Tin Cup Ministry

        Tin-Cup Ministry

         The greatest fears in my teens stemmed from movies in the 40's and 50's.  Gangster movies and epics in which Christians would be persecuted were the worst. The other day I was telling someone about my fears.  I was in prison and banging my tin cup on the bars, and begging for my release as I was innocent.  I had been unjustly imprisoned.  The gangsters in the movies were always banging their cups on the jail bars and proclaiming their innocence.  As I write this I realize I had been imprisoned before coming to Christ.  I had cried out in my soul for help, like banging my tin cup, and no one heeded my cry.   The jailer had turned a deaf ear to my pleas.  Then at 33 the jailer was overturned, and my rescuer came and released me.  Jesus, the Savior of my soul, released me from the hands of Satan. My other fear was that I would be thrown into the arena and the lions would be released to kill me because I would not deny Jesus.  Although I knew I did not understand about appropriating Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I knew I had to stand for Jesus and never deny Him.  As a teenager I realized I did not have the strength to do that, but I knew I would need that strength if the occasion ever arose.  After my rescue from prison I knew I had the strength to stand for Jesus. I realized that one aspect of the arena is our everyday life in the marketplace.  We must take every opportunity to stand for Jesus so that those who are “imprisoned” may be released.  Their shouts and cries may not be heard by those around them, but Jesus hears them.  We must tune our spirits so we recognize those who are crying out for their cells to be opened can be set free.  Maybe we need a “Tin-Cup Ministry” so that instead of those captives banging their tin cups on the bars, we with our ministry might fill their cups with living water.  What a release from bondage that would be. 

          John 8:32   “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”

Pooper Scooper

Pooper Scooper    

                    

I live in a condo village.  In the bylaws there is a “poop” ordinance.  Your dog poops you scoop. One day I noticed someone taking a trowel and throwing the poop through the chain link fence onto the property on the other side of the fence.  Now this area is vacant but the owner mows it regularly.  At some point the mower and the poop are going to connect thus leaving the mower a bit worse for wear.  This reminds me of humanity.  Out of selfishness we scatter our selfish ways whenever and wherever we go without regard for the feelings of others.  By doing this we leave the stench of sin all around us and those we encounter.  The condo has bylaws and Jesus has instructions for a Godly life.  One is love your neighbor as yourself.  I wonder if we loved our neighbor as our self would we scatter the debris of our life so unfeeling on others.

In the 21^st century one the mottoes of life seems to be “if it feels good do it.”  In life I find the most blessed feelings come from listening to the still quiet voice of Jesus and obeying it.  The problem I don’t always obey this voice.  The other day I was running late for an appointment and noticed a car waiting to get out of a parking lot.  I knew in my heart I should allow the car to exit the parking lot but I just went on my merry way. I now regret my actions. How do I know that this person’s appointment might have been far more important than mine or just needed kindness shown to them at that particular time.  Oh, how we walk in selfishness through life whether pitching our dog poop through the fence or ignoring the needs of others in a multitude of ways.   Lord, help me be a person that is not too proud to humble myself and be a servant of others.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Unclaimed Baggage

Unclaimed Baggage

Unclaimed Baggage is located in Scottsboro Alabama specializing in lost articles either left on airplanes or luggage that has been misdirected with no means to contact the owner.  Unclaimed Baggage offers one an adventure in shopping or just an adventure.  Sometimes going home with a treasure or sometimes empty handed. 

Before dedicating my life to Christ I was much like a lost article at Unclaimed Baggage.  My soul was empty and searching for a place to call home.  I had tried to find happiness in beer and tranquilizers to no avail.  Knowing all the time these were not the answer.  Though I had attended church regularly I had never heard about the salvation Jesus offered.    Upon hearing about Jesus and the wonders of salvation I immediately became a Christian.  Now my wandering soul had found a place to call home.

Before surrendering my life to Christ I was an unredeemed treasure much like those sitting on the shelves at Unclaimed Baggage.  When Jesus purchased me He took me unto Himself and began the process of making me the person He had intended me to be from birth.  Old habits were banished, self-image restored, hunger for the world of God implanted in my heart.  Joy replaced self-incrimination.  Love for others replaced envy.  The clouds of darkness removed from my eyes allowing me to see Jesus and all that He was and all He had in store for my life.  Redemption is a miracle and how glad I am that when Jesus reached out to my unclaimed soul  my response was yes.  No one need be an unclaimed soul living in the misery of this world without hope.  Jesus is always ready and willing to claim your soul and transport you from darkness into His marvelous light.  Don’t hesitate one minute to offer yourself to Him so that He might transform you into His likeness.  You have an adventure in living waiting for you.

Luke 1-78:79 “Because of the tender  mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin

The other day I was sharing Your giving me Tidbits with two friends.  On the table beside

us was a pumpkin.  I laughingly said if the Lord wishes He could give me a Tidbit about a pumpkin.  Well I feel an embryo of a Tidbit being birthed.  If this is You then please reveal it or I will laugh at my presumption.  Here goes Lord.

