Called To Follow

The modern conveniences of American culture have replaced the team of horses, or oxen, and the plow with tractors and other machinery. However, there are a few farmers who still use them — especially in the areas of strong Amish influence — and, third world countries often don’t have any other way to plow.

When we lived in Florida, our yard consisted of sand burs and fire ants — so, a few years ago, after our move to Virginia, I was aching to get my “toes in the dirt” and have a garden. My wonderful neighbors heard the news, and so, Mr. C. decided to help me out. The first site we chose didn’t turn out so well, so we decided to move on up to “higher ground.” We didn’t need a “plow” since it was only a small piece of land — so he brought out his rote tiller. There was one slight problem . . . It was rocky soil. After popping off a very valuable screw of his machinery, and working diligently to overcome, we were quite thankful when one of my other neighbors saw our plight, and kindly came with a tractor. Steadily he plowed the earth — while we picked rocks. . . Believe it or not, we were able to make the soil ready for planting, and ended up with a nice garden.

It wasn’t so much the means of getting the soil ready for planting that Jesus was getting at in our Scripture today. (Luke 9:57-62 NIV) He was using the commonplace things of life, the things those around Him were familiar with, to illustrate, and get across eternal messages.

The motive of the heart was Jesus’ concern. That’s where the truth of who we are really lives. Self proclaimed willingness to follow was one thing. Self abandoned following was another.

Steady following in hard times as well as good times. Steady following when others misunderstand our complete devotion and solid commitment to His call. Following fervently when earthly loves can’t comprehend the earnestness of obedience to Him alone. Following when all seems lost because we trust the One who called — to be faithful to complete His call in us. Steady, faithful, fervent, following.

This is the following our Christ demands. There simply is no other way to follow — for no other way would work. It is the wholehearted, passionate pursuit of loving Him and embracing His will.

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

“Not what I wish to be,

Nor where I wish to go,

For who am I, that I should choose my way?

The Lord shall choose for me

Tis better far I know

So let Him bid me go — or stay.”

—-C. Austin Miles/Mrs. R.R. Forman

Take it with You

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NIV

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me.’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9 NIV

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” NIV

Matthew 9:37-38



Broken To Beautiful

A story is told of a young boy who came upon a cocoon. In his little mind, all he could think of was the living thing inside of this ought to be free! He wasn’t old enough to understand the cocoon was a needed season. He ran to the house where he found a sharp object with which he could puncture the cocoon. Quickly he ran back to the cocoon and with his object cut it open. However, instead of seeing the living thing become free, he cried as it was no longer able to live.

The process of the cocoon was necessary — although it was dark, cramped, and seemingly restrictive to the worm as it held it within it’s walls. All though this time, it was developing. Change was taking place. Transformation could only be completed as it endured the cocoon. If left there to finish the process, it could have emerged a beautiful butterfly.

Broken things rarely demand positive responses. Think about it for a moment. You’re sitting in a restaurant when you hear a clatter of dishes from the back. What is your automatic response? “Uh, oh. Not good . . .” You drop a glass on the kitchen floor . . . You reach for the broom, and the trash can.

Some people view broken lives with the same basic response. If you can “hold it all together” things are good. What about the times life sends those unwanted, unasked for circumstances that break you. Break your heart, break your will, break your desire to win . . . What then? Off to the trash heap with other broken lives?

That isn’t the view of our Savior! Hallelujah! He knows about brokenness. He has picked up many broken pieces. He is no respecter of persons. He wants to pick up yours too.

Only He knows how to take the brokenness of your life — the dark, damp process of the cocoon where you are and begin a transformation. A change only learned in the dark place. A developing process from brokenness that will bring you to a place you could have never found without His grace. Only He is able — and even more amazing — He wants to. It’s His specialty.

He bore the brokenness, the pain, the sin — just for you. Whether you are needing forgiveness, or needing His love to enable you to forgive — He is there for you. Perhaps you know Him as Savior, but life has brought circumstances beyond your control and you are broken inside.

Allow His healing to begin — way down deep. Hand it all over to Him — He’ll receive your burden, your brokenness, your open, gaping wound — He’s the Healer.

Trust Him when you cannot see the reason behind it all. It’s more than clichés or a figure of speech. He can turn brokenness into something beautiful. It's His way . . .

“A message from the high and towering God, who lives in eternity, whose name is Holy: I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirit, the spirit-crushed, and what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up on their feet again.” Isaiah 57:15 (The Message)

Father Power

Many things in life are simply underestimated! Joy brought into our minds by a simple ray of sunshine through a window shade. Ripples of a brook waiting for feet to find the calming coolness of its waters. Shade from the sprawling tree spilling its shadows as a refuge from the midday heat. Sometimes untouched — often underestimated.

Father power is one of those amazing touchable untouchables that falls into this category! Dad, YOU are important! What you say by your presence is vital. What you say if you choose absence is absolutely deafening.

There is something very conscious involved in this subconscious phenomenon of “father power.” What “dad” breathes into his child through words! Words are something else we of the human race tend to grossly underestimate. We often fling them into the air at will — expecting the receiver to “deal with it.”

