Scars

Then saith He to Thomas,

Reach hither thy finger, and behold

my hands; and reach hither thy hand,

and thrust it into my side: and be

not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto Him,

My Lord and my God.

John 20:27,28

I was a case manager for a Christian foster care agency. I loved my families that I serviced from my home. I looked forward to home visits that I was required to make on at least a monthly basis if not more than that. There was one group home I loved visiting. This home had what I referred to as a “foster dog.” I'll call him “Dawg” for now. He was one of the large Shar Peis with all of the wrinkles and folds of the skin. He was a pretty big dog.

When I arrived at the home, Dawg always greeted me at the front door. On this one occasion, Dawg was a little too excited. He jumped up on me with front paws on my shoulders. The foster mom immediately called out to the dog, “Get down!” Dawg did just that but in the process, his left front paw came down on the back of my right hand and cut about three huge, deep scratches there. Without being too graphic, the cuts began to bleed profusely. I headed to the kitchen sink, grabbing paper towels. The foster mom felt so bad about it and I assured her that I would heal.

It took a long time for my hand to heal after becoming a little infected but it did heal. The scars almost look like an upside down “Y” shape. I will say though that I still have those reminders of Dawg on the back of my hand. When I look at the scars, I can't help but smile as I think of Dawg and the unique foster care relationship we shared. You see, the scars are there but they don't hurt anymore. Scars are odd things as they age with us.

Scars can be caused by some pretty big events in a persons life. Scars from severe burns take a lot of time to get over as they create some real difficult problems even in simple movements. Some scars people bear often from bad car accidents. Scars can come as a result of bad falls, and some can be a result of various degrees of surgery.

No matter the scars, they come as a result of pain. We wonder at the time when the body is offended, if there will ever be healing. There are circumstances that may delay healing and soreness can go on for a time but eventually, healing comes even if there is a scar that remains.

Physical scars aren't the only kind of scars we bear. There are emotional scars, that although they can't be seen, are still present. In fact, there is emotional damage that unless given over to the Lord for His healing, can remain with an individual for a lifetime. These scars can come as a result of negative events during childhood but can come through the teen years on into adulthood where major events tend to take place. Emotional scars can come as a result from abuse in different forms, cruel, demeaning words, poverty, abandonment, loss of various types but all through life, the cruelness of words meant to hurt tends to be something that's hard to get over. Feel free to add to the list for each of us have experienced heartbreaking events that crush our spirits often dished out by people who just don't care about the cruelty they may casually render.

Along the emotional line, one thing, one major thing that intensifies the hurt and resulting scars comes when we are damaged by other Christians. I have to wonder about Christians who treat others with horrible cruelty seemingly without conscience. These are injuries that can damage us for long periods of time that should not come at the hand of Christians. The best support we should have in this world is from other Christians whether we are in agreement or not.

Scars when fully healed serve only as reminders. Those reminders will be what you and I make of them...positive or negative. They can remind us of God's goodness in aiding us to be survivors to His honor and glory. I have both emotional and physical scars, and because of them through God's mercy have grown and matured. All of us because of our scars are able to minister to those who perhaps are not doing as well through their own scars as they would like.

Scripture is very vague about scars. The word itself is found only a couple of times in the Bible but may be found various places depending on the translation. There is a rather familiar hymn that keeps running through my mind. There is no one who has walked the earth, who endured so much for others like Jesus did. His scars were on His hands, feet, brow and really over most of His body from the horrendous beatings He endured. Scripture tells us that He was hardly recognizable as a human being.

Because of His scars, you and I have a recourse when we are hurt physically or damaged emotionally. We can place everything in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. Oh, we'll keep physical scars until we receive our glorified bodies, but the emotional ones, we can hand over to Jesus for His keeping. I have known people to carry the pain of emotional pain and insult well into their adult years. That pain marks most things they do, decisions they make and ways they treat others. For Christians, that is unnecessary when we have Jesus, our burden bearer...our everything. Scars remind us where we've been but don't have to dictate where we're going. I agree with David Guinn who said:

Our scars prove we have a past...

Christs scars prove we have a future.

When we place our hand in Jesus' nail scarred hands, as did His disciple Thomas, may we with Thomas say: “My Lord and my God.”

Dear Father...most of us have gone through battles of life that have left us hurting. Some of us have some pretty deep scars perhaps as a result of physical injury. Even more of us have emotional scars that often rise up to nag us...while some have caused bitterness for some they don't know what to do with. Thank You for the scars Your Son endured for each of us. Thank You, Jesus for those scars and the fact that you can relate to us in whatever pain we endure. Thank You for strengthening and empowering us. We love you. Amen

Building Up Others

                                    Let us think of ways to motivate

one another to acts of love and

good works.

Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)

We live in some tough days right now. There are many folks who are unemployed while even those who are employed feel a pressure about keeping their jobs. Marriages are breaking up for any number of reasons. Child abuse is on the rise. Illness is rampant and those affected are scared to death they might not continue to have the health care they need. You and I both could add to the list.

These things and others are things that are happening in our churches among some of the finest of Christians. All of these things are affecting the unsaved and the saved and discouragement is all around us. One of the problems is that among fellow church members, there is a real lack of information because even our best friends who are having a hard time don't want anyone to know about it. Even though one of the greatest resources we can have, that being prayer, troubled folks don't even want to ask us to pray lest it let out the fact that they are struggling.

So what is our overall call...how are we to proceed?

Encourage each other. 

Live in harmony and peace.

Then the God of love and peace will

be with you.

