"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17
I love verses that are so dynamically charged with meaning in every word. This is quite a checklist from the half-brother of Jesus about how to tell if wisdom is from God or not. Let's go word by word with a little reflection on each one.
Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Ray:
"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1
On May 12, 2011, I visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall ceremony held in Dana Point. If you have never seen this moving tribute to the men & women who served our country in Vietnam, and died doing it, it is one of the most stirring tributes I have ever seen. From the singing, the talks, and the ceremonial portions of the event, to the Wall itself, was enlightening and highly emotional.
Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Charlotte:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
When I have the privilege of preparing devotionals in the Council rotation, I like to share those things that are found displayed in my own home, which bring me a feeling of comfort and peace as I have an opportunity to see them every day. What came to mind for this week's devotional was on the subject of "Kindness". I don't know what it is about the concept of kindness that seems to resonate with us (me and hopefully you also) as we get older. It's just one of those things that seems to give as much, if not more, pleasure to the one doing the kind act than the one receiving it. I've displayed for years in my guest bathroom a framed print which I can't even remember now where I got it, but I placed it here hoping that it would plant "the seed of kindness" for all who read it on their brief stay in there. It's entitled "Kindness Is One Of The Great Blessings Of Life", which is so true because I read "somewhere" that "Love is patient, Love is "Kind" 1 Corinthians 13:4 and that it is one of the nine Fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22.
"This is a trustworthy saying; If we died with Him we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we disown Him; He will also disown us; If we are faithless, He will remain faithful." 2 Timothy 2:11-13
The Bible is of course completely trustworthy. Every word. It is after all, His Word and true. Therefore, when Paul gives Timothy a trustworthy statement and sets it apart like this, it must be something especially pertinent. When we share The Word with people, we try to do so in such a way that the Spirit can use it in the life of the individual. The Bible was inspired by God for all the ages, for everyone, but it also is specifically applied to each of us individually too. I believe this was a saying that Paul expected Timothy to teach with, and use to help clarify the misunderstandings in the early church.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Wow!! You go Paul!! What an indicting treatise on our credit addictions. We want it, whatever it is, and we want it now!! I have been a fool in this manner. Have you? I once took a necessary pay reduction a couple years back and presumed it would hopefully be able to be returned soon and did not adjust my lifestyle accordingly and used credit to live beyond my means. With the creeping debt I already had and a few surprises and BOOM!!! I was way upside down. The pay reduction continued and I still had the credit debt, with rising interest costs. Not the first time either. I had done this twice before without the noble justifications and here I was in the same pickle, just not wondering why. The third time really was a charm. I have adjusted the lifestyle, stopped the credit spending and am midway through a sacrificial repayment program. The new austerity and sensibility has been rewarding. One of the keys to my grief relief has been my total commitment to tithing, frugality and good stewardship. I can't say I can really tell that anything is so terribly different, but combining responsibility with restraint, without changing my heart for generosity has somehow blessed me immeasurably. I have peace and contentment and even with my heavy payment obligation I seem to be doing better month to month than ever. Who would have ever thought that self-control and discipline could solve anything? Needless to say I am feeling just a little self-conscious about my transparency here and will try to be a better example from now on. How about you? Are you convicted about this? Are you out of control? Are you in denial? Are you willing to let God be the Lord of your Almighty Money? I have attached an email that I read regularly; "Matt about Money" for your consideration. You can subscribe if you want to if you want Biblical advice about all things financial.
"Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." 1Timothy 5:1
Even though these are Paul's sage words of advice for the young Pastor Timothy, they are sound counsel for all of us. Our relationships with different age groups in The Body of Christ, which is The Church, (including Grace Harbor of course), should be appropriate and respectful. There are a handful of scriptures that address this issue and we should keep in mind that if Paul is talking about it, it probably was an early church problem too. I say 'too' because we can easily write off younger’s or olders, men or women in broad sweeping generalizations when we should keep all relationships both Biblical and personal. Whether you are 9 or 90 the principles apply. You are never too old or too young to be expected to be respectful to everybody.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone---- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." 1Timothy 2:1-4
I have been praying for our President, Barak Obama, especially since the National Day of Prayer. Why? Because it is a good and right thing to do, and pleases God our Savior. It also promotes peace and quiet in my mind and helps keep me focused on godliness and holiness. During the event held at the Salvation Army Church and Headquarters, a small group of men and women seated near me got circled up at one juncture and a woman who was an officer of the Salvation Army gave a beautiful prayer for our leaders. From the Tustin City Council to the President of the United States, she very clearly, respectfully and passionately presented each one to the Lord for their blessing, His guidance and their protection and inspiration. This really touched my heart. It wasn't about politics; it was about doing what the Word of God asks us to do. Nothing more or less.
