WHAT MATTERS

GREAT QUESTION

EXACTLY WHAT DOES MATTER?

TO YOU.

TODAY.  hmmmmn?

I mean...besides chocolate cake.

A dear friend with whom to share it.

A good cup of coffee.

A relaxing conversation.

EXACTLY WHAT MATTERS TO YOU?  selahV

MORE THAN A WORD

Kindness~~

  It's more than a word.  It's an outpouring action from the indwelling spirit of God.

In my case it was a bouquet of daisies and peach roses nestled in a yellow teacup.  Karen, my dear friend from Kentucky sent me the bouquet for my birthday. The amazing thing about the bouquet pictured is that Karen is a gal I taught in youth group in the very first church my husband pastored.  It's amazing to me that I left enough love behind over 25 years ago that she loves me this much today to extend such a generous act of kindness.

And she knew the essence of my being.  She knew that 3 roses were symbolic to me.  She knew my favorite flowers are daisies.  She knew my love for hot brewed tea and honey.  So the lovely bouquet was arranged in something I could use after the flowers had faded.

But there is another joy this spirit-filled gesture rendered to me.  I took the three peach-colored roses, wrapped their stems in copper ribbon, and hung them on my memory bouquet of roses from the chandelier in my dining room.  They lend a lovely display for my country decor.

All the roses in the arrangement have significance.  My granddaughter's wedding, my daughter's Mother's Day bouquet to me, my son's memorial roses, and now, Karen's roses.  They all snuggle together and remind me of the closeness I have with all who've given me roses blessed by love.  In time, these lovely peach roses will dry out and the color will fade into another.  But love and kindness will linger as a life-long treasure in my heart.  And that's what matters to me and, I think, to God.  selahV

MORE ON KINDNESS, FOLLOW ME HERE.

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

   

LITTLE THINGS OF LIFE

"...its leaf also shall not fade or wither..." Ps.1:3c

"...but its leaf shall be green..." Jer.17:8c.

Lovely things.  Green things.  Fields, trees, leaves.  LIFE.  Such is those things we see that flourish in the summer sun~~corn rows, new mown grass, unearthed sod, fruit-filled pear trees.

Little things.  A tiny gray moth resting on a sunflower leaf posing for his picture.  Did you notice?  Delicate traces of orange tipping its wings.  No fear at all that I might snatch it from its perch and place it on an insect display underglass.  Without concern it smiles at me.

A blade of green grass.  A collection grown to be harvested.  Deep cuts severing the sod, rolling it in gigantic bales.  Lying in hot Oklahoma sun, watching others as they're rolled and readied for pickup.  Where will this grass go?  Where will it grow?  Another part of town?  Across state lines?  Here, it has fulfilled its purpose on Route 7 just off I-44.  Here it was planted in red soil.  Spring and summer rain bathed it.  Sunshine beckoned it to life.  Man takes it to another place, perhaps some home where children play croquet. Eventually it shall wither and be no more.

Tiny things.  Baby pecans, popping out on sprawling limbs.  Each smaller than an appleseed.  They grow.  They gather life abundantly, to be harvested, to fall to earth and die to become life again. 

Clusters of pears cling stubbornly to branches overladen with fruit.  Some give up their growth to summer winds and drop prematurely to the ground.  Others rest quietly, waiting for the fullness of their time to be separated from their life-giving source.

Life...it is all around us.  God's perpetual flow of life declares His goodness, His bounty, His provision.  Yet none can compare.  No; none to the fullness we have in Jesus His son.

"For it was in Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen..." Col.1:16

Man, the crowning glory of God's creation.

"For it also pleased [the Father] that all divine fullness (the sum total of all divine perfection, powers and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently." Col.1:19 (Amplified)

How blessed is man to be born into this world of God's grace and love.  How blessed we are to have the assurance of a permanent dwelling place in Him~~ Jesus Christ our Lord.  How sweet the assurance that though we are born to new life in Him, we are not like the leaf, the blade of grass, the nut, nor pears.  Such sweet relief to know our future is secured in His almighty hand for all eternity.

What could matter more?  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

    

A RIGHTEOUS MAN

"The prayers of a righteous man availeth much."

Exactly what does his prayer avail?  To me, in a brightly lit intensive care unit, it meant a tender hand.  A comforting balm.  A kindness unexpected.  A pastor's love.

