“They are (I am) your servant(s) and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.” Nehemiah 1:10

“In my own little corner,” is a song written by the famous “Rogers and Hammerstein” music duo. The Play, ‘Cinderella,’ was free on Prime, and since Katie and I hadn’t seen it since our kids were kids, sentiment had me push ‘Play.’ Katie warned me as it started, “this is going to be SOOO Corny!” “But you LOVE Corny,” I said. The play began and soon, the first song.

I remembered Cinderella, played by Lesley Ann Warren, all the way back from my days as a child. I transferred back in time to a place where corny wasn’t really a thing. Before sophisticated theatrics and computers made such moments seem almost real! As the first song, “In my own little corner,” came on, Katie and I actually sang along at the chorus.

“In my own little corner,
In my own little chair,
I can be whatever I want to be.
On the wing of my fancy
I can fly anywhere
And the world will open its arms to me. “

Cinderella had been punished and told to go to her corner. There, she chose to use that spot to make a superhero change in her life. No longer a victim, she became ‘whatever she wanted to be.’ Over 60 years have passed, and while I dare not request my grandchildren to watch it, I find myself in very difficult circumstances all the time. And try to follow her lead every day.

It’s a great story. How a sadly, abused servant gets taken advantage of, but turns out to become ‘The Princess.’ No one really considered it plagiarism… but it is! The story is written on all of our hearts, by ‘The King of the Universe.’ The devil and the world tell me I am a slave. Jesus tells me I can become ‘anything I want to be.’  Even His Bride!  I choose to become ‘His Servant!’

Rambling on through a life filled with difficulties and trials, I work on deliberately singing songs of praise and honor to my King. I do so because they remind me that I AM HIS! God has a funny way of choosing His leaders by using the measuring tape called ‘servant-hood.’ To properly lead God’s people, I must first learn to FOLLOW and SERVE them… FOR HIM!

It seems like a corny plan. But this is His Play… His-Story! This morning, I know my role, and am about to put on my jeans to go out into the world to hold signs and become… ‘His Servant!’ “How may I assist you, Lord?” Are you singing and serving along with me?

Once in a while I read a devotional that I simply cannot keep to myself.  This is one.  How often do we slink back into the shadows so as to not be bothered on risking rejection?  Do we REALLY BELIEVE what we hear to be God’s Word?  If this gets you even an ‘inch’ closer to ‘Going into the world to tell the lost the Good News of Eternal Life in Christ, it is worth the read.  Please do.  -K.C.

DesiringGod.org – written by Greg Morse

Weeks ago, I discovered how little I really believed in hell. I am not sure how else to explain it. I realized it while at a children’s play area, watching my three little ones run, jump, and waddle about.

Seated on the other side of the play place sat a young Latino man lost on his phone. He had several kids, several tattoos, and no wedding ring. How he dressed and how he carried himself reminded me of the men I grew up with, the young man I was at his age. Having read my Bible and having grown up in the area, I assumed he did not know the Lord. More likely than not, he had never heard the true gospel. More likely than not, he didn’t want to.

In that moment, I imagined myself walking over to share Christ with him, only to have him dismiss me as some corny, churchy, preachy-type (as I might have done at his age). And there we would sit — me wishing I never walked over; he wishing the same.

Instead of getting up, though, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. And that is when it hit me: I do not really believe in hell right now. How could I? My compassion blew away at a mere inconvenience. Jesus’s doctrine of eternal, conscious torment was no real thing to me. Nor was the eternal blessedness of heaven. Missionaries have crossed oceans, left families, brought their coffins with them to foreign lands; yet there I sat, retreating at the mere thought of rejection. What kind of faith was this?

The scary part, I realize, was that in that same moment, I could have started writing an article about hell, preached an impromptu sermon, debated an atheist on its necessity. Yet, reciting Bible verses wasn’t what was required — believing them was. Across from me sat an immortal soul, and yet there I just sat, unwilling to travel even a few short steps to enter an awkward conversation that could have led him to eternal life.

I wish I could report that I stood up and began preaching. I wish I could tell you that I walked over to that young man and prayerfully spoke words of life to his soul. But I didn’t. To my shame, I suppressed the stirring, indulged unbelief, and heartlessly packed up my kids and left that man just where he sat. Lord, have mercy upon us both.

