You Matter Spoken Word

Someone highlighted this link for me a few days ago and I thought it was well said. It's a little over 5 minutes - be sure listen to the whole thing.

Jo-Ann

http://bit.ly/Ak74Hc

"So proud of our students this past weekend in HSM at Saddleback. The video above features one of our students performing a spoken word she wrote called You Matter."

Baggage Handlers

I am by no means a seasoned traveller. Actually I am not really even a fan of travelling. I don’t mind being somewhere else….it’s the getting there that gives me grief.

Part of the “getting there” is luggage. What to pack. What not to pack. Checked luggage. Carry on luggage. Can I bring my nail clippers now or is that still a threat to national security?

The last time that I spent some time at an airport waiting for a connecting flight, I was doing some people watching. This thought crossed my mind: What did people do in airports before they had wireless devices and before the invention of suitcases with wheels? I really hope that the guy who came up with the wheels on luggage idea got some sort of prize for that!

Watching travellers, you can easily guess who the veterans are. They know how to stack their baggage neatly and efficiently and off they go, confidently dragging it behind them. Doesn’t matter that it weighs a ton. It doesn’t slow them down one bit.

Then there are the newbies. They either have brand new luggage or something they dug out of grandma’s closet. Either way, they are not comfortable with it at all. They obviously need some help.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of making a trip with a few folks from my church into the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). As we crossed the border into that country, we were met with singing and much, much joy…and people that we had never seen before began taking our luggage! It was a little disturbing until we were assured that these were members of the church that we had come to visit. Throughout our stay they continually honoured us in this way – suitcases, backpacks, purses, Bibles…to carry our stuff was an expression of love. Oddly enough, it took some getting used to…we like to think that we can handle our own stuff.

In my daily walk, I am sometimes like the veteran traveller. I have been dragging my baggage around so long that I have become quite skilled. To anyone looking on it could appear that I have everything under control. No matter how heavy it looks, I can pull it with ease. No help needed thank-you.

Some days, I am the newbie traveller. The load that I’ve got is a little much to handle. But I am not sure where to turn – the veterans make it look so easy.

Occasionally, I get it right and allow those who love me to carry my burdens for me.

Gal.6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

When you read this verse do you think, “I could do that – whose burdens can I carry today?”

That’s good. Do that!

Do you allow others the same honour – of helping you with your burdens? Maybe that question is for the “veteran travellers” among us. We’ve been “churched” for quite awhile. Our baggage is neatly packed, well organized and we are ready to carry on. The thing is, that is neither good for us nor for those who may be looking to us to be an example to follow.

We don’t have to tell everyone everything – that’s not healthy either. However, we do all need to find at least two or three whom we honestly allow to walk beside us.

Ecc.4:9,10 &12

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!

Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

There is strength in numbers…especially when it comes to handling baggage!

Ruth

Generousity

For many of us, we have repeatedly heard of needs, including financial needs, of others. Whether that's from missionaries, ministries in our churches, or perhaps non-profits outside the church. It seems there is always a need to give to. Are you tired of always having people ask you for your time and money? Perhaps you don't feel like you have either to give. I'm not here to decide how you fill your 24 hours in a day - I have enough trouble managing my own time. I'm also not here to look at your bank account to see what your financial balance is. However, I am here to challenge you to a biblical principle.

When we hear of a need from someone, or from an organization, I think we have two options to consider. First to ignore it, tune it out and hope it will go away (my experience says that is unlikely). Second, to be obedient. Each of us needs to do our part to meet the needs of others.

Deut. 15:11 says, "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."

Just before Jesus walked into Jerusalem days before his crucifixion, we see this verse repeated after Mary (Lazurus' sister) took a pint of expensive perfume, poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. Jesus said (referring to 'wasting' the expensive perfume and not selling it and giving the money to the poor), "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8

Then in Luke 21:1-4 it says, "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'"

I believe it's clear we will always have individuals who need our help financially and it's also clear we have a part to play in helping them, however have you noticed in the Bible it doesn’t say anywhere we have to give a certain dollar figure? Consider the example of the widow who gave her two copper coins. She gave generously from her heart, not out of her abundance. Our time and money needs to be given out of our generous hearts, not out of the leftovers. I pray the Lord will challenge us out of our familiar, comfortable places and change our hearts so we will be generous with those around us!

Lord, I pray you would change our hearts to give generously and to love on others generously.

