Being Open-Handed

 Therefore, I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the LORD.” So, they worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 1:28

One of the most difficult lessons that parents have to learn is to hold their children with open hands because they belong to the Lord. Hannah is the ultimate picture of the “open-handed” parent. She had vowed that she would give her son back to the LORD “all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11). Hannah fulfilled her promise by bringing her son Samuel to live and serve in the tabernacle. The word “lent” used here means to give unconditionally in dedication to the Lord.

Therefore, I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

In Luke 2, we see another example of parents giving their child to the Lord when Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. In doing this, they were not only affirming God’s prior claim on the child’s life, but committing themselves to raise him in God’s ways. We as parents should follow the same example in dedicating our children to the Lord. How God chooses to use them is not for us to decide, but He allows us to partner with Him in directing our children toward His purpose.

Walk Away From...

 

1. Walk away from unnecessary DRAMA Proverbs 11:19

2. Walk away from PEOPLE who put you down Proverbs 26:20

3. Walk away from the table if RESPECT is no longer being served Exodus 23:1

4. Walk away from CONVERSATIONS that involve hate and gossip James 4:11

Modesty Lost

 

Many look at the Bible and think it is out-of-date or archaic. They do not see how a 'document' written thousands of years ago could apply to our lives today! While some of the Old Testament was given to the nation of Israel and doesn't apply to us today (laws concerning leprosy and food restriction etc.), there are Biblical principles that do apply.

Take, for example, the principle of modesty. 1 Timothy 2:9 says, "I also want the women to be modest and sensible about their clothes and to dress properly..." I am shocked sometimes at church by the immodesty of dress by some of our ladies. I think most ladies do not see wearing the latest fashion as being immodest because they have not been taught the principle of modesty at home or in the church. Romans 12:2 has something important to say to women about their style of dress. “Don’t live the way this world lives.... One interesting translation says, “And be not fashioned according to this world:”

Ladies, you may think that the way you dress is your business, and it does not affect anyone else, but nothing could be further from the truth. When women dress immodestly; another Biblical principle comes into play. Matthew 5:28 tells us “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” You may think that men should not look but men are created to be attracted to the opposite sex through their eyes and by you dressing provocatively, you violate another principle.

Galatians 6:2 tells us to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” By dressing immodestly, you create a burden for a brother who is trying to keep his thought pure. Philippians 4:8 Most of women's magazine have articles how to be sexy. My question is, why would a woman who is trying to live for Christ want to be sexy? Makes you wonder.

Receive vs Taking an Offering

 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income - - Proverbs 3:9

I have pastored several churches over 40 years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed ministering to a host of different people. I have lead churches from New York to Florida, each with different styles of worship. I have always endeavored to make worship meaningful and relevant.

But if a church has been in existence for a number of years, there is a danger of worship being routine: Opening hymns – pastoral prayer – offering – sermon- invitation. Nothing wrong with any of those things but I think how we do them should offer variety from time-to-time.

Take the offering for instance. Often after the pastor prays, he might ask the ushers to come forward to “take” the offering. I have wondered if the average person sitting in the pew really sees the offering as a vital part of worship. After all, when the offering is “taken”, the ushers usually go to the back of the church and disappear. An unchurched visitor, who knows little about church, may wonder where they 'took' the money!

I have always thought we could do the offering more meaningful by (1) Instead of saying we are “taking” an offering, we could say we are “receiving” an offering. (2) Instead of the ushers receiving the offering by coming to the front and going to the back and existing the auditorium, why not start from the back and come forward? When they get to the front, they come before the pastor, and he (or an usher) prays a prayer of dedication and offers it to God. They could even lift (optional) the offering heavenward to give the congregation a visual of what is actually taking place. Then they place the offering on the communion table or altar.

I think this approach would be more meaningful and Biblical.

Crime Stopper

 When a sentence against a crime isn’t carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes. – Ecclesiastes 8:11

The topic of the rising crime rate is on the news every evening. But politicians and judges continue to struggle on how to reduce crime. While I know the problem of crime has multitudes of causes; I personally believe people are no longer afraid of the judicial system. Judges and courts have been negligent to sentence repeat offenders for serious crimes. Shawn Laval Smith who had a history of mental illness and a lengthy criminal record that stretched from coast to coast, was charged with the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old woman working in a LA furniture store. If convicted, it will be interesting to see his sentence.

