I could be completely out of line here but I’m just going to say it anyway. As Christians we really need to stop picking on each other. From politics to the public school system, it seems that everyone has an opinion about everyone else and we’re not afraid to share it with the world. Differences in doctrine and parenting alone can be enough to get us riled up fast. It’s a dog eat dog world out there and it seems like the older I get, the more often I need to pull over and get a rabies shot.
Understandably, we are going to have our disagreements. We can’t all be republicans or there wouldn’t be any reason to practice self-control and patience. We can’t all be home school mothers or America’s Walmarts would go bankrupt. God forbid we all switch to the Pentecostal religion! Can you imagine the potlucks? The grocery stores would need a week just to restock after Sunday! One would think that with all of our uniqueness we would be stronger as a church body. Yet it is precisely these differences that are pulling us apart instead of drawing us closer together. Paul seemed to be well acquainted with the practice of backbiting. Check this out.
Galatians 5:13-14
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Apparently he was no stranger to Christians attacking other Christians. He offered some good advice that can still be applied today. “Listen, you guys. You’re supposed to be servants of God. Don’t use your religion as a means to attack your brothers and sisters. Love them and treat them the way you would want to be treated.”
It should be that simple but I don’t know that it is. It is a little known fact that registered Democrats are hiding out among our congregations. You might find one cowering beneath a hymn book or behind a bucket of fried chicken every election year but they are there. The plain truth is that they love Jesus as much as you do. There are also working mothers who put their children in public school. It is a very painful and difficult choice to send a child into the world and hope for the best. Does that make those mothers any less worthy of love and respect? Our words and our actions would indicate otherwise.
The world grows darker and colder by the minute. Selflessness is rapidly becoming obsolete as society finds more and more things to gratify its sinful cravings. Common courtesy, respect, and decency are as rare as the people who practice these attributes. As Christians, we are supposed to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth. Have we in our quest to be more religious forgotten how to be more loving? Perhaps it is time to take a step back. Let’s examine our motives when we “gently admonish” our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we can find an inkling of self-righteousness or pride, it might be time to put the pot on simmer and rest a while. After all, a little salt is good but too much is just plain nasty.
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Is this cool or what? I guess people are actually reading my posts because there have been problems commenting lately. First I want to say THANK YOU! Thanks for taking time out of your day to read and respond to my thoughts. It means so much! Also, I changed the comment settings so the kinks are finally ironed out. You are free to comment as you wish! I'd love to hear from you, finally. Comment at will and again, Thank you!
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My friend Cheri, over at Glass House Ministries (http://glasshouseministries.blogspot.com/2010/02/prolific-blogger-award.html)blessed me this morning with an unexpected gift. I've been given the Prolific Blogger award! Yay me! So while I'm actively working on how to insert the picture attached, please check out these other blogs I think you'll like and pass on the good cheer.
(PS- I did not inherit the computer tech gene from my father so I realize that there are quite a few errors in this post. A cute little icon belongs right here and for some ridiculous reason, my links don't work- you have to copy and paste them into your address line thingy at the top. My apologies.)
"A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive… keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content."
1. Every winner of the prolific blogger award please (if you have time) pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers to spread some love! (Sorry! I didn't choose seven because I'm still new to blogging! I'm working on it, I promise!)
2. Every prolific blogger please link back to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
3. Each prolific blogger link this back to this post, which explains the origins and motivations for the award.
4. Every prolific blogger please visit this post and add their name in the Master Link so we can all get to know the other winners. (None of us are quite sure what the "master link" is, so just visit the post and check out some new blogs, make some new blogger buddies.)
I love having the opportunity to share blogs that bless. Thank you, Cheri, and thank you Prolific Bloggers!
www.writingzombie.blogspot.com.
www.on-the-write-track.blogspot.com.
www.joannesher.blogspot.com.
www.lovinthearts.blogspot.com.
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Last Friday I had the great pleasure of attending a benefit dinner in recognition of some very special people. Bay Area Chaplains hosted a gathering of former prison inmates and the volunteers who give up their time to visit them while incarcerated. It was a beautiful testimony of what God can do with an open heart and a willing vessel. The sad news is that I forgot my notebook. Therefore I am unable to give you specific details, such as the correct numbers of volunteers and inmates represented. I can, however share with you what I remember and hopefully pass on one or two valuable lessons.
