Entertaining Angels Unaware

AS A YOUNG CHILD, I walked to a neighborhood church every week.

> At this point, my religious life was either social or recreational with summer church camp along with the usual songs and stories. There was no real understanding. Bedtime prayers were occasional with the sense of an invisible companion I could talk to any time. 

 

> Sometimes, people walk through our lives leaving footprints on our memory that mark our personality. Sometimes, we entertain angels unaware of doing so. Such a person left her footprints in my childhood.

 

> This special lady lived alone down the street and attended the same church. She was frequently called on to give prayer during church service and her prayers were lengthy. She didn't leave out anyone or anything. We became acquainted and developed a wonderful relationship. She was widely known as "Mother Carmichael".

 

> No telling how old she was; anyone over the age of forty seems old to a young child.

 

> All her furnishings seemed antique to me. She did not own a cat. She had no television, and she was frequently seen doing her own yard work. Mother Carmichael would even climb a ladder to wash windows and clear gutters of leaves. I would go to her house on Sunday mornings and we would catch the church bus together, after our church merged with another outside our neighborhood. There would be evangelist programs on her radio and I would watch her comb her long silver hair to tie in a knot at the nape of her neck. After the bus returned us, I sometimes stayed to visit. I genuinely enjoyed the company of this woman who was so "different". She never said an off-color word or spoke a tidbit of gossip. There was a quiet peace in her home that didn't exist anywhere else in my world. 

 

 

 

> At this point, Mother Carmichael was my only spiritual mentor. Occasionally, I would stop after getting off the city bus from school. She would be sitting in her front porch swing or raking leaves and we would share. She was always patient and made time for me, always interested and a good listener - I could be a chatterbox.

 

> As I grew and became secretive, the visits gradually became fewer and farther between. I have no idea what ever became of her. I don't remember anything about a family. She was still living in that same house when I graduated from high school and got married. She was so unlike anyone I have known before or since.

 

> The peace that I felt in her presence has never been forgotten. I fin, in my senior years, that I consciously strive for that illusive peace. If not for the lovely Mother Carmichael, I might never have a reference point for this peace. I know now that gentle lady was evidence of God in this world.

Small book, Big story

Philemon: a very small book in the New Testament; a letter from Paul who is under house arrest in Rome.

> This is a lovely letter asking a Christian slave owner to forgive his run away slave.

> This is a perfect letter for us to remember when we are in a position to forgive - or not.

 

 

> In Rome, a runaway slave was in very, very serious trouble; he could loose his life.

> But . . . there is a wonderful underlying message from the book. It tells us of Jesus as our Mediator with God; the one who speaks for forgiveness on our behalf.

> Just as Paul is pleading for Onesimus, so does our Savior now plead for us when we do wrong.

> In the right circumstances and a poor heart, we could loose our salvation.

> Paul had a personal interest in Onesimus because he was instrumental in the slave's conversion to Christianity - just as Jesus has an interest in us after the suffering He did on our behalf.

> Paul was also very close to Philemon through their Christian brotherhood - just as Jesus is part of God.

> Got a minute? Take a look at this sweet letter and see Jesus in the place of Paul, Christians in place of Onesimus and God as Philemon. Read it with the deeper meaning to see the concern of our Mediator and how He offers to pay for what we owe.

> Postscript: The letter does not say if Philemon did forgive his slave BUT . . . the name "Onesimus" means "Useful" and the name "Philemon" means "He Who Shows Kindness". We can also relate these definitions to how God sees us and it reminds us of His kindness.

 

The Truth Will Be Here When The Earth Is Gone

Don't be fooled.  God is as real as ever.  He is a living entity.  His guidelines set forth in the Bible on how to live your life will only bring you peace, health and blessings.

Well, I am about to sound off about a couple things that are not popular to sound off about these days.  However. . . . some churches, Christians and pastors today are tiptoeing around the truth of the Bible, God's word.  Too many are concerned about offending someone or driving people from church with the truth.  If they take offense or leave because of the truth, let them go.  They will only pollute the body.  The truth will strengthen the church and true Christians.  The Bible is our manual for living yesterday, today and tomorrow.  God never changes.  Since He created man, the manual on how to live is important for keeping us in the best lifestyle that blesses us.  We have to return to the truth especially in this day of "political correctness" which threatens the very foundation of our society.

Here are a couple verses to remind us of the importance of truth:  I John 4:6, II Timothy 2:15 and Ephesians 6:14 which tells us, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. . .".  God's truth, as stated in His word, the Bible, is that abortion is premeditated murder, sex before marriage is wrong, a gay lifestyle is an abomination and tithing to the church is ordained.  There are other truths that are being swept under the carpet these days but these four are some major issues.  

Abortion:  Ex. 10:13 tells us not to murder.  (Original text uses the word "murder", not "kill")  God knows the unborn child, Ps. 139:13,15.   We are created in the image of God; that makes life special.  We are told to be fruitful and multiply - the opposite of killing an unborn child.  Gen.1:28  Also see Gen.9:6 & 7.

