Let God Use You

I pray daily that God makes me a blessing to someone. I supply the willingness and obedience; God supplies everything else. Last week I flew from Tulsa to Dallas. As I entered the plane I had a sense to sit in a certain seat. After a temporary hesitancy on my part I sat down in the seat, moments before others filled seats around me. I was sitting by a window.

Middle seats are the last to fill on most flights. With my flight being completely full, I waited to see who would sit beside me. Eventually a young lady sat down and began to listen to something through her headphones.

Even our one-hour flight allowed me time to read from my New Testament which I did, reading from the Book of Ephesians. After several minutes I laid my New Testament down. Pointing to it the young lady next to me asked if she could look at my New Testament. Sensing an opportunity to be a blessing, I agreed.

This person was studying, of all books, the Book of Ephesians. She had a question about a particular verse that she was looking for, but had been unable to find. I immediately pointed this young lady to the exact verse she needed. Not because I'm so smart, but because I had just been reading that verse as part of my reading time in Ephesians. My fellow passenger was grateful for my help.

God's smarter than any of us realize. He knew that that young lady needed an answer. The answer came through God, by His Holy Spirit, directing her to be seated beside someone who would read from the very place she needed help from.

I'm so glad I obeyed the "nudging" of the Holy Spirit and sat where He was directing, to meet this person's need. That's not bragging on me; that's me bragging on God's direction in blessing one person through another. God will do the same for anyone who'll purpose to be used of Him, then allow God to have His way in that person's life. Including where to sit on a plane.

If this has encouraged you in letting God use you, I'd like to know about it. What's shared by one often encourages someone else.

Are You a Thermometer or a Thermostat?

As a young boy living in Iowa our house did not have air conditioning, not even a window unit. As a result some summer nights could be warm, to put it mildly. Living in a two-bedroom house, I shared a small bedroom with my brother. In addition to any breeze from the open bedroom window my parents placed a small fan at the foot of our beds, to help circulate the night air where we slept. Although the fan didn't change the room temperature, it did help move the air some. Without an air conditioner, every little bit helps.

An outside thermometer would show the actual temperature in that location. In the absence of home air conditioning there was, of course, no inside thermostat available to initiate any changes in temperature. I hope whoever invented air conditioning did well.

A thermometer reflects actual temperature whereas a thermostat initiates changes in air temperature of a room or house, depending on what change in temperature is selected. A thermometer tells you what is.  A thermostat offers change, usually one that makes rooms cooler in summer, warmer in the winter.

As people of God, we choose to be a reflection of society as a whole (thermometer) or a reflection of what God is doing in the earth at any given point in time, including now (thermostat). It takes no real effort to be a thermometer, to be a part of what is. Being a thermostat, on the other hard, requires being changed to make a noticeable difference  to your world, starting with those around you.

Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? Are you a part of the status quo, flowing with those around you, or are you allowing God to bring change to your surroundings, to those within your sphere of influence? If a thermostat, how is God using your gifts and talents to bring help, healing, and life to a lost and dying world where you live, work, and play? If, at this moment, a thermometer, what event(s) would need to happen to influence you to want to become a thermostat?

Is tolerance acceptance?

Some things remain the same: the sun rises in the east, setting in the west. Roosters crow, babies cry, and too many potholes remain to be fixed. On the other hand, some things have changed in meaning. For instance, the word awful. Upon gazing at the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the king of France reportedly exclaimed, "My God, it's awful." When the Cathedral was completed in the 13th century the word awful meant full-of-awe, just as the word beautiful means full-of-beauty. Over the years the word awful has come to mean something bad; terrible-a far cry from full-of-awe. Unfortunately, the same is true concerning tolerance and acceptance. Once upon a time tolerance meant putting up with, without agreement, without acceptance of what's being tolerated. Not so now. Society, as a whole,  has shifted to holding tolerance and acceptance as synonymous terms. In other words, to tolerate means to accept; to be intolerant is to not accept. But, is this really true? Is tolerance acceptance?

According to the Bible we are to love the sinner, while hating the sin. Jesus did. He told the woman caught in the very act of adultery to go and sin no more (John 8:3-11). Jesus wasn't accepting what the woman did as alright-He called it sin. What Jesus did was not condemn the woman (verse 11)-and neither should we-when confronting sin. Like Jesus we tolerate the person, not the sin. We shouldn't tolerate sin in our own lives, either.

The world's view of tolerance is accept everything which they think is OK. If you don't, you're being intolerant. At the same time, those "preaching" tolerance are the most  intolerant of them all, for they are intolerant of Christians, those standing for Biblical principles of absolute truth. More and more, the world is growing increasingly intolerant and unaccepting of anyone who opposes what they believe.

