What Are You Gonna Do About It?

"I'm telling you, it's never been this bad."
"It wasn't like this when we grew up."
"Kids today . . . ."

Please forgive me for offering my opinion here, but I am growing weary of these comments. I agree that times are hard, but I must remind you that there is nothing new under the sun. We are living in times of economic hardship and political unrest, but every era has been impacted by catastrophic circumstances. The Great War. The Great Depression. Slavery. Child Labor. The Holocaust. The Civil War. The Crusades. We must admit that our world is under the influence of evil forces, but there have always been tragic periods of history.

 photo credit: https://imgflip.com/i/120trj

So, my question is, "What are you gonna do about it?" I can assure you that standing around complaining is not helpful. It may seem overwhelming to think about changing our world, but if we each do our part, we can make a difference. You may have heard the analogy of the boy throwing starfish into the ocean when he found them washed up on the beach. He was questioned by an old man who told him he could never make a difference, but the boy tossed another starfish into the water and said, "It made a difference to that one." The moral of the story is that we cannot become discouraged by the vastness of our mission. Instead, we must focus on the positive difference we can make in the life of one person at a time, one day at a time. One of my current mantras is, "I can only do what I can do, one day at a time."

Again, my question is, "What are we doing about it?" We find a positive example in the book of Titus, Chapter 2. Paul instructed Titus to teach others, to mentor them in wise living. Did Paul expect Titus to teach the whole world? No. He challenged him to teach the people he knew. The people Titus taught were then expected to teach others. Titus was charged with training the trainer. And that my friend, is where we fall short in our churches today. We sit in our comfy chairs on Sunday mornings and soak up the teaching of the lead pastor. Then we go our merry ways and come back to sit and soak the next Sunday. We sit. We soak. We sour. Our current church model is that it's the preacher's job to study the Word and distribute it to the masses. We are missing the point! It's okay to enjoy a great sermon, but if you never pass it on, then you are like the sour sponge sitting by the sink that never gets "squoze." (Squoze is a word coined by my sweet husband in one of his most memorable sermon illustrations.)

Paul told Titus to teach the old men and women, who could then pass on the teaching to the young men and women. Be teachable and then teach others the lessons God is teaching you. As Dave Ramsey says, "It's not rocket surgery." The trouble is that Satan convinces us that we do not have anything valuable to pass on to the next generation. We know we don't have life figured out; so we feel inadequate to tell others how to do life. That's baloney! Young people need to hear your stories. They need to know that life was hard for you too, but that God is faithful and will bring them through tough times.

Instead of complaining about "these kids today," will you choose a kid to mentor? You just might be surprised at how much you will learn from each other.

What Causes Church Splits?

I was going to skip this topic. Church conflict makes everyone uncomfortable, especially the preacher's wife! I really thought God was going to let me off the hook, but the Holy Spirit caught my attention in my morning quiet time. So, here goes. If you disagree with anything in the following blog, please share your thoughts with me. I like a healthy debate.

Paul's letters to Timothy are an effort to guide a young church leader who was faced with division in his congregation. Hymenaeus and Alexander were two of Timothy's church members, and they were causing the preacher grief. (Read the details in 1 Timothy 1:3-7, 19-20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18, 23-26.) These guys were teaching false doctrine that was "spreading like gangrene," leading people astray, and causing some to lose their faith. Paul told Timothy not to mess with these guys, not to quarrel with them, but to "hand them over to Satan." That's tough love! Some may argue that we should always agree to disagree in a church family, but sometimes that lets the problem get out of hand. We live in a culture where we protect the rights of one person at the expense of the rights of the masses. That is unhealthy in a church family. One of the hardest decisions my husband had to make years ago as a new pastor was to ask a man to leave our church fellowship because the man was trying to teach false doctrine. It gives me shivers to remember the heartache.

So, in my morning Bible study of 1 & 2 Timothy, I asked God why He would ever allow a church body to be split in two. I firmly believe that this is not God's plan for spreading the Gospel. Division hurts the Kingdom, and it usually affects an entire community, not just the church leaders or members. The Holy Spirit answered my question with three things that cause churches to split. 

