In 2008, Carol and I returned to Pakistan to lead a marriage conference in conjunction with a partnership forged between a ministry leader there and the mission ministry of North Point Ministries. We had been in the northern part of the country with 50 pastor couples in 2006 and experienced a wonderfully powerful demonstration of God's love for His people and grace extended to each of us. Two men in particular were noticeably unhappy at the 2006 conference and for the first day or so sought to ignore the teaching by either sleeping or arguing. However, as we noticed their belligerence and asked God to break through it, He did. By the end of our time there, these two men and their spouses had seen God's hand healing their relationship and setting them on a path to deep love and change.
When we returned two years later, we decided with the couple in charge to have Pakistani couples, who "Got It" and were still applying the principles from the 2006 conference, to come to the 2008 conference and lead small groups. This saved the churches money and gave their couples valuable training experience. I suggested that we needed at least 5 couples from the 2006 conference to help us lead small groups at the 2008 conference. We arrived at the venue in central Pakistan a day early to train those couples in small group leadership dynamics and make sure they not only "Got It" but "Still Had It".
After overcoming many obstacles to get in country and to my wonderful surprise, 2 of the 5 couples who'd agreed to lead small groups were the same two men (and their wives) who had been so set against us in the beginning of the 2006 conference. We knew it was going to be a great time again and it was!
Early in the conference week and very early one morning, Carol and I were asleep in our hotel room just across a very long bring over a river that was hardly wide enough to deserve such a huge bridge. This was the dry season, but as I came to understand, that same river spilled over the banks during the rainy season. I awoke about 3am with the words "the sun is always shining" rolling over and over in my head.
As I lay there, the words were repeated as if by someone whispering in my ear. Now, I don't usually see vision or hear audibly the voice of God, so I don't know exactly how God was doing this. However, I believed after a few replies of "Yes, I know, the sun is always shining somewhere" that it was the Holy Spirit of God who lives in each believer and therefore in me. After a few moments of this conversation, my understanding changed to "The Son is always shining".
Well, then I understood that Jesus' love, which is one of His dominant qualities and His pure motivation, always shines. He, Jesus, never stops loving us. Then seemingly as soon as I "got it", I could see Jesus (in my imagination) standing on a bridge. The bridge connected two kingdoms - perhaps islands or cities. Out of the gate to one kingdom came my wife Carol. I exited the other kingdom through a similar gate on the other end of the bridge. We met Jesus and held Him and He held us. We stood at the center of the bridge, and, you guessed it, "the Son was shining". His love radiated from Him to us and through us to one another.
I thought of "a cord of three strands is not easily broken" from Ecclesiastes 4: 12.
Instantly, I left the union of the three and returned to my kingdom. I was angry about what I didn't know, but somehow Carol had wronged me. I retreated to my kingdom (The Kingdom of Dave) and pulled the gate closed and held it tightly. The gate would spring open if I let it go. It's natural state was open, and I had to work to keep it closed. Then as if on cue, storm clouds rolled over me into the once clear blue sky and made their way toward Jesus and Carol. Somehow my storm and the darkness generated by it covered Carol, and she was caught in the shadow of my storm. But, the Son was still shining. His love for her was available to her. His love for me was also available, but I did not feel it, want it, or ask for it. Until a change of heart occurred behind my gate and I released the opening gate and ran to meet Carol and Jesus back on the bridge. The clouds were gone. The Son was still shining.
I finally went back to sleep but that dream or imagined picture has stayed with me.
I realized that several truths from the image of the bridg could help me love Carol more as Jesus does in the days ahead:
1. The gate of our relationship is not naturally closed. I had to hold it shut as an act of my will. My muscles ached, my hands cramped, and I became exhausted from the stress of my stubbornness.
2. Carol's gate to the Kingdom of Carol was in her control, not mine. I could knock. I could call out, but only she had the power to choose to release the gate and open to me again.
3. Jesus never moved but invited us to stay with Him on the bridge, in the sunlight, and Son-love.
4. When I run from Jesus into my kingdom, nothing good comes to Carol from me. She lives in the shadow of Dave until the time, I rejoin her and Jesus on the bridge.
