The kids were quietly playing as I folded clothes and talked to my nephew. It had been a slow peaceful morning. Suddenly a rumbling thunder disrupted the calm. What joy! To my knowledge that sound has never held so much promise as it did this morning. We need the rain so badly. Unfortunately we still haven't had any.
Have you ever noticed that rain is always a bad thing in cartoons? Its always portrayed as raining and dark when the bad guy takes over, yet its sunny and beautiful when all is right in the world again. Being in a drought will definitely change that perspective. We need the rain to survive. Every person who has attempted to keep a garden this summer will let you know just how dependent we are on it.
My mind went to this verse, "In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust." Matthew 5:45 (GWT) I used to think of this verse as talking about trials in reference to the rain. Maybe it is, but notice that "He lets rain fall..." There is a popular Christian song right now that asks the question, "what if your blessings come through rain drops?" I believe the answer is yes.
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 "so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know."
James tells us in his writings to count it all joy when we face trials.
I think trials are like rain. We often get tired of them, just as we do rain during the wettest seasons. They often ruin our life plans like the rain ruins our outdoor fun. However, without trials we will not grow any more than our garden grew this year. Sure it grew some, but it, like many others, was stunted and short lived. Conversely, we will end up stunted and short lived if we never face trials.
When you are going through a time of trials remember this verse: "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;" Hebrews 6:7 (NASB)
When the time comes, find a reason to be thankful for your trials, and bring forth vegetation to spiritually feed those around you. You will discover that you also reap blessings from God!
Lord, please help us to see the raindrops in our lives as Your blessings falling from Heaven! Thank you, for letting us be rained on in order to produce vegetation for those in you intend us to minister around us. May our trials bring glory and honor to Your Name. Amen!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Save the Drama
Today's post will comes with a warning. God's word is often not for the faint of heart, and today is one of those days. If you are easily offended, you may not want to proceed...
The issue of strife has been on my mind for a while now. I'm not one to tolerate or listen to whining/complaining. God has helped me to tame this somewhat, but I still have no use for it. I will be quick to let you know that "drama" in the sense that its used to describe people having issues all the time is a sin. No way around it. Its sinful and foolish. "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." (Proverbs 20:3KJV) I had a guy once try to whine to me about why he was leaving our church. My response? "Well, we'll see you around I guess." Then I quickly turned and walked away.
My question for you today is, at what point do we mature enough spiritually to not need to be coddled and patronized by your church or your family?
I remember finding the following passage as a teenager and being so convicted. I was a Christian, but at that point in my life (somewhat because of my own actions and somewhat because of the people I had surrounded myself with) strife was consuming my world. It was a miserable way to live and required immediate action. I didn't want God to see me as an abomination!
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)
I hadn't done the first six, and it felt as though others had done all but shed my blood. However, my guilt concerning the seventh was not something to be ignored. Hurt had led way to anger and my feelings toward those people were not easily concealed. I didn't mind letting others know how I felt. Someone really should have made me memorize the whole of Titus 3, especially verse two which says, "To speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."
The Bible has much to say about dissension and strife, and none of it is good. In fact, strife is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, and it clearly states that those who practice such works won't enter the kingdom of heaven. (v19-21)
I encourage you today to think about these things. Examine yourself and let God show you if you are taking part in sowing discord. Are you allowing strife to have a place in your life? Let God change your heart and mind and give you a gentle and forbearing love for all people, so that you can be more like him. Remember always that He has forgiven you for all of the wrongs you've committed, and chances are they are much much greater than those that others have committed against you.
The issue of strife has been on my mind for a while now. I'm not one to tolerate or listen to whining/complaining. God has helped me to tame this somewhat, but I still have no use for it. I will be quick to let you know that "drama" in the sense that its used to describe people having issues all the time is a sin. No way around it. Its sinful and foolish. "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." (Proverbs 20:3KJV) I had a guy once try to whine to me about why he was leaving our church. My response? "Well, we'll see you around I guess." Then I quickly turned and walked away.
My question for you today is, at what point do we mature enough spiritually to not need to be coddled and patronized by your church or your family?
I remember finding the following passage as a teenager and being so convicted. I was a Christian, but at that point in my life (somewhat because of my own actions and somewhat because of the people I had surrounded myself with) strife was consuming my world. It was a miserable way to live and required immediate action. I didn't want God to see me as an abomination!
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)
I hadn't done the first six, and it felt as though others had done all but shed my blood. However, my guilt concerning the seventh was not something to be ignored. Hurt had led way to anger and my feelings toward those people were not easily concealed. I didn't mind letting others know how I felt. Someone really should have made me memorize the whole of Titus 3, especially verse two which says, "To speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."
