An Example of a True Worshipper's Heart

I was in the shower this morning listening to how quiet the new fan is in my bathroom.  I could barely tell that it was on.  I hated turning on the old fan, and often did not, especially when Shelley's parents are visiting, because I didn't like disturbing the entire house with it's rattle.  I have heard that for most people, the in-law relationship is difficult.  Not for me, and for that I am very grateful.  Shelley's parents are true examples of the kinds of Christians that Paul exorts us believers to be.  He says we must be humble and serve one another.  Peter says, honor each other above yourselves.

     For one, it was Papa who replaced the fan, finding a new one after his standard exhaustive search of every home improvement depot in the area for $13.48.  We laugh every time he says it.  The rest of the fans were no less than $50.00.  And this little guy is practically silent, keeping the mirror and walls totally free of moisture.
     I later thought of the e-mail thank you I would like to send them.  I need to send an e-mail because I won't be able to remember all they did for us on this latest trip, and it be fun for them to see the list in written form


I'll share it with you:
Dear Papa and Mama,
thank you so much for your recent visit where you

• picked our grapes and made grape juice and jelly,
• trimmed our yard
• raked our leaves
• mowed the grass
• put up blinds in 4 different rooms
• found a glider for the baby room
• hung the mirror in our bedroom
• tightened the screws on our bed
• picked up our new deep freeze from Bi-Mart when I was at work and installed it
• mom emptied our small freezers and packed the deep freeze
• dad found and installed the new fan in our bathroom
• did the dishes
• did the laundry multiple times
  
• helped me load, unload, load, unload, and unload (at midnight) the music gear after our several ministry concerts, and house concerts
• performed with us at Friendly St. Church
• helped the arborist take down the 150 foot douglas fir, pulled the branches, moved the garden beds and other plants to prep for the job
• came to our ultrasound with us
• cleaned the floors in the kitchen,
• and probably some other things that I can't even remember.
• mended the torn quilt on the bed
• were cheerful and fun the entire time

    
This was an average visit for them, and they are in their seventies!  Every time, we completely enjoy the time with them.  They are fun to be around, never bring negative talk, and are wonderful Christians to fellowship with.  Over the two years we've lived in this house, they have painted our living room, put in flooring in our laundry room and painted it, plus countless other fixes, and upgrades to our home.  I am sharing this with you because it is such an awesome example of two people who have pure servants' hearts.  They don't complain about these jobs, but do them with joy, making us feel like they are lucky that we let them do it for us!  Every time I hug them goodbye when they are leaving, they say, 'thank you for your wonderful hospitatlity, and for such a good time.'  Imagine that?  They thank me, the son-in-law!  They are always saying that I am such a blessing to their daughter.  I don't take this lightly, because I know how hard the in-law relationship can be.  I have to add that Shelley's wonderful brother Kevin has been a huge part of some of these jobs.  He has replaced 4 doors in our house, in addition to working on and helping with some of the other jobs.  Being the son, he is an example of the home he was raised in.  He could certainly not want to give his time and talent to us, but he has the servant's heart as well.
     In addition to all of the house things, they are a blessing to our spiritual growth.  They have been pastors together for 47 years.  Last week at our worship night, I asked Papa if he would come up and share anything the Holy Spirit was placing on his heart.  Sure enough, the word he shared was enough to nudge one of our friends we were discipling to give her life to Christ a few minutes later!!  She said the words he shared caused her to want to come forward for prayer, even without us giving a formal invitation for salvation during the service.  Part of what he said had to do with what true worship means.  He said that in God's word, worship means to bow down.  To submit our bodies to service to Him.  As we go about our daily lives, we can worship the Lord by asking Him how He can use us that day to serve others, and be an example of His love to them.  

 1 Samuel 2:11 (New Living Translation) ¹¹ Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.
 Matthew 16:25 (New Living Translation) ²⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

  Matthew 20:27 (New Living Translation)
²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

How powerful that night was for me.  I have observed this lifestyle for 15 years that I have been married to his daughter, seeing him be a servant to many, including his son-in-law to whom he had no obligation to serve.  He could have been the domineering i'm-older-therefore-superior type of father-in-law, but he has never been that way.  They could have had reservations about their only daughter marrying a black man, but they did not.  They cared ONLY that I loved the Lord.  When they saw that, they considered me family, and there has been no doubting of where I stood with them from that moment on.

