CROSS-EYED

I hope you have noticed that I am cross-eyed. You would not have detected it by looking at me. You would only “see” it by getting to know me. My eyes are fixed on the cross of Christ, and therefore I am cross-eyed and proud of it.

I was not always cross-eyed. There was a time when I was blind. I could not see the cross. More accurately, I would not see the cross. I had religion but not a relationship with Christ, which is the most common symptom of spiritual blindness. “Religion” had given me false sight. I believed I was a good Christian because I attended church regularly and did not curse, smoke or drink.

My vision began to clear when I first saw the Light of Christ shining through my darkness. It was then that I saw a Father and friend holding out His arms to me.   Still, at times I had only one eye on the cross and the other on the things of the world, making my newfound sight very distorted. The day I got on my knees and turned my life over to Christ, I became cross-eyed and began to see things clearly. With both eyes focused on the cross, my heart began to fill with joy and hope. My soul found peace. My attitude changed.

The condition of the eyes determines the condition of the heart and vice versa. Job 31:7 and Acts 28:27 verify these truths. If you are only half-focused on the cross, you will also be half-hearted in your walk with the Lord.

So, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). “See” Christ as a Savior and friend, not as a stern disciplinarian. Never be too afraid, ashamed, or cool to be cross-eyed. All who fix their eyes on Jesus will become cross-eyed and in God’s eyes will find favor.

--Becky Wall

WORRY WON'T CHANGE A THING, GOOD OR BAD

WORRY WON'T CHANGE A THING, GOOD OR BAD

I have heard it said that most of what we worry about never comes true. That isn't always the case. Some of what people worry about does come to pass. Worrying doesn’t change a thing, though. It is a waste of time and mental energy. It robs us of peace and hinders our progress in whatever we are trying to achieve. It adversely affects our health, including our mental health. When we are told in scripture not to worry, it is a much bigger deal than we make it out to be. We skim over those scriptures and say to ourselves, “Yow, right.” Maybe we should take those scriptures more seriously.

Another form of worry is to go through all of the "What ifs." We do want to learn from a situation but it doesn't help to itemize the "What ifs." If one "if" could be changed, all of them could be changed.

One of our church leaders said that we are to give everything to God including our bills. Everything belongs to Him anyway and that includes the bills. Let God worry about them, but do all within your power to get them paid and be careful what you buy.

Our worries pale in comparison to the trials that people in other countries and even in our own country face. Some are running from bombs and live in constant fear, some are being beaten and/or tortured, some are starving, some have lost everything in natural disasters, etc. Turning to God can make a difference whether big trials or small. They all seem big in the moment. I've heard it said "Don't worry about the small things -- and they're all small." That isn't true either. Some "things" are not small at all but nothing is too big for God.

The old saying “This day too will pass” is so true. A good night’s sleep brings another day and a better mood. Accept what you can’t change and don’t worry about it. God's arm is not too short to solve any problem. But do your part to better the situation if you can.

Help someone else with their problems. It will take your focus off of yourself. You won’t be self-absorbed with worry. Stay busy. Clean your house. Go dancing. Visit with friends. Take a shower. Do things that make you feel better.

Be realistic. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:27

Here's the conclusion of the matter as spoken by Jesus: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34) Tomorrow may possibly hold a big problem but cross that bridge when you get to it. Worrying about it today won't help. It will just drain you mentally and physically. And the problem may never materialize.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

--Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com

HAPPY REBIRTH-DAY TO YOU

HAPPY REBIRTH-DAY TO YOU

Happy rebirth-day to you;

Praise God, you were born again.

Now you are part of God’s family;

All born-again Christians are kin.

You’ve been given the ultimate gift,

That comes from God above;

His gift of the Holy Spirit,

Was presented to you with His love.

Your sins are washed away.

By the blood of God’s only Son.

This is your rebirth-day;

Next year you’ll be only one.

The angels in heaven celebrate;

Your victory they rejoice.

For they watched your spiritual battle.

They praise you and God for your choice.

Other gifts also await you,

When you reach that heavenly place:

A robe, a crown, and a mansion,

And meet Jesus face to face.

Becky Wall 

beckyowall.blogspot.com

© 1997

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

(Based on Deut. 10:16, Ps. 139:13, John 10:10 & Matt. 11:28)

Jesus, our Great Physician,

A mighty healer is He.

