But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ . . . (II Corinthians 2:14).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
When read in context, these words of Scripture do not mean that Christians will not face adversity, but they do mean that when we are facing adversity we can take courage and hope because of our relationship to Christ. In Christ we have already won! We are in his victory parade! Bring it on! The final celebration is yet to come--be there!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
DEALING WITH DIFFICULTY
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:3-7).
Presently, the lovely and gracious Helen and I are in Kansas celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with her parents. During the time since we have arrived we have received word of two families who are dear to us who are presently facing crises. Helen's parents are elderly and because of the changing state of health care are dealing in the confusing world of bureaucracy. Helen and I are getting an education as we have spent the last 2 days helping with that.
I'm sharing all this, not because I have any profound insights, theological or otherwise, but just to remind you all that while we live in the flesh we will suffer--we will not get through this life without it! But, we have a reasonable hope because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Our best days are yet ahead of us!
In Christ we are family so let us rally to the support of each other, being the Holy Spirit with skin on as we support each other in this life so that we can be together in the life to come!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Presently, the lovely and gracious Helen and I are in Kansas celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with her parents. During the time since we have arrived we have received word of two families who are dear to us who are presently facing crises. Helen's parents are elderly and because of the changing state of health care are dealing in the confusing world of bureaucracy. Helen and I are getting an education as we have spent the last 2 days helping with that.
I'm sharing all this, not because I have any profound insights, theological or otherwise, but just to remind you all that while we live in the flesh we will suffer--we will not get through this life without it! But, we have a reasonable hope because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Our best days are yet ahead of us!
In Christ we are family so let us rally to the support of each other, being the Holy Spirit with skin on as we support each other in this life so that we can be together in the life to come!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, November 19, 2010
FOR YOUR COMFORT
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (II Corinthians 1:3-5).
And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter in KJV) to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17).
In my daily Bible reading I just started the book of second Corinthians today. I had underlined verses 3-5 of chapter one from previous readings so they drew my attention again. I stopped and thought of the times when it seemed as if I was all alone--that no one cared enough to even make an attempt to understand. There have been several times in my life when that was the case, BUT, this experience is not unique to me. Further reading in second Corinthians one Paul says that he and his companions were "unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8).
God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the comforter of Christians, the one who walks along side of us. How does he bring us comfort? Sometimes it is just the feeling of reassurance of grace and peace in the middle of trials and tumult. Sometimes it is through the words of hope in the Scripture when all evidence seems to be to the contrary--hope truly is an audacious thing! Sometimes it is the arm of another believer around your shoulder, the Holy Spirit with skin on, one who isn't afraid to come into understanding distance and share his/her faith and life experience. As you receive comfort, share it with someone else.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter in KJV) to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17).
In my daily Bible reading I just started the book of second Corinthians today. I had underlined verses 3-5 of chapter one from previous readings so they drew my attention again. I stopped and thought of the times when it seemed as if I was all alone--that no one cared enough to even make an attempt to understand. There have been several times in my life when that was the case, BUT, this experience is not unique to me. Further reading in second Corinthians one Paul says that he and his companions were "unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8).
God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the comforter of Christians, the one who walks along side of us. How does he bring us comfort? Sometimes it is just the feeling of reassurance of grace and peace in the middle of trials and tumult. Sometimes it is through the words of hope in the Scripture when all evidence seems to be to the contrary--hope truly is an audacious thing! Sometimes it is the arm of another believer around your shoulder, the Holy Spirit with skin on, one who isn't afraid to come into understanding distance and share his/her faith and life experience. As you receive comfort, share it with someone else.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
WHAT DO YOU TREASURE?
For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs (I Timothy 6:10).
Do not love the world or the things of the world (I John 2:15).
Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version.
My daughter posted her offering meditation on her blog, Sleepy Thoughts . . . It shows that the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Though I have expressed similar thoughts I would like to expand/expound on the subject.
Traditional interpretation of Matthew 6:19-21 has assumed that money is the treasure, and if one gives his money, the heart will follow it. As an intervention for those who love money, it is not a bad thing to tell them to give their money away and follow Jesus (Matthew 19:21); sometimes behavioral therapy on adults does work, changing them from the outside in rather than the inside out. But, even in 19:21 the emphasis is on following Jesus; notice what the rich young ruler could not do--be obedient to Jesus. His possessions were his treasure, not Jesus.
God doesn't need our money. God will not go out of business if we stop giving; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the world and everything in it. Often our preaching conveys the idea that God needs our money; He doesn't!!! What God desires is our hearts! What one treasures is where his heart is. Ask any young man who is madly in love; he will gladly spend all his money on the love of his life.
Often the message of the church is: "We will go out of business if you do not give," or "If you would just give more we could do . . ." That message is a message of materialism, that the Church of Christ is more dependent on money that the power of the Spirit for its existence. Preachers have yet to learn the meaning of Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. The church can be just as guilty about loving money and coveting it as any person. I have known several people who have quit a church because the church was all about trusting money rather than the Spirit of God.
If money is our treasure, then almost every time, money will be given with a begrudging heart, not a cheerful heart. A whole lot more money will be given when Jesus is our treasure because it will be given with a cheerful heart and not a begrudging one. The Lord loves a cheerful giver!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Do not love the world or the things of the world (I John 2:15).
Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version.
My daughter posted her offering meditation on her blog, Sleepy Thoughts . . . It shows that the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Though I have expressed similar thoughts I would like to expand/expound on the subject.
Traditional interpretation of Matthew 6:19-21 has assumed that money is the treasure, and if one gives his money, the heart will follow it. As an intervention for those who love money, it is not a bad thing to tell them to give their money away and follow Jesus (Matthew 19:21); sometimes behavioral therapy on adults does work, changing them from the outside in rather than the inside out. But, even in 19:21 the emphasis is on following Jesus; notice what the rich young ruler could not do--be obedient to Jesus. His possessions were his treasure, not Jesus.
God doesn't need our money. God will not go out of business if we stop giving; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the world and everything in it. Often our preaching conveys the idea that God needs our money; He doesn't!!! What God desires is our hearts! What one treasures is where his heart is. Ask any young man who is madly in love; he will gladly spend all his money on the love of his life.
Often the message of the church is: "We will go out of business if you do not give," or "If you would just give more we could do . . ." That message is a message of materialism, that the Church of Christ is more dependent on money that the power of the Spirit for its existence. Preachers have yet to learn the meaning of Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. The church can be just as guilty about loving money and coveting it as any person. I have known several people who have quit a church because the church was all about trusting money rather than the Spirit of God.
If money is our treasure, then almost every time, money will be given with a begrudging heart, not a cheerful heart. A whole lot more money will be given when Jesus is our treasure because it will be given with a cheerful heart and not a begrudging one. The Lord loves a cheerful giver!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, November 11, 2010
GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Chris Peterson is a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Several years ago Psychology Today had a blurb about an assignment he gives class. He has his class members write a gratitude letter. It's a kind of thank-you note to any one, including God. Peterson says his students feel happier 100% of the time. This exercise provides a long-lasting mood boost to the students.
There are exceptions. If a student is skeptical that the exercise will work, it will still work, but if a student is cynical, it will not work. Cynicism is the attitude that, "I really do not have anything to be thankful for," or "I have to be thankful for this?" If cynicism is the attitude then the gratitude not will not work.
When I was a graduate student in seminary, there was a young secretary who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. She spoke to our class one day about how she dealt with her disease. She made sure that thankfulness was in her attitude. One of the things she was thankful for was that her "personal plumbing" still worked. If you have ever had to deal with incontinence you would be thankful that your "personal plumbing" still worked.
With disciplined diet and exercise, she is still doing all she can for that to continue. One of the ways to find something for which to be thankful is to make a list of the things you would like to continue. How would you feel if food, clothing, shelter, freedom, love and other relationships, hope for eternity, etc. were taken away?
God's will for His family is that they be a thankful people. When they are thankful they are happy!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Chris Peterson is a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Several years ago Psychology Today had a blurb about an assignment he gives class. He has his class members write a gratitude letter. It's a kind of thank-you note to any one, including God. Peterson says his students feel happier 100% of the time. This exercise provides a long-lasting mood boost to the students.
