The Bigger Picture

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NLT)

I know I have read this passage many times but today I am seeing some solid truths and points I can meditate and stand on:

– God is the Father of mercy and all comfort.  It is not in my human nature to be merciful or comforting – it all comes from His Holy Spirit.

– the comfort that I receive from Him has a two-fold purpose: to comfort me and to be passed on to others who need comfort.

– the sufferings I am going through – Jesus has already passed that way.  Yes, every one that I can list, He has gone through something similar.  So, I can stand on the promise that the comfort will come, too.
– sometimes it’s hard to step back and see the bigger picture that my distresses can benefit others; can be a testimony and encourage their faith in the Lord.  I can honestly say that sometimes I didn’t even care if it would benefit others. I didn’t want to go through it and I didn’t want to see the ‘redeeming value’ of it!  That’s when my ‘pity party’ would reach its peak!!!  Excuse me – I’m going to meditate on this part for a while.  I have a feeling that there may be a connection to Paul’s other truth about being “content in all circumstances” [Philippians 4:11] ouch!

– Sharing my hardships with others is important. A burden shared is less of a burden!  And as Paul testified, it recognizes that when we are weak, God is strong.  I am also going to meditate on how often I rely on myself instead of God.  I know that God is not saying that I should lie around like a slug and wait for Him to do everything but I suspect that I am not where I am suppose to be on relying on Him vs. me!  Note: Paul states clearly that they were in such despair as they thought they would die.  God will allow me to reach the ‘end of my rope’ so that He gets all the glory/credit for pulling me up!

– Because of these hardships, hope is firmly planted through the testimony of the experience.

– Paul recognizes the part that the Prayer Partners played.  When going through the hardship, the power of prayer from the Body of Christ is extraordinary!  It is knowing that there is an Aaron and Hur on either side of me, holding up my arms when I grow weary! [Exodus 17:10-13]

– And the testimony continues as more people catch on to the power of God!  We know that He will not leave us nor forsake us. We know it!

– Never forget to give thanks in all things.  From hardship to resolution, give thanks!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Posted in 1 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians | Comments Off on The Bigger Picture

Be Still and Know (Psalm 40:10)

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.

When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?”

And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!” 1 Samuel 30:1-8 (NLT)

David and the army had come home from war to find that an enemy has swept through their town destroying everything and all their wives and children gone.  They gave in to their grief and frustration and wept.  They wept, not quietly with a few tears on their cheeks, but wept themselves into exhaustion. The grief turned quickly from profound sadness to the men of David’s army wanting to stone him. David was the nearest and easiest target of their frustration, anger, and grief!  Does David respond with persuasive words or vent his own anger?  No.  They actually might have thought that David was getting ‘weird’ on them!!  Instead of responding in his flesh, David asks for his prayer shawl (ephod) and sits down to ask God what to do.

David unloaded his burden instead of taking on more weight.  He prayed until he got his instructions from the One who sees the whole picture.  Too often in my emotions, I make a mistake and get off on a very wrong path and the consequences just become dominoes that are difficult to stop. When “all hell breaks loose” in my life, stop! Find a quiet place, whether it is a closet, a chair in the corner, or my car, and ask God, “What should I do, God?” When the pressure is on – the prayer doesn’t have to be pretty or profound. “God, what should I do?” Prayer instead of panic.  Faith instead of ‘Freaking Out’!  The power of God comes in when I unload all my ‘stuff’ so there is space inside of me for more of God and there will be less of me!

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.                1 John 4:4-6 (NLT)

When the going gets tough, the tough…pray!  I must get into God’s way of doing things, not the world’s.  Gosh, that’s hard. It often means that I don’t pick up the phone and call for my best friend’s opinion. She is an awesome woman of God and, after the fact, I have learned that God has tapped her on the shoulder telling her to pray for me. But she would tell you that she rejoices when she knows that I have turned to God first. My husband rejoices that God is my first call. They want me to grow in my relationship with God. They want God first in my life! I belong to God first.

