Barbara's Banter

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing poetry. Poetry allows us to experience ideas with creative imagery. Did you know that about 30% of the Bible was written in poetic form? Whole books such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Job are poetic. Much of Old Testament prophecy is in poetic form. What isn’t written in poetic form in the Bible still has many elements of figurative language such as similes and metaphors.   

Both similes and metaphors are used to make comparisons. Similes use the word “like” to make a comparison. An example would be: life is like a box of chocolates. Metaphors just state the comparison. An example would be: all the world’s a stage.

I enjoy reading modern translations of the Bible such as The Message, but I also love the imagery displayed through metaphors when reading the King James, New King James, or the New International Version. I think God uses metaphors to reach out to each one of us, making it easier to identify with Him individually. The Bible is full of such metaphors. Here are a just a few examples:

• To the architect, Jesus is the chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6).
• To the astronomer, Jesus is the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2).
• To the builder, Jesus is the firm foundation (Isaiah 28:16).
• To the carpenter, Jesus is the door (John 10:7).
• To the geologist, Jesus is the Rock of Ages (1 Corinthians 10:4).
• To the farmer, Jesus is the Lord of the harvest (Luke 10:2).
• To the jeweler, Jesus is the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46).
• To the herder, Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
• To the singer, God is the song (Isaiah 12:2).

This list barely scratches the surface. Throughout the Bible, we find a loving God reaching out to us, breaking down barriers, and trying to give each of us things we can identify with—examples we can relate to that lead us to Jesus. It doesn’t matter what our occupation is, what our interests are, or what we are going through—there is something in the Bible we can identify with. God must love us very much to go to this much trouble.

In my personal life, I take it a step further. I imagine God saying, “Come let’s take a walk. You and I have a lot in common. Those flowers are certainly fragrant today. Did you know I am the Rose of Sharon?  Look at that lovely stream. Did you know I can give you living water to drink and you will never thirst again? Are you getting hungry? I never get hungry, but I would enjoy eating with you. Did you know I am the Bread of Life?” (Solomon 2:1; John 4;10; John 3:65)  

When I’m sick I imagine God sitting with me saying, “Don’t fret. Did you know I am the Great Physician? You need a little rest if you are going to get better and I am the giver of rest. Things look dark for you now but I am the Light in this dark world.” (John 8:22; Matthew 11:28; John 8:12)

I love thinking about Jesus being with me. No matter what I’m doing or what I’m going through, He is there. These metaphors help me see Christ in my life all the time. When my time on earth is through, Christ will be with me, whispering in my ear, “Do not fret, little one. I love you. I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

The Bible continually refers to God as our heavenly Father and us, as His children. I love what God tells us in Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear. I will help you.’”

Fathers exude an aura of protectiveness to their children. When toddlers are learning to walk, they want to hold their father’s hand to steady their uneasy steps. Preschoolers tend to be a little braver, so a father will demand his hand is held to keep children from wandering away, getting lost, or darting out in front of traffic. His hand gives a sense of security.

As children grow up and show a certain amount of wisdom, they might be allowed to venture out more on their own. Still they know that a steady hand of guidance is there when needed.

Of course, there are times when teens or young adult children think they know so much more than their father. Eventually, as they grow in maturity, they realize dad knew quite a bit more than they thought. As Tim Russet said, “The older I get, the smarter my dad seems to get.”

Those who had loving fathers find it easier to view God as loving, merciful, and kind. Unfortunately, not all fathers are that way. Some were too busy to be bothered with their children, never around, or even abusive. Our heavenly Father can transcend those negative memories because our spiritual Father is never too busy for us. He is always available and willing to give us His undivided attention. His thoughts are only for our best. He will never abandon or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

We are all children at heart. We all have times when we need someone to hold our hand. If we put our hand in our heavenly Father’s hand, He will hold it. He will help us. He will steady our uneasy steps. He will keep us from getting lost. He may lead us on a path that appears hazy, but there’s no need to worry. He knows the way. He will calm our anxieties. He will comfort our pain. He will keep us secure. 

