Good Investment Return

"Try not to become a man of success
but rather to become a man of value."
~ Albert Einstein

Good Investment Return
#discipleship

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
"So where is their God?"
~ Psalms 115:1-2 (NKJV)

"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant ... you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest."
~ Matthew 25:26-27 (NKJV)

"You are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
~ Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)

Ever hear just a portion of a sermon and that's really all you need? I recently caught part of a message which asked the rhetorical question, "What do you expect when you make an investment?" Obviously, we want a good return.

The Lord does not simply hope for, but expects a good return on the time, treasure and talents He's invested in us. The parable of the talents stresses that the Lord considers the servant who gives no return to His master not merely lazy but also wicked.

For what return does the Lord look? The Word of God planted as seed and watered by the Spirit should produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, patient longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yet all of these qualities are not to build up a good name for ourselves, but so that whatever name we have exalts our sole Investor—our soul Investor.

It is not good Christians the world must see, but a good God.

Lord, I pray today especially for those of us who use social media to speak through the internet. Please make us ever mindful that we represent You, Who has entrusted to us access to the world. May our words make manifest to the world Your mercy and truth and glory.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from eastcoastwineries.blogspot.com

Strange Language

"The cross is 'I' crossed out."
~ Unknown

Strange Language
#powerofwords

When Israel went out of Egypt,
The house of Jacob from a people of strange language ...
~ Psalms 114:1-2 (NKJV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18,20 (NIV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
~ Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

The message of the cross looks like more than just a little bit of insanity. What kind of fool is assaulted and actually turns the other cheek as if to say, "Hit me again"?

Jesus Christ did not merely turn the other cheek. Almighty God, Ruler of innumerable angelic warriors, took on the flesh of man and mutely allowed His creation to flog and spit upon Him, crucify and kill Him. Little wonder the "wisdom" of this world sees Jesus as impotent or lunatic, refusing to bow before Him as Lord and God.

We are not to be of the world. The world says "I've got rights" and "look out for number one" and "you need attitude to survive" and "you'll get yours." Such philosophies should be a strange language to the Christian from which we segregate ourselves.

If we accept Jesus as Lord and Master, we will follow in His footsteps. We will be crucified with Him. We will not retaliate when injured or offended.

When I have been crucified with Christ and He lives in me, the world does not do injury to me but to Christ. All offense is owned by my Master, and any judgment lies in His hands.

What is mine in return? He who loves me and gave Himself for me allows me to feel His caress upon my soul and know His peace.

Lord Jesus, Your power lies in the goodness of holiness, humility and love. Enable us to exercise such power, and to honor You in doing so.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to

BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from sangam.org

Sanctuary

Sanctuary
#encouragement

Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain...
When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me
Until I went into the sanctuary of God ...
I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth
that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
~ Psalms 73:13,16-17,23-26 (NKJV)

How often do we think that doing the right thing doesn't matter?

Do we grow weary in doing good?

Do we think God is taking too long?

Whether or not we are in a church sanctuary, there is always opportunity to enter the presence of God. Because is He continually with us, we are continually with Him. He sees. He knows. He feels our frustration and impatience and weariness.

In turning our minds and hearts to Him, we are reminded that in Heaven and upon Earth, He is all we need, able to fulfill all desire.

Lord, in Your presence we are made whole. You are everything. Please fill our hearts with the praise for You that is fitting in every moment of every day for all eternity.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from trekearth.com

How Old?

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams."
~ John Barrymore

How Old?

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
~ Psalms 90:12 (NKJV)

I rarely mention when it's my birthday. I'll make an exception this year, especially since it falls on a casual Saturday when not so many people stop by here.

I tend to forget how old I am, and figure it by subtracting 1962 from the current year. With a December birthday, the number is a year high most of the year, so I simply say, "I'll be xx this year."

For whatever reason, the subject of my age came up frequently in 2009. I must have spoken of being 47 too many times, because by autumn, I believed I was turning 48.

So for nearly a year I’ve been 46 while mentioning 47 and then 48. When I figured out I'm younger than I thought, a friend suggested that I still have a year of 46 coming to me.

All of which is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. Eternal life began for me at age 25, when death became inconsequential and aging ceased to matter.

In Jesus Christ, I'll be forever young.

Lord, I thank You for the life You've given me that I might glorify You. To Your grace I'm a debtor forever, wherever and whenever You plant me. Thank You for all my loved ones. Please enable me to bless them with every contact.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from uwstopia.nl

Friday Freelance: FICTION

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia."
~ E.L. Doctorow

(my writing desk)

Friday Freelance: FICTION

Note: This is not about my publishing journey (an unfinished story presently in the hands of the Lord and my agent of excellence), but about the writing experience, through which I’ve discovered a surprising affinity with my Creator.

If I have an obsession, it is God’s Word. As my blog sidebar says, I am a "writer of all things biblical." For many years, that was strictly non-fiction.

A couple of years back I unsuspectingly ventured into biblical fiction. I’d become thoroughly captivated by the biblical characters I studied—their culture and land, their history and genealogy, and a million other details of Scripture uncovered by the compulsive student. I continually pondered their lives, made reasonable conjectures, and my imagination filled in missing details. The whole process got the better of me and I put the mess down in writing.

Historical fiction presents time's chronicles in a dramatic setting—an effort to make the account captivating. I don't like that one fiction writing manual mentions "telling lies for profit." I’ve remained truthful, not only in scrupulous attention to scriptural and historical accuracy, but also in portraying fiction with credibility, as I’ve seen it played out by God’s hand in the lives of real people.

My method? Unlike non-historical novels, the outline is already written, taken from the pages of the Bible. I study exhaustively and bathe the process in prayer. I shape my characters’ personalities based on their known actions and the meanings of their names. Then I drop them into the story to discover how they act it out. Literally.

I step from my chair to play out scenes. I speak dialogue to taste and hear it. I get into my characters’ minds and emotions to think and feel as they do—weeping with their agony or heart pounding with their anger. I know in advance what they will attain or suffer, yet I am still exhilarated or saddened to experience it with them.

Their destiny is foreordained. I create who they are and direct their lives as I will, yet allow freedom for my characters to do things that I've not planned. More than once, they've done things to surprise me.

For who knows what is good for man in life ...?
Who can tell a man what will happen after him ...?
~ Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NKJV)

Twice in Jeremiah, the Lord says of certain sins, "nor did it come into My mind." At least twice in the Gospels, Jesus marvels at faith or lack of faith. And Peter speaks in his second epistle of us "hastening the day of God."

This has all been very curious to me. Just how much does human free will shape events within God’s sovereignty? What does the Lord fully put in our hands? To what extent does our ability to unite our wills to the will of God, and see things through His perspective, enable us to move His hand in prayer?

The answers do not cease to fascinate me. I’m most anxious to hear your own thoughts on such questions.

(And if you think me quite mad as the novelist I never expected to be, you're absolutely correct.)

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.