"Howard, look! It looks like an ocean!" I exclaimed yesterday as we drove across the countryside of the Oklahoma wheat lands. It was true. As far as the eye could see, it was a sea of green as the vast fields roiled in swells and undulating waves in the stiff wind.
I thought of the line in the patriotic song, America the Beautiful, "How beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..." The fields were beginning to show a tinge of amber, looking like the yellow-green froth of ocean waves atop the stalks as they ripened for June's harvest, scarcely a month away.
The local newspaper heralded in a headline the other day that the coming crop is "Outstanding, So Far!" All hopes and expectations are for a bumper harvest. It won't be long until it seems the aroma of oven-fresh bread can be detected as the golden kernels bake in the sun waiting for the threshing of the combine.
Jesus said in John 4:35, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest?" A notation I read says this was probably a proverb of that day meaning that there was no hurry to perform a task. On the contrary, Jesus states in the rest of the verse, "Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
Again, in Matthew 9:36, the Bible says that Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes who had followed him as he preached the gospel and healed their sicknesses and diseases, because they were as sheep having no shepherd. "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest," Matthew 9:37,38.
When my brothers were growing up in the fifties, as strong youths they would often work in the harvest, sometimes following the reapers to work in neighboring states as the harvest progressed northward, starting from the wheatlands in Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and beyond. All hands were needed to bring in the harvest.
They returned home several weeks later, bronzed and muscular, with the satisfaction of their pay filling their pockets. In a spiritual context, Jesus continues in John 4:36, "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." Our work is cut out for us!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Breaking the Back of Lack
I learned something at our Bible study the other night. As our teacher was delving into the scripture, he brought out a deeper meaning to passages we might ordinarily skim over superficially, missing something important.
For instance, Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
In addition to giving financially, we were told that this could apply to all parts of our lives, because "tithe" means a tenth, part of a tenth, or a part. "We are to bring all 'parts' of our life to Him, for it says to bring all the tithes," he explained. When we do this, we are becoming more like Jesus and his teachings on forgiveness, giving, treatment of others, trust and on and on.
Our leader pointed out when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes in the miracle of feeding the 5,000, God indeed poured out more than they could contain, because they gathered 12 baskets full of leftovers!
He also stated that the word, "storehouse" can mean "treasury." Matthew 6:20-21 says, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." When Jesus had the disciples bring the 5 loaves and two fish to him, he was giving insight into how he operated in the kingdom. First, he looked up to heaven. Then he blessed the loaves and fish, then he broke the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute.
"When Jesus did all this, He was accessing the treasury in heaven! When he broke the loaves and fishes, he was breaking the back of lack! The disciples had focused on their lack when they said all they had was this small amount of food, but Jesus shows us the pattern for living in the kingdom!" our leader stressed. Thanksgiving ("When he had given thanks," Matt. 6:11) blessing, and worshiping God!
"Trust and reliance on God breaks lack!" our teacher expounded. "By worshiping God he entered into the kingdom, or storehouse/treasury, where the blessing was stored up!" He continued, "There is no lack in God's kingdom!"
Luke 6:37b says, "Forgive and ye shall be forgiven: (38) Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
The instructor pointed out that "give" and "forgiven" are from the same word. As a part of blessing others, we can forgive. Obeying this command of Jesus seems to be intrinsically related to opening the windows of heaven and accessing heaven's blessings!
For instance, Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
In addition to giving financially, we were told that this could apply to all parts of our lives, because "tithe" means a tenth, part of a tenth, or a part. "We are to bring all 'parts' of our life to Him, for it says to bring all the tithes," he explained. When we do this, we are becoming more like Jesus and his teachings on forgiveness, giving, treatment of others, trust and on and on.
Our leader pointed out when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes in the miracle of feeding the 5,000, God indeed poured out more than they could contain, because they gathered 12 baskets full of leftovers!
