Month: August 2021

Meet my friends.  Black Cow and Black Cow.  They live in the field behind us.  As I walked the road they kept a close eye on me, watching my every move to see where I was going and what I was doing.  I was curious about them too.  When they wandered over to the fence, I kept thinking how much they looked alike.  I really couldn’t find a distinguishing feature – something that set one apart from the other.  They looked about the same age, they had the same build, obviously the same color, and I really thought if I saw them out in the field from a distance,  I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.  But, I can tell you right now, there’s one person, or cowson, that could tell them apart and that would be their mothers.  If their mothers saw them standing together at the salt lick, they would be able to tell which one belonged to them.  They’d be able to tell by sight, smell, actions and instinctively know which cow belonged to them.  To me they look exactly alike – four legs, two ears, same color, same walk, same actions, same moo…

It made me wonder…do I look like everybody else?  Not do I have two legs and two ears, but am I the same as everyone else?  Do I walk the same, do I act the same, do I say the same things?  Can others tell me apart from others or do I look like every other two-legged, two-eared person?  Do you hear what I’m saying?  Can the world see a difference in me or do I look like the rest of the world?

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?  What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?  And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them

and walk among them.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.

Don’t touch their filthy things,

and I will welcome you.

And I will be your Father,

and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the LORD Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Brother Paul tells us here to separate ourselves from the world.  Don’t look like others.  Don’t talk like others.  Don’t act like others.  Paul’s not saying that believers are to insulate or isolate.  He’s not saying don’t engage with the world.  He’s saying get out there into the world but be different from it.  He’s saying get out there in the world but don’t look like the world.  There’s only one difference between all the black cows of the world…

One day Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’  If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.  How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

Exodus 33:12-16

The difference between us all is our hearts.  Moses said it – God’s presence among us sets us apart.  God’s presence in our lives makes us distinct, different.  We should not look like, act like, talk like, be like everyone else in the world if God’s presence is among us.  If we do not have God’s presence in our hearts, we will look like the world.  If we look like the world, God’s presence is not among us.

“Most people have heard about Jesus in our world. Our country was founded upon Christ and Christian values. The thing is, there’s a cognitive dissonance. They hear Christianity, and they’re seeing Christianity. It just looks like the world. It looks like everyone else except that you just slap a label on yourself,” Gokey shared. “People who not just talk about it, but live it sacrificially, they’re the ones that grab people’s attention. So we need Jesus people to do that.” Danny Gokey

Gokey is saying you can call yourself a Christian, but if you are not living like a Christian you look like every other black cow, there’s no set apart in that.

We are a chosen people, a people belonging to God.  Do our lives look like we belong to God or do we look like every other two-legged, two-eared person?  Do we act like chosen people, those set apart? 

What does set apart look like in real life?  How about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control?  How about generosity, faith, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, selflessness?  All those things our Jesus lived out.  All those things the world is diametrically opposed to.  If the world is completely opposed to those things, when we practice them, people will see a difference.  Unlike, those mother cows who were the only ones to be able to tell their babies apart, the world must be able to tell us apart.  The world must be able to tell who the Jesus people are.

It’s that time of year, again.  I feel like I say that often.  Maybe because the years roll round, faster and faster, and it’s always – that time of year, again.  Well, this time of year I’m talking about is preserving time.  You know, plant it, grow it, pluck it, preserve it, all in preparation for the winter months to come.  Preserving is not such a thing anymore.  We usually rely on Del Monte, Green Giant, or the store brands of those to plant it, grow it, pluck it and preserve it for us.  Then, they happily sell it and we buy it at a high price.

In the past we have preserved things by freezing them, but this year we tried canning.  Tomatoes first, and recently peaches.  The peaches are fantastic this year and we thought wouldn’t it be great to have that yummy, fresh, goodness to remind us in winter that spring will come?  The canning process is a little time consuming, and a good bit messy, but so worth it.

We first prepared the fruit by dropping the peach in a pot of boiling water for one minute. It’s called blanching.  Pull it out and place it in an ice water bath.  This is done so that you can easily remove the skin.  You need to get past the tough outer peal and the messy fuzz to get to the goodness.  After blanching the skin slides right off and you can see the yellow beautiful flesh of the peach.  After removing the skin, we removed the pit that old timers called the stone. Interestingly enough we found an almond in the pit of our peach. Well, not actually an almond, but a nut that looks exactly like an almond, skin and all.  I was amazed.  After a little research I found that edible almonds really do come from almond trees and that this little nut was not really an almond, it just looked like one.  In fact, this little nut contains a low dose of cyanide.  Yep, the stuff that kills.

Getting rid of the fuzz, the skin, the pit, and the nut of a peach leaves you with the super juicy, yummy fruit of the peach.  Much like us, right?

