I have just spent a week with one of my sons and his family which includes two of my young grandchildren. I have not seen them in 5 months and how wonderful it has been to be with them. The two girls are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 and needless to say are never still. My husband and I are exhausted, but it is certainly a good kind of exhaustion.
We had to say goodbye to them this morning and I have no idea how long it will be before I get to see them again. My heart aches! After the tears dried and we began our drive to our next destination (my husband and I are in the states for a three week visit), I began to think about how much I love my children and grandchildren and how painful it is to be separated from them. Our move to Puerto Rico has made our visiting with one another on any frequent basis impossible because of the cost of transportation. Once or twice a year is probably all we can hope for.
I know I am not the only parent or grandparent in that situation. But I also began to think about how it must feel to our Heavenly Father when He is separated, or should I say, when we separate ourselves from Him. How must His heart ache. What separates me from my children is only miles and time and sooner or later we'll be together again if the Lord wills, but what can separate our Father from His children can be forever, eternal. How He must hurt from the sorrow He feels when one of His children turns away from Him and ceases to have fellowship with Him.
As a parent, I know of nothing as important to me than spending time with my children and their families. It is no surprise to read in God's word that that is also what our Heavenly Father longs for as well...to have us spend eternity with Him--in His very presence.
I know of parents who have very poor relationships with their children or who have ceased to have any relationship with them and it can wreck their lives. Have you ever thought about what it does to our Father when we sin and separate ourselves from Him. Does He feel what we as earthly parents feel? Or is it even a deeper pain for Him since He knows where we are headed.
Being a parent of adult children who have the choice to make their own decisions has helped me, in a limited way, understand some of the emotions our Heavenly Father must feel for the millions of children He so deeply loves on this earth. I know his heart frequently aches as mine did today.
Dana Burk
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
An Open Letter to Young Ladies
The following is a letter published in the Lost River Church of Christ bulletin from a young Christian man. It is certainly worthy of our attention.
Dear girls,
I know this is something you may not be comfortable with, but I hope you will pay attention to what I have to say from a guy's point of view. I know that you all love God with all of your hearts and that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to please Him and live eternally in heaven, so I know you will understand what i will write.
As a guy, it seems like girls are always on my mind. The thing is, as a Christian, I am commanded not to even look upon a woman to lust after her, and let me tell you, that is something that is very hard not to do. I remember sitting in class and not being able to concentrate on my work at all because of what the girl in front of me was wearing! Regular old jeans and a T-shirt. God made us with a desire for the opposite sex, and I tell you the truth when I say that it's possible for a guy to lust after a girl even if she is wearing modest clothes. On top of that, the styles these days are getting more and more indecent. If you go to a high school you will find girls wearing clothes that scream out "LOOK AT THIS!" and you can see what kind of underwear they are wearing, its color, and pretty much whatever else you want to know. Then all the girls walk up to her and say, "Oh, aren't you just adorable?" Tight pants, tube tops, low-cut shirts, belly shirts and backless shirts are all acceptable to the world, but are designed to get guys to look and lust and many girls think that is how to get a guy to like them. Some girls just wear these clothes because they are in style without caring about its effect on guys. But I ask you, how can a girl expect to set an example as a Christian if the only thing a guy can think about is what's underneath her clothes? So you See, society doesn't look at modesty the way a godly woman should, and because of this the Christian girl is constantly told that immodesty is good.
But there is an enormous difference here. Society thinks that it's only natural to lust. Society encourages lust. I encourage You to test what society says and compare it to the truth of God's word. Realize the fact that if you wear immodest clothes, not only are you conforming to the world, but you make it easy for a fellow brother in Christ to stumble and sin before God.
Let me say one more thing. This may be the most important of all. What do you see in your future? I hope you envision yourself married to a man who places God at the center of his life and doesn't let anything get in his way. I hope you envision yourself married to a man that doesn't take stock in the things of the world, but stores his treasure in heaven so that as you and he grow old, he won't look at you and wonder where your beauty went, he will look at you and wonder how you keep getting more beautiful as you age. I hope you envision yourself married to a man who keeps God in your marriage and loves you all the more because of it. And I hope you envision a man who will help you get to heaven. The advice I give you now is, if you really want a man of this caliber, now is the time to prepare yourself for him. If you do not dress as a moral, godly, Christian woman, a strong Christian man will not be impressed by your lewd appearance.
