PASS IT ON

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren (Deut 4:9 NKJV)

One of our Sunday school class members pointed out yesterday the following statement from our lesson on Jesus as Messiah: “….for always the Christian faith is one generation away from extinction. We must rightly answer and confess in response to this supreme question: ‘But who do you say that I am?’” (Cokesbury Adult Bible Studies, Vol. 40, No. 4) We went on to discuss how much truth rested in that statement, and we acknowledged the awesome responsibility we have to continue to pass on the message of our faith.

Deuteronomy 4:9, a scripture from my morning devotional, again reminded me of this discussion. The Israelites were commanded by Moses to keep the statutes he had given them that he received from the Lord. He told them to pass it on to their children and their grandchildren, basically showing them that their faith was only a generation away from extinction.

Presently in America we are experiencing the fallout from the poor financial practices of our current adult generations. It occurred to me recently that the more generations removed we are from the Great Depression, the more poorly we understand and practice saving money for hard times. I now see the similarity with the extinction of financial planning and the extinction of our faith. If we fail to share our faith with others it will die out and leave in its place a society reeling from the fallout of a lost, superficial, godless society.

Sharing our faith can be intimidating. We are most comfortable sharing our faith with others who already believe as we believe. We need this kind of fellowship, in fact, through scripture we are called to this kind of fellowship (Colossians 3:16), however, we have an equal call to spread the Word. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15 KJV)” When we take the initiative to share God with another, God will give us the strength and the ability to follow through.

There are many ways we can share our faith, aside from the words we speak. The way we live our lives and the things we do to show love to others speaks volumes about our faith. Perhaps it’s time to step outside our comfort zones and find new creative ways to share our faith. Let’s not let our faith be the best kept secret!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word and your plan of salvation. Help us to step outside our comfort zones and share you with the World. Give us the ability and the desire to keep our faith from extinction. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Receptive vs. Non-receptive (Conclusion - Reception Tools)

Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Ps 143:8 KJV)

All believers experience seasons of non-reception – sort of like cable television which comes and goes. A receptive spirit will never be developed accidentally. We must be intentional and deliberate in maintaining an open spirit. We must keep our eyes open for all of the ways and places in our lives that God reveals Himself. We must empty ourselves of ‘self” and ask Him to refill us with His Holy Spirit.

Daily quiet time is a wonderful tool for improved reception. Time spent early in the morning before the day’s stresses begin is a good time for most of us. During this time, a daily Bible and devotional reading often helps to bring our day into focus in light of time spent in the presence of the Lord. Prayer is a wonderful beginning and end to this time with the Lord, giving us the opportunity to offer Him our praise and worship and not just our list of wants and needs. Time spent without speaking at all, offering Him the opportunity to speak in return.

Writing in a journal during my quiet time helps me to recall the ways God has been at work in my life and in my circumstances; things I might have forgotten without the journal entries to remind me, enabling me to look back at where I have been in light of where I now am.

There are times when just sitting quietly outside, observing all of God’s beautiful creation helps us to experience God’s loving presence. At others, our time of worship and fellowship with other believers helps improve our reception. Music often speaks to us, and we may hear God speaking to us through the words of a song or a melody may soothe us in such a way that we know it is the very presence of God.

No, good reception is not automatic but it is possible. Let’s make our daily quiet time with the Lord a priority and watch our reception improve beyond anything we thought possible.

Heavenly Father, thank You for meeting us wherever we are; for speaking to us in so many ways; and for never failing to show up when we make ourselves available to You. Help us to be diligent in maintaining a daily quiet time with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MOM’S LABORATORY

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
Proverbs 24:3-4 NLT

Building a new home and expecting the birth of our daughter, I planned a special room for my sewing and crafting located next to my daughter’s bedroom. I imagined endless hours crafting with her toddling in and out of my special space.

As fantasy gave way to reality, my special room looked more like organized chaos than the organized retreat I’d planned. Unfinished projects littered the room and the desktop could not be seen. One day, when my daughter was about four, she walked in, looked around, and, as if seeing the room for the first time, said “So, Mom, is this your la-bor-a-tory?” I felt as if she’d just discovered that her mother was the mad scientist.

Things often don’t turn out the way we plan, but when we look at them with a child’s eyes we often find they are not nearly as bad as they seem, and usually there is humor hidden under all the mess. Leave it to our children to remind us of it!

Things are never as bad as they seem.

Another Random Piddling Thought

Godly enough, I found a note I had made on December 26, 2006, today, and it was something I'd forgotten. (Journaling is a wonderful way to recall where we have been on our walk with the Lord and the ways He is faithful to us.) I wrote:

"Even when your mind wanders, I am still in your heart - spoken to my heart by God as I lost focus while meditating on Psalm 84:11 (No good thing will he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.)

