Exceeding Abundantly Above Answered Prayers

The one thing I always told the Lord I would never do is POLITICS.  It was not open for discussion nor for negotiation.  I've seen all those yucky campaigns where every skeleton in the closet is pulled out for public perusal.  Even the repented-of-and-forgiven sins are fair game.  I didn't want any part of that. When Rita Gentry (then alderman) showed up at my shop to discuss the possibility of my running for alderman, I was outwardly uncertain, but inwardly determined.  NO WAY.

Some years before, I had heard Jean Wright say, "It's a sin to do what anyone else can do, and leave undone the one thing only you can do." Since then, I had tried hard to look for the "one thing". That evening, Jean's comment kept coming back to me.  Rita had explained that there was going to be some kind of manufacturing company coming to the Wellspring Project site, just outside our town.  There were tremendous challenges ahead, and she felt ill-equipped to handle it. "We need you to help," she kept saying.

I'd done a great job of hiding on my farm and in my medical practice for nearly two decades.  I was not about to give up my anonymity.  The more I prayed, however, the more it began to look like one of those "one things".  I couldn't have stood to campaign and go through the rigors of an election that first time, nor the second time.  God graciously allowed me to be elected by acclamation.

From the beginning of my time as an alderman, there was so much needed that all I knew to do was pray.  I was worried sick about the coming manufacturer and prayed countless prayers about the environment and the trees.  I was concerned about their commitment to our community and our area.  I fretted and prayed.  The day Toyota announced they were coming to Blue Springs, I wept tears of joy. Every prayer I had prayed was answered.  This was an environmentally responsible company that focused on renewable energy and recycling.  Nothing is wasted, and they are here to stay.  I was thrilled.

From day one, I wanted a park.  Well, really I wanted a lot of things, and a park was just a part of my big plan.  I wanted a library, too, but there were other priorities in those early years.  We needed a comprehensive plan, ordinances, zoning, a police department, a building code and inspector, annexation.  It was always one giant challenge after another, but somehow we made it through. I even found time to become a Certified Municipal Official.  There was so much more that I wanted for this sweet little town, but funds were nearly non-existent, and I couldn't see what to do but pray and dream.

Almost a year ago, Lynda Bramlett, a fellow alderman, and I attended Toyota's roll-out for the new Corolla. While there, we met someone from Toyota who was involved in the Monarch butterfly project. That was exactly the kind of thing that interested both of us, so we all exchanged cards.  Several months later, we received an invitation to meet with a group of people at Toyota.  They were interested in hearing what we needed and what they could do to help.  Lynda and I went, thinking that perhaps they could help with a beautification project for the highway median.  We were planning to plant monkey grass.

We went expecting help with monkey grass and found that they had a bigger plan in mind.  Someone said, "What would you do if you had several hundred volunteers for a whole day?" I'd been thinking about that for years, and all my dreams spilled out.  I cried as I talked.  I was terribly embarrassed that I cried, but I couldn't help it. At some point during our conversation, I remember telling them how grateful I was that Toyota had come, because they made me a public servant.  People in my family volunteer.  We help.  We try to make a difference.  Well, I didn't, but lots of us have.  Until Toyota. With the possibility of their arrival, I became a public servant, too.  Now, a year into my third term, it seems like something I was born to do. (The voters may not feel that way, but I do.)

My vision poured out, and Lynda's as well.  We left that day excitedly hoping for monkey grass, a little concrete and a pavilion for a farmer's market.  The Toyota employees just said, "Let us see what we can do."  There have been hints of a plan since that time, and they have assured us that it was going to be good.  "You can trust us," they said.  Indeed we could.

The press conference was scheduled for today. No leaks were allowed, so I had no idea how huge the plan was until the presentation.  At 9:45 this morning, Sean Suggs, Toyota vice-president of administration, announced plans for the Toyota-Blue Springs Water Garden and Education Park.  This generous company has poured out an amazing gift on this little town.  Thank you, Toyota. I wept as he listed the features of the garden.  You can read the press release for yourself (there's a link below),  but suffice it to say, it was "exceeding abundantly above all I could ask or think."  I am stunned, thrilled, incredibly grateful, and already making plans for how we will use this lovely education park.  I can't wait!

