Holy Land

In Exodus and Acts, scripture points out that God told Moses, “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” Then in Joshua, the commander of the Lord’s army told Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” 

     I know this is a long stretch and has nothing to do with God’s command to “take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground,” however I will use it to make a point about a pet peeve of mine. 

     “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” then later Jesus said, “I am with you always.” Because this land was created by God and Jesus is with me always, the land upon which I tread is holy. It is up to me to be respectful of the land in which I am so blessed to live. I have a responsibility to keep it clean.

     If we all considered this land holy, I would not be seeing “LITTER” (haphazard tossing of cans and paper) along every road, highway, and interstate.  

     It is so easy to keep a litter bag handy!

 

Raise the Bar

I do not get on a soapbox very often, but I do have two major pet peeves.  One is litter and the other is shopping carts left in the parking lot instead of where they belong. I truly understand the disabled not returning their carts or even a parent with a child left alone in a car when the receptacle is too far away; however, most of that is not the case. 

     What started me on this subject was two different occurrences. There were two times shopping carts were left stranded in front of my car today. The slightest wind could have sent them rolling in my direction. It is also frustrating to look for an empty parking space in a crowded parking lot only to find one, but it is occupied by a vacant cart. 

     The other occurrence was watching a team of people picking up litter off the side of the road. This was litter thrown out by someone else. 

     Not to be judgmental, but I believe littering shows little respect for our country and those who have to come behind and clean it up.  Also, not leaving shopping carts in the appropriate receptacle shows poor cart etiquette and little consideration for others. 

     I often do grit my teeth when I have to return a cart during a rain shower or a very hot, sunny day.  I also am not fond of keeping a bag with trash in the car until I reach an available trash can, but it is a small price to pay for a clean inviting roadside experience. I am not entitled, and I owe respect to others around me. 

     I encourage everyone to raise the bar.  It is a good feeling when you know you have done the right thing. 

     

      

Litter Clean-UP

     Driving home from church this morning, I noticed paper cups, cans, and other debris along the roadside and in the ditches.  What a mess!  It is not right that someone would have to come along and clean up what others have done.  I, myself, have worked as a volunteer to clean up our countryside and, as I picked up litter, I thought, “It’s not right that I should have to clean up this mess.”
     Yet, isn’t this what God does every day?  He cleans up our messes.  Only, he cleans up out of love regardless of our bad decisions. 
     It seems as though God has been cleaning up after humans since the beginning of time.  He helped Adam and Eve make clothing after they disobeyed Him.  He opened the heart of forgiveness when the prodigal son returned home only to be received with loving arms by his father.  God converted Paul from a life of hatred and killing to a life of proclaiming God’s Word and giving him a heart of love for others.  When Jesus was on the cross, He gave life to one of the thieves beside Him when the thief asked of Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”  Jesus told the thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”   
     When people seek God, He can change a life.
     I was reminded of the newness of life by the author of our Sunday School lesson when he wrote, “Jesus made all things new through His life, death, and resurrection.”  Those who believe on Jesus have a helpmate; One who can take our messed up lives and make them new.  When we stray and began to litter up our lives God’s power can turn us back to Him.  We can have a fresh, new life because of the  good Shepherd. 

 Luke 15:3-7 (NIV)³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.