Slavery

     I am saddened over the division in our country and the lack of respect for our justice system.  As I watched the discord over the outcome of the Zimmerman trial I believe that a lot of the problem stems from long ago with past slavery issues.  I wish I could say that slavery is a thing of the past but as I sit under “A Friendly Shade,” I am thinking of a totally different type of slavery which imprisons us.   We are all free today under the law, but we make ourselves slaves and imprison ourselves when we fail to forgive, when we fail to put the past behind us, when we fail to control our thoughts and our anger, and when we fail to accept responsibility for our own actions and the result of those actions.     

     In all honesty, no one is new to slavery.  Most everyone has been a slave at some point in time, and I see more and more people becoming slaves today.    We, ourselves, are to blame.  It does no good to point the finger at someone else because we will find there are 3 more pointing back at us.  As difficult as it may sometimes be, most of us are  not willing to overcome our obstacles and face our own responsibility. 

     There are many sources of slavery I could choose to write about, but as a banker I have chosen money or, rather, our lack of money.  We find in the Old Testament that when the famine came the people had not planned.  They had not stored up a reserve to assist them in times of need. 

     “When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.”  Genesis 47:15   This was the beginning of slavery for the Israelites.  Their torture, labor, and torment lasted for years until God rescued them.  After that amazing saving experience they still grumbled.  Even though they saw miracles, they were not content.  They cheered as God divided the Red Sea and allowed them to walk through to dry land.  They witnessed the miracle as God led them by day in a pillar of a cloud and by night in a pillar of fire.  They were filled by the bread God rained down from heaven every morning.  The people had been delivered from their slavery, yet they  were discontented and not satisfied; they remained slaves to their fear.   They still wanted to be taken care of. 

     As a banker and loan officer, I see people everyday who have not planned.  They  live for the present.  They do not make saving a way of life.  Most everyone will agree that it is hard to save in the economy we are in today, but even a little every month soon adds up.  Not only have they not attempted to put up a reserve of funds, they have placed excessive charges on credit cards.  Many restructure their home loans to get out of debt, but they are soon, once again, slaves to adding up more credit card debt because they have not broken the chains that hold them in bondage.  Although there is a place for credit cards, it is my firm belief they are not to be used for everyday needs and desires especially if the owner of the card has not acquired the wisdom, desire, and willingness to sacrifice in order to pay them off on a planned schedule.  Lack of planning, discontentment, and a desire for material possessions have made us slaves to the credit card company.

     Take a look at what Luke 14:28 tell us, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”  

     Then, there are those who rely on government assistance to get them by on a daily basis.  They see no need to even look for a rewarding job.  Why should they?  Working tax payers will take care of them.  We also see people willing to rob, steal, and kill from those who make an honest living. But where does it get them?  Truth be known, this type of money is usually spent too quickly on their own addictions; addictions they have become slaves to.     

     In Proverbs 13:11 we have a warning about gaining money through dishonesty and are provided wisdom about saving.   “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” 

     My method of saving may not have been the best, but I grew it little by little.  When I first started working, I did not make much money, but I remember putting a mere $5.00 a pay period into a savings account.  Sounds small!  But with every raise I increased that amount.  With every bonus I added more money.  I was proud as I watched my savings grow.   With that savings, I was able to meet unexpected expenses.  I could also use it to secure loans, if needed, while reserving my own funds. 

      I have also learned that unnecessary temptations to buy can be avoided by using the old method of paying with cash rather than a credit card.  There is something to be said about knowing that once my cash is gone there is no other means left to meet my  financial needs; whereby, if a credit card is used I often don’t consider the need and if I could actually do without this purchase; I don’t have to think about it until the bill comes around.  By that time too much debts has accumulated for me to pay it off all at once.  I find myself asking, “Why did I buy that?  Could I have done without it?”  I should have asked at the time, “Do I really need this?  Will it serve a purpose?”  If I had thought about it for a while or considered using the last of my available cash, the desire for instant gratification may have gone away and I would not have imprisoned myself with needless spending.   

     Imprisonment and slavery comes in so many forms and we must invest well in all areas of our lives to claim the Promised Land.  I firmly believe God wants to bless us.  He wants us to live well, but we have to do our part. 

     In Isaiah 55:2 we have more words to live by. “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”

     God is our Bread of Life, and our labor for Him and His work is more rewarding than material possessions.  In Matthew 25:18 we are given a parable to consider about a man who was given five bags of gold.  He invested well; however, there was another man who did not invest well.  “But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hide his master’s money.   Vs. 27 “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 

     The question is, “Are we willing to place the blame where it belongs? Are we willing to turn the negatives of life into positives?  Are we  willing to claim the Promised Land by accepting our  responsibility to invest well whether it be money, forgiveness, reliance on others, anger, or even inward thoughts?  Are we willing to do what it takes to remove the slavery that holds us in chains? 

 

 

Life-Support

      My friendly shade provides a place away from the frustrations of jobs and other problems; it up-lifts my heart and spirit.  My gray skies turn to blue as the spirit of  calm refreshes and helps me through.

     As I think further about it, life-support can work two ways.  Either you can be the one working to plug someone into the life support system or the one needing life-support.

     There are people, near death, everywhere who are waiting to be put on life-support.  I am, of course, not talking about medical health but spiritual.  People need life-support within the community we live in.  We don’t need to travel to foreign countries to find them.  They are getting weaker everyday, because they have not been plugged into the proper life-support system. 

     Those in need of life-support may rub shoulders with us every day.  They may be placed into our lives just waiting for us to take up the cross and provide that much needed life-support. 

     Paul was in need of life-support as he traveled around persecuting Christians.   He was in need of life-support after he was blinded on the road to Damascus.  God had planned ahead and made provisions for him.  The Lord prepared Ananias to be an instrument of life-support.  Ananias, on the other hand, was afraid, but he did as he was told.  He obeyed  the command and nudge from God to go to Paul with his hand of life-support.  Paul’s heart, after that, was filled as he accepted the life-support offered, and his life was changed forever.  Paul, in turn, became the instrument of life-support.  He became willing to plug people into God.  With God in our lives our “gray skies turn to blue as He helps us through.” 

     It would be good to stay alert, accept the gentle nudge from God, and to become a faithful witness so that we may, also, be able to plug those we come in contact with into God- the best life-support known to man. 

  

Defeating Your Giants

     My friendly shade is located on a dead-end road surrounded by forest and trees.  This, often, allows me to observe wildlife, and especially deer as they ease through the back side of my property.  This morning there was one lonely doe.  She was crippled.  Actually she was limping through the trees on three legs; the back leg, which was away from my viewing range, dangled  loosely and was unable to touch the ground.  More than likely, this was the result of a shot, gone wrong, during hunting season. 
     I do hunt from time to time and am not opposed to it, but this poor limping deer did leave me sad and feeling sorry for her and her future as she strives to survive nature.    
     I was pondering on how a human’s aim, as he missed his target, had caused the injury which was going to leave this doe crippled when it dawned on me about how our words and deeds can  leave those we come in contact with crippled, as well.
     When David’s brother admonished him and told him he was just a little boy trying to show out, and that he was no one to think he could defeat Goliath, David ignored him.  David had enough faith in his God that he went ahead and did what he proposed in his heart to accomplish.  Yet, there are those who are weaker in their faith than David was.  They let what others think about them interfere with what they really want to do in life.  Those same words from David’s brother could have been what it took to make him turn away and not follow God’s calling.  Our words do affect people.  Our words can build up or they can tear down; they can leave a person crippled.  In Proverbs 18 it says, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” 
     To those who speak too quickly, watch your words and build up your friend.  Encourage them face their giants. 
     To those who listen and try to please, remember it is your life, and scripture tells us to “Attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”   The wise have God’s word in their hearts, and they have the strength and courage to follow their hearts.   You will defeat your giants.

