Archive | September 2014

Idleness and Pity are not your calling!

Sep30

It is a wonderful thing to be part of a church family. Just as with any family there are many different personalities and giftings among the members. You will not find any perfect people among either family. You will find people that hopefully are growing in love for one another and learning to reach out and touch the lives of others within the four walls of the church and outside the four walls. Just as our biological families should give us a place to grow and develop, hopefully in a safe environment, our church families should do the same.

The church is a place where each member should have a purpose and function. God has gifted each of us uniquely to minister to others in such a vast variety of ways. We are all to use our giftings. Sadly some come to church hoping to have their needs met without ever learning to help meet the needs of others around them. They get discouraged and disappointed when others seemingly let them down, yet seldom reach out and help others in need themselves.

There really is no place for selfish ambition or selfishness in the church. Paul gives us clear instruction on how we are to function as a family in Romans 12. As we can see, no where is there a place for selfish ambition or selfishness. We are all called to serve. If you find yourself disappointed in others or discouraged that your needs are not being met, perhaps it is time to start using your giftings to be a blessing to others. We are to live a poured out life, not a life sitting idly and waiting for others to pour out on us.  Time is too short to be wasted in pity and idleness. We all have been called for a purpose. Seek God for your purpose among the body and get busy fulfilling it!

Romans 12 NIV

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,faithful in prayer

.13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If we live each day serving as we have been called to serve, we will be too busy to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. It’s time for each of us in the body of Christ to wake up and begin to live as we have been called to live, as a living sacrifice serving our brothers and sisters and reaching out to a world that is dying. Read and reread Romans 12 and perhaps write it out as a daily reminder of what we have been called to do. Let’s not waste another day!

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Are you due for a maintenance check?

Sep24

For the past several weeks our home computer had not been running very smoothly. There were many delays when trying to pull up pages, pages freezing and programs refusing to open.   Though I knew it needed to be done I just  kept putting off running a maintenance check. Today I did it. It was very necessary. It has cleaned up a number of issues. I couldn’t help but think it is similar to our need for a spiritual maintenance check every now and then.  When life gets hard or too busy and we find our intimacy with Christ lagging, our thoughts become negative and confusing and  too often we turn to other things to fill the emptiness we are sensing. We may turn to facebook, online games, tv or other sources of quick fix comfort when what we really need to do is spend time in our Bibles and talking to the lover of our soul!

There is no substitute for time spent with Him. Other time fillers cannot bring about the change we need in our hearts. They cannot restore our joy or peace. They cannot prepare us for what He has in store for us today or tomorrow. Only spending time in His Word and in His presence in prayer can do that.

If you find yourself spiritually running on empty, turn off all your gadgets and get alone with your Bible and Savior.  Nothing will fill that emptiness you are feeling but Christ. He made us that way!.  Ask Him to restore your joy and peace. Read His Word and learn of Him and His beautiful, enduring, patient love for you. Let His words of life change you, recharge you and give you the hope you need to be His ambassador here.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Psalm 9:9-10 NIV 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

John 15:4-5 NIV 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Lord, we come before You and ask that today You turn our hearts back to You. Remind us to seek You when we are spiritually dry and not look to fill our time with worthless things and activities. Restore our joy and peace today as we lean into You and read Your Word. We love You Lord and long to grow into the people You have called us to be. Fill us today with vision for today and the future. We ask it all in the beautiful name of Your Son Jesus, Amen.

 

So Just Who is Jesus Christ?

Sep18

 

Whenever we feel the least bit uncertain that He is able to be all we need Him to be regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we may just want to review just a sample of who He is!

John 14:6 NIV 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Advocate with the Father

Alpha and Omega

Ancient of Days

Anointed One of God

Author of Life

Beginning and the End

Beloved

Beloved Son of God

Bread of Life

Bridegroom

Bright and Morning Star

Carpenter

Cornerstone

Christ

Counselor

Creator of everything

Deliverer

Emmanuel

Eternal

Eternal judge

Everlasting Father

Faithful One

First and Last

Firstborn

God

God’s Anointed

God’s Only Son

Good shepherd

God with us

Great I AM

Healer

Holy

Help in times of trouble

Holy Messiah

Holy ONE of Israel

Intercessor on our behalf

Jehovah

Jesus Christ

Jesus of Nazareth

Judge

Just and true

King of Israel

King of Kings

King of the Jews

Lamb of God

Light of the world

Lion of Judah

Lover of our soul

Living bread

Living water

Lord of all

Lord of glory

Maker

Master

Mediator

Messiah

Mighty God

Miracle maker

Most High God

Nazarene

Omnipotent

Only begotten of the Father

Our Passover lamb

Physician

Power of God

Prince of Peace

Prophet

Propitiation for our sins

Rabbi

Redeemer

Resurrection and Life

Righteous One

Revealer

Rock

Root of Jesse

Sacrifice

Savior of the world

Seed of David

Servant of the Lord

Shepherd

Son of David

Son of God

Son of man

Son of the most high God

Teacher

The Way

True Vine

Truth and Life

Unchanging

Wonderful

Word of God

Word of Life

Worthy of all praise

He alone can draw us, redeem us, change us and enable us to serve!  He is our beautiful Jesus! Put your trust in Him for He is more than enough!

 

 

 

Is your GPS set to Christ?

Sep17

In the last month or so I’ve  had many conversations with people concerned about the crazy world events that are unfolding before us.  Those who don’t yet know Christ as Savior and Lord are worried. Many have long since lost faith in politicians and governments and for some very good reasons. They don’t know how things can possibly get better. They don’t yet know that despite the world’s circumstances, there is ONE they can run to with all their worries, fears, anxieties and He will give them peace. They need to meet Jesus. They need to know the ONLY solution to the world’s woes. We who know Him must be willing to share the good news whenever the opportunity presents itself.

For those of us who know Jesus Christ  as Lord and Savior, we don’t have to stumble about looking for answers. We have the Word of God to guide us. The Holy Spirit to lead us and we can run to the lover of our soul with all our cares! He is available to all who seek Him! Instead of wasting our time making wrong turns here and there He longs for us to run to Him!   I want to share just a few scriptures today to remind us of just that!

Proverbs 18:10 NIV 10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 34:17 NIV 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 50:15 NIV  15   ” And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

If you are struggling, run to the ONE who wants to comfort you. The ONE who died for you and promises peace to those who love and follow Him.

John 14:27 NIV 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus said it and we can believe it! Run to Him, saturate yourself in the Word of God (Bible) and rest in His peace. You will not find true peace anywhere else!

 

“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.”~A.W. Tozer

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Hold to, spur on, meet and encourage!

Sep16

Last week my husband and I spent a week vacationing in the Dominican Republic. It was a great rest for both of us. We were fortunate enough to meet some new friends who are currently missionaries there. One is a fellow blogger.  It was such a blessing to meet people who are helping people in the most practical ways, right where the rubber meets the road. People who are not afraid to get their hands dirty when reaching down to help others in some pretty dark places. It encouraged me to do more.

Meeting with fellow believers should do just that. If we are fulfilling the plan God has for our lives it should encourage others to do the same.  We need each other. We all have times of discouragement and difficulty but God has provided us with a very large family! A family we can turn to for support, encouragement and love. A family of likeminded people who can keep us grounded in the Word of God and keep us in check should we begin to wander into the wider path.

Though our relationship with Christ must be personal, He has given us a large family for support, correction, love and to labor alongside of. The Word of God tells us just how important it is that we maintain relationship with our spiritual family.

Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

When we look around us today we can be assured that the Day of Christ’s return is not that far off. It is so important that as the days grow more evil, we spur one another on toward love and good deeds. There will be times we will feel discouraged with what we see happening but that is not the time to stop sharing the gospel, doing good deeds or being the hands and feet of Christ. It will be the time to spur one another on!  We must not give up meeting together. As the Lord’s return draws closer we must stop making excuses of why we cannot get to church, or bible study or any other gathering of the body of Christ. There is nothing more important than growing in our faith and doing His works! We need one another’s support and wisdom.  And lastly, we must encourage one another all the more as time passes. God has created each of us with a need for others. He did not create us to be an island of our own. We need to be available and supportive to our brothers and sisters in Christ for prayer, sharing of the Word and fellowship.

Lord I pray today that You will reveal to us how important it is that we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, our hope in the return of our beautiful Savior! Open our eyes to see how important it is that we spur on one another in good deeds! Help us to realize the importance of meeting regularly with our church families! Help us to encourage one another as You would encourage us Lord.  Let us not be found sleeping when You return, but let us be found busy doing Your works inside the church and outside the church.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

Did you receive your wake up call?

Sep2

I am currently reading through the book of Jeremiah. I can’t help but think of how Jeremiah must have  felt when he was told by God to warn His  people and the nations of the coming judgement and calamities. He was a prophet called to rebuke, warn and encourage the people to turn from their idolatry and sins and humble themselves before God. The same message that must be proclaimed today.

Today many in the church are asleep, living lives of comfort and compromise. Serving themselves with little concern over the lost and broken. It is time that each one of us realize the times we are living in. Just as Jeremiah knew judgement was coming, we too know judgement is coming. It is imperative that we, the body of Christ, be alert to the signs of the times and get busy fulfilling our callings. Revival will come when the church humbles itself and begins to walk in obedience. The world will never be attracted to a sinful church, we must be the light of the world. We must demonstrate the love of Christ to everyone, everywhere. As long as we are dabbling in sin we will not be free to do so.

In my life, God has been showing me areas that I must fully surrender to Him. Areas I have held back. Areas I have been selfish. Areas I have been unwilling to commit to Christ. The time has come for me to be wholly in. I believe the Lord is saying the same to all of His kids that are willing to listen. The time is short before we will see Jesus face to face. We need to get our priorities set and move forward as He leads us.

This is not a message of doom and gloom but of encouragement. We have a beautiful, loving Savior who longs for us to see Him face to face. When we do we want to run to Him with abandon and not walk to Him in shame. He came to save us and set us free from all that would hinder our walk with Him. We need to repent of the things that are keeping us bound and ask Him to break any chains that keep us back from moving forward in living out the walk He has called us to.

Ephesians 5:1-15 NIV 

5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our King is coming back to a church without spot or wrinkle. My prayer is that each of us will humble ourselves before Him and turn from those things that are keeping us from living a life of holiness and obedience. There is much work to be done and we the church, are the laborers.

Lord, forgive us for our apathy and sinfulness. Wake us up to the times we are living in. Give us direction and a heart to share the gospel with the lost. Keep us close to you Jesus, as we wait on your return.  In Your precious name, Amen.

 No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he shall be.~A.W. Tozer