Just Drop the Blanket: The Moment You Never Noticed in A Charlie Brown Christmas

Jason Soroski, Contributing Writer for Crosswalk the Devotional

This week A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on national prime time television for the 50th time. In a world where the latest greatest technology is outdated in a matter of months, and social media trends come and go in a matter of days, 50 years of anything becomes quite meaningful.

I am a fan of all things nostalgic and all things Christmas, and so when the two are combined I am hooked, and the Charlie Brown Christmas special falls squarely into that category.

I was in the first grade back when they still performed Christmas pageants in schools (less than 50 years, but still a very long time ago), and our class performed a version of the Charlie Brown Christmas. Since I was kind of a bookworm and already had a blue blanket, I was chosen to play the part of Linus. As Linus, I memorized Luke 2:8-14, and that Scripture has been hidden in my heart ever since.

But while working so diligently to learn those lines, there is one important thing I didn’t notice then, and didn’t notice until now.

Right in the middle of speaking, Linus drops the blanket.

Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt, and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up.

Until this moment.  When he simply drops it.

In that climactic scene when Linus shares "what Christmas is all about," he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not" (at :39 seconds).

Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it's so simple it's brilliant.

The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.

The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.

The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

This world can be a scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping to something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be. Essentially, ours is a world in which it is very difficult for us to "fear not."

But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL... READ PART TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, THE REST OF LINUS'S STORY HERE NEXT WEEK!

As a writer and musician, Jason Soroski strives to communicate in a way that is insightful, meaningful, relevant, and mindful of the small things that we may otherwise overlook in our everyday lives. He effectively taps into his experiences as a worship pastor, classroom teacher, husband, and homeschooling father of five to relate poignant stories from real-life experiences. Jason holds an M.Ed. from Missouri Baptist University, has been featured in various print and web publications, and currently resides in Houston, TX. Read more from Jason at his blog The Way I See It.

Is Satan Spamming You?

by Ryan Duncan, as written and posted on Crosswalk the Devotional

Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship The Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" - Matthew 4:10

"This stock is about to take off!" ... "You won’t believe this Miracle Pill!" ... "Hello, I am a Nigerian Prince" ... These are only a few of the emails that have ended up in my spam folder. We've all received them, those obnoxious messages that try to trick you into sending money or personal information to some unknown source. All spam email follows the same design. First, they open up by preying on a person’s fear, insecurity, or general discontent. After that, they propose a simple solution, an easy win for the reader, which convinces the reader to put their trust in something very untrustworthy.

Thankfully, most computers now come with software to filter out the phony emails. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for everyday life. I’ve found Satan often uses the same tactics as these spam mails whenever he wants to attack a human being. First, he takes advantage of your worry, your self-image, or something else in your life. Then he offers you something that might fix the problem, but in truth, only makes things worse. These temptations will always be present in life, but Jesus offers us a powerful reassurance in Matthew 6 that equips us to defend ourselves.

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” Matthew 6:25-29

Many people have taken this verse to mean that as long as we trust in God, nothing bad will happen. Not so. We live in a fallen world, and bad things are always going to happen. What this verse does promise is that no matter what we face in life, God will always be there. Sometimes in the healing we desperately prayed for, other times in the shoulder we cry on.

Whatever roads our lives take, Christ is there to provide for us. Don't allow Satan to fool you with the offer of an easy fix, don’t let fear and despair dictate your actions. God is there, and he will help you.

Intersecting Faith and Life: As a Christian, you are not alone in your struggles. Find support in a small group or an accountability partner.    

Further Reading Zephaniah 3:17

Worshiping the One Who Works When We Sleep Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121)

Worshiping the One Who Works When We Sleep

Psalm 121

            In worship this past Sunday I described my bouts with anxiety as a new parent (a few years ago) and my worry that I was going to really mess up.  I have messed up many times as a dad and, in general, as a human, but I have taken great solace in this Psalm that reminds me that God neither slumbers nor sleeps.  When I lay my head down at night, I can rest trusting that God’s day is just beginning.  When I raise my head in the morning, I awaken to take on a day God has already set in motion and have the opportunity to be a part of what He is doing.  When we find those kinds of rhythms it brings great perspective and helps us live in faith, remembering that God is God and we are not, which is a very good thing.  Regular Sabbath practices, in which we step back from the productive rigors of our daily grind and reconnect with God restfully can help us establish and maintain those God-honoring, soul-renewing rhythms.  Many of our struggles come when our lives get out of rhythm and we begin to seek control that belongs in God’s hands and not ours.  May God help us remember that we worship the One who works when we sleep.

·       Read the creation narrative from Genesis 1:1-2:3.  Here God establishes days that begin with evening and end with morning.  How does this differ from our typical ideas of how days work?  How might our approach to life be different if we began to pay attention to how God works when we sleep and sets things in motion without any input from us?

·       What do you think about the concept of Sabbath?  What renews, invigorates, and restores you?  How might you be intentional about engaging in those practices more often?

·       How does the idea of a God who does not need sleep speak to you?  If God works when we sleep, how can that transform how we rest, work, and play?

Spend a few moments prayerfully reflecting on these lines from God’s word:

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.  (Psalm 121:4)

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)  

If you missed this week’s message, you can catch up here. We look forward to worshiping with you again on Sunday! Please also remember to share your answers/comments at eramirez@fbcweslaco.org

His Divine Mercy

From 21 Day Devotional Series, Who Is Jesus? – Day 2; East Coast Christian Center, https://eccc.us/bounce-back-devo

His Divine Mercy

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

The definition of mercy is “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” It is this simple word that reveals God’s character. We know that before Jesus died for us, sin separated us from God. In life, each of us has and will disobey our Creator and Father. And it is that disobedience, outside of Christ, that keeps us from the fullness of God.

BUT! This word, mercy—this short, yet powerful word—reconciles us to the heart of God through Jesus Christ. Mercy allows us to know the Creator of the Universe, the creator of our every molecule. This word is why Jesus took our death on the cross and replaced our punishment with grace. That is the ultimate example. That is God’s divine mercy on display, a display that shows in our lives daily. This revelation and reality never cease to amaze me.

