Watch What You Practice

How interesting that what I was thinking about driving home from a golf tournament yesterday was exactly what our devotional thought dealt with last night!  Coincidence?  I think not!  Perhaps God is trying to tell me to listen and learn?  I think so!

I'm very independent.  I suppose that's a good thing in some ways.  If I need to go somewhere - I go.  I don't have to have my husband drive me or wait until he can drive me.  I know I can figure it out, eventually, and get where I need to go.  (Remember mine and my daughter's motto:  We'll get there!  It may not be the easiest way or the the smartest way - but we'll get there!)  I don't rely on others to do what I need to do.  Now house-wise there are lots of things my husband does that I don't even want to try to do, but I mean other responsibilities.  We don't expect help from others. I/we try to teach our children to take care of their things on their own and not look for special favors, such as extending deadlines for over-due projects or expecting other to pick up slack if they haven't done their part....just basic "being responsible" lessons.

But sometimes being independent causes problems.  Sometimes, if I'm used to relying too much on "me", I may find myself leaving God out of parts of my life.  It's not a conscious thing at all, but just a bad habit that's really hard to break!

Our devotional last night was from the children's version of "Jesus Calling".  It was called, "Don't Practice Your Problems", with the key scripture Exodus 33:14, "The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Here's a thought from the book:

Sometimes, though, when you aren't really focusing on Me (God), you start to rehearse and practice your problems - going over them again and agin in your mind.....Then you try to fix it yourself.

But you are never alone, because My Presence goes with you wherever you go. There is no need to worry, and you don't have to fix anything by yourself. Bring your problems to Me. In My Presence, many problems simply vanish, and others become much easier to handle.

Don't practice your problems; practice bringing your problems to Me.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

NOT MY PROBLEM

(Note from me: I wanted to share this with you.  I thought this was really good with a cute illustration at the beginning!  It is used by permission from Mr. Smith.)

NOT MY PROBLEM

     The Browns were shown into the dentist's office, where Mr. Brown made it clear he was in a big hurry.  "No fancy stuff, Doctor," he ordered, "No gas or needles or any of that stuff.  Just pull the tooth and get it over with."

     "I wish more of my patients were as stoic as you," said the dentist admiringly. "Now, which tooth is it?"

     Mr. Brown turned to his wife... "Show him, honey."

     It's easy to be brave when someone else is the one experiencing the pain!  I wonder as I write and speak about facing trials with a positive attitude if I could be so upbeat if I actually suffer the loss of everything I own in a hurricane or tornado.  It's easy to be brave when someone else is experiencing the pain!

     It's also easy to believe that someone else is the only one needing treatment.  "Don't look at me, doctor.  Take care of her!"  As you sat listening to (or delivering) a sermon Sunday, did you find yourself saying, "I sure hope so-and-so is listening, because this is something he really needs to work on!"

      Listen to these words of James:

     "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:23-25)

     James does not say that the word of God is a magnifying glass or a telescope to look at others.  Rather, it is a mirror.  And a mirror is only used to look at yourself.

     I pray that you will take the opportunity today to use the word of God as a mirror, and may your life be changed by it.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

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The Chronicles of Biscuit - The Seed

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son whose nickname is Biscuit.

Biscuit handed me a hand-written paper the other day, with the following "parable":

Life is like a seed. It grows and grows. You grow and grow. The seed also has bad things....we do, too. The bad way is, of course, satan's way.  The real good way is, of course, God's way.  Which way are you going?

Biscuit's "parable" is short and to the point, but Jesus taught a parable about seeds in much more detail.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:1-9

 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 18-23

I'll end today's thought with the same question Biscuit asked, "Which one are you?"

Ouch! That hurt!

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spiritsand live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

Watching "The Bible" mini series on TV the past month or so showed the disciples being persecuted in many ways.  Our youngest son, Tyler, was especially interested in the stoning of Stephen.  "Why was he stoned?", he asked.  "Why did they show his eyes shining?"

Stephen was stoned for his message - a message that began with Abraham and went all the way through to the crucifixion of Jesus. Stephen said:

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Acts 7:51-53

The members of the Sanhedrin had heard enough.  They were furious at Stephen and began to stone him.  In my opinion, "The Bible" didn't show Stephen's face "shining", but they did make his eyes appear to be shining - that is what Tyler noticed.  The Bible says that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He saw heaven.  He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  

Stephen died that day - persecuted for telling the people about Jesus - the truth about Jesus.  He pointed out their sin and they didn't like it.

Have you ever been persecuted for being a Christian?  When you read the top scripture, you will see that it says we should endure hardship.  It goes so far to say that if we do not endure hardship, we are not legitimate - not true sons and daughters of God.  Perhaps if we are not enduring hardship, we are not making a bold enough stand for Christ!  Maybe we're staying silent too often.  Maybe we're just going along with the crowd....or the world.  

Suffering, it says, produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. I want righteousness and peace, don't you?  Does it seem strange that the Bible says that suffering produces those things?  It's not really the way we like to think about becoming righteous and having peace, but it is part of God's plan...so we must have faith in those words.

What are you standing up for today?  In what ways can you be bold for Christ?  Allow God to discipline you as His child.  Allow Him to work in your life - to produce righteousness and peace.

Tipton Home Homecoming 2013

This past weekend, Tipton Home celebrated its 89th year of helping children.  In fact, Tipton Home has helped over 3,000 children since it first opened it doors!

Mrs. Davis chose "Building Character" as the theme for this year - with a special emphasis on the three years Tipton has won the state championship in football.

Those who attended Saturday's festivities could get an embroidered hat or one of these duffle bags.

Pictures were on display of each of the football teams from the winning years - 1952,  1997, and 2012.

In addition to the football displays, other extra-curricular activities were shown on the other side of the room.

My daughter and I decorated these lattice boards with pictures from present and past in the areas of FFA, FHA, 4-H basketball, more football, volleyball, softball, baseball, golf, and cheerleading.

Everyone enjoys looking at all of the old pictures, as well as the more recent pictures.

It was fun seeing how the uniforms have changed through the years!

A group of children, who call Tipton Home their home, sang several devotional songs. They did a great job!

Mrs. McCormack sang a beautiful song from her high school days.  She is also a former resident of Tipton Home and enjoys coming back to visit each year.

This former Tipton Home resident played on the 1952 state championship team. He shared memories of  that year.  It was an exciting time for he and his team back then!

And for the perspective of the 2012 winning team, assistant football coach, T. White told of special things about the present state champions.

A great day reminiscing with old friends and new friends - celebrating the accomplishments of students and athletes from the past and present.  A place that has changed lives and has been building character for 89 years.

May all glory be given to God for making all of this possible! And may He grant Tipton Home many more years of helping children.