Danny and Ted were headed to the creek to wet a line. The boys loved fishing more than anything and could spend hours on the creek bank. It didn't really matter whether they caught any fish, they just liked to be together. The boys had been friends forever and spent most of their days hanging out.
As they reached the big bend where they always fished, they could hear the steady flow of the water running over the rocks before it hit the big hole. The excitement always starting building when they reached this point even though neither of the boys had ever caught a "big one" from the hole. Today they were fishing with flat tails and were sure they would hang the granddaddy of all fish today.
Danny had brought his rod and reel, but the boys knew they would only be fishing with the cane poles at the creek. The rod and reel wasn't a good idea on the banks of the tree shaded creek. There wasn't enough room to cast out without hanging a tree limb or a vine.
They didn't even need a tackle box. Each boy had a few extra hooks in an old plastic medicine bottle in their pockets. Extra hooks and their pen knives were all they needed. Reaching the creek bank, the boys unhooked their lines and baited their hooks, slowly dropping the line into the water. Even though the water was constantly moving everywhere else on the creek, the big hole was pretty quiet.
Sticking their poles into the sandy bank, they started exploring the woods. The boys had spent hours in these woods and knew every secret hiding place here. They had climbed most of the trees and turned over the biggest rocks. Both the boys saw the bright orange flag at the same time. Running to the fence line between Ted and old man Turner's place, they looked for more flags. There they were about 25 feet apart. That's when they spotted the bright yellow of some kind of machine.
Danny and Ted knew what was happening. Mr. Turner's son was having the timber cut. The boys forgot about fishing. They just stood and looked at the flags and the equipment. Danny asked Ted when he thought they would start cutting. Ted just shrugged his shoulders. The boys were visibly shaken.
Fighting their interest in the big equipment, Danny and Ted talked about all the good times they had had playing in the woods and fishing. During the summer, this had been their private world. A place for just them. Now they wouldn't have a place. They would sell Mr. Turner's land and houses would be built. It was happening everywhere. What had started as a fun filled day was now a day filled with hurt, uncertainty and fear.
Cutting the trees would change their creek, their woods, their life. Change was coming and the boys didn't like it at all.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
To Serve or Be Served
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 NIV
My devotional this morning spoke to me directly. I don't like to be served - to be waited on and taken care of. I try to be self sufficient - to take care of myself not needing the help of others. I clean my own house, do my own laundry, and cut my own grass. Some people think it is because I am peculiar and think no one else can do it as well as I can - that is not true. It makes me uncomfortable for someone to "serve" me even if I am paying for that service.
As I get older, I find that I am not able to do some of the chores that needs to be done around the house. I don't climb a ladder so well anymore, so I can't clean the gutters. I can't climb a tree very well so someone else must prune my fruit trees and some of my shrubbery. I don't accept "service" from others with thankfulness. I am not gracious in my accepting their help. That is wrong. The Bible teaches us to be thankful in all we do.
I don't serve like I should. I don't give of myself as I feel God would have me to do. There was a time when I would have said "I have given out," but that is not true. Through Jesus Christ we can do anything. Our strength comes from the Lord. Isn't that great! We have a friend that walks with us every day and every night. He never leaves us. God is always there!
When I was a senior in high school, my grandmother became sick. I stayed with my grandparents at night and cared for her so she would not have to go to a nursing home. Grandmother loved to be "served" and I loved to serve her. My Grandparents were the focus of my attention. I couldn't bear to see them separated by putting one or the other in a nursing home. I loved being able to "serve" my grandparents.
The year before, my great aunt needed sugery, but as my uncle had had a stroke and couldn't be left alone, she kept putting the off the surgery. I once again went to stay with my uncle and care for him so my aunt could have her operation. It was a trying summer. My aunt and uncle lived out of town. I didn't know the town and I knew I would have to drive to the hospital and to do the shopping. I was afraid I would not be able to care for my uncle as he needed. I was fearful and unsure. I must admit that I did not always serve with gladness as God wants us to do. Sometimes I only saw what I was not able to do because I had to "serve." This was not the attitude God wanted me to have; God wants us to serve with a free heart, giving of one's self.
