Each year as I enter the Christmas season, I ask the Lord to show me something new about the story of His birth. This year, He revealed to me a new light on the gifts from the wise men. The wise men presented gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus. These gifts were precious and of great value, certainly fit for a king, but I have always wondered why these particular items were chosen. In pondering this, I found a correlation between each gift and the heart of a believer.
Gold represents a purified heart. Scripture says that our hearts are desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), but by accepting Jesus as our Savior, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. As a new creation in Christ, we begin to walk a life of faith. We begin to learn more about the attributes and characteristics of our God, and our hearts are transformed in the process. We learn that:
His wisdom is more valuable than gold (Job 28:12-28; Prov. 16:16)
His judgments are more desirable than gold (Psalm 19:9-11)
His commandments are more precious than gold (Psalm 119:127)
His knowledge is more precious than gold (Prov. 8:10)
His fruit is more valuable than gold (Prov 8:19)
The Lord takes our worthless hearts of clay and refines them. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and lives are transformed into something very precious in His sight.
Frankincense represents a heart afflicted by trials. In order for frankincense to release its sweet aroma, it must be burned. James 1:2-5 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him as of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Later in that same chapter, it says “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) When we go to Him in the midst of trials, not only does he impart His wisdom and knowledge, but we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit borne in our lives. There was an altar of incense placed before the mercy seat in the tabernacle where God dwelt (Heb. 9:3-5) and there is an altar of incense before His throne in heaven (Rev. 8:3). Revelation 5:8 says, “And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Often, it is in the midst of trials that our prayer life intensifies. Scripture tells us that our prayers go before the very throne of God and are sweet to Him. They are mingled with the scent of the incense (Rev 8:4) Psalm 34:17-19 says, “The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” What an incredible promise, blessing, and gift from our Lord!
Myrrh represents a heart that has died to self. There are many references to myrrh in the Bible, but the two most common areas where we read of it are at Christ’s birth and at His death, when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Myrrh isn’t a common spice that we encounter, so I looked it up on Wikipedia. It was interesting to learn that like frankincense, myrrh is produced as a reaction to a purposeful wound through the bark and into the sapwood in certain species of Commiphora trees . Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” Verse 17 says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Myrrh has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Psalm 147:3 says that “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” By humbling our hearts and allowing Him to be Lord of our lives, we receive restoration and healing. Our lives begin to exude the sweet fragrance of the fruit of the Spirit.
Viewing these three gifts in this light has been a blessing to me. By giving our hearts to Him, He blesses us with gifts more valuable than the symbolic gifts that were presented to Him in the manger. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation and eternal life are gifts from God! Like the wise men so long ago, won’t you bend your knee and offer Him your heart?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
"Cheap, Cheap" Chicken
For all of you frugal-minded foodies out there, I just thought I'd share my latest discovery on saving money and time in the kitchen! If you cook a whole chicken in a crockpot and then shred the meat, it will yield approximately 3 quart-sized ziploc bags of shredded chicken. Each bag is the perfect amount of chicken to add to a casserole, soup, etc. The process is so simple, I can't believe I haven't been doing it for years! Here's what I do:
Purchase a whole young chicken. Note that this was a double pack for $9.03. That means that each chicken cost me $4.50. Knowing that each chicken will yield 3 quart-sized baggies of shredded meat, that means that a meal's worth of chicken for a family of four is only $1.50!!!
I remove the innards (the only part of this process that I hate!), rinse the chicken, and place it in the crockpot. I pour half of a 32 oz. container of organic, low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
After the chicken is cooked, I lift it out onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and let it cool for at least a half hour until it is comfortable to handle. I shred the chicken into a big bowl. I usually do this while having a conversation with my hubby or watching tv. Depending on how old your children are, they can even be involved in the process!
Spoon shredded chicken into baggies, label, and freeze! Voila!
If you do this process four times a month, that gives you 12 meals' worth of pre-cooked, slow roasted chicken to add to whatever is on the menu for any given night! That averages out to three meals a week! It usually only takes me about 30 minutes to fully shred the chicken. Give it a try!
Purchase a whole young chicken. Note that this was a double pack for $9.03. That means that each chicken cost me $4.50. Knowing that each chicken will yield 3 quart-sized baggies of shredded meat, that means that a meal's worth of chicken for a family of four is only $1.50!!!
I remove the innards (the only part of this process that I hate!), rinse the chicken, and place it in the crockpot. I pour half of a 32 oz. container of organic, low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
After the chicken is cooked, I lift it out onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and let it cool for at least a half hour until it is comfortable to handle. I shred the chicken into a big bowl. I usually do this while having a conversation with my hubby or watching tv. Depending on how old your children are, they can even be involved in the process!
Spoon shredded chicken into baggies, label, and freeze! Voila!If you do this process four times a month, that gives you 12 meals' worth of pre-cooked, slow roasted chicken to add to whatever is on the menu for any given night! That averages out to three meals a week! It usually only takes me about 30 minutes to fully shred the chicken. Give it a try!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Weathering the Storm
I recently heard a sermon on Mark 4 which tells the story of Jesus calming the storm. Jesus said to His disciples in v. 35, "Let us go over to the other side." On the way over, a fierce storm arose...it was so bad that the waves were breaking over the bow and the boat was beginning to sink. Who did the disciples turn to? Jesus. Have you ever thought about the reason behind why they woke Him up? Even though the gospels indicate that the disciples didn't always fully understand His teaching and who He was, they knew enough to know that in a life-threatening situation where the circumstances are dire, He was the only one who could help. They could have tried to bail out the boat in their own strength or left Him sleeping, but they woke Him up because of their faith in Him. They knew that if anyone could help, it would be Jesus.
In verse 40, after Jesus calms the storm, He says to the disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" I understand this to mean that He is questioning their lack of faith that He would get them to the other side. I think that anyone in that kind of a situation would panic. We react to what we can immediately perceive through our senses. When the waves are crashing over the bow, all we see is a sinking boat and we click into survival mode. It is a normal human response. While the disciples may have panicked in the midst of the situation and had a temporary lapse in faith regarding the final outcome, the fact that they woke Jesus up shows that they truly believed that He could help them.
Jesus told them that they would go to the other side....and in Chapter 5, verse 1 it says, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." He kept His promise...He always does. He told them that they would go to the other side, but He didn't say what the trip would be like before they got there. It was a terrifying and life-threatening experience for them, I'm sure....BUT, Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time. The entire situation was under His complete control.
Are you currently in one of life’s storms? Are you experiencing crushing and relentless stress, pain or emotions akin to the waves of a stormy sea? Read this story and remember....
1. He is in the boat with you (4:38)
2. Go to Him as often as you need and let your heart’s cry be heard (Mark 4:38 -- if this isn't a brutally honest cry of real anguish and fear, I don't know what is.) By going to Him, you are practicing and strengthening your faith.
3. Everything is under His complete control (4:39)
4. God always keeps His promises. (5:1)
This passage of scripture has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I have read it numerous times and always seen it as a lesson in faith and dealing with the individual trials of life. Several weeks ago, I realized that you can look at this story not only in the light of dealing with individual trials, but that it could be applied to the span of one's life as a whole. Jesus looks at each one of our lives in its entirety (He is outside of time, so He sees it all at once). He invites us into the boat (our spiritual birth) and says, "Come, let's go to the other side." The rest of our life is the trip in between shorelines, with "the other side" being eternity spent with Him. We spend our whole lives on Earth "in the boat." Some storms are worse and/or longer than others, but we must cling to Him and to His promises. He WANTS us to come to Him. It isn't a sign of weakness to cry out to Him, it is an admission that we can't do it on our own. It is believing in faith that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
In verse 40, after Jesus calms the storm, He says to the disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" I understand this to mean that He is questioning their lack of faith that He would get them to the other side. I think that anyone in that kind of a situation would panic. We react to what we can immediately perceive through our senses. When the waves are crashing over the bow, all we see is a sinking boat and we click into survival mode. It is a normal human response. While the disciples may have panicked in the midst of the situation and had a temporary lapse in faith regarding the final outcome, the fact that they woke Jesus up shows that they truly believed that He could help them.
Jesus told them that they would go to the other side....and in Chapter 5, verse 1 it says, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." He kept His promise...He always does. He told them that they would go to the other side, but He didn't say what the trip would be like before they got there. It was a terrifying and life-threatening experience for them, I'm sure....BUT, Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time. The entire situation was under His complete control.
Are you currently in one of life’s storms? Are you experiencing crushing and relentless stress, pain or emotions akin to the waves of a stormy sea? Read this story and remember....
1. He is in the boat with you (4:38)
2. Go to Him as often as you need and let your heart’s cry be heard (Mark 4:38 -- if this isn't a brutally honest cry of real anguish and fear, I don't know what is.) By going to Him, you are practicing and strengthening your faith.
