Today was another sad day for the United States of America. The past several years have not been a walk in the park quite frankly. The New York Senate made a state constitutional change to allow full term abortions and to do away with the law that had protected a baby that had survived an abortion attempt. This post is not about this topic so I will not jump too far off track. With the news, and the Facebook posts and arguments for and against I just needed a break so first I hit my knees in prayer to my God and Savior pleading for this country and for the remnant that still love and serve Him to not be brought down with the godless heathens. Next, I got in His Word to look up verses that I wanted to talk about in this post. I've been mulling over this topic for a couple weeks but this is the first chance to put it in type. It's a fitting time because I know that I needed encouragement from my Bible today and I am sure that other readers do too.
Of course, we have the promises for us in God's Word but to me there are many spots and thoughts where I receive encouragement that are not necessarily promises to us. You have to look at these in a deeper way.
None of these are in anyway taken lightly or justification for sin in our lives but God's mercy and grace is so encouraging when you look at where God extended it in the Bible. These will not be in any particular order...just as they come to me.
First of all, Abraham, with whom God made His covenant, was a liar. Yet, the promise extended to Abraham was never revoked. His son Isaac was also a liar in the same lie his father told. (In case it's slipped your mind, they both lied in a new city about who their wife was) Isaac was in the lineage of Christ. His son Jacob was a deceiver--more than once! Yet he was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel from whom the tribe of Judah comes which brings the Savior.
Rahab the harlot who helped save the spies, is also in the lineage of Christ. She was the mother of Boaz who married Ruth, a non-Jew, who is a grandmother of King David.
God could have kept the lineage of Christ completely pure but He did not. I've often pondered why that is. We will never know this side of heaven but we can speculate. Maybe it is for the encouragement that I'm speaking about. That God can use anybody and that there was room for others besides the Jews! Mistakes can be forgiven, especially when you repent and turn to Him. One of the reasons I believe David is called "a man after God's own heart" is because of his humbleness after sin. He was an adulterer, and a murderer and yet a promise is made to him because of his willingness to humble himself and turn back to God.
In the New Testament Paul is used mightily even though at first he wanted nothing to do with Christ and he persecuted Christians. Peter got to preach at Pentecost even though 50 or so days prior he denied the Lord publicly. Mary Magdalene was a harlot prior to Jesus healing her of possession. She was one of the first to which Christ revealed himself after His resurrection.
All of these examples can and should give us encouragement that we are loved, forgiven and can still be used as long as we allow God to do so.
There's more!...
Psalm 103:13-14 - Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14-For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psalm 78:38-39 - But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39- For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
In this passage the psalmist is remembering God's compassion on the Israelites thus far.
The part that jumped out at me one time was the "he remembered that they were flesh" and "that we are dust". In other words, God knows we are frail. He gives us a break at times. It is because of His mercies and longsuffering that we are not consumed by His wrath.
I'm sooo thankful and grateful for His mercies!
I hope this post was an encouraging reminder to you about God's love and mercy.
Have you ever had one of those "hit you like a ton of bricks" realization moments that comes from just a statement from someone else? I had one of those awhile back from my hubby when he was venting a bit of frustration about many pastors in general. Now, let me say that we have been in full time ministry since 2003, either as my husband being the pastor or associate pastor, but he has ALWAYS been bi-vocational (worked a secular job & did ministry) in smaller churches in rural areas. Therefore, my attitude had always been to expect that the church members would & should help out around the church with both the physical & spiritual labor. After all, isn't everyone who claims to be a Christian commanded to serve the Lord? The answer is yes! How better to serve the Lord than to help at church? Yes, but as my husband said in passing recently, "Pastors need to realize that THEY were called into the ministry not the church members he was given to shepherd. Pastors need to stop expecting that there should be weekly work days at the church building and preaching guilt about not showing up when the members have worked 40+ hours that week trying to care for their families, especially if the pastor doesn't have to work a secular job."
Whew! This declaration made simply in passing, nearly knocked me over with conviction. I am going to be very open and honest and say that many, many times throughout ministry life (in every church since entering full time ministry) I have felt abandoned to do the labor. All the labor. (and quite frankly there were times that feeling was justified) I felt that no one cared. I felt that no one had to think about the church building or the things needing done in ministry because the members KNEW it would be done by the "pastor's family fairies" who would always be sure things were done. They could just go about their own lives and come to church when church time was and never give any thought to anything else. Wow! Putting that out there in raw emotion sounds very petty I realize. I am just being honest about how I have felt in the past. Many times over the years, I would grow frustrated, angry and allow myself to become bitter as I would work tirelessly at times at the church, all the while not understanding why rarely members would offer to help even when there were personal trials in our own family.
