As a boy, I played basketball for my school, the Thompsonville Tigers. In elementary, we played a much smaller town called Akin. I don't remember whether we ever beat them or not, but one thing I remember is playing against two guys named Miller--brothers a year apart. And in the stands watching was a husband and wife with two other little Miller clones--I mean, these guys looked alike.
During teen years, I visited a little church, I guess to do special music, called Steeleville Baptist Church (you would turn just before Benton, by a farm implement company. By the way, later the daughter of that farm implement company was my pastor's wife in T-ville.
A little later, our church had a very active youth program and singing group called "The Happenings." (Well remember, this was the 60's). Eventually this family, the Miller family, came to join our church, and what a blessing to us they were. Gene wanted to be sure he kept his boys active in church, and ours was the place for the time.
I was the age of Larry and Dennis, and then a few years younger were Rodney and Paul. And they were active in the youth group--we went on mission trips (one time to Louisville Kentucky), other churches to sing, lock ins, retreats, and God used our pastor, Jerry Pyle, to bless the youth and grow the youth. Three preachers, to my knowledge, came out of the group, but many, many serious commitments to Christ were made that influence the rest of our lives.
Eventually, youth grow up and go their separate ways and pastors go God's ways. After Jerry was when a guy a year older than me, Richard Shaw (wife was the farm implement owner's daughter), and they were a great blessing to me as I finished college and had an interim time at home before I got my teaching job.
Had not seen Rodney Miller nor heard of him since, but had occasionally seen his older brothers--one of whom married a gal from our youth group. They were very active in church (Gene and his wife passed along not just church going, but genuine faith, and it "caught." as they lived in the area. But Rod has been, I guess, over many places, and to Georgia where he lives with a fine looking family.
Now he has begun a new endeavor called Small Town/Big Deal, where he is telling the stories of small towns and their peoples on RFD-TV. (Also available on the internet--Google it). When I came down with my leukemia, we got back in touch with one another.
In Proverbs, I believe 22:6, says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." I've heard it preached as a promise of God, but that's not really so. It is wisdom literature--wise sayings that generally occur in life, but not a guarantee. Many Christians would attest, sadly to the fact it is not a promise, but continues to be their prayer for their kids.
In general, if we train up a child God's way, and in the way the child should go, the child will follow that path through life, or return to that path at some point.
The Miller family is still being blessed through a hard working farm family that "trained up their children in a godly way," and they are still being blessed because of it.
Thanks Rodney for reconnecting.
One other thing I want to say, God's way for Rod and I have been different through life. But that was God's intention and plan. God used who we were and our faith to mold us into who we are today. God wants to do that for you too. So seek the Lord while He may be found, trust Him, and He will do it.
Shalom.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Do Something
A few months ago, I led a small group through a study, titled, "Real Life Discipleship Training Manual." It was a workbook designed to teach groups principles to lead small discipling groups.
One of the things within that was that in the discipleship process, there was God's part, the leaders part and our part. Each is important in the process of growing into a disciple of Jesus Christ.
In the late 1970's, when I was studying at Southwestern Seminary in Ft Worth, Texas, there was a professor of counseling called John Drakeford. One of Dr. Drakeford's important statements was, "Act yourself into a new way of feeling." There are times when we don't "feel" like doing something, following God, witnessing, getting out of bed. But the point was, at times, we just had to overcome out feelings by taking action--doing something, and the feelings would follow.
In the Christian life, that is often the case, as it is with me now on chemotherapy. At times, there seems to be no flavor to my food. At times, to keep up my strength, I have to just force myself to eat something, even with no flavor. But I know I have to eat to work though what is going on in my body right now. So I do what I can to "act myself into a new way of feeling."
God's part is the healing, and the doctors/nurses are co-laborers in that process. But also I am part of that too, as I do MY part.
Nike said in ads a few years years ago, "Just do it!" And so often to grow in Christian discipleship, that is what's necessary. I don't "feel" like it; but I must just "do it," following the Lord's instructions; even when I don't understand, don't want to, feel I can't. The power is His; the motivation is His; but I am to follow to obey.
What is it today that you need to "act yourself into a new way of feeling," as you seek to follow the Lord and become His more fully committed disciple?