Is tolerance acceptance? Not according to the Bible no, in reality, according to what the world shows towards those with differing views. Without agreeing,  I practice tolerance towards those with viewpoints contrary to the Bible. I don't agree with them, but I don't force my viewpoint on them. My manner of life speaks louder than my words. Does yours?

How about you? Is tolerance acceptance, in your life? How do you practice tolerance, without acceptance of that with which you disagree?

Where's your identification?

I flew on a few business trips last year. Each time I checked in I was required to present valid identification.  As I went through security I also had to show my ticket-proof that I was a passenger that day. Had I not already had my proof of identification out, ready to be shown, a valid question to me would have been, "Where's your identification?". Without it I wouldn't have flown. Identification. It's proof of who we are. Whether it's a driver's license, passport, student ID card, or other valid form, we live in a time where much emphasis is put on who we are. Things like opening up a bank account, obtaining a passport, or buying a house-in each case proof of identification is required. Renting a car? You'll be asked to show proof of identification.

Identification is even more important where spiritual things are concerned. As Christians we've been placed into Christ-into the family of God. We've been given new identification papers, so to speak. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Bible says that if any (person) be in Christ he is a new creature. Literally, this means that a new species of being has been created in you. If you're a Christan, there's a new "you" in you that wasn't there before. Your identification is now with Christ, not the devil and his crowd. You're under God's dominion, not Satan's.

Spiritually speaking we've been given new identities. We have new identification papers, so to speak, within the pages of the New Testament-specifically the Epistles, letters written to Christians. Examples are the books of Ephesians and Colossians. Each book paints a vivid picture of the believer's new identification with Christ, focusing on that person's  rights and privileges, in Christ.

It was some years after I became a Christan before I learned of my real identity, as a follower of Jesus Christ. I struggles to know who I was in life, my purpose, and my destiny. Having found my true identity I know who I really am. I move about in total security, without fear of detection. When the devil tries to bring up something from my life before Christ I show him my identification papers-God's Word-proving my identity in Christ. That's my true position-in Christ. Knowing my true identity affects my thinking, believing, words, and actions, on a daily basis.

Where's your identification? Is it in the natural things of this world, or in Christ? How important is it to be secure in who you really are, where your true identity lies?

Carrying the message

In 1965 a single record, entitled Eve of Destruction, began playing on radio stations. Sung by Barry McGuire, the song quickly rose in popularity. Composer P.F. Sloan's now famous line "You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin" led to passage of the 26th amendment, lowering the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Nearly 50 years later this remains a prime example of music carrying the message. What do I mean by this? How can music carry any message? God created music as a means for us to worship Him. While you can certainly worship God without music, there's something helpful about music that can usher us into God's Presence. Someone not given to remembering words by themselves will benefit through hearing those words, delivered through a musical messenger-a song the hearer sings and/or listens to.

My senior year of high school I was part of the school choir. Although not a Christian at the time, I've never forgotten two songs we sang in that public high school. One was based on Psalm 145:15,16; the other was "Alleluia", written by Randall Thompson. The first consists of two verses; the second has, until the ending "Amen", the singular word "Alleluia" Both songs carry messages: the former of God's provision; the latter of praise. Decades later, both messages remain with me due, in no small part, to the musical vehicle of each.

Music alone or music carrying a message, there's something almost undefinable about music that causes us to hear more than notes. Whether for worship, entertainment, or simply influence, music is certainly more than notes and sounds. Whether we disagree about what kind of music is appropriate for us, one thing is certain: Music, more often than not, is carrying the message.

What are we listening to? More importantly, what is the message-and are we hearing it?

Oh, Joseph!

There's a line in the movie, It's A Wonderful Life where Clarence, George Bailey's guardian angel, is being subdued by Bert the cop. In a moment of desperation, Clarence cries out, "Oh Joseph", in a cry for help from his angelic boss. Help comes comes in the form of Clarence disappearing, thus escaping Bert's clutches.

The church world as a whole is like Clarence. At times we get into desperate situations prompting us to cry out for deliverance. In the church's case, it cries out, "Oh, Jesus". In those moments God sends His answer, often in the form of a "Joseph."

Joseph, the 11th of Jacob's 12 sons, was a dreamer whose dreams seemed preposterous at the time. Time, however, proved that there was deliverance in those dreams. Over time, Joseph was used of God to bring deliverance to Egypt from famine. The right person, at the right time.

When God responded to the prayers of many people for a move of His healing power, He sent a "Joseph" by the name of Oral Roberts who, along with others, demonstrated the healing power of God during the great Healing Revival of 1947-58. When the hearts of many hungered for the teaching of God's Word, God sent a "Joseph" in the person of Kenneth Hagin to teach faith to multiple generations around the world. Both men had visitations from God involving the world as a whole, starting where they were living.

