Ever hear the term “ordinary time”? We are, actually approaching the 4th week in just that category. What does it mean, and what does it matter?
THE VOICE is the Internet web site of CRI/Voice Institute, “a global and ecumenical ministry dedicated to providing biblical and theological resources for growing Christians.” According to their article by Dennis Bratcher, “ordinary time” on the church calendar is used to classify the parts of the year that don’t revolve around Christmas and Easter. Because of the magnitude of these two seasons’ holiness, when Jesus Christ was born and when he was crucified and resurrected, everything else is “ordinary.”
Actually, Bratcher points out that “rather than meaning ‘common’ or ‘mundane,’ this term comes from the word ‘ordinal,’ which simply means counted time. Thus, if a Sunday isn’t, say, the Second Sunday in Advent or the Third Sunday after Pentecost, it is simply denoted in “ordinary time.”
To use the word in a different way, however, we are living in anything BUT an “ordinary” time. We could look at many signs of this in the political realm—who would have thought, even a decade ago, that America would elect a black president?—but one significant event on God’s timeline in modern history occurred before many of us was born.
“Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?” wrote the prophet Isaiah (66:8) 800 years before Christ. The natural response would be that no, of course a nation wouldn’t be born so quickly…but that is just what transpired on May 14, 1948 when the nation of Israel was formed. It is a fascinating study of perseverance and miraculous intervention, should you want to look further into it.
Focus on Israel tends to ebb and flow within the Church, but I encourage you to read what the Word says about Israel and the Jewish people. Isaiah and Romans are good places to start so that you can knowledgeably answer those who say ridiculous things like “Jews are no longer the chosen people” or even quote scripture to promote anti-Semitism.
Yes, the crowd of Jews cried for Jesus’ crucifixion, and yes, they said “Let his blood be on our heads and heads of our children!”(See Matthew 27:25) But in a few hours, Jesus said, from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:24) Which statement do you think the Father paid more attention to?
The world hates Jews because it’s the closest thing they can do to hating Jesus—a Jew, the King of the Jews, the Jewish Messiah. One day…perhaps not so far off in these anything-but-ordinary-times…the world will boldly announce its hatred of followers of Jesus as well.
In the meantime, it’s important to realize that God will never forsake us, just as he will never forsake Israel. Whatever else we may understand or question about politics, we need to understand that Jerusalem is still at the center of what God is accomplishing in this world. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as Psalm 122 instructs, and pray that America continues to stand with Israel in the days to come.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
January 12, 2009 Confession Time
It had been a busy end of the year, followed by a busy beginning in 2009. Out of town, alone in a hotel room waiting for an airport shuttle to whisk me back to reality, I had taken part in an exciting, encouraging week competing with a group of actors, singers, and models, hosted by a Christian company. Everything about the competition had “excellence for the kingdom of God” stamped all over it, an aspect of the Christian walk that is dear to my heart.
There were, no doubt about it, eventual mega-stars at the competition I attended. I fully expect to see some of the faces and voices with which I became familiar over that week grace the covers of Vogue, appear on TV commercials, show up in movies or on the radio. In one workshop, a speaker cautioned us about living as if we were famous NOW. “You don’t want to one day have to answer for a compromising photo on MySpace or a questionable video on YouTube.” And of course, it was emphacized that regardless of future fame and celebrity status, the God we serve sees it all anyway.
This was all fresh in my mind as I preparing for an upcoming Bible study on revival and I found myself immersed into yet another aspect of Christian growth—repentance. Recognition of sin for what it really is leads to a repulsion of it, a healthy response to something that hurts God’s heart and seeks to hurt us and others as well. True repentance also carries a desire to make restitution for our sins, to “right the wrong.” Those steps having been taken, we can be sure of spiritual revival in our lives.
As I sat, I felt the Holy Spirit tug at my heart about one particular article I wrote—not recently, but since becoming a Christian, and definitely since I knew better. You might think it would be easy to ignore, since I used a pseudonym (note to self: if you don’t want your name connected with it, it’s probably not such a good idea!) but the Holy Spirit is impossible to ignore. Words are powerful—tools either for good, or for evil. I had written well from a technical viewpoint, had sold an article to a major secular magazine…but I had, to quote the knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, “chosen poorly.”