Galatians 5:13-15 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command; "Love you neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
It is so easy to let someone else do the serving, because they don't have anything else to do or they have more time. That is not what God wants us to do. That is not what God teaches. We are instructed not only to serve, but to serve with love. Not serve with bitterness or anger, but with love. God wants us to serve without grumbling, fighting, or arguing.
Can you think of ways you can serve? Do you help your parents without grumbling? Remember your home and family is your training ground for the future when you have your own home and family. There are many ways that we can serve in our family and our neighborhood. Pray with me this week that God will open new ways for us to be of service.
My devotional this morning spoke to me directly. I don't like to be served - to be waited on and taken care of. I try to be self sufficient - to take care of myself not needing the help of others. I clean my own house, do my own laundry, and cut my own grass. Some people think it is because I am peculiar and think no one else can do it as well as I can - that is not true. It makes me uncomfortable for someone to "serve" me even if I am paying for that service.
As I get older, I find that I am not able to do some of the chores that needs to be done around the house. I don't climb a ladder so well anymore, so I can't clean the gutters. I can't climb a tree very well so someone else must prune my fruit trees and some of my shrubbery. I don't accept "service" from others with thankfulness. I am not gracious in my accepting their help. That is wrong. The Bible teaches us to be thankful in all we do.
I don't serve like I should. I don't give of myself as I feel God would have me to do. There was a time when I would have said "I have given out," but that is not true. Through Jesus Christ we can do anything. Our strength comes from the Lord. Isn't that great! We have a friend that walks with us every day and every night. He never leaves us. God is always there!
When I was a senior in high school, my grandmother became sick. I stayed with my grandparents at night and cared for her so she would not have to go to a nursing home. Grandmother loved to be "served" and I loved to serve her. My Grandparents were the focus of my attention. I couldn't bear to see them separated by putting one or the other in a nursing home. I loved being able to "serve" my grandparents.
The year before, my great aunt needed sugery, but as my uncle had had a stroke and couldn't be left alone, she kept putting the off the surgery. I once again went to stay with my uncle and care for him so my aunt could have her operation. It was a trying summer. My aunt and uncle lived out of town. I didn't know the town and I knew I would have to drive to the hospital and to do the shopping. I was afraid I would not be able to care for my uncle as he needed. I was fearful and unsure. I must admit that I did not always serve with gladness as God wants us to do. Sometimes I only saw what I was not able to do because I had to "serve." This was not the attitude God wanted me to have; God wants us to serve with a free heart, giving of one's self.
Galatians 5:13-15 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command; "Love you neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
It is so easy to let someone else do the serving, because they don't have anything else to do or they have more time. That is not what God wants us to do. That is not what God teaches. We are instructed not only to serve, but to serve with love. Not serve with bitterness or anger, but with love. God wants us to serve without grumbling, fighting, or arguing.
Can you think of ways you can serve? Do you help your parents without grumbling? Remember your home and family is your training ground for the future when you have your own home and family. There are many ways that we can serve in our family and our neighborhood. Pray with me this week that God will open new ways for us to be of service.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Are you afraid?
Paraphrased from Dictionary.com . . .
Fear - an emotion that is distressing, causing anxiety or concern
Afraid - a feeling of fear, regret or reluctance
There are many more listings for these two words that are most similar in not only their meaning but also in their application.
It is my understanding that fear is a constant distressing emotion. Afraid is the cause of the fear. Example: I fear thunderstorms because I am afraid of the lightening produced by thunderstorms. I fear the dark because I cannot see what is making the strange noises. I fear going into the cave because I do not know what is in there.
Normally we fear what we don't understand, or we know someone who has had a bad experience. For some fear is the inability to control - you cannot control whether a snake will bite you or go on its merry way. The more we learn of things the less we fear them. Some people fear the dark, heights, water, snakes, spiders, pain, death, fire - there are hundreds of things that people fear. It is an ongoing emotion of distress and anxiety.
