The Last Chapter

The purpose of the Bible? Salvation. God's highest passion is to get His children home. His book, the Bible, describes His plan of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God's plan and passion to save His children.  Max Lucado

Have you ever thought about what kind of book you would write about your life?  What kind of chapters would it include?  Would there be chapters you would rather they were never written? What really matters in the book of your life is how it ends.    

Our life on earth is like an unwritten book.  The pages are blank when we are born.  It is up to us to fill in the blanks. What would be your story if you were writing your novel?  I know for me I would have chapters that I would rather they had never been written.  These are filled with the mistakes I made in my life and the sins I have committed. 

Then there are chapters that I would be pleased to have someone read.  These would be filled with the things I have done for others, the times I showed love or kindness or longsuffering for another. 

My problem with this autobiography is I am afraid there might be more bad chapters than good.  There would also be chapters where it started out good and ended badly.  These are the ones where I was showing love to someone but then took the credit for myself instead of giving the glory to God, or I started out loving and the chapter ended in anger. 

I love books with happy endings.  I am disappointed when the end doesn’t live up to my expectations.  It is a big letdown.  What if God created the Bible and didn’t tell us the ending?  What if He left out the Book of Revelation?  When I picture the events in Revelation and then think about if God had left that book out that scares me even more.  Can you imagine living on earth when the events in this book occur?  

God gives each of us the opportunity to see how the story ends.  He didn’t leave us hanging for the sequel.  There is a beginning and an end.   Right now you are in the process of writing your story.  How will your story end?   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there are good and bad chapters in my book.  I want my book to be filled with chapters of grace and mercy, pages filled with love and kindness toward others. I would want to include in every chapter my love and thankfulness for your grace and mercy on me.  Thank You for giving me the opportunity to write my story.  Help me to make it a best seller for Your Kingdom.                        

Scripture: But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:22-23

The Killdeer

In a Tibetan village I noticed a crowd of people standing under a burning tree and looking up into the branches. I came near and discovered in the branches a bird which was anxiously flying round a nest full of young ones. The mother bird wanted to save her little ones, but she could not. When the fire reached the nest the people waited breathlessly to see what she would do. No one could climb the tree, no one could help her. Now she could easily have saved her own life by flight, but instead of fleeing she sat down on the nest, covering the little ones carefully with her wings. The fire seized her and burnt her to ashes. She showed her love to her little ones by giving her life for them. If then, this little insignificant creature had such love, how much more must our Heavenly Father love His children, the Creator love His creatures!  Sadhu Sundar Singh

Most of you know by now that I love to watch nature.  I love to watch nature because it is like seeing God in every movement. Birds are interesting to me.  When God made birds he was extremely creative.  Where else would you have a bird whose body is too big for its legs, but that can stand upright without toppling over?  You already know about my past experiences with trying to construct a bird nest for Gladys and the Pips.  Only God could create something that can build a nest like that.

In the spring and early summer on my parents farm there are always opportunities to see nature at work.  One of the birds I see at the farm is the killdeer.  The reason it is called a killdeer is because that is the sound it makes.

One of the interesting things about this bird is where it builds its nest.  I don’t know if they do this everywhere, but at the farm they build their nests in the middle of the shell driveway.  I don’t think this little bird has knowledge of what kind of predator a car is because they certainly build the nest in a dangerous place.  Anytime you drive out of the driveway the mother bird will run out. There is also a rock pile that we use for planting lavender and they will build their nest at the top of the pile on the rocks.  Their eggs are also camouflaged so you can’t tell them from the rocks.

Another interesting thing they do is they will play like they are injured if you get near their nest.  They will flop around like they have an injured wing and they make a lot of noise to get your attention.  They do this do draw predators away from the nest. 

When I think of God’s creation and how it is all intended to work together, I don’t understand how others can’t see we were created by an amazing God. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, when You created the earth, You also created amazing creatures to live on it. If I want to see You, all I need do is sit still and watch nature.  The amazing capacity of survival that you created in the birds of the air is a small example of Your Greatness. I can barely fathom the uniqueness of these small creatures. You tell me if I seek You all these things I need will be added to me.  You are my Savior and Redeemer.  I praise Your Holy Name.

Scripture: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  Matthew 6:25-34

 

Least Likely to Succeed

My attitude was and still is like that of David, who was ashamed that the armies of Israel would tremble before Goliath. Without hesitation he stepped forward with complete confidence in the God who had proven Himself to be faithful (1 Sam 17). For David, the size of the giant was irrelevant.  Dave Hunt

As you step into the battle for truth, God will supply all you need, and your faith will grow ever stronger in Him. The church needs more "Davids"--men and women ready to be used in defense of the truth against the "giants" of unbelief.  Dave Hunt

My Dad came over to our house last night and we started talking about God and how He works in our lives.  One of the things we discussed is how God does the unexpected.  God doesn’t do things the way we would do them.  That is why He is God and we are not. 

The conversation turned to David.  I always love reading about David.  His own family didn’t think he was qualified to be king.  Jesse thought he was only capable of herding sheep so he didn’t even put David in the king lineup with his brothers.  David’s occupation as sheep herder didn’t make him king material as far as the world was concerned. 

God thought differently.  He knew exactly whom He would choose as king. As Samuel watched all of Jesse’s sons as they were presented as potential king, God kept saying no not this one.

Another thing I like about David is he failed over and over again but God still loved him. He murdered, he lusted after someone else’s wife and killed to get her. Yet David accomplished amazing things through God.  In our world if you were heading into battle with a rock and a slingshot you would be laughed at and ridiculed just as David was in his day.  The key here was that David had a heart for God.  He loved God even though he failed over and over again.

As Dad and I talked, we discussed how our ways are not God’s ways.  God doesn’t accomplish things in the way we think He should and isn’t that the ultimate blessing.  Our power and might is nothing compared to God’s.  Why do we place limits on what God can accomplish in our lives through Him?  Sometimes I think it is insecurity and at other times I think it is our need to control our circumstances. 

If we ever get in line with what God has planned for our life, a slingshot and a rock wouldn’t sound so silly would it? If I come to the end of self and turn it all over to God the possibilities of what God can do are endless.   The unexpected will happen.  

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise You for giving me examples in the Bible of men and women who were ordinary, who through your strength became extraordinary.  I pray that You will use me in the same way.  It may not be a rock and a slingshot, but who knows, maybe if I turn myself over to You, I will have potential just like David.                       

Scripture: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:1-6

 

The Peanut

When I was young, I said to God, "God, tell me the mystery of the universe." But God answered, "That knowledge is reserved for me alone." So I said, "God, tell me the mystery of the peanut." Then God said, "Well George, that's more nearly your size." And he told me.  George Washington Carver

Do you ever get impatient with God?  One of the hardest things for me to do is to wait.  In the world we live in there is a great aversion to waiting.  We don’t want to wait in line, wait until we can afford something, wait for dinner or wait our turn.  We are not waiters we are doers.  We want instant gratification.  Why else would the drive-thru and the microwave be invented than to make things move faster so we can run to the next thing on our list of important things to do?  So we treat God like the drive-thru window at our favorite fast-food restaurant.

The problem is, we tend to do this with God as well.  We want immediate answers to our prayers.  We don’t want to wait on His timing, which is perfect, we want it now.  So instead of meditating on His Word and praying continuously, we pray once and then wait for something to happen.  The great irony is, when God doesn’t respond immediately we blame Him for not giving us what we want or we stop praying all together.  Then we go a step further and tell ourselves that God really doesn’t care about me so why should I go to him to meet my needs. This is when Satan gets in the driver’s seat and begins to take over our life.

