journey onWord with us

The following brief devotional arrived in my personal email recently.  It’s only a few sentences long, but the length of its personal challenge has extended for days in my own life.  Let’s read it first, and then I’ll share where my heart was led…

A thumbprint is the only marginalia in Abraham Lincoln’s Bible.  Next to Psalm 34:4 — I sought the LORD and he answered me.  He delivered me from all my fears. — there is an indentation clearly showing that Lincoln firmly grasped this text on more than one occasion to let it sink into his bones.  That thumbprint was made by pressure and by faith.

In your Bible, next to Psalm 34:4, lightly sketch an image of a thumbprint.  Let this be your prayerful reminder of what impact trusting God for deliverance from fear might have on the world, both today, and tomorrow.

I’m a history guy, so this very personal revelation about President Lincoln resonated deeply with me.  I am also a sensory guy, so the mention of a thumbprint indentation stirred me as well.  The author’s challenge was excellent, but instead of walking away from this treasured story with a fleeting fact and a sketched thumbprint next to that verse in my Bible, I was challenged with the following two questions.

Is there even a single thumbprint indentation in my Bible(s)?

and

On what verse or page would it appear?

I am all about an inspiring story, but I don’t desire to imitate or live anyone else’s life.  This is not meant as a criticism of the author’s words or intent … I appreciated them both.  God made me uniquely me, and you, uniquely you.  There are countless famous and anonymous people who have lived with great character and conviction, and there is no harm in being inspired by them.  But rather than imitating and tracing your thumbprint in a place where there’s was, allow their stories and their lives to awaken, or birth something new in yours.  Here is what this story awoke in me…

I have many Bibles.  Have any of them been used to the extent that they would bear a thumbprint indentation?

Scripture is ever-present and essential in my personal journey of following Jesus.  Is there a verse, chapter or book that has “sunk into my bones,” and whose thumbprint has been “made by pressure and faith?”

Where has my life left a permanent mark?

NOTE:  The devotional noted above was distributed by the Common English Bible website.  The source post can be found at http://e2.ma/message/ppike/dsk2nf

How would you answer this question? “What role does the Bible, God’s Word, play in my life?” The question is not, “do I believe the Bible?” or “have I read it?” or “memorized verses in the past?”, but “what role is it playing in my life today?” So much of your life is driven by the answer to this seemingly simple question.

It would only seem logical that all who claim to be Christ-followers would be students of the Word. After all, our Father has chosen to give us instruction for life and godliness through His revealed Word. But from personal experience, I have learned that being a student of the Word is anything but easy. It takes discipline and passion for any of us to “continue in the Word.”

My thoughts for this post were prompted by a little known passage found in the book of II Kings. Reading about one evil king after another was not energizing.  But then I came to chapter twenty-two and King Josiah.  He was different! He became king at eight years old and worked at honoring the Lord.

II Kings 22:2
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

My reading took me to an amazing find; one that makes me wonder how many Christ-followers have ever studied or took note of before. Josiah wanted the worship of Jehovah re-established and had a desire to rebuild the temple. In the process of rebuilding the temple, the high priest found the Book of the Law. My response was … “they lost the Book of the Law?!”  How could a people who God had blessed so greatly, lose the very Word of God?

II Kings 22:8, 10-11
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.”….Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

God, through the Book of the Law, got Josiah’s attention. But it is so sad to think that a people with something so special, lost it in the first place. How far they had fallen (read the complete chapter if you have time)! It is easy for all of us to generalize about how our nation, our schools and, to a great extent, our churches have lost the Word of God. We haven’t lost it physically, but I am sure you will agree with me that we have lost it as the authority upon which we stand. How will future generations view us?

On a personal note, I am sure you can locate your own copy of the Word of God. But has its value gotten lost in the maze of activity called twenty-first century living? Have you lost the passion for its principles? How much attention do you give to God’s instruction book (His Word)?  You get the point!

If you are like me, there are seasons of passion and times of distance relative to the Word. But we know where the real answers to life’s questions are found. You and I cannot speak for our nation, our schools or our churches.  But our relationship to the Word of God will help direct our futures. It must be a priority. Don’t lose your way!