Mercy allows us to know the Creator of the Universe, the creator of our every molecule.

I learned recently how simple the gospel is. In Hebrews chapter 4, it appears to teach us about rest, when in reality it is a beautiful picture of God’s mercy. When our disobedience warranted our punishment, Jesus met us with His love. He took what we deserved, and God showered us with compassion and forgiveness. Our key verse concludes with, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Soak that in. Take a few minutes and internalize God’s mercy.  

Hebrews 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” 

That belongs to you. You can talk with God and partner in prayer with His majesty because of mercy.

PRAYER: 

Lord, I thank You that I can approach You because of the sacrifice Your Son, Jesus, made on my behalf. I pray to never lose sight of the cross and the mercy You shower me with. Help me not take this part of Your heart for granted. Show me, Father, how to extend mercy to those in my life the same way you extended it to me. Thank You for being the greatest example of mercy. Thank You for allowing me to draw near to You. Thank You for giving me confidence in Christ to come to Your throne of grace! Thank You for being the One who meets all of my needs. Lord, please continue to show me mercy and reveal more of Your character to me as we grow in relationship together. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Reflection:

What are some ways God has shown mercy to me in my life?

How can I show mercy to others, in the same way God showed it to me?

How can I improve my prayer life to take advantage of the mercy He has given me?

Saying "Yes" to God

by Debbie Holloway, as written and posted on Crosswalk the Devotional

It seems like every day one hears about all kinds of troubling behavior from people who ought to know better. A family friend leaves his wife and children for his secretary. A pastor resigns from his parish after his drug addiction is discovered. A CEO is caught with his hands on company money. We see it in the news. We hear about it from friends. It invades our households. Destructive, self-centered, sin. And so often the guilty party seems completely blind to his error, or unable to fathom how he ever made such a huge mistake.

As a recent member of what most would consider the “adult” world, I have often pondered how seemingly well-adjusted, often God-fearing members of society can justify such actions in their minds. In fact, in my more panicky moments, I have had a fear of suddenly lapsing into some dreaded sin myself – like these perfectly capable people I see all around me.

After all, does my righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees? How can I claim to have more wisdom than my parents or my pastor? Do I know more about the world than my professors? Could I possibly have a better understanding of morals and truth than my government leaders? If I watch them stumble into seemingly obvious moral blunders, how could I possibly escape the same fate?

After recently confiding this dread to a loved one, I was reminded that drastic sin or extreme lifestyle choices don’t just appear out of nowhere. Adultery doesn’t just happen. Divorce doesn’t just happen. Heartless slander and libel don’t just happen. Sin must begin as a small seed, creep in, take root, and grow. We can choose to feed it …or starve it.

The hard part is that often our sin nature is just as appealing as the prompting of Holy Spirit. Far too often we know right away what the godly course of action would be. Humility. Purity. Hard work. Compassion. Faithfulness. But we still get tired, exasperated, lustful, and proud. So we start making decisions which violate our consciences. Tiny decisions that seem meaningless. But those tiny choices grow and grow. Eventually, our life becomes a messy sin explosion and we cry out, “Where did I lose control?”

The comforting part is that it’s a process. I won’t wake up one morning and all of a sudden think it’s totally OK to steal someone’s car or send nasty, gossipy emails about people I don’t like. 1 John 1:7 says that,

“If we walk in the light, as [God] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

If I say “yes” to God when he shows me how I can remain faithful to him in my lifestyle, in the little things, that will strengthen me to say “no” to life-wrecking choices.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Don’t live in fear of becoming something you hate. Just make conscious choices to be like Christ.

I Do Every Day: When You Live in Hawaii, Where Do You Go on Vacation?

By Janel Breitenstein as written and shared by I Do Every Day daily devotional by Family Life

At one point on my friend’s trip to Hawaii, the driver of his shuttle remarked, “I think I need to go on vacation.” 
My friend laughed. Where do you vacation when you live in Hawaii?
Wherever you live, it’s never all bliss. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Magician’s Nephew, “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing.” 
One side of my own house overlooks a VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner), for example. But God still has to tap me on the shoulder from time to time: Just a reminder. You live in a place people go on vacation. 
Maybe your marriage as a whole has not turned out to be what you hoped. But what if at least parts of it are worthy of appreciating? What things in your marriage do you take for granted that would be someone else’s vacation, someone else’s greener grass?

Perhaps you can find gratitude in that your marriage is based on Judeo-Christian values, rather than oppressive value systems still in place in other parts of the world. Or your family can eat regular meals and every member is literate, or you have married by choice.
Even when the ways to thank God for your marriage feel paper-thin, perhaps it’s God Himself for which you can be thankful. That He’s in your marriage, that forgiveness and change and resurrection of dead things are always possible. That hope lives.
And even if your marriage is never resurrected, even if you find more things about your spouse you need to forgive rather than feel grateful for, thank God you can trust Him for the things you can change: In Him, you have the power to take responsibility for your own heart. 
Maybe that seems to set the bar low. Or is it only getting started, just tipping up our chins to spy God’s goodness?

A Prayer to Set Your Mind on Things Above

By: Alisha Headley

“Set your mind on things above, not on things of this world.” (Colossians 3:2)

Thinking about “things above” sounds fantastic in theory. It would keep our minds from constantly dwelling on the local news, world pandemics, political controversy, or even the mundane life tasks in front of us.

But how is one to possibly think about thoughts from above, when we are inundated with thousands of thoughts all day? Research shows we can think up to 60,000 thoughts each day. 80% of those thoughts tend to be negative.

In today’s verse, Paul instructs the Colossian church to think on things above. He means, keep a heavenly perspective as you go about your day. How can we do this when our natural tendency is to think from an earthly perspective?

Paul encourages us to think about what God is thinking about. To see life from God’s perspective and not the world’s perspective. To do this, we must go to the source of God’s thinking: the Word. We must put God’s Word above the world’s word each day, all throughout the day. We see life from God’s perspective when we know His Word above all else.