The amazing thing is that every step in the process was vital.  So was every prayer.  Every person involved had an important part to play. This great gift was not given just because I prayed, or just because I wanted it. The plans of God and the generosity of an amazing corporation coincided. Today, it all came together and I began to get a glimpse of God's great plan.  Do you know what's even more amazing? This isn't all of the plan.  That's how God works.  We just get a glimpse as He orchestrates more.  

http://toyotanews.pressroom.toyota.com/releases/tmms+toyota+blue+springs+water+garden+education+park.htm

The God Soil: Part Six (Luke. 8:15)

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15 KJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

The Great Commision of Jesus was His last instruction to the followers before He returned to heaven. Go and make disciples. He expected His disciples to share the Good News throughout the world, teaching others His words, and helping them to become disciples of Jesus themselves. When we think of "bearing fruit", we often assume that refers to making disciples, and it does. 

"Making disciples" is not the only kind of fruit-bearing we need to do, however. Before we head out to make disciples, we need to first be disciples. To understand what the fruit of discipleship entails, we need look no further than Paul's letter to the Galatians. He listed the fruit of the Spirit so that there could be no doubt. 

 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

There is a tendency to think that these fruit are like spiritual gifts. We can have one or the other, but certainly not all of them at once. Not so, my friends. The expectation is that the work of the Spirit of God will produce all these characteristics in our lives. In fact, He will continue to work in us until they are present in our lives. 

When the fruit of the Spirit is present in our lives, the evidence of discipleship is there for all to see. How can this amazing  array of characteristics be present in our lives? When the seed of the Word of God is planted in a pure, honest, obedient heart and allowed to grow, it will produce the fruit of the Spirit. 

You may well ask, what if I need more patience? More faithfulness? More self-control? More love? If more fruit is needed, perhaps the starting point should be more seed, more of the Word of God in the form of Bible study. Don't forget, though, that the Seed needs fertile soil, free of impediments, to growth. 

What about our hearts? Are the fruit of the Spirit present in our lives and visible for all to see?  If not, why not?

Today pray that we and loved ones would be so filled with the fruit of the Spirit that all will recognize our Lord from whom they came. 

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Link to last night's post (praying for terrorists) is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/praying-for-terrorists-nasir-al-wuhayshi.html

Praying for Terrorists: Nasir al Wuhayshi

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45 NASB)

This is not really my favorite verse, but I have come to appreciate it a little more over the years. One of the things it makes clear is that God provides blessings of sun and rain for the "good" and the "bad" alike. This is not because He can't tell the righteous from the unrighteous. No indeed. He knows we are all unrighteous, and loves us anyway. Did you get that? God knows who is righteous (none of us) and who is unrighteous (all of us), and He loves us anyway. (His love does not exclude the possibility of judgement, but that is a topic for another time.)

Scripture is clear about our responsibility to pray for our enemies and those who hurt us. In obedience to that command, we have begun a regular program of praying for the world's most-feared terrorists. The second of the terrorists for whom we need to pray is Nasir al Wuhayshi. 

Mr. Wuhayshi is from Yemen and was closely associated with Osama bin Laden, once serving as his secretary. Still a relatively young man (thought to be in his mid to late-thirties), he has also been closely associated with our terrorist from last week,  Ayman al-Zawahiri, who promoted him to "general manager" of Al-Qaeda of the Arabian Penninsula just last year. AQAP is considered one of the most dangerous branches of Al-Qaeda. 

Mr. Wuhayshi is a slight man with a very attractive smile. He has been described as "impish" but do not underestimate this man. Just this past April (2014), a videotape was posted to YouTube showing him speaking to a gathering of Al-Qaeda leaders. Of course, I do not speak Yemini, but here is a brief portion of the translation of his remarks. With a calm demeanor and pleasant smile, he said these words:

"We must eliminate the cross… The bearer of the cross is America."

Do not be frightened by these words. Let them serve as an impetus to pray. It is clear that he knows about the cross but not the One who sacrificed Himself upon it.  

Mr. Wuhayshi's remarks remind me of another young man who was also a leader committed to eliminating the cross and all it represented. Saul of Tarsus dealt devastating blows to the young church as he persecuted believers and watched as they were stoned to death. He, too, was bent on destruction for the cross until he was walking down the road to Damascas. He saw a light, and met a Man, and that Man was Jesus. Before he knew it, Jesus had transformed Saul to Paul and the persecutor became the preacher, impacting the world for Christ as few others have done. 

Mr. Wuhayshi will try to harm the cause of Christ. There is no doubt about it. What he doesn't yet understand is that Christ died for him, too. As you pray for him this week, please pray for a Damascas-road experience that opens his eyes and brings him to Jesus. Pray that this terrorist-persecutor will become a testimony-giving preacher who will impact the world for Jesus.

