God can bring peace to life’s challenges
by Barrett Vanlandingham
December 7, 2010
When I entered into full-time ministry nearly nine years ago, I didn’t realize Satan worked against Christians in so many ways.
As you read this, I will be returning from a week of fact-finding in Honduras for the Fort Gibson Church of Christ. Our missions deacon Glen Elliott and I are hoping to find a replacement trip for our Mexico mission effort. It was put on hold over the summer because of the escalating drug wars and kidnapping in Mexico. In fact, as I write this, I have just received word that one of the locals, a young man we worked with on a church building project, has been kidnapped by drug cartel thugs. His name is Felipe. He is the right-hand man for Ladi Gordiano who is the foreman on several church building projects in Monterrey. He is also a Gospel preacher. Please pray for all those in Mexico who are doing the Lord’s work.
When Jesus said, “Go into all the world…” he never said things would be easy. To prepare for the Honduras trip, I got a tetanus shot, a prescription of malaria pills, I read news reports, watched videos, looked at pictures, crammed my brain full of Central America trivia, and sought advice from others. But the fact is we live in a very unpredictable world that is not controlled by any one of us, no matter how much prep work we do.
As Christians, we must have faith that things will turn out for the best (Romans 8:28) and that God’s view of what goes on in the world is complete. He sees the beginning, middle, and end. We only see a small part of the picture. The apostle Paul evidently spent some time thinking about this as well.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12 Paul wrote, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
As much as we would like, there is no way we can fully understand why things happen the way they do here in this broken world. Can you even imagine how terrifying life would be if we knew what was around every corner? Perhaps that is why Peter wrote that we should “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).”
The first part of that verse encourages us to stay focused. You see, it is only when we view life through a Godly lens that we can even begin to understand spiritual warfare.
May you experience joy and peace this week as you turn your heart over to God, and let him deal with life’s unpredictable moments. (end)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The more you give, the more you are like God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 30, 2010
I don’t know about you but every morning when I wake up, there are certain things I expect God to do for me. I expect the sun to rise. I expect there to be ground to walk on. I expect there to be air to breathe. And I expect there to be a heavenly home awaiting me if this should be my last day to live.
But have you ever thought about what life would be like if God gave us what we deserved? Scary thought, huh? The fact is most of us expect God to keep blessing us even though we don’t always treat him as we should.
Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27-28 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” He goes on to say that if we only love and do good to those who love us, we’re no better than those who choose to live in sin.
It would be easy for us to get depressed if we went through life feeling as though God owed us something. But if we counted our blessings, we would most definitely find that the good outweighs the bad. And God expects us to share life’s blessings with others.
This is the time of year when it becomes a little harder to stretch a dollar. But it’s also the time of year that can be a real blessing when it comes to spiritual growth. You see, when we trust God to take care of our needs, he always comes through.
One of the questions I often get asked is what to do if you’re not sure you have enough money, food, clothing or whatever to give away? Go ahead and give. That’s an excellent opportunity to grow your faith.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ He goes on to say “…your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Then Jesus tells the crowd to put God first in their lives and then all those other worries will be taken care of. (ref: Matthew 6:31-33)
Many people across America just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. Many prayers of thanks were given for life’s blessings. But now we head into another season in which many gifts will be exchanged, and many will celebrate the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ.
This is also an excellent opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life by giving to those less fortunate than you, and by telling and showing others how a life with Jesus is the greatest gift ever. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 30, 2010
I don’t know about you but every morning when I wake up, there are certain things I expect God to do for me. I expect the sun to rise. I expect there to be ground to walk on. I expect there to be air to breathe. And I expect there to be a heavenly home awaiting me if this should be my last day to live.
But have you ever thought about what life would be like if God gave us what we deserved? Scary thought, huh? The fact is most of us expect God to keep blessing us even though we don’t always treat him as we should.
Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27-28 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” He goes on to say that if we only love and do good to those who love us, we’re no better than those who choose to live in sin.
It would be easy for us to get depressed if we went through life feeling as though God owed us something. But if we counted our blessings, we would most definitely find that the good outweighs the bad. And God expects us to share life’s blessings with others.
This is the time of year when it becomes a little harder to stretch a dollar. But it’s also the time of year that can be a real blessing when it comes to spiritual growth. You see, when we trust God to take care of our needs, he always comes through.
One of the questions I often get asked is what to do if you’re not sure you have enough money, food, clothing or whatever to give away? Go ahead and give. That’s an excellent opportunity to grow your faith.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ He goes on to say “…your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Then Jesus tells the crowd to put God first in their lives and then all those other worries will be taken care of. (ref: Matthew 6:31-33)
Many people across America just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. Many prayers of thanks were given for life’s blessings. But now we head into another season in which many gifts will be exchanged, and many will celebrate the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ.
This is also an excellent opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life by giving to those less fortunate than you, and by telling and showing others how a life with Jesus is the greatest gift ever. (end)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Autumn Season Highlights God’s Handiwork
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 16, 2010
For the first time ever, the leaves on the maple tree in my yard turned a brilliant bright yellow splashed with shades of orange and red! Past years have not been near this impressive. But this year? Well, as my son put it, “Our tree looks like a picture!”
Of course, why should anyone be surprised? After all, God has had a lot of practice since the third day of creation when He made plants and trees (Genesis 1:11).
So why are some autumns prettier than others? That’s kind of the boring part, but it suffices to say that differing amounts of sunlight, rain, and cool but not freezing nights (so the experts say) are the cause.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 Solomon says this of God, “He has made all things beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
God has truly blessed all of us with a beautiful autumn this year. I have seen a lot of colorful trees in and around Fort Gibson that demand I take notice of God’s amazing power and creativity.
Leaves changing color is no accident. God designed them in this way. Science tells us that during the summer, leaves combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and sugar. It’s a process called photosynthesis. But since there’s not enough light in the winter for this to happen, most trees rest and live off the food they have stored up. Then the green Chlorophyll disappears so we can see the orange and yellow colors that were there all along. The reds and purples appear as cooler weather changes the color of the sugars.
Amazing! And after that, the dead leaves even have a job to do. Once they fall to the ground, they provide nutrients to the soil and help hold moisture in the ground.
The world in which we live is vibrant, orderly, and beautifully jaw-dropping. It was designed in such a way that mankind could catch a glimpse of our Creator and have a greater appreciation for Him.
Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
God is good. Have a blessed week!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 16, 2010
For the first time ever, the leaves on the maple tree in my yard turned a brilliant bright yellow splashed with shades of orange and red! Past years have not been near this impressive. But this year? Well, as my son put it, “Our tree looks like a picture!”
Of course, why should anyone be surprised? After all, God has had a lot of practice since the third day of creation when He made plants and trees (Genesis 1:11).
So why are some autumns prettier than others? That’s kind of the boring part, but it suffices to say that differing amounts of sunlight, rain, and cool but not freezing nights (so the experts say) are the cause.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 Solomon says this of God, “He has made all things beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
God has truly blessed all of us with a beautiful autumn this year. I have seen a lot of colorful trees in and around Fort Gibson that demand I take notice of God’s amazing power and creativity.
Leaves changing color is no accident. God designed them in this way. Science tells us that during the summer, leaves combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and sugar. It’s a process called photosynthesis. But since there’s not enough light in the winter for this to happen, most trees rest and live off the food they have stored up. Then the green Chlorophyll disappears so we can see the orange and yellow colors that were there all along. The reds and purples appear as cooler weather changes the color of the sugars.
Amazing! And after that, the dead leaves even have a job to do. Once they fall to the ground, they provide nutrients to the soil and help hold moisture in the ground.
The world in which we live is vibrant, orderly, and beautifully jaw-dropping. It was designed in such a way that mankind could catch a glimpse of our Creator and have a greater appreciation for Him.
Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
God is good. Have a blessed week!
Monday, October 25, 2010
God’s word can guide us through Satan’s deceptions
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 9, 2010
I consider myself to be pretty savvy when it comes to the internet. But about a month and a half ago, I accidentally subscribed to a penny bidding service called swipeauctions.com. The way I understood it, you’re supposed to pay a penny to bid on an item. Then, the company charges your credit card for your bids and your purchase. Here’s the problem. As soon as I signed up for the service and punched in my credit card number, a message popped up saying something like, “Congratulations on your $159 membership purchase!” There was no “Are you sure?” There was no “This amount will be charged to you.” It was just click and then “Congratulations!”
