Last Sunday my pastor spoke about thorns in our flesh, and this got me to thinking about Paul's thorn. Many believe that it was his eyesight. If it was indeed, consider this...
When Paul was on the road to Damascus, on his way to persecute more Christians, he had an encounter with Jesus Christ. After their "talk," Jesus blinded Paul for a short time. Eventually his eyesight came back--but did it come back fully? If his thorn was indeed his eyesight, it makes me wonder if it wasn't a reminder that he too was a sinner saved by grace. That every time he had to hold a letter a few inches farther away so he could see it, that maybe, just maybe he was humbled; that he needed the Lord to guide him in his imperfections.
I know in my life there are many thorns. It's like a rosebush sometimes. But after thinking about this, I think maybe they're there to keep me humble and to always remember, I was once lost, but now I am found. That without Jesus, I would still be lost in my sin and cowering on the road of life.
When we allow Jesus to be our eyes, it is then that we can truly see.
9/15/2010
9/12/2010
THE ROOT BEER BARREL
A long time ago I heard a story that brought tears to my eyes and gave me an idea about God and how He invests in our future. This isn’t that exact story, but it is close enough to give you the general idea.
Once upon a time, in anticipation of having his first child, Raymond Boyd placed an old root beer barrel at the end of his bed and dropped his loose change in the bottom.
“What’s that?” his wife asked.
“It’s our son’s college fund.”
Nancy leaned over the barrel and peered in the bottom. “I hope he enjoys junior college.”
Raymond took her criticism as fun, but didn’t give up on his dream. After all, he’d spent his entire life working in a coal mine and he wanted more for his son. Every day after work, he’d empty his pockets and drop the contents inside. As the change jingled to the bottom, he believed he was one step closer to giving his son a great future.
One year, the mine had to be shut down. Times were hard and he could see his wife eying the jar, but the thought never crossed his mind. No matter what, he still dropped all his loose change into the barrel. When it got full, Raymond would roll the coins and place them in a safe.
Eighteen years later, the barrel and safe were emptied and his son went off to college. With chest out and pride in his heart, Raymond placed the barrel in the garage, for it’s purpose was over.
Years went by and his son married. At Christmas, Raymond and Nancy went to visit them for dinner. When Raymond went into the nursery, a big smile encompassed his face, there sitting at the end of the crib was the old root beer barrel.
His son patted him and said, “Mom, thought I should have it for my daughter.”
Raymond, choked with emotion, reached in his pocket, pulled out his change, and dropped it in the barrel.
This idea truly touched my heart. I think the story shows God’s love for us, and how he puts “coins in our barrel,” preparing us for things to come. He invests in our future. The world, our families, those we’re closest to may not always understand, but if we trust God, I promise He has the best things planned for us.
Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
Once upon a time, in anticipation of having his first child, Raymond Boyd placed an old root beer barrel at the end of his bed and dropped his loose change in the bottom.
“What’s that?” his wife asked.
“It’s our son’s college fund.”
Nancy leaned over the barrel and peered in the bottom. “I hope he enjoys junior college.”
Raymond took her criticism as fun, but didn’t give up on his dream. After all, he’d spent his entire life working in a coal mine and he wanted more for his son. Every day after work, he’d empty his pockets and drop the contents inside. As the change jingled to the bottom, he believed he was one step closer to giving his son a great future.
One year, the mine had to be shut down. Times were hard and he could see his wife eying the jar, but the thought never crossed his mind. No matter what, he still dropped all his loose change into the barrel. When it got full, Raymond would roll the coins and place them in a safe.
Eighteen years later, the barrel and safe were emptied and his son went off to college. With chest out and pride in his heart, Raymond placed the barrel in the garage, for it’s purpose was over.
Years went by and his son married. At Christmas, Raymond and Nancy went to visit them for dinner. When Raymond went into the nursery, a big smile encompassed his face, there sitting at the end of the crib was the old root beer barrel.
His son patted him and said, “Mom, thought I should have it for my daughter.”
Raymond, choked with emotion, reached in his pocket, pulled out his change, and dropped it in the barrel.
This idea truly touched my heart. I think the story shows God’s love for us, and how he puts “coins in our barrel,” preparing us for things to come. He invests in our future. The world, our families, those we’re closest to may not always understand, but if we trust God, I promise He has the best things planned for us.
Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
9/03/2010
IT STARTS WITH MANURE
Galatians 6:7 (Living)
“You always harvest what you plant.”
I’ve never been much into gardening. Maybe it has something to do with my first (and last) experience. I was about eight years old and my dad asked if I wanted to help him plant his vegetable garden. Of course I did. So my dad gave me a large bag of something called manure and told me to spread it out on the ground. Despite the smell, I proceeded to do so with my hands. When I finished, I was told the soil’s origin, and needless to say, haven’t gardened since.
Well, not in the traditional since. The Bible says we garden every day. I love the way the living Bible puts it... “You always harvest what you plant.”
Each and every day I find myself bumping elbows with strong opinions, attitudes and frustration. Last night during my devotion time, I began to ponder what kind of seeds I had been planting. Are they seeds of discord or seeds of unity? Seeds of anger or seeds of joy? Seeds of dissension or seeds of peace? I didn’t like the answer. Some seeds I had planted were those that would not bring a crop that helped the Kingdom of God. I know that I need to cut some weeds out of my life that choke me from planting the right seeds. I plant the wrong kind of seeds when I’m not drawing close to God, and allowing other things to occupy my time. I need to put the fruit of the spirit in my soil, so that God can have his blessings grow in my life.
And remember, sometimes we have to handle manure, but in the end, if we plant the right seeds, we will harvest a garden that will make the smell all worth it.
“You always harvest what you plant.”
I’ve never been much into gardening. Maybe it has something to do with my first (and last) experience. I was about eight years old and my dad asked if I wanted to help him plant his vegetable garden. Of course I did. So my dad gave me a large bag of something called manure and told me to spread it out on the ground. Despite the smell, I proceeded to do so with my hands. When I finished, I was told the soil’s origin, and needless to say, haven’t gardened since.
Well, not in the traditional since. The Bible says we garden every day. I love the way the living Bible puts it... “You always harvest what you plant.”
Each and every day I find myself bumping elbows with strong opinions, attitudes and frustration. Last night during my devotion time, I began to ponder what kind of seeds I had been planting. Are they seeds of discord or seeds of unity? Seeds of anger or seeds of joy? Seeds of dissension or seeds of peace? I didn’t like the answer. Some seeds I had planted were those that would not bring a crop that helped the Kingdom of God. I know that I need to cut some weeds out of my life that choke me from planting the right seeds. I plant the wrong kind of seeds when I’m not drawing close to God, and allowing other things to occupy my time. I need to put the fruit of the spirit in my soil, so that God can have his blessings grow in my life.
And remember, sometimes we have to handle manure, but in the end, if we plant the right seeds, we will harvest a garden that will make the smell all worth it.
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