Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

A Thanksgiving Blessing - Read: Luke 14:12-14

"When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13-14)

In 2016, Wanda Dench sent a text inviting her grandson to Thanksgiving dinner, not knowing he'd recently changed his phone number.  The text instead went to a stranger, Jamal.  Jamal didn't have plans, and so, after clarifying who he was, asked if he could still come to dinner.  Wanda said, "Of course you can."  Jamal joined the family dinner in what has since become a yearly tradition for him.  A mistaken invitation became an annual blessing.

Wanda's kindness in inviting a stranger to dinner reminds me of Jesus' encouragement in Luke's gospel.  During a dinner party at a "prominent" Pharisee's house (Luke 14:1), Jesus noticed who was invited and how the guests jostled for the best seats (v.7).  Jesus told His host that inviting people based on what they could do for him in return (v. 12) meant the blessing would be limited.  Instead, Jesus told the host that extending hospitality to people without the resources to repay him would bring even greater blessing (v.14).

For Wanda, inviting Jamal to join her family for Thanksgiving dinner resulted in the unexpected blessing of a lasting friendship that was a great encouragement to her after her husband's death.  When we reach out to others, not because of what we might receive, but because of God's love flowing through us, we receive far greater blessing and encouragement.

- Lisa M Samra

Heavenly Father, may my invitations reflect a heart that wants to bless others as You lead me.

From Beside the Still Waters...

The Great Reversal - Read: Luke 16:19-25, Matthew 25:31-46.

"But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented" - Luke 16:25

The rich man had all that he needed for a pleasant, easy life.  But Lazarus was simply "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table."  Lazarus was apparently a humble man, for he sought only what the rich man discarded.

These crumbs wouldn't have been expensive to give to the beggar.  It would have required only some effort and time.  In this story the crumbs were food, but for us today other things could be crumbs.  A visit to someone who is sick.  A phone call to an elderly person confined at home.  A card of encouragement for a widow.  Taking a meal to a family that has suffered misfortune.  Simply offering a listening ear, a smile, or a thank you.  Are we too busy for these things?

The rich man and Lazarus both died.  In the realm of departed souls, Father Abraham reminded the rich man of how different his former life had been from Lazarus' life.  Then he said "but now" and described the great reversal of their conditions.

A similar reversal is evident in the Judgement scene of Matthew 25:31-46.  The righteous had done good deeds, but they were puzzled by the King's words and asked, "When saw we thee...?"  The wicked had neglected good deeds and were also puzzled by the King's words, so they too asked, "When saw we thee...?"  The two groups received contrasting rewards according to their works.  No matter how lowly we have been in serving others for Christ's sake, we will be greatly exalted when we hear the words, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Darrell Richard - Goshen, IN

"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled...

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger." - Luke 6:21,25

Headaches and hot weather...

 As we head into summer and the temperatures increase so, it appears, do the headaches.  Had a bad week last week, but feeling better today (Monday), so mowed the grass before it got too hot.  Inside now, to catch up with a blog post.

 
In the Garden - This rose plant was cut down to the ground earlier this year, when the fence was being put up, but it has grown back stronger than ever...

Marnie brought me two of her 'dead' plants to try and nurse back to health...

a bay tree and a Tasmanian pepper berry

Out and About - did a walk up Dooley's Hill with Marnie...

It's a bit secluded so I don't like to walk it on my own...

And on another recent trip with Marnie to Burnie, we stopped in at Penguin Beach on the way back...

In the Kitchen - baking soda bread...

And chicken stirfry...

Knitting - I've been working on these little baby jumpers I mentioned in my last home post...

And have started a new project!  Marnie gave me a gift voucher for our local Yarn shop for Mother's Day back in May, but I had been having trouble finding a pattern I liked.  I finally found one and have bought some yarn.  A lovely soft and light 50% wool/50% alpaca.  It's so nice to knit with.  Let's see if I can get it finished by winter :)

Reading - I have these two books on the go...

And as we head into summer, I'm already dreaming of autumn :)  

Enjoy this little spring excerpt from Stillmeadow Sampler by Gladys Taber...

At this season of the year, I think often of Thoreau living his solitary life in the hut by Walden Pond.  I too, in spring, feel impatient with the busyness of life.  Thoreau knew what he was about.  "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

Sometimes, I think, we rush so, we finish one schedule only to make a newer and busier one.  We do not, ever, live deliberately and fully, for we haven't time.  I know few people who go outdoors now and sit quietly for a couple of hours just looking at the miracle of spring.  Sometimes as we drive along the country roads, I see occasional figures stretched out in lawn chairs.  But they aren't observing May, they are reading the newspaper or a magazine.  They are like the people I have seen on the great beach at Nauset on Cape Cod who never hear the music of the tide because they have portable radios playing hot music!