Jo-Ann

Change Reaction

Sitting across the table was a Lawyer I didn't know, talking about stuff I wasn't sure about, and hearing things in such rapid succession I didn't really know what was going on. That was my introduction to our settling in Panama and trying to get our immigration and banking issues sorted. Integration and immigration were two words I had not dealt with since our arrival in Africa in 1992. The changes and situations that we faced that day at the lawyers office and the days to come intensified. Life would never be the same for me.


The trouble with change is that it takes me out of MY comfort zone! It makes demands on my life and emotions. Change does not pause until I am right with it! It just keeps going.


For me drastic changes, like a move to a foreign country, become more difficult as we get older. Being in my mid 40's at the time, was challenging because I was more set in my ways. I wanted to anticipate what was next. That is not always guaranteed.


The process of big changes began before we even left for Panama. We sold our home and all our belongings and stored all of the stuff we didn't sell. A family graciously said we could live with them until we were to leave for Panama, which turned out to be 8 months. As we left our home in Saskatoon and locked the doors never to return I felt very odd. The land of limbo is a desert place for most of us as women.


Women are nurturers and nesters. When doing so is a struggle, we find it hard to settle and come to grips with the changes that are around us. I know many women experience this and much worse things than what I have described to you. Yet it does not diminish the facts of what change does to us.


The next big change was the aspect of ministry to which we were called. This was a whole new world. It wasn't like pastoring a church, where for 20 years I could anticipate the next step. In this situation I didn't know the next step. For James, the plan was crystal clear. He had a vision and he knew how to get it done. For me, I wondered for quite a while. Mainly because I was trying to do things I had never done before.


What was my response? Many times the tears would run down my face in desperation to know what I am supposed to do. The temptation was constantly to just do nothing, in hopes it will go away, which we know never happens!


It didn't take long for a divine intervention to happen. The one who sent me to Panama promised that he would keep me and equip me. As I prayed and cried out to the Father his gentle kindness was my portion. He showed me that I needed, with all diligence to seek first the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33) That sounds very easy, but it took discipline. It took laying down my ideas. I started to set my eyes to seek Him in all things, not the answers, not the knowledge or asking Him to remove the difficulties, but just get my eyes on Him and watch Him work.


As promised, He did such profound things in me. He helped me depend on him. He gave me wisdom to do what was required. He supernaturally provided help with things we couldn't do. He IS my very present help!


As I have traversed through these last few years, He continues to encourage me. I found another verse that I pray every day, because changes do not cease to come. Isaiah 28:29 says " All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent."


Change - Marvellous?! or Meltdown?!


Colleen
Colleen was born and raised on the prairies and spent many years pastoring and leading alongside her husband in ministry. They currently live in Panama and minister into the lives of global workers in Latin America and the Caribbean. They very much miss there family and grandchildren back in Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/LACMinistries.org

Sounds of Spring

Like many of you, I have been basking in the warmth, smell and freshness of this new season. I adore listening to the birds chirp early in the morning and watching them fly about preparing for mating and young ones. The freshness of it all is invigorating. Each time I stop to think about it I am reminded of the passages in Matthew that instruct us to be worry free, trusting in the Lord’s provision. Worry can be an all consuming thing. It can break you down. It is not from God. Each time we see a bird, let it remind us not to worry about what to eat, what to wear or the future. Instead, remember Jehovah Jireh – provider.

Matthew 6:30 says, "And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"

Worry replaced by prayer equals trust.

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Labels

Be warned. I have a label maker and I know how to use it!

Mostly, I have only labelled my own stuff. Me & my label maker have not interfered with the “organization system” hubby uses in his workshop. Except for that little incident in the church kitchen, I think that I have kept this obsession of mine under fairly good control.

I just like labels. They help to keep things neat. Predictable. In place. I do have a fear for the day when I have labelled everything that I can in my home though. Will my friends require that I surrender all labels before I enter their homes?

Labels help us know how to react – how to behave in certain circumstances. When I see a container with a label that says poison, I take certain precautions. If you have a food allergy, you quickly learn to scan labels for those ingredients which would cause you problems.

Sadly though, I must admit that labelling is not always a good thing. Two of the things that we can do with labels can cause great harm and heartache – we label ourselves and we label others.

Remember the story of the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:36 – 50) – labelled the ‘sinful woman’ – and yet vs. 37 says that she ‘had’ lived a sinful life – past tense perhaps? Jesus talks about how much she loves because of how much she had been forgiven. When Jesus said to the Pharisees who were busy making judgments, “do you see this woman?” the implied answer is “No” – she wasn’t seen. All that was seen was the label that they had applied – “sinful woman”.

