What is Your Passion?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

I give you a command in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, the One who will judge the living and the dead, and by his coming and his kingdom: Preach the Good News. Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching, because the time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear. They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. But you should control yourself at all times, accept troubles, do the work of telling the Good News, and complete all the duties of a servant of God.                   2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NCV)

I read a blog last night written by a woman that I have known since she was a young teenager. She was testifying about how she had made some plans for her life and two weeks before she was start a new career, God stepped in and said, “No, this is what I want you to do”. Now, three months later, she is in her passion, heart-called job and knows it is the ministry that has been promised and placed into her heart. (Leah Taylor Ministries)

I want to speak to every person who is reading this devotion (including me). LISTEN UP!

God has placed a passion in each of us for a Kingdom service. What is it that makes you joyous and excited? Is it organizing? Is it a sport? Is it art? Is it teaching? Listening and helping people to heal? Let me tell you about a couple people I know who have that kind of joy.

My brother and sister-in-law are teachers. He teaches English and she is in elementary ed, primarily kindergarten. They are retired now – but are still doing what they love. They teach their grandchildren. He has been volunteering in a GED program. She has a book club and Bible study group. They use their God-given talents to serve, just like Jesus did.

What is your passion? Once you recognize and admit what that is, ask God how He wants you to use it in His Kingdom.

God has given gifts/talents that enable us to do that service with joy. I have two friends who are very talented in art. One of them has sold her art in shows around the Southeast. She also is part of the art worship in her church. She literally paints a picture during worship that speaks just like a teaching or a song. Just awesome! Friend #2 is a missionary in a foreign country. She is also teaching art in a school. She is able to build relationships with people who would not have normally been open to a relationship. And she is teaching her students Kingdom principles by her example.

Do not dismiss a possibility or opportunity to use your passion because you think you might fail! God will give you what you need or put people in your path to teach and mentor you. Are you open to His opportunities? Do you trust God to put you in a place to succeed and provide you with paths and people to teach and equip you.

We can live our whole life on this earth, do good ‘stuff’, and miss what God had planned for us. Whether you are 20 or 70 and reading this devotion, God is not done with you yet. Retired? Where in the Bible did the disciples retire from sharing what they knew about Jesus? There are opportunities in small groups, vacation groups, dinner parties to encourage people and share (in a non-preaching way) the joy and courage and strength that you know because you have a growing relationship with God. If you were a teacher or a coach and loved it, don’t stop now! Ask God how you can serve Him.

He died for me. Jesus did not have to do that! He doesn’t need me to be ‘happy’ or provide something He needs. He is giving me the opportunity to participate with Him in His Kingdom plan! I don’t want to miss that!

I have been blessed in my life to know so many young people who are gifted in music, sports, mentoring, preaching, teaching, writing, art, – so many gifts. Take that passion and recognize it for what it is – a gift from God that can be used to build a Kingdom that will never end. Let no one stop you. If the fellowship you are in isn’t able to use you, then ask God to send you to one who can. Call or write me. Together we’ll find the place God has waiting for you.

The More I Seek You by Zach Neese (2007) Sung by Kari Jobe 

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Disciples Are Together

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 
It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard,
running down Aaron’s beard onto his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD has appointed the blessing— life forevermore.       Psalm 133 (HCSB)

Lectionary texts this week: Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31

The lectionary texts this week are about living in harmony and unity in our groups of Believers. How are we doing on that? Not so good. How can we do better?

Get on God’s agenda. This point is problematic as I have heard people in church board meetings “vigorously discuss with red faces” how their idea was given to them by God while anyone else who disagreed with them was opposing God. So how do we know God’s agenda? Praying together is always a good start. Then looking at the suggestions or plans and checking to see if they line up with God’s character and mission for His Kingdom. Then I must ask if the idea is in line with what God has called our fellowship to do. Every fellowship has a primary “call” just as each of us has a “call” on our life.

