It's hard to believe the Fourth of July is almost here! Summer is slipping by faster than homemade ice-cream glides down. Before the big day arrives, I wanted to share some thoughts with you from a newsletter (Women Breaking Bread) that I used to do for the women in my church. These excerpts are from the July 2008 issue.
Front-Porch-Flag Christians
I was traveling down the highway one day when I happened to notice a trim little house perched on the top of a hill. It had a wide, inviting front porch. Green, leafy plants sprang up all about and flowers of assorted colors greeted weary travelers. I noticed all of these things, but none of them had been what caught my attention. What made this ordinary scene extraordinary was an enormous American Flag hanging from the ceiling of the porch. It made a fine curtain, a shield from the sun, for those inclined to sit and rest for a spell.
A month or so has passed since I saw this scene, but for some reason my mind won't let me shake it. I liked the gargantuan flag hanging on the tiny little house. It stirred patriotism in my heart when I unexpectedly saw "Old Glory" prominently displayed there in the Norman Rockwell looking little scene. As I've thought back on it, though, I've wondered, "When the occupants of the house sit out on their porch, can they see those passing by?" If the flag was as large as I remember, I don't see how they could. They would be able to see others sitting on the porch with them, and they could enjoy looking at the flag together, but they wouldn't be able to see the weary travelers right at their front door. Maybe that was what they had in mind. I don't know anything about flag etiquette and the appropriateness of the way the flag was hanging, but all that aside I don't think there was anything wrong with the people living there enjoying the side benefit of shade and privacy.
This scene did get me to thinking about something though, that is wrong. As children of God sometimes we do the same thing. We proudly advertise our Christianity. We put fish stickers on our vehicles, t-shirts bearing Bible verses on our backs, and wear crosses around our necks, but how do others see us? Are we, no wait, I want to get more personal here. Am I like the front porch flag people? Am I waving a banner of Christian freedom that I am using to shield me from taking the heat in life? I'm afraid that I'm often guilty of sitting around enjoying my Christian freedom and the blessings of God with other believers while weary travelers pass by me unobserved. I wonder how odd I must appear to them. A Christian is supposed to be selfless, but I'm so busy spouting my Christian jargon, and wearing my Christian accessories, that I don't have time to offer them the life-changing freedom from self-absorption I'm proclaiming. I guess this was also an issue for the early church, because Peter writes, "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God." 1 Peter 2:16.
Holy Constitution
I love browsing through the aisles in "everything's a dollar" stores. You never know what you'll find. Most of the items are probably not worth fifty-cents, but who knows, that half-dollar piece of junk may be just what I've been looking for. The key to having an enjoyable experience shopping at these places is for me to keep my expectations low. I have to realize going in that the items are mass-produced expressly for the purpose of high volume sales. In other words they are cheap. On the other hand, if I go into a jewelry store and purchase a plate it is only logical that I should have higher expectations from it than I would from a plate purchased at the dollar store. Fine china is thin and translucent. You can see your hand through it when it's held up to the light. Yet, though it appears delicate, it is really durable. I'm not going to find that kind of quality at a discount store.
It doesn't take long for consumers to learn there's a distinction in products. We expect a Tiffany lamp to be expensive. We know a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is going to be beyond the reach of the average pocketbook. We come to anticipate that the design will be great if the designer is great.
Our country is also a prime example. The United States of America has been great because its designers were great. They were men who were deep thinkers, who were wise, who acknowledged the workings of Divine Providence (God) in the affairs of men. Because they were great men, their greatness shone through in their design of the constitution. As long as we have adhered to their original meaning, our country has been great...the principles of honoring God and our fellow man. Revisionists are taking us further and further away from their original intent, and we are losing our moorings.
When I was praying one day, my musings were running down a well-worn path of introspection. I thought, "I have so little to offer a great God. What can I say that matters? What can I do with my life today that is really significant?" Then I realized, "I can do great things. I am a magnificent design crafted by a marvelous craftsman. I am designed to accomplish fantastic feats." When I forget these truths and belittle myself, I am insulting God. I know the Bible says, "...God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6, but humility isn't the realization that I'm nothing, it's acknowledging that I'm nothing apart from God. There's a huge difference in these two perspectives. There are great things each of us is meant to accomplish in life. Each of us is called to reflect God's glory. We do it in different ways. One may make friends easily and have countless opportunities for encouraging others. Another may give quietly. Still another may sing or play an instrument that leads others into worship. Whatever our particular design, the most important thing to remember is God is the designer. We are His constitution, literally. We constitute the body of Christ.
