Double Exposure

A technique of double exposing film to images is done by opening the shutter more than once.  This causes the second image to be superimposed over the first image.  Many times this type of technique is used to create photographic hoaxes.  William Mumler, a Boston photographer, discovered this technique in 1861 and used it for “Spirit Photographs” like this one for Mary Todd, wife of Abraham Lincoln.  Some photographers and film makers learned to do multiple exposures to add special effects to their work.  Before digital cameras double exposure to a person’s film happened much more frequently.  They would forget to wind or advance their film to the next spot before they opened up their shutter to take a new picture.  Many good, once in a lifetime shots, were lost due to double exposure accidents.

Sometimes in life we get caught in a double exposure to sin.  One sin laid over the other sin in our lives that can ruin the picture of our lives.  You would hope we would advance past that sin and not do it again.  Jacob had the problem of multiple exposures to the sin of deception when it came to dealing with his brother, Esau.  First in Genesis 25:29-34 we read about Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.  Now Jacob could have been a nice brother and just given him the stew, instead he used Esau’s feeling that he was about to die to deceive him out of his birthright.  Then in Genesis Chapter 27 we read about Jacob putting on Esau’s clothing and fake hair and going in and stealing Esau’s blessing from their father.  As a result of this repeated sin of deception, Jacob was forced to flee and leave his family.  His family was basically torn apart.  When it came time to return to his family, he felt the need to deceive Esau one more time as they met along the way in Genesis Chapter 33.  He told Esau he would catch up with him and meet him in his home territory and instead he went a different direction and settled down.

Sometimes the sin you commit will come right back on you.  It did several times in Jacob’s life.  It is almost as if God was saying “You will reap what you sow.”  Jacob sowed deception and deception returned back to him.  When he was dealing with his Father-in-law, Laban, he was deceived about his wife and deceived about his wages.  When he later had 12 boys,  10 of the boys planned deception about Joseph their brother and broke Jacob’s heart.  God used these multiple exposures to sin for good in the end, but how much better would Jacob’s life had been if he had not committed these deceptions.  Perhaps, the family line of Esau would not still torment Israel to this day or perhaps, the family line of Laban would not still torment Israel to this day.  The picture of Jacob’s life was somewhat ruined by the double and multiple exposures of sin in it.  It lost clarity and beauty.  It became clouded with other images overlaying it that were of problems, competitions, fear, accusations, loss, etc.

It is just common sense that when we have realized we have exposed ourselves to sin, we need to do our best not to have a double or multiple exposures to the same sin.  Don’t let the sin become a habit that ruins our life.

Latent Image

Photography is really an interesting art and science combination.  When you take a picture you are creating a latent image on the film.  In other words it is an invisible image.  To make the image become visible the developer exposes that film to the light.  The latent image then begins to darken and become visible.  It is the light that made the beauty of the picture come out.

Christians are a beautiful latent image waiting to be set under the light and be developed.  We need to sit at the feet of Jesus, our light, and develop our Christian character.  Unfortunately, many of us can become so busy doing things that we forget to sit and develop.  We run for our families, our jobs, our hobbies/activities and our ministries.  We need to do things, but we need to keep our priorities straight.  Jesus gave some instructions along these lines to two sisters, Martha and Mary.  Read Luke 10: 38-42.

³⁸ While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” ⁴¹ The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha new that the work needed to be done and thought it was the priority.  Mary knew she had an opportunity to learn from Jesus and did not want to miss it.  Jesus knew that the most important thing we should do before all the other stuff was to spend time with Him.  Those other things have a way of falling in to place when Jesus comes first in our lives.  If we don’t have enough time to pray, read and study, then we have our priorities wrong.  We need each day to do the one thing that is necessary.  Like Mary let’s make sure we don’t miss our opportunity sit at the feet of Jesus.  Let the Light shine on your latent image and develop.

Auto Focus

On my camera and my video camera I had a button that let me choose whether I wanted to use the Auto Focus feature or manual focus the camera myself.  To make picture taking easier, I would usually just have the Auto Focus set to on.  I think I need an Auto Focus button on my attitudes sometimes.  Left on my own, I can see other people and what they say or do all out of focus.  I misinterpret what they are saying or I assume what their motives are or I do not give them the benefit of the doubt or I judge what they are currently doing on past experiences with them.

The older brother in the parable of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15: 11-32) gives a great example of being out of focus in attitude towards another person.

Read Luke 15: 28-32.

²⁸ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ ³¹ “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The older brother became angry and didn’t want to go to the party celebrating his brother’s return.  He felt cheated.  He felt used.  He was jealous.  He made assumptions about his younger brother and his father.  He was all out of focus.  He lost sight on what was important.  He focused on the wrong thing in the picture of his life and his family’s life.  He was focused on himself.  Instead he should have been focused on the fact that his brother had returned.  He should have been thankful that his brother wasn’t dead and that he had returned.

As Christians, we can get all out of focus when it comes to our relationships with siblings, parents, kids, friends, co-workers and church members.  We start looking at things through our “self” lens and try to manually adjust the focus using our emotions and personal logic.  We do not use God’s Auto Focus lens.  We make assumptions, we provide our motives for their actions, we judge, we bring the past in to the present and we don’t give the benefit of the doubt.  It’s hard to do, but we really need to ask God to be our Auto Focus.  We need to ask Him to help us see things in focus and with His perspective.  We need to ask Him to help us give the benefit of the doubt and not make assumptions.  We need to ask God to let us see what is really important in the situation.  We need to ask God to help us see the big picture and not all the little things that we tend to focus on that upset us.

So remember wisdom would tell us to set God’s Auto Focus on, when you deal with other people in your life.

No More!

This week we have been talking about various emotions that we feel.  Emotions can be good and bad.  God created them for a purpose and everything he creates is good.  Unfortunately, our sinful nature can abuse our emotions and we get out of control with them.  We let the negative side of emotions dominate us and soon we become ineffective in the Lord’s work.  When we are overly sad, stressed, depressed or angry we lose focus and energy.  We dim the light of Christ in our lives.  People that are watching us see no difference between their lives and our life that has Christ in it.  When our emotions seem to be getting the better of us, we need to ask ourselves why.  Are we focusing on problems, people, and situations more than God?  Do we possibly need to get some medical help?  Are we not focusing on God and our hope in Him?  Stop before you emotions go too far out of a normal range and go to God in prayer.  Have Him help you see what focus or attitudes need adjusted.  Ask God to help you with your emotions.  Get in to the Word of God, as well.  Embed His Word in your heart, so the Holy Spirit can use it to teach, inspire and lead you.

If life, situations, people and your emotions seem to be overwhelming, be encouraged!  God has a time in the future when all things will be back in perfect condition.  There will be no more situations or people to make you angry.  There will be no more fear.  There will be no more sadness, depression or stress to deal with.

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

Be encouraged by the hope that fills you! Jump for Joy!

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Stressed to the Max

I have been watching people lately.  I have been noticing the busy-ness of their lives and the stress on their faces and in their voices.  They are all stressed to the max.  I am even more amazed that the adults are causing this situation for their children, as well.  The children are mimicking the adults in every way.  They are involved in too many activities, stressed about schedules, homework, and friends.  The children are over eating, yelling, crying, unhappy and in poor health.  I have been there myself on many an occasion.  I am a terrible one for saying “No” and taking on too many projects while working full-time.  It harmed my health, my emotions and my spiritual life.  It is no way to live.  I don’t think God intended for us to live this way at all, but I think God knows we are humans and has given us the answer in His word.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.

There is a lot of good common sense in these scriptures.  First of all, if we are stressed we need to go to God with our problem.  Yet, so many times we put him last or maybe even not at all in our lives, because we have no time.  We have chosen the busy things of life over God.  We need to go to God and ask Him to prioritize our lives and have him tells us what we should be involved in and not involved in.  If we are stressed about a situation, then go to God.  He is full of wisdom and can guide us through anything.  If we stressed to the point of being depressed we need to get around some other Christians and share encouraging words with one another.  Most importantly we need to depend on God and not on ourselves.  We need to not be trying to accomplish everything on our own.  We need to be focused on God and trust Him.  The more we are in His Word or in prayer we will see God’s Will and see His provision and learn to trust Him.  We will gain His peace.  Our stress will disappear.

