A Lesson from a Baseball Card

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV). While I was in North Carolina some years ago I saw an item on the news that a rare Honus Wagner baseball card was for sale at auction. That story caused me to do a little research. The story that emerged is hard to believe, but it's true. The owner went into antique stores because he was interested in old baseball cards. In one store he didn't see any on display, so he asked the owner if he had any baseball cards. The shopkeeper produced a cigar box with some very early baseball cards, which dated back to the early 1900s. He said, "I don't put these out for everyone to see. I keep them in a drawer most of the time." Among those cards, the shopper found one of the most valuable baseball cards there is. It was a rare card featuring Hall of Famer Honus Wagner. When the shopper inquired about the price, the owner said, "Well, I bought all of these from a woman for $20.00. But I know they're worth a lot more. I'll sell them to you for $200.00." Of course he bought them all. Just that one card alone is worth an estimated $200,000.00! The woman who sold that card to the storeowner didn't know what it was really worth. The storeowner didn't realize its value either and he let it go for what turned out to be very cheap. It's one thing to undervalue a baseball card and let it go for less than its value. However, it's another thing for a person to undervalue him or herself and let themselves go too cheap. Maybe it's a mistake you've been making. You don't understand how much you're worth and you've been making hurtful choices because of it. It could well be that some people in your life have treated you like you're not worth much and you've believed it. Maybe you've been told you're not worth much, or you've let your inadequacies and limitations and your failures convince you that you must not have much value. What a mistake - and it leads to so many other mistakes. You end up devaluing yourself or settling for less than God intended for you because you think it's all your deserve. That’s not the declaration of Scripture. In our reading this morning Paul says, "We are God's masterpiece." That means you're a unique, handmade original, made by a God who only does masterpieces. All those people who treated you like you don't matter have no idea who you really are! No one on earth gave you your worth and no one on earth can take it away!

Atta Boy!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV). We all need an attaboy every-now-and-then. Unfortunately there don’t seem to be enough of them to go around right now. So many people second-guess what they are doing and are so afraid of failing. We live in an incredibly negative and competitive society. The result has been a serious decline in the number of attaboys. This is a serious problem because marriages, families, and workplaces are severely compromised in their effectiveness, joy, and productivity because of the decline in attaboys. I guess I never really saw the theological importance of attaboys until I read the story of the baptism of Jesus recently. I was doing some study of the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts and was focusing on the significance of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus. I had studied the theological implications of Jesus’ baptism in Luke many times. It is the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry, it is the fulfillment of the enthronement Psalms, it is Jesus entering into his role as God’s Messiah, it is the hand-off of John the Baptist’s ministry to Jesus. But this time, I saw something different. It struck me that God’s words to his Son were the most powerful example of an attaboy I had ever heard! “You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.” God affirmed his relationship, his love, and his pleasure in his Son. What’s more, he did it to prepare Jesus for the battle with Satan that was about to take place in the desert. Remember what the first thing the Evil One says to Jesus in the temptation? “If you really are the Son of God...” “Sorry about that Satan, but I’ve got that one nailed down. I’m his beloved Son who gives him pleasure. He just told me.” Jesus could have confidently told him. A similar thing happens just before his final trip to Jerusalem. “This is my Son, whom I love...” Jesus goes into his most important and heartbreaking battle with a divine attaboy from his Father! No wonder the writer of Hebrews instructs his readers to encourage one another as they gather together for worship. Truthfully that is good advice for everyday of our lives. So now that you know what an attaboy is, why not start looking for them so you can share them! Incredibly, they will reproduce fastest in an environment where they are frequently passed on!

If I Had It to Do Over

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:1-3 ESV). I always get a little nostalgic at this time of the year. I sometimes begin to think of those things that might have been done differently through life. Reflection on the past is always an interesting exercise. It can be very helpful, or as is often the case, very dangerous. The past is indeed the past and while a teacher of sorts, it must not determine our present sense of peace and joy. Trying to strike that balance, I thought of Erma Bombeck. Often poignant, often funny, often true, Erma Bombeck’s observations of life, especially that of the suburban housewife, has made men and women smile for several generations. It was not so much that Erma was humorous but rather her daily and weekly editorials reflected what millions of people, especially mothers, wives, and career women were going through just in the daily juggling act of life. Starting out in a local newspaper, her column was eventually printed in 600 newspapers across the country. Realizing that she could not overcome the cancer that had overtaken her body, she wrote the following poem titled “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's".. more "I’m sorry's"... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... live it...and never give it back. Learn from your past. Live in your present. Celebrate your future! There is much to be thankful about, if we will only look!

