The Falling Branches

 “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

Romans 8:5 (NIV

   The “ice storm of all time” hit our part of the state where I live a few years ago. Schools were closed, electricity was out for about a week, and everyone scrambled to find ways to heat their homes. Had it not been for so many problems due to the storm, the sheer beauty of ice on the trees would have been breathtaking.

    Instead, people found themselves with damage to their yards and trees because of the ice snapping one massive limb after another and forcing each one to plummet toward the ground, leaving deep scars from the impact of the fall. I was not exempt from that damage in my yard.

   I had an enormous oak tree on the south side of my home that was my best friend in the summer because of the shade it provided. The branches were huge, and the tree majestic. But as I began cleaning up my yard after the storm, I discovered that an enormous dead limb at the top of the oak tree had given in to the weight of the ice and had crashed to the ground, taking with it three healthy limbs.

   As I looked at the damage, my mind switched to the “dead limbs” that we all have in our lives. Maybe it’s gossip, jealousy, an anger issue or always having to be right. Whatever they might be, those dead limbs can do unbelievable damage to our family, our friends, and even to people around us that we might not know well. But they do something else, too. They also damage our relationship with God.

   We are very foolish if we think that our wrong choices will have no consequences and that people will not be hurt or relationships ruined. “Yes, I am having an affair,” my friend told me, “but it only affects the two of us. Nobody will get hurt.” My heart broke in pieces. Nobody hurt? What about your husband and children and his wife and children and the fact that you have destroyed their trust by your actions? One dead branch – an affair – fell, and it took with it several once-healthy branches of spouses and children and trust.

    A young man that I had encouraged to take a different path and stop using drugs stopped me in the hallway at school and said “Listen, I know you care about me. I get it. But just leave me alone and let me do my drugs. Nobody is getting hurt. I’m fine. It’s my life.”  And with each police report in the paper with his name in bold type, his family and friends who love him become casualties from the dead branch of drugs.

    Our gift of the ability to communicate with God is broken when we engage in behavior that does not glorify or reflect His will for our lives. David knew that. He wrote in Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”  David found out the hard way, that cherishing (taking pleasure in) behavior outside of the will of God results in heartache, a broken relationship with God, and consequences. As the dead branch fell - lusting after Bathsheba, a married woman - it ultimately resulted in the death of his son. A  healthy branch - a precious son - gone because of a father’s dead branch choice.

  I encourage you to examine your life for hidden dead branches; they will eventually come crashing down and take healthy branches with them. Any focus outside of the will of God in your life will affect those around you and they will be hurt, or in some cases, even destroyed. And your relationship with God will be hurt as well. When you identify the dead limbs, repent, give them to the Lord, and ask Him to help you cut them off as quickly as possible. Then kneel before Him as He removes each branch and pulls you back into His presence.

    Lord, forgive me for allowing sin in my life.  I repent and ask for mercy as you cut off branches that do not glorify and honor you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What branches of your life have you been trying to hide from the Lord?

• Think through each branch. What could be the result of holding on to these branches? Are loved ones hurt? Relationships destroyed? Is the branch worth the pain it may cause?

 Apply

• Dig into the Word and ask the Lord to show you those branches in your life that do not glorify Him. 

• Make a list with the name of each branch and offer them all up to the Lord. Burn the paper as your offering to Him and your desire to reconnect with Him and His will for your life.

 Power

• Romans 8:5 (NIV) “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

• I Corinthians 10:31(NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

• Psalm 66:18 (NIV) “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened . . . “    

Don't Forget To Dance!

 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Romans 12:11 (NIV)

   One of the most precious videos I ever saw showed a two-year-old boy who finally was able to hear for the first time. Having been deaf from birth, he had never heard his mother’s voice or music playing or birds chirping – in other words, all of the sounds that we enjoy and take for granted.

   As the little boy sat on his mother’s lap, she spoke gently to him, calling his name while hearing aids were placed in his ears. “Brian. Brian, it's Mommy.” He jerked his head toward her face, instantly smiled, and bounced up and down on her lap. His father laughed and then cried as his son laughed back at him and reached for his arms.

   Suddenly, in his excitement, the little boy jumped to the floor and danced in a circle, clapping his hands and giggling. What a beautiful reaction to hearing voices for the first time!

   That pure joy reminded me of the moment I decided to give my heart to Jesus. I couldn’t quit smiling and sharing Him with everyone I met. Maybe I didn’t dance as I told my friends and family about the Lord, but inside I couldn’t contain the jig my heart was dancing at my newfound faith.

   Sadly, as I got older, I forgot that excitement for what He did for me and almost ( I hate to admit it) became complacent about my gift of eternity. I guess I could explain my fading enthusiasm by saying that as I got older, I was more dignified in my walk with the Lord. But to be honest, I think that I began to take it for granted and I allowed my extraordinary relationship with Jesus to become ordinary (ouch). Can you identify?

   We must never forget what Jesus did for us. Our hope is not in the temporary but in the eternal. Do you remember the excitement of asking the God of the Universe to live in your heart?

He is still the same Father now as He was when you first met Him face to face.  His truth has not changed. Jesus willingly died for every single one of us. He longs for a relationship with us, His children.

   My encouragement for everyone is simple: share the exciting news of Jesus and His mercy and grace, forgiveness, and love. And while you are at it, don’t forget to dance!

   Father, I never want to take for granted the gift of eternal life that you have given to me. May I share it with enthusiasm with everyone I meet. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

•  Do you remember how you felt the moment you asked Jesus into your heart?

• How does that excitement compare with how you feel today?

Apply

• For one week, make it your goal to share the joy you have as a child of God with one person every day. 

• At the end of that week, write down all the responses you received. Could they see your excitement in your heart for the Lord? 

