Are You A Constant Complainer?

The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. Numbers 21:7 (NIV)

Do you have a tendency to complain when things don’t go your way or when others don’t act as you feel they should? We’ve all fallen prey to this from time to time but have you made it your life’s work to complain about others? Consider this—when you complain against your church, your pastor or against fellow Christians, you are complaining against God.

We would all do well to take a moment to contemplate this truth. In the scripture above the Israelites realized they had sinned by speaking against the Lord and Moses. Fast forward: Saul, a young, well-educated, extremely religious, Jewish man and zealous persecutor of those belonging to “the Way”, while on the road to Damascus, was asked by Jesus, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9-1-5. Not, "why are you persecuting my followers" but, "why are you persecuting me?"

Constant complainers stir up trouble and alienate themselves from God and others. Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ; encourage your pastor, his wife and other church leaders. Allow the love of Christ to shine through you.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)

God Bless!

Life

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24, NIV

As a Christian how you live daily is a testimony to what you believe about God. Going to church once a week for a couple of hours is merely a tiny drop in the big bucket of life. You live your testimony for Christ 24/7. You live your testimony when another car cuts sharply in front of you without signaling their intentions when you are driving your children to school. You live your testimony when your co-worker gets the promotion you wanted. You live your testimony when your above-average-child brings home a far-below-average report card. Yes, you live your testimony on the go—through the ins and outs and ups and downs of daily life.

Our actions as well as our reactions give others snapshots into our lives as to what we hold dear, what we believe to be true, what we value the most, and whether or not we are true to our convictions. What does your testimony say to others about what you believe?

We GET to Do This!

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10, NIV

Last night was a special night at church because two young people came forward to make a profession of faith. I know many prayers from fellow church members have been lifted up on behalf of these young people. Since my sister and I have taught both these youngsters in Bible classes, our pastor asked if we would come forward and stand with them.

As the members of our church came by to give a word of encouragement to the young people several of our members stopped to thank my sister and I for working with the younger folks. I remarked to my sister that while I definitely appreciated the kind and thoughtful words I kept thinking, what have we done but that which we felt God was directing us to do— or as my sister put it, trying to do our reasonable service.

 How very blessed we are that God allows us to help Him in His work. He doesn’t need our help but He calls upon us to work for Him; we GET to do this! When you realize what a blessing it is; what a privilege it is just to plant a seed and then be able to witness God’s harvest, you know firsthand why there is rejoicing in heaven by the angels over that one lost soul who comes to repentance! You feel the rejoicing within your own soul!

Go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach.

 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15, NIV

God Bless your beautiful feet as you spread the Good News!

Are You Comfy?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:14-18, NIV

Recently I read a couple of articles by Dr. Charles Stanley. One was titled, “The Comfortable Church”, and the other, “Left as Witnesses”, (www.intouch.org). About this same time I listened to a podcast by Dr. Adrian Rogers, titled, “How to Keep Your Spiritual Fire Burning”, (www.oneplace.com). Even though the reference texts used were different, the themes presented had much in common: as Christians we aren’t doing what we’ve been commanded to do.

Dr. Stanley’s viewpoint is that we’ve become comfortable and cozy in our churches; we don’t see ourselves as servants of the Lord; we have a self-serving, self-centered focus. However, Christ left us with this command—to be His witnesses; He commanded us to go and take His good news to a lost and dying world which means we must go outside our comfort zone and into the enemy’s territory. We are not to become “a self-contained sanctuary of Christian comfort”. We’ve not been called to “a life of comfortable tradition”, but we’ve been called to “an adventure of obedience”.

Dr. Rogers speaks of lukewarm Christians; calling them “ho-hum” Christians. When we become comfortable and self-satisfied in our churches, we become indifferent about personal holiness, unconcerned about service, uninterested in God’s word, lukewarm in prayer, and apathetic in sacrifice. We pray without fasting; we witness without tears; and we give without sacrifice. Dr. Rogers labels lukewarmness the best alibi for the unsaved; it yawns in the face of God and is equivalent to blasphemy.

Salvation is an experience and gift to be savored and shared. God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others. Go. Tell. Make disciples. You don’t need a degree from a seminary to be affective—you already have everything you need within your soul—the Holy Spirit. You need only tell of your experience; the Lord will do the rest. Step out of your comfort zone with confidence, knowing the Holy Spirit is with you and that you are being obedient to the command of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Make yourself fully available to God and He will make you victorious.

God Bless!

What's Your Story?

(Jesus speaking)”Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels”. Luke 9:26, NIV

Do you know it is important to share your story with others? What story, you ask? Your personal salvation story—it is an important tool in telling others about Christ. When you tell someone Christ can make a difference in their life they naturally want to know the affect Christ has had in your own life; they want to know your story. Be prepared to tell them (1 Peter 3:15).

If you are like me—better at writing than speaking—you may want to write your story first and then practice re-telling it. When writing your salvation story use these three questions to prompt you: What was my life like before trusting in Christ? How did I come to know Christ, (i.e., your salvation experience)? How has my life been different since coming to know Christ as Savior?

Once you’ve written out your story, if you are inclined to do so, there are sites on the web where you can post your story. One such site is http://www.mostimportantthing.org; this site also contains a page titled, “How to Write an Effective Salvation Story” which you may find useful.

Once I had written my story and posted it on the web, I listed the link to my story in the signature block of the email messages I send. Anyone who receives an email from me has the option of clicking on the link and reading my personal salvation story. When someone reads my story I receive an email saying my story has been read—I don’t know who has read the story, only that it has been read.

It is important to me that others I am a Christian. I want others to know that I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The apostle Paul tells us the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, (Romans 1:16).

May God richly bless your efforts as you go into the world and preach the good news to all, (Mark 16:15), by telling your own salvation story!

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, (Psalm 107:2)!!

Who's Watching You?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:2-4, NIV

My mother is an extremely observant person. In fact, she amazes me with the things she notices. I amaze myself with the many things that I do not notice. However, even the most unobservant of us regularly consider the behaviors of those around us because we are by nature imitators; monkey-see-monkey-do.

Others are influenced by our behavior and we are influenced by the behavior of others. This is why when you were a teenager your parents would say things like, “You are known by the company you keep” or “If you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas”. Indeed, 1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV, tells us, "Do not be misled: “"Bad company corrupts good character.""

As Christians, we should be keenly aware of how our behavior influences others, not only those who are unsaved, but also other Christians as well. We are to walk worthy of our calling in Christ; we are not to do anything that would cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble and fall (Romans 14:21).

Dearest Lord, give me the grace to see beyond this moment—keep me ever mindful that I represent Christ to others—the saved and the unsaved. Empower me to live a godly life—to participate in the divine nature through Christ each day. I make this request in His name—Amen.

God Bless!

No Losers

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14-17, NIV

My sister and I are part of a group of six friends that try to get together one night a month. Of the six; four of us have known one another since early childhood. Another lady we have known since high school and the last (and youngest) of our group we have known for many years.

It would be impossible to tell you everything we have in common with one another (after all, we have been friends for many years) but the most important thing we share is a personal relationship in Christ Jesus. It is a wonderful thing to get together and enjoy the company of friends; it is an even greater pleasure to share company with fellow believers.

When we get together we pray, we eat (no surprise there) we laugh, we talk, and we play some sort of game: cards, dominos, etc. We typically behave in ways that would appall and embarrass our children; in short, we act silly—did I mention five out of the six are over fifty? We laugh and tease one another and from time to time we have been known to make the “L” sign with our fingers and use the word “loser”.

One morning this week after my time of prayer and Bible study I was reminiscing about our little group’s behavior at our last get together, especially the “loser” business and I began to think, in God’s kingdom—among God’s children there are no losers; NONE! Yet how many people are there in the world today feeling broken-hearted; beaten down and rejected; how many people are there feeling as though they are losers?

I cannot tell you how many throughout this world feel defeated, but I can tell you in Christ, there is hope—through Christ, there are no losers. God loved us so much that He sent His Son into the world to take all our sins upon Him—to die upon the cross—to defeat the enemy—to conquer death—to rise victoriously from the grave on the third day—that through Him, those that believe may have eternal life.

When you accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you too become a child of God, “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,” (v.17). There are no losers in the kingdom of God—only winners.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV

God Bless!