Thanks

In giving thanks, it would be helpful to remember that most of the New Testament was written to believers who experienced persecution as a "normal" part of life. So when the Apostle Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" in Philippians 4:4, and "Rejoice always" in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, he was speaking to people who were on the receiving end of alot of determined opposition. Not to mention that he experienced plenty of it himself. And to say that our forefathers, who were the first to set aside a day of thanksgiving, were rugged survivors, would be to make a grand understatement. So when we gather in our homes, or in each other's, and sit down in comfort to a huge banquet, it would be well to remember that thanksgiving is expected to be done in rough times. And just maybe, the hard times help us to be grateful for even the small blessings, all of which are undeserved, and which we have received from the gracious hand of a generous God. God bless you all this holiday season. I will be distant from this blog for most of the next three weeks.

Minding My Own Business

After I blogged about human frailty, I found out I had an illness which definitely affected my mood. It doesn't diminish my need to work on my sins, but illness does play a part in our struggle against sin. Part of my struggle this week has had to do with keeping my hands off, and trusting God to work on my behalf. Medical interpreting is one of the things I do as an independent contractor. I have been involved with the same clients through volunteer work with refugees, and through them became aware of interpreting opportunities that were being assigned to others. I really need the money, and was toying with the idea of telling the clients I knew, that they could actually request a specific interpreter they wanted. The Lord was displeased with that, so I backed off. Soon after, a client asked me specifically whether I could interpret for him and his family. It was as if the Lord was saying, "Slow down, Kathryn. I can do this." Subsequently, that opportunity fell through due to the client being assigned to another clinic. However, the door is open for my agency to honor that request and assign that client's interpreting needs to me in the future. And I suspect the client might tell others in the Swahili-speaking community that they can choose their own interpreters. The African grapevine is like no other. So who knows what opportunities I might get (or not)? It's really up to the Lord, not me. Then yesterday, a Swahili-speaking friend asked me to take her to get an immunization. What should have taken about an hour took 4.5 hours (and 54 miles), due to us being shuffled from one clinic to another (sometimes in very slow and frustrating traffic due to construction)before we reached a clinic that actually performed the requested service. But we had quality and quantity time to fellowship with each other and laugh together. It's really fun to enjoy a time of laughter with someone in another language. Was time and gasoline wasted? I think not. God had a purpose for the two of us that could be fulfilled in no other way. I also helped this friend confirm medical appointments for two of her kids for today. Today it appears that this interpreting opportunity may not be assigned to me. But in God's eyes, that's none of my business, and He can provide for me.

Human Frailty

The Lord has been getting on my case. "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies" (1 Corinthians 8:1) as Scripture says. Causes of pride abound, however. I am ever mindful of my need for a Savior, and thankful that I have Him. "He knows our frame. He remembers that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:14). I need to remember that other people are dust as well as I, and exercise patience and love, as well as rely on Divine wisdom. "Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Then Who Can Be Saved?

I've been thinking about yesterday's blog. It brings up another question. If I don't believe the things expounded upon in yesterday's blog, am I ipso facto condemned? An illustration might help answer that question. I've been a believer for forty years. Jesus just now opened up this specific Truth to me. Does that mean I wasn't really saved before? No, I'm saved by faith in Jesus' blood and righteousness alone(which faith He gave me as a gift). Then why does it matter what we believe? "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Salvation comes through the vehicle of the Truth. Our knowledge of the Truth is progressive. None of us could contain the whole of God's Truth in a lifetime, let alone in the moment we are born again. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus death and resurrection alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). But it really matters what we believe. That's why we have to stick to the Holy Scriptures. I would supply this caution. When the Lord reveals more Truth to us. we'd better obey it. Obedience doesn't save us, but it reveals our hearts. And it also helps us build a strong relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have I totally confused you?

