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Desperately Searching

Desperately Searching

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It’s really not all that extreme.  I only check 30 or 40 times a day. 

Because she knows I love to watch the birds, my kind wife bought me a brand new, deluxe-model bird feeder for our new yard.  (That’s it in the cover photo.)  I finally managed to get it hung in what seems to be an ideal spot – between our house and the lake, with a great view of it from most of the large windows on that side of the house.

At least it’s an ideal location for the occupants of our house.  Not sure yet about the birds.

Winged visitors so far have been scarce.  This is both surprising and concerning.  Prior experience tells me that within a half-day, birds are typically gorging themselves on their new-found food supply. 

And it’s not like there aren’t birds around this area!  Their varied songs are almost constantly filling the air; their darting flights frequently catching one’s attention.  In fact, with the more rural setting here, we live in a bird-rich environment.

Yet, my new feeder full of fresh birdseed hangs from its new shepherd’s pole – largely ignored.

Undoubtedly a large factor is that both our neighbors immediately to the west also have birdfeeders, and they seem to keep them stocked.  Those are the two that I know feed the fowl; likely in this quiet part of the Midwest, many others near us do as well.  The neighborhood birdies have been hitting those smorgasbords for some time now.  Why leave a good and reliable food source?

In Tacoma, we were the only feeders on the block.  We had no competition!

Nevertheless, by sheer volume of the local avian residents around us now, it would seem that there would still be a need for feed, and/or some would be eager for a new source of goodies.  That doesn’t seem to be the case.

I know, because I take a look-see about 30 or 40 times a day.

With the seeming lack of interest by the local winged population, I even researched best places to put feeders.  In the open to provide sunshine and good visibility for the birds?  Check.   Away from trees where squirrels can easily access and cats can easily prey?  Check.  Close enough to trees and shrubs so birds can take cover if needed?  Check. 

Or at least I think these points are all covered.  But perhaps it is a bit too exposed?  The experts tried to reassure me that sometimes it takes a while for the birds to find the feeder.  But it’s never taken this long before!

Of course, we have had a little action.

Not surprisingly, the first to notice the new feeder was a squirrel.  He sat on his back haunches and looked longingly for the longest time at the stockpile above.  Then I watched him try to shimmy up the metal pole.  He didn’t make it the first time and gave up.  But he must have returned for a second try and managed, because I caught him in the feeder later.  (At least, I assume it was the same perpetrator.)  Now there is a squirrel “baffle” on the pole.  (Yes, I know.  I should have installed one from the start!)

The first visitor of the winged variety that I witnessed was a blue-headed grackle.  Not what I was hoping for, but progress.  The second visitor was a goldfinch.  That was exciting!  Both have returned.  The grackle brought a friend.  I’ve also had a few mourning doves pecking below the feeder. 

But not a single sparrow, finch, chickadee, or any other usual denizens for the birdseed dole … the species who usually hit the feeders hard.  At least none that I’ve spotted in my repeated and increasingly desperate checks.

Then yesterday, the Lord convicted me.  The thought suddenly struck me – what if I searched the Scriptures as often and eagerly as I search for birds on my new feeder?

Yikes!  Thanks, Lord.  Sorry, Lord. 

And it’s been a particularly trying week.  While I’m in my Bible daily, yet I didn’t dig into my Bible any more than I usually do … even under duress.  I scoped out the feeder 30 or 40 times a day, but I didn’t cast my eyes into God’s Word even a few extra times than normal.  (Though I certainly prayed a lot more!)

I’m embarrassed by this.  (Not about the praying, but about not searching the Scriptures more.)  Feeding my soul is far more critical than any feeding birds … no matter the number or the type. 

Yes, watching the birds provides me with a simple joy.  Yet reading my Savior’s messages to me provides joy … and hope … and insights … and strength … and comfort … and confidence … and so much more!

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

Maybe seeing the birds peck up their meals isn’t your thing.  (And it’s not my only “thing;” I have many more!)  Nevertheless, I’m pretty confident you have other diversions that “demand” your attention and distract you from digging into God’s truths more regularly as well.

Spiritually and even logically, we probably recognize how easily we are sidetracked from the Word.  And we also probably recognize what we are missing out on when we do.  But still we neglect it!  Far too easily and often!

I can’t tell you what to do.  But I can tell you what I will do.  I’ll undoubtedly still search for birds at the feeder multiple times a day.  I’ll also search the Scriptures more every day!  Because what I see there is food for my soul.

“When your words came, I ate them;  they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name,  Lord God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).  “How sweet are your words to my taste,  sweeter than honey to my mouth!”  (Psalm 119:103).

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Isaiah 55:10-12
As the rain and the snow  come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,  so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace …

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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Necessary Clean-Up

Necessary Clean-Up

As you may know, my wife and I now live in Michigan.  As you undoubtedly know, it snows in Michigan.  Sometimes a lot!

One of the remarkable things I have noticed since moving here is that the folks in central Michigan do not mess around with accumulated (or accumulating) snow. 

After the worst of the snow has fallen … and sometimes even while it is still piling up … armies of snow soldiers suddenly appear on the battlefields in front of their houses.  This isn’t just a few people in front of a few houses, but a massive force of troops.

Some (like me) are limited to basic weapons like shovels.  Many others have more advanced technology and go on the attack with snow-blowers. 