So if you are stressed, then now is the time to stop and bow your head in prayer and open up your Bible and read.  The other stuff can wait.

Fearless

Rock stars, Actors, Stuntmen, Sports Figures and many others in society will spout that they are fearless.  They will try anything.  They don’t worry what that jump across the canyon or the drug they are about to take will do to them.  They don’t care if they insult someone or get caught stealing.  There is good and bad in being fearless.  I think Christians could use a little more fearlessness in their lives.  After all we have the mighty God who knows everything and created everything living inside us and working through us.  Yet, many Christians live their lives in fear.  They don’t want to cross any lines or hurt anyone’s feelings.  They just want to peaceably live their lives and not make waves.  They are afraid of rejection.  They are afraid to be ridiculed.  They are afraid they will jeopardize their jobs.  The fear of others begins to control their lives.  This emotion is not to play apart in our life with God, except that we should fear Him and what He thinks about us.  Here are a few verses about fear:

II Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

Matthew 10:28

Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God has called us to be a witness for Him in this world.  We are to be compassionate and loving and care for those around us.  We need to care about their lost souls.  We need bring them to Jesus.  If we understand how bad Hell is and don’t want to go there, then we shouldn’t want anyone else to go there either.  God has commanded us to reach them and told us He would be with us as we go.  In other words, we have a job to do and nothing to fear.

Matthew 28:19-20

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So follow God’s instructions and be more fearless then those of the world and bring them to Jesus.

Blinding Anger

Do you ever get so mad you can’t see straight?  I know I have.  You can’t think things through.  You just see the person, thing or event that upset you.  You focus on the jealousy, the loss or the hurt.  You could have 10 good things happen to you in one day, but all you see is the one bad thing.  Your joy has been stolen.  You have totally lost focus on the good and the right.  All you can think about is what should have been or what you can do about it to make it the way you want it.  You don’t have the time to be patient and wait for things to work out or smooth over.  You don’t have the guts to talk to the person who hurt you.  You would rather talk bad about them to anyone who will listen.  If you do get the courage up to go speak to the person, you just end up yelling at them.  You don’t hear their side of the incident.  You can only hear the voice in your head repeating over and over again what they did to you that hurt you.  In your blinding anger, you usually do something you will regret.  It most likely will hurt you and others.  You say or do something that is a sin against God.  Now you are not only emotionally or physically hurt, but you are spiritually hurt.  The Biblical account of Cain is a perfect example of blinding anger.  Read Genesis 4: 3-8.

³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? ⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” ⁸ Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

I am not sure who said “Anger is an emotion that makes your mouth work faster than your brain”, but I agree.  Cain even had God step in and ask him why he was so angry.  God was trying to get Cain back on track.  Instead Cain ignored God because he let his anger continue to blind him.  He opens his mouth and deceptively asks Abel to go out in the field with him, and then he kills him.  He let his emotions dictate to him what was right.  How many times do we let our emotions do the same?  “If it feels good, it must be right.”  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  God gave us a reasoning mind and a Holy Spirit to guide us.  When we are blinded by anger, we need to stop and listen for God.  We need to realize that blinding anger or uncontrolled anger is not from God.  The devil is stirring the emotion of anger within us to get us to sin.  Ephesians 4:26 says –

 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

Our anger must be for a godly reason.  We must not sin when we become angry.  We must take care of our anger in a timely manner and not let it fester.  The temporal physical problems we face on this earth should not anger us.  Good fortune of others should not anger us.  Loss of things, such as jobs, should not anger us.  Rude words and actions of others should not anger us.  The list can go on and on.  What should anger us is the sin in the world and the things that anger God.  Whatever the case, our anger should be in control and in line with God.  If we are tempted to yell, do harm or seek revenge, then we are about to cross the line with our anger.

