When I was small, I spent time with my cousins on Grandma’s farm. We went looking for excitement down at the pond and discovered some slimy inhabitants. What fun we had catching frogs and wading in the mud. The adults weren’t too happy when we made it back to the house in a much worse condition than when we left.

 Ponds are messy places, with mud, algae, critters and cattails. With a source of fresh water, ponds can support life, but they can become a little stagnant. The water is still and lacks oxygen. Algae and invasive plants can take over.

By contrast, the fresh water in a flowing river can support many different fish and doesn’t stay still long enough to get stale. If I needed a drink, I’d certainly choose a river over a pond!

 Our spiritual lives can be compared to ponds and rivers. We can be stagnant like a pond—not moving, stale and choked of life. Or we can be fresh and lively like a river.

 To stay fresh, a river has to have a strong source. If the source dries up, the river will die. Spiritually and physically, God is our source, giving us life and strength, and constantly renewing us. We don’t have to worry about God ever losing strength. He is a River that will flow, strong and fresh, forever.

 In the book of John, Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38, NIV).

 “This invitation to come and drink is the climax of a series of references to water in this Gospel: the water turned to wine (chapter 2), the water of the new birth (chapter 3), the living water (chapter 4), the cleansing water of Bethesda (chapter 5) and the calming of the waters (chapter 6). All of these have revealed Jesus as the agent of God who brings God’s gracious offer of life” (The InterVarsity Press New Testament Commentary).

 Isn’t it marvelous how God provides for the thirsty (all of us) in this dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63)? All he requires of us is to come and drink. Anyone and everyone can drink the water of life. Why then do so many thirsty people stand before the well and refuse to drink?

 Are you thirsty, maybe even dehydrated? Are you like a stale, stagnant pond? Refreshment and renewal are as close as your Bible and as instant as a prayer.

So come to Jesus every day and take a nice long drink from the Source of all life, and don’t forget to share it with other thirsty souls.

Have you ever tasted a dish so delicious you asked for the recipe and were told it’s a secret? Restaurants, cookie makers and homemakers sometimes closely guard their recipes and won’t reveal the secret ingredients to anyone.

Well, some might, for the right price. I saw an auction on eBay for a steak seasoning recipe. The asking price was a million dollars. I couldn’t find out if it actually sold for that amount, but the seller promised it would be worth it.

What would you pay for a secret recipe that could change your life? Would you pay a million dollars? More? If you saw an item on eBay guaranteed to help you get along with everyone and have no more arguments, fights, unhappiness or people problems of any kind, would you bid? Or would you say, that’s impossible. Nothing can do that.

I’m going to let you in on the secret, and you don’t have to place a bid or get out your credit card. I’ll tell you for free, although it’s not free. It’s called the Secret H Factor, and it’s found in Philippians 2:3 to 5: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (NIV). The price for the Secret H Factor is laying down the self and giving up pride and self-centeredness.

I could have called it the missing H factor as it seems more and more scarce. It’s missing at the dinner table when families get in arguments. It’s missing in the classrooms when students disrespect teachers and other students. It’s missing in relationships when pride keeps people from apologizing.

Where is humility in politics, the media, sports, shopping centers –church? It’s gone missing and it is sorely missed. Just like salt in soup, a little humility can go a long way toward making life better.

The IVP New Testament Commentary calls humility the cure to “the ills that beset our Christian communities--including that most fragile of institutions, the Christian family.”

It is neither false modesty nor falsely considering others better than ourselves. “Rather it has to do with a proper estimation of oneself, the stance of the creature before the Creator, utterly dependent and trusting. Here one is well aware both of one’s weaknesses and of one’s glory (we are in God’s image, after all) but makes neither too much nor too little of either. True humility is therefore not self-focused at all but rather, as further defined by Paul, considers others better than yourselves” (IVP New Testament Commentary, Philippians 2:4).

Humility comes from the mind of Christ, which is beautifully described in Philippians 2:5 to 11, also called the Philippians Hymn. And his mind, a mind of wonders and unimaginable grace, holds the secret and missing ingredient of harmony and peace. If only laying down the self and giving up our pride were as easy as getting out our credit cards.  

September - T-Shirt Wisdom?

T-shirts and methods of communication have sure come a long way. One used to be an item of clothing and the other, air passing over the vocal chords to make discernible sounds. The two have now merged. One doesn’t need to turn on an electronic device to view the latest advertisements, discover political news and learn the newest slang. It’s all in plain view on the backs and fronts of T-shirts.

