches and fame don't bring happiness; only God can give true happiness.  The Apostle Paul said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  That doesn't mean he did not work to improve his circumstances, it means he was content no matter the situation.  An unhappy and pessimistic person will remain miserable in the brightest of circumstances, but a person who is filled with the joy of the Lord will be able to persevere in the worst of circumstances.

Appreciate the good things, dear people, and happy moments you have today.  Peace, love, and joy can bring you more happiness than wealth and acclaim. As Walt Whitman said, we must have "Happiness, not in another place but this place...not in another hour but this hour."

All Your Cares

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  --1 Peter 5:6-7

It takes humility and trust to give all your troubles to God.  Sometimes we think we can handle everything ourselves: "Oh, why bother God?  I can take care of this."  We must realize we need Him.  We need His direction in everything we do.  

God is unimaginably wiser than we are.  He said, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."  If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He promised to direct our paths.  God wants us to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face.

Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.  He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." God doesn't want us to worry or be troubled; He wants to help us and give us peace of mind.  He wants to be our eternal Guide.  He cares for us.

It doesn't matter how big (or small) your problems are; Jesus can help you.  He said, "Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Give the Lord all your worries and cares.  He loves you and will lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

The Only One

I once connected the pieces of a puzzle.  Only one piece was missing, but yet the puzzle was dreadfully incomplete, for that piece was needed to fill the gap.

via

Your life may be only one small piece of God's creation, but every piece is needed to complete His plan.  Watch for opportunities to bless others and be Christ's light in this dark world.

Every moment has a need and a reason.  Maybe an elderly gentleman needs a friendly smile, maybe the lady at the thrift store needs to be told pink is her color,  maybe a friend needs a word of encouragement.  Don't just leave it to "someone" to brighten their day; be that someone, you may be the only one who can.

How we treat others is a reflection of how we would treat Jesus.  Matthew 25 gives us a glimpse of the Judgment Day when God will divide the righteous from the wicked.  Jesus said to the righteous: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."  They asked him when this happened, and He told them: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Jesus said even giving someone a glass of cold water has its reward.  You may not be able to change the entire world, but you can change someone's world for the better.  Find God's plan for your life today; you are the only one who can fulfill it.  God will bless you as you bless others.

Deborah

     Deborah is one of my favorite women of the Bible because her story, found in Judges 4-5, shows a spectacular and unexpected way God used a woman who was wholly and selflessly devoted to Him.

     Deborah's people were slaves; their masters were strong.  Her people had backslidden and chosen new gods.  God chose Deborah to be a prophetess and a judge.  She called Barak and told him the Lord's command to face the enemy and fight for freedom.  Barak told her, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go."  She did not hesitate; she went with the army.  She had heard from God.  She told Barak, "Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee?"  She knew her God, and she had faith.  God fulfilled his promise and defeated the enemy.  Deborah's people were liberated.

     Today, like Deborah's people, our people are slaves--slaves to sin.  Their masters are hard masters: vanity, immorality, addictions, lies.  Our people have backslidden and chosen new gods: self, money, sports, celebrities, or anything they worship more or give more attention to than the true God.  They must be liberated, and Jesus Christ is the only one who can liberate.  He gave us a command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."  Evangelism is a call for all.  

We need to encourage others to rise up and fulfill God's high calling in their lives.  Actions, as well as words, are needed.  Deborah didn't just tell Barak to go defeat the enemy; she got up and went with him.  Is your life a shining example of what God can do?  Does the joy of the Lord shine through you as you live wholly devoted to him?  Are you an example of the courageous Christian God has called his children to be?

You may be a student, teacher, musician, chess player, artist, technician, or field laborer, but God has chosen you to be a bright light of His glory in this dark world, an example of the believers, to liberate souls through the power of Jesus Christ from the slavery of sin, and to encourage others to rise up and live the life God has for them.

My prayer today is that you will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and that you would put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).  I pray as Deborah prayed in Judges 5:31, "Let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might."  Amen.

Joy Cometh in the Morning

"Weeping may endure for a night," the psalmist wrote, "but joy cometh in the morning."  The greatest hope in enduring pain or sorrow is the fact that it is only temporary.  

The agony of frozen extremities on a winter day outside fades 10 minutes later in a warm house with hot cocoa and marshmallows.  A cold or flu is dreadful, but a week or two later it is forgotten. In retrospect, many of the problems which greatly trouble us seem miniscule.  

Imagine God's perspective.  He watched the building of the tower of Babel and destroyed it.  He heard the cries of the children of Israel and delivered them from oppressors.  He saw the Babylonian and Persian empires.  He beheld Hannibal's marching armies, and looked on as Carthage was burned.  He oversaw the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.  

Throughout the ages he has been with His people and given them help in their trials.

He does not fail. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Whatever our troubles are, He wants to give us the blessed assurance that This too shall pass.  

Our society may be falling apart.  Corruption and decadence may often be prevalent. Fight it, but "let not your hearts be troubled."  The night of tears will be over when Jesus our Savior returns and reigns at last.

Do not be discouraged.  Troubles great and small are like storms.  They come and they go.  God's faithfulness and truth is constant.  Joy will come in the morning.

 "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."  --Ecclesiastes 3:14

Appreciation and Thanksgiving

During our trip to Boone, Iowa, we stopped in front of Mamie Doud Eisenhower's birthplace to take a few pictures.  The small beautiful home is open to the public by appointment only.  The public high school is nearby, and the students were walking and driving home, not taking a moment to glance at the historical site, while we "tourists" snapped photos.  

I guess after walking by the First Lady's birthplace for the past 10 years every day, the students must have lost some of their excitement.  

Over time, many of us lose our excitement about and appreciation of the things we see every day. When we lived in Portland, it seldom snowed; so each snow storm was greatly anticipated and greeted with mittened hands creating snowmen, tongues outstretched to lick the falling snowflakes, and sleds rocketing down nearby hills.   Here the first snow can fall in October and the last 6 inches can fall in May, so to say the least, I don't spend all year looking forward to it.  

It's not necessary for us to appreciate what we don't like--be it snowstorms, okra, or beets--just because others who don't have them would love to have them.  But we should refrain from taking all the good things in life for granted.  

We should thank God for heat instead of waiting until a power outage to tell him how much we enjoyed it.  

We should thank our mothers for a nice warm meal instead of waiting till someday when we have cold cereal for supper to reminisce about how good Mother's cooking is.

And we should let our friends know how much we appreciate them instead of waiting until we miss them so much we have to post an ad on Craigslist looking for anyone who will talk with us.*

Be grateful for the little things; be grateful for all of God's blessings.  Take a moment to notice beautiful surroundings, small conveniences, and the people who love and care for you.  Life will be much happier.

"Give thanks unto the Lord: for He is good!"

Looking on the Bright Side

Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States once said, "I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Looking at the bright side of circumstances is both a decision and an art.  Depending on our dispositions, we can be miserable in the best of circumstances, or--with God's help--joyful in the worst of circumstances.  We paint the world around us with the colors of our choosing.  Will we let the darkness of self-pity inundate us?  Or will we be strong and say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Will we complain about what we don't have?  Or will we be grateful for what we do have?

Romans 8:28 says, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  God is in control.  Hold your heads up high Soldiers of the Cross!  Let us focus on the bright side till we see nothing but the brightness of His glory.  For there will come a day when "God shall wipe away all tears from their [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."  God is faithful.

Healthy Living

Nutrition and healthy living have become popular and occasionally controversial topics in today's culture.  Weight Watcher's ads decorate our internet browsers, guides to healthy living cover our cereal boxes, the city of New York banned soft drinks larger than 16 ounces to help residents fight obesity (though the ban was later ruled unconstitutional), and the USDA regularly provides us with food pyramids (The First Lady's new design is MyPlate).  As if this were not enough, the ongoing debate on the perfect foods and the perfect weight fills our news feeds and magazines.  And just to make sure we never forget about healthy eating, a faithful friend or relative is there to give us a gentle reminder.

With so many warnings about the unfavorable effects of unwholesome foods and so much dietary information at our fingertips, why do many people still suffer from myriad of nutritional problems?

The United States' obesity rate is over 30%, and many of those not effected by obesity suffer from other dietary-related ailments such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Additionally, there are many who, although they do not have any serious problems, live unhealthy lifestyles which may lead to difficulties later in life.  

The answer is not a simple one.  However, in many cases (though not all), problems can be traced to a lack of time, money, and/or willpower.  These, perhaps three of the most common impediments, will be discussed here, leaving other, more serious, problems to other writers.

Time & Money
President Bill Clinton, now a vegan, was once famous for his predilection for junk food.  During his White House years, the White House cooking staff was given orders to lighten up his meals.  One day, the First Lady noticed a dish of fettuccine alfredo on the table and called in the chef because cream and cheese were not allowed for the President.  The chef explained that the "cream" was actually pureed rice, and the "Parmesan cheese" was nut or rice-milk cheese. Another favorite was cheesecake--made with tofu.

Unfortunately, not many of us can afford a cooking staff, and in our hectic world it is often hard to find time to experiment with healthy recipes.  The fastest way for city-dwellers to get a meal is to pull into the local McDonalds, and the least expensive foods at grocery stores are light white bread--as opposed to its whole grain cousin--and potato chips and packaged junk food instead of fresh fruits and vegetables, let alone any special "health foods."