Personality assessments fascinate me. By just answering a list of questions, I have seen my life presented in living color. Attributes about me, both positive and negative are pinpointed with incredible accuracy. You have probably also had the same experience of looking at your strengths and weaknesses through the lens of a few questions.

One particular test highlighted my personality characteristics to be that of a lion, and there were several attributes listed in the feedback from the test that made me proud. But lions can also be too driven, spill their coffee with regularity (my wife says that is a lion trait), lose car keys (in the ignition), drive too fast and generally push themselves and others too hard. It can be interesting to evaluate and respond to the not-so-desirable parts of our personality.  Many times we try to excuse our weaknesses with words like, “that’s just the way I am”.

When it comes to living out our faith, we should never use our personality as an excuse. Whether you are as driven as a lion, as passive as a golden retriever, relational like an otter, or as analytical as a beaver, God has a design for you. Our responsibility is to live out His plan in the context of the way He built us.  My premise comes from a quote in the book God is Closer Than You Think, by John Ortberg. In a chapter about practicing the presence of God, he states, “My task is to meet God in this moment.” What a spiritual statement! But quite frankly, most of us don’t live this way, or even believe it is possible. We may agree with the concept intellectually, but our lifestyles, personalities and preconceived notions get in the way. So, is this really possible for me to meet God in this very moment? Is it possible for you?

My easy out is my strong-willed, fast-paced lion personality. You can also probably name an excuse or two. It is so easy to put meeting God in this moment within the confines of a worship service, or our devotional time. But do we really believe that God just shows up at specific places, and at predictable, prescribed times? Of course not! So why isn’t it logical to practice His presence all day long, in the midst of every ordinary day?  Seeking to meet God in this moment changes the way we respond in tense meetings, traffic jams (sorry), at the grocery store, when we spill the coffee and in every other part of our day.

Now, if you are anything like me, meeting God in this moment sounds like monk stuff, not something that is possible in 21st century America. In the same book mentioned above, I read a quote about a man named Nick, later known as Brother Lawrence. He determined his life would be a “habitual, silent, secret conversation of the soul with God.” His life has challenged generations, and he wasn’t a monk or a preacher. He worked … in a kitchen. He lived out his “habitual, silent, secret conversation of the soul with God” amidst the washing of pots and pans, and scrubbing of floors.  If you want to practice His presence, invite Him into each activity of your day. Don’t believe that meeting God in this moment is monk stuff; it is His design for Christ followers.

As a lion (so the personality test said) my flesh often wants to roar, but my perspective changes if I meet God in each moment.  For one day, would you consider inviting Him into each detail and activity?  Prayerfully and intentionally invite God to each meeting, each phone conversation, the 3 a.m. feeding and diaper change, each class, and yes, even the traffic jam on the drive home.  Living in the reality of His presence will change your perspective and deepen your faith.  He longs to be with you, and never turns down an invitation to this moment.

Each moment is lived only once; invite Him to join you!

If I was completely honest, I would have to admit that I avoid mirrors.  In a department store, I’ll rush past one, being careful to lock my gaze in the opposite direction (how dumb does that sound?!).  It seems like an odd thing to confess in a blog post with more than two readers, but it’s nonetheless true.  I’ll never argue the truth that God doesn’t make mistakes, but in so many ways I grade myself harshly in what I’ve done with the body and spirit that He gifted me.

That critical nature was tweaked a bit recently as I listened to a song from an artist I love.  The song is, “I Am New” by Jason Gray and it speaks of being made new in Christ.  “I am not who I was, I’m being remade, I am new,” the chorus begins.  Just before that chorus kicks in, at the very end of the third verse of the song, you’ll find the following words…

But the One who is making everything new
doesn’t see me the way that I do.
He doesn’t see me the way that I do.

Upon hearing those words again for the first time in quite some time, they landed and nestled themselves in my soul and tweaked that critical nature I just confessed.  I have “listened” to that song many times.  I’m not sure how many times it took to truly “hear” it, but I have come to feel those words deeply.  Oh the immeasurable gift it would be to see with His eyes … even one time and just for a few seconds.  To see myself, not as the physical or spiritual reflection in my earthly mirror, but as He sees me!

