Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

Posted on May 5, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Some acts of unforgiving behavior in families can go for generations without being resolved. The ripple effect can cause damage to how we think, what we think and how we relate to people in the world.

As I was growing up, my parents had very specific ideas about music in the church. When other forms, like gospel from a paperback book, was introduced by another singing family the dissidence began. I remember a time of seeing this family in the store on day and my little brother looking up at my mom and dad, saying, “Why do we not like them, I forgot”. This opened up my parents eyes to how their talk at home was affecting the next generation and things began to change for the good. I was so glad as a kid, for even then I did not like disputes and unrest in my own family or in the church family. In my household they were one in the same. By the way, I like ALL music to this day that praises God and gives Him glory!

In the family of God, every movement we make in response to God has a ripple effect, touching family, neighbors, friends, community. Belief in God alters our language. Love of God affects daily relationships. Hope in God enters into our work. Also their opposites–unbelief, indifference, and despair. None of these movements and responses, beliefs and prayers, gestures and searches, can be confined to the soul. They spill out and make history. If they don’t, they are under suspicion of being fantasies at best, hypocrisies at worst.

Christians have always insisted on the historicity of Jesus–an actual birth, a datable death, a witnessed resurrection, locatable towns. There is a parallel historicity in the followers of Jesus. As they take in everything Jesus said and did–all of it a personal revelation of God in time and place–it all gets worked into local history, eventually into world history.

Philemon and Onesimus, the slave owner and slave who figure prominently in the letter from Paul, had no idea that believing in Jesus would involve them in radical social change. But as the two of them were brought together by this letter, it did. And it still does.

As we read the short story of Philemon and Onesimus, let us learn about true forgiveness and restoration with love, mercy and grace made possible by Jesus.

Paul’s letter to Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

HOLY PAUSE

We can be slaves to ideas, behaviors and thoughts of opinion that are not becoming or righteous in God’s eyes. What are some of those thoughts that might have a ripple effect in your family?

Paul appeals to Philemon on the basis of Christian love followed by forgiveness. Paul was a prisoner in Rome, his friend Philemon was in Colosse, and the human link between them was a runaway slave named Onesimus. The details are not clear, but it appears that Onesimus robbed his master and then fled to Rome, hoping to be swallowed up in the crowded metropolis. But, in the providence of God, he met Paul and was converted!

A special relationship had developed between Paul and Onesimus whom he affectionately calls “my son”. In sending Onesimus back, Paul requests Philemon not to treat him as a vagrant slave, but to receive him as a Christian brother. The apostle puts himself on the line personally in behalf of Onesimus: “Welcome him as you would welcome me”. “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything . . . I will pay it back”.

In this story, we see Paul in three important roles as he tried to help Philemon solve his problems. At the same time, we see a beautiful picture of what the Father has done for us in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther said, “All of us are Onesimuses!” and he was right. We are slaves to sin and Jesus forgave us all and set us free.

1. Paul was a beloved friend of Philemon.

In his greeting, Paul expressed his deep love for his Christian friends, and he reminded them that he was a prisoner for Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Philemon who he is in Christ. In his thanksgiving, Paul described his friend as a man of love and faith, both toward Jesus Christ and God’s people. His love was practical: he “refreshed” the saints through his words and work. He also prayed that his friend would have a deeper understanding of all that he had in Jesus Christ.

2. Paul interceded on Onesimus’ behalf. (Like Jesus does for us!) Paul might have used apostolic authority and ordered his friend to obey, but he preferred to appeal in Christian love. Onesimus was no longer “just a slave”; he was now Paul’s son in the faith and Philemon’s Christian brother! In Jesus Christ, there is “neither bond nor free” (Gal. 3:28). This does not mean that his conversion altered Onesimus’s legal position as a slave, or that it canceled his debt to the law or to his master. However, it did mean that Onesimus had a new standing before God and before God’s people, and Philemon had to take this into consideration.

As you review these appeals, you can see how Paul tenderly convinced his friend Philemon that he should receive his disobedient slave and forgive him. But it would not be easy for Philemon to do this. If he was too easy on Onesimus, it might influence other slaves to “become Christians” and want to influence their masters.

However, if he was too hard on the man, it might affect Philemon’s testimony and ministry in Colosse. At this point, Paul offered the perfect solution. It was a costly solution as far as the apostle was concerned, but he was willing to pay the price.

3. Paul, the burdened Partner. The word translated “partner” is koinonia, which means “to have in common.” It is translated “communication” in Philemon 6, which means “fellowship.” Paul volunteered to become a “business partner” with Philemon and help him solve the problem with Onesimus. He made two suggestions: “Receive him as myself,” and “Put whatever he stole from you on my account.”

As Philemon’s new “partner,” Paul could not leave Rome and go to Colosse, but he could send Onesimus as his personal representative. “The way you treat Onesimus is the way you treat me,” said the apostle. “He is to me as my own heart” (Philem. 12).

This is to me an illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us as believers. God’s people are so identified with Jesus Christ that God receives them as He receives His Son! We are “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6) and clothed in His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). We certainly cannot approach God with any merit of our own, but God must receive us when we come to Him “in Jesus Christ.”

