Month: September 2024

Is anything too hard for me? Genesis 18:14

Last week during the days of anticipation of the arrival of Hurrican Helene, most people were wondering what can we expect in terms of the effects of this storm. Things like, “Should we expect flooding? Should we expect heavy winds? Should we expect power outages?” We turned to our meteorologists for answers, but how much do they really know? They can follow the radar and try to predict the path of a hurricane, but they can never be 100% accurate in their predictions.

I think Lewis Grizzard had it right when he said that radar isn’t real. What really happens, he said, is that the weather stations have a weather dog. If he comes back wet, the forecast is for rain; if he comes back hot and dry, it’s going to be sunny, and if he doesn’t come back at all, it’s going to be windy!

As it turns out, the storm took a different path than expected, and there was much damage to the northeast of us, and some of the damage is life changing. While the storm was worse than expected for many, the effects of the storm were slightly better than the expectations for others. While some breathe a sigh of relief, most of us have stressed over the outcome.

In our world of today, we live on a “need to know basis”. We think we need to know everything ahead of time in order to control the outcome. We want to know “How? What? When? Where?” even though most of the time there is not one thing we can do to change the outcome. Even after we pray and supposedly turn everything over to God, we still live by the philosophy, “hope for the best and plan for the worst.”

It is interesting that we are perfectly content to put our money in the bank and expect the institution to take care of it, but we are hesitant to trust God in the every day things of life. We are hesitant to trust the God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask, “Is anything too hard for me?”

What then, should we expect of God? First, we should expect to be strengthened through trials. As the scipture says “All things work for good for those who love the Lord.” Secondly, we should expect to see and know the glory of God. Next, we can expect to know His love that is poured in and out of us. Finally, we should expect to be delivered from the sin that grips us when we trust in the Lord.

On the other hand, what does God expect of us? According to the Bible, God expects us to do justice. In other words, we should treat others fairly and respectfully, and not mistreat or oppress them. Next, God expects us to love kindness. He expects us to help those in need such as the poor, downtrodden, and hurting. Finally, God expects us to walk humbly with him. This includes thinking less about ourselves and more about others, and being more of a listener rather than a talker.

The aftermath of a storm is sometimes worse than the storm itself. As I heard a man say lately, “The damage is much worse in the light of day than it was during the dark of night.” What can we expect in this life? I think we can expect that no matter what we face in the life, God has a plan. There is a purpose for every storm and every struggle. He has promised that everything we endure will work together for good.

Our prayers this day are for the many who have experienced the damage of Helene. This thought by Dr. Wayne Dyer can help us expect the best of each day.

“Every morning when you awake you have been given the gift of a sunrise and twenty four hours to live. This is a precious gift. You have the wonderful opportunity to take this day and live joyously with apprecition for everything you encounter. Take in a deep breath and be grateful for this exhilerating experience of breathing in life and love.”

Therefore, put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand against the evil one. Ephesians 6:11

In 1975, the American Express Company came up with a slogan that advised its customers that they shouldn’t “leave home without them” referring to the American Express travel checks! In later years, the slogan changed and evolved into the ever popular “Don’t leave home without it” to advertise their credit cards. Karl Malden was the spokesman for these commercials for almost two decades, but there have been many other celebrity spokes people. As a result, travelers and entrepreneurs alike tend to look to this company with trust and confidence.

These day Christians can feel assured in this world because God also has a guarantee of trust and confidence but with a little different spin. The words might advise us thusly, Don’t leave home without your spiritual armor. If we leave our belt of truth and our shoes of peace in the closet, our breastplate of righteousness by the door, our shield of faith under the bed, our sword of the Spirit, and our helmet of salvation behind us, before long the world of today will try deter us from our mission.

Each piece of the Christian’s armor serves a purpose. The belt protects the stomach, keeps all the other pieces in place, and it offers a place for the sword. The helmet protects the head from blows, and the shoes protect the feet from spikes and traps. The breastplate and shield protect the body from arrows and thrusts from a spear or sword. All of this protects when we are asked to do battle with others who are probably equipped with the same things.

In this world of political and social unrest, we need to remember don’t leave home without the armor because each piece has relevance. The belt of truth reminds us to align our lives with God’s word. The breastplate of righteousness describes the change in our lives when Jesus comes into it. The shield of faith protects us from attacks from the evil one. The helmet of salvation represents our mind becoming like that of Christ. The sword of the spirit is our offensive weapon of the Word of God. The armor is not meant to be used without all the pieces. so don’t leave home without all of it.

Paul described the different pieces of a Roman soldier’s armor, and we’ve all seen pictures depicting the way they must have looked wearing it. The one thing he doesn’t mention is the armor for the soldier’s back. There was a reason for that. There was no retreat, if they did, their back was exposed. The omission of that piece of the armor was supposed to keep the soldiers facing the enemy.

