Do Not Give Up!

It's a phrase that I've heard many times in my life, especially when I was playing.  It's a phrase I used many times when I was coaching ball in high school.  It's a phrase that helped me many times when I wanted to quit...because it hurt, because it was hard, or because I was tired.  "DO NOT GIVE UP!"  

Have you ever been weary?  "Weary," as defined by Merriam-Webster, means "exhausted in strength, endurance, or vigor; having one's patience, tolerance, or pleasure exhausted."  Maybe you've experienced weariness in your workplace, in your home, or in your relationships.  Maybe you've experienced weariness in kingdom ministry.  Maybe you've experienced weariness in all of the above.  Maybe you are weary right now.  Paul has a good word for you in Galatians 6:9.  Pauls says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we DO NOT GIVE UP."  Of course, Paul was speaking the church at Galatia and encouraging Christ followers in their kingdom ministry work.  Paul understood the challenges they faced in ministry, the challenges they faced both in their church and in their community.  These Christ followers were doing good work.  They were loving people, leading people into repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  They were sowing gospel seeds in the hearts of people.  This was no easy task!  One thing that makes sowing seeds so difficult is waiting for those seeds to grow and to bear fruit.  We have an enemy - the devil - who wants to steal from us, who wants to kill us, and who wants to destroy us.  He loves to discourage us in any and every way he can, especially when it comes to kingdom ministry.  Many, many times in kingdom ministry we can get weary and discouraged when we don't see things happening...repentance, salvation, growth, and more.  We can be overwhelmed with feelings of despair and of defeat.  We can, and yes, we will be tempted to give up, to quit!  Paul says to us just as he said to the Galatians, "Let us not become weary in doing good."  But how?  How do we do that?  I believe we do what John says to do in 1 John 4:7.  John says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  He goes on to say in verse 13, "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."  And finally, John says in verse 16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

I believe we can fight the weariness in our lives by KNOWING and RELYING on God's love for us!  I believe we can fight the weariness in our lives with the TRUTH of God's Word.  God has called us into intimate relationship with Him, and He speaks to us through His Word and through His Spirit in us.  As Christ followers, He has called us to be His children, to be His ambassadors, and to be His vessels in this world.  We simply sow the seeds; the harvest belongs to God.  When I pray, when I read God's Word, and when I listen to His Spirit in me, I can know the truth.  The truth sets me free!  In those times that hurt, in those times that are hard, and in those times when I am tired, I will turn to my Father; I will KNOW and RELY on my Father's love for me.  And I resolve now to embrace the words of Galatians 6:9, when Pauls says to me, "DO NOT GIVE UP!"

Wednesday in the Word - 1.5.2022

Happy Birthday, Marty!

 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." - Colossians 3:14

Marty, you are a gift from God to me and to our children.  We are so thankful for you!  Thank you for being a vessel of God's love to us each and every day...no matter the circumstances!  You truly are a blessing to everyone, and you are a great example of Colossians 3:14 to our world.  We hope that you have a great birthday and that you enjoy the peace of God in your life...today and every day!  We love you so much!!!

Happy 21st Birthday, Jacob!

I've heard it said many times, "You better not blink, because your kids will grow up and be adults before you know it."  Over the past few years, I blinked several times.  My kids are growing up into adults, but I am so thankful to God for them!  Jacob, you are growing into an awesome young man, and we are so proud of you!  I remember the days of you sitting in my lap watching ESPN until we both fell asleep.  I remember you clinging to your mom at home, at school, at church, and pretty much anywhere we went.  But most of all, I remember your smile and your laugh.  Keep smiling and laughing, son.  We hope that you have a great 21st birthday, and we hope you know just how much we love you!  We pray that God will continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others for His glory.  Amen!

It's Not the Grumbling in My Tummy!

A few days ago, I was sitting in my office and my stomach would not stop grumbling.  I was hungry, and that was the only cure for my grumbling.  Today, I was reminded in Scripture that there is a grumbling way more serious that needs to be addressed in my life.  The king of grumbling I'm talking about is not the grumbling in my tummy but the grumbling in my heart!  

In Philippians 2:13, Paul says, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose."  Let's stop and think about his verse for a moment.  As a Christ follower, I have died to SELF and now live in CHRIST.  God is working in me according to His will so that I might act according to His purpose.  Before I move forward in Scripture, I need to realize this truth: I belong to God in Christ Jesus.  I am His vessel, His ambassador.  Then Paul goes on to say this in Philippians 2:14-16a, "Do everything without GRUMBLING or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.'  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."  I have to remember that Paul is talking to the church; he is talking to Christ followers; he is talking to me!

I saw a quote recently that made me laugh until I evaluated my own heart: "The worst person to be around is someone who complains about everything and appreciates nothing."  Yes, at first I laughed and even agreed.  However, I began to think about my own heart.  I have found many times in my life that when I don't like something or when I disagree with someone, I grumble (inside and out).  It is almost like grumbling is my default response.  In my sinful nature, that is understandable.  However, in my new life - my Christlike life - that is no excuse.  I need to put to death my old self; I need to turn from my sinful nature; I need to repent, and I need to rely on the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ!  Before I respond or say anything in those tough circumstances and/or conversations, I need to filter my heart and my mind through PRAYER.  I need to go to God with my emotions, with my mouth, with my actions, and with my heart.  I need to listen to God's voice as He speaks to me.  I need to remember what God says through Paul in Philippians 2:13.  It is God who works in me.  I need to humble myself before Him and obey Him, living my life in order to fulfill His good purposes, not my own.  I realize now that it's not the grumbling in my tummy that is the problem; it is the grumbling in my heart that is the problem.  If I spend more time grumbling and complaining about circumstances and about people, then maybe it is because I'm not spending enough time humbling myself before God.  Maybe I'm not spending enough time praying.  Maybe I'm not spending enough time worshiping and praising God, giving thanks to Him for all things.

Lord, help me today to embrace Your words to me and for me.  Help me today to be a person of THANKS and ENCOURAGEMENT.  When I am disappointed or hurt, help me start in prayer and help me to listen to Your voice first before I speak out and act out.  Help me, Lord, to understand and to obey You in all things.  Help me to surrender to Your will and to act according to Your purposes in my life.  Thank You, Lord, for the Holy Spirit in me, for enabling me and empowering me to glorify You...in every circumstance.  Amen.