When it comes to doing spiritual battle, that’s the way the devil works. There are no second chances. When a person joins up with the dark side, even by accident, there are negative consequences. Sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed, but there are always consequences.
Satan is very manipulative. He makes sin look so inviting, sometimes almost too good to be true. He even tries to convince us that secret sins are okay since no one will ever find out. But the fact is it’s not okay. Sin is never okay. Sin cannot enter the presence of God. That’s why it’s so important to show by your actions that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that you are committed to obeying his commands and example. The New Testament says the saved are those who’ve been symbolically buried with Christ in baptism, then raised to live a new life clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26 & Romans 6:1-11).
This doesn’t mean Satan will leave you alone because you have committed yourself to Christ. Realistically, the devil will likely target you even more. After all, Satan tempted Jesus himself in the desert for forty days just before his official ministry began (Luke 4:1-13). Even as Jesus was fasting, the devil was cleverly trying to convince Him that it was okay to turn stones into bread and give in to earthly cravings. Satan also tried to make a deal with Jesus to worship Satan, and in exchange the devil would give Jesus more authority over earthly things. Then the devil even tried to get Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple so that angels could rescue Jesus. Of course, we know that Jesus refused in all three instances, and quoted his reasons directly from scripture.
You see, Jesus not only had God’s word in his heart, but he also obeyed it. Jesus could have taken the easy way out, but he set the example for us so we could have a worthy Savior to follow.
Well, it has taken me over a month to get swipeauctions.com to agree to give my money back. As for me, I’ve learned several good lessons along the way, not the least of which comes from 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” Have a great day! (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 9, 2010
I consider myself to be pretty savvy when it comes to the internet. But about a month and a half ago, I accidentally subscribed to a penny bidding service called swipeauctions.com. The way I understood it, you’re supposed to pay a penny to bid on an item. Then, the company charges your credit card for your bids and your purchase. Here’s the problem. As soon as I signed up for the service and punched in my credit card number, a message popped up saying something like, “Congratulations on your $159 membership purchase!” There was no “Are you sure?” There was no “This amount will be charged to you.” It was just click and then “Congratulations!”
When it comes to doing spiritual battle, that’s the way the devil works. There are no second chances. When a person joins up with the dark side, even by accident, there are negative consequences. Sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed, but there are always consequences.
Satan is very manipulative. He makes sin look so inviting, sometimes almost too good to be true. He even tries to convince us that secret sins are okay since no one will ever find out. But the fact is it’s not okay. Sin is never okay. Sin cannot enter the presence of God. That’s why it’s so important to show by your actions that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that you are committed to obeying his commands and example. The New Testament says the saved are those who’ve been symbolically buried with Christ in baptism, then raised to live a new life clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26 & Romans 6:1-11).
This doesn’t mean Satan will leave you alone because you have committed yourself to Christ. Realistically, the devil will likely target you even more. After all, Satan tempted Jesus himself in the desert for forty days just before his official ministry began (Luke 4:1-13). Even as Jesus was fasting, the devil was cleverly trying to convince Him that it was okay to turn stones into bread and give in to earthly cravings. Satan also tried to make a deal with Jesus to worship Satan, and in exchange the devil would give Jesus more authority over earthly things. Then the devil even tried to get Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple so that angels could rescue Jesus. Of course, we know that Jesus refused in all three instances, and quoted his reasons directly from scripture.
You see, Jesus not only had God’s word in his heart, but he also obeyed it. Jesus could have taken the easy way out, but he set the example for us so we could have a worthy Savior to follow.
Well, it has taken me over a month to get swipeauctions.com to agree to give my money back. As for me, I’ve learned several good lessons along the way, not the least of which comes from 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” Have a great day! (end)
Facing fears versus fleeing evil: thoughts from the campfire
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 2, 2010
My 12-year old son Britton and I went on a little hunting and camping trip at my parents’ farm in Tahlequah over fall break. There’s nothing more relaxing to me than a night with a full moon, perfect weather, a campfire, and a tent by a pond on the side of a hill. It was fun even though I kept falling asleep at the upper end of the tent, and would wake up after sliding to the lower end.
We were planning to hunt coyotes in the morning but not at 5a.m.! That’s when I was awakened to the sound of something that just seemed large as it brushed up against the side of our tent. My mind was racing with how to scare this creature away and rescue my sleeping son. So, I manned up, and went outside the tent to stoke the campfire and do my best in my role of protector. But much to my joy, the only things I had to contend with were two friendly donkeys, a curious mule, and a small herd of horses that had come by for a drink at the pond. I breathed a sigh of relief until it dawned on me that horses like to lean up against large solid structures to scratch. I thought to myself, “If those horses lean on this tent and fall over on my son, there won’t be anything left of him.” So, I quickly shewed them away as to avoid such a calamity.
So what does this little camping story have to do with matters of faith? For me, it’s a reminder of how the devil can sneak up on us when we least expect it. Just about the time we think all the conditions of life are perfect, Satan is always slithering close-by to choke the joy out of us. The devil can use anything or anyone to accomplish his task of stealing souls. He can use friends, family members, bosses, co-workers, traffic situations, financial struggles, and lust of many kinds to draw us away from God. And it’s usually when our defenses are down.
I like the story of David and Goliath because even though David’s own brothers were jealous and gave him absolutely no support, God was there to give him strength to face the giant. 1 Samuel 17:48 says that David ran to the battle line to meet Goliath and ultimately achieved victory. So even though scripture also tells us to avoid evil, sometimes overcoming our adversary means facing it head-on, like David did.
Bible study, prayer, and advice from an older, wiser Christian can be of great help in deciding which direction is best. Either way, giving your challenges over to God will give you peace when you need it most.
God bless and have a great day!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 2, 2010
My 12-year old son Britton and I went on a little hunting and camping trip at my parents’ farm in Tahlequah over fall break. There’s nothing more relaxing to me than a night with a full moon, perfect weather, a campfire, and a tent by a pond on the side of a hill. It was fun even though I kept falling asleep at the upper end of the tent, and would wake up after sliding to the lower end.
We were planning to hunt coyotes in the morning but not at 5a.m.! That’s when I was awakened to the sound of something that just seemed large as it brushed up against the side of our tent. My mind was racing with how to scare this creature away and rescue my sleeping son. So, I manned up, and went outside the tent to stoke the campfire and do my best in my role of protector. But much to my joy, the only things I had to contend with were two friendly donkeys, a curious mule, and a small herd of horses that had come by for a drink at the pond. I breathed a sigh of relief until it dawned on me that horses like to lean up against large solid structures to scratch. I thought to myself, “If those horses lean on this tent and fall over on my son, there won’t be anything left of him.” So, I quickly shewed them away as to avoid such a calamity.
So what does this little camping story have to do with matters of faith? For me, it’s a reminder of how the devil can sneak up on us when we least expect it. Just about the time we think all the conditions of life are perfect, Satan is always slithering close-by to choke the joy out of us. The devil can use anything or anyone to accomplish his task of stealing souls. He can use friends, family members, bosses, co-workers, traffic situations, financial struggles, and lust of many kinds to draw us away from God. And it’s usually when our defenses are down.
I like the story of David and Goliath because even though David’s own brothers were jealous and gave him absolutely no support, God was there to give him strength to face the giant. 1 Samuel 17:48 says that David ran to the battle line to meet Goliath and ultimately achieved victory. So even though scripture also tells us to avoid evil, sometimes overcoming our adversary means facing it head-on, like David did.
Bible study, prayer, and advice from an older, wiser Christian can be of great help in deciding which direction is best. Either way, giving your challenges over to God will give you peace when you need it most.
God bless and have a great day!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Bible is easy to believe when you examine the evidence
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 26, 2010
I used to take it for granted that when I began a Bible study with someone that they at least believed in God, and believed in the Bible’s account of creation. Well, that hasn’t been the case for me for quite some time. In fact, these days it seems it is more fashionable than ever to doubt God word or even profess to be an atheist or to believe in evolution. This shouldn’t surprise us considering America’s school children have been indoctrinated with the Big Bang Theory and Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in textbooks for many years now. A book titled “Convicted” by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. has been a great help to my study on Christian evidences, and so much of my information in this article will come from his writings.
