Stacking Marbles

Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Sometimes life can seem like a game of marbles. As soon as we feel like we have one thing accomplished something else rolls out of place. No child quits playing with marbles because one rolls out of place. It may seem to be a simple thought but we shouldn't give up on life because one marble rolls out of place. Some people can't enjoy life because they seem to have the idea  that everything should be stress free. This is kind of like playing marbles and expecting never to loose. As we tell our children, it's not about whether you win or loose but how you play the game.

We know that life is not a game, it's a reality. Yet it can be enjoyable or grueling based on our outlook. Hard times come to everyone of us; no one is exempt. Sickness, financial difficulties, and the list goes one. If we focus only on the negatives it would be a pretty poor existence. None of us really wants to hear it when we get down but there is always something to be thankful for. And there is always someone who is worse off than we are.

Why not look around today and see someone else who is discouraged because they seem to be "loosing their marbles". Let's do what we can to encourage them to stay in the game. Yes, life has it's difficulties. But nothing ever stays the same. We've been through trials before and we made it through.  We can make it through again. As the song says, God's got it. Why not let him decide how the marbles fall? He knows all, sees all, and can fix all. But we must let him do it. Above all, don't quit playing. You might be loosing now but you never know when the tide will turn.  

One thing is for certain. If you commit your life to Jesus, not matter how many marbles  you loose, you'll still be the victor. If you never have anything in this life, don't worry. There is a better life coming. Allow me to paraphrase a parable of Jesus. "Why stack up your marbles down here where life can steal them away? It is better to stack them up in heaven where nothing can get to them. They will be there waiting on you." Eternity is a long, long time. I'd rather have my marbles then. If the pearls are big enough that one gate is made of one pearl, I wonder how big the marbles will be. I'm anxious to find out, aren't you?

Still Playing,

Sullivan Jones

Some things even a dog won't eat

The Bible tells the story in the book of I Kings about a wicked King and Queen named Jezebel. Jezebel was so wicked that her name has come to be used for a wicked woman, a witch, or even a prostitute. Yesterday, as my pastor was preaching, I realized something about her story that I have never thought of before.

At one point a prophet came and prophesied against Jezebel that the dogs would eat her up. This prophecy came to pass in II Kings chapter nine when king Jehu commanded Jezebel to be thrown from a window. Later when some men returned to bury her they found only her skull and her feet and the palms of her hands. The rest had been eaten by dogs in the time it took for King Jehu to eat lunch. When Pastor mention this a thought immediately came to mind: "some things even a dog won't eat".

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 6 that the Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood and feet that are swift in running to mischief. Jezebel's hands and feet were so polluted with the blood of Godly people she had killed that even the dogs knew not to eat them.

Can I tell you that it is the same with us when we are quick to spread gossip about people. Proverbs 18:21 says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Most of us would never think of taking another person's life but we can quick to pass judgment or spread gossip before we know the full situation. There is nothing that can destroy a workplace, a family, or even a church like  "a piece of good, old-fashioned juicy" gossip. When we repeat things that we have heard we destroy another person's reputation.

I will admit that I have probably been the most guilty of all about such things. Yet I get mad when I learn that people have been talking about me in a negative light. I must be fair. What I give is what I'll get so I want to watch what I say. I don't want to be guilty of murdering another person's character. If the time should ever come when I am found dead in a field I don't want any one thinking of me that "not even a dog would eat his hands and feet."

Thoughtfully,

Sullivan Jones

Why God?

Corrie ten Boom, the woman who is credited with saving the lives of more than 800 Jewish men, women, and children relates a wonderful story in her book “The Hiding Place”. It took place when she was about 8 years old on a train trip with her father. She had read the word “sexsin” in school and wanted to know what it meant. When she asked her mother, she blushed and would not answer. So she asked her father. He did not answer and she wasn’t sure that he had heard her but she didn’t press for an answer.

When it came time for them to leave the train her father asked Corrie to carry his briefcase from the train. It was heavy with the watches and things of his trade and so naturally was much too heavy for her to lift, let alone carry. When she told him it was too heavy for her he reached down, picked it up effortlessly, and taking her hand with his other hand, lead her from the train.

“Corrie”, he said. “Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older you will understand. Until then you must trust me to carry the answers for you.” It was a simple answer but Corrie was content. She knew her father was in control and that was all that mattered.

Years later Corrie and her sister Betsie stood inside their newly assigned barracks in the Scheveningen concentration camp and realized they were covered in fleas. They had been sent here for hiding Jews in their home to save them from the Nazis.

“Oh Betsie, Corrie wailed. How can we live in such a place?”

“Show us, show us how”, said Betsie.

It took Corrie a moment to realize that Betsie was praying. Corrie would later write that the dividing line between prayer and the rest of life became less and less for Betsie every day. After prayer Betsie announced to Corrie that they already had the answer. She instructed Corrie to re-read their morning Bible selection.

“I Thessalonians 5:18 – In all things give thanks.”

Betsie then began to thank God for everything about their new barracks including the fleas. At Betsie’s urging Corrie did the same. “But in my heart I knew Betsie was wrong”, she said. It was weeks later before they realized that the guards would not enter their barracks because of the fleas. This left them with complete freedom to have Bible studies with no interference from the German guards. They could not have known at the time but these fleas were the answer to their prayers for protection as they ministered God’s word.

There are times when all of us go through things we don’t understand. It may be a job loss or the sickness and death of a loved one. Maybe it is the derailment of our carefully laid plans or the disappointment of betrayal. In such times God has given us the answer if we will accept him at his word.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Giving thanks in such times is never easy. It goes against our logic. The most natural question is “why God”. “Why is this happening to me?” “Haven’t I been faithful enough” is a common question. “What about all the children I’ve taught in Sunday School or the people I’ve fed at the soup kitchen downtown”? “Don’t they count for something, God?” On and on the reasoning goes …

In such moments it might be helpful to remember that this trial may not be about us at all. Jesus allowed Lazarus to get sick and die so that others could see God’s glory. He said himself, “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God.” (John 11:4) In Corrie and Betsie’s case the fleas were not “about them”. God had purposefully put them in a place where they could minister for him unhindered. Upon careful consideration the fleas seemed a small price to pray. I’m sure that this knowledge didn’t make the flea bites any less miserable. It didn’t make their hunger go away or the cold less intense. But it did bring peace to their troubled minds; God was in control.

The hardest thing in a trial is to “let God be God.” Some would tell us not to question God or ask “why?” I assert that these are only natural questions. We are all human and our heavenly Father understands that better than anyone. His word tells us in the book of James that we can ask for wisdom without fear of being mocked. (James 1:5) This applies to questioning him about the “why” of a trial as well.

Yet the truth is, more times than we would like to admit, the answers we seek are not clear until much later. It is in these times that we must learn to praise God. It will not be easy at first. It never is. But once we learn to praise God it can become a habit. We know that though we don’t understand he will carry the knowledge for us.

Praising God may not bring the answers we seek but, as in in Corrie’s case, it will bring peace. Aren’t you thankful for a heavenly Father that is never caught off guard! Are you in a trial? Take a moment to praise him now? You will feel better, I promise.

Trusting Jesus,

Sullivan Jones