Stirring The Pot

I went fishing recently and for the first time ever I used leeches for bait.

Fifty plus years of fishing and finally I became a man: I touched a leech.

Gross.

However, they were what the fish wanted for breakfast so they worked well.

I couldn’t help but think about leeches, comparing them to some people I’ve known through the years.

Which brought my thoughts to this scripture:

“A leech has twin daughters named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.” (Proverbs 30:15 MSG)

I wondered for a long time about the above verse, you know the part about the twin daughters. But after handling them all day I decided to do a little research.  I discovered leeches have two mouths!

Incredible!

Which really made me think of some people.

Leeches. Takers. Sucking the very life out of the thing they attach themselves to. They don’t have anything to give. They hang around (and on) for one purpose. They want to take all they can and then, once they have their fill, fall off and go away.

Just the opposite of how we were created by God to act.

God is a giver, an extremely generous giver. And every child of God, every new creation in Christ, has that same generous spirit residing in their spirit. In fact, we must go against our new nature to be selfish and self centered.

How generous are you? Does God have your wallet as well as you heart? Does He have the last word on what you do with your life; how you use your time, treasure, and talents?

Can He whisper to your heart, “Give such and such to so and so”, and you promptly obey? Or does He have to pry each of your fingers away from your possessions before you’ll ever consider giving your stuff away?

Are you a taker or a giver?

Are you a leech?

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” (Proverbs 11:24 – 11:25 MSG)

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:37 MSG)

Leeches are good for fish bait. But God has a much better life for those who are givers, and not takers.

“Generosity begets generosity…”

And stinginess leads to death.

Lately I have been in a funk, giving excuse after excuse for why I’ve neglected so many important things.

Of course, the excuses seemed valid and I really was busy. New job, new help, etc.

But the truth is I had set aside one of the most important things my life.

The Gift.

What do I mean when I say “The Gift”?

I mean that special something, that calling if you will, that a person receives from God (yes, and He has something for everyone on this planet) to share with those around them.

So what have I been neglecting? Mainly writing, though there’s much more to it than just sitting down and writing four or five hundred words. I’ve neglected the whole seeking God part which has affected my desire to engage the gift.

But that is coming to a screeching halt!

Since the gifts and callings of God don’t change, and He doesn’t take back what He once gave, it’s up to me to engage the gift.

And because He expects me to use what He has given, I must write.

Or be found guilty of neglecting something so precious as a gift handpicked by God for me.

Okay, enough about me. What about you?

Don’t say you’re too busy. That dog won’t hunt.

Don’t say you’ve never received a gift from God; you may not have realized what it is but it’s there, nonetheless.

When I started getting quiet (stopped filling my time with work and play) and began to let God’s voice become clear in my spirit, the next step became obvious-engage the gift.

I believe the same will be true for you.

Whatever gift you have, if not stirred up and used as God designed, will eventually become weak and invisible. And others will possibly miss out on something no one should ever be deprived of-that special touch from God because you were obedient in stirring up the gift.

So what do you say? Have you received a gift from God, say, the gift of comfort? Then use what you’ve received to comfort others.

Have you received the gift of hospitality? Well? Then quit trying to be a loner.

Don’t neglect the gift.

Engage the gift. You, God, and people around you will be glad you did.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:8 – 4:11 ESV)

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6 – 12:8 ESV)

Thanks for reading. I’d like to hear your thoughts about your gift (s) and how you’re using them. Please respond  in the comments section.

Life is funny at times. So unpredictable, with sudden attacks which seem to come out of nowhere.

You’re walking through life, minding your own business, when all of a sudden you turn a corner and come face to face with a life altering experience.

Right around the corner, completely unexpected, something or someone hits you upside your head and knocks you for a loop.

Know what I mean?

Here’s a truth we must know and embrace; right around the corner (unseen at the present time) lurks the potential for a life changing experience.

That’s why we must live prepared for anything.

How is it possible?

Look at Jesus’ example.

“And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able. ” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me. ” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. ” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes. ” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. ” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead. ” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. ““ (Mark 9:14-29 ESV)

Some versions add “and fasting.”

Jesus had just been on the mountain with three of His disciples. The other nine were hanging out waiting for Him to return. I’m not sure what they were supposed to be doing, but apparently they weren’t prepared for what was right around the corner.

They had been given authority to cast out demons (Mark 6). They had experienced the power and authority they had in Jesus’ Name.

But they weren’t prepared. They failed when life appeared right before their eyes.

Which is why they asked Jesus, “Why didn’t it work this time?”

The answer Jesus gave wasn’t a formula only for casting out demons. He was sharing with them a foundational principle.

“This is how you prepare for things right around the corner.”

How?

By staying close to the Father through regular prayer, worship, reading and studying God’s Word.

Jesus didn’t ask the boy’s father to wait three days while He fasted and prayed. No, He lived prepared, ready to face any emergency, by continually staying in fellowship with His Father.

After all, His Father (and yours) knows what is lurking right around the corner.

Amen.

I did just a little research and discovered the average couple spend approximately $6,000 on an engagement ring and wedding bands. To some, that may not sound like much. To me, that’s a staggering amount.

I’m not insinuating women aren’t worth it. Not at all.

But I would like to make a comparison between how much people are willing to spend on rings and things while totally missing the most important gift one could ever give to their spouse.

You may be thinking, “I love my fiancé! Nothing is too much for her. I’d pay any amount for her to be happy. I’d climb the highest mountain, cross the hottest desert, do whatever was necessary to show everyone how much I love her.”

“And yes, I’d make ring payments for the rest of my life, if that’s what it took.”

Nice. I’m glad you feel that way.

But you may be forgetting just one little (well, it’s not really little) detail.

So I’ll pose a question.

If you’re willing to do so much for your fiancé/spouse, would you be willing to add just one thing more?

One thing?

Yes.

Would you be willing to honor your vows? Your wedding vows.

Your promise, troth, vow. Your word.

A lot of people don’t realize this, but your word is the most important thing you own. Whether or not you keep your word tells everyone what kind of person you truly are.

I’m convinced all divorces are the result of at least one of the spouses not keeping their word; they failed to honor their vows.

Is it always easy to do what you promised? No. Sometimes it is very hard and most unpleasant. But if you’ve opened your mouth and said, “I do.”, or, “I will”, then your obligation is to make sure you do it.

Forget the excuses.

Your name will not be respected if you can’t be trusted. All the “I love you” phrases you come up with will never replace keeping your word.

God keeps His Word. That’s why we can trust Him. It’s why patiently waiting for His answers isn’t nearly as hard as it could be. We know He’s not a liar; He’s always true to His Word.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 NKJV)

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10 – 55:11 NKJV)

Notice in the Isaiah passage, God chooses His words for a purpose. He says them and expects them to be fulfilled. He guarantees their fulfillment or He’d never have spoken them.

That’s the same commitment He calling us to. We’re to choose our words and make it our duty, our utmost responsibility, to see they’re fulfilled.

Imagine what this world would be like if each person would “swear to their own hurt” (Psalm 15) if necessary in order to ensure their words, their promise, oath, and vow were carried out.

Is it too much to expect people who say they love their spouse to honor them by keeping their spoken vows?

I don’t believe so.

The most important thing you can give each other is the very thing that will help maintain the health of your marriage and cover your relationship with the covering of love –

Your word.

It’s worth a whole lot more than $6,000.