PLATE FULL OR CUP RUNNING OVER?

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

PLATE FULL OR CUP RUNNING OVER?

 

(Psa 23:5) …My cup runs over. 

We hear so much these days about our plates being full.  What people are saying is they are so busy and can barely keep up with it all.  When something new or unexpected comes their way they go ballistic because they say it’s too much and all so overwhelming and how are they going to make time for this?  Truly we are victims of our overly busy society but why does it all have to be so negative?   

Think about how great you and I have it.  We have a family, a home, a job, a car, abundant food, friends, and opportunities and privileges most people don’t have in this world.  And then we complain about how busy we are and we wish we had more time and blah, blah, blah!  What a downer we are when God has been so good to us and His blessings abound to us.  Our blessing buckets are full and we complain about how heavy they are!  Oh God, forgive our ungrateful hearts.   

People complain about I HAVE to go to work, I HAVE to wash my car, I HAVE to pick my kids up from school, etc.  No, you GET to do all these things.  Isn’t this everything you hoped and prayed for?  That you would have a rich and complete life with so much activity that you are so thankful to be a part of?    This is what gets you up in the morning and keeps you motivated all through the day.  Life is good!  But we treat it like it’s an intrusion.  I think it’s time we here in our blessed country get a BE POSITIVE transfusion and start counting our blessings.   

Instead of saying our plate is full, let’s say our cup is running over!  That’s the ticket!!  That’s what David said about his life.  And that was just after talking about going through the valley of the shadow of death and being in the presence of his enemies.  Atta boy David!  You saw it right.  You didn’t say your plate was full.  You said your cup was running over!  That means abundance.  That doesn’t mean the Lord said “Oh sorry, I can’t fill your cup up full today because there’s not much to go around.”   No, he said his cup was running over with God’s blessings like the waiter who pours too much beverage in your cup and it runs over and gets the table and you wet and he profusely apologizes.  Only God doesn’t apologize.  

God is so good.  And His blessings keep flowing in our lives!  Why do they?  It’s because Jesus promised the abundant life (John 10:10).  That means life to the overflow.  The riches of His grace just keep coming and there’s no stopping them.  This is just to let us know how much He loves us!  It’s also because there are people around us that have never tasted of the abundant life of Christ.  God blesses you and as a result of this blessing others experience how good God is and this can create the thirst in them for more of Jesus.   

Let’s stop saying our plate is full!  It’s not full because our cup is running over!! 

Louie

MY ROW TO HOE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 

MY ROW TO HOE

 

(Gal 6:5) For each one shall bear his own load.

 

Every farmer has his own land to tend, His field to plow and his row to hoe.  It’s hard work just like the Bible says: (2 Tim 2:6) The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.  And nobody else can do it for him.  You see him working from sunup to sundown.  He’ll hire a farmhand when he must but most of the time you see him all by himself doing a multitude of tasks.  He’s not asking for any help.  Neither is he intruding on another farmer’s property.  He’s minding his own business.  You could say he has his own row to hoe.

 

That’s the way it is in the Christian life.  Each one of us is unique and we have our own life to live and nobody can live it for us.  Who we are, our makeup, our history, and our own set of circumstances goes into our personal distinctiveness.  We have Christ in common but our place in life will vary from person to person.  With this in mind then we are like the farmer who has his own row to hoe.  It’s a daily challenge and sometimes you think you’re alone but then you find out you are just like the other believer who is farming in the plot next to you.

 

One day I arrived at church on a Sunday morning being fatigued from a challenging and arduous week.  I willed myself out of the car and lumbered across the parking lot and up the steps to the front door of the Chapel.  At the same time another brother was getting out of his car and limping his way in my direction.  I asked him how he was doing and he groaned and said how tough a week it had been.  I just burst out laughing because we were like farmers who just finished a hard row of hoeing and met at the fence-line and ended up comparing stories.  Well, we found our way into the service together and as always received the inspiration we needed keep at it in the Christian life. 