The Bible has much to say about dissension and strife, and none of it is good. In fact, strife is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, and it clearly states that those who practice such works won't enter the kingdom of heaven. (v19-21)
I encourage you today to think about these things. Examine yourself and let God show you if you are taking part in sowing discord. Are you allowing strife to have a place in your life? Let God change your heart and mind and give you a gentle and forbearing love for all people, so that you can be more like him. Remember always that He has forgiven you for all of the wrongs you've committed, and chances are they are much much greater than those that others have committed against you.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
St. Patricks Day
I must start with a disclaimer. The following article is a copy of an articel my friend sent me. I didn't write this! I only wish I was a Celtic scholar! We always celebrate in a big way in the Ford/Kennedy houses for St. Patricks Day. My daughter has yet to figure out why we would have school on such an importan HOLYday. lol! It is the combination of our love for Ireland and missions that makes St. Patrick's Day so special to us. I wanted to share a little insight into the importance of this day to my readers.
WIM - Subcriber Articles St. Patrick Was a Pentecostal Fri, 11 Mar 2011 - 2:49 PM CST By Carolyn Tennant
As a Celtic scholar, I find it sad that few people really understand St. Patrick. We have a whole day dedicated to him on our U.S. calendars and generally spend it watching people go crazy wearing green, sponsoring parades, cutting out paper shamrocks, and holding forth in the Irish pubs. He would not be pleased. As far as we are able to piece together his life, Patrick was born around 385 A.D. on the western coast of Britain of a Roman nobleman and a Welsh mother. In his teens he was kidnapped by marauding Irishmen. He soon found himself sold into slavery on the west coast of Ireland, working for a druid as a sheepherder. His more privileged lifestyle in Britain undoubtedly made it difficult for him to survive the extreme temperatures he had to endure while living outside in the elements. In his Confessions he explained that he came to a faith which he had not known before and found himself praying "hundreds of prayers" day and night. In a dream 5 years later he was told to walk east and he would come across a ship which would take him away. This occurred - an unusual event really, since he would have had on an irremovable torc indicating he was a slave, and any Irishman would have normally picked him up and returned him to his master during his 200 mile escape route. The ship he found was taking Irish wolfhounds to Europe, bypassing Britain, but they allowed him to come on board after he was first turned away and then prayed that they would change their minds. The sailors could not find the nomadic tribe who ordered the hounds and went in search of them, nearly starving in the process. The ship's owner finally resorted to asking if Patrick's God could save them. After Patrick prayed, a herd of wild boar careened right through their camp, and the whole ship's crew was saved from starvation. That night Patrick said he "fought the devil" in prayer and he stated that he "spoke in other tongues." This is the exact translation. I have looked it up in the original Latin. The fact that Patrick ultimately felt led by God to go back to Ireland is astounding. This can only be the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He had every reason to hate his kidnappers. But he had learned their language and had participated in their culture, and he had a heart to see them saved. Going back meant that he could very well be picked up and reinstated into slavery. He laid down his life to return. So bold was he that after 30 years of ministry, what started as an unchristian nation was largely Christianized. He established hundreds of churches, baptized thousands, ordained 42 bishops, founded monasteries, developed a native clergy, and copied by hand no less than 365 abgitoria, books of instruction for the clergy. Many healings and miracles were ascribed to his apostolic ministry. Why bother to consider Patrick's life? First of all, it is another example of the world not understanding the things of God. He has now been reduced to fun and games whereas his real contributions were amazingly strong and vital, resulting in the salvation of thousands of people. It has never been particularly easy for the world to understand what the Holy Spirit is doing. Neither is it today. Let's deal with it. Secondly, so often we find ourselves toiling and feeling like nobody knows or cares, just like Patrick when he was a slave. We, too, can be misunderstood and even harassed. But others before us have endured the same lot, and we should not be surprised when we do, too. We need to stay strong and not give up. Prayer and trust must become our mainstays. We also need to put on the strong love for people that Patrick evidenced by returning to Ireland. He preached everywhere, even when he was opposed. However, he was so savvy and loving in his evangelism, so caring and kind, that he won people over. He respected the Celts' culture and allowed them to come to God through their own background, not by becoming romanized first. We must to be ready to go back in, even to those who have hurt us, and accept them where they are. Finally, Patrick was truly a Pentecostal. He was a giant in intercession who was not afraid to move powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit. He was used in signs, wonders, and miracles, the same sort of means that God wants to use today to push back the darkness. I believe God is looking for people who will step out in faith and yearn to see this nation come back to Him. May Patrick's life be a reminder to us that Pentecostals are a bold people. We go where most would think we are crazy to go. We risk our lives and our well being to see people get saved. It's not about green ... it's all about the mighty power of God! No wimps in our camp, women of God!
