The History of Redemption

by Jill Claxton

Why should we struggle to understand the Old Testament? Does it have any real application for our lives today? Some would say that because there is a new covenant through the death of Christ, the Old Covenants are null and void and therefore not worth our time. Many feel overwhelmed by the historic and detailed nature of endless genealogies and laws which do not apply to the modern day church. After all, the Old Testament is the long, drawn out, heart-breaking story of God’s chosen people constantly proving their unfaithfulness; but this may be one of the best reasons to study the Old Testament: to properly understand the nature of man and, more importantly, the character of God.

I have to admit that I actually love history, genealogies, and Jewish culture, but trying to understand the Old Testament has proven to be a challenge for me over the last 25 years, especially because of all the controversy in the evangelical world about the subject. About 15 years ago I made a conscious decision to try to read it for myself several times and get a grip on the “big picture” without referring to commentaries. Once I read it through several times, then I could better understand the debates and theological points of views of others, keeping separate God’s Words and man’s opinions. As a result I have fallen in love with the Old Testament and what it reveals to us about God’s plan of redemption. In other words, from before the foundation of the world God chose the garden to be the first step in His plan for the cross!

Beginning to view God’s plan of redemption starting to unfold from before the foundation of the Earth as stated in Ephesians 4:1-4 through Genesis and the entire Old Testament through Revelation made the Bible come alive. Suddenly every word had meaning - from the smallest jot and tittle of the law to the clearest prophecy of the coming Messiah. The New Testament Church viewed the Old Testament in this way, as should we modern day readers.

In Genesis, God reveals the failures of the human race to their Creator. In the next four books, He reveals his laws and the fact that even a chosen people credited with His righteousness and the presence of the Living God would still fail to keep God’s laws even after being delivered, forgiven, and constantly promising to obey God. In Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, we see the depth of man’s evil and God’s constant mercy and grace to his wandering people. In the times of the Kings from I Samuel through Chronicles, we see the Jews struggle as they deal with the consequences of choosing a king over God to “be like all of the other nations.” In the midst of all this, we see God’s grace continue as He constantly calls the Jews back to Himself through the prophets. God brings His people to the heights of glory during King David’s and King Solomon’s times to the depths of despair during the Babylonian captivity, showing them once and for all that even under the best circumstances, an earthly King was not the answer. Once the temple is ransacked, God’s presence leaves His people and all that is left are prophets calling for repentance, retribution of the nation’s enemies, and for the one and only Deliverer to save His people.

In the book of Daniel, God shows His exiled people a glimpse of the future and promises the Deliverer who had become their only true hope. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther show us a humbled, exiled people being restored to the promises of Abraham. We begin to see everything fall into place for the Messiah to be born into this people, come to His rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and fulfill God’s plan to deliver all of His people - both Jew and Gentile - from the curse of the sin that began in the Garden of Eden. The Old Testament is not only the story of the Jews but is the story of the entire human race and how it is reconciled to its one and only Creator.

Quotes on Heaven

By Jennifer R.

Since we are Thinking Heavenward this semester, our new Quotable Quotes bulletin board is sporting a new set of quotes on the topic of "heaven." Below are the quotes that are on the board this month.

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I had rather be in hell with Christ, than be in heaven without Him. ~ Martin Luther

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. ~ CS Lewis

Without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven… How shall we ever be at home and happy in heaven if we die unholy? ~ JC Ryle

One should go to sleep as homesick passengers do, saying, “Perhaps in the morning we shall see the shore.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

This earthly body is slow and heavy in all its motions, listless and soon tired with action. But our heavenly bodies shall be as fire; as active and as nimble as our thoughts are. ~ John Wesley

Many Christians dread the thought of leaving this world. Why? Because so many have stored up their treasures on earth, not in heaven. Each day brings us closer to death. If your treasures are on earth, that means each day brings you closer to losing your treasures. ~ Randy Alcorn

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. ~ Thomas Moore

If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world. ~ Vance Havner

Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise. ~ Thomas Watson

The brightest crowns that are worn in heaven have been tried, and smelted, and polished, and glorified through the furnace of tribulation. ~ Edwin H. Chapin

Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch. ~ Dwight L. Moody

I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon. ~ John Newton (his last words)

God conceals from men the happiness of death that they may endure life. ~ Anonymous

Because the church doesn't really have heaven on its mind, it tends to be self-indulgent, self-centered, weak, and materialistic. Our present comforts consume too much of our thoughts, and if we're not careful, we inevitably end up inventing wrong fantasies about heaven - or thinking very little of heaven at all. ~ John MacArthur

We don't seek to escape this life by dreaming of heaven. But we do find we can endure this life because of the certainty of heaven. Heaven is eternal. Earth is temporal. Those who fix all their affections of the fleeting things of this world are the real escapists, because they are vainly attempting to avoid facing eternity - by hiding in the fleeting shadows of things that are only transient. ~ John MacArthur

I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven. ~ A.W. Tozer

Shall heaven be filled with praises for what was done on earth, and shall there be no praises on earth where it was done? ~ Jonathan Edwards

Our spiritual manhood in heaven will discard many things which we now count precious, as a full-grown man discards the treasures of his childhood. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

There cannot be heaven without Christ. He is the sum total of bliss; the fountain from which heaven flows, the element of which heaven is composed. Christ is heaven and heaven is Christ. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Do you not think that Abel must have felt very strange when he went to heaven? How startled the angels must have been when they saw the first soul redeemed by blood in glory alone! Methinks they must have hushed their songs awhile to ask all about him. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Such is the happiness we are looking forward to—the day-break; that we shall serve God day and night in his temple without any weariness, that we shall serve him without any sin, that we shall adore him without any wandering thoughts, that we shall be dedicated to him without anything that can stir the jealousy of his holy mind. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

I do not know that in heaven they know all things—that must be for the Omniscient only—but they know all they need or really want to know; they are satisfied there. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

The rougher the voyage the more the mariners long for port, and heaven becomes more and more “a desired haven,” as our trials multiply. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

My horse invariably comes home in less time than he makes the journey out. He pulls the carriage with a hearty good will when his face is towards home. Should not I also both suffer and labour the more joyously because my way lies towards heaven, and I am on pilgrimage to my Father’s house, my soul’s dear home and resting place? ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Ah, dear hearer! heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. If you do not learn heaven’s language on earth you cannot learn it in the world to come. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

As you come nearer heaven ought you not to be more heavenly? ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Quotes on Struggles

By Jennifer R.

