IF - Small words can have a big impact!

Whatever happens, conduct Yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ... 
stand firm...
without being frightened in any way... 

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ
not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him...

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ,
if his love has made any difference in your life,
if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you,
if you have a heart,
if you care— 

then do me a favor: 

Agree with each other,
love each other,
be deep-spirited friends.
Don’t push your way to the front;
don’t sweet-talk your way to the top.
Put yourself aside, and
help others get ahead.
Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 

He had equal status with God 

but didn't think so much of himself 

that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

Not at all. 

When the time came, 

he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! 

Having become human, he stayed human.

It was an incredibly humbling process. 

He didn't claim special privileges. 

Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life 

and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.  PHILLIPIANS 1:27 - 2:11 MSG

Jesus set aside every advantage for the well-being of human kind.  

In what ways do I need to set myself aside and help others get ahead?

Lord, move us to be unselfish long enough to lend a helping hand.

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe

Bringing out the Best in People

Before Jesus asked the disciples to follow him, 

he did something miraculous.  He helped them 

catch two boatloads of fish!

Jesus brings out the best in people!

Those Jesus called as his first disciples
were discouraged after a night of failure. 

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.  He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  LUKE 5:1-7

Before Jesus invited these men to follow him,
he brought out the best in them. 

Using something familiar, He got their attention and showed them what could be possible.  

THEN, he invited them to follow.

Jesus says: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  JOHN 10:10

Living in the way of Mission, Jesus Style, calls those who know the love of the Savior
to work towards bringing out the best in people.  

• Helping children learn and succeed 
• Assisting elderly with tasks they can no longer do 
• Mentoring teens or budding professionals 
• Coaching 
• Helping resettled refugees learn the ways of a new country 
• Assisting in financial literacy or parenting classes

When you have difficulty having compassion for someone, take a moment to imagine them as a three year old child... hopeful for their life to come.  

Even the most heinous person was once a child.  God's work is good!  It is the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Jesus came that each and every person would have life!

David writes in Psalm 139:

     For you created my inmost being;

         you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

     I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

         your works are wonderful,

         I know that full well.

Each person is wonderfully made!  Jesus had compassion the shortcomings and recognized the potential in people.  His perspective for you, me, and the people in our midst is just the same today.  

Take a step of faith and spend some time bringing out the best in someone who needs your help!  If each one reaches one, imagine the difference could be made!

Gushing Waters

 

                     Gushing water... 

More than enough...

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  JOHN 4:13-14

Welling up... Leaping forth... 

Gushing! 

A person can only go about 3 days without water before dehydration begins to set in.  

Jesus speaks of himself as living water that quenches the soul and springs forth without limit.  

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
 for God gives the Spirit without limit. JOHN 3:34

This water nourishes us with the pure love of God.

Are you drinking some every day?

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” JOHN 7:37-38

Nutrition for Life

Nutrition fuels our bodies so that they function well.  

Ask any marathon runner or triathlete about nutrition. While reading the training journal of a friend, I was struck by the reference to the word "nutrition."  He was reflecting on strategy for a particular race and writes:

"talked to a coach who told me

it took him 7 races to really dial in his nutrition..."

In the race of life, how carefully are we paying attention to spiritual nutrition?  

Life can be challenging!  If we look upon it like a marathon, what is in our daily training schedule that is equipping us for the race every single day?

What are you doing to dial into the spiritual nutrition 

that will sustain you in all of life's circumstances?

Knowing Jesus was the Son of God, the devil tempted him in the wilderness after Jesus had fasted 40 days and 40 nights and was hungry.  In times of trial and challenge and rejoicing, Jesus drew from God's words, recorded in the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophets. 

 The tempter came to him and said,
“If you are the Son of God,
tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written:
‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

When we know the Word of God, it speaks to us, helping to make sense of life.  

Be still and know that I am God.  PSALM 46:10

For the Word of God is living and active  HEBREWS 4:12

Take time every day to feed your body and soul with the Word of God!

The Power of Spoken Words

When praying for someone, with them, I often hear these words: "Thank you for your prayers." 

For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 

ROMANS 10:16b-17

When we speak to the Lord of Creation on behalf of someone, something happens.  Words in the Lutheran Liturgy come to mind: "He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy."  How powerful it is to have someone express intercede for their burdens, or give thanks for their joy!

It is the Lord who spoke the Word

It is His People who give voice to that Word

When we pray for another, when we speak God's Words of promise, we remind or help others know of His love and faithfulness.  We can't always solve someone else's problems or take their burdens from them, but we can always pray.  

Mother Teresa said: "Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God."

Living in a practice of mission, Jesus style, prayer is our #1 go to conversation.  Jesus lived in an intentional rhythm of prayer.  Paul urges us to: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18  Imagine what God could do if we actually did that!