THE SWEETEST HOUR

As I walked into the kitchen, I could feel it; it would be “one of those days.” Actually, it had been “one of those weeks.” You know what I’m talking about, we’ve all had the experience. Nothing was going as planned. I had a pile of laundry to wash, Christmas shopping to finish, the cookies were over baked, music still to be selected for Sunday Service and the view outside the window proved that even the weather was refusing to cooperate. In addition, my opinion had burst out at the wrong time; I couldn’t believe that he actually thought…and that she was still…. I’m sure if I still had dogs, there would have been muddy footprints tracking through the house. I WAS AGGRAVATED!!!!

Finally, the first load of laundry was folded and the bed was made but the dark cloud hanging over my head just wouldn’t lift. The whole world was against me and I was just trying to serve the Lord. Suddenly, the words of an old hymn found their way through the fog into my thoughts. “Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care.” Nice song, I definitely need something to “call me from a world of care.” I continued into the living room, and the words of the song continued in my mind, “In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter's snare.” The fog lifted and everything suddenly became crystal clear, I had missed the sweetest hour of the day. Actually, it had been a couple of days.

The laundry could stay in the dryer, the dishes would still be waiting and the Christmas Cards could be mailed tomorrow, I had an appointment that was just too important to miss. I knelt down in my favorite spot and let the peace of God flood my spirit. “Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear. To him who’s truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since he bids me seek his face, believe his word, and trust his grace.”

Our lives become so cluttered with so many ‘absolute have-tos”, some are even service to God. The demands on our time can become overwhelming and emotionally draining. The only antidote is to make the “sweetest hour of the day” a part of your routine. It is amazing how setting aside only one of your twenty four hours smoothes the way for the other twenty three. Oh, Sweet Hour of Prayer, my day became brighter, the tasks were accomplished in record time and I was able to view my friends with more love and compassion. “I'll cast on him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!”

THE PEOPLE GOD WANTS!!!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Rebecca Manley Pippert tells the story of Bill from Portland Oregon. Bill was a brilliant, eccentric student at the Oregon College who moved to his own drumbeat and refused political correctness or societal expectations. There was a well-dressed, middle-class church across the street from the college. They felt a burden to reach out to the students and welcome them into their service. It just so happens about that time, Bill found the Lord. One Sunday, Bill decided to worship at the church across the street. He walked into church wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt and of course no shoes. The church was quit crowded and Bill, finding no seat, simply walked down the aisle to the front pew and squatted down on the floor. Suddenly, an elderly man began walking down the aisle toward the boy. What was he going to say to the brash college student? He would probably “straighten out” this young man, such disrespect simply could not be allowed in the House of God. The congregation held its collective breath. When the elderly man reached Bill, he simply lowered himself to sit beside Bill on the carpet. He and Bill worshiped together on the carpet that Sunday morning. There was not a dry eye in the congregation.

How many “Bills” have walked through our church doors, felt the chill of the condescending stares and walked out, never to return. How many “Bills” have we passed on the street and looked the other way because they didn’t fit our soul-winning vision. Matt Maddix, a popular soul-winning evangelist, has coined the phrase, “If you reach for the people nobody wants, God will give you the people everybody wants.” TRUE!!! Another speaker has said, “If you reach for the people nobody wants, God will MAKE them the people everybody wants.” TRUE!!! As I thought about these phrases, I thought about all the people I come in contact every day. Some are wealthy, educated, poor, illiterate, intellectual, mentally-challenged, athletic, handicapped, well-dressed, and others are homeless. They are all the people that make up my world. The people Jesus died for! The people God wants!!!

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to “seek and save those who are lost.” When Jesus came, he didn’t check out the demographics, take a poll or target a specific socio-economic group. Who did Jesus “hang” with? A rich, young ruler consulted with Jesus, there was a little widow who had a simple “mite” to put in the offering, a prostitute washed his feet, and he debated with the priests in the temple. His immediate circle consisted of fishermen, wealthy tax-collectors, a wild, wilderness-loving cousin; he had a humble young girl for a mother and the village carpenter for a father. Jesus reached out to the demon-possessed, the epileptics, paralytics and lepers, children, military commanders, the religious elite and sinners. There was no one too great or too unimportant for Jesus to reach for, can we say the same?