Every week thousands of volunteers infiltrate bay area prisons, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. My husband was one of those honored for his efforts. It was staggering to see the numbers of men and women whose lives had been changed for the better. So often we hear ugly stories about former inmates committing gruesome crimes while out on parole. The truth that rarely gets told is that good things are happening inside many of our nation’s prison walls. Incarcerated men and women are hearing the Gospel message, accepting it, and applying it to their own lives. Every two weeks my husband comes home and shares stories about men who have accepted Christ in their jail cell. This simple act of submission changes the entire atmosphere in the prison. Guards are seeing the changes in these men and their lives are changed, affecting their families and everyone around them on the outside. The truth that rarely gets told is that incarcerated men and women are serving the Lord while simultaneously serving their jail sentence.
Of the 20 or so inmates represented at this dinner, three of them had testified that they had gone through seminary and were pastoring their own churches. Every single individual acknowledged that they were actively serving God and going to church on a regular basis. One woman stood and shared how she had received her GED and regained custody of her three children, despite the court’s ruling of a life sentence in prison. She is currently holding a steady job and raising her children to love and fear the Lord. One individual was asked, “How many lives do you think you changed since you’ve been set free?” Without missing a beat he answered. 2,000 lives had been touched since he had walked out of his jail cell. The message resonated with everyone. One choice truly has the power to affect thousands upon thousands upon thousands of other lives.
I learned two very important life lessons as I sat at my table listening to these men and women. As Christians, we have an obligation to preach the Good News at every opportunity. People in prisons and hospitals are just as hungry to hear the Gospel as anyone else. They need to be told that they have a purpose and that God does indeed have a plan for their lives. They need to know that they are not forgotten and that God loves them regardless of what they’ve done. Once they know this and have it rooted deep in their spirits, miracles happen and the Lamb’s Book of Life grows ever larger.
The other thing I learned was that it’s so important to make the most of every opportunity. Our days are numbered here. Nobody knows how much time we have left until Christ’s return so we really do need to be about our Father’s business. Colossians 3:5 commands that we walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. We need to remember those who are incarcerated, pray for them, and pray for the volunteers who sacrifice their time to go to them on a regular basis. We need to remember the guards who are being changed simply by witnessing the transformation among the inmates. I have stored all these things in my heart and will be prepared to pray for my husband the next time he goes to visit his inmates. I will also remember to be prepared next time an opportunity like this comes along to learn something about the world around me. I will remember to bring my notebook.
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I should have seen this coming. Are you kidding me? We’re really going to do this again? Why, Lord? Why do I have to go through this over and over again? What is it that I’m supposed to learn this time that I didn’t learn the last three hundred or so times before? Sound familiar? Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? Every now and then we get handed the same bowl of lemons we had last week and we’re expected to make some kind of decadent dessert because we’re just plain sick of lemonade. It’s not fair! So really, what is it that we’re supposed to learn from all this? Joshua, Chapter 6 gives us some clues.
vs 10—“You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.” The first thing we need to do is shut up. Stop talking. Remain silent. There are a couple of reasons for this. For one, when we’re not silent we can’t hear God. During this time of trial we have a wonderful opportunity to get to know God better. When we really stop and listen we could learn some fascinating things about ourselves and our sovereign God. When faced with a difficulty our first inclination is to complain and gripe. After that we beg or bargain. Anger usually comes strolling in right about the time we think we’ve had enough. Eventually we come to the sanctuary of acceptance. God is telling us that this is actually supposed to be our first stop. Zip the lip and simply trust. Be still and know that He is God. When we’re silent we rebuke any form of negativity and allow God to be in His rightful place.
The second thing we need to do is appreciate the power of repetition. By allowing us to go through the same problem over and over again, God has a specific purpose in mind. He wants us to learn to trust and obey. It’s a bit like practicing for a recital. While the act of practicing can be tedious, exhausting, and even painful at times, it produces results. The instrument or dance step we’re trying to learn is perfected the more times we go over it. When practicing a new song, a singer oftentimes starts out rough. The notes don’t sound right, she has to find the right key, and the timing may need some work. The more she practices, the more the song comes together. The notes find their way to perfect harmony and the song becomes a beautiful act of worship for its creator. So it is with us. Repetition should ultimately lead to worship.
