Brothers and Sisters

         Last year was my husband’s and my fifteenth anniversary. To celebrate, we enjoyed a rare trip away from home, to the beautiful hills of North Carolina. The first day we spent in Charlotte, helping out at the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse. Because of covid, Christmas of 2020 saw a huge increase of Operation Christmas Child shoebox donations built online (as opposed to people donating physical boxes). The warehouse was set up for volunteers to pack shoeboxes according to each donor’s specifications.
        Besides the obvious enjoyment of preparing boxes for children in restricted access countries, and the excitement of being involved in a hands-on way in reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, there was also an unexpected take-away from the day for me. Bill and I were able to work side by side with Christians we had never met before, people who were there because they love Jesus just like we do, and want to make a difference for Him. One lady was from a small church in North Carolina a few hours away. Her ladies’ group had been volunteering for a couple days at the warehouse. She is also a seamstress, and sews items for Samaritan’s Purse to give away in third world countries. Her mom lives in Oklahoma, and does the same thing. Seeing the dedication of other believers whom I previously didn’t know even existed reminded me that, although our country as a whole has walked away from God, there are still pockets of people scattered across our land who truly love Him and live for Him. He will always have a remnant of the faithful, and He knows who they are.
        Only eternity could be long enough to get to know all of our brothers and sisters in Christ – people from all times, places, and walks of life who heard the still, small voice of God, and rose up to follow Him. Until then, it is enough to know that our shared kinship in Christ unites us across all obstacles and challenges. Praise God!
 -MaryBeth Hall    

 Brothers and Sisters

 I Kings 19:18 – “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

  

Elijah was talking to God one day

When evil over his land held sway.

“I, I alone, am left,” he did pray,

“And they seek my life to take it away.”

The Lord replied with jobs for him to do,

Then revealed a fact that only He knew:

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand who

Haven’t bowed or kissed Baal;” He wasn’t through.

 

Those seven thousand, less than one percent,

Wouldn’t give in no matter how culture went.

Belief in Yahweh they did not relent;

His one sentence applauded lives well spent.

And the eyes of the Lord still run to and fro

Throughout the whole earth, His strength to show

In behalf of those who truly yearn to Him know.*

In the night He sees their faith’s steady glow.

 

Today once again, sin seems to be winning,

But yet there are some who like you are standing

For Jesus, His Word, and His way of living;

All steadfast allegiance our God is counting.

Pockets of people scattered here and there,

Brothers and sisters who for holiness care;

Though we know not our number, His name we share.  

Rise up then encouraged to meet the world’s dare!

*2 Chronicles 16:9

Walk

Remember when you could hardly wait for your child to walk, to take his/her first steps.  I was especially anxious for my fifth child to walk because he was such a chunk it wore me out to carry him.  (I'm not sure I remembered with each child how much more difficult it was to keep track of the child with increased mobility.)

I was in Atlanta with my daughter and son-in-law when my grandson Ruben decided it was time to walk and simply took off.  He made it look easy.

Today I have no grandchildren who need to learn to walk, but instead have had to learn to walk again myself after knee surgery.  One of my aunts is learning to walk again after a minor stroke.  Two aunts have had to walk again after falls and breaks.  So sometimes adults must learn to walk again.  

All of us must learn a spiritual walk.  This definition of walk does not refer to simply placing one foot in front of another.  Instead this definition (according to dictionary.com) is "to conduct oneself in a particular manner; pursue a particular course of life."  The illustration in the dictionary is "to walk humbly with thy God."

If you are using either the KJV or NKJV there are numerous uses of this word "walk."  If you are using a newer translation, other words are substituted.  But since I am thinking of "walking", this is the translation we will use.

Colossians 2:6, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him."  If I can walk in Him, that makes the walk easier.

Galatians 5:16, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."  You can't do both, walk in the Spirit and in the flesh.

Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  What a wonderful thought--no condemnation!

I John 1:6-7, If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."  There are no frauds here.  The light shows truth.

II John 1:6, "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments."  Love is the mark of the Christian according to John 13:34-35.

I Thessalonians 2:12, "That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you into His kingdom and glory."  When I was a teenager, I never experienced teen rebellion.  I was afraid of bringing shame to my father's and grandfather's ministries.  If I wanted to walk worthy for my family's honor, how much more should I walk worthy of God.

To me, the most specific instructions on how to walk worthy of God, come in Ephesians 4:1-3, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Let's learn how to walk!

                                                                ~~Faith Himes Lamb

Not a Complainer - Part II

Since my last post in August, where I write at length about giving praise and thanks to God in all circumstances, I am still working on not being a complainer. It is an uphill battle, as you might imagine. I am presently fighting a flu bug which interrupted our vacation. I have also just finished an ordeal with an infected thumb. Who knew infected digits could be so serious? I burned the same hand in a small electrical fire. It was a minor injury, but the temptation to complain is strong. Small trials can take a toll on one’s spirit!  And to think there are those who are genuinely suffering! 

In my attempt to correct my attitude, I resolved to write a prayer of gratitude to God. Here’s how it goes: 

“Thank You LORD for allowing me to be sick and that it’s not worse. I trust You for my greater good even when it’s unpleasant. I got this bug from loving on my grandbabies. Thank you for them and that they are feeling better. What a joy they are to me! You brought us home early from our vacation due to this illness, so I assume you have your reasons. Thank you for allowing me to endure all that went into my thumb infection and for the medicines You used to heal it. Thank You that my burn was not serious. Today is beautiful, and that makes things easier. Thank You for that! I love Your seasons! You know my days, and the knowledge that You see me and know what I am going through encourages my heart.”

Things for which I am thankful that make having the flu more bearable:

Supplements

Tylenol and Ibuprofen

Cold medicine

Herbal tea

A comfortable bed and couch

Dinner I did not cook

A warm and loving husband

The strength to move around

My back roller to ease the stiffness

Comfy pajamas

A refreshing bath/shower

Through the Apostle Paul, God commands us, “in everything give thanks.” He knows a good attitude and positive thinking are good for us. And it’s a way to demonstrate our trust in God's goodness and wisdom. It’s not always easy for sure. But sometimes obedience is hard, especially if it does not seem to make sense.

(prayers appreciated)

joyce hague

Every Opportunity

 

Ephesians 5:15-16: “ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (NKJV)

¹⁵ “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the MOST of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (NIV)

 That phrase “making the MOST of every opportunity” jumped out at me as I was reading my ONE YEAR BIBLE recently. I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. CAN YOU BELIEVE...God has over and over challenged me to “make the MOST of opportunities” He has brought to me since I read that verse. 

The word “redeem” has many definitions but can be “to get, to buy back, or to exchange for something of value.” That fits well with “making the MOST of every opportunity” because we are using our time to make a difference, to contribute something of value.

All we have to do is to study the Gospels to see how Jesus made a difference...making the MOST of every opportunity. Just in Luke 7-9, He related to a Centurion, a widow, a storm, five thousand and more hungry people,  a demon-possessed boy...just to name a few. Each was treated with compassion and mercy and purpose.

Who has come across your path this past week who needed help but you thought: “Maybe later. I am too busy right now.” 

We need to BE ALERT...FOCUS...keep our “heads up” looking for opportunities. Now consider in our next few verses, Colossians 4:5-6:

^“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (NKJV)

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV)

So...we need to ask God for opportunities to help, but we also need wisdom in our choices. Making the MOST of an opportunity might just be involving another person to serve. Or encouraging the one who is dependent to step out and do his or her best to accomplish the task.  This means that “every opportunity” does not entail your doing the work but just acting as encourager.

Then we need grace in our speech when we are called upon to do something that is totally disrupting OUR schedule. We need grace in our attitudes. Philippians 1:27a:  “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

That is the bottom line, isn’t it? The Gospel of Christ!  I Timothy 2:3: “This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved...” We must be constantly alert to those around us who need the Lord Jesus. Sometimes it takes months to cross that bridge with a neighbor or even family member to talk to them about their need for salvation. But let’s make the most of every opportunity.

--Maylou Holladay

Minor Adjustments

 

When we are consciously making major changes to our appearance – dressing or arranging hair or makeup – we usually look in a mirror. We consider the reflection deliberately and adjust according to our plans or expectations. And we are pleased or not pleased according to what we think we are seeing or showing.

 Sometimes we see ourselves accidentally or unexpectedly when we pass a window or other reflecting surface. At that point, we often get a surprise because we are not looking for what we see. Maybe you are startled, as I am, with the unexpected reaction, “Mom!” She’s been gone many years, but there she is, in my reflection.

 More often, we see just a minor annoyance like a wisp of hair out of place or a garment a bit askew. Maybe our posture or facial expression needs an uplift. At that point, we make the minor adjustment to correct something we perceive as not right. But we almost always react in some way to the reflection. We want to look our best, or at least appropriate for the given situation.

 In the same way, we should be making adjustments every time we read Scripture. We may not see our own reflection there; it may be a reflection of God or of a faithful believer’s attitude or of an evil person’s actions or of an illustration of God’s expectations or -- well, there are a great many kinds of things Scripture shows us. Sometimes we may get a surprise because we are not looking for what we see. Each reflection should reach us in some way. Do we praise God more for what we read? Are we humbled? Do we rejoice? Do we sorrow? Do we change our thoughts or behavior? Are we reminded of something we had forgotten? We may need to make a huge change or we may just need to make a tiny adjustment every time we come in contact with God’s Word. At the very least, we should feel the joy that comes from the privilege of hearing from God once more.

 The apostle James, in the beginning of his letter, compares the self-centered “look” to the life-changing “look.” “If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James thinks we should react in some real way to the Word, with major or minor adjustments as needed. And he adds that the “doing” will be blessed. What will you do the next time you look into a mirror? What will you do the next time you read Scripture?

 --Lynda Shenefield