Carolyn Tennant, Ph.D. is an Assemblies of God minister and professor of English, North Central University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also a committee member of the Network for Women in Ministry.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Get 'er Done
Did I get your attention with my Larry the Cable Guy reference? Good! The boys are watching Cars this morning, and it just seemed to fit. I'm ready to get some things done today! How about you?
Dueteronomy 1:6-8 "The Lord our God spoke to us at Mount Horeb. He said, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Take your tents down. Go into the hill country of the Amorites. Go to all of the people who are their neighbors. Go to the people who live in the Arabah Valley. Travel to the mountains and the western hills. Go to the people in the Negev Desert and along the coast. Travel to the land of Canaan and to Lebanon. Go as far as the great Euphrates River.
'I have given you all of that land. Go in and take it as your own. I took an oath. I promised I would give the land to your fathers. I promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I also said I would give it to their children after them.'"
I woke up this morning feeling so refreshed and thinking of this passage of scripture. The very fact that I woke up feeling so good and thinking so clear was proof that God was involved! My mind has been full this week of the promises God has given me over the years, and with this train of thought, the understanding that He is waiting on me has becoming more and more clear.
I haven't read this passage in a while, but it was bursting in my mind immdeiately upon waking. I couldn't even remember where it was found. I called Jeff to ask him, and he blurted it out before I finished asking. He had just been reading it! It is so cool when God works that way! There is much to be learned from these few scriptures!
If you stop here, you'd think it was a glorious beginning to His children taking the land he'd promised. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Moses is retelling the story to the children of the people God was originally speaking to because their parents were all deceased and, after 40 years, they were finally going to do what their dads and moms couldn't: Claim God's promises!
Joshua and Caleb are two of my very favorite characters in the Bible. I like to think that I could be determined in my faith like they are. However, I can be a little like the others at times. People tell me the obstacles between me and my dreams are too big, and I listen to them instead of God. I'm tired of wondering around my mountain of doubts! I've heard the Lord and the promises He has given me, and I'm ready to claim them!
Has God promised you things in your life? Is there a dream He has given you, that you are reluctant to claim? Here are some verses to encourage you!
Habakkuk 2:2 "Then the LORD replied:
'Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.'"
-God is speaking to Habakkuk about what he has just been shown, but it is a good principal to follow. Write down the promises God has given you and the scriptures that go with them.
Phillipians 3:13-15 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
-Read what you've written down periodically to help you stay focused on the goal He has given you.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
-Memorize this verse! Anytime someone tries to tell you that your dreams are to big or that maybe you misunderstood God. Quote this verse. Anytime it looks as though you'll never see the fullfillment of His promises, quote this verse! Anytime you grow weary from waiting, quote this verse! Just quote it as often as you need to until its embedded in your mind and spirit. Never let go of the hope that is found in this promise!!
Be blessed! And remember "Stand firm, and you will win life. " (Luke 21:19)
Dueteronomy 1:6-8 "The Lord our God spoke to us at Mount Horeb. He said, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Take your tents down. Go into the hill country of the Amorites. Go to all of the people who are their neighbors. Go to the people who live in the Arabah Valley. Travel to the mountains and the western hills. Go to the people in the Negev Desert and along the coast. Travel to the land of Canaan and to Lebanon. Go as far as the great Euphrates River.
'I have given you all of that land. Go in and take it as your own. I took an oath. I promised I would give the land to your fathers. I promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I also said I would give it to their children after them.'"
I woke up this morning feeling so refreshed and thinking of this passage of scripture. The very fact that I woke up feeling so good and thinking so clear was proof that God was involved! My mind has been full this week of the promises God has given me over the years, and with this train of thought, the understanding that He is waiting on me has becoming more and more clear.
I haven't read this passage in a while, but it was bursting in my mind immdeiately upon waking. I couldn't even remember where it was found. I called Jeff to ask him, and he blurted it out before I finished asking. He had just been reading it! It is so cool when God works that way! There is much to be learned from these few scriptures!
If you stop here, you'd think it was a glorious beginning to His children taking the land he'd promised. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Moses is retelling the story to the children of the people God was originally speaking to because their parents were all deceased and, after 40 years, they were finally going to do what their dads and moms couldn't: Claim God's promises!