1. Churches are comprised of imperfect humans who are sometimes selfish, mean, and argumentative. If you have ever sat through a business meeting where there was a fight over the color of the carpet, you know exactly what I am talking about. The Bible reminds us repeatedly that no one is perfect, and when we forget this, we say hurtful and judgmental things. Words cannot be taken back, even with a sincere apology. It breaks relationships that sometimes cannot be mended, and church bodies become divided.

2. Satan hates church families, and he will infiltrate and divide any way he can. I do not believe that Satan can possess a true believer, but he can sway our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Anytime that I "get all up in my feelings," I need to do a heart check and make sure that my thoughts and actions are being led by the Holy Spirit and not by my own selfish desires. None of us would purposefully cause division in a church family, but our enemy knows our hot buttons, and he will use them against us to split a church. One of my former pastors taught often about "familiar spirits" in churches, and division is one of those. I continually pray against the spirit of division in my church family, and heaven forbid that it be the preacher's wife who causes the division! Help me, Lord Jesus! I am fallible. I shoot my mouth off when I am passionate about something. We all do. Satan uses it against church families to cause division.

3. Sometimes a church split is the only way God can get a church off high center and to move in the direction He wanted in the first place. Ouch. This is the point I wanted to omit. Again, I will emphasize that a church split is not the best way to spread the Gospel, but God uses ALL things for good to accomplish HIS purposes. (Romans 8:28) I can think of several examples of churches that were started by people who were unhappy with the church body they left. The church my husband pastors was founded over 80 years ago as a result of a church split. God still uses his church to impact the world. Is it easy to start a new church with a group of unhappy church members? Nope. Does a group like that have a lot to overcome? Yep. Is there a better way to plant a new church? Absolutely! However, with the healing of the Spirit, God still uses broken churches and broken families. Don't let the enemy disqualify you. Get up, dust yourself off, and share the Gospel of grace and forgiveness. I wish that God did not need to make things uncomfortable in our current circumstances to get us to move. I wish we were not such stubborn creatures so we would answer His promptings in the beginning before things get so difficult. Starting new churches can be a happy celebration instead of a heartbreak. If God is leading you to start a new work, ask Him to help you make a smooth transition instead of making it a knock-down-drag-out church fight. There are plenty of lost and dying souls who need the Good News. Let's work together and go share it with them!

So, what is the answer to the heartache of church dissension? Love. Forgive. Resolve conflict. Mend relationships. Apologize. Admit that no one is perfect. We all need a Savior. His name is Jesus.

I love you, my friends! Go spread some peace today!

This is My Story

When my mom was a little girl, she asked God to give her a godly husband and children. So, I grew up under that blessing in a loving, Christian family. My parents and my brother are faithfully serving Jesus today. My husband, my children, and my nieces and nephews are all followers of God as well. What a blessing!

When I was 8 years old (1977), we had a city-wide revival in Keyes, OK. One of my friends went forward at the revival; so I began asking lots of questions. One night while helping set the table for supper, I asked my mom when I would be able to ask Jesus in my heart. We sat down on our blue and green velvet couch, and I asked God to forgive me of my sin and for Jesus to be my Savior. I was baptized then at the Methodist church, and then about a year later, our family was baptized together at the Baptist church.

I am more in love with Jesus today than I ever could have imagined. I want to be known as a lover of the Word! My greatest desire is to glorify God and to invite others to join me. Psalm 34:3 is my life verse, "Come, glorify the LORD with me. Let us exalt His Name together!" God placed a call on my life at Falls Creek in 1986, the summer before my senior year in high school. It thrills me to be answering His call as a pastor's wife, as a teacher, a counselor, and as a missionary everywhere He leads me.

What's Your Story?

If Jesus came back tomorrow, would you be ready to meet Him? How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior? Do your friends and family know the story of how you decided to become a God follower? Have you ever written it down on paper? If not, then why not now?

