Being Busy For Jesus!

and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
1Corinthians 3:13

Tom and Galinda were exhausted. Misguidedly, they believed that laboring for the Lord was meant to be that way. “After all,” Tom was fond of saying, “the Bible says, ‘each will be rewarded according to his labor’ so the more we labor, the bigger the reward!” And with that mindset they went about being busy for Jesus! They had a plan and disciplined themselves to stick to it. Their satisfaction at the end of each day began to wane but they pushed on, knowing things would get better if they just stuck to their plan. After all, Jesus expected them to stay busy … didn’t He?
After ten years of non-stop being busy for Jesus, they felt more like under-appreciated and underpaid employees than servants of the King. Serving had gone from a labor of love to hard labor. They couldn’t remember the last time they’d actually enjoyed what they were doing. To the best of their recollection it had been years. And weren’t they supposed to be compensated for their labor? Hadn’t God promise them an exciting life of service with reward? This certainly wasn’t rewarding! They had even forgone having children so they could commit more time to God’s work!
Disgruntled and disillusioned, they resigned as committee heads of every group they were involved in, and left the church.

†

God’s people are designed to serve Him with zeal and passion. Yet sadly, many equate busyness to quality of service. Spurred on by this mentality they set to work, not understanding that what they’re doing is not what God wants.
Failing to ask God what’s important to Him will lead to spiritual frustration and a sense of overwhelming disappointment. Many Christians live in perpetual turmoil, never understanding they are laboring in vain, and their works will be consumed by fire. They themselves will be saved, but their work will be consumed.
Being busy for Jesus isn’t God’s idea of service. If we make time each morning to ask for instruction we will remove a lot of stress from our lives, and our works will stand the fiery test.

Prayer

“Good morning, Lord. I want to do what You want me to do today. What would You have me do? Amen.”

Marshmallows

… while we wait …
Titus 2:13

The Sunday school teacher placed one marshmallow in front of each of her ten students. “Please wait to eat your marshmallow until I say it’s all right. Once I give you permission, you are free to eat it. I must leave the room. If you wait to eat your marshmallow until I return, I will give you a second marshmallow. If you choose to eat it before I return, you will not receive a second one.” With that, she left the room.
Six of the children immediately grabbed and ate their marshmallow.
Three children sat patiently, hands in their laps, watching their peers enjoy the tasty treat.
As time passed, the wait showed on one little boy. Just as he grabbed his marshmallow, the teacher opened the door! The boy slowly placed it back on the table.
The teacher acknowledged the four children’s restraint. “You didn’t give in to a desire to eat your marshmallow.” Placing a second marshmallow in front of them, she continued, “Here is your reward for waiting.”
She then announced, “I must leave again. If both marshmallows are uneaten when I return, I will give you two more.” The kids who had eaten their marshmallow were visibly disappointed. “For those who ate their marshmallow, if you will remain seated and silent until I return, I will give you one more marshmallow.” With consequences versus reward fresh in their minds, the six remained quietly in their seats.

†

The temptation to eat our marshmallows is great. Without hesitation, many of us devour them without a second thought. The hope within the promise isn’t tangible enough to discipline our desires. But once we witness the reward of self-discipline, we gain new perspective, one that gives us hope.
“While we wait” is not a passive proclamation. It is an action-filled opportunity to bring ourselves under the control of Someone else in the hope of being rewarded with a life more like Christ’s, full of love, joy, and peace.
Watching someone else do it gives us hope. Our struggle gets easier as we experience the reward.

Prayer

“The temptation is great, Lord. I can’t do this on my own, I need Your help. Teach me to wait on Your reward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The Chrysalis

Behold, I make all things new.
Revelation 21:5 (kjv)

Sitting alone in the woods, contemplating her life, Bryanna wondered how she could have slipped so far from the life she’d envisioned for herself as a child. Only now did she understand the destruction she’d caused and realize her inability to atone for her mistakes. “Lord, if You’re really here, now would be a good time to show Yourself,” she said aloud, thinking there was about a one in a billion chance of Him showing up.
But to her utter amazement, He appeared in the next moment. As she surveyed her surroundings, Bryanna noticed something hanging from the small limb of a nearby bush. Moving closer, she realized with wonder that she was looking at a chrysalis. A caterpillar had woven its cocoon recently, and had begun the metamorphosis to its current state. Now, a butterfly was fighting to emerge from its protection to begin a new life.
She knelt and watched as the struggle culminated with the butterfly’s emergence. It hung from its transitory dwelling, drying its wings in the brilliant sunlight. Then it flew away. As she watched it light on flower after flower, she heard God whisper, “You too can begin a new life, Bryanna. It will require a bit of struggle, but the change can be as dramatic as this insect’s you just witnessed. Would you trust Me to make things new?”