Bright Red Letters

How would our lives look differently, yours and mine, if we believed that hell is for real? How many trivialities, how many unworthy anxieties, how many small concerns and tiny pursuits would be lit aflame? How many selfish insecurities, how many dull and shallow days, how many unworthy entertainments and lukewarm seasons and cowardly inactivity would simply shatter by believing what Jesus himself told us about the judgment to come?

Our Christlikeness can be rather selective at times, can’t it? Who believed in or spoke of hell more than Jesus? Who else knew with utter certainty what fierce artillery aimed every day at the wicked? All the apostle’s teaching is Christ’s teaching, but what did Jesus himself say about hell? What were his reddest letters? See if your soul can sip even a small sample from just the first Gospel:

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29–30; Matthew 18:8–9)

“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. . . . So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41–42, 49–50)

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ . . . And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41, 46)

Outer darkness. A fiery furnace. Destruction of both body and soul (Matthew 10:28). Eternal punishment. Inarticulate wailing. Teeth grinding. “Many” travel there (Matthew 7:13). Jesus’s sermons often fell like napalm, because he loved the souls of men.

Jesus gives us shocking glimpses of judgment in scalding and scarlet letters. Scripture contains many more. We need them to rouse us to love, forgiveness, purity, patience, and to God himself. Will we nod at them, close the book, and leave it upon the dresser? Will these words not send us to the nations, to ambush sin, to walk across a playground? Did Christ leave us here to wave at unbelievers as they sprint past us off the cliff? Is this love for God and love for neighbor?

Friendless Depths

We can daringly tell Christ’s message about hell because that message is about much more than hell. It is about a God who took on flesh to drink down the wrath his people deserved.

Knowing the full horrors of hell, oh, manly and heroic he, came to us, became us, stepped in front of us, to save us. He did not experience hell proper — hell begins after the resurrection and the final judgment. But he did face that wrath which makes the lake of fire, we might say with due reverence, into a fiery puddle. The wicked in hell never approach the full weight, never near the full price, never exhaust the divine quiver of the arrows their sins deserve. But to ransom even one soul, the God-man paid the full debt, suffered the full torment, empties a cup of eternal woe. In other words, where the wicked shall suffer incompletely (though still horribly) forever, he plunged to the very bottom of that great lake of wrath to rescue us.

See him, O saint, diving, down, down, down, through to soul-blistering depths, further and further, deeper and deeper, agonizing, alone.

With hand outstretched for the bottom, “he poured out his soul to death” (Isaiah 53:12). Through friendless deeps and misery unmeasured, see this Son of Sorrows swim boldly along the bottom — omnipotent wrath crushing him. See him feel upon the seabed, ah, one lost pearl. A little further, the second. Further still, a third. As the pressure increases beyond bearing, he cries, “I thirst!” yet presses on, though heaven’s troops would stand at his beck and call. He will have his prize, his people. One by one, under heat and wrath-shattering contemplation, he reaches out, Christian, for you, holds you, claims you as his own. Angels are stunned into silence. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” he cries (Matthew 27:46). After six excruciating hours, he collects his last pearl and shouts victoriously, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

For all eternity, Jesus alone reached the bottom of God’s righteous hatred toward sin. He alone absorbed the full wrath of his Father crushing him as “he became sin for us, who knew no sin” (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). No sinner in all of eternity shall submerge the depths he did. None besides the Lion of the tribe of Judah could so conquer. Sinners eternally sip at a challis they cannot hope — or bear — to finish. He did.

Cruel Kindness

Christian reader, do you really believe this?

If we all did, would our cities not be filled with a knowledge of Christ? When we refused to avoid eye contact with those in our everyday lives, as I did that day, how might our local parks, laundromats, coffee shops, restaurants, and sporting events fill with the name above all names?

You and I need to learn a little more gospel impoliteness: to learn to speak when unasked, to go when uninvited, and to tell that name — that only name given under heaven — by which men must be saved. Let Spurgeon’s arrows sink to the heart.

