The Tale of Two Stories

Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

Proverbs 26:17

“How do you know if you should or shouldn't intervene in someone else’s affairs?” Brennan asked.

“God used two events to teach me this lesson," Dillon laughed… the memory of the first event as clear as the day it happened. "I lived beside three brothers. Their cousins lived up the street. One afternoon one of the cousins made a derogatory remark to one of the brothers…it led to blows. As everyone else stood by, letting them pound on each other, I decided to step between them and break up the fight. They kept swinging at each other, and I took a major beating. They, on the other hand, had relieved their frustration and were content to let bygones be bygones.”

“The other occasion was something much different.” Dillon’s face turned serious… “I was sitting beside a couple in a restaurant, when all of a sudden the man began cussing at his wife and drew back his fist, meaning to hit her. I instinctively reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid-swing.”

A light came on in Brennan’s eyes as Dillon continued, “Holding his wrist, I quietly explained that men do not hit women…nor disrespect them in such a manner. Suffice it to say, he didn’t share my philosophy. I later learned that he had done this before and no one had ever confronted him. I guess he must have figured that if no one was going to stop him he would continue using fear and abuse to control his wife.”

†

It is ingrained in men to ‘save the day’. God created us to protect the weak and those less-able. Yet, it is foolish to assume that every quarrel requires our personal intervention or involvement.

In one of today’s examples there is no question as to whether intervention was advisable. In the other it appeared to be the right thing to do, and resulted in an unnecessary beating.

When faced with this dilemma, godly wisdom is required to achieve a beneficial outcome. So, whenever it’s possible, don’t assume that your action is required. Inquire of the Lord before taking action.

Prayer

“Lord, in times like these, give me the wisdom to know whether to walk away or take action. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Fostering the LORD’s Delight

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Over the years, Renee and Scot have opened their home to over twenty foster children, most of them babies born to crack-addicted mothers.

Two years ago, God brought them Angelina. “Long before we received the call,” Renee shared, “God gave me a vision of a fair-haired daughter of my own…not just another foster child, but a daughter who would never leave.”

However, born with flaming red hair, Angelina didn’t fit the vision God had given Renee. But there was something special about Angelina—and though all her children were precious to her, Angelina touched a place deep in Renee’s heart none of the others had.

Deciding hair color didn’t matter, the Welschs began the process of adopting Angelina. In the twenty-two months it took for the adoption to become final, Angelina’s hair color changed from red to blond. Here was their fair-haired daughter after all!

At that time, the Welschs felt led to take a sabbatical from the fostering program, and were taken off the ‘Call List’ by their caseworker.

Inexplicably, during that time, God gave Renee a desire to adopt Angelina’s biological sister; strange, since she didn’t know where Angelina’s birth-mother was…or if she was even still alive. But the God-given desire grew…and would not be assuaged.

The day their sabbatical ended, Renee received a call from their caseworker, “Angelina’s mother is pregnant. Would you consider fostering the baby?”

In July of 2009, Marissa was born. At the writing of this devotion, her adoption has begun…

†

There is desperate need for foster parenting and the adoption of parentless children around the world. From orphans and crack babies to gangbanger wannabes, our world is teeming with what society calls the ‘unwanted and undesirable’. Yet, in Psalm 139:16, we are told that not one of them is a mistake by a God who didn’t see them coming.

Not all are called to foster or adopt. But if you are called to this ministry, don’t be afraid. God will foster, as He did in Renee and Scot, a desire to welcome your new child home!

Prayer

“Father God, I don’t know if fostering or adoption is something I’m called to. Give me discernment for Your will in my life where meeting this vital need is concerned. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Teach Them the What and Why

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…Teach them to your children…when you sit at home and when you walk…when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 11:18, 19

“Time for bed, Kiddo,” Mom advised.

“Awe, Momma…” Megan responded.

“Awe, nothing. It’s bedtime,” she said. “Go brush your teeth. I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in and hear your prayers.”

Ten minutes later, with the covers up to her chin, five-year-old Megan prayed:

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

if I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen”

“Night, Kiddo.” Mom kissed her forehead as she arose from kneeling, and headed for the bedroom door.

