Are you? Why not?

This morning I watched a 14-year old young man choose baptism as a way to publicly declare his faith in Christ.
Before our pastor “dunked” this young man he said, “Get ready. Get ready for the ride God is preparing for you. It will be unlike anything you could imagine.”

When the young man emerged from the water the congregation stood, cheering and applauding for his choice.

It made me think, who poured into his life? Who shared Christ with him? Who encouraged him to take the ultimate step of faith and choose a life with Christ?

As a teacher and co-leader in student ministries, I have the responsibility and opportunity to pour into young men and women. Every day I am presented with the blessing of seeing how God is moving in them and through them.

Are you pouring into the lives of the next generation? Are you taking the time to listen to a young man or young woman and speak into his or her life? Who are you helping develop as a young believer? If you aren’t, why not? There is nothing more important than the life of a young person. No job, no extra-curricular activity– nothing is more important than Eternity and where a person will spend it.

Paul poured into Timothy. A college professor poured into the life of Bill Hybels. Someone poured into D.L. Moody, Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, your pastor and you. Now it’s your turn. Find someone to pour into and do it. Your lives will never be the same.

Community

In previous posts I’ve mentioned that I live on a farm. My husband and I raise ducks and geese. We recently added 17 chicks which were hatched by the 5th grade class at my school. My family has had a wonderful time laughing at the chicks’ antics and marveling at the differences between chickens, ducks and geese. This week, a 5th grade student’s mother contacted me regarding the chick her son brought home. It seems that the farm supply store employee told her that it wasn’t good for the chick to be without other chicks. After further discussion, the mother decided she would bring the chick to me so I could add it to the others at our farm. You see, chickens were created for community. Now, those who are familiar with livestock and such could have seen this coming. My husband did; so did my father, who also grew up on a farm. This need for community reminded me of a verse in Hebrews, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Community brings encouragement, which literally means “to pour courage into.” A person will find it very hard to encourage his or herself over and over again. However, if that person has friends around them to cheer them on, it is much easier for a person to go forward. Just like spectators watching a race encourage the runners. King Solomon, who is often called the wisest man in history, said in Ecclesiastes, “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!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10). If the wisest man knew the importance of community and even the chicken, arguably one of the most foolish farm animals, knows the importance of community, then shouldn’t we, who were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), seek community??

Uncomfortable

As believers in the United States, we have been challenged with many events that have brought us to our knees in the past week. Bombings, loss, injury, explosions, shootings, sorrow, confusion. Now I could put a Scriptural band-aid on these events and say with a dismissing shrug, “Well, the Bible did say we would have trouble.” However, these events are not things that should be dismissed.

When crises come into our lives we, as believers, are called to meet the challenge. This can come through a variety of ways; giving blood like many marathon runners did in the moments after the bombings, praying for the injured, giving first-aid, gathering donations, or like many in the Boston area– I could open my home to allow people to gather in community to comfort one another.

But what if the crises aren’t covered on the evening news? What if it comes as a quick text message late at night to pray for someone, or a note taped to a wall that tells others of a serious need in a small, close-knit community? How should we respond?

I struggle with becoming indifferent, even apathetic, to the needs of those around me. In our fallen world we will always be presented with opportunities to pray for others or meet the needs of those who are hurting. The question is will we?

Will we step up to meet the challenge? Will we come alongside the ones who cannot stand on their own in their pain, loss, anger, struggles?

Scripture does tell us “there will be trouble” (John 16:33). But Scripture also tells us to “pray for one another” (James 5:16) and we are to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) keeping in mind that “God our Savior, daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).

When I see pain, hurt and suffering in the world I want to feel discomfort, not apathy. I want to join those who are hurting in their pain and help them through it. Now, I know I am not to fly to every country or city when I see a need, but I can pray for people who are there to rise up and help. When troubles do cross my path and there are people who will be in need near me, then I can rise up and meet their need and ease their discomfort.

We were called to be a community of believers and with that calling comes the requirements to hold each other up.

If you are in need of being held up and do not think you can turn to someone call 1-888-NEED-HIM or 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-394-4673. You were never meant to be alone.