I started thinking about why God doesn’t give us more responsibility.  If we can’t wait for Him to answer, why would he give us more knowledge or responsibility?  It is ironic how we want answers to the big stuff before we get the answers to the small stuff.

I think I need to teach myself how to wait.  Maybe I should pick the longest line at the bank.  Have you ever noticed that when you pick the shortest line at the bank, the longer lines move faster?  You get in the shortest line at the grocery store and the person in front of you pulls out a folder full of coupons and a newspaper so they can get the comparison price.  Maybe instead of spending my time in line getting frustrated I should spend it praying. 

If I am no longer waiting impatiently in lines for stuff that will make no difference to my eternal life, maybe I would get closer to the One who created me.  A side effect of this might be that my spirit reflects joy instead of impatience.  Then maybe I just might let the person behind me who only has one item go in front of me and show that person who God really is.  Jesus made himself last when he lived on earth.  If we are to become more like Him, we need to learn to be last.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I get impatient waiting in line.  Too many times I want to know the mystery of the universe before I have even learned the mystery of You.  Help me to slow down and wait on You.  My impatience often make me miss the very things You are trying to teach me.                     

Scripture: Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.  Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old.  Psalm 25:4-6

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. Psalm 37:6-8

 

Buried Treasure

When you leave this world, will you be known as one who accumulated treasures on earth that you couldn't keep? Or will you be recognized as one who invested treasures in heaven that you couldn't lose? Randy Alcorn

When we were kids we would go on what I like to call adventure vacations.  We didn’t go to fancy resorts or Disneyworld.  Every summer we would go camping to various State Parks. 

One of the vacations we went on was to Murfreesboro Arkansas.  We went to Crater of Diamonds State Park.  This is the only diamond producing site in the world that is open to the public.  The other great thing about the park is whatever you find you get to keep. The park officials will identify what you find and you get to keep it no matter what the value.  Plus there are over 40 different types of minerals and rocks found at this location.

So imagine you are a 5 or 6 year old kid and you get to go to a 37 acre plowed field and dig in the dirt.  You are handed a kid size shovel and bucket and you actually get to go sit in the dirt and play in it.  You may not be the kind of person who likes to get dirty but for me this was like the best treasure hunt ever. 

This reminded me of the treasure that is found in the Bible.  There is hidden treasure buried in this amazing Book that is just waiting to be dug up. Sometimes you have to continue to dig deeper to find the good stuff.  The beauty of the Bible is there is so much treasure to be found.  The thing is you have to keep digging.  Just when I think I have mined everything I can get out of a single verse, another treasure appears that draws me further in.  Most likely you will never find all the treasure to be found in the Bible in one lifetime.  

If you are looking for the adventure of a lifetime, open the Bible.  You will be amazed at the amount of treasure that can be found and the best treasure is on the other side.  Heaven.  

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I was thinking about those long ago days of the adventurous vacations I took as a child.  This memory brought thoughts of You and how much treasure you have buried in the Bible.  Your heavenly treasure is there for anyone to find.  I never get tired of studying Your Word as there is wealth beyond measure in every verse.                    

Scripture: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Techno Wizard

There's not a single thing on offer in this all-too-temporary world for which you should ever sell your soul.  Alan Keyes

I have a new phone and so does my husband.  We were talking last night and Jerry was telling me about a guy he knows who still has a flip phone.  He decided to buy a SIM card cutter to save money and insert it into his new/used phone. I didn’t even know what a SIM cutter was so I looked it up.  I guess is cuts your SIM card down to size.     

The phone I recently bought is an iPhone.  You already know how technologically challenged I am.  I was talking to Jerry on my way home from work and I forgot to end the call.  I am driving along and since the phone had been on speaker all of a sudden I hear Jerry say “Hang up your phone”.  I thought I would wreck the car because it sounded like he was inside the car with me. 

I went to dinner with my nephews and they had to show me how to set my percentage so I would know how much battery life I had left.  There is also this woman on my phone who tells me where to go.  I didn’t even know she was in there until my nephew showed me how to find her.