Our new Quotable Quotes bulletin board is sporting a new set of quotes on the topic of "struggles.' Below are the quotes that are on the board this month.

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Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you. ~ George Whitefield

What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them. We must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly. ~ A.W. Tozer

Though there is nothing more dangerous, yet there is nothing more ordinary, than for weak saints to make their sense and feeling the judge of their condition. We must strive to walk by faith. ~ Thomas Brooks

I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Our first problem is that our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own “Victory” over sin than we are about the fact that our sin grieves the heart of God. We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle with sin chiefly because we are success oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God. ~  Jerry Bridges

No words can express how much the world owes to sorrow. Most of the Psalms were born in the wilderness. Most of the Epistles were written in a prison. The greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers have all passed through fire. The greatest poets have “learned in suffering what they taught in song.” In bonds Bunyan lived the allegory that he afterwards wrote, and we may thank Bedford Jail for the Pilgrim’s Progress. Take comfort, afflicted Christian! When God is about to make pre-eminent use of a person, He put them in the fire. ~ George MacDonald

If thou dost not stumble at this stone, the devil hath another at hand to throw in the way. He is not so unskillful a fowler as to go with one single shot into the field; and therefore expect him, as soon as he hath discharged one, and missed thee, to let fly at thee with a second. ~ William Gurnall

Afflictions are not to punish, but to purify the believing soul. They are not in wrath, but in mercy. Amidst the distresses and miseries of life – it is a felicity to belong to Christ, without whose permission and appointment, no evil can befall us! He always sends afflictions for our good; and knows by experience, what it is to suffer them. His kind hand will speedily put an end to all the pains we feel when we have derived from them all the good which He intends to do for us, by them. ~ John Fawcett

Your afflictions may only prove that you are more immediately under the Father’s hand. There is no time that the patient is such an object of tender interest to the surgeon, as when he is bleeding beneath his knife. So you may be sure if you are suffering from the hand of a reconciled God, that His eye is all the more bent on you. ~ Robert Murray McCheyne

I am mended by my sickness, enriched by my poverty and strengthened by my weakness… What fools are we, then, to frown upon our afflictions! Those, how crabbed soever, are our best friends. They are not intended for our pleasure, they are for our profit. ~ Unknown Puritan

The Lord afflicts us at times; but it is always a thousand times less than we deserve, and much less than many of our fellow-creatures are suffering around us. Let us therefore pray for grace to be humble, thankful, and patient. ~ John Newton

As the world is wearied of me so am I of it. ~ John Knox

Those who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Give up the struggle and the fight; relax in the omnipotence of the Lord Jesus; look up into His lovely face and as you behold Him, He will transform you into His likeness. You do the beholding–He does the transforming. There is no short-cut to holiness. ~  Alan Redpath

The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29). ~ Jerry Bridges

The first second that we spend in heaven will immediately erase every affliction that we have encountered while upon the earth! ~ Tim Senn

Journey to Joyful Living

By Kim. M.


This morning I woke up thinking about Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without complaining and grumbling.” Seriously? Everything? Really? Do I believe God means THAT? Can’t I at least grumble to myself in my heart where no one else hears? The problem is that God knows what is in my heart will eventually come out in my words and my actions. How different would my attitude and the atmosphere of my home be if I took this command seriously and applied it personally, diligently, and daily through the power of the Holy Spirit living in me? I am using “I” in my journal this morning, because this is too personal for me to point any fingers. But if you find this same attitude going on in your heart, join me on this journey toward joyful living.

I think grumbling, even when I don’t say it out loud, has almost become like a dull roar in the way I live… like background noise. It doesn’t have to be an angry rant… just a constant, dull whirring sound. Here’s what I mean:

• I am inconvenienced. I mumble about it.
  
• I don’t like the way the person in front of me is driving. I talk to them about it – out loud comments, not profane, but about how poor their driving skills are. It’s talking to myself, of course, and in my own car, but often in front of my family.
  
• My schedule is interrupted. I grit my teeth (silent grumbling).
  
• Someone alters my plans without my permission. I breathe a frustrated sigh (grumbling in disguise).
  
• Just as I am ready for bed, one of the kids wants to START their talking for the day. I hold it in but on the inside, my tired body is saying, “Me, first! Give me what I want: sleep!”
  
• No one appreciates the meal I cooked or the clothes I washed. I have a pity party in my heart.
  

While I may not do all this “me centered” grumbling out loud, God knows the grumblings of my self-centered heart. Oh, Father, forgive me! Help me to replace my grumbling with gratefulness. Help me to turn my complaining into counting my many blessings. Teach me Your ways:

• When doing loads of laundry – may I thank You, Lord, for clothing and kids and the energy and health to play and get clothes dirty.
  
• When cut off by someone with poor driving skills – may I thank you for a car to drive and protection from harm.
  
• When dozens of dirty dishes are on my counter – may I be grateful for family meals, good and abundant food, and a dishwasher to help with the cleanup.
  
• When my sleep is delayed by a child who wants to talk about what is on her heart – may I be grateful that she wants to talk to ME and that You promise to give wisdom to meet the need.
  
• When my plans are interrupted – may I thank You that my times are in Your hands.
  
• When my “to do” list is too long – may I trust that You will help me to accomplish what You have for me to do.
  

Lord, it is time for a change; time to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Turn my grumbling to gratefulness. Take my complaining, and replace it with cheerfulness. From Psalm 119:108 – Lord, may my mouth freely offer praises and prayers to You, my Maker. Teach me Your Word and Your ways and apply them to my heart.

Just Do Something!

By Diane H.

Amy Temple spoke to the ladies at the Mission Conference Luncheon. While she was addressing the subject of sacrificially serving the body of Christ, she included a wonderful description and plea for discipleship. Below is a portion of her talk transcribed for those who weren’t able to make it to the luncheon (and for those who would like to go over it again):

Ask yourself, “What’s the best way for you to live sacrificially for the body of Christ?”