All we have to do is say, “Father, hold my hand” and He will! God is continually with us and will gladly hold our hand if that’s what we want. No need to fret. No need to fear. As He holds our hand, He counsels and guides us—and when the time comes, His loving hand will take us to eternal glory (Psalm 73:23-24).

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Once, Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” Some said He was John the Baptist, some said Elias, some said a prophet, and so on. Jesus was no doubt curious.

When Jesus asked Peter, he replied, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-17). It pleased Jesus that Peter realized this. After all, Christ knew who He was even if those He came in contact with weren’t quite sure.

How about us? Do we know who we are?  

Once we turn our lives over to God, we belong to Him. And from that very moment, our identity changes and we become new people (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24). Sometimes just knowing who we are can make a difference in how we live our lives. Here is just a sampling of who we are:

• We are God’s children (John 1:12).
• We are loved (John 3:16).
• We are Jesus’ friend (John 15:15).
• We are accepted (Romans 15:7).
• We are chosen (Ephesians 1:4).  
• We are redeemed (Ephesians 1:7).
• We are justified (Romans 3:24).
• We are saved, not condemned (Romans 8:1).
• We are free, not slaves (Romans 6:6).
• We are heirs (Romans 8:17).
• We are dwelling places for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
• We are led by God (2 Corinthians 2:14).
• We are righteous (2 Corinthians 2:15).
• We are blessed (Ephesians 1:3).
• We are alive in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5).
• We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10).

Our identity is now in Christ. All these attributes are who we are in Christ, not earned by us but freely given. The Bible says as a man thinks, so he is (Proverbs 23:7). How we perceive ourselves makes a difference in how we act, how we react, and how we live.

So who do you think you are? We can’t afford to get caught up in who others might think we are. We have an abundant life and rich inheritance. After all, we are God’s children!  

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

In ancient times, every drop of water used in a household had to be carried from the local well. So each day women walked to the well, filled their heavy earthenware jars, and carried the water home. In John 4, we learn about the Samaritan woman coming to the local well and meeting Jesus.

At the well, she and Jesus started talking. She was surprised that Jesus knew so much about her. Then Jesus used the water of the well as a metaphor to teach this woman about the living water, that divine grace that gives eternal life. After chatting a little longer, she realized that Jesus is the living water.

The Samaritan woman came to the well because she was thirsty. She was thirsty for so much more than a cool drink of water, but probably didn’t know it. We need to come to the well and meet Jesus, too, because we get thirsty. Before we know it, we can be parched and dry. We need that living water or we will perish.

Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the deer panteth for the water so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

When we read this scripture, we may picture a deer seeking a little refreshing cool drink of water. But that’s not what David meant by these verses. By the time a deer is so thirsty to be panting for water, he must have water or die. In this analogy, David is speaking of his desire for God being as essential to his life as air or water. When we don’t have enough of God, we despair and feel hopeless. Perhaps that’s why the thirsty deer was a symbol used by the early church to denote a Christian’s passion for God. 

Some of us come to the well because although we may not feel thirsty, we know we need to drink the water. You might say, “How could you not know you are thirsty?”

It happens all the time in life. People stay out in the sun too long and get dehydrated. They feel sick and don’t know why. Then someone says, “Have you been drinking water?” They think and respond with, “Why no, I haven’t!” They drink water and feel better.

Others can’t even tell when they are thirsty. In nursing homes, they are always making sure the elderly drink water because they can’t depend on their body signals to let them know they need it. Spiritually, some of us are the same way.

If we daily commune with God and drink of Jesus’ thirst-quenching water, we will never have to worry about being thirsty again.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us hope is one of the big three Christian principles: faith, hope, and love. Just as faith and love are important in our Christian journey, so is hope.  

