3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
I’ve always loved this portion of scripture. The extremes of these people is laughable. Picture it. They’re all gathered around watching Paul get worked over by a deadly, venomous snake. You can almost hear them shouting “This man MUST be a murderer! He’s obviously getting what he deserves! DEATH!” Then Paul proceeds to chuck the snake into the fire, probably WWE style because that’s what I would do. Once they see Paul isn’t suffering any problems the people IMMEDIATELY decide he’s a god?
Really? Just because something bad happens to someone they’re assumed a murderer? Then when they end up okay they’re now a GOD?
I don’t know about you but that seems a little extreme. Either murderer or god. Nothing in the middle.
We get like this, I get like this. God is either bringing me to the mountaintop of awesomeness or He’s completely turned His back on me and is punishing me for something I obviously did. (in my mind)
Or how about this: we either go ALL IN with our devotional time, scripture reading, church serving, blah blah blah or we back off and use the excuse that if we can’t go ALL IN God understands that we just hold off for a while. Like, for years. I could really go on forever with analogies about the extreme’s….but what about THE MIDDLE? Could it be sometimes that it’s not either or? Murderer or god, mountaintop or death valley, ALL IN or ALL OUT? I’ve been in seasons where God just wants some balance. You know, grind it out. Figure some things out for yourself, lean on Him of course but stay busy balancing everything. You’re not so bad that you’re a murderer, you’re not so awesome that you’re a god. You’re not having awe inspiring moments with God nor are you fallen on your knees screaming at Him shaking your fists because He’s nowhere to be found. You’re reading His word somewhat regularly though some days are more revealing and convicting than others. You’re in a tough season where you don’t have much time to give but the time you have is a healthy balance of God, Church, family and friends. IS THIS OK??
I think so. GASP from the super-christian.
Maybe you’re in that season? So what? The important thing is that you’re talking to God consistently. Not talking to Him just to rationalize your being in the middle…but talking to Him so that He knows you are working through things and you need His help, no matter how long it takes. In the meantime you’re just going to grind it out. Honestly, some of the greatest seasons of my life have come from a long period of being in THE MIDDLE. I’m not killing anyone but I’m also not lighting the world on fire for God. I’m just growing. I’m allowing myself to be grown without all the extremes. After all, you can’t sustain the extremes for long anyway. I’m convinced, if you learn how to grow in these times…it makes the mountaintop experiences 1,000 times better and the tough times in the valley so much easier to handle.
I’ve touched on this before but since it was in my daily reading let’s do it again. We’ve all laughed at ourselves at some point. Laughing at yourself is good (I’ve made a living out of it), what’s not good is laughing at God when He talks to you about your potential. Have you done that? Have you shrugged off big responsibility and thought: God can’t be talking about ME, I’m an idiot.
Yes, you are an idiot, for laughing at God. He hears it, He knows it, He doesn’t like it.
If you haven’t figured it out, comedy, levity, even self-deprivation are my strong points. If laughing at yourself makes you stronger than I’m The Incredible Hulk. I don’t always know how to turn it off though, or how to direct it once I realize God is trying to stretch and grow me.
You’ve seen this on The Bible on The History Channel. Check it:
If there’s one thing I’ve been disappointed with in The Bible series on the History channel….It’s the special effects when supernatural things happen. I admit, my disappointment probably comes from watching too many Hollywood movies. When Jesus heals someone I want the slow mo Matrix vibe that shows our dimension we’re living in rumble and flicker.
When the angel came to Mary I didn’t want them meeting quickly in a back alley, I didn’t want him to have surfer hair, I didn’t want him to be from New Zealand, I wanted her to be awakened and her eyelids to flicker as she is teleported to 60,000 feet in the air like superman would have done to relay the most important news any human has ever received. I probably wanted another bass drop at that point as well.
I could go on but you get the point. Like a girl who ends her wedding night disappointed that all her lifelong dreams, expectations and planning of her wedding day was over….and the day went WAY too fast….and there weren’t any Hollywood movie moments like she had always hoped. Just like that I sit after each The Bible episode and think, dang….I could have made that supernatural moment WAY cooler.
Here’s the reality: I’m coming to grips with the fact that maybe, just maybe, these moments were actually plainer and more human than I have always built them up to be? You know? After all, these people were human just like me, even Jesus of Nazareth. Human. No super slow bass drops or flickering realities or lightning shooting out of someones hands.
Real people. Real problems. Real solutions.
Lets put this thought into scripture. How about Acts chapter 1. Read this, go there. Picture yourself actually there. Human.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Ok. What you don’t see here is the very next verse that says “So the disciples went back to Jerusalem….”
What I want to know is how long did they stand there staring up at the clouds? Obviously Jesus was coming back. He said He was anyway. Usually when someone tells me that I just sit there and wait for them to come back and finish their thought, you know? Looking up into the Heavens they were probably still smiling, still in awe that a dude just went up in a cloud and said I’ll be right back…they were probably doing that nervous laughter you hear in movies that keeps tapering off slowly until it becomes only throat clearing.
So…we’ll just wait here then? *cough
And that’s when they finally looked somewhere other than the sky where some cloud had a man in it. They came back to reality on Mount Olivet.
They looked around and noticed there are two more guys standing with them than they started with. Well, actually one more since they lost one to a cloud but you get it.
These two men were clearly from God. I mean, even God knows the stereotype. When you want someone to look like they’re angels you need to follow protocol. So white robes it is. They were more than likely glowing to add to the awesomeness.
Could you imagine? These angels, or Moses and Elijah, or whoever they were, they spoke on God’s behalf. Everyone knew it, you couldn’t mistake it. I’m sure their voices were low and authoritative. And probably British.
They said, hey! What’s everyone looking at? C’mon guys. That’s Jesus up there in that cloud, no big deal. He’s coming back in the same way he left. Carry on.
Poof, they were probably instantly gone as quickly as they came. That’s the way I see it anyway. I don’t think these two angelic heavenly beings hung around for Q&A time. They knew how to make an entrance and an exit for maximum shock value.
So here’s my question: how long did the disciples sit there after the news that their friend up in the cloud was coming back? You know…looking at their watches, shuffling their feet, yawning. Remember they eventually went back to Jerusalem. How long until they decided to abandon post? 5 minutes? An hour? A couple days?
I’m guessing that if the heavenly beings would have been a little more specific that might have helped. You know, like maybe throw in “Oh hey, He’s coming back IN A FEW THOUSAND YEARS just like He left, so go change the world.”
That might have been nice. Regardless, I’m sure there was a moment as they eventually walked away when they just assumed Jesus would be back some time soon and join up with them in their adventures.
He never did. They went to their graves wondering if He’d return any second.
It didn’t stop them from doing God’s work. It actually motivated them to die for Him.
Here we sit, thousands of years later. We’ve gotten soft.
Thousands of years makes us feel it’s less urgent. You do know what a thousand years is like to God, right? Snap your fingers, it’s probably less than that to Him.
The disciples worked tirelessly for Jesus Christ because they didn’t want Him to return and find them sleeping. They were inspired by His teachings and miracles. They saw them. They even performed some in His name, with His power. They would stop at nothing to tell the world about the love of Jesus. They would never be intimidated. They would never back down. They ran to the front lines, stared death and persecution in the face and attacked Satan head on, with the full force of the power of the Holy Spirit. They did it tirelessly. They were laser focused. They were human.
Just like you and me.
My guess is from time to time, they still looked up at the night sky when no one was around, when it was quiet, when they had time to just worship. I’m sure they wondered when Jesus would return. Obviously it motivated them to have things in order so when the Savior did come back, He wouldn’t find them selfishly tripping through life.
Like maybe you are right now.
Like I’ve been from time to time in my life.
The time is now friends. Don’t waste another day wondering when Jesus is going to rescue you. Don’t use that as an excuse as to why you can’t change.