3. Everything is under His complete control (4:39)
4. God always keeps His promises. (5:1)
This passage of scripture has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I have read it numerous times and always seen it as a lesson in faith and dealing with the individual trials of life. Several weeks ago, I realized that you can look at this story not only in the light of dealing with individual trials, but that it could be applied to the span of one's life as a whole. Jesus looks at each one of our lives in its entirety (He is outside of time, so He sees it all at once). He invites us into the boat (our spiritual birth) and says, "Come, let's go to the other side." The rest of our life is the trip in between shorelines, with "the other side" being eternity spent with Him. We spend our whole lives on Earth "in the boat." Some storms are worse and/or longer than others, but we must cling to Him and to His promises. He WANTS us to come to Him. It isn't a sign of weakness to cry out to Him, it is an admission that we can't do it on our own. It is believing in faith that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Renewed Strength
A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with some girlfriends. We had an enjoyable evening of yummy food, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Our conversations covered a wide variety of topics, but as the evening progressed, the subject matter deepened. We began to share what was on our hearts...our frustrations, our worries, our hopes and our dreams, and how that all connected with our walks with the Lord. We talked about our struggles with living in a fallen world and trying to be salt and light for the Lord, as Scripture commands.
When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?
The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.
Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.
When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?
The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.
Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Open My Eyes
Scripture defines a man who does not know God as being spiritually blind. Those who accept Christ's sacrifice and walk according to His commands are said to walk in the light. For those who walk in the light, how often do we pause to consider what we look at? We have been given spiritual eyes to see, but do we make choices in how we spend our time based on investing in the Kingdom, or just to fritter away our days? We have been given spiritual sight, and yet we often make choices in our temporal life as if we were still in the dark. 1 John 2:16-17 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
God has placed us here on Earth for His purposes. He calls us to live in the world, but not be of the world. He calls us to be separate…to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This line of thought has been very heavy on my heart lately. It is hard to be continually Kingdom-minded in all things. Sometimes life can feel like a rat race, and I battle with complacency and selfishness. Even though I have spiritual sight, I think my understanding of Heaven and spending eternity with my Savior is still quite dim. I wonder to myself, “If I really understood the magnitude of living with Christ in His kingdom forever, shouldn’t it be easier to consistently make the right choices now?” I am so thankful for God’s grace, patience and mercy with me. I continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There is an old hymn that has been my current prayer lately:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
God has placed us here on Earth for His purposes. He calls us to live in the world, but not be of the world. He calls us to be separate…to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This line of thought has been very heavy on my heart lately. It is hard to be continually Kingdom-minded in all things. Sometimes life can feel like a rat race, and I battle with complacency and selfishness. Even though I have spiritual sight, I think my understanding of Heaven and spending eternity with my Savior is still quite dim. I wonder to myself, “If I really understood the magnitude of living with Christ in His kingdom forever, shouldn’t it be easier to consistently make the right choices now?” I am so thankful for God’s grace, patience and mercy with me. I continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There is an old hymn that has been my current prayer lately:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Smooth Sailing (from the Archives, Oct. 2006)
Our local rollerskating rink has a Christian Music night every Tuesday night. We took our kids there this past Tuesday to have some fun family time together. Our schedule gets insanely busy during this time of year, so we covet those evenings when we can spend time together as a family and have fun!
This was Noelle's first experience on skates. She is a fiercely independent three year old, and after several laps in the practice area, she wanted to come out on the main floor with Papa and Mama. Thus began a long evening for David and me, as we went through the process of teaching her how to skate. As we repeatedly picked her up, encouraged her to stand on her skates (rather than hang from our arms), and coached her to keep her feet together, I began to get a picture in my head of my walk with the Lord. Sometimes my walk looks like my little three year old girl's attempts to skate. Every now and then I trip, or my feet may flail wildly about (metaphorically speaking) as I try and figure out how to get through certain circumstances. I quickly learn, as my daughter did that night, that if I simply stand strong and hold my Father's hand tight, He will guide me through! It was so much easier when she would just stand on her skates between us and let us do all the work!
God wants to work through us! He doesn't just drop us into a new situation and say, "Good luck, I'll be back in a couple of hours." We need to remember to hold His hand in everything and let Him guide us. All He requires of us is a willing and obedient heart that listens to, and heeds His commands.