5. Of the 3 strands of the cord formed of Carol, Jesus, and me, only Jesus remains constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never thins, unravels, or breaks.
Did you know the Son is always shining?
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
In the Boxes - A Treasure, A Gift
I found a tape (remember those cassette thingies?) today as we searched the storage room boxes. The message on the tape was dated 2004 and contained the funeral service conducted in Naples, Florida by a former pastor for a dear friend. I hope I never forget either of these great men.
Don Johnson, not the Miami Vice one, was a man who had been addicted to alcohol most of his life, ruined his family, tortured his body, and died much younger, in my opinion, than he would have had he lived free of the abuse.
Thankfully the alcohol was not Don's true or final identity. During his 5th program to beat the alcohol, Don came to faith in Jesus Christ at Dunklin Center in the everglades region of south Florida. He broke free from the "god of alcohol", that he'd worshiped most of his life, and switched to worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. As the taped message progressed, I heard the pastor Dr. Hayes Wicker, that other great man I mentioned in the opening paragraph, reminding all of the last 2 decades of Don's life. I was struck by the power and love of God and listened in awe to the testimony of our Lord Jesus and His power to redeem, heal, renew, and resurrect a life. Don's. Mine. Yours?
Don ran from the very God who loved Him well and wanted to give him a life of abundance. Don tried for 50+ years to live a life worth living on his own terms and would have failed and died a lonely, isolated man; but our Jesus - His Lord and mine - found Don and continued to reach out a hand of love to Him though Don had slapped that hand away time and time again. I guess the hand that took the nails of the cross is not thwarted in its work by a slap from you or from me. Jesus really loves.
Don Johnson, the man I knew well from 1999 to 2001 and conversed with sporadically after 2001, was a man filled with love and acceptance. He got forgiveness from God and from those he'd wronged, especially his own family. Don and I had true spiritual fellowship with each other around the things of God. I have known many great men in my life, and Don Johnson is one of the greatest.
He didn't die wealthy or leave much behind except a powerful legacy for his family quite different from the one he'd begun years before. He left a heritage of investing in the lives of men whose lives were as lost as his had been, of loving the unlovable rejects of our society, and of watching God miraculously restore others in the way He had restored Don.
I hadn't contemplated Don's life to this degree in several years, and the exercise gripped my heart as I remembered how I loved him and he loved me, and as I realized what an impact Don Johnson had on my life for good and for eternity.
May I suggest that the ordinary man who places his life in the hands of our extraordinary Savior Jesus Christ will live an extraordinary life of accomplishment, impact, and personal peace. The high calling of God is on you and me to live a life of abundance so others will know we love as Jesus, obey God as Jesus, and produce lasting fruit in this life for eternity by the power of the Holy Spirit. Don Johnson did that and today is with His Savior and mine. Yours?
Don Johnson, not the Miami Vice one, was a man who had been addicted to alcohol most of his life, ruined his family, tortured his body, and died much younger, in my opinion, than he would have had he lived free of the abuse.
Thankfully the alcohol was not Don's true or final identity. During his 5th program to beat the alcohol, Don came to faith in Jesus Christ at Dunklin Center in the everglades region of south Florida. He broke free from the "god of alcohol", that he'd worshiped most of his life, and switched to worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. As the taped message progressed, I heard the pastor Dr. Hayes Wicker, that other great man I mentioned in the opening paragraph, reminding all of the last 2 decades of Don's life. I was struck by the power and love of God and listened in awe to the testimony of our Lord Jesus and His power to redeem, heal, renew, and resurrect a life. Don's. Mine. Yours?
Don ran from the very God who loved Him well and wanted to give him a life of abundance. Don tried for 50+ years to live a life worth living on his own terms and would have failed and died a lonely, isolated man; but our Jesus - His Lord and mine - found Don and continued to reach out a hand of love to Him though Don had slapped that hand away time and time again. I guess the hand that took the nails of the cross is not thwarted in its work by a slap from you or from me. Jesus really loves.
Don Johnson, the man I knew well from 1999 to 2001 and conversed with sporadically after 2001, was a man filled with love and acceptance. He got forgiveness from God and from those he'd wronged, especially his own family. Don and I had true spiritual fellowship with each other around the things of God. I have known many great men in my life, and Don Johnson is one of the greatest.