People no longer respect (or fear) authority. Romans 13:1 Children are disruptive in school because authority has been removed. People no longer respect police because police have their hands tied in restraining crime. Criminals no longer fear our courts.

Of 339 inmates, roughly 10 percent of the death-row population, were under sentence of death for twenty years or more at the end of 2005 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2005).

On October 3, 2018, seven law enforcement officers were shot, and five civilians were injured in Florence, South Carolina. Two of the officers were killed. Fredrick Hopkins was arrested and after three years is still awaiting trial. Who knows how long the trial will take? Then we will wait for the sentencing. And then we will wait years while he exhausts his appeals.

The Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees a defendant a speedy trail but what about a speedy trial for the victim's family?

Empty-Handed?

 

And when he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” –Luke 5:4

Do you remember the story in the book of Luke when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing? Seeing they were empty handed, Jesus told Simon Peter to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.

Now, you can hear the lack of excitement in Simon Peter’s response when he said, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” I can identify with Peter having fished all night and did not catch anything. And there is nothing more frustrating than someone giving a fisherman advice on how to catch fish! Especially from a carpenter (Jesus).

But still he threw the net out as Jesus told him to do. And a miracle happened! They caught so many fish that their two boats began to take on water!

So overwhelmed with what he saw, Simon Peter “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8).

You see, Simon Peter came to the end of himself, but Jesus was just beginning! In fact, Jesus gave him a new calling saying, “From now on you’ll be catching men.” 

Have you reached the end of yourself?  Has your toil left you empty-handed? Are you exhausted from working in your own strength? If so, then it’s time to fall at Jesus’ feet.

Yield to Jesus completely. Follow his direction. And he will restore you and prepare you to fulfill your calling in his kingdom.

The Next Step

 Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey. Psalm 109:105

If you ever go into a home improvement store, you will find a whole section of the store devoted to flashlights. Some lights advertise they have 1 – 20 million candle power and can light up objects a quarter of a mile away. It is a far cry from the “one candle” power of handheld lamps of biblical times; lighting up objects five feet away!

The writer of Psalms wrote that God's Word was a lamp to his feet. Psalms 119:105 In the mind of the Israelites, God's Word was something to be obeyed. As I obey God's Word where I now stand today, His Word gives me direction for my next step. There is no need to see a quarter of a mile down life's road if I am not going to obey and take the next step God has clearly shown me.

If you are trying to find direction in your life from God, obey what God has shown you today! Do that one day at a time and you will be able to look back and see your entire way has been illuminated,

Obedience is not a matter of seeing the whole path, only seeing the next step. Obedience increasing seeing.

Pridefully humble

 

If you’ve spent any time on social media, you see all types of posts. Some that make you laugh, some that make your eyes roll, and some that make you wonder how people get through life without killing themselves due to the craziness they post. But the one that stands out to me more than the rest is what I call the “Pridefully Humble.” This is the person that while he tries to give glory to God, just can’t help but put the focus on them. It looks a little something like this.

“Praise God for all He has done for me as He has helped me break the addiction I had to cigarettes. I’ve been smoking for over 20 years. But it's only taken me two weeks to break the habit. I asked the nurse, and it's the quickest she's ever seen.

We as humans have a hard time taking ourselves out of the picture. Matthew 6:3 tells us, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

,

You don’t see Jesus announcing from the street corner, “I’m going to the cross today. Look at me! I’m going to be beaten and whipped and pierced for your iniquities.” He didn’t tell people how many thorns there were, and you didn’t know how far he walked with the cross. The scripture said, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

If you are going to humble yourself to God and serve Him, then do just that. Stop bragging about all the things you’ve done. many he had handed out.

Christian, go to your cross and do it humbly.

