[ To Hang Your Life from One Thin Thread ] "Put the question to our ancestors, study what they learned from their ancestors. For we're newcomers at this, with a lot to learn, and not too long to learn it. So why not let the ancients teach you, tell you what's what, instruct you in what they knew from experience? Can mighty pine trees grow tall without soil? Can luscious tomatoes flourish without water? Blossoming flowers look great before they're cut or picked, but without soil or water they wither more quickly than grass. That's what happens to all who forget God— all their hopes come to nothing. They hang their life from one thin thread, they hitch their fate to a spider web. One jiggle and the thread breaks, one jab and the web collapses."
We all need to be grounded in the wisdom of the ancients. We need this solid foundation-our true north. God is our stabilizer through his omniscience and strength that he imparts. He develops us into solid rocks that others can cling to for encouragement when they hit bumps in the road of life.
I want to be stable and hold onto the steel-like girders that God holds out to me. I want to help support others as they go through changes, trials, and joys. We can be danglers as the scripture above refers to that are barely hanging on, or we can be hangers that are attached to something more stable and can be relied upon to last.
Now, "hang" with me on this one. Let's have some fun. Let's be interactive!!! If you were a hanger of some sort, which kind would describe you? Read on and comment below on which kind of hanger you are, why, or what other kinds you can add to these. I have started with a few dangling categories for you to sort yourself through.
COAT HANGER
A coat hanger is useful. It just hangs there on a sturdy rod and allows folks to drape their clothes over it. It is mostly hidden, but useful. It keeps the garments in shape and wrinkle free. I think this is either the servant type, or a passive type. Your neighborhood watch dog in your subdivision would qualify for this. Quiet, observant, yet you can count on them to be there. They are non-confrontational. They do not rust and stay in good shape: not easily corroded. They are somewhat flexible and can be moved around, cut, bent, or tied together for different uses. You can count on them to be there. You can count on them to do the job. The handy man, my husband, is always ready to fix or repair things for me. He wants to be of help whenever the need arises.
CLIFF HANGER
A cliff hanger is on the cutting edge, ready to try anything new. May be worn out from working, but once an exciting idea is put out there they are instantly revitalized and ready to go. It is a person who is fearless, and who wants it all. There are so many webinars and seminars, but this person is the visionary or the entrepreneur who dreams things up and is not afraid to believe they have invented the new next best thing. The software and graphic designers, the seamstress, the potter, and those maniac salespeople who conquer the odds of door to door encounters with strangers each day. Also, the life of the party who always has those creative, fun ideas. The artistic, musician, the weaver, designer, landscaper, or architect.
AIRPLANE HANGER
The airport hanger is the protective type. This person goes out of his or her way to look after those in their care and to nurture them. This type of person is also the one who will come over to the neighbor's and mow their lawn when the husband is out of town or ill. This person will look after the neighbor's children who have no supervision and give them a sandwich or milk and cookies to tide them over when they come by to play or visit. This is also the person who will help friends patch up their relationships, bandage up hurt animals, or who may even pursue a medical career.
PIPE HANGER (at least 44 types)
If you have ever looked up at the ceiling in a house that has an unfinished basement, you have seen the hangers that hold up all the pipes. I suppose that we have ours in the ceilings, since our pipes are up above us here in Texas. These are people who are very encouraging, supportive, who give advice to young people getting started in life, or who are connected to people's lives such as ministers or missionaries. Other pipe hangers would be teachers, police, firemen, military, and security personnel. They hold our society together. They are the invisible glue that get people to learn and stick to their boundaries, and when they don't, then they have to let the offenders feel the consequences.
This is God's plan. Mankind reaching out to mankind. We are it.
Stay connected to the strong foundation of God and his word. Then holding onto him we will be the most effective in our own daily walk as well as influencing others for their good. Be prepared for anything that comes your way. Without a plan each day, disasters and conflicts will still arise. Only instead of facing them in peace and confidence, they will overwhelm and defeat us.
Grab a hanger, take that shirt off of it, and remember that in life we can hang on a sturdy rod, or by a spider's thread. The decision is made every day. Either I will pick up the Bible, read, meditate, and pray for God's understanding and guidance daily, accept godly counsel, or I will lean and walk in my own shaky understanding and strength.
THE HANGER CHALLENGE: Hang tough through God's knowledge, might, and His spirit every day.
HANG TOUGH: There Is Someone Around the Corner Who Needs You To Be Strong
We all need to be grounded in the wisdom of the ancients. We need this solid foundation-our true north. God is our stabilizer through his omniscience and strength that he imparts. He develops us into solid rocks that others can cling to for encouragement when they hit bumps in the road of life.
I want to be stable and hold onto the steel-like girders that God holds out to me. I want to help support others as they go through changes, trials, and joys. We can be danglers as the scripture above refers to that are barely hanging on, or we can be hangers that are attached to something more stable and can be relied upon to last.
COAT HANGER
A coat hanger is useful. It just hangs there on a sturdy rod and allows folks to drape their clothes over it. It is mostly hidden, but useful. It keeps the garments in shape and wrinkle free. I think this is either the servant type, or a passive type. Your neighborhood watch dog in your subdivision would qualify for this. Quiet, observant, yet you can count on them to be there. They are non-confrontational. They do not rust and stay in good shape: not easily corroded. They are somewhat flexible and can be moved around, cut, bent, or tied together for different uses. You can count on them to be there. You can count on them to do the job. The handy man, my husband, is always ready to fix or repair things for me. He wants to be of help whenever the need arises.
CLIFF HANGER
A cliff hanger is on the cutting edge, ready to try anything new. May be worn out from working, but once an exciting idea is put out there they are instantly revitalized and ready to go. It is a person who is fearless, and who wants it all. There are so many webinars and seminars, but this person is the visionary or the entrepreneur who dreams things up and is not afraid to believe they have invented the new next best thing. The software and graphic designers, the seamstress, the potter, and those maniac salespeople who conquer the odds of door to door encounters with strangers each day. Also, the life of the party who always has those creative, fun ideas. The artistic, musician, the weaver, designer, landscaper, or architect.
AIRPLANE HANGER
The airport hanger is the protective type. This person goes out of his or her way to look after those in their care and to nurture them. This type of person is also the one who will come over to the neighbor's and mow their lawn when the husband is out of town or ill. This person will look after the neighbor's children who have no supervision and give them a sandwich or milk and cookies to tide them over when they come by to play or visit. This is also the person who will help friends patch up their relationships, bandage up hurt animals, or who may even pursue a medical career.
PIPE HANGER (at least 44 types)
If you have ever looked up at the ceiling in a house that has an unfinished basement, you have seen the hangers that hold up all the pipes. I suppose that we have ours in the ceilings, since our pipes are up above us here in Texas. These are people who are very encouraging, supportive, who give advice to young people getting started in life, or who are connected to people's lives such as ministers or missionaries. Other pipe hangers would be teachers, police, firemen, military, and security personnel. They hold our society together. They are the invisible glue that get people to learn and stick to their boundaries, and when they don't, then they have to let the offenders feel the consequences.
This is God's plan. Mankind reaching out to mankind. We are it.
Stay connected to the strong foundation of God and his word. Then holding onto him we will be the most effective in our own daily walk as well as influencing others for their good. Be prepared for anything that comes your way. Without a plan each day, disasters and conflicts will still arise. Only instead of facing them in peace and confidence, they will overwhelm and defeat us.
THE HANGER CHALLENGE: Hang tough through God's knowledge, might, and His spirit every day.
HANG TOUGH: There Is Someone Around the Corner Who Needs You To Be Strong
