To Encourage

Day, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I Thess. 5:11

There are five dear men in our church–mostly new converts–who have made a league to call each other every day with the intent of encouraging the other. Each checks on his buddies, helps them in their walk with God, lifts up any who straggle.  Isn’t that the greatest thing. Their years have been rough ones; they have struggled with life, they’ve been addicted to drugs and alcohol and tobacco, they’ve brawled and have broken laws and have been in jail and their court records set inches high. It’s not easy to radically change their way of living. But they’re doing it through the power of the Holy Ghost, and with help from each other and from other people.

From Paul’s remarks here, I gather that at the church in Thessalonica, they also encouraged each other. Oh, they didn’t have cell phones or radios or computers or the internet–none of that–but when they met in the market place, or in the fields, no doubt the men slapped each other on the back. Hey, how’s it going? God’s good, isn’t He. He’s righteous and loving and one day He’s coming back for us, and let’s live for Him, let’s strive for godliness and holiness…and see you in house meeting on Wednesday night…

Robert Browning in his poetic way also speaks beautiful encouraging words about God and His world.

The year’s at the spring,

And day’s at the morn;

Morning’s at seven;

The hill-side’s dew-pearled;

The lark’s on the wing;

The snail’s on the thorn;

God’s in his Heaven –

All’s right with the world!

I want to encourage you to day, want to edify you, want to lift you. God is good, all-powerful, amazing, able, loving, understanding, forgiving. And you? You can make it through another day. Yes, you can! You can be successful. You can be happy. You can live righteously. You can. Despite your challenging surroundings, despite your pain, despite your disappointments, despite your weakness and failures. You can make it!

Remembering

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” II Peter 1:12

I’ve been immersed lately in my photography hobby, and in doing so, I have not only looked closely at the current pictures I am processing, but I have often seen those of my past–some of recent past, some of days far distant. Once in recent hours, for quite a period, I gazed at a picture of my beautiful mother; a picture that was taken before I was even born.

Pictures are memory. Pictures are history.

In my study time this morning, I chanced on these words of the Apostle Peter as he emphasized to the early church that he would be reminding them of the truth of God’s Word. Even though you already know this, I will be reminding you.

I’m thankful to those who remind me, who help me remember, who toggle my mind a bit. Many times it is preachers who expound on Scripture, and who in doing so, remind me of the truth in which I am established. I never tire of remembering the great stories of the Bible; of Daniel and the hungry lions who sniffed at Daniel and must have found him distasteful, for they didn’t take one bite, of David and his giant and his slingshot and of his love for God that was so great that God called him a “man after mine own heart,” of baby Jesus in the manger, of Jesus “ruining” funeral processions, of Boaz who told the field hands to drop handsful on purpose when Ruth came to glean, and of those tongues of fire that fell one memorable day in Jerusalem.

So, I’m joining with Peter today in encouraging you to remember the great themes of the Bible,  the truth of God’s Word, and that the answers to your problems may be found within the Bible, and by His Spirit that is available to lead you and guide you into all truth.

The Ultimate Walk

I’ve thought about it a lot, how in that far-away starting point of humanity, where in the Garden of Eden as they took their cool evening walk, the Voice of God spoke with Adam and Eve. I’ve thought a lot about Walking with God.

Remember that account in Luke where just after the resurrection of Jesus, two of his disciples, one named Cleopas, walked toward the village of Emmaus. As they walked they discussed that spectacular occurrence; their beloved, crucified Jesus, after having been wrapped in grave clothes and laid away, had risen from the dead. The tomb had been found  empty! But where was He? As the bewildered sad disciples trailed toward Emmaus, they talked of these events.  And then something amazing happened. Verses 15 and 16 of chapter 24 says:

“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.”

Wish I could have been there; wish I could have seen that. Wouldn’t you love to watch Jesus as He sauntered up to those two men, and  joined with them in their walk. Verse 17.

How come you’re sad? Jesus said to them. What is this conversation you’re having as you walk here?

Cleopas whipped his head around, astonished, unable to believe that this man who seemed to be a “local” would not be familiar with the incident they were discussing. Verse 18

What’s the deal, Man? Are you a stranger here? Haven’t you heard about all these things“

I love Jesus. I’m in awe of Him. And sometimes He just makes me smile. This is one of those times. Verse 19

“What things?” he answers Cleopas.

(Remember now that Jesus is the God who created everything. Remember these are His troubled disciples. Remember that mere days before, Jesus had been hammered onto an ugly cross, that His lifeless body had been taken down and had been thrust into a cold tomb, that guards had been set to watch lest his disciples steal his body, that He had prowled around the environs of Hell during those days as He lay in the tomb–[explain that if you can]–…and here He is…maybe a little smirk of a smile on His sweet face, looking innocently at Cleopas and asking, “What things?”)