The Three D's Of Destruction

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... John 10:10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... John 10:10

Most people have their own view of what being a Christian is. Their view is usually centered on their comfort. They live like Christianity is a playground; while the Bible says it's a battlefield. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

The idea of a real devil is not popular today but the Bible confirms his reality and his plan to destroy us. There is no peaceful coexistence! 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us "This is so that we won’t be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes." His scheme entails three major attacks:

Division Satan wants to divide us as a nation, socially, and spiritually. He gets us to focus on our differences rather than the things we can agree on. Most churches do not split over theological differences but rather over personal conflicts and power struggles. Satan knows if the church ever becomes unified; we would be unstoppable.

Distraction ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10.10b Satan wants to distract us from our mission; the salvation of people. Not to build a bigger church or be successful!

Discredit Satan know the world is watching our Christian walk. If he can get us to sin; it will discredit our witness and thereby lose our effectiveness in reaching the world for Christ. 

Though Satan is powerful; we can defeat him through God's power. "for he [Christ] who is in you is greater than he [Satan] who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... John 10:10

Most people have their own view of what being a Christian is. Their view is usually centered on their comfort. They live like Christianity is a playground; while the Bible says it's a battlefield. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

The idea of a real devil is not popular today but the Bible confirms his reality and his plan to destroy us. There is no peaceful coexistence! 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us "This is so that we won’t be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes." His scheme entails three major attacks:

Division Satan wants to divide us as a nation, socially, and spiritually. He gets us to focus on our differences rather than the things we can agree on. Most churches do not split over theological differences but rather over personal conflicts and power struggles. Satan knows if the church ever becomes unified; we would be unstoppable.

Distraction ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10.10b Satan wants to distract us from our mission; the salvation of people. Not to build a bigger church or be successful!

Discredit Satan know the world is watching our Christian walk. If he can get us to sin; it will discredit our witness and thereby lose our effectiveness in reaching the world for Christ. 

Though Satan is powerful; we can defeat him through God's power. "for he [Christ] who is in you is greater than he [Satan] who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

#Bi

Life's Handbook

 

Some time ago, a man asked me about an issue he was having in his life. After discerning the source of his conflict, I told him what the Bible said about his problem. He replied that I always brought the Bible into our conversations! I told him that the Bible was my source for how I should conduct my life. Jesus Himself said, "The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’” Matthew 4:4

I am thankful for the counsel of godly people Proverbs 11:14 but man's wisdom and insight are limited. They are finite and only God is infinite. Only God knows the end from the beginning.

Many people think God gave us His Word to restrain us from enjoying life but the opposite is true. Psalm 119:162 God knows that man left to himself cannot find fulfillment and purpose in life.

I recently purchased a new washing machine and with it came an owner's manual. To achieve the best results, I need to read AND follow the instructions. The instructions tell me how to use the machine for every kind of clothes and fabric.

God didn't leave us in the dark. God's Word speaks to every area of life: Marriage, parenting, finance, social responsibility, sex, etc. Too many times we ignore a product's owner's manual until we have problems and then we go back to the manual and see what we did wrong.

I believe that most of life's problems occur because we (intentionally or unknowingly) violate a principle in God's Word. So it behooves us to read and follow God's Word and thereby avoid any difficulty.

Rules Are To Be Broken?

 

I am impressed with the men that compete on the TV program The World's Strongest Man. But the world's strongest man was Samson. Judges 13-16 Samson's parents were childless when God told them they would have a son and that God would use him to deliver the nation of Israel from their enemy.

His parents dedicated him to the Lord with something called "a Nazirite vow." Throughout Samson's life, he was supposed to follow three basic rules:

1. Don't drink alcohol.

2. Don't touch anything dead.

3. Don't cut your hair.

Pretty simple, right? But you know people like Samsom who say: "Rules are made to broken." Samson first got us to use his God-given strength to do some pretty cool stuff. But that wasn't good enough for him. But Samson couldn't follow the simplest of rules. He did some pretty stupid things! Just like some of us! Even when we believe God has blessed us, we can turn on Him in an instant. What causes us to choose our own way, instead of what we believe is God's best for us?

Lust makes us think, I want it." Entitlement says I want it AND I deserve it." I deserve a little payback. I'm not getting my needs met at home.

When we start listening to those whispers - we're simply justifying our lust, instead of turning our hearts toward what we know God wants. James 4:1-3