Paying Bill

 

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t happens every month, just like clockwork. I open the mailbox and find that the mailman has left me a thick stack of envelopes from my favorite friend whose name just happens to be, you guessed it, Bill.  What amazes me about Bill is the number of addresses he has and the fact that he is always short on cash.  He regularly asks for money and the amounts differ from month to month. 

 

But being the conscientious person that I am and not wanting Bill to go hungry, I sit down, open all his wonderful letters to me, pull out my pen and checkbook, and send Bill his money so both he and I can survive for another month.  Never mind the fact that Bill leaves me woefully low on funds every thirty days, at least he is happy and doesn’t bother me until the first day of the following month. 

 

Now Bill is not a true person.  Instead, Bill represents all the monthly obligations I attend to so I can live in my house, drive my car, eat, have hot water, etc.  All of us are very familiar with Bill and we write to him, whether we want to or not, on regular basis. 

 

This past month, as I completed my last letter to Bill and looked at my checking balance, I felt just a little down.  I work all month to earn my salary and in a matter of a few minutes, it was almost gone.  I’m sure you all can identify with me on this one.  But just as I was putting away my checkbook, the words of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel came to my mind. 

 

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus reminds us, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” 

 

This really put things into perspective for me.  God provides all I need, even the money to pay Bill.  I can pay Bill because God has provided me with a job. He makes it possible for me to have a place to live, food on my table, clothes on my back, and a warm place to sleep.  He makes sure I have friends, and He takes time each second to make sure my heart keeps beating and my lungs take in air.  He even counts the number of hairs on my head. 

 

So, the next time you pay Bill, and it may be today, remember you can do so because God cares for and looks after you.  He paid the ultimate bill so that we could belong to Him. 

Living In 3-D

 

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he coffee table in my living room has several items on display.  There are a few books, a kaleidoscope, some coasters, and a neat engraving of a train.  All of these items were given to me by either family members or good and trusted friends.  There is one more item in my study, a most interesting conversation piece that visitors always ask about.  It is a replica of the 3-D chess set from the television series Star Trek.   

 

I like the game of chess, but I am more of an observer than a masterful player.   This particular chess set, however, has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years and it also provides the topic for today’s Tidbit.   The most intriguing and challenging aspect of this particular version of chess is the movements of the pieces and their placement on the boards.  I say boards because the set is composed of three playing surfaces that are stacked one on the other. In addition to moving horizontally, the pieces can also move vertically in space.  This ability is necessary because one set of pieces occupies the top board while the opposing set is placed on the lower level.  The middle surface is called the neutral zone and represents the field of battle. 

 

Chess is tricky in two dimensions.  Remembering how all the pieces move is quite a challenge for the beginner.  Couple that with the ability to move vertically in space and you really have your hands full!  However, once you grow accustomed to all the possible moves one piece can make, the game becomes more exhilarating, more challenging, and much more rewarding. 

 

As a Christian, I believe I can say with all confidence that this is how Christ meant for us to live and experience the Christian life.  Unfortunately, we are content to live our lives like a conventional chess game, two dimensionally.  At this level, everything we experience is superficial.  We enjoy just enough to keep us in the game, but we really miss the excitement, the challenge, and the reward another dimension would add to our walk with Christ.  Our relationship with Jesus revolves around reading the scriptures for a few minutes, saying a quick prayer, and perhaps mentioning him once or twice during the day.  That’s it!  But there can be so much more. 

 

In Ephesians 3:17-18, the Apostle Paul pens these words, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Please notice the words that Paul uses here: wide, long, high, and deep.  All these words suggest movement in three-dimensional space. Height and depth cannot be understood two-dimensionally; they can only be experienced when we move from the superficial to the more profound!   

 

Think about that for a moment!  Jesus is inviting us to climb the heights and plumb the depths of his great love for us.  In order to do this, our relationship with him must go beyond the flat playing surface of our lives.  We must penetrate the surface and dive deep, we must stretch our abilities and climb the heights, and we must have the burning desire to know God in all His fullness if we are to experience life completely.  Even the idea of “fullness” means there is depth! 