"For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left." Luke 17:24-36
Have you heard the recent hype about the end of the world taking place tomorrow, May 21, 2011? There are people driving with big banners on the sides of their vans, or walking around with t-shirts that say in big bold letters: “Judgment Day, May 21, 2011”. I even read today that the Center for Disease Control CDC issued a statement yesterday promoting emergency kits and strategies under the umbrella of a future zombie apocalypse (I’m pretty sure they were jokingly taking advantage of the latest news headlines but also addressing emergency preparedness in general….). At first I thought this was all a joke until I watched the news last night and saw a whole section devoted to this movement promoting the end of the world this weekend. Wow. As Christians, what should we think about such things? How are we to respond to such claims that are grabbing national attention and sending people scurrying to find answers? We must not let this sensationalism detract from the reality of the Rapture occurring at some time in the future so how do we respond to our friends, co workers and family members who come to us with questions? We must turn to the BIBLE for the answers, my friends!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [His] purpose." Romans 8:28
Have you ever had one of those mornings when you are at your wit's end with your children and it isn’t 8:00a.m. yet? In the span of a couple hours this morning, I have argued, yelled, threatened, begged and finally retreated to the shower where I sobbed to the Lord. It went something like, “Lord, I am at the end of my wits and I don’t even know what to ask for… please just fix this mess. You know what is best… tell me what to do… and please fix the mess.” Not the most graceful of prayers and now comes the hard part, waiting for an answer. The Lord is always so faithful and a few short hours later, I came across today’s devotional (written by Rick and Sandy) and my answer.
"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory." 1Timothy 3:16
This passage of Scripture has always fascinated me. Usually when I run into a verse or chapter that mystifies me a bit, I first try to put it into the context of the verses before and after it. Sometimes that helps to understand what is being communicated. That doesn't help much here because it is kind of a 'stand alone' concept and contextualizing isn't very revealing. Obviously, we can tell readily, that Paul is talking about Jesus. He was the one who took on human form and invaded reality, subsequently changing everything. He has a completely different relationship with the Spirit and angels. He alone has been preached to the nations and He alone is glorified. So, what does it mean to us?
"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to the faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith." 1Timothy 1:18-19
The instructions Paul is talking about to Timothy are the same ones any of us who have received the good news have gotten. You know the ones, the teachings that encourage us to pray, study, serve, follow the Lord and believe with our whole hearts. Pretty straight-forward and not confusing.
Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:18
I want to share a great truth with all of you that the Lord has been revealing to me anew these past few weeks. It is the great power and beauty of giving thanks in ALL circumstances. Giving Thanks…. is something that we focus on usually around the end of November each year as we gather with our family and friends for turkey and pie… we say thanks when we pray, we say thanks to people who hold the door for us or give us gifts, but consider that God wants us to LIVE day by day with an attitude of thanksgiving… no matter what the circumstances are that we face. I know that there will be readers out there who look at this and abruptly stop reading right here because they are thinking “there is NO way I am ever going to give thanks for _________!!!) (You fill in the blank, it’s usually different for every person although many people face similar issues that you can’t ever imagine being thankful for.)
Our Friday Devotion comes from "Daily in Christ" by Neil Anderson:
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12 NIV
When God breathed life into Adam, he was both physically and spiritually alive. Adam was spiritually alive because his soul was in union with God. We were never designed to be separated from God or to live independently of Him. We were born to be spiritually alive.
Today's Devotion comes from Daily in Christ by Neil Anderson:
"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of the things which are visible" Hebrews 11:3
Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is the present assurance of some future good: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Biblical faith is not a preference for what we would like to see, but a conviction that what is unseen is real. Biblical faith enables us to see the reality of the spiritual world we presently live in, with the assurance of heaven. Only with that kind of faith can we say with Paul, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
"..."These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."" Acts 17:6
The ministry and message of Easter does not end after Resurrection Sunday. Today, for example, is Resurrection Wednesday, the day the Lord made for His purposes and glory. He wants to redeem each day and every moment of time. We have hardly even begun to accomplish all He has planned for us. I will love Him day by day until He calls me home. Read this compelling report on the early disciple’s loves and deaths. May it inspire you to live for Him as if every moment was the moment He wanted it to be. Amen!!