He didn't die wealthy or leave much behind except a powerful legacy for his family quite different from the one he'd begun years before. He left a heritage of investing in the lives of men whose lives were as lost as his had been, of loving the unlovable rejects of our society, and of watching God miraculously restore others in the way He had restored Don.
I hadn't contemplated Don's life to this degree in several years, and the exercise gripped my heart as I remembered how I loved him and he loved me, and as I realized what an impact Don Johnson had on my life for good and for eternity.
May I suggest that the ordinary man who places his life in the hands of our extraordinary Savior Jesus Christ will live an extraordinary life of accomplishment, impact, and personal peace. The high calling of God is on you and me to live a life of abundance so others will know we love as Jesus, obey God as Jesus, and produce lasting fruit in this life for eternity by the power of the Holy Spirit. Don Johnson did that and today is with His Savior and mine. Yours?
Storage Capacity versus Unwanted Baggage
Working to clean our storage room with Carol during some free days after Christmas has prompted me to enter this post on Storage Capacity versus Unwanted Baggage. I didn't know this labor of love with Carol would have such an impact on my thinking. I did think my back might feel it more than my heart. Guess not. :)
From the December 16-18 weekend together with all 13 (now that Reagan Elizabeth Adams is out where we can see her), my Mom now 98, and my extended family in Kentucky to the December 23-25 weekend in Georgia with part of our family and some other dear friends, we may have had the greatest Christmas so far.
I know you understand that the "greatness" of this Christmas had little to do with gifts received and much to do with the gifts given and time with those we love and who love us. This year there was more joy, more peace, and more love experienced in all the places where we were privileged to have Christmas celebrations.
A question has surfaced during this time, that I want to write about and hopefully develop in coming weeks.
Here is the question:
Why can't family members be the people with whom we discuss tough issues, seek help with problems, expose needs of advice or resources, or tap expertise for starting new ventures?
This question was sparked by the realization that some, many in fact, in my extended family are hurting from a myriad of problems - some self-inflicted problems and others from circumstances of just being alive in this world. But, most of us in the family found out about the issues only after years have passed and much Unwanted Baggage is now carried by young and old alike. Even when help was offered from caring individuals in the family, that help was either ignored or refused - with the possible exception of one situation that is developing currently.
Another way to phrase the question more simply may be ...
Why don't family members trust each other reaching out for help as help is needed?
Or why do we wait so long, seek help from complete strangers, or seek no help at all when loving family members are so readily available?
I know the stock answers are pride, fear of rejection, etc. Blah, blah, blah! As real as these reasons are, my question remains.
I was told by a friend some years ago that Jewish families have the fewest number of juvenile delinquents due to the depth of the family connections and the maintenance of healthy family traditions. I don't know if that is still true, but it seems to me that Christian families should and could be equally as functional IF we translate love for each other as Jesus does.
In other words, what if we "loved one another as He loves us", if we "spoke the truth to each other in love", if we "rejoiced with those who rejoice and wept with those who week"; if we "let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth but only that which is good and that builds up another, speaking according to the need of the moment"; if we "did not let the sun go down on our anger"..... ? You get the idea.
Not sure about your family system, but my family - though filled with wonderful people who have much to offer - was historically a system where little deep discussion occurred, where political differences were and are points of contention rather than discussion, where more conversations were had ABOUT another family member rather than WITH that person, and where little was ever confronted in keeping with the "speak the truth in love" principle held in high esteem in scripture as a sign of maturity much like that of Christ's.
Consequently we - many of us....not you, I hope - walk through life with Unwanted Baggage of unresolved hurt and guilt rather than our Storage Capacity filled with wonderful memories of love given and love received. Please don't misunderstand. I don't believe we are all "walking basket cases" of bleeding hearts and phony lives. In fact, I think we've done pretty well with the truths we've experienced and the efforts we've invested in loving others as Jesus does. We Christians are still the most giving, caring, forbearing, and accepting people in the world, so far as I have seen in my travels over 40 + years of ministry. But for some reason we can do great things in the world without much assessment or examination of what is happening behind the closed doors of our own homes.
