Month: September 2024

I Am So Glad

I Am So Glad

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I Am So Glad

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars twinkling like diamonds above, “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be a strong sailing ship. I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings.  I will be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave this mountaintop at all.  I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

Years passed my friends, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. Now the first to thought, finally we will be made into the things we have always dreamed of. The last tree, who was perfectly happy where she was, heart sank. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to the heaven.

The woodcutter of the first tree, fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. He wouldn’t be covered with gold or filled with treasures. He was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry animals.

The second tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. He was too small and weak to sail an ocean or even a river, he was taken to a little lake, and every day he brought in loads of dead, smelly fish.

And finally the third tree was confused win the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. All she could think of is, “what’s happening here!”

Many, many days and nights passed, and the trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one-night y’all a starlight passed over the first tree, as a young woman placed her newborn baby in his feeding box. Suddenly he knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into an old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. But then there came thundering and a storm arose. The little tree was shuddered because he knew he didn’t have enough strength to carry so many through the wind and rain. But a tired man woke up and stood up and stretched out his hand and said Peace and the storm stopped. It was then the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was angry mob. Fletching she shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly, harsh, and cruel.

On Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful, the second tree strong, and every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

This is a traditional folktale, called The Tale of Three Trees. The story I shared is from Angela Elwell Hunt. For generations the tale of three trees have been handed down from parents to children, retold in churches, sung by gospel singers and preached by ministers who saw much more in this story. The originator of the story remains to this day, unknown.

 The song writer sang, I’m so glad trouble don’t last always. Oh, my Lord, oh my Lord what shall I do. I am so glad I got my religion on time. Hush, Hush, I thought I heard heaven ring. I know it should like a hammer; I know they heard it in Jerusalem streets. Oh, my Lord what shall I do.

The moral of the story I shared with you today illustrates that even when our dreams seem unfulfilled, God has a plan and can use our lives in unexpected ways. Place your trust in God and God will always give you what is best for YOU. AMEN.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible

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Mission Impossible

“But He said, “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NKJV

How many of you have heard of the television show, Mission Impossible?  This was an American action spy television series from 1966. It was about a group of extraordinary spies, each expert in their own fields. They belonged to the Impossible Mission Force. I believe the point of the show, was what might look like a totally impossible situation, with the right resources, it can be possible.

When I think of the right resources, I think about the Good Lord and some of the mission impossible scriptures in the Word. Noah and the Ark, Moses and the children of Israel, Daniel who was in the lion’s den, and what about his friends, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego who faced the fiery furnace. A young David who stood against Goliath with only a slingshot. All these missions had one thing in common. Faith.

All those great scriptures got me thinking about my own mission impossible, made possible. I must admit, I never saw any of these wonderful and incredible things for myself. I remember saying, “Lord how are we going to get this done?”  I didn’t know how to write a book, blog, or start a podcast. But I wouldn’t let the fear of not knowing how to do something stop my mission. Yes, ya’ll, He  truly works in mysterious ways. He makes a way out of no way. Though things look impossible on the outside, we have a God who is working on our behalf on the inside.

Let me leave you with this scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.’ Jeremiah 29:11. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

The Race

The Race

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The Race

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV

Most commonly the scripture I read is said this way, “The race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to the one who endures to the end.”  As I was driving home one day this week, I thought about that scripture, and two interesting characters came to mind: The Tortoise and The Hare.

This fable tells the story of a race between a hare and a tortoise. The hare makes fun of the tortoise for being slow, and the tortoise accepts the hare’s challenge to a race. The hare gets far ahead of the tortoise, but then stops to take a nap.  The tortoise continues moving slowly but steadily, and eventually passes the sleeping hare to win the race.

The moral of the story is you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly.  You know what the hare’s problem was? He was overconfident and cocky.  That old rabbit saw that turtle as an unworthy opponent, you know, not a threat at all. Cecil as he was called on Looney Tunes, was a meek and humble creature.

The turtle’s perseverance and determination helped him to complete the race. Nope he did not entertain the idea of quitting, instead he stayed focus on the race. That rabbit had his own ideas about what he saw as a worthy opponent.  Can you see that rabbit, sizing up the turtle? He figured “it’s in the bag.”

Have you encountered people who think they got you all figured out?  Have you been underestimated? Look at Jesus who was born in a manager. There laid the savior of this world. He was underestimated, questioned, ridiculed, and hassled. But he came to set the captive free through healing, and with love. He came to give us the right to the tree of life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our enduring strength. Yes, it’s the God in you, that won’t let you give up. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Here’s a Story

Here’s a Story

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Here’s a Story

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Colossians 3:19-21 New International Version

There are several instances of blended families in the bible: Woman at the Well,  Joseph and his half-brothers, Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, King David and his children, and Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Let’s focus on Jesus’ earthly family relationship.

Two Scripture give us information about the siblings of Jesus.  The book of Matthew, chapter 13, says, “Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” We are never told exactly how many siblings Jesus had, but the book of Mark, chapter 6, indicates there had to have been at least six: at least four brothers, named; and two sisters, unnamed.

One can only imagine the relationship they might have had. Chasing each other, skipping rocks in the river, chores, they may have even witnessed the gifts Jesus had, keeping it in the family. Plenty of talks and laughter around the dinner table, and then at the end of the day mother Mary tucking them all in bed, with a kiss for each of them.  As a child, Jesus had the freedom to do just that, be a kid.

But those kid days, were not meant to last. While visiting the temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, Jesus became separated from his parents and was left behind. When they returned to Jerusalem three days later, his worried parents, found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and amazing those around him with his understanding.  His purpose clearer every day to his parents no doubt. No ordinary boy, his mission and calling were coming for him.

He was the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Good Shepherd, and Savior of the world. He was born into this world with one mission. To save it. Isaiah, chapter 53, foretold this purpose, it reads: “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.”

I believe that both Joseph and Mary, wanted Him to be a kid as long as possible, but they also knew that Jesus higher calling would not be denied, and where they left off, God would take over. When I think of the term blended families, like all family units, It takes lots of love, patience, humility, teamwork, communication, dedication, respect, and trust.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

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