Touching lives

Did you ever think that you could use the words, 'How are you doing?' and leave the question open-ended. That a mere solicitous question about the other person can be an opportunity for you to share what the Lord has done for you? Their answer of 'ok' is prelude to more questions. If they say 'excellent' you can rejoice with them as you ask them to share more. (Do be careful of the words you use because if you asked in a disbelieving way or with words can imply 'prove it'; you will close doors. Open ended words and phrases such as 'share', 'how exciting... would you like to share more?' open doors.)

Touching lives, making a difference all speak to the same thing. WE are ambassadors for the Lord and I believe we need to share our experiences as a witness. 

   "Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]...

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God." [2 Corinthians 5:17, 20] 

The Message Bible in verse 20: 

   "We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you."

Is 'touching lives' so important? Absolutely!! Plus it is a way we fulfill what Paul teaches in Romans 10: 8-10

   "... the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation."

When we do this, when we touch lives, we are confirming Who it is we believe, Who it is we follow, and WHAT it is we are saying and doing. This is part of what it means to be about our Father's business. And what a joy, a privilege to do this. We DO make a difference when we do this... even if we don't see the harvest.

Undeserving... Unworthy

Yes. Yes we are. And when we look at ourselves with eyes that do not see... that's all we see. We look at our words, our behaviors and, minimally, become very embarrassed. But this is not how God looks at us. He could... He's not blind. But He gives us one way and only one way to not be seen in all our unrighteousness - He looks at us, when WE accept Jesus as our only Lord, through Jesus' eyes.

Quite honestly, I still have problems getting my head around the fact that Jesus' sole reason for laying aside His divinity and choosing to become a man, die on a cross for everyone's sins, and rise again  - defeating death and FOR ME! Because at some point, though Jesus did this for all, each of us has to realize that if you were the only one... Jesus would still do this if only for YOU. It's never the how this was done, it's the undeniable, indisputable fact that despite everything... He did. So looking at ourselves, we are undeserving, unworthy. But when we accept His GIFT of salvation, we can no longer see ourselves this way we must look at ourselves and others as He does. Ephesians 2

   "And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], (v 1-2) ...

But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). (v 4-5) ...

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. (v 8-10)

And because of Jesus you have a reason to boast... NOT of yourself but of the One who saves, and in the greatest exchange ever, transferring to us His worth. And I believe we all have the responsibility to share this with others - helping them to accept the Lord's grace and mercy so that they too can become workmen, deserving and worthy. At some point we can no longer look through eyes of yesterday, prior to salvation, but begin to look through eyes that see that we have been given so much. And He tells us that we have been blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing 

   "... Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [Ephesians 1:3-4]

I think some new Christians get tired or scared or upset or confused because they apply this to earthly, secular areas. Without growing in who we are in Christ, we can. One of the greatest understandings is found when we apply Jesus' teaching:

   "Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]" (John 16: 32)

Sometimes we forget that our home is not here on earth. We are here for only a short period of time. We are told to place our treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21) not on earth. When we understand this and act on it we move from yesterday to now, from undeserving, unworthy to a new creature created IN Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) and imbued with all that is necessary for an abundant life. 

Why Questions???

How do you react to questions? As an intrusion? As an attack or challenge to what you just said? As a 'inquiring minds want to know'? Then again, you need to know the question-asker. Personally, I've never met a question I didn't like... and, I never ask an idle question. However, that may not be your experience and/or standard. One way of furthering your understanding of the question-asker is to ask a question as your initial answer. How does the question-asker respond?

It's interesting to note that Jesus asked 307 questions (in scripture) and answered only 3 of the 108 He was asked. I get a chuckle in reading the account in Mark 11:27-33... a 'if you won't answer my question then I won't answer yours'. Then again... look at the question-ers and their motivation. His bluntness is understandable.

I grew up with questions which is why I probably enjoy them because neither of my parents ever responded with, 'because I said so'. They also typically asked questions in order to discover what we did know and what our attitude was. That's another purpose for questions. When you have to explain your who, what, where, when, why out loud then you also hear what you think you believe. We sometimes end up discovering that what we think we know or believe, is not what we know or believe.