So much of my life is lived in the powerful shadow of my guilt and shame.  So many times I stop short of doing something for Him because I convince myself that I’m not worthy, or that I’ve failed Him far too many times to be of any use.  How stuck I can get in the mire of my past.

I read some life-breathing words in a daily devotional (Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning) entry recently.  It was titled, “Responses to Jesus,” and offered a beautiful reminder of the lineage we have in this life of faith.

These biblical characters, however clean or tawdry their personal histories may have been, were not paralyzed by the past in their present response to Jesus.  Tossing aside self-consciousness, they ran, clung, jumped and raced to him.  Peter denied him and deserted him, but he was not afraid of him.

In reading the full entry, I was reminded once again of the thread of imperfection that runs through the body of Christ.  The author was referring to the personal histories of Mary (sister of Martha), Mary Magdalene and Peter when he uses the word, “these.”  They are central characters in God’s love story, and yet they are fully flawed human beings.  The thread of imperfection runs through them all and extends to you and I.  Yet at the same time, they (and we) are perfect examples of the power that exists in the name and redeeming blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

They “were not paralyzed by the past in their present response to Jesus.”  Yes Jesus, I want that to be said of me.

How are you with mirrors?  And what about your past?  If everything I’ve confessed resonates with you, join me.  If even the smallest part of something I’ve confessed resonates with you, join me. If you see my confessions in the rear view mirror of your own journey, we’ll join you.  Let’s all run, cling, jump and race to Him together!

Have you ever noticed how noisy your days are?  Riding through Amish country yesterday gave me a stark contrast to what typical days are like. It was so peaceful. There were very few cars and most stores were closed.  It seemed as if everyone was enjoying a very quiet Sunday afternoon.

Non-stop vehicles of communication have overtaken our world … and we love it. From Twitter to Facebook to our deep love of cell phones and anything technological, we have taken a major turn on the road toward eliminating the solitude of life that we so desperately need. It would be less than honest of me to say that I am not also caught up in that same traffic.  We all need a sense of quiet in our lives that tunes our ear to the Father’s voice.  Distractions (even good ones) can cause major traffic jams on the journey every believer in Christ wants to travel with the Father.

When the issues of life get really tough, we want God on “speed dial”.  Needing the Father in this way reminds me of an instance that happened many years ago, while walking my daughter into her school. As we were walking up to the front entrance, she suddenly fell and hurt her leg badly. Immediate tears and pain jarred dad into action. She wanted dad to help her right now!  My desire to protect, and make her better went into overdrive. Nobody else needed to help her … I would!

It remains important to me, even after all these years, that I was needed to calm her down and meet her needs at that moment of pain. My “father moment” begs the question, “Who else but your heavenly Father can really calm your spirit and heal your hurts?”  The noise generated by distractions in our lives so often drowns out the voice of a God who desperately wants to speak peace into our hearts.  Stop for a minute, and meditate on a verse that can give perspective to the will of the Father, and what He wants from us …

Psalm 46:10a

Be still and know that I am God;  (NIV)

Cease striving and know that I am God;  (NASB)

Step out of the traffic! Take a long loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything  (MSG)

In the context of danger and turmoil, what does God say? Whether you prefer “be still” or “cease striving” the intent is clear. Do nothing. Know God. The Message paints a great visual, doesn’t it?

Take a long loving look at Me

Are you getting to know the Father better? Are you finding His peace? Or, would you admit that the distractions caused by non-stop communications are drowning out the Father’s voice? “Be still…”  “Cease striving…” The Creator of heaven and earth wants to speak peace. I believe you want to hear Him. I would suggest that it may take pulling over into the slow lane on the highway of your life!

My role is not to tell you how to grow in silence and solitude with the Father. Honest hearts will confess whether they are being distracted from His voice. He is the author of the solution, and you don’t have to look any farther than Psalm 46:10 to find His answer.

I liked driving through Amish country. It was a welcome escape from all that tends to distract me. Admittedly, it’s nice to have the technology to be in close communication, but in my travels, anything that distracts me from the Father and a quiet heart, hurts me. So I must ask you an honest question.  Are you traveling on a distracted journey? If so, step out of the traffic!