...Still blows me away to think of how little training or mentoring we get from Bible scholars, teachers, and preachers about the clear command of loving each other "as Jesus loves us". Isn't it easy to read or speak those words but hard to actually do it or know what Jesus even means by His command?
So, if you are interested in learning more about giving Jesus' love and if you have time to read a previous blog "Four Questions for Two Lists", that might be a great place to start. Reading I Corinthians 13, John 13, and Ephesians 3 and 4 give a very clear picture of how vital God's love to us and through us is. Without His love motivating our lives it seems to me that there isn't much worth doing.
We go through life accumulating Unwanted Baggage when that space in our hearts should be filled, could be filled, and by God's grace will be filled with memories of love received and given, forgiveness received and given, and abundant lives lived to the glory of God.
From the December 16-18 weekend together with all 13 (now that Reagan Elizabeth Adams is out where we can see her), my Mom now 98, and my extended family in Kentucky to the December 23-25 weekend in Georgia with part of our family and some other dear friends, we may have had the greatest Christmas so far.
I know you understand that the "greatness" of this Christmas had little to do with gifts received and much to do with the gifts given and time with those we love and who love us. This year there was more joy, more peace, and more love experienced in all the places where we were privileged to have Christmas celebrations.
A question has surfaced during this time, that I want to write about and hopefully develop in coming weeks.
Here is the question:
Why can't family members be the people with whom we discuss tough issues, seek help with problems, expose needs of advice or resources, or tap expertise for starting new ventures?
This question was sparked by the realization that some, many in fact, in my extended family are hurting from a myriad of problems - some self-inflicted problems and others from circumstances of just being alive in this world. But, most of us in the family found out about the issues only after years have passed and much Unwanted Baggage is now carried by young and old alike. Even when help was offered from caring individuals in the family, that help was either ignored or refused - with the possible exception of one situation that is developing currently.
Another way to phrase the question more simply may be ...
Why don't family members trust each other reaching out for help as help is needed?
Or why do we wait so long, seek help from complete strangers, or seek no help at all when loving family members are so readily available?
I know the stock answers are pride, fear of rejection, etc. Blah, blah, blah! As real as these reasons are, my question remains.
I was told by a friend some years ago that Jewish families have the fewest number of juvenile delinquents due to the depth of the family connections and the maintenance of healthy family traditions. I don't know if that is still true, but it seems to me that Christian families should and could be equally as functional IF we translate love for each other as Jesus does.
In other words, what if we "loved one another as He loves us", if we "spoke the truth to each other in love", if we "rejoiced with those who rejoice and wept with those who week"; if we "let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth but only that which is good and that builds up another, speaking according to the need of the moment"; if we "did not let the sun go down on our anger"..... ? You get the idea.
Not sure about your family system, but my family - though filled with wonderful people who have much to offer - was historically a system where little deep discussion occurred, where political differences were and are points of contention rather than discussion, where more conversations were had ABOUT another family member rather than WITH that person, and where little was ever confronted in keeping with the "speak the truth in love" principle held in high esteem in scripture as a sign of maturity much like that of Christ's.
Consequently we - many of us....not you, I hope - walk through life with Unwanted Baggage of unresolved hurt and guilt rather than our Storage Capacity filled with wonderful memories of love given and love received. Please don't misunderstand. I don't believe we are all "walking basket cases" of bleeding hearts and phony lives. In fact, I think we've done pretty well with the truths we've experienced and the efforts we've invested in loving others as Jesus does. We Christians are still the most giving, caring, forbearing, and accepting people in the world, so far as I have seen in my travels over 40 + years of ministry. But for some reason we can do great things in the world without much assessment or examination of what is happening behind the closed doors of our own homes.
...Still blows me away to think of how little training or mentoring we get from Bible scholars, teachers, and preachers about the clear command of loving each other "as Jesus loves us". Isn't it easy to read or speak those words but hard to actually do it or know what Jesus even means by His command?
So, if you are interested in learning more about giving Jesus' love and if you have time to read a previous blog "Four Questions for Two Lists", that might be a great place to start. Reading I Corinthians 13, John 13, and Ephesians 3 and 4 give a very clear picture of how vital God's love to us and through us is. Without His love motivating our lives it seems to me that there isn't much worth doing.