I also believe that if, as a learner, you know how to ask questions then you also know how to find your answers. When I was teaching in college my primary goal was always to help students make their discoveries, to know what their questions were rather than accepting the teacher's answers, to know how to ask questions. To their dismay, I never allowed them in 'test' situations to merely parrot back what they heard me say. If they believed what I said, then they needed to also explain why they did, what their discoveries and confirmations were. 

My bias is that in our educational system too often new teachers are taught to teach their answers to their students rather than teaching their student to learn how to ask questions in order to be able to apply this 'talent' to other situations. It's almost that education is on a quest to make copies, duplicates of the standard answer rather than the more creative approach of helping them to know how to probe and discover. Education didn't use to be so lock-stepped based. When you look at the major advances in much of the 'way things are done', you see it's the maverick, the innovator that moves the understanding along to the next 'discovery'.

Questions. In my mind, these are the spring boards in every area of life. From the engineering mindset to the poet's.  Nothing is beyond the scope that a good question can't impact. But what has this to do with spiritual matters? Perspective. What is your perspective when you read scripture and then attempt to teach it or grow in understanding? It's not questioning the Lord... it's discovering what you understand that the Lord is teaching through the parable, or the teaching, or the action. Questions not only tell us what we know but what we don't know. Questions often birth other questions but the Lord never has problems with our questions... I think He is disappointed when we don't know our answer to the point of applying it.

I Wonder… from a reader (friend)

Note:  the following (to the <<< >>>) is the reaction, reflection, etc. from a reader (who happens to be a friend). I felt his words should be shared so I asked him and he agreed. His name is Keith D. Govier and we've known each other for over 30 years so I've learned to trust that what he says is what he believes. He is relating his reaction to the previous post I wrote ("I wonder...")

   "Was pondering on similar lines myself this morning.  What if I were planning a trip? We are all facing a journey into eternity.  I have planned my own trips and I have used travel agents.  I ponder if people depend on their pastor or priest as their travel agent into heaven.  I ponder if people make their own plans, what is their perception of the hereafter?  Do they think they will be earning angel’s wings?  Not!  Is their image of heaven based on scripture?  Scripture has a lot to say about the kingdom of heaven and how to enter in.  

Personally I know I could never become what God wants me to be on my own, or qualify myself for eternity, however I am day by day becoming what he wants me to be through his grace and mercy!  I am reminded that scripture has made the promise that through Jesus I am already in!  Praise God!"

 <<< >>>

Do you know how you would respond? Typically I would respond with new questions based on Keith's. And this, friends and neighbors, is how we grow, how we understand, and how we can dialogue. But I also don't want to blur the message Keith was saying. (I also don't want to put words in his mouth or assume his definitions.) I'm responding based on what he said resounded for me.

Let me start by saying... if your perception is based on what you think your pastor believes, is he/she your travel agent? If so, has the pastor ever preached a sermon on heaven - all the who/what/where/when/why questions that emerge and all the scriptures that respond to those questions? If I were a betting person I would bet that 9 our of 10 have never heard a sermon on heaven. They may preach on eternal life as the promise but never what this means.

And when you give your testimony, your who you believe in, your why do you talk about our destination? It's much to be preferred over the other option, but ...

Again, as Christians we have a destination, a promise but how is this expressed?

Heaven is not something that's earned nor can we purchase it. It too is a gift from God. Gift. But, for me, this means that it is the Love of Jesus and the Father that makes it possible for me to know that one day I will have the privilege to spend eternity (another concept that is difficult to explain) with the Triune God and all those who have accepted Jesus as the only way. It isn't our motivation for becoming all that we can be. It isn't a law, rule, command. It truly is a gift that we will never fully understand until we are face-to-face with the three in one.

If you are interested in a good (my view) study then: 

https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-about-heaven/

is a good source and while the article does give their interpretation/understanding, it is based in scripture - not just opinion. 

I wonder...