“Momma?” Turning she saw that Megan was sitting up once again.

“What is it, Sweetheart?”

“What’s a soul?” came the innocent query.

Stifling a laugh, she said, “Why, it’s your spirit, Baby Girl... It’s the part of you where Jesus lives!”

After a short pause Megan said, “Ooh…now it makes sense!”

“What does, Honey?”

“Well…I always wondered what God wanted with part of my shoe!”

Mom was struck with a mixture of amusement and guilt as the truth of Megan’s dilemma was made known. She had always assumed Megan knew what the words meant. She felt a stab of remorse realizing Megan must have been so confused, yet had for some reason remained silent.

†

Passing along the family tradition of prayer to the next generation is important. Just as vital is their understanding what they are being taught.

We are to teach, not just pass information along, because if there is no understanding…there is no power.

In John’s eighth chapter, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." There is no assumption on Jesus’ part. He leaves no room for misunderstanding, or worse yet, no understanding at all.

As we instruct the next generation we must be sure they understand the information given them.

Prayer

“Give me the wisdom, patience, and skill to be the teacher my children, and/or grandchildren deserve, Lord. Guide their hearts and minds as I give them knowledge to see them set free. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

The Nail Biter

Resist the devil and he will flee.

James 4:7

As he pulled out his clippers, Gary received a revelation…he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been tempted to bite his fingernails. But he remembered the battle. Battles like that you never forget, he thought.

Looking at his fingers, he remembered the discipline required to overcome the desire to chew his nails until there was nothing left but bleeding quick. As he thought about the long struggle it was as if God was taking him on a journey through the process of his victory so he could recognize the need for consistent, unyielding resistance during the battle. He realized God had given him exactly what he’d needed each day as he’d waged war against the temptation.

He remembered that as he refused to give in to the temptation to disfigure his fingers, he received the thought to focus on something else. In retrospect he could see how God had directed him to do certain things while avoiding others.

He smiled as he uniformly clipped nails that extended past his fingertips, nails that showed no vestiges of ever have been bitten. He smiled because as he clipped he could hear God whisper, “I will always help you overcome the barriers and obstacles you face, but I will not do it for you.”

†

Resistance against anything counter to God’s desire for our lives is our responsibility. And it is rare when He delivers us out of the battle with no effort on our part. But, He will always help us overcome.

Overcoming is a process through which temptation is overcome; in other words, we must determinedly and continually resist to gain the victory!

We must not regard any battle as inconsequential or unobtainable, whether it’s nail-biting, sexual sin, overeating or lying. Satan will keep us in bondage as long as we allow his lies to reign over our self-discipline.

Gary didn’t just quit biting his nails one day…he overcame the temptation through persistent resistance with the Holy Spirit’s help.

If we expect victory in our lives we must ask for God’s help with the understanding that He will fortify our position every time we resist temptation.

Prayer

“Lord, give me strength to discipline myself with Your help and the promise of victory over the enemy. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Hometown Witness

And you will be my witnesses.

Acts 1:8

Rick had lived a rough life for over thirty years; he’d been a Christian for only a few months. Having lived in the same small town his entire life, everybody knew about his past. He sensed that some were skeptical about the changes they were seeing.

Kenny, one of his neighbors, questioned him about it, “Where you been lately, man? I never see you around anymore.”

‘Around’ meant the local bars. Rick hadn’t had a drink since that day three months ago. He started to tell Kenny about what had happened, but the words wouldn’t come. He’d never had trouble talking to Kenny before; but starting this conversation was harder than he’d figured.

He silently asked God to give him words that would make sense to Kenny…then he pressed forward. He told Kenny how Jesus had offered him a clean slate, and how getting to know Jesus had changed the way he thought and spoke. He explained how he looked at, and treated people differently…with respect and optimism. He did his best to explain how God’s forgiveness through Jesus makes us new and clean in God’s eyes. He realized with wonder that Kenny was actually listening. When he was finished he headed back to the house, leaving the rest up to God and Kenny.

As he walked back across the yard, Rick realized he’d just made a real difference in one of his neighbor’s lives. It was a good feeling.

†

Witnessing can be intimidating, especially to someone who has known ‘the old us!’ How do we approach the subject of what happened in our lives when they know intimate things from our past?