If you have your Bibles, open up to Romans 12:1-8. I’m just going to read it for you quickly.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

In verse 1 it says this is “your spiritual worship.” Some other versions say it’s your reasonable service; it’s your true and proper worship. Giving your body as a living sacrifice is part of your mandate as a believer because it is your spiritual worship; it’s your spiritual service. Something you’ve probably heard Todd say is, “If the Bible commands us to do something, there’s probably a tendency to do the opposite.” So if the Bible is telling us to be a living sacrifice, we’re probably prone to being selfish, not living sacrificially. So this is God challenging you to do what’s not natural, to do what doesn’t come easy.

In verse 1 it says, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Normally when we hear this, we think of it as meaning sexually, keep yourself pure. What it really means is use your whole self - your body, your mind, your talents - use your whole self sacrificially for the Lord. So, what’s the best way for you to sacrifice for the body of Christ?

In Romans 12:4-8 it talks about different gifts. Each believer is given different gifts. There’s one body; there are many members; each member has a different function. Serve according to your gifting. It talks about the one who teaches, the one who gives, the one who serves.

When I was getting this ready I asked Dave, “Could I say, if you serve in the nursery, serve with patience; if you serve in Awana serve with this…” His answer was, “You could say that, but that’s not really the main point of the passage.” (I haven’t been to seminary, so I trust my husband.) He says the emphasis is on being a living sacrifice. There’s not necessarily a title you can put on it. “I’m the nursery worker.” “I’m the Awana leader.” “I’m the music person.” It’s, “I’m living sacrificially for the body of Christ.” So be a living sacrifice by using and employing the gifts you’ve been given.

If you say, “I don’t know what gifts I’ve been given,” here’s what you can do… Find a need; find a hole that needs to be filled. If they need people in the nursery, go serve in the nursery. If they need people to wash dishes, go wash dishes. If they need people to disciple younger women, disciple younger women! I know that’s really hard. Brian said it last night… find somebody who knows less than you and come alongside them and disciple them. It’s not a fancy, “you have to teach them all the points of exposition.” Find somebody who knows less than you and tell them what you know.

I encourage you, even as I’m talking, to think of somebody’s name and write it down on your paper, somebody who you can pursue, that you can disciple, that you can mentor, that you can come alongside and encourage. Also, think of someone who is a step ahead of you, who you would like to learn from, and approach that person and say, “Will you tell me what you’ve learned? Will you tell me how to handle my 3 year old child? Will you tell me how to send my child to college? Will you tell me what you’ve learned about…this?” You are an amazing resource for each other and in one another’s lives. Don’t ignore, don’t forget the trials each of you have gone through, because some of you have gone through things that the women right behind you are going through now. Don’t wait for you guys to approach each other. Go find each other and say, “Hey, I did that, and I see you’re in it now. Let me help you.”

So find a hole that needs to be filled. Find a need that’s not being met, and meet it!
And, if that is your gift, people will say, “Hey, I see you’re doing that and you’re doing a great job. Will you also come do this and this and this?” And they’ll be giving you more responsibility and more opportunities to serve. If that’s not your gift, people will probably say, “Hey, I see you’re serving and you’re willing. Will you come do this thing instead?” And they’ll help direct you to where you’re most gifted. You probably won’t be able to figure it out until you get out and start doing something. Just do something!

Christ-Directed Friendships

By Diane H.

What do we have to offer others as women who love Jesus? Many of us are busy women, either with jobs or with families. We look at our schedules and think, “There’s just no more time!” But really, who of us doesn’t want a friend? And who doesn’t want to be an encouragement to someone who just needs an ear, or advice, or to hear about what God has taught you along the way?

Often discipleship ministry just happens. It’s one of those things that develops, and you look up one day and realize – “God actually used me as His tool! How great is that?!” At other times, we have to be more purposeful and prayerfully seek someone to befriend – whether you are the one giving or the one receiving encouragement. That’s exactly what I would like to encourage you to do today.

When God gave the directive in Titus 2:4-5 for the older women to “encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored,” He wasn’t asking us to do anything that is unnatural to us! We ladies are relational beings! We love to be with others and interact and talk and learn from one another.

When I was newly married and then expecting my first child, I developed a friendship with a precious woman in our church. Joyce was a wife and mother of teenage boys, but most of all she loved Christ, and her love for Him was contagious. I remember camping out at her house for many afternoons and sitting on the stool at her kitchen bar to visit while she got dinner started. She would tell me what she was learning, and I would ask questions about marriage, about her Christian experience, about children, or about life in general. When Aaron was born, she and her husband were like surrogate grandparents to him because our parents lived so far away. Another way to describe our relationship could be a “Christ-directed friendship.”

For those of you who hear the term “mentoring” or “discipleship” and immediately think, “Oh, I could never do that! I don’t know enough Scripture or don’t know how to answer questions very well.” I implore you to open up your life and heart to let a younger woman share time with you! You will be enriched, you will be challenged to grow in wisdom, and you will blessed by her enthusiasm and desire to learn.

For those who would love to be on the learning end of a relationship like I just described, I heartily encourage you to seek out someone you admire or someone you are naturally drawn to and ask if you can get together sometime. Look in the areas at church that you frequent. Are you in the choir? Do your kids go to Awana? How about your care group? All of those venues are great and natural contact places for a new Christ-directed friendship!

Bible studies and special events are ministries that require a great deal of planning and organization. Discipleship is a ministry that is best done without an over-emphasis on structure and organization. As the coordinator for the Discipleship Ministry, I’m available to help ladies get together, to give suggestions as to topics to discuss, and to get the ball rolling if that would be helpful. I also hope to submit more articles on the blog in the future. If you are currently meeting with someone regularly, let me know so I can pray for you. And I would ask you to pray for this ministry in our church – that we would have a greater desire to come alongside one another to encourage and to learn from each other.

The Danger of Getting What We Think We Want

By Kim. M.

