It would seem a fool and his folly are seldom parted. A person can do good all the day long, but for one moment of lapse, one stupid word, one little nuance of frivolity; then its Katy bar the door, disgrace city, hibernate till next spring; cause that's all that is remembered by fellow peeps. Far too often, "I will never live this down," becomes the crippling lament of a not perfect person. For as dead flies contaminate even perfume to reek rot, so the stench of a little folly covers up wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
Now we could talk all day about personal imperfection. After all who among us is without sin? Seems I've heard that somewhere before. Maybe it was Romans 3:23. And anyways, folks are supposed to forgive and extend grace like God does. Was that Romans 6:23 or Matthew 6 verse 12 or maybe verses 14 and 15? I'm sure it says that in the Holy Book somewhere, probably like over and over again, maybe even seventy times seven or more. But today I'd like to concentrate on something that's just so embarrassing, so discomforting, so unabashedly disgusting, that, that its unmentionable! So I won't.
Just kidding! You should be so lucky! And yes, I'm sure you have guessed the unmentionable embarrassment is as the title: "This Thing Called Whiney Love." Now before you Jewish folks start throwing back your shoulders, poking out your chests and strutting your stuff as being the whiniest people on earth, take a seat, cause us gentiles got game too. If being whiney was a sport, no matter the color of skin, no matter the religion, we all got game, we are all guilty.
So, what about this thing called whiney love? First we must consult Dr. Webster. A whine is defined as an annoying high pitched cry of distress or pain or complaint. Now whiney love has three particularly irksome traits: #1, it is whiney, #2, it is so repetitive that it shorts out the brain grid of its victims, and #3, whiney love is the really ugly debasement of self to the point of out weighing wisdom and honor.
Even if two whiney hearts find one another, beat as one; well, then they are just one bigger whiney heart, beating in whiney land. For the whiney heart is an unfulfilled heart. Even a truck load of whiney hearts is still empty. And unfulfilled lost hearts beat in self destructive rhythm to the melodic beat of lemmings over a cliff.
Whiney love is relentless expectation of return. It is saying one is sorry, a lot, due to low self esteem. So we ponder: is whiney love really love or no love at all? The answer may be that whiney love is as the stench of dead flies, masquerading as perfume. The first wiff might not smell too bad, but the longer it stays the stinkier it gets. It is more about taking, than giving; more about self, than others; more about suffocating, than breathing. Having cried wolf once too often: wallowing alone is whiney love's un-poetic end. Defeat by its own misguided purpose is whiney love's reward. Whiney love just plain stinks.
So what is the answer? Can the chronically whiney be healed? Who could even stand to touch them? They're stinky! Matthew 9:12-13 KJ, "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But ye go and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Jesus, precious Jesus, no stink of sin can keep him away. Jesus is the sweet perfume of grace and forgiveness. Jesus is the healer and the gatherer of God's children. Therefore, repent! Ask Jesus into your heart. Receive mercy. Be healed. Love God first above all. Let God love you. Get life! Then you are ready to really love others. Perhaps even love that someone God has planned especially for you.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for forgiving me. Thank You for Jesus who makes it possible. In Jesus name, thank You.
If "This Thing Called Whiney Love," might touch the life of any you know, please share...
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
JUST A PILE OF COCONUTS
Not always a good thing is it to go fishing alone in unfamiliar waters. A too small boat in the Pacific Ocean, what could possibly go wrong? And when that dinghy sinks, is it sometimes more than just luck an island beckons only yards away? So begins this not so typical day in the life of one vacationing Dennis B. Dense.
Swimming to shore, Dennis lost a shoe to one of many swarming sharks. Oh, how good did sand between the toes feel to potential shark bait. One soggy, yet not drowned, and not eaten Dennis Dense staggered up the beach sands, turned around and sat upon a rock. And there upon that rock, gasping for air, as he sat starring out at those hungry fins still churning the salt water, he thanked lady luck. Whack!!! A not so errant coconut did smack the head of Mr. Dennis B. Dense. "Owww!" Reflex action propelled Dennis to his feet and rubbing his head, he thought out loud, "Saved from sharks and drowning, then murdered by a coconut!" In fact on that small island no matter where Dennis stepped, it seemed he tripped over another coconut. And for no reason, apparent to Mr. Dense, he began to toss coconuts into a not so neat pile.
Without food and water that first day twas a bit uncomfortable, the second day unbearable, the third day desperate: the swollen tongue, the burning throat, the body ravaged by dehydration. "At least I'm not sunburned," thought Dennis, as he sat neath the coconut tree, on the rock, next to his pile of pesky coconuts. And as he kicked yet another fallen coconut toward the pile, Mr. Dense slipped off the rock in a dead faint.
