Barbara's Banter

Each year it gets harder to buy Christmas gifts for loved ones who seem to have everything. What do you get the person who has everything?

 Well, what gift would you give Jesus?  After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating.    One would think that He and His father have everything – literally.  However, there are gifts from us they would love to receive.  So why not consider giving the following?  

Believe:  Many try to foolishly prove God exists. (Psalm 14:1)  They challenge Him with little tests and if God performs to their satisfaction they will deign to believe in Him.  Those who take this approach rarely end up believing in God for God does not jump through our hoops.  The Bible does not try to convince us God exists; it proclaims His existence and the existence of His son Jesus Christ.  We either believe it or we don’t.  Belief means to accept something as true.  Every promise God makes is contingent on us believing in Him.  Better to come to God asking for Him to help our unbelief than asking Him to perform mini-miracles to prove His existence. (Mark 9:24)  Sure it takes a certain amount of faith, but we can ask God for that as well because faith isn’t something we conjure up. (Hebrews 11:1)  It comes from God.  (Hebrews 12:2) When we believe and accept God as true, we can believe what He says.    

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6) 

Trust:  As small children we might have been encouraged to jump into our father’s arms, but we were frightened.  When we finally jumped we squealed with delight when our father caught us.  Dad was happy because his children trusted him.  Trust means to place confidence in or depend on.  Unfortunately as we grow up we find we live in an untrustworthy world.  Even those we thought we could trust sometimes betray us in some way – the bank system, the government, the judicial system, the guy in charge of our pension fund, our best friend.  People will let you down so it is only natural we would hesitate to trust God.  Yet, He is the only one we can truly trust.  We can trust God to keep His word and promises.  We can trust God to take care of us and our circumstances.  We can trust God to know what is best for us and perform it on our behalf. (Romans 8:28)  We don’t have to worry, fear, doubt, or be afraid. (Isaiah 12:2)  We want our children to trust us; God wants us (his children) to trust Him.   

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”   (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Worship:  Why should we worship God?  Well, God is good and kind.  God extends His love and grace to us.  God sent His only begotten son to die for us.  God is our deliver, sustainer, and creator.  To show God we appreciate all of this we worship Him through praise, music, prayer, thanksgiving, offerings, and how we live our lives.  It’s not like God is some egomaniac who just wants to be praised and adored all the time.  That’s not the point.  God, just like us, wants to feel loved and appreciated.  But more than that – worship acknowledges God’s greatness, His kingship in our lives, and our willingness to have Him rule over us.  God is not seeking the worship; He is seeking the worshippers.  God wants to have a relationship with us.  Worship is our gift to God.          

“But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23) 

Give:  God loves it when we give and He especially loves it when we give to those who have less than we do.  When we visit the sick, serve the poor, help the widowed, befriend the fatherless, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, encourage the despondent, and honor the elderly we are giving gifts to God because it as if we are doing it for Christ.  We should always be looking for someone less fortunate than ourselves and make their world a little brighter.        

^“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’” (Matthew 25:39, 40)

When the Christmas presents have been opened and the wrapping paper discarded we will look back on Christmas and reflect.  Did we get what we wanted?  Did we have a good time?  Did we forget that it was Christ’s birthday party? 

Remember, it’s never too late to get Him that perfect gift.

Remember the old Christmas song I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas?  It was pretty funny.  Some of us may think we’re gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas as well.  Maybe we don’t have any friends.  Maybe we decided not to do a gift exchange this year.  Or maybe we think we’re getting’ nuttin’ because like the lyrics of the song says…we ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.  However, we have access to many gifts because God is the greatest gift giver of all.

God’s gifts aren’t limited to Christmastime.  We have the gift of life and most of us have food, clothing, and shelter which are blessings many don’t have.  However, many precious gifts we have are linked to Jesus and would not be available had He not come to earth.  So in the spirit of Christmas I’ll focus on a few of those. 

