IT'S O.K. TO START SMALL

IT’S O.K. TO START SMALL

 For the people who live in more industrialized nations, navigating daily tasks might seem somewhat challenging without the use of motor vehicles.  Over the passage of time, they have proven to be much more than a convenience.  Although the use of fossil fuels is a contemporary challenge to maintaining a healthy global environment, automobiles have benefited us in incalculable ways.

 But that wasn’t always the case.  History records that the very first “horseless carriage” was built way back in 1769 by a Frenchman named Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot.  It was a gigantic three-wheeled, steam-powered carriage, which traveled along at the ‘lightning fast speed’ of one kilometer per hour.

 At that time, most people could not perceive any benefit in Cugnot’s horseless carriage.  It was extremely expensive, terribly noisy, and so slow that it couldn’t even match the pace of the most worn out nag. Nevertheless, that first horseless carriage was the seed invention of a transportation revolution.

 The Word of God challenges us with a relevant question that is entirely apropos: “Who has despised THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS?” (Zechariah 4:10, NKJV)

 Sometimes we simply need to remind ourselves that it’s alright to start out small.  And though our ideas or visions might appear to be worthless or irrelevant to onlookers, just wait!  Our GOD, the dispenser of “witty inventions,” simply awaits our decision to speak the Word of faith over our dreams, our visions and our future. (Proverbs 8:12 – Romans 10:17 – Hebrews 11:3)  Speak!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

JOY AND HAPPINESS

JOY AND HAPPINESS

 There is a distinct difference between JOY and HAPPINESS.

 HAPPINESS is situational.  Typically, you feel happy because of something that has occurred.  For example, you might have received a compliment, a gift, a promotion, or an introduction to someone special – which causes you to break out into your HAPPY DANCE!

 JOY is a profoundly different phenomenon.  The Word decrees that “the joy of the Lord is my strength” and “with joy (we) draw water from the wells of salvation.”  Furthermore, it advises us to “count it all joy” when encountering challenges or opposition.  This is not some superficial suggestion that we maintain a vague happy feeling or smiley face in the midst of problematic situations.  (Nehemiah 8:10 – Isaiah12:3 – James 1:2-3)  The maintenance of joy requires a degree of personal and spiritual effort.

 Here’s what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me concerning joy.  “JOY is the ASSURANCE that CHRIST is at the CENTER of my CIRCUMSTANCES.”  It bears repetition: “JOY is the ASSURANCE that CHRIST is at the CENTER of my CIRCUMSTANCES.”  In that sense, JOY and PEACE are first-cousins.  Based on CONFIDENCE in the COVENANT PROMISES OF GOD, we maintain FULL FAITH that HE will come through for us – no matter what we are presently experiencing. (Hebrews 10:35)  To wit, JOY and PEACE are derivatives of DIVINE ASSURANCE.

 Allow me to be transparent.  I cannot honestly say that I am HAPPY all the time.  But deep in my heart, I always maintain a RESERVOIR OF JOY because I know that HE KNOWS, and I know that HE CARES.  The famed blind hymn composer, Fanny J. Crosby, stated it far more eloquently than I.  In her words, JOY is “BLESSED ASSURANCE [that] JESUS IS MINE – oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.”  So even in the midst of pain or sorrow, SPIRIT BREATHED JOY enables us to SING: “This is my story, this is my song – praising my Savior all the day long!” [Blessed Assurance – Fanny J. Crosby]

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THE TENURE TRAP

THE TENURE TRAP

 It isn’t always about how LONG we have done something; it’s actually about how WELL we have done it.

 For example, two teachers applied for an administrative position in their high school.  One had been teaching for 8 years, and the other for 20.  Everyone expected the teacher with the greater experience to land the job, but when a decision was handed down the person with only 8 years teaching was chosen.  

 The more tenured teacher felt cheated out of the opportunity and reacted bitterly: “I’ve got 20 years teaching to her 8,” he complained, “so I’m much more qualified.”

 The School Board’s response was simple: “Yes sir, you do have 20 years to her 8.  But where she has 8 years of diverse teaching experience, you have 1 year of experience repeated 20 times.”