Then there are the calvary divisions.  They are the ones driving 4-wheel-drive pick-up trucks with mounted steel blades … most with a single blade.  (However, the really impressive ones carry v-blades that can be positioned in a number of different ways to clear the snow.)  These heavily armed vehicles come to the rescue of those who hired them, and in a few well-articulated passes clear an entire driveway in just moments.  They are also the ones paid to shove the snow into huge piles in the local parking lots.

And we dare not forget the heavy artillery!  The huge city and county trucks that grade the snow off the streets … typically pouring out ice-melting materials as they go.  (Unfortunately, they also tend to refill the bottom of driveways already cleared out!  And if the accumulation is significant, this occurs a number of times!)

Our city even has effective little special units which clean the white stuff off the city sidewalks!  I’d never seen that before, but I’ve been out of the Midwest for many years.

These many winter warriors are really an inspirational sight to behold, and they fight a battle that is repeated over-and-over-again every time the snow and ice make a local “attack.”

The last time I observed the conflict, (as I slowly fought a path out of my drive with my shovel), I remember once again being duly impressed by my fellow soldiers visible in the front yards down our street.  And I thought, “If only we were all so dedicated to spiritual warfare as we are to battling snow.”

But most of us don’t tend to attack our personal deficiencies nearly as actively.  Most don’t strive to clean up our spiritual messes nearly as aggressively.

Maybe they’re not as obvious as a pile of snow … at least to us.  Maybe they don’t cause us as many inconveniences or even shut us down like a half-foot of white can.  Cleaning up our spiritual issues definitely doesn’t seem quite as pressing as clearing out our driveway so we can get to work or the grocery store.  Certainly there’s not the peer pressure present as on a half-mile long street lined with houses.

And yet clearing our hearts of negative spiritual accumulation is far more important!  Which is why the Lord repeatedly urges us to clean up our hearts and lives! 

It’s a recuring theme in both the Old and New Testament.  Why?  Because, as the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

God in his mercy and grace has made us his own, and Jesus’ blood has washed us clean.  But we are infected with a sinful nature, we are constantly under Satan’s attacks, and we live in wicked world.  Which means that as long as we live in this world, we are at spiritual risk.

So regular spiritual clean-up is a necessary thing!  The Scriptures provide beautiful descriptions of this purifying process, worked by God through God’s Word: 

Ezekiel described it this way: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities …  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you … I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Paul wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

In the Midwest, snow removal is a necessary and frequent task.  But for Christians anywhere, a frequent cleaning of the heart and mind is far more crucial, even if it may seem less pressing.  Thanks be to God, He does fantastic work in us whenever we hearing or reading God’s Word! 

Of course, the spiritual cleaning process has more involved in it than just being in the Word actively.  But that’s where it starts!

So it’s important we go on the spiritual offensive and immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, and let the Lord lovingly attack our spiritual messes!  It’s the best and most necessary clean-up of all.

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The All-Encompassing Cure

The All-Encompassing Cure

The huge hall was packed with missionaries, evangelists, and pastors from around the world.  They were gathering for the keynote address of the week-long ecumenical Christian conference. 

As the conference was wrapping up, the attendees were reflecting on the insights they had gained on more effectively and economically growing their ministries.  Some were chatting quietly with new acquaintances, comparing notes and sharing ideas.  Others were reviewing their travel plans and checking their flight status on their phones.

The conference folders were strangely lacking on information for this final presentation.  The time and place were provided, of course, but little else.  The topic was listed as “The All-Encompassing Cure,” and the captivating summary was simply this: “The most important presentation of the conference.” 

The presenter was to be E. Manuel.  No other information was given; no credentials, no biography, no place of service.

No one – not even the conference organizers, if the truth be told – quite understood who the presenter was or how he got the coveted gig of addressing the gathered hundreds.  To say there was a bit of unease in the group, and especially among the coordinators, would be accurate.  But there was also a fair amount of curiosity … even fascination.  What were they about to hear?

The hall lights flickered the message that the presentation was about to start.  The assembled church workers turned their attention to the stage.  The lighting was dim, causing many to suspect there were some technical difficulties. 

A man of medium-height and darker complexion strode to the center of the stage.  He wore a beige dress shirt with a striking picture of a wooden cross offset on the upper right side.  His slacks were brown khakis; his shoes simple loafers.  A neatly trimmed beard adorned his chin; his hair was gathered into a “man-bun.” 

He slowly scanned the audience, his gaze sweeping to one side of the auditorium, then sweeping gradually back to the other side.  The speaker said not a word for the longest time.  A stunned silence gripped the hall, and people began to shift uncomfortably in their seats.

When words finally came, they were brimming with power … not just with volume, but with authority. 

“My message will be brief, but it is critical.  I will not cast any judgements today; I will only speak the truth.  Each of you can make your own assessments of yourselves and your approach to ministry from what I share.  Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear!”1  A involuntary shudder rolled through the crowd.  Their eyes were riveted on the man before them.

The speaker continued: “You have spent hours-upon-hours this week learning sophisticated ministry strategies.   You are excited about utilizing new technologies.  You can’t wait to implement new programs in your churches.  Most of it has a place in ministry.  Most can indeed be useful.”

“But these are not the ultimate goal.  Rather, they are only a means to the true goal.” The speaker raised his right hand, his pointer finger extended.  “And they are not the key components of ministry.  They are only tools to the true key component.”