There is no ailment He cannot cure,

Life abundant is His specialty.

A heart that is cold and hard,

He can rejuvenate.

He is the best heart doctor;

He can purge a heart full of hate.

Are you a stiff-necked Christian,

With a personal point of view?

Christ is a great chiropractor;

He can fix them neck bones for you.

He is also a pediatrician;

Let the children come to Him,

For by His hands our children are knit;

From conception to birth He forms them.

Are you weary and heavy laden?

Do you have a life of despair?

Christ is a great psychiatrist;

Read His Word and find healing there.

His cures are free to everyone,

And though your ailments are many,

He offers a full recovery,

And never charges a penny.

Becky Wall

WORTH YOUR SALT

WORTH YOUR SALT

(Mk 9:50, Lk 14:34, Jn 4:10, Jn 7:38, Col. 4:6, Rev 7:17)

You are the salt of the earth,

    the true spice of life.

Your savor is tart,

    but sweet to the soul.

You heal wounded hearts,

    and melt cold ones.

When your saltiness hearts consume,

    they thirst for the Living Water.

Hearts generously and tastefully sprinkled,

    will be preserved forever.

They, too, become seasoned,

    to create a salty savor of their own.

But none of this can happen,

    unless you are first applied.

Becky Overturf Wall

BOOKSMART

BOOKSMART

(Based on Prov 3:5, Rom 1:16, I Cor. 1:20-2:16, 15:2;

 Eph. 5:17; Col 1:5; I Th 3:2)

The gospel is the good news,

The power of God to salvation.

It saves, convicts, instructs, transforms;

It is preached with word and with action.

The message of the cross sounds foolish,

To the lost in our dying world.

But Noah’s message was laughed at, too--

‘Til his prophecy unfurled.

You may wish for worldly wisdom,

But God’s foolishness is wiser.

It isn’t always the scholars who preach,

But the lowly, by the Spirit’s power.

One may learn the thoughts of men,

Who lean on their own understanding,

But the thoughts of God give wisdom,

If we follow His commanding.

A Godless man can’t understand,

He thinks the gospel is for fools,

So he looks to science and philosophy,

And lives by his own set of rules.

Your wisdom can put the wise to shame,

If His Spirit lives in your heart.

Live by the Bible; it’s The Gospel truth,

And you will be Booksmart.

Becky Overturf Wall

THE AGONY OF DECEIT

THE AGONY OF DECEIT

Isaac married Rebekah,

Her pregnancy came late in life.

She would bear fraternal twins,

Between them there would be strife.

Esau was the first to emerge.

He was covered in hair that was red.

Jacob held onto Esau’s heel,

Symbolic of what was ahead.

Jacob was quiet and stayed with the tents.

Wild game was Esau’s quest.

Isaac loved him and the meat he brought,

But Rebekah liked Jacob best.

Jacob fixed a pot of stew,

Then waited 'til Esau came by.

Esau was famished from hunting,

So hungry he thought he could die.

Jacob said he would give him a bowl,

If he’d pledge to him his birthright.

Esau never gave his double portion a thought;

His future was not yet in sight.

Later in time, Isaac’s eyesight was gone,

And he wanted the game he enjoyed.

So he called his firstborn to his bedside;

For the game the son was deployed.

Isaac’s intent was to give his blessing,

To Esau, his oldest son.

But Rachel had overheard them talking,

And plotted to make Jacob the one.

She told him to bring her two choice goats,

Which she prepared to Isaac’s liking.

She instructed Jacob to take it to him,

And he would get his dad's blessing.

Jacob balked at her request,

Isaac's sons he knew by the hair.

Though Esau was covered with it;

Jacob’s arms and neck were bare.

Jacob feared that being found out,

Would only make things worse.

If Isaac became wise to them,

Then Jacob would be dealt a curse.

Rebekah said she would take the curse,

Then put Esau’s best clothes on him,

She put goat’s hair on his arms and neck,

Knowing Isaac’s eyes were dim.

Jacob took the food to his dad,

Who asked how he got it so quick.

Jacob said "Your God blessed me;"

It was a lie that would make his dad sick.

Isaac must have had some doubt,

Because he asked to touch Jacob’s hands.

Then he gave him a blessing fit for a king,

And when a blessing is given, it stands.

Esau returned from hunting game,

For his dad especially.

Isaac realized he’d been deceived,

Then began to shake violently.