I have always said how much I love being a pastor's wife and having that be part of my identity even though ministry life is NOT a leisurely walk in the park. However, when the conviction hit recently, I suddenly realized that I must not really love being a pastor's wife. I must not really love ministry life or I'd not let serving get me down or upset, even if I feel alone. I almost cried at the very moment the thoughts came to mind. I had let my bitterness steal my joy of ministry life. I had a stinking, rotten attitude and it was taking it's toll on my mind and body. Now, in every new ministry area we go to, there is the initial excitement of a new work and meeting new people and the joy is there and you have boundless energy to dive right in with both feet. But, as time goes on in each area, if you allow the frustrations and bitterness to creep in, your attitude changes. No longer is it exciting. It becomes burdensome. It is your own attitude that has changed, even if the initial help of the members and their excitement in getting a new pastor and family has waned. You are not responsible for anyone's attitude but your own!
I suppose right here is a good place to explain exactly what is ministry. Well, in my Hebrew and Greek concordance (Old & New Testament wording) it simply means physically serving. It means to wait tables, to take care of necessary things that need tending. We usually add in the spiritual side, too, but it's the physical labor side of serving that ministry is referring to. The cleaning, the mowing, the shopping, the visiting, etc.
I have had a much better attitude lately and remembered that ministry life means doing the necessary, the extras, for those God gave us to minister to. When I looked back over the years I realized that some of the hurt I endured was justified in feeling but my poor attitude in response was not! My bitterness was not. I am a pastor's wife and with that comes great responsibility, but we accepted the call into ministry not our members.
Should we encourage our members wherever we serve to help and to be compassionate to those in the town and to spread the gospel? You bet! However, we need to be grateful for those who help when they can and not set expectations too high, for the call into full time ministry was ours not theirs.
Story about Frogs:
Two frogs were hopping through the woods together. As they talked they hopped right into a deep pit. When they realized how deep the pit was, they began trying to jump out but were unable to do so. As they continued to try to jump high enough to get out of the pit, the forest animals gathered around the top of the hole. They began yelling things such as "It's hopeless. Just give up and realize you are going to die". After some time, one of the frogs DID give up and just laid down and died. The other frog just kept trying harder and harder. The forest animals continued to yell and jump up and down swinging their arms and cupping their hands by their mouths. Finally, the frog gave one last hoorah jump and made it out. The animals were amazed and asked him why he hadn't given up like his friend. Couldn't you hear us telling you to give up? The frog told them that he was hard of hearing and when he looked up and saw them yelling and jumping up and down, he thought they were encouraging him to try.
Proverbs 18:21a o- Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
Proverbs 16:24
Everyone loves to be talked to sweetly. Sweet words warm our hearts and make us feel better. We call babies and kids cute little nicknames. Husbands & wives call each other special names (especially in private).
When husband calls me "baby", it makes me feel endeared to him. Makes me feel special to him. He only calls me that at moments when he feels close to me so I know it's a special term. He has never been someone who is overly critical or spoke negatively to me. It has been rare in our 32 years of marriage. However, those few times will come to mind at crazy times and cause pain all over again. WORDS ARE POWERFUL!
---It has been said that people will forget what you do to them but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Don't just speak empty words. WE to speak to people in a manner that the person hearing, whether child, spouse, relative or friend, BELIEVE what is being said. (empty I love yous overly said, have no real impact)
It is important for parents to talk sweetly to their kids. We should use positive words to edify, strengthen character, & make them feel loved. As mothers, we should be builders in our homes both of children & husband. - Prov. 14:1
---We tear down our homes when we are nagging & being critical of everything that someone does
---Using words like "you never" or "you always" followed by a negative statement causes feelings of failure & never good enough
---Be encouraging about what is actually right
In friendships we need to be careful of our talk - Prov. 16:28, 17:9
Gossip, that we are all guilty of at times, is very destructive. Also, there is a fine line between covering a transgression out of love and helping someone to continue in sin. While we should help up those who are down, because we which are spiritual are to restore such an one-- we are not to enable more sin. We don't have to go spread the wrong to everyone causing more destruction but neither should we not expose & confront the sin to the person. Accountability for sin is the best deterrent!
Words can be destructive or instructive. Prov. 16:21 - The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Sweet words can instruct. People will grow & blossom under an instructor (parent, teacher, pastor) if the words are spoken in truth, love & kindness. Prov. 15:2 & 7 When counseling, teaching or disciplining someone, always try to find a scripture to back up what you are saying. EX. - remind children that it is your duty given by God to discipline them & spank & show them the verses.
The opposite of sweet words is bitter words. Psalm 64:2-4 Harsh or negative words pierce like arrows & leave a wound that may never heal.
---Experts have said that physical abuse is often easier to overcome than verbal because bruises, cuts, & broken bones heal but words ring on forever in our minds.
Think about someone speaking that way from your past, whether childhood or something else. Prov. 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
--- Harsh & negative words come from anger & bitterness in the heart. It is hard to be around a person who is always angry or negative or critical.