Forgiveness:  Christ was born as a baby, lived among us, and when he grew up he gave his life as a sacrifice so our sins would be forgiven. (John 10:17, 18)  Through Christ our sins are forgiven and no longer remembered. (Hebrews 8:12)  The slate has been wiped clean.  No need to remain guilt ridden, for God does not condemn us.  There remains no condemnation for those in Christ. (Romans 8:1, 2)  Christ paid the penalty for us, so we wouldn’t have to.  He died for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)  This is a gift because we did nothing to earn or even deserve it.  Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

Grace:  Grace means getting something good that we don’t deserve.  God gives us his unmerited favor.  Unmerited means we did nothing to earn God’s favor or grace, but we have it all the same.  And it is through this grace that we are justified. (Titus 3:7)  That means not only do we escape the death penalty but we are declared righteous before God. (Romans 3:24)  We cannot earn righteousness.  We are saved not by our works but by grace. (Romans 11:6)   Grace is a gift from God. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)         

Redemption:   Now forgiveness and grace are wonderful gifts but God went one step further.  Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins we have been redeemed.  What does that mean exactly?  Redemption was often used in ancient times in reference to buying a slave. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus we have been purchased by him, bought with the price of his death.  That means we are no longer “slaves” to sin.  It also means we are no longer our own.  We belong to God.  He is our Master.  However, God doesn’t consider us his slaves, but his children. (Galatians 4:4-5) That’s quite a gift!         

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”  (Ephesians 1:7)

Salvation: Salvation is one of the gifts given to all believers.  It’s the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23)  Salvation can only come through Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)  Jesus lived, died, and lived again when he was resurrected.  This resurrection was victory over what all of us fear most – death.  Christ’s resurrection was not only his victory, but ours, too.  (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)  Because of this victory Christ lives…and because Christ lives, we can live also. (Romans 6:8-11)  

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)     

Sometimes when we receive Christmas gifts we focus on the gifts instead of the motive behind them.  God’s motive in all His Christmas gifts for us is love.  “For God so loved the world…”  That’s you and me.  Of course, it’s up to us to accept these gifts or reject them, but if we’re gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas it’s by choice because plenty of gifts have been made available – all because Christ the Savior was born.    

Many think the custom of giving gifts to loved ones at Christmastime came from the Magi giving gifts to the Christ child long ago. I’m not sure. However, giving Christmas gifts has become part of our lives. Unfortunately, some of us get so caught up in creating a perfect Christmas environment by cooking, decorating, and buying the perfect presents for our family that we neglect those gifts that are most valuable – the ones that don’t cost money. Why not consider giving some of the following?

Affection: We shouldn’t need to have a sprig of mistletoe as an excuse to kiss to a spouse or hug our children. What good are homemade cookies shaped like Santa, bells, and sleighs if our family members feel like they are in the way while we are making them? What good is a perfect, color coordinated Christmas tree if our little ones don’t feel wanted? A wink, a smile, a hug, a kiss – these will be remembered long after the cookies are eaten and the tree comes down.

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another.”  (Romans 12:10)

Laughter: All the health benefits of laughter are too numerous to mention but here are a few. Studies show laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer. Laughter changes brain chemistry for the better. It lowers risk of heart disease, increases blood flow, and reduces stress. Laughter is contagious so it’s the perfect gift to give to others. Clipping a funny cartoon to share is great. But even better is to find the “funny” in everyday life. So when those little holiday mishaps come – and they will come – just find the humor in a situation. Burnt figgy pudding is not the end of the world. Remember, if you can laugh at it, you can live through it.

“A merry heart does good, like medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22)

Appreciation: Learn to appreciate our differences. Focus on a person’s positive qualities, not what we would consider negatives. We are not all alike. That doesn’t necessarily make some of us better than others – just different. Some of us are organized, some are disorganized. Some are fashion conscious, some are happier in jeans. Some are morning people, some come alive a night. And nowhere are our differences more magnified than in a family environment, so let’s cut each other some slack. Let family members know they are appreciated for who they are. We could even throw in a few phrases like, “You did a good job,” “Thank you for your help” or “I love those jeans!”

“I thank God for every remembrance of you…” (Philippians 1:3)

Time: We only have a certain amount of time. When a day passes that time is gone. We never get it back. If we don’t take the time to create family memories we end up in a Cat’s in the Cradle situation. Just hanging out together as a family is not time wasted. Playing a game, attending a church Christmas program, singing Christmas carols to a CD, watching It’s a Wonderful Life or How the Grinch Stole Christmas on television, making a card for Grandma, visiting Aunt Matilda in the nursing home, or just driving around town to see the Christmas decorations can be some cost effective activities we can do as a family – all together! Ecclesiastes says there is a time for every season. Why not take some time to enjoy this season together? It is time well spent.