I was a mess! Tuesday afternoon I got caught in a torrential rainstorm. Getting from the car to my office was an adventure, and I got soaked. To top it off, my sad state of affairs continued when I got ready to return home and couldn’t find my keys. In the haste of grabbing my umbrella, jacket and iced tea to dodge the rain earlier, I left my keys in the ignition … with the vehicle running! Thank goodness no one needed an extra car that night. I was a mess! I am sure that you have done something similar (maybe?!). While you are laughing at my mess,  I’d like you to think for a moment of those whose lives are really a mess. Consider the following story I came across this week…

Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service….only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food….NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation……..”We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek”….The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation…..The homeless man sitting in the back stood up…..and started walking down the aisle…..the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him….he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment….then he recited

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning…many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame…. he then said….Today I see a gathering of people……not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples…when will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week…….Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It’s something you live by and share with others.

I can’t verify the truth of this story, but it was sent to me twice this week. A friend from Florida sent it to me, and then an Ohio friend did the same. There are people who walk into our lives and our churches whose lives are really a mess. I am convinced that it is easier to contribute money to homeless shelters than to love homeless (hurting) people. My point isn’t for you (or me) to feel guilty, but to be honest and reflective about what our responses should be when we see a life that is a mess!

On several occasions recently I have asked individuals, “who is the wisest person you know?”  It has been interesting to me that there is never a quick answer.  Quite frankly, most of the time, I haven’t received an answer at all. If you were challenged to name the wisest person you know, could you name anyone? You may be wondering why I would even consider such a question.  The answer is simply that I believe one of the greatest virtues that can ever be attributed to someone is wisdom.  Proverbs 4:7 gives us a great picture of God’s view of wisdom.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (NLT)

If it is such a big deal, we should all be seeking it!

Over the last few weeks, I have been meeting with a few business owners and discussing wisdom from Proverbs. The weekly comments have been insightful to me as we have looked at how to apply wisdom in our lives. What does a man or woman of wisdom look like anyway? When I think of a wise person, my mind goes to the person that doesn’t speak the most or the loudest, but when they speak, I want to hear every word.  The thoughts are typically reasoned and balanced. They have a handle on the subject matter being discussed, and an understanding of how to apply their knowledge.  An over-riding definition of wisdom to me is, the mind of God revealed. A person can have lots of worldly wisdom, and skills in certain areas, but the wisdom that transcends those characteristics is wisdom that looks at life from God’s perspective.

In my wisdom quest, I have been profoundly impacted by Proverbs 16:23, and its implications over the past week. As you read the verse, realize the potential that it can have for you.

From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.

For this verse I also chose the New Living Translation. Other versions use the word heart instead of mind, but I believe the context to be the same. We can look at the heart as the whole inner being, and it is the depository of wisdom and the place from where our speech comes. It goes without saying that to gain the perspective of God for all situations we must have a consistent intake of His Word. When we continually deposit the Word, focus on its truth and apply the principles….wise speech will be the result.

As you read the following story, reflect on wisdom personified and think of how you would have responded. Corrie ten Boom tells a fascinating story of her father’s wisdom in her book, The Hiding Place.

As a child, Corrie once traveled with her father by train from their home in Haarlem, the Netherlands to Amsterdam. Her father was a watchmaker and traveled to repair parts for new watches that he had sold. He carried a large, heavy briefcase with his parts and tools. Corrie had seen the word “sex” written somewhere and couldn’t understand what it meant so she questioned her father as they traveled. She asked her father to define the word “sex”. He turned and looked at her, but said nothing. At last he stood, lifted his heavy briefcase from above and put it on the floor. “Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?” he said. “It’s too heavy.” she said.

“Yes,” he said. “And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load.  It’s the same way Corrie, with knowledge.  Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it.  For now you must trust me to carry it for you”.

Wow, what wisdom! Corrie’s father was thoughtful and didn’t shun the question, but gave her a reasoned profound answer. We can all learn from his response.  I am sure he was a man who took in the Word, prayed about life, and applied the truth he knew. And at a critical moment, his words were wise.

