What's at your door?

I consider myself a pretty brave person until I went to visit my friend that lives way out in the country.  As it got darker there was a noise outside I certainly thought I could go outside and see what was going on. Then my friend said her husband would go out and check to see what it was. He was busy and I told her I could step out onto the porch and see what was going on, at this point I was not afraid. Then she began to tell me about the wild animals they had in the area and they would even come up on the porch. I quickly felt glued to my chair and did not offer to go out again. Anyone that knows me well knows I have a fear of dogs let alone wild animals. I am sure if I opened the door and a wild animal was sitting there ready to pounce on me I would faint then the beast could just have the house. I know that is what my friend was afraid of. Even at my house where there are no wild animals and I walk outside and see something squatting at my door I want it taken care of. I do not mind asking someone much braver than myself, Steve, to take care of it for me.

So when I was reading in Genesis 4 about Abel and Cain it stirred these feelings inside me. If you have not read the story for a while I would encourage you to do so. I will sum it up very briefly. Abel and Cain were brothers. They had different professions Abel was a keeper of the flock and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time they brought offerings to God, Cain brought fruit of the ground and Abel brought the firstlings of his flock.  My study Bible says that "Evidently they had both been told of the necessity for a blood sacrifice as an expression of true faith." Therefore, God was not pleased with Cain's offering. Cain did not like this and he became angry with his brother. God quizzed Cain about his anger (verses 6-7) Why are you angry? Why has your countenance fallen? If you are doing well your countenance will show it.  "If you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." Cain did not heed God's words. He did take care of the sin that crouched at his door. He allowed the sin of jealousy, and anger to grow. It grew until it was such a festering mess that he killed his brother. Then when God asked him where his brother was and he lied to God and said I don't know. He had to suffer the consequences of his sin, it was not pleasant for him. His life took a drastic change from then on.

I want you think about this question do you have sin crouching at your door? The devil doesn't care if you get it taken care of. He is pleased if it festers and gets ugly. He isn't even concerned if you do something as awful as Cain did. As long as you are not doing what pleases God he is smiling. Do not allow sin to crouch at your door and take control, get rid of it right away. Wipe that smile right off the devils face and put a big smile on the face of God by doing the right thing. It will also change your countenance. You will have a smile. May you have great days defeating the sin that crouches at the door. 

Who will you listen to?

Have you ever known anyone and thought they just have it made, they was born with a silver spoon in their mouth. I might be showing my age because I'm not sure if that is even a saying in today's world. But what is meant everything is given to them from the time they were born they never had to work for anything. They have all the advantages you never had because your parents were not rich. Things were not given to you and your life has been a struggle. Myself and the people I know can relate to you. If you check into the lives of those more fortunate than you, you might discovery something shocking. They could be going down a road of self-destruction. There sorrow could be worse than you ever dream. I would like to share with you such a story today.

I do not know this couple personally but I have read their story over a number of times. A couple that had everything.  They had it made in the shade. No cares, no worries and no sorrows, they were heading down a beautiful path. Their names are Adam and Eve. If you have not read their story please do (Genesis). God had created a beautiful garden for them, he gave them dominion over everything. Adam got to even name all the creatures. The coolest of all things is God walked and talked with them. All God asked them not to do was to not touch or eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden (Genesis 3). Sound simple enough to me. He also told them the consequences if they did, they would die. That in itself would make me think twice before I even thought of going near that tree. One day while Adam and Eve were out a serpent approached Eve and spoke to her. The scripture does not say she was afraid of him. I can tell you I would either be passed out because it spoke to me or I would be stirring up dust from running so fast to get away. This was not the case with Eve. She had a conversation with him. He talked to her about the forbidden tree. He planted a question in her mind about the consequences and encouraged her to eat the fruit. "Eat the fruit it will make you wise like God" he said. That is when her life began to take a turn in the wrong direction. "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate." (Genesis 3: 6)

She and Adam had everything and they gave it all up to have the one thing God said they could not have.  God gave them everything they would have ever needed. They blew it. God knew what they had done. When God asked what happened why they were hiding the blame game began Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, but the truth is each of them was to blame for their own part in the whole situation. Because of their disobedience everything went south.

God did not give up on them but they had a very different life after that. Sin (disobedience to God) separated them from God's perfect will for their lives.

