A Firm Foundation

A Firm Foundation

Wanda Ritter

 “He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  (Luke 6:48-49 NIV)

People who stand on shaky foundations often find themselves falling and getting injured.  They are generally amazed that they fell off what they considered to be ‘safe’.  One time my husband found himself in this very situation.  We were visiting at our son’s home and discovered a bird had built a nest in the opening of a vent that was over the ceiling of the guestroom.  The bird made such a racket; it kept us awake all night. The next morning, the men planned out a strategy to remove the nest.  As my son didn’t have a ladder, he stood the children’s small picnic table on end and held it, while my husband climbed up on it to clean out the vent.  The bird flew out, the nest was pulled out and things were going well.  As my husband began to climb down, his foot slipped.  My son grabbed him around the waist to stop his fall, but it caused him to pitch forward and land on his head.

Fortunately, although bruised and scraped, there was no serious injury.  My husband later laughingly said his head was the only place he could have landed on and not been hurt. The problem with this situation is, although what he was trying to accomplish was worthwhile, he was not standing on a firm foundation.  Therefore, it all came tumbling down and he along with it.

Many of us never knew what a ‘firm foundation’ was, unless you were in the construction business.  As a child, I remember my mother wearing, what she called a “foundation garment”.  That was a nice way to say, ‘corset’.  Women wore them to keep their bodies tucked in and firm.  These are not popular today and I am thankful for that.

However, building on a firm foundation will always be the right way to go, whether it’s building a structure, or a life.  In Luke, chapter six, Jesus told this parable of the difference between a man building his house on a firm foundation and the one who builds without it.  It was his way of telling us that we should build our lives on the foundation of Christ, the Rock (I Cor. 10:4).

If you have ever walked along an ocean shore, where there are huge rocks that project out of the water, you will find a lighthouse somewhere in the vicinity.  The beams from lighthouses around the world are there to warn ships of the danger of rocks.  In times past, many a ship has gone down on the rocks. These rocks are immovable, even when a large seafaring vessel collides with them.  The vessel will break apart, but the rock will remain standing.

On this same ocean shore, you will find sand; sand that is constantly shifting.  It may not look it, but the movement of sand is tremendous.  A good example of this movement was played out before me some years ago.  My husband and I were walking the Pacific Ocean shore in the state of Washington.  The sand was so hard that vehicles were driving up and down the shoreline.  We walked some distance when we came on a nice car sunk in the sand all the way up to the windows.  We were amazed to see this and someone nearby told us it had been left on the beach overnight about two days earlier.  It was obviously impossible to pull it out.  About two days later, we returned to the site to find only the top of the car showing.  It was lost to the shifting sand when the tide came in.  That made a great impression on me.  How easily in unguarded moments, we can get caught in sinking sand that could lead to destruction.

In our journey through life, we find floods and storms come in and can cause serious damage.  Are we prepared to meet a flood or storm that comes without warning?  City streets are filled with homeless, destitute in body, soul and mind, because they could not weather the storm.  Their lives were built on sinking sand and when the storm or flood came, they collapsed.  Today, you see that complete destruction in the lives of the street people.

Some may say that “fate dealt them a cruel blow”.  It wasn’t fate at all.  It was the foundation their life was built on and when the rains came their life crumbled.  Storms of life come to every one of us, just as the sun shines on all.   “…..He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  (Matt. 5:45 NIV)  Many of us have had terrible storms, such as losing a loved one, have a severe physical problem, going through the pain of divorce, or failing financially.  Those who don’t know Christ as the Rock, often turn to drugs, drinking, gambling, or just giving up on life when the rains come.  They do not know how to trust Jesus with their lives.

I was in that place for many years and when the floods and storms came, I turned to other things and found myself in sinking sand.  It was there I met the Savior and this is my testimony found in Psalm 40: 2-3, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”   Today, I find when the rains come, I would prefer to grow a garden. 

 ‘Bloom where you’re planted’ is one of my favorite sayings.  This is the garden that will grow when it rains.  A good example of this is found in the Old Testament.  Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, but he stood on a firm foundation and continued to trust God.  The Lord eventually raised him up to be the most powerful man in Egypt, next to the Pharaoh.  When years later he encountered his brothers again, he said this:  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20 NKJV) When the storms come in your life; God will make something good from it if we trust him and stay strong with Jesus as our rock.

With Christ as my Savior, my foundation is firm.  I believe as Isaiah did when he wrote, “……When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”  (Isa. 59:19 KJV)  He shall be at my side fighting the battle against the enemy and also at your side if you put your faith in him.