One important thing to remember when discussing creation versus evolution is this. No one has ever proven that non-living matter can evolve from nothing. And certainly no one has proven that life can evolve from non-living matter. Therefore, something (or someone) had to have always been there for anything to be created. And that someone is God.
The Bible has proven itself many times over as reliable in the areas of history and geography. William Mitchell Ramsay was a Bible skeptic who lived in 1851-1939. He set out to discredit the New Testament book of Acts which mentions 32 countries, nine Mediterranean islands, 54 cities, and is packed with geographical details. But in every circumstance in which Ramsay was able to check, Luke, the author of Acts, got it right. In fact, the Bible has never been proven wrong on anything. That’s likely why it’s the bestselling book of all time.
Evolutionists insist creation took place billions of years ago. They push this view so there will be enough time to theorize that mankind evolved three-million years ago from non-living matter, then from amoeba, worms, reptiles, lower mammals and so on.
Genesis 1:1-5 says that in the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, water, light and darkness which he called day and night. It also says there was evening and morning on the first day and every day after that. On the 2nd day came sky, day three-plants & trees, day four-sun, moon, & stars, day five-birds & fish, day six-animals and man and woman. Based on the Bible’s timeline, there’s no way the earth could be much older than 6000 years, certainly not millions or billions of years old. Besides, how could plants grow if they had to stay in the dark for millions of years waiting on the sun to be created? Is a six day creation sounding better?
We know from Genesis 1:26-27 that mankind was created in God’s image. Hebrews 2:5-7 makes the point that man was created “a little lower than the angels.” In fact, mankind is to rule over all the creatures. Last I checked, amoebas, worms, reptiles and apes weren’t fit to rule over anything. God bless you and have a great day!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 26, 2010
I used to take it for granted that when I began a Bible study with someone that they at least believed in God, and believed in the Bible’s account of creation. Well, that hasn’t been the case for me for quite some time. In fact, these days it seems it is more fashionable than ever to doubt God word or even profess to be an atheist or to believe in evolution. This shouldn’t surprise us considering America’s school children have been indoctrinated with the Big Bang Theory and Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in textbooks for many years now. A book titled “Convicted” by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. has been a great help to my study on Christian evidences, and so much of my information in this article will come from his writings.
One important thing to remember when discussing creation versus evolution is this. No one has ever proven that non-living matter can evolve from nothing. And certainly no one has proven that life can evolve from non-living matter. Therefore, something (or someone) had to have always been there for anything to be created. And that someone is God.
The Bible has proven itself many times over as reliable in the areas of history and geography. William Mitchell Ramsay was a Bible skeptic who lived in 1851-1939. He set out to discredit the New Testament book of Acts which mentions 32 countries, nine Mediterranean islands, 54 cities, and is packed with geographical details. But in every circumstance in which Ramsay was able to check, Luke, the author of Acts, got it right. In fact, the Bible has never been proven wrong on anything. That’s likely why it’s the bestselling book of all time.
Evolutionists insist creation took place billions of years ago. They push this view so there will be enough time to theorize that mankind evolved three-million years ago from non-living matter, then from amoeba, worms, reptiles, lower mammals and so on.
Genesis 1:1-5 says that in the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, water, light and darkness which he called day and night. It also says there was evening and morning on the first day and every day after that. On the 2nd day came sky, day three-plants & trees, day four-sun, moon, & stars, day five-birds & fish, day six-animals and man and woman. Based on the Bible’s timeline, there’s no way the earth could be much older than 6000 years, certainly not millions or billions of years old. Besides, how could plants grow if they had to stay in the dark for millions of years waiting on the sun to be created? Is a six day creation sounding better?
We know from Genesis 1:26-27 that mankind was created in God’s image. Hebrews 2:5-7 makes the point that man was created “a little lower than the angels.” In fact, mankind is to rule over all the creatures. Last I checked, amoebas, worms, reptiles and apes weren’t fit to rule over anything. God bless you and have a great day!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Bible principles hold key to quality of life
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 19, 2010
Since I love chips and salsa, I didn’t think I would have any problem taste testing just one single hot pepper. Well, I was wrong. Evidently, there was a reason someone dropped off a full bag of peppers at the church recently. I’m guessing it was because they were too hot to eat! And since they didn’t come with directions or a warning label, I cut one pepper into pieces, put one bit into my mouth and began to chew then quickly realized I had made a BAD mistake. In fact, my lips and tongue were on fire for the better part of an hour despite the ice cubes and water.
Too bad our lips and tongues don’t have that reaction when we gossip, curse, or use our mouths as weapons. The world would no doubt be a better place to live without the levels of profanity we have these days in TV, movies, and in real life.
James 3:7-8 says, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
You see, a man’s tongue can only be tamed when God’s Spirit dwells inside him. Without a relationship to God, the fruits of the Spirit do not grow inside us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are qualities that only obedient Christians can have to the fullest. God’s word is how we understand what God expects of his children.
I saw a quote this week that stated an interesting irony, “Our children are discouraged from reading the Bible in school, but they are encouraged to read it in prison.” Thank goodness this does not describe Fort Gibson.
When I read reports about how schools in other parts of the nation forbid students to read the Bible at school, it makes me even more appreciative of our school system here in Fort Gibson. Our town definitely enjoys a quality of life that other places just don’t have. The importance our town places on God and character education has a huge impact on the moral fiber of Fort Gibson.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).”
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 19, 2010
Since I love chips and salsa, I didn’t think I would have any problem taste testing just one single hot pepper. Well, I was wrong. Evidently, there was a reason someone dropped off a full bag of peppers at the church recently. I’m guessing it was because they were too hot to eat! And since they didn’t come with directions or a warning label, I cut one pepper into pieces, put one bit into my mouth and began to chew then quickly realized I had made a BAD mistake. In fact, my lips and tongue were on fire for the better part of an hour despite the ice cubes and water.
Too bad our lips and tongues don’t have that reaction when we gossip, curse, or use our mouths as weapons. The world would no doubt be a better place to live without the levels of profanity we have these days in TV, movies, and in real life.
James 3:7-8 says, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
You see, a man’s tongue can only be tamed when God’s Spirit dwells inside him. Without a relationship to God, the fruits of the Spirit do not grow inside us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are qualities that only obedient Christians can have to the fullest. God’s word is how we understand what God expects of his children.
I saw a quote this week that stated an interesting irony, “Our children are discouraged from reading the Bible in school, but they are encouraged to read it in prison.” Thank goodness this does not describe Fort Gibson.
When I read reports about how schools in other parts of the nation forbid students to read the Bible at school, it makes me even more appreciative of our school system here in Fort Gibson. Our town definitely enjoys a quality of life that other places just don’t have. The importance our town places on God and character education has a huge impact on the moral fiber of Fort Gibson.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).”
Friday, October 08, 2010
Taking a fresh look the Creator
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 12, 2010
Who are we supposed to believe anyway? As I watched a world news report the other day, it focused on a crystal cave in Mexico that scientists say is 500-million years old. The cave is quite impressive. But is it really that old?
Between Hollywood, textbooks and science museums, an entire culture if not an entire world has bought into this so-called pre-historic idea. What does that mean anyway? How can there be anything before history?
The Bible gives a pretty straight forward timeline of how long it took God to create the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. Six days. He rested on the seventh day. Then, when you add up the length of time people of the Bible lived, 6000 years is a more accurate picture for the age of the earth and mankind. Yes, six-thousand years. That’s it.
But how could this be? After all, just look at natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon. Could it really be that young? Yes. Just think about how quickly such a tremendous amount of pressure and devastation could have taken place courtesy of a worldwide flood.
And as for evolution, just how many supposed “missing links” do we have to endure hearing about. One after another, these man-ape models have turned out to be hoaxes. They’ve been created alright, just not by God, but instead by men using a vivid imagination along with old teeth and bones of animals like pigs and donkeys.
Seems it takes a whole lot more faith to believe in evolution and pre-historic notions than it does to agree with the Bible’s account of creation.
