Category Archives: Family, Friends & Fellowship

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February 14, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holidays & Holy Days, Love & Works, Thanks & Praise

FOR THOSE WE LOVE – Valentine’s Day 2015

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” [Matthew 19:4-6 (NLT)]

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Father, thank you for my spouse; please don’t let me take my life’s partner for granted. Prevent us both from allowing the obligations and frustrations of each day hinder us from making time for one another. Give us forgiving hearts when the other’s words or actions cause anger or grief. May we never allow people or things to keep us from walking the same path, hand in hand, for the rest of our lives.

Father, for those who are not blessed with a partner at this time, give them plenty of friends and family to fill their hearts and lives with love and joy.

In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. [Robert Anderson]

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. [1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)]

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT)]

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February 7, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Sharing Our Faith

A NEW WAY TO SERVE

The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. [Acts 6:2-3 (GW)]

The office of deacon was established early in the New Testament church to make sure food was distributed to widows and others in need. A good friend is a Presbyterian deacon and, according to The Presbyterian Deacon: An Essential Guide, he is to “exhibit within the church and before the world the exemplary moral authority of sympathy, witness and service after the example of Jesus Christ.” At a recent deacon’s meeting, while offering the evening’s devotion, he spoke of their calling to be the caring arm of the church and of the various ways they fulfill their mission. They typically drive people to worship or Bible study, bring food when someone is ill, visit shut-ins, and welcome visitors. My deacon friend pointed out that many of the struggles faced by their congregation are quite different from the ones faced in the past. He questioned whether their old ways of serving were still effective. Challenging his fellow deacons to think “outside of the box” and to try new ideas, he said, “We are only limited by our own imaginations.”

Another friend recently shared how she helped an elderly woman in Hospice care. Her story illustrates the new problems faced by our church family and the new methods that can be used to meet them. Using her business and Internet savvy, she arranged for automatic bill payments for the woman’s expenses and cancelled services no longer needed. She set up online accounts, established passwords, and answered security questions. She now has online access to her friend’s medical records and bills and can finally make sense of the stacks of paper that have accumulated during this long illness. I’m sure her sick friend would have appreciated a visit from a church member but getting her personal business in order was far more important. It had become overwhelming, especially since Internet knowledge has become essential to doing it.

Until hearing this story, I hadn’t considered how daunting the Internet can be for others, especially the elderly. Many people still don’t use smart phones or computers. Moreover, many of those who do are hopelessly lost beyond email, FaceTime or Facebook. Increased dependence on computerization for important communication is just one of the new challenges faced by many in our church family.

We don’t need to be deacons to be the caring arms of our churches. We all have been given the task of ministering to the ill, those in want, those without family or friends, and those enduring hardships. Jesus called on all of us to serve, not just a select few. Let’s never allow the limit of our imaginations limit the ways we minister to those in need. Is there something you can do for someone? Is there some unique way you can serve?

Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others. [1 Peter 4:10 (GW)]

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January 30, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Temptation & Sin

HE CAME FOR EVERYONE

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16 NLT)]

That’s you, my friend, and me. It’s everyone else, too. Salvation isn’t just for the rich or pretty, the respected and comfortable, the intelligent and wealthy. It’s for all of us, no matter our color or nationality, our education or profession, our hygiene or attire. Let’s always remember that God has an “open door” policy; he loves us all and all are welcome in His house.

Jesus surrounded himself with an assorted group of people: tax collectors, fishermen, the mentally ill and handicapped, laborers, children, and even women of questionable reputations. He came for them all and loved them all. Every church has an interesting mix of people and we might find some of them a bit annoying at times. Perhaps it’s the special needs man who talks too loudly, the oddly dressed woman who seems to come only for the cookies and coffee, the smoker who brings the aroma of stale cigarettes with him to the sanctuary, the woman who falls asleep during the sermon and snores, the cougher who sits behind you and the lady next to him who loudly sings off key, the babies who cry, the kids who fidget, the person with body odor who sits beside you, or the ladies who whisper to one another during service. If we don’t like the person we’re sitting next to at church, it’s time to do a little soul searching. Remember, since God loved him enough to die for him, we ought to be able to muster up a little love, patience and tolerance for our neighbor. After all, he may have some misgivings about us, as well!

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)]

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. [1 Peter 2:17a (NLT)]

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January 26, 2015

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Faith & Hope, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Prayer, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance, Worry

DON’T WORRY; PRAY

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. [Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)]
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God does answer prayers but often not according to our time-table. Several years ago, my daughter was searching for a school that would be the right fit for her daughter, a bright and charming five-year old with some developmental delays. Application had been made to several charter schools that appeared to be good possibilities. Charter schools in her town select students by lottery and we were disappointed that her name had not been drawn by any of the schools to which she’d applied. My daughter and I had prayed up a storm that that the “right” school would accept her daughter, but none had.