Posted in 1 John, 1 Samuel | Comments Off on Be Still and Know (Psalm 40:10)

The Hard, but Best, Step

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him, And they both wept.      Genesis 33:3-4 (NLT)

Do you remember the circumstances that brought Jacob and Esau to this point? Jacob is often seen as a ‘pillar of the faith’. He is but like all the rest – not perfect! He was a sneaky deceiver who tricked his father and his brother, stealing the birthright. This was personal. This was a major blow (much like divorce!) in a family. Esau was ready to kill Jacob!

I believe Jacob had to go through some difficult, trying experiences before he was ready to turn on the path of forgiveness. He ‘slaved’ for seven years in order to marry the one he loved, Rachel. Deception came back to him as his uncle gave him, not Rachel, but his older daughter, Leah, in marriage. And Jacob did not find out that deception until after the wedding night! So he ‘slaved’ seven more years for Rachel. Then he had children from Leah but none from Rachel. When he left his uncle (no more slave labor!), he was hunted down and a confrontation occurred. And let us not forget that Jacob also wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-28)

Wrestling with God before forgiveness is the natural order, I think, for us mortals. It is not in our nature to forgive when we are hurt and insulted. I can say, without hesitation, that every time I have heard God say, “Forgive” I knew it was God. The ‘wrestling’ wasn’t about whether it was God. The wrestling was me trying to talk myself out of the knowledge that it was God! I knew it. I just didn’t want to know it! I did not want to forgive. I felt I was letting the person ‘off the hook’; letting them ‘get by’ with something. What garbage! Whether the person is ‘off the hook’ for what they have done is between them and God. I have neither the wisdom to truly know their ‘sin’ nor the wisdom to determine any punishment! Holding that person in unforgiveness brings bitterness, frustration, anger, and general unhappiness. Do I really want to live in that garbage of feelings? Do I want that sludge to seep out to everyone around me? It’s like toxic waste!

Forgiveness is the path to freedom. It is a choice and a process. Often I may have to decide to forgive before I feel the mercy and grace to actually do it.

“Our Father, who lives in heaven, may your name always be held holy.

Your Kingdom will come and your will be done on earth as it now is in heaven.

Give me today all that I need.

Forgive my sins, LORD, just as I forgive others who have hurt me.

Keep me from falling into the snares of temptation and rescue me from the evil one.

If I forgive those who have ‘sinned’ against me, then my Father will forgive me. But if I refuse to forgive them, my Father will not forgive me.”     Matthew 6:9-15 (my paraphrase & emphasis)

As I let go of the hurt and release forgiveness, healing begins and I can grow beyond the pain. Is there someone that I (you) need to forgive today in order to move on? Let’s just do it.

I need Your help, Jesus. (pause) Thanks, LORD.

Posted in Genesis, Matthew | Comments Off on The Hard, but Best, Step

Good Fruit

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.” John 15:1-8 (WEB)

Branches do not produce fruit.  They just ‘show’ the fruit that the vine produces.  My fruitfulness depends on my remaining intimately connected to Jesus, the vine. How much of His fruit is about accepting the nutrients that He provides in our relationship, as well as the pruning that I allow Him to do in our relationship so that he can ride me of the dead wood and showy leaves that hide the good fruit.

Galatians 5 tells me some of the fruit that is produced in me when I grow in Christ:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control

As I went to sleep last night, I was thinking about the ‘fruit’ in my life.  Since I don’t consider myself as stagnant, I am growing fruit in my life.  But I’m not sure that all of it is listed above.  I think I need pruning!  When I look at my branch, I see some bad fruit that I don’t like and that I don’t want to grow.  In fact, I want it to shrivel up and die! It’s that ‘natural’ carnal stuff like: anger, bitterness, disobedience, rebellion, envy, manipulation, — YUK!!! Have you ever gone to pick tomatoes or grapes and you’re just humming along and all of a sudden your hand touches or grabs this squishy, yukky piece of fruit that has some furry white stuff on it? You snatch your hand back and hope it falls to the ground where it will naturally decompose or you carefully pick it up by a tiny good spot and heave it into the trash! That is bad fruit! The carnal fruit in my life is bad next to Jesus-producing fruit!
Jesus-produced fruit is ripe and shiny, inviting others to “taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psalm 34:8).  I want to produce good fruit so that others want to be in Jesus’ garden/vineyard.

