Act With Tact to Bring Things Back Intact, Part I

To act with tact can certainly help bring things back intact.

The prophet Daniel knew this. Therefore he did not react

When King Nebuchadnezzar sent his hatchet man to him

With news that did not bode well and in fact was very grim.

“All wise guys in this entire kingdom will be cut to pieces,”

Warned the executioner. “Because they do not please us.”

“I’ll turn their homes to rubble to atone for their abuses,

Because this king has had it with their miserable excuses.”

Now, Daniel could have gotten worried, thrown a great big fit,

Torn out his hair and hopped inside a pit party pit.

However, he refused to stew but acted with great tact,

Asking why the king had been so hasty to react.

“They said they didn’t know his dream but gladly would lay bare

Their own interpretation of it if he cared to share

A clue or two about whatever thoughts had filled his head

While he lay sleeping peacefully upon his comfy bed.”

“Well, don’t blame me,” is how I’d probably answer in that case.

“You never asked what I thought. How ‘bout giving me some grace?”

“If the king does not control his temper, he may go insane.

Sometimes that happens to a guy with vengeance on the brain.”

Despite the sudden notice, though, he didn’t get offended.

Nor did he panic like a guy who’s suddenly rear ended.

Instead of claiming ignorance, he went straight unto the king,

Not waving crazy protest signs but with an “offering.”

“If you will give me time, I soon will have an answer for you,”

He told the king of Babylon. “I surely won’t ignore you.”

Then he went home and told his friends that it was time to pray.

God answered him and he went to the palace the next day.

He had an answer for the king, but first, “Please act with tact.

Don’t shoot the men who let you down. The Lord will pay you back

For pain they caused by failing you, and He will not be slow.

So, please forgive their ignorance. Your dream I’ve come to show.”

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Faith Working Through Love: The Fruit of Patience

Patience (aka long-suffering) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). It is also the first attribute associated with love in I Corinthians chapter 13.

How many people these days exhibit patience though? I know I struggle with it. I want people to be nice to me NOW.  When they get impatient, I get upset. I am impatient for them to be patient! Oh, what a flawed world we live in. We have more flaws than we know.

But God is patient. I John 4:8 tells us that God IS love.  To know God is to have this patient love living in us. As God the Father’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ demonstrated that love toward us (see John 3:16). It is a very patient love.

Acts 10:38 declares that Jesus did good and healed everyone that the devil oppressed. Out of love – the Father’s perfect love – He healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out devils. His love was full of patience  and endured  much  unbelief.

One time there was a man whose son had a deaf and dumb spirit. Jesus’ disciples could not cast it out. When Jesus heard this, it frustrated him. “O unbelieving generation! How long must I remain with you?” he said. “How long must I put up with you?” In other words, “How patient must I be?”

Why did he say that? Perhaps it is because people still questioned His ability to heal, despite the many miracles He had done.  Imagine, for example, that you are an expert table maker.  If anyone can make a table, you can. But despite the fact that people know you built thousands of tables, they question your ability to build another one. Perhaps they suspect your “table-building anointing” has run out. They asked your workers for help but they weren’t as skilled, so they wonder if perhaps you  have resigned from the business.

“I know  you did  it before, but are you sure you can do it again?” they ask.

You know you still have what it takes to build tables, but most people doubt you can. Even after seeing you at work, they’re still not sure. You feel the patience draining out of you.

“Oh, puh-lease! You’ve doubted me a hundred times and I’ve had it up to here! No more, that’s it, I’ve reached my limit. I’m finished, do you hear me? Completely finished with you!”

That’s what Jesus could have said. But love is full of patience – aka long-suffering – meaning that it suffers long. Despite the continual episodes of unbelief His people demonstrated, Jesus showed them patience.

He said, “Bring the boy to me.”

The father made another mistake. He said, “If” – as in, “If you can do anything, please help us.”

Again, Jesus showed patience, by encouraging him. “If you believe, all things are possible to the one who believes.”

The father asked Jesus to help his unbelief and Jesus did.

The fruit of love is patience, and patience comes from God.

 

 

 

 

 

Mustard Seeds of Multiple Ideas: Book Blogging

I. Mustard Seeds of Inspiration Lie All Around

 

Mustard seeds of inspiration lie all around,

Which in your search for insight you have suddenly found.

But is the knowledge tree they’ve formed too much for you?

Because there’s good and maybe evil in it too.

 

Despite the saying, “He who hesitates is lost,”

To publish involves counting up the cost.

What is the wisest way to use each word?

Without the Lord, your focus will get blurred.

 

When many mustard seeds of faith bombard your mind,

Do you have strength to type them in one at a time?

Or do they seem to lack all reason and all rhyme?

The sorting process does not feel sublime.

 

You feel impressed to type them right away,

But as you do, why not close your eyes and pray?

Ask God for wisdom, let Him show you how,

Instead of sowing those mustard seeds “right here, right now.”

 

II. So Many Mustard Seeds of Faith

So many mustard seeds of faith spring up,

But which ideas go inside each cup

Of the tale you have such fervency to share?

Does each idea belong? If so, then where?

 

You wish you knew where each idea should go,

But sorting through ideas can be slow.

Plus, if they clash, they’re sure to rock the flow,

And who wants to get caught in the undertow?

 

For the author who would not remain obscure,

It helps to have a writing stream that’s pure

And doesn’t feel like rapids hitting rocks

With spray that blinds your eyes and soaks you socks.

(It’s like a quake. You feel the aftershocks)

 

For seeds of thoughts that make your mountain move

Can also make you trip and lose your groove

Unless they’re forged with wisdom from above,

Tried in the fire of God’s perfect love.

 

And though book passion may be easy to ignite,

A novel may take many weeks to write,

But if learning to discern is your delight,

Then God will surely help you win the fight.

 

Cry out for wisdom, cry out for knowledge, cry out to Jesus.

 

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