Humor with Devotional Thought and Scripture

It's a dry, hot day under my Friendly Shade in Arkansas today, but there is always a breeze when a child speaks; it adds humor and laughter to the heart.  The devotional thought is a summary of what my pastor spoke about this morning. 

A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, “The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.”   His son asked, “What happened to the flea?”

It is never too early to start children in the word of God.  We are told that “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  When we are afflicted, we often ask God to “quicken us” or in other terms: to revive, renew, or refresh.   When we feel spiritually dry deep in our souls, God’s word will provide refreshment.  It will give hope.  However, so many of us fail to get out our Bibles and read God’s word until we are actually going through those problems or afflictions in life.  Rather than turn to your Bible, after the fact, why not get the Bible out first.  Then when afflictions come they will “flee” much more quickly. 

This is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hath quickened me.  Psalm 119:50

The Prayer of Jabez

“Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that Thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast [territory], and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!' And God granted him that which he requested." 1 Chron 4:10

     The book The Prayer of Jabez, written by Bruce Wilkerson, teaches a powerful way of praying, and it is a book I highly recommend.  The prayer, “Oh that Thou would bless me indeed” is part one that asks the Lord to bless you.  Are you surprised? Do you think this is a selfish request to ask blessings upon yourself? As Bruce writes, “Is it possible that God wants you to be more selfish in your prayers?”  Read the book.  You will find a remarkable eye-opener lesson. 

     The 2^nd part of the prayer, “Enlarge my coast” is a plea for God to take all God has put under your care and to enlarge your territory for Him.  I was fearful of this part, because I thought God would ask me to do something I did not want to do or would be unable to do.  I have since put my full faith in Him and sincerely asked Him to enlarge my territory.  If you will try it, you will find it will take the complacency out of your life.  

     The 3^rd part of the pray, “That Thine hand might be with me,” is a simple request to ask God to empower you to do what He asks. We should ask everyday for God’s touch upon us.   

     The 4^th part of the prayer, “That Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me” is a request to keep you from temptation, and as Bruce interprets, “that I may not cause pain.” 

     I have given only a brief sampling of what you will find in the book, The Prayer of Jabez.  I encourage everyone to read the book.  It will change your life. 

Independence Day Celebration Under A Friendly Shade

America The Beautiful is a wonderful song, and it brings to mind this July 4th that America is really beautiful.  There are spacious lakes, skies, mountains, and oceans.  God has shed His grace on all of it.  As we pause and give thanks for His abundant blessings, let us also remember that it is up to us, the people, to keep America beauiful.  It is still truly the "land of opportunity."   However, when I look at the countryside I often find litter along the highways, washed up on the beaches, and scattered along the trailways.  What a sad state our country is in when we do not appreciate  and respect our nation and country enough to keep it clean and litter free.  I wrote the following poem several years ago and hope people will take it to heart to keep America beautiful. 
 

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

America, the Beautiful

Oh! How Wonderful!

My soul sorely aches

For the garbage put into our lakes.

America, the Beautiful

Oh! How Wonderful!

Such a disrespectul mistake

To throw bottles and cans onto our interstates.

America, the Beautiful

Oh! How Wonderful!

What a privilege to abide

And not litter our countryside.

America, the Beautiful

Oh! How Wonderful! 

                     Mary Crisp Jameson

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good"…

Genesis 1:31

Significance of A Friendly Shade

     Thinking of the significance of a friendly shade, I am reminded of a large, beautiful oak tree that grew in the midst of a forty acre field.  That oak tree did not appeal to me in the least during January or February when daddy had me cutting persimmon sprouts out of the field.  It really did not mean much to me when we planted cotton or the early plowing of the cotton.  But when the sun began to heat up the air and burn the skin, then I developed an entirely different perspective of the tree.  It became a refuge in which I found comfort from the broiling sun.

     In the frozen wastelands of northern Alaska or Canada you won't be hearing conversations about the need for a friendly shade.  Those conversations only come about when the situation arises that would cause the desire or need for the friendly shade.

     A person's path may take him/her into a variety of situations in which there is no need nor thought about a friendly shade.  But the statement about the possibility of rain falling into your life is true for, "Into each life some rain must fall."  So you can be sure that into each life there will come the time for the need of a friendly shade in which one can escape the problems of life.  Jesus Christ wants to be the friendly shade for each of us.  Perhaps, today, He does not look as if He is beckoning to you, yet he still says, "come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".  Just be aware there is a shade to be found, and you will find it to be "a friendly shade".

Christian Devotional from the words of Robert G. Lee

     Robert G Lee was a pulpit giant and proclaimed  “a legend in his time.”  He was noted for his chuckles, the way he brought forth the word of God, and the impact he made for the cause of Christ.  Today's writing in A Friendly Shade does not include any of his humor but it ends with one of his poems and applies to the lives of all people. 
     As I was reading his memoirs in the book, Payday Everyday, Dr. Lee wrote, “It is not how long people live, but how much they live that matters most.  Life Is not measured or evaluated by birth-dates but by deeds.
   We live in deeds, not years,
   In thoughts, not breaths,
   In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
   We should count time by heartthrobs.
   He lives longest who lives the noblest,
   Acts the best-
   Lives more in weeks than in years
   Do some whose fat blood sleeps
   As it creeps along their veins.
                         Robert Greene Lee

Christian Thoughts and Truth

I enjoy tossing my writing ideas around with Charles, my co-author, and as I was sharing what I was trying to do with a children's book about Joseph and forgiveness, Charles began to give me a comparison between Jesus and Joseph.  It was one he had researched and presented during one of his sermons several years ago.  I had never heard this comparison, but found it interesting and worthy of sharing.   So here it is.

Both were dearly loved by their father

Both were sent by their fathers to their brethren

Both were rejected by their brethren

Joseph was stripped of his coat and put in a pit; Jesus was stripped of his robe and put in a grave

Both were taken down into Egypt

Both were betrayed into the hands of the Gentiles

Both were accused by false witnesses

Both were silent in their own defense

Both were betrayed for silver

Both were placed in judgment with two others

Of those in judgment with them – one was saved and one was not

Joseph was imprisoned three years- Jesus was entombed three days

Joseph took a Gentile bride after prison – Jesus took a Gentile bride (church) after the grave

Both provided salvation for their people

The brothers of Joseph recovered his bones and took them to the promised land – God resurrected the body of Jesus and took it to Heaven

Humorous True Story

May is truly the month for weddings, and as I rest beneath my friendly shade today I thought about a humorous true story Charles and I wrote in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Morgue and decided to share the story with you.  Laughter is where you find it, and if you enjoy laugh-out-loud short stories click on the book.  It will take you to Amazon for a quick review; it is one of the many websites that sells it either as a paperback or a Kindle edition.    


     There comes the first time in every preacher’s life when it becomes his honor, privilege, or task to officiate at his first wedding.  This first time officiating at a wedding sometimes leaves the minister more nervous than either the bride or the groom. 

     So my friend, Coy, it is rumored, was doing just that, conducting his first wedding.  And also as predicted he was more nervous than any of the others who had a part in the ceremony.  When Coy came to the part where he pronounces the couple as being joined together in marriage, he said, “I now pronounce you male and female.”

         

The title is "Clarifying The Gender"