The eyes of many listeners widened. 

“The single most important tool in your ministries is … God’s Word!”  The speaker paused and once again scanned the audience.  Those there felt as if he were looking deep inside them. 

Finally he continued.  “Let me repeat: the single most important tool in your ministries is God’s Word!  ALL of God’s Word.  NOT a Bible gutted of truth by picking and choosing what one wants to believe.  And NOT a Bible polluted by adding things God did not say.  But the Bible God has given you.”

“The Bible God has given you is truth … absolute truth.2  It is God’s own Word, and God doesn’t lie or change his mind.3  It is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens!”4 

“Furthermore, the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates soul and spirit!5  The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes!”6

“God’s Word is the key to a truly successful ministry … that is, a spiritually successful ministry.  Utilize the many ministry approaches you explored this week to do true ministry – which is sharing God’s full Word with as many people as possible.  And let God’s Holy Spirit work through the living, powerful, life-changing truths God has given!”

Another pause.  More shifting in the listeners.  Some were profoundly uncomfortable and desired to leave, but somehow none could.  None dared.

“This is the first part of the all-encompassing cure.  The Lord has given you everything you need in his words to address any earthly situation you or your people may run into in your ministries.”

“Which leads us to the second part of the cure.  Please turn your attention to the screens.”

Two large screens, one at each end of the platform, lit up.  “Let me show you some real people and their very real struggles.”

A sobbing woman appeared on the screens.  There were no captions; no comments made from the presenter.  Yet intuitively every person looking on recognized that she was a lonely wife longing to feel loved and treasured by her distracted husband. 

She remained in view just long enough for everyone to intensely feel her pain, and then another person … a meth addict … came into view.  Again, everyone somehow understood the situation and the man’s feeling of bondage and hopelessness.  And so it was for each example that followed.

A wealthy businessman chasing even more wealth and power.

A twenty-something male confused on what to believe and searching for meaning in life.

A homeless beggar longing to get out of the cold and to eat a hot meal.

A man in a foreign country unfairly imprisoned by an oppressive government.

An attention-seeking socialite consumed with her appearance and popularity.

A young child wondering why her parents were always fighting.

A man struggling to get out of the gloom of severe depression.

A teenaged boy crying himself to sleep and dreading to face the bullies at school again tomorrow.

A middle-aged couple at a significant juncture of their lives agonizing over the difficult decisions they had to make and the direction to go.

A hungry family in a third world country gathered around a fire, dirt-covered and dressed in rags.

A cancer victim in hospice with only limited time left.

A guilt-wracked sinner with his head in his hands, weeping over his sin.

A weary and despairing person, wondering if there is anything better than this world.

The screens went black.  The presenter stood before them with his hands in his pockets and his eyes closed.  Tears were streaming down his cheeks.  And he was not alone.  In fact, there wasn’t a dry eye in the entire auditorium.  How could there be after what they had just witnessed?  So much hurt!

Eventually, the speaker gathered himself.  In a quieter voice, he asked, “What do all these people have in common?”  Only muffled crying was heard in response. 

Finally, a meek voice in front row said, “They need help.”

“Yes, they do.  But their hurts and needs are so different.  How will you help all of them?”

“Love them,” someone else ventured.

“Well, that’s a nice gesture.  But it won’t fundamentally bring them the cure they need.”

“Refer them to agencies that might assist them,” another voiced.

“There may be some help there.  But the fundamental issues remain.”

“Pray for them?”

“A wonderful idea!  But you will undoubtedly be praying that they find the help they need.  Where will that come from?”

“The Word!  Read them appropriate passages from God’s Word, as you talked about earlier.”

“Excellent!  Now we’re getting somewhere!”  The speaker raised both hands questioningly.  “And what does all of God’s Word revolve around?”  Another pause.  “All of God’s Word revolves around God’s love demonstrated to sinners in Jesus-Made-Man.”

“In short, show them Jesus!  All these people need Jesus!  Everyone needs Jesus!  Not some watered-down, rationalized, sterilized Jesus, but the living, loving, caring Jesus of the Bible!”

“The Jesus who loves them so much he died for them.  The Jesus who rose back to life and walked out of the tomb.  The Jesus who ascended to heaven to resume his rightful throne and to prepare a place there for all who believe in him.”7

“The Jesus who is both in heaven and still always with them.  The Jesus who answers their prayers, who provides for them and protects them; the Jesus who guides them and accompanies them through all their difficulties.  The Jesus who loves them with all his heart!”

“Jesus is the All-Encompassing Cure.  No, he doesn’t always take all the hardships away, but he always carries his people through them.  He always eases the hurt and he always brings help and blessing.  Show Jesus to your people.”

The speaker’s head tilted upward, and his arms raised heavenward.  “The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve.  To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”7

He lowered his gaze back to the people before him.  “Everyone needs Jesus.”  He pulled back his sleeves and held up his nail-marked wrists.  “Everyone needs these, and the one who loves them enough to suffer these.”  

With that, E. Manuel – “God With Us”10 – turned and walked briskly into the shadows. 

  1. Mark 4:9
  2. John 17:17
  3. Numbers 23:19
  4. Psalm 119:89
  5. Hebrews 4:12
  6. Romans 1:16
  7. John 14:3
  8. Matthew 28:20
  9. Isaiah 61:1-3
  10. Matthew 1:23

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I don’t really presume to know what Jesus would say to such a group; I can only guess.  However, in light of how the Bible is being attacked, undermined and disregarded, and recognizing how Jesus, the Savior, is being pushed into almost irrelevance … even sometimes in the church … the Lord might very well say something like this. 