In our world of today, many of us have forgotten that our backs are exposed to the evil going on all around us. We like to think that we are prepared for things that are happening all around us, but we are not. We have let our guard down, and we have left home without wearing the full armor of God. At any given time we are vulnerable.

Sadly, we Christians have lived long enough to see the way political correctness has influenced our world by dictating that we must avoid saying anything that offends others. We all need a spiritual wake up call from time to time. We know what we have been taught, but it often takes a shot in the back to remind us.

There is a tale about a boy who comes home from school and doesn’t know his mom is visiting with their minister. He carries a dead rat in his hand. “Mom,” he says, “you’ll never guess what! There was a rat running around in the garage. I saw it, threw a stone, and hit it. It just lay there, so I went over and stomped on it. Then I picked it up and hurled it against the wall.” At that moment he sees the minister , and his mom’s face, so he adds in a pious voice, “And then, the dear Lord called him home.”

Remember to watch your back and understand that God has provided the armor, and we trust that what He has given us is all we need. The fight we are in with the evil one is spiritual, so no tangible weapons will can be effectively used in the battle against him. Suit up with your spiritual armor every day, and don’t leave home without it!

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Matthew 5:22

Years ago, our family used a percolator to make the morning coffee. This “coffee maker” was light years behind the pods and other varieties of today. The percolator worked by using gravity and a process called percolation to brew coffee. You would place the coffee grounds in a metal basket at the top, add water to the bottom of the pot, and place it on the stove on high. The water at the bottom heats up and boils which creates steam bubbles. The steam bubbles in turn push the hot water up the tube in the middle of the pot, over the coffee grounds, and back into the bottom part of the pot. When the process is finished, we would put the stove on simmer and enjoy fresh coffee.

Just like the steam rises in the percolator in order to make coffee, sometimes in this day and time, we have many things that cause the steam or anger in ourselves to rise. Anger is defined as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. During this day and time, many of us experience anger on a daily basis. Anything from folks texting while driving, to political ads and speeches, to unrest in our world, to simple everyday occurrences that can send us over the edge.

It is a proven fact that people who struggle with anger are five times more likely to suffer with coronary heart disease and/or suffer a heart attack because they can get so angry. This kind of anger is usually associated with folks who are quick tempered, react swiftly, and many times stupidly, instead of letting things defuse slowly and sensibly.

The first mention of anger in the Bible is when Cain got so angry with his brother, Abel, that he murdered him. God says in Epheisians Don’t sin by letting your anger control you.” The word anger is only one letter away from the word danger. The truth is that once we let anger get the best of us, it reveals the worst in us.

The first thing about anger is that it is stupid. Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanac: “Take this advice from Richard poor and lame; Whatever’s begun in anger ends in shame.”

Next, anger is devisive. Occasionally we become angry for a good reason, but most of the time it’s because we are irritated, impatient, or hurt about the way we’ve been treated. Will Rogers once said, “People who fly into a rage seldom make a good landing.”

Finally, anger is destructive. We usually pay the penalty for the actions we commit in the midst of anger. Things such as losing friends, losing the love and respect of our family, losing business associates, and losing our health. The psychologist John Hunter who suffered from a severe heart conditon once said, “My life is at the mercy of the person who can make me angry…the first scoundrel who gets me angry can kill me!”

Proverbs tells us that he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. One of the fruits of the spirt is self control, and that means that as a Christian, one can control the anger. Anger is much like a river in that if it’s controlled, it can generate enough electricity to power a city, but if it is uncontrolled, it can overflow its banks, become a raging flood, and destroy everything in its path.

Not everything in life is worth a burst of anger. Just like the percolator when it is on high, our tempers can heat up and boil over, but if we turn down the heat and simmer down, we can enjoy life. Remember to count to ten before speaking when we are angry. Then, if we are really angry, don’t say anything!

As we face this new season of differences of opinion, choices, and values, remember don’t let it percolate into some words or actions that will cause regret!

Generous in love – God gives grace. Huge in mercy, erase my bad record. Psalms 51:1 from The Message

When our kids were growing up, one of their favorite toys was the red framed Etch A Sketch. This amazing toy uses two knobs that you turn, and you can draw vertical lines with one and horizontal lines with the other. If you turn both knobs simultaneously, diagonal lines can be drawn. After the picture has been drawn, if you don’t like it or want to make some changes, you just turn the red box upside down, shake it, and viola! The picture is erased.

It’s hard to believe that the classic red framed drawing toy, Etch A Sketch, has been around for over 64 years! We would probably all have to admit that it’s pretty impressive these days that a toy that doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilites, can’t connect to WiFi, and doesn’t even work on batteries continues to be iconic and have relevance today especially when children are increasingly putting down toys and picking up video game controllers.

This amazing toy offers the user a chance to erase all their mistakes or miscues and start over! It reminds me of the way God handles mistakes in our lives, in our nation, and in our world. He wipes the slate clean and “remembers it no more.” He cancels our past, and He chooses to forget our wrongs, errors, and failures.