Is that likely? Only God knows, but we have not because we ask not. It's is certainly no more unlikely that the salvation of Saul of Tarsus. Let's not fail to asks for the redemption of this dangerous man. 

The Good Soil: Part Five (Luke 8:8,15)

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:8, 15 KJV)

For disciples of Christ, their great desire should be fruitfulness, fulfilling that last command of our Lord to make disciples. In this pasage, Jesus explained how to become fruitful. It is not a byproduct of a fancy degree or untiring work, although both may be important parts of the process. Fruitfulness comes only as a result of the Sower's Seed, the Word of God, planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. 

Before we go further, it is vital to recognize that our hearts are the receptacle for the Seed, but it is the Seed that brings the fruit. Without it, there can be no fruit. Hearts that long to be productive must allow that vital Seed to be planted and grow, and that requires time spent in Bible study and contemplation. It requires obedience to the Word. 

There is one more very important characteristic of the disciple that is fruitful. Patience. The word translated as patience is hypomonē, and it comes from two root words that, taken together, mean "to abide under".  The word indicates constancy in the face of trials and incredible opposition. This is the kind of perseverance that endures all ills, all manner of bad treatment and discouraging circumstances, yet never gives up. 

It is the same patience with which missionaries serve and work for years without seeing a convert. This passage indicates that the Seed that finds a home in fertile soil and is nurtured consistently will bear fruit in time, if we are willing to persevere. It does not suggest that the waiting will be easy. 

The problem with waiting is that we do not like it, and we do not want to do it. I well remember overly-enthusiastic evangelistic acquaintances who were so aggressive with their tracts that I was delayed in finding a vital relationship with Christ. Impatience for fruit is common, and I confess to a tendency toward impatience myself, but it is counterproductive to the cause of Christ. 

If we are to bring forth fruit with patience, then patience is what we must have!  There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that the Seed of the Word can be rushed. In fact, 2 Peter makes it clear that God will not be hurried, and He is, Himself, waiting to allow more hearts to turn toward Him. 

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)

Have you planted seeds of truth that have not yet borne fruit? Wait. Wait prayerfully, but wait, just as our Lord does. In due time, He will bring the harvest. 

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will have fertile soil that welcomes the Seed of the Word of God and nurtures it until the harvest comes.

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Link to last night's post:  http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/shopping-for-rings.html

Shopping for Rings

Today was errand day, and I had a long list. In one of the stores, I passed the jewelry counter and noticed a young couple looking at rings. As I watched, the young man pointed to a ring, which the smiling sales clerk quickly brought out. When she reached out to place it on the bride-to-be's ring finger, the girl's eyes were as big as saucers. She looked up at the soon-to-be groom, who was smiling like crazy, and started shaking her head no. "It's too much," I saw her say. Her beaming young man laughed and gave her a little hug. He was smiling and shaking his head, "No, it's not too much. It's just right," he said. It was a beautifully intimate moment, and I quickly moved past.  

There was something unutterably sweet about that young man lavishing his love on his bride, and I've thought about it all afternoon. When I saw him say, "No, it's not too much," I thought, "That's exactly what Jesus said!" He looked at His struggling bride-to-be, the disciples that would become the church, that night in the garden, and though it was a hard fought battle, He emerged ready to do what must be done. He lavished His love on His bride and poured out His own blood to redeem her. 

More than two thousand years later, I'm afraid we've forgotten what our redemption cost Him. We should be the ones shaking our heads, saying, "No! It's too much!" We should be weeping in sorrow at the price He paid, overwhelmed with love for the gift He gave. But are we? 

This evening, spend some time considering the imponderable, inconceivable grace our bridegroom has bestowed upon us, and live, and love Him, accordingly. 

It was too much, but He did anyway, because He loved His bride. 

Good Soil: Part 4 (Luke 8:8,15)

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:8, 15 KJV

The fruitful, good soil of the heart is much more than simply being a nice person. It is even more than being pure in heart. The good soil of the heart is only possible because of the work of the Word of God in that heart. The word translated "having heard" is akouō and indicates hearing with your ears and your heart. It indicates both hearing and understanding. 

It is not enough to simply read Scripture, or even to memorize a mountain of verses. Knowing what the Bible says is of limited value if you do not understand what it means. This "good soil" heart, however, goes further than just understanding in general. The one who is fruitful also understands what is meant in terms of his/her own life. 