Stop waiting on God because He’s already right next to you waiting on YOU.
Waiting for you to say yes.
Waiting for you to pull it together.
Waiting for you to get your hands dirty telling the world about His love.
Waiting for you to use His name, the name of Jesus to forgive yourself, forgive others and turn your eyes out of the clouds and onto the front lines.
Jump in. Serve, invite, use your gifts He’s given you to show love unconditionally.
No more excuses. No more complaining. No more staring at your watch for Him to work. He’s already working and He’s waiting for you to join Him.
One week ago today, exactly at this time I started hearing reports of a shooting in Connecticut. At first it seemed like just another random story. When in fact, over the course of a day you and I felt something reverberate through every heart that broke upon hearing the news. While our lives go on, families are devastated this Christmas. Those scars will never heal. I hope you join me in praying for them all. Those precious babies are absolutely safe in the arms of Almighty Jesus. While we don’t always understand, there is no better ‘forever friend’ than we have in the Lamb of God. The LION of Judah.
Friends. Sometimes there are no answers. We are never promised that from God. We are only offered peace, from God. This tragedy is unspeakable. In our mostly tragedy free society, we forget atrocities like these happen weekly around the world. Governments killing their own people/women and children, regimes doing unspeakable things to the innocent. We just don’t think twice about it until it happens in our own back yard. God is not absent. God is not asleep. He has given us the hope of the return of His Son. Every time something like this happens I promise you with all that I am…that He is watching with laser focus. Not one prayer goes unheard. Not one tear falls to the ground that He doesn’t catch. He sent His Son into the human race not to abandon it…but to redeem it. In times like these, it is sin and the corrupt nature of its ugliness that is to blame. Turn your prayers to the families and know, we serve a God that not only hears each one…but He stands poised and ready…each day closer to returning for what is His.
We all go through seasons in life where we feel like it’s ME against the world. You know, when it seems your enemies are rising up against you in record numbers! I’ve been there. I bet you do what I usually do…we have 3 choices when we feel like this:
1) Wall ourselves off from everyone, including God and feel sorry for ourselves.
2) Grab your sword of self righteousness and start slaughtering everyone who rises against you with spiteful words and/or embarrassing Facebook posts. (yes, we’re all looking at your status, laughing)
Or you can do what I’m learning to do, thanks to the Psalmist needing a little backup with heavy artillery from time to time.
Check out Psalm 3
I don’t know about you but I like rare things. I don’t want the breed of dog everyone else has, I don’t want the shirt 10 other guys are walking around with from the rack at Kohl’s. I usually take the unexpected path to get to a joke…or go the opposite way in my preaching than I’ve heard other pastors go. Rare steak has the best flavor after all. I named my kids weird, rare names like Kasen, Adia and Alston.
I know you’re a lot like me. That’s why we watch shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers. We love to find that diamond in the rough. When something is rare it speaks louder.
And so it goes in the Bible. I like rare verses with weird Greek or Hebrew that make it stand out…like my Blue Great Dane (Bear Gray) walking at the park surrounded by 1,000 labs and 2,000 golden retrievers…and 3,000 unidentifiable dogs the size of a football being carried by their owners as I pass with looks of horror…like my dog is the AntiChrist.
Rare Bible verses catch my attention. Psalm 136 is EXACTLY that. There’s nothing like it in the entire Bible.
Very little is known about this passage. Even the author is unknown. The way the verses are crafted…they are written for a special service at the temple. Perhaps a soloist reading the first line of every verse and the congregation singing back the second line.
What stands out to you here?
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Well obviously a certain line has caught your attention. This Hallel Psalm was read at the beginning of Passover. This scripture is so rare. One people would recite the first line…always about something GOD has done, the second group of people would sing “His love endures forever” or “His steadfast love endures forever” or “His kind love endures forever” or “His Mercy endures forever” depending on what version you are reading.
There is no known translation for the Hebrew word used here: Hesed.
Kind love is as close as we can get.
We do know this…it has something to do with the following: 1) God does not have to love us but He loves us anyway. 2) God will always love us!
Look again: There are 5 parts in this psalm:
• verses 1-3 and 26 tell us to thank the *LORD;
• verses 4-9 tell us that God made earth, sky, sun, moon and stars;
• verses 10-16 tell us how God saved the *Jews from Egypt;
• verses 17-22 tell us how God took his people from Egypt to Canaan;
• verses 23-25 tell us that God gives us all that we need.
I love when things are ‘rare’. Think about it…it’s immeasurably rare that a GOD would do all of these things FOR US. Protect us, Redeem us, Save us, Die for us, Provide for us…the list goes on and on. What seems impossibly rare is that while He’s doing all of this for us…we realize that it’s not just a one or two time deal.
Say it over and over and over and over: His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.
His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.
Lesson learned. Never stop saying it. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
GOD will not stop providing for you. No matter who you are. No matter where you are right now, no matter what you’re going through.
Let your MIND and heart recite all the things GOD has and is doing for you…let your LIFE show your unwavering trust that it will never cease!
What a lesson learned, in one of the most obscure, rare corners of the Bible. I am always amazed at what the Word of GOD reveals.
Deception. The word alone irritates us. It makes our skin crawl. What words come to mind when you hear the word DECEPTION? Fake. Liar. Untrue. Broken Trust. Deliberate.
The word deception, or deceived always means there was a deceiver somewhere close by. Someone, some THING that messed with you. That betrayed you. You were taken down a road by the enemy dressed in a friends clothing.
Was it a friend? Spouse? Child? Pastor? Politician? Co-worker? Celebrity of influence?
Sometimes it’s not any of these things. Sometimes, it’s you. You know, the times you have convinced yourself about something, or someone and you formulate an entire scenario in your mind that hasn’t even happened…yet it festers. You convince yourself of something that actually isn’t even true of that person.
The Bible says much of deception. None more revealing than the return of Christ. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a
1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way.
While this passage is obviously warning us NOT to buy into predictions about when Christ will return….it is very interesting that Paul (assuming he authored this book) knows this is a mind battle.
How many times have I had people asking me to help someone who isn’t using their mind clearly. Clear-thinking friends worried about a loved one who is so wrapped up in WHOEVER, WHATEVER they’re into…their mind is clouded and bad judgement resounds.
Just like when we let things grow in our minds, without talking to that person. Just like when we refuse to listen to trusted loved ones who are concerned about a habit or a pattern in your life.
It’s all about our minds. When we are ‘shaken in mind’ we lose our ability to rationalize…we lack sound judgement…and in the process, we inevitably hurt the very person or people that love us the most.
Romans 12:2 tells us: be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Maybe your mind needs renewed.
Like a herbal cleanse does our insides good…maybe it’s time you flush out the toxins in your mind? Deception digs his talons into the minds of those who are willing to allow it in.
Pray. Fast. Retreat. Ask God to reveal His will for these situations in your life. To reveal who is deceiving you. To stop you from deceiving yourself. To stop Satan from tempting you. To humble yourself to listen to loved ones warnings. To let go of situations you have made up in your own mind. To reach out to those we need to pull close.
Friends, we’re all deceived about something right now. I pray you invite God to renew your mind today.
Deception met its death at the cross. Leave it there.
Oh 1984. You gave us unforgettable movies like Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, Gremlins, The Karate Kid, Police Academy, Purple Rain, The Natural and of course, Red Dawn.
Drama, Horror, Comedy, Adventure and Sci Fi. All popular categories that are a recipe for box office gold when coupled with a compelling story, good acting and A level cinematography.
Movies in the 80’s had a flare for overacting. Who gets THAT excited to swim in a pool like in CaddyShack, or THAT pumped to jump in a lake at night off a dock at a secluded cabin like in (pick your favorite horror movie) ?? The examples are endless, so I’ll just stop here.
