The Choice is Yours

 "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." Genesis 4:7

    Last week, I had the opportunity to see the movie, "The Sound of Freedom." The film is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former special agent for Homeland Security, who formed an operation to rescue children who have been sold into sexual slavery. Mr. Ballard is the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, whose four-pronged approach to the widespread and growing crime of sex trafficking includes raising awareness of this assault against the most vulnerable of humanity: children. Hence, the reason for this sobering film.

     Since watching the movie, I have pondered what manner of evil overtakes a person driving them to delve into the deepest abyss of darkness that sin can offer. After all, no one plans to be a deviant when they grow up.

    Looking back on my own life, I remember the first time I had seen pornographic magazines at a friend's house.  I recall the recoiling shock of the images and the immediate shame they produced. I felt dirty; something had shifted and I didn't like it. 

    The Bible says God provides an escape route with every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). When Cain was brooding over a perceived injustice, the Lord came to him with the warning in the verse above, giving Cain the chance not to open that door. The choice was his to either rule over it or to succumb to it. We know what route he chose, thereby committing the first murder.

    Jesus warned us sternly just how deep the darkness of sin can be: "If your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better to enter life with one eye that to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." (Matthew 18:9) While this extreme measure was not taken literally after I saw that magazine, the reprimand and exhortation was taken very seriously. To have proceeded further down that path would have been to shake hands with the devil.

    Every journey, whether good or bad, begins with one step. When given the choice, step into the light of Christ. 

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." Proverbs 4: 18, 19

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3: 19-21

      

Faith Under Fire

 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

    When a friend of mine rescheduled our luncheon date, that put me in just the right place at the right time to witness incredible faith in action. Here's the story:

    As I drove toward the village in which I grew up, I spied a column of gray smoke ahead, drawing closer as I went along. Aghast, I recognized the childhood home of a friend of mine that was engulfed in fire! My friend's mother still lived there and her sister occupied the house next door. 

    Everything was happening so quickly and unbelievably; the fire department had not yet responded so there was no time to flounder. As I parked my car, I saw the sister running to the neighbor's in great fear for her mother, so I fled there as well. 

    Feeling the searing heat and hearing the crackles of fire brought the reality of the situation to the forefront, but with great relief, I saw before me the mother along with the neighbor, who had rescued her. Though elderly and in poor health, as I knelt beside her, I detected no weakness of character, even as she watched her home being devoured by blazes. 

    With conviction, she declared to me, "I am a Christian."

    "So am I!" was my reply, as I grasped her hands and began to pray. Rising, I turned to her daughter who joined me in prayer as well, invoking God for strength and peace. 

    Later that day, when I returned to the sister's home to check on everyone, she introduced me to her family. Since they were all believers, I felt right at home. In peace and courage, they were all going forward in faith, though the smoldering ruins of Mother's home lay beyond the melted fence. In fact, they were going to celebrate over dinner. Yes, celebrate! 

    This was a picture of true, tried and tested faith in Christ that had persevered under great trial. The Christian knows that "the Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." (Psalm 28:7) He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us so, when faith is under fire, He is right beside us.

"Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34:10 

    

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