1. "Big-headed and Pig-headed"
2. "Jack and the Bitterstalk"
3. "Fighting Solo"
4. "The Shade that Refreshes"
5.  "Stale Bread and Flat Cola"
6. "Trigger-happy Emotions"
7. Cadillacs and Yugos
8. "Dandelions Bounce Back"
9. "Magnets, Repellent, and Beautiful Feet"
10. "Impressive! But what's that smell?"

"Big-headed and Pig-headed"

I could also have titled this "puffed up and stiff-necked". Those seem to be two qualities (pride and stubborness) that God especially abhors. Do we make a pretense of being humble on the outside but inside we are "big-headed"? Are we just feeling just a tad smug in our own superiority? It's OK to admit it! The people who really amaze me are those who have no such pretenses; they are genuinely humble (and don't even know it--they are too busy concentrating on things outside themselves!) For me, pride is a constant struggle. It is just like a lump of yeast dough--you have to keep punching it down because it just naturally keeps puffing itself back up. That is why "leaven" is often a symbol of sin in the Bible--because it corrupts by puffing up. (see I Cor 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:9)

I can also relate to stubborness. How often did God refer to the Israelites as a "stiff-necked, rebellious people"? Do you ever look down on those ancient Israelites, saying in your heart, "I would not have kept falling into sin and worshipping idols the way they did--not after seeing all those miracles." Are we really so different? Do we want our own way? Do we pout, sulk, or complain when we don't get it? Do we never make real progress: we just keep getting stuck on the same issues, denying our part in any problems, blaming everyone else? Is our way the only way? Will we not listen to reason--will we not even listen to God? "Come now and let us reason together", He says. Are you reasonable? Or big-headed and pig-headed? You can't break out of such entrenched habits by yourself--you know Who to ask for help. (That is, if you are serious about wanting to change!) Let God bring out the "real you"--the you He designed--You don't think that it is his intention for you to be big-headed or pig-headed, do you? The "real you" could be a pleasant surprise (or even a total shock!)

Give it a try!

"Jack and the Bitterstalk"

How sweet forgiveness seems when God extends it to us. How unfair it may seem when He forgives someone who has hurt us. How unreasonable to expect us to forgive them! But forgiveness is not a one-way street. (see the parable in Matthew 18:21-35) We like to nurse our grudges. We nurture them until they grow into towering plants of bitterness--plants as thick as Jack's beanstalk (and just as hard to chop down!)

Is that why the Bible stresses forgiveness so heavily; not because we feel like forgiving (it goes against our sense of justice), but because it is better for us in the long run? It is better for our health--emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Remember--forgiveness is not a feeling, but a conscious act of the will.

"But I just can't do it", you may say. That's right--it often takes supernatural power to really forgive. Forgive because God forgave you. (see Matt 6:14,15). Let Him deal with the injustice and hurt; it is too heavy a burden for us mere mortals to bear.

let go and let God....

  "Fighting Solo"

Are we trying to fight our own battles by ourselves, using our own strength, our own resources? Could that be why we so often lose--or just give up? Think of ancient Israel; when the Lord fought their battles, they were victorious. When He was not with them (because of transgression), they were defeated. Joshua knew this truth; as did Gideon, David, Elisha, and many others.

What kind of battles are you fighting today? Are you trying to overcome bad habits? Do you struggle with inner turmoil or depression? Maybe you have to deal with difficult people? You may have health problems, marital problems, or money problems. Are you "slugging it out" all alone? God is patiently waiting there on the sidelines: He wants you to ask Him for help. Where does your help come from? The New Agers would have you tap into your own "inner strength". But the Psalmist had it right, "..my help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." God is the Source of real power!

One last thing to remember: God had some rather unorthodox ways of winning battles in Old Testament times. (the walls of Jericho,Gideon's clay pots, David's sling...)Let Him win your battles His way--even if it doesn't make sense to you.

put on the whole armor and get the battle plan from the Captain Himself,

"The Shade that Refreshes"

When I am world-weary and looking for shelter from the heat, I think of this verse:

Isaiah 32:2--
"And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the
tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land."

In a hot blustery world, we are all looking for shade. But we are not to "trust in the
shadow of Egypt" (Is. 30:2) as did the Israelites. The Lord is our shadow from the
heat (Is. 25:4). He is the shade upon our right hand (Psalms 121:5). He knows when
we have been laboring so long and hard that we need a break: a time to step away
from the breakneck pace of everyday life, to slow down and commune with Him.

