Category Archives: Maturing in the Lord

Putting God First

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Over the last few days, I have been thinking about the importance of putting God first. I got this idea from a news program that mentioned the basis of law. I thought if we would just go back to basing things on the Ten Commandments we would do well. Then I realized that I could base my own life on the Ten Commandments and do well. So I began thinking through them.

I got stuck on number one, ““You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). It occurred to me that a lot of things get in the way of me putting God first. Many of them are good things. Already this morning I have done a number of good things, but God was not first. I know in my heart and mind that he deserves the preeminent place in my life.

It amazes me that I believe in God and yet there are moments, sometimes days, that I live like a practical atheist. I put all kind of false gods ahead of the one true and living God. The false little god that I seem to worship the most is me. I put my thoughts, feelings, ideas, desires and will in first place in my life. If I am going to live by the Ten Commandments, I need to start with number one and make sure that God and his will takes first place in my life. That means all my moments and days, not just Sunday and Wednesday night.

To regain my focus, I have decided to worship and pray using this hymn as the cry of my heart.

Take My Life and Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love—my Lord,
I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself—and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Lord, let me worship by putting you first.

Hurt by Immaturity

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This week I realized how easy it is to hurt someone else without even realizing it. I learned this lesson while spending time with my grandchildren. My granddaughter, Greta was sitting on the floor playing. Her brother, Cohen, who is only 7 months old, was sitting on his mom’s lap nearby. He reached out and grabbed Greta’s hair. He pulled hard, and, of course, Greta screamed.

My daughter-in-law Kelly handled the situation beautifully. Greta was soothed, Cohen was moved out of reach and life went on. As I witnessed this situation, the Lord touched my heart. I realized that I am a little like Cohen. OK, maybe I am a lot like Cohen. In my immaturity, I do not mean to hurt people. I don’t even understand that what I am doing will hurt them. And still, others around me are left screaming in pain.

When I look back, it is easy to see situations where I have harmed others without understanding. There are times when people ask for help, but I am preoccupied. Without thinking, I give an abrupt, seemingly rude answer because I am just distracted without realizing how it appears to them. There are times when I am joking about a situation without considering my audience. I realize later that they may have been offended by my comments. I relate to Cohen and his lack of understanding. I still need to learn about what causes pain in others so I can be kind to them.

I also relate to Greta. Great needed to understand that Cohen really didn’t mean it. He acted out of ignorance not out of malice. That’s a hard lesson. It hurt whether he meant it or not. To be understanding when we are hurting is very difficult.

I hate it when someone causes me pain. I feel like screaming and sometimes I do scream. I get mad at the person who caused the pain. In that moment, I do not usually take the time to think through the situation. It is difficult to stop screaming and consider the other person’s maturity. But this is necessary if we are going to love one another. We will hurt each other. Often it is out of immaturity. Although the pain feels the same, understanding and patience needs to carry the day.

I also learned something by the way Kelly handled it. First, she made Cohen stop causing pain. She comforted Greta. Teaching and doctrine came after all parties were appropriately dealt with. It was important to get control and have the right behavior established before explaining to each person what they could learn from it.

It is not comforting for anyone to hear that the pain they are suffering from is not intended and a mistake. When someone is in pain, they just want it to stop. That is why it is important to do everything we can to help others alleviate the pain before we tell them to be understanding. Kelly did not just tell Greta to “be kind to your brother.” She didn’t just say, “he is young and doesn’t know what he is doing.” She first did everything in her power to alleviate the pain and then to comfort Greta.

If I am going to help others, I must learn to soothe and comfort. I must intervene and help to stop the pain. I must have a genuine concern for those that are suffering. I must love and console before I teach and train.

I learned all these lessons from one small situation. Imagine what I could learn if I paid better attention to the circumstances of my day!

He Checked the Facts

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“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matthew 27:50–54, ESV)
“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:44–45, ESV)

Last week I wrote about the conversion of Paul, the Jewish leader who had been persecuting Christ’s followers. I am still trying to digest all of the thoughts and information that came up during my preparation for that blog. I can’t get over the drastic and immediate change that occurred in the Apostle’s life. I am also amazed that he suffered so much and never relented.

Since Paul the Apostle had been living during the time of Christ, it stands to reason that he could check the facts. Was he in Jerusalem the day that Jesus died? Did he experience the darkness that day? I wondered if Paul knew any of the people who were raised from the dead and if he went to talk to them. I also considered the fact that he may have gone to the temple to see if the veil had really been ripped and what the priests had to say about it.

He was a smart guy. I am sure he checked the facts. I do not believe that this rabbi, teacher, would hold to new tenets of faith if the evidence and facts disproved it. In fact, I know he didn’t. “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 9:22, ESV). Paul didn’t just state his belief. He proved, with facts and historic references, using Scripture, that Jesus was the Christ.

How do I know this? I know because that is the same way he proved Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and Lord, in his letters to the various churches. He spoke of things that were known, things that had been truly experienced using the five senses. They were facts based in history, real people experienced them. Not some fantasy based on a dream or an ideology based solely on someone’s thoughts. The life of Jesus was truly lived among real people, in real space-time history.

This is the Jesus that Paul preached about. Jesus lived in real space-time history. There are real facts about His works and His actions. He talked to living, existing people and they knew actual words that he had spoken. This is the Jesus that dramatically changed lives. He is the One, who Paul deemed worthy of all glory and honor. This is the Jesus that the Apostle Paul believed in and the One, who he tenaciously held on to throughout his life and death.

Since Paul was able to check out the facts, get firsthand reports, and experience the events, I believe I can trust his account of these things that happened so long ago. I believe he is a reliable witness because the facts changed his life. I also trust what he says because he was able to prove that Jesus was the Christ with the information that he had. All in all, I am more convinced than ever that Jesus is Lord. I trust in the gospel message that the Apostle proclaimed.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–5, ESV)
The Apostle checked the facts, I encourage you to do the same.

Paul Preached The Truth of The Resuurection

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“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;” (Titus 1:1–3, ESV)

The story of the Apostle Paul caught my attention as I thought about Easter and the resurrection of Jesus this year. A friend of mine and I discussed the amazing story of Paul’s conversion. The fact that this very committed Jewish rabbi immediately and permanently turned to a “new” faith was astounding.

Paul was not only a rabbi who held to traditions of the law, but he was a persecutor of the Christ followers. He didn’t just hold to different tenets of faith, but he exercised holy fervor in trying to eradicate the new beliefs and tenets of Christianity. Paul did not want to believe in Jesus. He was not seeking to know the truth. He thought he already knew the truth. So what changed?

This man, Paul, was persecuting people for their faith in Jesus. Then something happened. Three days later, he “began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). Paul’s friends, supporters and fellow persecutors turned against him and plotted to kill him. Paul had to depend on his new friends whom he had once tried to destroy to help him escape death. Why would he change his whole social circle in a matter of days?

Paul lived the rest of his life preaching about Jesus. He even died for his faith. During this time, he suffered for his beliefs. He knew when he switched sides that he would be persecuted. He knew because he had been one of the Jewish leaders who persecuted the Christians. He had been one of the Jewish leaders that had incited the Roman government against those that held to this “new” faith. He knew what kind of abuse he was in for when he changed sides, and yet he chose to follow Jesus and suffer for the cause. What was he thinking?

The only answer to all of these questions is that Paul learned the truth about Jesus. He found out the he had been wrong and that faith in Jesus was right. This studious and learned rabbi would not have gone through this dramatic and drastic change for something he did not believe was the truth. Paul learned the truth. The story of the resurrection was true. It really happened. Paul also realized that this truth made a difference for him, a personal and profound difference. He also knew that it made a difference for others, so he preached the truth.

Paul saw the resurrected Lord. He had an encounter with Jesus. This encountered happened after Jesus had been crucified and pronounced dead! He knew that Jesus had been buried. He had heard the rumors that Jesus was raised from death. He heard the stories that Jesus was alive and that the risen Lord had even met with His followers. But then Paul experienced it for himself. He changed when he truly, in space-time history, in a real place on the road to Damascus, encountered Jesus. He encountered the Truth. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

Thinking the Best of Others

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This past week we celebrated my granddaughter’s third birthday. It was quite a celebration. We ate her favorite food, orange chicken from Panda Express. She had cake pops with green sprinkles because green is her favorite color. She got a new princess dress. It was a wonderful party.

All was not perfect though. Whenever you get people together, you run into problems. We bring our issues, imperfections, attitudes, prejudices, preferences, and sin wherever we go, even to a celebration. I heard a story of one incident that occurred at the party and it taught me a lesson.

The little girls were running around playing. Three of them took off running to a back bedroom. Two of them ran into the bedroom and slammed the door closed. They locked little Quinn out, leaving her standing alone outside. My daughter Jessica saw this happen and she went to resolve the problem.

When she told little Quinn that she was sorry that this had happened, the response was priceless. Quinn said, “It’s ok. I thought Greta just needed some alone time”. She had thought the best of the people involved even though they were actually being mean. I thought that this was so sweet. Then I started wondering if it was wise or healthy. I decided it is the best way to be.

When we give people the benefit of the doubt and allow them to be themselves without fear of condemnation, good things happen. I would like to name just a few.

1. Quinn’s feelings weren’t hurt because she didn’t take the other girls’ behavior personally. She put the responsibility for that choice on them.
2. Quinn’s response protected the relationship between the girls. They could continue playing together without tension because Quinn wasn’t holding a grudge.
3. The choice allowed for an authority figure to intervene easily and deal with the real issue. There wasn’t a bunch of added sin issues involved that needed to be weeded through to get to the heart of the matter.
4. The soft heart and kind attitude of this precious girl brought joy to those around her.
5. Showing love and patience even when others are imperfect fulfills the law of Christ, “Love others as yourself”.
6. Gentleness and kindness glorify God.

My prayer today is that I will be more like Quinn. I want to think the best of others. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt when I do not know their motives. It is my heart’s desire to think what is good and healthy for me and those around me.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

The Sun is Amazing

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nasa.gov

nasa.gov

“The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.”
Galileo Galilei

As I was watching television last night, I heard this quote. It immediately captured my imagination. Our sun is the center of our solar system. The gravitational forces exerted by the sun keep the earth in a consistent orbit around the sun. At the same time, the sun warms the earth and its light affects life on earth. This created object was designed to do many jobs, big and small, simultaneously.

I thought about the things the sun does: Warms the earth; Provides energy; Causes photosynthesis, creating chlorophyll; dries laundry; makes vitamin D in my body; brings light; causes rainbows; creates beautiful sunsets; influences weather; etc… It is truly an amazing object.

If this one object can do so much, imagine what the God who created it can do. This thought boggled my mind. God is intelligent enough to create something that can benefit millions of people, plants and animals constantly and all at the same time. God is big enough to create a sun that can control the paths of whole planets. My God has enough power to create a star that contains unfathomable energy.

This same God didn’t just make one star like our sun. There are countless stars in the sky. Our God knows each of the stars by name. This supremely intelligent, creative, powerful, detailed being cares about me. He loves me so much that wants a personal relationship with me. How incredible is that? With all that is going on in our world and the entire universe, God wants to be in a relationship with me.

Like the sun, pouring forth energy, power and light, God affects a countless number of things all at the same time. His love reaches out and touches us in ways we don’t even comprehend. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21–23, ESV) Each new day God’s goodness dawns on our lives and warms our souls.

It is incredible that, “The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.” But today, I sit back in awestruck wonder contemplating and marveling at the fact that Almighty God has time to warm my soul and bring sweetness to my life as if He has nothing else in the universe to do.

Shining Light in the Darkness

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“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5–7, ESV)

This week I was confronted with the fact that I do not fellowship with all people regardless of their behavior and worldview. I was confronted by two different people in two different circumstances. I felt convicted to change my behavior in one circumstance. I felt that I needed to be more accepting, tolerant, understanding, and patient.

In the other situation, I did not feel that I needed to change my behavior or revisit the choice I had made. The choice I had made was to remove myself from a sinful relationship. It was a little confusing for me that I came to one conclusion in one scenario and the completely opposite conclusion in the other situation. I started to think about the dilemma in light of Scripture.

In 1 John 1:5-7, I found some answers. If we walk in the light, collectively, we all enjoy fellowship. If we walk in darkness, we do not have fellowship with the light. Paul sheds more light on this matter, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV)

I realized that it was my job to shine light into the world (Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine). As I shine the light to all equally, some will be drawn to it. They will even come from the darkest pits of sin to bask in the warmth of God’s love. I need to provide that opportunity to all without prejudice.

Although some will be saved and drawn to the goodness of God, some will not. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:20–21, ESV). Those that hate the light, will also hate those that shine with it.

As I studied this information, I realized that, at times, I withhold the light from those that I feel are unworthy of it. This is wrong. God’s love for mankind is exhibited by living in the light. As I shine, God gets glory and people get saved. I must “let this little light shine”.

I also realized that I cannot force people to live in the light. As I continue in fellowship with the Light of the World, I will lose fellowship with those that choose to stay in darkness. It is inevitable. I cannot walk in darkness with them in order to keep a relationship going. My prayer needs to be that they come out of darkness and walk with me in the light.

Jesus summed it up perfectly. ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16, ESV).

About My Father’s Business

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I have been attending some business classes over the past couple of months. It was an overview of how a multibillion-dollar company functions. We studied about financials, human resources, operations, merchandising, etc. At times, I felt like I was going into information overload. I was astounded by the enormity of the operation.

To say that I was amazed that a corporation functions with all the moving parts and variables, is a gross understatement. I am still at this moment completely blown away that all of the processes and procedures can be successfully implemented by many thousands of different people in thousands of different places to bring about a profitable result.

