Forgetting to Eat

Today's Post is a Guest Contribution by Ellie Shumaker:

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive…” ACTS 27:33-34

Food – so nourishing, so good, so delightful. How can we forget to eat? And yet it can happen.

It’s happened to me (not very often as I’ve spent a good part of my life battling my weight). It happened when I went through a terrible crisis way back in my twenties. I was in such an anxious state that I didn’t want to eat anything -- not even chocolate! And then it happened when I went through a wrenching upheaval in my relationship with one of my children four years ago. Again, nothing tasted good to me and I would forget to eat.

And during those times, I can recall that those around me who loved me would say something like what the apostle Paul said to those on board the storm-tossed ship: “Come on, Ellie, you need to eat, to keep up your strength…”

But food’s not all we need. We human beings are complex creatures. We need more than nourishment for our bodies. Just as much -- no really more -- we need nourishment for our souls. Recently as I was recounting to a friend how troubled and worried I was about the demands and the uncertainties of my employment situation, she stopped me and gently urged me to eat -- that is to eat the spiritual food that I was obviously starving for.

“Why don’t you try praying more?” she said.

My friend is right. I’m forgetting to eat.

Prayer – so nourishing, so good, so delightful. How can I forget to pray? And yet it happens. “Prayer is not asking for good things. It’s going to where they are.” (my favorite quote about prayer.) When I pray I am going to where the good things are, I’m going to where I will find all the spiritual food I will ever need.

And if I pray, even should my job fail, should the economy falter, should the nation fall, then, even then, I will survive, I will live, I will thrive. And then, even then, I will have the strength, the courage, the love I will need to reach out to others, to share with them, to help them, too, to survive, to live, to thrive.

Today's Post is by Ellie Shumaker. Ellie writes a monthly devotional she publishes via email. This post is from her June 2010 edition, and is published here with permission. Ellie is a Christian, a writer and a family counselor. To subscribe to Ellie's monthly devotional, you may email her at ellieshumaker@yahoo.com. Feel free to tell her Chatty Kelly sent you.

Hold On, I'm Coming!

Don't you ever, be sad. Lean on me, when times get bad.
When the day come, and you know your down,
In a river of trouble, you're 'bout to drown.
Hold on, cause I'm coming. Hold on, I'm coming.
Hold On, I'm Coming, Sam and Dave, 1966

Do you ever get tired of doing good? Being a Christian in the world is exhausting business. What the world says is okay, often contradicts what the Bible says is right. Not only right, but righteous. We are called to be set apart from the world. And at times, it can be tiring.

God knew this. That is why He encourages us many times in the Bible not to get give up. We are told to consider Jesus, who endured opposition from sinful men, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:3). We are told not to grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9) We are told to never tire of doing what is right (2 Thes 3:13).

Obviously God knew we might get tired. Like the words of Sam and Dave's song, He reminds us to "Hold on, I'm Coming. Hold on, I'm Coming." In fact, we need to lean on him when times are bad. He knows our every struggle.

Keep on keeping on, my Christian friends. Do not get tired of doing good, in this world of ours which seems to reward NOT doing good. Do not get tired. Hold on. He's coming!

Musical Musings:
1. Do you ever get tired of being the one who tries to do the right thing, especially when many others seem not to care what the right thing is?
2. How encouraged are you to know that God knew we would tire, so that He Himself ordaining words in Scripture to energize you.
3. Matthew 16:27 says "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Keep focused today on the fact that Jesus is coming back, and will reward you for your persistence in doing good.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, I admit that sometimes I get tired. I want to do what is right, but it's sometimes hard when no one seems to notice or care. I know, Lord, that you notice. And you care. Keep me focused on doing what is right, encourage and energize me to hold on, until that time when you do come. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On: Make note cards on encouraging scriptures, like the ones above. When you are feeling down or discouraged, read them out loud to remind yourself to hold on. He's coming.

What WOULD Jesus do?

My brother-in-law recently updated his facebook status with this:

Tip: Those cute little "WWJD" and vanity Jesus plates are canceled out by your aggressive driving. WWJD? Not drive like a {expletive deleted} I bet!

I commented back:
Jesus didn't drive. He walked every where. Even on water. ☺

He retorted:
oh my bad. I thought the 2nd 'W' in WWJD stood for 'would', not 'did'. So in that case... What (W)did Jesus Do? Probably not walk like a {deleted}.

My brother in law is an atheist. As Jesus put it, "In this world, you will have trouble." And my brother-in-law has experienced troubles. And he blames God. I wish I had the words to show him how much God loves him. How, yes, he would still have trouble even if he accepted God, but would also have the peace and hope that comes from a Savior.

What WOULD Jesus do? You know, I don't know. Jesus had a knack for always doing what was least expected. He worked on the Sabbath, healing. He sat alone with a woman, and a Samaritan woman at that. He was a king born in a stable.

What WOULD Jesus do? I don't know. There are a lot of things I wish Jesus would do, that He hasn't done. But that doesn't change who He is. "What would Jesus do" is a funny little phrase that we use to determine how we should act as Christians. We don't know what Jesus would do, and even though we think we know what he should do, we often get that wrong too.