†

How sweet is the knowledge that God makes things new each time we bring our pitfalls to His throne, laying them before Him, asking forgiveness! And how many times have we, like Bryanna, made a mess of things, only to seek God’s intervention? It is beyond human comprehension how God can forgive the vile things we have done and then forget them. But He does, and He will. And the life we are able to live following repentance is a life unmarred by past sin.
Today’s text speaks of God’s loving mercy. It is powerful enough to recreate our lives, making us brand new. But only if we accept His Son as our Savior and come asking forgiveness. If we do this, He promises we will be changed!

Prayer

“Lord, change me from who I am today. Transform my life and make me new. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

This post is in memory of Army Staff Sergeant Shamus Goare, and dedicated to Judy and Charlie Goare, who know what it means when we say, "All gave some, but some gave all!"

The Supreme Sacrifice

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13 KJV

As I listened to the 2011 Memorial Day address, I thought of how so many had given so much for our freedom. Many families in our small community had sons and daughters in harms way, in a hostile land. But one individual here knew the pain of supreme sacrifice. Charles and Judy Goare’s son, Shamus had been killed in Afghanistan, and Judy was in attendance to honor their son.      

I was reminded of another difficult and bittersweet day for the Goares: “Mr. President,” Senator Mike DeWine announced in the December 8, 2006 Session. “This afternoon I would like to pay tribute to Army Staff Sergeant Shamus Goare from Danville, Ohio. He was killed on June 28, 2005, when his helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan.”   

Midway through his tribute the Senator shared, “Mr. President, shortly before his death Shamus received a Medal of Valor for humanitarian work in Afghanistan. Shamus was working with children, which was something his father said he dearly loved…Life in the military was a good fit for Shamus. It led him to a series of selfless and compassionate acts of heroism, many of which he could not divulge to his family due to the nature of his work with the 160^th’s Night Stalkers. And true to their motto, Shamus never quit—even to the very end.”

Following the service I, as well as many others, hugged Judy and thanked her for Shamus, for his life and sacrifice, and for our freedom. In that tearful embrace Judy responded, “You are so welcome…thank you for remembering my son.”     

†

There is no way we can repay the Shamus, Judy, and Charlie Goares of this Nation. Neither can we repay Jesus for the supreme sacrifice He made on our behalf.

Shamus died so that we might live in freedom from tyranny and oppression, able to enjoy the freedom to worship as we choose.   

Jesus died to give us complete freedom, freedom from the penalty sin demands, and the freedom to spend eternity with Him. Greater love hath no man than this.      

Prayer

“Father of Comfort, be with those who have lost loved ones who have served to keep me free. And thank You for true eternal freedom through the death of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.”

Courageous!

Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

As Mr. Croskey related his harrowing story I was amazed at the calm in his voice, “Have you ever seen that TV show, Deadliest Catch,” he asked? I nodded that I had. “Some of the shows were shot in the North Atlantic,” he said. “It was 1940. Our Third Infantry was headed for France by way of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The wind was up and the seas were rolling at about ten feet. Then, all of a sudden, these forty footers came up outta nowhere.” His voice showed no sign that he’d experienced fear; he simply related the details of the event. “The Skipper turned that boat into the waves and said over the intercom, ‘Grab hold of something men…we’re in for a bit of a ride.’”  

 “Some of the men didn’t handle it so well,” he chuckled, and continued, “…especially when the stern popped outta the water! Why, that huge propeller spun so fast it shook the whole boat as if it was comin’ apart!” he laughed. “It was a wild ride, it was. Beat us up for the better part of a day before we made Halifax. Never forget somethin’ like that, you don’t,” he said.

I just had to ask the obvious, “Were you afraid?”

