Seeds for Eternity
Weariness has not left my body or mind from this past weekend’s events. Father, I ask that You enable me to focus on You and avoid distractions that would pull me from You. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 (<<click here to read the passage)
We visited Karen’s mom yesterday. She lives in a memory care facility not far from us. We usually visit in her room, but she was already in the common area (an area for meals and interaction), so we sat at a table there.
That table held sprouting seeds from a project they did on March 4th, planting tomatoes and marigolds. (Her mom enjoyed picking fresh cherry tomatoes from planters around the enclosed walking area last year!) Well, we’re about two weeks out from their planting, and the tomatoes, at least, were sprouting nicely. I’m sure the residents are eagerly anticipating this year’s harvest.
One thing consistent with plants that I am familiar with is that seeds look nothing like the fruit they bear. The picture above is of tomato seeds. Unless you know your seeds well, you’d be hard-pressed to know you’d get tomatoes by planting them.
In today’s passage, Paul speaks of seeds. Our bodies will die; that’s just the way it is. There is no way out for us. At the end of verse 36, he states,
When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. NLT
I find verses 42-44a very encouraging, especially with more and more people dealing with cancer, illness, and heart disease. Our churches’ prayer lists are overflowing, and there are so many obituaries. But read these words,
So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength; it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. AMP
As much as we cling to this earthly life, it is not the end-all many hold it to be. There is much more in store for those who love the Lord!
And the greatest news of all?
So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]. v45 AMP
And this, too!
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust], we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven]. v49 AMP
The Word speaks much better than I ever could!
Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “Death is swallowed up in victory (vanquished forever). O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose]. v51-58 AMP
Mar 18th, 2024, Mon, 12:50 pm
I Have a Friend…And It Is Not Time
This past week, Father, I had a lot of things pulling at me. During this time together, may I be able to focus on You and what is most important for me to understand and communicate. Amen.
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I have a friend…and it is not time.
I have a friend who was welcomed home over the weekend. He bravely battled Stage 4 brain cancer, and now his war is over. He could have been my brother. He is about a year younger than me.
I wish I had been a better friend to him while I knew him. I prayed for him and encouraged others to do the same. I served as his pastor, and when he could not attend church, he faithfully watched online. …but none of it seems enough looking back over it all.
I wish I could have spent more time by his side through the bulk of his battle, been with him through his treatments, and taken more opportunities to encourage him, be it through calling, texting, or writing. But time has not been my friend.
It was even more difficult because he was not the first friend to go through these things. Almost two years ago, I lost another dear friend – this one to leukemia. Though two decades older than me, his passing left a hole in my heart…and now I have gone down the path once more.
I have lost others, but these two men, at least in my heart and mind, cast a spotlight on my inadequacies…my failures. They deserved far more from me than was given – not because I didn’t want to, but, as we all know, there are only so many hours in a day. I’m not making excuses; it’s just the truth. A full-time job, three churches, writing almost every day, home responsibilities, and family time all add up quickly. Even though those are all legitimate responsibilities, it does little to assuage my guilt.
I genuinely do not think either of these gentlemen begrudged my time for other things. I am grateful for the hours afforded to me in my friend’s last hours on this earth, and they will always be cherished as a privilege extended by God Himself. Yet still, I have heard other people speak poorly of other pastors who have been negligent in calling on them. I think we will just have to let God be the judge of that. Some may be negligent, but I believe it is often just out of a pastor’s control, and we do our best with the time we have.
I grieve, too, but I would plea for grace. God is undoubtedly gracious, but may we extend the same in our own lives. I have many friends, but time is not one of them.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Mar 17th, 2024, Sun, 1:01 pm
Source of Power
Father, right off, I want to thank You for the beautiful day and safe travels with students today, both to and from our destination. Help me be attentive to Your message to me this evening. Amen.
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Every day, I rise and go about the tasks at hand. Quite often, they are a hodge podge of variety. This week so far is full to the brim with numerous situations – calling hours for the father of a loved one, a doctor’s appointment with my wife, a trip with Future Farmers of America students (including very enjoyable conversations with their advisor), another trip to an Academic Challenge with other students, a church meeting, professional development training with my fellow bus drivers, presiding over a funeral of a beloved aunt, delivering a hospital bed to a friend in need. And, of course, the everyday parts of life, interacting with my coworkers and the kids on my routes, as well as time with Karen and interaction with my parents and son, be it by phone or text.
Some situations have me interacting with Your children, Lord. But others know nothing of You. In those instances, I run here and there, going to and fro in a very dark world. Regardless of who I interact with, Your light, Lord, is ever so bright within me. I do my best to let it shine brightly for all to see readily. You have called me to let the light you gave me pierce the darkness all about me.
As I referred to yesterday, it’s easy to think that we, and we alone, are responsible for generating the power we need to sustain our light. But we are incapable in that we simply do not have the reserves to do so. Lord Jesus, You, and You alone have an endless supply of power and resources we can tap into. But the one thing that absolutely must happen is that we have to spend time with You – not a hit or miss kind of thing but a consistent, and I mean daily, commitment of interaction with You…reading Your Word, speaking with, and listening to You is of utmost importance.
Back when I worked at Kohl’s, one of the many things we sold was solar watches. They never needed a new battery, but to continue functioning, they had to be exposed to light regularly. Occasionally, someone would bring one in for a new battery because it had stopped working. I’d ask if it had been kept in a drawer for a while, and almost every time, it had. I’d instruct them to set the watch in a window with direct sunlight, and it would recharge in a couple of days.
If we are to follow You, Lord, we cannot avoid being with You and expect to have the power we need to let our lights shine. Sunday worship is vital, but in reality, it isn’t enough. Daily contact is critical, too. Constant exposure to Your power and light is what keeps us charged.
Lord, I am here. Charge me. Empower me. May my light shine forth brightly for You.
For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 AMP
(A major redo of a post from Mar 14th, 2019, Tues, 6:19 am)
Mar 13th, 2024, Wed, 7:37 pm
Steady and Firm
Coming into this week, I knew it was packed, pretty much from start to finish. There is something every single day – Sunday through Saturday! Father, I ask for Your strength, Your love, and Your wisdom. As I’ve mentioned several times to my congregations over the last few weeks, our resources run low or dry up, but Yours are unfathomable! And You are more than able and willing to share!
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (<<click here to read the passage)
Going a little further with what I said in my opening prayer, there are many instances where, in all honesty, we are going against the flow of humanity. What many hold to be true may not be so.
In this particular passage, the Apostle Paul addresses his readers’ battle against those who denied Jesus’ resurrection. (Yet today, our world is also full of naysayers.) There are multiple things in which we hold to what we believe is the right and proper way to do something, while others cast caution to the wind and bend rules and regulations left and right.
For example, telling the truth. I was raised always to tell the truth and would still be hard-pressed to tell a “white lie.” One incident that I still get teased about is when I was supposed to get my wife to a local eatery for a “surprise” birthday get-together for her. Her family was going to be there, as well as mine. When she asked why we were going to that particular location, all I could think was that my mom really enjoyed their soft-serve ice cream. (I asked Karen about it again this evening, and she still thought it was hilarious that I couldn’t come up with something more “creative.)
Now, that is more humorous than serious, but you get the idea. We could talk about sneaking out to party with friends as a teenager, or pilfering office supplies from work because “everybody” does it, and many other scenarios, but there are times when we can’t go along with the crowd and have to stand up for what is right.
You might think these examples are trivial, but what about matters of the heart that could have long-lasting impacts on our faith?
Paul, quoting a famous Greek dramatist Menander (342-291 B.C.), states,
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” v33
My Life Application Study Bible says,
Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.
I don’t know about you, but often, I just run out of resources. In going against the crowd, I grow weak—Jesus is strong. My patience wears thin, and my love wanes—Jesus is the epitome of love! My knowledge and understanding of circumstances become inadequate – Jesus knows everything (that’s what omniscient means!)
Jesus – He is all we need. In Him, we can stand steady and firm in our faith; that is the only way we cannot falter in our interaction with the world!
Mar 12th, 2024, Tues, 6:35 pm
Be a Pineapple!
Father, I humbly come before You this evening. I am forever grateful that You can use this imperfect vessel. With You, all things are possible, and it is proven every day of my life!
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I would think that many of us are familiar with the song This Little Light of Mine. Jesus said in Matthew 5:15-16,
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. NLT
I saw a cool sign while out with Karen this past weekend, and I thought I would share my spin on it! It read,
Be a Pineapple
Stand Tall
Wear a Crown
and Stay Sweet
Too often, I fear, we slink behind the scenes when it comes to letting our light shine. We have a terrible tendency to put it under a basket. I say be a pineapple and stand tall! We have a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:8-9 NLT
No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5 AMP
Stand Tall!
A pineapple wears its crown, though our crown is yet to come; I see no reason why we should not live our lives as His children of the King!
In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 AMP
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
….a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3 NIV
Wear a Crown!
And then, lastly, as followers of Christ, we should daily strive to stay sweet! I don’t think anyone has ever been drawn to a sour believer. It says in 2 Corinthians 2:15,
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… AMP
Our goal as our Lord’s followers – His children! – is to introduce others to Him. The best way to do that is to live our lives before them in such a way as to attract them to Him, with the sweetness of our relationship with Him and the sweetness of our love!
Stay Sweet!
May we be all our Lord and Savior calls us to be!
Mar 11th, 2024, Mon, 6:25 pm