Esau yelled and cried bitterly,

And asked Isaac to bless him too.

But the dad had nothing left to offer,

So Esau’s fury grew.

Esau decided that he would wait,

Until his father passed away.

He planned to kill his twin brother,

So at home Jacob could not stay.

Rebekah sent him to another land,

Where she once lived with her brother.

Jacob could stay with him for a while,

And so he left his mother.

By God, Jacob was the chosen one,

But Jacob did things his way.

God honored his promise,

But for his sins Jacob still had to pay.

Becky Wall

A CALL TO ARMS

UP IN ARMS

(Exodus 17:8-16)

Nomads and raiders who killed for pleasure,

Attacked the Israelites.

Then Moses said to Joshua,

“Go fight those Amalekites.

For tomorrow I will stand on the hill,

With the staff of God in my hands."

While he, Brother Aaron and Hur climbed the hill,

Joshua followed his commands.

As long as Moses held up his arms,

the Israelites were winning,

But whenever he lowered his arms,

The Amalekites were winning.

When Moses' arms grew tired,

He was given a stone to sit on.

Aaron and Hur held up his arms,

Until the sun was gone.

Joshua won the battle,

Then to Moses the Lord God said,

"Write this down as something to remember,

‘Til their offspring all are dead."

They fought off all of the Amalekites,

In a multi-generation campaign.

Their descendants were finally killed off,

During King Hezekiah’s reign.

The story has indeed been remembered;

We can read it in the Bible today.

This “call to arms” was quite unique,

A faith and teamwork display.

Becky Wall

A NEW CONSTRUCTION SITE

A NEW CONSTRUCTION SITE

(Based on Gen. 1-3, Lk 14:15, 22:30; Jn 14:2-3, Rom. 5:6-6:23)

In the beginning God made the earth,

And all above and below.

He hung the sun and moon and stars,

And caused the four winds to blow.

He created for man a woman,

So man would not be alone.

God made them to commune with Him,

But gave them wills of their own.

A gourmet’s delight was Eden,

The garden in which man stayed.

No blemish could be found,

In anything God made.

But Satan brought sin to the garden,

And death is the payment for sin.

All forms of life were affected;

Man had to begin again.

He now has to work for food;

Sin caused an awful blight.

Mankind and all life suffered.

Only Christ could make things right.

Since God cannot look upon sin,

And sinners all are we,

His Son took our sins to the cross,

So we could be sin-free.

Christ is now in heaven above--

His new construction site.

There He prepares a place for those,

Who commune with Him day and night.

Becky Wall

OUR NATION'S POTENTIAL CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE FROM GOD

I, GOD, Creator of all men of All Nations and the Universe,

do hereby issue to you, United States of America,

on this 15th day of August,

in the Two Thousand Thirteenth year of your Lord, A.D., this

CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE

for the cause of unfaithfulness.

Because you have quenched the flame of love you once had for me and my Son, Jesus Christ, and instead burn with passion for other gods, and because you have committed the ultimate betrayal of turning away from us, i.e. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and for the further cause of no longer holding as hallowed our names, including that of "Christian" that you as a nation once wore, your nation must relinquish all privileges you have enjoyed in this marriage.

Let it be known that you will suffer severe punishment if you continue to wear the name "Christian" at your convenience. By this action, you will no longer be the bride of the Holy Trinity, heretofore referred to as GOD. I will no longer be your husband. You will no longer be my people and I will no longer be your God.

Said certificate does hereby relieve me of any responsibility for your debts; they will no longer be canceled.

No subpoenas will be served nor any court action taken in lieu of the fact that I am the Supreme Judge, having authority over all others.

With this certificate I do, with agonizing sorrow on my part, and no fear or trepidation on yours, declare us to be divorced forevermore, or until you repent of your adulterous and evil ways. But if you should ever decide to return to me with heartfelt repentance and remorse, I will once again be yours throughout eternity.

          GOD          

WITNESS:
I, Satan, with extreme malice, depraved forethought, and of unsound mind and being, do act as a biased and exuberant witness to the dissolution of this marriage and to the entire matter thereof.

_________Satan                         


I wrote this for a class at St. Louis Christian College in 1999, though I edited it somewhat for this blog. I was inspired by Jeremiah 3:8

Note: I once worked for a group of attorneys and learned the archaic language there.

--Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com