Monday, 9 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
THE MISSION-MINDED WOMAN Trisha Wilkerson »
What does it look like for a Christian woman to be mission-minded? What are the obstacles that keep us from being on mission?
Proverbs describes the woman who fears the Lord like this: “She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20).
She opens her hand to the poor. She is “on mission.”
What does it mean that she is “on mission”? It means she is aware of the power of the gospel to change lives in her community. She knows that even the smallest actions can demonstrate the grace and mercy of God. With careful attention to her household, her heart overflows out of her house as she responds to the needs in her community. She reaches out to the marginalized. Why is she paying attention to poor strangers? She serves them because she sees people rightly—as image-bearers of God.
ON MISSION
When you are out in your community, what is your heart’s response when you observe the poor? Compassionate? Desensitized? Numb? Prompted by love, we can truly help others know God—by serving and responding to needs. Are you regularly learning what needs there are?
When we respond “on mission” in our community, we are modeling to our children compassion, service, and ultimately the power of the gospel to change lives. We are showing them how being loved by Jesus compels and enables us to love others.
There are three tendencies that can sometimes keep us from truly being mission-minded: disordered priorities, fear of man, and religious actions.
DISORDERED PRIORITIES
Sometimes, we try so hard to be mission-minded, we neglect our primary mission: our own family. We fulfill requests for help by compromising our time with our families. We might deliver amazing meals for others while feeding our husband and kids cold cereal for dinner. We may spend all day with a woman who needs encouragement, when our children are aching for encouragement from their own mom. If we are “on mission” and are sharing the gospel with our neighbors, we need to honestly consider if we are giving the gospel to our family members first.
Sometimes, we try so hard to be mission-minded, we neglect our primary mission: our own family.
Being on mission is always sacrificial; something has to flex so that we can give our time or treasure to others. Therefore, our heart’s priorities need careful prayer and discernment as we pursue living “on mission.”
FEAR OF MAN
Fear of man—instead of fear of the Lord—can motivate us to serve others: to impress them with great food, compassion, or just consistent love. People-pleasing isn’t loving others: it is loving ourselves. If what we get out of giving is gratitude from others, it can easily be a cyclical motivation. Wanting praise and appreciation from others can tempt us to keep giving, because
we like how we feel about ourselves when we hear their praise. In this case, giving can become selfish, not worshipful. We can forget that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
RELIGIOUS ACTIONS
Sometimes, our acts of service are humble, quiet, and honoring to God. For me, there is often a temptation to proclaim my good deed, wanting to be seen or appreciated. But trumpeting our kindness screams religious pride and overlooks the mercy of God. We steal glory when we announce the mercy we have given, when, in fact, it is God’s mercy flowing through us.
People-pleasing isn’t loving others: it is loving ourselves.
Jesus reminds us about the danger of doing good in order to be seen:
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But, when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving maybe in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt. 6:1–4)
Being on mission to share Christ’s love is an honor and gift. It’s truly more blessed to give than to receive, and doing so brings sweet worship. Fear of the Lord motivates me to be prayerful and ready when there is a need. My aim isn’t to get others’ approval or to look righteous, but rather, to have a humble, worshipful heart—because God’s grace makes it so.
Being loved by Jesus compels and enables us to love others.
As Dan Cruver writes, “Those who doubt God’s love for them will not mobilize for mission. Unless we know the Father delights in us even as he delights in Jesus, we will lack the emotional capacity necessary to resist complacency and actively engage in missional living. The only people who can truly turn their eyes outward in mission are those who knowingly live within and enjoy the loving gaze of their heavenly Father.”
Being on mission isn’t about our mission: it is about God’s mission. Our aim is to make his name great, and when we act, we are growing in worship.
When have you mixed your missional priorities? How can you seek to promote more awareness in your heart and family life of your community’s needs?
This post is adapted from Everyday Worship: Our Work, Heart, and Jesus by Trisha Wilkerson © 2013. Used by permission.
What to do when the Lord answers our Prayers but not in the way we expect
A
few weeks ago after finding myself looking for a new job again, I had an
interview in Liverpool, I was fairly
confident that I had been successful,
and the Job was mine. I had prayed about and many of my friends had
prayed for it too, I was surprised when
I heard I had been unsuccessful however the company had invited me back for
another interview so I prayed again and asked friends to pray once more, I left the interview and I was walking on
air, I thanked the Lord for providing me
with a great job, on my way home on the train to Southport, I felt I needed to contact my ex-employer
this was last Friday, over that weekend The Lord reminded me several times that
I needed to contact them on Monday.
On
Monday morning, I decided to do an online job search, during this job
search, I saw a job advertised for my ex
– employer, I decided to bite the bullet
and call them, I spoke to my contact
there, who told that they had rang me the previous Friday to see if I was
interested in working for them on a 6 Month Fixed Term Contract starting on the
1st of October, I readily agreed to rejoin my ex-employer, I didn’t
actually apply nor have an interview for my new job, but because I had gained a great reputation
when working for ex-employer previously they offered me this job.
Although
I was secretly hoping that the interview I had the previous week would give me
the job I applied for, I had spoken to one of my of many friends at Church last Sunday and told her that I was confident that the job I
had the interview for.
This week I decided that working for my ex-employer was plan b and the other job was plan a, I reviewed the evidence about both jobs, plan a was £1,000 a year more than plan b, and full time permanent and plan b was full time but a fixed 6 month contract, plan a was 5 days out of 7 days, and involved flexible start and finishes between 8am – 9pm, plan b is Monday to Friday 9am -5pm. I’m involved a great deal in my home church, and I knew that if I took plan a I wouldn’t be able to serve as much if I was working evenings and weekends. I heard last Thursday that I wasn't offered plan a, and once past my initial disappointment, I thanked the Lord for providing me with his choice of job for me.
This week I decided that working for my ex-employer was plan b and the other job was plan a, I reviewed the evidence about both jobs, plan a was £1,000 a year more than plan b, and full time permanent and plan b was full time but a fixed 6 month contract, plan a was 5 days out of 7 days, and involved flexible start and finishes between 8am – 9pm, plan b is Monday to Friday 9am -5pm. I’m involved a great deal in my home church, and I knew that if I took plan a I wouldn’t be able to serve as much if I was working evenings and weekends. I heard last Thursday that I wasn't offered plan a, and once past my initial disappointment, I thanked the Lord for providing me with his choice of job for me.
I
often wonder why we expect the Lord to answer our prayers in a certain way, and
then He blindsides us, and answers our
prayers according to His will for our lives, and not according to our will/desires/dreams
and plans for our own lives. We expect
because we have prayed in faith that the Lord will answer our prayers in a
certain and in the way we expect, when He answers our prayers in a way we don’t
expect, if you are like me you’re
momentarily confused but soon realise that the Lord has answered our prayers in
accordance with his will for our lives,
through this we mature and learn to trust Him more.
When
I was in Bible School in South Wales 20 plus years ago, I had a favourite hymn , I Remember Calvary, I expected to remain
serving God and living in South Wales as
part of a great Pentecostal Denomination that both my parents and grandparents
had bought me up in, and I remember singing this hymn with a great enthusiasm never
realising that He would lead me out of The Pentecostal Denomination that I grown up in and outside The South
Wales Valleys. For most of the last 20
years I have been part of the New Church Movement and for many years have lived
in England, and now live in Southport,
Merseyside and part of a fantastic Church, both are now my home.
I
remember Calvary
Where He may lead me I will go,
For I have learned to trust Him so,
And I remember ’twas for me,
That He was slain on Calvary.
For I have learned to trust Him so,
And I remember ’twas for me,
That He was slain on Calvary.
Refrain
Jesus shall lead me night and day,
Jesus shall lead me all the way,
He is the truest Friend to me,
For I remember Calvary.
Jesus shall lead me all the way,
He is the truest Friend to me,
For I remember Calvary.
O I
delight in His command,
Love to be led by His dear hand;
His divine will is sweet to me,
Hallowed by bloodstained Calvary.
Love to be led by His dear hand;
His divine will is sweet to me,
Hallowed by bloodstained Calvary.
Onward I
go, nor doubt nor fear,
Happy with Christ my Savior near,
Trusting that I some day shall see,
Jesus my Friend of Calvary.
Happy with Christ my Savior near,
Trusting that I some day shall see,
Jesus my Friend of Calvary.