We go through life accumulating Unwanted Baggage when that space in our hearts should be filled, could be filled, and by God's grace will be filled with memories of love received and given, forgiveness received and given, and abundant lives lived to the glory of God.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Upside and Down - 2011 in review
The "up side" of 2011: (some of it)
We have had 4 paychecks in a row!!! Woohoo! I believe that is 10 of 26 checks for the year. Don't hear this as a complaint or a bummer. God's provision for us has come in many forms and from many places and people.
Seeing how many people believe in us and what God has called us to do brings a thrill to our hearts and a lump in our throats when we realize the responsibility to use wisely the resources God sends through others.
We saw progress in every couple with whom we've worked in mentoring this year! Not all are "out of the woods" but at least they are together still walking in the woods versus running through the woods in opposite directions. Real people have real problems and need God's real solutions from real people who love them and will patiently speak truth when the doors open to the heart.
The wonderful church in North Carolina is moving toward their own effective marriage ministry after a successful launch of an Intimate Encounters class. Thirty or so couples completed the course, and we heard several of their stories of love-filled redemption when we were on location the last few times we taught the class.
The pastor at the North Carolina church gets it and wants his family, church, and community to get how loved they are and how to love others into Christ's kingdom. He knows how the enemy of Christ hates it when the Church loves as Jesus commands and empowers, especially when the one doing the loving actually starts at home going out to serve from a base-station of authenticity and Holy Spirit power.
We got to meet a few of the couples on a deeper level and watch God transform and deepen these marriages, changing the future family tree forever. Some have begun the steps to invite Jesus to heal their pain from the past and replace dysfunction with the freedom only Christ gives.
Our conferences or speaking engagements in Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania; Young Harris, Georgia; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Rome, Georgia, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Austell, Georgia; Princeton, Kentucky, Concord, North Carolina, and in Kingston, Tennessee provided environments for God's hand to move in many couples to, as one lady stated it, "see God work more in a short time than she'd ever seen". Another pastor/leader admitted, after hearing another couple's story of God's healing transformation after an affair, shared humbly that "he didn't know God still did those kinds of miracles".
Mentoring several young men and being guided by trusted advisers, some on our board and some not, have resulted in deeper heart connections and friendships. No one person possesses the wisdom and maturity needed to lead a ministry, guide a family, and handle relationships adequately. We need each other. God designed the Church, the body of Christ, to function as a loving family who speak "the truth in love" and who "comfort one another" as well as "exhort one another".
I have believed for many years that a family or a Christian-led organization should function in health, care, and wisdom from God and show itself quite a different environment from what most people experience in their work place and family systems. That is the difference Jesus makes!
The "down side" of 2011: (some of it)
In my own family (extended family) we have and are experiencing some really difficult days. Among the mentor couples with whom we work, their struggles are crushing at times. Feeling rejected by those we love - in the family and outside it - as we watch unwise choices result in great pain for many leads to suffering in our hearts as well.
Struggling at times with trusting God for financial resources to keep going gets tough at times.
Seeing new responsibilities or opportunities arise and trying to discern which we do and which ones we pass by causes us heartache, since we'd like to work with and help, where possible, everyone we meet.
Seeing my family struggle through these challenges and being rejected or feeling like a "failure" when couples continue to suffer or churches focus resources on everything but marriage and family bring a level of internal conflict that must be addressed, faced, and defeated.
With all that said, our marriage is stronger; our family, more resolute; our focus, more defined; our financial situation, less stressful; our faith, more finely tuned; and God's hand, more clearly seen and felt. We believe we are doing what God has clearly called us to do in a way that only He can get the honor and praise.
I believe this to be true because financially we have nothing but His provision; ministry-wise we have no leverage or network except what He has brought and is bringing. Though we don't know all God is doing, we are amazed to see Him at work by His Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, changing hearts, lives, families, ministries, and legacies to His glory.
So, bring on the roller coaster ride of life. We are in God's keeping and care. He has been and is faithful to keep His promises. He loves us and we prayerfully serve others to introduce them to Jesus and His love so we and they can "live loved and give love freely....starting at home".
