Up The Apple Tree

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ummertime, bare feet, no school, a small boy, and an apple tree, a recipe for trouble!  This was especially true in our back yard where my dad had planted three apple trees.  Each year the trees were filled with apples, most of which became applesauce when the lawnmower ran over them.  Our neighbor, Mom Jenkins, made great apple pies and on more than one occasion I coaxed her into making a pie for me.  Our bargain was always the same.  I’d pick and gather the apples, and she would make the pie.  Somehow, I always came out the winner in this deal and I loved it.

But that apple tree was more than just a means to get Mom to bake a pie.  To me it was Jack’s beanstalk, begging me to climb it.  There was only one problem, I was—and still am—afraid of heights.  The first step towards climbing that tree meant I would already be at least two feet off the ground and for me that was two feet too many.  However, my brother and some other kids from the neighborhood climbed the tree at will, giving no thought to the distance to the ground. 

Sometimes I would make that two-foot step but would go no further.  I just stayed there, standing on the first two branches coming off the trunk.  My brother tried to coax me to clime higher but I refused.  One day, however, his coaxing won me over and I climbed higher than ever before.  I simply put one foot in front of the other, grabbed one branch after the other and after a few minutes, I was even with our sun deck, at least ten feet in the air.  The view was great and I felt a warm glow of accomplishment sweep through me.

We stayed in the tree for a while and then the moment of truth came.  It was time to get down. That meant descending at least ten feet all the while looking at the ground far below.  I just knew I was going to fall and plummet to my death, dashed on the scattered apples far below.  I grabbed the tree and refused to let go.  My brother climbed down and tried to talk me down but I wouldn’t listen to him.  Finally, he went into the house and returned with mom!  She very patiently told me where to put my feet, and what branches to grab.  She told me to take one step at a time and to concentrate on her voice and I would be down in no time.  She was right.  As I touched the ground I vowed then and there never to return to the apple tree, but that was a promise I broke several more times.

We’ve all been in similar situations in life, haven’t we?  We’ve all run headlong into situations without much thought only to wind up in trouble over our heads.  Sometimes we allow other people or situations to coax us into circumstances for which we are unprepared.  When this happens, we realize too late that the ground is far below and we are stuck.  We’re not sure how we got ourselves into this situation but we know for sure that we cannot get ourselves out.  What we need is someone to help us, someone who will show us what to do, someone who cares for us and knows us better than we know ourselves. 

It shouldn’t surprise us that God’s word is filled with promises that offer comfort and assurance in times of trouble.  In fact, the book of Psalms is filled with just such passages.  Psalm 91:14-15 gives us this hope and assurance today. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”  Please notice the first four words of this passage.  God helps us because we love Him.  We belong to Him, and we worship Him.  But this does not mean we don’t’ get into trouble.  On the contrary, we get into trouble every day!

When my mom found out I was stuck in that apple tree, she came right out to help me.  My mom knows I love her and she loves me.  Because I was in trouble, because I was scared, because I didn’t know what to do, and because I needed her, she was right there.  She talked to me, she waited for me, and when I was finally down from the tree, she held me, kissed me, and talked to me.  She didn’t yell, scream, or tell me what a dumb thing I had done. No, she lovingly and graciously helped me get out of trouble and explained to me how to avoid the same situation again.

If this is how my mom cared for me, just imagine how much more our Heavenly Father cares for us.  God promises to help us, to protect us, to deliver us.  He says that if we love Him and call on him that he will answer, rescue, and protect us.  No matter the situation, no matter the difficulty, and no matter the circumstances, God is always ready to come to our rescue and to help us.  He does not scold, yell, or tell us how dumb we are.  He loves us, he guides us, and he teaches us that relying on him is the best thing we can do.  Are you up the apple tree today?  If so, why don’t call on the Lord, listen to his voice, and come on down!