When the nurse told me my pastor was on the line, I was surprised.  Normally, my pastor would have called me on my cell or just come in as he'd done earlier that day.  Our Minister of Education and his wife had just left and had prayed for my husband.  So when the call came, I thought they must have the wrong person.

When the operator confirmed I was who I was, she connected me to "your pastor."  I was so amazed that Les Puryear was the voice on the other end.  I've never talked with Les.  We've only known each other through blogging.  And here he was calling to see how my husband had made it through surgery.  Well over a thousand plus miles away.  But he sounded as if he was right there beside me.  I felt the presence of his spirit.  I cannot begin to tell you how touched I was by his gracious compassion and blessed prayer for Bob and I.

Why did he do that?  Why did he track down the hospital we were in?  Why did he take time to call?  Why did he call at the precise moment he did?  Because he is a righteous man, ordained of God--and not of men--to pastor those in need.  Anywhere.  Anytime.

Did it matter that I had a pastor and hundreds of other people praying for me and my husband?  Did it matter that other bloggers had posted calls to prayer for us.  Not to him.  What mattered is that he felt led and prompted by the Holy Spirit to personally make his call and pray with me.  What mattered was he was obedient to God's prompting.  Is that not a righteous man?

I thank all of you again for praying for us.  My husband has a long way to go, but the doctor's are amazed at how well he's doing.  Are we?  I don't think so.  :)  selahV

         

FUNGUS, WORMS AND OTHER INFESTATIONS

Gorgeous pecan trees.  They tower above my head each year.  They drop multiple nuts each fall.  But not one is edible.  Worms.  Each and every nut is infested with worms.  What's it take to make a healthy tree?  To produce wormless nuts?

When I became a Christian over thirty years ago, I simply believed Jesus died on a cross to save me from my sin--all sin.  I trusted that He--in some majestic, unfathomable way--was capable through His obedience to the Father in Heaven, shed His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for all time and all people.  And I got to be one of those people because I opened the door of my heart and let Him come in to dwell forever in me.

I further believed that He would reside within the temple of the Holy Spirit--my body, heart, soul and mind--and would direct me, comfort me, teach me and convict me of all things necessary to complete whatever plan He had for my life.  Upon my entrance into faith, I claimed and hung onto Proverbs 3:5-6 as a life verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways ackknowledge HIM and HE shall direct your paths."  [emphasis mine]

Throughout my three-score--plus years of Christian life, these truthes have served me well.  And in my total naive trust and faith, believe they have brought a measure of joy to my Father in Heaven.  I am most certain He has laughed and chuckled at my ignorance at times, too.  But one of the things I learned early in my walk with the Lord, is the importance of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.  It was one of the most valuable lessons I've learned.

I've been able to avoid many evils in life as a result.  I've been able to pick through the produce of life and spot the moldy, blighted fruit of others and set my apples in another basket to protect against a spreading fungus.  I've been able to smell a stench from within me and give it to Jesus and ask that He remove it.  I've been able to open the vein of nourishment to my branch as a result and give Him the glory for having completed any production of blue-ribbon fruit for His picking.

Gossip.  Talebearing.  Strife.  Bitterness.  Ill-feelings.  Judgmental attitudes.  Condemnation of brothers or sisters.  Prune me, Jesus.  Cut away the suckers that rob the nourishment You seek to send to the branches of my heart.

And should I be as fruitless as a tree with empty wormy pecans...then cut me down, Lord.  Cut me down and remove my worthless life from the chance of infecting others with my blighted soul.

But if there be anything of any value, let me stand and shade the lives of others.  Let me hold the hammock for another's rest and meditation.  It's the least I can do if I can't bear fruit of any value to You, O Lord.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]    

MASSACRE, EVIL & OPINIONS

MURDER IN VIRGINIA.

   

I went to the Virginia Institute when I was fouteen years old.  I won first place in a State 4-H speaking competition.  I also won first place in a cooking competition.  The campus was huge to me.  My recipe was chicken salad.  My speech was Why I Am Proud to be An American.

Today, I still make the chicken salad.  Today, I'm still proud to be an American.  But much has changed in forty-four years.  Society is so much more violent.  Evil use to hide in back alleys and wait till dark to come out.  No more.  Evil strolls down sidewalks, into hospitals and on playgrounds in broad daylight today.  Evil walks into campuses and blows people to smitherines and destroys multiple lives and families forever.

