Author: Don

Dear Friends,

This week we honor Joyce Ireland–a teacher, a choir member, a gentle soul who loved Jesus and brought joy to our lives. Joyce went to be with the Lord on Saturday August 1^st.

 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Last week we continued our examination of our walk with Christ by looking at kindness. This week we will focus on GOODNESS. So, what is “goodness”? An excellent synonym is “beneficence”: the doing of active goodness, kindness, or charity – including all actions intended to benefit others.

As we continue this series, notice that God is not only a “do as I say” God – he is also a “do as I do” God. When he speaks to us through the scriptures, his message is, “Love because I love. Be patient because I am patient. Be kind because I am kind. Do good because I am good. Have mercy because I have mercy.”

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that we should use our lives for doing good not to earn God’s mercy – we have that in Jesus – rather, we use our lives for doing good as a form of thanksgiving for God’s mercy.

But then the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown. He saved us because of his mercy, not because of good deeds we did to be right with God. He saved us through the washing that made us new people. He saved us by making us new through the Holy Spirit

This teaching is true. And I want you to be sure that the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help all people.” Titus 3 4-5, 8 (ICB)

“But I just want to be a PEW-TATER,” you may say. “Isn’t it enough that I attend and tithe?” Suiting up and showing up is a good start, but the Apostles told us that a relationship with Christ involves more.

James the half-brother of Jesus offered: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.” James 1:22 (NLT).

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17 (NIV)

Paul put emphasis on good works, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” 1 Timothy 6Z:18-19 (NIV)

Granted, not everyone is called to serve as a missionary in Zimbabwe or to spend their days feeding the poor, but we all have been given talents that can be used to serve the Lord.

Recently, we were involved in a discussion with friends in an assisted living facility about the kinds of things they could do for others. One dear lady in her nineties knits prayer shawls. Another lady mentioned that she helps those with limited sight play bingo, while another mentioned helping fill gift boxes for our troops. Others talked about the power of a gentle touch, a kind word, a friendly smile, or a quiet prayer. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer the Lord is our time.

John Wesley encouraged us: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

In Matthew 25, we learn that goodness involves reaching out to all of God’s children. “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)

Does it matter when we do good? Without a doubt! Everything we do that brings glory to God matters.

Verse for the week: Psalm 90:17 (NKJV): “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Last week we looked at patience. This week we turn our attention to kindness. A timely place to start a discussion of kindness is with the Internet and network news. One can only imagine what Jesus’ apostles would have to say about Twenty-first Century communications.

The Apostle Peter would see obvious problems with social media: “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.” 1 Peter 2:1 (NRSV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

James wouldn’t pull any punches: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” James 3:9

The Apostle John would wonder if there was any place left where one could find the Christian worldview: “Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.” 1 John 4:5 (NLT)

While the Internet can be an amazing source of information – we couldn’t put these messages together without it – anyone who has spent more than a few minutes on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media can testify that kindness is often a missing element.

Many who use the internet as an outlet for their rage would be well advised to heed the words of our friend Charles Prazenica: “Be careful your words are tasteful, you never know when you may need to eat them.”

The vitriol that we pick up from the media can spill over into our conversations with family and friends. In our daily conversations we might be well advised to employ the rule: “If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, “is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” – Buddha

Winning an argument is never worth the cost of losing a friend; however, there are times when we have to challenge people. Can confrontation be kind? If you read the stories of Jesus’ interactions with the Pharisees, you will find that Jesus didn’t mince his words. When he confronted wrong-thinking, he spoke the truth in love.

The words purported to have been found on Mother Theresa’s wall can serve as a primer for kindness:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.           
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

As we examine our walk with Christ, we can look at the words of Mother Theresa and realize that we are sinners, who are a long way from perfection. Guided by God’s word and bolstered by prayer, we strive to become the “kind” of Christian who offers kindness to all we meet.

Verse for the week: James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul challenges us to examine ourselves to see if our faith is genuine. Over the next few weeks, we are going to use Galatians 5:22-23 as our guide as we examine our walk with Christ. No need to pack your bags for a guilt trip; This will be a journey to find ways we can draw even nearer to God – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 (NASB)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Did you happen to notice that the expression is FRUIT of the Spirit, not FRUITS of the Spirit? Once the Holy Spirit indwells us, we get the whole “fruit salad,” i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How much our lives exhibit each of these characteristics can serve as a barometer of how we are doing with our Christian walk.

Are we loving? Are we Joyful? Are we at peace? If we try to rate ourselves on these three, we probably will find that our rating depends on how patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled we are. Love, joy, and peace are the product of a spirit-guided life, and sometimes we need to recalibrate our guidance system.

Let start our journey by looking at PATIENCE.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV): “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” and since that time is often not our time, we can feel disappointed, discouraged, defeated, or angry. We may feel our strength drained from us as we push toward a result that seems to be on a treadmill, racing faster than we can run after it. “What is God waiting for?” We may wonder.

Perhaps, He is waiting to see if we have patience. James 1:2-4: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

“Lacking in nothing?” you may ask. “Hello! I’m not getting what I want.”

“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” ― David G. Allen

Maybe God wants to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20 (b))

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

When we learn to wait on the Lord, we can find ourselves revitalized – thankful for what we have, rather than for what we lack.

Of course, patience involves more than timing; it involves people. Truth be told, most of us would be perfectly patient if it weren’t for people. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher put it well: “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” The antidote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV).

In the book, The Love Dare, Steven Kendrick writes, “Patience gives your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time that they deserve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the rough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under the pressure.”

Indeed, everyone fails. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

The fruit of patience: “Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)

The path to patience begins within. “Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.” ― Saint Francis de Sales

Verse of the week: Psalm 27:14: “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

Ad litem (Latin “for the suit”) is a term used in law to refer to the appointment by a court of one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party—for instance, a child or an incapacitated adult—who is deemed incapable of representing him or herself.¹ While an Ad Litem works primarily with abused children, there is an ad litem (or advocate) who represents another group that is incapable of representing itself – US.

One day we will all stand trial: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Since only a fool has himself for a lawyer, it is a blessing that we will have a special advocate standing beside us, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1,2

Imagine the scene: You stand before the bar as Satan, the accuser, points his finger at you and indicts you with the verse, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

Jesus, your “Ad litem,” doesn’t object as the accuser cites Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NIV): “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

“People who know me would testify that I am a good person,”you whisper; although you know that works isn’t a defense. The Accuser hears your comment and snarls at you as he quotes Matthew 12:36,” But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

You recall times when you judged others, and the words from Romans 14:10 come to mind: “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”

Jesus smiles at you, then he walks forward and takes his seat behind the bench. The accuser turns red with anger as he shouts, “God will bring everything into judgement!”

Jesus stuns the accuser with words from John 5:22 and Revelation 21:6, “…the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

Turning to you, Jesus asks, “What is your plea?”

“I throw myself on the mercy of the court.”

You kneel, and humbly claim as yours the words from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:20: ^“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As our imaginary trial draws to a close, Jesus might then paraphrase Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far {have I} removed your transgressions from you” “By grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5 (b)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, hat saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now, I see.

Verse for the week: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” Galatians 2:20

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

¹ Wikipedia

Dear Friends,

Jesus loves me! This I know,                    Yes, Jesus loves me!
For the Bible tells me so.                          Yes, Jesus loves me!
Little ones to Him belong;                         Yes, Jesus loves me!
They are weak, but He is strong.              The Bible tells me so.

Do I really know that Jesus loves me?

Sometimes things are so familiar that we miss the truth that they are meant for us. For instance, when we hear “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” do we accept that we are part of the world that Christ died for, or do we secretly wish that God would help us internalize that life-giving truth?

A few months ago Bonnie was longing to hear God’s voice. “I know he loves everybody else, she confessed, “but I want to know that he lovers ME.”

A few days later we attended a church service. The pastor approached the pulpit, paused for moment then began, “Someone here tonight wants to know that God loves them. I’m here to tell you that he does! You may leave now.”

Bonnie turned to me with her radiant smile and asked, “Should we go?”

It gets even better. This past Sunday our neighbors knocked on our door, excited to tell us about something that happened during their church service.

“Our head pastor was on vacation, so the assistant pastor gave the sermon,” our neighbor explained. He began to tell us that he had had a very troubling week, and he started to question God’s love. ‘Then’, he said, ‘I saw a white Prius with a license plate that completely changed my attitude.’

’The two video screens on each side of the platform were filled with the image of a license plate. ‘To anyone else, the license plate offered the message, Jesus loves ewe (you). To me,’ the pastor explained, it was far more meaningful… my initials are E.W.E. I was reminded that Jesus loves Edward W. Ewart.’”

Stories from the Bible confirm that God communicates in a myriad of ways. First, He communicates with us through nature. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” Psalm 19:1.

He has been reported to make personal visits: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.’” Genesis 17:1.

God caught Moses attention when “the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.” God got Pharaoh’s attention with plagues.

God allowed Gideon to test him with dew on a fleece: “Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” Judges 6:39

God spoke through his prophets to Saul and to David, and used writing on a wall with King Belshazzar – “Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace.”Daniel 5:5.

Then there are dreams. “The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 1 kings 3:5. Dreams are prominent in the lives of Joseph, Daniel, Job, and Joseph -the earthly father of Jesus – and Pontius Pilot.

Caution: Several scriptures warn against placing too much trust in dreams. A vivid dream may be likely the result of a bad burrito as a message from God. “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7.

Angels serve as God’s messengers. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them…” Luke 2:8-9.

Of course, God speaks to us through his Holy Word. You can tune into God daily by reading the Bible. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

The most mysterious way God communicates with Christians is through the power of the Holy Spirit acting within us. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13

God surely speaks in a myriad of ways. We believe He even may use a license plate, a letter, or an e-mail to tell someone who needs to know for sure, “GOD LOVES YOU!”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