WIND CHIMES – SOUND OR SILENCE?

October 13, 2015October 13, 2015 | lindamowles

Wind chimes — I love them.

Wind chimes playing music outside the porch

I enjoy hearing them when the wind ripples through their parts and the chimes make melody along with the leaves and birds, all of nature combining to glorify God through their music.

But, not all the wind chimes are like the two above which are placed outside near the porch windows. Certain wind chimes have been placed on hooks inside the porch.

We did have them outside for a time and their sound was just not … musical, shall we say. The primary problem, though, is that they were not able to withstand the rigors of the breeze. Seems rather weird that a wind chime could not hold it together in the wind, but that is the situation with those that are, now, inside.

Then there is the pottery wind chime from Hawaii that we had outside and it performed beautifully until one of the pieces broke after hitting the side of the house. It is now in wind chime retirement, hanging on the wall inside the house.

A bamboo straw wind chime was a souvenir from an adventure in Jamaica.

Wind chimes made of wood in bedroom window

The bamboo chimes have all the right pieces, but they just don’t make music – they rather thud! A wind chime without the chime. Just window dressing!

Some wind chimes have extra features, like balls that sparkle and, this one in the kitchen, even has a spring holding the chimes up. Touch it and the whole thing bounces up and down with the chimes giving off a rather tinkling sound. But I wouldn’t want to put it in the wind – the spring would have the chimes all twisted up in no time!

Some wind chimes, like this glass blown chime, are just too fragile to hang out in the wind. It makes pretty music when the lower bob is touched, but it is simply not strong enough to endure the wind that would hit it outside. So it views life through the kitchen window.

Those chimes that are outside in the wind are doing what they were intended to do – make beautiful melody when touched by God through the breezes that He provides. Those that are inside the house, for whatever reason, are still wind chimes, but they are not doing what they were intended to do. They are pretty, they are providing ambiance, they are souvenir reminders of the trips that we have taken, but they are not fulfilling the purpose intended for them as wind chimes.

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus used a lamp as an illustration of something that can fulfill its purpose when being used properly.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Of course, putting the light under a basket so that its light, although available, was not able to do its job is foolishness. But Jesus then continues to say that the disciple of Christ should “let your light shine before others.” Why? For the purpose that others would see the works of the disciple and then give glory to God.

Notably, the very first question in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism is “What is the chief end of man?”, and the answer is “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” One of the proof text verses supporting this response is 1 Corinthians 10:31 where Paul directs:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

In short, as Christians, we are not called to live an inactive, inert, or passive life. We are called to do God’s will for us. God’s people have always been called to do His will. In Leviticus 25:18, God tells Moses to tell the people:

Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.

In the New Testament, Jesus says:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:15. And then he gives the counterpoint command in John 14:24 by saying:

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. John 14:24

In other words, if you do not keep Jesus’ words, you are showing by your very actions that you do not love Him. It matters not that you say you love Him. The proof is in the pudding – do your actions show that you are keeping His commands?

So the next question is “What has Jesus commanded His disciples to do?” That answer is found clearly in the Gospels. Consider the Gospel of John where Jesus tells us what He wants … actually, He says it three times!

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

John 13:34

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

John 15:17

And then, while we are loving our Christian brother and sister, as we are commanded to do, we are also to:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19

Jesus knew that we would need power to do this, so in Acts 1:8 we read Jesus’ instructions to the disciples after his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Knowing that being His witnesses would be difficult, He prayed to the Father for them:

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

John 17:15

Thus, we have the commandments, instructions, power and protection, all provided by our Loving Lord.

So:

Are we wind chime Christians whose grace-filled life makes everything around us more beautiful?
Are we behaving as Christians by loving each other as Christ loved us?
Are we loving those outside the Christian family so that they see Christ in us?
Are we strong enough to love people even when it is hard and windy?
Are we loving people even when they hurt us?
Are we wind chime Christians who are fulfilling the purpose God has for us?

Or:

Are we wind chime Christians who are too fragile in our faith to speak to others or to love those who are unlike ourselves?
Are we wind chime Christians who cannot withstand the torrents of difficulties attendant with Christian witness outside the confines of the church?
Are we wind chime Christians who have opted to stay inside the church, never getting out into the world so that we are not exposed to anything difficult or challenging?
Are we wind chime Christians who are so busy trying to look like Christians that we don’t have the time or inclination to follow Jesus’ command to love others?

Father, may I be a wind chime that sounds your love and mercy to others around me. Forgive me when I have been content to sit on the sidelines of life and have refused to let my witness chime out for you. Holy Spirit, embolden me so that I can do the work that you have arranged for me to accomplish and may my witness be love-filled even during those times when the winds of anger or contempt buffet the way. May I reflect Jesus in all that I do, to your honor and glory.

BLUEBERRIES FOR CHRIST

August 22, 2015 | lindamowles

I love blueberries. I like to have them on cereal, over ice cream, in muffins, in granola bars – I love blueberries. My Beloved, on the other hand, will eat some blueberries but he is not as fanatic about them as I am . For him, a little goes a long way.

The other morning, we were preparing breakfast and I was scooping out blueberries from the freezer bag and pouring them into my granola cereal and getting my Beloved some Cheerios.

I asked if he wanted some blueberries and he replied “Yes, but not many.”

Being the dutiful wife that I am, I counted out eight blueberries and put them on the top of his cereal, and then asked if that was sufficient. I really thought he would want more, but he did not – eight was just right.

So, we ate our cereal and when we were down to the milk, I noticed how blue the milk was in my bowl and I assumed that the color was so deep because I had so many blueberries with my granola.