Holy Spirit, bring out the pruning shears!  I submit!

Posted in John | Comments Off on Good Fruit

Talking to God

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”      Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

You might have noticed immediately today that I am using a different Bible translation than usual. I think that is a good thing. Sometimes when I keep using the same one day after day, I think I know what a passage says. I do not give it the time and thought that I should. Different words make me slow down and listen to the words, listen to God.

Prayer is (should be) a conversation with God. It is talking and listening. My talking is thanksgiving, confession of my sins, asking for my needs, telling Him my pain and frustration; just sharing what is happening in my life.

Good conversation includes listening. How much time in my prayers do I listen? It is in listening that I hear God’s wisdom and truths. My heart becomes softened so that bitterness, anger, and resentment cannot take root. These things grow in a hard heart.

There is so much more to prayer that submitting a list to God on how I want Him to answer my needs and my questions. I believe God actually does more during the process of praying than happens in the answer to prayer. Jesus says that I should “keep on”. It is in taking on the character of the persistent widow (Luke 18) in my prayers that I receive greater understanding of myself, my life, my attitudes, and who God is and His plan for my life. Prayer becomes not about getting God to do what I want but instead learning the joy of moving into God’s way, the best way for me.

God does listen to every prayer. He answers every prayer. God is such a good Father. He doesn’t answer “yes” to every request because that would not be good for me. If He said “no” every time I would think Him mean and stingy. I would soon feel defeated and unloved. If every answer was “wait” I would get frustrated. God answers like the perfect Father, doing what is best for me. Not getting the answer I want does not tell me that He is disinterested but rather it could be pointing me into the direction He desires for me. As I spend time with God in prayer, listening and sharing, I begin to understand Him and rejoice for His great love for me.

Don’t worry about ‘stuff’, my child. Instead, pray about everything. Tell Me what you think you need and give thanks for all that has already happened. Then you will receive My Peace that will be more than anything you can imagine or understand. My Peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in fellowship with Jesus.      Philippians 4:6-7 (my paraphrase)

Posted in Matthew, Philippians | Comments Off on Talking to God

“Father, this is Your child calling!”

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (WEB)

This Scripture has been a favorite in our family. My son, John, always included it when he would autograph items as a professional baseball player.

Paul is letting us know that even though he may have many reasons to feel confident in his relationship with God (Philippians 3:4-6) none of that has any eternal weight. He says he has not achieved:

  • a righteousness of his own through the law
  • a knowledge of Christ and His power
  • a fellowship in Christ’s sufferings which brings fellowship in His resurrection.

He goes on to say, however, that in faith he attempts to grab on to what he doesn’t yet know or understand because Jesus has already taken hold of him.

Paul is brutally honest with himself, saying that he has failed in the past, but he is going to keep trying. He wants the prize of eternity with Jesus.

Failure is not a reason to quit trying. Certainly not in my relationship with Jesus. It is an excuse.

The Gospels are filled with “failures” to whom Jesus extended His hand to help to their feet, encouraging them to try again. It was His very example, being totally human, that tells me He is there to encourage me on.

Luke 2:52 says Jesus did not come to earth with all but that He grew.

Matthew 14:23, Luke 5:16, and many other verses tell us that Jesus withdrew to pray. He needed to spend time with the Father to receive strength and encouragement.

Luke 22:43-44 shows me in Jesus’ most difficult moments. God sent an angel to minister to Him. The Father knows my weakest moments, too, and sends angels to minister to me. Oh how the enemy, the Accuser, does not want me to look up from my despair and see that help!

My friends, let us “press on”. Let us not get stalled in deception but rather reach out to the One who is right here.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If you will humble yourself and pray, I AM will hear.

Psalm 145:18 He is near when I call

Isaiah 65:24 Before I call, He answers.

Jeremiah 3:33 Call Him and He will answer.

Joel 2:32 Everyone who calls will be saved.

Posted in Philippians | Comments Off on “Father, this is Your child calling!”

Continuing to Learn from the Master

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.”

But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:6-14 (WEB)

Yesterday I was meditating about what God’s children do as we follow the example of Jesus. Prayer would be a vital part of my life of obedience. I must spend time listening and speaking with Jesus, building our relationship. Studying the Bible is also a vital part to learn and grow in that relationship.