What God gives is sacred, whether a talent for writing, singing, acting, sports, business, etc. One definition of “profane” is “to use something sacred for common use.” I am ashamed to say that by this definition, and by the standards of common decency, the article in question was extremely profane.
I used what God gave me to write something I had no business writing, for a magazine I could never, in good conscience, recommend. Whether the byline was “Ellen Gillette” or not, I wrote it. I had confessed it as sin to the Lord, had even shared it with a trusted sister who listened to that and other confessions (a scriptural practice…see James 5:16) but repentance is just part of the process. Ouch.
How could I make restitution for readers I have no way of contacting? With no way of knowing who had actually read the article, I reviewed the short list of folks I’d told (and yes, even at the time, even though I was pretty excited I’d sold to a big magazine, the type of magazine prevented my shouting it from the housetops). I decided to contact each of them and let them know that I realized writing the article was wrong, asking forgiveness for influencing them negatively and being a poor witness for Christ.
Which I ask you as well, dear reader. I’m sorry for staining the body of Christ, for dirtying her bridal gown as she waits for the coming of her Bridegroom.
What an awesome privilege it is to be able to communicate God’s love and wisdom in even this small way, every few weeks on the Internet. Great damage has been done to tender consciences through graphic written material in various forms, and the fact that I am guilty of this very thing…well, it breaks my heart.
God’s forgiveness is complete, and I look forward to a depth of revival yet unknown, but words are fairly permanent. The potential for damage continues, as does my regret. Please pray with me that somehow, God will use even my sinful actions for his glory, for he is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Ellen Gillette, author of Baaad Sheep- When God’s People Let You Down, yet again faces the fact that she is…much too often…in that category herself. Contact her at ellenofgillette1@aol.com.
December 2008 The Gift of God
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." John 4:7-10
With Christmas approaching, gifts and gift-giving are on the brain, but I’ve been thinking of it from a little different perspective.
A friend was heading out on a challenging mission and asked Janet to pray for her as she walked out the door. Without giving it a lot of thought, but feeling the urging of the Holy Spirit, Janet called, “Would you like me to go with you?”
“No, no, that’s okay,” the friend said, and was gone. As the door closed behind her and Janet returned to the task at hand, a phrase popped into her head. “If you knew the gift of God…” Her friend was entering an emotionally-charged situation for which she had no first-hand experience; Janet, on the other hand, had faced it. The Lord had taken her through that particular valley and given her both grace and insight into a very difficult experience.
She had no human desire to be plunged into that arena again—there was nothing of herself that had offered to accompany her friend. That simple “Would you like me to go with you” was a gift from God, but her friend failed to recognize it as such.
How often do we also miss the gifts of God around us? There are the obvious, every day miracles we usually take for granted—life, breath, shelter, food, love—as well as those offered through others like Janet—gifts of experience, gifts of time shared, gifts of prayer, gifts of concern.
Jesus told the woman at the well that if she knew the gift of God and who it was who spoke to her, she would ask for, and receive, living water. The New International Version uses the phrase only eight times in the entire Bible, four of which deal with our relationship with God. In John and below, it refers to eternal life:
“The gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin… (it brought) justification (Romans 5:16).”
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).”
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).”
The gift of God also refers to the abilities God gives believers to minister to the Church, our outreach to others: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6).”
The last way the phrase is used could be called inreach—a general happiness that God reaches in and brings to our lives every day:
“That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil; that is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:13).”
“To accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19).”
It is this last usage that we find the most difficult to receive, because it is often wrapped so oddly, shaped so strangely. The everyday gifts of God do not sparkle with heaven’s promise of golden gates or jeweled crowns. They also do not require much on our part, the way the spiritual gifts do which he bestows on us.
What they do require is that we have eyes to see them, that we recognize the gift of God when it says hello at the other end of a telephone conversation, when it offers assistance we hadn’t wanted to admit we needed, when it opens the door for us when our arms are full, when it smiles at us across the room from a stranger’s face.