Wouldn’t it be great if when asked, “who is the wisest person you know,” someone mentioned your name? You may feel it can’t happen, but I believe it can. It will only happen if you gain God’s perspective. You can … and when you do; your speech will be wise and your words persuasive. You won’t speak the loudest or the most. You won’t need too, because, the words you do say will carry tremendous weight. If getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do, seek it.

If prayer was a place, I wonder if most people would note it’s mailing address as the land of wishful thinking. Stop for a minute and consider this for yourself. Every believer knows that they should pray, that the Bible admonishes us to pray, and that even the non-Christian will sometimes call out to God in moments of distress. But how many people pray with a strong view of God’s power, and real confidence that He will answer? Or is it more typical that our prayers are words spoken in a heavenly direction out of a sense of obligation or wishful thinking (although we certainly wouldn’t admit it), without much confidence in the outcome?

Earlier this week, my daughter asked me to pray about a big professional issue in her life. I reminded her how we had seen God answer before. Only a few days later, it seems her answer has come. Then this morning about five o’clock, I realized that another big family prayer request had been answered. I could tell you that I am a prayer warrior, but I often struggle with prayer’s address being that land of wishful thinking. The verse of a song from my childhood is great counsel for my prayer life, and I hope it can be for yours.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable;
Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?
God specializes in things tho’t impossible;
He does things others cannot do.

excerpt from Got Any Rivers, Oscar C. Eliason, copyright 1945

You, no doubt, have some uncrossable rivers before you right now, and so do I. There may even be a mountain or two of difficulty staring you right in the face. When we are not firm and steadfast in our view of God’s power, impossibilities look, well … impossible. The old song says that God specializes in things that are “impossible”. Can we believe it, or are those words just wishful thinking? Experience has taught me that those who pray earnestly with confident faith see God do “things others cannot do.” Are you ready to experience Him doing that in your life?

The prophet Jeremiah affirmed our assertion …

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Those words don’t sound like wishful thinking to me. They sound like blocks of granite you can build your prayer life upon? While those words are certain, our times of prayer often don’t reflect that certainty. Later in chapter 32, the word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah …

Jeremiah 32:27
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah prayed it, God affirmed it, and let’s just be simple enough to believe it. Nothing is too hard for God!

Is your prayer life firmly rooted in that truth? Are there rivers or mountains in your life right now that you don’t want to bother Him with, or you don’t really believe He can do something about?  If you are anything like me, there are times that I get it. Those times are special and quite profound. They are times of river crossings and mountain passes. There is no wishful thinking in the truth of God’s Word, and there should be none in our prayer lives. Nothing is too hard for Him. Believe it and pray like it!

I am glad God woke me before 5:00 am to remind me He answers prayer!

With an honest heart, I can tell you that there are people who I just don’t like very much. I didn’t say that I didn’t love them; just that I don’t like them very much. Now you may be aghast that such a spiritual giant (right) would make such a proclamation. But aren’t you the same way?! I guarantee that there is someone in your life who speaks, and the words affect you like nails on a chalkboard.  Can we just be honest and confess our feelings?  Last week on vacation, I was reading about someone who I don’t like very much … and I have only read about him. He is simply a person whose attitude and actions are like nails on a chalkboard to my ears and heart.  His name is Jonah!

Yes … the guy and the big fish, Jonah. But the book that bears his name tells far more than a fish story. Let me give you a snapshot of what we find in the four chapters of Jonah. The Lord called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh (capital of Assyria), and instead he took off in the opposite direction. You may have experienced running from God. Jonah’s journey of disobedience led him, of all places, to the inside of a big fish for three days and three nights. He gets right with God inside the fish (wouldn’t you?), and God directed the fish to vomit him onto dry land.  The second time the Lord said go to Nineveh, he did. He proclaimed God’s message, and a great revival ensued in Nineveh. The result? God didn’t bring destruction upon the city. Jonah was thrilled, right? Wrong!

When Jonah saw that God spared the city, he was angry. Jonah 4:2 gives us a great picture of his displeasure.

So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.

Jonah obviously had a hatred of the Assyrians, and God’s compassion got to him (think about that).  Jonah made a shelter, sat down, and God grew a vine to shade him from the sun.  I believe Jonah was hoping that God would change his mind again and destroy the city.  In His sovereignty, God destroyed the vine … exposing Jonah to the heat, and adding to his self–pity.  Look at the words that followed this scene.

