Down Home

A Common expression in my life has been, “that’s down home”. It refers to anything that’s very familiar, something we did growing up, something Mama used to say, something we used to eat, etc; anything that involves a de ja vu or raises a vivid memory can be said to be “down home”.

To me, a “down home” chapter in the Bible is Psalms 51; which was David’s prayer after Nathan the prophet exposed David’s sin with Bathsheba by relating the parable of a rich man taking “his little ewe lamb” from a poor man.(2 Sam.12:1-15).

David confesses his sin (vs4), “Against thee and thee only have I sinned and done this evil”; pleads for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration (vs10), “Create in me a clean heart. O God; and renew a right spirit within me”; (vs12),”Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation”.

We are reminded that (vs17), “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart”; and (vs19), “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness

Another “down home” chapter is Luke 15, which includes the parable of the prodigal son.

Jesus’ famous story about the Prodigal Son is a good example of my personal spiritual experience. This young man had it all, born into a solid family with all the comforts and security, but wanted to experience more of life. “And when he came to himself” (vs17), he found himself among the swine, he said I will return to my father. His father welcomed him home and said this is my son who was lost and now is found. The story ends with a party and banquet honoring a good for nothing son who had sullied the family reputation.

No one can drift so far away that they will not be welcomed home by our Father, and no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

You are Unique

I’ve never been real happy about the way I look. Most folks I know feel the same way. Everyone wants to be a little taller or a little shorter; a little heavier or a little slimmer; wish their nose was smaller or straighter; wish their skin was a little lighter or a little darker. I don’t guess you could find many folks that think they’re perfect.

We were chosen before the foundation of the world; predestined according to the good pleasure of His will; and accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:4-6). We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). Paul said, By God’s grace I am what I am (I Cor. 15:10).

If we are accepted and chosen by Him, why do we have a hard time accepting ourselves? Folks in the cosmetic business are getting rich selling products to make you look younger or prettier or different. Daily we see folks trying to lose weight or gain weight, exercising or working out, being pierced, tattooed, undergoing liposuction, plastic surgery or other means of changing their appearance.

By God’s design you are an absolutely unique person, a Christ redeemed human being who can never be replaced or duplicated.

Accepting Jesus’ free gift of salvation frees us to accept ourselves. We need to thank God that we are ourselves and can never be anybody else.

If the Lord has accepted us, surely we can learn to accept ourselves.

Chain Reaction

On Saturday morning, April 21, 1855 in the back stockroom of a shoe store in Chicago, Illinois; a shoe salesman and Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball led another young shoe salesman to the Lord. On that morning Dwight L. Moody accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior.

Subsequently young Moody became an evangelist and stirred F. B. Myer to become a soul winner. Meyer brought Wilbur Chapman to the Lord, and Chapman, along with Billy Sunday, held a revival where Mordecai Ham was saved.

Dwight Moody founded the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, training thousands of young preachers.

It was Mordecai Hamm who won Billy Graham to the Lord and Graham became possibly the greatest evangelist of all time.

Could Edward Kimball have dreamed of the avalanche he was starting when he witnessed to that young shoe salesman on that Saturday morning? Can you imagine what could result the next time you witness to someone about the Lord? God has promised that His Word will not return void.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11

Let’s be bold in sharing the Lord with others.

You are what you say

We become what we say; if we tell a lie, we become a lie; if we talk trash, we become trash; if we talk holiness, we become holy. One of the worse things about telling a lie is trying to remember what you said, and having to live every day with someone you cannot trust. Saying something aloud reinforces it in our mind; that’s why actors and speakers practice aloud; that’s why we are told to confess the Lord to others. Jesus said’ “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”. (Matthew 12:37)

If we speak positive things, things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely; these things become a part of us and we become them. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (and speak) on these things.”(Philippians 4:8)

The Bible has much to say about how we talk: I Timothy 4:12 says to be examples of believers; in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”(Proverbs 15:2 ). “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”(Psalms 34:13) “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”(Proverbs 21:23)

You become every word you speak, so be sure everything you say is true and reflects the fruit of the Spirit. (Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance….. Galatians 5: 22& 23)