His Truth in Life (6)
How We Use Words
As I often do, I was thinking, "Lord, why me?" as in "Why are You so good to ME?" That led me to the realization that it is not only the words we use in English, but how we use them, our tone of voice and inflection. There are so many examples. How many people with whining in their voices ask "Why me?" As in "Why do I have to go through this?" Here are some of the many examples that the tone or emphasis makes all the difference: "Thanks a lot” as in “Thanks, but no thanks” or sincerely “Thanks a lot.” Another, "Sure" as either sincerely or sarcastically. "Whatever", as in "I am happy with whatever you choose or do", or in exasperation, "Never mind" as in "Don't worry about it." I bet you could think of others. Remember, it is not just what you say, as in the admonitions of Eph. 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth", Psalm 75:5 "Do not speak with a stiff neck" and Prov. 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." It is also in the way we say the words we use, as in Ephesians 4:1 Paul beseeches us to walk in gentleness, bearing with one another with long suffering, bearing with one another in love.
The Evil That Surounds Us
After the massacre in Newton, the nation was crying. Within one week, a man set his house on fire to lure firefighters and police, so he could shoot them down. People ask what has happened to our country. Then was the Marathon Massacre. Some call for gun control. Yet, no one asks or looks at the popularity of the violent video games that our youth are growing up on. No one questions why when there were no r-rated movies until the last few decades of the 20th century, There are more r-rated movies than ones without the graphic violence, sex and terrible language. Often R-rated movies get top billing and A ratings by reviewers. The change didn't happen over night. We are now seeing the results of the change in our culture. Before banning the guns, how about banning violent video games and r-rated movies and music? It is so easy to get down, depressed when we learn of the evil that seems to be everywhere. Yet, the Lord warned us. (Matt. 24:4-13, Mark 5:5-13, Luke 21:8-12, John 16:1-3) I am not afraid. I am just sad to see what our country, our world has become and that it is growing worse with each passing season. If only our unsaved loved ones would be saved, I would be in the chorus praying for the Lord to come back today. Meanwhile, He's given me, given us all work to do. There are Christians to be encouraged, people to be saved. So let's go out there and let our little lights shine in an increasingly dark world.
Open Our Eyes and Hearts
We had taken the small boat my Sweetheart made up the Loxahatchee River to Trapper Nelson's. Looking around at Trapper Nelson's, I said to folks walking by our picnic table, "We are so blessed to be here." The woman, startled, asked, "Were you the people who fell overboard?" "No," I replied, "I just feel so thankful to be able to be here. Everything is so beautiful." She just threw it off an laughed with "Oh, that".
I wish I could impart the humble joy I feel, especially when I see things man didn't create: the sunshine, the ocean, the mountains around Tucson and the west that we used to drive through and hike, this jungle on the river, the animals in the wild (Did you know we used to see coyotes and javelynas -They look like a variety of pig- when we walked in our neighborhood inTucson? Now we see egrets and osprey and alligators.). Such beauty and man gets no credit.
I feel so sorry for all who don't live with a grateful heart. Even our physical ability to be here and to see these things. She just said, "Oh that." You know me and songs, "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay. " I hope you do too, every day.
Accepting Limitations
A lesson I learned in taking our skiff up the Loxahatchee River is realizing our limitations, accepting them and looking to the Bible for help. Because this skiff is lighter and much more sensitive to weight distribution, to balance, I must sit in the bow, backwards. So I am seeing around me and where we have gone, but not where we are heading. At first it was disconcerting. Don't we all want to see where we are going? It is the same predicament as our lives in real time. We can only see what is going on today and remember the past. We imagine what the future will be like and plan for it, just as I could imagine from the shape of the terrain as we passed what lay ahead, where the turns were, etc. But we don't know, can't know. Even my husband facing forward can't see around the corners as to what boats are coming or where the sand bars will be. Again, the Bible says the same thing, only more clearly. James 4:13-14 tells us, "come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. "
So what are we to do? Not plan, live haphazardly? Nope. That answer is in the Bible too. James 4:15 Instead, you should say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." Plan ahead. Plod ahead, but don't worry. Eight times in the Gospels Jesus tells people not to worry about anything. As He said, "Which of you being anxious can add a single cubit ( about 18 inches) to your stature." (Matt. 6:27, Luke 12:25) Plan. Go forward, yet know you are not really in control. Trust the One who is.