DISCLAIMER: I want you all to know why my journal thoughts are on the page for you to read. It is not because I am a great writer or a great teacher. It is not because I have it all together. On the contrary, it is because I have so much to learn that I write down the things the Lord is teaching me on this journey. The Women’s Ministry Board has asked some of us to share what we are learning, so that we might encourage one another and spur one another on to love and good deeds. So here it is; my heart on paper. May we journey together. Love you all my BCLR sisters.


Psalm 106:15 has been on my mind a couple of different times this week and I have been pondering the danger of getting what we want at the expense of leanness of soul. When Nancy Leigh DeMoss mentioned this same verse in her daily devotional this morning, I decided it was time to do some exploring. (I never cease to be amazed that when God is teaching me something, how often a verse comes across my path – in conversation with someone, in a sermon, or in my reading!) If you want to join me in the discovery, you can read on in my journaling journey.

I began by reading Psalm 106:13-15 in the NKJV and in NASB:

They (the Israelites) soon forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel,
But craved intensely in the wilderness,
And tested God in the desert.
And He gave them their request,
But sent leanness into their soul.

What a warning - words that capture my attention. Yellow caution lights flashing! Red flags waving! DANGER AHEAD. Stop. Turn around.

First Corinthians 10, verses 6 and 11 teach that these things happened as examples for us; that they were written for our instruction; for keep us from craving the evil things, as they also craved; to warn of idolatry and grumbling.

How did the Israelites go from slavery to freedom, from miraculously crossing the Red Sea on dry land to grumbling in the journey so quickly? Four things I notice in this downward spiral:

• They forgot - forgot God and all His mighty works
• They forged ahead - forged ahead without waiting for God’s counsel
• They fixed their focus on their cravings… intense cravings.
• They foolishly requested their own desires, to their own detriment.

The result? God gave them their request, but sent leanness to their soul.

These words cause me to examine my own heart. Am I ever like the Israelites? Sadly, I think so. When I forget what great things God has done for me and the love He has lavished on me, I am acting like the Israelites. Or when I find myself thinking, “What are you gonna do for me today, God?” I am acting like the Israelites. Oh, I may not say these words out loud, but in my heart, life can easily become all about me.

When I forge ahead with my own plans without waiting for His counsel, and I refuse to wait for God’s timing, I run the risk of wandering in a desert place of my own making. When I am not content with my circumstances or with God’s plan or with His timing, I am in a dangerous place.

When I fix my focus on my cravings – what I want, when I want it, and how I want it – I become the center of my own world. I worship me. My prayers morph into self-centered essays… God hear me and give me what I want now. Oh, Lord God, keep me from my own foolishness and selfishness!

Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes on leanness of the soul in her Quiet Place Daily Devotional Readings:

How dangerous it is to insist that God give us our own will… contentment is a choice. True joy is not the result of having everything I want, but of gratefully receiving exactly what God has given me. The enemy has robbed many of us of our joy by getting us to live in that foolish realm of ‘if only’… The fact is, if we are not content with what we have, we will never be content with what we think we want.

Ouch.

Lord, teach me to be content and grateful, to remember all Your kindnesses toward me, to let Your Word be my counselor. May I never demand my own way but rather delight in Your way. Keep me from leanness of soul. Grant that I may be like the tree in Psalm 1 - firmly planted, flourishing, and fruitful – for Your glory. Protect me from the danger of getting what I think I want.

Quotes on Missions

By Jennifer R.

The Missions Conference begins this Friday night, so our new Quotable Quotes bulletin board is sporting a set of quotes on missions. If you haven't had a chance to read them on the board, the quotes are listed below. If you don't have time to read them all right now, print them out and just read a few and discuss them at the dinner table each night this week in preparation for the conference.

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When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed. ~ Hudson Taylor

So, you have three possibilities in world missions. You can be a goer, a sender, or disobedient. The Bible does not assume that everyone goes. But it does assume that the ones who do not go care about goers and support goers and pray for goers and hold the rope of the goers. ~ John Piper

"I will go down, if you will hold the ropes." [his missions philosophy] ~ William Carey

"Does it not stir up our hearts, to go forth and help them, does it not make us long to leave our luxury, our exceeding abundant light, and go to them that sit in darkness?" ~ Amy Carmichael

Missions is not about “What can I spare?” The question is “What’s it going to take?” Risk. Abandon. Sacrifice. Radical dependence on Christ. Everything. Are you passionately committed to God’s glory among all peoples? ~ AsiaLink Worker

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."~ Nate Saint, missionary martyr

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." ~ John Stott

"If you take missions out of the Bible, you won't have anything left but the covers" ~ Nina Gunter

"A God-centered theology has to be a missionary theology" ~ John Piper

"Missions is the overflow of our delight in God because missions is the overflow of God's delight in being God." ~ John Piper

"God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose." ~ John Piper

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." ~ John Piper

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." ~ Oswald J. Smith

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." ~ C.T. Studd

"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once." ~ Oswald J. Smith

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" ~ David Livingstone

"If God would grant us the vision, the word sacrifice would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short, we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ." ~ Nate Saint, two weeks before he was martyred by the Aucas

"As we have a high old time this Christmas may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha" ~ Nate Saint, two weeks before he was martyred by the Aucas

"It's not that God has a mission for his Church in the world, but that God has a Church for his mission in the world" ~ Chris Wright

O Christian! do not falter,
The harvest field is white,
And many souls are sinking
Into eternal night.
~ William E. Penn

”I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. I don’t know who it was. It must have been a man—a well–educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing. And God looked down… and saw Gladys Aylward. And God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.’” ~ Gladys Aylward

"I am ready to burn out for God. I am ready to endure any hardship, if by any means I might save some. The longing of my heart is to make known my glorious Redeemer to those who have never heard."~ William Burns

You Are His Valentine

By Jennifer R.

As I was reading Embracing Obscurity by Anonymous recently, I came across the quote below. As I considered each phrase, it almost took my breath away. Read it slowly, and mediate on the amazing truth that the God of the universe loves unlovable and undeserving people such as us!

Christ calls us His bride. Savor these truths: He desires you, pursues you, purifies and delights in you! He moved heaven and earth so He could be near you. He’s gone to get the house ready, and waits anxiously for your arrival.

If that doesn't make you feel loved, nothing will!

Fear and “Little Faith”

By Kim. M.

True confession: I often find myself afraid. I think of the classic book Hinds Feet on High Places. The main character in the book was named “Much Afraid.” Fear is often my first reaction to a change or new situation. It’s the first emotion I must usually deal with. I hate that! I hate living that way. The unknown - that which I can’t control - often acts as a catalyst for fear to rise up in me.

The Bible tells us many times over not to be anxious or afraid. This morning as I was reading in Matthew 8, I came to the story of the disciples in their boat being tossed by a violent storm. The fearful disciples woke Jesus from sleep (imagine that - able to sleep in a storm!) and cried out to Him for help. I was struck by Jesus’ words to the disciples in a desperate situation. He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”

I have pondered that statement, turning it over in my mind. Why would Jesus say that? Jesus connected their fear with little faith. In my pondering, I thought I would see if there were any other times in the Bible where Jesus addresses fear and little faith. I discovered four situations. Each time Jesus asks about fear and anxiety and connects it with “little faith.” I am comforted by the fact that He doesn’t say “no faith;” but He does confront their “little faith.” In my search, I discovered all four of these situations have principles that apply in my life today, too.

1. In Matthew 6:25-34 – There is anxiety over of the necessities of life. Will God provide what we need?
2. In Matthew 8:23 - 27 – There is fear over danger: the “storms” of life that are out of my control.
3. In Matthew 14:22-31 – There is fear to follow where Jesus is leading, the temptation to fear when I put my eyes on the surrounding circumstances rather than fixing my gaze on Jesus.
4. Matthew 16:1-12 – There is fear when I don’t understand the greater purpose of His words and His works, when I lose the “big picture” and get bogged down in my own agenda.

In each and every one of these circumstances, those involved were afraid, worried, doubting, or anxious. And in each one of these circumstances, Jesus asks them a similar question, in some form of, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

Oh, how often I react in exactly the same way! I worry about all the same things. And when I worry, I am tempted to take my eyes off the Savior and fix my gaze on the circumstances, to play the “what if” game, to get it ALL backwards. The truth is God does not give me grace for “what if,” but He does give me grace for “what is.” When I am afraid, I must talk to myself rather than listen to myself. I must let the truth of Scripture settle my soul and counsel my heart to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Christ says, “Do not be afraid. Do not fear. Do not be anxious.” How do I battle fear when my emotions want to rule over truth? Here’s how I counsel my heart:

• Know. Know God…not just know about Him. A story from a dear friend of ours illustrates this truth. When Dr. Carl Wenger left to serve in the Middle East, his daughter Ann was too young to really remember him. So while he was away, Mrs. Wenger often pointed to the portrait of Dr. Wenger that hung in their home and told little Ann, “That’s your daddy.” Ann was only two years old when her daddy returned home from service, and she was not quite sure about this man in her home. In fact, a man had never spent the night in her home that she could ever remember, so after dinner Ann was quite sure it was time for him to leave. Of course, Dr. Wenger stayed the night at home. In the morning, he and Ann were the first ones up. He sat on one end of the sofa and she sat on the other. Little Ann pointed her tiny finger to the portrait on the wall and said, “That’s my daddy.” Then she looked at Dr. Wenger and looked up at the portrait… then she knew something... she knew someone... and then she said, “That’s you.” She crawled up in her daddy’s lap and in his arms! As Dr. Wenger says, “And we have had a good thing going ever since.” See, all of a sudden she didn’t just “know about” the man in the portrait, she knew him. Do I know God or do I just know about Him? Who is God? What is He like? To know God, I need to spend time with Him to learn about Him: who is says He is, what He does, what He loves. I don’t have to fear when I know God.
• Trust. Trust that God is who He says He is and does what He says He does. Trust is a choice. Psalm 56:3 sums it up well: “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
• Remember. Remember His faithfulness to all generations and recount His faithfulness in the past as recorded in Scripture and evidenced in my life.
• Pray. Thank God for the gift of faith and pray that He will grow my “little faith.” In Mark 9:24, a father asked Jesus for healing for his son. Jesus tells the father that all things are possible to him who believes. The father cries out to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” I find my heart echoes this same prayer – “Jesus, I do have faith; but help my ‘little faith.’” I pray that He would help my little faith to grow into a faith that is pleasing to Him.

How grateful I am for a Savior who is gentle, compassionate, and kind; one who teaches me that my name doesn’t have to be “Little Faith” or “Much Afraid”; one who meets me in my fearful, frail state and provides all I will ever need; a God who is not only present in every storm of life but who is in control of the storm; a God who is trustworthy and I can follow wherever He leads; a God who has a plan for my good and His glory. Who is like our God? Praise be to Him!

Behind the Faces

By Jennifer R.

This is just a brief reminder to all of us (myself included!) not to judge a book by its cover, so to speak. You never know what kind of day, week, or life someone has had before they crossed your path.

Behind the Faces

In your face I may see
A smile that’s carefree,
But behind your face may be
Struggles I can’t see.

In your face I may see
A happiness that’s glowing,
But behind your face may be
A pain you aren’t showing.

In your face I may see
A life of ease and blessing,
But behind your face may be
A history of trials and suffering.

In your face I may see
A dear sister or brother, always focused on things above,
But behind your face may be
A heavy heart, burdened for someone you love.

God, help me not to only see
The face that’s right in front of me.
Give me compassion, love, and grace
To minister to the soul behind every face.


(c) 2014

Book Review: Embracing Obscurity

By Jennifer R.

I recently read Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything by Anonymous. As I write this review, I’m having a hard time expressing just how helpful this little book has been to me.

I think, especially in our affluent society, we are groomed at an early age to clamor for the world’s version of “success.” Successful people, we are told, get good grades in school, are leaders and athletes, graduate college with honors, get successful jobs, make lots of money, have 2.5 kids and a white picket fence, and are loved by everyone who knows them. That’s the “American dream,” right?

