Show and Tell

 2/28/2023

 This morning, when my husband and I were in our devotional time together, we talked about how we are supposed to share the redeeming truth of the Gospel with others in the inhospitable climate we are all living in. He is particularly feeling burdened for his coworkers. If a coworker feels uncomfortable with a person sharing their faith, they can claim harassment. Even ignoring that, just claiming to be a Christian in today’s world could lead people to believe you are judgmental and hateful.

We discussed showing our faith before we talk about it at work. It’s like show and tell in school. You bring something interesting for your classmates to see, pass it around, and then you get to tell them about it. So, if we are exhibiting the fruit of the spirit in our lives, others will notice a difference and get interested, and they may open the door to conversation. We can also add items that reflect our faith to our workspace or office, or prominently wear a cross every day. This also may open conversation, or even forge a connection.

When I used to work in a K-8 public school, I wore a cross all the time. I had more than one student come up to me and inquire either why I wore one or if I went to church. I remember this one little boy in kindergarten named Paul who leaned over to me one day and whispered, “Do you go to church, Mrs. Collins?” Sadly, he knew, even at his tender age, that the school environment was not a place to ask that question too loudly. I could, however, answer questions about faith when asked.

In public, on the other hand, we can and should be bolder with sharing our faith. Often if you offer to pray for someone or help them, that can be an opportunity to communicate the truth as well. The Word of God is so transformative, we agreed, that once you begin reading it, its power cannot be ignored. It is often the only path to forgiveness, grace, and peace for many who resist being witnessed to. So, many people have shared that it was reading the Gospel that changed them and brought them to the foot of the cross. That can also be a show and tell moment.

So, as we continue to walk with the Lord and try to reach a hurting world, let us show what a relationship with Jesus looks like, and then tell others that they can find forgiveness and new life if Christ.

A Movement

 2/27/2023

“Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them.”

As many of you know, the movie Jesus Revolution came out February 24^th, and it has been getting some heavy press on mainstream media outlets. It is about a movement back in the early 70’s of hippies that were known at the time as “Jesus Freaks”, and how they turned around a dried-up pastor with a dying church. At least that is what I have gleaned from the trailers and interviews I have seen. He went on to found Calvary Chapel Church.  According to Christianity Today, there are more than 1,700 churches in the Calvary Chapel Association.

There are also spiritual revivals happening at several colleges around the US, the first one being Asbury College in Kentucky. Most news outlets tell of people driving hundreds of miles to experience the movement of the Spirit there. Again, these events are being covered by mainstream news outlets regardless of political leanings, although the stories are presented in varying ways.

It is evident to me that the Spirit is moving in New England as well. Just yesterday, my husband and I saw a friend at the grocery store that said the membership of his church is outgrowing the building. I also had another friend tell me, after our return to the body, that the Spirit is moving in our little Baptist church. Quote, “There is a new spirit moving among us and things are starting to happen. God is moving in our midst, and it is exciting to see where this is going.” Exciting indeed. We could feel that exact thing in the air yesterday during the service. There IS something happening, and I am thrilled to be back.

I have been praying for a long time for God’s people to stop being silent, and that God would help us all to be bolder for Him. I truly believe that all we must do is have a willing and open spirit, read God’s Holy Word, pray deeply, worship with others, and unlock our hearts, souls, and minds to be able to identify the doors He is opening for us to minister, in love, to others.

Dear Jesus, let this be the time when your people boldly stand in unity to share the power of the Gospel and the truth of Your grace and redeeming love with this hurting and broken world. Amen.

 

God’s Grace

 2/26/2023

Hebrews 10:25 “Not neglecting to meet together, as in the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Today, we went back to church after a prolonged Covid hiatus. Part of that hiatus was because of my anxiety, and part of it was for some other reasons that I needed to work out with God. Both areas were a battleground for sure, and the evil one held me captive during my persistent dark winter of the soul. The extra issues were things that bubbled up from my past that I had not really dealt with. True, I “got over” some things, but I never really did heal from some injuries that happened within a former church body. Several, if I am being honest, and the hurt was always the same every time.

Covid was a firestorm for most people, and churches had a particularly difficult time trying to meet people’s needs and hear the concerns of their members. Let’s face it, things got ugly out there, and there didn’t seem to be a consensus on anything. I know many people, like my family, chose to stay home and stream the church service on YouTube. (Thank goodness for technology!) Some people came back as soon as the doors were once again open, some gradually trickled back in, and some never returned. I’m sure some of our church family thought we were in the latter group. No one could fault them for thinking so.

I have been struggling with how, when, and even if, to return to our church. However, among other things God is asking of me during Lent, I felt Him guiding me back. We had been back a couple of times for special occasions, but this time was going to be for good. I will admit that those other times felt awkward and stilted, and afterwards I went through periods of distress. It was just much easier to stay home and watch the service; after all, we were still hearing the message. (I must note here that our pastor is very gifted in this area.) What was lacking, though, was the connection to our church family and worshiping with other believers. The most palpable thing about returning today was the people.