If you knew the gift of God…
Father, help us to recognize your awesome gifts around us in all their many forms. Let us truly be content with our lives and find joy in our work. We rejoice in the promise of eternal life with you—may it begin not on the day of death, but today, as we walk in the fullness of your Holy Spirit each moment. Amen.
With Christmas approaching, gifts and gift-giving are on the brain, but I’ve been thinking of it from a little different perspective.
A friend was heading out on a challenging mission and asked Janet to pray for her as she walked out the door. Without giving it a lot of thought, but feeling the urging of the Holy Spirit, Janet called, “Would you like me to go with you?”
“No, no, that’s okay,” the friend said, and was gone. As the door closed behind her and Janet returned to the task at hand, a phrase popped into her head. “If you knew the gift of God…” Her friend was entering an emotionally-charged situation for which she had no first-hand experience; Janet, on the other hand, had faced it. The Lord had taken her through that particular valley and given her both grace and insight into a very difficult experience.
She had no human desire to be plunged into that arena again—there was nothing of herself that had offered to accompany her friend. That simple “Would you like me to go with you” was a gift from God, but her friend failed to recognize it as such.
How often do we also miss the gifts of God around us? There are the obvious, every day miracles we usually take for granted—life, breath, shelter, food, love—as well as those offered through others like Janet—gifts of experience, gifts of time shared, gifts of prayer, gifts of concern.
Jesus told the woman at the well that if she knew the gift of God and who it was who spoke to her, she would ask for, and receive, living water. The New International Version uses the phrase only eight times in the entire Bible, four of which deal with our relationship with God. In John and below, it refers to eternal life:
“The gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin… (it brought) justification (Romans 5:16).”
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).”
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).”
The gift of God also refers to the abilities God gives believers to minister to the Church, our outreach to others: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6).”
The last way the phrase is used could be called inreach—a general happiness that God reaches in and brings to our lives every day:
“That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil; that is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:13).”
“To accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19).”
It is this last usage that we find the most difficult to receive, because it is often wrapped so oddly, shaped so strangely. The everyday gifts of God do not sparkle with heaven’s promise of golden gates or jeweled crowns. They also do not require much on our part, the way the spiritual gifts do which he bestows on us.
What they do require is that we have eyes to see them, that we recognize the gift of God when it says hello at the other end of a telephone conversation, when it offers assistance we hadn’t wanted to admit we needed, when it opens the door for us when our arms are full, when it smiles at us across the room from a stranger’s face.
If you knew the gift of God…
Father, help us to recognize your awesome gifts around us in all their many forms. Let us truly be content with our lives and find joy in our work. We rejoice in the promise of eternal life with you—may it begin not on the day of death, but today, as we walk in the fullness of your Holy Spirit each moment. Amen.
November 3, 2008 Wanting to be God
Several years ago I was loading folding chairs into the trunk of the car after enjoying a Christmas parade in downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. A family happened to be getting into the car parked next to mine at the same time and I overheard the mother and daughter—perhaps nine or ten years old—talking back and forth with some degree of intensity until they reached the bottom line to the conversation:
“No arguing, we need to hurry so that we get to your church play on time,” the mom said.
“But I don’t want to be an angel!” the little girl fussed. “I want to be God!”
I couldn’t resist joining in at that point as I slammed my trunk lid. “Don’t we all, honey. Don’t we all.”
Yesterday, November 2, the topic of the morning’s message in the “Hostage” series was Addiction. A large list of possible addictions was given along with scriptural insight intended to help us avail ourselves of the freedom for which Christ died. My husband David shared his personal testimony of a miraculous, instantaneous deliverance from drugs and alcohol when he was in his early twenties.
What struck me as I listened to the message was that not only are addictions substitutes in our lives for roles only God should fill (whether we are addicted to things like drugs, smoking, or pornography, or to more “socially acceptable” addictions such as spending, working hard, needing constant validation from others, etc.), but also, it boils down to who is going to be God in the first place.