We are so gentle and quiet, we do not use strong language about other people’s opinions; but let men go to hell out of charity to them. We are not at all fanatical, and for all we do to disturb him, the old manslayer has a very comfortable time of it. We would not wish to save any sinner who does not particularly wish to be saved. We shall be pleased to say a word to them in a mild way, but we do not speak with tears streaming down our cheeks, groaning and agonizing with God for them; neither would we thrust our opinions upon them, though we know they are being lost for want of knowledge of Christ crucified. (Words of Counsel for Christian Workers, 32–33)

Humanly speaking, I was willing to let that man go to hell out of a dark sort of charity to him (and a dark sort of charity to me). He probably didn’t want to hear of Christ (as many don’t). He might have rejected it (which many do). But such cowardly calculations are not mine or yours to make. And the historic and biblical doctrine of eternal, conscious, just torment of the wicked should have consumed that cold, fleshly indifference known in plainer tongues as cowardice or hatred.

What would happen in our cities if every Christian (and every church) really believed in the horrors of hell and, with it, the desperate need of every soul for Jesus Christ?

Greg Morse is a staff writer for desiringGod.org and graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He and his wife, Abigail, live in St. Paul with their son and two daughters.

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught by men.'” Isaiah 29:13 & Matthew 15:8-9

“My God… what IS this?” I was alone at the church last night, setting up for tonight’s big ‘Family Feud’ Bible Trivia event at our weekly Bible Study. I had asked, and was instructed on, how to set up the chairs for the event. Moving them all back, I stared at Jesus’ bare floor and saw about a half dozen messy, dirty spots! Three of which were some weird kind of goo!

My very first step was to get the floor cleaner to wipe up the messes. But passing over the spots did nothing. They just seemed to stick their tongue out at me. So I got a rag and some special cleaner. Nothing! Finally, I took my thumbnail and scraped hard… and got it! But along with the gooey spot under my nail, I also got a very large slice of ‘indignant pie!’

Indignant is a fancy word not used a lot because I think it sounds something like ‘unhealthy anger.’ So I looked it up and found that ‘Indignant’ is ‘a feeling or showing of anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.’ And yup! It was just the right word. But then ‘Just be nice,’ came to mind. Then standing alone in God’s house… an alarm went off.

The very first thing I felt was shame. Being a pastor is tough, since everybody has an opinion on how things should be. Right then I felt my own spotty shame because ‘joy’ had become a job! Instead of looking at God’s floor and being honored to care for it, I had shifted focus to my own inconvenience caused by other people’s dishonor. So I cleaned even more, with a smile!

I am the Pastor. That job comes with responsibility, AND judgment if I DON’T do it correctly. Like a father teaching his children how to grow into loving, honoring adults, my vocation is to do the same with God’s sheep. To teach people that, while drips, drops and spills may happen, it is NOT OK to leave a nasty mess for someone else to clean up. God watches!

God demands, and deserves, that I honor Him FIRST above ALL things. Even with my own opinion. When I dishonor Him with my actions, even as slight as leaving a mess at His House, I am REALLY implying that MY actions, time, comfort and opinion take precedence to His! And they don’t! Actually putting Him first in my life.. SHOWS! In EVERYTHING I DO!

Do YOU show God the honor He deserves?

“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:6

“What-cha gonna do? HEY!” I heard the song on the radio yesterday, turned it up, then sang along. It was an oldie but goody. Sung by Blood, Sweat and Tears when I was only a sophomore in High School. It was the question asked of Lucretia Mac Evil. Looking back on where I came from, and where I am today, I can honestly say… I did a WHOLE heck of a lot!

Even today I can hear the beat, and the overbearing question, as time ticks by. Those ticks remind me continually of each item on a list that only seems to grow. NOTHING get erased off that list, unless I DO something! At my age I have learned that the only time I’ll ever be able to get rest from the labor that comes from DOING… will be when I die! Tick Toc!

Chores, responsibilities, bills, debts, maintenance and improvements ALWAYS come before wants and desires. It’s just the way it is. Life is like a paycheck at the END of a long 2 weeks of working at the factory… 7 days a week… including overtime! Even LOOKING at the check was depressing… after seeing all the taxes, dues and insurances deducted. THAT’S ALL??

I take serious note of Jesus’ sentence… cutting it apart, moving parts around and looking at what’s going on from every angle. Jesus had something to say! But He doesn’t say ‘it’ until AFTER he does His own investigation. His words were simply a logical conclusion after seeing a set of factual data. You and I could have anticipated and asked the same thing!

It could have sounded like this… “Dude… you’ve been lying there for 38 years? What have YOU done to even TRY to get better. Serio’GET A JOB!’  So Jesus’ question isn’t welfare… it’s WORKfare. And He’s calling for me to join HIS team!

HOW are you Doing? WHAT are you Doing? Are you getting after it? Or are you daily throwing in the towel and accepting hell’s final diagnosis and verdict… “Oh Lucy… you just so damn bad!” Heaven and abundant life require effort and cooperation. “I’m runnin’ Lawd!”  Are you? 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

I’m conflicted! It’s been a busy week and, on one hand, I’d like to just take some time today and be lazy. When the alarm went off, I didn’t want to get up. But when saying ‘good morning’ to Jesus, my body moved… then kept on going. Looking outside, I was in reality, searching for a clue. My mind asked, “What’s the weather going to be today?” Dreary outside, I Googled it. Ick! So I planned for nothing.

I CAN plan for nothing because, while I have a vocation, I am also required by God to rest. The days of waking up to get kids going, then on to a job, are long gone… though I still have obligations and choices that come with responsibilities and dreams. Talking with people older than me, I see that life now tends to fall between the ‘wanna’ and the ‘hafta.’ Seeking clarity, I found this verse.

I also sought a definition for work – ‘the exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something.’ Pondering the verse, a conundrum crashed somewhere between the words ‘Whatever’ and ‘Work!’ Having made a living, and been measured by ALL possible means… physical, mental and spiritual, I can appreciate ‘work’ as being necessary to reach goals. But God’s verse started with… ‘Whatever!’

Long ago I was paid for how many ‘pieces’ I welded together over a shift. There was no disputing, since counting the parts for credit was nothing more than a math problem. But HOW does one count ‘IT?’ Especially when ‘IT’ follows ‘WHATEVER!’ IT seems to me that God is not so much interested in a PRODUCT, as He is in the PROCESS. And as far as I know, there’s no tool available to calculate a process!  It appears GOD does though!

I’ve always said that God seems not to be as concerned about WHAT I do, as much as He is concerned with HOW I do it! Motives to matter more to Him than results. While writing this today, Katie hollered out, “What’s the weather like out there?” She too was making plans. When I looked out, the gray had turned to sunshine! 20 minutes later, it’s ‘Ick again… and looks like rain!  Hmmmm!

What am I going to DO today? Well… I believe God is trying to tell me that WHATEVER it is… I’d better do it FOR HIM with ALL MY HEART!   What’s YOUR heart up to?  

Katie read it… laughed… then shared it with me.  I’m passing it on because… I think it’s important to remember this in a world gone crazy.

Writings from Max Lucado

I have a sketch of Jesus laughing. It hangs on the wall across from my desk.

It’s quite a drawing. His head is back. His mouth is open. His eyes are sparkling. He isn’t just grinning. He isn’t just chuckling. He’s roaring. He hasn’t heard or seen something like that in quite a while. He’s having trouble catching His breath.

It was given to me by an Episcopal priest who carries cigars in his pocket and collects portraits of Jesus smiling. “I give them to anyone who might be inclined to take God too seriously,” he explained as he handed me the gift.

He pegged me well.

I’m not one who easily envisions a smiling God. A weeping God, yes. An angry God, okay. A mighty God, you bet. But a chuckling God? It seems too… too… too unlike what God should do — and be. Which just shows how much I know — or don’t know — about God.

What do I think He was doing when He stretched the neck of the giraffe? An exercise in engineering? What do I think He had in mind when He told the ostrich where to put his head? Spelunking? What do I think He was doing when He designed the mating call of an ape? Or the eight legs of the octopus? And what do I envision on His face when He saw Adam’s first glance at Eve? A yawn?

