A person who cannot or who will not get angry is not likely to accomplish much with his life. Anger is a powerful motivator that brings about change. Oswald Chambers, in his book Spiritual Leadership, observes this. “Holy anger has its roots in genuine love. Both are part of the nature of God.” Jesus, the Son of God, felt anger and the Gospel writers recorded it for us. As he went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus, John tells us that he was ‘deeply moved’ (NIV) over the pain that sin and death brought. What he felt was anger! The Greek text (original language of the NT) there is a word that means ‘to rise up in anger!’ Mark tells us about His encounter with religious leaders who did not want Him to heal a man with a crippled hand because it was the Sabbath. "He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new!" (Mark 3:5, The Message)
If we love God, we will hate sin and what it does to others. We will get angry at those who oppress and exploit others. We will get angry at ourselves when we allow sin to be our master; angry enough to pursue holiness and transformation. Anger gets us up off our comfortable couch and causes us to sacrifice resources and safety to defend the weak, lift up the downtrodden, oppose those who do the work of the Devil! Passion describes both love and anger. Let’s pray for real passion to be part of our lives.
We must overcome the apathy that is so characteristic of so many American Christians who are emotionally obese, overfed by too much pleasure. Many expend all their emotional anger by talking back at their TV, or letting anger be wasted on frivolous causes! Pray that God, the Holy Spirit, will disturb you with the suffering that sin brings on this world and then that the anger rising in you will move you to leave safety and security behind and do something costly and effective for change.
Anger is, like any emotion, dangerous. Anger that is given free rein is like fire that spills out of the furnace. It will burn down our house, consuming us, turning us into fools. We need to reject any anger that arises out of our own sense of offense or that moves us in the direction of revenge. The Word reminds us “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry." (Ephesians 4:26, NLT)
Do you care enough for your brother to take up his cause?
Do you care enough for your sister to rise up to defend her?
"God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:10-11, NLT)
"I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." (Psalm 7:17, NLT)
_________________
Father, I come to you to repent
Not for sins I committed, but for
Failing to do the things I should!
Help me to love beyond words,
To care enough to get angry,
To focus that anger on righteous causes,
And to pray, work, and give to make a change!
Holy Spirit, I am suspicious of anger
Because so often it is used selfishly,
Abused in the service of Self, and
Cruel in expression.
Give me a holy passion for those things
That matter deeply to You, and let me understand
The place of anger among the emotions You have
Given to me.
Jesus, move me to work like You did
For the least, the lost, the lonely –
That they might come to know ‘life more abundant’
Like I enjoy in You.
I pray this in your holy Name. Amen!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What did you expect?
Life is often complex. Sure, people say, “It’s simple, see?” But, as we all know that when we start to pull at the threads of a knotty problem, we find unraveling it is always a bigger task that it appeared to be at first. There is one straight forward principle that is quite simple. The Bible says, "You will always harvest what you plant." (Galatians 6:7, NLT) I walked past a small patch of bare dirt in my yard this morning and noticed little green shoots emerging. I was not surprised. About a week ago, I raked the soil and scattered perennial ryegrass seed on it, fully expecting that I would find grass growing on that spot. I counted on the amazing process of germination to produce green grass!
Are you planting seeds in life that will produce the harvest you desire?
God says, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, NLT) There are immutable laws of the harvest found in the Word. Many have preached and written about them, but let’s look at them again.
1. We reap only what we plant.
2. We reap in proportion to how much we plant.
3. We reap only after we plant.
4. We reap more than we plant.
The full context of the phrase I quoted in the opening lines is God’s declaration. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9, NIV) What a joyous promise. What an encouragement to faithfulness! The Lord of the Harvest will bless our obedience!
What are you planting, disciple?
What do you expect to harvest?
There is a faith principle at work in this. The farmer takes part of the grain that could feed his family and puts it in the ground! It’s a sacrifice at that moment, and if the rains do not come, could be a loss, thus his tears. But, when God blesses the planting, those tears become songs of joy when the harvest comes and food is assured for another year! Thus we read, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your life guide today. "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. … Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:6,10, NKJV)
This principle is simple, see? Plant, then harvest.
