Let’s talk about the Big Three

There is evidence of the building stress in our nation is cropping up everywhere. Mental health providers report sharply increasing numbers of calls to help hotlines. A few of us are going to extremes shown in things like the shooting of a Walmart security guard who asked a man to put on his mask or armed men pushing into the capitol building of Michigan. 

Mostly it is a quieter plague. Kids are fighting more because they have been isolated for weeks now. Spouses are waging wars of passive aggression without realizing that they are channeling their frustration about life on each other.

Facebook, always a mixed blessing (can I get an Amen?) is marred by intemperate outbursts of angry words directed at those on the ‘other side’ of whatever point is being made.  “How could you be so uncaring that you would want to get our economy back to work? You’re an ugly capitalist who cares nothing for human life!”  is matched with “Well, isn’t it nice to have your paycheck still coming so you have the luxury of sitting around condemning the rest of us? You socialist!”

I plead guilty to letting stress get to me, too. Too often, I find my heart slipping towards an awful unfocused anger. I want somebody to blame. Faith takes a hit and I start to question God- “Are You listening? Will You act?”- even though I have known His faithfulness for many years.

There is a better way. The Word counsels all of us to actively practice what I’ll call the BIG THREE disciplines that defeat anxiety and release us into the healing Presence of the Holy Spirit. Here it is – the wisdom of God for you and me this morning. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV) Let’s take that apart together.

The most important truth is in the last 2 words: “in Christ Jesus.” Christian friend, He defines us, our very Life! We are His, held by Him, our lives secured IN Him. Bring that fact to the forefront of your mind. Confess it out loud. “I belong to Jesus, my life is hidden with Christ in God.”  He is the Foundation of our hope, our eternal Lord whose promises secure us beyond the last enemy, death itself. Next, we read,  “This is God’s will for you.” 

The big three we are about to explore are not suggestions, mottos, or slogans. They are Divine marching orders for us to keep us where God desires us to live. The big three cannot be practiced apart from one another. They operate together, each feeding strength to the others.

“Be joyful always.” We can choose joy. We may not want to because being angry makes us feel more in charge, temporarily lending us a faux power. But, we can remember who we are because of Christ and lean into the joy of the Lord. Joy does not mean we ignore the truth about the difficulties we face. It does not require us to shy away from being honest with ourselves. Joy comes when we wrap it all up and take the next step.

“Pray continually.”  An ongoing conversation with God is not only possible, it is essential. We learn to talk with Him about everything when we develop an ongoing awareness of His Presence in us and around us ALL OF THE TIME.  Because we know the grace of being ‘in Christ Jesus,’ we do not conceal our failures. Instead we ask Him to forgive and to help us do better next time. We thank Him – for things great and small. We share the needs of our friends and family with Him as we become aware of them. When temptation comes our way, we turn to Him for strength. 

Regardless of whether we recognize His Presence, HE IS THERE, EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME. Nothing that is happening to us is outside of His knowledge. That brings us to the next direction.

“Give thanks in (not for) all circumstances.”  James, in the pithy wisdom of his letter, says "And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?" (James 3:10-11, NLT) It is impossible to remain where God desires us to be if we are spewing filthy speech, dumping angry words, pouring out contempt, or complaining about every inconvenience.  Remember, we are ‘in Christ.’ When He is changing our heart, there is a supply of ‘living water’ that refreshes and one evidence of that heart change is an attitude of gratitude.

There they are, the BIG THREE, that will challenge and change us. Joyful, Prayerful, Thankful.

Here is a word from the Word to close.

"A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. (A pathway into the Presence of God)
Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever." (Psalm 125:1, NLT)

"O Lord, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.

Take them away with those who do evil.
And let Israel (God’s people) have quietness and peace." (Psalm 125:4-5, NLT)

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Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

(lots of wonderful Truth in this song)

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy my righteousness and freedom

My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to his

Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine

Yet not I but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken

For by my side the Savior he will stay

I labor on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need his power is displayed

To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley he will lead

Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome

Yet not I but through Christ in me

No fate I dread I know I am forgiven

The future sure the price it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And he was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold my sin has been defeated

Jesus now and ever is my plea

Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free

Yet not I but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus

For he has said that he will bring me home

And day by day I know he will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to him

When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat

Yet not I but through Christ in me

When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat

Yet not I but through Christ in me

Yet not I but through Christ in me

Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson

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Let’s talk about being KNOWN TO GOD

Do you ever feel invisible? These days, given our social distancing rules, that can be even more of a struggle for some. Develop a chronic or disabling illness and many people will steer clear of you. Have a struggle with mental illness and even your family might stop calling. Have a child with profound disability and people will start to look past you, unsure of what to say. Lose your money or your job and, in the eyes of many, you will quickly become a number, a case, not a person. More than one elderly person has told me how they feel like living ghosts, forgotten by the world.

