Commitment

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

David continued to address Solomon: “Take charge! Take heart! Don’t be anxious or get discouraged. God, my God, is with you in this; he won’t walk off and leave you in the lurch. He’s at your side until every last detail is completed for conducting the worship of God. You have all the priests and Levites standing ready to pitch in, and skillful craftsmen and artisans of every kind ready to go to work. Both leaders and people are ready. Just say the word.”                 1 Chronicles 28:20 (The Message)

Commitment is not a word I hear in daily conversations. Is it a word that is discussed and taught in our schools and our places of worship? It should be. Commitment is a serious word that demands thought from a reasoning mind that is followed by a “forever, never turning back” from the heart. Commitment is not done in haste and, I believe, it has eternal ramifications.

I know a man, who loved to play ball. Basketball. Baseball. He would have played football but his mother said, “No”, because she was afraid he would get hurt. He played at every level of ball. He was never given the recognition that many who were his peers received. He didn’t play on championship teams. He did not find his physical strength until into his 20’s so no big colleges or professional teams were looking at him out of high school. And then, in a series of “God appointments”, some baseball scouts began to notice. He was drafted by a major league team. He played major league baseball. It was this man’s commitment to his dream that kept him going in a dark world of professional sports where encouragement came from a distant family and few key people he met along the way. His spiritual health weakened as he worked hard at his craft.

Today this man has learned some wisdom to pass along to those he now coaches. He is teaching another generation about commitment. He is also learning what he needs for his own spiritual health and the commitment God has already made to him.

David is telling his son, Solomon, that the huge job that he has to build God’s temple is do-able because of Who is working with him. Solomon can move forward in his life if he can grasp the commitment that God has already made to him. Just as Paul will say hundreds of years later: If God is for me who cares if someone speaks against me? (Romans 8:31) It is worry and discouragement that gets me off track in my life. The mission or job that I know I have been gifted to do and God has given me to do can become blurry and out of focus when I become tired and discouraged in the “every day” of this world. Just as I make sleep and re-fueling with balanced meals part of my life’s schedule, I must also give time to spiritual re-fueling. Whether in musical worship, studying God’s Word, corporate worship, prayer, or some combination, if I do not make the commitment to building my relationship with God, all the other parts of my life will forever be in disconnect.

I am taking time today and to examine my commitment to God. He is committed to our relationship. What is my true commitment? Holy Spirit, come and shine Your light on me. Help me to choose Who and what is the best for me.

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Take a Step

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.           Psalm 23:5 (WEB)

Do you ever promise yourself or God or someone you love that you will never do something again? “I will never be sarcastic to my mother again.” “I will never forget your birth date again.” “No more ‘fudging’ on my tax returns or checkbook again. I’ve learned my lesson.” We boast so big and try to cover-up our broken heart when we fail.

But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” …

Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately the rooster crowed.

Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.               Matthew 26:33-35, 74-75 (WEB)

Days later, Peter is back in a fishing boat (John 21). He goes back to what is most comfortable. Maybe he thought that was all he could now expect. Jesus had rose from the dead and appeared to them, spoke to them, but Peter still carried the shame of having let his Savior down.

I feel like that sometimes. I have let God down by not moving ahead in my spiritual walk. Not every step in my walk is a step forward (surprised? I hope not!) Usually it is not so much a step back but a ‘stall’ as I spend too much time examining and thinking about a ‘no’ or ‘wait’ from God.

Peter is served a beautiful lunch by His Savior. Jesus appears to them not just to bring them a wonderful catch (once again!) but He reinstates Peter as He questions him about how much he loves Him.

David says it more clearly in Psalm 23. David tells me that God will bring me through the valley that is shadowed in death. He says I will not fear the evil there because God walks with a staff to guide me and a rod to drive off the evil. Then David tells me how totally safe it is by explaining to me that in front of my enemies – God sets a table. Jesus prepared the Passover table for His disciples. He washed their feet, including Judas’, the example of the enemy in that scene. Then Jesus sent Judas away to do what he must do. Judas did not share in the feast of words that followed in John 14-16. The enemy had no part of the feast from the table. When Jesus comes again and brings me to the marriage supper of the Lamb, there will be no place for evil there either.