He also stated that the word, "storehouse" can mean "treasury." Matthew 6:20-21 says, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." When Jesus had the disciples bring the 5 loaves and two fish to him, he was giving insight into how he operated in the kingdom. First, he looked up to heaven. Then he blessed the loaves and fish, then he broke the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute.
"When Jesus did all this, He was accessing the treasury in heaven! When he broke the loaves and fishes, he was breaking the back of lack! The disciples had focused on their lack when they said all they had was this small amount of food, but Jesus shows us the pattern for living in the kingdom!" our leader stressed. Thanksgiving ("When he had given thanks," Matt. 6:11) blessing, and worshiping God!
"Trust and reliance on God breaks lack!" our teacher expounded. "By worshiping God he entered into the kingdom, or storehouse/treasury, where the blessing was stored up!" He continued, "There is no lack in God's kingdom!"
Luke 6:37b says, "Forgive and ye shall be forgiven: (38) Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
The instructor pointed out that "give" and "forgiven" are from the same word. As a part of blessing others, we can forgive. Obeying this command of Jesus seems to be intrinsically related to opening the windows of heaven and accessing heaven's blessings!
Monday, April 23, 2012
A Word Fitly Spoken
"What did you tell me about speaking tonight?" our pastor teasingly asked a nervous young man who was to give his testimony that evening.
"I'm getting sick," the self-conscious, big burly fellow admitted with a flushed face, only half-joking.
His friend, another young man who had been attending the church for nearly a year now, had also been very nervous when asked to give his testimony the previous week. I laughed when he had said, "Well, I was hoping I would have to work today, but that didn't happen." Oh, I could so relate. It is terrible to have stage-fright, or to dread speaking in public, no matter how much you would like to.
After church, I was needling the reluctant speaker about his qualms, when I saw that he was serious in his feelings. He was to tell a little about his experience as a survivor on the huge oil-well explosion in the Gulf a couple of years ago, as well as giving his personal testimony.
"If you run out of things to say," I suggested, "just open it up to questions. That will take a lot of pressure off you."
And that is what he did! After five or ten minutes of earnest effort, punctuated by deep breaths and pauses, a few scriptures read and halting words of testimony, he said, "That is all I have, unless any of you would have any questions." As people raised their hands, he immediately relaxed, became conversational, and lost his self-consciousness. Thank you, Lord! I was glad my tip seemed effective! (He told me later that his wife had told him the same thing, so I couldn't take all the credit.)
In response to people's genuine interest, the shy speaker painted descriptive word pictures of his experience that we would never have known otherwise. He had been asked if he heard people praying or calling out to God in the wake of the accident. He said he wasn't aware of that, but he knew he himself was praying. When I asked what the reaction of the workers had been, he described running, shouting and shock. "In one of the rafts, I had to threaten to knock a guy out if he didn't get hold of himself," this gentle giant said somberly. "There could have been a chain-reaction to panic."
Both men, who were from Mississippi, had given effective testimonies to the Lord and blessed the hearers. Their humble, sincere personalities had endeared them to the congregation over the past several months, some families taking the two friends into their homes for meals or fellowship on many occasions. Working away from home as they were, they presented a sympathetic focus for the big-hearted hospitality and mothering tendencies among our older ladies.
"God setteth the solitary in families," Psalm 68:6 says. We could all bear witness to the blessings of that promise.
"I'm getting sick," the self-conscious, big burly fellow admitted with a flushed face, only half-joking.
His friend, another young man who had been attending the church for nearly a year now, had also been very nervous when asked to give his testimony the previous week. I laughed when he had said, "Well, I was hoping I would have to work today, but that didn't happen." Oh, I could so relate. It is terrible to have stage-fright, or to dread speaking in public, no matter how much you would like to.
After church, I was needling the reluctant speaker about his qualms, when I saw that he was serious in his feelings. He was to tell a little about his experience as a survivor on the huge oil-well explosion in the Gulf a couple of years ago, as well as giving his personal testimony.
"If you run out of things to say," I suggested, "just open it up to questions. That will take a lot of pressure off you."
