Little Foxes

Catch for us the foxes,

the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards,
our vineyards that are in bloom.

--Song of Solomon 2:15

First of all, I’d like to give credit to my friend Megan for reminding me this verse and for initiating the concept of what is to follow. The Song of Solomon is one book of the bible that I’m not especially keen on reading. Fear not, the only other one I’m not keen on is Revelation and I’m reading it now. While, Song of Solomon is not very long and certainly isn’t a difficult read, I’m never drawn to read its contents. Having had this brought to my attention, I’m now curious as to what else God will reveal to me in reading it.

Megan and I were discussing the mind. The mind can be a very ominous being. It can be our best friend or greatest enemy. However, we have the power to control our own minds. Megan and I got on the subject to taking thoughts into captivity. I have many thoughts on this and I’m always willing to share upon request but for the sake of brevity I will stick to the aforementioned verse. Megan and I were also discussing attitudes based on the previous blog entitled “Heart Change.” I reiterated the concerns I had about letting little things get the best of me. That is when she mentioned this verse. The more I thought about it the more it began to make sense.

Foxes are very cunning animals. Although considered a part of the dog family, they are very cat-like in nature. They’re sneaky and will often catch their prey by surprise. I’ve even read that they stalk their prey and will sometimes play with it before eating it—creepy. Comparing the foxes to thoughts, I began to see the similarities and then what God was conveying to me in this scripture. It’s the little thoughts that you have to watch out for. Once it’s in your head, it’s hard to get it out. Negative thoughts are the “little foxes.” But it’s the little foxes that ruin the vineyards. Your mind is the planting ground for all the seeds sown in your life. You’re most fruitful from your mind and thus you’d want to protect it from invaders big and small. See at first, you just see a little fox, what harm can it do? It won’t eat much and it’s not a huge threat. However, when you allow more and more little foxes in your vineyard it is ruined and the fruits of your labor are no longer apparent.

In order to restore your vineyard you would first need to rid yourself of the little foxes and then guard it with a hedge of protection. But be watchful, these little foxes can dig and like I mentioned before they are cunning. The negative thoughts will always find a way in. However, you have to be mindful enough to know when they are wreaking havoc on your vineyard and then swift enough to chase them away.

How often I’ve found myself beyond irritated at just the mildest of all things. However, once I open myself up to one negative thought, they all come prancing in and destroy everything I’ve worked for. Just as the little foxes devastate the once bountiful land, negative thoughts destroy what good one has going in the mind. What once seemed like good ideas are shot down by doubt and fear. The positive outlook you may have once had on life is given away to the dismal negativity that’s found its way into your mind. Don’t allow for it! Kick those little foxes out of the vineyard before it’s decimated. Kick those negative thoughts out of your mind before they destroy you!

Heart Change

“I can’t change the situation but God can change my heart.” –C.Ponder

Sometimes I come across areas in my life that I insist need to be disposed of. I can’t bear the thought of making it through another day with the vexation of situations beyond my control. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people whine about the day they’ve had and how bad they have it. However, upon offering up a solution to his or her dilemma, it is shot down in angst. “That won’t work because of…” “He’ll say this…” “I’ll lose…” And even, “Well, who asked you?” are the responses I receive. I guess it’s never really about a solution so much as a need to vent when times get tough. I must say I’m guilty of the same actions.

There are times that I look back upon and see that what I’ve overcome was never really that big a deal. However, in the situation, it was a horrible ordeal. I can remember times when I thought I didn’t have it in me to make it through another day. I wanted to call it quits. However, certain perseverance kept me going and my attitude ended being the most useful tool in the whole ordeal. I realized that in the times that I remained faithful to God’s promises and believed that He had nothing but the best for me in store that I excelled. On the flipside, when I allowed my feelings and own will get in the way, I failed miserably. It wasn’t until I gave everything over to Him that I saw a change in my attitude and the course of the ordeal. This is probably what Ponder means in her “heart change” remark.

Character is a defining mark in the success of an individual’s accomplishments. We may posses the skills needed to perform a task or perform in a task. However, it is one’s character that will determine the ultimate result. Think about it. We have minimal, if any, power to control what another says or does. We can control our own actions and how we respond to others that come our way. This is also true of situations. We certainly cannot control time, nature, or God’s will. Yet, we can respond in ways the best suit the situation at hand by the way we react. If we allow God total access to everything we have and are then we can rest assured that our attitudes and hearts will benefit from whatever life throws at us.

From the heart comes mercy, forgiveness, faith, thoughtfulness, love. If we took into our situations the heart, our attitudes would be changed dramatically. We’d no longer see ourselves as the sole recipient of whatever impending doom is to come of a situation in which we’ve no control. We’d recognize that, yes, conditions are less than desirable at the moment, however, we cannot control them and we must not become inundated with negative feelings. Believe in your Creator; believe that something good will come of it. And even if it doesn’t that God’s ways are just.