We are commanded to go into ALL the world; we don’t have the right to be selective. Take a look around the world in which you live, is there a “Bill” you passed over because he wasn’t in the place you were looking. Maybe he didn’t fit your vision of the ideal “Christian.” Perhaps his ideas didn’t fit your religious philosophy. “Bill” is one of the people God wants!!! I am praying that God removes all prejudice, preconceived ideas and clears my vision to see all the people that are hungry to experience what I have; all the people God wants.

YOU'VE REALLY BEEN GOOD TO ME

Today is the last day of what some call a “Month of Thanksgiving.” Many have used this occasion to post a different thing every day for which they are thankful. I have enjoyed reading the diverse assortment of important things in the lives of my friends. One of the striking characteristics of their thankfulness is that very few material things were listed. We put so much importance on jobs, houses, automobiles, clothing and, of course, the latest electronics but when we actually take the time to give thanks, it is about friends, family, relationships, life and health.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to clean out the filing cabinet. Perched on a stool, with the shredder on the kitchen counter and a stack of file folders to sort, the purging began. It began as a methodical exercise; limiting the archives to this year’s statements, important contracts and year- end tax returns, shredding previous year’s paperwork and emptying the shredder, over and over. After the files were purged, shredded, renamed for new accounts and organized, I moved on to old check files. Ten years of old checks were just begging to be fed to the hungry shredder, when an attitude of gratitude inserted itself into the process.

I began to look at the canceled checks and realized they told the story of my life for the past 10 years. There were checks to mortgage companies paying for a house, a cottage and a church/office building. I had to take a praise break! Thank you Lord for a beautiful home, memories of summer fun at the cottage and for all the hearts that were touched and changed at the church. More checks, this time with the names of several friends and family members; birthdays, Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, new babies and other special occasions. Thank you Lord for each person you have allowed to share my life and thank you for allowing me to bless them as they have blessed me. I moved on to checks for utilities, insurance, home maintenance, car payments all of which I’m sure were complained about at the time but now represented a bounty of blessings from God. Another praise break! I’m thankful for warmth in the winter, cool air in the summer, the freedom to travel short and long distances and the finances to cover all the repairs. There were payments to doctors, dentists, and even the government. Thank you for good health, root canals and caps and enough wealth to pay taxes. (Not happy about the taxes but thankful for a good job.) Finally, there were checks to charities and tithes and offerings to church. Thank you, God that you provided all of our needs, many of our wants and enough to share with those less fortunate. You really cannot out give God.

As I returned to the task of shredding, my heart was overwhelmed by the goodness of God. He truly is Jehovah-Jireh, my provider. The “Month of Thanksgiving” may have come to an end but the gratefulness continues year round. Lord, you’ve really been good to me.

SO I TAUGHT YOU TO TRUST GOD

When you began to walk, I wanted to keep you from falling, I could not so I stood by ready to pick you up, bandage the scrapes and kiss away the tears. When it was time for you to enter kindergarten, I wanted to protect your young ears and eyes from the influences of an evil world, I could not so I taught you to turn away from evil and toward the beauty of God. When you joined your friends on the playground, I wanted to protect you from the bullies, the teasing and their hurtful words, I could not so I provided a loving home you could always run to and told you about a “friend that would never leave you or forsake you.” As you approached adulthood, I wanted to keep you from failing, but I could not, so I taught you to get up and try again, that the mercies of God are new every morning and by never giving up you would achieve success. As you began to win and life’s success came your way, I wanted to protect you from the pitfalls of pride, I could not so I taught you to be thankful and give all Glory to God. Now you are a man and I would still like to protect you from the world, but I cannot so I stand by and watch with a prayerful heart as you prepare your children to deal with their own scrapes and bruises.

On Saturday, my youngest son, Phil and his wife Holly faced the hardest trial of their life; saying goodbye to their little son, Timothy Lee. I wanted to run, pick him up and kiss away the tears but I could not so in prayer I asked our Heavenly Father to surround him with His love. I knew that my sadness at the loss of my little grandson could not compare to the grief Phil and Holly were experiencing as their tiny son was born. Sunday afternoon, Phil posted the following words to his friends and family:

“Unfortunately, we have sad news to report. On Saturday, Holly and I found that the baby we were expecting died in utero 16 weeks into the pregnancy. Holly delivered little Timothy Lee Niswonger on 11/13 at 4:24 pm. As I held him, I knew that he had been created by the very hand of God. We appreciate all of your prayers as we get through this. Praise be to God.”