Alive for Him, or die for Him, Pastor Fred
"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5
When I was younger and in my earliest ministries, I often read the letters Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. After all, they were young and he was trying to talk to them about serious matters of the faith and encourage them as young leaders to wholeheartedly follow their Lord Jesus Christ in everything. I could identify with these young men and how they were zealous for the Lord and wanted to do whatever was needed to spread the good-news of the Gospel. Nowadays, I identify more with Paul the writer and his passion to share the deeper matters of life and the Christian walk with younger men in the ministry and with us all. We do change our perspectives as we age.
Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:
"God watches over the ways of the righteous…" Psalm 1:6a
A couple of Saturdays ago, I was running by myself in the early morning. It was one of those really blustery days with lots of dust and leaves flying all around me. For those of you who train, you know it’s hard to run but even harder to do it in the wind, especially if you are running into it. It causes more resistance and you have to push harder, but you learn that this helps strengthen you, and also allows you to be grateful when the wind stops! I had planned an 8 mile run, and with the weather conditions, I was really looking forward to being done. As I neared the turnaround point, I had the strangest experience. I clearly heard the Spirit of God whisper to me four gentle words but not the words I expected: “Go a little farther.” Pause…. “What?”, I asked out loud just as a gust of dust filled my mouth with dirt and made me cough and sneeze… farther? “I must have misheard You, Lord in all this WIND…. Did You say farther…. IN this wind? Can I go farther next week? Isn’t 8 miles enough today, Lord? How much farther did You have in mind, a couple of steps, a block???” He must have just been smiling at me and after a few moments of my flustering in the blustering wind He firmly repeated His first message even more clearly than before: “Go a little farther.” As I reached the turnaround I sheepishly slowed down… then reluctantly said, “Ok, Lord, I’ll go a little farther”, so I did. I went up about another eighth of a mile to the next light and then turned around to head home in the blazing sun that was shining in my eyes now and bringing the heat and wind even more fiercely. I have learned over the years not to really question God when He speaks to me so clearly, but this day I was really struggling with why, not that I needed to know why to obey His voice, but as humans, that is one of the things we tend to ask Him the most.. why God is this happening? Or this NOT happening? Non believers are blocked from accepting the reality of God because they don’t understand why a loving God allows so much evil and pain in the world, or why He allowed certain things to happen in their own lives. Sometimes, my friends, we are not privileged to know the answer of the “Why”. Remember Job? I am sure he wondered “Why” all the days and weeks and months of his undeserved and unrelenting suffering and pain. In the end, God never told Him why, only that He was God, and that was enough. That needs to be enough for us too.
Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Dolly:
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Deuteronomy 5:16
As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, our thoughts might first turn to cards and flowers, a special meal Mom doesn’t have to cook, or a gift to commemorate the occasion. But the most meaningful gift to give a mother is to honor them every day, not just on Mother’s Day.
"This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Lately the Lord has been showing me the extreme value of simply living in the DAY He has given me when I wake up. I am not discounting the great value of being a planner and looking ahead to be responsible to accomplishing the tasks assigned to me, believe me when I tell you that my day-week-month-year schedule gets really nuts at times… but for my own peace of mind, when I wake up, when I open my eyes and look at my ceiling, I think of our devotional verse
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to His service." 1Timothy 1:12
From time to time I face situations in my life that seriously cause me to reconsider just what the heck I am doing with my life. It is not every day that I wake up and am jumping for joy that I get to be the Pastor. There are times that I begin to doubt or at least question just how good or successful of a salesman, actor or writer I could have become. These fanciful thoughts pass relatively quickly and don't plague me for days or anything like that, thankfully. But they do come and go and I must turn them over to Him every time.
"We know that the law is good if one uses it properly." 1Timothy 1:8
Paul is so wise. He really understands what he believes and why. This statement written to young Timothy is wonderful counsel. I think in general we find it hard to compute in our heads and hearts that either we are under the law and obligated to it or not. When Paul uses the term 'law' here, he is not referring to the laws of the land or civil law. He is talking about The Law, such as in the Ten Commandments and all of the laws that are derived from them.
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