Today I sit at a table with my Lord and He serves me a feast of wisdom and love and forgiveness. It is a feast to which I am invited every day because I am the King’s child. He saved me. He loves me. Past, present, and future. God loves…me.

Posted in Matthew, Psalms | Comments Off on Take a Step

Customer Service

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

– Henry Neufeld

“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”       Ephesians 5:21 (HN)

“Don’t each of you look after your own well-being, instead, look after the well-being of others.”          Philippians 2:4 (HN)

Anyone who has worked in a retail business knows that there are really two very different classes of people in a store—the customers, who are served, and the store’s employees, who serve. We don’t ever expect those roles to change. The customer will not suddenly start giving service to the salesperson. The salesperson doesn’t expect the customer to start providing service.

There are many things we can learn from the world of business: Setting goals and focusing on accomplishing them, efficiency, attention to the needs of the public, organization, and efficient decision making.

But the salesperson to customer relation is not one of these areas. The church is not a place where there is a paid staff that provides service to the people who come in looking for something to buy. Instead, it’s a place where people come to serve; to serve one another. It is truly also a place where people do come to be served as well, but we come there to be served by one another. Everyone serves and everyone receives.

In the passage in Ephesians, Paul is about to talk about family relationships, and that is what we usually talk about when we quote the text. But he also compares these relationships to those in the body of Christ, the church. In both those sets of relationships we need to be subject to one another. Self-seeking is the standard of our society. The standard of our churches should be other-seeking. “Don’t look after your own well-being,” he tells us in Philippians. “Look after the well-being of others.”

Now some of you may be wondering what this has to do with preparing you for your day. After all, these are supposed to be challenging devotionals that help get you ready for your day. So here is the challenge. The pattern that God planned for the church is the one he wants us to take to the world. We are not to go to church and serve one another, and then leave and behave like everyone else in the world. We are supposed to carry the self-sacrificing love of Christ to all around us.

If you’re a salesperson, try being extra friendly and encouraging to someone, not because that will help you make more sales (though it may well do so!), but because you follow Jesus, who gave his all, and you want to look after the well-being of others.

If you have a coworker who annoys you, try some encouragement. Perhaps the love of Jesus is just what needs to be applied. Be part of the body of Christ, even when you’re not in church.

When you’re shopping, be extraordinarily nice to that salesperson. Don’t be impatient and unkind. Smile! They may be needing just a little bit of encouragement.

And don’t forget to bring that attitude to church this weekend!

Posted in Ephesians, Philippians | Comments Off on Customer Service

All I Know

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

The man replied, “I don’t know if he is a sinner or not. All I know is that I used to be blind, but now I can see!”             John 9:25 (CEV)

I love this story of the blind man in John’s gospel. It goes on for 41 verses which is pretty long as gospel stories go. The Pharisees are like a terrier with with a bone that they are not going to let go! They want to “expose” Jesus and slap Him down. That’s the prelude to finding a reason to kill Him! So they follow this man around trying to get the real story or “inside scoop” about what happened. Does this sound familiar?

The man was born blind. The disciples think, as many from their time and even a few still today, that the blindness was a “punishment” for some sin of the parents or even the then infant! Jesus says, “No” to that hypothesis.

Then instead of just speaking “Be healed!” or something similar, Jesus makes mud out of His spit and dirt and puts it on the man’s eyes and then tells him to go wash in a local pool of water. Why?

None of the neighbors believe him. They want him to explain what happened. (Notice no one called it a miracle!) They try to explain it away. The former blind man does not help them out.

Then the Pharisees start their investigation. Question upon question and they do not get the answers they want. They put the pressure on the man’s parents and they cave in and dump the interrogation back on their son. Nice parents! The man finally gets tired of the harassment and tells the Pharisees that he doesn’t know anything about Jesus but he knows he now sees. But then the Pharisees step over his internal line and shout that Jesus is not from God and the man “goes off” on them in his defense of Jesus’ goodness. The Pharisees throw the man out of the Temple.

Jesus hears about this and goes looking for the man. He speaks clearly to this man about who He is. The man falls down in worship.

There are many things that I do not know about Jesus. There are ways that He works and the timing in which He works that I do not understand. But I know that at one time I was closed off and broken in pain and now I am whole. I was blind to Jesus but now I see. And that is enough. It is a story to share with others. I do not have to have all the answers to all the questions in order to share my story. “I don’t know” is a legitimate answer. It is about Jesus in my life that encourages others to give Jesus an opportunity in their lives. That is all Jesus needs – an open door to come into someone’s heart.

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What A Child REALLY Needs

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.”     John 3:17 (WEB)

Twenty seconds left on the clock in the basketball game. Our opponent is ahead by one point. Their forward decides to drive the ball to the goal. I planted my feet, threw up my hands, and got the charging foul. If I make the two free throws we win the game. I made only one. They got the rebound and a ten-foot jump shot at the other end of the court. I lost the game. That’s what it felt like…I was responsible for the loss. It was the only game that my parents saw me play as girls’ basketball only existed at the college level in schools. Yes, it was a very long time ago!

It is those times that are the culmination of all the “ordinary” times in a child’s life. Showing up for every game and every practice; every concert and making every rehearsal seems very mundane and, honestly, not an easy task to keep the priorities in a world that is overwhelming with a 2- or 3-job home. There is no task more important in parenting than being there.

I think my children would tell you that their dreams and plans for their lives at age 15 did not turn out the way they thought. They have experienced many trials and turns in their paths that have led them where they are today. As they went from young adults to mature adults it was for me to continue what I had started the first day that they looked at me with bleary, infant eyes and returned my smile. I encouraged them to speak, to walk, to do their best in school, and keep their commitments. Every milestone was about sincere encouragement and reassurance that they were loved whether they succeeded in the task or just tried their very best. I hope that I followed Jesus’ plan.

John 3:17 takes the gift of John 3:16 and puts another layer of love on it. God sent His Son to be the sacrifice that would make up for all our sins, giving us an eternal life with Him. God did it because of His love for us, His children. But Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, Holy and Mighty LORD, came and lived here with us, not to condemn us for our horrid, disgusting sinfulness, but to show us the great love of the Father and how to live our lives as He did. Live in joy and peace in spite of trials and suffering.

This is the #1 legacy I want to pass on to my children and grandchildren. I want them to understand the extraordinary, extravagant love of God for each one of them. I want them to know how much I love them and know that my love is but a tiny amount compared to the love the Father has for them.

Maybe accepting John 3:16 would be our priority if we learned the 17th verse from our earthly parents.

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My Sight isn’t Perfect – Yet

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (CEV)

On September 11, 2001, almost 3,000 Americans died in a single day. On January 12, 2010, 100,000 people died in the Haiti earthquake. Why? I don’t know.

An English bishop, Dr. Handley Moule, said over 100 years ago that he learned from his mother’s needlework that on the back side of the picture the threads appear tangled, like a series of mistakes. But on the right side, there was a beautiful picture.

Does God make mistakes? No. Are there events in history that I still do not understand? Absolutely. Besides the two I have mentioned at the beginning, sixty plus years later, I do not understand why millions of Jews and Christians died in the Holocaust. I do not understand why my son died from cancer or any child dies from disease or accidents. I don’t know.

I have heard theological, philosophical, and sociological explanations and, frankly, none of them work for me. They are not acceptable to me. Some would say that we live in a “fallen world” and so “bad things happen to good people”. Others would say that sin must be balanced with consequences. Jesus told His disciples that neither sin of the parents nor of the child caused blindness (John 2) so He didn’t agree with that idea.

The First Corinthian passage works in my heart and spirit. It tells me that I am a finite human who cannot grasp all of an infinite God. What I can understand will be through His Spirit to my spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). The knowledge I receive from God is not a “drive-thru” answer. It is not a case of demanding an answer from God; He succinctly tells me and we’re done. Not in all the hundreds of people with whom I have had conversations about their questions for God did someone tell me that they got a complete answer on the first question. It was through building their relationship with Jesus that they slowly began to understand and gain some insight into their difficult questions.