You’ve probably heard the saying “Jesus is either Lord of all or he is not Lord at all” or seen the little diagram in the “Four Spiritual Laws” pamphlets depicting Self on the throne. With our own selves in power, our own desires and plans, we make unwise choices that can eventually turn into addictions.
Think about it—no one wakes up one morning and says, “I think I’ll become addicted to online pornography today.” No one just happens to get addicted to drugs, alcohol, or smoking. No one accumulates $5000 in credit card debt overnight (well, maybe a few people do!). The point is, sin gains a foothold when we do even one thing outside of God’s will. Sin becomes a stronghold as we continue to walk in sin, becoming ensnared and enslaved. What was once “just” sinful behavior becomes a sinful lifestyle, determining our very destiny.
I heard a woman give a simple illustration about sin—think about a white building. Sparkling new paint. Satan doesn’t smear it with black paint—that would be too obvious. Instead, he spritzes a dash of spray paint here and there. Every day. Until one day, the whole building is a dull gray. No one can point to the moment they recognized it was no longer white, but eventually, it was transformed.
Another man used the analogy of a brand new truck. He was talking about keeping a marriage in tiptop shape, but I think it applies to our lives in general. When you bring home a new truck, you’re oh, so careful about pulling in to the garage, where you park, picking up trash each time you get out. Then you come out to the parking lot one day after work, and there’s a little scratch—you didn’t do it, but it’s still there. Instead of polishing it out—it’s so small!—you’re not quite as careful about dinging it up yourself. You stop picking up; litter accumulates in the floorboard and seat. What was once pristine is now common in appearance, even shabby.
The best way to stop an addiction from gaining control is to never begin the addictive behavior in the first place. If you never look at pornography, you will never become addicted to it. If you never smoke a cigarette…if you never spend more than you can afford…if you look to God for affirmation rather than to people…
All easier said than done, of course. Each of us struggles with our own areas of weakness that may or may not qualify for the textbook definition of addiction, but which nevertheless lead us to yank Jesus off the throne of our hearts from time to time. Like the little girl leaving for the Christmas program, we all want to be God.
It’s just that we are so devastatingly bad at it.
“No arguing, we need to hurry so that we get to your church play on time,” the mom said.
“But I don’t want to be an angel!” the little girl fussed. “I want to be God!”
I couldn’t resist joining in at that point as I slammed my trunk lid. “Don’t we all, honey. Don’t we all.”
Yesterday, November 2, the topic of the morning’s message in the “Hostage” series was Addiction. A large list of possible addictions was given along with scriptural insight intended to help us avail ourselves of the freedom for which Christ died. My husband David shared his personal testimony of a miraculous, instantaneous deliverance from drugs and alcohol when he was in his early twenties.
What struck me as I listened to the message was that not only are addictions substitutes in our lives for roles only God should fill (whether we are addicted to things like drugs, smoking, or pornography, or to more “socially acceptable” addictions such as spending, working hard, needing constant validation from others, etc.), but also, it boils down to who is going to be God in the first place.
You’ve probably heard the saying “Jesus is either Lord of all or he is not Lord at all” or seen the little diagram in the “Four Spiritual Laws” pamphlets depicting Self on the throne. With our own selves in power, our own desires and plans, we make unwise choices that can eventually turn into addictions.
Think about it—no one wakes up one morning and says, “I think I’ll become addicted to online pornography today.” No one just happens to get addicted to drugs, alcohol, or smoking. No one accumulates $5000 in credit card debt overnight (well, maybe a few people do!). The point is, sin gains a foothold when we do even one thing outside of God’s will. Sin becomes a stronghold as we continue to walk in sin, becoming ensnared and enslaved. What was once “just” sinful behavior becomes a sinful lifestyle, determining our very destiny.
I heard a woman give a simple illustration about sin—think about a white building. Sparkling new paint. Satan doesn’t smear it with black paint—that would be too obvious. Instead, he spritzes a dash of spray paint here and there. Every day. Until one day, the whole building is a dull gray. No one can point to the moment they recognized it was no longer white, but eventually, it was transformed.