Power 

• Romans 12:11 (NIV) “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

•  I Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

•  Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

But God Said . . .

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 

Luke 12:20 (NIV)

    As I  walked in the door of my 5-year-old grandson Jude’s school, I saw him in line with his class, getting ready to go to the cafeteria. As he looked my way, I smiled, waved, and motioned for him to come over to me. It seemed like a simple request: I just wanted Jude to step out of line for a second and hug me but he shook his head “no” every time I motioned. So I waved instead and he and his class moved on. Later that evening, when I reassured Jude that it was okay to leave his place in line and hug me he replied “But my teacher said . . .” 

     It immediately occurred to me that Jude was simply following the directions of the one in charge - his teacher. She had told them to stay in line and that’s exactly what he did. What I asked him to do - leave the line and hug me - was not bad, but it was the opposite of what his teacher had instructed. 

    I also realized that the very thing I was asking my grandson to do is what we often do to God. He directs and guides us; we redirect and guide ourselves.  God never tells us no or leads us in another direction in life because He is a mean Father who wants to dominate us and control our every choice. We have free will to do what we want, but we are not free from the consequences of those choices. Jude knew he could have left the line, hugged me, and gotten back in line. But, even at his age, he knew there would be consequences for disobeying his teacher. It could be staying inside at recess or standing on the line while others played. 

   In the Bible, every time we read “But God said . . .”  there was a situation in which men were making choices on what they wanted rather than seeking God’s will in the decisions they were making. For example, Luke 12:20 addresses a rich man who decided to build bigger barns for all his grain. He had a huge harvest which isn't a sin at all. However, his focus was on keeping all the grain for himself rather than sharing it with those in need. “But God said to him “You fool!’”

    What major decisions are you facing today? Perhaps it is a career change or retirement. It could be getting engaged or married, or having children. What about deciding on a college or a job after high school?  Or maybe you are thinking about the next step after the loss of a spouse. 

    Consider trying this for a week: when you are faced with an important situation and you are trying to decide what to do, include God. Go to the Bible. Search for His Truth. Then speak this aloud: “I want to (fill in the blank) But God said (fill in the Scripture). If you follow His wisdom, you will never have to look back and think “I wish I had based my decision - not on what I thought - but on what God said. 

    Father, thank you for always wanting what is best for us, your children. Guide and direct us as we make decisions in our lives. In Jesus’s Name. Amen. 

 R.A.P. it up . . .  

Reflect

• There are important decisions that you make every day.

• Are you deciding what to do based on your opinion or God’s guidance?

 Apply

• Journal decisions that you need to make for one week.

• Lift each one to the Lord and ask Him to direct you. 

Power

• Luke 12:20 (NIV) “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

• Numbers 22:12 (NIV) “But God said to Balaam, ‘Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”

• I Chronicles 28:3 (NIV) “But God said to me “You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’”

 

Jerry's Christmas

     “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

    I’ll never forget that precious little boy: freckles scattered like tiny raindrops across his entire face, including his ears. Big brown eyes partially obscured by wispy blonde hair that brushed against an ever-present smile minus two front teeth.

   Jerry was a first-grade student at the elementary school where I worked. He came from a home that was short on money but long on love. His clothes were always someone else’s property first, but he never seemed to care.  And this Christmas season was no different.

   As a mother of three, I was frantically trying to balance home, husband, kids, and job while I shopped endlessly for the perfect “only thing I want” gifts for my family. Somewhere in the rush of the season, my focus shifted from the birth of a baby in a manger to the number of presents under our Christmas tree.

   There was some success but at a price . . . a high price. My Christmas budget was shrinking rapidly. “Why couldn’t my children want something a little cheaper?” I kept thinking. “Why do they think they have to have everything they see on television?”

   Those questions were occupying my thoughts as I walked down the first-grade hall and saw Jerry coming toward me in worn tennis shoes minus the laces and a winter coat that was about three sizes too large.  

   “Hey, Jerry! How are you?” “I’m good, Miss Nancy. It’s almost Christmas . . . Jesus’ birthday . . . did you know?” I couldn’t help but smile at that comment. “Yes, I have heard that. So what do you want for Christmas, Jerry?”

   He quickly replied “Oh, I already know what I’m getting. It’s the same every year.” At this point, I would have expected a child making that statement to duck his head in disappointment and go on, but not Jerry.

   As I bent down to hug and encourage him, Jerry put his hands on my shoulders and, with a huge smile, continued. “When I wake up on Christmas morning, there will be a BIG candy cane under my pillow!” he exclaimed as he licked his lips and rubbed his tummy in anticipation of that moment. “And then, under the tree, I will get a little Matchbox car to add to my others. I can hardly wait, Miss Nancy!”

   As I hugged Jerry and sent him on to class, I could not hold back the tears of sadness – not for Jerry but for my attitude. Instead of focusing on Christ and His birth, I had gotten caught up in the world’s view that the number of gifts you have under the Christmas tree determines your happiness.

   Christmas at our home would never be the same again. All because of a candy cane under a pillow, a Matchbox car under a tree . . . and a very thankful little boy named Jerry.

   Father, thank you for the most priceless gift of love you could ever send – the gift of your Son - from a manger to the cross for us.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do you find yourself focused more on gifts than the Giver of Life at Christmas?

• Have you talked with your children about the Ultimate Gift that Jesus gave each of us?

Apply

• Help your children write on slips of paper the gifts that they can give Jesus this Christmas, like trusting Him, being obedient, and sharing Him with friends.

• Have them wrap each of their gifts for Jesus in a box and offer each one to Him on Christmas morning in prayer.

Power 

• Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.” 

• 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

• John 1:14 a (NIV) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”