When we begin to view situations from perspectives other than our own that is when God’s will becomes most apparent. If we’re constantly making situations about ourselves then we will never understand the divine relationship that we share with the Father. The fact remains that we can’t control everything. The fact remains that we can control ourselves. Let your attitude reflect the most desirable of all conditions it is then that your situation will become less penetrating. When I worked at a retail chain I used to recite this little passage when I felt my heart pressed upon:
Work peacefully and diligently knowing that right thoughts and right actions will inevitably bring about the right results.

Your heart is all you can offer in the situations you cannot change.

Preservation

I love my career. What can I say? There is something so highly rewarding about preserving the historic character of a community. As the historic preservationist for a rural district I am faced with the task of producing effective methods of preserving our nation, state, and community history.
I often find it difficult to do so when I find that there are others in opposition to my cause. Often times people will see an old ratty and worn building that can serve no purpose. Therefore, they find it in their interest to demolish their own history and start fresh instead of building onto what is already there. It always breaks my heart to see someone's hard work, albeit, primitive in some cases, destroyed for an new and improved high-tech amenity. It makes me wonder about who spent his time to build it. I often have the opportunity to read their stories, learn their lives, and see what contributions their lives and buildings brought to the small communities in which I work.

It's no surprise though. We don't always want to have our past rearing its ugly head into our present lives do we? We want to start fresh with no memory of what was there before. It's easier, it's more convenient, and let's face it we get bored with the old.In Psalm 66:9 the word reads "He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping." God has preserved us, not wiped us out and started fresh.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career, is seeing these old dilapidated buildings restored to its original construction. Old wallpaper is stripped away, paint is chipped away, carpets are removed to reveal a gorgeous wooden floor beneath, and those boarded up windows are given away to light. How I rejoice when I can stand in a room and see it just as it looked nearly a century ago. What's more is when these old pieces are mixed with a few new renovations. The old meets the new and they get along just great. Many times in the past kitchens were separate from the house itself. This was for the prevention of fire spreading, and probably to keep the icky smells out of the main living area. Oh, and my personal favorite is when there is indoor plumbing...forget the outhouse, please.

The point is, is there is no reason for the building to be torn down and replaced when there are options to building on the legacy already in existence.
How does this apply in the real world? Well, to start we don't always find it beautiful to hold on to those memories of our pasts. However, they are very much a part of who we are and who we will be in the future. Without a base on which to grow we will have nothing on which to look back. We need to preserve our history and learn from our mistakes. We've worked hard to be where we are today.

God has blessed us incredibly with such a gift- life. Why would we wish to destroy it? His forgiveness and mercy are key in the preservation of our lives. He has promised us a home after this life. However, like in the case of these older buildings education is at the heart of the preservation effort. One must know HOW and WHY to preserve what we've been given. The answers differ for the buildings but for you and myself the answer is easy: Why should we preserve ourselves? Because God wishes to be with us eternally. How do we preserve ourselves? Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Submit to His ways, commit to loving Him and others, pray, and read His word.

Saving an old building may be rewarding but the salvation and preservation of a human means more to me than any historic site in the world. Means more to God, too.

Embrace your past, learn from your mistakes, and keep adding to what you once were. Don't tear apart your legacy for some new look or philosophy. Know who you once were use it to prepare you for who you will be. Preserve yourself as God has promised He'll do for you.

Faith in Humanity

Failure is a part of life. Mistakes happen and people will disappoint. And while we are never called to dwell on such instances, we find ourselves remembering such injustices. I’ve experienced in the past three days such a flux of what I call “injustice” that I find myself lacking in the area of love. This morning as I reflect on the past few days I realize how incredibly selfish I’m being and thus have decided to move on from such feelings offering love and forgiveness in place of contempt and grudge.

This past weekend brought a lot of stress and irritation. I felt as if everything I offered up to others in love was disdained and criticized. I became so disappointed as my gifts and services were received poorly and wondered why I had even offered them in the first place. Venting was out of the question; everyone I wanted to turn to already cause some sort of hurt. I thought that I was going to have to face this vicious attack of character on my own.

I think about the story of our Savior. He wasn’t well received either. He was offered up as a gift to save humanity and just didn’t seem to be enough. Never mind His tender acts of mercy, forget the miracles of healing, His compassion was certainly criticized and no one seemed to heed the voice of God saying, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” Humanity just didn’t seem to care. Jesus was rejected but His purpose remained the same. His purpose was still made perfect in love. I’ve something to learn in this area.