I'm starting a new series today. It's called "I wonder…". Yes, this does make this a third 'series' - your point? Pondering and wondering are 2 of my favorite activities, so I thought I'd occasionally share this pastime as a series too. To me, wonder/ponder are 'analyzing tools'. 'What if' is a mate but is more of an action step opportunity based on the wondering. Wondering requires we look at who we are and are becoming and what we do with this understanding. And we do this with as little excuse/reasons that place us in a positive light as humanly possible.]

This particular, I wonder…..
what, how I'd feel if I woke up one morning and the rapture had occurred but I was still here! And what my answer to this wondering has led to … what I will do today?!
[Yes, I KNOW this action wouldn't happen - not because of me, but because I accepted the Lord's invitation and came to Him and was born again - but what about how I direct my days -right here, right now, will I regret not doing 'more (undefined)'?]
This might not be your type of wondering but please stay with me a while. You can ask yourself the same question(s). Perhaps my understanding that salvation is the not the end, but the beginning of a wonderful, productive, fruitful life (Ephesians 2, especially verses 8-10) will give you my context in this particular wondering.

Starting with the bottom line… Repeating: IF you have made Jesus your Lord, this would never happen because it would go against scripture and God NEVER goes against His Word. So you can cease worrying that this could happen to you. But the question of how we live in our days does remain.

But even the hint that it could happen should strike a fire in you - not of fear. The fire should be your response to being saved, having your name in the book of life, having a special gift that's meant for building the body up, and your personal desire to touch lives for the Lord and be His faithful worker. How could this not make you wonder?

Personally, I want to become the person the Lord's always seen so I need to be about this mindset. I doubt anyone would argue Perhaps the question should be: am I willing to pay the price to become of value to the Lord… or not willing? I believe we all always have options. The God of the Universe gave us free will to make our own decisions and act on them… or not but we can't not decide since doing nothing is still a decision. If I accept the fact and don't try and weasel out of my responsibilities for the effects of my decisions, then the issue is inevitably - ours.

So the question, wondering, really is: am I 'being about my Father's business'? Am I? And if I am, when the time comes, I won't have to regret not being and doing who the Lord saw in me. And... what happens when I say - YES! Send Me!!!

Soul... value?

I read the following on a FB post by a friend:

   “Ponder how valuable your soul must be for satan to tirelessly pursue it
    and the King to lay down His life for it.”

I have no idea who said this and could be attributed to, but it's the kind of question that pulls no punches. To be honest… I hadn’t really thought about protecting my soul. Heart - yes. Mind - yes. Perhaps I would have been more diligent in protecting it if I had. 

Not wishing to assume, our soul is composed of OUR mind, OUR will, OUR 

emotions  You do see the operative word... OUR. If something is ours, then we are its user, its protector, to grow, etc. Ponder is also a well used word in my world. I think too often all of us act before we ponder. If our default was pondering then how much of what we do and say would be said/done? At -SoulSheparding, they state:

   "Your soul is designed by God to integrate and enliven all aspects of your person – spiritual, psychological, and physical – to flow in love and wholeness. A healthy, flourishing soul will run almost on its own. This is why the Psalmist often talks to his soul in the second person, ..."

Whether you ascribe to this definition or not... it should cause you to stop and ponder. Does it begin to help you gain another perspective? Perhaps, the question remains - how much value do you attribute to your soul? How important is it to You!? You can read the opening quote and see that this is what satan seeks to control and what Jesus was willing to do - Die for, for us.

One very quick way of determining your valuing of your soul is what you feed it. Do you feed it with the Word, with what other Christians have written? Or do you feed it by television and movies and other secular 'thigs' that really give 'trash' a bad name? Remember, though we are IN the world, we are not OF the world. As Christians we are called to be light and salt. 

Our soul is no little thing. We should value it but not put it in a little carved wooden box and place it at the back of the tallest shelf. It's not an 'under lock and key and never seeing the light of day'. The King James Bible defines soul as:

"soul n. 