But by more than chance a boat load of Nuns happened by. True they were off their intended course and could not for the life of them figure out why. So as Christian missionaries do, they were lead to pray for guidance. And it came to pass, that while deep in that prayer, the nose of the boat gently nudged the sand of a certain beach, where lay a semi-conscious Dennis B. Dense neath the coconut tree, between the rock and his pile of coconuts.
Now... the Nuns knew that days divine purpose of being supposedly off course. More than mere chance had steered their boat. They lifted the limp body of Dennis Dense and leaned him against the rock. One young Nun attempted to bring a canteen to his lips, but the eldest Nun pushed it away. And under the coconut tree, she plucked up a coconut from the pile, cracked it open on the rock, then brought to the lips of Mr. Dense the sweet milk of that coconut.
"Tourists!" said the old Nun, as Dennis drank, "Sitting under the tree of life, at his feet a pile of fruit full of milk, and the Rock right here to crack it open, yet dying of thirst and hunger! Just like so much of humanity, just a pile of coconuts needing to open their eyes and their hearts."
Twas then that the young Nun plucked from her pocket the Bible. Out loud she read. And thus it came to pass, that by more than just chance Dennis was saved from death twice that day... by Jesus: The Rock of Salvation. Indeed, the lost had been found. Drinking coconut milk had saved the temporary earthly body of Dennis; drinking the spiritual milk of the Gospel saved his life eternal. And Dennis was no longer... just one... in just a pile of coconuts... (Numbers 20:8 KJV; 1st Corinthians 10:4 KJV; John 3:16 KJV)
To receive nourishment out of a coconut or the Bible you must open it... Why wait till near death to eat and drink? Be nourished by the words of faith (1st Timothy 4:6). Eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7). As newborns cry out for pure spiritual milk that you grow into the fullness of salvation (1st Peter 2:2-3).
By more than just chance does The Living God redeem those he loves... There are no coincidences in life... By divine design Jesus is the Rock of Salvation...
If any coconut heads are rolling about the sand of your neighborhood, you might share "Just a Pile of Coconuts."
Swimming to shore, Dennis lost a shoe to one of many swarming sharks. Oh, how good did sand between the toes feel to potential shark bait. One soggy, yet not drowned, and not eaten Dennis Dense staggered up the beach sands, turned around and sat upon a rock. And there upon that rock, gasping for air, as he sat starring out at those hungry fins still churning the salt water, he thanked lady luck. Whack!!! A not so errant coconut did smack the head of Mr. Dennis B. Dense. "Owww!" Reflex action propelled Dennis to his feet and rubbing his head, he thought out loud, "Saved from sharks and drowning, then murdered by a coconut!" In fact on that small island no matter where Dennis stepped, it seemed he tripped over another coconut. And for no reason, apparent to Mr. Dense, he began to toss coconuts into a not so neat pile.
Without food and water that first day twas a bit uncomfortable, the second day unbearable, the third day desperate: the swollen tongue, the burning throat, the body ravaged by dehydration. "At least I'm not sunburned," thought Dennis, as he sat neath the coconut tree, on the rock, next to his pile of pesky coconuts. And as he kicked yet another fallen coconut toward the pile, Mr. Dense slipped off the rock in a dead faint.
But by more than chance a boat load of Nuns happened by. True they were off their intended course and could not for the life of them figure out why. So as Christian missionaries do, they were lead to pray for guidance. And it came to pass, that while deep in that prayer, the nose of the boat gently nudged the sand of a certain beach, where lay a semi-conscious Dennis B. Dense neath the coconut tree, between the rock and his pile of coconuts.
Now... the Nuns knew that days divine purpose of being supposedly off course. More than mere chance had steered their boat. They lifted the limp body of Dennis Dense and leaned him against the rock. One young Nun attempted to bring a canteen to his lips, but the eldest Nun pushed it away. And under the coconut tree, she plucked up a coconut from the pile, cracked it open on the rock, then brought to the lips of Mr. Dense the sweet milk of that coconut.
"Tourists!" said the old Nun, as Dennis drank, "Sitting under the tree of life, at his feet a pile of fruit full of milk, and the Rock right here to crack it open, yet dying of thirst and hunger! Just like so much of humanity, just a pile of coconuts needing to open their eyes and their hearts."
Twas then that the young Nun plucked from her pocket the Bible. Out loud she read. And thus it came to pass, that by more than just chance Dennis was saved from death twice that day... by Jesus: The Rock of Salvation. Indeed, the lost had been found. Drinking coconut milk had saved the temporary earthly body of Dennis; drinking the spiritual milk of the Gospel saved his life eternal. And Dennis was no longer... just one... in just a pile of coconuts... (Numbers 20:8 KJV; 1st Corinthians 10:4 KJV; John 3:16 KJV)
To receive nourishment out of a coconut or the Bible you must open it... Why wait till near death to eat and drink? Be nourished by the words of faith (1st Timothy 4:6). Eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7). As newborns cry out for pure spiritual milk that you grow into the fullness of salvation (1st Peter 2:2-3).
By more than just chance does The Living God redeem those he loves... There are no coincidences in life... By divine design Jesus is the Rock of Salvation...
If any coconut heads are rolling about the sand of your neighborhood, you might share "Just a Pile of Coconuts."
https://pawpawcorner.blogspot.com/2013/04/just-pile-of-coconuts.html
Thursday, April 11, 2013
LITTLE CAUTION
Twas the 12th of September in the wee morning hours at the Hospital St Claire that little Caution Forbear took her first breath of sweet air. The weeks flew by, then a month or two, but never did proud parents Aware and Prudence Forbear tire of each passerby. For all, who peered into the baby carriage of little Caution, were greeted with exuberant smile and excited dance of arms and legs.
Often was said, "She is such a caution!"
To which Aware and Prudence Forbear would exclaim in unison, "Why yes, she is the same as her name! Little Caution, our joy, our love."
Oh, how quickly did new acquaintances see the dancing light in the eyes of the family Forbear. Something friends and neighbors shared each passing day. But one, who came not to the door Forbear, might think that with names like Aware and Prudence and Caution and even a last name like Forbear, that surely such named as this must unavoidably be timid, be nervous, even shaking in a hole. But ala contraire! For those Forbears were not only forgiving and patient, even helpful to all about them; they possessed the courage of a most calm wisdom. So allegory ends...
And treatise begins... Such are those who have met Jesus, the mystery, the secret of life revealed. For Jesus blesses those who believe in Him with the wisdom to love. Love God and love one another, the wisdom of the ages. Love others even as God loves us in forbearance. God patiently endures our debts, even forgives that debt when we accept His Son as our Savior. As God forbears and forgives, so must we also, for such is love.
You too can be a caution, even a forbearer: one aware through Jesus; one wise in heart called prudent; one who with sweetness of the lips increases learning. So, cast not caution to the wind; neither be swayed by ever winds passing. Seek first the kingdom of God... For God has said in Jeremiah 33:3 KJ, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." How great is the wisdom and knowledge of our Creator! What joy to be still and listen!
Listen to Ephesians 4:2 KJ, "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love." Listen to Colossians 3:13 KJ, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
The pathway of Jesus leads to life with Him in Heaven. Be aware; exercise prudence; use a little caution; even forbear. Tune in to Jesus, that your words bear blessing. Patiently learn to be like Jesus: meek, yet courageous; humble, yet joyful; righteous, yet forgiving; prudent, yet giving; cautious, yet astonishing; and above all, loving...
If any might need a "Little Caution," with prudence please share. And with sweetness of the lips bless them with the awareness, "Jesus loves You."
Proverbs 16:21 KJ, "The wise in heart shall be called prudent: the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning."
Often was said, "She is such a caution!"
To which Aware and Prudence Forbear would exclaim in unison, "Why yes, she is the same as her name! Little Caution, our joy, our love."
Oh, how quickly did new acquaintances see the dancing light in the eyes of the family Forbear. Something friends and neighbors shared each passing day. But one, who came not to the door Forbear, might think that with names like Aware and Prudence and Caution and even a last name like Forbear, that surely such named as this must unavoidably be timid, be nervous, even shaking in a hole. But ala contraire! For those Forbears were not only forgiving and patient, even helpful to all about them; they possessed the courage of a most calm wisdom. So allegory ends...
And treatise begins... Such are those who have met Jesus, the mystery, the secret of life revealed. For Jesus blesses those who believe in Him with the wisdom to love. Love God and love one another, the wisdom of the ages. Love others even as God loves us in forbearance. God patiently endures our debts, even forgives that debt when we accept His Son as our Savior. As God forbears and forgives, so must we also, for such is love.
You too can be a caution, even a forbearer: one aware through Jesus; one wise in heart called prudent; one who with sweetness of the lips increases learning. So, cast not caution to the wind; neither be swayed by ever winds passing. Seek first the kingdom of God... For God has said in Jeremiah 33:3 KJ, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." How great is the wisdom and knowledge of our Creator! What joy to be still and listen!
Listen to Ephesians 4:2 KJ, "With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love." Listen to Colossians 3:13 KJ, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
The pathway of Jesus leads to life with Him in Heaven. Be aware; exercise prudence; use a little caution; even forbear. Tune in to Jesus, that your words bear blessing. Patiently learn to be like Jesus: meek, yet courageous; humble, yet joyful; righteous, yet forgiving; prudent, yet giving; cautious, yet astonishing; and above all, loving...