When the world thinks of hope they usually associate it with wishful thinking. Those who don’t have much money hope to win the lottery. Some who want success hope their ships will come in. However, hope from a spiritual perspective is not wishful thinking.

The Old Testament word for hope is “yachal” which means to wait, be patient. The Greek word for hope in the New Testament is “elpis” which means favorable and confident expectation. So when we are hopeful, we aren’t just waiting. We are confident our wait will reap positive results.

Believe it or not, hope is as necessary to the human spirit as oxygen is to the physical body. When we lose hope we are overcome with despair and lack of purpose. Without hope we lose all desire to go on. Our problems overwhelm us. Not having hope can literally destroy our lives.

Hope can save us from despair, but it is not something we can see with the human eye (Romans 8:24-25). The only way we see hope is through those who live it. In other words, hope is not held in our hands, only in our hearts.

Hope is not something that magically appears. It comes from Christ living in us (Colossians 1:27). Christ is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Our hope is connected with our relationship with God.

Without hope, our lives are joyless and full of despair. Without hope, our endurance dwindles and we feel like we can’t go on. There is a lot of pain, tragedy, trauma, and suffering in this world and those without Christ in their lives feel everything is hopeless (Ephesians 2:12). They don’t understand that problems in this world are only temporary. God says even death is temporary, so He doesn’t want us to sorrow like people who have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13).  

Those who have Christ living in them do not need to feel hopeless. When Jesus died and was resurrected, we were begotten into a living hope (1 Peter 1:3-5). We have an inheritance that will not fade away. Our hope is blessed assurance that everything God has told us is true. We know salvation is a done deal. We don’t have to wonder about it. We don’t have to doubt it. We can be confident about that! Everything God promised us is true and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).  

The Bible describes hope as a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:18-19). What does an anchor do? When a boat drifts a little this way or that way, the anchor tugs it back and keeps it centered. Hope keeps us centered on God so we don’t drift away. Hope is vital to the Christian life.

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“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13

Think on these things: positive thoughts for a negative world…

When Christians partake of Holy Communion, they do so to remember the body and blood of Jesus that was broken and poured out at the cross. When most of us think of Communion, we think of a church setting where we eat a small piece of bread representing Jesus’ body and drink a little cup of wine representing His shed blood. Jesus’ sacrifice paid the penalty for our sins.

Although there is something very special about sharing this service with a congregation, we can also have Communion in our homes with an intimate group or even by ourselves. The very first Communion was with an intimate group—just Jesus and His disciples. If we take Communion alone, we aren’t really by ourselves. We are with Christ. The word communion can mean sharing or exchanging intimate thoughts and feelings on a spiritual level. A one-on-one Communion can be a time for greater intimacy with Christ.

The Bible does not say how often Communion should be taken. It just says that it should be taken and it should be done in remembrance of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). We need to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We need to remember He provides all our physical and spiritual needs. We need to remember His unconditional love for us. We need to remember His desire to have a relationship with us and be intimately involved in our lives. There are so many things we need to remember. Communion is a reminder of everything Jesus is in our lives.   

Jesus is our best friend. Communion with Him does not mean we look back at our past with a critical eye, but to our future with a hopeful one. So we should not let our feelings of failure or inadequacy keep us from communing with Jesus. He bids us come.

From the beginning God desired to dwell among us and have a relationship with us. God wanted His sanctuary in the midst of the Israelites so He could dwell among them (Exodus 25:8). It was foretold that Jesus would be called Emmanuel which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). The Holy Spirit was sent to be with us and dwell in us (John 14:17). When the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, God will be dwelling with His people (Revelation 21:3).

Jesus wants to be with us. He wants to be recognized as an integral part of our very being. Communion is one way we show Him not only our appreciation for all He has done, is doing, and will do in the future, but also our desire to have Him intimately involved in our lives.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

No one denies we have certain freedoms in the United States which most of the world cannot experience. That’s why I love a good Fourth of July celebration, replete with hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks.

