Star Light, Star Bright

Today's passage:  I Corinthians 15:30-50
     Red giants.  Blue dwarfs.  Black holes.  Supernovas.  I learned about these in my ninth grade earth science class.  With the naked eye, they would be hard to detect, but with a telescope, I might be able to make out the different types of stars.  When I was younger, summers at my grandparents meant my uncle and I using a star guidebook to identify the constellations in the sky.  I can still pick out the dippers, Orion and the summer triangle. 

See How Lofty the Stars
Taken from Standard Bible Story Readers, Book One
By Lillie A. Faris
Illustrated by O.A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland
The Standard Publishing Company, 1925

     "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:  for one star differeth from another star in glory."  It amazes me how God placed each star in the sky.  He arranged them.  How many millions of them are there in the universe?  Scientists would try to tell us, but I know only God knows that answer.  If He took such care to order these celestial bodies, how much more thought did He put into mine?  How much more did He decide to whom I would be born and how my life's path would go?  Has anything in my life been a mistake?  Some of my own making, but none of God's.  Just as God uniquely designed and arranged each star, He has done the same with me.

 I've done art projects taking black paper and either a hole punch or a sewing needle to repeat holes in the paper to replicate the night sky.  The only problem with that is that a hole punch or needle will achieve a uniform look to the stars, and God designed each of them differently.  God gave me a story He has given to nobody else.  He has given me a way to use my talents for Him, in a way nobody else can.  Not that nobody else has my gifts, but He has put me in a situation that make them unique to me, and a viewpoint that is my own.  We can all say this.  When we view our lives as a series of "happy accidents", we neglect to see the special value we have to our Creator.  Maybe I wasn't the first person to be born, and maybe I wasn't the seven billionth (a milestone birth approaching our earth sometime soon) but being the four billionth six hundredth forty third person (like I really know) was just as important to Him.  And He made me to glorify Him.  I pray I can do that.  I pray that my star, whether shooting, sparking or fading will point light towards Him.  I pray that my glory will be His glory.  I pray that even though I can't see when a star has become a black hole, because there are millions of stars up there, and I can't keep track, God knows when I have done something for Him.  To others I may blend in with the crowd, my place unnoticeable, but He put me exactly where I need to be, and He would notice if I am missing. 
     Thank you, Lord, for loving me in a special way.  You love all of us uniquely as only You can, because You created us uniquely.  Thank you for reminding me today, how special I am to You.  I can never understand that, but I know how special my children are to me, and You love me as Your child.  Help me to shine my light for You.

The Domino Effect

Today's passage:  I Corinthians 12
     "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him."
     Have you ever set up dominoes in a long line, gauging how best to space them so that when the first one is tipped, the rest tip over too?  When I think about God setting the members of the body (not just our physical ones, but the church as a spiritual body), I think about how God puts us all where He desires, so that we can work together to accomplish His purpose.  Everybody probably would want to be that first domino.  After all, it has the closest contact with the tipper, it is the most noticeable.  Everybody would probably want to be the last domino, because it is the indicator of success or failure.  Few want to be the dominoes in between.  But if it weren't for the dominoes in between, the first domino and the last domino would have no significance.
     It is kind of like that in our churches.  God gives some people talents, abilities, spiritual gifts that naturally lend to that person being noticed.  People with creative talents are especially prone to this, and if they are anything like me, constantly wrestle with making sure God gets the glory.  But not everyone can have those creative gifts.  If they did, also like me, they would be scatterbrained, messy, critical, sometimes arrogant.  With all the positive, there is plenty of negative.  And although some people might think gifts of singing and teaching are "it", I can tell you, the pats on the back create a prideful being with which God is displeased.  I would never call them a curse, but the more I'm noticed, the less God is, and that troubles me.  I am forever battling whether to use certain gifts because I want to use what God has given me, but I also want Him to be glorified, not me.  I am not trying to theorize that I am the lead domino, I just want people to understand that the gifts I have, although maybe sometimes more noticeable, aren't always the most glorifying to God.  Instead, I believe the people with the least noticeable gifts, those middle dominoes, are the ones God has the most pleasure in.  Think about the person with the spiritual gift of helps.  This is the man in the church who will fix anything for anybody.  She is the woman who brings meals to the elderly widows or visits with the church member residing in the nursing home.  We don't see their actions, but sometimes have benefitted from them.  How about the person with the gift of administration?  How I wish I had that gift!  I wish I could plan an event and every time it would go smoothly.  What usually happens, is as much as I have thought through something, trying to account for every detail, I miss something.  Every time I miss something, and I am not quick enough on my feet to change plans.  The person with the gift for administration knows how to recover from these snafus and is able to keep the event going without a hitch.  Sometimes we know the names of these people, but often we do not.  And the person in charge will tell you, that they can not have been successful without delegating to many others.
     What if some people do not use their gifts?  It is kind of like when the line of dominoes are falling nicely but suddenly stop because the one domino is sitting just a bit out of reach.  For some reason, it wasn't spaced properly causing the previous domino to miss hitting it, and therefore, the rest of the line of dominoes continues to stand.  God sets us where He wants us.  But if we move, if we shift forward, backward, left or right, even a tiny bit, it can throw off the whole operation.  This does not frazzle God.  He doesn't wring His hands wondering what is going to happen if we don't each play our part.  Sometimes God shifts the line, sometimes he removes a domino completely.  How sad would that be if I were the domino stubbornly refusing to fall down because I wasn't content with where God had placed me in the line.  He puts us where He will get the most glory.  Even though I wish I had certain gifts, I'm not going to withhold the ones I have been given because they aren't necessarily the ones I wanted.  I can't speak for the weaknesses of other people's gifts, because I don't have those, but the person with the gift of helps or administration could tell you what they are.  Usually you will not find those two gifts in the same person because the helps person is very person oriented, and the administrator is very task oriented.  And we need them both!  God knows how best to get a job done, and has given us the gifts that will accomplish that.  If we recognize the spiritual gifts God has put in us, and accept the position we have been placed, when that domino line falls, nobody will look at the lead, and nobody will look at the end, they will look at the One who set up the line.  That is what God has intended all along.