If someone asked you why you believe in Jesus, could you tell them? Please don't give the Sunday school answer, "Because the Bible tells me so." It has to be more personal than that. Who is Jesus to you? Where in the Bible can you find Scriptures that confirm that Jesus is LORD of your life? When did you answer the door and let Jesus into your life? Why did God choose you, and what did He call you to do for His glory? Please stop right now and write your story. People need to hear it, and your faith will grow stronger as you share it.

Paul shared his story with Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:12-19. He told a part of Timothy's story too. Paul began his story by telling what he used to be: a blasphemer, persecutor, and ignorant unbeliever. Paul did not deserve God's forgiveness, yet he was shown mercy. God gave Paul strength and chose him to serve in the Kingdom. Paul confessed he was the worst of sinners, yet he was given grace, faith, and love when he came to Christ. Jesus will also show patience to you if you will believe in Him and receive eternal life.

In 1 Timothy 1:2, 18, Paul told part of Timothy's story too. Paul called Timothy his "true son in the faith." This indicates that Paul may have been the one who led Timothy to faith in Christ. We know for certain that Paul was a mentor to Timothy. Who have you led to Christ? Who are you mentoring now? I guarantee your faith will grow if you will commit to share your faith with others. Paul also encouraged Timothy to recall the prophecies once made about him so he could fight the battle well.  When I was in high school, my best friend's grandmother prophesied that I would be a preacher's wife. Girl, I took that word and ran with it, and I am living that dream today! What is the prophecy over your life? I dare you to seek God's call and purpose for your life and to chase Him with passion.

I have written my story, and I would be thrilled to hear your story! Will you share it with me?

I Just Want to be Normal

"Why am I so awkward and lonely? I just want to be normal." In my past year as a counselor, I have found that some of the more comforting and calming words I can share with people are these: "You are normal. You are not crazy or weird. Anyone in your circumstances would feel like you do. You are not the only one who feels this way. You are not alone. Everyone feels awkward sometimes. I say, embrace the awkward!"

Our Scripture reading is from 1 Peter 5:5-14 today, and Peter addresses the topics of humility, anxiety, and thinking of others who are suffering.

God created us for relationship; so it brings comfort knowing we are not alone. Satan uses the tool of isolation to make us feel lonely, hopeless, and without confidence. In a culture where we pride ourselves on building our kids' self-esteem, we have instead created a generation that is incredibly self-conscious and lonely. We brag on every kid, tell them how super special they are, and give everyone a trophy. Kids see right through our flattery, and they start comparing their talents with those of others. Deep down they may know they were not capable of being a star soccer player, but we gave them an award anyway. So we force them into this feeling of false humility, knowing they are undeserving of the applause. People feel so much more accomplished when they work for their rewards. Self-esteem comes from helping our kids recognize and excel in their God-given talents and passions. Our kids do not have to grow up to be professional baseball players or famous musicians. We can encourage them to be kind and compassionate and to think of others instead of always wanting to be the winners.

Our goal is to raise decent human beings, not arrogant, spoiled brats. Teaching our children to be confident and humble is difficult, but not impossible. You see, humility is not thinking that we are not good at anything. Humility is knowing we are good at something without being arrogant. Humility is knowing we can win the race but choosing to stop and help someone up who has fallen instead. One of Zig Ziglar's motivational quotes is, “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” True self-confidence leads to genuine humility, because a self-confident person has no need to brag or to prove themselves. Instead, they have the ability to put the needs of others before their own.

One of my favorite Christian songs right now is "Hills and Valleys" by Tauren Wells. It reminds us that we did not arrive on the mountain on our own, and we are never alone in the valleys. When we are self-confident, we are able to recognize that we did not get here on our own. So, we can give back by helping others achieve their goals. In turn, we get to enjoy the blessings of humbly putting others before our own needs.

