Excelling in Giving

2Co 8:3-4 NLT - For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

2Co 9:9 NLT - As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever."

   Do you ever look around and thank God for all the assets that surround us?  Think of every seat in the church, ready for eager hearers of the gospel.  Thank God for all the individuals and families God has brought to us through his providence; and the faithful ministers who spread God’s great seeds from the Word of God.  Think also of the roads and buildings. For these constructed items were planned, the lands cleared, the materials gathered, and skillful workers produced wares that have stood for years allowing us to assemble and hear of God’s great love.  What if the previous generations had not looked forward in sacrificing their current resources for the benefit of those who would come after them, such as us?

  What are we giving ahead?  There are obviously times of plenty, and times of poverty; but for most of us we are blessed with abundance.  Sometimes it is seen financially by being able to buy luxuries.  At other times it is time itself that we have in abundance allowing for idleness and frivolous activities.  We do not have what we have in order to consume it for ourselves, but actually so that we can share with others.  Where are we placing our extra?

   In 2 Corinthians chapters 8 & 9 Paul reminds them about an idea they had when he visited previously.  They had heard about the struggles of the Christians in Jerusalem and they shared with Paul that an offering should be gathered and sent to help.  In this part of the letter Paul tells them how the idea was met with such enthusiasm in another church, and that he was coming back soon so the Corinthians could literally ‘put their money where their mouth was’ in completing the task.

2Co 8:11-12 CSB - Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

   I know there are many opportunities available locally to lead discussions, reach our community, invest in the future and so forth.  Satan continues to work to kill, steal, and destroy what God has built, but we know that the gates of Hell will not stand against the advancement of the gospel.  Where are you giving back to God?

Strength from Above 6-9-19

Psa 147:3 NKJV - He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

Isa 40:31 NKJV - But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Isa 61:1 NKJV - "The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound;

This week we were treated to watch a team of strong men do some impressive feats of physical strength.  They lifted many people, sometimes a group at a time; along with bending steel and rolling a frying pan to the size of a banana.  They were obviously very strong, but also some of them had overcome some very trying circumstances along the winding road we call ‘life.’  Sometimes strength isn’t measured in how much you can bench press or dead lift, but instead it is seen by how you handle some of the obstacles in life and make the hard decisions.

    Thankfully for many people, mental health has become something that gets discussed much more often these days.  Between the distractions during a day, and the constant negativity that seems to flow around us; it shows us that the ability to focus and making decisions to move forward (forgiveness and humbleness), are feats of impressive mental strength. 

    Have you ever been at a point where you were physically and mentally exhausted?  (If not, you are lucky, and better prepare for the day ahead.)  Despite the absence of physical or mental strength, I know that there are circumstances that sometimes call for a different strength.  Sometimes your spirit within will be the source which causes us to proceed even through an exhausting time.  There are ‘spirits’ of love, hate, kindness, etc.; and I am thankful that they have provided the ability to act when I didn’t think there was anything left in my ‘tanks’.

    Perhaps the most impressive in many ways, is strength of faith from our souls.  The ability to give our eternities to the gospel of Jesus Christ, when the world calls it foolishness, is strength. Trusting God has a plan for our pain and struggles when we can’t see the results is also very impressive.

Mar 12:30 NKJV - 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment.

Grieving Changes 6-2-19

Ecc 3:1, 6 NKJV  To everything [there is] a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: ... A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; Isa 43:19 NKJV - Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness [And] rivers in the desert.  Jhn 16:7 NIV - But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.   Phl 4:6-7 NKJV - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

They say the only thing that is constant, is change.  And from the very beginning we have dreaded change.  So God often had to take very extraneous methods to get his people to relocate or change their directions.  He used droughts, invaders, exile, and persecution just to name a few.  He then used the actions to move the Israelites and the church to new and expanded blessings.  Did Israel enjoy the Promised Land after their time in Egypt?  Did Israel look for the Messiah more after the exile?  Are we better off with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling?  The answer of course is Yes! But we never would have chosen the path that God used.  Where do you see God’s hand in your past?  How many times have you seen blessings show up after times of great pain?

   I am working through a change in my work life.  My loyalty to clients and community has kept me in one office for 15 years.  Every time I had a thought of change, I would get busy again and put away the thoughts; somehow I thought with a little more effort the situation would get better.  Another large part was fear of change, I knew what needed to be done, and had developed coping mechanisms to deal with the inevitable stress.  God allowed some difficult circumstances where I could not finish all my work, where my coping was not effective; in short I crashed.  All the while God took this painful and turbulent time to bring my heart and mind to accept the change he was about to send my way.  Yet it was still very busy so I did not make efforts to pursue change, but God sent it to me. 

   There have been many confirmations already that God has orchestrated this change.  It was painful in the process, but once I let go and accepted God’s provision He has been very faithful to provide my anxious mind, affirmations of ‘His Unseen hand’.  Thank you Lord for your guidance, assurance, & direction! – A.J. 6-1-2019

Working Together

1Co 12:12 - For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] Christ.

Eph 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Heb 10:24- And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

1Jo 3:16 - By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

Who doesn’t love summer? Baseball, Cookouts, Vacations, Camping trips, Band camp & VBS – What do those things have in common? They all involve being with people we love and want to be around.  Most of these activities also involve everyone doing their part to keep it going.  With our Vacation Bible School coming up this week, it reminds me again that we are blessed with many people who are willing to work together towards a common goal.  We will have cooks, teachers, leaders, and many more striving to see kids have an encounter with Jesus Christ.  An encounter we hope will change their eternities. 

   Can we do that all the time?  We know that the answer is yes, we can do this every day.  God has provided all we need.  We live at the time God ordained, with knowledge and abilities that enable us to help our community.  Once their basic needs of life are taken care of, we need to provide love, for the hearts of many have gone cold.  This is what we’re here for as the church, even more so while we are away from the church among the lost.  How would it change our lives, church, and families, if we all looked at what we can do to pursue these great purposes every day? 

   What do you do each day to show the love of Christ? I pray that each man, woman, and child is spreading love, rather than gossip, slander, and disruptions.  As we produce the results of cooperation, community life gets easier for everyone.  This is something that each one of us chooses to do individually; then we can truly follow a pastor who encourages the work and reminds us of Jesus, the reason behind it.  What is it that God has you here for, as part of the body? Pursue it now so that when a pastor is ready, he can encourage the work rather than attempt to do it himself.