Bend Your Knees

Teresa Poucher

Long ago, my husband and I had a 21’ deep V-boat with a center console. We live in south Louisiana, so we would go fishing at the rigs in the gulf. Can I tell you, sometimes I got more waterlogged in that boat than when taking a shower? The waters would become unruly, and I would get nervous. I couldn’t sit down because the bouncing would hurt my back. My husband told me to stand up. He told me, “When you see we’re about to hit a wave, bend your knees.” Sure enough, it worked! I saw the waves coming and knew what to do — bend my knees.

My husband used to finish sheetrock, and I painted for him. Using stilts to do high work is very productive, but you don’t want to fall. He told me, “If you ever start to fall, make sure you bend your knees.” I’m thankful I never fell. I knew if I did, I better bend my knees.

Today, I see a lot of storms, diseases, unemployment, death, divorce, and fear. I’m sure you could name some more. Yet the advice my husband gave me is true for all the above: Bend your knees, this time in prayer.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. (Psalms 95:6)

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Get Over It

By Teresa Poucher

“Get over it” is a phrase we have heard too often.
If I continue to get over something. My mountain keeps getting bigger. Until it’s so high I can’t make the climb.

Tunnels are underground passages used for transportation. Many times tunnels have been built because the journey would prove too dangerous. Often times they have been built to connect military posts so the movement between posts will not be visible to the enemy. Tunnels protect wildlife as well as scenery.

Instead of getting over it let’s tunnel through it.

Genesis 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

You will get through this

Do I Have A Taproot?

by Sis. Teresa Poucher

I have two Rose-of-Sharon shrubs, one of which came from a clipping.  In other words, I took a small, young, tender branch from one shrub and made another shrub from it.  It’s called cloning.  They are both quite beautiful and have grown quite well.  The only problem is the cloned shrub will not grow a taproot.  

 

A taproot is extremely strong and able to draw water and nutrients from the soil, which helps in times of drought.  The tree that has the taproot is strong enough to withstand strong winds.  Since the clone has the same genetics as the tree or shrub you got it from, it will be susceptible to the same problems.  

 

In nature, the shrub with the taproot will adapt and mutate to respond to problems.  The clone will not. The clone may be sterile, unable to grow its seed, thus not being able to reproduce, unlike the olive tree that the Bible speaks of.  The gentiles (that would be us unless you are a Jew) were grafted into that olive tree, which is the Jewish people, God’s chosen ones.  

 

“And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;” (Romans 11:17) 

 

“And have no root in themselves, (i.e., they have no taproot) and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mark 4:17) 

 

If we are grounded in the Word of God, our roots will be deep.  Our fruit will be good.  Not only will our fruit be good, but we will be exalted, and multiplied.  If we are just a clone, we lack the taproot.  The taller the building the deeper the foundation you need.  The Apostles’ Doctrine is our foundation.

 

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets…”

(Ephesians 2:20)

 

Am I a clone?   Do I just look the part or am I grafted in?

 

 

Adam and the Animals

By Teresa Poucher

Adam names all the animals. wow, how long did that take? The Bible doesn’t tell us how long Adam lived in the garden without Eve. I would imagine he was fond of the animals, and probably played and talked to them. However, they all had mates yet he was alone.

Eve comes into the picture and Adam is in love. Strange how love will make you do some crazy things. After they sin we know they took fig leaves and covered themselves. God said fig leaves won’t work. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22) Adam sees his sin caused the very first death. It was death to an animal he befriended and named. It must have been difficult to cover their sins with the skins of an animal they had cared for.

I’ve heard all my life that JESUS died for my sins. Even though I know this is true. I would rather think he died for the sins of the world. Then I’m not responsible. Truth is he died for MY sin. His blood was shed to not only cover but to cleanse me from my sin as if they never existed. (Isaiah 1:18) Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. There is a North and the South Pole, but East and west never meet. I’m so thankful for the mercy God has toward his creation. How the creator of all would die at the hands of his creation. What love… John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.