There’s really no reason why a Christian can’t be a scientist. I read recently that 40-percent of scientists are Christians. The Bible spoke of many things long before science accepted them as fact. The Bible described the water-cycle long before scientists did. The Bible also described the earth as round and floating even before a flat earth had been disproven. The Bible also agrees with astronomers today who say that stars cannot be numbered even though early star gazers had estimated there to be only about a thousand stars. The Bible also had it right on matters of cleanliness and disease long before the importance of hand washing had been discovered. And the Bible talked about trenches and springs under the surface of the ocean long before they had been discovered.
Our God is truly amazing. His word hasn’t been wrong about anything yet including history, geography, and science. Won’t you trust Him today?
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 12, 2010
Who are we supposed to believe anyway? As I watched a world news report the other day, it focused on a crystal cave in Mexico that scientists say is 500-million years old. The cave is quite impressive. But is it really that old?
Between Hollywood, textbooks and science museums, an entire culture if not an entire world has bought into this so-called pre-historic idea. What does that mean anyway? How can there be anything before history?
The Bible gives a pretty straight forward timeline of how long it took God to create the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. Six days. He rested on the seventh day. Then, when you add up the length of time people of the Bible lived, 6000 years is a more accurate picture for the age of the earth and mankind. Yes, six-thousand years. That’s it.
But how could this be? After all, just look at natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon. Could it really be that young? Yes. Just think about how quickly such a tremendous amount of pressure and devastation could have taken place courtesy of a worldwide flood.
And as for evolution, just how many supposed “missing links” do we have to endure hearing about. One after another, these man-ape models have turned out to be hoaxes. They’ve been created alright, just not by God, but instead by men using a vivid imagination along with old teeth and bones of animals like pigs and donkeys.
Seems it takes a whole lot more faith to believe in evolution and pre-historic notions than it does to agree with the Bible’s account of creation.
There’s really no reason why a Christian can’t be a scientist. I read recently that 40-percent of scientists are Christians. The Bible spoke of many things long before science accepted them as fact. The Bible described the water-cycle long before scientists did. The Bible also described the earth as round and floating even before a flat earth had been disproven. The Bible also agrees with astronomers today who say that stars cannot be numbered even though early star gazers had estimated there to be only about a thousand stars. The Bible also had it right on matters of cleanliness and disease long before the importance of hand washing had been discovered. And the Bible talked about trenches and springs under the surface of the ocean long before they had been discovered.
Our God is truly amazing. His word hasn’t been wrong about anything yet including history, geography, and science. Won’t you trust Him today?
Saturday, October 02, 2010
The greatest homecoming of all is still to come
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 5, 2010
Homecoming weekend here in Fort Gibson was quite spectacular. The weather was perfect, the school spirit was “over the top”, the parade featured a long line of class floats as well as an impressive cast of queens and their kings.
Every parent and grandparent along the parade route, in the fieldhouse, and in the stands before the game were no doubt proud as punch of their child. I know I was. My daughter, Ashton, is this year’s “Drama Queen”. Hee hee. And thanks to Murrys Nissan, I was able to cart her and her king, Austin Adamson, down the parade route in a new 370Z Convertible Touring Roadster. Wow! Just getting to drive that car for the day made my year a lot more memorable!
Spiritually, the idea of homecoming is central to the very existence of every Christian. Some of my favorite hymns are “Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims”, the old spiritual “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”, and of course “To Canaan’s Land” and “I’ll Fly Away.”
Each of those songs, and many more remind us that our time here on earth is only a very small piece of our life overall. One day, there will be a homecoming like none other. That will be the day that God calls all of his faithful home to heaven.
When Jesus left this earth, his disciples gazed at his ascension until a cloud hid him from their sight. That’s when two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11)."
Can you even imagine what that day will be like? Just think of all the things that consume our minds with worry, heartache, and depression here on earth. Just think of all the physical, emotional, and mental aches, pains, frustration, and illnesses that plague so many. The fact is, we as Christians who stay faithful in spite of worldly persecution have a promise that was inspired by God and written down by John two-thousand years ago. Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven, and that Jesus “…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
May God bless everyone who bears the name Christian, on the journey through this life towards the greatest homecoming of all.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 5, 2010
Homecoming weekend here in Fort Gibson was quite spectacular. The weather was perfect, the school spirit was “over the top”, the parade featured a long line of class floats as well as an impressive cast of queens and their kings.
Every parent and grandparent along the parade route, in the fieldhouse, and in the stands before the game were no doubt proud as punch of their child. I know I was. My daughter, Ashton, is this year’s “Drama Queen”. Hee hee. And thanks to Murrys Nissan, I was able to cart her and her king, Austin Adamson, down the parade route in a new 370Z Convertible Touring Roadster. Wow! Just getting to drive that car for the day made my year a lot more memorable!
Spiritually, the idea of homecoming is central to the very existence of every Christian. Some of my favorite hymns are “Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims”, the old spiritual “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”, and of course “To Canaan’s Land” and “I’ll Fly Away.”
Each of those songs, and many more remind us that our time here on earth is only a very small piece of our life overall. One day, there will be a homecoming like none other. That will be the day that God calls all of his faithful home to heaven.
When Jesus left this earth, his disciples gazed at his ascension until a cloud hid him from their sight. That’s when two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11)."
Can you even imagine what that day will be like? Just think of all the things that consume our minds with worry, heartache, and depression here on earth. Just think of all the physical, emotional, and mental aches, pains, frustration, and illnesses that plague so many. The fact is, we as Christians who stay faithful in spite of worldly persecution have a promise that was inspired by God and written down by John two-thousand years ago. Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven, and that Jesus “…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
May God bless everyone who bears the name Christian, on the journey through this life towards the greatest homecoming of all.
Friday, September 24, 2010
There is a safe place in life’s storms
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 28, 2010
You may remember the old hymn that says, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” I know it may seem strange, but those words popped into my head the other day after coming out of a School Safety and Health Committee meeting. There I sat with three students, two teachers, and the vice-principal of Fort Gibson Middle School. Our job was to identify potential problems and come up with solutions.
Christians must do the same thing. We must make efforts to identify our spiritual weaknesses, and then look to God’s word for solutions. We often overlook obvious answers to life’s problems, mainly because we get caught up in the very world that created the problems in the first place. It is crazy to think that when the storms of life hit, that we can find comfort in earthly things. Our true safe-haven lies in the One who stilled the storm two-thousand years ago.
In Matthew 8:23-27, we’re told that Jesus and his disciples got into a boat when all of the sudden a storm swept waves over them! It is obvious by the fact that the disciples woke Jesus from his sleep and asked him to save them that they knew where to turn in this moment of trouble. Then, just as they had hoped, Jesus “rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The thing that strikes me as odd in that passage is that afterwards the disciples were pretty much blown away by what Jesus was able to do for them. So they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
I’m thinking, “How can they say that after watching Jesus heal throughout Galilee those who were demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, not to mention the fact they had just witnessed his amazing Sermon on the Mount which included the Beattitudes?”
But are we any different today when it comes to our lack of faith? We see the handiwork of God. We experience the love of Jesus through his Holy Spirit and through Christian brothers and sisters. We even have amazing amounts of historical and archeological evidence that prove the Bible can be trusted. It is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.
And even though we know where to turn for help in the storms of life, our faith often grows dim until the next major life crisis, just like the disciples in the first century.
May God grant each of us the desire, strength and confidence to trust in the Lord always, especially when we feel like we have everything under control.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 28, 2010
You may remember the old hymn that says, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” I know it may seem strange, but those words popped into my head the other day after coming out of a School Safety and Health Committee meeting. There I sat with three students, two teachers, and the vice-principal of Fort Gibson Middle School. Our job was to identify potential problems and come up with solutions.
Christians must do the same thing. We must make efforts to identify our spiritual weaknesses, and then look to God’s word for solutions. We often overlook obvious answers to life’s problems, mainly because we get caught up in the very world that created the problems in the first place. It is crazy to think that when the storms of life hit, that we can find comfort in earthly things. Our true safe-haven lies in the One who stilled the storm two-thousand years ago.
In Matthew 8:23-27, we’re told that Jesus and his disciples got into a boat when all of the sudden a storm swept waves over them! It is obvious by the fact that the disciples woke Jesus from his sleep and asked him to save them that they knew where to turn in this moment of trouble. Then, just as they had hoped, Jesus “rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” The thing that strikes me as odd in that passage is that afterwards the disciples were pretty much blown away by what Jesus was able to do for them. So they asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
I’m thinking, “How can they say that after watching Jesus heal throughout Galilee those who were demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, not to mention the fact they had just witnessed his amazing Sermon on the Mount which included the Beattitudes?”