As always, I pray that these words are thought-provoking, and ultimately a blessing to you.  Cherish God’s Word, and God’s Son which God’s Word shows us.  They really are the cure for all that ails us.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Future Good Fortune!

Future Good Fortune!

A few months ago I put out a request for suggestions for topics to address in this blog.  Here is one of the suggestions that came in.  I pray it brings blessings to you!

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It wasn’t really a part of either my wife’s or my upbringing in the Midwest, but while out in the Pacific Northwest we learned to enjoy Asian cuisine.  We’ve brought that appreciation back to the Midwest, and make a point to stop in now-and-then at a (relatively) nearby Chinese buffet.  

Any readers who share a similar appreciation for this type of food know that one of the bonuses of such a meal is having “fortune cookies” delivered to your table along with your bill.  It’s always mandatory to break your cookie open and discover the interesting message delivered to you regarding your personal life.

Perhaps surprising to American consumers, fortune cookies aren’t typically found in Japan or China.  They seem to be a distinctly American tradition which has now transitioned to some other countries … but generally not Asia.

There is great debate on the actual inventor of the cookie as we know it.  The concept apparently originated in Japan, but the cookie took a different form … both in ingredients and presentation of the messages.  The originals were called “fortune crackers” and had the message tucked into the fold on the outside.

It seems Japanese immigrants brought the fortune crackers to California in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  There is great debate on exactly where and who originated the fortune cookie as we know it, with immigrant-based companies in both San Francisco and Las Angelas claiming the honor. 

Ironically however, it was during World War 2 that the cookies began to gain popularity.  In the sad chapter of American history of mandated Japanese internment, Chinese American entrepreneurs jumped at the opportunity to capture the fortune cookie market. 

And capture it they did!  Today “fortune cookies remain a massive business.  New York-based Wonton Food, the largest fortune-cookie producer, manufactures more than 4 million of them daily, with an estimated 3 billion cookies produced annually” (www.history.com). 

This might also be a good time and place to share with you the proper fortune cookie etiquette. When your table is served cookies, it is said that one should always pick the one that is furthest away.  After reading the fortune inside, never tell anyone what it says and never rip it.  (Supposedly, either action voids the “prophesy.”)  Rather, to lock that fortune in … burn it!

I doubt too many people take fortune cookies predictions or advice too seriously.  Most seem to regard the messages in the cookies as an enjoyable but temporary diversion.  However, the temptation is always there to somehow, someway gain special, seemingly unknowable insights into one’s life.

I was initially glad to read an online article on fortune cookies which stated that the likelihood of the “fortunes” in the cookies coming true was rather dubious.  But I was immediately deflated with the advice that followed which suggested that horoscopes or professional fortune tellers might be more reliable sources to discern one’s future.

The Lord speaks strongly in his Word about seeking hidden knowledge – that is, information about one’s present or future that God has not revealed to us – from nefarious sources.  He also shows us where we are to look for wisdom – God and His Word!  (Deut. 18:14-15, Is. 8:19-20).

There are things that the Lord does not reveal to us; things we are simply not meant to know.  However, there is a Bible-full of truths that God does want us to know and to treasure.  God’s “fortune messages” are much more comforting, encouraging and important than anything to be found in a cookie!

Here are a few “fortunes” promised by God that mean a great deal to me:

“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32).

Then there is Jesus, the Son’s, promise: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:26-27).

And yet another promise from our Savior: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

The almighty Lord also assures us that “… in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28).

Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).

There are so many, many more!  But here’s perhaps the most encompassing and comforting promise of all from our God: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Looking for future good fortune as we begin a new year?   Opening God’s Bible will always be a far better source of advice, assurance and truth than opening any hollow vanilla-flavored cookie!

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Here’s a few fun fortune-cookie messages regarding fortune cookies:

Help! I am being held prisoner in a fortune cookie factory.

It’s about time I got out of that cookie.

A foolish man listens to his heart. A wise man listens to cookies.

Some men dream of fortunes, others dream of cookies.

Person who eat fortune cookie get lousy dessert.

You will live long enough to open many fortune cookies.

The fortune you seek is in another cookie.

Here are a few interesting fortune-cookie suggestions for life:

Atheism no fun. No holidays.

Do not mistake temptation for opportunity.

Your reality check about to bounce.

A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.

He who throws mud loses ground.

Probability of being seen directly proportional to stupidity of act.

Easiest way to find lost object is buy replacement.

When marriage outlawed, only outlaws have in-laws.

Smart husband buys wife fine china. Then she not trust him to wash it.

He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.

If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving not for you.

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

He who dies with most toys, still dies.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Searching for Treasure

Searching for Treasure

Unfortunately, my days are currently very, very full, leaving no time for writing.  Fortunately, I have years of previous blog posts to pull from!  Here’s a re-share.  I pray it is a blessing!

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I am a treasure hunter.  I search for treasure.  I even find some!

From the time I was young, I always loved to embark on treasure expeditions.  No, I didn’t travel to exotic locations in my quests, but I did set out on a fair amount of searches nevertheless. 