Look to the interests of others. Sometimes I need to support a person or group in what God has called them to do. It may be my call to be an encourager and teacher. Jesus never lost sight of His personal mission (salvation) but every day He was teaching and leading people toward knowing and living their own mission in God’s Kingdom.

Rejoice about Kingdom events. It is so hard to keep God’s “Big Picture” of discipleship in the forefront when most of our time in worship, newsletters, and statistics are about how the church is doing as a business. Are we meeting budget? Are we maintaining members? Do members get “recognized” for their giving and service? Are we maintaining our buildings and land?

The lectionary texts tell me that I should be about delivering God’s love through what I say, how I give to and serve others, and show others the way to a relationship with Jesus. The message is to be about repentance and grace because we cannot grasp the depth of God’s grace without acknowledging our sin and need to repent. Our fellowships are to be like Jesus’ hospitals that promote healing and restoration of those who come sick and dying. And when they are healed –

[Jesus said,] “In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to change.”            Luke 15:7 (NCV)

Our worship, our church school classes, small group meetings, bulletins and newsletters should proclaim our rejoicing of those who have been healed and saved by Jesus. “Dinner on the grounds” isn’t for celebrating the past but celebrating what God is doing now.

People Get Ready Jesus is Coming by Crystal Lewis (2009)

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The Desire of my Life

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.                       1 Corinthians 15:3-11 (NLT, my emphasis)

I hope when I have moved from this life that my children and grandchildren and those I have loved, including you guys in this devotion group, will know that I passed along to you the “important stuff” of what God has shared with me.

My relationship with Jesus is the single most important “thing” in my life. What Jesus did for me – coming from being totally God to also be totally man so that He could provide the only atonement that would allow me to live with my LORD forever – is the beginning of the mystery that I live in every day.

It’s a miracle. Why would You care about me, LORD? (Psalm 8:4) I keep messing up and You keep staying with me to pick me up and dust me off and teach me more. Like a perfect parent, You want nothing more than for me to succeed in the plan that You have for me. You give me whatever talents I need. You encourage me.

It’s a depth of love. If I live to be over 900 years like Methuselah, I do not believe I will ever grasp the depth and breadth of God’s love. Every time I turn around, there is something new to learn. Open God’s Word at any page and there is another facet of how God loves us, His children. If I think that God can’t possibly “take me back” and love me, read about Hosea and his wife, Gomer. The gospels will share with me the words of Jesus to His disciples so that I know examples of how to serve.

It’s to be shared. Jesus not only told me to “Go!” but He showed me how to “Go!” and what to do as I was going. He said that He was there not to receive glory for Himself but to point everyone to the Father (John 8:28-29). Paul rightly says that Jesus and His atonement through the Cross is seen as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18) because it is about sacrifice and submission. For me it is not about debating or arguing a person into a relationship with Jesus but living my life in a open way that others might want the courage and strength and love and joy that I have found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus was seen by over 500 people as a risen LORD. And from that core group of believers the Word has spread throughout our known world. And yet there are so may who still do not know the truth of who Jesus is. The “unvarnished Truth”.

This is My Desire by Reuben Morgan, sung by Michael W. Smith 

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SURPRISE!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.          John 20:1 (CEV)

I was blessed yesterday as I worshiped and remembered my risen LORD. It was during a time called “The Children’s Sermon” that my heart was pierced and my spirit quickened. Let me just say that the woman who leads the children’s ministry is gifted in a way that every fellowship would pray they would have such a leader. Besides her joy and energy, she is gifted to bring Scripture to contemporary language and at the level child and adult alike understand. As children passed by her on the way back from communion, I observed almost every child gave her a shy smile, touched her hand, or even gave her a hug. So today, I am going to share with you what I heard and learned during this time.

There were many surprises happening on this Sunday morning 2000 years ago. The women came to the tomb bringing spices to preserve Jesus’ body from decay and its smell. A stone had been placed over this cave-like tomb and the women wondered who was going to move the stone for them. SURPRISE! The stone was moved aside and the tomb open.