 

Each Christian must bear his own load.   We can encourage each other but in reality we’ve got to get back out there in life and serve the Lord with what He’s called us to do.   We’ve got to put our hand to the plow (Luke 9:62) with the hope that good will always come from our daily walk and work for Christ (1 Cor 9:10).  We must be patient for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7) and cheer our hearts with the fact that we will reap in due season if we do not give up (Gal 6:9).   One of these days we will be with Jesus, and like Elisha will burn our farmer’s equipment to follow and serve the Lord in His field forever (1 Kings 19:19-21).  

 

Let’s give up the silly notion that we need more help in the plot we are to tend.  Let’s be like that hard working apostle Paul who said: (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Let’s trust the Lord for daily strength (Deu 33:25) because a harvest is coming and we want to be a part of it.  And let’s teach our sons and daughters that hard work is really a gift from God with much reward!  (Zech 13:5) But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’

 

Louie

 

A MOTHER IS ALWAYS A MOTHER

 

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

A MOTHER IS ALWAYS A MOTHER

 

(Gen 2:24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

 

Maternal love is the strongest love in the world in terms of its depth and devotion. Just think of it, the woman carries the child in the womb, gives birth, and then becomes the main source of nurture for her offspring for years. Then overnight the child becomes a teenager and begins to pull away. This accelerates as time goes by. There is graduation and then off to college or the work force. Soon they will leave the nest and eventually there is marriage when the child leaves permanently (hopefully!). But a mother is always a mother.

 

I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus who is seen in the birth story: (Luke 2:7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

Then we see Mary when Jesus was twelve years old: (Luke 2:42) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

After this we see Mary at the cross: (John 19:25) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother…

 

Finally we see Mary in the upper room after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension: (Acts 1:14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus…

 

This final appearance of Mary in the New Testament shows me the incredible love she had for her son. I mean, here she was devoted to her son even after His permanent departure from life. It also shows me a mother is always a mother. Oh yes, they eventually leave the home but they never leave the heart! What occupies a mother’s mind more than anything else? It’s her children. She’s always thinking about them. She’s wondering how they are doing. The cares of the children become her cares as well. She exults in her child’s successes and pines after her child’s struggles. She longs for the opportunity to be a part of her child’s life.

 

Since a mother is always a mother what can she do when her kids are up and grown and on their own?

 

PRAY: (Eph 6:18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. You used to have them on your knees…now you are on your knees for them! Pray for their salvation, protection, and progression in life and in the faith of Christ.

 

STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY: (2 Chr 25:19) …Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble…? It’s the hardest thing for a mom to do, and that is to restrain those motherly tendencies and the temptation to rescue or give unsolicited advice. They have to live and learn on their own as experience is the best teacher.

 

ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE: (2 Tim 4:2) …Be ready in season and out of season… Adult children are always so busy. They probably should call and come by more often but remember how caught up in life you were in a younger year. Be ready for that phone call or visit and especially when they need you and your help.

 

Your work isn’t over mom because a mother’s work is never done and a mother is always a mother!

 

Louie

 

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

            SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

(Rom 5:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.    

I am so glad the Lord has brought you into my life.  My life has been immensely enriched by knowing you.  There are qualities in your life that I am lacking, and I am learning so much from watching you and being with you.  I know the Lord has brought you into my life at just the right time because I am being challenged to be a better person in Christ.  I seek to emulate your faith and character and be the best I can be for my Lord. 

I know sometimes I’m flaky.  But I can’t thank you enough for overlooking my faults and loving me anyway.  You believe the best in me and that confidence brings out the best in me and assures me I am able to succeed in life.  I know you know how insecure I am and how I try to put on a mask at times to cover it.  But being around you disarms my fears and lets me be myself.  I can’t believe how much I open up around you and even laugh spontaneously.  I have had a tendency to restrain myself for fear of being misunderstood but when you’re around I feel safe to just be myself.  

