…SO MUCH MORE!

For most, holidays are a time for families to spend time together. The time is often filled with eating, talking, football, playing games, gifts, etc. Sometimes there may be tension that exists between family members that makes the thought of getting together a stressful one. When the time is over we are glad it has passed and we don’t have to think about it until the next time. For others it may be the tension from the chaos stemming out of the sheer number of people that will be there. It may be different reasons for you that cause such gatherings to be a stressful time but whatever those reasons may be it doesn’t turn out the way you would like it to be. For still others, family gatherings may be a time that you look forward to. They may be, for the most part, time that is very enjoyable. But after you are gone you may feel down deep inside that it could have been …SO MUCH MORE!

Paul sends words of admonition to the Ephesians about how to order their lives in a world that settles on being shallow, self-centered, crude at times and hurtful to others. He writes:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-20)

Paul’s use of words like “careful”, “wise”, “making the most”, “understand the Lord’s will” and “speak with psalms”, interrupts the run on of life and forces us to stop and think about what we will say and do next, and how we will do it. Just one chapter earlier we read, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (4:29) When we are in a large group setting, even our own family gatherings, and every conversation is way out of compliance with the above instructions it can become extremely difficult to choose the RIGHT words ourselves.

Let me take us back to where we started. Thanksgiving then Christmas is just around the corner. We will be spending time with family and friends during this season. Conversations and activities that we engage in can help us and those around us to become a better person. How much effort are you willing to expend to see that become a reality? Frustration over the direction that conversations can take in a large group will not likely be solved by being everyone’s conscience. Instead, look for an opportunity to engage in a one on one conversation with another person. Share personal victories and struggles. Show a genuine interest in the same of the other person’s life. Look for the opportunity to speak the Word or a song into another life. If the opportunity presents itself, offer to pray for them.

Time passes by too quickly. The moment we embrace and say thanks for a great time we are out the door and into the heat of the battle once again. There are more than enough who with their words and actions will thoughtlessly tear others down. In your gathering of family and friends this Thanksgiving and Christmas season make the most of every opportunity. Embrace the challenge of …SO MUCH MORE! Pour into the lives of others the gift of worth, of support, of love and encouragement and in your heart Give Thanks!

This is Why I have Come

I have a problem with starting a project and then get distracted by something else that takes me away from what I started. It can lead to frustration and discouragement because it can leave me going in too many directions and being ineffective and not completing what needs to be done. If we are not careful, the same thing can happen in our spiritual life. We can become consumed with chasing after many things in life and not give attention to our spiritual growth.

I like Jesus’ response to His disciples when they came to Him to tell Him, “Everyone is looking for you!” Read the encounter below.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:35-38

There almost seems to be a hint of exasperation in the words of the disciples, “Everyone is looking for you.” Why are you out here alone? Don’t you know there is a crowd of people waiting to see you.

Jesus knew the intent of the crowds and turns the attention of the disciples toward His purpose for being here. He punctuates it by saying, “That is why I have come.” Do you remember the words from Isaiah 61 -- “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor?”

Don’t lose focus on our call to “go and make disciples.” Grow in your knowledge of Christ. Pray for opportunities to make Him known to others. Grow in your love for one another. And don't get distracted!!!

Have a blessed day.

The Worth of a Single Soul

How many times have you felt of little worth because of some bad choice you made? We have all been there. There are times we want to hide our face, we want to stay in bed or we just want to run away. We can sometimes feel like we have nothing good to offer anyone. One of the things that Christ did when He came into the world was to impart worth and value to humanity.

First of all, the simple fact that God, the Creator of the universe and Sustainer of all living things, would enter into a sinful world speaks volumes of the kind of compassion and worth that He has toward mankind. Secondly, Jesus invested in people that many times were rejected or looked down upon by society. He called out fishermen and a tax collector to be His disciples, He invited children to hang out with Him and He touched those with leprosy as He healed them, along with many others who were sick. (In Jesus day it was believed by many that blindness and disease was often the result of sin in the person’s life or in the life of the parent.)

Jesus attributed value in the woman’s life that was caught in the act of adultery. The woman’s accusers brought her to Christ publicly for all to see. Jesus said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Christ extended forgiveness to one that others were ready to stone. Read the entire story—John 8:1-11. Jesus’ action shows the worth that He placed in a single soul.

Fruitful outreach will require that we recognize the worth and value that God has placed in those we are called to reach out to. The simple fact that God sent Jesus to die for “whosoever will believe in Him” tells us how important each person is to Him.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I have devalued the life of another person. Open my eyes and my heart to see and to love them as You do. Amen

Hope for the Hopeless

This week our thoughts will focus on the passion that Christ had for those He came to bring life and hope. There are two times in the Bible when it is recorded that Jesus wept. He wept as He stood at the tomb of Lazarus and as He stood outside of Jerusalem looking down upon the city as He approached at the Triumphal Entry.

At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus does identify with the grief of Mary and Martha at the loss of a brother but His words also remind us of the sorrow He feels over the unbelief of the people. Jesus came to bring hope that goes beyond the grave. The scene outside of Jerusalem gives us a good look into the heart of Christ as to the burden that He carried for the people.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41-42

I did a quick word search in the Bible for “wept”. Numerous times throughout scripture it is recorded that people wept over the sense of hopelessness that had a hold on them. When Christ came to this earth He was the HOPE that cancels hopelessness. He wept because the eyes of people were blinded. The need is still with us today.

As we spend time focusing on outreach, strive to understand the heart of God for humanity that is revealed through Jesus Christ. Will the same passion for the lost that led Jesus to weep drive us to our knees weeping over the state of hopelessness that grips the lives of those around us?

Prayer: Lord, we want to be channels of Your grace to bring a message of HOPE to all who live in constant HOPELESSNESS.

...as working for the Lord

I heard a Labor Day sermon yesterday reminding us that our labors are to be done in the spirit of, "As to the Lord and not to man." When all of our labors are done with a focus on honoring Christ, it will be noticed by those around us that we work with.

The sermon went on to highlight the example of Onesiphorus noted by Paul in his letter to Timothy as one who went beyond the call of duty. While everyone else seemed to be bailing out in their ministry to Paul, imprisoned in Rome, Onesiphorus came to Rome and "searched hard until he found Paul."

There are plenty of people around us the display that spirit of, "You owe me..." In the midst of that kind of world let's follow the admonition from Colossians 3:17:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Have a blessed Labor Day

Lessons from the Life of a Child

Another group of people that Jesus stepped outside of the box with was children. Parents often brought children to the Rabbis of the day to have them bless the children and to pray for them. Although children in Jesus’ day were deeply cherished, they were thought in some ways to be negligible members of society: their place was to learn, to be respectful, and to listen. It is possible that the number of children being brought to Jesus seemed a bit excessive in the eyes of the disciples.

Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15

In an earlier chapter Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What are the life lessons that Jesus wants us to learn from the life of a child? Maybe it is the total dependence, the full trust, the honest openness and the complete sincerity. Thoughts of what someone else is going to think or say about them is not an inhibitor. Wow! I feel convicted, even as I write. Once again Jesus moves outside the norm of the day in order to teach a valuable lesson to those who were there. It is a lesson that bears repeating over and over in our own lives as we grow up in Him.

Take some time today to think about the lessons that God may want to teach you from the life of your own child, or the children around you if you do not have children of your own. As you prayerfully seek the heart of God over those lessons He has for you, take some time to pray for the children that God has placed around you. Pray for ongoing protection over their bodies and their minds as they grow up in Christ.

Take some time to read Matthew 18:1-6; Luke 18:15-17 Share your insights with someone else and ask them to pray for you as well as you praying for them.

Mercy, not Sacrifice

“Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9) Jesus took another step outside of the box when He invited a “Tax Collector” to be one of His disciples. As we read on we discover that Jesus went to Matthew’s house for dinner and many tax collectors as well as sinners were there for the meal.

The Pharisees must have had scouts on every corner because they knew where Jesus was eating that night. They were incensed that He would eat with such scum of society. Tax collectors often collected more than required to pad their own pockets. The Romans really didn’t care as long as they were getting their share.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees inquisition was, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Pharisees were diligent on daily prayers, offerings and sacrifices but negligent in their level of love, compassion and mercy for the lost, the hurting and the rejected of society. This episode builds on yesterday’s story of the Samaritan woman. But the statement for us to contemplate today is, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Does our mercy and compassion for the lost at least equal or surpass our sacrifices to God? (Giving, going to Church, spending time in the Word, etc.)

Things that matter to Christ ought to matter to us as well. Christ clearly cared about the lost. Let’s follow His example!

No Holding Back

John the Baptist captured the attention of Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem as he began his ministry of preaching and baptizing. As the number of disciples following John and his teachings grew so did the interest from the Jewish leaders. At some point after the start of Jesus’ ministry the number of followers that He gained was surpassing the numbers of those following John the Baptist. The “spiritual cops” (Pharisees), heard about this new wave of interest. In response, Jesus headed back north to the region of Galilee.

On His way north, the Gospel of John says, “He (Jesus) had to go through Samaria.” Here is where Jesus steps outside of the box. Most often the Jews would cross to the east side of the Jordan River to travel north in order to avoid going through the region of the Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed-blood people from marriages with Gentiles following the exile of the Northern Kingdom. Jews that were left behind by the Assyrians married Gentiles that were moved into the area. Out of necessity in Jesus’ mission, He “HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA.”

Jesus grew tired and sat down by Jacob’s well while the disciples went into town to buy some food. A SAMARITAN WOMAN came by to draw water while Jesus was there. Jesus began a conversation with her. To give you an idea of the stigma that existed, John 4:27 tells us that when the disciples returned they were surprised. She was a Samaritan and a woman.

You can read the entire story in John chapter four. But the point that stands out as a challenge for us today is; where has the church, our society or just the people around us drawn the lines that keep us from reaching out with the love of Christ to those who are hurting? Whether it is social, racial, gender or economic lines, when we possess the heart and the eyes of Jesus those lines will fade away. We will not be able to hold back.

Prayer: Lord, help me today to have a heart that is willing to move outside of the box that others have tried to place me inside of, in order to effectively touch the deep needs of those that live around me. Amen

“You have heard it said…”

Jesus did not minister inside the boundaries of the box for ministry that had been set at the time He came to the earth. This week we will look specifically at ways He served outside of the box in connecting with the people that He came to serve. For today let’s first consider the framework that Jesus established for His ministry here.

Near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” He went on to tell us that as long as there is life here on this earth nothing will change in the law that has been given. He said, “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

Over time the teachers of the law had redefined and added to the law so much that it became a heavy ball and chain that followers carried around with them. Their focus was heavily on outward conformity to the law and all its “added” requirements, while Jesus taught inward conformity (the spirit of the law). Jesus came to bring a change in the lives of people, from the inside out not the outside in. He taught that “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Through the rest of the fifth chapter of Matthew we find a formula repeated several times, “You have heard it said… But I tell you…” Jesus’ use of that formula paints a contrast of the outward and the inward working of the law in our lives.

Take some time today to reflect on the words from Matthew 5. Be ready to respond to what His Word is teaching you today.

Patient in the Face of Injustice

Extreme injustice and unfairness will cause a great outcry from people everywhere. When the Israelites asked for a king, Samuel warned them of the hardship and the demands that would come along with that choice. God instructed Samuel to give them what they asked for. When the taxation, the demands of service and the unfair treatment started coming their way they cried out in despair.

James begins the fifth chapter by serving a warning notice to the rich oppressors. He warns them about the wages they have failed to pay, about their hoarding of wealth, luxury and self-indulgence. He goes on to encourage believers to be patient until the Lord’s coming just as the farmer patiently waits for the harvest. He says “stand firm; don’t grumble against each other because the Lord’s coming is near.”

This is another one of those areas that can be extremely difficult for us. It leads to a life of grumbling and complaining. Do you ever find yourself or others around you falling into that trap? It can be extremely contagious. It only leaves a sour taste for us and those who listen. We begin to sit in the seat of judgment, against the ones who have violated the rules of “fairness.” James cites the example of Job, how God showed His compassion and mercy to him. There is no promise that in this life we will be completely kept from experiencing injustice brought against us, but we can rest in the confidence, that in the end, God’s judgment will be fair and just!

Prayer: Lord, you have instructed us to pray for our enemies. By Your help and Your grace I release any resentments and malice toward all who may have treated me in an unjust manner. Amen

What About Today?

Do you ever find yourself consumed with plans for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or years down the road? Another of those difficult challenges in our life is being able to effectively serve today without becoming overly concerned about what is going to happen in the future. Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry about tomorrow because today has enough worries of its own. James says:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17

It doesn’t matter how old you are, we have all learned that time doesn’t wait for anyone. The days seem to move on more quickly the older we get. We wake up and ask, “Where did the past year go?” If we spend the present, planning and boasting about tomorrow we miss out on the opportunity today to serve at our greatest capacity. Our thoughts and energies are in the future instead of today. James calls that “sin”.

Our challenge is to get up each day and ask, “Lord, what is it that you would have me do today?” Then we have to follow through and be faithful to do what He lays on our heart to do.

Prayer: Thank you for the promise that You are the Lord of all our tomorrows. We commit ourselves to serve in the ways you have for us to serve today. Amen

The Right Words

Words are a powerful medium. We have talked about serving “with words” and “without words”. This week as we focus on serving in ways that may be difficult or challenging for us, an area that I want to revisit is the use of our words.

Words wield a great deal of power in having the ability to shape the mind and the life of those who hear the words. It is humbling to realize that our words possess the power to have a great impact on those around us for good or for bad. A specific area of influence that James addresses is teaching. He says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Reflect on the power of the spoken word as described by James:

”We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
James 3:2, 5-6a, 7-10

Doesn’t that make you just want to live the rest of your life under a vow of silence? I know that James is addressing those who teach but the principles are applicable for so much of our life. We all fill the role of “teacher” at some point in our life. Whether it is being a parent, a supervisor at work, a baseball coach, etc… we must wisely choose our words so that we do not inadvertently lead someone astray.

Proverbs 3 and 4 have a lot to say about discernment, wisdom and understanding. Chapter 4 verse seven reads, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” If we are drawing from the right well for our day to day life we will have a greater confidence that the words we speak to others in those “teaching moments” will be the right words. Always be looking to the ALL WISE ONE who can give us the right words when we are called on for duty.

Prayer: Lord, take my hands, my feet, my mind and my tongue and use them for your glory. Amen

How Far, Lord?

James reminds us in the second chapter of the book he has written, of Abraham’s faith that is validated by the distance that he was willing to travel in sacrificing his only son Isaac on an altar to the Lord. James says that Abraham’s spoken faith was not enough but that it must be confirmed in Abraham’s level of willingness to obey God in what He had been asked to do. James writes:

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17

How far are we willing to travel in sacrificing the things of greatest value in our lives in order to meet the needs of others around us? Are we willing to give everything away in order to serve the needs of those around us? James says, “faith without works is dead.”

I don’t think that anyone can determine for you how far you must go in touching the lives of those around you. God can let you know what you must do. If you are doing nothing, God is waiting to point out some areas of need right around you that you can help with.

Prayer: Open my eyes to see those needs around me today and the grant me the courage to reach out and fill those needs as long as I am able. Amen

Through the Lens of the Cross

This week we will focus on, “Serving when it is Difficult”. It is not as difficult to serve the needs around us when things are neat and sanitary and people are pleasant to be around. But when things are not so sanitary and pleasant and people are not so easy to get along with we have a greater tendency to keep our distance. We will embrace the challenge this week to see people and circumstances through the lens of the cross. We will spend some time in the book of James that will hopefully help us evaluate how we look on those around us that are in need.

Spend some time today reading James 2:1-12. Are you guilty of showing favoritism at times? Go out of your way this week to do an act of kindness or express words of affirmation to someone that you may find it difficult to reach out to. Consider these words from John’s first epistle:

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
I John 4:19-21

Prayer: Lord, we call on You for the enabling power of Your Spirit to help us in areas where we are weak. Amen

Celebrating “Diversity”

“Celebrating Diversity” is unfortunately used to describe the acceptance of a wide array of lifestyles. I find that unfortunate because one of the places that diversity is most celebrated is in scripture. God’s Word reminds us that each one is made different and unique. We were reminded yesterday that each of us have been apportioned a different amount of resources that we are responsible to “invest” throughout our lifetime. Today, I want to focus on specific differences in the giftedness that God has given us.

From Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he writes:

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
I Corinthians 12:12-13, 14-15, 27

Scripture names some of the different gifts: teaching, serving, apostles, giving, healing, administration, encouraging, etc. Paul made it clear that all of the gifts are designed to move us in the same direction; toward knowing Christ and making Christ known to others.

As we serve with the gift that God has given us, rejoice and celebrate in the differences that God has made each of us with. Do not try to do something that you were not gifted to do. Do not try to be someone that you are not. Instead, offer up all that you are and all that you have, to be used in the work of God’s Kingdom. CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!

Prayer: Thanks for making me uniquely different than anybody else. I will daily strive to honor you and those around me by serving in the ways that you have gifted me with. Amen.

“More Than Enough” Giving

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

(The Kingdom of Heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Read the rest of the story – Matthew 25:14-30)

An important part of serving is using the resources that God has given us for the work of His Kingdom. The parable that is partly highlighted above goes on to talk about the judgment that we will all face for what we have done with what we have been given. As servants of the Most High God, we are called to faithfully invest the resources placed in our hands for the growth of His Kingdom. In the book of Exodus Moses instructs the Israelites to bring their skills and their resources together for the building of the Tabernacle that God had given him instructions for.

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded.
And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. Exodus 35: 10, 21

The people responded with generosity and eagerness to the task before them. If you read on into chapter 36, Moses had to say to his leaders, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done. No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” WOW!

Take some time today to evaluate how well you are doing with investing the time and resources given to you for the work of His Kingdom.

Prayer: LORD, it is my desire to honor You, by serving in the work of Your Kingdom with the resources you have placed in my hands. Amen

Serving Without Words

Friday, August 14, 2009

A few weeks ago we talked about serving others with our words. I want to revisit our use of words again but this time as it relates to us having a humble heart. Words are a powerful tool that can do a lot of good or a lot of harm in a very short period of time. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Often we combat our evil thoughts most effectively if we absolutely refuse to allow them to be expressed in words… It must be a decisive rule of every Christian fellowship that each individual is prohibited from saying much that occurs to him.” This is an issue that can be subtle at times. In the midst of a conversation going on in a group that we are a part of, do we give your input for the benefit of the whole or just to impress everyone with what we know? Are we quick to correct someone if they give wrong information? (Most of the time it is of little or no significance whether a correction is made.) When someone tells us something we already know do we smile and say thanks or do we say, “I already knew that”?

Matthew records for us in the twenty fifth chapter of the gospel he wrote, the words of Christ that will be spoken at the end of time when all nations will be gathered before Him.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”
Matthew 25:34-36

Jesus did not say, “Your words impressed so many and My Kingdom is filled because of what you said.” He said, “I was hungry and… I was thirsty and…” Words are important. There is certainly a time to speak. Jesus Himself spoke a lot of words. But at the core of His earthly ministry, it was what Jesus did for the hurting and the rejected that spoke the loudest. Sometimes it was the absence of words that meant the most. Let’s follow His example.

Prayer: Lord, let my words be few. And may each word that I do speak tell of Your goodness and Your grace that is reaching out to all humanity. Amen

Serving With the End in View

Thursday, August 13, 2009

It is no secret that our lives can so easily be filled up with a lot of activity that will rob us of having time for the most important things in our lives. Our own families are a good example of that. How many times have you heard a parent that has come to the end of their child rearing days say, “I wish I would have spent more time with my children while they were growing up.” Another important characteristic of having a servant’s heart is, serving with the end in view.

I like the story of the visit Jesus had with Mary and Martha. Martha bothered herself with all of the chores around the house while her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He said. Martha became bitter about the fact that she was doing all of the work and Mary was just sitting there listening to Jesus. Jesus’ response was, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Part of Martha’s problem was, she had the wrong end in view. There was nothing inherently wrong with what she was doing but her focus was turned inward to all that it was taking out of her instead of on what she could do for others. What was Jesus’ response again? “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing…” Martha’s problem was not in what she was doing but in the fact that she was the only one doing it. Her focus was on herself, not Christ and others.

All of us probably have a bit of “Martha” in us. We can fill our lives with a lot of activity and then complain that nobody else is lifting a finger to help. It is not that we can’t solicit others for more help at doing something. But if we find ourselves “worried and upset about many things” it begs the question, “Why are we doing what we do?” We may be serving with near sighted vision – “nobody cares that I am doing this all by myself.”

Spend some time reflecting on these words from Romans 15:2 “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good to build him up.” Also from Philippines 2:4 we read, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Eternity is at stake. Lift your eyes and serve Christ with the end in view.

Remember; grow in Knowing Christ, in Making Him Known and in Knowing Each Other.

Prayer: Lord, help us today to serve You and to serve others for the sake of Your Kingdom. Amen

Serving in Hiddenness

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

We have looked at the battle we fight against pride and the elusive nature of humility as we strive to take hold of it in our lives. Beyond prayer, the next step of action we need to take in our lives is to commit ourselves to an ongoing life of serving those around us.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant.
Philippines 2:5-7

Richard Foster writes, “More than nay other single way the grace of humility is worked into our lives through the Discipline of service… Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.”

For the next three days I want to highlight some characteristics of the servant’s heart. I want to take a few moments today to reflect on the words from Richard Foster, “serving in hiddenness.”

There is something in our fallen nature that screams for attention. It starts when we are born. The thought of sacrificially giving of our time or resources to someone else without receiving any kind of recognition for it is something we often push out of our minds. Being a servant wasn’t something that Jesus just, “took on” Himself to show us what we need to do. It is His nature. That is who He is. The Bible records for us many things that Jesus did, things that were witnessed by others and written down for our benefit. But the world could never contain the volumes that could be written of things that He has done, things that He did while on this earth and things that He continues to do.

As we serve those around us today let’s pray for a heart like Christ. Put a five or ten dollar bill in an envelope and secretly leave it for someone in need today. Talk to a total stranger today that you may likely never see again, and take the time to listen for a need in their life and pray for them. Take a walk around your block and pick up trash lying along the way. Embrace the mundane chores of day to day life as an opportunity to serve. Be careful; don’t fall into the temptation of complaining about those things that you do because nobody else will do them. In all that you do, do it as unto the Lord and not for recognition from others.

Prayer: Lord, continue to transform our hearts to being more like you as we strive to serve with the kind of heart that You have served us with. Amen

A Humble Heart

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 18:27

The remedy for a pride filled heart is a humble spirit. Throughout scripture we find examples of, and instructions to humble ourselves before God. Jesus said, “whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Ezekiel tells of a time in the life of Israel’s leaders when their symbols of power will be stripped away and the lowly will be lifted up.

The heart of a servant is to be a humble one. We have heard that and we want to be humble, but in practical day to day living as we strive to make right choices we become more aware of those around us that are making a lot of bad choices. The awareness of faults in others causes us to become critical. We begin to elevate ourselves (many times it is only in our thoughts) and to bring others down. John Ortberg says, “One of the hardest things in the world is to stop being the prodigal son without turning into the elder brother.” We might find ourselves at times echoing the words of Paul, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

What a thrill it is in our lives when we find ourselves so indwelled by the Holy Spirit that we cease being preoccupied with our own selfish desires and our concern and interest for others takes center stage.

Spend some time today thinking about steps that can be taken to humble ourselves before God and before others. Share your thoughts with others. Take some time to pray for one another as well.

Prayer: Lord, deliver me from self absorption. Holy Spirit, help me to turn my eyes upward and outward each day. Amen

De-railed by Pride

Monday, August 10, 2009

A man’s pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
Proverbs 29:23

For the last few weeks we have been talking about serving; in our homes, in our communities and in the world around us. This week, we will take a look at the heart of one who serves.

The oldest sin that gets in the way of serving is pride. This one takes us all the way back to the garden when the serpent says, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.” The two Great Commandments in the Word, loving God and loving others are de-railed when pride pushes its way to the forefront of our lives. We all wrestle with a certain level of pride in our lives at different times. But when our lives are saturated with an obsession of how we look and how well our wants and desires are being filled we need to make some changes. Pride at its deepest level puts distance between us and God as well as us and others. We become hardened and refuse to accept correction from others or from God. This condition is noted by our critical spirit. Our problems in life are always the fault of someone else, even God. When we watch the news or just observe the lives of those around us we think, “Whew, I am sure glad I am not like that.”

Take some time today to ask God to make known to you any hint of pride that might exist in you. If you are really brave ask someone you really trust for an honest assessment of your “pride quotient”. We must start here. If we are always looking down on others from our pedestals above, we are of no use in helping them to rise to greater things in their own lives. Jesus Himself demonstrated that for us. (“The Son of man did not come to be served but to serve.” Matthew 20:28) Read Philippines 2:1-11 as well.

Prayer: Search my heart today. Grant me the courage to deal decisively with any bit of pride that may be present in my life. Amen

Rejoice! The Church is Alive

Friday, August 7, 2009

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.
Colossians 1: 6

It is time to celebrate what God is doing around the world right now! We have taken a look at the need. We have been challenged to PRAY, to GIVE and to GO. Take some moments throughout this day to rejoice in the work that God through His Sovereign Rule is doing in the world TODAY!

Christianity is experiencing explosive growth in Asia, Africa and Latin America today. It is estimated that in China alone 28,000 new believers are being added to the church daily. The numbers have grown from an estimated 1.5 million in 1970 to approximately 90 million today.

Christianity in Nepal has grown from almost non-existent in 1960 to almost 1 million today.

Over the last few decades, South Koreans have been flocking to Jesus by the millions. In response, the UN has officially reclassified as a Christian nation this one-time Buddhist stronghold.

Only nine million Christians were in Africa in 1900, but by the year 2000, there were an estimated 380 million Christians. Much of the Christian growth in Africa is now due to African evangelism rather than Western missionaries.

Brazil and Guatemala have experienced the largest number of converts to Christianity in Latin America. A few years ago it was estimated that the growth in some areas was as much as 8,000 new converts every day. God is alive and at work all around the world. Rejoice, celebrate and give thanks.

It is thought provoking to note that the greatest growth of the church is happening where opposition is the greatest. Whether it is communism or opposition from radical leaders of other religions, Christians in these parts of the world understand what it means to lay their lives on the line for the sake of Jesus Christ. Tens of thousands of believers meet together in underground churches in China every week. In some parts of the world many have been killed and many church buildings have been burned or vandalized. Go to persecution.com to find out more about persecution going on in the world today.

The task is hardly over. There is still much to be done. But the Church led by Jesus Christ is alive and well. Nothing will stand in the way of what God wants to do. Give thanks for the opportunity that you and I have in being a small part of the great work that He is doing.

Prayer: Lord, keep us always in PRAYER, always ready to GIVE and always ready to GO when You call. Thanks for the reminders of the great work that you are doing every moment of the day. Stir our hearts lest we become complacent. Let the fire always burn deep within us as we seek to obey Your bidding. Amen

Go! Go! Go!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Bible gives us a mandate for reaching out to encircle the globe with the message of God’s love. Out of Matthew and Acts we read, “All nations” and “to the ends of the earth” there is a call to GO. We have already talked about PRAYING and GIVING but we must also be GOING. I know that all of us will not go abroad and that is all right. The needs are great all around us and I never want to minimize the importance and the value of GOING into our neighborhoods, our workplaces, etc. But I would like to challenge us today to pray and to contemplate the possibility that God would have us to travel to another part of the world for two weeks, one month, one year or for a lifetime to share the love of Christ with the people there. If nothing else it can serve to give us a greater burden to pray, or to give more.

The needs in our world are great. We really do have so much, even when it seems that we have “little”, in comparison to most of the world around us. Go again to some websites of organizations that are serving the needs of people around the world. (www.worldhope.org ; www.worldvision.org ; www.samaritanspurse.org) This time, instead of thinking about the financial needs, think and pray about the need for people to GO and serve there. Be open to the possibility that God would take you into one of those areas some day to serve the people there. When a trip is being planned on the District to go and serve in another part of the world, pray about the possibility that God would have you to go.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Prayer: Lord, Continue to form my heart with a willing spirit that would say, “Here am I, send me.” Amen

Touching our World through Giving

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

The needs around the world are great. Yesterday we talked about our role in praying for those needs and praying for those who are out there on the front lines working to address those needs. Another way that we can serve is by GIVING. It takes a lot of money to send people and resources to fill the needs around the world. We live in an affluent nation. We might feel like we do not have a lot to give but an evaluation of our spending habits might show us how we could give more to Kingdom work. Take hold of the challenge to give generously. Make some personal sacrifices and see what God will do in return.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he reminds them of their generosity in giving at a previous time and challenges them to do so again.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. II Corinthians 9:6-8

Spend some time thinking about, talking about and praying for needs around the world. Open your heart up to give generously to those needs. Research some of the work that relief agencies are doing around the world. World Hope International at worldhope.org is an organization worthy of your support. Consider supporting a missionary family on a monthly basis. If you would like to know more about some of the missionaries from our own district and what their needs are let me know. GIVE GENEROUSLY and see what God will do in your life as a result.

Prayer: We know the needs are great in the world today. Move us out of any self-centeredness and complacency in order to address those needs with the resources that you have placed in our hands. Amen

Reaching far in Prayer

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

One of the greatest tools that we have in helping to take the gospel around the world is prayer. As we or others span the globe in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, the need for prayer is great in the spiritual battles that are engaged as a result of the Gospel going forth. Reflect on the following words requesting prayer from fellow believers as Paul proclaims the gospel in many different places and in all kinds of circumstances.

Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there. Romans 15:31

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Colossians 4:3

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. II Thessalonians 3:1

Paul is asking believers to pray for his protection, for boldness, for clarity, for open doors and for receptivity from those who hear. Take some time today and throughout the week to pray for our missionaries serving around the world and for those preparing to go.

Prayer: Lord, remind us often of the much greater task in this world than just what is going on in our small corner. We commit ourselves to pray for those who are serving the cause of the gospel around the world. Amen

To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

Monday, August 03, 2009

In the midst of His ministry here on this earth, with all of the demands and the needs that were being met, Jesus paused, selected seventy two ambassadors and sent them out ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

There is work to be done that spans the entire globe. There are people who have never heard about Jesus Christ. There are needs for food, for work, for clean water, for health care and the list goes on. We will look at ways that we can “pray”, that we can “give” and we can “go”.

For today, spend some time thinking about the needs around the world. Log on to BBC or CNN websites and scan the news of what is happening in the world. Spend some time talking about those needs as a family. Begin to talk about ways that we can address those needs. Let’s not just stick our heads in the sand and ignore them hoping that they will go away. Extend your hands outward “To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth” and say along with Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!”

