"That They May Be One..."

I recently listened to a sermon regarding unity in the body of Christ.  It was preached in accordance with the prayer that Jesus Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was taken away by the Roman guards to face the accusations which led to His crucifixion.

"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

(John 17:21, New Living Translation)

What a precious prayer, and what a blessed thought.  If we could only set aside our differences in the faith and begin to embrace that which we agree upon-- the virgin birth, the blessed life, the perfect sacrifice, and the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ-- what marvelous things we could do!  No longer would our time be wasted worrying over non-consequential matters.  No more bickering and division among the brethren.  Only unity in our desire to reach a lost and hurting world for the glory of Christ and God the Father.  

This past Sunday I was asked to join with a special group of singers in the Missionary Baptist Church which worships in the building just behind my home church.  It is a mainly African-American church with a glorious style of worship very different from the reserved style of my own congregation.  They needed the voice of a soprano to complete their opening worship song and sought me out to fill that void.  What an honor and privilege it was to join my voice with those precious brothers and sisters in the faith for the purpose of praising our God and King.  The Spirit of Holiness moved through that group of people as we sang, and those of us who were lifting our voices in praise were not left wanting.  It's been a long time since I felt such a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in a worship meeting.  We sang without shame, we sang without fear, we sang out from our hearts... and God was pleased with our praises.  He smiled upon that gathering of His children and was quick to answer the prayers of His Son on our behalf.  We were "...one in the bond of love" and it was magnificent.

When God's children join their hearts in worship and praise, it unleashes a mighty power into this world that can never be equaled or defeated.  With that thought in mind, I am beginning work on putting together a community-wide revival for the small town where I live.  It will be a 5-night event where denominations will be set aside and our only focus will be on the unity of the body of believers and the power of Almighty God to refresh this world through our praises.  I believe that Sunday was a small taste of the blessings to be known by such a gathering, and I thank my Lord for this glimpse into what He desires to accomplish through our revival services.  I pray that each of you reading this blog will join with me in prayer for the hand of God in everything that is done in those meetings.  May we agree that our goal is to show Jesus to our world, beginning with our small South Carolina community.  

"The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.  [No one} for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.  The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].  For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved."

(Romans 10:11-13, Amplified Bible)

Ouch! That hurts!

"Why don't other people see things the way I see them?"  Have you ever asked that question?  Sometimes we wonder why others view things so differently from what seems to be obvious to us.  If those issues are something about which we are passionate, the critical words of others carry a particular sting and can leave a considerable wound in our heart.  Then, add to the mix the possibility that those other people are folks we care about and who we believe to be significant to us.  Wow, now that really hurts!  Criticism and cynicism from those we love can result in a few different responses on our part.
1.  We become angry and lash out at the one giving the criticism:  When our enthusiasm for something is viewed negatively by someone significant in our life, we often respond with anger and may say things we later regret.  Usually, we're trying to defend our position or justify our right to believe something.  We expect those around us (family, friends, church family) to be supportive and just as enthusiastic as we are about the issue.  However, sometimes what we receive from them is just the opposite... cynicism, criticism, rebuke, or perhaps simply a level of apathy we find intolerable.  If their remarks are harsh, we feel attacked, and at times like those we often "fire back."  No one likes dodging bullets without at least trying to shoot back in defense.  Yet, Scripture warns us against that sort of response.

"Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense."  (Proverbs 19:11)

More often than not, when we bridle our tongue and refuse to exchange hurtful remarks, we find that in time that other person comes around to our way of thinking and begins to embrace our enthusiasm simply because they see for themselves that our passion is not a fleeting fancy.  Our commitment to our belief and our steady indication of that commitment will be a stronger witness than any verbal admonition can ever be.

2.  We feel hurt and discouraged, often choosing to give up as a result:  This response to criticism occurs when we fall into the trap of seeking our approval from man, rather than keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the "author and finisher of our faith."

"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."  (Isaiah 26:3)

It is a grave mistake to place our hopes into the hands of other humans.  They are, after all, sinful creatures just as we are sinful.  Sooner or later, even our staunchest supporters will disappoint us by their negativism.  That is not to say we should never listen to the advice of others, but we must be diligent to weigh that advice against the Word of God and the call upon our heart concerning a given matter.  Only when we discipline our minds to stay in close communion with the Lord will we find peace.  Commitment to God is key... commitment in the face of criticism is glory.

