Elder's Corner: Weeds

I have been working in the backyard the last three Saturdays. I had not been monitoring for weeds, and they had claimed about half the useable area. I only noticed because my granddaughters asked me to build them a path through the ‘Jungle’. Weeds had claimed the perimeter all around the back yard to a depth of 10+ feet. There was one weed that was more than 12” in diameter. Removing it would have destroyed my fence. So, I had to compromise by cutting it back partially while leaving the rest. I will have to return to that spot regularly to keep that weed from regaining control. Now that I am paying attention, it is taking a lot of effort to return the backyard to what I want it to be.

Seems there are lessons here I can apply to my relationship with Jesus. I could talk about maintenance, daily prayer and Bible reading, daily effort in the little things that the big things are made of. Instead, I want to look at that BIG 12” diameter weed under the back fence. How had I missed it? For one thing, the weed came under the fence as a small shoot and just laid there. It didn’t grow taller than the fence, so I didn’t see it from the middle of the yard. Meanwhile, numerous small weeds were growing up in front of it. These little weeds were easy to handle, but they were hiding the larger, growing problem from me.

Consider the parable of the Sower; the weeds in our lives that go unchecked choke out the good things that need the soil of our souls to grow. They take the energy and food that other, more Godly areas of our lives need to grow. In the example of the large weed in my backyard, if we let somethings go unchecked too long, they can get to the point where we can’t simply dig them out. They have become a part of our lives that may take a long time to remove or repent of.

May I suggest a practice that I have used for some time now. Several times a year I ask God to show me what I am hiding from myself. He has always shown me something that I need to give over to Him. I pray that we all as the family here at Mandarin, continuously weed our gardens and keep ourselves pure so we will shine like Jesus in our world,

-Chip McGehee

Elder's Corner: Our Response to God’s Grace

Have you ever read a scripture numerous times and then one day you see something that had always been there, but you had missed it? This happened to me the other day. The scripture was Titus 2:11-12. (NIV) "For the grace of God that brings salvation had appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live upright and godly lives in this present age."

God’s grace is an amazing and awesome gift. It is freely given, we cannot earn it, we do not deserve it, yet it has appeared to all. It is God’s grace which saves us through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is truly the gift and the work of God, but we are expected to learn from God's grace.

The Spirit directed the apostle Paul to tell us that the grace of God teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passion and to live upright and godly lives in this present age.

It is my prayer for the Mandarin Church of Christ that we all will rejoice in and celebrate the amazing grace of God and that we allow His grace to teach us how to live a life worthy of the calling we have in Christ Jesus.

I love you all.

-Dan Nix

Turn Back Time?

If you’re reading this Sunday, I hope you’re feeling refreshed from an extra hour’s sleep. Every first Sunday morning in November, we turn our clocks back one hour as we transition from daylight savings time to standard time. I’ve seen numerous Facebook posts this week that have said something like, “I have no intentions of turning my clock back; I don’t want to have to relive a single hour of 2020.”

I get that sentiment. 2020 has been a tough year. Covid-19 has led to over 225,000 deaths in our country. Each individual death represents a precious person made in the image of God and dearly loved by family and friends. Racial and civil unrest has stoked anger and anxiety for millions. Our friends in Louisiana have been impacted by 7 tropical storms or hurricanes this year. There are few people who will want to turn back time when it comes to 2020.

For good or bad, we can’t really turn back time anyway. There are times when we wish we could go back and do something different, say something different (or say nothing). But life does not come with a replay button. So, we have two choices; learn from the past or live in the past.

The best thing we can do is leave our past at the feet of Jesus. In 1 John 1:8, the disciple whom Jesus loved said, “8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus doesn’t have to turn back time. He transcends time, and He clears our past to prepare us for a glorious future.

So don’t try to turn back time. Turn time over to God.

-Mike Johnson