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
Ephesians 2:10.
"Sparkling glitter way up high,
Fireworks light up the sky!"
author unknown
It was a hot Fourth of July evening. Christopher and his mom had just watched the local park's firework display from their front porch. Now right before bed, Mom said it was time. The little boy watched as his mom chose the usual place. She carried her igniting tools with her. She knelt down. He could see the glow. She stepped back and together they waited for their private display. They were not disappointed. The next morning they saw it. a man showed up at their door with the food she had prayed for. God had displayed His faithfulness again. the fireworks little Christopher had seen from the city park the night before, didn't compare with the fireworks he saw when his mama prayed.
I don't understand all the details concerning fireworks, but I sure enjoy witnessing their brilliance. Christopher may not have understood all the particulars when his mom prayed. He may not have realized that her igniting tools were faith and a robe of righteousness, but he saw the glow on his mama's face when she talked with her Maker. Many times he had seen her pray and then step back in anticipation and wait for something to happen. He hadn't yet heard the verses like "...stand still and see the salvation of the Lord..." Exodus 14:13, but he learned to have faith in God moving through prayer, because he had witnessed it over and over again. In the same way I have learned to have faith that when a firecracker is lit there's going to be a reaction. Of course I have witnessed some duds, but the wonderful news is there are no duds when it comes to prayer. "And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure He will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15.
This may sound a little odd, but what I like best about the really big fireworks is the BOOM after all the dazzle has faded, and only a wispy cloud of smoke remains floating against the black sky. Somehow it seems fitting that such a spectacular sight should end with a sober reminder of the power it took to produce it, in much the same way that a sentence that is meant to get our attention ends with an exclamation point. To continue my little fireworks/prayer analogy I need to find a comparison to the boom. The boom at the end of our answered prayers is the testimonies of God's children. Our testimonies should consist of our spoken words. Can you imagine the boom in the atmosphere if all Christians throughout the world were excitedly sharing with others the prayers God had answered for them? Our testimonies should also be the lives we live. I want to live in such a way that my great-great grandchildren will hear the boom and be inspired enough to light the fuse themselves!
Front-Porch-Flag Christians
I was traveling down the highway one day when I happened to notice a trim little house perched on the top of a hill. It had a wide, inviting front porch. Green, leafy plants sprang up all about and flowers of assorted colors greeted weary travelers. I noticed all of these things, but none of them had been what caught my attention. What made this ordinary scene extraordinary was an enormous American Flag hanging from the ceiling of the porch. It made a fine curtain, a shield from the sun, for those inclined to sit and rest for a spell.
A month or so has passed since I saw this scene, but for some reason my mind won't let me shake it. I liked the gargantuan flag hanging on the tiny little house. It stirred patriotism in my heart when I unexpectedly saw "Old Glory" prominently displayed there in the Norman Rockwell looking little scene. As I've thought back on it, though, I've wondered, "When the occupants of the house sit out on their porch, can they see those passing by?" If the flag was as large as I remember, I don't see how they could. They would be able to see others sitting on the porch with them, and they could enjoy looking at the flag together, but they wouldn't be able to see the weary travelers right at their front door. Maybe that was what they had in mind. I don't know anything about flag etiquette and the appropriateness of the way the flag was hanging, but all that aside I don't think there was anything wrong with the people living there enjoying the side benefit of shade and privacy.
This scene did get me to thinking about something though, that is wrong. As children of God sometimes we do the same thing. We proudly advertise our Christianity. We put fish stickers on our vehicles, t-shirts bearing Bible verses on our backs, and wear crosses around our necks, but how do others see us? Are we, no wait, I want to get more personal here. Am I like the front porch flag people? Am I waving a banner of Christian freedom that I am using to shield me from taking the heat in life? I'm afraid that I'm often guilty of sitting around enjoying my Christian freedom and the blessings of God with other believers while weary travelers pass by me unobserved. I wonder how odd I must appear to them. A Christian is supposed to be selfless, but I'm so busy spouting my Christian jargon, and wearing my Christian accessories, that I don't have time to offer them the life-changing freedom from self-absorption I'm proclaiming. I guess this was also an issue for the early church, because Peter writes, "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God." 1 Peter 2:16.
