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

Shifting My View of Church

I have heard the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada refer to two different types of churches. The "come and gather" church, which for many of us is our typical understanding and experience of church. We come together at a local church building, at a certain time, where we typically see familiar faces from week to week. The other type of church is the "go and be among" church which travels (whatever the distance) to spend their "church-time" among other people while "being" the church. Now I will not be able to do justice to David Wells thoughts, but I can say it was rolled around in my heart and caused me to think repeatedly about the difference between the church building I attend and "being" the church.

What if we shifted our thinking from Sunday to Saturday in order to "be" the church among others, whether we attend a "come and gather" church or a "go and be among" church?

Take a look at Matt. 22:37-38, "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’" Then Matt. 28:19-20 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

I wonder what my church experience would be like if the reason I got up on Sunday morning and attended a "come and gather" church was for the soul purpose to be a "go and be among" church with those I see through the week. What if my reason at church was to learn to live and be like Jesus, so I could go and offer the same to others? What if attending the church building was about striving forward to "be" the church to others?

I live in a culture and part of the world where "coming and gathering" at a certain time in a certain building for church is a very normal part of my weekly life. However, I have been challenged to shift my thinking that church doesn't start at 11:00 am on Sunday morning and end at 12:15 pm. The church is the body of Christ which comes together, so we can go and be among.

Many years ago I was challenged about whether I squeezed Sunday into the rest of my week or whether my week revolved around Sunday. I believe the church, the body of Christ, needs to intentionally "be" the church and God's representative 24/7. Let me ask you the same question I ask myself, "Are you representing the Lord well in what you say and do as you interact with others?

I hope and pray this challenges you to take a look at your week and begin the process of shifting the reason you attend church. What would your daily encounters look like if you shifted the reason you "come and gather", so you could "go and be among"?

Jo-Ann

Build Wisely

Today I’d like to share a story I heard years ago...it’s lesson can ring all too true. I pray it encourages you today:

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheque, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.” The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But, we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, erect a wall...

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive the reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but will yet be saved

– even though only as one escaping through the flames.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Life is a do it yourself project. The attitudes and choices you make today, build the house you live in tomorrow. Build wisely.

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Turning Around is an Option

When hubby and I do a road trip we are not alone in the vehicle. Before you become impressed with how spiritual that sounds, I need to say that the other “person” on the road with us is Susan – the GPS lady.

We do not share the same level of admiration for Susan. Quite frankly, she irritates me. I think that is because I find her unending patience and calmness, while giving instructions that we may or may not be following correctly, to be a huge irritant. It is so clearly not how I act as navigator.

Susan has never once said “What part of LEFT turn did you not understand?”

When that turn is missed, she calmly recalculates a route, and completely without condemnation suggests that we “turn around as soon as possible.”

Several years ago, before Susan, we were visiting Memphis, TN. Due in large part to my navigating talents, we explored many parts of the city that we had not set out to discover. Getting to our destination occasionally took longer than anticipated and once or twice took us to areas probably best for us not to be exploring.

So, while Susan and I still have issues, she does help us stay on track. There have been incidents however, when whomever was behind the wheel made the decision that perhaps Susan didn’t know best and that we could find our own way. Sometimes though that sort of works, it does at the very least, add stress to the situation. At worst, we again end up in an area that we did not intend to be and an area that may not be best for us. Even though we have dismissed her guidance, Susan gently suggests that we “turn around as soon as possible.”

Exodus 15:13 says “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”

Our Father wants to lead. He does have a path for us to follow. For me that requires a daily choice – sometimes a moment by moment choice – am I going to follow or will I try to find my own way? Will I take the next step, trusting that even though I do not see the entire route laid out before me, it is there, lovingly planned for me?

Sometimes by carelessness and sometimes by conscious choice, I miss directions or don’t take the directions that I should have taken. For those times, when I need to “turn around as soon as possible” there is mercy and forgiveness.

Do you ever struggle to stay on the path that God has laid out for you? Do you ever find yourself in a place that you did not anticipate or a place that you know is not the best place for you to be? Do you ever need to “turn around as soon as possible?” There is mercy and grace for that – not condemnation.

Always remember that He leads with “unfailing love.”

Ruth

Personal Invitations

I have a theory. For a number of years I have been putting it to the test and recently I put it to the test; once again it proved right. It's something I've observed over the years - the longing of people's hearts.

My theory is this; if someone is genuinely and personally asked to come with you to something they are way more apt to say yes than if they just read about it in an announcement or see a poster. I believe people long for personal contact, a personal invitation, a personal connection with a space and place next to someone else.

I am all about announcements and making sure people have the information they need to make an informed decision, but the reality is announcements are about information. If we want people to feel a personal connection, to have buy-in, to get involved, or to participate in a certain function or event; then the odds of them saying yes is significantly higher if I speak to them personally. When I ask if they'd like to come with me, meet me at the door or if I can save them a spot, my experience has shown me they are way more apt to say yes, than not. I can't speak for the men out there, but as women we like to have company, we want to feel like we belong and we long for the connection we get when we are around others.

I also believe the REV test is true and accurate. Most women long be part of something which has the following three elements: R - relational, E - emotional,   V - verbal. They want to connect with someone for the relational component, they want to feel an emotional connection (at least on some level) and they want to be able to share their experience with others verbally. I call it the REV test. Consider the last ladies function you were at (baby shower, ladies retreat, coffee with the neighbours...). Did it have all three of these components? How did you feel when you got home? Chances are good it did have these three components and on some level you felt a connection and enjoyed yourself. Interesting isn't it?

Let me encourage each of you to make personal contact with someone(s) before your next function or event and see how many take you up on your offer. What if everyone asked someone? Then everyone would have the opportunity to feel like they belonged and were part of God's bigger plan. You see we really are better together!

Phil 2:5 says, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus"

Jo-Ann

Learning Transparency

Romans 12:15 (Message) “Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.”

I can’t hide my feelings, no matter how hard I try! People are forever reading my face, whether correctly or incorrectly. When I am tired, people know it; when I am full of joy, people know it; when I am stressed, try as I might people know it. Frustrating as this can be, it is not nearly as frustrating as when I am misunderstood. People have misunderstood tiredness for boredom, or simple scanning of a room to not liking them.

As much as I dislike being misread, or hearing constant questions in the family of “are you okay?” I realize that my inability to hide my emotion is actually a blessing! It keeps me accountable to others and forces me to be honest and transparent.

We often find it difficult to be open with one another. It is “easier” to be shallow or to put on the face that we would like the world to see, however when we do this, we miss out on deep relationship and the ability to have others help bear our struggles or learn from our journeys.

The Bible commands us to “carry one another’s burdens” (Gal.6:2) and to “laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.”(Rom.12:15). Many of us find it easy to do this for others, (as women we are nurturers and more empathetic by nature) but we have trouble flipping the coin. How are those close to us suppose to carry our burdens, or laugh with us in our happy times when we don’t have relationships where we communicate how we really feel because we are trying to present a front? While we nurture others easily, we are not quite as good at allowing ourselves to be nurtured.

In order for us to live according to God’s plan for us as believers, we need to learn transparency. (Is this resonating with anyone else, or am I the only one with some inner “ouches” going on?) Sharing struggles, hardships and sins is biblical, and vital to having deep and lasting relationships!

I challenge you (and myself!) to evaluate your relationships. Do we reach out to deepen these relationships? If we do, is it by reaching out to others emotions, or reaching out with our own? God’s word encourages us to do both!

Kourtnay

Kourtnay is a wife and mother, and she is very active in her local church. She is a woman of passionate purpose who longs for all women to live out their God-given passions.