The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

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James 5:19-20 (ESV)

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
  let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
  for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

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Hebrews 12:5-11 (ESV)

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Few people enjoy the humbling nature of being shown where they are wrong.  It can really sting the ego and cause insecurity about the perception others have about one’s intellectual capability, financial status, social skills or moral integrity.  Regardless of whether true “goodness” is a goal, most of us at least like to look good.

As a parent, I can say with certainty that it’s frequently no fun being the one chosen to speak with an individual who currently does not wish to see his/her error.

But, although chastisement is rarely pleasant, and nearly always results in letting go of some aspect of “self”, God corrects us out of Love and wants us to accept His correction for the sake of our eternal souls.

~Thomas Fuller

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  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:4

  “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
  do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
Zechariah 7:9-10

(Scripture cited from ESV)

While I know it is God’s desire for believers to care for others beyond the sphere of close family and friends, my “missional” ideas often overlook those whom I contact on a daily basis.  But the practice of genuine love (or “charity” in KJV) can be clearly seen in  kind and cheerful behavior toward those I encounter in everyday life.  These are the ones who are likely to have seen me in my weakest or least attractive moments, and will probably most readily note how the Lord works His will in my heart. It is worth considering that perhaps the greatest impact a wife/mother has is in faithful home-making focus.

There are innumerable ways to learn to love deeper and more intensely without ever leaving home.  Then, without relaxing my effort to serve my family, I need to look for ways to extend love to neighbors and even strangers–particularly those who share a profession of faith in Christ. As I’m rather introverted, this is not a “natural” tendency. But I know it can be done if I continue to  draw near to the Lord and wait for the Spirit to direct me.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
  and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

I don’t remember why I chose to focus on this particular Psalm, but I am so glad it was brought to my attention!

Here in these first verses,  the redeemed from around the world are encouraged to praise Him with grateful hearts for His unending faithfulness and salvation. Those who have tasted Life in Him are, in essence, walking, talking proclamations of God’s gracious good-will toward men.   

Too often, I become distracted by “life” and forget how important it is to God that I desire an attitude of thankfulness for the Salvation that has been made available through Jesus Christ. Not only is such appreciation healthier for me, but it also reflects to others the satisfaction we human beings can experience from being in a reconciled relationship with our Maker.

~William Shakespeare (Hamlet)

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 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.~1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

 Although there is similarity between the two quotes, the contextual tones are vastly different.

Hamlet’s statement was an expression of disgust at his widowed mother’s apparently smooth transition from loving his noble  father to becoming the wife of his treacherous uncle.  The impression I get is that he sees women in particular to be of weak character rather than simply less physically capable or emotionally stable.

Of course, as all men and women are sinners, it is unlikely either gender displays a more prominent tendency to crumble in the face of adverse circumstances.

At any rate, I find Shakespeare’s observation to be interesting because Peter (in writing about the woman being “the weaker vessel”) speaks from a position of reverence for our Savior and His self-sacrificial devotion to His most certainly weaker, yet much loved, Bride. There is no detectable animosity toward females in his view.

Psalm 36:5-7 

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.
 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 57:1 

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Psalms 17 and 63 also make mention of the “shadow of (His) wings”.

Matthew 23:37 (ESV) 

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

A striking comparison, I believe.  When a mother hen calls to her chicks, she is offering herself as shelter from harsh weather, predators or chilling night air. The babies who ignore her often end up dead.

Open your Bible. Chew on it, like a new piece of gum.

~both quotes attributed to Sig Jensen (my father in law)

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desire the sincere milk of the Word, as newborn babes, so that you may grow by it;
  if truly you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

~1 Peter2:2-3

 MEM: Oh how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day.
  Through Your Commandments You make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

~Psalm 119:97-98

  The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise.
  The Precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the Commandments of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes.
  The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of Jehovah are true and righteous altogether,
  more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
  And Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward.

~Psalm 19:7-11

  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life. And they are the ones witnessing of Me,

~John 5:39

 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

~John 1:14

(MKJV)

~ nutritionist Victor Lindlahr, circa 1942

Another good reducing exercise consists in placing both hands against the table edge and pushing back.

~ Robert Quillen

Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

~Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The scientific truth may be put quite briefly; eat moderately, having an ordinary mixed diet, and don’t worry.