That is the way it is happening for me, too. I have peace about my son’s death. I don’t have all the answers – yet, but I have answers I can live with now. The great aspect is that Jesus is willing to have conversations as often and repeated as many times as I want. He knows that our relationship will grow as we talk.

So if you or someone you know has questions for God – tell them to keep asking! As long as they want to talk, yell, cry, in some way have communication with Jesus, He will come to meet with them. That is what an awesome parent does. I have learned that in my own life and I leave that testimony with you today.

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Looking to God

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Jody Neufeld


Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope. It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23 (WEB,)

I don’t like looking back. I’ve never been to one of my high school reunions. They are held about 700 miles away but that isn’t the main reason I have not attended. I’m just not a ‘looking-over-my-shoulder’ kind of gal! However, there is something to be said for remembering what I was like ‘BJ’ (before Jesus).

Jeremiah and this translation picked good words if they were describing my BJ life: “affliction” and “misery”. I did feel afflicted and ill. My life seemed out of sync and I was miserable trying to find what would fill the void in my life. I tried alcohol but that only made me ill and the numbness would wear off much too quickly. I tried demanding that my husband fill all my needs and be what I needed. That only ended in divorce and more pain. I tried wandering through the world of professional success but there again I was trying to please people who really didn’t care about me except to the extent that I could make them look good or succeed. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), I finally found myself in the pig sty of depression and despair until I kept the ‘divine appointment’ with my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught me that looking back is an opportunity to rejoice at how far He has brought me. It is not for rewinding videos of condemnation! It is not to claim any piece of glory for myself. It is a time of praise and thanksgiving to the One, the only One who could change my life and set me free. I am free because – I have hope. For me – that is the difference between my life BJ and before I made the decision to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Hope. I am not perfect. I still have a journey to walk and opportunities to choose to be obedient or disobedient to God’s way. But I have Hope and a future that no one or no thing in this world can touch! I have hope because – God loves me. Period. That’s it. Every day, God shows me His compassion and love. They truly are new every morning.

Take a moment right now and remember your mistakes from yesterday. Maybe you didn’t speak to your spouse with kindness but with sharpness. Maybe you didn’t call your friend because you just didn’t feel like hearing her/his problems. Maybe you griped about having to work on a past holiday and didn’t get any extra pay. God forgives you. Yes, He does. Just ask Him. He does. Every time – because of Jesus. Now – let it go – and let’s learn from our mistakes and move on and not repeat that one! God is faithful.

Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long. Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh. Psalm 25:4-7 (WEB)

 

 

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Living the Life

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

I wish that my word could be written down or chiseled into rock. I know that my Savior lives, and at the end he will stand on this earth. Job 19:23-25 (CEV)

Chapters 3-37 of Job are tricky. I have probably heard them quoted out of context more than most other Scripture. Many of the verses when isolated sound really positive and constructive but when put in the context of the whining, eschewed viewpoint of Elihu, Bildad, and Eliphaz they mean something very different!

Job also has a problem with allowing himself to be swayed by his friends, ending up with his foot firmly placed in his mouth. I know how he feels! It is in verses like Chapter 19 verses 23-25 that I rejoice with Job! “I don’t know much any more! Life has sent me a curve ball and I don’t even know how to swing the bat! But I know this: My Redeemer lives! And in the End – He will stand on the earth as The King!”

Job has just said in Chapter 13 verse 15: “Even though God may kill me, I am going to keep hoping in Him”. Despite the un-helpfulness of those around him, he digs his nails in and hangs on. The writer of the book of Hebrews did not include Job in his list of ‘faithful’ but God Himself said this about Job (to satan no less!):

God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”        Job 1:8 (The Message)

Why does God say this about Job? Because when times are really, really tough and God doesn’t explain Himself or His actions – Job hangs on and clings to what he knows is true: His Redeemer is real. Job knows Him personally. Job doesn’t have to see or hear God to know that He is still there. That comes with having intimate knowledge in a relationship. It takes work. It takes commitment. It takes obedience. It takes love – God’s unconditional love.

