Narrow or Wide Path?

~~~ Genesis 13:2, 5-18 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Matthew 7:6, 12-14 ~~~

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

This is only works well if you have a healthy respect for yourself.
If you abuse yourself then it is less likely for you to respect others.
Loving others begins with loving yourself.

If you are negative with yourself then you will be inclined
 to be negative toward others.
Treating others with respect begins within
and radiates out to others.
If we are cultivating peace within our heart
then we will extend peace toward others.

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.

Why is it so difficult to find this road?
Is it disguised? It is overgrown with weeds?
Is it too challenging?

The easier wider path ultimately leads
 away from the narrow gate we must pass through.
It fools us because it appears to be the more traveled path.

The narrow gate...is it only wide enough for one way traffic?
The constricted road may only be worn foot path.
A foot path in the woods is easy to miss.

There are no road signs...no direction markers.

If you strive to treat others with love and respect,
when you die the narrow path will exist just for you.

Suddenly you will be able to see clearly.
Perhaps the path will be illuminated,
life the airport runway.

Take time to care for yourself...to love yourself
so that you will be able to love others more purely.

There is no 'yellow brick' road to heaven,
but there is a path that leads us to the gate.
When you pass through the gate

the path becomes your only choice.
You will be on your way home to heaven.

Once again the choice is yours...
will you take the well worn path or the narrow less traveled one?
How you treat yourself and how you treat others
 is a good indication of which one you are choosing.

May God bless you with
the ability to find the narrow path of eternal life.

~~~Peace~~~

Access Granted

~~~ Ephesians 6:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 13:22-30 ~~~

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate..."

If you have ever been to a ticketed event
you are well aware of the narrow gate. 

Everyone seeking access must pass
 through the turnstiles before entering the arena.
Often your personal items are inspected
or you must have them in a transparent pouch.
We have come to accept this
even as it seems like an invasion of privacy.

We have been given the ticket to enter into the Kingdom of God,
and we must pass through the narrow gate.
Why is the gate narrow?
Once we gain entry can we breathe a sigh of relief?
Is there only one path leading to this narrow gate?
At some point do all paths merge into one?

Sometimes we want to cut corners; we look for the wide open back door.
We might even volunteer to usher as our way of gaining admittance.
When it comes to getting into heaven
 Jesus made it easy and difficult at the same time.

Sometimes we might even try to smuggle things
 through the gate by hiding them in our pockets.

What are the slight imperfections you want ignored as you seek
 entry through the narrow gate?

Jesus meant it when he said take nothing for the journey.
We cannot get through this narrow gate with any extra baggage.
The gate into heaven requires 'sincerity of heart'
before it is opened...before access is granted.

We cannot fool the Lord our God.

As we make our way toward this narrow gate
we must constantly leave behind those things which weigh us down.

This journey may take years, thus there is no good reason to carry
that which does not help us gain entry.

The longer we are on this journey towards the narrow gate
 the more we come to realize that we must be
willing to do the will of God.

Not just when it suits us or meets our needs.
Conforming to the will of the Father is not
always going to be convenient.

Before we enter into this gate
we must lay down everything before the Lord.

Whatever burdens we are carrying must be flushed from our souls.
To enter through the narrow gate we must be purified by His grace.

Sometimes this purification comes in the form of fire.

Imagine getting all the way to the gate only to be turned away.
How heart rending that would be.
Would you try to talk your way inside?
How many excuses would you conjure in your mind?

Have no fear,
God does want you to enter through the narrow gate.
He is expecting us to take advantage of every little clue...
each tiny grace insuring entrance into the Kingdom Arena.

Blessed to carry only what is needed
to get through the gate.
Eager to hear "Access Granted".
~~~Peace~~~

The Narrow Gate

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

~~Isaiah 66:18-21~~Psalm 117~~Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13~~Luke 13:22-30~~

 

Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, the light, the vine, the shepherd,

and today we are presented with the narrow gate and the door.

 

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.

 

To me these are such harsh words.

It is disappointing to think that at the end of your life you could find

yourself standing before the wrong door.

 

I believe the path to the narrow gate is wrought with obstacles.

Before you can pass through this narrow gate you must first reach it;

furthermore you must know it even exists.

 

I pray to have the stamina to continue on this path to the narrow gate.

I pray to be able to forge ahead in the face of temptations.

I pray to have the grace to avoid that which

would lead me on a misguided detour.

 

Jesus says many will attempt to enter this gate

 but not be strong enough...

Why will some not be strong enough?

 

Is it really easier to give in to sin

than to keep our eyes fixed of Jesus?

