Keeping Our City Beautiful

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, [Dorcas] who was always doing good and helping the poor.” Acts 9:36

A few miles of country road gave way to the thriving, growing city of Vancleave. Shops and businesses seem to be opening weekly as families flood to settle and build homes in this formerly rural community. As I entered the city, headed to a writing assignment, I passed a sign that read, “Keep Vancleave Beautiful”. The creator of that sign probably wasn’t thinking of spiritual “beauty”, but a few Scriptures came to mind concerning ways believers in Vancleave could keep their city “beautiful”:

“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness…” Psalm 96:9

“…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15

When Peter was writing to husbands and wives concerning how to treat each other, he encouraged the wives to let their beauty “not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Think about it! If each of us exhibited God’s kind of beauty through worship, witness and a well-ordered home life, what a mighty impact we would have on our communities! So let’s stop trying to make ourselves look good by new clothes or fancy skin care products, and invite the Lord make us attractive - his way!

Father, I pray for the willingness and enabling to “beautify” my community as I interact with others. Through daily activities and encounters, may I be so used of you, that others will see your life and love exhibited in my life.

Related scriptures: Acts 4:13, Acts 9:36-42, Philippians 2:1-7, James 1:19-27, 2 Peter 1:2-8

Friends

Trees often inspire me to grab my camera. From bare branches reaching skyward, to burnished fall colors shouting out God’s glory for the world to see (Psalm 19:1), I am often awe-stuck with their beauty and majesty. Being fascinated by the trees’ bark, I snapped this shot at a Florida roadside park some time ago.

The photo also reminds me of friendship: two friends, side-by-side, facing the world together. I’ve heard it said that a person with two or more close friends should consider himself incredibly blessed. The Bible speaks of a unique friendship that you and I can have with one who knows us more intimately – and accepts us more unconditionally – than any other friend, no matter how dear.

“…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs. 18:24)

This “friend”, intimated in the Old Testament, but clearly revealed in the Gospels and beyond, is none other than Jesus Christ. In his brief three-year public ministry, he invited twelve men to get to know him through day-to-day interaction. And among these twelve disciples, a cursory study of the first four books of the New Testament shows an “inner circle” of Peter, James and John.

Friendship was important to Jesus. And he invites you and me to be part of his list of friends:

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

When the time drew near for Jesus to rejoin his Father in the throne-room of Heaven, he shared this message with his (at-the-time) confused followers:

"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you,
and will even be in you! (John 14:16, The Message)

Jesus was a flesh-and-blood man who got tired and hungry, endured insect bites and enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and felt a range of emotion, from anger to sadness. Surely he relished a back-slapping laugh as well as a hearty hug of a loved-one. However, the physically-present Christ would soon be seen no more by his disciples, and in his place would be the Holy Spirit. In ways past our finite mind to fully comprehend, Jesus had been with them, and now would be in them. Forever.

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews. 13:5)

We have friends, some who know us fairly-intimately. But none have ever been able to live inside us, to fully feel what we feel, whether it be joy or anguish. Only Jesus, through the Holy Spirit (also called Comforter, Counselor, and Friend, among other names) can fulfill that role. And he did so much more; he was willing to die for us:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Stories have been told of friends and family who were willing to die for their relative or comrade. Jesus, however, exceeded this. He willingly gave his life for his enemies, as we all are before coming to him.

Consider what the friendship of Jesus means to you, and offer thanks to him. And if you haven’t already claimed him as friend – and as Lord – would you do so today?

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Heart's Desire

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Well, here it is…the desire of my heart! It isn’t a luxury motorhome, but I’m not looking for such. I really would like a small model of bed-and-breakfast (and bath!) on wheels to get around the country, for vacation and ministry trips, or to lend to friends for a much-needed sabbatical.

You’ll notice the “For Sale” sign on the window. If it would have said, “For Ann”, I probably would have bought it on the spot, as it is the closest thing I’ve seen to “just what I wanted”! (My kids ask what I want for a birthday or Christmas gift, and I keep telling them, but so far, one of these hasn’t appeared in my stocking.)

Well, if a person wants to claim Bible promises, Psalm 37:4 would be high on the list. Hmmm… I feel like I am delighting myself in the LORD, but I haven’t seen automatic transmission-equipped "desires of [my] heart show up yet. I’m sometimes a good persuader – I’ve tried to “cast vision” to my husband of why this would be a good thing to have, but he isn’t buying it, literally or figuratively. So, as the obedient wife that I am, I haven’t gone against his wishes, although I have pouted a bit.