One of the things within that was that in the discipleship process, there was God's part, the leaders part and our part. Each is important in the process of growing into a disciple of Jesus Christ.
In the late 1970's, when I was studying at Southwestern Seminary in Ft Worth, Texas, there was a professor of counseling called John Drakeford. One of Dr. Drakeford's important statements was, "Act yourself into a new way of feeling." There are times when we don't "feel" like doing something, following God, witnessing, getting out of bed. But the point was, at times, we just had to overcome out feelings by taking action--doing something, and the feelings would follow.
In the Christian life, that is often the case, as it is with me now on chemotherapy. At times, there seems to be no flavor to my food. At times, to keep up my strength, I have to just force myself to eat something, even with no flavor. But I know I have to eat to work though what is going on in my body right now. So I do what I can to "act myself into a new way of feeling."
God's part is the healing, and the doctors/nurses are co-laborers in that process. But also I am part of that too, as I do MY part.
Nike said in ads a few years years ago, "Just do it!" And so often to grow in Christian discipleship, that is what's necessary. I don't "feel" like it; but I must just "do it," following the Lord's instructions; even when I don't understand, don't want to, feel I can't. The power is His; the motivation is His; but I am to follow to obey.
What is it today that you need to "act yourself into a new way of feeling," as you seek to follow the Lord and become His more fully committed disciple?
Monday, September 16, 2013
GUYS, GET REAL
Yes, guys, get real--be a man--face up to it. You are going to die. (Whoa, didn't like this beginning.) But I'm going to get very practical at the end in "being prepared" (Boy Scout motto)
Experience tells us this. How many people do you know who are over 100 years old? What happened to all the others who did not live that long? Get real, guys, get real. Will you be the exception? Why you? How so?
Jewish Wisdom Literature tells us so.
Experience tells us this. How many people do you know who are over 100 years old? What happened to all the others who did not live that long? Get real, guys, get real. Will you be the exception? Why you? How so?
Jewish Wisdom Literature tells us so.
3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:3-8, NIV, biblegateway.com)
"A time to be born, and a time to die." In the verses, a series of contrasts--but I really don't like the pair with which he begins. Couldn't he have eased us into it like a good modern author? Nope, straight to the point. Limits to our earthly existence--a beginning and an ending.
But guys don't really believe this? Do they? Nah. I will beat the odds. I will be the one exception. Bee Gee's phrase from one of their disco songs, "I'm Gonna Live Forever." (Maybe in the movie, "Saturday Night Fever.")
So we go against experience and we go against 3000 year old wisdom literature, and say, "Not me." Guys, get real!
So how do you prepare for death when you're fully alive--enjoying life? Why even think about it? Because we all have people in our lives who love us. Because we all have people in our lives whom we love. Because we all have purposes, things we want to achieve, but time is limited. "A time to be born, and a time to die."
- You quit thinking "I'm invincible"--nothing can happen to me.
- You actually go to the doctor regularly (by the way, here I mean medical doctor not PhD). As a boy, as a teen, as a 30's I can do it all guy, throughout life. Diseases do not wait until we are 60 or 70 to hit us. May I also add, you regularly go to your dentist for consistent oral care. This way you protect those who love you and those you love. Regularly may be defined by your doctor according to age. Maybe a one year check on younger men, but every six months or so as we age. Their the experts in medical areas--listen to them. You're the expert in what YOU do.
- If you're not sure the doctor is correct about something or if he doesn't listen to you, then seek a second or third opinion--another doctor, maybe in your city or a city nearby.
- When a doctor gives you medications to take or things you are to do, follow them, unless they cause you complications. If they do, call him back; tell him; get a change. Everyone of us is uniquely made by God, and one medication doesn't work for us all.
- Realize that God gave these physicians, nurses, medical people special knowledge, special education, special compassion to help us live life longer and more healthily. I want life to be quantity, but I want life to be quality. I want to live this life able to enjoy it to the utmost
- Realize you are more than just a physical being. You are also an emotional, social, spiritual being. We all have emotions. We all need friends and love and support. And, I believe, strongly, we all need a relationship with the Creator of the first humans. How did the first two humans get here? Genesis says, "They were created by God; male and female, He created them." (Genesis 2) For me, that makes sense that they had to have their start by Someone greater than they were.
