Week Twenty - Well, Shut My Mouth!

Beside the Well

            There they go, words tumbling out, with all the odor of a filthy sewer, revealing the thoughts of your heart to everyone in earshot. Forget putting your foot in your mouth; this tastes much worse!  Even eating crow might be more palatable than having to consume these words again.
            Our tongues are a deadly poison.  James 3 paints a rather bleak picture calling them an unruly evil, untamable, a kindler of fire, and something that sullies our whole body.
            So, what’s a person to do?  Never speak again?  Learn sign language? Limit yourself to texting?  I’m afraid none of those will make a successful guard against the ugliness that vomits from our hearts.
            However, God does have a few suggestions for us.  First, keep a watch.  James 3:14 “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”  Be honest with yourself about anger and jealousy you feel.  Don’t be deceived.  God knows what is in your heart, and if you aren’t watchful, it will come out your mouth.  
            Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.”  Ask the Lord to show you your heart’s flaws, and where your thoughts lead you to a precarious precipice. Keep yourself in check.
            And, God says, “put your hand upon your mouth.” (Proverbs 30:32) In Job 21:5, Job says the same thing to his critical friends.  And the same phrase is found in Judges 18:19, Micah 7:16, Job 29:9 and Job 40:4. 
            What does it mean?  It means to put your hand on your mouth before letting ugly, maligning words come out—to stop yourself.  Ecclesiastes 5:6 says, “Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin.”  Just don’t do it!
            When we look at the whole verse in Proverbs 30:32, God gives us two forewarnings, “If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, (pride) or if thou hast thought evil, (bad thoughts) lay thine hand upon thy mouth.”  These are warning signals.
            So, when I hear my inner voice saying things like, “I know more about that than they do.”  “I’ve got a bigger or better story than that.”  I need to recognize pride at work in my heart and put my hand on my mouth before conceited words come tumbling out. 
            When I feel a rush of emotion with a desire to get even, wound or trample someone with my words, those are cruel thoughts no one needs to hear.  It’s time to pull my hand out of my pocket and cover my lips while I pray for forgiveness and self-control. 
            It’s quite a challenge, but a spiritual discipline worth cultivating!

Week Nineteen - There's a Local Hero for that!

Beside the Well

            Have you ever felt a great awareness that the people walking beside you at the mall or on the high street are totally without Christ?  When I first came to the mission field my heart grieved with the lostness of those around me and of my great desire and responsibility to give them the gospel.
             I had to control my emotions and start lovingly drawing them to Christ; otherwise, I might find myself climbing up on some bench preaching in the middle of the Saturday shoppers.
            That is the fact of evangelism.  We see men perishing for lack of a remedy, for no knowledge of the provision of salvation, and the Spirit prompts us to go and tell. 
            We are the fountains in the desert, the beacon on the shore.  Like our Master, when He was surrounded by a multitude of the sick and needy, lepers are before us—we know what will heal them. The maimed and diseased walk beside us—we know what will bring straightness to their limbs and eradication of their ailment.  When storms come to their lives, we know Who will hush the winds, calm the water, and bring peace to their souls.  When they are faint with hunger, we know the Bread of Life.  When death is at their door, we can offer the Giver of Life. For sin in all its form, for evil in all its workings, we know the remedy.
            We know the solution for the perishing world because we have been recovered by it ourselves.  We know for He touched our hearts.  He rescued us.   2 Corinthians 4:13  “…we believe, therefore we also speak.”
            So, dear evangel, speak.  Do not keep silent, but intelligently, lovingly, earnestly, and incessantly speak to the lost that walk through your life and those who interact with you as family or friends.  Let them know, in all their lostness, “There’s a local hero for that!”

Week Eighteen - Gladly Engaged

Beside the Well

            I’m still sharing Rev Martin’s sermon on Psalm 122:1.  I’m going to list his outline, and when I get to the next point that spoke to my heart, I’ll ramble a bit!
            When coming to the house of the Lord, certain thoughts will enter our minds.  1) Thoughts of the Lord Himself.  We can be glad to have a Lord who is our shepherd, our fortress, and our sun and shield. God’s goodness will gladden our hearts.  2) Thoughts about the exercises and acts of worship like prayer, giving, and singing. 3) Thoughts of receiving a special blessing from God. 4) Thoughts about fellowship with other believers.  5) Thoughts about the privilege of serving the Lord.  6) Thoughts about worship.  And this is where I found another gem.
            Rev Martin wrote, “What, for example, do you expect in worship?  You expect the minister to confess, give thanks, and pray for you, and you do not so much join with him as listen to him. This ought not to be, for you yourselves are a priesthood…Our desire is, that you should pray with me, and give thanks with me, and confess sin with me, allowing me to lead you, but not allowing my prayers to be substituted for your own.” (p 52)
            How many times have I sat in church as a spectator instead of engaging my heart?  How many times have I sung the songs without hearing the words?  How many times have I listened to someone else pray without entering into prayer with them?
            And, when I have engaged, sang with understanding, and prayed with those around me, how much sweeter has been my worship?  How much more precious the tears of confession and rejoicing?  How much more glad my comment as I left the building—“it was good to go into the house of the Lord?”
            So, next Sunday, instead of just bumbling in and finding your seat, join in.  Lead someone to come with you, pray along with those who are praying, sing allowing the words to penetrate your heart, and worship as someone who is a part of the body of Christ—alive unto God and glad to be so!