To What Extent Forgiveness? The Price of Unforgiveness

I volunteer as an online missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ. The other day, an inquirer asked a question about forgiveness. I directed her to Matthew 18:23-35, about the servant whose master forgave him and canceled an impossible debt. But the servant would not, in turn, forgive and cancel the debt of a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. I pointed out that forgiveness is not just about saying that you forgive someone. It is about canceling their debts against you. I have been hurt many times and in various ways. A number of years ago, the Lord taught me this Truth about forgiveness and debt cancellation, because I was expecting my friends to pay me back for the hurts done to me by others. The Lord pointed out that this is not fair, since my friends had not sinned against me. Making them pay was wrong. He also reminded me that when He forgave me, He didn't just SAY He forgave me. He canceled my debt (Colossians 2:14). And I was to do the same. So I did. In addition, I believe that debt cancellation is what the Word means when it says that we are to forgive from the heart. At that time, the Lord also showed me that the basis for my forgiving anyone is His death and resurrection, which paid not only for my sins, but for the sins of all who sinned against me. (A Truth which a Calvinist cannot say, because they don't believe that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world). So Jesus paid for the sins of all who sin against you and me. AND THAT'S ENOUGH! We need to accept that and move on from our hurts. God's grace is enough for that. But as I reviewed this passage in order to help that inquirer the other day, the Lord showed me something I hadn't seen before. In Matthew 18:34, the master reinstates the servant's debt, and the punishment for it. And in verse 35, verse 34 is applied to us. I suspect his refusal to forgive and cancel the debt of another revealed that his heart had not been changed by his master's forgiveness, because it wasn't received by faith. But the point I am making here is that to fail to forgive another, shows that we reject the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, and treat it with contempt. And we dare not do that, for that is the unforgivable sin!

Wrong Focus

Yesterday someone gave me a quote. I added a 3-word postscript. "Blessed is the man who does not consider himself better when he is praised and promoted by men, than when they look on him as vile, stupid, and contemptible. For what a man is before God, that he is, and no more"...and no less. The main part of the quote is by Francis of Assisi. I'm interested in this for several reasons. One is that I often find myself in the minority, and have been harassed, emotionally abused, rejected, and the general underdog. Another reason is my ongoing concern about the popularity of self-esteem theories among Christians. One of the main problems about such theories is that they start from the wrong place. You do not build people up by teaching them to focus on themselves. Another problem is it puts the basis of a relationship with God on oneself. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself is not about loving yourself first. They say, "You can't love God if you don't love yourself." That's not true. This is basically saying that God hasn't given you enough grace with which to love Him. No, God's grace is enough for you, as the Scriptures say. God never tells you to do anything that He doesn't give you the grace to accomplish. No exceptions! Focusing on yourself first keeps you going in circles of inadequacy, and contributes to the problem. This teaching also assumes that love is mainly a feeling. It is not. It is a commitment. Take Proverbs 13:24, for example 24. He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (NKJV). Now, does that mean the man feels hatred for his son? No. It means he is doing his son a disservice if he doesn't discipline him. It's a lack of commitment, not a feeling. Or take Proverbs 19:8, "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul." (NKJV). This is not about feelings. It is about commitment to yourself and your relationship with God. "He who disdains instruction despises his own soul"
(Proverbs 15:32 NKJV). The one who really hates himself is the one who is not committed to living a disciplined life and building a strong relationship with the Lord. Also, "Love thyself" is the cardinal doctrine of the new age movement. Stay away from it. When Job said 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes” in Job 42:5-6, God didn't correct him and tell him he should love himself. In fact, God didn't get off his case until he said it! Clearly, something else is going on in Scripture besides teaching us to focus on ourselves. Jesus did not die and rise again to make us feel good about ourselves! He died and rose again to save us from eternal damnation and to make us servants of His to proclaim His glory even if it kills us! We need to focus on God, His estimation of us, and build on our identity with Him. You might be surprised at the results.

