Are You Throwing Away Treasures?

2 Corinthians 4:8 (New International Version)

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.

I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found hundreds of dollars’ worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of hundreds of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home thousands, but he just threw it away.

You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it, we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person by God.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I don't think he means just our physical bodies. I think he means our spiritual selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the "earthen vessel." But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Father to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

Don't come to the end of your life and find out that you threw away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.

Dear Lord, let us see the people we come in contact with today as you see them. We pray that we would look for the treasure in them. In Jesus’  Amen.

Do You Need to Be Rescued From a "Plane Wreck"?

Proverbs 18:24 (New International Version)

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

B. H. McDaniel was a very successful orthodontist with a thriving practice. He also loved to fly his plane for a hobby. One day, he was flying from El Paso, TX to Lufkin, TX, when the engine stalled, and he couldn't start it again. He was over the Davy Crockett National Forest, so an emergency landing was going to be almost impossible. But God was with him every step of the way. He looked down and saw an opening among the trees. He tried to set the plane down in the little spot, but it was too short for landing. His plane hit hard, skidded into the trees on the other side of the field and broke into flames. B.H. broke his back in the crash and lay helpless as the fire began to burn.

By the providence of the Lord, a farmer saw the plane go down and hurried to the wreckage. He pulled the Doctor to safety just in time, as the aircraft was engulfed in flames.

B. H. was taken to a local hospital. That started the long journey of healing, then therapy. It was going to take over two years to get even limited use of his legs back. Naturally that was to wreak havoc on his orthodontic practice.

Enter Dr. Stephen Kerr. Stephen had attended dental college in the early days with B.H. and they had become fast friends. One school day without really thinking about it, the two men made a "friendship pact" (much like David and Jonathan in the Bible) that they would take care of the other’s family in case something happened. Then they went on without ever really thinking about it.

Now something had happened! There was B.H. lying paralyzed in a hospital bed. He opened his eyes to see Stephen standing in the room. It was good of him to come to B.H. and give support in his darkest hour. But he did more than that. Stephen was there to stay. He was an orthodontist also. He immediately went home to Houston and shut down his own practice. He sold his home; then, he and the entire Kerr family moved to El Paso to run the clinic for B.H. He purchased a portion of B.H.’s practice (to give him cash) and then shared the profits with him to give B.H. an income.

That kindness lasted 12 years! That’s right! He did the work and shared the income with B.H. until the injured man could get around -- first on crutches, then canes, and when he could sit to do his work. Only then did Stephen sell his interest in the business back to B.H. and go home.

"How do you thank a friend like that?" Asked B.H. "You couldn’t if you tried 100 years" *

Because of our sin, you and I were facing the “plane wreck” of eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14), but Jesus came to us (John 1:14). But He did more than that. He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins (Ephesians 1:7) so that we might live eternally with Him in heaven.

How do you thank a friend like that? You can't, even if you tried 1,000 years! But you CAN be grateful, and you CAN accept His offer of salvation by placing your faith and trust in, turning from sin in repentance, confessing Jesus before men, and being baptized  into Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Dear Lord today we thank You for being a friend closer than a brother. We thank You for rescuing us for the plane wreck and being there for us always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are You an "Indian-Type" Friend?

Galatians 6:2, (The Living  Bible)

"Share each other's troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord's command"

The North American Indians had no written language before they met the white man. Their language, however, was far from primitive. Many of the Indians had as many words in their vocabulary as their English and French exploiters. Some of their words were much more picturesque, too. For example, "friend" to the Indians was "one-who-carries-my-sorrows-on-his-back."

Everybody needs at least one trusted "Indian-type" friend with whom he or she can share his or her deepest sorrows and painful feelings. We all need a helping hand and a listening ear when we're going through difficult times.

Are you an "Indian-type” friend? Why not ask God to help you become “one-who-carries-my-sorrows-on-his-back" type of friend today. What better way to show God’s love to those we call our friends.

Dear Lord help us to be an "Indian-type" friend today. Help us show Your love to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Parrot and Bad Company

Proverbs 13:20-21 (New International Version)

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,

    for a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,

    but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

Here is a story I read about a parrot that I thought has a great lesson for each of us to take heart.

