A CONFUSED TREE

We have a confused tree.  It has lost almost all its leaves.  The limbs are now visible and we can see the ones that are straight and the ones that seem to have arthritis.  Sorta like life.  Sometimes our way is straight and smooth.  Sometimes our way is gnarled and bends where it should not.

That is not the confused part.  Here, it is early fall and the weather is beginning to cool down.  Trees are turning different colors.  Harvest has begun.  We will shortly have a hard freeze.  Winter will be around the corner.

All is going as planned, except for one branch, on this one tree.  It is confused.  It thinks it is spring.  There are new leaves. There are buds.  There are delicate pink flowers.  It is as if this one branch has confused its seasons.

For everything there is a season, 

a time for every activity under heaven. 

A time to be born and a time to die. 

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

And I bet Jesus is smiling over this confused branch.  I bet he is pointing out the flowers to the angels.  

I bet he is saying, “That is what I want my children to do.  I want them to grow in faith.  I want them to learn from my Word and gain wisdom.  I want their roots to be deep into the foundation of faith.  I want them to be strong.   I want them to feel the love of God giving them a beauty that cannot be held back by a calendar.  I want them to see their worth and BLOOM!!”

Are you growing in faith and blooming?  Well, bloom away!!!!!

 THE LOST CREDIT CARD

The credit card was not where it belonged!  Panic!  In today’’s society, a credit card floating around can be more than a piece of plastic.  It can be charges made while we hunt to make sure the card is not in the house.  We called the places it might have been left or dropped.  No one had found a card.  Another search of the house.  The car.  The truck.  NO CARD!  All while visions of the number being given to store after store.  

“Oh, Lord, I know it is a small thing, but please lead us to the card.  Amen.”

How I wish I could say we instantly found the card.  BUT we did not.  We searched again.  We pictured where it might be.  Not there.  We looked in drawers again.  Not there.  

It was time to bite the bullet and call to report the card lost.  I dreaded that call.  Reporting the card missing meant a new card would be issued.  It meant four businesses would have to be notified and the number changed on automatic payments.   I dreaded that call.  

Once more a wallet and a purse were searched. I felt like the card was in the house, but maybe that was wishful thinking.  Maybe that was my prayer, but maybe the card was really lost.  Maybe …. Maybe.

“I found the card,” Bill said. 

We joined hands and prayed, “Thank you Lord for leading us to the card.”

A deep breath left my lungs.  My shoulders relaxed. I put away the information I no longer needed to report the lost card.

Lost and found.  FOUND … what a sweet word.

It is amazing where Jesus FOUND people.

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Zacchaeus was found in a tree.

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭510-‭53‬ ‭

Joseph was found going against the Council.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭40‬-‭42‬ 

The man was found in need of healing.

Where did Jesus find you?  Were you looking for him?  Were you defending him?  Were you in need of healing?

OR — Are you still lost?

 DO YOU SEE ME?

Have you ever felt invisible?  I have.  Have you ever walked into a room and felt like everyone there was more important than you?  I have.  Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit into the role people put you in?  I have.  Have you ever felt like you were not good enough?  I have.

I also think 100% of the people who read this have, at one time or another, felt the same way.  

The crippled woman was invisible.  People walked by her without giving her a second thought.  Just another bent over woman.  Someone to ignore as they went through their day.  Then, she met Jesus.  Everyone saw her as she walked through them and went to Jesus.  She was no longer invisible. 

The widow woman had no value.  She had no standing in the community.  When she went to the synagogue, people looked down on her.  Then Jesus saw her. There was no article in the paper to make her famous.  There was nothing on TikTok or Facebook.  But, Jesus saw her put her wealth in the collection and she would be rewarded when she took her final breath.

He was just one of hundreds.  Thousands.  He was a fisherman.  Doing his job.  Doing what was expected of him.  Then Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew met Jesus.  They dropped their nets and walked away from family/community expectations and stepped onto a new path.  They became fishers of men.

He was possessed.  Not a simple possession either.  He had to leave his family and live in the graveyard.  He was often very violent - chained and guarded.  A man so crazy and tormented that he was not good enough to live as a normal man.  Then he met Jesus.  He returned to his home.

Normal everyday people.  People who were  invisible.  People who were poor.  People working jobs they were expected to do.  People who felt as if they are not good enough for one reason or another. 

UNTIL THEY MET JESUS.  

People like each of us.

UNTIL WE MEET JESUS.

1

 9-11

Today’s blog asks a question about 9-11. 

September 11, 2001 — 25 years ago.  Shouldn’t we forget?  And anyone under 33 only remembers what they have been told.  Shouldn’t we forget?  2, 606 died in the World Trade Center.  184 died in the Pentagon.  40 died in the plane crash.  Plus thousands died later.  Shouldn’t we forget?  HELL NO!!!!!!!

We should never forget the hate that 19 Islamic Jihadist held in their heart.

We should never forget.  To forget allows the hate to continue and the hate to repeat their actions.  

We should never forget and this country must stand guard or we will turn our freedoms over to those that hate us, one inch at a time.  Muslims are allowed to shut down Brooklyn streets to say their prayers and Christians are prohibited from praying outside an abortion clinic.  To speak out against the actions of Muslims earns you a label of Islamophobic.  So we are quiet.  Muslim groups want Sharia Law over US law.  And we do nothing.  

The hate did not overcome us on September 11, 2001.  They did not break this country with planes.  BUT they are using a new tactic.  One inch at a time.  One request to have their faith given priority.  