There is a warning addressed to men in Proverbs 5:3 that says: "The lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood...her feet go down to hell." I hope you read this passage and see a reason to be a godly woman, because a Christian man reads this and realizes not to enter the path of the immoral woman. a godly man should do his best to resist a woman such as this, so I ask the question, why in the world would you want a truly godly man to resist you? A godly man is attracted to a girl's purity and zeal for God, not simply for her physical features that are passing away.
Thank you for listening to me and I hope you understand that males have such an infatuation with females that you don't have to show off your body to get their attention. Show off your inside, not your outside. And I hope you realize that being immodest can have a serious effect on a guy that may be struggling already. Finally, I want you to know I pray for you. May you all someday be the "virtuous wife: described in Proverbs 31.
Dear girls,
I know this is something you may not be comfortable with, but I hope you will pay attention to what I have to say from a guy's point of view. I know that you all love God with all of your hearts and that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to please Him and live eternally in heaven, so I know you will understand what i will write.
As a guy, it seems like girls are always on my mind. The thing is, as a Christian, I am commanded not to even look upon a woman to lust after her, and let me tell you, that is something that is very hard not to do. I remember sitting in class and not being able to concentrate on my work at all because of what the girl in front of me was wearing! Regular old jeans and a T-shirt. God made us with a desire for the opposite sex, and I tell you the truth when I say that it's possible for a guy to lust after a girl even if she is wearing modest clothes. On top of that, the styles these days are getting more and more indecent. If you go to a high school you will find girls wearing clothes that scream out "LOOK AT THIS!" and you can see what kind of underwear they are wearing, its color, and pretty much whatever else you want to know. Then all the girls walk up to her and say, "Oh, aren't you just adorable?" Tight pants, tube tops, low-cut shirts, belly shirts and backless shirts are all acceptable to the world, but are designed to get guys to look and lust and many girls think that is how to get a guy to like them. Some girls just wear these clothes because they are in style without caring about its effect on guys. But I ask you, how can a girl expect to set an example as a Christian if the only thing a guy can think about is what's underneath her clothes? So you See, society doesn't look at modesty the way a godly woman should, and because of this the Christian girl is constantly told that immodesty is good.
But there is an enormous difference here. Society thinks that it's only natural to lust. Society encourages lust. I encourage You to test what society says and compare it to the truth of God's word. Realize the fact that if you wear immodest clothes, not only are you conforming to the world, but you make it easy for a fellow brother in Christ to stumble and sin before God.
Let me say one more thing. This may be the most important of all. What do you see in your future? I hope you envision yourself married to a man who places God at the center of his life and doesn't let anything get in his way. I hope you envision yourself married to a man that doesn't take stock in the things of the world, but stores his treasure in heaven so that as you and he grow old, he won't look at you and wonder where your beauty went, he will look at you and wonder how you keep getting more beautiful as you age. I hope you envision yourself married to a man who keeps God in your marriage and loves you all the more because of it. And I hope you envision a man who will help you get to heaven. The advice I give you now is, if you really want a man of this caliber, now is the time to prepare yourself for him. If you do not dress as a moral, godly, Christian woman, a strong Christian man will not be impressed by your lewd appearance.
There is a warning addressed to men in Proverbs 5:3 that says: "The lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood...her feet go down to hell." I hope you read this passage and see a reason to be a godly woman, because a Christian man reads this and realizes not to enter the path of the immoral woman. a godly man should do his best to resist a woman such as this, so I ask the question, why in the world would you want a truly godly man to resist you? A godly man is attracted to a girl's purity and zeal for God, not simply for her physical features that are passing away.
Thank you for listening to me and I hope you understand that males have such an infatuation with females that you don't have to show off your body to get their attention. Show off your inside, not your outside. And I hope you realize that being immodest can have a serious effect on a guy that may be struggling already. Finally, I want you to know I pray for you. May you all someday be the "virtuous wife: described in Proverbs 31.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
What Are We Showing?
A young man was telling me this morning about a conversation he had with a woman yesterday whom he had met hoping to have a Bible study with. She and her male friend had contacted him and agreed to meet for that purpose, but when he arrived at the meeting place they tried to sign him up in a multi-level marketing business (you know the one).
When this young man had first made contact with them several days ago at a nearby mall, she was dressed in the typical Puerto Rican dress of tight, short and lots of cleavage showing. Yesterday when he met with them and they were attempting to sell him on a new business, she was dressed very modestly in a sharp, clean suit.
The two assured my friend that they were on the "up and up" and that all they were presenting to him was real--nothing bogus about it. The young man boldly then addressed her appearance and asked her why she was dressed so differently. She queried him about what he meant and he told her that today she was dressed very modestly and the other day she was very immodest. He told her it seemed "phony" for her to dress one way one time and another way the other time and made him question whether the whole business was "phony". The interesting thing about the conversation is that he had to explain to her why her dress had been immodest. She told him that she had never thought about the way she was dressed.
I have never lived in a culture where so many women expose themselves on a daily basis in immodest apparel. I do not think of myself as a prude or someone coming out of the dark ages and yet I am daily shocked at what I see revealed everyday from the grocery store to the gas station, from the mall to Home Depot. And I am convinced that the vast majority of these women have never thought about the fact that they are immodest. They have just never thought!!!! They are simply wearing what everyone else around them is wearing. From the 60 year old woman to the 2 year old child. It is their fashion and part of their culture.
Do you think about what you are wearing and how you appear to others, especially to the opposite sex? Do you think about how you appear to God? Does God consider what you put on, or for that matter, don't put on as becoming of His child? It is way too easy to get caught up in being and looking like those around us. As Christians we are to be a peculiar people, a light among darkness, a city set upon a hill. What are you showing by the way you dress?
(Tomorrow I am going to post a letter written by a young Christian man to young ladies in the church about how they dress. It is interesting to see how we sometimes appear to someone else.)
Dana Burk
When this young man had first made contact with them several days ago at a nearby mall, she was dressed in the typical Puerto Rican dress of tight, short and lots of cleavage showing. Yesterday when he met with them and they were attempting to sell him on a new business, she was dressed very modestly in a sharp, clean suit.
The two assured my friend that they were on the "up and up" and that all they were presenting to him was real--nothing bogus about it. The young man boldly then addressed her appearance and asked her why she was dressed so differently. She queried him about what he meant and he told her that today she was dressed very modestly and the other day she was very immodest. He told her it seemed "phony" for her to dress one way one time and another way the other time and made him question whether the whole business was "phony". The interesting thing about the conversation is that he had to explain to her why her dress had been immodest. She told him that she had never thought about the way she was dressed.
I have never lived in a culture where so many women expose themselves on a daily basis in immodest apparel. I do not think of myself as a prude or someone coming out of the dark ages and yet I am daily shocked at what I see revealed everyday from the grocery store to the gas station, from the mall to Home Depot. And I am convinced that the vast majority of these women have never thought about the fact that they are immodest. They have just never thought!!!! They are simply wearing what everyone else around them is wearing. From the 60 year old woman to the 2 year old child. It is their fashion and part of their culture.
Do you think about what you are wearing and how you appear to others, especially to the opposite sex? Do you think about how you appear to God? Does God consider what you put on, or for that matter, don't put on as becoming of His child? It is way too easy to get caught up in being and looking like those around us. As Christians we are to be a peculiar people, a light among darkness, a city set upon a hill. What are you showing by the way you dress?
(Tomorrow I am going to post a letter written by a young Christian man to young ladies in the church about how they dress. It is interesting to see how we sometimes appear to someone else.)
Dana Burk
Saturday, October 06, 2007
"I Am Not Afraid of Tomorrow"
The T.G.I. Friday's I recently ate at had this saying wall papered around the room: "I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today." What a great attitude! How often we fear the future only to find out later there was nothing to fear or we were able to work through it. Winston Churchill once said, "When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened." I know that has been true in my life. Most of which have worried over, never even happened.
Reflecting (not dwelling) on the past and looking at today can be a great bolster for facing tomorrow, whatever it may bring. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31-33 not to worry about tomorrow--tomorrow will take care of itself. But if that is not enough security, He promises that if we are seeking after Him and His kingdom, HE will take care of us. So exactly what do we have to be worried or anxious about?
Reflecting (not dwelling) on the past and looking at today can be a great bolster for facing tomorrow, whatever it may bring. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31-33 not to worry about tomorrow--tomorrow will take care of itself. But if that is not enough security, He promises that if we are seeking after Him and His kingdom, HE will take care of us. So exactly what do we have to be worried or anxious about?