Today we have predators sitting next to us at McDonald's and preaching to us from pulpits.  We have terrorists getting flight instructions and being educated by us to blow us up and destroy us.  Today we invite tramps and trollops into our living room and let them dance in front of our eyes on television screens.  Today we walk into restaurants, clothing stores and listen to gangsta rap yell their trash in our ears under the protection of freedom of speech.

Today we suck brains from unborn children and dump them in a waste disposal along with the fetuses whose hearts beat just moments before.  But today our most significant topic of discussion is one preacher's opinion of our doctrinal belief on whether or not God's gonna save anyone's depraved soul.  Amazing.  Truly amazing.

Pardon me, my faithful readers, if I digress from my usual words of encouragement, comfort or inspiration.  Today, I must beg you to pray for a nation gone crazy in a world bent on total destruction.  I beg you to pray for more optimism than pessimism.  More forgiveness than condemnation.  More eagerness to understand than eagerness to judge.

Gosh, I'm tired.  I really am.  Having lost my son on Mother's Day nearly two years ago, this day of death and loss brings to life the pain, agony and numbness of death to my grieving mind.  Life is so much more than this.  It really is.  It's so much more than opinions and arguements. So much more.  selahV

WHAT DID YOU MEAN, EXACTLY?

Ever say something and been misunderstood? Ever have to explain yourself over and over again?  And still no one gets it, or some don't follow you where you were heading with your topic?  I have.

Recently I had someone pick out one word from a post I'd written and assign meaning to it from other statements I said later.  One word.  I'm not the only one this happens to.  I've seen it other places.

A pastor preaches a thirty-minute sermon or forty.  Then one illustration is singled out above every verse, every portion of his outline to define the entire message.  And it doesn't have a thing to do with the message he sought to convey.  Makes you wonder why some preachers find it necessary to have an opening joke before the sermon, doesn't it?

In some cases, the way I see folks dissect blogs, I wonder if they ever get any message from anyone.  Shucks, some commentors make me question if they could get a positive message out of one red-letter quote make by Jesus Christ, Himself.  Oh well, I think we will find this true till the Lord comes back and brings a new earth on which we dwell without miscommunication, division and suspicion.

DEFINITIONS.  Distinguishing characteristics of words.

I wrote a blog on words once.  In fact, the blogpost originated from a column I wrote years earlier in a Kentucky newspaper: WHAT MATTERS.  The thought I wanted to convey was that what matters is not words, but intent.  And all too often we can't see the intent for the words we read or hear for one's perception of the speaker, writer or very words, themselves.  It's like one word conjures up its own definition in our minds the moment we see it or hear it.  Let me give you a few to image up:  Racism.  Bigot.  Gay.  Happy-go-lucky.  Fear.  Awe.  Disciplined.  Meek.  Timid.  Weak.  Controlled.  Passion.  Anger.  Indignation.  Love.  Lust.

If you took any one of those words, any one of us could have meanings on either extreme of the definition found in Webster's or Funk and Wagnell.  In the shadows of every word are outlines, and underlines of emotion, experience and knowledge.  How one relates to, reacts to or understands a word in the confines of their thinking is how that word will be understood when used in a sentence to deliver a thought or message to another.  Consider the words, conservative, moderate, fundamental, liberal.  What defining descriptions come to mind? 

Also, and in my mind, most importantly is the intent (purpose) of the word.

When one person has a predetermined judgement of another person, they tend to hear or read into that person's statement a particular motive or intent by its usage.  If one holds a negative view of someone, there is little they could say that wouldn't bring a hailstorm of opposition from another.  While on the otherhand if the same person holds a positive view of another, then very little that one says will be met with question.  From this, both dictator and monster can be created.

"The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting." Ben Jonson, Catiline's Conspiracy [1611], act III, sc.ii.

"Speech was given to the ordinary sort of men whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it." Robert South, [1676] Sermon.

"The words of the wise are prodding goads, and firmly fixed [in the minds] like nails are the collected sayings which are given [as proceeding] from one shepherd." Ecc.12:11

There is definitely power in words.  Words can be damaging.  They can echo in the minds of people till they die.  Once spoken (or written), they can impact, edify or destroy.  However, it is not the word itself that has that power--it's the influence given it by others.  It's the power one allows it to have to impact, edify or destroy.  Challenging another's words is good when challenged with the respect one desired from another.  But challenging or attacking with the same intent or motive does nothing to clarify a thought or distinguish a flame before it sparks a firestorm of controversy.  Words do matter.  So does the heart and mind behind one uttering those words.