II Corinthians 13:11

First must be a good look at a person's foundation of life. As Christians, our foundation is Jesus Christ and we know that with Him, all things are possible so we have a starting point to encourage and build up another. If a person in need has no spiritual foundation, building up such a one becomes more difficult. They will want to hear cliches of the world that don't hold much in the way of help that has meaning.

Next, we must be of a sincere spirit.

Folks who are going through a tough time are very sensitive to the attitudes of those who want to be of help. With senses heightened, such folks can tell a phony a mile away. If we aren't sincere, then we aren't honest in our concern. Short clever statements usually renders no help and at times makes absolutely no sense.

Before uttering a word to a struggler, if we haven't prayed for that individual prior to our approach, then back off until we can do that for him or her.

The one thing we have to offer is time spent in prayer for someone we're concerned about. Otherwise, any inquiry on our part comes across as our just being nosy, wanting information to pass along to the rumor mill. We should be able to honestly say to someone who needs building up, “I've been praying for you.” What an honor that someone would do that for me.

Just in everyday living and personal contacts, be complimentary.

Everyone like compliments but again, such statements must be honest. If we are to build people up, it does no good if the receiver knows for a surety that we were just making conversation.

One of the greatest gifts we can give another when called for is that of forgiveness.

When we've been on the “outs” with someone, nothing is more encouraging whether we have been offended or the offender is to apologize that we take steps to reconcile with the person. This says to the other person that we consider them worth the steps we have taken to make amends. You see, everyone wants to feel they are worthy of anothers friendship and consideration.

Write a note or say an encouraging word (which is preferable) but if not make a “thinking of you” call.

During this last year, I've gone through some low times after an accident. On a down day, I can't tell you what it's meant to me to have two things said to me: “How are you doing?” and

“I've been thinking about you.” To think that someone would take a part of their own personal time to think about me is a real morale booster.

One of the greatest means of building up another is in some way to share the Word of God with him or her.

This can be done with a greeting card or just an encouraging word from Scripture written on a 3x5 card. The Word of God itself builds and encourages so don't hesitate to share a verse or two. It will be twofold...the Word itself and the fact that you went to the trouble to share it however you choose to share it.

If so led, do something tangible for someone who might be dragging along day by day, feeling pretty hopeless.

There may be a need someone has that the Lord in His own way brings to our attention. There may be a neighbor, relative or fellow church member who doesn't want to reveal anything about their private feelings but with a kind and gentle spirit on our part, we can minister to those folks with something tangible. The most fun I've had in this area is doing something for someone in the way of a small gift or a small amount of money and not letting on to them that it was me who did it for them. We don't always have to reveal the things we do for others. Sometimes secrecy is fun as can be.

Above all, love is the key. In these days, we can't love others enough. Love is vital for anything and everything we do for others.

Jesus commanded us to: “Love one another...as I have loved you.” That would be more than a truck load of love. I may not be able to love another person as Jesus loved, but I can strive for that kind of love. Jesus didn't say that we would love as MUCH as He loved but we are to love AS He loved. How did He love...with all the stops pulled out, loved with abandon, with no holds barred, with no prejudice or partiality.

Love each other with genuine affection,

and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:10

Do you need a kind word or a touch of encouragement from someone today. Let me suggest that you find a way to do something for someone today, perhaps from this list. Nothing will pick up our spirits like doing something for someone else. If it serves no other purpose that to take our minds off of our own difficulties, it will have been worth it.

Lord Jesus...I thank You today for the love You pour into my life and for Your encouragement that You send to me through others. May I be one of those “others” in someone else's life. Amen.

God's Steadfast Love

The steadfast love of the Lord

never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end.

Lamentations 3:22 (ESV)

He penned one of the major prophetical books in the Old Testament, but there isn't very much known about him. He is often referred to as being the “Weeping Prophet.” He was obviously a sensitive, caring and godly man who not only loved God deeply but loved God's people as well. His name...Jeremiah. Scholars give credit to Jeremiah for the writing of Lamentations based on content of the book that communicates in concert with the book that bears his name.

Jeremiah was called by God into His service probably when in his late teens, and later became a priest in the temple. With God's call to Jeremiah, God assured him that He had known before Jeremiah was born that he would serve as one of His prophets. Jeremiah kindly let God know of his own insecurities due to his young age. God assured Jeremiah that despite his age, he would go where sent and would speak what God wanted said.

Beyond that point, we know little of Jeremiah in a personal way. We see all through his signature book that he warned his people of God's wrath to come, speaking truth to all who would hear and even to some who didn't want to hear. Jeremiah understood that at the bottom of the problem was the sin of the people, thus he witnessed the worst of times that came down on his people. Not only did the people suffer death, captivity and destruction but the beloved temple was destroyed and desecrated. This was all very hard for Jeremiah to comprehend and accept and he went through a very sad time.

Sometime read the book of Lamentations...the book of laments...a portrait of the grieving heart of a prophet. (The book itself reads as a clarion call even to our country today.) Jeremiah went through his own share of physical and emotional suffering even to the point of imprisonment, but seeing all of the destruction was heartbreaking. Jeremiah's tears poured out as if ink on paper as he sorrowed over the events of his day. However, just about halfway through his writing, it's as if he suddenly stood up straight and tall, threw back his shoulders, and got a grip on things. He put one of the most heartfelt and encouraging grouping of words together into verse form that one can find in all of Scripture. Slowly read the following:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

“Great is your faithfulness. The Lord

is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3: 22-26 (ESV)

Jeremiah also wrote:

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying,

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting

love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

Especially in the book of Lamentations, is seen the Hebrew name for God...”Hesed Adonai” that simply means “God's Steadfast Love.” It is found in the above verses. The word “mercies” is a defining word for love in this book. We don't just see the love of God in Lamentations but in the book of Jeremiah as well.