___________________
Though it seems that your prayers
Have been in vain,
Though your faith the world would destroy,
Though your heart should ache
'Til it breaks in two,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
For God is on His throne.
Though you've prayed 'til it seems that
Your heart would break,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy!
They That Sow In Tears
Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
© 1964, 1965, 1975 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Are you planting seeds in life that will produce the harvest you desire?
God says, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, NLT) There are immutable laws of the harvest found in the Word. Many have preached and written about them, but let’s look at them again.
1. We reap only what we plant.
2. We reap in proportion to how much we plant.
3. We reap only after we plant.
4. We reap more than we plant.
The full context of the phrase I quoted in the opening lines is God’s declaration. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9, NIV) What a joyous promise. What an encouragement to faithfulness! The Lord of the Harvest will bless our obedience!
What are you planting, disciple?
What do you expect to harvest?
There is a faith principle at work in this. The farmer takes part of the grain that could feed his family and puts it in the ground! It’s a sacrifice at that moment, and if the rains do not come, could be a loss, thus his tears. But, when God blesses the planting, those tears become songs of joy when the harvest comes and food is assured for another year! Thus we read, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your life guide today. "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. … Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:6,10, NKJV)
This principle is simple, see? Plant, then harvest.
___________________
Though it seems that your prayers
Have been in vain,
Though your faith the world would destroy,
Though your heart should ache
'Til it breaks in two,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
For God is on His throne.
Though you've prayed 'til it seems that
Your heart would break,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy!
They That Sow In Tears
Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
© 1964, 1965, 1975 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Who are you really?
I’m ready to weep as I write today. I’m just overcome by the failure of integrity that is all around me. I recently learned of scandalous behavior by a leading member of a well-respected Christian institution that has gone on for a long time unchallenged despite being known. The Roman Catholic church continues to be rocked by reports of how bishops covered the criminal and immoral actions of pedophile priests, in not just a few instances. Our political world in these United States is so corrupt it is sickening. Many in office are owned by special interests and offer sweet inside deals to friends and supporters. Coaches, pastors, CEO’s – regularly are exposed as frauds in our news reports. What’s happening to us?
But, I must not simply wring my hands over the wrong-doing I see in the world. I must interrogate myself, challenge every motive, and throw open my life to the Spirit’s inspection.
Would my business decisions stand up to rigorous scrutiny?
Am I the same man in my private world as I am in the pulpit?
Do the values of my life match those I preach in my rhetoric?
These are questions I put to myself and prayerfully to the Lord.
I am not sinless! Oh, that I were, but, I am transparent and, when challenged, by the Spirit or others, I aim to deal with the gaps in character they point out to me. Why? Because I feel the awesome responsibility and privilege of bearing the Name of Christ as my first identity. Before I am a husband, a father, a pastor, or a friend; I am a Christian! I hear, loudly and clearly, the call of the Scripture that says "I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. … that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:1, 22-24, NKJV)
Disciple, we must not merely talk about being good. We must actually be good people, for God’s sake! If our claim of faith in Christ Jesus does not have a marked affect on our values, our manner of speech, and our daily actions, we are a disgrace to the glorious cause of Christ. Again and again, the Word declares that the life of the Spirit in us will produce a transformed heart and mind. Apparently for many Christians repentance has been abandoned in favor of cheap grace. With great gusto, they sing of God’s love and mercy while stealing from their boss and cheating on their wife. Or, they major on only a few areas of morality while ignoring issues that would touch their own lives. How easily some thunder about abortion or homosexuality, while they lie to their wife about the own fidelity!
Jesus’ most harsh criticism was reserved for the religious leaders who scrupulously tithed, kept the Sabbath, and wore the symbols of their holiness all the while ignoring the greed, dishonesty, and corruption in their own hearts. Read His word thoughtfully today, disciple. May they challenge you to a life of integrity that honors the Lord, to a life of transparency that aspires to be all that God desires of you while pretending nothing before Him or the world.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." (Matthew 23:23-26, NLT)
_________________
Take time to be holy.