An old parrot flew out of a farm house and joined some crows in a watermelon patch. The farmer, not knowing this and trying to protect his crop from the crows, blasted them with his shotgun. The results were dead crows and one ruffled parrot with a missing toe. The farmer tenderly took him home where the excited children gathered around and asked, "What did it?". The parrot answered, "Bad Company!" The parrot spoke wiser than he knew. His foolish choice of associates had endangered him. So it is with us - bad days come from bad companions, and better days with better associates.

Dear Lord we pray today that we would choose wisely the people we hang out with. In Jesus, name, Amen.

Blessed are .......

Matthew 5:3-10 (New International Version)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Sooner or later we will all realize the futility of trying to be in control of our circumstances, and we will come to understand that our life has been a total sham. Hopefully it won't be while we are on our deathbed!

God, in His goodness, will give us many opportunities throughout our lives to contemplate real life, real freedom and real love. More often than not, however, we simply shrug our shoulders and go on without a second thought.

Still, only when we are completely broken inside can we truly realize that there is more to life than wildly running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But in all honesty, is our stressful life truly the full life Jesus promises us? "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)

This was a concept the Germans didn't realize during World War I. They wanted complete control, and complete control they had. Or so it seemed to them. They hadn't yet conquered all of Europe, but they had Belgium under their control! And though the Netherlands succeeded in shaking them off their back, the Germans continued to strive for total control.

No communication was allowed between these two countries, and this was easily controlled. Or at least that's what the Germans thought when they erected a three-meter electric fence and sent 2000 volts of current between these two countries. "Ha! That will keep them away!"

However in any plan designed to control someone's behavior, there is always gaps that we never considered. Ingenious Hollanders found a way around this electric fence. Or should I say "through it"! They found out that if they put a wooden barrel between the wires, they could crawl through the barrel to the other side without any consequences. Soon they were regularly smuggling mail between the two countries.

Yes, the Germans thought they had the country completely in control, especially since they had a backup plan. They had German troops patrolling "the wire", or "Het draad", as they called it in Dutch. And yes once, one of these troops caught one of these pundits and shot him on the spot. But it didn't stop the communication between these two countries.

Eventually the Germans realized they could not control all of their conquered countries, and World War I came to an end. They never completely gave up the idea of controlling all of Europe, however, and the entire world as well, and a mere twenty years later Hitler came into power. Fortunately for the world, he, too, had to come to the realization that total control was impossible.

Broken, many of these soldiers, as well as the inhabitants of the European countries who had suffered throughout the wars, discovered a refuge in the One they considered their Shepherd. He was the One they could trust at all times, to Him they surrendered their lives. Through brokenness they discovered there is more to life than just barely living!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Ps 23:1-3 NIV)

If you are facing despair and solitude because of your circumstances, consider the hope Jesus, our Lord, is offering you. Even amidst absolute turmoil, you can experience real living. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

Dear Lord we thank You for the fact that we don’t have to despair but only look up to You. Thanks for the freedom You bring. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What is In Charge of You?

Colossians 1:13-14 (New International Version)

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Tammy (not her real name) faced a promising future. She was a bright and outgoing kid who enjoyed life to the fullest. When she was seven years old however, she came face to face with a fierce temptation: to steal one of her parents' cigarettes. She was unable to resist, and one day when she was away from the direct supervision of her parents, she tried it. It tasted nasty; nonetheless, she was determined that she would smoke it, just as she saw her parents do. And she did. All the way down to the butt.

In all honesty, it was an innocent act. She was simply curious to find out why her parents smoked so much. But one cigarette wasn't enough to tell her. She had to try it again. And again. Before long she experienced first-hand the answer to her question. She, too, became addicted. Now she didn't just steal cigarettes out of curiosity, she stole them because she needed them. She had to be careful though, because if her parents ever found out, she would most definitely be punished.

The next five years were a living hell. Tammy had to lie, steal and cheat to continue her habit. She wanted to quit, and she tried everything in her power to do so, but to no avail. She had handed over her authority to enjoy life to its fullest to the vicious tyranny of nicotine.

When she was twelve years old, she decided to seek outside help. She confessed her living lie to her teacher. He gave her some tips and said he would pray for her. Then he suggested that she rely on her best friend for strength in breaking the habit. The suggestions turned her life around. It wasn't easy at first, but she was eventually delivered from the claws of this monstrous habit, and after five years of slavery, she was finally free.