I guess I feel that if I’m offering something to someone in love they should receive it in the same way. However, that is not always the case. Some well-intentioned recipients try to offer up a word of advice on how this act of service or gift should be provided. I encountered this with several people over the weekend of which I have the most profound respect. I was crushed at the audacity these people had to criticize what I offered. I felt minuscule and unappreciated.

What I’ve learned though is that it is not how the gift/service is received that is important. What is important is that it was received. My purpose was to do what I was called to do in a manner that God called me to do it. It doesn’t mean that I’ll receive accolades from those that I’ve given to. It only means that I’m being faithful to His will. Whatever I do I am to do to the glory of God. (Proverbs 16:3, Colossians 3:17, 23) Sometimes people will love me for it, and sometimes it will go unrecognized. It does not mean I am to believe every act will be successful in the eyes of humanity.

For a brief time I lost my faith in humanity believing that no one could possibly do or be enough. There will always be heartfelt acts that produce criticisms. Someone could have always done it better, but they didn’t. That’s the point. I can’t possibly depend on perfection being the answer to everything. Nothing would ever get done. I must continue to try even if the results are less than desirable. If I give up on humanity then I serve no purpose on this earth. I lack compassion and lose my capacity to truly love.

This weekend was a test of character. I very nearly failed. Well, in all actuality did fail. I failed to fully please those I intended to bless. But I didn’t fail the one that really matters. God saw what I was doing and was well pleased with what I attempted. That’s really all that matters. So instead of becoming overly sensitive to remarks on how I could have given or served better I will practice patience. And, yes, I will maintain my faith in humanity.

From Ephesus to Epiphany:

The instruction to one ancient church applied in today’s church
A striking realization hit me the last Sunday before New Years. I was convicted, challenged, and now for the first time in my life I have ample opportunity to complete a New Year’s resolution. My epiphany came during a sermon the associate pastor of my church delivered from the book of Ephesians, chapter four. While the message he was giving was based on the passage found in verse 27—and do not give the devil a foothold –I was led to continue reading. I back tracked a couple of verses and then read until I reached verse 32. By the end of the service I was determined to live my life according to the word so as not to give the devil a foothold.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body”—Ephesians 4:25
When I first read this I immediately became defensive. I knew then that I was going to have to deal directly with this issue. Telling the truth is not difficult for me. I don’t have any problems with it. In fact, I am not at all prone to lying. I detest the very thought. However, it was only that telling the truth was easy when asked. I’m not privy to just sharing the truth when the spirit leads. Nor am I innocent of avoiding the truth when less than desirable conditions rear their ugly heads. Just prior to that day I had evaded an acquaintance’s invitation by purposely making other plans. This person had caused a great deal of hurt to me in the past and while, yes, I had forgiven this person, I wasn’t ready to make an effort to rekindle a friendship. I justified my actions in my mind believing that by doing so I wasn’t technically lying to this person but sparing us both a lot of pain. I became upset with myself realizing that I wasn’t being real with this person and I needed to come clean with myself…and probably this person at some point. “For we are all members of one body,” resonated through my mind. If I couldn’t be honest with a brother in Christ how were we to operate as one body? This became my first area of concern. But it didn’t stop here. God had a lot more to say.
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” –Ephesians 4:26
“do not give the devil a foothold.” –Ephesians 4:27
It’s not surprising as a Christian to become a little over zealous when surfaces sin. We are made in the image of God and He hates sin! However, He doesn’t hate the sinner. I find my self so eager to dismiss those who are disobedient to the word. In my effort to detest the sin, I begin to dislike the sinner as well. I’m not easily prone to anger but I do hold on to it. Instead of facing it, I leave it pent up to unleash on an unsuspecting, and probably undeserving, recipient that just so happens to press my last nerve. In context, this passage is connected to the next verse “and do not give the devil a foothold.” If the door to our heart were accessed by a password I believe “anger” would be a valid entry. Anger does not allow us to think straight. Our judgment becomes clouded and we find solace in nothing. Often times all we can do is concentrate on breathing. The hurt, the distrust, the very thought that someone has wronged us is more that we can handle. But at the same time, if we admit to it, there is a part of us that isn’t ready to give up that emotion. We want reprisal and we don’t want anyone to have except ourselves. However, when we finally do face the anger situation and find a resting place, the relief from it is refreshing.
“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” –Ephesians 4:28
Hands down I thought I was above this one. I don’t steal. I was ready to skip over this one thinking that it was simply a scripture on theft. Then I felt a tug bringing me back to the passage and I was informed of the underlying meaning. Thanks be to God. What was it that I needed to learn here? I read it over and over and then it was apparent: time. Yes, I do my part. I go to church, I’m faithful in tithing, and I’ll serve whenever and wherever asked. But it’s not enough. What was I personally contributing? It is not often that a day goes by that God does not impart some piece of wisdom to me. What do I do with it? Nothing, I hold on to it. I’m not constantly sharing with those in need. This was a huge deal in the early church. The church was a family, they protected one another, they fed, clothed, and cared for one another. They encouraged one another and brought one another through. They shared in relationship and no one was alone. It’s like that old saying “no man is an island.” No one is meant to be alone. So here was the next step for me. I have to begin contributing more of my life to what God has set before me. I have to make myself available to every sort of work. I need to share with those in need.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” –Ephesians 4:29
In another translation this scripture reads let no idle talk and coarse jesting come from your mouth. In a conversation with my senior pastor I learned that “idle talk” meant “dismissive talk.” However, my conviction remained the same. If what I’m speaking is of no benefit to others or God then I’ve no business speaking it. There was a time in my life when I didn’t say much of anything to anybody. I stayed off peoples’ bad lists but still there was nothing there with which I could form a relationship. I simply existed. I offered nothing and received nothing in return from others. I became convicted of what I do speak. I’m often aware when gossip arises and I’m careful to not join in. I’m not always careful to not listen. Yet, there are times when I do fall short and engage in a conversation that begins almost always with a prayer request. Stormie O’Martian advises in her book The Power of a Praying Woman, “Never spend more time talking about a prayer request than praying for the request.” This opens the door for gossip. What starts as a prayer concern can escalate into juicy story for your prayer partners. And as for the coarse jesting I read in the other translation, well that’s a whole other issue. My senior pastor and I both agree that we believe Jesus and his disciples cut up and had fun. However, sometimes we go too far and let others’ misfortunes turn into the butts of meaningless jokes. And often times we don’t intend to hurt others but at the same time we are not doing much to build them up by making these wisecracks. Laughing it up is not a sin. Through laughter comes healing. The solution to this is simple: if you wouldn’t want to hear the joke you’re about to make directed towards you, there’s a strong case for not making it at all. So keep this passage and Hebrews 3:13 in mind “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” –Ephesians 4:30
Guilty! I cannot begin to imagine how many times I’ve grieved the Holy Spirit of God. It reminds me of a parent watching and trying to prevent their children from getting into all sorts of trouble. If the Holy Spirit has hair it’s probably gray by now from all the stress we put on it. Grieving the Holy Spirit is done when we ignore instruction or cause him undue stress from the actions taken outside of what we’ve been called to do. The Holy Spirit has been imparted to us for our own benefit. “With whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,” we are a team. We are to work with the Holy Spirit not outside of it. We need to access the Holy Spirit fully, not just when it’s convenient. Learning the difference between the indwelling of the spirit and being filled with the spirit was the first prompt for me. With the indwelling it is there, no more, no less. Being filled with the spirit is an activity that should be completed on a daily basis. The supply of the Holy Spirit is infinite; don’t choose to be stingy with it. Get hungry!
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” –Ephesians 4:31
Every one of these emotions has to do with a direct relationship. It’s easy to appreciate a good relationship with a friend when you’ve walked through the fire with him or her. None of these emotions are pleasant in feel. No one ever really desires to be enraged, angry, or bitter. And no one really anticipates brawling, slander, and malice to bring about the right results. This is just the wrong answer to the retribution issue addressed in the scripture about anger. Then what does one do when faced with one of these issues? Obviously, just letting go of it is easier said than done, right? The answer comes with the next scripture.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” –Ephesians 4:32
We have no reason to think that the hurts committed against ourselves are more than those committed against our savior. God forgave us with His own child. We must therefore be kind and compassionate toward those who do us wrong. It’s okay to hate what they did but not to be intolerable of the person. We must show our faith in the building of their characters just as God did for each of us. We’ve become such a terrible generation concerned only with our own well being and so independent (especially in our flesh). The flesh is a finite being that knows its time is short on this planet and it will not be invited to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. It will fight tooth and nail to get what it desires. The soul (mind, will, and emotions) knows that it has an opportunity to live in a place far greater than this world and thus fights for what is noble bearing the burden of time and waiting patiently to be received by its creator. It therefore will work with the Holy Spirit to find a place of peace. Forgiveness and compassion is at the core of its purpose and will continue on until we are given rest in God’s presence. There we can surrender it all and know that all the hard work that we’ve labored will be rewarded.
So if my intentions have not been clear, my resolution for 2009 is to live my life according to the instruction given to those in Ephesus. If I do so my life will reflect what God intended it to be. I have no reason to believe that anything instructed to the ancient Church of Ephesus cannot be used in a modern 21st century church and result in anything but good. Everything that I need is found in the word. God doesn’t keep it secret. I’m excited to see where this year will take me and to put these instructions into practice. My purpose for sharing this message with you is twofold. It is my sincere wish that by sharing with you you’ve been blessed by His word and to also gain a sense of accountability. There would be no greater tragedy then to fall short of God’s call due to a simple lack of encouragement.