Are You Just Talking, or Are You Responding?

            Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, and as you were talking, you had the sense that she wasn’t really listening to you? Then, as soon as you finished speaking, this person immediately started saying something that had nothing to do with what you had just told her?  It probably seemed to you that she was just waiting for you to finish so she could tell her own story. This is not true friendship or good communication, is it?

            This was the analogy I heard author and bible teacher Nancy Guthrie give in a recent podcast I listened to. She was talking about prayer, and how our prayers can be very similar to this listener in the above story. God speaks to us primarily through His Word. We read it in our daily quiet times with the Lord, and we hear it preached and taught and sung. Yet, when we pray, we come with our own lists instead of responding to what God has been saying.

            There is nothing wrong with a prayer list; I often use one myself. But am I also taking the time to respond in prayer to what God has been saying? Or is my prayer very one-sided? How can we do this better and not be like the friend who just wants to speak her own concerns? Here are some thoughts I have. I’d love to hear yours:

-- When I hear the Word preached or taught, I can respond in a prayer to the Lord. What is He saying to me? What do I want to say back to Him? What do I want to praise Him for based on what I just heard? What sin should I repent of? What can I give thanks for? How do these truths speak into what is going on currently in my own life or in the lives of those close to me?

-- When I spend time in the Word and then pull out my prayer list with my items to pray for, I can begin by dialoguing with the Lord about what I just read before I start bringing my requests to Him. What stands out to me? What am I confused about? Where am I challenged to walk differently, convicted of sin, or in awe of God? Furthermore, can my requests somehow tie in with what I just read? For example, “God, you are the same Lord who helped David trust you when his life was sought by King Saul. Help me to trust You today in my much smaller issue of [fill in the blank],” or “Lord, You say in Your Word that You are a fortress and refuge. Please be that refuge for my friend ___ today who is facing ____.”

-- I can let the songs I sing or hear sung become true prayers rather than words I simply think hold great truths. I can let the truths of those songs be avenues of worshipful prayer.

-- God also speaks to us of His glory in the beauty of His creation. As I notice a beautiful sunset, a field of sunflowers, or the night sky, I can respond to the Lord in worship.

            May we be women who bring our needs and the requests of those we love to the Lord, but may we also be women who listen to Him speak and respond appropriately. In doing so, our relationship with the Lord will be strengthened as we grow in our knowledge and love of Him.

--Amy O'Rear

Trusting God Alone

 

With every new year there comes a need to make new resolutions, new plans, create new habits, goals, and the list goes on and on.  We often take our personal plans, ideals, and thoughts for granted and assume that they are good.  The problem we create is that we often forget to include God’s will in those.

Back in January, I started the new year with a new devotional, and I have really been challenged to keep God in the forefront of my day.  Throughout scripture, numerous times we are commanded to “Wait,” “Come,” “Rest,” “Trust,” etc.  We know most of those verses by heart.  In fact, many of us will use some of these verses as our “Life” verses, yet . . . we fail to truly understand the depths of their meaning.

The devotional I am reading this year again helps me read through the Bible in a year.  It is Everyday Gospel, by Paul David Tripp.  I’d just like to share a few of his insights that have really encouraged and challenged me.

• 1.      “We are often tempted to try by human effort to accomplish what only God can do . . . God will not turn from his promises even when we are unwilling to wait . . . his timing is always right . . . rest in the surety of the promises of the Lord.”
• 2.     “So much of our fear, discouragement, anxiety, and worry is the result of underestimating what God is willing and able to do . . . We are limited human beings . . . what appears to be completely impossible is quite possible with our Lord.  His strength, his understanding, his compassion, and his grace are infinite.”
• 3.     “There is nothing that God has promised to do or that we need him to do that he is unable to do.” (my favorite!)
• 4.     “God’s promises are not limited by human weakness or the passage of time.  Don’t give way to fear; God will do what he has promised to do.”
• 5.     “When life seems to make no sense, we are not without hope or help because we are the children of God.”
• 6.     “God’s covenant promises do not mean that our lives will be predictable, comfortable, easy, or trouble free.”
• 7.     “God will interrupt moments in our lives to recapture our hearts, to strengthen our faith, to bless us with his grace, and to instill in us, once again, our identity as his children.”

I could go on and on but wanted to share these encouraging words. Our year is still in the early stages, and we have already seen so much take place that might cause us to question what is happening in our world and with our church.  But we need to be constantly aware that the Creator who redeemed us and has promised us eternity with Him is in control.  We have nothing to fear but have so much to be thankful for.  All the insights above covered portions of the lives of Abraham and Jacob.  Look at the covenant God made with Abraham and carried it on through Jacob and the generations following.  There were moments in their lives when they could have questioned God’s plan and promise, but God revealed His fulfillment at just the right time.

It's been 5 years since we lost our facilities, “but God” is using this delay for His glory.  He has blessed our church in so many ways these past 5 years and although we have probably all wondered “why so long?” we can rest assured that God’s timing will be perfect.

Keep the faith in God’s plan, trust Him, and continue to wait patiently.

 

--Bonnie King

Pura Vida

 

One week ago my husband, Gavin, two other teachers, 15 high school seniors and I were all in Costa Rica. We had the privilege of chaperoning the teenagers’ senior trip. It was a beautiful week: traveling through different areas of the Central American country, going on new adventures, tasting delicious food, making core memories.

          Some of my thoughts throughout the week:

          “This is just a little slice of another place on earth, different from my own home, new creation all around. God is amazing, creative, and values me.”

          “I wish I knew Spanish fluently.”

          “This group of seniors has made this trip so delightful. Minimal complaints, trying new adventures, foods, and activities with excitement, bravery and thankfulness. I am proud of them.”

          “I am grateful to have my world widened, some of the bubble popped.”

          “There is sloth paraphernalia everywhere we go, however we haven’t seen any in the wild. Do they really exist? I have my doubts… But thank you, God, for the opportunity to see toucans, monkeys, iguanas, macaws!”

A few of the memories I am already looking back on are zip-lining, white water rafting, bus-riding through the mountains and countryside, visiting coffee farms, serving children at a river-bed community, a day on a catamaran and secluded tropical beach, swimming, laughing and eating with the other chaperones and seniors. 

In Costa Rica there is a slogan everyone uses: Pura Vida - Pure Life. They say this to one another in conversation. They repeat it to the tourists visiting their country. It’s on bill-boards, signs, commercials. They want to live the pure life - enjoy it to the full, appreciate the beauty, fun and adventure. While rafting down the rapids, our guide encouraged us to raise our oars, high five together and say ‘Pura Vida’ after conquering a big drop or splash.

What I loved about the phrase is how it relates to a ministry in which we were able to see life transformations. Men who were moving from darkness into light. From death into “pure life”. I will remember Pura Vida in the fun adventures, but mostly in the hope found from lives changed.

On Sunday afternoon, we spent time at Finca de Esperanza, Farm of Hope, a men’s rehabilitation farm that focuses on discipleship, farm work and finding purpose. We went to take a tour of the farm that had begun their ministry in Jaco around 6 months ago. We ended our time hearing testimonies from a few of the men.

There were plantain and avocado trees, an outdoor cooking pot over fire, a big garden area, bunk houses, a whole community created. The men labored on the farm, worked toward the goal of 12 months of discipleship classes, built community and studied God’s word.

I wish the testimony and sharing time could have gone on and on. We didn’t know we’d have the opportunity to hear the stories of some of the men, but what a blessing that we did. One of the men showed us some of his beautiful hand painted work while also sharing that the previous week had been a very difficult one for him. He had almost given into that difficulty and left the farm. Later he was one of the 3 that told their stories. He shared incredibly difficult and painful parts of his past, ending up with redemption and found family at the farm. Had he given into the demons of the previous week, we never would have heard the incredible story of his life and been blessed by the transformation we were able to see first-hand.

As we walked through the garden area, one young man’s face lit up as he talked about how the tomato plants grew and the number of expected cucumbers and peppers that would be produced on each plant. He worked hard and grew to love caring for the things that grew, while only a few months before he had entered the farm in zombie form, emotionless and silent.

The most beautiful and heart-wrenching story came from a young man, 26 years old. He had been at the farm for a few months and when the time was opened for any to share, he stood up and told us that was the first time sharing his testimony with a group. The tears he shed, so genuine, as he spoke of the abandonment of his own family and a difficult past that led to a difficult life. But he also spoke of hope and a new family in Christ. To go from such destruction to bravery, life and a future was powerful to see.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has cards dealt, hands offered. Everyone once was dead. These men while still facing difficult days, memories, choices, are now given the opportunity to live alive in Christ. And you could see it only a few months in.

Traveling back in time a few hours to Sunday morning, we visited Horizon Church, of which Finca de Esperanza was a ministry. Two men who had completed the 12 month discipleship program, starting at a sister ministry and ending there in Jaco, were recognized and celebrated. It was so exciting to see the end results for those two men as they entered the beginning of the rest of what God has in store for them.

We sang these words Sunday morning, not knowing we would get to see them in real time later that afternoon:

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus

Over every heart and every mind

‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence

I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus

‘Til every dark addiction starts to break

Declaring there is hope and there is freedom

I speak Jesus

 

‘Cause Your name is power

Your name is healing

Your name is life

Break every stronghold

Shine through the shadows

Burn like a fire

 

By Sandy Gromacki

The Storms of Life

I woke Saturday morning to the sounds of thunder, heavy rain, and stiff wind.  I lay there and listened, grateful I was not out in it.  We have had a lot of storm/tornado warnings in the last few days.  I immediately thought of my children, scattered in five different places. 

The ones in Nashville and in Oklahoma have strong tornado watches. The one in Pennsylvania has severe thunderstorms forecast.  Atlanta shows no rain, but strong wind gusts.  New Zealand shows wind gusts of twenty-five to thirty miles per hour.  (That last one concerns me because he lives on a boat.  There are waves to deal with.) 

These physical storms concern me, but even more I pray for safety in emotional and spiritual storms.

Psalm 107 describes what could be any kind of storm.  Let’s begin at verse 24.

         “These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.

For He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

 

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:  their soul is melted because of trouble.

 

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

 

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.  

 

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. (I love the phrases used in the NIV:  “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”)

 

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them into their desired haven.” 

Do not believe I am speaking only of my children. I, too, face storms.  I am sometimes tossed in trouble and I stagger to and fro. But when I cry to Him, He stills the storm to a whisper and the waves of the sea are hushed.

Saturday evening is ending with the alarm of the weather radio going off over and over. We have been under a tornado watch for hours.  I am sitting on my nice cozy couch in my basement. And I have been reading about storms. 

Psalm 107 is the perfect chapter for today.  There is one verse that is repeated four times, so we cannot ignore it: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and or His wonderful works to the children of men!”  I cannot end without praising the Lord.  He is with me in the storms and He calms me. 

In Mark 4 Jesus calms a physical storm.  The disciples are with Jesus in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm comes up suddenly.  The disciples are afraid they will perish.  They wake Jesus who is asleep in the back of the boat.  They say, don’t you care?  He says, Peace be still, and the wind cease and there is a great calm.

What I want to point out is Mark 4:36.  There were other little boats with them--others who were affected by the storm.  Others who experienced the peace, the calmed waves.  There are others who are affected by storms, sometimes even the same storm. May they also experience peace. May we be the example of peace in the midst of the storm.

~~Faith Himes Lamb 

Easter is Coming!

 How do you celebrate Easter? It might seem a bit early to be asking this question, but this past Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, a period of 40 days (not including Sundays) leading up to Easter. Many denominations observe this period of time, beginning with Ash Wednesday, by fasting, praying, and charitable giving. The 40 days is meant to reflect the time Jesus fasted in the wilderness, and for many, the observance is focused on solemn repentance.

Lent and Ash Wednesday are not Biblically commanded observances, and I have never been apart of a church that observes them (though I have only been a member of 2 churches in my life).But the idea of Lent, particularly the idea of preparation for Easter, intrigues me.

Every year, we spend much time in preparation for Christmas. We decorate elaborately (what else would you call bringing a tree into your house?), listen to special holiday music, purchase and wrap gifts for each other, and count down the days to when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas is great, and an important Christian holiday, but I would argue that Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. It is the day Jesus conquered death itself and ransomed us from sin!

Easter has its traditional methods of celebration. Many dress up for church that morning; there is usually a special meal planned; and an egg hunt is usually scheduled sometime in the preceding couple weeks. But I think Easter deserves more. Christ’s resurrection is the single greatest event in human history. Why wouldn’t we go all out in preparing for and celebrating it?

There are many ways one could prepare for and begin celebrating Easter. You could follow Lenten tradition by choosing to give up something (it doesn’t have to be food!), taking time to pray on a regular walk, or giving your time or finances to a charity. You could choose to do something less traditional and put together an Easter playlist to listen to or decorate with whatever feels most Easter to you. Focusing on the life of Christ and reading through the Gospels is a great lead up to Easter.

The point is to be intentional about preparing your heart to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Don’t let Easter sneak up on you. It doesn’t have to be perfect or look the same as somebody else. But I encourage you to put in a little more time and effort to celebrate the foundation of our faith.

So, how will you celebrate Easter this year?

--Concetta Swann

Who was Basil O'Conner?

