Making Every Effort

 "And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." 2 Peter 1:15

    This summer, I was blessed to spend an entire month with my granddaughter, who lives in Houston, Texas, and I made every effort to use the time wisely.

    I was not in pursuit of secular goals, though there was some use of Cocomelon. But, everywhere I could, I allowed the Spirit of Christ to reveal Himself before this dear little one. On my phone, I found Christian children's songs. She especially loved "The B-I-B-L-E" and was still singing it once she returned home. 

    When adding salt to our muffin batter, I couldn't help but speak of our being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). 

    The hardworking ants on the front walk became a lesson in diligence for the work God has given us (Proverbs 30:25). 

    The birds at the feeder opened a delightful path to speak of His divine providence. "Look at the birds of the air," Jesus said. "They do not sow or reap or store away into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). 

    At church, she went with me to collect the offering as the congregation heartily sang, "Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!" 

    At home, after we said grace, we all raised our hands heavenward and sang, "Amen! Amen!" 

     From the time of her conception, I have prayed for her heart to be fertile ground for the gospel, which is the Good News that Jesus loves her and gave His life for her. He will never leave her nor forsake her, and He will look for her if she becomes lost along the way. 

    I have written my testimony, telling the wondrous things God has done for me so that, after my departure from this world, there will be no doubt about the reason for the hope that Grandma had. 

    I saw this adage on a sundial once: "Do not squander time; it's the stuff life is made of." So true. Lord, help me to make every effort to plant seeds, water them and hoe out the weeds because that's what it takes to produce a crop. 

    Grow, Little Esme!

"These commands that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6: 6-7

The Butterfly's Testimony

 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world." Psalm 19: 1-4

    What sound does a butterfly make? None, to my knowledge, but this lovely creature has much to say.

    While riding my bike through the park, I slowed when I spotted two people on the path who were bent over with a stick in observation of something. The man bid me to come slowly and view the sight. He explained that, as they were strolling along, this butterfly abruptly fell from the confines of its chrysalis above. Here was this work of art, slowly fanning its wings to dry, and we had the benefit of seeing the fabulous display. Usually, these winged beauties flit about so quickly, the curious observers only catch a glimpse. But here in the woods, we three were treated to its full glory until the man, who had coaxed it onto a stick, carried it to a safe place.

    As I stood in awe, the work of God's hands came to my mind and I wondered if the couple shared my belief. I should have asked them; perhaps it would have opened the door to share the gospel. But here was the silent testimony of a butterfly, which plopped down right in front of their noses. A trained ear could hear it say, "Come and see what the Lord has done!" 

    When an artist wants to draw attention to her art, she may have an Instagram account that gives the viewer a nibble of something more. Then a link to her Etsy shop may be provided inviting the curious to "come and see." In this way, the artist's creation can be seen around the world through the wonders of the internet.

    God has been leaving His nibbles along our way since the creation of the world, inviting us to probe further. "Who made this fascinating creature?" He bids us to ask. The invitation stands to meet the Artist. Worldwide, there are 18,500 species of butterflies who have a testimony to share. If only people would come and see.

"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. God has made it plain to them." Romans 1: 19, 20

The Evangelist and the Eunuch

 "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road - the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'

    Then Philip ran to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked.

    'How can I,' he said,' unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him...Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8: 26-31, 35

    I have had many Philips in my life and I was blessed to be surrounded by many of them last Sunday when I was baptized. As I sat in the back of the church with my little granddaughter in my lap, I felt saturated by the love of God inside and out as I recounted the people in my life, sent by God, who brought the gospel to me, encouraged me and courageously spoke truth to me. 

     I thought of the very first Philips, my parents, who are with Jesus now. They taught the love of God to me daily as they lived out the Scriptures. Along the way, there were Sunday School teachers who may have thought I wasn't listening, but I can recall some of the songs and stories to this day. 

    Then there were teams of volunteers who brought Vacation Bible School to me, where I made a macaroni cross. The pastor, who baptized me as an infant, also taught me the ins and outs of the Bible in Catechism class. As I grew and moved around, there were pastors, teachers, radio broadcasts and printed media that nurtured my faith along the way. Friends sent cards or bible verses; people interceded for me in prayer. 

    At times, I have been like the eunuch in this account who needed help understanding the scripture. Other times, I have been able to come alongside another and explain the gospel truth, like Philip. Either way, it is the Holy Spirit who dispatches believers to spread the good news, and it is this same Spirit who aids the listener to comprehend what's being said. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

    So, whether we have questions or answers, no one stands alone. We need one another.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

    

    

An Evening Symphony

 "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadows of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:6-8

    Often, in the cool of the summer evenings, I hear the robin singing a solo from the branches above. Most of the avian proclamations take place in the mornings so I wondered why this feathered friend raises praise at twilight. So, I looked it up.