Cinderella riding in a royal coach comes to mind. The coach being transformed from an ordinary pumpkin into a royal coach gilded all over in gold by Cinderella’s fairy Godmother.  Cinderella also had been transformed from a lowly scullery maid into a princess.  Of course, that was a fairy tale but real life is so much better.  I was transformed into a princess by my Heavenly Father to ever be united with Him.  My life was much like Cinderella’s oppressed by Satan, not wicked stepsisters, with no hope of ever being free.  Then one day a friend shared the Prince of Peace with me and I was immediately transformed into a new creature never to return to my old oppression.

We encounter scullery maids every day mired down by life’s woes.  As a daughter of the King it is my obligation to share the wonderful Savior with those I meet in the marketplace.  Lord, keep me aware of those souls in bondage that I meet and give me an encouraging word for them that they too may become one of Yours.

You are an awesome God to turn a pumpkin into a Tidbit.  I stand in awe.

Ezekiel 11:19-20

And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit within them, And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh so that they may walk in my statues and keep my ordinances, and do to them.  Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.

Turtle

For several weeks I have been thinking about turtles. This often happens. I will have a tiny inkling there is a tidbit somewhere in a thought, but it may take weeks for all the pieces to fit together. 

I read today an Indonesian fable about a turtle that could fly.  He would hold a stick in his mouth and would be carried aloft by geese. On one particular flight from the ground he heard “aren’t those geese brilliant.” Upon hearing the praise going to the geese, he cried out, “it was my idea.” Immediately he lost his grip.

Reflecting on this fable, I thought about us as Christians.  It is my desire to soar for our Father.  With Jesus and the Holy Spirit uplifting us we can truly soar.  Far too often we take our eyes off them and lose our grip.   Pride, self confidence and even sin can cause us to lose our focus.

Next I thought about the race with the turtle and the hare.  The turtle kept his focus and the hare took his ease.  God has a race for each of us.  The finish line is obscure, but the path He lays before us is our destiny.  Often when the path is cluttered with obstacles we pull our head into our shell like Mr. Turtle.  His shell is his protection from outside forces.  Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our protection from the onslaught of the enemy.  God’s path for us is not always smooth but in every instance He is sufficient.  Soaring for Jesus may seem impossible but I am convinced it is His plan for each of us. Hold tight to Jesus and never look down.  Keep your eyes on Him and take the most adventuresome ride of your life.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Angelonia

 

Angelonia sits on my patio table in all her beauty.  Angelonia is a beautiful purple-flowering plant. When I tend her regularly, she shows forth her beauty.  When I neglect her, she shrivels up and appears dead.  After watering she returns to her former beauty.  Though her blooms are lovely after I tend her there are evidences of neglect, shriveled branches and dried unopened buds.  Often watering is not enough.  She is hungry for a generous dose of Miracle Grow.  When this is applied, she thrives with gusto. Angelonia is not grounded on my table so when a strong wind comes she often topples.  When she topples, I must set her upright again picking off dead branches and give her tender loving care.

Though my name is not Angelonia I react much as she does.  Jesus came into my heart so that I might show forth His image to the world.  As long as I stay grounded in Him His character shows forth.  Like Angelonia’s broken branches my soul is wounded from neglect.  The only cure for a shriveling soul is confession of sin, repentance, prayer and once again centering on Jesus. Angelonia receives strength from a good application of Miracle Grow while Jesus restores my soul with Himself which in itself is a miracle.  How sad I allow myself to neglect my Savior and suffer the consequences.  Lord, draw me close so I won’t be tempted to neglect You.   Thank you when I do topple from the cares of the world You are faithful to come to my rescue and set me back on the path You have chosen for me.

Psalm 23: 3 “He restores my soul” This is a promise Jesus will always keep if we center our life in Him.  What a Savior we have.

A Snake at Easter

Easter Sunday was a grand church service with people accepting Christ, a blessed time with the Lord. Arriving home, the first thing I saw was a snake about 14 to 16 inches long and about as big around as a pencil resting along the shoe molding in the living room. I said, “You stay there; I’ll be right back.” I went to the garage and decided an axe was the best weapon available. When I returned he was still where I left him. Well, I axed him. As far as I was concerned that was the end of it. As I tell the story, however, the first question from friends has been, “What about your hardwood floor?” It occurred to me that I had never considered the floor. Now I realized why they call it hardwood. That axe didn’t make a dent.

The more I thought about it, I realized there was a moral in this incident.  If the snake represents the presence of evil, the devil, then one of our biggest faults in facing him is, “What if...?”  I had not considered the consequences of axing the floor.  We need to face Satan with the same resolve. We don’t need to consider “What ifs” when we face the forces of evil. How often does Satan win because instead of striking a blow for Jesus, we stop and worry about how we are going to look if we take a stand?   When Satan raises his ugly head we need to have our “axe” ready to strike. After sharing this story with a friend she said, “How does Easter fit in?”  Well, it does.  How appropriate!  On Easter Jesus crushed the head of Satan.  It is finished.  Jesus conquered Satan and transferred that conquering power to us.  Our mandate is to face the forces of evil with the tools Jesus has given us, sharpening our “axe” going out to battle and claim victory.  No more “What ifs.”

John 19:30   “When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” and He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”