Joshua and Caleb are two of my very favorite characters in the Bible. I like to think that I could be determined in my faith like they are. However, I can be a little like the others at times. People tell me the obstacles between me and my dreams are too big, and I listen to them instead of God. I'm tired of wondering around my mountain of doubts! I've heard the Lord and the promises He has given me, and I'm ready to claim them!
Has God promised you things in your life? Is there a dream He has given you, that you are reluctant to claim? Here are some verses to encourage you!
Habakkuk 2:2 "Then the LORD replied:
'Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.'"
-God is speaking to Habakkuk about what he has just been shown, but it is a good principal to follow. Write down the promises God has given you and the scriptures that go with them.
Phillipians 3:13-15 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
-Read what you've written down periodically to help you stay focused on the goal He has given you.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
-Memorize this verse! Anytime someone tries to tell you that your dreams are to big or that maybe you misunderstood God. Quote this verse. Anytime it looks as though you'll never see the fullfillment of His promises, quote this verse! Anytime you grow weary from waiting, quote this verse! Just quote it as often as you need to until its embedded in your mind and spirit. Never let go of the hope that is found in this promise!!
Be blessed! And remember "Stand firm, and you will win life. " (Luke 21:19)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sow What?
Galatians 6:7, 8 (AMP) "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and ]that only is what he will reap. 8For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
It's been almost a month since I posted. Between holidays,snow days, and just plain busy days, I've found myself seeking for both God's direction and the time to write a new post. God dropped this into my spirit over the last few days, so I wanted to share it.
Mandee and I are planning on planting a garden this year. She was talking to a friend the other day who has already broken ground on her garden plot. We will be doing the same soon if we have enough warm days and the tiller my mother-in-law just recieved from her uncle works. In the meantime, our minds turn to what exactly we will plant in our garden. We both have the usual favorites (ours anyway): squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, green beans. sweet corn. My question for today is: What are we planting in our lives?
In the Scripture above, Paul is very plain as he reminds the Galatians of the principle of sowing and reaping: What you plant is what you get. Only, in the garden of our lives, there isn't always a "one-time"planting and harvesting, but usually a lifetime of filling ourselves with either things of the flesh or things of the Spirit. The idea of these verses is of one who "makes faces" at God and mocks His rules and set them aside, then does whatever he or she wants to in relation to planting the garden plot of his or her life. This is the person who says, "I don't care what God or anyone else thinks. This is my money, my life, my choice (fill in the blank), so I'm going to do whatever I want to do." And in His divine nature and grace, God gives us the freedom to make these choices. But...these come at a cost and anyone who thinks otherwise is, in the words of the rock group Styx, "Fooling Yourself". As I read these verses, I thought of someone at the end of their days, money made, friends and family deceased or at least gone, and goals and ambitions met. This person may feel like they have harvested an abundance, but really, they have harvested things that will one day burn up. Jesus mentioned this when he talked about laying up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves do not break through and steal. This is not to mention that this person may have made choices in his or her life that have actually resulted in disease and decay happening to their body. Either way, the harvest is ultimately one of ruin, decay, and destruction.
Not so with the one who sows things to the Spirit: prayer, devotion to God, ministering to those who God places in our paths/ These will reap a harvest of everlasting life. In this day to day life, it may feel like you are not harvesting much for your toils, but take heart in the words of Galatian 6:9 (AMP) "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." God has promises that in His economy, there will be a payment day, and what we will receive in that harvest will depend on what we have planted.
What to sow, what to sow.......
Father,
Thank you for the freedom you give us. Many use this freedom as an opportunity to sin. But I want to use these freedoms to sow things in my life that glorify you. We all occassionally do things that feed the flesh and not our remade spiritual nature, but please help me to make the conscious choice to sow and plant those things that are of the Spirit. Help me to water these things with your Word and with your Holy Spirit. I trust that no matter what happens in this life I will one day receive the results of what I have spent time planting. As the Scriptures say, may I not be ashamed at Your coming, but may I stand with confidence knowing I have planted things that will last for all eternity. In Jesus' Name, Amen
It's been almost a month since I posted. Between holidays,snow days, and just plain busy days, I've found myself seeking for both God's direction and the time to write a new post. God dropped this into my spirit over the last few days, so I wanted to share it.
Mandee and I are planning on planting a garden this year. She was talking to a friend the other day who has already broken ground on her garden plot. We will be doing the same soon if we have enough warm days and the tiller my mother-in-law just recieved from her uncle works. In the meantime, our minds turn to what exactly we will plant in our garden. We both have the usual favorites (ours anyway): squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, green beans. sweet corn. My question for today is: What are we planting in our lives?