 

Is this how you are living today?  Are you living life in two dimensions only?  Are you longing for a richer, fuller, and more satisfying relationship with God?  If so, it is my prayer that you will begin to let God work in your life in such a way that you experience height and depth.  Let him stretch your faith in Him; allow Him to take you deep into His love and to carry you to the summit of His grace.  There is nothing like living in 3-D!  Try it! You’ll like it! 

Have You Been There?

 

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uring trips to France, most of our students spend several days shopping, trying to find perfect souvenir for that special someone.  They come armed with lists from people back home asking for everything from perfume to postcards.  Every member of our group has at least five people who all want a little piece of France, something to prove they know someone who has been there. 

 

As for myself, I purchase very few, if any, souvenirs.  Instead, I take snapshots and try to drink in as many special moments as I can.  I visit the bakeshops, go to several cafés, visit a few restaurants, and take several walks in my favorite sections of the city.  I don’t come back with bags and pockets full of key chains, saltshakers, or little silver spoons. The only items I have that prove I visited France include my pictures, my airplane boarding passes, and the stamps in my passport proving I entered and exited the country. 

 

I do, however, buy a few small items to bring back to the States for a very special people.  They want something from France, something that would prove the place exists so I accommodate them as best I can.  It is easy for me to speak of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Seine River, etc. because I have actually been there and have seen these things first-hand.  The fact I have been there in person causes those with whom I share my experiences to believe me.  They know I have been there and that gives them all the more reason to believe my stories and experiences are true. 

 

Daily life is sometimes more adventurous than a trip to Europe.  We encounter all types of challenging experiences in life, and we appreciate those people who fully understand by virtue of having experienced the same circumstances we are experiencing.   It is one thing to tell someone who is about to undergo surgery that you can understand their fear.  But if you’ve ever undergone the same surgery, you can give them insight and encouragement the average person can’t.  Someone who has never had surgery simply cannot empathize with someone who is facing a major operation.  What we want is someone who has been there and experienced the same thing first-hand. 

 

There is a biblical basis for this, and it is found in Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth.  Paul knew that sometimes life throws us curves and he also knew the road of life frequently takes uphill climbs.  Who better to encourage his fellow Christians than someone who spent time in prison, who was beaten, who was shipwrecked, and who was himself persecuted in so many ways?  Perhaps that is why Paul writes the following in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 

 

In this passage Paul explains why it is we go through trials and difficulties in life.  Notice his words of encouragement that God, Himself, is our comfort.  God is our refuge and shield as the Psalmist says, but He is also our comfort.  God comforts us when we are hurting, when we are disappointed, when we are sick, and when we simply are tired of the journey.  He does this so that we can encourage and comfort others who are experiencing the same things in life.  Notice that he admonishes us to comfort others with the same comfort we received from God.  This means that not only do we understand the situation in which others find themselves, but we also can share the joy of God’s comfort with them because we have experienced it ourselves. 

 

Wherever you are in your walk with God today, know this:  God is aware of your situation, and He knows everything you are feeling and experiencing right now.  He wants to comfort, and He will comfort you in every situation.  But don’t be surprised to find out that He will call on you to share that comfort with someone else who is hurting or who is facing trying circumstances.  You will be a source of encouragement and strength when they look at you and ask, “Have you been there?”  You can say with all confidence, “Yes, I have been there, and I know that God has been there too because He was there with me.”  Are you ready to comfort someone today?  

Insurance vs. Assurance

 

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rying to decide on insurance policies is tantamount be being in a candy store with only a dollar in your pocket.  All the candy looks good, it all has wonderful wrapping paper, and all of it is sweet and tempting.  I had the same experience when I decided to change automobile insurance policies.  The decision to change was the easy part, selecting the best deal, now that was the challenge. 

 

I called at least six companies requesting information about their policies and receiving quotes from them on the monthly cost of insurance for my car.  All were helpful; promising me their company offered the best deal and the best coverage.  I came away from some of those conversations convinced the person on the other end of the phone never had a math course in his or her life.  For the same coverage, some companies were at least $200 higher than their competitors—go figure!  I finally settled on a company that offered me better coverage at a lower price and the company was well-known and had an excellent reputation.  Not only did they sell me insurance for my car, they also included the assurance they would be there if and when I needed them. 

