What Do We Do with God’s Garden?

By Peter Lundell –

The BP oil disaster is finally over. Or not. Millions of gallons remain unaccounted for, some coagulating and settling on the ocean floor, some dissolved with toxic dispersants dumped in the water. Underwater oil clouds and oil-soaked beaches and wetlands are creating toxic waste zones that will continue to decimate the environment and the food chain long after the spill becomes history.

And the drilling goes on. The oil that wasn’t spilled gets burned in engines, then belched into the air. Every four days, California sends as many tons of pollution into the air as the oil spill sends into the ocean in a day. But California does it nonstop. And it’s just one state.

Oh, well. Jesus is coming and the world will burn up anyway. But until then, what about our health, our lives? What about our children? What about God’s command to take care of His garden (Genesis 2:15)?

I don’t hug trees or sing about mother earth, but I want to take good care of what God gave me, whether my soul, my body, my relationships or this beautiful world He created for us. I do it because I want to honor God. And because I’m compelled by mercy toward those who would be harmed if I didn’t.

I can’t do much about large-scale disasters, but I can control how I live. There’s nothing particularly religious about going green. But I can take care of the creation in honor and love to my Creator—which becomes a witness to the world.

Would you join me? Trust me, if Jesus tarries, your children will thank you.

AUTHOR QUOTE: Lord, beyond the politics and science of the environment, I choose to be a good garden keeper of this beautiful world You gave me. Lead me to care for this great gift and to do it with a daily attitude of worship toward You.

“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it” (Gen. 2:15, NET).

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, he is a pastor, Bible college teacher, and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories, and book chapters.

In Wisdom and in Truth

By Cheri Cowell –

Balancing the desire to be honest and truthful with our need to be compassionate and sensitive is a difficult bill to fill. I loved the Jim Carey movie Liar, Liar. I’m not usually a Jim Carey fan, but this movie was wonderful. He played a high power lawyer who for one day, because of his son’s birthday wish, could not tell a lie. There is one hilarious scene after another as he makes his way into the office. First, while in the elevator he encounters a voluptuous woman and honestly makes a comment that gets him smacked, he then passes a receptionist who asks if he likes her new hairdo, and finally he is honest with his receptionist about cheating her out of a raise. The movie is funny, but it raises some serious questions. Is this what God meant when He told us to always be truthful? Well, we are to be honest, but we do need wisdom for the appropriate time and manner to deliver the truth.

The scribes and Pharisees had set Jesus up in a trap. If He condemned the woman before Him, He would not be showing mercy; but if He did not allow the stoning, He would have broken temple law. But they didn’t realize they were dealing with the One in who grace and truth are perfectly blended into wisdom.

PRAYER: I praise You for Your perfect wisdom, mercy and grace. My heart’s desire is always to be truthful and at the same time be wise. Thank You for standing ready to share Your perfect wisdom with me, whenever I may need it.

“Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in asking Him, He stood up straight and replied, ‘Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then He bent over again and wrote on the ground. Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up straight and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She replied, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore’” (John 8:9-11 NET).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional at www.CheriCowell.com

Win or Lose One Detail at a Time

By Peter Lundell –

I live near a city that has two professional basketball teams that oddly share the same home arena. One consistently ranks around the top of the NBA. The other loses most games. Read more

Fresh Out of Creamed Corn

By Cynthia Ruchti –

I’ve never been fan of creamed corn and I can probably thank the school cafeteria for that.

It’s not a staple in my pantry or in my recipes. When I got three-fourths of the way through a recipe for sweet corn cakes to accompany the fresh fish on our supper menu, I realized I was missing 25 percent of the ingredients for sweet corn cakes—creamed corn. Read more

Hold Life Loosely

By Peter Lundell –

Twice in four days an LA County Sheriff’s helicopter has evacuated people from ambulances right by my house, once in the street and once in the park. I live in a suburb that’s so peaceful, I sometimes think I’ll go comatose. People move here and pay too much for their houses in order to avoid drama and send their kids to good schools. And they typically prohibit anything they don’t like—or wish they could. Don’t we all? Read more

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