Purified Words

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver is tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.   
Ps 12:6, KJV


Does anyone remember who Kirk Douglas and Jimmy Stewart are?  I'm old enough to remember, but how about the 20 something year-olds? Or who remembers who was famous during the silent movie era or their movies' plots?

Movies get old with a little bit of time. Unlike the movies, the Bible is several thousand years old and still going strong.  It has been there for preceding generations and will be there for the future generations.  Jesus promised that his words would not pass away even though heaven and earth will. (Matt 24:35)

You can't even get rid of the Bible.  It's not because people haven't tried.  There was a king who threw the scroll that Jeremiah had written on the fire. (Jer. 36:23)  Modern countries have tried to ban, confiscate, and burn Bibles, but the purified Word of God lives on.  It still tells right from wrong and more importantly about the plan of salvation.  Even though we are but dust, we can claim everlasting life if we confess our sins, ask God for forgiveness, and believe Jesus is our salvation.

Praying Out Loud

Isa. 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (KJV)

  
Staying asleep is a problem for many elderly people.  The lady I was taking care of was no exception.  She needed round the clock care in her home.  I was on the night shift, so I got to see a lot of her sleepless nights.

One night I wanted to pray for her.  The thought came that I should pray out loud for her.  I shrunk from that idea.  I didn't like to pray out loud. I didn't know how she would take it.  I fought doing it.  I just wanted to claim a verse and let God do the rest.  I felt God told me that I was claiming verses to make Him do what I wanted. He would do something just because I asked.  The burden to pray out loud strengthened.  Not only was I going to have to pray out loud, I was going to have to do it without a verse.  I had to choose to obey this command.

I went to her and held her hand.  I prayed out loud that she would be peaceful and get a good night's sleep.  A verse came to mind and I ended with that.  I don't remember any more what verse I used, but Isa. 26:3 would be appropriate. I put her back to bed.  She didn't wake up the rest of the night.

The next day I talked to one of her friends.  My lady told the friend that she had had the best sleep she ever had.

Teaching at VBS

I don't think I am very good with children, but I volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School (VBS).  I thought I'd be on the snack detail.

Instead they put me with kindergarten and first grade. I had fear of what to do with the children, but at least the class was big enough to have two more teachers. All I could do was trust that God had me there for a reason.

In the class, there was a restless boy that was always causing trouble.  The other teacher came up to me and said, "I can't take it with him anymore."  She wanted me to help.  I didn't know what to do, so I decided to sit next to him and listen.  He explained his drawing to me. He ate up my attention like a starving man. Another child came over for help with a memory verse, and my restless boy wouldn't let me help the other child. Later, he rejoined the group who were coloring pictures.

In a little while, a teacher brought a crying 2 1/2 or 3 year old child.  She was crying because she wasn't able to memorize a verse to get a toy.  The other teacher, probably in her late teens, didn't know what to do with her, so she gave me the girl to hold.  I tried to talk to her, but she was too busy crying.  I rocked and rocked and rocked her.  The woman who was in charge of VBS came with a puppet and was able get the little girl to quit crying.

On the last night, there was a program for the parents and grandparents.  The restless boy had to stand still with his class.  I could see how hard it was for him.  Like a cheerleader, I watched him, hoping he'd hold out.
Fortunately the song had actions to it and he did a good job. Afterward, I got on his level and told what a good job he did.

This was one of the first times I felt God was using me.  It was an encouragement to have His approval.

           

His going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Psalms 19:6, KJV

It is comforting to know the sun will rise and set like usual.  It is predictable and mankind can make plans.     

The circuits and returns are awe inspiring to men.  A person has trouble putting it into words.  The psalmist described creation as having a voice and speech that can be heard around the world.  

Part of the circuit is that it returns where it came from. In modern times, returns have a bad connotation like  returning a defective item to the store.  But the return can be good or bad: wishing someone "many happy returns" or the letter is returned because of a wrong address.
                                                                   

A circuit  and its return is simply a path, like brushing teeth.  You brush your teeth before going to bed.  And you return to do it again the next morning and the next. 

 A growing Christian will create a circuit and return by reading the Bible in the morning, and praying at the end of the day.  This time is needed for renewing the inward man. (2 Cor. 4:16, KJV) and prepares him for the day:  maybe a requested verse to comfort someone who lost a husband., receive strength and patience to deal with children or elderly parents, or wisdom to make wise decisions. You aren't going to have these if you don't take time to complete the circuit and return between God and man.                                                                            

Dissembling and Deceit

"He that hates dissembles with his lips" Prov 26:24a
No wonder the Bible has so much to say about the trouble mouth and lips can cause.  When you gossip, you are dissembling someone's reputation.  True or not it cannot be taken back.

It is especially damaging to children to hear themselves being put down and their project and work criticized.

It doesn't stop there.  The second half of the verse says "and lays up deceit within him."

The person's heart can become hardened from deceit (Heb 3:13)  Deceit is defined as cause to believe an untruth or a device to deceive.  When he lies to himself, he says things like, "Abortion is a woman's right to do with her body what she wants."  He makes excuses or assumptions to justify buying a want rather than a need.  The heart becomes hardened to people's needs with the excuse "they should have done this" or "they could have done that".  Assumptions and excuses can cover up sin, like deciding to "borrow" money, which is in reality embezzling.

But there is hope for us.  Ps 119:29 says "Remove from me the way of lying; and grant me thy law graciously."  The Psalmist is asking God to point out his deceit and replace it with God's law.  Heb 3:13 says "But exhort one another daily; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Encouraging each other daily and cooperating with God about areas that need work will prevent us from lying to ourselves and becoming hardened to others' need.

Behold, All Things Are Become New

2 Cor. 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

     When I think of all my bad habits, I get discouraged.  I knit or crochet rather than clean house.  I put off washing dishes.  I'm not as friendly as I should be because I will be ashamed if I can't remember their name.
      The Bible promises that if we are in Christ, we are a new creature.  It is comforting to think that my old habits that have caused so many problems are now old things that have passed away.
     But it doesn't happen all at once. We are only given a down payment on our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:5).  But it is encouraging to see it happen at all.

Experiencing Jesus' righteousness as your own is like losing a tooth.  When feeling for old thoughts, attitudes, and feelings, they simply aren't there.  They still exist, if kept and claimed, but it is no longer a part of you. And like a growing child who has lost its tooth, new and better thoughts, attitudes, and desires take its place.