God's Crosswalk

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ast Elementary School was about a 10-minute walk from our house on Main Street.  Every morning, unless it was bad weather, I grabbed my book satchel, opened the heavy front door, and stepped out to meet the day.  I followed the sidewalk to the corner of Main and Cone Streets.  The latter street was named after my grandfather and proved to be my first great hurdle.  I had to cross Cone Street in order to gain the sidewalk that would take me to school.

I made sure to look both ways for oncoming traffic, just like my mom and dad had taught me, and then I crossed over to the other side.  I made a left turn and began the last leg of my daily jaunt to school.  I passed the Cornwell home, my uncle’s house, the Clarks, the Dellingers, and I walked past the Medical Center Pharmacy and the trees my dad had planted as a young boy.

When I arrived at the corner of Cone and Academy Streets I came to a full stop.  Academy Street was very wide and there was a large crosswalk which led directly to East Elementary’s main sidewalk.  There was a crossing guard who stopped traffic so I could safely cross over.  His name was Richard and he always spoke to me and told me to have a good day.

Above our school flew the American and North Carolina flags and a green pennant that reminded us of safety. One day Richard visited our class to remind us to always look both ways before crossing the street and to always stay within the crosswalk.  As long as we did that, we would be safe and as long as we were safe and there were no accidents, the green pennant would remain fluttering in the breeze above our school.

That very afternoon, something terrible happened.  On the way home, at the corner of Cone and Main Streets, a huge crowd had gathered.  An ambulance and a police car were also there and a policeman was directing the ever increasing traffic on Main Street.  Richard was there and he and the ambulance men were working with a small boy who had not remembered to look both ways or to remain in the crosswalk when crossing the street.  That young boy was injured and did not recover.

I never come to that intersection but I think about that day.  Although it has been 47 years since that accident, the scene is indelibly etched in my mind.  The lesson of the crosswalk has stayed with me all these years and as I read God’s word I see the lesson of the crosswalk within its pages.

In John 5:24, Jesus makes the following statement, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”  Do you see the crosswalk in the words of Jesus?  Every crosswalk has two boundaries between which we can safely walk.  Jesus, in this passage, says that we must hear his words and believe in God who sent him.  As long as we listen and believe, we walk safely and cross over.  Inside the crosswalk is life; outside the crosswalk is danger, pain, and death.  Jesus reminds us in the closing words of this passage that those who hear the word and believe in God have “crossed over from death to life.”

The road of life is fraught with many intersections.  Intersections are a necessary part of the Christian life and how we choose to cross them demonstrates our faith and our trust in Jesus Christ.  Are you at an intersection?  Are you at the corner of Main and Cone Streets today?  Are you looking for a way to cross over and continue in the path God has for you?  If so, open God’s word, listen to His voice, and believe in Him and in His son, Jesus Christ, and you will safely cross over.   Are you walking in God’s crosswalk today?

The Cake Plate

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he metal container sitting on the counter told me all I needed to know about the up-coming Thanksgiving meal my mother was preparing.  I had seen the shiny metal object many times during my childhood.  Whenever the plate was sitting out, on the counter or on the table, it meant that mom was going to bake a cake.  It didn’t matter what type of cake it was, pound or German chocolate, the results would be the same, happy faces and full bellies!

On this particular occasion, the components for a Dream Sickle Cake (orange cake with coconut cream icing—three layers of it!) were awaiting assembly.  The metal cake plate sat on the counter, just a few feet from the assembly line where the cake would be made.  Once finished, mom would transfer he cake to the protective plate and place the whole thing in the refrigerator.  The cake had to remain covered and cool so it would not dry out before our Thanksgiving meal.

I took a few moments and looked that cake plate over.  It’s amazing what you notice when you take the time to really inspect something.   The cake plate was constructed of aluminum with a flat base and a domed top.  The top was held securely in place by a series of clips that were opened and closed by a lever in the base.  Once the cake was placed inside and the clips closed, it was safe.  The whole container could be moved without causing damage to the precious cargo inside.   At some point in the past, the cake plate had been hit and damaged.  A large dent near the top pointed to this fact. The interior, however, was intact and remained unaffected by the blow.  A cake was still safe and secure inside the cover.

