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Consecrate yourselves

11/30/2017

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Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”- Joshua 3:5
 
In the Old Testament, Joshua had some big shoes to fill. He took over for Moses and had the difficult task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land for the purpose of claiming God’s promise to His people. Joshua was a man who felt ill-equipped for the task at hand, and in the first chapter of this book, we see God assuring this new leader that everything was going to be okay.
 
Joshua had every right to be nervous about leading these people. They didn’t have a flawless track record when it came to obeying God and His appointed leadership. Joshua knew, however, for the Israelites to have a successful transition into the Promised Land, they were going to have to rely on God like never before. Sure, they have already went through a couple generations of people who wandered through the desert, and the natural survival implications that resulted in that journey, but in this new endeavor they knew that they were going to encounter hostile people groups every step of the way.
 
Joshua went back to the basics. He called on his people to trust God, obey His commands, anticipate God’s presence, and live in holiness. They lived in holiness by treating the Ark of the Covenant with respect and abiding by the rituals that God dictated long ago. Along with this, they resolved to live a life guided, every step, by the spirit of God.
 
There is a message implied in the story shown here. If we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, and resolve to daily live surrendered to His design, then we will see God work through us in ways we could never imagine. This is who we are called to be if we call ourselves Christ followers. We are not the “frozen chosen”; people who are saved but simply desire to be on autopilot until they cash in their ticket to Heaven. We are a mobilized force for the kingdom, and obedience is our greatest asset. Prayer is the greatest weapon. Praise is the greatest defense.

The act of consecration (among other things) refers to the act of setting something aside for a special purpose. Imagine you are saving money specifically to purchase something special. In the same way, God consecrates us for His purpose. We are set aside for an amaxing present and future of world transformation. So, we are called to live in that, and make a deliberate effort to set aside our time, talents, and treasures for Him. 
 
Today, even though we are not the originators of our holiness, we can make a concrete decision to live in obedience to God’s leading. Don’t miss out on abundance because the world temporarily looks more appealing.
 
Prayer for today: Jesus, I need your help today to be everything you called me to be. Guide me and mold me according to your will. Amen.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. You can find his blog here:  ministrysauce.com
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Supporting your spouse's creativity

11/29/2017

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Creative pursuits add an exciting dimension to our lives. Music, theatre, art, writing, dance–these are just a few of the creative outlets you or your spouse might enjoy. But if you’re not particularly creative, what are some ways to support your spouse’s passions?


1. SHOW INTEREST IN THEIR CREATIVE PURSUITS.

Your spouse’s passion for creativity adds meaning, joy, and purpose to their life–and it can do the same for you. Whether your spouse is painting, sculpting, dancing, writing, singing, playing music, or any number of other creative pursuits, it’s important to show interest in what they’re creating.

Is your spouse a painter, graphic designer, or illustrator? Ask to see pieces of their work. Does your spouse perform on stage? Go see a play or musical they’re in. Is your spouse a musician? Ask them to play for you or ask to hear their latest recording. Does your spouse write? Read something they’ve written.

When your spouse lets you into their creative world, it’s important not to offer unwanted critique of their work. Try to respond to their creations or performances in a positive and supportive way. Your spouse is being vulnerable by allowing you to be a part of their creativity, so treat it gently.

If you find yourself uninterested in your spouse’s passions, it’s important to remind yourself how much this means to him or her. Set a calendar reminder to periodically ask about what your spouse is up to lately, and whether you can see their latest work. Marriage is all about compromise and sacrifice, so give your spouse some much-needed attention in this area of your life that’s so important to them.


2. GIVE THEM THE TIME THEY NEED TO CREATE.

Creativity takes time, which is a commodity for most busy adults (especially for parents of young children). Give your spouse the gift of time by:

  • Volunteering to take care of certain weekly tasks so that he or she has a little extra time
  • Occupying the kids for a little while so he or she can paint, write, practice, etc.
  • Making sure not to interrupt them while they’re working
  • Supporting that designated space and time with thing that make them more comfortable (music, coffee, cozy socks, art supplies, etc.)
It has been said that we can’t help others if we don’t put on our oxygen masks first. For your spouse, that creative outlet is their oxygen mask. So extend the gift of creative time, and you’ll both reap the benefits.


3. UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF WHO THEY ARE.

Most likely, you realized your spouse had a creative streak when you were dating. Now that you’re married, it’s still the same. During the early years of marriage, it’s common for creative pursuits and outside activities to fall by the wayside while the two of you get to know each other and settle into your new life together (although that isn’t always the case). But at some point, if you spouse has set aside their creative passions for one reason or another, they’re going to want to pick them up again.

You might feel resistant to the idea, especially if it means giving up some of the time you want to spend with your spouse. But remember, this is a part of who they are. It’s not fair to your spouse for you to deny that part of them, any more than it is for them to deny or reject an important part of your own identity. Every day that you honor and love your spouse’s whole self, you’re giving them a tremendous gift.


4. FIND JOY IN THEIR HAPPINESS.
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Joy is contagious. When your spouse is creating, they are full of joy–so allow that joy to make its way into your heart, too.

Do you have creative interests you’ve never pursued–or haven’t pursued in a long time? Let your spouse’s passion inspire you to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Then, the two of you can deepen your intimacy by sharing your creative pursuits and making time for one another’s passions.

This post was written by Drs Les and Leslie Parrott.  You can find the original post here:  www.symbis.com/blog/4-ways-support-spouses-creativity/

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Money:  3 Financial tips for married couples

11/28/2017

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Money is one of the toughest subjects to tackle in marriage. It’s one of the top reasons married couples fight, and it’s a source of constant stress and strain for many couples around the world. But the good news is, you and your spouse can create a healthy attitude around money in your marriage if you know where to start.

It’s important to establish healthy financial practices as early in marriage as possible. Today, we’re sharing three financial habits you can establish to start out on the right foot.


BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER’S MONEY STYLE

Are you a saver, while your spouse is more of a spender? Savers and spenders have the uncanny ability of finding each other and getting married; it’s rare for both spouses to have the same financial style. And when it comes to spending versus saving, it’s important to have empathy for one another.

First, acknowledge that each of you might be a little more extreme in your stance than you need to be. When you acknowledge your spouse’s voice, it helps to prevent them from becoming more extreme in their money behaviors to protect themselves and their preferences around spending and saving.

The most important thing here is to create a sense of balance and shared ownership in your finances so neither of you acts out the most extreme version of your money tendencies. If you both decide to split bill-paying duties, that will serve as its own form of accountability.

An effective way to generate empathy for one another’s money personality is to go shopping together and reverse roles. If you’re the saver, act like the spender and have your spouse urge you to save. This could completely transform the way you each approach money because it gives you a chance to understand what kind of anxiety you create for each other when you’re digging in your financial heels by either pushing hard to spend or save.

If you’re the spender, maybe you could take over financial responsibilities for a month to see the reality of your expenses. Money will become more tangible when you’re making bank deposits and withdrawals, paying bills, and monitoring the budget. It will also give you empathy for your saver-spouse’s stance.


START A BUDGET TOGETHER

Once you’ve become more familiar with each other’s money style, start a budget. Budgets don’t work unless they’re a shared dream, so carve out some time to put your heads together and create a great starting point for your monthly finances. You’re going to want to do this together; this isn’t a solo act where one person runs the numbers and lays down the law. Look at the numbers together, talk through each issue, and chart a budget you agree on using our handy budgeting sheet (you can download a copy here).

The most important thing to realize when you’re creating a budget is that this is a work in progress; it’s not something you have to set in stone from day one. It’s not finalized; rather, it gives you a healthy starting place to operate from when it comes to spending and saving money.

Once a month, quarterly, or bi-annually, sit down together to take a look at your spending and saving patterns against the budget you established. As you review the numbers, ask yourselves what life has demanded from you in comparison to the budget you created. Talk through what’s negotiable versus what’s not, then adjust your budget to something that’s more realistic for you as a couple. (You can find a deeper dive into getting on the same page financially in this post.)


AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS

One of the best ways to save money every month is to put a system in place that will save for you. Set up automatic withdrawals that funnel a certain amount of money into your savings account as soon as your paychecks hit the bank; this creates a disciplined savings routine so you don’t have the option of changing your mind.

The most important thing is to build savings systems that provide automatic discipline so the hard decisions are already done for you. It’s like anything that requires willpower or sacrifice; you have to remove the temptation to spend the money by moving the money out of reach.

If you have a hard time saving toward a specific goal, set goal markers for yourself and build in gratification along the way as you reach each milestone. Maybe you allow yourselves to purchase something you’d like, or maybe you take a nice vacation. Or perhaps you can plan for small, realistic daily rewards. But be realistic; you can’t deny yourselves everything.


YOU CAN DO THIS!

It can feel a little tricky to navigate financial issues together, but you can absolutely find common ground and a way to deal with money in your marriage that works for both of you. Stay patient, empathic, and kind as you create your unique financial style as a couple. The payoff will be worth the preparation!
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This post was written by Drs Les and Leslie Parrott.  You can find the original post here:  www.symbis.com/blog/money-101-3-cant-miss-financial-tips-married-couples/

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Money:  Getting on the same page with your spouse

11/27/2017

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Money is a loaded issue in most marriages because it represents the ability to get the things we need and want. It tends to become an issue of power, dictating who makes the decisions and whose dreams get fulfilled. Needless to say, discussions about money, bills, and budgeting can generate some powerful emotions.

It’s not always easy to navigate money matters, especially in the early years of your marriage. In today’s post, we’re going to explore some ways you and your spouse can get on the same page about your finances–and stay there.


WHICH ONE OF US SHOULD HANDLE THE FINANCES?

When it comes to handling the finances, the best decision is what works best for you as a couple. This could look like one spouse primarily handling all the finances (which is often the case in many marriages) or you could split responsibilities according to what each of you is most comfortable with handling. The most important thing is to generate positive discussion around the subject and avoid putting unnecessary pressure on each other as you hash it all out.

If you’re going to be handling the finances together, make a checklist of all the financial details that you and your spouse need to manage every month, then decide who handles each item. Create calendar reminders to keep up with payment due dates and be diligent to check in with each other to make sure all the bases are covered.

If just one of you is going to take on the bulk of the money management in your household, make sure you both agree to this arrangement and feel comfortable with it. One spouse taking the reins doesn’t mean he or she is going to be controlling your finances. Rather, the person who handles the majority of the bill-paying should primarily be taking care of recurring monthly payments and keeping an eye on where you stand financially.

However you decide to handle money in your marriage, agree together on the parameters surrounding it. It’s important to set a budget that will give each of you freedom, but also accountability; for example, you might want to decide how much spending money you each get every month that doesn’t require you to report back to each other or share every single receipt.


HOW DO WE PREVENT THE MONTHLY FIGHTS OVER BILLS AND BUDGETS?

If your regular financial check-ins tend to dissolve into ugly fights, take a step back to see how you can work together to prevent those unnecessary conflicts. Do you have different spending or saving styles? Does one or both of you hate dealing with financial matters? Does budgeting stress you out?

One easy way to prevent the monthly money fight is to make decisions about how your money gets dispersed before you ever sit down with the books. Then, figure out the non-negotiables for each of you; what items do you need every month (or every two months), and what do they cost? As we mentioned above, you might want to agree on a finite amount of money that each of you gets every month to avoid excessive check-ins surrounding purchases.

Automating some of your monthly bills can reduce the amount of work you have to do when you sit down with the finances. If one of you hates handling finances and wants to be hands-off, delegate the remaining bill-paying tasks to the other.

We all have different styles when it comes to money, so it’s important to know where you both stand and what’s going on with your money so you can make the best choices possible going forward. Some people like to spend; some like to save. Others are skilled at handling administrative tasks, while others are money-avoiders. Wherever you stand, don’t run from the subject of finances. Both of you really need to know what’s going on, whether one or both of you is ultimately handling the bills.