You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 (Amplified Bible)

Well nobody’s perfect except Jesus.  But, isn’t Matthew telling us here that’s what we’re working toward?  We are to be like our Heavenly Father, right?  We know that none of us are perfect, no not one, but that does not mean we’re not to be moving in that direction, the sanctification direction.  Sanctification is just a big word for becoming more holy, more like Jesus.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.  Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 3:12-16

Sanctification is a process, just like preserving.  We must blanche, defuzz, toss the pit, and be wary of the poison.  Getting to the good fruit is hard work and sticky. How do we go about it?

Make it your practice, each of you, to review your character – take it in relation to life, to your dear ones, your household, friends, acquaintances, your country, your work.

See where I, in the same relation or circumstances or situation, should act differently.  Plan how best such and such a fault can be eradicated, or such and such sin, mistake, or omission, be avoided.

A weekly review at least you must have.

God Calling, by Two Listeners

You see, it’s always that time of year for preserving.  It’s time consuming and messy, but working toward perfection is our preservation.  After honestly examining our lives, thoughts, motives, actions, it sometimes feels like we’ve been blanched and quartered, doesn’t it?  But, if we are not taking stock of our lives regularly, and we’re just drifting through, Sunday-to-Sunday, we’re not striving for perfection.  If we are not spending daily time with the Lord, seeking his ways and acknowledging Him, our paths will not be clear.  If we’re relying on others to do the preserving for us, we’re going to pay a very high price.

In your quiet time remember that as surely as every snowflake that falls has a perfect design, and no two designs are the same, so within the folds of your being lies a design.  Ask the Father that this divine inner plan of your life may stand forth revealed to you as it should be, unfolding in perfect sequence and perfect order in such a way as to bring the greatest good to the greatest number.

I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Glenn Clark

I’ve talked about this book before.  It just happens to be one of those books that every page turned contains such great wisdom that you want to share that wisdom with those you care so deeply about.

We all learned in science class a little about snowflakes.  Remember, no two flakes are exactly alike?  Every single snowflake is uniquely designed for its journey to the earth’s floor.  Just like us.  The most interesting thing about the snowflake is that it is intricately woven around a tiny speck of dirt, dust or pollen that’s super high in the atmosphere.  Ice crystals wrap around and form around this tiny bit of dirt and it is transformed into this beautifully woven snowflake as it makes its way to earth.  Just like us.

I’ve been chewing on that word “design.”  Design is defined as “a plan or drawing produced to show the look or functions of a building or, garment, or other object before it is ever built or made.”  Design, a plan envisioned before it is made.  Just like us.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:16

He saw our unformed substance.  This sounds so scientific, doesn’t it – we were an unformed substance?  We’re told daily to follow the science.  So, let’s do just that.  The Hebrew word for “unformed substance” is golem meaning just that, an unformed substance.  However, it specifically means an embryo.  If we keep following the science, we learn that an embryo is the early stage of development of an animal (us) within the uterus of a mother.  In humans, the term embryo is an unborn child until the end of the seventh week of conception.  It is then called a fetus.  That’s the science. Look it up.  Even in our unformed state, each day was formed for us.  We weren’t formed and then a plan was made, He didn’t say what am I going to do with these people.  We were designed for the plan by God!

For You formed my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works,

and I know this very well.

My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

when I was woven together

in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:14-15

God had a plan for each of our lives before we were ever made.  Before we were born every day was recorded in His book.  Read that sentence again, and again, and again.  Just think of the magnitude of that.  That’s how special you are to God, that’s how precious every single unformed substance, every single embryo is to God.  The God of the Universe designed us, our minds, our bodies, our spirits before the world began, and then He memorialized it by a missive, a letter of instruction, a written order straight from The King.  

Ask the Father that this divine inner plan of your life may stand forth revealed to you as it should be, unfolding in perfect sequence and perfect order in such a way as to bring the greatest good to the greatest number.

As children of the Master Designer, we then must do as Mr. Clark suggested.  We know that the Father designed us with a divine inner plan.  We then must seek the revelation of the Designer’s plan.  The one written down in His book.  The one that will unfold in perfect sequence.  The one that will bring the greatest good to the greatest number.  And what is the greatest good?  To spend eternity with the Divine Designer.  And that’s something we need to get out to the greatest number.

ENDNOTE:  My goals in writing today’s blog were to encourage everyone who reads it to remember that in this willy nilly, crazy world we live in, God designed us with a plan in mind.  We were not haphazardly created, we were not a theory that came into existence, that we were loved so much that the Creator created us before creation.  We were designed with a purpose and a plan. 

To share the wisdom of God’s Word and Mr. Clark was the goal.  But as I studied, another point emerged front and center that I could not skirt. Abortion.  It is not a political issue, it is a God issue. The world would have us think different.  For believers, the Bible only gives us one way to believe.  It’s deeper than terminating a life, as if that wasn’t enough.  When we look at it in the context of the Creator, the Divine Designer and look at the characteristics of who He is, if we are honest, it becomes obvious.  He has a plan for every single unformed substance or He would not have designed, planned and created — He wrote it down in His Book.

