September 1, 2014 1 Peter 4:10 Our Talents....God's Gifts

1 Peter 4:10

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace......

And this is where we waste a lot of time.... What is our gift? What gift has God bestowed on us? What category does it fit in? What is the best quiz to take to identify it....to reconfirmed it....or to maybe identify us another one....

We analyze and analyze and analyze.....all the while the very gifts that He has bestowed on us wait....and the world moves on in spite of our inaction.

We know when we are amongst someone gifted by the Father...whether it be someone gifted by preaching, teaching or loving to watch them do what God has created them to do is to experience a bit of heaven on earth. Tae's gift was with children...and not just any children but children that were seemingly unloved especially those with special needs. I've seen her walk in a room that reduces most grown men and women into tears and that is where she would shine the brightest....I don't ever remember her taking a test or quiz to figure it out but I remember one time after our Special Friend's Class at Ridgecrest Baptist she said with the biggest smile "That is what heaven will be like!" That is where she felt closest to God.... Always did.

God gave us gifts and talents to go and do.....to use them to serve others...to further His kingdom....His Name. I'm not saying that it is wrong to seek guidance and help if you are having difficulty finding where you fit....but I do think most of us have a pretty clear idea where that is......it is that place when you feel like this is what I was created to do....and truthfully, it is probably not the most glamorous, worldly popular nor worldly recognizable deed....but it is the deed that is recognized by the King...... I find that it is in moments apart from others, in quiet corners, cardboard houses or amongst mounds trash....day in and day out.....that I see God's hand upon my life.... Perseverance, when no one is looking, when the days run together...yet, the faces become more and more familiar..... Does the desire to reach beyond normal boundaries count as a spiritual gift? I don't know......but I do know that God has blessed me with this desire from as young as I can remember.....and this is where I feel closest to God. This is where I feel in my spirit.... This is what I was created to do.

So what is it? What talent do you have that God has given you to further His kingdom? If you already know it, are you using it to its furthest potential? Do you hide it waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it? Do you help your children identify their talents and help them explore ways that they can use them for God's glory?

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August 31, 2014 1 Peter 4:9 Unexpected Guests......

1 Peter 4:9

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

I'm too busy. Our house isn't big enough. We've had a long week. The kids are cranky. We haven't grocery shopped this week. I haven't had a shower yet. The games on TV....... and so we don't offer hospitality to our friends and neighbors.

Yet, real hospitality....the hospitality that Peter talks about isn't entertaining guests in our home it is hospitality.... It is inviting them in when they come to our door and offering them what we have to offer...... It is inviting them over when the Holy Spirit prompts us even when we have a million personal reasons not to.....

We focus on them....their needs and not our own. Of course, this is what we do when we entertain people at our house, yes? We bring out our best food, plates.....our best for them to experience. But what about when you haven't planned, when it isn't your idea, when your best isn't ready to be presented.....or can't even be found?

House is messy? Kids unruly? Only water to drink? What about then?

This is when I believe true hospitality comes alive.... For some of us, it comes easy...for the rest of us, we must allow Christ to work through us in order to allow it to happen.

I've seen vast differences in hospitality while living here. For those who have come to serve with us down here, you've experienced it. The hospitality extended even though material possessions are greatly limited. The warmth extended even though furniture is sparse. The sharing of food even when it isn't plentiful. Is this how we do hospitality? All the time?
Yes, some of it is cultural....but that is only found in the type of offering-tortillas as opposed to pie:). We are all called to help meet the needs of those God sends our way.... A place to stay (even if just for a moment), something to eat or drink (even if it is all we have) or just a listening ear....and we are called to it without grumbling....

We are called to be Christians, salt of this world, light in a dark world, His hands and feet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week..... It is not a 9 to 5 gig.... It doesn't end with the evening news....

Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that we shouldn't forget to entertain strangers for in doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it....and that's pretty cool. Remember, it really isn't about us at all.....never has been.

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August 30, 2014 satan's lies.....

I remember vividly the night that Tae died.... I remember hearing among many things satan's lies trying to weave their way into my heart and mind... Trying to distract me, discourage me....kick us while we were down. I remember thinking that night that I would never laugh again, that there would be no more joy in this world, that I should find the closest corner, curl up and never come out.....and with each of those thoughts, I'd go to God's word....sometimes I couldn't see through the tears so I would just hold His word knowing that the Holy Spirit would intercede for me.... I write this tonight to encourage anyone walking a journey that is difficult to turn to God's word....first. Not as last resort but first. It is the only constant in an ever changing world with the power to cause satan to flee... Stills the noise and calms.....

I remember when Jesus was in the storm on the boat with his disciples.....He was sleeping and they thought they would surely die in that storm....a storm that He didn't seem to care about.... And He calmed the storm with His hands to calm His disciples but all the while saying .... Don't you guys get it? I think that was us.... He has this storm....and has been faithful again and again.
With each lie from satan, God reaffirmed Truth....and we have laughed, experienced unspeakable joy, experienced ministry deeper than we would have ever imagined and have seen His greatness throughout.

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August 30, 2014 1 Peter 4:8 Love Isn't Only for Weddings.....

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Love, love, love....

And by showing love a multitude of our sins will be covered..... Our sins.... Not our neighbors, not our families not our enemies but our own sins against others will be covered.

It begins with us.....the only choice that we have control of is our own.... We can choose to respond out of love or we can choose to respond from a worldly position.... Our choice.
But what if it doesn't come naturally to love certain people, those that hurt us, talk bad about us to others, call us names, physically abuse us....how do we love them? And what, what would that love even look like?

