People

Pick Christ’s Heart

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments
English: Fruit on tree; from the Philippines

Fruit on tree (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We pick a person’s brain to gather knowledge, like picking fruit from a tree or using a pick axe to dig deeper for hidden gold nuggets. It’s helpful to learn others’ thoughts and ideas because their experiences have been different than ours. Their knowledge and perspective may help us better understand a problem or answer a question we’re wrestling with. Picking a person’s brain allows us to discover what they know and it may give a bit of insight into who they are, but to really know them we must pick their heart.

Picking a person’s heart goes beyond gathering facts. It means when they’re speaking we watch their expressions for signs of joy, sadness or pain. We listen to the tone of their voice to notice if it trembles from fear, is clear and direct from focus on a deeply held belief, or bubbles with excitement. We ask questions because we care about the answers. We want to understand their concerns and joys, and share in them. We watch and listen closely to learn what makes them feel loved and to become aware of how they show their love for us.

Relationships grow strong when we reach that level – with our wives or husbands, our family, our Christian brothers and sisters, and others in our life.

In Philippians 3:10 (NIV), the Apostle Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ.” If we have the same desire, we will spend time picking Christ’s heart. We do that by studying the Bible. As we go deeper, more of our questions will be answered and we will better understand Him. We will know that Jesus has clearly shown His love for us by dying on the cross and read that He has told us how to show our love for Him:

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.‘” Matthew 25:37-40 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 ESV

These two passages point out that we have another responsibility in the process. Once we have picked someone’s heart, we must act on what we have learned for it to truly matter.

Things Change – Jesus Christ Doesn’t

/ Bill Jones / 5 Comments

Onions With Pivot Irrigation

Things change and the process of life moves on.

When we first moved here, to the “middle of nowhere”, the field across the road was just that – a field that was planted each year with varying crops according to the planned rotation. The owners later divided it – leaving one portion for crops and the other as a pasture for cows.

Early this year, the pasture grass was plowed up, a pivot irrigation system was installed, and Sweet Vidalia Onions were planted. The onions have since been replaced with peanuts, which are ready to be turned over for harvesting.

The land right around our house was initially a pasture also. (I’ll have to remember to post at some point about the joys of having cows around your house – especially when they belong to someone else). Most of that pasture was replaced with planted pine trees about 20 years ago and, since then, we were blessed to purchase part of that land.

At the end of last year, we had the pines cut down and now we’re trying to decide what to do with the land. I have set aside about an acre as a new “landscape” area. I had a few hardwood trees planted to get it started, but no long-range plans have been made.

But, whether or not, I make and carry out long range landscape plans, something will happen in that acre. After the harvest across the road, the peanuts may be replaced with onions again, but a different crop may be planted. If left alone, the other part of our planted pine area will re-seed itself from all the remaining pines in the vicinity.

I’ve made this ramble (hopefully a bit interesting) to illustrate the change that happens around us as time passes. Even leaving things alone, results in some type of change.

But, the point I’m heading to is that during this relatively short time described here, and backwards and forwards into eternity, our Lord and Savior has not changed one bit. And, He never will. As things change, and the process of life moves on – often in ways we don’t prefer – that is a wonderful assurance we can hold to.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV

Keep the Paths of Righteousness Open, for His Name’s Sake

/ Bill Jones / 8 Comments

English: Back Walk, Wymondham. Looking east al...

“The way to keep a path open is to walk on it”. When you first read this proverb, like many of them (including some in the Book of Proverbs) it seems obvious and not very deep. Of course the way to keep a path open is to walk on it – what’s so significant about that? The significance is not in the statement of fact, but in our reaction to it – from our thoughts on what it means in relation to our lives.

When I first heard this, I thought of a path through tall grass along the edge of a lake. Here and there the path veers off to a clear fishing spot on the bank. Over time if you don’t walk on it and keep it open, it will become covered with grass, weeds and thorns. At some point, trees can even start covering up the clear spots.

Several other “paths” in life came to mind:  The path between me and God; The path between me and my wife and family; The path between my house and the Church; The path between me and my Brothers and Sisters in Christ; The path of service; The path of obedience; The paths of righteousness.

All of these paths must be travelled constantly to keep them open. If we neglect them they can become covered in weeds and thorns, making them more difficult to walk. If we neglect them too long we may find that trees have grown up and obscured the paths completely.

The mention of the “paths of righteousness” is meant to bring to mind the 23rd Psalm: “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” (v3). I believe that tells us why we are to continue walking these paths to keep them open. Not just because they’re “good” things to do, but we are to keep them open for God’s name’s sake. All that we do should bring glory to God. Allowing weeds, thorns and trees to cover a path we should be walking doesn’t bring glory to Him, especially if it is the path between us and God.

Four Things I Discovered in a Year of Blogging

/ Bill Jones / 26 Comments

Sunflower and Butterfly Bush

Since I’m approaching the one year anniversary of my blog, and this month’s theme for the ChristianWriters.com blogchain is “Discovery”, I’m taking the opportunity to note a few things I’ve discovered along the way. They’re in no particular order, and presented as relating to life, not just blogging.

One blogging tip often given is to include a photograph. Over time, I noticed that blogs with photos do tend to get your attention quickly. Although I don’t think I have a special talent, I adopted the advice. When I did, I discovered I paid more attention to the intricacies and wonders of God’s creation. So, don’t just follow the cliche and stop and smell the roses:

1. We should stop and view the world around us as if looking for a great photograph that says: “Look what our God created and blessed me with!”

 “Views” are good – meaning someone at least stopped by your blog – but, you don’t know if they read it or just moved on. “Likes” are better and actually pretty neat. I take all that I get (naively, for a few I realize) as meaning someone did read the post, liked it and took the time to click the button.

But, I’ve discovered that the best of all are the real (non-spam) comments. The commenter read the post and thought about it enough to reply with an additional aspect, a word of thanks or a question. It also means they opened themselves up to possibly get a reply back – ie: open communication.

2. We build relationships by communicating. We should take the time and effort to do just that – with others around us and with God – that’s the best of all.

Some blogs have thousands of followers, and get thousands of “likes”. I’m nowhere near that level. At times, the low numbers of views, likes and comments can be discouraging and make me wonder if it’s worth it. Then, I get a comment to the effect of “Thank you, Bill. That’s just what I needed to read today”. And, then I can thank God, and rediscover that He has a purpose for me, and that day it was to write those specific words.

3. We should look for opportunities God gives us to write or say just the right words for someone each day. And, on the other side, when someone writes or says the right words for us, we need to let them know and encourage them.

4. In most things in life, especially relationships, it’s not how much or how many, but how deep.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 ESV

Please check out the other “discovery” blogs on the appropriate dates in the list on the right.