There are exceptions. If a student is skeptical that the exercise will work, it will still work, but if a student is cynical, it will not work. Cynicism is the attitude that, "I really do not have anything to be thankful for," or "I have to be thankful for this?" If cynicism is the attitude then the gratitude not will not work.
When I was a graduate student in seminary, there was a young secretary who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. She spoke to our class one day about how she dealt with her disease. She made sure that thankfulness was in her attitude. One of the things she was thankful for was that her "personal plumbing" still worked. If you have ever had to deal with incontinence you would be thankful that your "personal plumbing" still worked.
With disciplined diet and exercise, she is still doing all she can for that to continue. One of the ways to find something for which to be thankful is to make a list of the things you would like to continue. How would you feel if food, clothing, shelter, freedom, love and other relationships, hope for eternity, etc. were taken away?
God's will for His family is that they be a thankful people. When they are thankful they are happy!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, November 08, 2010
IT IS BETTER TO BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent (Proverbs 17:28).
Sometimes the comments to an article are more profound than the article. I found this gem in the comments section of Town Hall. There is no space so vacant as an actor without a script.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sometimes the comments to an article are more profound than the article. I found this gem in the comments section of Town Hall. There is no space so vacant as an actor without a script.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, November 04, 2010
A SISTER IN CHRIST
I commend to you our sister Phoebe . . . (Romans 16:1).
It was a cold snowy day in Amman, Jordan. Our flight was to be the first flight out that morning. We sat on the plane for nearly two hours while the crew attempted to de-ice the plane to prepare it for flight; the plane had about two inches of snow on it. To me the plane looked the same after their de-icing attempts as before, but the flight crew decided it was time to fly. The plane taxied to the runway and readied for take-off. The big jet engines roared when the pilots throttled up for take off. The big Boeing 747 was lumbering down the runway carrying the weight of the snow as well as spoiling the air flow over the wing; it was taking longer than usual for the plane to lift off. I noticed one of the stewardesses was as anxious as I was as she made the sign of the cross on herself. I immediately felt kinship with her as she, in her sign, expressed faith in the same One in whom I believe.
I thought of this incident as I heard of the massacre of Christians in an Iraqi church. While there are doctrinal differences of faith that are important, these people died for their faith in Christ--that makes them kin of mine. Carl Ketcherside, one of my spiritual heroes when I was a young minister, used to say, 'I would rather be wrong about including a person as a brother or sister is in this life than to arrive in heaven and find that I had wrongly excluded them.' To live as a committed Christian in a muslim nation is difficult!!! The little stewardess was not ashamed of her faith in Christ, so there is a kinship that is meaningful to me to this day.
The family of God is found in every nation and every race and every tongue. What a wonderful day it will be when we are all at home together.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
It was a cold snowy day in Amman, Jordan. Our flight was to be the first flight out that morning. We sat on the plane for nearly two hours while the crew attempted to de-ice the plane to prepare it for flight; the plane had about two inches of snow on it. To me the plane looked the same after their de-icing attempts as before, but the flight crew decided it was time to fly. The plane taxied to the runway and readied for take-off. The big jet engines roared when the pilots throttled up for take off. The big Boeing 747 was lumbering down the runway carrying the weight of the snow as well as spoiling the air flow over the wing; it was taking longer than usual for the plane to lift off. I noticed one of the stewardesses was as anxious as I was as she made the sign of the cross on herself. I immediately felt kinship with her as she, in her sign, expressed faith in the same One in whom I believe.
I thought of this incident as I heard of the massacre of Christians in an Iraqi church. While there are doctrinal differences of faith that are important, these people died for their faith in Christ--that makes them kin of mine. Carl Ketcherside, one of my spiritual heroes when I was a young minister, used to say, 'I would rather be wrong about including a person as a brother or sister is in this life than to arrive in heaven and find that I had wrongly excluded them.' To live as a committed Christian in a muslim nation is difficult!!! The little stewardess was not ashamed of her faith in Christ, so there is a kinship that is meaningful to me to this day.
The family of God is found in every nation and every race and every tongue. What a wonderful day it will be when we are all at home together.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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