Holy Constitution
I love browsing through the aisles in "everything's a dollar" stores. You never know what you'll find. Most of the items are probably not worth fifty-cents, but who knows, that half-dollar piece of junk may be just what I've been looking for. The key to having an enjoyable experience shopping at these places is for me to keep my expectations low. I have to realize going in that the items are mass-produced expressly for the purpose of high volume sales. In other words they are cheap. On the other hand, if I go into a jewelry store and purchase a plate it is only logical that I should have higher expectations from it than I would from a plate purchased at the dollar store. Fine china is thin and translucent. You can see your hand through it when it's held up to the light. Yet, though it appears delicate, it is really durable. I'm not going to find that kind of quality at a discount store.
It doesn't take long for consumers to learn there's a distinction in products. We expect a Tiffany lamp to be expensive. We know a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is going to be beyond the reach of the average pocketbook. We come to anticipate that the design will be great if the designer is great.
Our country is also a prime example. The United States of America has been great because its designers were great. They were men who were deep thinkers, who were wise, who acknowledged the workings of Divine Providence (God) in the affairs of men. Because they were great men, their greatness shone through in their design of the constitution. As long as we have adhered to their original meaning, our country has been great...the principles of honoring God and our fellow man. Revisionists are taking us further and further away from their original intent, and we are losing our moorings.
When I was praying one day, my musings were running down a well-worn path of introspection. I thought, "I have so little to offer a great God. What can I say that matters? What can I do with my life today that is really significant?" Then I realized, "I can do great things. I am a magnificent design crafted by a marvelous craftsman. I am designed to accomplish fantastic feats." When I forget these truths and belittle myself, I am insulting God. I know the Bible says, "...God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6, but humility isn't the realization that I'm nothing, it's acknowledging that I'm nothing apart from God. There's a huge difference in these two perspectives. There are great things each of us is meant to accomplish in life. Each of us is called to reflect God's glory. We do it in different ways. One may make friends easily and have countless opportunities for encouraging others. Another may give quietly. Still another may sing or play an instrument that leads others into worship. Whatever our particular design, the most important thing to remember is God is the designer. We are His constitution, literally. We constitute the body of Christ.
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
Ephesians 2:10.
"Sparkling glitter way up high,
Fireworks light up the sky!"
author unknown
It was a hot Fourth of July evening. Christopher and his mom had just watched the local park's firework display from their front porch. Now right before bed, Mom said it was time. The little boy watched as his mom chose the usual place. She carried her igniting tools with her. She knelt down. He could see the glow. She stepped back and together they waited for their private display. They were not disappointed. The next morning they saw it. a man showed up at their door with the food she had prayed for. God had displayed His faithfulness again. the fireworks little Christopher had seen from the city park the night before, didn't compare with the fireworks he saw when his mama prayed.
I don't understand all the details concerning fireworks, but I sure enjoy witnessing their brilliance. Christopher may not have understood all the particulars when his mom prayed. He may not have realized that her igniting tools were faith and a robe of righteousness, but he saw the glow on his mama's face when she talked with her Maker. Many times he had seen her pray and then step back in anticipation and wait for something to happen. He hadn't yet heard the verses like "...stand still and see the salvation of the Lord..." Exodus 14:13, but he learned to have faith in God moving through prayer, because he had witnessed it over and over again. In the same way I have learned to have faith that when a firecracker is lit there's going to be a reaction. Of course I have witnessed some duds, but the wonderful news is there are no duds when it comes to prayer. "And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure He will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15.
This may sound a little odd, but what I like best about the really big fireworks is the BOOM after all the dazzle has faded, and only a wispy cloud of smoke remains floating against the black sky. Somehow it seems fitting that such a spectacular sight should end with a sober reminder of the power it took to produce it, in much the same way that a sentence that is meant to get our attention ends with an exclamation point. To continue my little fireworks/prayer analogy I need to find a comparison to the boom. The boom at the end of our answered prayers is the testimonies of God's children. Our testimonies should consist of our spoken words. Can you imagine the boom in the atmosphere if all Christians throughout the world were excitedly sharing with others the prayers God had answered for them? Our testimonies should also be the lives we live. I want to live in such a way that my great-great grandchildren will hear the boom and be inspired enough to light the fuse themselves!
