A Little Bird Told Me

Posted on August 11, 2011 by jesustrek

A friend in the church where I used to preach nicknamed me “Old Quiver-Chin” because of my tendency to get emotional when I preach. She told her family about the nickname, but she had not told me. However, her adult son thought that it was funny, so he let me in on the joke. I thought it was hilarious, and I started plotting about how I could have the most fun in letting my friend know that I was on to her.

It just so happened that my friend had invited my wife and me over to her house for dinner after church. During the course of the meal, the conversation turned to how I often tell emotional stories in my sermons. Seizing my opportunity, I said, “You know, at my last church they started calling me “Old Quiver-Chin”.

The shocked look on my friend’s face was priceless! I left her hanging for a few seconds before I shouted, “Ha! You’re busted!”

We all enjoyed a good laugh. If there is a moral to this story, I suppose it is that we should be careful what we say, because our words may come back to haunt us.

“…A bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”—Ecclesiastes 10:20.

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How Forgetful We Are

Posted on August 10, 2011 by jesustrek

My grandmother, Alice Cox, lived directly across the road from the little country church she attended. It was her job to prepare communion each Sunday. She would fill the cups with juice and the trays with bread at her house and carry them to church with her.

One Sunday, the congregation was preparing for communion time in the worship service. They sang a song and then offered up a solemn prayer of thanksgiving. Then they lifted the lid to the communion set, only to find the trays empty! Mamma had forgotten to fill the trays before she brought them to church!

The people had to wait a few minutes while she went home and got the communion ready.

This story illustrates how forgetful we can be. We might even go for a while without remembering the most important thing that ever happened—that Jesus died to pay for our sins. So in order to help us remember his sacrificial death, Jesus gave us a beautiful reminder—the Lord’s supper.

“…Do this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

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Self-Recognition

Posted on August 9, 2011 by jesustrek

I finally figured out how the side mirrors on our car are constantly getting smudges all over them. It seems that birds are seeing their reflection and are attacking the mirror. They don’t recognize themselves in the mirror. They think that it must be another bird.

Sometimes we don’t see ourselves for who we really are. The Bible says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…” (1 John 3:1).

It is difficult for some people to see themselves as dearly loved children of God. Therefore, they lash out at themselves in various ways. Some harm themselves by abusing drugs and alcohol. Others engage in risky behavior. Some even go so far as to cut or otherwise mutilate their own bodies.

Some Christians attack themselves with negative attitudes and destructive thinking. They wallow in despair and self-pity, little knowing how much harm they are doing to themselves. How sad it is when God’s children don’t see how much they are truly loved by their heavenly Father!

Spend some time basking in His love today.

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The Value of Training

Posted on August 8, 2011 by jesustrek

Navy SEAL instructors have a saying: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.”

A few months ago, the Navy SEALs achieved one of their greatest accomplishments by killing the most wanted criminal on the planet—Osama bin Laden. This mission was pulled off so flawlessly that it could not have been scripted any better by Hollywood’s best writers. The elite fighters were able to enjoy such overwhelming success because they had trained diligently for the mission.

More recently, the Navy SEALs suffered a terrible setback. A helicopter carrying 22 SEAL personnel and other soldiers in Afghanistan was shot down, resulting in the deadliest single loss for the Americans in the war in Afghanistan. These men also were highly trained, but there is no guarantee of success in war. Training only improves your odds.

We Christians are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare. Our ultimate victory has been assured by the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. However, there are many spiritual battles to be fought along the way. Some we will win quite easily; others will result in stinging losses. The only way to ensure the best possible outcome for ourselves and others is to be well-trained.

1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

What will you do today that will make you better trained for spiritual warfare?

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Up to Bat

Posted on August 6, 2011 by jesustrek

At 4:00 this morning, my wife abruptly woke me up, shaking me and saying, “There’s something flying around in here!”

Thinking she was having a bad dream, I immediately assured her, “No, there’s not!”

It turned out she was right.

We soon determined that there was a bat flying in circles in our bedroom. The next thing to decide was what to do about it.

I swung a pillow at the elusive critter, but he deftly avoided every attempt to knock him out of the air. (Sorry, there is no video available.)

Finally, Karen said, “Turn the light on.”

I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of that sooner. I was trying to fight the bat on his terms. He was quite comfortable in the darkness. I, on the other hand, am better suited for doing battle in the daylight.

