Tag: Words of Jesus

Today’s Word Is MERCIFUL

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #5
Giving and Receiving Mercy
Mon-Feb-24-2020

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:7) (Beatitude #5)

Beginning at birth we all sing a song that goes like this … “It’s all about me, it’s all about me, it’s all about me, it’s all about me.” (You can make up your own tune.) You can also add a second verse, but of course it has the same lyrics as the first verse. From day one the demands are: feed me, change my diaper (especially when it contains a surprise), make me comfortable, hold me, rock me, pacify me. Repeat.

A narcissist is someone who never gets past the self-centeredness they were born with. Some narcissism is so extreme that such a person is like a sponge, soaking the life out of others and into themselves. In practical terms, this person is expensive to be around. Their demand for attention tends to increase over time. All the while you may begin suspecting that their interest in you may actually be based on selfish motives more than genuine appreciation and concern for you as a person.

What is missing in such a person’s life is the motivation and inspiration to jump the hurdle from self-centeredness to merciful. In the life of Christian faith and maturity which Jesus is describing in the Beatitudes, we have reached the point where that leap takes place. Jesus has spoken four blessings (Beatitudes) prior to this one … blessed are the poor in spirit (humble); blessed are those who mourn (letting go of what holds us back); blessed are the meek (genuine, at peace); and blessed are those who are hungry for right things and for things to go right.

In a way, this is the description of conversion to belief in Jesus … humility, confession, repentance, turning around, leaving the old life behind, and following him. For instance …  Jesus said to him [the rich young ruler], “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21) … and also … [Jesus said to them], “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)

These first four steps are about us as individuals becoming converted to and established in the faith. But now, in Beatitude #5, Jesus starts to describe the effect your new life has on your character and your desire to make a difference in the world around you The Holy Spirit moves in your heart because you feel blessed and as a result you become continually thankful. Then something springs forth from within you that wants to share this better life and to be a blessing to others. In other words, having been shown mercy by God, you become a merciful person toward others … like the song entitled “Pass It On” or the movie entitled “Pay It Forward.”

Now here’s the kicker … the favor you show to others gets returned to you. And these blessings come both from God and from others around you.

And here’s the paradox … we don’t receive this mercy by seeking it. If your motive for ministering to the needs of others is to cause them to be nice to you, it generally backfires. That’s because you are demonstrating not that you are a merciful person, but that you are a selfish person, more interested in your own needs than others.

The merciful person expects nothing in return, and yet receives in abundance.

Be merciful!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #4
Hungry for More
Thu-Feb-20-2020

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:6) (Beatitude #4)

I am sorry that “church” over the last 100 years has misled people in some things, has been too judgmental, and has in some ways caused average people to think that the practice of faith is boring and intended to suppress your enjoyment of life. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I dislike the word “religious” as it gives a connotation that by acting a certain way, we can earn our way into heaven or into favor with God. No one can live a “good enough” life that would impress God into granting heaven or any other special privilege. God does not want us to “practice religion,” he wants us to live in “relationship” with him, and through this we receive righteousness as a gift.

You see, the church has also failed to adequately explain “righteousness” in the Christian life, by inaccurately implying that it is about doing good, being good, acting good … or about being holier than thou, better than others, whatever … for the purpose of proving our worthiness. Nope … doesn’t work. Righteousness in the New Covenant made by the death and resurrection of Jesus is a gift, not something earned or achieved.

If you recall the first 3 steps (Beatitudes) I have discussed …

>> Blessed are the poor in spirit … humility, asking God to take over

>> Blessed are those who mourn … releasing things not good for us

>> Blessed are the meek … embracing the genuine self that God made us to be

… Then having experienced these things, we discover that in this process, things at the “big picture” level begin to “go right” in life. Really, they do. There will still be disappointments and tragedies, but we look at them differently now. They are not fatal. We learn from them and overcome them. Everything that is delightful as well as everything that is difficult all seems to fit together, and it is good.

All of us have said at one time or another … Things are not going right!!!! Well, as you walk the steps of maturing as Jesus describes them in the Beatitudes, relinquishing to God the job of being in charge of yourself, and by accepting yourself, liking yourself, experiencing the love of God, life is now “going right” … not perfect, but blessed … to the point that you are hungry and thirsty for MORE things to go right! You want things in your life to continue falling into place, believing in God’s plans for you, as he opens new doors of adventure.

Righteousness is not about rules or perfection. It is a gift bestowed on those who believe in Jesus. We don’t have righteousness of our own, so he gives us his! It is about living life oriented to the Kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of this world.

As you live this Kingdom way of life, you want things to go God’s way, to open up the flow of love in and around you, to experience peace that leads to joy and laughter, and an understanding of how “all things work together for good.” This is not a shallow, giddy, “head-in-the-sand” existence that ignores the tough parts of life. Rather it boldly and bravely faces every low moment, enjoys every high experience, and proceeds with confidence into whatever adventure is next. It makes you think, “This is the best life there is!”

And the reward for pursuing this new “genuine” life is that your hunger and thirst for its blessings are fulfilled!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:6) (Beatitude #4)

Be blessed!

Chaplain Mark

NOTE: Scripture Reference: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is MEEK

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #3
Meek Means Genuine.
Wed-Feb-19-2020

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:5) (Beatitude #3)

Meek does not mean “wimp.”

It means … genuine … not self-inflated … avoiding violent or forceful solutions to problems … open and honest … accepting of one’s own strengths and weaknesses … disciplined … power under control … respectful of others.

Going back to Day 1 of our series, the Beatitudes began with deciding to embrace humility and to ask God to direct our life … (1st Beatitude). Next, we realize that God accepts us we are, but also wants us to develop into our best self. So, we step forward by letting go of our old selfish ways, even though the process will involve grief … (2nd Beatitude).

Now we are ready to just be who we are, as God created us. We can appreciate our uniqueness. We can stop the self-criticism, stop the obsession with seeking approval from others, and simply be satisfied with things as they are. We can honestly say, “I like being who I am. It makes me smile to think that God created me a certain way for a reason. He wanted me in His world for a unique purpose. I am not a mistake. I don’t have to fight to earn the right to be here. I am the me that is supposed to be.” This is what it means to be meek … genuine … satisfied. (3rd Beatitude)

When I reached this realization, I finally relaxed. As a teenager and young adult, I had been afraid that I might be flawed and unacceptable. But that constant haunting feeling that I was defective and needed to fight my way upward went away when I fully embraced my acceptance. The essence of meekness is that I know God loves me, and I don’t have to struggle to prove anything. Nor do I need to always feel hurt or get offended by criticism. I am me, and that is good.

To get things right with God is not so much about worrying  that we must change ourselves to become acceptable to him, as it is to be at peace and receive his love. Then we can go about pursuing our purpose in life one day at a time.

What does it mean that the meek “inherit the earth”? Your inheritance, your earth is the sphere of influence that God gave to you. It includes family, neighbors, fellow believers, strangers, career, community, whatever you touch. Jesus is saying to you that as a meek, genuine, peaceful person, you are to “take charge” of your sphere of influence as your inheritance … to saturate your territory with love, joy, hope, and peace so that it radiates and touches others, and to let others see the new you, the real you.

Having started with humility and then releasing those things that hold you back, you are ready to live more fully. You can use your gifts and talents; you can love and mentor your family; you can have a positive effect in your workplace, your church, your circle of connections. You have been set free to make a difference, to use your “world” and your “gifts” to leave a legacy.

Being meek or genuine is the launch pad to a great future full of adventure and fulfillment.

Be blessed!

Chaplain Mark

If you have not read the previous steps of the Beatitudes, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is GRIEF

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #2
Grief Comes from Letting Go
Tue-Feb-18-2020

The Beatitudes describe a process of maturing in the faith. Yesterday I shared with you that the road of faith and maturity toward a blessed and influential life starts with humility. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) (Beatitude #1). Jesus next addressed those who mourn.

Grief is most frequently associated with the feelings we have when someone dies. But … grief also happens on many other occasions as well. It is the emotion that surfaces when we lose or give up something that is important to us, something that we depend on, or are just accustomed to, whether it is good for us or not.

Sometimes we are grieving and don’t know it or don’t want to admit it. One thing that inhibits the process of healing from our grief is to deny it. Another is to pretend we are “strong” and can deal with anything … “no help needed, thank you very much.”

Let me surprise you a little … When Jesus says: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) (Beatitude #2) … one additional thing he has in mind is that there are things we need to let go of, and we are going to miss them. We will grieve over losing them, but they have to go. Our health and happiness depend on it. The things that need to go include … selfishness, worry, fear, gossip, bad habits, distrust, etc.

Intentionally giving up things that are unhealthy is part of the maturing process, but it may still cause us to grieve, because we’re used to them. The promise of this Scripture verse is that if we let go of anything that holds us back or is bad for us, no matter how much we liked it and didn’t want to let go of it, God will replace it (in His timing) with something better that “comforts” us in a healthier way. Someday we will look back with thanks and peace rather than resentment and regret. The tears of grief help to wash away the hurt so that we may fully receive God’s comfort and move forward.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” … Get it?

How does this apply to salvation and Christian maturity? When we receive salvation, we are gifted with marvelous things, like peace, hope, joy, love, and forgiveness. But gaining these things involves releasing other things that were part of our old nature … sinful and unhealthy things. Unfortunately, we liked some of those bad things … we were used to them. Isn’t that true? Just like we sometimes love to eat food that is unhealthy for us, we also have habits and possessions that we are fond of, even though they are not good for us.

Do you see where Jesus is going with this? There will be parts of our old life that have to go for us to receive the wonderful things of God. This is a favorable trade-off, and yet we must recognize that the process of grief is going to take its course, as we say good-bye to those familiar but destructive tendencies. Once you know how to release these things in a healthy manner, the way forward into deeper faith looks promising and exciting. In the meantime, the process of letting go is infused with a promise … you will be comforted by God himself.

“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 …” (2nd Corinthians 1:3-4a)

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

If you have not read the previous steps of the Beatitudes, you should go back and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is HUMILITY

The Steps of Christian Maturity
Beatitude #1
It All Starts with Humility.
Mon-Feb-17-2020

Christian maturity is a process which is described in Jesus’ teaching called The Beatitudes. The journey starts with humility. Jesus calls it being POOR IN SPIRIT.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) (Beatitude #1)

The movie Rudy is the true story of a high school football player who has the dream of being on the University of Notre Dame football team. He is really not scholarship material for this caliber of school, so he enrolls and begins working on a way to play football as a walk-on. (You must watch this movie, if you haven’t yet.)

Rudy is talking to the university chaplain at one point, as he needs some hope and encouragement while trying to figure out how to make the team. He is wondering why things aren’t working out, and the chaplain is trying to explain that he needs to be patient, that there is someone “bigger than you” who has to be trusted. The chaplain puts it this way … “There are two things I have learned in life … One: There is a God, and Two: I am not him!”

Becoming a disciple of Jesus starts with admitting that we need help. This takes humility. To reach this point, most people have tried to make life work out right in a variety of unsuccessful ways. Along the way, we go through periods of frustration, guilt, failure, hurt, and hopelessness. No matter how good things are at various times, and no matter how many years it takes, eventually we will come to a point where we cry out for help.  We have dug our hole so deep, that we finally have to admit we will never get out of this pit on our own. Hallelujah! This is the moment at which we are finally ready to embrace God’s way … a Savior named Jesus, who gave his life so that we might be saved from our sin and futility and be set free.

Why did Jesus start the Beatitudes with “blessed are the poor in spirit”? It is because humility and surrender are where life truly begins. The creators of Alcoholics Anonymous picked up on this principle. Step 1 of the 12 Steps is to admit you are powerless over alcohol, and Step 2 is to believe that only a power greater than yourself can restore you.

Pride and determination will never be enough to achieve true peace, joy, hope, salvation, or eternal life. These are gifts given by God and can’t be earned. We may as well say that our starting point is “emptiness.”

Empty is good. God can’t put much in your hands if they are already holding on to things that you think will work or that you treasure above the “higher” things God would like to give you. This fight against embracing humility is universal.

I once read a book by a famous horse breeder, who told how he would always be present at the birth of a foal. When it got up on its feet, he would hold it by the tail and let it struggle to get free until it finally gave up. When he let go, the horse was calm and subdued. This little one would grow up knowing who its master was. It had a freedom and a sense of peace that lasted a lifetime. It was easy to train, enjoyed being around both horses and people, and lived a fruitful life. It trusted its master to provide all its needs.

As humans, God is not going to hold us by the tail and force us to be humble. It must be chosen. Once we do that, God begins to show us the best that life has to offer … a sense of identity, meaning, and purpose.

Once salvation is received, by grace through faith in Jesus … will our future be trouble free? Of course not. We are human, and we live in a fallen world . We will still have times of difficulty, but in those moments, we must remember that being humble before God is always a first step to having our world set right again. We may feel like we are too small and the problem too big, but we can always say, “Lord, help me. Lord, I trust you in everything.”

God can work with that! And the kingdom of heaven is yours!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

For the next few days, we will look at these verses, describing the path to maturity in the faith:

The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)

2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Today’s Word Is GULLIBLE … Plus Friday Humor

Fri-Feb-14-2020

A man was stopped by the fish and game-warden in Canada. He had with him two buckets of fish. He was leaving Shaw’s Point, well known for its great fishing.  The fish and game warden asked the man: “Do you have a license to catch all those fish?” The man replied to the game warden: “No, sir. These are my pet fish.”

“Pet fish?” the warden replied. 

“Yes, sir. Every night I take these fish down to the lake and let them swim around. After a while, I whistle and they jump back into their buckets, and I take them back home again.” 

“That’s a bunch of hogwash! Fish can’t do that!” was the outburst from the Warden.

The man looked at the game warden for a moment, and then said: “Here, I’ll show you. It really works.”

“O.K. I’ve GOT to see this!” The game warden was curious now. The man poured the two buckets of fish into the lake and stood and waited. After several minutes, the game warden turned to the man and said, “Well?”

“Well, what?” the man responded. 

“When are you going to call them back?” the game warden prompted. 

“Call who back?” the man asked.

“The FISH,” the warden said. 

“What fish?” the man asked.

I have had quite a few gullible moments in my day. As I have matured in the faith, I have seen people sometimes want to twist the truth. Their tactic is to confuse us or mislead us by placing doubt in our minds. Sometimes we have to be quick thinkers and extremely tuned in to the Holy Spirit in order to see through misleading statements or questions.

For instance, Jesus was once present for a tense situation in which a woman had been caught in the act of adultery, then brought to a public place, possibly near the temple, in order to be stoned to death as the law demanded. These Pharisees (experts in the law) saw an opportunity to trap Jesus into publicly condoning the killing of a sinful woman.

They confronted Jesus with … ‘What do you say, Jesus? Kill her or not?!” Instead of answering their question, he proposed that “whoever is without sin may cast the first stone.” They all left, of course.

Ask God to give you the ability to discern and respond to people with hidden agendas, not so you can embarrass or confound them, but to help them and others find the truth.

For two years I hosted a national call-in radio show on XM satellite radio, called The Healing Touch. It aired from midnight to 2:00 a.m. for 5 nights a week. One caller was a lady who complained that she had been praying for help from God for 7 years and he either wasn’t listening or didn’t care.

I told her that neither of those were true, according to Scripture. I asked her if she read her Bible … “not much.” How often do you pray … “not much.” Do you attend a church … “no, not really, I don’t have time, and besides they aren’t nice to me.”

I don’t know where this came from … well, really I do … it wasn’t from me. But out of my mouth came this thought … “Ma’am, you could go into your bathroom, turn on the shower, then go and stand in your living room for 7 years and never get wet.”

As you grow in faith through Bible study, reading powerful books, sharing and discussing with others the meaning of faith issues, and living in faith community with a fellowship of believers, God will teach you to see through misguided people with distracting and devious questions. Warning … he will ask you to love them anyway.

Stay alert!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is MINISTRY

Thu-Feb-13-2020

“Your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.” – Rick Warren

This principle is not just for pastors, but for every believer. The word minister is from the Latin, meaning “servant.” All of us who call ourselves Christians have a ministry. Jesus referred to many types of ministry when he told his parable about “the least of these” …

Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:44-45)

Your own difficulties, problems and hurts of the past often lead to a compassion for others who are experiencing similar hardships. Take a look back and consider how you endured by depending on God through various hard times, and made it through somehow, as a changed, wiser, and better person. This can become your inspiration to minister to and encourage others.

People who are struggling through a hardship or tragedy need to hear several things. First, they may be thinking that they are alone … as if they are the only one who ever had to go through something like this. By sharing your story, you can help them discover that they are not alone and that there is someone who understands. The fact that you have faced a similar situation, or even a heavy problem of any sort, regardless of how you dealt with it, can be a comfort to them.

Also, people need to know that there is “life on the other side.” After the storm has subsided and life settles back down, “can I still go on?” It is easy for folks to think that “life as I know it” is over with! I have had that thought during several tragedies and hardships in my life. But I am here to testify that it wasn’t the end of my dreams after all. Regardless of what I lost, there were new dreams, bigger adventures, and continued blessings which came along.

And finally, people want to know if they will be accepted after life has changed. Will I still have friends? Will I still believe that good things are coming? Will I still be acceptable in God’s sight? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. After a divorce at age 30, I thought my pastoral career was over. I thought I was now “defective” and unusable. But God had other ideas. I was amazed at the support I received to help me through. And I have grown immeasurably through both the acceptance of God, as he repaired my inner hurt, and the ministry of others repeatedly over the years.

Yes, you are a minister. And yes, you have a ministry. Who you are, what you have suffered and endured, and the growth and healing you have received all fit together to equip you for service to someone at their moment of need.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is WORRY

Wed-Feb-12-2020

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…” – The Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:6a, The Living Bible)

Somewhere along the way I read that Wor-ry and Wor-ship have a common linguistic root, as if they are opposites. To worry is to forget for the moment that God is interested in you and capable of great, even impossible things. To worship is to declare that worry is not the answer, God is. Worship builds up our strength; worry drains it. Worship increases our joy; worry destroys it. Worship expresses our confidence in God; worry shows our fear of the future.

Looking at it in writing makes the choice look easy. But at the crisis moment, we often revert to the poor practices of our weaker days and begin to worry. It takes practice to recognize the influence of our old human nature and the power of bad habits. How do we train our minds to do that? After all, negative thoughts are a killer.

The late Nell Mohney was a great speaker and author of 13 books. Her husband Ralph was pastor of First-Centenary United Methodist Church, Chattanooga from 1965-1981. One of her credits was writing an inspirational column in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press for 38 years.

Nell once told my wife and me about a period where she was having negative thoughts frequently. So she devised a solution. She put a rubber band around her wrist and every time she caught herself being negative again, she would pull back and pop the rubber band. She said it didn’t take long to break that habit!

What if you could resolve today to make worship and prayer into your usual choice, rather than worry? For some of us, it might not be as easy as Nell Mohney’s rubber band! So first, let’s look at a substitute word for worry, and that would be “concern.” Whereas worry is an exercise in fear, being concerned involves trust.

I confess that I worry sometimes. But there is a difference between worrying occasionally and being a worrier as a “way of life.” This is what Jesus is teaching us to turn away from.

Jesus said: “… your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things…” (Matthew 6:31-34)

If you need a breakthrough, and you’re ready to take the leap, then you can declare for yourself, “I don’t want to be a worrier anymore.” I’m sure your family and friends will have to recover from shock and get used to the “new you,” if you decide to stop worrying. They may accuse you of not caring anymore. Or it may be that the reason they don’t worry is because you are the worrier for them. If they want an explanation for why you have stopped worrying, tell them, “Jesus said not to!” Then, stop saying, “I’m worried about…” but rather … “I am concerned about …” This may sound like a trivial distinction, but from God’s perspective, it is not.

Worry is a lack of faith; concern knows where to place its faith. Worry is generated by fear; concern is the result of love. Worry tears you down through despair; concern builds you up through hope. Worry believes that we can’t handle bad outcomes; concern knows that we can, because “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

It’s a choice … worry and fear … or … worship and concern. Choose well!

Have a blessed and “worry-free” day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is INVITE

Wed-Feb-5-2020

If your participation in a local fellowship of believers has been life-changing, why not invite someone along? There are more opportunities than you might think. One of my hospital co-workers once told me that a patient she was caring for invited her to church. This was not the first time she had received such an invitation, but for some reason, this time she felt God’s nudge and surprised herself by suddenly saying “OK!” So … she went. Why not?

What happened was a spiritual connection that she had not anticipated, and her faith began to emerge and grow. Life is now different and blessed.

So how do you know who to invite? I would say, “Listen. Let God speak to you.” As Jesus left this earth, one of his final statements to the disciples was, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

This is a clue to where we will encounter folks whom God wants to bless by being a part of his church. First, it is in Jerusalem, which was home base to the disciples, where they were around familiar faces. These are the people close to home, people that you know. When we are in our usual territory, seeing people that we frequently see, there is someone who needs to get an invitation to a new life of faith and to a church.

Then there is the area called Judea, which is people further out, people you don’t know. You are in places where you feel comfortable, but around people who are mostly strangers. Many of us find ways to talk with others that we don’t know. And there is an approach that we can each develop from our own personality, by which we can bring up faith matters without scaring people off. Don’t let your initial awkward attempts deter you from developing your style.

Further away from Jerusalem is the territory called Samaria. Jews only ventured into this territory by necessity. Samaritans were culturally different and mostly despised, because they were intermarried with various cultures. For our day and time, this regards the barriers of racial, cultural, and religious differences. I don’t know the accuracy of this statement, but I have heard it said that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning is the most racially and culturally divided time in our society. We could change that.

Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4:7), and the disciples were surprised Jesus had been talking to her. In another story where Jesus healed ten lepers, only one came back to say thank you, and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16). And of course, we all know the parable of the Good Samaritan, where the hero is a foreigner of a different culture (Luke 10:30).

After the resurrection, the new community of Christians realized that their message was not only for familiar folks, but also for those who are “not like me” … different color, different spirituality, different country, different level of income. So, they dared to approach and invite them, and many successes followed.

The final place that Jesus named as an area for sharing our witness is “the end of the earth.” He was saying that there are no limits on where you can find someone to invite. Anywhere you are there are people who need what you have found through faith in Jesus.

Most people go to church because someone invited them … and according to research, in the vast majority of cases, it wasn’t the pastor doing the inviting. It was just regular folks with changed lives. Don’t be afraid to invite someone to church.

One final note … attending church does not make us a Christian. Salvation comes by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. In other words, church never “saved” anybody! Jesus does that! But an invitation to church can be the first step!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is SELF-CARE

Tue-Jan-28-2020

Don’t let your efforts to avoid self-centeredness lead you into thinking that it’s not OK to be nice to yourself.

Sometimes dangers are found by living at the extremes of issues that are meant to be balanced. For instance, the solution to avoiding self-centeredness is not to become self-loathing! The middle ground is called … “self-care.”

Self-care is a way of focusing on ourselves for the purpose of becoming what God created us to be. Ironically, as we engage in inward-focused self-care it causes us to become outward-focused and generous to others, to heal rather than hurt them, to bless rather than use them.

So, how well do you rate on “self-care”? One of its benefits is that it helps us in difficult times. Some people wait until there is a crisis and then depend on help from the outside … a grandmother, a best friend, a pastor, a TV show, a self-help book, etc. (most of which are good). This is the panic method of getting through the crisis. The rest of the time, if things are going fairly well, they engage in little or no healthy self-care.

This approach leaves us equally unprepared for the next crisis, dry spell, conflict, or disappointment. Our failure to grow and mature in the good times, when we should be doing spiritual “strengthening” exercises, means that when trouble comes, we are not equipped to handle it, so we go “outside” again, looking for quick help, and sadly for some, God is not on the list of outside help.

Seeking help from others is necessary and beneficial, but that’s only one aspect of the plan. We are crippled if the only help we have is from emergency outside sources. We also have an inside source. Jesus said that the Kingdom is within you. Paul talked about the Spirit in us, bringing life and peace. Jesus told a woman that she could have streams of living water coming from within her. All to say that your help comes both from within and from outside.

A great transition that must take place in our lives (if it hasn’t already), is first to take responsibility for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being and make a “self-care” plan. Then we must learn how this inward health source works. In the Old Testament, David the shepherd boy and eventual King, faced lots of difficulties. And when things got really tough, he would “park” himself, suspend the journey, and “refresh himself” or “encourage himself” in the Lord.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (1st Samuel 30:6) (KJV)

“The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself”. (2nd Samuel 16:14)

At those times when you have needed encouragement, did it ever occur to you that with God’s help you could be your own encourager? Or if in need of refreshing, you could “refresh yourself”? And that it would work! And that it would be enough! That’s because the Holy Spirit is actually the source of it. He’s the one filling your cup.

Self-care involves following the Lord’s plan for a healthy you. And if that doesn’t include spiritual health then it is not a holistic plan. The health food store and the gymnasium are not the two main keys to healthy living! If you are physically fit, but emotionally toxic or spiritually dry, then you are not truly healthy. You and the Lord can figure out this self-care plan. It involves physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. And please don’t leave out the Body of Christ portion. We grow best in fellowship.

Whatever your plan, if your efforts to take care of yourself do not result in blessing others, then you are likely practicing self-centeredness not self-care.

Be well, be blessed, be a blessing!

Chaplain Mark

References:

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” – Jesus (Luke 17:21)

“But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” – The Apostle Paul (Romans 8:9)

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14)