Paying the Price

Today's passage:  I Corinthians 4:6-21
     When I was younger (much younger) I wanted to be an actress.  Pretending to be someone else came naturally to me.  I enjoyed being in plays in elementary school and particularly in high school.  As a teenager, I wondered if I might be "discovered".  I'm so glad I wasn't.  Hollywood is not someplace a Christian can thrive very easily.  I have heard of some Christians who have "made it" but I'm guessing it has not been without some compromise.  I have never been a very compromising person, when it comes to the things of God.  My oldest son, just the other day, said something about wanting to be an actor.  It strikes fear into my heart.  I understand those desires.  I understand wanting to become "famous".  I also understand the price.  I simply said to him that if that is a job God would want him to pursue, he needs to understand that he would not have another private moment.  He was not crazy about that idea.  I told him that is the price of fame.  Maybe that has him thinking for a little while about another career path.  I hope so.  Although I understand having this creative side, and wanting to express it, I also understand the wrestling with pride that goes along with it.  Having people recognize something you have done, and not allowing your ego to expand and fill the room so that there is no space for anything or anyone else.  Because any talent, gift, skill we have been given, is from God.  What is there to brag about, when we are not the source of what has been given to us to use?  And for what are we to use it?  His glory.  I always thought that when my hair starts graying, when the boys are grown, I might pursue Christian theater, where I could act in something that would bring honor to Him, and would not interfere with Sunday and Wednesday services.  I don't think there is anything wrong with acting itself, I just don't believe a Christian can bring the greatest honor to God by being in an acting community.
     I have always scoffed at celebrities who bristle at the paparazzi and being expected to give interviews.  Some of them do this begrudgingly.  You take the good with the bad.  If you want to be recognized everywhere you go, if you want to make the millions of dollars, you have to expect that journalists will somehow want to put your face on every cover, even if you are picking your nose.  Do I think it is a little excessive?  Yes.  But I don't think they should complain.  Many of them say, well, I didn't want to be a celebrity, I just wanted to act or play my music.  Um,  who are you acting and playing for?  Are you telling me that you want to be in the movies or a band and you don't want anyone to buy the tickets to your film or buy the CD for your album?  I think it is more that they didn't realize exactly what fame would bring.  They want all the glory, but none of the interference.  Sorry folks.  One comes with the other.
     This leads me to the passage for the day.  The Corinthians glorified the life of the apostle.  All they could see was that they got to speak in front of hundreds of people, they got to go on a whirlwind tour of the world, they were able to heal people.  They were recognizable.  Paul quickly pops their delusional bubble.  He explains that this apostleship is not always an easy life.  Sometimes they do not have a place to lay their head, sometimes they are hungry and thirsty.  That sounds like God didn't provide for them, but I think it is more speaking of the comforts of home.  I'm sure Paul had three squares a day, but maybe he was in the mood for a candy bar.  He couldn't just go to the pantry in his home, and grab one.  He had to depend on the kindness of others.  He had to depend on the people God put in his path.  There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed.  But the apostles rarely got to sleep in the same bed each night.  That would cause some restlessness.  Paul says that they are reviled and persecuted.  The Corinthians apparently only saw the people who believed.  They didn't see the hundreds who rejected, who pelted them with stones, who banished them from their towns.  He says the apostles are the "offscouring of all things".  I picture the caked on food in a skillet.  Who wants that part of the meal?  That is what you try to wash down the drain or scrape into the garbage.  Yuck!  Paul is trying to enlighten Corinth on the real life, behind the scenes.  It may look glorious, with people wanting you to autograph their scroll, with people wanting to have you heal them, but there is a lot of downside to it.  Paul is trying to show the Corinthians that those skills and gifts were given for the express purpose of bringing honor to God, not to themselves.
     Fame is becoming increasingly more important to people.  I don't know why people would want to be recognized everywhere they go, with no privacy ever.  I don't know why they would not want a sense of a normal life.  But I know that is the price tag for being famous.  I know that fame is not always what it seems.  The paycheck is nice, but how many days of hunger led to that first big break?  How many compromises did it take to get to the point where you call the shots?  Apostleship was nothing like being an actor or musician.  There was no sense of trying to become the most famous preacher.  Paul was doing what God called him to do.  I'm praying that my son will get over his desire to be famous and will do what God calls him to.  I'm pretty sure He is not calling him to Hollywood.

