I was reading my Bible after a particularly trying day, and one thought led to another. Finally I was guided by the Holy Spirit to a passage wherein Mary, weeping and searching, at last finds Jesus.
How tenderly and lovingly He must have spoken her name! Mary, whose sins this Man forgave, turned to Him and said, "Master." Jesus had many encounters with all types of people, but this meeting touched a chord in my own heart. I thought, how many times He must call to us each day with the same compassion and affection that caused Him to forgive Mary!
But we don't hear His gracious voice because the din of the world's demands and pleasures drown out the pleading of the Master. His gentle invitation will not be forced upon those who will not listen, for He says, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). He places a condition upon us so that we may know Him.
Surely He speaks our name when we are confronted with the daily temptations of anger, pride, disbelief, covetousness, slander, hate, and whatever else the devil sees fit to throw in our path this day. That twinge of conscience is God's voice saying, "My dear child, I died for you and I was resurrected from death that you might have life. Listen to Me! Only I can fill your hungry heart, forgive your sins, give you that which you ask, and heal your hurts. Come to Me, and I will give you peace and rest."
What a comfort to know that our name in on the Master's lips!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Not a Word of Reproach!
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).
The father gave the son a kiss before his son said a word. It was given while the prodigal was still dirty and in rags; therefore, it was entirely unmerited. This first blessing was followed by many others. NOT A WORD OF REPROACH IS SPOKEN. How important this is for those of us who speak words of reproach to God's children because they may not do and speak as we do.
This is the story of our Father who runs to us while we are yet far away and when we are desperate after having tasted of the husks of life; when we are tired of searching for what is real and true. The son tells his father that he is not worthy but that does not stop the father from loving him and forgiving him and bringing out the best of what he has, to give to his precious son who has come home. Our Father runs to us and gives us His best--anyway! Can we engrave this bright verse on our sad hearts as a beacon light for those days when we feel that not even the Father loves us? When we feel we don't deserve anyone's love?
Herein we have:
1) A love that is quick-sighted: "He saw him a long way off.";
2) A love that is sympathetic: "He had compassion.";
3) A love that is eager to help: "He ran.";
4) A love that yields its all: "He fell on his neck.";
5) A love that delights to forgive: "He kissed him."
Herein we have:
1) Eyes of mercy: "His father saw him. . .";
2) A heart of mercy: "He had compassion.";
3) Feet of mercy: "He ran.";
4) Arms of mercy: "He threw his arms around him.";
5) Lips of mercy: "He kissed him."
Thank You, Father!
The father gave the son a kiss before his son said a word. It was given while the prodigal was still dirty and in rags; therefore, it was entirely unmerited. This first blessing was followed by many others. NOT A WORD OF REPROACH IS SPOKEN. How important this is for those of us who speak words of reproach to God's children because they may not do and speak as we do.
This is the story of our Father who runs to us while we are yet far away and when we are desperate after having tasted of the husks of life; when we are tired of searching for what is real and true. The son tells his father that he is not worthy but that does not stop the father from loving him and forgiving him and bringing out the best of what he has, to give to his precious son who has come home. Our Father runs to us and gives us His best--anyway! Can we engrave this bright verse on our sad hearts as a beacon light for those days when we feel that not even the Father loves us? When we feel we don't deserve anyone's love?
Herein we have:
1) A love that is quick-sighted: "He saw him a long way off.";
2) A love that is sympathetic: "He had compassion.";
3) A love that is eager to help: "He ran.";
4) A love that yields its all: "He fell on his neck.";
5) A love that delights to forgive: "He kissed him."
Herein we have:
1) Eyes of mercy: "His father saw him. . .";
2) A heart of mercy: "He had compassion.";
3) Feet of mercy: "He ran.";
4) Arms of mercy: "He threw his arms around him.";
5) Lips of mercy: "He kissed him."
Thank You, Father!
Our Special Children
"What then is this child going to be?" (Luke 1:66). Zechariah's and Elizabeth's friends and neighbors knew this child John was a special child. But then, isn't every child remarkable? Parental love asks, "What is this child going to be and to do?"
"...Some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work" (2 Timothy 2:20,21). Surely we want to prepare our child for noble purposes so he or she will be useful to God and to others.
“It was the question of the neighbors and of all who had heard the amazing story, ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ Every child is a bundle of possibilities. There was an old Latin schoolmaster who always bowed gravely to his class before he taught them. When he was asked why, he answered, ‘Because you never know what one of these lads will turn out to be.’ The entry of a child into a family is two things. First, it is the greatest privilege which life can offer a man and wife. It is something for which to thank God. Second, it is one of life's supreme responsibilities, for that child is a bundle of possibilities and on parents and teachers depends how these possibilities will or will not be realized” (Anonymous).