MORE THAN LOVE…FORGIVENESS

It takes more than love to solve the problem; love must pay a price. God does not save us by His love, for though He loves the whole world, the whole world is not saved. God saves sinners by His grace (Eph. 2:8–9), and grace is love that pays a price. God in His holiness could not ignore the debt that we owe, for God must be faithful to His own law. So He paid the debt for us! That price was His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, my sins were put on His account, and He was treated the way I should have been treated. When I trusted Him as my Savior, His righteousness was put on my account, and now God accepts me in Jesus Christ. Jesus said to the Father, “He no longer owes You a debt because I paid it fully on the cross. Receive him as You would receive Me. Let him come into the family circle!”

However, we must keep in mind that there is a difference between being accepted in Christ and acceptable to Christ. Anyone who trusts Jesus Christ for salvation is accepted in Him (Rom. 4:1–4). But the believer must strive with God’s help to be acceptable to the Lord in his daily life (Rom. 12:2; 14:18; 2 Cor.5:9; Heb. 12:28 niv). The Father wants to look at those who are in His Son and say of them as He said of Jesus, “I am well pleased!”

HOLY PAUSE

Is Jesus your Savior AND the LORD of your life?

Does our behavior have a ripple effect in our family? In our church family? In the world?

Was Paul hinting in Philemon 21 that Philemon should do even more and free Onesimus? For that matter, why did he not come right out and condemn slavery? This letter certainly would have been the ideal place to do it.

Paul did not “condemn” slavery in this letter or in any of his letters, though he often had a word of admonition for slaves and their masters (Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 3:22—4:1; 1 Tim. 6:1–2; Titus 2:9–10). In fact he encouraged Christian slaves to obtain their freedom if they could (1 Cor. 7:21–24).

ABOUT SLAVERY…

During the American Civil War, both sides used the same Bible to “prove” their cases for or against slavery. One of the popular arguments was, “If slavery is so wrong, why did Jesus and the apostles say nothing against it? Paul gave instructions to regulate slavery, but he did not condemn it.”

One of the best explanations was given by Alexander Maclaren in his commentary on Colossians in The Expositor’s Bible (Eerdmans, 1940; vol. VI, 301):

“First, the message of Christianity is primarily to individuals, and only secondarily to society. It leaves the units whom it has influenced to influence the mass. Second, it acts on spiritual and moral sentiment, and only afterwards and consequently on deeds or institutions. Third, it hates violence, and trusts wholly to enlightened conscience. So it meddles directly with no political or social arrangements, but lays down principles which will profoundly affect these, and leaves them to soak into the general mind.”

Had the early Christians begun an open crusade against slavery, they would have been crushed by the opposition, and the message of the gospel would have become confused with a social and political program. Think of how difficult it was for people to overcome slavery in England and America, and those two nations had general education and the Christian religion to help prepare the way.

Think also of the struggles in the modern Civil Rights movement even within the church. If the battle for freedom was difficult for us to win in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, what would the struggle have been like back in the first century?

Laws can change but it takes a change of mind to make a difference!

Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13–16), and their spiritual influence must be felt in society to the glory of God. God used Joseph in Egypt, Esther and Nehemiah in Persia, and Daniel in Babylon, and throughout church history, there have been believers in political offices who have faithfully served the Lord.

But Christians in the Roman Empire could not work through local democratic political structures as we can today, so they really had no political power to bring about change. The change had to come from within, even though it took centuries for slavery to end.

Paul’s benediction was his “official signature” for his letters (2 Thessalonians 3:17–18), and it magnified the grace of God. After all, it was the grace of Jesus Christ that made our salvation possible (Ephesians 2:1–10). It was He who said, “Charge that to My account! Receive them as You would receive Me!”

Above all, preach Jesus who set us free once and for all!

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are able to come to your throne because of you dear Jesus! Thank you! Thank you for setting us free to love like you love, to show mercy like you have shone to us and to forgive freely like you have forgiven us. Wow! Help us daily to live for you, be a representative of you to others, causing a Holy ripple effect to all we encounter on this journey here and now. It’s all about you, not us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LEADERSHIP But I don’t know what I’m doing!

Posted on May 4, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Christians are quite serious in believing that when they gather together for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign.

God creates and guides, God saves and heals, God corrects and blesses, God calls and judges. With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of HUMAN leadership?

It has been said that leaders are born. Others say leaders are shaped by their environment. According to Paul to Timothy, leaders are CALLED and EQUIPPED by God. Leaders, called out by God, are designed to humbly mentor called by God apprentices. As leaders we are to purposely and intentionally look for these “called out” people of God. When God asks us to step up to be a mentor OR to be mentored, we need to listen and act accordingly. God will equip us to equip others. It is not a matter of addition but of multiplication.

Quite obviously, leadership has to be second place. It must not elbow its way to the front, it must not bossily take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent, leadership betrays the Master. The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.

In Paul’s letters to two young associates–Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete–we see Paul encouraging and guiding the development of just such leadership. What he had learned so thoroughly himself, he was now passing on and showing them, in turn, how to develop a similar leadership in local congregations. This is essential reading because ill-directed and badly formed spiritual leadership causes much damage in souls. Paul in both his life and his letters shows us how to do it right.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are rich in wisdom, insight and understanding that we all cry out for as God-led leaders and mentors. It is a seminary class for leaders who train leaders who train leaders. Leaders are learners. Leaders are called by God to join Him in His work. When people say a humbled, “God, I don’t know what I’m doing” yes to God, then God begins equipping them with all He knows we will need for the journey. He does it every time. He has and is still doing this in me.