Another man used the analogy of a brand new truck. He was talking about keeping a marriage in tiptop shape, but I think it applies to our lives in general. When you bring home a new truck, you’re oh, so careful about pulling in to the garage, where you park, picking up trash each time you get out. Then you come out to the parking lot one day after work, and there’s a little scratch—you didn’t do it, but it’s still there. Instead of polishing it out—it’s so small!—you’re not quite as careful about dinging it up yourself. You stop picking up; litter accumulates in the floorboard and seat. What was once pristine is now common in appearance, even shabby.
The best way to stop an addiction from gaining control is to never begin the addictive behavior in the first place. If you never look at pornography, you will never become addicted to it. If you never smoke a cigarette…if you never spend more than you can afford…if you look to God for affirmation rather than to people…
All easier said than done, of course. Each of us struggles with our own areas of weakness that may or may not qualify for the textbook definition of addiction, but which nevertheless lead us to yank Jesus off the throne of our hearts from time to time. Like the little girl leaving for the Christmas program, we all want to be God.
It’s just that we are so devastatingly bad at it.
October 20, 2008 Praying the Word
There’s a scene in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” in which Harry brings his friend, a writer, to meet Sally—who has brought her friend to meet Harry. Sally’s friend quotes something she read in an article. “Get out!” Harry’s friend exclaims (and I’m paraphrasing here). “I wrote that! I’ve never ever had someone quote me before.”
“And I’ve never quoted anyone in a conversation!” she says. This is Hollywood, so the audience knows right away that they will bond, be soul mates, and live happily ever after.
It’s true, though, that writers love to hear the words they’ve written, in much the same way that an architect would enjoy overhearing someone comment on the beautiful lines of a building she designed, or a composer would be blessed by hearing someone humming his own song as they passed on a street.
We call the Bible “God’s Word” and although he used human hands to put pen to paper, I believe that God enjoys—as the true author—hearing his words spoken back to him. Not only is he blessed when we read his word as it appears on the page, however, but also as we use those words in prayer and praise to him.
Many of the Psalms are written directly to God, and make it very easy for us to pray them back, such as Psalm 4:1: Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” That’s exactly the cry of our hearts at times, isn’t it? “Are you listening to me, Lord? Answer me when I call! I need help!”
Ephesians is a great book filled with passages that can easily and affectively be turned into prayer of worship. Where I have changed a word to make it personal, I’ve put the change in parentheses. From chapter 1: “Praise be to the God and Father of (my) Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (me) in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ(You) chose (me) in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in (your) sight. In love (you) predestined (me) to be adopted as (your daughter) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with (your) pleasure and will— to the praise of (your) glorious grace, which (you have) freely given (me) in the One he loves. In (you, I) have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that (you lavish on me) with all wisdom and understanding. (I ask that you make known to me) the mystery of (your) will according to (your) good pleasure, which (you) purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
“(Thank you that I have been chosen) having been predestined according (your plan, as you work) out everything in conformity with the purpose of (your) will, in order that (I)… might be for the praise of (your) glory.”
Is there someone on our hearts in needs of the Lord’s touch? We can pray the word for them too: (Ephesians 1:17 and following) “I (ask you), the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, (to give- and here, insert the person’s name) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that (she would know you) better. I pray also that the eyes of (her) heart may be enlightened in order that (she) may know the hope to which (you have) called (her), the riches of (your) glorious inheritance in the saints, and (your) incomparably great power for (all of us) who believe. “
Sometimes we have such deep longings for prayer, but the words escape us. We lack the vocabulary, or our minds are so heavy with distress or distraction that we can hardly think. It is a comfort to know that the word of God is there, filled with promised and exhortations, yes, but also with the very prayers we can pray in time of need.
“And I’ve never quoted anyone in a conversation!” she says. This is Hollywood, so the audience knows right away that they will bond, be soul mates, and live happily ever after.
It’s true, though, that writers love to hear the words they’ve written, in much the same way that an architect would enjoy overhearing someone comment on the beautiful lines of a building she designed, or a composer would be blessed by hearing someone humming his own song as they passed on a street.
We call the Bible “God’s Word” and although he used human hands to put pen to paper, I believe that God enjoys—as the true author—hearing his words spoken back to him. Not only is he blessed when we read his word as it appears on the page, however, but also as we use those words in prayer and praise to him.