 Bottom-line: The mere passage of time does not guarantee that we have learned, developed, or accomplished as we should.  We must be careful to pay attention and perform at our God-ordained ‘best’ and not live out our lives on ‘cruise control.’  Let’s examine ourselves – systematically, prayerfully and honestly.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

JUST IN CASE...

JUST IN CASE…

 Just in case the present circumstances of life leave you feeling POWER-LESS, it is my honor to point out the fact that you are absolutely POWER-FULL!  “How so?” you might ask.

 My friends, you have resident within you The One whom the prophet Isaiah identified as “THE MIGHTY GOD.” (Isaiah 9:6)  This Messianic title is one of the birth names that is prophetically ascribed to the Savior of the world.  In the Hebrew language, it is “EL GIBBOR,” THE MIGHTY GOD.

 Here is THE PARADOX of this powerful name – for you and for your life situation.  HE IS THE MIGHTY GOD. However, the Apostle Paul informs us that even though Jesus Christ was (and is) absolutely “equal with God,” HE EMPTIED HIMSELF, i.e. “He made Himself of no reputation” for the express purpose of forging a priestly connection with fallen humanity. (Philippians 2:6-7 – Isaiah 53:1-12)  The irony of this purpose-driven humility is that Christ never abandoned his divine attributes.  After all, HE IS GOD INCARNATE.  Nevertheless, upon entering a carnal world that had not surrendered to the law of God, it was necessary to EMPTY HIMSELF in order to relate to us, i.e. to become the “HIGH PRIEST” who would be “touched by the feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15)  How I dearly love the gracious fact that JESUS ‘GETS’ US!

 And here is THE PERSONAL APPLICATION of this powerful name – for you and your life situation.  Just as CHRIST EMPTIED HIMSELF to be relatable and impactful in the salvation of man, we must EMPTY OURSELVES – setting aside egocentric passions and ambitions to effectively serve the Kingdom of God.

 However, full submission to God’s will is an enormous challenge for human ‘rebels’ like us. (Isaiah 53:6)  Our carnal dispositions and cultural traditions cause us to place the highest value on OURSELVES, focusing on our perceived worth and personal agendas, above all else.  Christ’s mandate that we “crucify the flesh” actually goes against the grain of natural impulses, but by doing so we discover LIFE and POWER via intimate fellowship with “EL GIBBOR,” THE MIGHTY GOD. (Galatians 5:24 – II Peter 1:3)

 Indeed, in “HIS PRESENCE” and under “HIS POWER,” we are “more than conquerors,” which means we are “always triumphant,” appearances notwithstanding. (Psalm 16:11 – II Corinthians 4:7 – Romans 8:37 – II Corinthians 2:14) 

 Question: How could this possibly be? 

 Answer:  OUR FAITH both VISUALIZES and ACTUALIZES the productive RESULTS of our COVENANT CONNECTIONS, long before they are manifested in time and space.  

 My friend, “HAVE FAITH IN GOD.”  Herein lies the very core of your PURPOSE, POWER and POTENTIAL.  Just in case you might be feeling relatively powerless today, I remind you that ‘THE MIGHTY GOD” is definitely in your corner.  Now hear this, WINNER-BELIEVER: You cannot and will not lose, so hang in there!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

 In Alexander Pope’s “Essay on Man” written in 1732, the English poet penned this timeless line of prose: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”  His insight calls to mind three Jewish psychiatrists who lived in and around Vienna in the period leading up to World War II.

 The first of these three psychiatrists, Sigmund Freud, spent years studying people, striving to understand what makes us tick.  He reached the conclusion that the fundamental drive in human beings is the search for PLEASURE.  According to Freud, it’s our basic need for pleasure that explains why we do what we do.

 The second, Alfred Adler, also spent years studying human behavior.  His studies led him to disagree with Sigmund Freud.  Adler was convinced that the bottom line in understanding human behavior is POWER.  In his view, all of us grow up feeling somewhat inferior and powerless.  Thus, life becomes a drive to gain control, to feel more important and powerful.

 Viktor Frankl sought to follow in the footsteps of his mentors, Freud and Adler.  But before his career gained traction, World War II began.  The Nazi invasion brought danger and death to millions of Jews.  Freud and Adler were world renowned scholars, so they managed to escape.  Frankl wasn’t so fortunate.  He was arrested and detained in a Nazi concentration camp four long years.

 After the war ended, Frankl was released and resumed his career.  Carefully evaluating his experiences as a prisoner, he noted something strange and unexpected – that the people who survived were not always the ones that others would expect.  Many who were physically strong wasted away and died while others who were physically weak grew stronger and survived.  Why?  What was it that enabled them to hang on through the living hell of a Nazi concentration camp?

 Frankl reflected on the theories of his mentors.  Freud’s pleasure principle could not explain it.  For four desperate and terrible years, the men in his camp knew only pain, suffering and degradation.  Pleasure was not even a word in their vocabulary.  It certainly wasn’t pleasure that kept them going.

 What then of Adler’s theory about power being the basic human need?  That wouldn’t explain it either.  Frankl and his fellow Jews were completely powerless during their years in the concentration camp.  Each day they stared down the barrels of loaded guns, they were treated like animals, they felt enemy boots on their faces and watched helplessly while fellow Jews were executed via gas chamber genocide.  They neither had power, nor any prospects of power.

 So Viktor Frankl came up with his own theory.  He concluded that the primary difference between those who survived and those who perished was HOPE.  Those who survived never gave up the belief that their lives had value and meaning.  Despite horrendous circumstances, they believed that their suffering would eventually end, and they would once more live meaningful, purposeful lives.  What is this basic human drive?  According to Frankl, it is the need to live with a sense of purpose.  Not pleasure.  Not power.  MEANING which produces HOPE.

 Consider your present life situation.  What’s really going on with you?  More importantly, what are you HOPING and TRUSTING GOD for in the short- and long-term?  Whatever that is, it constitutes your LIFE-VISION, which must and shall be inscribed in the indelible and heavenly ink of HOPE.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

FAITH OR MYTH?

FAITH OR MYTH?

 The classic cartoon character, Popeye, is famous for eating spinach.  Whenever he breaks open a can of spinach and consumes it, he gains enormous strength.  But there is a little-known fact about this cartoon character.  Since meat was scarcer during World War II, the tale of Popeye was co-opted by the U.S. Government to promote the idea of eating spinach.  Spinach appeared to be an ideal substitute for meat.  Ironically during the 1890s, the scientists of our German enemy combatants concluded that spinach contains the same amount of iron as meat.  And iron is an essential vitamin for building muscle and strength.

 However, their facts were fundamentally wrong.  German researchers did prove that spinach contains iron, but when they recorded their scientific results they put the decimal point in the wrong place.  Therefore, they grossly overestimated the amount of iron in spinach by a factor of ten!  Unfortunately, the correction for this error did not make it across the ocean until after World War II.

 This series of events demonstrates how easy it is for false ideas to become quickly accepted as truth.  Even in the arena of faith, it’s not uncommon for some to embrace concepts that are actually nonbiblical in origin. To wit, we should never be hesitant to ask WHY we subscribe to a certain belief or a particular Biblical interpretation.  Our investigation may prove that we got it right, or it may conclude that we are inaccurate in our understanding of what God intends to communicate.  Either way, our understanding and application of scripture will only be improved in the process.

 Two practical examples of this kind of distortion of the Word are REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY (also known as SUPERSESSIONISM), which holds that the Jews are no longer chosen by God and that He has no particular future plans for the nation of Israel; and (2) PROSPERITY THEOLOGY, which reduces The Almighty to the level of some sort of cosmic genie whose primary purpose is endowing us with material possessions and wealth. Although God truly desires to bless His people, if the abundant life that Christ espoused is reduced to the level of financial prosperity, we are only serving Satan’s cause instead of building God’s Kingdom.

 Will we choose faith or myth?  My friends, let’s get our facts straight.  Let’s make sure that our faith is spiritually grounded, not in tradition, nor in fantasy, but firmly established in GOD’S WORD.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PERSPICACITY

PERSPICACITY

 It’s an uncommon word, but it is vitally important.  According to Dictionary.com, “PERSPICACITY” represents “keenness of mental perception and understanding.”  As such, it is synonymous with vision, insight and discernment.  Question: WHAT are you seeing today…and THROUGH WHICH LENS AND FOCUS are you perceiving it? 

 Shortly after the miracle of feeding 5,000 men and their families, Jesus encountered a blind man in Bethsaida.  The people surrounding this man wanted Jesus to pray, touch and heal him.  However, his healing process was most unique and unexpected.  Mark records that Jesus applied “spit” mixed with dirt on the blind man’s eyes.  After prayer, Christ queried the man about his ability to see, and his response was “I see men as trees, walking.”  Jesus was not deterred from his healing mission by only a partial restoration of sight.  “He put his hands again upon the man’s eyes, and made him look up; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” (Mark 8:22-25)

 While believers have certainly attained to salvation “by grace…through faith,” many have not yet received clear vision concerning NEXT STEPS IN THE KINGDOM. (Ephesians 2:8)  Whenever we lack clear vision, we are prone to wandering in circles, much like the Israelites did during their 40-year sojourn from Egypt to The Promised Land.

 As they say in the U.S. Navy, “Now hear this!” 

WE ALREADY HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY TOOLS WE NEED TO ATTAIN KINGDOM PERSPICACITY.

 Firstly, we must “look up,” i.e. we must seek and practice the presence of the Lord until we receive complete healing.  Continual prayer is prerequisite to manifesting and sustaining the presence of the Lord. (I Thessalonians 5:17) Secondly, we must rely on His Word and His Holy Spirit for life-wisdom, which includes specific insights and daily direction. (II Timothy 2:15 and John 14:26) Thirdly, we must embrace, engage and fellowship with other believers who are firmly established in the faith. (Acts 2:46-47 and Hebrews 10:25)

 Finally, we must pay special attention to our SPIRITUAL DIET.  Whenever our intake is insubstantial, faithless, or erroneous, our vision remains undernourished, underdeveloped and cloudy.  Now is the time to transition to a higher level of spiritual awareness and acuity via positive and powerful connectivity with Christ.  Ask God to help you to see yourself through HIS EYES – to see yourself as YOUR CREATOR sees you.  Heavenly insight secures a steadfast VISION regarding (both) your Kingdom mission and God’s intentional design for the relationships He has sown within your sphere of influence.  Be visionary, connectional and courageous.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

LIGHTS NEEDED

LIGHTS NEEDED

 One cold December day, a Christian gentleman was walking down a Chicago street.  He noticed that someone had thrown a handful of bird seed on the ground to nourish the sparrows who were now experiencing the cruel cold of winter.  Dozens and dozens of sparrows had come (seemingly out of nowhere) to enjoy their unexpected feast.  

 This man edged closer to enjoy the gratifying sight of God’s creatures being fed.  But as he approached, the birds became anxious.  Another step forward, and they prepared to flee.  Two more steps, and they all flew away, leaving their winter banquet behind.

 The man stopped and considered what had happened.  Why had the sparrows scattered when he had no evil intentions toward them?  Then it dawned on him.  It was not his intentions, but his bodily presence that had so frightened them.  He was so big in comparison to the tiny sparrows, and the only way he could have walked among those birds without scaring them would be to somehow assume their own characteristics. 

 If only he could become a sparrow for a while, the man thought.  He would stand close and communicate.

 Isn’t this a clear picture of THE INCARNATION?  God’s righteousness looms so large and humankind’s sins and shortcomings cause us to seem so small.  Nevertheless, “God SO loved the world” that He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, i.e. to become “Emmanuel,’” God with us, and ultimately to endure our shame, our sin, our pain and our judgment. (John 3:16 – Matthew 1:23 – Romans 5:19)

 We existed in absolute darkness until “the light of the world” drew nigh to us and forever redeemed us from the curse of sin and death. (John 8:12) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) 

 Hallelujah, what a Savior!