When you love me unconditionally I feel Jesus’ love through you.  I’ve always had this idea that the Lord loves me but when I fail in my faith I have felt distant from God like He has changed His mind about me.  But when you keep loving me through all my ups and downs and highs and lows I am restored in my faith that God loves me no matter what.  This is a supreme gift that I have been granted through our relationship and has served me to no end.  Just to feel loved by God at all times is so amazing and so healing.  I’ve never known a love like this.  I’ve always felt I’ve had to perform and could never measure up to other’s expectations of me.  Now I know it’s okay to be human and to love Jesus at the same time.  

I also like how you correct me and hold me to the standard of God’s Word.  I initially bristle but then realize you are right and love me so much to challenge me to keep on the straight and narrow.   You never have a harsh word and what you say in loving rebuke is the velvet steel I need when I am drifting off my course.  Forgive me when I have been overly sensitive about correction.  I guess I just always want to be perfect and get mad when I am reminded that I am not.  This pride is sinful but how great it is to have someone like you to provide the context whereby I can own up to the fact that I’m not there yet and stand in need of improvement.  

Something else is also changing about me.  I not only feel God’s unconditional love in my life, but I am also now giving it to others.  I used to hide so much in my skin and wouldn’t reach out to others when I knew I needed to.  They say there are sins of omission and believe me I have committed many of these.   But because I feel loved I am also extending love like never before.  I used to be afraid of involvement or that people would take me wrong so I held back to protect myself from that.  But now I don’t care.  I feel good about who I am in Christ and this is giving me the boldness to risk rejection and make new attempts at seeing how I may be a blessing to others.   

I have always struggled with a tremendous sense of inadequacy.  I have learned how to cover this by certain techniques that I have developed and perfected.  But God’s love through Christ and the cross is stripping me down to who I am.  And you know what?  It’s not so bad!  In fact I feel more effective now in what I do and am getting more feedback from others than I ever used to.    So thank you for your unending and unfailing love and how you accept me.  I feel so much closer to the Lord and I am giving to others this beautiful gift!  

Louie

SUMMARY LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

 

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

SUMMARY LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

Ever feel like Job?  All beat up from life and everything that has gone wrong at one time?  It’s hard to make sense out it all isn’t it?  That’s why we need the book of Job to encourage us.  

Some people of “faith” say to not read the book of Job or else you’ll get a big trial (like coming down with a cold!).  That is superstition and it is silly.  We need the book of Job for any level of struggles we face.  Like someone has said, we are either entering a trial, currently in one, or exiting one.  But remember what Jesus said: (John 16:33) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  So if we are going to have trouble in life let’s learn how to handle it before it handles us!  Having trouble does not mean you have to be a troubled person.  Through Jesus we can learn to be overcomers instead of being overcome!    Let’s learn from Job:  

- THERE IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE ARE USUALLY UNAWARE OF (Job 1-2).  (Eph 6:12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

- WE SERVE GOD NOT FOR PROSPERITY, BUT BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM (Job 1:9-11).  (Job 13:15) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.... (1 Tim 6:5-8) 

- TRIALS DO NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THERE IS SIN IN OUR LIFE OR THAT WE HAVE A LACK OF FAITH (Job 1:8).  (Isa 53:3) He (Jesus) is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

- WE LEARN GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND CONTROL DURING TIMES OF TRIAL (Job 38:1-4).  (Psa 37:3-7) Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. {4} Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. {5} Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. {6} He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. {7} Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret…

- IF WE PERSEVERE, WE WILL BE BLESSED! (Job 42:7-17).  (James 5:11) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.  (James 1:12) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  (2 Tim 2:12) If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.

Louie

TAXES

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

TAXES

I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”  We all laugh at that because that is for sure in the natural.  But taxes are an issue that seem to be always floating around different parts of our minds.  Did I take enough exemptions?  Does this qualify for a deduction?  Will I owe or get a refund?  Then during tax filing season it all revs up working toward the deadline of April 15.  Many of us are frantically looking for receipts and pulling important items together.  Then when we finally file we breathe a sigh of relief and perhaps dream of what we will spend our refund check on.  

