Monthly Archives: October 2018

What About Hospitality??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #501

19 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in By example, Hospitality

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #501   What About Hospitality???

 

Hospitality: “the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers; the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests or strangers in a warm, friendly and generous way.”

I was raised in the South by a southern mother and father, and I am grateful for the things that they taught us children in word and deed, and one of those things was the gift of hospitality. We were raised in a time when people gathered together for food and fellowship; kids’ played outside together and developed life-long friendships and camaraderie; and we had such deep and beneficial interactions and relationship that came out of those gatherings. People shared with their neighbors from the gardens that we all had, and every child knew that our behavior was being observed by others who would “tell” our parents of any errant choices. It was a time that makes me smile to this day, and yet makes me sad that most children today have no idea of a culture or community of such common care, who exercised the beauty of hospitality.

Hospitality is simply opening our hearts and homes to those whom God sends our way.

“And above all things

have fervent charity

among yourselves:

for charity shall cover

the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality

one to another

without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same

one to another,

as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God.”   1 Peter 4:8-10

Jesus’ followers ought to extend hospitality as we have opportunity. It may take a little effort to get started but it brings with it a joy and delight in gaining new friends to share our hearts and lives with. Occasions to share and teach the younger generation to do the same thing, and we need it so desperately—homes full of Jesus spilling over into the lives of other believers as well as those who need Jesus! The author of Hebrews calls us to “entertain strangers” (the NASB translates it “practice hospitality”) for we don’t always know whom we may be reaching out to.

“Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained

angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:1-2

So often we in the church seem to relegate everything and every activity to the “church house”, rather than taking opportunity to open our homes to others that we might grow in our relationships and intimacy with one another. I have a very dear friend, who is now with the Lord, with whom we often visited after church when I was a child—a precious, godly lady who loved me unconditionally; a light in my life that was always glad to see me, even when I wasn’t very welcome in other places (I wasn’t always what God wanted me to be!). She helped make me the woman that I am today by her open home, her open heart and her godly care and love for me. I grieved more deeply at her death than any other person I’ve lost (other than my father) because her practice of love and “hospitality” made a difference in my life from a child! I pray that I can be a difference in the lives of those God has sent to me—God calls us to it!

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober,

of good behaviour,

given to hospitality,

apt to teach;”   1 Timothy 3:2

 Our leaders should be people who practice hospitality by and for an example, but it should be the practice of every believer, not only because we love Jesus, but because 1 we love people and ought to pursue every occasion that God opens for us to influence the lives of those He brings into our lives—it can be life changing for them and us, even as Paul told the Roman believers.

“Rejoicing in hope;

patient in tribulation;

continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints;

given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you:

bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice,

and weep with them that weep.”   Romans 12:12-15

We must bring back to our churches the art of “hospitality”—we must! I am blessed to be part of a fellowship of believers who genuinely care for one another and try to practice genuine hospitality—may we lead others to pursue it! Peter reminded us (above) that we must “Use hospitality one to another without grudging” for God knows the motives in our heart as we reach out!

And in closing, just a few practical hints that might ease your hesitation that “I can’t do that, I can’t cook, clean…..!” I’m not talking about gourmet 9-course dinners; but I am saying we need to open our homes to others! If you don’t cook bake a frozen pie and invite someone over to share it with your family! Or pick up carryout and share it with someone less fortunate than you. Find an easy recipe for soup and serve it with chips and salsa—in fact if you live in OK/TX it’s perfectly acceptable to just serve chips and salsa or cheese dip!!! Ice cream and store-bought cookies is always a winner. It’s not what you serve but the fact that you are sharing your home with someone who may not have ever been invited anywhere!

I’d like to relate a testimony from my mother. When she married my father she didn’t know anything about making a “home”, as she had left home when she was 15 or 16 and never had anything to really take care of. She was welcomed by my father’s family and my aunt helped her learn to clean and cook as much by example as instruction, and while my mother never “liked housework”, she did what she learned to be important to have a good and orderly home. We never know whom we can help to learn to be a wiser homebuilder—and we all have those watching us, that we can teach by example as we share our lives and homes. Practicing hospitality as God brings others into our lives.

So go for it today—reach out and touch a life! You don’t know what God has in store for them or you!!!

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.

40 On these two commandments

hang all the law and the prophets.”   Matthew 22:36-40

Amen!!!

I Know That I Know!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #500

17 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Fearlessness, I Know Whom I Have Beleived

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #500   I Know That I Know!!!

 

I was asked recently how I always stayed so “perky”, and I responded that like anyone else I have my moments, but they are usually in private. I also shared something about knowing that God had it, and that anyone who thinks I’m some kind of “super” woman, or saint simply need to ask my husband and children about my “moments”! The truth is that I have walked with Jesus for a long time, and I have been through a lot of failure, crises, tragedy and confusion at various times, yet I have always found God faithful at every turn; and that experience and confidence in God, help me to remain “perky” and positive that God has never, nor will HE ever leave me to deal with anything alone, and I trust His sovereign will for me! Having said all of that, I’d like to share a passage that means a lot to me, and it contains several of my favorite verses in all of scripture.