It is one thing to understand that "fret not" indicates we should not worry and fret about troubles. It is another thing entirely to read those words and understand that you personally are to stop dwelling on and agonizing about a specific situation, and to know with certainty that those words are meant for you. When we "akouō", the Scripture becomes real to us, the literal Word of God for us personally. 

Hearing and understanding bring us to another critical point. Keeping it. The original word is katechō and does not at all mean we understand the Word and keep it to ourselves. Katechō means that we seize the truth we understand and hang on to it for dear life, just as a drowning man clings to a life preserver. It means we do more than hear, more than understand, more than recognize its truth in our lives. It means we embrace the truth and obey that truth, even when it is difficult. 

Is that how we approach Scripture? Do we read the Word of God to understand what it means and how it applies to our lives? Do we read it with the intention of not just understanding but also obeying?  

Pray today that we and our loved ones would have an akouō heart that understands and a katechō will that obeys. 

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The Good Soil: Part Three (Luke 8:8,15)

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:8, 15 KJV

There is an interesting point in the translation of this verse from the original. The word translated as "good" when used to describe the ground is kalos, the same word used to describe the "honest" heart. The word translated as "good" when describing the heart is agathos. It indicates the goodness of God but it is also translated as "kind" and indicates a heart that is not just morally correct, but unfailingly kind. 

This does not mean one who exhibits kindness toward family and fellow believers only. This kindness is displayed toward everyone.  This good heart demonstrates kindness toward its worst enemy and towards the one who is enmeshed in the worst sin imaginable. 

This little word, agathos, is also used sometimes in another way. It can be used to mean "happy" or "joyful". Can you see that this is one of those pivotal phrases that is so often neglected in the church today?

Fruitfulness is a product of seed that lands in good soil. For the disciple of Christ, that "good" soil of the heart is not only beautifully pure of heart and life, but unfailingly kind to everyone. This incredibly kind heart will be blessed with overwhelming joy as well! 

To be sure we understand this, let's take a look at unfailing kindness once more. This is kindness when we don't want to be kind, kindness to those society has cast away, and kindness to those organized religion might shun. 

The question of either/or is completely eliminated by the little word kai, translated "and". It means "and" or "also".  That beautiful purity of heart does not exist alone. For it to be a part of the "good soil" of the heart, purity always co-exists with unfailing kindness and joy. 

As we examine our own hearts today, consider whether we have the "good soil" in our hearts. Are we both pure of heart and unfailingly kind? The two traits together are not optional for disciples. 

Pray today for a heart that is so beautifully pure that it is manifested as unfailing kindness to all and accompanied by overwhelming joy. 

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http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-declaration-of-war.html

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The Declaration of War

This post was written 10/8/2001 and was published on a "prayer web" that I wrote and shared in the days before blogs were invented.  I thought you might find it interesting.
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"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
                                                                                                       Ephesians 6:12 nasb

Ryan and I had just gotten home from church when my neighbor, Sam Wiley, stopped by.  "They said at the store that we had declared war and were bombing Afghanistan," he said.  "Did you hear about it?"  "Declared war? I thought we were already at war," I replied.

As I thought about that part of our conversation later, I realized we were both right.  It IS war, and it WAS declared more than two thousand years ago.  Our battle, however, is not with Osama bin Laden, though he is the obvious target.  The one who has threatened our liberty and stolen life and peace is the same one who tried to defeat Christ at the cross more than twenty centuries ago.  It is the same enemy who defeated Adam and Eve in the garden.  

As believers, we are all soldiers in the battle for the hearts of humanity.  Now, more than ever.  Commit to remain faithful to our Commander-in-Chief in the skirmishes you encounter today.  We have to make it through the battles but, praise God, the victory has already been won!

The Good Soil: part two (Luke 8:8,15)

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:8, 15 KJV)

The good soil represents the kind of heart we want to have, so a closer look is in order. The first description of the "good soil" kind of heart is that it is "honest and good". The word translated as "honest" is kalos, and is can also be translated as fair, excellent, or honorable. Vine's Expository Dictionary defines this word as "fair, right, honorable, of such conduct as deserves esteem".  

Blueletterbible.com lists a usage of the word that is particularly enlightening. Kalos, it says, can be used to mean "beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy". Isn't that a lovely description?  Beautiful because of the purity of heart and life.  Imagine that. It is the kind of heart we are supposed to have in order to be fruitful in the kingdom of God. 

