Do You Speak Greek?

I love listening to mockingbirds! They perfectly mimic the songs of every bird in their area – a kaleidoscope of melodies.

Every chirp and warble is unique. The blue jay doesn’t have a clue what the robin’s saying. The dove’s song is like Greek to the sparrow.

Made me wonder: is our “Christianese” a bunch of gibberish to nonbelievers?

Are we speaking Greek?

When I wrote my Bible study, Storms of Life, I wanted to put the plan of salvation in the first chapter.

So, I wrote this:

Each of us has sinned and rebelled against God’s laws. But, because of God’s great love, He sent his only Son to be crucified and buried, to pay the penalty for our sins. After three days, He was raised from the dead and promises eternal life to all who believe in Him.
If you confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior, He will forgive you and give you eternal life.

I followed this with a nice “if you believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, pray the simple prayer written below and receive His gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

Sounded great to me.

Source: Deposit Photo, william57

Thankfully, a close friend said, “I wasn’t raised in church and I assure you that a nonbeliever won't understand a thing you're saying!”



So, I tried again:

Do you have any idea how much God loves you? I know, you’ve messed up a lot, we all have. We’re all guilty of sin; we all face the death penalty. But God loves you so much that He set in motion a plan to save you from death.

He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to live a normal life – just like you. But Jesus didn’t sin - He lived a perfect life. Even though He was sinless, Jesus agreed to die – to die in your place. After He died and was buried, God used His great power to raise Jesus to life again. Jesus returned to Heaven and lives eternally with His Father.

If you believe that Jesus died for you and ask Him to forgive you, He will erase all your sin – forever! If you believe that He was brought back to life, He will give you eternal life. When your life ends on this world, you will join Him in Heaven.

How’s that? Is that better?

Remember: At one time we too were foolish… Titus 3:3a

Keep your words simple, so that the “foolish” may believe.

When did you believe in Jesus?

If you haven’t asked Jesus to forgive you and to give you eternal life, I pray that you will do it now. Then tell a friend who goes to church and ask them to take you with them.

Bitterness to Joy

Although gardening isn’t my thing, I occasionally dig around in the flower beds, pulling weeds. A few days later, I notice that several of them have popped right up again. Frustrating!

I’ve learned an important lesson: the weeds aren’t truly gone unless you dig the root out. Any shred of remaining root and it will grow up again.

So it is with bitterness. We have to get to the root, the heart, of the matter to conquer it.


"Don't call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. Ruth 1:20

Life had been cruel to her and she felt abandoned by God.

She changed her name - from Naomi, meaning joy and pleasantness, to Mara, meaning bitterness and deep sorrow.

I can certainly identify with her feelings.

When I was laid off from my job in 2005, I was certain God had abandoned me and I was furious at God. I nursed the anger until it became bitterness.

He’d failed me, I was mad, end of story.

Ever felt that way? We all have!

What made it even worse was well-meaning people came along and said, “Sherry, God has a purpose.”

So what? Was that supposed to make me feel better?

“You’re not alone. God’s walking with you.”

Yeah, right! If He’d been walking with me, this wouldn’t have happened!

Something that tears our world apart – we get angry at God and allow anger to grow into bitterness.

Someone hurts us and we allow pain to turn into bitterness.

Someone disappoints us and we feel let down – frustration becomes bitterness.

Bitterness ruins relationships, with God and with others.

Even worse, it poisons us from the inside out.

So, how do we overcome it?

Hate to tell you this but we don’t; we can’t. Only the Holy Spirit within us has that power.

How do we find the strength to forgive?

How do we ask for help when our hearts are broken?

It all comes back to our relationship with God.

Do we have the freedom to scream and stomp our feet at God when we feel abandoned?

I say a resounding YES!

If you don’t believe me, read Psalm 13. David begins with accusations but, as God ministers to him, his faith returns.

Can we come to our Abba and pour out our pain?

YES! 

O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. Psalm 30:2

God never forsakes us.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

He never withdraws His love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else

in all creation, will be able to

 separate us from the love of God that is in

Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

He will turn bitterness to joy.

How has God brought you from bitterness to joy?