They probably slowly and cautiously looked inside the tomb, uncertain as to what they might find. Would Jesus be lying there, desecrated by some evil person? SURPRISE! Jesus wasn’t there.

SURPRISE! Jesus may not have been there but there was – two angelic beings (Luke 24, Matthew 28) who told them not to go looking for Jesus among the dead because He was alive!

By the way, when the children’s minister began her story, she popped up in front of the children and said, “SURPRISE!!!” Apparently at one of the services, she so surprised one child that he/she immediately began to cry and said, “I want my mommy!”

When Jesus comes into my life, there are going to be some surprises. The night that I made my commit to Jesus, I was shocked to feel – not condemnation – but an incredible feeling that I was truly and unconditionally loved. SURPRISE!

I began to read the Bible voraciously and worship songs – even the old hymns like “Amazing Grace” and “The Old Rugged Cross” would make me weep as I sang. I no longer sang about my LORD but sang to Him. SURPRISE!

My children went from fighting and hating each other to loving siblings who even read the Bible together. SURPRISE!

My life did not suddenly become perfect. My father died. I was divorced a year later. And I lost many friends who didn’t understand the change in my life and didn’t want to get too close to “catch” what I had! SUPRISE!

Jesus disrupted my life. He is loving and very upfront about His desire to have a growing, intimate relationship with me. But Jesus says that loving God with all that I am and loving myself and my neighbor are the greatest commands from which everything else about being His disciple comes from. To me that means that the priorities of my life and how I live my life should reflect that. That is a daily journey as I seek Jesus’ directions and the Spirit’s guidance.

Jesus is alive and present in my life. That too is a SURPRISE to this ordinary Midwest woman who is lived by the extraordinary God.

Rise Again by Dallas Holm 

Posted in John | 1 Comment

Above All

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.       Isaiah 53:3-7 (NLT)
Lectionary Texts for Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42

Yes, there are some pretty lengthy passages for today. But when I remember how much Jesus did for me on that Friday, I think I can give Him some time.

As I read through this passage of Isaiah, it’s hard to read with tears in my eyes. Would I recognize Jesus if I passed by Him on the street? He wouldn’t have a yellow halo over his head. He probably wouldn’t look like the sun-streaked brown-haired, blue-eyed guy I’ve seen in so many pictures. He would be ordinary.

Jesus was also God. Fully God. Fully man. The perfect sacrifice that would satisfy, atone, for my sins. Every disgusting word that was hurled at Him, He took in silence for me. Every lash of the whip, He took in silence for me. A humiliating Roman crucifixion was for me. Jesus could have satisfied the sacrifice in an easier way. But I have an example when I am humiliated, insulted, falsely accused, or even persecuted as some are in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Jesus walked that path so I would never have to blaze any trails. Jesus has always walked before me.

Psalm 22 begins with the words that Jesus cried from the cross. It goes on to testify that difficult trials may come into my life but God is faithfully by me for every step. When seemingly random, horrific things happen and I wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” I can know that He is right here.

Hebrews reminds me that right now I have been given a great blessing. I can come into the Holy of Holies and sit down and talk to God. Am I worthy? No. But I am covered with the Blood atonement of Jesus so the Father sees me as a Blood-bought child. When I cry out to Him, He hears me just as He heard Jesus from the Cross.

Take time today to find a quiet place and meditate on Jesus. Read these passages, listen and/or sing songs, and just be quiet and listen. Jesus gave His all. Choosing to give my time to Him – blesses His heart and tangibly shows my love for Him. Above all else in my life.

Above All by Paul Baloche and Lenny Leblanc, sung by Michael W. Smith 

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LORD, I Remember

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

“When you eat the meal, be dressed and ready to travel. Have your sandals on, carry your walking stick in your hand, and eat quickly. This is the Passover Festival in honor of me, your LORD.