I hate to think what Thoreau would have said to that!

That was written in 1959.  I'm sure Thoreau would be horrified at the 'progress' we have made!

I hope you can take some time this week to 'smell the roses' :) xx

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

The Narrow Road - Read: Matthew 7:13-27

"Enter ye in at the strait gate ... because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Several church families moved far away to start a new congregation.  They were told that before they reached their destination, the road would become extremely rough.  Then they would know that they were close to their new homes.  Let's take courage if our spiritual journey seems rough.  We are not promised smooth roads and calm weather.  In fact, Jesus told us the way is narrow and we will have tribulation in this life.  Yes, the right road is often a rough and narrow road.  Home is not far ahead.

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).  We need to seriously consider the question, Do we have our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus Christ?  If so, God's power will take us through no matter how rough our journey.  But sometimes in our busy, instant-coffee, microwave-orientated lifestyle, we fail to sense or hear God's call on our life.  The still, small voice of the holy spirit is drowned out by our rushing around; a quick trip to the lumber yard for supplies to finish our job, or a rush to the grocery store to get ice cream for our evening visitors.  While driving we may listen to a sermon on a CD; but with the message forgotten and our consciences stilled, we rush on to get our things accomplished.

Jesus can give us rest and peace as we travel the rough road of life.  But sometimes we create our own turbulence by neglecting to spend time with God.  We are promised spiritual security only as we remain on the straight and narrow road.  This road ends with a glorious welcome: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).  Will we all hear those words?

Denver Yoder - Somerset, OH

The road you travel determines your destination.

From Be Still and Know...

"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fish: but what are they among so many?" (John 6:9)

One day Jesus had been preaching to a large crowd.  As evening approached, He was aware of their need for food.  The disciples suggested, "Send them to find food."  They were probably thinking, "Our means are insufficient.  It is an impossible task.  Where could we get enough food or enough money to buy food?" 

But Jesus said, "Give ye them to eat."  He asked what food was available.  In the crowd was a little boy with a lunch of five loaves and two fish.  When asked if Jesus could have it, he gave it all to Him, holding nothing back.

Jesus took the lunch of a boy whose name is not known, blessed it, broke it, gave it to the disciples to distribute and the people were satisfied.

We live in a world in need of spiritual food, food that will satisfy the inner hunger of people's lives.  The Lord said, "Give ye THEM to EAT."  He didn't say, "Form a committee or a commission."  He said, "Give YE them to eat."  His means of feeding a spiritually hungry world is through His own people.  His command is for us today.

Sometimes we give God excuses why we cannot be involved in ministering to the spiritual needs of the people.  We feel we have nothing God can use, we say we are too busy, or we have too many home or business responsibilities.

We may feel we have little to offer Him, but little is much when God is in it.  It is not what we have, but what we are doing with what we have.  He uses what we have, but He must have all of it.

How often we limit what God wants to do in our lives.  His power is at our disposal.  When we give Him our all, He takes it and multiplies it by His power.  Then what we do is not in our power but in His.

Do not underestimate what God can do in and with a life that has been placed in His hands to use.

And a quote from Corrie ten Boom...

"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once.  It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time.  Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."

Weekend Words

From Amish Peace...

Knowing God's Word

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

Many people have a tendency to over-romanticize the Amish.  We appreciate their resiliency and their faith, and some people believe the Amish are better - more righteous - than the rest of us.  But the truth is, the Amish have the same struggles and failings that the rest of us have.  Amish preachers turn to God's Word to bring help and guidance to church members:

Preachers draw on everyday experiences as well as stories from the Bible to convey their messages.  The New Testament is emphasized.  In Amish Grace, authors Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher point out that "although Amish preachers recite Old Testament stories in their sermons, all the biblical texts read in Amish church services come from the New Testament," particularly Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as "out of the sixty chapters in the Lancaster Amish lectionary, forty come from the four Gospels."

After preaching concludes (there is typically a shorter sermon, and then a longer one, which runs about an hour), other ministers often add their own commentary or correction.  In this way the Amish service is a collective effort, an idea also supported by the fact that preaching duties rotate among ministers.

To correctly explain the Word of Truth to others, you need to know the word of Truth.  How much time do you spend reading the Bible?  Do you read a Scripture verse here and there, believing it is enough?  Consider trying to read a novel and picking up a paragraph here and there.  You might get to know a bit of the story, but the more you read, the more the story will make sense.