I can also learn from history:

Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl, who around 1429 obeyed the Holy Spirit’s call to lead her country’s army against the English.  She had no military training and military leadership by a female was unheard of, and yet, the army did rally around her and defeated the enemy, allowing Charles the VII to be crowned king.  Her “voices” later became her downfall as she was accused of heresy when she testified before a Church tribunal that “I answer nothing from my own head, what I answer is by command of my voices.  They do not order me to disobey the Church, but God must be served first.”  She was burned at the stake in 1431. Martyred because she would be obedient to God first.

Vibia Perpetua, a young noblewoman of northern Africa in the 2nd century, had visions that she recorded and shared with others while in prison as a Christian.  Apparently, Perpetua was a widow and mother of a nursing child.  Her father came to the prison, asking her to renounce her faith for the sake of her child.  Pointing to a water vessel, Perpetua asked her father, “Can that vessel, which you see, change its name?”  When he shook his head negatively, Perpetua is reported to have said, “Nor can I call myself any other than I am, that is to say, a Christian.”  She was to be ‘exposed to wild beasts’ at the emperor’s ‘games’.  She was attacked but not killed there but later was executed by gladiators.  What a statement of faith that I can only be what I am … a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I do not feel God is calling me to lead the US Army in the War on Terrorism nor do I believe that I will be in an arena to be mauled by wild animals.  However, while walking in obedience to God’s Holy Spirit I do find myself walking against the flow of this world and the ‘norms’ that many people ascribe.  God has given me instructions that take me to places that are definitely out of my comfort zone, after all, I am an alien in this world!

God also takes me to places of peace and rest for my soul in the midst of this world.  He meets me on the battlefield and shows me the tent He has set up and invites me in for rest and a ‘conference’ with His Holy Spirit.  There I seek to see more of the “height, depth, and width of God’s love” (Ephesians 3) for me and all of His children.  I seek His Holy Spirit’s counsel. I rest up for the next ‘season’ and learn my next orders. Because we do not wage war against flesh and blood (2 Corinthians 10), this time with the Holy Spirit is another vital part in my life of obedience to God.

Posted in 1 Corinthians | Comments Off on Continuing to Learn from the Master

Prayer: More than I think

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”

He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:39-46 (WEB, my emphasis)

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’. But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

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.” All of the disciples also said likewise.                                                       Matthew 26:31-35 (WEB, my emphasis)

Jesus is in the last hours of His time with His disciples. And He is also in the final moments before the finality of His mission. What does Jesus do? He prays. We must remember that Jesus was God but He was also fully human. He knew temptation. He must have felt the presence of His enemy who was doing all he could to undermine Jesus’ focus. Satan would have loved to get Jesus off track. Every step, every word that Jesus took or said had a part in God’s plan. And so He prayed. He did it to show me. He did it because that’s what God’s children do.

Jesus says that “all” of us will stumble in our temptation. No one is exempt. We must not fear the temptation or think that we have no choices. We do. And our first choice is to pray…every day. Exercise my spiritual muscles and pray.

The more time I spend in prayer, in conversation with God, the closer we become.  In prayer, I come into line with God.  I begin to know His ways, His thoughts, and His heart.  In prayer, my flesh is crucified.  In prayer, my faith increases, my trust in God increases.

It is also so important to remember that we are warned in these Scriptures not to ever think that falling cannot happen to me. The enemy knows his time is short and he is rabid to get us off God’s path and on to his path.

The Bible, God’s inspired Word, gives us so many examples of prayer. Take some time and look at prayer in the lives of these people. Look at what they said. Look at how God answered.

Genesis 25:21   Isaac prays for Rebekah
Exodus 9:29    Moses prays to stop one of the plagues
2 Samuel 7:18  David prays
1 Kings 8:22    Solomon prays
Nehemiah 1:8   Nehemiah prays
Job 42:9   Job prays for his friends
Psalms all of them are prayers! Pick one!
Daniel 9:3   Daniel prays
Habakkuk 3:1   Habakkuk prays
John 17    Jesus prays
Acts 1:14  All the disciples and followers meet together and pray
Philippians 1:9   Paul prays

Excuse me. I am going to go pray. Won’t you join me?