But are we any different today when it comes to our lack of faith? We see the handiwork of God. We experience the love of Jesus through his Holy Spirit and through Christian brothers and sisters. We even have amazing amounts of historical and archeological evidence that prove the Bible can be trusted. It is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.
And even though we know where to turn for help in the storms of life, our faith often grows dim until the next major life crisis, just like the disciples in the first century.
May God grant each of us the desire, strength and confidence to trust in the Lord always, especially when we feel like we have everything under control.
Friday, September 17, 2010
You can’t judge spiritual cleanliness by what’s on the outside
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 21, 2010
One thing I do not enjoy is taking my car to the carwash. But occasionally I do it anyway so it won’t be too much of an eyesore. And if it rains, well, that’s all the better since that means I may be able to stretch a little farther between car washings.
Anyway, the other day I got into my car while thinking to myself, “It’s looking pretty clean today.” But when I drove into the sun I realized my windshield was dirty, not the kind of dirty you can clean-off with wipers, but the kind that builds up on the inside. I actually had to take Windex, a rag, and some major elbow grease to scrub-off the fog-like film that had been slowly building up for quite some time.
My mind immediately turned to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-28. He spoke strong words towards the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who were more concerned with their outward appearances than their true inner character. He even called them hypocrites!
Then he said, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” He said, “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
He also compared them to “…whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything is unclean.” Jesus told them that even though they appear to be righteous people, they are really full of hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside.
This passage is a great reminder to all Christians. Simply put, it is much more important to apply lasting Christ-like qualities to our inner self than to dwell on outward appearances or on being part of the social elite which are both very temporary.
Just like the inside of my windshield, worldly influences can clutter our spiritual life, even when no one else knows. It is only when God’s Son shines in our heart that we can truly see if we are walking in His light.
There is certainly nothing wrong with making a good outward impression. We should always put our best foot forward. But God knows our heart. He is not fooled by any façade or mask or anything else that may be covering up what is really going on inside the very being He created.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 21, 2010
One thing I do not enjoy is taking my car to the carwash. But occasionally I do it anyway so it won’t be too much of an eyesore. And if it rains, well, that’s all the better since that means I may be able to stretch a little farther between car washings.
Anyway, the other day I got into my car while thinking to myself, “It’s looking pretty clean today.” But when I drove into the sun I realized my windshield was dirty, not the kind of dirty you can clean-off with wipers, but the kind that builds up on the inside. I actually had to take Windex, a rag, and some major elbow grease to scrub-off the fog-like film that had been slowly building up for quite some time.
My mind immediately turned to what Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-28. He spoke strong words towards the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who were more concerned with their outward appearances than their true inner character. He even called them hypocrites!
Then he said, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” He said, “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
He also compared them to “…whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything is unclean.” Jesus told them that even though they appear to be righteous people, they are really full of hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside.
This passage is a great reminder to all Christians. Simply put, it is much more important to apply lasting Christ-like qualities to our inner self than to dwell on outward appearances or on being part of the social elite which are both very temporary.
Just like the inside of my windshield, worldly influences can clutter our spiritual life, even when no one else knows. It is only when God’s Son shines in our heart that we can truly see if we are walking in His light.
There is certainly nothing wrong with making a good outward impression. We should always put our best foot forward. But God knows our heart. He is not fooled by any façade or mask or anything else that may be covering up what is really going on inside the very being He created.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Commitment to marriage starts with God
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 14, 2010
We all know of places throughout this country where long marriages are considered a novelty. My parents, Charles and Judy Vanlandingham of Tahlequah, are celebrating their 54th anniversary this month. Funny thing is, even though 54 years together is a great accomplishment, long marriages are not that unique in our area.
Fort Gibson is blessed with many marriages that continue to stand the test of time. Seems just about every week or so, another local couple celebrates a major milestone.
So what is the key to a successful marriage? It’s pretty common to get answers such as “I have just learned to keep my opinion to myself.” Or, “I have just learned to have a lot of patience.”
Those answers may be humorous and often true. But most of the successful marriages I have witnessed give credit to their commitment to God. You see, when we place God at the top of our priority list, everything else falls right into place. This is true for business relationships, social relationships, and is certainly true for marriages.
There is nothing worse than a Christian trying to work for a boss who has no morals. Young Christians often have a hard time fitting in at school if the majority of kids around them are immoral. And a marriage will find out not long after the “I do’s” if the vows were based on God or romance and fun.
That’s why 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” The fact is, light and darkness cannot happen at the same time, just as Jesus who is described as light (John 1:4-9) cannot be darkness, nor can darkness exist in his presence.
A good marriage will flourish in the light, where Jesus is. Good marriages include God as the first and most important partner. This makes sense in light of the fact that God created us and knows us better than anyone.
You may have heard someone ask, “Have you performed your vows today that you took when you got married?” In other words, are you putting more or less effort into your marriage now than when you said, “I do?” But just as important is this question, “Were your wedding vows based on your relationship with God to begin with?” If not, it’s not too late to give your marriage completely over to Him. The first and greatest commandment is a good place to start: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).”
May God bless your marriage as you put your relationship in His hands.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 14, 2010
We all know of places throughout this country where long marriages are considered a novelty. My parents, Charles and Judy Vanlandingham of Tahlequah, are celebrating their 54th anniversary this month. Funny thing is, even though 54 years together is a great accomplishment, long marriages are not that unique in our area.
Fort Gibson is blessed with many marriages that continue to stand the test of time. Seems just about every week or so, another local couple celebrates a major milestone.
So what is the key to a successful marriage? It’s pretty common to get answers such as “I have just learned to keep my opinion to myself.” Or, “I have just learned to have a lot of patience.”
Those answers may be humorous and often true. But most of the successful marriages I have witnessed give credit to their commitment to God. You see, when we place God at the top of our priority list, everything else falls right into place. This is true for business relationships, social relationships, and is certainly true for marriages.
There is nothing worse than a Christian trying to work for a boss who has no morals. Young Christians often have a hard time fitting in at school if the majority of kids around them are immoral. And a marriage will find out not long after the “I do’s” if the vows were based on God or romance and fun.
That’s why 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” The fact is, light and darkness cannot happen at the same time, just as Jesus who is described as light (John 1:4-9) cannot be darkness, nor can darkness exist in his presence.
A good marriage will flourish in the light, where Jesus is. Good marriages include God as the first and most important partner. This makes sense in light of the fact that God created us and knows us better than anyone.
You may have heard someone ask, “Have you performed your vows today that you took when you got married?” In other words, are you putting more or less effort into your marriage now than when you said, “I do?” But just as important is this question, “Were your wedding vows based on your relationship with God to begin with?” If not, it’s not too late to give your marriage completely over to Him. The first and greatest commandment is a good place to start: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).”
May God bless your marriage as you put your relationship in His hands.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Christ-like teens can make a big difference
September 7, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham
I was checking Facebook this week when I noticed a thought-provoking conversation among three local teenagers. One boy wrote, “I don’t feel like going to church tonight.” Another boy responded, “When you don’t feel like going, that’s exactly when you really need to go.” Next, a young lady chimed in with, “Hey, what if God said, ‘Hmm, I don’t feel like letting you walk today?’”
I was greatly encouraged by such mature thoughts from teenagers I have no doubt that the God’s Holy Spirit was guiding both of them to say the right thing.
Have you read the words of David in Psalms 30:11? “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,” (NASB) It has been my experience that when I don’t feel like participating in worship or Bible class, God always blesses me when I choose differently. When we go to God in prayer, He is faithful and will always replace those feelings of discouragement, worry, and even selfishness with feelings of peace, joy, and selflessness. Encouragement from Godly friends always helps.
As for the young lady’s comment? All I have to say to that is “How true!” God really doesn’t owe us anything. But He continues to bless us. Heaven forbid that God should ever have a bad day, and not feel like producing air for us to breathe. Or imagine if God decided to take the weekend off and not tell the sun to rise.