 I learned about Basil O'Conner just this morning as I listened to a PBS documentary entitled, “The Polio Crusade.” Basil O’Conner served as a friend and legal advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt, as many people know, contracted polio at the age of 39, and he remained paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Passionate about finding a cure and rehabilitation for polio victims, President Roosevelt founded the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation in 1927 and eventually made Basil O’Conner the President of it. 

Basil O’Conner did not really even have much of a heart for non-profits, but he was loyal to Roosevelt. He wanted to please Roosevelt, but he had received a tough assignment. Back then, charitable organizations were mostly funded by the wealthy and certainly not the government. And guess what? The Great Depression hit America hard, so no one was giving much to charitable organizations. Everyone was struggling financially. 

So, Mr. O’Conner developed an ingenious idea to raise money for Roosevelt’s foundation. Ads that featured celebrities were developed to encourage people to send just one dime to the White House for this project. Even the poorest of the poor could scrounge up just one dime. The campaign was a huge success. O’Conner raised millions of dollars. The dimes (and dollars) just poured into the White House. The project later became known as the March of Dimes. 

(As a side note: Polio was a serious problem, but some of the ads exaggerated the risks of contraction and others were quite dark and fear based.) 

This story reminds me of Jesus’ observation of the widow giving her last mite. She gave out of sacrifice and poverty, and Jesus praised her for it. Most of us would not struggle to give a dime – or even much more. 

Of course, financial needs for charitable organizations still exist today. I work at the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in Chattanooga, a non-profit. We hope to renovate our entire campus, which will cost approximately 10 million dollars. (We have 2 other campuses in Tennessee that are doing the same.) Our facilities are in terrible shape on so many levels. The President of TBCH is having some conversations with some potential wealthy donors. As he told us about this in our staff meeting this morning, I could not help but think about the March of Dimes and how the small gifts of many made such a difference. (He also plans to visit some of our churches and explain the project to them.) 

Little things make such a difference! Do you feel little today? Well, if you pull together with other little people, just think about what you could accomplish! 

joyce hague

A Fearful Saint

 

A Fearful Saint

I love history. I’m fascinated by stories of the past, and I have spent the last few months reading biographies of those living in the 1700s. One shorter account I read was of William Cowper’s life. Cowper lived in England from 1731 to 1800. His childhood was a difficult one. His mother died when he was six, and his father sent him to a boarding school from ages ten to seventeen. His experience there was not a good one.

Cowper suffered major depressions throughout his life, and around age 32, he moved into an asylum. There he was led to faith through the witness of one of the doctors as well as through Scripture, specifically Romans 3:25 where it says of Christ, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” Cowper said of this experience, “Immediately I received the strength to believe it, and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me. I saw the sufficiency of the atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fullness and completeness of His justification... Unless the Almighty arm had been under me, I think I should have died with gratitude and joy.”

While we love happy endings, especially after someone’s salvation testimony, this was not the case for Cowper. Even as a believer, Cowper struggled with severe depression and intense melancholy off and on for the rest of his life. At times, he doubted his salvation and was afraid he was too far gone for God’s mercy and grace. Yet Cowper had a close friend and mentor, John Newton, who invested time in speaking truth to this hurting man. He was Cowper’s pastor for about thirteen years before he moved away to pastor elsewhere. Yet even then he wrote Cowper letters for the next twenty years until Cowper’s death, encouraging him in his faith.

William Cowper wrote poetry, and together with Newton published a hymnbook in which Newton wrote over 200 hymns and Cowper 68. You may know Cowper’s hymn, “There is a fountain filled with blood.” It is interesting that the one who at times wondered if he truly was forgiven wrote here the words, “And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”

Perhaps you, like Cowper, struggle with guilt and lies that bombard you. Perhaps you struggle with intense sadness and depression. Keep clinging to Christ. Keep rehearsing truth. Keep surrounding yourself with sound doctrine and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Keep going to church even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed. On the other hand, perhaps you know a Cowper. May you be like Newton, a loving friend who doesn’t give up on the hurting, even when the struggles persist for years, but who keeps on speaking truth and showing love and care.

I love the following poem by Cowper on the sovereignty of God. May you read it and be encouraged by these words written about 250 years ago by an imperfect, struggling man whom God still used mightily to build up the body.

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

 

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill.

He treasures up his bright designs

And works his sovereign will.

 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take.

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

 

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

 

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain:

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

 

(Information on Cowper’s life from The Hidden Smile of God, by John Piper)

 

--Amy O’Rear