You Can do It

Little Bit was playing on one of those triangular shaped jungle gyms that have the ropes you climb to get to the top.  She has had access to them before, but she has only climbed a few rungs up and decided she was done. 

This one particular day she decided she would do some climbing. I was pretty amazed when she made it half way up. She turned around and sat down where she was. I was sure Little Bit would turn around and climb down or even call for me to get her down. This has happened multiple times in the past. I expected the same results this day. 

But to my surprise, after a short amount of time of sitting, she turned around and began climbing higher. I was awestruck when Little Bit reached the top of the jungle gym, no tears, no fear.  Just joy and excitement that she made it all the way up. 

Well, I expected her to call me over to help he down. Nope. Not at all. She climbed down all by herself without any help or coaching. And not only that, but she did it again. The whole time the Hubs and I were sitting there, jaw dropped. It is not that we doubted her or her ability. It is that we have seen what she has done in the past. We have seen her on jungle gyms before and her reactions. We would always encourage her to keep trying, to keep going. There were times we would even give her a hand to show her it can be done. We knew one day she would do it. We were always her cheer squad. We are always her cheer squad. 

How different would the jungle gym experience be if we hadn’t encouraged her? How would it be different if we allowed her to give in? To quit? What we saw that day would not have happened for many years, if at all. 

The thing is, we have two people in our lives. We have those that encourage us, push us to do our best, reassure us that we can do it. But then we will also have the opposite. 

When we fail, they’ll say, see, I told you you couldn’t do it. Just give up. It is not worth it. They will bring you down and discourage you from reaching your goals. Many times that voice is our own. We many times we are the harshest critique. I see this many times with my math students. They don’t think they can, so they can’t. But I continue to encourage them until they see that they can.  So it is your choice who you listen to.

Will you listen to the voice that says “keep trying, you can do this” or “give up, you’ll never succeed”? 

If Michael Jordan would have listened to his discouragers, he wouldn’t have played for the Bulls. If Albert Einstein listened to his discouragers, we wouldn’t have e=mc^2. Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t have been our 16th president. Vincent Van Gogh wouldn’t have given us The Starry Night. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we are told to comfort or encourage one another and edify one another. We should encourage each other. We should lift each other up. 

Just like Little Bit was able to climb to the top of the jungle gym because she was continually encouraged, you too can complete what you have been trying yo complete. But you must decide who you will listen to.  Choose today. Who’s voice will you choose? Choose to be encouraged and to encourage others. 

This is possible Only By God’s Amazing Grace. 

What’s in a Name?

 Have you ever thought about what your name means and why your parents chose it for you? Were you named after a family member that everyone loved? Maybe your parents didn’t name you? There are cultures where a family member names the child instead of the parents.  I have a friend who was sure she was having a boy. When her baby was delivered, she was shocked when she had a girl. No girl names were picked out. She had to think quick. It was a morning and raining outside. So she named her Misty Dawn. Sometimes parents choose a name because of how it rolls off the tongue. 

If we go to the Bible, we discover the names had specific meanings. Adam, the first man, means earthy or red. He was made from the dust of the earth. Methuselah means he has sent his death. Methuselah died and then the flood came. Samson means there the second time. And God gave him a second chance to defeat the Philistines. Samuel, who was prayed for by his mother Hannah, means asked of God. David was a man after God’s own heart and his name means well-beloved. Daniel’s name means judgement of God and he was among the captives of Babylon. Jesus means Savior. And He is our Savior. Names had a meaning and purpose in the Bible. Names reflected the character of the person.

 Many of us call ourselves Christians. It is a name we take on. Do you know what the name Christian means? According to Merriam Webster, a Christian is one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The character of a person taking the name Christian so be that of Jesus. There is a song by DC Talk called What if I Stumble. The beginning has the following: “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world simply find unbelievable.” 

If we call ourselves Christians, we should act like Christians. We shouldn’t lie, steal, kill, gossip. A comedian named Ken Davis once said, “so tired of people who claim to be followers of Christ who walk around with a face that looks like they swallowed a profusely sweating toad...I’ve been a Christian for 27 years. It’s been great.. I wanna say well tell your face. You need to send missionaries to your face. Your face has not yet heard the good news.” Our faces should reflect our relationship with Jesus. We should have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts...and on our faces. How do we expect to convert others if we are miserable? Or just look miserable? Let me tell you about the love of Jesus. I wouldn’t want to experience that type of love. I know His love puts a smile on my face. The things He has done in my life, how could I not smile. Does this mean my life is easy? No! Not even close. But He IS close and I am not alone. 

Want to be a witness to others? Don’t just take the name Christian, but live the life of a Christian. This is possible only By God’s Amazing Grace. 