There is a lesson here for us to learn. Sin has been a problem from that day until now. Their decision has impacted each of our lives. Our decisions impact the lives of those that follow in our footsteps as well. God has asked us to follow him and do his will. He has a path for our lives. We need to stop the blame game and take responsibility for the wrongs we do and ask God to forgive us and give us the strength and determination to do his will. If you have not read the story of Adam and Eve and how things all got started I would encourage you to do so. When you do keep your mind and heart opened so that God can speak to you. Let him shine his light on the words and message. Allow him to come into your heart and give you everything that you would ever need or want. May God richly bless you as you seek him.

Compassion and love

As I was getting ready to leave church a couple of Sundays ago, I stopped to talk to a dear man (we'll call Harry). Harrys wife (we'll call her Ellen) is sick an unable to attend church. I know she has dementia and asked how she was doing. Harry said she has her good and bad days. A little about dementia before we go any further with this story it attacks the brain and causes loss of memory. As it progresses the person does not remember the here and now the brain only recalls the past. As it gets worse that will also go and they do not remember anything. Some people can linger in that state for a number of years. It is a very sad state for them and the family. The love one you did know and love is no longer able to share many cherished memories that make the life you have lives together so very special and precious.  Continuing on with the story.

Harry said "I tell her I'm going to the kitchen to fix supper then as soon as I get in there she calls out and wants to know where he is." A smile came across his face as I waited to see what else would follow. He said "Ellen said the other day as soon as she found out who I am she is going to marry me." As he recalled this I could see the love in his eyes for his dear wife of over fifty years. All I could think of at the moment was WOW! I did tell him we wanted to go see her that week if he was okay with that. He said it would be fine come anytime.  As that Sunday went on I couldn't get Harrys smile out of my mind. The fact that even in a mind that is not well Ellen still found a deep love for Harry.

The next day my husband and I stopped and picked up her favorite cupcakes and headed to her house. She did not know who we was but welcomed us anyway. We found a pleasant lady that told us her husband was working and she was not sure when he would be back. You could see the love in her eyes for him as she talked. Then she talked about a time in her life that was from the far past. We were not too sure what time period she was in but that is how her life is now. We listened and entered into the conversation when we could. We gave hugs as time arrived for us to leave. I asked her if we could pray with her. Of course you can she said with a big smile on her face. I prayed for her and her family then we left. I left there thankful that I was able to have that time with one of God's children.

I cannot seem to get them out of my mind. Harry is truly a man that shows great compassion and love for his dear wife even when she doesn't remember who he is. I believe that true compassion comes from a heart that is full of love. If you do not really love someone it is hard to show the compassion needed in tough times rather it be a sickness or something else. God is like that. He is not only with us during the good times he is there is there in the bad as well. He never leaves us. When Jesus walked on this earth he showed compassion to people, matter of fact he was moved with compassion. Take time to read in the Gospels about Jesus and the compassion he showed people. He was showing us God in the flesh. Read with an open heart and allow God to really speak his love to you. God loves us so much he sent his son to die for us in spite of the bad we have done. All he is asking us is to love him back and serve him. Is that so hard? He might ask you to give up something you like doing, but stop and evaluate if that thing is good for you, does it help you be a better person? If you are struggling ready to give up give God a try and allow him to change your life. He will never forget your name and always be there for you. May God enrich you with some great Christian people that will help you see and know what his great love is all about.

Hobby, Talent, Gift

Is there a difference between hobby, talent, and gifts? I believe there is. They are very similar so I thought I would include what Webster's dictionary has to say. Hobby is a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in for relaxation. Talent is a special often creative or artistic aptitude. Gift is something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation (payment). You might wonder how gifts are even close to the other two but hang in there and let's see if we can figure this out.

I mentioned that sewing is a hobby for me. When I was a child my mom taught me to sew by hand and using a machine as well as embroidering. I am very thankful now that she took the patience to teach me. As a child I certainly was not happy about the whole thing. I was always making mistakes and spent most of my time ripping out seams. It was a great chore. But my younger sister begged for mom to teach her. Quietly inside I was also begging mom to teach her how to sew and give me a break. I wanted to be outside playing basketball. My mom also insisted that I take home economics in high school. You are right I was not happy about that either but I took it none the less. I learned the basics and did what I had to, to get through the class. But now many years later as I have retired I am thankful that my mom took the time and insisted that I learn. It has become a hobby for me. I am still not gifted like my sister but I enjoy seeing a piece of fabric turn into something beautiful that can be very useful. I can also say I have some talent because I am able to make some very interesting things. A hobby is something you do for fun.

