DANDELIONS

By Dr. A. Kenneth Chadwick

 

The dandelion has received a bad name not because of its beautiful flowers but because of its wonderful propensity to reproduction. It is as if the dandelion thought that when God told man in Genesis to be fruitful and multiply He was speaking to the dandelion.

I would maintain that it should not be the national flower but the world wide flower. It grows everywhere. It grows in the cracks of the sidewalks of the large cities. It grows along the unpaved streets of small villages. It grows alongside the highways and byways of all nations. It grows in the high mountains and the low valleys. It has the ability to adapt to all kinds of soil and weather patterns. 

Would not the dandelion serve as a wonderful example for the Christian to follow?

 Its roots go deep in the soil and it is difficult to extract them. It sows it’s seed indiscriminately and with profusion. Would not it be wonderful if all Christians would send their roots deep into the rich fertile soil of God’s Holy Word? So deep that it would not be easy for the cares and worries of this present age to so easily uproot them. And would not it be wonderful if Christians would sow the seeds of the gospel along the highways and byways of life in such an indiscriminate manner that many of the seeds would take root and there would be growth of the church that would astound all the people of the world.

Was not this what Jesus had in mind when he said in the closing words of Mathew’s gospel, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.? Matthew 28:19-20

THE TRACE YOU LEAVE BEHIND

by Barbara Chadwick

 

 

“We don’t hack on bushes, we don’t hack on trees and we don’t hack on people.”

Andy Hornbaker was training a group of men backpacking into the high Uinta mountains of Utah. The training was called, “Leave no trace behind.” 

In life we do leave traces. Our words and actions are often etched onto the minds of others.

One evening we were sharing a meal with extended family. There were twelve of us sitting around the table. For some reason half of them were ragging on my sister-in-law. One tease after another – relentless. Why do we hack away at people just because they are a “good sport?”

As we were leaving I said to her, “I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You have always been an encouragement and an inspiration to me and I want to thank you.” Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged me. On the way home I felt badly that I didn’t say that at the table in her defense.

Paul said, So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Romans 14:19 

Paul shares this theme in other books of the New Testament as well: …Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves… Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:27; 2:3, 5  (Note: To “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus” means to value what Jesus values. Apologetics Study Bible, p. 1775)

Jesus valued people. He loved people so much that:  For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Jesus didn’t hack on people. Instead , in the Sermon On The Mount of Matthew chapter five He instructs believers to be encouraging:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.  Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness because they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:1-10

 

Let the trace you leave behind be gentle, compassionate, merciful, pure, peaceful and humble. Do not hack.

BELOVED ARTWORK

Beloved Artwork

by Audrey Wauson

 

 

When you look at me, what is it you see?

A piece of driftwood abandoned by the sea?
Then you are missing what I was meant to be
 
For I’m in the process of becoming a different kind of me
One without splinter, shapely and formed
Displaying His beauty, a beloved artwork
 
The Carver knew the shape and the size
And set out to make a most valuable prize
So gently and tender He picked me up
And began sanding and buffing the rough
Torn ugly surface, that hides all the lines
And curves of His graceful, beloved artwork

Unlike most others, the Carver still sees

The dream He’s creating so surely in me
When I squirmed and I wriggled out of His hand
Destroying His timing, delaying His plan
He stained me with His blood and polished me with grace
Purposely finishing me, His creation, His beloved artwork

To everyone else I may look like some driftwood

Abandoned, forgotten, useless and no good
But to the Carver, I’m precious and rare
Worth all His time, devotion and care
He’s carefully, patiently, loving holding
His costly treasure, His beloved artwork

Psalms 139:13-14
For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.

For we are His creation - created in Christ Jesus for good works... Eph 2:10

SEARCH MY HEART

by Barbara Chad wick



Seven strangers in rows of chairs - three on one side and four on the other - the rows about four feet apart. Eyes looking down, closed or idly trying to focus on pages in a magazine - not reading because eyes are dilated. Dilated.

The individual can't see but the Doctor can see all about the eye.

Oftentimes we're in a position in life where we can't see or don't notice that we've moved away from God but God can see into our hearts with precision. He can see all that's in our hearts.

Just as we can ask the Ophthalmologist what's wrong with our eyes, we can ask God to show us what's in our hearts and ask Him to help us fix it.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Psalm 139:23-24

THE TURNING PLOW

by Barbara Chadwick

 

  

“The turning plow goes deep. It turns up the soil and up-ends weeds and old dry plants from the previous season. Weeds grow from seeds so we would plow them up before they developed seeds thus preventing the weeds from taking over.”  Kenneth, who grew up in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas, described the work of the turning plow – Hot. Hard. Work.

Jesus talked about planting seeds in Matthew 13:1-8, then in verses 24-30 He tells the disciples about weeds. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

Barnes commentary said, “The weeds are the children of the wicked one (the enemy)…though they do not own his name, yet they bear his image, do his lusts… he rules over them… They (the weeds) do no good, they do hurt; unprofitable in themselves, and hurtful to the good seed…they are weeds in the garden, have the same rain, and sunshine and soil…but are good for nothing…”

Sometimes, while we’re sleeping, we let little negative things develop and grow in our hearts and minds until they become, “hurtful to the good seed;”  hurtful to the joy and grace that God has given to us.

