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August 16, 2014

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Joy, Thanks & Praise

FAMILY REUNIONS

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Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. [Genesis 45:14-15 (NLT)]

My husband and I cautiously found our way through the minefield of blocks and toys on the floor, retreated to our bedroom, and closed the door. Simultaneously, we both said, “It’s so loud!” Being “empty nesters,” we’re accustomed to our routines and a clean quiet house. I admit it: we’re old folks and “set in our ways!” You see, we had been blessed by a family visit; four families and three generations had gathered under our roof!

Sometimes our blessings come with noise; they leave toys on the floor and dirty dishes in the sink. Sometimes our blessings cry, as babies do, or spill, as three-years old do. Sometimes our blessings never seem to run out of energy, like the older cousins, or stay up late talking, like the siblings who are usually separated by thousands of miles. Sometimes our blessings watch TV until all hours, talk all at once, or forget to put on a new roll of toilet paper. Sometimes our blessings leave wet towels on the floor and sometimes they argue with one another. Sometimes our blessings leave an empty gas tank, break a dish or eat the brownies hidden in the freezer for other guests. Do I have any complaints? Not a one. Did I heave a sigh of relief when the last departed? Yes! Am I looking forward to next year? You betcha! Why? Because, every minute spent with family is a moment to be cherished.

Although the venue will be different and no two families are alike, I imagine your family gatherings are not all that dissimilar from ours! There’s a little stress, a few tears, plenty of noise and disorder, but lots of love and joy!

Thank you, God, for the blessings of family and family reunions. Thank you for the chaos, confusion and happiness that come when we all gather together. Every family is made up of imperfect, quirky, disparate people and none of us are easy to get along with all of the time. Thank you for your gifts of patience, love and laughter that make it all possible.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. [Psalm 127:3 (NLT)]

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. [Psalm 100:5 (NLT)]

 

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August 15, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Love & Works

A THORN IN THE FLESH

cactus (prickly pear) - NBG03270WEBSo to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [2 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)]

Paul wrote that he had a thorn in his flesh; some Bible scholars believe it was a physical ailment and others say it was a person. I don’t know which it was for Paul, but I do know we all have people in our lives who sorely test our tolerance and can even cause a rise in blood pressure. These are the people who, sometimes through no fault of their own, truly challenge our capacity to act as Jesus would behave. They try our patience, cause us to question our ability to love our neighbor, and test our capability to curb anger and tame our tongue. They challenge our generosity and exasperate, irritate, frustrate and annoy us. These people are what a friend calls our “Jesus meters.” Our behavior toward them is a clear indication of how much like Jesus we’ve become. Like Paul’s thorn, they keep us from becoming proud and self-righteous.

While it helps to remember that even the prickly pear cactus, with all its thorns, bears a beautiful flower and delicious fruit, the best solution is to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us whenever we have a thorn in our flesh.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)]

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August 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit

A GENTLE REMINDER

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!” [Numbers 15:37-41 (NLT)]

Unlike the Israelites, we don’t wear tassels on the hems of our coats  to help us remember our faith, but perhaps we should. I often wear a small cross around my neck. When I put it on, I try not to think of it as a piece of jewelry but rather as a visible reminder of who I am and how I should behave. It reminds me to let the Holy Spirit not the wholly me run my life. We shouldn’t need a cross on a chain or tassels on our coats, however, to remind us; it should be our nature. This morning, let’s put on the Holy Spirit and let his presence continually remind us to live His way, not ours.

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 13:14a (NLT)]

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August 13, 2014

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Prayer, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God

HE’S OUR FRIEND; LET’S TREAT HIM LIKE A GOOD ONE!

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, that Abraham trusted God, and the Lord declared him good in God’s sight, and he was even called “the friend of God.” [James 2:23 (TLB)]

Have you ever required a favor from someone who is just a passing acquaintance? Have you ever had to share intimate details of your life with someone you don’t know well? Have you ever let a friendship go by the wayside only to discover that you need that friend’s assistance or advice? It’s not easy, is it? If we’re not in the habit of calling on God with good news, it becomes increasingly difficult to call on Him in difficult times.

On the other hand, have you ever had a “friend” who only calls when he or she wants something from you? They never call to share their good news, only the bad, or only when they have a need you can fulfill. How does God feel when we only call Him with bad news and an urgent request for his speedy intervention?

Let’s not be “fair weather” friends with our Lord. After all, He’s there for us in all weather conditions: hurricanes and calm, downpours and drought, tornadoes and blue skies. Let’s call Him regularly and share both joy and sorrow, success and failures, thanks and petitions, faith and despair.

But God is my helper. He is a friend of mine! [Psalm 54:4 (NLT)]

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August 12, 2014

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Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, Thanks & Praise

A FATHER’S SACRIFICE

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)]

Although God couldn’t and wouldn’t allow Abraham to sacrifice his son, another father did make such a sacrifice: God himself. He sacrificed his only son! It’s doubtful that Abraham told Sarah of the planned sacrifice; God didn’t tell Mary that her son would be sacrificed either. Isaac carried the wood for the fire that would burn him and Jesus carried the wooden cross, the instrument of his death. There is no mention of Isaac fighting Abraham as his father bound the boy’s hands and placed him on the sacrificial altar; he was an obedient son. Jesus, too, was an obedient son, as he walked the road to Golgotha and allowed the nails to be driven into his hands. Isaac asked the whereabouts of the sacrificial lamb and Abraham responded that God would provide. Jesus knew that God had provided and that he was the sacrificial lamb.

God couldn’t allow Abraham to sacrifice his son, but He so loved us that he sacrificed his son for our salvation. Thank you, God; thank you.

God sent his son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:7 (NLT)]

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August 10, 2014

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

WHEN ONE PART SUFFERS, WE ALL DO

Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. [Matthew 24:9 (NLT)]

This morning, while we sit peacefully in our churches and worship without fear, Christians in the Middle East are victims in a campaign of terror. Iraqi extremists are systematically wiping out the Assyrian Christians of northern Iraq, an ancient culture that converted to Christianity early in the first century. Offered the choices of abandoning their homes, paying an enormous tax, immediately converting to Islam or death, it appears that no matter what choice is made, death is usually the result. This is not a political forum and I can’t pretend to have any idea how to end this tragedy, but I know we can’t ignore religious persecution just because it is on the other side of the world. Something has to be done to ensure the rights and physical survival of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Action must be taken to protect the Assyrians, humanitarian efforts are desperately needed to aid the many refugees, and displaced families should be allowed to safely return to their ancestral homes. Please, remember these fellow Christians in your prayers.

Father, give courage, strength and hope to those who are persecuted because of their belief in you. Guide the world’s leaders to find a way to stop this campaign of terror. Guide us to know how we, as members of the Christian community, can help them in their troubles. Protect your suffering children and fill our hearts with love and compassion.

Not only do Assyrian Christians lay claim to some of the oldest literary, architectural, and geographical artefacts of Christianity, they also speak the language of Jesus. All of this history – along with the lives of thousands of families – is on the verge of destruction. Christianity is facing extinction in the places where it first emerged. [Op-Ed by Nuri Kino, in 8/4/2014 “Huffington/World Post”]

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. [1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (NLT)]

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. [1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)]