October 2001
Gayla, younger daughter, recently gave me some clothing gifts.
Included was an interesting belt.
Each year about this time, changes begin to take place. These changes have already started in Michigan. John, one of our
members, reminded me of this the other Sunday. "Some tree leaves are already beginning to change. " And more have changed
since. We know the signal...summer is over.
Hymn writer, Henry Lyte, wrote, "change and decay in all around I see, O Thou, Who changest not, abide with me. " (From
the hymn:
"Abide With Me'?
But the change I am thinking about is not in relation to the change of seasons or "decay". There are other kinds of change.
These relate to people. People you may know. Friends, family members, persons with whom you work or do business with.
And that is where the belt Gayla gave me comes in.
This belt has two colors. Since it has two colors, it can be worn with most clothes. One side is black; one side a blending
brown. Probably nothing unusual about that, perhaps. I was putting the belt on the other day, when a thought struck me about
the buckle of the belt.
The belt buckle is designed to flip over. Pullout, turn over. The belt is then black or brown, depending which color one wants.
Neat! Modern.
Up-to-date. Fast. Convenient. Practical And, ??
Switching the buckle was what reminded me of people. Persons like the belt buckle can do that- - switch from black to brown.
You've experienced that, have you not? Crabby, out-of-sorts, getting on someone's case.
Upset, negative, unkind. Just had a "blow-up". Then a sudden switch.
The belt buckle of emotion is flipped- -black ( dark) to brown (light).
"Why it's so great to see you. You always make my day". But, just a few minutes before, there was an explosion of dark,
verbal emotion, triggered (maybe) by that terrible person "who just made my day".
Or, things are going well PeacefuL Quiet. Calm. Something rather minor happens, or someone happens to say the wrong thing.
That belt buckle of emotions is flipped and an emotional storm has arrived.
Hopefully, you are not a person who acts out in this kind of way.
Should you be, there is hope. The hope is Jesus. The help is the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to change us; the way we live, the way
we act. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was coming (and He arrived on the day of Pentecost (Acts: 2) The Holy Spirit came to
cleanse our hearts and fill us with God's love.
As Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, we can maintain a calmness on the inside that will keep us calm on the outside. May
God grant you and me the cleansing, filling of the Holy Spirit.
Our "heavenly Father" desires to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Luke 11: 11-13). Have you asked?
your friend and Pastor, John
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