Apparently that is the case now and was even

 in the time of Jesus.

 

Perhaps we will not be strong enough to open the gate

 even if we find it.

Oh what a shame that would be.

 

Is this gate of heavy ornamental ironwork

or is it carved from the finest wood?

Why is it difficult to pass through?

Will it be locked? Will I need to have the key?

Of course Jesus does and always has had these answers.

 

I must strive to remain near to him so that I do have the required

 strength to pass through his gate.

 

 

Once through the gate apparently we are not yet home free.

Then we must get to the house only to find the door is closed and locked.

Really? After making it through the gate

there will be another challenge to overcome.

 

I pray that I will not be too weary from getting through the gate

 by the time I reach the door.

As I call out to Jesus from outside the locked door will he hear me?

Will he recognize me, as one he so wonderfully made?

The one he made in his image is asking to come inside...to come home.

 

I pray that I will not hear the words echoing from the closed door...

'I do not know where you are from.'

 

But Lord I beg you to let your child into your house.

I want to come home. I want to be with you.

 

Blessings in striving to pass through the narrow gate.

Never give up...trust in the Lord.

He will lead the way.

...for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines...

Natural Beauty

~~~ Genesis 13:2, 5-18 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Matthew 7:6, 12-14 ~~~

 

Holiness...dogs....pearls...swine...

How are these things related?

Holiness is associated with the beauty of the soul.

Pearls are worn to enhance a woman's physical beauty.

One is invisible;

 the other draws attention to the person who wears them.

 

Holiness of the soul causes one to radiate a beauty from above...heavenly.

A woman's physical beauty is enhanced by the pearls she wears.

Beauty from wearing pearls comes from the material world.

 

Holiness comes through following Christ and daily carrying your cross.

Pearls are formed because of an irritation within the muscle shell.

 

You would not want to intentionally damage the beauty

of either the pearls or your holiness.

 

Dogs and especially swine were considered

 unclean during Biblical times.

If your holiness were to become infected

with fleas from the dogs this would taint the beauty.

Sin of any sort,

but perhaps even venial sin

 is like the first couple of fleas on the dog.

Within a short time the fleas multiply and the problem is serious.

 

Swine wallow in the cool mud, their preferred spot of repose.

Who would take a beautiful strand of pearls and intentionally

drag them through a puddle of mud?

 

 

Using your holiness and appreciating the beauty of your pearls

may inspire you to treat others better than they might expect to be treated

by you or anyone else.

 

Keep your holiness free from sinful indulgences.

Keep your pearls free from dust and dirt; retain their luster.

 

Take care to seek the narrow gate leading toward eternal life.

Holiness will guide your way while the beauty of the pearls

will help keep you focused.

 

Consciously guard your holiness and your pearls.

Keep them away from all that is harmful to them.

Grace from God supplies your soul with the natural beauty of holiness.
When you see a string of pearls be reminded of the natural
inner beauty bestowed upon you.

Let your actions reflect your
Natural Inner Beauty.

 

The Narrow Gate

~~~ 2 Kings 19: 9b-11,14-21, 31-35a, 36 ~~~ Psalm 48 ~~~ Matt. 7:6, 12-14 ~~~

Hezekiah... went up to the temple of the LORD,
...he prayed in the LORD's presence:

"...Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!

Sometimes it seems as though your prayers are just a waste of time.

Sometimes it seems as though no one is out there listening.

I have felt like asking, 'Are you there, Lord?'

'Do you see me?
Hezekiah laid his concerns first on the ground before the Lord.
Then he began his prayer by giving praise to God for his being wonderful and almighty. Never hurts to complement before you make your request. That even works todya in the corporate world. Anyway it is most appropriate when praying to God.
After praising God he wastes no time getting to the reason for his prayer.
He is respectful and intense at the same time in his prayer.

Sometimes I want to say 'Lord, can you see what is happening here?'

Surprisingly to Hezekiah, but not common today, he gets an answer right away.
The timing in the Bible is so misleading but makes a point...God does answer your prayers...jus maybe not immediately.

The Gospel of Matthew speaks of the narrow gate:

"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."

It takes vigilance and courage to consistently do the right thing, which may suggest the narrow gate concept. As weak humans it is tempting at times to take the easy way out.
It takes sacrifice to  then stay on the road to life. We are speaking of eternal life here;
attainable through diligent practice of loving one another and treating them the way you would want to be treated. Sound familiar? It should.

We can use this image of a gate and expand it to include any entrance or doorway

as a reminder of our chosen path of life.

We are here for one purpose to love God and get ourselves through the narrow gate

by loving others.