A Soft Answer

Over the last several months, I have been mediating on one Bible verse, Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." I shared this verse with my high school Youth Church students last Sunday. 

I started out by asking them about how they would react in different conflict scenarios. I could not believe their answers. Most of them talked about how they would gather information about the situation and try to reason with the person who they were having issues with. I told them that I was impressed and that I felt they were more mature then I am. My instinct when someone raises their voice to me is to raise mine back, not to return with a soft answer. I know it is not the Biblical response but it is the human response.

A couple of interesting conclusions came from the discussion with the students. Firstly, by giving a soft answer you knock the person off balance. They were not expecting it. They are expecting the human response of you lashing back. It kind of takes the wind out of their sails. 

Secondly, by answering softly or holding our tongue altogether the other person comes off in a negative way. One of the students told a story about Napoleon and one of his officials. He said that Napoleon and the official were arguing and instead of the official responding he stood there and allowed Napoleon to continue with his rant. We talked about how this makes the angry person look and how it makes the other person look. If people are observing the exchange, then the angry person looks like a fool who has no control. While the other person, comes off as being innocent and under control. Which is a better witness for God?

Thirdly, we need to work on giving control to God. We should not give into our human nature. God can help us remain calm so tension does not build and a resolution to the situation can be found.

I Want to be an Under-Rower

We live in a proud world. We are proud of our jobs, proud of our kids, proud of our success. We do it all on our own. No one else should get the credit except us. But that is not who I want to be. I know I cannot exist without the help of Jesus. I cannot even drive into the "city" or go grocery shopping without wanted to give into human nature and put someone in their place. That is not who I want to be.

I want to follow the example Christ set, I want to be a servant. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:1, "Let a man so consider us, as servant of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." The world Paul uses here for servant is huperetas. It is the same word was also used in "classical Greek culture to describe the punishment that criminals had to endure. Criminals were considered outcasts of society and were frequently sentenced to row in the belly of a ship, and they were often required to live below deck. They were the engines that pushed the ships ahead; huperetas were called under-rowers (Conflict Management for Church Leaders; Goodall, Wayde; p57)." 

I like the picture that this paints. Being an under-rower could not have been an easy job: being away from home and family, crammed below deck with others like you, struggling to move the ship along at the desired speed. It was not those in control who were moving the ship along, but those who were there to serve. 

I want to be an under-rower taking my direction from Christ. I want to be one of the servants who help to move the ship along. I want to show His power and strength as He works through me. I want to have a servant attitude where I am able to remain humble, leaving pride behind, and continually giving credit for everything in my life to Christ alone. I want to live so in the end I will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful in the few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21)."

Confrontation Means Exhort

According to Merriam-Webster confrontation

means: "a situation in which people, groups, etc., fight, oppose, or challenge each other in an angry way." When I read this definition, it made me think of two people putting on boxing gloves and duking it out until only the stronger or more skilled person remained. Or a child inside the principal's office being reprimanded, cowering in their seat, waiting to be dismissed.

But what if the word was redefined? What if instead of fighting, opposing or challenging, we define it as urge, encourage or exhort? What kind of picture would you see then? 

"The word exhort comes from a combination of two words in the original language: the word to call and the word alongside. It conveys the idea of calling one alongside for the purpose of helping him or her pursue right (Conflict Management for Church Leaders; Goodall, Wayne, 2010)." With this definition you aren't attacking but coming alongside to correct, encourage and redirect.

As a teacher, I am constantly having to confront poor behavior and bad decisions in the classroom. In one particular instance I had an upper classman in a freshman class. The young lady thought it would be OK to be rude and disrespectful in front of the younger students. It was creating a disruption and encouraging disrespectful behavior from the others. But after reading this lesson, I thought about changing the methods I use. I don't have to assert my authority as the teacher. Instead I pulled the older student aside and explained the observations I had made about the students' attitudes. We discussed what was causing it and how she could help to correct it by setting the example. So by coming alongside I encouraged her to be a positive leader which changed the attitude of the others. If I had used a more aggressive method (boxing) I would have embarrassed and angered her, increased her bad behavior which would have increased the bad behavior of the class. 