These kinds of words contribute to people feeling unloved, unworthy, useless & rejected. People who live in the negative all the time are usually ill more often with ulcers, headaches or even serious illness.
People who have positive thoughts & give out positive comments are happy & rarely get sick.
James 3:3-10
Prov. 21:23 - Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Let me say up front that this post may be somewhat controversial. There's much in the news the past couple months about immigrants, refugees and the poor and the country is very divided on the subject. The reason for the divide is often based on misinformation being circulated by the media. Bible verses and even mottoes of the Statue of Liberty are being quoted. It's interesting to me how often Bible is misused and misinterpreted.
Let me say right off that I AM NOT AGAINST IMMIGRATION! LEGAL immigration. I believe fully that we need to secure our borders first and have good plans and laws in place to allow for people to become citizens of the USA. Good laws that ARE ENFORCED! It's absolutely ridiculous that so much is given to people who come here illegally while our veterans struggle for benefits (and don't get on here and comment that they aren't given aid, medical care, education, allowed jobs and it's even been proven that many are voting in our election system - this is the real reason many are against picture id voting) I am tired of hearing that employers are not allowed to hire undocumented immigrants when I can take you right to a company that manufactures whiskey barrels in a town in Missouri who absolutely hires illegals. Maybe if caught, the owner would get in trouble, but hasn't yet. He is quoted as saying "the Americans aren't willing to work doing what the Mexicans will". What he really means is that many won't work for the low wages he's willing to pay for hard labor and that he now doesn't have to pay FICA on the illegals because they have no social security number. Doesn't matter. ... He's not supposed to hire illegals, yet he does!
Now, about the "asylum" status. Legally, asylum is granted in the first country bordering the country they are leaving, not several away. If people were really wanting asylum from a country they feel the need to flee, why are they carrying that country's flag as they storm our border?! If I felt the need to flee some country where I was treated badly and couldn't physically and mentally survive, I'd want nothing to do with that country. I'd want no connection with it!
Now let's address the Bible verses being quoted. The commands in the Bible about caring for the needy, the orphans, the widows, etc. are being commanded either to individuals or to churches. NO WHERE IN GOD'S WORD IS IT COMMANDED THAT THE RULING GOVERNMENT TAX PEOPLE AND THEN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHO GETS THE DOLED OUT COMPASSION! As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that tax collection in the Bible times was used to make leaders richer and/or the collectors and to suppress those being taxed. Absolutely, we as individuals and as local churches, are to have compassion and help when we see a genuine need. My husband and I have helped people ourselves many times (not bragging just explaining) and our church where my husband pastors, also has helped many people in our local area and internationally, also. I am very, very thankful for the times people have stepped up and helped my family when we were in need. More than once someone has put food in our frig, freezer and pantry or given money to help take a severely hurt pet to the vet when we had no money to do so. I believe fully that it's okay to accept help when you are in need but also when you can help fill another's needs, you should. Gal. 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Still, not to come from the government. If you want to know how and why governmental aid was started you surely can google it! Even FDR had stipulations and was quoted as saying it was to be temporary and that if not temporary would lead to spiritual and moral and mental despair in individuals and then the country. This was based on the premise that people feel good about themselves when they learn to provide for themselves.
Moving on to the Statue of Liberty motto... Please do some research on your own about how citizenship was obtained years ago. I will be the first to agree that some of it was quite unethical and is good it's not still in place. Things such as charging a 50 cent per head tax on any immigrants coming from an Asian country. However, there has always been and still are rules and regulations of how to obtain citizenship. Everyone who has gone through proper and legal channels has had to follow those rules. Some of which was to prove themselves worthy to become citizens by being healthy, getting a job, learning the language, passing a written test and pledging allegiance with the United States and denouncing allegiance with any other country. Before someone wants to call me a bigot or a racist, let me just say that my Aunt was full blooded Mexican who was raised in Arizona and whose parents came to America LEGALLY many years ago when it wasn't as easy as just getting across the border somehow. They went through proper channels and became full fledged citizens. They spoke English and Spanish. They never desired to go back to Mexico to live. They were thankful for the opportunity to begin a new life and raise their children in America. My Aunt's father worked in the mines of Merenci, Arizona. I was blessed to know them and have them in my family. I AM NOT ANTI-IMMIGRANT! I, after all, am a descendant of German and Irish immigrants! I am for secured borders with laws that protect the citizens FIRST and makes allowance for those with good intentions to take steps to become an AMERICAN! Not come here and demand that every desire and culture from their homeland be enforced here in the USA. If their homeland was so wonderful, then why bother to come here?
BTW, I also find it interesting that those who will fight tooth and nail against "right to work" in a state are those fighting so hard to allow the "caravan" immigrants in who WILL lower wages and eat up jobs. Just a side note!
Well, I am sure there will be many angered by this post. I hope I have clearly articulated my position, however and will make some stop and think.
