I have had one of those days today that kind of came and went without a lot going on, or so it seemed with little purpose. That coming from me sounds odd because I am all about things having purpose- to say the least, I can really get on a soap box about everything having a purpose! But today..... well, I just didn't feel it. Call it the "blahs" or maybe boredom... you might even call it apathetic. OK- Whoa, let me not get too carried away.. but I am sure there are those that are reading this that have felt or feel this way.
Feelings are so tricky. They take us to new heights of feeling great about the good things going on in our lives, but then when something disrupts that, or when something bad happens- we plummet emotionally and put ourselves and others who love and care for us through worry and stress. Why? This is mostly because we aren't in control of our emotions or know how to control our thoughts.
Our thoughts dictate our actions. Whatever we think, we will eventually do. If we think we are going to fail at something, more than likely, we will. This is why it is so important as followers of Christ to remind ourselves that we are to have the "mind of Christ". As Paul wrote "to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. " (2 Corinthians 10:5b) Upon having this attitude and mindset, our feelings and emotions will not rule over us. I have heard so many people say to me "I just feel like God is so far away" or "I'm not happy, therefore I wonder if I am truly saved ?" We allow our emotions to dictate the "truth" in our lives. But guess what? Our emotions lie....
Faith is not an emotion- it is something you either have or you don't. Salvation is also not a feeling or emotion. You either have it or you don't. How do you know if you have either?
You know by what you know to be true.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Now, that being the case, you either have Faith that Jesus was who He said He was, or not. The same is true for salvation- in believing in Jesus as Lord, confessing and repenting of our sins, the gift of salvation is free for anyone to receive it. It doesn't depend on how holy or unholy we feel on any given day. Nor does it dictate our happiness or unhappiness. THAT is up to us on how we chose to live our lives AND what we choose to set our thoughts and minds on!
Now.... back to purpose. Just because I didn't feel that there was not much purpose today, doesn't mean that it's so. Or that God won't use today for His purpose. It simply means that today I let my feelings steal some of the joy that I could have had. That is, had I been in control of my thoughts and mindset. Instead, I let the Father of Lies fool me into thinking today was a wasted day. How did I finally come to know that it wasn't? The conviction of the Holy Spirit that lives in me. By examining myself and giving myself a reality check, I had felt I had fallen into a hole that I thought was as big as the Grand Canyon, but in actuality, I had only stepped off the curb.
Satan can make us feel like we are in a deep hole, overwhelmed and ill-equipped for things that we are facing everyday- but he lies. It is what he does best.
Every day has purpose..... every.... day, regardless if we see what the purpose is with our eyes, or feel with our emotions. So you see, in all fairness to God, we really shouldn't struggle with purpose at all. It really isn't for us to understand what actions or words we use that may be used for His purpose, as long as those words and actions reflect love, mercy, and grace to all. Don't take that too far to the left and think that I mean that we should not "care" or help in planning things to fulfill God's purpose. What I mean is that we shouldn't spend so much time worrying, and more time praying for God to prepare our hearts and minds so that we can be used as the opportunities arise.
Don't let how you feel "cloud" the vision God has for you to fulfill His purpose of spreading the "good news" of Jesus and His unfailing love. Satan comes to us to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Dear Lord, please show us when our feelings start to rule our circumstances, and remind us that You are in control of it all. Help us to control our thoughts that puts our actions into motion, so that the things we think are set on things above and not on things of this world. Give us a renewed spirit to reach out to your children in love no matter their response back to us. Thank you for your loving kindness that you show us daily in even the smallest of things. Rain down on us bold living, but also humbleness to exalt others before ourselves. Be thou our vision. Amen.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Disciple I Graduation: As Twelve Become One
I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of LLUMC's Disciple I class taught by Pastor Mai Le this past year. It isn't your ordinary small group or bible study as the reading assignments are well laid out as is the workbook material and questions. It is a commitment not only to attend, but to prepare and to participate in order to create the kind of environment that people of faith need to increase knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of this great book we call the living Word of God.
Since last June, we have had a range of people that attended- anywhere from nineteen to nine on any given Tuesday night. No matter the number, those that were present prayed, listened, questioned, and usually left there with a little more insight and enlightenment on the Word of God than they had when they arrived. Most of us did not know each other since our church is fairly large, and we all came from different ethnic, denominational, age, and social groups. It would seem at first that most of us had little in common except for our faith and our church. I found out how beautiful just that little bit of commonality could be by graduation night.
At the end of each class, we always took prayer requests. This was one of the ways that we all got to know one another. Through our loved ones that were sick or lost, or had recently passed on, we requested prayer and shared which lead us to learn a little more about each other. When some of us were not there or on trips, we never neglected to mention them, miss them, and pray that they would be back with us soon. In the beginning, there were a few of us that seemed a little lost in the group- a little unsure of what was being said or hesitant on what to say and how to participate. Needless to say, it did not stay that way. As for myself, I prayed for those who seemed to struggle and I felt that others were praying for each other as well. The last few months of class were the best! Those that were hesitant and unsure, began to grow and bloom right where they were for us all to see! It was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed!
This past Tuesday night, the final twelve that were able to stay committed the entire year came together for the last lesson. We met and had a covenant service that brought our fellowship together with song, sharing of scripture, sharing of what this class had meant to each of us, shared communion, and at last eating a meal together. It was a wonderful time of reflection, sharing, and laughter that I never knew would mean so much to me.
In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them". (NIV) I could not agree more..... I felt the love of Jesus in that room and at that dining table, just as if Jesus Himself were there eating pickled shrimp and lemon cake with us. The fellowship of believers have a peace that goes beyond just being around friends. You "choose" who your friends are: you don't choose who is in God's family- GOD does. Therefore, we have to make an intentional choice to love each other as believers. This intentional choice is also a command of Jesus, actually described by Him as a new commandment that He gave His twelve disciples- "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. BY THIS everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35.
I know that ultimately the Holy Spirit teaches us and guides our Spiritual path, but we all need "others" to help with the understanding of God's Word, to help encourage us in our Spiritual growth, to help us find out and develop our Spiritual Gifts, and to keep us strong in Faith AND deed! I am certain all that are reading this may not agree with me on this matter, and that's OK. This is only my opinion. For me the gathering of believers is helpful and essential to my Spiritual growth and also in learning to serve others.
Hebrews: 10:24-25 says this "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The word "spur" in some other translations that I have read say "motivate". The word "encouraging" in verse 25 in the Amplified version says "admonishing" which includes "encouraging", but also "warning" and "urging". We don't only encourage, but we hold each other accountable- this helps keep us on track and not stray too far from the truth. Satan would love nothing better than to isolate a Child of God and make them think that they don't need anyone to "tell them what they should believe". He knows that there is "power" in numbers when God's people come together and pray.
As the twelve of us graduate from Disciple I and begin Disciple II this fall, we all have a bond that took a full year to fully form. It is the bond of fellowship and love for one another, and for God. Each of us unique in our way of worship, talents, gifts, and service to the Lord, but all one in the Spirit of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. To each person in my class: thank you for your love, encouragement, understanding, and your wisdom.
"Let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." 1 John 3:18
"This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God...."
Since last June, we have had a range of people that attended- anywhere from nineteen to nine on any given Tuesday night. No matter the number, those that were present prayed, listened, questioned, and usually left there with a little more insight and enlightenment on the Word of God than they had when they arrived. Most of us did not know each other since our church is fairly large, and we all came from different ethnic, denominational, age, and social groups. It would seem at first that most of us had little in common except for our faith and our church. I found out how beautiful just that little bit of commonality could be by graduation night.
At the end of each class, we always took prayer requests. This was one of the ways that we all got to know one another. Through our loved ones that were sick or lost, or had recently passed on, we requested prayer and shared which lead us to learn a little more about each other. When some of us were not there or on trips, we never neglected to mention them, miss them, and pray that they would be back with us soon. In the beginning, there were a few of us that seemed a little lost in the group- a little unsure of what was being said or hesitant on what to say and how to participate. Needless to say, it did not stay that way. As for myself, I prayed for those who seemed to struggle and I felt that others were praying for each other as well. The last few months of class were the best! Those that were hesitant and unsure, began to grow and bloom right where they were for us all to see! It was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed!
This past Tuesday night, the final twelve that were able to stay committed the entire year came together for the last lesson. We met and had a covenant service that brought our fellowship together with song, sharing of scripture, sharing of what this class had meant to each of us, shared communion, and at last eating a meal together. It was a wonderful time of reflection, sharing, and laughter that I never knew would mean so much to me.
In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them". (NIV) I could not agree more..... I felt the love of Jesus in that room and at that dining table, just as if Jesus Himself were there eating pickled shrimp and lemon cake with us. The fellowship of believers have a peace that goes beyond just being around friends. You "choose" who your friends are: you don't choose who is in God's family- GOD does. Therefore, we have to make an intentional choice to love each other as believers. This intentional choice is also a command of Jesus, actually described by Him as a new commandment that He gave His twelve disciples- "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. BY THIS everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35.
I know that ultimately the Holy Spirit teaches us and guides our Spiritual path, but we all need "others" to help with the understanding of God's Word, to help encourage us in our Spiritual growth, to help us find out and develop our Spiritual Gifts, and to keep us strong in Faith AND deed! I am certain all that are reading this may not agree with me on this matter, and that's OK. This is only my opinion. For me the gathering of believers is helpful and essential to my Spiritual growth and also in learning to serve others.
Hebrews: 10:24-25 says this "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The word "spur" in some other translations that I have read say "motivate". The word "encouraging" in verse 25 in the Amplified version says "admonishing" which includes "encouraging", but also "warning" and "urging". We don't only encourage, but we hold each other accountable- this helps keep us on track and not stray too far from the truth. Satan would love nothing better than to isolate a Child of God and make them think that they don't need anyone to "tell them what they should believe". He knows that there is "power" in numbers when God's people come together and pray.
As the twelve of us graduate from Disciple I and begin Disciple II this fall, we all have a bond that took a full year to fully form. It is the bond of fellowship and love for one another, and for God. Each of us unique in our way of worship, talents, gifts, and service to the Lord, but all one in the Spirit of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. To each person in my class: thank you for your love, encouragement, understanding, and your wisdom.
"Let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." 1 John 3:18
"This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God...."
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