Thanksgiving Blessings

     What better thing to do, while sitting in a friendly shade this Sunday afternoon, than to count my blessings?  Of course, just because it is the Thanksgiving season, this shouldn’t be the only time I  consider all the blessings that have been bestowed up me.

    I was told when I was growing up that if I couldn’t sleep at night to “count sheep.”  Yet, through the years, I have found that I can go back to sleep quicker if I pray for someone that comes to mind or if I count my blessings.  Having a fleshly, selfish nature, it is my desire that I fall back to sleep before I have a chance to pray for too many people or count too many blessings.  For that reason, I sit here now, under my friendly shade, making a list for Thanksgiving praise.  First, I am thankful for my  God, His grace, and my salvation.  I am thankful I was raised in a Christian home with parents that loved me and provided the best for me. 

     I was saved at the age of 10 but never remember a time I was not taken to church.  I wasn’t sent, and it was expected that on Sunday mornings the family would attend Sunday school and preaching services. 

     I am, also, very thankful for my family, my home, my health, my job and the people I have the privilege to work with.  I am thankful for my church family and its leaders.  I am thankful I was born in the U.S.A., and I am thankful for my freedom.  God bless those men and women who fight for our country.   

     While thinking about my blessings I realize they all have come from God.   Everything I have belongs to Him.  

     As Thanksgiving comes and goes, I hope I will be more thankful during the Christmas season.  My prayer is that my Christmas list will not be all about me. 

The Rainbow

     The rainbow, a sign of God’s promise that he will never again destroy the land by flood, has never ceased to be a wonder with it's spectacular spectrum of colors arching across the sky.  Yet, last week when I saw the rainbow, arching just beyond my friendly shade, I thought, “Oh no, Lord.  Not now! Not yet!  Please just send a mini flood first.”

     Some of you may wonder why I chose to talk about a rainbow when we are in the middle of a drought.  As our pastor said this morning, “The closest parking space to the church is not what people are looking for right now.  They are looking for the shade to park beneath", and then he enhanced the idea of our extreme heat by saying, "It is so hot any remaining potatoes in the ground will be ready to eat when they are dug.  Just add the butter.”

     Yet, the rainbow can have more meaning than just God’s promise not to flood the land.  If you will go to my archives and read the May 22^nd writing, the rainbow had an all-together different meaning for two small children, in the Philippines, who had just accepted Christ into their lives.

     As we think about the rainbow colors  (Roy G. Biv -which helps us remember the colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) we can find special meaning to help us through the drought of no rain and, also, the drought that comes into lives.

R-   stands for the riches we experience when we are saved.  Knowing we have the everlasting grace of God makes us richer than the wealthiest king.  We have the riches of God’s glory.

O-  stands for an optimistic view, knowing God will give us rain; God will give us blessings.  They will come in His season.  Our outlook should be, “The best is yet to come.”

Y-  Do you yearn for more? Are you constantly seeking something that seems missing in your life?  Then yield.  Yield to God and to His direction.  Give your will over to Him.  He will take your yoke and your burdens will be light. 

G- stands for give.  There is a saying that it is always more blessed to give than to receive.  When you're in a drought and you are down and out, look for something you can do for someone else.  There is joy in giving.  

B- stands for the Bible.  The word of God is to be studied.  Do you want to know God? Truly, know God!  Jeremiah 29:13 tell us, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

I-  stands for the indwelling of Christ.  What could lessen our days of drought more than simply knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus dwells within us every minute of every day?  He is our hope.  

V-stands for victory.  With Jesus we will have the victory in life and in death as He abides with us. So, I say, savor the moment;  savor the drought.  We will have victory with Jesus Christ on His *Wings of Mercy. 

*  I underlined Wings of Mercy for there will soon be a new book out written by Charles Jones entitled, Wings Of Mercy - A Christian  View of Death . (Kindle addition on Amazon in next few days)