In the Scripture above, Paul is very plain as he reminds the Galatians of the principle of sowing and reaping: What you plant is what you get. Only, in the garden of our lives, there isn't always a "one-time"planting and harvesting, but usually a lifetime of filling ourselves with either things of the flesh or things of the Spirit. The idea of these verses is of one who "makes faces" at God and mocks His rules and set them aside, then does whatever he or she wants to in relation to planting the garden plot of his or her life. This is the person who says, "I don't care what God or anyone else thinks. This is my money, my life, my choice (fill in the blank), so I'm going to do whatever I want to do." And in His divine nature and grace, God gives us the freedom to make these choices. But...these come at a cost and anyone who thinks otherwise is, in the words of the rock group Styx, "Fooling Yourself". As I read these verses, I thought of someone at the end of their days, money made, friends and family deceased or at least gone, and goals and ambitions met. This person may feel like they have harvested an abundance, but really, they have harvested things that will one day burn up. Jesus mentioned this when he talked about laying up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves do not break through and steal. This is not to mention that this person may have made choices in his or her life that have actually resulted in disease and decay happening to their body. Either way, the harvest is ultimately one of ruin, decay, and destruction.
Not so with the one who sows things to the Spirit: prayer, devotion to God, ministering to those who God places in our paths/ These will reap a harvest of everlasting life. In this day to day life, it may feel like you are not harvesting much for your toils, but take heart in the words of Galatian 6:9 (AMP) "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." God has promises that in His economy, there will be a payment day, and what we will receive in that harvest will depend on what we have planted.
What to sow, what to sow.......
Father,
Thank you for the freedom you give us. Many use this freedom as an opportunity to sin. But I want to use these freedoms to sow things in my life that glorify you. We all occassionally do things that feed the flesh and not our remade spiritual nature, but please help me to make the conscious choice to sow and plant those things that are of the Spirit. Help me to water these things with your Word and with your Holy Spirit. I trust that no matter what happens in this life I will one day receive the results of what I have spent time planting. As the Scriptures say, may I not be ashamed at Your coming, but may I stand with confidence knowing I have planted things that will last for all eternity. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Monday, December 27, 2010
Regifting
Hope everyone has had a blessed and restful holiday season so far. Mine has been so blessed and so restful that I haven't posted on here for the past couple of weeks. I've been seeking the Lord about what to post, and nothing seemed to come to mind until just a few days ago. He has been dealing with me lately a great deal about remembering to use the gifts he has given me. In 1Timothy 4:16 (AMP), Paul encourages the young pastor "Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. " and in 2 Timothy 1:6 (AMP), he continues this thought by reminding Timothy of the sincere faith he (Timothy) possesses and challenging him with this thought: "That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]." It is my prayer that the thoughts I share today will challenge you to think about, pray about, listen to the Lord about, and use the gifts He has given you.
Now let's turn specifically to the text God gave me for today, Matthew 10:1 - 8 (KJV) - "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give."
With Christmas just past, most of your gift-giving and gift-receiving are probably over. Now I want to pose this question to you and you do not have to answer: Did you do any regifting this year? Although most of us might be embarrassed to admit it in public, we may have at one time or another taken a gift we received, left it in the original box or package or repackaged it, and then given it to an unsuspecting someone else. Our reasons for doing this could be varied: we didn't like the gift, we thought it was a better gift for someone else's tastes, or we had to come up with a certain amount of gifts, using a certain amount of finances, and regifting was the best way to keep ourselves in the black. Whatever the reason, we often hope and pray the recipient of the gift doesn't figure out that he or she has been "regifted". It's not that the gift may not be a good, or even great one, it's just that there seems to be a certain taboo related to giving someone else our "leftovers".
Now, how does this relate to the above text? The twelve apostles had done nothing to receive the truth, purpose, and power Jesus gave them. They didn't pay a membership fee to join His "club" or pay tuition for His teaching; they hadn't worked their way up the corporate ladder of Galilean enterprise and received access to Jesus as some sort of promotion. They received what Jesus gave because Jesus loved them and decided to give it to them. Bottom line. Now, in this text, he is asking them to approach the work of the ministry with a "regifting" attitude: "You didn't pay for any of this. These are given to you as gifts. Now give them to others." The Amplified Bible states verse 8 in this way: "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give." I wonder how many of us, whether we regift in the natural or not, regift in the spiritual with this selfless attitude. I know sometimes my memory is short and I can forget that I've done nothing on my own merit or in my own power to receive salvation, the new life Jesus gives, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or any of the power, authority, and spiritual gifts He has given me.
