Sliced, Diced and Mashed/No Turning Back

No Turning Back

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.  Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.  And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

                                                                                      …Nehemiah 4:8-10

            Brazil was a most interesting place to live, especially in the state of Minas Gerais.  Outside my window I often looked over to the side of the mountain, watching this little creature the size of a Hummingbird.  The tiny Tiziu made me stand in awe as God used it to teach me another lesson in my life.

            Every day the Tiziu found its way to the fence post and in a perfect rhythmic form of jump and chirp, jump and chirp sang a high pitched sound never missing a beat. Hour after hour, day after day performing what to us would seem to be monotonous for sure.  I say performing, because if it is what God designed him to do, no matter what it is, he is performing for the Glory of God.  We may be feeling small and so insignificant, maybe that our duties are so monotonous. But if it is done unto the Lord it is considered great!  It takes commitment to keep going in the spot where God put us.  Does your spot feel the size of a fence post?

            I have had trouble myself, trying to stay focused, and not give up when discouragement rises its’ ugly head.  And there is always the cold water committee, to dampen our spirits. The chirping of the Tiziu, I understood as a joyful sound unto his creator. Are we rejoicing? Or are we somewhat like the guilty in our verses today? The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. The team effort was dwindling and the strength of those building and clearing the rubbish were disheartened and ready to give up, tired and exhausted. Hindrance came from every direction; from within, without, from enemies round about.  But verse 9 reads, Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them. The word “them,” portrays the enemy, the discourager, or the one hindering the work of God.

            Go ahead! Keep faithful like the Tiziu in his place, even if it is just clearing away rubbish like in the times of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Do all in the Name of our Lord and Savior.  The platform may be just a fence post, but all the same, God is receiving the Glory if the heart is in tune with Him. If you are begging for a bigger fence post, be careful, pride cometh before the fall.

              Like Nehemiah was saying, don’t give up now the walls are just about up!  Child of God, Don’t give up! Be faithful and committed, His return is near.

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Old Testament Peer Pressure

Old Testament Peer Pressure

Judas then having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

                                                                                                 …John 18:3-5

           

            I remember so well what it was like to feel pressure from those my age, especially in junior high and high school years.  I remember once I had a crush on a young man just a bit older than myself.  If he asked me to do something, I probably would have done it for him.  Of course my dad asked, “And if he were to jump off the Empire State Building, you would do it too?”  In my heart I knew he wouldn’t ask me to do something so dreadful, but I got the point.  We tend to listen to those of influence over us, sometimes not the best role models. 

             Our narrow idea of what love is, can get us into deep trouble.  Our parents are not perfect, but they are put in our lives to help us in that growing process, no matter how young people might fight God’s way of doing things.  That’s right! God’s way!  How do we ever expect our own children to listen to us if we first don’t respect our own parents?  We live a lie in front of our own children, maybe not realizing it. I do realize, there are a lot of parents kids are ashamed of—and truthfully, I agree there are very few good role models out there.  But it doesn’t take the responsibility away from us to obey, even if it is not how you think it should be.  Now we are not talking about abuse—that is another whole subject, and we all know it is not of God.

            Judas has been influenced by his peers, and is no teen.  He is with a band of men and officers from the courts of the High Priests and Pharisees.  Six hundred peers are prepared with torches, lanterns, and weapons.  All for an unjust cause, race to the garden where Judas knew Jesus would be.  His heart most likely pounded with excitement as the coins jingled in his pocket.

            It was no surprise to Jesus about their coming.  Why do you think the tears fell on to the rocks in the garden?  Were the tears for what was to come, as well as for the soul of Judas?  Judas, lost for eternity for thirty pieces of silver.  Jesus wept for me, why would He not have wept for Judas as he betrayed Him to the enemies. Those enemies are ours still today and they seek to have you deny the Savior.  Unbeliever, it is not worth thirty pieces of silver, whatever that might be in today’s terms.  If only you could ask Judas what he would do, if he could do it all over again.

            Today is the day for acceptance; tomorrow may be too late. Even Judas felt peer pressure and greed for earthly gain.  Didn’t help him much did it? And it won’t help you.

Old Testament peer pressure or today’s; the same—don’t be wrongly influenced.  Those who grab your attention now, where will they be when they have to stand before God almighty?  That is one place we stand alone!