“There is a time for everything and for every season under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I guess I’m really talking about the gift of love. Our houses may be twinkling with lights that can be seen in outer space. A plastic Santa with all the reindeer, even Rudolph, may be adorning our lawn. Our door may have four wreaths. We might even have a snowman mailbox that would put Frosty to shame. But everyone knows when giving presents that’s it’s not the box and wrapping on the outside that counts. If our houses are decorated on the outside but don’t have the gifts of love on the inside, we miss the mark – especially at Christmastime.

It may be early in December but shoppers are already bustling to find that perfect Christmas gift. One gets the impression the recession is over, but it’s not. Some of us are still a little cost conscious so I thought it would be nice to do a series of articles about Christmas gifts that don’t cost money. This first article is about gifts we can give to everyone.

Let’s face it, from now until Christmas, stores will be packed with people, parking spots will be at a premium, and roads will busier than usual. We are going to come in contact with a lot of people. We might think we can’t afford to give a gift to each one of them, but we would be mistaken. There are many things we can give to everyone that won’t cost money. Here are just a few…

Patience: First of all, realize it’s the holiday season. Everything is going to take more time. What good does it do to fret, complain, and send out toxic vibes to everyone around us? When you’re in that long checkout lane at Target why not just accept it and determine to keep a good attitude? A gift of patience sends out a positive aura that others will appreciate.

“In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)

Benefit of the Doubt: Contrary to popular opinion people do not exist to irritate us. Yes, they can be irritating but most of them aren’t doing it on purpose, especially during this time of year. So why not give them the benefit of the doubt? Cashiers are not deliberately slow. They are probably temporary help hired for the holiday season and doing the best they can. The gift of thinking good thoughts about others benefits them and us.

“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)

An Act of Kindness: It’s been said that there are no small acts of kindness. So what may seem small to us may be a gift of great value to those we meet. Simply holding a door open, picking up a dropped package, letting someone ahead of us in line, giving someone directions, offering a seat to an elderly person, letting a car merge into our lane, or using words like please and thanks can make someone’s day. Studies show that acts of kindness have a ripple effect. When we do something kind for people, they tend to pass it on to others.

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

Smile: Smiles are a universal language. Not only do smiles lift spirits, they are contagious. Statistics show that a person who is given a smile will more than likely give one to someone else. Studies show that just forcing ourselves to smile has many benefits. We look younger and more attractive. Our moods change for the better. Stress is relieved. Our blood pressure is lowered and immunity system boosted. Let’s face it; this smiling thing is a win/win for everyone!

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice…” (Psalm 32:11)

You know what they say – Jesus is the reason for the season. So think to yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Well, I think he’d give at least one of these gifts to everyone he’d meet!

“If only” are two little words that keep us from contentment.

In the family favorite movie The Wizard of Oz little Dorothy from Kansas longs to fly over the rainbow to escape her problems. In a way she gets her wish when a tornado propels her house into a mystical land called Oz. Of course Oz is not without problems so she longs to go home. To do this she must go see a wizard. On her journey she is joined by a scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion – all wishing to get something from the wizard.

The scarecrow feels he would be happy “if only” he had a brain. The tin man thinks he would be happy “if only” he had a heart. The cowardly lion would be happy “if only” he had some courage.

How many of us assume we would be happy or content “if only” we had this or that?

That’s how the Israelites felt when they left Egype. Just read the accounts in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  Their journey to the Promised Land was not without hardships.  They felt  “if only” God would give them what they wanted they would be content and happy.

• “If only” they had food: God gave them manna and they got tired of it. They wanted meat.
• “If only” they had meat: God gave them quail to eat and they got tired of it.
• “If only” they had water to drink: God gave them water, they stilled complained.
• “If only” Moses would speak to them instead of God: Moses spoke to them and they weren’t happy.

Each time God graciously gave them what they wanted and they still weren’t happy. That’s what “if only” thinking will do for you. Not only does it foster discontentment but it skews one’s thinking.