We know from scripture that God is patient. But we also know that on a several occasions, God had all He wanted to take from a rebellious people. Remember the flood? Remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember all those times God allowed his chosen people (Israel) to be defeated? In each instance, it was because their hearts had turned away from God’s commands which were designed to help them succeed.
Yes, we all have days that we just don’t feel like being around people. But that fact should cause us to praise our God even more! We have a God who knows exactly what it feels like to be in our shoes, especially shoes that don’t fit.
God is good! Have a praise-filled week!
September 7, 2010
by Barrett Vanlandingham
I was checking Facebook this week when I noticed a thought-provoking conversation among three local teenagers. One boy wrote, “I don’t feel like going to church tonight.” Another boy responded, “When you don’t feel like going, that’s exactly when you really need to go.” Next, a young lady chimed in with, “Hey, what if God said, ‘Hmm, I don’t feel like letting you walk today?’”
I was greatly encouraged by such mature thoughts from teenagers I have no doubt that the God’s Holy Spirit was guiding both of them to say the right thing.
Have you read the words of David in Psalms 30:11? “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,” (NASB) It has been my experience that when I don’t feel like participating in worship or Bible class, God always blesses me when I choose differently. When we go to God in prayer, He is faithful and will always replace those feelings of discouragement, worry, and even selfishness with feelings of peace, joy, and selflessness. Encouragement from Godly friends always helps.
As for the young lady’s comment? All I have to say to that is “How true!” God really doesn’t owe us anything. But He continues to bless us. Heaven forbid that God should ever have a bad day, and not feel like producing air for us to breathe. Or imagine if God decided to take the weekend off and not tell the sun to rise.
We know from scripture that God is patient. But we also know that on a several occasions, God had all He wanted to take from a rebellious people. Remember the flood? Remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember all those times God allowed his chosen people (Israel) to be defeated? In each instance, it was because their hearts had turned away from God’s commands which were designed to help them succeed.
Yes, we all have days that we just don’t feel like being around people. But that fact should cause us to praise our God even more! We have a God who knows exactly what it feels like to be in our shoes, especially shoes that don’t fit.
God is good! Have a praise-filled week!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The secret to overcoming evil is good!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 31, 2010
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)”
This has to be one of the hardest Biblical commands to obey. After all, why would anyone want to give a blessing to someone who has just insulted them?
As kids have returned to school, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately. As if the daily stresses of life are not difficult enough, being on the receiving end of an insult is not what any of us wants to add to our list of chores whether we’re a kid or an adult.
So, what blessings do you stand to inherit if you choose to bless someone after they treat you badly? For starters, the obvious blessing of learning patience, and learning to love those who are undeserving. I feel pretty fortunate that God continues to bless my life even though I am so undeserving. I could save my pennies for a million years and never be able to earn a single blessing from God. But he blesses me anyway. He blesses us all so richly!
The apostle Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).” That is a pretty clear statement. And in terms of spiritual war, a loving and caring attitude will always win out in the end.
The apostle Peter says to answer everyone with gentleness and respect “…so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:16).”
This is one of those areas where we as Christians just have to trust in God’s wisdom. We all know how satisfying it is to feel like we got the best of someone. The only flaw in that way of thinking is that our goal as Christians is to show the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
The reward of letting God be the one to take revenge may be that of saving a soul from the fires of hell. After all, what are the chances of saving someone’s soul if we as Christians act out as badly as those we are trying to save? God has always known just what to do to get someone’s attention.
2 Corinthians 10:3 tells us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” Paul goes on to say that the weapon of the Christian is power from God to demolish the devil’s strongholds.
May you receive the power of goodness this week as you bring the love of Christ to all those in your path.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 31, 2010
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9)”
This has to be one of the hardest Biblical commands to obey. After all, why would anyone want to give a blessing to someone who has just insulted them?
As kids have returned to school, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately. As if the daily stresses of life are not difficult enough, being on the receiving end of an insult is not what any of us wants to add to our list of chores whether we’re a kid or an adult.
So, what blessings do you stand to inherit if you choose to bless someone after they treat you badly? For starters, the obvious blessing of learning patience, and learning to love those who are undeserving. I feel pretty fortunate that God continues to bless my life even though I am so undeserving. I could save my pennies for a million years and never be able to earn a single blessing from God. But he blesses me anyway. He blesses us all so richly!
The apostle Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).” That is a pretty clear statement. And in terms of spiritual war, a loving and caring attitude will always win out in the end.
The apostle Peter says to answer everyone with gentleness and respect “…so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Peter 3:16).”
This is one of those areas where we as Christians just have to trust in God’s wisdom. We all know how satisfying it is to feel like we got the best of someone. The only flaw in that way of thinking is that our goal as Christians is to show the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
The reward of letting God be the one to take revenge may be that of saving a soul from the fires of hell. After all, what are the chances of saving someone’s soul if we as Christians act out as badly as those we are trying to save? God has always known just what to do to get someone’s attention.
2 Corinthians 10:3 tells us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” Paul goes on to say that the weapon of the Christian is power from God to demolish the devil’s strongholds.
May you receive the power of goodness this week as you bring the love of Christ to all those in your path.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Christian life is not as hard as pulling teeth, really!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 24, 2010
My 12-year old son, Britton, and I walked into the dentist office Friday for him to have some teeth pulled. What we didn’t know is that he would be getting NINE teeth pulled that very day. His orthodontist wanted the dentist to pull the rest of Britton’s baby teeth so his big teeth could grow in properly with the help of braces.
It was not easy to sit in the corner and watch my son endure several deadening shots and have nine teeth pulled. But we both knew it would be worth it in the end.
So what does this have to do with the Christian life? Simply put, we must separate ourselves from things that cause us problems spiritually. That is a principle to which every Christian can relate.
One great thing about growing in our relationship with God is that it doesn’t have to be as hard as pulling teeth. You see, I could do nothing to ease Britton’s teeth pulling experience. But in spiritual matters, our challenges are an entirely different story.
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10). Even better, we can depend on help from God in every difficult circumstance since we are fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). He always gives us a way of escape for every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
There are several New Testament passages which tell us the dangers of staying attached to situations that threaten our Christian walk. 1 Cor. 15:53 tells us that “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 tells us it’s not good for Christians to be tied closely to unbelievers.
There are also verses that deal with the consequences of being an unproductive Christian, or a member who poses a threat to the rest of the body. In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
That’s why it is important for Christians to do everything we can to encourage every member of the body.
In Britton’s case, a little bit of physical sacrifice now will help him down the road. Spiritually, it’s the same way. There may be some things we need to pull out of our lives now in order to serve Him better and secure a better relationship with our Savior. God bless you.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 24, 2010
My 12-year old son, Britton, and I walked into the dentist office Friday for him to have some teeth pulled. What we didn’t know is that he would be getting NINE teeth pulled that very day. His orthodontist wanted the dentist to pull the rest of Britton’s baby teeth so his big teeth could grow in properly with the help of braces.
It was not easy to sit in the corner and watch my son endure several deadening shots and have nine teeth pulled. But we both knew it would be worth it in the end.
So what does this have to do with the Christian life? Simply put, we must separate ourselves from things that cause us problems spiritually. That is a principle to which every Christian can relate.
One great thing about growing in our relationship with God is that it doesn’t have to be as hard as pulling teeth. You see, I could do nothing to ease Britton’s teeth pulling experience. But in spiritual matters, our challenges are an entirely different story.
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10). Even better, we can depend on help from God in every difficult circumstance since we are fellow workers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). He always gives us a way of escape for every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
There are several New Testament passages which tell us the dangers of staying attached to situations that threaten our Christian walk. 1 Cor. 15:53 tells us that “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 tells us it’s not good for Christians to be tied closely to unbelievers.
There are also verses that deal with the consequences of being an unproductive Christian, or a member who poses a threat to the rest of the body. In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
That’s why it is important for Christians to do everything we can to encourage every member of the body.
In Britton’s case, a little bit of physical sacrifice now will help him down the road. Spiritually, it’s the same way. There may be some things we need to pull out of our lives now in order to serve Him better and secure a better relationship with our Savior. God bless you.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Doing without can be a blessing
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 17, 2010
The Bible speaks of fasting a lot more than other topics that we as Christians tend to dwell on. I wonder why? Could it be that fasting just simply doesn’t fit our lifestyle in America? This idea of purposely doing without is a thought worth spending some time on.