Put your trust in Christ today and begin to build your life on him by reading His Word and putting it into action.  Don’t let the floods and storms of life destroy you.  Don’t get caught in sinking sand.  There is an old hymn titled, “The Solid Rock”, that says it all.

                        My hope is built on nothing less,

                        Than Jesus blood and righteousness.

                        I dare not trust the sweetest frame,    

                But wholly lean on Jesus name.

                        On Christ, the solid rock I stand,

                        All other ground is sinking sand.

                        All other ground is sinking sand.

The Chameleon

The Chameleon

by Wanda Ritter

Almost everyone has seen a chameleon and marveled at its ability to change color and blend in with its surroundings.  If you put one on the grass, it will turn green, or if you place it on a branch, it will turn the color of bark.  What an amazing little creature God created.  The chameleon has another incredible attribute - each of its eyes move independently of the other.  It can look down with one eye and up with the other, without moving its head.  This is great protection for the chameleon, as it can watch in different directions at the same time and scurry away quickly if an enemy approaches.

I often wondered why man was not created like the chameleon, able to change color to fit in with his environment and have independent eyesight.  Then I realized that although not physically, spiritually we do have the same characteristics.  When Christians are born again, they change from dark to light.  

I Peter 2:9  “….that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”   I remember as a new Christian, old friends and coworkers would say, “What happened to you - you look different?”  How wonderful the change was visible. 

Sadly enough, many tend to become like the chameleon, changing to fit in with their surroundings.  How could this happen?  “… Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  (John 3:19 NIV )  They came from darkness into light, but in their weakness, slipped back into the dark again.  When they stepped into the worldly environment, they changed back to fit in with the others.

Man also has the ability to see in different directions at the same time.  They may try to keep one eye on Jesus and the other on the world and its fleshly desires.  When they do, they generally change back to darkness.  The Word of God doesn’t tell us to look both ways, but says,  “Let us fix our eyes [both eyes] on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2 NIV)  There are many ways we tend to be like the chameleon, always changing our mind, our direction, what we believe, our church and yes, even our doctrine. 

Our Mind:   James 1:8 tells us,  “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  A double minded person is one who is drawn in two opposite directions.  He goes from belief to unbelief, from hope to hopelessness.  He is recognized by his inconsistency in prayer, faith, church attendance, and in all his ways.  Those who keep both eyes on Jesus, will not find themselves double minded.

Our Direction:   When we don’t pray for God’s direction, we often find ourselves in trouble.  In Psalms 32:8, we find one of God’s precious promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Our heavenly Father desires us to go in the direction he has planned for us and it is impossible to do that, if we are going the way of the world.  Keep both of your eyes on Him.

What We Believe:  How many church goers on a given Sunday repeat the Nicene Creed?  “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made:  Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.  He suffered and was buried; And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.  And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.  And I believe one Holy Christian and Apostolic Church.  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.  And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.  Amen.” 

There is nothing wrong in repeating the Nicene Creed, yet many of these same people also read their horoscopes, or have their palms read.  Some may consult a medium for advice and instruction.  What then do we believe?  “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”  (Matt. 6:24 NIV)

Our Doctrine:   The Bible clearly warns us about other doctrines: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.  (Eph. 4:14)  There is only one way to salvation and that is the way of the cross - by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.  What follows can be summed up in this verse from Matthew 22:37-39.  “Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Once you believed this, but now you may be doubting because you heard being baptized in water gives you salvation.  Perhaps you’ve attended the “Circus of the Stars”, the Christian stars, that is, and all their various antics.  Maybe you think you should be perfect in all ways to earn salvation.  

Your Church:  There are those who change churches like the chameleon changes colors.  They are constantly looking for the “Right Church” and they will never find it.  While it is true, some fit in certain groups better than others, they will find wherever there are people, there are problems.  The early church had its problems and Paul wrote to the Thessalonians cautioning them, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  (2 Thess. 2:15)  When we hear some of our missing congregation say, “Oh, we’ve just been visiting other churches” - watch out, the chameleon is showing his colors.

God did not create us to be like chameleons, always changing and looking for other ways and other things.  We have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Stay in it and let your light shine for Jesus.  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5: 5:1)

Remembering Father

“O, My  Papa, to me he was so wonderful,

O, my Papa, to me he was so good.

Gone are the days, when he would take me on his knee

And with a smile, would turn my tears to laughter.

“O, my Papa, to me he was so wonderful,

O, my Papa, to me he was so good.”