If we don’t have God’s “word so engraved on the tablet of our heart,” as Proverbs 7:3 says, then the world’s perspective on our lives will soon overtake us, overwhelm us, and ultimately become what we think about and begin to believe as truth.

In a world full of negative thoughts and evil ideas thrown at us every day, let’s be warriors for our minds, and to do so, let’s know the Word. Let us know God’s “living, breathing and active word” (Hebrews 4:12) more than we know the world’s word. We must fill up with the truth of God’s Word over the lies of the world, for the world is led by the enemy and he is “the father of all lies.” (John 8:44)

So, let’s take Paul’s instructions today, and begin to think about things above, things that our Creator thinks about and His purposes, rather than what we can see in the world around us.

Let’s pray:

Father,

We need you. We need your strength to be aware of our thoughts. We need your discernment to bring Scripture to our mind, to fill our minds with your truth. We need the reminder that anything that contradicts your Word is a lie. And if what we are thinking about doesn’t align with your Word that you speak to us in the Bible, help us to see it for what it is and to stop thinking about it.

Thank you that you left us with the Bible to walk through this world, so that we don’t have to walk around aimlessly. Thank you for leaving us with the Holy Spirit to guide and continually lead us back to your truth. We ask that you would prompt us throughout every day to ask ourselves with every thought that enters our mind if it is from your Word or the world’s word. We want to be servants for you and warriors for you, and there is a battle for our minds, and we ask that you remind us that we serve you – the one who conquered this war years ago by sending your son to die on the cross for us defeating death (Colossians 2:15).

Thank you for giving us the “power and authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19), and to overcome the battle for our thought life. We are victors through you.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Don’t Forget Thanksgiving!

A devotional from 365 Devotions for a Thankful Heart (https://link.faithgateway.com/click/25644072.355192/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdG9yZS5mYWl0aGdhdGV3YXkuY29tL3Byb2R1Y3RzLzM2NS1kZXZvdGlvbnMtZm9yLWEtdGhhbmtmdWwtaGVhcnQ_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1kZXZvc2RhaWx5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWRldm9zZGFpbHkyMDIxMTExNA/603cf8f421273e76fc32e9a9Bedca0d14)

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him. — Psalm 95:2

Have you ever noticed how after Halloween, many stores immediately bring out their pre-lit trees, ornaments, Christmas wreaths, and candy canes? The weeks between Halloween and Christmas are often a blur of colored leaves and turkey, prepping for gift shopping, and holiday parties.

In the frenzy of holiday preparations and Black Friday deals, it can be all too easy for us to skim over Thanksgiving. Sure, we serve the turkey and gravy, and mention what we’re grateful for, but do we linger on giving thanks? Or once the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals come out, do we immediately focus on all the things we want and all the savings we could have? Are we more excited about counting the gifts than we are about counting our blessings?

When the retail world becomes loud, ask the Lord to speak louder. When your eyes become focused on the newest, shiniest gadgets, ask Jesus to fix your eyes on Him and His gifts — and on the greatest gift of salvation.

Don’t let autumn and its season of gratitude get lost in the blur of Christmas fanfare. Let Thanksgiving have its day — and its attitude — in your heart.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. — Psalm 98:4

In this world of both instant communication and Instant Pots, it’s important to remember that some important things come slowly. Hear the wisdom of radio host and author Nancy Leigh DeMoss:

The grateful heart that springs forth in joy is not acquired in a moment; it is the fruit of a thousand choices. ~ Choosing Joy 

As much as we may want to live with a heart rooted in gratitude, we can’t flip a switch or push a button to make that happen.

Arriving at the point is a process, and by definition a process takes time.

Every new day gives us countless opportunities to develop gratitude. Think of it: with everything we see, hear, taste, touch, think, and experience, we can choose to be grateful. Review your day so far. Identify a handful of moments when you expressed thankfulness — and another handful when you could have, and be grateful now!

Many things develop and improve over time. Today let’s be encouraged that we are more thankful today than we were yesterday — and that we can choose to be even more thankful tomorrow.

Reflection:

It’s November! The month of thankfulness! Before we move straight to Christmas planning, shopping, wrapping, and celebrating, let’s remember every day to be thankful. What are you thankful for?

Get Your Gratitude On!!

RW Comment: I hope and pray all of you reading this will have a joyous and warm Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends – filled with hearts of gratitude! Stop and enjoy those moments of conversation, laughter, with plenty of eating!!

Prayer:

Father God, , give me a keener awareness and appreciation of Your goodness every day. Father, I’m so grateful for an annual reminder to give You thanks. Keep me focused on all I have, not on all I want. In Jesus’ precious name – Amen!

Joyous Gratitude

KAREN WINGATE , as written and posted on Encouragement for Today daily devotional

Lee en español

“… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

I hovered over a neighbor’s flower — a Mexican bird of paradise — reveling in the brilliant orange, yellow and red blooms and the curvature of the petals that give this unique desert flower its name. “Oh, thank You, God, for eyes to see,” I breathed for perhaps the thousandth time.

What would make me so exuberant about a neighbor’s flower? After spending more than 50 years labeled as legally blind, I underwent a routine surgery that unexpectedly doubled the vision in one of my eyes.

Now I’m seeing the world in ways I have never seen it before. I’m infatuated with an incredibly designed creation. I’m grateful for this heaven-sent gift that has allowed me to gain sight when I feared I would lose it all.

I wonder if the blind beggar whom Jesus healed felt that way, too. When he heard Jesus was walking past him, he called out in a loud voice for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus stopped and asked what he wanted. “Lord, I want to see,” the beggar said (Luke 18:41b). Jesus restored his sight, and the man followed him, praising God. (See Luke 18:35-43.) Can you imagine his gratitude and joy, the glint in his newly healed eyes?

We all appreciate something to a greater extent when we’ve had to do without it. We’re far more grateful for electricity and water after a storm has cut power for several days. The ease of inhaling a breath of air is so wonderful after recovery from a respiratory infection.

