Teachers

One of the passages in Scripture that always causes me--as a sometime Bible teacher--to stop and ponder is found In I Corinthians 2. Paul, in describing his own teaching ministry, states that he made it a point to not try to persuade people to believe by using human, specious philosophy or an impressive delivery style. He was focused on presenting truth as simply and plainly as he could--no manipulation. He explains that man limited to human reasoning cannot understand the... Word because it is spiritually discerned. Paul feared that some might respond to his teaching based on his "style" and not be responding to the Spirit's moving. Such people--those who respond to human manipulation--are deceived. Their faith is powerless. How many today have a faith based on a man's eloquence and charisma rather than the Spirit's wooing? Are we "entertaining" people into a human-based faith? How long will that last in difficult times? I pray that God's teachers today--that this old man--will not be guilty of recruiting followers of men. All powerful teaching relies totally on the Spirit's power--and the simple message: Christ crucified.

The Richest People in the World

The richest people in the world:


Are poor in spirit
Heavily invested in the treasures of Heaven
Never let the "offering plate" pass by without contributing something...
Give to the orphans and widows in need
Are compassionate toward the poor in attitude, heart, and action
Give cheerfully as the Lord prospers them
Trust in His "riches in glory" for the meeting of all their needs
Give feet to their prayers
Believe in the right hand--left hand method of giving since what they give is His not theirs.
In time of need, thankfully receive the generosity of others toward them
Love people not things
Continue to daily learn to be content with whatever they have--a little or a lot
Are joint-heirs with Christ

To Love His Appearing

To "love His appearing"


Live a life of obedience right now.
Seek those He desires to become members of the kingdom
Live a fearless life--confident in His goodness--that all will be well....
Invest on earth in the riches of Heaven.
Spend time with His people--love and encourage others to good works as they encourage you to do the same.
Build up--not tear down.
Love His children--all of them. Be a catalyst for the unity that proves to the world that He is who He claimed to be--the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Be an overcomer through His strength.
Be content with His provision.
Walk through each day on your knees.
Enrich yourself with the Word.
Be thankful in every thing.
Rest in the truth that the struggles in your life are proof that He loves you--not that He doesn't.
Wait--expectantly.

Sanctified

One of the last things Jesus prayed was, "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth." Why did Jesus pray that for His disciples--then and now? Because He sends them out into the world in His place to do His work in His likeness.


Nothing can set a man or woman apart--consecrate them for service other than an immersion in God's Word. It is the sword of the Spirit. It is the cleansing, pruning work that allows a believer to abide in Christ the True Vine. It is the source of the power that allows someone to live a life full of the Spirit. It is the light to our feet. It is the treasure in our hearts that keeps us from sinning.


No one can be transformed into His image who is not saturated with Scripture--mind and heart. May we join our Savior in praying that His people will be sanctified with the Word of Truth.

Remembering

Remember Achan. The love of money is deadly.


Remevmber Ai. Our decisions impact others.


Remember the stones on the other side of the Jordan. When you go through the flood, He will be with you.

Remember the walls of Jericho. Shout for the Lord has given you the victory.


Remember the generation that entered the Promised Land. Twenty years of obediently waiting on the Lord made them strong in the Lord.


Remember Rahab. God will be found by those who fear Him. He is seeking the seekers.


Remember Caleb. With God's help, the giants in our lives have no chance to defeat us.


Remember the Gibeonites. Keep your word.


Remember Joshua. He is the Captain. You are called to "just" be faithful. Courageous.

Reflections from February 2018

Integrity is when our family, friends, casual acquaintances, fellow-workers, and enemies all agree on our strengths and weaknesses.  (Though, they may have them in different columns.)
___________


Nothing speaks louder than a soft answer.
__________


May God bless us with friends who are great listeners.
__________


A life that makes a difference is not concerned with "my rights," but with "my responsibilities."
__________


When I'm struggling with my patience and my relationships with others, far too often I find the cause to be my need of confession.  Unconfessed sin is such a insidious destroyer of fellowship.
__________


Our strength is His faithfulness.
__________


Grief and joy are the same gift--they come in the same "package."  He gives joy in the midst of grief.  They are bundled in the prayer of submission.  "No matter what, Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."
__________

To the Work

How does God equip us for the work He has called us to do?


He shows us our weaknesses that grace might be our strength.
We suffer loss that He might become all we need.
He allows us to fail that our successes might be to His glory alone....
We struggle in our walk with Him that He might assure our souls that we are His children being molded--disciplined--into His likeness.
He works in secret that we might display our faith in His lovingkindness openly for all to see.
We stand alone that we might deeply sense His presence.
He provides our daily needs that we might be cheerful, exuberant, givers.
We face the storms that we might learn to be still and know that He is always the faithful God He claims to be.
He puts us in hopeless situations that we might freely cast every fear onto His care, released to His control.
We are disappointed in ourselves and our disobedience that He might whisper to our hearts, "I know that you love Me; now, go on, feed My sheep."

He has placed us in this time, in this place, among these people because it is now, here, with them that we will experience the abundant life He has planned for us--the best life that we could never have in another time, in another place, with other people.


"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."


To the work.

Fear Not

Fear not. "Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same."


Faithful
The God of All Comfort
Our Intercessor--Advocate before the Father...
The Giver of Good Gifts--it's the only kind He gives
The Healer of the Broken
Forgiving
Our Unconditonal Lover
The Prayer-Answering God
The King of Kings
The God who knows us by name
The One who eagerly seeks the one gone astray; the one who runs to embrace the returning prodigal--and starts a celebration that reaches into the halls of Heaven
The Promise-Keeper
Your Savior, Brother, Friend.