I looked in dictionaries to find the meaning of the word “steadfast.” It isn't a word that is common in today's vocabulary. I'll just list a few of those meanings I found: firm, unchanging, faithful, unwavering, loyal, everlasting, constant, steady, stable, enduring....and the list goes on and on. Otherwise, God is all of these things wrapped up in the word “steadfast.” Just to think that God's love for us is this strong and sure.

I've been taking a good look at Jeremiah lately, this wonderful man of God. We don't go through nearly the tough times Jeremiah witnessed. We still go through times of discouragement though as we watch a government with no direction or even moral standards. We are watching a national economy affecting so many people in our nation, especially for the unemployed. The concerns boil down to where we live. Folks are facing problems we wouldn't have recognized 50 years ago. Back then, I had never (or hardly) heard of Alzheimers, Diabetes II, aneurisms, caregivers, crack cocaine, pornography, etc. We too could fall into depression as we view our nation and surroundings, but also if we should have to deal with some of these things in our own families.

Pour over the verses I've listed. Wherever you and I are in our lives, no matter the circumstances, God is still on His throne. His love for us is a steadfast love. It's a love you and I can count on with a surety we can't even understand. A steadfast love is an unwavering, steady and permanent love no matter the circumstances. That's the love God has for us in the good times and in the bad times we go through. We must never lose sight of the heart of God that beats steady and sure for you and me every moment we live and breathe. It's all wrapped up in the faithfulness of God. He remains faithful and steadfast to us come what may. I love the words of the following old hymn:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

                                                                            -----Thomas O. Chisholm

Dear Father...Thank You for Your steadfast love and faithfulness in my life. Forgive me when I take my eyes off of You and look to the cares of this life. You have everything in control. I rest in that fact and in Your love. Amen.

Prisoner By Choice?

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you that ye walk worthy

of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Ephesians 4:1

Many years ago, I was on a special trip with a college group. We held evening services in various churches, so found interesting things to do during the day. Someone in our group arranged for us on a particular afternoon to take a tour of a very large state prison. I had never been in such a place and must admit to being a little nervous about the tour. I knew we would be safe, but it was just a new experience.

We were taken only to special places in the prison, of course, but there was one thing that we observed and it's something I've never forgotten. We were shown an empty holding cell and then the guard demonstrated the opening and closing of the cell door. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound as the loud, echoing clang-bang of the cell door closed. What struck me about that sound was that in many cases where prisoners are incarcerated for very long periods of time, whether coming or going, they hear that horrible sound frequently.

In the culture of Bible days, prisons were quite different. In fact, prisons were often referred to as “dungeons.” A dungeon was usually underground. A prisoner was often let down into it by guards. It was a filthy place with little if any light, and was filled with sewage and dirty water. At times guards would drop moldy bread down into the dungeon. If prisoners didn't catch it in time, it fell into the swill on the floor.

There were above ground prisons and in those, prisoners were usually chained or bound in some way. Most prisons didn't provide food or clothing so friends or relatives were relied upon for the basic needs of life. Most of the time, upon arriving at a prison for incarceration, prisoners were beaten with a lash, receiving 39 lashes across the back. That was the usual.

Some prisoners were treated with a little more care. There were those allowed to be under house arrest. These prisoners still were required to be chained or bound, often to a Roman soldier. These prisoners, too, had to be provided for with friends sending food, necessities and often were required to even pay a leasing fee for the house of the prisoners confinement.

In Scripture, we are told of familiar men who endured prison experiences. Joseph, of course, was imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potipher's wife. Jeremiah was imprisoned in a dungeon for simply telling the truth. John the Baptist was put in prison after speaking of the immorality of the kings family. Peter was imprisoned for preaching the Word of God, and later Paul and Silas were jailed for healing a possessed girl being used for money by evil merchants. In every one of these cases, each man was imprisoned unjustly. In Philippians, we find Paul under house arrest so he had more than one run in with authorities. In every case, each man was thrown in prison for either being right or doing right. They had no choice. No one in their right mind would choose to be a prisoner even in the most pristine of prisons if there was such a thing.

In most cases, however, the imprisonment of these godly men resulted in benefiting others in some way. Peter was released by an angel. Friends praying for him at the time were astounded and blessed all at the same time because of answered prayer for his release. Paul and Silas were blessings to other prisoners as they sang the praises of God in the late nighttime hours. They could have walked out of the prison after an earthquake shook the jail and a way was made for them to walk out. They didn't do that. They stayed and witnessed to the jailer who was saved along with his family. God used Joseph's prison experience to share wisdom with other prisoners and later after his release, was eventually elevated to second in command in the nation of Egypt. It all resulted in saving his family from starvation.

So how do we define “prisoner?” A prisoner is one who is usually guilty and being punished for some wrong doing but not always. A prisoner is deprived of liberty, is restrained usually in custody in a facility meant only for the incarceration of prisoners. No matter the official definition, a prisoner is one being held captive. When a prisoner, ones life is no longer her/his own. One's mind is totally occupied with being a prisoner when in prison. It's all-consuming.