Yet 1 Thessalonians 5:18 directs us to be thankful in all circumstances, whether for newfound delights, once-in-a-lifetime deliverance or restoration, or blessings woven into everyday life: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Far more than a perfunctory thank-you, our gratitude can become a joyful overflow of praise and delight for what God does for us. How can we capture that kind of gratitude even for the ordinary moments of life?

My gift of new sight has taught me to look with intentionality for ways to thank God for His good gifts. Here’s the three-step process I’ve used to retain that joy-laced sense of gratitude.

Pause in the middle of your day. Survey your surroundings. What do you see, hear or feel? What is happening around you? If your mind fills with things that you don’t have, turn it around and look at what you do have. Leftovers for dinner? You have food. A messy home? You have an abundance, whether of family or stuff, to make messes.

Ponder what you discover. Focus on one aspect of creation and marvel at the intricate details. For example, think about the recipe for a sunset: the ingredients of light, color, vapor and energy all mixed together in perfect proportion, changing second by second, and completely different each evening. What does that sunset tell you about the character of God?

Praise God for the new details you see. Your praise shows that you recognize creation’s existence isn’t coincidental; it had to come from somewhere. Joyous gratitude appreciates the Giver as well as the gift and overflows with the realization that God has such interest in you and love for you that He chooses to give you such abundance.

Let your gratitude leap to a new level of spontaneous joy. Get excited about what others would call “ordinary.” As you look at the things of life like you’ve never seen them before, you’ll see a God who has the infinite capacity and desire to give you all good things.

Oh, Lord, the earth is filled with Your glory. Help me see my life and Your world with greater clarity so my thankfulness for what You do will bubble over with spontaneous joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer to Remember God’s Past Help

By Tiffany Thibault, as written for and posted on Your Daily Prayer daily devotional

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! - Psalm 4:1

There are so many circumstances in our lives that can cause us to feel overwhelmed, uncertain and most definitely fearful. As we purposefully choose to make right decisions in the midst of all the hard choices, we can always find fresh comfort in the Scriptures.

In every single situation in our life, whether it be a good one or a difficult one, we can also turn to the Lord in prayer. He is always alert, always ready to hear our prayers, and whether we can see it or not, He is always at work in our lives.

The amazing thing about walking this life with Jesus, is that each and every time that we turn to Him for guidance and for wisdom, He shows up. As we continue through life, trusting Him, we begin to build a “faith” history with Him. We can remind ourselves of what He has already done, which actually strengthens our faith when we turn to Him again and again to ask for His help in every one of our next steps.

I love to read the stories in the Old Testament where the Israelites set up tangible reminders of moments when God moved in their lives.

The Israelites set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River to remind themselves and future generations that God had shown up and moved on their behalf (Joshua 4:1-11).

Abraham named the mountain top “The Lord will provide” in reference to God providing a ram as a substitute sacrifice instead of his son (Genesis 22).

The Israelites built an ark in accordance with God’s design and in it were placed the tablets of laws given to Moses by God, and it also included Aaron’s staff and a jar of manna that God fed the people with for so many long years. This was a symbol for all to see to remind themselves of God’s continual presence and provision (Exodus 16:34, Numbers 17:10).

Jacob set up a stone altar and named it Bethel, for God had met him there (Genesis 28:18-22).

We too can set up spiritual reminders of our faith journey with the Lord. Here are a few easy ways that we can do that: It can be a date and notes next to a verse in our Bibles, it can be a set of stones with moments inscribed on them in the garden. It can be a plaque on the wall with the dates and events where God showed up, or it can be a list of answered prayers written in the back of your Bible.

We keep photo books of our families growing up, so that we can remember all the good times. When I look at photo books of my family, I crave even more family time. When I look back on how God showed up and worked in my life, my faith grows and I am able to find the strength to get through my next season.

However it may look in your life, you too need a tangible reminder of what God has already done in your life. Then when the moments seem long, and the struggles are hard, you can turn to them and find strength from your history with God so you can take your next steps. There is never a moment when God has not been there with you. Let’s remind ourselves of how He gave us relief when we were in distress, and let us walk boldly in faith knowing that He will hear our prayers this time as well.

O Lord,

You have been so good to me in the past. You have heard my prayers, you have seen my tears. When I called out to you while I was in distress, You have answered me. Over and over again you have shown yourself to be true, to be strong. Lord, today I come to you once again. My burdens are so heavy, and I need you to help me through this new trouble. Be gracious to me Lord. Hear my prayer. Please move today in my hard situations. Please move in my heart so that I might praise you through this storm. 

In your Name I pray, Amen.

Seeking God's Truth by Chuck Swindoll

from insight.org on 11/18/21

Psalms 42 and 43 capture for us David's situation of inner despair and disturbance. The source of his turmoil didn't go away after his visit to the headwaters of the Jordan River (42:6). When he returned to Jerusalem, he found his troubles waiting for him. According to Psalm 43:1–2, David suffered another personal attack. People problems were upon him, and we all know how devastating they can be! After pleading for God to intervene, David prayed:

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. (43:3–4)

Turmoil often results from having too much misinformation and not enough reliable, essential truth. Moreover, in the absence of adequate information, we fill in the gaps with what we dread most. The result is a distorted picture of the problem—a pessimistic perspective, riddled with our worst fears. In response to his turmoil, David asks for God's light and God's truth. He wanted the Lord to provide His Word (truth) and to grant him an understanding of it (light). Perhaps he sought for a specific statement from Scripture that would be fitting and appropriate for his situation, and equally important, he sought for insight into it. He needed clarity in the midst of confusion—truth to answer fiction—so he looked for wisdom in the Scriptures.

Eventually, this would bring joy and praise. When the truth of God's Word neutralized the depressing messages of his circumstances, he says yet again:

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (43:5)

All believers in Jesus Christ must ultimately come to the place where we are going to trust God's Word completely before we can experience consistent victory. His Book is our single source of tangible truth. We try every other crutch: we lean on self, on others, on feelings, on bank accounts, on good works, on logic and reason, on human perspective. Still, the churning continues, inner turmoil continues to grind.