So what will our children and our children’s children achieve? Will they understand that life is about honoring God is all that they do? Will they be able to separate the noble from the ignoble? Indeed, can we, their parents and grandparents, do this? It is surely something to send us to our knees in supplication!
"...Some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work" (2 Timothy 2:20,21). Surely we want to prepare our child for noble purposes so he or she will be useful to God and to others.
“It was the question of the neighbors and of all who had heard the amazing story, ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ Every child is a bundle of possibilities. There was an old Latin schoolmaster who always bowed gravely to his class before he taught them. When he was asked why, he answered, ‘Because you never know what one of these lads will turn out to be.’ The entry of a child into a family is two things. First, it is the greatest privilege which life can offer a man and wife. It is something for which to thank God. Second, it is one of life's supreme responsibilities, for that child is a bundle of possibilities and on parents and teachers depends how these possibilities will or will not be realized” (Anonymous).
So what will our children and our children’s children achieve? Will they understand that life is about honoring God is all that they do? Will they be able to separate the noble from the ignoble? Indeed, can we, their parents and grandparents, do this? It is surely something to send us to our knees in supplication!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Emily Sparks - Edgar Lee Masters
Years ago a very dear friend introduced me to Edgar Lee Master's Spoon River Anthology. Of all the entries the one titled Emily Sparks touched my soul, for I was fortunate enough to have a teacher like Emily Sparks. This dear lady saved my life in so many ways. I'm not sure I ever thanked her! If you have an Emily Sparks in your life, and if you can still thank her (him, too!), please do it now!
Where is my boy, my boy
In what far part of the world?
The boy I loved best of all in the school?--
I, the teacher, the old maid, the virgin heart,
Who made them all my children.
Did I know my boy aright,
Thinking of him as a spirit aflame,
Active, ever aspiring?
Oh, boy, boy, for whom I prayed and prayed
In many a watchful hour at night,
Do you remember the letter I wrote you
Of the beautiful love of Christ?
And whether you ever took it or not,
My, boy, wherever you are,
Work for your soul's sake,
That all the clay of you, all of the dross of you,
May yield to the fire of you,
Till the fire is nothing but light!...
Nothing but light!
Spoon River Anthology
Edgar Lee Masters
Where is my boy, my boy
In what far part of the world?
The boy I loved best of all in the school?--
I, the teacher, the old maid, the virgin heart,
Who made them all my children.
Did I know my boy aright,
Thinking of him as a spirit aflame,
Active, ever aspiring?
Oh, boy, boy, for whom I prayed and prayed
In many a watchful hour at night,
Do you remember the letter I wrote you
Of the beautiful love of Christ?
And whether you ever took it or not,
My, boy, wherever you are,
Work for your soul's sake,
That all the clay of you, all of the dross of you,
May yield to the fire of you,
Till the fire is nothing but light!...
Nothing but light!
Spoon River Anthology
Edgar Lee Masters
The Story of Four Men
The Four Men met for years after It happened. They were so young back then. They were foolish and assumed that they knew it all, that what they did back then was right -- and all right. They even secretly cut the cloth in four pieces. Never did they dream that the drama they took part in would affect the world for all time.
They kept in touch through the years, as difficult as that was. Their profession had been such that they had forever a common bond of being a bit cynical, perhaps even cruel, although at the time they didn't consider it as such. After all, this was how the world treated the criminal element. But when It happened, these four comrades were so affected that they pledged to meet each year at a certain place. They didn't understand why this urge to meet and talk about It (they had discussed this strange aspect with each other), but they kept their pledge faithfully each year, even though the trip became more draining both physically and financially as the years slipped by.
Through the years each got married and raised a family who in turn started raising their families. At the yearly get-together they would discuss the mundane issues of kids, bills, and wives. But always, always the conversation turned to It. The whole thing still seemed so strange, and yet so grand. What a puzzle! Finally, as they did each year, they would remove their pieces of cloth from their packets and lay them on the table to see if they still fit. And then they would tell their current stories.
Maurice spoke first. "My grandson was so sick a few months ago. It was right after a party we had for his third birthday, so we thought maybe he ate some bad food. It was my wife who suggested I put the cloth on him. Well, I thought, who can figure women out! But it was so strange -- he got better right away. You can't imagine how happy I was! But I started thinking about that man again and whether we did the right thing."