 Now, it is our turn; it is our mission task to BECOME THE LIGHT and to shine brightly in the darkness of this world system, especially in the lives of those whom God has positioned in close proximity to us. (Philippians 2:15 – Matthew 5:16) 

 SHINE.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER

WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER

 Before deciding you don’t need to live in harmony with others, prayerfully consider this.  A cord of rope has significantly greater aggregate strength than the individual strength of those strands of which it is composed.  How could this possibly be?  The answer is quite simple.  In nearly every case, individual strands have weak spots – points at which they could easily bend or break.  But within the ‘unified’ rope, weak spots are randomly distributed along its length and among its twists, allowing adjacent strands to cancel out any weak spots in the individual fibers.

 First natural, then spiritual… 

 GOD has designed us to exist and operate much like a cord of rope.  That is, all of us have particular strengths and even points of weakness.  However, when we remain united together, our weaknesses are diminished and rendered inconsequential in the presence of others – and ultimately via our connection with the awesome power of The Living Lord.  It’s a synergy thing.  1 + 1 really does equal 3!  So stay connected.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

NEVER BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR

NEVER BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR

 As life unfolds, we experience reversals and setbacks, typically unexpected, sometimes unthinkable.  Satanic suggestion says recovery is unlikely, or even impossible.  As a result, many choose the avenue of apathy, never living according to God’s magnificent design – merely existing.  Others develop deep roots of bitterness, passing through days in cynical contemplation of what might have been, or might never be.

 My friend, no matter what your natural senses suggest about your predicament or possibilities, GOD has designed you as HIS MASTERPIECE.  So never quit, because GOD is not through with you yet!

 Recently, I read an intriguing true story.  One of the greatest ambitions of any violinist is to play a Stradivarius.  Meticulously handcrafted by Antonio Stradivari, these rare violins produce an unrivalled sound.  So we can envision the excitement that the acclaimed British violinist, Peter Cropper, felt when London’s Royal Academy of Music offered him a 258-year-old Stradivarius for a series of concerts in 1981.

 But then the unimaginable happened.  As Peter entered the stage he tripped, landing on top of that rare violin and snapping its neck completely off!  We cannot even begin to envision how Peter Cropper felt at that moment.  A priceless masterpiece had been utterly destroyed by his clumsy act.

 Peter Cropper was inconsolable.  He took the violin to a master craftsman, doubting that he might be able to repair it.  But repair it he did.  So perfect was his repair that the terrible break was totally undetectable; and, more importantly, the sound quality was even more exquisite.

 The Academy was most gracious and allowed Cropper to continue using the Stradivarius.  And so, night after night, as Peter drew his bow across those incomparable strings, he was reminded of the fact that what was once thought to be irreparable damage had been fully remedied by the hand of a MASTER CRAFTSMAN.

 Peter’s unanticipated experience reminds me of my Mother’s favorite poem, which is entitled “THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND,” by Myra Brooks Welch.  It happens to be my favorite also.

 ‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worthwhile

To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who'll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar.  Then two!  Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?”

“Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three…” But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?”
 And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand!  And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,

And going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the Master's hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game — and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,

He's “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought

By the touch of the Master's hand.

 Remember: Neither your life, nor the life of your loved one, is broken beyond repair.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THE DEATH OF HUMILITY

THE DEATH OF HUMILITY

 What ever happened to that noble, admirable and seldom seen character trait called HUMILITY?  Nowadays, SELF-PROMOTION seems to be the acceptable order of the day since it has emerged as a dominant success strategy, both within the realm of the sacred and the secular.

 King Solomon, one of the sages of the ages, wrote clearly and concisely on this subject:

 “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)

 “If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.” (Proverbs 30:32)

 This truth could never be more plain, practical, profound, or powerful!

 The Apostle Paul admonishes us to adopt an attitude of true humility, which is a hallmark characteristic of Christian disciples.  “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.” (Colossians 3:12)

 Also, the Apostle Peter confirms this truth, citing the seemingly ‘low path’ of humility as a primary prerequisite to the ‘high-way’ of divine affirmation and blessing.  “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (I Peter 5:6)  It’s a genuine paradox; appearances can sometimes be misleading.  So look deeper.  In truth, the ‘heights’ of abundant life are typically unveiled in the ‘depths’ of personal meekness.