Psalm 116

These are the notes from today’s message at church (4-7-13). I was so blessed by the study of this psalm. In the weeks after Easter it is important to remember that the Gospel hasn’t lost its power now that the pinnacle of our faith calendar has passed…. The Gospel has more power than ever because we celebrate Easter every day. Praise The Lord!!

The overall message of Psalm 116 is that GOD IS GOOD.

During the Passover people went into the Temple and shared with others the goodness of God in their lives (like an open-mic).

Psalm 116:1-4
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” (Exodus 2:23)

THE SUFFERING
It can overwhelm and feel as though it will wash over and sink the very vessel of my life. Yet, all I have to do is cry out “Lord, save me!” (Verse 4)

Psalm 116:5-11
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”

THE RESCUE
That sense of when there is no way out of an awful situation and then Someone extends a hand and says, “Come with Me if you want to live.” (See verse 7), (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus performs the ultimate “heart surgery.”

Psalm 116:12-19
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord—in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

THE RESPONSE
How can I thank God for all of His amazing grace? All I can do is bring a “thank offering” to God and pour out a drink offering to God, praising God for all He has done. For bringing blessing and for bringing rest. Rest for my soul, rest for my body, rest for my spirit. Resting in the amazing arms of a God who is wild about me.

Truly, praise God.

Real

This weekend marks an anniversary for my husband and me. It was 16 years ago that my hubby met my family and was officially introduced as my fiancé. We had become engaged over the phone but now we were face-to-face. It was over this weekend in 1997 that our relationship became real.

This week in church, our Student Ministries message was about Jesus being the Son of God and the Son of Man. His purpose was an eternal one. (See Matthew 26:62-66). Jesus wasn’t supposed to come and be a puppet, only doing what we want or to be a politician, making promises he could not keep. He came to be a part of our lives, to encourage us, to love us, to challenge us, to help us become who God created us to be.

His offer to us is not one of learning His résumé or His stats like a professional baseball player. His offer is to lead us to something more than we could ever ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20). He wants to become real to us. He wants to be more in our lives ( see Matthew 16:13-16).

As Palm Sunday and Easter approach, spend some time reading the book of John, chapters 13-21. Ask God to make Jesus real to you.

I stand amazed

I have been walking the last few weeks through what can only be described as a shower of blessings. As I have previously written, I am teaching at a wonderful school, as well as co-leading a group of sophomore girls through my church’s high school ministry. I presently teach part-time at the school but this fall I will be teaching full-time. A huge answer to prayer.

Last week I was asked to fill a long-term substitute position for a fellow teacher while she is out recovering from serious back surgery. A sweet answer to a prayer that I had never uttered out load.

Today, while talking with my co-leader at church, I mentioned that I would need to find a part-time job this summer to cover the difference until my full-time position started. My co-leader smiled and said, “I want to cover the amount you need for the summer so you can be home with your boys.” I was floored. Another blow-me-out-of-the-water answer to prayer. When I shared her offer with my husband he was just as amazed.

Since July of 2010, my family and I have been through challenges regarding money, relationships, employment; all of the key stressors. We have seen God’s faithfulness all along through the many ways He has provided for us. The three examples above are just the most recent ways that He has cared for us.

God has been faithful and my faith has grown. I stand amazed.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

…When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Refrain

I Stand Amazed in the Presence
by Charles Gabriel

Dress up

Getting ready for church this morning I realized that the clothes I chose to wear were a reflection of what I planned on doing at church. I wasn’t dressed in my “Sunday best” with a skirt, blouse, hose and heels. Instead, I put on my jeans, hiking boots, sweatshirt and baseball cap. I came dressed ready to work.

Sunday mornings are a time when I get to hear from my pastor and I learn how to apply what he is challenging or encouraging us as a congregation to be a part of for the next week, or longer. Dressed as I am, it is a reminder that my walk with God is not to be done in “pretty” shoes that only come out for others to see how put together I might be–especially when I am not.

I am wearing work boots because I want to move and change and learn and grow in my faith. My faith is something that is a complete and permanent part of my life. I want to honor God and grow in my faith daily. The best way I can remind myself what I should be doing is to dress for the part. Even at church. Especially at church.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining on toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus“ (Philippians 3:13b-14).

Labor and delivery

No, I am not pregnant, at least not in the literal, traditional sense. However, I am pregnant with anticipation. An opportunity has been offered to me to do something I have longed to do– another life-long dream. Just like during pregnancy, it will require careful planning, preparation and patience. I cannot use an ultrasound machine to see what the opportunity will look like as it grows and develops. I have to trust that it will look exactly like God designed it to, no more, no less.

Situations like this challenge and encourage me all at the same time. I am challenged simply because I am finite and human and it feels a bit like the Christmas morning that will “never get here.” The encouragement is that God has such an amazing plan that it would overwhelm me if He gave it to me all at once, so instead, He gives me a little bit at a time until I am ready for the entire gift.

As a parent, if I had taken my pregnancy test and then immediately been handed my son without the time to process how life would change, stay the same, the adaptations I would need to make, etc., I think I would have fallen apart. I was ready to be a mom, but I was not ready to mother someone. In the same way, God knows I am ready for this new opportunity but I am not prepared to handle all it will require yet. So I wait, trusting in God’s perfect timing.

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Isaiah. It really seems to contain all of the pain, hurt, struggles and triumphs of Israel as a nation. They also went through a labor and delivery of being and becoming who God created them to be, His Chosen People. Isaiah 48:17 says, “This is what the LORD says– your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way should go.’” Later in Isaiah 49:23c it says, “Then you will know that I am LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

When I accepted my husband’s marriage proposal, I wrote him a letter which included the verse from 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him-.” It is originally from Isaiah 64:4.

As I wait for the day of completion that will bring forth my new opportunity, I am going to rest on these verses and trust in the God who has never failed, never wavered, and never given up on bringing His perfect plan to its perfect end (see Philippians 1:6).

Lights and sirens

Twice in the past week, I have been driving down a road only to see flashing lights, fire trucks, and police cars. One incident was a house fire where the emergency vehicles completely blocked the road and I had to take a detour to get to work. The next time I was driving down a road only to be passed by a police car that was responding to an accident at a railroad track crossing. I had to backtrack and find a different route to my destination.

Now, one incident was odd enough, but two started me thinking. Where were places in my life that I needed to stop, slow down, learn a lesson, or go in a completely different direction?

Proverbs 8:32-36 says, “Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

If I approached the accident sites and tried to get through even if they were blocked, my behavior would be saying, “the rules don’t apply to me.” That is not what Scripture tells me. All rules apply to all people. If I pay attention and honor the rules as they are set up, I will be blessed.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Proverbs 9:10-12).

The next time I see lights and hear sirens I will remember that God set up His kingdom in the same way. If I follow the rules I will find blessings, if I don’t I will suffer.

(See Deuteronomy 26:16-19 through chapter 28 of Deuteronomy for more examples of blessings and consequences).

Dangerous lessons

My devotional reading has been in Exodus lately. Moses has been told to go to Egypt and tell the Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Yet, throughout the first nine plagues the Pharaoh’s heart grows harder and harder, instead of softer toward God. The Pharaoh’s heart was unyielding (see Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7,12, 35; 10: 20, 27).
From the plague of frogs through the plague of darkness, his heart hardened and Pharaoh even tried to manipulate Moses’ request to take the Israelites into the desert to worship God. First, the Pharaoh said no one could go; then he said only the men; then men, women and children; but he never said the animals could go which was part of Moses’ request.
It was only after Egypt lost everything that the Pharaoh relented and let Moses lead the Israelites into the desert.
Then, in one last attempt to show who was in charge, Pharaoh led his army to attack the Israelites. But God proved Who was really in charge and who was not. The Pharaoh’s army and the Pharaoh were lost under the waves of the Red Sea when they tried to pursue the Israelites.

This begs the question– how am I acting like Pharaoh? How am I trying to manipulate my way instead of obeying God in the first place? How far will I take my behavior before it is too late and I lose everything?
Oh Lord, may my heart be like David’s who prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm139:23-24).