So what to do with Psalm 37:4? Could the verse mean that if we find our delight in doing God’s will, that he will give us (place within us) the desires he wants for us? Or is it just as it says, and my motorhome (that I am desiring with the absolute purest of motives) and the right time frame just haven’t yet coincided? Or maybe I just think I want one, and after I got it, I’d wonder “What was I thinking?!?” Hard to say (aside from being pretty sure the first answer is probably closest to the Scripture’s intent), so guess I’ll just wait on the LORD to see what transpires.

“The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness. Psalm 147:11

And His lovingkindness is better than a motorhome, anyway and any day. But I’m still open to the mini-home-on-wheels possibility, though!

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

"Pay It Forward"

A devotional in Radio Bible Class’ Our Daily Bread (www.rbc.org/odb) was entitled “Pay it Forward”, based on the movie by the same title. Trevor, a 12-year-old boy, wanting to make the world a better place, began with himself and a good deed.

The Scripture chosen for the devotional was John 13:3-15, the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Imagine, the Lord of the universe humbling Himself by engaging in the lowly task reserved for servants! Surely a collective gasp and a hush fell upon these gathered in the upper room, as the Lord knelt before each man to grasp his filthy feet.

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

A lesson was to be learned, and it was about more than foot-washing. Although some take the above verse literally and engage in the practice today, the “example” Jesus was referring to was that of servanthood, not applying a wet towel to dusty toes. As today’s disciples, we must seek – and accept – opportunities to show the spirit of Jesus’ act; to meet the needs of those God places in our paths. Dirty feet needed to be tended to in New Testament days; we can render other acts of service in today’s world.

Let me get back to “Pay It Forward”…years ago, after our community suffered Hurricane Katrina’s wrath, volunteer groups from across the U.S. came to our aid. In addition to Minnesota, Georgia graced us with the most volunteers. Folks from First Baptist Church of Woodstock had come for a particular week, and I met them over a meal at our church. My daughter, Lee, who lives about an hour from Woodstock, had become a single parent, and we had a spare mattress set we wanted to get to her. These servant-hearted fellow believers (see photo) came by our house, picked up the bedding and transported it to their church, where one of Lee’s friends picked it up and brought it to her.

Fast-forward a few years. Last week, Lee was planning a trip to the Mississippi coast, and a friend-of-a-friend had something she needed to get down here. My daughter was able to meet the woman and receive the item - a hand-crafted case to hold the flag used at my friend’s husband’s funeral. She is waiting excitedly to receive the special gift. Lee had the opportunity - and pleasure – of paying it forward.

“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matt. 20:28)

Lord, may I not be so busy or inflexible that I miss the joy of following your example of servanthood when you provide the opportunity. Remind me of Your abundant blessings, and let me pay it forward!

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

God's Enduring Love

As I was leafing through my Bible today, Psalm 136 caught my eye, due to the way it is formatted on the page. The reason for the unusual format is that each line ends with the same words, “His love endures forever.”

Take a few moments to read the psalm, looking for evidences of God’s love. You’ll notice his creative power, his mighty arm of deliverance, and his abundant blessings. As I meditated on these truths, I began to think of portrayals of God’s love today. I decided to write my own “Psalm 136”; highlighting just a few of the ways I’ve seen God’s love evidenced in my life:

He has given me his salvation,
His love endures forever.
He meets my every need in abundant measure,
His love endures forever.
He guides me in unexpected ways, to show me his plan.
His love endures forever.
He has gifted me with a loving husband, a precious family and treasured friends,
His love endures forever.
He has allowed me to live where I have freedom of worship,
His love endures forever.
He has provided his word to exhort, instruct, and encourage,
His love endures forever.
He is with me continually, even if when I don’t seek his fellowship,
His love endures forever.
He has redeemed my children, and they are committed to following him,
His love endures forever.
He gives me grace and confidence to accept the trials he allows to come my way.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
His love endures forever.

Like these rained-drenched roses shown in the photo, many things may appear lovely, but their beauty is short-lived. Praise the Lord for His everlasting (and every-so-daily) love! Why not try writing your own “Psalm 136”? You may want to place a copy of your version where you can read it often, as a constant reminder of your Father’s abundant love. And share your psalm of praise with others, so they can rejoice with you…perhaps they’ll write their own!