The Israelites thought “if only” they were back in Egypt they would have great food to eat. (Numbers 11:4, 5) They had forgotten how miserable they were in Egypt. (Exodus 1) They didn’t have good food to eat. As slaves they had scraps. The Egyptians made the lives of the Israelites “bitter with hard bondages.” The king even had their first born sons killed. The Israelites just like us have a tendency to idealize the past.

“If only” thinking keeps us from enjoying the moment. We think we would be happy “if only” we had a bigger house, “if only” we had a better job, “if only” we had married our high school sweetheart, “if only” our children were perfect, “if only” we were thinner…if only, if only, if only. Well, there are plenty of people who have all of these things and are not happy.

Paul learned how to be content in all situations. (Philippians 11-13) Whether poor or rich, hungry or full, healthy or suffering, living in peace or affliction Paul knew his relationship with Christ was the only way to achiever true happiness and contentment.

Sometimes we already have what we think we are seeking, but can’t see it.

The scarecrow thought he had to have a physical brain but he already had wisdom. The tin made thought he needed a physical heart but he already had the capacity to love. The cowardly lion was more courageous than he thought when someone he loved was in danger. And Dorothy found out that there is no place like home. She said, “…if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

Where is our backyard, our home? It’s said that home is where the heart is. If our heart is with God, we can be content. “If only” we could learn that lesson, we would all be a lot happier.

As we enter the Thanksgiving season I’m reminded of an old sampler in my grandmother’s house with the following words:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses.
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your smiles instead of your tears.
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your health instead of your wealth.
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

I truly love anything to do with counting blessings. I love the old hymn lyrics “…name them one by one.” I love to hear Bing and Rosie warble “…count your blessings instead of sheep” in the movie White Christmas. I love a day that focuses on being thankful. Counting blessings keeps me focused on what really counts!

Thanksgiving often gets slighted in department store decorations that usually morph from Halloween into Christmas without giving Thanksgiving a proper nod. I guess a big turkey and Pilgrims dressed in drab costumes can’t compete with spooky witches or goblins and colorful Christmas trees. But on the other hand, maybe it’s okay. We shouldn’t really need to be reminded to be thankful, should we???? It should be a daily mindset instead of a once a year activity.

The older I get the more I realize how many blessings I enjoy. For me just breathing, sleeping, and being able to get out of bed in the morning have become reasons to rejoice. And what a privilege it is to have clean food to eat, decent water to drink, shelter from a storm, and warm clothing in winter. Basics? Yes! But these are basics many people live without.

Living in the U.S. affords us many freedoms other parts of the world do without. Perhaps there is more government involvement in our lives than we wish, but freedom of religion is still a privilege many countries don’t offer. We can still openly worship God and read the Bible without fear of retribution.

Of course those who truly celebrate Thanksgiving know who is responsible for every blessing we have. Those drab Pilgrims understood this better than anyone. It is said that in the first year in this new land they made seven times more graves than huts. Still when the harvest was in they gave thanks to God. They knew how to count their blessings instead of crosses and losses. Hmm? That reminds me of my grandmother’s sampler.

Psalm 92:1 (KJV) “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord…”

Being a writer makes one conscious of words and idioms. I’m actually fascinated by phrase origins and love the fact that so many of the common phrases we use everyday originate with the Bible or God. Here are a just a few…

Old as Methuselah: Methuselah was the oldest man in the Bible. He died at the age of 969. (Genesis 5:27) Let’s just say if you are as old as Methuselah you are really, really old – like almost older than dirt.

Thorn in the flesh: The apostle Paul had a certain unnamed affliction which he referred to as a “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) A thorn in the flesh has come to mean something that continually irritates you.

By the skin of one’s teeth: Job described a narrow escape. (Job 19:20)

My brother’s keeper: Cain killed his brother Abel. When God asked Cain where his brother was he replied with, “Am I my brother’s keeper” trying to evade the issue. (Genesis 4:9) My brother’s keeper means we should all look out for one another.

What a man sows, he reaps: This biblical principle tells us our deeds will return to us, whether they are good or bad. (Galatians 6:7, 8) In other words, what goes around comes around.