I know some folks and have been one of them off and on who have found themselves (me included) prisoners. Oh, no crime has been committed but being this kind of prisoner for many is often on a voluntary basis. Satan delights when he can bind us up in circumstances of life, if in no other way. Let's face it, life isn't fair and Christians of all people aren't guaranteed a fair shake when it comes to life's circumstances. We look around and it would seem that the unsaved all around us seem to have things better than we do. However, we really don't know what others are experiencing so we will get no answers as we observe them. We can be prisoners of our own making apart from those things that come our way without asking. I know people who are prisoners to bad habits, unhealthy friendships, food, pornography, and the list could go on and on of those things people might choose to be a part of their lives, that eventually gets a hold on them.

But praise the Lord, there are times when we have choices regarding our freedom in Christ. We can be facing the very worst of circumstances and still walk in freedom. We do this as we hand over our circumstances to the Lord and rely on Him day in and day out for the strengthening we need in order to breathe free spiritual air. It's a choice. In their real prison cells, Paul, Silas, Peter, Joseph and others chose to make the best of their time as they sang, ministered and learned more of the things of God. We should do no less.

There will be some circumstances in our lives we just cannot change but we ourselves can change despite the impossibilities. May I suggest three keys that will open the lock of any prison we find ourselves in and all three are found in I Thessalonians 5:16-18. One by one, these keys are available to you and me among others presented in Scripture. These keys are:

• Rejoice always
  We have to pay attention to that word “always.” In the thick and thin of life's problems and even at times in a holding cell, we like Paul and Silas can rejoice and be people of praise. We don't have to understand the whys of our circumstances.
• Pray without ceasing
  “Without ceasing”...what does that mean? It means just what it says. You and I can be people of prayer all day long. We'll have our times of prayer that are lengthier but we can be in a spirit of prayer every waking moment. God loves to hear from us even through our tears when we just utter prayer sentences during the course of our day.
• In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
  There's another one of those words...”everything.” We can give thanks no matter what's going on, knowing it's God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Every ounce and crumb of our lives, God means for purpose.

Four words....”always, without ceasing and everything.” God has purpose in ALL that comes into our lives. Let's not allow circumstances to imprison us. We won't know until Heaven what these days down here have done to influence others for the cause of Christ. Let's drop the chains, rip through the ropes and slam prison doors behind us as we walk away in freedom and victory. We are living in these days not by accident but by Divine design. I pray, like Paul that our only desire will be to be a prisoner of the Lord and of Him only.

Thank You Father, for walking me through things of life for which I have no personal strength or energy. I know You won't bring anything into my life that's for nothing. You are working and I want to be a part of it and not hide behind prison bars when things get tough. I want to be Your prisoner only, held captive by Your love and Your will. I love You, Father. Amen

HELP!!!

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46

Every one of us at one time or another is going to need help in some way. Most of us hate with a passion having to ask for help, even though in a moment of weakness or difficulty, we really need to reach out for it. Helping people fall into three general categories:

• those who need help
• those who give help, and
• the help only God can give.
  

A little over a week ago, I bruised up my right knee. It was the day before Brian was to return home from Texas. It was a Friday I did this. I usually run the church bulletin and other items on Saturdays but with Brian returning the next day, I wanted to get it finished on Friday. I knew from the soreness of my knee that I should stay home with ice on it. It took everything in me to arrive at that decision. I sent an e-mail to our pastor about my dilemma. You will never know how hard that was for me to do. He didn't answer my message...he and his wife jumped in their car and before I knew it, they were on my front porch. My hair was a mess and I wasn't in my usual attire although I was decent. (Talk about pride). They just wanted to make sure I was okay and graciously said they would take care of the bulletin. I was so grateful for their kindness and help.

Here's the problem...when we need help, no matter what kind, we don't have enough humility to ask for it. We know folks who would come to our rescue, but we feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. WELL, it most often is a sign of weakness. Just the fact that we need help shows at the minute that we just can't function to full capability. The help we need most often may deal with small needs. We really feel embarrassed about putting someone to some inconvenience over little things.

Then there are those who are the helpers. What would we do without them. When recovering from a fall last October, there were folks who came straight to the hospital, brought food to the house and made themselves available to me for whatever I might need. But those are folks who will help me fold bulletins or set up tables and chairs for ladies Bible study. Being a helper, though, also takes a certain amount of humility. A helper may be asked to do some nitty-gritty things that are pretty unlovely. Remember how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples? That was rarely done in that day. Back then, you washed your own dirty feet. I realize, though, that His act was more of a spiritiual lesson.

Someone in the New Testament who has impressed me with his humility in this area is the Apostle Paul. Who would think that spiritual dynamo would ever need to ask for help of any kind. He spoke of people by name who had been a real help to him...Aquila, folks in the Philippian church who had aided him financially, Timothy and Epaphroditus and others. At times when ending a letter, he would ask someone to bring him parchments and even a cloak. He viewed all of those helpers as fellow ministers. Pride never entered into his life when serving others or being served.

The main area where I fall short, however, is in seeking the Lord's help. I'm not quick to ask for anyone's help but it's really bad when I feel independent from the Lord. He can call His forces to my side when I'm in need. He can lead someone right to me who just senses I have a need. God can do amazing things on my behalf. In His Word, He so heartily invites me directly or through those who have penned Scripture to call on Him for whatever I need. The following are some of these invitations and we should take full advantage of them:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help

in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I

not be confounded: therefore have I set my face

like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Isaiah 50:7

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;

for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will

help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right

hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

So, to summarize: A) Don't be too proud to ask for or accept help when needed; B) don't be too proud of being a helper, to come along side of someone in need of help. Know that the Lord will often lead you to someone out of the clear blue who needs you; and C) every need should be taken to the Lord even if someone is on hand already to help. He is the greatest help we can have in any situation.