In Acts 3, we see Peter display this regifting attitude when he allows the Holy Spirit to use his words and his hand to heal a man lame from birth. Peter tells the man in Acts 3:6 (KJV) "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk". Peter likely remembered that Jesus told him and the other apostles not to even take a purse of money or extra clothes with them on their ministry journey. He probably also remembered paying the temple tax for himself and for Jesus with money from a fish's mouth. He understood that he had done nothing to receive what Jesus had given him, he just had to receive it and give it freely to others. May we have this attitude as well. Only the Lord knows what things we will do in His name when we do.
I sense there may be some reading this who would say: "I know what my gifts are, but I don't want to use them. I don't feel qualified, worthy, or capable of using them. It's not that I don't want to help others, I'm just afraid I'm going to make a mess of it. The person I'm trying to witness to or pray for is going to reject me, just as if they knew I had regifted them a Christmas gift. I feel like I'm just handing out leftovers." Plase allow me to share two Scriptures with you along these lines. The first is found in 2 Timothy, the verse just after Paul reminds Timothy to keep the flame of his gift burning. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control". In faith, you can trust that God has given you what you need to use the gifts He has given you: power, love, calm well-balanced mind, discipline, and self-control. He didn't give you gifts because you already had these things; He gives you these things because He has given you gifts. The second verse is Romans 11:29, where Paul is referring to God's plan for the Jews, many of whom were enemies of the Gospel at the time Romans was written. Paul wanted to reassure the Roman believers that God had plans for Gentiles, but also that He had not given up on His beloved Jewish people either. In this verse, Paul writes "For God's gift and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives grace or to whom He sends His call.] Praise God for that! That means God does not have a Customer Service/Returns section like most retailers. He won't take the gifts back once He gives them to you. You don't even have a receipt to show for them because you didn't buy them: He gave them to you. You can set them in the corner and try to neglect them, but I would daresay you won't be happy doing that. If you received the best material gift you can think of, would you hide it in the corner to collect dust and dirty laundry? No! Not only would you use it, but you would probably invite others to use it with you, or at least excitedly tell them about it. Now we're getting down to kingdom business.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for the cross, for redemption, justification, and most of all, for Your love. All of these, along with Your Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts you have given to me, have been given to me, not purchased by me. I recognize that You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider and my Source. Lord, may we not neglect the gifts you have given us, but may we discover them and use them just as freely as we received them. For those who don't yet know their gifts or are questioning them and the call You have on their lives, I pray that You will help them to discover them, that they will take confidence from You in exercising them, that they would not neglect them or even try to return them, but that their gifts would burn with intense flame within them. May we not be afraid to regift, for there are many who need the gifts that we possess. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Happy New Year and may you have much success in regifting!
Now let's turn specifically to the text God gave me for today, Matthew 10:1 - 8 (KJV) - "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give."
With Christmas just past, most of your gift-giving and gift-receiving are probably over. Now I want to pose this question to you and you do not have to answer: Did you do any regifting this year? Although most of us might be embarrassed to admit it in public, we may have at one time or another taken a gift we received, left it in the original box or package or repackaged it, and then given it to an unsuspecting someone else. Our reasons for doing this could be varied: we didn't like the gift, we thought it was a better gift for someone else's tastes, or we had to come up with a certain amount of gifts, using a certain amount of finances, and regifting was the best way to keep ourselves in the black. Whatever the reason, we often hope and pray the recipient of the gift doesn't figure out that he or she has been "regifted". It's not that the gift may not be a good, or even great one, it's just that there seems to be a certain taboo related to giving someone else our "leftovers".
Now, how does this relate to the above text? The twelve apostles had done nothing to receive the truth, purpose, and power Jesus gave them. They didn't pay a membership fee to join His "club" or pay tuition for His teaching; they hadn't worked their way up the corporate ladder of Galilean enterprise and received access to Jesus as some sort of promotion. They received what Jesus gave because Jesus loved them and decided to give it to them. Bottom line. Now, in this text, he is asking them to approach the work of the ministry with a "regifting" attitude: "You didn't pay for any of this. These are given to you as gifts. Now give them to others." The Amplified Bible states verse 8 in this way: "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give." I wonder how many of us, whether we regift in the natural or not, regift in the spiritual with this selfless attitude. I know sometimes my memory is short and I can forget that I've done nothing on my own merit or in my own power to receive salvation, the new life Jesus gives, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or any of the power, authority, and spiritual gifts He has given me.
