Why? by Rene Escalante

The following poem is inspired by The Parable of the Sower (Gospel of Mark 4:1-20, NIV), and by life's events that challenge my faith. God is the Sower, and our hearts are His sowing fields. Either the seed of His word falls on good soil which produces lots of fruit, or it falls along the path, on rocky places, or among thorns, where the word of God may have a little life, but then it's roots are destroyed. When my faith is most challenged, only God knows if His word falls on the good soil of my heart, or along the path, on rocky places, or among thorns.

WHY?

BY RENE ESCALANTE

A common question

Used in conversation

The Evil One employs.

He puts it in our heart

When a loved one is sick.

The Evil One is smart,

This is not God's trick.

Sorrow, hunger, sickness, death,

Tragedy and loneliness.

Satan laughs at the last breath

Adding to our hopelessness.

Why did she miscarry?

Didn't I get the job?

Life can be so scarry,

All I can do is sob.

Why did the coon cross the road?

This is not a riddle.

The truck swerved

And crossed the middle.

The biker could not stop.

He hit the truck,

Flew over the top!

This was not bad luck!

Satan taunts as we weep:

"You should follow me;

Was your God asleep?

Why not trust in me?"

When tempted to follow him

Remember Eve at the garden.

Adam and Eve followed him

For this there was no pardon.

Jesus forgives and pardons,

Loves and mends your brokenness.

Give Him your heart, it won't harden

Under the care of His holiness!

When trouble comes your way,

And when life brings sorrow,

Answer the question, "Why?"

Knowing who holds tomorrow!

Got Kids?

Raising kids is not easy. I love my four kids, and my five grandchildren. Sometimes in frustration I have thought, "I don't know what I'm going to do with them!" My love for them takes me back to God's instruction manual on what to do with kids, not only little ones, but also kids of all ages, like me. Here is what He says:  He instructed our ancestors to teach his laws to their children, so that the next generation might learn them and in turn should tell their children. In this way they also will put their trust in God and not forget what he has done, but always obey his commandments. They will not be like their ancestors, a rebellious and disobedient people, whose trust in God was never firm and who did not remain faithful to him...(Psalm 78: 5b-8, Good News Bible).

I hear God telling me how important it is to raise children to trust God and to obey God. Our love for God must be past on to our children so that they make a personal choice to trust and obey God. Jesus appeared to Peter his disciple after His resurrection, and asked him three times: "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-17, Good News Bible). Each time Peter answered "yes." As a sign of that love Peter was instructed to take care of the Lord's lambs, or to take care of the Lord's sheep. Our children are the Lord's lambs and sheep that we must feed, comfort, nurture, and take care of until Jesus returns.--Rene

Bible Verses via Texting

My daughter Michelle and I went to a Winter Jam concert of Contemporary Christian Music about two weeks ago. It was awesome! After one of the bands played, the lead singer announced that by texting the number that appeared on the screen into your cell phone, you would beginning receiving a weeks worth of Bible verses on your cell via text messages. Michelle helped me to sign up as I am cell-phone illiterate. The verses I received appeared on my phone in the early afternoon. They were a great encouragement to keep me focused on the Lord the rest of the work day.

After the week was over, I received a congratulaions e-mail from the American Bible Society for having participated in the Bible verses through the cell-phone ministry. I was asked if I would like to continue for another month. There is no cost. They also asked for comments about how this ministry was valuable or not valuable to me.  Here is what I wrote:  "I recently received seven days of Scripture verses via text messages on my cell phone. I recommend highly that this form of sharing God's Word to the saved and the unsaved be made available world-wide......I am currently on Facebook and I have a personal Blog. How can I make this ministry of the Word available to all my friends on Facebook and to everyone that visits my blog?" As soon as I hear back from the American Bible Society, I will post the answer both on Facebook and my Blog.--Rene  http://support.americanbible.org/tickets/173 If you click on the link, you will be able to review the status of my request, and add additional comments.

I am reminded of the fact that Jesus spread the gospel on sandaled feet, traveling sometimes days to arrive at his next destination. In the 1800's, John Wesley and other circuit riders traveled on horseback or buggy to find another working group to share the message of salvation. Today we have world wide media that can put the Word of God--providing hope, encouragement, forgiveness, peace, and joy--in communication devices such as televisions, the web, and cell phones. Please join me in spreading His Word.--Rene

"Lightbulb!"

In "Dispicable Me" the main character named Gru says "lightbulb" three times when he gets a big idea. Primarily he used his ideas to steal the moon with the help of his little yellow helpers. But his heart has a major transformation when he meets three little girls, and they become his world. Without getting too much into psychology, it seems to me that Gru had tried to impress his mother as a child, but nothing that he did seemed to win her affection. Now as an adult Gru tried once again to impress his mom by telling her that he was going to steal the moon, making him the most notorious thief in the world, but his old lady was not impressed again.

I have an uncle who is now in his 80's. Since the age of 14 he spend his time and energy thinking of "lightbulb" type of ideas to help others. He became a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because the Lord blessed his ministry many people will spend eternity in heaven. Very cool! Recently, in his autobiography, my uncle told this story that was born out of one of his lightbulb ideas:

In a newspaper in Mexico my uncle read about a new train service that would run from Ojinaga, Chihuahua, to Topolobampo, Sinaloa. This train service would cross over the treacherous Sierra Tarahumara. The political benefits to this major accomplishment would produce gains in agriculture, industry and commerce, among other things.  LIGHTBULB!!!!!!! The Tarahumara people could now be reached with the Gospel!!! With God's help and many caring people, my uncle came up with a plan to establish a mision in each pueblo where the train stopped. Yearly resources would include $25,000, a misionary, a Jeep, and a horse. A Baptist Church in Oakland, CA, funded the first year of mission work.

Soon my uncle and a couple of pastors were in the pueblo of Samachique visiting a school. A little boy interrupts the visit by running around the school showing off the one sheet of paper that he had in his hand. Now he would be able to write on paper....To arrive at the school, the children of the region would arrive on Monday and stay through Friday, carrying in their meager provisions, a small bag of flavored powder called pinole. Once at school, the girls would sleep in the homes of the locals, and the boys would bunk down on the branches of the most comfortable tree they could find. There was a school district office in the State of Chihuahua, but the data of school-aged children in the Tarahumara region was so old, that the schools were receiving less than the food that was required. This was remedied quickly. Then a building project erected buildings for the schools that served as classrooms by day and as dormitories by night. Thank God for the visionaries who build the railroad, and thank God for my uncle, a handful of pastors, and a church in the USA, whose lightbulb was always shining brightly to find ways to help others.--Rene

Self-Portrait

I heard this quote on the radio:  "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence!" Makes sense to me.--Rene

Toddlers and little kids

Just came back from a funeral for the uncle or grandfather of two sisters who are friends with my two youngest kids. It is always very sad to see toddlers and and very young children because they really don't know what is going on. They don't know that life ends here on earth. I want to tell them about heaven, and I'm guessing someone has tried to console them. The Lord knows that death hurts really bad. Family and friends were celebrating the life of their loved one. The minister also spoke of celebrating the resurrection because, those in Christ, rise to an eternal life in heaven. The kids need lots of love and compassion to help them grow as a result of deep seated grief...I am sad for them, but I know that Jesus will watch over them.....Rene

The Fruit of the Spirit of God

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not beocme conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:22-26, NIV).

Wow! There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit of God. I hear God saying to me that as I live by His law and produce His fruit, I'm free to do anything that I want. Cool.--Rene