This week we remember the twenty third anniversary of September 11. Our lives were forever changed on that fateful day, and for many of us, things will never be the same. We will forever ask questions such as: “As a country how do we come to terms with our suffering, not only as individuals, but also, as a nation and erase it?” “How do we erase the violation we feel by this tragedy?” “Is it possible to forgive those who seem to have no repentance?” Can we ever erase the pain and suffering of this event?

The tragedy of 911 is neither the first time or the last time we, as a people, will ask these and other questions. This past Wednesday, we watched in horror as a 14 year old gunman killed 4 students and injured 9 more in a senseless act of violence in Apalachee High School in Winder. The students who witnessed it referred to it as “an act of pure evil“. As we watched students gather on the football field for safety and to pray for their fellow students, teachers, and staff, we all felt that moment of helplessness and horror again.

It is human nature to question tragedies whether they come to us either as a natural disaster or through the cunning and evil of human beings. When acts of human beings are the cause, most people point to the fact that God gives us our freedom even to sin and do wrong. We can’t erase these events, but instead of moving backward into grief and despair, God would want us to move forward in a better way.

Recently a friend from Donalsonville sent me excerpts from an interview with one of my relatives, Miss Martha Nell Spooner. The history that she tells of our small town brought back so many good memories and taught me some history of which I was not aware. It also imparted some wisdom which I think is apropo for us today.

Miss Martha Nell is turning ninety, and she left the interviewer with these words: “I am ready to step out of this world, but I am sorry for leaving it in the shape it’s in for my great grandchildren. The things that are so trying take us to the absolute end of our rope, but if we could, we should just hesitate and accept that this is a test. These trials, these things that test us and try us, we can either give up on and become bitter, resentful and angry, or we can hang onto the statement that everything does work for the good. We can’t see it, but we have to accept it.”

It is up to us to try to erase the evil that leads people to do such unimaginable acts of violence. I heard more than one person say, “There if not for the grace of God, go I.” The scipture from Corinthians is a statement of gratitude and humility that acknowledges human sinfulness and the need of God’s grace. In the words of Sheriff Jud Smith of Barrow County, “Hate will not be allowed to prevail.” As Christians, we may be in this world, but we are not of this world. Love will prevail.

Our prayers are with all the families of those students and teachers who lost their lives and were injured. God bless them!

After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I have decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. Ecclesiastes 5:18 from The Message

This Monday we celebrate Labor Day which means to many of us a holiday to mark the end of summer. It is seen as the weekend where everybody who can go somewhere goes somewhere so they can play for one last weekend because the real hard work of the last part of the year begins on Tuesday! However, Labor Day is actually celebrated on the first Monday of September every year to celebrate workers.

The origins of Labor Day reflect how far worker’s rights have come in this country since its inception in the late 19th century. At this point in our history, the average American worker worked twelve hour days seven days a week. This abuse of the average worker gave rise to the Industrial Revolution where Unions began to crop up to fight for the rights of those who put in a lot of hard work!

In every day of life, we have the choice of going one of two ways: we can go the easy way or the hard way. The easy way says, it doesn’t matter if I work today or not, it doesn’t matter what time I show up, it doesn’t matter if I check out a few minutes early. It says things like, “Take a short cut, cheat if you have to, pull some strings, cut some corners, don’t work too hard.” We ask things like, “How much vacation time do I have? What are my benefits? How many days and hours do I have to work?” This seems to be the American way of today.

The hard way is the way of getting up early and staying late. It is the way of working with your hands. It is long range planning, goal setting, diligence, forethought, preparation, and doing what needs to be done even if you are not told to do it. This way is the way God speaks to when we look at the scripture above.

God is all about the hard way. He isn’t fond of couch potatoes. The hard way looks difficult and daunting. All of us would rather be on the easy way, but God is calling us all to the hard road.

One day a grandfather told his grandchildren the story of how he came to America. He told about the trains and ship that brought him from his home in Eastern Europe. He told of being processed along with other immigrants at Ellis Island, and how he’d gone to a cafeteria in Lower Manhattan to get something to eat.

He said he sat down at an empty table and waited a long time for someone to come and take his order, but nobody came. Finally, a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and explained how a cafeteria works. “You start at the end, “she said, pointing to a stack of trays. “Then, you go along the food line and pick out what you want. At the other end they’ll tell you how much you have to pay.”

The grandfather reflected for moment and said, “I soon learned that’s how everything works in this country. It’s like a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want-even very great success-if youre willing to pay the price. But, you will never get what you want if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.”

The difference in where we are right now and where we want to be in our job, our family life, and our Christian walk can be summed up in two words–hard work. Does God want us to succeed? Yes, but he won’t drop success in our lap. He promised to “Bless all the work of our hands.” Countless hours, persistent effort, and constant improvement make the difference between ambition and success.

Margaret Mead once said, “I learned the value of hard work by working hard.” Thank you to all the workers who put in hard work every day and do it the hard way.