Banana Too Green: First blog

Banana Too Green: First blog

Simple Faith

Went Out

Simple Faith

And in the day time he (Jesus) was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

                                                                                                …Luke 21:37-38

            Louisa gathered with a few friends for a Bible study upon a mountain top near by.  “This will be our permanent meeting place, where it’s closer to God” said Louisa.  This young lady wanted something more, leaving the group of believers at our local work in Brazil. 

            Louisa and her friends started their own services of just singing praises with no real searching of the scriptures, or grounding of sound doctrine.  They only saw one aspect of worship to God, considering themselves spiritually “higher” than anyone else.         Not long after starting, the praises from the group of animated young people dwindled to nothing.  Voiced praises from the mountain top to the valley below all but stopped. Looking for a “high” as many do today, they were not satisfied with the simple way of Salvation, or even the simple fact of gathering together to hear His Word, which deepens our relationship with the Father.             

            Unhappy with themselves, the group looked to change others, or the system.  High on the mountain doesn’t take you closer to God.  It might be beautiful and tranquil, but it is the heart condition that draws us to Him.  Louisa doesn’t even worship Him anymore, sad to say; still looking for that “high” she already has in Jesus.”

            Ezekiel 6:13-14 is a prime example of the ungodly placing idols high on the mountain, a place they thought would find them favor in the eyes of their gods.  God says His judgment will fall upon them, and they will know I am the Lord! 

            Christ went to the mountains at times when He wanted to be alone to pray to his Father, but He always returned to fellowship with the Saints.  We are to congregate, to be an encouragement to others of like faith.  Like Christ in our verse, they gathered at the temple.  Christ died for the local church, you and me.

                       

Father,

I praise You for your mighty works, and lift your name above all names.My heart is burdened, for many have gone away from You. They are taught by the world that they must be “high,” on something other than Jesus.  You wait for their return, back to simple “trust in You.”  You wait for their praises to be heard once again, but this time with the other saints You died for.   Bring them back Father that they may allow your church to encourage them! In the name of Your Son Jesus

Absalom, Absalom!

Taken Up Between

Absalom, Absalom!

And Absalom met the servants of David.  And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

                                                                                                …2 Samuel 18:9

            It was kind of hard for Bill to imitate Absalom, as he acted out the part of throwing his long hair back; partially bald he found it difficult.  As a congregation we really overworked the imagination trying to see Bill with long flowing hair, like the Bible describes Absalom.  Now Bill is good looking, only the hair is partially lacking.

            The last Sunday Evening I suggested to him he ought to wear a long wig, to look more the part.  I hunted all over during the week to find the perfect one.  Sunday evening came, and Bill trots into the informal Sunday night setting, flipping his hair back like a natural.  It was a bit scary I must say.  Of course the congregation took a while to gain composure, after seeing such a sight. 

            Bill needs no hair piece; I find him handsome the way he is.  If he wore a “rug,” I’d probably lose him to himself, like in the son of David’s case.   In the end, Absalom’s beautiful hair is what took him down.  Interesting isn’t it, after all the trickery of trying to gain his father’s throne, he ends up hung in a tree.

            No throne will be seized, no throne will be occupied if God desires it not too, and no presidency is bigger than God.  We can make all the deceiving attempts to act like God doesn’t exist, and go on with our own plans, but no power is big enough to go against God Almighty; even United States of America. 

            God had plans for David, but it was not going to be accomplished through his son Absalom.  David knows the acts of his son lay on him, for the sins he committed against God.  His sin, selfishness, and pride have cost him much.  But God still loves him!  Joab finished off Absalom with darts through the heart, as he hung, still alive in the tree. 

            Hair or no hair, that is not the question--heart or no heart, is!  Do you have a heart for God?  Or do you have a greedy heart full of selfish desire?  Are you like Absalom that through trickery, you will do whatever it takes to get what you want?  Watch out don’t let your hair grow too long, and certainly watch out for Oak trees.

Father,

May you help me, to not be deceitful in my ways.  Take away the greed that lies in wait for me to eye something, something material that I long for and feel I can’t live without.  Show me I can live without it.  Turn my eyes away from “ things” that are appealing, so I might see you more clearly.

I'm not Monk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Down

I’m not Monk!

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

                                                                                                …2 Chronicles 7:1

            I love the TV series Monk, and have a good laugh at myself with my own idiosyncrasies. I really am concerned though when someone that says to me, “Oh, You’re one of them! I figured you to be like that.”  The subject was about making the bed. 

            In the class I attended, a woman student made a point to say all this in front of the rest of the students.  I thought, if I make my bed, I’m a perfectionist?  What is wrong with making my bed?  At the end of a long day, it does look more inviting to crawl into.  Allowing my self 5 minutes more is nothing so difficult.

            If you keep your house up a little each day, it doesn’t take a bulldozer to clean at the end of the week.  I remember my mother saying, “If you wipe off the stove and the refrigerator, each time we have a meal, the grime won’t build up.” I have picked up that habit in most areas of my life.  It’s not a bad lesson. 

            I want to be found faithful with all that God has given me.  Now my house is not spotless or perfect, but when my house is in order, I feel my home is a bit more in order.  I never have wanted my husband to ever be embarrassed to come home. If he found it a total disaster, he may not find it appealing to come home. 