And that is what he did! After five or ten minutes of earnest effort, punctuated by deep breaths and pauses, a few scriptures read and halting words of testimony, he said, "That is all I have, unless any of you would have any questions." As people raised their hands, he immediately relaxed, became conversational, and lost his self-consciousness. Thank you, Lord! I was glad my tip seemed effective! (He told me later that his wife had told him the same thing, so I couldn't take all the credit.)
In response to people's genuine interest, the shy speaker painted descriptive word pictures of his experience that we would never have known otherwise. He had been asked if he heard people praying or calling out to God in the wake of the accident. He said he wasn't aware of that, but he knew he himself was praying. When I asked what the reaction of the workers had been, he described running, shouting and shock. "In one of the rafts, I had to threaten to knock a guy out if he didn't get hold of himself," this gentle giant said somberly. "There could have been a chain-reaction to panic."
Both men, who were from Mississippi, had given effective testimonies to the Lord and blessed the hearers. Their humble, sincere personalities had endeared them to the congregation over the past several months, some families taking the two friends into their homes for meals or fellowship on many occasions. Working away from home as they were, they presented a sympathetic focus for the big-hearted hospitality and mothering tendencies among our older ladies.
"God setteth the solitary in families," Psalm 68:6 says. We could all bear witness to the blessings of that promise.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Duo Do-Over
When the monthly church calendar came out, I was surprised to see, after the speaker's name for April 17, Song: Thelma Summers. They knew I didn't sing, but since a poem or reading was also acceptable, I usually read a selection from one of my books when my turn came to participate. Hmm. I had been thinking of a certain song lately. Maybe I would sing, I thought, if I could get my husband to help me and play along on the guitar.
I didn't refer to the calendar again, but about a week ago, I realized my "date" was the following Wednesday. I cajoled Howard into saying he would sing with me, but he is a procrastinator when something isn't his idea, and soon it would be the next day! We had to practice! (If hanging curtains together is the test of a marriage, that is nothing compared to trying to sing together!) Not only was he vague on the words, but he has a unique sense of timing--which is fine for a solo, but tough on a partner!
Nevertheless, with the help of YouTube, we ironed everything out, and breathing a prayer, we set out for church the other night, armed with the verses copied in very large letters and his best guitar. (The other one was already at church.)
The service moved along rather swiftly, I thought, then just before the speaker took the pulpit, the evening singer was announced. "Would you please welcome Sister Betty and Sister Sally to sing tonight," I was shocked to hear! While relief and confusion swept over me, Howard was giving me quizzical looks from where he sat on the platform with his guitar. Did I get the date wrong? As soon as church was over, I rushed to the back and checked the calendar. It was next week!
During the announcements, the pastor had surprised us again by saying that next Wednesday night's message would be brought by Brother Howard Summers. (We simply must stop misplacing our calendar!) Well, it would be a double-header, with him helping me sing!
I think the Lord worked it out, though. If my husband had had to learn and practice a song when he was under pressure to prepare a sermon, he probably wouldn't have helped me. Now we have already practiced and a simple run-through should suffice. (I can't imagine what the people were thinking when Howard showed up with two guitars!)
I didn't refer to the calendar again, but about a week ago, I realized my "date" was the following Wednesday. I cajoled Howard into saying he would sing with me, but he is a procrastinator when something isn't his idea, and soon it would be the next day! We had to practice! (If hanging curtains together is the test of a marriage, that is nothing compared to trying to sing together!) Not only was he vague on the words, but he has a unique sense of timing--which is fine for a solo, but tough on a partner!
Nevertheless, with the help of YouTube, we ironed everything out, and breathing a prayer, we set out for church the other night, armed with the verses copied in very large letters and his best guitar. (The other one was already at church.)
