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Archive for the ‘Inspirational’ Category

“Beadie Baby”

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Endurance, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Guidance, Inspirational, Preparedness on August 29, 2011| 1 Comment »

Boaz chewed a bead off one of his toys and Ruth spent the next few weeks trying to hatch it; silly cockatiels. I jokingly told my daughter, who collects Beanie Babies®, that I would soon have a “beadie baby” to show off. Although I made light of the situation, it was rather sad seeing the disillusioned bird coddle a wooden bead day after day, but she only moped without it, so I let her indulge. I had placed a nesting box in the cage in hopes that she would lay a real egg, but she wouldn’t even go inside. Instead, she just nested happily at the bottom of the cage, waiting for her “egg” to hatch.

One day, as I watched Ruth eagerly mother her “egg,” The Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that my husband and I had tried to hatch quite a few wooden eggs of our own over the years. Some we called dreams, others we called goals. And like the wooden bead, there wasn’t any life in them; we just thought there was –hoped there was.

In frustration, we would pray and ask God, why he wasn’t helping our efforts to be more successful. He would then gently reprimand us, that in those particular areas, we were tending to our business not His. Ouch!

Don’t get me wrong, goals and dreams are good, even necessary. However, we will have a great deal more success “hatching” them if they were inspired by the Lord in the first place. James 4:3 explains that sometimes “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Again, ouch! Though I hate to admit it, my husband and I have been guilty of this more times than we care to admit in times past. If only we could make thus and such happen, we would reason, life would be so much better for our family. I’m sure the Lord tried to warn us that there was no life in those “wooden eggs,” but we were too busy coddling them and trying to make them hatch to stop and listen.

Thankfully, we have since learned, albeit the hard way, to stop and seek God’s direction before we invest any time, energy or money in our desired pursuits. Life is just too short to waste precious time on futile endeavors. Now, we are careful to seek God’s will and direction in even the smallest of matters.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (I John 5:14,15).

But how do we know what His will is, so that we do not ask amiss? First, and foremost, we must know God’s heart. We can do this through prayer and the reading of His word. Do our desires line-up with God’s Word, or do they in any way oppose it? Second, do our desires focus on ourselves, or upon God? Who will benefit most from the fulfillment of those desires, us or Him? And third, will the attainment of our desires help to accomplish God’s plan for our lives?

Yes, dear reader, God does have a plan for your life –an incredible plan. You may not even understand fully what that is just yet. Perhaps you feel like a mama bird trying to hatch an egg, sitting and waiting for God’s plan for your life to spring forth. If that’s you, I would like to encourage you to just keep “feathering your nest” with God’s Word in preparation for that which He is about to do. And when the time is right, you will be amazed at what happens.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD (Psalm 37:23).

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Get Off My Back!

Posted in Anger, Contentment, Devotional, Encouragement, Endurance, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Guidance, Inspirational, Long-suffering on August 16, 2011| 1 Comment »

The coin was old, and it was gold; of that I am sure. I imagined that the notorious bandit, Jesse James, dropped it when he was headed to the caverns to stash some loot. After all, I was swimming just a stone’s throw from Meramec Caverns, famed hideout of the James-Younger Gang. True, they hadn’t been near the cavern for umpteen years, but it wouldn’t have been the first time someone found a relic from the gangs’ racketeering days in those parts.

The summer had been a scorcher and the water levels were extremely low. Everyone was concerned that some of the streams in the area would dry up altogether. That’s pretty much how I felt about my life at the time. And my prospects of ever escaping that life, it seemed, were drying-up just as quickly as those Missouri waters.

After graduating high school, I was able to leave that place – a place I had grown to hate– but all too soon, fate brought me back. If only I had known God, and understood how perfectly He orchestrates our lives, I might have been more content. But I didn’t know God back then; I only knew sorrow.

Swimming in the cool river brought a bit of diversionary relief, but I was still rather cranky. To make matters worse, my younger sister kept jumping on my back even though I had told her a dozen times to knock it off. I wasn’t even nice the last time I said it. “Get off my back!” I barked at her angrily.

