Contemplations

MORPHED          What do caterpillars, tadpoles, clay and you all have in common? All undergo a metamorphosis. In short, all are "morphed." When we grow as Christians, we are all like caterpillars leaving their cocoons to fly on their own as beautiful butterflies. Each of us is like clay being shaped and molded into a "dish."  We are like tadpoles leaving the water to change into toads. (Okay, maybe that illustration isn't such a pleasant one.)  Like the caterpillar, clay and tadpole, our lives are changing in every way. Even our appearance is changing while we mature spiritually.           Changes are sometimes scary. I know; I've gone through many myself in my lifetime. But have no fear. When you allow the Holy Spirit to help you make transformations in life, you will be the best you can be. God has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 19:11-13 encourages us with these words: " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, '

IN LOVE OR IN LUST (Based in part on I Corinthians 13, the love chapter) Love is patient, love is kind; It does not envy or boast. Lust can’t wait; to sin it is blind, The devil himself is its host. Love is never conceited or rude; It doesn’t think of self only. Lust is vain; its language is crude, And it preys upon the lonely. Love doesn’t keep a score of hurts-- Never a record of wrongs. Lust keeps a record every time it scores, And the list may be quite long. Love never gloats when another sins; It always delights in trust. Lust sins, then shamelessly gloats; Who can trust someone full of lust? Love can face anyone or thing, With faith, hope, and endurance. Lust is weak, but consider its source; Satan leaves no hope or assurance. Love will last forever, For rooted in God is true love. Lust is fleeting and shallow, And it comes from below, not above. Becky Overturf Wall

IN THE BELLY OF A REALLY BIG FISH ( Jonah ) The word of the Lord came to Jonah; I want you to go and preach. Go to Ninevah and see, How many of them you can reach. So Jonah paid the travel fare, And sailed in the other direction. But he was soon to discover, He no longer had God’s protection. The Lord was upset with Jonah, So He sent a great wind on the sea. Jonah had run away from God, But God he could not flee. While the sailors cried to their gods in fear, Jonah was fast asleep, Unaware of the trouble he’d caused, For he was sleeping so deep. “Get up,” cried the sailors, “and call on your god; We’re sinking faster and faster.” They then drew lots to determine, Who caused this near disaster. The lot fell upon Jonah, So they questioned, “Who are you? Who and where are your people?" He answered, “I am Hebrew.” I worship the Lord God of heaven, Who made the land and the sea. “What have you done” they asked him then, “That your God caused this storm to be?" The sea

ONE AND ONLY ONE (Based on I Cor. 8:6, 2:13; Eph. 4:4-5, Plpp. 2:2, I Tim. 2:5, Heb . 10:12, I Pet. 3:8, I John 5:7) There is only one way to heaven, Through Jesus, God’s only Son. No one else can save us; He and His Father are one. One hope, one faith, one baptism, One natural, and one spiritual death. We are to be of one mind and accord, As long as God gives us breath. God, the Father, sent His Son; The Son died once for all. He then sent the Holy Ghost; On the great 3-in-1 we now call. Man is appointed but once to die; Which path will you choose as your course? The one will take you to heaven; The other will bring you remorse. Becky L. Wall

SOLOMON ADDRESSES THE SUBJECT OF LABOR Solomon meditates on the subject of labor in the book of Ecclesiastes, and it is apparent that he is in turmoil. Even though he had everything life had to offer, he seems to be depressed. He struggles to understand the role of labor in life. He is disheartened by the emptiness it brings. In the end he sees that labor does have some value, but that value is not in the material things that money can buy. Solomon begins by saying, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Eccl. 2:10-11) A few verses later he continues his lament by saying, “So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a man may do his work with wisdom, know

POOR BUT RICH      My family did not have much money, but we were rich nevertheless. We were not poor because my father was lazy. He worked long, hard hours at jobs that were hazardous and physically demanding. But for many years he received low pay. Low pay plus a large family equals poor. God blessed us with other riches, though, that cannot be found in monetary things.      My parents had four small children, all girls, over a span of as many years. Even so, when the youngest (twins) were two years old, my parents were willing to take in my two young cousins, a boy and a girl, who had become homeless. They were the same ages as the two oldest of we siblings. A few years later, two more babies, a girl and boy, entered the family about two years apart. Mom and Dad were poor in cash, but rich in compassion and love.      We learned to have fun naturally and did not rely on the artificial fun that comes from things that money can buy, “canned fun,” or worldly activit

A “POOR” ATTITUDE (Deut 15:11, 24:15; Prov 14:20, 17:5, 19:7; Eccl 9:16; Mt 26:11;Mk 14:7; Jn 12:8; Js 2:6) It isn’t for us to judge the poor-- To condemn them for their plight. It isn’t for us to shun them, Or to wish them out of sight. For they will always be with us, Says our heavenly Father above. We are instructed to help them, And to welcome them with love. The lowly have always been special; Even Mary and Joseph were poor. Though worldly goods did not abound, How could they want for more? The rich who condemn the poor, Yet keep their earnings slim, Take also their pride and ambition, By keeping their wages from them. Those rich who think the poor are fools, So, towards them they are rude, Will not see heaven’s riches, If they have a “poor” attitude. Becky Overturf Wall

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT CHOICES (Deuteronomy 30:13-20) Today I set before you L ife and prosperity, Death and destruction. I speak with sincerity. I command you to love the LORD your God, And to always walk in his ways, To keep His commands, decrees and laws; Then He will increase your days. But if your heart turns away If you are not compliant, You will certainly be destroyed, If you remain defiant. I call heaven and earth as witnesses, Life and death I give. I’ve set before you blessings and curses; Choose life so you and your children may live. If you love the LORD your God, You must listen to His voice, Hold fast to him for the LORD is your life; Make life and blessings your choice. Becky Wall

WAGGING THE TONGUE The tongue can be so dangerous. It causes many such strife. And if the  gossip is good enough, It can even ruin a life. Gossipers don’t bother with facts, They invent them as they go. They embellish, enhance, twist, and shock, And cause the person much woe. Gossipers cause dissension; They separate close friends. They can never keep a secret, And they can never make amends. The damage they do cannot be undone; When they talk behind someone’s back. They don’t withhold any detail. And for details they have no lack. Their tongues wag on and on, And they will tell anyone. If they run out of things to tell, To another they will run. They are known as busybodies, But not in the sense of labor. God considers them wicked, For they cause much harm to their neighbor. A gossip can hurt someone’s feelings, Or ruin a person’s reputation. If the gossip comes from one with power, It can change the course of

WEATHERING A STORM On the sea of life sailed the Lord and I, Then storm clouds began to roll. Ill winds blew, and troubles poured; The stress was taking its toll. Several of us were in the same boat; Some were spiritually dead. I cried to Him, “Don’t you even care?” “Hush!  Be still!”  He said. Fortunately, He didn’t mean me, And my heart settled into a calm. “Why did you fear? Where was your faith?” Said He as he showed me His palm. I had to strain my eyes to see; In His hand was a mustard seed. He said, “Oh ye of little faith. This much is all you need.” Like the mustard seed, my faith has grown; I don’t just talk the talk. As long as I trust Jesus, On water I can walk. Becky Overturf Wall