After Jesus had gone to every city and village in the area bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, He told of the parable of the sower.  A parable is an analogy that uses comparisons to make a point, or to help bring understanding.  When Jesus had told the parable He cried out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”   

As long as someone has the ability to hear we are surrounded by sounds every minute of the day and night.  Some are louder than others.  Some may be as quiet as a whisper while others are as loud as thunder.  We can all think back to certain sounds that remind us of something.  It is very easy to associate a sound with certain events.  The sound of a baby crying may bring back memories of your baby being born.  Roars of a crowd may take you back to a concert or ball game you once attended.  Those could be pleasant memories, but some could be traumatized by sounds.  A loud noise could trigger one to think they are back in a war or abusive relationship. 

Therefore, sounds can be a way to associate truths to remember to help in the journey of life. Since we are surrounded by sounds, may we learn to use them to encourage us and others.  

I have often thought of and told my children when we hear the sounds of an ambulance siren it should let us know that at that moment whether it be someone we know or not they are in need. At that moment their very life may be on the line along with their family in distress over not knowing what the outcome may be.  So, this sound we hear should inspire us to lift up a prayer for this person and their family because it may not be long that the sound of those sirens may be coming to your doorstep. 

Another similar sound is the siren of a law enforcement vehicle.    When we hear this sound and do not see the blue lights behind us to pull over, it is in response to someone else possibly breaking a law. For some it is a sound that help is on the way, but for others it is a sound that will cause them to flee.  Most do not want to be caught in their sin and just as from the beginning Adam and Eve hid trying not to be found out. 

The Bible explains that all have sinned, which is breaking the laws of God.  To hear a siren in this sense should either cause us to be thankful that help is on the way, or it will cause us to want to flee and hide.  When we hear this siren we should pray literally for those in service and for those who may need consequences for their actions, yet knowing that if we have broken even one commandment as we all have, Jesus said we have broken them all. This puts everyone equal in need of mercy and grace which He is willing to give to those who admit the need.  Then grace will be given which is what we do not deserve and mercy is given from that which we do deserve.  Repentance is truly a sound of freedom.

~ TRS 10-22-23

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

I’m sure there are many who have turned on a TV to watch an old show of a criminal doing what they do best and then the cops take off in hot pursuit after them.  A crime was done.  A law was broken and it is the job of the cop to eventually apprehend the guilty one.  In the same way God is after all of us.  There is none good, no one perfect, all have sinned, which is breaking the laws of God that do not change.  The awesome thing about this pursuit is that we can keep running but the moment we surrender instead of getting the consequences we deserve we can be forgiven.  

John 14:6 Christ lets us know that He is the only way, the Truth, and the life. Hosea 4:1 teaches that God was bringing three charges against the people of Israel: 1. They have no truth; meaning they are believing whatever they want to be true, doing whatever they think is right; and having faith in that which is deception. 2. They are showing no mercy; they have no compassion or willingness to be forgiving and 3. There is no knowledge of God in the land.  

God has shown us through the prophet Micah in 6:8 of what is good and what He does REQUIRE of us; which is essential, ordered, expected, and necessary.  The three things required are basically the three charges in Hosea’s time for not having it; that was to do justly (seeking truth), to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. To walk humbly would have to have one to stop running from God and submit to His will and in so doing gaining more knowledge of Him.   Proverbs 2:1-5 teaches how to pursue and to search for the hidden treasure which is the knowledge of God.  There are 7 things we need to do: “If you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding, Yes if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  If we begin to pursue after this treasure we will soon realize it is one that has to be constantly pursued.  The fullness of the treasure will never come to completion until the race of this life is run. How many treasure chests of blessings are still buried because we have stopped the pursuit?