We have had 4 paychecks in a row!!! Woohoo! I believe that is 10 of 26 checks for the year. Don't hear this as a complaint or a bummer. God's provision for us has come in many forms and from many places and people.
Seeing how many people believe in us and what God has called us to do brings a thrill to our hearts and a lump in our throats when we realize the responsibility to use wisely the resources God sends through others.
We saw progress in every couple with whom we've worked in mentoring this year! Not all are "out of the woods" but at least they are together still walking in the woods versus running through the woods in opposite directions. Real people have real problems and need God's real solutions from real people who love them and will patiently speak truth when the doors open to the heart.
The wonderful church in North Carolina is moving toward their own effective marriage ministry after a successful launch of an Intimate Encounters class. Thirty or so couples completed the course, and we heard several of their stories of love-filled redemption when we were on location the last few times we taught the class.
The pastor at the North Carolina church gets it and wants his family, church, and community to get how loved they are and how to love others into Christ's kingdom. He knows how the enemy of Christ hates it when the Church loves as Jesus commands and empowers, especially when the one doing the loving actually starts at home going out to serve from a base-station of authenticity and Holy Spirit power.
We got to meet a few of the couples on a deeper level and watch God transform and deepen these marriages, changing the future family tree forever. Some have begun the steps to invite Jesus to heal their pain from the past and replace dysfunction with the freedom only Christ gives.
Our conferences or speaking engagements in Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania; Young Harris, Georgia; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Rome, Georgia, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Austell, Georgia; Princeton, Kentucky, Concord, North Carolina, and in Kingston, Tennessee provided environments for God's hand to move in many couples to, as one lady stated it, "see God work more in a short time than she'd ever seen". Another pastor/leader admitted, after hearing another couple's story of God's healing transformation after an affair, shared humbly that "he didn't know God still did those kinds of miracles".
Mentoring several young men and being guided by trusted advisers, some on our board and some not, have resulted in deeper heart connections and friendships. No one person possesses the wisdom and maturity needed to lead a ministry, guide a family, and handle relationships adequately. We need each other. God designed the Church, the body of Christ, to function as a loving family who speak "the truth in love" and who "comfort one another" as well as "exhort one another".
I have believed for many years that a family or a Christian-led organization should function in health, care, and wisdom from God and show itself quite a different environment from what most people experience in their work place and family systems. That is the difference Jesus makes!
The "down side" of 2011: (some of it)
In my own family (extended family) we have and are experiencing some really difficult days. Among the mentor couples with whom we work, their struggles are crushing at times. Feeling rejected by those we love - in the family and outside it - as we watch unwise choices result in great pain for many leads to suffering in our hearts as well.
Struggling at times with trusting God for financial resources to keep going gets tough at times.
Seeing new responsibilities or opportunities arise and trying to discern which we do and which ones we pass by causes us heartache, since we'd like to work with and help, where possible, everyone we meet.
Seeing my family struggle through these challenges and being rejected or feeling like a "failure" when couples continue to suffer or churches focus resources on everything but marriage and family bring a level of internal conflict that must be addressed, faced, and defeated.
With all that said, our marriage is stronger; our family, more resolute; our focus, more defined; our financial situation, less stressful; our faith, more finely tuned; and God's hand, more clearly seen and felt. We believe we are doing what God has clearly called us to do in a way that only He can get the honor and praise.
I believe this to be true because financially we have nothing but His provision; ministry-wise we have no leverage or network except what He has brought and is bringing. Though we don't know all God is doing, we are amazed to see Him at work by His Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, changing hearts, lives, families, ministries, and legacies to His glory.
So, bring on the roller coaster ride of life. We are in God's keeping and care. He has been and is faithful to keep His promises. He loves us and we prayerfully serve others to introduce them to Jesus and His love so we and they can "live loved and give love freely....starting at home".
Friday, November 18, 2011
Top Ten Relational Needs*
(examples in scripture)
Acceptance - deliberate and ready reception with a favorable positive response, even after failure (Rom. 15:7). (Jesus accepted Peter even after Peter’s failure.)