One of my nephews told me he is taking a special class this summer related to technology.  He used words I’ve never heard of so I had to ask him to explain it to me.  It has to do with pixels and moving them around and reconfiguring something to restructure the design.  If you really want to feel dumb you should talk to a 16 year old or maybe a 4 year old.  I’ve found they know more about my technology than I do.  

My husband bought a Galaxy so his phone looks like a big screen TV.  Do you remember the cell phones that first came out?  They were the size of your home phone and you had to have a special antennae on your car to use it. 

Technology is taking over the world.  Everywhere you look there are commercials about the latest and greatest technology.  As soon as you walk off the showroom floor with your new phone it is obsolete.  Technology companies have us figured out too.  Instead of making a chip that is compatible with your current phone that you can change every few years for $20, they make technology that doesn’t work with your old one so you have to buy a new one for $499.  The only way to not pay that $499 price tag is to call the company and tell them how long you have been with them.  You have to convince them that you are a good customer and have been for years.  That is how Jerry and I bought our phones for $50.  We did have to spend several hours on the phone with a representative and then get transferred to a manager but in the end we didn’t pay $499 per phone.

I started thinking about how God works in my life.  He doesn’t keep changing the plan.  The same plan that existed hundreds of years ago is still good today.  The billing hasn’t changed and I don’t sign a two year contract. With God I have a lifetime contract and my bill is already paid.  Christ paid my bill on the cross.   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I sometimes get tired of technology.  Many times it takes me away from spending time with You.  If I forget my phone at home I start to worry and ask myself, “what if something happens to my car?”  If I stop and remember that You are always with me, not having my phone doesn’t matter so much anymore and it's not necessary for me to be a techno wizard.                

Scripture: The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  John 8:12-13

 

Near Misses

The best moment of a Christian's life is his last one, because it is the one that is nearest heaven. And then it is that he begins to strike the keynote of the song which he shall sing to all eternity.  Charles Spurgeon

Have you ever looked back over your life and thought about your near misses?  What I mean by that is the times you missed getting hit by a car, or getting into an accident or you happened to move one way or another and disaster didn’t happen.

I started thinking about some of the near misses in my life where God saved me.  There was the time I was driving down the freeway to church and there was a car in front of me.  I was watching the driver in front of me and all of a sudden he swerved to the right.  I looked ahead of me and there was a tarp in the middle of the road.  It wasn’t just any tarp; it was one that an eighteen wheeler uses to covers its cargo. The problem was it wasn’t flat but was folded and stood about 3 feet high in the middle of my lane.  I swerved to the left and missed it by inches. 

There are red lights and stop signs I have run by not paying attention.  There was the hospital stay where the dose of medicine was too large and I passed out and the emergency medical team had to come in and revive me.

My husband told me about one he had many years ago.  He was at a golf tournament and a storm blew in.  He had been standing under a large oak tree but had moved away from it.  Soon after he moved lightning struck the tree and there was a man standing under it and a large limb fell on him and it killed him instantly.  Jerry had been standing in that spot just 10 minutes earlier.

God has a purpose for each of us.  We can either live up to what God’s plan is for us or we can squander it on things that don’t matter to our eternal life.  It is a scary thing to think that our last breath could be tomorrow, today or in the next few moments. 

I want my life to have meaning.  Not just meaning in the sense that I was successful or powerful or beautiful.  When I think of my last day on earth, I want it to mean something to God’s kingdom.  If the last thing someone says of me when I am laid in the ground is that she loved God and lived her life for Him, then every near miss was worth it.  I still have time, whatever God allows, and what I make of it is up to me.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise You for giving me this time.  Only You know when my last breath will be on this earth.  Help me to use it to tell others about You. If You can be glorified by something I do, I praise you for the opportunity.                   

Scripture: But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.  Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24