~Robert Hutchison

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  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.~Isaiah 55:2

  If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.~ Proverbs 25:16

  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
  for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

~The Apostle Paul, 1 Timothy 4:7-8

  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?~Matthew 6:25

  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ~John 6:35

The first thing that came to mind as I compared quotations is how often I forget about what true nutrition really looks like; and the sort of nourishment with which I ought to be primarily concerned.

Far too much of my life has centered around food…searching out the most appetizing recipes, daydreaming about what kinds of decadent baked goods I might create (and the ego-inflating compliments they might bring), studying the *newest* dietary information, balancing food groups, timing meals, and trying to manage physical activity in order to stave off the inevitable decline that comes with age or overindulgence. Too many cycles of binge-eating followed by strict dietary penance followed by a false sense of victory and another fall into self-centered food obsession. If the magazines at the supermarket checkout counter are an accurate indicator, I’m not the only American whose had such experiences. Perhaps I will revisit this topic at a later date.

The second thought is regarding the fact that much of my interest in physical food and exercise has simply been an elaborate attempt to fill a spiritual void which frequently gnawed at my soul. It is interesting to me to note the Biblical correlation between spiritual and physical hunger and how easily I can confuse the two.  How I wish today that I had invested more time in better knowing God. The time and resources were available all along and it was a relationship with Jesus that I truly craved.  But I was too busy chasing after cheap substitutes to recognize the eternally sustaining nourishment my heart needed most.

The third consideration I’ve had fairly recently is that the way Christians are told to remember Jesus’ death and promise to return is with food and drink.  As we partake of the bread and wine, the communion elements are to be handled with appropriate reverence and respect for the One whose body was broken and blood was spilled in order to purchase His people’s freedom from sin and provide the only remedy for death.

Perhaps all food and drink is meant to bring to mind the sacrifice that was made on my behalf.  I’ve noticed that when my heart is filled and preoccupied with the love of Christ, it is much harder for my stomach to fool me with false hunger pains.

  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:6

(all Scripture references courtesy ESV))

and if there is a story there is a story-teller.

~G.K. Chesterton

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  You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

~Jesus Christ, John 5:39 

(One of my most favorite verses of Scripture)

  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.~Genesis 1:1

  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.~ John 1:1 (another favorite )

Verses cited are from ESV

Most of my life I have been a professing Christian.  Yet, I had usually viewed the Bible mainly as a type of Owner’s Manual for right living.  And, in one sense, it is.  There is a lot of practical and essential instruction on which attitudes and behaviors are God-pleasing and which ones are not.  But, about two years ago, the realization struck that if I was only reading my Bible in order to compile a set of rules to obey, then I was no better off  than the religious leaders to whom Jesus spoke so harshly in the Gospels.

When I finally acknowledged what Jesus was saying about the Old Testament Scriptures, the more I began seeing Him referenced in one account after another.  Mining the riches of God’s Word then became a pleasure rather than a chore, as the people and events of the past have been given a significance I had previously missed.

Amazingly, the elements that draw readers into a really good fictional tale are all included in the Biblical account …action/adventure, romance, “supernatural” twists, mystery and intrigue… It even begins similarly to “Once upon a time…”  And it ALL points in one or another way to our ingenious Creator, Faithful Lover, Daring Rescuer and thoroughly Honorable King. Even more awesome is that it is a TRUE story!!!

 I have to believe that if the Lord so carefully directed the 5,000 or so years of His-story which culminated at Jesus’ first coming, He will be faithful to bring all to satisfactory completion, just as He has promised.

~Pliny the Elder

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  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:21)

There is very little I feel I could add to this post, other than to recognize the truth that it is being with the people I care about and the surroundings which are most familiar which make me feel “at home”.

I pray that the Lord would continue to draw my heart to Him so that I will not become distracted by perishable trinkets and the cares of this world.

~Dr. Seuss (from Horton Hears a Who!)

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  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 14:31

  The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2

  but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 19:14

There are no “unplanned” pregnancies.  God does not consider poor people, the elderly, invalids or children to be inconveniences which are best avoided.

We may not be able to understand the reasons at this time, but the Lord has a purpose for everything (and every person) He has created. By showing respect for others…and especially “the least of these”…we display respect for our Maker.

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