Posted in Luke, Matthew | Comments Off on Prayer: More than I think

Use the Light!

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. Psalm 119:103-105 (WEB)

[Jesus said,] “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness.       Luke 11:33-35 (WEB)

Getting up in the middle of the night happens frequently at my age. I can be positive that I know the way in my own house to the bathroom so I don’t turn on the light.  Besides, I’m being a loving wife by not turning on the light and disturbing Henry! (Like the light will wake him from a dead sleep!)  WHAM!  I bang my toe into the edge of the doorway because I misjudged the space!  Now Henry is awake because I just yelled and scared him into high blood pressure!  Why didn’t I use the light?

As I ‘stumble’ around in my everyday life trying to stay on the path in a world of darkness, why don’t I use the Light? Why is it I feel that “I can do it!”

Jesus is my ‘life coach’. God has given me a life manual, the Bible. If I will put in the time and make the priority choice to be present, Jesus will show me how to build a relationship with Him. He will put His light and set my feet on the path that He desires for me.

Too many times when I am reeling from the financial problems or the family strife or I am backed into a corner and see no options – I work myself up in a frenzy or weep into my pillow. Spent and exhausted, it occurs to me, ‘Oh! I should pray!” Pray first! The rest won’t be needed!<

I have the Light. Hiding it away in the drawer and pulling it out when I have searched myself into a frantic headache sounds like a ‘freshman’ mistake. I know Jesus! I know what He has done in my life. I have been down the dark road. I like the Light soooooo much more!

God said that if I ask for wisdom that He would give it (James 1:5). Here is the Light on the table of my life, ready to spill its beams to every dark corner and provide me with Truth and God’s direction.
Let us not hide the Light away and pretend that we can ‘get around’ just fine without Him. Let us keep Jesus right here in every moment where He wants to be. Jesus wants to guide us. He doesn’t want us to stumble and fall.

Let us begin today, now. When the moment happens, instead of a headache, let’s turn to Jesus and grab His hand; letting Him lead. Listen! “Be still and know that I AM GOD” (Psalm 46:10). He is my Light in this dark world. I want to be filled with this Light that others might see me and know they have seen the Light of God…. and totally forgot I was even involved. Jesus, Savior and Lord…Light of the World.

Posted in Luke, Psalms | Comments Off on Use the Light!

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Philippians 7: Check the attitude

So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.       Philippians 2:12-13 (WEB)

It would seem Paul is writing to fellow Believers as he calls them, “beloved”, as if he knows them and their hearts. So Paul’s reference to working on their salvation couldn’t be about redemption. It would seem to be about being obedient to one’s faith. With Jesus as our example(remember 2:8), we must walk out our faith with diligence and persistence. Like working in a field (a popular metaphor of Jesus!), if we work diligently we will bring in a harvest.

God desires that I live my life in the best possible way. That means I live for His good pleasure, not my selfish wants. But I cannot do it alone. It is a balanced life. I choose to obey. God works in me to give me the strength to be obedient and empower that persistence I need. He helps to adjust – my attitude.

Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.      Philippians 2:14-16 (WEB)

Paul warns me to watch my attitude. A bad attitude shows itself from the inside as I murmur and then spills over into my life with others as disputes boil.

It is easy to see bad attitudes in others. We all have them as negative language and ‘stinking thinking’ seeps in when we least expect. It’s like pollution that comes in the window when I leave it cracked open. The pessimism that is spouted from the news media, in the hallways of schools and businesses, and even around family dinner table is pervasive and deadly.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, my attitude is to be positive, compassionate, encouraging, and loving. It will not seem ‘normal’ and encourages that notion that I am alien in the world. My model will be Jesus.

Paul says as I am obedient in my attitude I am to be blameless. I am not to be a hypocrite.. I am to be an innocent with clean motives and possessing integrity.

God does not tell me that I will be a princess but that I should never allow myself to be a ‘little light’ or lukewarm in my faith. Jesus says my light will serve to to show others who He truly is. A simple task could be that moment when another person allows the Holy Spirit to take and change my life,.

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