Why My Backyard Fence?

When I was a child, neighbors would visit with one another over their backyard fences. There would be a fence on either side and one in the back. These fences were not barriers to keep others out, but rather a means to define one's property. Sharing with a neighbor a smile or perhaps a story, or even a piece of pie was not uncommon. I love people and hope to bring joy and encouragement to my Friends and Neighbors over "MyBackyardFence." And, yes, I now live in the Oregon Outback. Beautiful place.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

I'm Only Human

How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m only human”? There are even songs written about it. Why do we say, “I’m ONLY human”? What I observe from my experience, that statement usually follows some action or word that we deem inappropriate. It’s a good excuse. After all, we are finite. We are not God. We are flesh and blood. What does it really mean to be human? First of all, we were created by God; created in His image. The most wonderful thing about being “human” is the fact that we have been given Freedom to choose. Most animals for instance, act out of instinct. We are fascinated to see many species that migrate hundreds of miles to give birth or lay eggs in the place designated by instinct to bring forth new life. Living in the Northwest, watching the huge gaggles of geese fly north or south depending on the season and the weather is an awesome sight, always accompanied by their loud honking. We humans on the other hand, do not operate on instinct but on choice. The greatest of these choices is Faith. Do we choose to believe God is? Do we choose to believe the Good News of the Gospel? “Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of  them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. It’s our choice. Do we believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose again in three days? Do we believe we are forgiven?  It’s our choice. Oh, I agree that we have a lot of help from God to believe. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. If you read the Bible, you find out what privileges being a “human” Believer hold. We are given the “right to become His children”. We are “more than conquerors”. We are “joint heirs with Christ”. We will “rule and reign with Him”. We have been given the power to “say no” to ungodliness. We have been “delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness”. We have been “brought into the Kingdom of Light”. We have been “set free from the law of sin and death”. I could go on and on with all we have been given by the One who created us. I want to focus now on Titus Chapter 2, verses 11&12. God’s Grace, we are told in these verses, teaches us to say “NO” to the things for which we need to say “NO”. His Grace, “Unmerited Favor” and “Operational Power” is available to ALL of us ALL the time! “We’ve got the POWER, THE RIGHT AND THE PRIVILEGE” to be “HUMAN”.  “In our weakness, He is made strong”. So the next time you are tempted to say, “I’m only Human”, take a moment to think about what you are saying. Are you saying,” I can’t help but do those things or think those things I ought not”? Or are you saying, “I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me”. It should bring joy to our hearts to admit we are human. The synonym for human should be Winner or Victor! With God the Father, Jesus the Son and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we cannot lose!