No Matter What - You Matter!

I, too, was in tears at this point. Did God really talk to me on this morning and act through me to bless another person? I know He did, but why? Why me?

I have had other similar experiences, like this one:

I know these experiences to be true, but for someone who doubts their worth at times and cannot understand why anyone would care for me to realize that the one and only God, creator of the entire universe, DOES care enough to communicate with me through the Holy Spirit - I felt and still feel both honored and humbled! I know these two friends felt honored and humbled as well, knowing that God cares so much for them that He had someone out there praying for them. (Side note: I encourage you to contact people when God puts them on your heart to pray for them.)

But this is not just for me! It's for you, too! No matter how unworthy or low you feel, God cares for you!

 Taking from the points from our pastor's sermon on December 19, 2021:

        1. You are never too young or too old.

        2. You are never too experienced or too novice.

        3. You are never too educated or too uneducated.

        4. You are never too good or too messed up.

"Jacob was a cheater. Peter had a temper. David had an affair. Noah got drunk. Jonah ran from God. Paul was a murderer. Gideon was insecure. Miriam was a gossip. Martha was a worrier. Thomas was a doubter. Sarah was impatient. Elijah was moody. Moses stuttered. Abraham was old. Lazarus was dead." And God cared about all of them! He had a special purpose for each of them!

I really recommend that you listen to Pastor Dustin Slaton's full message. There is so much more that you should hear on this topic.

I also read an article published online by Dayspring on Dec. 16, 2021, and the following quotes from the article stood out to me:

"...the great and awesome God stepping into the everydays of some simple folks."

"How could we know at what point that routine aspect of our lives is actually showing up on God's holy radar...a great intersection of mundane and miraculous?"

"Clearly, He is a God who magnifies the mundane in order to accomplish His miracles."

"He is both Majesty and a God who presses into our days, our everydays. And, He whispers Life into those dusty, disgraced, and dull places - and we are never, ever the same."

Again, I recommend reading the full article from Dayspring.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  - Matthew 10:30-31

But he himself [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." - 1 Kings 19:4-5  God took care of Elijah even when he wanted to give up and die.

Yahweh, our amazing God, cares enough to reach into our crazy, messy, dirty lives to show us His great love and to draw us closer to Him. I pray that is what you will seek - to draw closer to Him and to know that He loves you.

Our Compassion child matters.

Just when I thought "not even the cat likes me," this happened.
God cares even about my thoughts.

Through my work with our church's Homebound Ministry over the past eleven years, I have met many individuals who were/are still being used by God and fulfilling His purpose as long as they were/are able - telling the nurses and aides in the nursing homes about God, still preparing Bible study lessons and sermons, reaching out in love and generosity to those in younger generations - setting an example that I hope I am able to follow someday.

These special ones - young and old - matter.

No matter what, you matter!

No matter how unimportant you may feel. No matter what may be in your past. No matter what anyone else has said about you. No matter your life circumstances. God loves you, cares for you, and has a purpose for you!

Be honored and humbled.

The One who formed all the stars and galaxies in the whole universe with just His spoken words wants to have a relationship with you!

As a bonus recommendation, take a listen to "Matter" by For King and Country. 

May your Christmas be blessed as you remember the great gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit from God the Father who loves you more than the world.

Some "Swell" Considerations

 

Some "Swell" Considerations

Bee venom and my body do not get along. I'm not allergic to bees, but I have "moderate" reactions. My husband and I each got stung last Saturday. After a few minutes, he didn't feel the sting and couldn't even tell exactly where he had gotten stung. I, however, began swelling near the sting site. Thankfully, this sting wasn't near my eye like the last two times! I got stung on the hand this time and - three days later - the swelling was still there, although it showed signs of improvement. I could touch my fingertips to my thumb, almost make a fist, hold a pen and semi-write, and could almost see knuckles and veins again. 

About 52 hours after the sting

There are many thoughts that can accompany an injury or illness. Here are some thoughts I considered during this time, in no particular order. I have included a Bible verse with the sections and more at the end.