I pray that this simple reminder of what God has done for us will encourage your heart today. Even as Paul wrote it to his ‘son-in-the-ministry’ as an encouragement, an update and a challenge to live faithfully for God, may it lift our hearts today? Even as my friend Jo always clings to verse 7 to remind her that we don’t have to be afraid, may you find the hope, faith, courage and encouragement that you need today in this precious word from God to you!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord,

nor of me his prisoner:

but be thou partaker

of the afflictions of the gospel

according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us,

and called us

with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his

own purpose

and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest

by the appearing of our Saviour

Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life

and immortality

to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer

these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know

whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that which I

have committed unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”    2 Timothy 1:7-13

Press on dear friend, we don’t have to fear but to hold fast—Jesus is coming soon! Amen and Amen!!!

Finishing Well??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 08

15 Monday Oct 2018

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Finishing Well, Follow Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 08     Finishing Well???

 

I’m not much of a follower of track and field sports, but I do love to watch the runners fly along that track (probably because I do good just to walk without stumbling J!!!) and see the winner lunge for that ribbon to be the one to break through to gain the prize. It’s important for a runner to get a good start, but it’s equally as important that he finish well; for without a good finish there is no prize. Scripture often compares our spiritual life to a race, and we are called to run faithfully and consistently by keeping our eyes on JESUS!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set

before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”   Hebrews 12:1-3

As a spiritual runner, we are called to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” and run patiently—for we are running a marathon not a sprint, and this requires stamina and faithfulness to the task—the race “that is set before us”! Did you get that? We are to run the race that God has set “before us”, not the race that HE has set before someone else! While I don’t know a lot about running, I do know that the runners must stay in their own lane, and keep their eyes on the goal, not the other runners; the runners keep their eyes forward and don’t look back to see what the other runners, or swimmers or hurdlers are doing! It is the same way with us spiritually!!! We aren’t to compare ourselves to the race that others are running (other than to share encouragement with each other, but not to copy the race that others may be running or failing to run!), but we are to keep “Looking unto Jesus” our Lord, our goal and our prize!

Runners lay aside everything that will slow them down, and we must lay aside the things that will hinder our race for Jesus! Sometimes that is hard to do, but just as runners sacrifice time, pleasures and indulgences to prepare for the race, we must keep our hearts and minds on our Lord and not this world if we want to run successfully. But unlike the runners of a physical race, we have a source of power, strength, and encouragement and hope that they don’t have (unless they are also ‘spiritual runners for Jesus’). Our source is the One who called us to salvation, and keeps us by His love, power, and grace all through the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin”! It is HIS power that will empower us to finish well, but we must keep our eyes on HIM, rather than being distracted by the world, or allowing the enemy to steal our victory and our prize—even though he can’t steal our relationship to Jesus

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun

a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day

of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

Paul reminds us that it is God who saves, and God who keeps and he told us in Romans 8 that God is ever working to conform us into the image of Jesus (See Ro. 8:28-39)! That’s HIS job, ours is to yield to His work within our hearts and minds and follow Him each day. We can pursue God’s will, His Word and His ways or we can allow ourselves to loose our ‘crown’ and our ‘reward’ by neglect! Jesus reminds us of this in His letter to the church at Philadelphia.

“Behold,

I come quickly:

hold that fast which thou hast,

that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11 

We must strive to ‘finish’ well and receive the prize that awaits us, and hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” when we stand before our Lord Jesus to give an account of what we have done with the life and race that HE set before us. Will you/I hear that “well done”; or will we hang our head in shame for the things that distracted us from HIS service and took our crown? Oh to know HIS pleasure in our service to HIM!

“His lord said unto him,

Well done,

good and faithful servant;

thou hast been faithful

over a few things,

I will make thee ruler over many things:

enter thou

into the joy of thy lord.”   Matthew25:23

It is the desire of my heart to hear my Master’s greeting of pleasure in the opportunities that He has provided for me to serve Him, and my prayer is that I will finish well. Starting well is important, and getting back up when we stumble is also important. As I’ve often heard it said, “Success is simply getting up one more time than we fall down!” Paul gives us a powerful picture of our accountability before God! While teaching this passage recently, someone asked if this will be a public judgment, and my reply was simple—I don’t know. But even if it is public, I truly think that I/you will be so concerned about what Jesus has to say to me/you, that we won’t be focused on what HE is saying to anyone else! I’ll simply be focused on what I will hear my master say to me! How about you? Let’s dig into Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian believers.

“I have planted,

Apollos watered;

but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth

any thing,

neither he that watereth;

but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth

and he that watereth

are one:

and every man shall receive

his own reward

according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together

with God:

ye are God’s husbandry,

ye are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another

buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold, silver, precious stones,

wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work

shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try

every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”    1 Corinthians 3:6-14

Paul also reminded the Romans believers of this same principle of our accountability as God’s children.

“For whether we live,

we live unto the Lord;

and whether we die,

we die unto the Lord:

whether we live therefore,

or die,

we are the Lord’s.