Words to Live By

I received the following recently. It was titled them “Wisdom to Live By.” They provide both humor and a springboard to a very important truth from the Scripture: 1. The early bird still has to eat worms. 2. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place! 3. The worst thing about accidents in the kitchen is eating them. 4. Don't argue with an idiot, people watching may not be able to tell the difference. 5. Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet. 6. My husband says I never listen to him. At least I think that's what he said. 7. Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison? 8. If raising children were going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor! 9. Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever 10. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? These are funny, however the Scripture validates the truth in the last of these humorous proverbs. There is a “Ctrl Alt Delete” in life. It is in confession and repentance. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV). One of the greatest needs of any of us is that of acceptance. It centers itself in our deep need for a relationship with both God and others. Forgiveness is the door to that acceptance. Regardless of what you may have done, God has given you a means of achieving acceptance in His eyes. Because of the gift of Jesus Christ no one need feel alone any longer. Turn to Him today and begin the journey again!

Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 ESV). Since it is Faith and Logan’s 9th birthday, I thought of the following. It is designed with the intent of laughter, though I think some of it is too real! At the very least I hope it will make you laugh. That really is the best medicine. It is titled “7 Reasons Not to Mess With a Child”:  A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".  A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawin! g. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."  A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."  One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"  The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawy! er,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, She's dead."  A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."  The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and! posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples." If it did make you smile, use it as a reminder that no matter how dreary and difficult life may seem, God’s desire is for your heart to be filled with joy. Rest in that promise! AND, Happy Birthday to my grandchildren, Faith and Logan!

Undaunted

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. (Psalm 138:1-5 ESV). Courage in the face of difficulty or failure is “easier said than done”! The following humorous story epitomizes the attitude that produces a sense of confidence in the face of difficulty: A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. "Strike two!" he cried. The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three! Wow!" he exclaimed. "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!" Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances hadn't changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened. Much of the way we face our future depends on how we view life’s experiences. Zig Ziglar may be one of the most gifted motivational speakers of our day. He said, “I’m so optimistic I’d go after Moby Dick in a rowboat and take the tartar sauce with me.” If we expect to win, often we will be winners. Sometimes the score may not reflect that we have beaten our opponent, but we will still be winners. That was a lesson I learned early in my college days. We practiced a tradition of never admitting defeat. We may have been outscored on a particular day, but we never lost. That attitude has proven to be a key in many experiences in life. What difficult time are you going through right now? Can you do something to change it? If you can, don't wait another day, make the needed changes. If you can't change the circumstance, however, change your attitude. You'll discover that circumstances won't have the last word.

Choices

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods. (Joshua 24:14-16 ESV). "You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live." - Joan Baez Most people go through life like a river, carried about by a seemingly uncontrollable current, pushed from one place to another. Where the river empties is their destination. This is not the best way to live your life! While there is no denying there will always be certain things out of our control, to a large extent, we have a great ability to control how we live. What direction do you choose when evil is in your path? Do you turn away and steer clear from it, or do you allow it to drag you into its dangerous current, pulling you farther and farther away from God? The power to make choices is a gift every Christian has been given with the presence of the Holy Spirit. We all have it, but how often do we exercise it when choosing to reject evil? The decision to reject those things which God shuns can often be difficult, even painful, but the end result is well worth it because our wise decision brings us one step closer to God. The real key is in commitment. "When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song," tenor Luciano Pavarotti relates. "He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, 'Shall I be a teacher or a singer?' "'Luciano,' my father replied, 'if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.' I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it's laying bricks, writing a book--whatever we choose--we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that's the key. Choose one chair." Today, ask yourself how you are going to live your life, whether you are going to pursue sin or godliness. Once you evaluate, act; pull up all your strength and place your trust in God. Our Heavenly Father has great rewards in store for those who fervently seek after righteousness.