Beauty and Adversity

“Oyster, Mr. Oyster, strange creature of the sea, what have you to teach me? What is your lesson, please?”

“Come hither, my child, to the oyster come.  Sit by me and I will tell you the story of beauty and adversity. Sand from out of life, it was just a little thing as testings often can be.  I cried, ‘Oh God, why me?’ It irritated me so, this rock of offense to me. I pleaded; I begged my God from testing to be free. In a still, small voice, His quiet reply came, ‘My grace is sufficient for the patient, my child.’ He said, ‘For patient you must be if you are to learn the lesson of beauty and adversity.’ As it became a part of my life, a new perspective I did see. Lesson mine, I’ll pass on to you…a lesson from out of life, a lesson etched in the sands of time, of beauty and adversity. That stone of testing remains in my life. I can see it as a channel to the world of God, a chance to produce in me a beautiful pearl, one of great price. This wonderful pearl, you see, produced a knowing that His grace is sufficient. It still produces a wonder in me. So hear, my child, and learn you well from the oyster’s life story. The testings from our loving God are only meant to be things of beauty, gems for all the world to see. These tests are sifted by God. Beauty can truly be born in the oven of adversity.”

Adapted from a poem by Robert F. McNutt

Bob was obviously of Irish decent. He has been a friend of mine since 1977. Many times I leaned on him heavily and he carried my weight. So, I pray this will be a blessing to you as it was to me.

 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies.

Give it some thought.

Gary

This post might have some spelling errors. It could be that the verb tenses don’t always agree. Commas might be missing or placed where they don’t belong. Some proper noun might not be capitalized. I won’t even mention colons and semicolons. Then there’s that wicked faulty-sentence-structure that’s like fingernails scratching a chalkboard. Also, there might be some things not made for print.

If you never had the opportunity to hear someone’s confession, let me be your first. Everything I’ve written since 1970 has gone through a program by the name of “Paula.” That program has been a blessing and made me an outstanding student in my master’s program. I kind of liked looking at A’s and B’s, but down inside I knew one letter grade belonged to someone else.

I left the program at the hospital last night with a diagnosis of multiple blood clots in her right lung. They should be able with proper medication get her back out in a couple of days. She hasn’t spent a night in the hospital since 1972.

However, me and the dog are having a bad night. I can’t call the kids and tell them about it so I’ll tell you.

Here’s my verse for you today.

James 5:16 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

So, there it is. Please give it some thought.

Gary

It was the first week of school and the first grader was having trouble adjusting. As his teacher offered comfort and assurance, the boy looked up at her and demanded, “Who signed me up for this anyway?”

We all made our entrance into this planet the usual way, and no one invited us or even asked if it was OK. However, here we are, during this time period and in this geographical location. What are we supposed to do? Where are we going to look for answers? What happens after this thing is over with?

Let me give you a lead from an ancient book that has proven itself reliable to many:

Genesis 1:26 

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Psalm 139:14 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Proverbs 16:4 

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Job 33:4 

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 

Take one of these every morning for the next four mornings and let them do their work. It just might make one stop asking foolish questions like that first grader did.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In politics a politician will find out where the crowd is going then get out in front to lead it.  It doesn’t matter what the crowd stands for as long as that person can be their candidate. That person will tell them what they want to hear.

We find something very similar in Paul’s warning to Timothy concerning Bible teachers. There will be a majority in the church who will not endure sound doctrine and look for a teacher who desires to scratch some ears.

2 Timothy 4:3

 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Timothy was admonished that part of his ministry would be dealing with this type of individuals. The Gospel message would never be popular and these individuals will be looking for what the market can hold… pastors who will tell them what they want to hear. Don’t mention salvation, sin or service.

2 Timothy 3:7-8

 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 

If your congregation wants their  ears scratched, run.

Give it some thought.

Gary

God never promised anyone that life was going to be easy. Trials are a part of the fabric of life, and without them the garment can’t hold up. Trials are like the rebar in those massive bridges that span great rivers. You can’t see them, but the structure hold up because of them.

Exodus 16:1-3

 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. ² And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, ³ and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

This was not the first or last time we find them grumbling because there is always something to grumble about. However, on close examination we always find God providing and leading.

So don’t be an old grouch. Just keep moving forward.

Think about it.

Gary

Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 –  Issac Newton, First Law of Motion

As he journeyed to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus didn’t know much about Isaac Newton’s first law of motion. He didn’t know that the One he hated so was going to become his Lord and Savior. Change was in the air for the man who was to become Paul the Apostle as one born out of due time.

Acts 22:6-8
 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 

All of us who have come to know God were on some path leading to destruction. All of us had the wrong idea about God. Then suddenly, under some set of circumstances, He made Himself known and change became a reality.

What’s your story?

Think about it.

Gary

Dr. Livingstone, I presume? a famous greeting of Henry Morton Stanley upon locating David Livingstone in Africa. That’s about all that most of us know about him.

However, here is one of his quotes that exposes the heart of the man:

He is the greatest master I have ever known. If there’s anyone greater, I do not know him. Jesus Christ is the only master supremely worth serving. He’s the only ideal that never loses his inspiration. He’s the only friend whose friendship meets every demand. He’s the only savior who can save the uttermost. We go forth in his name, in his power, and his spirit to serve him.

Life for him wasn’t just about exploration in the harshest of environments but about the One who saved him from his sins.

Paul makes a statement about his different environments in spreading the gospel:

2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.  Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Salvation is free, but it didn’t come to you without a cost.

Give it some thought.

Gary