IN THE SWAMP

Recently I heard something that sounded like a fire breathing dragon go over my house. As I ran outside to see what was happening, a hot air balloon was just barely skimming the treetops. It was in trouble with power lines and civilization too close. I decided to follow it in my vehicle.

A mile from my home, the balloon lost its battle to stay aloft, finally coming to rest in a swampy area surrounded by low hills, trees and water.

The chase crew showed up quickly to help the balloonist. Standing on the hillside with camera in hand, I watched as the crew tried to tug and pull the balloon up and out of that swamp. It was hot. It was impossible. The more the crew worked at it, the harder it became. The mosquitoes were biting them, the underbrush was attempting to swallow them. The crew just didn’t have the strength to move the balloon up and out of the quagmire.

Then all of a sudden, the crew and balloonist began to work as a team. As the balloonist would fire the burners, the balloon would lift off the ground just enough so the crew could begin to guide it up and out. Easily this time.

Isn’t that how our lives are sometimes? We try and try in our own strength to do something, often making matters worse. As we struggle, stumble and gasp, we finally realize we cannot do it without help. We call upon God who wanted to help all along. He sends His enabling Spirit to help us and we find we are guided up and out. Now if we can only ask for help a little sooner.

Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord. Zechariah 4:6

He who abides in Me (Jesus) and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Heavenly Father, please help me turn to You first - for Your guidance and enabling in all I do. In Jesus’ name. Amen

ROOTED

Recently a sunflower plant needed to be transplanted. The soil in the new area was prepared ahead of time in order to give the plant the best possible chance. Tenderly it was lifted from the soil and was placed in its new home. Water was added to the hole as the sunflower was gently placed in it. Fresh soil was gently packed around the plant. All should have been well.

It wasn’t. As the hot July sun beat down, the plant suffered. Even though it was watered daily, by each evening, the leaves hung down, wilted. Its root system hadn’t burrowed deep enough yet to sustain life.

Perhaps that is why the Scripture admonishes us to let our roots grow down deep into Jesus. God knows that if our root system is not burrowed deep into Life Himself, we will wilt.

There is a happy ending to this story. The sunflower’s roots kept digging deeper and deeper into the life giving soil with each passing day. What a beauty it is!

As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Heavenly Father, please sustain me by Your life-giving presence day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

HEALTHY HELPFULNESS

Have you ever tried to help someone whose life seemed out of control? Perhaps it is someone who has an alcohol problem, unable to escape the grip of drink. Perhaps it is someone who won’t listen to Godly counsel, bent on marrying someone they shouldn’t. No matter the situation, you find yourself becoming angry and impatient with the entire cycle of failure on their part. Can’t they see? Why won’t they listen?

Then a thought enters your mind which helps you see more clearly: If that same person were suffering from bronchitis, would you become angry? Would you be impatient, wishing she’d just get on with life, leaving the illness behind?

No, you wouldn’t. You would realize that she was weakened and that certain measures needed to be taken to return to health - rest, liquids and, perhaps, some antibiotics.

Those whose lives are out of control have an illness, too. The illness is caused by sin which entered this world with Adam’s and Eve’s trespass. Sin, which has contaminated lives resulting in every sort of problem imaginable, has been dealt with at the cross by Jesus’ sacrifice. Healthy helpfulness on our part begins with praying and listening to the Lord’s directions if we are to have a part in the cure.

. . . for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. James 1:20

Heavenly Father, please help me exhibit Your patience towards those You want to help. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DOING GOOD . . . PRAYERFULLY

Have you ever felt the Lord admonishing you to take better care of your health? You knew He was nudging you to get more sleep, to eat properly and to decrease the hurry and stress in your life. In obedience to Him, you made a good beginning. You disciplined yourself to get to bed on time in order to get a full eight hours of sleep each night. You changed some of your eating habits and even began to walk every day.

Then something began to happen. A friend needed your listening ear . . . a neighbor needed your help
. . . .a child needed extra attention . . . your elderly parents . . . your spouse . . . your child’s school . . . your place of fellowship. Before you knew it, you no longer were exercising, eating properly or getting the rest you needed. You became exhausted and run down. Instead of obeying the Lord’s directives to you about your health, you began to disobey Him by
sacrificing your time and energy above and beyond His directions to you.

No, it is never wrong to serve those whom the Lord places in our lives. It is sin, however, to disobey Him. In this case, as in all instances . . .

To obey is better than sacrifice.... I Samuel 15:22

Heavenly Father, please help me not to get so caught up in “doing good” so that I disobey You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR CONSCIENCE

As you were growing up, when you did something wrong, did you have a horrible sense of guilt? Perhaps you took something which didn’t belong to you. Or you found yourself cheating on spelling tests. Maybe you lied to your parents concerning your whereabouts.

You grew up and that sense of guilt followed you. When you gossiped about a friend . . . when you ran that red light, knowing you had time to stop . . . you weren’t kind to your own child. That sense of guilt was there.

Many would say that was your conscience speaking, telling you clearly what was right and what was wrong. Do you notice that God doesn’t usually send wind, earthquakes or fire to speak to you? He speaks quietly, in your heart. How glad we should be for that small inner voice which points us to the Source of all righteousness - God Himself.

May we listen . . . and heed.

And behold, the Lord passed by and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice. I Kings 19:11-12

Heavenly Father, please open my inner ear to hear Your voice leading me toward righteousness day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MATURITY

The other day I was in a facility that had a nursery for young children. If the child couldn’t be still and quiet enough so they wouldn’t disturb the adults during the meeting they would be taken to the nursery. Although not a punishment, the nursery was there for the good of the child and for the good of the adults.

Before entering the meeting, I could hear one mother say, “If you can’t be quiet and behave, you’ll have to go to the nursery.”

I could hear God saying the same thing - If we can’t obey what He has given us to be and do at this stage in our lives with Him, then we, too, must go to the nursery.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer to grow and mature in being a follower of Jesus. I don’t want to stunt my growth because I am hard headed, hard hearted and rebellious. I want to have a soft heart toward my Father. I want to have the mind of Christ - filled with all of the wisdom and knowledge of God which I can now hold. I want the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, my Counselor, who wisely instructs and guides me daily.

How about you? Are you striving for the maturity God longs to give, as His dear children?

You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. Hebrews 5:12 & 13

Heavenly Father, please train me so I am at the stage of growth where You want me to be at this season in my life - to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LETTERBOXING

Do you know about Letterboxing? I just recently was introduced to it. Here is how it works: Go on-line to the Letterboxing site, find an area in your part of the world where you would like to search for a hidden treasure. Print off the directions which will aid you in your search. Get ready and go.

If you are fortunate, you will find the treasure you search for and you will be so excited.

Usually the treasure you seek is in a weather-proof container with a log book within where you can briefly sign your name and date, proving that you were there. As an added bonus, within the container are treasures for which you can trade. You place an object which belongs to you within the capsule and you may take something as a trade.

This scenario reminds me of our search for God - the true treasure. How do we find this treasure? By seeking Him earnestly. What does God promise if we search for Him?

“If you look for me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me. I will be found by you, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:13

When we find Him who is the treasure, we also are privileged to make an exchange. I give Him my life, He gives me His life.

Of course,we must continue to seek Him daily no matter if we have once found Him or not. He keeps moving forward. We must continue moving forward with Him.

Heavenly Father, please place within me the desire to earnestly seek You every day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen