He Sighed
Father, You got me through it all. Easter break has not been a break but it has been worth every moment! A beautiful service Thursday night, an enjoyable birthday celebration Friday night, prepping for Sunday all day Saturday, and a wonderful day today, as we celebrated Resurrection Sunday in three services, then were blessed to host our family for a time of delicious food and loving fellowship. Yes, I am weary but thank You for Your hand in it all!
Mark 7:31-37 (<<click to read the passage)
In reading this passage, the first phrase that really jumped out at me was “he [that is, Jesus] sighed”. Now I would agree with commentators who state that Jesus’ sighing is connected with His sympathy for the man’s condition of being deaf and having a speech impediment. That is very much who Jesus is, He loves us deeply.
But to me, it seems that it also speaks to a certain degree of His exasperation. Most definitely Jesus loved the man and must have felt great sympathy for the life he must have led with these impairments but did the “people” feel the same way about this man or were they just wanting another show, another demonstration of miraculous intervention. After all, “the more he [Jesus] told them not to, the more they spread the news [of the man’s healing].”
There is absolutely nothing wrong in feeling like he was being taken advantage of, of being a form of entertainment. Yes, Jesus was (and is) there to meet our surface needs but we miss the point if that is all we think He does – all that we think He is good for.
Jesus doesn’t want us to suffer but, truly, He loves us regardless. He loves us right where we are when we come to Him. We must realize that He sees us far beyond the outward and physical. He sees us to the farthest depths of our being, to the very core of our soul, and he loves us. He accepts us.
And honestly, we are all impaired spiritually. We are born that way. And until we come to Him, we are bound. We cannot free ourselves. But do we just want to be entertained or do we want the truth – the truth of who we are and the ultimate truth of what He can do for us?
Lord Jesus, help us to see what You want for us – not just the temporal – not just the here and now – but the eternal. Enable us to see and accept who we are and to clearly see what we can be in You. Amen.
Apr 21st, 2019, Sun, 9:03 pm
Jumping to Conclusions
Well, Father, not everything today went as planned but You reminded me in the midst of it that, it is most assuredly not about me. But it is about You. Thank You for You. Thank You for being who You are to me. I would be lost (in oh so many ways) without You.
Mark 7:24-30 (<<click to read the passage)
Before we go any further, we must read this passage from the Amplified Bible.
…after hearing about [Jesus], a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile (Greek), a Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept pleading with Him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27He was saying to her, “First let the children [of Israel] be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs (non-Jews).” 2 But she replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the pet dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29And He said to her, “Because of this answer [reflecting your humility and faith], go [knowing that your request is granted]; the demon has left your daughter [permanently].” 30And returning to her home, she found the child lying on the couch [relaxed and resting], the demon having gone. vs.25b-30
How often when we hear or read certain things do we jump to conclusions? In many translations, the word “pet” is not specified and all we see is the phrase “…throw it to the dogs.” When we look at the original Greek it fills in some much-needed blanks. In most cultures referring to someone as a dog comes across as pretty harsh. But using the phrase “pet dog” or “puppy” changes everything!
Way too often we get to thinking way too highly of ourselves and our vast knowledge and understanding and, as I said before, we jump to conclusions.
I have to admit at first reading my attitude in regards to this passage was a little reactionary. Unfortunately, American culture ratchets up the hypersensitivity. We are extremely quick to jump on the bandwagon of offense. Part of it is we have our own agenda and don’t really listen. But this Syrophoenician lady? She was one smart cookie. She caught on quickly to what Jesus was saying. My Life Application Study Bible says, “Her attitude was expectant and hopeful, not prickly and or hypersensitive.” (emphasis mine)
Jesus loved this woman. He wanted to help her…and He did. They listened to each other. They respected each other. They loved each other. Oh, what we could accomplish if we would learn from their interaction!
Lord Jesus, help us to pause…and take time to listen…really listen to those around us. Help us to respect others and most importantly, may there be an enormous portion of love in the middle of it all as we ardently strive to love each other as You love us. Amen!
Apr 18th, 2019, Thurs, 8:57 pm
Beware Brown-headed Cowbirds!
As my head hit the pillow, Father, I realized that I had not yet come together with You! I have been so busy today in preparation for our service tomorrow evening that it just left me. As You come alongside me, may I hear Your words loud and clear. Amen.
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When life was a little less hectic, I was very diligent at keeping an eye on my bird feeders. I would note species that visited, look up their calls and find a picture of them to put on file. For quite a while I even participated in an online bird research group.
I still feed birds and enjoy watching them (except Starlings!) and here last week I saw birds that I have never seen before. I recognized them from pictures I had seen in my All the Birds of North America book (what can I say it’s a hobby!) I had seen a male and female Brown-headed Cowbird!
Anyway…after a little research I discovered that they are a species native to North America and probably got their name from following bison herds on the Great Plains, feeding on insects flushed from the grass by the grazers. I also learned that they are our most common “brood parasite.” A female cowbird makes no nest of her own but instead lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, who then raise the young cowbirds.
