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Each Monday on this blog, I share with you something to contemplate or ponder on that I heard from the day before on Sunday, whether it be: worship, communion, prayer, the sermon/lesson, Bible class, fellowship, or life group. I am currently in Chicago visiting our oldest son, Jordan, his wife Jacqueline, and their new baby daughter, Chloe. They are members of the Cardinal Drive church of Christ. My yesterday included our drive to their Sunday morning services, the sermon, being with baby Chloe, and one other thing ...
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- On the way to Cardinal Drive, Jordan saw the need of the moment and said "time to sing". We started out singing my mom's favorite hymn "I Serve a Risen Savior" and continued singing until we reached our destination about 15 minutes later. It was a special time of encouragement.
- Their preacher, John Wright, gave a lesson entitled "Are You Building On What You've Been Given?" He connected with the parable of the talents (everyone has been given some kind of talent(s). Are we using those talents to bless others? To serve? To meet the needs of the moment? He stressed the words SLOTH and SLOTHFUL. He referred to an essay entitled, "SLOTH-The Seventh Deadly Sin - Keeps You from Becoming the Person You Could Be". Then he took us to 2 Peter 1:1-11. I nudged Jordan. We both smiled. We were going to one of Steve's favorite scriptures. One our kids have heard many times over the years. Steve draws a tall healthy tree with a nice root system and then diagrams these verses starting at the root system. John didn't use a tree to show these verses. After discussing talents and "sloth", he said that he was taking us to these verses because we had some very important decisions to make about our lives. It's time to quit ignoring what needs to be done in our lives. This is where he suggested we get started:
- 2 Peter 1:1-11 "...His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... ...make every effort to add to your faith...goodness...knowledge...self-control... perseverance... godliness... brotherly kindness... love... possess these qualities in increasing measure (in other words "grow in them") ... if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind... forgetting the he has been cleansed from his past sins... "
What did I take from John's lesson? Alot! In connection with our theme this week? Well, since we're looking this week at God giving us His eyes, maybe we need to look more at these verses on Wednesday because I don't want to be spiritually nearsighted or blind!
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3. Last night as we were visiting at the apartment, Jordan said, "So, we sang Grandma Klein's favorite song in the car this morning...and during church services we sang her dad's favorite song: 'He First Loved Me' ... what are some other family favorites?" Here's a few we discussed:
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- Papa Sikes': I Come to the Garden Alone
- Mama Sikes: Led by the Master's Hand (one of hers)
- Steve's: Softly and Tenderly
- Mine: Because He Lives (one of mine)
- Grandpa Klein's: This World Is Not My Home
- Granny Carron's and Bob Keesee's: Nearer Still Nearer
- Jordan: Mansions Over the Hilltop (one of his)
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Oh, what better eyes we have to see when we know the likes and dislikes of those we love. Steve likes brown. I like red and purple. Steve likes mexican and so do I. Steve likes peace. I like action.
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4. The need of the moment is obvious in this apartment: SLEEP. Chloe has been uncomfortable. She's been cranky. She's feeding every two hours or less. Mommy and Daddy need sleep. I pray that I will have the eyes to see the need of the moment today!
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