Hardly.

As my vision improves and I’m able to read without my stained glasses, I’m seeing that

• a sense of humor is perhaps the only way God has put up with us for so long.

Is that God with a smile as Moses does a double take at the burning bush that speaks?

Is He smiling again as Jonah lands on the beach, dripping gastric juices and smelling like whale breath?

Is that a twinkle in His eye as He watches the disciples feed thousands with one boy’s lunch?

Do you think His face is deadpan as He speaks about the man with a two-by-four in his eye who points out a speck in a friend’s eye?

Can you honestly imagine a somber Jesus bouncing children on His knee?

No, I think Jesus smiled. I think He smiled a bit at people and a lot with people. I think He was the type of guy that people wanted to be near. I think He was the type of guy who was always invited to the party.

Jesus was happy and wants us to be the same.

Consider, for example, the wedding at Cana. We often talk about this wedding as the place where Jesus turned the water into wine. But why did Jesus go to the wedding in the first place? The answer is found in the second verse of John 2:

Jesus and His followers were also invited to the wedding. — NCV

When the bride and groom were putting the guest list together, Jesus’ name was included. And when Jesus showed up with a half dozen friends, the invitation wasn’t rescinded. Whoever was hosting this party was happy to have Jesus present.

“Be sure to put Jesus’ name on the list,” he might have said. “He really lightens up a party.”

Jesus wasn’t invited because He was a celebrity. He wasn’t one yet. The invitation wasn’t motivated by His miracles. He’d yet to perform any. Why did they invite Him?

I suppose they liked Him. Big deal? I think so. I think it’s significant that common folk in a little town enjoyed being with Jesus. I think it’s noteworthy that the Almighty didn’t act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn’t holier-than-thou. The one who knew it all wasn’t a know-it-all. The one who made the stars didn’t keep His head in them. The one who owns all the stuff on earth never strutted it.

Never. He could have. Oh, how He could have!

He could have been a name-dropper: Did I ever tell you about the time Moses and I went up on the mountain?

He could have been a show-off: Hey, want me to beam you into the twentieth century?

He could have been a smart aleck: I know what you’re thinking. Want me to prove it?

He could have been highbrow and uppity: I’ve got some property on Jupiter…

Jesus could have been all of these, but He wasn’t. His purpose was not to show off but to show up. He went to great pains to be as human as the guy down the street. He didn’t need to study, but He still went to the synagogue. He had no need for income, but He still worked in the workshop. He had known the fellowship of angels and had heard the harps of Heaven, yet He still went to parties thrown by tax collectors. And upon His shoulders rested the challenge of redeeming creation, but He still took time to walk for miles to go to a wedding in Cana.

As a result, people liked Him. Oh, there were those who chafed at His claims. They called Him a blasphemer, but they never called Him a braggart. They accused Him of heresy but never arrogance. He was branded as a radical but never called unapproachable.

There is no hint that He ever used His heavenly status for personal gain. Ever. You don’t get the impression that His neighbors grew sick of His haughtiness and asked, “Well, who do You think made You God?”

His faith made Him likable, not detestable. Jesus was accused of much, but of being a grump, sourpuss, or self-centered jerk? No. People didn’t groan when He appeared. They didn’t duck for cover when He entered the room.

He called them by name.

He listened to their stories. He answered their questions.

He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends.

He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the little guy and spoke words of resounding affirmation. He went to enough parties that He was criticized for hanging out with rowdy people and questionable crowds.

People were drawn to Jesus. He was always on the guest list. Thousands came to hear Him. Hundreds chose to follow Him. They shut down their businesses and walked away from careers to be with Him. His purpose statement read:

I came to give life with joy and abundance. — John 10:10 The Voice

• Jesus was happy and wants us to be the same.

When the angels announced the arrival of the Messiah, they proclaimed “good news of a great joy” (Luke 2:10 RSV), not “bad news of a great duty.”

Would people say the same of us? Where did we get the notion that a good Christian is a solemn Christian? Who started the rumor that the sign of a disciple is a long face? How did we create this idea that the truly gifted are the heavyhearted?

