Stepping Stones

All around my house back home is a stone pathway. It is made from flagstone and is embedded into white gravel. When it was first done it was so pretty and served the purpose of guiding you to our doorways without walking in wet grass or dirt. But as the years have past and winter after winter have frozen and thawed the ground, some of the flagstone has heaved and shifted. So now if you aren't watching, you very well may trip over one of the stones.

What was intended as a help in the beginning has over time, and without correction and attending to, has actually become a liability.

I told my husband that it must be one of the first things we take care of this spring. We sure wouldn't want anyone to fall.

I have a good friend from my home church. He is the husband of our Whew sister, Cindy Ashley. His name is Kenny Ashley. He says a beautiful prayer. And for as long as I can remember he always includes these words, Let us be stepping stones and not stumbling blocks. 

In much the same way as my path stones, a well meaning "Christian" can shift, heave, be left without correction or attending to and become a stumbling block to someone else. They no longer are the pathway away from "dirt." And they no longer have the purpose to lead and guide.

God gives very harsh warnings to those who cause someone else to "fall."

But whoever causes one of these who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6 NASB)

I hope and pray that I never think so highly of myself as to think that I can't or shouldn't be corrected by another. I hope and pray that I am always willing to be "realigned" so as not to trip someone up.

Lord, please help me to be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block.

I imagine all of us as a line of rock jumpers, holding hands and helping and encouraging the others, both those ahead of us on the path and those behind us. 

Speak softly

I just had a conversation with someone the other day who suffers from the same problem that I have, footinmouth disease. Yep, I am always saying exactly what I think. Blunt! Yep, that's me. If you ask my opinion, beware. I don't always tell you what you want to hear.

And since I also love teaching, I very often lecture.

The other person was telling me that they have even hurt people unintentionally by speaking truth. Yep, I've done that too. 

But, who hasn't said something at one time or another that you wish you hadn't?

Do you say legal bad words, little slang words that are substitutes for the real bad words?

Do you ever find yourself telling a little joke that might not be entirely clean?

Ever participate in gossip? Listening qualifies as participation.

Have you ever called someone a name? No? Really? Well, let's ask your back seat passengers.

I am sure that if we are honest we all can think of one time. 

I just hope and pray that if you hurt or offend someone with your words, that you are just as quick to say the words, "I'm sorry, please forgive me. I misspoke."

Speak softly, yes. But boldly and truthfully when you proclaim Jesus.

Catalyst

I am not much of a baker. I loved homemade baked goods, but do not care to do the baking myself. 

You see baking involves chemistry and fractions and attention to detail and precise timing. I am good at attention to detail but the rest, not so much. 

When baking you have a list of ingredients, each must be added at just the right time, in just the right way, in just the right amounts. That is chemistry. And it must be ideal if the finished product is to be just right.

I tried to bake bread a few times. It's the yeast that will make or break your end product. Yeast is the catalyst in the recipe.

Yeast that is too old, too warm, or too cold will cause your product to fail. However if the condition of the yeast is good, it won't take much and your bread will raise and turn out so good. 

In Galatians 5:9, Paul talks about leaven (yeast.) in the context of this scripture, the leaven that permeates the whole lump of dough IS NOT an ideal situation. In fact, the "yeast" here is a bad thing that infects a spiritual event. 

One person can be a catalyst in another person's coming to the truth that leads to salvation. And one person can be a catalyst in another person NOT coming to the truth that leads to salvation. 

A bitter root, a hindrance, bad leaven can be a spoiler. 

The Bible warns against these and even goes so far as to tell you how to identify them. By their fruit you shall know them.

Bad fruit and good fruit lists are found in Galatians chapter 5. 

I hope and pray that I/we are walking by the Spirit. I hope and pray that I/we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And I hope and pray that I/we are a catalyst for good.

cat·a·lyst

ˈkad(ə)ləst/ noun

1. a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

   • a person or thing that precipitates an event.

     
     

     
     

     
     

Fallen Countenance

Have you ever had to discipline children? Maybe in a daycare setting or school classroom, in the Sunday school at church or even in your own home?

If you have then you know that you get one of two reactions. You will get a sorry, a penitent heart or you will get defiance and rebellion.

This morning I was reading from the Book of Genesis, the account of Cain and Abel's offerings. I came to the place where God accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's. Scripture says that Cain's countenance fell. 

Now I have read this accounting many times before. I have been in many discussions on these scriptures. Yet this morning the words, "his countenance fell" really stood out to me.

I had to look up the word. And the definition said, 

Countenance, noun, meaning long face.

The scripture says that Cain became angry and his countenance fell.

I try to envision in my mind someone who looks like that, Long in the face because of anger. I even had to try it out on my own face. I smiled, then made an angry face. I imagined what expression I might make if I was angry or jealous of another. Smile, anger, smile, jealousy. I COULD actually feel my face drop. 

But I thought to myself why does God care if Cain's face fell? Why does God care if his expression be lifted up?

Then I dug a little deeper into the meaning and got this.

Countenance:

Middle English: from Old French contenance ‘bearing, behavior,’ from contenir (see contain). The early sense was ‘bearing, demeanor,’ also ‘facial expression,’ hence ‘the face.’

So, could it be that Cain's behavior, his demeanor had fallen as well as the look on his face? 

Yes, because God also warns Cain about his angry feelings.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6-7 NASB)

I can almost hear the gentle teaching voice of God as He spoke to Cain. I think I can almost see Him place His hand on the back of Cain's shoulder as He tries to tell him to choose to do well. 

We know how it ends. We know that Cain did not choose to do well. 

I have been practicing my smile, angry, smile, angry, smile, angry faces. I want to know that feeling of fallen countenance when it shows on my face. I want to recognize it immediately. Then I want to imagine a gentle teaching voice as I feel the loving hand on my shoulder, say to me, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?"

How about you? Will you go practice those faces in front of your mirror? 

Lambs sent out

Look at the sweetness of this little lamb. You can see the innocence. You can see the gentleness. You can see the purity.

But do you notice the trepidation? Can you see the lack of trust?

As he walks out into the field, maybe he doesn't see danger. Can he smell it? Can he sense it? Is he even aware that it is there?

As Christians we are sent out. There is danger out there. We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 that the devil is prowling, looking for someone to devour.

Yet we are sent. "Go." Jesus said.

"Do not be afraid, do not fear, be courageous" there are many words of encouragement in God's word.

So, my question for you:

How do you, personally, prepare yourself to go?

Running like Jonah

Have you ever run from God? Did you ever shrink back in fear? Did you ever miss out on an opportunity to speak out for God because you were afraid or lacked the confidence?

I have.  

I am not proud of it. I wish that I could honestly say that I have made the most of every opportunity.

Sometimes I know that speaking of God will not be readily received. A time or two I have stayed quiet because I thought I might not have the proper knowledge of the scripture. Another time I just didn't feel that it was worth the debate.

But who am I to decide who is worth hearing the message, Grace is for the unworthy. 

God's word says that speaking His message will not always be popular. He says, do it anyway.

We are told too, to study to show ourselves approved, able to accurately handle the word of God. 

The world needs to hear the message of God's love. I pray that each of us will be bold in our work of going out and making disciples. Let us not run from our work.

New Years Day

Today is the start of a New Year. It is a brand new start, just as each new day is a clean slate and another chance to begin fresh.

My prayer today comes from Psalm 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The whole Chapter, Psalm 51 is a very good prayer of a contrite heart. Are you familiar with the word? It is an adjective, a descriptive word. It means feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.

Today, on this clean slate, start with a clean heart. Ask God (and others if need be) to forgive you.