Why The "Panicking Christian"?

Like most Christians, I occasionally find myself in a borderline, all out panic about something which I already knew, but seem to have forgotten or that I only knew in my head, as opposed to my heart. And mercifully, God decides to show me what is really going on or what it is that I needed to know, before I completely lose my mind.

So the writing within is just that. It is that which God has shown and taught me while I was typically in one of those times in my life. Since the way in which He has chosen to reveal things to me tend to be fairly easy to follow and understand, I am sharing them via this format. That said, I take no glory for any of this. It is God whom has given me the ability to write, and it is He who has given me the content to write as well and He who saved me by His glorious grace in the first place.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Work Ethic

Have you ever worked on a farm, especially during the harvesting season? How about gone to one of those "U-pick" operations where you get to pick your own strawberries, apples, or whatever produce they happen to be growing? If you have, then you know that it is hard work.

Take the farm worker for example. Now we are talking "by hand" harvesting not mechanical, although no doubt that is a bit tiring as well.

When harvesting a crop by hand, the worker starts early in the day - sunrise (or even a bit before) and works the whole day through. The crops do not leap off the vine or dig themselves out of the ground. The worker spends no small time on their knees in the dirt. Banging their knees off of rocks here and there. Digging into the earth for root crops (potatoes, for instance) and carefully pulling off of vines others (tomatoes for example). It is hard, tiring, dirty work. By the end of the day, you "know" you have worked a full day. If the sun is shining you are hot, sweaty and dirty. If it is damp, then you are wet and muddy as well. Makes one see why mechanical means were invented, does it not.

But at the end of that long day, you get to look at the fruits of your labor. You see all the crop you have harvested and it makes it all worth it.

It has not been too many years since that was the normal routine. Mechanical harvesting is hardly ancient, although harvesting crops goes far, far back into our history.

Luke 10:2~ "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

I find it odd that some people, and churches, seem to think that if they wait around long enough, people will just throw themselves at their feet, begging to be led towards the path of salvation. How some whole churches seem to think that hoards of unsaved people are going to storm their doors like some kind of desperate stampede. Granted, like any other believer, I would like to see that happen. A full on sovereign move of the Almighty God in a true revival that makes the initial day of Pentecost pale in comparison. But whether or not that ever comes to pass in our viewing or not, only God knows that answer.

The "harvest"...but the "workers"...

Keeping in mind that harvest is work, having workers makes sense. I am sure that the worker in the field would love to have the crops just leap into their baskets, but that is not likely to happen anytime soon. So they WORK.

So must we. We are not told to sit around and wait. The occasional person who wanders into a church seeking or comes with someone else is rare compared to the hundreds and thousands who wander right on past.

But are they really seeking?

Consider the number of religions that others turn to. Pretty much anything you can dream of really and there always seems to be something new popping up to help ease a persons conscience and fill that ache within. Then are those who, unable to find anything REAL to believe in, just give up altogether and settle in the stance of "life ends and we're eaten by works - it is all for nothing". NOTHING! How horrible a thought, how bleak a future.

I dare say, YES, those who wander past are seeking - they just may not realize what - or I should say, WHO - they are seeking for.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few"

Do not oversleep. Do not miss the work day. Wake up! Soon the sun will set and you will have missed it all. And there is far more than just your need for sleep at stake here - far more.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The cup

So as I re-read the pages of this page, I notice that something is not here that I previously thought had been - "the cup". Now some who know me may know what I mean, but others, well, guess will have to explain a bit.

Some time ago, I used to make a point of going to a local park in the early morning when there were few, to no, people around. It was always a nice time of just "hanging" with God as I walked, talked and listened. Many a time He has shown me things in our time together there.

One day as I walked along a trail, I saw - just on the other side of the railing - a cup on the ground, just slightly over the bank. It was a disposable one from a local coffee shop . It looked very out of place there in that place. So I reached through the railing and picked it up. There was no garbage nearby, so I carried it a little ways and dropped it in when I came to one. Then God spoke to me.

The scene that played out was this:

Some walking along, never noticing the cup. Some noticing but pretending not to. Others seeing and complaining about how people should not toss things around like that - as they walk by. Still others complaining that "someone" should do something about that - as they walk by. Others walking and complaining about this or that - again, as they walk past it laying there. Lastly, the one who sees it, reaches slightly out of their way without a complaint, picks it up and puts it where it should go.

He was not talking about litter in a park.

He was talking about NEED.

James 2: 15,16 "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"

How often do we see a need and just walk on past as if we see nothing. How often do we see need and complain that someone should do something, or that people should know better, or the government should step in or the church or....

Want to know something? God allows you to see a need because He wants YOU to do something about it. Not wander around complaining like so many others do - exactly what good does that do for those in need?

But you may say "I have nothing to offer, nothing major to contribute to the needs of the poor".

First, not all the needy are those living in boxes or dumpsters or in disaster zones. The woman trying to juggle 3 small children as she tries to load groceries into her car considers herself pretty needy. The well off (financially) man whose wife of twenty years just left him for his best friend is very much "in need". Not all need is with regards to material things, although there is much of that around. Sometimes the need is merely to have someone - anyone sometimes - willing to listen and not pass judgement (like Job's friends for instance - "you know what your problem is" mentality).

Maybe the need you see is a material one. I tell you the truth, the $5 you have in your pocket may mean far more to the homeless man with the cup of small change that it will to the business you are buying your coffee from. Oh, I know what you are thinking - "he is just going to take it and spend it on 'whatever' rather than food". What is that to you, exactly? Do they question where you spend your money at? Does God ask you to pass judgment on those in need or just respond? Fairly certain you know the answer to that one.

Isaiah 58:7,8 "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wander with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."

Does not say to give shelter or clothing to those whom have common beliefs as you, does it? Or those that are living in ways you personally approve of? The lives of the needy - just as yours - belong to God alone and He alone may judge.

Matthew 5:45 "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous"

God's job, not yours (ours).

But maybe you do not have any material means of your own. Perhaps however, you know where to find such means and can put the right people together. Perhaps, you say, you can "only" pray.

ONLY pray? How odd a statement is that? For those who are saved, when you (we) pray, we are taking "whatever" directly to the foot of the very throne of the Lord of all creation, who not only listens to us, but responds. Hardly counts as an "only" thing. So regardless of your response, definitely pray.

I could easily go on and on on this topic, but I think you get the general idea.

If you see a need - regardless of what it is or whom has it - then perhaps it is because God wants you to do something about it. After all, many do not see things right in front of them far too often - you may be the ONLY one who can see that need.

May the grace of our Lord God keep you well.