The service moved along rather swiftly, I thought, then just before the speaker took the pulpit, the evening singer was announced. "Would you please welcome Sister Betty and Sister Sally to sing tonight," I was shocked to hear! While relief and confusion swept over me, Howard was giving me quizzical looks from where he sat on the platform with his guitar. Did I get the date wrong? As soon as church was over, I rushed to the back and checked the calendar. It was next week!
During the announcements, the pastor had surprised us again by saying that next Wednesday night's message would be brought by Brother Howard Summers. (We simply must stop misplacing our calendar!) Well, it would be a double-header, with him helping me sing!
I think the Lord worked it out, though. If my husband had had to learn and practice a song when he was under pressure to prepare a sermon, he probably wouldn't have helped me. Now we have already practiced and a simple run-through should suffice. (I can't imagine what the people were thinking when Howard showed up with two guitars!)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Treasures of an Ordinary Day
"I love you, Mimi! I love your presents," Joy said, in the midst of opening another birthday gift, but still casting her eye on the birthday bag I had given her. Aww! And I was wondering if the things I bought were too young for a 7-year-old, or if they would pale in the presence of her new bike, clothes, and other important gifts from the rest of the family.
Howard and I had stopped at the dollar store where I had perused the miscellany of possibilities. "It's fun to buy for kids when you don't have the responsibility of a big gift," I remarked to my husband. I was looking for a ball and jacks, but I picked up a Bible coloring book (I liked it because it had memory verses in it), pen-like crayons that extended with a click, hair accessories, a paddle ball and a paint-by-number kitten picture, and still had enough for polk-a-dot tissue wrap and a card from a $10 bill! Joy had fun pulling the mysterious shapes from the bag.
Who knew that the little things would bring a smile and please so much? As I thought about it later, the memory bringing a smile of my own, I reflected on how God sends little blessings to us, filling out the unexpected places of our day with bright blips of happiness: Funny things grandchildren say, shared with us by their bemused parents ("Daddy, working in the garden is like the old days, except instead of cooking, the women are in the house facebooking!" --9-year-old Mackenzie. Or 5-year-old Anne-Marie mixing up the joke, Why-is-six-afraid-of-seven? Instead of saying, because 7 8 9, she says "Because of 6 and 20.")
Then there are the precious pictures sent via internet of glimpses into their everyday lives--from birthday parties and zoo trips of the little ones, to proms, sleepovers, and mugging shots from their own cameras in teen narcissism. ("I look awesome!"..grandson, Brad, 12.)
Spring sunshine, the antics of the dog or cat, unexpected bargains or blessings..("Would you like one of our chocolate chip cookies?" the young waitress says as she comes to our table with a basket of warm, wrapped parcels of heaven. "How much?" my wary husband asks. "They're free!" she responds.)
The happy weariness of my just-retired husband as he comes in grubby and knee-stained from putting out tomato plants and onion sets; cooking for an appreciative family; giving teenagers a free pass, picking up the slack on their turn at dishes; a Bible verse in a sermon standing out with personal meaning in a church service...
All these and so many more from our Heavenly Father who is the Master Gift-Giver!
Howard and I had stopped at the dollar store where I had perused the miscellany of possibilities. "It's fun to buy for kids when you don't have the responsibility of a big gift," I remarked to my husband. I was looking for a ball and jacks, but I picked up a Bible coloring book (I liked it because it had memory verses in it), pen-like crayons that extended with a click, hair accessories, a paddle ball and a paint-by-number kitten picture, and still had enough for polk-a-dot tissue wrap and a card from a $10 bill! Joy had fun pulling the mysterious shapes from the bag.
Who knew that the little things would bring a smile and please so much? As I thought about it later, the memory bringing a smile of my own, I reflected on how God sends little blessings to us, filling out the unexpected places of our day with bright blips of happiness: Funny things grandchildren say, shared with us by their bemused parents ("Daddy, working in the garden is like the old days, except instead of cooking, the women are in the house facebooking!" --9-year-old Mackenzie. Or 5-year-old Anne-Marie mixing up the joke, Why-is-six-afraid-of-seven? Instead of saying, because 7 8 9, she says "Because of 6 and 20.")