That same night I will pass through Egypt and kill the first-born son in every family and the first-born male of all animals. I am the LORD, and I will punish the gods of Egypt. The blood on the houses will show me where you live, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Then you won’t be bothered by the terrible disasters I will bring on Egypt.

Remember this day and celebrate it each year as a festival in my honor.”         Exodus 12:11-14 (CEV)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.                    1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (HCSB)

Lectionary texts for Holy Thursday: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31-35

Tradition brings us to remembering today as when Jesus shared a last meal with His disciples. I wondered today about what I would say to my family if we were seated around a table together for the last time in this world, knowing we would be separated for some undetermined period of time.

God is faithful. Trust Him. God told the Israelites to never forget the night He “passed over” them. It’s hard to imagine but then I, too, had a “Passover” night and I admit, that I have forgotten it on occasion. I’m definitely not proud of that. God does something spectacular like saving my life for all eternity – and I “forget”. (Excuse me, I need to take some time to talk to God.) The Israelites remembered through ritual. Jesus came and showed me how to remember through love.

Your relationship with Him is more important than anything. I hope my children learn from my mistakes. And I made a mistake in my 20’s and 30’s where my career and my needs were more important than my relationship with God. Those needs, not surprisingly, weren’t met and so I wasn’t very happy. When I put my relationship with God first, those needs will be met and the rest, will fall into place. Jesus promised that (Matthew 6:33).

Worship the LORD together. It’s great when members of a blood family are also members of God’s family. That doesn’t mean that they all worship at the same church or to the same music or agree on all points of theology. It means that they all love the LORD and know that Jesus is their Savior. Sitting around the table together, asking the blessing, breaking bread together, and sharing about what God has done and is doing in our lives. That’s a family celebration!

Tell your children and grandchildren what God has done for you. Psalm 78, among others, encourages me to share about the LORD with my children and grandchildren. It may be the introduction to God that they will remember when I am long gone from their lives. John said in Revelation that we overcome the “accuser” with the word of our testimony. I definitely want my children and grandchildren to be overcomers. I want to be an example and teacher to them.

LORD, I Give You My Heart by Michael W. Smith 

 

 

 

 

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Sitting Down with Judas

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

After Jesus had said these things, he was deeply troubled and told his disciples, “I tell you for certain that one of you will betray me.” They were confused about what he meant. And they just stared at each other…

Jesus answered, “I will dip this piece of bread in the sauce and give it to the one I was talking about.”

Then Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Right then Satan took control of Judas. Jesus said, “Judas, go quickly and do what you have to do.”                   John 13:21-22, 26-27 (CEV)

Lectionary texts for Holy Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9, Psalm 70, Hebrews 12:1-3, John 13:21-32

I confess to you that of all the people spoken about in the Bible, I have found Judas to be the most troubling. For most of my life, I was taught that Judas was a condemned man. He betrayed the Savior and committed “the unpardonable sin” of suicide. I found this “theology” to be very troubling because of two points: 1) Judas seems to have had no “free will” in his role. 2) If suicide is the unpardonable sin, then it seems God is giving Judas the eternal damnation consequence, not Satan who entered in.

I’ve learned through my own study and the commentary of some smart people that John’s gospel has specific characteristics that separate it from the other three gospels. John wants to keep our focus on God and His sovereign authority. He is willing to sacrifice some details like time lines in order to make a point. There is also a sense of “destiny” in the lives of the people. Judas was “destined” to betray. As John aged, he may have seen God and “free will” as more compatible as Revelation certainly speaks of choices and different outcomes for those choices.

So where does all of that leave me on the subject of Judas? With God and His unapologetic love for His children.