CALLED TO LEAD? HERE ARE THE PRINCIPLES:

1 Timothy 1

PAUL IS CALLED

“This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.”

PAUL MENTORS TIMOTHY

“The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.”

“We know that the law is good when used correctly.”

GOD’S MERCY

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ.”

ALL GLORY TO GOD

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”

“Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear.”

1 Timothy 2

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

PRAY FIRST

“…pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”

“Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

KNOW YOUR MESSAGE

“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For,

There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.”

“This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

1 Timothy 3

LOOK FOR OTHER LEADERS

“This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If someone aspires to be a church leader,[a] he desires an honorable position.’ So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach.”

CHARACTER TRAITS

“integrity…respected…tells the Truth…faithful to family…humble…committed to the faith in Jesus.”

This is “…how people must conduct themselves in the household of God.”

1 Timothy 4

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.”

“…train yourself to be godly.”

“…our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.”

LIVE THE FAITH

“Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity…focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.”

“Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”

1 Timothy 5

HOW TO TREAT OTHERS

“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”

“Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.”

SHOW NO FAVORITISM

“I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.”

“Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.”

1 Timothy 6

“Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them…”

“These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding.”

AVOID THE ARROGANT

“Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.”

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”

BE THE MAN or WOMAN OF GOD

“But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”

“Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”

USE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO GOOD FOR GOD’S GLORY

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable.”

“Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”

“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”

STAY AWAY FROM ARGUING

“Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.”

2 Timothy 1

OUR FAITH IS LEAD BY JESUS POWER IN US!

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

BE BOLD!

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

“…never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.”

“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”

2 Timothy 2

LEADERS TRAIN LEADERS WHO TRAIN LEADERS…

“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”

ALWAYS PREACH JESUS!

“Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.”

“I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.”

KNOW GOD

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

“God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.”

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”

“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.”

ONLY GOD CHANGES HEARTS

“Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.”

2 Timothy 3

AVOID THESE PEOPLE…

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money.”

“They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.”

“They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.”

“They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

“They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.”

“But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are…”

REMAIN TRUE

“…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.”

“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

HOLY PAUSE

Who do you trust to mentor/lead you?

What characteristics do you look for in a mentor?

What characteristics must we have to mentor someone else in the faith?

Do you believe leaders are learners?

From whom would you rather learn; one who continues to learn or one who thinks they know it all?

2 Timothy 4

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”

Paul to Titus

CHOOSE THE CALLED OF GOD

“A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.”

“Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.”

AVOID…

“Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.”

Promote Right Teaching

“As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.”

“Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.”

Do What Is Good

“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.”

So there we have it! Leadership 101 is given by Paul to the church leaders of God’s people. God’s church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ who died for our sin, went to hell and back again to defeat death forever. He rose to life and is now preparing a place for us to live with Him forever!

Jesus…our Savior and Lord. Jesus our Hope and Future!

Preach Jesus! Become like Jesus on the journey to Jesus!

Thank you, Lord for lessons we are still learning on the road to our final destination with you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, demons, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged C, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

ALL PRAISE ALL THE TIME!

Posted on May 3, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Psalm 103

In the good times, praise God. In the trying times, praise God. In the confusing times, praise God. God is the One and Only to be praised. Let’s do it. Let’s just praise God with all that is in us for God has never changed his love and compassion for us!

Let all that I am praise the Lord;

with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;

may I never forget the good things he does for me.

3 He forgives all my sins

and heals all my diseases.

4 He redeems me from death

and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

5 He fills my life with good things.

My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness

and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

7 He revealed his character to Moses

and his deeds to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 He will not constantly accuse us,

nor remain angry forever.

10 He does not punish us for all our sins;

he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12 He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west.

13 The Lord is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14 For he knows how weak we are;

he remembers we are only dust.

15 Our days on earth are like grass;

like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

16 The wind blows, and we are gone—

as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever

with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children

18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,

of those who obey his commandments!

19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;

from there he rules over everything.

20 Praise the Lord, you angels,

you mighty ones who carry out his plans,

listening for each of his commands.

21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels

who serve him and do his will!

22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,

everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen! I believe!

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HOPE–LIVING WITH A VIEW

Posted on May 2, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Thessalonian Letters

The way we conceive the future sculpts the present, gives contour and tone to nearly every action and though through the day. If our sense of future is weak, we live listlessly. Much emotional and mental illness and most suicides occur among men and women who feel that they “have no future.”

The Christian faith has always been characterized by a strong and focused sense of future, with belief in the Second Coming of Jesus as the most distinctive detail. For the day Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers lived in expectancy of His return. He told them He was coming back. They believed He was coming back. They continue to believe it. For Christians, it is the most important thing to know and believe about the future. I believe it! Don’t you?

The practical effect of this belief is to charge each moment of the present with HOPE. For if the future is dominated by the coming again of Jesus, there is little room left on the screen for projecting our anxieties and fantasies. It take the clutter out of our lives. We’re far more free to respond spontaneously to the freedom of God.

