Thoughtful Thursday: Church Feel Good

"There was a time when people went to church, heard the truth, and wept over their sins.

Today…people go to church, hear a motivational speech and ignore their sins."

Would you want to go to the doctor and have him say “Keep doing what you’re doing and have a nice day” and then send you on your way?  Well, of course not…we would be looking for a new doctor.  We go to the doctor because we know that there is something wrong or at least believe that there may be and we want him to tell us how to fix it.  We may not always receive the diagnosis or treatment that we like…but it is necessary if we want to have our health improve.

Why would we treat church any differently?  Sin is a sickness.  And just like most sicknesses, it  can be diagnosed and then subsequently treated.  

So why is it that most believers would rather attend a church where they hear a Sunday morning motivational speech and leave with nothing more than a false sense of “feel good”?  It seems that we’d rather be lied to so that we continue to feel good about the sinful things that we are doing, rather than hearing truth, recognizing, repenting, and forsaking those sinful things. 

Truth is hard.  Truth hurts.  But John 8:32 says “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Teen Tuesday: Meditating on God's Word

Written by Bro. Tim Minge

Life is noisy.  I’m not talking about planes flying so low over your roof they shake the roof or road construction that seems to be happening right outside your kitchen window.  Sometimes the busyness of life brings plenty of noise that distracts us from our purpose, our true priorities, or even God.  We find a solution to turning down the volume in life in the first part of Genesis 24:63.

“And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:” Gen 24:63

Isaac, Abraham’s son, lived a pretty unremarkable life compared to his father.  When you read about Isaac in the Bible, you won’t find too many exciting stories that keep you on the edge of your seat.  In fact, Isaac’s life might be considered a bit dry or boring to some.  It’s possible though that, what some view as a boring life, we might come to see as quieter living.  Genesis 24 reveals what I believe kept the noise out of Isaac’s life—meditation.

Meditation – At first mention, you might think of some guy sitting on the floor cross-legged, eyes closed, palms out, and quietly humming.  Actually, meditation is just simply thinking about something.  It is dwelling on anything, turning it over in your mind, and looking at it from different angles.  This type of meditating is found throughout the Bible.  In fact, God wants us to meditate, and He gives us some specific topics on which to focus our minds. One of those, and possibly the most important, is God’s Word.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  Joshua 1:8

Here Joshua commanded the children of Israel to think about God’s Law all the time, day and night.  He instructed them that in doing so, it  would help them to obey God and guarantee prosperity and success.  Look what King David said about meditating:

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."  Psalm 1:2 

"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."  Psalm 119:97 

Remember when you received a love letter from that special someone?  Did you read it once, set it down, and go about your day?  Of course not!  If you’re like me, you probably read it through a few times, studied the choice of words, and tried to “read between the lines” to see what was really meant.  You may have even sniffed it to smell the scent of sweet perfume!  Why not read God’s Letter the same way?  (Sniffing doesn’t really apply.)

There are many ways to put this into practice.  Pick out a verse in the morning and just think about it for a few minutes throughout the day.  Jot down an encouraging or motivating verse on a card and stick it in your pocket.  Each time you’re reminded it’s there, take it out and reread it.  You can even get a mobile app that picks a verse for you each day.  However you choose to think about God’s words, just do it.  Meditating, or thinking, leads to understanding, and when we understand what God expects, we can more easily obey Him.

"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."  Psalm 119:99 

Try meditating on God’s Word today.  You don’t have to contort your body, burn incense, or even chant anything.  Isaac meditated alone in a field (Gen 24:63).  David meditated on his bed late at night (Psalm 63:6).  You can meditate in your bedroom, on a park bench, or on a walk around the neighborhood.  Just pick a Scripture, get alone to remove distractions, and think. 

Monday's Message: Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward Christian Soldiers 

(Source) 

       This hymn was written by a pastor. At that time, the custom in town, during celebrations, was for the children to march from one town to another with banners. The pastor wanted the children to sing a hymn as they went. Since nothing was suitable, he wrote one himself—late the night before the march!

       He wrote more than 60 books in the British Museum, but was most remembered as the author of “Onward Christian Soldiers.”

 

Onward, Christian Soldiers

1           Onward, Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before;

Christ, the royal Master,

Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle,

See His banners go!

2           At the sign of triumph,

Satan’s host doth flee;

On, then, Christian soldiers,

On to victory;

Hell’s foundations quiver

At the shout of praise:

Brothers, lift your voices,

Loud your anthems raise!

3           Crowns and thrones may perish,

Kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus

Constant will remain;

Gates of hell can never

’Gainst that church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise,

and that cannot fail.