What Would Jesus do? I only know what he did do. He did say, "In this world you will have trouble," but he continued, "But take heart! I have overcome the world." He died on a cross, taking on my sins, and yours, so that we may have eternal life. He doesn't end the trouble of this world. Christians don't lead a charmed life. But we have hope of overcoming the troubles of this world. We have hope of eternal life. We have hope.

What Did Jesus do? Enough.

Wait Training

I don’t particularly enjoy exercising. Okay, I don’t at all enjoy exercising. There are many kinds of exercise programs, but there are basically only two types of exercise. Aerobic exercise is meant to increase and improve oxygen consumption by the body to create endurance. Weight Training is meant to increase and improve muscle tone to create strength. But what about Wait Training?

I don’t particularly enjoy waiting. Okay, I don’t at all enjoy waiting. Anyone who has waited on God for anything knows how long and painful waiting can be. But is God training us? What is the purposed of this Wait Training? Could it be to increase our strength? Our faith? Our hope?

Meet me over at Titus 2 in Action , where I am a guest contributor every other Wednesday, to see areas where you might need improvement.

Spirit in the Sky

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky, That's where I'm gonna go when I die.
When I die and they lay me to rest, Gonna go to the place that's the best.
Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum, 1970

Do you ever think about death? Not in a morbid or morose way, but when a family member dies do you consider where they may end up, in heaven or hell?

How about when you die? Do you think you are going to the "place that’s the best?" What place is the best? Do you think heaven is a boring place where you’ll float around with wings and play a harp? I don’t think so! The bible paints very vivid pictures of heaven and hell, and clearly heaven would be the place that’s the best.

Hell is described as gloomy dungeon, a place where the fire never goes out, a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth, a bottom less pit where your soul is destroyed.

Heaven, on the other hand, is a place of great joy where we will worship God, there will be treasures and rewards, there is no death, sorrow or crying, and there is great beauty there.

The Bible is clear that there is a heaven and a hell. We all deserve to go to hell, because we are all sinners. However, we can go to the place that's the best, simply by believing the Jesus is God's son who died on the cross for our sinners. Confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9).

Then when you die and they lay you to rest, you can go to the place that's the best!

Musical Musings
1. Do you believe in the existence of heaven and hell?
2. Are you assured that you are going to the place that’s the best?
3. If you're not sure of your eternal life, why not pray the prayer below. Then talk to a faith filled friend or pastor to help you become sure of your eternal life.

Karaoke:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life. Amen.

Rock On: Read about the rich man and Lazarus’ experience with heaven & hell in Luke 16:19-31.

Master Plan

A Master plan is defined as a general plan or program for achieving an objective. I am a master planner. I plan my days, my schedule, my life very specifically.

A friend recently updated their facebook status with a quote from the book Jesus Calling. It said, "Glorifying and enjoying Me is a higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life. Give up your striving to keep everything under control - an impossible task and a waste of precious energy."

A tidy, structured life is so much what I have longed to create for myself; usually failing. I love the next line, "Give up your striving to keep everything under control." Give it up? Me???

You know, it's good to have a Master Plan. But what I am finding is that it is better to trust the Master's plan. Amen.

Proverbs 19:21 -- Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Blinded by the Light

Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
Blinded By The Light, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, 1977

"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen. It is best known as a 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It also has one of the most misquoted lyrics. What does "revved up like a deuce" mean? It's a car reference. By "deuce" he meant a hot rod, a little deuce coupe, like the Beach Boys sang about. It's slang for a 1932 Ford coupe.

There was also a Biblical runner who was blinded by the light. Before he was known as the Apostle Paul, he was Saul. Saul hated believers of Jesus. Acts 9:1 says Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He hated everything to do with Jesus. But in verse 3 a heavenly light flashed around Saul. The Lord asked Saul "why do you persecute me?" Jesus spoke to Saul from Heaven. And Saul was blinded by the light. I imagine he was also revved up like deuce after the encounter with Jesus.

This encounter changed the murderous Saul into Paul, a self described slave of Christ. (Romans 1:1). Paul spent the rest of his life traveling as a missionary converting people to Christ and writing much of the New Testament, (13 books).

Have you had an encounter with Jesus? Why not seek him, and see what changes he can make in you. And isn't it amazing that it took being blinded for Saul to be able to see?

Musical Musings:
1. Think back in your life. Have you had any encounters with Jesus, or "coincidences" that seem to happen to lead you on the right track?
2. If you can't recall any, pray and ask God to show you the way bearing in mind that sometimes God blinds us to help us see him.
3. God said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13). You can't half-heartedly look for Jesus. Seek him today with your whole heart.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, I confess that sometimes I am blind to your ways. Open my eyes that I may see you and know you. Help me seek you with my whole heart. And let me be a life changed like Saul to Paul. Thank you for being a God we can seek and find. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On: Read more about Saul's change to Paul in Acts 9. You can read more of the Books of the Bible written by Paul (inspired by God): Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus and Philemon.