As a little girl I had a reconcurring nightmare that caused me and my parents much distress and frustration. I never knew when the dream would come, but when it visited me I became hysterical and distraught. As an adult, I know the incident that sparked the dream and understand how unreasonable it must have sounded to my parents, but at the time I feared going to sleep because I was afraid of the emotions caused by the dream. Ironically, in the dream I was unable to reach my parents even though I could see and hear them clearly - I could not make them see or hear me. At the time there had been many unsettling changes in my life - my paternal grandmother died, my maternal grandparents were moving, I had started to school - none of which should be earth shattering. But to a family oriented six year old it was cause for insecurity and unease. As an adult I realize that my parents were going through changes also. I was well fed, clothed and kept warm, but in due to my parent's inexperience and their emotional distress, my emotions were ignored. I did not receive the comfort and security needed during this time. As time passed I found that my parents were still there to protect and care for me and my maternal grandparents were moving in order to be closer to me - this gave me even more security. The dreams eventually stopped after two years and the fear of sleep disappeared.
We all go through stressful and distressing periods in our life. If we feel incapable of handling these emotions we feel fear. Some fears we conquer, others stay with us for a lifetime.
What are you fearful of or afraid of? Do you know why you have this fear?
Isaiah 12:2 KJV says "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; : for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strenth and my song; he also is become my salvation."
For me Psalms 23 is the most comforting chapter of the Bible. It is probably the most read and recited chapter of the Psalms which is also known as a book of prayer. Read Psalms 23 slowly a verse at a time. How do these prayers apply to you and your life?
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The rod and the staff were used by the shepards in herding and managing the large herd of sheep - they were used to keep them in line keeping them from danger and harm. God's keep us from danger and harm by blocking our way, especially if our way is dangerous and harmful. Remember God is all knowing and all seeing. If we feel afraid, going to God in prayer will ease our fear.
Happy reading!
Belle
Fear - an emotion that is distressing, causing anxiety or concern
Afraid - a feeling of fear, regret or reluctance
There are many more listings for these two words that are most similar in not only their meaning but also in their application.
It is my understanding that fear is a constant distressing emotion. Afraid is the cause of the fear. Example: I fear thunderstorms because I am afraid of the lightening produced by thunderstorms. I fear the dark because I cannot see what is making the strange noises. I fear going into the cave because I do not know what is in there.
Normally we fear what we don't understand, or we know someone who has had a bad experience. For some fear is the inability to control - you cannot control whether a snake will bite you or go on its merry way. The more we learn of things the less we fear them. Some people fear the dark, heights, water, snakes, spiders, pain, death, fire - there are hundreds of things that people fear. It is an ongoing emotion of distress and anxiety.
As a little girl I had a reconcurring nightmare that caused me and my parents much distress and frustration. I never knew when the dream would come, but when it visited me I became hysterical and distraught. As an adult, I know the incident that sparked the dream and understand how unreasonable it must have sounded to my parents, but at the time I feared going to sleep because I was afraid of the emotions caused by the dream. Ironically, in the dream I was unable to reach my parents even though I could see and hear them clearly - I could not make them see or hear me. At the time there had been many unsettling changes in my life - my paternal grandmother died, my maternal grandparents were moving, I had started to school - none of which should be earth shattering. But to a family oriented six year old it was cause for insecurity and unease. As an adult I realize that my parents were going through changes also. I was well fed, clothed and kept warm, but in due to my parent's inexperience and their emotional distress, my emotions were ignored. I did not receive the comfort and security needed during this time. As time passed I found that my parents were still there to protect and care for me and my maternal grandparents were moving in order to be closer to me - this gave me even more security. The dreams eventually stopped after two years and the fear of sleep disappeared.
We all go through stressful and distressing periods in our life. If we feel incapable of handling these emotions we feel fear. Some fears we conquer, others stay with us for a lifetime.
What are you fearful of or afraid of? Do you know why you have this fear?
Isaiah 12:2 KJV says "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; : for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strenth and my song; he also is become my salvation."
For me Psalms 23 is the most comforting chapter of the Bible. It is probably the most read and recited chapter of the Psalms which is also known as a book of prayer. Read Psalms 23 slowly a verse at a time. How do these prayers apply to you and your life?
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The rod and the staff were used by the shepards in herding and managing the large herd of sheep - they were used to keep them in line keeping them from danger and harm. God's keep us from danger and harm by blocking our way, especially if our way is dangerous and harmful. Remember God is all knowing and all seeing. If we feel afraid, going to God in prayer will ease our fear.
Happy reading!
Belle
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