1 Cor 9:22-23
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
This Scripture about being all things to all people used to annoy me. How can we physically, emotionally, and mentally be all things to all people?
Yesterday, I got it.
All this time, I had been reading it wrong and thus interpreting it incorrectly. The real message here is not "be what everyone wants you to be," but rather simply try and identify with the person you are communicating with!
Yesterday, it came to light that one of my daughters has been recieivng lots of encouragement and optimism regarding something that is very hard for her. Sounds good doesn't it.
But that is not even close to what she needs. She feels misunderstood and not listened to becasue of how people are brushing over how hard it is for her and only trying to get their way by "forcing" her to do something under the guise of "encouragement."
What she wants is understaniding and empathy. Perhaps if someone - anyone - could identify with her struggles, she might actually be encouraged to persevere.
It's a fine line to walk - "sympathetic" to the point of creating a pity party, or "encouraging" to the point of not listening and identifying.
What Paul is saying in this Scripture is that even though he remians strong in Christ, he tries to identify with the people group, the culture, or the individulal he is speaking with.
And indeed, Jesus was the role model for this method - as He came to earth as a lowly human so we could identify with God Almighty and hopefully listen to His message.
Not only that, but while He was here on earth, He spoke and ate with blatantly sinful people.
Today, I will try to enter into my daughter's world, and identify with her disability, her struggles, her emotions - to walk a mile in her AFO braces so to speak - and perhaps ultimately she will be encouraged.
Imagine a world where we truly tried to identify with the elderly, those with disabilities, the poor, those of different religious convictions, our boss, our employee... Imagine the kind of communication we could have.
1 Cor 9:19-23 The Message
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized — whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ — but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Unpopular
Matt 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
There are times when I am traveling my narrow road, that I am not really aware of how narrow it is. Other times when this narrow road intermingles, crosses, and travels alongside other roads on this planet - roads that are wide and populous - where immediately the comparison is evident.
It is these times I feel the stab the most. The times when it is undeniably evident that I am on the lonely isolated trail. When my choices don't fit with very many others.
Times when even the narrow path seems virtually empty.
Perhaps it's when our decision to homeschool comes to light in a waiting room in the midst of teachers and parents who send their kids to institutional schooling. Perhaps it is when others ask if we have seen a particular T.V. show and our answer is "We don't have T.V." Recently, it had to do with what I won't allow my eyes to see and ears to hear as it relates to theatre.
The more my narrow road intersects with the broad road - which happens when I am out and about in this world of ours - the more unpopular I realize I am!
As I looked up the definition of popular...
: liked or enjoyed by many people
: accepted, followed, used, or done by many people
Phil 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
There are times when I am traveling my narrow road, that I am not really aware of how narrow it is. Other times when this narrow road intermingles, crosses, and travels alongside other roads on this planet - roads that are wide and populous - where immediately the comparison is evident.
It is these times I feel the stab the most. The times when it is undeniably evident that I am on the lonely isolated trail. When my choices don't fit with very many others.
Times when even the narrow path seems virtually empty.
 |
| Choosing the narrow gate - this bridge in Kosova seemed an appropriate symbol |
 |
| My trip to Kosova came to mind as I was thinking of narrow roads! |
Perhaps it's when our decision to homeschool comes to light in a waiting room in the midst of teachers and parents who send their kids to institutional schooling. Perhaps it is when others ask if we have seen a particular T.V. show and our answer is "We don't have T.V." Recently, it had to do with what I won't allow my eyes to see and ears to hear as it relates to theatre.
The more my narrow road intersects with the broad road - which happens when I am out and about in this world of ours - the more unpopular I realize I am!
As I looked up the definition of popular...
: liked or enjoyed by many people
: accepted, followed, used, or done by many people
: of, relating to, or coming from most of the people in a country, society, or group
...I realized that anyone who has chosen the narrow road should be known as "Unpopular." It's just the way it has to be.Phil 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Trusting
I was praying for someone the other day who has been through a lot of yuck. Unfortunately, we can be let down by those we think we can trust. The thought came to my mind that there are different levels of trust we put in people and those of course we put our highest trust in cause us the most grief and heart ache when they betray or fail us in some way.
It's ironic that the One we can trust the most is often in our culture the One who is trusted the least. And even amongst us church folk, we can lose trust in His goodness, His love, and His integrity pretty quickly. And becasue we should be able to trust Him the most, it causes the most damage when we lose that trust in His very character.
But a truth blasted through that we can trust in His love because He always always acts from a character that is never self-centred. He truly never does anything for His own benefit. Everything that He does is others-centered. Just look at the cross.
Now, when I feel let down by God - "surely You could have intervened here God" - I force myself to remember He is not self-centred. His love is perfect - even though mine is not.
Rom 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
NIV
It's ironic that the One we can trust the most is often in our culture the One who is trusted the least. And even amongst us church folk, we can lose trust in His goodness, His love, and His integrity pretty quickly. And becasue we should be able to trust Him the most, it causes the most damage when we lose that trust in His very character.