 JESUS CHRIST, Himself, taught “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Notwithstanding these truths, SELF-PROMOTION is far too common among those who profess Christ and those who purport to be leaders in His Kingdom.  From my perspective, I would rather die in abject anonymity, rather than to reduce myself to the level of embracing a persona of unabashed braggadocio and bravado.

 I am delighted to report that NOT all people are given to unbridled arrogance, boastfulness and shameless self-exaltation.  Indeed, TRUE HUMILITY is alive and well in many leaders within the Body of Christ.

 Case in point: My own natural and spiritual brother, Bishop Edwin C. Bass, has risen to positions of prominence within the ranks of our international church body, the Church of God in Christ.  I am extremely elated to make this simple observation: His elevation in the ranks of church leadership has never turned his head or heart.  In terms of temperament and ego, he is basically the same Christian gentleman today that he was twenty, thirty, or forty years ago.  To Bishop Bass, my brother, our highest kudos and heartfelt congratulations are extended.  Godspeed in your present and future ecclesiastical journey!

 My friends, let us make the wise and practical decision to refrain from praising, promoting and exalting ourselves.  Think about it.  Would it not be infinitely better, admirable and noteworthy for your personal accomplishments to be authentically appreciated and affirmed by others?

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

OH, TO BE USED BY GOD!

OH, TO BE USED BY GOD!

 Many Christians long to be used by The Master in significant ways, without realizing that there is a high price we must pay to experience the depths of His presence and power, and to be dispatched ultimately into our divine purpose and destiny.  How could this be when Jesus Christ died for us?  Indeed, Christ did die for us at Calvary, vicariously absolving our burdensome debt of sin and shame.  However, He never offered an exemption card from personal loss or suffering.  Quite the contrary.  He declares, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)  To illustrate this Kingdom principle, let us consider the LEGEND AND LEGACY OF BAMBOO.  

 Once upon a time, in the heart of an ancient Kingdom, there was a beautiful garden.  And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden would walk.  Of all the plants in the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was the gracious and noble Bamboo.  Year after year, Bamboo grew and prospered, fully conscious of his Master’s love and care, but always modest and gentle within.  Oftentimes, when the wind blew in to revel in the gorgeous garden, Bamboo would dance and rejoice, tossing, swaying, leaping and bowing in complete abandon, which absolutely delighted his Master’s heart.

 One day, the Master drew near to contemplate his Bamboo with eyes of curious expectancy.  And Bamboo, in total adoration, bowed his head to the ground in loving salutation.

 The Master called out to him, “Bamboo, Bamboo, I would use you this day.”

 Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight.  That day-of-days had come, the purpose for which he had been made, the reason he had been growing hour by hour, the moment in which he would realize his heart’s desire and fulfillment.

 He responded immediately, “Master, I’m ready.  Use me as you please.”

 “Bamboo,” the Master’s voice spoke gravely, “I will have to first cut you down!”

 Great fear and trembling shook Bamboo.  “Cut…me…down?  Me who you, Master, have made the most beautiful in all the Garden?  Cut me down?  Oh, not that…not that!  Use me for your joy, use me for your glory, oh Master, but please do not cut me down!”

 “Beloved Bamboo,” the Master’s voice grew sober and still, “If I do not cut you down, I cannot use you.”

 The garden grew deathly quiet.  The wind held his breath.  Bamboo slowly bowed his proud and glorious head and whispered, “Master, if you cannot use me other than to cut me down, then let it be so.  Do your will and cut.”

 “Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would also cut your leaves and branches.”

 “Master, kindly spare me.  Cut me down and lay my beauty in the dust; but would you also have to take my leaves and branches?”

 “Bamboo, if I do not cut the excess away, I cannot use you.”

 The sun hid his face.  A listening butterfly glided fearfully away.  Shivering in terrible expectancy, Bamboo whispered: “Master, cut away.”

