It is Not the Box but What is Inside That Counts

I was recently looking through my linen closet for a hair trimming kit that is mostly used by my husband and son. While I was looking for this I saw an unfamiliar box on the bottom shelf. The lighting was not poor and I was unable to read the label to discover what was inside. After turning on the hall light and tilting my head to just the right angle, I was able to read the box. This is the box that my hairdryer had come in. It now contains the old, well used hairdryer that had been mine for many years. We had chosen to keep it as a backup. The men of my house will occasionally dry their hair before stepping outside on a cold winter morning. The motor on this dryer would no longer hold up to my continual use but would be good for this occasional need or for temporary use if anything goes wrong the current hairdryer.

When I saw that box on the bottom shelf I knew immediately what was inside. I remembered my son suggesting that we just put the old dryer and accessories into the new dryer’s box. That would make it easy to store and easy to find in the linen closet. It occurred to me that it was funny that I never even considered that the contents of this box would match its exterior. Someone outside of our family might think that it was exactly the same brand and model of the dryer that I currently use. Finding an old hairdryer of a different model and color would then be a disappointment.

What is on the label of the box is not what is really important. It is the contents of that box that truly matters. In this case the box suggests something far nicer than what it actually contains. At other times a very nice item may be packed away in a box that originally housed something of minimal value. The box just happened to be the right size for a treasure. It truly is not what the box cover displays that is important, but rather what is inside that counts.

Do we ever view people that way? Do we ever assume that someone shares our values simply because they dress like us or are of a similar age? Do hair color, skin color, clothing or any other characteristic define who the person actually is? Hopes, dreams and preferences do not necessarily show on our outward appearance. Ethics and moral standards are not always worn as jackets or shoes. For everything that physical appearance may indicate about an individual, it is the soul and spirit of a man or woman that truly makes up who we are.

Scripture addresses this topic. Believers are told not to give preference to the well-dressed and looked down on the poor or shabbily dressed. (See James chapter 2) This goes far beyond rich and poor. Do we judge people by whether they wear formal or casual clothing? Clothing, body type, age are only a few of the many, many aspects of appearance by which we can falsely judge someone. God always judges the heart of man.

Everyone who has placed their trust in Jesus Christ has been called the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19 AMP) The degree to which we allow the Holy Spirit to reign and rule in our lives is what truly matters. He is the source of all good that makes each of us who we truly are. What we do and say truly have value because of the presence of God that we carry with us each day.

When we look at each other, with all of our differences we must remember that the love of God lives inside of us. “No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!” (1 John 4:12 AMP) God is the valuable gift that we have to offer to others. The apostle Paul said it so eloquently. “However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 AMP)

 So both as you need others and present yourself to others, always remember that it is not the box but what is inside that counts.

A Card or a Book?

I recently received an invitation to a baby shower. The invitation contained the following sentiment.

“A card is nice but read only once or twice.

A book is a treasure that lasts forever.

So please place your wishes inside a book

and we will think of you each time we take a look.”

 I have seen and received variations of this message for other showers. The sentiment is great! Instead of signing your name to a card that will only be thrown away, giving a book that can be reread again and again is priceless. Being read to and later reading on your own has been linked to greatness. Presidents, scientists and many other people who were successful in their fields often share a heritage that included a great amount of reading.

 We have been given a great gift of salvation by Almighty God. With that gift, God did not choose to give us a card with only one wish or encouragement. Rather He gave us a book that we can read over and over again. The Bible is the love story that is full of God’s heart and desire for a life. It is not full of wishes only, but it contains the very promises of the author Himself.

 When we receive the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay our debt of sin, we are born again into a brand new spiritual being. “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17AMP) Jesus rescued us from spiritual death and gave us eternal life. “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (John 3:16 AMP)

 When we are newborn babies in Christ, we may not be able to understand all the writings in the book God has given us. We will often be read to and taught by others who have walked with the Lord for a while. Interestingly enough, Christians are called to be imitators of God. “Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” (Ephesians 5:1 AMP) As imitators of God we can portray a picture of Christ. We are like the picture book that so often enthralls a baby.

 God provides not only mature believers to help us understand his book. He has given us his Holy Spirit as our constant source of help. “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.” (John 14:26 AMP) Throughout our lives we will walk with the greatest teacher Who is more than willing to explain the word of God to us.