              

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Harder Than a Rock

Harder Than a Rock

O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

                                                                                                                                …Jeremiah 5:3

                Noticing something of mine hanging out of the young ladies purse, I dared confront her about it before she went rushing out the door.  Camp items were being kept in the back room awaiting the time to open the doors of the newly built camp.  Hiring a woman to give me a hand in cleaning was great, but when I realized she was stealing from us, her job was terminated on the spot.

            When I confronted her asking why she stole from us after we had been so good to her, she replied, “You have two of these; I have none so I took one.  It sounded good to her.  She played awfully dumb and even played the violin sad song to us, but to no avail.  She saw, she wanted, and she took,  

            Excuses she had, and to her all of them made sense in her mind. It is easy to justify what you did.  You may even believe what you did was not wrong.  What does the Bible say about it?  God calls sin, sin, and doesn’t chocolate coat it.  My helper knew she was doing wrong, or she wouldn’t have hidden the items; she would have paraded them in front of me free of concern about consequences.

            In rebellion, this woman puckered her lips tight almost like a draw string bag.  She was mad, because she lost her job, but mostly because she was caught in the act. She did not want to receive correction, and her face turned hard as rock.

            Jeremiah says, Lord, thou has stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou has consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock;

            Look at someone who is really mad, and notice how hard their faces become.  Harden not your face or your heart dear friend.  God has known what rebellion is since the days of Adam and Eve.  Receive correction if needed, and return to Him!

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Itchy Ear

Itchy Ear!

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.  The servants name was Mal’chus.  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

                                                                              …John 18:10-11

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far, And he touched his ear, and healed him.

                                                                              …Luke 22:51

            Many people try to explain how it is to lose a limb still feeling like the absent body part is ever present because of the nerves endings; from limb removal, to breast surgery to losing a finger or two, causing the same reaction.  One can place their hands or finger tips there and a longing for that part of the body is still felt.  Through time the body adjusts, and most adjust emotionally over time.  Extreme measures are never easy no matter the circumstances, but most surgeries are life saving.

            Do you suppose Mal’chus felt his ear every once in a while to see if was still there?  Can you imagine what it must have been like to feel the pain of his ear cut from the side of his face? Hand over his ear, blood trickled down and panic was sure to have frozen the servant’s ability to react.  Interesting how in the book of Luke, the scripture reads, And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.(22:50) Peter’s name wasn’t even mentioned.  The book of Matthew and Mark are written the same. The book of John however mentions Peter’s name.  Why, they don’t mention Peter, I do not know, but through the Holy Spirit’s leading, the scripture tells us.

            When Jesus placed the ear back to its original place, it was placed exactly where it had been, with no scarring or stitches.  I believe Mal’chus could not but touch the ear daily, just to remember the miracle Christ performed that day.  Did he believe? I don’t know, but I don’t think I could have experienced the touch of the Savior hand without contemplating on His Deity, Power, and then the resurrection. The resurrection was around the corner.  Shortly after Christ was taken, he was crucified.  Can you imagine the state of confusion this servant must have felt? He must have wondered who this man was.  Which master would you have liked to serve? The high priest, or The High Priest?

            You can serve the Christ, and gladly let Him be your Master; not as a slave, but as a Child of the King. A servant has no rights, where a Child of the King has an inheritance.  Choose you this day—who will you serve?

            Have you touched your heart and soul, just as Mal’chus touched his ear?—Does your heart, mind and soul cause you to remember what Christ has done for you?  Take time to place your hand on your heart and say a prayer of thanksgiving to the One who has made it possible to have a personal relationship with God Almighty.

Sliced, Diced, and Mashed/Just Perfect

Just perfect!

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.  For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 

                                                                                                    …Psalm 18:30-32

            Many churches have become sophisticated forgetting the real reason for meeting in the House of God, filtering through memberships as if it were a club initiation.

Becoming so “in-themselves,” they have forgotten whom they serve.  With nose in the air, those guilty, miss the opportunity to serve the little ones of society needing a mentor, or the faint hearted and down.  With head tilted high it is difficult for any of them to see the disabled spiritually, so fixed on the beauty of the crowning, elaborate services ahead. 

            Elaborate were Jewish ceremonies were not quite what God had intended by the time man’s formalities were added.  No longer were the ceremonies sacred, but show.  How would the Jews and the Gentiles ever have peace?   The Gentiles were still considered strangers, and the Court of the Gentiles was as far as they could go to worship.  The outsider could be a proselyte, but not a full fledge Jew.  Because of the Cross, we can go directly to the throne of God.