If a business that is organized and run by mere man can function well and provide for so many people and their needs, how much more amazing is the worldwide Church. God is the overseer of the most intricate and incredible unified organization ever. The Church is mind boggling in its diversity and scope. It amazes me that I have been chosen to be a part of what God is doing. I get to be a part of this great endeavor.

Even though I am only one small person, I matter and I make a difference. Each member makes a difference. Even in a multi-billion dollar business the least among the employees is taught to uphold the companies’ standards and practices. Each person represents the company and how well they observe the companies’ methods makes a difference in the health of the business.

I easily grasp this idea when it comes to business. It is about the bottom line, the money. How well I execute our best practices and make my metrics is the key to being successful. I need to think more like this about the church. I have key objectives to meet. I have been taught best practices and they make a difference. They hit the bottom line.

What is the bottom line in the church, because it isn’t money? Souls! What are our best practices to draw people to Christ? Love! “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” (Matthew 22:37–40, ESV)

I need to be about my Father’s business. I need to focus on the metrics. Am I loving God and man the way I should? No, not always. There is room for improvement. As I improve, I will be increasing the effectiveness of the Church. I will be a small part in bringing success to our goals and mission. I will see souls drawn to Jesus. And someday, I will celebrate in the greatest success sharing meeting ever held.

An Audience of One

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It is common for Christian’s to say that they act for an audience of one. We do what we do for God and His glory. Of course, this is not always true. Motives get confused and we desire glory, praise, and recognition.

Sometimes I get discouraged that my ministry has not grown or that I haven’t sold more books. I get distracted by the numbers and forget that I am to act for an audience of One! I learned a valuable lesson about this recently.

I minister to women in a small group setting. I teach a Bible study each week for a group of about 6 or 8 women. And of course, I do not know what they are really learning. I do not know what they apply to their lives and what changes their heart. I just keep sharing because I know that God’s Word changes hearts and lives.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:7–10, ESV)

Although I go each week and teach, there are times I get my eyes off the goal. The goal is to please God. In obedience, I play to the audience of One. But I realized there was another audience of one I also act for, the individual to whom I am ministering.

One woman in particular, Sara, taught me the importance of ministering to one. She has been attending our group for years, on and off. She was belligerent and disruptive when she first came. We continued to show love to her. I continued to teach the Word of Truth. She understood the Gospel, but it took a while before she was willing to bend her will and trust him.

Praise God. Sara now knows Jesus as her personal Savior and is learning to walk with Him daily. This miracle in one life has spurred me on. It has encouraged me. It reminded me that my ministry to one matters. It has eternal significance.

If I use my talents and gifts to reach only one other person, it is profitable. One more soul saved by the grace of God. One more heart filled with the love of Jesus. It will be another voice who is speaking the truth in love. Another life transformed and bringing glory to God. What a joy to have another Christian brother or sister to enjoy life with.

It is good to play for an audience of one.

The Will of God: Can I Know It

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My pastor preached on the will of God yesterday. It was a very good lesson. It reminded me that the will of God can be known. It is also clearly stated in the Scripture. I do not need to flounder searching for God’s will, although sometimes I still do. I just need to believe the Word of God.

I sometimes wonder if I am in the right vocation and if it is the “will of God”. As I look through scripture, vocation does not seem to be a big deal. I’m pretty sure that isn’t what is most important in being in the will of God. The Apostle Paul never said, “I am a tent maker by the will of God”. He did declare his position and authority in Christ that way though. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1, ESV). Who I am in Christ makes a difference for whether I am in the will of God or not.

It is easy for me to get sidetracked and think that I should accomplish many tasks for God to be in His will. I should get a guest blog posted. I should teach at another event. I need to prepare another slide show. The tasks may be good, but they are not the goal. The goal is sanctification and obedience to God. “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:1–3, ESV). I need to examine myself to see if I am obedient and becoming more like Christ as He sanctifies me. This is the will of God.

One other thing that I should examine daily to see if I am in the will of God is my attitude. I do forget how important this is to my submission to God’s will for my life. My way of thinking is definitely a clue as to whether I am walking in God’s will or not. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, ESV). This is an easy checklist to see if I am in a mindset that pleases God.

So today I will apply these principles. I am Shereen, a child of the Living God and friend of Jesus, by the will of God. I choose to do what I can in the power of the Spirit to be obedient to God and to please Him in all I do. I will allow Him to change my heart to make me more like Jesus, continuing the process of sanctification. My attitude will be centered in joy, trust in God, and thankfulness. In this way, I can know the will of God.