Don’t you love it!

Poor Cleopas…having no idea He was talking to The Man Himself, said in verses 19-24…”It’s about Jesus. You’ve heard of Him, haven’t you.” And he proceeded in a few words to recite the story of Jesus, His ministry, His death, burial, and now the completely unexplainable resurrection.

And as the three men walked on that road toward Emmaus, it was now the turn of Jesus to do some explaining. Verses 25-27

“And beginning at Moses  and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” verse 27

The three men neared Emmaus…and…after all it was nearing evening…and there was an undeniable attraction to this stranger…there was just something special about Him…so the disciples invited Jesus to go home with them. Jesus agreed. They led Him to the place of lodging and as they sat at supper, Jesus took charge, broke the bread, blessed it, and handed it around. Verse 30

Suddenly, they knew; a recognizing, an epiphany. This Man was Jesus! . No doubt their hearts wallopped in their chests. They stared. Then…in the midst of their revelation, He vanished… flat-out disappeared! They gaped at the spot where He had been. Verse 31

Listen now. Hear what they said, having thought it all over and finally understanding: Their master, their Jesus was alive! It truly was He! He had risen from the dead. Verse 32

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened for us the scripture.”

How blessed are we to walk with Jesus, to share our concerns with Him; to listen to His precious voice, to experience revelation. And on recalling our walk, we, too, say with the disciples of Emmaus,

Did not our hearts burn within us.

Recognition of His Place

He was alone. The night hours arrived; the man looked about for a spot to rest, saw a likely place, and stretched himself on the ground. He would spend the night here. Quickly he fell asleep, and then began the dream.  It was a majestic dream, one that would forever change the life of the young man. A tall ladder set in the earth extended into the heavens with angels flitting up and down. At the very top stood the Lord who spoke to Jacob, “…I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac…”

It was a strange place for such an encounter, an unusual setting, and when Jacob had settled himself onto his stone pillow that black night, it is unlikely that he was anticipating a remarkable visit with God Almighty. Indeed his later words in the text indicate his surprise at such an occurrence. For in that solitary wilderness on the road to Padanaram as he made the trek to find a wife, God shook Jacob’s world with the startling words:

“And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

“And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

Genesis 28: 14-15

No doubt with a jerk and with a pounding heart, Jacob woke from his sleep, the vivid dream reverberating in his head: He sat upright to declare, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.”  I didn’t know God would be here, had no idea. He looked about at this most unlikely of places, where little thought or idea of God’s spectacular presence would be anticipated, stunned at the vision, at the promise.

What a lesson is ours today. It may be in a youth service with a tender-faced boy who struggles through his first sermon or in a Sunday school class or around a dinner table or on our couch in a dark hour before dawn or in a hospital waiting room or in a mid-week Bible study group that doesn’t seem at all spectacular—it may be in any of these simple places where God will visit us, where He will draw us aside, and where He will whisper into our ears the Promise, the Plan.

Let us be aware. Let us listen…for we too may walk away and say with Jacob, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.”

His House

Jerry and I arrived home last night around 10:30. In the morning, before 10:00, Jerry had gone to the church for a meeting; I had gone with Melody as she met with an attorney. When we were finished in the law offices, Melody and I went to the church where I sat in on the last part of the meeting where Jerry and Mike and Brenda had engaged with a person representing government funding grants and other options which we are hoping will develop into financial aid for our burgeoning Christian Intervention Program. Melody had received disturbing news from the attorney, so we talked more about that, then at the Red Onion had lunch with her. We went home for about two hours, during which time, Jerry drove out to George and Michele’s to check on them. By 4:00 we were back at the church preparing for the night’s activities; CIP, Ladies Bible study and Men’s Bible study. New people came to register for the program, people called with questions and to say why they would be late, or would not be there at all. A mom had left a message on the answering machine: Thanks for working with my daughter. She won’t be available for 20 days. She’s in Kingman. (The county jail is in Kingman.) A young man came to register, but because of the hours found he could only attend the Tuesday night sessions and would start next week, but as I continued to talk with him, tears welled in his eyes, and I knew God was talking to him. We stood together; a young man in his 20s with a stud in his upper lip, and I. He would leave and return for class on Tuesday, but first, I suggested, let’s go in the pastor’s office and pray. He sat on Jerry’s brown leather couch and we prayed. He sobbed. “I’m from a gang-banging family,” he told us, “and I’m tired of it.” He bent over, his forehead resting in his hand. “My brother is the chapter leader of the Skinheads in the ______________area. I have three children; my girlfriend just had twins, and they are not mine.” He wept so much his eyes were now red, and before he left, he extended his hand across Jerry’s desk. “Thank you. Thank you for your time.” A young woman came in with her father in tow. “He needs to register for your program.” Jerry was counseling another church couple in his office. Because of so much activity in the office, I was late now to pick up someone who needed a ride. “I’m on my way,” I spoke into my phone as I headed out the door. Sessions finished, few people lingering:   I fired up our new Hammond, we turned on the PA, and Mike and I jammed for a few minutes, his red drums aflame. The person I had picked up for class ambled onto the platform, thumbed through the songbook, and said, “Let’s do this one.” Night’s end: Jerry and I dropped off the student I had picked up and, at Black Bear, we met Job and Eliana–our newly weds–for food. Goodnight at 10:30.