I had not shared with my husband what God had been working out in my spirit until this morning, when I was obviously getting ready to go out. In my weakness I did not want to disappoint him and cave in again. He has been wanting to go back for a long time, but he felt badly leaving behind. Yet there was a different feeling in our house this Sunday morning. It was lighter and more joyful. I was still not sure what would happen, but I prayed to be obedient and have strength.

Turns out, this day really was different from the others. I had not alerted anyone that we were coming, we just went like any normal Sunday pre-Covid. Lo and behold, that is exactly what it felt like. Sure, everyone is now three years older, which mostly showed in the wee ones that we used to teach in Children’s Church. God blessed me with the strength that I knew I needed to be in a crowd of people once again, but what I did not expect was the overwhelming peace I felt. I was able to hug those I had not seen in so long and worshiped fully with the church body. Towards the end of the service, during our praise and worship song time, I fully broke before my precious Savior and church family. It was a beautifully powerful moment, and God sent my dearest Mikayla to give me support and comfort. He knew just who I needed in that moment.

To say that I am feeling humble and blessed this evening as I sit here writing doesn’t seem to cover the depth of that appointment with the Holy Spirit that I had today. The love I experienced from everyone I spoke to, even after such an extended time away, the hugs, or even smiles across the church today, were precious. Oh, the profound gratitude to God I have for freeing me of fear and injury. The overwhelming outpouring of God’s grace is all I will ever need. 

Controversial Idea (NOT)

 

2/25/2023

1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us. “

So, I am going to put forward an idea that may shock some of you, but if you are a believer, you will get it right away. I propose that we stop using the words “tolerate” and “accept” to view other people and replace those words simply with “love”. Now, we can’t cancel those words and strike them from our language, as they both are very useful. I can accept a package or a gift. I can accept paperwork or a favor, etc. In my husband’s line of work, tolerances are very important for keeping aircraft flying. It is also an important word for knowing if a person's body can handle a certain drug or procedure. It even has environmental uses. Both of these words are very important, but can we stop directing them at people?

I suggest, and it is actually Biblical, that we replace these words with a simple four letter one: love. Jesus certainly never told us to tolerate or even accept our neighbor, He told us to love them. We are even told in the Bible to love our enemies. So why do we keep using these words that divide us? Isn’t it much better to feel loved than to be just tolerated or acceptable? Heck, getting a B on your report card is acceptable, but it isn’t most people’s ultimate goal.

Most people’s ambition is to love those around them, but loving those we do not agree with is infinitely harder. Yet we are called to do so. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This verse has the word “love” in it four times. Do you think Jesus was trying to get a point across?

It is true that we often fear what we don’t know or understand, but the Bible tells us not to fear 365 times. Again, I think that a point is trying to get through. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” Can’t we equate a lot of the divisiveness and hatred that is happening today to fear? Fear of difference, fear of being judged (or worse) is rampant today. Many voices are shouting, especially on social media and media of every kind, and we can all find screaming voices that side with our own thoughts and feelings. Where, I ask, is the love?

1 John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” This verse really hits deep. If we are connected to the Creator and following the teachings of our precious Savior, Jesus, how can we not do anything but love others? After all, He has forgiven and loves me even in my frailty and continuing sin. How, then, can I do any less?

Join me, dear ones, in starting a love revolution. Let us share the love of God with all those we meet. Let us ALWAYS lead with love. 

Praying Through

 2/24/2023

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

For the first time in a long while I am observing the Lenten season. This comes with a commitment towards the things I have omitted from my life and also the things I have added to it. I am finding both equally challenging which surprises me. The first few days I found myself determined and trying to accomplish what I believe God has set before me to do. Big mistake. I was trying to meet these challenges under my own steam instead of lifting them all up to God. Sure I have been praying every day and doing my devotions, but when I begin to hit a roadblock in my forward motion I was driving and not God. Ugh, how long will it take me to learn?

Along with all my do and do nots I need to be searching God all day long every day. I have been experiencing a bit of a desert spiritually or dark winter as it were. It has been like someone tried to cut the power cord that connects me to my Savior and left a bunch of frayed open wires. I don’t know if any of you have ever experienced this, but for me it has been extremely difficult. It’s like the warrior part of my spirit has left the building. Sigh.

When I was recovering from my “dark night of the soul” period, the one thing that I did all day long every day was pray. I talked to God constantly no matter what I was doing or who I was with. I had too, for in only Him did I find refuge and the healing, peace, and strength to overcome. I had walked that road for years and years and, after returning to myself, I became a powerful intercessory prayer warrior. If there was prayer needed, you could bet I would be in my “little chapel” coming before God with praise and petition. Sadly, that Miss Carla wannabe has been missing for a while. It is not that I have not been hearing God’s call for my life, I have just been so very weary.

Lent, I felt God showing me, was the perfect time for a reset. A time I could concentrate on being obedient and prayerful. A time I could focus on His eternal love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. A time to come out of the dark spiritual winter. So today, as I was yet again struggling with my Lenten observances, I knew deep down in my soul that in order to make it through this 40 day period I needed to once again rely 100% on God getting me to the finish line. I need to pray through EVERYTHING in my life just as I did when I was recovering from my illness. I need to, as my sister Barb says, “offer it up”, all of it, to my Lord and Savior. Only then will I once again feel the warmth of being surrendered and fully connected to my Jesus. For it was in my own frailty that I could not persevere and sustain my all day long every day communication. I know that all power, love, and self-control come through His Spirit into me and, hopefully, out to others.

If you are struggling like I am this Lenten season, start having an all day long and open conversation with Jesus. I can promise you; it will make all the difference. 

The Can Opener

 2/23/2023

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Recently, my son shared a story about something that happened when we lived in New Hampshire. He was bringing our dog out when he saw a shirtless man with no shoes walking down the street. Now I must orient the reader to our town being a very small rural one with only approximately 2000 people. Generally, the only people we ever saw walk up or down the street were our neighbors. This man, however, was not someone he recognized. After our son ascended the stairs of our side deck to let the dog back inside, he noticed this man approaching. Normally, this would have caused a bit of trepidation, but he said he was not concerned at all about this stranger coming into the yard. The man, who was holding a can, asked if he could borrow an opener for it. “Sure” my son said. Then he entered the side door that led directly into the kitchen, came back out with a can opener, handed it to the man, and waited for him to use it. The man opened his can, said thank you, returned the opener, and was back on his way. This happened at least ten years ago while my husband and I were away, and it never occurred to my son to tell us until we were reading the Bible recently. He remembered the interaction because of this verse, Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

The part of his story that really struck me was the peace he felt when this man approached. Of course, we are all suspect of strangers, especially in this current climate we live in. That afternoon, my son just wasn’t uncomfortable. Is it possible that he had entertained an angel that day? One thing is for sure, he did show kindness to a stranger in need. Isn’t that what we are all called to do?

Oh, and one last thing. After our son brought the can opener back in and put it in the sink, he looked out the front window and the man was gone. He didn’t see where the man had come from or where went. He just seemed to have appeared and then, after their brief interaction, disappeared. Angel?

Inhospitable

2/22/2023

Maine can be a very daunting place to live in the wintertime. A few weekends ago, like a lot of the country, Maine had the lowest temperatures it has seen in a generation. With the wind chill it reached -44 degrees. Brrrrr. The news was reporting that frostbite at those temperatures could occur in 5 minutes. I felt so badly for anyone that had to go out, and for all the pups that must do their “business” outdoors. We did bring our little girl out, but she was done and back in record time. Thankfully, that cold snap only lasted two days and then we were back to our regular winter weather.

In Maine, like I’m sure is true in many other parts of the country, there is a tendency to want to hunker down and stay inside until spring. My neighbor, Sandy, always says we never see one another in the winter because we all batten down the hatches and ride it out. A very accurate assessment. This introvert, for one, is okay with that. Why even try to go out when it’s so cold it freezes your nostrils when you breathe? It is easier, and more comfortable, just to stay inside.

This morning, while doing my devotions, I thought of how the world right now is like winter in Maine: very inhospitable. Evil seems to be running rampant and unchecked. You can see it everywhere. Things that, not very long ago, were deemed as sinful or even just inappropriate are being more widely accepted. As long as you are “living your truth”, you should be accepted no matter what. There is a HUGE difference between a single person’s or group’s “truth” and the REAL TRUTH that is in the Word of God. People are turning away from His truth for the insidious lies that are being normalized every day. This is destabilizing us and dividing us as families, a country, and even a world. It is now a place where people are being maligned for speaking truth, even when it is wrapped in love. Our world is, without a doubt, an inhospitable place.

So once again I have to ask: is the world so hostile that we, as believers, refuse to “go forth” because of what may lie on the other side? Do we feel like even 5 minutes in this climate could irreparably harm us? Have the loud voices that speak untruths, evil, and hatred made us retreat from going out into the world to share the Gospel message? So, I must ask myself this question: Am I, as a disciple of Jesus, trusting Him to guide and protect me on such a dangerous journey? Didn’t Paul go boldly into his ministry having nothing but a profound faith and the Holy Spirit to guide him? Didn’t he preach to an inhospitable and dangerous world? Should I do anything less?

We, as a world, are experiencing a bitter winter of evil, anger, hate, and violence. Without the boldness of those willing to go fourth and speak God’s truth, spring may never come.