All the same, the belief can be misconceived so that it results in paralyzing fear for some, shiftless indolence i others. Paul’s two letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, among much else, correct such debilitating misconceptions, prodding us to continue to live forward in taut and joyful expectancy for what God will do next in Jesus.

HOLY PAUSE

How has our present circumstances affected our thinking?

What role has our “future hope” played in our present?

Who is our hope? How committed are we to our Hope?

How does knowing He is coming back affect what we think today?

As meditate on the highlights of these important letters from Paul to the Christians, let us think about what we desire most knowing that Jesus will return someday to take us with Him to a place He is preparing for all who believe and follow Him.

1 Thessalonians 1 – (NIV)

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

HOLY PAUSE

Has our endurance been inspired by hope in Jesus during this time of quarantine and all that goes with being isolated?

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”

HOLY PAUSE

What kind of “model” have we been during the quarantine?

“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

THE REPUTATION OF THE CHURCH…

“They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

1 Thessalonians 2

“We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”

“We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else…”

“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

“…we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”

Paul takes more joy in seeing others do what he taught them than in doing the work himself. We should model this kind of teaching. Are those we teach our “hope” for the future?

1 Thessalonians 3

Paul’s prayer of hope to believers…”May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

HOLY PAUSE

What is our prayer for each other?

1 Thessalonians 4 – LIVE TO PLEASE GOD

“…learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God…”

“…no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.”

“God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

“…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

OUR HOPE IS THE FUTURE!

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

GOD’S PLAN

“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

OUR HOPE

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

HOLY PAUSE

How do you respond to this passage? What is your hope? Who is your hope?

1 Thessalonians 5

BE READY

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

“…let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

OUR ASSURANCE

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER

“Live in peace with each other.”

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”

CREATED TO WORSHIP CONTINUALLY

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

PRAYER WITH A PROMISE

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

2 Thessalonians 1

LET GOD TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO OPPOSE YOU

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed…”

2 Thessalonians 2

WHEN JESUS COMES BACK…

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.”

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”

BEWARE OF ANYONE CLAIMING TO BE GOD

“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

SATAN IS A LIAR

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

HOLY PAUSE

Who is living the lie in your family? Do you pray for them? Do you pray for words and opportunity to speak Truth? Do we live Truth in their presence?

STAND FIRM IN HOPE

“He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

2 Thessalonians 3

PRAY FOR ALL TO HEAR THE HOPE

“…brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.”

“…the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (My prayer for all who are reading this right now!)

“…never tire of doing what is good.”

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe, therefore I have Hope!

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

BE OPEN

Posted on May 1, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Colossians – Christ in us

Who is Jesus?

Hardly anyone who hears the full story of Jesus and learns the true facts of his life and teaching, crucifixion and resurrection, walks away with a shrug of the shoulders, dismissing him as unimportant. People ignorant of the story or misinformed about it, of course, regularly dismiss him. But with few exceptions, the others know instinctively that they are dealing with a most remarkable greatness.

But it is quite common for those who consider him truly important to include others who seem to be equally important in his company–Buddha, Moses, Socrates, and Muhammad for a historical start, along with some personal favorites. For these people, Jesus is important, but not central, his prestige is considerable, but he is not preeminent.

The Christians in the town of Colosse, or at least some of them, seem to have been taking this line. For them, cosmic forces of one sort or another were getting equal billing with Jesus. Paul writes to them in an attempt to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the CENTER of their lives.

The way he makes his argument is as significant as the argument he makes. Claims for the uniqueness of Jesus are common enough. But such claims about Jesus are frequently made with an arrogance that is completely incompatible with Jesus himself. Sometimes the claims are enforced with violence.

But Paul, although unswervingly confident in the conviction that Christs occupies the Center of creation and salvation without peers, is not arrogant. AND he is not certainly not violent. He argues from a position of rooted humility. He writes with the energies of most considerate love. He exhibits again what Christians have come to appreciate so much in Paul–the wedding of a brilliant and uncompromising intellect with a heart that is warmly and wonderfully kind.

HOLY PAUSE

When we tell others about Jesus, what is our demeanor in the telling?

Are humble, loving, kind, arrogant, insensitive, condescending or judgmental?

Do we tell what we know or embellish with what do not know? Sometimes we try to “sell” Jesus to others as if he is a commodity or a new product when our belief and behavior in the telling and living out His story (relationship) in us is what attracts others to Him. Sometimes, no words are needed.

Paul is a great example of a powerful witness who speaks the Truth (Jesus) in love with a sincere heart who longs for others to know Jesus, too.

OPEN TIMES THREE

Paul asks other Christians to pray with him for three important requests of God before telling the story of Jesus. Colossians 4:2-6 is an example of what to pray before sharing the good news of the most important relationship anyone can have…the intimate, saving, growing relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

1. Open doors to the message.

2. Open their hearts to hear.

3. Open my mouth boldly speak Truth as plainly as I can.

I hope you can read the whole letter soon, in one sitting, for Paul’s message IS clear. Jesus needs to be the focus and center of our lives.

Colossians – The Highlights of Paul’s witness and teaching

Colossians 1

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people…

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way…”

WHO JESUS IS

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

“And he is the head of the body, the church…”

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

“…he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…”

WE ARE REDEEMED BY CHRIST!

“If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”

“…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

OUR MESSAGE

“He (Jesus) is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 2

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.”