Then there are the precious pictures sent via internet of glimpses into their everyday lives--from birthday parties and zoo trips of the little ones, to proms, sleepovers, and mugging shots from their own cameras in teen narcissism. ("I look awesome!"..grandson, Brad, 12.)
Spring sunshine, the antics of the dog or cat, unexpected bargains or blessings..("Would you like one of our chocolate chip cookies?" the young waitress says as she comes to our table with a basket of warm, wrapped parcels of heaven. "How much?" my wary husband asks. "They're free!" she responds.)
The happy weariness of my just-retired husband as he comes in grubby and knee-stained from putting out tomato plants and onion sets; cooking for an appreciative family; giving teenagers a free pass, picking up the slack on their turn at dishes; a Bible verse in a sermon standing out with personal meaning in a church service...
All these and so many more from our Heavenly Father who is the Master Gift-Giver!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Words by Heart
"Did you find out the answers to the Jonah question I gave you last week?" A man at church asked as he approached us last night. Oh no, we'd forgotten about it and didn't even remember the question! He said the question was, What are four things the church could learn from the whale?
"To spit out evil?" I took a guess. Wrong. Then he told us:
1. It took him (Jonah) in when no one else would.
2. It gave him a place to pray.
3. It pulled him up when he was on his way down.
4. It set his feet on solid ground.
We smiled and laughed appreciatively. Then the nice, if slightly eccentric, youngish fifty-something began to tell us a story he had composed in rhyme. By way of explanation, he said he had never been close to his dad. The poem was about someone being estranged from their father, then finding all the qualities he had missed in his dad in his Heavenly Father. It was rather profound, and I told him he should make a song of it, since he is a talented singer.
"I did!" he replied, and then sang the touching song to us as we stood in the aisle while the lights blinked, signalling that church was over.
"Have you written any more songs?" I asked. We always enjoyed his singing and his remarkable skill at the piano when he could be persuaded to present something in church.
"No," he answered. "You see, I was exposed to lead when I was young and I can't remember anything." What? This was hard to believe about this gifted, at once shy-and-friendly, though slow-to-warm, person! But what he said next shocked us even more.
"I can't read or write," he confided. To our disbelief, he told us he had managed a business and worked on many jobs in responsible positions. As if he sensed our unvoiced questions as to how he did this without reading, he said he could follow along somewhat on a printed page.
Wow! This must be the reason he would not sing or play something someone requested, or participate in a song out of the book. He couldn't read the words! We had known him, if slightly, for several months, so this was a surprise.
My husband and I were still marveling over this brother's revelation on the way home. "It kind of makes me feel ashamed at complaining over anything," I said, "At least we had fathers who loved us, and we can read!"
Lord, let me not ever judge or criticize anyone's shortcomings. They maybe dealing with things we know nothing about!
"To spit out evil?" I took a guess. Wrong. Then he told us:
1. It took him (Jonah) in when no one else would.
2. It gave him a place to pray.
3. It pulled him up when he was on his way down.
4. It set his feet on solid ground.
We smiled and laughed appreciatively. Then the nice, if slightly eccentric, youngish fifty-something began to tell us a story he had composed in rhyme. By way of explanation, he said he had never been close to his dad. The poem was about someone being estranged from their father, then finding all the qualities he had missed in his dad in his Heavenly Father. It was rather profound, and I told him he should make a song of it, since he is a talented singer.
"I did!" he replied, and then sang the touching song to us as we stood in the aisle while the lights blinked, signalling that church was over.
"Have you written any more songs?" I asked. We always enjoyed his singing and his remarkable skill at the piano when he could be persuaded to present something in church.
"No," he answered. "You see, I was exposed to lead when I was young and I can't remember anything." What? This was hard to believe about this gifted, at once shy-and-friendly, though slow-to-warm, person! But what he said next shocked us even more.