Compassion for Others

One of the first and largest reminders that I had during this time was compassion for others. I went to a memorial service the same day I was stung. I could have pointed out my discomfort to my friends and neighbors, but I was drawn to notice individuals there who were suffering things much more painful and enduring than my swollen hand. I felt no desire at that point to say anything about my discomfort. There are individuals who go through much harder things, and for much longer durations. Some people have chronic swelling or pain due to injuries, illnesses, needed medications, or syndromes - for decades! Some people deal with other kinds of pain - mental, emotional, relational, etc. My discomfort may last 4-5 days, but then I'll move on and get back into my usual routines. Some people don't have that opportunity.

By the way, I highly encourage you to check out Special Books by Special Kids. You can find them at their website (sbsk.org), or on YouTube or Facebook.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)

Overlooking Struggles

It can be easy to overlook another's struggles, or to at least not understand the implications those struggles have on a person. We can be so self-absorbed that we don't see the pain in someone close to us. I was around many people last weekend - at a memorial service, at church, and visiting family, and not one person mentioned my swollen hand (besides my husband who already knew about it). I honestly believe most people didn't even notice. I emphatically don't mean to imply that these wonderful people were self-absorbed, but it drew to my attention the times when I myself may be self-absorbed and not see the hurts of others. 

"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (1 Corinthians 10:14)

Different Effects

The same situation can affect people differently. As I mentioned at the beginning, my husband's bee sting didn't bother him at all after a few minutes while I had swelling for days. This applies to other situations, too - of many kinds! This could be anything from illnesses and injuries, to family losses, to work stress - you name it. We all react differently. What may cause only minor and short-term discomfort for some may have long-term and serious effects for others. Hmph - if that's not something the whole COVID-19 virus has also taught us!

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (Romans 14:13)

Things Can Change

When I first thought of this one, I thought about how a little bitty sting caused a larger area to swell. (The pictures below show my hand at 45 minutes, 3 hours, and 21 hours after the sting.) Situations can start that way - one small action leads to certain results and often more actions and results. As I typed this, I was reminded of another perspective, too. A beekeeper friend of ours has said that each time you get stung, the reaction is less. For some people, however, I have heard the opposite to be true. I have been stung four times in the past year and four months that we have been beekeeping and have not yet determined if the reactions are getting better or worse. 

          

Application? A small sin, whether it be in thought, word, or deed, can grow into something much larger and troubling. Then again, a small kindness can also grow into something bigger and better. A grudge can fester; a gratitude can flourish. Another application is that repeatedly experiencing the same situation, whatever it may be, can make you stronger or it can weaken you. Sometimes we have a choice whether to remain in that situation or not. Sometimes we only have the option to choose the attitude we are going to have and how we are going to react to the situation. It's good to be aware to our situations and how they are affecting us. It's good to be aware of what situations those around us are dealing with and how they are being affected. How could we help or encourage them?

"'But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.'" (Luke 8:15)

Help

It's okay to ask for help AND it's okay to accept help that is offered! I found myself asking for help opening water bottles, carrying things, washing dishes, etc. - things I wanted to be able to do for myself or for someone else! I tend to be pretty independent (especially about little things like these!), but I found myself releasing control and allowing others to help me. I allowed myself to ask for help, even in the little things. We were created for community, not isolation.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Perseverance

Sometimes you just have to keep pressing on. You can't just sit and wallow. Complaining will not serve you well. You have to push through the pain and difficulties sometimes. This leads me to my next thought:

Difficulty Does Not Mean You Are Out of God's Will!

Just because you are suffering in some way and not experiencing wonderful wealth, health, and prosperity DOES NOT mean that you haven't been obedient enough. It doesn't mean you haven't prayed enough, fasted enough, read your Bible enough, served at the church enough, tithed enough. It doesn't mean any of those things! What about the apostle Paul? Would you tell me that he wasn't obedient enough or that he was outside of God's will when he said he had a "thorn in his flesh", when he was bitten by a snake, shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, whipped, imprisoned, etc.? (Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-31 for a brief list.) What about the Christians who were martyred - and still are today - for telling others about Jesus? And what about Jesus, Himself? He suffered greatly! Do you think he was having fun up on that cross? (Read Matthew 27:27-54 for part of the story.) Surely you don't want to imply that He was out of God the Father's will. Living for Jesus is not without trials and pain.