Not only are we raising a generation that lacks self-confidence, but they are riddled with anxiety. And no wonder! We run them from activity to activity, and we hand them a digital device to keep them quiet in the car. Their brains are continually over-stimulated, and their human interaction is limited. Our kids are adrenaline junkies, and they flip out with anxiety if they do not have their digital device or if they are required to talk to another human face-to-face. We must teach them how to feel calm, to rest, to be still. It is okay if our children feel bored at times. We can let them use their creative imaginations instead of rescuing them from a moment of silence. We must teach our children to cast their anxiety on God, because He cares for them even more than we can imagine! (1 Peter 5:7)

The answers to your feelings of awkwardness, loneliness, anxiety, and selfishness can all be found in the Bible. Stop looking to find all the answers on social media or in the busyness of life. Stop. Be still. Humble yourself before the God who loves you without measure. Read His Word, and find peace for your soul.

Tell Me about Your Flock

Our reading today is from 1 Peter 5:1-5.  Just because these verses are addressed to the elders of the churches, please do not skip over them. If you are growing in your faith, then God will also give you a flock of people to shepherd.

Take a few minutes to list the people your faith can influence. Describe the flock under your care. What are your favorite things about this group of folks. Are you willing and eager to serve them? They need you to serve them well. God has entrusted them to you for His purposes. Are you setting an example of godliness and faithfulness for them? Who are you mentoring to shepherd his or her own flock? Recently, I have been able to encourage a fun group of young moms to spread their spiritual wings. It brings me joy to see them testing their spiritual gifts by serving their families and our church family. It's exciting stuff to watch seeds of faith sprout and grow into strong trees that are bringing shade and blessing to our community.

If you've never given this any thought, then you are missing out on some of the biggest blessings of serving God. You will find that helping someone else come to faith in Christ will bring more joy to your spiritual life than you ever imagined. It's like birthing a spiritual baby. Helping a new believer understand the truth of God's Word will challenge you to know God better. If you are not discipling someone else, then you are not obeying the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20.)

Ask God to bless you with a flock to shepherd. Pray He will also give you someone to guide your spiritual growth. Your pastor or Bible study leader are certainly shepherding you, but I encourage you to seek a personal spiritual mentor who can give you individual encouragement too. Send a message to someone right now. Start a new relationship that will grow your faith and the faith of another Jesus follower.

Are You Ready to Face the Judgment?

What are you living for? Are you ready to face the judgment? Time's up!

Our Scripture reading today is 1 Peter 4:1-19. I'm telling you, Peter packs a powerful punch!

Are you living for evil, human desires, or are you living for the will of God? There's no gray answer here; it's pretty black and white. Either you are living for God, or you are living for yourself. You are chasing your own dreams, or you are chasing God's purpose for your life. Actually, I don't know why we waste our time dancing around answering this question. It's pretty clear based on how you talk. Your mouth is full of praise and thanksgiving and seeking after God, or it's not. Period.

If you are still doing what pagans do, then your time is up. God says enough is enough, and very soon you will have to give an account of your actions as you stand before His throne in judgment. Are you ready for that day? What if you had to face Him right now, this very moment? If you have any doubt that God means business when it comes to judging your sin, do a Bible search of these words: judge, judgment, justice, justified. The Bible speaks of God's judgment from Genesis to Revelation.

One of the biggest complaints our world has against Christianity is that we are too judgmental. I've lost count of how many times people have said they don't come to church because they don't want to be judged. Wake up! Your enemy, the devil, has blinded you and convinced you to run from God's judgment here on earth. Stop running! If you willingly confess your sin now, Jesus will forgive you and wipe your slate clean. Satan knows this. If he convinces you to resist God's grace now, the devil wins your soul for eternity. Face your judge now while there is still time to come clean. If you wait to bow at the throne of judgment, you have no hope. Confess your sin now and receive eternal life! The only people who need to fear God's judgment are those who keep running away from Him. Come to God and find grace and forgiveness.

Peter teaches us that the end of time on earth is near, and he gives us very clear instructions.

• Be clear minded and self-controlled
• Pray
• Love each other deeply
• Offer hospitality
• Stop grumbling
• Serve others with God's grace
• Praise God and give Him glory

Be done with sin. Revere God. Judgment begins with the family of God (4:17) Are you ready?