Prayer: Show us what You would have us to do around the world. Amen

Busy or Busybodies?

Thursday July 30, 2009

I am busy. Don’t bother me. Are we really “busy”, or are we just busybodies? In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he says, “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” (2 Thess. 3:11)

I am challenged by the thought of using each moment of the day in a way that serves the people around me. Take hold of the challenge today of turning “busyness” into being busy SERVING God and those He has placed around us. It might mean just “re-posturing” our heart in what we do. Our work might be a service to our community or to specific individuals but to us it has become, “busyness”. As the Lord changes our heart the difference might simply be a smile, a new level of energy and anticipation that we put into what we are doing.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to opportunities for serving that are all around me. Amen

A CALL TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVING

Wednesday July 28, 2009

Christ has a lot to say about SERVING. There are several examples to draw from as well. The following encounter recorded in Matthew’s Gospel gives us a strong challenge in the way that we approach serving. Today, let’s open up our hearts and evaluate our motives as we serve.

Matthew 20:20-28
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus calls us to the highest level of serving. We are too often tempted to serve in ways that gain us recognition in the eyes of those around us. Another temptation that we are faced with is, we will serve when it is comfortable or convenient. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he says, “Each of us should please his neighbor for his own good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself.”

Take some time today to evaluate your motives in serving and pray for the strength and the heart to serve in ways that Christ has called us to serve.

Prayer: Lord, penetrate deep into my heart today and reveal the true motives of my heart. Open my eyes to the needs around me and guide me into serving where you would have me to serve. Amen

Serving with our Hands in the Workplace

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Have you ever done something only because you knew you were being watched? We fail to stop and realize that God is always watching us. Our highest calling is to honor Him, not man. The incredible part of doing that is, our workmanship and our demeanor will surprise the people we “work for” from day to day.

Today, think about ways that you can serve, with your hands, those you work for. Take some time to read through the third chapter of Colossians and meditate on the verses below.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Serve a co-worker today by cleaning up their workspace for them. Buy them a pop or lunch or… Remember, it is for the Lord, not for man. Share your ideas with others by posting them below.

Prayer: It is our desire to honor you, LORD, in all that we do and say. Be my help today as I strive to serve those around me with my hands, in Jesus Name. Amen

Hands Extended to our Family

Monday, July 27, 2009

As we continue to look at the theme of “SERVING”, this week I want to draw our attention to, “SERVING WITH OUR HANDS”.

Yesterday, the sermon focused on having a heart fixed on Christ. We learned how that heart shapes our words to SERVE in a Christ honoring way. With the same heart our actions are also shaped in a Christ honoring way. What does Scripture teach us about what that looks like in our day to day lives? That will be our focus this week.

Let’s begin right in our own homes. How can we use our hands to serve those we love most? We have learned that meaningful touch is important in relationships especially in the home. Parents, take the time daily to give your children several hugs throughout the day. Do the same with your spouse. Take time to use your hands to play games, to help with chores…

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Take some time to reflect on these verses and consider ways that you can serve your family this week with your hands. Be creative. Take time to post ways that you think of. Your ideas may help someone else Extend their Hands to their family in a new and meaningful way.

Prayer: Lord, this week we want to surrender our hands to you to be used in ways that honor you and those around us that you have called us to serve. Amen

Words offered in Prayer

Friday, July 24

We have looked this week at ways that we can serve God and others with our words, (Words that encourage and build up, words that teach and words that express our worship to God). Our final focus for this week will be on WORDS spoken in PRAYER. Paul’s letter to Timothy carries instructions to believers in Ephesus where Timothy was located at the time.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. I Timothy 2:1

Paul places a strong emphasis on the importance of prayer. It must take priority over every thing else that we do. If we take this instruction to heart, will it make a difference in the effectiveness of the other uses of our words that we have looked at this week?

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our prayerlessness. Prompt us throughout this day to stop what we are doing and pray.

Words that Worship

Thursday, July 23

With words we express our excitement about things that happen in our lives. The birth of a new child, a promotion at work, our favorite team just won the playoffs and on and on goes the list of things that can cause excitement in us that makes us want to tell someone.

Take some time today to tell God how much you love Him. Reflect on the goodness of God in your life, then open your mouth and speak, out loud, your praise and worship to Him.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied
as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:2-5

Words are a big part of our everyday life. Today, as we take time to worship God with our words of praise to Him, let us also worship Him in the words that we speak to others, words that will bless and encourage, not tear down and destroy.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in God’s likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be.
James 3:9-10

Prayer: Lord, I will worship You with my words today. Amen

Words that Teach

You have heard the statement, “You learn something new every day.” There is probably a lot of truth in that statement. In light of that statement, what are you contributing to the learning of those around you? You might be tempted to say, “I don’t have anything to contribute.” There is something in all of our lives that can contribute to the learning of others.

Today, I want to remind us that our words are used to TEACH. Proverbs highlights for us the good of receiving and giving instruction.
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.
Proverbs 16:20-21

Deuteronomy reminds us that we have a responsibility to teach others those things that God has taught us. “Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9

Share with someone else a new insight or a lesson that God has taught you recently from the Bible or from life. Be in tune to what others are saying as well. Who knows, you might “Learn something new today!”

Prayer: LORD, you are the master teacher. Thank you for the Word that you have given us to live and grow by each day. Be our helper today as we strive to be a conduit of that knowledge to others. Amen

Words that Build

For Tuesday July 21

Bethany, my granddaughter, likes to play with a stack of hollow building blocks that stack inside of each other. When I get down on the floor to play with her I like to stack the blocks on top of each other. Bethany’s favorite part is to knock them down.

Yesterday we were challenged to take inventory of our words, knowing that they have the power to pierce or to bring healing, to build up or to tear down. Today, let’s specifically consider ways that we can serve others with our words by BUILDING them up and not tearing them down. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” We all know that we don’t have to go too far or listen too hard to hear mean and hurtful words that are spoken daily to others. What a challenge we have to guard our speech from being influenced by the conversations around us each day.

