The Tapestry Poem

“My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.

~Corrie Ten Boom~

Trusting Americans

Uncertainty seems to be the definition of America today.  Many citizens are pressed with anxieties and questions of the future.  Nevertheless, we can be sure of this: as children of God we are delivered from the bond of corruption into glorious liberty. The liberty being described here is spiritual, but it is from this spiritual liberty that men and women choose what they will do physically. We are commanded to stand fast in this liberty in which Christ has made us free, and to do so we live trusting God in every thing.  

Take a penny from your change and hold it in your palm.

It has a rather insignificant value, but there is a message on it from patriots who prayed that it would be every American's source of freedom.  They needed us to remember that America's liberty is only through her trust in God. Is your dependence on God the source of your freedom or is it something which man has done?  There is a one man on the penny.  It is a memorial of a sinful citizen (like you and I), who had a forceful impact in America for his faithfulness in trusting in God. He had questions as you and I do now, but he was not bound by them; for he had liberty in trusting God.

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go.  My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day." Abraham Lincoln 

The burden of all our uncertainties diminish in the light of a higher calling.  At the foot of the cross we find an answer in the sacrifice which Christ made for our debt of sin.  The cost which America paid for liberty from earthy powers was dependence in God, Who is of heavenly powers, and obedience to His Word. Christians denied themselves and gave their lives that their children might  live with the freedom of a choice to worship God.

Are you paying God with your trust? He will set up an authority for America of His own judgment. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another, (Psalm 75:6;7)."  He will provide for those that depend on Him as children. "Trust in the LORD and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed, (Psalm 37:3)." When in this position of trust, we are in the position of greatest influence to our family, church, and any other individual for liberty in Christ.

 Trust God in any occasion to doubt, for He has promised to bless. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance, (Psalm 33:12)." We no longer wait in agony for the future, but peacefully commit our ways to God in this present day. 

"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD, (Lamentations 3:40)."

"For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion  to the flesh, but by love serve one another, (Galatians 5:13)." 

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ, (Philippians 4:19)."

"...That is Nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom." Abraham Lincoln 

God bless trusting Americans!

High Maintenance Christian

"Keep thy  h e a r t  with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

This is simple, common verse, yet many Christians' lives appear to be running by one cylinder. Unplanned situations arise proving us to a worried, frustrated, and discouraged people. Read by itself, this verse always gave me the thought that I needed to create more confidence and strength for myself. But I could never fulfill this duty....

The word issues is defined as outgoings in original script. All the outgoings of our lives can be backtracked to the state of our hearts. The uncontrolled words that were spilled, the compassion felt towards a needy person, and one's self-pitying thoughts are just a few symptoms that proceed from the heart. What is the heart, that is such a vital organ in our lives? The heart --the center of our being-- consists of feelings, will, and intellect. These are the parts that need high maintenance care and protection. Now we come to the question: how do we keep our heart?

Answer: Study the rest of the passage. =)

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Our body as a whole comes into play. The ears, eyes, mouth, lips, brain, and finally the feet are essentials in this duty. These parts of our body branch from the heart, sensing the world around us. If we apply biblical authority (standards) to these parts, our heart will be able to function as it should. Likewise, if we turn our head to lust, the heart is left unguarded-- and many times wounded. 

Carefully consider each command for the different body parts. E s t a b l i s h all your ways. Be disciplined, and consecrate your eyes, ears, mouth, etc. to the Lord's use. While we might not always be able to control what comes in our path, if we are hourly pondering our path --God's path-- we will not want to r e a c h out for anything besides God's best. When each of our body parts are spiritually congruent, THEN our feelings, will, and mind are prepared for God's own use. 

Keep your heart in high maintenance care; for it determines who you will be.

Doubtless in This Place

Psalm 126

1When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

I thought back of all the cherished moments in my years --and thanked God for life and His working in it. I thought quizzically of the future. At the time, the past was not so beautiful, but the present changes my perception of it. The past is somehow sweeter, more tender... The surety of God's hand within changes my sight.

  Lord, fix my mind where my feet are. Waiting or working, this place is important towards me --even in uncertainty. Doubtless, God shalt bring forth purpose from purposelessness. Strength from weakness. Joy from joylessness. This place is precious. This place is for the pleasure and purpose of the Father's keeping of me here. I stand doubtless in this place, knowing that the Lord ensures virtue afterward. I shall rejoice for abundant life now!

Who Is Evil?

