Tag Archives: love one another

Prayer for a Quiet Life

  By Rachel | May 8, 2013 - 11:16 am | Prayers
Leave a comment

Sitting With The Setting Sun - Plienmont, Guernsey

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

“But we urge you beloved, to do so more and more (love one another), to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

O Lord, as I read this passage in your holy Word, it was a reminder to me yet again- my purpose here- just as Jesus lived each day of his life- is simply to point others to you.  It is not for my fame, or my glory- but all, ever, only for my King.  And my mind floats to thoughts of Phil. 2, which my Bible calls Imitating Christ’s humility- and the way that passage strikes me every time- that the Son of God did not take what he thought he deserved or take advantage of his “connections” like so many in our world do, but Jesus emptied himself, became a slave to death, for us.  For the very ones shouting, “Crucify him!”
As I ponder all you have done, my heart wells with joy, love, and peace.  I am reminded of the hope I have in you, and I am touched in my spirit by that longing for my eternal home.  Sometimes it is so hard to remember, so hard to let go of all this bombardment of the senses in this temporal world, and reach for my home with you.  Thank you for small moments when I see glimpses of what is to come, and my heart draws strength.  You strengthen me according to your Word. Blessed be your Name in all the earth.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Philippians 2:5-11

 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name
    that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Always be Ready…

  By Rachel | May 2, 2012 - 11:46 am | Thoughts for the Day
Leave a comment

In Darkness
Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have.  Always be ready. (1 Peter 3:15)

Those words this morning brought back a memory from many years ago.  I think I was in my early college years- flying by myself from somewhere to somewhere.

I was very vocal about my faith in God and frequently got into discussions with people at random places.

This time, I met a couple and we got into a really great discussion about the Bible.  I had my Bible with me and had taken it out to look up passages.

They were not Christians- and I remember only bits and pieces of the conversation- basically they had been told things that were not true about Scripture and had doubts about things that were written in the Bible.

They wanted me to show them in my Bible where to find certain passages about particular topics.  Unfortunately, I did not know where all of them were…

The last thing I remember, and this has been burned in my memory- is them walking away and me flipping frantically through my Bible trying to find the passage I knew was there- and I found it- but they were already gone.

This provided great motivation for me to get to know my Bible better. 

Over the years, I feel as though the more I learn about God- the more in awe I am- the more I realize how big He is- how His thoughts and ways are so different from my own.  I can’t fathom them.

I have realized that I am never going to have all the answers.

No matter how hard I study, or how thoroughly I examine Scripture- there are some aspects of our faith that are mysterious. God is mysterious.

We don’t fully comprehend God- nor can we understand his motives like we may for another human being.

But we can learn about the historical time when the Bible was written.  And we can study God’s Word daily- hiding it in our hearts and letting it be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:11,105).

We can pray to God that He will help us understand His Word and not use it for our own motives, but seek His truth within its pages. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

And He can help us as we seek to share about Him with others- to testify to His love and redemption in our lives.

He has faithfully illuminated the path for those before us, and He will be faithful to us as well.

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

I pray that we will take the time today to be ready to answer for the hope that we have- why we have chosen Christ, and how He has changed our lives.

...Hope...

The Great Divide

  By Rachel | February 23, 2012 - 2:50 pm | Random
Leave a comment

Canyon

Why do we focus on the things that separate us?  We spend so much time and energy reading books and listening to people talking about how our side is right and the other side is wrong that I think sometimes we forget what is truly important.

Political division has the potential to turn brother against brother, friend against friend.  Do we hold more tightly to political beliefs than to Jesus Christ?  Do we hold more tightly to our political position than our love extends to others?

Roman 12:9-21

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[ says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

   “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Are we more concerned with being right- our side is superior- than we are with trying to live out what the Bible teaches us?  There is so much that we don’t know in this life (God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways)- so many things we can speculate about.

Would Jesus have been a liberal or a conservative? When people ask questions like that- it makes me angry.

Why?  Because it focuses on what divides us, and it can keep us from loving fully- when we argue political position rather than following Christ’s example.

Just live out the Gospel.  Can’t we all agree on that?

Is our pride in being right more important than loving and serving those around us?

Do you making sweeping judgments about a political group- lumping everyone together?

Do you mock and belittle their position- taking pride in your superiority of thought?

If you truly feel that a brother or sister in Christ is being deceived, do you pray for them in love and reach out to them?  Or do you think about how ignorant they are?  What is going on in your heart?

I have wrestled with this so much over the years, but the older I get the more I find that those things that preoccupy my thoughts have nothing to do with political position and everything to do with obeying God’s Word and serving the people He has called me to serve.

If we all just sought to be obedient and use the gifts that God gives us- to support and love each other-despite our differences- to not turn away from each other in anger but give each other the benefit of the doubt…

We can’t know another person’s heart.  Yes, we can watch for fruit- (Matthew 7).  But I think sometimes we are so set in our position- that becomes our focus- ideology supersedes our love for people. (Look up confirmation bias and belief perseverance- be aware of our tendency to cling to our own position- even in the face of evidence that is in direct contradiction)

When we post something on Facebook or other social mediums- are we more concerned with being right and flaunting our position or making fun of the other side- or are we seeking to love, encourage- and “spur one another on to love and good deeds?” (Heb. 10:24)

As I post this, I am thinking these things over seriously concerning my own actions- and praying that I will be seeking to encourage- to share my passion- to spur on my brothers and sisters in Christ and not focus on what divides us.

This does not mean that we water down truth- or we have to compromise our convictions. We must endeavor to be obedient to God’s Word- even though that may cause tension or division at times.

Please hear my heart- take some time to think about your motivations when it comes to your political convictions- and how much energy are you extending to prove you are right- are you motivated by pride?

If you have said things that have hurt a friend or co-worker, and now regret it, will you seek reconciliation?  We can disagree politically and still respect and love each other.  We can focus on the things that unite us in Christ.

If you have other thoughts to share- I would encourage you to comment on this post.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Let Joy In

  By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 1:15 am | Thoughts for the Day
2 Comments
Cover of "Battlefield of the Mind: Winnin...

Cover via Amazon

Years ago I read Joyce Meyer’s book Battlefield of the Mind.  It changed my life- because something came through to me with such marvelous clarity- I have never forgotten it.  We have power over our thoughts, not the other way around.  We give our thoughts power when we entertain them.

Thoughts are how so many bad things can start.  Thoughts about body image and weight, thoughts about someone else and how much they have or how good things are, and whether or not that is fair.  Or maybe it’s judgmental thoughts like “I can’t believe they would do that”- or parent their kids that way- or well, fill in the blank.

Then we give voice to them- and that gives them even more power.  I realized that I had been doing this in my own life- and recalled moments when I had these feelings and thoughts about friends and acquaintances.  I heard a sermon shortly afterward and the following statement is a good summary of the message.

We are not fully able to enter into joy with others in their blessings, to celebrate promotions or accomplishments, to fellowship fully in our hearts, when we harbor bitterness and envy.

It can start out so small- just a little thought “I don’t see how they deserved that promotion, I work just as hard as they do” or “she probably is just naturally skinny and doesn’t have to work at it, it’s not fair.” Or how can they be a __________ (enter in a political party or group you don’t agree with).

I believe that if we fail to address and be aware of our thoughts and the power they have over our lives, we can spend our days being controlled by our thoughts- to such extent that our witness is compromised and we are unable to faithfully serve Christ.

We are so distracted by unfairness or circumstances benefiting others more than us.  Or maybe it is just that we think someone doesn’t manage their money well and we feel that they should give more to the church.  Or we see them playing games on FB, and assume that they are neglecting their responsibilities or shouldn’t be spending their time doing that.

But we are each accountable for our own choices- not the choices of others.

We can urge our friends to be faithful to what Scripture calls us to- but the choices are up to each of us individually- and we are accountable to God for the choices we make during our time here on earth.

And it is hard for us to know what is truly in the heart of another person. Sometimes it takes years of friendship and fellowship, to discern intentions behind actions.

Why are we so quick to assume the worst of each other?

What I hope and pray- we will love each other despite our differences and focus on the values that we share- and rejoice with each other.  Celebrate together, and laugh together.  Don’t let the things that divide us prevent us from fellowship.

See the passages below- let us live in peace with one another.

2 Corinthians 13:11-12

11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:12-15

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

God’s Word always says it better than I could ever say myself.

God bless you, and may you share joy with someone today.

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta