HOLD MY HAND AND DON'T TOUCH

Her Mommy had warned me, "Anabel's like a "bull in a china shop."  You do not want to take her into the candy/gift shop.  But I couldn't resist her big, beautiful blue eyes.

 So…Grandma:  Anabel, you have to hold my hand and you can't touch anything. 

Anabel:  Ok Grandma.

 And into the store we went, her little hand securely nestled in mine.

Now Saykllys Candy in Escanaba, MI is an absolute delight to most of the senses.  They have shelves of beautiful, fragile gifts that I can hardly refrain from picking up to examine more closely.  In one corner is a colorful collection of soft, furry creatures just begging to be hugged by little arms.  But, the back of the store contains the most enticing displays in my eyes, CHOCOLATE!!!    Not only do they have the best chocolates that I have ever tasted, but they have chocolate made into fun shapes, jelly beans, gummy worms and other gummy creatures, giant pinwheel suckers and more…just begging to be touched and clutched in little hands.

As we stopped in front of one delicious display, Anabel slowly reached a hand, stopped, looked up at Grandma and let her hand fall back down to her side.  Of course, Grandma didn’t let her leave with that little hand empty.  Anabel walked out of the store with her own bag of treats, selected just for her, in one hand, her other hand, still safe and secure in Grandma’s hand.

Many years ago...
God:  Susan, take hold of my hand.  You will be in the world but you are not of this world; don't touch.
Susan:  OK, God.

As we journey through life, there are so many enticing displays along the road.  Oh they are meant to excite and sometimes overwhelm the senses.  Their beauty is dazzling, just begging to be touched and tasted.  One hand is tightly holding onto Jesus but the other hand is free and slowly reaches toward the colorful, exciting display marketed by this world.  Maybe, just one finger, a touch, a stroke, a taste…then I look up, into the eyes of Jesus and my wandering hand falls back down to my side.  Just like Anabel, I am never left empty handed.  Jesus, daily loads me with benefits. 

The treats of this world are fragile.  They are so beautiful and enticing but eventually they shatter and you are left with nothing but broken pieces of a destroyed life.  Keep your hand securely tucked in the hand of the Master, keep your eyes on Him and He will lead you to the abundance He has prepared especially for you.  I promise you will be delighted and satisfied.

IF ONLY MATTHEW COULD HAVE POSTED ON YOUTUBE

Yes, I know the Pastor has studied, prayed and labored over the Sunday sermon. He also has to come up with a catchy title that captures his entire thought in three or four words.  The title is then, proudly displayed on the screen to hopefully focus your thoughts and attention on the truths he is about to deliver.  It works, it really does, that is, until he gets off his notes and says something that gets my mind really working.

 So Pastor Chipman is preaching that we are never alone.  Yep, that was the title, “NEVER ALONE.”  And it was a wonderful, comforting, feel-good, love-you-Jesus message.  After all, Jesus promised to “Never leave us or forsake us,” walk with us through the valleys, guide us through the storm and carry us when we no longer have the strength to follow.  You see, “Never Alone” is a very good title.  Jesus is always there, when we are bad, good, selfish, completely tuned in or unfaithful.  Take Peter, for example, he was far from perfect.  Why, he even denied the Lord; THREE TIMES; even I take a breather in between failings.  Then it happened, Pastor Chipman, I’m assuming, off his notes, said, “Are you sure you would want to be an apostle?  It might be you and your failures we would be reading about.”  My mind began whirring.  I’m sure the sermon was a masterpiece and I’m sure I believe, I’m “Never Alone,” but I’m not sure what other deep, theological truths I missed.

Have you ever thought what it would have been like to have your name mentioned in the Bible?  Most of the time, it just isn’t that flattering!  Even the Heroes of Faith had failures that are displayed in “living color” for all to read throughout eternity.  Ok, let’s look at Peter for example; what a great man of God, martyred for his faith, given the keys to the kingdom, thrown in jail and preached the first message of Pentecost to the Gentiles.  BUT….if you were Peter, how would you feel about everyone, 2,000 years later, knowing all the things you would like to have long forgotten?  Now it wasn’t Peter telling these unflattering malfunction tales on himself.  Oh no, it was his friends and colleagues, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Can you imagine the fun they could have had if YouTube had been invented?

PETER SINKS…Here’s Peter getting out of the boat.  He thinks he can walk on water, hahaha.  There he goes, sinking into the water; good thing Jesus was there to save him, hahaha!!!

PETER CALLED SATAN…Jesus tells the disciples that He will be killed and raised again on the third day.  Now watch Peter tell Jesus, “It ain’t gonna happen.”  Listen closely, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Get behind me Satan; you are an offense to me.” Oh, hahahah, Peter sure did deserve that put down, hahaha!!!

PETER’S FEET WASHED UNDER PROTEST…Jesus brings out a basin and towel and begins to wash the Disciple’s feet.  Peter says, “You’ll never wash my feet.”  Jesus to Peter, “If I don’t wash your feet, you will have no part of me.”  Now here is the best part, Peter says to Jesus, “Then wash my feet, my hands and my head.”  Hahaha, Peter wanted Jesus to wash his head, hahaha!!!

PETER DENIES JESUS… This one has to be the most embarrassing; Peter says to Jesus, “I will never deny you.  Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.” (If you listen closely, you will hear all the disciples say the same thing, but this story is about Peter)  Jesus tells Peter “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” The evening continues and along comes a damsel, a maid and others milling around.  As they begin to accuse Peter of being with Jesus, he begins to deny that he even knows Jesus, until finally…we had to bleep that part out; he began to curse and swear.  Listen closely…”Cock-a-doodle-doo.”  Can’t even laugh at this one; how embarrassing!!!

We’ve probably all had “friends” that couldn’t wait to share our “stupidest” moments.  Some of the finer ones have been captured and posted on Face book and YouTube or recounted over and over by the blustering “Life of the Party” friend. You may know about my “open mouth, insert foot” moment or watch my graceful “slip and fall” moment but I am so thankful that my deepest, darkest secrets are known only between me and God.  Actually, God doesn’t even remember them because He has covered the ugliness with His precious blood.  If, like Peter, I continue to get up and keep trying, one day maybe it will be said, “they marveled and took knowledge of her that she had been with Jesus.”  Or, I may actually have the opportunity, like Peter to proclaim, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”  Then again, I really would rather not be threatened with prison or stoning.  The point is, you are “NEVER ALONE!”  Who knows what great thing God is preparing to accomplish through you.  It was big mouth, sinking, stumbling Peter who was given the “Keys to the Kingdom.”