The Test

 As a teacher, I have to give tests. But before I do, I give the lessons. I teach what needs to be taught, explain the material in ways the students will understand, give the students a chance to apply the lessons, and offer help where needed. We even review for the test the class before. The moment the students sit down for their test, my hands are tied. I’ve done all I can. It is now up to the students to show me what they know, what they have learned. All I can do is pray for them as they take the test. I have to be silent during their test. 

It breaks my heart when I see them making mistakes or forgetting that one rule. For example, working with circles. The student remembers to complete the square to right the formula but then forgets to change the signs when writing the center. But during the test, I cannot help. As much as I want to say, “but the signs!!”, I remain quiet.  

There are many people in the Bible who went through a test. Abraham and Isaac went through a test. One that would not have ended well. On the way up to the mountain for the sacrifice of Isaac, God was silent. 

When Isaac was on the altar, God was silent. But the moment the test was over, God spoke. Abraham and Isaac passed the test. Job went through a test. Within a matter of hours, Job lost his wealth, livestock, servants, and children.  

Then his health was affected. Even though God was with him, God was silent. And yet again, he passed the test. Not only did Job pass, but he also gained all that he has lost plus some. But I am thinking of one story, one person in particular. Jesus. 

His life was a study session. He was preparing for the ultimate test. The class final you could say. 

But when Jesus was on the cross, God was silent. Jesus even said, “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Jesus had to complete the test on His own. All of His efforts were not in vain. 

All the lessons He had learned came down to this one moment. The moment on the cross. But here’s the thing: although God was silent, He was still there. He had not forsaken Jesus. He was watching, His heart was hurting for His student, for His Son. God believed Jesus would pass the test. But His heart still hurt because of the pain His Son was going through. And we all know the outcome. Jesus aced the test, blew the curve, passed it with flying colors. 

There are many times we go through a test, a trial. And it seems God is silent, absent. But like any good teacher, He is watching with bated breath. He is there with His students, watching over them. The difference between our tests/trials and my students’ tests is my students know when they will have a test. Very rarely do I even give a pop quiz. 

We don’t know when we will go through a trial. We are to be prepared. We are to constantly study for our exam. Be ready at any moment. But how? Bible study, prayer, helping others, living the life of a Christian, strengthening our faith with each quiz He gives us. Through our preparation, we can be more prepared for a test. God may be silent. But He is still present. We can pass the test. Through our preparations, we have become equipped. 

Many people will say God will not give us more than we can bear. I have not found this in the Bible. It is something easy to say that seems to provide comfort. But why give false hope? 

What we need to remember is that through each test, God gives us what we need during the lessons to strengthen us for the test. And each test helps you become stronger which prepares you for the next. 

But you are able to pass the test. Use the tools He has given you. Don’t give up. And if you are fighting a battle right now, if you are taking that test, reach into your toolbox. Grab what you need. 

Remember that when God is silent, He is still there and will not leave you nor forsake you. Ace your exam! This is possible only By God’s Amazing Grace. 

Take Up Your Bed

In John 5, we find a story of a man who had an infirmity. Some versions say he was invalid, sick, ill, disabled. We don’t know exactly what was wrong with him. But he was in this condition for thirty-eight years. I don’t know about you, but thirty-eight years seems like a long time to be dealing with this condition that has him in this position. This man was lying by the pool of Bethesda, which in Hebrew means house of mercy. But I’m sure this man was not feeling the mercy. Many people believed that when the water was stirred, there was a supernatural power that would heal the first person to get in the pool. The problem for most of those that were at the pool is they couldn’t get in the pool fast enough. The weak were trampled on by those stronger than them. Some would make it to the edge of the pool to only lose their life before getting in the pool. This man, though, was never able to make it to the pool. He was too weak, too crippled. He did not have enough strength. So mercy was not present. Until this one particular day. A special day. The Sabbath. As he was lying there, heart-aching due to lack of healing, a man approaches him. The man asks, “Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5: 6. Does he want to be made whole? What kind of question is that? Of course. But I’m sure his heart sank. He responded, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppe this down before me.” John 5:7. The Man, Jesus, didn’t hesitate. He didn’t need the pool to heal. He told him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,” John 5:8. There was zero hesitation. Even though he did not know this was Jesus, he had the faith required. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t sing the blues. He stood up, took up his bed, and walked. In verse 14, the man finds Jesus again and Jesus says, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee.”  Why was this healing significant? One, it was done on the Sabbath. Two, Jesus had the man take his bed, which according to the Jews, was a sin to do on the Sabbath. But I think Jesus was trying to make a point. He could have healed this man on Sunday instead of Saturday. He could have waited. But He didn’t. He could have had the man leave his bed there and come back for it. But He didn’t. The Jews were so focused on law instead of relationship that they missed the joy of Sabbath. I personally think there is a significance to having the man take his bed with him. Wherever your bed is, your house is. He was living at the pool for many years. The consequences of his sinful life took him to the pool. Jesus told him to sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee. If he continues to sin, he will end up back at the pool but in a much worse condition. And with no hope. So why should he leave his bed, unless he plans on coming back? He had no intention of coming back. He had all intentions of turning away from sin and never returning. 