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Amen (Ps. 30:10)

Our Job Description

...and the disciples were first called

Christians in Antioch.

Acts 11:26b

Pentecost was over. The Holy Spirit had descended on those present in the Temple in Jerusalem. The disciples had gathered there with others as Jesus had told them to do. The people were now empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out the command of Jesus to take the Gospel not just in the immediate area but to the uttermost parts of the world. Peter preached a wonderful, articulate sermon and thousands were saved.

All those baby Christians were so excited and enthused. Have you ever been around a new Christian and witnessed their excitement and enthusiasm? They do okay until they get around folks who have been saved for awhile and that's all it takes to settle them down...unfortunately.

There then took on the form of a church. There were thousands who had been saved. There had to be some way of meeting their needs and thus an infant church was formed. From all descriptions of this infant church, we wouldn't recognize it in our day. It's difficult in our day to get church members to attend church on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights let alone every day of the week as the infant church experienced because it was their desire to do so.

Sometime, read Acts 2:41-47. In that small section of Scripture one can find a list of those things done on a daily basis by the new infant, thriving and more than enthusiastic church. This list includes:

• members had received the Word and were baptized
• they devoted themselves continually to the apostles teaching
• fellowshiped
• broke bread (thought to be the communion service)
• were devoted to prayer
• were together and had all things in common
• sold and shared possessions for the sake of those who were in need
• were of one mind
• ate in each others homes almost daily, eating together with gladness
• were sincere of heart
• consistently praised God
  

 

 

What was the result? The Lord was adding to their numbers day by day because of so many people being saved. There was no denying that something spectacular was happening in Jerusalem and the word was spreading all over the place, aiding in the spread of the Gospel. You see, what was going on was not happening only on a Sunday.

Now we come to Acts 11:26 where the last phrase of that verse tells us: ...”and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Disciples referred to “disciplined ones” but Antioch was the first place where the word “Christian” was coined. In looking up the word, I found that it means “partisans, or followers of Christ.” It also means, “Christ's people.” That last meaning gives me pause to think how someone would label my walk with Christ. Is my witness such that outsiders would consider me a person of Christ not just on Sunday but every day of the week. From the list of definitions, I decided to do an acrostic using that word “Christian” that would feature characteristics in keeping with those listed in the book of Acts.

Christian

They were genuine born-again people...no act, no facade, no put on..., the real thing.

Helpful

They couldn't do enough for each other. They sincerely wanted to help each other all they could.

Righteous

They were a people who wanted to do the right thing...living true and right in every way possible.

Inspirational

They inspired one another to go on, doing great things for the Lord.

Servant

They had the hearts of servants, seeing to each others needs through food and other provisions even to the point of selling their own property to give to others.

Truth

These folks were hungry for truth. They hung on every word the apostles taught them day after day. They couldn't get enough of the knowledge of God. Their taking in that truth and putting it into practice showed in their lives.

Intercessor

We are also told they were people of prayer.

Ambassador

The members of this young church were agents for Christ. They were anxious to represent Jesus well and outsiders were influenced through their lives and life messages.

Nurturing

As far as the relationships within the infant church, nurturing was being done all over the place. They encouraged each other, passed along the things of Jesus, saw to needs when they were made known and were loving and caring people in every way. The way I like to put it is that they were “Jesus with skin on” for each other.

How wonderful if we could be these things in the churches we attend. In our churches are people who need our prayers, encouragement, material help and the list goes on. I trust as Christians, Christs people, our goal is to be so like Him that we would hardly be able to even recognize our own personal selves. May we be found faithful...our churches desperately need us.

Dear Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to those folks in Jerusalem. I must remember though that the Holy Spirit that fell on the people in that time and place is the same Holy Spirit living within me. Empower me, Holy Spirit to be the Christian I was born-again to be. Thank you Father, for Your grace and goodness in my life. Amen

It's Okay To Be Choosey

As parents, I think there were things we all tried to instill in our children as they grew and matured. Of course, as Christians we wanted to teach principles from God's Word as best we could. However, there were times we took those principles and boiled them down into practical guidelines they could put into practice.

When our children were into the elementary school years, we did a lot of observing as to those things or people who were good or even bad for our children. We had more enforcement power during those days. However, during those pre-teen and teen years, our children began to make many of their own decisions regarding activities and friends. Our prayer was always that our children would do the right things and make the best of choices.

AND YET...how often have we in our adult years failed in our own lives to live up to some of those same standards we worked so hard to instill in those young lives in our care.

To my dismay, there was a day of confrontation between my children and me. I don't recall who said what, but upon my return to our house after lunch with a friend, I was approached with some questions by my children (who were being home educated at the time), all asked with respect but still asked in order to make a point. I don't recall the questions by their exact words but they went something like this:

“Mom, why do you go to lunch with Mrs. Brown?” (Not using her true name)

“When you do, you always come home sad or upset.”

“You have told us to pick the right friends.” To which someone added:

“You told us that we have to be careful picking friends even at church.”

Wow...there wasn't a lot I could say to those things. In fact, I don't even recall how I responded to those statements that came at me pretty quickly. I can't tell you what hearing those things from my children meant to me and I've never forgotten that day. For one thing, in a tasteful way I think, I withdrew from that friendship even though the other person was not real happy about my withdrawal. I also evaluated within myself the kind of people I felt I needed around me, those I would regard as the best of friends. I had to think about personal needs in my life, and what I need from others to help me be the best Christian I can be. I'll quickly suggest some of those things that have been a real help to me in evaluating relationships and hopefully that I can return in kind to those ladies who are such a blessing in my life.

(What I watch for when seeking a dear friend...a kindred spirit are as follows. Please keep in mind that I'm not looking for a perfect person because I'm certainly not perfect either.)

At the top of my list is a friend's walk with the Lord. I'm not talking about someone who talks the talk but who doesn't walk the walk. I want a lady of prayer and who loves and studies the Word of God. I want to be able to share freely with my friend what the Lord is doing in my life. I want her to be someone I know will pray for me, especially when big things come into my life. I in turn want to feel a freedom to be these same things for her.

Next, the older I become, the more I am looking for positive people to be around. I'm tired of whining, negative women who haven't learned that negative attention isn't always the best attention. I want someone who sees the silver lining of darker clouds, who can smile through difficulties. May they be complimentary in an honest way and yet find a way in that honesty to point out those offensive things in me that may be damaging my witness for the Lord.

I want friends with a sense of humor who can laugh at the craziest of things with a belly laugh that can bring tears running down their faces...folks who at times can even get the giggles in church and choke them back with a borrowed handkerchief.

Along that line, I also want friends who aren't ashamed to let me see their tears. I want friends to feel that they can literally cry on my shoulder, but in return will freely offer their shoulder for my occasional tears.

A friends confidentiality is very important to me and by the way is a rare find in anyone. We need to feel that when sharing, we can trust friends to keep things to themselves. Mixed in with this is the hope that friends will stay with me despite circumstances that can sometimes beat up on a friendship.

There are so many verses in Scripture that give us guidance regarding friendships and we should look them up and heed them. There is a verse in Proverbs that has always fascinated me as it speaks of what a mutual respect between two parties can mean to both individuals:

Iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens

another.

Proverbs 27:17

I have a wooden block that holds various types and sizes of knives in it. However, there is one implement in that block that doesn't cut anything. It is an implement that can be used to sharpen the knives in that block. The official name for this tool is “honing steel.” It is made of practically the same material as the knife that rubs against it to improve the cut of that knife.

Although the roles are different between the knife and the honing steel, a vital exchange takes place as one moves against the other. Such is the way our close friendships should be that both parties benefit the other in a very positive and yet helpful way. I want close friends, very spiritual ladies who can encourage me to be at my sharpest and that I can do the same for them.

It's difficult to pull away from friendships that for any number of reasons has changed and not for the better. You and I need as many positive people as possible in our closest of relationships...iron that will sharpen iron with both parties benefiting in the process.

Lord Jesus, that You for being my very best friend. I'm so grateful that I have in You what a friend ought to be and that You set the right example for all of us. Help me to be wise in choosing my closest of friends but to be friendly to everyone I come in contact with. I rely on Your wisdom and thank You for being my all in all. I love you...Amen

Loving Respect For The Word

...do not be grieved, for the joy

of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b

One could take a poll of Christians as to what their favorite person or incident is in the Bible other than Jesus and His ministry. In younger years, I went through stages. For a time, Moses was a hero of mine and by the way, still is. For a time, I moved to favor David, the man after God's own heart. I also at one time leaned toward Daniel, then Peter and of course Paul. However nestled into a part of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah is a precious incident. I have through a period of time, come to love Nehemiah and Ezra. Both of them are post captivity prophets if I may refer to them as such.

Nehemiah was allowed to return to Jerusalem to aid in the planning and rebuilding of that decimated city. It's interesting to read how he handled all of the opposition that came his way. In the book of Nehemiah we also see that Ezra returned to Jerusalem as well. God's purpose in his return was to encourage revival in the hearts of the people. Many returning from Babylon had never been in the blessed city of Jerusalem after a lengthy captivity of God's people. Many didn't even have a good grip on their faith, having been away from all of the laws and customs. Something dynamic was about to happen to the people and Ezra was in personal preparation for the moment.

I love Ezra 7:6 that says that Ezra came from Babylon and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses. All he did was because the the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. As a scribe, it was Ezra's job to make copies of whatever Scripture he had available to him. In that process, he became a real student of the Word. However, the real excitement was about to happen.

We go to Nehemiah 8, and there we find the following in some verses in that chapter.

In verse 1, we find the people gathered at the Water Gate asking Ezra to bring the book of the law to them. Verse 2 shows us Ezra bringing the Word before the people to read to those who could listen with understanding.

I find it interesting that Ezra read from the law from early morning until midday. Can you imagine that? We go to church and expect a service to last one hour and one hour only. Woe be to the pastor who preaches too long. Not only that, but when Ezra opened the book to read it, ALL of the people stood up in one accord. So in all of that time, their respect ran so deep that they couldn't do anything but stand out of love and respect.

The people responded to the reading by answering the reading with “Amen, Amen!” They were lifting their hands and then verse 6 tells us that they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. There were men...interpreters of sorts...who were roaming through the crowd translating Ezra's words for those who no longer spoke Hebrew.

Further into verse 9, we find something interesting. We are told that all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Ezra encouraged them to go, eat and regard the day as being holy. He then spoke to them to not be grieved...

“...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

These folks were so starved for the Word of God, they could hardly wait for Ezra to mount the wooden podium that had be built especially for that moment when the Word would be read in Jerusalem to returning exiles perhaps for the first time in 70 years. They shouted, stood, then bowed and finally wept because they were so touched by the precious words being read by Ezra.

