By God’s Power, We Live

July 17, 2012July 16, 2012 / Bill Jones / 7 Comments

Hibiscus Plant

This Hibiscus plant is one of our favorites every year. It continues to put out blooms all summer long. During the winter it dies back to the ground and leaves a skeleton of dead branches. But, in early spring, the new shoots begin to show above the ground and by the end of spring it’s grown back to this size. Amazing how God brings life back to it!

It reminds me of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, as God gave us a picture of His power to give life to the dead – such as with us sinners who were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), but now live through Jesus’ sacrifice.

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones…he said to me, “son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD… So I prophesied as I was commanded…and the bones came together…and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them…and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army” Ezekiel 37:1-10 ESV

By the power of God, we live!

Connecting With God

July 13, 2012July 12, 2012 / Bill Jones / 4 Comments

birds on a wire (Photo credit: Vurnman)

As I drove past the interchange on I-16, I noticed a flock of pigeons perched on the power line. I didn’t count them but guessed there were 30 or more lined up on the wire, just sitting there waiting for something to happen – maybe hoping for a truckload of corn to be accidentally spilled along the highway (“Bob, do you remember the big corn spill of ’07? Boy, what a feast!”).

Or perhaps they were just talking among themselves, passing the afternoon away until it was time to go home to roost. (“Well, I think I’ll go home, take a little nap, then go over to Thelma Lou’s and watch a little TV”)

The next day my schedule took me back in that direction and they were in the same place. Since I didn’t pay enough attention to recognize any individuals from the day before, I wasn’t sure it was the same group – but I assumed it was. I wondered if they were lined up in the same order as the previous day, like us church-goers who sit in the same location in the pews each week. (“Hey! Move over – that’s my spot!”)

I’m not an expert on pigeon perception but I doubt they noticed me at all. (“Hey Joe, isn’t that the same red pickup that came by yesterday?”)

The pigeons and I didn’t make a connection. I was passing by and happened to see them for an instant. After those few odd thoughts, my brain turned to whatever I was thinking before. They were in their own little world, which didn’t include the people passing by on the interstate.

But some people do make connections with pigeons. The owners of homing pigeons easily recognize individual birds. They know each bird’s peculiarities in flight and pickiness in eating. In a race, the owner knows which one will get back first, and which one will lag behind the others. The connection is made because someone cares enough to invest their time and effort to make it happen.

I’ll agree most people won’t feel a desire to make connections with pigeons. I may notice them the next time I travel I-16, but I doubt I’ll get off the interstate to go introduce myself.

But there is a connection we need to invest time and effort to strengthen – our connection with God. In these busy days, it’s too easy to keep trucking down the road, giving only an occasional glance or thought in His direction and then moving on. So let’s stop awhile and sit and talk…or maybe like the pigeons, just sit.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

The Lord Will Answer Those Who Thirst

July 10, 2012July 10, 2012 / Bill Jones / 4 Comments

Hanging Basket Closeup

Here’s a close up shot Sharon took several weeks ago of the hanging basket on the back porch. That was before the weather got really hot, and it’s struggling these days. I don’t seem to be able to give it all the water it needs.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” Isaiah 41:17 ESV

Celebrate Words – Especially God’s

July 6, 2012July 5, 2012 / Bill Jones / 29 Comments

Holy Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since the July theme for the ChristianWriters.com blog chain is “celebrate”, it’s appropriate that we celebrate words. While there are some “word” celebrations in place, such as the Celebrating Words Festival in Los Angeles, National Writing Day and I Love to Write Day, this will be a smaller scale of just a few minutes.

Words are fun to play with. Such as seeing a sign that says “Giant Tire Sale” and wondering just how big the tires are. Or, thinking of movie titles like “The Sum of All Fears” and imagining what the plot would be for “The Fear of All Sums”?

My favorite personal example came one day at a produce distribution plant. There were rows and rows of boxes stacked to the ceiling. A label on the side of each box indicated its contents. Most were straightforward (tomatoes, peppers, bananas, etc.), however, one box stood out. It’s label read simply: “Squash, Do Not Crush”. I imagine someone was just having fun with words, and it may even be a standard produce plant gag, but, it sure stayed with me. I suppose I celebrate words each time I think of it.

As Christians, our celebration of words must include God’s Word. There are passages that can be fun (remember short Zaccheus climbing up a tree so he could see Jesus (Luke 19), or Balaam’s donkey talking to him (Numbers 22:28)). But, in our celebration, we can move far beyond fun, and we can consider the joy, thankfulness and humility that Scripture brings us.

One of my favorite verses comes when Nehemiah is encouraging the people in Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city. He in effect told them “Let me tell you the good things God has done to bring me to this point” – and it worked – their response was “Let us rise up and build!”.

Let’s take that verse and celebrate what God has done for us.

“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me.” Nehemiah 2:18

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1

“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me.”

“But Noah (and we) found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8

“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me.”

“And she shall bring forth a Son and thou shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21