Abiathar spoke next. "Well, I'm not sure mine was as dramatic as that, but it meant just about as much to us. My wife got the strangest feeling one day about her mother. I happen to like my mother-in-law a lot, so we both walked over to her house and there she was; she had slipped on something and was on the floor. I carry my cloth with me everywhere -- yes, I'm superstitious! -- so I immediately put it on her leg which we thought was broken. She got up right away and was fine! One thing about it, she doesn't tease me about the cloth anymore. She has even asked me about the Man."
Helios broke in excitedly with his remarkable incident. "I can't wait to tell you what happened this year! Julius -- our 15-year-old grandson -- decided he wanted to try out for the decathalon. Well, I have never seen a young man so inspired to make his family proud of him. He was obsessed with it. His best friend entered the decathalon too, but Julius was so sure of himself and he didn't say much about his friend. As it turned out, Julius' friend won the decathalon and poor Julius ... he was so depressed and discouraged! He thinks I'm crazy when I take out this bit of cloth, but one day I decided why not? I placed it on Julius' arm and it was like his heart was healed. My dear friends, I was amazed! Now he is one of Paul's disciples." Helios could speak no more.
Claudius, the gentlest of the four men, then spoke. "I've always been reluctant to share my feelings, as you all know, but this year something happened that was so overwhelming. My dear brother who wouldn't hurt a living thing was charged with harming a man who had accused him of fraud and slander. If anything, this man was the slanderer. We were stunned. As it turned out, my brother was finally acquitted, but he was so full of bitterness. The accusations seemed to turn his heart to stone. Then one day I showed him the cloth. Well, he thought I was deranged. I told him what the Man said as He was dying: `Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' We were all there, remember? We all heard it. I think that was the moment I realized that we had helped murder the most innocent Man on earth. So I took the cloth and placed it in my brother's hand, and -- what a miracle -- he said, `Yes, I now understand.' He then told me that he had wondered for years what had happened to me back when It happened. I had changed so, he said, and he almost envied me the peace I had. He told me that he would go see the man who had made a rubble of his life. Instead of throwing stones he would rebuild with them!"
The Four Men picked up their pieces of cloth from the table and made plans for the next year.
They kept in touch through the years, as difficult as that was. Their profession had been such that they had forever a common bond of being a bit cynical, perhaps even cruel, although at the time they didn't consider it as such. After all, this was how the world treated the criminal element. But when It happened, these four comrades were so affected that they pledged to meet each year at a certain place. They didn't understand why this urge to meet and talk about It (they had discussed this strange aspect with each other), but they kept their pledge faithfully each year, even though the trip became more draining both physically and financially as the years slipped by.
Through the years each got married and raised a family who in turn started raising their families. At the yearly get-together they would discuss the mundane issues of kids, bills, and wives. But always, always the conversation turned to It. The whole thing still seemed so strange, and yet so grand. What a puzzle! Finally, as they did each year, they would remove their pieces of cloth from their packets and lay them on the table to see if they still fit. And then they would tell their current stories.
Maurice spoke first. "My grandson was so sick a few months ago. It was right after a party we had for his third birthday, so we thought maybe he ate some bad food. It was my wife who suggested I put the cloth on him. Well, I thought, who can figure women out! But it was so strange -- he got better right away. You can't imagine how happy I was! But I started thinking about that man again and whether we did the right thing."
Abiathar spoke next. "Well, I'm not sure mine was as dramatic as that, but it meant just about as much to us. My wife got the strangest feeling one day about her mother. I happen to like my mother-in-law a lot, so we both walked over to her house and there she was; she had slipped on something and was on the floor. I carry my cloth with me everywhere -- yes, I'm superstitious! -- so I immediately put it on her leg which we thought was broken. She got up right away and was fine! One thing about it, she doesn't tease me about the cloth anymore. She has even asked me about the Man."
Helios broke in excitedly with his remarkable incident. "I can't wait to tell you what happened this year! Julius -- our 15-year-old grandson -- decided he wanted to try out for the decathalon. Well, I have never seen a young man so inspired to make his family proud of him. He was obsessed with it. His best friend entered the decathalon too, but Julius was so sure of himself and he didn't say much about his friend. As it turned out, Julius' friend won the decathalon and poor Julius ... he was so depressed and discouraged! He thinks I'm crazy when I take out this bit of cloth, but one day I decided why not? I placed it on Julius' arm and it was like his heart was healed. My dear friends, I was amazed! Now he is one of Paul's disciples." Helios could speak no more.