This very popular song in the 50’s, sung by Eddie Fisher, portrays a wonderful father-child relationship.  This is the kind of father everyone would love to have had while they were growing up. If your father didn’t measure up to this ideal, don’t despair.  You are among the majority.  However, if you don’t measure up to this, it’s not too late; you can change.

Father’s Day, although not quite the celebration of Mother’s Day, is a great time for reflection.  It can bring out the best in a man, or the worst.  It can fill him with regrets, or with satisfaction.  At its worse, he may retreat and draw into his shell, but at its best, a father will see he can become better.

In my estimation, there is nothing worse than a father who sexually abuses his child and second place, is the one who physically abuses his children.  Both of these behaviors leave deep scars in a child’s life and most of them grow up believing they are worthless and often display the same type of behavior when they become adults.  This is fatherhood at the depth of the downside.  Only those who experience this will know that God alone can set them free from bitterness, unforgiveness and a sense of worthlessness. 

You may say, “My father never did those things.”  Then why do you have such mixed feelings on Father’s Day?  When old wounds open up, even after years, they are very sore and need to have First Aid.  Where do we go for First Aid?  To the Red Cross, of course - the cross where Jesus died; the cross stained red with the blood he shed to wash away our sins.

Christians know God is in the restoration business.  Some of you have been restored and have discovered in the eyes of God you are of great worth.  It is then you began to change and you find your rightful place in life.  Reflect on the kind of father you are. Where are you lacking in fatherhood? What kind of memories will your children have of you when Father’s Day rolls around? 

            I have mixed memories of my father.  I remember Sunday afternoon drives and picnics at roadside parks, fishing from a wooden rowboat and listening to the oars dip steadily into the water.  How secure, knowing my father was taking me safely back to shore.  I was never afraid when I was with him.  I remember excursions to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the time he took me down the Indian River in his little trapper’s boat. 

If I close my eyes, I can still see him sitting in the green metal lawn chair under the little maple tree he planted.  When I returned home for visits with my family in the summer, you could be sure that’s where he would be.  The children would jump out of the car and run towards him calling, “Grandpa, Grandpa, we’re here.”  He would hold both arms out and they would cover him with hugs and kisses, but only for a few minutes, then he would say, “All right, that’s enough now.”  They would run and find Grandma to hug. 

In the winter, Dad always wore plaid, flannel shirts with the musky scent of the muskrat and mink pelts he sorted in his garage.  His trade was a trapper and fur dealer of animal pelts.  When I was young he often let me help stretch the pelts on drying boards, or pack them in gunny sacks.

He used ‘Old Spice’ aftershave lotion and liked to wear a heavy flannel bathrobe and alpaca lined slippers in the winter.  He smoked a pipe, drank strong coffee, and had an egg, toast and cornflakes for breakfast every day.  He liked real honeycomb on his toast.  He wore a red cap and liked to hunt, fish and play yukor at the billiard hall.

            I also remember the time he packed his suitcase and left, but he came home later that night and I was so happy.  I remember he didn’t go to church, or pray. He only once or twice ever came to watch me perform in school functions and when I showed him my report card, he would only glance at it and say, “Yep, that’s all right."  He never asked me anything about what I liked, or what I did for fun.  He and my older brother didn’t see eye to eye.  He never had a best friend.  He complained a lot about money and hated to part with a penny.  I wish, just once, he would have said, “I love you," but he never did.  Neither did he ever say, “You’re pretty”, or smart, or, “you did a good job.”

When Dad passed away at age seventy-two, I was in my late thirties.  It was one of the hardest times in my life.  All I could think about was never again would I see him sitting under the maple tree in their back yard.  After the funeral, I put on his old flannel bathrobe and his fleece lined gloves and sat in my rocking chair crying for a whole day.

            It took a long time for me to get past the grief of his death. It wasn’t just missing his physical presence, which I did; it was as though I felt cheated, because he left me and I had never won his approval.  There was an empty place in my life that had never been filled, even though I always knew he loved me. When Father’s Day came the next year, I wrote the following poem for him.

                                    Father

            I thought of you today -

            a special thought.

            Not that I don’t think of you often,

            but missing you a little more,

because of the day.

I picked a rosebud

            and would have placed it

            on your grassy coverlet,

            if I could have,

because of the day.

            I would have liked to talk to you

            as I used to do,

            and given you a ‘little something’,

            even if you didn’t need it,

            - because of the day.

            The best I could do was to pick a rosebud

            from the bush in my yard

            that marks your passing,

            and tell you I love you,

            - because of the day.

         Dads, what will your children remember about you when you’re gone? It doesn’t matter if they are four or forty, they need your approval. They need to know you are interested in them and care what is going on in their life.  Tell them you love them.  Don’t assume they know.