One economical solution is growing a garden.  Country-dwellers can do this on a large scale, growing tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, carrots, cabbage, sweet corn, onions, strawberries, watermelons and much more in their own backyard.  City dwellers have more limited options, but still a couple large pots with flowing, beautiful sweet potato plants on the front steps, a few tomato plants, an arbour of grape vines, a lettuce window-box, and lavender and other aromatic herbs planted near the walkway can go far in providing more healthful foods for the family.

One trick for those pressed for time is to make meals ahead of time.  If you know that you will be facing a particularly busy week, choose one day (perhaps on a weekend) to cook.  You can make pies and place them in the freezer to be baked and eaten on another day, refrigerate dishes such as overnight coffee cake to be baked the next morning, and fill a large pot or slow-cooker with vegetable soup made from freshly peeled potatoes, carrots, and whatever else is on hand; to be reheated later for quick wholesome meals.

You can also save yourself the trouble of looking through recipe books for healthy recipes by using a customized search such as the one at www.allrecipes.com where you can easily find recipes with or without particular ingredients.

Willpower
Willpower is a very important factor in a healthy diet and active lifestyle. For many of us, eating unwholesome foods is a habit; unless we really want to break the habit, we won't.  And unless we have a reason for exercising, other projects or plans will get in our way.

One of the most effective ways of breaking habits is to set goals and make new, better habits.  Write your goals for the long term on a piece of paper, then calculate what you will have to do each month to make your goals a reality.  Break this down to weekly goals, and then write your daily goals on a planner where you can check them off at the end of each day.  Keeping track of your progress should give you satisfaction and motivation.

A purpose (and reward) for each of your goals is also essential.  For me, it is very hard to wake up on freezing cold mornings.  If I wrote on my planner "Wake up at 6:00," I still wouldn't have much motivation to get up the next morning; however, deciding to wake up early to play in the morning blitz chess tournament on FICS gives me a lot more motivation.

Don't be frustrated if at first you don't succeed with your goals.  If Thomas Edison had given up after his first failure at trying to make an incandescent light bulb, we still might be using gas lamps and candles today.  Keep trying, don't give up, and don't worry--worrying has been proven to be detrimental to health.

Finally, the Bible says, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."  Ask the Lord to help give you motivation and willpower to meet your goals.  God will give you strength.  The most important thing in life is living for Him; He cares about us and our every need.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."  --Matthew 10:29-31

God's Compassion

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 

 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."  --Psalm 145:8-9

Throughout the New Testament we see Jesus as a healer; He was forgiving and compassionate.  Isaiah 53: 4 says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." 

Jesus had compassion on a woman who was suffering in a synagogue as he preached one Sabbath, and He healed her.  This made the ruler of the synagogue very unhappy; he warned his congregation that they could be healed during any 6 days of the week, but not on the Sabbath!

Jesus responded by saying "Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him to watering?  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" (Luke 13:15-16).

The ruler of the synagogue knew the law; but he did not know the heart of God.  We are all condemned as sinners under the law; the law is a harsh schoolmaster which convicts us of our shortcomings and makes us realize how much we need a Savior.

God's mercy and compassion are inimitable; in spite of our faults he loved us and gave himself for us."The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."  (2 Corinthians 3:6).  God cares about you.  He wants to give you grace and set you free.  

"As heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."

One song says it so well, "When the Lord looks down from heaven to the ground, I'm no bigger than a little grain of sand; yet he knows me and he loves me, and He holds me in His hand."

Creativity

One place I’ve learned creativity is in the kitchen.  When my family craved apple pie and no apples were available, I learned to create Mock Apple Pie out of crackers.  When we had no lemons on hand for lemon meringue pie, we learned to make Vinegar Pie (which, believe it or not, is nearly identical). 

via Flickr

Nothing feeds creativity like difficulties.  God, our creator, specializes in doing the impossible and creating delicious dishes out of the most unlikely ingredients.  In our most trying hours He is with us and gives us the hope, fortitude, and resourcefulness to thrive in difficult situations so we can become stronger and more mature Christians.

Tough financial situations and illnesses can be very painful.  Sometimes we are hurt by what others say or do.  Other times, it's our own actions, words, failings, or stupidity that hurt most.  I can forgive others, but sometimes I have a hard time forgiving myself.  But God wants us to go on.  He wants us to follow Him.  He wants us to work with Him, as He creates brighter futures for us.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand why we need vinegar and soda crackers in our lives instead of lemon juice and apples, but the good Lord knows what we need.  He sees the future—and knows that sometimes if we're given what we want instead of what we need we could end up soaking (instead of tossing) our apples in lemon juice and the finished product would be the tartest pie ever (I’ve been there and done that).

We must trust Him that “all things work together for the good of them that love God” (Romans 8:28), and use His creative spirit to enjoy our lives with the ingredients available.

Christ promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  His Spirit gives us life and strength.

So when life gives you nothing but soda crackers, make apple pie.