~TRS 9/11/23

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

To be successful means to have accomplished an aim or purpose and to have been a failure one has omitted, or failed to comply with expectations or a required action.  Most of us could take a look into our own life and see things we have been successful at and probably see some of the times we have failed.  We know that no one is perfect which truly means we all have failed and been unsuccessful in something.  Those who may think they have never failed and are perfect may have just failed a lesson in humility.  No matter what comes against us to cause us to stumble and potentially fail we need to learn from those mistakes and not continue in them.  

A great lesson can be learned from a former King of Israel named Jehu who was given a task and anointed by God to carry it out and he did while all along he continued to do things that were out of the will of God.  At that time in history the people of Israel had heard about and knew the commandments of God that were given to Moses for the people.  These commandments were and are “requirements” that are not to be taken lightly.  

The first two are to “have no other gods before me and not to make idols.” The reason Jehu had been anointed to be king was to rid the nation of Israel from the pagan worship of Baal who was supposed to be a “fertility god” as well as the god of rain and storms.  When Jehu was given the instruction he was very successful in carrying out the task given him.  However, one can read more into the life of Jehu and realize that just because he was successful in this one part of his life he was still holding on to something that was just as bad as the thing he was eradicating from Israel. As well as taking things into his own hands and doing what he thought was best verses asking God to direct his path.  

Israel also was a divided kingdom at this time and to have sought the true God Israel would have to seek repentance and forgiveness from the southern part of the kingdom they still were at war with.  How does any of this apply to us today over a thousand years later?  Just take a look deep within your own life.  Look at the things you have been successful in.  As bad as you may want to reflect on the failures in your life, see how they may have impacted you.  Are you better or bitter because of them? Once a person comes to faith in the God of Israel we too have to honor those commandments, but all too often when we look hard enough we too may have idols that we are holding onto.  

Continuing to hold onto things that we need set free from will lead to ultimate consequences to ourselves and even possibly to our future generations as in the case of Jehu.  Don’t allow bitterness, unforgiveness, and wanting to fulfill your own will lead you in the path of becoming a successful failure.  

8/133/23 TRS

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

Before becoming the apostle Paul he was totally against those who were in “the Way,” which is what people who followed after Christ were called.  In Acts chapter nine it is recorded that he “was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, and went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”  Paul had a hatred for those he thought were spreading lies and trying to deceive those of the Jewish faith.  He believed it was his duty and obligation to put a stop to what was spreading. 

Then on what has become known as the Damascus Road experience he was struck blind but heard the voice of the Lord asking him why he was being a persecutor. Paul, filled with fear and astonishment humbled himself and made himself available and obedient to the very One he was trying to have others arrested or killed for. Being blind he made his way to where Christ had told him to go and then in a vision Paul saw a man coming to him to lay hands on him in order to receive his sight. 

Ananias also heard from Christ to go to the place where Paul was at and to do the very thing Paul had a vision of.  He came in and he laid hands on Paul and explained to him that he would get his sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul stayed in that place for a few days to eat and gain some strength back, but immediately began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ and never stopped preaching and teaching this truth.  

This is what is so amazing of how one person could be so strongly against something he believed to be so wrong and then have the encounter he did and was completely transformed to be willing to suffer all that he did for the sake of his new revelation.  In 2 Corinthians chapter 11 after Paul had helped start up and continue to preach to the Gentile people he was explaining to them of just a few of the things he has now had to go through because of him also now being “in the Way.”  

Paul went through these traumatic events yet he still was willing to believe, risking his life that others may also come to know the truth.  He has been beaten numerous times, imprisoned several times, he had been stoned not unto death, shipwrecked three times, he had been in immediate and serious danger of the sea, robbers, his own countrymen, the Gentiles, within the city and in the wilderness, among the false brethren who preached another Jesus.  Through times of weariness and toil, sleeplessness, hunger, and thirst, besides other things he didn’t mention he continued to persevere to spread the knowledge of Christ.  This man, Paul had to either be truly insane and delusional; or he truly had an experience that not only changed him but gave him the boldness to live in the Way no matter what circumstances he had to face.

