All posts by Patti Greene

Patti Greene is the author of three outstanding devotional prayer journals, Answer Me, Anchor Me, and Awaken Me. She has also published Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending, and a Bible Word Search Puzzles series. Patti earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and pursued graduate studies in religious education and library science. Patti spent 18 more years as a school librarian. She currently facilitates a Joy of Living Bible Study. Patti and her husband have three adult children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren.
Friendship, Guest Bloggers, Life Issues, Medical, Parenting and Family

Good Seed, Good Ground

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Good Seed, Good Ground

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By Ellsworth Johnson, Guest Blogger for Greene Pastures

I remember my first airplane flight. I was seven years old and we were flying from New York City to Tampa, Florida to visit my grandparents. It was raining at departure time and overcast horizon-to-horizon, so I expected the drizzle to continue for the entire ride.

Imagine my surprise, though, as we penetrated the cloud layer after takeoff, and the sun was shining in a clear bright blue sky! The clouds were actually below us now, which is not how I was used to thinking of them — can you get out and walk on them?

Other, deeper questions came to my inquisitive young mind: Is God up here somewhere? Where is Jesus, all the angels, and everyone else? Is this part of heaven?

Doubts about God and religion had already set in by then. If heaven is directly above our house, which I believed emphatically that it was, is it also above my next-door neighbor’s house, too? What about across the house street, in the next town, in California, or a hut in Timbuktu? I knew the Earth was a ball… heaven couldn’t really be above everywhere at the same time . . . could it?

Somewhat less whimsical is the case of Steve Jobs, the prodigious, brilliant and ultra-rich Apple co-founder who died in 2011. The story goes that young Steve asked his local priest one day why God allowed such widespread suffering in the world if He is truly a God of Love. Alas, the priest miserably failed this fairly basic pop quiz by not having a solid ready answer of any kind to the question, and Steve’s faith was busted irretrievably to the point where he went off and eventually became a Buddhist.

I, on the other hand, was still being raised Catholic. Why? Because my mother, the driving force for such matters in our home, attended St. Therese, a Catholic church near our house. I learned, many years later, that this critical choice of faith owed to the sound theological reason that the services, without exception, were always exactly 45 minutes in length.

Every Sunday morning Mom would announce that it was time for her, my brother Dwayne and me to leave for Mass. On the infrequent occasions I objected, my father, invariably planted in front of the television set in his burnt-orange upholstered chair would jump up, point his finger at the door and start shouting words of reprimand for what seemed like an eternity. Oddly, I can never remember anything he said, less so any of it ever making sense. When he was done, he returned to his football or basketball game (depending on the season) as if nothing had happened.

For some reason, he never had to go with us. This, too, struck me as odd. If God wanted the three of us to go to church on Sunday, didn’t He want my father to go, too?

Maybe the TV was his own special form of worship.

Time and years went by, and this Sunday ritual was joined when I was 12 by Christian Children’s Doctrine (CCD) classes. These classes met at St. Therese on Tuesday nights. They were taught by one of the nuns, and went from 7:30 to 9:00, consisting entirely of a lecture on some obscure religious point. Few children in the class took it seriously: I sat in the back each week and passed the time with these two cut-ups who joked and fantasized about how I was really a bullfighter, and other such nonsense.

Ultimately, CCD was for me, a waste of time. I felt bad for the nun who led it: she was so sincere in what she was doing and yet, like my father’s Sunday diatribes (and unlike the bullfighter goofing), absolutely none of the substance of her words survived.

I endured it for grades 7 and 8; for ninth graders, however, CCD was no longer held at the church, but now instead at a local parishioner’s house. Apparently that change was too inconvenient for my mother, so, miraculously, I no longer had to go.

Many decades later, the real reason for the class’ ineffectiveness was unearthed: their messages were never reinforced at home.

Upon returning to my house after class each week I was never, not once in two years, asked about what we did or what I learned, let alone discuss it in any depth. Did they, my parents, even *know* this stuff already? Did they care? Was it important? Certainly nothing about the Catholic way of life was identified or practiced in the way we lived. Its doctrine was not reflected outside the church walls.

Another failure. More doubt.

Ritual Sunday Mass continued, though, all the way to the end of high school. Four days after graduation I was on a plane to Boston to begin a summer program at MIT. I was in college now, presumably in charge of my own affairs, and the first thing to go: no more church! It was forced on me throughout my childhood, never explained, its precepts ignored at home, and now I was finally free to drop it.

It would take fifteen years, a brain aneurysm and one man’s persistent faith to bring me back to Christ. And he did it simply by doing what no one had done up to that point.

He put the pieces together so that they made sense.

Plus, it was OK not to know, and to ask questions.

I was in my hospital bed at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego on that day in November 1992 and my friend Bob had come to visit me there. Four weeks earlier a blood vessel in my head popped and I was suddenly inches from death’s door. I had recovered to a pretty good extent, but I still needed surgery to finally repair the rupture. That surgery was scheduled for the following morning.

In the month I had been there, my mother had come to see me four times; on the other hand, this was Bob’s fifth visit. And this time, he brought his Bible.

Of course, I already knew the broad strokes, like who God and Jesus are, and about sin, heaven and hell. I also had the standard Catholic outlook on the after-life, which included Purgatory, and the mystical notion of needing to be somehow “good enough” in order to get into heaven.

What was missing were the details of how they were all related.

And, of course, everything else.

We talked for half an hour. My lifetime of lingering questions had all been answered, the wrong information had been righted, and for the first time I had a correct Biblical view of things. “Great,” I declared. “What do I do now?”

Bob said that I needed to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came to earth, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

I looked at him and declared triumphantly: “I can do that!”

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:23

From there, the rest is history. As a result of the surgery the next day, I made a complete 100% recovery from my aneurysm utterly baffling my doctors. After leaving Scripps I quickly joined a Baptist church in San Diego and became a voracious student of the Bible and the Christian life. A month after getting out of the hospital, I was baptized correctly through full immersion in water — though I’m sure the sprinkling I received as a baby was cute.

Eight years later, with the arrival of the new millennium, I met the woman God had picked out for me and took her to wife. We were blessed in March 2005 by the arrival of our son Joshua. At Joshua’s baby dedication, where we gave him back to the Lord, a surprise guest showed up at the last minute:  my friend Bob, who had confronted me with the Word a decade and a half earlier in my hospital bed (evidently, I was “sick” spiritually too, as well as physically). He appeared on the scene with his wife just as the ceremony got underway.

And . . . I started going to church again every Sunday, the difference this time being that it was something I chose to do, because I wanted the knowledge that it brought… plus, it was the right thing to do. It made sense, and the spiritual reasons for doing so are far more real and compelling than the “because I said so” dictates of yore.

When the Man from Apple left this Earth, what I took to be that still small voice announced matter-of-factly one day out of the blue: “Steve Jobs is in hell, and will be there forever.” Pretty rough, to be sure, but if he remained a Buddhist and never accepted Christ while he was alive, is that not the expected outcome? His billions, his tech-savvy and his reputation (all God’s gifts, by the way!) ultimately could not save him from a Christ-less eternity.

I thank God for bringing Bob into my hospital room that day to share the Word. The time and place were right for me to receive it, take it in, and for it to blossom. If he had not stepped out on faith and done that, if something had gone wrong on the operating table the next day and I died in an unsaved state, I am positive I would have ended up joining Apple’s co-founder in his grim post-mortal experience.

As Christians, our lives continue to be on roller coasters, but with God along for the ride they stay on track, no matter how fast or slow we go, no matter how high the peaks or low the valleys.

The cloud-piercing experience was not the only important revelation to my young mind on that first flight day.

I learned also that the states in America, in fact, do not have their names written on them in giant letters which you can read from the sky.

-Ellsworth Johnson, a retired software engineer and math teacher. He lives in Katy, Texas with his wife Sonja and son Joshua. He is waiting expectantly to see what God, in His sovereignty and grace, has in store for the next phase of his life.

The policy of Greene Pastures is to respect the views of Christian denominations in its writing. However, essay references to denominations have been kept in Good Seed, Good Ground for author credibility and honesty in sharing an autobiographical story.

Bible Verses:

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:8

Prayer:

Dear Lord, as I come to you this day, I ask you to let me hear and understand your Holy Word. Allow me to heed your holy words and apply them to my life. Give me wisdom in using the gifts and fruits you bestow upon me. Make me an instrument of your love. Allow my faith to share Jesus with those I encounter as your Holy Spirit is preparing them to accept you as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Christian Living, How to Guides

Decency Matters

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Decency Matters

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I love to be around decent people. Being around decent people makes me feel liked, happy, and valued. When I am around decent folks, I feel like they are genuinely interested in my life and in what I think.  And, who doesn’t like compliments, honest praise, encouragements or even a kind smile? Being decent at work allows for a better working environment. Being decent at home creates a happy home habitat. Being decent in any situation builds goodwill among people. We talk about having a decent standard of living, a decent home, a decent pizza, a decent block party, a decent workshop, and decent hardware for a hover board, but we don’t talk enough about being a decent human being. In fact, I cannot recall ever hearing a sermon on decency. Decency isn’t even a word found in the Bible, but its attributes are absolutely scattered and intermingled throughout the entire Word of God. Yes, decency matters.

Vocabulary.com suggests that . . .

Over time, decency has referred to manners, but today decency is mainly a strong sense of right and wrong, and a high standard of honesty. When a criminal or dictator does horrible things, people assume they have no sense of decency. When a tasteless or violent TV show becomes popular, some people wonder if society has lost its sense of decency.¹

If I had to choose between having good manners, being honest, possessing modesty, being civil, being courteous, being respectable, having dignity, and having a righteous virtue or not, I would choose the former. But, there are people who choose to be immodest, immoral, obscene, rude, and use obscenities. I wonder often why some people crave decency and others don’t.

I’ve been watching a lot of the 2015-2016 presidential debates and I haven’t seen a lot of decency going on between the candidates. DECENCY does matter because decency affects how a person acts, talks, thinks, makes decisions, and relates to people. I am convinced that a leader should be a decent person.

However, it isn’t easy to be decent. We struggle with being decent and sometimes we fail. We get mad at the man at the car wash that doesn’t get our car clean enough; we rip off an angry email to a co-worker because they criticize us. Our sense of worth tries to protect ourselves, and often we act in ways that are very unbecoming.

I went to Baylor University as a non-Baptist. The Bible was a mysterious book to me. It was a sacred book; thus I rarely held it, let alone knew how to use it other than the occasional times I randomly opened one up and pointed to some words. As fate would have it, I found myself in a required New Testament religion class with a failing grade 2/3 of the way through the course. I made an appointment with my professor. I told him I didn’t know what they were talking about in class most of the time; I didn’t understand how most people around me could easily contribute to class discussions; and I didn’t even know the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament, let alone what it meant when he put words with a colon and numbers on the board, i.e. John 3:16. He graciously asked me if I owned a Bible. I said, “No.” He mentioned that I should have a Bible to go along with the text book. I immediately told him that if that was the case, why didn’t the book store have a Bible listed as a required text book for the class? Without criticism or judgment, this kind professor took time out of his busy schedule to explain the basics of the Bible. He even shared with me the questions that were going to be on the next exam along with the answers. I left his office uplifted that he cared enough to listen and understand my predicament. But, more than that, I left knowing I was just in the presence of a decent man.

There are decent believers and there are decent non-believers. My husband and I were on vacation in Istanbul, Turkey last year. We were on a very crowded bus where people were jam packed. An elderly lady all hunched over wearing her black hijab got on the bus. My husband nodded at this woman to take his seat when he stood up. She did. She never said thank you – In her culture, woman are not allowed to talk to men or even look them in the eye. But, when her bus stop came and she was starting to exit, she turned to me and gave me a smile that said, “Thank you for your husband’s kindness.” Here decency begat decency. Anyone can be a decent person, and I am grateful for that. However, it is easier when you are helped by the Spirit of the Living God.

When we think of decent people today, many of the same characteristics Jesus possessed are embedded in the “decent” people we know, admire, and respect today.

12 Characteristics of a Decent Person

  1. Courageous:  Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, Joshua 23:6
  2. Generous: It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. Psalms 112:5
  3. Good Reputation: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1
  4. Humble: Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. Zephaniah 2:3
  5. Integrity: Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Proverbs 19:1
  6. Kind: The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. Acts 28:2
  7. Loving: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18
  8. Modest:  Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 1 Timothy 2:9
  9. Patient:  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. James 5:7
  10. Respectful: Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:7
  11. Responsible:  For each will have to bear his own load. Galatians 6:5
  12. Honest: Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. Proverbs 12:17

Jesus possessed many  of the characteristics above when He lived on this earth. He embraced purity, compassion, kindness, service, and humility. He was a man who resisted temptation, loved men, and persevered in pursuing and following God’s will for his life. These same type of characteristics are seen in men and women with character. But, in today’s world, we see rudeness, sinful behavior, egotism, and confusion. It is a sad commentary on the character of people.

How to Become a Decent Person

  1. Trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior through the forgiveness of sins and believe the Holy Spirit will help you.
  2. Read your Bible daily and follow the mandates and standards set by God.
  3. Pray for the courage to follow God’s leading.
  4. Ask the Lord to show you areas in your life that need to be changed.
  5. Pray for wisdom as to how to achieve these changes.
  6. Strive to develop the character of God in every area of your life.
  7. Rally around decent people. They will make us better people and we can learn from them.
  8. Draw near to God with a true heart with full assurance of faith within our hearts…and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:22-24

But, as we go about our lives, no matter what our religious persuasion, let’s try to follow the words of John Wesley.

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.²

This week, spend some time thinking about how you would like to be regarded 25/15 years from now. Take a look down the road to your future persona. Imagine how you will act;  how you will relate to others; how you will behave; and how you hope to have ministered in the Lord’s name. Then, strive to become that person. As you immerse yourself in His Word and prayer, the Lord will not conceal His will from you. He has a plan for your life and as you become a more decent person with His help, your life will become more enriched and others will notice that you have become the “decent God-fearing” person you desire to be.

Yes, Decency matters.

God Bless,

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Bible Verses

If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus  26:3-4

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I see so much evil and violence and unchristian behavior as I go about my daily life. I see so much evil, violence, and unchristian behavior in this society. There is indecency in the workplace, on television, and throughout the Internet. Lord, keep me safe so as I will not be swept into an ungodly lifestyle. Remind me continually that you want me to live a decent life.  When I read your Holy Bible, show me how my character can be changed to be more like you.  Let the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ dwell within me and let my fruits be used as I treat others with decency.  Allow me to aspire to a life of decency Lord for I know that being a decent person is what you want for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

Awaken Me and Anchor Me (1)

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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¹ Vocabulary.com. 29 Feb 2016.

² Wesley, John. Goodreads. 29 Feb 2016. www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/christian-living.

Christian Living, Life Issues

The Wilderness

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The Wilderness

Have you ever journeyed into the wilderness? The Israelites did. After spending time in Kadesh, the people of Israel turned and journeyed into the wilderness. God told them to be very careful as they passed through the territories before them. He reminded them that the Lord had blessed them and that He knows they are going through this great wilderness. (Deuteronomy 2:7) As a reminder to help the people, God reminded them they had lacked nothing for forty years.

But, what does a wilderness experience look like for us? It could be a job loss, an illness, and/or a depression. Or it may be even more horrific, like torture, kidnapping, abuse. No matter where you are or what you are going through, God cares for you. You are His children and He loves you. He is the one that will see you through it. He will encourage and strengthen you.

When we find ourselves going through a wilderness period in our lives, we should follow the same instructions the Lord gave the Israelites.

  1. Remember to be careful;
  2. Remember your blessings;
  3. Remember God knows you are in the midst of a wilderness period;
  4. Remember God has never let you lack before.
  5. Remember that God always brings His people out of the wilderness

The lion is considered the King of the Jungle. A male lion controls both his territory and every living creature in that territory. Lions have power and strength, but they can be overcome. As you face the lions in your life, remember that lions can be caged. Just as lions can be captured, so can your lions be put under control when you trust Jesus and get help when you need it from the people God brings into your life.

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 2 Timothy 4:17 ESV

God Bless,

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Bible Verses

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4:1-11

I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. Deuteronomy 29:5

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.” Hebrews 3:7-9

Prayer:

Dear Lord, Help me to always remember how you lead the Israelites out of the wilderness. You took care of them and provided for them every step of the way. Give me the ability and the wisdom to always remember that you will take care of me – even if I move into a wilderness periods in my own life. Use my wilderness periods  to trust you more, to seek you more, and to abide in you more. Thanks Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. You will see the sign-up feature on any of the Greene Pasture blogs.

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Bible Study, Life Issues, Medical

Death, Dying & the Terminally Ill

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Death, Dying & the Terminally Ill

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The last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about death, dying, and the terminally ill. Many times we are forced into these thoughts by an event in our own personal life. That is why I am experiencing thoughts of death right now. However, it is not time yet to organize my thoughts to give a well-thought-out essay on the process of dying or how to care for a loved one at the end of their life. But I have thought about how prayer and God’s Word can strengthen those who are grieving over the anticipated loss of a loved one or those dealing with their own last days. Below you will find some meaningful Bible verses relating to the terminally ill and those soon expecting the death of a loved one.

Verses for the Terminally Ill

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Psalm 49:15

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.Isaiah 43:2

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”,  John 11:25

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:27

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

Verses for those expecting a Loved One’s Death

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1

No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah41:10

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28-29

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:7

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

God Bless.

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Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, be with all of us who dealing with the death of loved one or friend or the impending loss of someone dear. Give us your comfort. Give peace to those in the midst of a terminal illness. Let them accept your gift of grace and love to get through this difficult time in their lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Friendship, Life Issues, Parenting and Family

Negative Peer Pressure

Negative Peer Pressure

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In The Difference between Negative and Positive Peer Pressure, writer Denise Witner states,

Peer pressure is not a bad thing. We all are influenced by our peers, both negatively and positively. It helps define who we are and how we feel about subjects in our lives. It is how we chose to react to peer pressure that defines who we are as an individual. Are we a leader or a follower? Both types of people are needed to make the world go around . . .The difference between negative and positive peer pressure is the outcome.²

Everybody feels peer pressure at one time or another. We might choose to belong to a particular group or organization,  i.e. political parties, gangs, or church denominations. Our peer groups encourage us to conform to that group’s beliefs, values, and behaviors. This can be seen as either a positive or negative change of one’s attitude or compliance to a group’s belief system. Someone might be influenced to wear only gothic punk clothing while someone else might be positively influenced to join a spirit-filled church group. We all desire to be accepted and secure in our own little conclaves.

We tend to think of peer pressure as a feature that only teenagers experience, but that is not true. Today, peer pressure follows us no matter what age we are. But, as a believer, when negative peer pressure tempts us, we must decide to follow the crowd or follow Jesus.

Peer pressure tempts all age groups. In the teenage years, young people are sometimes attracted to the wrong crowd or friends. They can be drawn into risky behaviors that can be detrimental to their health and safety while others are drawn into a peer group that stresses high achievement and more positive activities. In the young adult years, one might be drawn to compete with their friends for the bigger house, the most kids, the best jobs, or even the best mani-pedi. In middle age, one could compete for a position in the Women’s Club or on the tennis team. And, for those who work, one may be striving for that vice-president job that everyone in your department is striving for. When children are ready for college, parents might feel pressure to get their children into the best college or university, buy a second home, or even try to outdo others for the most prestigious church ministry. One would think that following the crowd would die down when reaching the golden years, but there are seniors competing for the best home update, car, portfolio, assisted-living home, and even the best medical alert system.

There is no age or culture immune to peer pressure. Just because “everyone is doing it” does not make it right. In Uganda, Africa, many women are peer pressured to apply harsh chemicals and carcinogens to their skin to lighten it. This process is very harmful, but there is so much pressure for the women to be beautiful. They are led to assume that their beauty comes from being lighter and fairer than others.¹ The pressure to fit in is even prevalent in poor countries even though grave harm may come upon people. In the case of the Uganda women, the chemicals could burn their eyes or cause cancer in their bodies. Young people are joining gangs and the potential dangers often costs them their lives. In addition, joining a gang may cause drug addiction, violent behavior and possible prison time. Following the wrong crowd and trying to fit in can cause lifetime consequences. We must stress this upon our children.

Negative Peer Pressure may lead to . . .

  • Risky Behaviors: People will be influenced to participate in risky behavior that may lead to  jail time, prison incarceration, a ruined career, and more.
  • Misguided Friendships: People will be continually attracted to the wrong crowd and friends.
  • Single-minded Dependence: People will depend upon “their group” for help and guidance; thus there might be a non-dependence upon family and/or God.
  • Inconsideration: People will hurt those that love them by their actions and words.
  • Short-sightedness: People will be impractical or imprudent by not recognizing their reputation may be damaged and/or opportunities may be lost by the groups they associate with.

Just as there is a cost in following the wrong crowd, there is a cost in following the Lord. Luke 14:27-30 says,

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Throughout the Bible, we see people choosing to follow God and not the world.

In Genesis 7, Noah obeyed God and built the ark while “the crowd” sinned and the Lord saw the wickedness of man. The evil continued and eventually the people were destroyed by the flood — all that is except Noah and his family who separated themselves from the wicked people and obeyed the Lord.

In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar as the crowds were doing. But, the king threw them into the furnace and heated it seven times more than it was usually heated, but they survived. They decided not to follow the crowd, and God delivered his servants who trusted in him.

When we decide to follow Christ, we can stop worrying about what other people think of us. We know that God is the one directing our steps. We can trust in what the Holy Bible tells us to do. We believe that the Holy Spirit is directing our lives and are able to avoid the tangles brought by the popular culture of the world. When obeying the Father and striving to be like Jesus, every decision we make will be made through the eyes of God.

While costs are involved in following both the crowd and Jesus, the benefits of following Jesus are so much more.

BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING JESUS

  • Assurance of salvation and life after death in heaven;
  • Comfort in knowing there is a purpose in their life;
  • Forgiveness for our past, present, and future sins;
  • Love from Almighty God;
  • God’s peace in life.
  • Ability to trust that God knows the big picture of our lives; and
  • Joy as we use our spiritual gifts and develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

While there are many who try to live in both the secular world and the spiritual world, the Bible warns against those who become complacent in their Christian walk. Many times those are believers who have accepted Christ, but have never grown deep roots into the things of God.

Old Testament Joshua says,

Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 23:14-15

If you are hanging with the wrong people, it is time to decide whom  you will serve. God will give you the courage to choose Him. Choosing to follow Christ means a change – a change of attitude – a change of friends in some cases – and an understanding that following Jesus Christ will create a positive shift in your life. These changes will become more and more positive as they grow roots through Bible reading and prayer.

God Bless.

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Bible Verses

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. Proverbs 1:8-19

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ Matthew 11:18

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mark 15:15

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let me see areas where I am following the crowd and giving into unnecessary peer-pressure. I am asking you to change my life so I can follow you fully in everything I attempt to do. I want you to change my heart and may I always bring glory to you. Let me believe and trust that you will respond to all my needs as I give take up my cross to follow you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

¹Strickland, Ashley. Light and shadows: Skin bleaching in Uganda. CNN. 22 Jan 2016. Online.

²Whitner, Denise. The Difference between Negative and Positive Peer Pressure. About Parenting. 4 Dec 2014. Online.

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Bible Study, People in the Bible

Obey, Call Upon, and Confirm Your Relationship with God

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To walk with God, we must love him, obey him, call upon his name, confirm our relationship with him, and know that he loves us. Yes, we all fail when we try to follow God, but his love, constant concern, and abounding love for us is ever present. In Abram, we see a man who loved God, obeyed God, confirmed his love for God through his actions, and allowed God to pour his love out towards him in order to complete the purpose that the Lord had in store for him. It is the same with us. When we obey the Lord, in even the smallest detail, we find ourselves desiring more and more of his presence. It is then and only then, we can find peace knowing that he cares for us and he will prove his love for us through the many ways he confirms his relationship to us.

Abram Obeyed

Some verses in the Bible just strike us when we read them. As I was reading Genesis 12, three words just hit me over the head.  Referring to Abram walking with God, the words simply said,

So Abram went . . . Genesis 12:4

Abraham grew up as a child in the heavily populated city of Ur (Southern Iraq now) and moved with his father to the land of Haran. It was in Haran that the Lord asked Abram to take his family and go to the land he would show him. Abram obeyed. His move was like moving from New York City to the small “ghost town” of Pennington, Texas. It would appear to many people as a pretty risky proposition at least “business-wise.”  But He obeyed and took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, his livestock, and all his servants with him.

Abram Calls Upon the Name of the LORD

When Abram journeyed from location to location, he called upon the Lord. We see him calling on God in Schechem and again near Bethel.

Then the Lord appeared to Abram in Genesis 12:7-8 and said,

To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.  From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.

Abram had a habit of calling upon God. We see this again in Genesis 13:4b 

And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.

We call upon God in times of peace and in times of desperation.  We do that because we need him. But he also wants us to call on him. It is through our dependence on God, we gain more faith, trust, and love towards him and our fellow man.

When we call upon the Lord . . .

  • We should seek him with all our heart, soul, and mind and with all our strength. Mark 12:30
  • We should call upon the Lord with a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
  • We should call upon the Lord for as long as we live. Psalm 116:2
  • We must admit that we need Him. Acts 17:27

Abram Confirms his Relationship with the LORD

As Abram continues his journey, he goes down to Egypt to sojourn there. In Egypt, life goes on. During this time, Abram doesn’t appear to be the shining star that we like to think he was. He didn’t trust God fully and when he was about to enter Egypt, he told Sarai to lie about their relationship. He said,

Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.

Abram was caught in his deceit, but life went on. He left Egypt and went with Sarai, Lot, and all he owned into Negeb, then into Bethel to where his tent had been at the beginning. It was there that Abram called upon the name of the LORD.

Later, Abram soon realized that his possessions were so great that he and Lot needed to split up. He said to Lot in Genesis 13:8,

Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.

The two went their own ways, and God spoke to Abram and settled him by the oaks of Mamre and there he built an altar to the LORD. Abram’s life continued. He rescued Lot, was blessed by Melchizedek, defeated the King of Sodom, and confirmed his faith in God when the King of Sodom asked him to give back his people but take the goods for himself. Abram verbally confirmed his relationship with God in Genesis 14:22.

I have lifted my hand to the LORD, GOD Most High Possessor of heaven and earth.

While we might not build a physical altar to the Lord, there are ways we can confirm our relationship with the Lord.

To confirm our relationship with God, we need to . . .

  • Ask the Lord to forgive our wrongdoings/sins. Romans 3:23
  • Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9
  • Understand that our own works and efforts can’t get us into the right relationship with the Lord. Titus 3:5
  • Confirm our relationship with the Lord through our daily prayers and obedience to His holy Word. Philippians 4:6

God Confirms his Relationship to Abram

In Genesis 15:1, shortly after confirming his relationship and speaking publically about his relationship with the Lord, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

Fear not Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.

The reward God was talking about was the covenant God made to Abram that his “offspring would inherit the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” Genesis 15:19.

Life continued and Abram aged. The Lord soon changed his name to Abraham. But, even before that, Abraham trusted and believed wholeheartedly that the Lord God Almighty was blessing him with an amazing inheritance.

God confirms his relationship with us by . . .

Abraham walked with God as we do – through ups and downs, trials and blessings!  Just as he grew, we also grow and mature. He is always by our side, calling us to obey him because He knows the right plan for our lives. He wants to show that to us so we can live a Godly fulfilling life. And as we continue on in our Christian life, let’s follow Abram’s example of obedience, calling upon him, and confirming our relationship to him.

Yes, we will fail sometimes, but life goes on. When we do fail, He is there to pick us up. When we honor God by remaining in this cycle of obeying, calling, and confirming, we can receive God’s vision, direction, and blessings upon our life.  He really does want the best for us.

God Bless You.

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Bible Verses:

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 12:28

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Psalm 17:6

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. Psalm 119:106

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I love you and I want to obey you with my entire heart. Help me to call upon you in every area of my life. I truly want to uphold the words in your Holy Word. I want to proclaim your truths to others. Thank you for loving me and confirming your love for me in such a caring and special way. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Christian Living, Life Issues, Uncategorized

Consequences

We all have done something STUPID in our lives. I have. It can be that we haven’t thought through a situation, it can be that our emotions or thinking processes have been compromised due to drugs or alcohol or it can be we are influenced by others to participate in an unwise activity. Regardless, looming consequences for our actions may be just around the corner. But, even after our “s_ _ _ _ d” actions, we can turn to God, trust Him, and depend on Him to see us through.

I don’t like to use the word s_ _ _ _d, but in the case below, there is no other synonym that fits! Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus uses other words like airheaded, birdbrained, dim-witted, empty-headed, half-witted, and more, but honestly, sometimes s_ _ _ _ d is the only word that works. But so as not to offend anyone, I will substitute the word half-witted in this blog.

In the January 12, 2016 edition, USA TODAY posted an article about an Ohio fugitive who texted a photo of himself to the police to use after seeing a mugshot they posted he found unflattering.

“Here’s a better photo that one is terrible,” Donald “Chip” Pugh, 45 said in the text. He attached a selfie with him wearing a blazer and gold-rimmed sunglasses sitting in a car.

The police have a warrant out for him and his new photo is now posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

I don’t know about you, but I would call that half-witted.  As for me, every so often I have been known to do something half-witted too.

My Story

One Thursday, this past December, I was scrambling to get to the Olive Garden Restaurant to meet Dee for our annual Christmas gift exchange luncheon. Unfortunately, I got carried away with time causing me to leave home later than I anticipated. I deplore being late — even a little late. So, I reached for my cell phone to call Dee to notify her that I would late but realized in my rush to leave the house, I also left my cell phone at home. Not being able to call her made me doubly anxious about being late.

As I drove up to Cheddar’s, I absent-mindedly drove right passed the restaurant’s one and only entrance. To remedy the situation, I would have had to drive all the way down the service road to the next exit; make a U-turn and go under the freeway; drive all the way down to the correct exit; make a U-turn under the freeway; quickly veer to the right; and pray I didn’t miss the entrance the second time around. However, I decided not to do that. I turned quickly into the Olive Garden restaurant that was next to Cheddar’s. I pulled into a parking space that faced Cheddar’s. While I originally thought I could just walk over to Cheddar’s, there was a problem — a major problem! Between the two restaurants was a great big, deep overgrown drainage ditch that sloped at least 15 feet down.

No problem, I thought. Confident I could handle crossing the ditch; I took the plunge with my purse and a Christmas gift bag in tow and began my adventure down the ditch. I must admit, I was a little nervous as the grass became thicker and taller on my way down. I thought of withering snakes making contact with my feet in the grass, but I was too far down to turn back.

When I became closer to the center of the ditch, I felt a swampy wet sensation on my feet. Yes, I was wearing “my favorite, black, wedge-heeled flip-flop fastened to my foot by only a small strap”. And, before I knew it, when I was at the bottom of the ditch, my right foot slipped into muddy “quicksand” and I was being sucked in.  Within seconds, my right leg became entrapped all the way to my thigh by swampy, murky mud. I knew that I was in trouble and it would be awfully dangerous and hard to escape if I didn’t act quickly. I fell to the left, quickly dragging my right leg out of the muddy, putrid water and pulled myself to a wobbly standing position. My right flip-flop was entrapped in the murky sludge over three feet down; I looked back, like Lot’s wife, and saw my left flip-flop a few feet away. Scared to retrieve the left flip-flop, I ran up the other side of the drainage ditch like a mad woman.

Miraculously, at the top of the ditch, I pulled myself together and proceeded to walk into Cheddar’s, barefoot and all. As soon as I arrived, I saw Dee. After sharing the short version of what just happened, we checked in at the reception desk and the host brought us to our table. I hoped no one would see my soaking wet bare feet and my muddy jeans and ask me to leave. If anyone saw them, they didn’t say anything. From the waist down, I was freezing. It didn’t help that the restaurant’s AC was in full force right on our table either.

God works in mysterious ways! Dee happened to have a few bags of clothes in her car that she was going to drop off at the recycling center after our lunch, so she went to fetch them for me. I felt like the poor Samaritan who was being helped by the kind-hearted person passing by. I took a few pairs of socks, a pair of overalls 6 sizes smaller than I am, and a sweatshirt. I proceeded to the restroom to change. I had to walk all the way to the other side of the restaurant, pass by a ton of waiters and waitresses, just to get to the restroom where I could change. Mind you, no one mentioned my condition or bare feet or my smell. I was fortunate — I was able to put the tight overalls up to my waist when I unbuttoned all the buttons; I let the bib and straps hang down, and I put the sweatshirt over me.

Then, Dee and I had a lovely Christmas lunch!

The Secular Moral of this Story

Sixty-one-year-old females should never run down a 15-foot drainage ditch without expecting some kind of trouble. It’s just plain half-witted.

In my secular story, I was lucky — all I lost was “my favorite, black, wedge-heeled flip-flop fastened to my foot by only a small strap.”

But, when dealing in the spiritual realm, sometimes the consequences of our actions can be a lot more catastrophic.

The Spiritual Moral of this Story: Dealing with Consequences

If an individual decides to wander away from the right path, they might lose their virginity, their reputation, their license, their family, and/or more. But, as believers sometimes we do mess up. Temptations will always be upon us and our choices lead to consequences. However, there are some things we should all understand when we have done something half-wittingly.

We need to understand that . . .

  • God isn’t surprised when we do something unwise or sin.
  • If we sin, God will forgive us.
  • There are consequences to our actions.
  • God is compassionate.
  • We need to trust the Lord when we mess up.
  • God will help us out of our difficult situations, but we must let Him.
  • God knows we can make a bigger mess of our lives if we don’t let Him help us.
  • God knows why we do what we do or did what we did. He understands our poor judgment.
  • God sees the big picture of our lives.
  • God can use our mess-ups to develop our character.
  • God wants us to learn from our mistakes and become closer to Him by depending on Him for everything.
  • The Bible advises us to obtain wise counsel from people who can help us.

And please, whatever you do, try not to lose more than a pair of shoes like I did. It’s NOT worth it!

God bless you.

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Bible Verses

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:10

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to always honor you in all I do. I can try on my own to be a good person, but I find myself failing so often. Teach me to think like you. Help me to behave like you Jesus. I need your wisdom and your mind to be all you want me to be. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/01/12/ohio-fugitive-hates-his-mugshot-sends-police-selfie-replace/78682094/

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Bible Study, Church and Ministry, People in the Bible

Amos: An Ordinary Man

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There are many men and women who feel ordinary! Being ordinary is synonymous with being average. They might go to an average school, live in an average neighborhood, or be uneducated. One of the worse sentiments one might feel about being ordinary is presuming there is no purpose or calling in life. In today’s culture, we are impressed with wealth, beauty, popularity, being accomplished, and fame. But, let’s look at Amos — an ordinary man with a passion for God who was called to proclaim God’s message of judgment to Israel and other nations due to their sin and disobedience.

AMOS

Amos, an Old Testament minor prophet, was considered to be an ordinary man. In Amos 7:14-15, he says, “I’m not one of your professional prophets. I certainly never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd and I take care of fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go prophesy to my people in Israel.’” [NLT]  Amos might have even been a seasonal worker due to the fact that he lived in Tekoa, a town 16 miles from the Dead Sea, where sycamore trees are not cultivated due to the altitude and climate. Thus, implying he might have had to leave Tekoa during certain months of the year to care for and cultivate the sycamore fig trees. Many commentaries believe Amos did not have any formal training, but he was learned in the ways of God. During Amos’ lifetime, Israel was a nation filled with pride, beauty, elegance, and riches. As Amos went about living “the ordinary life” God gave him, he was called by his heavenly Father for a particular task. He lived during the reign of Jeroboam II around 786-746 BC. It was during this time, he recognized his calling from God to proclaim the message the Lord gave him. He did not arrive on the scene to tickle anybody’s ears. He arrived able, prepared, and willing to work passionately on the assignment God gave him. You will find in the Book of Amos that Amos speaks little of himself; he is there to pronounce the judgment God sent him to do. Speaking God’s word throughout the Book of Amos, he became known for his repetitively saying, “Thus says the LORD” before many of his proclamations. He spoke God’s word throughout the Book of Amos.

As I read the Book of Amos, I became aware of some of the characteristics Amos possessed both prior to and during him announcing the destruction of Israel.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AMOS

  • He sought the Lord;
  • He had a deep-rooted faith;
  • He was being prepared by God;
  • He walked with God;
  • He accepted his lot in life;
  • He was wise in the ways of God;
  • He was close enough to God to know what the Lord said;
  • He spoke only what the Lord said;
  • He was confident in what he said;
  • He was not fearful in bringing bad news to others;
  • He was not fearful in talking to others outside of his class;
  • He sought good and not evil;

GOD CAN USE YOU

The Lord used other “ordinary” men throughout history. David, Eliab, Gideon, Peter, James, and John were used mightily. Even Jesus was a simple man that God called to be the most important influence in all civilizations. And, God can use you!

Someday God may ask you to step out of your comfort zone. We carry around barriers in our life. We don’t take the steps needed to be used by God. God is going to use those who are already steeped in His word and those willing to walk His ways. He will choose us and seek us as we prepare ourselves to expand our influence for him. With Amos, it is most likely he was called for a particular assignment at a particular time. Maybe he went back to tending sheep and sycamore trees after this assignment was accomplished – we just don’t know as there is no record. But, we do know that when God wanted to use him, he was available and willing. In our lives, we should remember that God is able to do whatever He wants to and he will equip anyone willing to carry out his plans. You may not be an educated person; you may not have been born into an elite family, but God can use you. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 states, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. God will give you strength to do what He is calling you to do. God desires to use us to our fullest. He knows if we are unprepared and He wants to prepare us. He knows if we are imperfect, but he sees the potential we have to pursue His purposes. You may have a dream or a vision, but feel unable achieve it. Don’t give up. Water and prune your vision, and wait for God’s appointed time. But, while waiting, follow his leadings, as small and/or as insignificant as they might seem, as this is part of his preparation for you. Just trust that His Spirit is working and perfecting you until the time He calls you like he did Amos. Then, when He shows you He is ready, you will be ready to act.

PREPARING FOR MINISTRY

  • Seek the Lord;
  • Develop a deep-rooted faith;
  • Allow God to prepare you;
  • Walk with God;
  • Accept your lot in life;
  • Be wise;
  • Develop a deep closeness to God through Bible study and prayer;
  • Speak only what is Godly;
  • Be confident in God’s words and whispers;
  • Develop a fearless spirit in speaking for God;
  • Understand that God can use you with anyone — regardless of social class, intellect, race, or religion;
  • Seek good, not evil.

Notice that our preparations mirror Amos’ characteristics.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

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Looking back at my life, I can see how God had been preparing me for my current ministry of writing devotional prayer journals and blogging. When I was around 7 or 8 years old, I loved the Science projects where I had to find leaves, label them, and glue them on cardboard. I call that gathering information and presenting it. As a senior in high school, I had an English assignment where we had to find poems and quotes, put them together in booklet form, and find pictures from newspapers or magazines that related to the poems or quotes. Again, I was gathering information and presenting it. I loved it. Imagine my distress when I received my first college essay back with a big, fat, red F on it. I thought I was an awful writer for years. But, God kept giving me little assignments along the way, i.e. writing Table Talks for Wednesday night church dinners, making educational bulletin boards, becoming a librarian.  One time I was given the assignment by our church planner to research an apartment complex where the church wanted to start a ministry. It was awesome. I used my detective skills; took notes on the bumper stickers in the parking lot; noticed the ages of the children in the complex; spoke to the apartment manager, and of course, put together a booklet with the results. Following God is fun and adventurous. My suggestion is for you to look over your life, see what you have enjoyed, and give your talents to the Lord and ask him to show you how he can use you in the small things. All God’s assignments are profitable, so as we go from one to the next, keep preparing yourself for the next one.

GOD CAN USE THE MOST UNLIKELY PEOPLE

God can use the most unlikely people in life to do a job for him. In God Uses Ordinary People, Mark Hiehle tells the following story of a man God used to meet a woman’s needs and how the recipient viewed it.

I once heard of a woman who had locked her keys in her car at a mall. Not having the funds to call a locksmith, she prayed and asked God to help her. Shortly after, a rough looking man came up to her and asked if she needed any help. She told him that her keys were locked in her car; and in no time, the man used a wire and lifted the lock. The woman thanked him and said that he was an answer to prayer and an angel. The man said, “Oh, I am not an angel, ma’am. I just got out of prison.” The woman looked to heaven and said, “Oh Lord, You are so good! You sent me an expert.” ¹

I love it!

The Lord is consistently calling his children to do His work. We have the choice whether to answer him or not. Our problem is the world in which we live in allows us to questions whether we have enough desire, time, money, and intellect to follow through in His calling(s). We need to make time to listen to the Lord; seek out His will; follow His leading: and let him supply all that is needed to accomplish his purposes through us. Let’s seek out our reasons for not moving forward. Is it because we don’t feel spiritual enough? Then work on that through prayer and Bible study. Is it because you need money to start the ministry God is calling you to? Start with what you have and allow God to find what you need to move on. It is not our strength that gets God’s work done, but our willingness and trust in Him to accomplish the calling and ministries He puts on our hearts.

As the former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, says,

“It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.”²

And, we do this by not depending on our abilities and intellect; we do this by depending on God as our source to achieve mighty things for him – even though we might be ordinary.

What does God have in store for you in 2016? Pray, Read, Listen, and then Act.

Blessings and feel free to share this article with your friends and family!

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Bible Verses:

He that is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. Luke 16:10 NABS

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30 ESV

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! Luke 12:35-38 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, I want you. I want to be used by you. I am asking you today to make me faithful in all the little things that honor you. I confess my sins to you knowing that you will forgive me. I may feel ordinary in the world’s eyes, but I know I am the apple of your eye. Give me the ability to discern each and every step you have for me in my life. Let me obey you and accomplish your purposes for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

¹ Hiehle, Mark. “God Uses Ordinary People.” http://atcmag.com. January 2010.  Web. 2 January 2016.

² Huckabee, Mike. www.brainquote.com. n.d. Web. January 2, 2016.

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Bible Study, Prayer

Reading, Reflecting, and Studying the Bible

The Bible – We should all be reading, reflecting, and studying the Bible because it is God’s gift written especially for us. God uses this book, also known as “God’s Word” or “The Scriptures,” to proclaim his deep and abiding love towards us by showing how we can live a Godly and glorious life.

Written by different authors and editors, the Bible is our guidebook for living — our main source for clear guidance on His will for our lives. Many themes are within the pages of the Holy Bible, such as redemption, forgiveness, judgment, Holy Spirit, instruction, and faith. The Scriptures consist of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. The Old Testament covers the creation of the earth, the lives of Israelites throughout history, many prophecies about the coming of Jesus Christ and more. The New Testament covers the life of Jesus and the writings of his early apostles and disciples through the prophecies regarding the end times in Revelations. Below is an easy breakdown of the 66 books of the Bible.

Old Testament

  • The Pentateuch [The Law]: Genesis – Deuteronomy
  • Historical: Joshua – Esther
  • Poetry and Wisdom: Job – Song of Songs
  • Major Prophets: Isaiah – Daniel
  • Minor Prophets: Hosea – Zephaniah

New Testament

  • The Gospels and Acts: Matthew – Acts
  • Paul’s Letters: Romans – Philemon
  • General Epistles – Hebrews – Jude
  • Revelation

The Bible answers big questions about God, i.e. where do we go when we die, why is there so much evil in this world, how do I know who to marry, what house should I buy. But, it also answers our everyday questions like — how can I pass this test; where should I go to college; and how can I stop sinning. Many people do not think the Bible is relevant in their lives. In 2013, Religion News took a poll and discovered that “more than half of Americans think the Bible has too little influence on a culture they see in moral decline, yet only one in five Americans read the Bible on a regular basis.”¹

Many believe that the reason why the Bible isn’t meaningful to people is because they just don’t read the Word of God. Biblical values and teachings can help us tremendously in our spiritual walk, but they cannot help us if we don’t read the Word and know what it says. And, this is why we need to know how to read it, reflect upon it, and study it.

There are different ways to view the time one spends in God’s Word. And, it is necessary to understand the differences.

Reading the Bible

This is where one reads the Bible for personal enlightenment. Many read the Bible during their daily quiet time or devotional time. When one is reading for their personal edification, reading is usually at a quite leisurely pace. However, it can turn into an intense pleading or calling out to God for answers.

As a rule, sitting around with a bunch of concordances, Bible dictionaries, or Christian theological books is not the preferred reading here. Reading to see what God is saying personally and getting to know God better should be the goal during this reading time. It is an occasion to learn more about God, his precepts, and character, and how He desires to mature you in your faith. This is the reading time that allows God to speak to you personally through His Word.

Tips for your devotional time

  • Try to sit in the same chair/place each sitting;
  • Use a Bible reading plan so you will already know where in the Bible you are going to start reading;
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your reading;
  • Focus on verses or chapters relating to what is going on in your life or the life of family and/or friends;
  • Have a journal or notebook handy so you are ready to write important verses, thoughts, or promptings down;
  • Have a pen, pencil, and/or highlighter readily available;

On a personal level, I like to use a Bible without all the study notes and footnotes during my quiet time. I have found the notes distract me from just plain old reading God’s Word. I want the Word to speak to me and not feel obligated to read what someone else has said about the verses I am reading; although, I have had to look up a few things along the way. But, that is a personal preference. There is no right or wrong way to have a devotional time – personalize it to fit your likes and personality.

Reflecting on the Bible [Meditating]

Reflecting on God’s Word is the time one spends just contemplating what you have read or heard. Giving time to think about what has been read or presented is powerful. During meditation time, one should remain in a prayerful mode internalizing the Scriptures so it can become ingrained in our life. Don’t allow yourself to be hooked into any special technique or program during this reflective time. These can easily become so legalistic that one could have difficulty absorbing the significance God has for your time here. Remain in a prayerful spirit and as 1 Chronicles 22:19 states, “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God.” In your spirit, listen to the Lord. It is here where we can really internalize God’s Word so it becomes so ingrained in our life that the Bible principles and God’s values and His character become our own. It is quite possible that during this time, one will be prompted to involve themselves in benevolent activities, i.e. calling someone in a nursing home, writing a letter, offering your time or service to someone in need.

Studying the Bible

A comprehensive study of the Scriptures is what is involved here. This can be achieved by spreading out all your commentaries and Bible study tools on the dining room table and studying a person, character trait, or historical event; attending an in-depth Bible study program; participating in a Bible seminar; and many more such things.  Studying the Bible and trying to understand it in the correct context is applicable in this kind of studying. The Bible covers a long period of history and many cultures and ages. During a study such as this, one should plan out their study and decide if a group study or individual study is best for the purpose desired. Being organized is the key to developing a productive study time. Pastors and Sunday school teachers frequently spend hours at a time studying and developing their sermons or classes respectively. Studying God’s Word this way requires a lot of research skills, concentration, and prayer. It is very important that you become familiar with Bible doctrine if you are studying deeply, especially if you are studying to equip others, so you take care not to lead others astray.

Studying the Bible Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Studying the Bible
Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Whitney T. Kuniholm, President of Scripture Union/USA says, “Be careful not to be arrogant in the course of studying. It’s so easy to boast of your findings rather than prayerfully meditate on the. Studying extensively is good. Remember even those who are illiterates can have a deeper understanding of the Word and deeper relationships with God than you because they meditate on it. Simply knowing names and things is not good enough. You must practice and preach what you practice.”²

This information might be overwhelming to you. Being a student of God takes time. Your style develops over time. When I was younger, I never wanted to write because I felt like there were so many good writers out there and that I could never compare to them. It was only through my devotional time and Bible study that I began to realize that God makes us all different and even our writing styles vary. Your Bible study times should be geared to your personality. Maybe you like to sit outside on your back porch and read your Bible; maybe you like to participate in an in-depth Bible study at someone’s home; maybe you like to reflect in the park. Whatever works for you, do it. Don’t put off being taught by the Word of God. Get organized and get going.

As for me, in 2016, my serious Bible study time will take place at my dining room table, but for my quiet and reflective time, you will find me in my upholstered recliner in our downstairs library with my freshly brewed Folger’s Classic coffee placed neatly on the marble table next to my chair. How about you?

Blessings Always,

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Bible Reading Programs [You may need to sign up]:

Bible Gateway – Reading Plans

Bible Study Tools – Reading Plan

Bible Verses:

God’s Word is profitable to mankind. The Bible . . .

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father. Let me start the New Year with a deep desire to know you more and more. Allow your Holy Spirit to infiltrate my life so that desire stays strong and active all the way from January through December. Help me to organize a plan for reading my Bible every day and give me the stick-to-itiveness to follow through. It is my earnest desire to become more Christ-like as I read your Holy Word and pray this year. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

¹ Bell, Caleb. “Poll: Americans love the Bible but don’t read it much”. Religion News. April 4, 2013.

Web. December 27, 2015. www.religionnews.com.

² “How to Study the Bible.” Wikihow. Web. December 27, 2015. http://m/wikihow.com/Study-the-Bible.

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Devotionals, Parenting and Family

Christmas Devotional for Your Family

Enjoy this Christmas devotional to use with your family this year and many years to come!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

And thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

Prelude: Play a favorite Christmas Hymn.

Prayer:  Open with a prayer to thank God for the Christmas Season and the Celebration of Jesus’ birth.

The Christmas Story:  Read Luke 2:1-20 from your Bible or from the following:

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

New International Version

“Away in a Manger”

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes.

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky.

And stay by my cradle ‘til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask thee to stay.

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care.

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. Amen.

Responsive Reading:

All responsive reading verses are taken from the King James Version.

Leader:   For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Almighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Leader:   Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Family:   Jesus is Savior of the World.

Share the following Christmas thought with your family:

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let us not lose the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas does not rest in finely-trimmed trees, expensive gifts and in the hustle and bustle that fills the Christmas season.

“Christmas is something God did in the world He made. It is the announcement of a coming – the coming to earth of a Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas is the glorious good news that mankind, all mankind of every race and nation, can experience forgiveness, freedom and life abundant because of God’s gift – the Babe of Bethlehem.”

–B.O. Baker

Have each member of the family discuss what Christmas means to them.

Family Prayer: Pray and thank God for the Coming of Christ. Join hands in a circle and give each member of the family an opportunity to pray.

Greene Pastures by Patti

GreenePastures.org; www.PattiGreene.com

©PattiGreene

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