How much does it take to be Kind?

Frequently he says, "Thank you for being kind to me." 

His life has been hard...addiction, homelessness, crimes, imprisonment, years of mounting hardships brought about by life's circumstances, and now illness...

How much does it take to be kind? 

He has many questions about spiritual things... we look in the Bible for answers and sort out those that are not of God.  I can see a peacefulness growing in him!

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!

Laud Him, all you peoples!

For His merciful kindness is great toward us,

And the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!  PSALM 117

Mission, Jesus style calls us to be kind and compassionate to other human beings.  The Psalm above was in my mind this morning.  Merciful kindness - - Tender Mercy  

The English definition of "Mercy" is 1) kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly; 2) kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation.

"Kindness" means having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others, and wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others.

Questions flood my mind!  In what ways is God's grace communicated through merciful kindness?  A volume of conversations about grace and repentance come together ...and I wonder:

Does grace prompt repentance OR does repentance prompt grace?

I recall someone once sharing a seminary classroom experience that erupted when the lecturer didn't seem to be connecting with the students.  The professor drew a gigantic ARROW on the board, pointing straight down...

He then stood back and said: "If you understand that, you understand everything you need to know about what it means to be a Christian...who also happens to be a Lutheran."  And he left the room! 

Can you imagine that class of students  - - stunned - - staring at the ARROW - - and drawing conclusions from this bold statement?  Given the situation, a logical conclusion may have been "we're all going to hell."

The professor began the next class by drawing that same arrow on the board, and with the full attention of the class said:

God always comes down. 

God always comes down.There is never anything that we can ever do to turn that arrow around and make our way UP to God.God came down in Jesus.

And God still comes down, in the bread and in the wine,

in the water and in the fellowship of believers.

God ALWAYS comes down.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”  JOHN 6:35-40

It is grace that prompts repentance.
Grace - - unmerited favor.  

The moment we qualify it, it is no longer grace!
Love came down in the form of Jesus Christ and from His obedience, grace flowed.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  EPHESIANS 2:8-9

Without God's grace, each of us live in spiritual poverty.  The Lord calls those who have received His grace to share it with others, not as dogma, rather extended in various forms such as merciful kindness.  Kindness is a way of expressing Gods grace and love.

We love because he first loved us. 1 JOHN 4:19

As I live out the grace he's poured down on me...As I pour it out for others, my heart gains more capacity to grasp what He's done for me, and what He's doing through me.    

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  ROMANS 12:2-3

In what ways are you allowing God's grace to you flow to others through your kindness? 

How might these thoughts help you to be more intentional in showing merciful kindness,
a gentle nature, toward those who are in bad or desperate situations? 

The Work of Faith

When I read the Scriptures slowly enough, a word or a sentence that may have been missed when racing through, suddenly stands out!  

I had read these words just days ago:

When asked, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus replied: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  JOHN 6:28-29

I met someone this week who is on a journey to faith

...not yet a journey in faith.

He wandered in to a public place where there was a small Bible study going on.
At first, he sat a distance away, but then moved in to join those at the table.

He said: "Faith is hard!  It's hard to believe in someone that you cannot see."  

He asks questions.  

We look through the Scriptures to find words that speak to the questions. 

...my mind trails later in the book of John.

Jesus says: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."  JOHN 17:3

Work:  activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:
      a :  sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result
      b :  the labor, task, or duty that is one's accustomed means of livelihood
      c :  a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity

...and I say: "This is worthy work!"

These words come to my mind, though I don't speak them aloud, although recognizing what the Lord is doing in this time.  

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word about Christ. ROMANS 10:8-17

I ask, "How can I pray for you?"
He responds, "Pray for my understanding."

Mission, Jesus style calls us to be the bearers of Good News!  

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  COLOSSIANS 3:16

In what ways are you allowing the message of Christ to dwell in you richly, each and every day, knowing that in this way HE is nourishing your faith and preparing you to be the bearer of Good News!  This is the work of God!

 When your pitcher is full, it can't help but overflow and bless others!

To Whom Shall We Go?

Mission, Jesus style is not always an easy journey.  Even the Lord himself had many walk away, so today, should we really expect it to be any different?  

I believe that part of solving a complex problem comes, in part, by asking the right questions.  As I contemplate the task to which I've been called, these words are ringing in my mind this morning...

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”  JOHN 6:68

Jesus and the disciples had an incredible day!  They had fed over 5,000 people with only 5 loaves and 2 fish and had leftovers!  That night, the disciples witnessed Jesus walking on the water, and then Peter had his own water-walking experience!  

By morning the crowds that had been fed caught up with Jesus and wanted to know how they could do the works of God?  Jesus replied: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  He went on to teach them many things, including who he was...the Son of God.  

The Scripture says: "Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying: who can understand it?' ...From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." 

Then, Jesus asks the twelve: "Do you also want to go away?"

Simon Peter replies: Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.

I worship and serve in the Lutheran tradition.  In our liturgy, we sing these words... in my mind, the sound of the notes resonate as I read the words.  I hear them as a heartfelt expression from Peter to Jesus, that become my prayer to the Lord.  

I hear the question from two perspectives.  First...

Lord, you are the only one with words that lead to eternal life,

there is no other god that has given us these same promises.

There is no one else, so I'm staying right here with you!

Knowing what comes later in the narrative, I hear a second meaning... 

Lord, to whom are you sending me to share these words of eternal life?  

After Jesus finished the work he came to do, he left departing words with His disciples:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  MATTHEW 28:18-20

Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

ROMANS 10:15

May our reply always be:
Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.

Incredible Sunsets

In the last few weeks, the sunsets have been spectacular!

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

PSALM 19:1-4

We are bringing you good news,
telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God,
who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

ACTS 14:15

“This is what the Lord says—

    the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Concerning things to come,

    do you question me about my children,

    or give me orders about the work of my hands?

It is I who made the earth

    and created mankind on it.

My own hands stretched out the heavens;

    I marshaled their starry hosts."

ISAIAH 45:11-12

I can only stand in awe of the one who imagined
and fashioned such a marvelous creation!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.”  So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.  GENESIS 1:1-10

Cultivating Fruit on the Vine - Part 3

Several years ago, I planted a Trumpet Vine in my yard.  I had admired the beauty of the foliage and flowers in other people's yards and along the roadside.  When we made some landscaping changes, the opportunity came to plant one in my garden.  

The vine was only 12-15 inches in length when I purchased it.  With the soil cultivated, the vine was planted and fertilizer added...and we waited...and waited...and waited!  It took a few years to become well established, but once the flowers began to form...WOW!!!  


Multiple flower clusters grew, and when the time was just right, exquisite orange flowers bursted forth!  These beautiful orange clusters were pleasing to the eye! 

They attract Hummingbirds... what a sight to see!

  

As the vine grew, it needed support, so we added a small trellis.  The vine grew to be more hearty, so a stronger trellis was necessary. 

Then seed pods appeared! 

I never counted the years, but looking back, this is what I observed: the first season of growth was the branches, then the flowers appeared, the whole plant grew in stature and breadth, and is now multiplying all over my yard!  Every year I have to remove new vines that are establishing themselves at various locations in my gardens!

This vine serves as another reminder me of Jesus' concept of multiplication in making disciples, who make disciples.  First the vine and the branches must get established and grow to a certain level of maturity before producing the intended fruit or flower.  Once the fruit or flower appear, multiplication is bound to happen as a ripened faith starts dropping seeds - - multiplying everywhere!  

The children of God have been given a gift unlike any other - - the precious gift of faith!  As it grows, it produces sweet fruit and wonderfully fragrant flowers - - lives that are holy, touching the lives of other people with the fruit that the Spirit produces in us (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness).

Could the fruit be the holy impact that we make
on other people's lives - - like Spiritual Nutrition?

 ...preparing the human heart to receive the seed of faith?
...the Gospel.  

Could it be that by depositing the fruit of the Spirit
in other people's lives, they begin to desire
the "greater gifts" ...God's love?  

Satan's temptation in the garden created a desire for Adam and Eve to be like God, knowing good and evil.  Satan made deposits of doubt, introducing the thought that somehow God was holding out on them and prohibiting them from receiving the all the fullness possible...there was something more to be possessed in knowledge.  

Paul says there is no law against God's spiritual fruit, his love and the things that produces.  As we make deposits of God's Love in people's lives, it seems to invoke a restored desire for these things of God.  Not every deposit results in faith, however I believe it always cultivates the soil of the human heart for the next deposit.

When the seed of God's love finally takes root, it can then grow and mature, becoming ready to make a holy impact in the lives of others. This passage illustrates 4 generations of impact, as Paul speaks to Timothy:

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."  2 TIMOTHY 2:2

Paul is the first generation, Timothy is the second, reliable men are the third, and others are the fourth.  

One life, lived with God's holy purpose,
can make a tremendous impact! 

In the Morning

Without fail, the morning comes each day. As I awaken, I am learning to greet the Lord and lay my requests before Him.  

  In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait in expectation.  PSALM 5:3

...most importantly, 

I am learning to wait in expectation for his response.

For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.  PSALM 30:5 

I pray...Lord, teach me to know with unwavering confidence that when I am in relationship with you, I can anticipate your favor lasting for a lifetime (eternity) AND even though life can be difficult in the moments, rejoicing always awaits...

But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
  for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble.
Oh my Strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.  PSALM 59:16 


Strengthen me as I praise you Lord.




But I cry to you for help, O LORD;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.  PSALM 88:13 

Lord, teach me to give you my concerns every morning and let them not burden me throughout the day.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  PSALM 90:14 

Why do we struggle so much with contentment?  May I be reminded of your goodness each day and remain satisfied. 

It is good to praise the LORD

    and make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

    and your faithfulness at night,

to the music of the ten-stringed lyre

    and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;

    I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O LORD,

    how profound your thoughts!  PSALM 92:1 

Praise...how it can shape our attitude!  When I praise you, Lord, proclaiming your love each morning and your faithfulness each night...I am declaring my trust in You and Your promises. 

Enjoy: 

Learning to Listen

Language is an important component in relating to one another. Listening is the art of paying attention in order to understand.  As we have conversation with another person, we have the opportunity to truly "hear" what a person is saying.

Recently, someone I was speaking with posed this question:
How do you develop an IDEA around something that people are not even thinking about?  

This is where listening is vital!  When we truly listen, we make important connections with each other, understanding grows, and the possibility for incredible outcomes begin to exist!   

Listening is more than just receiving audible sound, it's a means of understanding.
Listening is paying attention to someone or something in order to hear what is being said.
Listening is to hear what someone has said and understand that it is serious, important, or true.

Our world and the space we live in is noisy

He says "Be still, and know that I am God."   PSALM 46:10

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  JEREMIAH 3:3

The concept of "still" is to slacken

...to become slower or less active, to slow down.  

I don't know about you, but I live at a pretty full pace!  I learned that I needed to be intentional about slowing down and finding quiet space where I could begin to listen, hear, and understand what the Lord is saying to me.  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. COLOSSIANS 3:2

The Lord is eager to share the incredible things he has planned for us, if we will only take the time to listen.  I think of Paul's words:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...  EPHESIANS 3:20

"Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."

Slow down and digest those words!  

There are moments when we get glimpses of the "more"

...sometimes only fleeting glimpses that could be missed 

if we aren't still enough to catch a glimpse of them.  

The Lord is asking us to perceive more that we can merely take in through our mortal senses.  But how do we do this?

Learning to listen to the voice of the Lord takes practice.  Elijah described the presence of the Lord as a still small voice or a gentle whisper 1 Kings 19:12.  How vital it is to find space and time to be quiet and still enough to to hear the Lord in His gentle whisper. 

Where is that for you?

My space is in the early hours of the morning, before anyone else is moving in my house.  At first, it was unfamiliar and I had no pattern, but day by day I began to know how to relate to the Lord, to know His voice, and to listen. 

A week ago in Can You Relate?, I wrote: "God's Word is not merely for information; it is His means of relating to us, establishing a means of conversation.  In the Bible, we have the Word of God, where His part of the conversation is provided, providing a means of grace where a relationship of understanding an trust can grow."  The Word of God speaks, if only we will listen.

Throughout the Bible, I find people who learned to listen to the Lord. They have much to teach us!  Moses is one of those people to whom God revealed himself in various ways.  I found 104 references in the Bible for the phrase "The Lord spoke to Moses."  It becomes evident that Moses' relationship with God involved a lot of listening.  

At the end of Moses' life, the Lord instructed him to remind the Israelites about the things of the Lord.  At one point Moses says. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.  DEUTERONOMY 29:29

In the next chapter, Moses says, " But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it."  DEUTERONOMY 30:14

And Paul writes:
However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
    the things God has prepared for those who love him
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10

Slow down, find quiet space, take time to meditate on the Word of God, listen and let His Holy Spirit reveal what He wants you to know.

Peace be with you!