   The spiritual, rational and immortal substance in man, which distinguishes him from brutes; that part of man which enables him to think and reason, and which renders him a subject of moral government. The immortality of the soul is a fundamental article of the Christian system. Such is the nature of the human soul that it must have a God, an object of supreme affection." [KJV dictionary]

Much more serious and significant a description, definition by the Christian world than the secular world. But we do need to know and understand the differences if we are to be of any value and you can:

   "But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect." [1 Peter 3:15]

Often our best action is based in what Peter is saying. Who the Lord is in our lives, what He's done and continues to do, is expressed in/from our soul.

A whole lotta pruning

Ummmm... how did I get here? Perhaps more important... HOW do I get outta here!!!!! I feel like a whole lotta pruning is going on. Activities, responsibilities, leadership... and I could go on, but this seems to be the best definition of the 'environment' I'm experiencing. Accurate? Not sure. But I seem to be at odds and trying to contend for the ministry that I believe I should 'fight' for and yet... is this the Lord's doing and so He's moving me?

Have you ever found yourself (spiritually) in a place that really wasn't all that bad, it just wasn't 'good'? And... you have no idea what you did/didn't do that got you here! Because it is a here and now. I know I'm not supposed to be here but I don't know much more. I really don't think I'm the only one that has/is experiencing this 'state'. More important is to be in the place I should be. Analyzing, while incredibly important, is secondary to moving on. However, not analyzing isn't part of my makeup. I need to know the who, what, when, where, why. I know from scripture that the Father will NEVER leave or forsake us which, by definition, is that I must have done/not done something.? 

We all know the scripture that talks about pruning (John 15:1-2)

   "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]."

My mind immediately goes to - which of the 2? That which is thrown away or that which can bear more fruit? Personally, I've never found the pruning times comfortable. Then again... it probably isn't meant to be. I'm beginning to think that these are the times that our faith, confidence, patience, among others, are being tested. That's the positive spin. When it includes activities that you enjoy and feel called to - not the point. One question that always springs to mind is: is this pruning a elimination or a new perspective? Wish I could answer that.

It's not that I'm 'afraid' of the unknown because if fear was/is the feeling - that isn't from the Lord. Pruning is never meant to be (at least in my understanding) a time of fear. However, I've never really been delighted to be in this state. So where does all this leave us/me? Not sure... still discovering...

I know the plans

For me, one of the most comforting scriptures that’s in scripture is:

   “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you." [Jeremiah 29: 11-12]

In the worst of times the reason these verses are comforting is that it is said by the Father and His word always accomplishes what it is sent to do [Isaiah 55:11] Thus His word becomes a rock I can stand knowing that it will always protect me. Plus it tells me what I need to do (call, come, pray) and what the Father will do (hear and listen).

How many places in scripture is God’s word described or defined. It is strong because it needs to our strong foundation. In one place in scripture (Ephesians 6) , the Word is described as a sword. In another place it is said that the Word is sharper than any 2 edged sword. dividing between bone and marrow. What I'm doing is restating the power of the Word and what it is and does. And this is only a beginning introduction but it is summed up in:

   "All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work." [2 Timothy 3: 16-17]

Often we look at the first part of verse 16. But we really need to complete verse 16 and include 17. So how does this relate to God's plans? In every way because it begins with our confidence in His Word. If you believe God has plans for you. Then you need to follow the 'Then'. After this you need to believe in the Father's Word and what it does. Finally, you need to believe in the why - what the Word is for us - to help us be complete, proficient, equipped for every good work!

So, what is your relationship to the Bible... God's Word? It makes all the difference.

 

Do you know you?

Perhaps I should have said... how much of you do you know?  I would contend that many times we surprise ourselves - both good and not so good. In some matters, those around us probably know (differently) about us than we might think. Another way of saying this is - is the You you present the You that's You? Is this important?!!! Absolutely. because we all are carriers of messages and it's important that we present the message intended and not how we interpret that message (this is another step). Obviously there are certain (subconscious... unconscious?) editing we do without realizing. So... let me present some introductory questions:

 

1. What do you think about you?

2. Do you like you? (Granted you aren’t perfect but do you like who you are becoming?)

3. Would you change your path … or … do you think that where you are is the

best way to get to the next step in your journey?

