Handling adversity

 

Representing God?

 

Be prepared today!

 

Faith is not a feeling....where is our faith today?

 

Wouldn't it be something if we saw the hearts of others rather than faces? (Honoring Black HIStory '23)

To the late twentieth century, when Christians vigorously debate the question of racial reconciliation and how to achieve it, Lemuel Haynes represents a significant symbolic "first"—the first black pastor of a white congregation! The illegitimate son of a black father and a white mother, Haynes grew up as an indentured servant to the Rose family in Massachusetts. The Roses included young Lemuel in their church attendance and family devotions. The Roses also gave him an education and treated him, Haynes said later, like one of their own children. At the end of his period of indenture, he served in the Continental Army during the Revolution, and then, with the support and encouragement of the Roses and others, he was ordained to the ministry. Haynes spent the largest part of his pastoral career at Rutland, Vermont (1788-1818), where he led the town's Congregational church through the Second Great Awakening.

“God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35)

It is amazing what God can do in and through people who see each other as equals. When we can look one another in the eye and see the face of God, not the face of a European father, an African mother, a Latino teen, or an Asian grandfather. God accepts anyone who comes to Him with open arms. Despite obvious challenges, God still does the miraculous. Keep seeking Him!

Wouldn't it be something if we saw the hearts of others rather than faces?

Celebrating life, not death

Think about this: the day a Christ-follower dies is more important than the day he or she was born. Why is that? It is a celebration of life . . . not death! At a normal funeral, there is crying, weeping, sadness and despair. "They're gone!". Yet with and believer who has served the Lord and carries a good name into eternity, well there is true celebration. Why? . . . because we know!

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth; Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2)

Character . . . integrity . . . count in life and even more in death. Who we are and Whose we are travels into eternity! There is true joy in knowing one served God, treated others well, walked in humility and honesty, and now is in the presence of Jesus Christ . . . also celebrating life, not death.

What about you and me? When we enter into eternity, what will be said? How will the celebration take place . . . a celebration of life or death?

Is all change good?

 Some things are better left unchanged! Let's face it, we live in an ever-changing world, but is all change good?

While I must admit, we have made a lot of progress in the past fifty years or so, it is not all good! We have realized the ills in our justice system and are finally making changes. Technology has led to better communication with more people almost immediately. We can now travel around the world in a day rather than eighty. Medical advances are conquering illnesses every day.  . . . But is it all good?

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)

Paul reminds to test, or examine all things, especially new views and ideas, to see if they are good. The Holy Spirit is our counselor and guide. We must use His wisdom in gaining understanding concerning matters.

Technological advances have their good points, but there is evil present and available. Our justice system is making progress, yet there are still processes in place that discriminate and disenfranchise. Travel may be more efficient and faster, but one accident is capable of killing thousands.  Medical advances are healing more than ever, yet we are finding excuses to do away with lives unwanted. Some are even trying to improve upon biblical traditions . . . imagine that!

Examine all things by the Holy Spirit. Do not be fooled by the new and improved. Hold fast to what has always been good. Satan is still a deceiver . . . and a smart one at that! Is all change good?

Character issues

[Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

I believe most of us would agree, we have character issues within this world! Many of our political leaders have character issues. A number of professional athletes have character issues. Some church leaders have character issues. You and I, yes you and I have character issues at times.

So what do we do about it? Do we simply excuse it as mistakes, slip ups, or a lost my religion moment, or do we address it as Peter stated above?

While we expect our young people in the maturing process to have moments of insanity, we adults have no excuse! In fact, our kids are learning it from us! If we who know the Lord are not walking in integrity, how do we expect our young people to see what CHRISTian character looks like?

I realize every adult is not a CHRIST follower. I see that daily in my interactions in education and sports. However, we who are need to be better job of setting the example and holding out youth to His standard, not the world's!

No more excuses!!! We as believers need to fix our character issues now! It is all about Him, not me/us, no matter the situation!

Celebrate the little victories . . . and the BIG ones!

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,

And fulfill all your purpose.

We will rejoice in your salvation,

And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

They have bowed down and fallen;

But we have risen and stand upright. (Psalm 20: 4-8)

God wants us to celebrate both the little victories and also the BIG ones! As we go through life's ups and downs, we will see that as we trust God, He will give us opportunities to celebrate. Don't miss these moments.

We may have huge dreams and goals in mind . . . keep striving. However, when we see the small victories along the way, take the time to celebrate! 

This life is too challenging to not take a moment to appreciate the efforts and the struggles . . . and the small victories. Payday is coming if we persevere and trust God with the final outcome . . . the Big One!

Keep pressing forward . . . keep standing . . . take a moment to celebrate!

We talk too much!

I was advised long ago that when sharing the Gospel, only speak if you absolutely have to speak. What??? Yes, we talk too much! You see, we plan our conversations and have all this information (including memorized Scriptures) ready for the next person we encounter. Yet we do not consider our actions!

Many things must be considered before we speak: the condition of a person's heart, their present situation, their underlying needs, etc. As we show we are listening and trying to understand the other person . . . that we really care for them . . . we can lay the groundwork for our words later.  

You see, they have some questions within their hearts that we just may miss if we are only focused on what we have to say! Are we talking too much?

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Matthew 10:16-20)

Many times we simply have to allow God to act and speak through us!

Woe!

 Woe . . . to the scribes, Pharisees, and to you and me!!

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. (Matthew 23:2-5)

Just think as we followers of Christ, and many of us mature believers in Christ and in positions of influence, go around spouting off CHRISTian-ease and quoting scriptures, yet we ourselves do not hold ourselves accountable to such things! 

Seven times in these passages (Matthew 23), Jesus says, "Woe", calling out the hypocritical actions of the church leaders. Can we hear those words today?

Woe indeed! Today, before, we instruct others, let's look deep inside and allow God's Word to penetrate our own hearts and help us to be better examples of humility and obedience. Maybe we will be able to see into Christ's heart and the hearts of others as well.

We should become more loving, more caring, more giving, more sacrificial . . .

 They sent their followers to him. They sent the Herodians with them. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of honor. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. (Matthew 22:16)

 My summer school students are studying the Model Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) and The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). I am attempting to get them to see the value of prayer and character development. I then thought about you and me . . .

Many of us consider ourselves maturing adults in the faith, yet do we really value our prayer life? Do we ever wonder how our prayer life impacts our character? The more time we spend with God, the more like Him we should become . .. right?

As we spend time with a loving, gracious, forgiving and caring God, we should become more loving, more caring, more giving, more sacrificial and the like. But do we? Are we?

Perhaps, if you are like me, prayer sometimes becomes ritualistic and mundane. We (I) do not really cherish sitting with Creator God and loving Father as I pray. If I want others to see and experience Christ in me, I have to be more like Him, which requires me to let Him mold me. I think of how Moses looked when he came down from the mountain . . . reflecting the glory of God so intensely that his face had to be shielded!

Do I reflect His glory? Can others see Christ in me and want some of Him?