Wisdom tells us to take the blinders off, when anger comes in to view.  Look for the Holy Spirit.  Listen to what He is saying to you about the situation.  Ask God for help with the anger.  Ask God to help you see things clearly.  Don’t let the anger fester.  Don’t let anger blind you, like it did Cain.

A Mother’s Comfort

How many of us have experienced our mother’s comfort? We fell off our bike and she picked us up. We were rejected by a boy we liked and she comforted us. We didn’t make it in to the college of our choice and she comforted us. Our mothers hug us, kiss us, find us our favorite toy, take us to a movie, and give us words of encouragement. God understands comforting His children like a mother does. In Isaiah 66 He speaks to the nation of Israel about the evil people that surround them. He comforts them with words about how He will take care of their enemies. He reminds them that judgment day will come and that will take care of them and bless them. They will see and rejoice at what God does. God knows everyone understands their mother’s comfort. He speaks through Isaiah and tells the people the following in Isaiah 66:13-

“As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

In this simple statement there is comfort, just to know God loves us like our mom’s love us. There is also comfort in the fact that this is an absolute. There is no doubt that God will comfort and take care of His children. He proclaims “you will” be comforted. What a blessing to know that the trials will end and God will comfort. What a comfort to know that God will take care of the enemy and we will rejoice when it is done. There will be an end to pain, suffering and sorrow. What an encouragement that we will be comforted by God like our mothers comforted us as children.

Moms Know What’s Best

Most moms have a lot of common sense.  They know how to distinguish what is really important and what is not.  Most kids don’t have a lot of common sense built in to them when they are born.  They need to learn it as they experience life.  If kids would pay attention to what their moms advise they would learn common sense a whole lot faster.  Moms need to use common sense sometimes to “pick their battles” as the saying goes.  In one very important battle in the Bible, two mom’s make very different choices.  In the end the one with common sense and true love for the infant wins out.  In 1 Kings 3:23-28 we read:

“23 The king replied, “This woman says, ‘This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead, and my son is alive.’ ” 24 The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought the sword to the king. 25 Solomon said, “Cut the living boy in two and give half to one and half to the other.” 26 The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she felt great compassion for her son. “My lord, give her the living baby,” she said, “but please don’t have him killed!” But the other one said, “He will not be mine or yours. Cut [him in two]!” 27 The king responded, “Give the living baby to the first woman, and don’t kill him. She is his mother.” 28 All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king because they saw that God’s wisdom was in him to carry out justice.”

So my advice to kids is, “Listen to your moms.”  They love you, have more common sense than you, and want what is best for you.  Your mom isn’t going to deliberately give you bad advice.  So kids, grow your common sense base by listening to your mom’s common sense.

Handle With Care

Sometimes we see on packages the instructions “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” written on them.  It’s important to pay attention to instructions when we come across them.  If we didn’t follow those particular instructions, we could break something very valuable.  That happened to us one time.  Some relatives from back East shipped us a beautiful, antique engraved crystal vase.  It was a family heirloom that was a wedding gift to a relative 150 years ago.  It came with an antique photo of the woman with the vase.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t handled with care, which ended in its destruction.

God had some important instructions for us to follow too.  In the Old Testament He told the Israelites in Exodus 20:12 –

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

Then Jesus thought it was important enough to repeat in Luke 18:20 –

“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

In other words, nothing has changed, God expects us to still honor our parents.  To honor means 1) To hold in respect; esteem, or 2) To show respect for, or 3) To confer distinction on.  God knows that we sometimes won’t agree with our parents.  God knows that we won’t necessarily have the same lifestyles or likes as our parents.  Yet, God still expects and commands us to honor them.  After all God placed them in our lives.  He made them our authority.  Even when we don’t agree with our parents, this gives us a chance to apply biblical principles as we develop our relationship with our parents.  It is also a means to show God’s love to them, even when we disagree.

If we don’t follow God’s instructions about our parents then we may end up with a relationship that is like that “Handle with Care” packaged vase that arrived in a million pieces.  Take time to show your appreciation to your mom, no matter what your history with her is.  Take time to honor and love her as God expects you to do.  Bless your mom with your love.