7-23-23 TRS

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

Only once in the New Testament does the word stronghold appear that is used in a metaphorical sense of one pulling them down because one has allowed a negative belief to influence their thinking, which then directs their behaviors.  Any belief that exalts itself against the knowledge of God that influences people to stay in that will keep them “walking in the flesh.”  

Often those who are not familiar with “church terms” when they hear or read about being “in the flesh” may not understand what that means.  Simply put, to be “in the flesh or continue to walk in the flesh” means that one only lives to satisfy their own selfish wants and desires.  As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For our weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down thoughts and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”  

We have to recognize and choose to take those negative thoughts our prisoner and shackle them before they shackle us and bind us up.  When we have any thought and we realize that it may not seem “right” we have to line it up with what the Word of God says and if it is contrary to what is Written then it needs to be cast and pulled down.  If not it will take root within us and when we continue to think upon it the thought gives way to behaviors and attitudes that will be seen by others.  

Paul also explains in the letter to the Galatians that we have been called to freedom.  Only through our faith in Christ has our bondage been loosed so that we can be free.  However, he continues for us not to use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but to serve one another.  Our human nature is all about ME, MYSELF, and I.  We will be drawn to always fulfill the desires that satisfies ourselves.  All the while if we choose to walk in the Spirit we will have a change of heart and we will love our neighbor as ourselves and be willing to serve and be more concerned with meeting the needs of others besides our own.  

Those who walk in the flesh are basically practicing sin which is anything outside the will of God.  Practice never makes perfect, because no one is, but practice does make better.  If we are continually doing that what our human nature desires we can become very good at it even though the end of that way will be nothing good. 

In the Old Testament the word stronghold is used numerous times but it is more of a positive meaning that one has run into protection, security, safety, and a place of refuge.   Psalm 18:1-3 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  So when you are consumed with negative thoughts run into the fortress of God and allow your mind to be renewed that your behaviors and life will be transformed. 

7-2-23

In Japan there is an art form called Kintsugi (ken-sue-gee) which is the process of taking broken pottery and making it even more valuable by putting it back together with real gold.  A metaphor that is often used with this art-form is to “embrace your flaws and imperfections, because you will not realize your fullest potential until you go through tough times.” 

There are 4 things that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians chapter four that will cause our “earthen vessels” to crack during the rough times of life.  In a devotion I have read from May of 2020 explained that Paul was writing to the church at Corinth because they were being influenced by the pagan culture in which they lived, instead of the new church becoming the true influencers to Christ.

Jars of clay are easily broken, but when they are cracked they actually can allow more light to shine through them.  This is symbolic of we being the clay vessels and God is the Light that is to shine through us.  The more “cracked up” we are, the more light can shine forth.  It is then others can see our flaws and troubles and realize that we too have hard times, yet continue to trust in the “Maker of the clay.” 

The four things that may strike a blow to our lives are when we are 1. Heavily burdened, or stressed out and overwhelmed, yet we are told we will not be crushed.  2. Life will cause us to be perplexed.  Just look around and see how the world and society is “baffled, puzzled, confused, and uncertain to the point of having no hope,” but we do not have to despair. 3. There will be times of persecution of being harassed, treated with hostility, and looked down upon because of having faith, but we will never be abandoned or forsaken by God.  4. Some may even be “struck down” , physically assaulted, or attempts of our character being destroyed, but we have to realize who the ultimate enemy is who is out to “steal, kill, and destroy” those who believe. 

“For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6).

This revelation is the treasure we are to house in our “earthen vessels” so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our own lives. Even though we are broken from the hard knocks of life, the light of God will be the “gold” that puts us back together so that we can still be used to our fullest potential with a greater value than before.  

~TRS 5/26/23

I know the Bible tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute and harass you.  We are told that if someone asks something from us to even give them a little extra.  Though there is a parable that says that we are not to cast our pearls before swine.  Some have said this particular parable was a warning from Jesus to His disciples to preach only before a receptive audience. 