In order to take my mind off things, I swam to a deep spot and dove under the water to search the rocky bottom for a nice keepsake. The water in that part of the river is normally too deep and fast-moving to swim in, but that summer, the conditions were more favorable. I figured that I might get lucky and find an arrowhead or an unusual piece for my rock collection. In my wildest dreams I would never have thought that I would find a gold coin from long ago, but I did.

With great anticipation, I brought the coin to the surface and slowly opened my hand to examine it. To my great dismay, however, I didn’t even get a chance to read the date on the coin, which was unquestionably quite old, because my sister had ignored my scolding and pounced on my back like a leopard on its prey. I don’t even know where she came from, but I know where the coin went –it flipped out of my hand and sank back into the river. Finding it in the first place was incredibly miraculous; finding it a second time was impossible! We all searched for more than an hour, but it was a hopeless cause and it was starting to get dark anyway, so we left the coin in its watery grave and headed home.

I was very angry at my sister; and that for quite a while. The more I thought about it, the more I had determined that the coin was my ticket out of that place. The realization that my golden opportunity had been knocked right out of my hands caused my heart to sink as well. I don’t know how much I would have gotten for the coin, but I figured it would surely be enough to start a new life. But again, fate was keeping me there -or was it God? I didn’t know Him then, but He certainly knew me. While I had my own ideas of how I wanted life to be, God had a different plan for my life all along.

Scripture says: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV).

To be honest, I still don’t like the fact that my sister jumped on my back that day, but I’m glad that God stopped me from pursuing my own desires. Had I gotten my way, my life would have gone in a completely different direction than it did, and there is no telling where I may have ended up. God loved me enough to keep me where I needed to be at the time. When He was ready to move me forward, according to His plan, He did. And I have no regrets, because my precious Lord has given me a life more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. I still don’t have much gold, but I do have something much better –genuine peace and happiness.

Dear reader, is there someone you want desperately to “get off your back;” a boss or family member perhaps? Is there a circumstance in your life that has caused your heart to sink and given you a feeling of hopelessness? I want to encourage you that God, in His great love and mercy, knows just where you are and what you are going through. If you are frustrated because you are stuck in a place you don’t want to be, whether physically, financially, emotionally or spiritually; be patient. The events in your life are not decided by some cosmic flip of the coin, but rather, God is working all things out for your good, according to His divine plan.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Finally, please remember that the riches of this world may come and go, but God’s love is forever. Once you take hold of it, no one can ever knock it out of your hands. Even when this life’s difficulties ‘pounce’ on you, as they sometimes will, God is still in control;  and He is working to ensure that you have a rich life despite the way things appear to be.

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A Shocking Experience

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Inspirational, Miracles, Spiritual Strength, Testimony on August 1, 2011| 2 Comments »

Some time ago, I promised to share more of my own personal encounters with the miraculous. This one is truly shocking –literally.

Four-thirty in the morning was just too early for me to wake up and get dressed, except for shoes, then drive my step-father to the commuter lot, but I had no choice. I needed the car that day and that was the only way I could get it. Along the way, flashes of lightning tore through the early morning sky to announce a coming storm. Although my plan had been to drive back home, dive into bed and pick up my dream where I left off, my step-father decreed something more important.

“You need to go home and wake up your mom and your brother, and ask them to help you take down the antennae before the storm hits.”

I only half obeyed. Suffice it to say that I was sure I could do the task myself. Besides, waking anyone else up that early was never a good idea, trust me. By the time I stood ready to dismount the antennae, it had already started to drizzle; there was about one-quarter inch of water standing on the deck. The cool water felt good on my bare feet, but I knew that going back to sleep was out of the question because the slow, but steady raindrops had already slapped me more awake than I wanted to be. That’s okay, I thought, because I love a nice storm and I’ll be awake to enjoy this one. Little did I know that I was about to experience a miracle; one that I would never forget.

The antennae was taller than I was, and just a bit heavy, but I could have capably managed a quick dismount had it not been for the sudden gust of wind that thrust the top-heavy apparatus right onto the power lines. My body went instantly rigid as the electricity flowed right through my body. My mind screamed, “Get it off!” but my body could not physically respond. Aside from the violent muscular jerking, I was paralyzed, unable to let go.

