'...the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint...' Genesis 32:25 KJV
God uses people such as Jacob who, spiritually speaking, walk with a limp. After years of wrestling with stubborn issues, they've been radically changed by God's power; now they're able to minister to those they couldn't have reached before. God also uses people such as Paul, who said, '...there was given me a thorn in my flesh...to torment me.' (2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV) When Paul asked God to remove this thorn, God said, '...[No,] My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness...' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) No doubt, that's the last thing Paul wanted to hear. Understand this: God loves to use people who walk with a limp, or who are locked into thorny situations they can't escape. Why? Because when they're blessed they don't become arrogant like some who think they deserve it. They're a little warmer, and a little more willing to reach out and embrace others. Today God is looking for people with enough compassion to ask, 'How are you?' then stop long enough to listen to the answer! When people have been hurt they need extra love and attention. They need to be held a little closer and prayed over a little longer. After all, that's what God did for you; now it's your turn to do it for somebody else. And yes, you'll have to be patient and overcome their reluctance to trust you. Because they feel betrayed and 'used' they struggle with doubts and resentments. But don't give up on them: 'Love never fails...' (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) If you keep loving them, God will use you to bring them healing and hope.
'...she poured it on Jesus' feet...' John 12:3 NIV
The Bible says, 'Mary took...expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples...objected, Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?...' (John 12:3-5 NIV) When it came to worship, Mary ignored any feelings of self consciousness and filled the house with the fragrance of her praise. And Jesus accepted it! There's a lesson here. Put aside your preconceived notions, your self-consciousness and concern over what others think, and pour out your heart in worship. Join the Psalmist: '...my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.' (Psalm 63:3-4 NIV) When people try to intimidate and silence you, don't let them. When they tried it with Jesus, He rebuked them and said, '...if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.' (Luke 19:40 NIV) You can never worship God too exuberantly, for God knows-even if your critics don't-that the rocks will cry out. Nothing builds intimacy like words of love and appreciation. There will always be a Judas around who'll say, 'What a waste!' When you take time to stand and bathe your soul in the presence of God, they will say, 'What a waste of time; what a waste of effort.' That's because they don't understand two things: what God saved and delivered you from; and that worship is how you enter, how you enjoy, and how you thrive in the presence of God.
'All these are the work of...the same Spirit...' 1 Corinthians 12:11 NIV
Sorry about missing yesterday but Amy, Josh, and I went up to get my mom so she could spend sometime with Josh before he heads back to Dallas on Thursday. Keep Josh in your prayers that his last semester goes well. He will be missed. Let's look at spiritual gifts today. After listing various spiritual gifts, Paul writes, 'All these are the work of...the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.' You say, 'How do I know what my spiritual gift is?' John MacArthur answers, 'If I walk, live, and am filled with the Spirit, it is not too important for me to understand the definition of my gift. It isn't an academic issue; it's a matter of getting down on your knees and asking the Spirit of God to dominate and control your life. As you yield to Him, the Spirit of God operates through you, and that will be your area of ministry. So the best way to know your gifted area is not to figure it out and then do it, but to walk in the Spirit and then look back and say, So that's what I do. When I was in high school a lady wanted to paint my portrait. I remember that she had a palette in her hand. On the palette she had some primary colors which she squirted out of some tubes. Then she began to mix all those colors together. It was amazing to see the various combinations that came out of those primary colors. Finally she began to paint them on the canvas. This is exactly how spiritual gifts function. The Holy Spirit has a palette. On it are some primary gifts. They are the gifts listed in Scripture. But by the time they are squeezed around there is a mixture. Each one becomes a very unique portrait that is you.' Be blessed today...
'...Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara...' Ruth 1:20 NKJV
Learn to build your life around your person, not your role, otherwise when your role changes you'll lose your sense of worth. Being a good mother is a noble calling. It's also a self-sacrificing job. But when your children leave home and those demands are over, it's easy to feel like Naomi did. Her name meant Pleasant. But after her two sons died she asked to be called Mara, which means bitterness. Don't allow changing times to change who you are, or to make you stop dreaming and give up hope. God still had a lot for Naomi to do. In the future she would mentor Ruth, who would give birth to a son who was destined to grow up and become part of the lineage of King David and our blessed Lord. What an honor! When your role changes, remember that your life's not over. See your own worth as a person, discover your next assignment, gather up your assets and keep on living and giving. Don't develop a 'Mara mentality'. She allowed herself to become cynical when her circumstances changed; don't let that happen to you! Discouragement often comes when we feel like we've seen it all, heard it all, done it all, and most of it was bad. No matter how old you are, you can never say you've seen it all. God can do 'exceeding abundantly above all that [you] ask or think...' (Ephesians 3:20) You don't know what God will do with your life before it's over. He has a way of saving the best for last.