He is our shade--think of that the next time you picnic under a shady tree or take a
walk in the cool of the woods. He is the shade that truly refreshes! Then, it is back
to the vineyard again; back out in the heat of the sun. But His shade will be there
for you--take advantage of it often. Don't let yourself become overheated and at risk
of heat stroke. He never grows weary but we do!

looking forward to the coming "times of refreshing"

 "Stale Bread and Flat Cola"

Does your spiritual life seem stale at times? Has your fizz fizzled? Do
you feel like the last swig of cola in an old two-liter bottle? How did
that happen? Maybe you've not been keeping your mind renewed! If you've
just been sitting around, you'll get stale--like a loaf of bread.(And the
next step after "stale" is "moldy"--avoid that at all cost!)

I find it interesting that Jesus referred to Himself as the "living
bread"(John 6:51) and said He had "living water"(John 4:10 & 7:38). Jesus
certainly never went stale! If the Bible, church, and the Christian walk
are not as fresh to you as before, don't blame God! And don't settle for
stale, either. Only the Holy Spirit can keep us fresh and alive.

You are familiar with the hymn, "Revive Us Again"? We need His constant renewal--to
fight that pesky 2nd law of Thermodynamics (the Law of Increasing Entropy)
which states that everything is running down, rusting out, or getting older!
(order--->disorder) The natural state of things is to move in a downward
direction--only an input of energy (the Spirit's energy!) can offset that.
Everything in this world is subject to that Law, excepting God and His word.
("heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.")

So don't offer up stale bread and stagnant water to God--He deserves much
better than that! Be renewed again..day by day by day......for as long as
you live. (He didn't say it would be easy!)

Fighting "stale" all the way,

P.S. There was not always a 2nd Law of Thermodynamics--it came as a result
of the curse. There will not always be a 2nd Law in the future--someday,
Jesus is going to remove the curse (Revelation 22:3)--even so, come Lord Jesus!

"Trigger-happy Emotions"

Are you "easily provoked"? Do you really possess an inner peace and calm or is it just on the surface? It seems that many of us are wound so tightly that the slightest provocation makes us snap. (Not a pretty sight...or a good witness, for that matter!) We don't control our emotions; they control us. We get worked into a froth with little effort--often over trivialities:

The words of the Apostle Paul ring in my ears:
"Why do ye not rather take wrong?" (I Cor. 6:7)

Especially in this country, we are so confident and demanding of our "rights" that we would not dream of relinquishing them for the sake of peace or unity.

It can be scary driving on the highways now...you have to exercise caution! If someone doesn't like the way you drive (driving too slowly, passing or pulling out in front of another vehicle), you could be shot! Of course, we Christians would never literally shoot someone for being a lousy, inconsiderate driver... but what did Jesus say? Didn't he equate being angry at a brother w/out cause to actual murder? (Matt 5:21,22). Perhaps we would never swear at someone...on the outside. Let's be careful that we do not sin in our anger!

What is the antidote to "trigger-happy emotions"? Perhaps an extra measure of grace? This is a weak area for me...I tend to "spout off" instead of carefully measuring my words. I know that we all need to be God-controlled instead of self-controlled but it is easier said than done! Life seems to be more stressful now than ever; and we've never been more in need of that deep inner peace that comes only from abiding in Christ. We need to rest in Him; to spend time alone in prayer and reading, away from the tensions of the world. As Jesus told His disciples in Mark 6:31 "...Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest awhile..."

get your hand off that trigger!

Cadillacs and Yugos

The Bible talks about us being different "vessels"; "meet for the master's use". Some are of "gold and silver", others of "wood and earth". The thought hit me to look at ourselves using a more modern analogy--the automobile. (Now, I know next to nothing about cars--I can find the ignition and the gas tank--but I'm going to plunge ahead anyway....)

What kind of cars do we resemble? What is the most important quality in a car? How are we to be used? (And think how boring it would be if we were all forced to drive the exact same kind of car...God likes variety as well!) Take a look around you on the road...what kinds of vehicles do you see?

Some of you are classy, like Cadillacs...you travel in higher circles (those people need to be saved, too--they need your Godly influence in that sphere). These Christians may have greater wealth--and greater opportunity to use it for the Lord.

Some are like sporty coupes...(Ferraris?) They are young and have lots of energy to use in the Lord's service. We shouldn't dampen their enthusiasm! Those 4-wheel drive vehicles (Jeeps?) can venture into rough spots where others would get bogged down or stuck...they seem to have extra power and traction!

Maybe you are like a mini-van or family station wagon...your own family is always to be your first and most important missionary assignment! Don't make light of it! Are you an old jalopy that has seen better days? God will reward your faithfulness and long years of service. (And often, those old faithful cars can be the most reliable!)