- As a Christian, that means for me, I investigate the truth claims of Jesus as found in the New Testament. Could He really be the Jewish Messiah mentioned in the Old Testament that lived, died, and came alive again after death as written in the New Testament? (That one's hard to believe--life again after dying!)
You are going to die. But this God LOVES you. He wants to guide you to make wise decisions in this life, even decisions about going to the doctor to love your loved ones better. He would love to give you long life; but He is most interested about quality of your life. A life that is really happy and fulfilled and productive.
But He also said, through Jesus in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV, biblegateway.com)
Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus came alive. Jesus will return for those who belong to Him. And they will live with Him and God forever--eternally--no ending to that life.
Be prepared! Death will come. Young, 30 somethings, 80's; it will come. Take care of yourself and your loved ones by being practical in the meantime, but also prepare that if that day came today, you are also ready to meet God and live with Him forever. Check out Jesus Christ.
Be prepared!
(By the way, I note that of the followers of this blog, most are women or most "likes" on Facebook from it are women. I guess my style is just better read by them or they tolerate long posts. But maybe some of them need to read this to you, their man, their husbands, their lovers, their friends)
Sunday, September 15, 2013
DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?
In John chapter 5, Jesus asks a man an interesting question, but one we must all answer for healing to come. "Do you WANT to get well?"
Within healing there are, it three involved (a Trinity, if you will). One of those is the Great Physician--God--Jesus--and he is THE ULTIMATE HEALER. He put within our bodies great systems to heal itself, to move blood, to move oxygen, to move cells to kill infection. Pretty great idea, right?
But also this same God decided to, at times, use miracles such as Jesus did in John 5,where a man 38 years in an invalid condition, got up to walk at Jesus request.
So 1) God is Ultimate Healer
Second within the healing realm are the medical facilities, medications, doctors, nurses, staff, that discover, promote, educate and provide their knowledge to healing. Many acknowledge that God is the ultimate healer, but whether they do or not, they work with existing systems that they did not put into place in the human body. They tweak, and discover, and learn new ways and technologies to aid the healing.
Third, is the patient--you, me, us. Each of us need a hope, a reason, a purpose, people in our life that make us want to be healed. When hope is gone, physicians can go no farther. Hope is necessary to the healing process. It is easy to live a long-haul disease and give up hope for improvement--that life can get any better. For some who are very old, that may be God's way of helping them get less settled and comfortable with this world, and prepare to enter the world to come.
But for younger ones of us, God may want to give us hope through encouragers, family, supporters, churches, a new granddaughter (just thought I'd throw that one in, since I have one--want to see pics?). He may want to give us hope through reading the Bible, through prayer for change, through gifts or love brought from friends, family, church members.
Two Sundays ago, I received a bombard of text messages at Barnes Hospital. My pastor, Wes, had at a certain time in their service, people with cell phones take our phone number and send messages of prayer, encouragement, love, hope to us. WHAT AN ENCOURAGEMENT! Novel idea--Turn your cell phone ON, not OFF, during worship as a tool of ministry. THANKS PASTOR WES.
But three parts, and that is where the question of Jesus comes in. "Do you WANT to get well?"
Whatever the ailment, YOU have something to do about your healing, your overcoming whatever the problem or affliction is. YOU have to WANT to get well.
God's Part
Medical Staff Part
Your Part
Do you want to get well? Keep up the hope, the purpose, the "want to" so you too can overcome.
Within healing there are, it three involved (a Trinity, if you will). One of those is the Great Physician--God--Jesus--and he is THE ULTIMATE HEALER. He put within our bodies great systems to heal itself, to move blood, to move oxygen, to move cells to kill infection. Pretty great idea, right?
But also this same God decided to, at times, use miracles such as Jesus did in John 5,where a man 38 years in an invalid condition, got up to walk at Jesus request.
So 1) God is Ultimate Healer
Second within the healing realm are the medical facilities, medications, doctors, nurses, staff, that discover, promote, educate and provide their knowledge to healing. Many acknowledge that God is the ultimate healer, but whether they do or not, they work with existing systems that they did not put into place in the human body. They tweak, and discover, and learn new ways and technologies to aid the healing.
Third, is the patient--you, me, us. Each of us need a hope, a reason, a purpose, people in our life that make us want to be healed. When hope is gone, physicians can go no farther. Hope is necessary to the healing process. It is easy to live a long-haul disease and give up hope for improvement--that life can get any better. For some who are very old, that may be God's way of helping them get less settled and comfortable with this world, and prepare to enter the world to come.
But for younger ones of us, God may want to give us hope through encouragers, family, supporters, churches, a new granddaughter (just thought I'd throw that one in, since I have one--want to see pics?). He may want to give us hope through reading the Bible, through prayer for change, through gifts or love brought from friends, family, church members.
Two Sundays ago, I received a bombard of text messages at Barnes Hospital. My pastor, Wes, had at a certain time in their service, people with cell phones take our phone number and send messages of prayer, encouragement, love, hope to us. WHAT AN ENCOURAGEMENT! Novel idea--Turn your cell phone ON, not OFF, during worship as a tool of ministry. THANKS PASTOR WES.
But three parts, and that is where the question of Jesus comes in. "Do you WANT to get well?"
Whatever the ailment, YOU have something to do about your healing, your overcoming whatever the problem or affliction is. YOU have to WANT to get well.
God's Part
Medical Staff Part
Your Part
Do you want to get well? Keep up the hope, the purpose, the "want to" so you too can overcome.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
FATHER GOD, WHY?
As I sit in this hospital room, beginning the second round of chemo for leukemia, these things I ask the Father God:
Whether it's 62 years, or 92 (like my father) or 100 (like my mother), I give thanks to the LORD for He is good, and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Join me in giving thanks to the LORD.
- Why do You allow me, a fulltime minister of yours for over 30 years, to be suddenly unemployed before retirement age?
- Why do You allow a person who was called "the youngest 60 year old I know," suddenly to be fighting for his physical life at 62 with cancer?
- Why God, after a year of unemployment, but now hired in a full time teaching position, am I not allowed to teach one day of the school year?
- Why God, do you strike down one seeking to preach and teach effectively your Word to others at the peak of his gifting and knowledge?
- Why Lord, do you give a man a wife who is his best friend for 36 years, and make his days wonderful due to her dedication and love?
- Why do you grant children to be proud of, and a grandchild to be proud of as well?
- Why do you allow a little boy from a small town literally to impact people around the world without leaving his home state?
- Why do allow me a love relationship with You, the King of the Universe Creator, Provider, Sustainer, Redeemer?
- Why did you give me such loving parents who believed marriage was for life, and lived it over 60 years?
- Why did you allow me to have received an inheritance, that paid off my house before this illness was made known?
- Why do you have a special place prepared for me, with other disciples of yours, to worship you forever and ever, and why is that secure, so that I do not worry what will happen if the next breath does not come?
Whether it's 62 years, or 92 (like my father) or 100 (like my mother), I give thanks to the LORD for He is good, and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Join me in giving thanks to the LORD.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Memorizing Scripture
One of the things I was challenged to do, years ago, was to memorize Scripture. Little did I realize the value of that as the years went by.
One man that used to be at College Student week at our national camp was Rollin. He said the greatest thing he had encouraged students to do in his ministry was challenging them to "hide God's word in their heart." Rollin would get up before maybe 2500 people and quote the 46th Psalm or an entire chapter in a NT book.
Because memorized Word is present it is always "living and active and sharp as a two-edged sword, to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)
I attempted to memorize single verses or a few together such as Philippians 2:5-11 or Philippians 4:13-19. And some of those stuck.
Guess what--now 20- 30-40 years later, memorized Scripture comes to mind in various situations and gives me strength, challenge, encouragement.
You say, "I can't memorize Scripture." And I say, "Have you ever really tried it?' The key is going over the verses again and again over time--days, years, months.
Most of us know our Social Security numbers, driver's licenses, license plates, kids names, friends, various store names--which is more important to know--these or God's Word?
Review--review--review. And lots of it just comes down to laziness. I don't memorize and review because I don't want to.
But believe me, this is something that helps me so often right now--a sleepless night--a worry--a fear--a child out too late--being told I have leukemia.
So I want to encourage you to memorize God's word. Find verses that especially speak to you as you read the Bible. Work to memorize them perfectly. Then review them often--every day or so until you have them down.
When my wife did a Beth Moore study in James, she took up Beth's challenge to memorize book of James. She had most of it down. She told me one of the neatest things about this was as she reviewed and did it over and over, new meaning came forth from the Word. But most of us will never take the challenge--make the time to "store God's Word in our hearts." So what a blessing you miss.
"Hide the Word of God in your heart, that you might not sin against God." But do it also just for the pure pleasure of relating to the God of the Universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords--the One who loved you so much He sent Jesus to give His life a ransom for your (and my sin).
Memorizing Scripture is a way of getting to know God better for those (not just preachers) who are willing to take the challenge. Start small--1-2 verses per week--review everyday or every other day--and see what benefits it brings to your life!
When I have no physical Bible, I still have God's Word within me, speaking, challenging, convicting, teaching me.
So when are you going to begin memorizing Scripture? Maybe--today?
One man that used to be at College Student week at our national camp was Rollin. He said the greatest thing he had encouraged students to do in his ministry was challenging them to "hide God's word in their heart." Rollin would get up before maybe 2500 people and quote the 46th Psalm or an entire chapter in a NT book.
Because memorized Word is present it is always "living and active and sharp as a two-edged sword, to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)
I attempted to memorize single verses or a few together such as Philippians 2:5-11 or Philippians 4:13-19. And some of those stuck.
Guess what--now 20- 30-40 years later, memorized Scripture comes to mind in various situations and gives me strength, challenge, encouragement.
You say, "I can't memorize Scripture." And I say, "Have you ever really tried it?' The key is going over the verses again and again over time--days, years, months.
Most of us know our Social Security numbers, driver's licenses, license plates, kids names, friends, various store names--which is more important to know--these or God's Word?
Review--review--review. And lots of it just comes down to laziness. I don't memorize and review because I don't want to.
But believe me, this is something that helps me so often right now--a sleepless night--a worry--a fear--a child out too late--being told I have leukemia.
So I want to encourage you to memorize God's word. Find verses that especially speak to you as you read the Bible. Work to memorize them perfectly. Then review them often--every day or so until you have them down.
When my wife did a Beth Moore study in James, she took up Beth's challenge to memorize book of James. She had most of it down. She told me one of the neatest things about this was as she reviewed and did it over and over, new meaning came forth from the Word. But most of us will never take the challenge--make the time to "store God's Word in our hearts." So what a blessing you miss.
"Hide the Word of God in your heart, that you might not sin against God." But do it also just for the pure pleasure of relating to the God of the Universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords--the One who loved you so much He sent Jesus to give His life a ransom for your (and my sin).
Memorizing Scripture is a way of getting to know God better for those (not just preachers) who are willing to take the challenge. Start small--1-2 verses per week--review everyday or every other day--and see what benefits it brings to your life!
When I have no physical Bible, I still have God's Word within me, speaking, challenging, convicting, teaching me.
So when are you going to begin memorizing Scripture? Maybe--today?
Thursday, September 12, 2013
REFLECTIONS ON FAITH
What is faith? Personally I believe I do not have faith in prayer, nor in the church, nor in people, But in God and His Son, Jesus.
Do I believe in prayer and the church? Yes, but because of belief in the Lord God.
I've noticed during this time of "retreat" due to my medical confinement that several have commended my wife and I on the depth of faith we have. But it seems to me that's where the priority may be off a bit. The faith is in God and Jesus. It is not because of the "bigness" of my faith that I will get through this all. It is due to the loving Father, the Sovereign God who has plans and brings them to effect in life. Jesus said, "If you have the faith of mustard seed"--that's not much, though He did chide His disciples as "you of little faith."
Faith--trust--genuine subordination of oneself to a loving, holy, righteous, compassionate God is what's important.
Faith should reflect God not you and me. It should glorify Him, not me.
Some of us do not live by faith; we walk by sight. We live by God's blessings, family, personal inner strength, things human not divine. When the blessing of God is there, then praise the Lord. But when things turn sour, at times even due to our undoing, we move away from God. We abandon Him and His church. We do not seek to be true and faithful to a Holy God, a Righteous God, or to Jesus way of living life.
Hebrews 11 is a wonderful listing of as someone has said, "the hall of fame of faith." But there are many other examples such as Abraham, David, Ananias and a man renamed Paul.