I wanted to know how anyone, me in particular, could ever feel blameless in the presence of the Lord. I felt the Lord say that I should not feel blameless, but I must see and understand that I am blameless because I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and it is His blood that presents me blameless in the sight of the Lord.

God can bless my mess!"

As you can see, even these thoughts are rambling, but the Lord is faithful to ultimately connect all of the dots for me. I needed the reminder that He is always in my heart, regardless of how often my mind wanders. I thought you might need it too.

RECEPTION PROBLEMS (Part 3)

I’ve wanted to conclude this short series, but I’ve had a problem…….a RECEPTION problem of all things! I have a secondary problem that leads to my reception problem; I call it my piddling problem. Many people have this condition, although I believe those who do not have a piddling problem often misunderstand people who suffer from it. We piddlers are often a creative lot, ideas popping up everywhere and often we stop whatever we are presently doing to pursue a new idea or project.

Instead of looking at the ways to improve our reception, I thought I’d expose my own reception problems and, hopefully, refocus and close the series with reception improvement ideas. We’ll think of Part 3 as my “self-help section” and I’d like to thank you for helping me work through this with you (hopefully I want scare you away).

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines piddle as to deal in trifles; to concern one’s self with trivial matters rather than with those that are important. I don’t always piddle at trivial matters; I piddle at all levels, so I take issue with this definition. Dictionary.com’s definition is closer to correct, yet still somewhat offensive to the natural piddler: to spend time in a wasteful, trifling, or ineffective way; dawdle. (Oh, by the way, I do know there is another meaning of the word piddle and a quick Google search will turn up sites that sell protective pads for that problem, but nothing to help those of us who suffer with the psychological piddle problem instead of the physical piddle problem. Maybe they can invent a patch for us psychological piddlers.)

I piddle at everything I do and have tried to find ways to force myself to focus, although I’m rarely successful for any extended period of time (hmmm, I believe I piddle at piddle control…). I piddle at my job, much to my employer’s chagrin. I piddle in my housework, much to my husband’s chagrin. I piddle at my writing and craft projects, much to my chagrin. Even worse, I have taught my daughter to piddle as well!

I promise to try to regain my focus in the next day or two and bring this series to an end. Knowing God can do all things brings hope to even the worst conditions and habits. Comments from fellow piddlers are welcome; non-piddlers, well…….just be gentle, please. Pray that I will be able to commit my works to the Lord and establish my thoughts (Prov 16:3).

Receptive vs. Non-Receptive (Part 2)

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thess 2:16-17 NIV

Webster defines receptive as open and responsive to ideas, impressions, or suggestions. Growth is impossible without reception. Just as plants cannot grow without receiving water, sunlight, and nourishment, our spiritual growth is stunted by seasons of non-reception. A non-receptive believer has less to offer other believers and is less likely to recognize the needs of non-believers. A non-receptive believer may fail to recognize God’s blessings and protection.

In contrast, a receptive believer hears God’s voice; sees God’s handprint; feels the snuggly down of His protective wing; recognizes blessings in trials; and knows when to send a card or offer a hug. A receptive believer can more quickly recognize and respond to Satan’s attack.

A receptive believer should reflect the signal he or she receives. A receptive spirit reflects God’s love and kindness; encourages other believers along their journey of faith; and recognizes and responds to the lost and the hurting. A receptive believer is able to look past his own trials and circumstances and reach out to one whose signal is presently blocked. A non-receptive believer needs the gentle encouragement of a receptive believer.

Next we’ll look at the ways we can improve or increase our reception……….

HOW’S YOUR RECEPTION? (Part 1)

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Ps 25:4-5 NIV


Something in my Sunday school lesson caught my attention. The lesson stated, “Receptive believers do not have to feel powerless before the forces of evil and heavy burdens of life.” My first thought was what is the difference between receptive and non-receptive believers? Secondly, what habits and tools increase or fine-tune our reception?

Two pictures come to mind when I think about our spiritual reception. The first picture is of an old rabbit-eared television set, snowy and noisy, with someone rearranging the antennae, putting aluminum foil on the tips.

The second picture is that of sisters Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42. Martha, careful and troubled about many things, appears non-receptive to me. She was so distracted by her busyness that the signal was blocked. Mary, on the other hand, had recognized and chosen the good part, the only needful thing. Most of us can relate more to Martha, can’t we?

In the next entry, we’ll compare the receptive and non-receptive believer in detail. In the meantime, how’s your reception?