 

These two words, assurance and insurance, are so close in pronunciation but so far apart in meaning.  I can send a package in the mail and insure it in the event that it is lost or stolen which means there is no assurance the package will arrive.  Likewise, I can assure the state of Texas I’ll be an excellent driver, but they require me to carry insurance in order to drive a car.  The difference is simple, in order to have insurance you place your money into someone else’s bank account; in order to have assurance you place your trust in someone else personally. 

 

As Christians, we need to decide how we approach God in our daily walk with Him.  Do we see the Lord as an insurance agent, merely providing coverage as long as we go to church, say a prayer each day, serve on a committee, give help to the needy, or teach a Sunday school class?  Are we trying to pay for His services through works and actions?  People who maintain such a relationship with God live in mortal fear they will do something wrong or fail to do something important and the policy will lapse, and God will no longer provide coverage for their lives.  This is a terrible burden to bear and one God never intended for us to carry. 

 

The other approach to God is to place absolute trust in Him and receive the assurance in our hearts that He cares for us.  God loves you and He wants to provide for you, to care for you, and to have a relationship with you.  When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, God gives you the assurance you are one of His children and that you receive the full rights and privileges of a relationship with Him. 

 

This is the point the Apostle Paul was making in his letter to the Romans.  Paul wanted his readers to understand that God was not in the insurance business but in the assurance business.  God wants His people to have the assurance, the confidence, the knowledge that He loves them and that they belong to Him.  In Romans 8:15-17 Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” 

 

Do you see the assurance in this verse?  The Spirit of God does not make us slaves to the fears and cares of this world.  On the contrary, He gives us the full right to approach God, to call him father—Abba means daddy in Aramaic and Hebrew—and to have the assurance in our hearts that we are His children.  The coverage for our needs is guaranteed not by what we do but by the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. 

 

Wherever you are in your walk today with the Lord, take a moment and consider your relationship with Him.  How do you view your Heavenly Father?  Is He someone who just provides insurance for your life?  Do you feel as if your policy with God could lapse if you fail to some particular tasks or if you do something you shouldn’t?  Or do you know that God is your God, that He loves you, and that He wants to relate to you, that He wants you to have a perfect union with Him?  Do you have insurance or assurance today? 

Holding Hands

 

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he parking lot of the local grocery store is somewhat of a hazard especially on Saturday afternoons.  Honestly, it looks more like a flock of vultures circling a fresh kill as car after car makes the rounds ready to strike on the first available parking spot within 100 yards of the front door. 

 

I voluntarily entered this fray, joining the merry-go-round of cars looking for that perfect place to park.  Twice I was deprived of prime parking space by drivers who were better positioned than I.  One of the spaces was premo, I mean right at the front door.  But I buried my frustration and opted for an available spot further down the way.  It required me to walk a short distance, but I figured it would be good for me to get some exercise. 

 

Inside wasn’t much better. In fact, it downright was worse. At least the parking lot has lines showing you where to park and just where your limits are.  Inside the store, it was total mayhem as dozens upon dozens of shoppers vied and jockeyed for positions in the aisles, clawing and grasping at whatever was on the shelves.  I spent the necessary time to find my items and then, after a long wait in line, I exited the store, packed my trunk, backed out of the parking space, fought those still-circling cars of prey, and headed home. 

 

Right in front of the store was a crosswalk and several people were standing there waiting to cross from the battlefield of parking to the battlefield of shopping.  Driver’s courtesy maintains that the pedestrian has the right-of-way, so I stopped to let a young mother and her three children cross over.  She had one child on her hip and held the right hand of another.  Before crossing to the other side, she told her young son to hold on to his sister’s hand so they could safely cross. 

 

That’s when it hit me.  Right there in a busy parking lot God showed me a wonderful picture of His love for me.  I don’t know how many times my own mom and dad have told me to hold their hands until we safely crossed a busy street, or wondered through a congested mall, or walked the halls of a hospital, new school, or some other scary place! 

