Grace and Peace

Think about the word tomorrow. The existentialist says there is no tomorrow, there is only today. A teenager says tomorrow can’t get here fast enough. A senior citizen says tomorrow comes all to quickly. But a child of God can say, "My tomorrow belongs to the Lord."

There is no way that we can know what tomorrow will bring, but we can trust in a God who transcends time.  He knows our tomorrow and can walk us through even the most perilous of times.  Jesus had these word to say about tomorrow:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:25-33 (ESV)

Chuck Swindoll is a favorite author and Bible teacher.  I admire his ability to illustrate Biblical truth with unique stories.  Here's one that teaches an important lesson.

"In the northeastern United States codfish are a big commercial business. Note the following facts: There is a market for eastern cod all over, especially in sections farthest removed from the northeast coastline. But the public demand posed a problem to the shippers. At first they froze the cod, then shipped them elsewhere, but the freeze took away much of the flavor. So they experimented with shipping them alive, in tanks of seawater, but that proved even worse. Not only was it more expensive, the cod still lost its flavor and, in addition, became soft and mushy. The texture was seriously affected.

Finally, some creative person solved the problem in a most innovative manner. The codfish were placed in the tank of water along with their natural enemy--the catfish. From the time the cod left the East Coast until it arrived at its westernmost destination, those ornery catfish chased the cod all over the tank. And, you guessed it, when the cod arrived at the market, they were as fresh as when they were first caught. There was no loss of flavor nor was the texture affected. If anything, it was better than before.

Each one of us is in a tank of particular and inescapable circumstances. It is painful enough to stay in the tank. But in addition to our situation, there are God-appointed "catfish" to bring sufficient tension that keeps us alive, alert, fresh and growing.

It's all part of God's project to shape our character so we will be more like his Son. Understand why the catfish are in your tank. Understand they are part of God's method of producing character in your life and mine."  - Charles Swindoll
 
Swindoll's illustration shed's new light on the difficult times we experience and the difficult people we encounter.  Sometimes, they are allowed to touch our lives by a loving God who wants us to grow.  How will this new perspective help us?  Maybe the next time we encounter difficult times or people, we will thank God rather than grumble and submit to the lesson He is teaching us.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

'Earth Worship' on the Rise among Evangelical Youth

OneNewsNow.com reports that Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America is saying that many young people in evangelical churches are disturbingly experimenting with Wicca. Crouse warns that Christian parents and leaders must be ready to counter that growing interest. Wicca involves nature worship and stresses moral autonomy, which are appealing tenets to many of today's youth. Crouse cites an article in Religion Journal which said youth pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention were worried about large numbers of evangelicals taking part in Wicca. "They don't want the church telling them that there are boundaries, [that] there are things that they can't do," Crouse explains. She believes interest in Wicca can be traced to recent books featuring witchcraft and similar topics.

One of the blogs I read frequently is written by JD Greear.  Today his post spoke to me so powerfully I thought I would share it with you:

Dry Times

Sometimes I go through periods where it feels like I'm hearing directly from Jesus every day. He seems to clearly be lighting my path, I feel Him moving in my heart, and I can see His handiwork all through my life. Sometimes these periods last a few days, sometimes they last several months.

Other times it feels like I'm in a desert. Even when I press in and plead with God, I can't feel anything. I don't see how God is answering any of my prayers. It feels like God wrote the Bible and then simply turned me loose to obey it on my own. Temptations I struggle with get more intense and even more difficult to shake. My heart yearns after idols. I get lazier and more self-centered. I get short with people. I watch TV more. I care less. Life feels bitter. And then I get physically depressed at how little progress I seem to have made in Christian growth and maturity. So I seek God, I press in... and God seems to be silent. Nothing. Like He's gone on writer's strike and all I can do is watch lame reruns of things He did in my life last year. And so I don't know exactly what to do.

Anybody else like that? Why is God like that? What are you supposed to do during the "dry" times?