3.  We lose our enthusiasm and begin to drift:  If criticism leads us to complacency, we have become lukewarm in our faith and obedience to God's call.  Jesus Christ spoke through the Apostle John in Revelation 3:15-16:

"I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!"

We understand that these verses were written specifically to the church in Laodicea, which had become wealthy and "self-sufficient," thereby also becoming very complacent about the faith.  However, the same verses were recorded for our benefit that we might understand the danger of a so-so commitment to those things which Christ has commissioned for us.  The word spew means "to rapidly expel with great force."  It is synonymous with the word vomit.  Now, I cannot speak for you, but I can assure you with confidence that I have no desire to be "vomited" out from Jesus' presence!

I guess what I'm trying to say today is simple.  Don't allow someone else's level of enthusiasm... or the gross lack thereof... to sway you from your appointed call in Christ Jesus.  Life will be filled with times when we believe in a given course of action, only to find that those around us do not embrace our enthusiasm or even support it.  Listen... consider... pray.  Then, move forward on that which God has placed in your heart.  Keep your eyes fixed on the prize, and don't give up.  Don't get angry because others fail to have the same commitment as you.  Don't lose your enthusiasm for the task.  Look to the only source of true wisdom and guidance for your life, then move on with determined commitment and love for the task (and others).  God does not call His children to lives of convenience and ease.  But He rewards perseverance, dedication, and obedience.

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."

(James 1:2-4, Amplified Bible)

 

Spring Cleaning

Spring is my favorite time of year.  Perhaps one of my favorite things about the season is the opportunity for spring cleaning.  (Yes, I know I'm weird.)  I look forward to those warm, sunny days of spring when I can dig into the mess winter has left behind and get things bright and shining once again.  I think God must love spring, as well.  He uses the early rains to wash away the muddied snow and freshen the earth.  He allows fresh new buds to appear on the trees and plants and the old, dead leaves to be crowded out and drop away.  In spring, God turns caterpillars into butterflies and tadpoles into frogs.  He touches the sleeping daffodils and enables them to break through the surface of the ground and spring forth in all their glorious beauty.  Spring is the time of fresh new beginnings.

Sometimes cleaning up the mess of winter is hard work.  A couple of days ago my husband took on the chore of cleaning our back porch and deck to get it ready for the approaching warm days.  Everything was covered with a thick layer of dirt and yellow pollen that clung to each surface with tenacity.  It took several passes with a vacuum and multiple buckets of soapy water to clean away what the previous months had left behind.  The grime out there was tenacious, but Bob was more tenacious still... and now our back porch and deck are ready to welcome guests and serve as a lovely place to sit with a cup of coffee, my devotional and Bible in hand, and start each day with the Lord.

Spring cleaning is not just needed in our homes and yards.  It is probably even more necessary in our lives.  When we are in close contact with God, He will be faithful to point out those areas of life in which we have an accumulation of dirt and disorder.  He wants for us to tackle those old issues and clear them away so we can move freely into the future.  Sometimes that job requires only that we seek His forgiveness for the past and step into the newness of life He provides.  Sometimes we may be called to seek the forgiveness of others whom we have hurt along the way.  Still other times it may be necessary for us to endure the consequences of our poor choices for a period of time as God allows us to learn from those painful experiences in hope that we will never again repeat them.  Yet, when we have tackled those messes and cleared them away from our lives, we can step into a new springtime of fullness in Christ Jesus unencumbered by the mess of winters past.

The Holy Spirit has been sent to believers to reveal the truth in all things.  His job is to prick the conscience and open the eyes of Christians so they can see and clearly recognize their need for change. 

"He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding!  He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!"

(Daniel 2:21-22)

If we will choose to listen to the Spirit, He will be faithful to reveal those things in our lives which must be cleared away if we are to be ready for a fresh, new beginning in Christ.  Sometimes the work is hard because the issues are tenacious, but we can rest in the knowledge that God equips His children for every difficult task.

"For who is God except the Lord?  Or who is the Rock save our God, the God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect?  He makes my feet like hinds' (deer's) feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.  He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.  You have give plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip."

(Psalm 18:31-36)

The best part of spring cleaning is the finished product.  When my house is sparkling clean and tidy, I can look around with a feeling of pride and accomplishment in the completed work I have done.  It's the same in our lives.  Clearing away the clutter and grime of our past lives leaves us free to bask in the glory of the completed work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.  He is able to make all things new.  Sometimes we are given tasks to complete along the way, but He will walk with us faithfully and give us the courage and tenacity to do what must be done so that we may plant our feet firmly on salvation's new height.  Once secure on that higher plane, we need not fear that God will allow us to slip back into the mess of our past.  He will forever be our Rock and our Salvation.