LIVING IN CHRIST

“…just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy…”

“He is the head over every power and authority.”

“…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Colossians 3

THINK HIGHER

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

“…you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

PUT ON YOUR NEW CLOTHES!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

ARROGANCE FREE ZONE

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

“And be thankful.”

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

HOLY PAUSE

Do we really do ALL in the Name of Jesus?

We pray “in Jesus Name” as we should, but do we think with Jesus in mind as our central focus in all life decisions?

Do we tell His story as part of our story?

Colossians 4

PRAYER FOR FOCUSED WITNESS

OPEN THE DOORS

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may OPEN A DOOR for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Emphasis mine)

OPEN MY MOUTH

“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

OPEN THEIR HEARTS

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

HOLY PAUSE

Are you ready to prayer this prayer? In Jesus Name?

Christianity is a missionary faith, and we define our mission in the exuberant, energetic telling of who Jesus is and the saving love He has for others. However, unless we tell this “Good News” in the power of the Holy Spirit, little can be accomplished for God. So, we are aware of our need for personal and corporate prayer as we undertake the work of helping others find and follow Jesus.

There is a tremendous lack of prayer and mission in the modern church. This is not true worldwide, but it is true within American and European Christianity. A revival of prayer is desperately needed if the salvation message is to flourish and new believers are to be ushered into the kingdom of God. This is the challenge of God’s Word. This is the challenge to us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for saving us because of loving us the way you do. Thank for your great desire to be in an intimate relationship with us. We pray, you work. We talk, you listen like no other person. Now, we must listen to you. Help us to hear your Voice above all others. Give us the boldness to open our mouths when you open their hearts.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WE JUST GOT A LETTER!

Posted on April 30, 2020 by randscallawayffm

When my grandkids were toddlers, we loved watching Blues Clues together…over and over again. Steve (a real person) and Blue, the animated puppy were favorites in our family. What is Blue’s Clues, you ask? It is a play-along, think-along series featuring hosts, Steve or Joe, and an energetic puppy named Blue. In each episode, Joe or Steve invites viewers into a computer-animated storybook world to look for clues and solve the day’s puzzle.

Our favorite (daily) song came in the middle of the show when Steve (or Joe) went to the Mailbox. As they walked they sang,

“We just got a letter,

We just got a letter,

I wonder who it’s from?”

If you know the show, this catchy tune is probably now stuck in your head…as it is mine! It will take another catchy song to relieve you.

Imagine the receiver of Paul’s letter to the new Christians in Philippi. Did they sing, “We just got a letter…” Philippi was a Roman colony in northeastern Greece where Paul founded his first Christian congregation in Europe. Of all the Paul’s letter to churches this is Paul’s happiest letter. And the happiness is infectious…just like our song. Before we’ve read a dozen lines, we begin to feel the joy ourselves–the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us.

But happiness is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. In fact, none of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something more like apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline show us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moment of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an apprentice acquires skill by daily and intimate association with a “master,” picking up subtle but absolutely essential things, such as timing and rhythm and “touch”.

When we read what Paul wrote to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi, we find ourselves in the company of just such a master. Paul doesn’t tell us that we can be happy, or ho to be happy. He simply and unmistakable IS happy. None of his circumstances contribute to his joy. He wrote from a jail cell, his work was under attack by competitors, and after twenty years or so of hard traveling in the service of Jesus, he was tired and would have welcomed some relief.

But circumstances are incidental compared to the life of Jesus, the Messiah, that Paul experiences from the inside out. For it is a life that not only happened at a certain point in history, but continues to happen, spilling out into the lives of those who receive him, and then continues to spill out all over the place.

difference-between-happy-and-unhappy-people-1050x700

Christ is, among much else, the revelation that God cannot be contained or hoarded. It is the “spilling out” quality of Christ’s life that accounts for the happiness of Christians, for joy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person.

“We just got a letter” that will help us through the quarantine, the broken relationships, the lack of finances, the betrayals, the disappointments and circumstances that occur in our imperfect fallen world.

Christ has come with eternal joy and peace that cannot be taken away from those who believe, no matter what happens in our lives. Christs alone is joy unspeakable and full of glory!

I love this letter so much that it is hard to pick out the highlights but I will try. I have quoted this book/letter often to help others in their walk because of the tremendous affect the words have had on my own life. I highly recommend that you read this short, powerfully encouraging letter in one sitting. I promise that it will bring you joy.

Philippians 1 (NIV)

PRAY WITH JOY

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

PRAY WITH LOVE FOR EACH OTHER

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

JOY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”

BEING AN EXAMPLE OF JOY

“…because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

PREACH JESUS!

“The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

HOPE UNRESTRAINED

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

COMMITTED

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

Philippians 2

JOY COMPLETE WHEN LESSONS LEARNED

“…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

BE LIKE JESUS WHO…

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR JOY FOREVER!

“So you too should be glad and rejoice with me!”

Philippians 3

REJOICE!

“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!” No matter what is happening around us or to us, rejoice in the Lord Who will bring us through it.

REAL LIFE IS CHRIST

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

DETERMINED JOY

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

This passage causes us to cry out, “NOT TODAY, Satan!”, when circumstance try to become joy robbers. “I press on…”

Philippians 4

AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!”