In our life, we called to leave a life of sin. We are called to follow God. When Jesus calls out of a life of sin, we are not to return to the same lifestyle. Alcoholics are not called away just to go back to the bars and alcohol stores. Porn addicts are not called out of that lifestyle to return to risqué sites or movies. Sin addicts are not called out of a lifestyle of sin just to return to the same habits that got us there in the first place.  When Jesus heals you of some infirmity, pick up your bed and walk. Don’t leave your bed in the sinful lifestyle. Don’t plan on going back. Get up and leave. Never look back. Think of Lot’s wife. She didn’t take her bed with her. She looked back. And man did she feel salty. 

Be like the man Jesus healed. Take the healing, the forgiveness, and your bed. Rise up and walk away. This is possible only By God’s Amazing Grace. 

The Harvest

 Our school has a great agriculture program. At some point in time, all the students work in the ag department. Last school year, our students sowed seeds into their own garden plots. They tended to the seeds. They watered the seeds. They pulled up the weeds to ensure the weeds didn’t take up the nutrients and moisture from the soil. They applied fertilizer as necessary.  But then our students were sent home and the school was closed due to the pandemic. The students no longer were able to tend to their gardens nor reap the harvest. As the new school year began, some of the harvests still needed to be reaped, but it was not done by the original sowers. Other people had to reap the harvest. The original sowers did not reap the benefits of their harvest. They did not see the fruits of their labor. 

We, too, are farmers. We may not plant a garden, sow seeds, or even harvest the plants. But we sow gospel seeds. We tell others about the love of Jesus. We tell others about His forgiving power. Even Little Bit loves to tell others that Jesus died for them. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go he therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We are all called to plant seeds. 

But the job doesn’t stop there. Those seeds need to be tended to. The seeds that have been planted need to be watered. Bible studies need to be continued. But also, showing them you care is just as important. Building that relationship. New converts that come into the church and build friendships are more likely to stay in the church while those who do not have friendships within the church will leave within the first year, statistically speaking.  The "seeds" need to be watered.  Proverbs 11:25 says, "and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."  We as farmers will get the water we need when we provide the water the seeds need.  How amazing is that? The tending process doesn't stop.  It continues throughout the whole growing season.

As plants are being tended to, they also need to be fertilized.  The seeds need to receive nutrients and food essential to growing.  Bible truth is essential.  We must remember what Peter says in 2 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.  There is proper food for growing seeds.  Yes, the seeds need Bible truth, but it needs to be broken down.  When we feed a baby, we break down the food.  We don't feed a baby a sirloin steak, but instead mashed potatoes.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are able." We must feed the seeds properly so they receive the nutrients necessary to grow and prosper.  Many times we try to feed the seeds with meat that cannot be digested yet.  They are not ready for that type of food.  They get discouraged and soon give up because it seems impossible. 

As the tending to the seeds and the fertilization process takes place, pest control and weeding must also occur.  Now this must be a very gentle process.  You don't want to uproot the plant while ridding it of the weeds and bugs.  But if we don't remove the weeds, they will rob the plant of nutrients and water necessary for growth.  If we don't eliminate the pests, they will eat away at the plant.  In Galatians 6:1, it says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."  Restore him a spirit of gentleness. That is the key part.  Also, James 5:19-20 says, "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." It is very important that this process be done gently, slowly.  We need to point the seeds to Jesus.  Many times, the sins will be shone on their own.  The closer we get to Jesus, the more we want to give up the things that are keeping us from Him.  

The last step is the harvest.  The baptism.  The turning over one's life and growing into a mature Christian.  Many times this is the most rewarding part of the process because the fruits of the labor are most visible.  1 Peter 3:21 says, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doeth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh," by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 

But once the harvest is complete, the journey isn't over.  The process still continues.

Something to remember, though we are all farmers, we do not do the whole farmer process with one person, one seed.  We are farmers that work together and take on different jobs throughout the process.  Some are called to be the sower while others are the tender.  Some may be the weeder while someone else is the fertilizer.  That is why it is important to remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ." You may be a sower of a seed but not see the fruit of the harvest until you enter the Kingdom of God.  When we get to Heaven, we may then and only then see the fruits of our labors.  We may have stars in our crowns because of seeds we planted, but did not harvest. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."

We each are farmers.  There will be a harvest.  And we all have a part to play, but only By God's Amazing Grace.