It’s amazing how often simple, yet profound, lessons can be learned from the simplest of things in life … if we look for them. As I sat pondering what to write this week, another “Lesson from a Golden Retriever” came to mind.
If you’ve ever had a dog chained up outside where there is some object to get their chain wrapped around, you know that, sure enough, the dog will get tangled up with that object. Angel did just that this week. When we let her outside, we usually chain her to the clothesline. The other night, she had her chain wrapped around the kids’ basketball hoop twice. In doing that, she severely limited her room to roam. I probably should have just unhooked her chain, but I decided to walk her around the basketball hoop to get it untangled (and in a futile attempt to teach her a lesson). She was resistant to say the least.
Herein lies the lesson: God gives us tremendous freedom to live our lives, yet He provides us with guidelines to keep us safe from harm to ourselves or others. However, like Angel, we can easily get caught up with (or in) something that we should have avoided. Before long, we are trapped. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the sin which so easily “entangles” (NASB / NIV) or ensnares” (NKJV). If we would just follow God’s guidelines, we would enjoy the freedom to truly live. As Jesus proclaimed, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b) But, somehow, we find ourselves “entangled” or “ensnared,” and are often resistant to God’s redirection (untangling).
Life would be so much simpler if we would only obey. But, so often, we make life hard by going astray. I pray that we may all follow God’s direction and instruction, and remain free from sin’s entanglement. And, when we find ourselves entangled, may we be quick to respond to God’s redirection. As Jesus taught us to pray, Lord, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Another Lesson From A Golden Retriever
About a week ago, I let Angel out of the house in the evening. She saw a couple of deer in the field behind the parsonage, and was off (chasing the deer). She eventually came back, and even in one piece. I don’t know what went through her head, if anything, but a few thoughts went through mine. First, I hoped that she would not get hurt … a dear can do a lot of damage. Second, I wondered what she would do if she actually caught it (fat chance of that). I also wondered how far she would chase it and when she would be back.
Now, you may be wondering where I am going with this. Well, it is an interesting analogy for sin. When we are tempted, we usually know that pursuing the temptation is a bad idea. We know it’s wrong. Yet, there is something interesting or intriguing about the temptation. That’s the way Satan designs it. It’s like a fish taking the bait only to find a hook in its mouth. Or, like our dog, she saw something of interest and took off after it. Whether by antlers or by hoofs, a deer could do serious damage to a dog. Likewise, sin WILL do serious damage to us. It’s claws sink in deep and we are scarred by it. Many times other people get hurt by it (our sin) too.
Similarly, if we chase after a temptation and commit the sin, the question is, what are we going to do when we “catch it,” or rather, it catches us. Like a dog catching a deer that is much too big for it, sin is much too big for us. It only takes a moment, and a person is trapped and/or addicted. Praise God, Jesus can set us free!
Finally, like a dog that may give chase for a long time, people can chase after temptation and sin for a long time. They can hurt many people in the process and do irreparable damage to their relationships and themselves. Sin always has consequences. Sometimes the consequences are worse than others. Sometimes the consequences are delayed. However, sin always leaves its mark.
So, what’s the point? When temptation comes, think twice before running after it. Consider the cost. It will never be worth it.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Now, you may be wondering where I am going with this. Well, it is an interesting analogy for sin. When we are tempted, we usually know that pursuing the temptation is a bad idea. We know it’s wrong. Yet, there is something interesting or intriguing about the temptation. That’s the way Satan designs it. It’s like a fish taking the bait only to find a hook in its mouth. Or, like our dog, she saw something of interest and took off after it. Whether by antlers or by hoofs, a deer could do serious damage to a dog. Likewise, sin WILL do serious damage to us. It’s claws sink in deep and we are scarred by it. Many times other people get hurt by it (our sin) too.
Similarly, if we chase after a temptation and commit the sin, the question is, what are we going to do when we “catch it,” or rather, it catches us. Like a dog catching a deer that is much too big for it, sin is much too big for us. It only takes a moment, and a person is trapped and/or addicted. Praise God, Jesus can set us free!
Finally, like a dog that may give chase for a long time, people can chase after temptation and sin for a long time. They can hurt many people in the process and do irreparable damage to their relationships and themselves. Sin always has consequences. Sometimes the consequences are worse than others. Sometimes the consequences are delayed. However, sin always leaves its mark.