In the future instead of confronting by tearing down, we should confront by building up. It may take longer but the results will be a lot greater.

Conflict Happens

Over the last five years, I have been taking Bible classes. During this time I have come to realize that what we are studying is what will be brought into my life. The latest class is "Conflict Management for Church Leaders." So what arises but conflict... at home, at work and at church. This gave me the opportunity to put the lessons of this class into action.

One question through out this study kept coming to mind... if we are one body, as the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, why does conflict happen? I have concluded that conflict happens because of our backgrounds, our personalities, our history, and our environmental factors. 

All out backgrounds are different. No one else has had the same experiences at the same time in the same place. You may have had similar ones but not identical. The experiences we go through help to shape who we are and what we believe.

Our personalities are all different. Are you a logical thinker? Do you crave conflict or avoid it? Are you negative or positive? Do you know yourself and what  makes you a better person? Are you a people person (social butterfly) or the opposite (social cockroach)? What makes you tick? Our personalities will encourage or discourage the types of experiences we are willing to expose ourselves to which in turn helps to make us who we are.

Our group(s) history affects our present and future. We are leary of situation that arise because of what has happened to us before. Are we willing to open ourselves up again? Are we able to do things differently? Are we able to remember the past but not all it to limit our future? Do we get stuck in "we've done that before and it didn't work"? Can we get beyond it?

Environmental factors are things that we cannot necessarily control... job lose, economic depression, lay offs, natural disasters. They are all things that at some point will affect us all, but do we allow them to control our lives? 

In answer to my question, conflict happens because we are all different. I guess the important thing is not why it happens but how we react to it.

No Regrets

Sunday afternoon as my dad and I were working in the shop, he asked me if I every regret becoming a teacher instead of a veterinarian. My first response was sometimes. For example, when they announced at graduation Friday night that a couple of the girls wanted to go into veterinary medicine, or when I wish I could bring my girls (three dogs) with me to work because they calm me and brighten my day. But then I began to honestly think about the question. Do I regret?

You see I had a true gift for working with animals and it had been my dream from the time I was nine years old until a couple of years after getting my bachelors degree. I was working for a veterinary and I was applying for vet school, but I was not having success. Then one day in the mail I received a letter from the education department at a local college. They wanted me to apply for their masters program. I was at a crossroads. Do I continue pursuing my dream of veterinary medicine or do I change dreams and go into education? I began to earnestly seek God's direction on this. Looking back now, I do not remember if I ever asked God if He wanted me to become a veterinarian. I do not remember if I ever asked what His purpose was for me until that moment.

I chose to follow the new dream. I am finishing my 16th year of teaching. It has had its ups and downs and every year is a new adventure. But do I regret it? No. How do you regret something when it is God's purpose for you? This year has brought new challenges as my job changed, but my purpose has not: working with high schoolers to get them to graduation while in the process showing them patience and God's love. When my job gets tough, I think of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

What Will Jesus Be?

The question that was asked this week to me was "Ms D, how will Jesus come back, will He be the same as the first time - as a baby?" When I answered, "No, this time He is going to return as a conqueror and king," the student did not understand and I think did not believe. This led to the question, "how do you know?"


I know because Jesus is alive! He did not stay on the cross or in the tomb. He rose from the died, ascended into Heaven and one day He will return. I know because God tells me through His inspired word in Revelation 19:11-20. He gives an awe inspiring picture of the return of our King.

I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

This is not the picture of a child or a baby. This is the picture of someone who is in charge, in control and someone who is here on a mission. Jesus' purpose has changed with His second coming. His purpose the first time was to bring forgiveness. When He comes again His purpose is to bring judgement and victory! Are you ready?

You Are My Shield...

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)


But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm 3:3)


The words in these two verses I want to focus on are safe and shield.  Recently God kept me safe. He was my shield, literally.