Sex before marriage:  In Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5 and 8:4, there is a strong warning against premarital sex when it says, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires" - three times.  In other words, save sex for marriage!  There are special blessings for the married couple that come from obedience to this rule.  I have known many who regretted sex before marriage but have yet to meet a couple that were sorry they waited.  

Gay lifestyle:  Lev.18:22, 20:13; these verses are very plain.   There is also the story in Sodom where a crowd of the town wanted Lot to turn over the two male visitors in his house so they could have sexual relations with them.  There is no indication that the townsmen were aware the visitors were angels.

Tithing:  The is the foundation of giving appreciation to God for everything.  Genesis 14:20 is the first instance of tithing and it was done by Abraham to God's representative, Melchizedek, right after they partook of the first communion 14:18.  Tithing has been ordered ever since.  The Bible is full of blessings listed that come to those who tithe.  The tithe is returned to God through His representative on earth, the church. 

How many ills of society can you name that have their roots in these issues?  Disease, heartbreak, broken homes, broken hearts, mental and emotional  breakdowns, suicide, adoption, abandonment, alcoholism, and the list goes on.

Anyone who knows me will tell you, I get along with everyone and I am not about to condemn the individual for the action.  Heaven knows I have done my share of wrong living.  This is one reason I feel I can spout off.  I have lived a lifestyle without God and presently try to live according to God's instruction as stated in the Bible.  It is amazing what a difference it really makes in my life to follow the guidelines my maker put into force at the time of creation.  You actually have to walk the walk before you can see the results.  Your first step has to be through faith; the rest will come.  When we can understand His absolute love and find the faith to follow through with right choices, our lives improve immeasurably.  THIS IS TRUTH.

God set all of His instructions in place for our benefit physically, emotionally, spiritually and looking to the future.  We are rebellious children and when we disobey, punishment comes through our physical, emotional and spiritual well being.  This explains so much unhappiness in the world today.  Our choices need to mature.  We need to give up our selfish lifestyle and live the rich blessings of right choice.
Further reading:  John 4:24, 8:34,  Psalms 119:160, 145:18 and  I John 3:18 which says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

*Title for this writing is a quote from my mother that she was fond of.

Samaritan Jesus

Jesus is our Good Samaritan.  The parable in Luke 10 tells of a man in need after being set upon by robbers.  They stripped him, beat him and left him half dead.  In this story, I see people of the world, beaten down by life, with little or no hope after they have all their needs and finding they are not happy.  Life has a way of beating us down with trials, disappointments and sorrow.  The enemy sets upon those who have nothing to hold on to beyond physical possessions.  We get beaten down to where there seems to be no way out of our troublesome situations.

Then, along comes Jesus, our Good Samaritan.  The Samaritans were not liked among the Jewish people just as they did not accept Jesus.  Read the story to see how much He cares for us.  He is ready, very willing and very able to help anyone.  There was the untold risk of robbers returning to finish their job or the risk of other robbers stealing from and beating the Samaritan - just as Jesus was beaten and robbed of everything in order to mount the cross for us.

The Samaritan poured oil and wine on the wounds of the beaten man just as Jesus can spiritually anoint and heal us of our physical and emotional hurts.  He took him to shelter and cared for him over night like Jesus cares to bring us close to Him.  Could this be the grace of Jesus calling us to a life of peace in Him?  

The next day this Samaritan paid an innkeeper to continue caring for the man.  Do you see how Jesus, after calling us to a life in Him, turns us over to the church for baptism an receipt of the Holy Spirit for guidance, teaching and safety?  There is also a promise to return, just as the promise we have that Jesus will return to claim us to His eternal care and protection.  The extra  expense mentioned in this parable, refers to that extra mile we are to go for those in need.  Complete the task.  Take care of every unexpected need.














The Samaritan gave the innkeeper two denarii for the man's care.  That was the equivalent of two days wage.  If a day is as a thousand years to God, could this represent the 2,000 years, from then until now, before Jesus' return?  What a wonderful thought that we will live and reign with the Savior who wants to tend all our needs.
Amen

Conversation

If you have been reading my blogs, you know I am big on saying grace over a meal in public places.  It is one way of shining our light, as Christians, to the world and letting everyone know we are here and follow the teachings of Jesus.

Just this week, I joined in a group of Christian women, from the local church I attend, to have a luncheon in a nice restaurant.  Grace was said during the prayer of protection spoken before our bus left the church parking lot.  (I'm still of a mind, that it would have been nice to say it separately over the meal.)


I want to write a short disclaimer here:  The ladies I had lunch with are wonderful Christian women who serve without expecting rewards, they do it without bragging and pray for everyone and everything.  There is no fowl language, no vicious gossip and all comments to each other are encouraging.     This writing is not targeting these ladies I share Bible study and Sunday school with.  Having lunch with them in public just reminded me of  the conversation of Christians in general.

Herein lies my issue.    We discuss family, the holidays, jobs, new babies, church functions and generally share our lives.   However:  could we not share what we learn and experience in our daily devotions with each other a bit more?  Could we not share what we experience with our Lord?  How about our blessings for the day?  All of my friends and church family take daily time for private devotions sometime during the day or week.  