"I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today."
Dana Burk
Friday, October 05, 2007
Details, Details, Details
Ever thought about how important details are in this life? How many things must be done precisely and perfectly in order to work. Just type in a web site address and be off by one small letter or symbol and who knows where you will end up on the World Wide Web. Today I dialed a phone number and had only one digit off out of 10 and couldn't reach the person I was calling. Try and order something with your credit card over the computer and type in one number wrong and you won't be receiving your merchandise.I'm doing some Spanish lessons on the computer and must speak into the microphone to be tested. If I place an "e" at the end of a word instead of an "a" or say "el" instead of "la" it is marked as wrong. Everything else I say may be exactly right in a phrase of ten or twelve words, but it will all be counted wrong because of that one little detail. I used to be a head teller for a bank and had to put my part of the combination in along with another teller in order to open the massive safe door. If either one of us missed the tiny marks on the wheel by even a fraction, the door wouldn't budge. Even if I want to go visit my friend across town, I must have detailed directions along with the exact address in order to arrive at his/her house and not the neighbors.
Details, details, details--we all recognize that they are so important in every aspect of our lives. Why is it then, when it comes to religion and obedience to God's word, that so many balk at having to precisely obey its commands? Why do we think that details are so important except in the most important area of our lives? God has mercifully left us a detailed and precise road map by which we can get home, but we must follow the directions exactly if we want to make sure we end up at our mansion and not somewhere else.
Turning South at one point instead of turning North will send us in the total opposite direction from where we intend to be. It is the same with following God's word. When He says one thing and we do the opposite, how can we possibly believe we will end up in the right place? When He tells us to assemble with the saints and we do not assemble with the saints, will we end up in the same place? When He says we must be baptized and we say we must not be baptized, are we on the same road? When He says do not lie and we lie, are we heading the same direction?
I've heard the expression used "the devil is in the details". I'm not totally sure what is meant by that, however, the devil is certainly present cheering us on when we are not following the details of God's word.
Dana Burk
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The Power of Gratitude
There was an article today on MSN by Newsweek reviewing a book by Deborah Norville titled Thank You Power. She asserts and scientifically defends that people who are thankful can not only live longer, but are smarter, better negotiators and faster learners as well as suffer from fewer allergies, headaches and even exercise more. In general, the thankful person is a happier person.
As I read the article I thought of Romans 1:21 where the apostle Paul discusses the vile condition of the Gentiles who forgot God. He states that, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (NKJV) In passages like 1 Thess. 5:18, Heb. 13:15 and Phil. 4:6 we have been commanded to give thanks or be thankful, but who knew we would live longer and be smarter for doing so.
Once again, I am reminded of how the commandments of God are for our own good. How easy it would be to think that God wanted our thankfulness and gratitude for His own glory and honor which He certainly deserves, but here we learn this too is for our own benefit.
I took the time today to look up in a concordance "thanks", "thanked", "thankful", "thanksgiving" and the many other forms of the word and was amazed at how many times they were used and found it interesting to see who used them. Paul was an avid user of the words. Isn't it interesting, that the man we know suffered so much persecution in this life, found so much to be thankful for. Truly a lesson is there in his life.
How thankful are you? How much do you express that thankfulness and gratitude? Want to be happier and live longer? Let God know you are thankful for all the blessing He gives you each day.
Dana Burk
As I read the article I thought of Romans 1:21 where the apostle Paul discusses the vile condition of the Gentiles who forgot God. He states that, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (NKJV) In passages like 1 Thess. 5:18, Heb. 13:15 and Phil. 4:6 we have been commanded to give thanks or be thankful, but who knew we would live longer and be smarter for doing so.
Once again, I am reminded of how the commandments of God are for our own good. How easy it would be to think that God wanted our thankfulness and gratitude for His own glory and honor which He certainly deserves, but here we learn this too is for our own benefit.
I took the time today to look up in a concordance "thanks", "thanked", "thankful", "thanksgiving" and the many other forms of the word and was amazed at how many times they were used and found it interesting to see who used them. Paul was an avid user of the words. Isn't it interesting, that the man we know suffered so much persecution in this life, found so much to be thankful for. Truly a lesson is there in his life.
How thankful are you? How much do you express that thankfulness and gratitude? Want to be happier and live longer? Let God know you are thankful for all the blessing He gives you each day.
Dana Burk
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