For those of you who have not known the love of an earthly father, the love of your heavenly Father far exceeds any love you desire. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  (I John 3:1)  How wonderful to know we have a father who constantly watches over us and cares about every part of our lives. 

We are his children and in Romans 8:15, we are told to call him, ‘Abba’, meaning, Daddy.  His arms are always waiting to receive us and he welcomes our love; even desires it.  In Hebrews 13:5, “God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  What comfort this is for all of us - the children of God.

If you have failed as a father, it’s not too late. Where do you go for guidance?  The Word of God is full of wisdom regarding relationships of father’s to their children.  The book of Proverbs speaks much of the father-son relationship.  The New Testament is full of advice on being a loving, God-fearing father.  Can you improve?  God’s Word says you can change.  Why not try?

 Wanda Ritter



Don’t Always Believe What You Hear

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our

vines have tender grapes.”                Song of Solomon 2:15

            Sunday morning a young man, Trenton Roberts, a missionary to Tibet, spoke at our church.  He had an excellent message about the ‘call of God’ in your life.  He also shared about Christians having their own language; he called it ‘Christianese’.  He said that we speak little things that aren’t even in the Bible and gave some examples.  I thought of one; “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”.  Bet you’ve heard that one.  Guess what – it is not in the Bible.  “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” is another one.  How about this one?  “If God closes one door he’ll open another”.  After many years of hearing these things, we believe them to be the Word of God.

            I began thinking about this today and about new people who come into the church and are not believers.  They want to hear words of hope and encouragement for their lives, but they hear, “God is speaking to your heart”; “the Holy Ghost is all over you” and it scares them.  Just because you understand the meaning of these things doesn’t mean that they do.

            You may think, “It’s alright; they’ll understand later on.”  That may be – if they ever come back!  What they need is not teachers or evangelists spouting all these great clichés which sometimes are great exaggerations and aren’t necessarily even the truth.  Fortunately our pastor often takes time to explain the move of the Spirit or what it means when someone talks in ‘tongues’.  I applaud him for that.

            The Apostle Paul said “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able for you are still carnal”.   Corinthians 3:2-3   What that means is these people were still functioning in spiritual immaturity.  You see Paul understood the wisdom of teaching unbelievers the simple ‘TRUTH’.  Those of us who are more mature Christians will know when the time is right to feed them the ‘meat of the Word’.  This means they will be ready to get into the deeper things of God.  God will give revelation to those who are ready to receive it.

            Now, as for mature believers, “Don’t always believe what you hear”.  Even preachers, teachers and evangelists can get carried away and say things that are not Biblically correct. I love the scripture of this teaching, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”    People have different opinions of this scripture and will explain that ‘the little foxes’ are sins that creep into our lives.  I also have a thought on these ‘foxes’ and to me they mean faulty teachings or words that give us a wrong idea of what it really means. In other words, ‘spoil the vines’ that are already growing so they can produce; produce more Christians.  Then it goes on to say, “our vines have tender grapes”.  As Christians we have some fruit growing, but not yet mature and wrong teachings can damage the growth we already have.

            I believe I John 4:1 explains it far better than I ever could, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  If you question anything at all that someone teaches or preaches, get out the Word of God and pray about it and study it to see if it’s truth.  Don’t be gullible just because someone says it.  Find out for yourself. 

            Years ago I thought I was a pretty mature believer and would go to all the meetings I could where I might hear something new. [Today, I believe what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes. I:9, “there is nothing new under the sun”!].  I was at a meeting and the teachers told the audience to take out their wallets and empty them into the offering baskets.  They used the scripture of Jesus and the rich, young ruler as an example.  So we did it.  God is faithful and got us home without running out of gas, but I learned to take the time to hear from God.  Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and follow Jesus.  Is that what we should do?  If we all sold everything we have and waited for God to send us somewhere, would we have churches to go to; pastors to teach us; houses to live in; could we all provide for our families?  

            In some cases God may tell us to do that, but it’s not meant for every person.  My interpretation of that scripture is that Jesus must be Lord of our life.  We must put him first above our jobs, making money, having fun and , ‘yes’, even above our ministries.  There is nothing wrong with having a home, a job, drawing a paycheck, having a ministry, or even having fun.  Just make the Lord first in your life.

            You’ve been on the milk long enough; its time to begin eating the meat [digesting the Word].  Don’t let little foxes come in and spoil your vines.  Seek God’s guidance in your life; you don’t really need someone else to tell you what God wants you to do, or be.  You are a mature Christian – you will see the great plans God has for you.