Facades

Today's passage:  I Corinthians 3:10-23
     "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
      I'm thinking about a vacant house that was down the block from my husband and I in our first few years of marriage.  This structure looked like it could have been the haunted house from stories.  It was certainly old.  Rotting porch steps, crumbling facade, barely-hanging-on door.  But most noticeable was the cracking and sagging foundation.  The whole house looked like it would eventually collapse.  Do you know somebody renovated that place, and I'm guessing sold it.  I never saw them dig up the foundation, so I've always been very curious how they were able to correct it.  They put new cement over it to make it look new.  They put new siding on the house, they fixed the door, they built a new porch.  My thought was, whoever bought that house has been duped, because eventually that weak foundation is going to give way, and the way the house looks isn't going to matter.  So far, it is still standing, but I have a strong feeling that they have had more problems than they bargained for, and probably have no idea why, since inside and out looked brand new.
     The foundation I am laying for my children is so very important.  I would like all my boys to be very well-rounded.  I want them to learn a musical instrument (to use for God's glory), I want them to enjoy a sport (to promote healthy exercise and a love for God's outdoors), I want them to learn how to cook and clean (so if God calls them to be single, they can fend for themselves, or if God calls them to marry, they can be a help to their wives).  Most importantly, I want them to learn to love God's Word.  Really, all the rest is so not important, if they do not know God.  They can be the most charismatic, charming, endearing young men, but without Christ, it is all just a fancy facade.  They can be the All-American athlete who wins regional and state awards but without knowing Christ, they haven't won anything.  They can have musical abilities that rival any famous talent, but if they scoff at God, that talent is just decor.
     I pray each and every day that my boys will come to know Christ.  My oldest has already professed Christ, and he already prays for his younger brothers.  I pray that they will accept Jesus at an early age, so they can lay that foundation and build upon it.  I pray more than that.  I pray that they will surrender their lives to the Lord.  Whatever God calls them to do, I pray they will use those abilities for Him.  If they are athletic, I pray God will call them to coach in a Christian school.  If they are musical, I pray God will teach them to be a music minister, or direct a choir.  If they are good with their hands, I pray God will call them to build churches here or on the mission field.  None of the talents God will give them will matter, if they do not first accept Christ.  If that foundation is not there, the rest will come tumbling to the ground.  I do not want to build young men who have a fancy facade.  I want to build young men who have a proper foundation, so if the house starts to collapse, they can rebuild. 
     One of these days, I am going to walk past that house that looks like new, and see that it is no longer standing.  The foundation was never re-laid properly, so I don't see how it can continue to stand.  The inhabitants may wonder what would cause their house to sag and crumple, because they never saw what was under the cement.  Hundred dollar fixtures, and fancy furniture can never solve that problem.  That is something that has to be taken care of at the very start.  I'm praying that my kids will have a glorious start, a solid foundation which will allow them to build lives for Him.  Without that, everything else is just a crystal chandelier.

Inexperience

Today's passage: I Samuel 17:31-58
     "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."  I Timothy 4:12
     How insulted must Goliath have been!  Not only did Israel send this kid out to do a man's job, but an unarmored kid without fighting weapons.  Goliath's armor bearer who went before him carrying his shield was probably even taller than David.  Goliath was furious.  It was as if Israel did not take him seriously.  It was as if this was a practical joke they were playing on a proven warrior.  It is not a joke.  Israel fully expects to see David demolished.  His brothers are already writing a note home to Dad to let him know they tried to stop him, but as the baby brother who tended to get his way, he wouldn't listen.  The medics have their first aid kits nearby knowing they will not have a chance to use them before David expires.  They don't even bother with the stretchers because Goliath will kill anyone who tries to go near David's body.  Goliath has already said that David's carcass will be vulture meat.
     The Israelite and Philistine soldiers hear Goliath and David shouting to each other across the valley.  Goliath is muttering and ranting because a boy stands before him.  But David seems confident, poised, as if he had killed thousands of giants.  David claims the battle for Jehovah and assures Goliath he will be the vulture food this day.
     Goliath ambles toward David, his hefty figure weighed down by his armor.  He almost looks as if he moves in slow motion.  David, unhindered by any armor moves swiftly.  He is agile as he whips the sling around his head.  Goliath lifts his heavy sword and slashes downward, but David's small stature and speed become an advantage, because Goliath misses.  He has to determine where David has moved so he can attempt to slash at him again.  The hillside soldiers watch this scene as if an elephant is lumbering at a pesky flea.  The flea's movements are so quick, that the elephant no soon turns around than the flea is behind him.  David catapults a stone which buries deep into Goliath's forehead.  Ding, dong the witch is dead, oh no, that's another story.  Goliath's armor bearer scurries out of the way as his large shadow hovers closer to the ground.  Armor rattles and creaks as his massive body slams against the rocky terrain.  A breathless David stands on the giant back, unsheaths his sword, and decapitates Goliath with his own weapon. 
     Stunned, the Israelite soldiers process what has just happened, armor up, and pursue the remaining Philistine army.  The Philistines, on the other hand, have already left camp.  They have not had to fight a battle for a considerable while now since they've had a champion to fight all of their battles for them.  They have been lazy and have not bothered to train.  They do not think their fighting will match up all that well with the trained Israelites, and they are right.  Some of them are able to reach the safety of Ekron, but many of the Philistines never make it home alive.
     Saul is curious about David.  This young man who has played a harp in his palace, obviously had some hidden talents.  He knew David, but he wasn't all that familiar with the family.  My study Bible says that he didn't really care about the origins of a harp player, but now that his daughter would be marrying this giant killer, he would want to know who would be related to the royal family.  Which kind of makes me wonder why any father would offer their daughter as a trophy anyway?  I mean, I know that would be great motivation for a soldier, but what if he was a mercenary?  Would you really want to give your daughter over to that kind of man?  At least, even if David was from a nobody family, he loved God.  Saul would not have to worry about her spiritual well-being, not as if that was something Saul would actually factor in when it came to giving his daughters in marriage. 
     David had more to contend with than just going up against Goliath.  He had to battle prejudices against his youth.  Everyone thought he was too young to do the job.  Experience is respected, sometimes revered.  But God did not choose someone who had experience.  He chose David, because it doesn't really matter how old or young someone is, it matters how surrendered they are.  David had given his whole heart to God.  It was because of David's inexperience as a soldier, that God could get all the glory.  It was because David's dependence, that God could help him win the battle.  An experienced soldier might have relied on his training, an untrained soldier would have to rely on God.  When I feel like I am experienced enough to handle a situation or do a job, it may be because of that very reason that God does not use me.  Because who will get the glory in that situation?  When I feel ill-equipped to respond, it may be the very thing God wants to accomplish the task, because I know I can't do it without Him.  I will surely be in prayer and I will surely let Him lead.  I may have natural talents, but God does not always choose to use those, sometimes He uses the unnatural talents, so that He is glorified.  My inexperience may show, my inabilities may surface, but God will give me the sufficiency I need when the time comes.  If I look at others and think, "I could have done that so much better because I have this talent and I have that skill" that is exactly when God will elect someone else.  Why?  Because when accomplishment comes despite abilities, there is only One who can claim success.  There is only One who can take the credit.  When I feel too young, too inexperienced, too skill-less to accomplish something, I can remember David who may have felt the same way too, only he had the confidence in the God who would do the conquering.  My inexperience may show, but it will show Him greater.
 

