Weird Wednesday: Let's Get Greeky with It

In this day and age where people can have any information they want in the blink of an eye and the flick of a finger, how does patience come into play? We all get into tizzies when our coffee (or food or whatever) isn't made fast enough or the person behind the counter is a little slower than your favorite cashier. Or maybe your kids haven't finished their homework or chores in enough time to meet your schedule. Any of this sound familiar?


I won't lie (because we all know that's wrong). I have a hard time with patience sometimes. When I allow everything to press down on me and I don't deal with it in a timely manner, I tend to blow my top (which again, we know is wrong, right?). Well, check this out:


In Greek mythology, Penelope was known for her patience. She was born to a father who would rather watch her drown than have a daughter. Luckily she was found and saved by a family of ducks. Of course, her dad saw this, just like most Greeks would have, as an omen. She grew up from then on loved and eventually married Odysseus. He went off to fight in the Trojan War and didn't return for twenty years. 


Penelope waited all that time to for her husband to return. She even wove the same shroud for over three years. Once I have to pull out a row in my crochet work more than twice, I give up. What does this story have to do with you?


God tells us in Colossians 3:12-13 to 
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." 


He further says in Galations 5:22-23:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."


See! There is no law against being nice! or patient! or kind! or, well you get the picture.


So even though it's hard to be patient with the other people surrounding you at times, don't forget, that we are beloved to God. And the next time you're at the coffee counter, take a nice long breathe, put a smile on your face, and wait patiently until your coffee is done. Oh, and don't forget your kindness by saying "Thanks a lot!" 

Dentophobia

And what is dentophobia you might ask? It is the irrational fear that I suffer from on a near monthly basis. Ever since I was a small child, I have had severe dental problems. When a new tooth would grow in, I'd already have a cavity in it in need of repair. I grew up dreaming that I could be one of the kids listed on the wall that had a clean check-up. However, this was not to be.


I've had dental work done in the past, only to have it stripped out and replaced by a new dentist and then reliving that same nightmare a second time when I finally met Dr. C. You want to talk about a dentist who knows his stuff? Well, it's him. He completely understands my fears and knows when it's a good day and when it's a bad day. How many of your dentists can do that? Once, when I was taking four anti-biotic pills a day for a spider bite, I happened to get really sick and had a hard time eating anything. Needless to say, I lost a little bit of weight. I happened to see him a week after treatment ended and he had the compassion to ask if there was anything going on in my life that we needed to talk about. It meant a lot to me that he had noticed something might be going on. Not to mention he got me flossing everyday to protect my heart and told me that soda has an ingredient that eats the calcium in your bones, so I ended up giving up soda one and a half years ago.


Okay, so all of this is great, and I really don't mean to brag, but you're wondering at this point, where is she going with this?


Well, today I had to go and have a filling in one of my canines and even though I though I thought I was prepared, I wasn't. I sat down only to be informed that I was not seeing my dentist, but a Dr. Lady Something was filling in for him. WHAT?!? And then to top it off, when I turned on my iPod, I was shocked to learn that there was no charge, so no music to drown out the drills. AHHHHHHH! Dr. C came in to check on me and offered me his iPod to use because he knows I need music to survive my ordeal, only I decided to brave it with God's help. And I made it just fine! And let me tell you why. ..


The whole time I was sitting there, all I could think was " I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13


I prayed the whole time I was in that chair, then I got home and got to thinking, Dr. C. is someone who looks out for my well being, not just my teeth. The Bible also says something about this. "I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:4. 


This passage is talking about God coming back to gather His remnant, but He also places shepherds over us to guide us when we aren't sure which path to take. 


God being our number one shepherd tells us in Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."


So while I'm not comparing Dr. C. to God or trying to put them on the same level, I now know after 19 years of damaging my ear drums to kill the sound of dental drills, I have proven to myself that I can make it on my own because God is a my side, and I have an earthly guardian to get me through my appointment. Thanks Dr. C.!!!

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Don't Let el Chupacabra Suck You Away

You’ve heard of el chupacabra haven’t you? The funky little creature from Puerto Rico that sucks blood from it’s animal victim. It’s name is literally translated ‘goat sucker.” The following is a description of the creature’s attack according to www.elchupacabra.com.

“Although it was named because of its choice of goat-blood as a meal, the Chupacabra has reportedly attacked and devoured the blood of a wide variety of animals including dogs and sheep. As far as we know, there have yet to be any human fatalities.

Due to the distinct technique the strange animal has of killing its prey, it is very easy to tell if the Chupacabra was involved in an animals death. Animals are found with puncture wounds in their neck and most of their blood removed. Often, the victim's organs have disappeared even though the only wound is a small hole in the animal's neck. Reports of laser-like cuts on the victim's ears are also common.” 

Umm, eww! This thing sneaks in, stealing animals and killing them for blood. And when you think about it, sin is the same way. It sets out to suck the very life from us through temptation. James 1:13-15 (ESV) tells us:

 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

We are lured by the devil by our own personal desires. What tempts me, might not tempt you and vise versa. But be assured that once we act on that desire, sin is born. and when we sin, we will die. So how to we fight these creatures?

With Christ! John 10:10 (ESV) says:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Sin’s only desire is to steal our hearts away and kill and destroy those parts that hold us steadfast to God. 

Christ came to give us life, not to watch us be sucked away from Him by our personal various chupacabras (or temptations). We need to rely on Him  so that we can live a full life devoted to Him. And when we are devoted, He will guard our hearts from attacks that will try to steal, kill, or destroy us.

So just like farmers, build up your fences (spiritual defenses), fix the holes in your chicken coop (your heart), and get a great watch dog (Christ, the risen Lord) to guard over you.