God has given His written Word and the promise of His light to all His children; when will we learn to believe it, and live in it, and use it, and cling to its promises?

From Living the Psalms  by Charles R. Swindoll

The Mighty Egg

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"What's for breakfast today?" asked Julie as she and her brother John came to the table one Sunday morning.

"Bacon and hard-boiled eggs," Mom replied. "Though if anyone wants an egg fixed some other way, I could manage that too."

After thanking God for the food, they began to eat. Julie held up an egg and gazed at it thoughtfully. "The mighty egg," she murmured. "In science, we learned stuff about eggs--like how the shell of an egg is strong enough so that the hen can sit on it without breaking it. It protects a chick from many dangers. Because of the rounded shape of the shell, it's quite strong when struck from the outside. In fact, the shape of the egg makes it difficult to break just by squeezing it in your hand."

"But what about when we ate at that restaurant where you sit around a big table and watch them cook your meal?" asked John. "The chef broke eggs for the stir fry by squeezing them. I bet I could too. Can I try one, Mom?"

"Maybe another time," said Mom.

"So how is the small, helpless chick able to hatch out of such a tough egg?" Dad asked.

"It pecks its way out, doesn't it?" said John.

Julie nodded. "Yep. We learned that the shell resists pressure very well from the outside, but it cracks easily when pecked from within."

"That sounds a lot like the church," Mom observed. "When Christians are united together in love, we're better able to resist persecution and outside pressure. But when we start criticizing and picking on each other, our fellowship with one another can be broken."

"It's a good lesson for all of us to remember when we're tempted to be critical--especially of other Christians," said Dad. "None of us is perfect, but Jesus loves us anyway and gave His life to save us. And He gave us the church--God's family of all those who trust in Jesus--so we can strengthen each other with His love."

"That's right." Mom looked around the table. "Speaking of church, we'd better finish eating and get ready to go."

"Yeah," John said with a grin. "If God wants His church to be united in love, we don't want to be late!"

-Sherry L. Kuyt

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you in the habit of criticizing others—including those in your church family? A critical attitude is not right for a Christian. Jesus loves us so much He gave His life so we could be saved, and He wants us to show His love to others—especially other Christians. When we do that, we can stand strong against pressure from the world around us. Instead of looking for faults in others, look for ways you can show them God’s love.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 John 4:11 (KJV)
Since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. (NLT)

Power of a Seed

Scripture

by Robin Wiley

Mark 4:26-29

The Parable of the Seed Growing

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Have you ever considered the power of a seed? We live in a world where most of us can travel a short distance to a grocery store or fruit stand, buy fruit or vegetables, and return home to enjoy something that was cultivated in dirt by someone else. We consume the fruit and toss the rest. Jesus wants his Disciples to understand that long before a harvest is collected, some faithful person scattered seed to begin a process that only God can oversee.

For the past several years, my two sisters (who live in Minnesota), shared a small garden for the summer. They would plant the usual vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, potatoes, etc. and also some beautiful flowers. One summer, they decided to plant butternut squash. In case you were wondering - butternut squash is like a crooked and funny looking pumpkin.

They planted just a few seeds in one of the corners of their garden and were shocked at what happened. Soon vines stretched through much of the small garden producing about sixty butternut squash! If you have ever prepared this squash for dinner, you will see all the small seeds it contains inside, sometimes as many as 160 seeds! (Yes, they counted them before!!)

So without using a calculator (or your phone) let’s do a little math. 160 seeds multiplied by sixty butternut squash is 9,600 new plants that could be created. If each of those 9,600 seeds had been harvested and re-planted, a yield of 576,000 new butternut squash could be cultivated in just one generation. That’s a lot of butternut squash! Think of how many people that would feed.

Jesus knew the implications of sowing good seed. The harvest belongs to the Lord, but we, his faithful disciples, get to spend our lives sowing the seed of Gospel truth and love wherever we go. We too might not always see the fruit of what we sow.  Someone else may even harvest what we plant.  That doesn’t take away from the need to be continually sowing.

God’s plan calls for some of us to be “planters” and some to be “harvesters.”  Paul talks about the Gospel ministry like this: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).  Paul planted the message of salvation, Apollos helped the new believers grow stronger in their faith, and it was the Holy Spirit who guided them into His truth. He continues in verse 8: “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” 

We all have a part to play.  We are equal team members but equipped for our own special role by God.  God has planted you specifically where you are today for His glory.

Reflection:

Look around you. Are the words, actions, and attitudes you plant reflecting God?

What are you sowing in your family, neighborhood, job, and relationships?

What weeds do you need to pull out?

How is your harvest? 

Prayer:

Father God, Thank you for the seeds of your Word we can scatter in our own lives and in the lives of others. Show us how we can grow closer to you and share what you have given us with others. Give us grace each day to sow seeds of faith into our hearts and the hearts of others. Please us experience the fullness of joy that comes from placing the harvests in our life at your feet.  We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!

Getting the Church inside People Ephesians 6:18-23

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:18-23) 

Getting the Church inside People

Ephesians 6:18-23

In Eugene Peterson’s great book on Ephesians titled Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ, he shares the following story that illustrates the significance of prayerful fellowship:

A good friend of mine was leaving his congregation for several months on a sabbatical. He had been the organizing pastor of these people, and relationships were very close, intricately intimate after nine years together. But the nine years had also been an intense and demanding nine years. The sabbatical would renew his strength. There was an elderly woman in the congregation who prayed with him each Sunday before worship and continued her prayers for him behind the scenes through the week. She would often send prayerful notes to him. On his last Sunday, after worship, as he prepared to leave for a ten-day retreat at a Benedictine monastery that would launch his sabbatical, she gave him a note that included this: "Pastor, if you can't read this because of all the other things you need to do, that is fine. It just wasn't fine for me not to tell you that Sunday was a good day. Your sermon was really appropriate and you took the time to help everyone make the bridge between the first sermon and its follow-up. I didn't hear much of it because I was concentrating very hard on praying for you. I just wanted you to make it through the hour in a way that you could look back on and feel good about - and you did make it and I hope you feel good about it. I think everyone else does. Your candid remarks about how you were feeling were a genuine part of your endearment to everyone. We don't ever need to wonder what you were REALLY feeling - we know. "Now, my son, go with God as He loves you and speaks to you alone or with the Benedictine brothers or with your beautiful family. I am expecting more than one life-changing experience throughout the next months. I am eager to meet the new Hans. We will all be praying for you, your family, and this church. God will be with all of us, all the way. My love...."