May I state an opinion that could raise an eyebrow? May I tell you why I think Jesus went to that wedding in Cana? I think He went to the wedding to — now hold on, hear me out — I think Jesus went to the wedding to have fun.

Think about it. It had been a tough season. This wedding occurred after He had just spent forty days in the desert. No food or water. A standoff with the devil. A week breaking in some greenhorn Galileans. A job change. He had left home. It hadn’t been easy. A break would be welcome. A good meal with some good wine and some good friends… Well, it sounded pretty nice.

So off they went.

His purpose wasn’t to turn the water into wine. That was a favor for His friends.

His purpose wasn’t to show His power. The wedding host didn’t even know what Jesus did.

His purpose wasn’t to preach. There is no record of a sermon.

This leaves only one reason. Fun. Jesus went to the wedding because He liked the people, He liked the food, and, Heaven forbid, He may have even wanted to swirl the bride around the dance floor a time or two. (After all, He’s planning a big wedding Himself. Maybe He wanted the practice?)

Jesus was a likable fellow. And His disciples should be the same. I’m not talking debauchery, drunkenness, and adultery. I’m not endorsing compromise, coarseness, or obscenity. I am simply crusading for the freedom to enjoy a good joke, enliven a dull party, and appreciate a fun evening.

Maybe these thoughts catch you by surprise. They do me. It’s been a while since I pegged Jesus as a party lover. But He was. His foes accused Him of eating too much, drinking too much, and hanging out with the wrong people! I must confess: it’s been a while since I’ve been accused of having too much fun. How about you?

What sort of portrait of Jesus hangs on the walls of your mind? Is He sad, somber, angry? Are His lips pursed? Is He judging you? If so, visualize the laughing Christ on my wall. I’ve needed the reminder more times than I can say. Jesus laughed. He had fun. He was always invited to the party, because people wanted to be near Him. They didn’t fear His judgment. They knew He wouldn’t try to shut things down.

Who could be relied on to be the life of the party more than the one who came to give life with joy and abundance?

Scripture references: John 2:1–11; Matthew 11:19

Excerpted with permission from He Gets Us by Max Lucado, copyright He Gets Us.

Let’s all be Jesus and have a GREAT Weekend!

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” Romans 15:5

I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. I already knew that an octogenarian is someone living in their 80’s. A quinquagenarianis a person living in their 50’s. So I figured that ‘genarian’ must mean ‘a PERSON!’ The prefix just gives their age. But thinking about my friend, and then later, hearing her over the phone, I was upset at the implication. By definition, anonagenarian is a person living in their 90s!”

I had ‘felt’ God’s ‘nudge,’ just as if it had been a physical point of finger into the side of my head. I had not been thinking about anything related to her… but I felt it. “Give her a call,” God said. Trying to finish reading a page, I felt God press… “NOW!” So I dialed her number. She was distraught, tearfully saying goodbye to her northbound daughter. Barely able to talk, she asked me to call her tomorrow.

After hanging up, a Christian brother and sister, octogenarian friends of mine, popped into my head. So I called them. Leaving a message for ‘Bro,’ he called me back later in the day. We BOTH felt refreshed for catching up, remembering that the coming ‘Heavenly Earth’ will mean NO goodbyes. At church, I was glad to see another friend.  He had just entered the mourning process for his dad.

But I’m still upset about the word nonagenarian!Looking up the Latin, I discovered that ‘nona’ means 9. But ‘non’ today more frequently means ‘NON’ or ‘NONE!’ Like NOT a person! That bothered me, which got me busy calling and seeing my friends. Because, ‘I’m nona gonna let MY friends feel left out… because I DO care! Which is EXACTLY what Jesus wants and expects from me!

Are YOU giving encouragement, love, comfort and help with and for other people’s endurance? If you have been THROUGH the receiving end of comfort, can you remember how it felt and become a DOER of God’s Word? Who do YOU know that you can reach out to… today to cheer on or up? Today… I need and want to make a phone call myself!

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

The lemon tree is GONE! It had been in our yard for about 9 years, and had become almost like one of our kids! It only stood about 4’ tall when we got it. But it had a few blossoms of hope on it when I dug the hole and planted it. We ended up with a handful of lemons on it the following year. For 3 years it had LOTS of lemons. Then a disease hit! I tried every bit of advice but… I cut it down yesterday.

