Are you True Blue?

Written by Fiona Monaghan I wonder if we might get a better idea of what faithfulness is if we looked at what it is not?

Someone who is not faithful is one who can be swayed to do mean things. Who can feel ok with letting people down, not living up to promises, not staying true to a loved one but will sell them out for a price.

“…Faithfulness has two different meanings. If we mean the faithfulness of God or Jesus, it refers to steadfastness, honesty, firmness, and God's utter dependability based on His unchanging character. If we mean human faithfulness, it refers to our steady allegiance to God and our trust in Him. A "faithful" man is "full of faith"; he believes in the reality of God as revealed in Scripture…”  compellingtruth.org 

I think I have learned more about God’s personal faithfulness toward me since losing my hearing. I saw things line up to provide me with hearing aids from an unlikely source, was able to get in to see the best surgeon in Seattle to do the implant, to funds being available to pay for it. I could see his promises coming true right before my eyes.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 - (The Message)

This fruit is a result from when we put into action our trust and loyalty in God. We want to live our lives to please Him. We won’t be looking to find a way out of things, or being disloyal to others or trying not to commit to something that requires effort on our part. We will discover that we are becoming people of faithfulness:

“Doing what is needed to take good care of what is entrusted to us”

I would suggest a word study on this one. We think we know what it means, but when you look it up in the dictionary or online, there is so much more to this word. You might be surprised…

Photo Credit: Faithfulness & Lucado

Strong Gentleness

Written by Pastor Rex Hamilton A couple years back, I read a fascinating book by Dr. Henry Cloud called, Changes That Heal. In it, he speaks to the notion that one cannot be a healthy person without the presence of both Truth and Grace. He states that without truth and grace being lived out on a daily basis a person cannot be emotionally healthy.

When it comes following Jesus, the same can be said about Strength and Gentleness. Both work together to help form our faith and trust in Jesus, they drive our ability to be a credible witness in our world.

Look at the life of Jesus. Countless times people confronted him and every single time he exhibits strength through his gentleness. He never backed down from people, but he never pointed a finger in their face. I wish I could say that about myself!

Today, as you read this- ask yourself if your thoughts, actions or words have been marked with strong gentleness. Be truthful with yourself. And then show yourself some grace. I know Jesus will...

A Fruitful Effort

Written by Fiona Monaghan Gentleness is a trait, I think, that we would like more of. It paints a picture of someone who is careful with other’s feelings, who can soothe with their words and be mindful of other people that share their lives. It is not a place of weakness, but of great strength. For someone to be gentle requires effort. To be mindful of how our words come across to another, requires effort, and to be careful toward people in our lives, requires effort.

Picture a small child who has been given a kitten to hold. We tell them “be gentle” as their tendency would be to squeeze and maybe get scratched in the process. It is by extra effort that gentleness is managed.

Jesus was portrayed as a gentle man. But no one would call him a weakling or someone who was easily pushed around. He showed gentleness to people caught in bad circumstances by extending kind words and gentle commands. ‘…neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more…” He came along side people at their most vulnerable and never seemed to be at a loss of words. He just knew the right things to say.

If we are to grow in this fruit I believe it requires effort on our part. The other fruit we have looked at previously result from a trusting place - trusting God with our lives and circumstances. This one has us making the effort to think about what we say, how we say it and what action we use around people who share our lives. The better we can do this requires us to know the one who showed how to live it. As we study Jesus’ life and the way he treated people we would feel encouraged to do likewise.

Try asking the people in your life if they see you as a gentle person and then act upon that.

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What has its hold on you?

Written by Fiona Monaghan We looked at what living a life attached to the True Vine or Jesus would like versus living attached to things of this world and looking for them to satisfy and provide for us.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:7-8

I heard a pastor use a visual for the word ‘abide’ that has really stuck with me. He showed a little kid’s toy, this little man inside a gargantuan robot body. When the little man wasn’t inside (or abiding) in the robot he was in his own power and susceptible to all kinds of trouble and problems. But when he climbed inside the robot body, he was able to use all the power available to him in that robots power. That is what abiding in Christ looks like. We climb into Jesus and let Him ‘live out’ in us, He is also the Power behind the work.

