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Articles by Starr Ayers

Armchair Advice for a Significant Life: Prewashed Genes

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English proverbs are short, concise sayings that express traditional truths. Many of them, religious and metaphorical in nature, offer sound, uplifting advice and consist of repetitive consonant sounds that make remembering them effortless. This week, we’ll focus on five traditional armchair convictions that connect with scriptural truths and encourage virtuous living.

 

Prewashed Genes

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9, NIV

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

“Go wash your hands for dinner,” I told my daughter.

No response.

“Go! Wash your hands for dinner.”

Child_washing_handsAt my second directive, she huffed and said, “I just washed them yesterday.”

Her argument was logical – to her. We may chuckle at this childish thinking, but we can be guilty of the same rationale – especially in regard to sin.

Today‘s proverb originates from Francis Bacon’s annotation, “Cleanliness of the body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.” A respect for God and our bodies as the temple of His Holy Spirit will result in our desire to maintain the cleanliness of our bodies as well our souls.

Have you ever thought that because you asked Jesus to cleanse your heart of sin yesterday, you don’t need to ask for forgiveness again today? Doesn’t it only make sense, if my past, present, and future sins are forgiven when I receive Christ as my Savior, that I shouldn’t need to continue to ask for forgiveness? I’m prewashed, aren’t I?

Today’s text reveals the unfathomable truth that yes indeed, God forgives all of our sin the moment we receive Christ as our Savior. When we become children of God, we receive our heavenly Father’s DNA and an eternal inheritance. God removes the “For Sale” sign on our home in heaven and erects a “Sold” sign in its place. Our eternal home is secure and becomes our real estate from that moment forward.

Our future sin, then, doesn’t change our relationship with God—but it does break our fellowship. If we desire to grow in our relationship with him, it’s necessary to confess our sins as soon as we become aware of them. We confess them not to maintain salvation, but to restore fellowship with our Father.

HEARTSeveral years ago, I experienced physical symptoms that caused my doctors to think I might have a heart blockage. When an EKG and a stress test didn’t rule out that possibility, my doctors determined it was necessary to perform a heart catheterization. The procedure revealed I had no blockages; my veins and arteries were clean.

Later, as I thanked God for the clean results of the procedure, I heard him whisper, “They looked inside your heart and found it clean. Can I?”

After my daughter had washed her hands, I said, “Let me see your hands.”

She lifted her hands―palms up, then palms down.

“Okay. They’re clean. Now, you can sit down at the table.”

If we follow God’s daily directive to cleanse our hearts as well as our hands, we can take our rightful place at his table and enjoy his fellowship once more.

Time to wash up!

Blessings,

Starr

Armchair Advice for a Significant Life: Eighth Day of the Week

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English proverbs are short, concise sayings that express traditional truths. Many of them, religious and metaphorical in nature, offer sound, uplifting advice and consist of repetitive consonant sounds that make remembering them effortless. This week, we’ll focus on five traditional armchair convictions that connect with scriptural truths and encourage virtuous living.

 

Eighth Day of the Week

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

Proverbs 27:1, NIV

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”  

TRELLISWhen my husband and I pulled into the driveway after our workout at the gym, I noticed that the ivy around the garage window still needed to be cut back. I’d mentioned it to him several times before, so when I pointed it out again I said, “Maybe it’s time for us to move to a smaller place.”

His quick response was, “I think it would be easier to cut the ivy.”

If you want to make an easy job seem hard, just keep putting it off. Today’s proverb from Thomas Jefferson is wise advice, but I must confess I’ve put off following it! The stark reality of my philosophy is more like that of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind: “I can’t think about that right now. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” In fact, I was going to write this devotion yesterday, but I put it off until today. I wanted to write it last week, but this week seemed like a better time. Now I’m only a few days away from my submission deadline, and I’m feeling the time crunch.

Scripture tells us,

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap”

(Ecclesiastes 11:4).

If we wait for perfect conditions, we’ll never get anything done. We’ll just keep putting things off.

God gave the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the twelve tribes of Israel. Over a year later, seven tribes had still not entered into the land to receive their inheritance. In their eyes, the enemy seemed too great. It was easier for them to remain in their comfort zone on the opposite side of the Jordan River. In exasperation, Joshua asked, “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3).

SKYBefore we judge the Israelites too harshly for their disobedience, perhaps we should take inventory of our own lives. What has God asked you to do? What has He asked me to do? Will we press Him to say, “How long will you wait?”

Procrastination is a thief. It not only robs us of time – a precious commodity we cannot retrieve – it robs us of God’s blessings, the blessings obedience brings. God gives us seven days a week to get things done―Sunday through Saturday – but for many of us, the eighth day – Someday – is our most heavily scheduled.

Is there something you’ve been putting off? Let today be your Someday. Today is the day to make that phone call. Start your diet. Find a church. Write that letter. Say I’m sorry. Join the gym. Clean your fridge. Dine with a friend. Write your book, or simply say, “I love you.”

Blessings,

Starr

Armchair Advice for a Significant Life: It’s All in the Packaging … Or Is It?

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English proverbs are short, concise sayings that express traditional truths. Many of them, religious and metaphorical in nature, offer sound, uplifting advice and consist of repetitive consonant sounds that make remembering them effortless. This week, we’ll focus on five traditional armchair convictions that connect with scriptural truths and encourage virtuous living.

 

It’s All in the Packaging … Or Is It?

“What matters is not your outer appearance . . . but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.”

1 Peter 3:3–4, MSG

 “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Proverbs,_BooksWell, I must confess – I do. As well as canned goods, household products, smartphones, cars, appliances, and just about anything that boasts a price tag. This mindset was etched into me as an advertising design major in college. Our classroom mantra was, “Presentation. Presentation. Presentation.”

In the world of advertising, appearance does matter – big time. The successful sale of a product is dependent on its packaging. It may be a lousy product, but if it is packaged well, it sells. The opposite is also true. A product may be incredible, yet remains on the store shelves due to poor package design. Most of us can attest to this fact, having bought a product that we quickly became dissatisfied with because it simply did not measure up to its outward show.

As for mankind, Scripture is very clear on how we are to present ourselves and on how we are to receive others. Taking wholesome pride in our physical appearance is important, but nurturing our spirit must take priority. Cultivating character not only pleases God, but it shapes our perception and acceptance of others. God looks at the heart, while people judge by the outward appearance. We see this play out daily as society continues to elevate and reward those who are attractive, well educated, and talented, while others are left sitting on the bench aching for someone to invite them to participate in life.

As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I have seen the heartache of those considered “less than,” as well as their delight when someone reaches out to include them in activities. Those who are willing to invest themselves in socially challenged individuals, regardless of the cause, often find inner qualities in them that are refreshing: unconditional love, a desire to please, pride in a job well done, sincere empathy, selflessness, the voice of truth, and unlimited forgiveness.

So don’t judge a book by its cover. Take a moment to look inside others. In doing so, you may discover an amazing story―one that God delights in.

Blessings,

Starr