If you’re like me, you’ve been amused, educated and probably shocked by the slogans sported by young and old alike. And be careful: a man in New York was not allowed to board a plane because of his T-shirt. I’ve wondered aloud why someone would put or wear certain things on their shirts. We used to have to wait for a person to speak before we could ascertain anything more than their outward appearance, but now we have only to read their clothing.

Someone once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.” The author of this quotation is uncertain, but it probably originated with Solomon who said in Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (NIV throughout).

It might be time to update it to something like this: “Better to wear a plain T-shirt and be thought intelligent, than to wear your ignorance on your back.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t need another way to get in trouble with errant words. No one can tame the tongue (James 3:8) and I can certainly attest to that in my own life. James’ words of so long ago are more relevant now than when they were written.

“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:3-6).

What a different world this would be if we could tame the tongue! It seems less likely every day, as technology offers new avenues of spontaneous expression and less opportunity to think about what we say before we say it. E-mail, websites, text messages, cell phones and T-shirts – all seem to promote off-the-cuff, impulsive ramblings.

With all these ways to put one’s foot in one’s mouth, it might be best to heed the words of King Solomon, who said: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). And I’m sure he would add, including on your T-shirt.  

 One of the mantras of the modern, developed world is more, more, more! We want more, bigger, better and faster everything. Products seem to be designed with this in mind, as they become obsolete faster than they wear out. Relentless advertising persuades us we never have enough. Every holiday and special occasion calls for better and more expensive gifts for everyone on our list (which we are also encouraged to expand). Will we ever have enough? Will they ever give up telling us we don’t have enough?

This isn’t a new problem. Solomon mentioned our proclivity to feel we always need more. Proverbs 27:20 tells us the eye (or desire, lust, appetite) of man (or woman) is never satisfied. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (NIV throughout). Again in chapter 6, verse 7, he observes: “All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.”

The only voice telling us to be content with what we have is the Bible, but that’s like one crying in the wilderness. Marketers don’t even want to know about this principle as it would bring the economy to a crashing halt and no one would make any money!

Why are we never satisfied? I guess it’s human nature. Some would say God made us that way so we would eventually recognize our need for him, that he is the only one who can fill the longings of the human heart. I’ve heard some say we have a God-shaped hole in our hearts, and like a puzzle piece, he is the only one who fits.

This must be true, because all the chocolate ice cream, high-tech toys, latest fashions and glittery diamonds can’t make us happy. People who have it all still aren’t satisfied, and if they are honest, they’ll admit it.

It takes a great deal of discipline to resist the pressure to keep up with the Joneses, and we all have to make decisions about our stewardship responsibilities. It’s a good idea to remind ourselves of the biblical principles on contentment, and to think of them next time we mix up our needs and our wants.

In Philippians 4, Paul talks about being content: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (verses 11b through 13).

Instead of more, more, more, let’s think, less is more. Let’s give away those extra clothes and household items, and simplify our life-styles. Let’s resist the advertising and give gifts of time and caring. Our lives don’t consist of the things we own (Luke 12:15). “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6) and that is enough for anyone!

July - Abiding in Christ

In the last 26 years, I’ve moved four times. I’ve changed banks and insurance companies three times and changed jobs a few times, too. I’ve changed my hair style more often than I can count. I’m still on the same husband. Companies spend major bucks on advertising and constantly make their products new and improved to inspire product loyalty in their customers. They have to, because of cutthroat competition.

In the upper room, the night before Jesus was crucified, he talked to the disciples about what was about to happen, and what would happen to them after he was gone. He had spent three and a half years with them, and most of them already felt strong loyalty to him. But he knew they might have trouble when he was no longer physically with them.

What about us? Do we have product loyalty when it comes to Jesus? In John 15, Jesus likened himself to a vine and said to abide or remain in him.

But it’s not easy to stay attached. Outside forces can affect our attachment to the vine: heat – trials and problems; insect damage – listening to criticism or negativity; cuts – damage from getting beat up by life; and frost – emotional and spiritual damage.

These might make us think it’s better not to be attached. We might be tempted to get away from the vine and into the shade. Or run away from the insects, rather than stay and take the punishment. We could be weakened by the cuts and bruises and feel too weak to hang on. Or the frost might make us think we’re going to fall off anyway, so we give up.

But if we stay attached to the vine, Jesus protects, nourishes, prunes, gives life and growth, and produces fruit. Apart from him we can do nothing.

We can be proactive about staying with Jesus if we depend on the Holy Spirit for strength to do a few things. First, get our minds off ourselves. Most of us tend to put me first more often than we should. Abiding in Christ – sticking with him – demands we place our trust in him. As he subjected himself to the Father’s will and humbly accepted his place as a human son, so we are to lay aside self and cling to the Vine for dear life.