We probably all have issues with applying labels. We apply them to ourselves all the time. Sadly, most of them are negative. That comes so easily. Failure. Rejected. Alone. Unworthy. Unloved. Not enough.

The labels become the starting place for what we believe about ourselves and what we really believe about God and His love. We put limits on God’s love and what He can do through us. We say, “I know God loves me but….”

Once we are all labelled up, it is so very simple to look at others and apply labels to them as well.

Might I suggest that the only labels that matter are the ones that our Father applies?

Isa 43:1 “…Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

MINE – He says that I am HIS! He has put his label on me!

And, how about this one:

Mal 3:17 “They will be mine says the Lord Almighty, in the day when I make up my treasured possession.”

Treasured Possession! Not junk. Not worthless. A Treasure!

It’s not that we can’t come to God if we have labels. It is that we need to know that these are no longer the labels that God sees when he looks at us.

Broken, rejected, sinful, failure become whole, accepted, forgiven, redeemed.

You are his Beloved. That’s a label worth accepting.

Ruth

Guarding Against

Deut. 8: 6-18 says, “So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.
 But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath." (large font mine)

Do you know someone or have you ever observed someone, who struggled to "make it" only to watch them stumble and fall, and perhaps loose everything they worked so hard to gain?

I have been working at reading through the Bible and I often wonder how the Israelites could watch and be part of so many amazing miracles and still mumble, grumble, complain, and blatantly disobey God; then I am reminded of myself, and perhaps others, who do exactly the same thing. I don't have all the answer as to WHY I do that, but in the above reading it tells me how to guard AGAINST it.

Deut. 8: 10-11 stands out so boldly to me.

Sometimes when life is challenging and difficult we desperately trust in the Lord, lean on Him and can't even imagine breathing without the Lord's guidance, however for many we have done exactly as the Israelites did. We think we achieved the raise, the wealth, good health, the blessings on our own, but we need to remember our blessings only come from the Lord. When the blessings flow and life is no longer moving from one struggle to another we must never forget the Lord and continue to always obey His commands.

Perhaps you need to take some time today to ask the Lord to examine your own heart (Ps. 51), thank Him for the blessings, and remember it's the Lord who blesses each of us with His abundant blessing.

Jo-Ann

My Name is Mercy

My name is Mercy; some call me Grace

I take pleasure in extending favour to those who could never earn it

I am God’s undeserved gift

And I accept no repayments

I set people free, though freedom can seem risky

Some take advantage of me, but that does not diminish my importance

I am the hand of Jesus reaching out to heal

I am love that stoops down

I connect heaven to earth

I am not legality, nor am I licence; I am the just-right in-between

To judge does not occur to me

I provide chances to grow

I trust, and give room for maturity to bloom

I am entitled by no one, yet offered to all

I am an heirloom, passed down for generations

My high cost came at Christ’s expense

Where there is repentance, I come running

Where there is confession, I am right there

I never give up, but offer myself again and again

I am a picture of the love of the Father

I coexist with compassion, and am keen to help

When you cry for me, the Lord answers

When you turn to the Lord, I will meet you

I permit loyalty despite unfaithfulness

I provide refuge, no questions asked

In time of need, I am dispatched from God’s throne

The Almighty delights in putting me on display

I triumph over judgement

I empower people to do great things

I build up, and freely pardon

Through me, the Father gives encouragement and hope

In me, you will find strength

My name is Mercy; some call me Grace

And I am enough

“...My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness...” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Chantelle

Chantelle is married to her pastor husband, Matt. She is actively involved in her local church with youth, music and kid's ministry all while she is finishing her Education degree.

Motherhood's Calling

In every generation, women, mothers, must answer the call to be what no one else can be and do what no one else can do for their children - mother. This doesn't limit a woman but challenges her to a higher commitment. It's so easy to feel unappreciated, unchallenged, over challenged, bored or unable to fulfil the role. Frustration can run rampant. But God wants us to lift our eyes up out of our present situation and seek His face and vision for our children. Increasingly, the world needs women willing to really invest the time and effort it takes to pursue this vision.

Will you be that woman?

Are you frustrated in this moment? Look up and look ahead! What will you have wished you had been doing in ten or twenty years? Are you doing it now? Plan accordingly. Solomon wrote:

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,

but the simple keep going and suffer for it. (Prov. 22:3)

Moreover, he wrote this again in Proverbs 27:12. No doubt, he repeated it because he wanted to emphasize just how important it is to look ahead, assess the situation and change direction as needed.