Related scriptures: Psalm 100, 2 Corinthians 9:6-14, Genesis 1, 2 Chronicles 20:20-22,
1 Chronicles 16:23-36

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Hands and Hearts

In these days of e-mail and text
messaging, isn't it nice to get a
card in the mail? And it's even more special if it happens to be one that is hand-crafted!

This evening, about 60 of our church members (of a variety of ages) showed up to begin "Summer Nights of Service", a multi-facted outreach to show God's love to the community. We cleaned trash from the beach, surveyed neighborhoods, prayerwalked some of the area school campuses, handed out bottled water to those getting exercise by walking our local bridge, and made cards. Some of the cards will be sent to those who shared prayer needs during a previous survey. We are calling our card-making ministry "Hands and Hearts", and as we make and write cards, we pray for the needs of each person, and include a note to let them know of our prayers.

It was great to see folks from ages four to 70-plus engaging in ministry. And our staff coordinator (for the card-making) assured us that we had just as vital a part in outreach as those who went out on the streets of our town.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us", says Romans 12:6. Along with this chapter, we find a listing of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. These lists are probably not all-inclusive. Obviously, beach clean-up or card-making aren't on any of the scriptural lists, but those of service (Rom. 12:7) and encouragement (Rom. 12:8) are.

Some think of spiritual giftedness as being demonstrated in one who can deliver a great sermon, or is effective at leading others to Christ, and rightly so. However, a careful study of these Scriptures show many ways to effectively serve Christ, and facilitate spiritual birth and growth. And a good way to discover new areas of giftedness is to take advantage of opportunities such as these. It's also an effective way to introduce our children to serving the Lord by serving others.

Maybe it's time to step out of that comfort zone, and into a new, fruitful area of service; what adventure will you try?

best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Rule of Thirds

In photography, there is a concept called “the rule of thirds”. The phrase may be new to some, so here’s an explanation: in composing a shot before the shutter clicks, the photographer may choose to consider an imaginary division of the image into 9 equal parts (like a tic-tac-toe game). Each juncture where the “lines” cross is one-third of the image. Placement of a key element of the photo along one of these dissecting lines often provides a nice, off-center look to the finished picture, and helps avoid the common “bull’s eye” look, where the action or focus is at the very center.

During a conference at Mississippi’s Camp Garaywa, I was trying my hand at this recently- learned concept. This photo, taken just down from the lovely Patterson Place lodging, made the perfect (and most cooperative) subject.

When planning our days, we’d do well to consider the “rule of thirds” with the 24 hours God grants to each of us. Our Creator has fashioned our bodies with a need to rest, and for most, eight hours (a third of the day) provides a good night’s sleep. Then those who have a job spend about another third of our daily allotment “bringing home the bacon”. So that leaves more-or-less eight hours for the other third, to do all the things that don’t pertain to work or sleep.

The Bible tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1). You’re familiar with the secular counterpart, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (or Jill a dull gal)”. Some are workaholics, devoting way more than one-third of their day to their job. Some may claim justification, but most often, it isn’t necessary, and it’s usually the family that suffers most. Solomon offers this warning: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income… (Eccl.5:10).

Of course, the other side of the coin are those who can work and don’t: “The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work” (Prov. 21:25). God created us to work; we see that in the very first chapters of Genesis. Those who have a job that provides an honest living, allows them to use their skills (whether innate or learned), and honors God are blessed indeed.

So what to do with the remaining third? Aside from the time required for tending to responsibilities and activities involving home and family, are we careful to seek opportunities to develop spiritually and serve our fellow man, both in the secular and spiritual realm? And are we avoiding time-wasters, such as worshipping the TV god, or mindless internet surfing? As for myself, I want to put a spiritual slant on the “rule of thirds”, and to do so, I should join the Psalmist in his prayer:

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”Psalm 90:12

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Touchstones

Take a quick look around your house. Chances are good you have some things on display (even if covered with a fine patina of dust, as mine are) that evoke special memories. When you gaze on them, your mind quickly conjures up remembrances - sights, sounds, events, and maybe even smells and tastes - that bring a smile to your face.

Vicki Kuyper, author of Breaking the Surface: Inviting God into the Shallows and the Depths of Your Mind (New Hope Publishers), tells us we can develop spiritual markers, which she calls touchstones, that serve a similar purpose. In the book, she describes God as (among other things) a “slippery fish”. In all His majesty, and with ways that are infinitely superior to ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), He, like said fish, is just too much for us to firmly and fully grasp.

However, by gathering touchstones that God provides, or by creating our own memory markers, we can grow in our understanding and experience of the Lord. Those who journal probably already have some of these touchstones recorded. If not, the book - with an in-depth look at the “whatsoevers” of Philippians 4:8 - can help us become more observant of God’s sometimes-obvious, but more often unnoticed, gracious interaction in our daily lives.

And in addition to collecting touchstones, Kuyper reminds us that we are “living stones"; we're being gathered and assembled by THE living Stone, into a spiritual house to show forth God’s praises to the world (1 Peter 2:4-10). Think of it; we can become other people’s touchstones that point the way to God.

Hmmm...I better go polish my stone. I want to make sure it properly and fully reflects God’s glory!

(I’ve included a photo of one of our special touchstones of God’s love and faithfulness: the recent baptism of granddaughter Grace Anne.)

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain!

Bend and Lift

Do you know the proper way to lift weighty objects from the floor? To protect your back, you should “bend and lift”. A squatting or kneeling posture puts you in a position to use your leg muscles to bear the weight and to keep your back straight, preventing undue and injurious strain.

Our choir recently presented a lovely musical selection, “Bow The Knee”. The lyrics told of struggles which confront us, and that such situations should cause us to “bow the knee” in prayer. Now we know it’s not really important to get down on our knees to pray…or is it? Certainly, God hears prayers from us while we are standing, sitting, walking, driving, or tending to daily activities. But there is something about getting on our knees, and bowing before God’s holy presence. The bodily posture of kneeling portrays our inner being - our will - bowing in humble surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Sometimes that position is needed to break our stubborn self-sufficiency as we newly relinquish the control of our lives to Him.

“Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there.
Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him…”
Mark 5:22-23

This is just one scriptural reference that depicts people kneeling or even prostrating themselves before the Lord. A thoughtful study of such passages shows this to be the norm, not an occasional happening. And on a future day, according to Philippians 2:9-11, every person who has ever lived will bow before the One whom God has exalted “to the highest place”. Since that is the case, now is a good time to get in practice! So if you aren’t accustomed to kneeling, and can physically do so, give it a try, and see how it affects your prayer life. May you be blessed as you “bend and lift” your prayers to the Lord.

Scriptures for further study: Daniel 6:10, Luke 17:11-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 4:6-10,
Psalm 95:6-7

Summertime, and the Livin' is BUSY!

By late March, most congregations have decided on their VBS theme. Teachers are recruited, the long list of needed supplies is posted, materials are ordered, and intense preparation begins. This yearly outreach spreads across the community, entering homes to capture the hearts of young children. They are drawn, through lively activities, Bible stories, crafts and snacks, into God's loving embrace.

From an early age, many of us have grown up learning about Moses and the burning bush and Daniel in the lions' den. We sat mesmerized as teachers recounted the feeding of the 5,000, Peter's angel-assisted escape from prison, and the glorious acount of the empty tomb.

Perhaps now, we may listen to such stories with a ho-hum attitude of familiarity. But at this time of year, may we consider our "Jerusalem" (Acts 1:8), where thousands of kids know nothing of these precious stories. If they hear the name of God or Jesus, it is a part of casual or cursing language.

May God awaken our hearts to this incredible mission opportunity, and support it through active participation, or if this isn't feasible, by our Spirit-led prayers. And may our congregations think outside the box; the church campus is not the only place to have an effective VBS. Consider bringing it to neighborhoods, YMCAs, apartment complexes and mobile home parks! VBS weeks on-site at church do draw in those outside the congregation, but many attendees are associated with the church. Not so with the off-site events; most will probably be non-churchgoers. (The photo I've included was taken at such a place.)

And why should kids have all the fun, anyway? What about a senior adult VBS at a retirement community? What other ministry/mission projects can touch lives of those who live on the streets you pass on the way to your place of worship? What ways can you incorporate children and teens into such projects?

"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)

Let's ask God to enable us to see our community with His searching, compassionate eyes, and pray for His vision to permeate it with His saving grace!

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)