Have you have ever seen one of those cartoons where something disastrous happens in super slow motion? That’s what the whole trauma seemed like. The ball of energy, which started at the power line, worked its ways through both me and the antennae and entered the coax cable. Connected to the other end of the cable was my step-father’s prized Ham radio. The energy ball wrapped itself around the cable and headed straight for it.

The radio was the size of a large microwave and I just knew that it would blow-up. It did!

Everything probably happened rather quickly, but it sure didn’t seem like it. To this day, I remember having enough time to mentally cry out, “He’s gonna kill me! He’s gonna to kill me!”

I didn’t think I had been able to make any audible sound, but at some point I screamed loud enough to wake my family and bring the neighbors running. It was a bit late; the radio had already blown and I was glued to the deck, still unable to move. Oddly, though, once my mother opened the sliding glass door and stepped outside, the antennae came off the power line. I am still quite certain that it lifted itself, without any effort from me.

Once inside the house, I did receive a scolding. “You could’ve been killed!” she shrieked. The whole incident was so surreal that I hadn’t yet thought about the fact that I should have been electrocuted (I later learned that my disaster knocked out the town’s electricity for four city blocks). My only fear up to that point was the repercussions that I would face from an angry, temperamental step-father who treasured his radio equipment.

I was so overcome with worry that I stayed home that day and fretted. The clock, like the energy ball, seemed to creep towards its intended target in slow motion; it was one of the longest days of my life.

At the appointed time, I retrieved my step-father from the lot and explained what had happened. “You were right, I should have listened to you and woke up mom and brother, but…” My body went rigid again as I tensed, waiting for the verbal slaughter.

Instead, to my utter surprise, he cried. That was the second shock I received that day. When I was growing up, breaking a dish was practically a capital offense, but for this grave blunder no punishment was given. He only had compassion and understanding.

Dear reader, I want you to understand that at the time all of this happened, I did not know God. Yet, He still chose to look upon me with compassion and spared my life. It would be many years more before I would accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and thank Him for that merciful act, but He always looked-out for me anyway.

I hope you are blessed by this true testimony of God’s miraculous intervention. If you are in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, I praise God. But if you are not, I want to you to know that He loves you no matter what, and He is looking out for you whether you realize it or not.

Perhaps it doesn’t seem that way to you. If not, it might be because you are trying to do everything in your own strength; thinking you can get through without help. But that doesn’t generally work. Without God, the winds of adversity will surely blow your way and wreak havoc until something finally blows-up.

My prayer for you today, dear reader, is for you to know that God is with you through every storm. He is merciful and compassionate, and He is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1) because He cares for you very much.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25,26).

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Pasture Muffins

Posted in Brokenness, Devotional, Emotinal Pain, Emotional Healing, Encouragement, Endurance, Faith, Inspirational, Thorns, Victory on July 25, 2011| 3 Comments »

Let’s talk poop for a moment. Don’t worry; I won’t bother you with some boring scientific thesis on excrement —that would stink. However, l want to remind you that God has a way of growing roses out of manure.

This might seem an incredibly odd topic, but I honestly believe with all my heart that God has created our world in such a way that we may learn important lessons from everything in nature. From the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, to the fiery eruptions of a volcano, we can see God’s intelligent design.

So it is with pasture muffins. An average man can walk through a pasture and see nothing but piles and piles of poo, whereas an insightful man might see acres of nutrient-rich plant food. It’s more than just a matter of pessimism versus optimism, though. It is a matter of understanding that God designed all things perfectly and He doesn’t consider anything to be waste. Thus, we may view the difficult circumstances of our lives to be as dung, but God looks upon them as nutrient-rich food for our spiritual growth.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Furthermore, Scripture says God raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill (Psalms 113:7). If you keep reading, you’ll find He doesn’t stop there. After he raises us up, he makes ‘roses’ grow right out of the dunghills so that we can see his love, mercy and compassion in the midst of every trial and circumstance.

Naturally, when we see a rose, we tend to think only of God’s beautiful creation. It would be beneficial, however, to  remember that roses sometimes have thorns.  These serve as a reminder that we must not take His grace for granted.  If you handle a rose carelessly, it will prick you. Likewise, God has a way of “pricking” us if we become indifferent to His working in our lives.