Several months after his return, she died. Part of his remembrance of her in what he wrote in the church newsletter, remembering her to the congregation, was this excerpt from her letter, which he set in the context of Paul's "Pray also for me." Every time we ask someone, "Pray also for me," the church becomes comes stronger and more mature. We grow. (Peterson, 3100-3102).

·      In what ways does this story embody the prayerful fellowship envisioned by the conclusion of Ephesians?

·      Have you ever had a prayerful relationship with someone like the one illustrated here? Describe that experience.

·      What is involved in living with the church inside of us in this way?

Please receive these words from Paul as a blessing over your story: “Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (6:23-24).

If you missed Sunday’s message, you can catch up here.

Life in Temptation Nation

CINDY BULTEMA 

Lee en español

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Our homes are separated by an ocean, but our hearts are knit together in a friendship that always keeps it real. So when my friend Regina and I were able to meet face to face stateside, we did more than share a cup of coffee; we shared our very messy 2020 lives.

There was heartache over our deep losses in the lockdown. Loss of connection with our life-giving communities, loss of income and work, and most tragically loss of life. We also shared what we’d gained, and what I shared wasn’t good.

In the stresses and messes of working from home and parenting in a pandemic, I coped by turning to tacos and Diet Coke. A tiny slip of a few late-night binges of chips and salsa became a massive slide of unhealthy proportions, which caused me to gain more weight than I would have liked.

Beyond the weight gain, I recognized the triggers that could trip me up and bring old, unhealthy habits into my new days. Twenty-five years ago, similar struggles had led to a downward spiral of cocaine and alcohol addiction. It was time to stop the slide and stand firm on God’s unshakeable Truth.

How about you, friend? In these unique times, have old, unhealthy habits resurfaced, or have new hang-ups gained a foothold?

Maybe your …

• Nightly glass of wine has become one bottle, or even two.

• Online orders for necessities have now snowballed into hiding delivered packages and receipts.

• Scrolling has sabotaged your in-person relationships and you’ve never felt more isolated or alone.

What can we do if our slip becomes a slide or we discover that what we once controlled now controls us?

Thankfully, God’s Word does not leave us guessing. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul gives three keys that speak to you, me, and emotional stuffers and numb-ers everywhere about how to experience victory while bombarded with temptation.

• Remember you are not alone. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” (1 Corinthians 10:13a) Friend, you are not the only one. Secrets keep us stuck. Tell someone your struggle.

• Rely on your trustworthy, dependable, faithful God. “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1 Corinthians 10:13b) God is with you. He is for you, and He always keeps His promises.

• Recall Truth. God will never allow His followers to encounter an unconquerable temptation. Never! Instead, He does this: “But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13c). God always provides an exit door.

Friend, it’s not a sin to be tempted. It’s only a sin if we give in to the temptation. Today is the day to make a victorious choice. It’s time for you to live full and walk free!

Lord, the next time I’m tempted to run to lesser things, remind me of Your promises. Help me turn to You in my times of trouble. Thank You for providing a way out of temptation so I can walk in Your victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Battleground Brain by Chuck Swindoll

Proverbs 6:23 For their command is a lamp 

and their instruction a light; 

their corrective discipline 

is the way to life.

From insight.org

Solomon was a straight shooter. I find that rather refreshing in our day of vague definitions and bold rationalizations. The words you just read are timeless and no less relevant today than when the ink was still wet. The battle against lustful temptations hasn’t declined in the millennia since the wise, fatherly king warned his own children. In fact, we could make the case that temptations are far more numerous today. The opportunity to take a moral tumble arises every time we turn on the television, sit down at a computer, or open a magazine. Make no mistake: we are at war against lust, and we battle for purity from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we turn out the light at night. The battleground is our mind, and the stakes could not be higher.

Let me remind you that these words and warnings appear in another of the “my son” sections. As a father, Solomon wanted to leave trustworthy counsel and strong warnings for his son to read and to heed. Perhaps the wise king wrote these words with an extra amount of passion since his own father, David, had suffered the consequences of yielding to lustful temptations many years earlier. Although David’s adultery happened before Solomon’s birth, no one can doubt that he was aware of the consequences that came in the wake of the king’s compromising. Solomon was reared in a context that never let him forget his father’s moral failure. Moreover, in his adult years, with hundreds of wives and numerous concubines, Solomon had lessons to share from his own moral lapses.

Solomon began with the standard of Holy Scripture:

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life. (6:23)

God’s perfect and Holy Word is always the place to find one’s standard of behavior. Not the media. Not other people’s opinions. Not books written by fellow strugglers. Not even our own conscience, which can be seared, calloused, or prejudiced. The “lamp” of God’s precepts, the “light” of His teaching—these are the things that provide us with unfailing direction. Furthermore, Scripture is the very best antidote to the poison of lustful temptations. I tell you that based on personal experience.

From Living the Proverbs by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright © 2012.

Not Fair

Read: Acts 16:16-31

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"I didn't make the basketball team, Mom." Evelyn slumped down in a chair. "I'm not bragging or anything, but I am a good basketball player, you know."

"Yes, you are," agreed Mom. "But there were only two openings on the team, and the coach had to choose, didn't she? Who did make it?"

"Jena did. We all expected that--she's good! But the coach chose Ivy for the other opening. In the tryouts, I made lots more baskets than Ivy did, and I dribbled the ball longer too. But her dad is a teacher at school, and I think that's why she made it. It's not fair!"

