Month: May 2019

“Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked” (John 18:37-38a).

What is truth? This was Pilate’s question as he considered the charges against Jesus. I think he knew Jesus was the truth. He stated, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” Yet, Pilate gave in to the crowd and “The Truth” was crucified. Can we say the truth is being crucified again today, even in the halls of our Congress?

Last week the House of Representatives passed the “so called” Equality Act. We must do all we can to stop such “inequality” from going any further. That legislation would have taken away the rights of any who want to practice their faith with regards to the gender issue. Families and businesses who believe that God created humans as male and female, who believe the Bible teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman, and who practice a moral lifestyle according to the Bible, would be breaking the law to act upon their faith. Where are the rights for the Christians?

Romans 1:25 states that people have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. That has a contemporary sound, doesn’t it? In Old Testament times, Isaiah pronounces, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). In the New Testament Paul refers to those who refuse to love the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). There are those today who refuse to love the truth. Truth isn’t something we make up in our own minds.  Truth comes from the Word of God. And that is where the problem lies. It seems to me, those who refuse to love the truth are also refusing God’s authority.

Perhaps the Christian’s best response to our present-day situation is found in Paul’s words to young Timothy. At least, it’s a good place to start.

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:22-26).

Are we willing to accept the challenge?

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).

My mom has been with Jesus for five years this month. I miss her, especially this season of the year. Flowers are blooming and she loved flowers. Many are still growing around the yard where she planted them. Just days before her death, my brother pushed Mom in her wheelchair to the side of the house where a beautiful peony was in full bloom. She was so happy to see those gorgeous blooms.

I remember:

• Mom washed my long hair at the kitchen sink, while I cried and complained.
• She made homemade bread and butter. I did the butter churning many times.
• Mom cooked for men who came to help Dad on threshing day. The man who owned the threshing machine made the rounds to farmers who needed their grain threshed and more men came to help. After the cooking, there were dishes to wash and I and my mom were the dishwashers.
• On one of those threshing days, my mom’s first electric range was delivered. She cooked on a wood-burning stove until then.
• Mom and Dad invited preachers and families for dinner.
• Mom enjoyed picking wild berries and expected me to tend the baby in the hot berry patch!
• I was the oldest child so I remember my mom nursing and caring for my brothers and sister.
• Mom enjoyed sitting in the front yard in the shade–no air conditioning until later.
• Mom put aside the tithe money in a pretty teapot.
• Helping Mom with canning vegetables and fruits. My job was to wash the jars since my hand would fit inside the jar. I remember wishing my hand would get too big to fit. It never did till I started canning.
• Taking walks in the woods with Mom. We looked for wildflowers.
• Playing the piano for Mom to sing her favorite gospel songs. Oh, how I wish I had enjoyed that more. As a kid I thought more about what I wanted to do.

I have regrets. I guess we all do. I’m thankful for a forgiving mother who loved me in spite of my shortcomings. I’m also thankful to have lived close to her during her last year of life.

If you’re blessed to still have your mom with you, enjoy that blessing and thank her. If your mom is missing on earth, enjoy your memories and thank God for them.

“May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!”  Proverbs 23:25

Happy Mother’s Day

”Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9)

It’s that time of year again and the weeds are winning.  I am gaining on them! Yes, there’ll even be a point when I’m ahead, but those pesky weeds keep growing! It’s the struggle I have every summer—weeding my vegetable and flower gardens.

This struggle reminds me of the spiritual struggle in living a Christ-like life. The Christian must be vigilant and vigorous in this struggle to win the victory over temptation and distractions.  Just like those weeds, our sinful nature is still present. Satan doesn’t give up. He will try to get us off track by making the less important things become more important. He wants us to spend our time and resources on selfish desires. The Galatians wanted to make the law more important than the cross of Christ. Paul said, “. . . what counts is a new creation.”

In Galatians, chapter 5, Paul contrasts the sinful nature with life by the Spirit. The sinful nature is in conflict with the Spirit. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).  The law shows us our sin but it is the Spirit who helps us have victory over sin. Thank God, we do not struggle alone!

We will have a harvest at the proper time, if we do not give up.  If I don’t give up on pulling those weeds I can expect a harvest of flowers and vegetables, in due time. If we do not give up on “pulling” out those pesky sins, we can reap the harvest of spiritual fruit—love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Keep “pulling”! The struggle is worth it!