Wednesday's Word - Training Wills

Okay, so imagine it this way.
Everybody is born with a Will-barrow. The will-barrows are for building blocks. Due to human fallen-ness, i.e. sin nature, the will-barrow starts out containing several heavy but useless blocks like pride, selfishness and a propensity to rebel. It would be great if it stopped there but it doesn’t. Because of life’s trials and tribulations, many people go through their lives accumulating heavier blocks like deceit, greed and unforgiveness. Will-barrows can become awfully heavy. What you build with the blocks from your will-barrow is a matter of choice. Some people look around and see the amazing self-exalting alters built by others and attempt greater. Some are overcome by fear and simply use their blocks to build a wall around themselves.
An interesting thing about the will-barrow and blocks – is the pre-supposition.
There is a larger idea. We’re builders. The will-barrows are necessary. There are “useful” buildings blocks. And there is a proper building site. There’s no trick to it. So many people are pushing heavy will-barrows without proper building blocks and no idea of the master builder’s plan.

Here’s the Word:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I pray that we would consider what is contained in our will-barrows, where we headed with the blocks we’ve amassed and what it is we’re actually “willing” to build. It doesn’t come easy but Christ’s promises are sure and He will make it much easier than we’re able to. It takes a great deal of effort training our will to let go of useless blocks. We need to be trained on how to pick up the good blocks and push our will-barrows to the right site. Good thing that there are a few foremen on the job

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

These people are for Christ’s glory and our benefit, they help us become better builders, they help in training wills.


In Him,

Wednesday's Word - Love's Bifocals

Wednesday's Word - Love's Bifocals

Tell me, if you please, what comes to mind,
when you hear the cliché that “Love is Blind”?
I ask because it honestly seems to me
that love, if nothing else can perfectly see.
I would even submit as a matter of fact,
the reason love’s vision remains intact.
Now a person may choose to blind him or herself,
putting their sensibilities up on the shelf.
But No! That’s not love, though we call it such.
We blindly mistake “I’m happy” with “I love you so much.”
Love wears bifocals. A unique prescription for each eye,
I’ll take just a moment to tell you how and why.
The right eye of love wants you to prosper and flourish;
this lens my friend, is the lens I call Nourish.
The other eye looks deep. Purposing to see the good.
The lens of Cherish is often misunderstood.
Nourish sees your potential and rolls up its sleeves,
not as concerned with what you want as much as with what you need.
Cherish brings the balance, assuring you that you belong.
Wrapping you in a warm embrace that’s as gentle as it is strong.
Cherish duly appreciates. Yes, Cherish rightly affirms.
But it doesn’t block nourishing, when its time for Nourish’s turn.
Nourish isn’t cold and callous. Not abusive or unkind.
But Nourish may not coddle much. Do you still think love is blind?
Take the idea of a newborn babe; And look at a Mother’s love –
see how Cherish and Nourish complement each other, just like a hand in glove.
Cherish without Nourish simply won’t do,
as the infant remains weak and small
Nourish without Cherish is dysfunctional too,
the word “family” will mean nothing at all.
But somehow as grown-ups, we often forget and redefine the idea of love
We replace what’s real with “the way that I feel” – and that becomes all we think of.
Now lest you perceive that I made all this up, I now must reveal my source.
My eye chart is the Word of God, I’m sure you had no doubt, of course.

Here's the Word:

Ephesians 5:28 – 30 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This verse makes it clear on the prescriptions for love but its not for only husbands and wives. The following verse tells us the mark of Christians is the evidence of love in our lives.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

So I hope that you see were I’m coming from, when I say that love is not blind.
Love can see to a deeper degree than what usually goes on in our mind.
I hope we would consider what we mean when we say “I love…” as we fill in the blank –That loves bifocals must be clearly in view. And that we have a God who IS love to thank.

In Him,
Cros