Living in Harmony (Part 2)

This continuation of my last post is pretty much word-for-word what Barry Henning preached at NCF in Saint Louis last June 2008. I’m not taking any credit for these inspiring words. I pray that this blesses you as much as it has me.
 
Photos came from a Compassion International trip to the Dominican Republic, where families traveled to meet the kids they sponsor.  As you can see, these children who have the benefit of a sponsor are healthy, happy, in Christian school, and attending a local church. Unfortunately, many kids in the Dominican Republic and all around the world are still waiting for sponsors. You can click on any photo to reach the webpage for Compassion International.

God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all.

Living In Harmony (Part 1)

This post was inspired by and birthed from a sermon preached by Barry Henning at NCF in Saint Louis back in June of 2008.  It’s not a topic I would have chosen to talk about, so maybe it is one that I need to think about and discuss.  I’ve chosen to use The Message for the scripture verses that follow, which were written by Paul to the church at Corinth.

Guilty as Charged

Regarding this next item, I’m not at all pleased.  I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best!  First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other.  I’m reluctant to believe it, but there it is.  The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will bring truth into the open and confirm it.  ~ I Cor. 11:17-19

WHO SAYS I HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE???

Where I Found a Burning Bush

This post is lengthy, but it was inspired by a sermon I heard this summer at New City Fellowship in University City, Missouri – so you KNOW it’s good stuff. 

In Numbers 6, God outlines His instructions for Nazarites, who by taking a vow were consecrating their lives to God.  The word consecrate means to set apart or to devote to the service of God.  Terms that are similar in meaning are to ordain, to anoint, and to make holy or sacred.

God spoke to Moses: “Speak to the People of Israel; tell them, If any of you, man or woman, wants to make a special Nazirite vow, consecrating yourself totally to God, you must not drink any wine or beer, no intoxicating drink of any kind, not even the juice of grapes—in fact, you must not even eat grapes or raisins. For the duration of the consecration, nothing from the grapevine—not even the seeds, not even the skin—may be eaten.

“Also, for the duration of the consecration you must not have your hair cut. Your long hair will be a continuing sign of holy separation to God.

“Also, for the duration of the consecration to God, you must not go near a corpse. Even if it’s the body of your father or mother, brother or sister, you must not ritually defile yourself because the sign of consecration to God is on your head.

“For the entire duration of your consecration you are holy to God. (Numbers 6:1-8, The Message)

As we study and consider these concepts, it is really important that we allow Scripture to inform us, rather than allowing our own culture and values to be superimposed on God’s purposes, which would limit the impact of the living Word.  Let’s get started!

The Heart of Worship

This post is dedicated to all the brave soldiers who believed in freedom and were willing to pay the price with their lives in the war against terrorism.  

Long time, no see!!!  I’ve been preoccupied with winding up the 2008-2009 school year, summer vacation, enjoying my darling children and grandchildren, and then getting back on track at work now that school is again in session.  I enjoyed the Sundays I spent at New City Fellowship in University City, Missouri.  We took a road trip to Nashville, spent a long weekend at the aLoft hotel there, where the kids and I enjoyed the pool, the comfy beds, and the big-screen TV.  Very lazy days!  We also watched a show at the MUNY in Saint Louis, a live performance of “Meet Me In Saint Louis“, and spent a lovely cool day walking around the city’s Zoo.  Visiting with my Mom, my sister and her husband, both my brothers and their wives and kids, even playing with the kitty-cats and my doggy friend Rudy, it was all lovely and memorable. 

Nevertheless, it was great to get back to my routine.  I feel really blessed, because I love my work.  I love my students, the school where I am employed, my friends and coworkers, and life in Taiwan.  It’s currently muggy and hot as blue blazes here, but every time a wisp of a breeze blows through, we are hopeful that autumn can’t be too far away.  When I first moved here, I was appalled by the lack of architectural organization and man-made landscaping.  But the warmth and goodness of the people here have won me over, and I have learned to love the wooded mountains surrounding our valley.   

