The Broken and the Burdened

               

The Broken Day Lily Stem

              One evening when watering the tomato plants near dark, I noticed the broken stem of a day lily ready to bloom. Most likely the day lily became a casualty of one of the three energetic kittens’ rambunctious chases. A little disgusted with the frisky felines and in my hurry to get inside so Mother would not worry, I propped the broken stem up hastily on another healthy, strong day lily. I would see what the morrow held.

The Healthy Day Lily Supporting the 
the Day Lily with the Broken Stem.

                Sure enough, both day lilies bloomed. I did notice the healthy day lily obviously bent lower than it would normally have been. Had I not ladened it with the broken stem, it would have stood regally as the tiger lilies did.

               

The Two Day Lilies Beginning to 
Bloom the Next Morning

             I could not help but equate the bent down healthy day lily to one of Paul’s characterizations. In the second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 11, the Apostle Paul has been forced by the wayward, prideful church at Corinth to produce his resume of work in God’s kingdom, sacrifices for the Gospel, and persecution of all types. He detailed his service to the Lord to expose false teachers in the problem-plagued, gullible church in Corinth.

                As I looked at the encumbered day lily, I recalled verse 28 from 2 Corinthians 11, when Paul said, Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. I envisioned Paul, bending over a bit, when he wrote those words. Each day, he was burdened with his concern not just for the Corinthian church, but all the churches Paul had planted.

                Even though bearing burdens demands sacrifice, stamina, patience, strength, perseverance and prayer, Paul gave the imperative in Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Just as the healthy day lily bent a little lower, so will the weight of sharing sorrows, concerns, and needs in the lives of others be felt in our own body, soul, and spirit.

                We must never forget the offer, the invitation, the gracious, tender bidding issued from the loving Savior Himself. Matthew 11:28 recorded Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My BURDEN is light.

                Lord, when you send people with burdens into our lives, give us strength to accept the challenge from You. Help us to lean upon You for rest and remain unwavering in assisting hurting and anxious hearts because You said if we serve in Your name, we are serving You. How we love You and desire to show our love with wholehearted obedience to You!

No Lifeless Butterfly in the Millennium

I didn't understand why my maternal grandfather's relished study about the Millennium of Christ in his Bible. As he aged, the contrasts between the society in which he found himself and the perfect rule of Jesus during His 1000-year reign grew in disparity. Almost weekly, I find myself conversing with Mother about the wonderful differences the millennial reign of Jesus will bring. Like Grandpa I find myself longing for the millennial reign with Jesus on this earth.

            Our farm cats’ predatory nature endangers birds, butterflies, rodents, lizards, and anything smaller than them. Spotting a dead butterfly like the one below prompts a sense of sadness. Unlike me, the cats fail to appreciate the beautiful colors of the winged creature but rendered it lifeless with one paw swipe.

            As I continued watering the tomato plants, I mused on the ten centuries in the future when the animal kingdom will no longer be predatory. The passage in Isaiah 11:6 came to mind, The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

            In this future era, the cats and the butterfly will “live and let live.” The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the final book in Holy Scripture penned by the Apostle John, delineates the length of this glorious time being 1,000 years, thus giving it the name Millennium (Revelation 20:4).

            The Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, predicts in chapter 14, verse 9, And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – “The Lord is One,” and His name one. David writes of this time and Jesus’ role in Psalm 22:28, For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. The idealogy of the rule of Jesus is described by Isaiah in Isaiah 11:4-5 with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. The words “righteousness” and “equity” depict His future reign.*

            Isaiah 65 expounds on the extended longevity during this 1000-year-period. Amos, the shepherd/farmer-turned-prophet, writes of the unheard-of productivity of the earth as the plowman will overtake the reaper due to the enormous harvest in Amos 9:13.

            With the curse lifted on the animal kingdom and the earth itself freed of thorns and thistles and the government of the Lord Jesus ruling perfectly, what could be wrong? People’s life expectancy will rival the days of Methuselah. Even lowly kitchen pots and the bells on the horses’ bridles will have the engraving Holiness to the Lord. With this perfect environment much like the Garden of Eden, what could go wrong?

            A sinister verse recorded in Revelation 20:3 says he must be released for a little while. Prior to the beginning of the 1,000-year reign, Satan will be confined to the bottomless pit for the duration of the millennium, but then the enemy of God is allowed to infiltrate the perfectly ruled world and delude the hearts of the unredeemed earth dwellers.

            In an incomprehensibly brief time, the Deceiver will rally humans from all areas of the earth that lived through the glorious reign of Jesus. Revelation 20:7-9 details the number of those who, although experiencing heaven on earth, will rebel against the rule of Jesus will be as the sand of the sea. They will join wholeheartedly with Satan to surround the saints (those of us who have trusted Jesus along with those born during the 1,000 years who will yield their lives to Him) and the beloved City, Jerusalem. But God will put a stop to their insurrection against the King of Kings.

            With the very best situation in which to live for 1000 years, how can anyone have unmet needs? The government under the rule of Jesus will treat each global citizen equitably because the omniscient King knows everything that is done and the motives of the heart of each person. The irony of the millennium reminds us that even in the perfect environment where Jesus will govern with justice and righteousness, the rebellious human heart will still be “deceitful and desperately wicked” as Jeremiah characterized it in Jeremiah 17:9.

            An incalculable number of the loving King’s subjects will rebel and seek to take down His kingdom, destroy His loyal subjects, and raze the beloved city of Jerusalem. The hatred and resentment will have festered for many years in the dark recesses of the hearts of these who will answer swiftly the sinister, twisted call by the devil to challenge the reigning King Jesus. God will quell the rebellion with fire from heaven on those who experienced a perfect world but rejected it viciously.