A few days later as I was removing a piece of the cake from the cake plate, I thought of something I had never really considered before.  Our walk with Jesus directly parallels the relationship between the cake plate and the cake it contains.  As long as the cake remains inside its container, it is safe from exposure, it holds its shape, it does not dry out, and it safely goes wherever the plate is taken.  Any thing striking against the plate does not damage the cake inside.  The protective cover absorbs the blow and protects the cake from being marred or damaged.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was describing in Romans 8:1. In this passage Paul writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Please notice the last three words of this verse. Paul wants us to understand that when we are in Christ, we are no longer found guilty of our sins.  The condition for being found not guilty, however, is that we must belong to Christ and be placed in him.  This means we accept his sacrifice on Calvary as the only way to salvation.

The words, “in Christ,” appear 92 times in the NIV version of the Epistles. Paul uses this image over and over again in his writings to underline our position as believers.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God places us in Christ.  We are not separate from him but we are placed in him.  His love, his grace, his mercy, his sacrifice, and his peace are all around us.  They protect us and shield us from the dangers of sin.  Christ does not take us out of the world but he protects us while we are in it.

Without Christ, our lives resemble an uncovered cake.  The elements dry us out, we fall apart, we have no sweetness in our lives, and we offer no enjoyment to those around us.  Moreover, we are exposed and vulnerable to all the bumps, and knocks that life throws at us.  At any moment we can be crushed, cut, flattened, or tossed aside.  I don’t know about you, but I have gained a deeper respect and appreciation for that metal cake plate.  Just think how much more precious we are to God and how much more He shields us and protects us because we have accepted the gift of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.

A Spiritual Firewall

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here it goes again!  That little beep from my computer warns me that something or someone is trying to establish contact with my computer while I am online.  The contact could be something as innocent as a friend’s e-mail or as sinister as a new virus programmed to wipe out my hard drive and crash my computer.  No matter how far we advance technologically, it seems there are always ways to muck up and ruin any system.

Until I installed a firewall, I never knew just how vulnerable my computer was to outside influences.  Now, during any given session, my computer’s firewall will alert me at least five times of potential danger.  The firewall is programmed to stop a potential intruder before it can infect and damage my computer.  Whenever anything questionable comes across the Internet, I receive a warning that my computer could come under attack.

Before I installed my firewall, I was unaware of the numerous contacts my computer received during a given session.  However, I do know that at some point a virus found its way into my computer and it took me several hours to rid my computer of the culprit and return things to normal working order.  Since I installed the protective firewall, however, I have encountered no difficulties and there have been no viruses released on my computer.  The firewall has brought with it a sense of security and peace.

It should come as no surprise to us that the Bible speaks about the concept of the firewall.  I am not suggesting a new interpretation or translation of the Scriptures.  I am fully aware that the writer of Psalm 34 had no idea about megabytes, hard drives, monitors, or printers.  Yet the concept of protection is a theme that runs throughout the Scriptures as God proves repeatedly His promise to care for and guard those who follow Him.

In Psalm 34:17, we read this brief statement, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”  King David penned these words not from a desire to write beautiful poetry but from the experience of living in God’s protection.  During his life, David knew what it meant to be chased and hunted.  He knew the sting of betrayal, the fear of being hunted, and the chill of living away from society.  But David also knew the joy of following the Lord and of experiencing first-hand God’s deliverance and protection.

Notice the imagery he uses in this verse from Psalm 34.  David knew what it was to live in tents and to be exposed and vulnerable to the elements as well as to his enemies.  He knew that an encampment offered far less security than the strong and sturdy walls of a palace fortress.  But each evening David slept in peace because he knew that all around his camp God kept a watchful eye.  While David slept, the Lord, Himself, stood as a wall of protection around his camp.  No foe could attack, no army could invade, and no trap could be sprung as long as David was protected by the Lord.