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy.
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.
Take Time To Be Holy
Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
But, I must not simply wring my hands over the wrong-doing I see in the world. I must interrogate myself, challenge every motive, and throw open my life to the Spirit’s inspection.
Would my business decisions stand up to rigorous scrutiny?
Am I the same man in my private world as I am in the pulpit?
Do the values of my life match those I preach in my rhetoric?
These are questions I put to myself and prayerfully to the Lord.
I am not sinless! Oh, that I were, but, I am transparent and, when challenged, by the Spirit or others, I aim to deal with the gaps in character they point out to me. Why? Because I feel the awesome responsibility and privilege of bearing the Name of Christ as my first identity. Before I am a husband, a father, a pastor, or a friend; I am a Christian! I hear, loudly and clearly, the call of the Scripture that says "I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. … that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:1, 22-24, NKJV)
Disciple, we must not merely talk about being good. We must actually be good people, for God’s sake! If our claim of faith in Christ Jesus does not have a marked affect on our values, our manner of speech, and our daily actions, we are a disgrace to the glorious cause of Christ. Again and again, the Word declares that the life of the Spirit in us will produce a transformed heart and mind. Apparently for many Christians repentance has been abandoned in favor of cheap grace. With great gusto, they sing of God’s love and mercy while stealing from their boss and cheating on their wife. Or, they major on only a few areas of morality while ignoring issues that would touch their own lives. How easily some thunder about abortion or homosexuality, while they lie to their wife about the own fidelity!
Jesus’ most harsh criticism was reserved for the religious leaders who scrupulously tithed, kept the Sabbath, and wore the symbols of their holiness all the while ignoring the greed, dishonesty, and corruption in their own hearts. Read His word thoughtfully today, disciple. May they challenge you to a life of integrity that honors the Lord, to a life of transparency that aspires to be all that God desires of you while pretending nothing before Him or the world.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." (Matthew 23:23-26, NLT)
_________________
Take time to be holy.
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy.
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.
Take Time To Be Holy
Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
“Comfort” food
Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, hamburgers, and French fries - are often labeled ‘comfort food.’ They are simple foods that remind us of home, safety, and what we remember as simpler times in our lives. Most likely you have an item or two on your own list that bring back memories of a family time or a holiday gathering. These are called “comfort foods” because when we grow anxious about life and we seek a way to reduce our feelings of stress, we often turn to them. Food is one of the most common ways we treat our anxieties.
I know what stress and anxiety can do. At this time, there are a couple of large work-related decisions looming that weigh heavily on my mind. There is stress that is more personal as I carry the weight of responsibility for extended family. Some level of stress is common for all of us – bills that come due, deadlines for projects, people problems, work-related choices. And, all of this sometimes causes us to unconsciously seek to be comforted. That’s where the potential for big problems arises! Not only are our own emotions in play, there is a real Enemy of all that is good and godly who exploits, to any degree possible, our vulnerabilities. If we are unaware of his schemes, we can easily be led beyond the comfort found in a hamburger or a big piece of cake! Not only do we have to take control of our own impulses, we also must learn to deal with the devils that tempt us to sin.
Millions of people who enter a majorly stressful time in their lives detour into majorly dysfunctional or sinful behaviors, mistakenly thinking they will find comfort or relief. Their choices actually create greater difficulties. Overspending is a major temptation in our consumer culture. “Feeling down? Buy something!” is what many think and credit cards with big balances result! One recent day that was particularly full of pressure, I found myself wrestling with the irrational desire for a new car, despite already owning two nice vehicles! Some are tempted by some illicit sexual involvement. The news constantly reports the affairs of the famous and wealthy, those who succumb to the temptation that they can find comfort for their lonely, stressed heart with a sexual experience. Rage is another temptation. Ask those who lash out at others with abusive words or fists why they do it and you will often discover an individual who does not know how to find relief for stress.
Disciple, the Word urges us to be aware of the temptations that come our way and to look underneath the obvious symptoms for the real spiritual sickness. While it is wrong to blame all our temptations on the devil, there is the warning that we must not "unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!" (2 Corinthians 2:11, The Message) He can show up disguised as an "angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV) Don’t minimize his ability to twist the good things of life into a scheme for your destruction! Jesus Himself, during a time of stress and personal testing, was accosted by the devil who tried to get Him to misuse power, food, and even faith in God!
Be aware of your own weaknesses and develop strategies to keep yourself from falling into destructive patterns. If you know that you’re being tempted to eat too much, hide the desserts! If you know that you tend to fall into self-defeating thought patterns when you isolate yourself, get out and find a friend or become a volunteer at your church. If you become an angry, mean person go to a class and learn about what triggers those outbursts! God promises that His Spirit will be active in us, but we must cooperate with Him. We must learn about ourselves. If we do not, then we will become victims, instead of living as victors through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the principle it teaches about being aware of what’s going on behind the scenes, about having real discernment and understanding, will call us to maturity, self-control, and to lives that are controlled by the Spirit. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God … This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. … You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:1-4, NIV)
Remember this promise and take it for yours, as you seek the powerful Comfort that is found in the Presence of God. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (false gods or comforts)." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, NLT)
I know what stress and anxiety can do. At this time, there are a couple of large work-related decisions looming that weigh heavily on my mind. There is stress that is more personal as I carry the weight of responsibility for extended family. Some level of stress is common for all of us – bills that come due, deadlines for projects, people problems, work-related choices. And, all of this sometimes causes us to unconsciously seek to be comforted. That’s where the potential for big problems arises! Not only are our own emotions in play, there is a real Enemy of all that is good and godly who exploits, to any degree possible, our vulnerabilities. If we are unaware of his schemes, we can easily be led beyond the comfort found in a hamburger or a big piece of cake! Not only do we have to take control of our own impulses, we also must learn to deal with the devils that tempt us to sin.
Millions of people who enter a majorly stressful time in their lives detour into majorly dysfunctional or sinful behaviors, mistakenly thinking they will find comfort or relief. Their choices actually create greater difficulties. Overspending is a major temptation in our consumer culture. “Feeling down? Buy something!” is what many think and credit cards with big balances result! One recent day that was particularly full of pressure, I found myself wrestling with the irrational desire for a new car, despite already owning two nice vehicles! Some are tempted by some illicit sexual involvement. The news constantly reports the affairs of the famous and wealthy, those who succumb to the temptation that they can find comfort for their lonely, stressed heart with a sexual experience. Rage is another temptation. Ask those who lash out at others with abusive words or fists why they do it and you will often discover an individual who does not know how to find relief for stress.
Disciple, the Word urges us to be aware of the temptations that come our way and to look underneath the obvious symptoms for the real spiritual sickness. While it is wrong to blame all our temptations on the devil, there is the warning that we must not "unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!" (2 Corinthians 2:11, The Message) He can show up disguised as an "angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV) Don’t minimize his ability to twist the good things of life into a scheme for your destruction! Jesus Himself, during a time of stress and personal testing, was accosted by the devil who tried to get Him to misuse power, food, and even faith in God!
Be aware of your own weaknesses and develop strategies to keep yourself from falling into destructive patterns. If you know that you’re being tempted to eat too much, hide the desserts! If you know that you tend to fall into self-defeating thought patterns when you isolate yourself, get out and find a friend or become a volunteer at your church. If you become an angry, mean person go to a class and learn about what triggers those outbursts! God promises that His Spirit will be active in us, but we must cooperate with Him. We must learn about ourselves. If we do not, then we will become victims, instead of living as victors through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the principle it teaches about being aware of what’s going on behind the scenes, about having real discernment and understanding, will call us to maturity, self-control, and to lives that are controlled by the Spirit. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God … This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. … You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:1-4, NIV)
Remember this promise and take it for yours, as you seek the powerful Comfort that is found in the Presence of God. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (false gods or comforts)." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, NLT)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Broken, yet tenderly loving!