In Acts 3, we see Peter display this regifting attitude when he allows the Holy Spirit to use his words and his hand to heal a man lame from birth. Peter tells the man in Acts 3:6 (KJV) "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk". Peter likely remembered that Jesus told him and the other apostles not to even take a purse of money or extra clothes with them on their ministry journey. He probably also remembered paying the temple tax for himself and for Jesus with money from a fish's mouth. He understood that he had done nothing to receive what Jesus had given him, he just had to receive it and give it freely to others. May we have this attitude as well. Only the Lord knows what things we will do in His name when we do.
I sense there may be some reading this who would say: "I know what my gifts are, but I don't want to use them. I don't feel qualified, worthy, or capable of using them. It's not that I don't want to help others, I'm just afraid I'm going to make a mess of it. The person I'm trying to witness to or pray for is going to reject me, just as if they knew I had regifted them a Christmas gift. I feel like I'm just handing out leftovers." Plase allow me to share two Scriptures with you along these lines. The first is found in 2 Timothy, the verse just after Paul reminds Timothy to keep the flame of his gift burning. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control". In faith, you can trust that God has given you what you need to use the gifts He has given you: power, love, calm well-balanced mind, discipline, and self-control. He didn't give you gifts because you already had these things; He gives you these things because He has given you gifts. The second verse is Romans 11:29, where Paul is referring to God's plan for the Jews, many of whom were enemies of the Gospel at the time Romans was written. Paul wanted to reassure the Roman believers that God had plans for Gentiles, but also that He had not given up on His beloved Jewish people either. In this verse, Paul writes "For God's gift and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives grace or to whom He sends His call.] Praise God for that! That means God does not have a Customer Service/Returns section like most retailers. He won't take the gifts back once He gives them to you. You don't even have a receipt to show for them because you didn't buy them: He gave them to you. You can set them in the corner and try to neglect them, but I would daresay you won't be happy doing that. If you received the best material gift you can think of, would you hide it in the corner to collect dust and dirty laundry? No! Not only would you use it, but you would probably invite others to use it with you, or at least excitedly tell them about it. Now we're getting down to kingdom business.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for the cross, for redemption, justification, and most of all, for Your love. All of these, along with Your Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts you have given to me, have been given to me, not purchased by me. I recognize that You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider and my Source. Lord, may we not neglect the gifts you have given us, but may we discover them and use them just as freely as we received them. For those who don't yet know their gifts or are questioning them and the call You have on their lives, I pray that You will help them to discover them, that they will take confidence from You in exercising them, that they would not neglect them or even try to return them, but that their gifts would burn with intense flame within them. May we not be afraid to regift, for there are many who need the gifts that we possess. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Happy New Year and may you have much success in regifting!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Finding a Lesson in the Madness
I have a really great blog brewing, but apparently today still isn't the day to post it. Instead, I want to share what just happened to me and apply it to our lives. Its kind of a rabbit trail of a lesson, but it does have a point! :)
Jeff and I are the very layed-back, easy going type. A great trait in many ways, but in others it can be a hindrance. The kids run and play and make their messes, and we just remind them it will take longer to clean up at bed time. Dec draws a mural on the wall, and I shake my head as I grab the magic eraser. Those are positive sides to being layed-back, but I've come to realize that some of our easy going ways are actually causing more stress in our lives.
We live on a single income and have for many years, but we have had a very difficult time adjusting from living in the southern part of the state to being here in the northwest corner. Northwest Arkansas is so completely different from the rest of Arkansas that it could almost be its own state. Cost of living is ridiculous. Activities are abundant, and gas is guzzled.
We try very hard to be frugal and live well within our means. Unfortunately we've been here almost 6 months, and we're still trying to figure this out. This last couple of months I've been exploring a new way to save a little extra. There is an abundance of sites that help crazy moms (and dads) like me figure out how to use coupons and rewards to save money. I've read and watched for a while now, and I think I'm starting to figure them out. Now comes the time to do it myself. Now comes the part where I get very anxious.
I have spent the last couple of hours trying to make my menu and plan my shopping trips according to the principals the women use. I haven't gotten very far. Just at the point when I thought I was going to pull my hair out, throw the coupons in the trash and say forget it, I noticed a tab for the first time on a site I've grown fond of visiting. A link for newbies!!! Where has that been all this time? I felt saved from failure as it explained some of the things that the others talked about as if I should know what they meant.