I'm sure I've skipped lots of categories and applications.

Remember, God can even use Yugos!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is the most important quality in a car? Well, it isn't color or appearance! I'd say it is reliability (and safety). Can God count on you? You won't conk out on Him at the least sign of trouble, will you? (It is no fun being towed off the road and taken to the repair shop...humbling!)

Different cars have different uses. You're not going to try to drive that Cadillac over those sand dunes! Maybe you thought that God would send you on a high profile cross-country excursion...but He just sends you to pick up a few things at the local grocery store. (Were you hoping to be a T-bird but right now you're just a Pinto?) I love that song "Brighten the Corner Where you Are"....if you can't even brighten your own little corner, what makes you think that God will entrust you with more?

Whatever kind of vehicle you are, be filled with His Oil and go where He sends you! happy driving!

"Dandelions Bounce Back"

Are you a quitter? Do you trust God only until the going gets tough? Or maybe you are "set in your ways"; rigid and unbending in your habits? We could take a lesson from the lowly dandelion...have you ever noticed what happens after you've mowed down the dandelions in your lawn? At first, it looks like you got the best of them, but by the next day, there they are--sticking up their skinny little necks again! They didn't break, they just bent for awhile

The secret to the dandelion's success seems to be its flexibility, adaptability, and hardiness. The dandelion makes the best out of a bad situation (being mowed down would certainly qualify!). I think that the Apostle Paul exhibited those same three qualities:

He was flexible and adaptable: "Unto to the Jews I became as a Jew...unto the weak became I as weak, that I might win the weak..." He was always "on call" with God: ready to change his plans at a moment's notice; ready to take advantage of the circumstances . Paul saw opportunities where we would see only obstacles or inconveniences: being under arrest, in prison, or shipwrecked. He took advantage of the time in Athens while he was waiting around for Silas and Timothy to preach his famous "Mars Hill discourse". (Acts 17:19-33)

He was also hardy...look at II Corinthians 11:24-28 to see the list of persecutions he endured! Paul just "bounced back" (like the dandelion); he just kept on going. We are hindered too easily; we are more like the fragile orchid than the hardy dandelion! But there is still hope: let's try bouncing back the next time we get mowed over. We'll have plenty of opportunities--those lawn mowers keep coming back at us!

"Magnets, Repellent, and Beautiful Feet"

Isaiah 52:7 states:
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings..."

Do you have beautiful feet? Are people glad when they see you approaching? or do they cringe, bracing themselves against the litany of complaints which they know is coming? Maybe you don't even realize that you are liberally doused in "people repellent"!

A genuinely cheerful attitude attracts others like a magnet; a permanently sour, dour outlook is repelling. Which best describes you? Are people drawn to Christ through you or do they say, "If that is Christianity, I want no part of it!" What attracts others? Certainly not grim faces and gritted teeth: (living the joy-filled life? You sure can't tell!) Neither will acting exactly the same as the world. (What's the point--if being a Christian doesn't change you?) And remember: you can't share what you don't yourself possess---e.g. inner joy and peace.

Study the way Jesus interacted with people to get a glimpse of how we really ought to be. See how the crowds and even children were instinctively drawn to Him! That kind of Christianity should be our goal--even though we will not reach it in this life. Be a winsome Christian: interested in others as individuals, trying to see them through God's eyes. We are Christ's representatives while here on earth--it is a high calling!

toss that can of repellent and wear "an odor of a sweet smell"!

"Impressive! But what's that smell?"

How important is it to be noticed? Being the "showiest" is not always best; take the Rafflesia, for example...

The Rafflesia has the largest single blossom of any flower in the world. This rain-forest beauty can be as large as three feet in diameter. It is very impressive-

from a distance! But this is a very strange flower...we could learn a thing or two from it:

The Rafflesia has no body above ground, just its very large "head" resting there. It cannot make its own food since it has no green leaves. Instead, it steals all its food from the liana plant. The Rafflesia spreads its thin filaments through the very internal tissue of the liana...it invades so thoroughly that even experts have difficulty telling the host apart from its parasite. This large, showy flower blooms for just a few days...which may be a good thing (its fragrance is that of rotting meat!)

So what can we learn from the Rafflesia to help us in our Christian walk? The Rafflesia seems to me the very picture of puffed up pride, of style over substance; having the appearance of importance while actually being a fake and a thief. It could also represent the world's allurements--beautiful on the outside but smelling of rotten meat.

Let's not be fooled by outward appearances!
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"--
(A Rafflesia, however, would still smell like rotting meat!)

better to be an honest little violet than a thieving Rafflesia!