 “Bamboo, Bamboo, we’re not quite finished yet.  I must also split you in two and cut out your heart, for if I cut not so, I cannot use you.”

 Bowing to the ground, Bamboo fully submitted.  “Master, my Master…then cut and split.”

 So the wise Master of the garden took Bamboo…and cut him down…and hacked off his branches…and stripped off his leaves…and split him in two…and cut out his heart.

 And lifting him gently, the Master carried Bamboo to where there was a spring of fresh sparkling water in the midst of dry, unirrigated fields.  Then, placing one end of the broken Bamboo in the cool spring and the other end into a water channel in the field, the Master gently laid down his beloved Bamboo.  The spring started singing a song of welcome, and the clear sparkling waters raced joyously down the channel of Bamboo’s torn body into waiting and dying fields.  Then the rice was planted and the days went by; the shoots grew and the harvest came.

 And on that day, Bamboo, once seeming so glorious in his stately beauty, was actually far more glorious in his brokenness and in his humility.  For in his first state, he only looked like life abundant; but in his brokenness, he became a channel of abundant life to his Master’s world.

 As we earnestly pray, seeking to be used by the Master, let us be ever mindful that we must and shall be sown as seeds for the spiritual harvest of others.  Nevertheless, in the end, we bring ultimate glory to our Creator, along with fulfillment and favor to ourselves.  Indeed, our service and sacrifice are the benediction and blessing of our lives!  Trust…

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

JESUS STOPS BY

JESUS STOPS BY

 Ruth looked at the envelope again.  There was no stamp or postmark, only her name and address on the outside.  She read the letter one more time…

 Dear Ruth,

I will be in your neighborhood Saturday evening, and I’ll stop by for a visit.

Love Always,

Jesus

 Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.  “Why would the Lord want to visit me?  I’m nobody special.  I don’t have anything at all to offer,” she thought.

 Then Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.  “Oh my goodness, I really don’t have anything to offer.  I’ll have to run to the store and buy something for dinner.”

 She reached for her purse and counted its contents.  All she had was seven dollars and forty cents.  “Well, at least I can get some bread and cold cuts” she thought.  And throwing on her coat, she went scurrying out of the door.

 After Ruth bought a loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey and a carton of milk, she was left with a grand total of twelve cents to last until Monday.  Nonetheless, she felt satisfied as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked carefully under her arm.

 “Hey lady, can you help us?”  Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans that she hadn’t noticed two figures huddled in the hallway.  It was a man and a woman, both dressed in little more than rags.

 “Look lady, I ain’t got no job and me and my wife been living on the street.  It’s cold and we’re awfully hungry, and well, if you could help us lady, we’d really appreciate it.”

 Ruth looked at them both.  They were dirty and unkempt, but she felt that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.  “Sir, I’d like to help you, but I’m a poor woman myself.  All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread.  I have an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving it to HIM.”

 “O.K. lady, we understand.  Thanks anyway.”  The man put his arm around his wife’s shoulders, turned and headed back into the street.

 As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.  She cried, “Wait!”  The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.  “Look, you can take this food.  I’ll figure out something else to serve my guest.”  She handed her grocery bag to the man.

 “Thank you, lady!  Thank you very much!”  Shivering in the cold, the man’s wife chimed in, “Yes, thank you!”

 “You know, I’ve got another coat at home.  Here, please take this one.”  Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman’s shoulders.  Smiling she turned toward home – without her coat and with nothing at all to serve her special guest.  “Thank you, lady!  Thank you very much,” they called after her.

 Ruth was chilled to the bone by the time she reached her front door, and quite worried too.  The Lord was coming to visit and she had nothing to offer.  She fumbled through her purse for the door key.  As she did so, she noticed another envelope in her driveway.  “That’s odd,” she thought.  “The mailman doesn’t come twice in one day.”  She took the envelope inside and opened it.

 Dear Ruth,

It was so good to see you again.  Thank you for the lovely meal and the warm coat.

Love Always,

Jesus

 The winter night was bitter cold and Ruth had little to eat, but she hardly noticed it.

 Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.”

 Serve…

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!