Claudius, the gentlest of the four men, then spoke. "I've always been reluctant to share my feelings, as you all know, but this year something happened that was so overwhelming. My dear brother who wouldn't hurt a living thing was charged with harming a man who had accused him of fraud and slander. If anything, this man was the slanderer. We were stunned. As it turned out, my brother was finally acquitted, but he was so full of bitterness. The accusations seemed to turn his heart to stone. Then one day I showed him the cloth. Well, he thought I was deranged. I told him what the Man said as He was dying: `Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' We were all there, remember? We all heard it. I think that was the moment I realized that we had helped murder the most innocent Man on earth. So I took the cloth and placed it in my brother's hand, and -- what a miracle -- he said, `Yes, I now understand.' He then told me that he had wondered for years what had happened to me back when It happened. I had changed so, he said, and he almost envied me the peace I had. He told me that he would go see the man who had made a rubble of his life. Instead of throwing stones he would rebuild with them!"
The Four Men picked up their pieces of cloth from the table and made plans for the next year.
What are you willing to give me...?
"What are you willing to give me...?" (Matthew 26:15a); "As keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it" (John 12:6b).
This is a tragic chapter with a terrible question. Imagine, Judas is asking the chief priests how much they are willing to give him--to betray his Lord! Judas, who once loved and believed in Jesus, is now ready to commit the greatest crime on earth, all for thirty pieces of silver. The weeds in Judas' garden were greed, lack of insight and ingratitude of the highest order. Even being with Jesus who daily sacrificed Himself for others did not convince Judas of his own self-serving ways. It must have gnawed at the very vitals of Judas that Jesus did not consider money the most vital possession in life. On many occasions Jesus warned about the love of money, but Judas' heart was enlarged with covetousness.
It's incredible to us that Judas would sell out the very One who gave him physical and spiritual life. Here was a man who was welcomed, along with Jesus and the other eleven disciples, everywhere they went. How could he not be content? But it isn't the lack of money but the love of money that has caused grievous desertion from principles and practices. His Master became a commodity to be sold to the most malicious bidders. For the price of a slave, Judas sold the Master. His itching palm and heart festered into boldness as he paid a tithe to the devil himself for "then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand [Jesus] over" (Matthew 26:16). How unthinkable, we think!
Yet who are we to judge Judas, for we serve self daily. How many times a day do we ask, "What are you willing to give me...?" We too have our dividing line when we choose either the right or the wrong action that will determine another's and our own future. Just as with Judas, we cannot step back over the line, so it is well to consider the consequences.
This is a tragic chapter with a terrible question. Imagine, Judas is asking the chief priests how much they are willing to give him--to betray his Lord! Judas, who once loved and believed in Jesus, is now ready to commit the greatest crime on earth, all for thirty pieces of silver. The weeds in Judas' garden were greed, lack of insight and ingratitude of the highest order. Even being with Jesus who daily sacrificed Himself for others did not convince Judas of his own self-serving ways. It must have gnawed at the very vitals of Judas that Jesus did not consider money the most vital possession in life. On many occasions Jesus warned about the love of money, but Judas' heart was enlarged with covetousness.
It's incredible to us that Judas would sell out the very One who gave him physical and spiritual life. Here was a man who was welcomed, along with Jesus and the other eleven disciples, everywhere they went. How could he not be content? But it isn't the lack of money but the love of money that has caused grievous desertion from principles and practices. His Master became a commodity to be sold to the most malicious bidders. For the price of a slave, Judas sold the Master. His itching palm and heart festered into boldness as he paid a tithe to the devil himself for "then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand [Jesus] over" (Matthew 26:16). How unthinkable, we think!
Yet who are we to judge Judas, for we serve self daily. How many times a day do we ask, "What are you willing to give me...?" We too have our dividing line when we choose either the right or the wrong action that will determine another's and our own future. Just as with Judas, we cannot step back over the line, so it is well to consider the consequences.
The Pit - Anonymous
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out.
A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."
An objective person walked by and said, "It's logical that someone would fall down there."
A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."
A mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit.
A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.
An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A self-pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my pit!"
A fire and brimstone preacher said, "You deserve your pit."
A Christian Scientist said, "The pit is just in your mind."
A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit."
A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit."
An optimist said, "Things could get worse."
A pessimist claimed, "Things WILL get worse."
Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Anonymous
A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."
An objective person walked by and said, "It's logical that someone would fall down there."
A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."
A mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit.
A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.
An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A self-pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my pit!"
A fire and brimstone preacher said, "You deserve your pit."
A Christian Scientist said, "The pit is just in your mind."
A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit."
A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit."
An optimist said, "Things could get worse."
A pessimist claimed, "Things WILL get worse."
Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Anonymous
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)