Many of the Psalms are written directly to God, and make it very easy for us to pray them back, such as Psalm 4:1: Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” That’s exactly the cry of our hearts at times, isn’t it? “Are you listening to me, Lord? Answer me when I call! I need help!”
Ephesians is a great book filled with passages that can easily and affectively be turned into prayer of worship. Where I have changed a word to make it personal, I’ve put the change in parentheses. From chapter 1: “Praise be to the God and Father of (my) Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (me) in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ(You) chose (me) in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in (your) sight. In love (you) predestined (me) to be adopted as (your daughter) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with (your) pleasure and will— to the praise of (your) glorious grace, which (you have) freely given (me) in the One he loves. In (you, I) have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that (you lavish on me) with all wisdom and understanding. (I ask that you make known to me) the mystery of (your) will according to (your) good pleasure, which (you) purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
“(Thank you that I have been chosen) having been predestined according (your plan, as you work) out everything in conformity with the purpose of (your) will, in order that (I)… might be for the praise of (your) glory.”
Is there someone on our hearts in needs of the Lord’s touch? We can pray the word for them too: (Ephesians 1:17 and following) “I (ask you), the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, (to give- and here, insert the person’s name) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that (she would know you) better. I pray also that the eyes of (her) heart may be enlightened in order that (she) may know the hope to which (you have) called (her), the riches of (your) glorious inheritance in the saints, and (your) incomparably great power for (all of us) who believe. “
Sometimes we have such deep longings for prayer, but the words escape us. We lack the vocabulary, or our minds are so heavy with distress or distraction that we can hardly think. It is a comfort to know that the word of God is there, filled with promised and exhortations, yes, but also with the very prayers we can pray in time of need.
October 6, 2008 Sowing & Reaping
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
A friend of mine told me that when she and her sister were children they made fun of another girl in their neighborhood who was mentally challenged and also overweight. Apparently they were merciless in their treatment of her, so much so that my friend felt guilty, in later years, as she came to know Christ and understand his words. Her understanding of the verse above was especially hard-hitting: “My sister gave birth to a child with Down’s syndrome, and I have always struggled with my weight.” She did not view these two situations as coincidences.
In the movie “Secondhand Lions” two gentlemen farmers and their nephew plant a garden after preparing the soil. A traveling salesman has sold colorful packets bearing the names and pictures of a wide assortment of vegetables, but in a few weeks, when the plants are growing high, it is obvious that only the packets which said “corn” were accurate—the entire garden is nothing but corn. As they sowed, so would they reap.
Even children are aware that when you plant a bean seed, you harvest beans. Broccoli seeds produce broccoli plants. Lettuce seeds, lettuce. Marigold seeds, marigolds. Whatever you sow you will, if you’ve taken care with your preparations, reap. It is a natural principle, one with profound spiritual applications.
The principle of sowing and reaping is often voiced during stewardship drives to encourage increased giving to churches or other ministries, but its truth goes far beyond finances. If we sow seeds of discord within church walls, how can we expect unity? If we plant seeds of distrust in our relationships, why are we surprised if (1) someone does not trust us or (2) others behave in an untrustworthy manner? The list of examples could go on and on.
On the other hand, when we continually and consistently sow love into a person’s life, we can be certain that we will not reap anything- in the long term- that is negative or hurtful. We can’t control the responses of other people, of course—it could take years of showing love to some people to allow sufficient time for the Lord to soften their stony hearts. But it’s worth a try isn’t?
The sooner we start planting those seeds of love, the sooner the harvest will come.
A friend of mine once commented on the importance of small steps by saying that one row of beans will produce a lot more beans than no row at all: one loving gesture, one word of encouragement, one attempt to sow something positive into the life of another human being…
Zechariah 4:10 speaks of not despising the day of small things. What seems small to us, even as small as a seed, may well produce a great harvest.