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly.  But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
Jonah 4:10-11

That rascal didn’t really care for the people God loved.  And he was a Prophet!  Can’t you see why he is like nails on a chalkboard to me?  He was selfish and nationalistic in his faith, but God cares for all mankind equally.  Oops … Does God care for men, women and children in countries that seem so hostile to Him and to us?  Does he care for the people of Iraq, Iran, or North Korea?  Does he care for the Taliban? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes … to all those, YES! But how much do you and I care? I was in the Bahamas last week at a conference and remember viewing a man from another country and religion with quick disdain. I was so wrong!  God loves all mankind equally.  A better response would have been to look at that person as someone who is loved by my Lord. And better yet, I could have whispered a prayer for him. I would never want to consider myself having the spirit I viewed in Jonah, but in that quick moment, my attitude was like nails on a chalkboard to my Lord.

So I am going to cut Jonah some slack. And will you take a moment to pray right now for that person whose words hit you like nails on a chalkboard? You know who it is, or who they are.  And on a far deeper level, will you love more fully and have more compassion on anyone that God loves and has compassion for — which is all mankind!  Maybe you even need to ask the Father to forgive your attitude. I did! I guess it’s time to wipe that slate clean … thanks Jonah.

I spent each day last week sitting outside during my sacred time with God.  The sounds of nature can sometimes distract, but sitting quietly in the midst of it last week actually drew me closer to Him.  At either the beginning or end of my time each day, I spent a few minutes focusing in on something unique.  One morning it was the family of rabbits that have taken up residence somewhere in our backyard, feeding together on clover.  Another morning it was a smallish bird that sat for what seemed like forever perched all by itself on a high power line.  I was in full observation mode, but most mornings the sole outcome was a pencil sketch.  My Tuesday morning, however, had my senses on high alert, and the following thoughts flowed out of that experience.

For a few summers when I was a kid, my parents grew tomatoes in containers on the steps of our backyard deck.  We loved fresh tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches in the summertime, and come August during those particular summers, we were in heaven.  For the simple reason that there is absolutely no substitute for the fullness of flavor and freshness in things you grow yourself.  A store-bought tomato can taste really good, but it is nothing close to biting into one that’s been homegrown.  Even if you don’t like tomatoes, I am sure this truth resonates with you with some other sort of vegetable or fruit.  I fully believe this is the way God intended it.

Earlier in the Spring, my wife purchased some container plants to compliment our backyard seating area.  It’s really a section of driveway behind our house, and she always does such a great job of softening and coloring the normally plain setting with plants and flowers.  This year, among her expert choices was a cherry tomato plant.  I was excited to see it added to the “landscape,” and began dreaming of the day when brilliant red tomatoes dotted the healthy vines.

While that day of promise had arrived a bit earlier than expected with two beautiful red cherry tomatoes begging to be picked that Tuesday morning, my attention was drawn to several dead leaves.  I spent a few minutes removing those leaves and few other troublesome areas that I found on closer inspection.  As I sat back down and began to sketch the plant, I rested my head in my hands and caught a whiff of the most glorious scent.  I was instantly transported to my backyard porch, and the roadside stands on our way to Ocean City, NJ.  It was the scent of the vine, the unmistakable fragrance on the flesh of a fresh tomato.

My mind went instantly to the Bible, and the unmistakable fragrance of pure scripture.  So many times in my life I have relied on someone else to break down, discern, or translate scripture for me.  I had convinced myself that it took someone with years of training to extract its nutrition and share it with me; that I was not capable of doing that on my own.  And then one day a dear brother suggested that I just begin reading the Bible for myself.  I was going to need help, no doubt, but the Spirit was ready and willing, and waiting for me to ask.

I’m not suggesting that my store-bought tomatoes didn’t nourish me.  They tasted good, and did (still do) yield fruit in my life.  There are some really good local and commercial farmers out there.  But I am suggesting there is an unmistakable fragrance on the flesh of a tomato when it’s homegrown.  And there is an explosive burst of flavor and joy when you bite into one.

If store-bought sounds familiar, petition for the courage to try homegrown.  Experience the scent of the vine … and The Vine himself!