WHAT IF MY SPOUSE GETS DEFENSIVE EVERY TIME I BRING UP MONEY?

What do you do when you can barely broach the subject of money with your spouse? Does he or she become defensive when you attempt to discuss enacting a budget or reevaluating your finances?

A lot of people equate how much they make with how valuable they are to their spouses and families. It’s an identifiable, results-oriented way of defining themselves. If your spouse is feeling insecure about the amount of money they make, it’s possible that they could be mistakenly reading messages of disapproval from you when you bring up the topic.

It’s important to communicate to your spouse that you’re not evaluating their value as a person or a provider when you bring up financial matters. Tell them you respect them, you love the work they do for your family, and you want to strategize together so that you can both steward your money well.

If your spouse responds in a reactive or defensive way when you talk to them about money, it’s important to work together to find out where it’s coming from. Explore these issues in a natural course of conversation. How did their parents approach finances and make decisions regarding money? What were some differences between their family and yours? Maybe there are some deeply embedded beliefs in their mind that get triggered when you bring up the topic, and talking these things through could help you unravel them.

No matter what, remember that finances are an emotional issue for most couples–but don’t run from the conversation. It’s important to get on the same page with one another to create a shared vision for your future together.

This post was written by Drs Les and Leslie Parrott.  You can find the original post here:  www.symbis.com/blog/finances-get-page-spouse/


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Uncle Buddy:  Upheld

11/26/2017

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In Isaiah 1st chapter 10th verse we read, "Fear thou not for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." One of the most beautiful thoughts brought out in this text is that we are upheld by the right hand of God. We couldn't think of falling if we realize that God's hand is beneath us, and that His everlasting arms are so entwined about us that we could never think of walking in a forbidden path. As long as God's hand is beneath us it would be impossible for the Devil to set a snare and catch us by the foot, and if all church members could just realize that God's hand was beneath them, not another one of them would ever be found in the ballroom.

And such a thing as happened the other night in a ballroom in a city where I was holding a meeting would never happen again. A young lady that was a Sunday school teacher in a large church was waltzing on the ballroom floor, and making one of of the whirls, she fell and the back of her head struck the hardwood floor, and fractured her skull. She was taken up unconscious between 9 and 10 o'clock at night and died the next morning at 6, never regaining her consciousness.

Nobody could possibly believe that that young woman was upheld by the right hand of God. We will have to admit that the Devil set a snare and led her into it and threw her down on the floor and broke her head in order that he might disgrace the Church of Jesus Christ, and put a Sunday school teacher out of commission, and probably keep her out of heaven forever. At least the outlook is doubtful. Of course, we will hope for the better. We trust that some way God intervened and saved her soul, but the best construction that can be put on it in this world is that if she escaped the outer darkness it was merely by the skin of her teeth. It will look to the world like she died a backslider, and it doesn't look like a woman enjoying the fellowship and companionship with Jesus would ever dream of breaking her skull on a ballroom floor.

My sympathy goes out to the pastor that would have to conduct the funeral service over the dead body of one of his members that had fallen and broken her head in a big ball. We have no idea what a preacher could say; in fact, there is nothing the poor man could say. I suppose he could take for a text, "Will not the judge of all the earth do right?" and leave her soul in the hands of God, and commit her body to the ground, but if he did his duty in trying to preach the funeral he was almost compelled to have warned his people against the dance, for that preacher must know that that young lady had taken her hands out of God's hand, and for the time being turned away from the leadership of Jesus, and companionship of saints, and protecting power of the Holy Ghost, and yielded to the subtle temptation of the Devil for a big night's carousal in the ballroom The reader will remember that this is not the only ballroom tragedy. We read in an old Book of a king who gave a ball to a thousand of his lords and concubines. They danced and drank wine until they were wild and frenzied and to defy the God of heaven they sent to the church of God and brought the golden vessels and drank wine out of them, but while the dance was going on we have read that an army had come from a foreign nation had cut a channel, turned the course of a river, and went under the walls of the city and captured the city during the night, and before the break of day we read that the king was slain. The dance halls and ballrooms have slain their millions.