The question all of us must answer is whether or not our heart is beautiful because of the purity there. Is our heart so pure that it manifests itself in purity of life?  How can we know? The lifestyle we choose, the choices we make, the things we do when no one is looking, the way we treat others, are all products of our purity of heart, and they all demonstrate the truth of our heart. 

If we want to be beautiful by reason of the purity of our lives, we must start by having purity of heart. But how? How do we achieve purity of heart? We can't buy it. The psalmist found that he could not achieve a pure heart on his own at all. In fact, he found that there was something very important that prevented a clean heart. "Create in me a clean heart," he prayed. (Psalm 51:10). The creation of a clean heart, however, only came after an acknowledgment of sin. 

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (Psalms 51:2-3 KJV)

Can you see it?  The way to have this beautiful life of purity is to admit our sins, confess them, and ask God to cleanse us. Purity of life comes only from purity of heart, and that comes only by the forgiveness of God. 

Is there something in your life that needs to go? For what do you need to seek forgiveness from God? 

Pray today (for ourselves and our loved ones) that our sin would be "ever before us" and that it would propel us to the only One who can forgive and cleanse. 

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Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/tracking-storms-and-more.html

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Tracking Storms and more

After leaving the office this afternoon, I picked up the dogs from grooming and headed home. We were stopped at the stoplight, wondering why it was suddenly getting so dark. I asked my smartphone if it was going to rain, and the smart-aleck British accent replied, "I'd say it was likely," and gave me a weather report screen full of raindrops. 

Just as I looked up, a truck came barreling around the corner, in a hurry. There was a big sign on the side of the truck. "STORM TRACKER". I was really glad it was going in the opposite direction from my house. 

As I was driving, I thought about trackers as hunting guides, and considered the possibility that the STORM TRACKER might be some kind of storm-hunting guide. If that is the case, I reasoned, someone must want to catch a storm. That led me into an off-key rendition of "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket" (the only part of the song I remember) and back to the question of what to do with a storm when you catch it, as putting it in your pocket seems like a really bad idea. 

In my usual rambling way, I wondered why someone wants to catch a storm anyway. Catching a storm would be worse than catching a cold. The desire to watch a storm is almost understandable, but if I caught a storm, which would definitely be by accident, I would let it go.

As you might have recognized by now, I can keep myself entertained for hours with this meandering mind of mine. 

At last, my consideration of catching storms brought me to the thought, "But God was not in the storm". The idea comes from 1 Kings 19:11, which actually says, "But God was not in the wind."  Elijah was having a whiny day and was hiding in a cave when he encountered God. There was a storm, an earthquake, and a fire. Elijah was actually having a bad day and a whiny day! Anyway, God was not in any of it. Finally, Elijah encountered God in that Still Small Voice that very gently spoke to him. 

If you ask me, if you are going to track something, it should be the Still Small Voice. Forget tracking storms. That Still Small Voice is the thing you should be seeking. And that reminds me of something else. When you seek the One who speaks with the Still Small Voice, you find more than you expected, but you are really glad you did!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

The Good Soil (Luke 8:8, 15)

Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. (Luke 8:8, 15 NASB)

The good soil. What a wonderful analogy!  This soil is fertile, watered, and free of rocks and thorns. The imagery is one of rich, well-tilled garden soil. When the seed lands in this rich earth, it sprouts quickly, grows rapidly, and produces both a lush, healthy plant and an abundant harvest. 

Our lives of faith are supposed to be like the seed that lands in fertile soil. Everything we need to be successful and productive in our faith has been provided. Our job is to keep our heart free of those rocks and thorns, keep the living water flowing, and allow growth to occur. It's our job to stay close to Jesus so that we can become all He intended. 

Note that it is success in our faith and productivity in our faith that is the goal, not success by the world's standards. We who are so abundantly blessed in material things can easily forget that most of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world walk out their faith in far different circumstances. Many of them would say that the relative poverty and persecution they face allows fewer distractions and a closer relationship with Christ. 

At the end of our lives, the question will not be how much "stuff" have we accumulated, but how much faithfulness have we exhibited and how much fruit have we borne. 

Let's take a look at our own lives today. Do we have "fertile soil" in our hearts? Are there thorns, rocks, or drought that hamper our growth? Are we bearing fruit?  What changes do we need to make?

Pray today that we and our loved ones would have such fertile, well-watered soil that we would consistently, constantly bear fruit. 