However, our ultimate freedom lies in Christ. John 8:36 Jesus tells us, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have been made free indeed. This is illustrated in the following poem I wrote originally for Christmas but have modified slightly to commemorate this time of year.

Freedom in Christ

By Barbara Dahlgren (2012)

Jesus came to earth so we

Now are pardoned and set free

Free from the penalty of sin

Free from death to live again

Free to follow in Christ’s way

Free to trust, free to obey

Free to give and to receive

God’s great love if we believe

Free from doubts that soon appear

Free from worry, free from fear

Free to serve and free to share

Free to praise our Lord in prayer

Free to fix our eyes above

Free to bear the fruit of love

Free from darkness into light

Free to walk by faith, not sight

Free to cherish and embrace

Love and peace, joy and grace

We are accepted by blood spilt

   Don’t feel condemned and full of guilt

True freedom only comes through Christ

He’s the One who paid the price

On Fourth of July, I think of He

Who came so all could be set free

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Many times we go to people asking advice, but we really do not want their input. What we really desire is their stamp of approval on what we want to do.

Unfortunately, we can approach our spiritual life the same way. Many prayers are not seeking God’s guidance in our lives, but an attempt to talk God into giving us what we want. “Give me, give me, give me” prayers miss the mark. No wonder the disciples had to ask Christ, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

Prayer can have many components: praise (1 Chronicles 29:10-13), adoration (Ephesians 3:14-21), thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20), supplication (Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6), confession (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9), and so on. However, most of us just focus on supplication and trying to get what we want for ourselves and for others.

However, effective prayer’s purpose is not to get what we want; it’s a way of changing ourselves so we want the right things. Prayer is not a means to change our circumstances as much as it is a way to change ourselves. That’s heavy stuff. Prayer coupled with Bible study helps us form a deeper relationship with God and know the mind of God.

While it is true that God hears all prayers, if the only time we pray is when we are at the end of our rope, then expecting God to deliver us from our circumstances is unreasonable. Prayer doesn’t change circumstances as much as it changes our perspective, so we can cope with our circumstances. We don’t pray, “Let my will be done;” we pray, “Let thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10).

If we are praying often, we can even grow to mean it when we say, “Let thy will be done.” Our goal should be to align our will with God’s. Christ realized this when he prayed for “this cup to pass from me” regarding his crucifixion, yet He told God He wanted God’s will to be done (Matthew 26:39).

We were created to be in a relationship with God. Prayer is part of that process. A deep, meaningful relationship cannot form unless we have a means of constant contact. Prayer is our avenue of developing that relationship. It provides continual dialogue with God.

Perhaps our prayers would get more results if we didn’t approach them with the attitude of “I wonder what God can do for me today?” Maybe asking God what we can do to better serve Him each day would make all our prayers more effective. It’s definitely something to think about.  

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

“Martha, Martha…” (Luke 10:41). She’s my kindred spirit. She’s a mover and a shaker. She’s organized. She gets things done. If I had my choice, I’d rather work with one Martha than ten Mary’s. So it irritates me when people think of her negatively based on a few verses of Scripture.

Martha, her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus lived in Bethany, a village just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. Commentaries indicate it was Martha’s house, so although all three siblings lived there, it was probably Martha who called the shots. It was Martha who invited Jesus to her house (Luke 10:38).

Scriptures suggest that Jesus felt comfortable there. What qualities must one possess where Jesus feels comfortable to visit? Whatever they are, Martha seemed to create them in a warm, hospitable environment. The Bible says that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (John 11:5). While it’s true that Jesus loves all of us, He must have had a special affection for these three, or it wouldn’t have been mentioned.    

We can envision Martha busying herself with household chores and all the necessary preparations to provide a meal for her special guest. Where was her sister Mary during all this??? She was sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening intently, instead of doing what Martha thought she should do—help her in the kitchen. Finally, Martha had enough. I’ve been there…

Poor me! Doesn’t anyone appreciate how hard I work? There wouldn’t even be a meal if I didn’t cook it. I’m always looking out for the needs of others. Can’t my sister see how frazzled I am? Why doesn’t she get up off her lazy keister and help? 