The tests we face in life are never the specific events but our response to the events. Phil, I have never been more proud of you as I watch your strength and faith in action during this most difficult time. I may not be able to bandage the scrapes, wipe away the tears or make the pain go away but I know that you will keep holding to God’s unchanging hand and that He will guide you through the dark nights to the joy of the morning.

I CAN CLIMB, IF YOU HELP

We have lived in Tennessee about a month now and we were so excited to have our two grandsons come for a visit. They brought their mom and dad with them, but as all grandparents know, our hearts really long for the grandkids. I stocked the pantry with kid-friendly food, prepared the beds and hauled out the toys. We planned various activities, including a trip to our local park. The park has a walking path that meanders over a creek and is beautifully decorated with several fall displays. Of course the most important features of the park are the various play areas along the walking path. There are swings, slides, monkey bars, a pretend stage coach and several other things on which to swing, climb, hang and bounce. We rounded a curve and an area caught Caleb’s eye; the climbing wall. Nathan followed close behind because anything his 3 1/2 year old brother can do, 1 1/2 year old Nathan will try.

Caleb immediately figured out the hand and foot holds and after watching his brother for a few minutes, Nathan decided to give it a try. His little legs wouldn’t reach the first foot holds and his little arms didn’t have the strength to pull his body up the wall. After watching his desire and struggle for a few seconds, Mommy and Grandma immediately moved in to help. His face lit up with a big smile as he peeked over the top of the wall. VICTORY!!! It didn’t matter that he needed a little boost; someone a little older and stronger to help him to the top, all Nathan cared about was that he had reached the top and was viewing the world from a whole new perspective.

Now of course that is my Grandbaby and my heart melts with compassion at the least little cry for help no matter what situation he has gotten himself into, but what about the new baby in Christ. What about our Brother or Sister in the Lord who has been going to church long enough to “know better?” Do we rush in with a helping hand and strong arm or do we merely watch from the sidelines with a sharp tongue?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says,” Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor, for if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Recently, Steve preached a sermon entitled, “Walk together or Fall Alone.” He reminded us that we need each other. If you have been serving the Lord for any length of time, you know that we all experience times of weakness and discouragement. We may be able to, as David, “encourage ourselves in the Lord,” but how much sweeter the journey becomes when we have a brother or sister to walk along beside us.

The words of an old song come to mind, “If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living will not be in vain.” I have a responsibility, not just for my own walk with God but to lend a helping hand to a struggling brother or sister along the way. There are time we could all use a little boost whether it’s a strong arm giving a little hug, an encouraging word, knowing someone is taking the time to pray especially for my situation or a friendly phone call letting me know I was on God’s mind. Extend a hand to someone today, climb together and share the glorious view at the top with a fellow traveler; we are in this life together.

READY AND WAITING

My Grandsons are coming in 2 days. I am so excited and counting down the hours. We have lived in Tennessee for a month and we are ready for visitors. Tennessee is 10 hours south of our 2 grandsons and 16 hours south of our 3 granddaughters. Do I miss them? I refuse to allow myself to think about the distance or I would be in tears half the time. Cell phones are great inventions. For very little cost and at anytime, I can reach out and touch each one. Granted it isn’t as sweet as a hug but hearing their little voices and happy squeals of laughter takes off a little of the sharp edge.

I have been preparing for days. The house is clean, there are fresh linens on the beds, the cupboard is stocked with their favorite foods, special events are planned and I have little surprises set aside for each one; all in anticipation of their arrival. I cannot even imagine the disappointment, if I suddenly receive a phone call saying their travel plans have been cancelled. Or the panic that would change to a deep wound, if they never show on Wednesday evening and call later to say a more important opportunity had presented itself. I’m pretty confident that won’t happen because the grandkids are just as excited as the grandparents.

Are we as excited to visit with our Heavenly Father as He is with us? I wonder how He feels when we get too busy or simply forget to take a little time with Him. My imagination pictures this heavenly scenario: God says to the angels, “A new day has dawned; soon my children will be coming for a little chat. The table is spread with all their favorites; I’ve even included a few new and fresh revelations. I have great plans for them today and some surprise blessings that I just can’t wait to shower down on them. I’m waiting in the throne room, they will be here soon.” The day continues without even a hello. “Surely they will stop in for a few minutes to say goodnight.” The week continues and Sunday dawns. The excitement in Heaven builds; today is a special day, almost like a birthday. “I know they will arrive today.” I can see them now, dressed in their finest clothes, my Book in hand, walking into my earthly houses with joyful smiles, excited to be in My Presence.” Many show up, the music swells and the praise ring forth, but how the heart of God must ache for those who chose something more important.