But is that how God would have us live? The American dream mentality fosters pride in those who accomplish it. Then the rest of us try to console ourselves by touting our meager virtues to everyone we know so that we can feel good about ourselves, too.

Think about it: in your heart of hearts, what do you honestly hope that people think about you? That you’re a great mom? You’re thoughtful? A great teacher? Funny? Intelligent? Giving? Athletic? Think about that for a moment. When your name comes up in conversation, what do you hope will be said about you?

We all want to be valued. We want people to see value in us and affirm our wonderful qualities. We sometimes even convince ourselves that those are good things – that we are somehow being good representatives of Christ if we have a good reputation for {place your idol of choice here}.

The problem, of course, is that this focuses solely on us and not on the person we’re here to make famous: Christ. In the words of the anonymous author:

Embracing obscurity is about being content with being “relatively unknown” so that Christ can be made more known. Temporarily going hungry so that many more may be filled.

…

Christ brought the Father glory by becoming nothing (Phil. 2:5-11). If He is our example in everything, it follows that we also will glorify our God when we embrace an obscurity of heart for His sake and for the sake of others.

There are so many facets of our lives touched by this simple principle, and I think the author touches on all of them. I have underlined and starred and “Amen-ed” more in this book than I think I have in any other book – and that’s saying something! This is a book that I think I will need to re-read often to remind myself of its truths.

THE VERDICT: I highly recommend this book for any believer.

Book Review: Mysterious Ways

by Deborah H.

While at a recent Christian Writer’s Conference in Albuquerque, I was privileged to meet several writers, editors and agents I’d never heard of before. One of the stand-outs was Terry Burns, an author/agent, who taught several of the classes I attended. He used illustrations from his book, Mysterious Ways, and I knew I wanted to read it. The most provocative thing he said was that sometimes God has a different audience than you plan. When he wrote this book, it was just a story he wanted to tell. He didn’t have any ulterior motives for writing it, but God chose to use it in a way Terry Burns never imagined! God used this as an evangelistic tool in prison populations. Terry said after this book was published he started getting letters from all over, from prisoners who had been saved as a result of reading this book, saying things like, “If this could happen to someone like Amos [the main character in the book], then I thought it was possible it could happen to me.” How could I not read this book?

Mysterious Ways is an easy read. Its premise is brilliant. A con man in the wild west steals a set of preacher’s clothes so he could pose as a man of God as a cover for his criminal activity. The thing is that the town he wound up in was starved for the Word of God and quickly let Amos know they were expecting a lot from him as he ministered to their town. So Amos was in a dilemma. If he left town, they’d know he was the outlaw who’d just held up a stage. They’d be on him in no time to bring him to justice. But if he stayed, he had to keep up this pretense of being a preacher.

Since this is a western, boys, girls, men and women alike would enjoy reading this book. And though there are threads of racial inequality and romance woven into the book, it is pretty tame, considering it gives us a glimpse into the depraved mind of a man who only wants to swindle people out of their money—or does he?

Good reading and a good book to give big, tough men who haven’t yet accepted the Lord. It exposes them to the gospel in an unusually deceptive way—or should I say, in mysterious ways?

Nothin' But a Paintbrush

By Jennifer R.

Have you ever daydreamed about heaven and thought about who you might see there? Some people imagine getting to talk to the Apostle Paul or Noah and hearing about their exciting journeys of faith. Some imagine talking to spiritual heroes of the (more recent) past like John Newton, Charles Spurgeon, or Fanny Crosby and telling them how their lives and ministries impacted their own spiritual walk. Some imagine talking to friends or relatives who died before them and sharing all the ways God used their lives to touch others after they passed away from this life.

But I wonder…

Imagine for a moment that you’re at a movie premiere. You’re watching all the stars come in on the red carpet. Who do you think the paparazzi will be clamoring to get to? The person who played “man on the street #4” or “woman #7”? Not likely. They (and you) will be craning their necks to get a glimpse of the hero of the story… the star. Or maybe they would want to talk to the director or the author of the movie.

As our equipping hour class is reading through the Bible this year, our teacher is constantly reminding us that God is the hero of the story. God is the author, the director, and the hero of our story. So when you get to heaven, who do you think you’re really going to want to see?

Likewise, imagine you’re looking at a masterpiece painting. Would you be thinking, “Wow! I’d love to see the paintbrushes used to make this beauty!” No way! You’d want to meet the painter himself – the one who created the masterpiece.

The best among us are nothing more than bit actors who have to have every line and movement fed to us by the Director. Better yet, we’re like the paintbrush with no control over how we’re used. But in the skillful hands of the Master, we get to be a part of something beautiful and meaningful.

When we get to heaven, no doubt we will see some of our heroes of the faith. I’m pretty sure, though, that we will be more excited to see the real Hero: the God who worked in and through them (and us!) to accomplish His perfect purposes.

What a glorious day that will be!


Re-posted from Reflections by Jennifer.

While the Pastor's Away...

By Jennifer R.

Our pastor and his family are currently enjoying a sabbatical. While they're away, we don't want to forget to continue to pray for them and for our other pastors who will be filling in the gap while they're gone. There is no greater thing we can do for our spiritual leaders than to pray for them! If you would like some ideas for specific ways to pray, here are some helpful resources to get you started:

• 31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor by Revive Our Hearts
• 31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor's Wife by Revive Our Hearts
• Pray for Your Pastor! by Tim Challies - He lists several articles here with specific ways to pray.

Quotes on Leadership

By Jennifer R.

The summer men's Bible study begins tonight and is focusing on the topic of "leadership," so our new Quotable Quotes bulletin board is sporting a new set of quotes on this topic. Below are the quotes that are on the board this month.