I recently read Corrie Ten Boom's book, "The Hiding Place"....and this is how one allows Christ's love to flow through them even amidst the greatest of adversity. Her sister....wow, what a testimony. I look at Christ and the cross....from His "trial" to the "end"......only love.

It is other-worldly. It is God. It is choosing to say "I forgive" or choosing not to respond in like manner but rather continuing to pray for those who have hurt. Love is so much more than "fake" hearts and romance..... We are told in 1 Corinthians that love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres....never fails.....

We often hear this read at weddings and I'm afraid because of this...we set it aside for love in our marriages...for husbands and wives.... But nothing says that this section is reserved for marriages only.... This is love. This is how we are called to respond in every act, every gesture in our life..... And what I LOVE is that a lot of love is refraining from doing something bad! So, when I am wronged, I show love when I don't respond in anger back.... I don't have to become best friends with this person, I don't have to respond as the lies satan weaves....." Well, to show true love one must hug and make up" when I don't want to touch the other person.... No, love....true love, is allowing Christ to work through us....not showing "worldly" love.....but Godly love...... And there is a difference.

Let's watch our every actions today..... Love.....

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August 29, 2014 1 Peter 4:7 The End.

1 Peter 4: 7

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

I have to be completely honest...every since Taellor's departure from this earth, her death, her passing...whatever label we want to put on it....I have had to resist putting a sign around my neck that reads "The end is near."

I know there is a fine line between being passionate and being labeled so crazy that no one will listen.....but, listen, listen with not just your ears but your very soul....the end is near. Whether our end comes by the return of Christ or by our personal end here.....it is near. Be prepared, be ready, always.

What controls your mind today? What do you think about? God? The kingdom? Where does that fit in your thoughts? How much time today will you spend in your Bible...reading His words? The end is near, dear friend....it is.

I have been asked by several people....How do I experience God? I feel Him on the mission field...but not in my own life. He isn't doing anything. Abraham waited a long time for his promised son.....a long time. God was working that whole time...the whole time in his life...preparing him to be the father of that son...preparing his character. We tend to look upon our lives and note only the places that we see action....but character is built in the journey...in the quiet disciplines...in the moments when satan will whisper to us that our God is not even there.....

How do we respond? Do we give into the doubts...or do we push them aside and forge on knowing that God is working....always. But we have to do our part...we have to say...No matter what.....I will choose to follow Him, I will be obedient, no matter what...always...even in the quiet.

It's coming.......be ready.

August 28, 2014 1 Peter 4:6 Walk in Boldness....With Love

1 Peter 4:6

For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judge according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

There are so many questions, right? What about those who died before Christ? What about those who never hear? What about.......? This verse tells us that even those who died before Christ...will know. Even them. God's word is true....if we believe...we believe all or not all....yes?

I had an interesting night last night.....I was able to listen to someone who I share many ideals with.... "Take me to the one who suffers the most." I can bear that burden with them..."Take me to the one that is most downtrodden" but where we differ is the purpose and reason why we do what we do.... I do it out of obedience to our Father, I do it so that others might know Him and through that will find eternal life and purpose for the world today....

I believe that love should be a big portion of our response to our world....but love that doesn't come through me but comes through me from Him...It isn't about me...it isn't. No matter which way the wind might blow, no matter how things end or begin....it is not about me. More of Him and less of me...to the point that I am a mere shadow shining amidst a great Light.

A shadow that will always be judged by men while I am here on this earth...a shadow that fault will always be found within. I find that my world today finds more criticism (I would say almost ten-fold) than my world of working in the hospital...and we are told that we should expect that, and I am here to testify that it is true. So, we be the peacemakers...we share love....but sometimes it may not look as the world would have it look.... I walk knowing that my judge will not be that person who heaps criticism from this world but will be from the heavenly Father...of whom I fear more.

Walk today in boldness....walk today knowing as you love in Christ's name that you will find strife....do it anyway.

August 26, 2014 1 Peter 4:5 Don't Settle for Being Invited to the Race....

1 Peter 4:5

But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

There will come a day....when there will be no more tears, no more pain and no more fears....and there will be a day of judgement...even for believers....our salvation is secure, rest assured in that, but our activities here on this earth will be judged...

How have we lived? Have we lived worthy? Have our days, moments, hours, talents been used for the kingdom? Will we hear...Well done good and faithful servant...or will we squeak by resting only on our salvation?

I remember before I first became a Christian....the judgement day that my world focused on...was the judgement between heaven and hell...and then as I further delved into God's word I came to realize that there would be another judgement for believers...for our work done in this world.

And this frightened me...frightened me to my core. I have been given so much...the freedom of religion, freedom of education, financial, food and material securities that the majority of the world does not enjoy, freedom of speech..as many Bibles as I could ever want....and do I use it to the fullest potential that I could...and I do not....God has given us such and incredible opportunity....I have heard many people complain about the difficulties of being a Christian today in the USA....but truthfully, I see such opportunities for us as Christians born in American....such freedom, such abilities....

And yet, in our own freedom, we are seeing our own Biblical freedoms diminishing....let us not loose in our freedom what others are currently loosing their lives over...let us use our freedom not to seek our own agendas but rather to further His kingdom.... The day is coming...for some of us..it may come sooner than others....Each day, each moment brings that time closer....for those of us sure in our salvation, we will stand before the Father and of the many blessings and freedoms that we have been given..we will be judge accordingly.

Be ready....Run the race of our lives...don't settle for just being invited to the race...run to win the prize.....