The book of Judges records a brutal time in the history of God’s people. Murder, lawlessness, and immorality were common. That book closes with this line, “everyone did as he saw fit.” In the middle of it all, there is a beautiful story of human love. It unfolds in the 4 chapters of the book of Ruth. Elimelech, his wife, and his two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, left Bethlehem during a drought, moving to the region of Moab. They settled down. The boys grew up and married Moabite women, named Orpah and Ruth. Ah, life was good.
Then, tragedy struck. First, Elimelech died, and shortly after the two sons. Three widows tried to make life work but eventually Naomi realized she needed to go home to her kinsmen in Israel. When she told her two daughters-in-law to stay among their own people, Ruth’s response was one of great love. “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17, NLT)
When the two women settled in Bethlehem, Ruth took care of Naomi, working to provide for her. Eventually her sweet spirit caught the eye of a kinsman named Boaz, who took her in marriage and she became the great-grandmother of King David! Her love became known to all that region so that the man who would become her husband blessed her saying, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.” (Ruth 2:11-12, The Message)
This woman, who had been so bitterly disappointed by life, who was living in a strange land among people she did not know, could have become bitter, focused on herself, and full of complaint. Who could have criticized her? But, she chose to love and found healing and a new destiny in God’s plan.
Disciple, what will you chose to do when life batters you with disappointment or grief?
Will you shrivel into a little ball of misery or will you ask God to soften your heart and help you to be a gentle servant of those who are hurting around you?
Go ahead and cry! There’s no need to pretend that your pain is not real. Life hurts. Choices we make and the choices of others do not always bear the fruit we hoped for. So, will you become a cynic, a miserable person? Don’t! Take your sorrow to the Lord, not to accuse Him of unfaithfulness, but to find His comfort. Then, dry your eyes and go help somebody. You’re not the first to feel the loss that come with death, divorce, financial reverse, children who turn from you, or sickness. Life does not have to be defined only by our disappointment. Broken dreams are fertile soil in which the seeds of character and godliness can grow!
Take this word from the Word. Make it your mission statement for life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. … It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 8-9, The Message)
____________
Ev'ryday they pass me by.
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care.
Headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door.
People need the Lord
People need the Lord.
When will we realize
People need the Lord.
People Need the Lord
Phil McHugh © 1983 Shepherd's Fold Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / River Oaks Music Company (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Then, tragedy struck. First, Elimelech died, and shortly after the two sons. Three widows tried to make life work but eventually Naomi realized she needed to go home to her kinsmen in Israel. When she told her two daughters-in-law to stay among their own people, Ruth’s response was one of great love. “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17, NLT)
When the two women settled in Bethlehem, Ruth took care of Naomi, working to provide for her. Eventually her sweet spirit caught the eye of a kinsman named Boaz, who took her in marriage and she became the great-grandmother of King David! Her love became known to all that region so that the man who would become her husband blessed her saying, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.” (Ruth 2:11-12, The Message)
This woman, who had been so bitterly disappointed by life, who was living in a strange land among people she did not know, could have become bitter, focused on herself, and full of complaint. Who could have criticized her? But, she chose to love and found healing and a new destiny in God’s plan.
Disciple, what will you chose to do when life batters you with disappointment or grief?
Will you shrivel into a little ball of misery or will you ask God to soften your heart and help you to be a gentle servant of those who are hurting around you?
Go ahead and cry! There’s no need to pretend that your pain is not real. Life hurts. Choices we make and the choices of others do not always bear the fruit we hoped for. So, will you become a cynic, a miserable person? Don’t! Take your sorrow to the Lord, not to accuse Him of unfaithfulness, but to find His comfort. Then, dry your eyes and go help somebody. You’re not the first to feel the loss that come with death, divorce, financial reverse, children who turn from you, or sickness. Life does not have to be defined only by our disappointment. Broken dreams are fertile soil in which the seeds of character and godliness can grow!
Take this word from the Word. Make it your mission statement for life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. … It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 8-9, The Message)
____________
Ev'ryday they pass me by.
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care.
Headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door.
People need the Lord
People need the Lord.
When will we realize
People need the Lord.
People Need the Lord
Phil McHugh © 1983 Shepherd's Fold Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / River Oaks Music Company (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
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