     What an example to me as a Christian, a husband, a minister of music, a counselor, and soon to be a dad.  I see the humility, service, and generousity that comes from the power of the holy spirit being allowed to grow in your heart year after year.  

I close with a passage of the November 13th day of the devotional Streams in the Desert by Mrs. L.B. Cowman.   

The most saintly souls are often those who have never distinguished themselves as authors or allowed any major accomplishments of theirs to become the topic of the world's conversation.  No, they are usually those who have led a quiet inner life of holiness, having carried their sweet bouquets unseen, like a fresh lily in a secluded valley on the edge of a crystal stream.

p.s.  PRAISE REPORT - At the time of this writing, the current news had not developed:  On their last visit, Mom looked that the housing section of the Register Guard, and was attracted to a house in Veneta on... Heavenly lane.  We have prayed for years that they could find a property here in Eugene, but finances have not been in the flow.  They lost a ton of money to a wicked former business partner.  They currently live in Abbotsford, BC where they pastored a church for 10 years, and have stepped down from that position to do music ministry full time.  The pollution there is so bad, that Mom's voice is hoarse half the time.  We would all love to be here in Eugene together. 

     They went and looked at the house.  It is brand new, never been lived in, and the builder is a Christian!  This is a large, very well built house for not much money because of the current market!!!  They are in the process of purchasing that house!  I have no idea how they have the finances to do that, but I only see the favor of the Lord on their lives all the time.  Now that our first baby is coming, you can imagine the excitement.  This is something that looked impossible for a long time, but with God, all things are possible.  He has made it so this house was waiting just for them.  He is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him.  Amen.  May you be encouraged and blessed by the Lord today.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

How good does it feel to give someone something they need?  Sometimes the Lord blesses us with some extra money we have sitting somewhere, and then a family member or friend shares with us a financial struggle they are having.  There it is in our hands to give to them.  That moment feels better than the moment of receiving the money.  It is truly more blessed to give than receive. Acts 20:34-36 - You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. ³⁵ And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them.
   It is all too easy to think of obedience to God as drudgery, having to follow his laws like cranky children grumbling while we take out the trash.   Our parents had to get on our case about it because we kept stalling, so by the time we do it, we have made it a major grind, when really, it was just a small request.  In our relationship to God, it goes even further.  When we obey Him, we experience blessings that we cannot even describe.  We also get to take in the fruits of His favor here on earth.  We only know this when we have fellowship with Him.  I tuned into Joyce Meyer's show where she sits down and interviews guests.  Her guest was a pastor from London who was talking about the incredible emptiness that people experience from their pursuits of money, houses, sex and other temporary things.  He said that is a big thing that drives people in London.  She confirmed that they do that here in the States as well.  What they continued to discuss is that people can make 100 million pounds, or dollars, and then still feel just as unsatisfied as when they began the drive to make the money.  The flip side of this is that God could bless us with wealth or things.  He does want to bless us even with abundance, but if we know Him, we can then use that money to bless others.  So it is not that God does not want us to have things, or success, it is just that if we are living for Him, we don't feel empty, we feel fulfilled to then give that stuff to other people.
    We see the importance of our relationship with the godhead established from the very beginning.  In Genesis, God made promises to Abraham, blessed him and his nephew Lot with possessions and land.  They had so much so, they had to divide it up and move to totally different parts of their land to have space for each other and their lives.  After he rescued Lot from the king of Sodom, he met Melchizedek the first priest of Scripture, and an honorable God worshiping man and gave him a tithe of the goods he was had from the spoils.  This offering to a 'King of Peace', the representation who Jesus was to be in the flesh.  Abraham honored the lord with the firstfruits of his house.  Then, when the king of Sodom wanted to give Abram the goods for the taking he refused it to ensure that glory for his wealth would go only to the Lord and not to the king of Sodom.  He had his priorities in the right place.  There is a proverb that says the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous.  and 
     So let's absorb, memorize, speak, and follow God's word about giving.  We hope to experience the plans that he has for us.  To prosper us and give us a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11.

Doing things God's way is great.


Here are some other passages on giving:

 Proverbs 15:6
Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,But trouble is in the income of the wicked.  

Isaiah 32:20 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁰ the Lord will greatly bless his people.
      Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up.
      Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely.

