Thursday, February 22, 2018

EAR-LIFT

Augmentation gives a ray of hope for women who want to counter the inevitable sag of their front and rear fenders. 

More like grasping at straws or wind if truth be told, because really, youthful-you will inevitably  wilt like a prune in spite of your plastic surgeon's add-ons. Fact of life: your north wanting to meet with your south is irreversible. 

Makes you wonder, and while we're at it, why not go for ear augmentatîon instead? 

With mal-hears, less-hears or miss-hears resulting in frayed nerves and bungled relationships, maybe we need more ear-lifts than any kind of lift. 

But larger ears may lessen your curb appeal, metaphorically speaking.  Imagine yourself looking like a beagle or a rabbit with your augmented ear. 

Besides God made sure our two cute side flaps are perfect as they are. Our ears are magnificent little organs which direct sound waves into our brains and help our bodies maintain balance. So let the two ears suffice.

That's why He instructs us on their use. "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," James 1:19.

Listening must be intentional, otherwise, heard messages just get stashed in our brain's trash bins or, as we often say, go out the other ear. Most of the time, we listen to rebut or to impress others with our counter-ideas. These can lead to senseless arguments if we're not careful.

This teacher prays her students would be quick to take notes to thoroughly understand their lessons, especially those on character, values and morals—versus their ears being tuned out and turned on to their smart phones instead. 

I bombard heaven with prayers for my children and grandkids, that they will heed Jesus' words instead of the voices subliminally spoken and peddled by a worldly system which labels good bad and bad good. 

A  Christian network reports that even children raised on biblical principles and environments have left their faiths to follow feel-good, live-free doctrines. 

But the hearing or listening issue is just the tip of the iceberg.  

James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." 

"Teachable" is what we call someone who applies the good that he hears. 

You may have a masteral or doctorate degree, or lord it over a number of people in your place of work, but if you're a bully and insensitive to people's situations, then you're just like a cloud without rain—high up there, but utterly useless. 

Listening is a heart matter as well.

King David was clearly a man after God's heart. Because David remained focused on God, he oftentimes heard from Him. And whatever God instructed, David obeyed—except for one, when he let lust get the better of him, resulting in the downfall of his kingdom. 

Lord, may our ears and hearts be totally attuned to You, in Jesus' name. 

image credit: beagles4sale.com


Wednesday, February 14, 2018

BEYOND OOH LA LA

Image result for orange fruit cross sectionWhat's your favorite fruit? Mine's pomelo, known too as grapefruit.

But for now, make that orange, for the point this blog wants make about "love".   

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Notice: "Fruit," not "fruits".  It's all or nothing!

Intriguing, isn't it, that love is bundled with eight other traitsjust like an orange with its nine segments, a metaphor which graphically explains the wholeness of genuine character.

1 Corinthians 13 mentions "love" as the trait of all traits: "1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

"8 Love never fails."

Facebook has become quite a stage for overt declarations of love. Forgive old-fashioned me, but the first thing that comes to mind is, "Really?"

Is she that perfect? Does he indeed complete you? Is your life worthless without him or her?

Would anyone dare write this message? "You're arrogant, demanding and selfish; I love you anyway; and I'd be willing to take you back even if you make a mess of yourself."

Someone did, a long time ago. When he hung on the cross, Jesus made it known, "You have fallen so far away from your Creator, but I love you, so I came down from heaven to rescue you and bring you back to the Father."

The mush and the fluff, the flowers and the chocolates, the lavish dinners and gifts, and flowery FB messagesthese are feel-good declarations of love. Nice and sweet.

But don't mistake the wrapping for the real thing. Because the real deal can also be a deal breaker, if

The butterfly in your stomach will soon turn acrid. Betrayal, selfishness or jealousy may dent your relationship. Arguments may soon turn ugly. And for the married ones, bills will pile up, career issues may draw you apart, health issues will creep in. But genuine love never gives up.

Love is unconditional. Love forgives. Love embraces. Love cares. Love covers all wrongs. Love persists even if the object of your love has turned unlovable.  

And love is willing to start all over again, with the past left behind and never again reviewed.

Impossible? Yes, by my own effort! But with Jesus, everything is possible.