As soon as I turned on the light, the bat landed on the top of a window. Only then was I able to emerge victorious. (I must withhold details pending notification of the bat’s family.)

The Bible says that those who do evil love the darkness, but hate the light. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”—John 3:19-21.

If there is anything from the dark flying around in your life, you should expose it to the light–the truth of Jesus Christ.

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Need Some Help

Posted on August 5, 2011 by jesustrek

You know the old saying: If you see a turtle on a fence post you know that he had some help getting there!

Just as sure as a turtle cannot climb to the top of a fence post, we have absolutely no ability to reach heaven on our own. We need God’s help. A friend of mine once said, “No one will ever enter heaven without first acknowledging that he doesn’t deserve to be there!”

Ephesians 1:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Many people are trying to earn their way into heaven. It can’t be done. The Bible plainly tells us that we are saved by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Thank God that we have the help we need in Jesus!

Note: No turtles were harmed in the posting of this blog.

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Automatic Light

Posted on August 4, 2011 by jesustrek

Yesterday morning, I was watching the little night light in our upstairs bathroom as it sensed the dawn of a new day. It flickered a bit, then turned itself off. The light is designed to shine automatically whenever darkness presents itself.

A few hours later, I happened to be on the porch as a storm approached. The sky turned dark, so dark that the streetlight came on. This light is also programmed to shine any time it gets dark.

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14). Notice that he doesn’t say that we ought to be the light of the world, or that we have the potential of someday becoming the light of the world. He says that if we are following him, we are the light of the world!

We are programmed to automatically shine in this world filled with so much darkness. We are designed to light up the world with God’s truth and with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Be ready to shine today!

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Personal Responsibility

Posted on August 3, 2011 by jesustrek

I once listened to a lady as she talked to a group of friends about her concern for the poor. Her main message seemed to be: “We need to do more for poor people!”

I found myself wondering why she didn’t simply do more for poor people. Then it finally dawned on me that she wasn’t talking about individuals doing more for the poor. She was making the argument that our government should be more active in helping those who struggle financially. It was as if actually doing something herself to aid someone in need had never occurred to her!

Why is it that so many people fail to grasp the concept of personal responsibility? The government can’t love my neighbor for me! I have to do that myself!

Jesus taught a lot about personal responsibility. When he divides the sheep from the goats on judgment day, Jesus will ask a question about our care for the poor and unfortunate. He won’t ask what percentage of your tax money went to fund government assistance programs. He won’t ask if you voted for the candidate that promised to spread the wealth around. He will ask what you did to help those in need.

What will you say?

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Encouragement File

Posted on August 2, 2011 by jesustrek

Someone once said that discouragement is Satan’s greatest tool. I tend to believe it’s true. The devil will use any means to keep us from being and doing all we can for Christ and his kingdom.

For many Christians, life is a constant battle against discouragement. The circumstances of life can be disheartening. Comments made by others can lead to dismay. Even our own thoughts can sometimes bring us down.

Encouragement is the answer. Shall I dare say that the Bible encourages us to be encouragers? We all have the obligation to try to lift up the spirits of those around us.

Paul and his travelling companions once visited a synagogue and were invited by the leaders to participate in the worship service. The leaders said, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” (Acts 13:15b).

Sometimes I get cards or notes with words of encouragement. I always keep them. I put them in what I call my “encouragement file”. Whenever I feel discouraged, I can think of my collection of encouraging words that people have given me over the years. It always helps me to find courage once again.

People file away words of encouragement; if not literally, then figuratively. They mentally hold on to words that lift them up.

Maybe you need to go into your own encouragement file today. Or perhaps you need to add to someone else’s file. If you have a message of encouragement, please speak!

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No Time Like the Present

Posted on August 1, 2011 by jesustrek

I recently went to visit a family that is going through a tough time. As I turned to leave, I assured the grandmother that I would keep them in my prayers. She asked, “Could you pray now?”

Her response made me do an abrupt turnaround. Of course I could pray now! So I did, and she was very thankful that I talked to God on her behalf…right then.

This reminded me of a simple truth. When it comes to prayer, there’s no time like the present. You can’t pray in the past. The future isn’t here yet. The only time we can really pray is now.

“Pray continually.”—1 Thessalonians 5:17.

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