What the firewall is to the computer, the presence of the living God was to David.  It protected him from harm and warned him of any potential danger that awaited him.  As long as David feared—obeyed, respected, and honored—the Lord, God delivered him and kept him safe.

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o you know this protection in your life?  Does God’s presence surround you every moment of the day?  Do you know what it means to rely on God for provision and protection in your daily walk?  Do you have a spiritual firewall installed in your life today?  If not, don’t you think it’s time you asked God into your life today?

I'm Scared!

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Today's Title: I’m Scared!

Today's Scripture: 2 Kings 6:16

Dear Tidbitters,

The voice was very soft, but even in a deep, sound sleep I could hear someone calling my name.  Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me awake and that same soft voice called my name again.  I woke up and saw my little sister, Heather, standing beside my bed.  I quickly glanced at the clock and noticed it was 3:00 a.m., far too early for this kid, or anybody for that matter, to be awake.

 

I asked Heather if she were sick, and she said no.  I asked her if she were cold, and she said no.  Then I asked the million dollar question.  I wanted to know if she were scared and she said yes. She had had a bad dream and decided she would be safer with me. So, she got out of bed, came to my room, walked over to my bed, and woke me up.  She wanted to know if I would lie down with her while she went back to sleep.  Although I was barely awake myself, there was no way I was going to send this little girl back to her bed to face alone all those things that go bump in the night.

I threw back the covers, took her by the hand, got her something to drink from the kitchen, went to her room and lay on her bed while she went to sleep.  It didn't take long until she was in a deep, sound sleep, curled up against me.  I listened to her breathe as she lay there sleeping.  She was completely relaxed, secure in the knowledge that her big brother would keep anything from harming her during the night.  With me there, she didn't worry about anything at all; she slept through the rest of the night.

All of us have been in Heather’s place at one time or another.  During the darkest part of the night, we have a bad dream, the phone rings unexpectedly, or we hear something that calls us to immediate attention, nerves on edge, with a thousand thoughts racing through our heads.  We can’t go back to sleep and it seems that every shadow and every noise indicates something is lurking in the darkness, waiting to take us hostage.  We have an overwhelming sense that we are surrounded and that there is no way out.

This was exactly the feeling experienced by Elisha’s servant.  The King of Aram was at war with Israel and Elisha (referred to as the man of God), through divine guidance, informed Israel’s king of all the places where Aram’s king was planning to ambush him.  The King of Aram was frustrated and sent soldiers to find and capture Elisha.  The prophet was in the city of Dothan and during the night soldiers from Aram surrounded it.

The next morning, Elisha’s servant went out and saw all those soldiers and chariots.  I imagine he pinched himself and found out he was awake. This was no dream, it was a waking nightmare!  The man told Elisha about the soldiers.  Essentially, he told the prophet he was scared, that he didn't know what to do, and could Elisha do something about it.

Elisha opened his mouth and said, “Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  (2 Kings 2:16) This man probably thought Elisha was nuts!!  All he saw were those soldiers surrounding the city.  He saw no allies, he saw no cavalry rushing to his assistance, and there was seemingly no one to help.  Where did Elisha get this idea that an army was ready to take up arms and fight on their behalf?

That’s when Elisha prayed and asked God to open the young man’s eyes.  God answered Elisha’s prayer and the young man saw Aram’s army completely surrounded by horses and chariots of fire.  Elisha knew that God was his protection in all the circumstances of life.  He knew that God always takes care of His own, especially during the dark moments of life.  When his immediate circumstances looked hopeless, the hills all around him were filled with the mighty hosts of heaven.

Today, I want you to take encouragement from Elisha’s response.  It may be you are going through a very difficult time.  It may be that all around you seems hopeless and lost or you may feel you are completely surrounded with no one to help.  Like my sister, you are afraid of things lurking in the dark and don’t know if you can have peace.  Rest assured; you can!  At moments like this, we need to call on God’s name and ask Him to help us.  We need to let Him take us by the hand and provide comfort and shelter in times of trouble. 