I preached last on August 11th, just before my hospitalization. I said, "Faith is not faith if it is only for the good times." I stand by that. It is especially for the hard times, but in all of them, good or bad, trust is essential--trust that God has not only "a" plan, but "the" plan. That plan is to redeem and save, to love all, to establish a faith relationship with everyone. And that plan is also that He would be glorified and worshiped for who He is.
Do my wife and I have stronger faith than many? Well maybe. We are learning in this struggle more of what faith means. Faith can be grown if you cooperate with God in the process instead of fighting God in the process.
The process begins when you decide to "follow Jesus" and when you decide also to be part of His body, the church, and when you seek not only to grow through teachings of others (preachers, teachers, etc.), but also do your own study/reading/praying/reflecting on spiritual literature. It is cultivated over time. Maybe why my wife and I seem to have great faith to many (I say we're still weak--the strength is God, not us). Faith is cultivated over days, years and months of "seeking after God," trying to listen and be true to His purposes, through minutes which over time turn into hours getting to know God in Scripture.
Don't look for a Bible-believing church, nor a Bible-teaching church. Look for a Bible-living church--where people seem to attempt to put into practice the teachings of Jesus and God. Often those combine, but not always.
And always remember that a breakdown for all of us is "living what we say we believe." Ask for God's forgiveness when you fail (you will). Forgive yourself, but get back to the path of faith so you don't lose your way on the journey to knowing God.
Words from 2 Corinthians 12 today: 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV, biblegateway.com)
So where are you in faith today? And what do you need to do to strengthen faith NOW for the hard times to come LATER? It is well worth the seeking and the journey to know God.
Do I believe in prayer and the church? Yes, but because of belief in the Lord God.
I've noticed during this time of "retreat" due to my medical confinement that several have commended my wife and I on the depth of faith we have. But it seems to me that's where the priority may be off a bit. The faith is in God and Jesus. It is not because of the "bigness" of my faith that I will get through this all. It is due to the loving Father, the Sovereign God who has plans and brings them to effect in life. Jesus said, "If you have the faith of mustard seed"--that's not much, though He did chide His disciples as "you of little faith."
Faith--trust--genuine subordination of oneself to a loving, holy, righteous, compassionate God is what's important.
Faith should reflect God not you and me. It should glorify Him, not me.
Some of us do not live by faith; we walk by sight. We live by God's blessings, family, personal inner strength, things human not divine. When the blessing of God is there, then praise the Lord. But when things turn sour, at times even due to our undoing, we move away from God. We abandon Him and His church. We do not seek to be true and faithful to a Holy God, a Righteous God, or to Jesus way of living life.
Hebrews 11 is a wonderful listing of as someone has said, "the hall of fame of faith." But there are many other examples such as Abraham, David, Ananias and a man renamed Paul.
I preached last on August 11th, just before my hospitalization. I said, "Faith is not faith if it is only for the good times." I stand by that. It is especially for the hard times, but in all of them, good or bad, trust is essential--trust that God has not only "a" plan, but "the" plan. That plan is to redeem and save, to love all, to establish a faith relationship with everyone. And that plan is also that He would be glorified and worshiped for who He is.
Do my wife and I have stronger faith than many? Well maybe. We are learning in this struggle more of what faith means. Faith can be grown if you cooperate with God in the process instead of fighting God in the process.
The process begins when you decide to "follow Jesus" and when you decide also to be part of His body, the church, and when you seek not only to grow through teachings of others (preachers, teachers, etc.), but also do your own study/reading/praying/reflecting on spiritual literature. It is cultivated over time. Maybe why my wife and I seem to have great faith to many (I say we're still weak--the strength is God, not us). Faith is cultivated over days, years and months of "seeking after God," trying to listen and be true to His purposes, through minutes which over time turn into hours getting to know God in Scripture.
Don't look for a Bible-believing church, nor a Bible-teaching church. Look for a Bible-living church--where people seem to attempt to put into practice the teachings of Jesus and God. Often those combine, but not always.
And always remember that a breakdown for all of us is "living what we say we believe." Ask for God's forgiveness when you fail (you will). Forgive yourself, but get back to the path of faith so you don't lose your way on the journey to knowing God.
