Saturday, April 16, 2011

Acres of Diamonds!

During his most recent visit to our home, my grandson, Isaac, provided one of those rare and priceless lessons learned only from a child. He was playing a 'shopping' game with his mother's cousin. Everything in the house had a price. As they went from room to room, I could hear bits of the conversation. And then, it happened...the magic of a life-lesson disguised as a childish game!

SHONNA: How much is this hutch?
ISAAC: Well, that's eight diamonds.
SHONNA: Hmm, eight diamonds? Would you take less?
ISAAC: Nooo, it's EIGHT diamonds.
SHONNA: Well, I only have five. It's all I have. Will you take five?
ISAAC: Yes, I'll take five, but you're going to need three more!

I thought about that for a little while. Then I realized that we often take less for something, that we have invested in, than we should. And why? The item is ours; we can set the price. Whether or not the original price is ever lowered is entirely up to us. Life is not a garage sale where counter-offers are the norm.

For example, if you value integrity and have set its worth at one-hundred diamonds, then never settle for less. When you are offered eighty diamonds from someone for their integrity (and yours in return) just go ahead and tell them, "you're going to need twenty more!"

And what about fidelity? It doesn't need to be physical in nature, just absolute devotion. If you place its value at one-hundred diamonds, don't ever settle for fifty. If it's important enough, the buyer will come up with the full price! It's an unwritten law of nature.

So, never be afraid to demand the full price. There are acres of diamonds out there. Set your price and expect payment in full! And don't forget, others expect the same from you. Never ask them to compromise their price, either. Come to a mutual agreement, and never back down.

Next Sunday is Easter. Christians all over the globe will celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our beloved Savior, Jesus, the Christ. He paid a price He didn't owe for a debt we could not pay. He gave us unconditional love---dare we offer less? By no means. Let us rise up, as well, and deliver to Him, with our own lives, the full measure of His price. And what is His price? Love. That's all He asks or expects from us.

A life lived for Him and through Him is priceless. Instead of searching for painted eggs, look for the diamonds and fill your basket daily until you can present Him with the full amount. How will you know when you have reached it? You'll hear these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Too Heavenly Minded

I have discovered that in my life there are daily opportunities to minister to those who need encouragement, hope. If we are honest with the issue, I think that we can all say the same thing. After all, wasn't that the plan?

Jesus said that is was necessary for him to go back, back to heaven and the Father. Why? Well, He said it was necessary because He needed to prepare a place for us, a place where we would live with Him, in absolute joy, for eternity. I'm looking forward to that place..."Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  ~John 14:1-3

What a day of rejoicing that will be! "When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory." (just one of my favorite songs)

However, in the meantime, we have so much to do. Just ask any good Christian. We must hurry here and hurry there. There are committee meetings to attend and clean-up days to participate in. The schedule has little margin for any unexpected event. The calendar is planned well in advance of each designated time of assembly. And that's all well-and-good. Most of us need structure, continuity. We don't do as well with randomness.  But, at the same time, I wonder if we are missing the mark.

Jesus had something to say about that, as well. When the time of His death was approaching, He told His disciples that they must tarry in Jerusalem (home) until they were empowered by the indwelling of His Spirit. There was a reason for this empowerment. It was so that the gospel of life---real life---could be shared with a dying and hurting world. He further instructed them to take this gospel to the ends of the earth, beginning at Jerusalem...H-O-M-E, home!  He also explained what this gospel was AND what it was not. He instructed them that the true gospel WAS NOT meat or drink, here or there (you can just forget about denominational factors of superiority and division!) but rather, that IT WAS righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Thank goodness for that! Just think: all these decades we've been running in and out of the church doors, playing a good game of "Gospel." We love our pomp and circumstance. And woe be unto the new pastor who tries to change anything in the order of service. Sadly, we might be missing the mark altogether.