Is it time for some personal healing? Time to allow some repressed feelings to bubble up and deal with to enable healthier responses to those around us? Really, it's OK if you need to get professional help to figure things out and moreover, it's alright to ask a mentor or rally some close and trusted Christian friends to pray and help you along the way.

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Desperate

Have you ever started on a plan to read through the entire Bible? You begin working your way through the Old Testament when all of a sudden you run smack into… a genealogy! Be honest – do you read these chapters with the same care as the rest of the chapters? Do you skim through wondering what some of these people were thinking when they named their children?

Mostly, I struggle through them uncertain that I really get the point. Having said that, I do have a favourite genealogy. Probably that is not a phrase that you often hear – favourite genealogy – but stick with me.

My favourite is the one found in Matthew – the genealogy of Jesus. This one stands out for me because of the women named in it. Oh what a group of women they are! It is amazing what it takes for a gal to get noticed!

Do you know their stories? Tamar is probably the least familiar to us. Check out her story in Genesis 38. She was a rejected, desperate woman whose methods are questionable but here she is in the list. Named. Part of the family.

Rahab was living in Jericho and was definitely an outsider. A prostitute who consorted with spies to save herself, she was desperate because she knew that she did not have a hope without the God of Israel. She declared, "the Lord your God is God in heaven above and earth below" ( Josh.2:11). A desperate woman in a desperate circumstance, brought into the family.

Ruth’s story is one we know well enough that we easily accept her as part of the family and forget that she too was an outsider. Ruth is often praised for her loyalty and love for her mother-in-law Naomi. But even in her famous declaration, "where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16), can you hear her desperation? I can’t go back to Moab. I don’t want Moab’s god. I want your God. I will do whatever it takes.

Next up is Bathsheba, who is not named in Matthew’s list but is rather noted simply as Solomon’s mother who "had been Uriah’s wife". Again this is a familiar story though generally told with David at the center. Here is a young woman brought into the palace under questionable circumstances. Don’t you think that she would have heard the whispers and felt the condemnation? Then, no doubt, her heart broke as her baby dies. But, here she is – mother of Solomon. A second chance. Part of the family.

Finally we have Mary the mother of Jesus, on the list. Maybe you never considered her circumstances as desperate. She was unmarried, pregnant and her fiancé was considering divorce, all because she had been chosen to be in the family.

Look at these women. Read their stories. Do you see yourself? Do you see someone you know? These are our stories too. Rejected. An outsider. Caught in sin. In a circumstance far beyond our understanding. In a desperate place. Desperate for God. Desperate women.

"…In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry." (Jonah2:2)

Be encouraged. Our God welcomes desperate!

Ruth

Psalm 139

I don't know if Psalm 139 is a piece of familiar scripture for you or not, but I pray God's words would speak loudly and clearly to your heart as you read it today. 

Psalm 139

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, LORD.

5 You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave, you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up, you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!

Get out of my life, you murderers!

20 They blaspheme you;

your enemies misuse your name.

21 O LORD, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?

Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?

22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,

for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Jo-Ann

Testing

A few weeks ago our oldest daughter came home with a question. "Can you help me with my school project?" When she told me the job required 'tools' I quickly pointed her in the direction of her Daddy. The project? Build a chair. I'm sure I could have figured it out, but not without a significant injury to one of us (probably me).

They worked together, father and daughter, to build a chair that would meet the project requirements. The project wasn't finished though until it had been tested and adjustments had been made.

James 1 says "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds"

I'm sure the chair, had it a voice, would have contested being sat on, moved around and shaken during it's 'trial'. Pressure, affliction and hardship are other great descriptors when we're considering the trials that test our faith. The poor chair would definitely agree that pressure had been applied!

As I consider the testing of my own faith I've realized I'm not at all like the chair. I've contested my testing with questions like "Does God not trust that my faith is secure?" and "Why is He letting this happen?"

I've come to realize that I have approached the testing from the wrong angle. If I believe that God knows all and sees all then maybe the testing of my faith isn't actually for God's benefit at all. If the testing of my faith isn't for Him, then who is it for and what are the benefits?

"Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2

It took too long for the light bulb to flicker on and for me to realize that the testing is for my benefit. Let me say it again. The testing is for MY benefit. Testing develops a perseverance that works to bring maturity and completeness that only comes from testing. Knowing the benefits then, why wouldn't I consider the mature response of pure joy?