The apostle Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” He explained, “lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance… there was given to me a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7). He goes on to explain that his “thorn in the flesh” was a “messenger of Satan” sent to buffet him. The word buffet means to contend against or battle. The Lord God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed this person to constantly buffet Paul in order to keep him humble, and never take his position for granted.

Sometimes our thorns serve to remind us that, in this world, our lives will always be a bittersweet mixture of beauty and pain. The apostle Peter said: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy (I Peter 4:12,13).

As to Christ’s suffering, that brings me to another point; Even He experienced the stench of the dunghill.  That is to say, He was unjustly crucified at the place where all the “refuse” of society were taken to be executed —what a fitting place to defeat death.

Our Messiah willingly surrendered His life on Mount Calvary so that he could offer himself as the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins and reconcile us to God. But when that battle was finished, He rose from the grave, having conquered sin and death.   Truly, when our Lord, Jesus Christ, said “It is finished!”  that awful dunghill lost its power.

So you see, even if this life is littered with pasture muffins along the way, it doesn’t matter.  If we have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice, He has already lifted us out of the dunghill.  And someday soon, we will go to live with Him eternally. There, our pastures, having already been fertilized by these earthly trials, will be full of roses without thorns. Nothing could ever be more beautiful than that.

Hallelujah.

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North is the Front of the Car

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Endurance, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Provision, Guidance, Inspirational, Preparedness, Religion, Spiritual Strength on July 14, 2011| 3 Comments »

Because I am a D.C.D (directionally challenged driver), I often jest that “North is the front of the car.” This means, of course, that I prefer that people direct me to turn left or right instead of north, south, east or west. This may seem odd to some of you but I grew up in Nowhere, U.S.A. There, our idea of a traffic jam was two cars stuck behind a slow-moving tractor. When my family did finally move to the big city, (population 4,000) we didn’t even have stop lights, let alone the nonsensical stuff like one-way streets –which, for the record, are not at all safe for D.C.D’s!

You would think that I, of all people, would have a GPS in my vehicle, but oddly I don’t. One of those gadgets would probably make me crazy anyway; I don’t think I’d like to hear some faceless voice assuring me that she is “recalculating” every time I miss a turn. I did try a dash-mounted compass once, but that only messed me up more –trust me, it’s possible.

Fortunately for me, God blessed me with a help-mate. He frequently prevents me from ending up in Timbuktku —which is in Africa I think— by making me a very detailed, step-by-step map every time I drive someplace new. Normally, I can’t find a lit candle in the dark, but I can follow my beloved’s instructions easily, even if north is the front of the car.

After I married, my husband and I did not just move to the city, we moved to another world (population far too many). To this country hick, everything was foreign and uncomfortable. But I can gladly say that after all these years I finally feel somewhat confident that I can find my way around the place. However, if it were up to me, I would rename this city “Road Construction Ahead.” We wouldn’t even have to spend money on new signs; there are plenty that have those very words on them everywhere you look. And you know what that means; detours. Yep, that’s just what a D.C.D needs.

Then there are the streets that are located in at least three different parts of the city, those nasty one-ways, traffic circles, and worst of all; rude drivers who don’t let you get over into the turn lane until it’s too late, forcing you to miss your turn. Recalculating.

Life can be like that too. We pretty much know where we are heading, but sometimes we simply get confused and don’t know which way to turn, or we get hit with unexpected detours. At times like that, we need a very detailed roadmap. Fortunately for us, God provided us with one —it’s called the Holy Bible. He loved us enough to give us step-by-step directions to help us travel through this life so that we can arrive at our destination (eternity) safe and sound.

Additionally, God knew that some of us would be a little directionally challenged so he gave us a Helper. Jesus promised:

…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26 NKJV)

Dear reader, if you feel lost or frustrated in your life, I would like to encourage you get to know this helper by spending time reading the Bible. Its directions are clear and easy to follow. If you look on a map, north is ‘up.’ Scripture says to look up, for your redemption is near (Luke 21:28). In the vehicle of life, Jesus is north. That being the case, I am proud to say that north is the front of my car, and I plan to keep it that way.