'Be strong and of good courage...' Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
Your words and attitudes have a powerful effect on other people. The woman caught in adultery is a case in point. Observe how the Pharisees handled her: 'In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.' (John 8:5 NIV) How different Jesus' attitude was! Looking at her with compassion, He said, 'Neither do I condemn you... Go now and leave your life of sin.' (v11) Lifted, redeemed, empowered-you can't help but believe she spent the rest of her days trying to live up to Christ's view of her. The mandate to 'encourage one another' and 'build each other up' is woven throughout the New Testament. All of us need reassurance and appreciation. So why do we sometimes pocket the praise we should pass on to others, or sidestep the practical help we could offer to open the way for them to succeed? Sometimes it's simply because we're lazy or selfish or we fall into the habit of taking people for granted. Sometimes it's just easier to find fault. We underestimate the impact our words and attitudes can have on another person, or we assume our approval is obvious. Are we afraid our praise might be a stumbling block, causing pride in them? Jesus didn't fear that when He hailed Nathanael, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.' (John 1:47 NIV) What a compliment! The truth is, more people die of broken hearts than swelled heads. So ask God today for an opportunity to offer genuine praise to someone in your life. Ask Him to use you to come alongside them, and encourage them towards their goal.
'Be strong and of good courage...' Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
Anne Sullivan, teacher of Helen Keller, tried again and again to teach her the concept of words. The gifted tutor worked tirelessly to draw out of Helen the treasures buried deep inside her. She literally 'willed' Helen to succeed. Watching this relationship in the powerful play The Miracle Worker, you see Helen begin to blossom and develop gifts that would inspire the world for generations to come. Understand this: God uses the encouraging words, actions and attitudes we direct at each other to strengthen our inner resolve to succeed. But to be effective, your praise should be immediate, specific and genuine. Dr William Mayo, co-founder of the famous Mayo Clinic, used praise to encourage young doctors. One of them said, 'You'd read a paper at a staff meeting and afterwards he'd see you in the elevator or the hall, and would shake your hand and put his hand on your shoulder with a quiet Good work, and a straight, warm look that made you think he meant it. Or perhaps a day or two later you'd get a note from him, just a short one, saying something like, Dear ________, I learned more about _________ from that paper of yours the other night than I ever knew before. It was a good job. Believe me, a fellow prized those notes.' Praise, practical help, encouragement-all of these flow out of us naturally and genuinely when we begin to see, as Anne Sullivan saw, the untapped potential buried inside each individual. That's why the Bible says, 'Let everything you say be...helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.' (Ephesians 4:29 NLT)
'Be strong and of good courage...' Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
In the musical My Fair Lady, Eliza Doolittle, a common flower girl, becomes an elegant lady who mixes with England's high society. How did it happen? Because Henry Higgins, the eminent linguistics professor, taught her to act like a lady-and she began living up to his expectations. Alan Loy McGinnis writes, 'I was once waiting to speak at a sales conference where the year's awards were being given. One woman, who'd performed spectacularly and made an extraordinary amount of money, gave all the credit to her sales manager. As she stood before a crowd of 3000 people, clutching the award for best producer of the year, she recalled the slump she'd been in for two years previously. The future looked so bleak that she was ready to resign, and had even called her supervisor several times to quit. But the manager kept persuading her that she hadn't tried long enough, that she would not have been hired if there had not been unusual potential in her. Her voice cracked as she related the story. Then she made this insightful remark: For all those months when I wanted to quit and didn't think I had any future, Joan believed in me more than I believed in myself. She wanted me to succeed even more than I did.' One of the attributes of true Christian character is a willingness to encourage and lift people: 'I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.' (Isaiah 41:13 NIV) So, in your dealings with others, are you problem-focused or possibility-focused?