I don't know if I have the answer, but here's what I have discovered:

1. Read the Psalms. Encourage yourself with the thought that this is the common experience of the greatest believers in history.

2. Preach the Gospel to yourself. I am not loved or accepted by Christ because of how I feel, how much victory I have over temptation, or how well I'm doing. God's love for me never wavers or changes, even in the dry times. My faith is not in my feelings, but in the unchangeable facts of the Gospel.

3. Press on in obedience. I believe that part of the "faith journey" is actually learning to obey when you can't see or sense God. Sometimes we have to simply believe "that He's there" and that He really is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Endure and press on. Faith is acting when you have nothing else to go on but God's promises. And you can't feel those. You believe them.

4. Think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, He tried to meet with His Father for motivation and consolation before going to the cross. He found nothing, but obeyed anyway. Because of that obedience, I am never really alone and I never have to fear God's displeasure of me. He endured all that in my place.

In his book, Written in Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little boy back in the 1940s whose sister needed a blood transfusion.  The doctor explained to the little boy and his parents that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

"Would you give your blood to Mary" the doctor asked?

Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister."

Soon the two children were wheeled into a hospital room. Mary was pale and thin; while Johnny was robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned at his sister. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube.  When the ordeal was almost over, his voice slightly shaky, Johnny broke the silence.

"Doctor, when do I die?"

Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had at first hesitated and why his lip had trembled when he'd agreed to donate his blood. He'd thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment, he'd made his great decision to lay down his life for his sister.

Johnny, fortunately, didn't have to die to save his sister. Each of us however, has a condition more serious than Mary's, and it required Jesus to give not just His blood, but His life.  Take a moment today to thank God for His salvation which for us if full and free.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:12-15 NKJV)

On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy declared, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Of course, he was speaking of  the commitment necessary from the citizens of the USA to move forward in the turbulent times of the 60's.  But I would like to ask you today to think about the impact you can have on your community through faithfully following Jesus.

Can you imagine your neighborhood actually becoming a better place to live because you are living out your faith?  As you joyfully serve, you see those who were formerly cynical and perhaps even hostile to matters of faith now grateful for the positive contribution you make in their lives.  Then a spiritual harvest begins among your neighbors as they give their lives to Christ.

It can happen!

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him."

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing.

When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"

"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him."

Her actions had changed her feelings. Action resulted in emotion.  Love is not established by fervent words, but by often repeated deeds.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV)

As I checked my email today, I found a message from our friend Pastor Peter which was sent this past Friday.  I am sharing it so that you may pray for our brothers and sister facing persecution.  At the conclusion of Pastor Peter's email, you will find his contact information.  Perhaps you might even drop him an email or card of encouragement.  The text of his message is found below:

Christians attacked - On the evening of 7th  February, around 30 Hindu extremists attacked the Shalom Full Gospel Church at Kumbara Halli village, under Hosaur police station of Chittoor district. The activists assaulted Pastor Robert and the congregation of around 300 believers present at the time for the  worship service. The extremists later dragged Pastor Robert to Hosaur police station & accused him of forceful conversions. Three believers of the congregation were grievously injured and they are undergoing treatment in Hosadurga government hospital.

In another incident a group of 20 Hindu fundamentalists belonging to RSS attacked Pastor Madhusudan Rao in Oodarevulapalli, under Rajgopal police station. The incident occurred while Pastor Madhusudan Rao was conducting worship meeting in his house which was attended by 45 believers. The attackers barged inside and disrupted the worship and started beating the worshipers, the believers sustained minor injuries. The activists then ordered Christians present there to pray to Hindu gods and even burnt their bibles.

We request your prayers for the believers injured in the attack and for the authorities to take proper action against the culprits.

Your brothers and sisters in bondage of Christ,

Pastor Peter & Helen,

DAWN Ministries,

1-1-592/F 1st Floor, Gandhinagar

Hyderabad-500080, A.P.,India

Email: sjpeter_dawn@yahoo.com

Website: www.dawn-ministries.org