“Sink the Bible to the bottom of the sea, and man’s obligation to God would be unchanged. He would have the same path to tread, only his lamp and his guide would be gone; he would have the same voyage to make, only his compass and chart would be overboard.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher

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Yonder!

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Provision, Inspirational, New Jerusalem, Preparedness, Victory on July 8, 2011| 3 Comments »

photo credit: TOTAL Wallpapers


Children used to stuff their pockets full of pawpaw fruit “way up yonder in the pawpaw patch.” Grandma’s used to plant their gardens over yonder, while grandpas went fishing down yonder at the creek –or crick, depending on which part of the country they lived in. And the Air Force used to fly their planes into the wild blue yonder.

What about you, have you ever gone yonder? Jesus did (if you read the KJV). He told His disciples: “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder” (Matthew 26:36). Abraham also went yonder; he went there to worship God (Genesis 22:5 KJV). I figure if these two went yonder, I don’t have a problem going there either.

You see, yonder used to refer to a place. And you usually went up, down or over to get there. These days, however, words tend to have entirely different meanings –especially for teenagers. Apparently, yonder is one of those words that somehow morphed into teen lingo -at least by my daughter. She has chosen yonder to be her newest fun phrase. By throwing “yonder” into any sentence randomly, the word can now mean absolutely anything.

Weird as that may be, it is kind of catchy. Everyone at my house is now throwing the word yonder around just to catch people off guard. For instance, if I ask “Do you want tacos for dinner?” I might get “Yonder” for an answer. If someone remarks that a movie wasn’t all that good, another might reply with a disappointed, yet affirmative “yonder.” That single word might even, by obvious interpretation, mean “Ugh, it’s hot out today.”

I’ve been thinking about “up yonder” a lot lately because this same daughter has left the nest and moved there. Of course, I miss her tremendously, but at the same time I am very happy for her. Surrounded by family (and lakes) allows her a chance to start over in a place that will bring her great joy and opportunity. I almost envy her ability to leave this city and go live someplace scenic, surrounded by loved ones. I’ve often dreamed of my entire family doing that (see my “But God said, No!” blog), but alas we are still here in the flatlands.

It won’t always be that way, though. I’m not sure just when any of us will make the move, but we definitely plan on relocating to an eternal place of rest that is far more beautiful than our minds can ever comprehend. And there, everyone will love each other!

Let me tell you about yonder:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their 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.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son (Revelation 21: 1-7).

My future home, up yonder, as described in Scripture is also a place of peace and safety: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6).

I can hardly wait to move up yonder. Like Abraham, I am going there to worship God- forever and ever. What about you? Are you prepared to go up yonder to live with The King of Glory for all eternity? If not, what are you waiting for? Just invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior and you will have taken the first step toward an incredible and indescribable eternity up yonder.

Oh, and if we ever meet in person and I have that far-away, dreamy look in my eyes, ask me if I’m thinking of that place. I might just answer, YONDER!

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Declaration of Dependence

Posted in Declaration of Independence, Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Inspirational on July 4, 2011| 1 Comment »

A wise friend of mine recently said “Every country has a 4th of July. We should not celebrate the 4th, we must celebrate Independence Day! God Bless America.” 

I agree with Jackie. The Declaration of Independence may have been signed by our founding fathers, but it was sealed with the blood of the many patriots who sacrificed their lives in order to secure our freedom. Since that Declaration, countless men and women have devoted their lives, and in many instances lost them, in order that the United States of America may continue to be  free. It would be nothing less than shameful to diminish the selfless accomplishments of these patriots by reducing Independence Day to little more than cookouts and fireworks.

Having said that, I would like to propose that, during the course of our Independence Day celebrations, we all take time to boldly proclaim our “Declaration of Dependence”  as well. While it is true that our nation currently enjoys independence from other countries, we will by no means remain free from the tyranny of our adversaries unless we remain wholly dependent upon God! After all, as wonderful as this country is, we can do nothing in our own strength.

Speaking of Independence Day, consider this well-known quote from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These thoughts aren’t original. Let’s reflect briefly upon what the Bible has to say about them.

All men are created equal

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (3:28 NIV).