I am finding in our day an almost disregard by God's people for God's Word. Why do the atheists seem to get their way all the time? I think it's because we have an “I-don’t-care attitude” as Christians. We somehow feel we are entitled and that we will always be free in the study and preaching of God's Word. Those Israelites did watch a “clock.” They couldn't get enough of just the reading of the Word. They didn't need a special, entertaining speaker to read those precious words. They were so hungry for the Word, they would do anything to be within the hearing of the reading of it.

So I ask myself:

How enthused am I about hearing God's Word read and preached?

How long would I be willing to STAND listening to it?

When was the last time the reading of the Word brought me to tears?

When was the last time I uttered an “Amen” during the preaching or teaching of it?

I dearly love this incident that God chose to include in His Word about a dedicated Scribe (Ezra) and a people so hungry to hear God's Word read that they could hardly stand it. I look at this incident periodically when I want my heart rewarmed toward the Scriptures.

Ezra didn't want the people grieved and crying. He knew the source of the peoples strength....the joy of the Lord. That same strength is available to us as well today. May we just “splash” around in the Lord's joy, knowing He will pour His strength into us. Remember the following?

The B-I-B-L-E

Yes that's the Book for me.

I stand alone on the Word of God

The B-I-B-L-E!!!

Thank You, Lord Jesus for Your Word. The only captivity I can really know is a self imposed captive to self and forgive me for that. I want a genuine and loving enthusiasm toward Your Word, not as some gimmick but in order to walk in obedience and to know You like I haven't known You before this moment. I love you.....Amen

Serving At Great Cost

You are my hiding place; You

preserve me from trouble;

You surround me with

songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place and

my shield; I wait for Your Word.

Psalm 119:114

I don't know how many years ago it was that I first heard of Corrie (Cornelia) ten Boom. My interest in her really peaked with the release of the movie, “The Hiding Place” that was produced by the Billy Graham Association. The great shock for me was when that movie appeared on a major TV network unedited. Having been a history buff for a long time and having been young during the World War II days, I picked up on Corrie, her family, and their ministry.

Corrie and her sister Betsie lived with their father above the family's watch making business. In fact, Corrie was the first female in the Netherlands to become a licensed watchmaker. This family was about as devoted to the Lord as any people you could ever hope to meet. They lived in the city of Haarlem, Holland in the Netherlands. World War II was raging and the Nazi's were moving into almost every European country and finally arrived in the Netherlands. The queen of the Netherlands and her cabinet barely made it out of the country as the Nazi's were arriving.

Right away, the Jews in their city were being persecuted. They were required to wear their yellow star patches with the word “Jude” on them. Their businesses were destroyed and many were beaten and abused in every way possible. Jews were being shipped out of the city. Rumors were that they were being taken to work camps. Later, it would become known that the work camps were actually death camps.

Jews were looking for places to hide and because the ten Booms had a large house, they worked to adapt it to accommodate extra people that they could hide from the Nazis. This house became known as “The Hiding Place.” The ten Booms identified with the Jews feeling it only right to take care of God's people as best they could.

They were of course, found out...betrayed by a neighbor. Corrie and Betsie were taken to one processing center and their father to another. Mr. ten Boom was quite old and only lived a couple of weeks before he could even be sent to any specific camp. Corrie and Betsie were moved a couple of times but ended up in the Ravensbruck death camp. There's just too much to tell here about the torture they endured but the blessing in their story is all the many ways God provided for their every need and their faithfulness in ministering to the women in their barracks.

Betsie died in the camp of a serious illness. Later, Corrie was called out from the morning roll call with some other women. This was usually what happened when certain women were to be executed. However, through a “fluke” in paperwork, Corrie was “mistakenly” put on a list of those women to be released. She spent the rest of her life ministering and traveling encouraging an attitude of forgiveness in everyone she spoke to. She had a massive stroke a few years ago that took her ability to move about and even to talk. She died at the age of 91.

(Let me encourage you to go on your computer and go to CORRIE TEN BOOM.MUSEUM. It's a fascinating history and tour of her family's home in Haarlem.)

I look at a life like Corrie's and I am caused to do some deep thinking about my own faith and faithfulness. We Christians in America are so very spoiled. I realize that things are heating up brought on by atheists and people of other cults or religions, all of whom just want Christianity to go away. Believe me, it's not going away. I can't believe what I'm seeing now in comparison to the Christian country I knew growing up as a young girl. Satan is alive and well. He doesn't just want to take our country's motto off of our money and “under God” out of our pledge to the flag. Satan wants to get down and dirty and he's only warming up in the bull pen in these days.

So I ask myself:

How strong is my faith?

Am I willing to give up my life for Jesus if it came to that?

If I think I would give up my life for Jesus, then what am I doing in these day as a witness?

Am I bold in speaking up for Jesus and what He means to me?

We have friends in other countries controlled by non-Christian governments who would be in great trouble if they were caught reading an article like this. We have several ladies that I pray for regularly who are regular readers some of whom would love to either have a copy of God's Word or could be in great trouble if found carrying a copy of it. If they meet in homes for worship and are caught, it could mean imprisonment or their lives. They are reading this same article as you.

Could I run the risk of doing what the ten Boom family did in saving lives?