Mom sighed. "I suppose that may be possible. If you really believe that, perhaps you should ask the coach about it, but be careful not to make accusations you can't prove. It may simply be that Ivy has some qualities needed on the team. Whatever happens, remember that life isn't always what we consider fair."

"I know," Evelyn said. "And that's just...not fair!"

"Remember the verse you learned a few weeks ago from the book of James?" asked Mom. "It says we should be joyful when we face trials."

Evelyn frowned. "Easy for James to say," she muttered unhappily.

"Think so?" asked Mom. "I'm sure you know that the early church faced a lot of persecution. Scholars tell us that many, if not all, of the apostles were martyrs--they were killed for their faith. James was one of them."

"Well...then he probably didn't think life was fair either," Evelyn admitted. "I guess it wasn't so easy for him."

"I guess not," agreed Mom. "But he and other members of the early church were willing to face very unfair situations because they wanted people to know about Jesus, who died for our sins even though He was the perfect Son of God. Talk about unfair! He took the punishment we deserved because He loves us, and when we face unfairness in our own lives, we can do it with a joyful attitude, knowing it's an opportunity for us to grow in our faith and show others the love of Jesus."

"Okay," said Evelyn. "I'll keep that in mind when I talk to the coach tomorrow."

-Linda Weddle

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever been treated unfairly? In today’s Bible reading, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail for helping someone. That wasn’t fair, but instead of complaining, they sang! God used them through that experience to bring more people to Jesus, and He can also use you. Sometimes it may help to discuss the situation with others involved. It may not be easy, but you can face unfair situations with a joyful attitude because of what Jesus did for you.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: James 1:2 (KJV)

Your New Normal

By Robin Wiley

“You wake up and the grief is still there; thirty minutes later you’re still at the bathroom sink, toothbrush in hand. You can’t remember your coworker’s name…again. Tears come without warning. The knife in your heart twists and turns. Other people just don’t get it; they go about their days as if nothing has changed. How long is it going to be like this? I don’t know if I can make it through, you worry.”

(taken from GriefShare Workbook, “Is This Normal?”)

Our GriefShare ministry has been a blessing to so many, including myself. I have found that grief comes in all shapes and sizes. It is different for every person who is grieving a loved one they have lost. It is because we loved so much that we hurt so much.

Just like Jesus did when he wept and grieved for his dear friend, Lazarus. And I would strongly guess - just like God wept and grieved for His son Jesus when He died on the cross. If we are believers, then we have the resurrection hope of Christ we will see our loved one again. Very soon, but not yet. 

1 Peter 1:3: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Corinthians 15:21: "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man."

I can honestly attest that every person who has attended our GriefShare support group in the past fours has left the group a different person than they began. One story in particular was a young lady who lost her husband from a drowning accident on South Padre Island one summer. He drowned saving her life. She could not even raise her eyes up from the table and was very quiet and solemn. But by the time the sessions had ended 13 weeks later, she had formed new friendships and was smiling and laughing again. You see, our groups become family to each other and they end up meeting outside our weekly sessions for other social gatherings. She is not completely healed nor is she is over her grieving but she can experience life with a little more joy because she knows by the grace of God and the blood of our sweet Jesus, that she will see her loved one again.

Our lives are forever changed when we lose someone dear to us. It leaves a big gaping hole in our hearts that can only be healed by God’s sovereign grace. One of my seminary professors – Dr. Lyles said of suffering and death – “God does not cause our suffering. God is with us through our suffering. “ Those two simple statements are powerful when we accept it as truth. God walks along side us, sometimes carrying us through our darkest moments.

When we are walking closely with God in a time of grief, mediate on His word. God has so many words of comfort and encouragement for us. Even when we do not feel like it – write out scripture by hand. 

Yes, the art of writing in long hand can help your heart and mind to heal. You can use colored pens, crayons, or sidewalk chalk, but just begin to spend time each day copying the scripture. Then ask God what He wants to say to you through that verse.

You may not have an “aha” moment, but committing to spend time each day listening to God’s voice through His word puts focus on His truths so that you can see how He is working in your situation. This may help you to develop and accept your new normal. 

Here are some suggested Scriptures to write out and get you started:

• Day 1 – 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

• Day 2 – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

• Day 3 – Isaiah 40:27-31

• Day 4 – John 14:25-27

• Day 5 – John 16:19-24

PRAYER: Father God – I cry out to you to heal my broken heart from this loss. Teach me to see you in your Word every day. Let your comfort and peace flow like a mighty river and still my soul. Fill my life with friends and family who can help me with this journey. Thank you for never leaving me. In my beautiful Savior’s name – Amen.

FBC Weslaco – puts on a GriefShare support group twice a year – usually at the end of February and August of each year on Monday evenings, 6-8PM in our Family Life Center lobby. 

Getting the Church Inside People: Gearing up for Spiritual Warfare Ephesians 6:10-17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…(Ephesians 6:10-17)

Getting the Church Inside People: Gearing up for Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10-17

            Paul’s words about Gearing up for Spiritual Warfare are a way of restating everything he’s already said in Ephesians about living a life of faith, love, and holiness amid a sinful and broken world.  He reminds us that the evil one is not thrilled about the victory of King Jesus over sin and death and does all that he can to trip us up in our spiritual walk.  It’s easy to forget, but there are evil forces at work in the world, behind the scenes, that stand at odds with God and His purposes for our lives.  The devil is a formidable adversary that we should not take for granted.  Yet, we have no reason to fear.  Our Lord is victorious over the forces of evil and simply asks us to stand firm in our commitment and loyalty to Him.  The armor we need to put on to withstand the devil’s schemes are truth and righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, the assurance of salvation, and the word of God.  A quick survey of this equipment for spiritual battle reminds us that our assured victory is not based on our ability, but on the “strength of His might” (6:10).  John White offered us this good reminder in his book The Fight:

God’s answer to your guilty conscience is the death of His Son. Your answer to a guilty conscience is usually something you do, like confessing harder, praying more, reading your Bible, paying more than your tithe in the offering, and so on. Do you not understand? The Father does not welcome you because you have been trying hard, because you have made a thoroughgoing confession, or because you have been making spiritual strides recently. He does not welcome you because you have something you can be proud about. He welcomes you because His Son died for you. Are you blasphemous enough to suppose that your dead works, your feeble efforts can add to the finished work of a dying Savior? “It is finished!” he cried. Completed. Done. Forever ended. He crashed through the gates of hell, set prisoners free, abolished death and burst in new life from the tomb. All to set you free from sin and open the way for you to run into the loving arms of God.