            As we celebrate the 245^th remembrance of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, we acknowledge that we do not have a perfect Union, our government does not mirror the Millennium rule of Christ. Yet the scripture in Proverbs 14:34 gives us the effective formula for improving it. May we seek what God calls righteousness through a relationship with His Son. Then each day may we obey Him as we do what we read in His Word.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

*Another verse about the type of judgment Jesus will administer - He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. Psalm 9:8.

For those interested in more about the Millennium's place in End Time Events. Here is a link to the late Bible scholar, Dr. John Walvoord’s End Times Graph. Once one gets to the site, click on the graph to enlarge it - https://www.calvaryflathead.org/helpful-links/bible-prophecy-timeline-walvoord/

Remembering Mary Beth Bledsoe Morgan

        Almost eight years ago, I wrote about the Bledsoe family's ties to Oklahoma State University. Embedded in the blog post, is a wonderful family photo. Of the four in this family, only Ron is living, but he and I have fun visiting. Today on Mary Beth's 74th birthday, I recall the joy she brought to our family. (Here is the link to the blog posting about the aforementioned ties to OSU:    https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2013/12/69-years-ago-orange-and-black-forever.html )

Beth at 3 1/2 months of age.

           Mary Beth Bledsoe born June 27, 1947, to Ella Edith Gates Bledsoe and Harry Bledsoe had an older brother, Ron, ready to welcome her. Beth was an older cousin who always had time for me. As we grew up, we shared several things. Both alums from Oklahoma State University, we loved wearing the “Brightest Orange.” Each of us chose the teaching profession.

Beth earned her degree in speech pathology. Aunt Ella told Mother how sympathetic Beth was with her underprivileged students who desperately needed new shoes.

           Even as a first grader, Mother recalled aunt Ella related how first graders teased Beth because her dad was named “Harry.” Typical Beth said laughingly to them, “I am hairy!” and quickly took the fun out of their attempt at hurtful teasing.

Beth at age 12

          Another memory from Mother centered around the extended Gates family attending church at the Big Bend Baptist Church in the 1950s. Brother Ray Hart pastored the church at that time. He would loudly exhort the congregation to hear and obey the Word of the Lord. Someone mentioned after the service how loudly he delivered the message. Astute young Beth had listened intently. She quoted the phrase “Lift up thy voice like a trumpet” and said in a bold little voice, “He said to lift up your voice like a trumpet.” The verse Brother Hart quoted was taken from Isaiah 58:1: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up they voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. With Beth’s courageous response, she silenced the negative discussion about Brother Hart.

Beth during her time at OSU

            Some of my favorite visits were after she left education and moved to Washington, D.C. She worked initially for Wisconsin's Senator Les Aspin. Then she found herself in a position that suited perfectly her talents and giftedness with Oklahoma’s Carl Albert, United States Speaker of the House, until his retirement. She completed her time in the nation's capital with Jim Wright from Texas when he served in the third most powerful position in the federal government.

             

           One evening at Grandma’s house, I can recall listening with rapt attention to Beth’s recounting of preparation for an event for Queen Elizabeth II. She researched and assigned the seating for the elaborate event, being careful to seat people in the correct positions based on their status and avoid seating those with obvious conflicts next to each other. Mother and I have often laughed at Beth’s greatest concern. She worked so late into the night that she missed her options for transport to her apartment. As she trudged wearily home, she never worried about harm to herself if she faced mugging or assault as she walked the streets of the nation's capital late at night. What was her only concern? No one would know where the Queen should sit!

Mary Beth met and married James Morgan, relocating to De Leon, Texas, with just a little bit larger population than Pawnee, Oklahoma. How delighted she was to show off each of her sons, first, Robby and then Clint, on their inaugural appearances at the annual Gates reunion!

Her husband, James, served as a tri-county judge in their locale. Beth organized and promoted many local events that drew the community together. Her congenial, genuine personality fitted her perfectly for pulling off successful happenings like the yearly Peach and Melon Festival in De Leon.

Then the horrible diagnosis of lymphoma came. She valiantly fought and even experienced remission. Always a trooper, she agreed to a stem cell transplant. A complication resulted in the need for a tracheostomy. Our last in-person visit occurred after her procedure. In typical-Beth-fashion, she navigated perfectly almost causing me to forget the challenge she faced daily.

We kept in touch some with letters in which she emphasized the importance of her faith as she navigated being a wife and mother. Then the call from her brother, Ron, of her contracting MRSA. Almost before we could process her serious condition, she was gone in November of 2007.

As I reread her obituary this week, ironically, I was struck by one sentence. She loved the Breath of Life praise service there and was always in attendance when health did not prevent it. With so many changes in my life since Beth’s death, I reread that sentence with a different mindset. (Click on link to read Mary Beth's obituary: https://obits.oklahoman.com/us/obituaries/oklahoman/name/mary-morgan-obituary?pid=98488797 )

Revelation, the last book in the Bible, has been described as a book full of praise by Dr. David Jeremiah, noted pastor and Bible teacher. The Apostle John’s final book, Revelation, is filled with praise. John initiates the praise in chapter 1, the four living creatures offer praise in chapter 4, and the elders, angels, a multitude, and every creature in heaven praise God and the Lamb, our Lord Jesus. 

Peter wrote of the way we are made fit for heaven in his first epistle, chapter 2, verses 9-10:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;* who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

            After we read those powerful words, can we do anything except praise God for His mercy to us? May we embrace Beth’s love of praising God and follow her example of praise. Each day and throughout the day may we praise Him for the great and marvelous things He has done for us.

*Jesus Himself identified as the Light. In John 8:12, He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Without Jesus, we cannot enter heaven. Without Jesus, we remain in our sin and darkness. Neither sin or darkness will be in heaven.