If ever arrested for my faith, would I be bold enough to take a firm stand for Christ no matter the cost? Should a gun be put to my head by a terrorist demanding I deny my Savior, how would I respond? That doesn't even seem like a probably scenario, does it...seems far fetched. A few years ago, one school girl at least was told to deny her faith and when she wouldn't, was shot and killed by a fellow student in Columbine, Colorado. In our day, however, nothing should surprise us.

Do I know enough Bible by memory that if I were denied the right to have one, could I remember any amount of Scripture to sustain and strengthen me? What is my prayer life like? Do I pour my heart out to God only when in trouble or in great need? Have I made the Lord my own personal hiding place?

I can't resist as I finish writing, to quote from Corrie's personal wisdom. Even now she speaks and encourages us to be all for Jesus we can be.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and

receives the impossible.”

“If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes.”

“Conditions are always changing; therefore, I must not be

dependent upon conditions. What matters supremely is

my soul and my relationship to God.”

“God has buried our sins in the depth of the deepest sea.

He then posted a sign saying...”NO FISHING.”

“We must mirror God's love in the midst of a world full

of hatred. We are the mirrors of God's love, so we

may show Jesus by our lives.”

“In the center of a hurricane there is absolute quiet

and peace. There is no safer place than in

the center of the will of God.”

Lord Jesus...I never want to disappoint You. I want to stand for You at every opportunity with no shame or embarrassment. Give me Your wisdom that I will handle the worst of situations that come into my life as You would have it to be. I love You and thank You for Your unconditional love for me despite all of my sinful ways. Amen

Climb Every Mountain

The title of this blog was also the title of a very loved song from The Sound of Music, when the Reverend Mother sang it to the VonTrapp family as they were about to escape from the Nazi's by walking over their local mountains into a safe country. The song though, didn't just speak of those Austrian Alps but also of the mountains they were facing as a family.

As I write, I'm sitting at a great vantage point of being able to view a lovely valley with mountains a little further on that seem to be stacked almost on top of each other from the foothills to the tallest of them...all sizes and shapes exhibiting their own unique beauty. What is there about mountains that draw people to them? Our local national park is the most visited national park in our nation. There is a peace here that people experience despite age or background.

People love mountains:

• they like to look at them and drive through them
• photographers go to them in droves hoping for the perfect shot
• folks love climbing mountain trails
• tourists love being inspired by mountain beauty
• families picnic in them and children splash in their streams
  

 

 

There is something mountains have in common no matter where you go in our country and yet they exhibit their own particular uniqueness depending on the area, such as:

• some mountains are bigger than others but are still mountains none the less
• many seem to overlap each other as you look at a range of them
• mountains, even foothills look to be insurmountable
• they may even appear ominous and intimidating
• all ranges have their own beauty and characteristics depending on location
• mountains are beautiful no matter the season
  

 

 

Mountains are frequently mentioned in Scripture. Many people of Scripture felt their own call to a mountain, always for purpose such as:

• Moses met God on Mt. Sinai as he received God's commands
• Noah's ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat
• Abraham was called to a mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac
• Jesus taught the most memorable of sermons from a mount and died on a hill
  

 

 

Whether standing on top of a mountain looking down or standing at the bottom of one looking up, one can get a kind of perspective of herself. From either vantage point, when it comes to mountains, we seem pretty small in the whole scheme of things.

I have learned in this life of mine, however, that there are other mountains you and I face that aren't associated with any national or state park. These are mountains that have different circumstances every time we are confronted with them. These mountains are also very individualized. In fact, their mountain names may sound pretty generic but they are still not the same from person to person. Some of those names might be:

• disease
• job loss
• debt
• drugs, alcoholism
• erring children
• breach in friendship
  

When it comes to these types of mountains, all of us are mountain climbers. They present themselves at the most inopportune times often leaving us winded, with little strength for overcoming a hill, let alone a mountain that stands before us.

There are some things I've noticed though regarding avid mountain climbers and difficult trail trekkers...some of those things are that these climbers and trekkers:

• rely on some kind of guidance be it verbal instructions or maps
• wear appropriate clothing
• take healthy, light weight foods
• carry canteens, usually drinking mostly water on the trail
• know when to rest, not pushing to the point of utter exhaustion
• take time along the way to contemplate and even meditate on the scenery around them.
  

 

 

The same must be true of we Christians who are facing mountains of any size. We are given guidance and instructions from the Word of God as well as godly encouragement from fellow Christians. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and have even been provided with the armor of God (Ephesians 6). We are to feed on God's precious Word knowing He also provides us with the water of life that will quench our thirst for the journey. We find our rest in Jesus. We also need to think and contemplate along the way as we see the mercy of God poured out upon us. Climbing our mountain can be compared to a regular hikers activity. During these times that are difficult, we need to eat even when we don't feel like it. Along with that we must stay hydrated. One of the most important things is to still get our physical rest during difficult days. We also need to be people of prayer and contemplation as we with God's help conquer whatever mountain stands before us.

We must remember with regard to any mountains large or small that we face in our lives, that mountains can also represent strength and power that inspires us. Mountains can be daunting, but can be inspiring beyond what words can explain. The Psalmist puts it so well in 121:1,2 (NASV) when he says:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From whence shall my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

No matter our mountain, we can look to our Great Creator who stands ready to help us with any mountain we face. We will never walk those difficult mountain trails alone without His help, encouragement and comfort.

Father...what a wonderful Creator You are...it is just beyond words. Even with all the power You have, You are still willing to stoop down to my every need. The problem mountains in my life become mole hills when I trust and rely on Your help and strength. Thank You for being who You are in my life. Amen