My mom and I had to drive 30 miles to Tacoma to pick up transcripts for work. It wasn't a trip I wanted to make. It was a waste of a day to make the drive up and back. It was a waste of money for gas and a waste of money for the transcripts. But I did it.


So, we head up I-5 and when we got to Tacoma there is an area of the freeway where there are multiple on-ramps and exits. There are a lot of changing lanes and slowing down and speeding up. It is usually bumper to bumper. A year or so ago the traffic flow was changed and redirected. We got off the exit for the City Center which is now about a quarter - half a mile from the actual exit. I exited and I thought where am I going there's only one other car here? Did I make a wrong turn? This are is usually packed. People are fighting to get over onto the freeway. The freeway is full but no one's on the exit.


This is when God's hand, God's shield was seen. As we were going down the road at 60mph, a truck and trailer flew pass us. Both were full and overflowing with construction materials. The truck was about 30-40 feet in front of us when a 10 foot and 4 foot board about 10 inches wide slid of the truck. We saw the longer board hit the road and splinter into pieces. The shorter board came at us. But instead of going through the front of our car, the board hit the ground in front of the bumper and bounced under my car. It hit the bottom and as far as we could tell everything was fine.


God was there that day. He shielded us from that accident. He kept people off that ramp so no one was injured or killed. He kept us safe. That board could have very easily have gone through the windshield, I could have slammed on my brakes and been rear-ended, or I could have swerved and rolled my car. But I did not have to because God kept me safe.

Legend of the Christmas Rose

During this time of year, we are bombarded with advertisement, commercials, and a frenzy of holiday shopping and the desire to purchase the right gift. I have begun to ask this year if we have truly lost the meaning of the Christmas season in the pursuit of the perfect gift to give. We will never find that gift online or at the mall. It cannot be bought for any price. The perfect gift is priceless and has already been given to us 2,000 years ago when Christ was born. All we have to do is accept what has already been given. 

While searching this week for items to put in our church's bulletin, I came across this legend. It spoke to my heart about what gift giving is all about, so I wanted to share it.

The Legend of the Christmas Rose
On a cold December night, everybody was coming to see their new Savior and brought Him all kinds of gifts and presents. The three Wise Men came in with their valuable gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold and offered them to Baby Jesus. At that point, a shepherdess, Madelon, who had seen the wise men passing through, reached the door of the stable, to see the Child. However, being very poor and having brought nothing to offer to the child, she felt helpless and started weeping quietly at the sight of all the wonderful gifts that the Three Wise Men had got for the child. Earlier, she had searched, in vain, for flowers all over the countryside but there was not even a single bloom to be found in the bitter winter.

An angel outside the door was watching over her and knew about her fruitless search. He took pity on her and, when he saw her head drooped down in sorrow, decided to help her with a little miracle. He gently brushed aside the snow at her feet and where her tears had fallen, sprang a beautiful cluster of waxen white winter roses with pink tipped petals. Then he softly whispered into the shepherdess's ear that these Christmas roses are far more valuable than any myrrh, frankincense or gold, for they are pure and made of love. The maiden was pleasantly surprised when she heard those words and joyfully gathered the flowers and offered them to the Holy Infant, who, seeing that the gift was reared with tears of love, smiled at her with gratitude and satisfaction. Thus, the Christmas rose came to symbolize hope, love and all that is wonderful in this season.

(http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/legend-of-christmas-rose.html)

Give Thanks...

To me Thanksgiving is a day of family, friends and good food. It is one day out of 365 set aside for us to reflect on what we are thankful for. But it seems that it has become just another day on the calendar. Unfortunately, for many it has just become another day of work or a day to start Christmas shopping early. 


This year at dinner my mom ask what I imagine many families ask that day - What are you thankful for? I was stumped by the question this year because I was the last person at the table to answer and I wanted to say something different. Unfortunately, I drew a blank.


I know the answer to her question is late, but here it is. I am thankful for...

• My parents who love me and tolerate me. The ones who loved me, protected me, and taught me to be the person I am today.
• My brother who is always there for me; who I know is there even though we don't talk every day; who calls me at odd times just to say hey and catch up.
• My sister-in-law who sends random texts to me to brighten my day and to wish me a blessed day.
• My nephew who finally has a job he loves and that allowed him to be home with us for Thanksgiving day (Yeah!).
• My students who are the most awesome young adults on the planet; who make me smile, laugh and cry (sometimes all at the same time).
• New friends.
• Growth and maturing as our church goes through a transition period.
• New experiences - singing on the worship team and teaching Children's Church.
• But most of all, for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave the greatest gift and sacrifice by laying down His life so that I can have salvation and eternal life. And because He cares enough about me to walk with me daily.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you found a few moments to reflect on what you are truly thankful for.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

We read this verse in relationship to death and the journey we take when our time arrives.  We gain comfort to know that God will be there with us. 


But when I read it this time I saw it in a different light, with a new meaning. Why do we only look at this verse at a time of death? Why not take comfort from it in our daily lives?  


The Life Application Bible had a note that the verse could also read "through the darkest valley." Our darkest time is not always death. We go through times of highs (mountains) and lows (valleys) in our lives. Those valleys are not always a physical death. It could be pain, sickness, injury, conflict, etc. 


I have a reoccurring valley in my life. I am one who copes with migraines. They are the most excruciatingly painful things that I have experienced. I have prayed in the middle of them that God would either take away the pain or take me home to be with Him. It gives me great comfort to know that God is there with me at these dark time. I know that I am not alone when that debilitating pain is there. God is there when no one else can help me. 


Strength and comfort cannot overcome the valley of pain, sickness, injury or conflict, but just as God is there to get us through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there to get us through the other valleys too. Take comfort that you are not alone. Take comfort that God is there to defend you with His rod and to keep you from danger with His staff.

Psalm 23:2-3

Psalm 23:1 tells us that if we depend on God then we will not want. What more could we ask for? God does not leave us there. He offers even more in verses 2-3. He says "He will make me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters." When I hear green pastures and still waters I get a tranquil picture in my mind. I see myself stretched out in that green pasture next to the still waters. I hear the birds singing, I feel the gentle breeze blowing. I feel the weight of the world left off my shoulders. I fell renewed and refreshed.


God does not say He will put you in a car in rush hour traffic or chaos. He takes us to a calm and tranquil place. He offers restoration to our souls. That sounds great but what does it mean? To restore means to replace, to renew or revive, to return. How wonderful to know that when I am beaten down, torn apart by the world, God will replace, renew or return me to how He created me. He doesn't just leave me in the state I am in.


God offers this to all. All you have to do is accept Him as your Shepherd too.

Psalm 23:1

I have been reading Psalms and a couple days ago I read Psalm 23.  I have read this chapter before.  It is one of those that you memorize in Sunday School as a child and it is one that you hear at just about every funeral you go to.  But reading this chapter this time, I saw it in a whole new light.  The chapter is about God and who He is.  It is about what He gives us in the relationship we have with Him.


Psalm 23:1 identifies "The Lord is my shepherd."  "Sheep are dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection" (Life Application Bible, p848).  That's what we are to do - depend on our Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) or Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) for provision, guidance and protection.  The second part of verse 1 is so important.  It gives us hope when it says "I shall not be in want."  So if we depend on God for provision, guidance and protection then we will not want.  God will provide!  What more could we ask for?

Divine Appointments...

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.  Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'?  I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields.  They are ripe for harvest.  (John 4:34-35)


"God ordains divine appointments for each of us who will let Him work through us.  In God's planning, we will experience opportunities to witness to strangers and casual acquaintances" (The Local Church in Evangelism, p121).  God sets up and gives us opportunities to share our stories, share His story and to pray with people, but we have to be sensitive to when those situations happen.  We have to be aware that those situations are happening.  We need to take that step of faith and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.


There is an old saying - "Opportunity doesn't knock twice."  This is so true.  Every opportunity is unique because people and circumstances are different.  Therefore we cannot get those opportunities back.  I can think of three opportunities I have missed.  Three times that I still think about today where the outcome could have been different.  Three times when I could have reached out to someone else in their time of need.


There is another saying - "Hindsight is twenty-twenty."  That is true for these three opportunities.  I did not see them at the time or I was not confident in the prodding I received from the Holy Spirit.  But I saw them after.  I felt the lost for not reaching out.  I have also learned from these that "we need to be spiritually alert to seize opportunities" (p121).  Colossians 4:2 says "Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful."  We need to be watchful for those opportunities to seize.  We need to work on our foresight being twenty-twenty instead of our hindsight.  We also need to pray for those opportunities.  "Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3).


So slow down and be watchful for those divine appointments to seize so you will not carry those regrets later.

The Confidence Factor...

This week in class part of what we read and talked about was motivation for evangelism.  The opening question of the chapter was "Why don't more Christians tell others about Jesus Christ?"  The answer was "For most people, the problem is lack of confidence" (The Local Church in Evangelism, p135).  I can understand that answer.  I am not a "people-person," an extrovert, outgoing, or whatever else you want to call it.  I am afraid to step out there where people are concerned.  I am afraid of standing out; I want to blend in.  I am not sure where it comes from but it is there.  Talking to people (strangers especially), making small talk is something I rely on God to help me with - to get me through.  I feel inadequate and intimidated about talking to people, let alone sharing Christ with them.  I fear not being an effective witness for Christ.  

The confidence with which the first Christians shared the message of Christ was not based on their own persuasive ability.  It came from knowing who Jesus is, their understanding of what God was doing, and the power of the Holy Spirit (p135).

I am confident in who Jesus is, I understand what God does and the power of the Holy Spirit.  I am confident that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  That He died for me.  That He loves me and wants the best for me.  He gets me through every day, every minute and every moment.  He gives me the strength and power to do all He has for me to do.  


So if I have confidence in Jesus and I rely on Him for everything that I do, why do I lack confidence?  Why am I afraid?  We talked in class about being politically correct.  We talked about how we become afraid because we might offend.  I think this is were my lack of confidence comes from.  Not only am I afraid of embarrassing myself, I am afraid of offending others.  But aren't I offending Jesus when I do not share?  Don't I offend Him when I am not obedient to His leading to share?


One thing that I have learned through this study is that all I have to do is share who Jesus is and what He has done for me.  Those are my thoughts that people can take or leave.  They are not given to offend but shared to encourage.  My part is not the hard part.  I am not the one who has to persuade or convince - that is the Holy Spirit's job.  My job is to be confident in Him, to share, and to be obedient to Jesus Christ.

Above all, believers need to be reminded that God is the One who saves people.  The Holy Spirit is the One who convinces of sin.  Jesus is the One who builds His church.  We simply take part in the work God is doing in people's lives (p149).

Pastors and Deacons...

The Bible says the pastor, minister, overseer, or what other name you choose to call them, is the spiritual leaders of the church.  But God does not say they are the leader of everything in the church.  As a matter of fact, God set up positions in the church to help lighten the load of pastors.  In Acts 6:1-7, Luke describes the choosing of the seven.  The disciples realized they could not do it all so they wisely chose to share the burden by choosing seven men to handle the administrative work.  They shared the burden.  Each group had their responsibility and they concentrated on their responsibility.

The choosing of the seven was quite possibly the beginning of deacons.  Deacon means “one who serves.”  The description of deacons is given I Timothy 6:8-13.  Deacons were leaders.  They were the ones who were doing the administrative work in the church.  They were the ones taking care of the physical needs of the church and the congregation.  Deacons have many of the same qualifications as the pastors or overseers (I Timothy 6:1-6).

So why do pastors today feel that they have to work alone?  Why do they feel they have to do or be in charge of everything?  Why do they not utilize the helpers God has sent to lighten their load?  Is it pride?  Lack of humility?

Peter tells us

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because
God opposes the proud
But gives grace to the humble. (I Peter 5:5)

 Peter is telling us, no matter our age, maturity or position, to be submissive to those above AND below us.  Listen to those we serve so we know how to better serve them.  Paul also says “…To submit to each of these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it” (I Corinthians 16:16).  Paul does not distinguish who is to submit other than to say everyone who joins.  Everyone is a powerful word.  It does not leave anyone out.  One last thought… “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).  

We are the Acrylic...

A year ago I learned to use a lathe.  My favorite things to turn on the lathe are pens.  The pens have become a present I give to my graduating seniors at school. Yesterday my brother, dad and I spent over six hours turning pens.

I love the time I spend at the lathe.  Not just because I get to create something that I think is beautiful but because it’s time I get to spend time with God.  With the noise from the machinery, we have to wear earplugs so there usually is not a lot of talking going on between those in the shop. There is time to focus and communicate with God.

During that time yesterday, the scripture about the potter and the clay came to mind.  In Isaiah 64:8 it says

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
We are all the work of your hand.

The scripture could have just as easily said we are the acrylic and you are the turner. Just as you do not see the form and beauty in the lump of clay, you also do not see the form and beauty in the acrylic blank.  It is plain and in some cases even ugly, The colors are muted, but as you apply the tools to the acrylic you knock away the rough edges.  You slice away excess material.  As you smooth the surface until you find the shape that is pleasing. The colors and patterns that were hidden are revealed.  After achieving the desired shape, you sand over and over from course grit to an ultra fine sandpaper getting the acrylic even smoother than possible with the tools.  The final step before removing the acrylic from the lathe is to apply polish, polish and even more polish until it looks like glass.  As you apply each coat, you hold a cloth against the material and allow friction to heat the material and polish.  As it heats up, you see the shine and and it continues to smooth the surface.  Then you remove the blank and assemble it with other parts to create a pen.

This is similar to the process we go through as we mature and grow in Christ.  We begin as that plain, sometimes ugly, block.  God cuts and chips away at the rough edges.  He forms us and smoothes us to the shape He wants.  And sometimes He has to repeat this and turn off more material when a catch (chip or divot from a tool) occurs.  As we mature, He no longer has to use the tools.  He can move to the sandpaper and eventually the polish because He has  shaped us and all of our excess has been removed.

In the end, the beauty of the person has been revealed just as the beauty of the acrylic was revealed.  It is there for all to see.  The beauty of who God has created you to be.  The time and energy He is willing to put in is amazing.  The fact that He is persistent and constant is mind boggling.  That He never removes us from that lathe or throws us into the trash bin because we are too rough or we continually need refinement or won’t become smooth is unimaginable.  In the end, it is His persistent craftsmanship that shines through this process in our lives.

God is love...

Last week during class we got on the topic of God is love.  I think when most people think of God, they think about the following definitions from Merriam-Webster:

(1)   A strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.

(2)   Affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest.

But I think we need to expand our definition to two other ones that were given:

(1)   Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.

(2)   The fatherly concern of God for humankind.

Concern – that is what I think of when I think of God.  His concern for me!  That concern though is not all about hugs and kisses and pats on the head.  That concern is about whether or not I am on the right path, and what is best for me.  God wants to see us safe and secure.  He wants to be with us for eternity so He wants us to do what is right.

Imagine a child who only receives praise and hugs and kisses.  What do you see?  I see a brat.  Someone who has no self-control and who throws a temper-tantrum because they do not get their way.  Someone who has no friends and someone who others do not want to be around.  

Imagine a child who receives praise and hugs and kisses, but also receives correction and criticism.  What do you see?  I see a child who is loved, one who has friends and one who is willing to reach out to others.  One who sees beyond themself.  One who has a successful future.  One who is happy no matter what life throws their way.

Which child would you want to be?  Which life would you want?  What parent could you truly love in return?  God is the parent of child number two.  He only wants what is best for us, best for now and best for eternity.  So yes God is love – love of hugs and kisses and the love of concern for wanting only the best for His children.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (I John 4:8).

Laughter from God...