4           Onward, then, ye people,

Join our happy throng;

Blend with ours your voices

In the triumph-song;

Glory, laud and honor

Unto Christ the King,

This through countless ages

Men and angels sing.

Chorus  Onward, Christian soldiers!

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Family Friday: I Still Do

I Still Do

            Romance when you are dating is easy to define:  the guy brings the girl flowers, the girl bakes his favorite dessert, they stroll along the beach in the moonlight.  These things are obvious acts of romance, and they are all a fun part of showing affection.  Many times the person planning the romantic moment will put a lot of time and planning into it and looks forward to pleasing their “other half”.   Fast-forward ten or fifteen years into the marriage; what in the relationship would be defined as romance?

            Romance is actually found more in the thoughts of the couple towards each other.  A husband washing dishes for his exhausted wife is actually somewhat romantic, because he is putting her care and comfort before his own.  A wife fixing her husband’s favorite meal is romantic because she is considering his likes and enjoyment over her own (especially if she doesn’t like the meal J).  The seemingly little things our spouse enjoys that we notice without being told, then do them, express romance.

            Daily romance does not require money, but it does require time and thought.   Occasional “big” shows of romance are a nice reminder of how much your spouse means to you: things like flowers, an anniversary trip, little gifts “just because”.  Those things are special, but the daily romance is what will make you want to say “I still do” many years down the road.

            There are many aspects of marriage that make a good marriage into a great one, and the first on the list is putting God first above your spouse.  With that solid foundation,  work on putting your spouse above yourself.  Daily look for ways to make the other’s job or load just a little lighter.  This daily romance goes far towards keeping your relationship strong.

Thoughtful Thursday: Thankful for Sundays

Written by Brooke Williams, Missionary wife serving in Ghana

Sundays come and go. Some Sundays I'm not so thrilled to get up, get bags packed and make the journey to church. Some Sundays I want ever so much to have an excuse to stay home, for I don't want to brave the heat with a tired 18 month old, a rambunctious 3 year old, an energetic 5 year old.

Some Sundays I'm just plain tired and spending three or more hours immersing myself in another culture and language, walking up and down the mountain.  Dealing with tired, hungry children is quite daunting and I simply lack the desire to do it all again, but .... I go.  Oh what joy thrills my soul and makes me ever so happy that I did and that I get to go to church here! Happy faces greet us when we arrive at the schoolroom that is the holding place for our services.  We all take turns making our rounds and shaking hands in the friendly Ghanaian way. The room has been well cleaned and set up prior to our arrival. We choose our seats and the service begins, as Nicholas leads us in song. The sound of people lifting their voices in praise to God stirs my being.  We sing, loudly and wholeheartedly; we pray, quietly and reverently. A different language than my mother tongue is spoken here, but the Lord understands and it is precious to His ears I'm very sure. We applaud those that are receiving their baptism certificates and the enthusiasm strengthens my weary mind. 

We sing some more and take up the offering. I watch dark hands placing their hard-earned coins in the basket. This is their church and they are proud to honor God with what little they have. Announcements are made and more songs are sung.  The last one is slow and prayerful. This is my cue.  My husband will begin his message soon. I go with the young children outside to our place under the extended roof. We sit at our benches and color Bible story pictures, all sharing the few crayons I have brought. No scribbling will be seen here. Even the youngest ones take great care and time to make their picture look beautiful. They are careful with the crayons, they don't want to break them. One by one they bring their finished pictures to me.  Their eyes look up to mine and search my face to see if I am pleased. I look at them and my heart melts... 

"Suffer the little children to come unto me...", Jesus said, and I believe I understand why. I tell them their picture is lovely and that they have done well. My Twi is broken, but they understand and huge smiles light their faces. We cut hearts out of construction paper and one by one we write their names on them...Florence, Blessing, Matilda, Samuel, Prince, Adua, Jonathan, David.  Jesus loves each and every one. We talk about giving our hearts to Jesus. Soon, it seems, church is over and we are saying goodbye to one another. My family is given a bunch of plantains and a bag of palm nuts as gifts. After most everyone has left, I find a place to sit down. I'm hot, tired and hungry but I must wait for my husband to finish a meeting. I curl my legs up under me and look around. The village is quiet and peaceful. My children are playing happily with some of the children.  They race from tree to tree; they play tag; they toss rocks across a line drawn in the dirt.  My youngest chases a baby chick while two older ladies watch him and laugh. The young teenage girls from our church come and sit by me and we talk about life. A lady brings us oranges to refresh ourselves and I'm so thankful for I am very thirsty. We eat; we joke; we laugh as juice runs down our chins. Little Mary brings flowers and puts them in my hair and I feel like a princess.