I am convinced that worship is the end-all to every problem. When I am worshiping God, my mind is focused on Him and not on my problems. Worship teaches obedience, it silences negativity, and it draws us closer to God during our challenges. It opens our mind up to the things of God and makes every problem seem small in comparison to Him. He’s a big God and he can handle our big problems. John Waller said it perfect in his song, “While I’m waiting”. “I will serve you, I will worship, I will not faint. I’ll be running the race even while I wait.”
If you're waiting, let me pray with you. God is able.
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Call it corny but I have a confession to make. I used to write letters to myself. There was a time not so very long ago when the face in the mirror was the one I most despised. Self-loathing was a familiar evil that embraced me every time I tried to succeed at anything. Depression was the cloak of destruction I wore and it fit very snug. Eventually I came to a point where I was able to see past the hatred if only for a moment. During these quiet times I would search for something positive about myself and then write it down. I think my hope was that I would discover these letters and remember where I was and how I had progressed during the darkest periods of my life. Recently I was rummaging through my old journals and came across three of these letters to me. One was a ridiculous attempt at poetry which I promptly burned. The other seemed like a half hearted attempt that was probably meant to uplift but fell miserably short. The final, posted here was a heartfelt “Way to go, I’m so proud of us!” What I’ve noticed about this last letter was that much of it can still be applied to my life today. If you feel like you can relate, feel free to insert your name where appropriate.
February 11, 2003
Dear Sherry,
When I look at you from a distance I’m so proud of you. You’ve made a lot of mistakes and you’ve taken the hard way more often than not but that’s what’s so admirable. Each time you fail or fall down you grow a little stronger. In a word, you are a fighter. You wear your bruises in a proud but humble way and you never forget to thank God for even minor achievements. Instead of putting yourself down all the time, make an effort to congratulate yourself for the things you did right or didn’t do wrong.
You are a good friend who only asks the same in return. Notice these things! There’s no limit to all the creative energy swelling up inside you. God wants to use it so let him. Stop being afraid and look forward, anticipating good things. You’re not perfect but who is? You’re always reaching for something better because in your heart you know it is right within your grasp. Claim what you are after and don’t let anyone or anything block the entrance to your dreams. Allow God the freedom to do all that he has planned for you. Listen to his instruction and do what he says. Have faith in yourself. The more of you that you give away the brighter you shine.
Love,
Me
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“God choreographs the “molecular dance” which goes on every second of every minute of every day in every cell of the universe…He is not too busy to keep records even of our falling hair. Yet in our darkness we suppose He has overlooked us. He hasn’t.”
Elisabeth Elliot
Text to read: Joshua 10:1-27
God had been the commander in chief for Joshua’s army for quite some time. Apparently they were doing pretty good and had no inclination to slow down or take a breath. They were on fire! That’s why I’m a bit baffled at the audacity of those five kings. Really? They honestly thought they could somehow attack God’s anointed and win? Wow. Not only did God show up and show them who’s boss, he did it in such a powerful way that Joshua really didn’t have to put up much of his own fight. A good fashioned hailstorm took care of that problem. Nobody had to question who was in charge of that battle. God’s name was stamped all over it.
Particularly fascinating was how the whole thing ended. The kings had apparently figured out that they were bested. Instead of surrendering, they went and hid in a cave. Just like it happens with every cowardly bully on the block, someone had enough guts to stand up to them. Joshua showed up, strung those idiots on a tree and then stuffed them back into the very cave they came from. With a stamp of righteous indignation, the command was brought forth. “Leave these spineless fools here and let us go!”
This whole story shows me a bit about the dynamics of spiritual bullying. First off, if you’re the one dealing with a bully here’s some things to remember.
Don’t be afraid. Just because you seem to be under attack, remember that God has your back and He will fight for you. Oftentimes ice is quite literally involved.