I explored the old brewery in the town where I grew up looking for old Sebewaing Beer artifacts.  (Found some too.  Still have them!)  I wandered carefully (so as not to fall through the floors!) inside a few abandoned houses as well, seeing what might have been left behind.  (Rather slim pickings.  Other treasure seekers had been there before me.)   Native Americans used to inhabit the area where I lived as a boy, so the farm fields all around us held ancient artifacts.  (Found some of those also!) 

But there were treasure hunts and discoveries even closer than that!  Before the days of dumps, my ancestors were in the habit of burying their trash on the property.  Much of what was trash to them, old bottles and such, are now treasures.  When my father dug up the yard to begin building a new house in my teen years, the dirt piles he created were literally littered with his grandparents’ discards.  It was a veritable treasure trove for a treasure seeker like me!

I’ve always kept my eyes peeled for dropped money.  I’m regularly finding coins, and even occasionally a bill.  Even more occasionally a larger bill!  And I never pass a Coinstar without inspecting the coin return.  People regularly forget to grab the coins that didn’t get processed, some of which are silver coins – rejected because they are heavier than the usual “clad” coins.

I’ve even panned for gold and sluiced out a bit of “color” from the gravel.  Washington State isn’t as prime for gold as some other states, but there is some to be found in the right spots.

These days my preferred approach in my treasure hunting exploits is with a metal detector.  What amazing machines they are!  Not only do they easily detect metal objects underground or under water, but the better-quality ones can give the handler a very good idea of what might be below the coil by virtue of a number readout.

Through the years I’ve found all kinds of treasure with my handy-dandy metal detector.  Lots of coins (some silver and some quite old), rings of all kinds (even toe rings!), military buttons and Boy Scout badges, old toys and antique tools, and plenty of unique items have found their way into my treasure pouch.  I never know what I will find, but I always know I’ll find something interesting!  In fact, there has never been a time when I didn’t uncover something worthwhile on my metal detecting hunts.

There’s another form of treasure hunt I regularly embark on as well.  It’s a treasure hunt in the extravagantly rich pages of the Bible.  I never know exactly what the Holy Spirit will reveal to me on each journey inside the cover, but I always know I’ll find something awesome!  Sometimes the discovery is a precious gold or silver truth; sometimes a gleaming new spiritual insight; sometimes a practical discovery; sometimes a lovely reminder of earlier times; sometimes a treasure to share.  In fact, there has never been a time when I didn’t uncover something worthwhile on my treasure hunts in God’s Word.

I’ve never gotten rich from my regular treasure hunting efforts, and I probably never will.  But I have become a wealthy man indeed from my treasure searches in the Scriptures.

Regular treasure hunts?  I discourage them.  (That leaves more for me to find!)  But treasure hunts in the Scriptures?  These are treasure hunts that all should embark upon, and frequently, because there is an unlimited amount of priceless riches to be found there.  And all who seek will find!

“But where can wisdom be found?  Where does understanding dwell?  No mortal comprehends its worth. … It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.  It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.  Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.  Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.  The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.  Where then does wisdom come from?  Where does understanding dwell? … God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (Job 28:selected

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Loving the Light

Loving the Light

Two lengthy flowerbeds stretch along the front base of our house.  Since our home faces west, the plants in those beds receive afternoon sunshine, which means they are bathed in the hottest and most direct rays of the sun for the longest possible duration.  Any plants in those beds must be able to tolerate full sun.

So, of course, those are the types of shrubs and flowers I have planted there.  And they certainly prosper – stretching both up and out and bursting with beautiful blooms in due time.

However, there is an interesting disparity between some of the same types of flowers residing in the same beds but different spots.  And the situation repeats year-after-year.  A few of the flowers are noticeably shorter and smaller than their kindred flowers just mere feet away.

In the one bed, a Younique Phlox and Russian Sage are significantly stunted in stature from their twins further down the line.  In the other bed, a New York Aster and Goura can’t compare to the exact same plants rooted nearby.

Why the difference?  They were planted at the same time, in the same soil, and in the same beds.  The soil around them is equally fertilized and weed-free.  They receive the same amount of water at the same times.  So what’s the issue?

The explanation is simple; the dwarfed flowers receive less sunshine than the others.  They are blocked for one reason or another from the full effect of a full afternoon of sunbeams.  The result? They don’t thrive as much as the other plants that enjoy unencumbered rays.

The same thing occurs with Christians.

Those who frequently avail themselves of the light of God’s word tend to bloom and flourish more than their spiritual brothers and sisters who are “light”-starved. 

Perhaps one might argue that there are plants that actually prosper when they receive limited sunshine.  This is true, of course.  But we are not that type of plant! 

We are rated “full sun.”  If we aren’t experiencing regular doses of light, we will certainly wither and our risk of dying spiritually rises exponentially.  Rather, for our souls to thrive, we need extended time in the brilliant, beaming light of God’s word.  And the more we are immersed in Biblical light, the more we burst forth with spiritual foliage, and the more spiritual fruit and flowers we produce.

The amount of faith, trust, peace, joy, confidence, self-esteem, and spiritual security one owns typically corresponds with the amount of “sunshine” to which they have been exposed, (and still ARE being exposed!).