Maybe, we are becoming too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. Remember that Jesus said to begin at home. I do not believe that He was just talking about the home of the Jews, his first disciples, I believe that He was referring to the center of our individual hearts, our own families and home. What if we treated our own dear families the same way we treated the folks at church on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening? What if there was "no shadow of turning," to be found in the way we spoke or acted...to anyone? What if our devotion was so transparent that nothing could conceal it? What if...

Perhaps John Wesley summed it up as well as possible...

"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can." PERIOD! Just know that WE CAN DO IT! But, it must begin at home---ALWAYS, if it is to be the true gospel of Christ, and not a cheap counterfeit.

Yes, go to church...serve on committees, get things done to make the world a better place, but examine your own heart and be very certain that your personal testimony is valid behind closed doors.

WWJD? He would be sincere. He would walk in love and forgiveness. He would serve those at home, first. Do you recall His first public miracle? He was attending a wedding, and His mother asked Him to do something when the wine ran out before the celebration had ended. He cautioned her that it was not time to reveal the powers that He possessed, however, He did as she asked, because it was Mama---family. Don't show the workplace and the world what a great person you are unless those who know you best can testify for you! Oh, don't worry. I'm actually speaking to myself, FIRST!

You are loved, cherished and adored by our Savior, our example. He came to show us how to do it. He defined the gospel with His own life. How can we do less? H-O-M-E, heaven on earth!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

I Wouldn't Go Skydiving

Just about anyone in my generation knows who Erma Bombeck was. See passed away about fifteen years ago, but I remember her witty humor. She wrote a newspaper column generally about the everyday life of a suburban housewife. She was a successful novelist, as well. I recall the first time I read the book, The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. She made us laugh and cry at the same time. I believe that she continued writing into the year that she died...cancer.

But, she also wrote some serious things, too. The next few thoughts are attributed to her, written after her terminal diagnosis. Most of us have heard the song about the guy who would go skydiving if he learned that he was dying. That's all well-and-good, but I like Erma's perspective on things.

If I learned that I only had a few months to live (and we should live like we possess that knowledge)....

"I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage." Yes! I can identify with that one. So many times, I have put something up, thinking I'd enjoy it more later. Now I know---there is no later! Today is the day...now is the time. Use the good dishes, enjoy the good silver. Light the scented candles. Don't let life melt in storage!

"I would have talked less and listened more." Especially to my parents and their parents. For instance, my grandfather was from Montana and my grandmother was from Massachusetts. I'm not really certain how they ever got together in the first place. My mother was born in Boston, so how in the world did they decide to come to Oklahoma, where she eventually married and where I was born?! I THINK that I have it all worked out, but I'll never know for sure. They are all gone now, and there is no one left to ask.

"I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded." This one, I'm proud to say, that I do a pretty good job with. I love my family and friends, and my Jerry shares an open-door policy, with me, at our home. What wonderful times we have had! Stop by whenever you can.

"I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime." This one, well...let's just say that I'm still working on this one! Raising five precious children with too much month at the end of the money wasn't always easy, but it was always F-U-N!!!

"I would have cried and laughed LESS while watching television and MORE while watching life." I am in total agreement here...Life's Better On The Porch! Come join us whenever you can.

"There would be more 'I love you' and more 'I'm sorry.'" Agreed. What does it really matter who is right? Learn to say, "You could be right," or "I was wrong," or "I'm sorry." And always remember, you can never say, "I LOVE YOU!" too often, especially when it's true. Don't make the people you care about wonder whether or not you do...tell them...fervently and frequently!

"But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it, and really see it, live it and NEVER give it back." Carpe Diem. I love it. A life well-lived, full of gratitude to the God Who made me, and all the wonderful people He has filled my life with. Truly, my cup runneth over. No regrets.

Nope, I definitely would not go skydiving, but I would write, "I love you!" with vapor from a plane. TODAY is the only day of your life. "Yesterday is gone on down the river, and it ain't never comin' back," (thanks for the reminder, Lonesome Dove.) There is no promise of tomorrow...that leaves us with TODAY!

Whatever you do...ENJOY IT!