Words from 2 Corinthians 12 today: 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV, biblegateway.com)
So where are you in faith today? And what do you need to do to strengthen faith NOW for the hard times to come LATER? It is well worth the seeking and the journey to know God.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Whose Fragrance Do You Give Off?
Reading in 2 Corinthians 2 today, I came across this: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." (2:14, NIV)
O that when people walked past us--when people were around us--when they saw our true nature, it would be shedding the fragrance of Christ--His love, His compassion, His caring, His genuine nature! That would be a prayer for me worth praying.
So often I am impatient--I am self-centered--I am frustrated with people and get angry at them. So often I say things out of wrong motives--focused on me, not the need of the other, even the need of the other for growth, improvement.
But what if, what if, today I would focus more, and you would focus more, on being the essence, the odor, the fragrance of Christ to those whom you are around? How would others respond to us and their world differently today?
I plan to attempt (that may not last long) to let the fragrance of Christ smell through me today. I guess that aids in the knowledge of God being seen as the Psalmist said, "Taste and see that the LORD is good." Could that happen through me today? I hope so.
O that when people walked past us--when people were around us--when they saw our true nature, it would be shedding the fragrance of Christ--His love, His compassion, His caring, His genuine nature! That would be a prayer for me worth praying.
So often I am impatient--I am self-centered--I am frustrated with people and get angry at them. So often I say things out of wrong motives--focused on me, not the need of the other, even the need of the other for growth, improvement.
But what if, what if, today I would focus more, and you would focus more, on being the essence, the odor, the fragrance of Christ to those whom you are around? How would others respond to us and their world differently today?
I plan to attempt (that may not last long) to let the fragrance of Christ smell through me today. I guess that aids in the knowledge of God being seen as the Psalmist said, "Taste and see that the LORD is good." Could that happen through me today? I hope so.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Mom Visited Me
Was it chemo or a dream? I really don't care. I'd had fevers most every night since I entered the hospital almost 2 weeks ago. A couple of nights ago, on chemo overnight, I began having some colorful dreams, images, etc. appearing to me when I closed my eyes. Many colors, shapes, even scary spiders, upon which I decided to praise and thank God for focus my mind of Him and His ways (Philippians 4:8).
And then it happened. An outline of the top of a door came, as if open with light shining brightly through it. Several figures seemed to go past, but then one came, stopped and just stayed there for a short while.
As I saw the outline of the head, I realized it was my Mom, in her later years of life (she died in 2007)--the outline of her white hair, all freshly permed and picked out--so pretty it was. She was there for a moment, looked a minute or two, it seemed, and then was gone.
As I pondered the experience, I wondered what this meant. Was she coming from my family members or even the Lord to say, "Now you too can come home, my child"? No, I don't think so. What I believe was happening was a confirmation from God that I am still to be here for a while. It was a tender momma, with a sick son, seeing if his fever had broken. When I was a boy my mom would come and put her hand on my head, seeing then it was ok, and then moving on to her own bed. And to me, that's what happened that night. She came to make sure I was ok, to say "You'll be all right," and then to go back to her peaceful night of rest with the Lord.
Dream, chemo, empty thoughts, intellectual--I really don't care. It was an opportunity to feel the love of my earthly momma, given to me at this troubled time by my Heavenly Abba. And for that I grateful!
And then it happened. An outline of the top of a door came, as if open with light shining brightly through it. Several figures seemed to go past, but then one came, stopped and just stayed there for a short while.
As I saw the outline of the head, I realized it was my Mom, in her later years of life (she died in 2007)--the outline of her white hair, all freshly permed and picked out--so pretty it was. She was there for a moment, looked a minute or two, it seemed, and then was gone.
As I pondered the experience, I wondered what this meant. Was she coming from my family members or even the Lord to say, "Now you too can come home, my child"? No, I don't think so. What I believe was happening was a confirmation from God that I am still to be here for a while. It was a tender momma, with a sick son, seeing if his fever had broken. When I was a boy my mom would come and put her hand on my head, seeing then it was ok, and then moving on to her own bed. And to me, that's what happened that night. She came to make sure I was ok, to say "You'll be all right," and then to go back to her peaceful night of rest with the Lord.
Dream, chemo, empty thoughts, intellectual--I really don't care. It was an opportunity to feel the love of my earthly momma, given to me at this troubled time by my Heavenly Abba. And for that I grateful!
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