Abortion is wrong. Not because I say so but because God says so. But, viewing abortion through the characteristics of God also shows that His grace is sufficient. Sufficient for those who have chosen abortion, those who have encouraged abortion, those who have participated in abortion. God’s grace does not cover only certain sins, it covers all sin. Since we believers have received God’s grace and continue to receive God’s grace on a daily basis, we have experienced firsthand the forgiveness, love, compassion, care, support that He gives us. We must show that same grace we have received from God to others. We must forgive, love, have compassion, take care and support those who have made different choices. We must show them the God we know.

We must pray for the revelation of the Designer’s plan that’s written down in the book, for each of our lives and the lives of others. To follow any other plan is man’s way and a willful disregard for our Creator.

Are we readable?  I am.  Whatever is in my mind is all over my face.  I can have a conversation with you without even opening my lips.  Eyebrows up.  Frowns down.  Wide eyed surprise.  Mini eyed suspicion.  Big smile.  Little grin.  Pursed lips.  Red faced.  Pale faced.  Head held high.  Head bowed.  Nose tilted up.  Mouth agape.  Tears flowing.  Stoic stare.  Mischief eyes twinkling. 

I can carry on that conversation with the rest of my body too – kind of like charades.  Rubber neck nation.  Hands on hips.  Arms folded.  Arms flailing.  Finger pointing.  High fiving.  Toe tapping.  Jazz hands.  Anxious panting.  See what I mean? 

What do you say when you say nothing at all?  What are some of your wordless communications?  Hmmm…where do those actions come from?  Our expressions reflect what’s inside.  Our moods, our thoughts, our attitudes flow out of our bodies through our minds.  Oh, I know, some of us are much better at not being readable.  Some of us are more composed.  Pokerfaced.  Not me.  You neither?  For some of us, try as we may, we cannot hide what we’re feeling inside.  Penny for your thoughts kind of people.  We’re not alone.

And Jacob began to notice a considerable cooling in Laban’s attitude toward him.  (NLT)

At the same time, Jacob noticed that Laban had changed toward him.  He wasn’t treating him the same.  (MSG)

Jacob also noticed Laban was not as friendly as he had been before.  (CEV)

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.  (KJV)

Genesis 31:2

Remember this story?  Isaac sent Jacob to Laban (his mother’s brother) to find a wife.  Jacob worked for 14 years for the woman he loved, Rachel, because of Laban’s trickery – see the tension building?  Jacob had a slew of children and as he continued to work for Laban, Laban  became a wealthy man.  Jacob says hey man I need to make a way on my own and provide for my children.  Laban says, oh, don’t leave me, I’ll pay you.  What do you want?  Jacob asked for the speckled, spotted and dark-colored sheep and goats.  Laban said ok.  But, Laban again was the trickster.  He went out and removed all those he promised from the herd.  Jacob continued to take care of Laban’s flocks. 

With a little bit of miraculousness involving some shoots and bark, Jacobs flocks increased incredibly and he became a very rich man.  Laban’s sons were not happy with Jacob’s prosperity and accused Jacob of robbery.  Can you just imagine the looks from Laban’s sons?  Daggers.  Hands high in the air.  Finger pointing.  It is at this point that Jacob notices a change in Laban’s countenance, in his mood.  Laban wasn’t quite as friendly as he had been – his attitude, his position, his posture, his expressions, his demeanor, his disposition, had cooled considerably, and it was written all over Laban’s face.  Jacob read Laban’s face like a book.

Are we just as readable as Laban?  Chances are, we are.  When I think about that, I make the yikes – ugh face.  Why?  Because I know what’s in my mind is written on my face and in my actions and I’m not always proud of that.  Here’s the thing – it’s not about changing the look on my face or taking my hands off my hips, it’s about changing what’s inside my head – that crazy mind of mine.  You got one too.  Our brains power our whole bodies.  My brain tells me to smile, frown, cry, laugh, clap, dance, point – my brain tells me how to act, based on what’s inside.  My mind tells me how to express myself.  Does anybody besides me need a good mind renewing – yes, yes you do, I can see it!  I’m glad I’m not alone.

So, how do we go about it?  We can’t just change.  Oh sure, some things we can, but we can’t change our minds without the power of God.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.  Galatians 5:22-26

Our minds are changed when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives.  Oh sure, it’s a tug of war sometimes.  We want to scowl when we don’t get our way, but we cannot change our body language, our face conversations, our flailing arms, we are powerless to do it alone.  Only by remaining in Jesus can we change what we say, by changing what we think.  What we think dictates our conversations.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5

If we want our conversations to change – verbal and nonverbal, we must remain in Jesus, under the control of the Holy Spirit.  Staying connected to the vine is the only way we can produce the face fruits – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  What’s in our minds is written all over our faces.  What’s your face saying?