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Spiritual leadership is knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to get them there by God’s means in reliance on God’s power. ~ John Piper

Servanthood does not nullify leadership; it defines it. Jesus does not cease to be the Lion of Judah when He becomes the lamblike servant of the church. ~ John Piper

According to [the Bible], a leader is first and foremost a servant. His concern is not for himself; his concern is not to give orders, to boss other people around, to have his own way. His concern is to meet the needs of others. ~ Wayne Mack

Dwight L. Moody once said that he would rather put a thousand men to work than do the work of a thousand men. ~ Oswald Sanders

A leader will seldom say, “I don’t have the time.” Such an excuse is usually the refuge of a small-minded and inefficient person. Each of us has the time to do the whole will of God for our lives. ~ Oswald Sanders

A spiritual leader will, first and foremost, have a calling from God. His work will not be his profession, but his calling. ~ Zac Poonen

Experience has taught me that the Shepherd is far more willing to show His sheep the path than the sheep are to follow. He is endlessly merciful, patient, tender, and loving. If we, His stupid and wayward sheep, really want to be led, we will without fail be led. Of that I am sure. ~ Elisabeth Elliot

We must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must bear with their imperfections, correct them with gentleness and patience, and lead them in the way to heaven. ~ Francois Fenelon

The chief occupational hazard of leadership is pride. ~ John Stott

The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve. ~ John Stott

A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation. ~ A.W. Tozer

It is very rare for the spirituality of a group of Christians to exceed that of its leaders. ~ John Benton

We cannot sit back and wait for the sheep to lead. A few will, but by and large they are looking to us for direction, feeding, and leadership by our stepping out courageously in faith. ~ Curtis C. Thomas

When God’s sheep are in danger, the shepherd must not gaze at the stars and meditate on “inspirational” themes. He is morally obliged to grab his weapon and run to their defense. ~ A.W. Tozer

Leadership training cannot be done on a mass scale. It requires patient, careful instruction and prayerful, personal guidance over a considerable time. Disciples are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced only one by one, because someone has taken the pains to disciple, to instruct and enlighten, to nurture and train one that is younger. Oswald Sanders
Leadership may be defined as the ability…to develop other people’s maximum potential for their own works of service in the body of Christ. ~ Derek Prime and Alistair Begg

The effectiveness of leadership is measured in terms of influence. When you see someone’s influence reflected so profoundly in the lives of other people, you have identified someone who is by definition a leader. ~ John MacArthur

It is no commendation of our leadership if everything collapses when we are not there or when the time comes for us to leave. ~ Derek Prime and Alistair Begg

No man, however gifted and devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom. ~ Oswald Sanders

When I submit to the leaders God places over me, I do so not in trust of them, but in trust of God who placed them. My trust is not that they will always make the right decisions, but rather, that God is able to work in their hearts and in my life even in their mistakes. The bottom line of submission on every level is not “Can I trust this leader,” but “Can I trust God to work in, through, and in spite of this leader?” ~ Eddie Rasnake

Bringing God Glory Through Technology

By Kim W.

After discussing the pros and cons of Facebook, we must examine our hearts and motives on how we choose to use it. We make many choices each and every day... we choose how to spend each moment of the day and we can bring God glory through our choices.

Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down."

Another Scripture that is helpful is Proverbs 11:22, which states, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, so is a beautiful woman without discretion."

Of course, we cannot forget Paul's words to us in Titus chapter 2, where he tells us how to give God glory as a woman who desires to live for Him. What does that look like?

She is reverent, not one who gossips, and is not enslaved to wine or anything that can be enslaving.

What does she do? She is to teach the younger women to love their husbands, love their children, to be sensible, to be pure, to be workers at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their own husbands.

To be that Titus 2 woman, it takes a lot of time... it takes devotion... and it takes discipline. How we choose to spend each moment of each day does make a difference and we should be discerning about that. Facebook is something we can use for God's glory. If you would like, you can read through the first post here to be reminded of the pros or benefits of Facebook. But even if it is lawful and fine to be on Facebook, we must ask ourselves these questions:

1. Is this useful, prudent, or profitable for the kingdom of God?
2. Is it better at times to not do things that would be perfectly fine and allowed by Scripture, if there is a greater priority involved?
3. Does it offend others in any way?
4. Is it the best choice for that moment?
5. Does it build up others in the faith? Are you using it for that reason?
6. Is it profitable spiritually for yourself?
7. Does it give glory to God or yourself?
8. It is a habit or routine that you are being ruled by? Does it control me? Is my time swallowed up with Facebook because I am allowing it to be my routine?

A final Scripture to consider: 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

What is the glory of God? God's glory is equivalent to giving honor to Him who is completely deserving of that honor. God should receive all glory because of who He is and what He has done. His character, His nature, and His attributes demand that He is solely deserving of all glory. When we think about what He has done for us, we see that He has loved us with an everlasting love, He saved us from our sinful state, He has completely forgiven us as far as the east is from the west, He has redeemed us, and He has paid our debt in full--a debt we could never pay. Yes, He is deserving of receiving all glory from our lives! Every choice we make should be to bring more honor and glory to Him because of who He is and what He has done.

How we behave in this world, specifically on Facebook, should reflect honor to God. We should be women who, first of all, are striving to be that Titus 2 woman through our daily choices... we should be women who have great discretion in a very public venue like Facebook... and we should be women who are wise to see that our choices can build up our home or tear it down. I also think we should be gentle on Facebook, always being careful of our tone and word choices.

I would like to end with some heart questions for all of us to consider. I think it is wise to examine our hearts daily and see if there is anything that we need to repent of and change.

• Am I using Facebook for ministry purposes?
• Do I encourage others on Facebook?
• Do I ever find myself promoting myself and my image on Facebook?
• Does the time I spend on Facebook take precedence over time that I should be doing more important things?
• Does Facebook ever cause me to waste time? Am I spending unnecessary time on Facebook doing quizzes and games that are not profitable for me spiritually?
• Have I ever pushed aside my children or husband so that I could continue spending more time on Facebook?
• Do my children have to wait for me to get off the computer to have their needs met?
• Has time on Facebook been more enjoyable to me than time spent with my husband?
• Has my husband ever said that I spend too much time on Facebook?
• Do meals, laundry, or housekeeping get delayed because of computer time?
• Do I secretly like the idea of talking with another man besides my husband on Facebook? Have I ever sought out men to be friends with with wrong motives?
• Do I put aside my time in the Word to check Facebook?
• Is Facebook helping me in my walk with Christ? If so, how? If not, what needs to change?
• Is having a Facebook advantageous to my Biblical calling as a woman?
• Is Facebook a tool being used in my life to bring glory to God or is it a distraction?