Martin, Rev. Samuel, Westminister Chapel Pulpit, Reports of Sermons, 1859, James Brown, London

Week Seventeen - Let's Go

Beside the Well

            My grandmother was my first Sunday school teacher.  I remember her patience and love for that little group of toddlers meeting in the basement of the old country church.  The first memory verse she taught me was Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
            I have begun reading sermons by Rev. Samuel Martin in 1859 though warned I should not read old writers because they mess up my writing, resulting in the use of old phraseology and sounding very dry and technical.  Sorry, but I find depth and encouragement in these writers, so please bear with me!
            One particular sermon was on Psalm 122:1, and it was so good I wanted to start sharing some of it with you.  I’ll try not to burden you down with lengthy quotes in old English, but I think you will enjoy his message as much as I!
            To start his sermon on gladness, he addressed the phrase “let us go.”
            Calling someone to go with you is a way of securing companionship and cooperation.  It is an invitation we readily use today saying, “Let’s go shopping.”  “Let’s go get something to eat.” 
            Here in Psalm 122, it is an invitation to worship.  And there are other invitations using the same phrase. The Shepherds said one to another, after the announcement from the angels, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.”  In Mark 1:38 Jesus invites the disciples saying, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.”And in Mark 14:42 Jesus wakes the sleeping disciples with, “Rise up, let us go: lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.” 
            In Proverbs 1:11-12, we see an invitation from the wayward lads calling out for the son to join them in their rebel rousing.  “Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: let us swallow them up.”       As I meditated on this I began to notice the calls we hear today: calls to political persuasions, calls from activists, calls to come out for a pint, calls to accept alternate lifestyles and many others. The world is not shy about inviting others to join them.  Hoards are following these calls; such is the manner of the broad way.
            Reverend Martin used this phrase to challenge those listening saying, “But who…have gone to them and said, “Let us go—let us go together into the house of the Lord?” How few have taken the working man by the hand, and said, “Let us go together.”  You can bring multitudes whom you never can send.  Many who would never come alone would come most willingly under the shadow of your company.  Then brethren, to your non-attending neighbours say, “Let us go:” to reluctant members of your own family say, “Let us go:” to those who once went to the house of God in your company, but who have backslidden from worship say, “Let us go:” to all whose ear, and mind, and heart, you can command for such a purpose say, “Let us go, let us go together into the house of the Lord.” (p 45)
            What a great missionary challenge for all of us.  Who have you invited to church this week?  Who is just waiting for your invitation?  You never can tell.  And you will never know until you say, “Hey, let’s go to church this Sunday.”
            

Week Sixteen - Broken

Beside the Well

            Do you ever feel broken inside?  Like there is a great rift ripping away at your soul? Do you struggle along fearing others will see your brokenness?  You look for rest and freedom from the haunting doubts and inner accusations, only to become more discouraged and baffled?
            Well, join the club!  I think we all feel that way at times.  Even those who put on a brave face and look happy may be dealing with an internal battle.
            A couple weeks ago mind took off on a tangent and successfully entangled me its web.  Torturous voices worked hard to convince me life was not worth living.  The battle for truth raged in my soul as I pulled out every weapon I knew how to use. 
            What are my weapons?  Honesty. I look to see where I may have sinned.  I bring my own guilt to the cross and ask forgiveness.  My sin was pride and anger.  You don’t need the gory details!  I’m sure you have felt the pangs of those sins as well. 
            Prayer.  I ask the Lord to cover me with His blood, to protect my mind and emotions, and lead me through the battle to truth.
            The next weapon I call “owning up.”  When Satan starts accusing me, I accept it.  “Yes, I am wrong.  Yes, I am angry.  Yes, I am not willing to forgive.”  I lay it all out on the table and agree with the accuser.  If I’ve already agreed with God about your sin, there is no reason to disagree with anyone else that is pointing fingers.
            Then, there is the weapon of Matthew 18—go to the person who hurt you and seek resolution.  A bit of humble pie is good for the soul!
            That usually takes care of it, but this was a rift of a deeper sort.  I had to use my next weapon—personal confession.  I went to a spiritual friend, confessed my sin of hurt and unforgiveness, and requested prayer.  Satan hates that!  He loses ground when we apply Scripture. 
            Which Scripture, you ask?  James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”
            And you know what?  Not four hours later that torturous, demonic voice was gone.  I was totally free again.
            Here’s the truth: the fact that we live in a sinful body/nature means spiritual warfare is a part of life.  Paul spoke it well when he cried out in Romans 7:24, 25, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 
            Deliverance is ours through Christ. Final victory comes as we cross Jordon or meet our Saviour in the sky.  But until then, we live in a broken world.  We will face spiritual battles.  That’s why we need the Comforter—to give us the assurance and strength we need to carry on. To give us that certain hope of the resurrection and a new body—free from brokenness, doubts, and discouragements. My brokenness reveals His perfection—for which I am predestined!
            So, chin up!  This is a temporary battle!
             