In her book “Unglued” Lysa Terkeurst talks about this:  “If we plant seeds of reassurance, blessing, and love, we reap a great harvest of security. Of course, if we plant seeds of backbiting, questioning and doubt, we reap a harvest of insecurity. I’ve discovered that the more love and joy I pour into others, the more I experience in my own life.”  (Chapter 10)

Backbiting, questioning and doubt are like the weeds Kenneth would dig up with his turning plow. Reassurance, blessing and love are the great harvest we reap when we dig out the weeds before they can start to grow.

The turning plow goes deep. Hot. Hard. Work.  Just so, we should dig deep to remove the weeds from our hearts and minds so that our lives will reflect God’s love and bless others with His grace and joy.

Jesus On Your Life

By guest writer William Chadwick

“So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes." Matthew 6:25 NCV

There are people who go through their lives with no troubles or concerns. They don't worry about what other people think. They never worry about their jobs, kids, spouse, health, or credit score. They are completely at peace.

I don't know those people.

For the rest of us, Jesus has some words.

Many of us have been reading our Bibles for a long time. Sometimes we don't see our lives in the Bible because we use a favorite translation. The words are so familiar that it's been years since we thought through what they mean. We could quote the verses while working on our checkbook or while chewing bubble-gum and walking.

We can be like the little children James Dobson describes in his book "Dare to Discipline." The children cause lots of trouble in the neighbor hood. Their mother comes out every little bit and yells at the kids to stop what they're doing. But the children completely ignore it and continue what they're doing. "Oh yeah, that sounds like mom. But she doesn't really mean it." We've heard it so much that we're not listening anymore.

We say things like "Well, that doesn't really apply to me. What I'm facing is slightly different."

When I read Matthew 6:25, for a while I've seen it as saying, "William, you can worry about bills or finances or your job, just don't worry about food and clothes." Even if I also read on to Matthew 6:34, for many years it's seemed to say, "William it's perfectly acceptable to worry about your future, just so long as you don't worry about food and clothes in your future." I saw it as strictly a food and clothes passage. I have never really felt concerned that I wouldn't get enough food. And, except for a few minutes when I was fourteen, I've never cared about clothes. So, I've been thinking that whole part of the New Testament was written specifically for people who lived in poor countries (food) and women (clothes).

You may say, Wait! That's not what it says. Well, if you read the whole passage and take it as a whole, it does seem to be focused on food and clothes.

That is, it does if you're not paying attention.

One day recently, I was reading the same verse in the Holman Christian Standard Bible. And it leapt off the page at me: "Don’t worry about your life."

There were no student loan bills when Jesus said these words. No. But, the consequences of failure were much more severe. They didn't have food stamps or soup kitchens.

After telling people not to collect stuff, Jesus gets more basic. He says not to worry about what keeps you alive: clothes, which keep you warm in the winter, and food, which keeps you from dying.

If Jesus were here today, he would probably say things like,

        "How many months will worrying add to your job?"
        "How does worry save your marriage?"
        "Which credit card company reduces your balance based on how much time you spend worrying?"
        "How many cancer cells are killed with worry?"

It's very simple, "Don't worry about your life." It applies to you.

You have permission. From God. Stop worrying. God is saying, "Cut it out."

by Barbara Chadwick

 

60% of your brain is fat!?!  Are you serious?! I always thought it was this big muscle that made everything in our bodies work.

After reading this 60% statistic I was curious about the instruction God gave the Israelites to burn the fat of their sacrifices on the altar and that it was a pleasing aroma to God. For every different sacrificial offering this was to be so.

Consider the peace offering in Leviticus chapter 3. The fat, the kidneys and the fatty lobe of the liver are to be burned; including “the entire fat tail.”  Interesting.  I never thought of a sheep’s tail as being significant.

Then I read that, “The Palestinian breed of Oriental fat-tailed sheep… have an extra long tail that serves to store body fat. A tail weighing 15 – 20 pounds is not uncommon and is regarded as the choice part of the animal for eating, much as we regard a filet mignon or prime rib of beef. Such sheep still exist in the Middle East today, and stories are told of little two-wheeled devices attached to the tail to support it as the sheep moves around…. Therefore to give God the fat was to give Him the very best.”  (From the Preacher Commentary)

The Barnes Commentary said, “Now the burning of this fat is to signify, (1.) the offering up of our good affections to God in all our prayers and praises.  God must have the inwards; for we must pour out our souls and lift up our hearts in prayer and must bless His name with all that is within us…The fat denotes the best and choicest, which must always be devoted to God, who has made for us a feast of fat things.  (2.) The mortifying of our corrupt affections and lusts; and the burning up of them by the fire of divine grace (Colossians 3:5) Then we are truly thankful for former mercies, and prepared to receive further mercy, when we part with our sins, and have our minds cleared from all sensuality by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning. (Isaiah 4:4)”

The Preacher Commentary concluded this portion with, “I keep wanting to find the strength, and courage to bring the very best of what I have to God. It would be easier to cut a fat tail off a sheep than it is to give God the best of my energy, the best of my talents, the best of my time and money. Why is this so difficult?”

The apostle Paul said, Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1-2

So since the mind is 60% fat it must be a “best and choicest part” to God. The words of our prayers and praises are formed in our brains. Our corrupt affections and lusts also come from our brains. Let us be transformed by renewing our minds. Then let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is pleasing to God (i.e. a pleasing aroma to God)