-They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are:

Life

I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Liberty

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit… (Romans 8:1)                                                                                                                  (We) shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (verse 21)

 

And the pursuit of happiness

   Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he …happy is that people, whose God is the LORD (Psalms 16:20 & 144:15).

 

Like you, I am quite thankful for all of the men and women, past and present, which have defended this great nation and gifted us with these wonderful freedoms.  In the natural, however, they can be very fleeting –here today, gone tomorrow. Conversely, with God, they are everlasting. Words cannot even express how grateful I am that our Messiah, Jesus Christ, gave His own life in order that we could have even greater life, liberty and happiness –and that for all eternity!

Dear reader, I trust you will have a wonderful and blessed Independence Day, filled with lots of food, fireworks and fellowship.  But most of all, I hope you take some time to publicly thank God for the many freedoms He has granted, and that you will both acknowledge and  proclaim our “Declaration of Dependence” upon Him.

God bless…

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Beware the Pied Piper

Posted in Devotional, Faith, Guidance, Inspirational, Judgement, Judging Correctly, Preparedness, Religion, Wolves in Sheeps Clothing on June 21, 2011| 6 Comments »

The Pied Piper was supposed to be a savior of sorts to the people of Hamelin. He would rid the town of its rat infestation once and for all and charge only one-thousand guilders for doing so. The mayor, in a moment of elation, offered more coin than that, but he didn’t really mean it.

If you are familiar with the story, you will know that the piper did free the town of its four-legged rats, but the rats that ran the town council cheated him of his pay. Bent on revenge, therefore, the pied piper then lured all of the children away –never to return. This was easily accomplished. As the piper had previously told the council, “I’m able, by means of a secret charm, to draw all creatures living beneath the sun…”

I have often thought the tale of the Pied Piper to be an excellent metaphor of how easily God’s children are led astray. Let’s consider, for a moment, some of the similarities.

Our adversary, the devil, wanted “payment” for his self-perceived greatness, but God refused. Angry, and bent on revenge, that old devil sought to lead God’s children away from Him forever. Like the pied piper, he arrogantly believes that he is able, by means of a secret charm, to draw all creatures living beneath the sun.

If the devil were to show his true colors, none of God’s children would ever be foolish enough to follow him. Therefore, he clothes himself brightly, and deceitfully appears as an angel of light, enticing those who are willing to follow him with enchantments hard to refuse.

“Into the street the Piper stept,
Smiling first a little smile,
As if he knew what magic slept
In his quiet pipe the while…”

You wouldn’t think that God’s children could be so easily beguiled, but the devil has been sharpening his skills from the dawn of time. Therefore, he knows full well how to appeal to mankind’s carnal natures. Ironically, the devil’s deceptions often come in religious wrappings.

Scripture aptly teaches that the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV). Obviously, this passage is speaking of those believers who willfully follow the sweet music of certain theological pied pipers.

Sadly, some believers earnestly seek truth yet fail to discern unsound doctrine simply because they trust in the undeserved “credibility” of those false teachers. I certainly don’t want to speak against any of God’s truly appointed ministers, but I do want to encourage you, dear reader, to make sure that those ‘big name’ ministers, from whose tables you have been dining, are truly men and women of God!

Again, Scripture says: Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15).

We have been warned! There are pied pipers (aka wolves) out there, wearing minister’s garb, who are leading people astray. It is quite easy to follow these kinds of leaders because they are very charismatic. Furthermore, most of their teachings are biblically based; which explains why these ‘ministers’ gain such popularity despite their spiritual corruption.

Nevertheless, being deceived is certainly no sin and it can happen to all of us at some time or another. How, then, do we guard against the deception of these false “ministers of righteousness.”

First: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). If you KNOW the truth, you won’t be easily deceived by that which isn’t.

Second: It is important that we know those who labor among us; we should carefully examine the teachings of every spiritual leader we are inclined to follow. If any of those teachings fail to line-up with scripture, we should seriously reconsider our affiliation with that person, no matter who they are -or how spiritual they seem to be.

Please understand, I am not talking about those who maintain a slightly different interpretation of Scripture than ours; that is to be expected to a certain degree. Rather, I am talking about those whose teachings are in direct contradiction of Scripture.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16: 17 18). Like the pied piper of Hamelin, these false teachers have the gift of charm and they are using it for their own profit.

Praise God for the faithful ministers who unashamedly preach and teach the truth of God’s word! Let us give them our full support. As to supporting these spiritual pied pipers, however, let us say no. We should tell them the same thing the good people of Hamelin told their city council:

“Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking,
To find the remedy [you are] lacking,
Or, sure as fate, we’ll send you packing!”

Browning, Robert. The Pied Piper of Hamelin. London: Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd., 1888
*book quotes are on pages 14, 17, and 13 consecutively. Photo taken from page 41

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The Cash Stash

Posted in Devotional, Emotional Healing, Encouragement, Faith, Inspirational, Spiritual Strength on June 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The only sign for miles read Welcome to Hickville –on both sides! Okay, so that’s not really the name of the town, but it really was that small and we were somewhat proud to be called hicks.

The only bank was an hour away if you drove, but very few people owned a vehicle back in the “olden days” when the town was founded. Back then, most folks kept their money in an old tin and buried their valuables in mason jars.

For whatever reason, a few of those hidden stashes were lost or forgotten until someone had the good fortune to find them. As the years passed, a few stories were told of some pretty awesome finds, but none quite as incredible as the $100,000 bonanza stashed in the wall of a dilapidated old farmhouse.

Neither of the two brothers that inherited their father’s property knew anything about the money. They were supposed to split the estate equally but no specifics were given as to how that should be done. Since it’s a little hard to cut a house and outbuildings in half, the elder brother –by right of the firstborn- chose the best fields for himself and allotted the younger son the entire homestead to make-up for the fact that his portion of the land was smaller and less favorable.

But the younger brother didn’t need another house and barn; he needed more farmland. Therefore, he and his family decided to raze all the buildings and plow the acreage (a really strong wind would’ve knocked it all down anyway). That’s when he realized just how green his new property was- $100,000 worth of green.

Though he would have preferred that no one find out about the cash, he really needed some new farm equipment, and that didn’t come cheap. As soon as he rolled into the fields with a brand new combine harvester equipped with all the doo-jiggers and thingamabobs a farmer could ever hope to have (yep, they have doo-jiggers in Hickville), his brother quickly learned that all those stories of hidden money were more than just old fireside tales from the past.

Speaking of the past, I was recently speaking with someone who doesn’t even want to hear the gospel message because she is still living in the bondage of past hurts. While I certainly understand why she feels that way, it is heartbreaking. If only she would tear down some of those walls and accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, He could heal that pain; I speak from experience.

This woman’s situation reminds me of the two brothers’ in some ways. They grew up in a house with all that money right under their noses and they never knew it. Why their father kept the knowledge of it ‘hidden’ is not certain, but he knew that they would eventually find that part of their inheritance, and when they did, it would completely change their lives. But first, they would have to tear down some walls.

Salvation, according to Scripture, is also an inheritance –one that is incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us (I Peter 1:4). But like the farmer’s inheritance, partially hidden behind a wall, the gospel is also “hidden.” 2 Corinthians 4:3 instructs that if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. What does that mean? In a nutshell, it means that our human minds cannot truly comprehend the fullness of the gospel until we accept God’s free gift of salvation because it is spiritually discerned rather than intellectually. Salvation, therefore, requires a step of faith.

If you, dear reader, have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, there is no better time than the present. Perhaps you have a lot of past hurts and your life resembles that broken-down homestead -ready to topple. The Lord Jesus understands. He longs to help you tear down walls and raze everything that stands in the way of your salvation and all the benefits thereof; you need only to ask Him.

Once you do accept Jesus Christ as Lord, you have this assurance: if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 –ASV).

I leave you with one more Scripture:

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
Psalms 19:7-10 NIV

Chances are you will never find any buried treasure (not even a stash of cash hidden in the walls), but if you will only submit your life to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, you will have inherited the greatest treasure that may ever be obtained –you can bank on that!

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Skookum

Posted in Devotional, Endurance, Guidance, Inspirational, tagged on September 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In the winter of 1982, my life was saved by a pony. But Skookum wasn’t an ordinary pony; he was a Belgium with a personality as large as the mountain he rescued me from.