It Doesn't Work

Don't believe anything Calvinists tell you about Arminians. They aren't authorities on the subject, and don't know whereof they speak. They'll do anything to get to get you to believe theirs is the only legitimate position. Don't take their word for it. Check it out for yourself. The Society of Evangelical Arminians website is a good place to start. You'll find writings from the Arminian experts there. Take it from those who know what they're talking about, and make up your own mind. I've put both Calvinism and Arminianism severely to the test in practical experience. Not only did Calvinism fail me in a huge crisis, it added more burdens than I already had! Calvinism, in its logical outworking in practical living, is oppressive, burdensome, and bankrupt. It sounds great in its scholarly theory, but doesn't deliver. Arminianism is Biblical and straightforward. It works, and gloriously so! Would you like some specifics? For starters, check out what I've written on the subject in earlier blogs (the last week of September through early October of this year). Then move on to the Society of Evangelical Arminians website. Arminians are not about losing your salvation. We are about freedom in Christ. You'll be glad and relieved you looked into it.

Control vs. Cause

It's important to distinguish between God being in complete control, and God causing everything. Calvinists take it to such lengths that it makes God responsible for evil. Man has no choice. God foreordained everything. But Arminians believe that God is completely in control, but man's will is free. This makes man responsible for evil choices. "Elect from the foundation of the world." "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1:4). "Whosoever will may come." "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). God's sovereignty gives me great comfort when I am struggling with great challenges. It gives me a sense of purpose. He takes my circumstances, and my wrong, free-will choices, and declares to me in the midst of them. "I am in control. Fear not. There is a purpose in this." Before the foundation of the world He planned to make this horrible mess, conform me more into His image, glorify Himself, and use me to further His Kingdom. And His purpose, and the outcome of all of this is glorious!

What Really Scares Me

I have a friend who is hyper busy. She gets so busy that she pushes people away emotionally in various ways. She is the type of person who seems to think that if there is a need that's not being met (in her estimation), she is the one who ought to fill it. She and her husband add to this problem constantly by taking frequent get-away trips for relief from all the stress of their too-busy lives. My friend even acknowledges that things pile up more and more each time they are gone, but they never get off the merry-go-round. So around and around they go. Not only do they spend so much time running away from their responsibilities, but it costs them a lot of money, too. I really feel pushed away often, and think that there are much better ways to spend their money. Their agenda and schedule are more important than people. And that's a problem! I know another lady who is also hyper busy, but in a different way. She repeatedly pushes herself to the point of collapse. She's over 70, still works full time, and engages in a multitude of other activities. She even goes at it on Sunday, taking no day of rest. (For the record, taking a weekly day of rest is one of the Ten Commandments). All of this woman's activity is by choice. She doesn't have to do any of this. In her case, I think she's trying to make up for the lack of approval she experienced as a child, by impressing people now. She gets the approval she wants from people. Most are duly impressed. But I see real danger here. In the case of the first friend I mentioned above, she and her husband obviously have the wrong priorities. Jesus was never too busy for people. And by always being the one to fill an alleged need, my friend keeps others from assuming responsibilities and growing in Christ. The second woman really scares me, though. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). Jesus said that those who try to impress people "have received their reward in full" (Matthew 6:2, 5). She's robbing herself of her rewards in Heaven. Not to mention the fact that Jesus commended Mary, who sat at His feet and listened to Him, and chided the busy Martha. And I am going to shift away from my friends, and speak of myself. I cannot judge any of my friends' relationship with the Lord. I cannot know whether or not they are trying to earn merit before God with their works. We all have different resources to use in serving God. We all fall far short of God's glory, need His grace, and must depend entirely on Jesus' blood and righteousness in order to be saved. I have become increasingly aware of that as I grow in Christ. And, yes, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Nevertheless, I often think of the following passage: 22 "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:22-23). And to me, that's the scariest thing of all! It is hard even for many Christians to get away from the notion that our works are important in the eyes of God. And no one should condone laziness. But "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). It's the relationship that's all-important. That's the main reason why I spend so much time alone with God, making sure He really knows me. (The other reasons are lack of resources, and health issues). And He has given me challenging work to do!