This was Noelle's first experience on skates. She is a fiercely independent three year old, and after several laps in the practice area, she wanted to come out on the main floor with Papa and Mama. Thus began a long evening for David and me, as we went through the process of teaching her how to skate. As we repeatedly picked her up, encouraged her to stand on her skates (rather than hang from our arms), and coached her to keep her feet together, I began to get a picture in my head of my walk with the Lord. Sometimes my walk looks like my little three year old girl's attempts to skate. Every now and then I trip, or my feet may flail wildly about (metaphorically speaking) as I try and figure out how to get through certain circumstances. I quickly learn, as my daughter did that night, that if I simply stand strong and hold my Father's hand tight, He will guide me through! It was so much easier when she would just stand on her skates between us and let us do all the work!
God wants to work through us! He doesn't just drop us into a new situation and say, "Good luck, I'll be back in a couple of hours." We need to remember to hold His hand in everything and let Him guide us. All He requires of us is a willing and obedient heart that listens to, and heeds His commands.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Billboards (from the Archives)
I live in Springfield, Oregon about seven miles east of I-5, which is the main interstate that runs north and south through Oregon. On the way home from worship team rehearsal this evening, I made a note of every single billboard along that seven mile stretch between the freeway and my house. Here are the results:
1. Bank (advertising business loans)
2. Bank (advertising savings accounts)
3. Local coffee shop/restaurant
4. Chiropractic clinic (advertising chronic back pain relief)
5. “Lost” (advertising something about college loans, it wasn’t clear)
6. Blank yellow background with bold capital letters that said, “Advertise Here.”
7. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
8. Chiropractic clinic
9. Cell phone service provider
10. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
11. Casino
12. Local Home Improvement store
13. Another (different) Home Improvement store
14. Little Caesar’s Pizza (slogan: “Hot-n-Ready”, $5)
15. Clearwire (slogan: “Speed, but don’t pay the price!”)
16. Homes & Land (TV Channel)
17. DUII warning/info (slogan: “You don’t have to blow .08 to get a DUI”)
18. Budweiser (slogan: “This is beer.”)
Billboards. They are something that we see every day. We see them so often, we don’t notice how prevalent they really are. If someone had asked me to guess how many billboards were on that stretch of highway, I probably would have said about seven or eight. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed eighteen!
The main purpose of a billboard is to advertise something, but what is the message behind the message? While all billboards provide information, I think the message behind the message for most billboards (and advertising in general) is dissatisfaction. We want bigger homes, faster service, and more exciting lives. Are we happy with what God has provided for us, or do we want to borrow more and/or gamble with what we have?
What does the testimony of your life advertise to others?
Is your message clear or nebulous, like #5?
Are you a blank slate, willing to accept and reflect whatever is around you, like #6?
Does your message have mixed meaning and set a dual standard, like #15?
Do people see pervasive dissatisfaction in your life?
Do you offer them a consistent, positive message of Truth?
What does your billboard say?
1. Bank (advertising business loans)
2. Bank (advertising savings accounts)
3. Local coffee shop/restaurant
4. Chiropractic clinic (advertising chronic back pain relief)
5. “Lost” (advertising something about college loans, it wasn’t clear)
6. Blank yellow background with bold capital letters that said, “Advertise Here.”
7. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
8. Chiropractic clinic
9. Cell phone service provider
10. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
11. Casino
12. Local Home Improvement store
13. Another (different) Home Improvement store
14. Little Caesar’s Pizza (slogan: “Hot-n-Ready”, $5)
15. Clearwire (slogan: “Speed, but don’t pay the price!”)
16. Homes & Land (TV Channel)
17. DUII warning/info (slogan: “You don’t have to blow .08 to get a DUI”)
18. Budweiser (slogan: “This is beer.”)
Billboards. They are something that we see every day. We see them so often, we don’t notice how prevalent they really are. If someone had asked me to guess how many billboards were on that stretch of highway, I probably would have said about seven or eight. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed eighteen!
The main purpose of a billboard is to advertise something, but what is the message behind the message? While all billboards provide information, I think the message behind the message for most billboards (and advertising in general) is dissatisfaction. We want bigger homes, faster service, and more exciting lives. Are we happy with what God has provided for us, or do we want to borrow more and/or gamble with what we have?
What does the testimony of your life advertise to others?
Is your message clear or nebulous, like #5?
Are you a blank slate, willing to accept and reflect whatever is around you, like #6?
Does your message have mixed meaning and set a dual standard, like #15?
Do people see pervasive dissatisfaction in your life?
Do you offer them a consistent, positive message of Truth?
What does your billboard say?
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