    All songbirds are passerines, which means they have a distinct toe arrangement for perching purposes. A suborder of these passerines is the oscine, which have a highly specialized vocal organ called a syrinx. But, just having this syrinx isn't enough. A songbird has a superior mastery over his syrinx using complex muscles to control a series of membranes which are used to produce the delightful arias we hear. 

    Unlike other birds that merely chirp, young songbirds learn their complex musical arrangements by listening to their parents or other adult birds. They rely on more than just instinct; they learn by listening to others.

    So, getting back to the American Robin...The website for the Audubon Society says, "As the sun begins to set, robin song takes on a new and exquisitely different character. From sunset to dark, a robin adds ethereal whispered notes to its carol, creating a song of remarkable grace and complexity." (emphasis added)

    Herein lies the reason why the robin sings in the evening. He creates a song of grace. I like to imagine him thanking our Creator for his daily provisions, for his perching ability and for his syrinx. These hymns of praise he learned from the adults who surrounded his childhood nest. Now, he takes joy in using all that God gave him to teach me, his appreciative audience, to do likewise. 

    Next time I hear a robin's evening symphony, I will join in.

"I will praise you, Lord, among the nations. I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm 57: 9, 10 

    

A Silent Audience

 "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5

    Insomnia nettled me. The absolute silence at four o'clock in the morning caused me to rise and roam my home. Though we live on a well-traveled road, there wasn't a soul stirring anywhere, neither man nor beast. Not even a leaf. I think I really did hear a pin drop, it was that quiet.

    On tiptoe, as I peered out my bathroom window into the dark hush, this verse from the book of Revelation came to mind: "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half and hour." Prior to this future event, when the Lamb of God will open the final seal of judgment which will unleash the wrath of God, there will have been a continuous cacophony of praise and worship in heaven. But, like a calm before a storm, all will wait in silence, a captive audience.

    We, also, on this side of heaven are in a period of intense waiting. Even the birds, insects and animals are waiting for their Creator to redeem His creation. All authority, power, honor and dominion has been given to Jesus Christ; what He has ordained to occur no one can alter.

    And so we wait...

    Like waiting for our order to come at a restaurant. Like waiting for a concert to begin. There is an edge-of-the-seat anticipation that the object of our hope will fulfill our desires. More than a plate of food or a two-hour concert, that for which we hope - that perfect Eden eternity where weariness and frustration are no longer - will be so worth the wait.

"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed...the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:19, 21

Family Ties

"But soon it was time for the Feast of the Tabernacles, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him."
John 7: 2-5

I wonder if Jesus' mother, Mary, ever opened up to explain the situation of Christ's birth. If she told the crowds at the Feast that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, would they believe her? Did she ever share with his brothers how the angel spoke to her and Joseph, how the heavenly host surrounded the shepherds in the fields at night? Did she ever recall the mysterious Magi, bringing their gifts of three? Did she dare to confide in her best friend, saying "I was a virgin when Jesus was born"? Or did she keep all these things in her heart?
Jesus, I wonder what you thought as you covertly mingled amongst the people at the Feast, listening to their varying opinions. Even today, amid the various beliefs and arguments, I visualize your deep brown eyes searching mine and asking, "What about you, Rachel? Who do you say I am?" You are the light of this dark world. Show me the way as we sojourn together, my Shepherd and my Friend.

Confidently Sure

 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

    Have you ever longed for a change in some area of your life? Maybe it's a loved one for whom you have been praying or perhaps a well established habit or pattern which you cannot break? In my own life, I got to thinking that perhaps a lack of faith is the reason why I don't see any change so I decided to study this topic in the gospels. 

    The Roman centurion came to Jesus asking for help in Matthew chapter eight. "Lord," he implored, "my servant lies at home, paralyzed, suffering terribly." Though he was a Gentile, a Roman, he addressed Jesus as Lord, and rightly so. In utter humility, he went on to say, "I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed." The Bible says he amazed Jesus with this display of faith. (Can you imagine amazing Jesus?)

    Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Go!" he said to the centurion, "Let it be done just as you believed it would." His servant was healed at that moment.

    Did you noticed that it was done just as he believed it would? 

    I think my trouble lies in my unbelief. Do I really believe Jesus will save the person for whom I have been praying? 

    Skip ahead to the ninth chapter of Matthew where two blind men were following Jesus, calling out for mercy. Though they couldn't see, they knew who Jesus was, that's for sure. When Jesus asked them if they believed He was able to restore their sight, they responded, "Yes, Lord." Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." (emphasis added) And so it was. 

    The centurion and those two blind men were confident and sure in what they'd hoped for, certain about what they did not see. 

    Do I have that kind of faith? Or is there a hesitation, a reservation? I wish to have the faith of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve long years. She knew if she just touched the hem of His garment, she would be healed (Mark 5:28). Not "might" be healed but would be.

    Confidently sure. And why not? When the object of faith is Jesus, there is no reason to doubt!

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20