So in Martha’s frustration, she asks Jesus to intercede and make Mary help her. This is when Jesus makes His famous reply, “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

I used to find this one of the most irritating verses in the Bible because I thought Jesus was putting down Martha’s efforts. However, that is not really the case. When He says, “Martha, Martha,” it is not a tone of rebuke, but rather affection. He knew her heart was seeking to provide him with a pleasant, relaxing experience. So Jesus isn’t chastising her. He doesn’t say, “Martha, you need to just stop what you are doing and come sit here by Mary.” He is letting her know that while we serve, we must never forget the reason for the service. When we do, we get distracted (Luke 10:40) from more important issues.

We worker bees sometimes forget that usually we are the ones making the decision to take on responsibilities. Then we get upset when people don’t notice we are stressed and jump in to help. We blame them for adding to our distress. One thing Jesus is trying to point out here is that Martha should not be judging Mary’s decision.  

This is not a case of Mary is good and Martha is not. Actually, Mary choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet was quite a gutsy move during that time. It went against the norm of the day. Culturally speaking, she should have been in the kitchen. Yet, here we have just one of the many examples of Jesus treating women with a certain dignity and respect that was not the custom of the day.

Later, the Bible records another time when Jesus once again comes to this house, shortly before Passover (John 12:1-3). Here we see Martha serving and Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with fragrant oil. Martha was doing her thing and Mary was doing hers. They had different personalities and different ways of expressing their love for Jesus—and Jesus was okay with that.

In an ideal world, we would be perfectly balanced with an equal amount of Martha and Mary in each of us. However, it doesn’t really matter. If our focus stays on Christ, we can serve Him regardless of personality proclivities as long as we are careful not to not judge those who don’t do it our way. For Jesus loved both Martha and Mary—and He loves me, too. 

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Attitude reveals a lot about us. Our attitude is how we think or feel about something. It represents our outlook and disposition which influences our behavior. It lies deep inside us and eventually comes bubbling out (Matthew 15:18), sometimes when we least suspect it. 

It is counter-productive to blame our attitudes on other people or events. Many times we cannot control what happens to us, but we can always control our attitude and how we respond to what happens. There’s an old adage about two men in prison. One looks out the barred window down at the ground and sees mud. The other one looks up and sees the moon and stars. Which one am I?

We can influence our attitudes by using words of affirmation instead of words of condemnation. This works when we speak of others as well as ourselves. Put downs are not conducive to good attitudes. Being thankful regardless of circumstances is also helpful. We can always find some little something to be thankful for if we look hard enough. Many times we see what we are looking for. If we are looking for the good, we can find it. The same principle applies when we are looking for the bad.

When Moses sent the twelve spies to explore Canaan, ten came back with a negative report (Numbers 13:27-29). They basically said, “Yes, it is a good land, but the inhabitants are strong and like giants. We’ll never be able to overcome them.” However, Joshua and Caleb who had seen the same things had a different attitude (Numbers 14:6). Sure, there might be a few problems but God wanted them to have this land flowing with milk and honey, and with God’s help they could take it.     

Having God in our lives should give us spiritual perspective regardless of what happens. There is no need to despair because we can turn our worries and burdens over to Him. Psalm 21:6 says, “You have made him exceedingly glad with your presence.” Being glad could be another way of saying “good attitude.” A good attitude can come from realizing God wants to bless us and does so everyday—sometimes in big ways and sometimes in small ways. A small blessing during times of hardship can be a big blessing in disguise. However, if our attitude isn’t right, we might not even recognize it.

Bad attitudes magnify circumstances, breed anger, cause us to lash out at others, and keep us from moving forward in our Christian walk. I’ve heard it said that a bad attitude is like a flat tire. You won’t get anywhere until you change it.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)