Don’t be too timid to stand up for yourself. You have a right to be bold. In verse 24 Joshua commanded his army to put their feet on the necks of the kings. In other words, “these guys are literally under your feet so put them there!” Look what it says here in Luke 10:19
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Remember that the Lord is fighting for you. You don’t have to do or say anything. When Joshua had heard that the kings hid themselves in a cave, he didn’t waste any time. He had his army roll a large stone in front of it so that the attackers could not escape. It’s a clear message to be bold, leave the situation in God’s hands (roll that stone in front of your cave and wait) and commit to following him no matter what assails you.
If you know someone who is practicing aggressive behavior toward a brother or sister in Christ, here is some advice to pass on…
It is not wise to attack a child of God. Like a very protective parent, God takes threats and bullying very seriously. He will make it abundantly clear which side he is on. Hiding from him is also a bad idea. Not only will the attacker be found, evidence suggests that the outcome isn’t a good one. God will find a way to close the entrance to the cave and there will be no escape from punishment. At the very least, the bully will find himself in the same spot he was in when he started.
I am reminded of a situation I found myself in not too long ago. I was attacked by a bully and God showed up and knocked his block off. Guess what was the most ironic thing about it all? There was ice involved.
God protects his children, he fights for them, and yes he does win. Be bold, be strong, and believe that he’s got your back.
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Have you ever had one of those weeks where things just did not go the way they were supposed to? Everything went wrong. The car died. The kids drove your insanity level to new heights, and at every challenge, you failed the test. Instead of responding in kindness, you snapped. Instead of trying to teach obedience, you yelled. Instead of trusting God, you worried. That was me last week. If I had been accused of being a Christian, a conviction would be unheard of. The jury would have thrown my case out. I would have been labeled a nut-case but nothing more. By the end of the week I was exhausted, defeated, and bordering on depressed. I felt like a complete failure and not worthy of the speck of sand on my Father’s shoes.
That’s why I found my devotional from Beth Moore so refreshing and timely this morning. Beth has coined a phrase that I’m going to adopt. She says that when she dies, she wants her tombstone to read, “God got tired.” Thank you so much, Beth. I’m glad to see that I am not the only person on earth who is high maintenance. If Beth Moore struggles, that means there’s hope for me. As it turns out, there’s more than hope. There are unfathomable promises for me any time I start to wonder or worry if I’m going to make it.
I shared my sentiments on the last few days with my pastor’s wife. Here’s what she had to say…
“You need to remember that there is a big difference between conviction and the enemy making you feel defeated. The Holy Spirit convicts and the enemy will sometimes try to mess around with us to make us feel defeated and hopeless. In Christ, you are an overcomer and yes there is always hope for us all thanks to His grace and mercy…We recognize our mistakes and grow from them. That is part of the sanctification process…”
As I ruminated on what she said I began to wonder. What exactly does God say about me? Who am I, really? For anyone else who might be wondering, I’ve got just a few of the answers.
I am royalty. I am chosen, holy, and special and filled with his light. (1 Peter 2:9)
I am his adopted daughter and deeply loved. (Romans 8:17)
I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15)
I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ. (Ephesians 1:7)
I am blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)
I am God’s beautiful work of art, created to bless others with my talents and abilities. (Ephesians 2:10) *This one is my favorite!*
I am engraved on his heart and on his hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
I have also concluded that I am worthy the work that He puts into me. As much trouble as I seem to be to God, He never gets tired of molding and shaping me into the creature that He created me to be. The way I figure it, I must be pretty dang important, or He wouldn’t spend this much time perfecting me. As He reminded me this morning, what I do does not dictate who I am. I messed up. This does not make me a lost cause or an immediate defect that deserves to be tossed in the garbage. It makes me human and prone to imperfections, mistakes, and weaknesses.
There will be challenging days or weeks where we fail or miss the mark. I think we’re being called to remember that it’s not over until He says it is. Every day is a new opportunity to grow and learn from the previous day’s mistakes. Every day is a new chance to remember who we are for real in Christ. We are worthy of His time and all the endless hours of work He puts into us. In that sense, I don’t mind being high maintenance. After all, I am a work in progress!
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