What James is writing about is not necessarily a single event or experience, but it can be applied to our ongoing journey. I wonder where you are at in the journey of faith. Are you experiencing the trials and testing, the hard work of persevering or are you coming through and experiencing maturity? Perhaps you're in the building phase, working with your Father as He teaches you how to measure, nail, cut and assemble a faith that withstands the testing.

Regardless of where you are at I pray you can join James and consider it pure joy.

Tammy

Tammy is a wife, mom and university student, as well as a campus worker at the University of Manitoba.

Check out www.SegueUofM.com for more information.

God, Our First Employer

In the beginning...God instituted work to man for his blessing.

"And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden...and the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."

Genesis 2:5-25

Essentially, this is where God gave man work ethic. This was before the fall of man. After the fall of man, work was associated with pain and fatigue, but it was established with the intention of blessing.

Really, work is not only divinely inspired but without it, our bodies suffer atrophy physically, in mind and spirit. Work is actually therapeutic. So, how should we work? What attitude should we have? I have found so much wisdom in the WORD about this. Here's a quick dozen to ponder:

*WILLINGLY

"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land."

Isaiah 1:19

*DILIGENTLY

"Work hard and do not be lazy."

Romans 12:11

*WHOLE HEARTEDLY

"Do the will of God from the heart."

Ephesians 6:6

*ENERGETICALLY

"Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might."

Ecclesiastes 9:10

*DETERMINED

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord."

Romans 12:11

*ENTHUSIASTICALLY

"...your enthusiasm has stirred them to action."

2 Corinthians 9:2

*JOYFULLY

"All these curses shall come upon you because you served not the Lord your God           with joyfulness and gladness of heart."

Deuteronomy 28:47

*THANKFULLY

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus,                     giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."

Colossians 3:17

*LOVINGLY

"Dear children, let us not love with words or in speech, but with actions and in truth."            1 John 3:18

*FAITHFULLY

"You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things."    Matthew 25:23

*WITH EXCELLENCE

"Therefore, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58

*WITHOUT DISTRACTION

Remember when Nehemiah would not be stopped because of his strong sense of purpose and vision? 

"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease?" Nehemiah 6:3

and most importantly...until the job is finished for the glory of God.

This is probably the most important of all. This motive must become part of whole being – it enables our life to be transformed! No matter how dull or meaningless the work, the toil is a joy and delight when we do it for His glory!

"Whatsoever you do, do it all for the glory of God."                                                                         1 Corinthians 10:31

Press in and press on!

Giselle

Beyond the Flannel Graph

I am involved in a Bible Study in which we are simply going through Luke’s Gospel, chapter by chapter. There are many stories in Luke which bring me back to time well spent in Sunday School. Sometimes as I read I can picture the flannel graph characters!

I need to go beyond the flannel graph and remind myself that what I am reading is not just a story. It is an account of an actual event in a real person’s life. It happened. As I read and think about these very real people, the judgements come easily. I need to put myself into their story and then question whether I would have acted any differently or even if I am acting any differently right now.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. We were recently reading in Luke 8 the account of “the healing of a demon possessed man” (vs. 26-38). Briefly, the story is this: Jesus and his disciples cross a lake & find a man who is demon possessed and lives in a graveyard. Jesus delivers him. Pigs die. People come to see what has happened. They see the man completely changed. They are afraid. Here is the part that makes me wonder what was wrong with these people. “then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and left.” (vs. 37)

People – what were you thinking!! You sent Jesus away? Couldn’t you see the difference that he made and that it was good? Had you grown so accustomed to and so comfortable with the man living among the tombs, that to see him whole was too much of a change? What did you fear? Did you fear that Jesus might change you?

After I get over my frustration with these people then I feel sad for them. What did they miss by sending Jesus away? What amazing, life changing things could have been done for them, in them and through them?

Next, I must put myself in their place. What would my response have been? What is my response today? When Jesus shows me a change that needs to happen in my heart or in my life, do I always trust or is fear my go to reaction? Fear that the change will be too big. Fear of the reaction of those around me. I may not give voice to my thoughts but am I saying, like the people of the Gerasenes, ‘not here Jesus – not now. Off you go. I can manage.’

Two verses come to mind. Verses that I have heard often and repeated often but verses that still need to be repeated until we get the truth of them settled deep into our hearts.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Can I encourage you to embrace the change? Embrace the plan – God’s plan for you. It might startle a few folks. If the alternative is that Jesus gets into the boat and leaves….well, is that really an alternative that you want to consider?

Dear ones, we can trust Him. He is absolutely, completely trustworthy. All His plans are for your good. All of them.

Ruth