ToughTruthTuesday-Is He Really Everything?

     If someone where to look at your life, what would they see? If I asked your neighbors what sports team you cheer for, would they know? Would they tell me you go on vacation every summer? Would they tell me you have a love for animals? Do they think you are patriotic because there is a flag hanging from your porch? Would they tell me they think you attend church somewhere because you always leave your home dressed up on Sunday mornings? Would they be able to tell me that you have invited them to go with you? As Christians, Jesus is to be everything to us, but are we living like he is? If Jesus is truly everything to us, shouldn’t it be reflected in our actions? How does the world know Jesus is everything to us? How do they know he is the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14)? How do they know he is our prophet, priest and king?

They should see a difference in us. They should see a difference because we put the Lord in his rightful place-First. Luke 14:26; Acts 3:23 We are not told that it is difficult to be a disciple of the Lord’s, if we do not put him first; we are told it is not possible. We cannot be his disciple if we do not put him first. If we put the Lord in his rightful place can we go and do things that he has commanded us not to? Can we gossip if what we say is true? Can we lie when we would just rather go fishing than to work? Can we cheat on our taxes? Can we steal supplies from our workplace? Can we discuss how funny that new sitcom is that pushes the homosexual agenda? Can we use our social media pages to vent about our boss, friends, or family? Can we wear shorts, bikinis or strapless dresses that leave little to the imagination and expect the world to see a difference in us? You get the idea. If we have him in his rightful place it will show in all aspects of our lives. We won’t dress like the world. We won’t watch what the world says is okay. We won’t talk as the world does because we are different. We are called out (Romans 12:2). Does being different, putting the Lord first and denying ourselves mean we cannot live without any modern conveniences or luxuries (Luke 14:26)? Absolutely not! Of course if we have these blessings we should certainly be thankful for them and utilize them. Luke 14:26 teaches simply, that we cannot love anything else more than the Lord, be it the world, family members or material possessions.

Our neighbors will know Jesus is everything to us when they see us repent and ask for forgiveness when we make mistakes. Being children of God doesn’t mean we are perfect people. Finally, they will know Jesus is everything to us when they see an ever-present hope and joy in us. As children of God, we don’t have to worry about the future (Matthew 6:34) and we know there is a place in heaven reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). Why should we not be the happiest people on earth? Why should we not want everyone to experience the joy and peace we feel?

If our neighbors truly see Jesus being everything to us, rather than us just professing so, they might take more interest in this message we’re trying to share with them. Don’t underestimate the power of your influence. We will never reach lost souls who see nothing different about our lives compared to theirs.  

Motivational Monday-Let's Get With It.

         Do you know what the fastest growing religion was in the US in 2012? It wasn’t Christianity. According to this article, Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. How much did the church of Christ grow in 2012 you may ask? According to the Christian Chronicle, the church of Christ is declining, with approximately 102,000 fewer people than 2003. Why is it on the decline? We’ve quit growing because we’ve quit working!

What are you doing right now in service of our Lord? Are you working and serving everyday or are you just professing to love the Lord? The phrase “faith without works” occurs in the book of James three times. Now, in this writer’s opinion, if our Lord took the time to mention something once it is important, but if he mentioned THREE TIMES I really sit up and take notice because this is obviously something that is extremely important. Obviously it is easy to have faith and proclaim to love the Lord, but do you actions show that love? James tells us they must.

To make a list of everything we can do in service of our Lord is beyond my realm of capability, so I will name just three.

1.      Attend! Be supportive by attending worship services and activities of your local congregation. We are not to forsake the assembly (Heb. 10:24-25). You may not always feel like going, but when you spend time with your spiritual family, you will be uplifted and encouraged. If you are feeling down, remember that others cannot read your mind so ask for their prayers and encouragement.

2.    Exhort and encourage! Point number one mentioned, that there may be those among us who need our encouragement (Jude 1:3; Acts 14:21). Recognize their need and uplift them (Heb. 10:25). Pray for them! Obviously, this requires a closeness to one another. It requires us to know what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters, so don’t be afraid to share your struggles and accomplishments, but be sure to encourage others to do the same.

§  Send a card to the sick and widowed each month to let them know they are thought of.

§  Visit those who must remain at home and take a basket of goodies to them. Need frugal basket ideas? Check out my Pinterest board here.

§  Prepare and take food to those who have recently lost a loved one or have a new baby (also remember those who adopt or are foster parents-they need help too!)

3.     Teach! This is nonnegotiable (Mark 16:15). We should desire to tell EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. we come in contact with about the one who can save them-the one who died for them. We need to train our minds to carry this out. How long has it been since you had a personal Bible study with someone? I know what you’re thinking…”No one is interested in hearing about the Savior.” You’re wrong.

§  Place your name & phone number or email in an informational tract. Leave them on the table when you go out to eat, in the waiting room of doctor, dentist & vet offices. Mail them out with the bills you pay. Hand one to the boy who helps you carry out your groceries. Give them to the air conditioner repairman and the pest control inspector when they visit your home.

God told us to sow the seed. Interested souls may be harder to find, but they are out there. We just need a refresher course on finding them.

“Evangelism is not a talent; it’s a command.”

-Steve Higginbotham

Mothers Like These

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       Motherhood is one of the greatest privileges God bestows upon us. I am thankful to live in a country that sets aside a special day to honor mothers, but I am more thankful to have the examples of godly mothers to follow. I am so blessed to have a mother who has always done her best to walk in the Lord’s footsteps, as she leads me. She is a woman who has encouraged and guided me in all the right ways. The importance of the role of women in God’s word cannot be overestimated. The influence of women today is felt in the pulse of nations, as she, through home and the children she nurtures, weaves the moral fiber of generations to come. I saw it said simply on a social media site this morning, “Today we honor those who raise the future.” In the Old Testament, the character of a king is revealed just before or after stating the identity of his mother (2 Chron. 24:1-2; 2 Kings 22:1-2; 2 Chron. 29:1-2). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul writing to Timothy, commends his faith, which he learned from his mother and grandmother. Women hold the keys to the home and they strengthen the church because of their God-given role to nurture and teach children.

            I am thankful to be able to learn from the example set by Sarah, who had such faith, she “was delivered of a child when she was past age” (Heb. 11:11). How many truly amazing feats could we do today in God’s service if we only “judged Him faithful who has promised”! I am thankful for Jochebed, who is only mentioned by name in two passages, yet owns a place of honor in Israel’s history because she mothered three great leaders in early Hebrew history. May we take the time to teach our children about our Lord, as she did hers. Children are gifts from God, yet to many people, children are a bother; some women want children, but do not want to be a mother to those children. May we see motherhood for what it is, a privilege, as Hannah saw. May we also pray for the welfare of our children, as Hannah did (1 Sam. 1:27). When there are things we do not understand, may we keep them to ourselves and ponder them in our heart, as the mother of Jesus did (Luke 2:19 & 51). May we be mothers like Mary, who possess a meek and gentle spirit and may be ever present in the background of our children’s lives (John 19:25). May we pattern our lives after the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. And most importantly, may we be the mothers God expects us to be.

A father occupies a special place in the life of children, but a father will never have the influence that a mother does in the life of that child.

1.       Colley, Cindy. Women of Deliverance. Publishing Designs, Inc. Huntsville, Alabama. 2004.

2.     Colley, Cindy. Women of the Genesis. Publishing Designs, Inc. Huntsville, Alabama. 2005.

3.      Colley, Cindy. Women of Troubled Times. Publishing Designs, Inc. Huntsville, Alabama, 2008.

4.      Duncan, Bobby. Inspiring Profiles: Fair To Look On. 2001 Publishing Designs, Inc. Huntsville, Alabama. Second Printing 2004.

Where Have the Grandmothers Gone?

by Traci Paseur

    The year 2000 is now twenty-four days old. What modern times we live in . . . And, my, how these times have changed. I have a birthday approaching and my age is so very insignificant. It doesn’t matter because times have changed and I find it discouraging.

    I was raised in the church and am so very grateful that my grandmother made a way of life for me. Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights were for worship. No questions asked. As a child, I willingly admit to that burst of excitement if for one reason or another we didn’t go to church. But, for the most part, my childhood days of worship were happy times and I felt the comfort of God’s word even then. Sunday afternoons were spent around the dinner table enjoying a wonderful meal that my grandmother had prepared.  During those days, you didn’t dare take a bite until the blessing was said. I’ve seen my grandmother give thanks over a bowl of beans and a piece of cornbread. Where have the blessings gone? I ask because I don’t know. Maybe we don’t want to offend anyone by offering a blessing and we don’t want to embarrass ourselves shamefully by doing the honor of giving thanks. We should give thanks that we even have the opportunity to give thanks.

     I just can’t remember a day that I spent with my grandmother when she didn’t refer to God and His glory. I remember, not so long ago, driving with my grandmother on a beautiful fall afternoon. The leaves were turning their beautiful shades of orange and red, and my grand-mother said, “Only God can make a tree.” Of course, I had noticed the fall colors, but paid attention instead to my needs, my schedule, and basically, my life. My life at that time had absolutely no room for, or any need to be mindful of “God’s trees.”

     On a similar outing on a spring day she began to admire the big white fluffy clouds in the sky. She commented on how beautiful they were and that hey looked like “you could sit on top of them and let your feet hang off.” I can still hear those words, but the daily commute to punch the time clock has created tunnel vision that blocks out God’s wonders. Where has the appreciation of God’s beauty gone? Again, I ask because I don’t know. Perhaps the drive to be there and get it done has blinded us so much that we don’t allow ourselves the moments to remember just how small we are in God’s beautiful universe.

     My yesterdays are filled with God, His blessings, and a good map with clear directions to His door. My today is filled with anguish over the fact that I didn’t lose the map, but intentionally put it away in favor of going my own way—My own way, which has left me lost and without purpose. My tomorrow, I pray, will be filled with hope and reassurance from God that I may take up His map and make my journey through life on the right path. Thanks to my grandmother, I know how to read a map.

     Growing up, I can remember my grandmother making us turn away from the television when a beer commercial came on. In recent days, watching anything on television with my grandmother has just gotten to the point that I become embarrassed. And fearful of what she might see simply because you just never know what’s coming. Today’s world needs grandmothers. Someone to speak openly about God and someone to remind us continually of His plan for us and to remind us of His blessings.

     So now I ask, “Where have all the grandmothers gone?” I’m just not sure. I do know that my grandmother has started her journey home. Just a few more hours and her work here will be done. Soon, there will be one less grandmother and one less teacher. Thank God for grandmothers who are sent from above. I hope God has a beautiful cloud awaiting my grandmother’s arrival. One that she can sit on and let her feet hang off. While she’s there I hope she will look down at me, through God’s trees, and see me reading my map, the map that will lead me to God’s door, and hopefully, to a place on a the cloud beside her, forever.

-Airport church of Christ bulletin

Valdosta, Georgia