Luke 6:38 (New Living Translation)

³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.^[a]”

Psalm 112 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 112

 ¹ Praise the Lord!   How joyful are those who fear the Lord
      and delight in obeying his commands.
 ² Their children will be successful everywhere;
      an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
 ³ They themselves will be wealthy,
      and their good deeds will last forever.
 ⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
      They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
 ⁵ Good comes to those who lend money generously
      and conduct their business fairly.
 ⁶ Such people will not be overcome by evil.
      Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
 ⁷ They do not fear bad news;
      they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
 ⁸ They are confident and fearless
      and can face their foes triumphantly.
 ⁹ They share freely and give generously to those in need.
      Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
      They will have influence and honor.
 ¹⁰ The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
      They will grind their teeth in anger;
      they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.


     

Can We Witness with Jesus Style Empathy?

      Shelley and I like to read to each other. Each of us will be reading a book word for word, and then periodically will share passages and pages to the other person. It really becomes like we both have read both books, because we are sharing the depth and substance of the material. We really enjoy Christian books that are based on understanding our identity in Christ, and how we can strive toward the destiny God gave us.
      She and I are the kinds of people who really want to make a difference for the kingdom. The enemy has put a lot of barriers in front of us to make us ineffective. The devil has many schemes to take us off track to live a life that is totally self-absorbed, focused just on survival, or on trying to get pleasure every day. A life of partying, and nothing much else can ensue. Both of us have lived for long periods of time where we weren’t living for the Lord. Through His redemption and forgiveness, He gently helped us come back to a daily walk with Him. What a sovereign creator we worship amen?
      Through this, we have grown to understand that He has a purpose for all of us who know Him to make a difference for others. We also have compassion for those who don’t know what living for God is. We know what it is like, and how subtle the pulling away from Him is. Junky movies, junky TV, junky food, promiscuous sex, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking pot, or taking other drugs, etc. all becomes the stuff that we crave daily, and habitually becomes the substance of our life. It replaces understanding the excitement of prayer, being in a praise and worship service, reading the bible. All of the things of the spirit seem mundane, and no fun when the flesh is in control. But thank God for the ways that He is constantly trying to reach us even in the midst of living a life where sin rules.
      The Lord puts sermons, Christian people, and miracles right in the middle of our vacant life to remind us that He is real and loving, and He alone will fill the hole in our heart. Can we witness to others with this kind of empathy? If we didn’t ever stray away from the Lord, never have had a prodigal experience, can we open our hearts to be compassionate to those who have, or to those who have never known the Lord. Some Christians I see don’t have that ability much at all.
      We have one close Christian friend who is trying to help Christians have a more loving message to those they argue the abortion issue with. She is also trying to save unborn lives by working for organizations that educate about the perils of going through with one.  She had an abortion many years ago, so she knows firsthand the emotional pain.  She is very understanding of the people who don’t know anything but what they have been told about going ahead with the decision to have one. I admire her boldness to engage with both believers and unbelievers in this conversations, because she gets hit with criticism from complete strangers on both sides. But I believe that she is demonstrating an example of an authentic Christian walk. Yes, it's a touchy issue.  It gets messy as does ministry in many ways.  But God's work can't be done without action and the trials that come along with facing satan head on.  This is the way that Jesus lived His life. He was accused of being a drunk, hanging out with sinners, etc. He was betrayed, beaten, and bloodied.  That's how evil is.  But he won.  He told those who didn't understand, “it is the sick who need a doctor.”
      The true difference for reaching unbelievers is helping them realize that God knows their struggle. If we come across as if we don’t know their struggle, then How does that become the “salt and light” that Jesus said we are? God is light. We are made in His image and likeness. We are to reflect His true nature. He sent His only son to die for us in His incredible empathy for our struggle against sin. We then must remember how much mercy has been shown on us, by then being the most merciful people on the earth. I read today’s paper about the sentencing of a drunk driver who killed 4 people near my house last January. One of the family members who spoke to him in the emotion filled court-room said that they forgive him because their Christian faith commands and leads them to do this. How stunningly powerful!
      I don’t think there is any other religion or faith walk where anyone would do this under those circumstances. But the Spirit of the Living God will certainly cause the heart to rise above the noise of the flesh, and cause the sweet song of Amazing Grace to ring in the air once again, as it has millions of times since the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This grace can be reflected through us, and our ability to have the compassion that says, “I understand your sin, because I too have fallen short of God’s glory. So the best way I can help you is to demonstrate the salvation He has given to me, by being compassionate to you when you know you don’t deserve it. Then you might understand who Jesus really is, and it is through Him alone, that you will receive eternal life.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.