Just as I long to hold my grandsons, read and sing to them, bless them with gifts and share my plans with them, God longs to have a close relationship with His children. By ignoring Him, you are not only missing out on the blessings but you are passing up His love, peace, direction for your life and all that Heaven has to offer. Many years ago, Jesus went to prepare a place for you, it is almost completed and He is getting ready to take those who have been in close communication with Him to live there. Today would be the perfect time to check in with God, let Him share His heart with you, shower you with everyday blessings and give you the peace and comfort you’ve been missing. How devastated to be too busy with more important opportunities to hear His voice on the very day Heaven was waiting to welcome you home. He is just a prayer away and He is waiting.

DEVOURING OUR OWN IS CANNIBALISM

The television ads are becoming nastier, attacking individual characters, full of false accusations and edited sound bites. The Liberals are frantically digging for “dirt” on the Conservatives and the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of destroying the country. Every “stump” speech, interview, or past action is swiftly analyzed to use in the next attack ad. We are in the middle of an intense political season. As the days tick down to November 2 the rhetoric is ramped up. This is to be expected in a free country that regards Freedom of Speech as guaranteed by our Constitution to be one of our most important freedoms.

I have observed on several occasions that most people fiercely defend the issue of Freedom of Speech as long as the speech agrees with their philosophy. How quickly the tide turns, however, when the speech becomes controversial, even if it is declaring a truth. This week we have witnessed two regulars on a popular talk show, marching off the stage in anger because a guest dared to express his personal opinion on an issue. That incident was permissible to most viewers because it was one political viewpoint against another. But what happens when a group turns against its own? If we began to devour our own, whatever the reason, we are practicing CANNIBALISM!
Yesterday, Juan Williams, Senior News Analyst for NPR and commentator on Fox News was fired for making a statement regarding Muslims. Juan is known as a moderately liberal commentator and had worked for NPR, known for their liberal philosophies, for 10 years. NPR accused Mr. Williams of making a bigoted statement regarding a reaction he experienced personally. So much for Freedom of Speech; at NPR, censorship appears to reign supreme. As a country we must be careful to allow speech that does not agree with us in order to preserve our own freedom to be controversial at times. Contrary speech allows us to examine our own philosophies, possibly learn something new and solidify the truth in our own minds. If this is true of a nation, how much more important it is in the Church of God.

As a church are we guilty of devouring our own because they speak, worship or look just a little different than what we have established as “religiously correct?” Just as the United States has a constitution that must stand as the final authority on issues, the church has the Word of God that contains eternal truth. Does that mean we destroy those who may have a differing viewpoint or have not yet attained our superior understanding of the Bible?

The early church narrowly escaped “spiritual cannibalism” due to the strength and wisdom of one of their leaders. In Acts 11, Peter was taken to task for going to Cornelius’ home and eating with him. The problem; Cornelius was an uncircumcised gentile. Peter’s reply was so perfect, “So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” 

By Acts 15, we find that the Circumcised Believers had formed a Council. The issue: “Unless you were circumcised, you could not be saved!” Again, Peter was called on to settle the dispute. Peter pointed out that God had accepted the uncircumcised by giving them the Holy Spirit, making no distinction between the circumcised and uncircumcised because of their faith. Peter went on to ask, “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?” Or in my vernacular, “Why are you trying to cannibalize these new Christians who look and act a little different from you?”

Peter’s last statement settled the issue, “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. Let’s not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

As “mature” Christians, let us embrace those who enter our church circle whether they speak the same language, wear the same clothes, have the same understanding or appear to be completely foreign in speech, dress and interpretation. Listen carefully, you may learn something or realize you are the one in error.

 Maybe their speech or dress is a mask for other experiences of rejection and they were hoping that just maybe that “Love of God” you speak of was a reality. Perhaps they hadn’t heard that there was another way to live and that God’s word held a promise of freedom from the sins of their past. Just maybe a hug and a gentle leading into truth is what they need instead of being met at the door with sharpened knives and a hot fire.

We must always be careful to speak the truth but it must be enveloped with the love of God. Let us not be guilty of Spiritual Cannibalism.