Quotes on Friendship

By Jennifer R.

If you haven't seen the new bulletin board upstairs, here's a picture of it.

We will be changing the topic every month, but this month - since we're focusing on godly friendships in the summer ladies Bible study and in the upcoming fall retreat - the topic is "friendship." Below are the quotes that are on the board this month.

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If I take offence easily; if I am content to continue in cold unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love. ~ Amy Carmichael

It’s impossible to have friendships that aren’t directed by the heart. And it’s impossible to have genuine, authentic friendships if what is in our heart is self-centered and self-absorbed. Bad hearts produce bad friendships. Good hearts produce good friendships. (Luke 6:45) ~ Amy Baker

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly [best friends], I shall love my earthly [best friends] better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly [best friends] at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly [best friends] at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased. ~ C.S. Lewis

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.” ~ C.S. Lewis

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. ~ Arnold Glasow

The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ. ~ Oswald Chambers

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ~ Jesus (John 15:13)

I am convinced, by the way, that friendships provide the most fertile soil for evangelism. When the reality of Christ is introduced into a relationship of love and trust that has already been established, the effect is powerful. And it seems that invariably, when someone becomes a true follower of Christ, that person's first impulse is to want to find a friend and introduce that friend to Christ. ~ John MacArthur

A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend; one human soul whom we can trust utterly; who knows the best and the worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults; who will speak the honest truth to us, while the world flatters us to our face, and laughs at us behind our back. ~ Charles Kingsley

God's is the only friendship that can really meet all our soul's deep needs and cravings. Human companionship helps us at a few points; but the divine friendship has its blessing for every experience. We never shall be left alone when we have Christ. When other helpers fail and comforts flee—He will ever stand close beside us. When other faces fade out of view—His will shine out with gentle love, pouring its light upon us. ~ J.R. Miller

Good friends are among our greatest blessings – they may keep us back from much evil, quicken us in our course, speak a word in season, draw us upward, and draw us on. But a bad friend is a positive misfortune, a weight continually dragging us down, and chaining us to earth. Keep company with an irreligious man, and it is more than probable you will in the end become like him. That is the general consequence of all such friendships. The good go down to the bad, and the bad do not come up to the good. ~ J.C. Ryle, Thoughts For Young Men

To become another's friend in the true sense—is to take the other into such close, living fellowship that his life and ours are knit together as one. It is far more than a pleasant companionship in bright, sunny hours. It is more than an association for mutual interest or profit or enjoyment. A genuine friendship is entirely unselfish. It seeks no benefit or good of its own. It does not love - for what it may receive - but for what it may give. Its aim is “not to be served—but to serve” (Mark 10:45). ~ J.R. Miller

Christ loves us—not according to our worthiness—but according to the riches of His own loving heart! So should it be with our giving of friendship—not as the person deserves—but after the measure of our own character. ~ J.R. Miller

Guarding Our Hearts on Facebook

By Kim W.

We log onto Facebook and read other people's statuses, and we look through the numerous photographs from our friends and acquaintances... and what do we sometimes conclude?

Everyone is happier than us.
Everyone is more successful than us.
Everyone's husband is more thoughtful or helpful than ours.
Everyone gets to go on wonderful vacations.
Everyone else has children who are perfectly obedient and excel more than ours.
Everyone else has more friends.

Sadly, Facebook can be a miserable place.

It can be a good thing in our hearts, though. Why? Because it exposes something ugly in our hearts - which is hard at times - but we can deal openly with our sin when it comes glaring at us from the pages of Facebook. When we become aware of our jealousy, our grumbling spirit, and our discontentment, we can bring those sinful attitudes before the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness. We should then repent from those sins and move on toward godliness. Sometimes, Facebook should be avoided, and that may be a wise choice...but sometimes God can use this media source to help us become more disciplined in our attitudes toward others.

In regards to guarding our hearts, we must be aware that this goes both ways. We present ourselves in the best light possible. We lie, we exaggerate, and we present ourselves as WE want others to see us. We want others to believe that we are living a life worthy to be envied, and we desire, in a way, for others to applaud us for our perfect and wonderful lives. What is the result of this? A simple conclusion: we all end up trying to be something we are not, but at the same time believing that everyone else has a better life. We try to bring ourselves glory, which is in direct opposition to what God wants for our lives.

I read an anonymous quote that said, "If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy, but what we really want is to be happier than other people."

What pride and selfishness! I am constantly having to guard my own heart from these kinds of thoughts and attitudes.

The next post will include the conclusion of this series. It is full of good news for all of us! I will discuss how and why we should bring glory to God while we are on Facebook, which should be our heart's desire.

What Is Facebook Replacing in Our Lives?

By Kim W.

If you think about it, all of today's technology has replaced something else. In 2004, when Facebook came into being, it was basically unknown for a while...even in 2006, some of our teenaged children were learning about it, but it was still new and we were just starting to hear the word and trying to figure it all out. But, now it is literally a way of life.

A recent study showed that one-third of women between the ages of 18-34 check Facebook before they go to the bathroom in the morning. That same study also showed that 21% of women check it in the middle of the night and 50% admit they can't live without it. Older adults between the ages of 40-50 represent the fastest growing population on facebook.

All of those 700 billion minutes a month from 2010 are coming from somewhere. Time spent on Facebook is being taken from somewhere else. Have you considered that?

What could it be replacing in our lives?

Time in God's precious Word?

Time in prayer?

Time with our family?

Could it be that Facebook has replaced real face-to-face conversations? Are we tempted to say "Happy Birthday" on Facebook and neglect sending a thoughtful card or having a lunch together to celebrate? Do our words on Facebook somehow remove the need to see people? Has sending a private message taken the place of meeting in homes or getting together for coffee?

Facebook can cause us to be removed from people's lives. Our physical presence can easily be missing from those who need us there face-to-face.

Facebook should not take the place of real life relationships. It should supplement them. It should enhance the relationship and make it richer. We need to look at our time on Facebook and make sure that real relationships are a priority. We should make sure that we don't allow Facebook (or anything else) to replace that blessing.