If any might need a "Little Caution," with prudence please share. And with sweetness of the lips bless them with the awareness, "Jesus loves You."
Proverbs 16:21 KJ, "The wise in heart shall be called prudent: the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning."
Thursday, April 4, 2013
TACOS TAKE FOREVER
Kids are profound. Even racing the clock to deliver kids to school on time can be a real trip in the journey of life. In our little town the breakfast choices are limited for hungry kids late for school. When asked if a taco would do, one grandson exasperatingly exclaimed, "Tacos take forever." So taco stand aside, the other choice was the country store, where fresh baked kolaches dwell along with their cousins the doughnuts. Now that's a kid's dream breakfast come true: kolaches and doughnuts with a chocolate milk chaser. What part of sugar overload and attention deficit syndrome does Paw Paw not understand? Teachers, please forgive me.
While the cashier lady rang up the sugary delights, Paw Paw lamely mentioned as a nutritional excuse, "We're running late for school."
The dark haired cashier lady tilted her head philosophically and with a good natured smile said, "Well, I always say if your not running late, you are not on time." Sometimes when least expected a gentle soul offers unique perspective on life. A way of not only seeing, but being on that smoother path.
"Wow!" Paw Paw thought, after dropping the kids off at school, "Not one, but two interrelated profundities of life! Tacos take forever! And... If you are not running late, you are not on time!" Modern life, what can I say? We live in a land where the wily taco, one of the worlds quickest meals, is considered too time consuming to be consumed. We live in a society where abnormal break neck rushing and arriving in the split-second nick of time is considered normal. Give me a break! Better yet, give me a nap! I'm tired of rushing! Our legislators think they must pass laws or they are not doing their job. So, if they are going to willy-nilly pass laws anyway, why not give us one we can use: The Right To Nap Law. Nap deprivation must end! Save the nap!
Seems no matter how we rush, we are behind, we hurry to make up time. Well folks, Paw Paw is sorry. Paw Paw can not make up time, only the Creator of time can make time up. His name is G-O-D. And while we can not make up time, we certainly need to take the time God has blessed us with to share with Him. For you see we can not make up time, save time, get ahead of time or buy time; but these things are for sure: worldly time is ticking, is limited, and does run out. On this earth God gives us time to learn to love. God gives us time to choose His Son, Jesus, without whom both time and love are lost.
Some accuse Paw Paw of over thinking everything... But one thing for sure... I can never over thank God... Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Jesus and his gift of time e-t-e-r-n-a-l... John 3:16
Tacos might not take forever... But by taking Jesus into your heart... Forever is yours...
If "Tacos Take Forever," will snap any you know out of the mad race to oblivion, and guide to the forever loving arms of Jesus, please share.
While the cashier lady rang up the sugary delights, Paw Paw lamely mentioned as a nutritional excuse, "We're running late for school."
The dark haired cashier lady tilted her head philosophically and with a good natured smile said, "Well, I always say if your not running late, you are not on time." Sometimes when least expected a gentle soul offers unique perspective on life. A way of not only seeing, but being on that smoother path.
"Wow!" Paw Paw thought, after dropping the kids off at school, "Not one, but two interrelated profundities of life! Tacos take forever! And... If you are not running late, you are not on time!" Modern life, what can I say? We live in a land where the wily taco, one of the worlds quickest meals, is considered too time consuming to be consumed. We live in a society where abnormal break neck rushing and arriving in the split-second nick of time is considered normal. Give me a break! Better yet, give me a nap! I'm tired of rushing! Our legislators think they must pass laws or they are not doing their job. So, if they are going to willy-nilly pass laws anyway, why not give us one we can use: The Right To Nap Law. Nap deprivation must end! Save the nap!
Seems no matter how we rush, we are behind, we hurry to make up time. Well folks, Paw Paw is sorry. Paw Paw can not make up time, only the Creator of time can make time up. His name is G-O-D. And while we can not make up time, we certainly need to take the time God has blessed us with to share with Him. For you see we can not make up time, save time, get ahead of time or buy time; but these things are for sure: worldly time is ticking, is limited, and does run out. On this earth God gives us time to learn to love. God gives us time to choose His Son, Jesus, without whom both time and love are lost.
Some accuse Paw Paw of over thinking everything... But one thing for sure... I can never over thank God... Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Jesus and his gift of time e-t-e-r-n-a-l... John 3:16
Tacos might not take forever... But by taking Jesus into your heart... Forever is yours...
If "Tacos Take Forever," will snap any you know out of the mad race to oblivion, and guide to the forever loving arms of Jesus, please share.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)