Please Don't Give Up On Me
by Barbara Chadwick
At my sister's house in San Pedro, California there is a pretty lawn of green grass in front. One day as I walked up the front steps I noticed the grass was tall, uneven and shabby. The next day the gardener was working away when I got there, cutting and pruning. He loves his work and the result was beautiful. It got me to thinking.
I want to be a joyful, radiant Christian, a channel of God's blessing to others. I have every intention of reflecting the beauty of Christ's love in words and actions and I start out pretty well. But in the daily girnd of life or shall we say the Reality Show Of Life...
- someone shouts unkind words to me (even if the decibels are not high, it sounds and feels like a shout)
- a driver cuts me off on the freeway almost causing me to wreck
- the boss doesn't see my potential and gives the project to someone whose work is inferior
Oh that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees! Psalms 119:5 Don't you just love David? When I read the psalms I am constantly reminded of the inadequacy of me. In verse 8b David says,
Please don't give up on me!
V. 11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
V. 15 I will study Your commandments and reflect Your ways.
V. 16 I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your Word.
Please don't give up on me when:
- my actions do not reflect one who claims to belong to Christ
- my words do not bring joy but rather pain
- my steps lead me on a path away from You
- my thoughts are not pure
- I don't obey Your commandments (John 15:10-11)
- I retaliate in anger.
- I am arrogant and proud or scornful
I want to cut shabby words out of my vocabulary. I want to prune the attitudes and actions that do not produce beauty or reflect God's grace.
One of our grandson's other grandfather began teaching him new words from the day he began to speak. One day when he was three he got frustrated and said, "I'm trying to co-operate!" A big word indeed for a toddler. There are days when I feel like this. I'm trying to cooperate with the Lord, trying to listen to His voice, trying to follow His mandates when it seems like everything I do or say is opposite to what I intend. Paul said it well in Romans 7:21-25 When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Lord Jesus, I do love Your Word. I want it to show in my life. Please don't give up on me because
I'm trying to co operate!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
On That Day When Jesus
Calls My Name
By Barbara Chadwick
Is it possible to live your spiritual life using the five senses; see, hear, feel, taste and smell?
We've been cleaning out closets and boxes. I found a list I made a few years ago when I was challenged to live my life using the five senses in a way that would please God.
1. My heart's desire is to be like Jesus
2. To love as He loved
3. To feel the heart of each one I talk to
4. To pray knowing the Father hears me
5. To walk as He walked
6. To be faithful in the things that matter
7. To touch as He touched
8. To know His Word as if He were talking
9. To see the hurts in their eyes
10. To be a pleasing aroma, a fragrant blessing to someone each day
11. To taste and experience life as if He were living through me
If we could live like this would we feel more alive in our hours and days and less like walking dead men?
I have talked with people in this past year who live and speak as if they have no hope, no joy and no peace.
Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
This week one of my nieces died. She was 53.
She believed the lies satan told her – that she was no good, that she had no worth and that no one loved her. She spent her days, that stretched into years, on her couch with alcohol – empty. Empty of hope, empty of joy and empty of peace. Satan stole her joy. He killed her hope. He destroyed her peace. He filled her mind with the hurts and scars until she couldn't focus on the present. He destroyed her and finally killed her. He is the father of lies.
But Jesus came to give abundant life. He said, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me... streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:37
The Gaither Vocal Band sings a song called, I Am Loved. Listen to some of the words:
I said, "If you knew me you wouldn't want me, my scars are hidden by the face I wear."
He said, "My child my scars go deeper and it was love for you that put them there."
Did you memorize John 3:16 as a child as I did? For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. How is it that our days pass and we forget about that love? Verse 17 says, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. My niece knew that verse. If she had focused on God's words instead of the words of the father of lies her days could have been filled with joy and peace, laughter and light.
Paul says in Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord! …Do not be anxious…but present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do you remember that song by Wayne Watson, One Day Jesus Will Call My Name?
One day Jesus will call my name. As days go by I hope I don’t stay the same. I want to get so close to Him that it’s no big change, on that day Jesus calls my name.