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

“…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

THINK JOY

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

JOY BRINGS CONTENTMENT

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen”

We just got a letter! Read it again and again…and rejoice, and again I say rejoice!

In Jesus Name and for His glory, Amen

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BELIEF AND BEHAVIOR

Posted on April 29, 2020 by randscallawayffm

EPHESIANS

What we know about God and what we do for God have a way of getting broken apart in our lives. The moment the organic unity of belief and behavior is damaged in any way, we are incapable of living out the full humanity for which we were created.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians joins together what has been torn apart in our sin-wrecked world. He begins with an exuberant exploration of what Christians believe about God, and then, like a surgeon skillfully setting a compound fracture, “sets” this belief in God into our behavior before God so that the bones–believe and behavior–knit together and heal.

Once our attention is called to it, we notice these fractures all over the place. There is hardly a bone in our bodies that has escaped injury, hardly a relationship in city or job, school or church, family or country, that isn’t out of joint or limping in pain. There is much work to be done.

And so Paul goes to work. He ranges widely, from heaven to earth and back again, showing how Jesus, the Messiah, is eternally and tirelessly bringing everything and everyone together. He also shows us that in addition to having this work done in and for us, we are participants in this most urgent work. Now that we know what is going on, that the energy of reconciliation is the dynamo at the heart of the universe, it is imperative that we join in vigorously and perseveringly, convinced that every detail in our lives contributes (or not) to what Paul describes as God’s plan worked out by Christ, “a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.” (Ephesians 1:10, The Message)

This book is for God’s church that is forming and being built on the foundation of Jesus Christ who is our Savior and Lord. If indeed He is our Savior then we are saved as believers in Him. We know what we believe. If He is indeed the Lord of our lives then we are behaving as closely to what we say we believe given the help of His Holy Spirit. Herein lies the rub…there are those who accept Jesus as their Savior (believe) but do not live (behave) or follow Him as their Lord.

Paul reminds the church in Ephesus that we must behave in like we say we believe. There are six chapters in this letter to the church. Paul painstakingly tells us who we are in Christ in the first three chapters while reminding us who God is.

I highly recommend reading the whole letter in one sitting but for now I will give you the highlights, or my personal favorite passages that have helped me in my life.

Chapters 1-3 BELIEF – WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

(Ephesian Highlights taken from NIV)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…”

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…”

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory…”

“…because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

“For he himself is our peace…”

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

“In him (Christ) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Paul’s prays lovingly for the church(people) in Ephesus:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Chapters 4-6 BEHAVIOR – WHAT WE DO IN CHRIST

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

“THEREFORE each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

In other words, THINK before you speak. These questions are helpful to me in my quest and prayer to be more gracious:

T- Is what I’m about to say the Truth?

H-Is what I’m about to say going to helpful?

I- Is what I’m about to say going to be inspiring?

N-Is what I’m about to say really necessary?

K- Is what I’m about to say going to be kind? (Give life to the soul or suck life from the soul)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (We have a way of breaking God’s heart by the way we treat each other at times.)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Jesus forgave us, once and for all, immediately, to remember our sin no more. Can we forgive like He did? We can by his power in us with our decision to forgive completely.)

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

“…among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (From a place of awe, devotion and deep love for our Lord and Savior.)

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” (Submit is a positive word here…As you love Christ more and more and realize His love for you, the more you will love you spouse and “submit” to his love for you.)

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” (What a deep, reverent, precious, profound relentless love this is!…just as Jesus loves and gave Himself up for us!)

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'” (Paul is again quoting The Law given by God to Moses. Jesus came to fulfill The Law and explain God’s intent for living it.)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Don’t leave home without it! We need God’s strength, power, wisdom, insight and understanding daily, even hourly!)

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Each day we enter a spiritual battle for our souls as believers. Who will we choose to follow? Who’s side are we on?”

Get your gear on for this is not an easy battle for us but nothing for Jesus. He’s already won this battle with evil, went to hell and back again for us, so know that He will fight for you and with you when when it comes. “Not today, Satan!” is our battle cry.

OUR GEAR

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray for all who are coming to mind right now who are struggling with all kinds of illness, issues and circumstances beyond their ability to solve. We lay all of this at your feet to heal, to fight for, and to provide a way out. Lift our thinking to higher places where you are in your thinking. Give us wisdom, insight and understanding for your Word and for each other. Help us to BEHAVE like we say we BELIEVE.

Help us to love and forgive like you do. Heal our land. Heal your church so it is healthy and growing and full of love.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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RELATIONSHIP

Posted on April 28, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Galatians – Christ-like Fruit-Bearing

When men and women get their hands on religion, one of the first things they often do is turn it into an instrument for controlling others, ether putting or keeping them “in their place.” The history of such religious manipulation and coercion is long and tedious. It is little wonder that people who have only know religion on such terms experience release or escape from it as freedom. The problem is that the freedom turns out to be short-lived.

Paul of Tarsus was doing his diligent best to add yet another chapter to this dreary history when he was saved by Jesus to something radically and entirely different–a free life in God.

Through Jesus, Paul learned that God was not an impersonal force to be used to make people behave in certain prescribed ways, but a personal Savior who set us free to live a free life. God did not coerce us from without, but set us free from within.