We had enjoyed it SO much when it was doing what it was supposed to do. Truth be told, we gave away more lemons than we used. But that was part of the fun. We had lemons to give, and received the blessing of giving and thanksgiving with those we shared. When lemon production stopped, questions of ‘why no lemons?’ made me feel like a failure. Hope turned into truth and now… it’s gone.

A LOT of emotion came and went with that lemon tree. It had everything inside of it to do exactly what God had intended. But something on the outside got to it and it never recovered. Reading this verse today, so close to the lemon tree’s removal. I started thinking about MY purpose for being here and what kind of expectations, or disappointments I might be putting MY owner through!

If planting me here was just for decoration only, I would have been a waste of God’s time. Because a lot of time, expectation and effort went into me, and pretty I’m not! Rooting and fruiting a strong, productive Faith was meant to produce OVERFLOWING THANKFULNESS IN ME, toward Him! Just for the opportunity to SERVE The Master of the Universe. Mr. Stupid Lemontree reminded me of that!

God doesn’t want me bitter and sour. He prefers I look to Him everyday, in this messed up world, and to go out into it with a more saucy, joyful tang! The world is already a mess. And He wants ME to go out and tell others that THEY weren’t made to be bitter either! Reminding me of my purpose, I can actually feel the JOY and THANKFULNESS toward Him for being a part of His whole ‘Garden Plan!’

So today, I THANK GOD for the opportunity to grow, show and flow His life in… and through me. THANK YOU JESUS! Thank you for fertilizing me with your Word each day and sending me into a sour world to possibly bring joy into it. Let’s do it again today too… cuz I’m feelin’ saucy!!

Are YOU thankful to be His? Do you tell Him often? Do YOU want to be a bright shiny fruit for Jesus? Then think about these verses and grow baby!

“…we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4

“But there’s nothing WRONG with them!” That’s what my bride had said to me, after she saw the metal outdoor chairs sitting across the street at a neighbor’s house. They had set the rusty things out for the garbage men to haul them to the dump! But she had seen them. And now they were safe from disposal, in my backyard.  Still rusty! But SAFE… KINDA!

“All they need is a little paint,” she said. I laughed and thought, ‘if only that were true!’ Because the TRUTH was, in order for those chairs to be of ANY value, the rust had to be removed BEFORE paint could be applied! To do so I, their new owner, took sandpaper and a wire brush, then applied a lot of pressure to scrape and remove all the rust away from the good metal. If chairs could talk, they WHINED!

There is no doubt about it. No secret either! In order for God to use me, or ANYONE for the matter, there are steps that MUST be completed before I can go on to be worthy for His use. The 1^st step?… I need to be acquired! I was born a sinner and destined for the dump of Hell. He saw me and called my name. Step 2? The sanding, grinding and brushing pain of removing what isn’t Godly!

It is only natural that I resist! And WHINE! I complain about my life circumstances and wonder “WHY I am going through what I am going through. Can’t you make it EASIER God?  WHY ME?” merges into a minor chord concerto with others, piercing His ears. It’s a wonder He keeps at it! But He does. Because He has a PURPOSE for ME. His plan calls for me to be perfected through suffering, then put to WORK!

The 3^rd and last step might be considered the hardest one of all. Because after he Calls and Cleanses me, by the Blood of His own son, the 3^rd step is The CHOICE! I have to accept His Commission. To go and reach, teach or preach to other nasty sinners ‘The Gospel’ He has entrusted to ME. I am out to PLEASE HIM! Not others or myself. And THAT will bring even MORE suffering.

Receiving the ‘free gift’ of eternal life is easy. Going on to be a useful tool in the hands of The Master is… not so much!  Having been proved and tested, while facing more, I now know that NOTHING brings me more joy and sense of purpose than looking at the Savior and hearing Him say… ‘Well done, faithful one!” One day, He’ll say to me, “Here’s a throne… take a seat!”  

Now how about YOU? Are YOU submitting and letting the Master lead you through difficult valley’s of life… and death?  Are you passing His test?