Take a hold of the challenge today to not only guard our tongues from speaking “down” to those around us but to intentionally speak words that will “encourage” and “build up” those around us today. Do you know someone that struggles with a low sense of self-worth? Can you begin to make a difference in that person’s life today by sharing words that will build them up? Have you consistently spoken to your child or spouse or co-worker, or… and found that they have built a shell around themselves that you can’t get inside of? Begin today to serve them with your words that BUILD and not tear down. It may take some time but you may be surprised by the doors that will open up. Submerse your words in prayer. They possess power to shape the lives of those that we speak to.

Prayer: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen

Piercing or Healing?

For Monday, July 20

Yesterday we heard a timely message on TRUST. We are going to focus on SERVICE over the next few weeks. Our TRUST in God equips us to most effectively serve. How? True sacrificial service to those in the world around us makes us vulnerable and open to attack from those who do not understand our motives. We must be walking in complete TRUST and know our heart or we might hear words coming off our lips that would bring harm and destruction rather than good.

This week our focus will be on “Serving with our Words”. Let’s trust God to guide the words that flow from our lips so that they serve those we speak to and that God be honored through them. Read the following scriptures that focus on the harmful way that words can be used.

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:7-10

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18

Reflect and share with others how the wrong words can get in the way of us effectively serving others.
Prayer: “LORD, set a guard over my tongue today. Let my words serve those around me who hear them.” AMEN!

Let's ...Get the Job Done!

Alex Haley had a picture in his office of a frog sitting on a fence post. When he was asked, “why do you have a picture of a frog sitting on a fence post”, his response was, it reminds me that I did not get to where I am all by myself. In life it takes the knowledge, the skill and the participation of many to do something well. Whether it is the building of a structure, the putting together of a large event, shaping a program that effectively addresses a need in the world or the formation of a single Christ honoring life, it takes the mind, the will and the courage of many to do it well. I recently read an article about Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. The writer said, “In the four decades since Neil Armstrong became a household name, he has also increasingly become an enigma, a ‘reluctant hero’.” It is said that Neil Armstrong could have been extremely wealthy if he had chosen to spend more time in the eye of the public. An auction house said, “If Armstrong spent just one afternoon signing autographs he could make a million dollars, but he always refused.” Why did he refuse to be the center of so much attention? When asked, Armstrong said there were 400,000 people that worked on that [Moon landing] program in various different ways and he thinks he did not deserve all the credit just because he did the flying part.

There are some principles for life that stand out in this story. First, let me re-iterate what I have already said, “If we choose to be a lone ranger in life we will miss out on opportunities to pour ourselves into something great as well as the opportunity to invest into the lives of others.” We will also miss out on something greater that God wants to do in our own lives. There is so much work in life to be done and you have been gifted to help out in some way. Part of that work is just in going to work everyday, being an example of Christ to those who work alongside of you then coming home at night to love your spouse and your children in ways that “build” them up and honors Christ.

The second principle that shouts at us is the truth that humility needs to be reflected in our lives if we are going to maximize the results for what we do. Just as soon as we begin to feel a bit prideful we shut ourselves off from others and the greater wisdom that we may have gained. Many leaders in history have brought tremendous harm and destruction on those around them because they chose to do things their way. Many others have invoked much good because they were willing to humbly solicit the wisdom of many and do what was right. In an unsolicited speech that President Ronald Reagan gave to a group of candidates running for congress in 1988 he responded to the several complements they had shared with him. In a humble manner he said, “I don’t think I did anything. The American people decided to “right” the ship and I was the captain they put on the bridge when they did it.” As we faithfully live out our daily lives, be guarded against any temptation that would say, “I deserve better than this.” Serve in the way that Christ has served us.

The last principle that I want to highlight is that of “doing our part”. Embrace the courage and the willingness to get our hands dirty in order to get the job done. The frog would not have made it to the top of the fence post without the help of someone getting him there. We would have not made it to the moon if someone had not been willing to get into the spaceship and fly it. We would not have experienced the positive economic changes in the 80’s without a leader that would humbly listen to the wishes of the country and embrace the courage to lead for change.

Embrace the truth that God wants to use you to accomplish great things. Don’t try it alone. It leaves an empty feeling in the end. Let’s think together, work together and pray together and …get the job done.” Read Ephesians 3:7-13!

Keep on keeping on,
Pastor Phil

An Investment in Eternity

With Mother’s Day just around the corner and with Father’s Day coming up in June, relationships within families call for our attention again. In every relationship that God designed and placed us in, His purpose was for each member to strengthen and build up the other. Paul describes those nurturing roles in the fifth and sixth chapters of Ephesians. He talks about husband / wife relationships, about parent / child relationships and about master / slave relationships (the principles apply well to employer / employee relationships). Husbands, give of yourself to your wife as Christ did to the Church helping her to become the most godly woman possible. Wives, come alongside your husband hold him up and encourage him in his God given role in the family. Parents, invest worth into the lives of the children given to you and teach them to know the Lord. Children, give honor and respect to the parents that God has given you. When we fill our role that God has given us in relationships, the dividends that come back are extremely rewarding.

It is nothing new to you that the family is under attack in the world today. Marriage has lost its sacredness. The thought of a lifetime covenant between a man and a woman is rare. A child showing respect and honor toward their parents is outdated. Parents who will personally invest in the mental and spiritual growth of their children are hard to find. Respect in the work place has been hi-jacked by the philosophy that “I deserve better than this”.

Ephesians uses phrases like, “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

We are living at a time when we are faced with a serious economic crisis. Given enough time the crisis will probably pass. Even if it does not pass it will not make a difference in eternity. There is a much greater crisis! It is a crisis of relationships that do have eternal implications. It is a sobering thought that the way we invest in others can make a difference in where they spend eternity. The relationships with families are especially in need of attention. Go back and spend some time reading Ephesians 4:17-6:18. What changes will you open yourself to that might have a life-changing impact on those around you? Christ will be honored and your life will be filled with a greater joy!

Keep on keeping on,
Pastor Phil

TURN ON THE LIGHT

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness has not understood it.
Yet to all who received him,
to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:4-5, 12
The Ten Boom family, living in Holland, was arrested and led away to prison, then to a concentration camp for providing aid and housing to Jews during the time that Germany occupied Holland. Shortly after going to prison, Corrie ten Boom was led from her prison cell to be interrogated by a Nazi officer. As she shared with the officer the ministry that she was involved in back in her hometown, the lieutenant exploded, “What a waste of time and energy! If you want converts, surely one normal person is worth all the half-wits in the world!” Swallowing hard Corrie responded, “The truth, Sir, is that God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours—so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things. In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains but simply because He has made us.”

