Talked Into It

By Cynthia Ruchti –

“Whoa! That is…that’s a unique color combination.”

I stood in my friend’s kitchen, trying to stave off the nausea induced by the wild, highly unappetizing faux painting technique on what she called the “accent” wall.

“You don’t like it?” she asked, eyebrows tented.

I used a trick I learned when my kindergartners brought home creative but unrecognizable artwork. “Tell me the story behind this.”

My friend burst into tears. “There’s no story! It’s a disaster! I hate it!”

“We agree then.”

“It’s not just me? It really is horrible?”

“You needed to ask? Jen, those garish colors just aren’t you at all! Who talked you into this?”

She paused for a moment. “The kitchen designer. Not only did she talk me into the circus-tent-in-a-tornado technique, but it cost me more than the glass-tile backsplash!”

Sympathy oozed out of me.

I’d been talked into a few bad ideas before, things I’d regretted a lot more than an accent wall that could be painted over. “Hon, what made you say yes to this? Didn’t the designer show you a sample first?”

“Oh, I saw a sample. Didn’t like it. But I thought I was the wrong one, the uptight one, the person with no taste. So I caved.”

“Love to talk to you more about this, Jen, but could we discuss it in the living room where I’m less likely to lose my lunch?”

Throughout time, God’s people have often been talked into things they knew were dumb ideas, or even spiritually dangerous ideas. No doubt they, like my friend, felt intimidated by the apparent—and false—wisdom or intelligence or good sense of the person insisting, “This is perfect for you. You need to try this—everybody’s doing it. Okay, you can hang onto that faith idea if you insist, but at least don’t let yourself go overboard.”

Regret doesn’t come from listening to God, but from listening to others who talk us into things that go against the wisdom of God.

PRAYER: Father God, I don’t want You to have to ask, “Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense?”(Isaiah 57:11—The Message). By Your Spirit, keep my head on straight and my ears tuned only to You.

BIBLE VERSE: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” James 3:17 NIV.

This Little Light is None of Your Business!

By Alan Mowbray –

As a child, I remember singing the words,

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! (Verse 3X)
(Chorus)…Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine.

The next verse started,

Hide it under a bushel, No! I’m gonna let it shine…

We sang this in Sunday School. We sang it in Vacation Bible School. We sang it at summer camp. We sang it on the road to…. everywhere.

So what happened?

We don’t sing this song anymore. We, as a people in this country, claim that our faith is a – ahem (holy clearing of the throat) – private matter. Shhhhhhhh. Let’s all whisper in the glory of our private, personal holiness. From politicians, fellow employees, friends, family, we’ve all heard the phrase, “My faith is a private matter.”

Puleeeze! This is a deception from the pit of hell!

As people who worship the Most High God, the King of kings, our Creator, and our Father, Who loves us and Whose thoughts of each of us number greater than the sands on the shore… isn’t a bit strange that we feel the need to hide behind an excuse as weak as privacy?

Isn’t this the same God Who sent His Son to live as man, sinless, and without fault? A Son who then took a beating for our bodies’ healing, while bearing all our sins and paying the ultimate price for those sins – DEATH? Isn’t this the same Saviour who, prior to ascending into heaven, told His disciples – and ultimately, all professing Christians as well – to go forth and preach the gospel to all nations?

In The Message, the Great Commission (remember that?) goes like this:

‘“Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”’ Matthew 28:16-20 (The Message)

Where did we get the idea that faith is a private matter? And, if you profess to be a Christian and claim that, shame on you! Why profess to be a follower of Christ Jesus at all? Don’t you find it odd today, that the “private Christians” are applauded by the world, while those who stand by their beliefs and refuse to hide behind a “Privacy Please” sign hanging from their spiritual doorknobs are vilified?

Revelation 3:16 (NKJV) states, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

That’s a pretty hard statement. It describes an involuntary reaction to the taste of something that is unpleasing to God. How does your life, your fruit, taste to your Father God?
I look at myself. I’m guilty in this as well. There are times I have hid behind the privacy excuse as well. Not by saying “It’s a private matter,” but, rather, by not saying anything at all…
…when I should have spoken up.

Lord, forgive me for hiding behind this lie of privacy. I repent. Help me to stand boldly and steadfast, honoring Your Name. Thank You for Your grace. Amen.

Heirs

By Cheri Cowell –

I have a picture in my kitchen of an older man, possibly a monk, praying over his meal of bread and water. It is not a particularly beautiful picture, but it is a treasure to me, because my grandmother left it to my sister and me. We commented one day during a visit with her that, like the man in the picture, we could envision our grandfather praying over what little he had, whether it was food or possessions.