Bite the dust: The earliest form of this expression is “lick the dust.” (Psalms 72:9) It means to fall to the ground, dead or wounded.

Fight the good fight: Originally this meant to fight the good fight of faith. (I Timothy 6:12) Hold on to those Christian values. However, many a soldier has been sent off to battle to “fight the good fight,” believing what they’re fighting for is worthy of the battle.

To everything there is a season: Written by the wise Solomon, we learn there is an appropriate time for many things. (Ecclesiastes 3) I love it when a biblical phrase creeps into our society. Pete Seeger turned this into a song entitled “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The Byrds recorded it in the 60s and I remember millions singing along to it, not knowing all the words came from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. People were memorizing scripture and didn’t even know it.

Good Samaritan: A Good Samaritan is one filled with compassion, who helps others in need without thought of remuneration. (Luke 10:30-33)

Salt of the earth: Someone who is the “salt of the earth” is reliable and dependable. (Matthew 5:13)

The love of money is the root of all evil: Actually the Bible says the love of money is “a” root of evil not “the” root of evil. Let’s just say if you love money too much it clouds your thinking. Not good. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Wash your hands of a matter: When Pilate could find no wrong in Jesus but people wanted to crucify him anyway he washed his hands. He let the people do what they wanted but he would have no part in it. (Matthew 27:24)

What God has joined together let no man put asunder: We’ll just skip this one because it doesn’t have much meaning in our society anymore. (Matthew 19:6)

I could go on and on but suffice it to say the Bible has had more influence in our everyday phrases than we might think. So has God. Every time I hear “God bless you” said for someone who sneezes I think that person may not even realize how good God is, but he says the phrase anyway.

Speaking of God being good here’s a phrase we use all the time and probably don’t connect it with God – good-bye. Believe it or not this is a shortened form of “God be with you (ye).” In Shakespeare’s time is was “God speed.” Today it’s “good-bye.” Go with the strength of the Lord.

That’s not a bad way to end a meeting with someone, so I’ll just say, “Good-bye for now.” May God be with you until we meet again.

A few weeks ago I spoke at a women’s retreat at the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama. This picture shows the presenters. I’m the second one from the left – the cute one. 🙂

This has sort of become a yearly gig for me and I look forward to it in mid October. A lot of the ladies have been coming for a few years and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them. There is something special about a group of women getting together to draw closer to God. Women tend to share similar emotions, experiences, and pressures. Some of us have coined the phrase, “What happens in Alabama stays in Alabama!” In other words, feel free to be yourself.

I love my husband, but I love me some “girlfriend” time.

I think what makes this particular retreat even more endearing for me is that some of the women you see in this picture are more than just girlfriends; they are BFFs – women I would trust with my deep, dark secrets. Women I could spill my guts to without fear of condemnation or judgment! Women who love me just the way I am or should I say in spite of the way I am. What a blessing!

When I call someone my friend I do not use the word lightly. Neither did Jesus. In John 15:15 Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Imagine the disciple’s surprise when he called them friends. He walked with them, talked with them, and even washed their feet. He shared intimate details of his own relationship with God the Father. He invited them to participate in that relationship. There was no greater friend they could have than Jesus.

In John 15:13 Jesus also said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” I guess he meant that because that’s what he did. He died for his disciples and he died for us. Jesus is our friend, too.

I love the idea of Jesus being my friend. I can feel safe sharing my inner thoughts and feelings with him. I can trust him to look out for my best interest. He laughs with me when I’m happy, cries with me when I’m sad, comforts me when I’m weary, stays with me when I’m frightened and lets me know I will never have to go through life alone.

As we travel life’s highway friends can come and go. Sadly some BFFs will drift out of our lives. Sometimes they move and it’s harder to stay in contact. Sometimes they get offended and no amount of apologizing can soothe the hurt. Sometimes they change and don’t want to have us in their inner circle any more.

However, the friendship we have with Jesus can remain constant. He will always be available to spend time with us. He will never get offended if we share our secret thoughts with him. He will always be willing to forgive and forget. Jesus does not change. If our friendship with Jesus dwindles it’s because we no longer desire to be friends with him. We will always be welcome into that Trinitarian “inner circle” – Father, Son, Holy Spirit and us.

Remember the old song You Gotta Have Friends? Well, we can’t have a better friend than Jesus.