Week Fifteen - I Shall Not Die

Beside the Well

Do you ever have dreams that make sense? I do.  Sometimes they wake me up and I grab my pencil to jot them down because I know it is the Lord speaking to my heart.
             A few weeks ago, while meditating on Psalm 118, my thoughts kept hovering around the swarm of bees in verse 12 and the statement in verse 17,
“I shall not die.” God woke me with this dream.
            On one side of me were people laughing and pointing fingers.  They were jeering because I was trying to become a writer.  They were more talented and qualified than I. There were loads of them! They were embarrassed by my attempts, so they laughed and ridiculed.
            On the other side, were people who wanted me to believe they had the answers to my concerns.  They were calling me to follow them, but I could see their intent was to use my efforts for their own advancement.  They weren’t going to help me, but use me.  They might not be laughing openly, but behind my back they were trying to set me up for a fall.
            In front of me was an open road.  No markings just a plain path.  I stood for a moment wondering how to go forward.  Then, I heard Proverbs 17:24.  “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding.”  And it was followed by
Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it.”
            God used the dream to assure me that though the enemy swarms like bees, God has a path for me and I need only look to where He has taken me before and listen to His voice.  God isn’t finished with me yet.  He is my strength and salvation.  The enemy may be swarming and trying to knock me down or divert me from the path, but God’s strength will prevail and His mercy will endure forever.
            So I swatted away the bees and continued forward.  I shall not die!  I will live and declare the glory of the Lord.
            Maybe you are facing doubts and fears.  Maybe you hear voices seeking to discourage or sidetrack you from your goals. The best thing you and I can do is keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and continue to move forward by faith.  There will always be someone better or more talented than us.  There will always be those who would want to set us up for a fall, but we need not allow it. Swat away those bees, live, and give God the glory!
            God has a path—a plain path that we are to follow.  Find it and walk in it!

Week Fourteen - Funnels

Beside the Well

            My word for 2018 is Increase.  It comes from a promise I claimed for my children as our nest emptied. “The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children” Psalm 115:14. 

            I found great comfort entrusting them into the hands of the best parent they would ever know to care for them and increase them in every area of their lives. And He has!

            But this year, the promise is for me.

           I have started out on a new venture—writing and self-publishing books. It’s a whole new learning curve! While studying about marketing, I began reading about funnels of revenue, and that got me thinking about the funnels of God’s activity in my life. These funnels are pots the Lord will fill; or, Increase.

            I was challenged to think: Where was I pouring my life and investing the majority of my time and effort?  I found four funnels.  

            1) I am actively involved in the ministries of my church. 
            2) Though my children are grown and live overseas, I am still loving and praying for them.  Their increase is my increase as my growing family now includes thirteen grandchildren, and God uses my life as their grandmother to influence them for Christ.  
            3) I have ministries among women, speaking engagements, college administration, and allowing the Lord to use me where He sees fit.  
            4) And, I have the new funnel of my book venture, devotional blogging, and writing that is now a part of my scheduled time.

            Here is one thing I know from my spiritual journey to this point: unless God’s hand is in every funnel, nothing of eternal value happens—it is all temporal.  I don’t want to spend the majority of my life’s effort on temporary time fillers that produce little to nothing.  I want to see God’s hand increasing every funnel He has given and see Him at work around me.  That is my greatest joy and reward.  

            Into what are you pouring your life?  Where are you investing the majority of your time and effort?  What will you have in the end? These are important questions because where we invest we will see increase.