And when will we become like Nigeria?  Or parts of Egypt?  When will we fear for our lives if we refuse to deny our God?  When will we be like other countries that compromise instead of standing strong?  When will we have real no go zones instead of hidden no go zones?   When will we hold the Muslim businesses to the same laws that we hold Christian businesses?  When will Christians be allowed to go to a dedicated prayer room in schools?  When will burkas be removed to show the face of the person getting on the plane or voting or entering a building when hooded sweatshirts are not allowed?  I could go on.

At the top of my Facebook page, I have:  IF I AM SILENT, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOME.  I refuse to stop speaking out.  But I am only one voice and I fear that too many voices are silent.  Too many voices have forgotten 9-11.  Too many voices have forgotten the horror of seeing bodies falling from the World Trade Center.  Too many voices are silent and the outcome will be the death of the USA — one inch at a time.

Should we ever forget?  HELL NO!

A TABLE BEFORE MY FRIENDS

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a table before my enemies.  Today I want to tell you about another table.  This really should be titled:  A TABLE WITH MY FRIENDS.  Last Sunday we had a pitch-in dinner.  I wonder if there is anyone who has never attended a pitch-in dinner.  Some call it a carry-in.  Either way, it is just plain good food and great fellowship.

Walking into the church kitchen/dining room, the first thing noticed is the aroma.  Fried chicken.  Chicken and noodles.  Casseroles.  Green beans.  Then there is the salad table.  Pea salad.  Broccoli salad.  Potato salad.  Deviled eggs.  (Wonder why they call them that.)  Vegetable tray.  And more!  Of course after filling your plate, at least once, it is time to attack – I mean it is time to go calmly to the dessert table.  Do not fear.  I was told they were all calorie free and I am sure that is true because who would lie in church?  Every inch of that table was filled.  Chocolate cake.  Strawberry dessert.  Cookies.  Pie.  And more!  HOW MUCH BETTER COULD LIFE BE?

Actually – truthfully – honestly – the food could not come close to the fellowship.  I swear (the good kind of swear – like putting your hand on the Bible) the sound of chatter and laughter was so loud you couldn’t have heard if 30 motorcycles had roared into the parking lot.  I am not sure how anyone was eating for talking and laughing.  Usually, once the food comes out, it will get quiet.  Not around this bunch.  They must have taken Talk While Eating 101. 

Then I looked around.  There were adults sitting with kids.  And they were talking with each other.  There were younger adults scattered among older adults.  And they were talking with each other.  Even when the plates were being picked up, no one seemed to leave. 

I believe the angels were looking down and saw genuine fellowship.

I believe God loved the sound of our pitch-in dinner.

I believe Jesus turned to the Father and said, “Those are my sheep.”

 I AM.  Part 3

When I wrote I AM about being one of God’s names, I had no intention of writing a second part and even less intention of writing a third part.  Sometimes the blog takes on a life of its own.  Are you wondering how I can get a third part out of two tiny words?  Here goes.

Part 2 was on how God answers our concerns with “I am.”  He is sure of the path he wants us to be on.  Part 3 is on how often we answer God with those same words.

These are times I have answered God with these two tiny words.

God asks, ”Are you afraid of having surgery?”  I answered, “I am.”

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭

God gently asked, “Are you feeling overwhelmed?”  I answered, “I am.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and  learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is  easy and my burden is light.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ 

“I see a smile today,” God said.  “Are you happy.”  I answered, “I am.”

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬ ‭

God noticed, “You finished the Sunday School Lesson.  Are you ready to teach the lesson?”  I answered, “I am.”

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ 

Then the world asked, “Are you a Child of God?”  I answered, “I AM! ! !”

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is  what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭

When have you used “I am.” to answer God?

 I AM    Part 2

Your eyes are fine.  The week’s blog is also titled I AM.  

The other day, I saw a video about I AM.   I thought I AM was a name and was to be spoken with reverence. This video made me think about I AM in a whole new way.  It showed me that I AM can be an action verb.  A verb to be emphasized.

Picture God calling these people.to serve and their reaction.  

Moses checked out the burning bush and quickly found out God was speaking to him.  God had a job for Moses.  Can you hear Moses saying, “God, I cannot do this.  I  wouldn’t know what to say or do to convince the Pharaoh.  I am not capable of doing this.”  Do you hear God reply, “I AM SURE.” (Spoken with conviction and power.)

Poor Jeremiah.  So young and unsure of himself and wondering why the LORD had chosen him to go on a mission. “Ah, LORD, don’t you want someone older and who can speak with wisdom?  Are you sure I can do this?”  Do you hear God reply, “I AM SURE.”  (Spoken with conviction and power.)

Samuel was called to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, but was afraid Saul might kill him.  Besides, how would he know which son.  I think he might have asked, “God, out of eight sons, I am not sure which son to anoint.”  Do you hear God reply, “I AM SURE.”  (Spoken with conviction and power.)

——————————————

“What do you mean you want me to be Lay Leader?  That would mean I have to get up front and talk.  Are you sure I am ready to do this?”  And God replies, ”I AM SURE.  You are ready and will be just fine.”

“Lord, this trial is hard.  Are you sure I can do it?”  And God replies, “I AM SURE.  You will make it through.  We will take one step at a time.”

“Be a greeter?  Welcome people I do not know?  Are you sure?”  And God replies, “I AM SURE.  Just smile and say hello.”

“This grief is hard.  My heart is hurting.  I am not sure I will make it through the day.”  And God replies, “I AM SURE.  I will give you strength to endure the empty chair by day and will hold you as you rest at night.”

“Such wonder!  Amazing!  Joy.  Peace.  Grace.  Love.  Lord, are you sure I am worthy of these gifts?”  And God replies, “I AM SURE.”

REMEMBER:  When you ask God, “Are you sure you mean me?”  AND He says, “I AM SURE.”  You better hang on because God’s I AM SURE is a powerful verb.