Next, have rejoicing in Jesus as our main attitude in life. Rejoice in him as a response to joys and triumphs, as well as irritations and problems. As Paul said in Philippians 1:21, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Rejoicing in him in all circumstances helps us hang on through all life’s vicissitudes.

Then finally, come to value Jesus above everything. What’s really important? If Jesus isn’t at the top of the list, it’s time to evaluate our priorities. After all, we won’t be taking any of our toys with us. At the end, Jesus is all we have.

Abiding in Christ is a commitment to stick with him, no matter what. To give him our loyalty, our hearts and our lives, even when the sun beats down and we start to wilt. Even when the bugs bite and sting. Even when we get beat up a little and get cuts and bruises. Even when the frost burns us around the edges. We will stay true to him, firmly attached to our Savior. And his life will continue to flow through us, producing fruit for others to enjoy and giving glory to our Father.  

I tend to do things in spurts. It seems to be a human tendency, to be excited about something and enthusiastically pursue it, then fizzle out. I do this with exercise programs. I’ve started several different exercise regimens over the years. In college, I ran and played tennis. For a while, I joined a fitness club and worked out regularly. Later, I exercised to videotapes in my living room. I walked for a few years. Now I’m back to tapes and still walking. Sometimes I exercise every day, then I’ll skip a few weeks for various reasons, then I’ll go back to it and have to almost start over.

I go in spurts spiritually too. Sometimes I meditate and write in my journal every day, then I’ll move on to a prepared study and forget the journal. At other times in my life, I’ve just read through the Bible, and abandoned the studies. I’ve picked up devotionals, then left them for other books. At times I’ve even left off praying for periods of time, or not opened my Bible for a while. 

I’ve beaten myself up about this, believing it was a character flaw, and perhaps it is. Thankfully God understands how I am. He knows I’m inconsistent and fickle, but he loves me anyway. 

Many years ago he helped me set the direction of my life – toward him. He called me by name to be one of his children, to know him and his love and to be redeemed by his Son. And even though I wander in and out of faithfulness, I am always moving in the same direction – toward God. 

A. W. Tozer put it this way: “I would emphasize this one committal, this one great volitional act which establishes the heart’s intention to gaze forever upon Jesus. God takes this intention for our choice and makes what allowances he must for the thousand distractions which beset us in this evil world. He knows that we have set the direction of our hearts toward Jesus, and we can know it too, and comfort ourselves with the knowledge that a habit of soul is forming which will become after a while a sort of spiritual reflex requiring no more conscious effort on our part” (The Pursuit of God, p. 82). 

Isn’t it great to know God completely understands the fickleness of the human heart? And isn’t it also great to know he helps us stay pointed in the right direction, always set toward his face? As Tozer says, if our hearts are set toward Jesus long enough, we will form that habit of soul that will take us right into eternity with God.

Thankfully God is not fickle. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is not like us – he never does things in spurts, with starts and stops. He is always faithful, sticking with us through our unfaithfulness. 

The population of the world is now more than six billion. According to an article on wikipedia.org, about one fifth of all the humans who have existed in the last 6,000 years are alive today. That’s a lot of people. But how many of them can you name? A hundred? Five hundred?

How many names of all the billions of people ever born on this earth are remembered today? All those names, faded on headstones (if they were on headstones), are now forgotten. Only the names of the famous and the infamous can be recalled, and only some of those.

How sad to think of all the lives over the centuries lost to the mists of history. How sad personally, to think no one will remember our names or the names of the ones we love. The reality is, not too long from now, our names will be forgotten. But there’s One who can remember every name of every person ever born. God knows and remembers each name of each human, and not only their names, but everything about them.

The song “He Knows My Name” by Tommy Walker reminds us we won’t be forgotten to history. We aren’t just numbers in a database. God knows our names, even our middle ones. He knows our every thought, sees each tear and hears us when we call.

It seems to be a basic need – we want to hear our own names and we want others to remember them. Anyone who works with the public will tell you to learn and say a person’s name when speaking with him or her. It adds a personal touch to a sales pitch. Hearing his or her name from a doctor helps a patient feel cared for. We don’t want to think others don’t care enough to remember who we are. Of course, as we get older, it does become harder to remember names! I often have to ask, even if I know the person. And then at times I can’t remember my kids’ or my own!

This world seems impersonal at times. It can be a sad and lonely place. Some days we all feel like we’re just a number, obscure and unimportant. We wonder if anyone really cares. But every time a tear falls from my eyes, God sees it. He understands and even cries with me. If no one else in the world cares, he does. Knowing God knows my name and will never forget who I am is a comforting thought.