What matters most is that we choose our words wisely.  And perhaps instead of being so quick to spit them out, we ought to try swallowing a few.  Otherwise a heresy of thundering proportions will be heard without so much as a microphone. [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]    

A MORSEL OF BREAD

"IT IS THE ONE...

to whom I am going to give this morsel of food after I have dipped it.

So when He had dipped the morsel of bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son." John 13:26

"SO AFTER RECEIVING...

the bit of bread, he went out immediately..."

and Judas conspired with the Pharisees, selling out Jesus for thirty pieces of silver with one kiss of betrayal beyond the winter torrent of Kidron in the garden there.

When Jesus was taken prisoner--without protest, struggle or defense--Judas went out and hung himself in remorse for the personal loss he encountered for his self-indulgent efforts to direct the destiny of God's Incarnate Son without regard to the Sovereign Almighty Father's hand.

The hand of Jesus.

A cup.  A morsel of Bread.  What will I do with mine?  What will you do with yours?  Do we have any choice in the realm of our Sovereign's will?  Did Judas?

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]     

LET'S GO FOR A WALK

WALK WITH ME.  Come walk with Me.  Into the springtime of life's eternal love.  Again and again, He whispers.  I love you.  See what I've made for you.  Look!  See the lilies; they do not labor and toil.  Did you notice the sparrows today?  None fall but that I notice.  Did you know you are far more important than they?  I love you, don't you know?

One of the finest books I've ever read on love is THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond.  In one chapter of this tiny little 60-plus pages, he writes, "Souls are made sweet not by taking the acid fluids out but by putting something in--a great love, a new spirit, the Spirit of Christ.  Will power does not change men.  Time does not change men.  Christ does."

These daffodils consume the ground from which they grow, then break forth from hardened soil left only to God's green thumb.  Beauty from dirt-filled woods.  Christ is a bulb of love planted in a frozen heart.  It blooms no matter what.  It breaks forth from bitter cold.  Just as the daffodil is the first sign of spring, the first sign of a heart saved by grace is an act of love.

"Is life not full of opportunities for learning love?  Every man and woman every day has a thousand of them.  The world is not a playground; it is a schoolroom.  Life is not a holiday, but an education.  And the one eternal lesson for us all is how we can love better."  Drummond.

"So therefore, practice love" the Apostle Paul exhorts.  Practice, practice, practice.  When we practice love enough, it soon becomes second nature, then first nature.

When my grandson broke his ankle and had to have screws put into the bone, he also had to have a cast for 8 weeks.  When that cast was removed, his left calf muscle was non-existent in comparison to his right.  He hadn't been able to use it, so it shriveled up.  When we do not exercise love--the type of love Jesus showed, we shrivel up, too.  We must yearn to walk with Jesus.  It's the best exercise for a heart in need of love.  For when we walk in love, we find love.

It's not to late to begin practicing love.  What matters is not how little you loved yesterday, but how much you love today.

By the way, I read a beautiful blog today, written by a young lady who is wise beyond her years.  For a blessing I offer her site as food for your soul.  May you find the encouragement there to love one person, one more time--for Jesus' sake.  [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

DOES JESUS STILL WEEP?

A tomb.  A body, dead four days.  Why hadn't Jesus come?  Mary and Martha cried openly for the loss of their brother.  If only the Master had been there.  But He waited.

Jesus came to the tomb.  What didn't they understand about His mission on the earth?  How long must Mary sit at His feet?  Nevertheless, for the sake of the Father and His purpose, Jesus thanked Him for what He would do.  Move the stone!  Lazarus come forth!  And he did.

An archway of triumph before Him.  Disciples followed.  Crowds marveled at His miraculous works.  Looking toward Jerusalem, Jesus wept again. He warned his disciples.  They did not understand the magnitude of His warnings.  Instead they contemplated who would be first in the kingdom to come.

Jesus was the Kingdom.  He was then, and is today, and will be tomorrow.  In Him we find our peace.  In Him we have the victory.  In Him we share His inheritance.  Does He still weep?  When He looks at me--my actions, my words, my posturing, my planning and strategy?  Do I look to Him?  Do I weep for Jerusalem to come?   Not nearly enough.  [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]