Matthew 7:7-11 New American Standard
Bible
7 “[c](F)Ask, and (G)it will be given to
you; [d]seek, and you will find; [e]knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For
everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it
will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you [f]who, when his son asks for
a loaf, [g]will give him a stone? 10 Or [h]if he asks for a fish, he will not
give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, (H)how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
what is good to those who ask Him!
8409 decision-making, and providence Dictionary of Bible Themes
People need guidance from God about how
they should make up their minds on difficult issues. God gives them this
through the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, individuals, groups and other external
means. Decisions should be grounded in a relationship with God
Ephesians 3:14 -21 New Living
Translation
14 When I think of all this, I fall to
my knees and pray to the Father,[e] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and
on earth.[f] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will
empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make
his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into
God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as
all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love
is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to
understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life
and power that comes from God. 20 Now
all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might
ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all
generations forever and ever! Amen.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Ephesians 3:21
It is proper to conclude our prayers
with praises. Our blessed Saviour has taught us to do so. Take notice how he
describes God, and how he ascribes glory to him. He describes him as a God that
is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. There is an inexhaustible fulness of grace
and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry.
Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more,
abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more. Open thy mouth ever so wide,
still he hath wherewithal to fill it. Note, In our applications to God we
should encourage our faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and
almighty power.
According to the power which worketh in us. As if he had said, We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what he hath wrought in us and done for us, having quickened us by his grace, and converted us to himself. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives of his fulness he gives to experience his power. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to him. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. In ascribing glory to God, we ascribe all excellences and perfections to him, glory being the effulgency and result of them all.
Observe, The seat of God’s praises is in the church. That little rent of praise which God receives from this world is from the church, a sacred society constituted for the glory of God, every particular member of which, both Jew and Gentile, concurs in this work of praising God. The Mediator of these praises is Jesus Christ. All God’s gifts come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be praised thus throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.
According to the power which worketh in us. As if he had said, We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what he hath wrought in us and done for us, having quickened us by his grace, and converted us to himself. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives of his fulness he gives to experience his power. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to him. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. In ascribing glory to God, we ascribe all excellences and perfections to him, glory being the effulgency and result of them all.
Observe, The seat of God’s praises is in the church. That little rent of praise which God receives from this world is from the church, a sacred society constituted for the glory of God, every particular member of which, both Jew and Gentile, concurs in this work of praising God. The Mediator of these praises is Jesus Christ. All God’s gifts come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be praised thus throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.
Prayer, Changes Us.
A
few weeks ago after finding myself looking for a new job again, I had an
interview in Liverpool, I was fairly
confident that I had been successful,
and the Job was mine. I had prayed about and many of my friends had
prayed for it too, I was surprised when
I heard I had been unsuccessful however the company had invited me back for
another interview so I prayed again and asked friends to pray once more, I left the interview and I was walking on
air, I thanked the Lord for providing me
with a great job, on my way home on the train to Southport, I felt I needed to contact my ex-employer
this was last Friday, over that weekend The Lord reminded me several times that
I needed to contact them on Monday.
On
Monday morning, I decided to do an online job search, during this job
search, I saw a job advertised for my ex
– employer, I decided to bite the bullet
and call them, I spoke to my contact
there, who told that they had rang me the previous Friday to see if I was
interested in working for them on a 6 Month Fixed Term Contract starting on the
1st of October, I readily agreed to rejoin my ex-employer, I didn’t
actually apply nor have an interview for my new job, but because I had gained a great reputation
when working for ex-employer previously they offered me this job.
Although
I was secretly hoping that the interview I had the previous week would give me
the job I applied for, I had spoken to one of my of many friends at Church last Sunday and told her that I was confident that the job I
had the interview for. This week I decided that working for my ex-employer
was plan b and the other job was plan a, I reviewed the evidence about both
jobs, plan a was £1,000 more a year than plan b, and full time permanent and plan b was full
time but a fixed 6 month contract, plan a was 5 days out of 7 days, and
involved flexible start and finishes between 8am – 9pm, plan b is Monday to
Friday 9am -5pm. I’m involved a great deal in my home church, and I knew that if I took plan a I wouldn’t be able to serve as much if I was
working evenings and weekends. I heard
last Thursday that I wasn't offered plan a,
and once past my initial disappointment,
I thanked the Lord for providing me with his choice of job for me.