Is life getting you down? Feeling a little sad, lonely, unappreciated? God knows and he cares. He knows your name and knows your pain. He has your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8) and his heart is for you. He has even written your name in his book of life (Luke 10:20).

Next time you feel like a number, like no one cares or remembers who you are, think of the One who saves your tears, has numbered the hairs on your head (Luke 12:7) and takes care of your every need (Matthew 6:30). He knows your name and hears you when you call.

Mary and Martha didn’t know what to think the day Jesus came into town four days after Lazarus was laid to rest. When their brother became ill and took a turn for the worse, they sent for Jesus, who they knew could heal him. They thought because Lazarus and Jesus were such good friends, Jesus would rush to his side and make everything better. But he didn’t. It seemed Jesus had more important things to do, so he stayed right where he was, telling his disciples Lazarus was asleep. They thought he didn’t understand Lazarus was dead. As usual, they were the ones who didn’t understand.

When Jesus and the disciples finally arrived in Bethany where the sisters and brother lived, Martha told Jesus her brother’s body was already starting to stink. They were so disappointed, they accused Jesus of waiting too long to come to the aid of his sick friend.

I would have been disappointed too, wouldn’t you? Perhaps better words would be distraught, at wits’ end, frantic, hysterical! Why did Jesus let their brother die? Why indeed? We often ask the same question today – why did God let my loved one die? Why did he allow this or that disaster to happen? When no answer comes, people turn away from God in anger.

But Mary and Martha, even though disappointed, hurt and a little angry, didn’t turn away. His words in John 11 were enough to calm Martha. His tears in verse 35 showed Mary how much he cared.

Those same words comfort and calm me today, as I look forward to a milestone birthday and another Easter Sunday – two occasions in my mind to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In John 11, verse 25, Jesus didn’t say: Don’t worry Martha, I’ll resurrect Lazarus. He said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again” (NLT).

I am the resurrection. Powerful words. How could he say that? How did he have the power to lay down his life and take it up again (Matthew 26:61)? We know what Mary, Martha, Lazarus and the disciples didn’t find out until later – Jesus was and is and always will be God. He doesn’t simply have the power to resurrect dead people. He is the resurrection, which means he is life. Life is inherent and intrinsic to God, which is why he calls himself I AM.

My imminent birthday has started me thinking about life and death and what happens after that. When I read Jesus’ words to Martha, I felt he was asking me the same question. Do you believe? Do I believe he is the resurrection and the life? Do I believe that even though I’m going to die like everyone else, I will live again because I believe in Jesus? Yes I do. How could I enjoy whatever time I have left if I didn’t?

Because Jesus laid down his life and took it up again, because the tomb was empty and Christ is risen, I will live again. Happy Easter and happy birthday to me!

We often talk about getting to know Jesus, but doing it can seem somewhat nebulous and difficult. After all, we can’t see him or talk face to face. He’s real, but he’s not visible or touchable and we can’t hear his voice, except maybe on rare occasions. So how do we go about getting to know him?

I’ve lately been directed, from more than one source, to the Gospels as a way of getting to know Jesus. Like you, I’ve read through them many times, and even took a college class called Harmony of the Gospels. But for some time I’ve been focused on other books, mostly Paul’s letters. They’ve been wonderful guides out of legalism and into grace.

Our pastor suggested we read the book of John as a way to start the new year. I began reading it and was struck anew by the events of Jesus’ life as chronicled by John. I made a list of who Jesus said he is throughout the first 18 chapters. The list is longer than I thought it would be.

Then I went ahead and ordered a book I had wanted to read for some time – Just Give Me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz. It was inspired by the book of John. I’m only part way through and have already gained insight.

And in a devotional I receive daily, the author mentioned a couple of times that reading through the Gospels is a great way “to keep falling in love with the life of Christ” (John Fischer, The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional).

It seems as if someone is trying to tell me something!

When Philip (John 14:8) asked him to show them the Father, Jesus said to his disciples, if you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father. He is the image of God, revealing and reflecting his glory. So if we, 2,000 years or so later, can get to know Jesus, we are also getting to know the Father, the Creator and Sustainer of life and the universe.

It’s mind-boggling to think we human beings, finite, made of dust and destined to die, can get to know, intimately and personally, an infinite, all-powerful God. But we can. Through the Gospels, we listen in on his conversations, watch him interact with paupers and nobles, Jews and gentiles, sinners and self-righteous, men, women and children. We see Jesus the man – his emotions, thoughts and feelings. We see his tenderness as he welcomes and teaches little children. We see his indignation at the moneychangers and his disgust at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

The Gospels show us both sides of Jesus – God and man. They show us baby and adult, son and brother, teacher and healer, living sacrifice and resurrected victor. Don’t be afraid to get to know Jesus. Don’t wonder and doubt if it’s really possible. Just read the Gospels. And keep falling in love with the life of Christ.