Early this morning, I sat in our living room and thought about yesterday and how wonderful it was, and how I love God and His work, and how I delight in being at His house. I turned in my Bible to Psalm 84.

¹How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

²My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

³Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

⁴Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

⁵Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

⁷They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

⁸O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

⁹Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

¹⁰For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

¹²O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

In a bit, we will go again to the beautiful, magnificent house of God. How blessed I am.

The Essence of Harvest

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

What a practical elegant lesson is here for us Christians. The job Jesus left for His followers is direct and simple; sow seeds. Spread the Good News, make disciples. Sow seeds. Physical laws are inescapable, binding us to certain expectations and conclusions that challenged or ignored inevitably result in disappointment, or even danger, as can be exhibited when one purposely or inadvertently steps off a two story building. In His astounding teachings, Jesus often told stories around these natural, well-understood laws. Perhaps one of His most repeated parables is that of the sower who went forth to sow. Read those accounts in Mark 4 and Luke 8.

Later, in a couple of places, Paul takes up the call,  shouts a warning concerning this law of God’s:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall be also reap.” Galatians 6:7

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” II Cor. 9:6

So, today, my friend, recall that control you have over harvest is small. Small, you say? Yes, small; small, but absolutely sure. Plant seeds. Dig into dirt, poke in bulbs and corms; harvest will come. Plant few seeds; harvest will be skimpy. I suggest the planting of many seeds. Fling wide and often your precious kernel. A bountiful harvest will result.

If you look about today and you’re in a spacious field of harvest, get out your scythe and your combine. Rejoice. More likely you will find yourself with a handful of seeds and a long row of dirt. Rejoice…and at the end of the day, judge yourself as suggested by Jesus, Paul and Robert Louis Stevenson

The Stunning Secret to Success

“But Mom, you and dad are doing the best you can. Don’t worry about the rest of it.”

The statement had evolved in a conversation with my youngest son, Andrew, during which I spoke of worries around not doing everything that needs to be done here in our mission church in Lake Havasu. I knew he was right, for I often console myself with that very understanding: God sent us here to bring in this work, and He knows us, knows our ages, our inadequacies and our few abilities.

God. No one like God. Why He seems to find pleasure in taking small things, sorry places, weak, inept and unfit people to effect powerful and magnificent work. It’s a rather good move on His part, this God of mine, for when He uses such circumstances and such people, it is God alone who receives the glory. For none dare say the accomplishment springs from the people who  scurry about with books and phone calls and Bible studies and sermons and music and remodeling and hospital visits and counseling and…

This lesson was jolted again into my thinking when I read the following story  this morning.

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grap your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

Author unknown Source: Inspirational Stories

As I finished reading the story, I thought immediately of the great Apostle Paul, and reaching for my Bible, I turned to the well-marked scripture in II Corinthians 12:9. A couple of verses above this Paul had spoken of a problem he had–perhaps an illness or a disability. He talked to God about the situation and in verse 9 tells of God’s response. Love it!

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Isn’t that the greatest thing. Through my weakness, my disabilities, my meager and pathetic efforts, the power of Christ rests on me!

In Awe of the Supernatural

Michael has a friend who is so devoted to her church that Michael describes her as “maybe the most religious person I have ever seen.”  She is devout, a staunch Roman Catholic. A few days ago, she received the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in tongues. This past weekend as several people sat about talking, her husband told how standing in a Catholic church, his wife began speaking in tongues. So did several other people around them.

It happened this way, as I understand it. It had been announced that a certain priest, touted as a faith-healer, would hold a series of meetings called “missions.” It was during one of these services that he called for the entire congregation to leave their seats and come stand around the front of the church. As this startled group did so, he suddenly sprang onto a piece of furniture (my understanding is that it was an altar) and began loudly speaking in tongues, and at one point encouraged other people to speak in tongues. It was then that Michael’s friend began speaking in tongues, as did others around her.

“It makes me nervous when people speak in tongues,” said one of the group this past weekend as Mike, his friends and family sat about, and the husband told of this experience he observed.

The woman who received the Holy Ghost spoke. “It made me nervous, too.”

