Feather lite Troubles

II Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore, we do not loose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

What am I focusing my eyes on? 

Things of this world that are temporary and ever changing or things of God?  Things that will last forever and help me not only build a legacy here on earth but to also help me put up stores in heaven.  Focusing on God helps us be unwavering, strong and determined.  Focusing on God creates a sense of humility that cannot be accomplished by focusing on anything temporary.

Paul says in verse 17 that our troubles are LIGHT and and momentary.  Earlier Paul used the word light as an expression of illumination but here he is referring to weight.  Rather than troubles being something that weigh us down and become burdensome, we should look at them as light and momentary.  Everything in this world is temporary....even our troubles. We must have troubles so that we can show God's strength to others around by how we handle those trials and troubles.  They build humility as well.  The knowledge that we are so weak in our humaness makes us stronger in Christ.

Puffer Fish

It is hilarious to me how you can relate scripture and nature.  Think about the puffer fish.  Not very impressive when it is just floating along and minding its own business but don't let them think you're after them!  WOW!  They just fill up with water and look like a totally different animal.  Their ability to defend themselves hasn't change at all.  What they are going to eat that day hasn't changed.  Nothing about what they are has changed at all but because there was something around that made them feel threatened, they changed their outer appearance.

Well, I've been reading in Proverbs, one chapter a day, and then I have my little Daily Bread that I read out of as well.  I was really impressed with how the readings aligned today.  In I Corinthians 2  Paul is speaking about not puffing yourself up to be anything more than what you really are.  Don't use big words and fancy talk to impress people about your knowledge of the church - or anything for that matter - along with the wise words of Solomon.  Proverbs 19:20 says " Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise."  When you open your mouth about things you really have no knowledge about, you look foolish.  Also stated in Proverbs, even a fool can look wise if he keeps his mouth shut! (paraphrased) 

Proverbs 12:9 says it is "Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than to pretend to be somebody and have no food".   Paul never bragged about anything other than how he suffered for Christ.  He mentions in II Corinthians 10 that he speaks strongly in his letters but is unimpressive in person and "his speaking amounts to nothing".  He brags about his sufferings and how he has escaped those who want to kill or persecute him in chapters 11 and 12 and finally winds up his bragging in 12:10.  "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then am I strong." 

If Paul, one of the most highly recognized apostles and founder of the Christian church worldwide had nothing to brag about, why do we feel we need to?  Be who you are and be glad that Christ loves you for who you are in Him and not who you make yourself to be.

Proverbs 16:20 states "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord."

The Deep Freeze

Have you ever noticed that when you are coming into the heart of the cold of winter. The time when it freezes everything solid, that it freezes the ground so cold and hard that it looks smooth and impenetrable? A freeze so cold and forebearing that you could never imagine that life would again push through it and the hope of spring is forever away. Then you come to a point every winter where the cold seems to surrender to the cries of nature and finally gives in to a small thaw. Just enough of a thaw to make mud. The kind of mud that slips off the frozen depths below it. A thaw that puts you in mind of the coming spring. Lets you know of the coming warmth and the hope of new growth as well as the beauty of blossoms, the greenest greens of the entire year, colors so vibrant they take your breath away!

And then.....it freezes again! But this time, the freeze leaves gaps in the defrosted and refrozen earth. Gaps that hold ice crystals and air. A freeze that traps motion so that when the final defrost in the spring actually happens, nature can pick up right from where it left off. Withour those gaps in the ground, how would the crocus and the daffodils be able to penetrate their frozen beds?

God just amazes me. He does the same thing with our lives. Freezes us and waits for us to wake up before we pick up and go again. Sometimes the spring rains have to change our whole landscape with an avalanche of rain or an ice storm that kills off all the imperfections that were starting to take over our lives. We always assimilate to the potter with the clay but the winter freeze and thaw has the same affect. Think about what is frozen in your life today and where the gaps of air and ice crystals are that He is getting ready to have burst forth with wonder!

Eye On the Sparrow

“His Eye is On the Sparrow” Don’t you ever wonder why Christ used some of the acronyms that He did? I love this song. What a wonderful interpretation of the verses in Matthew and Luke! The bird itself is a bit of a nuisance! They steal nests, hog the bird feeders, even kill the other birds babies! Maybe that’s the whole point. As I watch my feeder this morning, full of birds I don’t want to see, on of which is the Sparrow and the other the Grackle, I wonder.
That little English Sparrow. How many others fall into that same detestable and undesirable category and yet Christ loves us all just the same. Man and beast. The Sparrow, the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, Zaccheus and even Paul! Paul and what and who he was before he was awakened by the Holy Spirit! Amazing that God knew and cared about every hair on Paul’s head even while he was slaughtering believers! God was working a plan to take that passion that Paul had for killing Christians and turn it into a passion for spreading the word to further points of the region. In my own life, I am not any more worthy of Christs’ love and compassion and saving grace than Paul and yet I feel His arms supporting me when I am weak, His love empowering me, and His light shining through me to reach people I would never consider reaching out to. If His eye is on the Sparrow, how much more does He care about you and I whom He created for the solitary purpose of worshipping and glorifying Him?
Read Matthew 10:27-31 and Luke 12:3-7. Consider that these verses are referring to the reverent fear of god that we should develop if we don’t already have it. The blink of an eye…if He were a vengeful God He might snuff us out one by one for a mean thought or snide look let alone the entourage of despicable behavior we display daily. How hurtful it must be to such a perfect and loving God to see His creation turn their back on Him after all He has done for us. Remember, though, the wonderful and restoratative truth that He loves us unconditionally. No regrets. Rather He takes rpide in knowing everything about you. Your thoughts, your dreams, your heartaches and even when a hair falls from your head! Return the favor to someone today.

“Be kinder than necessary to everyone because everyone is fighting some kind of battle.” (unknown)

Withdraw to Lonely Places

Where do you live? Are you in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, big city where familiarity and neighborly behavior is considered quaint and the energy emitted by the constant flow propels you forward almost effortlessly? Are you in a house, an apartment, a mobile home or perhaps even a motel? We talk about a quiet place in your garden. Perhaps you don’t have the same luxuries that some of us may have with yards to plant in and places of our own to retreat to. Perhaps your quiet place is a public park or perhaps your garden is the Ficus tree or Peace Lily someone gave you as a housewarming gift. Wherever it is, whatever it is, I encourage you to make it as quiet as possible. How comfortable are you in the quiet where you can hear all your thoughts? Walk away from your computer. On second thought, shut it down. Now turn off the cell phone, the radio, the I-pod, the TV, microwave, ceiling fan…. whatever you’ve got on to distract your mind…shut it all down. It's like a little Yoga-size but with Jesus! Feel how much pressure is relieved from your body when all the humming and buzzing is eliminated. You just won’t realize how much mental congestion you surround yourself with until it is all eliminated. Now sit in the silence for 5 minutes. Just start with 5 minutes. A bit disconcerting until you acclimate to it, isn’t it?
Christ retreated to a quiet place whenever He needed to recharge and talk to His heavenly Father. It is noted several times how He retreated to mountains or to places of solitude. The definition of solitude is “the state of being alone; seclusion.” or “a lonely, unfrequented place” from Webster’s Dictionary. It is more and more difficult for us to set ourselves off to in place of solitude for any amount of time but oh, how imperative it is!

Check these references and read the situations surrounding them, as time permits.

John 6:15
Luke 22:39-46
Luke 6:12
Luke 5:16


Take time to be quiet and restore your soul.