Hearing the Word of God will cause one of two things.  1. The person will respond with repentance and submission and their life will start the process of transforming into a more Christ-like individual, or 2. The person will reject the Good News and continue in their unbelief.  Because God is a merciful God all people will hear about Christ at least once in their lifetime and have the opportunity to respond. 

The reason this article came about was to determine what to do with toxic relationships or people.  Should one continue in a very unhealthy, one-sided relationship and continually be taken advantage of?  From a counseling perspective it is never good to stay in or be around toxic people.  

The word toxic actually means “poisonous.”  Hopefully, no one would drink poison and then go about and act as if everything is ok.  According to “GotQuestions…Biblical Answers” a “toxic relationships are those that poison our peace and our ability to enjoy another person.  Having to be around people who are toxic can leave others feeling exhausted, angry, anxious, or depressed when the toxic individual is not appeased. One who is toxic is very selfish, unloving, and unkind who definitely needs prayer.  

I recently had a dream of going down a long road that came to an end.  When I turned to go back down the road I happened to see a gray cowboy hat lying in the middle of the road.  I felt a great desire to go get the hat and take it to whoever it belonged to.  I felt that I wanted to help this person who had “lost” the hat.  However, the closer I got to the hat the Spirit within me was saying not to pick up the hat and to keep going.  At first I even argued with that thinking it was a good thing to help someone who had lost their hat, but the closer I got to the hat I then “knew” that underneath the hat was a poisonous snake that would bite me if I got the hat.  Even more was that the person who I thought had “lost” the hat had actually left it there on purpose hoping I would get bit.  It was a trap.  Thankfully, I kept on going.

Toxic people could care less if others get hurt or not.  GotAnswers continued on with advising one to read Proverbs 22:24-25 “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your own soul.”  You can take it for whatever you think it may mean, but be cautious around those who are only out to take advantage of you.

~TRS 5/7/23

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

Those in the faith world have heard from the moment of their conversion to the faith of Christ that the enemy is out to “steal, kill, and destroy.” In the parable of the sower Jesus tells of how the Word can be sown in someone’s heart, but the “wicked one” will come and try to “snatch away” (or steal) what was sown in one’s heart.  

There are now many ways to hear the word of God. The most important is to read it for yourself and then to hear it preached and taught, preferably in person within a church setting of your choice.  Once you begin to hear and learn the Word and hide it within your heart you will know what is the right and wrong wills we have a choice to do. 

A reason we “hide” the word of God in our hearts is so that it cannot be stolen.  As Jesus taught that the wicked one will come to snatch it away.  If we have valuables often we will hide and lock them away to make it more difficult if someone were to break in and try to steal our valuables. Likewise, the Word of God is a treasure of wisdom and love that has the power to transform us to be more like Christ.  

The enemy is out to steal all he can to keep this from happening.  In ancient times the act of branding cattle started as a sign that what was branded belonged to that particular person.  It was less likely once cattle was branded that a thief would steal it because there was evidence of who owned it.  It belonged to the one who had put their seal upon it. The Bible teaches that those who believe upon Christ have been sealed.  Another translation of being sealed is being branded.  

The enemy will at times usually in our weakest and more vulnerable moments try to sneak in to steal the Word and our joy from us.  We just have to remember that we have been sealed and know who we belong to.  The ending to the parable of the sower explains that the one who doesn’t have the word snatched away, is one who hears and understands the Word and bears and produces fruit as evidence.  

TRS

5-1-23

Fighting with the Reflection I See

I was once told that if something happens in threes you need to take heed to it.  As I work as a counselor I see both adults and kids.  As I was counseling with one young gentleman last Monday he shared that he did not like what he saw when he looked in the mirror.  According to research girls are more likely to be dissatisfied with their appearance than boys, however both boys and girls, men and women can all struggle with their body image, weight issues, physical appearance, or self-esteem.  