A friend of mine told me that when she and her sister were children they made fun of another girl in their neighborhood who was mentally challenged and also overweight. Apparently they were merciless in their treatment of her, so much so that my friend felt guilty, in later years, as she came to know Christ and understand his words. Her understanding of the verse above was especially hard-hitting: “My sister gave birth to a child with Down’s syndrome, and I have always struggled with my weight.” She did not view these two situations as coincidences.
In the movie “Secondhand Lions” two gentlemen farmers and their nephew plant a garden after preparing the soil. A traveling salesman has sold colorful packets bearing the names and pictures of a wide assortment of vegetables, but in a few weeks, when the plants are growing high, it is obvious that only the packets which said “corn” were accurate—the entire garden is nothing but corn. As they sowed, so would they reap.
Even children are aware that when you plant a bean seed, you harvest beans. Broccoli seeds produce broccoli plants. Lettuce seeds, lettuce. Marigold seeds, marigolds. Whatever you sow you will, if you’ve taken care with your preparations, reap. It is a natural principle, one with profound spiritual applications.
The principle of sowing and reaping is often voiced during stewardship drives to encourage increased giving to churches or other ministries, but its truth goes far beyond finances. If we sow seeds of discord within church walls, how can we expect unity? If we plant seeds of distrust in our relationships, why are we surprised if (1) someone does not trust us or (2) others behave in an untrustworthy manner? The list of examples could go on and on.
On the other hand, when we continually and consistently sow love into a person’s life, we can be certain that we will not reap anything- in the long term- that is negative or hurtful. We can’t control the responses of other people, of course—it could take years of showing love to some people to allow sufficient time for the Lord to soften their stony hearts. But it’s worth a try isn’t?
The sooner we start planting those seeds of love, the sooner the harvest will come.
A friend of mine once commented on the importance of small steps by saying that one row of beans will produce a lot more beans than no row at all: one loving gesture, one word of encouragement, one attempt to sow something positive into the life of another human being…
Zechariah 4:10 speaks of not despising the day of small things. What seems small to us, even as small as a seed, may well produce a great harvest.
September 22, 2008 When the Dog Bites
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
Many years ago, my husband was pouring concrete with his father and needed the screed board—a two-by-four used as a leveling device-- he’d left at another job. There was some chitchat about the homeowner’s bad dog between the men, but a key phrase--Do not go inside the gate if no one’s home-- didn’t make it into my consciousness.
As our three oldest children and I headed off in the van to fetch the board (our two-year-old was “helping” Daddy and Grandpa) eight-year-old Caleb noticed a small white card. In an attempt to memorize scripture, I had ordered memory cards from the Navigators and happened to be working on the verse shown above. Caleb “tested” me to see if I knew it; it was a nice moment of sharing truth with the kids. If only I’d known what we were about to encounter…
Pulling up to the residence, I noted the security fence and “Beware of Dog” sign. No cars, but no dog either. A chain from a porch post appeared to lead inside the house—I assumed the dog was there, perhaps taking a nap. My experience with dogs up to that point was that if you stay calm and speak softly, they’re all pretty manageable. My experience up to that point was, shall we say, inadequate preparation?
Caleb and I went inside the gate, which I latched behind me out of sheer habit. Just as we passed the house, an enormous dog bounded out of nowhere—an enormous trained guard dog that’d paid attention during the “Scaring Away Harmless People and Small Children” class. I tried the calm voice routine to no avail and barking gave way to nipping, the dog jumping at me multiple times. Caleb, bless his heart, stood his ground. “Let’s get out of here!” I shouted.
I headed for the gate while Caleb attempted to climb over the fence. Closing the gate so the dog couldn’t escape, I saw he was still jackknifed over the fence--the dog had bitten the hem of his jeans just as he was about to make it. I pulled him over; we rushed to the van, and assessed the damage. One of my hands was bleeding, an upper arm. More disconcerting was the fact that blood began to seep through my shirt.
Nothing seemed serious until Caleb said quietly, “My leg feels funny.” Lifting the material up, I gasped. His jeans weren’t torn, but his leg was--a huge three-sided flap of skin perhaps a half-inch thick hung loose.