4. Do you have any conception of what your next step might be?

5. Do you have a glimmer of understanding about what the Father's plans for you

are?

These are not rhetorical questions but ones that go to the very defining of who you are and how you go about being you (which is true for us all). And these are only the beginning of questions but necessary. If we don’t, occasionally look at where we are, how will we know what we need to do? Will we be able to say, as Paul did:

"I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]" [2 Timothy 4:7]

This is not a fight reserved only for Paul - we all have this battle to face, though it may come in different guises.

One of the first areas you have to understand is that I’m not talking about pride. And yes, pride does come before a fall but the motivation for considering these questions is knowledge and understanding and ways to correct incorrect understandings. And in our correcting we discover what it is that we DO know that is 'correct'. Bottom line in my thinking is that we aren't as good as we hope we could be... but neither are we as bad as we might fear. It begins in OUR motivation. And in discovering our motivation we discover our why's.

Another consideration is the understanding that we grow also in appreciation. You can't appreciate something you don't understand. And this will lead to a better application. NO spiritual matter is ever one and done. Do you begin to see how all this blends together and how you understand determines how you do you?

So back to the first question... What do you think about you? And if your first thoughts aren't: I know I am loved. I know I am blessed. I know I know I have become part of the Father's family with rights and responsibilities. And these begin your 'I know...'. But they also help all of us become what is spoken in Ephesians 2 - a workman walking in those works the Father has prepared for me.

January 1st

Goodness it got here fast.  2023 seemed to fly by. I do realize that, saving leap year, each year has precisely the same number of days and hours... but I will maintain that some years seem to go by faster... and, I might add - fuller. Full is a good until one's plate is overflowing... then, not so much.

When I was a child we typically made New Year Resolutions. The challenge was to see who kept theirs the longest... rarely did any of my friends or I make it past mid-February. In the beginning I made incredibly long lists that rarely could ever have been kept. Wise woman that my mother was, she would suggest that we pare it down to 3-5. The point was to pick those character areas that needed refining and had a chance of lasting. To be perfectly honest... I gave up making these resolutions years ago, but when January 1st of a new year draws near, I do remember.

The idea of taking stock, of refining is an act that we should do a number of times throughout the year... not just once. And our determination (judging self) is a good practice so we know what it is we know and act on and why, and if we are acting on sound standards, and what we need to grow in and/or tweak. I don't believe the process is ever a waste. Occasionally I would do a 'variation on a theme' when teaching. Some time during the semester I would create a little 'test' (ungraded) to see if we all were on the same page or someone got lost. The fun part was when the students would see that they had attained a goal and it was now time to set a new one... or the goal really wasn't relevant and needed to be tweaked... or other discoveries. The same applies to us and our 'new year resolutions'. Learning, growing, assessing, testing, developing, understanding, experimenting, applying... All are acts we should have at the forefront of our thinking so that we are becoming efficient and effective 'workmen' - 2 Timothy 2:15.

Life can really dictate your who/what/when/where/how and at times you didn't realize. But if you aren't involved in this process but only react, your learning suffers as does your health because it seems that we always are trying to catch up with our life in order to direct it There is a great deal that is our decision such as: renewing our mind, putting off the old man, putting on the new - we have all that is necessary to grow and to take our part/walk in our gifting. If fear is stopping you... remember the source of fear - our arch enemy. He uses fear and doubt to stop us in our tracks. The Lord tests but never tempts and never with an intent to see or cause us to fail. Yes, the Lord tests but that's to help us know what we do know and what we need to know. Totally different set of motives.

If you do 'fail' then remember... you can always begin again. There are some lessons that I have repeated far more often than I needed to. Again... this is to help me to understand so that I can 'shore up' my weak spots. Another clue for us is that The Father never uses shame or blame... guess who does. All these clues are for us to know, so that we do act in confidence. So... try it. Make 2 or 3 'resolutions' in areas you need to change, to mature in, and focus on them. And see your success.

Actually... New Year's Resolutions can be a handy self-assessment tool.