For me, food is the last thing I want to do without for any length of time. For others, food is not that big of a temptation. However, indulgences such as TV, computer, music, and other forms of entertainment might be more difficult for this generation to do without for very long.
The Bible speaks of people fasting for various reasons. Sometimes, Christians would fast and pray before sending missionaries into the field. Other times, people would fast and put on sackcloth and ashes while in the process of deep mourning.
So, what is the purpose of fasting? Taken in context, it appears that people back in the first century and before fasted in an effort to gain better focus as they communicated with God. It may have also been a way to empathize with someone who was going through a difficult time. In other words, one might feel guilty indulging in a meal when their good friend was going through a crisis.
The only real Biblical direction for fasting comes from Matthew 6:16-18. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Jesus is basically telling his disciples to not be dramatic, seeking attention in hopes of people thinking they are extra religious or something for doing without.
There is no reason to think that fasting makes God honor one prayer over another. But certainly the hunger pains of doing without food would be a continual reminder the One who provides us with everything we need. Fasting would certainly cause one to think about all the blessings we have because of the incredible way our Creator has put this universe into existence.
Yes, fasting from food has value. But these days, fasting from other things that make our lives extremely comfortable might be of equal value when it comes to developing our focus and relationship with God.
May God bless us all as we re-evaluate our needs and our wants in an effort to walk closer to our Heavenly Father. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 17, 2010
The Bible speaks of fasting a lot more than other topics that we as Christians tend to dwell on. I wonder why? Could it be that fasting just simply doesn’t fit our lifestyle in America? This idea of purposely doing without is a thought worth spending some time on.
For me, food is the last thing I want to do without for any length of time. For others, food is not that big of a temptation. However, indulgences such as TV, computer, music, and other forms of entertainment might be more difficult for this generation to do without for very long.
The Bible speaks of people fasting for various reasons. Sometimes, Christians would fast and pray before sending missionaries into the field. Other times, people would fast and put on sackcloth and ashes while in the process of deep mourning.
So, what is the purpose of fasting? Taken in context, it appears that people back in the first century and before fasted in an effort to gain better focus as they communicated with God. It may have also been a way to empathize with someone who was going through a difficult time. In other words, one might feel guilty indulging in a meal when their good friend was going through a crisis.
The only real Biblical direction for fasting comes from Matthew 6:16-18. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Jesus is basically telling his disciples to not be dramatic, seeking attention in hopes of people thinking they are extra religious or something for doing without.
There is no reason to think that fasting makes God honor one prayer over another. But certainly the hunger pains of doing without food would be a continual reminder the One who provides us with everything we need. Fasting would certainly cause one to think about all the blessings we have because of the incredible way our Creator has put this universe into existence.
Yes, fasting from food has value. But these days, fasting from other things that make our lives extremely comfortable might be of equal value when it comes to developing our focus and relationship with God.
May God bless us all as we re-evaluate our needs and our wants in an effort to walk closer to our Heavenly Father. (end)
Friday, August 06, 2010
Timing is Everything
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 10, 2010
I once heard a Bible class teacher ask his students, “Who all wants to go to heaven?” Of course, everyone raised their hands. Then he asked, “Who all wants to go right now?” Hilariously, no one raised their hands! Sadly, that’s the way it is for many people.
Last Friday, an afternoon ride on my Kawasaki was about as good as it could get in my book. That is, until it started raining. Then, those little drops of precip suddenly began to feel like marbles hitting my helmet, arms and legs as I cruised down the highway. But considering how badly we’ve been needing rain lately, I wasn’t going to complain. In fact, I came up with a pretty good spiritual application for the situation that was soaking me.
Timing is everything. As I looked at those amazing stormclouds that were forming I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it back home before the clouds burst. Well, I didn’t. I wanted rain, just not immediately.
We all look forward to meeting God face to face one day and experiencing his reign in heaven. The Bible says we will all kneel before him one day and acknowledge Jesus Christ as his son. That day will come whether we’re ready or not. Ideally, we will all be ready for that day. Tragically, most people will not be ready. Scripture tells us that God is patient and not willing that any should perish. But we also know that eventually judgment day will come. Scripture says that the road to hell is broad (Matthew 7:13), and that most people are on that road simply because they allow themselves to be dragged away and enticed by their own evil desires (James 1:14).
One time I asked a group of teenagers if they would go to heaven today if they could. Some said yes. Others said they would like to eventually after they had the chance to have a few more life experiences such as marriage. Unfortunately, none of us knows when that final day will come. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36. He said even he doesn’t know when that day will be, and neither do the angels, but only the Father.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, the apostle Paul says, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
May God bless us all with the desire to watch and pray as that final day approaches, that we may all be ready to hear our Master say, “Well done.”
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 10, 2010
I once heard a Bible class teacher ask his students, “Who all wants to go to heaven?” Of course, everyone raised their hands. Then he asked, “Who all wants to go right now?” Hilariously, no one raised their hands! Sadly, that’s the way it is for many people.
Last Friday, an afternoon ride on my Kawasaki was about as good as it could get in my book. That is, until it started raining. Then, those little drops of precip suddenly began to feel like marbles hitting my helmet, arms and legs as I cruised down the highway. But considering how badly we’ve been needing rain lately, I wasn’t going to complain. In fact, I came up with a pretty good spiritual application for the situation that was soaking me.
Timing is everything. As I looked at those amazing stormclouds that were forming I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it back home before the clouds burst. Well, I didn’t. I wanted rain, just not immediately.
We all look forward to meeting God face to face one day and experiencing his reign in heaven. The Bible says we will all kneel before him one day and acknowledge Jesus Christ as his son. That day will come whether we’re ready or not. Ideally, we will all be ready for that day. Tragically, most people will not be ready. Scripture tells us that God is patient and not willing that any should perish. But we also know that eventually judgment day will come. Scripture says that the road to hell is broad (Matthew 7:13), and that most people are on that road simply because they allow themselves to be dragged away and enticed by their own evil desires (James 1:14).
One time I asked a group of teenagers if they would go to heaven today if they could. Some said yes. Others said they would like to eventually after they had the chance to have a few more life experiences such as marriage. Unfortunately, none of us knows when that final day will come. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36. He said even he doesn’t know when that day will be, and neither do the angels, but only the Father.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, the apostle Paul says, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
May God bless us all with the desire to watch and pray as that final day approaches, that we may all be ready to hear our Master say, “Well done.”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Summer Commitments Put to the Test
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 3, 2010
Another summer of church camp is over! For some kids, it was a time to re-unite with friends, or let barriers down that often stay up during the school year. Others say it’s a time to get closer to God, or re-commit their lives to following Christ. Inspiring worship, Bible classes, and discussion times are also a big part of the camp experience.
I take my youth group to Burnt Cabin Christian Camp out on Lake Tenkiller. We studied the book of Daniel. We looked at the decisions he and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) made as teenagers that had a profound impact on their lives.
But just how long does that impact last for our teenagers today? That’s always a heavily discussed topic at camp. It seems the biggest fear among teens during camp is the question of how to stay spiritually strong during the school year.
The fact is, teens need and want reinforcement from Christian friends and parents when it comes to battling peer pressure in school. It doesn’t take long at all, sometimes only a week or two, for teens to slip back into their old habits once camp is over. The odds are even worse after school starts.
Satan doesn’t wait for us to get a battle plan together. He doesn’t fight fair. That’s why it’s important for all Christians to approach spiritual warfare as seriously as the devil approaches it.
The devil has been ticked off at God at least since shortly after the fall of man. God’s judgment on Satan is recorded in Genesis 3:14 and following. God tells the devil that he will have a miserable existence and that he will be cursed worse than any of the animals for deceiving Adam and Eve.
So, since Satan lost one battle against God in the Garden of Eden, and then again when Jesus overcame death on the cross, his only hope of hurting God is by tempting mankind. The devil doesn’t care if you’re young, old, or in between. A soul is a soul. And he wants to drag as many as he can to hell with him. Hell is that place God created to punish the devil and his followers.