Days like this make all the tough times so worth it....am I ever so glad I didn't miss this day! 

Yes, I'm very thankful for this Sunday...very, very thankful!

We Pray Wednesday - People of Prayer in the Bible: Daniel

People of Prayer in the Bible: Daniel

We read in the Bible about men who had great prayer relationships and wish that we could have the type of relationship that men in the Bible had with God.  Daniel is one of those men.  As you read the life of Daniel, there are several things to notice about his walk with God.  As we read we can follow some steps that can allow us to have a better prayer relationship with God.

1.  He prayed in a foreign place.

Daniel was taken captive as a young man from everything that was familiar to him.  He went to a strange place with strange people and strange customs, yet while he was here he still followed what he had been taught to do in Jerusalem.  This was to stand for his beliefs and pray to Jehovah.  Many times, we as Christians can feel as if we are living in a world with foreign practices and ideas.  Do we still follow what God’s Word tells us to do and pray?   The idea may seem foreign in today’s society, but Daniel stood for God and prayed even though it was foreign.  Oh, that we would have more Daniels in today’s world.

2.  He blessed God for answers to prayer.

Daniel had a difficult situation come up when he was in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar.  The king had a dream and wanted his wise men to interpret the dream for him.  The problem was that he could no longer remember the dream.  When the wise men could not interpret the dream, or tell him what it the dream was, he rashly ordered them all to be killed.  When Daniel found out that he was on the list to die, he begged the king for time to get the answer from God.  Daniel, and his three friends, prayed and begged God for His mercy in this matter.  When God answered, he immediately spent time thanking God for the answer.  The unusual thing is that God does not record his prayer in the Bible, but recorded his thanksgivings to God for the answer.  How often do we pray for something and when God answers, we fail to thank him for the answer to the prayer?

3.  He had a habit of praying daily.

Daniel has now lived in Babylon for almost 70 years, when a decree comes from Darius the king that no one could ask a petition of any god or man except the king for 30 days.  When Daniel hears this, he goes into his house, into his room, and opens his windows and prays like he has done many times before the decree.  Was Daniel disobeying the command of the king?  No, he was following God’s law over man’s law.  Not when it was convenient or when it suited what he wanted to do, but like he had done so many times before this.  Do we have a habit of praying daily?  If a law was passed that we could no longer pray, and we continued to pray as we had done before it was passed, how long would they have to wait to catch us?  Hours? Days? Weeks?  We should daily go to God and bring our praise, confession, and request to Him.  One of the reasons that the law was passed, was because they knew that there was no other way to find fault with Daniel.

4.  He continued to pray until God gave the answer.

At the end of the book of Daniel, he realizes that the prophecy concerning the children of Israel is about to take place.  The children of Israel are about to return to Jerusalem after being in captivity for 70 years.  He prays and confesses the sin of himself and his people and makes supplication to God to let the children of Israel return.  While he is praying, God sends his answer IMMEDIATELY to Daniel.  Two chapters later, he prays to God and God does not send an answer for 3 weeks!  We seem to think that God is a genie and when we pray to Him, He should answer immediately.  Sometimes He does.  Sometimes He doesn’t answer until He is ready.  Will we continue to pray until the answer comes or do we pray for a little and if God does not answer our way and our time, we just handle it by our self?  When God handles things in His timing, He is never late. 

Monday's Message: A Mighty Fortress is our God

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

(Source)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany. That date was sometimes called the “4th of July of Protestantism.” It symbolized the start of the Protestant Reformation.

And the single most powerful hymn of the Protestant Reformation Movement was Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” based on Psalm 46. This hymn became the battle cry of the people, a great source of strength and inspiration even for those who were martyred for their convictions. Its majestic and thunderous proclamation of our faith is a singing symbol of the reformation.

Inspired by Psalm 46, Luther caught up in the hymn the very essence of faith, and the fervor and flavor of patriotism which he found in the Psalm.

This hymn has been translated into practically every known language and is regarded as one of the noblest and most classic examples of Christian hymnody.

The first line of this national hymn of Protestant Germany is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of the great reformer at Wittenberg,

Luther had strong convictions about the use and power of sacred music.  Once he wrote, “I would allow no man to preach or teach God’s people without a proper knowledge of the use and power of sacred song.”

 

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

(1) A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe-

His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not His equal.

(2) Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing,

Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing.

Doth ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He-

Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

(3) And though this world with devils filled, Should threaten to unto us.

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him-

His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:

One little word shall fell him.

(4) That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also-

They body they may kill; God's truth abideth still:

His kingdom is forever.