But a truth blasted through that we can trust in His love because He always always acts from a character that is never self-centred. He truly never does anything for His own benefit. Everything that He does is others-centered. Just look at the cross.
Now, when I feel let down by God - "surely You could have intervened here God" - I force myself to remember He is not self-centred. His love is perfect - even though mine is not.
Rom 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
NIV
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Remembrance Moments
As a Homeschool Mom and Sunday School teacher, I am often surprised when my teaching gets forgotten! To compensate for this forgetfulness, I will ask some review questions to get everyone back up to speed. A time to remember where we left off. Of course I can't do this for every fact that is ever taught, but it does help to get the main context back in mind.
God describes Himself as our Teacher, however as His student I can be very forgetful. There are so many lessons and revelations He has taught that I have promptly gone and forgotten!
I had a sudden thought that just like those "Remembrance Moments" I do with my kids in homeschool or my Sunday School classs, I need Remembrance Moments too.
Our society recognizes the importance of having days set aside to "remember" - Remembrance Day, or Mother's Day for instance.
I believe I need Remembrance Moments each day. A few minutes set aside to ask our Lord - "What do You want me to remember today." He knows what I'll face today and need to remember. I'm thinking that would be much preferable to repeating the whole lesson!
Prov 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
NIV
God describes Himself as our Teacher, however as His student I can be very forgetful. There are so many lessons and revelations He has taught that I have promptly gone and forgotten!
I had a sudden thought that just like those "Remembrance Moments" I do with my kids in homeschool or my Sunday School classs, I need Remembrance Moments too.
Our society recognizes the importance of having days set aside to "remember" - Remembrance Day, or Mother's Day for instance.
I believe I need Remembrance Moments each day. A few minutes set aside to ask our Lord - "What do You want me to remember today." He knows what I'll face today and need to remember. I'm thinking that would be much preferable to repeating the whole lesson!
Prov 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
NIV
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
1/2 Empty or 1/2 Full
Many have heard of the analogy comparing the optimistic person to one who sees a glass as half full and those with pessimistic tendencies seeing the same glass as half empty. It's a good analogy.
The other day I used it in a bit of a different light. I have found it quite easy to see negative in those I am closest to and overlook the many positive attributes.
As I was faced with becoming frustrated by having my focus pinpointed onto a rather irritating quality of an individual, the analogy of 1/2 empty 1/2 full suddenly came to me.
I can look at an individual in this same light. I can focus on negative or the positive within the same person. It's my choice.
Immediatley my frustration was diminished as I started to think of those things that were true and good and pure and noble and of good report about this individual, and let the negative trait slide down in magnitude.
I'm pretty sure God must use this technique a lot with me!
Prov 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
NIV
The other day I used it in a bit of a different light. I have found it quite easy to see negative in those I am closest to and overlook the many positive attributes.
As I was faced with becoming frustrated by having my focus pinpointed onto a rather irritating quality of an individual, the analogy of 1/2 empty 1/2 full suddenly came to me.
I can look at an individual in this same light. I can focus on negative or the positive within the same person. It's my choice.
Immediatley my frustration was diminished as I started to think of those things that were true and good and pure and noble and of good report about this individual, and let the negative trait slide down in magnitude.
I'm pretty sure God must use this technique a lot with me!
Prov 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
NIV
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
The Fire
Who would pray for a house fire so they could find that piece of gold that would remain intact?
And who would pray for a forest fire to find a piece of silver.
God describes Himself as the "Consuming Fire," (Hebrews 12:29), and in many churches we do sing and pray for "His fire to fall." In other words we pray to get spiritually burned up and see what's left.
Perhaps I haven't asked for God's fire to truly consume me, but I have, with a very sincere heart, asked to be purified "body, mind, heart and soul" which in essence is the exact same thing.
Within seconds of that prayer many years ago, the first command I received was "Don't take a sip of that coffee" - from my morning routine cup of coffee with Bible reading.
Little did I realize that was a very small test to see if I was serious about my prayer. A very tiny aspect of "purifying my body." I was so pleased with myself for putting the mug down! How naive I was!
So many things have happened since then. Situations that God has used to test and hone character in me such as Love, Peace, Patience, Faithfulness, and Self-Contorl. Or situations that have emphasized my self-centredness, impatience and grumbling.
There are many times over the last few years in which I had forgotten my prayer of long ago, but very gently (God is a consuming fire but also gentle, kind, compassionate, and full of grace and mercy) He reminds me that purifying my body was only one aspect of my prayer. I also prayed my mind and heart and soul would be purified too!
Remarkably, once that prayer to be purified is even remotely answered and a trial or tribulation or testing comes, the most common response is to pray and ask for it to be removed.
I've done my fair share of it.
All in all though, trusting that God truly is sovereign and nothing comes to us without purpose is one of the greatest, most freeing, peace-giving lessons of all.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
NIV
And who would pray for a forest fire to find a piece of silver.
God describes Himself as the "Consuming Fire," (Hebrews 12:29), and in many churches we do sing and pray for "His fire to fall." In other words we pray to get spiritually burned up and see what's left.
Perhaps I haven't asked for God's fire to truly consume me, but I have, with a very sincere heart, asked to be purified "body, mind, heart and soul" which in essence is the exact same thing.
Within seconds of that prayer many years ago, the first command I received was "Don't take a sip of that coffee" - from my morning routine cup of coffee with Bible reading.
Little did I realize that was a very small test to see if I was serious about my prayer. A very tiny aspect of "purifying my body." I was so pleased with myself for putting the mug down! How naive I was!
So many things have happened since then. Situations that God has used to test and hone character in me such as Love, Peace, Patience, Faithfulness, and Self-Contorl. Or situations that have emphasized my self-centredness, impatience and grumbling.
There are many times over the last few years in which I had forgotten my prayer of long ago, but very gently (God is a consuming fire but also gentle, kind, compassionate, and full of grace and mercy) He reminds me that purifying my body was only one aspect of my prayer. I also prayed my mind and heart and soul would be purified too!
Remarkably, once that prayer to be purified is even remotely answered and a trial or tribulation or testing comes, the most common response is to pray and ask for it to be removed.
I've done my fair share of it.
All in all though, trusting that God truly is sovereign and nothing comes to us without purpose is one of the greatest, most freeing, peace-giving lessons of all.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
NIV
Monday, 27 January 2014
Joy
I'm feeling it again.
There are many times and reasons in life when I have felt "happy." So many examples come to mind - a good mark on an exam, spending time with a friend, my wedding! A trip to ... anywhere... a funny moment with my family, playing with the cat, feeding a chipmunk...
Then there are times when I feel gladness. This is usually due to a grateful heart. As I sit here and type I am listening to my nine year old reading Scripture to her Daddy before bed. I have gladness. It is good.
Joy though is different.
Joy is deeper.
Joy is richer
Joy can come even in the dark.
I have found this deep joy comes when:
1. I am learning something from God - a revelation of His Word and His heart.
2. I am being used by God to do His will.
There is no greater delight then learning from God. When Scriptures start to connect together and collide in sudden revelation.
The kids and I are working our way through the book of Mark in Sunday School, and all throughout the book of Mark, Jesus taught. Everywhere He went He taught. He says in Mark 1:38 that preaching/teaching is why He has come
These Aha moments and the joy of hearing from God that follow has come in many places though - the halls of the hospital to the airplane over Kosovo. It has come in various situations - on receiving devastating news or in the middle of teaching Sunday School.
Jesus is a teacher - and I love my Aha moments!
When I am being used by God, it is most often (if not always) because I am out of my comfort zone. A very exciting place to be actually. It is the place I most frequently meet God. He's always there in that zone. Of course He is in every zone, but I most often seek Him and find Him when I am in that "yikes, what do I do now" zone.
When someone asks for prayer and it seems so huge, when I am suddenly put in charge of a Ladies Bible Study in a foreign country, when I am asked to speak at a homeschooling meeting...
Because it's not about me and what I can do - it's about what God wants to do for others - through us!
So the joy comes in teaching kids Sunday School. The joy comes in homeschooling, The joy comes in reading Scripture and finding how verses relate to one another, the joy comes when I give a word in due season...
How I desire to daily live in that joy. The joy of being in constant communion with my Creator, Saviour and Teacher.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22.
There are many times and reasons in life when I have felt "happy." So many examples come to mind - a good mark on an exam, spending time with a friend, my wedding! A trip to ... anywhere... a funny moment with my family, playing with the cat, feeding a chipmunk...
Then there are times when I feel gladness. This is usually due to a grateful heart. As I sit here and type I am listening to my nine year old reading Scripture to her Daddy before bed. I have gladness. It is good.
Joy though is different.
Joy is deeper.
Joy is richer
Joy can come even in the dark.
I have found this deep joy comes when:
1. I am learning something from God - a revelation of His Word and His heart.
2. I am being used by God to do His will.
There is no greater delight then learning from God. When Scriptures start to connect together and collide in sudden revelation.
The kids and I are working our way through the book of Mark in Sunday School, and all throughout the book of Mark, Jesus taught. Everywhere He went He taught. He says in Mark 1:38 that preaching/teaching is why He has come
These Aha moments and the joy of hearing from God that follow has come in many places though - the halls of the hospital to the airplane over Kosovo. It has come in various situations - on receiving devastating news or in the middle of teaching Sunday School.
Jesus is a teacher - and I love my Aha moments!
When I am being used by God, it is most often (if not always) because I am out of my comfort zone. A very exciting place to be actually. It is the place I most frequently meet God. He's always there in that zone. Of course He is in every zone, but I most often seek Him and find Him when I am in that "yikes, what do I do now" zone.
When someone asks for prayer and it seems so huge, when I am suddenly put in charge of a Ladies Bible Study in a foreign country, when I am asked to speak at a homeschooling meeting...
Because it's not about me and what I can do - it's about what God wants to do for others - through us!
So the joy comes in teaching kids Sunday School. The joy comes in homeschooling, The joy comes in reading Scripture and finding how verses relate to one another, the joy comes when I give a word in due season...
How I desire to daily live in that joy. The joy of being in constant communion with my Creator, Saviour and Teacher.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22.
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