I’ve heard about people who were left great fortunes by a passing relative, and I often wonder what that would be like. Then I realized that many are left wondering what it would be like to have a possession that means so much because of the sentimental value; more valuable because of the life that person lived.

The Bible tells of a man who receives the most cherished possession a man can leave another. What is it? See for yourself in today’s scripture.

This passage tells of the fulfillment of a covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan, to honor him as family. As the story goes, Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, has not heard of this covenant and is hiding out of fear because he heard that Jonathan is a great warrior. Instead, Mephibosheth was called before the king and given not just the family possessions, but also the honor and dignity earned by his grandfather.

You, too, have received not only an eternal home, as heir to Jesus Christ, but also have inherited the honor and dignity that belongs to Him. This is truly the most cherished possession that could be left to another.

PRAYER: I praise You, God, for Your faithfulness through the generations, and for the covenants You keep because of those who have been faithful throughout the ages. Thank You for making me an heir to Your kingdom, and ask You to help me walk in honor and dignity as I seek ways to invite others to eat at Your table this week.

BIBLE VERSE: “Miphibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.’ (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.” (2 Samuel 9: 8-10 NIV).

Autumn Seasons of Life

By Nina Medrano –

The first day of autumn  is the day of the year when the sun crosses over the equator.  The reason for our seasonal changes has to do with Earth’s yearly trip around the sun.

If our planet did not take a yearly trip around the sun, then life on Earth would be off balance.

The land would not experience the cycle of death and new growth. In fact, parts of the earth would only experience a hot or cold season eternally. The seas would become stale without the changing of waters and temperature. We would lose a large amount of plant and animal life, because many animals breed only in summer. There would be no relief of seasons.

I find this very interesting that Abba Father would design the earth to take an annual vacation, if you will. This prompts me to think about the importance of annually taking a trip—a vacation away from our busy seasons of life.

Just as Earth needs relief and time to heal and rejuvenate itself, we, too, need relief of our seasons of life.

On the first day of autumn, day and night are nearly the same amounts of time. There are about 12 hours of daylight on this day. On this day there is an equal balance of time.

God is a God of order and balance. He establishes changing seasons for the earth as well as for our lives.

By God’s design, each season has a specific purpose and effect on the Earth. So do the seasons in our lives.

As the first day of autumn approaches, I am mindful of God’s purpose and effects of this new season in my life. I ask myself what areas in my life need to be put to death so that the seed of life might grow in my spring season. How can I partner with God in balancing my time spent with Him and with my part in this world? And lastly, when should I plan a yearly get-away and bring intentional relief into my seasons of life?

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”(Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV).

Push Present, Really?

By Hally Franz –

There is a new trend in gift-giving I recently learned about. Or, maybe it’s not so recent, but I’m just behind the trends. It is called the “push present.”

The push present is a gift given by a husband (or significant other) to the mother of his child upon the birth of said child. It is a basically a prize or reward for the mother’s completion of the birthing task. Typically, it is a piece of jewelry, perhaps a ring or diamond bracelet. I’m not sure if the difficulty of the process determines the expense of the gift. It may be that a 5-hour labor merits a moderately-priced bobble, while a 20-hour labor dictates a gift of significant bling. As I said, this is new to me.

No doubt, I will really come across as an old fuddy-duddy because of my position on this particular new custom—and, of course, my use of the expression “fuddy-duddy.” However, I have to say that I find the push present a bit much.

I did not give birth at home, nor did I return to the field for planting the following day. I had four full days in the hospital after the birth of our son via caesarean, and my husband did bring me a modest necklace after Ivan’s arrival. It was a thin gold chain with a heart charm encircling a mother and child. Tim’s gift was unsolicited, unexpected, romantic and meaningful.

Isn’t the journey of making, caring for and raising a child a shared effort? Parenting works best when both mother and father are present and participating, and children benefit when parents share in the process. That doesn’t mean we track and itemize each discussion, act of discipline, and school-related commute on a daily basis to ensure equal work along the way.

Perhaps new mothers should buy new fathers a “tolerated-hormonal-moods token” or a “ran-out-for-cravings reward” to show their gratitude for support offered during pregnancy. I’ve always believed the birth of a beautiful, healthy child is plenty reward for any father or mother.

Parenting is about giving without expecting anything in return, loving unconditionally. While the push present is not wrong, it does seem to imply that every part of life needs to be rewarded, even the most natural and blessed of events.

PRAYER: Father God, bless the new parents of the world. Guide and direct them through this precious and sometimes exhausting journey. Uplift and encourage them, and help them to raise Christian men and women who seek to serve You. 

BIBLE VERSE: “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him” (Genesis 18:19 NIV).

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