9 For to this end Christ both died,

and rose,

and revived,

that he might be Lord

both of the dead

and living.

10 But why dost thou judge

thy brother?

or why dost thou set at nought

thy brother?

for we shall all stand

before the judgment seat

of Christ.

11 For it is written,

As I live,

saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow

to me,

and every tongue shall confess

to God.

12 So then every one of us

shall give account

of himself to God.”   Romans 14:8-12

Every one of us “shall give account of himself to God”; and while this passage is referring to believers, the universal truth is that every one—saved or unsaved—will bow before God and give an account. The saved at the “judgment seat of Christ”, and the lost will stand before the “great white throne” for the deeds they did in their life, and be cast into the “Lake of Fire” because they rejected Jesus! (See Rev. 20:11-15).

But I want us to understand that me running “my” race may not look like you running “your” race; yes there are some essentials that will align—the truth of the Gospel, the authority of the Word of God, the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the truth that HE is the Only Way to God, etc.—yet God calls us to a service and ministry for which HE has and is equipping us, for each of us is totally unique by God’s perfect, sovereign design. And while our “races” may look different on the outside, God will judge us according to our love, devotion and faithfulness to HIM that comes from the inside. So my dear friend, my question is, “Are you running your race faithfully?” Will we finish well, or will they simply say of us when we are gone, “He/She started well, but he/she stumbled and never got up?” What a sad epitaph for a child of God. May we not be the one who is “saved; yet so as by fire”; but may we pursue the holiness, righteousness and pleasure of God in all that we do. May we not be distracted by the “wiles of the devil”, but press on tirelessly for His glory! May we feast on HIS Word and live it out in our daily lives as we follow our Lord’s direction in our every step. And remember God knows—even if others don’t, HE knows your heart!!! Amen and Amen!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite shall not come before him.”    Job 13:15-16

“Order my steps in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”    Psalm 119:133

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth…..19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 1:15 & 19

HE Has Today!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #499

12 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by in Today And Tomorrow

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #499     HE Has Today!!!

 

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”    Proverbs 27:1

Jesus walked this earth knowing where HE was going, what HE had to do, and what it would cost! We on the other hand must rely on the ONE who does know today and tomorrow and remember to leave it in HIS hands. Because I believe Jesus and His Word, and because I have walked with HIM for some 40 years, I have come to know that HE Is faithful in every way, every day! As we talked about recently, HE has promised to “never leave” us, or “forsake us”, no matter how dark the clouds may look. We may not know what today holds, and we certainly don’t know about tomorrow—but if you belong to Jesus, remember, HE does!

I simply want to share one of my favorite passages where Jesus reminds us that we must keep our eyes on HIM and not our circumstances. Circumstances change—they come and go—but JESUS never does! And He will order our steps according to HIS Word if we will but look up, trust HIM and press on in faith and obedience!

“Which of you by taking thought

can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought

for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field,

how they grow;

they toil not,

neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you,

That even Solomon

in all his glory

was not arrayed

like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass

of the field,

which to day is,

and to morrow is cast into the oven,

shall he not much more

clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought,

saying,

What shall we eat? or,

What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow

shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”   Matthew 6:27-34

Whose kingdom are you seeking and following? Let’s be sure we are seeking “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (which is only found in Jesus), and He has promised to take care of the rest….the “rest of the story” and the “rest” to our souls!!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

What I’ll Never Say??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #498

10 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Never Alone

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #498 What I’ll Never Say???

 

“Two are better than one;

because they have a good reward

for their labour.

10 For if they fall,

the one will lift up his fellow:

but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;

for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together,

then they have heat:

but how can one be warm

alone?

12 And if one prevail against him,

two shall withstand him;

and a threefold cord

is not quickly broken.”   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

We all face things that are tragic, hurtful, frightening, and just plain heart breaking, but when we belong to Jesus, we will never face those things alone!!! Never alone! Solomon describes the benefit of help and cooperation, whether it is for work, companionship, or defense; and we all know that good friends are a special treasure—if you have one you are blessed–and if you have more you are blessed beyond measure. I thank God for the wonderful friends that HE has blessed me with through the years. Some have stayed the course, some came only for a season, but each one has contributed to my life’s journey, and I’m grateful for them.

But there are times when even our closest friends can’t touch the hurt, or grief or confusion that we face, but we can rest assured that our Lord Jesus Christ, God our Father and the precious Holy Spirit who are ever with us can!

“And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you.”   John 14:16-18

So, my friend, whatever you are facing today—you don’t have to face it alone. If you are a follower of Jesus, HE is there with you. If you don’t know Him, you can call on Him today in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary (for you), atoning (Paying the debit of sin in our place), sacrifice (His death so that we could live with HIM forever!) for sin and salvation. He loves you/me and gave Himself so that we could have life IN Him!

“Behold,

I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

You can rest assured that you will never walk alone! Jesus loves you/me and HE cares, so we can walk with Him in total confidence, no matter where you are right now or ever!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”   Hebrews 13:5-6

Amen and Amen!