Who is evil?  It was not until this past summer that I actually settled that question in my mind. As a child I believed the evil people were the “bad guys” in the Bible like Cain, Pharaoh, Achan, and Jezebel. Murderers. Tyrants. Thieves. When my Sunday School teachers taught lessons on these evil characters, it never entered my mind that I might be evil. I certainly never committed any wicked deeds like they had –I was proud to be one of the “good guys”!

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15:19

“And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 12:14

“All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:23

These people gave in to wickedness because they had not prepared to stand against it. Cain would not have killed Able if he had known the consequences that followed. Pharaoh did not know the Lord; and therefore, no good could possibly come from him. Goodness never proceeds from evil; evil never precedes goodness.  The only good that comes from people is the Lord's work through them! Achan's evil did not begin when he stole forbidden plunder. There was a growing selfishness within himself to the point of disregarding God's orders. Jezebel was a foreign queen who married the Israelite king, Ahab. Although exposed to the merciful law of God, she chose to rebel greatly against God's nation. She lived by evil and she died by it too. We may never intend to do evil, but unless we devote our entire life to flee from it, evil will befall us. This is why standards are important. Where we draw lines is were the battle will be. Without lines defeat is nearer than we think.

“And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.” 1 Kings 11:6

David is known as the man after God's own heart. His son, Solomon, was the wisest man on earth, and yet his wisdom did not preserve him from evil. To be preserved from evil we must surrender our heart as David did. David failed at times, but each time he returned his heart to God.

“This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.... so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. ” Jeremiah 13:10;11

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.” Deuteronomy 30:15

Notice the verb phrases in the first verse: refuse to hear, walk in imagination, walk after, serve, and worship.  All of us have a sin nature, but after Salvation, Christians have the choice to be good for something. God's own people were named evil due to the wicked heart being fed within themselves. One choice at a time, they made a sad procession away from God. Until Heaven, the sin nature is still there and evil flows rapidly from our heart if it is not fully fearing (seeking) God. The atmosphere in which we see, hear, and touch things is also vital. From our senses our (heart –>) mind, will, and emotions take over. We must in the world right now, but for safety we abide in God too.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” Psalm 91:1;9;10;15;16

Who is evil? As Christians, there are two powers within us --not only the flesh, but the spirit of God also. If we feed flesh, we will do evil. However, by the grace of God, if we feed the spirit, we are named righteous in the sight of God. We are no different than Cain, Achan, and Jezebel if we do not give all our heart as David did.  Do not ignore the flesh or the spirit. How we respond to them has eternal consequence.

Mail's Here!

In my hands I am holding the long-awaited-for mail. It was well packaged for the journey, and the return address signifies that it has come a long way. It's amazing to think of all the exotic countries it has traveled through --the miles of deep ocean it crossed-- places I've only seen in pictures! God's Word, like mail, travels. You and I may never be missionaries outside our native country, but God's Word can go very far through us. We should never be discouraged when God's Word seems slow-moving. What greater vision Christians would have if their first thought of the Bible was this:

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Reading, studying, and praying God's Letter to us is so important. Without it, we will not be quick and powerful Christians through it. God's Word may only travel through you in simple actions today, but it will not be unnoticed by God. I t   s h a l l   b e   d e l i v e r e d.

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." Ecclesiastes 11:1

Waiting for the Mail?

I am expecting a package in the mail. I sent for this order some time ago, and must eagerly wait as the postal service ships it overseas to America. When it gets here I will no longer be lacking it-- I will put it to the use for which I bought it. Did you know that there are people eagerly waiting for the Gospel? Only, they are not waiting on the postal services; they are waiting for Christian service. Not everyone is searching for it, but more than we realize are searching for it. They are lacking something. And although they may not know that it is Christ, they are waiting it to be delivered.

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

God has a message --and a gift-- to all who would receive. Jesus Christ paid for it. His precious atonement stamps the Letter eternally. God sealed the Letter and has commanded Christians to carry it forth. However, the message cannot come through us without God. His Holy Spirit indwells, convicts, and speaks through us.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Acts 2:37-40

Take a few minutes to imagine your life without Christ. After considering this, I came to the conclusion that I cherish nothing so much as my relationship with Christ. Why wouldn't we want to share this priceless, exceedingly abundant News with all the lost or discouraged? Even more importantly, God commanded it. It may be that we need to read God's Letter to us more.... and pray for opportunities. Never has any man regretted obedience to God.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:13-15