Posted on March 19, 2023
March 19, 2023
Paul’s Ponder
Southern California has been experiencing an unusual winter. We have been hit with a lot of rainy days and snow down low enough that I was able to make a snow man. You can stop praying for rain now.
Due to the excessive amount of snow, mountains communities have been snowed in. The Beaumont elders have taken the lead and have requested a truck of supplies from the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Effort in Tennessee to provide assistance.
The Church of Christ Disaster Relief Effort is an amazing organization that houses a warehouse full of supplies that are sent all over the United States. Most recently they have sent supplies to East Palestine, Ohio, and tornado devastated areas in Alabama and Georgia. Supplies are sent to local churches who then use their discretion in distributing the supplies to those in their neighborhoods that are in need of help regardless of race, color, creed or religion. Since 1990, they have distributed over $168 million in food and supplies to well over 500 disasters.
In addition to providing for the physical needs of people, they provide for the spiritual needs as well. Each box contains a hand written greeting and a Bible. The team prays for those receiving the supplies and the churches that distribute use the opportunity to pray for the community, counsel and teach about God. Visit their web site and discover a powerful effect of this good work: https://www.disasterreliefeffort.org
It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.
Ephesians 2:10 (Living Bible)
Just Pondering
Posted on March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023
Paul’s Ponder
Genesis 1
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
We read in the Old Testament about many festivals and Holy Days. The Passover is the one we know best because of communion. Pentecost is well remembered because of Acts 2. There were many others including the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Firstfruits, the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles or Booths. Each had a specific function and each occurred yearly at the time set aside for them.
Today, we have certain festivals or days that are repeated each year as holidays, festivals or days of remembrance or activity. Days like Easter, Christmas, New Years, Independence Day, Veterans Day, birthdays and on it goes. The purpose of each is to commemorate a certain event or memory. Notice Genesis 1:14 above. It says the sun and the moon mark sacred times but also days and years. Maybe part of the purpose is to remind us of our mortality and that we are getting older. We had better focus on the eternal, because our time is fast coming to an end.
This Sunday is one of those times that reminds us that the lights in the vault of the sky are bringing change again. Daylight Savings Time is this Sunday. This is not an official festival, but it once again reminds us how time is passing by quickly and how old we are getting. Especially when we have to get up an hour earlier. Agony!
Set your clocks and be on time for church!!!
Just Pondering
Posted on March 5, 2023
Paul’s Ponder
March 5, 2023
The lid of my Snapple said that there are more chickens in the world than there are people. According to Pet Keen (https://petkeen.com/chicken-history/), there are nearly “three chickens per person”.
I was amazed that there are so many chickens. They are all over the world. In fact, everything tastes like chicken. How did the chicken survive for millennia? They have very little abilities to ward off attackers (albeit roosters are vicious fighters) and they have limited flight ability. According to the article, ancient wild chickens could fly much better than today’s domesticated chickens. Still, chickens seem to be easy prey.
It appears that a possible reason for their longevity is that they became a significant part of livestock in Southeast Asia and then in Europe during the 8th Century BC. From there, the world.
Jesus refers to chickens in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how often I have longed to gather your children together,
as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
and you were not willing.”
Jesus uses the chicken to illustrate his compassion for His people.
As people through the ages have taken care of chickens for eggs, meat or pets, so have we been protected by the might of God. Today we hear many end of the world theories. Some involve self inflicted wounds such as wars, others are caused by an outside source such as a meteorite. But just as with the chicken, we survive not because of our great might, but because of a great benefactor.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory
and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Hebrews 1:3
We are very dependent upon God for everything.
Just Pondering
Posted on February 26, 2023
Paul’s Ponder;
February is the month of love emphasized by Valentine’s Day. My daughter and her husband like to celebrate on the 15th when everything is half price. This is the time when more cards, flowers and candy are purchased to show our love for others. Doing things like this builds ties and shows love for one another.
Jesus tells us 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13)
We must love one another. But doing things, even good things for others, and love are not the same. That is the theme of I Corinthians 13. Doing things without love is worthless. Mark 12:29-31 indicates that the greatest is to love God. Springing from the love of God we love one another. First you must love God, for God is love.
Doing good is great. Everyone can do good. For Christians, it is love initiated service, not obligation or duty or even pity initiated service. It is our love for God that wells forth in acts of love for those God created.
Love God. Love one another.
Just Pondering
Posted on March 5, 2023
Sweet Sisters,
My husband and I have had several conversations lately about the concept of commandments. Paul even incorporated some of his ideas into his sermon last week.
A commandment is a degree, mandate, edict or rule that must be obeyed. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments in chapters 19-24 of Exodus.
In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus tells us what the two greatest commandments are:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Paul’s premise is that God never gives commandments that are easy. If they were easy, God wouldn’t have to command us to do them. My response is, then why in I John 5:3 does it say that God’s commandments are not burdensome? Burdensome means: difficult to carry out or fulfill.
I think the answer lies in perspective. The first time we see the word “commandment” in the Bible is in Genesis 26:2-6.