I would judge that the ballroom has done as much to rob the Church of Jesus Christ of its life and glory and unction as any other one institution that the Devil has gotten up. I was preaching in another city some four years ago a young lady sang in the choir on Sunday morning and just before the preacher preached she sang a beautiful solo, but on Thursday night she danced the most of the night with a mask on in a big hall, four blocks from where I was preaching, and between 12 and 1 o'clock a man came in with big horns and a long wire tail and had his mask so arranged that he could blow fire out through what looked to be a nose. The young woman screamed that her hubby had come, and this church solo singer ran into the arms of the devil, and as he blew fire in her face, she screamed and they waltzed together over the big parlor until it was said to have been the most enjoyable occasion that had been pulled off in that community the whole season. I preached one night, a few nights after this graceful transaction, that a woman like that would disgrace a street harlot to keep company with her, and behold after that I heard that her pastor was there and heard the sermon I delivered, and I do hope that he was, for maybe the word reached her, that one preacher in town thought she was a disgrace to the cause of Jesus Christ.

Could any sane man or woman on earth believe that that woman was upheld by the right hand of God? Could any thinking man believe that His everlasting arms were beneath her? Could any sane person think she was led by the Holy Ghost? Could any reasonable person believe that that woman was on good ground? Our old fathers used to pray and thank God that they were on praying grounds and pleading terms with God. Beloved, can you believe that that young woman was on such grounds? No, verily. No reasonable person can believe that that is the road that leads to the city in the skies. No man or woman of ordinary intelligence would think that that young woman was bringing glory to the name of Jesus, when she was waltzing in the arms of the devil and screaming and yelling. How different it would have been if she had been upheld with the right hand of God.

Beloved, there is no safer place in this world than to keep in God's hands, there is nothing so dangerous as to get out. Let us have an understanding that we will allow our gracious heavenly Father to place His blessed protecting hand beneath us and uphold us. I will join you at the throne and meet you at the marriage supper and rejoice with you forever, and then while eternity unfolds we can rejoice together.

Robinson, Reuben A. (Bud). The Collected Works of 'Uncle Bud' Robinson (Kindle Locations 3118-3162). Jawbone Digital. Kindle Edition. 

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Cleanse me

11/25/2017

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Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.


Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.

O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.

Date:  1936
Author:  Edwin Orr
Music:  Edwin Orr


Story:

The beautiful hymn "CLEANSE ME" that is playing was written by J. Edwin Orr, he was born on January 12, 1912 in Belfast, Ireland, of an American father and a British mother. His education includes earned doctorates from universities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, including the Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University and the Ed. D. from U.C.L.A. in 1971.

Dr. Orr also served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific from 1943-1946. Since World War II, Mr. and Mrs. Orr have been California residents. In his many travels, Dr Orr has visited a hundred and fifty countries, including the Soviet Union, and has been in two-thirds of the world's six hundred major cities.

Despite these numerous life-long accomplishments for God, J. Edwin Orr will no doubt be best remembered as the author of a simple, yet, one of the most challenging,

revival hymn texts in all of hymnody. Dr. Orr recalls that he wrote "CLEANSE ME" in l936, as a result of great inspiration during an intense movement of the Holy Spirit at the Easter, revival convention in Ngaruawahia, New Zealand.

Dr. Orr reports that as he was leaving New Zealand, four Aborigine girls approached and sang for him the beautiful Maori Song of Farewell:

"po atu. rau, I moe a i ho ne; E haere ana, Koe ki pa ma mao' Haere ra, Ma hara mai ano Ki-ite tau, I tangi atu nei"

Dr. Orr was so impressed with the beauty of this Polynesian melody that soon afterward he wrote new verses to the tune on the back of an envelope in the post office at the little town of Ngaruawahia. Though the words were an out-growth of his New Zealand campaigns, the text was based on the familiar words of Scripture found in Psalm 139: 23, 24:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Further campaigns by Dr. Orr throughout Australia in the 1930's, and later in nearly all of the English-speaking world, soon popularized this prayer hymn everywhere. During the 1952 campaign in Brazil, the Portuguese translation of the hymn was again instrumental in the spiritual awakening in that country.