I pray you will find the courage to begin the process of spring cleaning today.  Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to reveal those areas which need to be tackled first, and then begin.  With a little time and a whole lot of tenacity, you will witness the finished product in which you can take pride and know you have been obedient in all things.  A fresh start feels so good!

"That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].  Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.  I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward."

(Philippians 4:11-14, Amplified Bible)

The Leak

Today is one rainy, rainy, rainy day in South Carolina.  I'm talking the kind of rain that makes you start looking for an ark.  Our back yard resembles a small lake right now, and the rain just keeps coming.  In fact, it was raining so hard at 6:00 a.m. that I awoke from my sleep and got out of bed just to see what was happening.  (For anyone who does not know me well, I am certainly not an early morning person and do not typically get out of bed willingly at 6:00 a.m.)  Sometime later, my husband rolled out of the sack and headed for the kitchen to start a pot of morning coffee for the two of us.  It didn't take long for him to discover that we had a serious problem... a leak!  A serious lead had developed in the roof and water was flowing down our kitchen wall flooding the countertops and spilling over onto the floor.  It was a mess, and one that had to be immediately addressed.  Despite the horrible conditions outside, Bob dressed in a rain suit (from his motorcycle), braved the downpour, and climbed up onto the roof of our house to locate the source through which the rain was entering.  A few minutes later I heard the pounding of a hammer followed by the return of my very soaked hubby and the noticeable slowing of the encroaching flow of water through the kitchen ceiling.  As I type this post, Bob is off to the home supply store to purchase some waterproof sealant, after which he will again mount the housetop and complete the necessary repairs.  As for the kitchen ceiling and wall, we will need to allow them to dry out before we can successfully determine the degree of damage and the steps needed to fix it.

You may be asking yourself what all this has to do with spiritual matters (since that is, of course, the basis of my blog).  In the midst of the commotion and our attempts to deal with this unsettling issue, I found it possible to give thanks to God.  I praised Him for giving us this home.  There are millions of people worldwide who have no home in which to live and who are subjected to the elements every day.  I praised God that the leak didn't happen over the top of our bed, thereby allowing us a good night's sleep prior to facing the turmoil.  I praised Him that I have a husband who possesses the knowledge and ability to address the problem and effect a repair.  I praised God that the cost to stop the leak would be minimal.  I praised Him for protecting Bob up on the roof.  I even praised Him that the rainstorm did not contain any lightning at this point.  (It should be noted here that severe thunderstorms are forecast for later today.)  I praised God... and then I praised God some more... and then I continued to praise God even more.  Giving thanks and offering praise to Almighty God is a habit to be cultivated in the Christian walk.

As long as we live on this fallen planet, we will be faced with problems in life.  We are a part of the world, but Jesus Christ assures us,  

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world.  [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"  (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)                          

Even in light of a terrible roof leak, I am able to see the blessings given to us by our Heavenly Father, and I choose to give Him praise and thanksgiving in all things.  Do not be mistaken, it is a choice we must make... and not always one that is easy.  When adversity is staring us in the face, it is tempting to give in to despair and discouragement.  As believers in Christ, we are called to make a choice to act in obedience and give thanks to God in all things.  It is truly amazing the level of peace and confidence that is our when we obey that command.  A leak in our ceiling no longer has the power to rob us of our confidence and joy!!

As you face the challenges of this day, I pray you will cultivate a habit of thanksgiving for all God has given you.  His love is eternally secure; His power is without limits; His knowledge is beyond our comprehension; and His protection is promised to those who believe on Him.  As you give thanks and praise to God, you will be unleashing His mighty power in your life, and those around you will see that the Lord really does make a difference in our lives every day.

"Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]."  (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Pillow Cases for Christ

Satan loves to distract God's people or to give them false understanding of His Word (as found in the Bible).  One of the devil's tricks is to make believers think that "ministry" is the calling of those who are employed by the church, who hold particular church offices, or whose work is selected, sanctioned, and supervised by the local church.  Today, I would like to offer a different look at ministry-- one that is not based on the devil's narrow concept of the word.