Affection – to communicate care and closeness through physical touch and words (Rom. 16:16). (Jesus had compassion and loved disciples to the end.)
Appreciation – to communicate with words and feelings a personal gratefulness for another (I Cor. 11:2). (Jesus welcomed children-was not bothered by them.)
Approval – expressed commendation; to think and speak well of (Rom. 14:18). (Jesus commended the Roman centurion for his faith.)
Attention – to take thought of another and convey appropriate interest and support; to enter into another’s “world” (I Cor. 12:25). (Jesus entered ours.)
Comfort (empathy) – to come alongside with word, feeling and touch; to give consolation with tenderness (Rom. 12:15). (Jesus wept with friends.)
Encouragement – to urge forward and positively persuade toward a goal (I Thes. 5:11, Heb. 10:24). (Jesus sent his disciples out to do kingdom work.)
Respect – to value and regard highly; to convey great worth (Rom. 12:10). (Jesus expressed value to the adulterous woman who was brought for judgment.)
Security – confidence of harmony in relationships; free from harm (Rom. 12:16a). (Jesus promised to be with us “even to the end of the age”.)
Support – come alongside and gently help carry a load (Gal. 6:2). (Jesus was with his disciples through celebration and challenging times and left His Spirit.)
*List was adapted from Intimate Encounters Workbook, page 12; Relationship Press, POBox 201808, Austin
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Who Occupies "Your Name" Street?
Haven't you heard people say "follow your heart"? I know folks mean well and want us to do what our heart leads us to do. Sometimes that leads us to pursue the passion of our life and leads to fulfillment, but other times the "follow your heart" philosophy leads us into a mindless direction with a destination of unintended consequences.
You probably won't believe I am going to keep this short, but all I ask is that you and I consider Who occupies the streets of our heart? Who owns your soul? Is your street open to any and all comers or only a few? Are you selective about those you allow into your heart? I know we are to love others, but we are not to be controlled by just anyone.
May I suggest you consider Jesus Christ as the One who alone can and will occupy your heart with the power to keep you loved and the love to use His power always for your good and His glory. His plan for you is really grand. He will do "exceeding, abundantly" above everything you ever asked or imagined.
The consequences of His occupying "your name" street will not result in wasted, unintended consequences but will result in so much more than you can even dream. How comforting and reassuring to be occupied by such a Savior as one who took my unintended consequences of pain and sin on Himself. With my sin and yours on Him, He died to pay the penalty our sin deserved, then He was buried and rose again as the only name "by which we must be saved."
I surely hope He owns your heart and mine....all of it...without reservation. Apparently allowing Christ into our lives to occupy "your name" street will result in our being able to occupy streets of gold in eternity where He lives and invites us to come.
You probably won't believe I am going to keep this short, but all I ask is that you and I consider Who occupies the streets of our heart? Who owns your soul? Is your street open to any and all comers or only a few? Are you selective about those you allow into your heart? I know we are to love others, but we are not to be controlled by just anyone.
May I suggest you consider Jesus Christ as the One who alone can and will occupy your heart with the power to keep you loved and the love to use His power always for your good and His glory. His plan for you is really grand. He will do "exceeding, abundantly" above everything you ever asked or imagined.
The consequences of His occupying "your name" street will not result in wasted, unintended consequences but will result in so much more than you can even dream. How comforting and reassuring to be occupied by such a Savior as one who took my unintended consequences of pain and sin on Himself. With my sin and yours on Him, He died to pay the penalty our sin deserved, then He was buried and rose again as the only name "by which we must be saved."
I surely hope He owns your heart and mine....all of it...without reservation. Apparently allowing Christ into our lives to occupy "your name" street will result in our being able to occupy streets of gold in eternity where He lives and invites us to come.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Special Delivery!
On Wednesday, November 9th at 3:16 pm, we welcomed the newest addition to our family - Ms. Reagan Elizabeth Adams. She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz, was 20 in long, and is just as sweet as she can be! We are so grateful for the continued blessings of God on our family and ministry.
The Adams Family:
Nathan, Suzanne, Evan, Jonathan, and Reagan
"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."
Psalm 127:3-4a
Grandaddy, Grandmommy, Suzanne, and Reagan
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