Within minutes, the girls were watching television in the emergency room waiting area while nurses and doctors attended to Caleb and me. We were put in beds separated by a curtain, but Caleb was moved beside me when it became evident he was scared—he’d watched just enough medical dramas to be wary of the heart monitor. If the line went flat, he’d die. If he went to sleep, he might not wake up.
Lying there in the aftermath of a terrorizing morning, I knew I needed to calm my son’s fears, but how? Through the haze of more immediate, frightening memories, I pulled up our initial drive. “Do you remember the memory verse you looked at?” I asked Caleb. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed…though the guard dog bites…God’s unfailing love is never shaken.” He relaxed a little, and we continued to talk until the doctor arrived.
Caleb’s leg is scarred—the skin was too damaged for stitches to “take”—but because of God’s love expressed through his word, his heart is not. Instead of growing up fearful of dogs and any sudden danger, he is currently a sergeant with a police department, even a member of the SWAT team. And he still relies on the fact that when everything around him is chaos and terror, God’s love prevails.
Ellen Gillette is a freelance writer in Lillington, North Carolina and owns two very large dogs.
Many years ago, my husband was pouring concrete with his father and needed the screed board—a two-by-four used as a leveling device-- he’d left at another job. There was some chitchat about the homeowner’s bad dog between the men, but a key phrase--Do not go inside the gate if no one’s home-- didn’t make it into my consciousness.
As our three oldest children and I headed off in the van to fetch the board (our two-year-old was “helping” Daddy and Grandpa) eight-year-old Caleb noticed a small white card. In an attempt to memorize scripture, I had ordered memory cards from the Navigators and happened to be working on the verse shown above. Caleb “tested” me to see if I knew it; it was a nice moment of sharing truth with the kids. If only I’d known what we were about to encounter…
Pulling up to the residence, I noted the security fence and “Beware of Dog” sign. No cars, but no dog either. A chain from a porch post appeared to lead inside the house—I assumed the dog was there, perhaps taking a nap. My experience with dogs up to that point was that if you stay calm and speak softly, they’re all pretty manageable. My experience up to that point was, shall we say, inadequate preparation?
Caleb and I went inside the gate, which I latched behind me out of sheer habit. Just as we passed the house, an enormous dog bounded out of nowhere—an enormous trained guard dog that’d paid attention during the “Scaring Away Harmless People and Small Children” class. I tried the calm voice routine to no avail and barking gave way to nipping, the dog jumping at me multiple times. Caleb, bless his heart, stood his ground. “Let’s get out of here!” I shouted.
I headed for the gate while Caleb attempted to climb over the fence. Closing the gate so the dog couldn’t escape, I saw he was still jackknifed over the fence--the dog had bitten the hem of his jeans just as he was about to make it. I pulled him over; we rushed to the van, and assessed the damage. One of my hands was bleeding, an upper arm. More disconcerting was the fact that blood began to seep through my shirt.
Nothing seemed serious until Caleb said quietly, “My leg feels funny.” Lifting the material up, I gasped. His jeans weren’t torn, but his leg was--a huge three-sided flap of skin perhaps a half-inch thick hung loose.
Within minutes, the girls were watching television in the emergency room waiting area while nurses and doctors attended to Caleb and me. We were put in beds separated by a curtain, but Caleb was moved beside me when it became evident he was scared—he’d watched just enough medical dramas to be wary of the heart monitor. If the line went flat, he’d die. If he went to sleep, he might not wake up.
Lying there in the aftermath of a terrorizing morning, I knew I needed to calm my son’s fears, but how? Through the haze of more immediate, frightening memories, I pulled up our initial drive. “Do you remember the memory verse you looked at?” I asked Caleb. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed…though the guard dog bites…God’s unfailing love is never shaken.” He relaxed a little, and we continued to talk until the doctor arrived.
Caleb’s leg is scarred—the skin was too damaged for stitches to “take”—but because of God’s love expressed through his word, his heart is not. Instead of growing up fearful of dogs and any sudden danger, he is currently a sergeant with a police department, even a member of the SWAT team. And he still relies on the fact that when everything around him is chaos and terror, God’s love prevails.
Ellen Gillette is a freelance writer in Lillington, North Carolina and owns two very large dogs.
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