Magic Bullet

I'm not sure why it is referred to as a magic bullet. Maybe because we want some one thing that will cure everything that is wrong in our lives. Do you ever look for the 'aha' moment in some area?

It might be we desire a cure for an illness, or a cure for a bad relationship. It might be a solution for financial woes, spiritual woes, or societal woes. Whatever we are seeking release from we often feel that the sooner we are released from the stress of the situation the better. And, if  with the wave of a hand, we could be free how much better that would be. Or so we believe.

Most have read the story of the person watching a butterfly trying to struggle out of the cocoon who 'lends a hand' only to realize the butterfly needed that time of struggle to finish their maturing process. And the poor creature, because of the person's help comes out deformed, never to fly, never to finish developing fully.

I have often heard and said many times, 'There aren't any free lunches.' When someone gives you something what do they want in return? It may be a friendly gesture, and all they want is a simple thank you. However, in our today and now, often giving someone something is like fly paper, the molasses catches the fly and they can't get loose.

That brings us back to the original thought of a 'magic bullet'. People get caught up in the frenzy of the moment looking for the cure all for the problem. They get sucked into more problems by looking for an easy answer.

Do you have a problem? There aren't any free lunches. Someone has to pay for it somehow and somewhere. There is no such thing as a magic bullet; an easy answer for all problems. All answers aren't hard per se, but there aren't any that are magic.

"But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"
(Luke 12:28)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Every Day

The sun is bright this morning, birds are singing, and the wind is blowing. There is a definite feel of spring and new life beginning to stir. 

Life--what do we think of when we think of the word life? What images does it conjure up in our minds? Just like the song 'As Time Goes By' states there are some fundamental things that apply no matter what age you are living in. Good and evil still show themselves in the passions of life. Jealousy, hate, lust, balanced against purity, righteousness, and justice--these things are still as much a part of human nature as they ever were.

John 2:24 "But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, 25) and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man."

"Even the best of us, have the worst in us; and the worst of us have some good." 

With some people it is a real search for either. I have more than once said that we are each born with a void, as it were, for good or evil, and it depends on what we fill it with. It is our choice--we can fill it with either good or evil, and that is what we become. 

Matthew 12:43  "But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. 44)  Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45)  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation." 

How many times do people overcome destructive habits only to fall back into the same old problems, or even worse? In order to do better a person needs to replace evil with good. 

However, even there Jesus' admonition carries a comfort in that Jesus knows what's in man. He knows the good potential each person carries. What a blessing that Jesus is on the Christian's team. More than that, he wants everyone to succeed in doing what is right. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and leader of the 'great cloud of witnesses' that are cheering for us.

"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls." 

(Hebrews 12:1-3 ASV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

I

Traumatized

The book of Ecclesiastes is one of many conundrums.Wise sayings that cause me to shake my head and chuckle. Here for an example is the eleventh chapter of Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

1.  Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

• Show hospitality, even though the corresponding return of hospitality you may never see. Do good for 'whatsoever ye sow, so shall ye reap.

2.  Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

• Let your hospitality and your alms be extensive: for you know not what evil may befall either the person who by your liberality will be strengthened to meet them, or yourself who may come to need grateful friends.” 
• Luke 16:9  "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles." 

3.  If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.

4.  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5.  As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.

6.  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

• Verses 3-6 : "Unforeseen events come from God; --the man who is always gazing on the uncertain future will neither begin nor complete any useful work: but bear in mind that times and circumstances, the powers of nature and the results to which they minister, are in the hand of God; and be both diligent and trustful.” The writer uses images to serve as our example which are connected chiefly with the occupation of an agricultural laborer: the discharge of rain from the cloud, and the inclination of the falling tree, and the direction of the wind, are beyond his/our control, though the result of his/our work is affected by them."  

7.  Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

• Savor the good, beautiful, and lovely things of today; the pleasant things of our lives

 8.  Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

• Those pleasant things of today will comfort us during our dark days, which all lives experience

9.  Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

• Youth is a wonderful time of growing. A child's occupation of  'play' is for their learning.Likewise older children are encouraged as ones who posses certain gifts from God, to remember that they come from God and are to be used in accordance with His will. In the ways ... - These words are probably used in an innocent sense. Judgment - This includes a judgment beyond the grave; Even the sins of our youth is part of our record. Young people want to choose wisely--it will affect them in this life, and possibly beyond.

10.  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

• Remember that to live as God directs (in His scriptures) from youth to the end of one's days will bless us with a guilt free life, and keep us from lives containing remorse and pain. 

Hallelujah. What a Savior!