Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Birth
* Scripture: Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3, NKJV.

What a difference a little time can make! In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, things can change forever. One form of existence can pass away and a new one begin. It may be the heavenly transfer by which we pass from this earthly life to that of eternity. It may also be the beginning of an earthly life, that marvelous transition from egg or womb that occurs at birth.
Marvelous as it may be, we pretty much understand the birth process and the changes that take place as the baby grows to adulthood. Jesus' use of the term "born again" puzzled Nicodemus, who envisioned a "replay" of that earthly birth, entering a second time into his mother's womb, to be born.
Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth, of course, but think how people not associated with the teachings of the church or the sayings of Jesus might interpret our common usage of the phrase "born again." Would they not look upon it much as Nicodemus did? We have some explaining to do, of course.
I question that even within the church the term is fully understood for what it really means. We ask, "Do you accept Jesus as your savior?"
"Oh! Yes! Sure I do!"
We see people accepting things all the time as their one and only:
"I use only (this brand) of pain medication."
"My favorite music group is 'Moobledy Moop'."
"I only root for . . . " (insert name of team or athlete.)
Well, there is some behavior modification involved here, but is that all that it is - accepting one thing above others?
Consider this: I have been associated with farming for most of my life. I have witnessed numerous births in fur and feathers, hair and wool. My wife and I are currently shepherds, keeping sheep. Most of the time lambs are born without any help from us, but now and then the ewe needs human assistance. We had such a case recently; the baby was not positioned correctly, and the ewe wasn't able to deliver by herself. But she wouldn't let us humans help, either. If we approached, she got up and ran off. We couldn't even get close enough to read her ear-tag number.
Finally, she stopped just long enough that we were able to catch her, and relieve her from her distress. The birth was a success; a nice, healthy lamb!
But in that instant, she changed. She became a mother. Her hormones kicked in, her full attention was on the baby, on nurturing and protecting it. No more running; nothing else mattered.
Think about this: when we stop and let Jesus relieve us from our distress, we "give birth" to a new spirit that we can not do by ourselves. Now, let those 'heavenly hormones' kick in, give that baby spirit your full attention. Nurture and protect it.
May 14, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” Mark 7:29, NIV
He said, “Will you give me a drink?”
She said, “How can you ask me for a drink?” And Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:7b-10 excerpted)
Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well in Sychar is unique in several regards. First, Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other. Jews would not even travel through Samaria, if they could avoid it. Further, Jesus declared to her that He was the promised Messiah, a fact that many people wished to hear from him, but did not, or would not accept the evidence. (See John 7:25-52 )
The woman becomes an evangelist, telling the people in Sychar about Jesus. At their request, Jesus stayed with them two days. And because of His words, they profess, “Now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the savior of the world.” (John 4:42b)
Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ is often noted in sermon and lesson, (Mark 8:27-30) but consider the testimony of Martha, sister of Lazarus, who tells Jesus that she believes that he is the Christ, “The Son of God who was to come into the world.” (John 11:27)
Women were treated with compasion by Jesus, without regard to their nationality or social status. A non-Jewish woman, a Greek born in Syrian Phoenicia, phrases her request for healing for her daughter such that Jesus does not withhold His healing power. (Mark 7:24-30.)
Jesus commends the widow’s offering in the temple. (Luke 21:1-4) and uses a persistent widow to illustrate the need to pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1-8.)
Jesus healed the crippled woman on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-13) and a woman in a crowd (Luke 8:40-48.) He raised not only Lazarus for the grief-stricken Mary and Martha, but also the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-15.)
Jesus forgave the sins of the woman taken in adultry John 8:1-11, and the woman who annointed him (Luke 7:36-50.)
Even in the final moments of His life, Jesus showed concern for the women standing near the cross. He made provision for the future care of his mother, Mary. (John 19:25-27.)
All four gospels record that it was the women who first discover the empty tomb, The Resurrection, that first Easter Morning.
Yes, I am planting seeds which I hope will grow into greater knowledge of the role of women in the Bible. All you have to do is dig a little more into the scriptures. This is just a ‘starter’ collection, taken from the New Testament. Don’t neglect the many references in the Old Testament as well.
March 30, 2003

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9, NIV

My wife and I are immersed in the depths of shepherding during lambing time. Our flock sometimes more than doubles in number, thanks to motherhood. Singles, twins, even triplets arrive at various hours of the day and night. We, the shepherds, have to go to them to see that all is going well. Being animals, the ewes do not come knocking at our door, seeking assistance. For the most part, the new mother knows what to do, and settles into the task of protecting and nourishing the lambs she is suddenly responsible for. The lambs, for their part, quickly turn to their mother, creating a bond that is quite strong and enduring.
I took time to watch one sunny afternoon as a ewe delivered her first lamb, cleaned it up, coaxed it to its feet, delivered a sibling, and soon moved off as a trio. No help needed!
Not so a first-timer a few nights later. It became obvious that delivery wasn’t going well, after I had spent an hour observing her progress. Finally, at 1:00 AM, I decided she needed some assistance, and had to pull a seventeen pound ram lamb. The mamma promptly got up, and ran off! It took a while to finally coax her back to her baby, but she eventually settled into the motherly routine. Thankfully, they got along well.
Still, we routinely check mammas and babes, rejoice at full tummies, and assist those that show signs of distress. We try to be good shepherds to our flock. We know they are very limited in their ability to let us know how they feel, or what they need.
The responsibility and the experience of watching over our sheep brings to us a renewed awareness of the devotion of The Good Shepherd to our human needs. In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus talks about giving gifts to our children, and compares our limited ability to that of God, who much more gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
How blessed indeed are those mothers who both give good gifts to their children, and know how to ask God for those things that are on the heavenly level.
Paul writes of the faith which first lived in Lois, then in her daughter, Eunice, and finally in Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). We are not told more, but certainly these were praying mothers, knocking on God’s door for insight in the tumultuous times in which they lived.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, concedes to be the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38.) Yes, blessed be the mother who can sing, as Mary sang, “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 146-47)
May 11, 2003