How To Live

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus." 1Thessalonians 4:1-2

Not only should we live as though the Lord could come back today, we should also live like we have been instructed in the Word of God. When we do this it pleases God. Oh how I want to do that.... to please God. Good question for today would be to ask yourself.... how conscious are you of pleasing God are you on an ongoing basis? Does it cross your mind regularly that this life you have been given is yours for the very purpose of pleasing God. Our efforts and commitments to do so not only please Him, but glorify Him also. Whatever it is that you are doing, praise God for that. I am not at all knocking whatever it is that you are doing right now in your life to live for Him. But, just as Paul not only asked, but urged the Thessalonians to do, live for Him more. No matter what we are doing or not doing to please Him, we can do more. We can do it more often, more sincerely, with more intensity.

Blameless and Holy

"May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones" 1Thessalonians 3:13

Many Bible verses that begin with the word "may" are verses intended to bless. The word "may" is the launch word to convey that sense of God doing something good and special for us. Blessings come from God. Even when we bless one another it is only because of God. As the old doxology says..."Praise God from whom all blessings flow." We, like Paul is here are just conduits of His blessing through us.

Really Living

"For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord" 1 Thessalonians 3:8

I am struck again and again by how personal the accounts of Scripture are. These are very real people who care deeply for each other. Some of us have a hard time saying much of anything nice or caring, but the Bible is full of references of how God's people should talk to each other. Paul is writing a general letter to the Thessalonian church, but the personal touch is compelling. He was sincerely distressed about the persecution that the Thessalonians were suffering and when he heard that they were standing firm in their faith it gave him life. It is like a burden was lifted off of him and the others just to hear that the Thessalonians were okay.

The Word at Work in You

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of man, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe." 1Thessalonians 2:13

As we mature in Christ Jesus there is a relationship with the Word of God that matures also. As new believers we don't usually know much about His Word. The Bible is more than a book, more than scripture, more than history, more than the accounts of Christ and the early church. The Word of God, the Bible is just that, His Word. His Word as Hebrews says... "is living and active". It is His Living Word. The power and understanding, wisdom and direction that come from His Word is different than any other words from any other sources. Paul here is thankful for the Thessalonians hunger for His Word. Not the words of men, but the Word of God. When believers hear His Word they are fed spiritually. Nourished, so they can mature and grow up in Christ. Regrettably, many Christians are malnourished and underdeveloped because of a lack of spiritual food in their lives. We must desire, seek and understand our need to feed on the truth from His Word. It is what sustains us, literally.

Increasing and Overflowing Love

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Do you feel the love? Here comes a big dose of it. Love does not come naturally, by the way. We really have to work on it. As a matter of fact, one of the most sickening things we know is insincere love. You know the kind. The kind that is soppy, drippy with effort and so, so phony. The kind of love that says, 'Love ya, mean it!', when we don't really mean it at all.

In the Cookies of Life, Friends are the Chocolate Chips

"Two are better than one. Because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But, how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of THREE STRANDS (You, Me, and God) is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 3:4:9-12

That's a rather catchy phrase, huh? I thought when I ran across it on a mug in one of my many catalogs (been a catalog shopper since I was young as we did not live close to retail stores). It was the inspiration for the theme I chose for our "20th" Annual "Be Our Valentine" Seniors Feast which our Church Family celebrated last Sunday at the Tustin Banquet Center, with 78 in attendance. This event started here in 1995 as a way to honor those in our congregation who had done so much to make sure that this church stood the tests of time. What a joyful feeling to look out and see faces of those who had attended the very first one (Jeen Bennett, Ray Bennett, Florence Brownfield, Irene Cave, Shirley Emery, Elsie Nelson, Pastor Henry Sellers, and Sonja Sellers) which had been held right here in our fellowship hall. There was, however, a note of sadness to realize that so many faces were no longer present, but quickly having that joy restored when the reminder came that, though not present with us here, they are present forever in Heaven with their Father. Lots of changes in twenty years, but what had not changed was the "love" and "friendship" that has been and was evident in the room last Sunday- - - lots of "chocolate chips."