Years ago I felt I needed to read through the entire Bible.  Since then I've done that several times, and each time I gain new understanding.  It's important to spend time in God's word and understand God's story.  Make a commitment to do so.

From Be Still and Know...

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." - Psalm 1:2

Meditation is defined as "contemplation; reflection; contemplation on sacred matters as a devotional act."

The English word for meditation comes from the Latin word, "meditor," meaning to think over, consider, contemplate, reflect upon.

The source of our meditation is the Word of God.  David said, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97).

Meditation is more than just Bible reading.  It begins with the reading of it but continues in contemplating or considering the truth as revealed in it.  "Thy testimonies are my meditation" (Psalm 119:99).  "I will meditation in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways" (Psalm 119:15).  "Thy servant did meditate in they statutes" (Psalm 119:23).

The Bible gives a direct command to meditate.  Paul said to Timothy, "Meditate upon these things..." (1 Timothy 4:15).

Meditation on God's Word gives spiritual illumination.  "The entrance of thy words giveth light" (Psalm 119:130).  Meditation on God's Word allows the Heavenly light to break in upon our inner darkness.  Only the light of the Word is strong enough to dispel spiritual darkness.

We need to gain knowledge from God's Word, but through meditation on it, it becomes a part of our life.

Meditation is essential for the person God can really use.  When Joshua was to replace Moses as leader of the children of Israel, God said to him, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein" (Joshua 1:8).

George Mueller, the great man of God, said that at first he began his devotional time with prayer.  Then he would read and meditate on God's Word.  Later he discovered that his spiritual life deepened when he reversed the order.  He opened his Bible first, asking God to give him illumination on it.  Then he would read and meditate on it.  And finally he would have his prayer time.  This led him to a greater life in the power of God.

In meditation we bring "... into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Weekend Words

 From Our Daily Bread...

Wisdom to Live Beautifully

We all experience days when we wish we were wiser.  How do I handle that tricky email at work?  What should I do when my son keeps misbehaving?  Whether it's making decisions at work or dealing with personal trials, time and time again, we experience the pressing need for wisdom.

So we read books, consult others, or take classes, hoping to gain some useful advice on how to manage our lives and relationships better.  But while the acquired knowledge is helpful, often we still find something lacking.  We need more than the wisdom the world offers; we need the wisdom only God provides.

Where can we find this wisdom?  Scripture tells us it begins with the "fear of the Lord" (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7).  To fear God is to revere and honor Him for His majesty and holiness.  We can understand why acquiring wisdom begins here when we discover what true wisdom looks like.

James 3:17 lists seven marks of the wisdom God provides: it's pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.  The wisdom that all believers in Jesus should seek is connected to Christlike character.  It's the fruit of someone who walks with God, choosing to live in an upright, obedient way.  In short, it's the result of someone who fears God.  

Do you want to navigate through life making decisions that will bring glory to God and benefit others?  James says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking" (James 1:5 NLT).  Our generous God will help you fear Him so you may gain wisdom to live life beautifully for Him.

- Poh Fang Chia (Our Daily Bread author)

From Beside the Still Waters...

Heart Matters - Read Matthew 12:33-45

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins." - Jeremiah 17:9-10

 There is a popular saying that if the heart is right, nothing else matters.  This statement is true in a sense.  If our heart is right with God, it will produce a chain reaction that affects our whole life: what we do, what we say, and how we look.  If our heart is right, our focus will shift away from our selfish pursuits to following and obeying the Lord.  Those with whom we live and work will easily be able to discern this.  Our responses to trials and frustrations as well as to blessings and successes all bear testimony to the condition of our heart.

However, some people live in selfishness and disobedience to God, and they still claim that their heart is right.  In verse 33 of today's Bible reading, Jesus uses trees to illustrate some important truths.  Either a tree and its fruit are both good, or they are both bad.  You can tell what kind of tree it is by the fruit it yields, and the same is true of the heart.

Verse 35 compares a man's heart to a treasure chest, which he can fill with good or evil things.  What he puts in is what will come out!  So producing good fruit (virtues) will not happen automatically.  It takes a heart purified by Jesus, the source of all that is good.  

Verses 43-45 give a further picture of the heart.  We see a heart that is clean and "garnished" which happens after a sinner repents and receives forgiveness for sins.  But there is one problem: the heart is "empty", and Satan is always ready to enter such a heart.  This underscores the vital importance of not leaving our heart empty, but allowing Jesus to fill it with Himself and His godly virtues.

Stephen Leinbach - Elkton, KY

 

Cling to the Bible! This jewel and treasure

Brings life eternal, and saves fallen man;

Surely its value no mortal can measure;

Seek for its blessing, O soul, while you can!