For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 (HCSB)

Judas shows me the how satan and his scummy minions harass and confuse us as they whisper half-truths and outright twisted lies into our minds, our spirit. Matthew tells me in his gospel that Judas is “filled with remorse”, repentant, when he sees Jesus condemned (Matthew 27:1-10) and attempts to give back the money that the church leaders had given him. They refuse and so Judas stumbles out, finds a tree and hangs himself in despair. “I have killed the Son of God! I can’t be forgiven!” Now I don’t know about you, but there was a time that I thought I was too dirty with sin to ever be forgiven by GOD! And yes, I had broken every one of God’s commands so I was dirty! But Jesus did not give up on me and He broke through and showed me depth of His love to take even my sins upon Himself and die on the cross so that I could be clean. Would Jesus give up on one He had spent His ministry time with? Would throwing a rope over a tree branch for the purpose of ending torment stop Jesus from stepping in the gap and saying, “No, Judas! I forgive you!” Remember that Jesus washed Judas’ feet too (John 13:1-11) even though He knew that it was Judas who had sold Him for 30 pieces of silver. It was satan that Jesus rebuked when Peter tried to dissuade Him from going to Jerusalem (Matthew 16:23). It was Peter that Jesus reinstated after denying Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75, John 21:15-19).

As a hospice nurse, I have attended many deaths. I tell you that God is not limited by verbal speech, disease, confusion, or comas when it comes to communicating with His children. We don’t really know what happens between God and His children in those final moments. Surely the LORD would love for us to spend our lives here on earth serving and following His plan for our lives. But what matters is the decision that we make, even if it is a “last minute” decision. It is eternity that is on God’s mind.

So I believe that I will see Judas one day at a wonderful banquet table and he will share with me how Jesus didn’t give up on him just like He didn’t give up on me.

Mercy Seat by Mark Caruthers, Steve Harpole, & Steve Richardson, sung by Vicki Yohe 

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You Never Leave Me

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right.
Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free.
Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!

My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.
And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.         Psalm 71:1-9 (NLT)

Lectionary texts for Holy Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 71:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, John 12:20-36

I have written in my Bible next to this psalm “My Birthday Psalm”. As I grow older, the psalm continues to grow in its meaning. I wonder what it is that has brought on more of a dependence on God.

God’s extravagant love. Without a doubt, the #1 answer. God has not given up on me. He just keeps pouring out His love in so many ways. He is faithful to be right here to talk with and teach me, 24/7. He is never taken by surprise when “things” happen. He can shoulder any and all burdens, my anger and frustration, and restores me every time I ask forgiveness.

Body, mind, and spirit. As I age, no matter how much I may not want to admit it, my body grows weaker. I become more aware of my mortality. I realize that my time here is finite. How much time do I have left to follow the call on my life; the mission that God has given me? My mind sifts the items that come to it and priorities become more clear. I begin to grasp what it means to put Kingdom work before the world’s. My spirit gains in strength as I spend more time with Jesus working on my spiritual muscles. I learn how being weak makes me strong because of Him. It’s spending time in God’s Word, not self-help books, that brings about peace and victory.

Revelation. It’s not about knowing when Jesus is coming back but knowing He is. As God reveals through His Spirit the Kingdom focus that He has for me every day, I see through His eyes the hurting individuals and the opportunities to reveal Him to another child who may not even know their need but He does.

This week is about redemption and forgiveness. Something that we all need every day.

Lead Me to the Cross by Brooke Fraser Ligertwood (2009) 

 

 

 

 

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This is He

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

“This is My Servant; I strengthen Him, this is My Chosen One; I delight in Him.
I have put My Spirit on Him; He will bring justice to the nations.
He will not cry out or shout or make His voice heard in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick;
He will faithfully bring justice.
He will not grow weak or be discouraged until He has established justice on earth.
The islands will wait for His instruction.”