“The disciple who abides (is at home) in Jesus is in the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees…” Oswald Chambers

To live within His will and plan for our lives then frees us from all sorts of things. We take steps daily toward our future knowing He’s got it all mapped out. If we turn our concerns over others into prayers for them, it accomplishes things for the Kingdom far better than worrying will do. To do this we need to trust God with every aspect of life with the confidence of a little child who is totally focused and accepting that our Father would never do anything to hurt or disappoint. He loves us and wants only the best for us in order to grow and strengthen us to be useful in our time here.

Are there some things that have got you ‘hooked’ - things that have too strong a hold on you that need to be cut away so you are free to live your life fully and healthily getting your sustenance from the True Vine?

Photo Credit

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdgaO37W2Fs

Your last is never your last

Written by Pastor Tim White Rey’s last message was not his last. Sunday was a moving day as Pastor Rex and his wife, Christalle, led us in a time to launch the Diaz family into their new global ministry based in Dallas, Texas. It showed how our church is in good hands with a group of young, gifted, gracious, fun pastors rising up. It also demonstrated how our church is more than a church- it is a movement.

Dr. Rey Diaz is going to work with Orphan Outreach, trying to solve the world problems of orphans on the streets. He is working on the solution of radical terrorism. Because terrorist find many of their recruits from the Hell holes that these children are forced to live in the midst of these monstrous slums. Orphan Outreach is unique because they collaborate with practically every other Christian orphan society to help with building orphanages, setting standards for their Christian care, working with local churches each time so that Jesus gets the glory, working with adoptive parents, foster parents and lobbying governments into setting higher standards for orphanages. Rey will continue to preach both around the world and when he visits Washington Cathedral in November for a special Orphan Sunday.

The point I want to make to you today is your last sermon is never your last. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Thursday, I visited Elling Halvorson for the last time in the hospital. We had our last devotion. But it wasn’t our last because he’s out of the hospital looking better than I have ever seen him. His mind was sharp as he held a business meeting at the hospital with many of the leaders of Boeing. As we prayed together with his amazing daughter Brenda, who is the president of Papillion Air lines, we knew that God has the best yet to come ahead of him. Here is my point.

Your last is never your last if you put your effort in God’s hands.

Jesus put it this way, “I will be with you always even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20a) Our work and our prayers are eternal and continue as long as God is God. So when I preach my last sermon it won’t be my last. Little kids will still listen to the bible stories we put on CD long after I am gone. My books will be read by those that love me long after I am gone. My sermons will be preached by preachers that I have taught as a professor in college and seminary. My discipleship will continue in the lives of people all around the world. Why because it isn’t my work it is God’s and he is eternal. Love is eternal. So your last is never your last. Get it. Get positive because today is a new day to be lived with the thrill of faith in Jesus Christ working through you.

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I saw a miracle today…

Written by Fiona Monaghan I was blessed to be invited to view the ultrasound of my grandchild and I couldn’t help but remember these verses from Psalms. ‘You made my whole being, You formed me in my mothers womb…You saw my bones being formed… my life was written before I was one day old…” Psalm 139:13-16

God knows what that small life represents even now. All the potential is there and He knows it all. From the outside world this little one has a cheering fan club looking on, praying and encouraging their growth until that day when they truly become part of our world.

How like our experience here on earth. We are growing and changing through difficulty and pressure to become people of honor and strength exhibiting the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We also have a cheering team looking on and encouraging us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us… Hebrews 12:1-2

There are so many things in the physical world that have a spiritual counterpart and this one spoke to me loud and clear. This baby can do nothing more to earn the love of its parents and family. Just by being - they are loved; and there is nothing we can do to make God love us more than He does already. His nature and character is love and love is to want the best for someone - no matter what. It is not an emotion - but an action, which was exhibited with Jesus providing the way for us to be reinstated back into God’s family.

“Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” C.S. Lewis

I don’t know what the future holds for this little one, but My Father does, so I think I will just trust Him with it.

Thank you Father for the blessing of being a part of my grandchildren’s cheering section. To encourage, love and pray for them. Keep me mindful of the responsibility I bear them and their parents as I support them and bring them to You in prayer.