When He comes along side us, we are at peace because nothing can harm us as long as we are in His presence.  God’s provision, His faithfulness, and His watchful eye are the same for us today as they were for Elisha.  There is no situation too desperate or too threatening for our God.  He is always in full control and, even when we don’t see evidence of His presence, He is there.  The hills around you are completely filled with God’s protection.  Walk confidently with Him along the pathway of life today.  You won’t have to be scared ever again.

            

Covered Parking

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, February 20, 2015

Today's Title: Covered Parking 

Today's Scripture: Psalm 91:1-2

Searching for an apartment complex in which to live proved to be both an enjoyable and a somewhat daunting task.  After spending five years in the men’s’ dorm at Southwestern Seminary, I was ready to have a place of my own with just a little more room to maneuver than my existing arrangement.  I began flipping through the newspapers, real estate magazines, and catalogs just to see what the area offered.  I got in my car and drover around town trying to decide what areas I liked and disliked.

Finally, I settled on an area of town and I began earnestly looking for apartments that had the features I desired within the price range I could afford.  Someone told me about several sites on the Internet that would prove beneficial so I began surfing the web, searching for that perfect apartment.  After several weeks of looking through ads, visiting apartment complexes, and listening to several PR pitches, I came across the complex where I currently live.

The location was perfect, the apartment had all the things I was searching for and the price was right on target.  In addition to all the things I was looking for in a home, the complex had one other feature which really peaked my interest.  Over 95% of the parking spaces in the complex were covered and the price of this parking was included in my monthly rent.  Most other complexes provided covered parking at an additional charge but this complex didn't charge extra for it and that was the deciding factor.

Now, I didn't have to worry about my car during bad weather.  The hailstorms here in Fort Worth did no damage to my car. In fact, no hail hit the car because it was safely parked underneath the shelter.  In bad weather, the car was safe. When it rained, the car didn't get wet. When it was windy, there was very little danger of something falling and hitting my car, and during the summer months the car remained cool because the sun’s rays didn't penetrate the covered area.  As long as the car remained underneath the shelter, it was safe and protected.  This was a great comfort to me and gave me one less thing to worry about.

Did you know that the Bible speaks very clearly about God providing shelter for those who trust Him?  In fact, the Scriptures state categorically that God, Himself, serves to shelter all those who know Him as their Heavenly Father and who have placed their hope and their trust in Him.  Psalm 91:1-2 reminds us of this wonderful truth, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Notice the words the psalmist uses to describe God.  His is a shelter, He is a shadow, He is a refuge, and He is a fortress.  The shelter and the shadow provide rest and safety from the elements of heat, wind, rain, and snow.  To hide or rest in a shadow means that you are hiding or resting in the shadow of something that is bigger and stronger than you are.  Not only is there rest in the shadow, there is also peace and contentment.

But God is also a refuge and a fortress.  The refuge is a place you go to escape your enemies and in the Christian life we have our share.  The enemies of doubt, fear, worry, anxiety, as well as all forms of temptation and harm have no power over those who take refuge in the Lord.  Moreover, God is a fortress, an impenetrable stronghold that safely and securely protects all those who place their trust in Him. There is, however, a part that we play in this relationship.  If we are to enjoy the peace and cool of the shadow, if we are to escape from our enemies and experience the safety of the refuge and the fortress, we must put ourselves in God’s hands. 

The psalmist says that only “he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” can experience these things.  Dwelling means staying put, setting down roots, to make a permanent residence.  What a wonderful image for us and what a powerful lesson.  When we take God seriously, when we make Him our dwelling place, when we let Him become our protection, our provision, and our sustenance, then we will enjoy all the benefits of covered parking.  Is your life safely and securely parked under the covered parking of God’s protective mercy and grace?