Paul says in his letter to the church at Ephesus that I should imitate God and live my life filled with servant-sacrificial love just as Jesus did (Ephesians 5). Imitate the One that I know. Then I will come to know Him more and so will everyone who comes into my path today.

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God’s POWERFUL Love

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

The LORD hasn’t lost his powerful strength; he can still hear and answer prayers. Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why he doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see his face.     Isaiah 59:1-2 (CEV)

In this section of the book of Isaiah I am taught some good lessons about how I can live a ‘God life’. In Chapter 58 God teaches me about repentance and His ideas about ‘true fasting’ that manifests itself in my compassion and love for others and not just spiritual exercises. I could be led to do these ‘exercises’ in order that God would hear my prayers – more clearly. In Chapter 59 God says that it is not ‘fasting’ that will bring my prayers to Him like a hearing aid. It is the revelation of and repentance for my sins!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” – No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (WEB)

Who can separate me from the love of Jesus? Only one person – me. Not satan or any of his little demons can keep me from an intimate relationship with God unless I give them permission. God is really trying to get me to see how my own flesh pulls me off the very path that I desire to be on. I am the child of The King. He created all things. The Creator has the ultimate power over all that He has created! But He gave me choice. He gave me the choice of obedience. He gave me the choice of His way or my way. He loves me so much that He desires that I make the decision of Him over all else – because I love Him. Paul says that not the death of sin or the world’s temptations or any ‘power’ can keep me from the ‘peace that passes understanding’ (Philippians 4:7) if I choose God first.

So – it is a good thing for me to come before the Lord every day and lay the day before Him and say, “Father, please forgive my sins because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.” Listing the sins as the Holy Spirit brings them to my mind helps me to acknowledge them, ask for forgiveness, learn from it, and move on – clean and forgiven! I remember that Paul said in Romans 8:28 that God works all things for good. The blockage that my sin creates is easily obliterated with Jesus’ blood and I am put on the potter’s wheel to be molded once again into the tool that God can use.

I had a rough day yesterday. But it was a great day in my relationship with God. He loved me enough to discipline me and break sin in my life. At the end of the day, I was exhausted but felt so loved and lighter in my spirit. My spirit was jumping up and down for joy even if my body was done!

Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.       Zephaniah 3:17 (WEB)

 

 

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Grace the size of a Mustard Seed

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”               Matthew 17:20 (NLT)

I was talking to another wife/mom-type person the other day. We were discussing the need for grace in our lives. The need for grace especially in our relationships with our husband and children. We seem to recognize and ask for grace in our relationships with co-workers and those we “run into” in our daily routine but family – not so much.

I spend more time with my family than anyone else. I spend more time with them when I am tired and have reached the limits of my patience. So chances are this is when I need more grace!

So if I call on God in those moments when I need more grace, “Lord, I do not feel like being loving right now. You said that if I had faith like a tiny mustard seed I could move mountains. You said your grace would be ‘sufficient’ (2 Corinthians 12:9) for my need. I need some grace right now so I am counting on You!” I believe God is faithful and worthy of my trust. I believe He will answer this prayer.

John said that grace and truth comes through Jesus (John 1:17). It is in those times when I do not feel any grace that I simply turned to Jesus, my friend that I know and trust, and open myself to receive His promised gifts with an open heart. And it comes. I feel the peace cover me and truth clean out the “junk”, the lies. And here comes the grace, that unconditional love that can only come through Jesus.

It is my flesh that tries to get the upperhand in my life. Too often I hear people say, “Satan is attacking me!” I think I give him too much credit! And I do not take enough credit for my own actions. Can you think of a situation where you do not have a choice on how you react? I can’t. I always have a choice. It is my own emotions; my own ‘issues’ that direct me down a path that is opposite of the path that Jesus wants to lead me in.

There is no shortcut or quick fix that teaches me to make good choices. Beginning my day with Jesus, talking to Him throughout the day, and ending my day with Him is the life that is characterized with His gifts of love and mercy. Jesus wants to much to give me all the grace (love) and mercy (forgiveness) that I need. But He is polite. He will wait to be asked to be a part of my life.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.         Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT, my emphasis)

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