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
God is talking to Isaac about Abraham.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the book of Psalms. It has 176 verses. The word “commandment” is used in 22 verses. I want to look at a lot of these. They are short. I think they will teach us much about the heart of the Psalmist as he strove to keep God’s commandments. The first one is in verse 6.
Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
In verse 5 we learn we have to be steadfast.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
In verse 10 the psalmist says we have to search for God. Doing His will has to be important to us.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
In verse 66 we learn that if we want knowledge and good judgement we must trust God’s commandments.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
Sometimes we are confused about how to obey God’s commandments. In verse 73, the psalmist asks God for help. God understands the way we think.
Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
God’s commandments will make us wiser than our enemies. We learn this in verse 98.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
Verse 127 is beautiful. The psalmist says that God’s commandments are priceless. They are our greatest possession.
Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,
When life is a challenge, God’s commands are the answer. Verse 143 reflects this.
Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.
The psalmist also has learned in verse 151 that if we want God to be near to us, we must keep His commandments.
Yet you are near, Lord,
and all your commands are true.
I think verses 165-166 are my favorite.
165
Great peace have those who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.
166
I wait for your salvation, Lord,
and I follow your commands.
God promises peace to those who obey His commands and wait on Him. They will not stumble.
I am reminded of a verse in the New Testament that also promises that God will not let those who love Him stumble. It is found in the doxology of Jude 24 and 25 (ESV).
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
So Paul and I are both right. Yes, God’s commandments are not easy. Sometimes they are flat out difficult.
Our focus has to be on God in order to have any success in keeping them. Palm 37:4 tells us to delight in God. Delight is defined in Hebrew as “to be safe and tender”. We have to be pliable in His hands and have a teachable spirit.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
I want to end with the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30. I like how it reads in The Passion Translation.
28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
Jesus says if we come to Him and take up His yoke that He will provide everything we need and give us rest.
Debbie
Posted on February 26, 2023
Sweet Sisters,
Have you ever noticed how often the Bible refers to eagles? I think God especially loves eagles. For centuries people have seen eagles as a symbol of beauty, bravery, courage, honor, pride, determination, grace supremacy and sovereignty.
An adult eagle generally is 30 - 40 inches tall from head to tail. They have a 7 - 8 foot wingspan. They weigh 8 - 14 pounds. They can live forty years. They mate for life. Of all the bird species, the eagle is the most attentive parent. Their nest can be nine feet across and weigh two tons.
Eagles have tremendous eyesight and can detect prey two miles away. They can focus on their prey and lock their eyes on it while they navigate to it.
Eagles actually fly very little. They glide on the wind. If they encounter a storm, they will fly directly into it allowing the velocity of the wind to carry them above the storm.
Eagles never eat dead things
In Deuteronomy 32:9 - 12, Moses compares God to an eagle:
9
For the Lord’s portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted inheritance.
10
In a desert land he found him,
in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
11
like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft.
12
The Lord alone led him;
no foreign god was with him.
In Exodus 19:4, God compares Himself to an eagle:
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
In the book of Psalms we see several passages that refer to the wings of God. They don’t use the word eagle, but based on the verses we have already read, I think the imagery of eagle wings works well. God’s wings are big enough that we an take refuge in their shadow.
Psalm 36:7
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalms 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
Psalm 63:7
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 91:1-4
1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
I find great comfort when I think of God as a great and powerful eagle. Eagles are strong and powerful. They focus on what they want and stayed focused until they get it. They face the storms and fly above them. They are committed to love and care for and nurture their young. They also patiently train and teach their young to soar on their own wings.
This is a perfect description of the God we serve. You don’t mess with eagles and you don’t mess with God. God also gives us the ability to soar like eagles. Remember how eagles do not flap their wings to fly very often? They glide on the power of the wind. In spiritual parlance, we call that the Holy Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can soar like eagles.
Let’s look at two more Bible passages that are very interesting.
Psalm 103:1 - 5
1
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The psalmist is praising God for all the things God has done for him. Notice verse 5. God renews our youth so we are like the eagle.
We were talking about this in one of my classes recently. I don’t think the psalmist is necessarily talking about a physical renewing here as much as a spiritual renewing. I have known many 80, 90 year olds whose spirits were much younger than their ages.
In Isaiah 40:30, 31, Isaiah says pretty much the same thing.
30
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah adds another concept to being renewed. He says, “…but those who hope in the Lord…”. If I want to soar like an eagle, I must put my hope in the Lord. I have to completely (or to the best of my ability) trust God to supply all my needs and then joyfully wait for Him to do so.
Debbie
Like Eagles
O my soul
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
It's been told form the beginning
The Lord your God is on your side
O my soul don't be afraid
Hope in the Lord
By His righteousness and power
He will strengthen
He will guide
And I will soar
On wings like eagles
Held by the hand of God
I will run and not grow tired
When on His name I call
For the Lord is never weary
His ways are beyond my thoughts
I will trust in Him
With all my heart
And I will rest upon His promise
Patiently I'll wait
I will trust in Him
With all my heart
And I will rest upon His promise
Patiently I'll wait
Songwriters: Kevin Dukes / Marsha Skidmore