 As I prepare my shower gift for the little boy that will soon enter our world, I have selected several board books and a waterproof tub book. These contain stories of animals and cars to inspire the dreams of a tiny young man. God likewise had us in mind when He inspired the earthly authors He chose to write down His word. The contents of the Scripture were written to inspire dreams, instruct in righteousness and lead us to a full knowledge of our loving, heavenly Father. It will prepare us for everything that God has planned for the life ahead of us. “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP)

 Spend some time in the book that God has given you. He has given us all life and included a book that truly will be read forever and ever.

Who Turned the Signpost Around?

Have you ever seen a signpost that has several placards with arrows facing in different directions? These are common at resorts and condo complexes. Each sign will tell you the unit numbers in that direction. As you drive into unfamiliar territory, where you will be staying generally for two weeks or less, the signs can be extremely valuable. I remember when I was 12 years old my family shared a cabin with my cousins at a resort with one of the signs. As we were taking a walk with newly met friends, another child discovered that a signpost was loose. Someone had spun the sign around and all of the directions were incorrect. (I would like to say that we told the owner so he could correct the sign. But unfortunately I watched as this other child simply took a spin to see where the arrows would land.) Anyone following the directions of that sign would soon find the information was incorrect. In fact the arrows no longer pointed to the roads.

At a resort property, misinformation of this nature is not too critical. Unit numbers are visibly placed on each cabin or townhouse. One can return to the junction where he made the wrong turn and try another direction. It is actually more of an inconvenience than anything else. When these signs relate to permanent locations; such as homes and business complexes; the results can be a little more serious. These are permanent sites and building numbers may be difficult to see. The need for accuracy is more urgent and signposts must be securely anchored to avoid error.

Have you ever felt that you arrived at one of these signposts in your personal life? Often we are not sure which way to go. We can look to all the conventional wisdom of the world. It may seem that we have found the perfect job, living arrangement or even ministry to the Lord. We proceed in the direction that the signs indicate but soon find that we took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. We may feel that we have done everything properly and our minds cry out, “Who turned the signpost around?”

The question here is actually how well is the signpost anchored. What is the foundation of the post and just how secure and immovable was it built?

Jesus tells the story of those who build their houses on the rock and others who built on sand. “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 AMP) This same principle applies to the signpost that we look for along the way. Directions that come from the word of God are secure and will lead us in the correct direction. On the other hand, directions that come from seemingly good advice may not be reliable or secure. 

Jesus is the chief cornerstone and firm foundation. “You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20 AMP) We are to build our lives on the salvation that He died to purchase for us. Following His example, we pattern our lives after Jesus, who came to complete the whole law of God. “Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 AMP) He only acted as He was led by the Father. “But Jesus answered them, My Father has worked [even] until now, [He has never ceased working; He is still working] and I, too, must be at [divine] work.” (John 5:17 AMP) We must also follow the written word and the Spirit of God.

When our guidelines for life are based on anything but the word of God we run the risk of great error. This is like the signpost dropped into the dirt that can easily be turned around. Although not always bad, conventional wisdom can sometimes lead us astray. “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but At the end of it is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12 AMP) This is not the signpost a believer will benefit by following. Rather studying the written word and listening to the Holy Spirit will lead us in the right direction. Even in confusing times we can trust God. “And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.”  (Isaiah 30:21 AMP)

So do not risk following a sign that may have been spun around. Double check that you are receiving your directions from God and His word.

When It Is Beyond Our Reach

Having a husband who is 6’5” tall can be very advantageous. Whenever we are at a store and the item that I desire is on a top shelf, out of my reach, all I have to do is ask him to get it for me. We are frequently stopped by others, particularly women, who request his help with items that are too high for them to reach.

At home I am not always happy with his ability to reach so high. Because he can easily retrieve an item from on top of the cabinets, he routinely places items up there. This is not so bad if they are items that he primarily uses. But when it comes to my kitchen, this can be a cause for concern. David has placed certain pans and containers on top of my upper cabinets. If he is not home when I want to use one of these, I can become frustrated. If I can wait until he arrives home, that is by far the easiest. But if I truly have need for one of these pans (or am just impatient) I have to find a way to climb up to reach it. This can be time-consuming and dangerous if I don’t use a proper stepstool rather than a chair or climbing on the counter.

Sometimes we can find ourselves serving God as we best know how. We believe that we know the next step in the plan, but it appears that something we need has been placed high out of our reach. When we reach this junction, we have a choice to make. We can exert ourselves trying to make things work out on our own. Or we can stay connected to the Holy Spirit and wait until He provides everything we need to continue serving Him.

Any work that is truly from God will require that we trust in Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” (Hebrews 11:6 AMP) He knows everything that we need and just when we will need it. We are to wait patiently for his provision to arrive. “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1 AMP) He can reach anything that we need far more easily than my husband can reach the top shelf.