Amen

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A love you can't resist

Written by Pastor Tim White I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love is genuine.  2 Corinthians 8:8

What an insightful verse.  The Bible has so much to say about love.  God is love (1 John 4:7-8). Love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13).  You will know you are a Christian if you love your brothers and sisters in Christ (theme of 1 John).  But here the apostle Paul is saying when God’s love really happens it causes a chain reaction, which is unavoidable.  Like an atomic Bomb.  Can you imagine standing next to an atomic bomb blast and someone running up to you exclaiming what happened and you said, “I didn’t notice anything”?  That is ridiculous.  When Christ’s love happens it is unmistakable, it is a love you cannot resist. 

This morning I woke up early.  After I let my dog out, and I was surprised to see my grandson, Elijah, sitting reading on the chair in the family room.  I asked, “Elijah what time did you wake up?  He replied, “Oh, about 7:30.”  “It’s not about 7:30 yet,” I chuckled looking at the clock. He shrugged, “I don't know… All I know is when I tried to wake up my mom and dad they said they were still sleeping.”

Knowing that they are leaving in a week for Dallas, I smiled and asked Elijah if he would like to sneak out for a cinnamon roll with G.P. He thought about it for a moment.  When he responded he told me he would have to ask his mom and dad because he’s not really a sneaky guy.  I teased back, “You're not?”  With a serious look on his face he answered, “I could be, but I have chosen not to be - I think it is just better that way.” So he asked his parents for permission and then we went to get him a cinnamon roll with their blessing.

When we got back Grandma met us at the door and greeted us, “My two boys sure have sparkling eyes.”  We did, Elijah’s eyes were twinkling because we just had a lot of fun.  My eyes are twinkling because I have a grandson who loves his parents so much that he chooses not to be sneaky guy.  The love that he has been taught and shown is unmistakable, unavoidable, indisputable, it is a love you can't resist.

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Give me patience and I want it now!

Written by Fiona Monaghan But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful ²³ and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. Galatians 5:22-23

Patience…the next fruit of the spirit on our list. This is one trait that is much like that of silver, needing extreme heat to purify it. Or that of carbon needing extreme pressure to form diamonds; patience grows under duress and in the learning to hold steady.

“A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen 

There are many quotes, poems and jokes about patience; but we all know is that it is not easily acquired. This is another fruit that is an outcome of an action that we have to exercise…that being TRUST. If we can be trusting God for the outcome in the difficulties in life, then what we do while we wait will produce either anxiety or patience. It is all in the process making…it is learning that something of value is never quickly acquired.

A visual that comes to my mind is that of a pearl being formed. Pearls start out as a speck of sand or grit that gets into an oyster and the irritation causes a liquid to be excreted to cover the offending irritant. Over time this form into a pearl - something of value. So when life brings irritations to us, when we encounter those people who make us count to 10…imagine something precious being formed … something of value which will become part of our character and reputation. As stated in Proverbs 22:1 “Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”

Photo credit: Quote, e-card, Fog Leghorn

Hurry Up and Wait!

Written by Pastor Rex Hamilton When I was about 7 years old, I sang in the kids choir at my church. One year we did a concert called, The Music Machine. It was a popular musical production that sang about the Fruit of the Spirit. I can still remember every word to the song called, “Patience”...

“Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry. When you get impatient, you only start to worry...”. Funny how some songs just stick with you!

Such a simple (and cheesy) kids song, yet so true for all of us! Impatience with others, God, or ourselves almost always leads to worry and anxiety. If Paul’s words in Galatians 5:22 (NLT) are true that the Holy Spirit “PRODUCES” patience in us- our worry and anxiety will only stunt the Spirit’s work in us. Saying "don’t be impatient" is obviously easier said than done, but the next time you feel anxious or worried about something in your life, ask yourself if it is in any way connected with needing to be patient.

If it is, take a deep breath...whisper the name Jesus and remember the wise words of Winnie the Poo - “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

Photo Credit

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orY-QA8kuGc

Take a deep breath of life

Written by Pastor Tim White Take a deep breath of life?  I have seen the first breath of life taken by a human being created by the almighty.  I have witnessed the last breath of this life taken by a loving person who loves so many.   I have observed a person stressed out and overwhelmed by problems stop and take a deep breath of life.

We were designed to live in peace in the midst of troubles.  Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace and in Greek it is eirene.  The Greek word means "join the prosperity of God".  In other words you can't do it alone- so don't - take a deep breath of life.

Moses said, “Be not afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Exodus 14:13

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adhaJs7vuzw