-------http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-most-important-vaccination.html

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The Most Important Vaccination

As usually happens when I head home after a day at work, I started thinking about the topic for tonight's blog post as soon as I sat down in the car.  I couldn't think of a thing that would be a good topic for an "evening confession" and, as usual, I offered a brief prayer.  "What do You think, Lord?" As quick as a flash, the answer came.  "Tetanus shots."  I laughed so hard the people in the next car looked at me like I was nuts!  "Really?  Tetanus shots?"  

Since tetanus shots was the only suggestion I got, I began to ponder the whys of it.  Perhaps there would be many people stepping on rusty nails and they would need a tetanus shot to protect them. That did not sound right at all.  "What could it be?" I wondered.  I remembered recommended a tetanus booster earlier today.  I had seen a patient who had been injured on a rusty piece of equipment and was late for a tetanus booster.  I recommended the vaccination, then (as I usually do) explained that I had been a part of the team treating two separate cases of tetanus some years ago, and it was such a horrible disease that I never want to see it again.  "There is a simple prevention, and you want it," I explained.  "You may not know you want it, but you do."  

Tetanus is a dreadful condition and a description would not enhance your evening.  Just believe me when I say it is the very worst.  You don't ever want to have this.  You don't even want your enemy to have tetanus.  Perhaps the reason tetanus shots is our topic tonight is because, bad as tetanus is, there is a deadly condition that is much worse.  SIN.  The sin condition leads only to sorrow and more sin.  Even for disciples of Christ, sin is an ever present threat, and a constant battle.

Wouldn't it be so nice if we could just get a quick immunization against sin and be done with it?  Maybe a booster every year or two to keep us safe?  Yes! That would be the best! 

I have bad news for you.  There is no sin vaccine.  There is also some good news, though. There is a preventive that works extremely well, and it has been known for thousands of years.  It is a tried and true remedy, and is found in Psalm 119:11.

Your word I have treasured in my heart, 

That I may not sin against You.

Ps. 119:11

 

It sounds too good to be true, but it is true.  When we study Scripture, store it in our hearts, and fill our minds with God's Word, it helps us not to sin.  When we memorize Scripture verses, the Holy Spirit is sure to bring them to our minds just in the nick of time to help us avoid wrongdoing.  Sure, we can still sin, but if we listen to the Word within us, we are much less likely to do what we will wish we had not.  

Tetanus vaccines are essential, and if you haven't had a booster recently, maybe you should have one, but the sin vaccine is the most important of all. As I said earlier, "There is a simple prevention, and you want it.  You may not know you want it, but you do."  

Bible study.  

Scripture memory.  

Treasuring His Word.  

The sin prevention.  Do you need a booster?  Get it quick, before you wish you had!

A matter of priority (Luke 8:7,14)

Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8:7, 14 NASB)

The outcome for this seed was sad, sad. The seed fell in fertile soil and grew. It had everything it needed, but thorns were growing around it. Jesus compared those thorn plants to "worries, riches, pleasures of life". Thorns are distractions, and significant ones, that do require attention but are allowed to take priority in our lives. When the pursuit of riches or pleasure is allowed to become more important and of higher priority than the pursuit of holiness, no fruit is produced. No godly fruit, that is. When the worries of life, valid though they may be, are allowed to take priority and focus over faith, there will be no spiritual fruit. 

There is no doubt that responsibilities, finances, and relaxation are all important areas of our lives and demand considerable attention. Jesus was not implying that they should be neglected. He was teaching that those areas, when allowed to crowd out the pursuit of holiness, can choke our faith and stop all growth, preventing any fruit-bearing. How tragic! The goal of the Christian life is maturity and fruit. Disordered priorities can completely halt our progress!  

What you might not realize (unless you have some experience with weeds and thorns) is that the growing seedling can easily be overlooked in the midst of the thorns. If the thorns and weeds are dealt with from the beginning, the growing plant will be healthier and grow much faster. The really nice part of dealing with thorns and weeds is that, once all the weeds are dealt with initially, a constant vigilance will allow any additional weeds to be removed quickly and before injury to the plant develops. 

Do you have thorns that are choking your growth? If you are not sure, do a survey of the fruit in your life. If you are not bearing fruit (making a difference in the Kingdom of God), perhaps you have some "thorns" with which you need to deal. It's a matter of priority. Make sure yours are priorities that matter. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will recognize those thorns in our heart that crowd out growth in our Christian walk and that, seeing, we will deal decisively with our priorities in order to become the mature men and women of faith we were saved to become. 

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Today is the deadline to volunteer for "eight days of hope" and help build homes for Tupelo's tornado victims. Their website is www.eightdaysofhope.com

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Link to last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/06/working-together-denim-chair.html

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