The word ministry comes from the Greek word diakonia, which means service.  It is from that Greek word that we get the term deacon.  However, service is not to be viewed only as the duty of deacons, pastors, or other officially sanctioned members of the church.  Every believer in Christ is called to work and serve in His name in order to be a shining example of Jesus in a dark and needy world.  Ministry involves work; and work done for the purpose of representing Jesus Christ equates to worship of God.

"So then, whether you eat or dink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God."

(I Corinthians 10:31, Amplified Bible)

God is glorified whenever our work is done with a thankful heart and with complete commitment toward Him.  When we serve in such a way (whatever that service may look like), we become a living example of the manifest grace of God in the life of man.

Recently, I began to desire to find a meaningful place of service in my life.  When I started to pray that God would lead me to such a place, I was surprised at what He laid on my heart.  Surprised, I suppose, because I had been guilty of viewing service through the looking glass of Satan's deception and thinking it was something I could only do if I became part of a ministry team or an officially sanctioned effort of a local church.  The problem with that?  It wasn't happening!  So when I prayed for the opportunity to minister to others in Christ's name, the Lord placed into my heart and mind a ministry of pillow cases!!  Can you believe it?  Pillow cases!  What a strange thought.  How on earth could sewing pillow cases be seen as a ministry?  Now let me say here that I do love making pillow cases.  I'm not talking about your standard idea of what a simple pillow case looks like.  Rather, I'm referring here to a "specialty" pillow case for which I have a simple, but elegant pattern.  Each case requires the use of three separate fabrics, all coordinating in some way.  When finished, each one becomes a miniature work of art that causes people to smile and to run their hands over the surface in wonder and admiration.  Every pillow case I have created has culminated in the joyful smile of the person to whom I have given it.

So the question then became "How do I turn making pillow cases into a ministry of service?"  God was faithful to lay a particular cross section of people on my heart.  Having been a recipient of the hospice organization (not for myself, but for some people whom I loved dearly), I am particularly thankful for those people who are called to service in that area.  Hospice workers are a unique kind of people.  They daily bring great love, mercy, and compassion into the lives of patients who are facing end-of-life challenges and the families and loved ones of those patients.  The Lord spoke clearly and simply to me:  Make pillow cases and take them to the nearest hospice facility as a gift to the patients there.  Ask the staff to distribute them, allowing each patient to choose a case that they like from a selection you have furnished.  When that patient passes, their family should be allowed to take that pillow case home with them as a gentle reminder of the one they loved so dearly in life.  

As I thought about it, I began to realize that this "simple" ministry could have far-reaching effects on people.  Since hospice patients spend most of their time in bed, their view of the world around them becomes very restricted.  Perhaps the opportunity to look through a selection of beautiful little works of art, choosing one for themselves, and then enjoying it day by day would bring a small measure of joy to their hearts.  Family members might be involved in the act of choosing just the right case.  Those closest to the patient would surely want to know from where that special pillow case came.  Nurses and doctors caring for the patient would wonder and ask the origin of that work.  In short, everyone who views the pillow case will have questions, and the answer will always be:  "Someone who loves the Lord God and desires to minister in His name makes these pillow cases for the purpose of serving the people in this facility."

There you have it.  To some, my ministry will appear insignificant and quirky.  To those benefiting from it, it will be a moment of realizing that someone cares about their suffering.  Someone is praying for them and for their family.  Someone is showing the love of Jesus Christ to them, inviting them to know His love in a personal way for themselves.  Psalm 67 instructs us to make the love of God known to all the world. 

I recently shared the idea of my new ministry with a friend of mine who lives on our street.  She is not well and suffers from advanced COPD that keeps her confined to her home and often to her bed for days at a time.  She responded to my description of this service by saying, "I can't sew and I can't really work to make your ministry a success, but what if I gave you some money to buy fabric for your pillow cases?  Would that help?  Would that make me a part of your ministry?"  What a precious friend!  What an amazing heart of love she has.  

  While I continue my seminary studies, I will use this time wisely and serve my Lord in love through my pillow case ministry.  I trust He will bless my efforts and provide all I need to make it a reality.  I will do my very best job of sewing, pressing, and folding.  I will pray over each pillow case, asking God to use it as an encouragement in someone's life.  And I will worship and glorify God through every stitch.  Every believer in Christ has a ministry, a place of service, a work they are called to do for the purpose of making God's love known.  We have all been given a mission field.  Mine is at the sewing machine and in the McCall Hospice House (at least for this time of my life). Have you found yours?

"Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward.  [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah)."

(Colossians 3:23-24, Amplified Bible)