I simply must fix my eyes upon Jesus, and not the natural circumstances right now. I feel like Goliath is standing in my field, mocking my God and I'm looking for those stones. They are the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit. If I keep my head in the Word, that power overcomes the feeling that I am too small for the situations I must get through.

Solomon said "wisdom has built her house", and I can tell that Solomon understood after what he went through with indulging himself that following God's laws of life are the only wise way to do things. A person can be the richest person on the earth and be a fool about it, and then come away totally empty inside. it is much of the basis for ecclesiastes where he laments over the fact that we can work, and toil, and it will all feel meaningless unless the Lord is at the center of our motivation and plans.

Wait for the Lord

Feb 16, 2009 Wait for the Lord

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14

Feb 16, 2009. When we are in a waiting time, what are we doing with ourselves during that time? We may wait for a dream to come to pass for 8, 10 years, or more. What are our thoughts, what is our attitude before God. He wants us to take that time as opportunity to prep to be ready to receive the blessing. We should be in the Word and praise to Him daily, growing in all of the ways He has designed us to grow, so we can be equipped and effective for Him. His spirit will make us strong to achieve the goal. His spirit will give us wisdom to solve the difficult decisions we have yet to come. Certainly so.

If we are impatient, grumbling, comparing ourselves to others who seem to be betting what we want way before us, we miss out on the quiet times, and rest with Him al along the way. He is sparing us from burdens by not giving us things before their time. Let's try to walk in unison with God's timing, and enjoy that he "makes me lie down in green pastures".

We can constantly realize that God knows every atom in the universe. Do we question how things are supposed to work? I am always changed when we go for a vacation to the coast, or anywhere out in nature. I can just sit and gaze on the beauty, and get filled with peace that God totally knows my needs, and is working at changing things for my benefit at all times.

What are we trying to hear from the Lord every day?

Thursday, March 26, 2009

March 26

What are we trying to hear from the Lord every day? How can we do better for Him, knowing that regularly, we fall short of our best. What scriptures pick us up off the ground? Today on our walk we ran into a woman who used to come to every show in the early 90s. We haven't seen her since then. She told us she is now going through a divorce of a 14 year marriage. She feels judged in her family because it is the only divorce out of 8 siblings. I noticed her bracelet which had images of Christ and Mary. She said, she's never alone, and that her faith is carrying her through. Shelley gave her her gideons bible she just happened to be carrying with us. We spent the rest of the day praying for her comfort through this time। What are some scriptures in the word that can help people is this kind of situation? As we stood there, we looked to the south, and saw the huge cross that sits on the campus of Eugene Bible College up on the hill. I said to her, "to some the cross is offensive, but what it is, is the power of resurrection, and of God saying to us, I went through your pain too, I can comfort you, and I understand your brokenness."

1. Isaiah 61:3
   and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
   Isaiah 61:2-4 (in Context) Isaiah 61 (Whole Chapter)

I often sit and read Isaiah 61 the whole chapter. Shelley and I wrote a song of that chapter word for word almost in its entirety. It is the gospel prophesied, and what Jesus read when he started his ministry. It is the word that gives us such comfort that we have a loving father who is all about restoration, and redemtion. No matter what personal trials we are going through, we can say to ourselves and to others "all is well, because I know the Lord, and my salvation is secure". We can then encourage others in the Lord, and notice that the anointing that falls on us from praising God, has just lifted us from the fleshy feeling of pain of our troubles. The peace that surpasses all understanding has just guarded our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This is an e-mail that I wrote to a colleague who was telling me that her husband works for a Muslim who is open to being witnessed to on the subject of the gospel. The thing he cannot understand is how God could sacrifice His son.
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I have been thinking about your husband and his witness to his boss who I have encountered. I am praying for his salvation, and for your husband's favor in that. I was reading Acts 2 yesterday, and the second half is an awesome way to describe the entire gospel to someone like that who has such a concern for how or why Jesus would have an assignment of going to the cross. But the reality is that his death lasted for only 2 days, and was exalted to become the King of Kings.

Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[e]

29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '[g]

36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Cal

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The more I read the gospels, the more I understand their power for salvation unto mankind. God has made such an effort to bring us to Himself, and the bible is the gateway to a fulfilled life here on earth, and to eternity when we "put off the tent of this body."