But, when I looked at my Beloved’s bowl, his milk was as blue as mine even though his bowl had so many less blueberries!

I confess that this was far from a scientific experiment. However, a few things can be deduced from our breakfast challenge. First, a blueberry is not a strong fruit – its skin is thin and it is small in comparison with other fruit. Its taste is mild and it probably won’t win a contest for being the most distinctive taste in the panoply of fruit flavors.

Second, the blueberry is a champion of color. Those eight little berries colored the milk the same hue of blue as did my 4 scoops of berries. [You can conduct the same experiment just by dishing out the berries in the first place … if your hands touch them, even when frozen, you will have blue marks on your fingers.]

Third, what a powerful impact those eight little berries had on the white milk. Quiet, no grand heraldry announcing that the blueberries were doing something … they just made their presence known by coloring their world.

Then I thought of Scripture and our witness to the love and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We too are supposed to affect our world for Jesus by our word, work and witness.

Jesus said we are to be salt and light to the world. Matthew 5:13-16. Neither salt nor light leave the area around it unchanged. Both have an immediate affect on that which it touches. Light does not leave the darkness alone when it appears – light totally obliterates the darkness. Salt is not just a flavoring. Indeed, according to the Salt Institute, there are about 14,000 uses for salt. It has been said that the use of salt as a preservative for food was an early cornerstone of civilization. [You can read more about salt at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/47-smart-uses-for-salt.html#ixzz3jU24iqym]

In short, Jesus was telling His disciples that they should have an affect on the people with whom they come in contact. And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, this affect should be quiet, enduring and efficient no matter the circumstance.

Jesus did not include the blueberry in His command to His disciples when He said that they should be salt and light to their world and I certainly don’t want to add anything to Scripture as it is, I believe, the inerrant Word of the Living God.

But, I think that the little blueberry can be an example of what He was saying. We should not just soak up the milk, we should not just hear the Word, we should not just bask in the fellowship of our friends … we should be out in the world leaving behind the mark of Jesus Christ just as the blueberry leaves its mark when it comes in contact with your hand.

When we are in contact with our family, neighbors, fellow-shoppers, drivers, church members, club associates, whomever … whatever our interaction with others may be, there should be an impact for Jesus Christ.

Can people tell that we are Christians by the way we color our interactions with them?
We may be small, weak and not very assuming in appearance, but do we make a mark for our Lord in our society, not just on Sunday at and after services, but on a day to day basis?

So, what about you? Have you colored your world today? Have I?

Lord, please forgive us when we have missed opportunities to witness to others about your love and grace. Forgive us when we fail to follow your lead in presenting the gospel message of salvation to others who may be asking about what Christ means to us. Lord, forgive us when we have soaked up the Word, hoarding it for ourselves, without recognizing that it will increase when we spread it abroad. Lord, help us live for You no matter where we are or who we are with. Let us remember that You are ever present with us, to give us the words to speak as you did with Moses and the prophets. Praise Your Holy Name.

A LIGHT IN THE DARK

May 16, 2015 | lindamowles

Lighthouses are fascinating. Their locations are most often isolated from the rest of society, remote and alone. Solitude and quiet prevail as they are often shrouded in fog. The Heceta Head Lighthouse with its supporting building is beautiful in clear skies.

The purpose of a lighthouse is to be a signal of location, safe port and/or dangerous shoals. That purpose is illustrated by the Heceta Head Lighthouse when, after the storm rolled in, its lamp became illuminated – the lighthouse is doing its work.

Heceta Head Lighthouse with lamp burning

The romantics will picture the lighthouse as very tall, overlooking the ocean, with a residence for the keeper inside the lighthouse itself or as a separate dwelling a short distance away. Indeed, this is the quintessential description of a lighthouse.

But, the lighthouse comes in many shapes and sizes. A lighthouse on a mountain, bluff or terrain that is high above the ocean has no need to be raised to the heavens – it just needs to be higher than the vegetation that separates it from the ocean.

The Cape Meares Lighthouse at the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint in Oregon is one such lighthouse that did not need to be tall to do its work.

When on the trail to the lighthouse, there is no reason to believe that a lighthouse is nearby. The path is through a forest, and it is a cool, comfortable route, not uphill, not rocky, not difficult; rather carefree. Then, magically, you see the light itself, seemingly at eye level.

Scripture has much to say about lamps and lights. Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus is speaking to the crowds and is giving what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. Immediately after giving the Beatitudes, He says:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

In Philippians 2:14-16, Paul says:

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Just as all lighthouses are not identical, believers in the Lord Jesus do not all look the same. However, our purpose is identical — to shine in the dark, pointing others to Jesus and giving glory to God. We may be the light of the world in many different manners and in diverse places; but the Light is the same. It lightens the darkness of the world through Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The world is dark and it seems that it is getting darker by the minute. But, as Christians, we are the light of the world. Don’t let your circumstances dim your light or let the darkness overwhelm you. Don’t let your focus be lost. We have a job to do and we have access to the Power to do it.

Therefore the question becomes: What is the condition of our lamp?

Do we have power because we are in close fellowship with the Lord, the Source and Provider of the power to do His work?

Has our light gone out because we have ignored the study of Scripture, prayer for the work ahead, confession and repentance of our sins? Or, perhaps we have been so self-centered that we forgot there is a dark and hurting world out there. A darkened lamp just melds and meshes into the rest of the darkness. Its purpose is defeated.

So, check your lamp. Is it lit? If not, pray as you need and seek Power from our Lord — then go out and be the light in your world!