It was a glorious experience, and Paul set off telling other, introducing and inviting everyone he met into this free life. In his early travels he founded a series of churches in the Roman province of Galatia A few years later, Paul learned that religious leaders of the old school had come into those churches, called his views and authority into question, and were reintroducing the old ways, herding all these freedom-loving Christians back into the corral of religious rules and regulations.

Paul was, of course, furious. He was furious with the old guard for coming in with their strong-arm religious tactics and intimidating the Christians into giving up their free life in Jesus. But he was also furious with the Christians for caving in to the intimidation.

His letter to the Galatian churches helps them, and us, recover the original freedom. It also gives direction in the nature of God’s gift of freedom–most necessary guidance, for freedom is a delicate and subtle gift, easily perverted and often squandered.

HOLY PAUSE

Is rule-keeping more important to us than relationship building?

Does it depend on the rule and where the rule came from and was based upon?

What rules do our churches have today that are not particularly given by God but made by man? Why are they important and are they important to God?

What is the focus of our belief? Rules and regulations of the church or a deep intimate growing relationship with Jesus Christ?

What do we work on most in our lives? Are we trying to be good enough to pass the test of God’s judgement or the judgement of church people, OR working on our intimate relationship to Jesus, completely trusting in Him to give us what we need most? What is our central focus?

With these thoughts in mind, here are a few passages written to the church of Galatia by Paul the Apostle, saved by grace by Jesus Christ.

“We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.”

Galatians 2:15-16, The Message

WE ARE NOT PERFECT, ONLY PERFECTLY FORGIVEN!

It is not up to us to be set right, only through our relationship with Jesus Christ are we perfected and made holy to God.

“17-18 Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren’t perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was “trying to be good,” I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.” Galatians 2:17-18, The Message

Years ago, I had a little girl in my Sunday School class come to me and ask, “How do I get to heaven? Do I just have to be good?” I gently guided her to Jesus who is the only perfect and good in us when we believe in Him as our Savior and follow in His ways as our Lord. This six year old “got it”.

A few months later she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her leg which had to be amputated. She went through this whole traumatic experience knowing Jesus was with her because of the relationship that had begun in our classroom. Because of her witness, her mom also began an intimate relationship with Jesus. It was not the rules of the church but the relationship with Jesus that gave her strength and tenacity to get through a dire circumstance.

Paul, in personal testimony of his relationship with Jesus goes on to preach the difference between religion and relationship…

“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be GOD’S man.”

“Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.”

“Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” Galatians 2:19-21, The Message

In another instance with a teen who had just given His life to Jesus at an altar of prayer in a church camp setting, he got up to announce, “Now, I’m going to be good”. I immediately had another talk with him to explain that being good was not the point. I related that we will really never be “good enough”. It is only be God’s grace through Jesus that we are made “good” or holy. We cannot be “good” on our own. When we try to live like that we will daily be disappointed in ourselves. Live for Christ for Christ is in you now. Let Him love and lead you. Think before you speak and act. Put Him first in your thinking and behaving. And when you mess up, come right back to Him and let him help you make it right. Jesus must be central to your life, not “trying to be good”.

MY OWN REALIZATION

I realized that the more I thought about keeping all the rules of a certain diet to lose weight and be healthier, the more I thought about breaking or manipulating those rules so I could eat what I wanted. I also caught myself thinking about food more than ever before! My central thought was a powerful relationship with food! The less I thought about it, the healthier I became, God helping me.

HOLY PAUSE

What do you think about more than anything else right now?

What you think about most is who you become in the moment.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Paul also taught that what happens in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ that is intimate, we begin to develop HIS characteristics in our lives. Because we think about who He is, talk to Him often in prayer, and read how He lived in His word to us, we begin to become more like the One we love the most and who loves us the best!

Who you admire and think about the most is who we tend to emulate and imitate! Think about Jesus–Be like Jesus!

Paul tells us the exact, Christ-like characteristics, “fruits” that will appear in our lives as we begin to grow in our relationship with Jesus…

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25, NIV

HOLY PAUSE

Who are we becoming, who are we imitating most right now?

What “fruits” of His Holy Spirit, that reflect the character of Christ, are you developing?

Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to become more and more like you, dear Jesus. Thank you for loving me so much you want to help me, be with me, and be my loving Friend. You care enough to guide and confront me, care and lead me out of troubles. I praise you and raise a hallelujah for your goodness to us all. Continue to change me, grow me and mold me to be more who you created me to be.

In Jesus Name, and By Your Power working in me, Amen.

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Ephesians, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Galatians, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, meditation, Ministry, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Promises, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Religion, Spiritual, Teaching, The Cross, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Value, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

PERFECTED, NOT PERFECT!

Posted on April 27, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Corinthians – Living the New Life

When people become Christians, they don’t at the same moment become nice. This always comes as something of a surprise. Conversion to Christ and his ways doesn’t automatically furnish a person with impeccable manners and suitable morals.

The people of Corinth had a reputation in the ancient world as an unruly, hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous bunch of people. When Paul arrived with the Message and many of them became believers in Jesus, they brought their reputations with them right into the church.

Paul spent a year and a half with them as their pastor, going over the Message of the “good news” in detail, showing them ow to live out this new life of salvation and holiness as a community of believers. Then he went on his way to other towns and churches.

HOLY PAUSE

Aren’t you glad Paul never gave up on the Corinthians?