The highlight of my summer was seeing my daughter, Ashton, put on Christ in baptism. The book of Romans says baptism is what unites us with Christ (Romans 6:1-11). She is now dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
As parents, Lisa and I do our best to teach our children the ways of Jesus, to model the Christian life, and to create opportunities for spiritual growth. As hard as it is to think about, all children must eventually learn to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12) in their own time. Parents can’t do it for them. Baptism is the easiest part of the plan of salvation. Living an obedient life to God is the most challenging. May God bless us all as we raise children to “live a life worthy of the calling” we have received (Eph 4:1). And may God bless our children this school year with strength and confidence to stay faithful.
by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 3, 2010
Another summer of church camp is over! For some kids, it was a time to re-unite with friends, or let barriers down that often stay up during the school year. Others say it’s a time to get closer to God, or re-commit their lives to following Christ. Inspiring worship, Bible classes, and discussion times are also a big part of the camp experience.
I take my youth group to Burnt Cabin Christian Camp out on Lake Tenkiller. We studied the book of Daniel. We looked at the decisions he and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) made as teenagers that had a profound impact on their lives.
But just how long does that impact last for our teenagers today? That’s always a heavily discussed topic at camp. It seems the biggest fear among teens during camp is the question of how to stay spiritually strong during the school year.
The fact is, teens need and want reinforcement from Christian friends and parents when it comes to battling peer pressure in school. It doesn’t take long at all, sometimes only a week or two, for teens to slip back into their old habits once camp is over. The odds are even worse after school starts.
Satan doesn’t wait for us to get a battle plan together. He doesn’t fight fair. That’s why it’s important for all Christians to approach spiritual warfare as seriously as the devil approaches it.
The devil has been ticked off at God at least since shortly after the fall of man. God’s judgment on Satan is recorded in Genesis 3:14 and following. God tells the devil that he will have a miserable existence and that he will be cursed worse than any of the animals for deceiving Adam and Eve.
So, since Satan lost one battle against God in the Garden of Eden, and then again when Jesus overcame death on the cross, his only hope of hurting God is by tempting mankind. The devil doesn’t care if you’re young, old, or in between. A soul is a soul. And he wants to drag as many as he can to hell with him. Hell is that place God created to punish the devil and his followers.
The highlight of my summer was seeing my daughter, Ashton, put on Christ in baptism. The book of Romans says baptism is what unites us with Christ (Romans 6:1-11). She is now dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
As parents, Lisa and I do our best to teach our children the ways of Jesus, to model the Christian life, and to create opportunities for spiritual growth. As hard as it is to think about, all children must eventually learn to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12) in their own time. Parents can’t do it for them. Baptism is the easiest part of the plan of salvation. Living an obedient life to God is the most challenging. May God bless us all as we raise children to “live a life worthy of the calling” we have received (Eph 4:1). And may God bless our children this school year with strength and confidence to stay faithful.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Cast down your bucket where you are!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 27, 2010
Booker T. Washington once gave a speech in which he told the story of a ship’s captain who was desperately trying to save his crew. They were in the Atlantic Ocean just off the northern coast of South America. The captain signaled to another ship’s captain to send drinking water before his crew literally died of thirst. The other captain signaled back, “Cast down your buckets where you are!”
The distressed captain signaled again, but to his dismay, he received the same response. This exchange went back and forth a few more times until the distressed captain finally gave in and ordered his crew, “Cast down the buckets where we are!” Then, low and behold, the crew drew up bucket after bucket of fresh water.
You see, although they were in the Atlantic Ocean, they were anchored at the mouth of the Amazon River. It’s one of the largest rivers in the world. And the flow is so strong that it forces fresh water 200 miles out from the coast where you can still get fresh water. 20-percent of the world’s ocean water comes from the Amazon.
Spiritually speaking, we all have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life right where we are. Our culture is so program-oriented that many folks think they can’t serve others unless an official service project is announced. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all in favor of planned service projects. But service to others is supposed to be a way of life, not just a special project in which we meet at a certain time to go and do a good deed.
How many times have you heard someone say, “O, I’m not good at anything.” Or, “I just don’t have any talents to share with others.”
The fact is, God created each of us in his own image (Genesis 1:26). Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine how the scoundrel down the road has anything in common with the Creator. But God has blessed us all with the ability to make a difference right where we are.
In fact, the apostle Paul said, 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just like the fishermen in Luke 5:1-11 who let down their nets, fished all night and came up with no catch, it’s also possible for us to fail. They key to success for us is the same as it was for them. Direction from Jesus Christ. Have a great week!
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 27, 2010
Booker T. Washington once gave a speech in which he told the story of a ship’s captain who was desperately trying to save his crew. They were in the Atlantic Ocean just off the northern coast of South America. The captain signaled to another ship’s captain to send drinking water before his crew literally died of thirst. The other captain signaled back, “Cast down your buckets where you are!”
The distressed captain signaled again, but to his dismay, he received the same response. This exchange went back and forth a few more times until the distressed captain finally gave in and ordered his crew, “Cast down the buckets where we are!” Then, low and behold, the crew drew up bucket after bucket of fresh water.
You see, although they were in the Atlantic Ocean, they were anchored at the mouth of the Amazon River. It’s one of the largest rivers in the world. And the flow is so strong that it forces fresh water 200 miles out from the coast where you can still get fresh water. 20-percent of the world’s ocean water comes from the Amazon.
Spiritually speaking, we all have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life right where we are. Our culture is so program-oriented that many folks think they can’t serve others unless an official service project is announced. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all in favor of planned service projects. But service to others is supposed to be a way of life, not just a special project in which we meet at a certain time to go and do a good deed.
How many times have you heard someone say, “O, I’m not good at anything.” Or, “I just don’t have any talents to share with others.”
The fact is, God created each of us in his own image (Genesis 1:26). Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine how the scoundrel down the road has anything in common with the Creator. But God has blessed us all with the ability to make a difference right where we are.
In fact, the apostle Paul said, 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just like the fishermen in Luke 5:1-11 who let down their nets, fished all night and came up with no catch, it’s also possible for us to fail. They key to success for us is the same as it was for them. Direction from Jesus Christ. Have a great week!
Ahh Shucks! Another lesson from my garden
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 20, 2010
Both of the small corn patches in my backyard were beginning to look more than a little suspect. So, I went ahead and picked’em, boiled’em, and served’em to my family over the weekend with some peppers, onions, green beans, and some leftover pork.
There weren't many kernels, but at least it was good and sweet, just the way an ear of peaches and cream corn should be. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
All in all, the gardening project wasn’t too embarrassing of an outcome for a group of novices. In fact, I felt that my effort and that of my kids probably reaped about as much as we sowed.
Not that we can ever earn God’s grace, but sometimes it is easy to forget that spiritual rewards do not come without effort.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Anyone who doesn’t think spiritual rewards involve some work on our part hasn’t read Ephesians 6:10-12. “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
That definitely sounds like to me that spiritual warfare is no walk in the park. Of course, Christians can do battle with the devil all day long and still not be deserving of a home in heaven. It is only by God’s grace that we will ever hear words such as these from Matthew 25:21. “ 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Ephesians 2:4 reminds us that God’s grace is what allows us to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
The only question remaining is this: What will you do with the open door God has given you?
Let’s all enjoy God’s richest blessings this week, and remember that he is the giver of all good things. (end)
by Barrett Vanlandingham
July 20, 2010
Both of the small corn patches in my backyard were beginning to look more than a little suspect. So, I went ahead and picked’em, boiled’em, and served’em to my family over the weekend with some peppers, onions, green beans, and some leftover pork.
There weren't many kernels, but at least it was good and sweet, just the way an ear of peaches and cream corn should be. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
All in all, the gardening project wasn’t too embarrassing of an outcome for a group of novices. In fact, I felt that my effort and that of my kids probably reaped about as much as we sowed.
Not that we can ever earn God’s grace, but sometimes it is easy to forget that spiritual rewards do not come without effort.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Anyone who doesn’t think spiritual rewards involve some work on our part hasn’t read Ephesians 6:10-12. “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
That definitely sounds like to me that spiritual warfare is no walk in the park. Of course, Christians can do battle with the devil all day long and still not be deserving of a home in heaven. It is only by God’s grace that we will ever hear words such as these from Matthew 25:21. “ 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Ephesians 2:4 reminds us that God’s grace is what allows us to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
The only question remaining is this: What will you do with the open door God has given you?
Let’s all enjoy God’s richest blessings this week, and remember that he is the giver of all good things. (end)
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