You are born with a talent. It is something that you like doing that comes very natural to you. For example a child sets downs and draws with little effort. Before long with more practice they become very good. My brother use to be able to look at a picture and draw it with little effort. He had a talent. Not everyone can do that. I know because I can look at the same picture and when I was done you would wonder what I was looking at. I have no talent in that area. I have tried many times over the years but I even wonder what it is when I am done and I know what I am drawing. That is called lack of all talent in the area of drawing.

One thing I knew was, I could tell stories. As a younger child in a large family when the older ones came home for a visit I was the one that took the little ones outside to entertain them. I would tell them stories as well as play games. I thought everyone could tell stories but I have since found out not everyone can do that. A few years ago my younger sister says she can remember me telling her stories. While in college I took teaching classes and fell in love with teaching. A number of years after college I was given the chance to take a writing class and I jumped at the opportunity. Along with her expectations for the class she gave a list of the start of a sentence which I thought was strange. At the beginning of  she told us to pick  out one of those sentences and write a paper then gave us  a half hour. I chose one and began to write. I had a very short story by the end of the time allowed. We did this a number of times. She seemed amazed at the little effort it took me, she said I had a gift. I never even considered writing as a gift. After that there have been a number of people that have told me the same.

 The talent that you are born with is a gift from God. A gift is something that is freely given to us from God. He gave us these to help edify the church. We need to use them to build up each other, teaching and instructing others in the true way of God. Finding the best way to use your gift should be a great matter of prayer. In so doing God will guide and direct you in what to do and how to use what He gave you from the beginning. God has a purpose for all of us. Now we need to step up and do what He is asking of us. May God help you as you seek out His plan for you. Dear God may you lead us in the best way to use the gift given to us for your purpose. 

Resolutions or Not

At the end of a year you can hear many people talk about New Year's resolutions.  I have never been one that really makes a list of what I want to accomplish maybe that is why these past two years I have not accomplished much.  What I tend to do right after Christmas is start thinking how I want my next year to be different. I evaluate where I am in life and what really needs to change and what I want to give more attention to. As I did that this year I began to think about my God given gifts. I believe we all have some, the key is what are you going to do with them. One of mine is writing, I must admit that in my reflections I really began to think what am I doing with my gift. For the past two and half years I have done very little writing. It is not because I haven't had anything to say. The first part of that time I helped a friend of mine write her story, and get her book published. Then I just felt like I didn't have anything of importance to say. I have thought about that long and hard this past month. So have I gained a lot more wisdom during this time and that's why I am starting to write again. That could be a yes and no answer. I know you would like an explanation.  I will attempt to explain what I am talking about.

It is sad to say that there are times in my life that I have given up on me. I was sick for a number of months and then the pandemic hit "stay at home" was all you heard. That didn't help my feel sorry for me state that I found myself in. I am not sharing this so you will feel sorry for me, I am just being real with you. I am sure that others have experienced this same feeling at some point in their life. Well that is where I found myself. I really wanted someone to shake me back into my senses. I had been doing some sewing but that is a hobby not my gift. Writing is my gift. I would not allow myself to put my thoughts into words.

Then it began to happen!! People started asking me why I wasn't writing and when I was going to publish another book. My response was I'm working on it, I had some articles I was putting together to publish but the truth is I just had no desire to get it finished. Then out of nowhere my granddaughters started asking me when I was going to publish another book. I started to hear God through these words that were spoken to me. I did send my articles to a proof reader so that is coming along, a book will follow soon. But what I had to do was give myself a good shaking and talking to. NO ONE could do it for me. I had to give God control again.

I felt God telling me to write but I was making up excuses all the time as to why I wasn't writing. So during my year end evaluation I again was stirred to get back out there with my words. Is it a New Year's resolution or just me saying ok God I will do what you want me to? I believe it is me saying God here I am use me. I want to do whatever He want me to, I want to speak (or write) His words and do His will. A resolution is something many people make and break every year then joke around about it. This is more serious. It is what God wants of me not what I want of myself. It is no joke.

Is there something God is asking of you as you have started this New Year? Are you still dragging your feet saying later? Why don't you join me? Shake yourself into the New Year saying yes to whatever God is calling you to do. Celebrate the joy of your gift and share it with others. May God bless you this another year with great possibilities.