Anger:  Strong feelings of displeasure or hostility

Submission: Voluntary yielding to another

Humbled:  Not proud or arrogant; having a spirit of submission

(definitions from the Life Application Bible Dictionary/Concordance p2308, 2367, 2337)

These are three words that as humans we do not like in our lives.  Some feel that anger is wrong.  We should always be love and peace.  Submission must mean that we allow ourselves to be a doormat by someone.  And humble – Oh, we must be weak, a pushover.  But all three of these words show great strength in a Christian’s life.  All three of these make us more like Christ because these are things He showed in His life also.

Let me tell you how these three things led to joy, laughter and peace in my day today.   There are things going on in my church that I get upset and angry about.  The feelings I have over those things make me look for reasons not to go to church, they make me angrier when I get there and they make me physically ill.  I don’t know what I can do except pray.  So today while I prepared for church I prayed and I asked God to use me today, to be with me, to help me get through and to focus on Him.  Before I got out of the car at church, I prayed again and asked God to let those things that anger me to pass away, to help me focus on Him and to use me for His purpose.  Well, today God took that anger.  Not only did He take it but He replaced it.  He replaced it with laughter and peace.  When things began that I would have been fuming over in the past, God changed my focus away from that thing and placed it on Him.

Our mouths are filled with laughter,
Our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nation,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we were filled with joy. (Psalm 126:2-3)

 A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

 I would not have experienced this though if I had not humbled myself and voluntarily yielded (submitted) to God.  My focus would have been on earthly things not on God, and I would have missed out on a great gift from God.  And there is nothing more cleansing or refreshing then a good laugh from God.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

The Need for the Baptism...

“Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).  This was the command Jesus gave to His disciples before He gave them the Great Commission.  Jesus said “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).  Jesus did not just hand the disciples a job to do.  He also left them the tool and power to do the job and to do it right.

If the baptism of the Holy Spirit was not important then why did Jesus make it a command?  It seems to me that if He was saying ‘Hey, this power is available if you want it; if not don’t worry about it,’ then He would not have commanded His followers to receive it.  So to me this must be pretty important and something we need to pursue.

I guess the other question is do we need the empowerment of the Spirit today?  My answer would be yes, but am I alone?  Over the last several months I have heard people say things like the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not important, people still do good works without it, people still have active ministries without it, it is only a formality, etc.  I know people can do good works and God’s work without the baptism of the Holy Spirit but could you imagine how much greater they could be with that power working in them?  How much greater their ministry could be?

As far as I can tell our mission or commission has not changed since the early church.  We are to still share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world, reach out to those in need, and shine our light for those who are lost.  Why, if our mission is the same, should we feel that we do not need the same Helper, the same power, as those who actually met and lived and studied under our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ?  To me, we need that same power.  To me, witout it is like going into battle without ammunition or the correct ammunition.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit with Evidence...

I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God.  I do not believe that it is just a collection of stories and illustrations that were assembled as a book for people to read.  I believe that the words, ideas, thoughts and history were given to the authors to write down by God.  In those words, God gives hope, encouragement, guidance and wisdom.  It is in those words that I look for the way God wants me to live my life.

In my last post I said that we started a new class.  This one is on evangelism.  We are starting the study by looking at and comparing the Great Commission as it is written in the four gospels and Acts.  At the end of the lesson we discussed how in Luke and John’s accounts the Lord commands us to receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  We as humans do not have the power to complete the work God has for us to do, so He has sent a Helper to us.  We need to accept that Helper through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Near the end of our discussion, we became slightly sidetracked over a misunderstanding about the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  This is mentioned several times in the Bible.  On the day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”  When Peter was at Cornelius’s house in Acts 10:23-46.  “While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:44-46).  

Peter also says in Acts 11:15-17, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.  Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”  In this passage Peter was explaining his actions at Cornelius’s house.  And he stated that those there were baptized with the Holy Spirit just as the believers were in Acts 2:4.

If the inspired word of God (aka the Bible) gives us these examples of how the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred in the early church, why would it be any different for us today?  Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  If He does not change, why would He change the gift He gave during the gospel times to something else today?  Why would He not allow us the same experience?  And as with those on the day of Pentecost, why wouldn't God give me an outward sign or evidence that I too have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?