Sure we were on the brink with inevitable nuclear war with Russia, Germany was cracking down the middle, Ethiopia was decimated by famine, AIDS was ripping through society and the Middle East threatened to tear itself apart and take Israel with it………………but that wasn’t important enough to keep us from our one, true goal: The pinnacle of fighting for our rights! Not social rights, not freedom of speech or equality of race….no way….
1984 showed us that although the world around us was on the verge of utter destruction, one thing remained as the focus of our Right ….to Fight!!!!!!! For, DANCING??
Watchyou-talkin-bout-Willis? Exactly.
Can I really quote every stupid line to a movie that told me nothing was more important that my right to dance, in a barn?
Oh yeah. LET’S DAAAAANNNNCCCEEE!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!! GLITTER!!!!!!!!!! CHEERING, ENDLESS CHEERING!!!!!! UNREALISTIC JOY!!!!!!! IS THAT THE DAD FROM HARRY AND THE HENDERSON’S???? WHO CARES!!! WE. CAN. DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1984, you gave us Footloose.
Yes, I’ve seen it 4,000 times and refuse to watch the modern remake. Why? Because while the news was painting a bleak portrait of the world nightly, while KISS was still misunderstood as a bunch of Satanists, while you had to go to the dark side of your cable switcher and flip it to **gasp** ‘B’ just to get to the evil MTV that was going to destroy every kids mind and ruin Christianity (insert sarcasm)……amidst all of this….
While the Beastie Boys were telling us to party…
Kevin Bacon showed us that we have a right, to fight, for…..dancing.
whoa.
I still laugh at the ridiculousness of the premise of this movie but I’ve come to realize one thing it taught me:
Don’t underestimate the power of joy and dancing, thankfulness and cheering. And glitter, by the truck load.
When is the last time you went over the top and overacted for God, just to show Him you really care? It’s only damaging if other people see you do it:)
And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 2 Samuel 6:14
I don’t know about you but I don’t own a priestly garment. Who cares.
The important thing is that you stop feeling stupid in front of a God who designed you to comunicate with HIM in a million different ways.
Express it however you want, be thankful, be grateful, smile and pump those fists like a bad 80’s movie…
After all, He’s worth it:)
**WARNING** the following is longer and more in depth than normal, this is not for the skimmer. If you need to get in and get out quick to log in your Jesus hours, come back to this post later.
Once upon a time there was an old man who had lived a fairy tale life. He had been the recipient of wisdom and knowledge. Like a wish granted by a genie he was given the crown of the wisest man who ever lived. He had more wealth than any billionaires today could fathom. He had more power ruling his kingdom than any president could even imagine. He truly had it all.
Wisdom, Power, Women, Security, Health, Money and blessings that none since have even tasted the slightest portion of this mans awesomeness.
He made the most interesting man in the world look like the most boring loser you’ve ever met.
His name of course was Solomon. His dad was a pretty big deal too. This son of the giant-killer was blessed beyond our wildest dreams.
As Solomon grew older he was quite brash and forthcoming in his straight-to-the-point delivery of wisdom…in theological terms…he just said what sucks about life.
One of my all time favorite portions of scripture happens at the hand of an old, wise, opinionated Solomon. Take a breath and read these verses from Ecclesiastes chapter 12. DON’T SKIM OVER THEM….SOAK IT IN.
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,t and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
What beauty in his words here. While somewhat depressing, fresh and certainly needed.
The allegory is what captures me. It’s what has drawn me to this scripture over the years. Solomon paints us a stunning and deflating picture of what it’s like to grow old…and why we should not waste time living, WHILE we’re dying.
Let’s break it down: ( a portion of this break down is from Keith Krell )
v2 talks of his fading capacity for joy and excitement as he grew older
v3 Solomon says that the “the watchmen of the house tremble.” This means that the arms and hands shake and become feeble. When he says that the “mighty men stoop,” he is referring to the shoulders, legs, and back slumping and becoming feeble. Your knees buckle when your belt won’t!