Then came the God-thought...you know that little thought ties mundane life back to spiritual life.
Christians have no small amount of 'spiritual growth' books and blogs. (That is what people may see this blog as) Our book shelf has plenty on it as well, but I'll tell you a secret... God's Word has all the answers we need. I would never speak against God's anointed, but I do wonder sometimes if we're missing the point. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a really good devotional or bible study, or reading testimonies and sermons. I just wonder if some of the other books go a little too far.
In going too far, do we confuse the would be follower or new converts? I fear that we do. One of the earliest verses I can remember memorizing was Psalms 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might now sin against you." There has been a longing stirring in me to just put away all the books and focus on my bible. Jeff and I have discussed it. My friends and I have discussed it, and God and I have discussed it. He is drawing my focus back to where is should be.
Would you like to take this challenge with me? No, I'm not going to tell you to read the bible through in a year...definitely not in ninety days. Here is what the challenge. Lay aside all the 'extras' and for the next month, study just from the bible.
Here are some tips.
-Get a few different translations. Use your computer if you need it. Biblegateway.com is a great place to find all the different translations. Check out the amplified when you don't understand a verse.
-Find a good source for discovering the Greek and Hebrew usage for words. (sometimes words we use to mean more than one thing comes from a very specific Greek or Hebrew word)
-If you find you have questions or you don't understand, ask someone. Funny thing about ministers...we like to talk about the Bible. Ask your Pastor or a person who knows the Bible well. You can also send e-mails to titus2mentoring@Gmail.com if you would like.
Are you up for the challenge???
Jeff and I are the very layed-back, easy going type. A great trait in many ways, but in others it can be a hindrance. The kids run and play and make their messes, and we just remind them it will take longer to clean up at bed time. Dec draws a mural on the wall, and I shake my head as I grab the magic eraser. Those are positive sides to being layed-back, but I've come to realize that some of our easy going ways are actually causing more stress in our lives.
We live on a single income and have for many years, but we have had a very difficult time adjusting from living in the southern part of the state to being here in the northwest corner. Northwest Arkansas is so completely different from the rest of Arkansas that it could almost be its own state. Cost of living is ridiculous. Activities are abundant, and gas is guzzled.
We try very hard to be frugal and live well within our means. Unfortunately we've been here almost 6 months, and we're still trying to figure this out. This last couple of months I've been exploring a new way to save a little extra. There is an abundance of sites that help crazy moms (and dads) like me figure out how to use coupons and rewards to save money. I've read and watched for a while now, and I think I'm starting to figure them out. Now comes the time to do it myself. Now comes the part where I get very anxious.
I have spent the last couple of hours trying to make my menu and plan my shopping trips according to the principals the women use. I haven't gotten very far. Just at the point when I thought I was going to pull my hair out, throw the coupons in the trash and say forget it, I noticed a tab for the first time on a site I've grown fond of visiting. A link for newbies!!! Where has that been all this time? I felt saved from failure as it explained some of the things that the others talked about as if I should know what they meant.
Then came the God-thought...you know that little thought ties mundane life back to spiritual life.
Christians have no small amount of 'spiritual growth' books and blogs. (That is what people may see this blog as) Our book shelf has plenty on it as well, but I'll tell you a secret... God's Word has all the answers we need. I would never speak against God's anointed, but I do wonder sometimes if we're missing the point. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a really good devotional or bible study, or reading testimonies and sermons. I just wonder if some of the other books go a little too far.
In going too far, do we confuse the would be follower or new converts? I fear that we do. One of the earliest verses I can remember memorizing was Psalms 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might now sin against you." There has been a longing stirring in me to just put away all the books and focus on my bible. Jeff and I have discussed it. My friends and I have discussed it, and God and I have discussed it. He is drawing my focus back to where is should be.
Would you like to take this challenge with me? No, I'm not going to tell you to read the bible through in a year...definitely not in ninety days. Here is what the challenge. Lay aside all the 'extras' and for the next month, study just from the bible.
Here are some tips.
-Get a few different translations. Use your computer if you need it. Biblegateway.com is a great place to find all the different translations. Check out the amplified when you don't understand a verse.
-Find a good source for discovering the Greek and Hebrew usage for words. (sometimes words we use to mean more than one thing comes from a very specific Greek or Hebrew word)
-If you find you have questions or you don't understand, ask someone. Funny thing about ministers...we like to talk about the Bible. Ask your Pastor or a person who knows the Bible well. You can also send e-mails to titus2mentoring@Gmail.com if you would like.
Are you up for the challenge???
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