Sometimes I get stressed out. I know I’m not alone. Stress comes when I get behind or can’t seem to find a solution to a problem. I start feeling as if I’m under water and can’t find my way to the surface. It’s an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. I hate that.

Some think we need a certain amount of stress to be healthy. I suppose if we didn’t have any stress we wouldn’t accomplish anything. The challenge lies in finding a balance so stress doesn’t cause health problems or make us crazy.

You probably know what to do when you’re feeling stressed. You might have a list of relaxing things to do when your shoulder muscles become tight and your jaw clenches.

Punching an inanimate object might help some. We used to have an inflatable punching bag that sat upright on the floor. Printed on it was a list of reasons you might want to take out your frustration on it, instead of something or someone. Others take up golf. I like to dig in the garden, exercise or do something creative.

One way to reduce stress in our lives is as close as the bedroom. No, not that. I’m talking about a good night’s sleep. When was the last time you slept so well you woke up with energy and excitement for the new day? Can’t remember?

Joanie E. Yoder, a writer for Our Daily Bread, a devotional from RBC Ministries, suggests sleep as a neglected remedy for stress. She recommends getting more sleep to those who ask for advice about living less stressfully and more restfully.

Yoder even goes so far as to link spirituality with sleep. She cites 1 Kings 19:1 to 18 as an example of God’s initial remedy for Elijah’s stress and depression. She writes: “Twice God gave him food and undisturbed sleep before gently confronting him at Mt. Horeb with his error. Psalm 4:8 says, ‘I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.’ Sleep is not the full remedy for stress, but other solutions can become clearer to people who get adequate rest.”

Dallas Willard says sleep shows trust in God. When we lay our heads on the pillow, we are telling God we trust him to care for us and wake us up in the morning for a new day. Sleep is a little like death and giving ourselves to it relinquishes our lives to God.

I’ve always believed in getting a good night’s sleep. One night when I was in college, my dorm mates woke everyone to come outside and see a once-in-10-year meteor shower. I refused to get out of bed, pleading the need for sleep. I heard I missed a great heavenly show. But in college, sleep had to be a priority. It still is.

I must admit, at times I’ve wondered why we have to “waste” so much time sleeping, when we could keep working – or playing! But that’s the way God made us. He gives his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:2).

So take your mother’s (and God’s) advice and get enough sleep!

By Tammy Tkach

Have you ever looked at something so many times you stopped seeing it? As I worked on an issue of Connections (a quarterly journal for elders’ wives), I spied a typo. I started giggling as I looked through past issues to see just how far back this particular letter had been missing from a regular and prominent headline. I had to go all the way back to November of 2003!

I wish I could say it was someone else’s fault (like my proofreaders), but all of us missed it. None in my polite readership brought it to my attention. I was so used to seeing it I didn’t really see it.

It occurred to me we do this in many areas of life. We develop habits—sometimes obnoxious ones—and we don’t even notice what we’re doing. We might say something over and over—like, you know, I mean, really—and not realize we give the impression our vocabulary stopped growing in the eighth grade.

What’s worse, someone can point out such a habit and we make excuses instead of acknowledging the problem and trying to correct it.

I have a problem with clutter. My home office seems to be a magnet for papers, books and other items with no other home. I don’t know how many times I’ve cleaned off my desk and the floor around it only to have the papers and books pile up again, seemingly overnight. I get so used to the stuff, I can go weeks without actually seeing the clutter. Then my need to find something will spur me to clean it out. 

Yes, I’ve read the books on overcoming messiness, decluttering and organization. They don’t help unless you actually want to change.  

Then something happened to shake my cluttered world—the shelf and rod holding our clothes pulled out of the wall. Everything fell on the floor. What a mess. It took a few weeks to get it fixed and everything put away. So I decided this would be a good time to do a closet purge.

I sorted through those clothes I had looked at every day for the last five years and didn’t actually see (and hadn’t worn). My pile to discard became twice as high as the pile to keep. It felt good to finally have a neat, organized closet.

God gives us physical lessons to point out spiritual ones. Mine was merely a closet disaster, and it got me moving. What about our spiritual closets? How many of us need to clean them out and get rid of the sin that clutters our lives and holds us back? This is a good time of year to ask God to show us the less obvious problems in our lives and start to work with the Holy Spirit to make some changes. If not, we could be facing more than a wrecked closet.

It took me two years to find that typo and five to clean out my closet. I’m glad God is patient, aren’t you?