When attempting to reach items on the top shelf, I risk hurting myself not only by being unsteady in the climb but also by pulling down other items that I was not ready for. The pan that I’m reaching for may have something else perched in a way that it will come crashing down when I pull on the pan. With limited vision I am not aware of the trouble that my actions will cause. The view from beneath is not always clear.

God views things from above where the picture is clear and complete. The path that God plans for us is perfect in every way. He knows that only the destination but every step along the way. To a people who had forgotten His mighty works, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. “Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.” (Isaiah 46:10 AMP) God knows exactly what we need to perform His works.

We are to wait for the Holy Spirit to bring about the provision that we need. We have a promise that the Lord will answer us when we wait patiently for Him to move.  “I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1 AMP) Instead of exhausting ourselves by trying to work things out on our own, waiting for God will bring strength. “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP) We need not fear that He will not come through every time we need Him. “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” (Philippians 1:6 AMP) He is both powerful and faithful.

So, whatever area you may be struggling in today, allow the Holy Spirit to bring about the next step. He will do it with ease which is so much easier than trying to do it yourself.

(Note: I struggled with going my own direction in this post. I had to wait longer than usual to hear clearly from 

Better Together: The Weak Adds Strength!

I'm back in the kitchen and making mayonnaise and mayo-based salad dressings. On my first batch of mayo, I put all the ingredients into the container and applied the stick blender as I always do. For some reason this batch of mayo did not set as well as it usually does. I checked the amount of lemon juice, which plays a major factor in the thickening, but still the dressing was the consistency of a thick liquid. I set this batch aside and began another with new ingredients.
The second batch came out perfectly. So I decided to add a little bit of the first to it. Continuing to blend, I added some of the less set mayo and it thickened up beautifully. I continued adding until half of that first batch was added to the second and the consistency was firmer than either had been on its own. The mayo had increased in both volume and quality.
Setting this thick mayo aside, I began a third batch. The same thing happened again. As I began adding the remaining partially set mayo to the thick batch it became even thicker. The final result was 3 full, thick jars of mayo. Adding the seasonings, I soon had one jar of mayo, one jar of Stevia sweetened “non-honey” mustard and one jar of ranch dressing. What had initially not been useable, had actually improved the quality of the final product.
In the body of Christ, a similar thing can happen. It is never a good idea to simply dismiss a Christian brother or sister who is less trained in biblical principles. Although it is wise for a younger Christian to learn and be taught, God may speak through him or her. This student of the word can be strengthened and trained by one who is spiritually stronger. Walking side-by-side, this training will build up both. Jesus spoke of this principle when he said, “A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 AMP) The apostle Paul addressed our need for each other in his letter to the Romans. “So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. (Romans 12:5 AMP) He made clear that we had different gifts and purposes in God’s kingdom. He never stated that all would be equally strong in order for us to work together.
Sometimes a lack of maturity in a believer is caused by inappropriate behaviors and attitudes. Sin, laziness and fear can all inhibit growth in Christ. A stronger believer is encouraged to come alongside one who is acting inappropriately to both reprimand and disciple him or her. “And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 AMP) When the weaker believer turns from wrong behaviors he/she will also become strong in the Lord.
Throughout Scripture we hear of the value of unity. “Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 AMP)  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 AMP) Whenever we are joined with others there will be some who are stronger and some who are weaker. Love and unity overlook this difference. The stronger simply takes the weaker by the hand and together they grow into a strength that far exceeds that which either could attain on his or her own.
In all this we must remember the root of everything that we do. “You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22 AMP) On this foundation, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, we will flourish together.

Do you know someone that you can bring alongside and strengthen today? Are you struggling and feel you need help to become strong? Join with a brother or sister, knowing that both of you will be better for it. 