But I can’t live in a bubble.  On my television screen, I watch the frightening images of terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel, to name a few; oppression, disease, and starvation in Africa; and strong-arm tactics in Iran, Myanmar, and North Korea, where people are still denied the most basic of human rights.  In the USA — “the land of the free and the home of the brave” — violent crimes occur on a daily basis.  On top of all that, we see ongoing economic turmoil, global warming, and so many other concerns.  Here in Taiwan, it is peaceful, free, and safe; but just across the Taiwan Strait, China has missiles pointed directly at us.  Our day-to-day security is precarious at best, no matter where we live.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia.  We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.   In fact, we expected to die.  But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.  And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again.  We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.   And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. ~ 2 Cor. 1:8-11

Happy Father’s Day

This is a beautiful arrangement of God’s Word…  and it would make a great responsive reading for family Bible time if divided into sections, such as about 7 verses per day, which would allow for reading the entire collection weekly.

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.
~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
~ Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
~ Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
~ Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
~ Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
~ Acts 17:28

HUNGRY

WORLD HUNGER REACHES THE ONE BILLION PEOPLE MARK.

http://tinyurl.com/n8wewt

This headline was on yahoo.com today, with the following details:

• One in every 6 people on the planet are UNDERNOURISHED and HUNGRY today.
• This is 100 MILLION more than last year. 
• Asia and the Pacific have the highest NUMBER of hungry people, at 642 million.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest RATE of hungry people, at 32 percent of the population, or 265 million people.

The WHY is complex, but appears to include the following:

• Most live in developing countries, where food prices have dropped more slowly than in richer nations.
• The global economic crisis has compounded the problem as pay rates are cut, jobs are lost, and corporations struggle to survive.  This means foreign investments decline even as the demand for trade drops.

What does this mean to YOU or ME?

Giving Glory To His Name

How often do you hear a sermon out of the book of Numbers? …Especially a message that the Holy Spirit uses to pierce your heart like a sword?  Last weekend, I enjoyed an awesome time of worship and Barry Henning’s anointed message at New City Fellowship in Saint Louis, MFCOTP (my favorite church on the planet), and now I can hardly wait to record this wisdom as well as my own thoughts. I’ve found that this process of thinking it through and writing it down helps me to reflect on what I’ve learned, internalize it, and remember it. Hopefully you can relate — and rejoice — as well.

So what treasure is to be found in Numbers?

Here’s To You, Mom

Mom will be 89 years old next month. I don’t call her much anymore.  She enjoys the calls, but every few minutes she asks me the same questions over and over.  And after we’re done talking, she either doesn’t remember that I called, or she imagines that we had a big fight (which we never have), and then I get a frantic email from my brother asking me to call back and apologize so she will calm down. Nobody warns you about how hard it is to see your Mom lose her independence, her common sense, her ability to do all the things she used to do, and especially, to be unable to remember and trust those who love her and care for her.  Fortunately, she still remembers who I am, so I send her newsy letters every few months of my travels, successes, and any funny great-grandchildren stories I can share.

Keep On Shinin’

Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.

The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm —
my great army that I sent among you.

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.

Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.

~ Joel 2:23-27 NIV

In cleaning out the rooms of my heart, there was one I have had great difficulty keeping swept clean.  It’s a bewildering room filled with blinding light and unbearable darkness.  The light represents my fondest dreams, my fairy tale future, the happy marriage to a wonderful, funny, handsome guy – the one I vowed to love forever – the one who gave me children – the one with whom I wanted to grow old and enjoy our grandchildren. The light also contains my lost self-image of an attractive, desirable woman, a successful wife and mother, one who is worthy of being cherished and blessed by her husband. 

You Have A Choice

This post is dedicated to my friend, CSF.

SUPER Mom

When my children were little, they believed everything I told them. They thought I was Super Mom!  In their eyes, I was capable of anything and everything. Maybe that’s one reason why I reveled in my position as MOM. Being your little ones’ hero is such a great place to be!

Eventually, they realized that Mom was usually the one who said NO, but Dad was — well, they worshiped the ground their Daddy walked on. He was the giver of piggy-back rides, the singer of silly songs, the guy with the widest smile, the best jokes, and the strongest shoulders in the whole wide world.

But what do kids do when Mom or Dad turn out to be less than super? Most make excuses to “cover” for those they love. They hide the bottles, the bruises, and the teary eyes, and bravely pretend that everything is okay. They learn to lay low when the going gets rough, to stay out of reach, out of sight, out of mind.

Finding Purpose in the Pain

God’s Word tells me clearly that ONLY God should be seated on the throne of my heart.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Luke 4:8 NIV

I have to remove those things that seem GOOD to me, but have taken God’s place. For each of us, this would mean different things; but for me, it means removing the idols of pleasure, comfort, indulgence, convenience, possessions, popularity, power, prestige, even the cultural idols I love, such as music, art, architecture, technology…

Not that these are evil in and of themselves, because they are not; but when I allow them to take precedence over my allegiance and service to Him, then they have usurped His place in my heart.

No P*rn, No B**bs!

I recently read on a very legitimate Christian blog that whenever the above words were used in a title, the blog’s numbers flew upward. Well, dear heart, I had to remove you from my blogroll, because my school computer won’t allow me to view your site now! AND I don’t want the IT guys thinking I’m searching those terms!

On another topic, I’ve been dragging my feet because my last major post was about cleaning house spiritually and the next one needs to be about the actual process and truth to tell, I’m not looking forward to that. It could be pretty messy, and where does one begin? But I need to take my own advice and plunge in …with both feet!

O Happy Day!

This post is simply an announcement of a NEW blog — Please have a look!

http://strength4fear.wordpress.com

I hope you will read and/or contribute to the collection of original psalms there!  The idea was to create a blog that would be both collaborative and interactive — and  it is my sincere hope that all who love to worship in spirit and in truth will enjoy this new site.  

Light in the Darkness

During this past week of being away from my usual work routine, as always, I found myself thinking in new directions and seeing things afresh.  Was it the tender green buds on the trees or the sweet fragrance of hyacinth and pansies that made me crave renewal and thirst for holiness?

      For lo, the winter is past,
      The rain is over and gone. 
      The flowers appear on the earth;
      The time of singing has come,
      And the voice of the turtledove
      Is heard in our land. 
      The fig tree puts forth her green figs,
      And the vines with the tender grapes
      Give a good smell.
      Rise up, my love, my fair one,
      And come away!   Song of Sol.  2:11-13

With God all things are possible, and his arms are ever open to a sincerely repentant heart; despite my fears and weakness, He is able to make all circumstances work together for good.  My perspective is so limited, and in the tangle of my own emotions, it is so easy to make it all about me.  But God created me for His pleasure and to glorify Him. 

WHO is GOD?

This morning was heavenly in Saint Louis as Pastor Barry Henning spoke about the single biggest issue that non-Christians struggle with — Is Jesus God?   New City Fellowship, also known as MFCOTP (My Favorite Church On The Planet),  is a montage of people representing all ages and multiple ethnicities and languages; basically, what I imagine the ideal church would be like with Jesus at the helm.   The music was joyful and heartfelt, mostly in English but also in Swahili (Kwake Yesu Nasimama = On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand).  

Announcements and Scripture verses were translated into French to accommodate some of the African refugees in the church.  L ‘Eternel est grand et tres digne de louange, Et sa grandeur est insondable.  Que chaque generation celebre tes oeuvres, Et publie tes hauts faits!  Psaume 145: 3-4

Why do other religions consider Christianity to be intolerant?   Because the cornerstone of our faith is the concept that Jesus is God.   Buddha,  Confucius,  and Mohammed never claimed to be God; however, Jesus DID, and He  invited the world  to examine His life and ministry in order to validate that claim.