This is what God, Yahweh, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it
and life to those who walk on it—
“I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will hold You by Your hand.
I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,
and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.
I am Yahweh, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.
The past events have indeed happened.
Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.”              Isaiah 42:1-9 (HCSB)

Lectionary texts for Holy Monday: Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 36:5-9, Hebrews 9:11-15, John 12:1-11

‘Way before I knew that I needed a savior, God knew. He planned. He spoke through His prophets to encourage His people not to despair or doubt that. He inspired and gave us His Word to continue to encourage us today. If we will take the time to read, meditate, and learn from Him. This week I am going to use the lectionary for each day. Will you join me in reading these four passages every day for the next five days?

In this passage I learn so much about my Savior, who is several hundred years before He will be born of a woman and yet already is.

Jesus is the complete God. Jesus is Creator, Savior, and Comforter. I do not pretend to understand what it means for Jesus to be Three and yet One. I just know that God is all that I need. He is all the wisdom and freely gives that. He is all the love and freely gives that.

Jesus did not come as a warrior. – the first time. Jesus teaches me the power that is available to me without violence, anger, but by being a servant. It is Jesus the Servant who came as a lamb and taught me how to turn my cheek (Matthew 5:39) and forgive no matter how horrific the hurt (Luke 23:34). He made it clear that love was His primary command to me (Matthew 22:34-40).

Jesus is the arm of God’s justice. Less I forget, God is just. Jesus will come a second time and it will be with a sword as warrior, King, and Judge. All that I am will be laid out and be sifted through His justice. Am I living now in a way that I want laid before Him then?

God has kept His covenant. God promised salvation for His people. Jesus is the way to my eternal reward that He has promised (John 14:6). It is this covenant that so many (as I was) are blind to see.

God will accept only my total allegiance. God will not tolerate a division in my allegiance. He is #1 in my life or not. There is no taking a bit from Him and a bit from the world and trying to balance my life to please both. I must die to my way and my plan and my knowledge and take up my cross with Jesus and follow Him through the steps that He will show me.

This week is the most precious week of the year to me. I always come out of this week closer to my LORD and more in love with Him; humbled by His love for me.

What Wondrous Love is This by Alexander Means/William Walker (1835) 

 

 

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How Can I Say Thanks

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from March 21, 2011]

[Jesus said,]“But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered.”     Matthew 13:8 (CEV)

Today I want to say thanks. It isn’t an anniversary. It’s just a day like any other day which is another reason to think of my parents because they were very “ordinary” people.

They were born less than 20 miles apart in very small towns in the heartland of our country. They were raised during the depression. My father’s parents were seen as “rich” by my mother and her family because they owned a large farm which provided them with most of what they needed and plenty to sell. Both families were church-goers and supporters. In a day when people married within their faith and social group, my parents were seen as a “mixed marriage”. One Catholic, the other Protestant. One Democratic, the other Republican. One very poor, the other upper middle class.

My parents weren’t perfect parents but my observation and hindsight perspective is that they did better than their parents. They encouraged my brother and me in our education and it was always a forgone conclusion that we would go to college. They never told us what we had to do with our lives – just do our best. Marriage was a “forever” commitment and you didn’t give up when things got tough. They did not speak about their own faith but led by example, especially my mother who not only taught us to pray but did not hide that she prayed every night. We also saw that she truly loved to go to church. She worshiped.

Sowing seeds into our children and grandchildren is my legacy – for good or ill. That is my primary ministry within my family. I believe the ground will be most fertile when I sow by example. It is not about preaching to my children, it is about being who I am and allowing them to see how I struggle and succeed with Jesus in my life. Do I cry out to God? Yes. Do I struggle with understanding the “why” and “when” of what He does? Yes. But at the end of my days, I loved Him and did all that I did to point people to Jesus.

So, thank you, Mom and Dad. Thank you for all that you did and the seeds that you sowed in my life. Those seeds did multiply and not just to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You wouldn’t believe all the places in the world that your legacy has traveled! Rest now from your labors and I will see you again one day.

My Tribute by Andrae Crouch  with My Redeemer – sung by Nicole C. Mullen

Posted in Matthew | Comments Off on How Can I Say Thanks