I DO want to be so close to Christ that there’s no great change on that day when Jesus calls my name.
I want to have the peace of Philippians 4:7, the love of John 3:16, and the abundant life of John 10:10.
I want people to be able to see the five senses in me: the love of Christ in my actions, that my walk matches my talk, that my eyes see their hurt and their scars, that I would be a pleasing aroma to God and to those around me.
I want to walk with Him so faithfully that I can hear His voice and when He calls me I would say, “Yes, Lord,” and step into His presence.
Calls My Name
By Barbara Chadwick
Is it possible to live your spiritual life using the five senses; see, hear, feel, taste and smell?
We've been cleaning out closets and boxes. I found a list I made a few years ago when I was challenged to live my life using the five senses in a way that would please God.
1. My heart's desire is to be like Jesus
2. To love as He loved
3. To feel the heart of each one I talk to
4. To pray knowing the Father hears me
5. To walk as He walked
6. To be faithful in the things that matter
7. To touch as He touched
8. To know His Word as if He were talking
9. To see the hurts in their eyes
10. To be a pleasing aroma, a fragrant blessing to someone each day
11. To taste and experience life as if He were living through me
If we could live like this would we feel more alive in our hours and days and less like walking dead men?
I have talked with people in this past year who live and speak as if they have no hope, no joy and no peace.
Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
This week one of my nieces died. She was 53.
She believed the lies satan told her – that she was no good, that she had no worth and that no one loved her. She spent her days, that stretched into years, on her couch with alcohol – empty. Empty of hope, empty of joy and empty of peace. Satan stole her joy. He killed her hope. He destroyed her peace. He filled her mind with the hurts and scars until she couldn't focus on the present. He destroyed her and finally killed her. He is the father of lies.
But Jesus came to give abundant life. He said, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me... streams of living water will flow from within him. John 7:37
The Gaither Vocal Band sings a song called, I Am Loved. Listen to some of the words:
I said, "If you knew me you wouldn't want me, my scars are hidden by the face I wear."
He said, "My child my scars go deeper and it was love for you that put them there."
Did you memorize John 3:16 as a child as I did? For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. How is it that our days pass and we forget about that love? Verse 17 says, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. My niece knew that verse. If she had focused on God's words instead of the words of the father of lies her days could have been filled with joy and peace, laughter and light.
Paul says in Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord! …Do not be anxious…but present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do you remember that song by Wayne Watson, One Day Jesus Will Call My Name?
One day Jesus will call my name. As days go by I hope I don’t stay the same. I want to get so close to Him that it’s no big change, on that day Jesus calls my name.
I DO want to be so close to Christ that there’s no great change on that day when Jesus calls my name.
I want to have the peace of Philippians 4:7, the love of John 3:16, and the abundant life of John 10:10.
I want people to be able to see the five senses in me: the love of Christ in my actions, that my walk matches my talk, that my eyes see their hurt and their scars, that I would be a pleasing aroma to God and to those around me.
I want to walk with Him so faithfully that I can hear His voice and when He calls me I would say, “Yes, Lord,” and step into His presence.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
A Good Imagination Gone Wrong
I love this children’s song:
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see …
Oh, be careful little ears what you hear …
Oh, be careful little feet where you go …
(and I like to add a verse)
Oh, be careful little head what you think
Oh, be careful little head what you think
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little head what you think
I love a good story and a good imagination helps a so-so story to be fairly interesting. But not all stories are good. And not everything that we imagine is beneficial. Not even the true things that happen in our world, in our communities are worth repeating … over and over … like the Casey Anthony case. I believe more harm will come from the news coverage than whatever that woman did or did not do to her child. The Bible tells us to …
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but r
ather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:11-17
God intended us to live abundant lives. It’s hard to live an abundant life if you’re cowering in fear. The Bible also tells us that
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25
Perhaps as you read this excerpt from Anne of Green Gables it is possible to see ways that we have allowed our imaginations (via books, movies, the internet) to cause us much grief and pain that is completely unnecessary. Then perhaps you “won’t countenance such things … and it will be a lesson and a warning to you.” … and to me.