The "Maori" tune has also been widely used with the secular ballad "Now Is the Hour," especially popular during the World War II years and throughout the 1950's.

I have been in love with this beautiful hymn ever since the first time I heard it as a child. After I began to play piano and organ, I realized that it makes a beautiful duet either on keyboards or by singing. The lead melody (soprano) played or sang along with the tenor part are absolutely beautiful. After hearing this, I always loved to play one of the instruments along with someone else playing the harmony part.

Bible Verse
Psalm 51:2 - Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

This hymn and story were taken from this website:   www.popularhymns.com/cleanse_me.php


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Worship and Holiness

11/24/2017

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“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”  (John 4: 23-24, NIV)

Jesus spoke these words to a woman at a well after she attempted to draw Jesus into a debate about the proper place of worship.  For centuries, Jews and Samaritans disagreed about the location of the proper place to truly worship God.  Perhaps these were the first of many “worship wars” that would follow even into our present age. 

The response of Jesus is not meant to imply that worship is merely a personal preference, though our consumer-driven culture may prefer that interpretation.  Instead, as we see from the rest of the answer Jesus gives, the kind of worshipers that God “seeks” (4:23) are those who worship from the context of an authentic relationship with God through the Messiah. 

Our geographic locations are secondary to our relational location to Jesus Christ, who the Father has sent in order to reveal Himself and His ways to us most clearly. Methods and styles of worship are not unimportant, but they are far less significant than our authentic desire to focus our lives upon the ways of God. Worship is expressed to God, through Jesus Christ and is led by the Holy Spirit. 

This is where holiness informs worship.  We worship God for the same reasons that Samaritans and Jews and Christians throughout history have done so: because God is uniquely good, holy, and loving. 

We exalt God and recognize His worth, thereby recognizing the worthiness of His ways even over our own.  The holiness that we are called to as followers of God is derivative: it flows from a relationship with this uniquely holy God. 

So, as we use the various tools provided in worship settings to devote our focus toward Him, the ways of Jesus Christ become more and more normative in our lives.  This is a classic description of what it means to be “sanctified holy.” 

Let us examine our lives in light of God’s holiness.  Let us also examine how we worship together, to make sure that our worship is authentic – “in spirit and in truth” – and allows us to truly encounter Jesus and His ways, so that we may be transformed more and more into His likeness.

Prayer:

Here we are Lord,
filled with life and breath,
citizens in the land of the living,
by your grace.
You know our paths,
and the help we will need
to keep our feet firm.
In this time of worship,
equip us to be your upright followers,
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.  (A Mennonite Call to Worship by Carol Penner)

This post was written b Charles W. Christian.  You can find his original post here:  www.holinesstoday.org/worship-and-holiness
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Even in despair

11/23/2017

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“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. – Matthew 14:17-21
 
When looking at this passage, it is easy to think that the disciples and all the people gathered were on “cloud 9” after seeing the amazing miracle that had taken place. In review of the story, Jesus had just blessed the contents of a little boy’s meager lunch and used it to feed over 5000 people (in those days only men were counted…so there could have been exponentially more people). Often when we read this story we talk about how God provides and He can do anything. This is absolutely true, but I think it is easy to miss the important detail of what Jesus and the disciples were going through during this time.
 
If you look at what happened right before this popular event, you will see something that potentially brought God-followers into a deep emotional and spiritual valley. John the Baptist was killed. He was beheaded as a present for Herod’s birthday. He was gone.
 
People who followed Jesus would have probably looked at this as a massive blow to their cause and movement. Some may have even thought that it was time to give up. Many would have been very afraid to continue following Jesus. All would have felt the devastation.
 
Imagine the scene. So many people gathered and many with their heads down in despair. They were hungry and probably very tired. Then, Jesus provided nourishment for them all as if to tell them that everything was going to be okay. Jesus knew that John’s sacrifice was not going to be in vain and that there was still hope in the midst of discouragement. No matter how dark things looked, it only took a little light to set the world ablaze. Jesus knew that this was a pivotal moment in their lives and they needed to pay attention. They were going to be the people who brought the gospel to the world!
 
Remember this today. Whatever darkness you are going through…in Jesus there still is hope. Even if the deadline has passed. God is still on the throne and His timing is perfect.
 
Trust Him today.
 
Prayer for today: Jesus, help me to rely on you every moment of the day. Thank you for who you are and your abundant grace. Amen.
 
This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. You can find his blog here:  ministrysauce.com/ 
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Opportunities to witness

11/22/2017

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Jesus teaches us how to live in the present time. He identifies our present time as the end-time, the time that offers us countless opportunities to testify for Jesus and his Kingdom. The many disasters in our world, and all the tragedies that happen to people each day, can easily lead us to despair and convince us that we are the sad victims of circumstances. But Jesus looks at these events in a radically different way. He calls them opportunities to witness!
 
Jesus reminds us that we do not belong to this world. We have been sent into the world to be living witnesses of God's unconditional love, calling all people to look beyond the passing structures of our temporary existence to the eternal life promised to us.

For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.
Acts 4: 20 (NIV)

This post was written by Henri Nouwen.  You can find his website here:  henrinouwen.org/
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Enticing opposition

11/21/2017

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As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone.  2 Timothy 3:8-9

The message of the gospel was so radical that it went against the voices of society. There were those within the community who purported a gospel which was more enticing than the one preached by Timothy. Drawn by the love of money and power, there were those who believed that they could present a message that was more palatable. 

Jannes and Jambres are historical figures, believed to be the magicians who worked for Pharoah. Every time Moses presented the truth, they providing an opposing perspective which seemed a bit appealing, but eventually led to death. They could almost present the same works which Moses was doing, and therefore, they led both Pharoah and his people into a counterfeit faith. That faith was a reliance in themselves, a dependence upon their own skills and abilities. They were their own god, and therefore continually opposed the truth. Sadly, they led many to destruction because they cared more about themselves, than their people. They opposed God’s messenger and enticed people away out of selfish ambition. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is very counter-cultural and is not always as appealing as the cheap religion that others may sell. The concern in Ephesus was for sexual purity. Christ-followers were to exercise self-discipline when it came to their sexual practices. Just because a person had particular desires didn’t give license to act out. The false voices of the world were encouraging them with enticing words. “Follow your heart.” “Do what you want to do.” “Why wouldn’t God want you to enjoy yourself.” All of these enticing words, almost the truth of God, but not really, became distractions to what Timothy was to be teaching. 

The love of self, and quite specifically money, can be an enticement away from the truth of the gospel. When someone comes and preaches a little more palatable gospel, one that gives license to the things we want to do, we can be easily enticed. In the long run, however, the easy gospel will not gain much traction because it ultimately will lead to destruction. 

Spiritual discipline in the area of sexuality is a requirement for God’s people. Generosity and restraint in financial matters are a great need. Discipleship, the call to a deeper walk with Jesus Christ is necessary for all of God’s followers. Beware of those who sell a cheap gospel. There was nothing cheap about what Jesus did for us. He gave everything that he had so that we may become like him. Our participation in Christ is only possible when let go of all the things that keep us tied to the world. We must release that which false teachers may entice us to cling to. Then, and only then, can we live in truth that will set us free. 

Prayer:

Lord, please give me a discerning heart, releasing anything that may hinder my life in you. Amen. 

This post was written by Dr Carla Sunberg, General Supt to The Church of the Nazarene.  For the original post, go to:   reflectingtheimage.blogspot.com/2017/11/enticing-opposition.html
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