            What about my spiritual life?  That clutter bothers me too.  How can I do great things for God when my life is full of unfinished business in need of attention? 

            Christian, take a step back for a moment and ask God to help you sort your life out.  Don’t dread it, because it will be the beginning of a less complicated life.  So many have depression, and wonder why as they sit amongst piles of boxes of muddle.  They think they have too much to do, so choose to not deal with it at all.

            We carry a lot of habits we form into our Christian life also. You might say, “I can’t change, I was raised this way!”  Wrong!  You just don’t see the necessity to change, and excuses come in the form of laziness, wrong priorities.  Making your bed is one thing, but total disarray and filth is another. 

            Open the curtains, let in some light, throw out old newspapers, and clean out the clutter.  Spiritually, God loves a clean place to dwell also.  Give Him what ever frenzy there is in your life that keeps you from giving your all to Him.  Whether you choose to make your bed or not, may the Glory of the Lord fill your house!

Father,

I give to you the areas of my life that need attention.  I have put it off for way too long.  I know what they are.  I have known all along.  Clear the path in all this muddle, confusion, and untidiness is keeping me from seeing your perfect will in my life.  Clean my heart from this sin that so easily discourages me and show me the plan you have for my life. May Your Glory be seen in me, your dwelling place!

Entering into Rest

Entering into Rest

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

                                                                                                …Hebrews 4:1

            In Pouso Alegre, Brazil, the man on the sidewalk in front of the bakery caught my eye.  The huge open wound made me turn my head as nausea became apparent; the desired effect from the beggar.  Inside the bakery I asked about this man.  I was told he scraped his wound daily to gain more sympathy; for more money to be slipped into his bucket of change.  Every day this was the routine, a fresh looking wound for the public to see; becoming a part of the daily scene.

            Did he not fear of losing his leg, or worse, his life?  Eventually the man nearly always slightly in a drunken state, lost his leg to gangrene; all because of the sound of money in the bucket.  Many doctors of the town would have helped this man, but the drinking took over his mind, and greed followed.

            Scraping wounds was common to me.  Maybe that is why I became nauseated so.  Then I hit rock bottom and like the man, held out my bucket for sympathy, but no one gave heed.  Having no rest from the enter turmoil for so many years, I was tired, and it showed in my attitude. I knew true rest in Jesus, but just didn’t claim it.  Just like the man, the Great Physician stood there with the solution, but I refused and went about my way.

            The rest here and now, I couldn’t enjoy.  It was there all the time.  Was I waiting for rest in heaven one day?  Did I not realize rest from this weary world started the day I asked Christ to save me?  I am no better than the Children of Israel refusing rest, and walking the desert for 40 years lost. I kept scraping my wounds, which left me no room for rest or celebrating much. 

            At forty years of age, I began to live as God had intended me to live, but only when I decided to give my hurts and open wounds over to him to heal.  Wow! Does it feel good to rest in God’s open arms!  Come try it and let the wounds begin to heal, and don’t wait as long as I did.  Come into His rest!

Father,

Thank you for bringing me back to find complete rest.  What a difference I feel. I give you my hurts and disappointments over to you as I gain new ones in this life; it is inevitable.  Give me rest, your rest in the here and now.  In Jesus name I pray.

Banana Too Green: Please Let Me Preach!

Banana Too Green: Please Let Me Preach!: "Up! Let Me Preach! And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to..."

Please Let Me Preach!

Up!

Let Me Preach!

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

                                                                                              …Matthew 14:19-20

            All night the branches broke around us every few minutes, sounding sometimes like a gunshot, waking us from our attempted sleep. Hard to rest when nature is in it’s full fury.  The eeriness that hung overhead was all so disturbing, as everyone tried to find warmth in the close to zero weather, by any means possible.

            My husband Bill fell to the flu bug with all of us cuddling in this small place sure to catch it from him.  Hard enough to keep warm normally when you’re sick, but now with no heat for a few days was even more difficult. Besides, he is ill about the fact he isn’t preaching.

            Most churches have been closed for two Sundays now. Bill is wanting to preach so bad that next Sunday I’m sure he will make up for it.  I tell everyone he plans to speak 14 hours; everybody better take their lunch!  It is hard to see someone called to preach, not be able to do just that. 

            Christ loved preaching and declaring the Words of His Father. Here He preached as he had many times, but this time lunch was served by His own hand at the feeding of the five thousand.  It is hard to imagine a group like that having a picnic in the presence of the Savior.  Maybe not everyone wanted to hear His teaching in the beginning, but out of curiosity found themselves on the hillside. 

            Christian, not even curiosity can move many today.  There is no newness, no “I can’t wait till next Sunday,” anymore. Tune your heart in during the music, prayer and message, tuning out the cares of the world.  Then maybe focusing, you might say “Let me preach, teach, sing or praise the Lord!” Tune into the Savior, and you’ll be itching to meet and fellowship again at His house.

Father,

Let not my heart grow cold, unfocused, and drawn away from thee.  Woo me back close to your bosom, that I may rest, renew and regain strength I have lost because of my own attempts to make it on my own.  Help me to feel like Bro. Levergood when he could’nt wait to proclaim your name to the congregation.  In your Son’s name I pray.