My Neighbor (Part Two)

A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Most of the time my life is rather pedestrian in nature, lots of routine, things I do day in and day out, and when I'm running on auto, I occasionally miss something God wants to see. I believe from time to time He punctuates my life with a (Joe) in order for me to see the condition of my heart.
Often we think we're doing ok, because everything's going our way, there are no unusual demands on our time or resources, life is good. Over the years I've had physical examinations and the results have always been good and I thought that would always be the case. Some years ago I got a bad report, my cholesterol level was high. I assumed I could eat whatever I wanted with no consequences and I would have continued to do so if I the report were different.

Pr 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
Ps 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.


God has a way of testing or proving our willingness to do His will. It's the age old question: Does my talk equal my walk? I think we all know that's where the rubber meets the road, and this is where God deals with us...in real situations, in real time. I believe most of us have a sense of what we will do in any given situation, especially if it's favorable, but that's certainly subject to change.
My time of testing came with a phone call. As I listened to the one sided conversation I knew I was going to be asked to do something I did not want to do. I could feel the resistance building inside and at the same time I knew I should say yes. The battle begins.
When I consider myself, I think I'm fairly generous with my time and resources. On the other hand, God who knows my heart, is trying me and finding me.... wanting.
The truth is, I'm rather selfish with my time. I like to schedule my day, check off the things on my to-do list and to do that without interruption. Of course the day rarely go according to plan, nevertheless this is the way I'd like it to go.
Back to the phone call. The upshot of the call was, Joe was coming for an extended period of time. Did I mention I had to pick him up?
I don't like these feelings, that are at present, ruling my thoughts and behavior

My Neighbor (Part one)

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. (Proverbs 3:28)

For the past several weeks our pastor has been preaching a series about prayer. At the beginning of the series we were asked to write down several names and commit to pray for them during the upcoming weeks. I made my list, I've been consistent in prayer and patient in my expectation, waiting to see God work in the lives and situation of the people on my list.
Well, apparently I omitted a name from my list, and was reminded by a phone call one morning. As I listened to the one sided conversation I got the feeling that I was going to be asked something and I already knew what my response would be.........NO. After the phone call and my wife explained the situation, it's one that been going on for sometime. The person on the other end of the line, we'll call him Joe, was in need of a place to stay. Apparently he'd worn out his welcome in another place or the person(s) who used him for cheep labor no longer had need of his services. My knee-jerk reaction was: I didn't want to get involved. You see Joe is an alcoholic of long standing, more than twenty years. He's a bright individual but has never lived up to his potential. He's had good jobs, making good money but sooner or later the drinking invariably robs him of everything. I recall seven or eight years ago, when it looked like he would be moving to this area, not to make the move thinking that a change of location would solve his problems. I tried to convince him to get some help and take whatever steps necessary to take care of the situation there. Of course that didn't happen and he made the move to the Land of Oz and continued doing the same old stuff.
There's a song by Bobby Womack called, Harry Hippie, and part of the lyric reads: "I'd like to help a man when he's down, but I can't help ya Harry if you wanna sleep on the ground. Sorry Harry, you're too much weight to carry around."

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Beauty for Ashes

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy on your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When what you've done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound
I've been set free
I've been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

This is a poem by Crystal Lewis, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

jim

Too Close

I finally got around to painting the house this year although I started too late to finish. If you will recall there was a one week window of good weather, cool mornings and warm afternoons, which was great for me since I don't like hot weather.
As I got around to the grassy areas of the house I noticed an increase in the bug activity around the paint tray and the freshly painted areas of the house. I'm not sure what drew them to the paint, perhaps color, order......but whatever it was, more continued to come. Soon, they were not only flying about but they started landing on the house and in the paint tray and of course once that happened I had little bug bodies all over the place.
After watching this for several days I started thinking about how similar we are to those bugs. I thought of the account of Lot and Abram. Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, Abram chose Canaan. Lot pitched his tent near the city of Sodom. (Gen. 13:12) The bible says, " But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. (13:13) Isn't that often the first step with us, we get close, not really involved, but close enough to see the action. It doesn't hurt to look we tell ourselves, look but don't touch or get involved.
The next time we see Lot he's in Sodom. He's gone from just being near to actually living in the city, living in "Sin City" so to speak. Now, once Lot was in the city, the city begans to get in Lot. Lets face it, there's always a progression with sin, it doesn't happen all at once, little by little we are drawn in by our own desires and before we know it we are knee deep and stuck in a mess of our own creation and we make no attempt to change the situation until something drastic happens.
"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

With all the depravity surrounding Lot, you'd think he would be anxious to get out of there yet he refuses to leave.Finally two angels tell him to get out of Sodom because the Lord is going to destroy it, and yet he hesitates, not sure if he wants to leave even under these circumstances. The angels that were sent to warn him had to take the hands of Lot, his wife and daughters and bring them out of the city and tell them to escape and not to look back or suffer destruction. (Gen. 19:12-17)

Believe it or not, we have a slight advantage over the bugs that were swarming around my paint; they don't have a Savior. We have the Lord who, "Knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations...." (2Pet.2:9a) Of course the key here is not getting too close in the first place.
"Commit your way way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Ps. 37:5)
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37:4)
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord....." (Ps. 37:23-24)

I think it comes down to this, if we are going to get close to anyone or anything, we should get close to God and the principles set forth in His word.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalms 63:8)

Six Principles To Live By

1. Don't worry, when you're doing your best. God accepts no less, but He demands no more. "Trust in the Lord, and do good...and He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37:3-4)
2. Don't hurry, when when success depends on accuracy. "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." (Prov. 21:5)
3. Don't form conclusions until you have all the facts. Everyone you meet has unmet needs, unhealed wounds, and unfulfilled hopes. If want people to to evaluate you by your best qualities rather than your worst, "Do to others as you would like them to do to you." (Lk. 6:31)
4. Don't believe a thing is impossible without trying. When you are in God's will, doing things God's way, sensitive to His timing and willing to persevere, your problems are just a platform for Him to work on your behalf. (Rom. 8:28)
5. Don't waste your time on trivial matters. In order to put first things first, you must ask yourself, "What is it that only I can do, or do best?" Only when you've answered that question will you know what you should do.
6. Don't think that good intentions are an acceptable excuse for doing nothing. Examine your life; are you a talker or a doer? Get specific about your diet or devotions, your finances and your your family, etc. Write these words on a card and read them regularly: "If it's to be, it's up to me." James writes: "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17)

SFLC