Lesson from a Cat - Fresh Food Daily

Every afternoon I visit my elderly friend, Helen. She has two cats, Lucky and Pumpkin. I make sure that they have clean litter, fresh food and fresh water every day. Lucky, very aware of my arrival, begins to wait as soon as I walk in the door for me to put the fresh cat food into the bowl. If I have been there more than about 15 minutes without adding the new cat food, I will hear about it from him. Often there is still cat food in the bowl when I arrive. This makes no difference to Lucky. He will not touch this cat food but demands the fresh addition to the bowl.
Several years ago I went through a dark time spiritually. My faith wavered and I lost hope. When I got past this hard time and began to understand my error, I realized that I had begun to live on Scriptures that I had learned years earlier. Having studied the Bible for over 30 years, I knew many scriptures that applied to nearly every situation of my life. I had experienced God’s faithfulness in difficult times. Yet I allowed myself to get caught up in the busyness of daily living and rely on this past knowledge rather than running to my Bible each morning with an all-consuming need to hear a fresh word from God.
How often do we get caught up in this pattern of life? We try to get by with what God has already spoken to us. This may appear to work for a while. Unfortunately our spirits will begin to starve without fresh food.
When the Israelites were in the desert, God fed them with manna. They were required to gather this manna and eat every day. Any they attempted to save rotted overnight. (See Exodus 16) The Word of God should be treated like manna to our souls. We must gather it and take it in every day. God will give us enough for each day and provide more the next day.
King David knew the necessity of daily study of God’s word for a blessed life. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.  But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” (Psalm 1:1-2 AMP) David’s desire to know God was his top priority. “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4 AMP) Is it ours too? Do we long to gaze upon the Lord?
Once I have added the fresh food, Lucky is more than willing to eat the food that had still been in the bowl. We will also have verses that we have studied from the past that will remain in our minds from day to day. We can and should continue to ponder what the Lord is teaching us. Some days we may even choose to stay in the same passage of Scripture until we eat and receive everything that God has for us in those words.
Lucky is also more than willing to share the bowl of food with Pumpkin. Once we have received the fresh word of God for our lives, we should be willing and looking for people to share it with.  Some Scriptures that nourish us can nourish others as well. God will often teach us in areas of our lives order that we can teach and help others. “Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 AMP) God’s Word comforts us and we pass it on. We study well to learn well. We learn well so that we can teach well. Together we grow in mercy and wisdom.
Do not become weak and malnourished by skipping time studying God’s Word. Eat fresh every day!

A Wonderful Aroma

So many things in this world have amazing aromas. Some that come immediately to mind include a bouquet of flowers, fresh-cut evergreens, a cup of freshly brewed coffee, fresh-baked bread and meat hot off the grill. In and of themselves each of these scents are amazing. What can truly enhance these fragrances is when the aromatic item is presented to me as a gift from someone that I love. Flowers, even dandelions, picked and presented to me when my son was small smelled sweeter than any florist’s shop. A hot cup of coffee, fixed the way I like it, delivered by my husband on a chilly morning tastes better than any offering from a gourmet coffee house. The aroma is heightened to new levels by the love that delivers it.

 In the Old Testament there are more than 35 references to aroma or fragrance connected with sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. The first of these appears in Genesis. “And Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean [four-footed] animal and of every clean fowl or bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the Lord smelled the pleasing odor [a scent of satisfaction to His heart], the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination (the strong desire) of man's heart is evil and wicked from his youth; neither will I ever again smite and destroy every living thing, as I have done.” (Genesis 8:20-21 AMP) The pleasing odor of Noah’s obedience brought a satisfying scent to God’s heart. At a time when so much sin and rebellion had brought judgment to the earth, Noah had brought a sacrifice of faith that was pleasing to the Lord.  A study of these references to aromas that come before the Lord from obedient sacrifice include adjectives such as sweet, soothing, pleasing and satisfying. These all convey feelings of comfort, joy and contentment.

What is the intent of our hearts? Do we bring a sacrifice before God begrudgingly or with joyful, thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve the One who has done so much for us? Are we like a child just waiting for a chance to bring our work (as childlike as it may be) to our father as a surprise gift? Or do we go through the motions performing necessary actions with no heart behind them? The Lord is pleased when love is our motivation to serve Him. The heart full of love that initiates obedient service is what creates that sweet, soothing fragrance.

As in all things pertaining to love, Jesus is our best example. “Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP) The selfless giving of Himself as payment for our sin was a beautiful sacrifice. When we imitate His example, our actions also become a sweet fragrance to our Heavenly Father. “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (AMP) The scent spreads to others around us.

 The apostle Paul also spoke of this when he thanked the Philippian believers for their gifts. “But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.” Philippians 4:18 (AMP) Giving sacrificially to others creates a fragrance the Father gladly welcomes. Our selfless acts, given from a willing heart, are among God’s favorite aromas.

 Offerings to God are not judged on the skill or perfection of our performance.  We are to offer our very best from a heart of love that leads to obedient service to the Lord and others. Like an offering of dandelions from the loving, eager-to-please heart of a young child, our offering will be that sweet, soothing, pleasant fragrance to the Lord and bring a smile to His face.

 Walk through your day with a grateful heart, offering your service to God. You will also be a pleasant, satisfying fragrance to God.