Why Would You Not?

 Recently I was thinking of doing something kind for someone. An opportunity that had come across my way. But I had lots of doubts about it, so I put it off. I told my children what I was thinking of doing and how I wasn't sure whether I should do it or not. Their simple question was, "Why would you not?" 

I told them my reasons, but I realized they were not very good ones. So, I went ahead and did it. I'm so glad I did.

The children's question for me was eye opening. Why would I not do something kind when I easily could? My reasons were very self-focused.

So, this is a good question to ask yourself when you have doubts about doing something good. Why would you not? See if your reasons are self-focused or based on fears and what ifs.

Why would we not take the opportunities we have to do good?

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

Two Stomachs

 Did you know that ants have two stomachs? One stomach is to digest their own food. The second one is to store food for others.

Ants don't only think about themselves. They are a picture of loving their neighbor as themselves. 

What about you? How many "stomachs" do you have? Do you care for both yourself and others? Do you share what God gives you with others both physically and spiritually?

And when it comes to feeding on the Bible, we need to hear, care and share!

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.—Philippians 2:4

The Thirstiest Animal

Do you know which animal is the thirstiest? I was surprised to discover that it is .... the dairy cow! But it makes perfect sense. A cow gives out a large amount of milk each day. Unless it takes in a lot of water, it won't have much liquid to give out.

If we want to be like the cow, having something to give that benefits others, we must first fill ourselves. The water is God's Word. To have something valuable to share with others, we must be in God's Word a lot. Not just reading but meditating, praying and applying. 

When knowing God is our first priority, it is only natural that it will overflow to others. To take in and not give out, is being like the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has no outlet. We need to be like the cow in that we both take in and give out to feed and bless others. 

What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all the time receiving, never giving out anything.--Dwight L. Moody

Growing up on a farm, the cows drank from water troughs that were always full. They were made to refill automatically when the cows drank. God's Word is like that. It never runs out of encouragement, refreshment, insight, wisdom, etc. It never gets old or empty. It is living. We just need God to continually open our eyes and enlighten us.

...The God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

It's painful!

As I sliced feijoas for Lydia to enjoy, I pretended the feijoas cried, "Ouch!" For feijoas to be eaten, they have to be cut down the middle with a sharp knife. A lot of food has to go through a painful process. They're chopped up, grated, melted, put into the hot oven, put through the food processor or the whizz.

Do you want your life to bring spiritual refreshment, enjoyment, strength and nourishment to other Christians? Do you want your life to be food?

My life prayer has been that God would use my life like He used the little lad's five loaves and two fishes. To feed the multitude.

If we want our life to be like food that benefits others, guess what? It's going to be a painful process! How many of the beautiful psalms came out of hard places? What about Paul's letters? If his life was a piece of cake, would he have had anything worthwhile to share that would benefit others? How many Christians have found hope through Job's story of loss? And what about all the hymns that have encouraged Christians down through the years? A lot of them were written out of loss and painful trials.

For our life to be food, we may feel like we are sliced, chopped, melted, whizzed and put into the oven for far too long. We may cringe, cry, feel embarrassed, even criticized and misunderstood, battle fears, and grieve. We may have to wait a long time like dough does when it's rising. And we surely have to die to ourselves. But that's part of the necessary process.

God is the Master Chef, and He knows what He's doing when He's at work in our life. Make sure your life is in His wise and loving hands. Surrender to the chopping, the waiting and the pain and see how God blesses you to be a blessing!

 

 

Keep Moving Forward

 To keep your balance on a bike, you need to keep pedaling. You need to move forwards. Unless you put your feet on the ground, you will wobble and crash to the ground if you stop pedaling.

And it's the same with the Christian life. We need to be always moving forward. Not necessarily always busy. Rest times are important. But always moving forward in our relationship with God. We need to keep praying, reading our Bibles, learning, obeying, trusting, applying, and so on.

That's how you keep your balance as a Christian!

In the Bible the Christian life is compared to a walk. Enoch walked with God. When you walk, you keep moving forward one step at a time. 

Just keep plodding along!

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18

Sleeping Through Fires?

Echidnas have an amazing ability! Instead of running from wildfires, they bury themselves into cool soil and go into a hibernating sleep called torpor. Their body temperatures are lowered, and their breathing and metabolism slows down. They survive the fires by sleeping!

This reminds me of the promise in Isaiah 43:2-3, "When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God.."

When fiery trials come into your life, don't run. Bury deep into the promises of God and rest in His Word and character. When you do this, you will survive the fire and come out like refined gold. You will be better off having experienced the faithfulness of God and His Word.

An Unusual Palace

 In France there is a fascinating and unusual palace. Even more interesting is the story behind it. One day a postman stumbled on an unusual stone as he did his postal rounds, and it revived a dream of his—to build a palace. He decided to build a palace from stones. He began to collect some every day. 33 years later the extraordinary palace was finished.

It is incredible what one ordinary postman could do with simple stones and a whole lot of patience, vision and perseverance.

It is also amazing what God can do with ordinary people when they give their ordinary lives, talents, days and moments to Him. In His hands, He makes them into something beautiful that honours Him and brings benefit and blessing to the people around them.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. ” Dwight L. Moody

This postman is also an encouragement to me to fulfil the dreams that God has put in my heart. It takes patience, vision, perseverance and a whole lot of God’s grace. It takes a lot of faithful plodding, trusting God, and taking the next step. But the end result is not a palace that has to be left behind when I die, but something that will count for all eternity. I will never forget what one preacher said. “I used to try to build something. Now I try to build lives.”

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21