Some birds…can recognize cowbird eggs but are too small to get the eggs out of their nests. Instead, they build a new nest over the top of the old one and hope cowbirds don’t come back. Some larger species puncture or grab cowbird eggs and throw them out of the nest. But the majority of hosts don’t recognize cowbird eggs at all.
Cowbird eggs hatch faster than other species eggs, giving cowbird nestlings a head start in getting food from the parents. Young cowbirds also develop at a faster pace than their nest mates, and they sometimes toss out eggs and young nestlings or smother them in the bottom of the nest.
OK…so probably way more than you ever wanted to know about Brown-headed Cowbirds but there’s a lesson here. As Christians, we must be diligent about others laying their eggs in our nests. A couple of days ago, I wrote What Are You Feeding Your Mind? That stuff is one thing but we also must be careful about swallowing hook, line, and sinker everything that other “believers” hold to be true.
Acts 17:11 NLT speaks of the importance of verifying the “truth” we are given to make sure it really is true!
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Lord Jesus, help us to not just allow just anyone to drop their eggs in our nests. May we, with prayer and a heartfelt desire to search Your Word, keep our nests clear of false teaching. Amen.
Apr 17th, 2019, Wed, 9:47 pm
Information from:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/overview#
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/brown-headed-cowbird
Abandoned
Once again, Father, I thank You for Your presence and guidance on another bus trip –Junior Varsity Baseball and Softball at Cardington. A map from memory is a bit of a challenge and I haven’t been here since Massey played football for a game in 2010! I am blessed to have You with me!
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One interesting thing I have discovered on my bus route is the number of derelict buses I see! There are a couple of junkyards but beyond that, I know of at least four that are just sitting, falling apart on peoples lots. They could probably be fixed up and given life once again and maybe that is why they originally acquired them but I would guess that they will never again carry anyone anywhere.
Within the last few years, an old abandoned Methodist church building not far from home was finally razed after many, many years of disuse. The only thing salvaged from the structure was the bell. They wanted to save the belfry but it was too far deteriorated to do so. The bell sits in a re-creation of that belfry where the church used to sit (see picture) and you can still ring it, but boy is it loud!
In life, many things get old, fall into disrepair and are abandoned. But looking at the derelict buses and thinking of the church that is no more, the church bothers me the most. If we are going to maintain the important things in life, it takes time, effort, and resources.
Church buildings are important but the Church – that is, those who follow Christ as their Lord and Savior – now it is what is really important. We can maintain a structure but if its inhabitants are negligent in maintaining themselves, the efforts to do so are worthless.
As Christians we must be diligent in maintaining a viable relationship with Jesus Christ – it absolutely cannot be neglected! Yes, it will take time, effort, and resources. But it is so worth the struggle!
Lord Jesus, fire us up so that we are determined to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and of equal importance is that we love our neighbors as ourselves. Maintenance of our spiritual relationship with You is crucial and bringing others along for the journey is of great importance as well! Amen!
Apr 16th, 2019, Tue, 4:49 pm
What Are You Feeding Your Mind?
A lot of crazy weather yesterday, Father! Thank You for keeping us safe in the midst of it all. Great comfort is found in Your presence in the storms of life and in peaceful times as well.
Mark 7:14-23 (<<click to read the passage)
Growing up we really didn’t worry too much about what we ate. Oh, we weren’t allowed to have just ice cream or candy but for the most part, we ate and enjoyed what was set before us. Now I realize that things may have been a bit more homegrown and not nearly as processed then as now but I truly think the Pharisees have nothing on us when it comes to obsessing over what and how we eat!
In a lot of ways, it has become a religion in and of itself! There are so many things that so many people won’t eat – fats, carbs, etc. Then there are those who are gluten-free, vegetarians and vegans. We are overly fixated on so many things. Some legitimately so for verified health reasons but others it is just a fad or something else upon in which to lose ourselves.
Now for sure, there is nothing wrong with a healthy diet and truly we consume way too many things that are in reality not good for us. But the question we need to address, as my Life Application Study Bible suggests, is are we as stringent about what we put into our minds through reading and watching television – and I would add the music to which we listen?
The Pharisees’ obsessions with what and how they ate had no bearing whatsoever on their relationship with God – Jesus set that straight. The problem for them – and us – has more to do with mindsets and thought processes. As He said in verses 20-23,
“Whatever comes from [the heart of] a man, that is what defiles and dishonors him. For from within, [that is] out the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, acts of greed and covetousness, wickedness, deceit, unrestrained conduct, envy and jealousy, slander and profanity, arrogance and self-righteousness and foolishness (poor judgment). All these evil things [schemes and desires] come from within and defile and dishonor the man.” AMP
Lord Jesus, help us to not neglect the care of our bodies but we all know that they are but earthen vessels and will eventually fall to decay. More importantly, let us not neglect our souls. May we be diligent and watchful as to what we allow to feed and nourish them. Amen.
Apr 15th, 2019, Mon, 10:27 am