“You know,” he smiled, “I knew God was there with me, and that I had nothin’ to fear. Besides…” his smile widened, “times like that let you know you’re alive!”

†

God called Joshua to be strong and courageous. Not because Joshua wanted to be, but because circumstances demanded it.  

Likewise, our courageous service men and women are called to face circumstances that demand they rise to the occasion. Hopefully, like Mr. Croskey, they enter the battle knowing that God is always with them, watching over them like He did Joshua.

Our freedom was not, nor will it ever be, free. A high price is always demanded. The next time you see a veteran, take a moment to say, “Thank you for my freedom.”

Prayer

“Father of courage, may I never forget that You are always with me. Thank You for the strength to face the trials of life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Who’s to Blame?

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Colossians 3:13

He set the VCR on record and went back to reading. He knew she hadn’t seen this episode. They could watch it together when she got home.
Returning home, his wife noticed the VCR on record and asked in apprehension, “What tape are you using?” Instantly he knew what he’d done! The look on his face said what he couldn’t voice. “Nooooo!” she cried in anguish.
They’d been watching home videos of their children that morning—precious times and events they had cherished for over twenty years—and now they were gone.
Recorded over them was a meaningless TV show, and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
For the next few hours they lived under the weight of his mistake, silently blaming themselves and each other for the destruction of the tape—she feeling anger and frustration because she’d told him not to worry about recording this show; he because she left the tape in the VCR after they had finished watching it; both because they should have removed the tab present on all VHS tapes to prevent this very thing from happening. Both were responsible, each could place blame, but both chose to forgive.

†

If we look to place blame, we will find opportunity. Each of us has at one time or another displayed glaring shortcomings.
What happens following gut-wrenching disappointment at the hands of another is determined by whether we choose to place blame or forgive. Each time we face difficulties such as this, we are given a choice: do we ask God to give us the grace to overcome the temptation to blame or allow our irritation to foster bitterness?
There will always be someone to blame. Yet, who’s to blame is not as important as who loses when we blame. The act of blaming sets us up as judge and jury. The act of forgiveness sets us free of the heaviness and sorrow. We reap what we sow. Which would you rather experience? Blame or forgiveness?

Prayer

“Set me free of blame, Lord. I know I’ve made mistakes and been forgiven. Help me extend that same grace to others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Today's post is in memory of NoraJean Langley, my niece's granddaughter, who failed to take her first breath on earth but is now dancing with Jesus! 

The Eyes of Love

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…

Psalm 33:18

The funeral service was one of reflection. Much was said about little Hope’s quick smile, her infectious laughter, and how she and her pal, Rufus, an eighty pound English bulldog, had spent much of her short life playing on the floors of the Tickle home.

As the pastor’s focus shifted from Hope to facing our own mortality, my thoughts drifted. Images of Hope dancing with Jesus filled my mind. I could see them hand-in-hand, the ‘Newbie’ to Heaven and the King of Kings! Hope, laughing her tiny, infectious little laugh, looking up into the eyes of perfect love, and He, the God of Creation, joining in the laughter, gazing down at her with an expression of matchless love and devotion.    

Brought back to the present by the end of the service, I was struck by how Hope’s parents were handling her death. I was witnessing strength born of a transcendent love, something otherworldly, divine. That love was bearing them up right now. And with this knowledge came an understanding that they would be alright; they would, with this divine comfort, and the support of family and friends, stand together through it all. Because reflecting from their eyes was Someone else’s love.         

†

Today’s text assures us that God’s eyes do not stray from those who love Him. He is committed to walking with us through our grief, and carrying us when we can’t walk on our own in the presence of piercing heartache, emptiness, frustration and anger, even anger at Him. And this is the love we are to model not only for our children, but to the world. 

We have a responsibility to love beyond what is humanly possible; to love with a love that is unfailing and more perfect than we ourselves are capable of. Were it not for God’s unfailing love being modeled during their childhood, Hope’s parents’ journey through grief would be entirely different.     

God’s love through us can and will bridge the deepest valleys and light the darkest nights.

Prayer

“Lord, teach me to love beyond myself, to love with Your unfailing love. And when I’m the one experiencing the loss, love me through others who have faced this pain. Amen.”