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" (Hebrews 12:7)

Sometimes the Path to Healing Doesn't Feel Any Better

My husband was home from work for Labor Day. All throughout the day, he insisted on bandaging my hand to push some of the swelling out. Sometimes it wasn't too bad. At other times, my hand ached. Fluid built up in my proximal interphalangeal joints. (Yes, I looked up that term. It's the joint in the middle of your fingers, the first joint out from your knuckles. Our daughter once asked the scientific name for the knuckles - which are the metacarpophalangeal joints - and so I was curious which these were.) I had been excited that morning that I could touch my fingertips to my thumb, but when my hand was bandaged, I couldn't touch or hold anything! The way to growth, healing, or just a better life isn't always easy. Surgery to correct a medical issue can be painful - but lead to healing. Physical therapy after surgery can be painful - but if you stick with it, the end result is better than where you were or where you currently are. Counseling can be painful, but lead to greater mental, emotional, and/or relational health.

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:10-11)

Consider the Motive

That little bee wasn't just a mean little critter set on hurting someone. She was defending her home and her community. Someone was entering their home and taking their honey. Yes, I was standing probably about 10-15 feet away holding nothing more threatening than a cell phone to take pictures, but she was doing what she thought best to protect the hive. And you know what - she gave her life for them! Whenever a bee stings someone, she dies. Whenever something painful happens to you and someone else is involved in it, carefully consider their motive. I know this is something I've had to talk to my pre-teen and teen kids about. Yes, it might have made you feel badly, but that might not have been the other person's intent at all.

"Do not say, 'I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did.'" (Proverbs 24:29)

The one picture I took before I got stung

Don't Let Fear Keep You from the Good Stuff

As I mentioned earlier, I have been stung four times in a little more than a year. Do you think that means I'm going to stay away from the bees? No way! I still love them - and the delicious honey they make! I love that they pollinate our flowers and the vegetables in our garden. It's possible that I might wear a bee suit more often, even if I'm not personally dealing with the hive - but fear is not going to win! Don't let a hardship keep you from getting the good stuff. If you run into a tough spiritual question, don't turn from God or stop studying the Bible. If God doesn't answer a prayer the way you wanted Him to answer, don't stop praying. Take the test, run the race, do whatever it is that is set in front of you. Reach for that goal!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

More Verses

(Compassion for Others)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

(Overlooking Struggles)

"In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving hi half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.'" (Luke 10:30-34)

(Different Effects)

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

"'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?'" (Matthew 7:1-3)

(Things Can Change)

"'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.'" (Matthew 26:41)

(Help)

"The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" (Genesis 2:18)

(Perseverance/Difficulty Does Not Mean You Are Out of God's Will)

"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...Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2-4, 12)

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," (2 Timothy 4:12)

(Sometimes Healing Hurts)

"'Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.'" (Matthew 7:14, KJV)

(Consider the Motive)

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:17-19)

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

(Don't Let Fear Keep You from the Good Stuff)

"'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Deuteronomy 31:6, repeated in verse 8 and Joshua 1:9)

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive he crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Always with Me

Recently, I have fought on the battlefield of my mind again, warring against the lies in my head telling me that I am no good and not worthy of people's love. I was able to hold onto the truth that my family loves me, but was fighting to see why they would. It was a rough few days. Through it all, however, God communicated in a number of different ways that He was always with me.

As I mentioned holding onto the fact that my family loves me, I was also able to hold onto the truth that God loves me, too. It was a truth that I could feel in the core of my being. At one point when it was really hard, I asked Him, "Lord, could I just be done?" it was as if I received a soft hug from the one who never left my side and a quiet, 

"No, my child." 

My family could tell I was struggling even if I wasn't verbalizing it, and they often told me "I love you." As much as I felt like I didn't want to hear that, it was exactly what I needed to hear over and over. I got hugs and cuddles, even (and especially) from the least cuddly family member.

During low moments, if we had music playing, the songs seemed to be communicating from God directly to me. He often uses music with me. I would just sit quietly and listen to the words, letting them do their work. (I'd usually share with you the specific songs, but I wasn't mentally in a place to write them down this time around.)

Another way I felt God's presence was through soap bubbles. Yes, soap bubbles! When washing dishes, I'll often puff the soap container, which causes it to release a few happy little bubbles. During my battle, I would puff the soap, and MANY bubbles would float up. Instead of floating off like they usually do, they floated right back in my face - every time! Okay Jesus, you got my attention that time. 

Once, a specific word triggered the war again. I left the room and knelt down, sobbing, with my head against a table. I said, "Jesus, I need you." I raised my head and saw on the table a figurine of Jesus praying, much in the same position I was at that moment. There - right there in my moment of need - was a reminder of Jesus, that He was with me at that moment - that He was (and is) always with me. He understands what I'm going through and He'll always be by my side, every time I fight the battle.

One day last week, I prayed for God to help me again. I prayed for Him to help me "fight the devil's schemes," to "take my stand," to "put on the full armor." I realized then that I had just prayed the Bible verse that I was teaching my niece that week (Ephesians 6:11). He knew that I, too, would need that specific verse last week.

If you find yourself in a situation like this, where the lies in your head continue to attack you, hold tightly to Jesus and keep fighting! Turn on some Christian music. Read your Bible. Seriously. Continue to draw closer and closer to God and He will draw close to you. No matter how you feel, you are not alone. You don't have to be. I know it's hard to reach out to someone, especially in those moments, but if you can, please find someone with whom you can talk. (More people fight these battles than you may realize.) Fight those lies with truth, and refuse to believe the lies anymore!

Hebrews 13:5b - "because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

James 4:8a - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

The Treasure and the Thief

 

One night recently, I was lying awake. For some reason, sleep would not come. When I find myself with difficulty falling asleep, I often use that time to talk to God and pray for others, which is what I did this night. 

First of all, I felt overwhelmed and amazed by all the good ideas God gave me during that time! I had to get out of bed and go in the other room to write a list of all the ideas He gave me because they were good and I didn't want to forget them by the morning! He gave me ideas about how to help each of my children with a different aspect of school that was troubling them (or me for them).

At one point (after returning to bed), as I was praying for different people, I prayed for my children. I prayed that the Lord would protect them as they were sleeping. I prayed that He would keep "the thief" far from them. That was when God led me to this message.

My children are a treasure given to me by my Master to take care of until He returns. 

Jesus told a parable that is recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 about a master going away and entrusting some of his money to three servants. Two servants wisely invested the money and increased what their master had left with them. One servant buried the money and did nothing with it. He didn't even put it in a bank to gain interest. A similar parable is recorded in Luke 19:11-27. 

How do I want Jesus to find the treasure with which he entrusted me? 

I want Him to find that my children know Him, love Him, and follow hard after His will. I want Him to find them working to bring others into His kingdom and family, showing His love and compassion to others. I want Him to find them doing the right thing all the time, no matter what, because they want to please Him, and not just other humans. I want Him to find them full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May they have clean hands and pure hearts before their God and King!

How can I invest in my treasure? 

Will I let "life" just take its course and shape them however it may - or will I choose to invest in the treasure so my Master may find more belonging to Him when He returns than when He went away? Letting the world shape them without my influence would be synonymous to squandering my wealth. I can invest by refusing to shy away from doing the hard work of discipline. I can work to train my children to be not only good, moral people who are honest, kind, compassionate, generous, etc., but I can also teach them to know Jesus - to know about His character, to read their Bibles, to pray, to listen for His direction, and to obey. I can teach them how to love God and to love people. In so doing, my investment may have a positive effect on not only my children but also their friends, their friends' families, their future coworkers, their future spouses. I may never know how many lives are affected by my investment in the two treasures I have, but God will know. He will know not only the number of lives affected, but also my efforts with regard to His treasure.

I remember when my babies were born - especially the first one. I remember rocking them at night, thanking God for entrusting me with them. I prayed that I would do a good job and that He would be pleased with the outcome. I recognized that they are ultimately His and only "on loan" to me for whatever time He has set. I felt honored to be entrusted with such treasure!

What if you don't have children? 

You can still invest in others - at any age! When in high school, I believed that my calling would be to raise children to love the Lord. I worked toward that calling for a few years before I even had any children of my own. I still invest in children other than my own two children - nieces and nephews, friends' children (who often feel like nieces and nephews to me), speech-language therapy clients, children at church, children in Vacation Bible School, etc. I invest in my church family, whether they are younger than me, my age, or older. I love being to talk to others about how God is working in our lives. You can do this, too! 

Encourage someone today to grow in their relationship with Jesus!

What about you?

What is your treasure? Even if you don't have children of your own, in whom can you invest for the kingdom of God? For whom will He speak to you and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant?"

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [This is Jesus speaking.]

Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

- I recommend reading the rest of this passage (Matthew 24:36-51) to get the whole context. It's definitely worth it. If you don't have a paper Bible handy, check out the Bible app by YouVersion, or biblehub.com.

As Cheap as Dirt But as Expensive as Gold

I'd like to welcome a guest writer to Striving for God's Glory! My ten-year-old son is excited to share with you all.

As Cheap as Dirt But as Expensive as Gold

When you think you might want to be a Christian, and accept God in your heart, it is as cheap as dirt but at the same time as expensive as gold. You don't have to pay anything, but it is so expensive because of how valuable it is. It's like you feel like you just found a cave, a big diamond, or a very large chunk of gold in your backyard. It is a great feeling, that you are doing what God wants for you. 

Here are some verses about getting saved and the kingdom of heaven:

 "This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 3:21 NIV 

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44

What Itching Ears Want to Hear

 

I'd like to start with 2 Timothy 4:3-6, which says:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

On Friday, I was thinking about the Netflix documentary film called "The Social Dilemma." I haven't seen it myself, since we don't have Netflix, but I have heard that it discusses the dangers of social media and how - based on what we post, like, view, etc. - certain content is then filtered toward or away from us. This then leads to you only seeing specific content, often that with which you agree. For example, if you support or against a certain position on an issue, you will see content that matches your stance.

The danger with this is that it causes a greater rift between people of differing beliefs. Those who lean more toward "X" start leaning further toward "X," and those who lean more toward "Y" start leaning further toward "Y." We start seeing ourselves as so incredibly separated from one another that anyone who leans the opposite direction is seen as a fool. An imbecile. Trash.

Oh, the dangers of this!

Ever since I heard about the documentary a few months ago, I started monitoring what I see on social media. Is what I see all geared toward one specific way of thinking on any specific issue? I haven't seen anything in particular, but I prefer to stay away from discussing certain things online. I did notice a greater preponderance of Bible verses and stories about what God has done in people's lives, but as far as social and political issues - I equally see posts from different sides.

On Friday, I started thinking how it can be with us in church circles, too. If we listen to the speakers, teachers, and sermons that only come from our denomination, who only speak about certain issues (or avoid speaking about certain "uncomfortable" issues), from whom we never feel challenged but only justified...I think people in this boat are floating in dangerous waters.

I'm not saying to be wishy-washy about your beliefs or convictions. I'm saying be open to listen to others. How in the world are you ever going to bring someone to know Christ if the only people with whom you associate supposedly already know Him? How are you ever going to grow, to test your faith and learn more about His great love and purposes for your life if you think you've already reached that perfect "sweet spot"?

On Saturday, I began hearing about people leaving Facebook and Twitter to move to alternate social media sites such as Parler and MeWe. My understanding from those posting about moving to these sites and from reading a few articles about each of them, they both currently have a large right-wing, conservative base of members. Again, I'm going to try to avoid politics here, but I personally had some red flags go up.

If people are jumping off the Facebook and Twitter ships to board other ships with more like-minded people, won't the expansion of division only increase? If people continue to share and bounce their own beliefs off each other, won't they just become more stubbornly adhered to them? Will they only be listening to what their itching ears want to hear?

I have many friends and family members with whom I have the opportunity to communicate on Facebook with whom I wouldn't often otherwise have the opportunity. Many of them have views different from mine. Sometimes it makes me sad. Sometimes my heart hurts. Sometimes I feel attacked because of hurtful, hateful things they say about a specific group or "type of person" with which I might identify. Many times, I go immediately to prayer - for them and for myself. But if I leave - where would be my opportunity to talk with them and to have any level of open dialogue with them? I'm not saying to have conversations through posts that are open to the public, but more personal conversations, one-on-one, even if it be through keyboards and modems, etc. How can I ever hope to change someone's mind, or allow myself to grow, if I'm only hearing what I already believe?

I attend a Baptist church, but I have friends from other denominations and religions. On Friday, I talked to a friend from an Apostolic church. On Saturday, I listened to sermons from a Methodist minister and a message from a friend who is Mormon. Do I agree with everything they believe or say? No. Do I agree with some? Yes. Is there room for conversation? Yes! Did I derive some opportunities for growth from what I heard? Yes! 

It is still my job to test and approve what I hear to see if it matches up with God's word and His character. It is still for me to decide whether I hear truth or not. Satan has a sneaky way of inserting partial truths and tricking people with subtleties. It's not easy to discern truth in all situations, but it's important.

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe these other social media sites are (or will be) better than the current fare. I understand some people are moving because their views were being censored and deleted. I understand wanting a place to freely express beliefs. Please know that my desire is not to tell people not to try these other sites, nor to condemn anyone who moves to another social media site. (Seriously, how ridiculous would that be - to get defensive about social media providers!) I am merely suggesting that you consider your reasons and the results of whatever your choice may be. Maybe it's considering your participation on any social media site.

This is not meant to be only about social media. There is a bigger theme here.

My purpose in all of this is to implore you to consider the choices you make about what you hear and with whom you interact. Consider whether you are still able to have an open dialogue with people who believe differently than you do. Are you still able to show concern and compassion for them, or do you immediately have a negative impression about them?

As 2 Timothy 4:6 says, we need to "keep [our] head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of [our] ministry."

This, then, is my challenge to you: 

- Consider what you hear and read. Is it all one-sided? Does it all agree with what you already believe? Is is what your itching ears want to hear?

- Consider your mission. If you are a Christian, your mission is to tell others about Jesus, and hopefully lead them to have personal, growing relationships with Him. Are you able to do that? If not, what can you do to make that possible?

Do the work. 

Endure the hardship. 

Do the work of an evangelist. 

Discharge the duties of our ministries.

Getting Ready for a Miracle

"Everyone wants a miracle. 

But here's the catch: no one wants to be 

in a situation that necessitates one! 

Of course, you can't have one without the other."

That's a quote from Mark Batterson in his book called The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 14). Our church Bible study group is currently studying the book, which talks about the seven miracles performed by Jesus in the book of John in the Bible. It purports to help readers look for miracles in their own lives, pray expectantly for them, and more. More than seeking miracles, Batterson invites readers to seek "the only One who can perform them" (p. 14).

Isn't the quote at the opening at least somewhat true? We all want to see miracles - to experience them and know they happen. But, consider the situations in which we think or hear of miracles occurring - healing of illnesses or injuries, provision in times of lacking (job, finances, food, shelter, etc.), saving from horrible events (natural disasters, punishment by government, etc.). Do any of us wish ourselves to be in one of those positions? I don't typically hear anyone say, "I wish I could be terminally sick or injured so I could experience a miracle in my life." Or replace that with any of the other options. You still wouldn't hear people ask for such circumstances.

Over the past weekend, my daughter and I were listening to some music and one of the songs we heard was "Famous For" by Tauren Wells (2020). The chorus says:

"Make way through the waters

Walk me through the fire

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

Shut the mouths of lions

Bring dry bones to life and

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

I believe in You

God, I believe in You"

If we want God to make a way through the waters, we need to journey through the waters. 

If we want God to walk us through the fire, we need to be in the fire. 

If we want God to shut the mouths of lions, we need to be in the presence of hungry lions.

 If we want to see God bring dry bones to life, we need to be surrounded by dry bones.

Where are you right now? Are you ready to take that step out of the boat and walk on the water to Jesus, or are you still sitting in the cozy cabin on the shore? No, it's not an easy step. It takes faith in the One who performs miracles.

Are you getting ready for a miracle?