Now do you understand how ‘the brethren’ overcame the Accuser by the blood of the Lamb? They refused to let his accusations impede their access to God. A simple confession was enough. They face the Accuser boldly saying, “We already know the worst you could ever tell us, and so does God. What is more the blood of Jesus is enough.” Therefore, when you find the grey cloud descending, whether it be as you pray, as you work, as you testify or whatever, when you find the ring of assurance going from your words because of a vague sense of guilt, look up to God and say, “Thank you, my Father, for the blood of your Son. Thank you, even now, that you accept me gladly, lovingly in spite of all I am and have done—because of His death. Father and God, I come” (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1976, 87).[1]

As we take up the whole armor of God, may we always remember that we are participants in this great battle, who are able to stand firm because of the gracious, saving, resurrection power of Jesus.

·      Two negative extremes related to the concept of spiritual warfare are: (1) fixating upon the enemy in a fearful, all-encompassing way and (2) denying or overlooking the existence of spiritual conflict. Have you ever experienced or been around anyone who exemplified either of those extremes? Describe that experience.

·      What is a more positive approach to the concept of spiritual warfare from Paul’s instructions on the subject?  How can we maintain that spiritually healthy kind of approach?

·      Taken out of context, this passage is often read like an aside about the devil and his demons.  What is a better reading of these words in the larger context of Ephesians which focuses on God and His saving work in Jesus and the resurrection power that’s at work among us by the Spirit?

·      Take a few moments and reflect on White’s perspective on spiritual warfare. Pray that God would daily saturate our lives with the power of the crucified and resurrected Lord so that spiritual armor might be the natural byproduct of that relationship.

If you missed Sunday’s message, you can catch up here. Join us next week as we look at the last few verses of this foundational letter.

Small Kindness, Big Impact

BECKY KEIFE

Lee en español

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:15-17 (NIV)

The smell of coffee beans and cinnamon rolls wafted through the crowded terminal. Impatient passengers congregated near the gate, waiting for the airline employee to announce their boarding group. I was thrilled to be heading to a writers’ retreat, but flying is not my favorite activity.

I was already starting to feel anticipatory nausea (it’s a thing), and the loud shrieking nearby wasn’t helping. I looked over and saw a mom and toddler in front of a vending machine. The little boy stomped his feet until his mom handed him a bag of cookies.

Cookies at 8 a.m. aren’t going to help anyone! I thought.

Immediately, a pang of conviction trumped my snap judgment. Surely I have not been above doling out sugary snacks to my own kids to buy myself a few minutes of peace and quiet.

Lord, forgive me for being quick to judge. Please bless this mama with someone kind and loving to sit next to on the plane. Help her to see You in her day. Amen.

When we finally boarded the plane, I was surprised to find my entire row empty. As I shoved my backpack under the seat, I had a glorious vision: three hours of uninterrupted rest and productivity. With extra space, I’d be able to concentrate on preparing for the retreat and then catch a little snooze. I’d land ready and refreshed for all God had planned! I adjusted the air vent and closed the shutter. Deep breath. This might actually be a great flight.

Then there they were. A woman and a little boy with cookie crumbs on his chin, crawling into the seat next to me.

“I just want to apologize in advance,” his mother said softly.

And I knew. I knew God was answering my prayer for her. Be the blessing.

“Don’t even worry about it,” I said. “I have three boys. I know confined spaces can be tough.” She smiled weakly.

The next three hours were punctuated by screaming and squirming. When his mom tried to get the toddler to rest in her lap, his feet kicked against my thigh. When the cartoon on her phone ended, when she offered the wrong snack, when he dropped his toy car for the 14th time, the boy wailed. His mom stayed calm.

“You’re OK,” she said.

“You’re OK,” he repeated.

Somewhere between the complimentary pretzels and the woman in front of us glaring back again, I struck up a conversation. Typical questions: How old is your son? Do you have other kids? Are you headed home or going on a trip? The boy’s name was Jack. He just turned three and had two older step-siblings. They were on their way home.

“It’s not easy flying with a little one,” I said. “You’re doing a really great job.”

“Thanks”, she answered. “This is way better than last time. Jack got diagnosed with autism a couple of months ago. He’s not very verbal and gets easily frustrated. But he started therapy, and it’s really helping.”

I had hoped this flight would be a quiet space for me to work and rest. That didn’t happen. But I did catch a glimpse of Jesus.

The engines hummed louder as we made our final descent. Jack nuzzled closer to his mama. With a stranger’s tiny toes pressed against me, all I could think was: What if sometimes we’re supposed to be the answer to our prayer? What if we changed the way we prayed?

Instead of just “Lord, bless them,” we could also pray, “Lord, prepare me to be a blessing.”
Instead of just “Lord, show them kindness,” we could also pray, “Lord, empower me to be kind.”
Instead of just “Lord, provide,” we could also pray, “Lord, give me eyes to see and a willingness to give.”

In the book of James, we receive clear instructions not only to wish others well but to do something to meet the needs in front of us. James writes, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-17).

The Message Bible says it like this: “Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:17).

“Outrageous nonsense.” That might sound harsh, but I actually love how it strips off the filter of our nice words and good intentions and shines the light on what’s really important — how we live.

God gave us His Word to read and His Spirit to whisper to ours. But it’s not enough just to hear. Our faith grows legs for change when we turn that hearing into doing.

The small shift from self-focused to others-focused, from perception to action, is the beginning of the simple difference.

God, I confess my critical spirit. I’m sorry for the ways I put my own preferences and agenda above loving the people right in front of me. Help me to look for ways to be the blessing in someone’s day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.