Satan wants us to believe that we have no right speaking into their lives since we’ve been such a bad influence over the previous years. But for that very reason, the fact that Jesus has wrought change in our lives, we should take each opportunity to be a hometown witness like Kenny, and leave the outcome up to God and those we witness to.

After all, it’s Jesus, not us, who will change them. He’s just asking us to introduce Him…He’ll do the rest.

Prayer

“Lord, help me be Your witness in my hometown. Crush the fear and negative thoughts that Satan brings to try and silence me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Another Man’s Revelation

Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?

Acts 19:15

Jake had just returned to St. Paul’s from a pastor’s conference in Minneapolis and was on fire! Back in the pulpit, he preached a powerful, life-changing message. People were healed of diseases and set free of demonic oppression. It was awesome!

The next week saw a reduction in power. By the third week following the conference, God’s power was almost nonexistent; things had returned to ‘normal’.

Jake didn’t understand it. He couldn’t count how many times in the past eight years of ministry he’d returned from a conference to witness the miraculous for a brief time, only to see God’s power slip away. In frustration, he asked, “What’s going on, LORD?! Why can’t we hang on to the miraculous? Why can’t we maintain Your power and presence?”

God’s response came as quite a shock to Jake…. “The message you preach is a ‘right on’ message, Jake. It’s just not yours. You hear it from someone who knows My word…and you are temporarily inspired. But you are preaching another man’s revelation. Until you plant My word in your heart there is no personal seed of revelation. Only an intimate relationship can produce that kind of fruit. And then, only if you continue to plant the seeds.”

†

We love the miraculous but fail to understand, or refuse to admit, that walking in power comes from continually planting God’s word in our heart. We cannot occasionally or indiscriminately pick up God’s Word, read a passage, and expect supernatural results. Living a power-filled life comes from hiding God’s word on the inside.

In Mark’s parable of the sower, chapter 4, verses16-17, we see how Jake’s cycle of power to powerlessness comes to pass. We hear a ‘right word’ and are encouraged by someone else…and because it is fresh, when we speak it, others respond in positive ways. But, since the revelation didn’t originate in our heart, we have nothing to draw on as the newness wares off.

God’s work is of a personal nature. If we intend to have an impact on the world around us we must first have a personal relationship from which to draw.

Prayer

“Draw me close, LORD. Make me hungry to know You and Your Word so that my heart burns with revelation. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Human Doings or Human Beings

the Son…can only do what he sees the Father doing.

John 5:19

Lorain had just finished transferring her serving schedule to the calendar in the kitchen. Her service was the barometer in her relationship with Jesus Christ. She was scheduled for sixteen church events next month.

I wonder if that’s enough? she thought as she approached her husband. “Honey, I’ve got a lot to do for the church next month. Could you make arrangements for the kids’ practice on Fridays and Saturdays, and pick them up from piano next Tuesday?” As an after-thought she added, “…and could you make sure they get to their game on Thursday the 26^th; it’s a late game and they come home after school instead of heading straight to the game.”

Rafe was agitated. He hadn’t seen much of Lorain in the past three months. “Why are you spreading yourself so thin? Do you have to do ALL the work of the church?!” he said in frustration.

“I’m doing this for the Lord, Rafe. I thought you understand that,” she countered.

“Actually…no, I’m having trouble believing God wants you to do everything for the church to the exclusion of your family. When was that last time you saw one of the kids’ games?”

†

We were created to serve God and others. But, why we serve is important; more important than the amount of our service. It’s easy to get caught up in the snare of doing for the Lord like Lorain. We can become human-doings instead of human-beings if we’re not careful.

Looking at the Model of service, we see that Jesus wasn’t busy for the Father. Rather, He did only what the Father asked him to.

Each of us has been given a gift (Romans 11:29). We are meant to use it when and where God directs…not to fill every moment of every day trying to please God.

By spending time each morning with our Father we will develop the ability to hear Him speak. Then we can take our cue from Him and set out to do His good will.

Prayer

“Help me listen for Your voice each day, Lord. I want to be who You want me to be, doing what You want me doing. Amen.”