I hadn’t told anyone I was hiking up the mountain unaccompanied, not that anyone would have cared anyway. In those days I was quite alone, except for Skookum, who was quite determined to be my constant companion. The feeling was mutual; I loved my playful, four-legged friend.

I eagerly started most mornings with Skookum’s slobbery kisses, and his huge nose rooting deeply into my coat pocket to retrieve his daily snack (Snickers® bars were his absolute favorite). The two of us would then go about our day together; he rarely left my side when I was outdoors.

On that particular day, though, I was feeling as bleak and cold as the weather and longed for complete solitude, which was my most cherished endowment next to Skookum’s companionship. Life, at that time, had given me cause to agree with the German philosopher Schopenhauer: “A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.”¹  Since entering into relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I no longer agree with that statement, nor read philosophy, but on that dreary winter afternoon so long ago, the statement captured my inner thoughts well.

It was with that mindset that I headed up the mountain to briefly escape the hostile world. I knew that it wasn’t wise to go off alone, especially at that late hour, but I really didn’t care; the mountain was normally a peaceful sanctum and I longed to retreat to its isolation. Skookum knew the mountain well, but even he would have interfered with the silent seclusion I desired to immerse myself in. Thus, I slipped by his ever watchful eye and began my ascent.

Though I was deep in thought, I hadn’t been careless. Making sure to stay on the really old, well-worn paths, I deliberately marked the landscape as I went. Unfortunately, the possibility of snow had not occurred to me until it was too late. The mountain was quickly blanketed until nothing looked familiar and I could no longer find the paths.

As I searched frantically for some recognizable landmark, the chilling yelps of coyotes began to close in on me. More alarmingly, fresh tracks indicated their close proximity. Normally, coyotes eat smaller prey, but they had gone after the horses several times so I certainly had reason to fear. It wasn’t that I was afraid to die – I just didn’t want to die as the main course for a coyote pack.

By this time I was completely lost and unsure of what to do. Dusk had already begun to obscure what little sunlight there had been and soon I would be stranded alone on the mountain, in the dark, surrounded by coyotes. If ever there was a time to regret my reclusiveness, it was certainly then.

Just when I felt that all hope was lost, Skookum showed up. I was certain that his snorting and stamping was as much a scornful rebuke as it was a warning of the encroaching danger, which was getting closer by the minute. He turned to my left and headed off with a slower than normal gait, turning ever so often to make sure I was following. My faithful companion led me to the base of the mountain before dark without harm. I was actually thankful to be back among civilization and Skookum was thankful for his reward of two Snickers® bars the next day.

 After all these years, I still think about that precious pony. I sometimes think about that mountain too.  In that part of the state, the mountains were mostly rocky terrain with very few trees or streams- not pretty at all.  This meant that even those well-worn paths were very difficult to traverse; even a short trek up the mountain was somewhat dangerous and exhausting.

In some ways, my experience on that mountain reminds me of some of the more difficult spiritual journeys that I have faced throughout the years. I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I have found myself in a very bleak and desolate place, feeling very downcast and alone. Like my buddy Skookum, the Lord was right there wanting to shower His love on me and guide me through the difficult terrain, but I hadn’t yet allowed Him too.

Consequently, in trying to conquer my ‘mountain’ alone, it wasn’t long until it seemed my problems were closing-in on me, ready to devour. But just when I felt all hope was gone, the Lord (who was there all along) reminded me that He is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble, therefore we will not fear (Psalms 46:1, 2). He also reminded me that He longs to walk every step of life’s journey with us- especially the difficult ones, if only we will let Him.  

Dear reader, you and I will undoubtedly have many difficult mountains to traverse in this life, and the terrain may be difficult and exhausting, but we never have to go them alone! Beyond that, the Lord has made the paths very easy to find. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls (6:16).   And remember, the Lord leads us on those paths (Psalm 23).

No offense to Mr. Schopenhauer, but it is not when a man is alone that he is really free; it is only when a man walks with God that he is truly free!

¹ Schopenhauer, Arthur R. Essays and  Aphorisms. Penguin Books, Penguin Group. New York, USA. Translation, 1970

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