On Tuesday of last week I met with a young girl and low and behold she too mentioned that she did not like what she saw when she looked in the mirror.  Then on Wednesday as I was meeting with another boy at the school the “office space” I use had a large tinted window.  All of a sudden a bird smacked into the window.  That became our focus.  Again and again the bird rammed into the window.  

I made the comment that the bird must see it’s reflection and think it’s another bird and is trying to fight it.  Then as I spoke I remembered what the two kids had said about their own reflections. I shared with the kid I was seeing about what I had heard others say about not liking what they see in the mirror and that kid agreed with them about himself as well.  

The more I thought about the bird flying continually into the window it made me think about how if it just turned it would have been able to fly off.  

We as humans sometimes not liking what we see in the mirror end up fighting with ourselves and may not even realize it.  Just like the little bird we keep bumping into “ourselves” over and over never turning and “flying high” to our full potential.  

In the gospel of Matthew it is written that Jesus told about the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  This lets us know that we must love ourselves in order to truly love others.  If you do not like what you see when you look into the mirror there is a good chance that you really do not love yourself.  We are also created in the image of God who knew us before we were in our mother’s womb. 

When God created the heavens and earth, the landscape and animals He said that it was all “good.”  However, when He made the human race He declared that they were “very good.”  Therefore, to not like what you see is basically saying you believe that somehow God messed up on you and that you are not in His image. 

Don’t become your own worst enemy and believe the lie that your reflection is not “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Stop fighting with your reflection and gaze upon it.  Appreciate and be thankful for it as you look past what society may call a flaw and see the appearance of God. 

~TRS 3/19/23

Sometimes we may think that the part we play in the thing called life is not that big of a deal.  However, even just a small part can create a ripple effect that can influence others for the good or for the bad.  Even when apparent “bad” things happen it can set things in motion to eventually unravel a greater good. 

This can be seen in the lives of several in 2 Kings chapter 5.  First we have an army invading Israel and taking a girl hostage and then she becomes a slave.  She becomes a servant for Naaman and specifically his wife.  Naaman was a very high ranking man of valor in the Syrian Army and good friends with the King of Syria.  However, one thing that was an issue in Naaman’s life was that he has leprosy.  

The servant girl would have known about the miracles of God done through the prophet Elisha because she boldly proclaims to her “master” (Naaman’s wife) that if Naaman only  could go to Elisha he could be healed of his condition.  

As soon as the King of Syria hears about this he has great compassion for his friend, Naaman and is willing to pay a large sum of money to the King of Israel to ensure that Naaman gets this healing.  This king was used to serving “other gods” and making various kinds of sacrifices so to help out his friend this was no big deal for him and sent a letter to the King of Israel requesting this be done.

Once the King of Israel reads the letter however, he becomes upset thinking that this other king thinks he has some “power” to heal instead of God and he rents his clothes and fears this other king is wanting to start some trouble.  

Elisha hears about the King of Israel renting his clothes and says the most important thing in verse 8, “he (Naaman) shall know that there is a prophet in Israel,” which is another way of explaining that through the miracle that will take place, Naaman and ultimately the kingdom of Syria would know of the power and grace of God.  

Elisha meets with Naaman and tells him what he must do which at first makes Naaman infuriated and refuses to do it.  Then thankfully some in his company encourage him to do what the prophet has told in order for him to be healed.  Once Naaman humbles himself and becomes obedient his healing occurs and the leprosy is no more.  With this encounter of God Naaman testifies that he would no longer be like he was prior for he knew that there was only one true God; and Elisha sends him back with all the “money” refusing to take credit or payment for what God did.

 Two kings, a high ranking soldier, and a high ranking prophet of God all had an encounter because of the faith of a young girl who was a slave.  A girl that could have easily been glad that her “master” had leprosy and wished that he got worse in order to be “kicked out of town.” However, she gives him hope and boldly sets things into motion that others may know more about the love of God. 

3/5/23 TRS