In subsequent meetings the lieutenant asked what else was in that Book. “It says that a Light has come into this world, so that we no longer walk in the dark.” Corrie asked, “Is there darkness in your life, Lieutenant?” “There is great darkness,” he said.
Some of the last words the lieutenant spoke to Corrie before their hearings ended were, “I wear a uniform, I have a certain authority over those under me. But I am in prison, dear lady from Haarlem, a prison stronger than this one.”

Luke tells us that as Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” They too lived in darkness and in a prison they found hard to break free from. However, such spiritual conditions did not lessen the compassion that Jesus had for those He came to die for.

In the book, “The Hiding Place”, Corrie reveals her struggle to love those who acted unjustly toward those around her in the prison and the concentration camp she spent time at. It was her sister Betsie, possessing an unconditional love mirroring the love of Christ, who challenged her to love more.

We are called upon in God’s word to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”. To be effective salt and light in the world, it is important to possess a compassion for the world around us that mirrors the compassion that Christ has. It is the kind of compassion that sees the darkness, the emptiness and the lost state of the most hardened and belligerent of the world and desires something better for them. While Corrie wished a better life for fellow prisoners, Betsie wished a better life for the guards and officers who were so hard and brutal.

Christ like compassion coupled with prayer and a willingness to reach into the lives of those around us with the message of the cross is our calling. The message of the cross includes the wonderful news that Christ can fill them with light, forgiveness, hope, purpose, peace and joy.

As we continue to pray and to fast for the lost during this season of Lent, get up and purposely connect with an unsaved person to show them Christ and the light He wants to pour into their lives. God wants to use each of us to bring the lost to Him. Turn on the light switch so others can see.

Keep on keeping on,
Pastor Phil

We Can Do no Less!

The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2

In light of the financial crisis in our country and throughout the world, it is a strong reminder of the importance of wise stewardship over all that has been placed in our care. It is a staggering thought that our government has allocated the equivalent of $200,000 per household to address the trouble that our financial institutions have fallen into. We can point fingers all that we want but the truth is, we have spent way beyond what we have. We have not been wise stewards with what we were given. As Christians we have a weighty responsibility over all that has been placed in our care if we really believe that everything belongs to God.

Under the leadership of Joshua, God led the Israelites to the conquest of a portion of land on the face of the earth (Canaan). God, at that point in history chose to redeem the land from the powers of this world that had claimed it for themselves. God chose to give it to Israel, His covenant people, as a place of rest from the oppression of their enemies. It was not because of great power or military prowess that Israel went in and possessed the land, but because of God’s judgment on the inhabitants of the land and mercy on His chosen people. Their “rest” in that land was conditional on their faithfulness in following God’s law in their lives and being wise stewards. They ultimately failed and ended up being carried off into exile, away from the land of “rest” that God had brought them to.

The Psalmist reminds us that everything is the Lord’s. All that we have, even life itself, belongs to Him. The call in our life as followers of Jesus is to serve and honor Him with all that we have been given – money, possessions, relationships, every breath, the ability to enjoy His creation… Our lives are filled with blessing and “rest” when we are faithful in honoring Him with all that He has given. If we fail, we may bring unnecessary strife upon ourselves and forfeit the “rest” that is apportioned out to those who are faithful in honoring God with ALL that He has given.

Take some time in the coming days to evaluate how well you are doing as a steward of all that God has placed in your care. Are your decisions driven by greed or other self-serving motives? Make the choice to honor God in all areas of care that God has given you responsibility for – financially, relationally (family, work, church, neighbors, etc.), time, talents, the earth… This is a part of our worship to Him. We can do no less!

Growing Up "In Him"

In Jim Cymbala’s book “Breakthrough Prayer”, he includes a chapter titled, Breakthrough to Fruitfulness. Jim recalls his worries as a child growing up about whether he would be tall enough to play basketball. He loved playing the game and took advantage of every opportunity to play. His preoccupation with his height led to pencil marks left all over the walls, as he tried to mark how much he had grown from month to month. Jim writes, “I wish we Christians today were as concerned about our spiritual growth as I was back then about my physical growth.”

Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Birth, marks the beginning of growth. As physical birth marks the beginning of physical growth, being “born again” marks the beginning of spiritual growth. Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual growth as much as healthy food is important for physical growth. We are exhorted in scripture to “crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (I Peter 2:2)

When our children are growing up we like to monitor their growth. If they are not growing as they should we become concerned and we may even talk to the doctor about it. What is a key indicator of growth in our spiritual lives? It is a life bearing the right kind of fruit. Jesus taught us that a life which “remains in Him” will bear fruit. A fruitful life is a life that reflects the character of Christ in all that we do; our thoughts our words and our actions. But what does it mean to “remain in Him”?

I love to watch the eyes of my granddaughter light up when she sees someone she recognizes. There is no one that can bring a broader smile to her face however than that of mom and dad. They have made the greatest investment in her life. They have fed her, held her when she was hurting, provided security for her when she was afraid, spent the most time laughing and playing with her, and are there when she goes to sleep and when she wakes up. Even when it comes time to discipline her, in a healthy relationship, she will still long for their arms and embrace. She most desires to be with mom and dad. Our Heavenly Father loves us that much and more. When we come to accept and know that truth, we will give ourselves to a deeper level of conformity to His will for our lives. We will most desire to be with Him. Even when we become busy with life, He will still be at the forefront of every thought. Our lives will be filled with the confidence that He is right there when we lay our head on our pillow at night and will still be there when we wake up in the morning. It is that “remaining in Him” that Charles Spurgeon says is the power in prayer. Jesus says that as we remain in Him, we may ask whatever we wish and it will be given.

We will soon be entering the holiday season with Thanksgiving and then followed up by Christmas. Take hold of every opportunity to get closer to your Heavenly Father this season. Wait with Him in prayer, spend time in His word, don’t miss the opportunities of worship together with the family of God, spend time in solitude with Him, take the time to serve others and take the time to simply enjoy the life He has given you.

As you grow up “in Him”, may your life be filled with the blessings that a loving Heavenly Father wants to pour out in abundance on you each day. Know His love, peace, comfort, assurance, joy and hope. Run into His open arms every day. He is waiting for you.