I
often wonder why we expect the Lord to answer our prayers in a certain way, and
then He blindsides us, and answers our
prayers according to His will for our lives, and not according to our will/desires/dreams
and plans for our own lives. We expect
because we have prayed in faith that the Lord will answer our prayers in a
certain and in the way we expect, when He answers our prayers in a way we don’t
expect, if you are like me you’re
momentarily confused but soon realise that the Lord has answered our prayers in
accordance with his will for our lives,
through this we mature and learn to trust Him more.
When
I was in Bible School in South Wales 20 plus years ago, I had a favourite hymn , I Remember Calvary, I expected to remain
serving God and living in South Wales as
part of a great Pentecostal Denomination that both my parents and grandparents
had bought me up in, and I remember singing this hymn with a great enthusiasm never
realising that He would lead me out of The Pentecostal Denomination that I grown up in and outside The South
Wales Valleys. For most of the last 20
years I have been part of the New Church Movement and for many years have lived
in England, and now live in Southport,
Merseyside and part of a fantastic Church, both are now my home.
I
remember Calvary
Where He may lead me I will go,
For I have learned to trust Him so,
And I remember ’twas for me,
That He was slain on Calvary.
For I have learned to trust Him so,
And I remember ’twas for me,
That He was slain on Calvary.
Refrain
Jesus shall lead me night and day,
Jesus shall lead me all the way,
He is the truest Friend to me,
For I remember Calvary.
Jesus shall lead me all the way,
He is the truest Friend to me,
For I remember Calvary.
O I
delight in His command,
Love to be led by His dear hand;
His divine will is sweet to me,
Hallowed by bloodstained Calvary.
Love to be led by His dear hand;
His divine will is sweet to me,
Hallowed by bloodstained Calvary.
Onward I
go, nor doubt nor fear,
Happy with Christ my Savior near,
Trusting that I some day shall see,
Jesus my Friend of Calvary.
Happy with Christ my Savior near,
Trusting that I some day shall see,
Jesus my Friend of Calvary.
Matthew 7:7-11 New American Standard
Bible
7 “[c](F)Ask, and (G)it will be given to
you; [d]seek, and you will find; [e]knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For
everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it
will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you [f]who, when his son asks for
a loaf, [g]will give him a stone? 10 Or [h]if he asks for a fish, he will not
give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, (H)how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
what is good to those who ask Him!
8409 decision-making, and providence Dictionary of Bible Themes
People need guidance from God about how
they should make up their minds on difficult issues. God gives them this
through the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, individuals, groups and other external
means. Decisions should be grounded in a relationship with God
Ephesians 3:14 -21 New Living
Translation
14 When I think of all this, I fall to
my knees and pray to the Father,[e] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and
on earth.[f] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will
empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make
his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into
God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as
all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love
is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to
understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life
and power that comes from God. 20 Now
all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might
ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all
generations forever and ever! Amen.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Ephesians 3:21
It is proper to conclude our prayers
with praises. Our blessed Saviour has taught us to do so. Take notice how he
describes God, and how he ascribes glory to him. He describes him as a God that
is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
There is an inexhaustible fulness of grace
and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry.
Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more,
abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more. Open thy mouth ever so wide,
still he hath wherewithal to fill it. Note, In our applications to God we
should encourage our faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and
almighty power. According to the power which worketh in us. As if he had said,
We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what he hath wrought in us
and done for us, having quickened us by his grace, and converted us to himself.
The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that
hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives of his fulness he gives to experience
his power. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to him. When we
come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus.
In ascribing glory to God, we ascribe
all excellences and perfections to him, glory being the effulgency and result
of them all. Observe, The seat of God’s praises is in the church. That little
rent of praise which God receives from this world is from the church, a sacred
society constituted for the glory of God, every particular member of which,
both Jew and Gentile, concurs in this work of praising God. The Mediator of
these praises is Jesus Christ. All God’s gifts come from his to us through the
hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand.
And God should and will be praised thus throughout all ages, world without end;
for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute
of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.
Friday, 6 September 2013
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