The worst, however, is feeling as though God has forgotten us. That’s a real issue as this crisis drags on. There nothing wrong with you if your heart cries for solace, if you are feeling alone, perhaps even forgotten. David, the poet/king who knew God so well, cried "O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?" (Psalm 13:1, NLT) You are not forgotten! You may feel as though you are. The enemy of God and good will dance on that theme, for nothing serves his purposes any better than increasing your sense of isolation, which is fertile soil in which fear and despair can grow.

In Genesis we meet a young woman named Hagar. She was an Egyptian slave girl to Abraham’s wife, Sarah. When Sarah thought she was too old to have a child, she gave her servant girl to Abraham to be a surrogate. How awful was that, though not uncommon in that era. After becoming pregnant with Abraham's child, Hagar offended Sarah. Was it Sarah’s jealousy? Was it Hagar’s mistaken assumption that she was secure since she was carrying Abe’s baby? Whatever the cause, she found herself thrown out of the household. 

Abraham abandoned her and left her deal with the abuse of Sarah. In time, she choose to run away, a choice of sheer desperation, knowing that she would almost certainly be enslaved yet again. Sitting alone and afraid by a spring, she met God who spoke to her heart with promise! Amazed that the Lord would take note of a slave girl, Hagar gave God a Name - El Roi- meaning, "The God who sees me."  (Genesis 16) She found courage in that to return to her situation and work through it, hard as it was.

My prayer for you today is that you will realize that no matter your status, your troubles, your challenges – YOU are not invisible to God!  I pray that you will know Him as “El Roi” - the God who see me! When we know that God cares, it may not immediately change our situation, but it changes us. In Him we discover worth, dignity, and resources that allow us to press ahead.

If you are feeling invisible, consider how personally God knows you. Jesus says "Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-32, NLT)

Our word from the Word is a comfort. Meditate on it for a while today.
"Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands…
When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous …
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly" (Psalm 112:1,4,7-8, NLT)

Look up and wait for El Roi - the God who sees me!

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The Blessing

(take a few moments to soak your soul in this song)

The Lord bless you and keep you

Make his face shine upon you

And be gracious to you

The Lord turn his Face toward you

And give you peace

Amen

May his favor

Be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family

And your children

And their children

And their children

May his presence

Go before you and behind you

And beside you

All around you and within you

He is with you, He is with you

In the morning

In the evening

In your coming and your going

In your weeping and rejoicing

He is for you, He is for you

Chris Brown | Cody Carnes | Kari Jobe | Steven Furtick

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Let’s talk about ENCOURAGING PEOPLE

November, 1987 was a low point in life, so much that I was planning to leave my calling to ministry. In a hotel coffee shop, an older minister took note of my struggle. He poured love into my heart, affirming the call of God, reminding me that failure need not be fatal, that life could begin anew. It was more than a pep talk! Those 30 minutes of encouragement got me back on my feet and I have never forgotten his care. When Joe Beretta stepped into eternity last October, I shed some grateful tears for a man who changed the course of my life.

Are you an encourager? This world needs people to fill this role now more than ever in my memory.  All of us are wondering what the future holds for us. In many part of the world things are even more dire than they are in America. This morning an email arrived from a pastor in a developing nation. “We have no money, food is running out. Pray for us.” Most of us, even if we have not been personally touched by COVID19 know someone who has. Yes, we need people who are ‘encouraged in the Lord’ who will offer sincere encouragement to others. 

The Acts contains a favorite Bible story. We meet a man in the opening chapters named Joseph. Joe, an immigrant in Jerusalem, came to faith and became known for his willingness to help those in need. When Paul the former persecutor of the Church came to Jerusalem and met with skepticism and fear because of his past, Joe stood with him and offered his endorsement.  Over time, people forgot Joe’s real name and he was called Barnabas.  Why that name? "Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus." (Acts 4:36, NLT)    Son of Encouragement!

Oh, Lord, help us to become known in our times as people of encouragement! That can be hard to do in times of crisis, when you’re at home with the kids every day, when money is short, when the future is murky. Full disclosure here.  I get moody and respond to the news with something less than faith and hope some days. But, my prayer, my aim is to help people to look higher, to live better, to trust the Lord. 

A key to being an encourager, is to be encouraged.  We cannot give what we do not possess. David, while a fugitive in the time of Saul, shows us the way. "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. " (1 Samuel 30:6, KJV)  He got alone with God, in worship, and drew strength from the Spirit. We can (we must!) do this as well.

The world is filled with complainers, critics, and self-absorbed people. Some take no note of the people who are the ‘walking wounded’ around them.  Because God’s Spirit lives in you and in me, because He is loving, because we are loved – we need to be like Barnabas, looking for opportunities to lend courage, hope, and confidence to others. 

The word from the Word is beautiful for this Monday morning. “If your gift is to encourage others, do it! . . . And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. . . Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:8-10)  Another passage teaches us to be creative in the ministry of encouragement! "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24, NLT)   By the way, encouragement is like a virus, too. It is contagious!

En·cour·age:
To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten.
To give support to; foster: policies designed to encourage private investment.
To stimulate growth; spur onward in personal development

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10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Bless the Lord O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger

Your name is great and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Worship Your holy name

Lord I'll worship Your holy name

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

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