Aren’t you glad pastors, teachers and other mentors in our lives never gave up on us?

Sometime later Paul received a report from one of the Corinthian families that in his absence things had more or less fallen apart. He also received a letter from Corinth asking for help. Factions had developed, morals were in disrepair, worship had degenerated into a selfish grabbing for the supernatural. It was the kind of thing that might have been expected from Corinthians!

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a classic of pastoral response: affectionate, firm, clear, and unswerving in the conviction that God among them, revealed in Jesus and present in his Holy Spirit, continued to be the central issue in their lives, regardless of how much of a mess that had made of things.

Paul does not give up on them. Paul doesn’t disown them as brother and sister Christians, doesn’t throw them out because of their bad behavior, and doesn’t fly into a tirade over their irresponsible ways. He takes it all more or less in stride, but also takes them by the hand and goes over all the old ground again, directing them in how to work all the glorious details of God’s saving love into their love for one another.

Paul cares enough about the Body of Christ, Believers in Christ, to confront their behavior that has fallen back to the old life in which they lived before knowing Christ with a Spirit of Love.

HOLY PAUSE

Do we care enough to confront those who will crash and burn someday if they don’t hear the Truth in love from us?

When we are confronted by someone who truly cares for us, do we listen and take stock of our own behavior?

This lead us to one of the most read chapters in 1 Corinthians. It is read at weddings as a sign of couples’ love for each other, although I’m not sure some couples know the background of the message of love.

Let us read this passage slowly, prayerfully and carefully, asking for the Holy Spirit to convict, guide, comfort and confront us this morning by the powerful words penned for a worldly people who had lost their way.

I Corinthians 13 – The Pursuit of Excellence

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 1-13, NIV

HOLY PAUSE

How did your prayerful reading go? What did God say to you?

Read it in other translations. Go to: https://www.biblegateway.com to read easily in KJV, NLT or others. Now, put this passage in your own words for today to internalize the meaning. This is an exercise that will make us stronger and less likely to fall back into hateful ways of past, worldly behaviors before knowing Christ.

I am so glad we are perfectly forgiven for our imperfect behaviors. Aren’t you?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for teaching us how to love well, to love like Jesus taught us to love, to love like you love us…unconditionally. Help us to love each other in the most excellent way in good times and bad. That will be the test, right Jesus? Continue to transform me from the inside out. Wash away all the impurities of my heart, for from my heart flows what I will say when pushed against the walls of doubt, fear and anxiety. Give me wisdom to behave like I say I believe and the quickness to ask for your forgiveness when I do not.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Creation, demons, Discipleship, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged anxiety, Christian, Christian Living, Church, Comfort, Conversation, encouragement, Faith, Family, Focus, Freedom, Friendship, future, Give life, Go, Gratitude, Happy, Heart, inspiration, joy, Justice, Kindness, LIfe, LIfe Lessons, Love, management, Marriage, Ministry, Motivation, Parenting, Peace, ponder, Power, Praise, prayer, Purpose, reconciliation, Relationship, Relationships, Spiritual, Teaching, Theology, Thinking, Training, Truth, Understanding, Virtues, Waiting, work | Leave a comment

THE BEST OF TIMES

Posted on April 26, 2020 by randscallawayffm

These are the best of times and these are the worst of times. An old classic, The Tale of Two Cities, begins with this mantra. I put the words in present tense because it feels like we are IN these times right now. We are praying for friends who are losing loved ones to the virus pandemic. Friends are home, unable to work. Some friends are feeling the financial crunch from lost wages. Many are fearful and full of anxiety.

However, some friends are working from home with a new appreciation for family life. Parents are teaching their own kids and discovering a new appreciation for the creativity of professional teachers. Government leaders are stepping up with one thing on their minds, to help the people who put them in office as their representatives. We are also being better stewards of what God has provided for us to manage.

Volunteerism is up in great numbers. Many want to help! We are coming together to help each other get through this. Common enemies have a tendency to do that. We think the common enemy is this virus. Our real enemy is Satan, however. How we respond to the “worst of times” will reflect Who we believe and follow.

God has the attention of his people more than ever before. His church has left the building and has gone online to reach and teach people around the world who are hungry to hear His words with a new eagerness to give Him praise. We are created to worship HIM and it is happening! We are worshiping God more than the stuff we think we own.

Yes, it is the best and worst of times. It depend on our perspective. What is your perspective? What does perspective does God wants us to look for in all of this?

How will we respond to our present circumstances? What do we do daily that is pleasing to God, we might ask? I am drawn to Romans 12 this morning.

Romans 12

1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and

Romans 12 fix your mind

walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

6-8 If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Friends, Yes, these are the BEST of times. God’s Best in us. Let us look at our present circumstances from God’s point of view. Look up to God first. Then look around to see what God is doing. Ask God for wisdom. He will give it. Then thank Him. Praise and worship the One and Only this morning.

In Jesus Name, and By His Power in us, Amen. I believe.

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Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

LEADERSHIP But I don’t know what I’m doing!

ALL PRAISE ALL THE TIME!

HOPE–LIVING WITH A VIEW

BE OPEN

WE JUST GOT A LETTER!

BELIEF AND BEHAVIOR

RELATIONSHIP

PERFECTED, NOT PERFECT!

THE BEST OF TIMES

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