This true story is a perfect illustration of what has happened to humankind since Eden. Adam, the first representative of mankind, had been created in the image of God and was designated as the ruler of this world: "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Gen 1:26 NIV)

This God-given authority was quickly undermined however, when Adam fell for the lies and deceptions of Satan: "'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" (Gen 3:4-5 NIV)

The trap had been set and humankind took the bait. Not realizing that they had renounced their allegiance to the One who made them rulers in the first place, they inadvertently accepted Satan as their ruler and master.

The devil's authority was shattered however, when Jesus died for us on the cross and was resurrected three days later. God, who had become one of us, made redemption possible: "For he has rescued us from the dominion  of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:13-14 NIV)

Isn't God awesome? He doesn't work on this Earth independently of us; He works through a partnership with humanity!

The devil was defeated on the cross. He has lost his claims on planet Earth forever. He no longer has any authority! He does still have power, however. His power lies in his ability to deceive. When we fall for his deceptions, we give him authority over our lives and he takes us captive: "[Satan goes] out to deceive the nations…" (Rev 20:8 NIV)

Just like Tammy who gave her authority over to an addictive lifestyle, numerous human beings are caught unaware by the deceptions of the evil one (alcohol, stealing, sex addiction, workaholic…). Those imprisoned may not even realize that they are pawns in the devil's hand, but in reality, they are his prisoners and release seems impossible.

As followers of Christ, we have authority to bind the evil one. We need depend on God's Spirit for guidance and pray with the authority Jesus has given us, binding Satan legally, rendering his evil works to nothingness, and God will back us up with His power. Believe and trust in the One who made it possible and watch the impossible become possible. Believe in the salvation of your loved ones and claim their freedom over the addictions bestowed on them through the deceptions of the devil. Believe, watch and be blessed.

Dear Lord we thank You that the devil has no authority over us. Help us claim victory today that is possible because You paid the price on the cross. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We Are Triumphant Through Christ.

Romans 8:14-17 (New American Standard Bible)

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery [a]leading to fear again, but you have received [b]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

In 1806, right after his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon I ordered the construction of the Arc de Triomphe. It was finally finished in 1836, 30 years later. The design of this Arc was inspired by the antique Arch of Constantine in Rome, but it ended up being twice as high and twice as wide as the original. Although it was designed by the French architect Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin (A bit long for a first name, don't you think?), it had to be completed after his death by Jean-Amand Eaymond (A bit easier to pronounce!)

The purpose of the Arc of the Triomphe was to celebrate major victories during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Thus, its name! Each great victory is engraved at the top of the Arc, along with a list of 558 generals. In addition, there are four relief sculptures at the base of the Arc celebrating the Triumph of 1810; Résistance, and Peace and the Departure of the Volunteers, also known as La Marseillaise. Finally, the tomb of the unknown soldier can also be found beneath the Arc.

The biggest celebration at the Arc de Triumph happened in 1944, at the end of World War II. During the liberation, General Charles de Gaulle (From there the name of the place) marched victoriously through Paris. Every year on Armistice Day (November 11), there is a great celebration in memory of the triumphant victories over the German armies and over the despot kings of the past, as well as a commemoration for all of those who died for the cause of freedom.

We have an even bigger cause to celebrate, so big that we should be celebrating it daily.Thanks to Jesus who died willingly for our freedom, we now have the possibility of becoming not only the sons and daughters of God, but also "co-heirs with Christ"! No need to be enslaved to fear any longer! Jesus set us free! Claim it and you will receive it! Isn't that cause for the biggest celebration of all times?

There is one part of this victory, however, that we often seem to forget. We need to share "in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Just like the French people. Before they could share in the joy of D-day, they first had their share of suffering during all of those wars!

So when we are facing temptation, let's remember that the pain of resisting is but a small part of the suffering that will lead us to "His glory!" Or if we are feeling much like an atomic bomb in our anger, remember that to resist the temptation to get angry is but a fraction of the pain that giving in would bring, and this tiny bit of suffering will lead us to victory. If our addictions are knocking on our door, keep it closed. The pain involved in doing so is but a component of that suffering that leads us to utter joy. Remember: We aren't alone in this. If we rely on Jesus, He will give us the necessary strength!

Are we ready to celebrate daily? Temporary suffering will lead to eternal bliss if we let God shine through it all!

Dear Lord we thank You that the suffering we have here on Earth is temporary. We thank You for conquering all and that You have given it to us so we may experience the freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.