The contrast between light and darkness, spiritually speaking, permeates the Scriptures.  To list just a few of the many examples, there was God’s promise to send the Savior who would bring light into the darkness of this world (Is. 60:1-3).  Later, Jesus announced that he was that very light – “the light of the world” – and that those who follow him will have the light of life (John 8:12).  Jesus also informed us, his followers, that we are now lights in the world, and urged us to let our lights shine! (Mt. 5:14-16).  Finally, the Bible tells us that heaven will be lit by the glory of the Lord, and there will be no night there (Rev. 21:23-25).

But here is the critical key to all the rest.  For us to understand these pictures.  For us to experience these truths and exemplify them.  For us to escape the spiritual darkness … and remain free from it … we must be the recipients, initially and regularly, of the rays of God’s bright and brilliant “sunshine.”  (i.e. His dynamic word – Romans 1:16).

Scripture emphasizes this, and reemphasizes it!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).  “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

We were brought into the light of faith by our gracious God through his gospel.  And God’s gospel still provides glorious, life-giving light which results in beautiful bloom and blossoms from believers.  The psalmist writes of the Lord, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. … The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:105 & 130). “For with you, [O God], is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

Which is precisely why “full-sun” plants like us love the light!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2 Peter 1:19-21
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Psalm 118:27-29
The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. … You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 43:2-4
You are God my stronghold.  … Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

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Finally Done with Learning!

Finally Done with Learning!

It’s graduation season!  It’s that time of year when students, after a lengthy academic journey, formerly move on from elementary school, high school, or college … often reveling in the occasion of finally processing to the swelling sound of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Many churches also celebrate “Confirmations” in the spring months, which is in essence a spiritual “graduation” of individuals within the Church after learning key truths of the Bible.

In either case, after reaching that point in the educational path, a typical response of the graduate or confirmand is to exult in the idea that he or she is finally done with learning. 

Speaking personally, after four years of Christian high school, four more years of pastor-training college, and then another four years of studying and “apprenticing” through the seminary … I was so done with school!  I definitely rejoiced that my learning seemed to finally be completed.

How wrong I was!  My education was just beginning!

That’s not to say that I didn’t learn during all those years in the classroom.  Rather, that is making the point that practical (and spiritual!) learning continues on a daily basis in the school of real life, the classroom of worship, and the textbook of the Bible.

It’s often been stated that when God is done using us here in this world, he takes us to heaven.  I believe that to be absolutely true.  When we have fulfilled God’s purposes for our lives, he brings us Home. 

In a closely related application, I suspect that when we are done learning … especially spiritually … God transitions us from this world to the next. 

I do understand that sadly sometimes some lose degrees of cognitive ability.  But that doesn’t necessarily affect their soul, or the increase of their spiritual growth.  Especially when faith is rooted in their heart and God’s Word continues to be shared with them.  Who knows what wonderful spiritual insights the Lord is giving them in those difficult days?  Perhaps they are transitioning from a somewhat skeptical mindset back to the childlike faith Jesus praises in Luke 18:17?

When I was a teenager, I rejoiced that I was so much wiser than my father and mother, not only academically, but spiritually as well.  The older I became, the more my ignorance seemed to grow and the smarter my parents seemed to become.  Now I wish with all my heart that my parents’ accumulated knowledge – especially their spiritual wisdom from a long life lived in the Lord – could somehow be transferred to me!  How much wiser I would be!

Are you desiring to be done with learning?  I understand, but please reevaluate!  The wisest man who ever lived devoted the majority of two books in the Bible to the importance of wisdom … not just practical wisdom, but especially spiritual wisdom!

Here’s a good synopsis of Solomon’s point of view and advice: “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:9-10).

The wise king also provides the source of ultimate wisdom: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).  Despite the predominant point of view of much of the world today, there is indeed an absolute truth, and it is found in the Absolute Lord and the words he has provided for us (the Bible!).  Consequently, God’s absolute truth is also the basis for the highest wisdom.

And recognize this: spiritual wisdom isn’t merely academic or intellectual!  Spiritual wisdom goes deeper – to the very heart and soul of a person.  A growing understanding of God’s truths feeds one’s faith and fosters spiritual (and thereby emotional) peace.  Jesus himself states this clearly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Finally done with learning?  May that never be the case for any of us while we live here in this world! 

No, today is just the first day of spiritual education for the rest of our lives.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 78:1-4, 6-7
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old — things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done … and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Colossians 1:9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:15-19
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

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Hungry?

Hungry?

It takes less than a minute.  Often it happens in 30 seconds or less.  Sometimes I haven’t even reached the garage yet before they are swooping in and landing.

Even though I have witnessed the occurrence repeatedly, it still amazes me.  How do the birds arrive so quickly at the bird feeder after I have refilled it?  I don’t follow a certain timetable in number of days or even time of day; I add seed when I am able.  So how is it that the birds are perching and pecking at it so very quickly?

There can only be one explanation; the birds are constantly watching the feeder, ready and eager to eat as soon as new food is provided!  Undoubtedly, they are going about their daily bird business every day throughout the day.  But their eyes must continually return to their favorite food source.  Then, when food is supplied, they immediately descend.

Bailey, our golden retriever, is much the same.  With him we do have a feeding schedule, but it still varies to a degree.  He’s an outside dog, but he knows when breakfast or dinner is close, and he certainly recognizes the sounds of his meals being prepared.  So when we deliver it to him on the back porch he is sitting and staring expectantly at the opening door.  Upon spotting his dinner dish, the excited antics begin.