“…Anne, I want you to run over and ask Mrs. Barry if she’ll lend me Diana’s apron pattern.”
“Oh – it’s – too dark.” Cried Anne.
“Too dark? Why, it’s only twilight. And goodness knows you’ve gone over enough after dark.:
“I’ll go over early in the morning,” said Anne eagerly. “I’ll get up at sunrise and go over, Marilla.”
“What has got into your head now, Anne Shirley? I want the pattern to cut out your new apron this evening. Go at once and be smart, too.”
“I’ll have to go around by the road, then,” said Anne, taking up her hat reluctantly.
“Go by the road and waste half an hour! I’d like to catch you!”
“I can’t go through the Haunted Wood, Marilla,” cried Anne desperately.
Marilla stared.
“The Haunted Wood! Are you crazy? What under the canopy is the Haunted Wood?”
“The spruce wood over the brook,” said Anne in a whisper.
“Fiddlesticks! There is no such thing as a haunted wood anywhere. Who has been telling you such stuff?”
“nobody,” confessed Anne. “Diana and I just imagined the wood was haunted. All the places around here are so – so – commonplace. We just go this up for our own amusement. We began it in April. A haunted wood is so very romantic, Marilla. We chose the spruce grove because it’s so gloomy. Oh, we have imagined the most harrowing things. There’s a white lady walks along the brook just about this time of the night and wrings her hands and utters wailing cries. She appears when there is to be a death in the family. And the ghost of a little murdered child haunts the corner up by Idlewild; it creeps up behind you and lays its cold fingers on your hand – so. Oh, Marilla, it gives me a shudder to think of it. And there’s a headless man stalks up and down the path and skeletons glower at you between the boughs. Oh, Marilla, I wouldn’t go through the Haunted Wood after dark now for anything. I’d be sure that white things would reach out from behind the trees and grab me.”
“Did ever any one hear the like!” ejaculated Marilla, who had listened in dumb amazement. “Anne Shirley, do you mean to tell me you believe all that wicked nonsense of your own imagination?”
“Not believe exactly” faltered Anne. “At least. I don’t believe it in daylight. But after dark, Marilla, it’s different. That is when ghosts walk.”
“There are no such things as ghosts, Anne.”
“Oh, but there are, Marilla,” cried Anne eagerly. …
…
“Anne Shirley,” interrupted Marilla firmly, “I never want to hear you talking in this fashion again. I’ve had my doubts about that imagination of yours right along, and if this is going to be the outcome of it, I won’t countenance any such doings. You’ll go right over to Barry’s, and you’ll go through that spruce grove, just for a lesson and a warning to you. And never let me hear a word out of your head about haunted woods again.”
Anne might plead and cry as she liked – and did, for her terror was very real. Her imagination had run away with her and she held the spruce grove in mortal dread after nightfall. But Marilla was inexorable. She marched the shrinking ghostseer down to the spring and ordered her to proceed straightway over the bridge and into the dusky retreats of wailing ladies and headless specters beyond.
“Oh, Marilla, how can you be so cruel?” sobbed Anne. “What would you feel like if a white thing did snatch me up and carry me off?”
“I’ll risk it,” said Marilla unfeelingly. “You know I always mean what I say. I’ll cure you of imagining ghosts into places. March, now.”
Anne marched. That is, she stumbled over the bridge and went shuddering up the horrible dim path beyond. Anne never forgot that walk. Bitterly did she repent the license she had given to her imagination. The goblins of her fancy lurked in every shadow about her, reaching out their cold, fleshless hands to grasp the terrified small girl who had called them into being. … The dreadful return journey had to be faced. Anne went back over it with shut eyes, preferring to take the risk of dashing her brains out among the boughs to that of seeing a white thing. When she finally tumbled over the log bridge she drew one long shivering breath of relief.
“Well, so nothing caught you?” said Marilla unsympathetically.
“Oh, Mar – Marilla,” chattered Anne, “I’ll b-b-be cont-t-tented with c-c-commonplace places after this.”
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