            God had guidelines for the Israelites to follow no doubt, but they failed to recognize the One to whom the guidelines were preparing them for; the Messiah.  The Cross happened, and we are estranged no longer when we recognize Him as the Savior or the coming Messiah. 

            Interesting, the One, the ceremonies were meant for, has been forgotten beneath beauty, history, and cold rituals that mean nothing, because the Messiah has already come. The very ceremonies were for the One who would be rejected by his own.  The world’s only hope for the lost, proud, and sin-stained, would be through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

            Christian, don’t repeat history and have so much ceremony, there is no substance to be seen, or felt. Otherwise, you will be no different from those ‘spiritual’ leaders of Jesus’ day and snob, or look down upon, the poor soul who sits in the pew next to you—the very same soul Jesus died for.  Do you have a Gentile Court in your church?  I pray it is an open court, for ‘whosoever’ will.

Sliced, Diced, and Mashed/Octopus Ordeal

Octopus Ordeal

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

                                                                                                             …Galations 6:1

An interesting fact:  The first ink used was made from pigment from an Octopus. 

The amazing creature hides from his enemies while camouflaged in the waters below.  But once the Octopus feels an object approaching too closely, he whirls one of his arms out to attack his prey. But not before he sprays this ink screen, or cloud of protection, from his ink sak that almost makes him invisible. 

We do the same thing when we are hurt, by putting up a wall or screen of protection, not allowing ourselves to get too close to people for fear of being hurt again.  We just know it will happen.  Someone will disappoint us, but this time we are determined it won’t affect us, we say. 

An Octopus has normally eight arms and if something happens to harm or hurt one of his many limbs, he can grow a new one. 

Unlike the Octopus, we can not grow back an arm if we lose one. I automatically thought of the church when the mention of amputation came to mind.  A congregation can be hurt worse, if the attitude of amputation exists instead of restoration when it comes to members of our church who have fallen into sin. 

The body of Christ feels the loss or damage done, but imagine what amputation would make them feel?  People have had to face such extremes, when confronted with no other options.  But the body misses the limb and its created function.  It is the same for the church. It will never be quite the same after someone has indulged in lustful ways.

 In this case though, the person that fell into sin chose to do just that. The Holy Spirit lives in us to convict, and he does his job.  If we ignore his pleading, we sin, and really we don’t even fall into sin, we walk right in the front door.  We even open the door, turning the doorknob to the direction we want to go.

We as a church cannot at this point amputate that member of the body.  We must try to bring him to a restoration point.  God is in the business of healing spiritually and even correcting our vision to focus in on Him better. We can’t just grow new limbs, but old broken limbs need reviving loving them back into the fold through the example of God’s love.

Some of us don’t have broken limbs, but we do have a blurred vision of what it is to truly be Christian.  Watch out for the camouflage or screens set up to deter us, and restore the fallen in an attitude of meekness.   

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Found it!

Found It!

Search me, Oh God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

                                                                                    …Psalm 138:23-24

            In the middle of the Silver Dollar City Cave, in Branson, Missouri, one of the young ladies from our tour lost her contact.  Everyone halted and stayed in the very spot they stood.  Flashlights filled the space and surrounding area.  Upon looking and looking, we almost gave up the search when someone yelled,” I found it!” waving the curved contact on the tip of his finger. 

            After searching on their knees, they actually found the eyewear. I would not have believed this story if I had not witnessed the ordeal.  The vast cave and slightly lit corridors on our walk through were not the place we felt a contact would be found.  But here it was in perfect shape; no one had crushed it under foot.

            On my knees searching and asking God to reveal to me any hidden attitude or sin is what I am ashamed to say, not what I do often enough.  Sometimes, I just plain don’t want sin revealed to me.  Yes, sorry to say I have attitudes sometimes too. 

            We must be willing to give God total access to our lives, allowing him to search our hearts and thoughts to see if there be any wicked way.  Not easy to do, but why would be afraid of something so cleansing?  Are you on your knees searching for that hard to spot item that hinders your fellowship with God? Let God shine His Word on your heart. Then you will say, “Oops, found it!”  Problem is, you knew it was there all along; it was just easier to ignore it.

Father, I give you permission to do a Spring Cleaning in me.  Isn’t that better than a demolition group coming in?  A little at a time is better than a major overhaul. Thank you for helping me to see that. I love you Father!