In 12:4 Solomon says, “and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low.” This refers to the loss of hearing. To make matters worse, Solomon writes, “and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.” These two phrases mean that as we age we will struggle to sleep and we will wake up early. Furthermore, our voices will quiver and weaken. We will be hard to hear.
In 12:5 Solomon says, “Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road.” This refers to fear of injury due to frailty. The following phrases are rather picturesque: “the almond tree blossoms”487refers to our hair turning white. The phrase “the grasshopper drags himself along” speaks of the halting walk of the elderly (“grasslimpers”).488 The phrase “the caperberry489[desire] is ineffective” refers to a decrease in the appetites of life (e.g., food and sex). In other words, you turn out the light for economic rather than romantic reasons. And tragically, even though you eat less and less you tend to gain more and more as you age. This begins in your twenties. The final phrase in 12:5 is, “For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.” The point being, man dies and life goes on.
In 12:6 Solomon writes, “Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl iscrushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed.” All of the items mentioned in 12:6 are associated with a well. Throughout Scripture, a well is a metaphor for life. But this one is no longer being used for drawing water. Someday your body is going to wear out. You will be nothing but a dry shell of your former self. The four verbs emphasize the finality of life. You and I are going to die! As bad as this sounds, remember, Art Linkletter once said that it’s better to be over the hill than under it. Whatever life is for us, wherever we find ourselves in age or stage, every moment is a gift of God—brightly wrapped, waiting to be opened, admired, and delighted in. The bittersweet nature of loss makes the present more precious; knowing that the silver cord will one day slip away, we cherish it all the more while it is in our hands.
What are you living for TODAY? God will call us each home…believe me, I absolutely cannot wait for that day. I welcome it. I desire it.
Until then I have a job to do. I have blessings of my own that I need to NOT look past. So do you. Death is coming like a freight train with a one way ticket to see Jesus.
Don’t waste another second.
Another amazing Ohio Sunset! Love it here in the fall! (Taken with Instagram)
I wrote this on a friends wall today. Upon reading it to myself I have to laugh. Literally nothing is working right on my facebook. If you ever just stop hearing from me…it’s not that I’m dead, it’s that my final way to post has shut down. If this is the case I will destroy my current page and build a new one. I will have no pictures, videos or fun things archived for your enjoyment. I am not mad at facebook…how could I be….it’s a FREE service. It is frustrating when I wish I could communicate better on it…if it would let me. Let the following list be a lesson to us all…you get what you pay for.
I cannot post a status on the app, because no one sees it. I cannot post a status on facebook on the web, because no one sees it. I cannot Selective Tweet it from Twitter anymore because no one sees it. I cannot use Instagram because no one sees it. I cannot upload any pics via the app because no one sees it. I cannot email the pics in on my iPhone anymore because no one can see it. I just figured out I can upload through Camera+ and people see it…for now. I cannot ‘share’ any links because no one can see it. I cannot link anyone’s name in any status. The ONLY way I can update my status is by texting it in via my iPhone. Literally sending a text to facebook. This means I am limited on the length of my post AND I cannot link or share anything on a post because no one will see it. I cannot upload a video to facebook via my iPhone because facebook won’t let it show up anymore. I CAN email my video from my iPhone to myself, drag it to the desktop on my macbook, go to facebook on my web, upload that video and it posts to my wall. The problem is NO ONE SEES it so there are no comments. It literally doesn’t exist anywhere else but on my laptop screen. Last night I posted a status from twitter. I got 1 comment in 15 minutes. I decided to post the exact same thing via text (the only way FB lets me post) and had 45 comments and 90 likes in 10 minutes. I have to ‘tag’ myself in photos for them to appear anywhere on anyones newsfeed. If I want to ‘link’ or ‘share’ anything I need to first text my status in that says “hey, look at the comments on this post for me to link something”. Then I comment on my own post and link what I need to. Maybe I even ‘like’ my own post so someone….ANYONE can see it.