We need more "Josephs" in the Church-those who have believed on Jesus as their Lord and Savior-to deliver us from modern-day "Berts"-forces which are at work to subdue us, to hold us back from achieving and enjoying the success God has made available to all of us.

Maybe you're one of God's "Josephs", a dreamer whom He wants to use to bring deliverance to His people-you and me. Rather than healing or teaching God's Word, God may want to use you in the area of technology, social media, or some other arena to deliver folks from the famines of mediocrity, the status quo, and refusal to change.

In the end, It's A Wonderful Life shows George Bailey becoming the richest man in town by doing things differently than Old Man Potter. One man's life changed an entire community-and Clarence got his wings.

How does God want to use you? God doesn't need another Oral Roberts or Kenneth Hagin; He has something for the one of you. What is He speaking to your heart to do to influence those around you? What kind of a dream has God put in your heart? How big is it? More importantly, what are you doing about it?

 Finally, if you can bring your dream to pass without God, it's too small. Sweet dreams.

Faith to Fear to Faith

Of all those mentioned in the New Testament I admire Paul more than anyone other than Jesus, but I identify more with Peter. Why Peter? Because here's a man with a severe case of "foot-in-mouth" disease who God made into someone mightily used for the Gospel. In a moment of revelation, Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Later, in the crisis of the moment, this same brash fisherman turned fisher of men denies even knowing Jesus at all.  How quickly faith can move to fear in times of crisis, when the storms of life come crashing down. In Matthew 14:22-33 we see the account of Jesus coming to the disciples by night, walking on the water. Peter, in a display of faith, said, "Lord, if that's You walking on the water, have me come join you (my paraphrase)". Jesus responded with an answer that both convinced and challenged Peter: "Come." On that basis Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking on the water. Yes, Peter got his eyes on the wind, became afraid, and began to sink; however before there's any criticism of Peter, when's the last time anyone you know walked on water?

In an instant Peter went from faith to fear. To Peter's credit he got back into faith, with a helping hand from Jesus. The two then walked back to the boat. Jesus didn't carry him; Peter walked. Like a lot of folks, Peter needed a helping hand to get from fear back to faith, where he eventually spent the last years of his life-living a life of faith.

Maybe you've stepped out in faith, for healing, finances, restoration of a broken relationship, or finding your place in life. When the "winds" of adversity came, did you get your eyes off of what God said and, in fear, start to "sink"? Who did God send to reach out a helping hand to get you back in faith? I've had a lot of helping hands in my life to help me in my faith walk. Now, I have the privilege of helping others to get rooted, built up, and established in their faith, in Christ. I've been blessed to be a blessing.

How about you? Are you comfortable walking on "water", always in faith, or have there been times where looking at the "winds" distracted you from your walk? Disciplining ourselves to stay focused on God's Word will help us walk by faith, as Peter eventually did. Remember, the winds didn't stop Peter; it was fear. Returning to the boat in faith was accomplished despite the winds.

What part of this post can you relate to? Are you currently on the receiving or giving end of the helping hand of faith?

Why Tithe? (The missing story)

First, my apology for not including this with the previous post, Why Tithe? (part 2). That being said the following story actually took place years ago It involves two business partners whose business was in the red. While neither man was saved, each man's wife was and attended church faithfully. Somehow the two men heard about tithing-perhaps from their wives-and decided to try it. The decision was made for the business to tithe, the reasoning being they had nothing to lose. The tithe was divided between the two partners; half to the church where one man's wife attended, half to the church where the other man's wife went. Again, neither man was a believer; they were seeing whether this tithing "thing" would work. Perhaps they figured they had nothing to lose.

God meets people where they're at. These businessmen were at a point of desperation regarding their business finances, willing to put what little they had heard to the test. Within 90 days of faithfully tithing, these two men's business was out of the red and into the black. I know for a fact that one of the men ( I'll call him Sam) did become a Christian.

How do I know this? I had the privilege of meeting Sam years after this happened, enjoying a friendship with him and his wife that lasted for over 20 years. I had heard the story I just related, then found out that it involved Sam and his business partner. Sam wound up getting saved and serving God until he went to Heaven, over 50 years after this event I just related took place.

Why am I sharing this true story? To illustrate that laws work, regardless of whether you believe them or not. The natural law of gravity will work for anyone. The same is true for the spiritual law of tithing. If tithing will work for a sinner how much more should it work for believers, those who have put their trust in God, through His Son, Jesus Christ?

What did you get out of reading this true account of tithing working in someone's life and business?

Can you see how it pays-financially and otherwise-to honor God with your finances?

Share how this post has been a blessing to you, then share it with others.