We witnessed this with our own children … especially when they were young.  All it took was one call, or the ringing of the dinner bell – yes, we used one – to elicit excited cries and bring multiple pairs of feet running to the table.

And let’s be honest.  Who of us isn’t delighted to sit down to a delicious meal?  As my father-in-law likes to say, “Call me whatever name you want; just don’t call me late for dinner.”  Most of us can relate.  And especially if the lovely aroma of cooking food has been filling our nostrils for a while!

When physical creatures are hungry, they are eager to eat!  This is natural, normal and good.

Physical hunger is easy to recognize and relatively easy to gauge.  We might not be hungry at all.  Or we might be a little hungry, quite hungry or extremely hungry.  Simply ask a person, any person, and they will be able to immediately inform you of their current hunger status.

Easy to tell when referring to physical hunger.  But what about spiritual hunger?

Physical hunger drives us to seek food.  The hungrier we are, the more desperately we pursue addressing the hunger pains.  But spiritual hunger is a totally different matter. 

The first dilemma is whether we even notice it.  The second is how do we slake it?

Let’s address the second question first.  How do we satisfy our spiritual hunger? 

The fasting and physically hungry Jesus provided the answer when being tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread.  Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).

The Lord stated this same truth with beautiful word pictures in the book of Isaiah: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live” (Isaiah 55:1-3).

How does one address spiritual hunger?  By listening to God speak through his Word!  

This is relatively easy to comprehend, but not so easily implemented.

There happens to be an interesting contrast between physical food and spiritual food (God’s Word).  With “real” bread, the more one eats, the less hungry they become.  (At least temporarily.)  With spiritual bread, the more one eats, the more they crave!  Or to state it another way, the less physical food entering a body, the more physically hungry that person will become.  But often the less spiritual food a soul ingests, the less a person desires it.

Yet the ultimate outcome of food deprivation is the same: if the body doesn’t receive enough physical food, or a soul enough spiritual food, each will die!  The difference?  The body’s warning signs that it is lacking sustenance are obvious; the soul’s warning signs are much more subtle.

Yet the signs are there.  God built humans with a deep need for Him.  The less God is a part of a person, the more that person will struggle.  That’s not to say that strong Christians don’t suffer!  We all do in this sin-permeated world.  But the more starved one’s soul becomes, the more prominent the issues which display themselves in that person’s life.

The most obvious: selfishness.  The less God reigns in one’s heart, the more “self” will.  Of course, this shows itself in a myriad of ways.  Spiritual hunger certainly displays itself in how one deals with others, but also with how one views and acts with self.  Priorities, attitudes, self-esteem, and life decisions are all impacted by lack of spiritual nutrition. 

Physically hungry?  Undesirable, but not to worry.  You will recognize and undoubtedly address it, and probably relatively quickly.

Spiritually hungry?  Great!  That means you are in God’s Word and craving more!  Keep feeding your faith! 

Not really feeling it?  Well, that almost certainly means you need to start a diet; a diet of regular time in the Word of God.  If you keep at it, the awesome news is you will get more and more spiritually hungry, which is a wonderful thing … as strange as it sounds.

We would be wise to mimic the birds in my backyard, always watching for fresh food.  And when an opportunity to feed on God’s Word presents itself, to be eager to consume it!

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Seeking Sweetness

Seeking Sweetness

I was about to open the gate from our backyard to our front yard when I spotted it.  A lovely Rufous Hummingbird was feeding just a few feet away from me.  Seeing Hummingbirds around our place isn’t unusual at all.  I have various flowers in beds all around our property, and some are particularly attractive to the colorful birds: New York Asters, Russian Sage, Cardinal Flower and Purple Bee Balm, just to name a few. 

But at this time of year, there aren’t many blooms available.  However, in the front yard immediately beside the gate, the red trumpets of a Pineapple Sage linger.  And that’s where I saw the hummingbird, hovering a few feet away, drinking deep from the Sage’s nectar.  It darted away, only to return and drink again.  Zipped away.  Zipped back.

What magnificent creations of our God these fascinating birds are!

All of the Hummingbird species live in the Americas, with most in the tropical Central and South America.  There are approximately 350 variations of Hummingbirds in the world, which makes them the second largest family of birds, while also averaging the smallest size in the bird kingdom.  (In fact, they are the smallest animals in the world with a backbone.)  Most of the birds are 3-5 inches long and weigh only a few grams.  Hummingbird eggs are about the size of peas, and the newly hatched offspring are no bigger than a penny.

The birds earn their name from the soft humming sound their wings produce while flying.  Hummingbirds in flight average 20-30 miles per hour, but can reach as high as 60.  Their wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending on the direction of flight, the purpose of their flight, and the surrounding air conditions.  The rapidity of their wing beats allows the birds to fly in all directions – forward, backward, sideways and even upside down!  And, of course, they are the only bird which can hover.  (Again, due to their rapid wingbeats.  Somewhat like treading water, only in the air!)  They are the ultimate aerial artists, demonstrating astounding agility in flight.

But God made them this way because their primarily source of sustenance is the nectar they extract from flowers through their long bills.  They don’t suck up the nectar; they lap it up with their fringed, forked tongues … tongues that lick 10-15 times per second when feeding.