One day the religious leaders asked Jesus a question to test him: “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:22-25)  This was the famous quote of our Lord that put His enemies to silence.  So brilliant.  Give to God the tithe and give to the government the tax.  The apostle Paul would echo this in his letter to the Roman Christians: (Rom 13:7) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.  

This whole issue of taxes is touchy for many.  A person may disagree about how high taxes are and how the tax money is spent.  Some have even failed to pay their taxes resulting in fines and even imprisonment.  Others have cheated the government hoping to never get caught.  This might include hiding some personal income (under the table) or fudging on the numbers when filing.  But we know the way of the Christian is honesty in business and taxes. (Pro 16:11) Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s…  And we know that as we render to Cesar, God will bless us for being upright.  Plus we know God will provide for all our needs so why cheat?  (Mat 17:27) Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” (see also Gen 22:8, 14; Phil 4:19)

Taxes have a way of dividing people.  The kingdom of Israel was divided into northern and southern kingdoms permanently because of a tax issue under Rehoboam and his failure to budge on tax heavy taxes his father Solomon had imposed on the land (1 Kings 12:1-24).  (See also Dan 11:20).  We look at our legislators today arguing over less tax and more tax.  This makes us also think of how far back this goes, even to the Boston Tea Party of 1773!  We also might disagree on how the tax money is disbursed based on personal opinion and ethic.  And speaking of ethic, I just tell the Lord to make sure my taxes won’t go to fund that abortion but go to improving the streets in my neighborhood!  

Louie

COMFORTER OR COMFORT FOOD?

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

COMFORTER OR COMFORT FOOD?

(John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…

We all seem to have a love affair with food.  And don’t we have variety and abundance of it in America!  They say we should eat to live and not live to eat but we kind of suspect that person surely has no fun in life!  Since food seems to always be on our minds how should we view the whole eating experience from a Biblical perspective?  Aren’t we free as believers to enjoy?  At least we don’t do drugs or alcohol anymore is our usual comeback.  Let’s take an honest look at this topic because for many of us food is a problem and even affecting our quality of life.   

I believe God wants us to enjoy our food or He wouldn’t have given us taste buds!  Eating is a pleasure.  It satisfies the hunger and brings people together.  God provides for all of our needs and for most of us we have never gone to bed hungry or had a worry about how we would acquire our next meal.  But we have to admit that food can get out of control in our lives.  A good thing has now become a bad thing and as a result has negative consequences.  How did this happen?  At what point did it transfer over to something unhealthy?    

I think what happens is that we are looking to food for our comfort in life.  We are stressed out and food makes us feel good!  Problem is our problems continue and so does our eating.  We are now in a trap.  We internalize our problems and many times don’t even know what we are doing.  Food is so accessible and you can just grab and go and you don’t even think about the fact that you are really medicating.  Then we develop a bad habit and we know habits are hard to break.  People try dieting but they usually go back to their original weight or even gain more.  It’s an unhealthy cycle for sure.

So what do we do?  Realize that what you need when you get stressed is not a sandwich but the bread of life Jesus Christ!  (John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger…  Take all your problems to Jesus.  Let Him satisfy with the Holy Spirit as the comforter.  He will fill you up with His love and the only thing you will gain is the pleasure of His presence (Psa 16:11).  Instead of going to food, go to God!  Stop and pray when you are tempted.  Don’t serve your stomach (Rom 16:18), serve the Lord.  Eat of His Word (Job 23:12).  Enjoy the milk and meat of it (1 Pet 2:2; Heb 5:12-14).  It even satisfies a sweet tooth! (Psa 19:10).  

You might say that’s fine coming from a skinny preacher!  Ah, but this is even for people like myself who can turn to food as well, and God knows our hearts.  And it’s so funny because I am writing this at the lab waiting for blood to be drawn for my annual checkup.  I had to fast and go without coffee.  I am famished and trying to avoid being grumpy.  Hope my number gets called soon because I’m eager to put my grub on!  (Rom 14:17)

Louie