It is my belief that we would grow more and support each other more (Heb 13:1) by sharing what we are learning daily.   If you don't have a regular time to spend in God's word, surely you have things you are thankful for.  If we each think about it, we can find something to be grateful for every day.  This could be shared.  I would love to hear everyone else's thoughts about God and Jesus along with what they are learning and experiencing in their Christian walk.

My point is that we should be talking of our spiritual Father and Jesus (and the Holy Spirit) more often.  As creator, provider, savior and guiding force, shouldn't they take up more of our conversation time; especially with other believers?  After all, we will be spending eternity in their presence.  We could be training ourselves to better understanding and appreciation just by our relating the main thing we all have in common - God's grace.

Even at church social functions, the conversation almost never goes to the one in who's house we have come to be together.

I am not criticizing my Christian brothers and sister - surely, I have a lot of room to improve in this area.  (Don't pick at the splinter in your brother's eye when you have a log in your own.)  There are other types of verbal sharing that we want to relate.  It's just that I seldom witness ANY sharing about our provider Father or our older brother that freely gave up His life that we might also have it everlasting in His presence.  

We can let our light shine even more if the world hears our conversation and identifies us as Christian.  This sets an example for our children who are discussing way too much about phones and social media.   We would be inclined to think of God more often and perhaps even grow a little closer to Him.

Can we give a bit more thought to this ?  I wonder how much God would appreciate the effort, privately and publicly?

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
Amen

That Dirty Word

"Tithe"

This is not a popular practice for many of us.  We can always use that tenth for another bill, shoes or car repair.  Fact: It actually belongs to God in the first place..

Tithing is a 10th of what we have already been given. Nu 18:26  We receive it first, then we give part of it.  A 10th is a very small part of the whole, which is everything we have: health, home, job, friends, family, clothing and food.  People tend to forget that God freely gives us all these things.  They are not ours to begin with.  He gives us and ask that we reserve 10% of that to hand back to Him.  This is what He asks us to do to acknowledge that He is provider; the one we should come to for everything.  He wants to give and bless.  He wants us to acknowledge Him as the source.

What the Bible says about tithing:  Gen 14:20, Gen 28:22, Lev 27:32, Pro 3:9, Heb 7:2 & 4

Our children are a blessing from Him.  How do we give a tenth of our children?  Caring for them as though we will give them back - like the parable of the talents; or, Samuel's mother, Hannah. 

The tithe is not only on the physical items we have but also peace, health, the air we breathe, life itself and on and on and on.  We do not have any of these things if God does not first give them to us.  What about our calling?  We are called by God to an understanding of Him; to be His children He wants to love and care for.  How do we give a tenth of these things?  By showing appreciation; by serving others.

Another gift from God is Jesus; our greatest blessing.  How do we give a tenth of that ! ?   Ans:  Jms 1:27

The 10th is so little.  The suggested tip for a waitress today is more.  It is a mere token to show God we acknowledge Him and appreciate all He has done, is doing and will do for us.

Giving to others:  Giving is a wonderful thing.  You cannot give a gift and tell the receiver what to do with it.  I see this happen so often.  You give something to a friend who gives it to her daughter.  You meant the gift for your friend.  She gave it away.  That makes us feel our gift was unappreciated. 

It is the act of giving that is our reward.  We are blessed when we give.  After that, we have no more connection with the gift.  Anything, anytime we give, we are blessed for the act of giving.  Why would you want to deny your friend that same blessing?

God never lets us do without.  If I give food to a food drive or take half my supper to a sick neighbor, I never notice a bare spot in my pantry.  I have never done without because I gave.  As matter of fact, I have more because I give.  This makes it easier to give more food.  The more I give, the more I have to give.  God works this way to allow us to share His blessings.  Mal 3:10

The blessings of giving are not always tangible just as all of God's blessings are not tangible: mercy, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life.

Discerning where to give is important.  ("Do not cast your pearls before swine.")  I try not to give to someone just because I like them.  They may not need as much as someone I don't socially see eye to eye with.  I try not to give to a person who does not make effort to help their self.  Giving to that person who is making an honest effort to work and do better for their family, is discernment.  The issue is:  If I give to a person who is a chronic taker, the truly needy will do without my help.  After all, my ability to give has a limit.

We tithe to the church (the bride of Christ).  Here is a different issue:  We are NOT to discern giving to the church (as long as the church teaches Jesus from the Bible).  All too often people are too concerned with how the church operates and distributes it's funds.  We are told to give - NOT to tell the church how to operate.  The church is set up, according to Biblical instruction, on how to perform.  Let's stop all the voting and have faith in our church leaders to "run the show".  That's why they are there.  The pastor is a pastor because God allows him to be the pastor - no matter what you think of his ability as a speaker, or the music, during worship service.

HEAVEN WILL NOT BE A DEMOCRACY !


What we are giving is not ours.  It is first given to us from God. 
Immeasurable blessings will come to you by being grateful.  God appreciates a cheerful giver.  We are reminded of the rich man who would not give up what he had to gain heaven and the widow who gave the last of all she had.

May you share your blessings and reap the rich rewards from your loving Heavenly Father.
Amen