“Hummers” must consume approximately one-half of their weight in sugar daily, and the average Hummingbird feeds 5-8 times per hour.  They can eat up to 3 times their own weight in food every single day.   In addition to nectar, these birds consume pollen as well as small flying insects and spiders, and may also sip tree sap or juice from broken fruits.  The birds digest natural sucrose—the sugar found in floral nectar—in 20 minutes with 97 percent efficiency for converting the sugar into energy.

Which the little dynamos desperately need!  An average Hummingbird’s heart rate while perched is 225 beats per minute, but it climbs to more than 1,200 beats per minute in the air.  (We humans average only 60-100 beats per minute when not active.)  While resting, a Hummingbird averages 250 breaths per minute!  When flying, that number also increases.

However, Hummingbirds are one of the few types of birds that are able to transition into a brief torpor when needed, such as during a cool night.  Torpor is a very deep, sleep-like state in which metabolic functions are slowed to a minimum (1/15 of their normal rate) and a very low body temperature is maintained.

Hummingbirds are one of God’s key pollinators.  As the birds sustain their own lives by going flower to flower, they also sustain the flower species by enabling reproduction.  Interestingly, hummers can’t smell, but have keen eyesight and are attracted to brightly colored flowers, especially those in shades of red, orange, and bright pink.  The birds instinctually recognize that their sustenance is found in the sweetness of nectar, so they are always seeking sweetness.

While this is all extremely interesting, (or at least I find it so), how does this encourage you and me in our walk to heaven?

In a number of places, the Bible actually describes God’s Word as sweet.  Both the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:1-4) and the Apostle John (Revelation 10:8-11) are told by the Lord to eat scrolls with God’s messages on them, and then relay those messages to God’s people.  The scrolls tasted sweet!

The psalm writer was moved by the Holy Spirit to describe the Scriptures this way: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103).  David used the same description regarding the words of the Lord in Psalm 19: “They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).

Solomon wrote this: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).  His wise phrase is appropriate for both the words one person speaks to another, as well as the words God shares with us.  But especially the words that God shares!  Passages that show us God’s grace and love and forgiveness are indeed “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (and heart!).

Why does God describe his words as “sweet?”  Because most people crave sweet things, and the Lord wants to impress upon us that it is proper for us to crave his truths!  The parts that address our sinfulness aren’t so attractive, (though they are necessary), but the Gospel message of God’s love and mercy sure “tastes” wonderful!

And that Scriptural “sweetness” provides spiritual energy too.  Joy, peace, and certain hope.  Confidence and security.  Motivation to live for God and love one another.  A purpose for now and an eternal destination for later. 

So seek the sweetness of God’s Word, and let it fuel your spiritual metabolism.

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Avoid the Noise

Avoid the Noise

The door into my home office happens to be only about 25 feet from the living room television.  That may seem a fair distance away but is actually closer than you might think.  This, by the way, is the same television that is often being watched by someone.  And the same television where my sons play their friends or brothers in online Xbox competitions.  Perhaps you can imagine how boisterous that becomes at times.

Yes, I can shut the office door, and I sometimes did.  But even that didn’t block out all the distracting noise erupting from and in front of the tv.  Plus, there isn’t a heater vent in my office, so the room can grow rather chilly at times if the door is closed.  Another approach I’ve tried has been playing music off my iPod on my iPod player.  This helped, but also failed to fully resolve the dilemma. (Unless I cranked up the volume … which only compounded the problem.)

But finally I found a solution!  I ordered a pair of Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones from Amazon, and – eureka! – problem solved!  I slip those babies on, and I hear nothing except the music of my choice floating softly into my ears.  (I also don’t hear when my wife tries to ask me something, but that’s another situation and story.)

I realize that some can function just fine with background noise, but most of us find it distracting.  Or at least somewhat distracting. Yet, aren’t our lives pinballing with distracting “noise?”

Our families, our relationships, our property, our jobs, our many responsibilities, our personal wellbeing and our hobbies all ratchet up the noise levels in our lives.  As do our bills, difficulties, challenges, frustrations and anxieties.  COVID has spawned a plethora of additional distractions.  Through it all, our heads and hearts “are on swivels” as our attention is constantly diverted, trying to take everything in.

Friends, this is how it often is for us, but this is not how it should be.  This is not God’s recipe for contentment.

So how do we put on our spiritual noise-cancelling headphones and cut out the distracting noise all around us?  As always, God’s Word provides insight.  The one-word summary is … focus; the two-part approach is … focus on God’s Word, and focus on God.

Want to mute out the distractions of your life?  Step one is dial in the sweet music of God’s Word.  The Lord encourages us to “pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22).  “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds” (Deuteronomy 11:18).

Step two is to lock our attention onto our God.  That’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?  But it’s easier said than done.  Yet that is Scripture’s encouragement to us; that’s the second part of the Lord’s noise cancelling solution.  

“Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1).  “… Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). 

And here’s some more noise cancelling words: “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?  ‘To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:25-26, 28-29, 31).

As long as we sinful people live in this sinful world, we will be inundated with potential distractions.  But thanks be to God, he provides us with a wholesome and helpful solution to the racket of the world.  The more we focus on the Lord and his Word, the less distracted and dismayed we will be.

This was illustrated to us in dramatic fashion by our Savior himself on a visit with his dear friends, Mary and Martha:  (Luke 10:38-42)

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!’”

 ‘“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’

Too often we are Marthas; Jesus encourages us to be Marys.  Block out the distractions and concentrate on what is truly important.  We will be the better for it!

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