Although I’ve lived in California for around twenty years, I will always be a Cardinals fan!  And watching them win the World Series tonight had me jumping up and down as much as those fans in my home town, St. Louis, MO.  This blog won’t be posted until Sunday morning but I’m writing it Friday night after just watching my favorite team, the Cardinals, win the World Series.  Do I sound excited???? 

Truth be told, I haven’t lived in St. Louis for over forty years, but they say, “Once a Cardinals fan, always a Cardinals fan!”  And I think they (whoever “they” are) are right!

It’s true the emblem of a red bird isn’t as powerful as a bear, lion, or tiger, but don’t let that fool you.  It just makes it easier for those Cardinals to “fly” in at the last minute and win the game.  Witnessing the fact that in the sixth game the Cardinals came within one strike of losing before David Freese’s home run in the extra innings, plus seeing the Cardinals win the seventh game of the World Series tonight proves this true.  That the Cardinals were even in this World Series at all was a minor miracle.

Of course, other teams have loyal fans as well.  But unfortunately some fans only love their teams when they are winning.  Cardinal fans are supportive whether they win or lose.  I notice this every time I go back to St. Louis for a visit. 

The Cardinals draw over three million attendees to games each year, no matter what their standing is.  Cardinal baseball players are always saying how much they love playing for this team.   Maybe this kind of loyalty is the reason why.  Of course, David Freese being a local boy adds to the jubilation.  This MVP has made his family and the city of St. Louis proud.             

So the Cardinals just won their 11^th World Series!  And although I love the Cardinals whether they win or lose; I love them a little more when they win. 🙂  

I’ve racked my brain to come up with some sort of spiritual lesson tying in with this blog about my favorite team winning the World Series but I just don’t seem to be able to come up with one.  Maybe God just wants to see me happy.  Okay – it’s a stretch.  Let’s face it; all I can think about is…YEAH CARDINALS!!!!!      

I just watched a great old Jimmy Stewart movie on television the other night. Shenandoah takes place during the mid 1800s. Charlie Anderson, played by Jimmy Stewart, is a widowed farmer and family patriarch who promised his dead wife he would raise their children as Christians. So he takes the family to church each Sunday and dutifully says this prayer before every meal, “Oh Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it and sowed it and harvested. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be eating it if we hadn’t done it all ourselves. We worked dog bone hard for every crumb and morsel but we thank you just the same Lord for this food we’re about to eat anyway.”

Well, it’s not exactly the model prayer mentioned in Matthew 6 is it? But in Charlie’s mind it suffices.

When the Civil War breaks out, Charlie faces quite a dilemma. He refuses to support the South because he’s opposed to slavery. He refuses to support the North because he is deeply opposed to war. Unfortunately he is located in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and remaining neutral is virtually impossible, especially after his youngest son is captured.

After a quest to find his son, getting involved in a war he wanted no part of, turmoil, strife, and hardship, what remains of the family is gathered once again around the table to eat. As they bow their heads Charlie starts to pray. It’s the same prayer but in a more humble spirit. In a raspy voice he barely chokes out the words, “Oh Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it and sowed it and harvested. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be eating it if we hadn’t done it all ourselves.” When he says the word “ourselves,” he can say no more. He leaves the table holding back his tears and goes to his wife’s grave on a hill above the farmhouse.

Charlie learned some hard lessons. He learned he couldn’t always control everything that happened in his life. He also learned a lesson we all struggle to learn. We don’t do it all ourselves.

It’s sad that we don’t see that until we are faced with trials we can’t control. I wonder if we aren’t sometimes guilty of praying that first prayer – paying God homage but secretly thinking we are doing it all. Maybe we can get by with that kind of prayer for a while, until God allows a trial to bring us down to reality.

Whether we believe it or not, God is in control. It may appear we are doing all the “dog bone hard work,” but there is a higher power who allows us to clear, plow, and sow. He provides sunshine and rain for the growth. And then if He so wills, allows us to harvest, cook, and eat.

Charlie learned the hard way that the Lord giveth and the Lord can taketh away. If we humbly realize that He is in charge, we spare ourselves from having to be humbled. The Lord can also giveth back again if He so chooses. After all, He is in control!