It does not surprise me to hear people say that observing someone speak in tongues makes them nervous, nor am I surprised to learn that Mike’s friend who herself spoke in tongues was made a little nervous about the experience. Why am I not surprised? I am not surprised because when a person receives the Holy Ghost, and as evidence speaks in tongues, God has inhabited that person, has moved into their very soul. It is humbling to contemplate. Now, I know God is everywhere–even filling the universe–and long ago, I learned that some aspects of God are not easily described, but I press the point that when one receives the Holy Ghost as I have described it is a life-changing experience. It is glorious and impossible to recount.

Jerry preached in a Phoenix church yesterday, necessitating a guest preacher at our own church. After Mike and I lunched with him and his family and Mike was driving me home, he remarked about the thrust of the sermon, and how it was opportune and fitted exactly to our congregation. “He did not know our challenges or particular situation, Mom,” Mike said. “Yet, almost his every word was directed to our needs.”

It’s amazing; I think of it often. God–the very God–He who created the heavens and the earth and all therein, looks about, sees our needs and moves among us. Into the mind of the preacher, He impresses the words the congregation needs to hear. Into the heart of one sincerely longing for Him, He pours His spirit, and suddenly that one is speaking in tongues. Amazing and yes, somewhat frightful…Why? Because it is holy…because it is supernatural…because it is of Another World.

Fingerprints and the Gospel

I’m reading in the early pages of the excellent book, The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. Likely because the gist of the book concerns finding evidence of the existence of Jesus, ghosted behind the title, and at various places throughout the book, are images of fingerprints. Seeing these unique whorls and lines, and understanding their significance has caused me to consider the fingerprints I place on those with whom I am working, especially those to whom I strive to show the Way of salvation.

At a crucial time in the lives of one or two, when for varied reasons our ways crossed, I reached over, placed down my hand and made a mark. My prints are there on those people; undeniably they are mine, and should one be lifted and analyzed, it would lead only to me.

What responsibility rests with me then, as I imprint these wide-eyed needy persons– persons who snatch to their hearts my words and who take into their thinking process my understanding of life, of God, and of His Word.

On Backsliding

It’s a subject that has been heavy on my heart for a long time, so much so that I am now dealing with it by writing a book: The subject? Backsliding. I’m not yet sure of the title, but have laid out the book and have written already a fair amount.

Certainly the book may change as I go along, but for now, I have designed it to be written in this way:

I. Introduction (including a significant dream)

II. Causes of Backsliding

III. How to Avoid Backsliding

IV. Backsliding in the Bible

VI. Price paid by backsliders even after they return to God

VII. Resolution of the dream

VIII. Merciful restoration

I’ve decided to share my progress with the book in this column; hope you’ll read with me, and if you have suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Beginning of Chapter 3  CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING

Closely aligned to this chapter is the next in which we talk of ways to avoid backsliding, for within the warp and woof of avoiding backsliding must be observed the cause of backsliding. I’ve chosen to differentiate between these adjacent chapters in this way: In this section the focus will be on those persons who surround, attend, and minister to those who stand a chance of backsliding, which, in the broadest sense, is anyone who is a child of God. For once a spiritual birth has taken place, backsliding is possible. Indeed, as miserable as it is to acknowledge, there is great likelihood that a falling away—a slipping back into the world—will occur.

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The prime in prevention of backsliding will always rest with the individual Christian. Ultimately, I am responsible for my decisions; my advancement or regression, my growth or withering, my discernment or ignorance, my backsliding  into devilry, or my flourishing as a child of God. I reckon with the fact that when I stand before God, I will answer for my life. I fear I cannot blame my husband, my pastor, my church family, my childhood deprivation, or my family curses. I tremble at the thought. Conclusively, I am pressed to insure my own salvation. I am responsible for my final end.

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Having said that, however, it cannot be disputed that a significant sum of human nurture—taking into account every aspect of his being, including his soul—comes from others. It is authentic, then, to conclude that family, friends, the church and the pastor share some responsibility for the success or failure of every person for whom some oversight has been given.

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This chapter will look into that piece of the backsliding issue, certainly with no intent of faultfinding or fixing blame, but rather as part of an honest search for those tools that will effect the saving of every soul possible. From time to time this thought beats through my mind: Is it believable that someone will be eternally lost because I did not effectively teach, pray, inquire, solicit, or generally care? Did I feel a nudge in my spirit to lift a phone to my ear, to schedule a lunch, to lay a hand on a bent shoulder—and ignore all? Not a pleasant idea, nor one on which to linger.

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So, although the cause of backsliding and how to avoid backsliding stand on the same line, I’m assigning a difference. In this chapter we will discuss how we as a body can help prevent our family and friends from backsliding.