Eternal Optimist
My son’s family dog is staying with me this weekend. Bella knows me well as I visit her house often, and she has stayed with me for a few days several times. She’s about six years old, weighs about eight pounds and, although her diet consists of regular dry food and water, she never ceases to believe that a handout is coming. She grabs an occasional crumb that falls from the table, but for the most part no one purposely gives her anything other than the designated food and an occasional doggie treat. She’s a calm and cuddly companion. As soon as I sit down, she jumps on my lap to be stroked and then sleeps. She accompanies me on my walk each morning and sniffs out rocks and plants (and doo doo) along the way. At night, she snuggles close—I’m not sure whether she’s protecting me or thinks I’m protecting her. Perhaps, she just wants to be close; or maybe she’s missing her family—especially the children.
However, her one trait that exceeds them all is begging. It doesn’t matter if I think she’s sleeping, when the refrigerator door opens, she’s there—tail wagging or standing on her hind legs. When the cabinet opens, she’s there—tail wagging or prancing on her hind legs. When I sit down at the table to eat, she’s there—tail wagging or delicately balancing on her hind legs. Why? It’s as if she thinks, after six years, this might be the moment of breakthrough. This might be the time she’ll strike it rich and get a dainty morsel—a taste of something different from her regular food. She is not discouraged when time after time she gets nothing. Next time, she’s there again. She doesn’t give up. I call her the “eternal optimist.” And I’m reminded of Jesus’ words: “Keep on asking, keeping on seeking, keep on knocking…” (Matt.7:7; Luke 11:9, NLT). Let’s stay close to Jesus, walk with him, rest in Him, and not grow weary in anticipating….
Filed under: Brief Thoughts on September 6th, 2010 | No Comments »
To Drink or not to Drink?
He loved the Bible and read and studied it daily. He loved God. He grew up in Germany without prohibitionist views, thus he had no problem drinking a beer or a glass of wine now and then—but never to excess. However, one single event changed him forever.
It was around 2 AM when the knock awakened us. At the door was Bob, our neighbor, a retired Marine Colonel. He was somewhat inebriated but asked Julius to come to his house. He wanted to talk. Bob told him that his wife had just left. Why? He had been out drinking with his buddies and when he came home and tried to sleep, he kept seeing snakes everywhere. He was beating them off the walls and furniture—and yes, off his wife. She had enough and grabbed a few belongings and, for her safety, headed for a friend’s house. After getting Bob sober and praying with him, Julius returned home.
At home, he fell on his knees beside our bed and cried out to God for Bob and Ruth—and then he told the Lord that he would not again drink alcohol for the sake of his witness to others. No, he had never had a drink with Bob, but he decided as a Christian he had to avoid even the very appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). Before this, a little drink was not an issue for him. “To the pure all things are pure” (Titus 1:15). However, now it was a small thing to give up for the sake of others who might not stop at one small drink.
(by Yvonne, www.alabasterbox.org)
Filed under: Brief Thoughts on September 1st, 2010 | No Comments »
Watch where you drive!
Driving up the California Coast north from Malibu, many times it looked as if the road was ending just ahead. We drove up into the mountains and through Big Sur encountering narrow passageways and sharp curves–some with a posted speed of a mere 10mph. On the east side were the high mountains, and on the west side the ocean dropped further and further below the road. And I was thinking…how incredibly beautiful and dangerous at the same time. Alert and sober, we could enjoy meditating upon the diverse and majestic creation of our God. However, a nod of the head and a brief closing of the eyes could send us crashing into the mountain or careening over the cliffs into the ocean. Such is also true of this journey of Life. It is filled with wonderful experiences and pleasant aspirations; yet in these same circumstances, if we become careless we’ll head to destruction. Peter tells us, “Stay alert! Watch out!” for the surprise turns and to avoid lurking danger (1 Pe.5:8, NLT).
Filed under: Brief Thoughts on August 31st, 2010 | No Comments »
Castle in the Sky?
Hurst Castle outside San Simeon, California, was built atop a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Walking through the various rooms, we saw expensive woods, marble, and other lavish materials–some guilded and some decorated with gold. The architecture was carefully chosen to mimic that of a famous church in Spain and various Roman edifices. We were told that the Neptune Pool was redesigned three times to please the owner and accommodate the guests for swimming. Lavish! Yes. Posh and exhorbitant? Yes. The man who envisoned this 90,000 square foot mansion and spent millions and millions of dollars to complete it is now dead. It was no doubt his life-time dream and major accomplishment–but it is no longer of value to him. It was given to the state and they maintain it as a memorial–and perhaps make a little money from the tourists who flock to see it. Parts had decayed and had to be renovated. Some of the iron fixtures had rusted. The entryway tiles had to be replaced and now no one was allowed to walk on them. As we toured, I was thinking… Jesus said, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.” Hurst’s heart was in the castle–and so was his treasure. How much better for us to “Lay up treasures for ourselves in Heaven…where they are not eroded by moths and rust or stolen by thieves..” (Matt 6:18-29, NLT). Besides, we get to enjoy these treasures forever–not just until we die. I prefer to make deposits on my home in Heaven.
Filed under: Brief Thoughts on August 31st, 2010 | No Comments »