Bowing to the Stump

Isaiah 44:1-28
     I'm trying to imagine how jealous I would be if my children were to give all their affections to another adult as if that person were their mother.  Furthermore, if they took gifts I gave them to shower adoration on this person. How would I be able to endure that?   I see the same thing here in this passage.  The Lord gives great detail on how Israel fashions these idols, and gives her devotion to them.  Yet, every step of the way, Israel fails to see, God provides the materials and skills to do that.  The rain used to grow the tree that will be fashioned into the idol?  God's rain.  The tree itself?  God's tree.  The fire the smith uses to melt down the metal for the idol?  God's fire. God's bread and meat sustains the strength of the worker.  It is all God's.  These workers work tirelessly to produce a small piece of wood or metal, to the point of exhaustion.  In the end, God says they are bowing down to a tree stump.  Why would they waste all that talent on something that will never love them back?  How would I feel if my children were to do that to me?  If I clothed them, fed them, protected them, comforted them, and they called someone else ""Mommy"".  And what if that person they honored wanted nothing to do with them?  How frustrating that would be! 

An Apple Tree Laden with Fruit--Taken from Standard Bible Story Readers, Book One
By Lillie A. Faris, Illustrated by O.A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland
Standard Publishing Company, 1925

     We do the exact same thing.  Many times we do not give our love to an idol.  But we often spend our time, our talents, our gifts, our devotion, on things that are not worth our attention.  We use the gifts God has given us, not for His glory, but for our own gain, our own pleasure.  Lord, I am your child.  Yours alone.  I do not want to waste my affections elsewhere.  I know that they will never be returned by anyone or anything else.  I know how it must hurt You when I do not give you all my love, all my appreciation.  I know how jealous it must make you to see me devote myself to things that will not bring You any glory.  Remind me each day, Lord, when I am not doing something worthwhile for You.