So, what’s the point? When temptation comes, think twice before running after it. Consider the cost. It will never be worth it.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Lesson From A Golden Retriever
Most of you probably know that we have a golden retriever. She is almost five years old and her name is Angel. Just in case you were wondering, she was already named when we got her. She likes to be around people, but after a while, she will usually go and lay down with one of her toys in her mouth. On Monday, however, she was especially clingy—she wanted to be where ever I was. If she wasn’t standing up, hoping to be petted, she lay at my feet. For whatever reason, she wanted to be especially close to me that day.
Maybe it’s a far stretch for an illustration, but it reminded me that God wants us to remain close to Him at all times. He gave us His Word to study, so that we might know Him better and learn to live life as He intended it to be lived. He gave us prayer, and taught us how to use it, so that we could remain in regular, or better yet, constant, communication with Him. He gave us music, so we could sing to Him and be reminded of who He is. He also gave us a new family—brothers and sisters in Christ—who come along side and help us grow in our walk with God.
I hope that, today, you will make a conscious choice to draw near to God. So often, we get busy and don’t even think about it. But, with the Spirit’s help, we can stay near to God even through the business. I trust that these passages will encourage you today:
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Maybe it’s a far stretch for an illustration, but it reminded me that God wants us to remain close to Him at all times. He gave us His Word to study, so that we might know Him better and learn to live life as He intended it to be lived. He gave us prayer, and taught us how to use it, so that we could remain in regular, or better yet, constant, communication with Him. He gave us music, so we could sing to Him and be reminded of who He is. He also gave us a new family—brothers and sisters in Christ—who come along side and help us grow in our walk with God.
I hope that, today, you will make a conscious choice to draw near to God. So often, we get busy and don’t even think about it. But, with the Spirit’s help, we can stay near to God even through the business. I trust that these passages will encourage you today:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:8a Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
Monday, January 4, 2010
Moving Forward
It’s official ... It’s 2010 … another year with new opportunities and challenges lies before us. Some things will stay the same. Other things will change, whether we like it or not. Any way we look at it, the calendar keeps moving forward and so must we.
In many ways, the new year is a time of fresh starts. Many people make resolutions. Whether it is something they wish to accomplish over the next year or a habit they wish to change, the intention is usually good. The follow-through, however, isn’t so easy. Far to often, we give up before we ever really get going. It takes hard work and commitment to move forward.
I don’t mean to be a pessimist, but I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. However, I do feel it is important to take the time to reflect upon the past year. We should celebrate the things that went well and thank God for His provision and protection. We should also consider the things that didn’t go so well … what could/should I have done differently? Have I learned from my mistakes, or merely gotten through them? Have I grown, or merely aged, over the past year?
Yes, the calendar keeps moving forward. The question is, have we? Perhaps the following questions will benefit you as you reflect upon 2009 and look forward to 2010:
Am I walking closer to God than I was a year ago?
If not, why not? What has gotten in the way? How can I change that? Here’s a hint … start with prayer!
Where have I seen God at work in the past year? If you can’t see it, spend time in prayer and look more intently.
Have I gotten “on board” with what God is doing in and around me, or have I resisted it? Peace, happiness, and contentment come when you’re walking with God, not resisting Him.
As you walk with God in 2010, I pray that you keep moving forward and growing closer to Him!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
In many ways, the new year is a time of fresh starts. Many people make resolutions. Whether it is something they wish to accomplish over the next year or a habit they wish to change, the intention is usually good. The follow-through, however, isn’t so easy. Far to often, we give up before we ever really get going. It takes hard work and commitment to move forward.
I don’t mean to be a pessimist, but I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. However, I do feel it is important to take the time to reflect upon the past year. We should celebrate the things that went well and thank God for His provision and protection. We should also consider the things that didn’t go so well … what could/should I have done differently? Have I learned from my mistakes, or merely gotten through them? Have I grown, or merely aged, over the past year?
Yes, the calendar keeps moving forward. The question is, have we? Perhaps the following questions will benefit you as you reflect upon 2009 and look forward to 2010:
Am I walking closer to God than I was a year ago?
If not, why not? What has gotten in the way? How can I change that? Here’s a hint … start with prayer!
Where have I seen God at work in the past year? If you can’t see it, spend time in prayer and look more intently.
Have I gotten “on board” with what God is doing in and around me, or have I resisted it? Peace, happiness, and contentment come when you’re walking with God, not resisting Him.
As you walk with God in 2010, I pray that you keep moving forward and growing closer to Him!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
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