That same spring, we were stunned to learn that our granddaughter has three congenital heart defects and major medical problems loomed ahead for her. Topping it off, in spite of much therapy, her developmental tests indicated that her motor skills weren’t what they should be for kindergarten. During prayers, I realized that God had answered our prayers. We’d asked for the “right” school for this sweet little girl; God was telling us that school wasn’t “right” for her at that time. Oddly, my daughter came to the identical conclusion at the same time. There would be another year of pre-school; kindergarten could wait one more year.

Early that fall, because of her medical problems, our grand had to miss what would have been the crucial early weeks of kindergarten. By the end of autumn, however, her most pressing medical issue had been resolved. She returned to pre-school, continued with a variety of therapies, and her skills continued to improve during the school year. The following spring, her mother learned of a private Christian school that seemed like the perfect fit for her daughter. Application was made, her name was put on the waiting list, and we again prayed that God would find the “right” school for our little girl. This time He did! Although she had been eighth on the waiting list, a spot was found for her. God does answer our prayers, just in his own time and in his own way.

My grand is now a happy successful fourth grader. As she approaches junior high, however, school decisions will need to be made again. For a second time, her mother and I will pray up a storm asking God to find the right school for her. We are, however, confident that He will hear our prayers and provide the right solution at exactly the right time.

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
And I don’t borrow from the sunshine,
‘Cause the skies might turn to gray.
And I don’t worry about the future
‘Cause I know what Jesus said.
And today I’m gonna walk beside Him
‘Cause He’s the one who knows what is ahead.
There are things about tomorrow
That I don’t seem to understand,
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
[“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira F. Stanphill]

 

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January 15, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Patience & Perseverance

FOR CAREGIVERS EVERYWHERE

He does not ignore those in trouble. He doesn’t hide from them but listens when they call out to him. [Psalm 22:24 (NCV)]

God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. [Colossians 1:11 (NCV)]rose - CLIL959-8x10WEB

Cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, cancer, MS, Parkinson’s, MD, Down’s, congestive heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke: you name it – they’re all burdensome diagnoses. They take their toll not only on those afflicted but also on those who love and care for them. Most of us have all we can do to take care of ourselves, yet there are many who spend their days and nights looking after the needs of others as well as themselves. These caregivers are often emotionally, physically, and even spiritually exhausted. For many, it is a daily struggle to cope with their loved ones’ debilities and demands with no end in sight. For others, the end is painfully clear and their time together is no longer counted in years but rather in weeks, days or even hours.

Father in Heaven, thank you for those who care for and comfort the ill; we offer this prayer for caregivers everywhere. Strengthen and reassure them, free them from worry and fear, and give them patience, not only with their loved ones but also with themselves. Guide them through the many difficult decisions they face daily. Relieve their doubts and anxiety and make your loving presence known. Remind them of the necessity of taking respite time; encourage them to seek help and support from others. May we all be willing to ease their burden if we possibly can.

Though my sickness was a trouble for you, you did not hate me or make me leave. But you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Jesus Christ himself! [Galatians 4:14 (NCV)]

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December 29, 2014

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Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Money & Wealth

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [Genesis 1:3 (NCV)]

You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16 (NCV)]

We are told to let our lights shine. What do you suppose would happen if we all shone our lights together? As I took photographs during our Christmas Eve service in the park, I saw what happened when 3,700 people lit small candles and held them high. While each individual candle gave off only a little light, the thousands of candles together illuminated the entire park. IMG_1414web

Saturday, I thought of how bright our lights can be when joined together as I read about a food packing event sponsored by Meals of Hope. In a matter of two hours, half a million fortified macaroni and cheese dinners were packed by 2,500 volunteers from fifty-two different organizations.

Acting individually, I suppose each of Wednesday’s 2,500 volunteers could have purchased a 5-pack of mac ‘n cheese at Walmart for $4.50. That, however, would have yielded only 12,500 meals. Each volunteer would have had to purchase forty 5-packs to get 500,000 meals. Let’s face it: few people are likely to donate $180 worth of Kraft® dinners to their local food pantry on the same day. Moreover, those store-bought dinners aren’t as large or as heavily fortified as those provided by Meals of Hope.

I’ll do the math for you. Meals of Hope packed 500,000 dinners, each weighing 12.5 ounces, for a total of 6,250,000 ounces of mac ‘n cheese. The entire event (hall rental, food, packaging, plastic gloves, fork trucks, etc.) cost $125,000 or less than 2 cents per ounce. Those 5-packs of mac ‘n cheese at Walmart cost 12 cents per ounce. If done individually, $750,000 would need to be spent to provide the same amount of food that Meals of Hope did by using group-power. These meals will now be distributed by various accredited food bank partners throughout Southwest Florida.

As Christians, we must keep our individual lights shining bright. When we join forces, however, as we did at the park Christmas Eve and as 2,500 people did last week when packing meals, we can become lighthouses and shine brighter than we ever could imagine. When we unite, when we light our candles as one, we can be a mighty power and change lives. Indeed, the whole can be far greater than the sum of its parts!

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine. [D.L. Moody]

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. [Isaiah 60:1-3 (NLT)]