So . . . What did your dad say to you? “Good job,” or “Go for it.” Did he say, “I believe in you,” or “Here, let me help you with that.”

Perhaps you weren’t blessed to have a father who spoke positively into your life — and that, no doubt, had a less than positive effect on your life.

No matter what wounds or blessings came from the words of YOUR earthly father, you, as a dad have a chance to turn things around for your own children. As a dad, “father power” is yours — whether you want it or not.

Through prayer, hard work, proper discipline, laughter, playing, and yes, even tears, you are a key part in the masterpiece God is designing in each of your children. Through God, YOU have what it takes — “Father Power!”

“Dad, how do I hit the ball?”

He took the bat and showed him how

Patiently, deliberately — the child his focus in the now

And then he whispered in his ear

“Just do your best that’s all it takes,”

The swing — to dream — the crack of ball—

Or wind just whistling in his face?

“Dad, how do I handle this?”

A phone call with a broken sob

He knelt beside a well worn chair —

It filled the air with silent prayer—

And Father power prevailed once more.

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

For God’s Glory

“. . . You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.” Isaiah 63:16b

“Hear my prayer, O LORD, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.”

Psalm 39:12

“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;”

Proverbs 4:1



A Nation Who Honors

My mother relayed to me the story of my Uncle who went off to war a young, blonde-haired, man. Overnight his hair was no longer blonde, but white.


She told me of another Uncle who served. The secret codes he had to know were to be memorized immediately. No paper or pen, no lap top available, he had to remember the information correctly and instantly — lives depended on it.

We remember, we honor those who serve, and who have served our nation to make and keep our country free — and rightly so! All the freedom we enjoy came with a price — and they paid it for us.

Yet, in our remembering, and in our honoring, we must not slip into a state of lethargy, forgetting the very One who gave us freedom in the first place. Who created the longing of the human heart to follow freedom? Who gave us a free will to choose for ourselves the path our lives would follow?

God Himself. It is in His image we were created equal. Not one above the other — none better than the rest — equal. Given the privilege to choose relationship with our Creator.

Founded upon these principles, our forefathers sought to give to their posterity guidelines which would keep us from having to experience what they themselves had faced. They paid a price to come to America — searching for a place to worship freely, to follow passionately a path of honor to the God of Heaven, and with His help build a new land. It wasn’t without sacrifice. It wasn’t without price. It was for a purpose — FREEDOM.

Arching over all of us there is a greater freedom. A freedom twice given — at the price of life. The Garden of Eden certainly knew freedom. Freedom and provision in the glorious moments of peace. Yet, in a moment of bad choice it was lost. Lost by a choice to sin against the God who gave us freedom. We had discovered something God never wished us to know. Spiritual death. Bondage of sin. Loss of freedom.

Gracious His mercy to give us a second chance. What love! Unconditionally He loved us, carrying out His plan from the foundation of the world. It wasn’t without sacrifice. It wasn’t without price. It was for a purpose — a purpose to bring us spiritual life and restore our freedom — freedom from sin, freedom of spirit, freedom of soul. It came with bloodshed on a rugged cross — and lives within a Risen Lord and Christ.

Many in our nation are intoxicated with success — forgetting with its effect to honor and love Freedom’s Author. Turn back! Accept Him as Lord and Savior, honor Him with righteous living. It isn’t without sacrifice. It isn’t without price. It is for a purpose! Living in and passing on — FREEDOM!
 

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

For God's Glory

 

Take it with You

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV)

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NKJV)

“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)



Goodies

The billowy mist of morning whispered its call outside my dining room window. Why I was up so early on a Saturday with everyone else still asleep I wasn’t sure. However, the moments of quiet were so peaceful it was certainly worthwhile.

As quietly as possible I washed up the few dishes – and remembered, there wasn’t enough cereal for breakfast. The thought of home-made biscuits and gravy wafted through my brain – not choosing to stay!

My daughter needed some “girl time.” By now my husband was working steadily at his desk. So, receiving a favorable response from him, I quietly awakened her, and we slipped off to breakfast, and on to the store to purchase cereal and milk.

When we arrived back home my husband greeted me with a smile. “You bringing the goodies?” he asked. “Oh,” I said, “just cereal and milk.” His response set me thinking. “That’s goodies!” He said.

Goodies? Common cereal and milk? I pondered the idea as I “piddled” around the kitchen. Goodies. Off-brand cereal and milk. Some people would wrinkle up their nose, but my crew was awakening, and they were thinking the same thing as their Dad. Hmmmmm . . . goodies! How did I know? Well, by how quickly it was disappearing – right into their bellies!

As God’s children, He has prepared for us generous helpings of “goodies!” Sometimes they are milk. Sometimes they are meat. If we aren’t careful we can overlook the specialness of their character – the quality of their application.

The treasure of His Word, the importance of Truth from His Messengers, the promptings of His gentle, Holy Spirit as He guides our lives. Seems almost trite to call them “goodies” the level goes so much deeper – and yet, sometimes we tend to forget these are our soul food.

Pick up the Word today and delve in – to soul-sustaining, spirit reviving, attitude changing, right kind of goodies!

Take it with You

The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.” Psalm 119: 130-131