You can’t improve perfection!
Many of you may know that I like to sew. Many people like to do crossword puzzles, word searches, or Scrabble online, but I like to sew. This morning I was trying to put some gussets in a dress for my friend. That is when my sewing machine became demon possessed. It started to do decorative stitches that was not required or requested. Finding this terribly frustrating, because I needed a nice clean and straight stitch, I readjusted the machine. Six stitches into my seam the machine began to dance to its own tune. I was having none of that, so I turn the machine off and then I turned it back on, and proceeded to reset it. All was well for 2 inches until the demon possessed machine began another decorative stitch. I took out the computer chip wiped it off, blew it off, replaced it in the machine, turn the machine off and back on, determine to reset its brain. Confident now I had taken all the necessary steps to resume my perfect straight seam, I began sewing, only to become frustrated when the machine once again decided to do what it wanted to.
This interaction with my machine put me in mind of a memory that danced before my eyes, of my mother sewing at her machine. For any of you who have read my blogs, knows my mother was a very godly woman, and would not say a curse word regardless of circumstance. In this particular memory, I remember my mother getting so frustrated with what was happening while she was sewing that she ripped it out from the machine, threw it across the room, and said: “oh, crap and corruption!” She then got up and got a cup of coffee, relaxed a little bit and calmed down before she went back to sewing machine. I decided that’s exactly what I needed to do, and turned around to use my serger for a few moments. These machines come from the factory pre-possessed. If you ever had to thread a four thread surge you know exactly what I’m talking about. You can thread it one time, and have it work beautifully, other times you have to thread it about eight times in order for it to work at all. This was no exception, frustration level rising it was time to take a break.
Returning to my original task I began sewing with great optimism, only to be dismayed when the machine again had a mind of its own. Rather than fighting this evil machine anymore unplugged its brain and got out a tried-and-true machine. This machine has no computer, no bells and whistles, but it sews the way you ask it to. I wound a new bobbin with the proper coordinating color of the fabric, and then I threaded the machine and lo and behold a nice straight seam was achieved the very first try. As I was sewing, I was wondering to myself why I sat there and suffered all that frustration while this sturdy old machine sat there doing nothing?
Modern society is always trying to improve on the tried-and-true basics every day. One example of this is how many Bibles are on the market today. They think they can improve upon its perfection by giving it their own slant, point of view , or what they think is their own ease of understanding. When all they do is jeopardize its true meaning, and in doing it at their own peril, because the Bible tell us:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelations 22:18-19
We have become a very spoiled society, wanting something newer, shinier, brighter, something with bells and whistles, to make us feel good about ourselves. We think that we are progressing in life and in society, when nothing could be farther from the truth. Many of the inventions of today have made us inconsiderate, and lazy, reaching out to people across the country with our cell phones and text, but not speaking to the people who live next door that we should be calling our neighbors. There is something to be said for the old tried-and-true way of life, it may not be fancy but it works.
As parents we need to teach our children that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the author of our salvation, through his death on Calvary. That is something you cannot modernize, patronize, or make shiny and new, it is what it is, what it was, and what it always will be, our only way to heaven.
We as authors, dream of writing the next Pulitzer Prize winning novel. And while that would be a great accomplishment in life, statistics will show that good old-fashioned love stories will outsell that prize-winning novel every day of the week. It is because it is what people can identify with day in and day out. It is if you will, the tried and true way to reach out to people. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 Give me the old tried-and-true every day of the week!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jeremiah 16:6
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James 1:26-27
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:1-7
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:14