A Clear Conscience

"So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." Acts 24:16

When Paul makes this statement he is defending himself before Felix, the Governor. Paul is tried a number of times before a variety of courts and different characters. He is always forthcoming and candid with his remarks and often makes a concerted effort to witness to whoever is trying him. Felix is an interesting cat (couldn't resist that...lol). He is a political opportunist who is mostly concerned about his own self-promotion. Felix should not have a clear conscience, because he is duplicitous and conniving. He plays the Jews against the law of the land and is always ready for a bribe. As a matter of fact, scripture records that he slow played Paul's process across two years hoping for a bribe from somebody. It never came and he was replaced by Porcius Festus. (I don't make these names up, I just copy them, but I am pretty sure his nickname was not Porky.... sorry couldn't pass that up either!) What an interesting cast of characters, and each one with their own agendas and issues. But, just like us, God uses them in the situations of their lives to move His will and ultimate plan forward. That is why in the midst of all this legal nonsense Paul's statement about conscience is so refreshing. I should make this statement every day and so should you. We should always endeavor to keep our consciences clear before God and man. I think if they are clear before God, He will help us with the clarity before man. I think the key word in Paul's statement is the word 'strive'. It takes some effort to have a clear conscience. The efforts of confession, transparency and integrity are not easy and never perfect. But, we should try harder. As I write this today I wonder how many of us would be deeply convicted or incapable of saying that we actually strive to keep our consciences clear before God and man. So my battles today are mostly between my ears, just like you. May we all make a more concerted effort to clear our consciences and strive at keeping them clear before God, and consequently before man. That process is between you and God. I know, because it is for me too, between me and God. In this moment I have surrendered myself to Him again and it is a good start to this day.

In His Service with you, Pastor Fred

Themes

"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:3

I love the themes in the Bible. As a sermon writer spotting themes is important to me. We pastors must be careful not to read into the text. When I read and reread a passage of Scripture I try to see it word by word, phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence, also paragraph by paragraph and chapter by chapter and book by book. This short and long view of the Word of God allows me to pick up on themes that are consistent within the meaning of different passages in context.

Can't Thank God Enough

"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" 1 Thessalonians 3:9

The simple answer to this question is.... 'We can't'. We can't possibly thank God enough in general or specifically. Note here that Paul is thanking God, not the Thessalonians for the joy that they have brought him. We have so much to be thankful for. Every breath, every hope, every precious memory, every good thing anyone has ever done. The list could go on and on. Right now, as I am being thankful for you and for all those who have given me such joy, I am being blessed in return.

Through the Fire

"I am already being poured out as a drink offering…" 2 Tim 4:6

This verse is the one of the day from Oswald Chambers’ book “My Utmost for His Highest”. I have been reading it lately, as it was a Christmas present from Pastor Fred and his wife Dawn. In the devotion for this day, Chambers discusses how we as Christians should be ready to be “poured out” or used for God’s purposes and to accomplish His Will. This is often difficult for us as humans, but it will truly be an act of service and of our will to surrender to Him, and not just on an emotional level.

Destined for Trials

"We sent Timothy, who is our brother, and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled in these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact when we were with you, we kept telling you we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way as you well know." 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4

We really should understand that faith, when lived out, will produce trials. Not just the trouble that comes from living in a corrupted world or living in dying bodies, but the trials that come from being persecuted for believing. Literally. We will be despised and rejected, mocked and targeted. We don’t really know or understand this kind of persecution. Maybe we know of a missionary or minister somewhere else who has been assaulted or arrested. We may have read of believers who have been burned out of their church or home or even martyred. This past week was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I am thinking about his death and his life and his words and his cause. Can you imagine being persecuted for the color of your skin? I choose to be a Christian, but I didn’t choose to be the color I am. I remember racial hatred. I have heard it again not that long ago. We should expect persecution, rejection and hatred for our beliefs. “In fact,” the verses say, we were told. I long for a day when no one needs to "in fact" be told they will be persecuted, despised and rejected, hated because of the color of their skin. Expect persecution, Christians, but do not accept racism.

Amazing Grace

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5

I started working on my doctorate last year in applied clinical psychology and the interesting thing about my cohort (see Hope Within Collaborative to view our developing site) is that I'm the only one without field experience, or at least I was when the first semester commenced and finished. Most of the students I collaborate with are already practicing therapists or registered interns, so in a way I felt like the "baby" of the group, though my age assured me I was not the youngest of the bunch. When I worked on my master's degree, my program didn't require me to do a practicum or internship, so I continued working in a completely unrelated field as an HRIS Analyst throughout my time as a student. It's not that I didn't want to work in the field I was studying, but the irony of applying for jobs over the years has been that while everyone wants someone with experience, no one was willing to hire me to provide sought experience. Until recently. A few months ago, I found myself casually applying for non-licensed therapist type positions, not really expecting or looking for a response from any one employer, and as I clicked on the Easter Seals job page, I applied for a couple of positions and then closed my browser. Had I not received an email from my school within the next hour about an upcoming career workshop hosting none other than Easter Seals, I probably wouldn't have given my previous applications a second thought, but because it was so coincidental that I had just finished applying for positions with them, I began to pray. "Okay, Lord, what's up? Is this from You? Do You want me to go to that career workshop?" I asked in curiosity. It was two weeks away at the time and I marked my calendar to attend. What happened between then and now is nothing short of God's amazing grace.

Night and Day We Pray

"Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith." 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Constant and consistent prayer is the quest of every believer. We should strive to find that immediate and ever present connectedness with God. Every waking moment should be the opportunity to recognize and communicate with our Creator through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have just a few notes about this verse that came to me as I read it over and over.