"I can't read or write," he confided. To our disbelief, he told us he had managed a business and worked on many jobs in responsible positions. As if he sensed our unvoiced questions as to how he did this without reading, he said he could follow along somewhat on a printed page.
Wow! This must be the reason he would not sing or play something someone requested, or participate in a song out of the book. He couldn't read the words! We had known him, if slightly, for several months, so this was a surprise.
My husband and I were still marveling over this brother's revelation on the way home. "It kind of makes me feel ashamed at complaining over anything," I said, "At least we had fathers who loved us, and we can read!"
Lord, let me not ever judge or criticize anyone's shortcomings. They maybe dealing with things we know nothing about!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Little Things Mean a Lot
Today a friend knocked at the door asking if my husband were home. Howard joined him on the front porch for a chat in the adirondack chairs, which turned into a lengthy visit, something my husband is able to enjoy now that he is finally retired.
"What did David have to say?" I asked when my spouse finally came in.
"He brought me something," Howard announced, looking pleased. When he pulled it from his pocket, my mind went back to the conversation we had Sunday when our friend and his wife were over for Easter dinner.
"I've been keeping my angels busy lately," Howard had ventured. He was referring to a minor scrape we'd had on our trip, then a few days later, he bumped a car while backing out. "It was in my blind spot," he explained.
"You need some safety mirrors," David offered, "little mirrors you stick on your side view mirrors." Why hadn't we thought of that! I'd seen those "fish eye" mirrors on cars before.
Howard had a couple of little shiny, convex mirrors in his hand that David had brought him! How nice! We went out immediately and attached them. What a difference! Our vision was improved remarkably. We drove to town, and I noticed one on another car right away. I felt good, knowing we had them, too.
People don't often take time to be so thoughtful, especially men, and it was a real mark of caring to share a handy little gadget like that. I guess some things just strike a chord with men, like something that happened the other day. We had just gotten home from our trip and were sitting in church before the service started.
"What's that?" I asked Howard as I noticed a tiny purple item that had fallen out his Bible; then I realized it was a plastic guitar pick. "Pick Jesus," I read when I saw the gold letters on it. How cute! I thought.
"I got it for Pastor at the Billy Graham Library bookstore," he surprised me by saying. How sweet that he would think of that, and not say anything about it! Just a little gesture between two guitar enthusiasts, but the pastor was surprised and pleased.
Maybe men are not so unthoughtful after all! It just has to strike a chord! (No pun intended.)
"What did David have to say?" I asked when my spouse finally came in.
"He brought me something," Howard announced, looking pleased. When he pulled it from his pocket, my mind went back to the conversation we had Sunday when our friend and his wife were over for Easter dinner.
"I've been keeping my angels busy lately," Howard had ventured. He was referring to a minor scrape we'd had on our trip, then a few days later, he bumped a car while backing out. "It was in my blind spot," he explained.
"You need some safety mirrors," David offered, "little mirrors you stick on your side view mirrors." Why hadn't we thought of that! I'd seen those "fish eye" mirrors on cars before.
Howard had a couple of little shiny, convex mirrors in his hand that David had brought him! How nice! We went out immediately and attached them. What a difference! Our vision was improved remarkably. We drove to town, and I noticed one on another car right away. I felt good, knowing we had them, too.
People don't often take time to be so thoughtful, especially men, and it was a real mark of caring to share a handy little gadget like that. I guess some things just strike a chord with men, like something that happened the other day. We had just gotten home from our trip and were sitting in church before the service started.
"What's that?" I asked Howard as I noticed a tiny purple item that had fallen out his Bible; then I realized it was a plastic guitar pick. "Pick Jesus," I read when I saw the gold letters on it. How cute! I thought.
"I got it for Pastor at the Billy Graham Library bookstore," he surprised me by saying. How sweet that he would think of that, and not say anything about it! Just a little gesture between two guitar enthusiasts, but the pastor was surprised and pleased.
Maybe men are not so unthoughtful after all! It just has to strike a chord! (No pun intended.)
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