 

If this is how parents protect their children, then how are we to understand God’s protection for us?  Does the Bible give us any indication of just how close and personal God’s protection is?  Does God really take the time to hold our hand in times of trouble, distress, fear, or confusion?  The answer is yes and we need look no further than that wonderful prophet Isaiah to find our answer. 

 

In Isaiah 41:13 we find the following words of assurance, “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Now I ask you, with a promise like this should we ever worry about crossing the streets of life?  No matter how busy, no matter how dangerous, no matter how impossible the way may seem, God says He will hold our hand and that He will help us.  For this reason, we are not to fear, we are not to worry, we are not to fret, and we are never to lose hope.  Are you holding hands with your Heavenly Father today? 

A Big Breakfast

 

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ne of my colleagues at work pointed a very interesting trend he had noted in the Tidbits.  Many of them center on food and my attempts at becoming a culinary artist.  The more I thought about this, the more I realized he was right.  However, since I can only write about what I know and since I know a lot about eating, I’ve decided to stick with this theme for today’s Tidbit.  So, if you’re ready, let’s dig in!! 

 

I love the mornings, especially just before sunrise.  For me it is the sanest part of the day with little stress and no pressing deadlines to meet.  All that comes approximately two hours later but the beginning of the day is always a wonderful time.  After my morning routine of making the bed, dressing, making coffee, and making sure I haven’t forgotten anything, I throw open the pantry door, grab a breakfast pastry, pop it in my mouth, and leave the house, rushing head-long into the day. 

 

As I climb into the car, I am still working on that pastry, trying to scarf it down before I hit any major traffic snags or challenges.  One should never drive in Texas traffic on an empty stomach!!!  However, on mornings when I don’t have to meet class, I enjoy preparing a big breakfast.  This usually consists of eggs (always scrambled), bacon or sausage, toast, cooked rice, coffee, and juice.  I enjoy these mornings because I don’t have to open the pantry and pop a pastry in my mouth as I run for the door!!  I can sit back, enjoy the morning, and take in the full experience.  Somehow, the coffee tastes better, the food is more enjoyable, and I am more deeply satisfied on these mornings.   

 

It isn’t surprising that our walk with the Lord is much the same way.  No matter when we start our days, early or late, the amount of time we spend with God directly affects the way we greet the remaining portion of the day.  When we rush through our devotions, when we spend only a few minutes in prayer, we do the same thing I do on my busy mornings. We open God’s word, just like a pantry door, pop a quick verse into our minds, gnaw on it for a few seconds, and then digest it before we encounter the heavy traffic of the day. 

 

The problem is we soon forget what we stuffed into our minds in those few seconds.  I find myself constantly wondering what I ate for breakfast or even if I had anything at all. That gnawing feeling in my stomach indicates that, even if I had breakfast, it wasn’t enough to carry me through the morning.  Sound familiar?  So often we simply go through the motions of doing what a Christian “should do,” that we have no notion of what a Christian “should be!!!!”  Doing lasts only for a moment while being is an ongoing condition.  It is no wonder we find ourselves hungry for God during the day!  We never really fed on His word to begin with!!! 

 

John 6:11 is a wonderful reminder of how we are to feed on God’s word and enjoy the full experience of life with Him.  This scripture comes from the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  Please read the verse very carefully, paying attention to the last four words of the verse: “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full”.  The people had been following Jesus and they were hungry.  When Jesus fed them, however, he didn’t open the pantry and offer them a meager pastry.  Instead, he set before them a full meal, inviting them to the table.  They could have eaten as little as they wanted; instead, they all ate until they were full. 

 

And how about you?  What was your spiritual breakfast like today?  Did you open your scriptures and scarf down the first thing you could find?  Do you even remember what your study was about this morning?  Did you have time; did you take time for breakfast?  If so, was it a big breakfast or just a small something to tide you over?  Is there a hunger in your soul today, a longing for more of God and His word?  If so, I invite you to go back to the table and eat!  Do not settle for a small pastry when God has prepared a big breakfast for you. Come to the table, sit down, and eat until you are full.  I think you’ll find you are satisfied for the rest of the day but if you want more, it will be there, piping hot and plenty of it!!!!  Have a great day in the Lord today!